It is not everyday that historical events like the six-day-long 'Kisan' march are witnessed in Mumbai. Around 50,000 farmers, marched for over 200 km on foot, not caring about food and water, strengthened by their burning demand to claim what is their right. The entire city of Mumbai came forward to serve them while the nation empathised with the farmers.

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However, not many know the name that was responsible for this whole idea for the farmers to take this drastic step. Vijoo Krishnan is the force behind the 'Kisan' march. He is the former President of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) and the leader of the Students Federation of India (SFI). Vijoo has been associated with this battle for farmers for a long time.

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He hails from Karivellur village in Kannur, Kerala where another battle was fought by the farmers against the British Raj back in 1946.  A full-time activist, Vijoo personally took the plunge of inspiring the farmers to take this extreme step. In an interview with News18, Vijoo explained the situation. “This is an uprising of the agrarian sector and it has been happening for the last two years. It is happening in many parts of the country such as Rajasthan, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh apart from Maharashtra. There were various kinds of agitations prior to this and now we have an active participation of about 50,000 farmers.”  The farmers wanted the government to immediately implement the loan waiver scheme that was announced last year, and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This country needs more public figures like Krishnan who take up issues that require social justice.