Killjoys in charge
There was a time not long ago, before Basant was banned, when spring brought festivals of joy to Punjab, especially Lahore. It not only kept up the long tradition of celebrating the new season, it also brought together people from across the social spectrum, and there was a general air of festivity and happiness. In recent years especially, when the economy started sinking, security became problematic, and the common man’s life became a burden, Basant was a welcome relief from complications and pressures of everyday life, therefore it was all the more appreciated.
When the government initially banned the festival some years ago, it was explained as a temporary resort. The concern, which the people widely shared, stemmed from the use of illegal threads, which had caused numerous deaths over the years. It was expected, naturally, that the ban would remain as long as it took the authorities to bust illegal networks and syndicates that made windfalls from such trade, and things would return to normal. But it soon became apparent that this was not a multi-tiered operation. The government was never interested in ‘solving’ this problem. It is happy with just ‘freezing’ it.
There were rumours, initially, that the chief minister’s crackdown owed not so much to public safety as caving into the N-league’s far-right support lobby. This bunch has been against festivities of all sorts, be they cultural, academic, or social. Over time, the Punjab government has done nothing to dispel such doubts. Those in charge are advised to reconsider policies that erode cultural traditions. Already the liberal/secular class has had its breathing space considerably restricted. Events like New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, etc, which were routinely celebrated by all and sundry, already face threats from extremists. The only type of entertainment the government seems in favour of is their Food Street culture. They should revive cultural traditions and give people something to celebrate in these hard times.
