Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar – Poetic Naman to Guru Ravidass

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar – Poetic Naman to Guru Ravidass

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar is an apex body of poets and literary personalities of in and around Jalandhar engaged in nurturing the poetic urges of the concerned while promoting and serving their mother tongue, Punjabi. The Sabha is headed by a prominent literary man, Harbhajan Singh Nahal and ably steered by Param Dass Heer as its General Secretary and supported by Beant Singh Sarhadi, a known figure in the socio-cultural and spiritual life of Jalandhar and beyond.

As in the successive years, the Likhari Sabha celebrated the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass on February 15 by dedicating their monthly Mushiyara to the great Guru. They were kind enough to invite me to the Mushiyara as the Chief Guest in spite of the fact that I am not a poet of any sort. More than 15 poets read and recited their compositions on Guru Ravidass’s Bani and Legacy and also the

larger message to the humanity. It clearly came out that Guru Ravidass stood for “Haq Te Sach Di Awaz” as termed by one of poets and rightly so. The Mushiyara was so engaging that there was hardly any time left to listen to the renowned literary and academic invitees sitting at the High-table. President Harbhajan Singh Nahal had to struggle to manage and give time to each one of us to conclude the event.

Prof. Baldev Singh Balli spoke with conviction and shared his latest poem on the theme of Guru Ravidass’;s concept of “Begumpura - a State without ‘Sorrow”. Prof. Baldev Singh Badhan also spoke

briefly but with full insight of the thought and philosophy of Guru Ravidass. Prof. Navtej Gardhiwal, a scholar and researcher on Guru Ravidass’s life and philosophy wanted to say and share much on the occasion but time constraints came in. Both Prof. Badhan and Prof. Navtej Gardhiwal presented their books of poetry and prose to me as ‘Food for Thought”. By the time my turn came as the last speaker, it was already too late and sensing the mood of the audience as a career diplomat, I took recourse to the poetic assertion of Allma Iqbal –

Pardon Mein Jo Pinha Hai: Chasme Beena Dekh Latti Hai,

Jamane Ki Tabiat Ka Taqaza Dekh Latti Hai.

 

 I kept myself very brief and said that Guru Ravidass’s Bani is as potent and relevant today as it was 6 centuries ago. And added that the present political or administrative dictum of ‘Democratic

Socialism’ was given and propounded by the great Guru in his Bani as “Begumpur Shaher Ka Naon” and ‘Aisa Chaun Raj Mein; Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann, Chot Bade Sab Sam Vashen; Ravidass Rahe Parsan.

If India that is Bharat is to realize its aspiration to become “Vikshit Bharat” in the years to come, ‘We the People of India’ must strive to understand and follow the teachings of Guru Ravidass on brotherhood, fraternity, samrasta and equitable world order as the great Guru said -

Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara,

Jo Hm Shehari Who Meet Hamara

 

Tasty bites of snacks with hot Kesar Milk were served courtesy; the down to earth but humble owner of Sasta Iron, Surjit Singh, an accomplished poet himself.

 

 

 

It is time to remind - International Day of Equality

It is time to remind - International Day of Equality

I wrote my last blog on the subject of April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality which may be accessed at:http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2024/10/ambedkar-ka-jadu-sar-chad-kar-bolega.html

Since then, nothing much has happened except a brief acknowledgement from the Ministry of External Affairs. But Ambedkar, due to one reason or the other, remained in news; first because of the parliamentary and assembly elections and second in the wake of the 75th anniversary year of the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949.

The Government of PM Narendra Modi, thoughtfully, decided to observe Constitution Day in a befitting manner and rightly so. There was an interesting but acrimonious debate on the Constitution of India in both the Houses of Parliament. Obviously, Babasaheb Ambedkar remained in focus of the debate. It became amply clear that the future of emerging India would hover around Ambedkar in the years to come. There is no way out - Ambedkar Ka Jadoo Sar Chadkar Bolega.

