PAU team flouts rules
Banned from youth festivals for 2 years
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — The officials in the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here are busy in damage control measures as the PAU team that had gone to participate in the youth festival held at Jorhat in Assam was disqualified and banned for two years from participating in any youth festival for allegedly flouting the rules of participation. The team was also divested off all the medals and trophies it had won in the festival.

The PAU team had gone to participate in the Millennium Agriculture Universitys’ Fest-2000 held at Jorhat from October 14 to 18. It was embarrassing for the PAU contingent when it was disqualified for further participation in the festival. Besides the team was divested of all the six gold medals and four trophies it had won. The PAU team was likely to win the overall trophy. The PAU team has further been banned for the next two years from participating in the youth festivals.

The inter state agricultural university festival is a prestigious event organised every year at the national level by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Students from all the agricultural universities participate in the festival. Last year also, the PAU team had won the overall trophy.

The PAU sources revealed that the team had won six gold medals and four trophies until it was detected that the team had flouted the rules of participation. The Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, the hosts of the event, has reportedly recommended to the ICAR that the PAU team be “blacklisted” from any further participation for at least two years to discourage others who indulge in such unfair practices.

The sources claimed that the team was disqualified for several reasons. Besides the number of participants in the contingent, which was reportedly more than the specified number of 27, some of the participants were overage and some professionals had been included in the events which are otherwise restricted for students only. While the specified number of participants was 27, the PAU contingent consisted of 34 members. The maximum age of a participant is supposed to be 28, but some participants of PAU are believed to had already crossed the upper age limit.

Dr K. S. Sekhon, Director, Students Welfare, informed that the team was disqualified as the number of members in it was more than the specified norms. Dr Sekhon confirmed that the team had been disqualified for another two years and maintained that the PAU team will not be allowed to participate in the youth festivals during this time.

Consumers ‘harassed’ by PSEB staff
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — The Management and unions of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) have been busy in launching protests against privatisation and free electricity supply to the agriculture sector. Various consumer service schemes are talked about by them from time to time but the ground situation is totally different.

A number of consumers have complained they are regularly harassed by the board employees on one pretext or the other. The lower level workers especially linemen have been blamed by them for the physical and mental harassment.

Mr Balbir Singh, an employee of the Irrigation Department, accused that the board’s lineman Mr Parminder Singh Grewal and Class IV employee Ranpal Singh had installed a meter in his shop, in Isher Nagar without his consent. The shop had been given on rent. The meter actually belonged to Mr Jaswant Singh of the same locality and numbered 607084. The tenant, he alleged, had bribed these employees to get the meter connection which was illegal.

Mr Balbir Singh claimed that he had complained to the JE concerned and in charge of the enforcement section, Mr Virdi, but without any result. He urged the board authorities to disconnect this connection immediately and punish the guilty employees.

Mr S.S. Grewal, Xen of the area, when contacted, admitted that the linemen were probably responsible in this case. An inquiry had been ordered and an appropriate action would be taken against them. However, he admitted the meter had not been disconnected till date.

In an other incident, Mr Harchand Singh, a peon of Guru Nanak Engineering College of the same area alleged that these employees had installed a meter of the commercial category though he had applied for a domestic category connection. Now they were asking Rs 2000 and bottle of wine to change the meter.

Mr Sunil Kapor of Kundan Puri, Civil Lines complained that the linemen of the area had themselves tampered with their meter since he had declined to entertain their illegitimate demands. Consequently, he was fined Rs 16,000 for power theft which he had never committed. Despite complains to the board authorities, he was forced to pay the extra bill in two instalments. He is now contemplating to sue the board employees in the consumer court.

SHO refutes allegations
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — Inspector Santokh Singh, Station House Officer, police division No. 5, who has been accused of illegally detaining Congress worker, Mr Rakesh Sood, has refuted the allegations levelled against him. He has accused the Congress worker of being in an inebriated condition and beating up innocent people.

Talking to mediapersons at the Police Lines here today, Inspector Santokh Singh also produced a copy of the agreement reached to between the two parties at police division No. 5 on the intervening night of October 8 and 9, which had been endorsed by the two parties.

The Inspector, while narrating the incident said on the fateful night, the above mentioned worker had gone to attend a wedding at Saggar House. It was there that they saw a Sikh couple who had come uninvited to the party. A group of persons led by Mr Sood and including Rohit Kumar, Janak Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Tejinder Singh, Amit Arora, Sandeep Kumar, Gagandeep Taneja and Puneet Grover — allegedly took the couple outside and started beating them up.

The police officer said it was while these people were beating up the couple in an inebriated condition, a few people who were going to attend another marriage, came by in two cars. One of them, Mukesh Kumar Garg, got out of the car and asked them to get off the road and let them pass by. “It was then that the group led by Mr Sood thought that they were also associates of the Sikh couple and they then targeted them. They broke the windowpanes of the car and beat up Mr Garg and Gurkaran Singh,” he said.

Inspector Santokh Singh further said it was then that SP Traffic, Mr S.S. Bhatti, SHO Sarabha Nagar, Mr Pawanjit Singh, in charge of the Ghumar Mandi police post, Mr Mukesh Kumar and ASI Dev Raj reached the spot. He said by the time he reached there the quarrel was over and Mr Sood had already fled the scene. “The SP Traffic asked me to take the two parties to the police station and get the case registered. However, once at the police station, the two parties reached an agreement for Rs 30,000/-.”

He claimed that it was because the police had rounded up all other members other than Mr Sood, certain local leaders like Mr K.L. Chabbra, Avtar Singh Makkar and Darshan Pal Singh came in their support and signed a written statement that the matter had been amicably resolved.

Domestic violence on the rise in city
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — In Ludhiana, domestic violence committed against women is increasing at an alarming rate.

Mr Kuldeep Singh, SSP, Ludhiana, said, “In Ludhiana, maximum number of domestic violence cases are reported. And we are very liberal. We register the case of any woman who comes to us with her complaint. We have even established a separate wing called marriage dispute cell. This wing functions under the DSP Ludhiana. It tries to solve cases of dowry-related violence and wife beating”. He claimed that the marriage dispute cell which was created in March this year was running very efficiently and had successfully handled more than 55 per cent of the cases registered .

But still many cases go unreported. Women out of the sense of social shame endure the harsh treatment meted out to them. They keep quiet and hide their miserable plight behind a smiling face.

A poor woman, who took up house-cleaning jobs, was beaten up regularly by her, alcoholic husband. Once she had to be admitted to hospital with a serious eye injury. She worked day and night to ensure two square meals a day for her four children and herself. Her husband beat her up regularly and sometimes forcibly took away her hard earned money. “He beats me and the children regularly, drunk or otherwise. Whenever I ask him to work and give me some money to buy ration, all I get is some more beating. When asked why she did not go to the police, she said being a woman, she had to compromise with her fate and she would become a social outcast if she were responsible for putting her husband behind the bars.

Surprisingly, domestic violence against women cuts across all classes and sections of the society. The problem exists even in the educated middle and upper classes where there is physical as well as mental torture. Though domestic violence is largely interpreted as physical violence by a husband, but it also includes mental torment. Leena (not her real name), a college lecturer married for 20 years now, is still a victim of domestic violence who keeps her mouth shut fearing social disgrace.

Another highly qualified woman , revealed on the condition of anonymity, how her husband abused her physically and mentally. He kept finding faults with everything she did and found some flimsy excuse to thrash her.” Once he lost his temper on tasting the food which according to him was a bit too salty. He threw the plate on the floor and thrashed me badly,” she told. She lived in perpetual terror of her husband and had no moral strength to stand up to him. For her, there existed no other option but to suffer.

In an extreme case, the wife of a merchant navy officer lived the life of a virtual prisoner for several years. Her extremely possessive husband, made her life a living hell. She was not allowed to go out or talk to anyone. She was even forbidden to make any phone calls. She was brutally assaulted by her husband when she was pregnant and had to be hospitalised where she was left alone in a very critical condition. The hospital authorities informed her parents who then took her home and filed an appeal for divorce. At present, she is happily married to another man and leads a normal life. She is an example for all the other women who are suffering similar plight.

