Tarn Taran diary: Partap Singh Kairon still alive in politics

Partap Singh Kairon, former Chief Minister of the Punjab province, is still alive in politics and remains a respected figure among political parties in the region. He headed the government of Punjab from 1956 to 1964, when the state included Haryana and a part of Himachal Pradesh. Kairon was remembered by CM Charanjit Singh Channi on his recent visit to Patti, when he was inaugurating the construction work of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Law University, Kairon, and the District Education and Training Institution (DIET) in the same village. Patti MLA Harminder Singh Gill, while addressing a political rally requested the CM to release a grant of Rs 10 lakh to erect statue of Partap Singh Kairon in the village. The CM inspite of Rs 10 lakh announced to release a grant of Rs 25 lakh for statue to be made using copper. Additionally, Rs 2 crore was released for the development works in the village. Born in Kairon village, the erstwhile CM was an all-round personality. He did his double postgraduation from the US in politics science and economics. He entered in politics as Shiromani Akali Dal worker and was elected Member of Legislature Assembly (MLA) in 1937 as the Akali Dal candidate in 1937 from Sarhali constituency. He then defeated Baba Gurdit Singh Sarhali who was the Congress Party candidate. Kairon soon joined Congress Party under the leadership Pt Jawahar Lal NehruKairon returned to India in 1929. On April 13, 1932 he started an English language weekly paper called The New Era in Amritsar. He joined politics and the newspaper was eventually shut down. After the Independence, Kairon contested election from Patti constituency in 1952 and from Sarhali constituency in 1957. He defeated Umrao Singh of the Akali Dal and Comrade Gurmej Singh of the CPI, respectively. Kairon’s political rivals created much hue and cry that levelled serious allegations against him and ‘Das Commission’ was formed to investigate the allegations raised by his opponents. The report of the Commission forced Partap Singh Kairon to quit the post of the Chief Minister. He was shot dead on 6 February 1965 near Rasio (Sonepat) when he was on his way to Chandigarh from Delhi. His driver and Personal Assistant of the rank of IAS too were killed in the attack. His son Surinder Singh Kairon too remained in active politics and his grandson former Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon represented Patti Assembly seat from 1997 to 2012-17 as the SAD candidate.

A physics enthusiast and role model for students

Zenvir Singh (23), a student of Sewa Devi SD College of Education, Tarn Taran, who is doing his B.Ed, dons many hats. Apart from being a student, he teaches school students, helps his father financially and brother in studies, making him a role model for students. Zenvir is of the view that time had come for students to earn while studying to become independent. He did his masters in physics from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. His younger brother too is studying in the same university. His father is an employee in the Health Department and mother is a home maker. Zenvir started giving coaching to the school students in physics when he was doing his B.Sc and helped his father financially. He guided his brother too in study. He believes in group discussion to understand different concepts of physics. He is of the view that science can be learnt through practice in real life. His interests are electronic circuits and physical working models in Physics (like stroboscopic effect, gas sensors, audio circuits). He had formed a number of models and did a research project in Gas sensing at GNDU and made working models for their sensor and nanogenerator, that was highly appreciated by all lab members and professors. While participating in university science competitions and he managed to get a spot in top 3 position most of times. After his college hours, he runs coaching academy to earn his expenses for study and research hobby by himself. He really gives strong message to the students to follow. His urges his students to look at the environment from the perspective of science. He wants to set up a physics-cum-chemistry lab in his academy with his earnings.

Misuse of power?

With Vidhan Sabha elections just round the corner, political parties are leaving no stone unturned in their election campaigns. Leading the pack is the ruling Congress party. The party workers have installed a poster at the main gate of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Tarn Taran. The poster carries the photo of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Education Minister Pargat Singh and Tarn Taran MLA Dr Dharambeer Agnihotri. School Principal Ravinder Kaur also managed to find a place in the hoarding. Locals claim that the hoarding is removed after school hours and again hanged at the gate of the school in the morning. Certain rivals of the ruling parties allege that it is the misuse of the power which was favouring a single political party.

(Contributed by Gurbaxpuri)

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