Author: Kumool Abbi (abbikumool@gmail.com)
Professor at Punjab University, Chandigarh
While political analysts are conducting surveys and opinion polls to gauge the public mood on how Punjab will vote. I will use popular culture as a medium to feel the pulse of the people. In fact, popular culture indicates a different mood, wary and circumspect about the reality of the politicians. The sampled popular songs are more skeptical, reflecting a deep cynicism and disillusionment with mainstream political parties and a general apprehension of the intent and dubious ways of the political leaders. Here Kanwar Grewal, the voice of the farmers’ protest who had warned the simple farmers about the misdeeds of the politicians, continues playing his vanguard role. In his latest song “Hoka” released February 13th, 2022 he almost laments the state of affairs and pleads to the people to vote in such a judicious way that Punjab is saved from dying. Here are some selections from October 2020 to the present.
“Ashiq Mitti De” (Romancing The Soil) by Sippy Gill
Punjabi
..Haj mra pin taan saara kaccha
Rajneeti choran di
Sahan a vich jaialn de Mecca
Agg Hauli jaldi
Saade khoon vi jhad gaye cell ni..
Ki Congressi ki Akali
Saar kehnde Khazana khali
Bagh Sukh uddon hi
Beiman hunda jadon mali
Assi chad de Mehekdiyan
Maruthal vich phul nahin khilne
English Translation
Politics is of the thieves
The simple people have to consider jail as their Mecca
The fire will be slowly stoked and catch up
Even our blood would be shedding its cells
What congressmen or Akalis
They will all say that
The treasury is empty
The garden becomes dry when the caretaker is corrupt
We have forgotton about fragrance
As flowers will not bloom in a wasteland [maruthal]
“Punjab Veer” By Lovely Noor
Punjabi
Sambhi jaan de nafee saade palle vich ghate ni
Telephone deta kadee vand tee nee aate nee
Hor kaddon akh khulni tala vajeya laphere gal nu
English Translation
They may look at the benefits but we suffer losses
gave us telephones
Or distributed flour
When will the eyes open your talk will be locked forever
“Fix Hoya Match Ae” By Tarsem Jassar
Punjabi
Fix hoya match ae
Fix hoya match ae
Te vaaron vaari jitde
Sacheyan nu suli ae
Te chor aithe tikde
Fix hoya match ae
Fix hoya match ae
Dikhave diyan jungan ne
Pichhe bande same ne
Paise di ho game aa
Te jaan ke blame ne
Jhoote leaderan da
Nuksan kade hoya ni
Marde ne chele
Kade leader khaloya ni
Pakhandi’an de dhande neKarne oh nange ne
Bahute taan vikau ne
Thode rehge change ne
Fix hoya match ae
Ho roohan vi vikau ne
Te vikau ne zameeran de
Bande jama leeran ne
Fake eh lakeeran ne
Fix hoya match ae
English Translation
They win alternatively
The true ones are hanged
While the lions remain stable
They are fighting just to show off
The same people are at the backstage
It is a game of money
They blame others
Lying leaders never suffer any damage
Only followers die never a leader has stood up
It is a game of pretenders
Most of them are on sale
“Faslan De Mul” (The Price Of The Harvest) by Babbu Mann
Punjabi
Saadian pithan aakar gayian
Kube ho ho chugiyan dealan
Pichle saal crorean da si
Hun pacchi lakh da ho gaya kila
Khoon choos ke kirti da
Kine jigre de naal behnde
Kursi ta oh hi hai
Par naam badalde rehende
Chaubi vichon atharan ghanta
Bati rehendi gul
Tama tama beejda gulab da koi phul
Aajkal vikde ne dodan de phul
Tere mere pind de vichale si
Jo nehar te
Pichle mahine o vi dig gaya pul
Bhuk nang rishwat khori nahin mukni
Panje utte nach
Bhaven takri ch tul
English
Our backs have got stiff
We have got bent striking deals
It was for a couple of crores
Now a killa is only worth 25 lakhs
Sucking the blood of hard working people with big hearts
How comfortably they sit on their chairs
Only the name changes
Out of twenty four hours
Light remains out for at least eight
With great difficulty someone plants a rose
But these days it is the poppy flowers which sell
The bridge between your village and mine
On the canal
Last month even that collapsed
Hunger, nakedness, corruption
Will not end
Whether you dance on the palm [Congress Party symbol]
