Farmers Movement Archive

Sporting laundry by champions, for farmers

Sportsmen, current and former, from Punjab and Haryana take turns washing an estimated 2,000 pairs of clothes daily at a make-shift laundry set up by them near the exit of a vacated shopping mall on the fringe of the farmers’ agitation at the Singhu border. The laundry comprises two washing machines and over half-a-dozen plastic tubs, used for soaking garments both before and after being machine-washed. The collective also provides everything from hair oil and toothpaste to undergarments and shawls to the protesting farmers, from their open camp at the Kessel Grand Mall, located at the beginning of Kundli in Haryana’s Sonipat. “How do you like our set-up?” asked Nishant Singh, a young kabaddi player in charge of receiving dirty garments and handing over washed ones to their rightful owners. “We also have mosquito repellent coils, creams and hair oil,” he said. “Shawls, socks, blankets, mattresses, biscuits and, of course, bottles of mineral water – we try to provide every sewa (service) to make the farmers’ stay as convenient as possible; especially for the elderly ones,” added Telu Bhatti, an ex-kabaddi player. Prabhjot Singh Jhaj, a kabaddi coach from Phagwara, said the collective has been offering its services for the last five days. “Ours is the only laundry here so far. A few days ago, sportsmen from the rural part of our State [Punjab] and Haryana — hockey, kabaddi and the like — decided to do something to help the farmers who set up camp here two weeks ago and we have been here since,” Mr. Jhaj said. ‘We work 12 hours a day’ “Both machines work non-stop for 12 hours each and so do we. Our service will continue till the agitation continues,” he said as he squeezed excess water from a shirt. Gurdeep Singh Deepa, also from Phagwara, said players from different sports took turns to offer their services at the camp. “We have sportsmen – both current players and formers ones from each State – taking turns to do sewa here. We took different career decisions but what binds us with the agitating farmers here is that our fathers were farmers just like them,” Mr. Deepa said. “These laws will destroy the average farmer in ways that are irreversible. We cannot watch that happen. We have represented our State and sometimes even the country in the name of pride and honour. This time we are here for the farmers’ honour even if by cleaning their dirty clothes,” he added.

The Hindu

2020-12-10

New Delhi