Inquilabi ande! An omelette stall nudges people’s nostalgia
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, November 1
A sign reading ‘Inquilabi ande’ (revolutionary eggs) lies by the side of Mohabbat Preet Singh. Inspired from the struggles of the Ghadarites, the 19-year-old came all the way from Bathinda to put up a stall at the 29th Mela Gadri Babeyan Da — just to not let the years of struggle slip from people’s minds.
The makeshift eatery is stationed right in front of the gate of the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall dishing out appetising omelettes to a stream of hungry visitors. Thousands across state throng the fair, which stands out in its own self, however, the stall with its weighty signage and table decorated with posters of Bhagat Singh, Lenin and Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s fiery controversial poetry couplets – “Hum Dekhenge, lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge” cuts a seemly figure for the fair.
However, it didn’t go well with some locals who raised objections. Eventually, his discretion had him give in to their dissent and so, he placed the sign aside, but, “the eggs are still revolutionary,” quips Mohabbat’s friend Japnaam Singh (a local resident), who helped Mohabbat in raising the stall and triggering the idea of the posters.
“We put up the stall so that people should know about those who laid their lives for the country. They were revolutionaries who freed us from the British invaders. I agree with their struggles and believe it is necessary for us to walk in their footsteps. It is my little tribute to them. I work at a shop in my village in Bathinda. I don’t go to college,” Mohabbat shares. This is his first time to the Mela. “I do not understand much of what is being said here. But what I gleaned is that these men laid their lives for our country,” he aspires to join the Indian Army.
Japnaam said, “The sign intends to convey that ‘kirtis’ (workers) and their revolution is an inherent aspect of the work culture of Punjab. We wanted to present this through Inquilab. However, some people asked us to remove that sign. And we don’t intend to hurt feelings, so we complied.”
