|
|
|
|
City’s Burma connection
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest cancer treatment equipment at Sri Guru Ram Das Rotary Cancer Hospital, thanks to NRIs
Defacement of public property continues despite court orders
Traditional Lohri eatables business
getting mechanised
Residents donate generously
for tsunami victims
Traffic Awareness Week fails to manage chaotic traffic
Exporters sore over authorities’
apathy
AIDS spreading its tentacles in
Punjab villages
Teachers to protest govt ‘anti-education’ policies
Local surgeon invited to international
meet
|
||||||
|
City’s Burma connection
Unlike the tragedy of the Partition that moved several fiction writers to depict the traumatic days, another trauma of gigantic proportions which led to the exodus of the Sikh families from Burma (now Myanmar) to Amritsar in the early 1940s mostly remains an untouched topic. While most of the Amritsar residents who were witness to the seceding of Burma from India are no more, a few are still alive to narrate the horrors of the traumatic days.
Former Director General Punjab Sarbjit Singh’s father Maj Harbhajan Singh was born and brought up in Burma and he served the Myanmar Army for a long time. The surviving Burma Sikh families have a first- hand information about the arrest of Namdhari Guru Baba Ram Singh’s arrest in the Mandalay Jail. The flaunting of nameplates ‘Burma Houses’ in certain lanes of the city shows the deep links of Amritsarites with the coastal country , now under the military junta. Many readers would be surprised to know that some old Sikh families, which had contributed to the development of Burma, can speak Burmese and certain dialects of Myanmar.
From British Indian Empire to independence
In 1937, Burma was separated from British India and there was a nascent nation murmuring for self-rule. The Japanese drove out the British from Burma and attempted to enlist the Burmese support politically. The Burmese were briefly tempted by an opportunity for independence, but a resistance movement soon sprang up. In 1948, Burma became independent and almost immediately began to disintegrate, as hill tribes, communists, Muslims and Mons all revolted.
Manekshaw’s gallantry in Burma campaign
Fearing the worst, Major General Cowan quickly pinned his own Military Cross ribbon on Manekshaw saying, “A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross.” A towering Sikh personality who served in the Sikh Regiment of Burma was Baba Achhar Singh, who later became the Jathedar of the Akal Takht. He had to desert the Burma army in the wake of the Panthic Morchas launched before the formation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. Amritsaris started settling in Burma as early as 1890s in search of greener pasture when it was a part of the Indian Empire. Most of them were engineers, doctors and soldiers who had made a laudable contribution to the development of Burma, a resource-rich country stuck in abject rural poverty. Amritsaris were instrumental in laying rail tracks, construction of bridges and majestic buildings. Some of the Amritsaris held important posts like honorary magistrates, station superintendents and other government jobs. However, after attaining sovereignty, the newly-formed government of Burma compelled the Indians to leave the country for the development of which the latter had toiled and sweated. Among those who safely reached Amritsar included Hazoor Singh, Jaswant Singh Kalah, Mela Singh, Jora Singh, Harnam Singh ( of Universal Fans fame), Harnam Singh Maktilewale, Narain Singh, Jhand Singh, Dula Singh Kalsi, Amar Singh, Didar Singh, Narain Singh Kalah, Didar Singh, Dalip Singh Lall, Major Harbhajan Singh (father of Sarbjit Singh, a former DGP of Punjab), Budh Singh Station Master, Surjit Singh Ranikabagh , Balwant Kaur, Jai Singh Kalsai , Bibi Gian Kaur and Mohan Singh . Memories about World War II are still fresh in the minds of Amritsarites like Dr Mohinder Singh, a renowned Dental Surgeon, and Mr Karam Singh Lall who can still describe the bombardment on Burma. The start of the World War II was a time for political development among individuals. A student leader, U Aung San, put together the Burma Independent Army (BIA), a group that had been previously trained by the Japanese. Dr Mohinder Singh and Mr Lall said that they were in Myanmar when General Aung San, one of Burma’s most cherished heroes and father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, led his country’s fight for independence from Great Britain in the 1940s and was killed for his beliefs in 1947. Suu Kyi has equalled her father’s heroics with her calm but passionate advocacy of freedom and democracy in the country now called Myanmar, a name chosen by one of the most insensitive and brutal military dictatorships in the world. Mr Lall says that the Japanese forces had left their weapons in the jungles when they retreated from Burma. He believes that such weapons fell into the hands of the local people who later launched insurgency against the military junta. Amritsari Sikhs alsoplayed a significant role in introducing Punjabi — their mother tongue — as an optional subject in educational institutes of Burma. They used to meet Netaji Subhash Chander Bose in Rangoon (now Yangoon) during freedom struggle. They formed the Khalsa Diwan Society, which would organise religious functions there. Mr Harnam Singh, an Amritsari, had served as the Secretary of the Khalsa Diwan for the longest
