India, a secular nation, with diversity in its culture and unity as its strength, is an abode for more than 400 languages, housing an assortment of countless religions. Mark Twain, a celebrated American author, once said: “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great-grandmother of tradition.” Above it all, India has an agrarian economy with agriculture, animal husbandry and allied activities, lying at its heart. It is truly woebegone that a nation with such an advanced and extensive agricultural setup is facing the wrath of a farmer protest.
The protest which began on September 27, 2020, when the new farm bills of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) were given presidential assent and became the Farm Laws, saw its highs on January 26, 2021, the 72nd Republic Day, when the farmers breached into Delhi and attempted to vandalize the historic Red Fort. They unleashed a fierce protest against the government, neglecting the fatal Corona virus which was unleashing its terror globally.
The newly established Farm Laws deprived the poor farmers of the government regulated prices for their crops and left them at the mercy of wholesalers and retailers. With the removal of essential crops like cereals, pulses, oil seeds, onions and potatoes, the enraged farmers gathered together in rebellion which became famously called the 'Farmer's protest', while at its depth it was but a movement to assert their rights from the government. While this aroused the sleeping government from their slumber, the opposing political parties took advantage of the situation in order to collect public votes in future elections, especially in Northern India, the heart of Indian agriculture. It is extremely desolate to witness that agriculture, the nectar of India, is itself being used to poison its country through politics.
The protest ended on November 29, 2021 with the honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi along with both Houses of the Parliament, announcing the repulsion of the Farm Laws and relieving the devastated farmers. It is due to this that Thomas Jefferson has rightly said, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to wealth, good morals and happiness.” Moving forward, let us protect agriculture in India’s footholds together!
Farmers protesting for their rights
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