The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Crowds swell to see cricket gods
However, Tendulkar, Yuvraj end up as mere mortals
Tribune News Service

Police personnel resort to mild lathicharge outside the PCA Stadium, SAS Nagar, on Sunday. — A Tribune photo

SAS Nagar, October 19
More than 30,000 cricket fans today landed at PCA stadium here to watch the Indians play, stretching the facilities of the stadium to the limit. At one stage, some of the spectators inside the stadium were asked to leave to accommodate those waiting outside, who also had valid tickets and passes for the match.

The day started with crowds converging at the stadium but since the entry was slower than the speed with which the crowd collected, the stadium was, within hours, surrounded by a sea of humanity. The police too had a tough time in trying to keep the crowd under control. The mounted police ensured that the crowd keeps to the sides of the roads, nonetheless the police had to resort to a mild cane charge to keep the people from spilling over to the road in front of the stadium.

With the sun shining brightly throughout the day, by the early afternoon drinking water was not available in the stadium and everyone seemed to be looking for taps where they could fill their bottles. Chips, popcorn, tea and coffee too were sold out by the end of the match. Outside the stadium, rows and rows of cane juice vendors and ‘chane bhature wallahs’, who had set up stalls in preparation for the big day, ended up making good money.

Taking advantage of their location, a large number of residents of Phases IX and X perched themselves at roof tops to have the glimpse of the ‘stars’ using binoculars. By the afternoon, the stadium was filled to capacity and there were still hoards of people outside the stadium.

Even as hundreds of people outside the stadium had to leave without being let in or getting tickets for entry into the stadium, the PCA authorities later in the day announced that they still have 1,729 tickets of VIP stands to be sold which will be made available to the general public for Rs 100 from 7 am tomorrow morning.

“Today's match is between New Zealand and the fans” said a poster, aptly describing day four of the match between India and New Zealand at PCA Stadium here today. While the stadium witnessed a massive turnout of spectators expecting to watch their cricket gods live upto their reputations, the Indian team, however, proved to be an utter disappointment.

While yesterday's hero Varinder Sehwag added just two runs to his yesterday's score before being bowled in, for the crowds the biggest disappointments of the day were Indian skipper Rahul Dravid who was out in the first over of today's match and Yuvraj Singh who scored a measly 20 runs, dashing hopes of his city crowds.

The first ball of the day fetched a stunning four from Rahul Dravid and it seemed like the beginning of a good day for India but within the next 15 minutes both Rahul and Sehwag were out. Since majority of the crowd could be seated inside only after the first one hour of the match, it came as a surprise to them to watch Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman on the pitch in place of Sehwag and Dravid. “We wanted to see both Sachin and Sehwag play together but Sehwag was out before we could enter the stadium,” said Kanwal, a spectator from Panjab University.

Sachin Tendulkar, the star of the Indian cricket, stuck on in the field for most of the day, much to the satisfaction of the crowd, but disappointed with a score of 54 runs achieved off 175 balls. “His performance has been sluggish and defensive from the time he entered the ground but for me and my children who are major fans of the master blaster it is enough to have watched him play before us for so many hours,” said Mr Brar, a Merchant Navy Officer at the pavilion terrace.

Sachin seemed to get disturbed by a group of youngsters at the pavilion terrace and even requested them to be seated. The police tried to placate them but later they were made to leave stadium.

Like on other days, the crowds continued to enjoy themselves adding colour to the match though by the end of the day, with Sehwag, Sachin and Yuvraj gone, many decided to skip watching the match tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Vijay Gaundalkar was let off by the police today after the Indian cricket team bailed him out. He also gave a written apology to the SDM Mohali. He today said he had hurt himself while jumping over the moat around the stadium but he was happy that the SDM had forgiven him and even given him Rs 100 as “inam”.

l Sunday belonged to the wards of VIPs, as all those who had waited all these days for the Indian players to strike big, made a guest appearance today at the stadium. The pavilion block, corporate boxes and other sponsor boxes were full of glamour with smart kids sharing jokes with each other on the outcome of the match and so.

l Though the cricket fans had decided to skip all other engagements to remain engrossed for the today’s match, but when Yuvraj was out, hundreds of them made their way out.

l The busy markets of Chandigarh, mainly Sector 17 and 22, remained open due to ongoing shopping festival, but it was only after 4 pm when people rushed to the markets.

Cricket fans’ creativity at its best
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, October 19
The five-day cricket match between the Indians and the Kiwis has certainly brought out creativity among the City’s cricket lovers. While many spectators carried wall posters of Sachin Tendulkar inside the stadium, some more creative ones were written on the spot matching the ongoing situation in the ground.