According to experts, the possible causes for wife beating are lack of enough resources, frustration, alcohol, extra- marital affairs, lack of trust between the life partners and in some cases, where wives are more educated, beautiful and have high income, inferiority complex too. At times typical male machoism is at work and husbands simply cannot resist the urge to show who’s the boss.” Wives are a handy punching bag for husbands who take out all their frustrations on them “, says a psychologist.

What the Ludhiana police is doing is appreciable but not quite enough. Even education and spreading awareness about rights is insufficient. Along with education , moral strength and sense of independence needs to be inculcated right from the very beginning so that women could stand against rather than enduring all the maltreatment out of the false sense of social shame. “Parents should also be supportive and rather than pressurising their daughters to continue living with their abusive husbands or in-laws ,should take all the necessary legal measures to ensure that their daughters are not treated badly. Women alone can help themselves by refusing to take such treatment and coming out openly against it”, says Mrs Sharanjit Arora, a house wife. “Then the common psyche that domestic violence is a private affair between husband and wife, needs to be changed. To effectively tackle the problem of domestic violence, participation of the entire community is required. We all must act as one and should not allow this nuisance to continue any longer in our neighbourhood”, emphasises Mrs Parminder Arneja, a social activist.

Govt backing land grabbers: sarpanches
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — Sarpanches from over 36 villages in the Bet area of the district today alleged that massive encroachment of panchayat lands by influential persons at several places and the ruling party functionaries and the administration extending overt and covert support to offenders.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Inderjit Singh, sarpanch of Kasabad village and president of the Sarpanch Union, Ludhiana block II, disclosed that panchayat lands in many villages, including Kasabad, Hussainpura and Bahadarke, were under encroachments, reportedly patronised by senior government functionaries. He said despite repeated pleas, the district administration and the state government had failed to take action against the guilty persons.

The sarpanch, himself an active worker of the SAD (Badal), lamented that in committing gross violation of fundamental rights of the village panchayats, the government was not concerned about the political affiliation of the sarpanches and all were being treated, or rather maltreated, in the same manner. He claimed that the matter of encroachment upon panchayat land in Kasabad village had been repeatedly brought to the notice of the district administration and later it was taken up with the Chief Minister, without any result so far.

Ironically, the apex court had decided the issue of land in question in favour of the village panchayat of Kasabad, but the administration had expressed its helplessness to get the encroachment cleared on the directions of some senior functionaries in the government, alleged Mr Inderjit Singh.

The sarpanches gathered on the occasion, also decided to hold a dharna in front of the Mini Secretariat here on November 15, if the authorities failed to take action for clearance of encroachments on panchayat lands in the district by that time.

Earlier, the sarpanches decided to form the Sarpanch Union of the Ludhiana block II with Mr Labh Singh (Kakowal) as its chairman and Mr Inderjit Singh (Kasabad) as president. The other office-bearers of the union are: Mr Rachpal Singh (Kadian) — vice-chairman; Mr Manjit Singh (Bajra) — senior vice-president; Mrs Balwinder Kaur (Hazoori Bagh) — vice-president; Mr Girdhari Lal (Harkishan Vihar) — general secretary; Mr Gurdev Singh (Model Colony) — secretary; Mr Balkar Singh (Bahadarke) — treasurer; Mr Sarbjit Singh (Khwajke) — assistant treasurer; and members of the executive committee are Mr Jaspal Singh Bittu (Jagirpur); Mrs Santosh Kumari (Manjh Ganguwal); Mrs Ravinder Kaur (Ladhowal); Mr Baldev Singh (Noorwala); Mrs Raj Kaur (Kaneja); and Mr Kabal Singh (Sajatwara).

Juggling with the budget
By Asha Ahuja

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — The rising prices are like a galloping horse sans rider. It leaves one stunned, gasping and wondering as to how to make two ends meet. The costs of all essential commodities having risen manifolds over the past few years. It is the prime concern of every householder to juggle the budget as best as possible.

