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City actors shine in film on Baba Deep Singh
Punjabi movie “Addi Tappa”, produced in the Holy City, had several firsts to its credit. Sixty student-artistes of the local BBK DAV College for Women had acted in the thriller with an all-women cast.
Now, another Punjabi film with most actors from Amritsar is set to be released. The film is based on Baba Deep Singh, the great Sikh warrior who made the supreme sacrifice while protecting Golden Temple from Afghans. All roles of Sikhs in “Anokhe Amar Shaheed Baba Deep Singh ji” have been performed by Keshdhari Sikhs. Actors for the Khalsa Army were taken from Bir Khalsa Gatka Dal of Tarn Taran and Amritsar. Even the roles of Sikh women retaliating against the callous enemy were enacted by Sikh women actors. The first cinemascope Punjabi feature film on Sikh history has been produced with a budget of Rs 2.5 crore. The film portrays two major battles of Baba Deep Singh, who with his Sikh soldiers, warded off Ahmed Shah Abdali’s attempts to take looted jewellery and about 33,000 Hindu and Muslim girls to his country. Baba Deep Singh was born on the January 26, 1682, in Pahuwind village in Amritsar district. He went to Anandpur on the Baisakhi day in 1700, where after baptism he started learning the use of weapons and riding. From Bhai Mani Singh he learnt to read and write Gurmukhi and the interpretation of the Guru’s word. He went to Guru Gobind Singh at Talwandi Sabo in 1705 where he helped Bhai Mani Singh make copies of Guru Granth Sahib. After the Guru Gobind Singh left for the south, he took up looking after Gurdwara Damdama sahib. When Baba Deep Singh came to know of the sacrilege of Harmandir Sahib, he narrated it to the congregation of Damdama Sahib and said, “Divali will be celebrated at Amritsar this year.” Five hundred Sikhs agreed to go with him. Before starting for Amritsar, he said, “My head may fall at Harmandir Sahib.” More Sikhs joined the cause and by the time they reached Tarn Taran the number swelled to almost 5,000. Fighting bravely the Sikhs pushed the Afghans back and reached Chabba village where General Attal Khan inflicted the fatal blow on Baba Deep Singh. A Sikh reminded the great warrior of his resolved to reach the periphery of the holy pool. Baba Deep Singh, supporting his head with his left hand, removed the enemies with deft strokes of his double-edged sword and reached the periphery of Harmandir Sahib, where he breathed his last. A major part of the movie was shot in and around Amritsar apart from Film City in Mumbai, Umargaon in Gujarat and other parts of the state. The Director had a problem locating kutcha houses in Punjab. After much effort, the crew found suitable locations in Durkone village near Khem Karan and on the scenic banks of the river Beas near Goindwal Sahib. Shooting was also done at Hoshiarpur, Talwandi Sabo, Harmandir Sahib, Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh and Pahu Wind in Tarn Taran. Pritam Singh, also from Amritsar, penned the script after consulting various books and experts on the subject. Director of the film Jaswinder Singh Chahal, who now resides in Mumbai, originally hails from Tarn Taran. This is his first movie as a Director after being Assistant Director in various movies. Dara Singh’s son Vindu Singh has performed the role of Abdali’s son Taimur. Uttam Singh has rendered music which has the power transporting the devout to subtle heights of spirituality. His daughter Preeti Uttam has also sung a shabad in the film. Top playback singers Jagjit Singh, Daler Mehndi, Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam, Uttam Singh and Hans Raj Hans have rendered the songs. A number of prominent film artistes, music directors, lyricists, cameramen and other technicians offered their services free for the epic. More than 700 artistes and 250 horses were part of the film. Gursewak Singh from Amritsar acted the part of an 11-year old boy who attains martyrdom on the battlefield. The Jathedar marching towards Harmandir Sahib to liberate it from Afghan army following orders from Baba Deep Singh is local artist Jaswant Singh Jass while the role of Baghel Singh was performed by Gurpreet Singh. Other notable local artists are: H.R.D Singh, Gurcharan Singh Sodhi and Amritpal Singh. Sandeep Singh enacted the character of Garhgaj Singh. Bollywood actor Gurinder Makana acts the role of a Muslim character while Sudesh Laheri is the bhand who exposes Abdali’s follies while cracking jokes and earns his wrath to be put to sword. Bholu Ambarsaria, a comedian and Dolly Saddal performed the role of a Sikh woman who was thrown down from a house by an Afghan soldier. That Sikh artists have started receiving offers from Bollywood could be gauged from the fact that Gursikh actor Jaswant Singh has already acted in Hindi movie Hawayein. He has also performed in ‘Kafila’ with Sunny Deol in the lead (to be released soon) while another offer is in the kitty. Leading star Kashish played the role of Nilofer, wife of Abdali’s son Taimur. Chahal says no attempt had been made to project the unparalleled sacrifices of the Sikh Gurus and their followers on screen. He received support from the local Mata Kaulana Bhalai Kendra, a welfare organisation run by renowned Gurbani singer, Bhai Guriqbal Singh. They have already obtained permission from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to screen the film,” he says. Earlier, Hindi feature film – ‘Jo Bole So Nihal’ – had triggered protests, resulting in violence at many places. The letter written by Jagmohan Singh Tony, secretary-general, Shiromani Akali Dal to Sharmila Tagore, Chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification, Mumbai, speak volumes about the risk involved in producing a film on Sikhism. The excerpts of the letter reads, “I write to you to express concern regarding the film, “Jo Bole So Nihal”. As you may be aware, Sikhs all over the country are agitated over the contents of the movie and the gross, negligent and deliberate misuse of the Sikh war cry and greeting of ‘Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’. “A large number of Sikh organisations from all over the world have protested the contents of the movie as well as the use of the Sikh slogan as the title of the movie. The producers and directors of the movie have shown scant regard for sentiments of the Sikh people. “We strongly believe that the Central Board of Film Certification, popularly known as the Censor Board has not applied its mind while certifying this movie. This movie violates the guidelines of the Censor Board as well as judgments of the Supreme Court of India.” The producers took a calculated risk so that message of ‘unique and unparallel sacrifice of Baba Deep Singh could be a precedent for others to venture into this unexplored field.’
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Liquor vends mar holy city
With the liberalised policy announced by the state government, a large number of liquor vends have mushroomed in various residential, industrial and commercial localities of the holy city in total disregard of established norms.
According to uninformed sources, liquor sale has touched an all-time high with Rs 40 lakh per day. Despite the public outcry and the campaign against the opening of vends, the Excise Department has failed to act. These liquor vends openly flout the timing rules and are open till late in the night. Though the Punjab Excise Department mentions in its new policy that no liquor vend should be allowed within 150-300 metres of educational institutions, places of worship, residential areas or even state and national highways, industrial areas, these vends are seen near all these places. Liquor vends near the BBK DAV College for Women on Lawrence road and DAV College, near Hathi gate, are glaring examples of the callousness of the Excise Department. Liquor vends have opened up at all entry gates and points of the walled city leading to the Golden Temple. This had come under severe attack from various religious and social organisations. Mr G. S. Lamba, Editor of Punjabi Magazine Sant Sipahi, has urged Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar Akal Takht to take up the matter with the authorities concerned and the district administration in this regard. The opening of has also drawn flak from foreign tourists visiting the holy city. “The holy city has become a liquor city,” said a distressed daily visitor to the Golden Temple. The recent incident of kidnapping and raping of a girl in the wee hours by six drunken youths led to the police asking the Excise Department to provide a list of illegal and other vends in the city. Mr S. S. Srivastava, district police chief, held a meeting with Excise officials and liquor vendors in this regard and directed the owners to follow the timings. Mr Srivastava said action would be taken against those who violate norms and would remain open till late night. What action is taken eventually remains to be seen Mr Ashok Bhatia, Excise Commissioner, said all liquor vends were opened in accordance with the policy and action would be taken against violators.
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My City
It used to be my city. Now, I feel it is not only my city but also it has become a global city. In fact, Amritsar is unique city.