term. The Burmese Sikhs would also pass periodical resolutions to get their demands conceded. Narrating tragic details of the bombardment on December 23, 1941, on Rangoon, the capital of Burma, followed by another bombardment on December 25, Mr Karm Singh Lall says that many persons of the Indian origin, including the Sikhs from Amritsar, lost their lives. Mr Lall vividly remembers that the bombardments forced the Indian exodus by ship as the land route with India was not yet made. Though unlike the Partition of 1947 which witnessed maiming of lakhs of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in the communal frenzy, the exodus of the Indians from Myanmar remained more or less peaceful. The actual exodus started when bridges were broken and sea routes were closed. However, many Indians were made targets by tribal looters in the dense teak jungles. Prof Mohan Singh, president, Amritsar Vikas Manch, who was a child when the family had to leave Burma, says that there were a few lucky families which arrived in Amritsar without any loss of life. He says the then-British Government would not allow any cholera patients to enter the country and some of the women had to tie their own cholera-affected babies to trees and proceed with the caravan. Myanmar, or Burma as it is still more familiarly known in the West, is a country where magnificent ancient Buddhist temples gaze out serenely over a nation restless for change. Myanmar has plenty of wonders for the eye — sinuous, life-giving rivers, lush mountains and forests, and intricately-drawn cities. While most of the Indians failed to bring their belongings during their exodus, Dr Mohinder Singh did not forget to carry the proto-type wooden ship which he had got constructed by Japanese who were held Prisoners of War (POWs). He said many Japanese POWs were adept in art and craft. He also brought home the emblem of Burma which is his treasure trove. |
||||||
|
Latest cancer treatment equipment at Sri Guru Ram Das Rotary Cancer Hospital, thanks to NRIs
For a large number of patients suffering from breast cancer it was hitherto not possible to afford life-saving advanced medical techniques, which were available at select and far off places.
Thanks to the sustained efforts of some concerned citizens, NRIs and organisations like Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and Rotary Club, an advanced machine to heal breast cancer has been imported from Holland. The equipment, which is said to be effective in the treatment of breast cancer, was made available to residents of the region on January 8 when Bibi Jagir Kaur, President, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, inaugurated the unit having this advanced equipment. This is the third such unit in the region, the other two being at the PGI, Chandigarh, and Oswal Cancer Hospital, Ludhiana. The Rs 1.5-crore equipment was installed at Sri Guru Ram Das Rotary Cancer Hospital in the SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, with the help of an NRI, Mr A.P.S. Chawla. The cancer hospital is being run jointly by the SGPC and the Rotary Cancer Foundation. The unit was named after Mr Chawla's wife, Ms Manjeet Kaur, who died of breast cancer some 15 years ago. Appreciating the efforts of Dr Hardas Singh, Dr Lakhanpal, Dr Santokh Singh and other Rotarians, Mr Chawla said without their help a whooping amount of Rs 5 crore could not have been raised for constructing a building and installing the latest equipments in the hospital. The Chawla family established the Manjit Kaur Chawla (MKC) Trust in England five years back to create awareness about the disease and help provide its treatment wherever possible. Mr Chawla said the disease was rising alarmingly in India. Quoting the data of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a part of the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said approximately 79,000 women had been affected by breast cancer in India in 2001 and over 80,000 women had been affected in 2002. The report said one out of every 30 women living in Indian metros would develop breast cancer during the lifetime, he added. Bibi Jagir Kaur said that the SGPC had donated five acres of land and Rs 20 lakh for the hospital. She said, on an average, the hospital was receiving 70 patients daily and was treating poor patients at nominal charges. |
||||||
|
‘Laalaan Di Qurbaani’ on martyrdom
of Sahibzadas
Directed by Harinder Singh, the film shows the bravery of Sahibzadas, who laid down their lives gallantly while fighting the tyrannical rule. The story unfolds with the creation of the Khalsa, wherein Guru Gobind Singh baptised five Sikhs as the "beloved ones" at Anandpur Sahib. The last scene depicts the uniting of lights, representing both Sahibzadas, and the mingling of these lights with the light of Guru Teg Bahadur. Sukhdev has given music in the film. Songs have been written by Tochi Tarlochan and Vijay Mehak. Along with religious songs, shabads have also been used. The film was made under the banner of C.J. Multimedia. It has been scripted by Dr Ajit Singh Aulakh. |
||||||
|
Dr Sabar’s journey from ‘gun to pen’
A believer in the significance of "nishkama karma", he has been doing his duty without worrying about the fruits of his labour. The life of Dr Jasbir Singh Sabar, a noted literary person and Professor and Head of Guru Ravi Dass Chair, Guru Nanak Dev University, is quite interesting.