An immediate provocation to write again came from the media report in the Tribune about a function arranged by BJP’s dalit face in Punjab, Vijay Sampla as an exercise in damage control on allegedly uncharitable remarks made by Home Minister, Amit Shah on Ambedkar while participating the debate in the Parliament. I quote from the news item, “Tarun Chugh, national general secretary of the BJP, said this while addressing a gathering at a programme titled ''Ambedkar ko Samarpit Modi" organised by the Sampla Foundation today. Chugh said giving a befitting tribute to Ambedkar, the Modi government developed five key sites related to Baba Ambedkar. Dr

Ambedkar's Janma Bhoomi in Mhow, his cremation place Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, Shiksha Bhoomi – place in London where he studied, Deeksha Bhoomi – the place in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism and Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi – the place in Delhi where he passed away.” The Congress Party has responded with a new slogan to own the legacy of Ambedkar “Jai Bapu - Jai Bhim - Jai Savidhan” The ongoing campaign for Delhi Elections has, as usual, invoked Ambedkar’s name in wooing the dalit vote banks. It is certain that a swing of 2-3% of dalit votes would make or unmake the chances of capturing the reins of power in Delhi. Maybe the ruling BJP may like to take the decision to honour the greatest icon of India to enjoy the resultant dividend at the EVMs in Delhi.

In this background, I take the liberty of reminding the BJP and the Government of PM Narendra Modi on the proposal on declaring April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN. It will

not only be a good gesture to assuage the ruffled and hurt

sentiments of the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the wake of the alleged uncharitable observations by the top leadership of BJP but also a befitting tribute to the memory of one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar in run up to the celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the Constitution of India of which he was chief architect.

 Let us come out of the lip service and do something concrete to realise the lofty ideals of our polity “Equality, Liberty and Fraternity”

Ik Tarze Tagafil Hai, So Woh Unko Mubarak,

Ik Arje Tamana Hai, Woh Hum Karte Rahange.

Musing from Stockholm - As I Please

Musing from Stockholm - As I Please

I am in Stockholm on a family visit. Yesterday, January 20, was the swearing in of the US President Donald Trump. I was watching the special coverage of the event by the Indian TV Channel, Aaj Tak anchored by Anjana Om Kashyap from Washington. While seeing the show, an usual aspect came to my mind, the issue or point of Indian identity.

I felt that, of late, we are perhaps losing our national identity as Indians or Bharatias giving way to our denominational identity as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims etc. Are we heading in the right direction? The answer is ‘No’, to my mind. The next

obvious question which arises is as to what is the reason that our national identity as Indians is being eroded? In the Aaj Tak show, Anchor Anjana spoke to some Indian prominents living in the US. One Sikh turbaned gentleman spoke and underlined his Sikh identity as ‘Sikhs for Trump’. One clean shaven Hindu, emphasised his Hindu identity in support of Donald Trump. An Indian origin politician of the Republican Party, Lady Nath also spoke about her denominational identity rather than her national identity. I could not understand the logic and reason for this narrow approach undermining our national identity as Indians or Bhartias. One immediate and off the cuff response to assess the situation comes to my mind - our Caste based social hierarchy and increasing denominational divide back home in India. On one hand, we profess our traditional thought and philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ but on the other we easily succumb to our narrow identity as Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians etc.. Our identity as Indians get lost in the process. I leave it here as some ‘Food for Thought’. The father of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb Ambedkar said and rightly so that we should be Indians first and Indians last to save and nurture the concept of Bharat.

It was a matter of gratification to note that EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, while representing India at the ceremony, was

given all due respect by the Trump Administration. It bodes well for India-US relations.

Yet another point which came to fore while seeing swearing in ceremony of President Donald Trump was - we feel proud and elated as Indians when Kamala Harris, Usha Vance, Ramaswamy among others find mention in the corridors of power and rightly so but turn the other way when back home, Sonia Gandhi claims her right to the top of the hierarchy as an Indian. It is time to remove this contradiction. I conclude with a poetic assertion of Allma Iqbal -

Aa ġhairiyat ke parde ik baar phir uThā deñ

bichhḌoñ ko phir milā deñ naqsh-e-duī miTā deñ

Suunī paḌī huī hai muddat se dil kī bastī

aa ik nayā shivāla is des meñ banā deñ

Duniyā ke tīrathoñ se ūñchā ho apnā tīrath

Dāmān-e-āsmāñ se is kā kalas milā deñ

Revisiting the Cherished Memories of Stockholm

Revisiting the Cherished Memories of Stockholm

I am in Stockholm (Sweden) to be with Anju and Naresh and family (Pallavi and Arvind). My daughter, Vaishali also joined us from Canada with her two daughters, Komal and Tania. We

celebrated Xmas and New Year at the family reunion. Today, January 13, is the Punjabi festival of Lohri which we are celebrating with traditional fun and frolic at home in the cold  weather. 

