REGIONAL BRIEFS | Thursday, December 17, 1998 |
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'Green Ambala' drive pays off The "green Ambala cantonment" project launched in August 1997 has started bearing fruit. Since then, about 3000 saplings of different varieties have been planted in the town. Mr Anil Vij, the local MLA, who has been spearheading the project, says the aim was to create an awakening among the public and that "objective has been achieved". Mr M.R. Budhiraja, who has been nursing the saplings like his own "children", says the survival rate had been 100 per cent. Most of the saplings have been provided with tree-guards which have been donated by local residents whose nameplates appear on them. Among the trees planted are arjun, cassia, gulmohar, teak, jamun, silver oak, ashoka, kaner and bougainvillaea. The purpose was to protect the environment, provide shade, fruit and flowers as well as beautify the surroundings. To counter pollution, congested areas like Cross Road No.1 and Outer Road have been given preference. The other places covered are Staff Road, Railway Road, Bank Road, War Heroes Memorial Stadium and Cross Roads No. 1 to 5. Thanks to the social forestry wing of the Forest Department, saplings have never been a problem, Mr Vij says. To ensure survival, members of different teams do rounds every morning and in case of any problem, solve it on the spot. Watering saplings have not been a hurdle, thanks to the civic body. The biggest threat is stray cattle, a big menace yet to be tackled by the authorities. Despite covering the saplings with thorny bushes, complete protection from cattle cannot be ensured, Mr Budhiraja comments. The project has turned into a "people's movement". He has been appealing to the people to "plant a tree on a birthday instead of cutting a cake". The appeal has starting showing results. Requests are pouring in from people to help them in planting a tree near their houses. "Not only planting a tree, but its protection as well, is our motto", Mr Vij asserted. Saplings of teak have been planted at some places so that in the long run these could generate revenue. The next project on the anvil was to have a herbal garden which would include medicinal plants. His pen attracted militants' ire Dr Kulbir Singh Kaang is among the few Punjabi writers who were on the hit list of militants in the eighties. In a letter intercepted by the police, a militant organisation had clubbed his name with Khushwant Singh and Jagjit Singh Nand who were to be eliminated. Neither did Dr Kaang seek security nor curtail his movements. The militants who had written the letter were later killed in an encounter. Dr Kaang (63), who remained controversial for his writings, has penned 66 books. He is among the few Punjabi writers who wrote in English and Hindi, besides translating best-sellers from other Indian languages. His books were prescribed as texts in universities and colleges. Dr Kaang is also one of the contributors to the encyclopaedia of Indian Literature and Makers of Indian Writers for the Sahitya Akademi, Delhi. Dr Kaang started his career as Assistant Editor, Khalsa Samachar, edited by Bhai Veer Singh. He was associated with eminent writers like Gurbax Singh Preetlari, Bawa Balwant, Sujan Singh, Nanak Singh and Prof Mohan Singh. He is now Fellow at Guru Nanak Dev University. Though his books are on various subjects, including linguistics and sketch writing, he is popular for being a Punjabi critic and writing lyrical Punjabi essays. He remained associated with a number of Punjabi literary organisations, including the Lok Likhari Sabha, the Sahit Vichar Kendra, the Punjab Sahit Akademi, etc. He also edited a number of magazines from time to time, including the popular Arsi, Lo and Puja. He won laurels from the state government, the Punjab Sahit Akademi, the IAAPA (Canada). He also won the Dhaliwal, S.S. Amol and Waris awards. Mahakavi Kalidasa award for HP poet Keshav Sharma, a Sanskrit poet and playwright, employed with the SCERT, Solan, has been awarded the first Mahakavi Kalidasa Samman. Instituted last year, the prestigious award was conferred on him by the state Education Minister, at the Kalidasa Jayanti celebrations held at Jwalamukhi, recently. His book, "Abhinav Kavanjli", was released on the occasion. Born at Jarashi village of Shimla district on November 15,1940, Keshav obtained his 'Darshanacharya' and M.Phil degrees with distinction and is a university gold medalist. Starting his teaching career at the Government Sanskrit College, Solan, where he served for 10 years, he moved on to the Government Post-Graduate College, Solan. During his teaching career spanning over 35 years, Keshav did commendable research work and contributed his mite to the enrichment of Sanskrit lore and literature, reflecting India's glorious cultural heritage. Some of his poems were broadcast from the Shimla station of All India Radio under the "Amarbani" slot. He won the first prize at the Sanskrit scholars' conference attended by litterateurs from the neighbouring states. The topic Keshav chose and read out to a distinguished gathering was "Haravadhi Sanskrit vktrita", which reflected Keshav's uncanny command over the language and his knack of handling a subtle theme. For his contribution to the enrichment of Sanskrit, he was decorated with the coveted 'Brahmirishi' and 'Shankaracharya' titles. (Contributed by
Jai Parkash Mann, Varinder Walia and Ramesh Dhiman.) |
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