www.punjabadvanceonline.com Gandhi Jayanti (Oct 2)

2 Advance August 2016 Editorial

Where is that glory that reverence the Punjab farmers enjoyed when they put everything at stake to usher in the Green Revolution. They responded to the call of the nation, abandoned the traditional farming methods in the late 1960s and 1970s and fell to the crafty advisers from the US and other countries to grow crops the American way – with chemicals, high- yielding seeds and irrigation. The selfless devotion of the Punjab farmer, saw the nation climb up the lad - der. From a beggar it became an exporter of grains. Yes the country food bowl was overflowing with grains, but at the cost of the dwindling groundwater of Punjab. The new miracle seeds produced far bigger yields, but they came with a catch: The thirsty crops needed much more water than natural rainfall could provide, so the farmers had to dig wells and irrigate with groundwater. The demand for more grains, saw the farmers pumping excessive groundwater to irrigate their crops resulting in a dramatic fall in the water table. The level began to drop more than 3 feet every year. Deeper water table meant high powered tubewells sucking out whatever was left deep down in the earth. The cost went up, the soil also started show - ing damage because of the chemicals. This is where the money lenders came into the picture. Excessive spending on agriculture because of low water table, bad soil and low MSP added to the woes. The mounting debts have taken their toll in farm suicides. The Punjab farmers who were the ‘Anndata’ of the country are today in need of funds. The Centre has a duty towards them. The farmers worked hard and filled the nation’s granaries. Even today they are the main grain produc - ers. The debt-ridden farmers are now being penalized for stubble burning. The Chief Minister, Capt , knows the plight of the farmer and has made several trips to Delhi seeking compensation for proper paddy management. The ball is in the Delhi court. The Centre has used the Punjab farmer to usher in the Green Revolution, now it is high time the Centre re - payed it to the farmer in cash and kind. Heavens will not fall if compensation is given for management of paddy.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 3 Contents Punjab Advance www.punjabadvanceonline.com Managing a burning

LOCTOBER › 2018 issue LVOL›5 L ISSUE›10

C.E.O. N Anindita Mitra (IAS)

Editor N Donald Banerjee

Designer N Arun Kumar Sharma

Publisher N Information & Public Relations Department, Punjab 06

Contact address N Village co-op shows PUNJAB ADVANCE, Room No. 1, 5th Floor, the way Punjab Civil Secretariat, -160001 Ph. : 0172-2740668 [email protected]

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 12 jurisdiction will lie in Chandigarh based courts.

Published and Edited by Ms. Anindita Mitra (IAS) on behalf of the Information and Public The who led Relations Department, Punjab at Room No. to Asiad football gold 1, 5th Floor, Civil Sectt., Chandigarh.

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4 Punjab Advance September- 2018 Cleaner Basmati this year PAU Smart School Marked drop in pesticide draws students content

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14 Amrita Pritam ----she lived by her own rules Big hike in cash prize for sports persons

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The eyes have it

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Injecting fluid into joints to ease knee pain Page-44 42

September- 2018 Punjab Advance 5 Cover Managing a b l CM writes to PM for compensation l Awareness campaign works wonders l Sharp fall in stubble burning cases

Donald Banerjee

he people’s Chief Minister of Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, is leading from tThe front in the state government’s efforts to curb stubble-burning. He knows the difficulties being faced by the farmers and has made several trips to Delhi to find a remedy, the latest being a meeting with the Union Agriculture Minister seeking Rs 100 a quintal compensation for straw manage - ment. The Chief Minister even took an aerial tour of the region last week to review stubble burning in the vast fields of Punjab and Haryana. Isolated plumes of smoke was a clear indication of stubble burning in certain areas in spite of the threats of action as well as incentives in the form of subsi - The Cooperative Agricultural Society, Begumpur, dies for machines and equipment and awareness a nondescript village in Nawanshahr district and campaigns. five adjoining villages have shown their aware - Ground reports from various parts of the state ness against paddy burning by going in for proper project a vast awareness among farmers to shun stubble management with the help of the baler stubble burning. In , Gurdaspur and Pa - machine tiala farmers from many villages came as a group Unable to afford the high cost of machinery and assured the Punjab Pollution Control Board and with a very short window between the har - that they would not burn straw. vesting of paddy and planting of wheat, small The awareness campaign has spread to the vil - farmers in certain areas say the easiest and fastest lages with 100 farmers from Sangrur villages way to prepare the fields for the next crop is to shunning the practice of burning the crop residue. burn paddy stubble.

6 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover urning issue

But the government is determined to find a way out. It is confident that there Mechanised route will be minimal cases of stubble burn - Finding mechanised route as the most suitable an - ing this year. As many as 13,100 ma - swer to the problem of crop residue burning, Pun - chines (super stubble management jab is targeting to deliver 24,972 farm equipment system, happy seeders, rotavators, including happy seeder, paddy straw chopper' cut - ploughs, shrub cutters, mulchers) have ter, mulcher, reversible mould board ploughs, shrub already been supplied to farmers, coop - cutter, zero till drill, super straw management sys - erative societies and community hiring tem on combine harvesters, rotary slasher and ro - centres. tavator. “This is in addition to the machines "We have a target to deliver 24,972 machines to that were supplied last year. A majority growers, cooperative societies and custom hiring of the machines (7,062) have been centres by October 15," said Punjab Agriculture bought by individual farmers,” he said. Secretary K S Pannu.However, 8,583 machines Newly appointed nodal officers have been delivered so far, he further informed, have been stationed in 8,000 paddy while asserting that the department was making all- growing villages to check the menace. out effort to achieve the target."With these ma - These nodal officers have been under - chines, the problem of crop residue burning will be taking various activities, ranging from managed to a large extent," he added. holding meetings with farmers, arrang - ing Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines and distributing awareness material in villages, besides making an - nouncements in or by other modes. Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said he was hopeful of negligible fire incidents this year because of availability of ma - chinery; a major awareness campaign being launched by the government and Punjab against farmers,” he added. Agricultural University; and a more holistic ap - Figures available from the Punjab Pollution proach to shift to compressed biogas as an alter - Control Board (PPCB) and the Punjab Remote native fuel, to be generated from paddy straw. Sensing Centre reveal that 125 incidents of stub - “We, however, will not take coercive action ble-burning have been reported so far this season,

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 7 Cover

Farmers paying including 96 in Amritsar. Krunesh Garg, Chief Environmental price for Engineer, PPCB, said the incidents re - Green Revolution ported so far were much less compared to last year. “As per the directions of the Na - Punjab farmers are paying the price for helping tional Green Tribunal (NGT), environ - the country usher in the Green Revolution. mental compensation (fine) ranging from These were the words of Suresh Kumar, Chief Rs 2,500 (for one incident by marginal Principal Secretary to Punjab CM, in his keynote ad - farmer) to Rs 15,000 (on those having dress at a workshop ‘The Stubble Burning Conun - more than 5 acres) was being imposed on drum: A Dialogue Between Farmers, Policy Makers those who defied the orders on stubble- and Scientists’ burning. We have imposed environmen - He did not mince words as he slammed the Cen - tal costs on 23 farmers so far this year,” tre for not helping the farmers in the management of he said. paddy stubble and blaming them squarely for pollu - The fewer incidents of stubble-burn - tion, instead of giving them a viable solution. ing than last year seem to be more due to “Once they told us to produce as our land was a delay in harvesting of paddy. Because most fertile. They provided us with seeds as we had of late rains, harvesting has been delayed water. Our farmers worked hard and filled their gran - by a fortnight and is likely to begin in aries. But today the ‘Anndata’ is dying,” he said. earnest only around mid-October. Since “Heavens will not fall if compensation is given for harvesting would end around November management of paddy. If you are giving Rs 40,000 15 and wheat has to be sown before No - crorre for procurement of paddy and rice is being vember 22, the farmers would get just a given to beneficiaries of Food Security Act for Rs 2 a seven-day window to clear the fields. kg, why cannot we give compensation to farmers for This is likely to lead to farmers burning management of stubble burning.” straw rather than going in for time-con - Continuing his tirade Mr Suresh Kumar said when suming in situ management. the health of ‘Delhiwallas’ was affected, they turned Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the towards paddy growing states, but when the farm - Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU Rajewal), ers were committing suicides, no body bothered. said the NGT had ordered that equipment Now that the smoke has reached Delhi, they are for in situ paddy management to farmers trying to put the entire blame on stubble. “But the having less than two-acre landholding be farmers are not to be blamed. We have to analyse provided free, to those having 2-5 acres the causes and the concerns,” he added. for Rs 5,000, and to farmers having over Analysing the situation, he said: “Delhi does not 5 acres for Rs 15,000. have suicides, it does not have cancer as much as villages in Punjab have. It is easier to talk while sitting Haryana, UP to blame in AC offices. We will give you a 10-acre piece of for Delhi smog land. You see for yourself how much stubble is to be Sharing the data of air quality index managed in a short window. It is impossible to in - (AQI) in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh corporate 22 million tonnes of stubble in the soil. and Delhi, Krunesh Garg, Chief Environ - After all where will it go. The Centre asked us to sign mental Engineer, said the smog engulfing MOUs with oil companies last year for setting up Delhi was because of straw-burning in plants to make ethanol from stubble. We did. I tell Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, not Punjab. you not a single rupee came as investment.” “The AQI in Punjab ranges from 55 (Lud -

8 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover hiana) to 92 (Amritsar) – which is in the satis - factory quality zone. In Delhi, it is 256 (poor), Gurgaon 336 and Ghaziabad 302 (both very poor). This proves that the Delhi smog since Friday is because of fires or other causes of pollution in NCR,” he said. The Punjab Pollu - tion Control Board Chairman claimed that “most farmers have decided to follow the gov - Mobile apps on ernment instructions”. In Amritsar, Gurdaspur and , many villages unitedly approached straw burning the PPCB and said they won’t burn the straw, he Intensifying his government’s efforts to com - further claimed. bat stubble burning, Punjab Chief Minister Capt “As for the violations, we will act as per di - Amarinder Singh launched three mobile apps rections of the National Green Tribunal. No one, aimed at checking crop residue burning and whosoever it may be, will be spared,” he added. creating awareness about its ill-effects. “We will not only impose fine but also act on di - Underlining the need to strengthen coordi - rections of the state government to have a red nation among the various concerned agencies entry marked in the land record.” and departments, the Chief Minister called for strict monitoring of the situation at all levels, What farmers want while stressing the need to create awareness Punjab’s farmers are seeking a bonus of Rs among farmers, and to motivate them, against 300 per quintal for not burning paddy stubble, stubble burning. besides subsidy on machines such as paddy The three android mobile applications have seeders and shredders. They say disposing of the been developed by Punjab Remote Sensing straw in an environment-friendly manner would Centre (PRSC). They are i-Khet Machine for fa - mean additional expenditure of Rs 6,000 per cilitating farmers to have access to the agricul - acre, asking the government to adequately com - ture machinery/equipment for in-situ management of crop residue, e-PEHaL for pensate them. monitoring tree plantation, and e-Prevent to What the govt says have prompt and accurate information regard - The fund-starved state government has ing incidents of crop residue burning. These thrown the ball in the Centre’s court, asking it applications would provide relevant information to give compensation to farmers at the rate of Rs at district, block and village lebels, in English and Punjabi. 100 per quintal for straw management. The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh met Union of different departments to keep a tab. Another de - Agriculture Minister and reiterated the demand. cision is to make a red entry in the girdawari (land Besides monitoring the burning through remote record) register of farmers indulging in the burn - sensing, the pollution control board has told staff ing.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 9 Cover Nawanshahr farmer who shuns stubble burning Uses straw for mulching and vermi culture

Ravi Inder Makkar

arwant Singh, a progressive farmer of these initiatives have helped in keeping a safe en - Nawanshahr has not only set a path- vironment. Hbreaking trend in stubble management but has Besides, one more benefit of not burning the consistently been exhibiting worth-emulating straw, but using it as mulching is a natural pro - commitment not to set stubble on fire for the last duction of vermi-culture. The natural phenomena two decades. He has emerged as a role model for of vermi-culture helps to maintain the soil health. others. The verms go deep in the earth by one meter that He said that he had taken a decision in 1994 to helps in recharge of water and also increases the shun this bad practice, harmful for nature, insects, root zone of the crop. environment and human beings. Harwant Singh A state awardee in horticulture and former cultivates his land situated in Saroya of Balchaur member of Government of India’s Commission area. Divulging details, he said that he used paddy on cost and price on sugarcane policy, Harwant stubble and residues of sugarcane crop for Singh said these days we have a lot of mechanized mulching, which resulted in savings of irrigation equipments like Rotavator, Happy Seeder, Zero water, diesel and power. Likewise, this technique Till Drill, Baler, Mould Board Plough to curb has also helped in controlling weeds. Moreover, stubble burning. But he feels MB Plough and

10 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover

‘Stop straw burning’ vow for marriage Gurbachan Singh, a resident of Burj Deva Singh Wala village, put forth a rather unusual condition while marrying off his daughter. He asked his daughter’s would-be in-laws to promise that they won’t burn paddy stubble ever. “I talked to my daughter’s would-be in- laws on the phone that if we want the mar - riage to go ahead, they would have to practice farming like us,” said Gurbachan Singh. Farmers here have been practising farm - ing with minimum or no use of fertilizers and pesticides. In 2008, a co-operative society Baler are more effective. was formed in the village, which procured a Happy Seeder machine that removes the “We can use Baler to bale the stubble and paddy stubble, sows wheat into the bare after ploughing and sowing to use these bails soil, and deposits the straw over the sown for mulching. Moreover, the biomass-based area as mulch. power generation plants need bales as raw ma - Since then, a majority of farmers in the vil - terial,” he added. lage have stopped paddy burning and have Citing the rainfed areas of other parts of been using the machine to get rid of the country including Yamuna Nagar, Utrakhand’s paddy residue. The result: a good and Tarai, he said farmers of these areas have chemical-free harvest. adopted mulching technique to overcome the “Earlier I used to burn paddy stubble but scarcity of rain water. Similarly, Maharashtra then realized I was not only harming the en - farmers have used the mulching technique up vironment but the process was also affecting to 80 per cent to save water. soil fertility,” said Singh, who has been prac - "If we are not in position to procure these tising farming for the 30 years. costly mechanized operations then there is an - He also decided to gift his son-in-law a other simple way to use the stubble as pesti - cide in our fields. We can collect the stubble at Happy Seeder machine to help him “save one place and spray 2 to 3 per cent UREA mix - money on fuel and also save the environ - ture on it or urine of animals that would convert ment”. the stubble to fertile homemade pesticide in 45 “People say beti bachao. I say, ‘beti ka days. baap bachao (save the father of the daugh - Applauding the Mission Tandarust Punjab a ter)’. If the father comes under debt, how will good initiative to curb the practice of stubble he care for his daughter? If he is prosperous, burning, he said that it is the need of the hour his daughters will be too,” he added. to keep environment clean and pollution free.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 11 Cover Village co-op shows the way l Ends stubble burning in six Nawanshahr villages l Sends 12000 quintals of stubble to bio-mass plant annually

Ravi Inder Makkar

he Cooperative Agricultural Society, Be - joining villages -- Jafarpur, Husain Chak, Saloh, gumpur, has shown the way. Yes this Hiyala and Karyam -- do not burn the paddy nTondescript village in Nawanshahr district has be - straw. Instead, they have gone in for proper stub - come the role model for other villages in the dis - ble management with the help of the baler ma - posal of paddy stubble. chine. The Cooperative Society’s efforts of making Recalling the transformation, Cooperative So - the village and adjoining areas smoke-free began ciety Secretary Amrik Singh said it was a rare ho - four years back because of the initiative taken by nour, when the then Deputy Commissioner the then Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Anindita selected the Begumpur Society for introducing Mitra. Today, Begumpur, as also five other ad - the newly introduced costly baler machine in No -

12 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover vember 2013. This was the result of the determi - Moreover, the society hires 22 persons every nation shown by the society staff to do something year during the harvesting season of paddy to op - innovating and challenging. After the first trial on erate the baler machine and five tractors, trailers November 25, 2013, the baler machine showed for transporting the stubble to the nearest Bio- positive result in the very first year by earning a Mass Plant Binjo (Garhshankar). Each year stub - profit of Rs 2.5 lakh. Today that profit has in - ble from over 600 acres of paddy crop fields and creased to 3.5 lakh per annum. sugarcane residue from 100 acres of sugarcane A visibly elated, Amrik Singh that the cost of fields’, are being collected and sent to Bio-Mass the machine had been compensated from the earn - Plant. Taking inspiration from the society, three ings. Looking ahead, the society has now got nine more farmers of Sandhwan and Jafarpur have pro - mechanised tools to curb stubble burning. Rota - cured as many as six baler machines to dispose of vator, Mulcher, M B Plough, Happy Seeder, Cut - the paddy stubble. ter etc. are the the new fleet of tools that have been Terming the state government’s Tandrust Pun - acquired. jab a mission worth emulating, Amrik Singh said: Awarded with state level prize at PAU last “We should adopt a collective approach to make year, on the starting day of Cooperative Week, by the farmers aware about the dangers of stubble Cabinet Minister Brahm Mohindra, the Begumpur burning”. society has been able to dispose of 12000 to The writer is DPRO 14000 quintals of paddy stubble and sugarcane Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar crop residue every year. Sangrur farmers show awareness

PUNMEDIA BUREAU

Several farmers of Sangrur district have not burnt village, but this year the figure has reached five. wheat/paddy stubble for the past many years and Five more are being released in a few days. Farm - are also spreading awareness against the menace. ers must give up straw-burning on their own and “I have not burnt straw for the past 14 years. I not expect anything from the government,” said have been saving money by ploughing stubble Ugrahan village resident Dharminder Singh, who back into the soil. Till last year, 37 families had has not burnt stubble for the past around nine joined my campaign. This year, this number will years. cross 60,” said Jagdeep Singh, a farmer from “Most of the farmers have understood the gravity Kanoi village who has been sowing wheat/paddy of the situation and are responding positively to on around 35 acres. our camps. Last year, we succeeded in preventing Farmers of the village said initially, they borrowed field fires in 40 per cent of the area in the district. happy seeders from rich farmers of their villages, This year, we hope to increase the percentage,” but later purchased the machines and have been said Dr , Chief Agriculture Officer, using their own since then. Sangrur. The story is the same in some other villages, in - “There are around 100 farmers in the district who cluding Longowal, Ugrahan and Taranji Khera. have not burnt stubble for the past several years,” Though the supply of happy seeders and other ma - said Dr AS Mann, president, Scientific Awareness chines is less than the demand, farmers are hope - and Social Welfare Forum, who has been honour - ful that the number will increase gradually. ing farmers for shunning the eco-unfriendly prac - “Earlier, there was only one happy seeder in our tice.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 13 Cover Cleaner Basmati this year Marked drop in pesticide content

Punmedia Bureau

asmati grown in Punjab is cleaner this have adverse effect on Rs 50,000 crore business year as there has been a marked reduc - in India and hit hard economy of the state,” he tBion in the use of pesticides and fungicides fol - added. He maintained that an exhaustive joint lowing the rejection of export consignments from awareness campaign was underway involving pes - India. ticide dealers, commission agents, farmers and Alarmed by hurdles in export of rice from rice industry. India, the state government had reached out to Punjab Agriculture University has already rec - farmers through gurdwaras, public meetings and ommended alternatives to these five pesticides and social media to dissuade use of Acephate, Caban - fungicides. This season, Punjab, is expecting a dazim, Thiamethoxam, Tricyclazole and Tria - record rice output, but stricter pesticide residue zophos chemicals responsible for higher residue norms in global markets are posing hurdles to rice level in rice. from the country. Mr K.S. Pannu, Commissioner, Food and Drug As per study of Indian Council for Research on Administration, Punjab said there had been a sig - International Economic Relations (ICRIER), over nificant decline in the use of hazardous chemicals 400 refusals have been recorded of exports from in rice this year that could have caused hurdles in India owing to presence of higher than approved exports. ”Any adverse effect on export of rice will level of pesticides residue. But, banning these chemicals is beyond the purview of the state govern - ment as they are registered with the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee. In paddy, much of the pesticide and chemical is used in September and Octo - ber. Dealers meetings are being held at district level as well as block level to dis - suade them from selling these chemicals. Posters have been put up at dealers markets across rice-growing districts to caution the farm -

14 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover 48.6 % food samples fail Milk, milk products top the list

Punmedia Bureau

he state government is going all out teams had not only purged the market out of adul - against food adulteration in its drive to terated milk and milk products to some extent but Tprovide quality food products under Tandrust Pun - had also managed to bring a large number of Food jab mission. Business Operators (FBOs) into the fold of law. In August as also September the Food and Giving a breakup, he said 4518 applications Drug Administration exposed the high percentage for licence/ registration as an FBO had been re - of adulteration in food items. In both the months ceived by the department in just one month. This 48.6 per cent of the samples collected failed the included 1113 applications for licenses and 3405 quality test. for registration certificates. The license is issued This percentage is very high considering the to the FBO having an annual turnover of more adulteration percentage of 25 per cent for four than Rs.12 lakh while the registration certificate is years preceding the mission launch. mandatory for an FBO with an annual turnover of Officials, who in the past six years collected under Rs. 12 lakh. about 8,000 samples annually, gathered 1,500 in “It is highly encouraging to see that people are the past two months. Health Minister Brahm Mo - willing to abide by law and are coming forward hindra said more surprise checks would be con - to be the part of the system”,he added. Conse - ducted “to ensure quality products during the quently, the department has issued 531 licenses festive season”. and 2057 registration certificates in the last 30 Milk and milk products topped the list of adul - days, generating revenue approximately to the terated items. In August, of the total 494 milk tune of Rs. 66 lakh as license/registration fee samples collected, 252 were found adulterated. while the processing of remaining applications is Similarly, 575 samples of milk products, includ - in the pipeline, informed Pannu. ing butter, ghee and ice cream, were collected of District tops the chart with approval which 307 were found adulterated. of 61licenses and 312 registration certificates The results for edible oil were alarming too. Of while is close on its heels with a simi - the 48 samples, 21 were adulterated. In case of lar 61 licences and 90 registration namkeen (snacks), the adulteration rate was 100 certificates(RCs), followed by which gets per cent. In sweets and confectionary items, the 60 licenses and 138 RCs. adulteration was 25 per cent and in processed fruit The application process for license or the RC is products, such as jams, 40 per cent. very simple. The FBO can apply manually to the “Earlier, the focus was to meet the targets. Now Designated Officers in the district or can pay the we act on inputs, with greater transparency from relevant fee and update the challan details online collection to processing of samples,” said Kahan in the Food Licensing and Registration System on Singh Pannu, Food and Drug Commissioner. FSSAI website, said Pannu Commissioner Food and Drug Administration K.S. Pannu said strict action by the food safety

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 15 Cover

A clean sweep again lIt is Zila Parishad & Panchayat Samiti this time lEven Akali stronghold falls to Cong

