MCM DAV students top in quiz CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Abhijeeta and Shivpreet of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, won the first position in the inter-college quiz organised at Government College, Sector 46, by the Chandigarh Librarians' Association. Demolition of water tank assailed CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Various religious and political organisations have criticised the demolition of a water tank outside a religious place in Sector 18, yesterday.

Arbitrators must give 'honest awards' Held for cheating shopkeeper Sculptor's dig at social ills Poets delight crowd

Principals form association
CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The principals of non-government colleges of Chandigarh at a meeting at GGDSD college, Sector 32, formed an association, the UT Non-Government College Principals' Association, to work collectively for finding solutions to the developmental and academic problems faced by the institutions here today.

• All set for pulse polio programme
• DC's assurance to students
• Plea filed in court on subway clearance

• Rationalise tax structure: mandal
• Shatabdis run late
• Case against MC
  
  

Poll springs surprise winners
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — More than 60 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the panchayat elections, the results of which were declared late tonight.

The poll sprung surprise winners as tall figures were forced to bite the dust. A pointer of the changing face of village politics was surprise migrant winners like a rickshaw-puller, Mr Ramu, from Kajheri and Mr Umesh Prasad, from Hallomajra, while Mrs Leelawati upset all calculations to post a win from Daddumajra. On the flipside, Mr Bhupinder Singh from Palsora, Mr Mohan Singh of Raipur Kalan and Mr Kesar Singh of Kajheri lost, contrary to expectations.

Local Congress leader, Mr Venod Sharma, attributed the win of a majority of the party-backed candidates to a clear verdict of the people of the villages. The party reportedly backed 12 of the 15 winners which could signal a re-emergence of the party at the local grassroots level.

The panchayat elections to 15 villages concluded peacefully, barring an incident in Maloya village where polling was held up for more than two hours in the evening. Some of the candidates and their supporters demanded a halt to the polling after pointing out to certain irregularities in the voters' lists.

The protesters assembled in front of the polling station, which was housed in government school of the village, and did not allow anyone to either enter or come out. Timely intervention and tactful handling by the Returning Officer, Mr Ashwani Kumar, and the police saved the situation from turning ugly. However, polling was brisk afterwards.

There were joyous scenes outside the polling stations even before the results were officially declared.

Chandigarh has 17 villages and the panchayats of two villages had been elected unopposed on January 9, the date of withdrawal of nominations.

In Maloya, polling was conducted amid tight security and as many as 45,700 voters exercised their franchise. Polling began at 8 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.

More than 900 cops had been deployed in the 15 villages and 62 polling centres. Barring Maloya, the "sensitive" villages — Kajheri, Palsora, Hallomajra and Khuda Ali Sher — reported no untoward incident.

The counting for the gram panchayats of Kishengarh, Mauli Jagran, Daria and Raipur Kalan was held at the premises of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, Industrial Area. For panchayats of Hallomajra, Kajheri and Palsora the counting centre was at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 32.

In the case of remaining villages, the counting was done at the respective polling centres. No major violation of the model code of conduct of the Election Commission was reported.

The panches of three panchayats — Khuda Jassu, Kaimbwala and Behlana — have been elected unopposed. The sarpanches of Behlana and Khuda Jassu, too, have also been unopposed.

The winners are Mr Kartar Singh (Mauli Jagran), Mrs Bhupinder Kaur (Kishengarh), Mr Manmohan Singh (Khuda Lahora), Mrs Bhupinder Kaur (Sarangpur), Mr Darshan Singh (Behlana), Mr Balbir Singh (Khuda Jassu), Mr Pala Singh (Khuda Ali Sher), Mrs Krishna Devi (Kaimbwala), Mr Ramu (Kajheri), Mrs Surjit Kaur (Maloya), Mr Jai Chand (Palsora), Mr Umesh Prasad (Hallomajra), Mr Parkash (Daria), Mr Bahadur Singh (Raipur Kalan), Mr Harbhajan Singh (Dhanas), Mrs Leelawati (Daddumajra) and Mrs Shanti Devi (Raipur Khurd).

