A Farmer, His Majesty, Whose Struggle Was Greater: A Vikram-Betal Story

Across the dining table, my daughter asked me “why the farmers are on a strike.” I said, “ We as parents decide that we know you well enough and decide your marriage with an XYZ on a certain date, how will you respond?” She said, “of course I will protest, go on a strike, shut myself in a room, and so on.” I said,” Likewise, farmers are doing the same since the government like the overbearing parents decided they know what is best for the farmers.” We all had a good laugh.

Somewhere on the outskirts of Delhi

“It is said that one reaps what one sow. But the farmer's lot is such many times we weep after what we sow.” Said the leader in his opening remark. He continued “they say our struggle is only a show and we don’t understand the laws, we are confused and misled by so and so!”

The leader eloquent in his speech quoted from Thirukural

“They live who live to plow and eat

The rest behind them bow and eat.”

His Majesty was listening and scoffed at his speechwriters as to how they had missed such a beautiful quote. His magic this time didn’t work and the farmer's lot were angry and upset and laid a siege of the capital.

If it had been his enemies who had laid the siege, they would have been blasted by his mighty army, the fourth strongest in the world. So, he unleashed his next best troll brigade on the hapless farmers. Troll brigade went hammer and tongs with their words. They called the farmers khalistanis (terrorists from Punjab). His cabinet ministers went on a huddle. Yet no solution was forthcoming.

The leader continued “In a way, our struggle was a repeat of history. Way back in the 1940s dairy farmers in the Kheda district went on a milk strike. They preferred to pour the milk on the earth rather than supplying it to Polson Dairy, run by an Englishman, who was paying a pittance. The great Sardar Patel had sent his man Morarji Desai who had advised them to go on a strike.

The English men thought how long can the farmers go on such a strike and they did nothing. But the farmers continued their strike and the tea did not taste as the regular tea minus the milk and the English men bowed to the farmers. AMUL was born and created history.

Now as we are entering the 10th day, the center must be thinking like the Englishmen. What with bitter cold, smog, and COVID, the forces of nature are arraigned against us. Should we give up? “he asked the farmers’ lot. A resounding ‘NO’ reverberated. The resonance was heard in the Lok Kalyan Marg and shook His Majesty from his siesta and he started rumination like his favorite cow.

It had been a restless week for him. It has been so since he heard the news of GDP results in the second quarter. The country got placed at the bottom of the heap. Not a few months ago he had declared that he will lead the economy to a 5 trillion USD one in five years of time. Now this result.

He recalled Murphy’s law ‘if things can go wrong it will.’ He got into a reflective mood. He had declared that COVID would be in control in twenty-one days and he had quoted the Mahabharata war to inspire his countrymen. Now only the vaccine can bring cheer.

All of a sudden, the neighbors were squeezing hard. He recalled that during his first swearing ceremony that he had called all his neighbors and their presence was considered to be a masterstroke. What has gone wrong? He wondered. Implementing some electoral promises had begun to yield negative dividends.

His nemesis Pappu was blaming demonetization for the economy’s status. True all the money had come back. Doesn’t it mean that black money has been cleared out of the system? That was what he had promised. Indeed, the poor suffered. Anyway, they always suffer, nothing new about it. Be it floods, drought, economic policy, COVID poor were the first ones to suffer. That has been the human law since time immemorial.

His best friend from America had also lost and he was left alone. He got shocked to learn that feedback from his monthly ‘heart to heart’ talk showed it was receiving more dislikes than likes.

His two desi friends were doing well. One has become the 4th richest person in the world. Isn’t that a matter of pride for his countrymen? Yes of course many poor are skipping meals. Why can’t one call it fasting? It has been a part of the Hindu tradition.

2020 was fast becoming a disaster. How does Dhoni or for that matter Rohit manage to keep cool in 2020 cricket and emerge a great finisher? They not only manage the Indian team but manage to fulfill the expectation of 1.38 billion country-men. He must confabulate with Dhoni and learn his secrets of the trade.

Betal finished his narration and asked the customary question to Vikramaditya. You have heard the story of the humble farmer and His Majesty’s. Tell me oh! King Vikramaditya whose struggle is greater.

Vikram thought for a while. Then he said from time immemorial farmers’ struggle has always been there. I have seen many kings have come and gone. The farmers’ plight has remained the same. One is not surprised by their situation and there is no great wonder is this.

But His Majesty’s struggle causes me great wonder. A little over a year ago he had won the elections with a thumping majority. Through democracy, he had created a monarchy. No parallel in history as such. He had everything going on for him. The institutions that were meant as checks and balances had bowed down before him. The supreme judges had become some sort of court jesters. Of course, the economy plagued him even before COVID. He created a mass exodus of people, yet again, unheard in history. But still, people voted for him in the recent elections, foolish they were. Yet he is seen to struggle in spite of all his powers, the troll brigade at his disposal, and no one to question him.

Without doubt, His Majesty’s struggle is greater and sheer wonderment. Betal was more than pleased with Vikram’s answer and went on to its resting place on the tree.