The other day I was with some friends and we were discussing the situation in our country especially the farmer’s agitation which was taking up most of the news all over the country and world.
What shocked me and amazed me too is the reaction towards the farmer’s agitation. Out of 6 of us, majority were against the agitation and felt that the farmers were wasting their time and our time too by protesting for their rights when they should be in the fields. They were more concerned about the food on their tables than the problem of the farmers, for them the farmers were just mere workers who toiled and worked day in and day out , in rain or shine, in droughts and floods just so that we have food on our plates.
In the words of Amit Kalantri, “ a farmer is a magician who produces money from mud”, farmers are the soul of our nation. We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist.
Some went even to the extent of saying they should all be shot, jailed and stopped.One lady said, “ they call themselves farmers and come in mercedes and suv’s and say they are poor … if they are poor they I guess we have to change the definition of poor” I was amazed at their reasoning and when I tried to tell them that the farmers were right in asking for their rights and that we should be with them …they all laughed and called me a fool.
This is the state of our country where once upon a time farmers were seen as God and call “ aan-daata” ..today they are being labelled as terrorists, thieves and opportunists… Its very easy to call people names and point a finger at someone or turn a blind eye towards something and when this begins to happen we become inhuman and selfish .
If fighting for your rights, if asking for justice and demanding changes is certains norms is wrong then what is right… day in and day out our farmers are out there facing tear-gas shells, getting hurt, killed …our borders have become a war zone and what is sad and shameful is the in-fighting going on between people of the same religion, caste and country… shooting and injuring innocent and unarmed people is not bravery its cowardice.
Have we become so stone -hearted and blind that we don’t want to see the truth that is being hidden behind all this facade, does it not heart our conscience and heart to see our own fellow beings being killed, hurt and injured. If that’s the truth then I am ashamed to be a human and a citizen of this country.
Lastly, “ once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher, but everyday , three times a day, you need a farmer-” Time to rethink deeply and give it a thought….