He reportedly said: “If you just sit and chew tobacco in the farms, how can you expect good crops? The government can only help you to an extent. You should emulate the practices of farmers in Gujarat”
There has been big hue and cry after this. Vaghela of course has declared that he is misquoted and this is a “fabrication” by BJP to malign him.
These debates have been going on for long.
When I was in Assam, I often heard all other communities talking about Assamese as “Lahe Lahe” people.
One of the best non-fictional Marathi book in recent years is the late R B Patankar’s “अपूर्ण क्रांती ” ‘Incomplete Revolution’ (Mauj Prakashan 1999). He has written extensively about two important periodicals of 19th century Maharashtra. ‘मराठी ज्ञान प्रसारक Marathi Dnyan Prasarak’ and ‘विविध ज्ञान विस्तार Vividh Dnyan Vistar’.
In June 1851, an article was published titled “Comparison of Gujarati and Marathi people’s current condition”. Author Keshav Janardan Punalekar said that “Marathi people have indifference towards commerce, fondness for undisciplined expenditure, arrogant nature and laziness” and Gujarati people have “interest in commerce, simplicity, industriousness, habit of limited expendituere”.
Punalekar is not just critical but suggests how Marathi people can change their ways.
Patankar does not mention any controversy after publication of Punalekar’s article.
Mr. Minsiter, is this farmer in Thurber's picture from Maharashtra or Assam?
Artist: James Thurber The New yorker August 15, 1936
Go to http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/ and click on "The Dying Fields" in the left menu. This is a PBS show about the plight of Vidarbha farmers.
ReplyDeleteI am a new reader of your blog and am liking it a lot. A couple of suggestions to make it easier to read: show fewer than three entries on the home page so that it is easier to scroll. Also, open links in a separate window.
-- N
It has been said and critisized a lot about Maharashtrian farmer. But have you read a recent novel "Baramaas" written on the tortutrous life of one family of farmer?
ReplyDeleteSo, don't be a critic. "jaave tyaachyaa vanshaa" it is said and that is true.