 |
Thursday,
January 31, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
|
Pervez’s diplomatic offensive No transparency this Criminals in politics |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Indian and American interests
Gujarat earthquake: slow pace of rehabilitation
Having a dialogue with oneself
1989, Chemistry: ALTMAN & CECH
A Punjabi farmer hopes to enter US Congress
|
Pervez’s diplomatic offensive It is amazing but true that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has established his credentials as a competent actor. He was at his histrionic best during the failed Agra summit in July. He is a fast learner. After Agra he has given several performances both for the domestic audience and the global community. Even his bitter rivals grudgingly admire his ability to bluff his way out of seemingly difficult situations. Post-September 11 was one such moment in his short career as the self-appointed President of Pakistan. He turned adversity into an opportunity and got handsome concessions from the USA for services rendered. The bad news for India is that the post-December 13 initiatives which General Musharraf have taken are equally breath-taking. In a manner of speaking, he has stolen Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's script and is using it for earning the support and respect of the global community. Before the attack on the Indian Parliament complex last month, India's was the voice of moderation while Pakistan was perceived by the global community as being more hawkish than was necessary for its own good. India had taken the initiative of restoring people-to-people contact between the two neighbours as part of the well-thought-out diplomatic drive for building bridges with Pakistan. The initiative to start a bus service between the two countries was taken by India. Mr Vajpayee showed refreshing political courage to be the first bus passenger from India to visit Lahore. The Lahore Declaration opened an opportunity for putting normalisation of relations between the two countries on a fast track. The Agra summit too was authored by him. It now appears that the Indian leadership, perhaps, had not taken into account General Musharraf's skill to turn adversity into opportunity. India rightly mounted an aggressive global diplomatic campaign for making Pakistan see reason after the December13 incident. It worked only up to a point as is now evident from the shift in the position of the global community. The Pakistan dictator was made to make a public broadcast against terrorism. He did, and gained both global respect and domestic awe. India's aggressive stand has given General Musharraf the opening to effect a subtle role-reversal in the known positions of the two countries for establishing durable peace in the subcontinent. The public expression of the willingness to restore rail, road and air links with India is part of a diplomatic charade that has become part of President Musharraf's political repertory. Now Pakistan is emphasising the need for restoring people-to-people links by removing the travel restrictions imposed by India! The bad news is that the global community is listening. It is evident that the Indian leadership will have to rework its diplomatic initiatives to prevent the General from stealing what was essentially India's diplomatic thunder for restoring peace in the subcontinent. Such a shift is necessary because no country, with the exception of one, can afford to ignore the response of the international community for settling even bilateral disputes. As of today, General Musharraf seems to be getting more attention than Mr Vajpayee. This distortion must be corrected, and without much delay. |
|
No transparency this The Westminster style of democracy starts and ends in the lower House of Parliament. That is the meaning of the people’s representatives ruling the country in the name of the ultimate sovereign, the voters. The Defence Ministry and the Defence Minister do not recognise this. The Ministry in a curt note rejected the request of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for the report of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on the defence deals during the past decade. It had cited several rules of the Lok Sabha proceedings to justify its unjustifiable action. It says the publication of the CVC report will compromise the nation’s security and will thus harm overall interests. It is one thing for the Defence Ministry, even with the sanction of the Minister, to turn down the PAC’s request and another thing to imply that taking the PAC into confidence will imperil national security. It could have submitted the report on condition of strict confidentiality or provided a censored version. The PAC is a highly respected body designed to protect the interests of the people against government action. Denying it the right to scrutinise the CVC report on so vital a matter as defence deals smacks of two things: one, there are serious irregularities in the transactions or the procedure is so flawed as to justify the Tehelka charges. It was time to rectify the impression but the government has instead strengthened it. When Mr George Fernandes took over as Defence Minister he promised to introduce transparency in all defence deals. That was before the March disclosure of Tehelka tapes. Since then the Defence Ministry and the armed forces have come under serious suspicion of several wrong-doings. The myth that the countries opposed to India will benefit from any revelations about defence deals is just a myth. Military attaches all over the world keep supplying their government the latest information on the hardware and software purchases by all countries, including India. Satellite spying reinforces this information. There is no secret in the military affairs of any country any more. To deny the PAC the CVC report is to deny the people their right to know what exactly went on during those grey years when major transactions took place in darkened chambers away from public glare. |
