Rear View Mirror

By Prof. Balwant Sidhu Galib

Rear View Mirror (RVM) is an anthology of three generations starting in 1878 till the present. It is over 85 percent based on the true and the actual events that happened to the author. The rearview mirror of a car is hundred times smaller than the front windshield. The humans always look through RVM to glance in the past, trying to live in the times long gone, and tend to ignore the front windshield to see what is lying ahead of them. But the people who forget the past, they are condemned to repeat it. Those who do not look through the front windshield, they do not survive for long. RVM has many captivating and enchanting memories hidden behind it. It is always beneficial and valuable to observe things back into the past through the prism of life but always keep looking into the future, through the front windshield. It is good to remember the past, but dont live in it.

RVM is a compendium of three generations. It starts with the Gen 3, which looks back at Gen 2 and Gen 1. Gen 1 is the story of two brothers who were conscripted by the British in India. They fought in WW1 and WW2 and then retired. Each had a son who develops into Gen 2. They struggle and enjoy their lives. Each had lost a son at prime age in Canada, one in a car accident and the other was murdered along with his wife and the unborn son when a kettle bomb exploded, sent by his own father-in-law on Christmas Eve. The Gen 3 starts with life in India, born, raised, grown, and educated there. Then in the seventies, it moves to Canada, one of the best countries of the world. The fable twists and turns, meandering like the vicissitudes of a flowing river. The tale takes the main character of Gen 3 across Canada and the America, going through various circumstances and meeting very interesting fellows. The main character had dichotomy in his mind while leaving his birth land, like millions of immigrants who leave their saddened families and go to a new land of hope. He faces hurdles and tribulations for establishing his life in the new settings. His life ends tragically while enjoying and lying in the arms of his soul mate. There are torrid physical relations between Oksana and Mall, Bhinder and Sher, Erika and Steve. The Sikh youth murders in Vancouver are touched on, in a very brief detail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504916868

Prof. Balwant Sidhu Galib

The originator of this compendium, Balwant Sidhu Galib, was born in Punjab on the fifteenth of March 1949. He completed his masters’ degree in English literature and taught at two colleges before migrating to Canada. Here he worked in a three-thousand-feet-deep underground mine in northern Manitoba. The next thirty-two years, he enjoyed working in high-tech aerospace companies at SPAR (EMS then MDA), Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and COM DEV, Cambridge. Presently he is residing in Brampton, Ontario. The names and the places have been changed. If coincidently it coincides with someone’s life, the author expresses advance regrets. For your comments, e-mail the author at [e-mail].

Book preview

Rear

View

Mirror

PROF. BALWANT SIDHU GALIB

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AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2015 Prof. Balwant Sidhu Galib. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/23/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1685-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1687-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1686-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015909459

