Amritsar, March 24
All-India Hindu Shiv Sena (AIHSS) President Surinder Kumar Billa and social activist Ashok Kapoor here today handed over financial aid to the four Pakistani Hindu families comprising 32 member who, fearing persecution in their motherland, arrived in India to settle down permanently.

Following a large scale intrusion of Taliban and other militant organisations in Pakistan, members of the minority community, unsure of the times ahead, bid adieu to their motherland. They arrived here from Sindh and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.

Billa renewed the demand to grant them nationality paving the way for their permanent residence and bright future for their children. He said they would be able to join a profession and admit their wards in schools once they were granted nationality.

He said the Central Government amended some clauses of the Citizenship Rules, 1956, for application in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. He said a similar decision should be taken to help these Hindu families to settle in India.

The migrated families said they were forced to close their business establishments as militants were allegedly extorting money to wage a war on the anti-Islamist forces. He said life of almost all the families, including the Sikhs, had become miserable following deep penetration of Taliban elements in Pakistan who wanted to replicate erstwhile Taliban-governed Afghanistan in Pakistan.

They said around 300 Hindu and Sikh families residing in areas adjoining the Swat Valley had already taken shelter in various shrines, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh in Peshawar, said Jagdish Sharma 
from Peshawar.

Women members of migrated families claimed that they used to be confined to their houses and could hardly move out without the company of male members.

Billa said his organisation would continue to support these families and would not shy away in roping in persons and other organisations for extending them succour. He opined that the Central Government must use its good offices to convince the Pakistan government to protect minority communities there. 

He added that he was taking up the matter with the Union Government for their proper rehabilitation here, besides educating the children.

Amritsar, March 24
Would you like to see Pierre Jeanneret designed manhole cover with the map of Chandigarh embossed on top of it? If the answer is yes then you need to visit historic Jallianwala Bagh with more attention. Keen observers might have seen it but it needed to ponder for a while and inquisitive mind to unearth the truth behind rectangular boxes and zigzag lines over it. Alas, the manhole cover rarely receives attention of onlookers.

The manhole cover is placed just in front of the entrance of Jallianwala Bagh with green kota stone around it. Daily thousands of tourists walk over the cast iron lid to enter the street taking into the historic bagh. These manhole lids have even become rare in Chandigarh as many of them have been stolen and replaced with concrete ones.

A glance over the lid definitely catches attention of onlookers with rectangular-shaped boxes engraved on it. Rawal Singh Aulakh, an architect, said these boxes were actually impression of sectors of Chandigarh. Besides, it depicts the seasonal rivulets Patiali-ki-Rao, N-choe and Sukhna choe criss-crossing various parts of the City Beautiful.

It needed a genius to float the idea of superimposing sewer lids with the map of the city, yet it depended upon dutiful residents to preserve the heritage, said the architect.

It is very difficult for municipal corporation officials to inform how the manhole cover found its way here.

However, a careful look at the sewer lid with the map may be a tribute to Jeanerette whose ashes were immersed in the Sukhna Lake after his death in 1967.

Amritsar, March 24
Degrees were conferred on 350 postgraduate students of various streams, including agriculture, commerce, arts and sciences, while 45 students who topped in university were awarded during the 103rd annual convocation of Khalsa College held here.

Delivering the convocation address, Justice M.M. Kumar from the Punjab and Haryana High Court motivated students to work hard with dedication and sincerity. “Short cuts can be wrong cut,” he said.

Justice Ajay K. Mittal, who was the chief guest on the occasion, described the convocation as family reunion and a time when the students start preparing for the professional life ahead. He advised the students to always remain grateful toward their teachers and parents who had contributed to their success by their ceaseless efforts, dedication and support.

Satyajit Singh Majithia, president, Khalsa College Governing Council, welcoming the guests said their presence would inspire the students and motivate them to accept the challenges in life.

He also prompted the outgoing students to aspire for higher goals and the put in the best efforts to turn those aspirations into reality.

Dr Daljit Singh, principal, read out the annual report and highlighted the achievements of the college. The teachers of the college who had put in 30 years of meritorious service were also honoured on the occasion. 

Prof (retd) Mukhtiar Singh Gill, an alumnus and retired lecturer who started an alumni chapter in the USA, was also honoured by the management.

Amritsar, March 24
A Punjabi play “Khoo Bolda Hai” unfolded the psychology of the people involved in heinous crime of female foeticide was staged at the SR Government College for Women here recently.

Its story was based on the real incident of finding nearly 300 foetus in a well about three years ago. The callous incident could not die down without evoking reaction from its writer Jyoti Bawa. 

Also director of the play, she said she was compelled to write to give a firm message to the people involved in the crime that they would have to pay for their unpardonable act.

As the narrative of the play progresses it highlights other problems being faced by women like domestic violence, mental and physical exploitation. She stressed in her play that original emancipation of women would only be possible if they overcome inhibitions and unreasonable regulations.

Amit Bawa penned lyrics for the play, while music was given by Bikramjit Ranjha and lighting by Hardeep Gandhi.

Other members of the cast were Jaswant Mintu, Sudesh Vinkal, Dilraj Kaur, Amar Gill, Baljit Kaur, Manjit Kaur, Kamal Najam, Maninder Pal Jabbal, Harkunwar, Jaskiran Bawa, Jyoti, Radha, Vandana.