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TIME features the women leading the Indian farmers' protests on its cover

TIME features the women leading the Indian farmers' protests on its cover

People are happy with the representation and that stories of strong women have been highlighted.
06 Mar, 2021

TIME Magazine has featured the women at the forefront of India’s farmers' protests on its cover.

The March 15-22 edition of the magazine also features an in depth article on the protests.

Hundreds of thousands of farmers have been protesting outside New Delhi since November in the hopes of forcing the government to repeal three agricultural laws. The protests have been met with violence by the police and online attacks by BJP supporters.

Photo: TIME Magazine
Photo: TIME Magazine

Those who support the farmers aren’t safe either, as international celebrities such as Rihanna and Greta Thunberg have been threatened for tweeting in their support. Their tweets were met with protests, burnt effigies and a string of condemnation from Indian celebrities, such as Kangana Ranaut.

But despite all the opposition they're facing, the farmers aren't going anywhere. In fact, TIME spoke to a 74-year-old woman at the protest who said "something snapped with us" when they heard that the government was asking women and the elderly to go back home.

“Why should we go back? This is not just the men’s protest. We toil in the fields alongside the men. Who are we—if not farmers?” said Jasbir Kaur. These sentiments were echoed by the thousands of other women at the protests.

The article describes the experiences of the different women at the protests and how they are defying even their own expectations to fight for their rights.

“I didn’t know what I was capable of beyond the expectations of me as a woman, a wife and mother,” one woman tells TIME who had never before been to a protest or taken her veil off outside her home. “But I am here now and I cannot be oppressed. I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be bought.”

People were happy for the representation and TIME's highlighting the strong women at the protests.

Others said it would spread awareness about the protests.

Some celebrities renewed their support.

TIME has described the farmers' protests as "the world’s largest ongoing demonstration and perhaps the biggest in human history".

