The British suspended the taxes for two years And the confiscated properties were returned. But coming back to Polson’s story, as a company, Polson had earned huge profits. By 1930, they had set up a highly automated dairy in Anand. By then, Polson Butter had become very popular in Indian households.
Additionally, during World War II, there was another opportunity to supply to the soldiers abundantly. By 1945, they had reached record productions. They were producing 3 million pounds of butter each year. By 1945, Bombay’s government launched the Bombay Milk Scheme. Back then the state of Bombay looked like this. Gujarat and Maharastra made the combined Bombay. Bombay State, not the city.
According to the Bombay Milk Scheme, the milk had to be transported from Kaira to Bombay, over the distance of 400 km. The company that would do this was to be selected through bidding. After the bidding, the contract was awarded to Polson. Polson got involved in the business of milk transportation as well. The Polson company started earning more profits. But these profits did not trickle down to the dairy farmers. The farmers had to sell milk to the contractors at a fixed price. And this price would often be nominal.
The frustration among the farmers in Gujarat was increasing. This is where our hero enters this story. Tribhuvandas Patel. Tribhuvandas Patel was a leader inspired by Gandhi, he had been to jail in 1930 for the Salt Satyagraha as well. He had participated in numerous movements launched by Gandhi. Civil Disobedience, Rural Development, Drive against Untouchability. Under his guidance, the farmers in Gujarat went to meet Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1945. The farmers explained their problems to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
