Farmers are considered the backbone of India’s economy and they are a major factor behind rural prosperity. As a mark of gratitude to them, the nation celebrates KISAN DIWAS or NATIONAL FARMERS’ DAY every year on 23 DECEMBER.
The country observes It is the birth anniversary of Choudhary Charan Singh, the fifth prime minister of India.
Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on 23 December, 1902 to a middle-class peasant family at Noorpur village in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. He served as the Prime Minister of India between 1979-1980 and contributed to several farmer-friendly land reform policies in the country. During his short tenure as the prime minister of the country, Chaudhary Charan Singh worked hard for the betterment of farmers. He introduced several welfare schemes for them. Singh’s regard for the aggrieving community was consistent from his days as a freedom fighter. To give relief to farmers from moneylenders and their atrocities, Chaudhary Charan Singh introduced Debt Redemption Bill back in 1939. From 1962-63, he also served as the Minister for Agriculture and Forests in Sucheta Kripalani’s Ministry.
Singh, who believed in living a simple life, spent most of his spare time reading and writing. During his lifetime, Singh wrote many books and pamphlets. Some of his famous writing are – Co-operative Farming X-rayed, Abolition of Zamindari, India’s Poverty and its Solution among others.