Prakash Purb Guru Granth Sahib Ji (1st September 2019)

2 Punjab Advance August 2016 Editorial

"Surprised on the exclusion of Punjab from the list of states to be visited by the Inter-Min - isterial Central Team to assess losses in flood-affected areas in different States. Request HM @AmitShah ji to direct the Central Team to visit Punjab to assess the huge losses," This tweet by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh sent the officials of the Union Min - istry concerned into a huddle. Yes, the state that had been feeding the nation for the last 70 years, had been surprisingly, but conveniently, ignored while preparing a list of flood- hit states entitled to special Central assistance.

The Centre was quick to amend the order, saying the Centre will be sending a team to Punjab to assess the damage due to the recent floods in several parts of the state. The amended announcement came barely a couple of hours after Capt Amarinder Singh’s tweet, protestinig against the state being left out from the list of states identified for on- the-spot assessment of the flood situation by an inter-ministerial central team (IMCT). As per the original order the IMCT had been mandated to visit the flood affected states of Meghalya, Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala, for making final recommendations to the central government for allocation of special assistance.

The Central team ignoring Punjab was all the more surprising, as the state Chief Minister had already written to the Prime Minister seeking a special flood relief package of Rs 1,000 crore to deal with the losses resulting from the floods. It is estimated, that the state has suffered losses worth Rs 2000 crore due to the floods.

Flooding in the Sutlej due to the discharge of water from Bhakra dam, the heaviest since 1988, had caused extensive damage to the standing crops and inundated residential areas in the villages.The state health department is providing healthcare and treatment serv - ices through toll free number 104 in the flood affected areas of the state. The civil sur - geons have been instructed to take immediate action to control any epidemic that may spread in the wake of the floods. Pakistan added to the woes of the state by polluting the Sutlej with waters from the tanneries.

With the IMCT team assessing the damage, the state is bearing the expenses to provide relief to the flood-hit. The special relief ball is now in the Centre’s court.

August 2016 Punjab Advance 3 s t 10 13 Central team to Slew of relief Come, inv n assess loss measures e t n o C

06 Flood havoc

4 Punjab Advance September-2019 15 20 29 est in Punjab Special Assembly session to Mansa couple distribute cloth mark 550th Parkash Parb bags at mandis

Punjab www.punjabadvanceonline.com September› 2019 Advance LVOL›9 L ISSUE›5 Room No. 1, 5th Floor, Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh-160001, Ph. : 0172-2740668, Email Id: [email protected] C.E.O. - Anindita Mitra (IAS) Editor - Donald Banerjee Designer - Gagandeep Kaur Content Writer - Ravee Pandher Publisher - Information & Public Relations Department, Punjab

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the authors in the articles published in PUNJAB ADVANCE are their own. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Punjab Government or the organization they work for. Editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or expand the articles submitted. In case of any dispute, legal jurisdiction will lie in Chandigarh based courts.Published and Edited by Ms. Anindita Mitra (IAS) on behalf of the Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab at Room No. 1, 5th Floor, Civil Sectt., Chandigarh

vSeptember-2019 Punjab Advance 5 Cover Flood havoc CM calls it a natural calamity Over 300 villages bear brunt of flood fury Deluge damages crops over thousands of acres Scores of villagers spent nights on rooftops

Donald Banerjee

ore than 300 villages, mainly in Pun - food and water supplies to the villagers. jab's Ropar, Jalandhar and Ferozepur M districts, were badly affected in In Ropar, the district administration declared a floods that ravaged Punjab, damaging crops in holiday in all educational institutes. The govern - thousands of acres and forcing thousands of vil - ment declared the flood situation in the state as lagers to spend nights on rooftops. a natural calamity.

The situation came to such a pass that the au - The floodgates of the Bhakra Dam were opened thorities had to deploy helicopters to airdrop on August 17, releasing 19,000 cusecs of water,

6 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover

Centre must act Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has sought a comprehensive mech - anism from the Centre to check recurrence of floods, which is resulting in the state suffering damage to the tune of crores of rupees every year. The Chief Minister who called on Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he had apprised the Union Minister of the ravages caused by the floods to the state, which was not in a position to bear the losses year after year. He suggested to the Union Minister various measures like de-silting, and creation of water reservoirs. “It is now up to the Min - istry to find ways and means to avert such crisis in the future, he added. after the reservoir touched the 1,674-foot mark to 45,000 cusecs and as per IMD forecast of amid forecast of heavy rain in the catchment area lesser rainfall in coming weeks, the BBMB after of the Sutlej. This added to the fury of the Sutlej. analysing the technical parameters has decided to reduce the releases through spillways from Incessant heavy rain in the intervening night of 41,000 cusecs to 18,500 cusecs. Also, the spillway August 17 and 18 in the catchment areas had gates opening would be lowered down to 4 feet generated 3.11 lakh cusecs of water into Bhakra from existing 8 feet with effect from midnight." dam and this water inflow was more than that of the 1988 floods. Following the rains and the release of excess water from the Bhakra Dam, the Sutlej river and In view of the safety of the dam, we had to resort its tributaries flooded villages in Ludhiana, Ja - to the controlled water release through spillway landhar, Ferozepur and Rupnagar. gates, said a spokesman of the BBMB. With Forty-five-foot-deep and 175-ft-wide “Though the water inflows into the dam have re - breach in the bundh due to floods, the Ferozepur duced yet the water level is still in the range of district administration remained on high alert about 50,000 to 60,000 cusecs. It has also been with the precautionary deployment of the NDRF decided to bring down the present reservoir level and Army teams. by at least five feet to 1675 feet level to handle the possible future flood events. Keeping in view The water level of the river surpassed the danger the present reduced inflows into the Sutlej river mark near the railway tracks after which rescue

September-2019 Punjab Advance 7 Cover operations were started. itate the affected people to claim insurance against the losses from various companies. At least 80 villages in Shahkot and Sultanpur He also asked the Finance Department to imme - Lodhi sub-divisions of Jalandhar and Kapurthala diately clear the pending relief funds to the tune districts were flooded. Crops on more than of around Rs 100 crore for expeditious disburse - 45,000 acres of land remained submerged and ment by the Revenue Department through the hundreds of families remained trapped in their respective Deputy Commissioners. houses surrounded by floodwater. An official with the state Drainage Department said the overall situation in the Beas and Ravi While several villages remained cut off, many vil - rivers was under control though danger contin - lagers refuse to leave their houses fearing ued to lurk in areas adjacent to the Satluj river theft.The administration officials convinced the and further downstream at Harike headworks in families to shift women and children to relief Ferozepur. camps. The district administration announced Meanwhile, food relief teams of the Indian Army evacuation in villages along the Sutlej river as a under the Western Command were carrying out precautionary step. rescue operations in various areas of the state. Teams with 60-70 persons each have been de - Natural calamity ployed with the requisite equipment at Mirthal (Pathankot), Dinanagar (Gurdaspur), and Phillaur, Moved by the plight of the flood-hit, Chief Min - Nakodar and Shahkot in Jalandhar. ister Capt Amarinder Singh told the Financial Commissioner to officially declare natural Ministers visit flood-hit areas calamity in the villages as a unit in order to facil -

CM surveys flood-hit areas

8 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover

A farmer stands amid his damaged crops

In the wake of the massive flood fury in various tion that 235 Rapid Response Teams and 416 Mo - districts of Doaba and Malwa, the Punjab Minis - bile Teams have been deputed all over the state. ters as well as the Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria visited village Meowal Sabha visited the affected areas. Rural Develop - where the district administration has been carry - ment and Panchyats Minister Tripat Rajinder ing out massive plugging operations on 350-ft SinghBajwa, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, widened breach and expressed satisfaction over Water Resources Minister Sukhbinder Singh the plugging operation. Sarkaria, Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kan - Gurpreet Singh Kangar also visited the Jalandhar gar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat and Kapurthala districts and assessed the steps Bhushan Ashu as well as Vidhan Sabha Speaker being taken for relief and rescue. Comprehending Rana K.P. Singh spent the entire day overseeing the gravity of the situation in flood hit areas of the relief and rescue operations. Jalandhar, the Minister has decided to camp in Tripat Rajinder SinghBajwa reviewed the work at the district for the time being. village Jania under Lohian sub division along with Bharat Bhushan Ashu appraised the distribution Chairman Powercom Baldev Singh Sran and as - of ration and drinking water to the incumbents sessed the process of evacuation of the stranded. of flood ravaged areas as well as provision of The Health Minister visited medical cCamps at silage, fodder and vaccination for the cattle .The various places in Kapurthala and Jalandhar, in - Roopnagar area was visited by Rana K.P.Singh cluding worst affected Lohian area. He directed who directed the authorities to leave no stone proper medical supplies in camps and ensure de - unturned to bail out the people in the hour cri - ployment of ambulances. It is pertinent to men - sis.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 9 Cover Central team to assess loss

Union Govt bows to CM’s demand, includes Punjab in flood review list

Donald Banerjee

he Centre will be sending a team to for the IMCT review of the flood damage, but Punjab to assess the damage caused Punjab did not find mention in it, even though T by the recent floods in several parts the state had witnessed large scale flooding in of the state. The announcement came on August many areas following unprecedented rains. 31 evening after protest by the state government "Surprised on the exclusion of Punjab from the for being left out of the list of states identified for list of states to be visited by the Inter-Ministerial on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation by Central Team to assess losses in flood-affected an inter-ministerial central team (IMCT). areas in different States. Request HM @Amit - An official spokesman said: “Responding to Pun - Shah ji to direct the Central Team to visit Punjab jab CM Capt Amarinder Singh's appeal, Union to assess the huge losses," Amarinder had Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has said that a cen - tweeted. tral team will be sent to Punjab too to visit the The IMCT has been mandated to visit the flood affected areas”. affected states of Meghalya, Assam, Tripura, Earlier in the day, the Centre had listed 11 states Bihar, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat,

10 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover

Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala, for making final recommenda - tions to the central govern - Pak floods Sutlej with ment for allocation of special assistance. dirty water Amarinder pointed out that he had already written to Pakistan released polluted water of its tanneries the Prime Minister to seek a near the international border into the Sutlej on special flood relief package August 24th night, raising the river’s level and of Rs 1,000 crore to deal damaging the embankment along the water with the losses resulting body near Tendiwala village in Ferozepur dis - from floods in the state. No - tably, the State Government trict. had estimated the initial loss by the floods in some The river crisscrosses the international border parts of state at Rs 1,700 before entering the neighbouring country in crore, including an esti - Fazilka disrict. The tanneries, according Fer - mated crop loss of Rs 750 ozepur Deputy Commissioner Chander Gaind, crore. are located in Gandha Singh Wala village of Pak - Extending gratitude towards istan and the water was released into the Sutlej the Central Government for from there through drains. At Tendiwala, the including Punjab in the list river re-enters India. of visits which have to be conducted by the Inter Min - Alarmed by the situation, in a meeting called to isterial Central Team (IMTC) review the overall flood situation in Punjab on of the Union Government, August 25, the Chief Minister directed the state Punjab Civil Supplies and water resources department to work out an ac - Consumers’ Affairs Minister tion plan with the Army to strengthen the em - Bharat Bhushan Ashu said bankment. the pressure exerted by Earlier, on getting to know of the rise in the Sut - Punjab Chief Minister Capt lej's water level, the district administration Amarinder Singh on the worked in coordination with the Army, state ir - Union Government had forced it to include Punjab rigation and drainage departments, and locals in the list.At the same time, to repair damage caused by Pakistan’s move. Ashu urged the Union Gov - However, there were concerns over the health ernment to give equal im - hazards that the polluted water could pose to portance to Punjab at par locals. with other states which

