Those Who Did Not Die: Impact of the Agrarian Crisis on Women in Punjab

by Ranjana Padhi

Even as they produce food for society and its people, lives dependent on agriculture are barely able to make ends meet. The cost of food production far outweighs the returns; the peasantry is falling prey to indebtedness, both institutionalized and non- institutionalized. It is facing the severest of challenges, with even dalit landless labourers becoming victims of indebtedness and succumbing to suicide, Based on a study done in eight districts of the Malwa region of the Punjab, this book uses quantitative data along with field work, narratives and interviews with peasant unions. Over136 families have been interviewed where women as wives and mothers of the deceased speak of the aftermath of the suicide. The book outlines the distress borne by the family, including women, the children and the elderly in the aftermath of peasant suicides. By doing so, it interrogates the split between public and private; production and social reproduction; work and family. It highlights the determining character of capitalist-intensive agriculture in today′s crisis times by focusing on women′s reality and renewed hardships in a caste, class and patriarchal society.

Genres: Nonfiction

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Vik]

A beautiful book reflecting on how rural women's everyday filled with horror and courage.

[ishi]

definitely heavy but so deeply impactful!! one quote i loved at the end:

“While setting out for interviews from the house of a
comrade in Sangathpura village of Sangrur district, his daughter, in her early teens, insisted on accompanying us. She offered to be the translator as she was keen to help. Her feet barely touched the ground as she was most excited. Suddenly, she reached out and whispered
into my ear, ‘Have you come to give them women’s liberation?’ I laughed; my heart somersaulted with joy at this question from a young girl. In the same conspiratorial manner I whispered back to her, ‘It will take time.’ She assumed she was part of the liberation project and, therefore, her joy knew no bounds. It was contagious.”

[Chiara]

Interesting