Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Today on December 5, 2021 we are celebrating the “World Soil Day”. World Soil Day is celebrated every year to make people aware of the importance of soil and its sustainable management. Interestingly, all demands of the protesting farmers, opposing the Bill passed by the government relating to MSP & other issues, have since been accepted unconditionally by the government.
The three laws passed last year relating to the sale, pricing and storage of farm crops, was taken up by Lok Sabha which passed it within minutes and, thereafter, it was introduced in Rajya Sabha and approved by voice vote. The whole exercise was completed within hours.
The bill now awaits the assent of President Ram Nath Kovind for the formal withdrawal of the three contentious laws against which farmers have been protesting for the past year.
Surprisingly,while many groups have withdrawn agitation and returned to their homes,some are still on agitation for reasons best known to them.
What is happening is appallingly shocking & disgraceful as the plight of a farmer was similarly highlighted by a film maker in his 1953 released movie “Do Bigha Zameen”, too, featuring Balraj Sahni & Nirupa Roy in the lead, supported by Meena Kumari ,Murad, Nana Palsikar & Nazir Hussain. The film directed by Bimal Roy was based on a poem by Rabindranath Tagore “Dui Bigha Jomia”. The film centres round a farmer who goes to Calcutta for earning money to get back a piece of land mortgaged to a land owner towards a small loan of few rupee. The film shows scenes of a village & streets of Calcutta where Shambhu, the farmer earns his livelihood as a rickshaw puller.
The portrayal of Balraj Sahni is shown larger than life as he struggles hard to earn the amount he is required to pay back to the land owner. The film is classic in many ways. Firstly, the director made a debonair like Balraj Sahni to live a life time role so convincingly to touch the core of every cinegoer’s heart. Secondly, It was the first film to win Filmfare First Ever Award in 1954. The end of the film was commensurate with the plight of the farmers as still existing in the country as is evident in their pursuing nationwide agitation. The farmer Shambhu fails to earn the required amount to get back his mortgaged land holding and helplessly watches the land being taken away by powerful builders.
The film is a classic in as it reflected the present scenario 68 year ago which speaks volumes of the directorial excellence & foresightedness of Bimal Roy .I saw the film in 1969 at Kanpur & on the basis of what I could vaguely remember or recollect, I presented it on the most opportune day. Noted director Hrishikesh Mukherjee was then assistant to Bimal Roy. It was the third highest earning film of the year 1953 after “Anarkali” & “Ladki”. Director Bimal Roy also won the first Best Director Filmfare Award for the film.
Story & Music by Salil Chowdhury & lyrics by Shailendra were other credits of the film.
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