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Bhindranwale may seem a long way from Beijing, but trust the great Chinese assembly line to go the distance. The face of the Sikh militancy movement is enjoying a surge in popularity in Punjab and Bhindranwale is doing so riding on made in China products—ranging from T-shirts to calendars, bumper stickers to coffee mugs and key chains, some carrying his pictures with the message ‘I will have to make a comeback’.
Youths in villages and towns of the state can be seen sporting bright yellow T-shirts, emblazoned with huge photos of Bhindranwale carrying an AK-47 rifle. The paraphernalia is openly sold in prominent markets in Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Ludhiana and even Delhi.
The numbers are surprising. Sukhdev Singh, a shopkeeper in Amritsar, claims to have sold 1.8 lakh calendars with Bhindranwale’s photos, each priced at Rs 20. He claims that the rush is unabated, something which has prompted the Chinese to enter the market.
“More memorablia has been introduced in the market as watches, key chains and car stickers. The Chinese-made T-shirts are selling at Rs 170 each as compared to the Indian-made ones, which are priced at Rs 350 each. Similarly, Chinese key chains and watches with Bhindranwale’s photo on the dial are available at one-fifth the price of same products of Indian make. Stickers are available in seven different colours. Our estimates suggest that over 3.5 lakh car stickers have been sold so far,” says Tejinder Pal Singh, a shopkeeper based in Jalandhar.
At the recent Holla Mohalla festival, stalls stocked the paraphernalia in huge numbers, and all the stock disappeared off the shelves.
Guarded in his response, Punjab DGP PS Gill says: “We are aware of this and are keeping a close watch.”
Historian GS Dhillon attributes the fascination with the man blamed for the advent of terrorism in Punjab to the “lack of genuine heroes in Punjab today”. He says the state has no charismatic and mass Sikh leader and youngsters who haven’t seen the dark days of the 1980s are allured by a character whose reputation has been enhanced by myths and fake legends.
The unequivocal endorsement of Bhindranwale by the Sikh clergy may have also contributed to his popularity. Avtar Singh Makkar, president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), says: “For us he was a martyr. We have also installed his portrait in the Golden Temple museum.”
Kanwar Pal Singh, secretary, political affairs, of the Dal Khalsa, adds: “We buy these...
Youths in villages and towns of the state can be seen sporting bright yellow T-shirts, emblazoned with huge photos of Bhindranwale carrying an AK-47 rifle. The paraphernalia is openly sold in prominent markets in Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Ludhiana and even Delhi.
The numbers are surprising. Sukhdev Singh, a shopkeeper in Amritsar, claims to have sold 1.8 lakh calendars with Bhindranwale’s photos, each priced at Rs 20. He claims that the rush is unabated, something which has prompted the Chinese to enter the market.
“More memorablia has been introduced in the market as watches, key chains and car stickers. The Chinese-made T-shirts are selling at Rs 170 each as compared to the Indian-made ones, which are priced at Rs 350 each. Similarly, Chinese key chains and watches with Bhindranwale’s photo on the dial are available at one-fifth the price of same products of Indian make. Stickers are available in seven different colours. Our estimates suggest that over 3.5 lakh car stickers have been sold so far,” says Tejinder Pal Singh, a shopkeeper based in Jalandhar.
At the recent Holla Mohalla festival, stalls stocked the paraphernalia in huge numbers, and all the stock disappeared off the shelves.
Guarded in his response, Punjab DGP PS Gill says: “We are aware of this and are keeping a close watch.”
Historian GS Dhillon attributes the fascination with the man blamed for the advent of terrorism in Punjab to the “lack of genuine heroes in Punjab today”. He says the state has no charismatic and mass Sikh leader and youngsters who haven’t seen the dark days of the 1980s are allured by a character whose reputation has been enhanced by myths and fake legends.
The unequivocal endorsement of Bhindranwale by the Sikh clergy may have also contributed to his popularity. Avtar Singh Makkar, president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), says: “For us he was a martyr. We have also installed his portrait in the Golden Temple museum.”
Kanwar Pal Singh, secretary, political affairs, of the Dal Khalsa, adds: “We buy these...
