Jalandhar village stands united amid political divide

Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Dhandowal (Shahkot), May 20

At the time of elections when hostilities between parties are an all-time high, Dhandowal, a progressive village in Jalandhar, is setting an example of inter-party bonhomie, where brotherhood is valued over politics.

Villagers Ravinder Singh Badesa, Lakhwinder Singh Chattha, Dev, Pyara Singh Chattha, Ravi Singh and Lehembar Comrade all sit together under a tree after casting their votes. Among them are people who owe allegiance to different parties, be it Congress, Akali Dal or Communists.

The story goes that the Congress sarpanch of the village was chosen on the recommendation of the Akali sarpanch’s brother. Since he lost three times previously, it was decided that he would be allowed to be sarpanch this time.

Even at the polling station, a policeman on duty vouches for the former sarpanch. “Etthe koi jhagda nahi hunda. School vi ral ke baneya, sarpanch sahib (referring to the former sarpanch) ne bari madad kiti.” (There is no quarrel here. The village school was also made together. The former sarpanch helped us a lot.)

Ravinder Singh, a villager, says, “Votes will be polled just for a day, but we have to live together forever. We are united.”

Another villager, Lakhwinder Singh Chattha, says, “If someone among us shifts his loyalty, the other party people keep quiet and vice versa.”

Former sarpanch Baldev Singh Dhandowal says, “My brother lives abroad. Surinderjit called him saying he wanted to be the sarpanch. So my brother asked me to bow out. We thought he should also get a chance.”

“Most of my family members live abroad. The Akali government spent on the stadium. The Congress gave grants to expand it. The village school was made by funds gathered by me with help of the Akalis. Be it the SAD or the Congress, no one caused any hindrance to our work. So there is no contention in the village. A state-of-the-art college was also made here where students come from far-off places,” he adds.