The slogans like “Long live Shetkari Sanghatana”, “Sharad Joshi Zindabad” filled the air. Farmers from about 51 villages of Chikodi taluka came to the blockade spot in different processions. They had carried with them their traditional musical instruments and were singing along the way. Some had even brought along an elephant with their procession! This was probably the first time ever an elephant was seen in the farmers’ agitation! Farmers from Hukkeri and Gokak taluka also joined. They came in about 700 bullock carts. Tobacco workers and bidi workers were of course there in large numbers. On the first day itself the number swelled to fifteen thousand. They all constructed their little shacks or tents along the highway. Knowing that the rasta roko may have to continue for several days, they had also brought with them essential things like clothes, utensils and bedding. There were also a large number of agitators who stayed in the nearby area but were available at the blockage site during the entire day. It was quite a sacrifice for these farmers. Big rallies were not uncommon in politics. But there the participants had to be paid! They also had to be transported! But in Nipani everyone came at his own cost. They all had to leave behind their routine farm work and for a farmer it was never easy. There were several farm labourers who had lost their daily wage of five rupees. On the first night, Action Committee members led by Annu Guruji travelled to Bangalore and met Chief Minister Gundu Rao the following morning. He received them and assured them that he was with the farmers but added that the decision had to be taken by the Central Government and he would speak to it. But during the next few days it was clear that nothing like that was actually done. During the next four days the number of squatters had swelled to about 40,000. The stretch of the highway blocked by 144
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Sharad Joshi : Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage
