A MEMORIAL AT SINGHU BORDER

Today, 19 December 2020, Sikhs all over the world commemorate the sacrifice of the ninth Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur Saheb. Hind-di-chadar Shri Guru Teg Bahadur sacrificed himself standing with and for the weak, standing against a tyrant.

As is the fashion these days, politicians appropriating historical and religious figures, in January 2020 Congress government in Punjab announced a year long celebration of Guru’s 400^th birth anniversary (April 2020 to April 2021). Not to be left behind, Akali dal (then a part of NDA govt at center) got the Govt of India to announce a nationwide celebration of 400^th birth anniversary – with the President making the proclamation in his address to a joint sitting of the Parliament. In November 2020, Delhi team of Akali Dal (who was by then out of NDA govt) started six-month long celebrations. As we approach April 2021, every politician will line up with big words proclaiming Guru’s legacy – with a turban wearing Modi leading the pack.

According to Delhi tourism website – “With a view to beautify all the entry points of Delhi, Government of NCT of Delhi has set up Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial near Singhu Boarder (G.T.Karnal Road) National Highway-1.”

The police barricades which indicate the start of the tractor trolley township of the farmer movement, are placed where the memorial starts. As one walks to join the lacs gathered, one first crosses the Guru’s memorial. If one steps inside a tall khanda rising from the ground comes in view. “A 24 meter high central pylon with petals at the base represents the Guru & his strength and the three “C” arches denote his three followers and the monoliths represent the 10 Sikh Gurus’ with their sayings inscribed on them.” The words of Gurbani on these ten pillars give messages like Sarbhat da bhala (welfare of all), kirat karna (hard work and honest living), naam japna (remembering God), vand chakna (sharing with others), istri samanta (equality of women), etc.

As part of six-month celebrations Delhi Akali Dal team has planned a nagar kirtan (a procession of devotees) from birthplace of Guru (Amritsar) to place of his death (Delhi) in February 2021.

Sons and daughters of Guru in their lacs have marched upon Delhi much ahead of the schedule. The 400^th year celebration hadn’t anticipated such gathering in celebration of the spirit of Guru. Standing up to a tyrant. Standing with the weak. Other communities have joined these sons and daughters of the Guru in the people’s movement they started.

One of the ten pillars inside the memorial say tenth Guru’s words under the heading ‘Deedar Khalse ka’ – ‘Behold the pure.” ‘Khalsa mero roop hai khas, Khalse mehi ho karo nivas’ ‘Khalsa is my true form Within the Khalsa, I abide.’

May those who speak on stages appropriating the Guru’s legacy – take a moment to understand the significance of the gathering next to Guru Teg Bahadur Memorial at Singhu border. May they go and bow to the Guru awaiting at their doorsteps. May they go and bow to the real memorial to the Guru gathered at their doorsteps.

And may the people of the land continue to remember what the Guru stood and sacrificed for.

#StandWithFarmers

#SpeakUpForFarmers

#KisanEktaMorcha

MAJHA. MALWA. DOABA.

Punjab – land of five rivers, first partitioned and then trifurcated, at present is a land of practically two rivers. Not delving too much on the historical usage of the terms – currently this side of Sutlej is called Malwa, that side of Beas is Majha and in between the two is Doaba.

My father is Malwayi. My mother is Majhail. Doaba is their home for nearly five decades - we siblings are thus Doabiye.

End October, as Punjab is busy protesting on roads and railway tracks, and harvesting paddy, I ask ma – ‘Majhewale patryian te baithe, malwe wale toll pumpa te. Eh doabiye kuch karange?’ ‘Those in Majha are sitting on tracks, those in Malwa are sitting at tolls, Reliance filling stations. Will the doabiyas do anything?’  

‘Ehna nu te bas kam te paise di ag lagi. ’ ‘They are running after more - more work, more money.’ ‘eh ni nikalde cheti.’ They won’t come out easily.  

Of the three regions – Doaba was the first to change (some say develop) with incoming NRI money. Of the three regions – Doabiye are the closest to the urban middle class. They don’t get out of their comfort zone easily.

Walking through the township of tractor-trolleys at Singhu border I notice names from the Doaba region – Kapurthala, Jalandhar, even a banner of a union for farmers from Doaba. I walk to a group of youngsters standing next to one such trolley - full of posters highlighting Godi Media. They are from a village close to Jalandhar.

‘Doabiye bada time laake nikle?’ ‘Doabiye took a lot of time to come out,’ I ask them after a few minutes of conversation.

