Jalandhar, September 1
In what may provide relief to over one-fourth of the residents of the city, the Municipal Corporation has given a green signal for the construction a Railway Under Bridge (RUB) at the Sodal-level crossing.

Talking to The Tribune, Mayor Rakesh Rathour said since the Railway Over Bridge (ROB) was not feasible at the Sodal-level crossing, the MC decided to go ahead with the construction of a RUB there.

Elaborating, Rathour said the process for the RUB had already been started and a design for the same was sent to the Union Railway Ministry about five months back for its approval for the same.

Answering a query, the Mayor claimed the MC had vigorously been pursuing the railways for the approval of the design. As soon as the design is approved by the railways, the further process of constructing the RUB would be started thereafter, he added.

Meanwhile, welcoming the initiative of the MC to start the process of constructing an RUB, the president of Chamber of Jalandhar Welfare Societies Raj Kumar Sharma said the MC should pursue more vigorously with the railways for getting its approval for the design.

The president of the chamber-a conglomerate of over 22 residents’ societies- further said their movement for the RUB at the Sodal-level crossing would continue till the construction for the same was started on the ground.

In view of one of the famous Sodal fair on Thursday, the chamber spearheading the movement for the RUB has put up as many as seven hoardings at different places, leading to the Sodal Temple, in order to make the public aware about the common cause.

The hoardings have been installed at the Kali Mata Mandir, Doaba Chowk, Sodal crossing, Ram Nagar crossing, Gajji Gulla crossing, Workshop Chowk and Sodal Temple. Besides as many as 10,000 pamphlets would also be distributed among the devotees to inform them about the immediate need for the RUB, he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that over 150 trains pass through the Sodal railway crossing where Jalandhar-Amritsar-Ferozepur tracks are situated.

Thousands of residents of these localities have to suffer a lot to cross these crossings as on an average, a train passes from these railway crossings every ten minutes and the crossing remains closed for normal traffic most of the time.

That is why pedestrians and two-wheeler riders are left with no option than to cross even the closed crossing, to save their time. In the process, several persons, including a student and a lady teacher had already lost their precious lives, Sharma added.

While the Domoria ROB is being constructed, it is generally said that the need for the construction of an RUB has more strongly been felt at the Sodal railway crossing.

Problems of crossing over from Kishan Pura to the Railway road and vice versa, are most intensely felt for just about a fortnight on an average in a year during water-logging during the monsoons. But for the rest oof the year it isn’t much of a trouble since a Domoria RUB already exists.

Thousands of persons residing across the Sodal railway crossing have been demanding the RUB here for several years.

Keeping in mind the problems being faced by thousands of residents, a BJP MLA from North Jalandhar had promised during campaigning in previous Assembly Elections that he would get an ROB constructed here but nothing was done so far in this direction.

Besides, the health of these residents is also adversely affected due to air and noise pollution caused by vehicles stranded at these railway crossings during passage of trains.

Earlier, the Welfare Societies of Shiv Nagar, Mathura Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Kot Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Preet Nagar, Dada Colony, Aman Nagar, Kamal Park, Kailash Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Sodal Nagar, Royal Club Ram Nagar, Globe Colony and Gobind Nagar put up a similar hoarding here for the construction of RUBs at Sodal railway crossing, during the last parliamentary elections.

Jalandhar, September 1
Irked at the alleged red tapism of the government authorities in introducing the ambitious scholarships and Means-cum-Merit scheme for minority students in the district, members of the Pendu Mazdoor Union (PMU) have written to the National Minority Commission, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. The union has demanded an extension in the date of the submission of forms by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

A decision in this regard was taken after hundreds of parents who gathered at the local District Welfare office yesterday, to submit their forms, had to return empty handed.

President of PMU, Tarsem Peter said they have written to the Union Minister for Social Justice in this regard. “A copy of the same has been forwarded to Punjab minister for the Welfare of SCs and BCs, Gulzar Singh Ranike as well,” he added.

In his letter, Peter requested the minorities commission to extend the date for submitting the application forms of minority students. He has also mentioned that parents had to face resistance on the part of officials as they refused to accept their forms.

“The forms were supposed to be submitted on August 31. However, the authorities reportedly forwarded the forms in the morning,” he maintained.

