Monica's Punjab native village ashamed
November 20, 2005
Mid Day
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Monica Bedi's uncle Purshottam Bedi
‘We cannot face the public, she has brought a bad name to
the country and to her native village Chabbewal’. These words
of Purshottam Lal Bedi (uncle of Monica Bedi, younger brother
of her father Prem Kumar Bedi), when in a sober mood — which
is not always, tell the story of a family and a village in denial.
As media-persons trooped to the village on getting news of Abu
Salem’s arrival in India, he tried to give them the slip.
For the last several days the ornate main gate of the Bedi abode
is firmly padlocked.
Men and women of the village are reluctant to say much about
Monica’s conduct and the young men who had eagerly got their
photographs clicked with the starlet during her last visit here
have hidden these mementos.
Chabbewal is a prosperous town in Punjab with a population of
over 5,000 Every household here has at least one NRI member
It’s not easy being a criminal’s kin or even friend.
If you find Purshottam Bedi, you get see that very clearly. Though
he has nothing to do with her misdeeds, he is on the run —
afraid of the media hounding and its endless questions. As soon
as reporters started showing up at his door he locked up the house
and scooted.
A former president of Chabbewal Block Congress Committee and
a member of the village panchayat, Purshottam told the media that
he still could not believe he was related to someone suspected
of being involved in Mumbai bomb blasts or related to an underworld
don.
“I cannot believe it, she was an innocent little girl,”
Purshottam says, too hurt even to mention Monica’s links
with Abu Salem. Questions about contacts with Monica or her parents
bring a stoic face and no replies. He says family members, relatives
and villagers were not aware of Monica’s alliance with Abu
Salem, till the two were arrested in Lisbon in 2002.
The ornate main gate of the Bedi abode is firmly padlocked
“Monica was never married. Had she been married, at least
the family members would have been aware of it,” said Purshottam.
He, just a small farmer, told the media he’s met Monica
only twice.
The first time was in Gurgaon in 1995 when robbers had murdered
her maternal grandparents and the last time was when she came
to the village for brother Bobby’s wedding. Purshottam and
his sister Kanta Bedi, a retired teacher, reside in Chabbewal
with their families.
The Bedi family is still undivided, their land and other property
held jointly. Purshottam’s family moved to Norway about two
years back, leaving him behind. His children moved in with uncle
Prem and were followed by their mother some months back.
The last time Monica came to Chabbewal was in 1998 for the marriage
of Bobby Bedi. He was married into a family based in Tanda, 32
km from Hoshiarpur. Monica remained in the village for three-four
days before returning to Mumbai.
A large number of locals then thronged the place just to have
a glimpse of her and got their photographs clicked with her. But
now villagers feel ashamed when someone mentions that Monica Bedi
belongs to Chabbewal. Photographs clicked then with the actress
have been dumped.
Monica’s celebrity halo has given way to a pariah’s
status. Monica is a name even her relatives shrug off.
“We have nothing to do with her after what she has done,”
says her aunt Kanta. “She seemed such a homely and a friendly
girl when she was here during her brother’s wedding,”
she recalled. “She even went to see the bride for her brother
and approved of her.”
Monica was just a 10-month-old when her father migrated to Norway.
Monica was born in Chabbewal village, 15 km from Hoshiarpur, to
Prem and Shakuntla Bedi. Monica and elder brother Bobby migrated
to Norway in the mid 70s with their parents when Dr Prem Bedi
left his practice as a Registered Medical Practitioner in Chabbewal.
Chabbewal was a small village in those days, so he carried on
his practice from out of their modest home. Before migrating to
Norway in 1976 Dr Prem was making a living as a small time village
medico, said Surinder Pal Singh Sandhu, a member of the Zila Parishad
and a neighbour of Purshottam.
The village and the Bedi home now show that times have changed
and prosperity has arrived. Chabbewal, now a reasonably prosperous
‘Money-order economy’ town in Punjab, has a population
of over 5,000. Every household here has at least one NRI member,
according to Gurmail Singh, neighbour of Purshottam Lal, who was
one year junior to Prem Kumar Bedi in their school days.
Ms Manjit Kaur, sarpanch of the village, said Monica brought
fame to the village after working in Bollywood. But after her
relations with underworld don Abu Salem became known, not just
villagers but the whole state was feeling ashamed.
Most villagers were disappointed with Monica. They told media
that if her connivance with Abu Salem in anti-national activities
was proved, she should be punished as per the law.
Could Monica Bedi have been a sobering influence on Abu Salem?
Or was it the other way round — a fledgling actress tempted,
seduced and finally corrupted by the glitz and kitsch of the underworld-Bollywood
romance?
Monica had signed up for lead role in a Punjabi movie ‘Chan
Mahi’ for Hoshiarpur-based producer Rajinder Pal along with
Sonu Walia, Ranjeeta and Ranjit.
The project launched in 1997 is still incomplete. According to
Sukhwinder, wife of the producer, Monica spent 15 days with her
in Patiala during the shooting. She has an interesting take on
Monica: ‘She could only have been a good influence on Abu
Salem, rather than being his partner in crime.’
Monica’s mother Shakuntala was badly hurt by assailants
in an attack on her parents’ Gurgaon house. Monica visited
Gurgaon last in 1995 after her grandparents were murdered.
She landed at her parents’ place for a vacation the day
the murders took place. Soon after, the victim’s son, Krishan
Chawla sold the bungalow for a paltry sum and moved out. He is
said to be staying in west Delhi’s Punjabi Bagh, with sister
Shakuntala frequently in tow.
Monica’s father, brother Bobby with his family, as well
as Purshottam’s wife and children are in Norway while her
mother continues to live away from her husband for quite some
time now. Predictably tongues are wagging in Chabbewal, and not
just because of Monica. (1)
