The peasant movements played a crucial role in the broader nationalist struggle, their impact was curtailed by these limitations, preventing them from achieving more substantial and lasting reforms.

The peasant movements during the nationalist phase in India were significant in mobilizing rural masses against colonial exploitation and feudal oppression. These movements were largely driven by agrarian distress, high rents, and oppressive practices of landlords and colonial authorities.

Movements like the Champaran Satyagraha (1917), the Kheda Satyagraha (1918), and the Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi highlighted the plight of peasants and brought their issues to the forefront of the national struggle.

However, these movements had several shortcomings. Firstly, they were often localized and lacked a cohesive national strategy, limiting their broader impact. Secondly, the leadership was predominantly from the urban, educated middle class, which sometimes failed to fully understand and address the deep-rooted issues of the rural peasantry.

Thirdly, the movements were mostly non-violent and relied heavily on moral persuasion, which sometimes proved ineffective against the entrenched interests of landlords and colonial authorities. Lastly, there was a lack of sustained follow-up and support for the peasants post-movements, leading to a reversion to the status quo in many areas.