The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Ajnala’s historical well lies neglected
Encroachments dot protected area
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

The border town of Ajnala has played a stellar role in the liberation of our country from British clutches. However, the ungrateful nation seems to have forgotten the supreme sacrifices made by army jawans during the 1857 mutiny.

When Mangal Pande blew the trumpet of rebellion against the British in 1857, its echoes were felt in this border district, too. A platoon of more than 300 soldier stationed at Lahore rebelled against the British Government by fleeing from their barracks.

History reveals that the soldiers swam bravely across the nearby flooded Ravi River and reached the adjoining Ajnala town. However, acting on a tip off, Fredric Cooper, the then Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, ordered that all of them be put in a cage-like room of the Old Tehsil (Ajnala) where almost 200 soldiers died of asphyxia. The rest of them were brutally shot dead the next morning and their dead bodies thrown into the well known as the Kaleyaanwala Khoo in Ajnala tehsil.

While the mutiny, engineered by Mangal Pande, has become integral part of the Indian history, the sacrifices made by army deserters of the Lahore camp have been forgotten. They are hardly remembered by anyone, what to talk of raising a suitable memorial for them. The Indian Mutiny had developed into a widespread movement of the agrarian and military revolt against the British rule in 1857. Many considered this mutiny as India’s war for independence. It created a legacy of racial hatred, which permeated all aspects of the relationship between the ruler and the ruled.

A visit to the historical Kaleyaanwala Khooh and the Old Tehsil at Ajnala shows that the heritage sites are in state of utter neglect. The historical well, which was filled with the bodies of jawans who had revolted against the British Army in 1857, has been lying neglected for the last one and half century.

It is said that about 300 jawans had revolted in the Gaddar of 1857, which started in Uttar Pradesh. The 300 mutineers, who had fled from Lahore after revolting, reached Fatehwal and then Lakhowal, travelling along the banks of Ravi River. They were kept in Purani tehsil by the then tehsildar. The incident dates back to June 3, 1857.

The huge complex of the Old Tehsil where the mutineers were imprisoned is today in a state of desolation. There are encroachments galore despite the fact that the state government has declared it as a “protected monument”.

The huge board put up in front of the Old Tehsil reads, “This is protected under the Punjab Ancient and Historical Monument and Archeological Site and Remains Act, 1964. Any person who destroys, removes and impairs, alters, defaces or imperils this monument in any manner is liable to punishment with fine or three months’ imprisonment or both.”

However, this order, issued under the seal of deputy commissioner, is being violated with impunity. A large number of kiosks dot the boundary wall of the “protected monument”. Garbage can be seen strewn inside and outside the heritage building. What is worse, the BSNL has installed its tower in the Tehsil complex, thereby posing a threat to the monument. The overhead wires of the BSNL have made the face of the building ugly. Though the telephone building has been shifted to the new adjoining building, no step has been taken to remove the tower. The keys of the Old Tehsil are said to be with officials of the BSNL.

Old-time residents said that the monument had remained the office-cum-residence of the tehsildar and the treasury officer even after Independence and it had been in good condition till the late eighties.

First War of Independence
Although dismissed by some as merely a sepoys’ mutiny or revolt, or a chaotic, disorganised peasant uprising, or a protest against the violation of religious rights by the British, the great uprising of 1857 has lately got recognition as India’s first war of independence. And in its broad sweep it was the greatest armed challenge to the colonial rule during the entire course of the nineteenth century.
Attracting people from all walks of life, it triggered demands for radical social and economic reforms, calling for a new society that would be more democratic and more representative of the popular demands.

Government apathy

Residents of the town claim that a few years back a local person found some skeletons from the site of the historical well while digging near the place. It is said that after that the administration barred digging in the area. There has been a demand that proper excavation be ordered to dig out the skeletons of the mutineers so that their cremation may be performed as per rituals.