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

PART

THREE

1 SETVINDER IN INDIA (1st WORLD)

2 STEVE IN CANADA (3RD WORLD)

3 CHILDHOOD

4 EDUCATION

5 KAPOOR SINGH I.C.S.

6 THE TEACHERS: GURUS: TOWERS OF ENLIGHTENMENT

7 PROFESSOR AT KARAMSAR (RARA SAHIB)

8 PROFESSOR AT DAKHA-MULLANPUR

9 DEPARTURE TO CANADA (or the 3rd world)

10 IN VANCOUVER B.C.

11 IN SAW MILL AT FORT ST. JAMES B.C.

12 ON THE WAY TO WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

13 JOB IN THE MINE – UNDER GROUND AT LYNN LAKE

14 JOB IN THE MINE – OPEN PIT AT LEAF RAPIDS

15 THE LIBERIAN DIPLOMATS IN CANADA

16 MACHATTIE, THE DOCTOR

17 THE BAFFIN ISLAND

18 JASWANT (JAS – BILLOO)

19 ON TO THE CARIBBEAN CRUISE

20 JOB ON THE CRUISE SHIP

21 ERIKA MISS BRAZIL-1978 & BRAZIL

22 ON TO REYKJAVIC ICELAND

23 JOB AT ERRICSSON VANCOUVER B.C.

24 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW & THE END

25 ZORA

PART

TWO

26 MEHROO & SHEROO

27 MEHAR SINGH SIDHU IN THE BRITISH ARMY

28 MEHAR SINGH BECOMES AN ARMY OFFICER

29 ON CHINA BORDER 1961 TO 1964

30 INDO-PAK WAR (BANGLADESH) 1971

31 AFTER THE WAR, MEHAR SINGH AT JHANSI

32 BILLO (JASWANT GOES ABROAD)

33 DULEEP & PARTAP: TWO PUNJABI MAFIOSO

34 THE INSPECTOR SHER SINGH SIDHU & HIS FAMILY

35 GORDIE (GURMEL) COMES TO CANADA

36 GORDIE, WIFE & UNBORN SON KILLED IN KETTLE BLAST

37 SIKHS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

38 PUNJABI GANGS IN VANCOUVER B.C.

39 GARY

PART

ONE

40 MALL & SARWAN

41 CONSCRIPTION IN THE BRITISH ARMY

42 LIFE IN ROORKIE

43 ROORKIE – RECRIUTING CENTER

44 DELHI RAILWAY STATION

45 BRITISH, U.S. & RUSSIAN STRETGISTS MEET IN MOSCOW

46 START OF WW1

47 ARRIVING IN DUBA, SAUDI ARABIA

48 REAL WAR INITIATION IN EGYPT

49 SYRIAN FRONT

50 END OF WWI

51 AFTER WWI, LAST LIAISON WITH OKSANA

52 BACK TO GALIB AFTER WWI

53 CLOUDS OF WWII

54 CALL TO JOIN WWII

55 FRANCE AFTER LIBYA

56 FIELD MARSHALL ERWIN ROMMEL

57 JENNIFER PICKS UP MALL FROM FRANCE

58 HITLER’S END

59 BEGIINING & END OF WWII

60 HORRORS OF ATOMIC BOMBS

61 JOURNEY BACK TO GALIB AFTER WWII

62 GOD OF RAIN OR THE DEVIL OF DEATH

63 BEEROO & LEELLA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REAR VIEW MIRROR (R.V.M.)

REAR VIEW MIRROR (R.V.M.) is an anthology of three generations starting in 1878 till the present. It is over 85% based on the true and the actual events which happened with the author. The rear view mirror of a car is hundred times smaller than the front wind shield. The humans always look through R.V.M. to glance in the past, trying to live in the times long gone and tend to ignore the front wind shield to see what is lying ahead of them. But the people who forget the past, they are condemned to repeat it. Those who do not look through the front wind shield, they do not survive for long. R.V.M. has many captivating and enchanting memories hidden behind it. It is always beneficial and valuable to observe things back into the past through the prism of life but always keep looking into the future, through the front wind shield. It is good to remember the past but don’t live in it.

R.V.M. is a compendium of three generations. It starts with the Gen 3 which looks back at Gen 2 and Gen 1. Gen 1 is the story of two brothers who were conscripted by the British in India. They fought in WW1 and WW2 and then retired. Each had a son who develops into Gen 2. They struggle and enjoy their lives. Each had lost a son at prime age in Canada, one in a car accident and the other was murdered along with his wife and the unborn son when kettle bomb exploded, sent by his own father-in-law on the Christmas Eve. The Gen 3 starts with life in India, born, raised, grown and educated there. Then in the seventies, it moves to Canada one the best countries of the world. The fable twists and turns, meandering like the vicissitudes of a flowing river. The tale takes the main character of Gen 3 across Canada and the Americas going through various circumstances and meeting very interesting fellows. The main character had dichotomy in his mind while leaving his birth land like millions of immigrants who leave their saddened families and comes to a new land of hope. He faces hurdles and tribulation for establishing his life in the new settings. His life ends tragically while enjoying and lying in the arms of his soul mate. There are torrid physical relations between Oksana and Mall, Bhinder and Sher, Erika and Steve. The Sikh youth murders in Vancouver are touched upon in a fair detail.

The originator of this compendium, Balwant Sidhu Galib was born in Punjab on 15th of March 1949. He completed Masters’ degree in English literature and taught at two colleges before migrating to Canada. Here he worked in a 3,000 feet deep underground mine in northern Manitoba. The next 32 years, he enjoyed working in high tech aerospace companies at SPAR (EMS then MDA), Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec and at COM DEV, Cambridge. Presently he is residing in Brampton, Ontario. The names and the places have been changed. If coincidently it coincides with someone’s life, the author expresses advance regrets. For your comments, E-Mail to the author at BSIDHUGALIB@yahoo.

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DEDICATION TO

AMRIK SINGH GREWAL

Who were the youngest and the fittest of all and who left for the heavenly abode the earliest?

And

For the sweet & perpetual memories of over fifty five years

TO MY DEAR LIFE LONG BUDDIES

ABHAYRAJ GILL

HARI MANN

SAWARN DHILLON

The author’s sincere thanks to Ms. Richelle Keith, Jamie Belmont and Tim Mandoza, supervisior operations, of AuthorHouse for reviewing the contents of this text. Especially Jamie for accepting it and bringing it to the doors of publishing. Their kind help, cooperation teamwork, ardour & professionalism are much appreciated by the author. The author is thankful to Tim Mendoza for taking care of the final important issues and publishing it.

COVER DESIGNER

The front and back cover is designed by Ara Kazandjian. He is a senior member of the technical staff at MDA (SPAR & EMS). He works in the manufacturing Engineering department and has over forty years of experience. His passion is creation for sketches and caricatures and has the natural ability at visualizing and shaping into reality the unimaginable events of life. He has done a few caricatures of the author.

Thank you ARA!

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3rd Gen.

