Jalandhar, April 14
This is a perfect example of how a martyr’s name is misused for grabbing a prime land in the heart of the city and later putting it on commercial use for making big money.

The incident dates back to 1994 when a group of industrialists got a land measuring 2 kanal, 1 marla and 86 sq feet allotted in the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Trust on old GT Road from Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT).

The prime corner plot in 41.6-acre BSF Colony scheme of the trust now houses a huge commercial complex where in space has been rented out to a departmental store and few other private companies. The land was allotted in February 18, 1994 for a reserve price of Rs 1,99,150.

While initially the trust had Shiv Charan Singh of Guru Nanak Nagar, Nawanshahr, as its president, it was later shown to have been re-constituted with Amanbir Singh Marwaha, owner of Unison group, as its president.

Leave aside any use for construction of a memorial, the name of the youth icon is no where to be seen on the face of the building. In fact ever since, no youth welfare activity has been organised by the trust to propagate the life and teachings of the Shaheed-e-Azam, in whose name the land was got allotted.

Marwaha, himself said so, claiming, “There could be no activity for the matter remained in controversy ever since.” He further claimed, “The matter has already been resolved. We are nowhere on a wrong foot for we had taken the land at the government price and have not drawn any benefit.”

The officials of the JIT, on the condition of anonymity, however, contradict saying that there has been a clear-cut violation for the land has been on commercial use without due permission. The trustees of the JIT too confided that the matter had been brought into the proceedings and it was now being proposed that the beneficiaries be asked to pay up Change of Land Use (CLU) charges and penalties for entering a compromise into the matter.

Kailash Thukral, a social activist, said such a compromise would only lead to boosting the morale of land grabbers. Everyone including the officials involved in the deal and those who allowed the matter to go unchecked later need to be penalised, he demanded.

The Chairman, JIT, Baljit Singh Neelamahal, said the members of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial Trust had already applied for CLU. “We will definitely impose a penalty on them for indulging in violations,” he confirmed.

Jalandhar, April 14
Keeping in view the increasing requirement of skilled professionals in the micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) and Punjab Technical University (PTU) have taken an initiative to bridge the gap between technical education and requirement of industry.

An interactive meeting of leading industrialists and faculty members of PTU relating to training requirements of students of PTU-affiliated colleges was held at the CICU Complex, Ludhiana. Dr A.P. Singh, Dean, Students Affairs, PTU, appreciated the efforts being made by the CICU regarding imparting industrial training to students in its member units. He assured of giving better exposure to students for industrial applications, catering needs of different types of industries and solving industry-related problems.

Avtar Singh, general secretary, CICU, said the meeting was held with the aim to evolve a mechanism that prepared students for what they might encounter in the industry. The meeting was also attended by Manjit Singh Khalsa, Chairman, United Cycle Parts Manufacturing Association, S.K. Sayal, president, Focal Point Industries Welfare Association, and other leading industrialists.

Jalandhar, April 14
After having remained stalled for over three years, the project of construction of Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan in the district administrative complex here is likely to resume within a fortnight.

A grant of Rs 51.5 lakh, which was due from the Social Welfare Department since the past few years, has finally brought some ray of hope for the thousands of SC families in the region.

The bhavan had been planned to serve as the venue for dispensing benefits under various SC welfare schemes and providing free coaching to poor, bright kids for entrance examination to professional colleges. As per the proposal, it will also house a library where from the youth could find an extensive literature about the life and teachings of the architect of the Indian constitution. The hall in the bhavan would also be made available for SCs for holding marriages, social functions and meetings.

Deputy Commissioner Priyank Bharti today confirmed that the grant for the purpose had reached the office of the chief engineer PWD some time back. “After completing certain official formalities which may take a few days, the work would be restarted,” he said adding that the cost of construction had escalated a bit and a few more lakhs would be required later for final finishing work.

The basic building structure came up around 2008 but no headway was made ever since owing to paucity of funds. The unfinished structures for library, welfare office, store, multi-purpose hall and other rooms are lying as it is since a long time with wild growth all around.

In fact, the idea to construct a bhavan was conceived more than 17 years ago and all these years were wasted in planning and financial delay. The delay seems odd going by the fact that the city has a sizeable number of SC leaders from the ruling as well as the opposition parties. All of them have got their pictures prominently displayed in hoardings across the city but none of them have voiced their concern publicly over the inordinate delay in completion of the project.

The foundation stone of bhavan was laid twice --- first by CM Parkash Singh Badal in 1999 and again in 2006 later by former Congress MLA Mahinder Singh Kaypee.

Sukhwinder Kotli, state general secretary, BSP, slammed both the parties saying, “Both the SAD and Congress during their rule in the state have miserably failed to fulfil this single commitment to the large SC population. They have funds to start new bigger projects but take a lot of time in paying up the remaining amount for the ongoing ones.”

Jalandhar, April 14
When thinkers gathered to ponder over Ghadar Movement poetry and its context in the modern times at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall here yesterday, one of the unusual guests at the occasion was documentary filmmaker Sanjay Kak, who quietly mingled in the gathering, absorbing precious details about the state’s history and literature.

