Indian Imperialism and Solidarity Building
Panth-Punjab Project | @Panth_Punjab
As the Kisaan Morcha continues on the borders of Punjab and Delhi, we are revisiting the Panth-Punjab Project archives to reflect on the context of the ongoing conflict and its underlying politics.
In February 2021, we spoke with Bhai Parmjeet Singh Gazi, editor of Sikh Siyasat News, to discuss the Kisaan Morcha at that time with a specific focus on the structures of Indian imperialism and the liberatory possibilities of the first phase of the farmers’ movement. Looking at the different streams of dissent within the subcontinent and the possibilities they present, Bhai Parmjeet Singh delves into the role of solidarity across the region to dismantle Indian imperialism and move towards the collective liberation of the subcontinent.
The conversation goes deep into the mechanics of Indian imperialism with reference to the backdrop of the so-called “reforms” in 2020. Bhai Parmjeet Singh clearly identifies the imperialist structure and purpose of the agrarian policy that has been imposed on Punjab since the Transfer of Power in the region in 1947 through the imposition of a specific mode of agricultural production, the crops and methods used, and the unilateral diversion of Punjab’s river waters. Looking at the legacy of “independence” in the region, it is clear that India’s so-called “federalism” is inherently authoritarian as the political plurality of the region was forcibly subsumed into an “indestructible Union of destructible States”.
Bhai Parmjeet Singh goes into detail to describe the different streams of thought underlying the Kisaan Morcha–and dissent in the subcontinent more broadly–to unpack the dynamics of collective struggle and the role of Sikhs within this dynamic. He confronts difficult questions about how to reconcile multiple competing visions of politics and the future while maintaining the strength and efficacy of a singular collective struggle seen in the first phase of Dilli Chalo.
One ongoing legacy of the first phase of the Kisaan Morcha is clear: in many respects, the Panth & Punjab have become a lightning rod for oppressed minorities, dissidents, and resistance movements across the subcontinent. As we move into the next phase of our struggle, it is imperative that we continue to critically examine these dynamics and the possibilities to effectively confront India’s imperialist structure and ensure the collective liberation of the subcontinent.