Sri Harmandar Sahib and Amritsar have the same relation as that of nut and shell of almond. The shell is important because it provides safety to the nut inside. But without nut, shell has no value. I often try to compare this city with many other historical cities of the world that I visited in the last two decades. It has many similarities with Venice (Italy) — the narrow zigzag streets, the surprisingly open spaces, the traditional wells. But the spiritual feelings are present only in my city. These feelings are there because it has the blessings of great spiritual personalities. The city has seen various ups and downs in its physical growth during its short history. Initially, it was the victim of Mughal rulers. But the period of Sikh Misls from 1765 to 1802 is considered to have been favourable for its physical development. During the period, various “akharas” (centres of learning), “bungas” (rest houses), “havelis” (houses with courtyard), forts and gardens were developed. The period from 1802-1849 is considered to have been the golden period for the physical development of my city. It was during the period of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh that a wall around the city with 12 gates was constructed, a fort in the name of Guru Gobind Singh was strengthened and a beautiful garden built on the pattern of Shalimar Bagh, Lahore, was created in the name of Guru Ram Dass, the fourth Sikh Guru, the founder of my city. Decorative and architectural elements in the form of frescos and others ornamental elements are still depicted in its walled part. It was during this period that Sri Harmandar Sahib was decorated with frescos and other art forms such as tukri, inlaid stone, mohrakashi, gold embossing. The next period is 1849-1947, when my city became a slave to the British. They were not much interested in the heritage of my city in particular and my country in general. Here I quote Lord Macaulay’s address to the British Parliament, February 2, 1835, “I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief, such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem; their native culture and they will become that we want them, a truly dominated nation”. This indicates the intention of the British. In my city, historic Rambagh’s layout was altered and many incongruous additions were made to Gobind Garh Fort, thereby destroying their originality. The major portion of the wall, and the gates were demolished, and the moat was filled. To quote Prof P. C. Khanna in his paper “The Ram Bagh — the splendour it was”, “It is rather unfortunate that the well-knit place of civic design created by Maharaja, like his dynasty, was soon destroyed after his death, through the vandalism of petty bureaucracy and unimaginative military, engineers and surveyors of British. To begin with it was renamed, after the East India Company, to Company Bagh. They tried to superimpose their own design in Ram Bagh. The garden at present is thus a hotchpotch of formal and informal styles”. During this period, the physical growth started outside the walled city. This shows the concept of detached housing followed by modern principles and techniques of planning without the blend of traditional lifestyles and values. (To be concluded) Balvinder Singh is Associate Professor, Conservation Professional, Guru Ram Das School of Planning, Guru Nanak Dev University
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Hands that fashion tandoors
Modern kitchens have come a long way from the days of the earthen stove (chulla) to the present day microwaves. Despite the changes, importance and significance of tandoors has not diminished. They are still relevant and inseparable part of Punjabi culture. But we hardly give a thought to the hands that fashion them.
“Hands covered with wet mud, sitting on the floor, sweat on her forehead, duppata tied tightly to cover her head, fingers trying to make something” portraits a clear picture of a tandoor maker. Since generations women of low-class families make tandoors while their rakshaks (their husbands) work as rickshaw pullers. Boys of the family work in mills and factories and a few interested girls of the family go out to study but none of them clean and sweep houses to make a living. Making tandoor is a means of livelihood for them; a small cottage industry. However, they are concerned about their ‘art’. “We think this art of making tandoor is going to die soon as our daughters and even our daughter-in-laws are not interested in sitting in the sun, letting their hands get smeared with mud; for them this is just a waste of time. These young girls can’t understand that this is our age-old art and work which has enabled us to live” said a tandoor maker. They make tandoors in all sizes - from small to big. Small ones are sold for Rs 80 to 100 while the cost of medium and big ones varies between Rs 200 to Rs 250. Tandoors are not only made for local people but it is also exported and this made them proud for their art and profession. “We feel good that these big hotel people make use of our tandoors,” adds another woman. But during rainy seasons they have to toil hard to save their tandoors from getting damaged. “When it rains and our tandoors get broken, although we try to save them by covering them with plastic sheet but many times it serves no purpose. We can’t take them inside our houses as we have very little space’ said another woman. Generally tandoors bought by dhabas and hotel people and even by the housewives in two or three months. However, sometimes they have to wait long to sell them. She said earlier it was easy to run the family with the income generated by selling tandoors but now it had become hard now. Fighting against poverty, miserable living conditions, and hunger, surviving against odds, trying to earn their livelihood and carry on with their tradition to making tandoors, these women display courage. Living in single rooms of mud, these women work hard to cope with their lives but there is no tension or sign of depression on their faces. They are happy and contented with their simple life.
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Encroachments dot fruit market
near Hall Gate
The mushrooming of illegal encroachments in the old fruit and vegetable market outside the Hall Gate in Amritsar has become an eyesore for the public and the Municipal Corporation authorities.
