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‘Helping’ NRIs stay
tuned to regional news
New TB testing lab in city
Brush with art |
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Science city to go
hi-tech
Cannabis bushes dot town’s landscape
MP3 sunglasses make a style statement
Dancing to the tune
of ringtones
Jalandhar Plus impact
Senior citizens’ association demands more concessions
450 college students felicitated
World Forestry Day
observed
From Schools and Colleges
Students celebrate World Water Day
Airtel launches broadband services
Workshop
Passing Thru
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‘Helping’ NRIs stay
tuned to regional news
The ever-in-flux political equations, the latest buzz in Punjab politics — NRIs want to get it all right. And ‘Punjabi Made Foreign Newspapers’ that are printed from here for readership abroad serve the purpose well. There’s nothing very complicated about the whole arrangement. Reporters from the city and its satellite towns, assisted by a team on the desk, file stories that are sent abroad through net. Titled Punjabi Post, Punjab Times, Pardesan, Qumantry Pardesi, Parvasi Hamdard, Parvasi Dharti Apna Desh, Sher-e-Punjab, Indo-Canadian Times and Hoshiarpur Times, the newspapers and magazines promise Punjabi flavour at its sassiest best. Political peg
Political feuds between rival parties in Punjab form the staple diet of these dailies and magazines. The forthcoming elections in Punjab and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) issues are the main stories of the latest edition of Parvasi Dharti Apna Desh, a news magazine circulated in Canada. However, some of these magazines also focus on problems faced by NRIs back home — fraudulent travel agents, delayed judgments in land dispute cases and other revenue issues. Articles on immigration trends and experiences of Punjabis settled abroad find space in Qumantry Pardesi. Social concerns
A few like the weekly newspaper Punjabi Post that took off in January this year, focus on social concerns as well. The very first issue of the magazine focused on emerging social problems in Punjab. Mr Balwinder Pal Singh, Chief Editor of the paper, claimed that most of the copies of the paper were going to London for distribution. “We want to highlight success stories of the Punjabi NRIs here and also keep them informed of activities back home,” he added. Himalayan tryst
Printed from London, Hoshiarpur Times is a colourful, glossy, eight-page English fortnightly edited by Hoshiarpur-based Anurag Sood. Trekking, tourism, medicinal herbs find a mention in this fortnightly. The paper also gives a platform to the NRIs to voice their concerns. Marketing skills
The majority of these papers try to garner a “good business” through advertisements from NRIs, travel agents and Punjabi singers. Jalandhar also has a marketing office of Panjab Radio, a channel with 24-hour broadcast from London. Labelling the channel as the “Voice of Punjabis Worldwide”, Mr Narinder Satti says anyone anywhere in the world can listen to it by getting logged on to www.punjabradio.co.uk and switching on the speakers. He adds that it is also available through Dish TV and DTH. “It’s a completely Punjabi channel that offers news, bhajan, shabd and songs.” Murky story
But there is also a darker side to these glossy papers. Many of them are blatantly prejudiced in their political analyses. Some find these magazines a convenient way to post pornographic pictures. “Sometimes, these dailies, weeklies and fortnightlies pander to the baser instincts,” says an observer. Plagiarism is another downside. A reporter of one such ‘Punjabi Made Foreign Newspaper’ showed how a few papers and magazines were downloading articles from one of the most circulated Punjabi newspapers that had its Internet edition, and were printing those articles in their papers (sold abroad) without permission.
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New TB testing lab in city
To check tuberculosis in one of the most affected areas of the state, Jalandhar is set to have a new TB sputum testing laboratory in Basti Danishmandan. This would be the fourth such laboratory being set up by the District Health Department.
A programme in this connection is slated to be organised by the health authorities on World TB Day tomorrow. The programme would be conducted by doctors undertaking the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course Chemotherapy (DOTS) being run by the Central government. As per official records, the district has a total of 1,922 TB patients registered under the scheme last year— most of them coming from congested urban areas including Kishengarh, Bhargo Camp, Basti Sheikh, Basti Danishmandan and Partap Bagh. Of these, 770 cases were those of patients whose sputum had tested positive and 388 of sputum negative patients. As many as 377 patients suffer from extra-pulmonary TB with eyes, kidneys or other body parts getting affected. In January this year, the department registered 193 TB patients, 82 of them testing sputum positive. In February, the department registered 197 patients, 84 of them showing the presence of the TB bacteria in their sputum. Dr J.S. Cheema, in-charge, DOTS programme in the district, said patients were being offered free treatment by the government. He said hundreds of DOTS units had been set up in dispensaries, private clinics and even medicine shops where voluntary community workers administered the prescribed dose to the patients. Dr Rajiv Sharma, a senior doctor, said TB centres have been set up in the district, including one for urban Jalandhar, Kartarpur, Nakodar and Phillaur. He said the DOTS units were located in almost every village. Dr Sharma added that in case the patients did not turn up for taking the dose, the volunteers were going to the homes of the “defaulters”. He added that TB patients who were locked up in jails were also being administered the dose. Doctors of the Civil Hospital admitted that the number of patients not completing the dosage was high due to which the infection had been reoccurring. They also said that the morbidity rate was high since many of the patients come to them late. A round to the hospital wards this Monday revealed that five women, 10 men and two adolescents were admitted due to TB-related problems. Four prisoners from the Central Jail with TB infection were also admitted in the wards.
