‘Sachin should play’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 19 — The usual rush outside TV shops in Sector 17 and excitement among viewers were less than usual even as India was playing against Zimbabwe in the World Cup match today. The reason was the sudden departure of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar to Mumbai following his father's death.

A cross-section of people interviewed by Tribune News Service expressed disappointment at his departure since it was likely to affect the performance of the Indian team in the World Cup. Many opined that he was the heart of the Indian team and the the team would not be able to perform without him. Even the places which had made arrangements to show the match on big screens did not attract much crowds as people who wished to see the great batsman perform, lost interest, once they learnt that he was not playing. While expressing sympathy with him, they hoped for his early return.

Mr Satinder Cheema, a young shopkeeper, said, "Indian team is in trouble as the past experience shows that matches in which Sachin did not play, the team did not fare well. The task of the team qualifying for the super-six league stage will become tough if Sachin does not play next few matches." He was of the view that Sachin should rise to the occasion and come back at the earliest for the sake of his country. This is the right time to show his talent and try his best to win the World Cup, he adds.

Mr Parveen Thakur, an employee was disappointed to find Sachin absent from the team. "The Indian team is simply incomplete without him and no player can replace him. According to him Sachin's exit at this stage, even for a short while, is crucial for it has already lost one match and cannot afford to take things lightly. Parveen, who like many cricket buffs has a special place for Sachin in his heart, did not have the usual interest in the match today.

"The performance of the Indian team is likely to be affected in the absence of Sachin, even for a single match, as he happens to be the pillar of the Indian cricket team,'' said Mr Kamaljeet, a salesman. The team plays under tremendous pressure whenever Sachin is not playing and that affects their performance adversely. Sachin should live upto his fans' expectations the coming matches. People are disgusted to see their star batsman missing from the TV screen, especially after he did not participate in the last two series due to back problem.

Prashant, an executive in private sector, felt that the morale of the team was bound to be affected as they were depending a lot on Sachin for a victory. While the team might be able to cope up in the matches against Zimbabwe and Kenya, he was required for the crucial matches against England and Sri Lanka, he said. Prashant is convinced that Sachin, who has a fighter's spirit, will come out of this shock and live upto the expectations of 900 million people of his country.

Mr Vikram Sharma, another die-hard cricket fan, is of the view that Sachin's physical presence on the screen is a major psychological boost, irrespective of whether he performs or not. His father's death and his going away at this critical moment will affect India's performance. His family needs him at this time and he should be there, But, what happens to the country's honour in the World Cup if we are not able to reach the super-six stage? he questions. However, he is hopeful that Sachin may be able to give a good performance even after this tragedy.

According to Lieut Col T.S. Sidhu (retd), it has brought up the question of a person's family vis-a-vis the nation. While the family takes precedence in most cases, in this case, the image of the nation is at stake. Sachin should not have rushed home before such a crucial match and could have delayed the cremation by a day, he said. His absence was already being felt in the match against Zimbabwe, so he should try to come back at the earliest to give his team the required support.

Mrs Shefali, a housewife also could not believe that Sachin was not playing in this match, when she switched on her television. "How can we play without him. He is an allrounder and world's best batsman,'' she says. She wants him to play the remaining matches to save India from a bad performance.

Trendy furniture for all tastes
By Umesh Ghrera
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 19 — Art is something we usually associate with the walls and corners of palatial rooms. However, of late a new trend has emerged whereby it has occupied the shape of tables, chairs, sofa sets, almirahs, beds etc in modest homes.

The trend of art in furniture is catching up in the country and City Beautiful is no exception. Furniture made of carved metal or moulded wood or a combination of the two is in vogue.

All types of furniture today have various architectural shapes and designs which make the pieces look unique, aesthetic and comfortable. In fact, such is the art work involved that one feels that it is sculpture. Whether it is furniture first and then sculpture or sculpture first and then furniture is, however, debatable.

