Unable to withstand a cursory reply from the then Indian home minister P. Chidambaram, about acquittal of perpetrators of Nov 1984 carnage, Journalist Jarnail Singh softly hurled his shoe in protest in April 2009.  Back then, WSN editor wrote an Open letter to the shoe. Pondering over the letter for months, Jarnail Singh’s shoe wrote back. WSN is glad that, since then,  our predictions have come true.

Dear Jagmohan Singh: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!Having lived with Jarnail Singh, I have learnt to say Fateh and I am sure you would be surprised but happy to hear that. I am indeed grateful to you to for the respect shown to me when you wrote a letter to me. Rarely has someone done that to me or to any of my brethren. Jarnail Singh immortalized me by his act of honour and by writing a letter to me; you have given me a respectable place in Sikh society.

Since you wrote that dear letter to me, I have been ensconced in the headquarters of the Indian National Congress at 28 Akbar Road, New Delhi. I will share with you my experience and what lies ahead.

They have thrown me in a corner here and I am not sure what is going to be my fate. Heritage preservation does not come easily to Indians, particularly that of opponents. I am not sure whether someone will accord me appropriate status. Whenever they glance at me, they see me with bloodshot eyes. There are many who abuse me and while doing so, do not spare the Sikhs. They are however careful to ensure that they do so when Dr. Manmohan Singh or anyone who is perceived to be close to him is not around.

“I have recalled conversations which Jarnail Singh used to have with others and those which agitated him alone. The one that haunts me after the deafening silence of the Sikh leadership, was what author Cunningham wrote a century ago, “a nation of lions, led by ….you know, don’t you?””

Jarnail Singh’s Right-leg shoe

Actually this oldest political party of the country has played its cards well. Firstly, it did not pursue any legal case against Jarnail Singh, then I was not given to the police, otherwise they would have to make an entry of my presence at the police station and thirdly, they quietly exerted pressure on Jarnail Singh’s employers to dismiss him from service.  

And what did the Sikh leadership do? When you were traveling in Canada (I learnt this from my internet sources) do you know the details of what the Sikhs did. Well, they did nothing.  Sitting in a corner, of late, I had heard a lot about names like SGPC, DSGMC, Akali Dals of various hues and shades and other Panthic groups. No one, repeat, No one came forward to express support to Jarnail Singh and me.  Had the Sikh leaders reacted strongly, I am sure things would have been different. It would have been very difficult for Dainik Jagran to dismiss him so easily.  On many an occasion, I have recalled conversations which Jarnail Singh used to have with others and those which agitated him alone. One such quote which has been haunting me in view of the Sikh response was what author Cunningham wrote a century ago, “a nation of lions, led by ….you know, don’t you?”

“You know, one thing is pretty certain. Jarnail Singh will fight back. Even with one shoe on his feet and one morsel in his mouth, he will doggedly pursue the case of justice for Nov 1984 widows and orphans. As a devout Sikh, he will answer the call of duty for everyone in the true spirit of Sarbat da Bhala –welfare of all humankind.  He will do it with more energy and zeal. ”

I strongly suggest that the Sikh community will have to soon get out of this mould of ingratitude. This is totally unSikh-like. Sikhs have always been a gregarious and grateful people, and I cannot understand this ungratefulness to members of their own ilk. I think Sikh bodies need a thorough drubbing.  

What did the journalistic fraternity in the enlightened city of Delhi do? Nothing again. The Editors Guild, the federations of journalists, the effervescent Press clubs, the Progressive Journalists Forum, self-styled freedom of press experts and the Press Council of India -no one took notice of the uncalled for action against seasoned journalist Jarnail Singh. Nobody took notice of the fact that Dainik Jagran had labeled Jarnail Singh’s action ‘subversive’.