Cold wave claims 8 lives

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 (UNI) — The cold wave and fog continued to torture people in north-western region, once again hitting the normal schedule of the air, rail and road traffic.

The over a month long freak fogs and severe cold wave-conditions have claimed seven lives in Punjab and one in the union territory of Chandigarh.

Ramesh Kumar alias Bhola, a migrant labourer from Bihar, died of biting cold at a shop in Kapurthala, near Jalandhar, early today, taking the toll in Punjab to seven.

Weathermen hold out no hope for respite from the present cold wave conditions. Srinagar, winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir had the minimum falling sharply to 5°C below the freezing point today. This temperature was 3°C below normal and against 0.7°C recorded yesterday.The minimum in Jammu this morning improved to 7.5°C but was still 1°C below normal.

Chandigarh and its surrounding areas in Punjab and Haryana shivered during the day as the maximum fell to 11°C, today against 13.4°C yesterday.

Reports here said that there had been no let up in the severe cold wave conditions in the forward areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The night temperatures hovered around 30 plus below freezing point, specially in the Siachin Glacier area.

Shimla reported a bright and warm weather. The city recorded 4.5°C, which was 3°C above normal this morning. However, Solan was colder with the minimum falling to 1°C and Sundernagar reporting the low of 1.6°C today.

In Delhi, Safdarjung reported improvement in the minimum to 8°C today, 1°C above normal.

Weathermen have forecast ground frost at some places in Punjab and mainly cloudy weather in the state as also in Haryana and sunny weather in lower Himachal Pradesh during the next 24 hours.

A report from Shimla said that the tribal belt was reeling under cold wave, with both the maximum and minimum temperatures staying below the freezing point.

The Pin valley recorded temperatures ranging between -11°C and -20°C.

An ‘exciting’ seminar on armed forces
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Army will hardly be short of women in olive green if the enthusiasm shown by students of the Sector 11 Government College for Girls in pursuing a career in the armed forces is any indication.

A seminar-cum-presentation on Career options in the armed forces and an armament display were organised at the college here today.

The "exciting" function, organised by the Headquarters Recruiting Zone, Ambala, is an attempt to present the Army as an attractive career option for college and school students.

A similar function has been planned for the neighbouring Government College for Men on January 21.

There was pin-drop silence in the packed auditorium and the girls were all eyes and ears as the presenters deliberated on the merits of the career and life in the forces. As there was no space even for standing, many of the eager ones had to make do by just craning their necks from outside the main door.

There was a thunderous applause from the captive audience when two officers, Capt Seema Singh and Lieut Ishtdeep Ghuman, revealed that they were from the same college . Life in the army was full of challenges and required discipline, a sense of dedication and hard work. It was a fulfilling career even for professionals — engineers, doctors and lawyers — as many Corps in the Army need specialisation, they said.

The gathering was also explained , with the help of slides, about various branches and services, selection procedure, types of commission, training, pay structure, traditions and customs of the armed forces. A motivational film "Do You Have It In You" was also screened.

Navroop Gill, a student who was standing along with her friends near one of the counselling stalls, said she was proud that two of the officers were from her college and it sure acted as a great motivator. Her friends nodded in agreement.

Shilpa Mittal, another student, aims to follow in the footsteps of her elder sister who has recently cleared the Service Selection Board, but added that while the presentation was great, certain points about career options needed to be clarified more. She would be discussing them with the lady officers present, she added.

Tanya Bhatt too was eager to join as many of her relatives were in the armed forces and the presentation by the lady officers had certainly appealed to her adventurous side.

The girls were, however, awed by the armament display. The personnel manning the weapons remained busy, throughout the duration of the seminar and after, explaining the working of various weapon systems to inquisitive groups of students.

Many of them insisted on knowing the whole drill and operations of the systems besides pressing for rides in the armoured personnel carriers (APC).

The weapon systems on display besides infantry small arms included artillery 105mm guns, anti-tank guns, anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers, machine guns, assorted types of rifles, APCs and bridge equipment. The display was courtesy the 119 Assault Engineers Regiment.

