Laddowal (Ludhiana), April 6
While Punjab Agricultural University is yet to recommend bed planting, a system of cultivation of wheat, three progressive farmers of this village have already proved that bed plantation can be more rewarding than traditional farming.

The three brothers, Mr Jagjit Singh, Mr Daler Singh and Mr Manjit Singh, whose farm has been adopted by the state’s Agriculture Department, are in cooperation with the technocrats, all set to harvest the luscious crop within a week or so. These brothers are expecting good profits from wheat crop, besides additional profits from mentha that they have planted in between the wheat beds, as a method of diversification.

Claiming that the expected yield from their fields this year is more than 25 quintals per acre as compared to 18 to 20 quintals per acre from the traditional method, Mr Manjeet Singh said that he was all set to cultivate paddy in a similar way and would be setting an example for others by conserving natural resources.

After a visit to their farm today, fields with a healthy crop were witnessed with insignificant number of weeds as compared to other fields in the neighbourhood which were cultivated with the generally followed method. Mr Manjeet Singh claimed that with the new method of bed plantation he had saved 33 per cent of irrigation water, a good amount of pesticides, seeds as well as weedicides.

He said that although he had sown the late variety after harvesting a fodder crop after December 15, the yield was very encouraging. He said while he was to get a good profit from the wheat, he would also be getting an extra amount of Rs 15,000 by selling the mentha. He said that he would be producing two crops at the same time, the crop of mentha would be beneficial for his land as it would add to the micronutrients.

Mr Daler Singh, who is also agriculture information officer, said that this method of wheat cultivation was practised for the first time by him and as taken up from Mexico. He said more than 90 per cent Mexican farmers had adopted this method and were conserving their natural resources, besides reaping the benefits. He said that with this method the cost of production was reduced as the inputs in the form of irrigation water, pesticides and seeds saved extra money. With this the produce was well able to compete in the international market.

Mr Daler Singh said that they would be sowing paddy following the same method and claimed that they would be saving 60 per cent of irrigation water. He said that this method struck his mind when a few seeds of paddy had fallen on the bed of the field when he was cultivating it last year. He said he kept these saplings under observation and they really showed a good yield.

He said that the technique was useful in saving the wheat from lodging during rains as the sunlight which penetrated through the standing crop due to the distance enabled it to grow stronger and similarly it saved the crop from any attack by pests.

Phillaur (Ludhiana), April 6
A few years ago a “thinking policeman” decided to do something more constructive than just training cops for the tough job of wielding stick for maintaining law and order. So he ventured into the abstract realm of philosophy — the philosophy that is so close and relevant today as it was centuries ago. Immediately after taking over as the Director of the Police Training Academy, Phillaur Mr A A Sidiqui decided to set up the Centre for Sufi Studies to popularise the age-old philosophy that seeks to bind people of different faiths together.

The purpose, according to Mr Sidiqui, was to help people belonging to different faiths in evolving a synthesis. He said, “Due to too much indulgence in rituals, differences are being created among people so there is a necessity to take recourse to the way that helps in binding people together and Sufism is the best course”.

Mr Sidiqui points out, “The role of policemen is to maintain social order. It should not be by way of force only. There can be alternatives like creating a synthesis of thought”. Sufism has served as a binding force in different parts of the country for ages together and the contribution of Punjab has been no less. Great Sufi poets like Baba Farid and Baba Bulleh Shah are just two examples.

Sufism has also been closely connected with the Bhakti movement of the 16th century as both seek to promote common ideals of love, piety, compassion and concern for masses. Observes Mr Siddiqui, “This philosophy binds us in the beads of brotherhood and teaches love, compassion and concern. It leads us to progress on the path of spiritual discipline and divine grace. Sufism sends a clear message that worldly possessions are transient. It does not allow our mind to go astray and constantly enables us to eschew wickedness and evil. The study of Sufism has become all the more necessary in modern-day strife-torn world”.

Referring to the Sufi tradition of Punjab, Mr Siddiqui pointed out, “Punjab has been a great centre of Sufi learning. Our interest in this highly spiritual activity regretfully declined with the passage of time”. However, he added, the classical and folk modes of Indian music are rich and vibrant with Sufi contents that give solace and comfort to the tormented soul.

The centre has been regularly organising seminars and mushairas on Sufi studies. A similar programme is scheduled to be organised on April 7 where luminaries like Khwaja Hasan Sani Nizami and Prof N S Tasneem will present their papers on Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia as Mushtakrka Hindustani Tehzeeb ke Alambardaar and Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah the Hyaatey Kalaam. Besides, Dr D.R. Chaudhary will present a paper on Who is a Sufi and Professor Akhtar Ul Wasey will present his paper on the Influence of Sufism on Indian Culture.

A mushaira will also be organised in the evening, which will be attended by eminent poets like Shahryaar, Sardar Anum, Balraj Komal, Mauj Rampuri, Jigar Jallandhari.