|
Criminals in politics Is it possible to keep politics free from crime? Not at all under the circumstances. In fact, such a scenario is unthinkable, going by the indifference shown by political parties in the selection of their nominees for the coming Assembly elections in four states, particularly UP. At least 50 candidates with a criminal background, many of them history-sheeters, are in the fray in the politically important state of the country. All the principal political parties are guilty of allotting their ticket to candidates with a questionable past keeping in view the "winnability factor". Both criminals and politicians have found a big loophole in the law to escape the scrutiny by the Election Commission. The law allows even known and dreaded criminals not convicted in a court case to contest an election to the legislature. Since the commission is helpless, most of the sitting MLAs with dangerous antecedents but with the " winnability factor" on their side because of their enormous muscle power have been successful in entering the electoral arena. Those who could not manage a party ticket like Madan Bhaiyya are contesting as Independents. Murderers, kidnappers, mafia dons and others like them do not behave like traditional politicians. They brazently demonstrate what they are as their victory depends on the capacity to subvert the electoral process by terrorising the voters. The modus operandi of such contestants is to spread terror in their constituency to force voters to either exercise their franchise in favour of these musclemen or to keep away from polling booths. Men of these contestants take care of the people's "right to vote according to their choice". The politicians with a shady past know no other way to achieve success. In today's political culture no questions are asked about the means adopted. Then what about the representative character of our democracy? What about the oft-repeated commitment of political leaders to cleanse politics of crime and corruption? Obviously, it is not possible to translate this dream into a reality when criminals find entry into the hallowed portals of legislatures. A person not used to respecting the law of the land cannot be expected to work for the growth of a crime-free polity. It is foolish to believe that such a person can play his role as a law-maker in a positive manner? But think of the day when law-breakers will be in a majority as law-makers! The emergence of such a depressing scenario must be stopped before it becomes impossible to do anything about it. |
Indian and American interests Never since India became independent has there ever been such an intensive engagement with the USA as during the last two months. Following the visits by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Adviser Brajesh Misra, there has been a spate of Indian dignitaries visiting Washington. A visit by Prime Minister Vajpayee to the White House was followed by visits by Home Minister L.K. Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes. While mutual cooperation in the war against terrorism and the escalating tension between India and Pakistan have been the focus of attention during these visits, recent exchanges have cleared the way for a broader dialogue to include the strengthening of bilateral relations and increased strategic cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. There is now a realisation that issues of long-term strategic cooperation should not be made hostage to the compulsions of current events. It is in this perspective that both India and the USA should look at current developments. September 11 and December 13, 2001, should be regarded as defining moments in Indo-US relations. The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington finally persuaded the USA that the walls of “Fortress America” could well be breached with impunity by international terrorism. The attack on Parliament House, likewise, finally persuaded our policy makers that hard options cannot be continuously avoided in dealing with a neighbour that makes terrorism an instrument of state policy. Despite some vigorous stonewalling by the State Department, Washington finally acted against Pakistan-based terrorist groups and even General Musharraf’s bosom buddy, General Colin Powell, now recognises that an Indo-Pakistan dialogue before Pakistan credibly addresses India’s core concerns is not a practicable proposition. But New Delhi would have to move deftly as it presses home the point that deeds, and not words alone, are what it is looking for. The Bush Administration has been forthcoming in addressing some of India’s technological and other needs in defence-related areas. But New Delhi would be wise to move prudently and step by step in this area, especially on issues of acquiring new weapons systems. Few could, however, have imagined that we would so soon see the day when there is an ever-expanding exchange of information and experiences between India and the USA in security-related matters. The visit of Home Minister Advani to the CIA and FBI headquarters is a far cry from the days when such visits would be regarded as unthinkable. The very fact that such visits, cooperation and exchanges are taking place serves as a deterrent to terrorists and their sponsors. One hopes that this spirit of cooperation soon extends to the area of technological exchanges. The non-proliferation warriors of yore still seem to believe that they should “cap” India’s nuclear programme by a regime of technological denials, especially of dual use technologies. The time has now