The students were also addressed by Major Gen Vinod Bhanot, Chief of Staff, HQ 2 Corps, Brig P.S. Sandhu, Deputy Director-General Recruiting besides Col Sarat Sharma, Col K.G. Chatterji, Col A.K. Sharma, Lieut Col J.S. Rao, Major S.C. Tripathi, Major Sanjay Patole, Capt Minu Sabherwal, Lieut Anuradha Talwar and Lieut Neelima.

The principals of various colleges, members of the education boards, Panjab University, officials of UT, Punjab and Haryana who attended the seminar appreciated the efforts by the Army to educate the youth about a career in the armed forces.

Ban business in education: BJYM
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Jan 16 — The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), a youth wing of the BJP, is in favour of elections at the university and college levels.

The BJYM feels that the elections will repose faith of the youth in a democratic set-up which was otherwise diminishing.

An indication in this regard was given by the state president of the BJYM, Mr Dev Kumar Sharma, while talking to mediapersons here today.

The BJYM, he said, would urge the state government to hold elections. The demand along with other issues would be raised at a public rally being held by the morcha at Jind on January 24.

The increasing number of educated unemployed youth in the state is also on the agenda of the morcha. A demand paper prepared by the morcha, likely to be released at the Jind rally, says that there are eight lakh unemployed youth registered with employment exchanges throughout the state. The state government has been urged to start a special recruitment drive.

Mr Sharma said due to increasing unemployment, crime was on the rise.

While urging the state government to check the crime graph, the BJYM has said that corruption at different levels was also a problem.

Besides, a ban on commercialisation of the education system has been demanded by the morcha.

MCM DAV students top in quiz
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Abhijeeta and Shivpreet of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, won the first position in the inter-college quiz organised at Government College, Sector 46, by the Chandigarh Librarians' Association.

The team of Rajat and Alok was declared second while Government College of Girls, Sector 11, came third in the eight-round contest.

The students were quizzed on various subjects and issues, including a round on current affairs. The principal of the college, Major D.P. Singh, presided.

The quiz competition was last in the series of six contests. The inter-college debate, to be held on January 18 at Government College, Sector 11, stands cancelled.

The inter college and inter school reference hunting and best reader competitions held at the State Library, Sector 34, saw the participation of 20 teams comprising two members each and 20 participants in the two categories respectively

A Reader at the Department of Library and Information Sciences, Panjab University, Dr H.R. Chopra, lauded the efforts of the Chandigarh Librarians' Association in organising competitions.

The general secretary of the CLA, Mr I.B. Verma, said the aim of th ecompetitions was to bring students closer to the libraries and train them to use catalogues and consult reference books.

Demolition of water tank assailed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Various religious and political organisations have criticised the demolition of a water tank outside a religious place in Sector 18, yesterday.

The Shri Mandir Prabhandak Committee at a meeting today while criticising the demolition said the water tank should be built by the municipal corporation at its own expenses.

The committee demanded the arrest of officials who allowed the axing of six full-grown trees. The Hindu Purv Mahsabha has also assailed demolition and called it "interference" in the services being provided by the temple.

The local unit of the Youth Congress also criticised the demolition while terming it as "high handedness".

Principals form association
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The principals of non-government colleges of Chandigarh at a meeting at GGDSD college, Sector 32, formed an association, the UT Non-Government College Principals' Association, to work collectively for finding solutions to the developmental and academic problems faced by the institutions here today.

The principals of the seven colleges lauded the role of the Chandigarh Administration and appealed to it to cover the non-teaching posts on the basis of the enrolment of 1982.

They also urged the Administration to revise the scales of the teaching staff in accordance with the letters received from HRD ministry and the UGC.

A meeting of the association will be held every month in one of the seven colleges in rotation.

All set for pulse polio programme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — More than 1 lakh children under the age of five will be administered polio drops in Chandigarh and surrounding villages as part of the second phase of the country wide pulse polio immunisation (PPI) drive tomorrow.

