Chandigarh: In an effort to raise awareness against drug abuse and protect Punjab’s youth, Punjabi lyricist, singer and filmmaker Shaggy Boss has created the song “Main Punjab Bol Reha” (I Am Punjab Speaking), which has emerged as a cultural voice associated with the BJP’s Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra.
Punjab BJP President Sardar Keval Singh Dhillon released the poster of the song in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Shaggy Boss, along with actor Hobi Dhaliwal, Jatinder Singh Saran, Inder Sekhri, Ranjit Singh Gillgo and Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala, was present on the occasion.
Describing the song as more than a musical composition, Dhillon said, “‘Main Punjab Bol Reha’ is not merely a song; it is the pain of a Punjab suffering from drugs and a call to save its youth. ‘Meri jawani nu bacha lo, main Punjab bol reha’ (Save my youth, I am Punjab speaking) captures the central message of the song.”
The song portrays Punjab as a grieving father appealing for its younger generation to be protected from drugs. Lines such as “Mawan hath aate reh gaye” (Mothers are left with only flour in their hands), “Pindan de pind ho gaye sunne” (Villages have fallen silent) and “Gabbru chhad ke dhiyan mawan rondiyan” (Mothers and daughters are left mourning their young men) reflect the emotional and social impact of drug abuse on families and villages.
The song also invokes the legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, General Hari Singh Nalwa, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha and Shaheed Bhagat Singh, connecting Punjab’s history of courage, sacrifice and character with the aspirations of its present generation. The reference to Bhagat Singh, in particular, seeks to evoke a sense of courage, sacrifice and responsibility among young people.
Dhillon said Punjab’s identity was rooted not in drugs but in courage, character, hard work and sacrifice. He added that the challenge of making Punjab drug-free extends beyond action against drug traffickers and involves families, society, education, employment, law and order and the future of the younger generation.
He said the participation of personalities from Punjab’s music, film and cultural sectors in the Nasha Mukt Punjab Yatra highlighted the wider social responsibility involved in addressing drug abuse. Cultural initiatives, he said, could help take the message against drugs to young people in a language and medium with which they closely identify.
Thanking Shaggy Boss for lending his voice to the campaign, Dhillon said, “Our resolve is that Punjab’s youth should get opportunities, not drugs; they should have the confidence to build their future in Punjab rather than feel compelled to leave. ‘Main Punjab Bol Reha’ is an emotional voice of this resolve.”
Shaggy Boss is associated with Punjabi songwriting and singing as well as video direction, short films and music-video production. His participation brings the issue of drug abuse into the cultural and creative space, with the song seeking to reinforce the message that combating drugs requires the participation of society as a whole.
The song’s central appeal is simple: “Save Punjab’s youth from drugs.”