Punjab now a land of Bihari 'Sardars'

LUDHIANA: The tenth and final Sikh teacher, Guru Gobind Singh, who was born in Bihar's capital Patna nearly 300 years ago, would have approved of this sociologial trend in contemporary Punjab.

The old advisory to people to adapt to the culture of the places they go to, 'When in Rome, do as Romans do', has been assimilated with gusto by the migrant population of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, in the "land of five rivers".

Indeed, with 'kara' around his wrist, long flowing beard, turban, and 'Singh' suffixed to his name, the 'bhaiyya' from the heartland has transformed into 'paaji' in Punjab.

In a study by Punjab Agricultural University's Department of Economics and Sociology — with a sample size of 240 migrants (120 local labourers and 120 farmers) — a whopping 81% of migrants reported a change in the language they speak, the food they eat and the clothes they wear. Pegged at more than 10 lakh in a city of about 50 lakh people, there is one migrant from UP or Bihar for every five Punjabi.

The study, carried out by Dr M S Sidhu, Dr A S Joshi and Inderpreet Kaur, employed something called a multi-stage sampling framework wherein samples were taken from districts, blocks and villages. It also zeroed in on local labourers and farmers for cross-references.

Interestingly, in similar studies in 1978-79 and 1983-84, 33% and 40% of migrant labourers had reported a noticeable change in their language. In the last survey, however, the change in language went up to 76%. Also, 84% of respondents reported a change of preference from the traditional favourite rice to wheat. Similarly, 88% had switched from dhoti to pyjama-kameez. Some went for the more comfortable 'lungi' even as the women folk made the sartorial switch from sari to salwar-kameez.

Like Ranjit Kumar, who calls himself Ranjit Singh these days, nearly 11% of people from Bihar and UP use Punjabi surnames. The 25-year-old, who came from Bihar to Sainian Bahurian village in Gurdaspur district to work in the farm of Mann Singh, is as much Punjabi as anybody around him.

Sukhram, too, is no exception. He came to Sunam in Sangrur from Purnea in Bihar, some 15 years ago to work for Mohinderpal Singh Dhindsa.

Now, with a beard and kara on his wrist, he is indistinguishable from the people around him in this nondescript town.

[publication.samachar.com]

Few years ago, I happened to go to Ludhiana railway station and was surprised to see that the whole platform was full of migrants from Bihar and UP. There were perhaps only a small number of Sardars. Yes, Punjab is now full of UP and Bihari Bhaiyas but by the same token there are a lot of Sikhs in UP, Rajasthan and other parts of India. Demographics change over time. Change is bound to happen. Honhaar so hoye hai.

Kulbir Singh

Ludhiana is my native town and it indeed has become a bhaya city. If you live in a posh colony, u still have sikh majority, but if u move to the exterior of the city, its all bhaya rule. There are bhayas who have started wearing turbans, but there are more bhayas who are clean shaven, speak theth punjabi and use jatt surnames like gill, sandhu etc.
This bihari influx has led to increase in crime like thefts, kidnapping, prostitution etc. Most biharis live on zarda and many punjabis have started eating zarda and have got ruined.

Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh,

Khalsa jio,

Bhai Kulbir Singh jee's Ludhiana station experience reminded us the expectation of a German Singhni she shared at a Reinsabai about 10-11 years back in Panjab. As we reacall this Singhni was born, raised and initiated with khanday di pahul in Germany and since day one she lived with full Bana wearing with dumalla and Sri sahib. She was probably close to 6 feet tall and you can imagine the darsharni saroop of this Singhni with that height and bana. Any way the point she shared was that after she became Sikh she had desire to go the Panjab the Land of Gurus, The Land of his many brothers and sisters. She said she made the imaginary roop of Panjab in her mind, started to think every day that how the Guru's land will look like and there will be many Sikhs around and and will be in Khalsa saroop as Guru Sahib created on 1699. Also She will meet the Sikh farmers etc any many more expectations.