Punmedia Bureau

he ruling Congress has done it again. Yes congratulations and heartfelt gratitude for script - it has won won a massive majority of ing a sweeping victory for the Congress. Tseats in the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti The fact is that the Congress has gained even elections, whose results were announced on Sep - further electorally, since it won the state assem - tember 22. The Congress won a staggering 81 per bly elections in early 2017, where it holds a two- cent of Panchayat Samiti seats and 93 per cent of thirds majority. The Congress has won three Zila Parishad seats in Punjab’s civic bodies polls, by-elections in the state since the assembly polls, which were held across the state. including to the Lok Sabha seats of Amritsar and In a video message to voters and Congress Gurdaspur, and the Shahkot assembly bypoll. The workers on September 23, Punjab Chief Minister Congress also emerged victorious in Punjab’s Mu - Captain Amarinder Singh euphorically expressed nicipal Councils and Nagar Panchayat elections

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“My heartiest congratulations and heartfelt gratitude to the people and Punjab Congress workers for scripting a sweeping victory for Congress in the panchayat samiti and zila parishad elections. ---Capt Amarinder” Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab held in December 2017. morale has never been higher, are thus high that While BJP and AAP fared poorly in the by- Congress could sweep all of Punjab’s 13 Lok elections and earlier municipal polls, the CM has Sabha seats in the next general election due in now also delivered a humiliating defeat to the Shi - 2019. romani , with the Congress sweeping the In the zila parishad elections the Congress won Akali’s home turfs of Muktsar, Ferozepur and 331 of the 353 zones (93.7%) and also clinched . Congress won 121 of 148 Panchayat 2351 of 2899 (81%) panchayat samiti seats. Samiti seats here, and all 16 Zila Parishad seats. (SAD) managed to win The Congress has also wiped out the Aam 18, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) two and the Aam Aadmi Party in the state. The controversy-ridden Aadmi Party (AAP) no seat in the zila parishad AAP—which emerged as the main Opposition in polls. Punjab but has seen desertions of MLAs and sup - The final results of 22 zila parishad and 150 porters since—won a measly 20, or 0.6%, of panchayat samitis were released by the state elec - 2,899 Panchayat Samiti seats, and drew a blank in tion commission.SAD managed to win four zila the Zila Parishads. parishad zones each in Amritsar and Fazilka, be - The assembly election results in 2017 showed sides two each in Muktsar and Nawanshahr. The Congress leading in 10 and and AAP in 3 out of party had to settle for one seat each in Mohali, Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats. At present, the Sangrur, Moga, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur. SAD-BJP combine holds five (four SAD, one On the other hand, AAP failed to win even a BJP), while the Congress has four seats and AAP single zone, performing worse than even the in - another four. Subsequent local elections show that dependents and others in the fray, who won one both BJP and AAP face a Lok Sabha wipeout in zone each in Jalandhar and Nawanshahr. BJP fin - the state. However, though it was previously ished with a tally of two. thought that only the Badal family that heads the In case of panchayat samitis, of the total 2899 SAD has prospects of retaining at least its present zones, 2351 candidates of Congress have won, Lok Sabha seat of Bathinda, if not more, the lat - followed by 352 of SAD and 20 of AAP, 63 of est Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad results BJP and one of CPI, and two each of SAD (A) and shows that even the Badal family seats like CPI (M). As many as 107 other candidates too Bathinda are not safe. registered a win. Expectations among party workers, whose

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 17 Cover Big hike in cash prize for sports persons

Cabinet approves pension for veterans Rs 15,000 a month pension for Olympic medallists

Punmedia Bureau

ith the aim of promoting sports and end - While the cash award of Rs 2.25 crore for gold ing the drug menace, the Punjab Gov - medal winners remains the same in case of eWrnment has enhanced the cash awards for various Olympics and Paralympics, held once in four games and championships. It has also proposed years, the existing cash award of Rs 1.01 crore has pension for veteran players and awards for been increased to Rs 1.50 crore for silver medal coaches, under its new sports policy that has been winners and from Rs 51 lakh to Rs 1 crore for approved by the Cabinet. those who win the bronze medal.

18 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover

As regards the All India Inter-University Tour - nament/Championship, National School Games/Khelo India School Games and National Women Sports Festival/National Level Khelo India Tournament, the gold medal winner will get a cash award of Rs 50,000, while the silver win - ner will be given Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 for bronze. Similarly, in Senior National Champi - onships organised by National Sports Bodies, held once a year, a gold medal winner will get Rs 40,000, silver medal winner Rs 20,000 and bronze medal winner Rs 15,000. Besides, the Maharaja award, In Asian and Para Asian Games held once in given to medal winners for winning laurels for the four years, the existing cash award of Rs 26 lakh state and country, will now be given to top 20 has been enhanced to Rs 1 crore for gold medal, players and one differently-abled player, to be from Rs 16 lakh to Rs 75 lakh for silver and from graded on a scale of 100 points as per the guide - Rs 11 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for bronze medal. lines. Similarly in case of world cup/championship, All Arjuna and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratana held every four years, the existing cash prize has awardees, hailing from Punjab, would be auto - been increased from Rs 21 lakh to Rs 80 lakh for matically eligible for this award in addition to the the gold medal, Rs 11 lakh to Rs 55 lakh for the select 20 players. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Awardee silver medal and , and from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 45 will get Rs 5 lakh as cash award with trophy and lakh for the bronze medal. a blazer, and would be entitled to health insurance In Commonwealth Games/Para Common - cover of Rs 1 lakh per year for indoor treatment wealth Games, again held once in four years, the for five years. sportsperson who clinches the gold medal will Pension would be given to veteran players who now get an enhanced cash award of Rs 75 lakh as have won a medal at various international tourna - compared to the earlier amount of Rs 16 lakh, Rs ments or championships, and have attained the 50 lakh for silver against existing Rs 11 lakh and age of 40 years and are not employed or have an Rs 40 lakh for bronze, which was earlier Rs 6 annual income of Rs 6 lakh or less per annum. lakh. This pension would be in addition to any sports Besides this, the winners in World University pension being provided by the central government Games/Championships will get a cash award of or any other agency except a pension as retired Rs 7 lakh for gold, Rs 5 lakh for silver and Rs 3 government employee by any government. lakh for bronze. The state government would grant pension of The prize money for winning the gold medal Rs 15,000 per month to a medal winner in in SAF Games/Afro Asian Games and National Olympics, Rs 7500 per month to a medal winner Games/Para National Games would be Rs 5 lakh, in Asian/Commonwealth Games and World Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for gold, silver and bronze Games, Rs 5,000 per month for national games medals, respectively. medal winners, who have won at least two medals in last five national games.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 19 Cover

Free power for 25 yrs yrs l Big rush for rooftop solar panels l Subsidised and easy instalment plan

Punmedia Bureau

ooftop solar panels on subsidized and and payment will be made through easy instal - easy instalment plan, are becoming a pri - ments. oRrity item for the people of Mansa. The reason is Because of the low cost maintenance, these that by paying just 15 per cent margin money new on-grid solar panels are becoming a craze anybody can get free electricity for the next 25 among the people of the area. years besides acquiring subsidy ranging from 25 Soon after Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder to 31 per cent according to kilowatts. The balance Singh Randhawa launched the "Cooperative

20 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Cover

5 KW Rooftop solar panel is about totally free for the next 20 years, which will be of Rs.3.25 lakh, on which about Rs.87,000 more than Rs 11 lakh as per the current market would be given as subsidy by the gov - price. He said that any person can install a plant of up to 80 per cent load of their domestic sanctioned ernment. After paying the 15 per cent load of electricity connection. margin money of the total amount, Any person, wishing to set up a solar panel which comes to Rs.48,750, the remaining under "Cooperative Green Energy Debt Scheme" amount can be paid through 60 easy in - (SeGEL), will have to select empanelled vendors stalments. from the website of Punjab Energy Development Green Energy Loan Scheme" (SeGEL), in all the Agency (PEDA). He will have to apply online for 800 branches of the Central Cooperative Bank of approval of PSPCL. PEDA will send its consent the state on August 15, the people of Mansa made on his email or mobile address and then the con - a beeline for the installation of these solar panels. cerned branch of the Central Cooperative Bank More than 70 persons have already submitted will accept the loan of the eligible person. their applications. Special facilities for government employees Giving details, the Managing Director of the The Managing Director said that any person, bank Mr. Harvinder Singh Dhillon said that the organization, institution or society can produce cost of installing a 5 KW Rooftop solar panel is electricity by installing solar panels on rooftop. about Rs.3.25 lakh, on which about Rs.87,000 Any employee of Punjab & Central government, would be given as subsidy PSU or cooperative departments can get loan from by the government. After any branch of cooperative bank of Punjab with - paying the 15 per cent mar - out any security. gin money of the total 1 KW beneficial equal to 6 trees amount, which comes to Mr. Dhillon said that with the setting up of 1 Rs.48,750, the remaining KW solar panel, the environment would get the amount can be paid through benefit equal to six big trees. Thus, the solar pan - 60 easy instalments. els are being directly benefitted in reducing global The 5 KW solar panel warming. He said that due to sunlight for more produces 20 units a day than 300 days in Punjab, this region has been kept which works out to 600 in the best list of Solar Index "Solar Index-4", units per month. Thus, the which boost morale of the consumers that solar panel will generate electric - panels staying sunny every day and will ensure ity worth Rs. 5100 per the continuous and rich yield of electricity. Solar month as per current elec - panels equipped with new technologies are capa - tricity tariff of Rs.8.50 per ble of generating electricity for up to 25 years unit, whereas the instalment without any maintenance. will be of Rs.4300 per New way of employment for youngsters month. In this way, during Managing Director said that Solar Plants are the instalment period, the also creating employment and self-employment electricity amount will be at opportunities for the youth of the state. He said par with the instalment that in order to set up solar panels on the roofs, amount, whereas after the the companies need a lot of local work force. completion of instalments Youngsters can start the work of solar panel fit - the power generation will be ting after taking training.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 21 PUNJAB DIARY Drug war: drive against POs Raising the pitch on its war against drugs on STF, proposed a series of other initiatives to in - the directive of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder tensify the efforts against drugs. It discussed pre - Singh, the Punjab Police has decided to launch a ventive detention of traffickers from whom heavy drive against Proclaimed Offenders (POs) in drug recoveries had been effected. The lists of such cases, including those who had fled the country. traffickers are in the process of being prepared. The decision was taken at a high-level joint It was decided to expedite the cases of seiz - meeting of the Special Task Force (STF), Intelli - ing/freezing of property acquired through illegal gence Wing and Bureau of Investigation (BoI), means by drug smugglers. It was further proposed held under the chairmanship of DGP Suresh to hold a joint meeting of the District Police, In - Arora. telligence Wing and Special Task Force on a DGP STF Mohd. Mustafa, DGP Intelligence weekly basis in various districts to review action Dinkar Gupta, along with officers from Intelli - against drugs, to share information and to devise gence Wing, STF and BoI attended the meeting that was convened to review the action against future strategy. drugs and discuss the strategy to further The meeting also underlined the need to un - strengthen the battle to eliminate the drug menace dertake media campaigns for spreading awareness from the state. against drugs and to give a further push to the The meeting, which focused on synergising the DAPO and Buddy programmes of the State Gov - efforts of district Police, Intelligence Wing and ernment. Unique number for plots Swindlers beware, in its efforts to bring in has - GMADA. sle-free services in a transparent manner, the Capt Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government has de - said the records would be updated in such a man - cided to give a unique number to the plots of gov - ner that when a colonizer sells a plot a Tatima and ernment and approved colonies in the revenue Field-book will be prepared for that particular plot records which will show the khasra number as so that every plot gets a unique number in the rev - well as the plot number. enue records. Elaborating he said a map of the res - This path-breaking step of the Revenue De - idential colony would be superimposed on the partment will protect the people from swindlers. revenue map. Under this scheme those who want to purchase In this way a specific plot will get registered property in cities or their periphery area will get a on the buyer's name rather than a part of the separate Khewat number (ownership number) colony as was the earlier practice, which would which will do away with the problem of common always remain to be the subject of partition. This account (Sanjha Khata) of land. will end the fraud of selling one piece of land Besides, now common land for roads, parks, again and again to one or more person. Now a streets and drains etc. cannot be sold out because buyer will not face any problem in finding out the such land will come under a separate Khewat in real owner of a specific property. “Complications the revenue record. The work is being initiated as due to complex revenue record will be elimi - a pilot project in Sector-79 of Mohali by nated,” the Minister added.

