Jalandhar, January 25
Irrespective of the ideologies and isms, culture and literature remain the most effective tools of any movement. Be it nationalists, fascists, Leftists or liberals, every ideology tried to sharpen this tool much before its expansion.

The mela (fair) of January 25 was also such an attempt of the Left of Punjab which was aimed at propagating alternative culture. In addition to its different cultural paradigm, the mela is much known for its continuous appearance for the past 27 years.

An outcome of the idea of the Punjab Lok Sabhyacharak Manch, which was formed by cultural representatives of all major sections of Left parties in Punjab, this mela was born in 1982. The PLS Manch was also constituted the same year under the presidentship of theatre director Gursharan Singh, popularly known as Bhai Manna Singh and Bhaaji in rural Punjab.

Kanwaljit Khanna, general secretary of the manch, shared some details of the history of the mela.

“It was an idea of Gushrahan Singh that cultural programmes should be organised at main centres in Punjab. He wanted to impart such colours to these programmes that with time they can transform into traditional gatherings. He chose Jalandhar and Ludhiana as centres. Until that time, he himself became a popular theatre artiste and director of both rural and urban Punjabi youth. His initiative attracted a number of cultural troops, playwriters, directors, theatre artistes, poets and progressive singers to these two melas. “Both Gursharan Singh individually and the PLS Manch organisationally remained successful in their task. Every year on January 25 and May 1 (Labour Day) cultural nights are organised at Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall, Jalandhar, and Punjabi Bhavan, Ludhiana, respectively. Both organisers and audiences gather on these days without any formal invitation. Instead of an organisational exercise, these functions have transformed into a tradition. Continuity of 27 years is a proof of this,” added Khanna.

Funds for the function to be arranged next year are collected from the audiences. Volunteers collect funds by approaching every viewer in the gathering. Most of the drama teams and singers perform here without charging any amount. a few teams are provided only train and bus fares, that too only if they ask.

“These functions were organised even during the days of terrorism. Some of the eminent poets and theatre artistes were the target of both terrorists and police forces as progressive artistes were opposing the killings of innocent people not merely through ideologies or organising meetings, but directly from the stage in the language of the people. Though the number of viewers decreased to a few hundreds only in the late 80s, this function again gained pace in the mid-90s. The size of the gathering, number of participants and sale of literature are on the rise every year. It is a good sign that the youth have again started showing interest in the socio-political affairs of society which are subjects of these plays and literature,” said Amolak Singh, who was the founder member of the PLS Manch.

Jalandhar, January 25
With weather getting clear at least during the day and peak time of winter going away, almost all garments stores in the city have begun winding up woollen stuff by offering heavy discounts.

While the chilly and foggy weather had forced people to stay indoors for a month, the markets have once again become happening places, especially during the day. Customers too have begun enjoying the sales. They seem to be on a shopping spree to buy the latest stuff at half the prices and stock it for the next winter season.

The showrooms too have come out with interesting offers. A garment store has announced a Republic Day special sale. The window reads, “Shop for Rs 1,950 and get clothes worth Rs 1,950 free”. There are many brands offering 60 per cent sale to coincide with 60th Republic Day.

Says Jasneet, a collegiate, “I always prefer to buy coats and jackets at the end of the season, for these are available at a fairly reasonable price. I will wear these once or twice before packing these up and flaunting next year.”

Geeta Sharma, a mother of two, said, “I have been shopping slightly oversize woollens and jeans for my kids so that I will have enough stock for them before the next winters. It is easier, economical and more sensible to shop now rather than at the start of the season.”

Shops in all markets, including Model Town, Rainak Bazaar, Lajpat Nagar and Sadar Market in Jalandhar cantonment have put banners displaying attractive sale offers.

Not just the garment stores, even the footwear showrooms, home décor stores, blanket and bed cover stores, furniture shops and bags stores have started 
offering discounts.

Jalandhar, January 25
Residents of New Beant Nagar are up in arms against the alleged sale of prohibited drugs by a chemist in the area. After going through the long uncooperative attitude of the authorities residents of New Beant Nagar forcibly pulled the shutters of a chemists shop which is allegedly involved in the sale of prohibited drugs.

A group of residents, along with councillor of Ward 10 Gurnam Singh Multani and in the presence of thepolice, locked the shop and took the keys in their possession. “Residents were promised that the shop would be opened only in the presence of the health authorities so that the volume of prohibited drugs can be ascertained,” said society president Ram Nath.