Beautifully designed sofa sets, aesthetically shaped chairs provide maximum comfort and elegantly made study tables with shelves and even lighting arrangement in them save a lot of space and have a high functional value.

The Nehru-Shastri Furniture Market in Sector 34-C, housing 66 shops seems to be a trend setter in the art of furniture making. The market boasts to be the largest of its kind in the city and caters "not only to the needs of the city but also to those of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab."

The market has been in place since 1979, though the number of manufacturing units has increased considerably since then. It deals mainly in wood furniture, though with the changing tastes of people and demand for metal furniture, a few such manufacturing units have also sprung up.

"We make furniture in accordance with the needs of the customer," says Rajender Pal, the owner of a shop. He adds:"People generally prefer to buy quality products which are attractive and economical at the same time."

The manual work in furniture making is gradually being replaced by machine work especially work involving intricate designs and shapes. Since the shop owners don't have their own machines they get the work done elsewhere.

Furniture making is a work of specialisation. The owners have their own carpenters who make the frame and the body of the furniture and do all the design work while polishing and upholstery work is done by artisans who work on a contract basis.

Mahender Sharma, a carpenter who is from Gaya district in Bihar, says: "The most important thing about furniture is its utility value. So while making it look more attractive, the utility aspect has to be kept in mind."

Mahender, who has had no formal training in architectural designs and shapes, says that his experience is his training. "We know that the customer is always on the lookout for something new. So we have to be innovative and keep introducing new designs."

At times, the customers bring magazines along with them and show various designs and demand the same. The workmen study the printed designs and make furniture accordingly.

The wood used to make furniture in the market depends upon the size of the pocket of the customer. Those who want it for a moderate range prefer kikkar while others may opt for sheesham or teak.

The customers come from all sections of society, though the larger part is from the middle class. The elite prefer to go to the posh markets of the city because "they have to look different from the middle class." Rajender Pal takes pride in stating that his customers include the likes of Dara Singh. "He bought four peg tables from me," he says smugly.

The sales in the market pick up during the marriage seasons. Customers generally prefer this market mainly because the prices are reasonable and there also is variety. "We offer the same products as are sold in the fashionable showrooms but at a much cheaper range," says J.S.Anand, a shopkeeper.

His view is seconded by Major Inder Mangat who was in the market to buy a sofa set. "I have come here for the first time. I used to buy furniture from the Sector 7 market, but you should only go there if you have money to squander." He, however, says that the quality of furniture in the Sector 7 market is slightly better than in Sector 34.

Tripta, a housewife, had come looking for a centre table for her living room. "Though I have one at home, it is old fashioned. I am looking for a swanky table because after all you have to keep pace with the latest trends in the market," she says. The shopkeepers, however, maintain that the designs of the 70s are coming back now.

The shop owners also have their own share of problems. They say that they are not allowed to utilise the space outside the shop to work. "Polishing can be done only in the sun and if we can't do it outside our shops where else do we go for this work," asks Karam Chand, an owner. The shop owners have formed a union — The Nehru-Shastri Furniture Market Union — to look after their interests. "We approached the authorities concerned regarding our problems but only verbal orders were issued that we could utilise some part of the space outside the shops but later on again we were stopped," says Seva Seva Singh Rayat, Chairman of the union.

Owners say that they have registered themselves with the Small Scale Industries and make regular payments of income tax and sales tax and are also following the labour laws strictly. Despite this, they say, their demands are not being met.

They also allege that some unauthorised shops have come up on one of the roads in Sector 40 which has affected their sales. "They don't pay the tax and nor do they follow the labour laws and are hence able to sell their products cheap," says Mr Rayat, adding that the owners of these unauthorised shops have a nexus with the authorities concerned.

The union says that the law must apply to everyone equally and these shops should either be removed or brought under the law. They have warned that if their demand is not met they would be forced to launch an agitation.

Forced to pay for free forms
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 19 — The applicants desirous of obtaining birth and death certificates are virtually being fleeced by some elements due to the non-availability of these forms at the Sector 17 office of the Registrar of Births and Deaths.

