Battle for political liberation

Archit Watts in Muktsar

It’s that time of the year again in Muktsar, where the story of liberation of human soul is more than 300 years old. Those looking for miracles at Maghi Mela find nothing new here except sheer joy of life, and those expecting political fortunes turn the town into rival camps haranguing for space in the battle for correctness in the political quicksand. Which way you go the Mela would let you decide, but in the run-up to January 14, the big day, the town, it’d seem, is talking to itself as tents are pitched and people, parties and government machinery vie to find a new meaning in the spectacle that it will be.

With Punjab polls more than a year away, the flavour of the Mela this year seems pre-decided. The Sikh high priests’ appeal asking politicians to avoid politicizing religious functions seems lost to one-upmanship. Listen in:

• AAP’s national convener-cum-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is coming to address a rally in an 11-acre area. AAP leaders expect 5 lakh people to attend.
• The Congress is also putting up a ‘pandal’ in the same area, where Capt Amarinder Singh will roar after becoming the state party chief. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, party’s Muktsar district president, said: “We’ll take up lawlessness, corruption, drugs, sand and mining mafia and the transport cabal in our rally.”
• The ruling SAD will put up a ‘pandal’ in a 22-acre area, extending it from the 4-acre ground of the SGPC. Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal has already visited the site and is scheduled to address party workers. Duties have already been assigned to SAD leaders, particularly about the number of buses to ferry the crowds. The SAD theme: development agenda, making the state “power surplus” and a host of populist schemes.

Past versus present

As per tradition, people visited the historic gurdwara for a holy bath on the day of Maghi and spend about a week here. Today, people return just after attending political conferences. Most politicians don’t pay obeisance at gurdwara and come looking for votes. “It is just a political affair. You will not hear anybody talking about historic or religious importance of it. People generally discuss the arrangements and the expected crowd count,” says Sham Lal, a social activist.

This year the administration has charged Rs 29 lakh from a private company allowing it to install swings, stalls and circus shows. The show will begin around January 12 and end around the month-end. Roadside stalls haven’t yet come up, as the road leading to the main gurdwara is under construction. 

The Congress government in 2005 had built Mukte Minar (Martyrs’ Memorial) along the District Administrative Complex, having 81-ft tall ‘khanda’ (double-edged sword), which is getting rusted. The then SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur and the then SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal  had laid the foundation stone of a martyrs’ memorial on Tibbi Sahib Road. But not even a single brick has been laid. The foundation stone itself lies dismantled. Memorial gates built on all entrances of the town need repairs and so does the Mai Bhago Heritage Park near the Red Cross complex.

Town needs care

Gurmeet Singh, an author on Sikh subjects, says Muktsar was famous as ‘Issar Sar’. “A detailed study should be done to find out the real importance of this place.” Despite having religious, political importance of giving two Chief Ministers – Harcharan Singh Brar of the Congress and incumbent Parkash Singh Badal—Muktsar presents a picture of neglect. A lot of work is yet to be done to give it a look of an urban town. Residents often complain of drinking water shortage and the lack of sewerage.

In tribute to Muktas

The event commemorates the 40 ‘Muktas’ (liberated ones) who are supposed to have laid down their lives while fighting the last battle of Sikhs against the Mughals in 1705 at ‘Khidrane di dhab’, now known as Muktsar/Sri Muktsar Sahib. As per the Sikh history, these 40 Sikhs of Majha region were those who had insisted that Guru Gobind Singh ji should leave the besieged Anandpur Sahib fort. Guruji had than asked these followers to leave him if they so desired, but they should give him in writing that he was not their guru and they are not his Sikhs. When these Sikhs returned to their homes in Majha region, they were not welcomed by their family members as they had left the Guru in trouble. They were overcome by shame.

On learning that Guruji was in the region of present Sri Muktsar Sahib, these 40 Sikhs led by Bhai Mahan Singh and accompanied by Mai Bhago, an illustrious woman in Sikh history, left their homes to help him. The Mughal army was searching for Guruji. A pitched battle was fought near a pond called Khidrane di dhab. These 40 Sikhs fought valiantly for Guruji and attained martyrdom. The outcome was in favour of Sikhs. Mughal forces failed to capture or harm Guruji and fled. After the battle was over, Guruji visited the battlefield. One of the 40 Sikhs, Sardar Mahan Singh, was about to die, Guruji took his head in his arms and asked him what he wanted. Sardar Mahan Singh requested Guruji to tear up the paper (Bedawa) they had given him at Anandpur Sahib, mentioning, “You are not our guru and we are not your followers”. Guruji then tore up the ‘bedawa’. These 40 Sikhs were henceforth called 40 Muktas. The city that grew at the site of the battle was called Muktsar/Sri Muktsar Sahib.