He said even the local Navjivan Charitable Society, which got as many as 3,000 forms filled at block and village levels, had to return empty-handed yesterday.

The society has been working for the welfare of the minorities and the SCs and STs at the grass roots level.

It needs mention here that as per this scheme, students belonging to the Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities, notified as minority communities under section 2(C) of the National Commission for Minority Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, are eligible to apply for the scholarships of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India.

Lambasting the state government for their apathetic attitude, Peter said the government has failed miserably in implementing the centre-sponsored scheme.

“The dirty politics of the state government virtually paralysed this scheme envisaged for the welfare of the minorities in the state”, he maintained.

When contacted, Additional Director, Welfare Department, Lakha Singh said though the last date of submitting the forms is over, people can still send the forms directly to us.

“Those who failed to submit their forms well on time can send them directly to our official address. We will ensure that maximum minority students are able to avail the benefits of this scheme”, he added. 

Jalandhar, September 1
The medal winners of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) Headquarters, who won laurels at the recently concluded 13th World Police and Fire Games-2009 held at British Columbia (Canada), were felicitated on August 31. The games were held from July 31 to August 9.

During the function, the teams, including athletics (men and women), wrestling, judo and golf (officers), were felicitated. The PAP team players won 26 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze medals. The PAP ADGP, H.R. Chadha, gave away prizes to the winners.

The winners included Inspector Ajay Raj Singh, who stood first in long jump and 4X100 metre relay race, SI Harminder Singh, first in javelin throw, ASI Navpreet Singh, first in shot put, ASI Gurpreet Singh, first in 4X400 metre relay race, second in 110 metre hurdles and second 400 metre hurdles. HC Satpal Singh bagged second position in pole vault.

CT Maninder Singh came first in 4X100 metre relay race and second in 100 metre race, CT Amandeep Singh, first in 4X400 metre relay race, third in 110 metre hurdles and 400 metre hurdles, CT Sukhjinder Singh, first in 4X100 metres relay race, ASI Amandeep Singh, first in 96 kg wrestling, CT Jatinder Pal, third in judo.

Commandant Davinder Singh Garcha bagged second position in golf.

Among the women athletes were ASI Sapinder Kaur, who won first position in 4X400 metre relay race and 400 metre hurdles and second in 400 metre run, CT Kulwinder Kaur, first position in long jump, triple jump and 4X400 metre relay race, second in 100 metres hurdles and high jump, CT Navpreet Kaur, first position in 100 metre hurdles, high jump and 4X400 relay race and third in 200 metre run and long jump, and CT Sapinderpal Kaur, first in 4X400 metre relay race and second in long jump and triple jump.

Jalandhar, September 1
To make police-public relations more cordial and ease the process of lodging complaints, the district police chief inaugurated a Police Community Centre at Division 4 police station here yesterday.

Opened under a pilot project of the Punjab police, the community centre is the first of its kind in the district where complainants could get  their complaints registered without any delay.

The police has already opened similar community centres in Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and some other cities of the state.

Jalandhar SSP R.K. Jaiswal claimed that the centre was an effort of the department for  the better police-public relations. Moreover, the centre had  been dedicated to the complainants who could get their complaints lodged here on  priority basis.

Policemen deployed at the centre would render all help to the complainants in getting their daily diary reports (DDRs) registered and answering other queries about their cases. The centre was equipped with a computer and other electronic equipment to register complaints and would remain open from 9 am to 5 pm daily. The facility would be extended to other burdened police stations if the scheme popularised here, said the SSP.

Jalandhar, September 1
City-based topper Megha Chabbra, a student of M.Sc (computer science) final year of the local DAV College is on cloud nine these days as she bagged the top position in the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

At the same time she has been inducted as a lecturer in her alma mater.

The topper secured 1,818 marks out of 2,400 and scored 81 percent marks in aggregate. A gold medallist in her stream she termed this achievement as a dream come true.

“I was already looking forward to a rewarding career in the field of academics and managed to fulfill my dream”, she added.

“I joined the college in the month of July and so far it has been a wonderful experience,” maintained the twenty-three-year-old lecturer. The topper has plans to pursue a PhD programme in the near future. “At present I am looking forward to appear in the UGC exam and become a permanent lecturer.

