Jalandhar, February 5
Veteran SAD leader Kuldip Singh Wadala has termed the delimitation commission’s decision of reserving both Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur parliamentary seats as an injustice with the politicians of the Doaba region. Demanding a revision of the decision, Wadala said, “The commission should keep at least one of these parliamentary seats for the general category.”

He said, “A meeting in this connection would be held at Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall on February 9 and the politicians from all the political parties have been invited to raise their voice against the commission’s decision.”

Meanwhile, Wadala said a Sikh jatha would visit Dhussi bundh at Dera Baba Nanak on February 7 to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sabib in Pakistan. It is for the 84th time that members of the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib and the Ravi Darshana Abhilashi Organisation were visiting the shrine in favour of their demand of preparing a corridor on the border for the facilitation of devotees to reach Karatpur Sahib.

The Akali leader said a delegation had already met the Pakistan Prime Minister last year during their visit to Nankana Sahib and had requested him to construct a corridor for direct passage to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. He said, “The Pak PM told us that Pakistan had no problem but India has to agree to it.”

He praised the BSF for setting up a canteen on the Ravi bank and installation of railings just opposite the gurdwara on Indian side of the river.— TNS

Jalandhar, February 5
From sharing the stage with the likes of Pandit Jasraj and Sanjeev Abhyankar to being part of star-studded events, this Kapurthala-born engineer-musician seems to have done it all. Vocals being his forte, he plays the tabla, harmonium and keyboard with equal panache.

Presently an engineer with Infosys (Pune), Karan Rana started learning the tabla at the age of five. Once he was aquainted to the intricacies of percussion, classical vocal soon followed suit and he began taking training in Hindustani classical singing from Khairati Lal Taheem.

His cupboards are stacked with certificates and prizes he has won in various fields and paper clips of the umpteen times he has been applauded for his performances.

He made it to the “bal jagat” of AIR, Jalandhar, as a tabla artiste when he was just 12. His bhajan recitals at Jalandhar Doordarshan started when he was 16.

The list of this guys’ musical achievements seems never ending. From the Malhaar Utsav organised by the Harballabh Committee or winning coveted positions during the 125th and 128th Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, the melody of his strains has earned him accolades in the musical circles.

But now he is all set to create history of a different kind. The fact that he is the lead vocalist of Infosys, Pune's official band - Infusion - speaks volumes of his versatility and command over the art of singing.

“Apart from me, the band has Shirish Kumar on the guitar, Himanshu Rosilla on the drums, Sujoy Mukherjee and Sushrut Anil Patwa on the tabla, Jasraj on the keyboard and Mayank Patwa is the second vocalist,” he says. “We write our own compositions and perform western stuff too. The guitar and the drums, of course, give a touch of fusion to even the classical performances.” Out of all the bands of Pune, their band was shortlisted for performance at “Samavesh”, a fest held in Pune, which they performed in 2007. “Kailash Kher was the one who performed right next to us,” says a delighted Karan, “It was a great experience.”

Karan also holds the honour of being the “Infyidol”, a prestigious honour bestowed upon him. Karan is currently getting training in classical music from Seema Thakar, a disciple of Pandit Jasraj. Talking about the future of the band, he says, “We are looking forward to offers from Bombay.”

Jalandhar, February 5
After thrashing Orissa 7-2 in the ongoing 55th Rakshak Senior National Women Hockey Championship at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here on Sunday, Arjuna awardee and Haryana skipper Pritam Siwach said, “I am looking forward to make a place for myself in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and continue my winning spree.”

While talking to The Tribune, she said, “I started playing hockey at the age of 13. At a time when most of my classmates were studying, luckily I had chosen the game as my vocation. There has been no looking back since then.”

The skipper is a source of motivation for many budding women hockey players in her state as she has been inspiring girls to join the game and teaching them the basics as a coach as well.

Pritam was declared the top scorer (as a captain) of the tournament with nine goals during the National Games held in Ludhiana in November 2001. She says, “I was hardly 16 years when I played for the nationals. Luckily for me, things fell into place very easily and I achieved one title after the other.”

Born in a small village, Jharsa, near Gurgaon in Haryana, the skipper made her mark in the August 2003 senior nationals in Lucknow when she played for the Railways. She was once again declared the top scorer of the tournament. “It was yet another milestone for me. I scored 20 goals in the tournament,” she said.

In the international circuit too she was adjudged the highest goal scorer of the tournament during the Asian Games held in Bangkok in December 1998. Ask her about that one moment close to her and prompt comes the reply, “When I went to Malaysia for the first time to play Junior Asia Cup in 1992, I was declared the best player of the tournament and received a gold medal. It literally brought tears in my eyes.”

Pritam received the Arjuna Puraskar in 1998. “Receiving an award like this was like a dream and it was a motivation for many other women hockey players,” said the skipper.

Interestingly, the skipper also started a hockey academy in 2003. At present, nine out of 16 players of the state team are from her academy. “My girls are performing very well and I am sure one day they will play for the nationals.”

Jalandhar, February 5
His physique has helped him in making an identity. Though he is barely 18 years old, he has already pocketed many trophies and medals at both the district and state levels.

Karan Chauhan, who is studying in class XII at St Soldier Divine Public School and recently won the second prize in Mr Jalandhar bodybuilding contest organised by the Jalandhar Amateur Bodybuilding Association, is a promising bodybuilder.

He even tried his luck at the Mr Punjab bodybuilding championship organised by the Indian Bodybuilding Federation at Khadoor Sahib, Tarn Taran, and got the seventh rank.

The bodybuilder gives most of the credit to his coach Narinder Johny, a private trainer. He said, “Johny has played a very important role by guiding me in my workouts and helped me to plan out my diet. Besides, he trains me for posing and flexing muscles.” 

Comparing his body with Shah Rukh Khan, he said, “Even I can flaunt my six packs like King Khan,” adding that he was regular in evening exercises with focus on abdomen crunches.

Describing his diet, Karan said, “Bodybuilding is a costly affair and my diet alone takes most of my pocket money. Eggs, chicken, rice, salads, fruits and fresh juices are main ingredients of my diet. Besides, I do have to take some protein and carbohydrate supplements to build my muscles.”

Explaining the most difficult part of his regime, he said, “For building body one has to restrict the intake of water and salt so that the muscles show more. Though it is easy in winters, summers are really a big challenge.”

Karan, who also won the Shri Lala Jagat Narain open bodybuilding championship at Garha here on December 2, is proud of his achievements. He even participated in the Late Shri Prem Lal open bodybuilding championship in Nakodar where he won a consolation prize. In addition, Karan got an appreciation award in the Sir Marshal bodybuilding championship-2007, which was held at Bhogpur recently.