Asking for the Utopia

Punjabi antenna

By

Randeep Wadehra

Like Heer and Jugni, the Challa folksong reverberates throughout the Punjabi countryside on both sides of the Indo-Pak border. Although there are many versions of this song the ones sung by Alam Lohar of Pakistan and Gurdas Mann and Rabbi Shergill of India have become extremely popular. Recently, one watched on Zee Punjabi another version filmed on urban youngsters, with guitars etc as accompaniment. This contemporary rendering was pepped up with some western sounds. It may well become a hit among the college going youth.

Since elections have more or less obliterated all else on the small screen one has to revert to the scenario although by the time this gets published the polling in Punjab would be over. As usual the main issues facing Punjab seldom found any worthwhile mention in the various electoral speeches. Most of the politicos preferred to get personal vis-à-vis their opponents. Like Sukhbir Badal trying hard to link the Patiala Peg with Captain Amarinder Singh’s lifestyle. Captain Amarinder Singh preferred to focus on the Congress rebels. Since he has the propensity for politically incorrect speech the PTC News gleefully latched on to his “katl-e-aam (massacre)” remark and played it several times along with the nikhedi (criticism) of the remark by several Congress rebels. Some sanity to the political discourse was restored with PM Manmohan Singh’s rally. But, again, PTC News focused more on the sparseness of crowds than on the contents of the PM’s speech. Later on, the BSP leader Mayawati’s rally too was covered and, for a change, we had a variety in perspectives, however skewed, on the small screen.

It appears that the PTC News is not very comfortable with any positive views aired in favour of the Sanjha Morcha. In its Chon Charcha (21 January, afternoon) when the PTC News Bureau Chief mentioned how the PPP led Sanjha Morcha has advantage in the Banga constituency not only was he cut off but also not included further in the program. Although the channel did maintain a modicum of neutrality by showing the snaps of various candidates in the poll fray its underlying message was clear – the SAD-BJP combine is the favourite to win the polls. On the other hand Zee News mainly focused on the chances of the Congress party, and gave prominence to the PM’s rally.

Last fortnight Khabarsaar’s (Zee Punjabi) examined the reasons behind health being ignored as a poll issue, when more than 80% children are anemic and four to five kids die every minute due to malnutrition. A panelist suggested that politicians focus on visible achievements like buildings, roads etc because these catch the people’s imagination. Healthcare is “invisible” and, hence, does not figure in poll manifestos. Strange, one thought that people would be agitated over the issue that directly affects them and their progeny. But then, in a land where karma explains all the disparities and inequities, people tend to forgive their corrupt, insensitive and inefficient representatives. In an earlier edition Khabarsaar had focused on Punjabi artistes’ political aspirations. Lots of reasons were put forward for the need for them to enter the political arena. Even the examples of Ronald Reagan and MGR were cited. But, the question is, where are the Punjabi artistes with comparative charisma, and the ability to govern? Hans Raj Hans has already burnt his fingers and the likes of Bhagwant Mann are hardly taken seriously by the voters.

In its social messages slot Zee Punjabi had been showing kids demanding a government that would provide good roads and sanitary conditions, fair enough. But when some of them started wishing for a corruption free, honest and efficient government one felt that they were asking for the… no, not the moon, which has become accessible thanks to technology, but the Utopia.

Published in The Tribune dated February 04, 2012