R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

• Significance of ‘360 Teerathas’
• A memorial to wife
• Another award

PUNJAB

AMRITSAR
‘SHRAM DAN’ CAMP: Dr SP Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, on Tuesday inaugurated a ‘shram dan’ camp organised by the Society of Botanical and Environmental Sciences of the university, in the botanical garden of the university here.

OFFICE- BEARERS: The following have been elected office-bearers of the Medical Enclave Welfare Association: president — Dr Kulwant Singh; senior vice-president — Mr Inder Pal Singh; vice-president — Mr Swarn Singh; and secretary — Mr Jagdish Singh Sidhu.

PROFESSOR INVITED: A Guru Nanak Dev University Professor, Mr Jai Rup Singh, Coordinator, Centre for Genetic Disorders, has been invited by the French Embassy to visit France for a week to explore the possibilities of research collaboration.

MEETING POSTPONED: The meeting of the academic council of Guru Nanak Dev University, fixed for December 16, has been postponed.

DESIGNING COURSE: Guru Nanak Dev University will start a one-year course in dress designing, cutting and tailoring on its regional campus, Gurdaspur, from January next, a university press note stated. Last date for submission of forms has been fixed as December 30.

KHAMANO
TEACHERS PROTEST: Unemployed Teachers’ Front of Punjab will organise a protest rally if the Punjab Government appoint the teachers on contract basis. This was stated by the front’s president, Mr Gursewak Singh Jangpur, and Mr J.S. Thind, respectively. They said 946 B.Ed teachers await their selection. They warned to launch an agitation if these selected teachers were ignored.

NO FACILITY: There is no facility at the 25-bedded local subsidiary Health Centre. After 2 p.m. no doctors are available to examine the patients. The building constructed at the cost of Rs 1 crore awaits doctors and other employees. The hospital materials and ambulance are proving to be white elephant.

KHARAR
BAR ASSOCIATION: The election of the local Bar Association has been fixed for December 23. Mrs Baljit Kaur lawyer, has been appointed Returning Officer. The nomination papers could be filed till December 13.

DELIMITATION OF WARDS: As many as seven objections has been received by the local municipal committee about the recent proposal of delimitation of municipal wards. These has been sent to the Secretary, the Local Self Government for final disposal.

DEMAND: Mr Om Parkash Aggarwal, Municipal Commissioner and senior BJP leader has urged the Election Commission, Punjab, to start preparing voters lists.

LUDHIANA
COMMITTEE: The district unit of the Akali Dal has formed an 11-member nagar kirtan committee which will coordinate with the managing committee of Kalgidhar gurdwara to make the nagar kirtan in connection with the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh a great success. According to Mr Avtar Singh Makkar, acting president of the district unit of the Akali Dal, the members of the committee are Baba Ajit Singh, Mr Ujagar Singh Chhapa, Mr Mohinder Singh Mukhi, Mr Amarjit Singh Madan, Mr Harbhajan Singh Dang, Mr Swaran Singh, Mr Jasbir Singh, Mr Kuldip Singh Khalsa, Mr Kanwaljit Singh Dua, Mr Ravinder Pal Singh and Bibi Amarjit Kaur. Mr Makkar said an impressive nagar kirtan would also be taken out from Shri Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Model Town.

JAGRAN: The Bharatiya Naujawan Sabha held its annual bhagwati jagran at the Krishna Chowk in New Kundan Puri on Monday. Neelkanth and party from Delhi regaled the audience with their devotional songs. Among those who attended the jagran were Mr Chander Shekhar Sahota, Mr Ajay Sharma, Mr Raj Kumar, Mr Sushil Kumar, Mr Tilak Raj, Ms Pushpa Sawhney, Mr Raju Thapar, Mr Jai Parkash Sharma, Mr Devinder Kumar, Mr Surinder Wassan and Mr Bittu Chawla.

CHARIOT WORSHIP: Shri Shivratri Mahotsav Committee worshipped the holy silver chariot and organised a kirtan at Prachin Shiv Mandir at Gaughat on Monday. Among those who performed the puja were Mr Krishan Gupta, Mr Sunil Mehra and Mr Som Nath Malhotra. Pandit Purshottam performed the aarti. Others present on the occasion included Mr Navin Awasthi, Mr Baldev Gupta, Mr Aman Verma, Mr Suresh Mishra and Mr Devinder Kumar.

DISCOURSE: The 19th akhand ram naam jap mahayajna was organised at Shri Ram Sharnam Ashram in Naulakha Bagh Colony on Tuesday. Mr Ajay Bhandari has donated two halls in the Sterling towers for this purpose. Apart from the Jagannath temple, a library and a guest room would also be constructed in the tower. An impressive sankirtan sabha would also be organised on every Sunday.

