On April 6, 2025, Punjab’s farming community witnessed a moment of quiet triumph as Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a resolute farmer leader, ended his 131-day hunger strike with a single sip of water. What began on November 26, 2024, at the Khanauri border wasn’t just a personal sacrifice—it was a clarion call for justice. Dallewal’s mission? To secure a government-backed Minimum Support Price (MSP) ensuring fair pay for crops. His decision to pause came not from defeat but from the pleas of his fellow farmers and a glimmer of hope from the government. This is a tale of grit, unity, and a fight that’s far from finished.
In This Article:
The Roots of the Struggle
Imagine a man sitting beneath Punjab’s endless sky, surrounded by fields that sustain a nation, refusing food for over four months. Jagjit Singh Dallewal wasn’t fasting for fame—he was fasting for survival. The MSP isn’t a technical term to farmers; it’s their lifeline. Without it, the sweat they pour into their crops yields debt instead of dignity. For years, Punjab’s farmers have watched prices dip while costs soar, trapping them in a cycle of loans and loss. Dallewal’s hunger strike became their voice—a silent protest that echoed louder than any rally, with tractors parked like sentinels along the border.
A Test of Endurance
For 131 days, Dallewal’s body bore the brunt of his resolve. He even stopped drinking water for a stretch, pushing his health to the edge. Doctors hovered anxiously, the Supreme Court voiced concern, and farmers gathered in growing numbers, their faces etched with worry. On April 5, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu extended an olive branch, promising dialogue. The tipping point came the next day at the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Sirhind. Amid a sea of turbans and weathered hands, Dallewal saw not just supporters but a family begging him to live—to lead them forward. That plea pierced through his hunger.
A Pause, Not an End
When Dallewal took that sip of water on April 6, it wasn’t surrender—it was strategy. “The strike is over, but the struggle continues,” he said, his voice steady despite his frail frame. The farmers’ demands remain unchanged: a legally binding MSP, loan waivers, pensions for aging tillers, and respect for those who feed the nation. This wasn’t the victory lap; it was a breather. The government’s assurances now hang in the balance, and Punjab’s farmers are watching with bated breath, ready to mobilize if words don’t turn into action. Dallewal’s fast may have ended, but the fire he lit still burns.
What Sets This Apart
This isn’t just another protest story. It’s about a leader who didn’t need a stage—just a patch of earth and an empty stomach. It’s about a community that refused to let him fade, their unity stronger than his hunger. Punjab’s fields have seen battles before, but this one’s different. It’s fought with patience, not pitchforks; with silence, not slogans. April 6 wasn’t a full stop—it was a comma, a pause in a saga of resilience that bends but never breaks.
-By Manoj H
