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Rolling history
If you thought that history is only to be found in heavy textbooks or preserved in the safe confines of any museum, then think again. For, we have some city collectors who are contributing their bits by preserving history in a unique way. Vintage cars are not new to our knowledge and with the pace technology is growing, we have period attached to everything in more than one way. But true vintage comes, either in wine or these cars, is when they are not only classics but have a story behind them too. Ask Kirpal Singh, owner of Gurudev Studios, and he is a proud owner of one. "It is a replica of the first launched De Biou Bouton in 1906, a French car and is called Geraldine," he says. And the story? Well, the car was handmade by Ravi Pal Singh Mann, who was a close friend of Kirpal Singh. Each part made with such precision and passion that it took four years to complete. "The car was so popular that Rolls Royce designed a car on the same lines as this and every part and feature of the car is designed as per French rules." Each part tells us a story, like the dashboard made of the wood imported from France or the lanterns that act as indicators or other parts that were collected from Mumbai, Chennai, London even. "I have this car past three years and its still in its original design, it's like a treasure for me," shares Kirpal. Well, his love for the car shows when he says that he takes care of Geraldine more than his Merc. Tapesh Sharma, assistant regional secretary, Federation of Film Societies of India, has his story too. He owns four vintage cars — a classic 1947 Austin 10, a Mercedes 1961 model, a 1956 model Fiat and another 1962 Fiat. But it's his Merc 1961 model that shares its part with history. "Once Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru was here for a summit and it was his official car and he liked it so much that he kept it for the rest of his stay here," he says. But that's not all; his cars have a long official history of sorts. He is the third owner of 1947 Austin 10, the first one being an Englishman, second one was Chaudhari Laxminarayan, an IAS from whom he bought the car for 1200 bucks (talk of a historic amount). Another such collector is Brig Phoolka, the founder president of the Vintage and Classic Car Club of Chandigarh. He owns a car that belonged to the Nawab of Bareili. "He imported this Ford Tourer model in 1933. It is a convertible and is the oldest on-road vintage car in the city," he says. It's been with him for 12 years and still shines bright with its history intact, and without any modifications and additions being made. Fateh Singh Chahal, an advocate by profession has inherited this passion from his grandfather and father. In other words, the history runs in his family. He owns a 1934 Ford; Ford Mercury 1965 and a Buick 1948 model. "These cars have been with the family for 30 years. They are like our family members, like our ancestors now," he says. Talk of being in family their utilisation has been quite interesting. "My mother's doli came in this car and my childhood was spent with these cars, and now I drive my kids around in them," he says. Though all his cars have been maintained in their original form, Buick is the one that was modified a bit, owing to the lack of availability of spare parts. His father got this car from a millionaire in Delhi and Buick from an IAS officer who used it as an official car. Well, these cars sure share some VIP connections. Not just a part of history, these cars are a reminder of the bygone era that had a touch of royalty and sophistication attached to it that is hard to preserve, given the modern tools of luxury and advancements. lifestyle@tribunemail.com
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Car Czar
Old songs are melodious and old wine tastes better always. Age might be a prominent depreciating factor in general but for some, it guarantees an unmistakable rustic charm. It also goes for our old beauties on the roads - vintage and classic cars. But ever wondered what keeps them going and what makes them win praise from everybody when they are out of garages for rallies? At least in our city, we can say, it is the efforts of Balbir Singh, an auto electrician by profession, who adds longitivity to these heritage pieces. "It might be easy to restore old tracks and wines, but that isn't the case with these machines. They have to be greased, oiled and taken care of," says Balbir, the person whom we credit for the makeover of some 60 vintage and classic cars. But as he says, this job is a tough one. "It is tough to find spare parts of these cars as no automobile company manufactures them. At times, it takes us a couple of weeks even to find a suitable spare part." Well, hard work doesn't bother him. "You get encouraged when people have their confidence in you. I have repaired vintage cars that were put out of use long time back. For me that's a big achievement." His proficiency at the job makes him so popular that people even from Delhi and Rajasthan bring their vintage cars to him. "Not every car mechanic can repair them as they are made in a very different way from the modern day ones." And this is how he does it, "I do not treat them like machines but like small babies. As they more than half a century old and have undergone a lot of wear and tear, a lot of patience is required to bring them back on to the road." He adds that there have been cases when the cost of repair is more than that of the car itself. Also the proud owner of five vintage cars, Balbir have recently added one more to his collection. The 1925 model Austin Channi that originally belonged to the king of Kullu will be the oldest car in the town. In times, when people prefer to buy the latest model, opting for an 84-year-old car is indeed unusual. "Given a chance to choose between a Merc, BMW, Audi or a vintage car, I would opt for the old beauty. I bet people would appreciate mine more." We agree, its timeless-beauty is worth the applause even if it lacks in the department of hi-tech features.