The UT Health Department has set up 265 booths all over the city and in rural areas where doctors and volunteers will give the drops to children. The booths will start functioning from 8.30 a.m. while additional mobile teams and those stationed on the borders of Chandigarh will start work at 6 a.m.

Mobile teams of the department and voluntary organisations will also cover marriage and religious functions in the city. All buses and private vehicles entering Chandigarh will be stopped and children given the drops.

The Citizens Awareness Group has said that the local MP Mr Staya Pal Jain will release a book of poetry "Jiwan vayatha ke rang", written by Surindera Devi. The book contains a poem on the importance of pulse polio programme.

Rationalise tax structure: mandal
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Jan 16 — The local Beopar Mandal has urged the state government to rationalise the tax structure so as to bring it on a par with Chandigarh.

A spokesman of the mandal said by rationalising the tax structure the business activity in the township would get a boost.

Besides, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has been urged to auction certain commercial sites at low rates to tone up the business activity in the township.

DC's assurance to agitating students
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.K. Rao, today assured the agitating Government College, Sector 11 students that he would work out a solution in consultation with the Home Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta and DPI Colleges, Mr D.S. Mangat.

This was stated by Mr DPS Randhawa, president of the Panjab University Students Council, here.

The protest entered its fifth day today with the students showing their annoyance by burning an effigy of the principal of the college. Mr DPS Randhawa has, meanwhile, given a call for a one-day strike in all the colleges of the city on January 18.

The senior vice-president of the NSUI, Mr Sandeep Singh Ghagga, said their party had decided to extend support to the demand of sacking the principal and also to the strike on Monday. The party will also form a joint co-ordination committee to see that such incidents do not happen.

The students are protesting on the issue of a police complaint against the president of the students' council of the college, Mr Amrit Singh Brar, who had been suspended for allegedly threatening the hostel warden.

Shatabdis run late
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Both Shatabdi Express trains running between Delhi and Chandigarh were delayed once again today.

The train that arrives in Chandigarh at 10.30 a.m. was late by 25 minutes while the train that comes at 8.15 p.m. was late by 15 minutes.

Himalayan Queen running between Delhi and Chandigarh chugged in 20 minutes late this morning.

Plea filed in court on subway clearance
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Lawyers for Social Reforms organisation and Mr Sandip Kumar, a resident of Sector 38, preferred an application in the court of Mr Jagnahar Singh, Civil Judge, Junior Division, praying for directing the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to remove all encroachments by 'phariwalas' in the subway connecting Sector 17 with Sector 22.

The judge issued notice to the respondent municipal corporation for February 25.

The petitioners stated that the subway was constructed in 1995 at a cost of more than Rs 1 crore with a view to providing safety to the pedestrians who crossed the road, dividing sectors 17 and 22. However, the entire subway had been encroached upon by phariwalas for selling goods.

It was alleged that there was a total chaos and overcrowding in the corridor.

Case against MC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Mr Ajay Jagga, president of the local unit of the Janata Party, today moved an application in the court of Mr K.C. Garg, Civil Judge, Junior Division, praying for directing the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation not to damage religious places on the pretext of removing encroachments by adopting a pick and choose policy.

The judge issued notice to the respondent corporation for January 23.

Mr Jagga in his application prayed that the corporation should be directed to frame a clear-cut indiscriminatory policy about the removal of encroachment. He also prayed that those officials who were guilty of demolishing water tank outside the Sector 18 temple should be punished.

Arbitrators must give 'honest awards'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The need for honest awards by arbitrators was stressed by Mr Justice G.C. Garg, a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in his presidential remarks at a seminar on " New legal directions for arbitration and conciliation" here today.

The seminar was organised by the Indian Council of Arbitration and the Department of Laws, Panjab University.

Arbitration deals exclusively with resolution of a dispute between litigant parties to the exclusion of the courts.

Mr Justice Garg cited examples where the courts had to set aside the awards because of errors apparent on face of the awards. He said Section 16 of the Act provided that the arbitral tribunal should rule in its own jurisdiction, but this by no means was an unfettered power.

