Friends,
It has been two years since we came out of hibernation in our post retirement life. Credit goes to a few friends who were socially more alive than others. The event was such that if one had a milk of human kindness, one was made to think of the merits and demerits of the struggle. A struggle of David with the Goliath.
“Parasites” on one hand and on the other hand a power drunk government, friend of the rich. The rich, who had grown even richer in the Covid-19 times, had tons of money and desire for new sectors to invest in. Target was land, profession of agriculture. The ill intention was visible straightway. A deprived section of society which continues to bear the burden of maintaining the consumer price line for Indians even though the cost of agriculture inputs was rising almost daily, took no time to see through the “intention’ and raise the alarm.
As the bugle sounded, we all did well to wake up to the struggle and join in. We went to Singhu border with our offering of support in various ways and spoke clearly in their favour – from stages of farmers, through seminars, talks on social media, interviews and whatever was possible and was within our means. Veterans (Brigadiers and Colonels) joined the struggle and so did retired officers of various civil and uniformed services. We had Sardar J. S. Toor’s book on ” black laws” in Punjabi translated into English and then distributed far and wide in the country to educate the people about the issues at stake. We were so fired up that we forgot our age, our debilitation and even horrid Covid-19.
We even enlarged that canvas of the struggle. We pointed out that beware; it is not only food security of the country that is threatened but also the security of India because sentinels of the country come from the households of farmers and kirtis. Ultimately these connections became evident to the ruling dispensation when intelligence inputs reached there. A photo of a young bridegroom (serving in the security forces) reaching his in-laws place with a SKM flag had become viral. The accusation by the top executive that farmers are parasites proved to be a big blunder and fired up the farmers and kirtis to fight to the finish. But he recovered soon after, apologised to the farmers and the nation and withdrew the offending wordage.
So, I would say “well done, Kirti Kisan Forum ”.
Raison D’être of the KKF having been achieved, the existential question came up for the group and it was resolved to continue the march ahead. We have ventured out and some areas have been identified for further activity. Environment, Punjab waters issue and MSP for more than 20 crops are big issues for India and especially for Punjab. We have identified another devoted group with remarkable capacity for work and focusing on the environmental problems in and around Ludhiana, the PAC. Kudos to the KKF for its remarkable zeal and zest for life and resolve to speak and act for the right cause.
A question continues to bother the KKF whether to confine itself to apolitical work or get into political issues. I would like to offer my opinion. We have been in the Government services-uniformed and civil. Our coat of armour had been the conduct rules. Our approach has therefore got codified in thinking that we have to remain neutral and apolitical. We have served our country with loyalty. And yet irrespective of which party was running the government, we have been the long arm of the government for implementing all political agenda of all governments. While executing the agenda, it is true that we had no opinion of our own in this regard as this was a requirement as per the conduct rules. Steadily, however, we have been associated with political parties too in the eyes of the public. For example, the Agniveer scheme has been introduced into the Army even though retired top brass have been opposing it. But serving top brass has acquiesced and implemented it. That indicates that in service and out of service, our role can differ. However, I leave this question to the wisdom of the group.
The Government declared and owned programmes are very openly discussed in a democratic society and set up. People differ on these programmes. Many a time intelligentsia, political parties and people oppose or support these in a democracy. Hidden agenda is, however, a different cup of tea. Because they are not made known, never discussed openly and hence not exposed to criticism and analysis. So such an agenda can be a dangerous virus. We continue to hear of a new Rashtra in the making though its parameters are not known because these were never discussed openly. At this crucial time in the life of the KKF when we are launching a website and starting out interaction with people of the country, it is appropriate for me to outline the parameters of all Rashtras that have been practiced in India in the past.
As the overwhelming population of the country has been associated with Hinduism as of Vedic time and getting modified as the thought developed, we have had kings and emperors of large territories who held their own. Our country had been famous for its economic prosperity, cultural superiority and a leader in philosophy, thought and science. No ingression was possible. However, inevitable calcification took place personifying the introduction of pressure groups to consolidate their own authority and power. A strong force erupted in Indian thought in the form of a new religion which grew rapidly and successfully. A new form of intolerance raised its head and Buddhism was finished in the country with a big broad axe which is highly glorified in the north. They were not outsiders but Indians and yet put to axe as vermin. The practice continues. Another insidious virus was classification of the original distribution of work which took the form of the terrible caste system .The society was openly divided on the lines of their professions by stopping the intermixing of people on the basis of their ability.
One example: The defence of the country was left as the responsibility of 15 percent of the kshatriyas.The fighter would not sit with ironsmith, carpenters over a drink and discuss weaponry, its modification or even invention. The matter was made more complex because fighters were regarded as a superior caste and allowed to keep a weapon. And 15 percent took up academics, confined to teaching, study and all ceremonies, mostly in the classical language different from the language of 70 per cent India.
This confiscation of the knowledge and bravery directly hit at the strength of our society and country. There are examples where raiders fought Indian rulers while thousands stood as spectators (as they no longer had stake or say) and they applauded and cheered the victors. In this social stratification, India became weak and liable to all attacks from the northwest over the land route and later on from the sea routes also. A country which had sent conquers and rulers to Indo-China became a slave country. Can this thinking (which considers rural India providing food security and defence security as “parasite”) provide the right parameters of a new Rashtra.
A strong influence came from abroad with a strong message of unity of God and Equality of men: Islam. In addition they also assumed ruling powers because of the fissure in our society; but that pattern of Rashtra displayed a one eyed approach to governance. They made ruling and governance subservient to religion.
A new thought developed from within India with the birth of Guru Nanak. He cried out against cruelty and depredation heaped on innocent population by the Emperor Babur. His message was all encompassing and comprehensive. His inclusive message appealed to all the sections of the society and unified Indian people. Down the line, the fifth Guru gave up his life. When things went beyond tolerance level and 200 Brahmins came to Guru Tegh Bahadur who challenged the rule of tyranny and paid for it with his life.
The last Guru experienced this in his early life and gave the message through the creation and birth of Khalsa and his bold letter-“Zaffarnama ” to the Emperor –Aurangzeb. This period revived Indian pride, taught the people to fight against tyranny and bigotry by unifying the country. He lost his four sons to the tyranny but at the same time Peer Budhu Shah too sacrificed his four sons fighting on the side of Tenth Guru.
All religions, all people of the country unified under the banner of Sikh thought in Ranjit Singh’s time and established a bulwark of impenetrable empire in the north west of India which stopped all adventurous attacks on India for the first time in a thousand years. A dead country became alive with pride and self assurance. Hindus, Sikhs, Muslim, Christians (Europens) were all pillars of that Rashtra.
To me, it is clear what should be parameters of our new Rashtra and all other parameters will only be a recipe for disaster. Attraction of failed systems should be resisted, just as application of failed ideas of the West during the Kirti-Kisan andolan floundered on the rock of reason, reality and inclusiveness.
At the end, I would like to say one thing loudly. Using the axe on our citizens is no bravery but a mean habit.
Swarn Singh Boparai,
Padma Shree , Kirti Chakra, Ex IAS,
Former Secretary to the Union Government,
Former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala