Push the pedal with mettle...

Amarjot Kaur

For a city, where most of its youth is accused of having ostentatious taste in cars, mobiles, often weapons, too, (a popular culture that sought much inspiration from much-glorified Punjabi songs and videos about guns, flashy cars and gori-chitti kudiya), it was a relief to meet a few rational people like Gurjinder Mogi. Together, they call themselves ‘PU Bicycle Lovers’.

So, if you are that middle-class parent of a child who announces his or her demand for a brand new car, as a compensation for making it through to the college (like it was a favour they did for you), well this one’s for you...

In an attempt to make the university’s campus pollution-free, gunning for a green campus, Gurjinder Mogi, a research scholar at PU (Panjab University) Law Department, along with two of his friends, decided to cycle around the campus.

“It happened about three years ago. However, the campaign took a little while longer to catch up since we were inactive for about a year. In a democratic country like ours, where more the numbers, louder is the voice, we have as many as 800 people sharing their stories (about cycling) on our Facebook page,” says Mogi. The core members of the community, who initiated the case, besides Mogi are Jatinder Maan, who also works with an NGO, Chhoti si Asha, and Munish Khanngwal, who is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Defence and National Security Services, PU.

Also, he teaches the underprivileged students when he is vehla (free), while the other vehlas take their swanky rides for a show-off session at the Geri Route. Also, if you have all those stereotypical notions to associate with migrants from small towns of Punjab, you will be surprised to know that Mogi hails from Moga, while Munish belongs to Bathinda. And here they are, making a genuine attempt to keep Chandigarh, neat and pollution free.

Parking problem?

Meanwhile, PU had resolved to make the academic area on the campus vehicle-free and is yet to begin work for the implementation of the ambitious plan. The decision was taken during the student council elections held in September, 2015 and 6,515 students of the university voted in favour of the decision. Some of the identified spaces where alternate parking lots will be constructed include the space near boys’ hostels 1 and 7, empty grounds around the Students’ Centre and near the Law Department. Parking spaces will also be created near Gate No. 2 and Gate No. 3 of the university.

As per the plan, students would park their cars in these spaces and then commute on foot near the academic areas of the university’s two campuses or use shuttle-bus services. “While the university is attempting at making car parking lots, we want more cycle-parking lots,” says Mogi. Munish, who sits right next to him, echoes his concern while sharing, “There’s an emergency door adjoining AC Joshi library and most students chain their bicycles to that door. Now, imagine if an emergency situation comes up like a fire breaks out or a student falls sick, one needs to use that door. We suggested a parking lot near AC Joshi Library, along with Raj Kumar, who is a librarian there and the project is underway. We are hoping that they will begin constructing it next month.”

To this, Mogi adds, “We have also suggested that a proper cycle parking place be constructed at Hostel No 6. Dr Vishal Sharma, the hostel warden has been very forthcoming.” While the members of PU Bicycle Lovers showed eagerness to tie up with student political parties, their only inhibition is the conflict of interest related with ‘classism’. “Well, we have representatives in all departments and hostels, who also counsel students to commute by bicycles. However, political parties are slightly classist and that’s the only conflict of interest. It will be nice if we can join hands with them, only to promote this cause” says Mogi.

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