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Sangalwala
Akhara’s UNIQUE HERITAGE
History of Udasin asceticism
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Educational society focuses
on career guidance
City’s green tea trade in doldrums
Preenja is a man with a mission
Carrying forward the green-fingers legacy
Workshop on hearing impairments organised
Ayurvedic expert claims cure for asthma
‘Students should feel proud of their alma mater’
Weekly Round-up
National Fire Services Week organised
Residents of Bagh Ramanand allege water contamination
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Sangalwala Akhara’s UNIQUE HERITAGE
The
234-year-old Sangalwala Akhara, on the fringes of Harmandar Sahib, which occupies the unique place in the Udasin cult, is virtually a storehouse of Hindi religious literature written in Gurmukhi script.
A number of rare manuscripts, preserved and catalogued in a scientific way, are considered invaluable for researchers who are interested in the history of Gurmukhi script. Moreover, the manuscripts establish significant linkage of the Hindi language with the Gurmukhi script. Though most of the linguists have failed to notice the worth of the Bhakti literature stored in its magnificent library, yet Dr H.S. Bedi, Head, Department of Hindi, Guru Nanak Dev University, describes this Akhara as “second university” of Amritsar. While the first university was established in 1969 after the name of Guru Nanak Dev, the “second university” (Sangalwala Akhara) is named after his (Guru Nanak’s) son, Sri Chand ji. Some of the students from Guru Nanak Dev University and scholars from far-flung places visit the Akhara in connection with research work. The credit for compiling a huge collection of religious works, in Gurmukhi script, seems to be the result of several years of hard work and dedication. The great volume of 1206 folios (Gurmukhi script) was compiled in this Udasin Akhara establishment. It contains four Vedas, Upanishads, Vishnu Puran, Panch Dashi, Panch Bhasha Grantha, Vivek Sindu, Vashishta Sar, Shesh Samavad, Agyan Bodhini, Vigyan Geeta, Vichar Mala. A big manuscript of Guru Granth Sahib, Dastoor-e-alam and Sadhu Suman Chanderika are the other works attributed to Nirvanji. All are written in Gurmukhi script. The library is “enriched” with ancient literature pertaining to various religions and old manuscripts. Interestingly, unlike in most other religious places, the Head of the Sangalwala Akhara, Mahant Anantanand, is a graduate. Born in Hoshiarpur, he belongs to a Sikh family. His parents shifted to Burma in search of greener pastures before the Partition of the country. He was only two years old when the family had to come back to Punjab after the annexation of Burma by Japan. A poet, excellent orator and prose writer himself, he has written a number of books and is instrumental in preserving the age-old history of the Udasin Akharas. He also arranges seminars and honours scholars every year, besides holding religious functions. He has been serving this institution from February 1978. During his tenure, a library and well-furnished reading room for newspapers was established for the benefit of the general public. Despite the good works done, the management of the Akhara has failed to preserve the invaluable frescos and originality of its beautiful structures. However, Swami Anantanand claims that the roof of the sanctum sanctorum had collapsed in 1972. The wall paintings were lost during the re-construction of the structure. The cave and other structures have been plastered with modern material, thereby losing their pristine glory. The Udasin sadhus also played a significant role in bringing water from River Raavi to the Golden Temple through “hansili” (covered water channel). Raavi was 100 miles away from Amritsar. It is claimed that Nirvan Priyatam Dass and Santokh Dass took this job in their own hands and helped in filling the temple tanks with river water when groundwater level had gone down drastically. The sardars helped Nirwanji with money and manpower and the project was completed in Bikrami 1940-41. The said “hansili canal” still feeds the Golden Temple’s sarovar and other sacred tanks. Interestingly, the Sangalwala Akhara is committed to be pro-government. The
Continued from Page 1 modern gadgets inside the room of the head of the cult, including close-circuit cameras, speak volumes about the modern approach of the Akhara. This institution was earlier named “Nirvan Akhara” in Bikrami 1828, when it actually came into existence. Later in Bikrami 1920-42, someone from the Akhara got fixed a heavy iron chain at the main gate of the Akhara to perpetuate the memory of Nirvan Priyatam’s victory over the sanyasis at Haridwar by whom this Akhara was actually founded. The site where Akhara Sangalwara exists was a desolate and uninhabited place. Only a large tree, where Nirwan Priyatam Dass had first stopped for six months, was there. The literal meaning of Akhara is an arena for wrestling, a place for exercise, a congregation of sadhus or their abode, a place of residence for singers. But in the Sadhu Samaj, especially in the Udasin sect, Akhara means a place where fellow sadhus stay, worship with their preceptor, a sangat, dera for the boarding and the lodging of Udasin sadhus. The place where Shree Nirvan Dev sat under the large tree is called the “Charanpaduka”. Adjacent to it, there is a flag named “Dhwaja Sahib” by the side of which idols of deities have been installed. These places were built by one of his disciples, Shree Brahm Nijroop. Later, a cave and some small rooms were constructed for the stay of sadhus. The location of the Akhara is 13-foot below the road level. Similarly, the cave is eight-foot below the ground level of the Akhara, where monks of the Udasin cult do penance and meditate.