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Talking cricket
Who says you need to know cricket like the back of your hand to talk about it, or even host a show on it. Take it from Archana Vijaya, an anchor on Neo Sports for shows Extra Cover Tour Diary and Cricket Tarka Maar Key, who used to go blank when it came to cricket. In fact, she was completely blank about everything that happened to her in the recent times. "I never thought I would take part in Channel V's Get Gorgeous contest and then go ahead to win the title. Never thought I would wear heels and strut down the ramp, and well, I have done that too on national and international stage," says Archana, who anchored the recently held England tour of India. Expertise, did we miss out on it? Puts in the cover girl for Elle, Femina and Seventeen, "This is the good part about the shows that I host. I have to be myself, and I don't have to be an expert to talk about cricket. Had it been that way, I wouldn't have accepted the offer in the first place." For Archana, her shows highlight and showcase the off-field cricket. "The shows are more about reaction from fans, candid, free-wheeling interviews with cricketers and traveling with them." Adds the model and anchor, "Honestly, I am in no position to talk about cricket. One, I haven't played it, neither am I an authority on it. But the shows on Neo are about cricketertainment, which talk about the lighter side of the game. This is altogether a new concept, and I believe fans quiet like it." And, what does Archana personally like about the shows? "I get to travel with the Indian team, and we are like one big family," says Archana. "I get to travel and try out diversified things and then bring them into the show. Also, hosting a show on cricket was a challenge for me, something different, which promised lot of fun and entertainment." Need we say cricket is one helluva entertaining sport and the cricketers…hanging out with them would be so much fun? She laughs, "It is. I know all the cricketers." And whom does she get along with? "They all are great. I get along well with Dhoni, Yuvraj and Bhajji." Okay, here comes a rapid fire for the Bong woman from Mohali. Most grounded cricketer? "Sachin Tendulkar. He is fabulous human being, grounded, who can crack jokes once a while and surprise you with his wit." The prankster? "Yuvraj and Dhoni." Style bhai? "Anil Kumble really carries himself well. In fact, all of them look great in denims and tees." Coming back to Archana and her plans to run around the trees in Bollywood? "I have absolutely no time for it. My plate is full with lots of things. Besides, I am not inclined towards it as well. All the same, if something falls into my lap, at the right time and place, I wouldn't mind taking it up." jasmine@tribunemail.com
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Dolly to Chakori
"Earlier it was fame and money, now it's strictly professional satisfaction and I would settle for nothing less," says our very own city girl Karishma Randeva as she shares with us her unwavering resolution. The priorities have changed dramatically in a few years of her acting career . The bubbly dolly of Hello Dolly, a Star plus show she began her career with, now aims to do serious character roles. In Panchkula to celebrate Lohri with her family, she lets us know more about what’s on the cards in her life. "Right now my focus is on growing as an actor. Be it budget, co-actors or the reputed production house, it doesn't matter to me as long as my role has substance," she adds. And Karishma knows it well how to achieve her aim, "Tv does not give us an actor's space. It is like any other industry today churning out products and making profit. Considering all this I thought, theatre is the best option," says she. These days seen in Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and Wo Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki, it was a challenge for her, as she hasn't faced live audience in her life. "My first act on the stage thrilled me and I felt like an actor for the first time in my career. What inspires me to practice for hours together is the instant reaction that I get after every show." She adheres to the general perception that a true actor is one who is able to act on stage, "It is not the collective TRP's that judge an actor's credibility on Keeping her fingers crossed for the first show of her play, Chandini, Chanda or Chakori, scheduled to premiere on January 18, she further talks about it. "It's a comic play and I play one of the lead roles in it of chakori." On a positive note, she also feels that all is not lost on television. "I hope it is just a temporary phase. Some good changes are coming in the form of Balika Vadhu and Utran. Wish I were a part of them." ashima@tribunemail.com
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work
Dr Satish Narula Citrus tale The city is blessed with a climate that permits the growing of a large variety of fruit trees, ranging from the temperate to the tropical types. In the large premises it is not a problem to have different types, but when it comes to small dwellings there has to be a choice and lemon tops the list as a must-have tree when such a situation arises. An excellent source of vitamin C that gives resistance to fight diseases, lemon is one of the easiest fruits to grow in the home garden. It is not only an early bearer to give fruit in the third year of planting but also low headed plant that can fit in the middle of two trees planted at least 20 feet apart. But full sun for a few hours is a must. Most of the time, people ask about the variety of lemon that should bear thin-skinned fruit with very less or almost no seeds. Yes, there is one, Punjab Baramasi Lemon No.1 but for this you will have to go to PAU at Ludhiana. In case of lemon, however, we are lenient and advice you to make your own plant. If you have seen a good lemon plant with the above-explained desirable characters, you can make a plant from this by way of gooti, the air layering method. Since the plant is prepared using vegetative part of the mother plant, it will be true to type and bear fruits of the same quality. Lemon bears aplenty fruits full of juice, so much so that