No efforts were ever made to know the names of these “freedom fighters” by the state or any social organisation. Only a small structure has been made by some Nihangs.

Durgiana Temple management
issues warning to college
Rashmi Talwar

The Durgiana Temple management running the Durgiana Education Foundation, in a communication, has warned the authorities of Sri Laxmi Narayan Ayurvedic College of strong steps, if the college fails to meet the requirements of the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM).

Mr Surinder Arjun, officiating president of the temple management, cautioned the college management that they should conform to the norms of the council in view of reports of threat of de-affiliation of college by the council. He said that if the college management failed to comply, the temple management would be forced to take a strict action.

A three-member CCIM inspection team, comprising Dr Sanjay Janardhan, Dr Jai Parkash Narain and Dr Jagjit Singh, inspected the college this week. According to officiating president, the council was likely to review the affiliation of the college in view of "poor" infrastructure, inadequate space, low admissions in hospital and insufficient medical facilities, besides other drawbacks.

Mr Surinder, who is also general secretary, district Congress, further alleged that several misdeeds had been reported from college, including suspension of competent staff on 'flimsy grounds', allegations of 'moral turpitude' by RSS-managed foundation.

Dr D.C. Pandey, officiating principal of the college, denied that inspection team had hinted at withdrawing the affiliation of the college. He, however, admitted that the team had found that the college had less space than prescribed. He also admitted that the 100-bed hospital attached with institution was reporting very few patients.

Mr Santosh Gupta, president of the Durgiana Education Foundation and district VHP president here, claimed that he was sick and in hospital and he was not aware of the developments.

Significantly, no election has taken place in the college's governing body for the last four years. The college's management came under the Durgiana Education Foundation in 1983. Thirteen members comprised the foundation, out of which seven members were nominated by the Durgiana management, three were life members, three others were general members and two other members could be co-opted.

Reportedly, the college has been facing warnings of de-recognition by the CCIM for the past many years.

Guru Nanak Dev Varsity flouts
ban on stubble burning
Rashmi Talwar

Despite district administration's ban on the burning of crop stubble, Guru Nanak Dev university authorities have allegedly been burning the stubble on the campus.

The burning of the crop remnants is allegedly being carried out in large parts of the university campus. The district administration has communicated the ban through various media channels, including print and electronic media. The burning causes high level of air pollution, besides being a health hazard for persons near the vicinity.

Interestingly, Guru Nanak Dev University is running degree courses in Environmental Sciences. Khalsa College affiliated to the university offers courses in agriculture. This college, too, has allegedly been violating the ban on stubble burning.

Dr D.S. Gill, P.S. Randhawa, vice-president and general secretary, respectively, of the Pollution Control Committee (PPC) pointed out that for the past many years, it had been a "usual practice in university to burn wheat stubble, despite the university being a natural role model for public".

The committee members have conveyed their disapproval at the varsity's alleged indifference to "an important environmental issue". The Punjab State Pollution Control Board, in a communication to registrar and vice-chancellor of the varsity on May 2, had requested them to discontinue this practice.

"The administration continues with this practice of burning wheat stubble. This is an environmental and health hazard.

The burning of leaves and rubbish is also common on the varsity campus," Mr Arvind, member, PPC, has alleged in a missive to the varsity authorities.

Tenacious approach is a must: IAS topper
Ashok Sethi

Hard work is the key to success according to Ms Rachinta Bhandari, who has stood first among the women civil services candidates and sixth in overall merit in the recently declared civil services results. She said it was her sheer determination and tenacious approach which helped her to achieve her goal.

Immediately after the results were declared, the first thing she did was to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Temple for a thanksgiving to the almighty. It was the divine blessing and the best wishes of her parents and friends, which stood by her during the most traumatic period of her life when she lost her father and sister in quick succession. She said her achievement was a tribute to her father.

After her success, she visited her alma mater DAV Public School where students of Plus One and Plus Two, especially from the humanities segment, barraged her with questions about civil services.