Mr Justice R.S. Mongia, another Judge of the high court, in the inaugural address traced the history and evolution of arbitration in India. He spelled out the improvements that had been made in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. He said a number of improvements had been effected in the new Act to help solve problems of honest litigants.

Mr P.C. Markanda, a member of the governing body of the ICA, while welcoming the guests, said the ICA had revised its rules based on the Act of 1996 which provides for quick and just settlement of disputes. He claimed that the council had a panel of competent men for appointments as arbitrators.

Other speakers included Justice D.V Sehgal, a retired judge; Mr M.L.Sarin, a former Advocate- General of Punjab; Prof V.K. Bansal, Dr Nilima Chandiramani and Capt J.S.Gill.

Discontentment:The Panjab University Teachers' Association in a letter to the Chief Minister has expressed its displeasure over non-implementation of the revised pay scales as recommended by the UGC.

Dr Satya Pal Gautam, president, and Dr M. Rajivlochan, secretary, said that "a person constantly worried about his well-being is not able to concentrate well on the job at hand. You would also appreciate that examinations are around the corner". If teachers remained worried they might find it difficult to conduct an examination in an efficient and proficient manner.

The all-India Federation of University Teachers Association has sent letters to the Prime Minister and others concerned to expedite implementation of the pay scales.

Elected: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad : president — Neeraj Sharma; vice presidents — Sanjeev Bansal and Suraj Negi; secretary — Vikas Bhatti and office secretary — Jasminder Pal Singh.

Effigy burnt: The strike in Government College for Men, Sector 11, entered its fifth day on Saturday with students burning an effigy of the principal. Students continued their "chain fast".

A procession was taken out. A delegation of students led by Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa, president of the Panjab University Campus Students' Council, met the Deputy Commissioner.

Randhawa has given a call for a one-day strike in all colleges.

Fete: A fete will be organised by Dev Samaj College and Dev Samaj Polytechnic for Women, Sector 45, on January 23 and 24.

Fancy dress competitions, healthy baby show, painting and poster making contests will be highlight of the two-day affair.

Held for cheating shopkeeper
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 —The police today booked three persons for allegedly causing the death of Shivnath, a resident of Colony No 5.

The police arrested Deg Raj and Rajinder and booked them under sections 304 and 34 of the IPC while, Lekh Raj, an accomplice of duo is absconding. The badly mutilated body of Shivnath was found inside his hutment on January 11. Portions of the body had seemingly been eaten by some domestic animals.

When the body was found the police had said the death might have occurred two days ago. A brother of the deceased, Jamara Prasad, had complained to the police that the three accused had a fight with his brother and they often threatened to kill him.

Road mishaps: An unidentified cyclist has been killed and another cyclist has been injured in separate road accidents in the past 24 hours.

The unidentified cyclist was injured when an unidentified blue Gypsy hit him in Sector 26 on Friday evening. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The police has registered a case.

A Panchkula resident, Ram Singh, was injured when a truck ( HR-03-7580) driven by Shiv Lal hit him in Mauli Jagran village.

A case has been registered.

Arrested: A local resident has been arrested for allegedly cheating a Sector 7 shopkeeper. Vikas Jagota of Sector 34 allegedly posed as an employee of a factory in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, and took away samples of some electronic items from Mr Rajeev Bhardwaj. He had claimed that he would sell off the items in Baddi, Mr Bhardwaj said in his complaint. Vikas even issued cheques that reportedly bounced.

The police said that Vikas had sold off the goods to a shopkeeper in Baddi.

A case under sections 420 and 406 of the IPC has been registered.

Car, bicycles stolen: A car and two bicycles have been stolen in separate incidents in the city in the past 24 hours. A Maruti car ( HNE-1375) owned by Mr Abhey Singh, was reportedly stolen from Sector 17. The bicycles of Mr Surinder Singh of Palsora village and Mr Suresh Kumar of Burail village had been stolen from Sector 15 and the PGI , respectively.

Computer stolen: A computer, clothes and other household articles have been stolen from a Sector 18 house while in a separate incident copper wire worth Rs 8,000 have been stolen from the premises of a unit in Industrial Area Phase I . Mr Ashwani Kumar of Sector 18 complained to the police that a computer, clothes and other household articles had been stolen while he was out of station between January 12 and January 15.

