A Lifetime in the Soil: The Story of a 78-Year-Old Farmer.

At 78, the farmer still walks to his fields each morning, even as he battles an illness. Something in the land keeps pulling him back. And in that routine lies a story he’s never fully told. 

Ramlakhan is seventy-eight years old, and people in his village know him as a calm and simple man. He usually wears plain shirts with pants or shorts and normal everyday shoes. He has one son and four daughters, and his family describes him as someone who always worked quietly and honestly, without showing off.

He grew up in a family that already had a house and farmland. As a child, he went to the fields with the older farmers and watched how they worked. He learned that farming needs patience and care. People who knew him say he often believed that the soil gives back what you give it, and he lived by this thought.

His life changed when he fell sick and could not walk properly. Doctors in the city said he had vestibular balance disorder. He had his first operation there and stayed in the city for a month to rest. His son once asked if he was scared. He replied, 

“I am not afraid of the pain. I am afraid of stopping.”

In the village, his wife had already planted the seeds because farming cannot wait. Soon the crops grew tall, and the family told him that they needed to be cut. He was the only one who knew how to cut them well. Even though he had not fully recovered, he felt he needed to go home.

His daughter told him to wait, but he said gently,

“I must go. The land is waiting.” 

When he reached his village, he walked slowly to the field. He touched the soil and whispered,

“I told you I would come back.”

After some time, the sickness returned, and it was even stronger. He had to go for a second operation, which happened recently. His family says that even when his body became weak, his mind stayed strong. He often shared the thought that if your roots are strong, you will not fall.

Now he walks slowly and rests more, but he still visits his fields whenever he can. People say he looks at the crops with the same pride he had as a boy. He hopes his grandchildren will remember the values he followed: honesty, patience, hard work, and respect for where they come from.

His life is not a story of fame. It is the story of a man who faced illness, returned to his fields, and kept his promise to himself. His strength was quiet, and his courage came from never giving up. His real gift to his family is the example he leaves behind, showing that a simple life can still be a strong and meaningful one.

Written by Shrusti Kalwar, Grade 7, Shikha Academy, Mumbai

Shrusti wrote this article as a participant of the Media-Makers Fellowship's Nov'25 cohort.