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Young World Jalandhar
hockey team leaves for Ludhiana
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Breaking the shackles and soaring high, poet Sukhwinder Amrit has come a long way from frowning family and societal pressure to conform.
Electing to lead a rebel’s life because she had to satisfy her inner urge, Punjabi poetess Sukhwinder Amrit had to face opposition throughout her life. It is the story of women even in the 21st century, she says. Struggle thy name is woman, is the mantra for this woman, who overcame the odds to give voice to her inner urges and pen those feelings for others to savour and appreciate. “Mere khamban ch ini ku parwaz hai ke mai chahwan tan ambar vi sar kar lawan eh na samjhin mein udna nahi jaandi tere kadman ch je mein basar kar lawan.” Indeed, Amrit finally managed to fly high after breaking the shackles that bind women in most households of the state. Quoting her own life story: “I started writing when I was just 14. My parents, who were not literate, felt extremely bad about my poetic interests. In their ignorance they suppressed me. They felt it was not an activity meant for a girl to undertake. “I got married when I was 17 just after completing my Class IX. I was really happy as I had this hope in my heart that I’ll somehow convince my husband about my poetic interest and he would allow me to write. “But the same story repeated with my in-laws too. They didn’t think writing poetry was worth the effort. “Then I secretly bought a notebook and a pen and started writing without their knowledge. I had to write because I had to live. It was something I couldn’t stop. “But whenever my in-laws saw my notebook, they used to pull it apart, tearing it into pieces, venting their ire on the mute pages. “On second thoughts, they were not mute at all. They spoke, loud and clear. After they were done with my notebook, I had to restart my task all over again. “Once a girl from our neighbourhood borrowed my notebook and showed it to her brother, who was a singer. That boy composed one of my writing and got first prize for it in his college competition. When my in-law discovered the transgression, they complained to my parents. I had to face a lot of insult. But this episode inspired me to write more and more, because it was the only way of catharsis. After all it was the appreciation that I had never received at all.” After the birth of two children, the atmosphere chilled down a bit for Amrit. Like a true poet the additions to the family failed to divert her from her chosen path. “Eiyun na pher akhiyan eiyun na nakaar meinu kavita zara mein mushqil phir ton vichhar meinu” She wanted to study further and carry on her passion for poetry. She, somehow, convinced her husband and got admission in the same school where her daughter and son was studying in KG and nursery. “I cleared my Class X and Plus Two. During my study I got a chance to get literature books. Shiv Kumar Batalvi impressed me greatly. I wanted someone like him to polish my poetry. “Then someone told me about Surjit Patar, who was the most popular Punjabi poet those days. “I, along with my husband, went to meet him. I showed him my poetry, which he really liked. He encouraged me to write. This was the beginning of brighter part of my poetic career. The subjects of my poetry became more optimistic. “Staying in touch with Surjit Patar, I started writing ghazals, which was a rare thing for a Punjabi woman poet to do. People liked my ghazals a lot. In the year 1997 my first book ‘Suraj Di Dehliz Te’was published, which got me good critical acclaim. “The appreciation changed my family’s behaviour too and they realised that I was doing nothing wrong. After that I got my books published one after other. Now, I am one of those rare Punjabi poetesses who get royalty for their books.” That book was followed by others – ‘Chiragan Di Daar’, ‘Patjhad Vich Pungarde Patte’ and ‘Kesar Di Chhitte’ (Edited), while another book, ‘Dhupp Di Chunni’, is ready for readers to savour. Amrit continued with her formal studies and completed her M.A in Punjabi and is now pursuing her PhD. She now teaches literature at Government College for Men (Ludhiana) and leads a happy life with her husband and children. “It is a tragedy that woman who like to fly high have to balance their career and family life. But, I have been lucky to get a chance to enjoy both though I had to struggle a lot.” She says victoriously. “My struggle period has not ended yet because after my being popular, many people hinted that I got all my writings from Patar (my guru). It hurt me a lot. People don’t understand that a mother can never give her child to anyone else. In the same way, writing is like a child for a poet. It is not possible for him to give its credit to another person. “This is also a part of life and it always makes me realise that my struggle has not ended yet. There is lot more to come and perhaps these hardships gives me the inspiration to think more and to write more.