A total of 138 kg of copper wire valued at Rs 8,000 was stolen from the premises of M/s Groz Beckert Asia Ltd. An executive engineer of the electricity department lodged a complaint with the police.

Driver held: Driver of mini bus (MH-01-M-7005), Rohtas, has been arrested by the Sector 17 police for damaging a car. Rohtas had parked his mini bus on slope and the vehicle was left on neutral. The vehicle rolled off and hit a car parked nearby.

The owner of the car, lodged a complaint with the police. Rohtas has been booked under section 427 of the IPC.

Five booked: Five residents of Dadu Majra colony have been booked by the police for allegedly assaulting Mr Amar Hassan of the same locality. The five are Dinesh, Akhilesh, Sanjay, Jasbir and Vishal.

PANCHKULA

Held: The Pinjore Police has arrested Bega Singh, while preparing country liquor at Kiratpur village, near here.

A still and 15 litres of 'lahan' has been recovered by the police.

A case under the Excise Act has been registered.

Sculptor's dig at social ills

CHANDIGARH: "I have been interested in art since childhood. Sometime in 1982, I began chiselling an ordinary candle and soon human form appeared. The thrill of creation forced me to try out a new medium of expression and I got into sculpting," says Ashok Sarin. So much so, the first piece he created in '85 was awarded the first prize by the Punjab Lalit Kala Academy.

A town planner by profession, art for Sarin is his lifeline. It was while doing his postgraduation in town planning at Amritsar that he took up his passion seriously and started making sculptures. According to him, "Lord Ganesha's form attracts me greatly. I want to do some extensive work on this subject. I am also greatly inspired by the temples of Ellora and the fine work at Dilwara and Konark. Abstract art also appeals to me immensely".

He does not have any formal training but the range of material with which he works is amazing. He uses cement, sand, plaster of paris, wood, papier machie, jute, steel, thermocol, marble and saw duct to express himself.

Sarin is holding his first solo show at Indus Ind Bank Art Gallery till January 31.

Sarin, through his pieces, has attacked quite a few serious issues tormenting our society like dowry deaths, male dominance over women, terrorism in the Kashmir valley, deforestation. But there are softer tones, too, like the bond between a mother and a child, Lord Ganesha presented in an absolutely unique style, and a few untitled ones. — Priti Verma

Poets delight crowd
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — It was heartening to see a successful "Kavi sammelan" particularly at a time when they have become rare.

A galaxy of poets from Punjab, Haryana and abroad gathered at a function organised here today to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir, a former Chief Minister of Punjab and an eminent poet.

The stage was conducted by Dr Atamjit. The first poetess of the evening was Dr Gurvinder Sidhu with her composition titled "Mera intzaar karna", saying she had reason to celebrate the New Year when human problems were all pervasive. She was followed by Bachanjit.

Rajinder Sodhi in his typical style commented "Tod ke masjid banaya aartighar, ki sikhar hai teri bandgi di". Madhav Kausik in his composition said: "Kalam to sariya, jubaan se taraash de duniya, neechi nigaah mat karna".

Nirmal Dutt probing lost innocence in magnificent rural imagery said. "Mainu birkh bana, phul lagan da cha na chade, patte dighan te taa na chade". Ravinder Bhattal in a composition addressed to a daughter said: "Aathru na baha. Mai tere aathru boch sakdi haan, rok nahin sakdi".

Gurbhajan S. Gill from Germany was among the most appreciated poets of the evening. He said: "Baraf te likh ke naam tera tur aaya. Taahiyon te aksh tera nadi vich paaiya". Rabinder Masroor's composition was also well appreciated.

Leading lights Prem Singh Prem, Sabar Abohari, Santokh Singh Dhir K.L.Zakir and Jigar Jalandhari require no introduction. Other poets included Manjit Indra, R.D. Sharma, Navtej Bharti,Bhagwant Singh, Gurdial, Gurcharan Singh Gill, Parsoon Parsad and Ajmer Rode.