Comments

SATT Mar 06, 2021 05:32pm
Time is Hinduphobic and Indophobic.
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bhaRAT© Mar 06, 2021 05:47pm
Brave Sikh women standing against Modi regime's fascism. We stand in solidarity with the Kashmiri freedom struggles and #FarmersProtest in India.
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kp Mar 06, 2021 06:05pm
Modi is also following corrupt policies of congress, he was grossly failed to manage CAA protest as he let those people settle and block the road in shaheen bagh and same is going here. Failed BJP, and yes i voted for BJP and regretting that, if government is adopting congressi policies then better vote to congress.
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Jay Mar 06, 2021 06:11pm
Western feminist would have criticised these same women for
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Naxalite Mar 06, 2021 06:15pm
Modi shameless
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swiss View Mar 06, 2021 06:36pm
I am not sure whether protests are justified either men or women but I support the women taking the active part in life.
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Rana Talukdar Mar 06, 2021 06:37pm
Proud to be an Indian. Even concerns of our farmers r getting importance in the most respected magazines of the world. Thank you Time. There is one aurat March is going on in our neighborhood they too need attention.
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Ajay Mar 06, 2021 06:44pm
Wonderful. Now the Parcham on Srinagar is just days away
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AKL Mar 06, 2021 06:44pm
Obsessed with American reporting. Can someone tell me what is wrong with the bills.
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Naxalite Mar 06, 2021 06:48pm
Farmers protest is international now. Open your eyes modi ji
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Murree Mar 06, 2021 06:48pm
Proud that women and men are standing shoulder to shoulder to fight for their rights and make their voices heard.
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Murree Mar 06, 2021 06:49pm
Our 'friends' from across the border will try to share negative comments. Please discount them.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Mar 06, 2021 06:54pm
For how long could racist, liar, bigot, wicked, prejudiced and biased Modi and his fascist, corrupt, cruel, cunning, crooked and criminal R.S.S. and BJP cronies subjugate, suppress, subdue, deject, abuse, maltreat, oppress, enslave and cast down the women folks of India and Indians? Not forever.
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RationalBabu Mar 06, 2021 07:09pm
Can we ever dare to see a picture of Pakistani women protesting about anything on the the cover of Time magazine?
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Chaman Mar 06, 2021 07:19pm
It is blatant propaganda against Indian govt. How come 10-20 women gathering feature in time magazine. Anyway, we don't care
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Mar 06, 2021 07:43pm
This is incredible.First it was the brave Sikhs of Punjab who are in Delhi and now the brave women of Punjab have joined them.Looking at the picture you cannot help but get moved emotionally at the woman holding her child in her arms protesting with full determination.What a shame.
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Fast comment Mar 06, 2021 07:47pm
TIME has greatly honored the Punjabi diaspora living in USA, all the Punjabi Americans, including overseas Indians, & Pakistanis, are highly thankful to TIMES. Modi Administration must wake up from influence of power, they have no majority now, they must resolve the farmers issue, the union states of Republic India already began a movement abroad for new social contract & autonomy for States, having experiencing hell of affairs imposed on them by Central Government. The sooner farmers demand are met the better will be.
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Roma Mar 06, 2021 08:28pm
This is strength of democracy and shows tolerance of Hindu rule to dissent. More power to these women.
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Umesh Mar 06, 2021 08:30pm
@bhaRAT©Never sit down. In the process keep an eye on court case sip that aircraft are not impounded.
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Umesh Mar 06, 2021 08:31pm
@Naxalite Thank you so much. We don't have such wise men.
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Browngirl Mar 06, 2021 08:32pm
Now India will ban Time magazine.
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Vijay B. Mar 06, 2021 08:48pm
Hats off to these brave women for shedding their cuffs and shackles and coming to the forefront to express their right to protest with determination. That having been said, ask these women what they are protesting against, and they will not have an answer. What does that tell you? They have been merely brought there by the instigators of these protests, for cosmetic purposes. Shame on TIME magazine for making a big deal of a tempest in a tea cup pertaining to India. India's internal or foreign policies are not subject to approval by TIME or any other external entity except by the parliament of India who has approved this law.
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Khatarnak Mar 06, 2021 09:01pm
Farmers want prices fixed for ever. India buys them and dumps that at lower prices internationally. WTO penalizes India, backed by US, Canada, Australia, NZ. Modis farm bill wants to change this. Hence this resistance from the farmers
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Jai Mar 06, 2021 09:06pm
@Fast comment ..... do you even know what their demands are??
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Jai Mar 06, 2021 09:08pm
If only Time magazine had talked about the farm law and its basis, that would have been better. But Time magazine chose to wade into politics without any consideration about how the law favors farmers.
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Ramana Mar 06, 2021 09:23pm
Why this protest not famous in India?
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RAja Raman Mar 06, 2021 09:47pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad. "Not forever." May be... for another few millenniums.
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RAja Raman Mar 06, 2021 09:49pm
@bhaRAT© "We stand in solidarity with the Kashmiri freedom struggles and #FarmersProtest in India." Sir... There are many other problems in India. Please stand with them too.
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Zak Mar 06, 2021 10:10pm
Brave Sikh women standing for their rights against RSS fascist Modi.
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Zak Mar 06, 2021 10:10pm
@SATT Time is Hinduphobic and Indophobic. You suffer inferiority complex.
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Zak Mar 06, 2021 10:11pm
@AKL Obsessed with American reporting. Can someone tell me what is wrong with the bills. Depossess Sikhs of their land surreptiously and bans recourse to law courts.
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Zak Mar 06, 2021 10:12pm
@Chaman It is blatant propaganda against Indian govt. How come 10-20 women gathering feature in time magazine. Anyway, we don't care Future Khalistan in making.
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su Mar 06, 2021 10:25pm
@Naxalite, Not all India farmers protest. Punjabi rich farmers-cum - money lenders - cum - exploiting poor farmers by operating mandi cartels protest. No farmers in East, West or South India are in the protest.
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vijay Mar 06, 2021 10:32pm
BTW where are the photos of Greta with her "tool kit". Because that does not suit their agenda!
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T-man Mar 06, 2021 10:40pm
Now TIME will be banned from Myanmar - I mean India.
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Sanki Monki Mar 06, 2021 10:58pm
This evident freedom for everyone's right. @bharat. Thanks for standing with our farmers. BTW, we also support this law as well. We know you dont know anything about this law.
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Syed Hafeez Imran Mar 06, 2021 11:00pm
@SATT an you my friend are the epitome of Bigotry, discriminations, cruelty, dishonesty and oppression Happy!!??
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bhaRAT© Mar 06, 2021 11:17pm
@SATT When they give a report in your favour, you jump up and down with glee!