He started his career in army. He has seven books to his credit. "Ever since joining the university in 1973 as Assistant Publication Officer and later joining the Department of Guru Nanak Studies as Research Assistant, I dedicated my whole life to research," said Dr Sabar, whose source book on Bhagat Ravi Dass, published by Guru Nanak Dev University, helped about nine candidates to complete their doctorate. His other writings include Gian Ratnawali — a biography of Guru Nanak, Multidimensional Study of Majh Ki Var - a prominent bani of Guru Nanak (all published by Guru Nanak Dev University), Life and Works of Principal S.S. Amol, Life and Works of Baba Ram Dass (published by Punjabi University), Life and Works of Sant Fateh Singh and Pavan Gatha of Guru Ravi Dass (published by other publishers). Five of his writings are under publication. These include Encyclopaedia of Mahima Parkash, Multidimensional Study of Ravi Dass Bani, Life and Works of Bhai Jodh Singh, Multidimensional Study of Onkar Bani and Multidimensional Study of Baramah Tokhari. Sharing his experiences, Dr Sabar said his father wanted him to become a doctor. However, he said, along with his friends he appeared for NDA test and got selected. He was shunted out of the army for participating in the Punjabi Suba Movement during those days. Later, he joined Sant Fateh Singh, a former Akali president, as his personal assistant. He said Sant Fateh Singh entrusted him the supervision of "Daily Koumi Dard". He said he was elevated to the position of managing editor of the newspaper later. He said his stint as the Head of the Sikh History Research Board and Sikh Reference Library in 1971 changed his whole life. During this period, he came in contact with prominent literary persons, including Dr Piar Singh and Prof Preet Singh, who used to visit the library regularly to consult various manuscripts. These literary persons encouraged him to do research work in the field of Gurbani. After that there was no looking back, he added. However, he said this was not an easy task, as he had no background of such research work. He learnt Persian and Sanskrit languages for this. Without knowing these languages it was not possible to understand Gurbani, he opined. Dr Sabar said that in January 2003 he was appointed as Professor and Head of Guru Ravi Dass Chair. He was conferred with International Guru Ravi Dass award by the Bhartya Sahit Academy, New Delhi, in 1995. Bhartya Sahit Academy, Guru Ravidass Foundation and many universities in India and abroad have honoured him on various occasions. He has submitted an Urdu book to Punjab Government on life and teachings of Bhagat Ravi Dass. His source book on Bhagat Ravi Dass, which was published by Guru Nanak Dev University in 1994-97, is being translated into Hindi. |
||||||
|
Defacement of public property continues despite
The defacement of public and government properties continues unabated in the city, even as the Punjab and Haryana High Court have banned it.
The Citizens' Forum - an NGO - has threatened to launch a protest against the property defacement if the authorities concerned failed to take stern action against the menace till the end of January.
