After 8 months of protesting in India between 2020 and 2021. Indian farmers overcame adversity but remained determined when the Indian government suspended farming bills.
Seasons and headlines have gradually changed, though the struggle continues to be a part of history.
A local farmer Surinder Singh, from Punjab, India, reflects on what he underwent that year and his views of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Surinder grows rice and wheat in his village in Ludhiana, Punjab and left his land and community to reside at Delhi's borders to provide food and supplies for those protesting in 2020.
Photography source: Isplash.com
"I remember the constant arrests, attacks, and being called terrorists, it was an anti-movement against us. I was residing in a tent at the time and it was not always easy. Water canons would be shot at our tents for no reason at all, the weather conditions were harsh, and health was declining.
Not to mention, members of a Hindu nationalist group, destroyed our tents shouting abuse at us and throwing stones. This was then followed by the police forces using batons and tear gas in their attempt to remove us.
But that never stopped us from tirelessly providing food and tea for those standing strong for farmers' rights, our dignity still remained. Our unions were not ready to back down from protesting until we saw these bills be revoked. We continued to hold signs up reading 'No Farmers, No Food' and that mattered to us." He said.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) depicted these protests as anti-national, especially through propaganda, this disheartened me.
Since Modi was elected as prime minister, I knew things were going to go downhill for India. His government cannot be like this forever, the future will not be bright, nor our generations. They change laws just like that and act so unjustly, it's terrifying to remember.
If we had stayed quiet, who knows what other damage Modi and his government could have done." He added.
Comentarios