Women helm protests on Mahila Kisan Diwas
From managing the dais, to partaking in kabbadi events and relay fasts, women lead protest activities
GHAZIABAD: Seventy-five-yearold Jasvir Kaur from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh is one of the 21 women who opted for the relay fast at the Up-gate protest site on Monday. About 20 metres from the relay fast site, Anjali Kumari, a class 9 student from Ambala aged 15 years, partook in a Kabaddi event on Monday At UP Gate, while protesting farmers observed the “Mahila Kisan Diwas” as a mark of respect for women farmers and their contribution in the ongoing protests.
Both Jasvir and Anjali said it is the word kisan (farmers) which binds them together and that they both came to UP Gate to show their solidarity with the protesting farmers. Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab are camping since November 28 and demanding repeal of three farm laws.
“I have been here for the past five-six days and opted to fast even though I’m old, in the hope that the government pays heed to our demands. We voted for them and they have to listen to our voice,” Jasvir said.
The relay-fast is taken up by 11 farmers each day, mostly men who fast in turns, but on Monday, women took the reins and 21 of them took part in the fast which goes on for 24 hours.
“I often come to UP Gate to participate in the farmers’ protest. So when I got to know about the Mahila Kisan Diwas, I decided to contribute in a way of fasting,” said Aatika Khan, an 18-year-old student from Delhi.
Dr Zeba Khan Bhartiya was also one of the women taking up the relay-fast. She has been participating in medical camps at the UP Gate and Singhu Border protest sites.
“Initially, people said that women and children at the protest site should go home but we women think differently. History tells us that women’s contribution has propelled major movements in the country to the course of success. Be it the freedom struggle or any major andolan (protest), women have contributed equally,” she added.
Women took up all the coordinating activities of the agitation at the UP Gate site, while men enjoyed the Kabaddi event.
About 70 young girls, from states such as UP, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, came to UP Gate for the women’s kabaddi event and supported farmers.
Like the previous wrestling event on January 10, this event was also held on the Delhi Meerut Expressway.
“Till now, I had been watching the farmers’ agitation on television and also read about it in newspapers. I came here as I wanted to see the farmers’ protest, and wanted to participate in kabaddi event too,” Anjali said.
“I was overwhelmed to see so many people. They cheered for us during the event, besides supporting us. I extended my support to their cause,” said Aarti Kumari, another participant .
The day also saw the arrival of families of the farmers who are stationed at UP Gate, who encouraged them to continue with their agitation.
“There were more than 50 women who wanted to be part of the relay-fast but we could finally accommodate only 21. The women volunteers coordinated the UP Gate protest site as well as the dais. Women also delivered speeches which were full of patriotic fervour and motivation. Some of the women speakers narrated the issues with the farm laws to a large gathering,” said Ravneet Kaur, a volunteer at the site.