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Brush with art
There’s nothing better than art to express the vagaries of life. And the students of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts in Jalandhar seemed to know it too well, as was evident from the annual exhibition “Expressions 2006” they had put up on the college premises. Right from the sublimity of the divine love to the progress of humankind and the ultimate nirvana, the paintings explored life from different perspectives. Mukta Kakkar’s painting “Tough time never lasts, tough people do” was an ode to resilience, while Minu Verma’s painting on liberation of women portrayed the still-in-chains women, who can aspire for the moon and yet be shackled to the constricting customs. Arvinder Kaur’s “Jaadugar” was a take on the gullibility of people, who are fooled by impostors. The beauty of nature was showcased in Poonam Mahajan’s painting that highlighted the delights of the spring season. The essential unity of nature and humankind was the theme of Arvinder Kaur’s painting “Life”. Shilpa’s “Enlightenment” focused on the vast ocean of knowledge that beckons many towards it. The wonders of religious traditions of India were depicted in Manjit Kaur’s “Worship”. Other students who exhibited their works included Nidhi, Rita, Sapna, Ritu, Tina and Mandeep. Noted sculptor and painter Shiv Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. He announced that he would give an award of Rs 1000 to the best artist of the college every year. This year, the award went to Arvinder Kaur for her painting aptly titled “Gup chup”. Addressing the students, Shiv Singh said he would soon sponsor the same exhibition at Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy. During the exhibition, Ritu bagged the first prize, while Sapna stood second. The third prize was awarded to Arvinder Kaur. Menu Verma, Nidhi Sharma, Shilpa and Manjit Kaur received the consolation prizes.
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Cannabis bushes dot town’s landscape
Getting a high for free in Phagwara is as easy as taking a walk in the town’s vacant plots and even in the back lanes. Or better still, in the slum areas. The local administration might be stressing on a “coordinated strategy” to tackle the increasing drug addiction, but this has done little to tackle the problem of cannabis plants that dot the town. These plants flourish near educational institutions, despite the administration’s claim of having cleared of cannabis plants near these institutions. The Tribune spotted a man, who was later identified as a migrant labourer, in the cannabis bushes in a vacant plot near Shivpuri. After some coaxing, he admitted that he had gone to “collect” his daily dose of dope. He said students from schools and colleges also came there regularly — mostly in the evenings. Also, there are many other takers who would pay me anything between Rs 20 and Rs 60 for a few puffs of marijuana..” Shivpuri is not the only place where the plants are thriving. Open spaces around the city, the road leading to Urban Estate, back lanes of Model Town, Onkar Nagar and Satnampura — all are dope lovers’ haven. A member of the Residents’ Welfare Association, said, “These bushes are a nuisance. These attract suspicious characters near my backyard.”
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MP3 sunglasses make a style statement
What’s the thing that comes in handy when you’re on your way to work, bracing the heat and sweating it out in the sunlight? It’s your stylish sunglasses, your i-Pods and MP3 players, of course.