Mr Umesh Kalia, a grade one officer in the FCI, has four children — two of them have finished studies. His wife is teaching in a school. He says, "Joy has gone out of our lives. Only we know how we juggle our budget to meet the demands of our children".

"Thank God, the children have grown up and understand our problems and so do not pester us for clothes. But these days, our children also want designer wear which we cannot afford. They do not like wearing Indian made jeans and shirts. So unlike other years, we are not buying new dresses for the children. We are not even getting our house whitewashed though it needs badly. We are facing an unprecedented financial crunch. Telephone, water, sewerage everything has become more expensive. Though we get DA, yet the prices of cooking gas, medicines, education and tuition fees have gone up tremendously. How are we going to get our girls married is the question that haunts us? I usually do the purchasing since my wife has to spend a lot of time commuting everyday. I feel sorry that I cannot even afford a servant to lessen her burden", says Mr Kalia.

Another person (who did not want to be quoted) said very angrily, "This government has been the worst. Tell me, which class of people are happy? Farmers are committing suicides. We the professionals are trapped in the vicious cycle of inflation. Escalating petrol prices have raised prices of all essential commodities. I am going to observe this Divali as 'Black Divali' as I have no money to buy crackers or sweets, or to exchange gifts".

"My children are unhappy as I cannot buy gifts for them. But what can I do? Most of my money is spent in paying power, water and telephone bills and on children's education. Tuitions have become the order of the day. The only class that is enjoying is the government job holders who get free houses at cheap rates and other subsidies. They get DA too. What for ?"

Mrs Krishna, a wife of serviceman laments, "I do not know how the money flies away. There are three working people in the family, but I cannot manage within the budget because of the rising prices of vegetables, fruits, jams and Horlicks. The rising prices have crumpled my budget. I am extremely worried as to how will I get my three daughters married. I do my best to economise by buying clothes and shoes at sale. I buy vegetables in the evening when these are cheap, yet I cannot seem to save. I cannot sleep because of deep worry regarding my daughters' marriages."

"Lowly paid office worker who draws a salary of Rs 5,000 a month, lives in a rented accommodation has to shell out Rs 2,000 for rent alone. How shall I pay for electricity and other expenses? My two sons are school going and every day they want pocket money. Their demands are endless. I am in debt and I constantly borrow to fulfil their needs. Rising prices have contributed to my nightmare. I cannot sleep due to worries. I am losing my hair too"

Mrs Kulwinder Sodhi, a boutique owner, finds the education very expensive. Her two daughters are studying. "The books and the tuition fees leaves me gasping. We are not going to buy very expensive gifts for Divali this year. We have to juggle the budget by cutting on one thing to provide for other", she said.

Ms Parvinder Rana is working in a bank. Her husband died of heart attack. She has two children. She gets her husband's pension but still unable to meet her children's demands. "Today my daughter had to go for a picnic. She wanted a new suit. I had to make it for her though it costs a hole in my budget. It is becoming increasingly difficult to stay within the budget."

Mr Gurinder Singh, an shopkeeper in Sarabha Nagar, says, "This year we have had 50 per cent sale of gift items compared to the last year. The affluent people have decided to do away with the gift system among the friends. They have decided to give gifts to officials and other people who are important for them. This attitude of people has affected my business a lot".

Mr Ramneek Singh, a businessman, commented, "The living has become very expensive due to short-sighted policies of the government. I will never vote this government again. We have also decided to do away with giving of gifts." His wife added, "These days people are giving gifts to show off their social status. It has become a rat race. Everyone wants to be one up on the other. Moreover, it consumes a lot of time. We are also facing financial crunch. So no gifts."

Mrs Swaran Dogra, a lecturer in a college, said, "I do not know how to make two ends meet. Prices of essential commodities have crippled our budget. We have to juggle the budget by cutting out a few luxuries for ourselves. The fast food items are liked by our children and they spend a lot of money on it which we do not approve of. We are not going to exchange Divali gifts this year. I am quite disillusioned with the present government."

