Punjabi writers face ire of hardliners on social media

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31

“If you see him roaming on the road, treat him with shoes.” This is one of the many threats Sahitya Akademi award winner Moga-based writer Baldev Singh Sadaknama got from Sikh radicals. The trigger was his recent novel Suraj Di Aakh, which portrays the life of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. When famous poet Surjit Patar appealed for a dialogue, he was their next target.

Over the past two weeks, several prominent Punjabi writers faced threats on social media from Sikh radical organisations.

The controversy started around three weeks ago, when Ropar-based poet Surjit Gag was arrested on July 9, under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts of outraging religious feelings) of the IPC.

Following this, the Dal Khalsa opened a front against Sadaknama, who has written more than 60 books. In a representation to the Bathinda SSP, apart from demanding a ban on the book, they have sought Sadaknama’s arrest because his novel portrayed Maharaja Ranjit Singh in “poor light”. “The novel is a work of my imagination. I welcome criticism even if it is harsh. But I can’t respond to the abuses being hurled on me,” he said.

Similarly, when Surjit Patar said that a discussion could be held on the book, Parminder Singh Khalsa, president, International Sikh Sewak Society, Punjab, in a press conference, said Patar had appreciated Sadaknama, so the SGPC should immediately dismiss him from Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University. Patar said he had already quit the university long ago.

The radicals didn’t stop here and alleged that novelist Dalip Kaur Tiwana was also in league with them and declared that organisations like Punjabi Sahit Akademi were “anti-Sikh”. Sometime back, when revolutionary poet Sant Ram Udasi’s daughter Iqbal Kaur Udasi, who too is a poet, issued a statement in support of Gag, she was also targeted by the radicals and abusive language was used against her on social media.

The Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha has condemned the threats to Baldev Singh and said it was an attempt to suppress the voice of the writers. “There is no space for creativity and free thought in any rightist ideology. They want to scare the writers like Sadaknama. The sabha will not let it happen,” it said.