PART

THREE

1

SETVINDER IN INDIA (1ST WORLD)

Setvinder is extremely lucky that he is alright and still living in one piece. In the dirty streets of Galib Kalan, walking in the muddy sewerage full of shit and manure, moulding toys from wet earth, immersing and dunking in the street dust, riding the backs of the buffaloes and swimming in the stinking ponds, getting bitten by snakes and leeches, listening to the crackling of the frogs in deep ponds, jumping from the top of the trees into the deep wells and getting bothered by amphibians, salamanders and the toads in the deep well water, stealing eggs from the birds’ nests (ghonsla, allanaa) 1 and trying to make an omelette from them, noting the talking parrots, watching the noise of the roosters, hens, cocks, observing the tweeting of the swallows, clipping the feathers of the sparrows, colouring the feathers of the white pigeons to fool the cawing crows that black pigeons are their relatives, flying kites and playing marbles after running truant from the school, chasing the cats who drank his mother’s full pot of milk, enjoying the howling of owls and cooing of the cuckoos at the night time, listening to the peacocks squeaking with their thick beautiful feathers spread out like a tent, heeding the squawking of the quails and partridges who he killed for their libido increasing tender meat, watching a dog and a bitch making out shamelessly in the open and getting entangled, jammed and making an inter fleshy bond between their flesh standing at 180 degree with their rear ends together, chasing male donkey riding a female with his twenty inch long and thick rod inside her and chasing and throwing stones at them in the streets of the city with a crowd of the children, noting the chattering and twittering of a small brown bird which seemed to say, (Ghoogu Koon, Ghoogu Koon, Ghoogu Koon, Toohie Toon, Toohie Toon) 2 O’ God, it is only you, O’ God, it is only you, watching another bird (Bijarra)3 singing after the wheat harvesting season, (Bhagwaan Teri Kudrat, Khah Gheo, Kar Kasrat, Bhagwaan Teri Kudrat, Khah Gheo, Kar Kasrat)4. Omnipotent, this is your creation! Eat Butter and do the exercise, Omnipotent, this is your creation! Eat Butter and do the exercise, watching the cat catching the big rat in the kitchen, observing the fight to finish between a mongoose and the snake and cheering the mongoose up, and himself getting thrashed by his grandfather and thumped by his mom for beating neighbours kids, after being born in the most backward hermetically sealed country of the world with crawling and writhing over one billion denizens, living under the worst conditions and coming to the most advanced and the best country in the world, surely Setwinder was extremely lucky. For that he is thankful to the Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent Almighty God. Definitely it was the most hurtful, arduous and painful journey coming from the Galib streets to Canada, the most advanced and the best country in the world.

2

STEVE IN CANADA (3RD WORLD)

Setvinder was called Steve in Canada as S, T, E, V, E, letters are all included in Setvinder. His short name in India was Sat. His second leg of his life’s journey landed him at Vancouver International airport on 30TH of July, 1974 on exactly the other side of the globe. (Coincidently and unfortunately, exactly four years after that, on July 30TH of July, 1978, his elder brother Jaswant aged thirty two, died in a car accident in B.C.). Sat, the unknown urchin born in a small village of Galib Kalan (nobody knows his real date of birth. Simply he was born two years after Pakistan was created), working very hard for the next forty year of his 2nd life. Working underground 3,000 feet deep in a copper, zinc and 1% gold Sherritt Gordon mine in Lynn Lake and Leaf Rapids in Manitoba, driving a mini locomotive and hauling muck derived from the chute, from one end of the mine to the other end near the crusher, transporting white dead bodies (probably the white ghosts (Chittian Bhootaan) 5 in the middle of the night in Winnipeg hospital, standing and controlling the traffic in a the parking lot of a grocery store in heavy rain without raincoat or an umbrella and in the snow without a parka or jacket, getting middle finger salutes from beautiful white chicks and with his high thinking brain assuming that those chicks love me and would come at night to bang me, becoming proud to receive those middle finger salutes, getting yelled from white irate drivers "Go home, you Hindu (Oay Hindooawe, apney desh wapis jaah)6 working in a high-tech aerospace satellite company for over thirty years, helping to build over eighty four communication satellites, helping to manufacture all six the Canada arms (SRMS Space Remote Manipulator System), building smaller version of Canada arm (MSSP) for the International Space Station, sitting in the astronaut’s seat in the real space shuttle, playing with the MCIU (Manipulator Controller Interface Unit) knob which controls the movements of the Canada arm mounted in the shuttles’ bay area, from inside the shuttle), walking in the space shuttle at Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas, crawling and curling up into the Russian rocket Soyuz, meeting American, British, German, French, Italian, Japanese astronauts and Russian cosmonauts/cosmonautesses, talking to the 1st Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau and 1st female Canadian astronaut Roberta Lynn Bondar and getting a kiss (Ah, on the lips though soft) from the most beautiful astronaut Julie Payette, and getting an embrace from and shaking the hand of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien (in Sat’s country never mind the P.M., even if you get to see a M.P.’s dog with a prior appointment, you consider yourself a little, lucky dog) was not possible but you could not even dream of, about 40 years earlier that Sat could see the Canadian P.M. Now you tell me, to do these uncanny, weird, bizarre and creepy acts, how many people are lucky in this world to say I did all that? I guess I am one of the few hundred dudes in this world of over 8 billion people who can say I did all that, and a lot more. For sure it was a long and pleasant journey for Steve from Galib Kalan to Canada. Only regret is that, Sat left the land once where he was born!