22 Punjab Advance October- 2018 PUNJAB DIARY

Foot safety teams on high alert

As a precautionary measure against the sale of informed that 4 cold stores in Kapurthala, 7 in substandard sweets in the ensuing festive season, Bathinda ,6 each in Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar, 5 food safety teams have been put on high alert. each in Sangrur and Amloh, 3 in Sri Muktsar They have been directed to maintain constant vigil Sahib, 2 each in Barnala, Patiala, Fazilka, on the bulk sale and purchase of milk and milk Pathankot and Faridkot / Kotakpura area. products, especially Khoya, besides the routine in - Most appallingly, the Food Safety Wing spections, informed KS Pannu, Commissioner Pathankot in a raid at Aman Cold Store found Food Safety Punjab. about 1.5 quintals of foul smelling khoya with “It is a general im - storage dating back to over a year. It is linked with pression that substan - a sweet shop owner in Shahpur Chowk, dard khoya procured at Pathankot. The team took the samples and de - cheaper rates from other stroyed the khoya, not fit for human consumption. states is stored ahead of In the same premises, about 3.72 quintals of fat the festival season in the spread was found which is sold as butter and it cold stores by the sweet was linked with Balaji Enterprises. Sample of fat manufacturers, so we are spread has been taken and the entire stock has constantly checking the been seized. cold stores across the Similarly, two bread manufacturing units in State and are also putting Amritsar were inspected and sealed due to poor the owners on guard hygiene of premises as well as for being run in against storing spurious residential areas without FSSAI license. Moulds items’’, said Pannu . were seen in the Buns and Cream Roles . Very low Giving details of the quality ghee, maida and cherry and other ingredi - inspections, the CFDA ents were being used in processing.

Canada’s Oppn Leader meets CM Canada’s Leader of Official Opposition, House of Commons, Mr Andrew Scheer met Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for a courtesy call. Mr Scheer, who met Captain Amarinder at the latter’s residence in Chandigarh, appreci - ated the role of the hardworking in Canada’s development & progress. Mr Scheer was accompanied by his wife Jill Scheer and MP Bob Saroya, among others.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 23 PUNJABIS OVERSEAS First turbaned Sikh in Trump’s security Ludhiana-born Anshdeep Singh Bhatia has be - and a close relative after the frenzied mob stormed come the first turbaned Sikh to be inducted into their house in Kanpur’s KDA Colony in Barra. the security detail of the US President. His aunt’s marriage was scheduled in second of Anshdeep was inducted last week after he week of November and the family was busy mak - completed his gruelling training in the United ing arrangement. States. Anshdeep’s father Devendra Singh was also in - His family moved to Ludhiana from Kanpur jured in the attack and had received three bullet during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He lost his uncle wounds. His grandfather Amreek Singh Bhatia, man - ager with Punjab and Sind Bank, opted for a trans - fer to Ludhiana. His father, who was into the pharmaceutical business in Kanpur, married in Ludhiana and moved to the United States with his family in 2000. Anshdeep was 10 at that time. Anshdeep who dreamt of making to the Presi - dent’s security one day stumbled upon a block when he was told he would have to change his looks. But Anshdeep moved the court against the riders and the decision came out in his favour

Open border, say Pak

Pakistan’s Sikh community has urged the In - der for Sikh devotees on the 550th birth anniver - dian government to open the border to help facil - sary of , the founder of . itate the Sikh pilgrims to visit the historic “The entire Sikh community is thankful to the , Kartarpur Sahib, in this country, says a government for its noble gesture,” he media report. said. Addressing a press conference, patron-in-chief Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad of the Pakistan Sikh Council Ramesh Singh Chaudhry said his government would soon open said if opened, the border crossing will the Kartarpur border crossing with India for Sikh allow Indian pilgrims to visit the historic gurd - pilgrims to visit a historic gurdwara there without wara and Pakistanis to visit Dera Baba Nanak on visas. the Indian side. “Pakistan will soon open the border at Kar - Khalsa said it had been a long pending demand tarpur for Sikh pilgrims and the pilgrims will be of the Sikhs to open the Kartarpur border for pil - able to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur grims, ‘The Express Tribune’ reported. without visas,” he said in an interview to BBC He also praised the new Imran Khan-led gov - on September 7. ernment for its announcement of opening the bor -

24 Punjab Advance October- 2018 PUNJABIS OVERSEAS Coach apologises for turban remark Singapore’s national football coach has apolo - were not made with any malicious intent,” it said. gised for his racist comments made to a Sikh re - According to the petition, which has around 290 porter during a pre-match press conference here last supporters, Fandi made the remarks after Singh week, a media report said on Friday. posed a question about players’ skill and technique “The Football Association of Singapore regrets during the press conference at Oasia Hotel here. Fandi Ahmad’s comments during the pre-match “You said that in terms of skill and technique, press conference on September 6 for the match be - some of our rivals in the region have overtaken us. tween Singapore and Mauritius that upset members How would that affect you wanting to play the good of the Sikh community,” Channel News Asia re - football which you are known for?” Singh was said ported, citing a statement from the football body. to have asked, according to the petition. Both Fandi and the Football Association of Sin - Fandi reportedly replied: “We have not all bad ... gapore have contacted the reporter, Dilenjit Singh, I can’t condemn anybody because our system is dif - and the Sikh Advisory Board to “explain, apologise ferent from others. I can’t say it also, as it is against and clarify” the matter, the statement said. the government. You know if I say it loud, you know, “Singh gracefully accepted our explanation and you will be seeing your turban would be gone...” apology. Our discussion with the Sikh Advisory The petition also added that Fandi’s comments Board has also revealed that the comments could be were followed by laughter. hurtful to the Sikh community even though they

Senior US official in dock for racist remarks

Authorities in New Jersey have called for the “If that’s in fact resignation of a senior law enforcement official Sheriff Saudino’s after a secret recording surfaced in which he al - voice, then he legedly made racist remarks about America’s first should resign imme - Sikh-American Attorney General Gurbir Grewal diately,” Grewal over his turban. said. Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino al - Grewal further legedly made multiple controversial remarks in a tweeted that he has January 16 conversation that took place after Phil “got thick skin and Murphy was inaugurated as governor of New Jer - I’ve been called far worse. But the comments sey, the recordings of which were obtained by about the African-American community are WNYC. wrong, racist, and hurtful. The comments about In the audio, Saudino is heard saying that New our Lieutenant Governor are inappropriate and Jersey governor Phil Murphy appointed Grewal homophobic. New Jersey and Bergen County de - because of “the turban”. serve better.” “He didn’t do that because of Bergen County; In July this year, Grewal was racially targeted he did that because of the turban,” Saudino said by two radio hosts who repeatedly called him the of Murphy’s selection of Grewal, who at the time “turban man” on air. was the Bergen County prosecutor. Murphy is also called for the resignation of Grewal tweeted that he had listened to the Saudino following the emergence of the secret recording. recording.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 25 Captions Page 8: . Page 13 . Page 18 . Page 20 Page 21 . Page 22.

CENTRESPREAD pic: Page 29 (Pl remove the pic of Education Minister)

Back cover pic:

PAU Smart School draws students

Prabhdeep Singh

he state government’s mantra of uplift - ing government schools into smart Tschools is slowly but steadily bearing fruit. This transformation is going a long way in uplifting the standard of education. Under the smart school project, the govern - ment school on the Punjab Agricultural Univer - sity campus, Ludhiana, is now Government Senior Secondary “Smart” School. This particular Government Senior Secondary “Smart” School has started attracting students from leading private schools, who are making a beeline for getting admission to the school, which than his previous school. was inaugurated by Chief Minister Capt Ali Rana is working really hard to establish Amarinder Singh on August 14, 2018. himself as a successful gymnast. He said in his One student to get admission in Class XI here previous school, he was allowed to train only as a is Ali Rana. Besides being an intelligent student, gymnast, whereas in Government Senior Second - Ali Rana is also a state level sports player. ary “Smart” School, he can play athletics as well Ali Rana is happy that he decided to take ad - as football along with gymnastics. He really liked mission in this school. He had been studying in a the noise-free and clean environment of this leading private school of the city since the nursery school. Besides, the play grounds of this school class where the annual fees was Rs 65,000. But in are far bigger than those of his previous school. the Government Senior Secondary “Smart” Sanjeev Thapar, Principal, Government Senior School, he would have to pay an annual fee of just Secondary “Smart” School, PAU, said Rs 50 lakh Rs 2500. had been spent to make the school ‘smart’. It has Besides, the teachers of this school are highly eight new classrooms, each having projector fa - qualified and have joined service after clearing cility along with other modern teaching aids. competitive tests, whereas in his previous private Four new washrooms have also been con - school, the teachers didn’t have to clear any test structed while the existing ones have been re - before joining service. paired. For creating a positive educational The syllabus as well as the medium of instruc - environment in the school, landscaping has been tion in both the schools is almost the same. How - done in some parts and colour coding is being ever, in the previous school, the students were done in the entire school. forced to join tuition classes. Besides, ever since the smart school has come Besides, the basic facilities at Government up, students from other private schools have Senior Secondary “Smart” School are far better started contacting him for admission.

28 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Govt schools go Smart Rural students get access to e.content

Ravi Makkar

ight government senior secondary schools having access to such facilities”, said a number of E in Sahlon, Rattewal, Thopia, Khotheran, students while sharing their experiences. Langroya, Nawanshahr, Mukandpur and Malewal “ Though our parents do not have resources to villages of Nawanshahr district are being con - send us to a privatel school, but now we feel that verted into smart schools. we are fortunate enough to get better infrastruc - A sum of Rs.78.20 lakh has been granted to ture facilities as well as quality education than the these schools for sprucing up the infrastructure students of private schools”, added the students. and to equip the schools for providing access to District Education Officer, Vinod Kumar, said e.content of the syllabus in specially designed apart from these achievements, a special drive was class rooms. being carried out for converting government A sum of Rs. 50,000 has been set aside for schools into smart schools by mobilizing com - converting seven class rooms into smart class - munity support. rooms in each school, which will have eye-catch - Secretary Education, Krishan Kumar said more ing colour coding. Work is going on at a war than 100 schools had been identified for conver - footing to give an attractive look to the schools. sion into smart schools in the district.. Besides, the teaching of Science and Mathematics District Public Relations Officer,Shaheed in English medium has also been started. Bhagat Singh Nagar The students have also been provided with funds amounting to Rs.600 per student for uniforms.The washrooms are also being spruced up. These “Smart Schools” have virtually raised the confidence level of stu - dents. This is quite evident from the smile on the faces of students studying at the Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Langroya. “ It is a dream come true for us. We belong to poor families and could not have even thought of

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 29 Sports The Sardar who led India to Asiad football gold Jarnail Singh’s 14th death anniversary falls on October 13

