How reading books, teaching slum kids is keeping protesting farmers occupied

With the farmers' at Delhi borders brazing freezing cold to force to protest against the government's farm laws, they have also discovered new ways to keep them occupied.

The farmers, who have been camping at the borders for close to a month now, are now indulged in reading new books as well as other activities like teaching underprivileged children while continuing the protest.

At the Singhu border where thousands of agitators are present, several books can be seen, including biographies of revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Che Guevara and Vladimir Lenin in English, Hindi and Punjabi as well. Books on farmers' distress, Punjab's rich history and on the teachings of Sikh Gurus who stood for national integration, peace, brotherhood and communal harmony are also present.

Days ago, a library-cum-cultural centre was started at the protest site with an aim to provide books and newspapers for youth and also teach students from nearby slums. This library also becomes a place to discuss news and current events.

In the evenings, the farmers use this tent to recreate a tradition called 'Sanjhi Sath' in which the villagers gather and listen to their elders' advice.

There are volunteers, who have taken up the responsibility of imparting education to the slum students, who are unable to go to school due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In one such case, a group of farmers from Punjab's Anandpur Sahib started an 'informal school' in a makeshift tent for local slum children at the Singhu border on Monday.

"Everything here is "sewa". We saw so many children from neighbouring slums roaming around for food, and thought why not also help them keep engaged in a constructive way," PTI quoted Satnam Singh, a volunteer, as saying.

While there is one big makeshift-library, there are others, run by volunteers who are happily sharing the limited number of books they have.

Storybooks have been made available to children in Hindi as the local children speak the language.

"The first day we had to encourage them to come and study here by giving them fruit juice and snacks, but over the last two days, they have been coming on their own, and have brought their friends too," Satnam Singh told PTI.

According to Satnam, educated individuals among the farmers, who have Bachelor's or PhD degrees, have been teaching the children. The temporary school already has 60-70 children across age groups, who come there every day to read, write, draw and listen to stories.