Veteran Sikh community leader Master Mohinder Singh, a former president of Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, and a founder President of Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Sikh Center, was born in 1948 in Miani, a remote village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, India. His family members were farmers but his father was a police inspector. Elder to two brothers and one sister, Mohinder Singh aspires to be a teacher from his childhood. After completion of his B.Sc. and B.Ed. from govt college, he started his career as a school teacher in 1970. In 1974, he went back to his village after getting a job in the govt high school there.
In 1985, Mohinder Singh moved to the USA for a better life and better opportunities. He started his new journey as a construction worker and within two years established his own construction company and ran the company until 1999. His family – wife, two daughters and one son joined him in 1995.
He never got disconnected from his root and engaged himself into social and cultural activities. Master Mohinder Singh was two-time president of Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, New York. Later he founded Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center in South Richmond Hill and was a president for the organization for three terms.
Master Mohinder Singh, a member of the Sikh Delegation at a meeting with the US President George Bush in the White House after 9/11. L to R: Master Mohinder Singh, Rajwant Singh, President George W Bush, and Darshan Singh Dhaliwal.
He became a voice for the Sikh community when it suffered significantly post-9/11 with discrimination. He was a part of Sikh delegation who met US president George Bush after 9/11 and raised many issues including the future of the Sikhs.
Master Mohinder Singh is seen receiving Bill de Blasio, the former mayor of New York at an event.
“I work with so many assembly members and city council members. As a result of which Congressman Gregory Mick and speaker of the city council became my good friends. Many politicians visit our Gurdwara and most of the time, I introduce them to the audience. When mayor (NYC) Eric Adams was inaugurated, I did the prayer (Sikh) for him. I performed prayers for many other leaders along with other religious heads.” Master Mohinder Singh is in close touch with NYC mayor and discusses various issues with him regularly.
Master Mohinder Singh is addressing an Interfaith Breakfast meeting hosted by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Master Mohinder Singh is also very active in Indian politics. When Prime Minister Modi came to the USA for the first time, he was invited to meet him and conveyed him about the difficulties Sikh community is going through. “I categorically told him that if every religion gets equal treatment, only then India will progress. If you give special treatment to one religion at the cost of other religion, India will never be strong.”
He is also very critical about the current situation in India. “When India got independence, the only goal was secularism. The government should respect all religion. But look at India now – all the fear is created for Muslims. The central government is ignoring the difficulties of the Punjab farmers. The Prime Minister does not utter a single word (regarding the issue) in the parliament. He is the prime minister for everybody – who cast vote for him or did not – he is the prime minister for all. It’s his duty to solve the issue. What is happening is not democracy. We are the largest democracy but we are not listening to the voice of people”
Master Mohinder Singh received a Certificate from People’ s Police Academy.
He feels that the government must talk to the farmers and fulfill not all but few demands because if the famers don’t survive, India will also not survive. He also strongly advocates for creating employment opportunities for current and future generation.
“I love India, I respect India. I am talking for the betterment for all Indians – not only Sikhs – Hindus, Muslims, Christians and all other religions that make the Unified India”, he signs off.
The other day, a friend who is in the election fray for New York City Council complained that he was not getting adequate support from the temple he belongs to. He alleged that another candidate was getting the support. I asked him how much it mattered if he did not get the support from the temple. He wasn’t sure. I asked him if the congregation voted on the advice and guidance of the temple management. To which, he said, in most cases, yes. So, now I could understand his worry.
The question of temples and social organizations wielding considerable influence has often been discussed. It has been found that these institutions hold a significant sway over their members. However, it is not always and in all matters that their members would oblige the officials.
With the New York City elections around, I decided to speak with a couple of community organization leaders to know how much they are involved in elections, and how they plan to go around helping candidates belonging to their community and group.
Mr. Gobind Munjal
Mr. Gobind Munjal is a senior community leader who has for long been associated with a number of community organizations. He was president of AIA which organizes the iconic South Street Seaport Diwali Mela. He was President, at one time, of the largest association of Indian Americans in Long Island- Indian Association of Long Island, said that he believed the community organizations are basically training grounds for people in various fields, including politics. “Participating in political processes is important”, he said. “If you have political clout, community is successful”, he added.
When asked about what the organizations could do when a number of candidates from the community face each other in a constituency, Mr. Munjal said, “The individual clashes is a worrisome issue. You are cutting yourself, dividing your votes. Much can be achieved through consolidation of votes”.