“Drug addicts used to come to this shop every day in groups and create anti-social environment in the locality. over the past two years, three deaths have been reported in the area due to overdose of intoxicants. We intimated the authorities a number of times and prohibited drugs were seized from thes shop. This time also we verbally intimated the Drug Inspector, but nobody from his office turned up,” said Multani.

However, Drug Inspector Gurvinder Singh denied the charge and said he did not receive any fresh formal complaint from the residents. “Councillor Multani called me up, but I have received no fresh written complaint regarding the matter. It is not possible for us to visit the shop without any complaint,” he added.

However, he said the chemist concerned was involved allegedly in the sale of “habit-forming” drugs. “The shop has been raided twice in the past and a large amount habit-forming drugs were seized. We have sent the case to the State Drug Control Authority in Chandigarh,” he said when asked about inaction on the part of the drug authorities.

Jalandhar, January 25
Sidelined decades back after the technological advancement and easy connectivity through telecommunication and internet, telegraph still has its small but dedicated clientele. Thanks to the Punjab Medical Representatives Association (PMRA) and certain business houses, the local telegraph office gets at least 100 to 125 clients daily.

The PMRA has made it mandatory for all area managers (AMs)of pharmaceutical companies and other top-level officials to intimate the registered territory managers (TMs) at least a week before their local workings and meetings.

The telegram received by the TMs at their residential address has to be endorsed by the PMRA before the working schedule. “Such an arrangement has been going on since 1974 in Punjab and is said to have been evolved to avoid any conflict between the manager and the field staff of pharmaceutical companies on their weekly plans and make the joint working convenient for both of them,” opines Aseem Joshi, president of the Ludhiana unit of the association.

The MR association in Punjab, Haryana and Jammu is said to be so strong and has such a large network that AMs cannot do without shelling out Rs 25 for intimating the field employee through this foolproof mode. The dedicated members of the associations who are TMs with certain companies have the right to check the endorsed notice anytime, anywhere.

Considered to be the fastest and cheapest means of communication in yesteryear, telegram would probably not have thrived in today’s world, had the MR association not been using it. The telegraph office in Jalandhar is also confined to two small rooms in the BSNL complex.

The staff of the telegraph office agrees that a majority of the telegraphic messages that they send are of medical representatives.

“There are certain business houses as well who are our clients, for they need to send messages through telegram as these become legal documentary proof,” they said, adding that the use of web had made it far more convenient to send a telegraphic message.

“The Morse code, which uses dots and dashes to represent the message and keeps it a secret, is no longer required. We simply type the message and send it to our telegraph office at the other station. There are some other secret digital codes used now,” they said. They further said there was staff of just six to seven persons, including two telemen, in Jalandhar for delivering telegraphic messages. “We do not have an approval to get a replacement of the retiring staff members,” they rued.

Jalandhar, January 25
They have never experienced the warmth of a close-knit family, but cherish the intimacy of fellow inmates. Their world is a mix of melancholy and anticipation. Here, the life of every inmate is a sordid tale.

At the age of innocence, the residents of Pushpa Gujral Nari Niketan have suffered the worst of wounds. Most of them were forsaken even before they learnt to say “ma”.

While some of them were dropped in the window cradle outside the niketan, others were brought here by relatives or neighbours. “Every year we get 20 to 25 children, most of them girls,” said K.D. Sharma, manager of the institution.

“Relationships are a fond hope for those who never had doting parents or grandparents, and a bitter experience for those who have seen the relationships breaking over trifling issues,” said Anjana Talwar, general secretary of the institution.

They are not, and shouldn’t be, content with their fate. While the younger ones dream of parents who would take their nakhras, the older girls long for a doting husband and caring in-laws.

Some of the girls have chalked out the professions they want to pursue in lives and are working constantly to achieve the goals. “I want to become a fashion designer and work with big firms in the industry,” says Sukhpreet Kaur.

A beautiful girl of 17 years, Sukhpreet has almost spent a lifetime in the niketan. “My mother remarried after the death of my father in an accident. My maternal uncle brought me here as my mother couldn’t take me along. I visit him once a while to have a glimpse of family life,” she adds.

The institution also helps to rehabilitate the younger ones through adoption. “Around 20 children are adopted by childless couples from the institution annually. Three of our children have gone abroad - France, England and Canada. The process 
is on for some others,” added Sharma.

Two children have remained there and have bleak chances of being adopted. “Have my parents come to see me? When will they come to take me along?” asks Bani (7) who is a dwarf.

