Dear Friends,

three days back, a message by Prathmesh Patil from Pune-based Indie Journal popped-up in my inbox seeking my mobile phone number. I shared it thinking they want a comment on the ongoing protests by farmers in Panjab against the draconian Farm Laws.

Pradeep Biradar spoke to me on the issue and the context. The Marathi story came out a few days back but I am now glad the magazine has decided to put out parts of the interview as well. Especially, on the state’s way of using the term ‘Khalistan’ for everything it does not want to address – an avoidance tactic.

Thank you! Please read here…

Tags: Indie Journal. Prathmesh Patil, Khalistan, Pradeep Biradar

Dear Friends,

last night I stayed up late following Bihar election results. At around 2.30 pm, finally tired, I wanted to go to sleep. Yet, I could not. So, I wrote a post on what I understood about the results.

Punjab Today has been kind to make an article out of the post. Thank you.

Please read here…

Tags: Bihar Elections

Dear Friends,

a few days back, on a talk, a senior journalist remarked that the news from Panjab, about the anti-Farm Laws protests, is hardly being carried on national media. This is shocking but a familiar apathy, especially in these times where most media has become part of a propaganda machinery. Then there is another familiar twist to stories of dissent and protest that rise from Panjab – that the agitations are anti-national, pro-Khalistan.

That is why I am glad that today a Marathi media Indie Journal chose to talk to me and others – we all debunked Centre’s ploy. Here is the story about these protests and the Centre’s arrogance and how the Centre is punishing Panjab.

Please read the article here…

Tags: India Journal, Khalistan, Marathi, Panjab Farmer Protest

Dear Friends,

early November, Chandigarh based Nosheen Kapoor invited poet and academic Parvinder Kaur Mehta and me for a session on Mehta’s poems and life.

Please see the session here…

Tags: Nosheen Kapoor, Parvinder Mehta, Rhythms of Rhyme

Dear Friends,

early November, Majha House conducted a session in which Hartosh Singh Bal spoke on Panjab in a Hindu India. I moderated the session.

Please see the session here…

Tags: Hartosh Bal, Hindu India, Majha House, Panjab History, Preeti Gill

Dear Friends,

Hindustan Times Books Editor Manjula Narayan interviewed me recently on PANJAB: Journeys Through Fault Lines.

The interview is in two parts (no 52 and 53) on the page linked here. In fact, there is a wealth of interviews as podcasts on this page.

Do check them out here…

Tags: Hindustan Times Podcast, Manjula Narayan

Dear Friends,

I am in full solidarity with Panjab’s anti-Farm Laws protests by farmers, labour, arthiyas, young and old, children, women and men. However, we must also notice that arrogant BJP has remained adamant in its position and is increasingly pushing Panjab towards an immense crises.

Not only the farmer unions, the politicians, even the CM are right now banging their heads against a wall. Meanwhile, essential urea and DAP for farming potatoes and wheat is not reaching Panjab. There is an acute coal crises for power generation. There is huge backlog piling up with industry, could amount to Re 15 lakh crore loss as per ASSOCHAM.

In this scenario, and even in 2018 when the NITI Ayog head told Panjab to no longer be the granary of the nation, what should Panjab do?

From my understanding, I propose a few steps to move towards natural cooperative farming which will actually be a huge social and economic revolution in Panjab. Discussion invited.

I hope sense prevails. That does not mean we end protests. Instead, it means we buy time from the Centre to transition Panjab’s agrarian culture. Thank you Punjab Today for carrying this slightly long piece.

Please read here…

Tags: Agrarian Solutions, Farm Laws, MSP, Panjab Farmer Protests

Dear Friends,

a few days back Prerna Shah from The Good Story Project got in touch and we did this interview around mental health, writing and Sepia Leaves.

Please read here…

Tags: Prerna Shah, The Good Story Project

Dear Friends,

late in October, Preeti Gill invited me to participate on a session on Mental Health and Illness titled Let the Light In.  Nirupama Dutt, Gayatri Gill and me discuss mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic with Ravi Singh, Speaking Tiger Books.

Please listen here …

Tags: Gayatri Gill, Majha House, Nirupama Dutta, Preeti Gill, Ravi Singh