Mera Punjab !!!

Rangala Punjab, Mera Rangala Punjab

Jithe Soni Mutiyaaraan Da Roop Lajawab

Uche,Lambe Gabru Di Sardaari Nawab

Pakke Makki Di Roti Te Saro Da Saag

Jithe Sajda Gidhha Te Bhangre Da Ruwaab

Rangla Punjab Mera Rangla Punjab

Nowadays my mom is in Punjab , today when I was talking to my Mom in the morning (the usual status update call to family) I could hear on the phone , from the other side , the peacocks coo.

I have been many times to my pind (village) when I was younger - it used to be a royal feeling . What I thought was someone else’s house was actually a part of our house where Majj (buffaloes) were kept – they were milked early morning  and Bibi (Grandmother) would churn  makhan (butter) out of it with the traditional Madaani. After finishing all household chores women would gather in our Vehda (open garden in front of the house) talking about their husbands and brothers who by then would have left to the Khet (farms). This is where Bhangra was born when tall and handsome Gabru celebrated the harvest of their hard work , this is where Gidhha was born when Bibiyaan of the house would gather flaunting and taunting  specially during season of monsoon- “Teej Diyaan Teeya”.

Narrow lanes where door of every house  opened  into the lane , so many winters, when, in one house Saag and Roti was cooked while all children played Stapu and Gilli danda, the men talked about Badal Sarkaar and women waited for the harvest to buy their new set of Patiala suit and Jutti.

 The Pendu and the Patola made beautiful couples, the marriages where Bandook had to be fired, the Vehda where Bibi and Baapuji sat in the morning having tea after their routine Paath , the tractors parked in one side of the Kothi starting early morning to the Khet helping the men sow seeds of Saro (mustard) and Kanak (wheat) in our 40 kille zameen.  Waheguru ji– such royalty you had bestowed on Punjab.

Ajj Suna Hai Punjab , Mera Sunna Hai Punjab

Gabru Chad Gaye Canada De Jahaaj

Rang Birangi Fulkaariyaan Da Reha Ni Rewaaz

Na Gidhhe Di Rounak , Na Bhangre Di Awaaz

Sunniyaan Ne Kothiyaa, Bandeyaa Di Ghaat

Na Bibi Diyaan Loriyaan Na Bapuji Di Daat

Jeb Vich Chitta Te Duldi Sharaab

Sunna Hai Punjab Mera Sunna Hai Punjab

The pind has become empty, Sardaars have left for Canada  in the hope of making more money and having a better life style. The pind is full of huge Kothis but no one stays there to live the royalty – what is left behind is bricks and some “Bhaiyye” (caretakers) to take care of the Kothi. Bhangra and Gidhha have now become limited to College Competition , Mr. Punjab and Miss Punjaban shows.

My parents suggested I invest some money in real estate in Punjab – when I logged into 99acres and magicbricks I saw ads of agricultural land held up for sale and making them more lucrative were terms like “Agricultural/Farm Land for Sale in Ludhiana Jalandhar National Highway - The property is situated near nh 1, ( Ludhiana to jalandhar road), It is fit for commercial, Residential, Farm houses, two factories near it are already running. A no. Of new kothies, Banglows etc. have been constructed in the surrounding area.”  There are no more early mornings with Chamkeela on full volume, not many Jatts are seen going to their Khet , not many Mutiyaars are seen walking to the Khet with food for their men. Farming land is being sold off for commercial purposes - the green velvet that once covered the land of five rivers is today covered with “Chitta”.( http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140603/main6.htm) If our farmers keep getting exported to Canada and Amreeka the day is not far when we will have to import wheat from Canada. Dabbing some thanks to our Punjabi singers who have made us relive the old Punjab at least emotionally and gave back life to those lost narrow lanes, Boliyaan, Chaadre and Kurte.

I am very poor with Finance and Economics so I don’t know how the ecosystem works, I know there are problems – government is not supportive, it is a risky business etc etc. but this is the situation – everyone wants a Bhagat Singh to be born to fight on behalf of us, but no mother wants his son to be the Bhagat Singh. He should be born to neighbors and we just want to enjoy the benefits. I fall in the same bracket unfortunately, I chose a techie life because what I am doing now is called progressive. We have so many software professionals passing out each day but hardly any agriculture engineers, we have so many food startups – making and delivering food, which is good, but very less innovation on growing food. I am not sure how this can be rectified – so I type here, complain, feel nostalgic and pray:

ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਮਨ ਨੀਵਾਂ, ਮਤ ਉੱਚੀ ਮਤ ਦਾ ਰਾਖਾ ਆਪਿ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ। (May the minds of all the Sikhs remain humble and their wisdom exalted; O God! You are the protector of wisdom.)

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ, ਤੇਰੇ ਭਾਣੇ ਸਰਬੱਤ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ। (O God! through the True Guru Nanak, may Your Name be exalted, and may all prosper according to your will.)