Harda, Madhya Pradesh: Kedar Sirohi believes in speaking up. The founder-member of non-political farmers’ organization Aam Kisan Union says farmers who do not speak up will not be able to sell their produce. He uses a common Hindi saying in Madhya Pradesh to make his point: “Jo na bole uska sona bhi nahi bikta aur jo bole uski raakh tak bik jaati hain (The one who does not speak up cannot sell even his gold while the one who speaks manages to sell even ash)”.
In 2011, this articulate farmer founded the union to give farmers a voice. Six years later, when Sirohi and those associated with his organization speak up, the powers-that-be in Madhya Pradesh, where Aam Kisan Union is at the vanguard of farmers’ protests for a farm loan waiver, listen.
“We use creative and novel ways to get our point across. In their time, my grandfather and father, who were also farmers, would say who listens to farmers if they complain. Things have changed and a majority of farmers who are leading the protest across Madhya Pradesh are young and assertive,” Sirohi says. Read More.
In 2011, this articulate farmer founded the union to give farmers a voice. Six years later, when Sirohi and those associated with his organization speak up, the powers-that-be in Madhya Pradesh, where Aam Kisan Union is at the vanguard of farmers’ protests for a farm loan waiver, listen.
“We use creative and novel ways to get our point across. In their time, my grandfather and father, who were also farmers, would say who listens to farmers if they complain. Things have changed and a majority of farmers who are leading the protest across Madhya Pradesh are young and assertive,” Sirohi says. Read More.