Guru Ravidass Jayanti Celebrations

 

Guru Ravidass Jayanti Celebrations

Guru Ravidass Jayanti, February 16, was observed, like every year, with all gaiety and solemnity. It is a matter of gratification to note that that the celebrations are gaining strength both by way of discipline in conducting the events and also by willing and spontaneous participation with a sense of pride and belonging. I personally participated and witnessed the celebrations at Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar and Khuralgarh Sahib in Hoshiarpur.

Celebrations at Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar

– Bootan Mandi, an informal capital and nerve centre of Dalits and dalit awakening for almost 100 years, now a days hosts a huge mela for almost a week. The buildings are illuminated and decked with decorations and
festivities. Guru Ravidass Dham becomes the special attraction during the celebrations. Almost all senior politicians like CM Charanjit Singh Channi, CM Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Singh Mann, Uttrakhand CM Baghle among others visited Guru Ravidass Dham and paid obeisance to the great Guru. A grand and befitting Shoba Yatra,

which traditionally started from Bootan Mandi, was taken out on February 15. One could witness the much needed ‘Josh-o-Kharosh’ among the followers of Guru Ravidass, the harbinger of social equality and justice. On the route of the Yatra several welcome stages/podiums were erected to honour the colorful ‘Jhankis’ with traditional beat of ‘Tamak’ – Nigadas and ‘Dhol Dhamka’. I humbly write that my family with the cooperation of our extended family host a ‘Langar’ on the route at Nakodar Road (LG Show Room and Chhabra Sweets) for the last 32 years from 11 noon to 5 p.m. and welcome the Shoba Yatra as our humble contribution to the celebrations. The next day that is the Jayanti Day, a mammoth congregation was held at Bootan Mandi, as usual, to

conclude the celebrations with ‘Bhog of the Guruvani’. The residents join the Bhog ceremony for Ardas for the wellbeing of all – Savat Da Bhala. In the evening of the Jayanti Day – February 16, a grand Music Darbar was held to carry forward the tradition with Hardial Bangar, President of Guru Ravidass Educational and Charitable Trust in the Chair as the climax of the celebrations. Many budding and established singers of Punjab headed by the legendry singer Kaler Kanth regaled the audience and touched their inner chords with the compositions on the mission and philosophy of Guru Ravidass. The atmosphere was fully charged with the Jaikaras of Jo Bole So Nirbhay – Guru Ravidass ji ki Jai.

Charan Choh Ganga at Khuralgrh Sahib in Hoshiarpur – Charan Choh Ganga is a holy site visited by Guru Ravidass in 15^th -16^th century situated in the picturesque hills in the Garhshankar Tehsil of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab boarding Himachal Pradesh. I was invited by the All India Ad-dharam Movemment who is responsible to upkeep and run the holy site under the able

stewardship of Sant Satwinder Hira along with others Sants and followers of the great Guru on the auspicious occasion the Gurupurab of Guru Ravidass on February 16. The followers and faithful were, in hordes, were reaching the place in tempos, cars, bikes and even on feet in spite of the sorry state of the approach roads. I visited the place some years before and I must register with appreciation that the management under the guidance and leadership of Sant Satwinder Hira was doing well in developing the site in a planned way. It was a matter of satisfaction that apart from spiritual sites like Charan Choh Ganga, a huge covered shed was being built which could host a congregation of 15 thousand people. Some devotees led by Dev Raj Lagha of the