Kiwis “being cooked” remained the favourite theme. “Kiwis in hot indian curry,” said one. Another said, “It’s time to cook tandoori Kiwi.” Another said “The Kiwis are raw meat, Sachin is spicy chillies and the perfect chefs Sehwag and Yuvraj.”

Some other posters said: “Sachin rock and give the Kiwis a shock”; “kar lo match muthi mein”; Kiwis beware Sachin and Laxman are on fire;” “We are here to see Sachin we don’t want a draw”; “Musharraf is dead two minutes silence please; let the Kiwis off in Sukhna; no mercy for the kiwis.”

Some spectators wrote messages specially to be flashed on TV: One said: “my girlfriend is watching this match please show me on TV. Another said: “Rs 100,000 for the cameraman who shows me on TV.”

Mother was persuaded to visit city: ex-DC
A. S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
As the ceremonies with regard to the beatification of Mother Teresa got underway at the Vatican today, many in the city turned nostalgic, recalling their brief interaction with the Mother during one of her visits to the city in the late 70’s and 80’s in connection with the setting up of a home for the destitute and poor by the Missionaries of Charity.

For inmates of the home, the beatification of the Mother is a dream come true. Their benefactor deserved the recognition. They owe their existence to her.

Mr J.S. Kohli, former Chief Engineer of the UT Administration, recalled how he almost missed an opportunity of a lifetime to spend sometime with the Mother and be blessed by her. “The occasion was the release of a Chandigarh Atlas by the Mother which had been brought out by Bharat Petroleum. I was scheduled to attend the function held in March, 1980 but due to some reason, I could not attend it. However, I was careful enough to send my family to attend the function.

“I, however, continued to feel guilty at having missed the Mother’s function. I was sitting by the side of the telephone that evening when it suddenly rang. And imagine my surprise and delight when the caller identified herself as Mother Teresa and invited me and my family over breakfast at the residence of the then Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh, Mr M.G. Devasahayam.

“I went to the breakfast gladly with my family and had a great opportunity to interact with her at length. Before leaving, she presented me with a copy of the atlas signed by her. It remains with me only most precious possessions till this date”, says Mr Kohli.

How the Mother was persuaded to visit Chandigarh is a story by itself. “Initially, the Mother was reluctant to visit Chandigarh”, recalls Mr Devasahayam. “She was of the view that Chandigarh was a city of the affluent whereas she was involved in serving the poor. But I pointed out that misery in the midst of plenty is even more painful. She was convinced and visited the city in 1976. She was shown a few sites and finally we settled for the one in Sector 23 where the home is still running.”

From a humble beginning, the home now has 200 inmates and their daily ration is supplied by city people.

Mother’s beatification ceremony is being attended by Sister Cypria from the Missionaries of Charity and the Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh Diocese, Rev Gerald Mathias. In Chandigarh, a thanksgiving mass will be held at Missionaries of Charity Home on October 20, a mass in the Sector 19 church on October 26 and an inter-religious thanksgiving prayer service at Sector 19 church on November 1 where the Governor of Punjab, Justice O.P. Verma (retd) will be the chief guest.

An exhibition of photos of the mother will also be organised.

Cop falls prey to stray bull
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
Surinder Pal, a Head Constable of the Chandigarh Police, was killed today when the scooter he was riding collided with a bull near a petrol pump in Sector 41.

The Head Constable was taken to the PGI, where he was declared brought dead. He was bleeding from mouth and ears when he was taken to the hospital, the police said.

Surinder Pal was going towards Badheri when the accident took place. The Head Constable was posted with the Enforcement Department of the Chandigarh Administration.

It may be recalled that around a month ago, a Home Guard and a son of an Assistant Sub-Inspector Ishwar Chand had also died in the same way.

Stray cattle has caused a large number of serious mishaps on Dakshin Marg and the road leading to Panchkula but the authorities have not been able to find any effective solution to the problem.

The Municipal Corporation had a few months ago started a campaign to catch stray cattle but it kicked up a big controversy when a section of politicians opposed the campaign.There had been reports that the Municipal Corporation had halted cattle catching after its officials were accused of causing death of a few cows in Himachal Pradesh. According to an estimate provided by the Municipal Corporation around 4000 stray cattle are in the city.

