Amritsar, October 20
Performances by various artistes brought people of India and Pakistan more closer in the ongoing SAF Peace Festival.The festival is organised by the South Asia Foundation in collaboration with the Punarjyot and Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Lahore, at various venues of the holy city.

The utopian village of Pret Nagar, which was set up by eminent Punjabi writer Gurbaksh Singh Preetlari to provide an idyllic place to all kinds of creative and performing artistes, was resonated with chords of love and spirituality as Pakistani artistes rendered their musical creations.

Written by Preetlari, “Kehru Dus Nambaria”, based on a true story, was staged at Preet Nagar today. The narrative questions the line that was drawn on hearts in love during the 1947 riots. A film on child labour, “Kaku”, directed by Kewal Dhaliwal, was also screened for viewers.

A viewer, Damanpreet Kaur said the cultural programmes apart from showcasing talents of both countries had left an indelible mark on the psyche of spectators. She said on personal level she felt like exploring common threads between the two nations after seeing the mesmerising performances.

Famed Sufi singing exponent Sain Zahoor rendered Sufi music. Shafqat Hussein and his group rendered sing-along Kafi, which captivated the audience last night.

A puppet show, “Bachha Jamoora”, was organised for children and “Stay Yet a While”, a multimedia production by the local BBKDAV College, directed by M.K. Raina, a renowned theatre personality, was presented last night.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also joined the celebrations of the SAF Peace Festival at Preet Nagar last evening.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister lauded the efforts made by peace lovers and artistes on both sides of the border for promoting accord between India and Pakistan. “This is a very noble and commendable gesture on the part of the public in both the countries and I hope that someday their aspirations of having soft or virtually no borders would come true,” he said.

Stating that “Saanjh” had done a lot to dispel doubts and mistrust that once prevailed between both countries, Badal commended late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and his wife Manveen Sandhu, who were killed in an accident, for leaving a legacy of love in the form of this celebration of cultural harmony. He urged their daughter Dr Kirat Sandhu, Director, Punarjyot, to carry forward the tradition initiated by her parents.

The same views were expressed by Lahore-based Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop’s CEO Usmaan Peerzada. He said art surpassed all boundaries as it was universal. “It joins hearts rather than dividing them. Artistes do not think of war, but try to promote peace,” he said. He added that art and culture could build a bridge in the relations of India and Pakistan that had always been marred by mistrust.

“We share so much in terms of culture, heritage, language and lifestyle. All that we need is more such festivals, on a bigger scale to promote peace between the two neighbours,” he said.

His brother, COO, Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop, Faizaan Peerzada said all through his visits to India in the past few years he had never got the feeling for being out of home. He urged artistes on both sides to join hands and work for promotion of mutual harmony through art and culture.

Saiyda Hamid, Co-Chairperson, SAF, and Member, Planning Commission, said there was a dire need to forget the past to forge new and better relations between the two neighbours.

Amritsar, October 20
Common currency is the mantra to boost up trade and commerce practices among the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, opined Madanjeet Singh, Goodwill Ambassador to United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

While apprising about the significance of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) union, its founder, Madanjeet Singh during the undergoing SAF festival, here, told that the cardinal objective of SAF and its vision is to establish a union of eight countries- India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Madanjeet has termed ‘Sesia’ as common currency in his book titled “The Sasia Story: UNESCO, 2005)” and has stressed on centripetal force created by common currency. “It has been globally acknowledged that euro, being the common currency, has saved the European Union from global meltdown to a greater extent. Similarly, the common currency will become the anchor of economic stability and accelerate trade between the SAARC countries,” he said.

“I foresee the possibility of “peace pipeline” with the European Coal and Steel Community, that will carry natural gas from Iran, Turkmenistan across Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian subcontinent. In today’s globalised world, trade and commerce cannot be isolated from national security, which in turn can be strengthened by national as well as inter-state land-based transport infrastructure, which is important component of collective e security arrangement,” he added.

Citing the South Asia Foundation Peace Festival 2009, Singh told that a history of the sort has been scripted by organising the festival, for the first time after Independence, on the bordering city Amritsar from October 14 to 23.

In the field of higher education, the SAF is funding institutions of excellence in all the SAARC countries and granting Madanjeet Singh Group Scholarships to students study together at these institutions. “We provide opportunities to young people in many fields to study together and form lasting networks,” he quipped.

SAF has been recognised as an Apex body of the SAARC and has special relationship with the UNESCO UNESCO.

Amritsar, October 20
The families of policemen who laid down their lives while fighting hardcore terrorists during the heyday of militancy have sought benefits at par with the families of martyrs of Kargil war.

