Illegal firecracker units mushroom in city
Amritsar, October 5
Owing to its mass appeal, a relatively modern tradition of fireworks has blended well with our ancient tradition. Thriving on this passion, however, are illegal fireworks factories running in various areas in the city.

Amritsar, October 5
Contrary to the claims by the Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, AS Brar, teaching work at the university was affected during a two-hour strike by the university teachers. He had earlier claimed that the teachers appointed on an ad-hoc basis would take care of the same due to the strike by teachers. The teachers’ body of the university had given a call for the strike to protest against the alleged autocratic attitude of the varsity authorities.

No teacher was found taking classes on the second day of the strike between 11 am and 1 pm. More teachers joined in the protest today as faculty members from the electronics, laws, architecture, planning, chemistry and computer wing joined the agitation. The teachers are up in arms against the alleged violation of the UGC and AICTE norms in granting promotions, pay scales and arrears by the varsity authorities.

On the other hand, the students showed their solidarity with the cause of the teachers. The teachers who were on strike, too, have assured the students to compensate for the loss of studies by taking extra classes either after normal studying hours (between 9 am and 3.20 pm) as well as on the weekends.

Dr Balwinder Singh, president of GNDU Teachers’ Association said the teachers have agreed to take extra classes. He said with the implementation of the ‘credit-based evaluation system’ in the teaching pattern since 2010-2011, the ad-hoc teachers cannot take classes. Under the credit-based evaluation, the performance of the students is judged by the continuous testing and evaluation process, he said. In this system, students are evaluated by the same teacher who taught them. “How can it be possible that an ad-hoc teacher can intervene in between to do justice with the students’ studies,” he said.

Varsity vice-chancellor AS Brar said there is a total strength of more than 450 regular teachers out of which 175 are working on an ad-hoc basis. “If the teachers continue with their strike, we can depute ad-hoc teachers on the job under such extreme circumstances. The students’ study is my prime concern,” he said. The strength of the teachers working on an ad-hoc basis is 25 per cent of the total number of teachers. How they can fill up for the teachers “is unfeasible. There are just four teachers on an ad-hoc basis with the CBM department. How could they justify the job of teaching 550 students of the CBM department, which normally is being looked after by 24 regular teachers,” the teachers said.

Amritsar, October 5
The Registrar of Guru nanak Dev University Dr Inderjit Singh has put up his dancing shoes to train bhangra and gidda teams of the university to prepare for the upcoming university’s Youth Festival, scheduled to be held on October 14.

Dr Inderjit Singh has not only earned the chair of University Registrar through his academic competence but has also bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Punjab government for his contribution in the field of folk dance a few years back.

Dr Singh has been teaching students nitty-gritty of folk dance for last two years since he joined the university.

Dr Singh said real traditional bhangra and gidda forms have got vanished with the advent of pop and album culture.

“I would call them (western singers) intruders. They have spoilt the real significance of the folk culture. My endeavour is to teach students about the exact form of bhangra and gidda,” he said.

It is for the first time that during the upcoming events in the campus, the traditional forms of bhangra and gidda as well as the folk dances of other states have been introduced.

“This time, we have introduced the exact traditional forms of bhangra, including lodhi, kamala, syal kotti, lehria, phumnia and mirza. These would be performed on the beats of traditional instruments like chhika, khunda, chimta, tumbi, algoze which would accompany dhol,” he said.

“Similarly, we would witness traditional forms of gidda like Malwai gidda which is performed by males and Sammi gidda which is performed by females. The other forms of gidda would be dadaus and jhumar. All these folk forms would be accompanied by the traditional ‘lok boliyan’ related to folklore of Punjab,” he added.

The folk dance is his forte and many of his students today are the renowned names in the Punjabi singing and dancing. The prominent among them included Malkiat Singh of ‘Tutak tutak tutiyan’ fame and Sarbjeet Cheema of ‘Rangla Punjab’ fame.

Associated with the folk dances since 1969 as a performer or as a choreographer, Dr Singh had also represented Punjab in as many as 16 countries in various competitions. He also coached the Punjab team during the cultural opening ceremony of the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

Amritsar, October 5
Owing to its mass appeal, a relatively modern tradition of fireworks has blended well with our ancient tradition. Thriving on this passion, however, are illegal fireworks factories running in various areas in the city.

Anngarh, known for illegal firecracker units, is a headache for both the civil and police administration. Adding to the menace are the problems of illegal storing and hoarding of these crackers.

Police Commissioner, Amritsar, RP Mittal, said no licences to make or store crackers have been issued so far. He said guidelines to act tough against the erring units have also been issued to the police posts in areas from where these illegal units are being run.

He said an illegal firecracker store was busted and sealed at Maha Singh gate recently. Fissile material was also seized from there. He said patrol parties have also been instructed to keep a watch especially in areas infamous for illegal manufacturing of crackers.

Known for bootlegging and drug addiction, Anngarh is also known as mini Sivakasi of the district due to a large number of illegal firework and cracker units being run from here. Many more illegal units mushroom around the festival season of Diwali. What makes it tough for the police is the fact that several residents have migrated to other parts of the city to avoid suspicion. They thereby take the skills of this life threatening occupation along with them. An illegal factory in Chheharta area of the city had caught fire some years ago. A police inquiry later revealed that the family had migrated from Anngarh.

Such illegal firecracker manufacturing units do not follow any safety norms leading to tragedies like a blast in an illegal firecracker unit being run by an SPO in 2009. Two teenagers lost their lives in the blast.

Children and women are employed as labourers in these units. The administration has so far failed to stop the growth of these illegal units.

