It happens to all of us at sometime or the
other in our lives.
We accept it and let it pass without giving
it a second thought.
It is the Law of Unintended Consequences.
Basically, it is that the outcome of actions, mostly Governments, have effects
that could not have been anticipated or unintended.
Adam Smith, an economist and Social Scientist
says, “An individual, seeking only his own personal gains is led by an
invisible hand to promote and end which was no part of his intention. That end
being the public interest!”
This is exactly what is being played out
between the Central Government and the Farmers.
The Three Laws, which the Farmers want
repealed, are not anti-Farmer but affect every citizen in the country.
The Punjabi Farmer, a True Son of The Soil
has a lifestyle. Farming and Fighting!
There has been a standoff where neither is willing
to back off. In the latest move the Government has decided to put the Laws on
hold for 18 months. Reading in between the lines, it means that the Government
is now on the back foot.
For the first time, since the BJP came to
power, it would seem they have bitten off more than they can chew.
The Farmers at the Singhu Border mostly from
Punjab and Haryana are in a jovial fighting mood.
They have dug in, literally!
On the central median of the highways where Bougainvillea
bushes grew, they have planted vegetables like cauliflower and radish which
would be ready in days and they would not have to go back home to bring fresh
eatables.
Said one young Farmer, “We were ready to stay
here till Lohri. Then we said we will be here till Baisakhi! Now they are
saying the Laws are on hold for 18 months. We are here, ready with our demands
till 2024!”
This is the grit and determination that
defines the Punjabi spirit. The Punjabi Farmer, a true Son of the Soil has a
very unique and different lifestyle. He knows two things and does them with
perfection. Farming and fighting. In between his time is devoted to merriment.
He celebrates the many festivals and the births, deeds and martyrdom of his
Gurus. At the slightest provocation from a dholak he breaks into a bhangra,
thumping the earth with his bare feet. Mother Earth whom he worships! This is
‘Ann Daata’.
Who are these people? They were nomads
belonging to the Bhatti Rajputs in Jaisalmer. In their meanderings they came
North and found the Land of Five Rivers, Punj-Ab Here they had water, water and
more water. In Jaisalmer they had sand, sand and more sand!
Where the Bhatti’s made their first
encampment still exists till today. It is called Bhathinda. They took to
agriculture and made it a very successful venture.
As the centuries passed, these farmers claimed
Punjab as their home.
Along came Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. He
gave them direction. Work hard, he said, be honest and ‘sarbat da bhalla’.
Which means selfless service and of course Guru Ka Langar. Sikhism is the only
religion that has this concept, no barriers, no colour, cast, creed or
religion. Anyone is welcome to a sumptuous meal in the Guru ka Langar.
These simple guidelines have cemented the
community where they think as one, act as one and have the same goal. Farm,
fight, fun, frolic! Not necessarily in that order!
At about the same time the Mughal Empire was
at its zenith. Aurangzeb would not tolerate any other religion. The Sikhs came
to his notice and he went after them with a maniacal vengeance.
Guru Tegh Bhadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, he was
referred to as ‘Hind Ki Chadar’, was beheaded publically in Delhi’s Chandni
Chowk. His son Guru Gobind Singh’s four sons were also mercilessly martyred.
There is no other instance in the recorded history of India where a family has
made such an incredible sacrifice for their country. Today they are being
called anti-national!
As Guru Gobind witnessed all this and
realised he had to fight fire with fire! He wrote to the Emperor Aurangzeb a
missive, in poetry form. It is referred to as the Zafarnama. He declared it was
time for the dove to hunt the hawk!
Guru Sahib took to arms. He created The
Khalsa at a solemn ceremony in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. He transformed the
simple Farmer Folk of the Punjab into a family of Soldier Saints, The Khalsa
Panth. The Warrior was born!
Then came Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He saw these
Farmers, fine specimens of manhood. Tall, strong, rugged and carrying weapons
of sorts. A talwar a gandasa (axe) or a kirpan. He recruited them and formed
the ‘Khalsa Fauz’. They were a formidable fighting force. Disciplined and
fearless. They helped the Maharaja to push the boundaries of his Kingdom of the
Sikhs to Tibet, Leh, Kabul and the North West Frontier.
How formidable was this fighting force?
For centuries the Islamic invaders raped,
looted, plundered and sacked India. The Gazni’s, Ghori’s, Nadir Shah, Abdali,
Khilji, Durrani all came down the Khyber Pass.
No one on the Indian Subcontinent could stop them. No one wind up the
Khyber. That particular mountain range is called Hindu Kush, the Killer of
Hindu’s.
The Khalsa Fauz under General Hari Singh
Nalwa was ordered by Maharaja Ranjit Singh to stop anyone coming down the
Khyber. He did just that!
The Khalsa Fauz had built up a tremendous
reputation as invincible warriors.
This is borne out in a dispatch by Field Marshal
Hugh Gough. He was a veteran of many battles in Africa, France, China and had
commanded more General Actions than any other British Officer.
In one of the Anglo Sikh Wars, he was the
Commander of the British troops. “In all my years of service and seeing action
first hand,” he wrote, “I have not met a more ferocious foe!”
The Sikhs have saved India on more than one
occasion. Ask the Kashmiri Pandits. Also ask the Survivors of Poonch. Today,
these Sikhs are being called anti-national, terrorists and Khalistanis.
This is what the Government is facing today.
They have failed to understand the Sikh psyche. When the Sikhs start a fight, they
finish it.
Our leaders are small minded people, used to
dealing with petty traders and a Nation of Shopkeepers, to quote Napoleon.
The Modi- Shah combines biggest mistake, they
have no knowledge of history.
“Let them eat cake!” She said and lost her
head! This may happen here!
I would like to end with a quote which
impresses the importance of the Farmer;
Once in your life you need a Doctor, a
Lawyer, a Policeman or a Preacher, but three times a day you need the Farmer!
Here is another quote that highlights the
importance of the Farmer over the Ambanis and Adanis; No race can prosper till
it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a
poem! (Booker T. Washington)
Fateh to the Farmers!
STOP PRESS; Khalsa Aid who is being summoned by the NIA for their role in providing aid to the Farmers has been nominated for The Nobel Peace Prize!