one can preserve it for those days when the fruit is in short supply. The nimboo at that time sells at a premium in the market. As the plant bears a lot of fruit, the gardeners may not feel it but at times when the problem of splitting of the fruit aggravates, it hurts. It is then that we go out for finding the solution. It normally happens at the time when the rains start. This can be explained by quoting the example of a balloon that has suddenly been injected with lots of air. It bursts. During summers, when the plant is subjected to water stress and the outer skin is also subjected to hot sun, it gets weakened. With the onset of monsoon there is sudden and large amount of water uptake bursting the skin. To get rid of this, one should keep giving water at regular interval, say third day light irrigation, just as to keep the upper surface moist. Adding good amount of well rotten farmyard manure also helps by conserving moisture and adding nutrition as well. Another common problem with this plant is it is spread and moves away from the centre of the plant, of the bearing area as the fruit is borne at the terminals. To keep it confined, at times, the gardeners clip the whole tree in one go, at the cost of losing crop for a year or two. The better way however is to clip back by two feet, those branches that have as and when borne fruit and continue taking fruit from others. It should be a continuous cycle. You will never face a no-fruit period. Do not try to plant kagzi lime in the sub-mountainous areas. This variety is prone to anthracnose and canker in this tract that cause the terminals to dry where the fruit is borne. satishnarula@yahoo.co.in
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Fun-tastic spirit
When it’s the festival time, nothing beats the hustle-bustle and upbeat spirit of Panjab University. The excitement and entertainment supply is so constant that it gives you the estimate of why Punjabis are known to be fun-tastic. So, the reason for fun this time was Lohri and the campus was fully fuelled up with music, bonfire and the echos of dulha bhatti song, of course sans the rhythm.
The gathering ground was Student Centre where a large bonfire was arranged. Almost the entire city’s student crowd turned up for the traditional celebrations and the mood was built by the music. It’s a better-known fact that Lohri in university is a big bash, nothing short of a wedding fiesta. The girls got a reason to dress up and the guys got another reason to check them out (as if they need any reason for that!). And everybody swears by the fun fair. And for ones, who didn’t have enough of the festivities, Lohri celebrations in variuos departments added up. So, each department and hostel celebrates their own Lohri as well, loaded with bhangra beats and til-bhuga. Amongst all these bonhomie and festival enjoyment, did anybody spare a moment for all those soldiers of the go-green revolution? With all those burning piles of wood in the name of Lohri, the air on campus must have become fit for any litmus test experiment in the laboratory. Or, may be the noise, I beg your pardon, the high decibel music is as good for our ears as it is for showing our dancing skills. And what about the heap of chilkas of the peanuts consumed while thinking about interesting pick up lines? But who cares, when its festival time. After all, it’s all about enjoying the moment and not thinking about the tomorrow! Right? — Neha Walia Beat it W A new study has shown that spirituality can help teenagers cope with chronic illness. Chronic illness can lead to poorer quality of life in adolescents. The research led by Michael Yi, MD, associate professor of medicine, and Sian Cotton, Ph.D, research assistant professor in the Department of Family medicine investigated how adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may use spirituality to cope with their illness. Adolescents with IBD are at risk for numerous psychosocial difficulties, including increased mental health problems and social stigma. In the study involving 67 patients with IBD and 88 healthy adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19, the researchers collected data on socio-demographics, functional health status and psychosocial characteristics as well as spiritual well-being. "Personal characteristics like self esteem, family functioning and social characteristics, like level of peer support, were similar between adolescents with IBD when compared to healthy peers, indicating that adolescents with IBD appear resilient," said Yi. "However, health-related quality of life was significantly poorer in general. On average, when compared to their healthy peers, patients with IBD were willing to trade more years of their life expectancy or risk a greater chance of death in order to achieve better health," he added.—ANI
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I don’t think it’s a great idea at this point of time. First of all, the university should focus on providing basic necessities. There are still some computers that are at times non-functional. Plus so many old books have several pages missing from their texts. Things like roof-top garden should are nice but they come secondary. Once the basic infrastructure is in place, only then focus should fall on unnecessary things. Gurjeet Sharma, M.Phil student
Nishant Madan, U.I.E.T. student Bunny Sharma, student, P.U.
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Panjab University authorities propose to have a rooftop garden over the five-floor AC Joshi Library on the campus. Let’s see what the students think of such a move.
Yes, having a garden on the fifth floor of the library is a really positive move. Apart from adding to the good looks of the campus, it can be used for so many other things. Otherwise too, it’s a positive move. In a campus, the environment has to be there for studies, for which, the garden can be used.
I think it would be really nice if we can have a garden on top. Though thee are so man gardens all around but having it above so many floors would be different experience altogether. Panjab University, as it is has the bare necessities, now our focus should be on good infrastructure, which is a good move and really appreciable.