Mr. Munjal, referring to NY City Council District 23 where 4 Indian American are candidates among a total of 7, said,” I support enhanced participation of the Indian American community in the political process. However, I appeal to all contending candidates to evolve consensus on a single candidate and put up a united front to make an Indian American win, so that our community is well represented”.
I took Mr. Munjal’s suggestion to three of the four Indian American candidates. I have been requested not to quote them. So, I will not mention who said what. One said it was his right to be a candidate and try his luck. He also said he had put in quite a few years in community service, and that he was more qualified and had better claim than others.
Another candidate was willing to accept the consensus idea provided there was a formula which was fair. Now the question of a fair formula turned out to be ticklish. Someone suggested a lottery. Another objected. The end result was there could not be a consensus candidate.
Master Mohinder Singh
Another question came to my mind. Whether or not the community organizations could come together and discuss a formula to have consensus candidates with a view to putting up a strong challenge to contenders from other communities. Here, Master Mohinder Singh, a Queens County Community Board 9 member said that the idea of supporting and electing a community guy is a narrow one, given the fact that we live in a multicultural society, and we look for the best to represent us. However, as far as possible, we should support people from our community provided they are able to deliver.
When questioned if community organizations, including temples can play a role in helping out the candidates, Mr. Singh said, “The community has always been supportive of the Indian American candidates. As for funding them, the community has been generous. But on the question of consensus, not much can be done. There are various community groups, various faith groups, with different regional affiliations which make it almost impossible to even think of a consensus after the candidates have declared their candidacy.
Mr. Singh emphasized the need to vote. He asked The Indian Panorama to carry an appeal from him to the community that all eligible voters must vote. He said he feels ashamed that despite of being educated and well to do the Indian American community has a poor record of getting out to vote. “In a democracy, not only it is the right of every eligible voter to vote, but a civil duty to vote”, he said.
Renee Mehrra
Renee Mehrra who was the first South Asian American to contest a city council election spoke about the great support she had received from the Indian American community when she first contested in 2001. She said the community organizations play a great role in the success of any candidate. They provide volunteers and funds -both so essential for any political adventure. She hoped of the more than half a dozen Indian Americans contesting New York City elections, some will get elected to represent the community in the City Council, which till now has none from the Indian American community.
(The author is chief Editor of The Indian Panorama)
Indians all over the world are concerned with the confrontational situation in India as a result of the Farm Laws enacted by the Modi government. Some well-wishers of India have sent their comments which we are publishing, without editing, below. – EDITOR
Master Mohinder Singh, New York
From the very young age, we have been reading in tax books in school that in rural areas Agriculture is the main profession of almost 80% of the people in rural area. It is overwhelmingly believed that much of the rural economy is based upon the agriculture. If the production of the farmers is bumper than everybody is happy, and all the businesses are flourishing based upon agriculture and people have the feeling good living.
Everybody remembers those days when India is not self-sufficient in food and beg food grain from USA. Punjab farmers were the first who put their hard work and resources to bring the revolution in food production. With the joint efforts of Punjab’s farmers, it brings prosperity in rural areas particularly and the whole of India, in general.
In the present time in spite of the bumper crops produced by the farmers their economic conditions are going worse to worse, due to high cost of the input that is needed to produce crops. The situation is so bad that farmers are killing themselves because they cannot meet their needs with the measure of profit they got by selling their produce. Suffering of the farmers now come to a point at which it become a matter of death or life for them.
In a democratic government it is the prime duty of the government to take care of the primary needs of the people. Governments are answerable to the people. But a new trend comes almost all over the world that they are becoming more considerate to the corporate sector than people who elect them. Honesty and service to the people have been the hall mark of all the political parties and individual leaders to win the election. Now a days,everybody knows that the more money you have the more are your chances to win the election. Political parties have sold their sovereignty to the corporate sector who provide them with money in their election.
Openness is a good idea to bring money into the economy but it has to be governed by rules and regulation that take care of the people of the country. Every new law should be after long discussion of the concerned parties. It should be debated in Parliament and Raj Sabha by all the member of the house irrespective to the party affiliation and consensus should be brought by persuasion, experts help and the concerned peoples to whom it applies. In the period of Corona Pandemic Government passed these laws in hurry and I would say with ill attention and to appease the corporate sector. Corporate sector’s only motiveis to maximize profit. I am of the firm view that Government has cheated farmers and have sole purpose to appease the corporate sector. Government is running away from responsibilities and they want everything to be sold out so that the people do not ask them question what is going on.