September-2019 Punjab Advance 11 Cover

have been badly affected by the floods. age and relief works carried out by the state ad - Ashu demanded that the Central Government ministration,” according to the communique must give adequate relief to the state to mitigate shared by the Centre with the state government. the agony of the flood affected people.He ex - “Further upon submission of final memorandum pressed surprise over the fact that although Pun - by the state government of Punjab, the same jab has been hit hard by the torrential rains which central team will visit the state again for detailed caused havoc and most of the Punjab was inun - assessment of damage and relief operations con - dated by the flood waters but the Union Govern - ducted for making final recommendation for al - ment didn’t take the situation of Punjab location of additional funds,” it said. seriously. People in several Punjab districts, including Ja - The Central team will be led by a joint secretary landhar, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, Rupnagar, Moga, level officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It will Ludhiana, have lost their houses, belongings, and also comprise representatives of agriculture, fi - standing crops in the recent floods, which are nance, power, road transport & highways, rural said to be the worst since 1988. development and jal shakti ministries, the senior The Punjab government had assessed the dam - official said. age to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore due to the del - “It has been decided to depute an inter-ministe - uge and had already sought Rs 1,000 crore from rial central team with responsibility for on the the Centre as the special flood relief package. spot assessment, first hand assessment of dam -

12 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover Slew of relief measures Check on outbreak of diseases Repair work on link roads

Punmedia Bureau

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered result of damage to crops due to inundation of a slew measures for the relief and rehabilitation their fields in flood water. of flood victims in various parts of the state, in - The Chief Minister asked the Cooperation De - cluding supply of free high quality wheat seeds partment to convert the short-term loans of the to farmers for the upcoming Rabi season. flood affected farmers into medium-term Reviewing the post flood Action Plan (AP) for the loans.The Registrar Cooperative Societies was state, the Chief Minister asked the Additional told to advance fresh crop loan limits to such Chief Secretary (Development) to ensure timely farmers to enable them to cultivate the Rabi supply of wheat seeds to the flood-affected farm - crop. ers, who have already suffered huge losses as a Taking note of the damage to the rural rink roads

September-2019 Punjab Advance 13 Cover and other marketing infrastructure, he directed hit areas including Kapurthala, Roopnagar, Fer - the Mandi Board to undertake repair work on a ozepur, Ludhiana, Fazilka and Moga have also war footing as the water recedes.Capt Amarinder been asked to implement the same,” said an offi - has once again asked the Powercom to move ex - cial government spokesperson. peditiously for the restoration of power supply in The guidelines explicitly state that economic, the flood ravaged villages. The PSPCL chairman physical and mental wellbeing of the affected citi - has been asked to further intensify their efforts zens should be taken care of. The Civil Surgeons by employing special teams of engineers to com - have been asked to carry out IEC activities to ed - plete the power restoration work. ucate the masses about diseases which usually Amid fear of outbreak of water-borne epidemics occur post floods.Personal protection methods in the wake of the floods, the Chief Minister has like boiling water, proper cooking of food, wash - ordered the Principal Secretary Health to take ef - ing of hands, use of ORS and Zinc tablets, per - fective measures to check the outbreak of dis - sonal hygiene and cleanliness of surroundings eases like diarrhoea, cholera, enteric fever, has to be communicated. jaundice etc as well as vector borne diseases like Information on water-borne diseases like diah - malaria, chikungunya, dengue etc. orrhea, vomiting, cholera, vector-borne diseases The Health Department was told to ensure fog - like Malaria, Chickengunia and Dengue etc, skin ging of the flooded areas to prevent the breed - and eye diseases has also to be conveyed.In a ing of mosquitoes.The Principal Secretary (Food one of its kind of actions recommended, in order and Civil Supplies) has been directed to ensure to boost the morale of flood victims, State Gov - adequate supply of ration and drinking water to ernment has suggested to rope in counsellors for the affected families. prevention of psychological diseases arising out The Animal Husbandry Department has also of acute stress.It has been directed to advance made elaborate arrangements to tackle disease special care for management of outbreak of epi - among cattle. Nearly 150 special veterinary demics. Outreach medical camps are to be es - teams had been deputed to provide veterinary tablished to provide medicine, counselling and healthcare to around 61,000 cattle affected by for referral services to higher centres. earning. recent floods in 225 villages of nine districts The Food and Civil Supplies Department has to across the State.Special veterinary teams are ensure supply of ration and water where ever working round the clock to provide medicines needed. Power supply is to be restored at the and vaccination to the livestock affected by the earliest. floods in the villages of Jalandhar, Moga, Ludhi - Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh, chair - ana, Ferozepur, SBS Nagar, Ropar, Fazilka, Tarn ing a high-level meeting of Group of Secretaries Taran and Kapurthala. on Disaster Management to review flood relief The state government issued the post-flood ac - operations in the State on Monday, directed to tion plan with exhaustive guidelines to the Dis - immediately release the funds to meet urgent fi - trict Administrations of the flood-affected nancial requirements in affected areas.Asking of - districts to save human lives and animals from ficials to further speed up the relief operations, diseases and to restore normalcy. the Chief Secretary directed the state Health De - The plan was issued for Jalandhar District Ad - partment officials to ensure adequate supply of ministration in particular on the directions of the medicines for control of water related diseases Chief Minister while directing the Deputy Com - in all affected districts, and the Food Department missioner to immediately bring it into action. officials ensure adequate supply of food materi - “Likewise, all the Deputy Commissioners of flood- als to the affected areas.

14 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover Come, invest in Punjab

CM invites delegates from 25 countries Mega investors’ summit in Mohali in Dec

Donald Banerjee

he Chief Minister Capt Amarinder ganised by Invest Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh has extended a personal invita - took the opportunity to invite the august gather - T tion to the Ambassadors and represen - ing of envoys to participate in the Progressive tatives of various foreign missions to invest in the Punjab Investors Summit-2019 to be organised at state and also to visit the state during the historic Mohali from 5th to 6th December. 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji. Delegates of more than 25 countries, comprising Ambassadors, trade organisations and Mission Presiding over a pre-summit interaction with for - representatives from United States, United King - eign missions under ‘Ambassador Connect’ or - dom, Spain, Qatar, France, Israel, Canada, Japan,

CM addresses delegates at pre-summit meeting

September-2019 Punjab Advance 15 Cover

UAE, Taiwan, Slovak Republic and Czech Repub - tating investors. This, he said, had brought about lic etc attended the Pre-Summit Interaction. winds of change which was evident from the fact Captain Amarinder Singh said the summit would that over Rs. 50,000 crore (USD 7 billion) invest - be a milestone in exploring the tremendous busi - ments had been firmed up since his Government ness potential, besides creating synergy between took over in March 2017. Punjab and foreign investors, for pushing indus - The Chief Minister assured the investors of his trialisation on fast track. He also asked the Am - government’s full support and cooperation in bassadors to send their teams of entrepreneurs, setting up their ventures in the state, besides who were keen to invest in Punjab, as well as in - providing seamless and time-bound clearances dividual investors to participate in the Investors on fast track mode. Summit. He further mentioned that since the MSME sec - The Chief Minister said the state was moving to - tor was the engine for socio-economic growth wards greater industrialisation in a shift from the and the backbone of industrial development, the traditional agriculture-based economy, which State Government had prioritized MSME devel - had already reached a point of saturation. His opment as a key focus area. government had promoted ease of business with its new industrial policy, which is aimed at facili - Earlier, the Chief Minister had a one-to-one in -

CM at Invest Punjab meeting

16 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover teraction with the Japanese High Commissioner In his welcome address, Chief Secretary Karan Kenji Hiramatsu, who evinced keen interest in Avtar Singh termed Punjab as a land full of in - promoting the tourism sector in Punjab. Re - dustrial opportunities. He said the State had un - sponding to his proposal, the Chief Minister ex - dertaken a slew of progressive regulatory and tended all support to Japan in exploring the policy reforms with the aim of enhancing the possibility of developing a tourism site over an quality of service delivery. He exhorted the for - area of nearly 500 acres in Talwara, which eign missions to come forward for business col - abounds in natural and scenic beauty. The Chief laborations and tie-ups, besides forging technical Minister also invited him to explore the potential alliances to catapult industrial growth in the of developing a technology hub over an area of state. 500 to 700 acres either at Rajpura or Bathinda and suggested that the proposal be further crys - Earlier, presenting a power point presentation on tallised at the December summit. The Japanese investment and industrial scenario in Punjab, Ad - High Commissioner also showed interest in set - ditional Chief Secretary Investment Promotion ting up an electric vehicle manufacturing unit in Vini Mahajan said Punjab, with just 1.5 per cent collaboration with world renowned Toshiba of India’s land area, contributes 3 per cent to Group. During the meeting the progress on set - India’s GDP. She said that Punjab was a manu - ting up of Centre of Excellence in IT Sector at Mo - facturing hub and the biggest producer of trac - hali also came up for discussion. tors, bicycle and bicycle components and hosiery woollen. Punjab was also a major exporter and UAE Ambassador Ahmad AL Banna apprised the had exported goods worth 6 billion US Dollars in Chief Minister that a mega food park would be over 200 countries during financial year 2018-19. set up in collaboration with EMAAR and a team Prominent amongst other present on the occa - from UAE Ministry of Food Security would soon sion were Finance Minister Manpreet Singh visit Punjab to further finalise the modalities in Badal, Industries Minister Sunder Sham Arora, this regard. He also sought Captain Amarinder Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, Singh’s intervention to prevail upon the Union Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Advi - Ministry of Civil Aviation to get some flights di - sor Invest Punjab Major B.S. Kohli, ACS Develop - verted to Amritsar to ease the heavy air traffic at ment Viswajeet Khanna, ACS Cooperation various other existing international airports, and Kalpana Mittal Barua, Principal Secretary Tourism thus boost trade and business activities between and Cultural Affairs Vikas Partap Singh, Principal the two sides. Dr. Banna also apprised the Chief Secretary to CM Tejveer Singh, Special Principal Minister that UAE-based business groups includ - Secretary to CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Resident ing Lulu, DP World, Sharaf Group and BRS are al - Commissioner Punjab Bhawan Rakhee Gupta ready exploring business and trade opportunities Bhandari, Principal Secretary Health Anurag in sectors such as food processing, logistics, Agarwal, Principal Secretary Transport K Shiva urban infrastructure develop and healthcare in Prasad, Principal Secretary Higher Education Punjab. Anurag Verma, CEO Invest Punjab Rajat Agrawal and Director Industries C Sibin.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 17 Cover

