Book Review: ‘Farmer Power’ by Sudhir Kumar Suthar

Book Title: Farmer Power
Author: Sudhir Kumar Suthar
Publisher: Penguin
Number of Pages: 264
ISBN: 014346809X
Date Published: Nov. 28, 2025
Price: INR 346 / $29.07

Book Review

Sudhir Kumar Suthar’s “Farmer Power: The 2020-21 Movement, the State and Agricultural Reforms in India” provides an absolutely essential analysis of the massive 2020-2021 farmers’ protests that completely gripped India. Frankly, it’s far more than just a historical report; it’s a deep dive into what made the farmers take such a stand and the huge, complex risks they were facing. Suthar is excellent at setting the context, laying out the government’s three new farm laws and the promises of a major overhaul for Indian agriculture. What really comes across is the deep, painful lack of trust that already existed between the farming communities and the powerful political class. The book argues that years of economic strain had left many farmers feeling utterly exposed, leading them to view these supposed “reforms” not as a leg up, but as a final, crushing blow to their way of life.

The book truly shines when Suthar gets into the nuts and bolts of the protest itself . He walks the reader through how this movement was so successfully organized, detailing the incredible efforts required to keep those large camps running on the outskirts of Delhi for over twelve months. It wasn’t some sudden, chaotic thing; this was a highly organized, brilliant strategic effort involving powerful farmer unions and unprecedented logistical coordination. Suthar particularly nails the contrast between the government’s efforts to control and discredit the protesters, and the farmers’ sheer, unwavering unity and commitment to non-violent action. He spends significant time exploring the notion of “power from below,” demonstrating how these groups completely redefined their relationship with the State through collective action, pushing back hard against what they rightfully saw as an overreach of authority.

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Ultimately, “Farmer Power” gives us a sober and necessary assessment of the movement’s incredible victory—the eventual repeal of the laws—and what that means for India going forward. It forces readers to confront tough questions about the role of government support, especially the Minimum Support Price (MSP) , versus the pressure for a corporate-led, free-market farming system. Suthar makes a compelling case that the farmers’ win was far more significant than just cancelling three pieces of legislation. It stands as a powerful, lasting symbol of democratic pushback and the enduring ability of deeply organized, marginalized citizens to hold the State fully accountable. This makes the book absolutely crucial reading for understanding modern Indian democracy, rural economies, and the lasting influence of grassroots dissent.

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