History and Art and Culture
Context: On 23 December every year, Kisan Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the fifth prime minister of India Choudhary Charan Singh and his contributions towards agriculture.
About Farmers’ Day or Kisan Diwas:
- It is celebrated to honour India’s farmers along with Choudhary Charan Singh.
- It was celebrated for the first time in 2001.
- Aims to educate people on the role of farmers and their contribution to the economy.
About Choudhary Charan Singh:
- He was born in middle-class peasant family in Uttar Pradesh in 1902.
- He was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings.
- He also took part in India’s fight for independence.
- He is known for his pioneering work in agriculture sector.
Political Career:
- His political career was largely focused on socialism in rural India.
- He served twice as chief minister of India’s state Uttar Pradesh.
- He was behind major bills such as Land Utilisation Bill of 1939 and Debt Redemption Bill in 1939 related to farmers.
- He stopped Zamindari system and made Land Conservation Act in 1954 to help farmers.
- He founded non-political, non-profit making body ‘Kisan Trust’ in 1978.
- Its aim is educating India’s rural masses against injustice, and fostering solidarity among them.
- He served as Indian prime minister between 1979 and 1980.
- He was given the sobriquet ‘Champion of India’s Peasants’ for his work towards the upliftment of farmers and the development of agriculture throughout the country.
Major works: He was the author of several books and pamphlets that includes:
- Abolition of Zamindari
- Co-operative Farming X-rayed
- India’s Poverty and its Solution
- Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers
- Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum
Source: NewsOnAir
