Charanjit SIngh Khera

The manner in which the film Satluj has resurfaced raises important questions. If it remained effectively banned or unreleased for nearly six years, only to receive a brief release on a Zee platform and then become the center of an intense social media campaign just before elections, it is reasonable to question  whether history is once again being used to shape electoral narratives rather than promote reconciliation. The film was aired for 48 hours and on centers order was removed by the time many downloaded in India and abroad , which now days shown in villages and Gurdwaras for AC comforts.

Punjab appears to be witnessing a familiar pattern. Political messaging increasingly portrays sections of one  community as “anti-Satluj”, the other  as “pro-Satluj”, while the Punjab ruling party  highlights the alleged “paap” of the Congress. Some turn coat type leaders are provocating Hindus without any wisdom,logic or reality instead of burying the past  . All this must stop in the interest of Punjab Bhai Chara .Such narratives risk dividing society both horizontally between communities and vertically along political and ideological lines. Some virus has been generated in other two states going for Electoral process .Sikhs are beaten while going to Hemkunt sahib or Manali, ,Shimla  only reflects winning election by concern party as sole criteria  at cost of Hindu-Sikh division with hatred

There was no  ideological differences between two communities during  Partition of 1947,and 1984 Sikhs massacre ,both lived in harmony in Punjab . These petty  political leaders for vote gains should be especially be cautious about reopening historical wounds. Every internal law-and-order issue should first be viewed through the lens of public peace rather than electoral gain. There is no more demand  projecting “Khalistan” in Punjab but still narrative may be build to  justify greater deployment of central security forces like West Bengal ,while deepening mistrust within Punjab..

  The former bank employ Jaswant Singh Kalra worked hard to highlight the dark side of so called Khalistan moment. State and police which played role of suppressing  Khalistan movement by violating human rights  law and constitution .Kalra was picked up by Police sep6,1995 and disappeared .He came to limelight that he attended Bhog ceremony of those killed and was fearless in his speeches to the attenders.

The Police by adopting fake encounter was the surest way to get  elevated   promotions from SSP to higher ranking post in Punjab Police with whims and fancies of then the Politician to  allowed them to rule Punjab for decades ,even the police families were not spared .

Whether or not one accepts this interpretation, the episode illustrates how communal polarisation of communities’ pre-election days can influence both electoral outcomes and public institutions.

Today, the lifting of restrictions on Satluj, renewed slogans such as “Naare Baaje“, and the portrayal of late DGP K.P.S. Gill  and Beant Singh as Butchers by one community and other as the “saviour of Punjab from terror period  thus risk reopening memories of Punjab’s Police Raj rather than promoting reconciliation..

  Lack of in-depth information, Knowledge and maturity to know the pulse of Public should get priority not  frustration of  Ravneet  Bittu as his grand father has surfaced in Film. Now he is showing  old video with  clean shaven dead bodies and questioning authenticity  kalra claim of 25000 bodies and his unthoughtful provocation speech to Hindu brethren claiming more than 35000 Hindus were killed . Hindu brethren are condemning his unthoughtful  provocation to one community.

  The film only says 25000 as per records of Kalra and his book. The office of Kalra and residence was also raided and all records were confiscated, not to be seen thereafter.

 Daljit is a world fame singer, and an actor why blame him. He  acted as directed by the director without any charges. The Director Honey Tehran  has kept the film simple, limited  and close to reality.

There is nothing in Satluj that is anti-national or something that may compromise India’s security.

The film projected Punjab’s dark, and ugly side period. Thus  projecting  and concentrated on Jaswant Singh Kalra human rights activist, not depicted the complete incidents of that period as commonly commented upon one side of the story

No doubt Punjab terrorists gunned down both Hindu and Sikh and even Punjab  police force was also cut down by terrorists and how their families suffered. Not how only Hindus suffered.

The Punjab police adopted method of fake  encounters since 1960 in fight against smugglers and during Naxalite movement. It Furter modified the fake encounter drill during militancy period by killing even innocents and throwing them into rivers/canal and terming  them unidentified

The Sikh community has served as India’s natural western shield, just as the Himalayas protect the north. Sikhs have outstanding  tremendous role in world wars where a million of Sikhs men fought  on behalf of the British army in the First World War —9,909 of them, are now  forgotten in India but other countries remember them annually . It’s been about 30 years since the end of terrorism in Punjab — let’s take the first steps today not to forget, or deny our dark past, but to remember and heal. The guiding principle must remain Sarbat Da Bhalla—the welfare of all. Punjab needs peace, dialogue and reconciliation, not politics that revive historical wounds for electoral advantage.

THe views expressed in article are personnel of the writer in interest of Punjab social atmosphere

🇮🇳 Jai Hind

Charanjit Singh Khera(Retd)

Colcharanjit1403@gmail.com