This government is so inhuman that they do not have any feeling regarding suffering of the farmers living on the roads in winter and now in scorching heat of the summer. They did not say or show any sympathy for the so many farmers who died in this agitation. Majority of membersof parliament does not give them absolute authority as the old King to do whatever they want. They are dividing the people on the basis of religion, language and region. India is onecountry, and it is my country. I am interested in the wellbeing of all the people. I wish India to be the most prosperous country of the world. I hope and pray for the people of India. This government forget all the other problem faced by the people of India except religion. Religion is my belief; it is my personal liking. Government is no body to suggest me what religion I should believe in. This hate among people will never make us strong as a nation. It will bring anarchy which is not in any way good for all of us. We need more school, universities, research institution, hospitals, housing, employment, justice and above all communal harmony. Use this parliament to improve living standard of the people, make the laws that make life of the people easy and prosperous. Develop infrastructure so that benefits reach to the ordinary people. Let us do something to improve upon environment, bringing technology to the service of the people and more employment so that they can have good quality of life.
In the end I appeal to every player in this situation or associated with this issue even the government to scrape these laws and make new efforts to bring every stake holder to the table and try to make consensus and then make new laws acceptable to all concerned. One thing is very clear, and everybody should understand that farmers need help, they need MSP so that they can make profit, by selling their produce, so that they can live a happy prosperous life in peace.
Dave Makkar, New York
In Nov. 2020 when the protest started senior BJP & Sangh Parivar leaders, their supporters on social media, and pro-Modi media, began blaming the Sikhs, another religious minority of India. They accuse Sikhs of having a Khalistani agenda, a reference to a 1980’s & 90’s Sikh separatist movement in Punjab. When they found general public is not supporting their claims because the protest is spreading across India cutting religious lines; they started calling the Farmers protest of non-farmers than infiltrated by unwanted elements, extremists. Maoist, anti-national and finally jihadis & terrorists. They have also protested, posing as local villagers at different Farmers’ protest sites around Delhi border to violently uproot peaceful protestors. Most of these protestors belonged to Hindu Sena, Hindu Army, Hindu Force and Sudarshan Vahini, ABVP, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha – local Hindutva organizations from Delhi. Some of these protestors were spotted in JMI & JNU university attacks in 2019-2020, Shaheen Bagh attack against peaceful protest against CAA and North-East Delhi large scale anti-Muslim riots both in 2020. They were successful in all of them but failed against Farmers’ protest because of their pan India & International support.
Modi’s farm laws will make majority of the Indian farmers bonded labor of rich corporations. The Indian farmer is refusing to be marginalized any more. Their protest has become an historic & largest ever protest in the world that is being supported by non-farmers in India as well as across the world. It has gained wide international support from Farmer Unions, Labor Unions, Human Rights organizations, Celebrities & Politicians. This protest is joined by millions of farmers across caste, creed, religion and region to fight for their rights and their livelihood. Rather it has become a mass movement to restore Democratic Republic character of the nation that is being eroded under Modi government.
Harry Panaser, New Jersey
The Indian farmers’ protest is an ongoing protest against three farm acts which were passed by the Parliament of India in September 2020 via a voice vote thus ignoring the requests of the opposition for a full vote. The President of India gave his assent by signing the bills on 28 September, thus converting them into acts. The legality of the acts has been questioned since both agriculture and markets come under State list
Farmer unions and their representatives have demanded that the laws be repealed and have stated that they will not accept a compromise. Farmer leaders have welcomed the Supreme Court of India stay order on the implementation of the farm laws but rejected the committee appointed by the Supreme Court. Farmer leaders have also rejected a government proposal, dated 21 January 2021 of suspending the laws for 18 months. Eleven rounds of talks have taken place between the central government and farmers all were inconclusive
The Farmers acts, often called the Farm Bills, have been described as “anti-farmer laws” by many farmer unions, and politicians from the opposition also say it would leave farmers at the “mercy of corporates” The farmers have also demanded the creation of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) bill, to ensure that corporates cannot control the prices. The government, however, maintains that the laws will make it effortless for farmers to sell their produce directly to big buyers, and stated that the protests are based on misinformation.
The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 are the main issue behind farmers’ protest. The farmers are demanding the scrapping of these laws which were passed in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The government’s offer to amend these laws have been rejected by over 40 farmer union leaders who have been talking to the government on behalf of thousands of farmers sitting on five different borders with a set of five major demands since November 26, 2020.
