Once home to intellectuals, now in a state of neglect

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 12

Basti Danishmanda, the oldest area of the city, got its name Danishmanda because of the genius and intelligent persons (referred to as Danishmands in Urdu) living here.

Among them, a majority were Muslims.

But when one reaches here now, the area shows that once an abode of intellectuals, the place, where only one senior secondary school exists, is without medical, non-medical or commerce stream.

The ward welcomes one with stray cattle, dogs and horses in large numbers.

Basti Danishmanda falls under ward numbers 42 and 74. From ward number 42, Sunita Rinku, wife of MLA Sushil Rinku, is in the fray from the Congress party, while from the ward number 74, Madan Lal Khinder has got the ticket from the Congress party and Kavita will be contesting from the SAD-BJP alliance.

This place seems to be an unforgettable one, with areas like Raseela Nagar, Lasudi Mohalla and Khatra Mohalla.

Basti Danishmanda today saw a projector boasting works done by Sushil Rinku in the area and also had some clips of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

However, residents seemed unaffected by it and said that there were several problems that needed to be addressed on a priority basis.

‘Peeli Kothi’ is a landmark of Basti Danishmanda. Residents said Basti Danishmanda is known for this kothi and everyone who comes from outside surely sees it.

Sources said one of the families of Danishmands used to live in the kothi and this is the last proof of their existence.

“There is sewerage problem near the kothi. Whenever it rains, it seems the kothi will be drowned. We have approached the councillors and MLAs many times, but to no avail,” said Preet Singh, a carpenter in the area.

A visit to the dispensaries here revealed that doctors here do not stick to time schedule. A government homeopathy dispensary staff member said that the doctor here comes only for two days in a week. Prabhjot Singh of Raseela Nagar, while sharing the problem of his ward, said due to contaminated water, diseases are prevalent in many areas falling under Basti Danishmanda.

“It is not a new problem but an old one. Every year, residents fall ill and the authorities do nothing to check this problem,” he added. Also roads are in a bad shape. You can see what treatment is being given to the city’s oldest area which was home to intellectuals once,” said Purushottam Kumar, a shopkeeper.