R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

Regional potpourri

• Choosing nature over science

• Savera has dawned

• Then captive, now VVIP

Tarn Taran
Watchman dead: Sukhdev Singh (23), a watchman at the Government Secondary School, Bhuchar Kalan, 30 km from here, died of cardiac failure on Saturday evening. According to close relations of the deceased, Sukhdev, who was reportedly a drug addict, went to the school as usual but soon after complained of chest pain and died on the spot. The police has registered a complaint in this regard.

Regional potpourri

Choosing nature over science

Many a time we come across people pursuing their hobbies as a profession. Such persons even inspire us to adopt some interesting venture as a career. Vivek Kumar of Hisar is one such individual, who was trained to be a microbiologist but ended up as a painter, landscape consultant and bonsai expert.

“I never wanted to get entangled in the set routine of going to office," says Vivek, who is happy with his present vocation. “Now, I am actually paid by others to pursue my hobby,” he laughs.

But then, his passion for his chosen field of activity is unmatched. For instance, once on returning home, Vivek and his family found their house on fire. The first thing he did on seeing this was rush to his bonsai garden on the first floor.

No wonder, this sort of commitment and dedication has fetched him a series of HUDA awards for best bonsai entries for six consecutive years. An MSc and PhD in microbiology, Vivek presently works as a landscape consultant.

He feels that apart from deriving creative satisfaction and handsome returns, his hobby-cum-profession gives him a chance to remain in close contact with nature.

Interestingly, this landscape consultant and bonsai expert is a gifted painter as well. The multi-faceted artist specialises in the realm of knife-painting and has organised some exhibitions to display his creations.

Owing to his expertise, Vivek is frequently invited by Haryana Agriculture University and other institutions to deliver lectures on horticulture and related disciplines.

Thus, this creator of living sculptors — as bonsai plants are called — continues to carve out a niche for himself in his chosen field of activity.

Savera has dawned

Keeping in view the decline in sex ratio and increase in the practice of female foeticide, activists of Savera, an NGO for social awareness, is doing its bit for society. In October 2004 it had launched a special campaign for creating awareness among people about the ill-effects of lopsided sex rati,o which was now posing a serious problem for the Indian society. Savera released a leaflet titled “ajanmi beti ki garbh se maa ko pukaar”in this connection.

Following this, a seminar on “Parents, have a heart for the daughter”, was organised at Hoshiarpur on November 1, 2004, in which Swami Agnivesh, a social reformer, delivered the keynote address. It was largely attended.

During his last visit to this city recently, Jagat Guru Shankracharya Swami Nischalanand at a congregation at the local Shaki Temple not only blessed the activists of Savera for the success of their campaign but also briefed the participants on “nari shakti”. He said female foeticide was a stigma on the Indian society which worshipped women in the form of Durga. He appealed to the people not to indulge in the most heinous crime.

Savera also organised a special exhibition at the local Roshan Ground on female foeticide in which paintings on this subject attracted a large number of people.

Ajay Bagga, a social activist and general secretary of Savera, has also published a book titled, “Kanya Bhrun Hatya Kyon”. The book has a number of articles and poems by eminent social and religious luminaries with an attractive title on the subject. The book also carries PNDT Act in detail. It had been released recently by deputy commissioner D.K. Tiwari. The book is being distributed free of cost.

Contributed by Sunit Dhawan and Ravinder Sud