My fellow-BootanMandians – Priya Ambedkar

 

My fellow-BootanMandians – Priya Ambedkar

I have been writing in my blogs about my fellow residents of Bootan Mandi, my native place in Jalandhar, who have done well in life. My eyes and ears fell prey to yet another fellow, in the course of time,

Priya Ambedkar

Priya Ambedkar, a young lady of 28. I thought of writing about her as a matter of appreciation and pride. Priya has excelled herself in not only in academics but in the adventure sport of Mountaineering.  Here we go.

Priya is the proud daughter of her parents, an ordinary low middle class family of Bootan Mandi. Her father Ashok Kumar nick-named Gokha is engaged in leather business for their living, the traditional family business of her grandfather Hari Ram. I was happy to listen from Priya that their family was an ardent follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar and as such her father always encouraged her in pursuing her educational and sports interests and also other extra-curricular activities. They belong to Mal clan of Bootan Mandi but out her sheer dedication towards Babasaheb Ambedkar, she has added Ambedkar to her name. I first heard her speaking at Guru Ravidass Dham at Bootan Mandi a year ago at the Constitution Day function and came to know about her interest and engagement with Mountaineering, an activity generally reserved for the children of sophisticated elite. I was impressed. Now some days ago I came across a posting in the Facebook  about Priya Ambedkar and was really over-whelmed to know that since then Priya has taken many strides upwards in her chosen vocation Mountaineering and has earned much due and deserved recognition in the process. My curiosity grew to meet her and know a bit more about Priya with view to felicitate her on her achievements and express my appreciation as a fellow BootanMandian. My nephew

Mahesh Chander was handy, as always, and he invited her to his residence, our traditional family house where my brother Krishan lives, for a meeting. Priya came with her Tai ji (Auntie). I was further impressed by her confident demeanor and a good sporty look as an imposing young lady. Priya did her Bachelor of Arts from HMV College Jalandhar and Masters in Political Science from Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar. She informed with a sense of enthusiasm that she was interested in doing Ph.D on a theme pertaining to Babasaheb Ambedkar, her icon. As regards her interest and involvement in mountaineering, she said with a characteristic simplicity that somehow from the very beginning ‘she wanted to do something different’ which generally girls of common families with marginalized social and economic backgrounds don’t do. Priya was a cadet of the Army Wing of the NCC. Priya told me that she discussed her interest with the Commanding Officer of her NCC Battalion. He was somewhat amused and said that it was not easy. Priya insisted and succeeded in obtaining NCC back-up and sponsorship for a short course at Himalaya Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling in West Bengal in 2016-17 and climbed various Hills and Mountains in and around Darjeeling. Priya continued and pursed her training at the Institute even after her first NCC sponsorship, this time with a sponsorship of Ambedkar Chetna March of Jalandhar under the stewardship of Dr, Surinder Kumar. She successfully did higher climbs from 800 feet to 1200 feet and also a difficult feat of a Glacier of 14600 feet in Sikkim in 2019. It was gratifying to note spark in her eyes when she said with a quite innocence that all of a sudden ‘she had become a hero and a kind of celebrity in the social media’. Replying to my query as to how she felt on becoming a celebrity over night, she said it was pleasant and encouraging and added that she was determined to do more by scaling higher peaks of 1600 and 18000 soon and was all set to join her Institute. Her zeal and determination, I felt, was already at the Everest when she informed that she had decided to name her next higher climb as “Bhima-Koregaon” as a tribute to our brave fore-fathers. While talking to her I could feel a little sense of remorse in her heart that whereas she was getting all support and engorgement from outside, of late from the media too, but her own in Bootan Mandi, except her parents and immediate family, did not take any notice of her activities. I could feel her pain as a humble BootanMandian. I said, with a view to assure her that I had spoken to two of the BootanMandians working at the higher echelons of the hierarchy; IAS Babita and PCS Anupam and informed about Priya and her excellent achievements. In turn they had wished her all the best. She was happy that she was in our thoughts.

 With this, I take this opportunity to wish Priya Ambedkar all the very best in her strides to scale higher heights in the days to come. WE the BootanMandians are proud of her. I also request and urge the community leaders to kindly see, consider and chip in to hold and support Priya in her further pursuits. This request is on my own; Priya is proud and steadfast.

