PUNJABI ANTENNA
Glimpses of Sardar Anjum
Randeep Wadehra

The noted poet Sardar Anjum was in his element on Kujh Pal Tere Naam. Going down the memory lane, he narrated an incident when, as a student, he had a confrontation with the redoubtable Pratap Singh Kairon – the then Chief Minister of Punjab. He also gave glimpses of several aspects of his life – his struggles, infatuations and achievements. Anjum told you proudly that his Padma Bhushan award citation described him as a rebel poet. He claimed to live life on his own terms and summed up the philosophy of his life in a couplet: Unhee ko sajda karte hain yeh toofan / Jo bhanwar mein kashti utarte hain (storms bow before the presence of those who dare to sail their boats in troubled waters). It certainly was an absorbing interview.

Sports in Punjab has had a rather chequered history. Despite dominating the national scene, the state’s performance appears to have reached a plateau. The reasons for this stagnation were discussed threadbare in Khabarsaar. One participant pointed out that the likes of Abhinav Bindra are more a product of parental support than of the state’s sports policy, while another criticised the excessive emphasis on training at sports hostels, leading to a virtual embargo on amateurs from conventional schools and colleges. Though inconclusive, the discussion was thought-provoking.

Aaj Da Rashiphal completed one thousand episodes in February. This speaks volumes for the show’s popularity. Its anchor, Pandit Pawan Sharma, has struck a chord with the viewers, both within and outside Punjab. The show receives more than 250 queries via telephones, emails and letters per day.