In the 1980s, when I was very young, I saw a Pakistan blockbuster movie Maula Jatt. The movie starts with a Badmash (thug, aggressor) chasing a young girl with the intention to assault her. She begs for mercy and in return the Badmash says that he can give her one chance. He gives her freedom till sunset to go to villages and seek help. If anyone is willing to help her, he would leave her. She goes from village to village, with him chasing her on a horse back. When they see her they all get up to help her but when they see the Badmash on horseback, they all back off. No one dares to help her, till she reaches the village of Maula Jatt.
When I saw this movie, I was filled with disbelief at the impotency of Pakistani Punjabis and I said to my Pakistani friends with a lot of pride that such an occurrence could never have happened in our Punjab (East Punjab). I said that due to the influence of Siri Guru Dasmesh jee, our Punjab is full of self-respecting Ankhee Singhs who would not let this Badmash walk 2 steps. I said the above to my Pakistani friends (in those days) many times and they used to become answerless. Those were the days of Sant Bhindranwale and what I said was 100% true. Who could have dared to do such an act in the Punjab of 1980s?
Things have changed in Punjab now. Last week, the slapping of Bibi Birinderpal Kaur by a Sarpanch in the Gidderbaha (Badal's area), has shocked me. Right in front of hundreds of Sikhs, Punjabis, police and media, he repeatedly slapped this poor young lady of Punjab. Her only fault was that she was protesting for the permanency of her job and the Sarpanch of the village could not contain his anger because her protest was spoiling the political rally of Harsimrat Kaur Badal. This 6 foot tall, heavily built scoundrel started slapping the petite Bibi Birinderpal Kaur. No one stopped him. No one arrested him. No one did anything. They just pulled her away from him. Her condition was such that it was unbearable to behold. The Hankaari Sarpach had no remorse. What a rascal!
It was only when the media splashed the news that there was some movement. The police registered a minor assault case on him and released him on bail right away. He is known to be a Badmash of his area with many cases pending against him.
Political parties visited her village to gain political mileage. Press reporters stormed her village because her story was getting popular with their viewers. But no one to this date has helped her. This incident has proved that Ankh (self respect) in Punjab is dead. East Punjab has become just as impotent as the West Punjab. At least they had Maula Jatt who was able to rescue the abused girl; we don't even have him…
Just go to youtube and see the video for yourself. It's very depressing and outraging at the same time.
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