अपना मुक्कदर आप बनाते हैं एहले दिल;

हम वह नहीं जिन्हें  ज़माना बना  गया.

                                                                                                                  

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Kavi Darbar – Dedicated to Guru Ravidass

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Kavi Darbar – Dedicated to Guru Ravidass

Punjabi Likhari Sabha of Jalandhar holds a monthly Kavi-Darbar on every 15th Day of the month. This month, March 2022, also the traditional Darbar was held which was dedicated to Guru Ravidass in connection with his Gurpurab on February 16. It is, indeed, a very

thoughtful of the Sabha to celebrate the Guru Ravidass Jyanti every year by dedicating a Kavi Darbar to the great Guru. It was an honour to join the Kavi Darbar as a Guest of Honour along with a prominent businessman and a literary figure himself Sardar Surjit Singh of Sasta Iron among the poets of Jalandhar who recited their poems, sang their geets (songs) both on matters of interest and concern to the society and also their compositions to glowing tributes to Guru Ravidass. President of the Punjabi Likhari Sabha, Sardar Harbhajan Singh Nahar, an erudite orator and a geetkar of standing very thoughtfully sang in Taranum the famous geet of Charanjit Safri – Ik Pathari Tan Ik Teri Aar be; Sanu Dohan Naal Ho Giya Piar Be Kanshi Waldia.  It revived my cherished memories of mid-1960s when at Guru Raviass Gurpurab celebrations Piara Singh Panchi sang this song in the presence of Charanjit Singh Safri sitting on the stage and made the audience spell bound. Quoting

one of the poets that “Eho jahe Kavi Darbaran Di Lod Sanu”, in my brief remarks thanked Punjabi Likhari Sabha for inviting me the important and educative function and recited a stanza of Gurdass Ram Alam’s poem as a tribute to Guru Ravidass – Inshani Haq Gariban Nu De Gya Jo; Oh Ravidass Si Aagu Inqlabian Da” My friends and benefactors; Sardar Beant Singh Sarhadi, Chief Patron and Param Dass Heer, Secretary of Punjabi Likhari Sabha have always been very kind and respectful in remembering me to join their very useful and harmonious activities. 

Ambedkar Bhawan Bootan Mandi Jalandhar

 

 Ambedkar Bhawan Bootan Mandi Jalandhar

Ambedkar Bhawan is one of the land marks of Jalandhar situated on Nakodar Road (now Ambedkar Marg) at Bootan Mandi sandwiched by yet other sites dedicated to Babasaheb – Ambedkar Chowk (an important chowk on Bhagwan Mahabir Marg) and Ambedkar Park and also Ambedkar Government College at Bootan Mandi towards Satguru Kabir Chowk (Wadala Chowk). The followers of Babasaheb

very thoughtfully located Ambedkar Bhawan at a historical site where Babasaheb delivered in October 1951 an important speech in the run up to first elections in 1952 and also visited Seth Kishan Dass’s, an associate of Babasaheb, Chobara (Residence) at Bootan Mandi. It is pity that hardly any written information is available on this project (I purposely say it a project as I think it has yet to get completion as a spot of its standing and is still under-development) except some sketching information in a three page leaflet issued by Ambedkar Bhawan Trust which I could get from my friend Baldev Bhardwaj, a senior functionary of the Trust. Today, March 20, I visited Ambedkar Bhawan for a function of lying of foundation stone of Ramabai Ambedkar Hall with the grant given by MP Shamsher Singh Dullo about which I would write in the proceeding paragraphs. Let me complete the story of Ambedkar Bhawan as I have some personal knowledge of the period mid-1960s and information obtained and gathered informally from some of the stake holders.

