Farmers Following Gandhi’s Message Of Satyagraha

Why Indian farmers’ protests are being called a ‘satyagraha’ – which means ’embracing the truth’ Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University For the past few months, farmers protesting in India’s capital, New Delhi, have been demanding the repeal of three farm laws that were passed last year. These largely peaceful protests have been referred to as a “satyagraha” by many in the Indian media, politicians and activists. As a political scientist who writes on Indian politics and society, I argue that the choice of this word, which means “embracing the truth,” is important to note. It evokes a long political history that …