Rahul, who cannot move around as his lower limbs don’t work. Rahul is one of the twins of Pagli Munni who had made headlines in the city more than two years back. Munni, a mentally retarded beggar, was raped, resulting in pregnancy and she was admitted to the Civil Hospital where she delivered twins and died.

However, they do miss what they have hardly experienced. Four-year-old Saloni draws a blank when inquired about her mother, but gleefully tells that she is bound for France to live with her new parents.

Phagwara, January 25
About a dozen unidentified armed masked robbers struck at a factory, Mahesh Industries, in the local Industrial Area late last night and decamped with a huge quantity of raw material of copper and some cash from labourers.

Parvesh Gupta, a partner of the factory, told the police that one of the labourers informed him on the phone about the incident early this morning. The exact loss was being estimated.

The robbers sped away in a Tata-407 vehicle. The police has registered a case under sections 457, 380 and 506, IPC.

Phagwara, January 25
Though Pakistan national UAE-based Tariq Hussain lost his life and dozens of persons have fell unconscious due to suffocation caused by leakage of LPG from gas geysers in several parts of the town this month, no government agency has initiated any action to prevent the use of gas geysers. The use of gas geysers is still continuing.

Three persons, including a young girl, fell unconscious due to suffocation caused by leakage of LPG from gas geysers in Phagwara town and in two surrounding villages on Sunday. All three were admitted in local Gandhi Hospital in serious condition.

Doctors Satnam Singh Parmar and S.P.S. Sooch said the condition of the three victims, Surinder Singh (26) of the local Guru Nanakpura, Simranjit Kaur (14) of nearby Kahna Dhesian village and Sukhwinder Singh (23) of nearby Ghurrka village, was stable and they were out of danger now. Both doctors have appealed to the people to stop use of gas geysers which were becoming more dangerous for human lives.

When The Tribune correspondent visited the hospital on Sunday evening, Lakhbir Singh of Kahna Dhesian said that his daughter went to take a bath in the afternoon, but did not come out. After some time they smelt leakage of LPG and saw through a window that the girl was lying unconscious on the floor of the bathroom. They broke opened the door of bathroom and rushed the girl to Gandhi Hospital. The same was the story of the other two patients.

It may be mentioned here that Pakistan national Tariq Hussain died due to suffocation from leakage from gas geyser in his in-laws’ house in the local Urban Estate while taking a bath on January 1.

Meanwhile, the president of the Indian Medical Association, Phagwara unit, Dr Davinder Chhabrra, and prominent physician Dr S. Mahindra, when contacted, said that such cases of gas geysers victims were increasing day by day. They urged the administration to take the necessary prevention measures to save people.

Phagwara, January 25
Rajya Sabha MP and Aarakshan Vachao Manch National Co-Convener Narain Dass Kesari has criticised the report of the Ranganath Mishra Committee terming it to be against the interests of the Scheduled Castes.

He said that a national-level demonstration would be organised before Parliament House on the second day of the Budget session in February.

Talking to mediapersons here, Kesari said that the UPA government would be forced to reject the report which had recommended reservation to even those who recently converted to some other religions due to some vested interests.

He said protest rallies against the report were being carried out since November 26 at district headquarters throughout the country. “A large-scale protest rally would be held on January 25 at Ludhiana,” he added.

BJP leader Som Parkash and Phagwara Improvement Trust Chairman Tejaswi Bhardwaj were also present on the occasion.

Jalandhar, January 25
Residents of Model Town call it a major triumph.A ground, which was used as sabzi mandi till 12 years ago, remained the venue for Dasehra celebrations for decades and was later used by the managements of two schools as a playground, has now finally been converted into one of the most aesthetically-maintained public parks in the city.

The residents of the area, behind Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Model Town, say that they have led a long and tough fight over the issue to make it all possible.

An amount of Rs 18 lakh which they have managed to get from MPs, MLAs and the Municipal Corporation has gone into its renovation, plantation and upkeep.

The residents have also made their contributions.

Maintained on modern lines, it has a high-mask light in the centre which beckons the residents from around the area. There are three canopies under which the young and the old like to spend some time. There are two tracks, a pucca and a kutcha, for those wanting to have a stroll or jog.

The lush green grass and varieties of ornamental shrubs are watered with sprinklers. There are dustbins on all corners.