I vividly remember as a youth in the formative years, the site of Ambedkar Bhawan was somehow acquired, claimed and occupied legally or otherwise in early 1960s by the community activists under the influence and encouragement by the leadership of the Republican Party led by Lahori Ram Balley and others like Piara Ram Dhanowali, Duni Chand Shahpuri, Charan Dass Nidhadak among others with the support of some of the Seths of Bootan Mandi and nearby villages engaged in leather business. I clearly recall joining the funeral procession of one RPI activist who died while under detention in the famous RPI Agitation sometime in 1964 who was cremated at the site. Later, the bare plot of land became a sought after venue of all important public meetings of RPI. I still recall clearly in the second half of 1960s, I heard leaders like Dadasaheb Gaikwad, B.D. Khobragade, B.P. Maurya, Shanta Bai Dani and also the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) among others and the missionary singer like Lal Chand Kamala and Badhan Qwalas to name a few. The site had by the end of 1960 become a rallying point of dalit politics and awakening in the region. Dr. Gian Kaul of Ambedkar Bhawan Trust told me that initially the registry of about 3 canals of land was done in the names of Lahori Ram Balley and Seth Karam Chand Bath. I can understand Balley Sahib, the community hero of the times and an intellectual face of the RPI, played a leading role in generating public funds and Seth Karam Chand Bath must have chipped in with financial support for the purchase and appropriation of the site. He further informed that later in 1972 Ambedkar Bhawan Trust was formed and subsequently the land title was transferred in the name of the Trust. The Trust also purchased and appropriated another 3 canals plus and as such now Ambedkar Bhawan has total area of about 6.5 canals, a fairly good plot to host an elegant and befitting memorial of the icon Babasaheb Ambedkar. The leaflet of the Trust further explained the porpose and activities of the Bhawan as, “The Trust was created in 1972 in fulfillment of the aims and objectives of the Ambedkar Mission Society already engaged whole-hog in spread and carry forward the Mission of Babasaheb. Over the year the Bhawan has become a nerve-centre of the activities pertaining to the community. It is a matter of great satisfaction.

It is almost fifty years since Ambedkar Bhawan Trust was formed. Over the years, under the dedicated and motivated guidance of one of its Founder Trustees and a leader of the community by his own right, Lahori Ram Balley, the project – Ambedkar Bhawan has come long way in establishing itself as a befitting tribute to the memory of Babasaheb and as a watchdog of the interests of the community and a just social order, the subjects dear to Babasaheb Ambedkar. But at the same time, it will not be fair if it is not realized that this important landmark of the community has not received the attention and development at the pace which was expected and desired. The Seths of Bootan Mandi and the followers of Ambedkar in the area and the people at the helm of the project may introspect and set the renewed pace of development. It is no criticism as I fully realize that our resources were limited, Ambedkar was unnecessarily and unjustly opposed or ignored by the Congress Party and other outfits till 1970s. Scheduled Caste Federation and Republican Party did their best to make the project a befitting one but later in the process, political ambitions and narrow agendas of leadership came to the fore and they parted ways which was detrimental to the progress of the project. People at the control of Ambedkar Bhawan could not rise to the occasion and engage the community with an open mind and agenda as required. Unfortunately, Ambedkar Bhawan was tagged with one section of political activists and Budhism and could not engage with wider audience. Again let me hastily add that it is no criticism but a feeble attempt to put the things in right perspective. It is matter of gratification to note that ever since Ambedkar Bhawan Trust was floated in 1972 the project register a facelift and progress. I understand well meaning people like Lahori Ram Balley on the lead and supported by other associates viz. Gian Singh Bal, R.C Paul, K.C. Sulekh, Dr. Ram Lal Jassi, Dr. Surinder Ajnat, Barkha Ram, Dr. Gian Kaul, Dr. Tarsem Sagar, Chanan Ram Wadala, Ram Lal Dass, R.P.S. Pawar, Baldev Bhardwaj, Harmesh Jassal, Sohan Lal, Dr. Rahul Balley, Dr. Rahul Jassi among others kept the ball rolling and turned the site into a functional and vibrant institution. One can understand the financial constraints. The followers of Babasaheb chipped in, both locals and from abroad to begin with. Of late, the Trust opened up a bit and started engaging with the establishment particularly dalit Ministers, MPs, MLAs for raising funds through grants available under the system and as such leaders like I.K. Gujral, K.S. Duggal, Parkash Singh Badal, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Pawan Tinu, Sushil Rinku, among other did their bit by providing funds over the years. But I must say with a sense of complaint that it was not enough and done only half

