Jalandhar, September 28
If youngsters tried outdoing each other by dressing up as Bhagat Singh, womenfolk too were not to be left behind. They more than made up for the difference by numbers at the 100th birthday celebrations of martyr Bhagat Singh at the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall. The message; the martyr transcends all barriers of age or gender.

Less in numbers but none the less making their presence felt were women, mostly from rural Punjab, as they sat quietly listening to the speeches and dialogues of plays staged today. Serene and quite for sure but they were not dumb spectators brought in by the men folk on the occasion and were more than forthcoming in speaking their mind.

Issues like education, employment, better living conditions and belief that their leadership would take them up all brought them here today. They were here to show solidarity with the cause of the poor and listen about what their leaders had to say about their plight.

Sawinder Kaur, from Amritsar’s Dhabai village, had come with her children.

Her aim is to inspire them to take after the ideals of the national hero, she says.

“If we do not come out to represent our cause how will the society change for our betterment,” she says.

It was the first time for the 16-year-old Karamjit Kaur from Gidderbaha. Having left her studies after the 8th standard, Karamjit and her sister-in-law, Sandeep Kaur, feels they need education and employment above all and were out here to stand up for themselves.

Karamjit hoped her education can also resume one day. Kulwinder and Shagandeep from Jangariana village in Bathinda have been taking part in skits and plays on social issues like drug addiction since their childhood.

They reached the venue wearing cloaks with slogans demanding an end to deprivation.

Balbir Kaur, 70, from Dhurkot village in Moga, had come to such a rally for the second time with her grandchildren in toe and was loving every moment of it.

To her and her companion 55-year-old Mohinder Kaur the aim was to desist youth from inhuman crimes like burning girls for dowry.

“When the youth are more educated there are more dowry deaths because the greed has also increased,” felt Mohinder.

Jalandhar, September 28
All roads leading to the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall were crowded today with thousands of people present at the venue to pay tributes to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh on his centennial birth anniversary.

Various youth bodies take out a march to celebrate the birth centenary of Bhagat Singh in Jalandhar on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Organised jointly by the All India Naujawan Sabha and the All India Students Federation, the function was marked by the huge turnout of youth dressed like Bhagat Singh. Langar too was served all day long.

The gathering listened with rapt as speakers’ eugolised the great martyr and urged those present to create a society that would make Bhagat Singh proud. Given the various social ills that were plaguing the society today, the only way out was to translate the thoughts and vision of the hero into action, they stressed.

Speaking on the occasion, CPI secretary Jagroop Singh said this day should be celebrated on the pattern of Diwali, Holi and other religious events.

To be a part of celebrations, people should decorate their houses and take pledge to follow in the footsteps of the martyr.

Commenting on the relevance of Bhagat Singh’s teachings, he said it was heartening to note that Bhagat Singh’s birthday was being celebrated in many countries, including Pakistan. Prithpal Singh Marimegha said, “The record turnout of youngsters shows that Bhagat Singh is still a role model for the youngsters and they are keen to endorse his thoughts.”

Speaking on the occasion, Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee general secretary Gandharv Sain said the youth should shoulder the burden of creating a society envisioned by the martyr.

To celebrate the occasion skits and patriotic songs were presented by various organisations. Performance of patriotic numbers by Punjabi singer Dolly Guleria seemed to be a hit among the audience. Stalls selling literature on the lives and times of great revolutionaries, thinkers and writers did brisk business at the venue.

Nawanshahr, September 28
Massive rallies were organised by various youth organisations at Khatkar Kalan, native village of martyr Bhagat Singh, to commemorate his birth centenary and pay tributes to him. The organisations included, Punjab Students Union, Naujwan Bharat Sabha, Punjab Students Federation and the Students Organisation of India.

Youth Congress activists took out a candle light march from the museum to paternal house of the martyr. The participants dressed like martyr, raised slogans "Inqlab zindabad" and pledged to work for the realisation of martyr’s dream.

While addressing their respective rallies, organisation leaders exhorted youth to unite. Raising issues of education and employment, they said the youth should fight against the social evils like corruption, dowry, drug addiction, female foeticide etc. It augurs well that the Youth Organizations, taking inspiration from the great martyr Sardar Bhagat Singh, have again started coming forward for their positive role in social change.

The need of the hour is to keep this spirit and zest prevailing among youth. The organisations, their political mentors and govt. should come forward for preserving, promoting and channelising the spirit and enthusiasm of youth in positive direction. 