Nation’s ‘food basket’ for 70 years Punjab opens doors to investors

Punmedia Bureau

unjab no longer wants to be the the bread-basket or the granary of India, from P "bread-basket of India" and is desper - the time the country was not sufficient in food - ately looking to attracting investment grains and was dependent on foreign food and business to catch up with the rest of the aid."Although Punjab comprises only 1.53 per country. These were the words of State's Finance cent of India''s landmass, even today, we are con - Minister Manpreet Singh Badal at the eighth In - tributing 32 per cent of all foodgrains... cereal vest North Summit, organized by the Confedera - production in India," he said. tion of Indian Industry in Bengaluru. “In the last 70 years in the process of providing Having completed "one phase" in its efforts to food security for India, we have actually poisoned contribute to the development of India, Punjab our soils (by use of fertilisers) and we have de - sees that there are a few blank pages in that pleted our water acquifers... and we sincerely "beautiful picture" (the State). He noted that for feel in Punjab that green revolution in India must the last 70 years, Punjab has been developed as move east", Mr Badal said. ".. real food bowl of

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal interacts with Uttarakhand CM

18 Punjab Advance September-2019 Cover

India is not Punjab, it's not Haryana; the real food ately after taking over the reins in March 2017, bowl of India is going to be Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the Congress government in Punjab took varied Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Odisha.. this is where initiatives to scale new heights of development green revolution must go to," the Minister in all spheres. He added that with the introduc - added. tion of investor-friendly initiatives, the state gov - Punjab must be relieved of its duty to grow food - ernment successfully reversed the unfortunate grains, he said adding, the State can diversify into trend of industry fleeing from the state due to ill- agriculture. India's food policy, Mr Badal said, is conceived industrial policies of the previous gov - rooted in the 1960s where cereal production was ernment. preeminent but though the country sits on A new wave of industrial growth in the state is mountains of foodgrains, yet an average Indian evident from the fact that over Rs 50,000 crore is malnourished."I think food policy should be investments firmed up since the Congress gov - converted to a nutrition policy where an average ernment took over, said Manpreet. Punjab is Indian must have access to milk, fruits and veg - emerging as the most favoured investment des - etables, and Punjab can actually be the State tination not only among Indian entrepreneurs which is supplying quality milk, fruits and veg - but also across the globe. Several delegations etables". from Japan, China, UAE, Spain and Singapore have evinced keen interest to invest in the state. He said ‘Invest Punjab-Business First Portal’ has In the last 70 years, in the process of growing been launched to facilitate clearances for 46 reg - foodgrains, Punjab never mounted a serious pub - ulatory services of 16 departments or agencies. lic relations exercise to attract investment be - The portal also guides MSMEs and large units cause food security was important for the about the various incentives available to country, the Minister said."But we realised now them.According to PWD and education minister that we have to mount a serious public relations Vijay Inder Singla, Mohali is emerging as a big in - exercise: so, Punjab is open to business after 70 dustrial hub after Hyderabad and Bangalore. He years", he said. emphasised that Punjab, with conducive business "Since there is a sense of urgency, sense of des - eco-system, excellent road and air connectivity, peration... because we have to catch up with the and congenial industry-labour relations had en - rest of India. That's why we are in Bengaluru abled the state to achieve high-growth trajec - today (for the investment summit)", Mr Badal tory.CEO of Punjab bureau of investment added. promotion Rajat Aggarwal invited industrialists The Finance Minister appealed to the entrepre - and entrepreneurs to participate in the investor neurs and industrialists to invest in the state, summit being organized at Mohali on December promising them lucrative incentives and conces - 5-6, which would offer them a healthy platform sions. to interact with the local industrialists. The finance minister mentioned that immedi -

September-2019 Punjab Advance 19 Cover Special Assembly session to mark 550th Parkash Parb

Punmedia Bureau

CM chairs Cabinet meeting at Sultanpur Lodhi

he Punjab Government has decided to in this historical city in Kapurthala District in No - hold a special Assembly session next vember.It was for the first time that the Punjab T month to commemorate the 550th Cabinet meeting was held anywhere outside birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Devji and Chandigarh. also press for a similar sitting of Parliament. The meeting resoved to invite President Ram At a special Cabinet meeting in Sultanpur Lodhi Nath Kovind and eminent Sikh personalities to —associated with the life of the founder of address the State Assembly special session next Sikhism— on September 10, the state govern - month. In another resolution, the Cabinet also ment also decided to take up with the Ministry decided to strongly urge the Centre to convene a of External Affairs the issue of entry fee for Sikh special joint session of Parliament to mark the pilgrims using the planned Kartarpur historic occasion. “The Parliament session too Corridor.Pakistan has been insisting on the entry should be addressed by the President and vari - fee despite having waived the visa requirements ous prominent Sikh personalities,” the resolution for Sikh pilgrims. added.

The main event to commemorate Sri Guru Nanak The Cabinet also resolved to take up with Exter - Devji's 550th birth anniversary is to be celebrated nal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar the issue of al -

20 Punjab Advance September-2019 lowing visa-free entry to the devotees visiting ment authorities, had been taken in pursuance Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, without of the announcement made by Capt Amarinder any entry fee, facilitation charges, service charges Singh during his speech in the Punjab Vidhan etc.This would help Sikh devotees pay obeisance Sabha on February 20, 2018, and in line with the without any restriction. notification issued on October 18, 2018.

The Chief Minister decided to convene his next Further, in line with the Chief Minister’s approval Cabinet meeting too at Sultanpur Lodhi on Octo - dated June 15, 2017, the Cabinet approved the ber 10 to review further progress in infrastruc - reservation policy for allotment of land/sites ture development projects in the city.On a falling under the jurisdiction of PUDA and other personal request from Co-operation Minister Special Authorities. The reservation policy envis - Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, the Chief Minister ages 3 per cent residential plots/houses/apart - also agreed to convene a special meeting at Dera ments for allotment to government employees Baba Nanak before September 30 to review the by development authorities, Municipal Corpora - status of various development projects being ex - tions, Improvement Trusts or any other Govern - ecuted in the area. ment agency.

The special Cabinet meeting cleared a proposal Employees of Punjab government, its Boards and for renaming 136 km Sultanpur Lodhi-Dera Baba Corporations, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Nanak Road as 'Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg' and employees/officials of Apex institutions working sanctioned a sum of Rs 96 crore to upgrade and under Cooperative department of Punjab Gov - widen it to 10 metres. The road passes through ernment like Markfed, Milkfed, Punjab State Co - Kapurthala, Kartarpur and Beas-Batala. Acceding operative Bank, Housefed etc, and employees of to another request by Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Universities funded by Punjab government (ex - Navtej Singh Cheema, the Cabinet also passed a cept private universities), would be eligible for proposal to upgrade the local civil hospital to a reservation under the policy. The applicant super-specialty institution.It also sanctioned Rs should have completed at least five years of reg - 1.24 crore for the construction of a kilometer- ular service or should have retired within the last long new road from Gurdwara Sant Ghat to con - five years from the date of commencement of nect it with the Kapurthala-Sultanpur Lodhi Road. the scheme. Allotment of flats, sites The allotment will be made to only those appli - The Cabinet also took a series of decisions in re - cants who do not own any plot/flat in his/her spect of house allotment, including restriction of name or in the name of his/her wife/husband or flats for allotment of land under ECGHS scheme dependent. Further, the applicant should not to 40 per acre and 3 per cent reservation of resi - have ever been allotted residential plot/house dential plots for government employees under under discretionary quote or on the basis of pref - PUDA and special authorities’ jurisdiction. erences under any scheme.The applicant will An official spokesperson said after the meeting have to submit the application with date of reg - that the decision to put a curb on per acre flats, ular joining/retirement duly certifying him being allotted to the Employees Cooperative Group in service from the concerned drawing and dis - Housing Societies (ECGHS) by various develop - bursing officer (DDO) of the department.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 21 Punjab Diary

Mansa wins Poshan Abhiyan award Mansa has clinched the the national award for hiyan was to put an end to malnutrition. She best performing district in Poshan Abhiyan for added that the campaign was being run suc - the second consecutive year. Deputy Commis - cessfully and was aimed at ensuring better sioner Apneet Riyait received the award from health for children upto 6 years of age suffer - Union Minister for Social Security, Women and ing from low birth weight, nutritious food, Child Development Smriti Irani at a special cer - physical development and to treat anaemia . emony held in Delhi. Women and children were the main benefici - Speaking at the event Mrs Smriti Irani said aries under this programme. Mansa had been conferred this award for im - Poshan Abhiyan became a widely run cam - plementing Poshion Abhiyan at the grass root paign in the district activities such as baby level and fighting against malnutrition . shower for expecting mothers , campaign on Last year also Mansa district won the same breast feeding and information regarding mal - award for successfully implementing nutrition nutrition and its effects. Besides, special mon - campaign and changing lives of people in a itoring of anaemic children after every three healthy way . months was conducted . The targets were Social Security and Women and Children De - achieved because of the utmost dedication velopment department director Mrs Gurpreet shown by anganwadi workers and ASHA work - K Sapra said the main motive of the Poshan ab - ers, ANMs and others.

Reviving Lok Sangeet traditions “How many of youngsters in Punjab today foremost genre of folk singing that originated know the difference between a petha, that is in the villages when elders used to sit around a dish, and a petha that is a form of folk song? and sing couplets as entertainment. Very few may know that there are over three It developed into a competitive folk art form categories of folk festive songs, with several and we perform it in weddings as well,” says genres that are sung specifically in a traditional Baljeet. Her folk orchestra group, comprising Punjabi wedding. five of her students, performs at various com - Folk artiste Baljeet Kaur, who broke a few glass petitive music festivals, NRI weddings and pri - ceilings by becoming the first female dholi in vate ceremonies. the region, knows the answer to her question “It is our way of re-introducing people to their and we do too. The young artiste has now art. Earlier, the ‘gaun’ or musical evenings in taken up the cause of reviving the Lok Sangeet Punjabi weddings were held for seven to 11 traditions. days during which women would come and Baljeet has formed an all-women folk orches - sing folk songs and enjoy the wedding festivi - tra that performs typically rich folk songs, in - ties. Now, we have customised the tradition to cluding Kavishri and Vaar.“Kavishri is the a ‘sangeet or cocktail nite’ where only the DJ

22 Punjab Advance September-2019 Punjab Diary

makes a noise. We perform suhaag, ghoriyan, she shares. boliyan, sithiniyan, tappe, chandd and, chola – Juggling between her passion for folk music a song for every wedding festivity. All these and her job as a music and cultural activities forms of folk songs that people seem to have in-charge at Sri Guru Harkrishan Sen Sec forgotten and it’s quite sad,” she adds. School, Sultanwind, Baljeet also finds time to Baljeet performs folk tunes only with her teach music to her band members and stu - group using folk instruments like dhol, algoze, dents free of cost. “These girls belong to poor tumbi and dhadd that no longer find place families and are pursuing studies as well. among the digital synchronisers. “We feel Through the orchestra, they help me to pro - greatly appreciated when we get loudest mote folk music and also get to earn whatever cheers from our audience while we perform,” they can for their families.”

