JO BOLE SO NIHAAL

1997. Border - J. P Dutta’s magnum opus on 1971’s Battle of Longewala is released. Theatres all over India are jampacked for weeks. In one of the scenes, as the battle is about to start, Sunny Deol as Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri leading about a hundred soldiers thunders Wahegur ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki fateh. The actor playing the officer leading the Pakistan attack says with a surprised look - we have wrong intel, there is full battalion of 600plus here. The Indian audiences feel the patriotic fervor take them, they clap and whistle and can barely remain seated. Khalsa’s greeting here invokes passion and patriotism.

1999. Kargil. Operation Vijay. Brigadier Ravindra Singh who led one team narrates ‘after an attack by us and few counterattacks by Pakistani soldiers, there came a time when we were running low on ammunition. Subedar Nirmal Singh (posthumous Vir Chakra) came and said ‘Sahab, no need to worry. We will now say jaikara of Sikh regiment and you will see the power of its words, the enemy will cower and there will be no counterattack. And that’s what we did. The whole valley rang with the war cry ‘Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’. The sound gave fresh vigour to our soldiers, even those who were tired and injured and the enemy was too afraid to counter-attack.’

Sikh regiment’s War Cry: Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal. ‘Sat Sri Akal’ (Truth is eternal)  shouted in unison, responding to the call, ‘Jo Boley So Nihal’ (whosoever pronounces shall prosper) is a call to action, or an expression of ecstatic joy or an invocation for Divine help.

JP Dutta helps again. In his 2003 release LOC Kargil, as the Indian soldiers launch the final assault, they keep the josh with the war cry. Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal.

Khalsa’s clarion call (jaikara) here provides strength to our soldier’s. it uplifts them with the spirit of divine and takes them to their victory. To us, the audience, it gives goosebumps of patriotism.

Maybe we don’t have to go this far back. Only to the beginning of this year and Galwan Valley clash. Following the clash Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited some of the forward posts. At a forward post near LoC in Kupwara the soldiers of Sikh Regiment greet him with their war cry. He joins them in the shout and after the soldiers had followed up with Bharat Mata ki Jai, Rajnath Singh asks the soldier’s - ‘Ek baar Sat Sri Akal jara fir se.’ And the mountain’s echo with Guru Gobind Singh’s clarion call.

The nationalists got goosebumps of patriotism when Rajnath Singh tweeted the video captioned ‘Jo Bole So Nihaal.’ They saw it as a loud message to China – not to mess with us.

Every Sikh prayer ends with this jaikara. Before we start on any important work, a prayer is organized and concluded with jaikara. Not only soldier’s the sportsmen uplift themselves with the jaikara.  So, this clarion call is part of the culture and when the whole community marches out in protest to fight for their rights one is bound to hear the jaikara. And when on their march they encounter hurdles erected by state – then they will invoke strength with these words of power.

So, when those self-declared nationalists declare those shouting the jaikara as separatists, take a moment to pause and think.

May be that little pause will be sufficient to convince you that in future when you hear Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal, you will be hearing the sound of valour, of love for the land, of true patriotism.

#FarmersProtest

#SpeakUpForFarmers

A SINCERE QUESTION

‘These laws are for their benefit. Why these protests?’ a friend asked (sincerely).  ‘Removal of mandi system will allow them to get best prices.’

Swaminathan commission report (popular name for national commission for farmers) which looked at agrarian crisis in detail and formulated reports that are to form the basis of improving the livelihoods and income of farmers suggested many solutions. But one key aspect of its recommendations was - govt cannot experiment at the risk to farmers. You want to adopt new tech, new solutions, anything - do it at govt risk, not farmer risk. Remember demonitisation? A large number of marginal farmers lost their standing crops as suddenly the cash disappeared. So no buyers in markets! Many haven’t recovered from that one crop loss (because every crop is sowed and taken care on credit or whatever little savings they had). That is an example of a policy where the maximum risk is on the shoulders of the most marginal (which in our country is a very large percentage).