The building mafia is flourishing in the Moti Lal Nehru Fruit Market outside the Hall Bazar here. The area that was allotted to migrants in the year 1950, later turned into a fruit and vegetable market. Today, it is the hub of illegal constructions. Sources said that in the year 1950, around 300 constructed structures of 25 square yards were allotted to the migrants. With the passage of time, the entire area got converted into a fruit and vegetable market. In gross violation of the rules, the people have extended the houses and establishments up to 10 feet towards the road on both sides. Besides, the connecting roads of the colony have also been encroached upon and have been sold using fake documents. Many owners are now constructing illegal basement structures without their site plans being approved of by the corporation. When local traders were contacted, they said that no one came there to check their activities. So they had extended their houses. According to an office-bearer of the colony association, the main roundabout inside the colony was wide enough to allow easy passage for the movement of trucks. But now even a small car could not enter the street! Some of the families living in most unhygienic conditions there said that this area had turned into the hub of rehriwallas. “While there is no facility of sewerage system, there are hardly any public toilet facilities, these people create a nuisance by urinating in the open in the streets,” said an area resident. When the Municipal Corporation authorities were contacted, officials said that they had already shifted the vegetable market to Valla village, around seven km from here. “We have not received any complaint from any of the residents regarding this so far. In case such activities are taking place in the area, action would be taken against law breakers,” said an official. Mr K.S. Kang, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, said the matter was in his knowledge and action had been initiated. He said that the corporation authorities had also brought the matter into the notice of the Improvement Trust, which was the real owner of this area. Mr Kang added that stringent action would be taken against encroachers.
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Neglected Focal Point cries for attention
The Municipal Corporation has turned a blind eye to the problems and demands of the people of the Focal Point Industrial Area on the GT Road. The citizens have cried themselves hoarse seeking better civic amenities and roads, but their pleas have refused to prod the municipal corporation from lethargy.
Despite tall claims by Mr K. S. Kang, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, that a plan would be unveiled in a few days, nothing has happened. When contacted, Mr Kang had said they had already prepared a comprehensive plan for repair of roads of the area. The plan would be unveiled in few days, adding that the corporation was aware of its responsibilities. He had assured the industrialists that it would provide all possible help to maintain the existing infrastructure, which is almost negligible. Despite these assurances, things have refused to move forward. The plan, if there was is still in the records and has not been translated into reality. Established in the early 90s with over 300 industrial units, which produce a variety of goods, the area contributes large chunk of taxes to the state and the municipal exchequer but without receiving any advantage. The roads in the area are almost non-existent and the sewerage system perpetually over flowing, making the movement of both, the goods and the people difficult. The chairman of the Focal Point Association, Mr Harminder Singh, said the corporation had taken over the industrial area for maintenance but had totally failed to carry out their responsibilities. The industrialists paid exorbitant house tax, besides Octroi and other taxes but the corporation had completely ignored their claim for better civic amenities. Mr Harminder Singh said they had made many representations to the corporation authorities, but they had failed to receive positive response. The association was willing to extend full cooperation and support to the civic authorities for managing the problems of Focal Point industries, he added. Mr Sunil Kapur, a leading industrialist of the area, said the approach roads from both GT Road and Maqboolpura road had been dug up, besides being full of potholes. It is difficult to even travel to the industrial units. Trying to prompt the authorities into action, he has appealed to them to spare a thought for the area that is the backbone of the economy of the city.
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Panchrang – a platform for art
Usually artists are known for secluded lifestyles, painting their imaginations in various colours and hues in remote corner away from the prying eyes.
A local artist and teacher Mala Chawla thought from a different line altogether two years back. She wanted to bring senior painters and budding artists on to a common platform. Mala shared her idea with four colleagues, who readily agreed to join in the venture. Thus was born ‘Panchrang’, an organisation of painters devoted to enlarge the sphere and influence of art. Apart from Mala, other four artists are: Atul Mehra, Dharmendra Sharma, Kulwant Gill and Bhupinder Singh Nanda. ‘Panchrang’ organises joint exhibitions, workshops and seminars from time to time. At present it has 25 members across the state. A teacher of Fine Arts, Mala has displayed her creations in various exhibitions during her 22-year eventful painting career. Her paintings have drawn applause from the Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Chandigarh; Vijay Information of Art Centre, Hyderabad; Art Exhibition by Camlin, Mumbai; and by Wisdom Society of Creative Art, Delhi. She has organised seven solo exhibitions. The first programme of Panchrang was five-day group show in the birth year and all the founder members drew fabulous paintings. In its effort to reach the common people, they hold a show at Jallianwala Bagh annually to pay tribute to the martyrs. The first workshop at Mala recalls that an enthusiastic youngster from Jalandhar drew a picture of Mahatma Gandhi, father of the nation, and presented it to Panchrang. Before organising any event they consult painting department of various schools for sending their art students. The artists’ organisation provides a much-needed platform to budding artists to learn intricacies from senior artists painting along with them.