come to frankly tell the Bush Administration that it cannot describe India as a long-term strategic partner on the one hand while treating this country virtually on a par with adversaries like Iraq, Libya and North Korea, on the other on issues of technology transfer. China has its ICBMs targeting the USA and yet receives far more consideration and cooperation in space technology than India does. Despite General Musharraf’s protestations, it is evident to India as it should be to the USA that the nexus between sections of the ISI and Islamist elements in the Pakistan army on the one hand and jihadi outfits functioning worldwide on the other is going to remain. The USA seems to be preparing for a prolonged military presence in Pakistan, Afghanistan and some of the Central Asian republics. This is going to cause some unease in Moscow and considerable discomfort in Tehran and Beijing. The USA has developed a stake in sustaining and supporting General Musharraf. One should, therefore, not be surprised to see moves towards accommodation between General Musharraf and Ms Benazir Bhutto. Washington doubtless realises that its favourite General cannot forever function in a political vacuum. There are realists in the Bush Administration who acknowledge that Pakistan is going to remain a problem child for a long time to come. Despite this, we should make it clear that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is one that touches the psyche of every Indian — an issue that determines the very basis of India’s secular, pluralistic nationhood. It would be unrealistic and unwise for anyone to believe otherwise. As the war against terrorism proceeds, US relations with its key ally Saudi Arabia are coming under strain, with indications that the Saudis would be happier with a distant, beyond the horizon American military presence. Apart from the shadow cast by Osama bin Laden, the Saudis are finding that they can no longer avoid international attention focusing on their funding of religious organisations that tend to become extremist across the world. The Americans are also concerned at the growing manifestations of Islamist tendencies in ASEAN countries. Even the charismatic President Megawati Sukarnoputri is treading cautiously. She has declined to freeze bank accounts of terrorist organisations and has restricted overflights of American warplanes. Indonesian intelligence officials have, however, acknowledged that Al-Qaeda has set up camps in their country. The continuing extremist insurgency in Philippines and the arrests of terrorists who were set to blow up the American Embassy in Singapore has also set alarm bells ringing. Washington now faces a serious crisis of strategic uncertainty from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Malacca. India and the USA share a common interest in the stability and progress of this region. The decision that the Indian Navy will escort American supply ships in this region is only a small manifestation of the potential for strategic cooperation on the basis of shared interests. The impressive growth of Indo-US cooperation has raised concerns in Beijing. The “Middle Kingdom” now perhaps realises that its earlier description of India as “a major power in South Asia” will have to change to recognition of the need for an Asian strategic balance involving China, Japan and India. Premier Zhu Rongji’s statements in New Delhi are welcome and should lead to the consolidation of peace, confidence and tranquillity along the Line of Control. The Chinese aver that they are concerned about religious extremism in Pakistan. They have steered clear of saying anything objectionable on the current tensions in the subcontinent. We should press ahead with efforts to expand cooperation and enhance confidence with our northern neighbour. But India cannot ignore the strategic implications of continuing missile and nuclear transfers between China and Pakistan. As our former Ambassador to China Shekhar Dasgupta recently remarked, it is prudent to deal with China on the basis of its military capabilities, rather than its professed intentions. In the meantime there is much India can learn from China’s determination to move ahead relentlessly on the path of sustained economic growth. While Americans do speak of the immense “potential” of India, this country will have to recognise that in the ultimate analysis our role in the world and in our neighbourhood will depend on two factors. The first is that India’s role will remain marginal and vulnerable unless the country sets its economic house in order, carries forward the process of economic reform and restructures and maintains a sustained economic growth rate of 7-8 per cent. The second is to move purposefully to economically integrate the South and South-East Asian regions, hopefully into an Asian economic union. Several alternative models are available to us to move in this direction. The Kathmandu SAARC summit spoke of the establishment of a South Asian free trade area. We should pursue this vigorously even as we seek a more meaningful economic relationship with ASEAN. These are issues that should receive no less political attention than the war against terrorism. And we should spare no effort to appraise the world of this larger Indian vision of peace, security and cooperation in our neighbourhood, based on a common and shared quest for economic progress and prosperity. The writer is a former High Commissioner of India to Pakistan. |