That is why I stated in the beginning and at the outset, that I am a very lucky dog. O’ God, thanks a million! No not a million, but thanks a zillion. The newly arrived in Canada come with big degrees like M.Sc., doctor and Ph.D. but they are contented and satisfied to perform menial factory jobs and driving taxis. Pierre Elliot Trudeau opened Canada because Canada is a land of work and opportunities. He did not promise any one a job at PMO. You work and earn money. Trudeau did not send any personal invitation to anyone. You came here to earn money because you were useless in your own country. The M.Sc. folks complain that the Canadian government is not doing much to provide them with good office jobs. The Canadian government did not invite you to Canada in the first place. Why they should help you to find the right job only for you? If you were so good in your country, why you did not stay there? What was the urgency to come here to drive taxi? You were a big shot in your own country and could hire taxi for life. Why you are here? The truth is you were no good in your country and you would stay no good here. Jehrrey Lahore fudoo, oho Pishore fudoo7. The M.Sc. was a way to get occupied and bide the time. Don’t expect to land a job in the PMO office. If you have not made efforts to find a suitable carrier, you would continue to rot driving taxis. People worked hard as I started from the labour job, working in lumber industry, 3,000 deep feet in underground mine and stood outside in the hot sun and freezing rain. After two years struggle, I got one of the best jobs in an aerospace industry meeting various astronauts, ministers and even the prime minister of Canada. Nobody send me invitation to come here. No one gave me anything but I earned it through hard work and perseverance.

3

CHILDHOOD

Sat does not remember much about his early childhood. He remembers that his mother used to tell him, Sat, you were born in October when moon was full. That is how Sat arrived and entered this world. He was very proud that he has some link with Baba Nanak the 1st GURU of the Sikhs. Baba Nanak was born on the full moon night in October. But Sat had penchant for stupid and mischievous things from the early beginning as opposed to the message of Baba Nanak. Sometimes Sat would beat up other weaker kids and at other times he would get thrashed by stronger musclemen. When he was beaten outside, his mom would do the rest by whipping him to her satisfaction. When he got smacked outside, he never told anybody at home. Whether he beat up smaller and weaker kids or got beaten by bigger kids, always, the complaints would be lodged with Sat’s mom against Sat.

After his grandfather got fed up with the daily complaints, he got Steve holding his ear, twisting it very hard and took him to the village school. The teacher asked his grandfather,

How old the boy is?

He is six year old.

Of course, every kid brought to school is six years whether he is four or five

The grandfather lied to get the trouble maker into the school. In those days, they did not admit boys younger than six into the school. The teacher said, We are not here to baby sit your urchins. So Sat’s age was increased by ten months. And he lost any weak link with Baba Nanak. Sat was actually born in October but his grandfather forced him to take birth in March. Thus Sat’s foundation started with a BIG LIE. Sat did not care about the lie but he was very disappointed and mad that why his grandfather broke his only link with "Baba Nanak? Sat’s date of birth was an issue of contention in the Canadian courts. This would be mentioned in detail later on in this book.

When Sat was going to the middle school at Galib Kalan, there were many students from the neighboring villages. There was one student from Kaler village, named Teekhoo. He was very short, sturdy and was built like a solid rock. One day during the lunch break, the students from Kaler village decided to have a wrestling match between Teekho and Nikoo. (Nikko was a short, pet name for Sat which meant a Shorty). After the school was finished, all the students (over five hundred of them) and some teachers as well, formed a large circle to watch the wrestling match between Nikoo and Teekhoo. Both of them stood face to face in the center of the big circle. The referee gave the signal and instantly Teekhoo put his arms tightly around Nikoo’s weak thighs, lifted him up and thwacked him on his back on the ground. Nikoo’s head hit very hard on the ground making a loud thudding sound. He was unconscious and did not move for more than five minutes. He must have a serious concussion. The Kaler village side declared the victory for Teekhoo. He waved a flag made from his turban. But the referee announced that the chap, who wins two times out of three, would be the winner. Nikoo’s friends gave water to him and prepared him for the 2nd bout. Hesitatingly he agreed but the result was the same as before. Then Nikoo’s friends convinced the referee that it should be three out of five bouts.

The referee argued with Nikoo’s friends, Why you want to get this shorty killed?

