NEIGHBOURHOOD

Politician does a Veeru
Drama ends in his arrest
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, February 10
A 22-year-old small-time politician of this town today decided to do what Dharmendra (Beeru) did in ‘Sholay’.

Radhey Sham climbed atop the 210-foot high BSNL tower to hoist the National Flag. But scared to death, “hero” could only manage to hoist the flag upside down.

He started making frantic calls from his mobile to his friends to come and save him. When his friends arrived at the site, a huge crowd had already gathered around the telephone exchange building here which houses the tower.

His mood seemed to flit between fear and bravery as he reportedly called some friends, saying that he was going to jump and kill himself. Some onlookers, who knew him, told media-persons that he was in love with a girl who was not showing any interest in him. He asked some friends to call that girl to the spot so that he could die before her eyes.

By this time, the crowd had swelled to thousands, with many residents driving down to the spot to see how the drama ended. The police too was called in, an ambulance and team of doctors was also posted at the spot along with a duty magistrate.

It took almost two hours for onlookers and friends to convince Radhey Sham to get down the tower. None of his friends knew why he took the flag atop the tower or why he wanted to hoist it. He reportedly told his friends that he had found the flag in a park nearby and wanted to see it aflutter. Most onlookers, however, thought he was trying a cheap stunt to gather attention.

Once down, the waiting police took him in custody and drove him to the police station. “We are going to book him for attempt to suicide under Section 309 of the IPC and Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to the National Flag and Emblem Act 1971,” said the SSP, SAS Nagar, R.S. Khatra, adding that insulting the National Flag was a non-bailable offence.

Once the immediate crisis was over, a new question arises before the police. How to remove the upside down flag? After much deliberations it was decided that someone in the force be asked to volunteer to do achieve the dangerous feat. Joginder Singh, a constable with the CID, offered to do it. It took him over 20 minutes to reach the top where the flag was fluttering.

Ambala, February 10
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam has decided to give a chance for conversion of category from horticulture to agriculture power (AP) to the applicants, who are actually using electricity for agricultural purpose. The scheme will remain in force till February 29, 2008.

A spokesman for the nigam said here today that the scheme would be available to all such LT industrial consumers (horticulture) whose connections existed on or before December 1, 2006. The conversion would be permitted to those eligible consumers who were not defaulters or who made entire payment of their outstanding bills.

The SDO concerned will verify the use of electricity by the applicant within five working days after the receipt of the application. The concerned superintending engineer will finally examine his report.

The scheme will be available to the metered connections. The consumers will be transferred under AP category from ensuing billing cycle commencing just thereafter. The application of such consumers, pending for new AP connections, if any, will be cancelled by the nigam.

Chandigarh, February 10
A thrilling knock of 81 runs by opener Jaskaranvir helped Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, to register an exciting four-wicket victory against DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, today during the ongoing U-19 Inter-school Adviser Cricket Tournament being organised by the Chandigarh sports department at St John's School in Sector 26.

After winning the toss, DAV piled up a total of 146 for 3 in allotted 25 overs. Openers Harpreet (17) and Maninder (20) gave them a fine start with a 33-run stand for the first wicket. Undefeated 70 runs by Robin Singh, with 51-run association with Vaibhav Garg (10), and an unbeaten 43-run association with Satsurmukh (18) for the fourth wicket helped DAV to end their innings at 146.

In reply, GNPS-36 opener Jaskaranvir, who remained not out on 81, helped his team to register a convincing win. Though, the wickets were falling at regular intervals at the other end, Jaskaranvir played an important role of a sheet anchor, who kept the scoreboard moving. Gaganvir (18) and Nikhil (12) were the other main scorers. GNPS-46 managed to overtake their rivals' total and lost six wickets.

Brief scores: DAV, Sector 8: 146 for 3 in 25 overs, (Harpreet 17, Maninder 20, Robin Singh 70 not out, Ankit 1 for 30, Sahil 1 for 19 ).

Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36: 147 for 6 in 24.5 overs (Jaskaranvir 81 not out, Gaganvir 18 , Nikhil 12, Aman 2 for 23, Gaurav 1 for 25). 

Chandigarh, February 10
Vasundara emerged winner while Aamiya finished runners-up in the girls’ under-7 age group of the Pitch and Putt Golf Tournament held at CGA Golf Range here today.

In the above-7 category, Mehar lifted the title.

In boys’ above-11 section, Sartaj won the top honours while Divir stood second.

Simar and Arman remained first and second, respectively, in the under-7 category while Arjun Chhiber emerged champion in the age group of 7 to 11 years. Shabeg and Angad shared the second spot.

“The tournament was a part of the junior training programme to hone skills of budding golfers,” said Jesse Grewal, director of the CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy.

