Farmers’ Day or Kisan Diwas

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