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One can’t clean rivulet of politics First of all, we salute the spirit of those immigrants who continue to work in that nation despite an imminent threat to their lives and also the families here in Doaba who continue to send their kin, trapped in circumstances, to the Philippines. Since we interpret the entire scenario from the Indian side, the incidents are seen as acts of pure evil. On the other side, in the Philippines, mainly in Manila, the Punjabis, who work as financers, are suspected to be linked with the mafia. The trade of money-lending in Manila where crime is probably more rampant than Mumbai, this tragic end is inevitable. The bodies of those murdered in Manila keep coming in coffins, yet Doaba youths continue to seek a place in that country. Back here, the spanking-clean Kali Bein is brimming with news, presidential in character. Today the scientist with the famous locks shared a smile with the environmentalist in saffron robes. The district administration was in a tizzy, first branding the Presidential visit a “private” function, then meddling into it as administration often does. When the Baba was running from pillar to post to get some administrative help to keep sewage off the holy rivulet, no one, except his followers, listened. Seechewal’s efforts have been recognised, in newspaper columns and the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Yet, it will be hard to keep the rivulet clean of politics. Some days back, CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat told farmers from a dais in Nurmahal that the Left was not feeling right about the Centre. The farmers squatting on the ground, like their earlier generation had been doing for more than a century from the freedom struggle to peasant struggles, readily agreed. But, the coming election will tell the real story. Like the story of a rickshaw-puller, who hanged himself from a roadside tree in the city because of penury.
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Homeless, but still
at home The open ground is the floor and the vast sky the ceiling for hundreds of homeless people in Phagwara. At night they take shelter on the platform of Phagwara railway station, or in the corridors of the shopping complexes at Hargobind Nagar and Central Town market. Their life goes unnoticed, as people just pass by them, but they brave the odds as each day comes up, without aid or assistance from any organisation. Hari Ram and his family of five are among the six families from Bihar who have made the railway station their home. Rather, they live life out of trains. They beg for food, money and clothing from the passengers. “We all came here together to earn a living. It is because of the proximity of Model Town to the railway station that some of our men and women get jobs as daily wagers there. Even in time of illness, we take refuge in the Maal Gogam area there. The outer areas of the nearby villages give us temporary shelter, when policemen shoo us from railway station. But we come back here, as our life revolves around the station.” Says Naudha Sharan, “I collect date leaves from the nearby villages and make brooms out of them. I sell these in and around the city. When things are low here, we move to the Jalandhar railway station for a few days.” Even the glittering shopping plaza in Hargobind Nagar converts into a small township with these homeless families taking shelter there. Their giggles, vivaciousness and camaraderie keep the spirits high. Laughs Brijesh, helper at a teashop, “My family in Patna named me Brijesh, but here guys rechristened me as Brijesh Patel after the name of the cricket icon. I, too, now take pride in the name.” Hailing from different places in Bihar, the word has spread in favour of the city, says Brijesh. “Here we work till late evening and prefer to sing folk songs with ‘dafli’. On weekends we catch a movie or serial on TVs installed in shops on the Railway Road. Surya, an eight-year-old boy, is the new guy on the block who joined the community three days ago. Feeling ecstatic in the new ambit, he says, “I have joined my elder brother, who was earlier working in a hotel. Though I am missing my mother a little bit, and my little ‘charpai’, otherwise it is okay here.” The police generally keep their hands off these guys, except in a few cases, informs elderly Hari Ram, a rickshaw puller. “The policemen intervene only when anyone is caught taking liquor or drugs or break into fights, otherwise they leave us alone.” Ashok Sharma, in charge of an NGO, says, “We provide help to these homeless but can’t accommodate all.” Nevertheless, these homeless warriors have learnt to wage their battles against their miseries, with or without any assistance.