UK and his extended family were instrumental in starting the project which would hopefully be completed in due course. I was touched by the hospitality and honour bestowed on me by Sant Satwinder Hira and his associates. Given the pace of development and involvement of dedicated people like Sant Hira, I am confident the holy site of Charan Choh Ganga would soon appear on the touristic map of India for the benefit of devotees of Guru Ravidass. I was happily surprised to see a young IAS of UP, Praveen Kumar who was in Punjab for a short duty as an Election Observer sitting on the floor in the audience, incognito, as a humble follower of Guru Ravidass. On knowing his presence, Sant Satwinder Hira thoughtfully recognized him and invited him to the podium and honoured him with a Saropa. I was impressed by the Langar arrangements at the site as informed by Sant Hira ji. I informed that the Langar arrangements have been done for the whole year by allotting the Langar Sewa to one of the villages for each day. People were ready to join voluntarily not only locally from Doaba but also from far off places in Majha and Malwa regions of Punjab. Now the management was engaged in promoting their monthly mouth-piece ‘The Ad-Dharam Patrika’ to fill the gap of media needs of their Mission. He requested the devotees to join the Langar of the Ad-dhram Patrika as they have done for the Langar of food. It is a unique approach to address the issue with people centric thinking. Sant Hira is fully aware of the importance of media and thoughtfully invited journalists from Jalandhar - the Akali Patrika, J.S. Sodhi, the Dainik Bhaskar, Manjit Singh Mani and also a couple hacks from Kharar to apprise and brief them about the holy site of Charan Choh Ganga.

 Personally experiencing the events and developments at Khuralgarh to carry forward the mission of Babu Manguram Mugowalia and Baba Banta Ram Ghera, my laud thinking was which I would like to share here, was that we the intelligentsia of the community should consider and nominate Sant Satwinder Singh Hira, National President of All India Ad-dharam Movement for the civilian award of ‘Padam Shri’ and urge the Central Government to kindly honour the much deserving personality of the community and the society at large with the coveted gesture of ‘Padam Shri. I leave it here as ‘Food for thought’.

तू पहले बात फिर बात का अंदाज़ पैदा कर;

फिर दुनिया में तुझे कोई नज़र अंदाज़ कर नहीं सकता।

 

 

Pagri Sambhal Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha – A centenary of Punjab Kisan Struggle – 1907-2021

 

Pagri Sambhal Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha – A centenary of Punjab Kisan Struggle – 1907-2021

I could lay my hand on the recent book on the subject written by my good friend in the academia. Prof. Ronki Ram, currently the Head of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chair at Panjab University, Chandigarh, courtesy yet another friend, Chief Editor of the Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba, esteemed weeklies being publish from California in the US, Prem Chumber who has sponsored the publication of the book, as usual, to carry forward their mission to support and promote the common matters of concern and interest to the undermined and struggling masses of the society.  I highly appreciate this gesture on the part of Prem Chumber and his media organs. It is also a matter of gratification that academic and intellectual and also literary circles have taken a due note of the epoch making struggle of farmers which lasted for more than a year under all odds and difficulties. The government, ultimately, had to relent and repeal the said to be ‘black laws’ on
agrarian reforms.

The book of Prof. Ronki Ram - Pagri Sambhal Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha – A centenary of Punjab Kisan Struggle – 1907-2021 is a well documented compilation of history of Kisan Movements in the contemporary times of about 100 years and also the current scenario in the wake of Samyukt Kisan Morcha.

The book has thoughtfully been dedicated to the Unknown Fighters of the century old Kisan Struggle in Punjab. In a brief Foreword, Chief Editor of the Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba Weeklies, Prem Chumber noted with satisfaction, “The historic struggle has not only forced the central government to repeal the contentious farm laws  but also put in place the most desirable narrative of communal harmony built from below across class and caste fault lines.” Journalist and Writer, Amarjit Singh Chandan has written in the Preface of the book, “The world has recently witnessed the largest and longest peaceful farmers’ struggle against globalism in general and capitalism in particular.” He has underlined the role of Punjab in Kisan movements and has written, “The state of Punjab has the distinction of leading various farmers’ struggles during the British rule as well as post-independence.”

Prof Ronki Ram has done a good job in putting Kisan Movements in perspective since 1849, the annexation of Punjab with stress on the century – 1907-2021 – from the days Pagri Sambhal oh Jatta Days to the current allegedly black farm laws of 2020-2021 dealing with agricultural produce, sale, storage, marketing and contract farming.