The Municipal Corporation says that it had identified four acres for “gaushalas” in Dhanas at two places. The MC had already started work for building a “gaushala” in Maloya on three acres. The corporation had recently called a meeting of officials of Ropar, Panchkula, HUDA and PUDA to evolve a joint strategy to check the cattle menace, Municipal Commissioner M.P. Singh told Chandigarh Tribune.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

Mother’s beatification

THE beatification of Mother Teresa in Rome on Sunday is being celebrated in a befitting manner in Chandigarh too where her Missionaries of Charity have been running a home for the destitute and the poor for the past more than two decades and a half.

“Initially, the mother was reluctant to visit Chandigarh”, recalls Mr M. G. Devasahayam, who was then the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh. “She was of the view that Chandigarh was a city of the affluent whereas she was involved in serving the poor. But I pointed out that misery in the midst of plenty is even more painful. She was convinced and visited the city in 1976. She was shown a few sites and finally we settled for the one in Sector 23 where the home is still running.”

From a humble beginning, the home now has 200 inmates and their daily ration is supplied by the people of Chandigarh.

Mother’s beatification ceremony is being attended by Sister Cypria from the Missionaries of Charity and the Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh Diocese, Rev Gerald Mathias. In Chandigarh, a thanksgiving mass will be held at Missionaries of Charity Home on October 20, a mass in the Sector 19 church on October 26 and an inter-religious thanksgiving prayer service at the Sector 19 church on November 1 where the Governor of Punjab, Justice O.P.Verma (retd), will be the chief guest. An exhibition of photos of the Mother will also be organised.

Committed to theatre

A youth hailing from Hardoi district in UP, Mr Zulfiqar Khan, had come to the city to do post-graduation in the Theatre Department of Panjab University in the early 90s. After doing post-graduation in 1992, he decided to devote his life to theatre here and that too among slum children. Working under the banner of Theatre Age, he is trying to teach theatre to slum children during all these years. His project of teaching theatre to the prisoners of Burail Jail has been appreciated by the Chandigarh Governor and although Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Airtel, has appointed him President of Airtel Ashiana — a small organisation committed to the upliftment of slum children, but still he is struggling to earn a decent livelihood. He says, “It is a sheer passion that I am still in that field. But as a career it is very difficult to earn livelihood honestly though for some people it is a money-making profession.”

Caught on wrong foot

Prof Yash Pal, a former Chairman of the University Grants Commission, has an impeccable style of introducing science to his listeners. He uses the simplest real-life examples to explain the toughest scientific equations and the simplest language minus the high-sounding scientific names.

True to his style he floored a jam-packed audience at a talk during Helixomaina, a festival organised by the Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, in connection with the 50-year celebration of discovery of DNA by Watson and Crick at Panjab University on Friday.

An interesting scene at a large number of seminars is the long talk by speakers while others on the dais are fighting out their drowsiness or are just not listening. During the talk by Prof Yash Pal, on the stage were the directors of two premier institutions of the country. They were busy discussing personal matters while the lecture was in progress. Prof Yash Pal addressed them as is his typical style of using dialogue process to argue his matter. The two were not listening. The audience started laughing. The two directors thought Professor Yash Pal had said something interesting. First they laughed along with the audience and then one of them even started clapping. Embarassment was writ large on the other one’s face.

Coupon craze

A number of market associations in the city have started lucky draw schemes to attract customers. People from far away places are coming here to get a chance to win these prizes worth over Rs 50 lakh. The prizes include luxury cars, 3 kg gold, motorbikes and a lot of other items. One can get a coupon by purchasing items worth Rs 500 or gold worth Rs 1000. Indeed, shopkeepers are doing brisk business thanks to these coupon schemes. But some of the shopkeepers have devised new ways to make money. They offer a coupon to the interested customer by taking Rs 30 to Rs 50 extra, though the goods purchased may be worth Rs 200 to Rs 250 only.

BUSINESS

IT professionals hold meeting
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19
The Chandigarh IT Club launched by the Society for Promotion of IT in Chandigarh (SPIC) under the aegis of the Department of Information Technology, Chandigarh, held a meeting on Friday.

The club has been formed to address the growing need to create awareness about latest IT trends in Chandigarh. The meeting served as a common platform for IT professionals to express, communicate and be connected as a whole.

Mr Vivek Atray, Director, Department of Information Technology, Chandigarh, Mr Partap Agarwal, director, IDS Infotech, Mr Anant, Ms Simi Hans, a specialist in software quality, and Mr Rajan Vasudeva, director, Safaltek Software Private Limited, addressed the meeting.

Mr Vivek Atray shared the vision behind the formation of the Chandigarh IT Club. He said the club was a forum for informal interaction among IT professionals. Mr Partap Agarwal shared his experience of being an IT professional. He also highlighted the opportunities available to IT professionals in Chandigarh.