Gujarat earthquake: slow pace of rehabilitation Notwithstanding the tall claims of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi about the relief and rehabilitation work in the earthquake-affected districts of the state, nothing much seems to be happening on the ground. Thousands of victims continue to live in tents, not “by choice” as the administration would have us believe but because of no alternative. People in the towns of Kutch, Chaoshuj, Bhachau, Anjar and Rapar have been passing through a harrowing time in the chilly winter months as they are the least settled. Long-term rehabilitation of victims continues to remain a serious concern even after one year of the killer earthquake that claimed over 13,000 lives and rendered thousands homeless. Undoubtedly, rehabilitation of the victims has been a huge collaborative effort between the government, the civil society and NGOs. According to a television report, as many as 230 NGOs have been helping the government. But the problem is that NGOs can help the government only in policy making and in giving a fillip to reconstruction work. They have limitations and cannot execute the work entirely on their own. Moreover, compared with villages, policy making in towns is getting complicated because of too many rules and vested interests. The issue seems to have become grave because of the fact that over 80 per cent of houses are yet to be built. The government boasts of sanctioning loans to people for house building. But the third instalment has not yet been sanctioned in Kutch (Urban). The number of damaged houses is reportedly more than the partially damaged ones. If one should accept the official claim that eight lakh houses have already been repaired, then it would lead to a dangerous situation as these houses do not conform to seismic-safety standards. A serious charge being levelled by several organisations and individuals in Kutch and other places is the alleged nexus between government officials and the builders’ lobby. If several builders and contractors were really responsible for raising unauthorised apartment complexes in congested areas in flagrant violation of the by-laws, why are they not being punished in accordance with the law even after one year of the earthquake? Is there no way to break the nexus between the officials, builders and contractors? And is there no deterrent to check the haphazard growth of buildings? The government’s lackadaisical attitude in this regard reinforces the belief that the rich and the mighty are beyond the long arms of law. What is more, the government has done little to put in place a code of conduct for builders. Such a code seems to have become necessary to fix accountability on recalcitrant builders and contractors. It is also alleged that there has been rampant discrimination in relief and rehabilitation work in the affected areas. While some rich people have managed to get four to five houses, the really deserving ones have to contend with just a tarpaulin. There is no reliable data on the criteria for house allotment and the background and income levels of the actual beneficiaries. This makes one believe the reports of official bungling in loan sanction and house allotment. Official insistence on residence proof (before last year’s earthquake), for the sanction of loans and/or shelter has left many victims high and dry as they have nothing left to show. In Rapar and Anjar, for instance, some people have not paid panchayat tax, having lived for decades on unauthorised village land. The state government maintains that District Judges, as ombudsmen, are looking into individual complaints. The National Human Rights Commission is also seized of the matter. But justice is a long drawn out process and victims do not know how long they have to wait for a roof over their head. Surprisingly, in 61 villages of Kutch, the debris is yet to be removed and the work is yet to start . The need of the hour is to restore confidence among the people. This could be ensured by encouraging local participation, especially of the unemployed youth, widows and orphans in the reconstruction work. They should be given employment on a regular and sustained basis. If too many discretionary powers down the ladder are leading to corruption in the rehabilitation work, the government should try to make policy implementation open and transparent. More public hearings in the affected areas will reactivate the administrative machinery, plug the loopholes and quicken the pace of rehabilitation. One cannot compromise with safety standards. True, seismic engineering itself is in the process of becoming a full-fledged discipline, most of the development in this area having taken place only in the past 8-10 years. However, in the light of the past experience, the government should take steps to spread general awareness on retrofitting and seismic-safe houses even though it is a costly exercise. In this context, training of individuals in the area of community-based disaster management has become a pressing need. More than conducting workshops with international experts, the government should involve the local people in comprehensive disaster management. |
Having a dialogue with oneself I
do not know much about the essence of sublimity or self. I have read books which elaborate the meaning of these terms. I have also come across myriad definitions of a purposeful and edifying life but these definitions and theories do not reveal to me the beauty and mystery of “lifeness”. It is through my muddled experience that I have realised the value of a gift that life has given me — the gift of a little space that I can use for whispering to myself. It is this little space that allows me to do my homework and acquire a certain self-definition. It is while doing my sums that I choose a particular direction, a particular way of life, a tentative perception of my identity and self-recognition. For this blessing to have a contact with myself, I bow my head to the Lord, since otherwise I would have remained myopic and visionless. Self-contact is not space-centric, since one continues to have a dialogue with oneself in a