heartedly. Certainly, Babasaheb Ambedkar andthe project named after him deserved better not only be the dalits alone but by others too as Ambedkar belonged to India and the humanity at large. My immediate motivation to write this somewhat lengthy piece came from the noble act of providing good sum of Rs. 20 lakh  by MP Shamsher Singh Dullo from the MP fund, an appreciable job done thoughtfully. It was a matter of satisfaction that the stone laying ceremony for the Ramabai Ambedkar Yadgar Hall was performed by the Hon’ble MP Shamsher Singh Dullo himself on March 20 as an expansion of the existing excellent facilities at the Bhawan in which I was also invited. It was a good and solemn function. The other leaders, I hope, would take a que from this noble act of Dullo Sahib and follow suit to make Ambedkar Bhawan a vibrant and living monument for the benefit of the community and the society at large.  This blog will not be complete if I don’t make a mention of Ambedkar Mission Society and All India Samta Dal which operate from the Bhawan. Some activists like Janak Raj (Late) of SPEED

and Prof. Sandeep Mehmi and his associates run coaching classes for the aspirants of government jobs as value addition to the activities of Ambedkar Bhawan for the community development. A good library with good books is already in place. An imposing statue of Gautama the Buddha, in white marble, is an added attraction at the site. I take this opportunity to register my appreciation of the current management of Ambedkar Bhawan Trust under the patronage of the living legend Lahori Ram Balley Sahib.

All said and done, kindly allow me to add my humble suggestions: First to raise funds – The Trust may approach and invite CM Bhagwant Mann and request for a substantial grant an all due support to the project: Ambedkar Bhawan. Second - Invite all dalit Ministers and MLAs, numbering 36 on one occasion and the other and ask for grants of Rs.10 lakh from Ministers and Rs. 5 lakhs from MLAs. It seems the AAP government is inclined to appropriate Ambedkar and his legacy and they should be more than willing to join hands in making Ambedkar Bhawan a Centre of Excellence in the region. I think a pro-active approach is needed. Third – The Trust must be undertaking construction at the Bhawan in a planned way to main the aesthetics and meet architectural requirements. We should pay little more attention to these aspects. Fourth -  Not a pleasant one but general feelings of many.  Kindly avoid and stop bad elements, the self-appointed Thekedars, within, not to work for segregation and alienation of – the  Mecca of the community by bossing over and dictating that this or that person should not be invited and welcomed at the Ambedkar Bhawan as he or she does not conform and support their scheme of things. Jai Bhim – Jai Bharat.             

 

Punjab Elections, 2022 – Dance of Democracy

 

Punjab Elections, 2022 – Dance of Democracy     

The political slugfest ended on March 10 with the declaration of results in five state elections. BJP has come back in four states, particularly UP, with convincing victory but could not make any mark in Punjab. The Dance of Democracy has thrown some new

benchmarks for the democratic polity of India after 7 decades of independence and enforcement of the constitution. ‘We the people of India’, it seems, have become mature over the years and have certainly learnt a step or two in the Dance of Democracy. So far so good.

I have been writing on the Punjab elections off and on and I will focus my observations on Punjab alone in spite of the fact that BJP has re-registered their expertise on the art of electioneering in selling their agenda, a much needed trait for a political party in a democratic set-up. Hats off to the leadership of BJP under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi and the party managers and machinery. On the other hand in Punjab, AAP, a new political entity under the leadership of CM of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, has turned the tables in Punjab with a clean sweep by bagging 92 seats out of the total of 117 like they did in Delhi a few years ago. The traditional parties like the Congress Party and SAD trailed behind AAP like non-entities. BJP, BSP, newly floated outfit of Captain Amrinder Singh, PLC and SSP of the Kisans were almost decimated by the pronounced “Inqilab in Punjab” both by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh, the CM face of APP. It is no exaggeration; indeed, it is a complete departure from the hitherto political scene. AAP has demonstrated its prowess in changing the game plan at the hustings. Arvind Kejriwal is all set to present his claim to lead the united opposition, if they could unite at all, in 2024 against the might of the ruling BJP under the grip of PM Narendra Modi. Anyway, we still have time in the run up to 2024.