SCAM ALLEGED: The Class IV Government Employees Union has demanded a probe into an alleged misappropriation of Rs 6 crore by some officials of the Irrigation Department. A press note issued by the union here on Tuesday said this decision was taken at a meeting of the district unit of the union which was presided over by Mr Lal Chand. The meeting passed another resolution demanding the transfer of a couple of officers posted at the Sidhwan canal section so that an impartial inquiry could be held. Among those who attended the meeting were Mr Kuldeep Singh Kaul, Mr Gurmel Singh, Mr Bhagwan Singh Bhangu, Mr Jai Pal, Mr Ram Sarup and Mr Piare Lal.

MEDICAL CAMP: The Nagar Sudhar Sabha in association with the Bhai Ghanaiya Society organised a medical camp at Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar here on Tuesday. More than 400 patients were examined by a team of eminent doctors. The camp was attended by Mr Raminder Singh, administrator, Improvement Trust, Mr Malkit Singh Birmi and the area councillor, Mr Krishan Lal Chabra. Mr Channan Singh, president, and Mr Jaswant Jeerath, general secretary, Nagar Sudhar Sabha, presented a charter of demands to Mr Raminder Singh on this occasion. The team of doctors included Dr Dharamvir Gandhi, Dr J.M. Singh, Dr Sachin Walia, Dr Balbir Kaur, Dr Hardeep Singh, Dr Pradeep Sharma, Dr Jugraj Singh, Dr Daljit Sharma and Dr Sat Prakash.

BLOOD SUGAR: The New Shivpuri Shopkeeper Ekta Club and the Vishv Yog Sansthan organised the 14th medical check-up camp at Ranva village in Machhiwara district here recently. Dr J. William examined more than 85 patients suffering from blood sugar.

WORKSHOP: Launch Pad, an event management company has organised a week-long workshop on grooming and modelling at Green Field to find budding models. The workshop which will conclude on December 15, is being conducted by professionals like Sagar Kakkar, Delhi-based fashion choreographer, Mr Amrit Singh, dance choreographer, and Mr Sapan, chief photographer, Woman’s Era, Grihshobha. Talking to mediapersons here on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the company said the workshop includes training for ramp modelling, print, video modelling, camera facing techniques, personality and communication development and acting and dancing. Besides, Launch Pad will also organise a fashion show, showcasing the latest collections by renowned Delhi-based fashion designer Parvesh.

RETAIN TEACHER’S POST: The panchayat of Palsaura has urged the Education Minister, Punjab, not to shift the lone post of a Punjabi teacher from Government High School in the village. The panchayat in a written representation to the Education Minister stated the move would affect 250 students.

HARYANA

AMBALA
CONCERN: The Citizens Council, Ambala cantonment on Wednesday expressed concern over over-speeding on Jagadhari road. Chairman of Citizens Council, Dr N.C. Jain, said there was only one board stating the speed limit. The board has been defaced by affixing of posters and was not possible to read the speed limit. “Several times this matter has been brought to the notice of the traffic police but to no avail”, he said.

FUNDS FOR ROADS: Senior lawyer Om Prakash Malik on Wednesday stated that MP Ratan Lal Kataria should personally monitor the implementation of Rs 31 lakh sanctioned by him for various development work. Mr Malik said roads should be built by using proper material.

CELEBRATED: Human Rights Day was celebrated in MDSD Girls College, Ambala city today. The Social Science Association of MDSD Girls College organised a group discussion on human rights. College principal Dr Kiran Angra presided over the function. The students expressed their views on human rights. The students said that the General Assembly of the United Nations accepted the document of the ‘Declaration of Human Rights’ on December 10, 1948.

FATEHABAD
ONE KILLED: An aged handicapped person was crushed under a train. The victim Shankar Sheoran, a resident of Sulikhera village in this district, was crossing the railway track when the Sirsa-Rewari Mail crushed him.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES: The Transport Office has launched a special drive to check illegal plying of commercial vehicles in the district. the District Transport Officer, Mr I.S. Dahiya, told mediapersons here on Tuesday that in November 42 vehicles were impounded, of these 35 were maxi cabs. A sum of Rs 3.38 lakh had been realised as fine, he added.

KALKA
FEDERATION TO HOLD MEETING: The Haryana Brahmin Federation has decided to hold a meeting at Kurukshetra on December 15 to reorganise its executive body for the year 2003-05. While giving this information, Mr Krishan Avtar Joshi, organising secretary of the federation, said the federation would also finalise its future course of action in this meeting. Mr Joshi added that the federation had always been working for the upliftment of the Brahmins in the state.

FAST FOOD CENTRE: The Haryana Tourism will open a Fast Food Restaurant near Yadvindra Gardens at Pinjore. The construction work has already started and the restaurant will become functional by the end of January.

ARRESTED: The police has arrested an employee of HMT for allegedly possessing illicit liquor. As per the source, nine bottles of the IMFL were recovered from him. In another incident, the police has arrested a person for playing satta and recovered Rs 726 from his possession.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

KULU
SCHOOL OPENED: Mr Karan Singh, Minister of State for Primary Eduction and Environment, has said that Rs 49.30 lakh had been sanctioned for the augmentation of Chchoil - Joli drinking water scheme. He was addressing a gathering at Badah village, 4 km from here. The minister inaugurated Government Primary School, Badah and a power sub-station at Branmang village, constructed at cost of Rs 4 lakh.

