R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

• Centenary of legendary artist
• National policy on blood banks needed

PUNJAB

GURDASPUR
BODY FOUND: The police recovered the body of Rekha, originally from Bihar and now settled at Kohlian village under police station Narot Jaimal Singh in the district, from village fields on Monday.

LUDHIANA
HEALTH CAMP: A multipurpose health camp was organised at local Community Health Centre. Dr S.N. Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, Sangrur, inaugurated the camp in which 34 pregnant women from below poverty line families were given Rs 500 each for the pre-parturition expenses as a part of National Maternity Benefit Schemes. Dr Nirpal Singh performed 30 tubectomies by laproscopic surgery on the occasion. All the beneficiaries were given blankets by the local Lions Club. 

SEMINAR: An awareness seminar was held on the PNDT Act to create awakening against female foeticide. The camp was attended by Mr Kishori Lal, Mr Amrit Jolly, Ms Manu Thapar, Surjit Singh Nijjar, SMO, Dr Suresh Singla, SMO and Dr Narinder Gupta. 

WORKSHOP: Final year postgraduate students of College of Nursing, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, will organise a workshop on AIDS awareness on Thursday. Ms Inderjit Vashisht, Principal of the Government College for Women, will be the chief guest on this occasion. “The main emphasis of the workshop will be epidemiology, causes, symptoms and psychological aspects related to AIDS. These will be highlighted through a skit and a comprehensive exhibition on different aspects of AIDS,” said Ms Pennamma Ranadive Principal, College of Nursing. 

APPEAL: Some prominent district office-bearers of the Punjab BJP, Ludhiana unit, here appealed to the state president, Mr B.L. Rinwa, to review his decision of expelling Mr Sunil Mehra from the party for a period of six years. Consequently, Mr Rinwa has formed a two-member committee comprising Mr Narotain Dev Ratti and Mr Vinod Sharma, to look into the issue. 

ANNUAL FUNCTION: President of Sirjandhara Karmjit Singh Aujla informed that its annual function with the cooperation of Punjabi Sahit Academy would be organised on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Punjabi Bhavan. at the function, famous story writer Prem Gorkhi would be honoured and also a book ‘Sirjandhara-2002’ will be released. 

COLLEGE CONTESTS: The Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle will organise inter-college contests at Ramgarhia Girls College, Millerganj, on Friday. Stating this in a press note, Dr Charankamal Singh, Director, Youth Services, said declamation contest would be held on topics related to drug addiction, nuclear weapons and communication technology. Poetry recitation competition would be held on topics like Sikh history, gurmat philosophy, human integration and social problems, he said. Contests for shabad singing and fine arts will also be organised. Dr Singh said poster making contest would be held on topics ‘Prayer’ and ‘Beware of drugs’. Topics for composition would be ‘Baisakhi’ and ‘Affection’ while those for the collage making would be ‘Female foeticide’ and ‘Right way of life’. Besides, contests for design making and still life would also be held, he said. 

FAREWELL PARTY: Students of Class XII from USPC Jain Public School were bid adieu at a function organised by students of Class XI. on Wednesday. The programme commenced with a welcome speech by Priyanka Nahal of Class XI. The outgoing batch was entertained by a variety of cultural items and games. A talent search contest was organised for them in which the students showed their skills in bhangra and singing. Prabhjot Kaur was chosen as Ms Farewell while Gaurav Bhatia was declared Mr Farewell. Mr M.P. Jain, secretary, managing committee, and Ms G.K. Itten, Principal, wished good luck to their students. 

LECTURE: A lecture on ‘Communication and media’ was organised at the Government College for Women on Wednesday. Dr Ravi K. Dhar, Associate Professor of Journalism, Punjab Agricultural University, delivered the lecture which was followed by an interactive session in which the students were answered various queries. 

WORKSHOP: The IMS Learning Resources will organise Lakshya-2002, a workshop on ‘MBA as a career option’ at Nehru Sidhant Kendra on Saturday. Mr Barinder Singh Sawhney, centre head, said seminar, discussion and mock tests by professional and experienced executives from the industry would be organised during the workshop. 

EXAMINATION: Class XI science students from government schools of the district will appear for examination from March 7. Giving this information, Ms Samistha Bawa, District Science Supervisor, said test for maths or biology would be held on March 7, followed by test for chemistry on March 11 and test for physics on March 16. Ms Bawa further said practicals for chemistry would be held on March 21, physics on March 22 and biology on February 25. 