And keeping up with the tech-savvy spirit, here’s a great bargain for residents of Phagwara. A Delhi-based sunglass manufacturer has come up with a unique idea that serves a dual purpose — sunglasses with MP3. “The compact set looks like any other pair of sunglasses and comes in a variety of shapes and styles,” Mr Sandeep Kanda, a dealer, says. The concept is relatively new in India, but in the West, an international company that first introduced these MP3 glasses, has gained popularity. However, it comes with a steep price tag of Rs 25,000. Its Indian counterpart is cheaper at Rs 8,000 a pair. Some, like 22-year-old Ranjit Bajwa, a student of electronic engineering, say the cost of the sunglasses is not that huge compared to the facilities on offer. “That’s the kind of money you pay for an MP3 player; the sunglasses are an added advantage,” he adds. The question is how excited it will get the masses here. Mr Romy Dhingra, a local resident, was thrilled when he first heard of the idea. “It’s absolutely amazing: sunglasses that play music. It definitely can’t get cooler than this.” A lecturer in computer science, Mr Ravinder Ahuja, was also excited. “The concept will surely work because Phagwara has a large number of people who travel a long way to work every day. They would surely be hooked onto this music player.” He, however, feels that Rs 8,000 is rather costly. “Sunglasses are a major style statement. So I change my sunglasses every time the style gets outdated,” Mr Vivek Lakhanpal, a provision storeowner, says. Whether to make a style statement or to brace up for the sun or simply to listen to music, MP3 glasses may very well be the choice of fashion buffs.
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Dancing to the tune
of ringtones
From “Rang de basanti....”, “Das bahane...” , “Aashiq Banaya...”, to Gurbani, Hanuman Chalisa and “Raghupati Raghav Raja, Ram”— music or songs are now a dial away. Ringtones based on movies songs or bhajans have now comprehensively replaced the old monotonous “tring tring” or the tones inherent in the mobile handsets.
Be it latest movie hits, Punjabi songs, theme song of any TV serial, classical music or any religious song, a host of hits are available to choose from, as ringtones for music lovers. One can even record a voice on the phone and set it as a ringtone. Changing the tones is the latest craze among youngsters and professionals as well. Everybody wants to have the latest are hits in their handsets. With monophonic phones giving way to polyphonic ones and the polyphonic sets upgrading to MP3 phones, people can listen to exactly the kind of music they want to hear, Gagandeep Singh, an engineer working with a private telecomm company, says. Mobile companies and operators sense a huge opportunity of earning through this trend, as industry sources estimate that around 25 million ringtones and ringback tones are downloaded every month by mobile customers across the country. This figure is expected to double by the end of 2006. This has also affected revenues of the music industry, which fell by a third over the past three years to Rs 600 crore. “For youngsters, the ringtones act as fashion statements. We spend a lot of time searching for the popular tunes on the Internet. And when we are in the college, friends exchange tones through Bluetooth or Infrared,” Jagriti Chaddha, a B.A. II year student, says. Another college student, Akaldeep Singh, a student of Apeejay College of Fine Arts, feels that it is a good way to convince others about his or her feelings. “If one wants to say something to other person, he can say this through a ringtone,” he adds. “When it comes to choosing a ringtone, what matters is a person’s taste and interest. But that too keeps changing,” Ms Aneela Kinder, headmistress, Apeejay School, says. “One can choose a tone if he or she likes it at that moment. The choice can be changed if the person starts liking some other theme tone.” Ms Kinder has chosen “Apni to Paathshala, Masti ki Paathshala” as her phone’s ringtone. Truly, it suits her profession. However, Dr Sudeep Bhangoo, a psychologist, suggests that a neutral and ordinary tone should be preferred, as she feels that ringtones can convey a wrong message. “Ringtones can be distractive. It may also give a bad impression about a person. Suppose if one person is attending an official meeting and a romantic tone blares from his mobile, then think of the embarrassment!” she says. “Ringtones do reflect the personality of a person.” “The restless youngsters prefer rocky, hippy film songs, while the peace-loving elderly generation would like to listen to religious or classical songs. Many people even chose ringtones according to the season,” says Saloni Dar, a housewife. One can also assign a specific ringtone to a particular person’s number. The specific tone is usually chosen to suit the caller’s personality. “I have assigned the tone for my daughter that sounds naughty, ” she adds. “Tones come custom-made for children, too. These tones are based on cartoon serials like Pokemon or Powerpuff Girls, that cheer the tiny tots,” she adds.
