IS PUNJAB DYING?

IS PUNJAB DYING?

Looks like Punjab is the next Drug, Cancer & Impotency Capital.

It is a Hobson’s choice for the country’s wheat bowl, leonine wall and the land of prosperity & plenty. Straighten-up or perish!

The vortex of Alcohol, Drugs, Illiteracy and eroded social values has further led Punjab to a cancer and Impotency capital. There is no end to keeping on discussions on the various ‘psycho-socio-medical’ problems of Punjab. The time has come, to act to a plan that provides succour to this doomed state that has already lost one generation to Terrorism/Police excesses and the next generation to Drugs.

 A small excursion into available facts throws light on what ails the state. 13,200 odd Primary Schools run under the state government (only 3400 were added in the last 36 years). This is a far cry from the glorious past. Till 1850 as documented by Dr GW Lietner, renowned British Historian; from Lahore to Panipat, every Gurdwara, Mosque, Temple and Dharamshala carried a school of sorts for basic education.And he called Punjab “the most educated place in India”. Sad to say, the state that was number one in literacy rankings till 1970 has now dropped to a poor 21st rank. Coupled with a 48% dropout, drop in students enrollment in Govt. Schools from 20.13 lakhs in 1979 to 13.10 lakhs in 2014; the situation seems spiralling towards a dark end.

Whew! What ails this, once fortress of the country? The spiraling illiteracy coupled with a myriad of social, religious issues, alcohol promotion by the state resulted in the youth riddled with drugs. Further to this, females too falling for drugs meant that recently the youngest documented drug addict was found in Khanna to be a 2-yr old baby. Gleefully, the locals called it “Smack Baby” and he was diagnosed when he was being weaned away from the mother’s milk. As you guessed, she was a smack addict. Drug addicts in Punjab now are graduating towards Poly-Drugs, which are available in plenty and cheap. Highest growth in liquor consumption has happened in Punjab too. And Punjabis are drinking away to oblivion, it seems.And to promote more sales, the State government recently reduce the price of country-made liquor by Rs. 20 per bottle. And you will be shocked to know that the highest potency of 75 percent alcohol content has been introduced here. The state is going numb!

Marriages now are taking place amongst drug addicts and unfortunately there are numerous cases of deformed children, developmental problems, such as cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, and mental retardation. There is a serious issue looming at large with these oncoming midnight’s children. Only time will tell whether they adhere to societal norms or become a problem for the society.

Shockingly, Punjab's bowels are parched and intestines drying up! Rampant abuse and rape of the agrarian lands by chemical-obsessed farmers; with pesticides, overdrawing and high usage of water meant that the water table is poisoned and we see one of the highest cancer rates in Punjab. Villages are up-for-sale due to waterlessness. A severe water scarcity and contamination crisis is on cards for Harkishanpura (Dist. Bathinda), Mandi Khurd (Dist. Bathinda), Mal Singh Wala (Dist. Mansa), Teja Rohella (Dist. Ferozepur), Dona Nanka (Dist. Ferozepur), Mirzapur Sandharsi (Dist. Patiala) and hordes of other lesser known ones. I do not feel that the powers to be have any solutions to multiple environmental toxicity, drying-up of upper aquifers, contamination of water table, destroyed river eco-systems, depleting aquatic life, ‘almost dead’ biodiversity, reduced crop diversity, decaying immune capacity, early ageing and obviously Cancer etc.The Punjabi and his animals too, of today are highly dependent on Medicines. Due to the poisonous water table, a majority of animals have become sterile and unproductive with reduced milk output, horses going sterile and hens unable to lay eggs properly. Sample - 180 students enrolled at the Government Primary School, Dona Nanka, in the border district of Ferozepur at least 110 are physically unfit.

Now Punjab is spiralling downwards on the economic front too. From being number 1 in per capita income till 1990 it has slid to position 12, other than being the slowest growing economy amongst big states and the largest borrower in the last five-year plan. 

It is sad to see the fortress of India crumbling to dust. The need of the hour is Education and Awareness for the coming generation. The responsibility falls on the community itself and it is only organisations like The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib or to some extent Chief Khalsa Diwan and SGPC; that have invested in creating much-needed Educational institutions. Kalgidhar Trust has in just 29 years managed to build around 129 schools and two Universities and seeks to impart value-based education through 500 schools in another decade. This is helping cocoon the young kids from drugs and alcohol.

The community has to wake-up to the reality and invest its precious resources wisely. But time is running out and immediate intervention is required. Punjab has rebounded in the past and it cannot let us down this time too. What it needs is a strong community-driven push instead of simply waiting for governments to move into action!

The Man who burnt all his Bridges to reach the point of no return!

True story of the first Passionate Idiots!

The Man who burnt all his Bridges to reach the point of no return!

~ 1993 ~

The dingy rickety bus took a sharp turn over the precarious mountain curve and the young woman with a baby over her shoulders, leaned over for support on her man who stood out from the crowd of unruffled village folks that the HP Roadways bus roof was full of. This young man’s countenance was full of grit and a positive aura with eyes that looked very sharp and intelligent. His silhouette against the backdrop of the orange evening sky looked significant enough for most of the other travellers who peered at this couple that looked ‘out of place’ and too calm in this chaotic humdrum setting.

