In their misery, lies the Politics

Dans leur misère , se trouve les Politique

Source: Hindustan Times

This post is dedicated Shri Ganjendra Singh, who took his life away, amidst all the crowd, to awaken our inner consciousness towards farmer's plight.

I have been wondering why did he do so in a rally and why not at home, or in his state?  Probably, he knew that only in an event like that will his death get noticed. Else, like those several farmers who have taken their lives and still no help has reached them, he too will be just another one biting the dust!

Issue of farmer is sensitive, serious and personal, at least for me. I heard stories of how agriculture use to be main source of income for my grand parents, who educated their children, despite all odds. Either their land was used for tilling or would be sold off to wed off their daughters. 

I remember lines from a poem by my uncle, who wrote on the plight of farmers.

"झोपड़ी ठहर सकती तब ही, जब वायु उसे झकझोर न दे

वो दिया कब ही जल सकता है, जब बेरोक आंधिया जोर न दे 

धिक्कार तुजे तूफ़ान अरे, इन झोपड़ियो से लरता है?

यहीं खड़ी उन मीनारों को, देख देख तू डरता है!

डरता है झंझावात अगर, इन मिटटी के प्रासादों से 

तब दींन दुखी क्या कह सकते, इन बेलगाम शहजादों से 

मैं पूछ रहा जल्लादो से ...

.....

सुबह निकलते घर से और संध्या होने पर घर आते

मिटटी से धन उपजाते पर, बच्चों  को नहीं खिला पाते

अधखिला फूल वह रोता है, माँ उसको गले लगा लेती

बातो से भरती पेट और, धीरे धीरे सहला देती"

......

He wrote this almost 30 years back, before his poignant early demise, but the plight of farmers is still the same! 

Still the brunt of nature is felt harshest by them. Still the effect of good policy is least felt by them, Still we have farmers living without electricity and sufficient water and  still they are the most neglected sector of our country!

Green revolution is probably the last good thing that happened to them, when technology, planning and assistance addressed the issues of agriculture sector. It was then that hybrid variety seed, improved fertilizers, pesticides and cash help, all went to aid and assist the farmers.  However, not much has happened since then . 

 While in financial sector, derivative market was allowed to hedge  the rain or shine, there is no provision for insuring crops against "act of God" and the farmers are still left at mercy of God alone!

I will not bring any political debate here, for my apathy and shock is overwhelming and unlike most of the political parties doing the blame game and refuse to own up their negligence towards farmers, who are victim of  "vote bank" politics.  I will not shy away from owning to my mistake as an Indian who has failed these farmers. I would admit that till now, stories of their plight that I heard from my helps and others, were matter of momentary concern. I express my deepest regret for the same. 

Today, not only politicians, but all the Indians have failed this nation and these farmers. No one thought of them when they took the first morsel of the day.  We all had turned blind and left their issues  and concerns for MPs alone to handle. Visits were made to different parts of the world to procure missiles, jet planes, and technology but seldom was agriculture deliberated upon in these visits. While India kept on building their nuclear power and scientific technology, the science and technology did less to reach the farmers, address their issues, help them predict weather with accuracy, scientific method of mixed farming. Most of these farmers used their own experience and gut in farming, than any external expertise.

Farmers have to wait for long gestation period to reap what they sow, that too depends on factors like rain and storm, which is beyond human control. 

The result was, since 1970's, these politicians have been politicizing their misery.

 We cannot blame the government alone! Why did the opposition not fight hard the battle for the cause of farmers? Why did  we not make it a nation wide debate, as it is being done in the case of LAB? Government's indifference and opposition's ignorance (or indifference), both are to be blamed.  Also, all of us who have become insensitive to cause of farmers are to be blamed.

 I am not able to rest in peace and I am sure even the soul of  Gajendra jee is not able to rest in peace! I hope that the issue does not die its death like any other issue. I sincerely hope that his death awakens all of us.

Our society is living in a paradox, where at one side, we are contesting for equality in virtual world while  the inequality in real world is growing larger! I so hope that our economic and scientific development does not come at cost of those stakeholders, who stand at the periphery of circle of policy-planning but are at center point of  its impact.

Source: The Tribune
Flattened Wheat Crop After Rain