Jalandhar, September 28
They say martyrs never die. It definitely holds true as the legendary Bhagat Singh continues to live in the hearts of his countrymen.

To bring alive the life of this martyr, Kewal Dhaliwal’s play ‘Kuknoos Bhagat Singh’, was staged in the open air theatre at the Lyallpur Khalsa College here today.

The play was organised by the college in association with Punarjot, Amritsar, and Punjabi Jagriti Manch, Jalandhar.

The play portraying the life struggle of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his battle for freedom was enacted by the members of Manch Rangmanch group from Amritsar.

The dialogues of the play were verses from various poems written in the memory of Bhagat Singh by various poets and writers.

The theme of the play was comparison of Bhagat Singh with the hypothetical bird called Kuknoos.

It is said the bird had the power to decide his life and death and so it’s life is endless.

The story began with the martyr’s birth, when an astrologer predicted his future to be very bright saying he would shine like a star. The family’s joy knew no bounds. The story went on to describe how Bhagat dreamt only of his country’s freedom since his childhood.

Dreams he always shared with his mother. To his mother’s question “What have you earned?” Bhagat replies, “One day I will earn and even if you try to distribute it with both your hands it would never end.”

The play reflected on the hero’s experiences, like his emotions after killing J.P. Saunders, on his companions Rajguru, and Sukhdev and also his trial after dropping a bomb in the assembly.

Audiences were moved on the scene depicting the hanging of the three martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

Adding to the patriotic fervour were the songs “Rang de basanti chola”and “Pagari sambhal jatta” took the audience back to the history of our freedom struggle.

Ramanjeet, who had come to watch the play said, “The story of Bhagat Singh is something one can see and read again and again. He has been a source of inspiration for the youth and would continue to be so in the years to come.”

Phagwara, September 28
Phagwara nagar council under leadership of Malkiat Singh Ragbotra celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh by organising a yagya.

Several councillors were present including, Sanjeev Bugga, Padam Dev Sudhir Nikka, Pawan Sharma Pappi, Brij Bhushan Parbhakar, Tripta Dhir,Anita Kaura, Jyoti Ghai, Rakesh Duggal, Inderjit Sonker, Sarabjit Kaur and Paramjit Kaur.

Meanwhile, the nagar council president inaugurated the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Hall. Interestingly on the venue, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi gave a deserted look. Though a stepladder was found near the statue for cleanliness, no body could be seen on the site.

Everybody was busy in the celebrations. It should be noted that the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is just three days away.

Meanwhile a function was organised in Zed Carrier Academy by Sarab Naujwan Sabha to celebrate Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s birthday.

Many people paid tributes including Jalandhar consumer forum member Surinder Mittal.

Hoshiarpur, September 28
Avtar Singh Karimpuri, the BSP chief, while addressing party workers today flayed the SAD-BJP government for the non recovery of idols which went missing from Dera Fattu Shah Bibi Sahiba temple.

The BSP workers protested when the CIA staff tried to arrest some of the Dalit youths belonging to Rahimpur in connection with stone pelting incident on the night of July 11. Following retaliation by the BSP activists, policemen took shelter in the mini secretariat. Karimpuri warned the administration against arresting the youth. BSP activists also sat on a relay fast to protest.

He alleged that the 25 per cent hike in power tariff by the PSEB recently had directly affected the monthly budget of farmers. Some of the private companies being patronised by the state government were allegedly looting the public at toll-plazas in the name of BOT roads, he alleged.

As many as 193 posts of doctors were lying vacant for which the SAD-BJP mediators were allegedly trying to sell them for minting huge profit, he alleged.

The BSP would launch an agitation on October 4 against the state government, he added. A protest march would also be held under the leadership of national general secretary of the BSP, Narinder Kashyap, at Chandigarh and memorandum would also be submitted to the Governor, he informed.

Karimpuri warned the DC and SSP, not to arrest Dalit youths failing which they would be responsible for the disturbance of peace in the area.

Hoshiarpur, September 28
Driver Jasbir Singh of 70 RCC GRIF and his sister Kuldip Kaur were seriously wounded when their Army truck rammed into a tree near Palla Chak (Tanda) on Friday.

Both have been admitted in the civil hospital, Tanda.

The accident occurred as one of the front tyres of the truck had punctured, due to which Jasbir Singh lost control on the steering and the truck rammed into the eucalyptus tree. The injured were immediately admitted to the hospital.