Punjab Movement ‘Vehan’ Raises People’s Voice over Water Crisis
Bhagwant Singh Mataur and Amitoj Maan (Image credit Bhawna Malik)
Film Director Amitoj Maan Leads People’s Movement in Punjab
‘Vehan’ movement aims to unite people of Punjab on issues of water scarcity. It seeks out the collective conscience and voice of people to usher in new Punjab.
Punjab Speaks – “Awaaze Khalaq Nagaare Khuda ” (The voice of people is the drumbeat of God).
Film Director Amitoj Maan, social activist Lakha Sidhana, Gaurav Rana and Anandpur-based senior Journalist Bhagwant Singh Mataur begin Vehan (flow), a movement of reflection, revival and restoration to awaken masses about impending dangers of looming water crisis in Punjab, in quality and quantity.
Bhagwant Singh Mataur speaks to Bhawna Malik for The Raisina Hills about the launch of this movement and the outcomes expected.
Qn. What does ‘Vehan’ symbolize and why has this been movement launched?
Mataur: ‘Vehan’, a Punjabi word, stands for flow. This movement is purely to create awareness in masses about the water crisis. Punjab is staring at a major water crisis. Water symbolizes flow and purity.
Qn. Could you elaborate on the water crisis and its scope?
Mataur: This movement has twin focus areas. One, the pure water being polluted by the sewerage, industrial waste, and negligence of the people. Second, the concern is about the water being reduced – going down from the ground level. This would lead to huge water scarcity in the coming years.
Water as a resource must be used intelligently. Punjab has water sharing pacts with other states. But if Punjab has no water, what and how will it share with other states?
Qn. Earlier the movement of ‘Jhujhda Punjab’ was initiated by Amitoj Maan which had writer and singer Babbu Maan, Gul Panag and other known faces, but it fizzled out after a few months. Now this has been started.
Qn. Would something concrete be done or it will also fade away with time?
Mataur: The people have short memory, and ‘Jhujhda Punjab’ had 31 issues to tackle. It confused the people, as pick and choose doesn’t work in such movements.
‘Vehan’ focuses mainly on water issue and, yes, it will have other issues also as the movement progresses.
Qn. The movement began at Sri Anandpur Sahib, whereas the polluted water areas are at Ludhiana, an industrial area, or Budha Naala. Any specific reason?
Mataur: Punjab is a land of five rivers – pure and pristine. Our 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, formed ‘Khalsa Panth’ at Sri Anandpur Sahib which was an unmatched turning point in the Sikh history and also for the mankind.
Khalsa stands for pure, and all the caste, creed and gender distinctions and barriers were abolished. The Amrit was prepared from the waters of the river Satluj, then how come we have forgotten the value of the resources.
Qn. How can you connect the creation of the Khalsa Panth and the Water crisis?
Mataur: Sikh Gurus redefined brotherhood, bonhomie and oneness. Oneness with mankind, other living beings and nature. Japuji Sahib the nitnem Bani says — ‘Pawan Guru Paani Pita; Mata Dharat Mahat’ (Air is the Guru, Water is the father, Earth as mother).
If every human being lives by this principle, in harmony and complete sync with nature, how will anyone harm nature or exploit the resources.
This is not a religious movement, but Sikh Gurus wanted to raise responsible citizens not a bunch of exploiters.
Qn. How do you plan to create awareness?
Mataur: We have been and will be visiting every village of Punjab and make people aware and more responsible towards this issue as water is a necessity for everyone. It’s a people’s movement with no political motive, nor any plan to get the media glare. Amitoj Maan, Lakha Sidhana and I have visited Roopnagar, Ropar, village Dayapur Majari, Nangal, and Village Banaam.
The other important aspect of this movement is to unite people with each other and not fight lonely battles. Political parties need votes and have nothing to do with the real issues. Hence people must come together share and discuss concerns and unitedly find solutions.
Qn. Unity of people only for water crisis. How do you explain it?
Mataur: No, the Sikh community or the people of Punjab have been known for helping others in times of distress but the kind of mining mafia that has been spreading tentacles in Punjab and the issue of migrants settling in Punjab, having their shops set up and becoming vote banks, must be stopped and the only way out is by being united on all the issues.
Qn. What are the future plans for the movement?
Mataur: On 13th April, the day of Baisakhi, we will launch this movement publicly and on a large scale with a detailed blueprint about all the issues that would be addressed.
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