Prof Ronki Ram

The stakeholders particularly farmers and the Artias (Commission agents) in the sale and marketing opposed these laws, passed hurriedly in a hush-hush manner by the government, was opposed tooth and nail. The book rightly provides all the necessary details of the ‘Non Partisan Peaceful Protests’ for the benefit of the readers. Finally, a yearlong Andolan was called off on nullifying the controversial laws following the announcement of PM Narendra Modi on November 19, 2021, at the auspicious occasion of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Prof Ronki Ram, the author of the book, asserted that this long drawn struggle could sustain itself and finally succeeded because of the fact that the spirit behind the struggle was ‘the rich heritage of peasant struggles in both pre-partition undivided Punjab and post independence Indian Punjab.

The following chapters give all the details of the peasant’s movements in undivided Punjab and Post partition Punjab in free India. In the historical background of the role of Maharaja Rnjit Singh and Sikh Misls (Confederacies), the books details the Farmers struggle under the banner of ‘Pagrhi Sambhal Jatta Lehr’ in 1907 under the leadership of Ajit Singh uncle (Chacha of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Nilli Bar Morch of 1938 with the slogan – Banney Utey Adho-addh – 50-50 share in the agricultural produce, Amritsar Morch of 1938 against the increase in land revenue, Muzara Struggle of Gurdaspur, Charhik Morcha of 1938, Korotana Struggle to oppose the ban on kisan movements during the WWII, the Lahore Morcha of 1938-39, Harsa Chhina Morcha on the issue of canal waters in 1946 and ‘perhaps the last kisan morcha for the restoration of land rights before the partition in 1947, Tanda Urmur Morcha.

Similarly, in the post-partition Punjab of India also saw a number of important movements of Kisans such as; Pepsu Muzara Movement against the ‘Biswedari’ (system of hereditary property), Anti-betterment Levy Agitation of 1959 (known as Khush-Hashiyati Tax Morch) led by Punjab Kisan Sabha of the CPI, Mehatpur Byet Muzara Movement said to be influenced by the Naxalites, Chandigarh Morcha of 1972 of Punjab Khetbari Zimindara Union. These details provided good information on the Kisan movements which worked as the torch bearer of the current Andolan.

With this detailed narration of Kisan Movements, the author has given thoughtfully ‘Critical Reflections’ as food for thought. Agriculture is a complex issue for the Indian economy, polity and the society. The other has weighed pros and cons of reform process of the agricultural sector very carefully. Agriculture cannot be left to ‘subsistence’ level. It has to develop as industry on commercial basis not only to meet the basic needs of farmers to make it viable but also to integrate the agricultural sector with the main stream of the  economy of India and beyond. The way out is not confrontation but cooperation among the stakeholders. I hope the government has fully realized this ground reality.

The book – Pagri Sambhal Lehr to Samyukt Kisan Morha is a good compilation of all relevant material on the kisan movements and the legal framework and also a balanced view on the way forward.

An Open Letter to All Political Parties - Punjab Elections – Dalit Vote Bank

 

February 8, 2022

An Open Letter to All Political Parties

Punjab Elections – Dalit Vote Bank

Dear Political Leadership of All Political Outfits,

I am apolitical common citizen of India living in Jalandhar. I venture to write on a current issue of concern and interest to all of us with regard to the elections currently underway in Punjab and some other states of India.