MANSA
EYE CAMP: The local Lions Club will organise a free eye check-up camp on February 23 and 24 at Gaushalla Bhavan here. A team of doctors led by Dr R.S. Gill of Government Rajindera Hospital, Patiala, will check the patients and conduct operations. Intra-ocular lens will also be provided to needy patients on reasonable charges, according to Mr Surinder Bansal, president of the club.

MUKTSAR
POLYTHENE BANNED: Mr Babu Lal, District Magistrate, on Wednesday imposed a ban on the manufacture and use of polythene bags having a thickness of less than 20 microns up to March 31. The ban has also imposed on the use of bags or containers made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing with or packing foodstuff.

PATIALA
DECLAMATION: The Rotary Club, Patiala, organised an inter-school declamation contest on Tuesday. Modern Senior Secondary School won the overall trophy. The first prize was won by Ishtandeep Kaur Modern School, second prize by Akansha Sidhu (Blossoms School) and third position by Sachna Arora (Modern School). 

YOUTH FESTIVAL: The three-day inter-zonal youth festival of Punjabi University was inaugurated on the university campus by the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr Tarlok Singh Anand, on Wednesday. A giddha and bhangra competition was held. The first prize in the giddha competition was won by Baba Zorawar Singh Khalsa Girls College from Ropar zone. The first prize in the bhangra competition was won by the Punjabi University campus team. 

MEETING: The District Election Officer, Mr Jasbir Singh Bir, on Wednesday called a meeting of returning officers and police personnel here to instruct them on their responsibilities during the day of vote counting. He asked the returning officers to ensure that the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission were to be strictly followed. He added that 14 tables would be placed inside each counting centre and one counting supervisor and one assistant would be deputed to each table. 

PHAGWARA
CRUSHED TO DEATH: A cyclist, Niranjan Singh, was crushed to death by a speeding bus on the Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road here on Tuesday. He had come from a nearby village to deposit electricity bill and was crossing the road when the mishap occurred.

SAMRALA
ONE KILLED: A student was killed on the spot and another received serious injuries on Wednesday here near Rajindera Filling Station when both the scooterist were coming back to Samrala after taking their examination from Ghungrali Sikhan School, 5 km from here. As per reports, Devinder Kumar and Devinder Singh, both residents of Manki village, hit a tractor-trailer. The injured has been admitted to DMCH, Ludhiana, where his condition is stated to be critical. The Samrala police have registered the case. 

TARN TARAN
OFFICE-BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Chohla Sahib unit of the Democratic Teachers' Front: president — Mr Dalbir Singh; secretary — Mr Harjit Singh; and treasurer — Mr Harbhej Singh.

CHANDIGARH

SAS NAGAR
BLOOD DONATION CAMP: As many as 112 units of blood were donated at a blood donation camp organised by the Lions Club Mohali and the Punjab School Education Board Employees’ Blood Donors Society on Tuesday. Those who were present on the occasion included Mr H.S. Midha, Mr J.S. Rahi and Mr Gurmail Singh. The camp was inaugurated by Mr S.P. Singh, Region Chairman of the Lions Club International. 

HARYANA

ANNUAL DAY FUNCTION: The local Bal Vatika Public School organised its annual day function 2002 ‘‘Twinkling Stars Evening’’ on Tuesday. The local INLD MLA, Mr Leela Krishan Chowdhary, was the chief guest on the occasion. The SP, Mr Hanif Qureshi, presided over while the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr C.R. Rana, was the guest of honour. Schoolchildren presented a cultural show on the occasion.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

CHAMBA
JOURNALISTS PROTEST: Journalists working with various newspapers and news agencies in the district have warned the state BJP that they will boycott all its programmes if its Hamirpur district party chief, Mr Baldev Sharma, failed to apologise to Mr Revit Raman Sharma, a Hamirpur-based journalist, for threatening him. They also urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to direct the police to register a case against Mr Sharma.

JAISINGHPUR
POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: Members of the panchayat samiti, Lambagaon, have accused the state government of political interference in the functioning of the panchayati raj institutions. At a meeting of the samiti on Tuesday they deplored the manner in which statutory power and authority vested in the samiti was being blatantly undermined.

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

Centenary of legendary artist

Art and culture are indeed the most valuable and important assets of any nation. Artists in India have chosen painting as a medium to express and thereby preserve the rich cultural heritage of the country. Rising above narrow considerations of religion, caste and race, these artists have shown the path of peace and tranquility.

One of them who depicted Indian culture on a big canvas and gave India its due place at international art platforms was Sobha Singh. It was he who brought this small and sleepy town of Kangra valley on the world map by remaining associated with his village for about four decades. The visitors can find written in front of his art gallery a sign that reads. “A temple of art not a picnic spot maintain its sanctity”.

Sobha Singh joined the Indian Army as draughtsman and left for Iraq. In 1925, he was attracted to Lahore, where he established his “Echo School of Arts” and thus began his “journey” into the world of arts. Later he shifted to Delhi and established his own studio. By hard work, he not only succeeded in establishing himself as a successful artist but also earned critical acclaim. But the city never fascinated him and he started looking for a place which could match his creative self.

The Himachal sojourn of this legendary artist started in 1942, when he visited the Kangra valley and was spell-bound by its beauty and idyllic charm. The snow-covered peaks of Dhauladhar, the lush green meadows so fascinated Sobha Singh that it forced him to permanently settle here.

Most of the masterpieces of Sobha Singh such as “Sohni mahiwal”, “Her grace the Gaddan” and “Kangra Bride” were created at Andreatta. While living here Sobha Singh painted over 1400 paintings. Most of these paintings depicted the rich cultural heritage and natural scenic beauty of Himachal Pradesh. His paintings also focused on the Sikh Gurus. His portraits of Gurus were a manifestation of his devotion to divinity. He also painted Hindu gods and goddesses with equal reverence and zeal. The painting of “Murli Manohar”, signifying Lord Krishna and the portrayal of Lord Rama with bow and arrow are considered masterpieces.

The paintings of Sobha Singh have a deep-rooted message within. The paintings were not a mere physical portrayal of personality, but it had a hidden message. Regarding his paintings he used to say: “My art is my religion and my duty is to transform the invisible to visible”.

The paintings of Sohni Mahiwal and Sikh Gurus, brought Sobha Singh on the centre-stage not only in Punjab and Himachal but also throughout the nation. Nobody will believe that Sobha Singh never learnt painting from any school or teacher, but his creative self was his greatest teacher and critic.

Recognising the contribution of Sobha Singh in the field of art, it has been decided to celebrate the birth centenary of this multifaceted personality. In addition, a postage stamp has also been brought as mark of respect to this great artist.

The accompanying photo shows former Union Minister S.S. Barnala releasing a souvenir brought out by the Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society at Andreatta.

National policy on blood banks needed

A country with 100 crore population is unable to generate voluntary blood donors for its own requirement. This was the main concern of the delegates who attended the national conference of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology held at Bangalore earlier this month.

Giving this information here after his return from the conference Dr R.M. Arora, who is looking after a blood bank run by the Shiv Shakti Rakta Data Samiti, said the participants at the national conference were concerned at the non-existence of a national policy with regard to blood banks. Doctors who participated in the conference were of the opinion that if just 5 per cent of the population was motivated to donate blood twice a year, the country would be able to produce 20 to 30 crore units of blood components annually — three to four times the world’s annual requirement. To meet the country’s blood requirement we need less than 1 per cent of population to donate blood twice a year, he added.

Blood transfusion experts from all over the country are concerned at the casual approach of the government towards blood banks resulting in the non-availability of voluntary blood donors. The experts are of the opinion that an awareness campaign to generate voluntary blood donors should target the young population and the ideal age to motivate them is 13 years. They felt that the attitude and perception of students for saving human life by blood donation is excellent and this has to be nurtured further by motivational and donor retention techniques, Dr Arora said.

The head of the local Shiv Shakti Blood Bank was keen to practise all that he had gathered at the Bangalore conference in this rural Sirsa area. He said NGOs running this blood bank had already clubbed an awareness campaign for blood with sex education for the young students as this was a crucial field for this group.

Dr Arora said their experience in the field revealed that children asked all sorts of questions to get their doubts cleared. They needed a third party to answer their queries apart from their parents and teachers. With this exercise, the double purpose of getting a healthy voluntary blood donor and eliminating deadly diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis B and C was served, he added.

Contributed by Ravinder Sood, Bhupinder Dharmani