Green manuring yields good results
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 24
Farmers of 10 villages in the district are elated as a novel experiment of green manuring started four months ago by them has borne fruit in the form of good paddy crop.

The project which was started with an aim to provide an answer to the perplexing problems of poor paddy yield, underground water table depletion, environmental degradation and above all to jack up the quality of the produce to compete in the international market, has helped the farmers to witness a yield of around 31 quintal per acre besides saving on pesticides, fertilisers and irrigation of soil. Earlier the farmers were producing around 25 quintal per acre.

Aided by a company the farmers had used a gap of 40 days between the wheat harvesting and paddy transplanting, to sow a leguminous crop to provide green manuring to the fields. As many as 10 farmers of villages, including Burundi, Rasheen, Meherna Kalan, Meherna Khurd, Sihar, Ghudani Kalan, Jartoli, Asi Kalan and Guram, had sown a legume crop on an area of 10 acre each on an experimental basis.

The legume crop, which is scientifically known to enhance the fertility of the land due to its roots sheltering nitrogen synthesising bacteria, was sown on their land and was incorporated in the fields before the paddy transplantation. Under the Project "Sahayog", started by a weedicide manufacturing company, these farmers had cultivated PR-114 variety of paddy and had transplanted it after June 15 in accordance with the recommendations of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts.

According to the project coordinator, Dr M.S. Malhi, the experiment is all set to provide benefits to farmers besides being beneficial for the environment. The legume crop is sown just after the harvesting of wheat. ‘‘Even the wheat stubble is left as it is in the fields and the seeds of the green manure crop are sown. This crop requires watering only once or twice and matures in just 35 to 40 days.’’

A survey by Ludhiana Tribune to some of these villages revealed that the farmers were happy as their crop had yielded good produce which was of better quality besides being cost effective. The crop yield was about 31 quintal per acre and required less amount of fertiliser and pesticides as the green manure had increased the urea contents in the soil.

Mr Jagtar Singh of Burundi village, who was chosen by the company for the experiment, said he was well aware that the nitrogen content of the legume crop was beneficial for the health of soil and this would save his extra expenditure on urea fertilisers. ‘‘Moreover my fields have produced 31 quintals of paddy per acre. This is a record produce,’’ he said.

He said, ‘‘Many farmers of my village are keenly observing what I am doing. They are also all set to follow me the next year. While almost all the farmers of the village had harvested the paddy, I had started the process as I had strictly followed the recommendations of the PAU. The farmers were observing me and were thinking that I would be at a loss. But after seeing the size of paddy grains and the yield, they are all set to follow the practice.’’

Similar views were echoed by Mr Bhagwant Singh of Jartoli village. Mr Sher Singh of Rasheen village said he had listened to whatever the project officer had said and followed it very religiously. He said the results of the experiment were good. But it would take some more years for the soil to improve its health after the incorporation of green manure every year.

Inter-school contests
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 24
Inter-school for mehndi, embroidery, poetry recitation and declamation contests marked the closing day of cultural festival Ramgarhia Girls’ College here today.

In mehndi contest, Surjit Kaur (Pothohar Sayyed Khalsa National Senior Secondary School) won the first prize. Jaswinder Kaur (Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School) and Manpreet Kaur (Sargodha Khalsa Girls’ Senior Secondary School) bagged the second prize. Sukhvir Kaur (Guru Hargobind Khalsa High School) together won the third prize. Amit Nayyar, the only boy contestant, from Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri School got consolation prize.

In embroidery contest, Sweety (Sri Harkrishan Sahib Public School) bagged the first prize, followed by Navjot Kaur (Kalgidhar Khalsa Girls’ Senior Secondary School) and Manmeet Kaur (Sargodha Khalsa Girls’ Senior Secondary School). Consolation prize was given to Gurdip Kaur (Pothohar Sayeed Khalsa Senior Secondary School). Contestants from Sri Harkrishan Sahib Public High School won the overall trophy for the contest.

In poetry recitation contest, first prize went to Jaspreet Kaur (Dashmesh Senior Secondary School), second prize was clinched by Nitish (Ramgarhia Boys’ Senior Secondary School) and Gurpreet Singh (Pothohar Sayyed Khalsa Senior Secondary School) won the third prize.

In declamation contest, Parminder Kaur (Ramgarhia Girls’ Senior Secondary School) stood first, followed by Sunny Ahuja (Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School for Boys) and Anjali Sharma (Khalsa Girls’ Senior Secondary School). Overall trophy went to Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School for Boys.

