Haryana singers join race to counter ‘SYL’
SOME ARTISTES FROM HARYANA EXPRESSED THEIR ANGUISH, STAKING THEIR CLAIMS OVER THE SUTLEJ WATERS
KARNAL: Nearly a year after farmers of Punjab and Haryana unitedly led an agitation against the three contentious farm laws, a war of rhythm and notes on SYL canal waters has taken the two states by storm, bringing the issue back in focus and evoking a huge response from both sides.
A fresh debate on the decades old issue sparked within hours after ‘SYL’ song composed and sung by slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala was released on official YouTube account, which mentioned controversial issues between Haryana and Punjab like SYL and Chandigarh. This resulted in artistes from Haryana countering the Moose Wala’s song, which has now been removed from his official account on YouTube.
While Moose Wala’s first song released after his murder garnered millions of views within a few hours, some artistes from Haryana also tried their hand to express their anguish in the same way and staking their claims over the Sutlej waters.
Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma has released a song titled ‘SYL-Haryanvi’, which talks about Haryana’s 50% share in the SYL water. ‘Haq Sai Mara SYL’ and ‘Tipka-Tipka Koni-Paani Aadha Lewange ’-the verses of this song are laced with the visuals of the dry SYL canal, parched and barren land of southern Haryana and state farmers wearing white turbans and twisting moustaches. The song seems to be an attempt to reflect the anger of people of Haryana for dilly delaying in the release of the SYL water despite the orders of the apex court.
The song has clocked nearly 6.5 lakh views in less than 24 hours of the release and has become quite popular among Haryanvi youths.
Expressing the same spirit, another Haryanvi singer Ramkesh Jiwanpur Wala has also released a song on the same theme in response to the song of Moose Wala. The song titled ‘Mare Haryana Ka Haq Marna Achi Baat Nahi’, is also being widely circulated on social media platforms and has been watched nearly 2.10 lakh times in 24 hours of its official release on YouTube. Some verses of the song and visuals of the farm agitation reflect the emotions of how farmers of Haryana welcomed the people from Punjab during the farm agitation.
Some comments and reviews by the listeners also showed support to Haryana. “Full support to Haryana from Rajasthan Jai Hind,” commented a listener. “Such controversial issues provide an opportunity to the artistes to gain popularity and even monetary benefits by drawing the attention of people, especially the youth. Such songs on burning and controversial issues also provide a chance to them as several songs were released during the farm agitation,” said Prof Ramji Lal, former principal of Karnal’s Dyal Singh College.
He said the recent development paints a grim picture, which comes months after several stories of harmony and brotherhood between farmers of Punjab and Haryana sharing food and shelter at Delhi borders are still fresh. “People should react to such things very carefully,” he added. Even international boxer Vijender Singh had to face criticism for sharing the song link on his Twitter account.