Starting from Xmas to this day of Lohri, I have been revisiting the cherished memories of Stockholm meeting old friends and making new friends in the process. We picked up new relations with the family of Maclina and Sanjay Loyal, parents of Sonali.  Sonali and my grand-son, Arvind have been  steady with each other and we approved and cemented the relationship at a solemn ceremony of Roka (Pre-engagement bond) on January 28. We hosted the Loyal family on New Year Eve, December 31 at our home in Marsta to usher into the New Year with hope and promise.  Though I advised Anju and Naresh not to crowd my schedule with too many outings in view of the cold and snowy weather, our friends around are good enough to do what they intended to do to nurture the bonds of friendship. Thanks for the kind gestures of togetherness by our new and old connections. We enjoyed - a delicious Mexican dinner at cosy apartment of Sumitra Behn and Vinod Patel in Marsta, a sumptuous Chinese dinner by Damini and Naresh Lakhwani at the Bamboo Garden in the down-town Stockholm, a homely dinner at the home of Monica Loyal, Aunty (Massi and Chachi) of Sonali, a delicious home cooked Chinese meal at the spacious Mansion of Silky and Gautam, a homely dinner at the home of Neelu and Anil Narula, our old friends of yesteryears.  

Some of these social engagements provided us an opportunity to revisit our cherished memories and association. Among the new connections,  a sophisticated and God fearing people like us, Loyals became our extended family. God bless Sonali and Arvind, the future of our family. At the dinner with Silky and

Gautam, we met yet another promising young couple, Ami and Sashvat, siblings of our old friends, Anju and Sunil Bruta and our old acquaintances, Swapna and Budhdev Sharma. While Ami and Sashvat are highly placed in their respective careers; Ami, a practising Doctor of Psychology and Sashvat, an IT Consultant with a company of his own; Silky is a Marketing Executive with a renowned Corporate House and Gautam is a perspective Banker and Financial Consultant. It was gratifying to know. I found Anju and Sunil Brutas as vivacious and vibrant human beings as they were in the good old days. Anju regaled us with her poetic skills acquired from her family genes, I believe. I recall an Urdu  Sher (couplet) which she shared with us 

Yaar Mat Peena Masjid Mein Baith Ke;

Ek Hi Bottle Hai, Kahin Khuda Hi Na Mang Le.

Among the new picks, we bumped into the young member of the diplomatic fraternity of India, to which I also proudly belonged, First Secretary of the Indian Embassy, Rakesh Tiwari and his gracious wife Shobna at the homely dinner

hosted by our old buddies, Neelu and Anil Narula. A young diplomat, Rakesh Tiwari is holding the Fort, in the absence of Ambassador, as the Charge d’ Affaires of the Indian Embassy in Stockholm. I found Rakesh a well groomed diplomatic colleague with a bright future in the fast evolving diplomatic space of India In the world at large.  It was a real pleasure to meet and interact with our old friends, Rita and Arun Chopra in the process. 

More is still to come in the coming days as I see my schedule with Anju pasted on the fridge in the kitchen. With this, I close this brief blog, my hobby, with all the best wishes on the traditional festival of LOHRI -

Sab Nu Lohri Di Badhai Hove

Khushi Dooni Te Sabai Hove

Postscript:-

Lohri turned out to be all the more enjoyable with the impromptu joining of Sonali and her parents, Maclina and Sanjay Loyal with traditional Goodies like Moongfally, Rewadis and Sweets to celebrate the festival and greet each other. Thanks, let the spirit of Lohri - Well-being for all prevail.

Welcome 2025 - A view from Stockholm

Welcome 2025 - A view from Stockholm

We ushered into the New Year, 2025 today, 1st January - a cold day with mercury at -7 degree celsius with snow at Marsta, outskirts of Stockholm. The day started slowly and calmly, we got up late. We hosted the New Year Eve bash at home with Sonali (Avi’s sweetheart) and her family, our new relations in Stockholm. It was a wonderful evening. 