Let us come back to Punjab. When Mayawati of BSP became the CM of UP in 1995 for the first time, then PM Narsimha Rao termed it as a ‘Miracle of Democracy’. I think AAP’s storming into the corridors of power in Chandigarh is yet another miracle of democracy, a silent and benevolent revolution. It is the handiwork, to my mind, of only two men who led the AAP from the front, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann – as Veni, Vidi, Vici as in the famous quote of Julius Caesar. The exit polls this time could see and visualize the forthcoming scenario on the eve of counting of votes on March 10. The traditional parties and many of the political pundits could not read the pulse of people. Most of them, including me, were expecting

a hung assembly. But AAP came with an élan as a party with a difference with the much talked about Delhi Model. The big-wigs of all parties, including the sitting CM, former CMs, almost all the sitting Cabinet Ministers, over assessed self appointed bosses like Navjot Sidhu were shown the door. AAP could sell their catch-word ‘Government of the Aam Party’ and ‘Real Vs Fake’ Aam Adami. Deras and the Dalit Card and also pseudo-Nationalism could not make much dent and stop the victory Rath of AAP. AAP arrived in 2017 with 20 seats as the second largest party and Leader of the Opposition and finally reached in 2022 with a landslide victory with 92 seats – a real wonder of democracy.

AAP’s clear victory and near decimation of all political outfits in the 2022 elections has brought in a new paradigm, good or bad, time will tell. The political analysts are doing their job to explain the matter for the benefit of the common citizens. The jinx of ‘you scratch my back and I will scratch yours’ between the two traditional and old parties, the Congress and the SAD, has been broken. I think it is a good development. The obvious heritance or patent rights of Sikh votes by the SAD and Hindu votes by the BJP has been nullified. It is good for the social fabric of the society. The so called dalit card could not do much. It is obvious from the results and clear defeat of the dalit CM from two of the constituencies and almost decimation of the so called dalit party, BSP. AAP emerged and justified its existence as an all embracing party of all who intended to bring ‘Badlab’, a much needed change in our political and social culture as enshrined and visualized in our constitution. It is a good development in our polity and society with multi-cultural and multi-racial background.

The dalit question remains and baffles many as they have an over-all share of more than 33% in the population of Punjab with 34 reserved seats. AAP has won 29 out of 34 by their own right. In the Doaba region, dalits account for more than 40% share in the demography with 23 seats. AAP got the larger share of 10 seats followed by Congress Party with 9 and the rest 4 by others in Doaba. These details raise many questions which would need to be addressed – Are dalits not sectraians as the voting pattern in at least two successive elections indicated? They did not, it seems, succumb to the dalit card and expressed their will and choice – Did Deras and similar quarters play any meaningful role in setting the vote dictates? I don’t think so. People have not, it seems, cared much? Does the emerged situation justify the vision of our founding fathers particularly Babasaheb Ambedkar justify what they visualized? I was listening to one of the video clips of one of my retired IAS friend, Tilak Sarangal , on the situation. He was of the view that it was what Babbasaheb wished that sectarian considerations should not have any place in democracy and power lies with the people. Sarangal Sahib quoted Ambedkar that with the introduction of ‘one vote one value’ the kings (rules) would be born not from the wombs of queens or princesses but from the ballot boxes (now EVMs). But my question in this regard is how do we ensure and justify dalits, socially marginalized segments of the society; get their due share in the corridors of power as visualized by Babasaheb Ambedkar? It suits the main stream of the society if dalits don’t unite and do not vote for the candidates of their choice who would ask for their due share in the power structures. In long 75 years of independence and despite the empowering provisions in the constitution, it seems, the main stream of the society is not still ready to concede due space to dalits. Some dalit leaders and activists argue that the caste Hindus and Sikhs did not vote for the Congress Party because of the dalit CM face of Channi. How AAP, the new ruling dispensation, would address some of these issues and perceptions with 29 seats from reserved category in the total of 34 remains to be seen? Dalits would also be required to sit and brain-storm some of these vital questions, if they really want their due space in the polity and society or would they keep sitting on the fringes as always? I leave this at this.

