I took the Rajdhani express from Sealdah Station for Delhi on 14th January to join the farmers’ movement. Immediately after reaching Delhi the next day, I straightway went to the Head office of the All India Kissan Sabha (AIKS). I first met Comrade Hannan Mollah to plan my visit to the Delhi border to know about the ongoing farmers movement. The same day evening I reached Haryana’s Tikri border and met the farmer there and discussed my plan to work there. A.I.K.S arranged my stay in one of the tents. On 16th January our luggage arrived from Kolkata and as planned, I started working. Apart from working on my drawings and sketches, I also met the farmers gathered there to know about their issues and problems and why it was important for them to sit day in and day out to protest peacefully. It was also important for me to meet the farmers’ relatives, the farmer, and left leaders, all the ex-defense personnel, housewives,, students, and a cross-section of people who were active participants in the movement. I started observing the activities of the participants and enthusiastically started sketching and drawing and at the same time started working on my sculpture. In the evening I took part in the singing and dancing sessions. Some of them took me in their village homes where I met with their relatives, stayed at their houses, and discussed about the ongoing movement and its importance in their lives.
Haryana, 2021, Image Courtesy: The Artist
What impressed me most was their sincere and honest involvement in the movement, and their resolve to fight till the farm laws are repealed. The most interesting aspect was the entire movement was non-violent and their astounding success in connecting with the larger population of the country cutting across religion, language, culture, and profession. I was able to make many sketches and drawings reflecting the daily activities at the protest site, the life at the site which are witness to existential………
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