She booked the ticket from Germany to New Delhi then from there to Sri Amritsar by train. She was very excited to have the darshan of Guru's land ASAP. When reached New Delhi she saw couple of Sikhs with dastaar so she felt happy that she saw Sikhs although were not wearing Bana. Then she reached the train station and in the train in which she is going to Sri Amritsar she met few Sikh of similar outfit but she knew this is not the Panjab so it is normal. Then she said her heart breath started faster when she reached Ambala Cant and came to know that next Stop will in Ludhiana in Guru's Land. And at Ludhiana Guess What? She found same situation as Delhi and Ambala stations. Seeing the same people around even passengers who were stepping down or up she thought may be I am on different train because since Airport to here no difference noticed and she confirmed the train.

Then she thought there are 2 more stations (Jalandhar, Sri Amritsar) she will surely see Guru kay Singh Singhnia on those two stations at least. Her hope faded a little more when she reached Jalandhar city then her mind started to twinkling about her expectations but now the last hope was Sri Amritsar Sahib where Sikhs have there highest respected Shrines, Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Akal Takhat Sahib but when she reached Amritsar Station. Her tears started to flow, When she saw pictures of darbar sahib but same kind of monay crowd as on AIRPORT to Sri Amritsar. Then she came out from Station she took a rickshaw to Sri Harmandir Sahib the only difference she found was some billboards in Panjabi and few more Sikh with Turbans but no Sikh in Khalsa saroop as created on 1699. Then her mind settled down when reached in the parkarma but all of expectations were gone by that time and she accepted this as a Guru ka Bhana. Although she did not know the difference in Bhaiyas or the Panjabi Sikhs who became like bhaiyas now but she was very disappointed by seeing all these. This is not the story of this Singhni alone. We learned from many Sikh children (Amritdhari) who are born and raised on foreign soil thinks or dreams the same as this Singh jee did. This is very natural thinking. One can understand the reason that these children or Singh Singhnia had very pure mind towards Guru Sahib’s teachings and they try to stay firm on principle’s Guru Sahib laid. Especially hearing the Jeevan of Gursikhs like Baba Banda Singh Bhadhur, Baba Deep Singh jee, Bhai Taru Singh jee Bhai Mani Singh jee, Bhai Randhir Singh jee, Bhai Fauja Singh jee and many more. So thier mindset is that if not all people then most people they will meet in Panjab will be like those Singhs. But sangat jee unfortunately ਸਾਡੇ ਅੱਤ ਮੰਦੇ ਭਾਗ we could not on those standards today.
Any way immigration of Bhaiyas is not a problem after all Panjab is a Bread Basket of Hindu Stan so any one in need is most welcome But the problem is our own Panjabi brothers and sisters who are becoming BHAIYAS That is a big problem and that should be addressed soon otherwise it will be too late. Now Reading above article ਇਕ ਸਿਆਣੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਯਾਦ ਆ ਗਈ ਜਿਹੜੀ ਉਨਾਂ foriegn tour ਤੋ ਬਾਦ ਕਹੀ ਕਿ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ਾ ਵਿਚ ਕਈ ਇਕ ਸਿੱਖ ਵੇਖੇ ਨੇ ਜਿਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਹਾਲੇ ਕਈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਧਾਰੀ ਵੀ ਨਹੀ ਜਦੋ ਮੋਕਾ ਲਗਦਾ ਬੜੀਆਂ ਬਾਹਵਾ ਚੱਕ ਚੱਕ ਜੋਰ ਜੋਰ ਦੀ ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਾਬਾਦ ਕਰਨਗੇ ਉਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਸਵਾਲ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪ ਤਾਂ ਨਕਲੀ ਜਾਂ ਅਸਲੀ ਵੀਜ਼ੇ ਲਵਾ ਕੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ਾ ਵਿਚ ਜਾ ਵੜੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਆਨੰਦ ਮਾਣ ਰਹੇ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਮਗਰੋ ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ ਭਈਆਂ ਨੇ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ ਹੈ।

Guru Mehar Karay

Waheguru ji ka khalsa
Waheguru ji ki fateh

Fateh Jio,
I am willing to welcome Sikhs even fro USA or Bihar or any part of world, if they they have the blessings of Guru Ji. If these people have just appearance of sikhi and they are still away from sikhi, Then we should refrain from these people.
I stll think these people are better than originally punjabi people. I hardly find any gursikh in punjab now