Harjinder Kaur, and why everything is never lost

One by one, she lost her three brothers, and father, to various reasons. The family had only around five acres of land, and had sold even farming implements to raise some cash. Illness, deaths in family, and penury, these are conditions that lead many farmers to end their lives. Not Harjinder Kaur, 25, of Jagat Singhwala in Muktsar.

She had all the challenges that a woman faces in our society, but maybe she also had the advantage of not being a man who succumbs to false dreams and a false pride. She started small, and stuck to discipline.

Kuljit Bains

One by one, she lost her three brothers, and father, to various reasons. The family had only around five acres of land, and had sold even farming implements to raise some cash. Illness, deaths in family, and penury, these are conditions that lead many farmers to end their lives. Not Harjinder Kaur, 25, of Jagat Singhwala in Muktsar (reported in The Tribune, July 8). She took on all agricultural operations, and has today steered the family out of immediate crisis. There would be many such stories in this land with a history of constant struggle, but Harjinder could well be an icon of hope.

This is particularly true when directionless youth need a reason to come out of their drug-induced haze. If you motivate a young man to quit drugs, and he asks in return why, you may well be stumped for an answer. Punjabis have long prided themselves in taking on challenges, venturing out historically to unknown lands, whether Australia, Kenya, or just wherever their truck took them. They have fought oppressors and raiding armies. That spirit today seems to have gone missing. One reason perhaps is there is nothing for them to fight against, no challenge to take on. That is truly a despondent situation.

And that is exactly why Harjinder is a hero. She has shown just how to find a reason to struggle when there seems to be no option. She fought with what little she had. She had all the challenges that a woman faces in our society, but maybe she also had the advantage of not being a man who succumbs to false dreams and a false pride. She started small, and stuck to discipline. It is not the circumstances that matter, but what we make of them.

Our rural society needs to particularly break out of mindsets that keep youth tied only to a few trades and vocation options such as farming, driving, or the uniformed services. Those jobs are just not there in sufficient numbers. Many struggle to go abroad; and once there, are able to break away from tradition to take on any new employment. That needs to happen at home; a few need to be encouraged to break out of the mould to set an example. Again, Harjinder did something a woman is not expected to do.

Economic and government-created opportunities are equally lacking in urban areas, but, relatively, youth in cities, especially those from trading or artisan family background, are more able to start out with small self-employment. These are opportunities everyone needs to consider, seek help with. The caste system too is at work. As the agro-economy of Punjab disintegrated, there was a need for the populace to be fluid and flexible in moving across vocations and earning opportunities; caste conditioning comes in the way. And seeking reservations on newer and newer bases is like chasing a mirage, as there are no new government jobs coming up.

Following increased media attention on drugs and drug deaths in recent weeks, there has been a sudden upsurge at societal level too. Earlier the voice from the community was limited to condemning the government. This time there is a voice for action at the community level too. Politicians have come forward with plans for their constituencies, village panchayats have spoken up, youth organisations have become active. Even as it is only a small beginning, the social movement has to be taken a step further towards providing youth with options for doing something productive once they come out of their darkness.

In the immediate context, the government can do little by way of job opportunities, but it can contribute by running hectic awareness programmes in schools and colleges. If the youth are keen to emigrate, there is no harm as they send back remunerations too. The government may set up guidance programmes of its own so that people may not be cheated by agents.

Let the government advertising money be spent on an awareness campaign against drugs, on health, on education and vocational opportunities. Let all political parties become competitive in doing what they can for the youth closer to their homes. Let this be the poll plank for 2019.