Reflecting on the Punjab 2012 Elections
Guest post by Nirbhau Kaur
[Admin note: This post was penned by the author the morning after election results were made public in Punjab.]
Pain. Disgust. Hurt. Dread. Longing. Connect, then Disconnect.
For the first time I felt these feelings in relation to Punjab – a land where I was not born, a land where I was not raised, a land that I didn’t truly experience until my early 20’s. Nonetheless, it is my father’s land, my Nana Ji’s land, my ancestors’ land. It is my land.
Today, there were countless social media updates reminding me of the five years of horror that Punjab is about to experience. For a small group of people, today was victorious. For a state full of people, today was just another reminder of their dark future. As the Badal family begins another five years of power in Punjab, the socially aware predict increased farmer suicides, increased drug and alcohol addictions, increased poverty. And the most grave prediction of them all, an end to Punjab, Punjabi, and Punjabiat.
Today, we express our disgust with the Badals and our sorrow for the future of Punjab. Not just today, but whenever there is an event to remember or increase awareness of any tragic situation in Punjab, be it farmer suicides or the despair in which the families of the shaheeds are surviving, we, as diasporic Punjabis, express deep sympathy. We speak of a need for change, we inspire, and we become inspired, but only in the appropriate setting. Shortly afterward, most of us move onto focus on our lives here, outside of Punjab.
12 Responses to “Reflecting on the Punjab 2012 Elections”
I'm having difficulty understanding how – when their corruption was so rampant and obvious and the situation in Punjab so dire and worsening – this government was able to be re-elected. Even if they had rigged the election, where is the outrage among voters in Punjab?
I second American Turban question…I fail to understand also why would a morally corrupt government as author claims be elected again by the people.
I am from a family that was and to some degree is still active in Punjab Polictics, and even I am just confused as to how that Congress, BJP and even the AKALI Dal are the best Punjab has to offer. Sad to say that the Badal family is the end all be all of "Sikh" political figures. At sometime It was a sense of pride to be from an Akali family, but as the years have passed by the sense of pride has become just disgust and annoyance. Problem is are we the solution are those that live there the solution? Issue comes down to can we the "NRI" outsiders create a change when the locals feel there is nothing wrong or nothing can be changed. Change doesn't always bring about the desires result for those with the most to lose.
The “Arab Spring” that occured in the Middle-East is what Punjab needs. The youth there can use the power of social media to accelerate social protest against people like Badal, and garner international support. However, I am not confident in the youth of Punjab, because a large percentage of them are drug addicts and alcoholics. I have been there myself and seen it first hand. If the youth of Punjab can pull together with social networking mobilization, they can have the power to fight government corruption, drugs, joblessness and so forth.
a strong, broad-based people's movement is most certainly needed. perhaps Occupy Punjab is on the horizon…
whatever ,,,, you have your own opinions,,, people had theirs and voted for whom they wished to be elected ….. not the scamsters a la congressi' s … huhahahhahahahha
parkash has lost all his prideand respect in last 20years. He will be remembered as a chief corrupt politician. People of punjab are selfish now, they are not what known to be.
An electorate get the politicians they deserve. Morally bankrupt folk deserve no better than the morally bankrupt leaders they get. So what are you all complaining of ? Badal leading the people of Punjab is a match made in heaven. Its a glove that fits perfectly.
boycott jazzy b –
Hi- Just thinking Badal is a bigest looser , why-
– His brother doenot talk to him
– His nephew like son does not want to be with him
Life is a circle……….he back stabbed Barnala, Tohra and many others…………now destiny is hitting him back. His son is a addict.
Thank god he doesnot have a brain to think about all this……. Thats why he is laughing these days.
ask yourself why people are voting for him? is the anti badal hysteria an NRI created issue? the people of punjab seem happy enough with their choice. hell, most are pleased with the investment in infrastructure they've apparently brought.
i'm new to punjabi politics..what's thie badal corruption history??
i know they're as anti sikhi as they come. supporting random babeh etc
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