550th Parkash Parb website

The Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Industries launched a website, a mobile app and various Minister Sunder Sham Arora and Sports Min - social media platforms dedicated to the 550th ister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, launched the Parkash Parb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The website - 550yearsofgurunanakdevji.com - be - platforms are aimed at providing an interactive sides social media platform viz Facebook page and engaging experience to the devotees seek - 550YearsofGuruNanakDevJi/ , twitter handle ing information related to the ongoing activi - 550yrsGuruNanak, Instagram account ties and events to be held in November this 550YearsofGuruNanakDevJi and a YouTube year. channel. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary Gover - said the digital platforms would help connect nance Reforms Vini Mahajan apprised the people across the globe and create awareness Chief Minister that the digital media platforms about the basic philosophy of the first Sikh had been jointly designed by the departments Guru. The Chief Minister further said that the of Cultural Affairs, Information & Public Rela - underlying objective of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s tions and Governance Reforms. She said the ideology was to create an egalitarian society digital platforms include information on the based on the ethos of tolerance, peace, com - life and teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, be - munal harmony, women empowerment and sides Janamsakhis, and travelogues of Guru Ji. protection of natural resources, which has been aptly depicted on this website. The Chief MInister, accompanied by Finance

September-2019 Punjab Advance 23 Punjabis Overseas

Branded ‘terrorist’,Sikh girl hits back

Branded as a "terrorist" at a London playground, a 10- year-old British Sikh schoolgirl has hit back with a social media message saying greater "exposure and knowl - edge" should be promoted about the community to "handle racism". Munsimar Kaur's video message, posted by her father on Twitter, has attracted over 47,000 views already since it went live. The video shows the young turbaned girl bravely relate the incident, which took place at Plumstead playground in south-east London at a park. “I was greeted not very nicely by four kids and a mother of a young girl," says Kaur, reading from a notebook in which she has written about her experience. "On Monday ( August 5), two boys who looked like 14 to 17 years old and two girls who looked like they were in their late teens when I asked to play the game they were playing and the queue was a mile long they said, loud and clear, 'no, you can't play because you are a terrorist'," she recounts.Kaur speaks of how the words obviously broke her heart, but she kept her "head up and walked away". She returned to the same adventure play area the next day when she made a friend with a nine-year-old girl."After an hour, her mum called her and said she can't play with me because I was, apparently, dangerous," she says, defending the young girl who apologised for this as it was not her fault. In her message to the world, Kaur notes: "This experience has shown me the lack of expo - sure and knowledge some people have. And Sikhs are naturally caring and no matter what, we will love everyone.""But I need to speak out about this because not everyone is strong enough to walk away or has suitable parents to talk to and handle this racism. I will hang out with the right people." On an optimistic note, she calls on anyone else going through similar racism to speak to their parents and keep their chin up because it will all work out in the end. Her video has attracted scores of messages of support, with people applauding the school - girl's "class act" and praising her for her courage. "You are a truly inspiring individual Munsimar! Such courage and eloquence in your words sadly racism persists but we can collectively value diversity and inclusion," said Gurch Rand - hawa,Professor of Diversity in Public Health at the Institute for Health Research at the Uni - versity of Bedfordshire.

24 Punjab Advance September-2019 Punjabis Overseas

3-D Sikh museum opens in UK

Anglo-Sikh Virtual Museum, a project “bringing to life” Sikh relics and artefacts, has opened at New Walk Museum in Leicester, Britain.The museum allows visitors to see objects in 3D and by 2020 it aims to be a fully interactive 3D Sikh online museum, Gurinder Singh Mann, historian and director of the Sikh Museuminitiative, said in an emailed communiqué. The Anglo-Sikh Virtual Museum can be seen at www.an - glosikhmuseum.com and is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by many museums across the United Kingdom.The project was launched on August 8, the birthday of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the granddaughter Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh. Among the people who came to the event from across the UK included councilors and mem - bers of the armed forces. A panel discussion on the importance of using technology and preserving Sikh history and heritage was conducted with Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, Director of the Centre for Sikh and Punjabi Studies, Susan Stronge, Senior Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Gurinder Singh Mann. “It has been noted that the Anglo-Sikh history is missing from the school curriculum and proj - ects like this could lead the way to resolve this,” Mann said. Indian origin doc couple die in air crash A leading Indian-American doctor couple and their 19-year-old daughter were killed instantly when their small private plane crashed in the backyard of a suburban Philadelphia home on August 8. The victims have been identified as Dr Jasvir Khurana (60), his wife Dr Divya Khu - rana (54) and their daughter Kiran Khurana. The family has one surviving daughter who was not on the plane. Khurana, a licensed pilot, was at the controls of the 44-year-old aircraft, which was registered to him. The husband-and-wife physician-researchers both trained at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and moved to the United States more than two decades ago.The National Transportation Security Board (NTSB) said the plane left Northeast Philadel - phia Airport shortly after 6am and was heading to The Ohio State University Airport in Colum - bus. The flight lasted for about three minutes before the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft went down. No one on the ground was injured.The plane hit several trees before it stopped, and the de - bris was spread across four backyards. Dr Khurana was a faculty member in the department of pathology at Temple University where he studied bone pathology. His wife, Dr Divya Khurana, was a doctor at St Christopher’s Hos - pital for Children.Kiran, their younger daughter, graduated last year from Harriton High School in Bryn Mawr, where she was on a nationally ranked squash team and was active in theatre productions.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 25 Saragarhi Day (September 12)

26 Punjab Advance September-2019 September-2019 Punjab Advance 27 Development Mansa farmers show the way Say no to paddy stubble burning Become role models for paddy cultivators Megha Mann

At one hand I saved my input cost and on the other hand I ended up producing healthier crop," he says. He has also saved on labour for spraying pesticides. Besides using Happy Seeder on 29 acres of his land, this year he has also used it in 30 to 35 acres of land of fellow farmers at a cost of Rs 1000 per acre. He says Happy Seeder is the best method for paddy cultivation.

Farmers new to this technology get disap- pointed that in the first few weeks after culti- vation, the paddy shoots are not visible and the field seems to be heaped only with stubble. But since the Happy Seeder sows paddy deep inside armers Darbara Singh and Nirmal Singh the earth, it takes time for the actual shoots to from Moolewala and Gharangna vil- show above ground after 45 days. "However, F lages of Mansa district have become farmers earn a lot in terms of stubble decom- role models for paddy cultivators as they have posing into manure and reviving the farmer- been managing paddy stubble without burning friendly organisms," he adds. them for the past 4 to 5 years. Similarly, farmer Nirmal Singh from Gharangna Following the guidelines of agriculture depart- village, who owns 12 acres of land, has not set ment these farmers have been able to bring paddy stubble on fire in his fields since 2014. For down the input costs in agriculture and restored him too Happy Seeder, borrowed from a neigh- the fertility of their soil. bour, did the trick. In the year 2014, the soil's fer- Darbara Singh cultivates 29 acres of land and has- tility and water quality in his fields was so poor n’t burnt the paddy stubble since 2015. Agricul- that agriculture department officials advised him ture Development Officer Harvinder Singh Sidhu against cultivating paddy. motivated him into giving up burning paddy stub- "However, I continued to cultivate paddy but left ble and minimising use of pesticides on paddy. burning it all together. It has worked wonders for Before taking up sowing of paddy with Happy my soil, lowered the input cost per crop and has Seeder, Darbara has experimented with other increased yield per acre. This year my soil fertil- agriculture implements to manage the paddy ity reports state that it’s the best soil with all stubble. In the year 2014-15 he used baler to kinds of nutrients intact," he says. He also gets make bales of paddy stubble. In the year 2016- 2.5 trolleys of hay per acre, which is used as ani- 17, he used zero drill machine and rotavators. mal food at his dairy. "By not using pesticides, I have been saving Rs Chief Agriculture Officer Gurmail Singh says that 70,000 per year. Collecting these savings, I farmers should have a strong will not to burn bought a Happy Seeder last year. I used Happy paddy stubble. Its not only for the sake of the en- Seeder for paddy last season and noticed that the vironment and our children, but also for our ben- wheat yield had increased. I got 2120 tonnes of efit and that of our soil. wheat yield without using any kind of pesticides.

28 Punjab Advance September-2019 Development

Mansa couple distribute cloth bags at mandis

Megha Mann

couple from Mansa, who work as gov - local sabzi mandi and motivates people to strictly ernment employees, are on a mission. say no to plastic bags. A They are With this, they working on replac - are also con - ing the plastic bags tributing towards in sabji mandis the 3 D (Dustbins) with home- project of the stitched recycled Mansa district ad - cloth bags. ministration that Gurdarshan Singh aims at ensuring and his wife Cha - plastic free ranjit Kaur, both Mansa district. posted as senior The coup[e have assistants in the already distrib - Deputy Commis - uted over 300 sioner’s Office, bags. The couple have distributed have now en - 300 such bags so couraged their far. neighbours and Explaining the rea - family members son for starting the to make and dis - recycled cloth bag tribute these mission, he said: "A bags. few months ago I Their hard work saw a dead cow has also moti - being torn to vated the resi - pieces by dogs. Its dents of the intestines had plas - entire lane to dis - tic bags coming out card the practice of it, which was the of carrying plastic mostly deadly sight I have seen so far. So I de - bags. Anyone seen carrying a plastic bag, is cided to put an end to the usage of plastic bags." coaxed into changing that bag with the cloth bag Gurdarshan Singh discussed it with his wife, who at Gurdarshan Singh’s house. got into action immediately on her sewing ma - Appreciating the initiative Deputy Commissioner chine to recycle old bedsheets and curtains into Mrs Apneet Riyait said that more people should cloth bags. While Charanjit Kaur stitches these emulate the good work being done by this cou - bags, Gurdarshan distributes them for free in the ple.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 29 Film

‘Harjeeta’ fails on box office but wins 2 national awards Best Punjabi film Sameep Singh best child artiste

Punmedia Bureau

arjeeta has done it. Yes this Punjabi efforts in portraying the story of Harjeet Singh H film, written by Jagdeep Sidhu and di - Tuli, who was captain of the India team that won rected by Vijay Kumar Arora which the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in 2016 after flopped commercially after its release on May 18 a wait of 20 years. last year, has finally got recognition bagging two awards in the 66th National Film Awards. Har - For the movie, Ammy Virk had to work very hard jeeta won the Best Punjabi Film title and the not just on the acting part, but also on matching young lad played by Sameep Singh got recogni - the looks of the real Harjeeta. Ammy lost a lot of tion as the best Child Artiste for the movie. weight as he had to sport an athletic body. He These awards coming after a year of failure in the broke every last drop of sweat to get the perfect box office was a vindication of the entire teams abs as well. Also, he practiced for hours and