sammelan as well as in solitude. It is through this tiny window of the mind that one can detect the blandishments of a derivative lifestyle and the shallowness of mimic-men and one-dimensional fellow-beings. When T.S. Eliot identifies “hollow men” as “stuffed men” with “dried voices” and W.B. Yeats laments that the best of mankind “lack all conviction” while the worst are “full of passionate intensity”, they sadly discern the absence of self-contact among our acclaimed movers and shakers. While this self-immersion or inward descent differentiates between the vital and the trivial pursuits, it acts as a radar against ethical compromises. I think Socrates was perhaps the first person to ring this alarm: that “an unexamined life” was futile, that before judging others we should first judge ourselves. This led him to postulate his credo: “Know thyself”. For authentic living one has to scrape off the varnish called temporal success and stature and attempt an honest handshake with oneself. This inner connectivity alone can sustain us in moments of pain and grief. And this connectivity is akin to a creative passion, the passion to preserve your essential self without wearing the mask of motivated politeness. It is helpful to recall what Henry David Thoreau has to say about this connectedness with one’s core self. “Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts”, says the American hermit. And, then, he exhorts us to be “a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels not of trade but of thought”. Such a vertical contact with oneself alone can help one get rid of a grave malady called “quiet desperation”. The failure to have self-contact, in my view, spawns an expedient attitude with an “insidious intent”. This purely utilitarian approach won’t let us experience the two incomparable joys, one of having a happy home and the other of sharing the trust and affection of a few lasting friends. Social climbers and slick operators, unfortunately, regard human relationships as a mere trade or a transaction which should yield rich dividends. This mercantile attitude, in Charlyle’s words, begets not friends but “dinner guests”. Contrary to these “me first” and profit-focused individuals, are those who value the sanctity of human ties, since deceit is alien to the mindset of a person who enjoys a dialogical contact with himself. While this self-contact highlights the role of family and friends in our personal growth, it also leads us to discover the twin virtues of humility and gratitude. “I never knew, and never shall know, a worse man than myself, says someone who preceded Gandhiji in forging civil disobedience as a mode of protest. As a therapy against pretence and tall talk, humility acts as a social and moral tonic. Allied to humility stands an ancient virtue called gratitude which I call the hallmark of a human being. Remember Uriah Heep of Dickens? A sycophant and a snob. In our rage for
self advancement we even bury our self-esteem and later feign amnesia about the benefactor. While gratitude enhances the liveliness of life, thanklessness blemishes it. It may sound a bit naive and mushy but every morning when I step out for a walk I look up to the heavens and say to the Lord: “Thank you, Father, for another day and for all the blessings. Thank you for fashioning a sublime rhythm in my life, and for teaching me the value of surrender and the art of walking straight with love and gratitude in my heart”. |
|
|
Singer since childhood Among the most respectable names in the world of Punjabi folk singing, one that has achieved the status of a living legend is that of Surinder Kaur. Since the 1940s, Surinder Kaur has rendered classical and folk tunes that have been admired by generations. The fountainhead of a whole new style of singing, she has earned deep respect from present-day singers and the public alike. The legendery vocalist and her daughter, Dolly
Guleria, form a mother-daughter duo. Music for them is something that comes from the heart; it is not merely a profession. That feeling continues to this day, unruffled by international recognition. Talking to ANI, Surinder Kaur said: "Singing has been an attraction for me since childhood. My parents didn't allow me to perform, saying it was not acceptable for a Sikh girl to do any such thing". "It was quite a struggle. I auditioned for a children's programme and started doing a programme on the radio in 1943. But I wanted to continue learning and was instructed by some eminent classical singing gurus," she added. From a humble beginning to high-profile international honours and awards, this nightingale of Punjab has come a long way over the decades. Her depth and intensity, the poise of her stage performances still hold audiences spellbound. That stirring feel and tingle is simply not found in the artistes of today. "The singers of today, sadly, do not sing with the strength of their voice and control, but on the beat of the music and orchestra", the singer observed. "We have only two instruments on stage and we don't even give these instruments a microphone so that the voice dominates. The new generation should also look to improve the selection of songs. It needs a more literary refined touch", according to Surinder Kaur. Among all her performances, the one she recalls most vividly in this one: "An Army General was with me in the jeep and he told me the entire Sikh regiment was sitting on snow, eagerly awaiting my arrival. I said I would go to them. They were housed in a gurdwara on the border". "I was young and eager. When I began to sing, the soldiers danced in joy and I too danced with them. It is a scene I shall remember all my life", she said. Today it is her daughter,
Rupinder, better known as Dolly Guleria, who holds the centrestage, singing on the lines of her mother.
