65th birthday celebration of Indian Pablo Neruda-Avtar Singh 'Pash' celebrated in Brampton

People’s Voice Forum –Brampton celebrated 65^th birthday of highly revered poet of Punjab, Avtar Singh Pash who was gunned down by Khalistani extremist on March 23^rd, 1988. He was only 37 when he took his last breath but his glory continue to grow leap and bound each passing years. Most of his poetry work has been translated in all major languages of India including English. At least three person presided over the informal meeting in the memory of Pash who has been directly associated with the legend poet.

Kulwinder Khehra; representing ‘Kalamo Da Kafila’ shared his memories with Pash and gave details inch by inch of the time spent with the poet. He recited his poem which he wrote after hearing the news of brutal murder of Pash. He connected March 23^rd, the day of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom to the mindless murder Pash, narrating details that nothing has changed since 1931. Mr Khehra underlined the relevance of thoughts propagated by Pash that they will continue to gain attraction as long as the economic divide remains in the society.

Long associate of Pash, Comrade Lal Singh Bains shared his political experiences with the poet and said, we hardly see such level of political commitment as the Pash used to have, he had immaculate understanding to Marxism and his analysis of local and international political situation was tremendous. That was the real key to understand his poetry. He fought fearlessly for the landless peasants and workers and faced indiscriminate torture of the state head on.

Navkiran Sidhu from North American Rationalist Society also shared his meeting with Pash at Deshbhakt Yadgaar Hal, Jalandhar in a function and met him. He was astonished to see his simplicity and said, ‘Are you Pash? And Pash replied in his own funny way, ‘Why, Pash would have a tail on his back’? Navkiran Sidhu said, that he consider Pash sitting next to Bhagat Singh when the question arise about study, commitment and dedication for Indian socialist revolution.

Poet, Onkar Singh Preet, defined Pash’s poem on dreams and explained why dreams are important for any living society. A dreamless society or dreamless youths are nothing but dead.

Harparminder Gadri, shared his college hostel time memories when Pash along with his friend would arrive his room in the middle of night and start reciting poems, using kitchen utensils as his musical instruments. He said, Pash name and his work will always be a source of inspiration for working class and their struggle against capitalism and fight against imperialism.Gadri also said that revolutionary forces will not spare the criminals to bring to the peoples court justice who killed Pash. 

Surprisingly, People’s Voice Forum found out that it was first birthday celebration ever conducted in GTA in the memory of Pash and later resolved to carry on this event every year on September 12. Shamshad Elahee Shams conducted the event while CPC Brampton North candidate Harinder Pal Hundal, Prof Chanan Cheema, Sukhchain Dhillon, Mr Pushpender Singh Mundi, Sumeet Bains were amongst those who were present in the event. Famous singer; Baljit  Bains, sang Pash poem to enlighten the audience. Later, all participants enjoyed food and beverages which they brought along at the house of Harparminder Singh Gadri in Brampton.

‘Not Every Time’ showcased by People’s Voice Forum-Brampton

Just three days before when India was to stomp a pompous show to celebrate 50 years of Independence, 16 year old Kiranjeet Kaur was abducted, raped and buried in a field while returning from school on fateful August 12, 1997. She was a daughter of a Communist activist of a small village of District Barnala, called MahalKalan in Punjab, India. Euphoria for Independence turned into mayhem to strike with the hard realities of the ground where goons rule the roost. Apathy, in-cooperation of Police and local administration came forward to show its real face, disgruntled people, parents and fellow Comrades decided to form an Action Committee to fight insensitive administration and demand justice. More they get organized more nexus of political class, police, administration and goons united to suppress the agitated masses at the grass root level. More they tried to dissuade people to get justice, more peoples movement widen. A continuous mass struggle spread from village to District administration office to the State Capital Chandigarh where people reached to hold a rally and demand justice for Kiranjeet Kaur which has become a symbol of social equity, human rights, women power and democracy in general.

Meanwhile, the main accused of the case was murdered in the Court premises while appearing for court hearing turned the whole issue into opposite direction. Police, registered the murder and conspiracy case against three members of the Action Committee itself which was fighting for the justice for Kiranjeet Kaur. People knew these Police tactics to implicate leaders from the British era, so the whole movement now added with other features like fighting against corrupt practice of Police and Indian judicial system. People continue to throng district Administration offices in thousands and shouted ‘ Down with Indian Judicial System’. Courts were unexpectedly fast while awarding life terms to all three members of Action Committee but people’s fight remained unabated. Mahal Kalan movement became vortex to mobilize large section of women folks to demand social justice in a wider spectrum of Indian society which nurture patriarchal values in general and space is dominated by men in every sphere of life. Recently, people gathered to mark 18^th anniversary of this ongoing struggle on August 12, 2015 is the real story of “Not Every Time..” the documentary made by Daljit Ami, noted journalist, blogger, and activist of Punjabi media from India. He invested his years of labour to produce this documentary.

People’s Voce Forum, Brampton organized this event on August 30 at Loafer’s Lake recreation center where about 100 Bramptonian watched the documentary in pin drop silence atmosphere. Comrade Farah Malik, from Lahore, Pakistani Canadian was to introduce the work and contribution of Daljit Ami as a journalist and activist. Comrade Wilfred Szczesny who conducted the proceedings of the program and question answer session. Comrade Harinder Hundel, CPC candidate from Brampton North riding summed up the event while putting up the Canadian perspective, underling the need why we need a socialist Canada as an alternative to Harper-Tory’s conservative regime.