His interest in Punjab isn’t newfound. He has visited the state quite a few times and way back in 1986, during his DD days in Delhi, Punjab had also featured in his documentary series Punjab ka Doosra Adhyay, of which he sadly informs, “No records were kept.” (It also featured legendary playwright Gursharan Singh).

Kak’s acclaimed works include documentaries like Harvest of Rain (1995), One Weapon (1997), In the Forest Hangs a Bridge (1999) and Words on Water (2003), on the anti-dam struggle for River Narmada among others. His latest work has been Jashn-e-Azadi, his controversial documentary on Kashmir made in 2007, which has earned him both brickbats and bouquets in equal measure.

Excerpts of his interview with The Tribune:

What brings you to Punjab?

Very few people outside Punjab are aware of what really is going on here. I’m travelling around to understand a bit of it. The level of distress in the rural masses is acute and is well concealed under the hype of shopping malls and glamour. Not only is there widespread stress, but there are also responses to it, culturally.

What do you think is the cause for distress?

Agriculture is in a state of crisis. But the crisis is well-hidden because the economy is supported through migration and remittance economy, largely seen in the Doaba area. But that’s a fragile situation, which might change tomorrow.

How does the event you attended today figure in the scheme of things? Are you planning a project?

The event was interesting. My last film’s almost four-years old. Now I’m trying to make a film about precisely this tradition which was being spoken of today. Political dissent has had many faces in the Indian subcontinent and unfortunately we end up talking about only certain traditions leaving out the others. I was here recently for Bhagat Singh’s death anniversary at Khatkar Kalan and another rally at Bathinda. I’m personally very interested in all that. I just look at some of it while I film the rest. The rich Punjabi tradition has taken different faces at different times. It’s not just that Bhagat Singh and Pash were both killed on the same date, but even in terms of their ideas, there’s a connection. So I just want to see how people in Punjab remember that history.

It’s been said that you haven’t been fair to Kashmiri Pandits in your documentary Jashn-e-Azadi. Do you find the controversy unfortunate?

Yes. The issue was raised by a small bunch of people and it never spread outside of that.

But your protesters on the web claim they are a large group

May be. But you know these days because of the internet anybody can be a big group. And it’s alright. I don’t expect everybody to agree with me. If I make a film, an opinionated one, there are bound to be reactions. I would say they tried to use the film to make their point of view heard. Four years later the film is still in circulation. I have screened it in India and abroad. I think the controversy was based on a gross misunderstanding that the film was pro-azadi and anti-Pandit. But they hadn’t even seen the film. I showed it in the US recently. I won’t take his name but a very prominent leader of the Kashmiri Pandit community came up to me in Stanford and said I’m very sorry I had attacked your film before watching it.

Did you ever have a special screening for the protesters?

I asked them to have a screening separately with me. I said I would speak to them and address their concerns, but they wouldn’t. I have a problem with that. I think a debate needs to be raised and I made the film to start a debate. Believe me I did the film in 2007 and that debate has reached somewhere in India. Not because of my film, but people’s perception of what’s happening in Kashmir has changed and in the last four years even the mainstream media is reporting Kashmir and that needed to be done.

Do you see positive changes in society because of your work?

It would be arrogant to claim credit for the positive changes, but I think it did make a difference. Wherever we showed it, big or small cities, people were taken aback. They could see what was happening. There was a need for this new kind of understanding.

Do you think your influence has worked on the governmental level too?

I don’t believe my work is meant to influence the government. I think that’s a waste of time. I think it’s meant to influence ordinary people and that’s where the force comes from. I know so many young journalists who watched my film and were very sceptical and not sure. Some of them made a trip to Kashmir and eventually became one of the most fearless reporters around so I think my work is done. It’s not tomorrow the President will ask me ‘beta Kashmir ke bare mein kya kar rahe ho’, that’s not my work. Today in Delhi students are so well informed about films, not because of films, but because there’s a general atmosphere in which people are willing to engage with the issue of Kashmir on a positive note and an open mind.

Jalandhar, April 14
The Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee held a seminar on ‘Poetry of the Ghadar Movement with in the present context’, dedicated to the 98th year of the establishment of the Ghadar Party, here at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall on Wednesday.

The similarities of the issues - which the Ghadar Movement poets needed to address - with the ills that haunt the present society, lent the discussion a lot of importance.

The common refrain on the occasion was that since the people in the movement were united for a common cause and dream, devoid of religious bindings, unlike today’s society, their poetry was fiery and intense in a way that is difficult to trace in the modern poetry.

The fight against imperialism, for a united society that would be free of shackles of caste-based divides is what the Ghadar poetry laid stress on and these are issues which are still a threat to the society today, the speakers said, with Amolak Singh (convener of the cultural wing of the committee) also referring to the stories, about the mention of the religions of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, in the day’s newspapers.

Dr Surjit, a reader at the Punjabi University, Patiala, was the chief speaker on the occasion. His recent paper, on the same topic as the seminar, was also in for heated debate.

