Protestors make their temporary home feel more “like home”

Towards the end of the protest, the "wall of democracy" has joined two rows of tents. The wall, made of bamboo, contains a poster of the Preface to the Indian Constitution, a poster by Bhagat Singh attached to the thermocol, and information on Sikh gurus.

From the decorative art to the bamboo doors of the tents, farmers on the Ghazipur border invest time and energy in creating the beauty of their environment. While some aim to make their temporary home feel more “like home”, others say they just want to make the most of their leisure time. Towards the end of the protest, the "wall of democracy" has joined two rows of tents. The wall, made of bamboo, contains a poster of the Preface to the Indian Constitution, a poster by Bhagat Singh attached to the thermocol, and information on Sikh gurus.

Dalvinder Singh (24), a farmer from Lakhimpur Kheri, lives in a tent near the wall. “The people who built the wall are gone, but build for those who will follow them. So, we happily made this space our home. The wall is meant to remind farmers what democracy really is about,” he said. Given the proximity of the area to many kindergartens, many tents are now lined with plants. At the heart of the protest sits a small thermocol, adorned with BKU's Rakesh Tikait lamps and placards.

Jagdeep Singh (18) said the source was created by his 22-year-old brother to remind farmers of their homes. “It took a day or two for him to arrive. He loves to do handicrafts, so decorate our living room in the evening. Now he has gone away for a few days but he will be back soon,” he said. An art gallery created by the All-India Students’ Federation includes paintings made by students and other farmers. Karambir Singh (43), a Tarn Taran farmer in charge of the langar in front of the gallery, was among those created. “I used to paint when I was in school. After that I got into farming, so I never got a chance. Five days ago, I made a drawing of a farmer sitting on a tractor,” he said.

Sanjay Singh, a Lucknow student who helped set up the gallery, said, "Farmers have started using their time and skills to decorate their areas because it is now clear that they have nowhere to go." Many tents now have bamboo doors. A group of six farmers from Rampur in the UP have set up a room with chairs and a table. The room contains paintings and lamps purchased from the Koran colony and plants from the kindergarten near the border. They said it took them a few days to set it up and they will continue to decorate it a lot because they are here to stay.