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IndianReader Mar 07, 2021 12:33am
Protests apart, can TIME care to explain what's against farmers in this bill?
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Zak Mar 07, 2021 12:45am
Long live Khalistan.
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Zak Mar 07, 2021 02:51am
Khalistan in the making.
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Tan Mar 07, 2021 03:20am
From non-panjabi : Absence of this law for decades, resulted in, tax-money from non-panjabi people in india (95%) went to subsidize the rich landloard farmers of panjab 1%rich. This-law removes that unjust siphon of money from non-panjabi to panjabi-landlord. So panjabi are upset, so it is "Panjabi farmer protest" not "Indian farmer protest". In addition to unjust subsidy, absence of this law also made farmers to abuse land by overusing 'subsidzed fertilizer', overusing electricity for irrigation and other aspects. Now farmers are FREE to sell their produce wherever. They can even make Panjabi-fritto Panjabi-McDonalds and sell their products and make profit -- no need to steel non-panjabi tax $$.
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Rob Mar 07, 2021 03:28am
@bhaRAT© Of course you would. It makes very clear which side Indians should stand and where do their priorities lie. Modi will carry on making india great no matter what!!!
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Professional Anarchist Mar 07, 2021 04:22am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Sponsored by a thesaurus?
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Indian Common Man Mar 07, 2021 05:34am
Can one person tell what is wrong with the farm laws that they are protesting against? The laws provide them freedom to sell agricultural produce freely to whomever they want, remove restrictions of selling in mandi.
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El Cid Mar 07, 2021 05:55am
Unlike chopping heads aka 1984, Hindoos are now cutting the Sikhs off at the grass roots. Punjabi women coming out on the streets with their infants and toddlers is the ultimate act of desperation, despondency, deprivation!
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Alla Bux Mar 07, 2021 06:02am
What I do not understand is the 'farmers' that are protesting are all Sikhs. No other communities do farming in India? Last I checked Punjab is not even major producer of agriculture products. It used to be on top but now it is almost at the bottom. Another question is who is minding the farms?
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Alla Bux Mar 07, 2021 06:03am
But who is minding the farms?
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Bob Mar 07, 2021 06:51am
Not many now-a-days read magazines like TIME now. It is mostly online news that people prefer. It has come out because of DAWN.
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SonyC Mar 07, 2021 06:53am
@Murree Have you read the reform laws as propsed i n the Indian Parliment?
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SonyC Mar 07, 2021 06:54am
@Fast comment It is internal matter of India. Have you read the farmbills of Indian Parliament ?
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Karl Marx Mar 07, 2021 07:03am
@Naxalite it's international, so what. First see where your Aurat march is going.
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Aatapi Mar 07, 2021 07:38am
@Fast comment It would be interesting if states get more autonomy and are able to hold back money that goes to central govt and get wasted in view of some. Some states like one I belong to on western part of India which produces 35% of gdp would be elated if that happens unfortunately MSP would become unaffordable for central govt if that happens and our famers don't need it
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truth Mar 07, 2021 07:54am
Whatever it takes to sell their magazine
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SecondPilot Mar 07, 2021 08:11am
@SATT give it a rest.
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Multani Mar 07, 2021 08:14am
I doubt Modi is likely to change his decision , he feels has has big mandate of Indian voters and he doesn’t seem to care for anybody else.
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Ankita Mar 07, 2021 09:16am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Please get a new dictionary, you are now repeating yourself. I am sure you can find new adjectives in a new dictionary, perhaps pick up a Chinese dictionary!
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JustSaying Mar 07, 2021 10:29am
@bhaRAT© " We stand in solidarity with the Kashmiri freedom struggles and #FarmersProtest in India... " Any News about the Aurat March...??? ( We Stand in Solidarity with the Oppressed and Suppressed Women..)
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WA Mar 07, 2021 01:14pm
After their photo on Time Magazine, I am highly concerned of their safety and security in India from the Indian Government.
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Mraw Mar 07, 2021 02:07pm
This is beautiful.. A true democracy is like this where both parties have the right to express their views and protest..it is not about whose point of view should prevail.. sometime journey is important than the destination.
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Parvez Mar 07, 2021 02:12pm
Full marks to the brave ladies of India...
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Teddy Mar 07, 2021 02:33pm
TIME publications has lost credibility.
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RationalBabu Mar 07, 2021 03:11pm
@Ankita oh please don’t encourage him!
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RationalBabu Mar 07, 2021 03:14pm
@WA reserve your concerns for the safety and security of your women on the Aurat March!
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Bipul Mar 07, 2021 04:21pm
Too much money spent on this goons led chaos. Congress will vanish in next elections with all its goons.
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Rangarajan Raghavachari Mar 07, 2021 05:00pm
@Multani you worry about covid situation in Pakistan and pcb cancellation and not on matters you know nothing about
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Naxalite Mar 07, 2021 05:08pm
@su Who are you kidding mate? Stop undermining the farmers or it will break Indian union territory
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sunil vijayan Mar 07, 2021 06:12pm
IF Modi is there, it is possible!!!!!! what do these TIME magazines know about the Indian farmer's issue, if they understand the black people status/issues in the USA, that itself will be a huge achievement for TIMES.
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Raj kumar Mar 07, 2021 11:02pm
Salute to these women who are our own family.The government needs to talk and a middle ground has to come,both sides need to show flexibility.
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Independent Thinker Mar 08, 2021 07:55am
There was a time when magazines like the Time magazine were read and respected by many. With the advent of social media and online magazines, Time magazine no longer carries the weight it once did. This cover will be forgotten by tomorrow.
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Teddy Mar 08, 2021 08:54am
TIME is irrelevant and insignificant. Does not make any difference to India.
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Shahbaz Ahmed Tarar Mar 08, 2021 02:44pm
@Ramana Because your media is in modi's control
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SD Mar 08, 2021 03:44pm
@bhaRAT© All of them are not Sikhs. Hindu farmers are also in the agitation. Don't try to divide farmers on religious basis. Farmers from Western UP and Haryana are mostly Hindus.
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Anil singh Mar 08, 2021 07:38pm
@AKL The new farm laws will be a game changer and huge plus for the poor and medium farmers.. Reforms is the way forward but middle men are protesting
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Anil singh Mar 08, 2021 10:46pm
@T-man India is the world's largest democracy and an open society
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Anil singh Mar 08, 2021 10:47pm
@Zak makes no sense whatsoever
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HumIndian Mar 09, 2021 07:56am
Now I see farmer's protests only on Magazine covers.
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