This documentary highlights the struggles of the farmers, and the efforts of journalist Mr. P.

Sainath.

“In the past 10 years, 200000 farmers have committed suicide in India, but the mainstream
media hardly reflects this.”

The documentary progresses revealing the plight of the farmers and the extreme apathy shown
by the richer class. The most appealing, yet appalling scenes in the movie are the hurt-filled
poetry by the Farmer-Poet  Late Shri Krishna Kalamb, who committed suicide due to crop failure
and being unable to repay his loans.

Nero was an ancient Roman emperor who used to conduct one of the biggest parties ancient
Rome had ever seen. And for the guests to enjoy the beautiful garden, Nero brought several
prisoners at night and burnt them alive for illumination.

The documentary compares these activities of Nero with the ruling classes of India who pursue
business friendly policies while cruelly neglecting the farmers and the poor.

It is not Nero’s cruelty, but the indifference of Nero’s guests. Nero’s guests, people who feasted
while around them human beings were being set on fire. The civilian population, must choose
whether we want to be Nero’s guests or not, whether we also want to keep silent by ignoring the
cruel injustices meted out to farmers and the poor and enjoy the benefits at the cost of the
suffering of a huge population of this country.

While it took the Finance Minister less than 2 hours to rush to Dalal Street and console the
“weeping millionaires” when the Sensex plunged a few years ago, it took 10 years for the Prime
Minister to pay a visit to the family of the farmers who had committed suicide.  

Around 2 lakhs farmers have committed suicides in the last 10 years. At the same time the
government of India has given more than 2 lakh crores “incentives” to corporates in the last 2
years.

The government’s policy to compensate the family who lost their breadwinner is also very tricky.
The person who committed suicide might be the only working farmer in the household but may
or may not own the land. In this case, the family of the suicide will not be compensated.
Likewise, women farmers won’t be compensated. The society does not recognize women
farmers and women in India rarely have land or property in their names.

The farmers feel that no one cares about them. This was clear during the protests on the streets
of Nagpur, Maharashtra in 2011.

Food is also wasted by the Indians. A more variety and luxury in food availability has given the
urbanized options to play with one’s taste buds.

In short, while one half of the population is starving and dying of hunger, the other part is busy in
wasting food to extensive amounts.