A resident, J.B. Singh Chaudhary, says, “We have been fighting for the cause for over 20 years. I can still recall that the site used to be an eyesore, especially a day after the mandi. Bad stench emanated from overripe fruits and vegetables and peels of onions made way into our homes. Even the rainy season was a tough time for us as the ground was 3 to 4 feet below the normal level, leading to clogging of water. It was during the tenure of Jasbir Singh Bir as Commissioner in 1998 that we got rid of the nuisance of the mandi. Over 100 trees were planted around the area at that time, which now are fully grown. We planted more saplings later but these used to get destroyed during the Dasehra celebrations. The women folk led the 
front on this issue and managed to bring a positive result just two and a half years back.”

Councillor Aruna Arora said there were more plans on the anvil. “We are planning plantation of good quality rose shrubs. The residents are also trying to have a sound system in the ground to play soft music. A library is also coming up in one corner of the ground. Provision for toilets and water coolers will be made soon,” she disclosed.

Jalandhar, January 25
It was an achievement of a lifetime for these two students of Government Middle School, Tahli Mohalla, who attended the national science camp on the annular solar eclipse at Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. The boys witnessed the spectacle of the longest annular solar eclipse of the century on January 15.

The students, Gajanand and Dharmendra of Class VIII, shared the stage with some prominent scientists and research scholars of the country at the camp.

The duo, along with their science teacher, were part of the 250-member contingent from across the country to attend the camp, jointly organised by Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Delhi, and the Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, Chennai.

The proud achievers, under the Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose VIPNET Club of their school, participated in different scientific activities. It was after the students sent their project report on International Year of Astronomy to the committee of Vigyan Prasar that they were invited for the camp.

During the three-day camp from January 14, the students were given activities like sky watching along with the scientists from Vigyan Prasar. “We practically studied the constellations, stars and participated in sky watching with telescopes and the latest scientific equipment. We also worked out on the scientific logics behind myths related to eclipse,” said Gajanand.

The students also studied the stimulus in plants, oceanic waves and behavioral patterns among birds and animals. “The most beautiful view of the sun was from 1.10 pm to 1.21 pm. It was during this period that the sun looked like a fiery gold bangle as the moon covered nearly 85 per cent of the sun surface,” said Dharmendra.

Coordinator of the VIPNET club Sanjiwan Singh Dhadhwal said, “During the eclipse the sea waves were riding high while the birds and animals in that territory remained quiet and still.”

Jalandhar, January 25
The students of Yashasvi House of the local Police DAV Public School celebrated Republic Day with a programme ‘Know Your India’. A procession was taken out by students displaying national symbols, fairs and festivals, Indian costumes, slogans by freedom fighters and achievements of India. The students also presented a patriotic song and other cultural events.

The primary wing of the local Guru Amar Dass Public School celebrated the 61st Republic Day with great patriotic fervour. The tri-colour was unfurled while students danced to the tunes of patriotic songs. The programme culminated with the national anthem.

Republic Day was celebrated at the local Apeejay Public School on Monday. A poem highlighting Republic Day was presented by the students. The students also took out a parade and a cultural dance, portraying unity in diversity, was also presented. The local Manav Sehyog School also celebrated Republic Day during which the students held a special assembly. The students presented patriotic songs, poems and cultural events.

Jalandhar, January 25
Dal Khalsa yesterday alleged that the write-up, “Harminder Sahib, Golden Temple and Holy City of Amritsar” posted on the official website of the RSS (www.sanghparivar.org <http://www.sanghparivar.org/>) has exposed the “anti-Sikh designs” of the saffron brigade.

Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh and its general secretary Dr Manjinder Singh alleged that writer Ramakant Tiwari had not only denigrated the Sikh institutions and Sikh martyrs but had also questioned the identity of the Sikhs. The contents and tone of the article were provocative, derogatory and objectionable, they said, adding that it seemed the mind of the author was filled with hatred against Sikhs and Muslims.

By saying that “no Muslim faqir had been a true faqir” and suggesting that additions in Guru Granth Sahib by some Muslim “faqirs must be deleted”, the writer had attempted to create animosity between Sikhs and Muslims, they observed.

The leaders asked the Shiromani Akali Dal head, the Akal Takht Jathedar and the SGPC President to explain their position on RSS theory. Contrary to the RSS theory, they said Sikhs were unlike Hindus. The Sikh panth would never tolerate such “vicious” propaganda against their religious ethos and martyrs. They condemned the SAD, the SGPC and Sant Samaj for “lending credence” to the RSS theory that “Sikhs were part of Hindu religion” by mixing Nanakshahi with Bikrami calendar.