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Science city to go
hi-tech
The Pushpa Gujral Science City in Kapurthala has lined up ambitious plans for its next phase of development. Buildings for the four new exhibit galleries, namely The Science of Sports, Ecology and Environment, Health and Biotechnology and Emerging Technologies are under also construction. The Gallery on Science of Sports would include virtual reality sports shows like cricket, tennis, and football, where visitors could enjoy the excitement and challenge of their favorite sports without ever having to set foot on a playing surface and investigate the mechanics of sport around an indoor field. Facilities for rock climbing are also being planned in this gallery to make the masses aware of issues such as global warming and environment pollution, identifying ways and means to mitigate their adverse effects with the help of models/ dioramas/ information panels and interactive computer-based programmes with touch-screen facilities and plasma display panels. The Ministry of Railways has agreed to set up a Railway Gallery in the Science City. Provision for the funds required for setting up the gallery has been made in the 2006-2007 Railway Budget. The gallery would be equipped with a steam engine, a toy train and engine simulators. Indian Meteorological Department is also installing an Automatic Weather Station linked to Satellite Kalpana. A satellite communication system demonstrating the workings of satellite communication would be installed. A project proposal for setting up a Biotechnology Gallery with a cost of Rs 56 lakh has been submitted to the Government of India. In addition to this, there are plans to develop a cactus and succulent garden. A herbal garden has already been set up. The exhibits including Virtual Table Tennis, Video Conferencing, Virtual Zigsaw, Integrated Circuits, Jacob’s Ladder, Dancing Ball, Bernoulli’s Principle, Anti-Gravity Mirror, Aryabhata Model and Model of Earth with Three Orbiting Satellites were also unveiled on the Annual Day function of the science city on March 20.
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Jalandhar Plus impact
Passengers now have a reason to feel relieved, as the bus stand authorities have woken up to their woes. Jalandhar Plus had brought it to notice that the public was forced to buy things like eatables at 2 to 6 rupees higher than the actual price at the bus stand. A rate list of commodities is now on display in front of the shops at the bus stand. The chole bhature are priced at Rs 3 per 50 grams, groundnut at Rs 4 per 50 grams, cream biscuits at Rs 12, chips at Rs 12, kurkure at Rs 12, gachak at Rs 3 per 50 grams, revadi at Rs 3 per 50 grams, and dal mugra and dal fry at Rs 4 per 50 grams each. The passengers have also been advised to contact the Station Supervisor at the bus stand with any complaint regarding any of the shops violating the prescribed rate list put up by the Punjab Roadways authorities. The General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Mr Parneet Singh, said that the shopkeepers would not be allowed to fleece people. Feeling relieved at the step, Shruti, a student who has to travel frequently to her home town, said the purchasing of the commodities would now be hassle-free, and she would not have to pay more than the prescribed rate.
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Senior citizens’ association demands more concessions
The Senior Citizen Welfare Congress (SCWC), Punjab, has written a letter to the Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, demanding more concessions for senior citizens aged 60 years and above.
“Health problems and financial insecurity are two issues we senior citizens have to face. And we have not yet been covered under the concessions being offered by the state government,” Mr Om Prakash Sharma, secretary, SCWC (Punjab), said in the letter. The SCWC has also demanded some concession for the senior citizens when they travel by buses of the Punjab Roadways. Mr Amarjit Rai, president of the SCWC (Punjab), said, “The government is paying Rs 250 per month as medical allowance to its retired employees, but what about those senior citizens who are not their retired employees and have no source of income?” The senior citizens, he demanded, should be given concessions in medicines and medical treatment also. The SCWC has also appealed to the Chief Minister to provide concession in electricity bills to the senior citizens who own a small house with electric meters in their name. Mr Sharma has also suggested that a council of old persons at state level and a forum of old persons at the district level be constituted. “Willing senior citizens can be deployed at the district level in social service programmes. They can also be asked to take part in civil or defence programmes,” the SCWC members said in the letter. The concessions presently being offered by the state government to the senior citizens who are identity card-holders include three seats reserved in a Punjab Roadways or PRTC bus, separate queues for senior citizens in all OPDS in general hospitals, dispensaries, bus stand and libraries. The state government had also issued an order for having separate queues for the senior citizens while they made payment of electricity and water bills, Mr Rai said. “But forming separate queues will not serve the
purpose,” he added, urging the government to give priority to the demands of the senior citizens.
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450 college students felicitated
The Lyallpur Khalsa College for Women organised a prize distribution function on Friday. Nearly 450 students, who had excelled in academics, sports and cultural activities, were felicitated by Mr Balbir Singh, former MP and president of college governing council. Fifteen university position holders were also awarded during the ceremony. Ms C.K. Minhas, Principal, read out the annual report. Mr Chanan Singh Chitti, Vice-president, and Mr Gurdeep Singh Sangha, Secretary, were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, an annual prize distribution function of Hans Raj Mahila Vidyalaya was also organised on Friday. Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Transport Minister, was the chief guest. The minister gave a grant of Rs 1.51 lakh to the college. Ms P.P. Sharma, Principal, read the annual report during which she mentioned that 25 students received first prizes and 21 second prizes in the Guru Nanak Dev University examinations. The college had won the overall sports championship for the sixteenth time, she said.