‘Haanji bhaji. Doabiye nikalan nu time launde. But ek vaar nikal pain, fer sab nu pichche chad dinde. Fer ni mud de.’ ‘Yes brother. Doabiye take time to get started. But once they come, they stand at the front. They don’t turn back then.’

When I called home this morning, there was an announcement on the village gurudwara speakers in the background. I asked Ma what they were saying.

‘Reliance da boycott karan di announcement hai. Sab apne jio number band karwayo.’ ‘Its an announcement to boycott Reliance. Everyone has to stop using Jio numbers.’

Doaba took its time. But it is in the middle of the battle now – with full vigor. It is in the middle of the movement now – with full participation.

Majha Malwa Doaba stand together.

Communities at loggerheads for decades - Trifurcated Punjab - stand together.

Groups at conflict with each other for decades– Trader Farmer Laborer - stand together.

There is hope now –  for a country currently on a fast-track to hate and division – there is hope that India might still stand together.

#StandWithFarmers

#SpeakUpForFarmers

FUTURE IS NOW

Browsing through facebook messages, I noticed a college friend’s post and a few comments from the same college janta having their fun discussing pizza langar at the farm protests and availability of leg massages and speculating on the possibility of whisky as well!

And it struck me that over last two weeks I had not seen much feed from a few hundred IITians in my friends list. A very large number of these were very active prior to 2014 (and have made their appearances every once in a while to celebrate/support something related to their 2014 achievement – surgical strike on money – DeMo, surgical strike on Pak, surgical strike on corona – Lockdown, etc. etc. ). IITians for change, IITians for India, IITians support MODI and many other groups with names like these sprung up in the run up to 2014 and then 2019 (and will probably come up prior to 2024 again) – though I don’t have much hope of a group being called ‘IITians for change’ again.

Maybe I have just missed their discussions. So, I undertook a quick survey – at random I opened nearly fifty profiles from my friend list, of janta from my college. Mostly - there is no post in last few weeks, even on the walls of highly regular social media users.

In relation with farmer protests - apart from the pizza discussion, I found one forwarding videos against the movement from an extreme right wing hate page, one who had posted one link in support with #IStandWithFarmers and one with two supposedly funny videos bashing Modi on farm laws.

For almost 50 IITians, out of which nearly half have been very active users of facebook and a high percentage of those highly active in support of current establishment’s policies – mostly there is no voice either in favor or against the current events.

Maybe they have moved away from regular use of facebook and stopped trying to change the world on social media, but something that I posted a few weeks back comes to mind. “Till 2014, we had many an expert critic, many an expert doctor, who smelt the stink that Mother India lived through. Every moment of their existence they diagnosed what was wrong with her and they prescribed and shouted the solutions every which way. Since 2014 many well-meaning noses have lost the ability.”

4^th December 2020, 930pm. As thousands of farmers at various borders of Delhi got ready to layout their bedding in their temporary shelters (in trolleys, on road under trolleys, in tents, out under open skies) in biting cold, Prime Minister delivered keynote address at the IIT-2020 Global Summit.

Maybe his words (or whoever wrote the speech) can help.

“I am always impressed after interacting with students from IITs. I also come back refreshed and reassured about the future of India and our planet. Friends, you are sons and daughters of India. You are serving humanity.”

“Friends our actions today will shape our planet tomorrow.”

“The responsibility is heavy, but I know your shoulders are capable.”

The choice of theme by PanIIT team seems prophetic - Future is Now.

ADVERSITY TO OPPORTUNITY

Farmers had been sitting on roads, railway stations and tracks for nearly two months.

Modi govt had by and large ignored them – like they have every other dissenting voice (if not outright crush it).

Farmers needed fertilizers for rabi sowing.

Modi govt saw an opportunity to force the farmers to leave railway tracks and stations, and hence leave their protest.

Farmers moved away from tracks and stations and said you can run goods trains.

Modi govt said no goods trains if no passenger trains. When you have the opponent by their throat why relent?

Farmers took another step back. The trains started.

What can people do against an inconsiderate ruler?

Some convert that adversity into opportunity.

TRAINS JAM-PACKED AS PUNJAB FARMERS LEAVE FOR DELHI - THE TRIBUNE 14-DEC-20

Alluding towards the heavy presence of farmers heading to take part in the agitation, an elated Gursewak Singh (60) said, “The Dainik Express from Bathinda to Delhi has turned into ‘Kisan Express’ now. Resumption of train services has indeed served as an easy mode of transportation for thousands of farmers travelling to and from Delhi borders.” 

#StandWithFarmers

#SpeakUpForFarmers

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/trains-jam-packed-as-punjab-farmers-leave-for-delhi-183856

SAMWAD

Stage is set. In his elements – he has a stage and a devoted audience – he is in full flow.

