To the brave Indian farmers
By Justice Markandey Katju
The brave Indian farmers have been agitating for over 75 days now on the Delhi border, undauntedly and resolutely facing heavy odds, including cold weather, rain and a crafty opponent, backed by powerful vested interests..
While I admire their superhuman courage and inflexible determination, I must warn them of the truth.
Though they will ultimately be victorious in their just struggle, it will be protracted and terribly painful, with many twists and turns, splits and retreats, and great sacrifices will have to be made on the long journey.
When Hitler was about to attack England in the summer of 1940, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said to the British people in the House of Commons in a speech on 13th May : “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”.
The same has to be said to the Indian farmers, and they should not be kept under any illusion. Many will perish in this struggle, and will not see the day of victory.
But what of it ?
Everyone has to die one day. And if they die in this struggle, it will be to give their children a bright future.
The farmers must keep reminding themselves of these verses from Thomas Babington Macaulay’s ‘ Lays of Ancient Rome ‘ :
“Then up spake brave Horatius
The Captain of the gate
To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods ? “