Dr Surjit said the Ghadar Movement was the binding force for all the movements of the era in the interests of socialism and human rights. He expressed concern at the fact that much of the present day poetry wasn’t devoid of elitist inclinations.

Dr Parminder Singh talked of Ghadar poetry in context of the many movements that came earlier and after it. The Kuka Movement, the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement, the frenzy following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and others. He stressed on the fact that since the middle ages to now, the kind of literature that clicks with the masses is the one which talks about the downtrodden and their struggles.

Harwinder Bhandal, made a pertinent point that the Ghadar Movement poet lived the life which he propagated in his poetry, unlike today’s poet who leads a dual life.

Summing up the discussion, Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Committee trustee Dr Prem Singh said it was important to remember that the Ghadar poets fought for a free and united India which they didn’t get. Sixty years after Independence, India still stares at the same problems, now having acquired a still more serious form.

Other speakers were Comrade Jagroop Singh, Prof Pyara Singh Bhogal and Jagwinder Jodha.

Jalandhar, April 14
The students and members of the staff of Lovely Professional University celebrated an astronomical event where students observed and studied wonderful activities of star-studded sky for two continuous nights.

They saw Jupiter, Saturn, moon craters, Milky Way galaxy and Seven Stars constellation with the aid of 16 telescopes. They also saw a documentary related to the birth of stars, planets, meteors, asteroids and black holes. This event titled 'Uttara' was organised to venerate Global Astronomy Month (GAM). Four renowned astronomers from the Association of Amateur Astronomers Delhi and Nehru Planetarium presented detailed account regarding astronomical objects to all the enthusiasts towards the nature's domain.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the chancellor of the university Ashok Mittal, pro-chancellor, Rashmi Mittal, director general, HR Singla and senior deans and deans of different schools along with other students and members of staff. Addressing the gathering, chancellor said, "The passion to share the night sky wonders has always been fascinating for us. This event is indeed a great step taken by our university by creating a Space Club to awaken the young minds towards much needed studies." He also hoped that soon some students would certainly bring name and fame to the university through their novel space explorations.

Jalandhar, April 14
The Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has inaugurated the video bronchoscopy unit in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine.

The unit would be helpful to the patients as the infections of lungs and pulmonary region could be detected at an early stage with it as compared to other conventional investigating techniques.

The unit was inaugurated by Chief Operating Officer Rajsekhar.

In a press note, Director-Principal, PIMS, Dr Kulbir Kaur said the bronchoscopy could be helpful to detect the lung diseases which were otherwise not visible even in X-rays and CT scans.

Rajsekhar said it was another step of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences to make the best equipment available at affordable rates to the patients.

Nakodar, April 14
Jaskirat Singh, alias Jassa, resident of Mohalla Dherian in Shahkot, was today arrested with .315-bore pistol and a case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against him at Shahkot police station.

Police sources said Jaskirat and his wife had also been involved in a snatching incident in Karpurthala district and gold earrings were also recovered from him.

Jaskirat Singh’s wife is already in jail for the snatching incident.

Jaskirat has been remanded in police custody till April 15 for further interrogation.

Jalandhar, April 14
Unusual weather conditions might cast their shadow on wheat crop, the harvesting and arrival of which has already got delayed in mandis of Doaba region and other parts of Punjab.

Farmers are fearing that they can suffer huge losses as the problem can further get compounded in case rain, coupled with gusty winds, sweeps the region.

Such a situation - as is being predicted by farm and weather experts - can cause the lodging of grain-laden wheat plants, which are otherwise healthier this season.

Prevailing chill in the air has affected the ripening of the crop resulting in delay in its harvesting and arrival in markets. Cloudy weather is further causing a sense of insecurity among farmers.

“Wheat plants wre healthier and farmers were expecting a better yield this time. But, largely the weather scenario is not much favourable for the wheat crop. It could get adversely affected in case, ongoing chill in the air gets mixed with rain and windstorm. The recent spell of light rain in certain areas of Punjab has not caused any damage to the crop so far as it was devoid of any gusty winds,” said Dr Naresh Gulati, a Jalandhar-based farm expert.

He advised farmers that they should wait for clear weather for harvesting their crop.

Farmers of Punjab have sown wheat in an estimated area of around 34 lakh hectares. Some mandis in Punjab have started witnessing the arrival of the crop in small quantities, even as, a large number of farmers are yet to initiate harvesting, particularly in Doaba region of Punjab. The delay is being attributed to a comparative dip in temperature, which, hovered around 24 degree Celsius this time as compared to 30 to 32 degree CelSius in the corresponding periods of the last decade.

“The extension of chilly weather conditions in most parts of the state has delayed the arrival of wheat crop by 15-20 days. Generally, we started around first week of April, but this time, we expect to take our crop to the mandi around April 20,” said Satpal, a Hoshiarpur-based farmer.

“Despite, prolonged winter-like conditions, the positive point about the Punjab wheat crop this time is that it is largely yellow-rust free this time. We expect a good yield this time if there is no lodging of wheat crop,” said Dr Sukhjit Singh, Agriculture Development Officer (ADO), Shahkot, in Jalandhar district.