Donald Banerjee

he only thing Indian in the recent FIFA tional level dates back to 1957 when he decided to World Footall Cup may have been the shift to Calcutta to try his luck on the sprawling TJalandhar-made footballs for the warm-up maidan of the metropolis. Initially he joined Ra - matches. Indian footballers were nowhere in the jasthan Club, but his talent and energy caught im - scene, but the craze the thrilling matches gener - mediate attention and he was roped into the ated among the vast Indian TV viewers was to be glamorous Mohun Bagan the following year. seen to be believed. Playing as stopper back, Jarnail played a key role But things were different in the 1960s. None in many a memorable Bagan win. Incidentally, he from this generation may have been witness to the is the only Punjabi player to have led the glam - golden age of Indian football in that era, when orous red and maroon brigade and his achieve - Punjab’s Jarnail Singh strode the national football ments are still part of Calcutta's folklore. scene like the Colossus. From the dusty fields of The big break came in 1960 when he was Panam village, near Hoshiarpur, the Sardar scaled picked in the Indian team for the Olympics but the lofty heights which remain unparalleled and un - outing was not very rewarding as India, after fin - matched. In fact, what Bobby Charlton or George ishing fourth at Melbourne four years earlier, Best were to English soccer, Jarnail was to Indian failed to finish in the top bracket. But the Jakarta football. Tall, lithe of muscle with a stout frame, Asian Games two years later propelled Jarnail to Jarnail was a father-figure of Punjab football. the centrestage. Jarnail led the Indian team to the We remember this legendary soccer star on his historic gold medal victory. In fact the winning 14th death anniversary which falls on October 13. goal was scored by Jarnail himself. A leading light of the golden age of Indian For four years, Jarnail remained captain of the football in the 60s', Jarnail Singh played a key role Indian team and was also selected as skipper of in India's gold medal winning performance at the the Asian All-Star team in 1962.Incidentally he Jakarta Asian Games in 1962 and led the National was the first Indian to have been selected in this side in the Asian Games in Bangkok four years team. later During his playing career, Jarnail took part in Jarnail Singh's tryst with football at the na - the national championship for the Santosh Trophy

30 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Sports

as well as countless other tournaments. A con - easy approach. temporary of PK Banerjee, Jarnail's role in Pun - Amal Dutta, the septuagenarian coach who has jab's historic 6-0 triumph over West Bengal in the trained almost all the major clubs in the country, 1974 Santosh Trophy at Jalandhar is by itself a feels that Jarnail Singh was one of the greatest separate chapter of Punjab football. It is perhaps athletes ever born and his attainment lay in the the first instance of a coach assisting his team as fact that ``despite being a defender he achieved player on the playing ground in the nationals. the super-star status when flashy forwards domi - Despite failing health, Jarnail's interest in foot - nated.'' Recalling the reasons measuring up to Jar - ball remained intact. He was a daily visitor to nail's legendary status, Dutta says consistency and Ludhiana to witness the National Football League discipline were the hallmark of the man who dis - matches in 1999. He was regularly invited to pre - played excellence both in the international and do - side over prize distribution ceremonies of major mestic arena. Dutta goes on to add that Jarnail football tournaments. When I last met him at a could take any opposition undaunted and shoul - seminar at Banga, Jarnail expressed his anguish der pressure without showing any signs of crack - over the falling standards in the game. "Where is ing. He was truly a world-class defender India the commitment these days”, he asked, while crit - could be proud of. icising the tendency of youngsters to adopt the Jarnail made Calcutta his home having an un -

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 31 interrupted association of 10 years with Mohun Syed Nayeemuddin, East Bengal coach, won - Bagan from 1959 to 1968 before moving back to dered at the reason why the genius of such an Punjab. This brought about friendship with col - ``outstanding player was never honoured with the league and contemporary in legendary forward Padma Shri.'' Chuni Goswami, and the two partnered in savour - Jarnail’s fame in 60s was incomparable. In a ing most of the glory. ``We, perhaps, are among poll organized by Indian Express in 1963, he was the players in the country to have tasted most of elected as the most popular sports persons in the success in the international arena.'' says India. House-full boards would be kicked down Goswami, who led the team to the Asian Games in cinema-halls to accommodate him. He was also gold in 1962 at Jakarta. Recollecting the Asian selected as the captain of Asian All Star team in Games triumph, Goswami says Jarnail was pro - 1966 – a unique feat for an Indian player. He moted to play the forward in the semifinals as a played a major role in making Punjab one of the head-injury had ruled him out of the defence forces in Indian football. With him as a captain, which demanded constant heading. Punjab won the first Santosh Trophy in 1970. Four He was such an indispensable member of the years later with him as the coach, Punjab steam - team that dropping him was impossible and coach rolled every other team in the Santosh Trophy. Syed Abdul Rahim tried him up front. The semi - Inder Singh was in rampaging form, scoring a final against South Vietnam thus saw Jarnail com - record 23 goals as Punjab raked up 46 goals in the ing out with flying colours as a striker scoring tournament. Punjab thrashed Bengal, a traditional once along side Goswami who struck twice in a 3- powerhouse with a 6-0 scoreline in the final. 2 verdict. The experiment was continued in the Jarnail was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in final against South Korea and it proved hugely 1964. He was appointed the Deputy Director of successful as Jarnail shared two goals with P. K. Sports for Punjab between 1985 and 1990 and Banerjee for a 2-1 win for the title. India became served as Director between 1990 and 1994. He the runner-up in the Asia Cup in 1964 at Tel Aviv. was loved and respected by players from later And ``Jarnail played his part commendably com - generations. When Mohun Bagan reached Ludhi - manding the defence with authority as the team ana to play in a National Football League match in got past oppositions like South Korea and Hong 2000, coach Subrata Bhattacharya informed the Kong before qualifying for the final.'' The year players that Jarnail was present in the ground. also saw India take the second spot in the Players rushed to collect autographs and get in - Merdeka tournament in Malaysia. Jarnail's ascen - troduced to the Mohun Bagan legend. People in dancy to the national team was quick as he formed Jarnail’s village Panam still talk of him fondly– a part of the team to play in the 1960 Rome Olympics. He assumed the captaincy from his room is adorned with dozens of silverware that Goswami in the Merdeka meet in 1965 and con - he received during his playing days. Indian Na - tinued for more than two seasons with a fair bit of tional team defender Mahesh Gawli visited Panam success. in 2007 and paid his respects to the great defender.

32 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Abandoned orphan in under-14 soccer team

Punmedia Bureau

ohit, a Class VIII student of Dashmesh the Dashmesh Sports and Martial Arts Acad - Sports and Martial Arts Academy, Sri emy,saw Rohit displaying his football prowess. So ARnandpur Sahib, is a role model for other stu - impressed was this trainee that he convinced the dents. From an orphan who was abandoned on the orphanage handlers to allow Rohit to undergo a Bathinda railway station to a 14-year-old finding trial test at the academy. His trial test was perfect. a place in the under-14 Punjab football team, the The academy, run by the sports department of journey has been long and tedious. state government, was quick to recognize Rohit’s His rise has been made possible by the collec - football talent and selected him. He joined acad - tive efforts of the district administration, Anant emy on May 5, 2018, and is honing his skills Anath Asharam Nathana (Bathinda) and under the watchful eyes of coaches Amarjeet Dashmesh Sports and Martial Arts Academy Singh and Jaswinder Singh. funded by state government. Today Rohit is all set Today he is being groomed along with other to touch new horizons. under-14 football trainees On 9th September 2013 and is continuing his studies Rohit was Found aban - in Class VIII at Saraswati doned at the Bathinda rail - Model School, Sri Anand - way station on September pur Sahib. 9, 2013, Rohit from was Aharam Chairman Kris - sent to Anant Anath Ashram han Kumar Bansal told that Nathana, which is home to the staff and the children of many children like him. the Ashram are very excited The organizers of the or - with Rohit's selection and phanage with help of dis - are hopeful that with their trict administration tried to good upbringing other chil - find Rohit's family in vari - dren may also excel in the ous districts and states but fields of respective interests. all in vain. At the end it was Being an eligible child decided to bring up Rohit at for valid adoption the dis - the Anant Ananth Ashram trict administration and at Nathana itself. DCPO are looking out for a While at the Ashram family who will adopt such Rohit spent a lot of time a brilliant child and give him playing football along with love and affection that every his studies. One day Sunil, child deserves. a young football trainee of

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 33 Career n Competition

Future career options

PUNMEDIA BUREAU

What will career options look like in two, five, pare early by taking college courses in pre-med, ten years from now? As the world evolves, so will biology, and science. job trends and job descriptions. It’s important to Information technology structure your career so that your job will still be Think of all the technology we didn’t have just in demand in several years. Here is a peek into a few decades ago, a decade ago, a few years ago. professions, both emerging and long-standing, Computers and Smartphones have changed the that offer the best careers for the future. way we do business and communicate. And they Healthcare will continue to do so. According to a recent study, an aging popula - As more technology is developed, IT profes - tion will put healthcare workers such as doctors, sionals such as programmers, security specialists, nurses, physical thera - and administrators will con - pists, home health aids, tinue to be in high demand. and pharmacists in more Those in this field demand. should enjoy analytical The same study indi - thinking, but should also be cates 40 lakh jobs are creative problem solvers. being added to this sector As this career becomes in 2018. more central, more institu - Healthcare workers tions of higher learning are should enjoy working responding by offering with people and should coursework and majors in have an aptitude for sci - areas such as computer net - ence and math. working and information Less-skilled and lower security, applied computer paid workers such as aides science, and computer sci - may require as little as a certification course, de - ence and innovation. pending upon the state they are living and work - Because this field is rapidly changing, those ing in, while doctors, nurses, physical therapists, who want to secure the best positions should keep and pharmacists require specialized schooling up with those changes by seeking out and partic - after graduating from college. ipating in cutting-edge classes, continuing educa - Those who want to enter this field should pre - tion, and certification.

34 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Career n Competition

Alternative energy who specialize in content creation. Most have at Don’t say good-bye to oil and gas quite yet, but least a bachelor’s degree, with additional educa - alternative energies such as wind power, hydro - tion in areas of specialization. gen power, geothermal power, and solar power Individuals in this field must have good com - will create dozens of new careers, from mechan - munication and writing skills, and be highly cre - ics and plant managers to scientists, engineers, ative and original. They must also be and even sales and marketing professionals, as self-motivated and self-disciplined in order to these energies become more mainstream. meet deadlines. Those with scientific minds who enjoy re - Marketing search and care about the earth’s future are good Increased competition and the desire for com - candidates for a career in alternative energy. panies to find new ways of differentiating their As this field becomes more popular, colleges products and services will ensure that marketing and universities are offering associates degrees, professionals are kept in high demand. bachelor’s degrees, and even MBAs in green en - However, because trends and strategies change ergy. over time, those who can demonstrate they are International law keeping up with strategy will be better positioned. As the emphasis on global business and trade Marketing professionals need a bachelor’s de - grows, organizations will be looking for individ - gree in a business-related field at the very least. uals who will have the education, experience, and Those who are best positioned will have MBAs in skill set to navigate areas like international law, business or marketing, with a focus on strategic tax codes, work and environmental regulations, marketing. and even ethics. Creativity, good communication skills, and ex - Individuals who want to take advantage of this cellent research ability are necessary attributes. trend will need a law degree with an emphasis on Financial analyst international law. Excellent communication skills, Unsettled economic times have demonstrated as well as knowledge and/or fluency in one or a need for sound financial advice and planning, more languages will also help. for both individuals and businesses. Individuals who follow this path should also be As our country’s financial future becomes less willing to live in several different countries over predictable, financial analysts and planners will the course of their careers, as this will be a future continue to be in demand. trend. Most people in the financial industry have at Content creation least a bachelor’s degree, with the most employ - As marketing becomes education-based and able earning MBAs. less sales-based, demand for business writers who Certifications are required in some fields. A specialize in blogs, newsletters, website articles, good track record is necessary for success, as are whitepapers, and special reports will also in - exemplary people skills, math ability, and the abil - crease. ity to handle stress. There is no typical education for professionals

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 35 Current Events

NATIONAL Rajni Kant Misra is BSF chief Astra missile test-fired The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully test- (ACC) has appointed senior IPS officer Rajni Kant fired indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Misra as Director-General of Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) Astra from Su-30 the Border Security Force figher aircraft. The missile was tested at Kalaikunda (BSF). He has been tasked to Air Force Station, West Bengal. During the test, the head BSF for period up to his missile successfully engaged manoeuvring target with superannuation on August 31, high precision meeting mission objectives. The flight 2019. He succeeds K K test assumes significance as it is part of the series of Sharma, who will retire at the final pre-induction trials. In the series of trials held till end of this month. Misra is a date, Astra missile has been launched in complete Su- 1984-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Cur - 30 flight envelope. rently he is serving as DG of Sashastra Seema Bal Disaster Response force (SSB). The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Interceptor missile test a success will soon raise four more battalions, adding to the ex - India successfully conducted interceptor missile isting 12. The four new battalions would be stationed test off the Odisha coast at night. With this, Defence in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarak - Research and Development Organization achieved a hand and NCR Delhi. These battalions would be mod - major milestone in developing indigenous two-layer ernised to meet international standards. NDRF has also Ballistic Missile Defence system. The PDV intercep - proposed to have exclusive women contingents within tor missile was launched from Abdul Kalam Island battalions to take care of women during times of dis - (earlier known as Wheeler Island) of the Integrated tress. The NDRF has also provisioned revolving fund Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast. Its mission was of Rs. 250 crore for NDRF to create National Disaster aimed at test-firing of interceptor missile of coast of Response Reserve in all its battalions. The reserve will Odisha to intercept an incoming ballistic missile off essentially have necessary relief material like ready - the Bay of Bengal made food, medicines, etc. to be distributed during dis - tress in calamity-hit areas.