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The
word “Udasin”, in general, means a person who has renounced the world; who is unbiased, unattached, ascetic and is averse to mundane affairs of this world. It means a fully detached person, who neglecting perishable body relations, keeps on moving steadfastly on the path of mental progress merging all faculties into the Brahma. Such a person has nothing to do with the activities of this world.
The Udasin sect is an order of sadhus which was founded by the elder son of Guru Nanak, Baba Sri Chand, following the path of renunciation (udas). They generally wear a red chola with a black scarf (seli). The term “Udasin” means sorrow or sadness, from Sanskrit “udas”. Modern Sikhism is generally opposed to asceticism and for that reason alone it has little place for the Udasins. This, however, was not always the case. Prior to the period of the Singh Sabha Movement (the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries), the Udasin way enjoyed considerable prestige, and under the Sikh rulers of Punjab, its practitioners were recipients of substantial land grants. Today, one finds a few Udasin centres.
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Maharaja Ranjit Singh connection
In Bikrami 1837, the couple was blessed with a son, who later grew up to be Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Akhara head claims that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was an ardent devotee of Nirvan Dev and he used to visit him whenever he was in Amritsar.
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Educational society focuses
on career guidance
The
Missionary Educational Society (MES) is a unique society that has helped hundreds of deprived and needy children to get proper education. The society, functioning without any government aid, is dedicated to provide adult education, scholarships to poor and needy children, and career guidance to educated youths. Since its inception in August 1991, the society has been providing these services.
The educational society established five adult education centres in the last 14 years. Out of these centres, that at St Patrick School, Fatehgarh Churian Road, is helping more than 400 illiterate persons to get free education in the evening classes. Dr J.S. Arora, a lecturer in the Department of Commerce and Business Administration in the local Khalsa College and founder of the society, said that the members of the society were well-established persons, including teachers, chartered accountants, students, businessmen, computer experts, lawyers. The members sometimes contributed from their pockets to meet the expenditure to run the society smoothly, he added. The society provides scholarships to about 40 children every year. These scholarships are usually in form of educational fees. What makes the society unique is that it provides career guidance to educated youth. Dr Arora rued that there were very few career guidance institutes in this region. He rued that youngsters did not know what to do after getting education. The society has released two books on career guidance — Commerce Career Guide and Educational Opportunities in Amritsar. Dr Arora said another career guidance book would be released by June 2005. From time to time, the society also organises lectures and distributes literature on various courses in schools and colleges. The society has planned to establish a permanent career guidance centre for residents of Amritsar at its branch office on Tarn Taran Road. The educational society is also now constructing an MES Public School for the weaker sections at Tarn Taran Road on 1000 square yards land. Dr Arora said that presently nine rooms were being constructed and more than Rs 15 lakh had been spent on the school. He said the society was contemplating to start this school in the month of September. Every year the society organises three competitions of painting, quiz and declamation in which students from schools, colleges, institutes and Guru Nanak Dev University participate. Dr Arora said that more than 1000 students participated in these competitions. The society also encourages academicians who have excelled in the academic field. Dr Arora said the objective of the society was to help students decide about their future and also give them a platform to exhibit their talents.
