THE INDIAN PEASANT

The majority of Indian people live in villages. The main occupation of the villagers is cultivation. Hence peasants form the bulk of the Indian population. The condition of the peasants is very miserable. They suffer silently. It's really unfortunate that those who feed the entire nation have themselves to starve.

Formerly the peasants cultivated land under rich land owners. The land owners extracted heavy rent from the tenants. They didn't spend money over the improvement of land. The peasants had to depend for production upon the monsoon. There was no arrangement for irrigation. Floods and droughts were frequent. All these caused them great suffering moreover , the Indian peasants remained unemployed for 6 months in a year. They had no other occupation for spare time. As a result of all these, the condition of the farmers was very miserable.
Since India achieved independence, the government has done much to improve the condition of the peasants. The zamindari system has been abolished. Big project have been taken up for controlling floods and for irrigating land by means of canals Community project have been started to develop the whole villages. Electricity is being extended to villages new road are being built, and the villages are being made neat and clean. Effort are afoot to introduce scientific method of agriculture with the help of scientific manures and implements. All these measures are sure to improve the lot of the Indian peasants in course of time.

The Indian peasants have been poor from time immemorial. Hence, they have turned fatalists. They are victims of superstitions and false prestige. But gradually they are becoming enlightened . Now they themselves think how to improve their lot.
There is one special feature in Indian PEASANTS which must be mentioned. They are extremely simple. They are also honest, hospitable and generous.

Author R.K.P.Agarwal
Bharti Bhawan p & d