Swaminathan says that govts are supposed to ensure MSP for farmers. He gives a formula to calculate it - input cost x 50% profit. There are 3 parts to the input costs. None of the govts has ensured that the MSP gets calculated at this level. We are currently at a stage where only two parts are considered (and that too not 100%). Why are protests primarily only in Punjab, Haryana and western UP (although rest of the country is slowly waking to it) - because at present only 6% of farmers in India have access to MSP and that too for about 35% of their produce. So, in a way only 2% produce gets MSP. So, neither have the MSP been given at what is recommended by national commission for farmers nor it is given for all the crops (to start with there are only about 23 crops on the official MSP list but mostly only wheat and paddy is implemented). Swaminathan reports defines a per square kilometer range in which there should be a mandi. Presently we are about 25-30% of that number. So, neither have we provided access to get to a mandi. Now where is reasonable access to mandis? Answer- where there is reasonable access to MSP. Which is Punjab, Haryana and western UP primarily.  

Let’s consider what happened when what govt is now trying to implement all over India was implemented in Bihar (they removed the mandi system and let private players in). This was around 2005-06. Was it a success? Well the number of labourers who leave Bihar every harvest to come and work in North India is answer to that. They sell their crop to private players at about 1100-1300 per quintal when MSP for same wheat or paddy is about 1800-1900. Did breaking mandis help them increase their incomes? Govt knows the answers. A world renown agriculture economist Devinder Sharma did an analysis. He presented data on income growth. Govt employees vs farmers. Starting 60s-70s till a few years back. In that time govt salaries increased 150-200 times whereas farmers income increased 10-15 times. Govt employees get over 100types of allowances as part of salary. Farmers are not given the right formula to calculate their input costs.

But mainstream media will tell you govt is not abolishing MSP. Well farmers say very good. Put it in the laws. Say any purchase below MSP will be a criminal offence. Govt refuses to do that (giving away their long term intentions).

The protests are primarily to force the govt to commit to MSP and if they wont then to take back these three laws.

The thing is free market is a noble idea - but free and fair are two whole different things all together.

Maximum number of farmers in India are marginal - which means they own less than one hectare. They don’t have resources to take their produce to next town, forget the next state! Instead of giving them more mandis this system will ensure that established mandis are being taken away from them.

When they say private players will pick produce from your doorstep - remember when instead of giving access to banking to rural India we allowed Sahara Shri to be their doorstep bank? Millions are still looking for their life savings. So, a free market and a free and fair market are altogether different aspects.

The current mandi system is maintained and expanded using the cess/taxes govt collects. With there being no taxes outside the APMCs the business will move there to start with and then slowly these APMCs will disappear. And all that will be left is free market! It could be another Jio story - cut the competition first, cut throats later. There being a difference between free and free+fair.

There are many other points that farmers are protesting, but all they have demanded to check the govt intentions is that put in black and white that there will be no procurement below MSP.

#FarmersProtest

#SpeakUpForFarmers

SARBAT DA BHALA

He stands wearing his riot gear. It has been 72 hours since he left his post at the shopping mall checkpoint to rush to police station, grab whatever he could from the stores for the gear and reach the border. The body armour is torn at many places, the shoulder straps and the belt just about holding it together. The helmet is beginning to feel like a load.  The shield and the cane are the supports he stands against for now.

His back is beginning to give trouble. He has been meaning to visit a doctor for a check-up, but the one day he was away from checkposts and chowki in last two weeks, he was assigned a VIP duty. Why can’t they just stay inside even during corona, he thought. His wife is worried sick with all the news of policemen catching corona. When did he go home last?

His cousin Binder called yesterday. He is coming with the group from his village to protest.  He hopes Binder isn’t at the forefront where they have been firing tear gas since morning. All that noise has given him a severe headache. He rubs his temple. Gopal, his colleague, fainted this morning – what with all the standing since God knows when! He looks around, he sees tired faces. When is he going home, when is this getting over?

‘Attention.’

