‘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.