Punjabis dream of West despite humbling return

The image of the aeroplane is deeply embedded in the Punjabi psyche

- Nirupama Dutt

The immigrant's tale of making it to the dream destination of the United States (US) to labour hard for dollars turns sour as they are deported, shackled and humiliated; but not shattered.

They took the dunki route and were shackled and sent back like criminals, if not snakes, as one is to go by Trump's dramatic reading of the Snake poem targeted against immigrants. Yet, aspiring Punjabis proudly posted videos of their tough journeys set to the peppy Punjabi 2024 song by Cheema Y and Gur Sidhu, released by Brown Town Music challenging Trump that there was no way he could stop the sons of the Jats from labouring in the US. Even the Punjabi ideologues say if an immigrant is a snake then the whole world is hissing with them. The recitation has met with ridicule in his homeground.

Drive through the Doaba region of Punjab, the mango-growing area that stretches between two rivers (Do Aab) the Beas on one side and the Satluj on the other, and there is no dearth of palatial empty homes and there is a special addition to mark the non-resident Indian's journey: a concrete model of an aeroplane resting on the big water tank on the rooftop to signify that the owner flew on it to distant lands. The aeroplane is a precious symbol in the Punjabi mind of having been there and done that.