It is an established fact that when the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. The cowardly coterie of deficit ideologies has been working with a reprehensible strategy. In this strategy, they use derogatory tags, name calling and conspiracies as ‘potent’ weapons. The aim behind it is to cancel the hard-earned respect, recognition and tarnish the legacy of their naysayers. The unfortunate slander campaign against Gurdas Maan is a glaring example of how the cabal works when the group failed to defeat him in his domain of expertise.
From a sports enthusiast to popularising Punjabi singing
On 4th of January 1957, Gurdas Maan was born to Gurdev Singh and Tej Kaur in Punjab’s Giddarbaha. After completing schooling from his native town, Maan graduated from DAV college, Malout. Later, he completed his bachelors and master’s degree in Physical education. He took his degree from National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.
Since childhood, Gurdas Maan was interested in music and mimicry. But it is a lesser-known fact that initially he excelled in the sports arena. Before getting due recognition for his singing skills, he participated in sports at the national level. In fact, he won several medals in athletics competition at the national level. Additionally, he is a martial arts expert and black belt in Judo.
However, the recognition, respect and admiration for his song “Dil Da Mamla Hai” heralded him in the Punjabi music industry. After that, he never looked back and became a notable face and strong pillar in the Punjabi Music Industry. Unlike many ‘Superstars’, Maan always remained grounded in success. Even after becoming a well-known face, he kept performing with the same zeal in religious rituals in small towns as he did in concerts.
Since then, he has gone on to record over 34 albums and has written over 305 songs.
Versatile career
Other than Punjabi language, he also mesmerised listeners by singing in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Haryanvi and Rajasthani languages. Along with spiritual connection through his blessed voice, Gurdas Maan believed in the phrase ‘Serving humankind is the service to God’. He regularly does philanthropy. In June 2013, he donated Rs 11 lakh to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund when Uttarakhand was hit by a terrible flood that year.
Further, he maintains cordial relationships with everyone he meets and never treated himself greater or better than his subordinates. The prominent case of it being the unfortunate mishap on 9th of January, 2001. On that fateful day, he narrowly survived a horrifying road accident, however, the accident proved fatal for his driver, Tejpal whom he always considered and treated as his friend. Remembering Tejpal, Gurdas Maan wrote and voiced a song – ‘Baithi sade naal savari utter gayi ‘.
Gurdas Maan also tried his hand in acting. He worked as an actor in few Punjabi films.
He essayed the role of Boota Singh in the film ‘Shaheed-e-Mohabbat – Boota Singh’. Apparently, the famous film, ‘Gadar -Ek Prem Katha’ is claimed to be loosely based on the life of Boota Singh. He also appeared in the role of Bhagat Singh in the film, ‘Saheed Uddham Singh’ starring Raj Babbar in the lead role.
Thorn in the eyes of fanatic groups
The fact that Gurdas Maan was ruling the hearts of listeners with his melodious voice started to become a thorn in the eyes of mediocre players. They started to drag and trap him in various needless controversies. Firstly, he has been a staunch critic of drugs. For that, he has been leading a strong campaign against the rampant problem of drugs in the state.
Secondly, his fierce views on nationalism have badly rattled his rivals who find patriotism problematic. For them, other issues should be given prevalence over nationalism and patriotism. The anarchist elements within and outside the state launched a smear campaign to stop him from putting his views strongly.
The anarchists in cahoots with anti-India brigade and foreign elements did slander campaigns. It was aimed to completely tarnish his legacy and brand him as a “traitor”. Consequently, forcing him to choose between two options – either go to the brink of economic peril or surrender to their fanaticism.
The great irony
The biggest slander campaign pushed him to the wall. Devoid of the right platform to make his views clear on many ill-planned controversies, he released a song a few months back. In the video, he explicitly mentions the conspiracies and attempts to destroy him financially, socially and mentally.
In the song titled ‘Gal Sunoh Punjabi Dosto’, Gurdas Maan highlighted that he was branded as a “traitor” who betrayed his “mother-tongue” Punjabi.
Isn’t it ironic that a man who popularised Punjabi music and made Punjabi singing a major part of Indian parties was called traitor and betrayer of Punjabi language?
What was his crime? His crime was that he wanted to enhance the feelings of common brotherhood. Along with respecting all the regional languages equally, he voiced his support for ‘One Nation, one language’.
What do you think? Is respecting other regional languages a betrayal for mother-tongue? Is calling for national unity and common brotherhood crime? If not, then why was Gurdas Maan vilified and ostracised for doing it, a man who has been tirelessly doing service to Punjabi language, cultural, music industry as a whole and Nationalism. Do let us know what are your views on these controversies and the slander campaign against Gurdas Maan.
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