M A I N   N E W S

PM to open 125th anniversary function of The Tribune

THE Tribune, which is voice of the people, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. We are dedicating the anniversary celebrations to Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia whose vision and keenness to make his contribution to the freedom struggle led to the birth of one of the most respected newspapers of the country.

We are delighted to announce that the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the celebrations in Chandigarh today. Several more functions will be held in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi during the next few months.

To mark the inauguration of the anniversary the Prime Minister will release a special supplement The Tribune is bringing out.

Normally, anniversary supplements look back on an institution’s history. We have chosen to look ahead on what kind of challenges the country is going to face during the next few decades if it is to play a major role as the world’s largest democracy and as an emerging power of the 21st century.

The supplement titled, “India - The tasks ahead”, carries several articles by some of the most eminent writers who, like The Tribune, think about how and what India can do to become the kind of country it ought to be.

We are sure, the special supplement will make the people ponder how far it is really equipped to play the kind of role it is looking for itself.

H.K. Dua
Editor-in-Chief

Slew of dignitaries for Tribune function
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 23
A slew of dignitaries led by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, will attend the inauguration of the 125th anniversary celebrations of The Tribune here tomorrow.

Besides the Prime Minister two Governors, several Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament, Judges, Ministers, Vice-Chancellors, eminent citizens, professionals and educationists of Chandigarh and the region will attend a special function at the Bhargava Auditorium in the PGI here.

The Prime Minister will release a coloured 24-page special supplement to mark the occasion. It is titled “India: the tasks ahead.”

The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Gursharan Kaur, has already reached Chandigarh on board his special aircraft and is staying for the night at Punjab Raj Bhawan here. Besides the Prime Minister, the President of the Tribune Trust, Justice R.S. Pathak, and the Editor-in-Chief, Mr H.K. Dua, will also speak at the function that will last about 70 minutes.

The Governor of Punjab, Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) and the Governor of Haryana, Dr A.R. Kidwai, have confirmed their participation. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, and the Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, are coming.

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Mufti Mohd Sayeed, will be flying in tomorrow in separate choppers. Besides them the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, has confirmed participation. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal and Former Chief Minister of Haryana Bhajan Lal are also among the invitees.

Former Chief Justices and retired Judges of the Supreme Court, and also the High Court have been invited.

The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr T.K.A. Nair, who is a former Chief Secretary of Punjab , will also be present on the occasion.

As a special initiative to reach out to more and more people, The Tribune has invited senior doctors of the region, including noted surgeons and physicians. Educationists like Vice-Chancellors, Principals of leading schools and colleges will attend the celebrations. Former sporting greats and leading lawyers will attend the function.

The Industry will be well represented. Leading business groups of the region are to be present. Social workers, Senior bureaucrats and technocrats are among the other invitees.

After The Tribune function, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Information Technology Park followed by a meeting with Punjab Congress workers at Punjab Bhawan. In the evening the Punjab Chief Minister will host a tea party. In the afternoon the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Chandigarh Press Club media centre. He will fly back to Delhi tomorrow evening.