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Few fights have gone on for that long as the one between Maharaja of Patiala and the Bhattals. If Amarinder’s political rivalry with Bhattal is legendary stuff of Punjab politics’ factionalism, it is because it is almost a minor historical legacy. Over 200 years of rivalry. During the 2004 Parliamentary elections, when a Paramjit Kaur was dipping into family legacy to suffix Gulshan to her name, and Amarinder’s ancestral village was vowing to display its loyalty, I wrote this as a slice of life piece in this sprawling village of multiple panchayats.

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Poor Bhattal! Over 200 years later Mehraaj still swears by its Maharaja

S P Singh

Dateline Mehraaj (Batinda)

FOREFATHER of the Patiala royals and founder of the Phulkian Misl’s fortunes Ram Singh, whose ancestors hailed from Mehraaj village, was engaged in warfare with the Bhattals in early 1730s to extend a hold on territories around Barnala, and later Baba Ala Singh extended fortunes to take in Sunam, Sanaur and Tohana.

Generations later, residents of Mehraaj are still proud of the fact that it is Punjab’s largest village. In this first Parliamentary joust of 21^st century in Punjab, they are doubly happy.

Reason: The Patiala Maharaja still has an upper hand over Bhattal.

Administered by no less than four patwars and nine panchayats, Mehraaj villagers have seen their fortunes on an upswing ever since Amarinder Singh became Chief Minister.

And without being much able to spew out Communist ideology, the villagers are unequivocally supporting CPI’s candidate Kushal Bhaura for the Bathinda seat against Akali Dal’s Paramjit Kaur, daughter of Dhanna Singh Gulshan. The 12,000-vote village seems dipped in Congress flavour, though one does run into an Akali now and then.

"Just look around if you want to know why we support Amarinder," Nand Singh proudly reels out the projects which came Mehraaj’s way after Amarinder’s ascent to the hot seat.

A Rs 6.5 crore water supply and sewerage project, street lights, Rs 4.5 crore spent on lining of drains and concrete drains, a Rs two crore community health centre, a Rs 9 lakh stadium, a Rs 16.5 lakh hall for gram sabha, a solar power plant for Rs two crore, a skill upgradation tool centre worth Rs 8 lakh, a milk chilling centre and a farmers training institute.

"Mehraaj is closest to Maharaja’s heart," Gurpal Kaur, a 45-year-old resident said, proudly adding that she too was among nearly a hundred households which had organized Akhand Paaths for Amarinder Singh’s government when Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was demanding loudly in Delhi that the CM’s head must roll.

In fact, when the dissidents’ campaign was at its peak, Amarinder had kept his date with the villagers with a visit in mid-December.

Several villages have been carved out of Mehraaj over the years, but that hasn’t affected its status as the biggest village area wise.

Retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagroop Singh said had it not been for Amarinder, no one would have thought of doing so much for Mehraaj.

Villagers said for scores of years, Amarinder’s family, despite being centered in Patiala, have kept alive their contact with Mehraaj and invite sardars from major pattis to their palace in Patiala on every happy occasion.

Which is fine, since long after Amarinder leaves the Chief Minister job and gets on with life, Mehraaj will be one of the few villages tracking who has the upper hand – the Maharaja or Bhattal.■

May 5, 2004

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Godly talks

Late one night, following a disappointing day wrestling with a troublesome scene in one of the Pink Panther films, director Blake Edwards was roused by a call from the film's star, Peter Sellers. "I just talked to God!" he exclaimed. "And He told me how to do it!"

The next day, Edwards humored Sellers - and the result was an unmitigated disaster. "Peter," Edwards suggested, "next time you talk to God, tell Him to stay out of show business!"

(Sources: P. Evans, The Mask Behind the Mask)

Two Bits?

American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was once visited by an ardent socialist who spoke at great length about the evils of Capitalism and its tendency to generate inequality. Carnegie finally called his secretary and asked for two numbers: his estimated net worth and the approximate global population.

"Give this gentlemen sixteen cents," he then instructed her. "That's his share of my wealth."

(Sources: E. Fuller, 2500 Anecdotes)

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