WAYU Conference on the Greatest Agrarian Uprising in History

For its second online event of the year, WAYU met with Prof. Atul Sood of Jawaharlal Nehru University and Navkiran Natt of the Youth Union of India, to understand the greatest agrarian uprising in history and to stand in solidarity with the 250 million Indian farmers taking part in the protests.

After months of action against neoliberal farm laws and misgovernment, the farmers carried their protest to New Delhi. They refuse to accept the new farm laws on the grounds that these will reduce their earnings and ultimately leave them landless. The farmers demand the withdrawal of the so-called agricultural reform and a legal guarantee of a minimum support price.

In his talk, Prof. Atul Sood said that the protests have strong political leadership and that the farmers’ demands will certainly achieve results.

Navkiran Natt of the Youth Union of India said it was highly significant that women farmers were taking part in the protests against the laws and that women held leading positions in the actions — a first in India. Natt also drew attention to the fact that a considerable share of the participants came from the country’s minorities, and to the important role of the Muslim population in the protest.