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 for freedom; because poverty was reducing farmers’ freedom. Self-respect, dignity, freedom, rationality were the values he always stressed upon. Joshi always said that his teaching is transient and as years go by new approaches will have to be developed. ‘Whatever I am saying today is not timeless and not valid for all years to come. Tomorrow if farmers become financially self-sufficient, they might not have any need of the Sanghatana either,’ he said. But somehow the overall philosophy behind his work was so comprehensive and sound, that for many more years it continued to provide his followers necessary intellectual grounding. Over the years many of his ardent followers left him and launched their own separate work. But wherever they went, they did not feel the need to change their basic thinking. The basic thoughts imbibed by Joshi continued to provide them with necessary sustenance. Lakhs of farmers who bravely took part in the struggle was the visible strength of Shetkari Sanghatana; their strong intellectual grounding was its base. Q

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Sharad Joshi : Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage