The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Once the nursery of Indian hockey Olympians, now a non-descript village
Sansarpur saga
J.S. Malhotra

Revival Efforts: Youngsters are given training in the village hockey grounds where infrastructural inadequacies are glaring. — Photo by S.S. Chopra

Sansarpur, a tiny village, located just outside Jalandhar Cantonment, has an unparalleled contribution to the Indian hockey. It has produced 14 Olympians, interestingly all of them from the same street in the same village! But today, Sansarpur has lost its magic touch with hockey and it has sidled into an almost comatose zone.

This village came into limelight in the early 20th century when the British rulers acquired most of the agricultural land for setting up Jalandhar Cantonment and introduced hockey for the first time in this part of the region, probably to keep their army men and the locals busy in sports activities.

According to historians, hockey came to Sansarpur in the year 1910, when Manchester Guardian Regiment, a part of Jalandhar Brigade, prepared a hockey field in Sansarpur to groom the players. The first organised match of Manchester Guardian Regiment versus 47 Sikh (now 5 Sikh) at Sansarpur hockey grounds formally laid the foundation of this hockey nursery.

The inhabitants of Sansarpur soon started dominating their British masters in the game and the path to glory for this village began with Subedar-Major Thakar Singh, who toured New Zealand in 1926 as a member of the Indian army contingent, which was the first-ever Indian team to participate in any international tournament.

After this, Sansarpur never looked back. It made a mark for itself in international hockey arena by producing players with killer-instinct, even though the latter did not have a rigorous formal training. So much so that the players in the early 20th century were using “Syalkot da danda” as hockey stick to quench their thirst for the game of hockey.

This village produced 14 Olympians from 1932 till 2000. Nine of them, including Col Gurmit Singh, Udham Singh, Gurdev Singh, Darshan Singh, Balbir Singh, Col Balbir Singh (Services), Jagjit Singh, Tarsem Singh and Ajit Pal Singh, represented India, while four of them — Hardhyan Singh, Hardev Singh, Jagjit Singh and Harvinder Singh — played for Kenya. The last Olympian with roots in Sansarpur has been Bindi Kular, who played for Canada in the 2000 Sydney Games, thus becoming the first one from this village to represent the American continent.

However, over the years, Sansarpur has failed to show its presence in the game owing to several reasons.

“There is lack of interest on the part of the state and the Central government and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to promote Sansarpur as a hockey nursery. Though funds have been provided for other sports activities, not a single penny was spent to promote hockey here. This is highly deplorable,” maintains Col Balbir Singh (Services), president of the Sansarpur Hockey Association.

The Sansarpur Hockey Association, comprising Olympians, is running the Karam Chand Thapar Hockey Academy, which is funded by the JCT Mills, Phagwara. Ranjit Singh and Lakhbir Singh, both national players, are coaching young players here. Though the village now has two regular hockey playfields, four six-a-side grounds and boasts of a modern gym to meet physical training requirements of the young hockey players training here, a lot needs to be done to groom and sharpen the skills of the budding players.

“We have 200 players from Sansarpur and adjoining villages, who are being imparted training at the academy. As many as 30 players are sponsored by the JCT Mills, which is giving Rs 500 per month to each player for diet,” maintains Col Balbir Singh, an Arjuna award winner and former coach of the Indian women hockey team.

“The need of the hour is to promote Sansarpur as the major hockey centre of the country. The authorities concerned must think about allocating requisite funds for setting up proper infrastructure to ‘nurture’ the game. We badly need an astro-turf for the main ground which costs around Rs 1.30 crore,” maintains Col Balbir Singh, adding, “In the absence of synthetic surface, we cannot expect the players to give their best.”

Citing reasons for inability of Sansarpur to produce any player of international fame during the past over two decades, Dr Popinder Singh, a research scholar, maintained, “Now, parents do not encourage their wards to adopt the game of hockey as a career. The unavailability of jobs in armed forces and other government departments now as compared to the availability of such jobs in the early sixties is partly responsible for this. Another major reason is that earlier most of the renowned players used to practice here, thus encouraging the youngsters to play hockey. This is not the case now.”

Will the sports authorities slumber so long as to wipe out Sansarpur from the international hockey map? Sports buffs are keeping their fingers crossed!

Successful seven

Seven Olympians played in the 1968 Olympic Games, even as five of them — Balbir Singh (Punjab Police), Jagjit Singh, Balbir Singh (Services), Tarsem Singh and Ajit Pal Singh — played for India, while Hardial Singh and Jagjit Singh represented Kenya. Never in the history of Olympic Games have seven players from a village participated in the same event while representing two different nations and continents.

Mexico to issue 3-yr multiple entry visas to businessmen
J.S. Malhotra

In its bid to improve bilateral trade ties with India, Mexico has decided to issue three-year multiple entry visas to Indian businessmen, who are either interested in setting up joint ventures or marketing their goods in that Latin American country.

This was disclosed by Mr Luis Gerardo Hernandez Madrigal, Economical Affairs Counsellor, Embassy of Mexico, who was in the city to preside over a national seminar on Business Opportunities in Latin American Countries (LACs) organised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC).

“Earlier, Indian businessmen were facing problems in getting visa for visiting Mexico to explore business opportunities. To encourage Indian businessmen to tab the Mexican market, we have decided to issue three-year multiple entry visas to the Indian businessmen,” said Mr Madrigal, adding that the Mexican Embassy had started issuing visas promptly to executives of reputed companies, who had the US visas or were part of a business delegation.

“Mexico expects joint venture investment in infrastructure, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed food and IT sectors from India. The free movement of business community from India to Mexico will certainly help in improving bilateral trade between the two South-South countries. Mexican trade is primarily with the USA and Canada even as its businessmen are not much aware about India’s potential due to the lack of requisite interaction with their Indian counterparts,” maintained Mr Madrigal.

According to experts, India’s exports to Mexico reached a record $ 871 million in the year 2004-2005 from $ 288 million in the year 2000-2001. “In addition to its large domestic market, Mexico is the gateway to North America and Central America. The investment and joint ventures in Mexico will definitely help in tabbing these two big international markets,” he said, adding that the Indian pharma majors, including Ranbaxy and Worhardt, were in the process of establishing joint ventures in Mexico.

During the national seminar, Mr R. Vishwanathan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, in his address, said that the Indian exporters should draw inspiration from their Chinese counterparts, who had dispatched goods worth $ 14.5 billion in the year 2004-2005. “The Chinese had invested over $ 60 million and established about 200 joint ventures in Mexico,” said Mr Vishwanathan.

“Surprisingly, the Indian IT companies are yet to explore the Mexican market. The IT market there will bring thousands of jobs to the Indian professionals,” he added.

With regard to charging more premiums by the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) from those exporting to the Latin America Countries (LACs), he said that the ECGC officials had recently visited the LACs to know about the potential and the risk involved in shipments to these countries. “We have recommended the ECGC authorities to reduce premium for such shipments to encourage exporters for bilateral trade with the LACs,” he added.

Phagwara folks on fitness spree
Anil Jerath
Tribune News Service

Fitness craze has taken over Phagwara folks. Gyms have found a new place among residents of the city. Right from students to professionals and home makers, city residents seem to have discovered the benefit of sweating it out in gyms.

“I visit gym daily to do weightlifting practice and also to offer help to youngsters who have deep interest in the sport,” says Tara Singh, an international-level weightlifter and winner of Arjuna Award. “Well-toned body that is healthy is in. These days my favourite place is gym,” says Rajat, a college student. His friends agree with him wholeheartedly. “People who exercise in morning often have more energy during the day,” says another youngster Tarun.

Earlier, only those who were either into sports or who had some physical problem frequented gyms. But now even those with fit bodies come to gyms, says Vishal Vij, owner of the Vishav Power Gym. He adds, “Aerobics are also quite popular these days. At our gym, where we offer cardio facilities along with aerobics and physiotherapy, aerobics is markedly popular, particularly among youngsters.”

“Many gyms offer heavy discounts during this time ranging from 15 to 30 per cent, says Sarabjit Singh, a Phagwara-based gym instructor.

However, experts have a word of caution. “Check the gym out a few days before you join it. That way you’ll know for certain whether it’s clean and well-maintained and not too crowded and whether you like the attitude of the staff,” says a fitness instructor.

“In humid weather, it is important that the gym is properly ventilated and has right air conditioning,” adds Rajwinder Singh Ubee of the Punjab Bulls Gym who is also a qualified fitness trainer.

There is yet another piece of advice from experts. “Be sure that the gym has all necessary equipments and caters to your specific needs. Also, ensure that the staff members have special fitness or exercise-related expertise that you are interested in,” says Vij.

Striking the right note
Arun Sharma
Tribune News Service

If you thought that the field of business was totally divorced from that of art, you may well revise your opinion. Or to be more precise, market economics cannot scotch the talent of a person who is bent on exploring his potentialities.

Mr Parkash Bathala of Kapurthala, who is a businessman by profession, is an amateur singer who has written more than 100 bhajans and also recorded three cassettes of bhajans for the TMC, Phagwara. “Man Mandir, Teri Chah and Bandhi Dor Tujhse are the titles of my cassettes,” he says, with a tinge of pride.

“I keep my profession and my penchant for singing separate. I devote the right number of hours to both,” he says. “I think so far I have been successful. I feel music gives me peace and happiness,” he adds.

He says he developed the passion for singing in his childhood. “My mother has been a simple, god-fearing woman. She would make us all sit together and sing bhajans, while telling us stories from mythology,” he adds.

He would sing bhajans whenever he visited his guru’s place at Dera Nangali Sahib, Kurukshetra, he says. “Music is not only about the technical aspects or training. It is also about soul’s pure feelings and spirituality,” he says.

His fourth cassette has been recorded by the Super Cassette Industries Ltd. The cassette would be released shortly, he tells us. “I had sent a recording of my bhajans to the company, requesting them that I may be given a chance to sing bhajans for them. By god’s grace, my wish came true,” he explains.

“This is the first time that the T-Series has recorded a cassette of Punjabi bhajans. So far, it used to record only ‘bhents’ in Punjabi,” he claims.

Monsoon ailments grip the city
Aneesha Sareen

Docs’ advice

Drink boiled water.

Do not eat cut fruits sold at roadsides.

Wash hands thoroughly before and after meals.

Never eat food that is lying uncovered.

Maintain good personal hygiene.

Heavy rains in the city in the past fortnight have brought in their wake a host of ailments. There has been a sudden rise in water-borne diseases like gastroenteritis, cholera and enteric fever throughout the city. The Civil Hospital has been reporting such cases almost daily.

City doctors say that as many as 70 per cent patients visiting hospitals are suffering from monsoon related ailments. Patients usually complain of excessive vomiting, diarrhoea, low fever and weakness, add the doctors.

Although children are more susceptible to these ailments, adults are also not spared. “Of the total cases that I see daily, at least 75 cases are those of patients suffering from diarrhoea, nausea, stomach ache, stomach infection or other monsoon related ailments,” says Dr J.S. Prahar from a private hospital.

The doctors said that the diseases were caused by microbial infections. The usual culprits were contaminated water and contaminated food, which lead to food poisoning. “Uncovered food and cut fruits being sold by street hawkers should be banned during monsoons. Leaking water pipes often contaminate drinking water. Water mixes with waste discharge and becomes polluted,” says Dr G.S Mann, Chief Medical Officer, Civil Hospital. “One should also ensure proper sanitation and disposal of waste,” he adds.

Doctors also recommend drinking boiled water and avoiding food whose quality is suspect. “Since patients lose lots of water from the body, they must ensure that they drink lime water with salt or take oral rehydration solution (ORS) to check dehydration,” says Dr Rakesh Subherwal from a private hospital in Model Town. He adds, “Doctor should be consulted in case of persistent vomiting.”

Bollywood flicks inspire youngsters
Aneesha Sareen

Drawing inspiration from Bollywood stars and their favourite television icons, the city youngsters are all set to look colourful and trendy this season.

Wearing suits flaunted by heroines in the latest Bollywood flicks, funky bags slung over their shoulders (again inspired by television soaps) and goggles shading their eyes from the piercing sun — the youngsters’ fashion statement is complete.

With films like Bunty and Bubbly climbing the box office chart, suits worn by Rani Mukherjee in the film are increasingly becoming popular. Brocade collars, trendy kurtis are widely sought after for their fashion sensibility. Suits with beautifully bordered dupattas worn by Preity Zinta in Veer Zara are also in great demand.

“We love to wear clothes that are stylish,” says Tapsi, a student of HMV College who was recently crowned “Ms NIIT”.

As one ventures into the narrow lanes of the Rainak Bazaar here, one can see the market flooded with a wide range of such fabrics. Their price starts from Rs 150 and goes up to thousands of rupees, depending on the quality of the material used.

The girls love to flaunt accessories worn by popular characters of television serials and they have created a huge demand for these accessories. Parallels of Kashish in Kahin to hoga, kurti of Anjali in Kavyaanjali and handbag of Sneha in Kasauti zindagi ki are becoming increasingly popular. Net saris worn by Disha in Tumhari Disha and bangles of Porineeta in the same serial are also in vogue.

City guys, too, do not lag behind. The Dil Chahta Hai cut is outdated and has given way to long tresses as flaunted by Salman Khan in Tere naam and Rishi in Kahin to hoga. “One finds long-haired hunks zooming past the city’s roads, flaunting their ‘Dhoom’ bikes,” says a schoolteacher.

Says Jatin, an MCA student of Khalsa College, “Long hair is in vogue. We like to keep in style with the changing times.”

Beggars go high-tech
Anil Jerath
Tribune News Service

A man in tattered clothes moving through traffic jams and begging for a penny, all the while tapping at the windscreen of your car, is a familiar sight in Phagwara.

But what’s new is that beggars these days have gone high-tech. Don’t be surprised if you see a beggar desperately asking for money by the roadside in morning chatting away on a mobile in another market during evening.

Isha, a student, says, “I was taken aback when a beggar came to me and spoke in English. He came and addressed me as madam.”

“Once a small girl was crying for money near the bus stand here. She told me that her father, who was lying next to her side, was not well. I gave her 10 bucks. However, on my way back I was surprised to see her father standing near a wine shop,” says a businessman.

Interestingly, for some, begging is an ancestral profession. Jiwan, a well-built man and regular beggar at Phagwara bus stand, says, “My ancestors also used to beg and so do I.”

With beggars having their self-allotted areas of operation, begging has become one of the easiest ways to earn daily living.

“The population of beggars is increasing at a fast rate. Most of us appease the beggars to earn ‘divine credits’. Until we shun this fast-track approach to heaven, no law of the land can stop the practice,” says Mr Gautam, a city resident.

City students among India’s top 1000
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

Hard work has finally paid off city students who had put in their best efforts to clear the prestigious National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on May 15 this year.

Seven students from Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, and two from Police DAV Public School, PAP Campus, have cleared the written test. These students are Ankit Sehgal, Arjun Beri, Arshdeep Singh, Kiran Mahendru, Ankit Kapur and Jashanjot from Apeejay School, and Vishesh Mehra and Varun Sehgal from Police DAV Public School.

The students who are now taking Plus One examination had appeared for the test while they were Class X students. The candidates had cleared a series of different tests before clearing their final eligibility examination. Having finally made through the entire battery of tests, the students are now entitled to a scholarship scheme under which they will get some financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship and an annual book grant.

These candidates will be given financial assistance up to PhD level in social sciences, basic sciences and commerce. Among them, those candidates who pursue professional courses like engineering, medicine, management and law will receive financial assistance up to Master’s degree.

But it has not been an easy task for the candidates to make it to the finals and be among India’s top 1000 students. As the students tell, “We had to first appear in a state-level written test in which thousands of students appeared from Punjab alone in November end last year. Those who cleared the test finally appeared for the second national-level written test held on May 15, the result of which was declared the last fortnight.”