The high court had banned the defacement of government and public properties by posters and any type of graffiti. The high court, in its orders, directed the states of Punjab and Haryana, besides the union territory of Chandigarh, not to display or paint advertisements on walls of public toilets, guide maps, kiosks and dumping sheds, as it could divert the attention of vehicle drivers and cause accidents, besides making the holy city ugly. Issuing the directions, the high court ruled that " two states, besides the union territory, may construct public toilets and other structures but shall not paint or display advertisements in any manner on its walls." In his order the judge also directed the authorities concerned not to display advertisements on the main roads or on the roads leading to bus stand and railway station. Interestingly, the district magistrate, has banned under Section 144 of the CrPC many times the pasting of posters. However, there is no authority to implement these orders. The walls here continue to be pasted with posters and graffiti, including vulgar and obscene film posters. This amounts to the contempt of high court orders. Mr Brij Bedi, President of the Citizens' Forum said that the organisation and its members had decided to launch an agitation to awaken the authorities from deep slumber. He said that the high court should slap a fine on the state government, just as the supreme court had fined Himachal Pradesh for painting rocks with advertisements. "The local administration is so brave and bold that it is not bothered about the high court orders," Mr Bedi added. |
||||||
|
Traditional Lohri eatables business
getting mechanised
Lohri, as celebrated in the city, is well known all over the country. In fact, the Lohri celebrations would be unimaginable without delicious rewri, ghachak, popcorn, chirvare and special khajure and groundnuts. These items are available in every nook and corner of the city. However, very few know that these eatables are prepared in the Bhad Bhunje Wala Bazaar.
Located in the narrow lanes of the walled city, the market has been making these items available to residents for the past over a century. These items are generally consumed in the winter. However, modernisation has had its effect, as a large number of people have either deserted the trade or installed machines to prepare these items in factories. Mr Lali, a shopkeeper, said that he felt insecure in this work, as people like him who prepared items manually, were not able to earn satisfactorily. He said some affluent people had procured machines and cornered a large chunk of business. He feared that many of them might be forced to change their business. Mr Ramesh Kumar Mehta, owner of 'special rewri' shop, said that his children might not join his business, as it was not so lucrative. |
||||||
|
In ‘Rhythm’ with dance
She is only 19 years old and she has already made a mark for herself in the field of classical dance. Ms Rhythm Mehta is a BA I student of the local Saroop Rani Government College for Women. Her dance programmes in college and university programmes have been appreciated a lot.
Her maiden performance was when she was in class VI. She started learning Kathak at the age of ten. She has bagged a string of prizes for her dance and singing performances. She stood second in classical solo bhajan and her group bagged the first position in bhajan singing. She stood first in inter-zonal youth festival classical dance competition held in November last year at Guru Nanak Dev University. Her dance teacher, Ms Rashmi Nanda, said that the 19-year-old girl showed promise. "I want to become a dance teacher. Right now, I am busy preparing for the inter-state youth festival to be held in Hyderabad," says Ms Rhythm. |
||||||
|
‘Aroma’ brings back charm to her
life
A chance meeting with a sadhu on wayside prepared Ms Jasbir Saluja for the adversity she was to face in the later years of her life.
As she waited for a landslide to clear on way to Hemkund Sahib, a sadhu gave her two formulations found in the Himalayas. This knowledge helped her in times of her family crisis.
Born in a well-known family of chemical and crude drugs manufacturers, she grew up in her Pali Hill residence. She had her share of glamour -Bollywood star families of Meena Kumari, Pran, Kamal Amrohi, Vinod Mehra, Anil Dhawan, Prem Chopra, Shabana Azmi, Moushmi Chatterjee. She was married in a rich family of Amritsar. The family lost their younger son to terrorism in 1991.The business was shut down thereafter. Three years later, a massive consignment from Russia never arrived despite a huge amount of advance money paid and the family lost everything. However, Ms Jasbir, with her degree in BSc Home Science, revived her passion for making aroma beauty products. As a young girl, she had joined an aromatherapy workshop of Mariam Zaveri, a known name in aroma therapy in India. A competition during the workshop fetched her first prize shared with Dr Jamnapai, currently a skin specialist on the panel of Femina Ms India contestants. "Aroma therapy is about essential concentrates of almost every part of herb, tree or shrub. As many as 200 such oils exist in the world today. An orange tree's flowers give 'orange blossom oil', stems give 'naroli oil', an anti-aging extract, leaves elicit 'bergomot oil'. Unlike other oils, these are non-oily, easily evaporating potent concentrates to be used in specified blends," she says. Another workshop with Lillian Maund, an English aroma therapist, taught her to use the extracts into products like creams, gels, washes, scrubs, oils, moisturisers and a whole range of beauty products. Her father, Mr A.S. Chawla, helped her to set up a small manufacturing-cum- packaging plant in Delhi. In the meantime, her husband, Mr D.S. Saluja, could meet with limited success in his ventures. It was at this time that she decided to take a plunge in business at Mumbai, where she was offered to set up a chain of saloons by Vandana Luthra of the VLCC fame. A cheque of Rs 1.20 lakh was a commission reward for the record turnout of sales of Rs 20 lakh in just one month in the millennium year. "The gruelling hours gave me money but robbed me of family life," Jasbir says. She adds, "Our products are being taken by known five and seven star hotel chains like Marriot, Taj, Hyatt in Mumbai, Goa and Pune." |
||||||
|
Residents donate generously
for tsunami victims
As expected, residents of the holy city contributed funds generously for tsunami victims. Many NGOs, schools and religious institutions took the initiative to collect money and contribute to the prime minister and chief minister relief funds.