Chandigarh, February 10
City lad Kundan Singh moved ahead into the main draw beating Shubham Vij by 4-1, 4-2 in the final qualifying round of the U-14 (boys) Talent Series beginning tomorrow at the CLTA, Sector 10, here today.

Other results: Dalwinder Singh b Sohilpreet S. Bedi (4-2, 4-2); Ranjood b Barun S. Gill (3-5, 4-1, 4-1); Agrish Sharma b Gagandeep Singh (4-1, 4-1); Sonu b Yuvtesh Singh (4-0, 4-1); Umesh Kumar b Abhijeet Singh (4-2, 5-3); Pranav Suri b Aakash Chauhan (4-2, 5-3); Dhruv Pal b Sanjog Singh (4-1, 4-0). 

Chandigarh, February 10
The police today arrested a Dadu Majra Colony (DMC) resident and claimed to have recovered a stolen motorcycle and other articles from him.

Chandigarh, February 10
Instead of the conventional sardonic humour or romance laced poetic spells, which generally rule the roost at the mushiras, meaningful interaction and thought provoking poetic recitations on socio-cultural theme marked the trilingual ‘Kavita Utsav’ held under the aegis of Chandigarh Sahitya Akademy on Saturday at the akademy's conference hall.

As many as 15 poets from the region read out their verses on diverse subjects.

Commenting on the societal set-up behaviour, a poet from Hissar Dr Ram Niwas Manav, described 'Mehfil thi insaan ki mudha tha bhagwaan, vaqta toh thhe devta, nirnayak insaan,' while Rajender Chand depicts the limitations of the storm as "Jab voh juda na kar ska titli ko phool se, tab tilmila ke reh gya toofan ka wajood." Noted poets included Arsh Sehbai, Dr S.S. Arshi, Karntipal, Dr Gargi, Ram Niwas Manav, Rashmi Khurana, Rajender Chand and others.

Earlier, akademy chairman Dr Naresh welcomed the chief guest Ajit M. Sharan IAS who lauded the efforts of the akademy in propagating the literature and thus providing a soul to the city beautiful. Dr Subhash Rastogi conducted the programme.

Chandigarh, February 10
The 127th Baithak programme of Pracheen Kala Kendra will present devotional music soiree by Kumar Bandhu's, on February 11 at 6.30 pm, this was disclosed by the kendra director M.L. Koser, at a press conference here.

He said the duo, Hemant Kumar and Anup Kumar, are gifted vocalists who have won many music competitions like Tara TV Channel, TV reality shows for light music. But singing devotional compositions of Mira bai, Kabeer, Farid or Brahmanand are their forte.

"Divine poetry is the refuge of the deserted and it enraptures devout listeners" says Hemant Kumar, a postgraduate in music from HP University and a disciple of Guru Amritpal Singh. "It is subtle, inspiring and divine content of Mira's soulful poetry which has lived since centuries and has not lost its impact unlike the short lived film music," maintains Anup Kumar.

Born and raised in a musical environment, the Kumar brothers are cultivated religious stage performers. Hemant belongs to classical tradition but his competence encompasses other genres like bhajans, Ghazal and folk music.

But singing bhajans is their passion which they imbibed by listening to devotional lullabies from their mother.

Chandigarh, February 10
Singing classical music has always been food for his soul. Starting singing at the age of nine, this music maestro from Jabalpur has come a long way.

Meet Pandit Ajay Pohankar, who will celebrate his 60 years of venturing into the world of classical music, at a function organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Monday.

An expert in singing the Kirana, Patiala and Gwalior gharana gayakis, this musical expert is at ease with the various changes Indian classical music has witnessed all these years. Be with the advent of western music, fusion raga or the alterations in singing classical notes, Pandit Ajay feels variety adds to the spirit of singing.

“If something new is added to the ordinary form keeping in mind the basic principles of it, there is nothing wrong in it. The younger generation looks promising, be it Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali or my son Abhijit Pohankar, who has always been different and emerged winners in their young days,” he says.

A trendsetter in his own right, the singer impresses with his aesthetic beauty of singing and for his impeccable technique. With a career spanning over five decades, this former child prodigy has sung with the likes of Ustad Salamat Nizakat, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Begum Akhtar, Hirabhai Badodekar and Pandit Bhimsenji.

Its connection with the audience that matters the most for this singer who feels such equation goes a long way in promoting this ancient form of music. “While one sings from the heart, the audience have to feel involved,” he adds.

Strictly against the sms system of voting, Pandit Ajay feels seeking votes through sms is like begging for being a singer. “This system of voting can never choose a worthy singer. The judge should also not be biased,” he adds.