Of drug mafias, martyrs and election eve antics

PUNJABI ANTENNA

 By 

Randeep Wadehra

Well into the 21^st century globalization is no more a hot topic. It has simmered down to the status of a mundane fact. However, if one goes by a recent debate on Doordarshan Jalandhar, the phenomenon’s cultural-literary aspects are still live issues. Globalization’s influence on Punjabi literature – style and content of narratives in Punjabi novels and short story – is becoming increasingly manifest. Is this good or bad? The jury is still out.

Cut off from rest of the world Mallana nestles in the scenic highlands of Himachal Pradesh. But, instead of attracting nature lovers, it became the target of drug mafias from Europe, Israel and elsewhere who encouraged bhang cultivation here. Soon the hamlet became notorious as smugglers’ den for charas, ganja, hashish and other opiates. This not only destroyed the local culture but also threatened the health and happiness of locals. OP Sharma of Narcotics Control Bureau led a crusade against the drug mafia. In an interview with Ritesh Lakhi he revealed that today cultivation of bhang and drug smuggling has been almost wiped out, but the problem of rehabilitation continues. We learn all this in a thoroughly researched investigative report, Kee Mallana nu milegi rihayee? with Harpreet Singh as anchor and Lakhi as investigator-reporter.

With parliamentary elections approaching, the region’s politicians are becoming increasingly media-friendly. If Congress Party’s Kanwar Pal Singh Rana (Straight Talk) and Ambika Soni (Guftagu) strummed up the familiar all-quiet-on-the-PPCC-front song, Akali Dal’s Valtoha and Haryana BJP’s Harjit Singh Grewal (both on Straight Talk) yodeled we’ll-sweep-the-polls-in-Punjab-and-Haryana lyric. What one finds interesting is the straight face with which our politicians pretend being virtue personified while damning their opponents. However, Soni – a minister at the centre – preferred to stay clear of local politics and talked mainly of her efforts to promote Punjab as a tourist destination. Nevertheless, with every passing day on-camera antics involving accusations, justifications and counter-accusations, seasoned with whiffs and wafts of scams and scandals, are going to get increasingly more like sitcoms.

By laying down their lives for the nation martyrs become beacons for succeeding generations. But how many of today’s youth are even aware of the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters let alone adopt them as role models? Bhagat Singh’s birth centenary has generated a lot of interest in his life and thoughts. Producer-anchor Davinder Singh’s Talaash Bhagat De Waarsan Di, telecast last fortnight in two episodes, was outstanding for several reasons. First, the attempt was more to understand the man and his ideology than to project him in a preconceived image. The documentary featured thinkers from different walks of life. Bhagat Singh’s nephew Abhay Sandhu complained that his physical appearance rather than thought content has been given more prominence in political discourse. He also lamented the attempt by political parties to appropriate him for their own partisan ends. Prof Chaman Lal of JNU described him as chetna (consciousness). Malwinder Singh Waraich dwelt upon the team work comprising Bhagat Singh, Bhagwati Charan, Sukhdev and Chandra Shekhar Azad. Other participants included Gursharan Singh (the iconic theatre personality), Satnam (research scholar and thinker), Karam Barsatt (journalist), and Balkar Singh Dakonda (Kisan leader). All agreed that Bhagat was more a crusader against oppression than an opponent of the British.

This comprehensively researched incisive documentary needs to be telecast at the national level. Perhaps the PTC News would consider providing subtitles in Hindi and English for the benefit of national audience.

THE TRIBUNE