Mr Sunil Budhiraja said, "We have started economising to meet the rising prices instead of sending children in separate cars. We have even done away with extra servants. We see to it that there is no wastage in the kitchen."

More or less, people from all walks of life are feeling the pinch of price rise. The festival season has not done anything to cheer them up. Gifts everywhere but no money to buy.

MC staff stage dharna 
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — Employees of the Municipal Corporation continued their agitation in support of their demands on Monday with five activists of the Municipal Workers Union sitting on a dharna and a protest rally being organised at the main gate of MC headquarters.

Speakers at the rally criticised the adamant attitude of the MC authorities towards their demands and also blamed other trade unions for betraying the cause of the workers.

The union general secretary, Mr Khelar Chand Gupta, urged the councillors and other bodies of MC employees to extend their support to the agitation so that the pending demands were conceded. Their main demands include the grant of bonus and the regularisation of the services of ad hoc employees.

He further announced that the union had decided to intensify the agitation and the workers would take out a procession from MC office, which would pass through Partap Bazaar, Sabzi Mandi Chowk, Mata Rani Chowk and later a massive rally would be organised at the MC headquarters.

Dhanwantary Jayanti celebrated 
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — Dabur Ayurvedic Specialities Ltd organised a function to mark the Dhanwantary Jayanti celebrations here on Saturday. Mr G. Saran, Commissioner Income Tax, presided over the function.

Mr Saran described ayurveda as a versatile system which had survived many onslaughts. He called upon the ayurvedists to be more transparent and practical in their approach towards diseases.

Dr P. K. Jain, Principal of Dayanand Ayurvedic College, Jalandhar, said the ayurvedists should emulate scientific methods and update their knowledge. 

CITY SCAN
A school with rich heritage
by M.S. Cheema

TIME is like an archaeological site. From top to bottom, from layer to layer, you discover the signature of the past, distant past, and the more distant past. Educational institutions deserve a keener and deeper study than they receive. People who forget their past have already lost the future. Heritage is never automatic; a generation has to deserve to inherit it. An institution can develop only if it has developed its traditions. Arya Senior Secondary School (Ludhiana) merits a closer and clearer review by the citizens. It is a rare institution considering its teachers and its alumni.

After the establishment of the British Raj, India underwent enormous changes in the political, economic, cultural and social fields. The last three decades of the 19th century witnessed religious reforms, educational renaissance and cultural movements. The Arya Samaj, the Singh Sabha and the Christian missions were competing in the field of education. The pioneers found donors to fund the educational institutions. The Muslim community established Islamia schools. The Arya School, Ludhiana, has lived through a long history. It provided an academic atmosphere to its faculty to serve the community, and thereby, the nation. Its academic quality has been its pride, its heritage.

In its early years, the school was nourished by the well-known family of Khazanchis. It was then known as J.P. School, the initials J.P. stood for Jamna Parshad. The Arya Samaj (Saban Bazar) took it over in 1889. From a small building near the Head Post Office, it was shifted to its present site (Old Sabzi Mandi Road). The foundation was laid by Mahatma Munshi Ram, popularly know as Swami Shraddhanand, on March 29,1913. The quality of its teachers is proved by the stamp its alumni carry as they step into practical life. Its alumni include Mr G.S. Pathak (former Vice-President of India), Gen T.N. Raina (former Chief of the Army Staff), Lala Lajpat Rai (sitting member of Rajya Sabha), Mr Yashpal (cricketer) Mr Swaroop Krishan (I.C.S.), Mr Harkrishan Lall (Artist), Mr Karam Chand Thapar (Industrialist), Mr Mohan Sehgal (film producer-director), besides Mr S.S. Sidhu (former Secretary, Government of India and Adviser to the Punjab Governor)

The sustained hard work of its headmasters and principals has carved a niche for the school in the history of education in Punjab. Mr Dalip Chand Dhir served it for a long time. The author of ‘Golden History’, Mr Jagan Nath Grover, served it as a teacher as well as its head. About a score of its teachers are remembered by its alumni with respect and regard.