An officer is speaking. He tries to focus on the words. He can’t make out orders. He will do what those standing next to him are doing. He is a robot anyways. In times like these maybe all of them are. They follow orders even when their heart is not in it. Basic animal instincts of survival take over. Adrenaline helps.

And when it is quiet again, he will reflect. The journey from the village, selling his share of the land for that payment to get the job, a daily struggle to stay afloat amidst never ending duty and a hope, that maybe his children will fare better. Binder’s son got the visa. Binder sold a part of his land to pay the agents. His own daughter wants to go as well. How will he arrange the money? Maybe his PF?

‘Look sharp. Sahab is here.’

He straightens is spine. That pain! And he stinks. When was last he had a bath?

His Master's Voice

 

A dog’s master died. The dead master’s brother played his recorded voice on a gramophone. The dog sat attentively listening to ‘His Master’s Voice.’

We have all seen the HMV logo. And the dog on that logo. Nipper, the HMV logo dog, like dog’s in general, was loyal to his master. Even a dead master.

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Delhi-Haryana Singhu border.

Having fired at will for a long time, the tear gas guns are silent, the shooters taking a brake (possibly sitting to enjoy langar being served by the farmers, replenishing the energy that will be needed later for ‘bal prayog’ on the same farmers).

Having braved the shower of tear gas shells, the farmers are regrouping – washing faces, coughing and clearing their systems of the gas, checking on their elderly comrades.

In the lull that the break provided a few elderly farmers walk upto the barricades where the police stands. One of them waves the green flag and points at the police officer to listen to him. A media person pushes his microphone in front of his face.

“We are here to put forward our concerns in a peaceful manner. We are not here to quarrel with anyone and make trouble. First it was Haryana police that made trouble and now it is Delhi Police who are making trouble. Why are you troubling us? We just want to go to Delhi and raise our voice. Are we not citizens of this country?”

A senior police officer walks towards him, with a handheld speaker.

“We cannot allow you to enter Delhi. Don’t you know there is Covid in Delhi?”

The farmer replies – “If you want, we will sit at six feet distance, if you say we will wear masks, but we will go to Delhi.”

A second farmer steps forward. “What is the strength of the police behind you? No covid to gather thousands of police force?”

First farmer – “Bihar election can have rallies with lacs. No covid there?”

Police officer – “All protocol was followed in Bihar.”

First farmer – “I don’t think so.”

Police officer – “Your thinking doesn’t matter.”

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 Your thinking doesn’t matter. Your voice doesn’t matter. You don’t matter.

My master’s thinking matters. My master’s voice matters. My master matters.

_________________________________

A little while later, the same police officer is talking to a reporter – “Sir, the farmers say they will breach these barricades, they will go forward, they will enter Delhi. Will you continue to stop them?”

Police officer – “See, we are the law enforcing agency. We are not here to entertain whims and fancies of people. We are here to enforce the law.”

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Dear elderly farmer, what he means to say is that he (and his Dil-ki-Police) is here to enforce the law as his master sees fit. Remember how they rushed into the university one evening and thrashed those students? Or how they stood next to their master’s buddies when they instigated riots and then went ahead and found tens of students and activists guilty of conspiracy for those same riots? What he means to say is that he only entertains whims and fancies of his master. Just like one of their master knows ‘entire political science’ the one Dil-ki-Police reports to knows ‘entire law.’

Dear elderly farmer, it is the lacs standing behind you that are holding His Master’s Voice back. Else they would have lathi charged and picked the likes of you in no time.

Dear elderly farmer, most likely you haven’t seen a gramophone, what with staying busy converting rough terrains into fertile lands and feeding the country. You obviously don’t know Nipper. He listens to His Master’s Voice. Nipper was a dog. You know dogs - they are loyal.

#FarmersProtest

#SpeakUpForFarmers

VARUN & NAVDEEP

In Hindu mythology, Varun, is the ruler of the sky and the upholder of cosmic and moral law, is guardian of the west and is particularly associated with oceans and waters.

