In Ghadar nursery, it’s home alone for old folks

Jandiala Manjki and Bundala villages in Rurka Kalan block of Jalandhar, which played a prominent role in the Ghadar movement, are facing a peculiar situation. There aren’t many youngsters left in these villages who can get inspiration from their rich history.

Fading into oblivion

• Nearly 150 Ghadarites having roots in Jandiala Manjki and Bundala villages dedicated their lives to fight the British rule
• The recent panchayat elections clearly showed the changing demography of these villages
• With younger population moving abroad, there aren’t many people left who can get inspiration from their rich history

More than 150 Ghadarites having roots in these two villages dedicated their lives to one of the most potent protest groups against the British rule. Confirming this, Chiranjilal Kangniwal, a research scholar and joint secretary of Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee, told The Tribune that at least eight inhabitants of Jandiala Manjki had served life sentence for actively participating in the Ghadar Mutiny.

This correspondent had a chance to witness the changing demography of these two villages during the recently-concluded panchayat elections. Most of the voters who queued up outside the polling booths were elderly, though this is certainly not an isolated case. This is emblematic of the growing problem of the absence of youth from the Punjab’s hinterland.

The lure of foreign shores is increasingly turning state’s villages into a home for the elderly and migrant labourers. No wonder there was no need for a separate queue for senior citizens at a polling booth at Jandiala Manjki. On interacting with some middle-aged men in the village, a little information could be gathered on the Ghadar movement.

Ramzan Ali, a 30-year-old shopkeeper, said, “Thoda bahut pata hai (I know a little bit), rest you can ask from the elderly people here.” The streets in both the villages showed a negligible presence of youngsters throughout the day. At Bundala, Manpreet Singh (21) said, “I am not interested in these elections. I am trying to move to Italy.” He could not speak a word on the Ghadar movement.

Gurkeerat Singh, a 22-year-old Bundala resident, said, “I have cast my vote, but I am not staying here for long. I have no job. I am leaving for Canada soon.”

Both the villages are known as “NRIs de pind”. Old houses with overgrown weed in the frontyard and damaged and locked doors clearly explained why these villages earned this sobriquet.

Makhan Singh, a former sarpanch of Jandiala Manjki, said almost every other house in the village had a family member settled abroad. “Despite its glorious past, there is no one left in the village to hear the stories of bravery its inhabitants shown during the freedom struggle,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kamaljit Singh, a farmer, was elected sarpanch of Jandiala Manjki and Kuldeep Singh, also a farmer, became the head of Bundala panchayat. In both villages, the Communist Party and the Congress had an alliance. Also, the stalwart of the Communist Party, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, was from Bundala village.