The Legacy of a Farmer Leader! Remembering Mahendra Singh Tikait on his 12th death anniversary

Mahendra Singh Tikait, one of the tallest farmer leaders the nation has ever seen, passed away 12 years ago on Monday. Tikait, who was born on October 6, 1935, in Sisauli, Uttar Pradesh, died on May 15, 2011, following a protracted fight with bone cancer.

The Early Years and Family Life

"The values you instilled in us always support us in our struggle for the country's farmers, labourers, exploited, and poor citizens. But in this battle, your absence is always felt. We pay our respects to you with wet eyes," tweeted farmer activist Rakesh Tikait, his son ( translation from Hindi). The wife of Tikait was Baljori Devi. They had six kids altogether—four males and two daughters. He assumed leadership of the Baliyan "Khap" at the young age of eight, inheriting the position from his father after the latter's passing in 1943.

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Mahendra Singh Tikait's leadership in the farmer's movement and controversies

Tikait was the previous leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), an organisation representing farmers that was established in 1987 by Chaudhary Charan Singh, India's fifth prime minister, who served in that capacity from July 1979 to January 1980. Naresh Tikait, the eldest child of Mahendra Singh Tikait and the present 'Chaudhary' (leader/chief) of the Baliyan Khap, is the BKU's current national president. Mahendra Singh Tikait was a farmer leader who passed away. Rakesh, on the other hand, is a BKU spokesperson and was one of the most well-known figures in the year-long protest against the three central farm rules that were subsequently repealed. Mahendra Singh Tikait oversaw various farmer agitations; however, his most well-known demonstration took place in 1988 at the Delhi Boat Club. The government of Rajiv Gandhi, who was prime minister at the time, was forced to accede to his list of requests.He is accused of making offensive comments about Mayawati, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, in 2008. She reacted by requesting his arrest, which led to a conflict between the police and his followers. Tikait reportedly negotiated a calm surrender before a court and was freed after making amends to Mayawati, according to wikibio.

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