Amritsar, October 5
All arrangements have been made to celebrate Dussehra with fervour tomorrow. The Shri Dussehra Committee Amritsar would organise the programme at Qila Parade Ground near the Durgiana Temple. Committee President Purshottam Seth said effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnath had been shifted to the ground. He informed that various NGOs had assured to deploy their men to provide amenities to the public at the ground. He said Sewa Samiti would install a booth of medical aid while other NGOs would make arrangements for offering potable water and other services for the convenience of public.

Dussehra Committee Lohgarh Gate would hold the Dussehra programme at the same ground (Qila Parade ground).

The Amritsar Police Commissionerate has deployed policemen in and around the venue where the programmes would be held.

Amritsar, October 5
Major companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Rail Coach Factory, New Holland Fiat, Eastman Cast and Forge Ltd, and International Tractors Ltd would participate in the Vendor Development Programme to be conducted as part of the CII’s ‘Destination Punjab’, a four-day Mega Expo to kick off from October 7.

Kamna Raj Aggarwala, Chairperson, CII Punjab, said MSME sector of the state was all set to get a major boost through the Vendor Development Programme. She added that under the programme these companies would interact and identify MSMEs of Punjab to procure various products from them.

‘Destination Punjab’ can be considered a proactive step towards branding Punjab and to fetch more investments into the state. “Especially for MSMEs, which forms the backbone of the state, it is a great platform to showcase their strength and benefiting from visiting delegations and corporate clientèle,” she added.

The expo is expected to benefit key sectors like farm equipment, implements and machinery.

Amritsar, October 5
The police recovered about 150 quintals of spurious ghee and refined oil from a factory situated in the Gujjarpura area here and arrested nine persons from the spot.

A case under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Section 7 of the EC Act has been registered at C-division police station in this connection.

The police said they had received a tip-off that the firm in the name of Tajindeer Singh situated at Kanak Mandi and was run by one Bobby son of Tajinder Singh and resident of Mall Road. They said their godown was situated at Gujjarpura. According to information, the accused used to sell the cheap and lower quality ghee and refined oil by labelling names of the top brands on it. The police raided the complex premises and seized hundreds of tins of Ghee and Refined oil.

Amritsar, October 5
Navratras are special for so many reasons. But what other reason can be good enough than the fun and entertaining Dandiya nights. Don’t mind if you are clumsy wit, show your moves, latka-jhatkas, thumping on pepped up desi, classic or even phoren numbers. Alpha One was the venue for some dandiya fun with their Navratri dandiya Nights.

And the intresting twist was given by the Punjabi ras to the raas with Labh Janjua, Harbhajan Mann and Jassi giving competition to dandiya queen Phalguni Pathak on the dance floor. Dhol Jageero Da and bhangra moves fusing with sounds of striking dandiya sticks. What can beat that!

Though the mood was set, with girls performing Garba in colourful ghagra cholis and boys dressed perfectly in their traditional best. Dance troupe Dare Dazzel from delhi entertained and motivated the crowd by their energetic dandiya moves. But the highlight of the show was a dandiya raas on bhangra rock.

“We wanted to give the holy city a feel of the festivities by bringing in traditional dandiya. But we were glad to see that people enjoyed themselves even on Bollywood and punjbai numbers. Guess nothing can beat Punjabi music,” said Avnish Singh, Manager, marketing and sales, Alpha One.

Also, Lakhwinder Wadali completed the Punjabi flavour by performing to an excited crowd.

Aahun Aahun from Love Aaj Kal, Disco Khisko and Hadippa from Dil Bole played along with the dhol were the top-picks from Bollywood and amongst the desi singers, well anybody and everybody was good enough to make them put their dancing shoes on.

While most were enjoying their moves, some were left disappointed. ‘Most dandiya nights have professional folk singers and artistes performing live. It gels with the whole festive feel. Churning out remixed Punjabi numbers and Bollywood songs just mess things up as it becomes just another night then,” said Kapila Mahajan, a student who had specially come with her cousins to play dandiya.

Whatever be the reason, the result was achieved. It indeed bcame a night of enjoyment as the Dj kept on playing one desi chartbuster after the another and people grooving to the tunes.

Amritsar, October 5
Lakhwinder Wadali needs no introduction, with his surname giving a cue about his legendary lineage. The third generation Wadali has already proved his point by following his father and uncles footsteps and as expected there is more to come.

All geared up for his latest album, Naina De Buhe, which also features the famous duo of his father and uncle, the Wadali Brothers. But the young singer is neither feeling jittery nor over-shadowed by the presence of his celebrated family. “I don’t feel the pressure, instead my father and uncle have always guided me through,” says the confident singer.

In Amritsar, to perform at the ongoing Navratri Dandiya Nights at Alpha One, the singer gave a trailer of his latest album by singing a track for the awestruck crowd. “The album has nine tracks, totally sufi with soulful lyrics,” he shares.

But the young singer has a request for his audiences, “Its not fair to make comparisons with my elders as they have given 50 years of their life to Sufi music and I am just starting with just five years behind me. Give me some time and I am sure I’ll prove my worth.”

Call it his bloodline or a personal choice, but Lakhwinder is not intimidated by the glamour of the popular music culture. “I wanted to do something different for myself, not because of my family tree but also as a young aspiring singer. I am doing my own thing and so are the other singers. Why be judgmental about anybody.”

Apart from making his music, he is also a busy actor now. Having made a debut in acting with Punjabi film, Chhevan Dariya, he is doing his second movie, Ravi. “My first was about drug abuse and the second one is a different storyline. I am just trying to work on the acting bit.”