But Nikko’s friends prevailed. Nikoo was also unwilling to continue the fight but his friends, especially Bombie (a bomb, Nikoo’s buddy) swayed him also and Nikoo agreed to have the 3rd bout which he was sure he would lose as before. This time Bombie took Nikoo aside and coached him. Nikoo was happy and seemed encouraged. When the duo faced each other for the 3rd time, Nikoo bent forward and placed his two hands between Teekhoo’s legs and grabbed his testicles very tightly. Teekhoo cried loudly and screamed but Nikoo grabbed his nuts so tightly that he won’t let go his balls. Bombie had advised and coached Nikoo to get between his legs before even the fight had started and grab Teekho’s assets and squeeze them hard and never let them go unless Teekho accepts his defeat. The trick taught by Bombie worked perfectly well for Nikoo. In a very few seconds, the referee declared Nikoo the winner of the 3rd bout. Teekhoo was sprawled on the ground wailing and groaning in severe pain and agony. Nobody came to help the poor Teekhoo. Then it was to the 4th round. Nikoo used the same strategy as in the 3rd round and Teekhoo gave up very quickly and consented to Nikoo’s victory. For the 5th and the final round, Teekhoo wisely refused to show up in spite of the urgings and pleas from the fellow students from Kaler village. His balls were so sore and painful from Nikoo’s grabbing and squeezing that Teekhoo had no strength left in him to face Nikoo for the 5th time. Thus Nikoo was declared the overall champion. That is called coaching from Bombie!

4

EDUCATION

Sat finished his middle school at Galib Kalan passing grade eight and joined Government Higher Secondary School at Jagraon as his dad had done some twenty five years earlier. He passed his Higher Secondary class with medical subjects. Sat was one of the only three students who took medical subjects out of over three hundred students. When Sat was attending higher secondary School Jagraon, he lived with his friends in an upstairs huge building in the grain market of Jagraon. One Saturday evening, his friends Sukhdev (Saiboo), Ranjit, Zaiba and Gurmel (Sat’s cousin) wanted to stay with Sat for the night. Saiboo brought two bottles of poteen (moonshine) whiskey. Each had a few swigs and ordered supper from a restaurant. They drank, talked and ate. Around eleven at night, Saiboo asked Sat to go to the adjoining room. The light was switched off. Sat saw somebody was crouched on the bed but he could not see who it was due to darkness. Sat turned on the light. To his surprise, he saw Zaiba was on the bed, completely naked, with his butt in the air. Sat turned off the light and came out of the room. Saiboo asked Sat, Gawd damned, go back to the room and screw Zaiba. Zaiba is waiting and is ready for you. Sat went back and removed his trousers and jumped on the bed. Then he realized what he was doing. He thought for a moment that if I bang this poor docile guy, what he would say to me in the morning? How could he look into my eyes with a straight face?" Sat was disgusted with himself, put on his trousers back on and came out of the room.

What happened? Saiboo asked.

I cannot do it to the poor boy Sat said.

Why not? You would have a lot of fun and he would never look into your eyes. He would always be willing to get screwed whenever you want. Go, Do it Saiboo urged Sat. Sat was mad and angry at Saiboo for bringing the guy for that purpose. Then Saiboo went in and rode the poor kid. After that it was Gurmel’s turn. He had a massive rod. When he rode Zaiba, he started to cry with pain and agony. He drilled him for at least over fifty minutes. The last guy Ranjit was short and he was done quickly. Saiboo and Gurmel screwed and banged him three times. Both of them buggered Zaiba the entire night. At five in the morning, when Gurmel was on top of him, Zaiba started to scream, shriek and bawl bitterly. Sat had to go in and he dragged Gurmel from top of Zaiba and slapped Gurmel kicking him out. Sat asked Zaiba to get dressed and run out of there. While leaving, Zaiba told Sat, I wish you have done also to me. May be next time when we are alone you could ride and screw me as long as you want".

Sat told him, Never say that to me. Now get the hell out of here and never come back to my place ever again.

Sat handed him a ten rupees note, Go have the breakfast and go home. Do not see these animals again.

Sat rebuked and gave shit to Saiboo and the others. Never come here again. Sat was disgusted aghast, revolted and appalled at all of them.

Sat’s cousin Gurmel was always looking for trouble. When Sat and Gurmel were living at Jagraon, they had two students Major Singh and Major Singh Chinna as their neighbors. The two fellows would go to their respective villages over the weekends. They had ground nuts farm. They would get the ground nuts dry roasted with shells on them in a big cauldron of hot sand. The product was very tasty. Sat used to call them a poor man’s almonds. They had a big bag full of the ground nuts. During their absence, Gurmel unlocked their room and started eating the ground nuts. Finally he brought the whole bag to our room. Gurmel and Sat ate the whole bagful during the whole night. When a handful was left, Gurmel said it was not good or polite to finish the whole bag. As a courtesy, we should leave some. He returned the bag to their room.

Next morning when Major and Major returned, they found out that the ground nuts were almost gone. They asked Gurmel, What happened to our ground nuts? Gurmel denied that he knew anything about them. Then they talked to Sat who admitted that they eaten them. Eventually Gurmel confessed that he had opened the lock and stole the ground nuts. Major complained to Sat’s elder brother who was his class mate about the incident who gave hell to Sat.