In this Congress office, I have heard Dalit and Muslim leaders (there are hardly any Sikh leaders who come here, those from Punjab come only during elections) wonder as to why the Sikhs in Punjab have not protested against the media house of Dainik Jagran. I agree with them. After all, how can the newspaper be allowed to proliferate in Punjab after dismissing Jarnail Singh? How can the paper be allowed to sponsor Gurdwara billboards? Where is the youth of Punjab?

Fortunately, there have been exceptions. There have been some small organizations and concerned individuals, who have expressed solidarity with me and Jarnail Singh and have volunteered to take the battle for justice to the next level. I understand that Jarnail Singh is mulling over the prospects and may take some time to decide.  

This place where I have been thrown is a centre of intrigue. There are conspirators galore. The kind of stuff which you see in Indian movies of how one politician is at another’s throat. I have listened to many a conversation regarding how to dethrone a leader and how to foist another on the throne. Otherwise it is a boring place, but the grapevine has enlivened my stay here.  

Some of the mandarins here keep chalking out the Sikh agenda and the Muslim schemata.  When they become unmindful of my presence, it becomes easy for me to overhear them.  They are really worried and jittery about what Sikhs will do in Nov 2009, while recalling 25 years of the anti-Sikh pogrom of Nov 1984 in Delhi and elsewhere.  When they ignore or forget about my presence here, they open their hearts. Some want to literally follow Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s idea and indulge in media management leading to his call of forget and forgive; others want Rahul Gandhi to visit Trilokpuri and replant the tree which his illustrious father had shaken and uprooted. Believe me, they are scared.  

One tree in Delhi had shaken it to its roots in Nov 1984; now they are so scared of Harinder Singh Phoolka and Sant Sewa Singh’s 25,000 saplings all around the country. The Nov 1984 one was a 100 year old tree with a chequered history of deceit and murder. The saplings now being planted are sweet revenge, at least that is how I see it. By the way, how about writing a letter to the tree that shook Delhi? Please do consider my idea.

 Read also: Jarnail Singh’s Shoe that nearly avenged November 1984

The cronies of Sajjan Kumar, Tytler, Kamal Nath and others in the Congress party always go into a huddle when they talk about my master Jarnail Singh. It is a classic sight to see their heads roll from left to right, for they clearly envisage that their fates have been sealed. Forever. They are not only dazed, but worried to. They were under the impression that Sikhs in general have forgotten it and the Delhi Sikh leaders have been influenced into silence. Now they bite their nails, not knowing what is in store for them.  

I was very sad the day Jarnail Singh lost his job. I could not do much. I was instrumental in the dismissal of Tytler and Sajjan, but I could not save my own Jarnail Singh. The God-fearing man that he his, I am sure he realizes that what has happened has happened for good. He could not have continued with Dainik Jagran, whose owners shared the dining table with Home Minister P. Chidambaram just a week after dismissing Jarnail Singh from his work. It is ironical that instead of punishing the guilty, they have dismissed the one who had exposed the guilty and those who were attempting to shield the killers.

You know, one thing is pretty certain. Jarnail Singh will fight back. Even with one shoe on his feet and one morsel in his mouth, he will doggedly pursue the case of justice for Nov 1984 widows and orphans. As a devout Sikh, he will answer the call of duty for everyone in the true spirit of Sarbat da Bhala –welfare of all humankind.  He will do it with more energy and zeal.

 Read also: JARNAIL SINGH (1973-2021) — The Man Who Threw A Shoe At Injustice

My only trouble here is that I am alone and lonely. I have learnt from my sources (I picked up this habit from Jarnail Singh and his colleagues) that my better half is fine and has been preserved well by Gurmeet Kaur –suave, gentle and soft-spoken better half of Jarnail Singh.  I am certain that in case I am thrown away and not returned to my rightful owner –Jarnail Singh, then my better half should be bestowed the status and respect shown to me; after all, both of us have been serving Jarnail Singh and the cause of fair play.  

Should I get lost, you should not forget my better half, my left half. I am sure, like Amu, she will continue the journey for justice.

Thank you once again.
Jarnail Singh’s Right-leg Shoe