"Neither tuitions nor the tag of big institutions matters. It is the hunger to succeed and the focused self-study that matters the most," she said. She added that for Punjab-related news it was "The Tribune", while for the national news, it was "The Hindu" that she read.

She said it was important to have an understanding of economics. Economics has been her favourite subject. She completed her graduation in commerce from Sri Ram College and later did her post graduation from the Delhi School of Economics.

She told the students that in case they were keen to join the civil services, it was important to set a strict work schedule. There was no shortcut to success.

She said her formative years in the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Shimla and DAV Public School here had been pivotal.

Talking about her experience during her final interview, she said it was indeed a tremendous challenge to face the 45-minute-long grilling during the interview, which, she felt, clinched the top spot among the women candidates for her.

She said she would continue to pursue her studies, especially in international affairs and diplomacy, besides her pet subject economics. She said her aim would be to represent the entire nation and to protect the interest of the teeming millions at the international forums.

Her proud mother Sudha Bhandari, who runs an ICSE-affiliated school, said that Rachita had always been a topper throughout her schooling. She had done her matriculation from the Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla, securing more than 90 per cent in all science subjects, but she had opted for commerce for her Plus One, which she completed from the local DAV Public School.

Recalling the contribution of her father, late Naveen Bhandari, a Chartered Accountant, Rachita said that he had always encouraged her to excel in her chosen profession. She had opted for commerce under the influence of her father. She added that she was proud of her legacy. Her great-grand father, Sir Gopal Das Bhandari, was a barrister during the British rule, and her grandfather Ramesh Chand Bhandari was also a barrister.

College organises textile designing exhibition
Rashmi Talwar

To cater to the growing need of the emergent fashion industry, Khalsa College for Women here organised an open exhibition on textile designing at the Art Gallery here.

Using different techniques of dyeing and printing, students displayed sarees, dupattas, suits, tops, bed covers, pillow covers, cushions, tableware, napkins, towels etc. In attractive and vibrant colours, the designs were prepared using block, screen, spray printing, tie and dye, batik techniques, along with computer designing and fabric painting.

The college claims to be the only one in the district to offer a one-year PG diploma course in textile designing recognised by Guru Nanak Dev University.

The institute would also introduce a postgraduate course in dress designing and tailoring from this academic session starting from June-July.

Dr Sukhbir Kaur Mahal, Principal, while talking to The Tribune, said the college was committed to upgrading the present courses and adding new ones to meet the changing needs of society. She said the college was contemplating more vocational courses that presented better placement opportunities for the students.

Seminar marks World Heritage celebrations
Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service

The Amritsar Vikas Manch organised a seminar to mark the World Heritage celebrations in the holy city. The seminar was presided over by Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, a well-known environmentalist and heritage lover.

Dr Gumtala said that the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee should set up a special wing to conserve and preserve the precious cultural treasure of the Gurus on the pattern of the Kuli Kutb Shahi Development Authority of Hyderabad, which looks after the cultural heritage of the Muslims there.

Prof Manjit Singh, Chairperson of Sain Mian Mir Chair, Guru Nanak Dev University, in his keynote address on the glorious heritage of Amritsar, pressed upon the need to rewrite the cultural history of the city. He further said that the history should be spot-centred rather than event-centred. Elaborating his point, he said that we knew that Bhai Mani Singh had got martyrdom at the hands of the Muslim rulers in Delhi, but no one knew where he had been residing.

Speaking about the unique aspect of the urban planning during the founding of the city, Prof Manjit Singh said, "It is not incidental that the depth of the holy sarovar surrounding the Harmandar Sahib is also 17 ft and its side is 510 ft, a multiple of 17 ft." He lamented the attitude of the British authorities that had ruined the architectural past of the holy city by demolishing Maharaja Ranjit Singh 'Bunga' and 'Kanhaiya Bunga' besides others. He expressed his dismay at the renaming of the historic Ram Bagh gardens as "East India Company Garden".

