It had to take a farmer to hang himself at a political rally to draw the attention of the nation to their plight. Ironically the death of the farmer had little impact and the rally continued after a short break. The magnitude of their misery is alarming and yet we consciously tend to shut our minds to their plight.
More farmers are dying in one day than all swine flu deaths recorded in Mumbai during the recent epidemic that scared the daylights out of Mumbaikars. For generations farmers have been systematically exploited by the rulers. Before independence it was out of colonial compulsions. Now it’s a political expediency to keep them poor.
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
