Abstract

The farmer protests of 2020–21 were among the largest and longest mass movements in post-independence India. Sparked by the introduction of three farm laws aimed at liberalizing agricultural markets the protests quickly evolved into a nationwide struggle involving farmers trade unions students and civil society groups. This paper analyzes the protests as a social movement focusing on their causes strategies and political significance. It argues that the farmer protests represented not only an agrarian struggle but also a broader assertion of democratic rights in contemporary India.