Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of SBS Punjabi.
The farmers of Punjab have unleashed an uprising against the new farm laws enacted by the Indian government which the farmers allege will reduce their income while benefiting big corporations. As I write these lines, a large number of farmers from Punjab and other parts of India are on their way to India’s capital city New Delhi where they intend to gather for a peaceful protest against the government’s new farm laws.
The government of India seems in no mood to make any concessions to these new laws and has been using its policing machinery to hinder this mass movement of farmers. Roadblocks have been erected, unarmed and peaceful groups of farmers have been sprayed with water cannons and tear gas in an effort by the government to stop the farmers reaching New Delhi. This use of state machinery by the Indian government to curb peaceful protests by a long-neglected farming fraternity is not just excessive use of power, but it may even come across as a gross misuse of power within a democratic framework.
The farmers of Punjab have long been the state’s heartbeat. They are a hard working community that takes a lot of pride in earning a respectful living, rooted in the teachings of their ‘gurus’ - ‘kirat karo, vand ke shako’ (work hard and share your food/meals with others). For decades now, their welfare and prosperity have been put on the back burner by various governments (both state and central) in India as these farmers continue to grapple with severe hardships – crippling droughts, water supply issues, mounting debts in the face of declining incomes, a drug epidemic rotting away an entire generation of youngsters in Punjab, climate change, lack of any financial safety nets, and so on. The number of Indian farmers committing suicides in the face of these growing adversities has been alarmingly increasing over recent years.
Water cannon is used against farmers by Haryana state police to stop them from entering Haryana as they march towards New Delhi to protest against new farm laws Source: AAP ImageEPA/STR
At a time when the farmers of India need urgent and undivided attention and assistance by state and central governments, it is frankly disgraceful to see this already marginalised community being pushed further down the misery lane by these new farm laws which smell of a concealed attempt by the Indian government to usurp any bargaining power that these farmers may have had while trying to sell their produce in the markets and by not providing any minimum sell price safety net. The Indian government claims that these farm laws are intended to benefit the farmers however the government messaging to date about these laws remains vague, unclear, and non-committal.
These protests by the farmers will no doubt be used as political currency by all kinds of political outfits in India to score political goals. There will be a lot of meaningless, and indifferent political commentary spat out from both sides of politics to debate the merits and demerits of this crisis. The Indian mainstream media is already touted as a compromised outfit tasked to propagate government friendly agendas, so it will be futile to seek any genuine concern from most of these circus outlets. The debate panels put together will be sycophants from both sides of politics hammering their venomous agendas – belittling these farmer protests and reducing them to political cheap shots.
Thousands of farmers from Punjab are on their way to hold protest in New Delhi against the central government's newly introduced farm laws. Source: AAP Image/EPA/STR
I grew up in a village of Punjab surrounded by farmers. They are benevolent, charitable, hardworking, god-fearing, and patriotic. Punjab is a land that has seen relentless unrest since India’s independence – the unparalleled bloodshed during India’s partition, the wars with Pakistan since India’s independence, militancy in the later decades of the last century, a drug menace that refusing to slow down. The people of Punjab, most of which are these protesting farmers have always stood up for the nation, defended it, and have unfailingly reached out to other communities in time of calamity and war.
As a person affiliated with Punjab, as a person who is proud about my roots in rural Punjab, I feel obligated to write this piece and lend my humble, ordinary voice in support of the farmers of Punjab. The farmers remain peaceful in the face of this unprecedented challenge of getting a headstrong Indian government to listen to their voice.
These farmers are rightfully, and peacefully demanding better economic outcomes for their farming efforts.
The farmers of India, and their families, deserve better from their governments.
Sanam Sharma is a human resources professional, and a regular contributor to SBS Punjabi. He is a published author, columnist, and blogger, who also regularly writes flash fiction and poetry for his blog "Small town boy".
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of SBS Punjabi.
More from SBS Punjabi
‘Delhi chalo’ protest in India causes tensions and heavy disruptions