PUNJAB GND Varsity wins MAKA Trophy University (GNDU) secured 1,07,745 points. While Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) lifted the cov - expressing his happiness on this extraordinary eted Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy at achievement, Sandhu said, “This is a great honour the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan after a not only for GNDU, but also for the whole of Pun - gap of six years. The university won the all-round jab.” He also congratulated the affiliated colleges, best performance in sports for the year 2017-18. The their principals, faculty, coaches, students and the university received the trophy 23rd time since its in - University Sports Department for their sincere con - ception. Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu and tribution for the great feat. Director Sports of the University Sukhdev Singh re - Uniform tax rates on petrol ceived the trophy The northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar and the award Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territories of money of Rs 10 Delhi and Chandigarh have agreed to fix uniform tax lakh for the promo - rates on petroleum products, amid rising fuel prices. tion and develop - Besides, these states and UTs also have agreed to ment of sports. bring uniformity in taxes on liquor and registration Guru Nanak Dev of vehicles and transport permit. This decision will

36 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Current Events

INTERNATIONAL 2 share Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Chemistry Prize The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded US scientists Frances Arnold and George Smith Denis Mukwege and Nadia and British researcher Gregory Winter won the Nobel Murad the Nobel Peace Prize Chemistry Prize on Wednesday for applying the prin - for 2018 for their efforts to ciples of evolution to develop enzymes used to make end the use of sexual violence everything from biofuels to pharmaceuticals, the jury as a weapon of war and armed said.Arnold, just the fifth woman to win the Nobel conflict. The prize is worth Chemistry Prize, won one half of the nine million nine million Swedish kronor (USD 1.01 million).The Swedish kronor (about USD 1.01 million or 870,000 winners have been chosen from among 331 nomina - euros) award, while Smith and Winter shared the other tions (216 individuals and 115 organisations) which half.“The 2018 Nobel Laureates in Chemistry have the second highest number of nominees ever, next only taken control of evolution and used it for purposes that to the 376 nominated in 2016.With the announcement bring the greatest benefit to humankind,” the Swedish of two names today, the number of peace prizes Royal Academy of Sciences said.The trio used the awarded till now becomes 100, with 133 winners (106 same principles of evolution — genetic change and se - individuals and 27 organisations). Of the 106 individ - lection — to develop proteins used in a range of fields. ual Laureates, 17 have been women. In 2017, the Nepal doubles tiger population Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to The International Nepal has become first country in the world to dou - Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Al - ble its tiger population in a decade as part of World fred Nobel, in his will allocating most of his wealth to Wildlife Foundation’s (WWF) ‘Tx2’ programme the establishment of the five Nobel Prizes, wrote: “The which aims to double the number of tigers in the world said interest shall be divided into five equal parts… by 2022. There are now estimated 235 wild tigers in one part to the person who shall have done the most or Nepal in comparison to an estimated 121 back in 2009. the best work for fraternity between nations, the abo - This trend is against global tend where the tiger pop - lition or reduction of standing armies and for the hold - ulaton in many countries is witnessing a decline.The ing and promotion of peace congresses.” success of Nepal in doubling tiger numbers has been

SPORTS

Khel Ratna for Virat Kohli and Arjuna Awards was headed by Justice Indermeet The National Sports Awards 2018 Kaur Kochhar (former Judge of the Delhi High Court). were announced by the Union India Blue win Duleep Trophy Ministry of Youth Affairs and India Blue have won the 2017-18 Duleep Trophy by Sports on September 20, 2018. defeating the defending champions, India Red, by an Cricket captain Virat Kohli and innings and 187 runs in the final match played at NPR world champion weightlifter College ground in Dindigul, Tamilnadu. India Blue’s Mirabai Chanu were jointly conferred with Rajiv spinners Deepak Jagbir Hooda (5 for 56) and Saurabh Gandhi Khel Ratna award 2018, India’s highest sport - Kumar (5 for 51) were just needed10.5 overs on fourth ing honour. This year, the Ministry received a large day of final match to bundle out India Red for 172 in number of nominations for these awards. The nomi - second innings. Himachal Pradesh batsman Nikhil nations were considered by the Selection Committees Gangta was named man of match for his superb knock consisting of a former Olympian, Arjuna awardees, of 130.Brief scores: India Blue scored 541 runs with Dronacharya awardees, Dhyan Chand awardees, sport all out in 167.3 overs (N R Gangta 136, Anmolpreet journalists, experts and sports administrators. The Se - Singh 96, Swapnil Singh 69, Parvez Rasool 4 for 150, lection Committee for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Mihir Hirwani 3 for 190). They defeated India Red 182

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 37 Amrita Pritam ----she lived by her own rules (Her 13th death anniversary falls on October 31)

Punmedia Bureau

he put Punjabi literature on the world convention and defied social norms. There was no S map. No other writer is as synonymous split between life and literature for Amrita, be - with Punjabi literature as Amrita Pritam (1919- cause literature was her life. 2005), a familiar name even for those not ac - Her story is a dream of the bitter-sweet pas - quainted with Punjabi. She cocked a snook at sion of unrequited love, a soul-searing portrait of

38 Punjab Advance October- 2018 yearning and loss. It is also the stuff that legends gear by the Partition of the country in 1947. So are made of – everlasting love, above and beyond fierce was the trauma of the holocaust on her po - the humdrum of social rules. But look deeper and etic mind that she had to charter out an entirely one finds a woman who was much much more. new path for herself and her people embracing the Born in pre-independence India to a couple sorrows of the community as a whole. So heart- who found love in a fairy-tale fashion, she carved rending was the cry in her Ode to Waris Shah that her own love story too. Amrita Pritam was a she earned the title of Voice of Punjab. She woman who lived by her own rules. emerged as one who had the mind and the power Her work, drenched in her longing for love is of the pen to record the sufferings of Heer as she soaked in the pain of loss that marked her journey could fathom the depth of trauma undergone by throughout life, connecting the loss of love in the hundreds of girls in Punjab at that time. Sahir Ludhianvi and chronicling the loss of life and self-respect in Your life could be contained on the back of a rev - Partition. enue stamp" was Khushwant Singh’s cynical re - On her death anniversary on mark about the autobiography Amrita Pritam was October 31, here’s looking back planning to write. A writer of uncommon passion, on Amrita Pritam’s incredible Amrita responded to the provocative challenge creative journey. with an aptly titled Rasidi Ticket (Revenue Stamp). Having lost her mother at the The account of her life became so popular that it age of nine, Amrita was brought was translated into half a dozen Indian languages. up by her father, a fakir by nature This much-maligned story of a Punjabi rebel is but who remained a householder adored for the manner in which she says what her for her sake. An independent- readers may decry from the core of their hearts. minded Amrita rejected God when he refused to answer her Reading the story one feels that in the male-dom - prayers on her mother’s death. inated world, a woman is more sinned against She was growing into a wilful than sinning. woman who refused to accept differential treatment of lower castes in her home. The novelist in Amrita Pritam was at her best in A dreamer who listened to her own drummer, Pinjar (The Skeleton). The younger generation she chose to accept the partnership of renowned was introduced to Amrita’s work through this artist and writer Imroz for 45 long years, without novel which was made into a film sometime back. marriage, in a society that would still see red at It is the story of a Hindu girl, Pooro, abducted by the prospect. She also grew into an honest and in - a Muslim boy Rashid. Her parents refuse to take tense writer, whose works evoke beauty and pain back a ‘defiled’ woman. Unable to resist the cir - through the sheer lyricism and transparency of her cumstances she was thrown into, Pooro settles soul that reflects in her words. down as a bride and bears Rashid a son. In 1947, Amrita was married to Pritam Singh in 1939. nostalgia for the life missed by Pooro makes the That made her change her name from Amrita couple save Hindu and Sikh women from their Kaur to Amrita Pritam. Life was thrown out of Muslim abductors and send them to the security of

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 39 evacuee camps meant to take them to their kith I will meet you yet and kin. Maybe, it was this innate understanding of love again and its undefined quality that gave an impetus to Amrita Pritam her long, unrequited romance with Sahir Ludhi - I will meet you yet again anvi and 45 years of soul companionship with How and where Imroz. Maybe, it was this honest acceptance of I know not love as it is, without a need to define it, or restrict Perhaps I will become a it in roles that gave her the prolificacy that saw her figment of your imagination being feted with much-deserved national and in - and maybe spreading myself ternational honours. in a mysterious line Sunehade (messages), her magnum opus on your canvas poem, of messages she had written for Sahir won I will keep gazing at you. her the Sahitya Akademi Award, something she valued little because it was meant for Sahir and Perhaps I will become a ray not the world. She details her life and love for of sunshine to be Sahir with a frank simplicity in her autobiography embraced by your colours Raseedi Ticket, brimming with sadness but no I will paint myself on your canvas self-pity. I know not how and where — She won the Bhartaiya Jnanpith Award, India’s but I will meet you for sure. highest literary award, for her anthology Kagaz Te Canvas (The Paper and the Canvas) in 1982 Maybe I will turn into a spring and went on to become a Rajya Sabha member in and rub foaming 1986. All throughout, she continued writing of drops of water on your body love and life with an insistence, as though she and rest my coolness on couldn’t survive otherwise. your burning chest Amrita Pritam survives today in all her works, I know nothing as alive as her language; simple and lyrical, sad but that this life yet uplifting, honest and unpretentious, leaving us will walk along with me. hoping the words she wrote for Imroz come true. When she writes, Main tujhe phir miloongi, sug - When the body perishes gesting the everlasting nature of soul connections, all perishes we just about nod in agreement. We would love to but the threads of memory meet her again too, some day. are woven of enduring atoms As a Punjabi writer she had faced problems as I will pick these particles far as Punjabi books’ publication was concerned. weave the threads Her books in Punjabi were not purchased by and I will meet you yet again. many. So she got her books translated into for publication. After moving to Delhi she had to (Translated by Nirupama Dutt) switch over to writing in Hindi, through it was dif -