30 Punjab Advance September-2019 Film spent time with real time hockey players in their base camp so as to bring reality on reel. Sameep Singh played young Harjeeta, in the biopic. He owned the screen for almost 40 min - utes in the beginning, and from the writer to di - rector to other actors of the movie, everyone spoke highly of the kid during the movie promo - tions. More interestingly, Sameep never appeared for any official audition; in fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that he rather was the discovery of the lead actress, Sawan Rupowali. He used to prac - tice hockey at the same place where Sawan used to practice; and thus he caught the actress’s at - tention. Thereafter, she recorded an audition clip of him, and that’s how he bagged the role.Ammy Virk, who played the lead in the movie, even shared Sameep Singh’s first audition clip on his social media handle. masala chal da eh taan masala sahi love you”(See buddy, what’s done is done, we worked hard, got Feeling overwhelmed for getting national recog - appreciated also, but why it didn’t work only God nition for their work, both Jagdeep Sidhu and knows, hopefully it will be fine by tomorrow or Ammy Virk went down memory lane to capture the day after. if it gets better ok, if it doesn’t then those moments. One year back when the movie also it’s fine… we worked so hard, so being upset was released and didn’t fetch them the expected is justified, but we would not be able to get the response, Jagdeep Sidhu sent a reassuring mes - answer to “why”, so don’t worry… at times even sage to Ammy Virk. He wrote, “Dekh sardara, jo the finest crop gets rotten, the best of potatoes hona c ho gaya.. aapa mehnat kiti aa.. tareef v get spilled over the roads… so let’s gear up again bhut aa hun kyu ni chali oh baba jane...,,, hope - to sow a good crop, if masala works, then masala fully kal perso tak theek ho je.. ho gaya taan v it will be. Love you) theek na hoya taa v theek.. mehannatt eeni kiti aa dukh taan hunda hi eh par "kyu" da jawab Both Ammy and Jagdeep have shared this mes - aapa nu labh na ni... so koi ni.. jatt de putt aa kai sage on their social media handles, expressing waar bhut wadiya fasal te v gadde pay jande aa... how bad they felt when the movie didn’t work kai waar bhut sohne aalu v sadka te tul jande aa.. and how great they are feeling now after bagging so hun fer himmat ker ke wadiya fasal veej de aa.. the national award.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 31 Tribute The battle of Saragarhi -- 21 against 10,000

Punmedia Bureau

aragarhi is the incredible story of 21 been mentioned as one of the five most signifi - men of the 36th Sikh Regiment (cur - cant events of its kind in the world. S rently 4th Sikh Regiment) who gave up Saragarhi Day is celebrated every year on Sep - their lives in devotion to their duty. This battle, tember 12 to commemorate the battle. like many others fought by the Sikhs, highlights On the Samana Range of the Hindu Kush moun - the heroic action by a small detachment of Sikh tains in Pakistan, the British Army built a small soldiers against 10,000 heavily armed Afghan communications post at Saragarhi, to be housed forces. This encounter took place on September by an equally small contingent of soldiers. 12, 1987 in the Tirah region of North West Fron - Saragarhi, itself, was little more than a small tier Province (now in Pakistan, which then block house and a signaling tower. It was con - formed part of British India). In keeping with the structed to enable communications between Fort tradition of the Sikh army, they fought to the Lockhart and Fort Gulistan, two significant British death rather than surrender. posts situated on either side of Saragarhi, albeit The battle of Saragarhi is one of the eight stories several miles apart. of collective bravery published by UNESCO. It has

32 Punjab Advance September-2019 Tribute

By the end of August, 1897, there was a general for the heliograph operator, Gurmukh Singh. Gur - uprising of Afghans, and by the beginning of Sep - mukh was the last to die, after being burned to tember, Pashtuns were actively attempting to death when the Pashtuns set fire to the post. He capture British Army positions. is reported to have repeatedly yelled until the end, the Sikh battle cry, “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri All of the 21 soldiers remaining at Saragarhi were Akal,” meaning “Shout aloud in ecstasy! True is members of the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British the great Timeless One.” Army, and the contingent was led by Havildar Ishar Singh. Although no Sikh survived the battle, their sacri - fice sufficiently delayed the Pashtuns such that On September 12, 1897, in an effort to prevent reinforcements were able to arrive at the Pash - any further communications between Forts Lock - tuns’ ultimate target, Fort Gulistan, in time to hart and Gulistan, 10,000 Pashtuns attacked stop its fall. Saragarhi, beginning at about 9 a.m. Since Saragarhi was a communications post, al - In addition to the 21 Sikh dead, reports of Pash - most the entire battle was broadcast in real time tun losses range from between 180 and 600, by its signal man, Sardar Gurmukh Singh, which is though it’s difficult to discern the true number why we today know what exactly happened accurately. That said, it was probably at least 180 there when the 21 Sikhs fought the 10,000 armed as that is what the Pashtuns themselves later re - invaders. ported as their losses in that battle.

Shortly after the attack began, Gurmukh Singh For their sacrifice, each of the Sikh soldiers were signaled for aid to Lieutenant Colonel John awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest Haughton at Fort Lockhart, but he was told that award for gallantry then given to Indian soldiers immediate help was unavailable. Undeterred, the by the British. In addition, Saragarhi Day is cele - Sikh soldiers committed to fighting to the last to brated each year on September 12 to commem - prevent the encroaching Pashtuns from reaching orate the battle. the other forts. Standing ovation to martyrs The Sikhs were trying to buy as much time as pos - The fierce bravery of the 21 Sikhs sent ripples sible for the other forts to be reinforced, and across the world. The British Parliament halted were willing to pay for that time with their lives. their session mid-way to give a standing ovation After two unsuccessful attempts at the gates, the to the martyred 21 in September 1897. The Pashtun forces eventually breached the wall. British monarch praised the men and said: Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face de - Shortly before the end, Ishar Singh ordered his feat in war. men to retreat even further while he remained -- Queen Victoria, British Parliament 1897 behind in defense. He, too, fell, during that charge, as did all of the remaining soldiers except

September-2019 Punjab Advance 33 Career n Competition

Armed forces beckon you

Punmedia Bureau

vancement etc. The Central Board of Secondary Educa - tion (CBSE) has di - rected all its affiliated schools to motivate senior-sec - ondary students to join the armed forces. The CBSE currently offers a compulsory subject called ‘General Foundation Course’ for all students in Classes 11 and 12. career in the Armed Forces is always The course aims at seen as one of dignity, bravado, self - improving students’ mastery over current affairs A lessness and respect. That is why a lot and general knowledge. Two periods in a week of students appear for the National Defence have been earmarked for students to hold dis - Academy entrance exam after completing their cussions on career options open to them. The class 12 or SSB exams after graduation. It is a ca - Board has directed the schools to use these reer that is full of adventure, travel, job security classes to focus on the benefits and challenges of and of course, a lot of responsibility. a career in the armed forces, in order to be able As an officer in the forces, you will learn to get to attract young students to take up this profes - the best out of yourself and out of others. This is sion. so because being an officer is about being a Besides creating a human resource of organised, leader. trained and motivated youth, the course would There are many career paths that officers can provide a suitable environment to motivate the choose to follow. The defence is a large and a youth to take up a career in the armed forces and complex organisation that offers an extensive help students be informed about the process of range of opportunities and experiences that one selection carried out by the armed forces for re - would rarely encounter in any civilian employ - cruitment and prepare accordingly. To further ment. concretise its move, CBSE also recommends a Officers in the forces enjoy lots of benefits like supplementary book by NCERT titled ‘The Indian high-quality training, adventure sports, attractive Army - A Glorious Heritage’ for use by teachers remuneration packages, ongoing job security, to attract young students towards career options travel, opportunity and satisfaction for career ad - available in the Armed Forces.

34 Punjab Advance September-2019 Career n Competition

STAGE 3 — Assessment Day Joining the Armed Forces Qualified candidates in the written examination will be called for a final interview conducted by SSB (Services selection board). For Army, Navy A career in the Armed forces is definitely not for Wings & 10 +2 Entry Scheme candidates need to the faint-hearted. Here are some personal at - undergo Intelligence Test & Personality Test, but tributes that could work in your favour. for the Air Force Wing the candidates must at - • Love for one’s country tend a Pilot Aptitude Test. • Commitment In the interview the candidates will be put to in - • Dedication telligence tests to assess their intelligence, they • An alert mind will also have group discussions, group planning, • Integrity outdoor group tasks, and asked to give brief lec - • Willingness to obey orders tures on specified subjects. • Discipline Let us now look at the selection procedure for the Armed Forces after Class XII. STAGE 4 — Medical Assessment STAGE 1 — Eligibility The final stage of the recruitment process will re - quire the candidate to complete a fitness assess - ment. Recommended candidates appear before NDA Examination :The NDA entry is open twice a the medical board for carrying out their medical year. The requirements for entry into NDA is as examination. follows: Age -16 plus to 19 years (at the day the course is expected to begin) STAGE 5 — APPOINTMENT Qualification -12th Class of 10+2 for Army and with Physics and Maths for Air Force/Navy Permanent Commission: Which means a career Written Examination & SSB Interview in the forces till you retire. For a cadet to be on Duration of Training -3 Years at NDA and then 1 permanent commission, he has to join the NDA ( Years at IMA, Dehradun. National Defence Academy) or the IMA ( Indian Military academy) STAGE 2 — Written Test Short Service Commission: For a short service the cadet has the option to serve the Army for 10 years which is extendible till 14 years. Qualifying In order to join the NDA, a student has to clear for a short service requires written examination the UPSC exam and SSB interview. There are two and medical. batches every year. One starts in January and the Short service for an engineering or a law gradu - other in July. The UPSC exam is a two- and-a-half ate includes SSB interview and medical. At the hour affair consisting of 900 marks exam in two end the officer has the option to opt out or con - different papers, 300 marks for Maths and 600 vert to permanent commission. for Physics, Chemistry, English, History, Geogra - Official websites are indianarmy.nic.in, careerair - phy, GK, IQ . force.nic.in and nausena-bharti.nic.in provide valuable information on these careers.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 35 Current Events

NAtioNAl

Legendary music composer Khayyam dead

Legendary music composer Khayyam, 92, died in Mumbai on August 19 due to a cardiac arrest. He was born at Rahon in Punjab. Some of his most popular songs include, “Dikhayii Diye Yun” from Bazaar, Kabhi, Kabhi title songs, Dil Cheez Kya hai, from Umrao Jaan and Talat Mahmood’s evergreen classic sham-e-gham-ki-kasam’ from Footpath etc. Khayyam saab was ho - noured with the National Film Award for his work in Umrao Jaan. He also won a Filmfare Award for Umrao Jaan and Kabhi Kabhi. He was bestowed with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007.The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2011. RPF commando force Union Ministry has launched CORAS (Commando for Railway Security) of Indian Railways. It is a separate Commando Unit of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). It has been carved out from moti - vated and willing young staff of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF). Mobile Metallic Ramp Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) transferred the design of Mobile Metal - lic Ramp (MMR) to the Indian Army. The design was handed over by Chairman of DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy to Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Devraj Anbu at an event held at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi.It has a load bearing capacity of 70 metric ton (MT).