Dr B.R. Hastir, chairman of the All-India Terrorist Victims Association talking to The Tribune, pointed out the government provided Rs five lakh to the families of martyrs of Kargil war as compensation besides residential plot and gas agency for earning livelihood.

However, on the other hand, the kin of police personnel who sacrificed their lives during the militancy and helped in routing out terrorism in the state got mere monthly pension in the name of compensation and that too was reduced to half if a child of the victim gets job.

The chairman urged the government to provide full and timely pension besides other facilities to the victim families. Meanwhile, he said that the children of martyr policemen recruited in the Punjab police or Punjab Armed Police be posted in their home districts.

Meanwhile, Hastir criticised the government for its alleged double standards for putting aside the issues of terrorist victims and its apathy towards Dalits who form major part of vote bank in the state.

He said all political parties made tall claims during elections for uplift of Dalits and poor but on grounds, nothing concrete is done. He pointed out in as many as 24 police districts of Punjab, there was not even a single police officer posted as head of a district. He appealed to the government to shun the double policy and show some seriousness in promoting the interests of Dalits.

Amritsar, October 20
A lone crusader, one man army, fire brand social activist, these are synonyms of none other than Brij Bedi, who is continuing with his efforts to make the holy city clean from garbage, hoardings, graffiti and traffic snarls and provide education to the deprived strata of the society.

Pondering on his more than a decade-long career as a social activist, he seemed to be contended, yet determined to bring in quality change. “I am very much satisfied with my endeavours which I had made during all these years for the society,” says Bedi.

Establishing Citizen Forum Vidhya Mandir along with Master Ajit Singh means more than anything else, says proud Bedi adding that visiting Maqboolpura --- infamous as locality of widows --- was turning point in his life. The person who used to spend loads of money on his luxurious lifestyle chose to start diverting his investments for suffering humanity. “I was deeply touched with the dilapidated state of affairs of the neglected children especially of drug addict parents.”

Bedi has made tremendous impact in the city through his several acts of bravado including removing the encroachments, shoeing away the taxis and buses parked outside the railway station, in removing obscene film posters from the walls of schools and colleges. He had pushed the administration to take action against the offenders.

A man of action, Bedi says he believes in the dictum that one man can change the destiny provided he has the ability and the conviction to change the world.

Nona Khanna in her book “On Fire” said joining him on a journey of discovery and exploring a place where the rules of unconscious living do not apply, was a fascinating chapter in her life.

Indomitable spirit imbibing a sense of pride, Brij had been vocal in raising several pertinent issues, including raising infrastructure of the city keeping its key factors in focus, checking the errant drivers speeding away through the roads of the city, laying a naka by himself to check the auto-rickshaw drivers running their vehicle without documents.

Today, Citizen Forum Vidya Mandir has more then 600 students on the rolls, who are provided free meals besides quality education. A writer pointed out that Brij is a unique social activist who does things which most of us don’t even dream of doing

Amritsar, October 20
A three-day Zonal Youth Festival of associate 
colleges of Guru Nanak Dev University was 
inaugurated here today.

Dr A.K. Thukral, Dean, Students Welfare of the university, inaugurated the festival by lighting the candles. Dr Jagjit Kaur, Director, Youth Welfare, was also present on the occasion.

Students from different associate colleges affiliated to the university are participating in various events. This festival would conclude on October 22. On the first day, Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar, bagged top honours in several events.

Results:

Painting (Landscape): 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Hasta Shilpa Degree College, Batala; 3. MGN College, Jhakolari.

Painting (Still Life): 1. Hasta Shilpa Degree College, Batala; 2. Golden Degree College, Gurdaspur; 3. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar.

Sketching: 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College, Ludhiana; 3. SJDAB College, Ranipur.

Cartooning: 1. Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College, Ludhiana; 2. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 3. Swami Keshwanand Memorial College, Abohar.

Collage: 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College Ludhiana; 3. MGN College, Jhakolari

Poster making: 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Golden Degree College, Gurdaspur; 3. Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College, Ludhiana

Clay Modeling: 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Montessri Institute Advance Education, Rayya

Rangoli: 1. Swami Keshwanand Memorial College, Abohar; 2. Golden Degree College, Gurdaspur; 3. MGN College, Jhalkolari & Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College, Ludhiana.

Flower Arrangement (Fresh): 1. Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College, Ludhiana; 2. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar

Flower Arrangement (Dry): 1. Teja Singh Sutantar Mememorial College, Ludhiana; 2. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar

Phulkari: 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Teja Singh Sutantar Memorial College, Ludhiana; 3. MGN College, Jhakolari.

Photography: 1. Montessri Institute of Advance Education, Rayya.

Shabad/Bhajan: 1. Teja Singh Sutantar Mememorial College, Ludhiana; 2. Sant Baba Hazara Singh Girls College, Nikke Ghumman; 3. Montessri Institute of Advance Education, Rayya.

