Kids Corner

Columnists

Mixed Blessings

JODHA SINGH [Translated from Punjabi by GURMEET KAUR]

 

 

 

First a Civil Engineering degree and then the ETT (Elementary School Teacher’s Training) and then police batons on my back for participating in demonstrations against unemployment.

And yet, when nothing happened, I joined my father, a farmer, to help him at his fields in Punjab.

We used to grow tomatoes.

It took three long months of tender care, sweat and wait before the fruit even showed.

But when it showed, together, the laborers and us would rejoice with pride and hope; of course, our crop was the best amongst all.

Harnaam Kaur (Naamo) used to always say, “Veeraa (brother), may God give you plenty.”

Naamo and her companions would harvest and load 20-25 crates, each weighing 40-42 kilos. Then, they would carry them to the trolley parked 2 acres away.

They would get paid anywhere from 100 to 120 rupees (roughly $2.00) each but only after they had given their all and when we would have the funds.

Those poor women; their sweat was the thing that made the crops outstanding. But when the fruit reached the marketplace, the Jammu traders paid 20 rupees for a crate of 40 kilo fruit. That didn’t even cover the money we owed them.

We would leave at 4 am each harvest day and return back late evening, waiting our turn all day long, to have once chance at being sold that low.

Sometimes we didn’t even get that far. Then, we would plead our case at Mr. Nijjer’s factory (the tomato sauce company). Sometimes, for many days the trolley would stay at the factory’s doorstep while we waited our turn and the fruit rotted.

Praise to Mr. Nijjer, that he accepted the lot; even though he deducted a big percentage for the rot, and paid the dues after one year in instalments of 5000 rupees each, at a price that made Jammu traders look like gods.

This year too, Bhau, the older brother, had planted the fruit in four acres.

Don’t know what could be worse than what I already saw, when I used to live in Punjab, that he called and said he destroyed the ripe crops.

One month has barely passed and tomatoes, I hear, in India are being sold at Rupees 80-85 per kilo.

I called Naamo today and asked, “Chaachi (aunt), tell me the truth! Those blessings you used to give, were they for me or Modi?”

“Who’s that?” she asks.

Perhaps the one who breaks her body for bread does not know that Modi is the one that will bring her the “good days”.


[The author is a new struggling immigrant from Punjab. He shares his life stories and inspires others to speak up.]

August 2, 2014
 

Conversation about this article

1: Kulvinder Jit Kaur (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada), August 02, 2014, 12:35 PM.

Ironic that this is the plight of farmers in Punjab, the so-called bread basket of the country. It is criminal to let the food rot and consequently the farmer starves and the consumer pays a high price. What can you expect from such a mismanaged country?

2: Harjinder Singh (Kalala, Punjab), August 05, 2014, 12:12 AM.

It is true, teachers still get caned. It happened yesterday. Pick up any newspaper in Punjab for details: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140805/punjab.htm#13. Yes, tomatoes sell Rs 80 per kg but it is the middleman and trader who is making the bulk of the money.

3: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), August 10, 2014, 5:51 PM.

This is so disturbing! If it wasn't for Guru ka Langar, Punjab would have so many more tragedies. We need to help each other in Punjab and work to get back Ranjit Singh's Sovereign State!

Comment on "Mixed Blessings"









To help us distinguish between comments submitted by individuals and those automatically entered by software robots, please complete the following.

Please note: your email address will not be shown on the site, this is for contact and follow-up purposes only. All information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sikhchic reserves the right to edit or remove content at any time.