40 Punjab Advance October- 2018 ficult to write in Hindi, but her publishers wanted palmistry and star talk. her to. She is best known as a poet in her mother Of the 100-odd books penned by Amrita, more tongue, Punjabi, and as a prose artist in Hindi, the than a dozen are available in English today. She language that brought her a wider readership and has been lucky in her translations as well. Khush - the economic independence. want Singh had picked up her novelette Pinjar for Amrita had complained that it is easier for a translation while he was to travel to London by woman to be accepted as a harlot than as a poet in sea for a change. Indian society. Her complaint was, in fact, conse - This was her first introduction to English read - quential to her own experience as a woman writer ers when not many of them were aware that she in Indian society. She was never a feminist in her wrote fiction too. outlook and was never bitter against men but she Amrita was a person of many parts. She was had never been blind to the actualities she ob - an extremely good conversationalist and could served and wrote about. It is this transparency and hold audiences of all shades. Whether she ac - sincerity of expression that, in fact, brought about quired this art from the stint she had with the All her sufferings as a writer. Aware of the Indian at - India Radio or she was picked up by them because titudes and social reactions to a woman’s self-ex - of this talent in her is a matter of debate. pressions she said, “. . . they judge a woman’s Amrita felt more at home with the mazars of writings with a sort of prejudice in their mind. A Mian Meer Waris Shah and Bulleh Shah which woman has to suffer a lot . . . you can’t think what were as dear to her as the Taj and Roza of Ajmer price she has to pay for her femininity” Sharif. This did not apply to the places of worship Like all women writers, Amrita had suffered of other religions in her case. the bitterness of social opposition to her creativity. With all her honours and acclaim, the heights She had known that it is very troublesome for a she reached in her lifetime, including the mem - woman to survive as a writer. She wrote to escape bership of the Rajya Sabha, she carved out a niche loneliness and as an outlet to her inner feelings for herself amongst the immortals of Punjabi lit - and emotions. The consciousness of public opin - erature. ion had a double impact on Amrita’s writings. In Shy of meeting people and visiting different her stories and fiction she was preoccupied with places, Amrita was fond of cooking at home. Hun - the emotional side of life through major themes dreds of visitors from other parts of the country like love, friendship and sacrifice. and abroad would remember the lime tea served Amrita brought out a monthly literary maga - by her. Those interested in artistic calligraphy may zine Nagmani that was profusely illustrated by continue to visit her Hauz Khas residence which Imroz, her artist friend and companion in the sec - is full of her writings calligraphed by Imroz on all ond half of her life. The magazine made her ac - possible corners. cessible to the newest of Punjabi writers who Amrita Pritam did not confine herself to the flocked to her residence in Hauz Khas in New limits and boundaries of this Punjab. She did not Delhi, with or without their spouses carrying suit - belong to either side of the Wagah border or even able gifts and souvenirs to be presented to her. She both sides put together. She was the voice of Pun - was quick in introducing ever-fresh themes as new jabis all over the world and hence the voice of hu - columns on such varied subjects as readings from manity.

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 41 A tribute The eyes have it

PUNMEDIA BUREAU

had the train compartment to myself up to I must have been sitting in a dark corner, be - Rohana. Then a girl got in. The couple cause by voice startled her. She gave a little ex - Iwho saw her off were probably her parents. They clamation and said: “I didn’t know anyone else seemed very anxious about her comfort and the was here” woman gave the girl detailed instructions as to Well it often happens that people with good where to keep her things, when not to lean out of eyesight fail to see what is right in front of them. the window, and how to avoid speaking to They have too much to take in, I suppose. strangers. Whereas people who cannot see (or see very little) They called their goodbyes and the train pulled have to take in only the essentials, whatever reg - out of the station. As I was totally blind at the isters tellingly on their remaining senses. time, my eyes sensitive only to light and darkness, “I didn’t see you either”, I said, “but I heard I was unable to tell what the girl looked like. But you come in”. I knew she wore slippers from the way they I wondered if I would be able to prevent her slapped against her heels. from discovering that I was blind. Provided I keep It would take me some time to discover some - to my seat, I thought, it shouldn’t be too difficult. thing about her looks and perhaps I never would. The girl said: “I am getting off at Saharanpur. My But I liked the sound of her voice, and even the aunt is meeting me there”. sound of her slippers. “Then I had better not get too familiar”, I “Are you going all the way to Dehra?” I asked. replied, “aunts are usually formidable creatures”. “Where are you going”, she asked. “To Dehra and then to Mussoorie”, I replied. “Oh how lucky you are. I wish I were going to Mussoorie.I love the hills, especially in October”, she added. “Yes, this is the best time’, I said, calling on my memories. “The hills are covered with wild dahlias, the sun is delicious and at night you can sit in front of a log fire and drink a little brandy. Most of the tourists have gone and the roads are quiet and almost deserted. Yes, October is the best time”. She was silent. I wondered if my words had touched her or whether she thought me a roman - tic fool. Then I made a mistake. “What is it like out -

42 Punjab Advance October- 2018 A tribute side”, I asked. soon as she left the train she would forget our brief She seemed to find nothing strange in the ques - encounter. But it would stay with me for the rest tion. Had she noticed already that I could not see of the journey and for some time after. ! But her next question removed my doubts. The engine’s whistle shrieked, the carriage “Why don’t you look out of the window”, she wheels changed their sound and rhythm. The girl asked. got up and began to collect her things. I wondered I moved easily along the berth and felt for the if she wore her hair in a bun or it was plaite. Per - window ledge. The window was open and I faced haps, it was hanging loose over her shoulders. Or it, making a pretence of studying the landscape. I was it cut very short ? heard the panting of the engine, the rumble of the The train drew slowly into the station. Outside, wheels and, in my mind’s eye, I could see tele - there was the shouting of porters and vendors and graph posts flashing by. a high-pitched female voice near the carriage “Have you noticed”, I ventured, “that the trees door. The voice must have belonged to the girl’s seem to be moving while we seem to be standing aunt. still.” “Goodbye”, the girl said. “That always happens”, she said, “but do you She was standing very close to me, so close see any animals”. that the perfume from her hair was tantalizing. I No, I answered quite confidently. I knew that wanted to raise my hand and touch her hair. But there were hardly any animals left in the forests she moved away. Only the scent of perfume still near Dehra. lingered where she had stood. I turned from the window and faced the girl There was some confusion in the doorway. A and for a while we sat in silence. man getting into the compartment stammered an “You have an interesting face”, I remarked. I apology. Then the door banged and the world was was becoming quite daring, but it was a safe re - shut out again. I returned to my berth. The guard mark. Few girls can resist flattery. She laughed blew his whistle and we moved off. Once again I pleasantly---a clear ringing laugh. had a game to play and a new fellow traveler. “It’s nice to be told I have an interesting face. The train gathered speed, wheels took up their I’m tired of people telling me I have a pretty face”, song, the carriage groaned and shook. I found the she said. window and sat in front of it, staring into the day - Oh, so you do have a pretty face, thought I, and light that was darkness for me. So many things aloud I said: “Well an interesting face can also be were happening outside the window. It could be a pretty”. fascinating game guessing what went on out there. “You are a very gallant young man”, she said. The man who had entered the compartment “But why are you so serious ?” broke into my reverie. “You must be disap - I thought , then that I would try to laugh for pointed,” he said. “I’m not nearly as attractive a her. But the thought of laughter only made me feel traveling companion as the one who just left”. troubled and lonely. “She was an interesting girl”, I said. Can you “We’ll soon be at your station”, I said. tell me---did she keep her hair long or short ?” “Thank goodness it’s a short journey. I can’t “I don’t remember”, he said, sounding puzzled. bear to sit in a train for more than two or three “It was her eyes, I noticed, not her hair. She had hours”, she replied. beautiful eyes, but they were of no use to her. She Yet, I was prepared to sit there for almost any was completely blind. Didn’t you notice !” length of time, just to listen to her talking. Her Short story by Ruskin Bond voice had the sparkle of a mountain stream. As

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 43 Health Injecting fluid into joints to ease knee pain

Dr Ravinder Chadha

steoarthritis of knee is an extremely com - cosamine/Diaceren). Often these patients face mon ailment more commonly affecting the predicament while deciding regarding knee re - Oelderly. The cartilage which protects the ends of placement surgery. Hyaluronic Acid injections the bones starts degenerating. dramatically alleviate the symptoms of pain, stiff - The damaged cartilage lacks the ability to pro - ness etc. Mechanism of action is by cushioning of duce the lubricating fluid rendering the joint dry, the knee joints, by anti-inflammatory role and stiff and painful stimulation of production of Hyaluronan. These In severe cases there is loss of cartilage leading injections replace the damaged joint fluid with a to bone to bone contact causing severe pain. substance that has cushioning and lubricating abil - Common symptoms are- ities similar to normal, healthy joint fluid. • Knee pain- that worsens with prolonged sit - Hyaluronic Acid is not a drug in the real sense ting, climbing stairs, squatting or kneeling. of the word. It does not entail the same concerns Initially, the pain subsides with rest, but as or risk of certain other joint injections (e.g. disease progresses, pain may occur both at steroids) but only individuals experienced in giv - rest and at night. ing joint injections should administer these. The • Swelling only adverse reaction is temporary localized pain • Stiffness especially after prolong sitting, get - or swelling for a day in some cases. ting up. These injections are available in pre-filled sy - • Decreased range of motion. • Crackling sounds in the knee. • Instability with buckling or giving out. • Locking or catching of the knee due to intra-articular loose bodies from degenera - tive pieces of cartilage shed into the joint. • Patients may develop Bowleg that may lead to a limp. Patients remain on conservative treatment for prolonged periods of time vis-à-vis analgesics and carti - lage building drugs (Glu -

44 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Health ringes and recommended dose is either single in - done easily, add a weight on the ankle. jection or one injection per week for three or five • Quadriceps stretching- while lying down, injections. The variation of dose is due to molec - place a round pillow under the knee. Push the ular weight, viscosity, quantity of viscosupple - back of the knee downward hold for a count ment etc.. of 10, repeat ten times. Indication for usage- • Advanced Exercises with Stretch-Band is • Most of the patients notice improvement in very safe and improves muscle strength and pain and stiffness after the injection. knee mobility. • Useful in prospective candidates for knee re - • Weight bearing Exercises like Squats, placement in order to save/delay/ postpone Lunges, Step-up/down helps in strengthening surgery. thigh and hip muscles. • Individuals intolerant to the side effects of To conclude it would be appropriate to say that medicines. conservative treatment in form of physical ther - • For delaying knee replacement surgery in apy and hyaluronic acid will not only alleviate young patients. pain and stiffness in the knee joint but also help • Patients medically unfit to undertake total prevent/delay surgical intervention. knee replacement due to obesity, Diabetes, Dr Ravinder Chadha is a former physio- heart problems etc. therapist of the Indian cricket team Physical therapy like hyaluronic acid is also of Tel-0172-2702929, 9814088327 immense importance. Strong muscles provide support rendering knee movement easy and pain - less. Following exercises are ideal for improving muscle strength. • Straight leg raise- Sit well back in the chair. Straighten and raise the leg, hold it for a slow count of ten, then slowly lower it. Repeat at least ten times with each leg. If this can be

October- 2018 Punjab Advance 45 Children’s world

Hi kids, I am back with a new pitara for kids. Yes, it is time Sunday with Dad you pick up your crayons and colour pencils or your paint and brush to bring out the artiste in you. This A Sunday is so typical month you will have to use your imagination to lend when Dad is around colour to this month’s Dasehra black and white The morning starts sketch. Do send it to us and let us have your views on With a loud TV sound. what you would like to read in the children’s world. One groan from my sister and another from me Doesn't melt his heart To let us sleep for a minute or three. Mom tries to catch up On her wee bit of sleep For she knows Dad is there To make a cup of tea. But once we are all up It all seems so bright For that's the only day When Dad has all the time.---Saakshi Khanna ‘Sunday with Dad’ is a nice poem by Saskshi Some amazing science facts Khanna, who has put into verse the happenings in the house when Papa is at home. You must be also having Meteors burn up in the atmosphere and filter down your own experiences which you would like to ex - to Earth as dust. The total weight of the Earth in - press in your own poetic form. creases in weight from this dust by about 25 tonnes And by the way, children do you know that mete - each day, which adds up to 9,125 tonnes each year ors burn up in the atmosphere and filter down to earth ------as dust. The total weight of the earth increases in The Trans-Alaskan oil pipelines stretches 1,300 weight from this dust by about 25 tonnes each day, km (800 miles) from the Arctic Ocean to southern which adds up to 9,125 tonnes each year. These and Alaska. The oil is heated to at least 45°C (130°F), to many more amazing science facts you can go through stop it from freezing in the pipe. in this September pitara. ------In the story section Nina’s Blue Dress revolves The soft sand that we sink into on the beach, is ac - around Maya, a selfish girl, who wants to be the first tually rock. Sand is what a rock becomes after years to wear her cousin’s Blue dress which she is to wear of being worn down by rivers. Years of sea waves in her school drama. How the parents handle the sit - crashing against huge rocks and cliffs makes rocks uation not allowing their daughter to throw up break into small particles. And ultimately, they end tantrums is worth reading. up as sand. The colours of sand -- yellow, red, grey, Do send in your contributions and suggestions so black -- depend on the kind of rock it comes from. that we make the Children’s World something you Sometimes, desert sand is carried by winds across would look forward to every month. great distances, to seasides, increasing the amount of Keep smiling-----Uncle Don sand in the sea.

