Regional Journal: Untold stories from the STATES

At Home with President

President Droupadi Murmu will preside over India’s 76th Republic Day later this January, but it is the invite for her ‘At Home’ reception, a much-coveted event on the city’s political and social calendar, that is drawing attention. Unlike the usual paper invite, this time around, the invite was a slim wicker-and-bamboo basket which contained beautifully produced handcrafted items from several South Indian states — a small green silk pouch from Tamil Nadu, a saffron ikat bag from Telangana, a hand-painted coaster from Kerala and a couple of tiny, wooden dolls from Telangana. On the paper invite itself is a QR code which gives you all the information you want, returning you straight to the 21st century.

Wedding in Badal’s home

In politically turbulent times, there is something to cheer about for the former Akali Dal president, Sukhbir Badal, and his wife, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal. Celebrations of their London-educated daughter Harkirat’s big fat Punjabi wedding kicked off on a cold January 12 morning in Punjab’s Badal village, where invitees were treated to a lavish Punjabi-style lunch. Harkirat is tying the knot with a Dubai-based businessman, whose family traces its roots to the Doaba region. The wedding is scheduled in Delhi next month followed by a reception at Chandigarh.

Litti chokha & more

For a while now, the government has been trying hard to make the otherwise mundane Union Cabinet briefings look attractive. Union Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has been holding Cabinet briefings in power-point presentation mode rather than the usual practice of speaking from behind a formal dais. What’s more, help is round the corner for scribes who attend to diligently take down what’s been decided — they will now be served special cuisines from around the country. Last week, a start was made with Bihar’s ‘litti chokha’. Seems Punjab’s ‘sarson ka saag’ and ‘makki ki roti’ will be on menu soon!

Like mother, like CM son

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who burst onto the national stage when he participated in the “Laughter Challenge” TV show more than a decade ago, seems to inherited his wit from his mother Harpal Kaur. Some days ago, the CM regaled his colleagues with an example of her funny streak, adding that over the years, she had learnt to turn down those seeking favours with her rustic wit. A woman job seeker approached her recently saying she has nothing to eat, Mann said, so ‘bebe’ gave her some food. The lady then said she had no money, Mann added, and my mother gave her some money. Undeterred, the lady said she had no husband. Equally undeterred, Mann’s mother ticked off the woman, saying even she did not have a husband, forcing the lady to stop then and there.

Gurdaspur special

Gurdaspur has a uniqueness of its own. It is probably the only city in Punjab which has neither traffic lights nor footpaths. Public welfare institutions like the civil hospital, which should be inside the city’s periphery, are located miles away, while the central jail and municipal solid waste segregation plant are situated in the heart of the city. Perhaps, there is no use crying over spilt milk. As a wag said, “Sins cannot be undone, only forgotten!”