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Frail body, failing sight, only dreams left

Sarabjit Pandher

Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

Baba Bhagat Singh Bilga.

JALANDHAR: Having been witness to various developments over the last hundred years, during which he toured almost half the globe, his body is now frail, but there is a verve in his voice and limbs.

His eyesight is failing but there is a dream of seeing an India free from all disparities.

The only surviving member of the Gadhr Party who was recently conferred the Vayoshreshtha Samman for courage and bravery, Baba Bhagat Singh Bilga is now a sad man, disgusted over the manner in which the ruling elite has handled the various issues related to the basic survival of the people across the country. However, he foresees a lot of promise in the youth who are quite aware of the situation.

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, which is his abode now, Baba Bilga says: "We had never dreamt during our days of struggle that a situation shall arrive where an honest and well-meaning Prime Minister like Manmohan Singh just weaves the magic of a few numerals to falsely claim that the country is doing well."

Arguing that no real development can be claimed unless there is an increase in the actual income of the common man, Baba Bilga seeks to reject defeatist tendencies, which have been exhibited in the trend of suicides, particularly among the farmers. "People must unite and rise against what all is being handed over to them. They must strive for the achievement of a genuine government, which has remained elusive so far," he says clenching his fists.

Baba Bilga is quite pained that democracy is subverted through misuse of public money. Parties hardly approach the people with viable programmes while politicians respond only to vested interests.

"Have you ever seen them show genuine concern and act accordingly to deal with the problem of substance abuse among the youth?" he asks.

Arguing that the present trends towards unhindered globalisation, privatisation, commercialism and promotion of consumerism has actually defeated the freedom struggle movements when innumerable Indians made great sacrifices to break free from an unequal global order under the Union Jack, he says, "Within my life I have watched them being forced into a more unequal global order dictated by an affluent US," adding that the likes of him did not allow Japan or Germany to enter India during World War II and also ensured the exit of the British.

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