Talent search contest at GGN Khalsa College
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 24
A talent search competition was organised at Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Civil Lines, here today. Poetry recitation, choreography, solo dance, bhangra, mono-acting and modelling contests were held on the occasion. Folk singing and light classical music contests were widely appreciated.

BA students presented a skit, “Jaali Doctor”, depicting the decline in moral values of doctors.

In the modelling contest, Jagpreet Grewal was declared Mr Fresher, Kamalpreet Kaur clinched the Ms Fresher title, Ashu Makkar was adjudged Mr GGN and the best singer prize went to Jagpreet Singh.

Mr Gian Singh Mann, former Principal of SCD Government College, was the chief guest.

COURTS

PSEB told to refund Rs 31,804
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 24
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has quashed a demand of Rs 31,804 by the Punjab State Electricity board (PSEB) from Mr Karamjit Singh a resident of Shivpuri. The forum had also directed the PSEB to refund the amount deposited against the said demand and pay interest on the amount at the rate of 12 per cent from the date of deposit till actual interest.

According to the complaint, Mr Karamjit Singh had received a memo issued on June 26, 2000 demanding Rs 31,804 on account of theft of power. He stated that it was alleged in the memo that seals of the meter had been tempered with and it was running slow by 81.29 per cent. After that the consumer approached the board officials and pleaded to withdraw the demand. But instead of withdrawing the demand, the consumer was forced to deposit the said amount in six installments, he added.

The consumer said as per the rules of the PSEB, the meter was to be sealed and packed properly which was not done by the board official. Moreover, he had to be intimated regarding the checking of the meter in ME Laboratory and his signatures must have been obtained on the ME Laboratory which was mandatory, he added. He pointed out that since the PSEB had not followed the rules, the demand was illegal. He demanded from the forum to quash the said demand.

The PSEB pleaded that during a meter checking drive in the Shivpuri area, the meter was checked on June 19, 2000 by the meter inspector and seals of meter were found to have been tampered with. The respondent further disclosed that after an on-the-spot testing, the standard heat load and stop watch method indicated that it was recording less consumption of energy by 60 per cent. After that the meter was removed and sent to ME Laboratory for computerised checking which revealed that the meter was recording less consumption of energy by 81.29 per cent.

The respondent said it was a clear case of theft of energy and that was why the account of complainant was overhauled. He further stated that the demand had been rightly raised and the complaint was liable to be quashed.

The forum observed that the on the spot checking and ME Laboratory reports did not bear the signature of consumer or his representative. The forum stated that the respondent had not produced any evidence that any notice was given to the consumer regarding checking of meter in ME Laboratory which was mandatory. As per rules of PSEB, the meter must be packed and sealed properly and must bear the signature of consumer, the forum added.

The forum held that the board officials had not complied with the rules, as such the disputed demand was liable to be quashed. 

Remembering Sahir Ludhianvi
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, October 24
Though his body lies buried in a graveyard in Bombay, he lives in the hearts of lovers of poetry, music and arts. His poetry is identified with truth, beauty and goodness!

These lines eulogise one of the greatest poets of India, who by linking his name with Ludhiana has immortalised this city. He is Sahir Ludhianvi whose 21st death anniversary falls tomorrow.

Sahir’s relevance in today’s world is greater as he had advocated world peace and championed the cause of the downtrodden and the have nots. The progressive movement fired his imagination and he longed for peace, justice and universal love.

Sahir appeared on the scene of Urdu poetry when giants like Firaq, Faiz and Majaz were at the height of their popularity. With such stalwarts around, he could not escape their influence but his own sensibilities and his powerful imagination soon weaned him from their influence and he came to his own. He was born in an atmosphere of tyranny. The Bengal famine, and the atrocities of the British on Indians induced him to write against the British. The British, scared of the power of his poetry banned his work.

Born in a feudal family of Ludhiana , Abdul Hayee ‘Sahir’ had a childhood draped in affluence but soon the hedonistic orgies of his father, made him leave the house and he chose to stay with his dejected mother in penury. His father tried to get him liquidated but his mother protected him fiercely. This incident sowed in him the seeds of hatred and revulsion for the feudalistic order, and that shaped the course of much of the future events of his life.