The young man looked at the setting sun with a curious tight smile on his face with a determination that was enduring and eyes afire with expectation. His face kept an eye on the large trunk that rested tied to the roof railing with all his life’s belongings packed in it. Soon his thoughts drifted to his last call a few hours back as a Medical Specialist at Maulana Azad Medical College. After writing the final prescription for his last patient, he had dropped his last few visiting cards into the waste-basket. One card had slipped from his hands and landed on his shoe. Silently, he picked it up and looked at it for the last time. His gaze stuck for a few moments on the name “Dr Davinder Singh, MBBS, MD”. Promptly, he looked away and muttered under his breath “I need to burn all my bridges”. He packed up and stepped out of his office chin up, never to look back.

He was jolted from his stupor by the wail of 3 yr old Amrit who decided it was time for her feed. He lovingly looked at his baby girl’s eyes as if he could see his future beckoning from within and then his gaze shifted to his wife of five years, Dr Neelam Kaur. He looked at her proudly for having stood rock-solid with him in these testing times. He felt that she had lived up to her solemn marriage vows and it felt reassuring that his pillar of strength was intact and glowing. The road was racing past him and he caught a fleeting glance of a milestone proclaiming ‘Rajgarh – 35 Kms’.

~ 1987 ~

Davinder Singh’s thoughts drifted off to the life-changing moment that was unique because of the solitary moment of meeting Baba Iqbal Singh ji of Baru Sahib at a friend’s place at Delhi in 1987. Davinder was fixated when his eyes fell on Babaji’s serene face and he gawked when he heard him speak in an unhurried baritone voice “Aao Doctor Sahib, tusi tey badi vadi degree kamaii hai” (Come Doctor Sir, you have earned a very high degree). Dr Davinder Singh stopped in his tracks, trying to unravel whether there was a hidden message in this statement. He had heard a lot about Babaji and had been trying to meet him for the past two years unsuccessfully. Davinder folded his hands in reverence, bowed his torso and greeted him softly, words eluding him. Babaji was speaking on the issue of “sacrifice for human welfare” which according to him was the real definition of ‘Kalgidhar’. The old man’s words seemed much profounder than whatever he had ever gathered about Kalgidhar. He was pleasantly surprised with the fact that something that he had associated with royalty and dressing up; was in fact much intense and significant and had something to do with a unique sacrifice that the world would remember for ever.

Caught in turmoil ever since the tragic riots of 1984, Davinder had decided to submit his life for Sewa for service to the downtrodden. He had opened a clinic in Tilak Vihar, the hot bed resettlement colony of riot victims and had been serving the unfortunate widows and children there. With his savings and influence as a Doctor, Davinder had been sending many kids to school in the local area. Today, he felt an urge to share his spontaneous thought of submission for selfless service to the under-privileged. Politely with hands folded, he reached out to Babaji and whispered “Maharaj, mainu vi sewa da mauka devo, mai is moh maaya tun door jaana chahanda haan” (Sire, please give me an opportunity to join you in service, I wish to stay away from materialistic world). The old man looked up askance and said “Achha, hmmm….!” (Okay, hmmm!). His experienced eyes were watching Davinder’s father, Brigadier Samloke who looked crestfallen and white-faced at this proposal from his son on whom he invested his sweat and blood. Babaji said again “Beta teri hajey ithey badi lodh hai. Ithon hi sewa kar” (Son, your presence is required more here). Although Davinder said “Satbachan” (Rightly said, Sir) but sleep eluded him that night.

Tossing and turning on bed, he was torn between thoughts. The relaxed and powerful face of Babaji kept haunting him. One part of him wanted to leave everything and surrender to Babaji and the other part reminded him of his father’s efforts as well the impending marriage in December 1988 with a sweet young Doctor that his family had chosen. Somehow he drifted to sleep with a conviction in his mind for earning his father’s blessings yet choosing to walk the path that he had decided upon.

His meetings with Babaji kept on happening and each time he fell deeper in love with the wise old man. He could not resist sharing his mind with Babaji and felt ever peaceful with the serene words of wisdom that he heard from him. Everytime he met Babaji, he felt him to have sensed his father’s discomfort of seeing his son walk the path less taken in this world. Five years passed by; Dr Davinder Singh and Dr Neelam Kaur were blessed with a lovely daughter, Amrit Kaur in 1990 but the young man was obsessed with his idea of joining Babaji at Baru Sahib. One fine day before Baisakhi in 1993, he had a chance meeting with Babaji in Delhi. Gathering up all his courage and wit, Davinder walked upto Babaji and said “Babaji, mainu apni sewa tey jorh lovo varna mainu kidrey hor sewa layi dhakkey khaney paingey” (Babaji, please allow me into your service or else I may have to roam around for some other place). Suddenly a thread broke somewhere and Babaji looked intensely at him with a wry smile and said “Achha? Chal tu Baru Sahib aajaa. Pandrah din reh key saara kujh dekh lai phir apaa agey di vichaar karangey” (Is it so? Okay you come to Baru Sahib for 15 days, stay there and see for yourself and we shall discuss after that).

~ 2013 ~

Those 15 days never came. The Doctor couple had started with the Akal Charitable Hospital. Gradually, they started handling the school, successfully did their B.Ed defying all advice from their teacher colleagues and Dr Davinder Singh was appointed as the Principal of Akal Academy, Baru Sahib. Later, he was also appointed the Secretary of the Trust. And today he is the Director of all Akal Academies while Dr Nelam Kaur is Principal, Akal Academy, Baru Sahib. 

What these two Passionate Idiots set-off, was a wave of young people sacrificing their careers, wealth, jobs and comforts to join the noble mission of Sant Attar Singh ji and thereafter providing an impetus to the dreams of Baba Iqbal Singh ji seeing the light of the day with a rural education revolution.