Students of Holy Heart Presidency English School collected Rs 36,000. Mr Vijay Seth, Chairman of the School, said that the entire school staff would contribute one-day pay and they would deposit the money in the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. He added that the students would also contribute voluntarily. Unlike every year, students of Jagat Jyoti School did not welcome the New Year by organising a colourful show. They held a peace prayer for the departed souls. The school administration as well as the students voluntarily collected Rs 50,000 to help in the rehabilitation of the survivors. The All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society has already dispatched 1000 blankets for tsunami-affected. The members of the Punjab State Pensioners and Senior Citizens' Welfare Association pledged to donate one-day pension. Employees of the Improvement Trust also donated their one-day pay. The local chapter of the Indian Medical Association donated Rs 42,000, while the Department of Orthopaedic at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital collected Rs 60,000 to donate to tsunami victims. The hospital would also be sending a team of doctors to provide medical relief. Punjab Istri Sabha Relief Trust has sent a draft of Rs 20,000 to the PM's Relief Fund. The names of readers, who have so far contributed through The Tribune Tsunami Relief Fund from its local office, include: Mr Sandeep Bharti (Rs 1600), Mr M.M. Bhatia (Rs 1000), Puneet, Rashneet, Tejasween, Kunwar (Rs 1000), Dr R.S. Gill ( Rs 1100), Ms Harveen Gill (Rs 10,000), Mr Subhash Sharma (Rs 500), Mr Harbhajan Singh Gill (Rs 500), Mr S.S. Miglani ( Rs 5000), Mr K.K. Khanna (Rs 5000), Ms Mehak (Rs 1100), Mr G.S. Ahuja (Rs 1100), Mr Rupinder Singh Gill (Rs 1000), Amardeep Singh Chahal (Rs 1000), Mr Joginder Singh Nagi (Rs 500), Shaminder Kumar (Rs 500), Mr S.C. Sachdeva (Rs 250). |
||||||
|
City poet writes on nature’s
ultimate fury — tsunami
“Banda sari umar laga ke The havoc wrecked by the tsunami on the southern coast of the country has evoked sympathy from all sections of society.
The tragedy touched the heart of Dr Sohinder Bir, a lecturer in the School of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University. He has written a poem on the killer tsunami. "Banda sari umar laga ke ghar
banave, kudrat ik thapera la ke khed mukave. Ghar ta tuta-bhaja phir vee ban janda
hai, vichchar gaye sajna nu kehra mod liave". Dr Bir has three poetry books, including Haad Siyal and three analytical books, to his credit. His fourth book on poetry —
Rukh, Dukh Te Manukh — is under publication. The poet's forte is highlighting the problems of common man and the issues related to Punjab, Punjabi and
Punjabiat. He has also written poems on female foeticide. "We may have progressed a lot. But it's nature that can still wreck havoc and humans are rendered helpless," says the poet. |
||||||
|
Traffic Awareness Week fails to manage chaotic traffic
The traffic awareness week organised by Amritsar Traffic Police from January 3 to 9 proved a damp squib, as it failed to make any mark on the chaotic traffic in the city. Mr Brij Bedi, President, Citizen Forum, said that organising a traffic week had become a customary annual affair. The problem of traffic going haywire remained, he added. He said citizens could not be absolved of violating the traffic rules. One could easily notice shopkeepers encroaching upon footpaths on the busiest roads like Jai Mal Singh Chowk, Hall Gate, Railway Link Road, Lawrence Road, he added. Mr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, former President, Amritsar Vikas Manch, said that traffic jams were frequent near the markets because of the absence of parking lots. "People park their vehicles haphazardly on either side of the road. This makes the roads narrow for the vehicles," he added. He said no effective plan to widen the roads of the city had been implemented in the past two decades, though the population and the vehicles had increased manifold. Meanwhile, the traffic police said that they had organised a meeting with tempo and auto unions this week. In the meeting, lectures on safe-driving were delivered. They said rickshaw-pullers, drivers of three-wheelers, buses and trucks were informed about traffic rules. The traffic police also held a camp at the Bhandari Bridge to check pollution of two-wheelers and four-wheelers, and pollution certificates were issued on the occasion.