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Music is this doctor’s passion
Dr Navpreet Singh Hanspal is a doctor. But not many people in his circle know that he is good at flute, guitar, violin, tabla and jal tarang, for which he had taken professional training from Ustad Ramanand Shastri of Hoshiarpur at the tender age of nine.
According to him, music not only relaxes a person, but also it is a great healer. Whenever he finds time, he lends himself to the world of music. His favourite musical instrument is flute, although he likes playing guitar and sitar also. However, he said there was no particular reason why he liked flute. A multifaceted personality, Dr Navpreet belongs to the family of freedom fighters. His grandfather Sudagar Singh ‘Bhikhari’, a famous poet of Kolkata, and father Partap Singh had actively participated in the freedom struggle. He is one of the very few doctors who introduced laproscopic surgery in Amritsar. An expert in laproscopic surgery, he has the rare distinction of having the Fellowship of International College of Surgeons. Dr Navpreet, who runs a private nursing home near Chheharta, is very generous. Sometimes, he does not even charge from his patients who are needy and poor. He says he adopted this profession for service. Born in 1957, he did his masters in 1983, joined the Civil Services in Kasel Primary Health Centre where he did two major operations, and those too without proper infrastructure. He worked for about seven years in Kasel. Later, he left his job and started his own practice in a rented building. He is now one of the busiest doctors in the city. However, when asked about his success, he says that he owes it to the Almighty and the blessings of his parents.
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‘Aagaaz’ makes new
beginning by educating needy girls
“Aagaaz — Earth and Resources Care Group”, an NGO aiming to create awareness among children and other strata of society, has added a new dimension to its work by educating and imparting training to poor and needy girls and women.
The group director, Mr Deepak Babbar, had started this mission of training the poor and needy girls after seeing the poor economic condition of the families whose breadwinners were addicted to drugs and liquor. The NGO’s mission has been to create awareness amongst residents of the Holy City on various environmental issues. Another issue high on the agenda of the NGO is eco-friendly living. The NGO has taken up the unique task of educating the people about living in highly congenial environment and not disturbing nature’s bounties. The NGO runs a centre on the premises of a private school in Kot Khalsa area where these girls get training in stitching, embroidery, and fabric painting and cooking. Ms Poonam, in charge of the centre, said they organised a weekly camp on the school premises every Saturday for them. During these camps, environmental experts shared their expert comments with the students. The NGO also trains the girls in yoga and the basics of horticulture. Ms Poonam said it was imperative to educate the girls and women about environmental issues like water conservation, afforestation. She said they had a small nursery in the school. They also distributed plants of tulsi, neem, karipatta, jamun, mango to the girls. Mr Babbar said he was shocked to learn that the girls had a very limited exposure. He said the organisation provided newspapers at the centre so that they could know about the day-to-day happenings in the country and the world. He said the girls were also told about social problems like female foeticide and dowry. He said the NGO also organised their trips to various other organisations like Pingalwara. He said all members of the organisation contributed towards the finances of the NGO. However, he added that the organisation did not take donations. He said that a person had to learn about their mission before giving any donation. There were two teachers whose salaries were also given by the NGO. Aagaaz, in collaboration with various organisations, plans to educate about 25 girls belonging to the lower strata of the society.
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450 students participate in talent search contest
More than 450 students participated in the talent search programme organised by SR Government College to tap the hidden potential of students of the college.
During the four-day programme various competitions, including those of poetry recitation, fancy dress, declamation, drama, histrionics, shabd-bhajan, geets, ghazal singing, instrumental music, rangoli making, embroidery, beverage preparation, handicraft, creative writing, giddha and dance, were organised. The function was inaugurated by Dr Raj Kumar, Parliamentary Secretary, Education. Prof Darbari Lal, Deputy Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, inspired the students to excel in diverse fields. Mr O.P. Soni, MLA, presided over the prize distribution function on the final day. Ms Jasmit Nayyar, Principal of the college, spoke about the achievements of the college, including the starting of five new job-oriented courses under the self-financing scheme.
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Thind’s journey from reviews
to travelogue
Sukhpal Singh Thind’s parents wanted him to be a doctor, but he had a literary inclination. Though parental pressure made him join the science stream, he continued to nurture his literary aspirations. He loved reading Punjabi literature. His love for literature made him leave MSc (Chemistry) midway to join MA Punjabi at Punjabi University, Patiala.