Or get weighed by the scales [Akali Party symbol]
“Chitte Bagle Te Neele Mor” (White Storks And Blue Peacocks) By Gurvinder Brar And Anita Samana
Punjabi
Na koi Congressi na Akali
Sab sabat karte jaali
Ghumdian phirdian gypsian khali
Sab sochan vich dub gaye ne
Neele mor [Akalis] te chitte Bagle [Congress] ve aaj kal kithe udd gaye ne
Kar liye Zamindaran ne eka
Kar ke rakhan dor bhulekha
Ral kar mangan lekha
Jo kitte kale dhande ne
Sab jhande karte lande
Kissani jhande ne
Aakhir jagna hi si paina
Ik din ho ke hi rehna
Aapna haq si laina…
English Translation
There is no Congressi or Akali
All have been proved fake
All the gypsies move around empty
Blue peacocks and white storks
Have flown away
All zamindars have got together
Lets throw away their illusions
Lets together evaluate them
The black deed committed by them
All flags have been made impotent
By the Kisani flag
We had to wake up one day
“Pecha” by Kanwar Grewal And Harf Cheema
Punjabi
Khich lae jatta
Khich lai jatta oh khich tyari
Pecha pai gya center naal
Khich lae jatta khich tyari o
Vota vele taal jande ne
Vota vele taal jande ne
Leader foke fenter naal
Kithe kithe paya vande
Kedi party te kede jhande
Oye vota pake khave dande
Oh bholeya jatta samz jande
Aao 26 tarik nu
Aapde hakka layi
Saare rall mil ke katthe hoke
Dilli nu chaleya
English Translation
They evade the issue during elections
These hypocritical leaders
So many divisions are created by them
And flags of so many parties
After giving votes the simple Jats face sticks
For our rights
Lets all get together
and go to Delhi on the 26th
“Maanj Den Ge” (Will Wipe Them Clean) By Gurvinder Brar And Anita Samana
Punjabi
[In is a conversation between a politician and his wife]
Kiven ikathe ho gaye sare kirsan ve
Mainu kari jaande pareshan ve
Chaki phirde kissani wala jhanda
Patele wang manhj den ge je
Na aidki votan ch gaye vande
Masan pind ch banaiyan si dhadde bandian
Kithon uthiana kisan jathbanian
Aukhe hoke banayian si ddhadebandian…
Je aa gayi sachi Sarkar kissana di
Ki apna nib anu ga tu nahin jaandi
Assin jaavan ge vieshan vicch bhaj ke
Inha ikatha kita maal kiven chad ke
Patele waang maanjh deen ge…
“Netaji” by Kanwar Grewal
Punjabi
Panj sal picchon pind pair paya nu
Aayo tuhanu pher vi hai ji aayan nu
Saade dukh takleefan de hisab netaji
Sade tussi lai laye swad netaji
Hun ek do taan davo jawab netaji
Saare mehekme karte private ne
Rete bajri de rakhe mafia ne rate
Babean di baani sadkan te rol ti
Saar gaye taan bas bhashan te bol ke
Pagh sade dhaon waleo
Fade kyon nahin gaye
Beadbian da be hisab netaji
Kadon suna ho gaya Punjab netaji
Putt saade kiven chitte de haani ho gaye
Kiven zehran ton vi madde saade paani ho gaye
Kyon Malwa belt de pind kha gaye
Cancer da rog namurad netaji….
English Translation
You have stepped a foot in the village
After five years
Still we offer you welcome
We have to give you the arithmetic of our sorrow and troubles
You have taken away our joy
At least give us an answer
You have now made all departments private
The sand and stones are priced by the mafia
The Gurus bani is littered on the roads
You just suffice by giving speeches
The ones who knocked off our turbans
Why have they not been arrested
We need to be fair and square with our humiliation
When did Punjab become so desolate Netaji
Why did our sons become so friendly with Chitta(smack)
How did the water we consume become worse than poison
Why did this water of the Malwa belt give us
this terrible disease of cancer
“Punjab” By Kanwar Gerwal And Harf Cheema
Punjabi
Bhule nahin jaande jeth
Bhule nahin jaande sayal
Votan jinu paunde oh
Khade tuhade naal nahin
Lalachan nu sochan nu Azaad rakheyo
Jadon muddo ge Punjab
Kalli Kalli gal tussi yaad rakheyo
English Translation
It is difficult to forget the hot summer
It is difficult to forget the winters
Those whom you voted for
They did not stand by you
Rise above temptations
With your thoughts
When you return back to Punjab
Remember every single thing
“Votan” by Harf Cheema and Deepak Dhillon
A new song Votan by Harf Cheema and Deepak Dhillon released on 10th of February 2022 alludes to the new found awareness of the voters.
