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Reflections of Indra in Modern Punjabis

Ever wonder why Inder  is the most common name in Punjab? It is represented mostly as a suffux, for example - Amarinder, Rajinder. Narinder, Dharminder, Gurinder, or simply as Inder. Lets take a few moments to understand the term, its meaning, historical perspective, and how it became the most common name among the Punjabis. So, who was Indra who left such an impression on the Punjabis that we continue to name our next generations after him ... afte 4,000 yars? Indra, the Conqurerer Mythological Indra Indra (Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is an ancient Vedic deity in Hinduism. He is the king of Devas (gods) and associated with lightning, thunder, and war. Indra's iconography shows him wielding a lightning thunderbolt weapon known as Vajra , riding on a white elephant known as Airavata .Indra's mythology is similar to Indo-European deities such as Jupiter , Zeus , and Thor , suggesting a common origin in Proto-Indo-European mythology.  Mythological Indra on Airavat Vedic Indra Indra is the m

Zamindar or Zimmidar

  A North Indian Farmer Zamindar , in India, a holder or occupier (dār) of land (zamīn). The root words are Persian, and the resulting name was widely used in India as Persian influence spread by the Afghan and the Mughals or dynasties ruling India.  In rural folk of Punjab and Haryana, the term Jimidar or Zimidar is used to define the peasant farmer who owns the agriculral land. The two terms Zamindar  and Zimidar  are used as synonym by the rural population of punjab an Haryana. However these two terms define two different concepts, both associated with centuries of economic expoitation of the peasants. Mughal Zamindari System When Mughal invader Babur conquered India, there were many autonomous and semiautonomous rulers who were known locally as Rai, Raja, Rana, Rao, Rawat, etc. In Persian chronicles they were referred as Marzabans . They were vassals who ruled, mostly hereditarily, over their respective territories. These Marzabans then used their subordinate Zamindars to collect t

Farmer's Turban

  Ninja Policeman in India charging on 80 year old Farmer Something is morally wrong with the image of a young Indian policeman wearing protective guards and helmet hitting an 80 year old unarmed farmer during the farmers protest against the now publically tarnished farm bills. The policemen is demonstrating his trained skills to subdue the comman man with brute force.  So, whats wrong with this picture? Authoritarian oppresssion displayed in this picture reminds me of the 1907 ballad of defiance penned over a century ago to inspire farmers against the expoitive policies of the British. Punjab farmers who have dig in their heels against Centre at Delhi’s borders are experiencing the same oppression, propoganda, and malice sadly from their own government in an independent India.  The similarities between the two historical events is astounding and worth a discussion here. Farmers from Punjab, Haryna, and Western UP feel that farm laws passed by Indian parliament will ultimately force

Educated Assessment of India's Farm Bill

  Farmer's Protest in Delhi The Farm Bills 2020 is a combination of three agricultural bills passed by Indian Parliament in September 2020. These three bills are: Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill Three farm bills are expected to create a major impact on Indian agriculture and agro-trade and will change the way India's farmers do business. When farm bills passed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the passage of the bills a 'watershed' moment.These contentious bills have sparked protests by farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Western UP. Lets take a deep breath and analyze the situation by studying the content of the bills as well as articulating the concerns of the farmers in a logical way. But what qualifies me to make this assessment? Brought up in the agro-industry base of the sugar belt in Western UP,

Bumbling Indian Generals and Sikh Military Leaders

General with his troops Indian Army is a professional and disciplined force with commendable valour and courage. It has established its flags of miltary achievements from Shanghai to Tibet, Khyber Pakhtunwa to Kashmir, Burma to Bangladesh, Kongo to Lybia, Cyprus to Jerusalem, and France to Italy. It has tamed formidable opponents across the globe, such as Nazi, Dai Nippon, Chinese PLA, Turks, Italians, Belgian Mercenaries in Kongo, Palestine, Pakistanis, Afghan tribes, Tamil Tigers, to name a few. The top brass, however has failed on multiple ocassions to lead the troops. Now lets discuss the conducts of some of these generals from various wars: India-China War of 1962 Military strategy, however, is always and quite rightly, the hand-maiden of politics and the debacle of 1962 was basically a political failure. Field Marshal Cariappa apprised of the Chinese threat to Nehru who told him that it is not Army’s business. Krishna Menon is best remembered as the Defence Minister who lost t