All political parties and politicians are falling on each other to woo dalits and encash their electoral cheques on the Dalit Vote Bank with 34 reserved seats in the total of 117 and with more than 33% share in the population. The Congress Party has declared Charanjit Singh Channi as their CM face. The Akalis have alliance with BSP and professes to have a dalit as a Deputy CM like the AAP with a dalit as the Leader of Opposition in the current Assembly. BJP has gone back from their earlier decision to have a dalit as CM. Many cross currents are underway which reveal the reality on ground with regard to the status and space of dalits in the society and polity. The efficacy of a democratic polity with the dictum of ‘one vote – one value’ is, of late, increasingly coming to the fore and rightly so. Today, February 8, a renowned journalist and political commentator Chandra Suta Dogra has raised a pertinent question and said that the Congress Party’s gamble to name Channi, a dalit, as the CM face was a ‘double edged sword’ and asserted that it would tend to alienate the caste Hindus and the Caste Sikhs. I have no issue with Chandra Suta. She has narrated the obvious. But it has left a definite ‘food for thought’ for the Thekedars of the society in the RSS, SGPC among others and the ‘Shouting Brigade’ who cry from the roof tops against the reservations for dalits. Where dalits should go, if they cannot have a due space and share in the pie? What are we doing to address this issue of caste divid? Should dalits remain in the margins only in spite their strength and place in the polity? Why shall they be? These are some of the pertinent questions which need to be answered. Dalit intelligentsia, though not vocal as yet, is watching this carefully. Media has reported that Navjot Sidhu’s wife and Bhagwant Mann have tried to raise a question about ‘how come Channi is a poor man’ as mentioned by Rahul Gandhi. Do they want a pauper to stand against them? Channi is an educated man with a sound track record. He would prove himself or would be side tracked by the system itself. Why to worry? Some reports have criticized the Congress Party as it has succumbed to caste considerations in naming the CM face. It is a fallacious argument. Nobody thought of this caste divide for the last 75 years. No dalit could make it the top in spite their demographic advantage. That caste divide suited the Manuwadi mindsets.

I know that nobody has the time to listen or read the long sermons and high flown ideas. The crux of the matter is that the time has come when dalits are no more interested in freebies of ‘daal atta’. They want to have their identity with dignity and respect. Their emotional chord is crying for to hold their hand.  Can we ignore this reality, if we intend to have harmony and fraternity in the society?

Two immediate issues of interest and concern to dalits come to my mind in these days of elections when all parties are vying to garner the votes. This also explains the reason to address this open letter to all political parties. These two issues, if addressed properly, have the potential of providing the ‘swing advantage’ in dalit votes. The followers of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar are increasingly getting upset about the indifference shown by the BJP government at the centre as both these issues pertain to the realm of the central government in Delhi. I take the liberty of listing these here in the light of the Urdu couplet:

इक तर्ज तग़ाफ़ुल है ; सो वो उनको मुबारक ,

इक अर्जे तमन्ना है वह हम करते रहेंगे।

 

i)                  Tughlakabad Guru Ravidass Dharamasthan - Majority of dalit population of Punjab are the followers of Guru Ravidass. The Central Governments indifference and DDA’s highhandedness in the matter – first destruction and desecration of Guru Ravidass Dharamasthan, a historic site which was gifted by the then ruler Sikander Lodhi to the great Guru in 15-16thcentury, in 2018, in the wake of agitation by the followers of Guru Ravidass, Government agreed to give 400 sq. meter of land and building of the Dharamasthan in 2019 and now again DDA’s demand of 4.33 crorers of rupees and allotment of land only for 30 years n lease has again raised the hackles of the followers of Guru Ravidass particularly in Punjab and UP. All political parties should consider and raise this subject with concerned authorities in Delhi to assuage the ruffled sentiments of dalits of Punjab. It is surprising that all political parties and their leaders are calling on Dera Sachkhand Ballan of Jalandhar for getting their blessings in the elections but nobody is interested in addressing the subject. It may be mentioned that Sant Niranjan Dass ji Maharaj of Dera Sachkhand Ballan is the Chairperson of the Committee formed by the authorities and BJP to oversee the re-construction of the Tughlakabad Guru Ravidass Dharamasthan and in spite of their disagreement and objections to the new demands of DDA uder the administrative control of the Central Ministry of Urban Development in Delhi. Dalits are furious over the matter which must be addressed, the sooner the better. The followrs of Guru Ravidass silently watching the response of political outfits and would respond appropriately in the forthcoming electoral slugfest.

