Pakistani dancer Sheema Kermani’s play ‘Jinney Lahore Nahin Vekhya’ being staged in Amritsar.

Amritsar, November 27
Taking love as a core aspect to fight extremism and hatred, legendary Pakistani dancer Sheema Kermani staged a play, ‘Jinney Lahore Nahin Vekhya’, based on true story of a Hindu woman caught in the aftermath of Partition in Muslim dominated Pakistan, at Natshala here recently.

Set in Lahore of 1947, immediately after Partition, it is the story of an immigrant family, which has been allotted a ‘haveli’, abandoned by a Hindu family. Having spent many torturous months in ‘Mohajir camps’ the family looks forward to start a new life in their new home. To their dismay, they find that a Hindu woman, the mother of the owner Ratan Lal Johari, still living in the ‘haveli’.

The presence of this old Hindu woman also irks some local ruffians, who believe that the country now belongs only to Muslims. This is opposed by the poet Nasir Kazmi and the Moulvi of the local mosque.In the midst of the conflict, the old woman endears almost everybody she comes across with her loving and helpful nature. Finally, when the old woman dies, a debate ensues in the community over the issue of the performance of her last rites.

The play is based on a real incident and the dialogues of Nasir Kazmi have been taken from his letters and writings.

Bollywood director Raj Kumar Santoshi has already decided to make a film on the moving story. The fact that the Hindi play has been translated in several languages and the total number of shows exceeds more than five hundred since 1991 is a testimony of its brilliance. The play was taken to Gujarat in post Godhra period as a reminder of the effects of religious fundamentalism and a message of universal brotherhood.The play was organised by Punarjyot, Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of the Heritage of Punjab (an offshoot of Spring Dale Educational Society) and Tehrik-e-Niswan Cultural Action Group.

Since its inception in 1980, Sheema Kermani’s Tehrik-e-Niswan (women’s movement) has consistently strived to raise awareness about women’s rights in Pakistan through cultural and artistic expression, using the medium of theatre, dance, music and video productions.

“In spite of tremendous obstacles Tehrik has not only contributed and survived, but has also tried to help create an atmosphere of acceptability of theatre as a serious means of expression by providing theatre training workshops, holding festivals and seminars. Tehrik always tries to bring awareness of the visual elements of theatrical performance by presenting a variety of forms and styles, be it a musical or a production, translations, adaptations as well as original plays,” she says.

Tehrik has performed at many festivals both locally and abroad. It has worked with well-known guest directors from abroad, for example Dr Jamil and Golam Sarwar from Bangladesh, Prasanna Ramaswamu from India and Juergen Zielinski from Germany.

Amritsar, November 27
“Guru Nanak Dev has been the greatest man ever born on earth. His vision of society was a rare vision as He wanted to build a man with all values and virtues without any caste, creed and religion.”

These views were expressed by Prof G.S. Randhawa, former vice-chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, while presiding over the 38th foundation day celebrations of the GNDU.

He also released a book on Guru Nanak, written by Dr Kharak Singh.

Prof Randhawa said Guru Nanak’s philosophy enunciates that every individual should be dedicated to individuals and to the society as well and also contribute for the welfare of the humanity. His views on cosmology are the best of astronautics of today.

He said today’s problems are the man’s own creation. He said his universal message be preached at the global level. Guru Nanak wanted that an individual must feel himself to be part of the society and the society must take care of every individual.

Dr Pal Ahluwalia, a scholar of ethical studies of the University of California, San Diego, USA, while speaking on post-colonial, Sikh and global ethics said the political use of religion by leaders had resulted in corruption and violence in the society.

He said the colonisation of religion had done great disservice to Guru Nanak Dev’s message of peach and brotherhood.

A bio-scientist, Dr Karmjit Singh Rai, focused his lecture on interrelationship of science and society and said science and technology are complementary to each other. He highlighted several problems facing the society such as food scarcity, rampant growth of human population, massive changes in climate, global warming, agriculture productivity and environmental degradation.

Dr Rai opined that the citizens of the world should help in finding and enforcing the solutions to environmental sustainability and maintaining a balance with nature. He said over exploitation of resources like, fossil fuel, water, rapid growth of urban conglomerates and a loss of biological diversity, needs to be stemmed.

Amritsar, November 27
The government should set up agriculture based industrial units in rural areas to improve the financial position of the farmers besides improving the standard of living of the rural population.

These views were expressed by S.S. Johal, former vice chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, at a seminar on Punjab agriculture - challenges and prospects, organised by the post graduate department of Agriculture, Khalsa College.

Johal said economic development is the base of all social and technological upliftment of the society. He talked about the major factors which influence economic development, namely road, transport and communication, power, education, health and credit. He further advised the government to set up libraries, sports grounds, etc. to channelise the energy of the youth so that they stay away from the unhealthy practices like drugs.

Dr S.S. Bhinder, extension specialist, agronomy from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana speaking on the present scenario of agriculture, discussed the problems faced by the present day farmers and also suggested remedies to overcome these problems - like rice-wheat diversification.

Dr. Meharban Singh, soil specialist from PAU spoke on how we can maintain the soil by proper management of nutrients in the soil for sustainable agriculture. Also present on the occasion were eminent scholars including Dr Buta Singh, Dr Kuldip Singh, Dr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Dr N.K. Joolk.