We know another Varun these days. According to DRDO – ‘Varun, Vehicle Mounted Water Cannon System, provides an effective, non-lethal means for dispersal of violent mobs.’ Note the word ‘violent’ in the definition. The crowds in Delhi during Nirbhaya protests come to mind. And the farmers today.

Navdeep - The soft-spoken son of a farmer, who turned the jets of today’s Varun off last night. And then he took a leap. A leap of faith. A leap for generations. Navdeep – New lamp. New Light. New flame.

Of all Hindu deities, Varun is the judgemental god, providing justice and punishment to everyone. His noose tightens and the sinners plead.

The Varun of myth stood for the weak, against the tyrants. The Varun’s of today stand with their jets facing the weak. It is up to the Navdeeps of today to carry forward the light.

Sinners beware. The noose is coming.

#FarmersProtest

#SpeakUpForFarmers

 

 

TERRORISM & 26/11

BREAKING NEWS! PM Modi says India can never forget 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Oxford English Dictionary defines terrorism as - A system of terror; Government by intimidation; A policy intended to strike with terror those against whom it is adopted; the employment of methods of intimidation; the fact of terrorizing or condition of being terrorized.

Sweet!

First install barricades, throw in large stones, huge concrete blocks – tied with large chains, put barbed wires on the barricades, throw a large pile of mud behind the barricades, park trucks and other large vehicles on bridges to block the paths.

Then when they come closer – start with water canons (it helps that it is freezing cold and they have already spent a night on the roads), and follow it up with tear gas (oh it dearly helps… what with the elderly, especially all those Matas in their 80s and 90s… we love them in Bhartavarsh… the Maas and Matas).

What? They still keep coming! Why we have the police in riot gear, backed by all sorts of other forces. Bal Prayog! Ah.. that’s but a way we ensure our citizens stay obedient.

Didn’t work?

The DC and SP get the press together. We have video recording of who all broke the barricades, we have seen who were violent. Appropriate action against will be taken against them. What did you say? Ah! the state is never violent. What? Canons and tear gas?

Even the threats didn’t strike ‘terror’ in their determination to march on?

The state smiles.

How far can they go? The same set-up awaits ten kms down the road.

We will break them. One by one.

What? It is 26/11?

Yes, India stands united against all forms of terror.

#FarmersProtest #SpeakUpForFarmers

Genies Don't Wait

The twelve-inch black and white Onida was switched on and volume kept to a minimum as everyone else slept. The TV will not be switched on this early in the morning too often in its decades’ long existence. Dipak Patel bowls the first over and Srikanth being himself holes out for a duck. Ten years old, he had never owned a bat till then (other than the cloth washing bat ‘thaapi’ that his mother had) nor he will own one later, but after the 1992 cricket world cup spirit of Imran Khan called him and he announced that he wanted to be a cricketer.

The parent’s day at school is over and he says bye to his mother at the gate. She walks the half kilometer to DC chowk, saving five rupees that the rickshaw would have charged. As she limps to her bus, he puts the ten rupee note she had just given him in his pocket and runs to his hostel dorm where boys are busy going through the goodies’ parents have left behind for them. One of them has a lot of fancy chocolates. ‘My uncle in merchant navy got these for me. He earns lacs every month.’ When school principal asked him what he wanted to do, he announced proudly, ‘I want to make a lot of money.’ Although he never set foot on one, at that time merchant navy ships called him.

Three years at Mumbai office were over. HR asked him where he wanted his next posting. ‘Some place like Brazil or Caribbeans,’ he joked a wish. Five years later as he submitted his resignation, having been to more countries than his wish but never Brazil or Caribbeans, his then boss looked at him questioningly. As a longing, of soil, of words, called him, he answered, ‘I want to go home.’

A few days back, as he lay in his bed, on the threshold of sleep, (and on the threshold of the fifth decade of his life), he heard her voice.

‘Your three wishes.’

He knew the voice that called. He didn’t know the answer.

‘I need to think,’ he said.

‘Genies don’t wait,’ the voice said.

In the dreams that followed he was a young boy chasing dreams.