ii)               April 14, birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of Equality – While observing and celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of the greatest son of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar in 2015-16, it was suggested and proposed in June, 2015 to the then EAM Sushma Swaraj to consider and make a demarche to the UNO to declare April 14 as International Day of Equality. The proposal was duly acknowledged by the Joint Secretary of the UNES Division of the MEA. The matter was taken up by the Forum of Scheduled Caste MPs and MLAs under the stewardship of Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal of Punjab with PM Narendra Modi in November, 2015. Accordingly. For the first time, Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 was celebrated at the UN in New York in which an officially backed delegation headed by Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal participated and referred to, in his speech, the proposal on International Day of Equality and urged the GOI to take up the matter through proper diplomatic channels with the UN. Subsequently in May, 2016, on return from New Youk, Speaker Atwal submitted a report to PM Narendra Modi and requested him to consider and officially take up the matter with UN. Since then, we have been regularly reminding the GOI but the central government is blissfully silent on the subject. On this account, there is a considerable resentment and anguish in the community particularly among the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar. It is a matter of gratification to note that in 2020, City of Burnaby in Canada declared April 14 as ‘Ambedkar Day of Equality’ again in 2021, the Province of British Columbia of Canda made a similar pronouncement. GOI is yet wake up though they profess to own the legacy of Babasaheb Ambedkar. The comunity, I believe, is not oblivious of the action to be taken to awake the sleeping authorities. Perhaps the time has almost come. Since the matter falls in the preview of the Central Government, we expect the state governments to support the proposal and pass a resolution in the newly formed assemblies by the incoming state governments in this regard and forward it to Mahamahim Rashtrapati ji at the first instance. It will not only be a befitting tribute to the great leader, Babasaheb Ambedkar but also a good gesture to add to the emotional empowerment of dalits by way of cultural diplomacy like India’s initiatives in declaring International  Day of Non-violence in2007-08 and International Yoga Day in 2014-15.

With these humble submissions, I take this opportunity to wish all the best to all political parties and players in the festival democracy, Elections, 2022.

With respects and regards,

Yours truly,

(Ramesh Chander)

Ambassador – IFS (Retired)

Tele: 9988510940

 

 

 

Siar Da Pattan – a collection of poems – Kisan Andolan

 

Siar Da Pattan – a collection of poems – Kisan Andolan

We all are aware that an important phase of the farmers struggle, popularly called Kisan Andolan, came to close honourably  on the announcement of PM Narendra Modi on the auspicious day of the Gurpurab of Guru Nanakdev ji on November 19, 2021, towards the close of the difficult year of 2021, to repeal the three allegedly ‘black laws’ on agricultural reforms. Accordingly, on completing the constitutional and procedural process to repeal the laws and assurances to address the demands of famers in due course, by the Government, Kisans suspended the Andolan on December 9, 2021. Kisans won the important battle and, obviously, they were delighted and rightly so. The entire country was also happy and welcomed the healthy developments concerning all of us.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that some of the well-meaning and serious academics, intellectuals, activists were following these developments with great care and concern. While following and participating in the Andolan by way of writing poetry and supporting the Kisans, who were braving the vagaries of weather on the borders of Delhi and standing firm against the highhandedness of the authorities democratically and constitutionally, they were keeping
the powder dry to fire their pent up sentiments by printing their poems and stories in books and magazines to preserve the matter for the generations to come and assess the epoch-making struggle of Kisans by the historians. One such outfit was Punjabi Sahitya Sabha
Admpur Doaba in Jalandhar working under the stewardship of Roop Lal Roop, a retired educational administrator, District Education Officer and his young colleague Prof. Hardip Rajaram.  In the first week of January of the New Year, 2022, they came out with a well presented book Siar Da Pattan – a collection of Punjabi poems, pertaining to the long drawn Kisan Andolan – a befitting New Year gift.

