I have always tried to develop informed opinions, and to stand for what I believe in. My thoughts and beliefs might not have resonated with people in every case, but it has always given me satisfaction to have stood by the ideas that seemed true to me. Swami Vivekanada has said, “Tell the truth boldly, whether it hurts or not.” In my project “Farm to Fork”, I have tried to bring out the veiled reality of the plight of the farmer due to the middlemen-infected supply chain in India, in a hope that it will bring awareness to the misled Indian customers, and help them make better decisions toward changes in the retail sector, like FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).

The project reveals the lifestyle of middlemen—who add big margins in the name of marketing or delivery, live lavishly in the luxury of air-conditioned houses, expensive cars, and the latest gadgets—contrasted with that of the farmer, who toils away at the land, and still has to make do with a thatched house, a wooden cot, and the luxury of a cycle. It is a dismal situation, where the inflated costs that the customers pay for are not really reaching the producer at all. Shastri’s Kisaan is dead, and the reason is the meddling of middlemen. Through my project, I hope to inform customers of the choices they can make to stop the propagation of such activities and opt for a transparent retail system instead.

I feel that putting constant effort behind an idea I believe in, can and will bring about a positive change. Like Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”