"Jai Jawan, Jai kisaan"
Jai Jawan, Jai kisaan — (hail the soldier, hail the farmer), a slogan coined by India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965.
Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan: A Slogan That Resonates With India’s Farmers
India's farmers are once again on the streets, demanding fair prices for their crops and protesting against the government's policies. They are marching towards the capital Delhi, where they face barricades, tear gas and police resistance. They are not deterred by the hardships, as they invoke the slogan of "jai jawan, jai kisaan" (hail the soldier, hail the farmer), a rallying cry that has inspired generations of Indians.
The slogan was first given by Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, in 1965, at a time when the country was facing a war with Pakistan and a food crisis.
Shastri wanted to boost the morale of the soldiers who were defending the nation's borders, and the farmers who were feeding the nation's population. He appealed to the people to be self-reliant and patriotic, and to support the twin pillars of India's security and prosperity: the jawan (soldier) and the kisaan (farmer).
The slogan became a symbol of national pride and unity, and helped the Congress Party win the elections in 1967. Shastri, however, did not live to see the fruits of his slogan, as he died in 1966 in Tashkent, after signing a peace treaty with Pakistan.
Over the years, the slogan has been modified and expanded by various leaders, to include other aspects of India's development, such as science, research, education and innovation. For example, in 1998, after conducting nuclear tests, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee added "jai vigyan" (hail science) to the slogan. In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi added "jai anusandhan" (hail research) to the slogan, to emphasize the importance of scientific inquiry and innovation.
However, the original slogan of "jai jawan, jai kisaan" still resonates with India's farmers, who constitute about 60% of the country's workforce, and contribute about 15% of the country's GDP. They feel that the government has not fulfilled its promises made during the 2020-21 protest, when they opposed the controversial farm laws that were later repealed. They also have other demands, such as guaranteed minimum support prices for their crops, debt waivers, pensions, and protection from fake seeds and fertilizers.
The farmers say that they are fighting for their rights and dignity, and that they will not give up until their demands are met. They say that they are inspired by the slogan of "jai jawan, jai kisaan", which reminds them of their contribution to the nation’s well-being, and their solidarity with the soldiers who protect the nation’s sovereignty. They say that they are not anti-national, but rather patriotic, as they follow the legacy of Shastri, who gave them the slogan that has become their identity and their inspiration.
