Bid to paint Bhagat, Gandhi as rivals decried.
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www.expressindia.com]
Amrita Chaudhry
Posted online: Monday , February 25, 2008 at 02:55:13
Updated: Monday , February 25, 2008 at 03:14:49
Ludhiana, February 24 “Sikhs are either the Sikhs like Bhagat Singh or they are the Sikhs of Bhai Randhir Singh.” Expressing this Sumel Singh, a scholar from Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, explains his statements as, “Bhagat Singh has actually followed the spirit the Sikh rehat maryada.
While he (Bhagat Singh) was shunned by the some Sikh leaders of those time like Bhai Randhir Singh (Bhai Randhir Singh had refused to meet Bhagat Singh in jail for the latter had shorn his hair during freedom struggle) yet here was a young boy who explained his process of cutting his hair as his first step towards fulfilling the basic tenet of Sikh philosophy that preaches band band katva dena. For Bhagat Singh giving up his hair was the first band that he had sacrificed for the independence struggle.
Sumel Singh was speaking at a panel discussion organised by the Punjabi Sahit Academy on “Bhagat Singh and his ideologies.” At the centre of this panel discussion was the book titled “Martyr and bridegroom: A folk representation of Bhagat Singh” authored by Prof I.D. Gaur. Talking about his book, Gaur said, “Bhagat Singh even today for he still responds to non conformist, non-sectarian, and counter-hegemonic ethos of Punjabi people. Punjabis throughout the world remember Bhagat Singh through their folk songs.”
Adding to this, senior leftist and intellectual, Charan Gill remarked, “The fact that Bhagat Singh has once again become a role model leader for the masses draws our attention to the fact that the present set of leadership has totally failed to provide a hero. This is a disturbing sign. Civilization need heroes to survive and in case they do not find one in present time they bring alive a hero from history and for present youth. Bhagat Singh is a perfect icon.” Gill however warned, “The force by which people have tried to put Bhagat Singh and Gandhi as rivals will only hamper the advancement if India. The five films that we saw on Bhagat Singh all tried to do so for their commercial gains but then this idea that if we glorify Gandhi, Bhagat Singh’s stature is lowered and vice a versa is baseless.”
Prof Rajinder Pal Singh from Punjabi University meanwhile averred, “These fascism that Bhagat Singh belongs to only one section and not the other is false. Bhagat Singh can be and is as much of the left and as he is of the Sikhs or the Hindus. The intellectuals need not fear and condemn the current posters and slogans that are being pinned on Bhagat Singh in present times like “much da swaal” and “anakh.” All we need is to analyse the direction in which this young scholar is being taken to.
Also present at the seminar were Dr Surjit Patar president, Punjabi Academy, Dr Surjit, Amarjeet Grewal and others.
