. Simply put, it was a usual after dinner sit around, and our music was in the air. While the world was busy checking stocks and listening to politics: the fall of the wall in Germany, the breakdown of the Soviet’s Union, other gossip: ranging from Hillary to Diana, suspense from O.J. to Saddam and many others, I was feeling particularly blessed to be with my family at home on this rare evening given the demanding schedule in the service of my patients.
. Japjit my five-year-old was fondly playing in my lap. Until today, I was fooled to believe that this lap was all the Real Estate she "stood up for." She resentfully shares it with her sisters, especially the baby "Nanaki," the macaw - Mithoo, the dogs Baaz, Zohra and Bow-bow, her mother Raj-ji when she gets a chance.
. The popular song “kya rakha hai Mr. India main” had just finished playing. Japjit suddenly looked at me and asked “What does India mean?” I reminded her of our visit to her late Grandfather’s home, emphasizing "that's India." "I know that! But what does India mean?". This was a difficult question, I summoned up my wits and replied, "It means Bharat." “Oh!” she said, as if she understood it ALL. I sure was glad to get out of this one, but my joy was short.
. Suddenly she turned my face with her little hands, looked straight at me, with a sparkle in her eye and a "summing up the situation" smile, accusingly asked: "You are Mr. India?" I felt like Mr. World! Being modest and not wanting to deceive my admirer, I replied, "Well! Mr. India is a tall claim: It takes a lot to be that!" But, also not wanting to disappoint her, I honorably settled to be “Mr. Punjab,” and with it I had the legendary "Kulhadi Apne Pair Mar Lai." Now she naturally had to know the meaning of “Punjab,” this was easy: “ The land of Five Rivers.”
. “But I have seen only One,” she lamented, recalling her visit to Bias (one of the 5 rivers). I regretfully informed her that she may never get to see “all Five” for some are in another country. I do not think she quite realized the restraint of worldly boundaries but she instinctively knew I had said the truth. Earnestly with a Meena Kumari like sad face, a tear in her eye, she said to her only hero,"But Pappa, I want them in my Punjab."
. It took me a moment to realize what she had said, when along came Raj-ji her mother narrating her not so out of age misbehaviors. I looked up at her and said "let these petty things be set aside - THIS GIRL IS OXFORD MATERIAL." My expression must have been serious for she unbelievingly questioned, “Is their education really so good?” "I don't know," I said, "but most of the world leaders came out of there. There must be something to it." By this time Japjit had trusted her main concerns to her hero and gone to her “make believe” kitchen, cooking an imaginary dish I am to eat again after my wife’s authentic Punjabi Dal-Sabji-Roti hearty dinner.
. It is said God speaks through children: "But Pappa, I want them in my Punjab" Japjit Kaur said, with a pained face and a look so earnest God will have to think twice. Also, ‘Time’ is witness to the fact: “History repeats itself.” One day, little more than two centuries ago when Taimur Shah and Shah Zaman, Son and Grandson of Ahmad Shah (Ruler of then Exotic Afghan Empire), invaded Punjab, with intentions of reestablishing the Afghan empire in India, Maharaja Ranjit Singh decided to call a meeting of all Sikh chiefs of the many conflicting Sikh Misals then ruling pieces of Punjab at Amritsar, successfully seeking an alliance against these invaders. Under him the Sikh forces drove the Afghans, and Shah Zaman’s forces retreated never to attempt another invasion into Punjab. Maharaja Ranjit Singh's kingdom was from Kashmir in the north to Sind and Rajasthan in the south, from Khaiber and Indus in the west into Delhi in the East. This is the historical geographical area of Punjab we have to return to our children.
. Punjab does mean: five (Punj) rivers (ab). This word originates from the Persian languages holding its same meaning in Punjabi, the native language of this land. After the geographic recognition of Punjab for more than 3,000 years it has been divided three times. Ironically, these divisions took place in our Civilized Times, in the last 50 years, after the second world war had crushed all the ‘tyrants.’ The independence of India in 1947 was conditioned on the partition of “This Land.” A large part of “The Punjab” and its Capital Lahore went to Pakistan, as what is its “Province of Punjab," while the “State of Punjab” remained in India without a Capital. On 15th April of the following year (1948) portions of its Hill Districts were given the identity of Himachal Pradesh on the basis of their different local language.
. Thirty years ago on 1st November 1966 it was divided again on language basis, creating the new state of Haryana. Left behind, Punjab as it is today shares its Capital Chandigarh with Haryana, while the Central Government controls it ????? !!!!! *****
. History reports through excavations of Civilizations like Harrappa, flourishing in West Punjab in 3000 BC, along with their sister Indus Valley civilizations, of Mohinjadaro south of these. Whatever happened to these is largely unknown.
