With lyrics of Punjabi songs increasingly straying into the ‘censored’ zone, music may soon face complete ban in Punjab buses. The state transport department, which last week banned both the state and private buses from playing vulgar and provocative songs citing them as distraction causing road accidents, says it was flooded with complaints against objectionable lyrics.
“One of the reasons for imposing the ban was also the large number of complaints against dirty songs played in the buses. They are not only a distraction for drivers but also generate mental pollution. Those who want to hear such songs can hear them at their homes,” says Punjab Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar.
Though the minister thinks such songs are a distraction for those behind the wheel, his department does not want to completely ban radio and music in buses. “For now, we have asked them to air only informative programmes, news and good music. We have asked passengers to inform us if they come across drivers playing vulgar songs. If we still receive complaints, all music will be banned in state buses,” he says.
While vulgarity distracts, according to Kohar, drunken driving makes for a heady mix leading to high number of fatalities on roads. “It is a known fact that many in Punjab drive at night after taking a drink or two. Drunken driving is a major cause for road accidents and the government is making all-out efforts to check it,” he adds.
Good intentions apart, the department’s hunt for “good” songs may not prove easy going by demonstrations by women activists outside homes of leading Punjabi singers. In a move that picked up since last year, woman vigilante groups have picketed houses and burnt effigies of Punjabi singers for “demeaning and derogatory” lyrics and videos.
The Istri Jagriti Manch burnt effigies of rapper Honey Singh for talking all things suggestive from “dope-shope” to “brown chicks” while singer Diljit Dosanjh invited the Manch’s protests outside his home in Ludhiana for “double meaning” songs on under-15 girls. In May this year, the activists also laid seize to home of Indo-Canadian singer Geeta Zaildar in Phagwara and burnt effigies of singers Gippy Grewal and Miss Pooja for “promoting obscenity and violence, devaluing women and eroding social ethos”.
The Parkash Singh Badal government has finally taken note of the rising vulgarity. Punjab will soon enact a new cultural policy to save its traditional and folk heritage. Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Swaran Singh Phillaur has already announced that state’s own censor board will screen Punjabi songs and movies for vulgar words, lyrics and obscene content. Only music certified as good, will then play in Punjab buses.
Source : Indian Express