It is an expanding school. It easily crossed all hurdles on its road to progress from Matriculation to Higher Secondary and then to the present Senior Secondary status. It has two branches and they face a tough competition from public schools.

Old timers recall with pride the visit of Mr G.S. Pathak to Ludhiana in 1970. He expressed his desire to visit Master Kishan Singh at his home. The then Vice-President of India touched the feet of the teacher, who patted him and addressed him affectionately as “My Gopal, our Swaroop”. When his daughter also touched Master Ji’s feet, he advised, “Our daughters do not do so.” The daughter of the V.V.I.P. explained : “My mother has instructed me to touch the feet of her husband’s teacher. I am extending her hands”.

The only passion of Master Kishan Singh, a bachelor, was teaching. He belonged to Rurka Bhangu village near Ludhiana Head Master, Bhagwan Dass Sood, would walk daily to school from Sahnewal, 12 km away. There is a long list of donors, teachers, alumni and well-wishers of the school who have made its foundation strong.

The teacher today faces a trial. The students are at cross-roads. They crave for the right direction, and look up to their teachers. The school is equally proud of its athletes, and the trophies they have won for it.

History today, is over saturated with political events. Education has to be a matter of prime concern if erosion of values is to be arrested. The role of schools, therefore, has to be re-estimated. Let us pray the present faculty carries forward the baton of Mr Ram Lal and Master Kishan Singh. Let the new generation draw inspiration from the alumni.

KIMT girls vie for Ms Fresher’s title 
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — More than 30 first year BBA and BCA students of Khalsa Institute of Management and Technology, Ghumar Mandi, vied for the Ms Fresher’s contest held here today.

The theme of the contest was ‘fusion’ and the contestants reflected various cultures through their outfits. The beaded jewellery and sticks in the high bun of Sonia, a contestant, made her look like a jungle girl but from her saree she gave an impression of a an urban lady. Shikha, another contestant, represented Indo-western culture for she carried a fur stole and dancing gloves with a saree. Similarly, another contestant carried a majenta colour bridal dupatta with a pair of trousers.

Yet another contestant wore garlands of white and red flowers around her forehead and wrists with a gadhchola dupatta, thus, blending the cultures of Goa with that of Rajasthan. Even the guitar and tabla placed on the stage, and decoration with bouquets of English roses and golden tissue was a fusion of two cultures, English and Indian.

Then the students presented a parody entitled ‘fusion’ in which they danced on three songs a Rajasthani number Dhol taro, a Punjabi number Sona disda we mahi and a Kashmiri number Bhumro. Later there was another parody in which the girls danced on 15-20 songs, all from Hindi films of the 1940s to 1950s. Then there was one foot-tapping English number Mama mia and Dancing queen. Sukhlina performed a classical dance on an instrumental music from the film Chandni. ‘Mujra’ by the girls on the songs Dil cheez kya and Inhin logon ne was applauded by all those present.

For the Ms Freshers’ contest, there were three rounds. In the first round, the girls sashayed down the ramp and gave their introductions. Fifteen girls were screened and they went for question-answer round in which 10 girls were again screened. These last ten contestants went for the talent round. Besides Ms Fresher, the girls contested for Ms Personality, Ms Smile, Ms Talent and Ms Outfit. The judges on the occasion were Ms Ramandeep, Ms Swati, Ms Priyanka and Mr Simarjeet, all BBA and BCA lecturers at the same institute.

The show was coordinated by Ms Rashmi Gangrani, BBA lecturer, and Ms Parminder, BCA lecturer. The contest was compered by Radhika, Kinneri Jain, Neha Khullar and Shikha Puri. Mrs Harrinder Dhillon, Principal, gave away the prizes to the students.

Two generations at crossroads

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — The old and the young find themselves in a tight spot due to the gulf between their thinking and behaviour towards each other.