A firm believer of hard work coupled with the blessings of the elders, she never forgets to mention her mentors. “Apart from the constant support from my parents the motivation of our college principal V.K. Tewari helped me a lot in achieving my goals”, maintained the topper.

The topper said she owes her success to the skilled lecturers of the college as well. “I got a great environment in the college. Apart from the good company of my friends, the college ambience too helped me to concentrate on subjects,” she added.

A topper throughout, she said, “I worked really hard to attain the first position in the university. Apart from hard work the students should concentrate on clearing the basic concepts. I never spent studying like a book worm, rather kept a regular tab on latest information through the internet and refresher books,” the topper quipped. 

Jalandhar, September 1
They said, “You can’t play the ‘meendh’ on the santoor sonny.” But sonny boy knew better.

Classical musical and innovation are supposed to go hand in hand, but when it comes to redefining things, Tarun Bhattacharya sets a bit too much of a precedent.

In the city for a classical music recital organised by Spic Macay at KMV Sanskriti School, the maestro who introduced the santoor with “meendh” and “mankas” left the audience spellbound.

Awed children from junior classes to the matric level listened seated on floor as he wound a mesmerising web of swaras created by the deft, fond brush of his sticks with the delicate strings of his santoor. Durjay Bhaumik’s aroused tabla was the cherry on top.

He started ff with raag Parmeshwari in which he presented alaap, jod, bandish in jhap taal and bandish in teen taal. The sawaal-jawab and chemistry of the santoor with the tabla were a hit with the audience.

The recital ended with the audience being transferred to the teary-eyed world of a melancholy Bengali bride, her thatched hut and the kola gachs of her native village getting farther and dreamier (the maestro’s own description) as the boat advances to the other side of the river as does the majhi’s song coinciding with the rhythmic splash of the oar-hit waters.

Talk of the power of music, the masterful interplay of the tabla and santoor in the Bhatiali (a Bengali folk song) in raag Jhinjhoti brought it all out in vivid detail.

The event ended with the maestro patiently answering the questions of children.

Excerpts from The Tribune’s conversation with the maestro on the sidelines of the concert:

How did you start?

First learning from my father (Rabi Bhattachrya) who used to run a music academy, I was introduced to many instruments early on but after listening to the santoor I stuck to it. Later I was trained by Dulal Roy and Pt Ravishankar.

What do you think of the current scenario in music?

It is celebrating film music more than heritage.

You learnt from Pt Ravishankar who is a sitar player and you play santoor. How did this combination work?

Our instruments were different but the language of classical music is the same. In fact the invention of meendhs and mankas came when I wanted to take out sounds which had heard on the sitar but santoor couldn’t create them.

Your experiments in folk?

I did an album on folk called enchanting folk melodies along with Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Daya Shankar.

Best compliment?

A woman in New York dropped the idea of suicide after listening to my recital.

Tell us about your disciples.

I have about 35 to 40 disciples all over the world. I run a school called Santoor Ashram in Kolkata where I teach underprivileged disciples free.

Jalandhar, September 1
The guru-shishya parampara, the artiste-ward bonding, which has been such a strong foundation of the tutelage received by most of our eminent maestros, came alive at a classical music recital at Hansraj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya here on Monday as sitar maestro Manu Seen and his son Rishabh (in his early teens) sat playing in front of a spellbound audience.

Beginning with raag Hansdhwani, the performance was a rare father-son thing as the elder nodded and paused at regular intervals for the younger to steal away some stage space and sighs from the audience.

Manu went on to play the sweet, classical-infused renditions of some Hindi songs “Sawan ka maheena”, “Jaane kahan gaye vo din”, etc. which can easily be said to have altered the patterns on which they were earlier perceived. The recital ended with the bhajan “Payoji maine”. They were accompanied at the tabla by Narayan.

Next to perform was the legendary vocalist Pt Mani Prasad. “Yahan aa ke achha maloom ho raha hai,” starting with this comment in his booming, resonant voice, he began with raag Charukesi and went on to sing an amazing bandish - Baaju band khul khul jaye - in raag Bhairavi, demonstrating the different Punjab and Purab Ang as he performed in his drunk-in-the-wine-of-music voice. The Kirana Gharana stalwart ended the performance with a bhajan in raag Sindhi Bhairavi.