. It appears cruel weather and lack of agriculture in the Middle East led to an invasion cum migration of the Early Aryans into the fertile land of Punjab around 1000 BC and a few centuries hence. Till the re-established Empire of Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh a little more than 200 years ago, for about 1800 years Punjab saw many invasions from Persians, Greeks and the historically significant invasion of the Alexander before the birth of Christ. After the time of Christ, other main invaders were the Arabs, Turks, Moghuls and Afghans. Some came to Plunder and others to Rule.
. During those times the only way into India was through Northwest Punjab, funneled through the Khaiber pass from the East. The British were different. They entered India through Bombay in the southeast of India. The English got what is now called Bombay, a string of seven islands, as part of a Royal Dowry from the Portuguese in 1661. King Charles IInd thought of these to be ‘useless islands’ near Brazil and leased them to a group of merchants from London, as the East India Company, for 10 pounds, British Sterling a year. It took them almost two hundred years from then and the demise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to occupy Punjab in 1849. This was the last Gem in the Crown of the British Empire of which it is said, "on it the Sun never set". They ruled over it for almost a century till the Partition of Punjab and Independence of India in 1947.
. Thus, for almost 3000 years “Punjab” was in the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world. Its evolution was influenced by the best of many races. Many religions Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism and certain Muslim beliefs evolved and prospered here. This diverse ethnic and religious culture is reflected in today's Punjab.
. The Punjabis (native people of Punjab) are of Aryan decent, easily distinguished from the other races of the world. They are reputed soldiers well known for their bravery, sacrifice and endurance of hardship. They are industrious farmers making Punjab the “food basket” of the East. They are found all over the world, with their culture in dance and music as Bhangra, which has gradually enveloped the western music into its folds. Mainly their cuisine commonly referred to us as “Indian Restaurants” has appeared all over the world. Given their small percentage (less than 2% of the INDIAN POPULATION) their contributions to GLOBAL science, medicine, electronics, transportation, agriculture(YUBA CITY) and Religion is remarkable.
. The majority of Punjabis are Sikhs with Sikhism as their religion. It is the youngest of all significant religions, free of rituals. It is the only religion whose ARDAS (akin to Mass in church) ends with a prayer for the “well being of the whole of humanity irrespective.” It is the only religion that had Warrior Saints who Actually with Arms in hand fought battles to defend. They with all determination believe in “OPPRESS NONE and BE OPPRESSED NOT."
. History has no account of any invasion from Punjab into foreign lands despite their romance with heroism, and love affair with sacrifice to defend their land: Punjab in the small picture and India in the big picture. Sikhism evolved from necessity of the times in 1699 from Islam and Hinduism, to defend Indians and Hindus from the Tyranny of the then rulers: The Moghuls. Most Indians and Muslims recognize the unprecedented selfless sacrifices made by the Sikhs to preserve the Indians and Hindus so they could prevail and establish a FREE and INDEPENDENT INDIA.
. Prevail they did, to divide, subdivide and redivide Punjab to the SMALLEST it was in all time known to mankind. The LAND and its RIVERS torn, shredded and fragmented like a victorious BATTLE FLAG of many campaigns: which led the WORLDS LARGEST DEMOCRACY to ultimate victory.
. The time has come to recognize this FLAG and LAND and give it its due respect and honor. People from all sides of the boundaries dividing this land and world leaders have to join and give Punjab its due. We must be responsible and restore this BATTLE FLAG and LAND to its original State and return it to its children like my Japjit and those yet to come.
. Freedom and Boundaries are MYTHS controlled by Political Power or Brute Force. Punjab did not prevail to write its own history. It has been literally sacrificed again and again for gratification of INDIA and her needs. This Century saw two Cold Blooded Massacres in Amritsar, (the MECCA and JERUSALEM of the Sikhs), called Jallian Walla Bagh Massacre [April 13th, 1919] and Operation Blue Star [June 5th, 1984], both Military Maneuvers against the children of Punjab, or should I say CHILDREN OF INDIA, by their Rulers. If we search our conscience, they were not short of the Atrocities of the REICH Adolph Hitler: A desperate attempt to suppress the might of Punjab that prevails even in the 5-year-old daughter of Punjab, born and living in another country on the other side of the world, but then “5” is a sacred numerical for the Sikhs: 5 rivers, 5 symbols (K’s), 5 saints (Payare), 5 major seats of worship (Takht) and so on.
. As I conclude, I am delighted to be Mr. Punjab in the eyes of my daughter. I would be a “sorry thing” as Mr. India, in the prevailing scenario. Instinctively I chose this title at the spur of the moment, while I do admit, ONLY a person greater than the best of Punjab can be Mr. India. My daughter and I, Nay! The whole of PUNJAB and its FIVE RIVERS are looking for He or She who is MR. INDIA.
True strength is not in the body, but in the
spirit.
If you do not see God in each one, you do not see God at all.
Government actions are a mirror image of the ruling party's
character.
!! Chardi Kala !!
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Vaisakh 1996 |
904-877-4355 |
This Internet Site is www.5rivers.com