Left alone to earn his living, Sahir had a chequered career. His education was cut short when he was asked to leave Government College for Boys at Ludhiana as a penalty for an amorous adventure and his unorthodox views. His first anthology ‘Talkhiyan’, projected Sahir as a poet who echoes the sentiments of the younger generation. Talkhiyan has remained the most popular of his anthologies. Principal Azad Gulati says of “Talkhiyan”: “Sahir’s intensity of perception, subtle power of observation, soundness and solidity of thematic content coupled with meterical musicality, his knack of choosing appropriate words and the sensuous freshness of his imagery make the poems in this anthology a thing of real beauty.”

“Parchhaiyan” is Sahir’s unique achievement as a long anti-war poem. This poem is a veritable paean of human soul hungering for a life free from the harrowing shadows of war. His other anthology ‘Aao Key Koi Khwab Bunien” raises a voice against political tyranny.

Sahir found the cinema to be a potent vehicle for conveying his ideas and urges to the masses. He raised film songs to new heights, and through them depicted the aches and thrills of life.

In one of his couplets Sahir has said, “I return back to the world whatever it has bestowed on me in the form of experiences and trag- edies.”

Sahir’s poems have crossed national limits. The list of his rewards is endless. He was given the Padmashri. His books have been translated into English, French, Arabic, Persian and Russian.The Ludhianvis hold mushairas on his death anniversary.

Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, paying a tribute to Sahir has written.

“A revolutionary in his thoughts, He was a mortal by birth He is still remembered by all

Specially by the fair sex Unmarried, he died But pretty girls still Put roses on his grave on his Birthdays As at the statue of Pushkin in Moscow.

His poems reflect social ills
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 24
Gurbhajan Gill is a popular name in Punjabi poetry. He has authored seven anthology books, of ‘Sheesha Jhooth Bolda Hai’, ‘Har Dhukhda Pind Mera Hai’, ’Bol Mitti Daeya Baawaea’, ‘Do Haraf Raseedi’, ‘Aggan Katha’, and ‘Mann De Boohay Baarian’, besides producing two illustrated books, ‘Kamray Dee Akh Boldi’ and ‘Teesra Netar’.

These books highlight the shortcomings of our system and the errors committed out of ignorance by society regarding pollution, population, road safety, atrocities on animals, child abuse and political pitfalls. Gurbhajan has written more than 15 research papers and around 1000 articles in newspapers, vernacular magazines and handouts. He has edited a large number of bulletins, diaries and annual crop calendars about agriculture in Punjab.

Gurbhajan says, ”I have critically reviewed about 100 books and bulletins for AIR Jalandhar and vernacular newspapers. My poems, views and discussions have been frequently aired on AIR and Jalandhar Doordarshan. I have prepared scripts of various programmes like ‘Phulkari’, ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh’, ‘Toombi’ and ‘Giddha’ for AIR and Jalandhar Doordarshan.”

Gurbhajan developed a flair for reading books and magazines, which inspired him to write poems. His interactions with villagers left an indelible impression of the social and economic problems faced by the common man. The pain of these early years is reflected in his writings. His poems are replete with social reality.

A tribute to a legend
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 24
Sangam, a cultural society, organised a function, ‘Sahir ki yaad mein’, a musical tribute to Sahir Ludhianvi, at Gujjrawala GGN Khalsa College last night. The function was started by lighting a candle in front of Sahir’s photograph by the chief guest, Mr Surjit Patar.

Singers not only sang ghazals and compositions of Sahir Ludhianvi but also of Prof Mohan Singh, Surjit Patar and Bashir Badar.

The programme started with the rendering of Punjabi ghazals. Ravneet sang a composition of Prof Mohan Singh, ‘Babut beet gayi vaadeyan de laare de nal, baki kat lenge yaadan de saharian de naal’. Aashima, a singer of a local college, charmed the audience with her melodious renderings of songs, ghazals of famous composers. She sang a composition of Surjit Patar and along with Ravneet she rendered a duet ‘Sawan aa gaya’.

Kulwant Singh sang a ghazal of Bashir Badar and a composition of Surjit Patar; Reema Sharma sang a song penned by Darshan Singh ‘Haseen gulon mein sitaro roshni mein na mili’; and Randhir Kanwal sang ‘Main jo geet tere pyar ki khatir gaaye’. This ghazal was written by Sahir Ludhianvi.

Mr Kewal Dheer while addressing the audience said, “We are dedicating this evening to Sahir”.