The two generations, have to contribute time, love, and a feeling of sharing towards each other. Generation gap does exist adjustment and co-operation is the key to fill the gap.
— AA

PAGE FROM HISTORY
A relic of the Ranjit Singh era
By Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

PHILLAUR, Oct 23 — Maharaja Ranjit Singh Fort here has come a long way. From ruins in the early 17th century to a serai in 1657, sort of a mud fort in the 18th century, military bastion of the Sher-e-Punjab in 1809-12 to the Police Training College of the British and finally to the Punjab Police Academy after the Independence.

The only second such fort constructed by the only highly successful Sikh ruler, the fort beckons tourists not only from the state but also from all over the country and the world as well. An apt example of a military citadel, the credit of preserving the 200-year-old structure rightfully goes to the Punjab police as the Department of Conservation of the state and the state government had turned their backs to the conservation of the fort.

Inspite of such glorious past and present, the future of the fort may not be that bright, While the Punjab police deserves a pat on its back for protecting it from deterioration, they had but only concentrated on strengthening the outer structure from inside the fort is crumbling. Sources said due to lack of funds supplied by the state government, the PPA lacked resources for the repair work.

Nevertheless, it is a treat for those interested in old buildings, especially forts. The architecture is quite similar to one of the most impregnable citadel constructed by the Sikh in Bahudargarh Patiala. Though much smaller in size, the Phillaur fort has similar huge entrance gates and meandering paths leading to the inner residential palace. It also has moats or ditches surrounding the outer boundary.

The architecture was aimed to prevent the enemy from easy occupation of the place. While the moats full of water, and possibly crocodiles also, prevented the attackers from any adventurous plans to scale the walls, the strong gates also put up stiff challenge. If the enemy managed to break in from the gates, the meandering paths, considerably slowed down the storming in. Gunmen hiding in small spaces in the thick walls conveniently shot down the intruders. It required a massive army to win over the fort.

As suggested by the architecture, the fort was never designed as a residential palace. Situated on the banks of the Sutlej the fort was constructed at this strategic place by Maharaja Ranjit Singh as it faced the Lodhi Fort possessed by the British Forces. The fort also gave an advantageous position to the Sikh forces to tackle any forces coming from Delhi. Two gates one called the Lahori Gate and the other the Delhi Gate stand testimony to the strategic position.

According to a brief history of the place inscribed on a large stone at the entrance of the fort, the town owes its genesis to a Sanghera Jat called Phul, who owned most of the land. The town was then called Phulnagar. Apart from this not much is known about the life at the place until Naru Rajputs captured the town sometime between 1627-1658 A.D.

It is recorded that at time the town was in ruins. The Rajputs selected the present fort site for the erection of a serai as it fell exactly on the Imperial line of road from Delhi to Lahore.

Later, on the rise of Sikh forces, the serai was captured by one Sudh Singh Kakarah. He renovated the serai which in modern times can be said to be sort of a mudfort. In 1807, Maharaja Ranjit Singh recognised its importance as a transitory town commandeering the most frequent ferry of the Sutlej. He sent a strong force under Mohkam Chand which was stationed here permanently.

When the Sikh garrison under Ranjodh Singh Majithia was withdrawn after the Battle of Aliwal the fort fell into the hands of the British. In 1857 the rebel Indian forces revolted from within the fort against the British and killed many of them. However they could manage control over the fort for a short duration only.

Subsequently the Britishs gained full control. In 1891 they established a British Police Training School here and upgraded it to the level of a college. After Independence the training of police personnel continued at the place but this time it were the Indian police personnel who honed their skills in the fort.

According to PPA sources they are doing their best to preserve the monument. A visit revealed that the place is as clean as it should have been. The walls have been nicely painted and even plastering of the cracks has been done. Special mention here should be made of a large statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a dargah which is thronged by devotees every Thursday and of a museum of arms and ammunition that attract tourists.

The worrying factors of the fort are the weakening of its structure from within. Sources in the academy said the state government had been requested several times to supply of funds for the proper maintenance of the relic of Maharaja Ranjit Singh but positive response was still awaited.