All said and done, allow me to come back to AAP and my small connect with them since 2016-17 which I maintain till now formally or otherwise. My introductory observations in the Chapter -2 “My short lived tryst with politics” of my book “The Bits and Pieces – Reminiscences and Reflections of a novice” may explain why I took leave from the active and electoral politics and I quote, “Keeping with my thinking and mindset, I never considered myself fit for electoral politics. Nevertheless, one day on February 22, 2016, I joined the bandwagon of Aam Aadmi Party with an overwhelming emotion of ‘paying back my debt of gratitude’ to the society at the last quarter of my life. While I reluctantly defended my decision, my wife Vidya and my children were not too happy. For the good or bad, I don’t know, this short lived tryst ended in a whisper. These blog on the subject would give you some insight in the venture or misadventure. Now I think, perhaps, it was a bad dream which I should try to forget” I have had no policy or ideological differences with AAP and its supreme leader Arvind Kejriwal. I wrote many open letters to AAP and its leaders and volunteers in 2016-17 to share my thoughts for the larger good of people which are available in my above said book and again I quote  the concluding  para of my last letter dated March 21, 2017 to conclude this piece, “I may conclude this long letter with the hope that the AAP leadership spares some time to read these observations of an Aam Aadmi unlike the fate of my earlier attempts to awaken ourselves to the emerging situation and to face the challenges of the future. Let us not give way to the blame game. If I go by the media reports of today, March 21, the swords are already drawn. We need to have a sincere and in-depth introspection to set the matter right. I am happy to note that Arvind Kejriwal has undertaken the exercise of damage control by writing a circular letter to the rank and file of the party of which I also got a copy on my email ID. I quote from the letter of Arvind Kejriwal: “The question we should ask ourselves is whether the current political system is fine? Have rampant corruption and crony capitalism disappeared? Is there justice for all? Are the common people getting what they deserve? If the answer is ‘No’, we have to continue and strengthen our political revolution.”  Arvind Kejriwal has proved himself by setting the ball in motion in Punjab registering a convincing victory which is no less than a revolution – we need to wait and see the Dance of Democracy in the coming years. With this I wish the APP under Arvind Kejriwal, CM Bhagwant Mann all the best and further success in the days to come. It is just a coincident that I started my humble career in IFS on March 16, 1970 by joining the MEA and CM Bhagwant Mann and his government is taking oath of office on March 16, 2022 at the historic village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Khatkar Kalan. The date March 16 would make a prominent milestone in the journey of Punjab when an Aam Adami took the reins of power. Let us hope that AAP delivers as expected by the people of Punjab.

                           

          

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

 

Wonders of Democracy – Run up to March 10, 2022

 

Wonders of Democracy – Run up to March 10, 2022

I am not a Jyotshi or a soothe sayer. I write in my blogs ‘As I Please’ on the basis of my off the cuff understanding of the current situation with regard to the political slugfest which concluded on February 20 in Punjab in the run up to the results on March 10. It is believed that the results are likely to throw some surprises - wonders of democracy - which would determine the things to come in the days to come. So far, only SAD with allies and Congress Party were
taking turns and remained at the helm in Punjab. In the last elections in 2017, AAP appeared on the scene with an impressive presence but still had to content with as Leader of the Opposition. Towards the completion of the tenure, the ruling Congress Party had to change horses with the resignation of CM Captain Amrinder Singh and a dark horse, Charanjit Singh Channi, a dalit,  emerged as a new leader and took over as CM for about 3 months before the elections, 2022.

This time, the scenario was different for the first time. In the changed political landscape, many factors were found which would tend to throw some Wonders of Democracy with multi-cornered contests – Congress Party, Akalis and BSP, BJP and PLC of Captain Amrinder Singh and breakaway group of Akalis under Sukhdev Dhindsa, Sanyukt Samaj Morcha of Kisans, AAP among other disgruntles as independents in the fray.  It was unfortunate that real issues of unemployment, economic slow-down, communal harmony, education, health, corruption were side tracked. And almost all political outfits were engaged in securing position of the CM, wooing dalit vote banks, Hindu-Sikh divide, and pseudo nationalism, upper caste hegemony etc. in a fractured and divided society. No wonders, the results on March 10 would tend to reflect the divided image for the good or the bad, it is hard to say.

I have been writing in these columns about the Punjab elections particularly with reference to dalit issues and here in this piece too I would limit my observations to the dalit issues which had the potentials of influencing the outcome of elections.  But, I think, no political party, due to diverse reasons, could realize this – the dalit swing factor, which would tend to be upset the applecart of many. I

would not be surprised, if it happens so. From January 14 to the run up to elections on February 20, I wrote three times in my blog, which were also carried by the esteemed Ambedkar Times, on the relevant issues which directly impinge on the dalit interests with more that 33% population of Punjab and the elevation of Charanjit Singh Channi to the coveted position of CM considered to be a masterstroke of the Congress Party.