46 Punjab Advance October- 2018 Children’s world Nina’s blue dress

Maya was making plans for her birthday. She have to wear it for the play." sat in the living room pestering her father what all "Wow, thanks so much," beamed Maya, who she wanted for her birthday. hadn't imagined that victory would be this easy. "I want a chocolate cake...only a chocolate She had been getting ready to be all teary-eyed cake...and white candles on top, please ensure and mope about until, a few minutes before the they are white...and five-differently coloured bal - party, her desperate family members would let her loons, and of course, Nina's blue dress," she told wear the dress. him gravely. "Now for our gifts," said her father, and Maya "Why Nina's blue dress?" he asked. saw that he and mother were holding two tickets. "Because it is the only one that is the colour of Tickets to the newest children's fun spot in town. the sky," she answered. "You know daddy, blue is Maya had heard so much about it that she was my favourite colour." dying to go there. "Is it?" replied her father who knew why, "But hang on a minute," added her mother as overnight, his daughter's preferences in colour had she rushed forward to claim them. "These should changed. Maya's cousin Nina, had come to spend belong to Nina. After all, these two are soul-sis - the weekend at their house. Nina was coming ters. And if Nina is giving her new dress to her from school, and she was really excited because cousin to wear, it's only fair to expect Maya to she had a role in the school play. She had been hand the tickets to Nina." given a lovely silk blue dress which was to be her "Sure, we'll go together," gushed Maya. dress for the play, just before coming to Maya's "If they are mine, I get to decide who comes house. So, she brought it with her and showed it off to Maya. with me, don't I?" replied Nina, then turned to From that minute, she began to tell anyone who Maya's mother. "Aunty will you come with me?" would listen, that blue was her favourite colour "What about me?" asked an uneasy Maya who and that she would wear only a blue dress to her did not like where the conversation was heading. party. Not just any blue dress, though. "One that "Nina will only use these the first time," ex - has all these lights and pleats in front, just like plained her mother. "After that the tickets are Nina's." She spent the entire day convincing her hap - your's." less cousin that they were soul sisters and that "What will I do with them once they're used?" what belonged to one, naturally also belonged to wailed Maya. "I can't use the same tickets again, the other. So, Maya's dolls and wardrobe of can I?" dresses were Nina's, and Nina's blue dress was Maya's. And Nina could not be so selfish as to "Well, if you demand to be the first one to wear deny her cousin the brief pleasure of wearing the Nina's dress, then she too can demand to be the blue dress for the party, could she? first one to use these tickets," said father. "The rest Maya's parents, who knew they would be in for is your problem." the most spectacular display of tantrums if they stepped in, were in a dilemma. How could they That silenced Maya for a while. A little later make their daughter see what she was doing was she returned the dress to her cousin. "Sorry, I was plain bad manners, without giving her a chance to being mean," she said. "You wouldn't have liked it act like a martyr would you, if I had worn your dress first?" The next day, when the birthday girl woke up, she found her parents and Nina already up and "No, I wouldn't have," Nina told her. "And wake.Nina got up and handed the blue dress to please take these tickets back. They are your's." her. "You can wear this to the party. It's my birth - "They are our's," responded Maya. "We're both day gift to you," she said smiling to the surprised going. Just think how much we'll have to describe Maya. "But you have to give it back to me as I to the kids who come to my party in the evening."

Punjab Advance 47 October- 2018 Forecast

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

Aries: Someone you had met re - Leo: A decision on the home front Sagittarius: Don’t get tempted to cently is likely to get closer, but don't regarding a family youngster will wash dirty linen in public, as it can read too much into it. Do something have to be taken quickly. You will be prove counterproductive. You are about a matter not moving in the able to cover up the delay in comple - likely to thwart all the competition on right direction at work. A financial tion of a job. Professionally, you pos - the academic front to emerge the win - pinch is imminent with mounting sess an air of authority which you are ner.Those searching for a job should expenses, so remain judicious in your likely to bring into good use. Those not lose hope, as the horizon gets spending. Fears that you are har - looking for a quick path to success on brighter. You may have to huff and bouring on the social front will prove the fitness front may be disappointed. puff to get back into shape! Chances of incorrect, as you continue to enjoy a There is no point in being too force - meeting someone who understands good rapport with everyone. ful on the romantic front, you will you look bright.Financial awareness only upset lover. will become important to save on tax.

Taurus: Someone you had met re - Virgo: Investment options may ap - Capricorn: A lot of planning may be cently is likely to get closer, but don't pear confusing for some. Too much of required before starting a project, so read too much into it. Do something something may not be good for you, put on your thinking cap. Enlisting for about a matter not moving in the so go slow. You have style of your a social cause is indicated for some. right direction at work. A financial own and this will be evident when Those looking for a loan will face little pinch is imminent with mounting you floor all by your extraordinary problem as far as paperwork is con - expenses, so remain judicious in your performance at work. Excellent cerned. Not adhering to doctor’s ad - spending. Fears that you are har - teamwork with spouse will help vice may have its repercussions. Keep bouring on the social front will prove smoothen out things on the domestic your distance from someone with incorrect, as you continue to enjoy a front. Shy types are likely to gain whom you don’t get along well. Dili - good rapport with everyone. enough courage to approach the one gence may not get you the returns you they secretly love. expect at work, so work smart.

Gemini: A good time is foreseen at Libra: Your honest disposition is Aquarius: Don’t be impulsive in a work, as the workload seems to be likely to win the confidence of those matter that seems pressing, but bide minimal. Some of you are likely to around. Failing health can force you your time. The kind of reputation that get worried about your advancing to choose a healthy lifestyle. Love you enjoy in the work circle will re - age. Interfering nature of someone in works as an antidote to everyday ten - move all obstacles from the career the family may make you see red. sions. Steer clear of those who front. Financial problems can put paid Someone may go back on his or her promise big, but don’t deliver. Your to a personal venture. Travel on the promise of returning your money, efforts may be able to get successful busy roads may be risky. Regular which may leave you high and dry. results on the academic front. Desist workouts will help in keeping fit. You Over consumption of something not from bickering about someone or will need to come into the flow of agreeing with your system may play something. A family member is likely things quickly at academics. havoc with your health. to bank upon you for small errands.

Cancer: Career front looks simply Scorpio: A journey that you were Pisces: Your bargaining skills are great as your keen foresight helps you looking forward to may get postponed likely to come to your rescue in nego - along! You manage to come a step indefinitely. You may feel a bit stifled tiating a deal. Getting involved in closer to your dream of earning big in your current occupation. Your office politics may give you the kicks, on the financial front. Some medical watchful eye will help you make all but can harm you, so desist from it. problem may chase you, but you will the right moves on the health front! be able to handle it fine. Your sense Someone may smooth talk you into Taking home remedies for a recurring of humor may pull someone towards parting with your money, if you are ailment is not advised, as it may aggra - you on the romantic front. Taking a not careful. Working women may vate the problem. Not getting invited shortcut may lose time, so adhere to feel burdened with household chores to a function or party may prove dis - the tried and tested routes. in the absence of any help from other appointing. Something positive will quarters. come off by meeting an old associate.

48 Punjab Advance October- 2018 - How do you like the magazine? - What do you like about the magazine? - What are your suggestions to make it more readable?

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October- 2018 Punjab Advance 49 Last Word A namesake affair

Iqbal Singh Ahuja

ne fine evening I got a telephone call from my straight to me and we chat over a cup of tea. With - Ofriend’s daughter-in-law. She was sobbing. I out him the world will be barren,” she reiterated. asked her to come over. I advised her not to take any hasty step. Within half an hour she was in my clinic. I One day she landed in my clinic along with could see the stress on her face. Her eyes were Sunaina. I made them comfortable and offered swollen and red. them cold drinks. After sometime when they were “What’s the problem, I asked, “you have not at ease, I asked Sunaina about her family life. even finished your honeymoon as yet. You two Sunaina smiled and said: “I am a very lucky have hardly understood each other.” girl. I have found true love in Gaurav. Our hus - “You are right, uncle. But how can we under - bands are friends since childhood. They can af - stand each other when my partner does not have ford to miss their wives but not each other.” any time for me and when he is attached to some - “How do you find Gaurav,” I asked her. one else?” she asked me. “He is a loveable, sincere and a pleasing per - “Are you sure? You must be having some mis - sonality. He is too good to be described in words. understanding,” I told her. I could see my friend’s daughter-in-law’s face For a minute she was quiet. She belonged to turning red. that generation of my patients who consider me After she had finished her sermon on Gaurav, more than a father. For them I am not just a doc - I asked her: “Do you know somebody is very tor. This generation of patients exudes affection. I upset because of your close relationship with Gau - am duty-bound to listen, help and sometimes ad - rav?” vise/scold their parents. She looked stunned and said: “I cannot stop “You know uncle, his girlfriend Sunaina had somebody feeling jealous. Let her or him burn in openly admitted her relationship with Gaurav, my their own jealousy.” husband”, she told me. “Doctor uncle, you tell me why somebody “Uncle, I distinctly remember when we got should feel jealous? I can sit, talk and love Gau - married Gaurav told me that Sunaina is an ideal rav, he is mine afterall. He is my husband and I woman. She is a perfect wife and a very good have complete right on him,” she retorted. friend. I should try to emulate her. It is a pleasure My friend’s daughter-in-law was stunned. She to visit her and spend some time with her. Uncle, said, “Sunaina, your husband’s name is also Gau - do you realise, how difficult it is for a newly mar - rav.” ried girl to digest such words. Anyway I just Sunaina smiled and said: “that is why they are shrugged it off then,” she said. great friends”. “Only yesterday I met Sunaina.She told me I started laughing and said. “In this world it is that Gaurav is great. I wait for him and he wastes very rare that a tragedy ends in no time on the way. From the factory he comes

50 Punjab Advance October- 2018 People’s participation for effective governance The Government of Punjab is now on Social media

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October- 2018 RNI No. CHAENG/2013/53324 A Monthly Magazine MBU Chd. Maharishi Valmikiji

Birth anniversary Oct 24