Anju and Vaishali thoughtfully set the Menu of food supported by Naresh, Pallavi and Arvind to add the right Spirits, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. After a session of Welcome Drinks and Snacks, a stint of Song and Dance on the selected

popular numbers was conducted by Pallu and Avi followed by Game of Bingo, as it is said to drive away the bad spirits, was played. As the evening headed towards the D-line to usher into the New Year, 2025, we relished a tasty Indian meal. The clock struck 12, all of us felt happy and kissed and hugged to wish each other all the best in the days to come. I raised the toast to wish everyone Happy New Year with a poetic narration - 

Na koī rañj kā lamha kisī ke paas aa.e

Khudā kare ki nayā saal sab ko raas aa.e

Fun and frolic-filled evening was really entertaining and enjoyable. 

It was already snowing heavily. All were happy as this year, there was no snow in Stockholm on the Xmas. People generally like ‘White Xmas’ in Sweden. We moved out for the

finale to the celebrations - with a bottle of Old Monk Rum especially carried by Jimmy from Jalandhar for the occasion and Sparklers (Phool Jhadis) and Chinese Lanterns.  Naresh arranged the Lanterns to take the blessings of our ancestors in the Heavens in terms of Chinese belief and thought. It is said that the lanterns are symbols of fortune and good luck.

Incidentally, 1st of January is the birthday of my wife, Vidya who left us about a year ago in December,2023. Obviously, her cherished memories became alive at the back of my mind. We

celebrated many New Year Eves in Stockholm together in the course of our diplomatic stay in Sweden and joining my family even after retirement. 

Aaj ik aur baras biit gayā us ke baġhair

Jis ke hote hue hote the zamāne mere

REVISITING SWEDEN - 2024

REVISITING SWEDEN - 2024

I am on a revisit to Sweden to be with my son, Nareh and his family. It happened to be a family reunion. Vivek (Jimmy) , brother of Anju, my daughter-in-law, escorted me to Stockholm on December 23 from Jalandhar to IGI Airport by taxi to catch the Swiss flight to Stockholm via Zurich on December 24. It was a pleasant experience. Jimmy was extra careful and

caring to help me at each step from Punjab to Sweden. Naresh and Arvind (Abi), my grand-son received us at Arlanda airport. My daughter, Vaishali and her two daughters, Komal and Tania joined us from Canada later in the same evening. They were received by Arvind and my grand-daughter, Pallavi. It was a happy reunion at a picturesque home of Anju and Naresh in the greens of Marsta in the outskirts of Stockholm. Anju treated us with her usual culinary skills with Indian and Swedish dishes to celebrate the Xmas Eve in style. We all had a relaxed day on December 25 to recover from the jet-lag of the long journeys.

As a natural corollary of their social life in Stockholm, Anju and Naresh are doing well in integrating with the society. On December 26, we all went to the sprawling villa of Sanjay Loyal in Sollentuna for a family dinner. The occasion had an

emotional social touch. It was a family get together of two families which were set to cement their bonds of social status. My grandson, Arvind Ryan and Sanjay Emmenual‘s daughter Sonali Sharon, friends and schoolmates from their childhood, have been falling for each other for a few years. Thoughtfully, their parents decided to recognise and accept their relationship socially and bless them. It was an introductory family dinner for me, Vaishali and her two daughters, Komal and Tania. Jimmy had already met the Loyal family during her earlier visits to Stockholm. I found Sonali a beautiful and vibrant young lady with a definite streak of well-grooming. Her parents Meclina and Sanjay were a socially alive and dignified couple. They were totally reverential and respectful to me. I enjoyed this emotionally filled evening with a sense of contentment. Both the families agreed to formalise the relationship on December 28 at the residence of the Loyals with a brief and solemn ceremony of Roka (pre-engagement ritual). 

December 27 was an exciting day to prepare for the big day in the life of Sonali and Arvind. In the evening of December 28, we reached the cozy home of our hosts who welcomed us with traditional sounds of Dhol-Dhamaka and Bhangra (Music and Dance). This traditional Punjabi touch to the occasion overwhelmed us. The Roka ceremony was performed by

invoking the Heavenly Blessings of God with the recital of spiritual prayers and invocation of Verses from The Bible (With reference to Love) by the parents of Sonali. We reciprocated with prayers and invoked Gurbani - Anju expressed her gratefulness to God for giving us Sonali by very thoughtfully reciting a Verse from the Gurbani; Jo Mange Thakur Apne Te Soi Soi Deve. Congratulating both the families, I quoted from the Gurbani to avail of and join the emotions of the families: Jad Satgur Hon Dayal Tan Har Rang Maniye; Jad Satgur Hon Dayal Tan Sharda Puriye. Naresh was equally charged with emotion and said, “Now, instead of one, I have two daughters; Pallavi and Sonali”. It was a fun-filled evening with friendly vibes and spread of excellent food and superb hospitality. God bless Sonali and Arvind.