ANI |
|
A Punjabi farmer hopes to enter US Congress With an English accent that takes you right back to Punjab and an election war-chest boasting of some $ 200,000, an Indian American Sikh hopes to enter the US Congress. Dr Sukhmander Singh (62), a Santa Clara University (SCU) professor of engineering, who helped build the Alaska pipeline and a one-time grape grower, hopes to take all that and more to the Congress in his bid to win the elections from California. Prof Singh, or “Sukhi” as he is called, evokes images of the earthy farmer as well as a high-tech savvy — a tough combination at most times. Prof Singh, who went to the USA in 1968, has a Ph.D from Berkeley, worked as a project engineer on the Alaska Pipeline, and some dams in California. His district has a dominant farming population and is some 120km from Silicon Valley. “I decided in late November to run because the district now includes Stockton, where our American heritage was born 100 years ago when our forefathers came here in 1897. I have been itching to go into politics.” “I bought a 100 acre farm in Central Valley, and farmed for about five years. That’s what I tell farmers here — ‘I was a farmer, my forefathers were farmers, I have tied vines with my hands’.” And, he says, people like his message that includes fighting the elections as a farmer and a “high tech guy.”
IANS A pep-up pill to fulfil every woman’s desire There is exciting news for women who complain of a boring sex life. Viagra’s version for women, called the “Pink Viagra”, promises to help thousands of them achieve a fuller sex life. Pfizer, the drug company behind Pink Viagra, claims that premilinary trials on the first orgasm pill for women are positive. The company confirmed last week that it was working towards the launch of the product and insiders said it could be brought to market in the next year. Surveys have indicated that 40 per cent of women consider their sex lives to be boring, with older women worst affected. The first controlled trial of the drug with British women is also under way, although it is restricted to women who have early symptoms of multiple sclerosis, a disease that damages the nerves. The women are either being given the active drug or a placebo. Some who have been given active pills have enjoyed an instantly revived sex life, say sources.
ANI |
|||||
It is the discipline of meditation that leads to the intuitive realisation of the spiritual truths in man. — Anima Sen Gupta, “Meditation and Spiritual Enlightenment” *** Meditation, requires absolute alienation from inner disturbances and fears of the external world. At the same time the person should be devoid of desires.... He should not have hunger for name and fame but simply perseverance and potentiality born out of the hardships of life. — Narinder Kaur Jolly,
Jindagi da Mahankosh *** In the state of samadhi one realises one's own true self.... This realisation of the self or the Atma is the be-all and end-all of human life. — Sudarshan Kumar Biala, Yoga for better living and self-realisation *** The mind that dwells on sense-objects gets stuck in them. The mind that remembers Me, constantly gets dissolved in Me. — The Bhagavata Mahapurana, 11.14.27 *** Control the tongue, the hero of the senses; all others are his subordinates. If the roots of the gourd-creeper are destroyed, the leaves will dry up for sure. — A verse of Hemachandra Suri *** They never give anything to others And present others also from giving; shall we then say That pelf sleeps happily in a miser's house? The pearls in the skulls of elephants Are seen when they are broken open by lions The treasures of misers are found Only when they meet with their death. — Jayavallabha (c. CE 750), Vajjalaggam verses *** In the process of self realisation Evil desires are automatically consumed and destroyed. — Rigveda, 2.30.5 |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 121 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