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Octogenarian athlete seeks pension
Eightyeight-year-old
athlete Gian Singh, a resident of Ram Ser Road, has been running from pillar to post to get his pension. He has been actively participating in veteran athletics events and bringing laurels to the city.
He stunned Mumbai public by clinching first gold medal in five km walk in the 1998 National Veterans Athletics Championship. In the Punjab Veterans Athletic Meet in 2000, he came second in the 500-metre event. The next year, he got a gold medal in the 1500-metre race and secured the second position in 100 mt event. In the 2003 Punjab Veterans Athletic Meet, he stood second in 100-metre and the next year he got gold medals in 200-metre and 400-metre events. In the Veterans Amateur Athletic Federation of India organised in Bangalore in 2002, he was adjudged first in 400-metre event. The same year he participated in the 23rd National Veteran Athletic Championship. This octogenarian walks four km regularly to stay fit and he takes a balanced diet. He says that even in his young days, he was fond of walking. Ruing that he has still not received the pension due to him, he says that he has written to several authorities requesting them to give him athletics pension, but to no avail. Last week, he wrote to Punjab Chief Minister seeking athletic pension. He says that he has incurred huge financial losses in his business and has had to sell off his factory. But his interest in sports remains intact. |
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City’s green tea trade in doldrums
More
than one-and-a-half-century-old green tea trade of the city is in doldrums. Earlier, it was closure of export that had put traders in tight spot. Now introduction of VAT has panicked the traders.
The city was once known as the only distribution hub of the green tea. It used to export green leaves to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria and Morocco. However, the entire trade is now concentrated in Jammu and Kashmir, as green tea is usually consumed more in hilly areas. The president of the Amritsar Tea Traders' Association, Mr Rajinder Kumar Goel, said about five to six million kilograms of green tea were being supplied to Jammu and Kashmir at present. He said the traders were already considering the option of settling down in Jammu and Kashmir which would result in loss of revenue to the state. He urged the government to take positive steps to prevent the traders from shifting their base from the city. The city has about fifty tea factories involved in sifting, grading and processing of green tea. Mr Goel said that nearly 50,000 people were engaged in the trade. The loss of trade would render them unemployed. "The Central as well as state governments grant some special exemptions to this trade. It is the only item in which traders are allowed sales tax assessment without 'C' forms because of non-availability of these forms in the Kashmir valley," he added. Mr Goel said the trade was established here by Maharaja Ranjit Singh when he brought Marwari businessmen from Rajasthan to the city. He said these businessmen had settled near the Golden Temple. The green tea trade received impetus after the country gained freedom. Afghanistan and Pakistan were the major buyers. However, the Afghanistan problem and the hitherto sour relations between India and Pakistan brought the export to nil. |
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Preenja is a man with a mission
It
is to the credit of Mr Baldev Raj Preenja (66) that he has made his life more fruitful even after retirement. He is busy in the service of humanity, he says.