PUNJAB CM launches Bima Yojana

The Punjab government launched a mega health insurance scheme titled ‘Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’ (MGSSBY) for poor by clubbing Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) plan with its own. The PMJAY was unveiled in September 2018 by the Centre and kept on hold so far by State Government.The scheme was launched by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to mark the 75th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. With launch of this scheme, Punjab has become 1st state to offer medical insurance for such a large proportion of its population.

36 Punjab Advance September-2019 Current Events

‘Jang-E-Azadi’memorial

On the occasion of Independence Day, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh dedicated the 3rd phase of the ‘Jung-E-Azadi’ memorial to the people who were killed in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the unsung heroes who were incarcerated in Andaman Cellular jail during the freedom struggle. The chief minister also digitally launched a number of other projects for Jalandhar district, as part of Rs.450 crore worth of development and welfare projects inaugurated across the state. ‘Jung-E- Azadi’ is a memorial and museum being built in Kartarpur, near Jalandhar city of Punjab. It is built in memory of sacrifices and contribution made by the Punjabis in the freedom movement.

iNterNAtioNAl Iceland loses first glacier

As the world recently marked warmest July ever on record, Iceland held funeral for Okjokull glacier, country’s 1st glacier lost to climate change. The nation commemorated the once huge Okjokull gla - cier with plaque. The commemoration ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister of Iceland Ka - trin Jakobsdottir.

SPortS P.V. Sindhu is world champ

P V Sindhu became the first Indian to win badminton World Championships gold by beating famil - iar rival Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in a lop-sided final on August 25. The Indian won 21-7 21-7 in the summit clash that lasted just 38 minutes.Two years after being robbed of the gold by Okuhara in an epic 110-minute final at Glasgow that went down as one of the greatest battles in badminton history, Sindhu finally exorcised the ghost of that heart-wrenching loss with a completely dominat - ing win over the same opponent.

Ravi Shastri retained coach Ravi Shastri has been re-appointed head coach of Indian men’s cricket team till 2021 by Kapil Dev- led Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC unanimously felt that incumbent’s communication skills and understanding of team issues stood out. Ravi had the public backing of captain Virat Kohli even before the short-listing was initiated. The 3-member CAC headed by Kapil Dev comprised of former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad and ex women’s captain Shantha Rangaswamy.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 37 Sports

Shubman Gill best in crisis

Mohali lad breaks Gautam Gambhir’s record Becomes youngest cricketer to hit double century

Punmedia Bureau

hubman Gill has done it. Yes, this 19- against Hyderabad in the fourth innings of a Ranji year-old lad from Mohali sent the stat - Trophy match, Gill slammed a brilliant 148 to S isticians scurrying for their record books take Punjab close to victory. “He always prospers as he became the youngest Indian cricketer to in tough situations,” Bali said recalling that great score a double century. He broke former India knock of the teenager. opener Gautam Gambhir’s record as he smashed “In his under-19 years also, I was the coach of the an unbeaten 204 runs off 250 deliveries in the Punjab under-19 team. Playing against Tamil third unofficial test against the West Indies A at Nadu, we were 25 for 5. But we came back to Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago on August 9. cross the 500-run mark with Gill hitting an un - Gambhir was 20 when he hit a double century beaten double century,” he added. (218) for India Board President’s XI against the Shubam Gill’s father and coach Lakhwinder Zimbabweans in a tour match in 2002. Singh also lauded his son’s record breaking Gill’s unbeaten 204 runs was laced with 19 fours knock. “Obviously I am happy. He stayed at the and two sixes with a strike rate of 82.25. wicket and played as per the situation,” he According to Punjab Ranji Trophy coach Munish added. Bali, Shubam Gill is a crisis man. He has a habit of Shubam Gill was ignored by the selectors for the scoring big hundreds when the team is in dire senior team in the ongoing West Indies tour. So straits. was this knock a reminder to the selectors ? Last year while chasing 339 runs for victory

38 Punjab Advance September-2019 Tribute ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai Aap Meri Jaan Leejiye’

Farewell maestro, you will be sorely missed

Ravee Pandher

is presence on our realm will be sorely only 17 then. H missed. A man who wore grace and After a stint in the Army in the Second World love and melody all over him. Love for War, Khayyam went to Bombay and made his Khayyam . Proba - debut as Sharmaji of bly our prayers the Sharmaji-Varmaji were not enough. composer duo with woke up to such a the film Heer Ranjha loss. in 1948. He went solo Muhammad Zahur after his co-com - Khayyam Hashmi poser Rahman was born on 18 Varma went to the February 1927 in newly created Pak - Rahon in Punjab, istan post partition. British India. As a One of his earliest boy, Khayyam ran breaks was in the away to his uncle's film Biwi(1950) in house in New which the song Delhi. There he was "Akele Mein Woh trained under clas - Ghabrate To Honge" sical vocalist and sung by Mohammed composer Pandit Amarnath. Rafi was a hit. "Shaam-e-Gham Ki Kasam" sung Khayyam went to Lahore looking for roles in by Talat Mehmood from the film Footpath (1953) films. He met Baba Chishti, a famous Punjabi struck a chord among the masses. He gained music director. After listening to a composition greater recognition from the film Phir Subha Hogi by Chishti, he sung to him its first part. Im - (1958) starring Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha, in pressed, Chishti gave him an offer of joining him which songs written by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung as an assistant. Khayyam assisted Chishti for six by Mukesh and Asha Bhonsle were set to tune by months and came to Ludhiana in 1943. He was him. Notable melodies amongst them are "Wo

September-2019 Punjab Advance 39 Tribute

Subha Kabhi To Aayegi", "Aasman Pe hai Khuda the opportunity came in Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Aur Zameen Pe Hum" and "Chin-o-Arab Hu - Jaan in 1981. The immortal songs "In Aankhon Ki mara". Masti Ke", "Ye Kya Jagah Hai Doston", and "Dil Cheez Kya Hai" rendered by Asha Bhonsle ac - Songs from the film Shola Aur Shabnam (1961) quired a cult status and are still hummed by the written by Kaifi Azmi established Khayyam's rep - music lovers today. No wonder, Khayyam won his utation as a composer. From the Chetan Anand second Filmfare Award as Best Music Director for directed Aakhri Khat (1966) "Baharon Mera Jee - the film. van Bhi Sawaron" by Lata Mangeshkar and "Aur Kuch Der Theher" by Rafi were huge hits. Other One of the timeless classics Khayyam gave music notable songs are from the film Shagoon (1964) for was Kamal Amrohi directed film Razia Sultan which had Khayyam's evergreen songs such as (1983) and his song "Aye Dil-e-Nadan" sung by "Tum Apna Ranj-o-Gham" and "Tum Chali Jaogi" Lata Mangeshkar is considered among all time sung by wife Jagjit Kaur. great hits.

The era of 1970s saw Khayyam team up with He also composed non-film songs. They include Sahir Ludhianvi once again to work in Yash "Paaon Padun Tore Shyam, Brij Mein Laut Chalo" Chopra-directed classical romance Kabhi Kabhie and "Ghazab Kiya Tere Vaade Pe Aitbaar Kiya". (1976).The songs showed Khayyam's versatility He also gave music for Meena Kumari's album, I with hits such as "Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein Write, I Recite (1971) featuring the "nazms" writ - Khayal Aata Hai" (Sung by Mukesh and Lata ten and sung by her. Khayyam always preferred Mangeshkar), "Tere Chehre Se Nazar Nahin" (by to work with poets rather than film lyricists. Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar) and "Main Khayyam married Jagjit Kaur in 1954 in one of the Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon" (by Mukesh). The first inter-communal marriages in the Indian film movie saw Khayyam bagging his first Filmfare industry.They had a son, Pradeep, who died of a Award as Music Director. heart attack in 2012. Inspired by their son's help - ing nature, they started a trust, "Khayyam Jagjit Rajesh Khanna liked the songs of the film Kabhi Kaur Charitable Trust" to help artistes and tech - Kabhie so much that he gifted Khayyam one of nicians in need. his cars. Subsequently Khayyam composed music for Thodisi Bewafai, Dard (both 1981) and Dil-e- In his last days, Khayyam was suffering from var - Nadaan (1982), all of them starring Rajesh ious age-related ailments. On July 28, 2019, Khanna in the lead. Khayyam gave music for the Khayyam was admitted to Sujay Hospital in Juhu, the films of the late-1970s and early-1980s. Mumbai due to lung infection. He died on August Songs from Trishul, Thodi Si Bewafaai, Bazaar, 19, 2019 following a cardiac arrestat the age of Dard, Noorie, Nakhuda, Sawaal, Bepannah, and 92. He was buried the following day with full Khandaan are counted some of his best works. state honours. But the best from Khayyam was still to come and

40 Punjab Advance September-2019 Luminaries

Voice of the poor and the downtrodden Mulk Raj Anand’s 15th death anniversary falls on September 24

ulk Raj Anand was the first Indian their themes. Anand began his career in England novelist, short-story writer and art by publishing short reviews in T.S. Eliot's maga - M critic who brought in Punjabi and zine Criterione. His acquaintances from this time Hindustani idioms into English. Born to Lal Chand, included such authors as E.M. Foster, Herbert a coppersmith and soldier, and Ishwar Kaur, in Read, Henry Miller, and George Orwell, who tried Peshawar on December 12, to get Anand a full-time post 1905, Anand rebelled at the BBC. The most impor - against his father’s sub - tant influence upon Anand servience to the British au - was Gandhi, who shaped his thorities. social conscience. We remember him on his Between 1932 and 1945 15th death anniversary Anand lectured, on and off, which falls on September at Workers Educational Asso - 24. ciation in London. His first Regarded as a novelist of wife, the actress Kathleen the lowly, the lost, and the van Gelder, Anand met in underdogs, Anand was the London, where he repre - first novelist to be the voice sented India in the Interna - of the poor and the down - tional Writers Conference trodden. against Fascism. Anand and His first texts were born as Gelder married in 1939 and a reaction to the trauma of the suicide of an aunt, had one daughter. who had been excommunicated for dining with In the early 1930s Anand focused on books on art a Muslim woman. An unhappy love for a Muslim history. It was not until the appearance of the girl, who was married, inspired some of his po - novels Untouchable (1935) and Coolie(1936), the etry. Anand attended Khalsa College, Amritsar, story of a fifteen year-old child-labourer who dies and entered the University of Punjab in 1921, of tuberculosis, that Anand gained a wide recog - graduating with honours in 1924. Thereafter nition. Anand did his additional studies at Cambridge and at London University, receiving his Ph.D. in Untouchable narrates a day in the life of Bakha, 1929. He studiedand later lecturedat League an unclean outcaste, who suffers a number of hu - of Nations School of Intellectual Cooperation in miliations in the course of his day. Bakha is 18, Geneva. proud, "strong and able-bodied", a child of mod - Anand started to write at an early age. Although ern India, who has started to think himself as su - Punjabi and Hindustani were Anand's mother perior to his fellow-outcastes. The "touching" tongues, he wrote in English, because English lan - occurs in the morning, and subsequently shad - guage publishers did not reject his books due to ows the rest of the day. Due to his low birth,

