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THREAD on #FarmersProtests
As @navyuggill says "These protests are no ordinary expression of grievance. What world is witnessing in Punjab is grassroots popular upsurge that has potential to transform political landscape of India"
#KisaanmazdoorEktaZindabaad #Kisanandolan
As @navyuggill says "These protests are no ordinary expression of grievance. What world is witnessing in Punjab is grassroots popular upsurge that has potential to transform political landscape of India"
#KisaanmazdoorEktaZindabaad #Kisanandolan
First what are the farm bills? Check out this visualization by Polis Project describing the push to privatization with no state subsidies or price regulation:
https://www.thepolisproject.com/why-dilli-chalo-understanding-the-agriculture-reform-bills-that-are-causing-a-stir/#.X9Uu8dt7nOR
#FarmersProtests #StandWithFarmers #FarmerBill2020 #KisaanmazdoorEktaZindabaad #Kisanandolan
https://www.thepolisproject.com/why-dilli-chalo-understanding-the-agriculture-reform-bills-that-are-causing-a-stir/#.X9Uu8dt7nOR
#FarmersProtests #StandWithFarmers #FarmerBill2020 #KisaanmazdoorEktaZindabaad #Kisanandolan
"Laws seek to dismantle complex mandi system (state-regulated marketplaces comprising farmers, workers and intermediaries in local economy). Though not perfect, system affords freedoms to small-scale in way that corporate-mediated single market would not" https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/10/modi-indias-farmers-government-factory-corporations
"Despite the titles of the bills highlighting ‘farmers’, rather than focusing directly on farmer welfare all three bills rely overwhelmingly on supply chain actors to take advantage of the new rules and share their gains with the farmers." https://www.theindiaforum.in/article/three-farm-bills
"Farmers argue these neoliberal changes will effectively dismantle most important safeguards of existing public system in Punjab, Haryana & Uttar Pradesh. They see this as direct threat to livelihoods and danger to stability of entire regional economy." https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/12/11/a-popular-upsurge-against-neoliberal-arithmetic-in-india
"Punjab was epicentre of Green Revolution from 1960s which catalysed increased commodification of agriculture: shifting away from indigenous, diverse crops in favour of monocultures & chemicalisation of land. In Punjab, debt levels are 2.5 times greater." https://gal-dem.com/why-sikhs-across-the-world-are-protesting-with-farmers-in-india/
For decades peasant activists & union leaders have argued for need to drastically reorganize agricultural policy. 1978 Anandpur Sahib Resolution – long derided as secessionist – spelled out specific measures to make Punjab’s economy more viable & just. https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-farm-bills-a-false-experiment-in-the-name-of-agricultural-freedom/362281
There are number of interrelated & inseperable contours to #FarmersProtests especially caste, class, gender and Sikhi.
"Previously antagonistic groups across classes, castes & gender are coming closer, building broader base for the agitation & beyond." https://www.theindiaforum.in/article/agrarian-crisis-punjab-and-making-anti-farm-law-protests
"Previously antagonistic groups across classes, castes & gender are coming closer, building broader base for the agitation & beyond." https://www.theindiaforum.in/article/agrarian-crisis-punjab-and-making-anti-farm-law-protests
“Whenever farmer is mentioned, only male comes to mind & this undermines role of women and labour. In my village, in my family, I have seen women who work more than male counterparts in fields. What we need is to include fight for land w/ feminist issues" https://msmagazine.com/2020/12/10/india-farmer-protest-feminist-women/
"Tikri border is where largest group of women protestors – about 25,000 women – have stayed put. Most of women belong to Malwa region. Farmers’ orgs, universities & govt data all concluded that 97% of farmer suicides in Punjab take place in Malwa region" https://thewire.in/agriculture/women-farmers-protest-dilli-challo
Farm laws especially impacts small farmers & landless labourers and farmers who are mostly Dalit.
Labh Singh, landless Mazahabi Sikh and Dalit says "Big corporate houses will loot us. They will soon determine crop prices & harass the poorest among us.” https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/12/04/why-landless-and-marginal-farmers-are-the-backbone-of-farmer-protests
Labh Singh, landless Mazahabi Sikh and Dalit says "Big corporate houses will loot us. They will soon determine crop prices & harass the poorest among us.” https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/12/04/why-landless-and-marginal-farmers-are-the-backbone-of-farmer-protests
There are vital organizations like Zameen Prapt Sangharsh Commitee advancing struggle of Dalit agricultural labour. Many of ZPSC cadres have been assaulted & imprisoned by landowning Jatt Sikhs. But Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union principally supports ZPSC. https://countercurrents.org/2020/09/zameen-prapti-sangharsh-commitee-led-movement-in-punjab-a-turning-point-in-revolutionary-history-of-punjab-and-india/
Importantly, @surajyengde reminds "Unless protesting farmers also demand redistribution & nationalization of land, abolition of zamindari we’re staring at the same age-old problem"
Here is interview with Randeep Maddoke by @DalitCamera at #FarmersProtest https://www.facebook.com/DalitCameraDC/posts/3668294856562742
Here is interview with Randeep Maddoke by @DalitCamera at #FarmersProtest https://www.facebook.com/DalitCameraDC/posts/3668294856562742
We must remember Guru Nanak was a caste abolitionist.
"It is Sikhi which is most visibly present in the protests where kirat karo, naam japo and vand chakko, are manifesting and brining energy into the protests." https://kaurlife.org/2020/12/10/from-the-delhi-protest-front-lines-farming-the-seeds-of-equality/
"It is Sikhi which is most visibly present in the protests where kirat karo, naam japo and vand chakko, are manifesting and brining energy into the protests." https://kaurlife.org/2020/12/10/from-the-delhi-protest-front-lines-farming-the-seeds-of-equality/
Over twenty naujawan jathebandies (youth led Sikh organisations) have signed an open letter. Letter praises collective nature of leadership seen in the current farmer protests and context of an increasingly authoritarian and Hindutva government.
https://www.sikhpa.com/openlettertosikhnation/
https://www.sikhpa.com/openlettertosikhnation/
And finally, on the mobilizing:
Kisan Majdoor Sangharsh Committee, consisting of farmers & farm workers in Amritsar district & surrounding areas, translated the three farm laws into Punjabi & distributed one lakh copies among farmers & workers for months. https://thewire.in/agriculture/farmers-protests-public-perception
Kisan Majdoor Sangharsh Committee, consisting of farmers & farm workers in Amritsar district & surrounding areas, translated the three farm laws into Punjabi & distributed one lakh copies among farmers & workers for months. https://thewire.in/agriculture/farmers-protests-public-perception
But really power always remains with the sangat, with the people. "On Shambhu border between Punjab & Haryana, youth farmers bulldozed huge concrete barricades while facing water cannons. They did not come under banner of any specific kisan organisation." https://caravanmagazine.in/agriculture/going-by-demands-cadres-compromise-out-of-question-farmer-leadership
There is so much more to be said, but hope this thread provides overview of historic and unprecedented nature of the #FarmersProtests & with revolutionary fervour spreading from the local to the global.
#StandWithFarmers #FarmerBill2020 #KisaanmazdoorEktaZindabaad #Kisanandolan
#StandWithFarmers #FarmerBill2020 #KisaanmazdoorEktaZindabaad #Kisanandolan