Agile and fortified with qualifications, including LLB, MA in Political Science and Bachelors in Teaching, he helps employees, retired employees and families of deceased employees to identify and exercise their legal rights. He offers this service free of cost. Even officials in government services from nearby Gurdaspur approach him for free legal consultations. He also takes up consumer court cases free of charge, in addition to writing regularly for "Qanooni Shikanja" a monthly magazine in Punjabi. He has been invited for broadcast by the All India Radio and Doordarshan many times. Mr Preenja is the first man in his sleepy village Sarli Khurd, district Tarn Taran, to have obtained a masters degree. He rose from a humble agricultural background to the gazetted post of the PES (Punjab Educational Services). He served as the principal of a senior secondary school. When he was 13, he witnessed the trauma of Partition. The Muslims in his village were herded out safely to Kalchain village, while surrounding villages, particularly Taktu Chak, indulged in massacre. Interestingly, he has the unique credit of getting a bus service started from his village, Sarli Khurd, to Amritsar (25 Km). His letter, written in his capacity as general secretary of the Shaheed Pritam Singh Sabha, to the then-chief-minister in late 1970s was so impressive that a bus service was started from the village. The village has a rare distinction of having started a primary school some 100 years back. In this school, Mohammed Sharief, father of former Pak premier Nawaz Sharief, studied along with Mr Preenja. Although from an illiterate family, Mr Preenja proved to be the brightest boy in his class. Even when the medium of instruction changed from Urdu to Punjabi after Partition, he outshone everyone in school. After matriculation, in spite of having secured first division (rare in 1950s), he had to convince his family to continue his college studies. He studied in Hindu College. |
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Carrying forward the green-fingers legacy
For
Prof Baghel Singh, it runs in his genes to carry forward the expertise and knowledge of growing various varieties of floral, ornamental and fruit-bearing plants.
His is the fifth generation, which is running one of the largest nurseries spread over 15 acres on the main Amritsar-Jalandhar GT Road. Interestingly, Prof Baghel Singh is also conducting research on reproduction of fruit plants. He conducted a unique research to cultivate chikoo at his nursery. Although not very successful, he is still hopeful and continues his research on chikoo. He claims to have one of the best germ plasms of pear, peach, guava and citrus in his possession. His nursery has also become a research centre for students of the Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, and various other institutions dealing with farming. Prof Baghel Singh is a retired professor of economics. But his passion for gardening and knowledge of plants leaves you flabbergasted. Talking to The Tribune, he said that maintaining a plant nursery was not a child's play. "You have to be careful about getting the right varieties and the right seeds. You must also be able to maintain the optimum temperature and protect plants against diseases and pests," he explains, adding that he was open to experimentation. His nursery has provided plants not only to people in Amritsar but also to those from Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana. The varieties of fruit plants being sold at his nursery are always tested for adaptation and economic feasibility under the local climate, and the growers are advised about the same. Medicinal and spice plants are also parts of his treasure chest. "Gardening is my passion and my collection of plants just reflects that," he says.
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Workshop on hearing impairments organised
What is cochlear
implant?
Cochlear implant was developed in Australia. It is a
small complex electronic device that can help to provide sense of
sound to one who is profoundly deaf. The implant is surgically
placed under the skin behind the ear and designed to help
individual to communicate more easily and interact comfortably
with others.
A
workshop for parents and teachers was conducted to inculcate awareness among them about early detection of hearing impairments in children.
The workshop was conducted at Nav Jeevan Speech and Hearing Clinic by Dr Neevita Narayan and Ms Meenakshi Wadhera, audiologist.
While conducting the session for parents who had encountered hearing problems in their children, the experts said that as many as two million children in the country suffered from hearing disabilities and were unable to lead normal life because of these disabilities. They stressed the fact that in most of the cases the impairment was left untreated either due to negligence or failure to detect the problem. The experts sought to guide the parents on cochlear implants that could benefit the sufferers. Giving nation-wide figures, they said that more than 400 children in the country had benefited from the implants. Dr Narayan said that most parents did not realise the problem of born-deaf child in the first year. "If the child does not speak or respond to acoustic stimuli, parents assume it to be a natural delay, not realising that the child is actually deaf. Afflicted with this disability the children become limited in their ability to learn to speak and communicate which hampers their social and educational development," she added. She said that advancements in implants had helped children to go to mainstream schools and lead a normal life. |
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Ayurvedic expert claims cure for asthma
It
is indeed curious that a baker-cum-hotelier should give up his flourishing business to try his hand at Ayurvedic herbal medicines to cure many chronic diseases.