|
||||||
|
NRI novelist Dheer seeks his muse during Punjab
tour
It may sound strange, but it is true that a number of Punjabi writers from various countries visit Punjab, especially Amritsar and Jalandhar, to get their works published as the printing in England, Canada, America, Italy is much costlier than in Punjab. One of the prolific Punjabi novelists who is currently in Punjab is Darshan Dheer, a towering literary personality in England.
Despite his advancing age, the indefatigable Darshan Dheer, a prolific Punjabi writer and novelist keeps writing. He was born on February 10, 1935 and went to England in 1963. The winner of Guru Nanak Dev University's 'Shiromani Galapkar Award' and many other laurels, Dheer has established a unique identity in the field of Punjabi literature by writing novels in the Doabi dialect. These days, he is on a three-month tour to Punjab to write his new novel portraying the love story of an NRI girl with a boy of different faith in Punjab. His earlier novels and other Punjabi works included Luni Mehak (1972), Dhundla Suraj, Lakiran te Manukh, Eh Lok, Shishe de Tukde, Ghar te Kamre, Pairan de Aar Paar. His earlier novels depicted the generation gap among Punjabis settled in England and the nostalgia of emigrant families. Dheer, who is now a name to reckon with in Punjabi literature, had to struggle hard to achieve a high status in England. Though he had been a teacher in Punjab, yet in England he had initially to work in a foundry. Giving a touching picture of the high divorce rate among NRIs in England as compared to that in Punjab, he said it was due to more than enough rights given to adults there. Highlighting the positive aspect of the Punjabis living in England, he said that Punjabi was an optional language in many educational institutes there and it would flourish in the coming days. He said though his children were born there, yet they loved to speak their "mother tongue". |
||||||
|
Exporters sore over authorities’
apathy
Exporters here are sore over the apathy of railways authorities, who have allegedly not supplied goods wagons for the past one month.
The exporters incurred expenses worth crores of rupees besides inordinate delay in export consignments in the last month due to indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned.
The Amritsar Exporters' Chamber of Commerce has written to Mr Pankaj Malviya, Chief Operating Manager, Northern Railways, urging him to look into the matter and take some concrete steps to allot wagons on regular basis. Mr Mukesh Sindhwani and Mr Rajesh Setia, Vice-President and General Secretary, respectively, of the association said that the exporters dealt in various commodities, which were exported to Pakistan. After restoration of the railway link in January last year, there had not been any shortage of wagons. Indian cover wagons (CRT) and Pakistan Railway (PR) wagons were being supplied instantly as and when required by the exporters. However, he added, for the last more than a month, the wagons were not being supplied in spite of heavy orders and pending shipment. The association alleged that step-motherly treatment of the railway authorities with the exporters had resulted in delayed shipment of export consignment, expiry of export orders in hand and diversion of fresh orders to other countries. This had affected profits, future trade and goodwill of exporters, the association added. The Indo-Pak trade was re-established after a gap of two years in January 2004. The exporters suffered during the estranged relations between two neighbouring countries and the discontinued railway link. Mr Setia said the exporters were trying their best to accelerate the pace of trade between the two countries. Mr Setia urged the northern railway authorities to provide the goods wagons immediately so that any further loss to exporters could be stopped. |
||||||
|
AIDS spreading its tentacles in
Punjab villages
The AIDS Awareness Group (AAG) here has been grappling with alarming AIDS scenario, especially in rural areas.
