THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
-Ramesh Chander
Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar is an apex body of poets and literary personalities of in and around Jalandhar engaged in nurturing the poetic urges of the concerned while promoting and serving their mother tongue, Punjabi. The Sabha is headed by a prominent literary man, Harbhajan Singh Nahal and ably steered by Param Dass Heer as its General Secretary and supported by Beant Singh Sarhadi, a known figure in the socio-cultural and spiritual life of Jalandhar and beyond.
As in the successive years, the Likhari Sabha celebrated the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass on February 15 by dedicating their monthly Mushiyara to the great Guru. They were kind enough to invite me to the Mushiyara as the Chief Guest in spite of the fact that I am not a poet of any sort. More than 15 poets read and recited their compositions on Guru Ravidass’s Bani and Legacy and also the larger message to the humanity. It clearly came out that Guru Ravidass stood for “Haq Te Sach Di Awaz” as termed by one of poets and rightly so. The Mushiyara was so engaging that there was hardly any time left to listen to the renowned literary and academic invitees sitting at the High-table. President Harbhajan Singh Nahal had to struggle to manage and give time to each one of us to conclude the event.
Prof. Baldev Singh Balli spoke with conviction and shared his latest poem on the theme of Guru Ravidass’;s concept of “Begumpura – a State without ‘Sorrow”. Prof. Baldev Singh Badhan also spoke briefly but with full insight of the thought and philosophy of Guru Ravidass. Prof. Navtej Gardhiwal, a scholar and researcher on Guru Ravidass’s life and philosophy wanted to say and share much on the occasion but time constraints came in. Both Prof. Badhan and Prof. Navtej Gardhiwal presented their books of poetry and prose to me as ‘Food for Thought”. By the time my turn came as the last speaker, it was already too late and sensing the mood of the audience as a career diplomat, I took recourse to the poetic assertion of Allma Iqbal –
Pardon Mein Jo Pinha Hai: Chasme Beena Dekh Latti Hai,
Jamane Ki Tabiat Ka Taqaza Dekh Latti Hai.
I kept myself very brief and said that Guru Ravidass’s Bani is as potent and relevant today as it was 6 centuries ago. And added that the present political or administrative dictum of ‘Democratic Socialism’ was given and propounded by the great Guru in his Bani as “Begumpur Shaher Ka Naon” and ‘Aisa Chaun Raj Mein; Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann, Chot Bade Sab Sam Vashen; Ravidass Rahe Parsan.
If India that is Bharat is to realize its aspiration to become “Vikshit Bharat” in the years to come, ‘We the People of India’ must strive to understand and follow the teachings of Guru Ravidass on brotherhood, fraternity, samrasta and equitable world order as the great Guru said –
Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara,
Jo Hm Shehari Who Meet Hamara
Tasty bites of snacks with hot Kesar Milk were served courtesy; the down to earth but humble owner of Sasta Iron, Surjit Singh, an accomplished poet himself.
