Book ‘Punjab Atay Parvas’ released, explores complexities of migration

A book titled ‘Punjab Atay Parvas’, examining the historical and contemporary aspects of migration from Punjab, was released today by NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal.

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The book, compiled by former Jalandhar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Toor, former PAU and UNBC professor Amarjeet Singh Bhullar and Principal of Shri Guru Angad Dev College, Khadoor Sahib, Balwant Singh Sandhu, was unveiled during the inauguration of a two-day seminar on ‘Punjab’s Global Migration’ at the NRI Sabha office here.

The book presents an in-depth analysis of Punjab’s migration patterns, examining the socio-economic, political and cultural factors driving the phenomenon. Divided into five sections, it explores the key motivations behind migration, its consequences and measures to address its challenges.

The first section delves into the fundamental causes of migration, including economic struggles, agrarian distress, unemployment and the declining education sector. The second section examines the impact of migration and discusses the growing risks of illegal migration, including ‘dunki routes’ and fraudulent contract marriages.

The third section focuses on the experiences of Punjabis in foreign lands, detailing the emotional and social toll of migration on families and the conditions faced by migrants. The fourth section addresses efforts to regulate migration. The final section assesses the transformation of Punjab’s villages over the years and evaluation of the impact of migration on rural communities.

Talking to the correspondent, Toor emphasised the urgency of understanding Punjab’s migration crisis, particularly in light of recent deportations of youth from the USA. He noted that while he and his co-authors compiled the book, several chapters were contributed by high-ranking state government officials, renowned academicians, social activists and media professionals.

“To understand this growing migration trend, we extensively studied reports, visited villages and spoke with families whose children had settled abroad. Migration is not just about seeking better opportunities; it is deeply connected to unemployment, corruption, drug abuse and a sense of insecurity in Punjab,” Toor said.