That year Sat joined Pre-Medical at R.S.D. College in Ferozepur where his dad was a Major in the Indian Army. He was at the post of Quarter Master in an army hospital. After six months to escape his dad’s strict discipline, Sat got migrated to Arya College at Ludhiana where his elder brother was a professor in physics. Sat made an excuse that he cannot study properly at R.S.D. because he needed tuition help for physics and chemistry. At Ludhiana his elder brother would help him with these subjects without any tuition fees. Never mind learning from his brother, Sat started to teach him tricks instead. When his elder brother would go to visit his mother at Galib Kalan over the weekend, Sat would ride his bicycle and hit the 1st movie theatre at ten in the morning. Over the weekend he would see ten different movies. It was three hours for each movie and a ton of money. That was over forty hours and about 150/- rupees a weekend’s non-stop entertainment. On his brother’s return, Sat would spread his books to pretend that he had been reading the entire weekend very hard. When pre-Medical results were announced, Sat was on the top of the list of the failed candidates. After going around and around, the donkey returns to its original place at the end of the day. Same thing happened with Sat. at last, Sat joined L.R.M. College at Jagraon in 1968.

One time there was a trio of friends who were going to L.R.M. College together. Sat’s elder brother Jas, Harpal Toor from Sawaddie Kalan and Avtar Sibia from Sivian Khurd. Harpal picked up a girl named (Mammi) 8. She was not very beautiful but she was cute and slim. Harpal had been after her for a long time. The young man believed that if a girl can go out with one guy then she would go out and sleep with any dude and Harry and Dick. But (Mammi) 8 had a tall but ugly boyfriend. The people called him (Mamma) 9. They used to go to a religious place called Nanaksar at night during the full moon (Purnima) 10. The religious order did not like that women and men sit together. The men and the ladies were always segregated. Mammi and Mamma used to sit together. One evening the religious men wanted to teach them a lesson. They beat the hell out of Mamma and warned them not to sit together. Mamma was a stubborn guy. He argued with the religious people that they are paying tribute to almighty in the God’s house. Nobody could stop them from sitting together. After that they had no hassle from the God’s men. Mamma and Mammi used to go to a forest area and would spread out some bed sheets. Mamma banged and screwed her there a couple of time. They joined the congregation again and received the parsaud (wheat flour sweet pudding) (Bhog) 10 and returned to their homes in the morning.

Anyway Harpal picked Mammi up. Though he was a coward yet he was very good at picking chicks up. He took Jas and Avtar with him so that nobody could give him any difficulty. He took his friends and Mammi to a room which Jas had rented. When they reached the room, Avtar had a bottle of moon shine. They had a few drinks and tried to force Mammi to have some but she refused. She knew what would happen in the next moments to her. She kind of expected it and looked forward to it. She expected that these three horny drunk studs would tear her apart and she relished the idea. Because, Mamma was not able to satisfy her deep urges. Before anything happened, Harpal and Avtar started to argue who would have the 1st go at banging Mammi. Harpal opined that since he picked her up, it was his right to go 1st. Avtar could not argue with that but still he wanted to be the first. The arguments changed into a full blown scuffle. Jas pushed both of them out of the room and bolted the door from inside. He asked Mammi whether she wanted to go through all this. He told her that these guys would tear her apart. She won’t be able to walk even. She got scared and asked Jas what she could do. Jas opened the 2nd door to let her out into the owner’s yard. Mammi ran away from there thanking Jas for saving her skin, her honour and integrity. After the duo had stopped fighting, they started to bang the door for Jas to open it. They were shocked and dismayed that Jas had let her go. Jas lied to them that the house owner came into the room and that is why Mammi had run away. Jas chuckled at his friends for their desperate condition.

5

KAPOOR SINGH I.C.S.

Sardar Kapoor Singh was born on March 2nd, 1901 at Chakk Bhatian Kalan. His alma mater was Lyallpur Khalsa College Lahore. Sat made friends with this character named Sardar Kapoor Singh I.C.S. Mr. Kapoor had passed his I.C.S. examination. He was appointed as Deputy Commissioner posted in different districts of erstwhile Punjab. Due his stubborn nature and uncooperative attitude with the white British officials, Kapoor was dismissed from his post after four years of service. Sat met him at Jagraon in 1968 outside his shops which he used to rent out to the local merchants. Every morning Kapoor Singh used to berate Hindu shop owners for not paying the rent on time. Slowly he came to know Sat. When Sat told him that he came from Galib Kalan village, he asked Sat if he knew two Subedars. Sure Sat did, and he told the I.C.S. that Sat knew them very well. Actually the Sat was the younger Subedar’s grandson. The younger Subedar was Sat’s grandfather and the elder Subedar was his grandfather’s elder real brother. Mr. Kapoor Singh said that the subedars were Kbkry demented (Kharrd Dimaag) 11.

