An Outline History of All India Kisan Sabha 1 An Outline History of All India Kisan Sabha 1 Preface The Kisan movement has taken an important place in the arena of popular struggles during the last few years against the neo-liberal economic policy pursued by successive governments since the early nineties. The impact of this policy on our rural economy has been lethal, intensifying the agrarian crisis in the country. The All India Kisan Sabha took a consistent stand against neo-liberalism. The democratic and particularly the Left movement in the country forced the Manmohan Singh government to take specific steps like enactment of a number of laws such as the MNREGA 2005, the Forest Rights Act 2009 and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. However, these Acts were not implemented properly by the UPA government. In 2014 a new right wing, pro-corporate, anti- peasant, anti-working people and communal government came to power, under the leadership of Narendra Modi. This government was anti-peasant from day one, though they made many high- sounding promises to the farmers of the country before the elections. The All India Kisan Sabha took up a very firm position against those policies and built up a series of struggles against the Modi government. The spread of the struggle in different parts of the country was unprecedented. When the country was almost blind to the severe crisis faced by the farming community, the Kisan movement highlighted their issues before the nation, forced the government to retreat in some cases and compelled the media to take note of these matters, successfully bringing the issues of the peasantry in the national spotlight. Different Kisan organisations including AIKS, independently and jointly came to the forefront of the democratic movement in the country. 2 3 Preface The Kisan movement has taken an important place in the arena of popular struggles during the last few years against the neo-liberal economic policy pursued by successive governments since the early nineties. The impact of this policy on our rural economy has been lethal, intensifying the agrarian crisis in the country. The All India Kisan Sabha took a consistent stand against neo-liberalism. The democratic and particularly the Left movement in the country forced the Manmohan Singh government to take specific steps like enactment of a number of laws such as the MNREGA 2005, the Forest Rights Act 2009 and the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. However, these Acts were not implemented properly by the UPA government. In 2014 a new right wing, pro-corporate, anti- peasant, anti-working people and communal government came to power, under the leadership of Narendra Modi. This government was anti-peasant from day one, though they made many high- sounding promises to the farmers of the country before the elections. The All India Kisan Sabha took up a very firm position against those policies and built up a series of struggles against the Modi government. The spread of the struggle in different parts of the country was unprecedented. When the country was almost blind to the severe crisis faced by the farming community, the Kisan movement highlighted their issues before the nation, forced the government to retreat in some cases and compelled the media to take note of these matters, successfully bringing the issues of the peasantry in the national spotlight. Different Kisan organisations including AIKS, independently and jointly came to the forefront of the democratic movement in the country. 2 3 The AIKS has played an important role during the last 4-5 years provided support throughout. Ashok Kumari of SAHMAT to intensify the Kisan movement along with other organisations. A volunteered to undertake printing of the book. Com. S.R. Pillai new wave of united Kisan movementshave emerged in the course reviewed the book to check the facts and authenticity of the events of time. With the growth of such struggles, the AIKS has also and made some suggestions for improvement. I greatly appreciate gathered strength during this period. The organisational activities their contribution in completing the book in time. of the AIKS haveincreased manifold and the task before it has been I am happy that P.Sundarayya Trust has taken the responsibility to build the movement and ensure unity to strengthen the democratic to publish the book. Thanks to the comrades of the Kisan Sabha movement in the country. Under the circumstances, the AIKS has centre - Com. Ashok Dhawale, Com. Vijoo Krishnan, Com. P. had to strengthen its activities ideologically, politically and Krishna Prasad, Com. N.K. Shukla, Com. Manoj Kumar, Com RC organisationally. For that purpose, the AIKS has started education Yadaw, Com Sumit Roy, Com Babu Mohanan, Com. Nidhin VS camps for its cadres and activists. The AIKS has decided to organise and Com Niloo Shrivastava for assisting and encouraging me to study and research on agrarian issues. The P. Sundarayya Trust was write this book. set up to take up this job and publish relevant books and documents. Hannan Mollah The AIKS has also discussed the need to have a book on the history of the Kisan Sabha. Two important books that were written on this subject were, A History of Kisan Sabha by Com. M.A. Rasul and The History of the Kisan Sabha by H.K.S Surjeet, which were published three decades ago and are not available now. Besides, those books were large. Therefore, a short outline history of the AIKS was required for the education of our present day comrades. The AIKS has set up a commission to write an exhaustive history of the Kisan movement and Com. S.R. Pillai has been entrusted with the job. In the meantime, a short, handy and updated book was required. To meet that demand, I took up the responsibility to write it and “An Outline History of All India Kisan Sabha”, is the product of this endeavour. This book is based mainly on the two books already mentioned above. Almost all the information, facts and incidents have been taken from the books of Com. Rasul and Com. Surjeet. Many sections are summarised versions of Com Rasul’s book. I have also followed the format of the book though updated sections are written on the basis of the conference reports and some other documents. I hope this short book would be handy for our comrades to learn and teach the history of Kisan Sabha within and outside the organisation. The entire book was typed by my daughter Uzma and edited by my son Nazeef and Arnab Banerjee. Comrade Maimoona 4 5 The AIKS has played an important role during the last 4-5 years provided support throughout. Ashok Kumari of SAHMAT to intensify the Kisan movement along with other organisations. A volunteered to undertake printing of the book. Com. S.R. Pillai new wave of united Kisan movementshave emerged in the course reviewed the book to check the facts and authenticity of the events of time. With the growth of such struggles, the AIKS has also and made some suggestions for improvement. I greatly appreciate gathered strength during this period. The organisational activities their contribution in completing the book in time. of the AIKS haveincreased manifold and the task before it has been I am happy that P.Sundarayya Trust has taken the responsibility to build the movement and ensure unity to strengthen the democratic to publish the book. Thanks to the comrades of the Kisan Sabha movement in the country. Under the circumstances, the AIKS has centre - Com. Ashok Dhawale, Com. Vijoo Krishnan, Com. P. had to strengthen its activities ideologically, politically and Krishna Prasad, Com. N.K. Shukla, Com. Manoj Kumar, Com RC organisationally. For that purpose, the AIKS has started education Yadaw, Com Sumit Roy, Com Babu Mohanan, Com. Nidhin VS camps for its cadres and activists. The AIKS has decided to organise and Com Niloo Shrivastava for assisting and encouraging me to study and research on agrarian issues. The P. Sundarayya Trust was write this book. set up to take up this job and publish relevant books and documents. Hannan Mollah The AIKS has also discussed the need to have a book on the history of the Kisan Sabha. Two important books that were written on this subject were, A History of Kisan Sabha by Com. M.A. Rasul and The History of the Kisan Sabha by H.K.S Surjeet, which were published three decades ago and are not available now. Besides, those books were large. Therefore, a short outline history of the AIKS was required for the education of our present day comrades. The AIKS has set up a commission to write an exhaustive history of the Kisan movement and Com. S.R. Pillai has been entrusted with the job. In the meantime, a short, handy and updated book was required. To meet that demand, I took up the responsibility to write it and “An Outline History of All India Kisan Sabha”, is the product of this endeavour. This book is based mainly on the two books already mentioned above. Almost all the information, facts and incidents have been taken from the books of Com. Rasul and Com. Surjeet. Many sections are summarised versions of Com Rasul’s book. I have also followed the format of the book though updated sections are written on the basis of the conference reports and some other documents. I hope this short book would be handy for our comrades to learn and teach the history of Kisan Sabha within and outside the organisation.