No Farmers, No Food
National hero and India’s most famous freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi said, “There's enough on this planet for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s greed.” India is the world’s largest democracy, but its democratic practices have come into question for many years now due to the greed of the 1%. However, since Narendra Modi was elected in 2014 as the Prime Minister, it would appear that India’s democratic governance has declined. The rule of law has decayed, and the civil rights and liberties of Indian citizens have been severely compromised. One of the most prominent acts of resistance can be seen through the farmers’ protests occurring in Delhi, the nation’s capital, with a majority of support from Punjab. These protests coined the term, “No Farmers, No Food” whilst challenging Prime Minister Modi’s agricultural reform laws to be repealed. These laws minimized the government’s direct role in the agricultural sector and created space for private companies and investors. On paper, it appeared to be in the best interest of the farmers, but in reality, this left farmers at the mercy of corporations. The removal of government protections also meant the removal of guaranteed minimum prices for various crops. Even before the protests occurred, farmers were struggling to make ends meet, so when Modi’s administration passed laws in order to remove these government protections, they were met with resistance and anger from farmers as well as the working class in Punjab and other parts of India.
The protests began in 2020 and have continued into 2023. These highly organized and peaceful protests were met with violence ranging from water cannons to excessive force to internet shutdowns. All acts endangering the democracy of India. Due to the numerous attacks on minority groups and the attacks on those who oppose the administration, it can be argued that India is on its way to becoming a quasi-authoritarian state; the farmers’ protests are a clear indication of that.
To understand why India might potentially transition to being an authoritarian state, one must understand the actions that have led to this shift. The Indian government has a long history of violence and conflict with many minority groups, especially Sikhs in Punjab, a state of India. Modi’s administration is a continuation of that violence as they have openly spoken about their anti-Sikh sentiments. The most devastating of attacks was the 1984 attack, also known as Operation Blue Star. This attack was led by the Indian army against Sikh temples across Punjab, with the Golden Temple being their biggest target. In addition to damaging the holiest site in Sikhism, thousands died and many more with scars that will never heal.
Moving forward to Modi’s administration, there have been constant efforts to dismantle the system in Punjab in which farmers can sell their crops. This system was already broken to begin with as 68% of farmers own less than one hectare of land, only 6% receive the government's guaranteed price support, and yet 90% of farmers are selling their produce in an inequitable market. The three laws Modi passed would diminish the few rights farmers still possess which led to an uproar not only within Punjab but from the Indian diaspora abroad. The first law, The Farmers’ Product Trade and Commerce Act, allowed farmers to sell their goods outside of the Agriculture Produce Market Committees. The second law, The Farmers Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, allowed farmers to participate in contract farming and sell their goods to the free market. The third act, The Essential Commodities Act, is an amendment that increased the goods allowed in free trade such as edible oils, onions, and other foodgrains. These laws were marketed to help strengthen the agricultural sector in India through privatization, but the lack of a minimum support price (MSP) instills fear and anger in farmers throughout Punjab and India leaving their futures and livelihoods in a precarious position.
The most recent was the farmers’ protest in March of 2023. The use of social media within these protests has become a powerful tool as it helps spread awareness and gather support from populations abroad. The protest even led to both Indian and non-Indian populations organizing protests in the United States and Canada to fundraise, spread awareness, and support the cause.
The farmers’ protests throughout the years have been motivated by the Indian government’s attempts to open the agricultural market to private buyers. This was a veiled attempt to eliminate the Mandi System which guaranteed farmers a minimum support price for their sale. By doing so millions of farmers would be forced to sell to a handful of large agribusiness corporations who will only buy at extremely low rates. Additionally, if a large corporation violates any contract with farmers, the laws put into place by Modi, and the new law would prohibit farmers from seeking reparations in court. This legislation further helps big businesses, but not farmers.
Some argue that the farmers’ protests are an overreaction and misunderstanding of the Indian government’s intentions to help the working class by opening up the markets to allow free trade. This is seen through the second and third acts passed where more goods are available in the free market such as onions and edibles oils. Additionally, the second act allows farmers to participate in contract farming. Both of these statements are true in the sense that farmers would be allowed to participate in free trade as well as sell more goods in this market; however, a complete removal of government intervention and no MSP leaves farmers vulnerable. A lack of transparency about what these new laws would entail in addition to the historically bad relationship amongst people in Punjab and the Indian government has escalated the conflict amongst the two groups.
It is difficult to declare what would be the best compromise given both groups have their own agendas to fulfill, but a step in the right direction would be allowing representatives from Punjab and neighboring affected states to advocate for farmers on an administrative level. This is an ongoing battle, but both parties are unwavering in their dedication to their cause and beliefs, especially the farmers. In addition to electing representatives, an open line of communication is vital to getting on the path for reformation in an otherwise difficult situation. Without the Indian government making concessions they intend to keep, these protests will continue to plague the country with tension and strife.
Despite being met with aggressive acts, the farmers’ protests are one of many examples of peaceful resistance against the Indian government. Even though it has led to conflict and violence, it is a strong display of resistance to uphold democracy and the civil liberties of its citizens. This is especially important as India is moving towards an authoritarian administration that compels its citizens to conform to the views and ideologies of the administration. Despite the Indian administration’s endeavors to stop the protests through acts of aggression, they ultimately repealed the laws Modi passed and restored some of the safety and security that farmers demanded when selling their crops. Although the farmers have maintained their resistance against the Indian government and made great strides in their movement in recent years, it has led to discussions of why these protests are recurring and more importantly, what their success means.
One of the biggest threats to India’s democracy has been a lack of accountability for the laws and aggressions the government has been making towards minority groups. The farmers’ protests in Punjab are one of the many examples of challenging India’s changing democracy. There have been many acts of resistance before such as the 1989 Meerut Riots, the 1989 Bhagalpur Riots, and the 2002 Gujarat Riots, but the farmers’ protests are unique because they are peaceful, highly organized, and have enacted change. Additionally, these protests have garnered unprecedented attention and support from populations not only in India but also abroad. Many human rights and civil liberties organizations have spoken out about the unacceptable behavior of the Indian government and their lack of respect for democracy. This movement led to protests in all parts of the world where people stood in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Punjab. However, their success in repealing these acts is not the end of the fight but the beginning of a war. This is a small step in the right direction, despite the war against India’s democracy collapsing being an ongoing one. As this movement attracts more support, it will prompt more discussions about the health of India’s democracy and the destructive path it is currently on.