Of cultural symbols and platforms

Punjabi antenna


By
Randeep Wadehra

The other day I watched Virsa on PTC News. The slot features a short film of two to five minutes length, which is used as filler; it highlights various aspects of Punjabi culture and lifestyle. One recalls its earlier episodes on such traditional fashion accessories as parandee and Patiala jutti. This particular episode focused on the symbiotic relationship between Punjabi dhabas and truck drivers. The manner in which this mini telefilm established a link between dietary needs of a Punjabi truck driver, who transports loads of goods to different parts of the country, and the dhaba that serves typical Punjabi fare was interesting indeed. The rustic music and songs that accompany the dining add to his delight. To complete the picture, there is always the manji (charpoy) to rest one’s travel weary body upon. Often the dhaba is described as Punjab’s answer to the French bistro. But the dhaba plays a more substantial role than being a mere eatery. In India this culinary institution serves a socioeconomic purpose while rendering service to a vulnerable stratum of the society. It keeps the truck driver going in the daunting, inhospitable terrains that range from the mighty Himalayas to the nerve-wracking deserts. Even otherwise to be on the road to distant places, with every possibility of encountering violence from anti-social elements playing on your mind, and our policing system being what it is, one must understand the emotional support that dhabas provide to the average, law and god fearing  truck driver. This could have been a full-length documentary. 

On Zee Punjabi’s Ikk Khaas Mulaqaat Balwinder interviewed singer Kanth Kaler. It was basically a feel good tête-à-tête focusing on the singer’s journey to success and his forthcoming album. Balwinder is knowledgeable about Punjabi folk songs, literature and other creative genres. It is always interesting to watch his talk show. Actually, Zee Punjabi has too many of such shows, viz., Sohni Saver, Pindaan Vichhon Pind, Sat Sri Akal Pradhanji etc that basically promote an artiste or a politician. What is needed is at least one hard talk show that will put a public figure onto the hot seat. It is time to ask searching questions of our administrators, politicians, NGOs, civic bodies etc so that the public may be genuinely involved in the governance and nation-building related issues. Similarly, I find that there is a sense of complacency vis-à-vis Punjabi cinema and literature. It is becoming essential to take a hard look at these two very important cultural platforms. 

Since the announcement of dates for the polls things are really heating up on the small screen. With Zee Punjabi and PTC News telecasting special election-oriented programs the decibel levels of political rhetoric have predictably gone up. What one finds amusing is the persistence with which TV channels stick to their political bias. For example, on 02 January, the PTC News bulletins contrasted between two SAD aspirants for poll tickets. One of them – on being denied the ticket, which was granted to Chandumajra – left the party in a huff and joined Manpreet Badal’s PPP. While briefly mentioning the defection PTC News gave prominence to another aspirant who had decided to stick with the SAD even when he had been denied the ticket from a constituency he had assiduously nurtured and was considered a cakewalk for him. Describing him as wafadaar he was even given airtime to tell the world how he had great faith in Parkash Singh Badal and would never leave the party. How one wishes the channel had given some airtime to the disgruntled aspirant too, so that he could give his version of the happenings to the viewers. But then, where journalism has turned into “please thy master” phenomenon you can’t expect such balanced approach to a political episode.

Published in The Tribune dated 07 January, 2012