It was a sheer coincidence and stroke of luck that Mr Jaspal Singh achieved success (as he claims) in making herbal medicines for many diseases, including asthma, arthritis, joint pains and kidney and liver related problems. He claims that being the grandson of a renowned vaid (traditional physician) had no role to play in shaping his destiny which made him one of the best Ayurvedic experts. An eminent ENT consultant, Dr Amrik Singh, had spent more than 27 years in England pursuing his specialty. But he suffered from chronic asthma for which he could not find any allopathic treatment. The chance meeting with Mr Jaspal through a common friend proved to be a blessing. Dr Amrik Singh claimed that being an allopathic doctor, he had been initially reluctant to accept the treatment, but once Mr Jaspal prevailed upon him that his medicines would not have any side effect and assured him that his asthma would be cured within 15 days, he relented. Dr Amrik Singh recalled that much to his amazement, the asthma attacks to which he had been prone to during winter, suddenly lost their sting and he felt considerably relieved after a week-long course. He claimed that he took medicines prepared by Mr Jaspal for another ten days and he felt much better. Now, the days of asthma were completely over and he was leading a normal life after having suffered for more than 20 years, he added. Mr Jaspal said that he had studied many ancient books on Ayurveda and herbal medicines which were given to him by a saint from Rishikesh during his chance meeting with him about 22 years ago outside a hotel. He claimed that it was perhaps the inspiration of that saintly man that he was initiated into this unique school of Indian medicine and today he had got treatment for many serious ailments. Another patient, Ms Aradhna Mehra, a chronic sufferer from asthma who almost led a life of a recluse, claimed that it was Mr Jaspal who gave her a fresh lease of life. There were many such similar cases, including that of Ms Shivani who was suffering from pimples for the past four years, and Mr Jaspal claims he was able to cure these.
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‘Students should feel proud of their alma mater’
"Sure
success", "First Come, first served", "Few seats left" — these are a few familiar slogans we find highlighted in daily newspaper advertisements. Such attractions tempt young students to join academies for success in various competitions. But most of the students and academicians feel that the role of college in an individual's life is still very significant.
"At Amritsar, we have established institutions such as Hindu College, Khalsa College, DAV College and, of course, Medical College, Amritsar. These centres of learning profess to have highly experienced teachers who guide the students for higher studies. But the newly-found academies, the so-called coaching centres, are becoming more and more popular in contrast with the established institutions," says a city-based student. She hastens to add that this craze for academies does not diminish the importance of college. The well-reputed colleges are fully equipped with essential requirements for education. But the competitive spirit directs the students to approach the coaching centres, says another student. "Perhaps, some of the present-day students know little that the name of college always remains a badge of honour throughout life. Napoleon always remembered Elba, Churchill always remembered Eton, Nehru always remembered Ohio and in present times, our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remembers that he had his initial education from Hindu College," opines an academician, stressing on the need for students to feel proud about their alma mater.
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Neeraj Bagga
The UTI Mutual Fund announced the launch of its new scheme "UTI-Dividend Yield Fund" for the benefit of consumers. The new scheme will remain open from April 11 to May 3. It is an open-ended equity-oriented scheme. The objective of the scheme is to provide medium to long term capital gains by investing predominantly in equity and equity related instruments. Free medical camp The district unit of Shri Satya Sewa Organisation organised a free medical camp at Bishambarpura village. Mr S.S. Saluja, district president of the organisation, said as many as 225 patients had been examined in the camp. A team of four doctors — Dr Navdeep Singh, Dr Munish Sharma, Dr Tejinder Singh and Dr Devinder Pal Singh examined the patients. Art of Living The Art of Living, the brainchild of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, celebrated its fourth year in the city. The organisation is spread over 146 countries and it touches the lives of over 20 million people worldwide, according to its spokesperson. The "celebration of life" started with a Divine Concert here on April 10 by the renowned devotional singer Chitra, who enthralled the packed audience at the BBK DAV College for Women. Rendering bhajans, Chitra transposed the audience to the mystic spiritual world. The foundation also conducted drug de-addiction and medical camps. Infantry
