Narinder Kumar Jeet and the trajectory of democratic movements in Punjab

By Harsh Thakor* 

Advocate Narinder Kumar Jeet, widely known as N.K. Jeet, a long-time participant in democratic movements in Punjab, passed away on April 17 at the age of 79. Over more than five decades, he was associated with a range of mass-based initiatives involving workers, farmers, and civil liberties groups. He had been unwell for several months and was bedridden prior to his death. His last rites were held on April 18 in Bathinda, attended by leaders and activists from several organisations.

Jeet’s work spanned multiple phases of political and social mobilisation in Punjab. He was involved in efforts to connect trade union struggles, particularly those of Postal and Telegraph workers in the 1970s, with broader democratic campaigns. He also participated in protests during the post-Emergency period and in mobilisations around incidents such as the 1979 killing of student leader Prithipal Singh Randhawa.

During the period of militancy in Punjab in the 1980s and early 1990s, Jeet was among those who engaged with campaigns against both extremist violence and state repression. He was critical of the rise of militant Sikh fundamentalism associated with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, viewing it as detrimental to democratic politics in the state. At the same time, he and others in similar platforms also questioned the role of mainstream political actors, including the Congress, in the political developments that contributed to that phase. He addressed public meetings and contributed to initiatives such as platforms formed to oppose repression and communalism. His work during this period focused on mobilising sections of the rural population, particularly in the Malwa region.

In the 1990s, Jeet was associated with the formation of Lok Morcha Punjab, a platform that sought to bring together various strands of democratic protest. The organisation raised issues including unemployment, price rise, agrarian distress, and civil liberties, and also intervened in electoral politics through campaigns that were critical of mainstream political parties. It was active in mobilising both sections of the peasantry and agricultural labour, including Dalit workers, around questions of wages, land rights, and indebtedness.

Jeet also maintained links with farmers’ organisations and labour unions, and was involved in mobilisations that contributed to the emergence of groups such as the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan). In subsequent years, these networks played a role in several agrarian struggles in Punjab, including protests over land acquisition and rural indebtedness.

As a lawyer, Jeet handled cases related to labour and agrarian issues and was associated with civil liberties work. He supported fact-finding efforts into alleged human rights violations and was linked with initiatives opposing policies such as Operation Green Hunt. He was also involved in the revival of the Association for Democratic Rights in Punjab and participated in broader national networks concerned with civil liberties.

During the farmers’ protests at the Delhi borders between 2020 and 2021, Jeet extended support through public commentary and outreach. He used meetings and digital platforms to engage with participants and articulate concerns related to agricultural policy and rural livelihoods.

Those who worked with him recall his organisational involvement, accessibility, and long-term engagement with grassroots movements. While assessments of his ideological positions varied, his role in sustaining networks of democratic activism in Punjab over several decades was widely acknowledged.

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*Freelance journalist