Punjabi antenna
Slices of Sikh history
Randeep Wadehra

West Punjab may be a Muslim majority area now, but there was a time when Sikhs ruled the roost over there. In fact, Sikhism’s evolution and its major religious places like Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib, Tanboo Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib, Bal Leela Sahib and many other Gurdhams (abodes of the Guru) are now in Pakistan’s Punjab. In its mini-series—titled Panth To Vichchre Gurdham – on the Sikh heritage there, Zee Punjabi enabled us to get familiar with certain significant slices of history.

Bhalinder has certainly come of age as an anchor. His interviews with people as well as certain Sikh leaders living in West Punjab were informative. His mien is relaxed and the narrative style succinct but comprehensive. Even otherwise the camera team did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of life across the border. Give us more of such stuff – there’s no dearth of topics ranging from Harappa to Katasraj to the now extinct Buddhist influence and, of course, the arrival of Islam.

If it was Parmeeta Katkar warming Punjabi hearts in Jalandhar a couple of weeks earlier, this time Deepal Shaw sizzled for Nach de Punjabi, telecast live from Chandigarh. Watching her dance, it was not difficult to fathom why she is called Dancing Doll. With Satinder Satti churning out couplets like hot samosas, and Sukhshinder Shinda, Jassi Sidhu, Pammi Bai and Deepak Dhillon dishing out their popular numbers, the audience had a sumptuous feast of Punjabi pop. The icing on the cake was Jazzy B, whose website was launched onstage. He provided the grand finale with an impromptu and improvised hip-hop item. The show was part of the ongoing Pravaasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations. One doesn’t know how many Punjabi NRIs were present, but never mind, we desis enjoyed it to the hilt.

Talking of NRIs, Punjabis in the UK took time off from singing, dancing and career-building to give a thought to ecology-related problems. One was surprised at the depth of their concern for environmental degradation. While talking to Pardesan Wich Punjabi, one of them observed rather gravely, “If India and China follow the West, especially the American model of growth, the earth’s resources would be gobbled up seven times over. Hope they adopt a more eco-friendly version.” Well said, bhaaji!