division The 230th anniversary of the Army Ordnance Corps was celebrated by the 15th Infantry Division Ordnance on April 8 in the local cantonment. The celebrations were marked by barakhana where officers of all ranks, along with their families, participated. On the occasion, an array of cultural programmes was organised. Lt Col S.P. Malik, Commanding Officer, 15 Infantry Divisional Ordnance, presented a cheque of Rs 1000 on behalf of Maj Gen S.C. Sharma to Mr Harpal Singh, who had bagged the first position in Mahabali Body Building Championship. International meet Dr Adarsh Kumar, Professor and Head of Cardiology Department of the local Government Medical College, was invited as an international speaker to deliver his guest lecture in the four-day conference of International Coenzyme Q10 Association in Los Angeles, USA. He was one of the 30 speakers invited from all over the world to the conference. He had been invited because of his original research work in heart failure. He spoke on "Role of Statins and Coenzyme Q10 in Heart Failure". Khalsa College Sonu Wariah of the Khalsa College of Education got first position in Guru Nanak Dev University in M. Ed by securing 434 marks out of 600. Jaswinder Kaur, another student of the same college, was second in the university. She got 421 marks out of a total of 600. Jagdeep Kaur and Nirmaljeet Kaur of Shahzada Nand College were second and sixth, respectively, in the university in B.Lib and Inf. Science examination. Prayer for patients The orthopaedic ward of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital performed akhand path on April 18. Baba Karam Singh of Gurdwara Daburji performed the kirtan and path, and distributed langar on the occasion. Dr R.P.S. Boparai, Head of the department, said that akhand path was held to pray for the wellbeing of patients. Seminar on trade The Socio-Economic Development Programme (SEDP), Diocese of Amritsar, organised a seminar on "Trade Justice" on April 16 at Alexandra School. Reading keynote address, Bishop P.K. Samantaroy, Chairman, SEDP, said that open trade in India had increased differences between haves and have-nots. He felt that the development on the economic front should be beneficial to all sections of the society. This was possible with the help of judicious policies, he added. Fire safety show Government Girls Senior Secondary School, in collaboration with the Institute of EHS Studies, organised a show on fire safety in the school premises last week. Mr S.K. Suri and Mr Umeet Bhatia of the institute briefed students on precautions about fire. They also distributed cards describing the dos and the don'ts of fire safety among the students.
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National Fire Services Week organised
The
Institute of Environment Health and Safety (EHS) Studies provided training in fire safety measures to mark the "National Fire Services Week" from April 14 to April 20.
The institute had approached the district administration for facilitating this training programme in institutes. Mr S.K. Suri, Chairman, and Ms Umeet Bhatia, a faculty member, while talking to The Tribune, said the district administration had supported the programme and several institutes were coming forward in this regard. The initial training sessions and workshops were conducted in Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Mall Road, Model Study School, SR Government College for Women, Hindu Sabha College and Khalsa College here. The institute also distributed home safety cards to students and teachers. The workshop included demonstrations and training to deal with fire even in the absence of fire-fighting equipment. The workshop also explained usage of different fire-fighting extinguishers for different kinds of fire, escape, precautions on eventuality of fire and precautions to prevent fires, besides imparting knowledge about asphyxiation. Also, ways to douse fire, including suppression, starvation, cutting supply and cooling techniques, were a part of the syllabus.
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Residents of Bagh Ramanand
The
water supply in the area of Bagh Ramanand has allegedly been found contaminated. Residents of the area, under the Residents' Welfare Association, have submitted complaints to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, alleging that water in the area was contaminated.
Mr Surinder Singh and Mr Jagdish Singh, both office-bearers of the association, alleged that water was muddy and dirty. "We have complained to the area's SE time and again, but to no avail," they alleged. The welfare association stated that about 2000 persons in the area had been receiving the contaminated supply. They highlighted that the sewerage pipeline in the area was rusted and was the cause of contamination. "Till now, no one has come forward to rectify the supply lines, despite a number of complaints", alleged the residents. Apprehending an outbreak of water-borne diseases in the area, the residents demanded the immediate rectification of the supply line and the repair of sewerage. Municipal Commissioner, Mr K.S. Kang, when contacted, said he had directed the officers concerned to look into the problem. |
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