What was adding to the problems of the visitors, was the absence of proper place, where they could sit and fill their forms near the board outside the office.

A visit to the office today showed that some plain sheets of paper were lying on a table instead of cyclostyled forms, supposed to be supplied to the public, free of cost. The confusion was more pronounced in case of illiterate and semi-literate persons, who were not in a position to copy the forms, which are in English and had to pay money for obtaining these.

Enquiries from people standing in the queue to deposit their forms, revealed that the office had been without these forms for the past 5-6 months. While educated persons are able to note down the contents and get them typed, the uneducated ones residing in colonies and rural areas, are unable to do so. They are often directed by the office staff to purchase these forms from a nearby photostat shop for Re 1. The owner of the shop is doing brisk business as most people prefer to approach him for these forms. He has a ready stock available at all times.

Mr Ramesh Kumar, Block President of Congress in Ram Darbar, alleged some nexus between the authorities and the shop owner. He said that general public was being harassed as the office was not printing the forms even as it had the machine. He also said that fleecing was common at various levels if a person wanted to get the certificates made.

The Registrar of Births and Deaths, Mr Harshvardhan, said that confusion had arisen on account of the transfer of this office from the Municipal Corporation to the UT Administration. The forms, according to him, have not been available only for the last 15 days. He said that the office was in the process of making arrangements at the Sector 16 General Hospital to make the forms available to the public soon.

Garbage disposal system poor
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 19 — Claims by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) notwithstanding, the garbage disposal system continues to be poor in the densely populated sectors and labour colonies of the city.

With heaps of garbage tarnishing the image of the City Beautiful, residents, particularly those living in the southern sectors and labour colonies, continue to be at the receiving end. The garbage is littered around the garbage bins for days together exposing the residents to serious health hazards.

The condition of the four villages — Buterla, Badheri, Attawa and Burail — incorporated in the civic body is no different. With the contract for the removal of cow dung expiring over a month back, the residents of the villages and the sectors adjoining them are put to a lot of inconvenience.

A visit to some of the southern sectors revealed today that garbage lay scattered at a number of places. The garbage is not removed for days together from Sector 45-A adjoining the "kabari" market in Burail village, alleged Mr Sunil Kumar, a resident of Sector 45.

Moreover, the rag-pickers made the situation worse by shuffling through the polythene bags thrown in the garbage bins. Stray cattle compounded the problem thereby discouraging the residents from throwing the garbage in the garbage bins.

As a number of garbage bins were placed along the roads and surrounded by stray cattle, they were a serious traffic hazard, particularly during the night and early morning hours.

The situation in the labour colonies and the colonies where the sanitation contract had been privatised is hardly any better. A number of residents of Colony No 5, including women and children, could be seen defecating in the open creating insanitary conditions in the surrounding areas.

The corporation sources on the other hand said there was an acute shortage of staff at the disposal of the civic body. Since the strength of sweepers had been stagnant at around 1,500 for the past several years, the garbage was not removed daily.

The sources blamed the residents for lack of civic sense. Since a large number of persons threw garbage in the open it was not possible for the sweepers to remove the garbage from all places. The situation, the sources said, could not improve till the public cooperated with the civic body for better disposal of garbage.

Officer recalls Antarctica moments
From Vishal Joshi
From Our Correspondent

MULLANPUR- GARIBDASS, May 19 — Celebrating Republic Day at the sub- zero temperature zone in Antarctica was an unforgettable moment for Commander Rajbir Singh Gill (retd), who was a member of the Indian teams to the icy continent in 1982 and 1983.

Commander Gill visited the “frozen continent” twice as a flight officer. Recalling his experience at Antarctica, Cmdr Gill said he had to undergo a tough training at High Altitude Warfare School, Sonamarg, Jammu and Kashmir along with other team members for about 10 days.