Today Thind has carved a niche for himself in the Punjabi literary circle. Two interesting travelogues go to his credit. While he penned his first travelogue “London Nu Mildian” in 2003, a year after participating in the first World Punjabi Conference held in England in 2002, his second travelogue “Canada: Ik Bagh Bahurangi” came in
the market in 2005, two years after attending the second World Punjabi Conference held in Canada in 2003. Thind portrays in his travelogues the trials and travails of Punjabis forced to go abroad because of their financial condition. The Punjabis in India think that their counterparts settled abroad are leading a glamorous life, but it’s not so. The Punjabis living abroad face countless tensions due to cultural contradictions there. His travelogues have been well noticed in the literary world. Well-known Punjabi critic Wariyam Sandhu said Sukhpal had the ability to pen extraordinary literature. Several students are doing Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) on his travelogues at Guru Nanak Dev University, Kurukshetra University and Punjabi University. Born at Boolpur village in Sultanpur Lodhi sub-division of Kapurthala district, Thind has been teaching in various colleges as a Punjabi lecturer since 1997. Presently teaching at Government College,Kapurthala, he proved his teaching skills at Government College, Sidhsar, Ludhiana, and Government College, Hoshiarpur.
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Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water
Classic dengue fever is characterised by the acute onset of high fever in three to14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.
Patients develop frontal headache, nose bleeding, vomiting and nausea and sometimes rashes on the body. Many patients notice a change in taste sensation also. Acute symptoms, when present, usually last about a week, but weakness may persist for several weeks. Dengue was an arthropod-borne disease caused by any one of four closely-related viruses, said the doctor. Infection with one serotype of dengue virus provided immunity from that serotype for life. A person could be infected as many as four times, once with each serotype, he added. “Dengue viruses are transmitted from person to person by Aedes mosquitoes in the domestic environment,” said Dr Mahindra, a Phagwara-based physician. “The treatment emphasises relief of symptoms, avoiding aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and encouraging oral fluid intake,” he added. He said that even for outpatients, the need for maintaining adequate hydration should be stressed. In addition, monitoring for signs of haemorrhagic fever, early and appropriate treatments were the key to ensure survival if the patient progressed to a more severe form of dengue infection.
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Weizmann Forex to open 8 branches in Punjab
Weizmann Forex Ltd, the principal agent of Western Union Money Transfer in India, would soon open about eight branches across the state, as 25 per cent of the country’s transactions take place here.
Mr P. Shantharam Shetty, Product Head, Weizmann Forex Ltd, who was here to attend a seminar organised by his company, said that a branch would be opened here with a view to tap growing number of NRIs and international tourists in and around the city. This is part of the company’s ongoing nationwide expansion plan under which its outlets would be doubled from the present 50. Obviously, staff strength would also be doubled. He said that expansion plan had been chalked out keeping in view about five lakh Indians going abroad every year for employment purpose. The seminar was organised to make local personnel of Punjab National Bank (PNB) aware of transactions of money transfer of customers whose family members are settled abroad. Weizmann has a tie-up with PNB for facilitating money transfer. Besides PNB, Weizmann has such collaborations with eight more banks. Prominent among them are the Oriental Bank of Commerce, UCO, the United Bank of India, the Bank of Baroda, the Bank of Maharashtra and Indian Overseas Bank. The product manager said that the aim behind collaborating with banks was that people had faith in them. Moreover, even remote villages in any part of the country could boast of having a branch or two of a bank. “Indians working abroad send a good amount of money to their families back home. However, their major concern is to deliver the amount safely to their homes in the minimum possible time. These concerns are satisfied by the company with the help of banks,” he added.
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Samsonite store
In order to expand the retail business in the country, Samsonite has opened its two stores here. This has been done in collaboration with its local partner Gee Emm Sales Corporation. The company has its brands in the retail market in name of Samsonite and American Tourister.
The company has already gained a market share of 70 per cent in the premium segment of briefcase for laptop (from casual style to premium deluxe brand), claimed the company spokesperson.
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Gully Cricket in city on Sep 23
Vivacious star Mandira Bedi, Sameer Khan and Tiger Deewana — will visit the city to participate in ‘Gully Cricket’ on September 23.
Hyderabad, Nagpur, Kolkata, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow are other cities hosting matches. The aim of the channel is to celebrate the free sporting spirit of the streets that have thrown up wily spinners as well as powerful batsmen. The city residents will have an opportunity to play and see their favourites from the small screen playing cricket in their street. It has also been conceived to promote the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
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