Excerpts from an interview with Pt Mani Prasad on the sidelines of the concert:

When was your first show?

Right since I was a kid. I remember my father Sukhdev Prasad performing and me occupying an untouched corner of the state to catch on with sleep. One fine day I took to the centre stage.

What’s most important to sustain music?

Riyaaz and the feeling of oneness with god. I don’t believe in God-gifted voices.

What do you think of the present scenario in music?

Great stuff is happening. I’m especially satisfied with work happening in Maharashtra, Bengal and Karnataka.

Tell us about your disciples.

Most of my disciples are the ones who already have little bit of an understanding in the art so that when I tell them something it doesn’t seem out of context to them.

The best compliment you got?

At a concert in America people told me to sing the raag which brings rain. I sang the Malhaar and coincidentally it started raining. Mere Malhaar mein itni shakti nahi. But these guys were astonished and lauded me in the newspapers next day.

Message to your viewers.

School, college ki degree to milti rahegi par gurmukh vidya jaisa kuch nahi.

Pt Prasad boasts of disciples like Rita Ganguly, Ramesh Jule, Saviota Maharaj, Seema Anil Sehegal, Chandan Das, Gayatri Kaul, Uma Garg, Sant Satnam Singh and others.

Jalandhar, September 1
Even after over three months, the Punjab government has failed to make the 30-bedded trauma center at the local civil hospital functional.

Coming up with a cost of over Rs 4.5 crore, adjacent to the new building of the local civil hospital, the center has been proving to be a white elephant.

Thanks to the Punjab government which has not been able to recruit staff including doctors, staff nurses and other paramedical staff.

Moreover, a majority of equipments, including CT-scan, digital X-ray machine, and other necessary machines have not been installed as yet.

The building, however, proved to be of great use when it was utilised as an isolation unit to accommodate swine flu-affected patients during the outbreak of the disease.

Shortage of staff and certain other formalities have been delaying the functioning of the newly set-up trauma center.

Sources in the Health Department reveal that there is an immediate requirement of expert doctors, staff nurses and other paramedical staff, operation theatre assistants, radiographers and other technical staff who could operate the sophisticated machines efficiently for accurate results.

When contacted, Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr. Nayyar claimed that the Lok Sabha and Nurmehal bye-elections delayed the inauguration of the trauma center. The center would be made operational after the process of recruitment of required staff is made complete, he added.

Punjab health minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla had given the go-ahead signal to the health officials for the trauma center as soon as it gets ready for functioning.

She has been taking personal interest in getting the center ready so that better health care facilities might be rendered to critical patients at the district headquarters.

The building was constructed by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation and came up under the supervision of its own engineers.

Jalandhar, September 1
Members of the Lok Bhalai Party yesterday submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu and staged a protest in the District Administrative Complex (DAC) against the price hike of essential commodities, unemployment, power shortage, drug addiction, poor health care facilities and frauds.

Earlier the members gathered at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall and raised anti-government slogans. The agitated members, including women, beat up empty utensils, demanding a check on these issues affecting a common man.

Senior vice-president Avtar Singh Mullanpuri said the government had failed miserably in controlling inflation. “Through th memorandum we have made an appeal to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to conduct an all-party meeting and raise these issues,” he maintained.

Jalandhar, September 1
Students of Lovely Institute of Law (LIL) have proven their mettle by bagging the gold, silver and bronze medals for the overall results of five-year LLB course declared by Guru Nanak Dev University. Mandeep Kaur won the gold with 77.6 per cent marks, Shampy Chaudhary got the silver with 76.6 per cent and the bronze went to Priyanka Singh.

Kapurthala, September 1
Two minor girls have allegedly been raped at separate villages in the district.

According to information, while one such incident was reported at Dhilwan, the other was reported at Masitan village.

A sick domestic girl was raped by her relative Jatinder Singh at Dhilwan village today. The victim’s mother lodged a complaint with the police in this regard. The girl was alone at her house when the incident took place, she added.

An FIR under sections 376 and 506 of the IPC has been registered against the accused in this regard. In another incident, two youths reportedly raped a minor girl at Masitan village, in their house, when she had gone there to take water.