DISSECTING THE WITHERING FIELDS: A CRITICAL STUDY OF FARMER'S SUICIDE IN ANITA AGNIHOTRI’S THE SICKLE.

Abstract

The current paper undertakes an in-depth examination of the causes behind farmer suicides in India, with a critical analysis elucidating the intricate relationship between economic, social, and environmental factors. Farmers nurture the land with unwavering dedication. They sustain life and ensure that the earth's resources flourish. They are the backbone of not only our food security but also of the Indian economy, with the agriculture sector contributing 17% to the total GDP and providing employment to over 60% of India's population. However, rural India's landscape is confronting an unprecedented crisis sparked by the detrimental effects of climate change. Farmers are quietly dying under the crushing weight of debt, hopelessness, and desperation as the fields wither and dry out. Against this backdrop, Anita Agnihotri's novel The Sickle (2019) illuminates the struggles of farmers in rural agrarian landscape. The study seeks to highlight the pressing need for ecological resilience, social justice, and sustainable agricultural practices. This study aims to contribute to advocacy and policy initiatives, igniting a national conversation about the predicament of Indian farmers and the necessity of structural reform.