He suggested that the heritage sites of the city be comprehensively identified and a "heritage walk", on the pattern of heritage festival, be organised. These could be monitored by non-government organisations such as the Amritsar Vikas Manch and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), he added.

Melody reigns supreme at Jagdev Kalan village
Rashmi Talwar

On the wings of soft wind, rustling through an ancient banyan tree, a clear melodious song wafts through. It breaks through the shouts of "Reshma, Reshma".

Sarabjit — a shy, kohl-eyed eighteen-year-old girl emerges nervously, wiping her face with a handkerchief. She is Reshma for her classmates. "Our friend is no less talented than the noted Pakistani singer Reshma," says one of Sarabjit's classmates at Senior Secondary School at Jagdev Kalan village, the birthplace of renowned Muslim poet Hasham Shah. Interestingly, the marble plaque at the school informs — "From this village, 105 men went to the Great War of 1914-1919 (World War-I). Of these, three gave up their lives."

Sufiana kalam, Heer, Shah Hussian, Waris Shah , Bulleh Shah, Shreen-Farad -Sarabjit renders all effortlessly and with élan. The afternoon slides into evening that is filled with the melody of Punjabi folk songs, bolis and qawwalis.

Sarabjit's brother Kuldeep (12) and many of her classmates and junior students, too, are singers and performers. The best comes in when the brother-sister duo sings Sassi Punnu, Nazuk pyer maluk sassi de, mehendi nal savarey — the creation of poet Hasham Shah.

Sarabjit and Kuldeep's parents, Dharm Singh and Balwinder Kaur, both are singers. Guru Nanak Dev University recently recorded a CD of Sarabjit's songs. She was also invited to radio station two years back after an audition survey, and instead of the "Bal Vani" programme for children, she was chosen for "Yuva Vani" in which young adult singers participate.

Interestingly, the village boasts of many singers and performers. One Manjit Singh anchors programmes, mimics, sings and plays harmonium and dhol. Sardool Sikander is another upcoming singer.

The singers from this village like to call themselves descendants of Bhai Mardana — a Muslim who accompanied Guru Nanak Dev throughout his journeys. But this may be far from the truth.

Preserving folklore is Kulwant’s passion
Manmohan Singh Dhillon

Mr Kulwant Singh Aulakh's name is associated with the preservation of Punjabi folklore. According to Mr Aulakh, "Heritage and traditions of a community are an umbilical cord that joins the old generation with the new."

Regretting the neglect to our rich folklore, he said the Punjabis were losing their roots without even knowing it.

Born in Uggar Aulakh village in Majha region in 1938, Mr Aulakh has three books to his credit — Majhe De Lokgeet, Dharmi Babal Da Desh and Lok Geetan Dian Sarian. The books gave him his due recognition in the literary world and brought him in the category of folklore scientist.

Although he has retired from the Department of Press, Guru Nanak Dev University, he continues to conduct research in the field of folklore. His fourth book — Majhe De Lok and Lok Sahitya — is under publication. His book on Gurbani — Visasad — was also praised in the world of Punjabi literature.

Majhe De Lok Geet placed him as in the category of original researcher in the world of Punjabi folklore. Various lok geets presented in his books have become invaluable treasure of the Punjabi folklore. Mr Aulakh has also made efforts to preserve the typical Majha Punjabi language which is slowly disappearing from our social life. Recently, he was honoured by his alma mater Khalsa College.

Orientation programme for parents
Rashmi Talwar

Eurokids School here organised on its campus an orientation programme for parents. The workshop was conducted by Ms Neelam Shourie, member NCERT and academic consultant, Egmont International.

The parents were imparted awareness about child development. The session involved awareness about motor responses in children, ways to construct creative thinking processes, active reactions using physical activity and play-way methods.

Ms Manveen Sabharwal, Principal, Eurokids School, stated that the session had been a learning experience for the parents.