—TNS
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World Forestry Day
observed
The DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology organised a function to mark the World Forestry Day on Tuesday. Saplings of trees were planted in the campus by the students and faculty. Mr M.K. Kaushik, NSS officer and lecturer of environmental science, delivered a lecture on “Impacts of global warming on environment”. Mr Surinder Seth, an orator, spoke on the need to check deforestation. He elucidated the emotional bond between human beings and forests.
Meanwhile, a seminar on advantages of meditation was organised at Trinity College on Thursday. Mr Ananjay Sharma, resource person, spoke on “Meditation — The elixir of life’. He told the audience to follow three rules in life, “Do not follow anything blindly. Be open-minded. Have regular deep conditioning of mind”. Father George, Principal, Professor Ajay Prashar, President, Jaycees unit of Trinity College, and Professor Amanpreet Kaur, general secretary, were present on the occasion.
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From Schools and Colleges
The 75th martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev was organised at the Apeejay Institute of Management by its NSS students in collaboration with Pahal, an NGO, on Thursday. Dr Balram Dogra, Director, recalled the sacrifices laid by the three heroes of freedom struggle movement. Professor Lakhbir Singh, president of Pahal, called Bhagat Singh as patron of progressive thinkers. A blood donation camp was also organized, during which 75 students of the college donated blood. Dr S.P. Sharma, Civil Surgeon, said that blood donation was the need of the day and there could have been no better occasion to hold such a programme. Mr M.S. Kainth, ADC, talked about the selfless sacrifices made by the freedom fighters.
Sports meet: Farewell party:
Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya organised a farewell party for its postgraduate students on Sunday. A “havan yajna” was performed to seek blessings of the Almighty. Later, the students performed cultural show with group songs and dances. The final year students spoke about their experiences in the college. Ms P.P. Sharma, Principal, advised the students to use their knowledge as a base for their empowerment. She urged them to develop strength of character and stick to ethics through their life. A farewell party was also organised for the final year students of B.Com (regular and professional) and BBA by the Department of Commerce and Business Administration at Lyallpur Khalsa College. Dr Satish Kapoor, Principal, and Prof G.K. Jain, Head of the Department, wished the students good luck. A modelling round was also held during which Sachin was declared Mr Commerce and Parminder Batra was declared Ms Commerce. (Compiled by
Deepkamal Kaur)
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Students celebrate World Water Day
Students of Mehr Chand Polytechnic, in association with Pahal, an NGO, observed the World Water Day at the Art and Craft Teacher Centre on Wednesday. Referring to UNESCO, Professor Lakhbir Singh, president of Pahal, said, “We plan our cities near water. We work with water. We play with water. Unfortunately, we are careless about water, as we waste it or use it indiscriminately. We pollute it in several ways, even as we spend huge funds to get it from the earth.” He added that it was imperative to conserve water.
A painting contest was organised on the occasion. Kiran Bala was declared first, while Kamal Kishore stood second. Harpreet Kaur Saini was awarded the third prize. Sartaj Singh and Guarav were given the consolation prizes by the Principal of the centre, Mr Vijay Kumar.
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Market Buzz
Airtel launched its broadband and telephone services in Punjab on Tuesday. A video conferencing with the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, at Chandigarh was organised with the local scribes. Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director of the company, said Airtel had started the services in Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.
Meet: Consultation:
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Workshop
A six-day workshop on dining and social etiquettes titled ‘Life skills’ was organised by Delhi Public School for students of Classes I and II.
The workshop was conducted to inculcate and instill in students the basic etiquettes, social manners, table manners, greeting skills and conversation skills.
— TNS
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‘Very few Bollywood movies are women-centric’ How does it feel to be back in your city?
There’s no question of being back. I keep visiting my village here. I have not only seen changes sweeping Jalandhar, I feel I have been part of these changes. Why do films project women in regressive manner? Fortunately, the movies I have directed have had women in very strong roles. These films have been more or less women-centric. But I do agree that very few Bollywood movies have women as the central characters. It seems that our audience is not yet ready for such films. Television and cinema have different approaches. Your comment. Television has some kind of “ordinariness” associated with it. You can watch television while sitting in your room and chatting with your friends. But cinema is larger than life. It needs ‘magic’ to sustain it. And it brooks no distractions. — Minna Zutshi
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It’s the foreign touch that holds charm for those back home. And interestingly, those settled abroad have an itch to know more about their native land, whose roots still bind them in some measure. Add to all this a bit of Punjabi enterprise and business acumen, and the stage is set for a clutch of dailies and weeklies published from Doaba region.
