In the heartland of Sikhs

A.J. Philip visits Punjab’s brand new district Tarn Taran, which recently observed the 400th martyrdom day of its founder Guru Arjan Dev IN my early days in the profession I used to write a fortnightly column, ‘Window on Latin America’. Lest the readers should get a wrong impression, it is a continent I am yet to visit.

Singing for a cause
Shveta Pathak on a group of Punjabi singers, whose songs come laden with messages
Malwa Hek is a group of like-minded people who have found a purpose in singing. Attending a performance by them offers more than entertainment. For, their performance either brings a social message or a folklore, which brings you close to your roots.

Music as therapy
Bilal Butt
Schools in Jammu and Kashmir have decided that music is the balm that needs to applied to the mind and psyche of students ravaged by 17 years of insurgency. To overcome stress, schools are now turning to music to soothe the senses, and special musical concerts are being held at regular intervals to help students to unwind.

Now, fish-skin footwear
FISH skin is set to grace your footwear, all thanks to students at Kolkata’s Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology. The students have successfully processed fish skin and scales, otherwise considered to be waste material, to make shoes, wallets, bags and belts.

Brits not best at English
A top academic has said that British students are not the best at English, and believes that foreign students are better at speaking and writing the language.