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This book examines the farmers' protests in Punjab against the backdrop of agricultural corporatization and recent farm legislation. It provides a comprehensive analysis of agrarian movements in Punjab, tracing their evolution from land reform struggles to contemporary protests against pricing policies and corporate agriculture. Through detailed case studies, the authors explore the historical context of farmers' movements, the role of unions and cultural mobilization, the significance of folk songs in shaping protest narratives, and the complex relationship between Sikh identity and farmers' rights. The subject matter of this book also includes:
- Analysis of Punjab's farmers' protests against agricultural corporatization and the three farm laws
- Historical examination of agrarian movements in Punjab from land reforms to contemporary pricing disputes
- Detailed study of the role of farmers' unions, folk songs, and cultural mobilization in protest movements
- Exploration of women's participation and gender dynamics in recent farmers' agitations
- Critical assessment of center-state relations and discontent in Punjab's agricultural politics
Drawing on extensive fieldwork and historical analysis, the book offers insights into center-state relations, protest strategies, and the broader implications of agricultural policy in contemporary India.
This title has been co-published with Aakar Books. T&F does not sell or distrubute the print versions in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, and Maldives.
List of contents
Introduction
1. Politics of Agrarian Protests: Resistance to Corporatization of Agriculture in Punjab
- Historical Context
- Land Reforms and Farmers' Movements in Independent India
- Transformation of Farmers' Movement: From Land to Pricing
- Stagnation in Agriculture
- Diversification of Crops: A Non-Starter
- Genesis of Agrarian Protests: Early and Late Green Revolution
- Shaping of Contemporary Protests
- Anti-Centre Anger at the Grass Roots
- Negotiations
- Turning Point: State Response from Indifference
- Communal Twist
2. The Status of the Status Quo: Locating Punjab in Contemporary Farmers' Protest
- New Farm Laws and Farmers' Protest
- Dead Men Tell Long Tales: A Historical Aspect of Peasants Agitations in Punjab
- Role of the Farmers' Unions and Other Organizations in the Peasant Struggle in Punjab
- Role of Songs Singers and Women in the Recent Farmers' Protest
- Development Rush
- What Lies Ahead?
- The Verdict?
3. The Punjab Farmers' Agitation? Reaffirmation, Realignment and Renaissance
- Mobilizing Fear of Corporatization Through Folk Songs
- Three Shades of Green
- Shaping of Protest in Phases: Capturing the Role of
- Folk Songs
- A Sense of Anti-Centrism
- Role of Women in the Protest
- Process, Protestors and Narratives
- Identity Assertion: Sikhs and Farmers
- Setback, Revival and Victory
Appendix
References
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Pramod Kumar is Director, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, India. He Chaired Commissions on Governance Reforms for the States of Punjab and Haryana, India. His latest book is
The Idea of New India: Essays in Defence of Critical Thought.Kumool Abbi is Professor at the Department of Sociology while he also serves as Director at the Population Research Centre, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Amit Kumar is Research Officer, Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), Chandigarh, India.