We were in for a pleasant change to the Mexican treat at the cozy home of Sumitra and Vinod Patel, family friends of my son, Naresh in Marsta itself, on December 29. I found both

Sumitra and Vinod excellent hosts with good talk and tenor. We started with Champagne and traditional Gujrati Dahi Bhalla and Kichodis.  Sumitra and Vinod served excellent home cooked Mexican food with the right spirits. Thanks Sumitra and Vinod.

In the run up to the close of the year 2024, Anju and Vaishali remained busy in preparing for the year-end party at home  on December 31; The New Year Eve to usher into 2025 with prayers and wishes for further peace and prosperity in the days to come. Sonali with her parents and extended family are

invited to join us at the New Year Eve. We are looking forward to meeting our new relations to say GoodBye to 2024 and usher into 2025 with hope and aspirations. It is my last blog of the year. Life goes on; Let us hope for the best in the years to come.

खुदा जाने यह दुनिया गाहे नाज़ है किसकी;

हज़ारों उठ गए मगर वही ही रौनक है महफ़िल। 

(God knows whose pride this world is;

Thousands have left but the same splendor remains in the gathering)

Happy New Year

 

PM Manmohan Singh - A Greatman

 PM Manmohan Singh - A Greatman 

PM Manmohan Singh passed away on December 26 at the ripe age of 92. One of the highly acclaimed academic and intellectual bureaucrat and politician of contemporary India. I saw him often in the PMO corridors in the mid-1970s as an Economic Expert and Advisor to the GOI and PM Indira Gandhi; a simple and humble personality but highly respected in the higher echelons of power. 

In the wake of economic difficulties in India, PM PV Narsimha Rao picked Manmohan Singh, the troubleshooter Finance Minister to address the ills of the economy of India in 1991. He rose to the occasion and became the Economic Reformist FM of India with new liberalised economic policies with considerable success. It  paved the way for his career  as an Economist and Sauve Politician. He became the PM of India by his own right in 2004 and served the country for 10 years with total dedication and dignity. 

I thought of writing this small piece to register my heartfelt condolences on the passing away of the worthy son of India. I am on a personal visit to Stockholm (Sweden) and with the demise of PM Manmohan Singh, a vivid memory of him and his Economic Reforms introduced in 1991 came to the fore. I was posted as First Secretary dealing with  Economic and Commercial matters in the Embassy of India in Stockholm. In the wake of new liberalized economic policies of FM Manmohan Singh, Swedish Trade Council invited me for a briefing and interaction on the new policies. After my brief opening remarks, there was a full-fledged interactive session. The President of the Swedish Trade Council, posed a question whether, in view of the fact that the current Government was a minority government, these policies would stand the test of time or these would be short lived and changed with the change of government. It was a difficult question in the given situation. I responded that what I understood, not as an economic expert but as a diplomat, was that it was not a temporary measure of a government but a gradual process of evolution of policies. These economic reforms to integrate the Indian economy with that of the world with liberalization and transparency would be the national agenda in the days to come. With the change of men at the helm, there may be some deviation from the route but the end destination would remain the same. My audience appreciated my submissions. After a year or so the then Minister of Industry, P.J. Kurien visited Stockholm as the

Co-chairman of the India-Sweden Joint Commission on Economic and Commercial Matters. The Swedish Trade Council hosted a meeting under the aegis of India-Sweden Joint Business Council in the presence of the Indian Minister and his Swedish counterpart. While speaking at the meeting, the President of the Swedish Trade Council said, pointing towards me sitting in front row of the audience, “Here sits the man who told us some months ago that Indian reformed policies were the National agenda of the country. Now we fully believe and appreciate that. I thought of narrating this small thing as my humble tribute to the memory of PM Manmohan Singh, the architect of Indian economic reform to keep India on the rails. 

My heartfelt condolences on his demise. Rest in Peace, Sir.