‘Need to keep tabs on Punjabi songs promoting violence’ : The Tribune India

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‘Need to keep tabs on Punjabi songs promoting violence’

JALANDHAR: With the initiative of the Jalandhar rural police to urge singers not to sing songs that glorify gun culture in the state, The Tribune spoke to people from different sections of society on what action should be taken to curb the violence resulting from this gun and “goli” culture, glorified gangster lifestyles and drug scenario.

‘Need to keep tabs on Punjabi songs promoting violence’

Mandeep Singh



Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 18

With the initiative of the Jalandhar rural police to urge singers not to sing songs that glorify gun culture in the state, The Tribune spoke to people from different sections of society on what action should be taken to curb the violence resulting from this gun and “goli” culture, glorified gangster lifestyles and drug scenario.

Many in Punjabi music industry are deliberating why they are promoting such singing trends that either show woman as a commodity or “bandookbazi” (gun culture), causing trouble in society.

Mandeep Singh, who works in a Punjabi channel, while narrating his experience, said, “Recently my family was invited to a marriage function, but we rather preferred to stay at a house and sent only one member to the function and that too for a short while. The reason was that the family conducting the marriage ceremony had pistols and they were sure that firing would happen. Therefore, his family preferred to stay at home to avoid any mishap. He said, “Other than instigating songs, when in almost every Punjabi Jatt family, the firing element is always added, why any strict action is not taken by the authorities? Moreover, early warning should be given at all marriage halls that if any kind of such trouble occurs, action would be taken against the palace owner and the bride and groom along with their families. Nowadays, through these songs, people are contemplating that only guns, drugs, fights and weapons are the symbols of pride.

Mukesh, a journalism student, said, “Songs like “Chak lo revolver riffelan te aaj kabjan lena wa” (take your revolvers and rifles to get hold of your lands) and ‘Bhave rakh lyi gulab bhave moor di phir ta hawai fir honge’ are very much enjoyed and played at almost every marriage and party gatherings to certainly spur people to fire, which is completely fallacious and illogical.” The licensed gun and rifles that people keep should only be used for safety purposes rather than boasting these at public gatherings. People should remember the recent death of a young girl who was killed after a bullet hit her forehead at her neighbour’s marriage.

“Nowadays in Punjab, it has become fashinable that one should at least release songs featuring gangster rap songs, drinking of alcohol, flaunting weapons and doping to achieve name and fame. And shockingly, youths today admire these songs to impress their friends, which is completely ill-logical,” said Charan Kamal Walia, an assistant professor at GND University campus, Jalandhar. She added that depression level in students these days had increased due to several pressures, therefore censorship mechanism should be adopted by Punjabi songs and film industry to keep a check on unnecessary projection of unhealthy ingredients. Similar is the case in villages. Mentally nowadays, people believe in showing off their power and think that unless they fire in marriages and functions, people would not be able to know that they have pistols. Therefore, the government and legal authorities should not only keep a check on such activities but also see what the singers are feeding to society.

District Commissioner, Varinder Kumar Sharma, taking about the reference of unfortunate deaths that occurred in the beginning of 2016, when five persons were killed at a marriage function, said, “Punjab has always been a region of pride and honour, but that does not mean taking undue advantage of laws. Songs promoting violence, weapons and drugs should strictly be prohibited in society and it’s the responsibility of people to avoid listening to such songs. The administration has strongly urged singers not to promote such songs and albums and it would definitely take action against those not abiding by the rules.” Moreover, artists are also requested to work for the betterment of society and people should not indulge in these firing activities that cause unfortunate incidents. They should rather enjoy traditional dance and functions.

City-based psychologist and a behavioural therapist, Smita Vasudev, expressed her concern over the matter and said, “Singers promoting provocative songs should understand the issue and must know what damage they are causing to impressionable minds. At young age, youths are more inclined towards social media and the Internet. Therefore, those glamourising violence should know that it gets stored in young unconscious minds and shapes their minds accordingly. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the authorities to take action against such songs.”

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