Sat replied that you are not much different from them. I.C.S. laughed heartily. He knew Sat’s grandfather and his elder brother as they were married in Kapoor’s village Chakk Bhattian Kalan. He mentioned that elder brother gets drunk in the evening and abuses, swears and curses everyone. But the younger one is sober in the night but gets excited only in the morning.

Kapoor Singh was very wise and the most intelligent person probably among all the Sikhs during that time. He wrote the Anandpur Sahib agreement (Anandpur Sahib Daa Matta) 12 to be negotiated with the Indian government based on the Akali and the Sikhs demands. There was no other Sikh man who could draft and pen down those demands. But due to his parochial and fissiparous tendencies, his intellect was never recognized by the Sikh masses and the general population. He once declared that who is not an Amritdhari Sikh, he should not vote for him. He was elected M.L.A. in spite of his declaration. He wrote a beautiful book which became very popular (Hum Hindu Nahien Hain) 13, We are not Hindooes. The Sikh leadership the like of Sant Fateh Singh, Master Tara Singh, Badal etc. ruined his reputation and his name was destroyed by the mud-slinging by the idiots and the stupids.

One time the Jagraon municipality and the mayor approached him and wanted to recognize him for his services to the country. He refused to accept any accolades and told them to take a hike and get lost. He explained to Sat, why he had refused any honours from them. He said that today they want to honour me. Tomorrow the same people would blacken my face, make me ride a donkey in Jagraon streets and people would throw stones at me. If I do not accept or receive any honour from them now, then they cannot insult or humiliate me in the future. He was very logical and straight like an arrow. Sardar Kapoor Singh was against Khalistan Sooba! He wanted a Sikh state. He seriously believed that the Sikh leaders were useless: these bastard leaders did not hesitate to kill the panth by throwing it into a deep well, but crowned Guru would save Panth with hardship. (Haraam jaaye, Gadhey Leadrawn ne taan Panth noon khuh vich sut key maarn ton koi kasar nahien shadie, pur Guru Kalgian vala aap bahurrie karke Panth noon bacheyga) 14. These clowns misguide the others to sacrifice their lives and money and consider themselves that they are great politicians. One should ask these stupid politicians that every day thousands of goats are sacrificed. Did you ever saw a Bakarstan created? Eh bahut kurbania dindey haan, atey apney aap noon badey siasatdaan samjhadey haan, haar roze lakhawn bakarey jhatakey jaandey haan, pur kadey toosien bakrstaan baniyaa deykhiaw hai! 15.

Other time, after Blue Star operation at Durbar Sahib (Neela Taara)16 and the killing of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderawale (Sant Bhinderawale’ mom was born at Sat’s village and Bhinderawale participated in Sat’s wedding in 1978 at Phiddey), some excited young persons came and asked Kapoor Singh What we should do for you? He gave them a hundred rupee note, told them to buy a rope from a shop rented out by him, tie the rope to that tree and hang yourself. He was disgusted that those young men, who did not follow the Sikh principles, now want to avenge Bhinderawale’s death. He did not agree with the methods of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderwale of killings and murders. But he said that the Punjabi youth is dreaming because Sant will be murdered by the Indian Government and especially Punjabi politicians would be in cahoots. He said that by raising empty slogans the Akalies excite the innocent and the young people who sacrifice their money and lives. These people sacrifice everything they own for these clown and buffoon leaders. He was against Khalistan Sooba! He wanted a Sikh state. Kapoor Singh used to say:

A man, who has brains, never wavers!

Bhriyaa hoey so kabhie naa doley 17

S. Kapoor Singh passed away not as a happy camper and he died on 13TH of August, 1986 at the age of 77.

Sat joined B.A. Part-1 at L.R.M. College at Jagraon in 1968. He was like a one eyed King among the blinds. Because Sat did his Pre-Medical in English medium, learning English was like his left hand’s task. He was always 1st in the class in English subject. That made him very popular among students especially the chicks. Sat was in B.A.-II at L.R.M. College, Jagraon. He had a political science Professor named Suneeta Ved. She was an excellent teacher and was fair to all students. She was short, about 5'1" but she was beautiful and gorgeous. She had very sharp features, big eyes, big breast and round hips. Any normal person would like to make out with her in the bed. The group, especially Sat respected her for her immense knowledge about political science and the world affairs. Abhayraj Gill, Sawarn Dhillon, Hari Mann and Amrik Grewal and Sat were in her class. The group was there to learn from her, not to have romance with her. They used to go for tea and samosas in the college canteen after finishing the previous class. Sometimes they would be four or five minutes late arriving for the next class due to the slow service by the canteen people. One day, the group arrived for Suneeta’s class five minutes late. Suneeta was still allowing students to enter her class room. Just before this group, she allowed two students into her class. The group of the five showed up led by Sat.

Sat asked Suneeta, May we come in, Madame? Sat realized that disagreeing with a professor is like a cockroach, which is always wrong when he argues with the chicken".

She was taking the roll call and got annoyed at the regular interruptions. She replied angrily, No you cannot enter my class now. You are more than five minutes late.

