The united movement of the peasantry with unprecedented support from the working class and a wide cross-section of society achieved what was deemed impossible; the most authoritarian of regimes considered invincible, to bow down and accept major demands of the struggle. Modi led BJP Government withdrew all three contentious farm laws on 19 November 2021.
The massive show of anger and disapproval against the BJP Government is not a spontaneous outburst against a perceived injustice to farmers. It is rather a result of meticulous efforts to build broad issue-based unity of farmers over the last seven years.
In 2015 the Bhumi Adhikar Andolan (Movement for Land Rights) saw the unity of over 300 organisations of the peasantry, farmers, tribal people, Dalits, fishing community etc., together against indiscriminate land grab. Struggles by this unity forced the regime to withdraw an Ordinance aimed at facilitating corporate land grab.
In 2017 yet another Issue-Based Unity called All India Kisan Sangharsh (Farmers Struggle) Co-ordination Committee was formed around the two issues of assured remunerative prices at least 50 % more than the cost of production and freedom from indebtedness. More than 250 farmers organisations are part of this Unity which launched many struggles as well as drafted two Bills from amidst the protests which are in Parliament as Private Member Bills. These cross-class issue-based unities that cut across castes, religions and regions that launched many struggles created an atmosphere as well as fertile ground for bigger actions.
The march led by the landless farmers in April 2015 in Karnataka against the ordinance was a prominent one. It involved marches from three different points in the State converging in a massive rally at Bangalores Freedom Park. A dedicated team of Kisan Sabha cadres marched about 466 kilometres to reach Bangalore. Another much larger march started from Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur district completing 100 kilometres to reach the States capital. The third march was from Srinivasapura in Kolar district 104 kilometres away. I had marched for 4 days and covered 100 kilometres and participated in the massive rally held at the conclusion of the marches. The effort primarily by the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha affiliated to All India Kisan Sabha supported by the All India Agricultural Workers Union, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions; almost independently under the red flag could draw to the concluding rally different farmers organisations, Dalit organisations and civil society groups with flags of all hues as well as a cross-section of leaders.
AIKS had independently organised the Kisan Sangharsh Jatha that had moved through different States and had a massive mobilisation at Delhi on 26th November 2016, which also turned into the first All India protest after the demonetisation.
The Nashik-Mumbai Kisan Long March starting from the land of the historic Warli Adivasi struggle covered about 186 kilometres again with thousands rallying under the red flag in an independent struggle led by the All India Kisan Sabha. This struggle again was by raising the issues of land rights, forest rights, food security; social security pensions and against indiscriminate land acquisition along with the local burning issues including remunerative prices for their produce and waiver of loans.
The Long March witnessed unbound energy of the landless peasantry, the Adivasis, agricultural labour, especially the women who marched undeterred by the blistered and bleeding feet. It also saw a never-before kind of solidarity emerging with different sections of society coming forward in support of the farmers, motorists bowing in reverence to the peasants whom people see as Annadatas (providers of food) and the broad spectrum of the opposition political parties vying to be seen as the well-wishers of the peasantry.
The Kisan Long March shook the conscience of people, caught the imagination of the masses and the capitulation of the ruling government and acceptance of all the demands sent a message that victory was possible when masses are on the move. These struggles inspired the cross class unity of farmers, dalits and the downtrodden which ultimately inspired historic farmer's struggle and the repeal of three anti - people farm laws introduced by Modi Government.