The seminar concluded with an open and healthy discussion in which all the members of the agriculture faculty, including Dr J.S. Hundal, Prof Didar Singh, Dr Kuldeep Randhawa, Dr Randeep Kaur, Prof Narinderdeep Singh and Dr Rakesh Sharma participated.

Earlier, welcoming the guests and delegates Dr Daljeet Singh, principal of the college, stressed that children in rural areas should be made aware of the existence of the department so that it could benefit the masses.

Amritsar, November 27
The holy city will once again play host to ISKCON sponsored Bhagwan Jagannath Rath Yatra festival on December 2. The city, steeped in high spiritual mode, plans to give enthusiastic response to Rath Yatra.

The decked up rath, worth Rs 3 lakh will house three deities. The procession will start from Shri Bijli Pehalwal Temple on Lawrence Road at 12 noon to culminate at Durgiana Temple in the evening at 7 pm.

Giving details of the historical background of the rath yatra, Shrimahant Maharaj Navyoginder Swami ji said the celebrations of this festival date back to five thousand years.

“Five thousand years ago, when there was a solar eclipse, people from all parts of India came to Kurukshetra due to the belief in the Vedic culture that when there is an eclipse, people bathe in the sacred rivers. Lord Krishna, who was the prince of Dwarka, also came to Kurukshetra along with his elder brother Balarama and his younger sister Subhadra in a supernatural chariot,” said the mahant.

Swamiji said in Kurukshetra, Krishna met the gopis and the inhabitants of Vrindavan, who also came to Kurukshetra when they heard that their beloved Krishna, who spent his splendid childhood in Vrindavan, is in Kurukshetra to bathe in the sacred river.

This beautiful and auspicious event commemorates the relationship that Krishna shared with his devotees.

Five hundred years ago Sri Chaitanya i.e. Krishna in his golden avatar participated in this festival. So this is a festival of devotees which is now celebrated all over the world in more than 300 centers.

Swami Navyoginder said by taking part in this festival of chariot and pulling the rope, one’s dormant love for God is awakened and one is guaranteed to attain liberation and devotion to the supreme personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.

Mahant Navyoginder added that social evils like female foeticide and drug abuse among the youth need to be eradicated. He said the decreasing sex ratio in the society is taking it towards destruction. “The government as well as the respectable denizens of the holy city should come forward to discourage the youth from taking drugs which is not only ruining their career but their families were also suffering due to this,” said the mahant.

Amritsar, November 27
World AIDS Week is being observed in the holy city by Fortis and Escorts Hospital to create awareness among the masses about the dreaded disease from November 26 to December 1.

A lot of activities are also being conducted by the hospital in which colleges from all over the district are participating. Inter-college debate, poetry and poster-making competitions were held at BBK DAV College.

Presiding over the function, Sunil Kapoor, executive director, Escorts Hospital, emphasised on the timely detection and periodic screening for HIV, which was pandemic and engulfing the country very fast.

He said presently 55 lakh people were reportedly affected by this and for preventing the deadly disease all efforts were concentrated on awareness campaigns launched in the country.

Nitika and Rushika from BBK DAV College bagged the first prize in the debate and poetry competition. Alka from Mohan Lal College for Education, Muddal, stood second in the poetry competition, whereas Dilraj from Khalsa College of Education was declared second in the debate.

Amritsar, November 27
Elections for the recognition of a railway union under “one industry one union” passed off peacefully in the city. The results are scheduled to be out on December 3.

There was great enthusiasm among the employees, who exercised their franchise at various polling stations, including Railway workshop-II, Amritsar railway station, Schools of loco shed, Dhariwal, Beas and Patti. More than 65 per cent votes were reported to be polled during the first two-days of the polling in the region.

This time there were four unions in the fray - Northern Railwaymen’s Union (NRMU), Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU), Railway Men Union (RMU) and Uttar Railway Karamchari Union (URMU) - backed by different national level organisations and parties. However, according to the sources, the main contest would be between NRMU and URMU, as other parties were new. The spokesman for NRMU claimed that 90 per cent of votes were caste in their favor, while URMU was equally hopeful of securing the same number in votes polled.

The URMU spokesman said it would not be easy for NRMU to claim full majority to get recognition as various members of the opposition unions had joined URMU before poll.

Just before poll various permutation and combination were witnessed with national level leaders visiting the city to garner support for their respective unions. NRMU got a shot in arm when SC/ST cell offered full support to the union in the ensuing election fight.

While, URMU assured its members implementation of sixth pay commission, increase in bonus and interim relief, besides employment for the wards of railway employees in the department in case they won the poll.

Its opponent NRMU promised campaign against the central government’s policy of privatizing railways and assured its voters of resolving the fight against contract system.

Tarn Taran, November 27
As many as 60 ETT teachers were issued appointments letters by the additional deputy commissioner (D), here today.

The ADC(D) Parkash Singh, while talking to The Tribune said the candidates were selected through a very transparent procedure. Notably, the selected candidates were on a dharna outside the DC office today to protest against the delay in issuing of their appointment letters.

It was only after the intervention of the DC Ajoy Sharma they agreed to lift it. Different representatives of the teachers’ organisations addressed the participants during the protest.