Two-thirds of the land holdings in the country are less than one-hectare Other related issues include farmer suicides and the state of the economy in India. India reported a total 296,438 Indian farmers suicides between 1995 and 2015. In 2019, 10,281 people who work in the farming sector committed suicide. The slower growth of Punjab’s economy, particularly its agricultural sector, is believed to have helped fuel the protest.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during an interview in 2004, said, “We need a second green revolution, making use of modern advances […] For that we need to revitalize India’s research agricultural system, India’s extension system, India’s credit system. The more we commercialize our agriculture, the more our farmers need access to commercial inputs and that was a modernization of our agriculture credit system. […] There are other rigidities because of the whole marketing regimes set up in the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get the highest rate of return. It is our intention to remove all those handicaps which come in the way of India realizing its vast potential as one large common market.” On 8 February 2021, in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Modi referenced this interview of Manmohan Singh and said – “Manmohan Singh talked about it but Modi is having to do it now. Be proud”. Prime Minister Modi has referred to the second agricultural revolution in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Recently I had a privilege to talk to the Consulate General of India, New York, Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, during the discussions on famers issue he gave his candid view and I quote “MSP will stay. The Mandis will not be closed. As far as the contract farming is concerned, there are clear provisions to protect the interests of the farmers. Farmers’ land will not be taken away by anyone for any reason. Buyers cannot make any changes to farmers’land. Land rights of the farmers will be fully protected. The agreement will be for the produce and not for the land. The farmers will have price guarantee for their produce, so they do not have to bother about market risks. Buyers cannot cheat farmers; contractors cannot end agreement without full payment. However, the farmers can walk away from contracts whenever they want. All the rights of the farmers whether it is market risk, price risk or their land ownership, everything is protected. MSP system will continue. In fact, after the farm laws were passed, MSP procurement has not only continued, but it has also increased. Government stands ready to discuss the laws with the farmers clause by clause, while keeping them in abeyance for 12 to 18 months. Government is ready for talks. Dialogue is the way forward”.
Many developing economies reformed their agriculture policies in the 1980s and 1990s to encourage private section participation. Swati Dhingra of the London School of Economics cites the case of Kenya in which their agriculture reforms increased the ease of doing business, however this very increase caused other problems for the farmers. In February 2021, 87 farmers’ unions in the United States wrote a solidarity letter, giving the example of Reagan era farm policies— “Reagan era furthered the farm crisis through deliberate federal policy changes, with systematic erosion of parity prices and other deregulatory efforts.”
As I was putting my pen down, I got a news flash and I quote “the Punjab government on Thursday, April8, agreed to implement the direct bank transfer of MSP to farmers, bypassing the arhtiyas, from the current season saying it was left with “no choice” but to implement the scheme as Centre said it will not lift the grains if the new system was not followed. The move is bound to create ripples among the farmers, the arhtiyas and the political class in the agrarian state, where the commission agents have traditionally been carrying out the procurement for the government agencies. Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh had earlier written to Centre, urging it to let Punjab carry on with the old system of procurement and payment through arhtiyas. In a meeting with the commission agents, he had refused to implement the new system that seeks to bypass the arhtiyas.” – Indian Express.
(This write – up has clips and references from Internet News)
Zinda (Daljinder) Singh, New York
Farmers in America, Europe & India
Let us do an eye-opening comparativestudy of farmers in America, Europe and India.
America (USA)
In 2019, the federal government delivered an extraordinary financial aid package to American Farmers.Farm subsidies jumped to highest level in 14 years, mostly paid without any action by congress.
Farmers got $19 Billion in 2019 and $9 Billion in 2020.
In 2020, American farmers made more profit than ever, and still got aid.
Aid is given so that Farmers keep working hard and bring food for each American and supply to other countries
Europe
Last year all Europe paid $1.12 Billion to Farmers. Spain and France gave additional aid to their Farmers
India
Farmers were given new rules and regulations by ruling party and Prime minister
The new rules remove many of their safeguards. More than 86% of India’s cultivated farmlands controlled by small holders less than 5 Acres
“The Indian Government has left farmers on MERCY of big corporations” Instead providing aid as rest of world is doing to their Farmers
FARMERS CAN NOT BRING THEIR DISPUTES TO COURT
With new rules, it appears that small farmers will become laborers on Farms and big corporations will take over Farming
Just to remind you that in 1965 when India was suffering food shortages and west was not ready to sell food grains to India, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri ji created the slogan “JaiJawan, Jai Kissan”
Farmers of old Punjab, now many states, produced so much food that India was exporting food.
Farmers were given tax breaks, subsidized fertilizers and sufficient water supply. Now farmer pays for everything
Indian Government should not only repeal new laws but give aid to Indian Farmers,as all other counties are doing.
NEVER FORGET
Jai Jawan! Jai Kissan!!
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