Singhu Border—Every morning Somveer Singh of Khatkar village in Sonipat, travels to Singhu border to sit with other farmers who are on holding peaceful sit-ins against the new farm laws passed in September. Apart from giving moral support to his community by adding to the ever-swelling congregation of farmers coming here from across the country, he has another task at hand—to bring home dirty clothes of those who are camping there and get them washed at his home. Next day, he goes to the venue again, fresh clothes in tow. “Is mein koi baddi baat ni sai. Mhaare bhai jo kar re hain va hai asli jung(It is not big deal getting their clothes washed compared to what these people are striving for. They are waging a war for their survival),” he says in chaste Haryanvi.
These small gestures outline the story of farmers who have braved police brutality to reach Singhu and Tikri border to strengthen their demand for revoking the farm laws. For the last eight days, thousands are pitched along the Delhi-Haryana border in small trucks, trolleys and tractors, defying harsh cold with a moving resilience. “When I camped here for two days, I saw they were finding it difficult to wash their clothes. That is when I decided that I will participate in the sit-in during the day and go back home to get their clothes washed. Thoda sa kaam toh baantna chahiye jab yeh itna kar rahe hain(We should take away the headache of small chores at least when they are doing so much for us),” smiles Singh.
There are many like Singh in nearby villages of Haryana who have extended more than their voice to the agitating farmers, in what can be seen as symbolic refuting of claims by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar that no farmer from his state is part of the agitation. Rohtash Kumar from Dulhera village in Bahadurgarh has been bringing fresh vegetables from his fields every few days and also gets farmers’ clothes washed at his home. “I want to tell all those casting aspersions on my brothers from Punjab that Punjab is Haryana’s badda bhai(elder brother). Aur hum saath hain apne badde bhai ke sau per cent(And we are with our elder brother completely),” asserts Kumar.
Tractors full of fresh seasonal vegetables from nearby Haryana villages reach the farmers every day along with copious amount of milk for tea. Instead of selling their vegetables in mandis, they are happily directing the supplies to the langars at Singhu-Tikri border. Villagers, most of who are farmers themselves, say they feel the pain of those at the forefront and want to contribute in whatever way they can. “When we are partaking in the langar here, it is equally important that we give back too. It does not matter if we aren’t able to earn anything from our produce. We will sacrifice anything for these farmers who are fighting for their rights,” Dhoop Singh of Munda Khera village near Rohtak says.
In another act of solidarity, villages in Punjab have unanimously decided to water the fields of those who are part of the sit-ins at Delhi border. FW learnt that announcements are being made in villages, urging those who have stayed back to contribute to the struggle in this manner. “I am overwhelmed to see how people from close by villages are helping our cause with this seemingly small but magnanimous expression of support. It is a befitting reply to those who tried to paint the campaign as that of only Punjab farmers. Everyone is affected and hence everyone is united,” says Punjabi singer Harf Cheema who has been camping at Singhu border since day one of the protest.