Courtesy my classmate in the high school, Madan Bolina, Roop Lal Roop came into my contact and very kindly invited me to the launching of Siar Da Pattan in the first week of January but due Covid restrictions the function was postponed to February 6, 2022. The honour to release the book fell on me and I fully enjoyed and benefited from the occasion organized at the premises of a girl’s government school at Adampur. I must say at the first instance that it was a well conducted function with a discerning audience

comprising of poets, story tellers, academics, intellectuals and social activists. Before, the formal release of the book, the poets regaled the spell bound audience with their both fiery and comic recitals with regard to the Kisan Andolan and other social and cultural issues.  Some of the poets were really in their sprits with the poems like; Tera Todna Punjabian Garur Hakma – Balle Balle Hundi Aimein Nahin Kisan Di – Govind Da Farzan Kisan. One of them with the Takhalus of Kartarpuri was really good in depicting the scene when we retire the books to our well maintained shelves of our libraries without reading them. My friend Madan Bolina really gave a surprise with his very thoughtful and emotionally romantic Ghazal and that too recited in Taranum. It was really good and I was happy. The book, Siar Da Patttan, was formally released as a tribute to the warriors and martyrs of the Kisan Movement. The collection of poems comprises of contribution by 81 poets from 8 countries of the world. It is a bouquet of emotion, toil and sweat, insensitive attitude of Delhi i.e. the Sarkar towards the Kisan Andolan and also a sense of elation in the wake of Fateh in getting the so-called three black laws repealed – the opening entry of Roop Lal Roop sets the ball in motion – Eke Naal Jitia Kisan Morcha, with a sound piece of advice by Dharampal Paul – Bas Tun Josh Te Hosh Rakhna, Khushi Mohamad Chatha is confident – Aj Nahin Te Kal Hoyega; Passa Sade wal Hoyega. For this labour of love, there was a bonus also. It was the release of yet another well presented and compiled bouquet of poems of a young writer, Gurinder Gill of Malaysia, Uljhe Suljhe Akhar.  There are many more books in her credit and the name itself of her forthcoming book “Faqiri Ramjan’ gives the taste of the book.

Roop Lal Roop has rightly called her as “Khialan Di Malika” I will read the book and revert: Inshalla. In my brief remarks, while thanking my hosts, Punjabi Sahitya Sabha Adampur Doaba, a socio-cultural outfit of literary talent in and beyond Punjab, I registered my sense of relief and ease in the wake of governments’ decision to repeal the controversial laws on agriculture and sit with the Kisan leaders to find the way ahead. Referring to blogs on the subject that ‘Reconciliation and not confrontation was the way out’ I said that as a layman I felt that that in  the wake of increasing industrialization and urbanization, the agricultural sector also be developed as an industry on commercial lines and not only as a ‘subsistence activity’ to protect Kisan from remaining  on the fringes of the main economic set-up. I added that it was good to hear the slogan of ‘Kisan – Majdoor Ekta Zindabad’ during the Andolan. It was a good gesture to associate landless labour with the agricultural sector as stake-holders. But a real change of heart on the part of the society was very much called for to ward off the dangers to the system and the society to resort to the cries like:

उठो मेरी दुनियां के गरीबों को जगा दो;

जिस खेत से दहक़ां को मय्यसर नहीं रोज़ी,

उस खेत हर गोशे गंडम को जला डालो। 

I was over-whelmed by the respect and honour bestowed upon me by my gracious hosts and the well-meaning participants in the function. Prof. Hardip Raja conducted the proceedings of the function with great ability and understanding which was concluded with the Vote of Thanks by Roop Lal Roop followed by a piping hot lunch of Cholle-Bhature on the partially cloudy afternoon – a good and productive day.