THREAD
Agrarian History with context of Farmers Unions. Revival of Farmers Unions is long awaited & good for Indian Agriculture. Unity among Farmers Unions is also good for mass mobilisation for rights. Let’s take a look at some Mass Mobilisations in Punjab & arrive at 2020-21

PEPSU Tenants struggle 1948-52. It involved mass mobilisation of tenants spread over Bathinda, Patiala & Sangrur districts. The movement was built around land to tillers & was largely against the Patiala rulers. This resulted due to introduction of Biswadari & Jagirdari system.

The movement was led by Lal (Red) Teja Singh Swatantr. The movement led to abolition of Biswedari system in 1952. This movement invited Police and Military action before culmination.

The 2nd massive movement took place during 1958-1959. This was known as Anti Betterment Levy Agitation. This was due to imposition of betterment levy by Pb govt after opening of Bhakra Canal. The govt increased rates for irrigation resulting in mass movement.

This movement was led by Kisan Sabha Of United CPI. The movement succeeded in reversal of betterment levy.

The Third mass Mobilisation occurred during 1978-84 under BKU. It was led by peasantry without any political involvement. The movement was for higher procurement prices.

The 3rd mobilisation saw BKU emerge as the body representative of farmers of Punjab & later india by sidelining CPI role. You can read about this movement in this thread. https://twitter.com/amaanbali/status/1341099285526376448

Sucha Singh Gill says that there were no mass mobilisations in Punjab from 84-92.

BKU split into 2 major factions in 1989, led by Bhupinder Mann, Balbir Rajewal & other by Ajmer Singh Lakhowal. Split saw Mann rising as Rajya Sabha member in VP Singh’s tenure.

During 1989-92, Lakhowal faction became important but Ajmer singh engaged in Akali Factional politics including engineering 1992 election boycott. The farming causes were still not taking forefront of the unions.
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BKU Ekta was born in 1994 from BKU Lakhowal.
BKU Ekta further split in 2003 leading to formation of BKU Sidhupur and BKU Ugrahan led by Joginder singh Ugrahan. Then there were separate mazdoor factions that branched out of BKU’s leading to weakening of Peasants voice.

The lack of unanimous voice saw changes in attitudes of government. As JS Sidhu notes in his work.

The Signboards started appearing in the villages due to rising debt. Prakash singh Badal and amrinder Singh’s governments paid no heed to suffering farmers.

Bhalla notes that in the absence of an organised farmers movement the farmers became alienated, frustrated and started committing suicides and state govt was well informed about it all.

Revival of Farmers Unions.
Movement in Jhathuke Bathinda in Jan 2000 by BKU Ekta. The Movement was on 2 issues, one was liberation from debt and second for stopping the private buses from charging fares more than govt regulations. Clashes with police killed 2 people in this.

Another movement of took place due to suicide of farmer in Sandoha village. Movement in Maur Block Of Bathinda was by BKU Ekta again. The movement was against aarthiyas of Maur Mandi & lasted from July 3-July 16, 2001. Many arrests & lathicharge took place at Missrkhana

The freezing prices of paddy, wheat & sugarcane saw mobilisations again in 2003, 2004 with blockade of Amritsar Delhi Railway line at Manawala where farmers from BKU Ekta sat for ten days.

There have been movements in 2007, 09, 11, 18 but none had all the unions coming together

Coming together of Unions is always a good sign for voices of peasants and has historically been a headache for all governments because all govts. The movement in 2020-2021 is certainly incomparable to any in independent history of Punjab. It remains to be seen where it takes us.