Mann Brings Hope to Punjab

From Rajvinder Kaur Heyer Dhillon, Mountain House, CA

On March 9, I never thought my father’s dream that royalty and entrenched elite would be uprooted come true in the Punjab elections of March 9.

After the Punjab elections, the world now has two comedians leading a nation and a state: President Vladimir Zelensky in Ukraine and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Punjab. There are a lot of similar traits – not just comedians, they are both singers and actors Zelensky played President in the show, “Servant of the People” and later named his party the same. Mann in his comedy skits speaks home truths: if he were to get educated, he would become an officer, otherwise, he would become an MLA or minister.

They were both anti-establishment and ran against corruption.  Zelensky defeated Petro Poroshenko, Maan defeated the Akali Dal, BJP and Congress in March. Anne Libra, Director of Comedy Studies at Columbia College, Chicago said “Comedy manipulates the truth, pain, and psychological distance with the intent to make others laugh.”  

Because of social media, the Internet, and Globalization people are informed, and tired of the old generation’s tactics and thinking they want new blood and do not care about religion, caste, creed, or party affiliation. They care about the candidates who will change the face of Punjab. Members of Punjab AAP are an amalgamation of doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, techies, and farmers. They belong to different religions and classes.

I would like to congratulate AAP Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann and all others for decimating Akali Dal’s Majithia and Congress Party’s Navjot Sidhu. They are not corrupt politicians but on the wrong side of history. I cannot forget to thank Arvind Kejriwal who guided AAP to bring change in Punjab.

I will urge Mann, to be humble and courteous, and  not let power and money become important. Bring change through love, not intimidation.  

On March 9, I never thought my father’s dream that royalty and entrenched elite would be uprooted come true in the Punjab elections of March 9.

After the Punjab elections, the world now has two comedians leading a nation and a state: President Vladimir Zelensky in Ukraine and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Punjab. There are a lot of similar traits – not just comedians, they are both singers and actors Zelensky played President in the show, “Servant of the People” and later named his party the same. Mann in his comedy skits speaks home truths: if he were to get educated, he would become an officer, otherwise, he would become an MLA or minister.

They were both anti-establishment and ran against corruption.  Zelensky defeated Petro Poroshenko, Maan defeated the Akali Dal, BJP and Congress in March. Anne Libra, Director of Comedy Studies at Columbia College, Chicago said “Comedy manipulates the truth, pain, and psychological distance with the intent to make others laugh.”  

Because of social media, the Internet, and Globalization people are informed, and tired of the old generation’s tactics and thinking they want new blood and do not care about religion, caste, creed, or party affiliation. They care about the candidates who will change the face of Punjab. Members of Punjab AAP are an amalgamation of doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, techies, and farmers. They belong to different religions and classes.

I would like to congratulate AAP Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann and all others for decimating Akali Dal’s Majithia and Congress Party’s Navjot Sidhu. They are not corrupt politicians but on the wrong side of history. I cannot forget to thank Arvind Kejriwal who guided AAP to bring change in Punjab.

I will urge Mann, to be humble and courteous, and  not let power and money become important. Bring change through love, not intimidation.