The Secretary and HIV expert of the AAG and Medical Officer, Department of Skin, Dr Ravi Saini, along with Dr Rakesh Bharti, has been organising various workshops and seminars to educate the most vulnerable section of the society, especially truckers.
According to experts, the dreaded disease was spreading viciously in the villages, as proper awareness had not been created at the grassroots level. The first few cases of the full-blown AIDS in the rural areas adjoining the city were reported during the early 1990s. Quacks, who take people for a ride, add to the dismal scenario. Dr Saini said at present there were effective drugs available for helping the AIDS patients lead a normal life. These drugs were affordable, too. But stigma about AIDS kept a large number of people, especially poor and illiterate, away from hospitals. A random survey carried out by the AAG has found that 40 per cent of the transport workers have unprotected sex. In most of the cases, prejudice and ignorance were found to be responsible for this. The AAG was funded by the British High Commission to prepare a report on the truckers. Dr Saini said another serious concern was that drug addicts were contracting this disease through the use of unsterilised needles. Recently, a case of 70-year-old patient with full-blown AIDS was reported. It was found that the patient had contracted AIDS through the use of unsterilised needles. "Another factor which has caught the doctors unawares is the growing trend of extramarital affairs," added Dr Saini. The medical fraternity, too, needed to brace itself up, according to Dr Saini. Still a large number of doctors in hospitals and nursing homes shunned the HIV patients. The doctors needed to have a positive approach, he added. |
||||||
|
Weekly Round-up Pawan Kumar The district unit of the Government Teachers' Union has threatened to hold a protest rally in the constituency of the state education minister. The teachers would protest at Ludhiana against the alleged anti-educational policies of the state government, the union spokesperson stated. Mr Sucha Singh, President of the union, said that the teachers would hold meetings in all blocks to be prepared for the rally. He said they would protest against the alleged anti-teachers policies of the state government. Flaying the government over changing of pension formula, non-payment of salary to the teachers since November last year, the union demanded filling up of vacant posts of the teachers in various schools and colleges. Prize distribution
Raghav of Arun Rashmi Sainik School and Kirandip Kaur of Government Girls' Senior Secondary School got first prize in Group (A) and Group (B), respectively, of the GK test organised by the local unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidhiarthi Parishad (ABVP) in October last year. The result of the test was declared and awards were distributed at a special function held here on January 9. About 2,400 children from 24 schools of the district had participated in the test. 'Revoke decision to deny jobs'
Ms Laxmi Kanta Chawla, State Vice-President, BJP, has strongly criticised the state government and the Punjab State Electricity Board for "denying jobs on compassionate grounds to the family members of the board employees, who died in-service". In a letter to Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, the BJP leader said it was unfortunate that the decision taken in this regard on November 23 the previous year would also be implemented in case of those who had died about 10 years back. Ms Chawla's letter was released to the media here. Urging the CM to revoke the decision, she appealed that the benefits be given to those families whose members had died before the decision was taken. |
||||||
|
Local surgeon invited to international
meet
Dr Avtar Singh, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon of the city, has been invited to an international conference to be held in Australia. The conference would conclude on January 17. The conference has been organised by the Australian Orthopaedic Association and it would be held at Gold Coast, Australia.
Only two orthopaedic surgeons have been invited from India, though 40 surgeons are participating from all over the world. The conference would discuss the latest techniques of joint replacement.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
The traffic awareness week organised by Amritsar Traffic Police from January 3 to 9 proved a damp squib, as it failed to make any mark on the chaotic traffic in the city.
Several social organisations were of the view that such efforts would not bear fruit unless a comprehensive traffic plan, including the widening of roads, the construction of parking lots and the involvement of citizens, was chalked out.
In 1942, when the Japanese invaded Myanmar, the BIA joined the Japanese forces. Although they did not fight many battles, their numbers greatly increased, eventually enabling them to overthrow the then-weak Japanese government at the end of the war. 
As many as 650 lively paintings depicting the major events in the lives of four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh have been made into a religious film "Laalaan Di Qurbaani". The film is an attempt to commemorate the 300 years of martyrdom of Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh. It took about two months to complete this film.