Bootan Mandi – Citadel of a composite society in Jalandhar

 

Bootan Mandi – Citadel of a composite society in Jalandhar      

I may recall that I wrote a blog on Bootan Mandi and its socio-economic and politico-spiritual edifice in Janauary, 2015 which may be seen at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2015/01/pseudo-secularism-case-study.html

I felt like writing again as a proud BootanMandian on the subject as it was mentioned by one of the speakers, Sat Paul Mahey, at the recent Gurpurab Ravidass function at Bootan Mandi on February 16 that it was being planned to observe the century of Bootan Mandi in 2025 in a befitting manner. It is a welcome proposal. It is a matter of satisfaction that, in spite of the fact that Bootan Mandi is considered to be a nerve centre of dalit awakening in Punjab and beyond and the common impression that only the followers of Guru Raviass of Chamar extraction inhibit the place, Bootan Mandi could acquire,

nurture, maintain and promote the composite society over the years as good followers of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar and also believers of the tenants of Guru Grant Sahib of the Sikhs and humanitarian and compassionate principles of Buddhism. Bootan Mandi was the known hub of leather business which was reserved for the low caste Chamars as per the traditional Hindu social norms but the so called Chamars of Bootan Mandi were open minded and liberal people and invited and encouraged non-chamars of upper castes of both Sikhs and Hindus and also of Muslims and Christians to come and join them in the lucrative leather business. It will not be out of place to mention that these perceived ‘outsiders’ now own the main stream of business and the locals have been pushed to play second fiddle. Anyway, this issue requires further elaboration to put the things in right perspective which, hopefully, I would do later in another blog. It is a matter of gratification to note that in these days of widening communal divide being encouraged, unfortunately,  by the mainstream religious dispensations, Bootan Mandi has become a living example of communal harmony – besides doing business with all as explained in

Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi

the preceding lines, Bootan Mandi can boast of to be a really secular pocket of Jalandhar with a composite living , as the ‘Begumpura’ of Guru Ravidass’s vision with Guru Ravidass Dham flanked by a Muslim Mosque at the back, the Church and the Buddha Vihar in close vicinity on one side and Gurudawara Santpura on the other. Traditionally, the residents were following only two political streams – RPI and later BSP and the Congress Party but the passage of time it has turned to be a real all embracing place with joining hands with the Akali Dal, BJP and AAP. There is no political animosity and the social fabric is woven around the teachings and mission of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar.

I conclude this brief note as a curtain raiser to the forthcoming plans for the centenary celebrations of Bootan Mandi, the informal capital of dalits of Punjab with a quote of Allma Iqbal:

Naya Shivala

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

har sub.h uTh ke gaa.eñ mantar vo mīThe mīThe

saare pujāriyoñ ko mai piit kī pilā deñ

shaktī bhī shāntī bhī bhagtoñ ke giit meñ hai

dhartī ke bāsiyoñ kī muktī priit meñ hai