Farmers’ Protest 2.0: Ways of Resistance

As talks between farmer leaders and Indian govt. ministers went on for a week, after the first attempt to breach Shambhu barricades on 13 Feb, the farmers got a week to prepare for the 21 Feb attempt. In this week the ingenuity, the grit, and gumption of the farmers was on full display. On the first day, farmers started using wet gunny sacks to cover drone-dropped tear gas canisters. Since the security forces kept shelling the protestors, by the next day they started using kites to take the drones down. The farmers procured gas masks and refitted their tractors with iron grills. As security forces moved to pellet guns, the farmers got thick jackets to ward off rubber bullets. They invented fans and high-speed air blowers to change the direction of water thrown on them through water canons. Internet is cut off, so groups have gotten walkie-talkies to stay connected. On the eve of the 21 Feb march, farmers brought out heavily reinforced and modified earth-moving equipment – excavators, tippers, hydras and tractors, some on iron wheels to deal with the nails dug on the roads. The farmers moved these vehicles to the front of the demonstration to tackle the barricades. The farmers are on their way to Delhi. They have not made their encampments. They have their trolleys loaded with food grains, so langars – free kitchens – have started. Temporary dwelling arrangements are being made. Doctors have started volunteering to take care of the farmers. Shambu and Khanauri increasingly resemble Singhu and Tikri from the 2020-21 Farmers Protest. Yet, there is a sense of being midway, not having reached their destination. This restlessness is very combustible.