Punjabi
Wife: Changa audha vich Sarkar de leange
Bas ticket da leela kar lai
Bazi maar lang e
Husband: pehlan wango botlan de naal
Vote nahin paunde
Ho gaye log siyane
Gallan vich nahin aaunde
Gaaye ni jaag Punjabi
Hun lutte nahin jaane
Vekhi aidki choran di pooch chakaunde…
Put mar haan kidde delhi bordaran ute
Sab kuch samjhan lok
Nahin reh gaye suttee
10 march no dekhi kiddi game launde
Lok ho gaye siayane…
English
Wife: We will take a good position in the government
Just arrange for the party ticket
We will clinch the deal
Husband: Unlike previous times people
Do not vote after being given a bottle
People have become sensible
They cannot be enticed by sweet talk
The Punjabis have woken up
They will not be looted anymore
They will needle the thief’s tail
Those whose sons died at the Delhi borders
They understand everything
They are no longer left sleeping
See on 10th March whose game would be over
People have become sensible…
“Hoka” By Kanwar Grewal
Lastly, it is Kanwar Grewal stoic and somber and intense presentation in his song “Hoka” (Call Out) released on February 13th February which captures the anxieties and apprehensions about the future of Punjab
Punjabi
Sat Shri Akal
Kanwar Singh Bolda rahan haan
Votan aa rahian ne 20 feb nu
Pata hai tuhanu kehdi pehli vaar aayian ne
Pher koshish ho rahin sanu budhu banaon di
Dar lagda kithe ban naa jaana
Pehlan bahut vaari ban gaye bai
Maharaj ne is janam vich gawaya banata
Geet gaunde haan
Geet gaunde gaunde aakhri para
Aaunda hai geet da
Sacch jaaniyo bai,ais wele
Mainu Punjab apne geet de aakhri antre wang lagda hai
Kitheee muk na jawe
Fer cheta aaunda hai
Kanwar Singh eh Guruan,piran,fakiran di dharti hai
Iddde naal aida nahin ho sakda
Ki tussi vi aida sochde ho
Changian nu vote pa lo aid ki
Kirdaran nu vote pa lo
Unhan nu vote pa liyo jehde Punjab de dardi hai
Jinhan nu fikar hai itho di aabo hawa di
Jinhan nu fikar hai ethon dianan maavan da
Jinhan nu fikar hai itho de berozgaran di
Jinhan nu fikar hai ithon de sabyachar da
Par bai Je aidki thagge gaye
Tuhanu pata hai ki banu ga apna
Tuhada put hon de nate
Inhana behana da bhra hon de naate
Inhan dostan da dost
Is samaj da gawaya hon de naate…
2o tareekh nu siyane ban jao
Sab pata hai,chor kaun sadh kaun
Aapni vote di keemat pehchano…
Sat Sri Akal
English Translation
I am Kanwar Grewal speaking
Th votes are to be polled on 20th February
You know this is not the first time
Once again an attempt is being made to fool you
Feel scared this does not happen again
Like many times before
Maharaj made me a singer in this birth
I sing songs
As one sings the last para of the song comes
And the song finishes
To me Punjab appears like the last stanza of my song
It should not finish
Then I recollect
Kanwar Grewal this is the land of Gurus,Pirs and Fakirs
This land will not see this day
Do you also think the same way as I do
Vote for the good ones bai this time
Vote for those with character
Vote for those who empathize with the pain of Punjab
Vote for those who are concerned about this place’s environment
Vote for those who care about this place’s mother
Vote for those who are concerned about this place’s unemployed
Vote for those who are concerned about this place’s culture
But brother if you are looted this time
You know what will happen
Being your son
Being a brother to these sisters
Being a friend of these friends
For the sake of being a singer of this society
Be sensible on the 20th
We know who is a thief and who is a saint
Value and recognize your vote