Hari Mann tried to talk to her, Madame Suneeta, due to the slow service in the canteen, we got late. Normally we are never… Sat pulled Hari back before he could finish the sentence. Suneeta was going to let them in but Sat was furious and dragged his four friends away from the door. As soon as the class was over, Sat and the group were waiting outside the class room to meet and challenge Suneeta.

She told them, I cannot talk to you here. Come to my office and she left in a huff and was nervous. They followed her to her offfice which was located in the area where only the girl students were allowed. She allowed only Hari and Sat into her office and shooed away the others. Sat was furious and out of control. He gave a tongue lashing to her complaining that You allowed two students to enter her class only ten seconds earlier. Why did you refuse us? he threatened her, When you come out of the college, we would talk to you outside the college. Hari tried to calm things down with his diplomatic style, but Sat did not hear him. Making a horrible and tempered face, Sat and Hari left her office making a big scene in front of the girls gathered outside her office. All the girls were surprised and shocked at the turn of the events. Some girls were pleased that she got a good lashing because they were jealous of her nice figure and her beauty.

Worried, Suneeta talked to her colleague about the incident. He escorted and walked with her to the railway station for her safety. Sat and the gang were nowhere to be seen. They had already left for their respective villages.

That evening Sat told his mother about the incident at the college. She rebuked and scolded him profusely, Son, you go to the college to get education. The professors are there to make you guy’s humans from the animals. And you insulted your professor. That is not good. You had to apologize to her tomorrow the first thing in the morning. Do you get it? Is it clear to you, you damn it?

Sat thought about it throughout the whole night and reflected what his mother had asked him to do. He realized that he was wrong to behave with his professor like that. Next day when he went to the college, he asked Hari to accompany him to the Prof. Suneeta. Hari and the others were surprised that what Sat was up to now. They searched him for a revolver or a knife which Sat carried often. When they approached Prof. Suneeta, she was going take another class. She told them to wait for the class to be over and see her in her office. When her class was over, Sat and Hari went to see her in her office. There were two of her colleague were sitting with her in her office. Sat said, Madame, can we talk alone to you. Hesitatingly she asked her colleagues to leave her office.

Sat started meekly, Madame, yesterday my behavior was unacceptable under any norms. I am disgusted with myself.

Prof. Suneeta heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.

I am here to say sorry to you and apologize sincerely for what I did yesterday. I assure that it would never happen again.

Prof. Suneeta thanked them especially Sat for having courage and come back to her to apologize sincerely and they left her office.

After that Prof. Suneeta never liked the gang of five but she appreciated what Sat had done regretting his mistake. She told her colleagues not to worry about her.

Sat’s philosophy used to be to get a second division in the intermediate examinations which were held after three months and 2nd one semi-annually. That way he did not had to appear in the qualifying exam which was held at nine month interval. While the other students studied day and night for the nine month exam, Sat would start preparing for the final university exam at home skipping the classes while the other students were taking the qualifying tests. The aggregate results of the three exams determined that if a student would be allowed to sit in the final exam. The semiannual test was held in October. Sat thought he had done well in it. After Prof. Suneeta marked them she presented the results to the whole class.

She started to hand out the marked papers starting giving the test results with the lowest score which was zero out of a hundred. She continued like that, and then she arrived at the top three students. Bhandari was 3rd in the class. Then there was a girl named Manjit. The last paper to be given out by her was the top student who stood 1st in the whole class. She called out Sat’s name and the whole class erupted in applause and went wild with a loud cheering. As he walked to receive his test results, Suneeta shook his hand and the whole class stood up and cheered Sat. After that, Sat and Suneeta became close friends. Sat started to respect her as his sister. But some of the professors were impossible. Sat thought that dealing with stubborn professors, teachers and typical politician was like pissing against the wind. Did you ever try it?

One time Abhayraj, Amrik and Sat took the bus from Jagraon to Ludhiana. They would go there to get the earliest newspaper to find out if they had passed the university exam. The Tribune used to arrive at Ludhiana at 4 in the morning but in Jagraon it reached only in the afternoon. That morning after they had returned to Jagraon, they walked towards their homes. It was drizzling lightly. After a while, Amrik holding his stomach, said I have to go immediately and he sat down to defecate. You know India is an open lavatory! He was done with hos chore in a minute and started to walk again. After two minutes he stopped again and said, Wait a minute. I have another emergency and started to urinate. Abhayraj and Sat laughed their heads off. Normally when a person eliminates the waste, automatically he would urinate but Amrik was a unique character.

Other year the trio rode Amrik’s scooter to Ludhiana. There Amrik developed severe tooth ache. It was midnight and no clinic was open. They looked everywhere and finally found a doctor in his clinic. May be the doctor was kicked out by his demanding wife for sexual liaisons and he escaped to his office. Amrik knocked his door and the doctor yelled at him, What do you want at midnight. Obviously, the doctor was drunk. Amrik told him that he had severe tooth ache.