“Guru Nanak Devji ne, aur badi sateek baat kahi hai, Guru Nanak Dev ji ne bhi kaha hai, jab lag duniya rahi ai nanak kichhoo suniye kichhoo kahiye. Yani, jab tak sansar rahe tab tak samvad chalte rehna chahiye.”

Samwad - Discussion, Dialog, Conversation.

What he wants to say to you farmers, hiding behind Nanak’s words, is that please continue with the discussions.

Where was Samwad when at the height of the pandemic, the ordinances were brought it?

Where was Samwad when despite opposition from the farming community, and opposition in the parliament, these bills were bulldozed though without a proper vote?

Where was Samwad when the elderly sat on railway tracks, and roads for over two months?

Where was Samwad, when the govt issued ultimatum that no goods train (and hence no fertilizers for farmers) without allowing passenger trains?

Where was Samwad when the tear guns were fired, and water cannon jets launched?

Dear farmers, what he wants to say to you, hiding behind Nanak’s words, is that please continue with the discussions, while every possible resource at the state’s disposal - mainstream media, Joseph Goebbels of our times the BJP IT Cell, govt ministers and party members – continue to discredit you, your movement, give it a color of separatism, and in general wait for you to tire and go back.

Whoever advised him to use Nanak’s words – should have looked at what Nanak said just one line before.

naam khasam kaa chit na kee-aa kaptee kapat kamaanaa.

The deceitful person does not remember the Lord's Name; he practices only deceit.

15 DAYS. 15 MARTYRS.

“The farmers’ struggle is not a picnic with lavish langars or macho songs, it is a battle being waged at a high cost. In the past two weeks, on an average, one dead body is coming back every day to Punjab from the Singhu and Tikri borders of Delhi, but the government is lingering on the issue.” The Tribune (10 Dec 20)

 

ਯਾਰ ਮੇਰੇ ਜੁ ਇਸ ਆਸ ‘ਤੇ ਮਰ ਗਏ

ਕਿ ਮੈਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਬਣਾਵਾਂਗਾ ਗੀਤ

ਜੇ ਮੈਂ ਚੁੱਪ ਹੀ ਰਿਹਾ ਜੇ ਮੈਂ ਕੁਝ ਨਾ ਕਿਹਾ

ਬਣਕੇ ਰੂਹਾਂ ਸਦਾ ਭਟਕਦੇ ਰਹਿਣਗੇ ।

ਕੁਝ ਕਿਹਾ ਤਾਂ ਹਨੇਰਾ ਜਰੇਗਾ ਕਿਵੇਂ

ਚੁੱਪ ਰਿਹਾ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਮਾਦਾਨ ਕੀ ਕਹਿਣਗੇ ।

 

My friends who died with this hope,

That I will remember their sorrows in my songs,

If I stay silent, if I don’t speak up,

Their spirits will wander forever astray.

If I speak, how can the darkness stand,

If I stay silent, what will the torchbearers say?

  

#StandWithFarmers

#SpeakUpForFarmers

SPEAK UP FOR FARMERS

‘What a waste of money?’ I would think whenever a tractor would pass, with speakers and sound system to compete with DJs, leaving meaningless words of meaningless songs in its wake.

How wrong they have proved me!

The words are changing. The beats are changing.

The same speakers are now singing the songs of revolution.

Welcome to Revolution 2020.

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ਕਿਰਤ ਦੀ ਲੁੱਟ, ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਖਤਰਨਾਕ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ

ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਖਤਰਨਾਕ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਮੁਰਦਾ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਭਰ ਜਾਣਾ

ਨਾ ਹੋਣਾ ਤੜਪ ਦਾ, ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਸਹਿਣ ਕਰ ਜਾਣਾ

Robbery of our hard work, is not the most dangerous act

The most dangerous act is to be filled with dead silence,

Not feeling any agony against the unjust and bearing it all.

-Paash

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Farmers have so far protested peacefully, graciously and with tremendous heart. But mainstream media and ‘the IT Cell’ will speak their master’s language only.

Please be the farmer’s IT cell and question, challenge, counter the IT cell propaganda.

BJP IT Cell is the new Joseph Goebbels. Question, Challenge, Counter it.

https://www.altnews.in/old-unrelated-images-viral-as-vandalism-by-farmers-during-bharat-bandh/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=newpost 

https://www.altnews.in/video-of-2016-rally-by-sikh-groups-against-punjab-govt-falsely-linked-to-farmers-protest/

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#SpeakUpForFarmers