HEALTH

“Ayurveda can cure any ailment”
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — "Ayurveda is not for making money or profit but to serve people. It is this science which has treatment for every ailment and disease, be it cancer, AIDS or common ailments like flu or sore throat," observed Mr D.C. Sharma, a senior functionary of the Reserve Bank of India, at a function held here this evening to felicitate him.

The function was organised by Yogi Harbhajan Singh of the Happy, Holy, Healthy Organisation. Yogi Harbhajan Singh, in his address of welcome, said it was Mr Sharma's ayurvedic treatment which had cured him of a totally bad kidney, which he had damaged while playing kabaddi in his youth.

Mr Sharma said since he had inherited most of the things from his father and grandfather, he was not a professional healer but had been trying to pass on whatever he had learnt from saints, gurus and learned people of the past. "You name an ailment and there is a treatment for it in ayurveda," he said, reeling out a long list of common household treatments for various ailments, including blood pressure, stomach ache, cholera, losing weight, sleeplessness and dropsy.

He said 200 g cabbage juice every morning for 15 days could cure high and low blood pressure. He gave a simple test to check genuineness of honey. If you give some honey to a dog and the dog takes it, it is not genuine but if it is left untouched, it is genuine.

Mr Sharma said some of his treatments were time-tested and had been showing 100 per cent results. For common stomach ache, he said squeezed lemon mixed with equal amount of water and mitha soda gives immediate and lasting relief.

Earlier, Yogi Harbhajan Singh, who heads several charitable organisations and is responsible for the spread of Sikh dharma in North America and Western Europe, said he had convened a conference of alternative systems of medicines at Anandpur Sahib from March 23. Experts in alternative medicine, including ayurveda, would participate and more than 250 experts had confirmed their participation, he added. Lauding the good work done by Mr Sharma, he called him nothing but living wisdom, who could repair any under-functioning organ of human body.

Yogi Harbhajan Singh also felicitated Mr Tarlochan Singh on his nomination as Vice-Chairman of the Minorities Commission by the Union Government and described him as a successful and hardworking person who had been given his due at last.

Mr Tarlochan Singh recalled his long friendship with Yogi Harbhajan Singh and described him as his mentor, guide and philosopher. He said during the last presidential election, the yogi had cured Mr Bill Clinton of his bad throat with a common herb and was now heading the Akal Security in the United States of America.

He appreciated setting up of a school at Chheharta near Amritsar, where American kids came to study. He said the yogi had set up a kendra at Anandpur Sahib, which would become a centre for alternative medicine.

Also present at the function were Mr Charanjit Singh Athwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Santokh Singh Randhawa, a former Punjab Minister, Mr H.S. Hanspal, a former MP, Mr J.S. Chahal, Additional Director-General of Police, Mr G.S. Grewal, a former Advocate-General of Punjab.

SPORT

Adviser's XI win trophy
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — Adviser's XI defeated Chandigarh Press Club by eight wickets at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, here today to win the Samuel Banerjee trophy.

Ms Banerjee, widow of Samuel Banerjee, a sport journalist, in whose memory this match was conducted, gave away the prizes. The match is held on a annual basis.

The Press Club team, led by Ajay Banerjee, won the toss and elected to bat. H.S. Nanda scored 33 runs and Ajay Banerjee scored 24 runs. Press Club XI scored 126 for seven in the stipulated 25 overs.

In reply, Adviser's XI began on a positive note. Narinder Kwatra remained unbeaten with 50 and Daniel Banerjee scored 28 runs. Adviser's XI achieved the target in 20 overs by losing only two wickets.

Man of the match award was given to Narinder Kwatra. Best batsman award was shared by H.S. Nanda and Daniel Banerjee.

Royal Club, Videocon XI win
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — Royal Cricket Club and Videocon XI beat McDowell XI and Friends Cricket Club by 13 runs and 131 runs, respectively, today, in the first MM Lal Jain Memorial Cricket Tournament being played here.

In the first match, batting first, Royal CC piled up a huge total of 212 runs in 24.2 overs, thanks to fine batting by Ravi Kumar and Amritpal who scored 51 and 41 runs, respectively. In reply, McDowell XI missed the target by 13 runs and were all out for 199 with a ball to go. Bhupidner Singh remained the top scorer with unbeaten 82 runs.

In the second match, Videocon XI scored 216 runs for six wickets in 25 overs with Vaneet Khosla scoring 52 runs, Ritesh Manchanda 48 runs and Kamalpreet 56 runs. In reply to this massive score, Friends Club were bundled out for 85 runs in 18.5 overs.

Cricket tourney: In the BS Duggal Memorial Cricket Tournament being played at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, ICC XI defeated Bedi XI, Mohali Gymkhana beat Khalsa Cricket Club, while High Court CC defeated CNS XI.

City put on India's baseball map
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, March 19 — The heroic victory of Chandigarh eves and third position earned by the men's team in recently concluded 14th Senior National Baseball Meet proved that the city is now a force to reckon with in this game. Mr Tilak Raj Kaila, Secretary of the Baseball Association of Chandigarh, said ever since the establishment of their association in 1991, the city had won medals at junior and sub-junior meets also, but, the victory of the women's team had surprised all.

The team was led by Nidhi of Dev Samaj College, Sector 36, who played a big role in the title victory. The other members of the team were Navjeet, Sangeeta, Shammi (all MCM DAV, Sector 36), Mandeep, Rupinder, Garima, Rajdeep (all PU campus), Madhu, Sneh Lata (both GGS Khalsa College, Sector 26), Nirmal, Navjot, Navjeet Virk, Manju (all GCG, Sector 11) and Manpreet Kaur. Pardeep Verma was the coach.

Earlier also, the city girls had won the fifth Junior National Baseball Championships at Ahmedabad in November 1993. They had also won the seventh Junior National Meet at Bharatpur (Rajasthan) in March 1996. In the boys' section of this meet, the UT boys' won the second position. The city boys also won the fifth Sub-Junior National Meet in Chandigarh in March 1996. In April 1997, at the eighth Junior National Championship at Solan, it won the third position.

Later, the boys won the seventh Sub-Junior National Championship at Sonepat in October 1997. At the 10th Junior National Championship in Chandigarh in October 1998, they won again. In this meet, the UT girls' team won the third position, while past year in October at the 11th Junior National Championship at Bhiwani, it won the second position.

Mr Kaila also said the city played host to many national-level events like the fourth Junior National Meet in December 1992, the fifth Sub-Junior National Championship for boys and girls in March 1996, besides the 10th Junior National Meet in October 1998. Past year, the city also was the venue for the Asia Cup organised by the Amateur Baseball Federation of India, first time in the country.

The Chandigarh Sports Council, in recognition of the achievements of baseball players, honoured 44 players in August 1998 by giving them cash prizes and appreciation letters. With the city players getting more exposure coupled by the response of the people, baseball will become more popular in the city.