Joginder Singh Ugrahan

Joginder Singh Ugrahan is an Indian ex-army man, communist leader and farm union leader, was born in 1945 in Sunam, Punjab.^[1][2][3][4] He is president of farm union Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan)^[5] and one of the most popular farm leaders in the country.^[6][7][8][9] He founded Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) in 2002.^[3][10]

Joginder Singh Ugrahan
Born	1945 (age 78–79) Sunam, Punjab, India
Monuments	Farmers' Protest
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Farmer leader
Years active	2002–present
Organization	Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan)

Early life

Ugrahan was born on 1945 in Sunam town of Sangrur, Punjab. He joined army in 1975 and later on he had to resign from army due to some family problems and started working in the fields after that.^[11] While working in fields, he realised that the corporations and government exploits farmers and labourers in rural areas, so, he decided to engage in protests and activities organised by farmer unions.^[12][13][14] In March 2021, Ugrahan was isolated following a positive COVID-19 test.^[15]

Activism

Ugrahan participated as one of leaders in the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest. He leads Bharatiya Kisan Union's Ekta Ugrahan faction which had the largest contingent of farmers protesting at the borders of Delhi.^[16] He is known as most uncompromising farm leader and defender of farmers and arguably most influential organisations in Malwa region of Punjab.^[13][17][18]

References

1. Outlook. Outlook Publishing. 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
2. Sethi, Chitleen K. (2 December 2020). "Acupuncturist, ex-Army man, doctor — 5 farmer leaders who shaped protest against farm laws". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
3. "Soldier Turned Farmer: Joginder Singh, the Face of Farmer Protest". TheQuint. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
4. Khan, Fatima (19 December 2020). "Joginder Ugrahan — ex-Army man leading farm protest says 'Naxal' tag is only to divide farmers". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
5. "'By proposing amendments, Centre proved that the laws have flaws': BKU chief". The Indian Express. 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
6. "IE100: The list of most powerful Indians in 2021". The Indian Express. 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
7. Service, Tribune News. "BKU Ekta Ugrahan president Joginder Singh Ugrahan tests positive for coronavirus". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
8. Aishwarya Paliwal (5 March 2021). "100 days of farmers' agitation: Five leaders who emerged during protests". India Today. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
9. "Not afraid of Covid, won't take jabs: Farm leaders in vulnerable age group". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
10. "Ugrahan wears his politics on his sleeve: 'Called us Pak, now Naxals'". The Indian Express. 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
11. Singh, Lakhwinder; Bhangoo, Kesar Singh; Sharma, Rakesh (13 January 2016). Agrarian Distress and Farmer Suicides in North India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-33122-3. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
12. Service, Tribune News. "Understand the government's fascist plans: Joginder Singh Ugrahan". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
13. "Faces of farmer protest". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
14. "'PM Modi Under Pressure From Ambani, Adani; Repealing Laws Not in His Hands': BKU Leader". The Wire. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
15. "Punjab farm union leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan tests positive for Covid-19". Hindustan Times. 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
16. Singh, Prabhjit (8 December 2021). "The BJP will continue to face resistance from people: Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
17. Service, Tribune News. "Doaba witnesses its first big kisan rally at Muthada Kalan". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
18. Brass, Tom (5 March 2014). New Farmers' Movements in India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-20314-6. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2021.