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Lovely student tops 6th semester LLB exam Five students of Lovely Institutes were among the top ten positions securers in the LLB (five-year course) sixth semester examinations of the Guru Nanak Dev University. Pallavi was ranked first in the university, whereas Mohit Kapoor was at the third position. The other students on the merit list include Ravinder Singh (5th), Mansi Bansal (6th) and Poonam Garg (7th). Pallavi secured 75.07 per cent marks in the examination and Mohit got 70.73 per cent marks. Dr Gubax Singh, principal, Lovely Institute of Law attributed the success to the dedicated and experienced faculty of the institute. Meanwhile, a
ceremonial welcome
was accorded to the fresher batch of the Lovely Institute of
Technology, as the
new session began. Present on the occasion was Mr Ashok Mittal, president, Lovely Institutes, Mr H.R. Singla, director general; Ms Rashmi Mittal, dean, Lovely Institutes and parents of the freshers. Dr R.S. Chauhan, director, LIT, said parents share as much responsibilities as the teachers in polishing the future of the students and that the institute would make all out efforts to push for higher results. Independence Day at DAVIET
Students of the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology (DAVIET) here celebrated with fervour Independence Day in the campus. The institute’s director-cum-principal, Mr C.L. Kochar, hoisted the national Flag. Pegions, the emblem of peace, were also set free on the occasion. The students paid tribue to the soldiers with patriotic songs.
— TNS
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Young World Manav Sehyog School, Shahpur, celebrated Independence Day with a patriotic zeal in the school premises. The national flag was unfurled by Dr D.R.Vij, the chief guest. A small cultural programme was also held. Dr S.K.Sharma, chairman of the school along with the chief guest distributed sweets to the students. Ambika Modern School too celebrated Independence Day with a zeal despite of the first terminal examination in the school. The students were told about the meaning and importance of freedom. The function was followed by a small tea party. BSF Senior Secondary School also celebrated the occasion with fervor and gaiety. Mr H.L.Wassan, DIG, Frontier, BSF, presided over the function. The students presented a number of cultural items. Tiny-tots of the Shiv Bal Vatika Public School, Partap Nagar, presented a cultural function full of pure feelings. Students recited “Gayatri Mantra” and “Saraswati Vandana”. Chairman, Dr D. D. Jyoti and an industrialist, Mr Bharat Bhushan, presided over the function. Environment with patriotism
Students of the Victoria Public School, Phagwara, celebrated Independence Day with patriotic poems, group songs and folk dances. Principal B.L.Verma inaugurated the function. The vice-principal made the students aware of their duties towards their nation. Students as national leaders
A fancy dress show was the main attraction of the Independence Day celebrations in GDR Convent School, Bir Dhandoli village, Phagwara where children dressed as leaders. Mr Sarwan Singh Kular, the chief guest, donated Rs 11,000 to the school and the same amount to nursery Janmashtami celebrated
Students of the Dayanand Model School, Model Town celebrated Independence Day and Janmashtami simultaneously. Students sang patriotic songs and bhajans on the occasion. Apeejay School, Model Town, celebrated both the events with enthusiasm. The students dressed as the national symbols and whole campus represented ‘A Mini India’. Students performed a group dance ‘Raas Leela’. Students of the Mayor World School too celebrated Janmashtami by reciting ‘Geeta Updesh’ and the principal, Ms Gunmit Bindra, illustrated ‘Krishna Updesh’ to the students. Patriotic drama
Students of the Seth Hukam Chand Senior Secondary School presented a patriotic drama. Principal Manju Arora told the students about the sacrifices made by the people of India to secure independence.
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Jalandhar
hockey team leaves for Ludhiana Led by captain Sapoor Singh, the 18-member Jalandhar junior hockey team will leave for Ludhiana in the early hours tomorrow morning to start their campaign in the Punjab Junior Hockey Championship (under-19) at Bhani Sahib, Ludhiana. They will play their first match against Fatehgarh Sahib tomorrow itself. The final of the championship will be held on August 20. The team: Sapoor Singh (C), Gauravdeep Singh (vc), Gurnam Singh, Gurjit Singh, Jagroop Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Jagjit Singh, Hardeep Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Deepak Sharma, Gagandeep Singh, Amandeep Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Simranjit Singh, Abhimanyu Sharma, Jaskaran Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Ravdeep Singh. Coach: Mohan Singh The team was selected by Gundeep Kumar, Rajinder Singh, Prof Kirpal Singh, Jagdeep Singh and Kulbir Singh.
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CT School bags trophy in taekwando CT Public School, Maqsudan, won the overall trophy in the Inter-School Taekwando Tournament held in the school. Many schools of the city participated in the competition including Lala Jagat Narayan DAV, MG N School, APJ School, DAV School and PAP School. — TNS
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Since we remember Punjabis living in the Philippines only when one of them is murdered by ‘unidentified’ assailants, we shall raise the tragic issue when the guns are silent.