The team which set sail from Goa port consisted of personnel from different fields including the Army, Air Force, the Indian Meteorological department, besides others. During the expedition of 1982, Mr V. K. Raina was the team head, while Mr Harsh Gupta led the team during the 1983 expedition.

He said all the team members were strictly examined by the Indian Army medical team. Once his name was cleared by the Naval Headquarters, he went to Sonamarg for training. Main attention was given to save oneself and other team members in the tough weather conditions of Antarctica.

The vessel carrying the teams started the long journey of 25 days from Goa via Mauritius.

The ship was carrying two Pawan Hans helicopters and four pilots, besides ration, generator sets, fuel tanks and other construction materials to establish hutment, according to Cmdr Gill. After the ship reached the continent, our job was to look for a suitable place to establish our camp. We had to run the “flying machine” for hours together for the safest place. One had to wait for clear sky to load or unload”, said the Cmdr.

It was a very challenging task to fly in such an area as the mode of communication was limited because of its geographic location. The compass also worked erratically.

On January 30, 1982, he saved three men in a blizzard. For his bravery, he was awarded Shaurya Chakra.

In his second trip, next year, he was faced with a similar situation. Certain team members were stuck at the base camp under a thick cover of snow. Though there were no signs of their camp or it’s existence he managed to locate them and saved them. He was awarded Nao Sena medal for this act of bravery.

The team was equipped with heavy clothing to fight the chilling sub- zero temperatures. The vessel had all arrangements of food including vegetarian and non- vegetarian. Tinned food and packed chapatis were carried by the team.

Army engineers arranged to raise the constructions. Maitryi station, recorded the weather reports. Cmdr Gill said there were water ponds, which when tested by the team, proved to be of better quality than those carried by them. It was because of it being a pollution free zone, he said.

Commander Gill said that during his visit, he realised there was a feeling of global friendship as teams of the USA and USSR interacted with each other.

During his stay in Antarctica in 1983, they celebrated Republic Day in freezing temperature. There the Indian team invited the USSR expedition team on the occasion and mithai was served prepared by the Indian Navy’s cooks.

Cmdr Gill said during their first expedition, a huge stock of food was left behind for any team visiting the area. But, to his utter surprise, during his second visit, after a year, the food stuff was found be in perfect condition and the second team used it.

After his voluntary retirement from the Navy, he settled at Mullanpur- Garibdass village, about 7 km from the PGI. Now he is running poultry business and also had training in bee- keeping.Though he is satisfied with his experience in the Navy, he feels let down due to “indifferent attitude” of the authorities. He said he had applied for a tubewell connection for his farm house at the village but was denied an out-of-turn issuance, meant for the gallantry award winners.

He feels that the Administration should not make any scheme which cannot be continued.

Presently he is busy preparing his son, Ripdaman, for the National Defence Academy examination.

Spilling over on the road
From Our Correspondent

NAYAGAON (KHARAR), May 19 — Unauthorised occupancy in front of shops near the road leading Kansal forest and other villages has resulted in a traffic nuisance in the area.

Nayagaon villagers allege that the indifferent attitude of the authorities has encouraged the encroachers. Several shopkeepers have allegedly occupied verandas and raised asbestos sheets in front of their shops.

In the absence of any parking area, shopkeepers and customers have to park their vehicles on the main road. The haphazardly grown shops and residential colonies have further created several other problems in the area.

Residents blame the local shopkeepers for the growing traffic nuisance in the area. According to Mr Dayal Partap, trucks, carts and other vehicles are parked in front of the shopping areas. Loading and unloading is done, which normally disrupts the smooth flow of traffic.

The encroachments and unplanned structures have left little space for road. Mr Naresh Mehta, a local resident, says,"Roads are not wide enough."

Parked vehicles on the main road in addition to bad roads has further increased the chances of accidents. The main road as well as the inner lanes have not been repaired for past several years.

Meanwhile , Mr Harbant Singh Bajwa, Sarpanch of the village, in a written statement, has blamed the district authorities for neglecting the issue of encroachments in the area.