All parties and their leaderships left no efforts and tried their every best to woo dalit vote banks in one way or the other – visiting Dalit Deras, announcing freebies, offering coveted positions in the government to dalits like CM and Deputy CM etc., putting dalit candidates from general seats, roping in highly placed retired dalit bureaucrats as candidates among others.  In spite of internal wranglings for the CM face, Congress Party betted on the dalit face,

Charanjit Singh Channi. SAD is having an alliance with the said to be party of dalits, BSP. AAP and BJP remained non-committal on representation to dalits in the higher echelon of hierarchy. Obviously, the caste Hindu vote factor was equally heavy on their thinking.  In fact, BJP took a U-turn on the question of dalit as their CM face. The caste hegemony of upper caste of both Sikhs and Hindus, traditional social bias against dalits are still weighing heavy in the main stream of the society in accepting the ground reality of electoral mathematics favouring dalits.

I have been writing on some important issues both substantial and emotional which concern dalit communities in the elections – post Matric scholarship, distribution of Shamlat land in the villages, implementation of 85^th Amendmentt of the constitution on reservations, legal framework of Sub Plan for SCs on one side and
destruction of Guru Ravidass Mandir at Tughlakabad in Delhi and long pending proposal on April 14, birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar as International Day of Equality. But unfortunately nothing much has changed as if these issues fell on deaf ears and closed minds. The political parties, in the prevailing caste ridden scenario, perhaps are not yet ready to come to terms with the ground realities and dalit psyche – the state of mind of the marginalized segments of the society. One can understand hesitation and resistance in addressing the substantial issues due to traditional socio-economic and political mindset in the historical milieu of unequal social order in the society at large. But I could not understand the hesitation and blissful silence on the part of political outfits particularly the ruling BJP in Delhi in responding to the emotional empowerment of dalits . It seems that BJP does not intend to go beyond the proverbial ‘lip service’ to dalits to get their votes. Both the issues – Guru Ravidass

Mandir at Tughlakabad and International Day of Equality fall in the jurisdiction of the government of PM Narendra Modi. BJP is a cadre and mass based party and as such it must feel the pulse of people. But it seems, in the case of dalits, it is still obsessed with the Manuwadi mindset and consciously tends to keep itself aloof keeping in mind their vested interest in the caste Hindu mainstream of the society. I have been consciously extending my hand of support to RSS and its field agencies in carrying forward their professed agenda of “Samrasta” but I think, they also don’t have any serious intent in addressing the real issues to reform and strengthen the social order beyond the optics with cosmetic approach. I hope that the big bosses in the largest NGO of the world would understand my pain. It is a matter of coincidence that both the Ministers dealing with Tughlakabad Mandir and International Day of Equality are retired diplomats, otherwise competent and efficient, perhaps did not have much say in political decisions having bearings on elections. In this scenario it was up to the BJP to come forward and give political directions. But unfortunately, it did not happen.

All said and done, to my mind, BJP has lost the edge in the form of ‘Dalit Swing Factor’ in the Punjab elections. These emotional issues of Tughlakabad Mandir and International Day of Equality weight heavy on the psyche of dalit educated youth and intelligentsia. Had the BJP taken positive decision to address these issues it would have made much needed difference in attracting the attention of the followers of Guru Ravidass and Babasaheb Ambedkar. But that was not to be as, I feel, dalit leadership in BJP is totally helpless and does not enjoy any say in the party and the government. It is a matter of dissatisfaction, kindly excuse me for saying my mind candidly, even the Mahamahim Rashtrapati ji could not, being a dalit, demonstrate any moral and constitutional sensitivity in advising his Government on these matters of interest and concern to the community. These are my personal views as apolitical and humble but thinking citizen. Dalits are no more interested in remain sitting in the fringes. The time is fast reaching when they would assert and grab their long denied space in the corridors of power in Chandigarh and Delhi. Let us wait for March 10; the day would throw some surprised as ‘Wonders of Democracy’. Faiz Ahmed Faiz has said:

ऐ  खाक नशीनों उठ बैठो; वह वक़्त मुक़ाबिल आ पहुंचा ,

जब तख्त  गिराए जाएंगे; और ताज उछाले जाएंगे।