Skip to main content

Task of saving the life fasting farmer leader Dallewal deserves priority attention

By Bharat Dogra 
Farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast since November 26, 2024 and his deteriorating health has become a cause of serious concern, engaging the attention also of the Supreme Court of India which has been trying to ensure that medical help is available in any emergency situation.
Justice Surya Kant clarified on January 2 that the court’s efforts to hospitalize the fasting leader are aimed at protecting his life. The judge also criticized the Punjab government and some others for creating a different impression.
On the same day his companion judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan questioned the Central government’s reluctance to clearly state that its doors are open to consider the genuine grievances of farmers.
Earlier it was widely reported in the media that Mr. Dallewal has conveyed his willingness to end his fast if the central government invites him to hold talks on farmers’ demands.
On the other hand the central government had also stated earlier that it will go along with the Supreme Court’s efforts to settle the issue.
Now the Central government can take together the recent comments of Justice Bhuyan and the earlier statement of Mr. Dallewal to take a significant step forward for saving the life of Mr. Dallewal by inviting him for talks.
After all, one of the most frequent steps taken by governments in democracies to resolve any difficult situation, particularly when it is on the verge of becoming more difficult, is to invite the other side for talks. There is no sign of weakness in this, certainly no surrender or bowing under pressure. No unreasonable demand is being accepted under any kind of pressure; there will only be an invitation for talks with an open mind and in a spirit of sincerity.
On their part the close supporters of Mr. Dallewal should also persuade him to end his fast as early as possible and save his life and energy for helping farmers in facing numerous challenges ahead.
There are many organizations of farmers and they have their own areas of influence and strength. No organization can claim to be the only one to speak for the farmers of the entire country. With this well-established understanding, when the situation so demands, any organization can be invited to discuss its demands and its understanding of the problems of farmers and their solutions. From any sincere interaction, at least some good can be expected to emerge, even if all problems are not sorted out and all demands are not met.
Problems of the farming sector are multi-dimensional and have many regional variations. At the same time problems of big, medium, small and marginal farmers can differ too, and not to be forgotten are the concerns of landless farm workers. Solutions are needed at many levels—ensuring welfare and protection of farmers and farm workers while minimizing their indebtedness, reducing the ever-rising costs of farming and its ever-rising dependence on expensive external inputs, protecting soil and conserving water, protecting biodiversity and animal welfare, increasing resilience of farming communities, climate change mitigation and adaptation, providing significant spaces for landless peasants, improving sustainability and overall well-being of rural life.
The most hopeful aspect of farming related changes is that it is possible to combine all these objectives and pursue them together in highly creative ways, combining modern science with traditional wisdom. This is a task so creative and exciting that once it is well under way, people will not like to leave their villages and instead some of the most creative people in cities will be eager to go to villages.
This great challenge and task cannot be captured in narrow or one-dimensional demands, whether it is MSP or anything else. Neither the government nor the farmers’ movements have been able to come close to evolving a mutually consistent agenda of the various essential tasks and responsibilities ahead.
Hence a good way for future government talks with Mr. Dallewal and his colleagues or with any other farmer organization would be for the two sides to agree on the need simultaneously for pursuing welfare of farmers, protection of environment and biodiversity and then decide, agreeing also that the needs are not the same for all parts of the country, on how best to take forward the multi-dimensional agenda in various regional contexts, following a decentralized approach. At a more immediate level, the task of saving the life of Mr. Dallewal deserves priority attention just now.
---
The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include "India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food", "Man over Machine", "Protecting Earth for Children" and "A Day in 2071"              

Comments

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*  In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.

Perfect batting model: No pair of sporting twins created such an impact jointly as Steve and Mark Waugh

By Harsh Thakor*  In the history of cricket, no pair of twin brothers has ever asserted as much influence on the game as Steve and Mark Waugh. They had completely contrasting styles of play, yet together they played an instrumental role in Australia’s resurgence as a superpower in international cricket. The twin brothers turn 60 later in June this year. Mark was born just four minutes after Steve. Steve Waugh Steve Waugh was the ultimate epitome of sporting temperament, mental tenacity, consistency, and solidity. In a crisis, or when resurrecting a team from the grave, Steve Waugh was possibly the best batsman of his day. I can never forget the innumerable occasions he revived a sinking ship or conquered difficult wickets. He mastered all types of conditions—from the turning tracks of the subcontinent to the seaming English pitches, and the bouncy surfaces of Australia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. Steve began his career as an all-rounder against India in 1985-86, playing a pre...