September-2019 Punjab Advance 41 Luminaries

Bakha's fate is to work as a latrine sweeper. A ruining traditional Indian art and architecture. He symbolic figure, Baksha stands for all untouch - also deplored Indians’ neglect of the arts and her - ables and their sufferings. The powerful critique itage and pursuit of materialism. He championed of the Indian caste system suggested that British the cause of the downtrodden, yet wrote in the colonial domination of India has actually in - language of the elite. creased the suffering of outcastes, such as Bakha, Mulk Raj Anand’s literary and autobiographical who feels that there is a "moral barrier" between output is so prodigious that the quality of much human beings. Anand later recalled, that the of it will always be questioned. He wrote not as a book "poured out like hot lava from the volcano disciplined craftsman, but to escape from the rav - of my crazed imagination during a long weekend. ages of daily life. Quantity often impinges on I remember that I had to finger exercise in order quality. His reputation will rest mostly on “Un - to ease the strain on my right hand. And I must touchable”, “Coolie” and ”Private Life of an In - have slept only six hours in three nights, while dian Prince” because of their being early writing this drama." attempts in Indian English writing. After 19 rejection slips from various British pub - While the country may remember Mulk Raj lishing houses, Anand contacted Wishart Books, Anand as one of the “founding fathers” of the In - a small avant-garde publisher. Edgell Rickword, dian English novel, Panjab University recalls the editor at Wishart, agreed to publish the book on great litterateur’s contribution in setting up the condition that E.M. Forster provide a preface. Fine Arts Museum on the campus. Floating the "Untouchable could only have been written by an idea of a separate Department of History of Fine Indian who observed from outside,” wrote Fos - Arts, giving the subject an identity separate from ter. that of history of which it was initially a part, is “Coolie” and the subsequent novels firmly estab - all credited to Dr Anand’s campus stint of four lished Anand as a writer. With Raja Rao and R. K. years in the early 60s. Narayan, he formed the troika that pioneered In - His one-time neighbour and later, a student of dian writing in English. His Indianised English and the Fine Arts Department whose idea was con - stylistic experiments irritated the puritans. While ceived by Dr Anand, Dr Urmi Kesar, recollects, “A Narayan observed the social milieu with amuse - Tagore Professor of Literature and Fine Art at the ment and noted its oddities and Raja Rao turned university, he gifted an invaluable collection of philosophical, Mulk Raj portrayed social oppres - art works to the Fine Arts Museum. A ceramic siveness of the disadvantaged, influenced by plate of Picasso and a Jamini Roy painting is Marx and Gandhi. among the things that he contributed. In fact, he His deprived childhood, volatile, often disap - was instrumental in putting us in touch with a pointing relationships with women and restless, Frenchman who gave his collection of contem - creative mind led to a number of nervous break - porary works of art to the museum. When I downs, one of which saw him face-to-face with joined, he had already left the university but Freud. He met many greats of his time ranging would visit the department often from T.S. Eliot to D.H. Lawrence, from Aldous Huxley to Bertrand Russel. His chance meeting with Ananda Kumaraswamy turned him anti-Raj Self-obituary and gave him an Indian outlook to art, literature Mulk Raj Anand wrote his own obituary in 1999. and society. Despite his long stay in Britain during Written in a self-mocking and ironical tone, it his formative years, he denounced the British for serves as a fitting tribute to Anand as he may

42 Punjab Advance September-2019 Luminaries have relished it on what would have been his schooling to graduate and mix the some of our 100th birthday.The following are extracts from richer classes. He even secured, ostensibly Anand’s self-obituary extending into 2000 words through influence, a stipend to research in Lon - The death is reported, through sudden heart fail - don University…. ure, of Mulk Raj Anand at his retreat in the moun - No fraud can outmatch that perpetrated by this tains of the planet Moon at twelve midnight on charlatan. For, he took advantage of our tempo - December 12, 1999, at the age of a few months rary differences with the British at that time to short of centennial year. write certain books, like Untouchable, Coolie, The The news will be received with relief by all those Village,showing in exaggerated, animalist lan - sensible, decent and respectable citizens of our guage, things about which the less said the bet - country, who had come to see this ambitious, ter….. weak chinned, long-haired scribbler of the details A man of shady morals always, he perverted of the private lives of the worthy sons of India, many a decent youth by his example. A hater of for the disgusting nosey parker that he was. our traditional family system, he influenced Someone christened him Muck Rake Anand. And young boys and girls to be disrespectful to their that remains the best epitaph on him. The ru - parents to leave home. A professional denigrator mours associated with his demise will further of caste and clans, he promoted hatred between help the Indian public to abominate the person high and low, rich and poor. A libertine, he often of this posturing Mountebank who came from boastfully declared that those who love freedom nowhere and he now luckily disappeared into are not afraid of licence and thus formed gener - nowhere. ations of Hippies and Beatniks in vulgar display For, it is said, that till the end of his life he re - of their bodies….. mained a confirmed romantic, indulging in vices The political sympathies of Anand were obvious which it is supposed in certain quarters were the enough, but the clever plausible rogue he was, cause of his heart failure. he tried to disguise all his most sinister impulses Luckily, our new generation will be spared the in - and ideas behind the vague terms of what he dignity and humiliation of being tainted by his called humanism…. filthy works, because our learned critics showed To our great good luck no one ever asked him to students how he muckraked and wrote about the perpetrate a screen play, otherwise we would noble heritage left by sage Manu and about our have had some more of his stuff and nonsense to pioneer entrepreneurs who have outrivalled reckon with….. Ford, Rockefeller.... But it is necessary in case any Similarly, he corrupted our art world by editing of his writings trickle through our censorship, an Americanised magazine of art. His insistence that all our countrymen be warned about his mis - on form in our sculpture and painting, diverted deeds. the emphasis from the deep religiosity of our Born at Peshawar on December 12, 1905, he artistic heritage to lewd surrealist abstraction - came of a semiuntouchable family. His father was ism…. a coppersmith by birth and later adventured into The fellow cannot be denied a certain amount of the British-Indian army; his mother was an illit - virtuosity. But it was this very flair for turning his erate peasant woman from Central Punjab. hand to philosophy, politics, writing, stage, film, But, though of low origin, he managed by the dance choreography, cookery as well as poetry, pernicious system of scholarships to get some that was the most dangerous thing bout him.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 43 Health

Modern Yoga increases injury worries

Dr Ravinder Chadha

n my daily practice, I advise many Yoga part of our rich Indian culture and has been prac - I exercises (Yoga Asanas) for back pain, ticed by sadhus. Yoga is a spiritual system with a neck pain and for sports injury rehabili - small physical component in order to maintain tation. The awareness about Yoga has increased physical and mental fitness. Yoga can be suc -

due to widespread publicity and also conven - cessfully practiced only with a healthy body and ience to practice these asanas either at home or mind. However, in the modern era, Yoga is con - in the nearest yoga centre. sidered primarily a Physical system with a spiri - Yoga asanas help in improving flexibility of the tual component. In the present times, Yoga muscles and joints, and also in increasing blood denotes “Physical Posture” or “Asana” and the circulation with improvement in the concentra - primary goal is physical fitness whereas In an - tion (Dhayan) and sense of well being. cient times Yoga-posture was considered to be Since ancient times, yoga has been an integral the first and foremost part, which over years of

44 Punjab Advance September-2019 Health practice of Pranayam/ controlled respiration led Warming up is essential prior to performing- to Samadhi opening the door to awakening and Yoga- asanas, otherwise it can lead to injuries to enlightenment. Only few people understand that muscle’s ligaments etc. In the morning as one Yoga Science is complete in itself and involves gets up blood circulation to skeletal muscles is Body, Mind and Spirit. Commercial exploitation only 10 per cent and after warming up for only 5 by the West has reduced Yoga to a mere physical minutes, it increases to 70-80 per cent. This im - exercise programme proves flexibility, suppleness of muscles thereby Many Yoga teachers have made it a mission to reducing chances of injury. spread Yoga awareness. They are encouraging In the initial stages simple yoga asanas be at - one and all to practice yoga asanas on a regular tempted like Baddha Kona Asana, basis. Some of them have achieved quite a suc - Balaasana,Naga Asana(Cobra posture), Padma- cess in their mission. Indiscriminate and un - Asana(Lotus posture),Pavan- Mukta- Asana, guided practice of yoga asanas leaves behind Trikone Asana,Surya Namaskar,Vajr-asana etc people suffering neck stiffness, back pain, mus - Correct practice of Yoga asanas leads to physical cle sprain etc. The obvious reason that without and mental well being, but if done without proper guidance one should not practice Yoga proper guidance can result in injury. asanas. Delivering lectures on yoga asanas is one Chakra Asana (Wheel Posture) improves strength thing but their implementation in practicality is a and suppleness of spine but hyperextend the lig - tedious job. aments and muscles of spine may cause injury. Many people are seen rubbing their nails with Hala Asana stretches the muscles of the Calf and the hope that their hair will grow and baldness thigh and gives relief from leg cramps. People will disappear. Such things without any medical who are not supple can hyperextend the liga - evidence defy logic. The assertion made by cer - ments of the lower back resulting in pain and dis - tain Yoga experts that there is marked Weight comfort. loss with Yoga exercises is not entirely true. Most Vrikshchika Asana (Scorpion Posture) helps in of the Yoga exercises can burn up to 40 Calories stretching the neck, spine and chest but should in 20 minutes, which is far less than the Calories not be attempted by the beginners as it can cause burnt in aerobic activities. Even simple activities back injury. like walking at moderate speed can burn 100 Dhanura Asana (Bow Posture) improves flexibil - Calories in less than 30 minutes. If Yoga is com - ity of the spine, corrects digestive disorders and bined with aerobic activity like walking, jogging, relieves back strain. This Asana, improperly done cycling etc. can lead to dual benefit of weight loss can cause injury to the muscles and ligaments of and increase in flexibility. the back. In Therapeutic Yoga body postures and tech - Secondly, aged patients suffering from back niques are used for improving flexibility, cor - problem due to Osteoporosis should not attempt recting posture and strengthening spine. this Asana. Therapeutic Yoga is practised by busy people for Total fitness is possible by yoga exercises com - managing stress in their hectic life, by sportsmen bined with aerobic activity & strength training. for improving their performance and even by pregnant ladies for easy delivery.

