During my school days in one of those nondescript Kendriya vidyalayas in the country's cow belt in the 70s, our Hindi teacher (who also used to teach us Sanskrit) often used to say that though Punjab is known as land of five rivers, but it actually has six. Then with a tinge of amusement he used to quip, "The sixth one is not filled with water, but alcohol!"
Back
then Punjabis enjoyed quite a reputation for their penchant for rich food and
liquor and even earned a home grown moniker for their excesses - Patiala peg.
Though the state later lost its distinction of being the
highest per capita liquor guzzler, the controversy over Udta Punjab has brought
the state's yet another seamier side to spotlight. Though the state's dalliance
with drugs has a long history, with its fascination for bhukki or doda,
traditional poppy husk or opium dating back to the days of Mughals, but it
never proved to be a threat to the social fabric.
The situation started changing in the 80s after it mutated
to synthetic drugs. However, the early effects were felt in Delhi, Mumbai and
other metros and it took a long time to swamp Punjab.
In fact when Dev D was released in 2009, I thought the movie
had gone overboard depicting use of drugs in Punjab.
However three years later a longish reportage in Tehelka magazine (Oct, 2012) titled 'What hit this land of plenty?' proved quite an eye opener. Punjab's drug abuse statistics were quite startling with huge number of college students hooked to it and the government living in denial and behaving as if the problem was an individual one and not systemic.
The report also quoted a BSF officer who claimed
that they had conducted a recruitment drive to fill 376 vacancies and more than
8000 men turned up. But they chose not to fill 85 vacancies as the candidates
were too weak and unfit. Politicians, pharmacies and even de-addiction clinics
appear to be have their own axes to grind to keep the populace hooked to drugs.
Later there were a steady stream of reports about the
problem and some had even hinted at involvement of politicos close to Badal
family. But the administration remained in denial and anyone raising the issue
was accused of exaggeration and 'insulting' Punjabi asmita (sounds too
familiar). The police confined their activities to catching addicts and small time pedlars, leaving the big fishes untouched.
But like any movie that involves Anurag Kashyap, this one ran into rough weather with censor board and sprang a few surprises both onscreen and offscreen. And needless to say the
latter ones were so interesting that the film's promoters did not have to do much on the pre-release publicity front.
The biggest surprise turned out to be
Shyam Benegal, a man who had directed and produced many avante garde films like Manthan, Mandi and other arthouse films. His
utterance that movies like Udta Punjab should be screened only in red light
areas had the whole nation cringing. Surely censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani's
influence seems to have badly rubbed on him!
Also Read: Bangalore Beat
