Farmers Movement Archive

They don’t till the land, but are here to farm support

New Delhi: Though not a farmer like his father, Gurpreet is active in the farmers’ protest at Singhu in his own way. He exhibits his art works depicting stories of struggles and protests. “Mere paas zameen nahin hai, zameer hai (I don’t have land, but I have a conscience),” quipped 44-year-old Gurpreet near the main stage at site of the farmers’ protest at the border. He is not the only one from a generation that is no longer into farming but still fervent about the cause. Truck driver Sarabjit Singh also reached Singhu on Thursday night, while government school teacher Sukhwinder Singh has been at the protest site since November 26. On Friday, Gurpreet, a resident of Bathinda, put up his works on the shutters of the wine and beer shop at Singhu. His exhibition of drawings of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, political satires and humorous paintings depicting Diljit Dosanj and Kangana Ranaut attracted the protesters and 20 prints were snapped up in no time. “These are stories of those who are discriminated, with the government towering above them,” explained the artist. “Right now, just one section of the farmers has risen in protest. Imagine what would happen when farmers across India remonstrate. I paint stories of such struggles.” Gurpreet also recently joined Twitter to counter false narratives about the tillers’ protest. A few metres from the police barricades stood Sarabjit Singh’s colourful truck carrying both a large poster of an old farmer and the flag of Canada and Australia. Sarabjit explained, “My two brothers stay in Canada and Australia. They wanted to show their support even if they could not be here in person.” Sukhbir Singh, who is a small-time farmer, interjected to add, “Sarabjit gathered all of us from the village and drove us here to support the protesters.” Science teacher Sukhwinder Singh from Fatehpur hasn’t let the fact that he is not a farmer cloud his vision. Present at the protest for two weeks now, he said, “Though I may not be farming for a living, the new laws are going to affect us indirectly. We were required to stand up to the government, which passed the three black Acts consulting the farmers. That is why we have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the older farmers.” On Friday, even budding cricketers from Dharoki village from Patiala sat in protest to express solidarity with the older members of the community. Punjabi singer Nirvair Pannu also arrived at Singhu to support the protest.

The Times of India

2020-12-11

Delhi