Reports on distress sale ‘motivated’ 
From Our Correspondent

KHANNA, Oct 23 — Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab, criticising leaders of the Congress, the AHSAD and the BKU, said the statements of these leaders regarding the distress sale of paddy and slow procurement were politically motivated.

Giving details about paddy procurement, Mr Mittal said here yesterday that total paddy procured till date was 7498863 tonnes out of which the private agencies had only purchased 1690840 tonnes which was only 22.50 per cent.

The government agencies had procured a total of 5808023 tonnes of paddy.

Man kills wife 
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — A woman is alleged to have been murdered by her husband upon being refused money for buying liquor.

According to the information available, Jatinder Singh has alleged that his father, Amrik Singh killed his mother, Jasvir Kaur by pouring acid over her head. The FIR registered under Section 302 of the IPC states that though the incident occurred on October 21, the victim, who was seriously injured, was admitted to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. She reportedly succumbed to her injuries yesterday.

It is alleged that the accused, Amrik Singh, had come to home on October 21 in an inebriated condition and demanded some money from his wife to buy more liquor. When the deceased refused to oblige, he took a bottle of acid, poured it over her and fled away.

Website on Ludhiana market launched
From A Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — A new website, ludhianamarket.com, has been launched by Unific Information Technology Limited, a software company based at Chandigarh. This website offers the latest update on the industry and market of Ludhiana. Apart from the news section, ludhianamarket.com has separate sections devoted to advertisements, classified, yellow pages, events and my city.

There is also a section which deals with recreation. It offers a detailed account of the different places that one can visit. For those interested in expanding their knowledge about business, ludhianamarket.com has sections on business practices, tax tips and experts' views.

The highlight of this website is a free ready-to-pick home page. For a free home page, you just have to visit the website and click on the predesigned formats to view them. The next step is selecting the format of your own choice. After this , you are required to fill in the necessary information about the company and click on 'submit'. The next time you visit the website, you will see your home page activated. For those interested in tailoring the home page specifically to their liking, the facility of customization is available.

Another interesting feature of ludhianamarket.com is that it chooses 'the company of the month' on the basis of certain well-defined criteria. All the companies and the business establishments of Ludhiana are eligible to be chosen as the company of the month.

"ludhianamarket.com aims to provide a complete picture of the Ludhiana market and industries. It is about making e-enabled Ludhiana industry appear on the web," said Mr Yogesh, director. ludhianamarket.com lists e-success, maximum profitability, maximum visibility, direct customer interaction, round-the-clock presence and creating a positive dialogue between the company and its customers as its main objectives."

Though ludhianamarket.com is about Ludhiana market and industry, it has an international perspective, too. It is a virtual goldmine for NRIs interested in Ludhiana market," said Ms Shefali, manager of Unific Information Technology Limited.

Industry sore with PSEB
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — The PSEB has reconstituted a zonal-level Dispute Settlement Committee which consists of officials of the board, ignoring the long-pending demand of the industry to include industrial representatives in the committee.

Earlier, there were industrial representatives as members in the committee and proper justice was expected to be provided to the consumers as both sides were represented in the committee, stated members of the Federation of Punjab Small Industries Associations in a press note issued here today. By including industrial representatives in the committee, there would have been more transparency in the working of the committee, they further added.

Moreover, the members of the federation said that non-inclusion of industrial representatives in the committee was an infringement of the order of the Supreme Court as the board had committed before the court that industrial representatives are part of the committee.

There is resentment among consumers regarding the working of the board for not paying any heed to their grievances of the consumers, who are already perturbed about the huge inflation of their power consumption bills due to rise in electricity rates and monthly minimum charges, in addition to the proposal of levying power cess.

Maruti celebrates year of service 
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Oct 23 — Maruti Udyog Limited is celebrating this year as the ‘Year of the customer’. In this regard, free service camps, free pollution check- up camps, 24-hour on-road service and express highways have been introduced, according to Mr G.P. Chadha, Manager, Service, Maruti Udyog Ltd. He was participating in a free mega service camp organised here on October 21 and 22. He informed that such camps would also be held in Jalandhar, Jammu and Srinagar next week.