September-2019 Punjab Advance 45 Children’s world

Hi Kids

oday I will take you to the days cause. goneby when I would wake up with a Non-availability of tiny insects as food due to T smile to the chirping of the house the loss of vegetation around our modern sparrow on the window sill. But that sight has buildings, excessiveuse of mosquito repellents now become a sight for the sore eyes as the indoors and insecticides outdoors, our con - chirpy small creatures have been wiped out crete architectures with no nesting sites for from the urban jungle. sparrows and air-conditioning which leaves no These house sparrows, as the name suggest entry or exit points for feeding sparrow were all over the place, building nests in wall nestlings are some of the reasons for the dislo - crevices, fan cups or any other nook cation of the house sparrow. Further, in - or corner. Why have these creasing noise from automobiles dainty little birds deserted and their gaseous pollutants in us. While no one can be our cities may be deterrents. singled out for the de - Above all the recent in - clining sparrow pop - crease in radiations from ulation, it is us cell phone towers out - humas who are doors and use of diverse collectively re - wireless devices in - sponsible for it. doors have also chased ‘A sparrow is to away the birds. The ef - the city what a fect of these environ - tiger is to the for - mental pollutants must est’ can best sum up have compelled the today’s situation, sig - sparrows to fly away from nifying how sparrows their long-trusted human are the bio-indicators of companions. an urban environment, It is up to you kids. Here are five much like the tiger whose de - simple things you can do to save the cline indicates a threat to the ecosys - sparrows: tem. 1. The easiest thing one can do is to put For those of you who have not seen the spar - bird feeders outside your house. row, a brief introduction: though tiny, the spar - 2. Also, it has been observed that many rows are very sensitive and strongly immune people put water bowls during summer season birds. Their sudden disappearance as sentinels outside their houses for birds to re-hydrate. or as ecological indicators is a warning to us 3. Grow more plants as this may encour - about the impending environmental hazards. age some birds, who are common to that habi - Several speculations have been put forward to tat, to come back. account for the sparrows deserting our cities, 4. Talk to people living around your soci - but they all boil down to the simple fact that ety to create awareness about sparrows. the rapid changes in our lifestyles is the main 5. Discourage the use of excessive insecti - All the best..and keep smiling--Uncle Don

46 Punjab Advance September-2019 Children’s world

The honest girl

mother and a father had a daughter But even stranger, at that very moment there A who grew from a baby into a beauti - was indeed a group of thieves who were trying ful girl. The mother and father were to sneak into the house where the honest girl very proud of their daughter, and one day the fa - lived. But when the thieves noticed that all of the ther said, ‘It is time you were married, my beau - people from the village were approaching the tiful daughter.’ house, they And so it was got scared agreed that the and ran mother and fa - away into ther would travel the sur - to the next village rounding to make arrange - woods never ments with the to be seen family of the boy again. whom she would As the vil - marry. lagers ar - When her parents rived at the were away, the house, they honest girl began to daydream about what her called up to the honest girl. ‘What is wrong, my life was going to be like with her new husband. child, who is attacking you?’ She decided that she would have four children: And the honest girl replied, ‘There is nobody at - three boys and one girl. She would call them tacking me. I was just calling out to my children.’ Mulak, Jahaan, Dhesh, and Lutdi. ‘But you are not yet married!’ said one villager. She imagined what it would be like to call out to The girl had great difficulty explaining to the vil - her children when it was time for them to come lagers that she was simply dreaming about what in for dinner. The girl was so absorbed in her her life was going to be like after she was mar - beautiful daydream that she climbed up onto the ried and had children. The villagers were not im - roof of her parents’ house and called out... pressed at all. They accused the honest girl of ‘Mulak, Jahaan, Dhesh, Lutdi!’ And as the honest daydreaming and causing trouble and not think - girl called out these names, the people of the vil - ing before she spoke. lage all stopped what they were doing and ran But then a wise man appeared from behind the towards the house where the honest girl because house and explained to the assembled crowd they thought that the girl was in trouble. how he had seen a group of thieves running from You see, in Punjabi, the names Mulak and Jahaan the house, and how the villagers had scared them also mean ‘people’. And the name Dhesh means away and saved the honest girl from a terrible ‘land’. And, although Lutdi is a name one might fate. give to a daughter, it can also mean ‘I am being Soon after, the mother and father returned to attacked!’ And so you might understand why all the village and the honest girl was married to her of the villagers began to run towards the house. handsome husband.

Punjab Advance 47 September-2019 Forecast

What the stars foretell Dr. Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer, Palmist, Numerologist & Vastu Consultant) email: [email protected]

Aries: (March 21-April 20): Be up - Leo: (July 23-August 23):A good time Sagittarius: (November 23-December front with lover about your past, be - can be expected on the romantic 21):Support and encouragement can fore catches up with you later. You front as lover gives you quality time. be expected from the family on the ac - will be able to handle a challenge Try not to keep frustrations bottled ademic front, but you will have to do competently on the financial front. up within as they may manifest in your bit. You are likely to enjoy to Good networking is likely to help other ways. Your thought process your heart’s content a party or a fam - you, so get down to refreshing old will need to be backed by action to ily gathering. Going steady with some - contacts on the professional front. get things moving on the work front. one you have met recently cannot be Getting the expected outcome on the Delay in taking an important decision ruled out, but not without some efforts academic front will seem like a god - regarding finances can pose prob - from your side. Your visit to an out of send and boost your morale. lems. This is the time to make do - town place may not achieve your aim, mestic life exciting. but will also not go in vain.

Taurus: (April 21-May 20):): Plan - Virgo: (August 24-September 23): Capricorn: (December 22-January 21): ning on a vacation may seem diffi - Professional front can find you con - Planning and implementing some - cult, due to uncertainty regarding fidently climbing the ladder of suc - thing new will be on the mind of peo - leave. Saving money needs to be cess. Family life will be fulfilling and ple at the helm of affairs on the given priority. Something not going chances of a family youngster doing professional front. Your ideas on the right in your life may make you stops you proud cannot be ruled out. Your retail front will result in increased and think. Blowing hot and cold over love life simply rocks! This month footfalls. Those suffering in a joint a relationship is possible. Asserting proves excellent in more ways than family can decide to move away. Some yourself may give an immense sense one. A new responsibility coming of you are likely to meet family after a of power and satisfaction. It may your way can provide an excellent long separation. Your insistence on seem difficult to match lover in his or opportunity to showcase your talents. something on the romantic front her need for togetherness on the ro - You will add to your wealth and threatens to sour relationship with mantic front. make life more luxurious. lover.

Gemini: (May 21-July 21): Don’t give Libra: (September 24-October 23): Aquarius: (January 22-February 19): into emotional impulses in case of Exciting times on the romantic front You may feel the need to state your disagreements; state your views and can be expected, as you get the position on certain issues on the work leave it at that. Family will give you chance of an outing with lover. or domestic fronts. But, be diplomatic all the time in the world to tie up the Planning a short vacation cannot be especially at work, to minimize the loose ends on the work front. A ruled out for some. Seniors are likely chances of a run-in with influential seniors. Repayment of a loan may house or property is likely to give less to keep a note of good work done by you on the professional front, so give force you to make adjustments. The fi - than expected returns. Singles should your best to whatever you undertake. nancial benefits that you earn from be cautious in their approach in new Someone’s advice is likely to prove a your hard work should be spent prac - relationships. Don’t lax with your great help in investing money. A tically. Issues about your children may health regimen and try to be regular home remedy may prove adequate in be on your mind but only thinking and disciplined on this front. solving a minor health problem. won’t work; get into action.

Scorpio: (October 24-November 22): Pisces: (February 20-March 20): An Cancer: (July 22-July 22): You need You may feel isolated and neglected, excellent time on the professional to keep your purse string tight and front is foreseen. You will get the op - this will enable you to increase your and may lay the blame on all and portunity to implement something savings. You need to make the right sundry for your plight. Rivals on the you have been trying for long at work. judgment and this will enable you to academic front are likely to get a A new avenue for earning opens up for maintain your resources. Students chance to show you in a bad light; some. You are likely to feel satisfied by will be able to do well through guid - don’t worry it is just a timely phase the achievement of a family youngster ance from an expert. This is not the and will pass soon. You may end up on the academic front. Those in love right time to go on a long journey, spending more than you intended to on the sly can expect a rollicking time. need to postpone it for some other and upset your budget. Spouse may Prevent exposure to retain good time. You need to keep a check on not agree with your decisions and health. your health. upset you.

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September-2019 Punjab Advance 49 last Word Crows fend off reptile attack Donald Banerjee

t was a windy September evening in As it slithered up cautiously, one of the crows I 1974. A flight of about 20 crows were launched the first offensive, digging its beak into homeward bound headed towards Am - the tail side of the serpent. It stopped, raised its bala side. This was a regular sight those days with hood again letting out a hissing sound. the caw-cawing black birds making trees on the highway towards Zirakpur their night abode. The snake made another big movement towards the nest, but this time four crows descended on The road towards The Tribune chowk bore a de - the serpent raining beak blows all over the body. serted look. Barely five cars could be spotted That was too much for the snake. The serpentine coming towards the city. As I made my way figure made a hasty retreat, slithering down and through the kutcha stretch between the Tribune finally falling into the undergrowth. Colony and the Tribune office in Sector 29, I was attracted by the loud cry of a mynah from a tree The crows and mynahs flew down to give the to my left. I stopped to focus on the serpentine final chase to the serpent. The mission accom - figure that was making its way up the tree. plished, the crows resumed their journey back home and the mynahs were soon perched in Hearing the panicky cry of the mynah, its mate their nest. flew to its rescue. And soon the pair of brown birds were pecking the intruder with their sharp I was so engrossed in the 10-minute drama that beaks. The snake stopped, raised its hood and let I did not notice two other persons who had out a hissing sound. The mynahs were back on joined me to witness the bird-reptile battle. their branch perch. One of the birds took a steep upward flight letting out a powerful cry for help. One of them was a guard in the colony. He said: “Sirjee, there are quite a few snakes in this The cry did not go unnoticed. A couple of crows stretch of land. Such fights are quite common. broke away from the flight and descended for a The crows and mynahs are sworn enemies of closer look. Four other crows joined the pair. snakes as they attack their nests to feed on their little ones.” The black birds occupied branches on both sides of the tree to gauge the situation. The snake What a pity those were mobile-free days other - sensed the danger, but then the mynah’s nest wise the entire drama could have been captured with their little ones, just two yards away, it could for posterity. not give up the pleasure of having a tasty meal.

50 Punjab Advance September-2019 People’s participation for effective governance The Government of Punjab is now on Social media

he Government of Punjab has made forays into the world of social media in an endeavour to facelift to facilitate a vibrant two-way communication be - T tween the State Government and the people of Punjab. Join our online community on Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress and YouTube for regular real-time updates on latest events, news, policies, schemes and ini - tiatives for a factual account on ‘Everything Punjab’. Connect with #PunjabGovtIndia and like/comment/share on the official pages at:

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September-2019 RNI No. CHAENG/2013/53324 A Monthly Magazine MBU Chd.

Birth Anniversary Shaheed Bhagat Singh (September 28th)