Archive · 3 Jan 2026
Books Analyze 2020-21 Farmers' Protest in India
Two books, Farmer Power and Hope for Everyone, talk about a big protest by farmers in India in 2020-2021.
The protest was against three new farm laws.
About 300,000 farmers camped near Delhi for a year.
The books explain how the protest was not just about the laws but also about democracy and farmers' rights.
One book looks at the politics and policies, while the other talks about the daily life and culture of the protest.
Both books show that the protest was important for bringing farmers' issues to the forefront.
The protest ended when the government took back the laws.
The books say this protest was about more than just the laws; it was about farmers having a say in decisions that affect them.
Two books, Farmer Power by Sudhir Kumar Suthar and Hope for Everyone by Virinder Singh Kalra, provide comprehensive accounts of the 2020-21 farmers' protest in India.
The protest was one of the largest mass mobilizations in contemporary India, with approximately 300,000 farmers camping at Delhi's borders for a year.
The protest was against three farm laws perceived as withdrawing state support and favoring corporate interests, leading to their repeal in November 2021.
Suthar's book focuses on the political and policy aspects, emphasizing the hybrid nature of the movement and its long-term buildup.
Kalra's book highlights the lived experiences and cultural expressions of the protest, focusing on hope, dignity, and solidarity among diverse groups.
- Who
- Farmers, laborers, women, Dalits, and various civil society groups
- What
- A protest against three farm laws in India
- When
- 2020-2021
- Where
- Delhi's borders, primarily at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur
- Why
- To oppose the farm laws perceived as withdrawing state support and favoring corporate interests
- Books
- Farmer Power by Sudhir Kumar Suthar, Hope for Everyone by Virinder Singh Kalra
- Protest Duration
- 2020-2021
- Protest Location
- Delhi's borders
- Estimated Protestors
- 300,000 farmers
- Key Organizations
- Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)
- Protest Outcome
- Repeal of three farm laws in November 2021
- Authors' Perspectives
- Political analysis (Suthar), Lived experience (Kalra)
- Central Concepts
- Hybridity (Suthar), Hope (Kalra)