The 23rd of December is celebrated in honour of the Sons of the Soil every year. It was initiated by India’s fifth Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh during his tenure from July 1979 to January 1980. It may be noted that Chaudhary Charan Singh who was born on 23 December 1902 in a family of farmers at Noorpur in UP’s Meerut, was known for his pro-farmer policies and always worked hard for their welfare. He also had great respect for the agricultural economy and the farmers, which led him to oppose then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru against the collectivist and socialistic land policies during the Congress Session held in Nagpur (1959).
Chaudhary Charan Singh who’s known for having lived his life devoid of modern possessions had authored several books on farmers and even advised them solutions on better farming practices. His contributions to the Indian farmers were recognised by the Indian Government. He breathed his last on 28 May 1987 in New Delhi having suffered cardiovascular collapse.
Some of his notable works include: Joint Farming X-rayed (1959), India’s Economic Policy – The Gandhian Blueprint (1978), Economic Nightmare of India: Its Cause and Cure (1981), Abolition of Zamindari, Co-operative Farming X, Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum.
