British activist and prolific writer Jagdeesh Singh pays a moving tribute to Deep Sidhu, calling him a powerful voice of Panjaabi nationhood a cut above the rest of the present decaying Sikh leadership. His untimely demise has awakened many a Panjaabi soul and is likely to impact the Sikh youth renaissance in Panjaab, irrespective of the results of the Panjaab elections.

THE UNTIMELY AND ABRUPT DEATH OF DEEP SIDHU (1984-2022), due to an apparent fatal car accident en-route from Dheli to Panjaab; has sent shock waves like no other death in recent times, across the Panjaabi people inside Panjaab and across the world.

DEEP SIDHU, aged 37-years, young lawyer, promising actor-turned passionate campaigner for Panjaabi national rights and independent statehood; represented a shining star on the despoiled Panjaabi landscape of crooked and unprincipled mixture of politicians and public campaign figures.

DEEP emerged from the commotion and fire of the Panjaabi farmers’ agitation begun in 2020, as a powerful and prolific voice for Panjaabi nationhood and self-rule. He was certainly a much-welcomed voice for deeper, searching analysis and opposition to the enduring India-Panjaab stranglehold relationship, of which the Panjaab farmer mass dissent was a direct product. His expressions of his deeper, intellectual mind were different from the mundane, crass, repetitive speeches of the farmer union leaders.

Rather than the minimal rights and concessions from the Dheli central command of the monolithic Indian state, he was inspired to vocalise the aspirations of many Panjaabis for a complete break-away from the decades of misgovernance and subjugation which had afflicted and despoiled the once independent and economically and militarily powerful nation of Panjaab.

His intellect, eloquence and daring in expressing this throughout his campaigning were fantastic.

His intellect, eloquence and daring in expressing this throughout his campaigning were fantastic. The rest of the mass figures across the Panjaabi farmers’ unions and the wider Indian political groups: were simply using the grassroots, Panjaabi-Sikh driven and resourced phenomenal agitation, as they have always done before: to exploit and manipulate within an Indian confined political context and to simply, reinforce their allegiances and ties to the supreme, singular Indian power system.

DEEP SIDHU, as a conscious and ethical voice for Panjaabi justice and humanity, was positively different – earning him the taunt of ‘traitor’ from that pro-Indian crowd!

DEEP emerged from the commotion and fire of the Panjaabi farmers’ agitation begun in 2020, as a powerful and prolific voice for Panjaabi nationhood and self-rule.

To dare to aspire, think for and seek political empowerment for Panjaab: this sets apart the truly patriotic, champions of Panjaab from the general chaotic, messy mix of politicians and vocal spokespersons who merely and temporarily ride on the waves of Panjaabi aspirations and feelings. Deep Sidhu, was demonstrably one of the former.

He was receptive to the cutting-edge messages and aspirations communicated to him by Panjaabi activists around the world. Those messages of comprehensive self-determination, positively independent and shaping our own economic, military, educational and foreign policy direction in the world.

This race-horse and lion of Panjaab sped far ahead of the general dead-mass of politicians and routine public figures, who have continuously shown neither vision nor courage for the present and future of Panjaab. That political class which is so clearly aligned, nurtured and indoctrinated to abide by the Indian power structure: simply could not, nor would not step into the radical lines taken by Deep Sidhu.

Deep Sidhu, who had played such a prolific on the ground role in initiating the burgeoning Panjaabi farmers cause, was cut out and pushed away from the official grand stages of these controversy-ridden farmers union groups in Dheli. The notorious leaders of some farmers unions have many gaping questions to answer. They will be remembered, not least, for their vocal rejection of the Kesri Nishan sahibs, the Nihang presence and the Panjaabi slogans which enriched and coloured the Dheli morcha.

Together on 26th January 2021, this same group of farmer union representatives ended up declaring DEEP SIDHU for his daring and exciting actions in taking the public protests directly to the Red Fort (symbol of Indian power) and participating in the history-making, enthralling, raising of the Panjaabi Kesri Nishan flag on that symbolic building of power and control.

This spontaneous action was an expression of our collective rejection and resistance to Indian state power. These farmer union leaders in their panic response retorted with cries of ‘traitor! traitor!’ in their miserable attempt to disassociate with these buoyant, spirited actions. This was not just DEEP SIDHU on his own, hundreds of fellow Panjaabi agitators in the farmers’ campaign camped out in the Dheli morcha.

Together, they were all invigorated and activated by the buoyant and propelling spirit of authentic Sikhi which has fought and struggled its way down the centuries, to empower and liberate the Panjaabi humanity and society. It has propelled us to identify with and love our country of Panjaab. To seek self-determination. To stand up and demand equal status in this world of diverse and plural peoples. To seek statehood.

We all cried at the loss of our radical DEEP SIDHU. May many more DEEP SIDHUs rise in Panjaab, and outshine the dead souls which pollute and undermine our national affairs and institutions. DEEP SIDHU forever! Another soul who has given his life for Panjaabi liberation and a Panjaabi future! We love you. May we collectively propel his message forward of Panjaabi independent statehood! PANJAAB ZINDABAAD! United all Panjaabis!