Film

FARMING THE REVOLUTION

In November 2020, Gurbaz Sangha, a young farmer from Punjab, embarked on a remarkable
journey. Riding his tractor 400 kilometres to Delhi, he joined forces with thousands, and
later more than half a million, men and women from many parts of the country. Their
united mission: to stand against the newly enacted farm laws. These farmers believed that
if implemented, these laws would negatively impact the government-protected farmers’
markets, leaving the farmers to the vagaries of the free market. Amid a COVID lockdown,
the farmers – representing over half of India’s workforce – vowed to remain at the borders
until the laws were repealed. The protest cities that mushroomed outside Delhi created
a parallel world where they redefined co-existence, with women emerging as equal
political partners. Day after day, the protesters – largely overlooked by the mainstream
media – showcased India’s pluralistic, defiant and resilient spirit. As the movement gained
momentum, farmers from across the country, along with trade unions of industrial workers,
rallied in solidarity. The scale of these protests echoed the spirit of India’s independence
movement, culminating in an unexpected, triumphant outcome.