Geet/Ghazal: 1. Montessri Institute of Advance Education, Rayya; 2. Teja Singh Sutantar Mememorial College, Ludhiana; 3. BKS BDS College for Girls, Amritsar.

Folk Song: 1. Sri Guru Teg Bahadur College for Women, Amritsar; 2. Sant Baba Hazara Singh Girls College, Nikke Ghumman; 3. Montessri Instt. of Advance Education, Rayya & BKS BDS College for Girls, Amritsar.

Amritsar, October 20
Bhagwan Valmiki Dharamshala and Birdh Ashram built on 2.5 acres of land near ancient Ram Tirth temple, believed to be the ashram of sage Valmiki, will be thrown open to the devotees on November 1.

The Bhagwan Valmiki Ashram Dhunna Sahib Trust got constructed the buildings. Its Chairman Om Parkash Gabbar, a Congress leader, said the building, which would house both dharamshala and Birdh Ashram, would be inaugurated by Ravneet Singh Bitu.

Thousands of devotees not only from across the country but also from all over the world throng the ancient temple during the mela, which concludes on Kartik Poornima.

Devotees will take holy dip in the sarovar, half of which has been dried up and the rest filled with water. The devotees, belonging to all religions and castes, mingle with one other and sought blessings.

Married women seek blessings to give birth to sons while the people wanting to own houses symbolically assemble bricks in shape of a house in the courtyard of the temple. They believe that it would realise their ambition of owning a house.

Hundreds of kiosks would spring out inside and outside the complex selling varieties of items, including sweets, toys and other commodities of daily needs.

In spite of the ancient temple attracting lakhs of devotees all over the year, the Punjab Government and the Ministry of Tourism have not yet come out with any plan to develop it as a major tourist destination.

Mythology has it that Maharishi Balmiki had scripted the epic Ramayana here and Sita gave birth to her two sons, Luv and Kush, at this place. Despite its great heritage and history, the ancient temple has steeped in controversy because no sincere efforts are being made to bring rapprochement between the warring factions of mahants and balmiks to ensure overall development and beautification of the shrine.

It is pertinent to mention here that tension had prevailed in the area as Balmik organisations wanted to construct a temple in the middle of the sarovar whereas the mahants, who claim to be descendants of caretakers of the ancient temple for the last 500 years, were against any new construction in the area.

Gabbar demanded that the temple be developed like the Galiara scheme around the Golden Temple. He said all houses around the holy pool must be demolished to turn it into a beautiful place.

He said a gold ring would be worn to a fish of the holy tank before the start of the fair with puja and added that the practice was started in 1993. Earlier, he claimed that there used to be mishap annually in the tank during the fair. He claimed that since 1993 no mishap has occured.

Amritsar, October 20
The Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group of Foundation, a national multi-disciplinary organisation dealing with head and neck cancer, has invited a Amritsar- based surgeon Dr Prahlad Duggal to present his project on oral cavity cancer at Indian Head and Neck Cancer Congress at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi.

A jury of eminent scientists had selected his project among the 10 best projects. His presentation is scheduled on October 26.

Dr Prahlad Duggal has trained in head and neck cancer surgery from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He is presently working as Assistant Professor at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.

He said head and neck cancer surgery is an upcoming field which needs to be developed in this part of the country as cancer cases, including the oral cavity cancer, is on the rise in Punjab because of increasing use of tobacco and its products.

Amritsar, October 20
SGPC’s decision to grant revised pay scales to the teachers associated with its affiliated colleges has been welcomed by the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU).

Hailing the move, Prof Iqbal Singh Sandhu and Prof H.S. Walia, president and general secretary of the PCCTU, respectively, opined that it would go a long way in attracting talent and promoting academic standards in the SGPC-run colleges because of lessening of the brain-drain.

It is relevant to mention that the basic aim of the revision of pay scales recommended by the UGC and notified by the Ministry of Human Resource Development was to attract young talent, promoting academic excellence.

“The main aim of this step was to make India a knowledge hub while attracting young talent towards this profession. Any attempt by any organisation to dilute the scales or implement them in a piecemeal manner would defiantly defeat the very purpose of the Central government’s policy of putting a cap on the brain drain and thereby hampering the progress in the academic standards,” viewed Walia.

Though, these scales have not been implemented in its true letter and spirit, there occurred few hiccups before implementing these revised pay scales which included inter-alia implementation of Career Advancement Scheme for the DPE’s and librarians and relaxations from refresher courses as per UGC guidelines.

“We fervently appeal to managing committees of other institutes to follow suit and implement new pay scales for the teachers working against aided and unaided posts without any discrimination”, said Sandhu. — TNS