PEASANTS FEED ALL AND REMAIN HUNGRY

Kiran Shaheen

We, some 40-45 Delhi based people from facebook went to extend our solidarity with the protesting Tamil farmer women and men at jantar mantar, Delhi. The courage with which they are fighting their battle, is commendable. They are calm, not quiet but disciplined and the bunch of leaders are quite articulate. Their speeches were cut to points and slogans hard hitting.

They say, PEASANTS FEED ALL AND REMAIN HUNGRY. WE HAVE NO SEED, NO WATER AND NO MONEY. OUR DEBTS ARE MOUNTING, SO ARE OUR MISERIES. And so on.

Today, the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu came to meet them. A few words of fake promises and his caravan made quick exit. He said, he will speak to the prime minister and get back but 4 pm, untill we were there, no getting back or message. Various party leaders, not significant, came , made a politics ladden speach and went back. We did not find any national leader or a single writer, artist, actor or academician.

We shared our solidarity spirit with them, talked to them. Language was a big issue but 3-4 people among them speak English well. They are upset and feeling humiliated with the single fact that no one from the government side bothered to come or tried to initiate a dialogue. It can be recalled that the day they were holding a rally at PMO minus their robes, our PM was happily taking SELFIE at a huge palacial temple constructed on the riverbed along with his Australian counterpart.

We also held a meeting among ourselves and discussed the whole issue from the humanitarian and political viewpoint and our role as a civil society group. We decided to do a signature campaign and ask the government to meet them and address their demands immediately. We also thought of putting BJP's 2014 manifesto and Swaminathan report on agricultural reforms before public and expose the government's betrayal and double standard in dealing with peasantry crisis.

If possible we will bring this report by 16th may, when the king was crowned three years back. We will also raise this issue on all forms of social and traditional media.

Kudos to the young, energetic facebook friends who are so pro active and full with zest. Ironically and on a light note, I was the only past generation sample as far as physical ageing goes. Anyways, it was quite a organic solidarity and we all met with each other in good trust and harmony. It was a socially inclusive team. Last but not the least, among us women were in good number. Sensitive and enlightened.

I personally also observed some disturbing activities on jantar mantar, manipulated by the fringe forces, and will share my concerns at the right time.

In the evening, a rally was held from India Gate to Jantar Mantar by Tamil Youth Sangama.

Sharing this note in good trust and spirit and hope that other friends will add the missing points and correct any error made by me inadvetently.

Thank you .

PS

Just to update you. The peasants have called off their protest following the promise of their demands to be filled by 25th may. Now they can meet with their near and dear ones and eat Uttapam, Sambhar and Vada with filter coffee. Salute them for their undying spirit.

(facebook post)