By Agartala Correspondent | Tripura 24.in AGARTALA | April 11, 2026
AGARTALA: The 90th Foundation Day of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS)—India’s first national-level farmers’ organization—was observed today with due solemnity and organizational fervor. The primary state-level program was held at the AIKS state headquarters, Junu Das Bhavan, in Agartala, where leaders and activists gathered to commemorate the legacy of the historic peasant movement.
Founded on April 11, 1936, at the Lucknow session, AIKS has played a pivotal role in shaping agrarian policies and fighting for the rights of the peasantry for nearly a century.
Flag Hoisting and Commemoration
The day’s proceedings began with the ceremonial hoisting of the organization’s red flag. Rasbihari Ghosh, the AIKS State Secretary, unfurled the flag and paid floral tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the farmers’ cause.
Dignitaries Present:
- Rasbihari Ghosh: State Secretary, AIKS.
- Tulsi Das Kapali: Senior Farmer Leader and Women’s Rights Activist.
- Arun Sengupta: Prominent Peasant Movement Veteran.
- Several district-level committee members and grassroots activists.
“The Struggle Continues”: State Secretary’s Address
Speaking to the gathering, Rasbihari Ghosh reflected on the ninety-year journey of the AIKS, from the pre-independence land reform movements to the modern-day struggles against corporatization of agriculture.
”Today marks 90 years of unwavering resistance. From the Tebhaga movement to the historic farmers’ protests at the Delhi borders, AIKS has remained the vanguard of the Indian peasantry. In Tripura, our farmers are currently facing immense challenges due to the lack of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the rising cost of fertilizers. We rededicate ourselves today to the fight for agricultural sustainability and social justice,” Rasbihari Ghosh stated.
Focus on Current Agrarian Crisis
The leaders present at the event highlighted several local issues affecting the farmers of Tripura:
- MSP Implementation: The demand for a legalized MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.
- Irrigation Facilities: Addressing the lack of solar pumps and deep tube wells in the remote hills.
- TTAADC Election Context: With the ADC polls scheduled for tomorrow (April 12), leaders urged the agrarian community to vote for representatives who prioritize the “Land to the Tiller” ideology.
A Legacy of Resistance
Tulsi Das Kapali reminded the audience that the strength of AIKS lies in its grassroots unity. She emphasized the role of women in agriculture and called for better inclusion of women farmers in government benefit schemes and cooperative credit systems.
Similar programs were organized across various sub-divisions of the state, including Khowai, Kailashahar, and Udaipur, where local units hoisted flags and organized discussions on the current state of the rural economy.