FOREST EMPLOYEES: The H.P. State Forest Corporation Employees Federation has criticised the indifferent attitude of the management of Forest Corporation and the government towards them. This was stated in a press note here by Mr Gobind Chatranta and Prakash Sharma, president and secretary general of the Federation, respectively.

REGIONAL POTPOURRI

Significance of ‘360 Teerathas’

The five-day Mahabharata — Geeta Jayanti Utsav, which is being celebrated from December 11 to 15 for the first time at the national level, will be incomplete if the contribution of two personalities who focused the attention of the nation on the importance of what comprises Dharamkshetra-Kurukshetra, is not remembered. The two are Mr Mahabir Parshad, former Governor of Haryana, and Mr Ashok Yadav an IAS officer now posted as Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak.

Mr Yadav under the directions of Mr Mahabir Parshad and the guidance of Mr Manik Sonewala, then member secretary of the Kurukshetra Development Board, has compiled a book on the significance of the “360 Teerathas” falling in the “48 kos” territory of the Dharamkshetra of Mahabharata age. The book titled “48 kos — Kurukshetra Bhoomi Ki Parikarma” was compiled in 1999 when Mr Yadav was the Chief Administrator of the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB).

The book provides a comprehensive view of the religious as well as mythological importance of the 360 Teerathas. Mr Yadav has not only visited each and every Teeratha but has highlighted the religious fervour surrounding them, which have made an imprint on the minds of the people living around them. The then Governor, Mr Parshad also visited a large number of important Teerathas along with Mr Yadav. Not only that it was with the help of Mr Rajesh Purohit, a curator in the Sri Krishna Museum, and Mr Rajinder Singh Rana, Supervisor of the Museum, that Mr Yavad dug out history from the Puranas and ancient Sanskrit Texts to tell the world what constitutes the Dharamkshetra spread over the 160-mile area.

It was in the light of the book that the KDB formulated a comprehensive plan under the guidance of Mr Mahabir Parshad to renovate these Teerathas. Interestingly, the Union Ministry of Tourism also got its inspiration to celebrate the Mahabharata Utsav at the national level from the description of the Teerathas in the book so that their importance could be revived. Mr Yadav has highlighted that the area falling amongst the vedic age river Saraswat and Dristavati depicts the birth of the vedic civilisation. Principal races of Aryans and the main castes of “Bharat and Purus” were inherently related to the area. Furthermore, king Kuru had also ploughed the area in which these Teerathas fell with a golden plough as per the Hindu mythology. The Teerathas have deep and historical bonds with the great Mahabharata war and the birth of Srimad Bhagavad Geeta. As per the book, the area resembles the “Samantpanchak” i.e. “20 yojna complete circle” of the area which finds mention in the Mahabharata epic. Mr Yadav has found out that the area now falls in five districts of Haryana i.e. Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat. It is guarded by four Yakshas one each on all the four sides of the periphery.

Amongst the most known and prominent Teerathas mentioned in the book are Sannihit Sarovar, Braham Sarovar, Jyotisar, Prithudak Teerath, Aditi Teerath, Sthaneshwar Mahadev, Bhadharkali Temple, Ram Had Teerath and Salvan, Kapil Muni, Varaha, Vishnupad, Prashar, Sarapdaman and Apaga Teerathas. Amongst the Teerathas which had a direct bearing on the Mahabharata war are Jyotisar, Salihotra, Basathali, Bhure Sarva, Sarapdaman and Naraka Tari.

The Union Ministry of Tourism is organising various types of celebrations at the above said Teerathas during the fiveday festivities to highlight their religious significance to the modern world.

A memorial to wife

Mr Bhagwant Rai Nandrajog, an NRI from Canada, recently gifted to Ferozepore Gian Devi Vatika, a memorial to his wife whom he attributes all success in life. Mr Nandrajog not only spent around Rs 20 lakh on the vatika but also planned and developed the entire project on his own. He was supported in his endeavour by his son, Major-Gen O P Nandrajog

The vatika near Delhi Gate in Ferozepore was a befitting tribute to Mrs Nandrajog’s wife, who died in 1996. The vatika, which now stands completed, has surfaced as a major centre of activity not only for kids but also for the people of all age groups who have started frequenting this place daily to sit, relax and enjoy the charming fragrance of flowers. This gift to the residents of this border town has not only proved to be a bonanza for oldies but also kids, who enjoy the joyrides, swings and see-saws installed in the vatika. This lushgreen vatika is dotted with a variety of plants and rows of blossoming flowers.

Another award

Mr Bahadur Singh Verma, recipient of the prestigious Jagjivan Ram Puraskar and the Aspee L.M. Patel Farmer of the Year Award, has added another feather to his cap. He has won this year’s Shiromani Himachal Rattan Award. This award is given every year by the Shaheed Memorial International Sewa Society, Ludhiana, to eminent personalities for their contribution in various walks of life. This was the first time that any Himachali farmer won this award.

- Contributed by K.G. Dutt, Anirudh Gupta and TNS