National Farmers Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas, 23 December

National Farmers Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas in India is celebrated every year on 23 December. Likewise in the year 2023, the National Farmers Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas will be celebrated on Saturday, 23 December 2023, throughout India.

Why National Farmers Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas is Celebrated on 23 December?

National Farmers Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas to mark the birth anniversary of our former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on 23 December 1902 in Noopur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. He served as the 5th Prime Minister of India from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980. He also served as the 5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh twice. First from 3 April 1967 to 25 February 1968 and then again from 18 February 1970 to 1 October 1970.

Chaudhary Charan Singh championed the cause of farmers. He came from a farming community and family. He was the chief architect of land reforms in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, his birthday, 23 December is celebrated as National Farmers Day or National Peasants Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas in Hindi.

From Which Year Did National Farmers Day or Rashtriya Kisan Diwas Celebration Start?

In 2001, the Central Government led by Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee decided to celebrate every year 23 December as Kisan Diwas to commemorate the birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh. Since then, every year 23 December is celebrated as Kisan Diwas.

10 Important Points About Chaudhary Charan Singh

1. Early Life: Chaudhary Charan Singh was born on December 23, 1902, in Noorpur, Uttar Pradesh, British India. He hailed from a farming family, which deeply influenced his understanding of agricultural issues.
2. Political Career: Charan Singh started his political career in the 1930s and was associated with the Kisan Sabha, a farmers’ organization. He held various positions in state politics, including Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and later served as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister at the national level.
3. Advocate for Farmers: Chaudhary Charan Singh was a staunch advocate for the rights and welfare of farmers. He actively worked to address the concerns of the agricultural community. His policies aimed at reducing the economic disparities between farmers and other sections of society.
4. Land Reforms: Charan Singh was instrumental in introducing land reforms in Uttar Pradesh during his tenure as Chief Minister. The reforms aimed at improving the conditions of landless farmers and reducing the concentration of land ownership.
5. Prime Ministership: Chaudhary Charan Singh became the Prime Minister of India on July 28, 1979, and served until January 14, 1980. His tenure as Prime Minister was short-lived, but he focused on issues related to agricultural development, rural upliftment, and social justice.
6. Policies for Farmers: Charan Singh implemented policies to protect the interests of farmers, including measures to control the prices of agricultural inputs and ensure fair prices for agricultural produce. He took steps to provide farmers with better access to credit facilities and agricultural technology.
7. Champion of Social Justice: Chaudhary Charan Singh was committed to social justice and advocated for the upliftment of marginalized sections of society, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
8. Legacy: Chaudhary Charan Singh’s legacy is closely tied to his role as a champion of farmers’ rights. He is often referred to as the “Champion of Farmers” in Indian political history. The birth anniversary of Chaudhary Charan Singh, December 23, is celebrated as National Farmers Day (Kisan Diwas) in India in recognition of his contributions to the agricultural sector.
9. Author: Charan Singh was also an author and wrote extensively on agrarian issues. His writings reflected his deep understanding of the challenges faced by farmers and his vision for rural development.
10. Death: Chaudhary Charan Singh passed away on May 29, 1987, leaving behind a legacy of advocating for the rights and well-being of farmers.

For more info, visit https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-charan-singh/

Farmers in India

Farmers are the backbone of our economy. About 65% of the total population is directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities. Agriculture constitutes about 15% of the total GDP of the country.