Tarn Taran Diary
Bungas are part of history, have heritage value
The Bungas have a special devotion in Sikh religion. It is the place where devotees stay for days together during their visit to religious places, especially gurudwaras. Some of these were constructed in the rule of Misals, but most came into existence during the Sikh reign. With the passing of time, a total of 105 Bungas were constructed in Tarn Taran, mostly around and outside the Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran. These are of 10 types. There is a Bunga Bunga Darshani Deori, Sri Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran, the construction of which was started by Bhai Kahan Singh Amritsaria but could not be completed for want of money. It is the property of Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran. The other type of Bungas are the property of Sri Harmander Sahib, Amritsar, like Akal Bunga or Jhanda Bunga. It was constructed by Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh, the grandson of Maharaja Singh which is in the complex of Darbar Sahib, Tarn Taran. There are some Bungas which were constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh or his family members like Bunga Akal. From time to time, some of the Bungas were constructed by the gurudwaras at far off places to reside during visits there. There are some Bungas constructed by members of different castes like Bunga Lubana, Bunga Kambos, Ramgarhia etc. The Bungas constructed by the residents of Attari, Dhotian, Satlani Sahib and other villages too still exist here. There is one Bunga constructed for the policemen too. There are some Bungas constructed in the name of Sikh generals like Bunga Hari Singh Nalwa, some by the residence of the pujaris in those days and Gaddidar Mahants. Out of these 105 Bungas, a large number of Bungas have lost their existence or have even been encroached by one or the other type of people. The SGPC must do the needful to locate all the historical Bungas as these are part of Sikh history. A large number of devotees are still taking advantage of these Bungas, specially at the monthly congregation of Chaudas-Amavas on their visit here.
Civil Hospital gets two state-level awards
The Health Department has expressed its appreciation for the district-level Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran, for its remarkable work against AIDS. As a result, the hospital has been awarded with two state-level awards. The awards were given to Dr Sarabjit Singh, SMO, Civil Hospital, at a function organised on the occasion of World AIDS Day in Patiala in which Dr Balbir Singh, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, was the chief guest. One of the awards was given for better services at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) and the other was given for the better working of Antiretroviral Therapy Centre (ARTC). It is the only hospital in the state to get two awards on one occasion. Dr Sarabjit Singh said that a total number of 15,147 persons came for testing against AIDS in the hospital in the present year and 448 were detected positive. The hospital authorities have linked all the patients for treatment with their services available. There are reports that a section of the patients mostly avoids getting themselves treated due to one reason or the other, but the hospital officials brought all 448 patients and they were getting regular treatment. There are 115 ICTCs in the state and only two centres, Tarn Taran and Moga, got the award. Out of the 23 ARTCs in the state, four -- Tarn Taran, Barnala, Bathinda and Ropar -- were awarded for good performance for the year 2023-2024. In spite of all this, the department is yet to think about filling the vacant posts of all medical and other staff in the hospital.
An appeal for help
Shamir Singh (85), a resident of Master Colony, Tarn Taran, has a long tale of sorrows and has been moving from pillar to post to get justice. He has sought help from society. His son Satnam Singh (35) committed suicide weeks back as he was being tortured by his wife for which Satnam’s wife Gurmeet Kaur has been booked by the Tarn Taran police. Satnam Singh and Gurmeet Kaur got married about five years back when Satnam’s first wife died soon after the birth of their son. It was the second marriage for Satnam Singh and third for Gurmeet Kaur. Satnam left behind his 11-year-old daughter and a five-year- old son besides his aged father in the family. Shamir Singh alleged that Gurmeet Kaur embezzled 12 tolas of gold ornaments from home and Rs 1.65 lakh in cash which the Tarn Taran police, in an inquiry report, highlighted and instructed her to return it but she was refusing to do so. Shamir Singh said that in spite of repeated visits to the police station in the last more than two years, he has neither been able to get the ornaments back or the cash. He said that with the death of his son and registering of a case against Gurmeet Kaur, he has lost all hopes of getting back the cash and gold ornaments, the only means for him to manage his family. He anticipates more trouble as the police have failed to arrest Gurmeet Kaur yet. He has to perform all responsibilities to bring up his 11-year-old grand-daughter and five-year-old grandson. He said that at the age of 85, he was in a fix over getting relief from troubles. He wrote a number of letters to the higher authorities, but no official ever listened to his objections. He said that he has lost all hopes of justice and was unable to pursue the cases.
Contributed by Gurbaxpuri
