Saturday, October 1, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Eh Ardaas Tumhaari Hai
My father Shah Chaman has come out with his new novel "Eh Ardaas Tumhaari Hai'. A historical novel, set in the backdrop of Baba Ram Singh Naamdhari's struggle against the British. It resounds with multiplicity of sounds of different hues. The powerful discourse against the colonialism of that times, as it emerges in the narrative of the novel, is equally critical of the feudal lords and local officers collaborating with the British. With a keen analytical approach, it finds the people receptive of the common gut feelings of folk religious ascetics who have a genuine empathy with the people. In the course of times, they undergo a transformation. How the British interfered with their lives, how they started 'modernising' Punjab, how the people viewed them, how the Kukas conceptualised their struggle and started non-violent satyagraha which later on became a powerful mode of struggle in the hands of Gandhi can be seen and felt in this novel. The novel captivates with both its extensively expressive language and powerful content.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Anna Hazare and Saagar Manthan
With Anna Hazare on fast, the whole country got up to discuss corruption. Kotkapura witnessed three functions- a seminar in Akal Sahai College of Education, A day long hunger strike at Dhodha Chowk and a discussion by Vichar Manch in Dr. Hari Singh Sewak SR. Sec School during this month. The churning is going on. Everybody wants to ride the bandwagon of Hazare. The RSS, The enthusiastic NGO men, the communists. There are attempts to compare Anna Hazare to Gandhi. Mridula Mukherjee (IE 23 april) is right to distinguish the two. Gandhi fought against the system while Anna and company fights the corrupt. Hence the too much emphaisis on 'the bill' and who should be in the committee. I wonder heaven will fall if Bhushans won't be in. Anna being in committee has lost his moral power. He could have remained the 'king maker' out of the committee. However, the spirit should not get lost. I think the PM and Soniaji understand it too well. So they stand by the momentum and stand tall where as who have been indulging in tits and bits and are playing to the gallery are losing their marks fast. Saagar Manthan ho raha hai!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
yaadan te sirnaaven
'Yaadan te Sirnaaven'- a historical document prepared in the shape of a directory about Kotkapura and its rich legacy was released on March 29, 2011 in an impressive function. Brain behind this important project is Sh. Harnaam Singh, a retired school lecturer and trade unionist. Alongwith his comrade, Sh Jagdish Chhabra, he has presented the history of the city, its institutions, NGOs, prominent persomnalities in the field of freedom struggle, trade & commerce, education and social service. The document is a narrative of small city discourse being written by middle class through the silent forces of education. The tools are grit, determination, hard work and the will to win. 'I can do' approach shapes their destiny. So they reach distant lands, high seats of power and administration, trade & commerce, medicine, art and literature.
The wriers- Dr Sutinder Singh Noor, Dr Gubhagat Singh, Shah Chaman, Dr. Subash Parihar( art historian), Padam Shri Bikramjit Singh Sahni(World Punjabi Conference), Pro Brahamjagdish Singh, Hari Singh Mohi, Gurmeet Singh, Vishavjyoti Dheer, Karnail Baghi(late), Late Rajinder Raajan, Prince Kanwaljit Singh (Playwright), Pawan Gulati (Translator), Satish Gulati (poet who set up a big publishing firm Chetna Parkashan) illuminated the name of the city across the globe.
The doyens of freedom struggle- Gyani Zail Singh, Baba Dyal Singh,Mahasha Kehar Singh, Jagdish Prashad Bhaika led the people to their emancipation with a missionary zeal. The scientist- Late Dr Chanda Singh Marwah undertook research on human hair and wrote valuable books on the topic. Regretably, SGPC or the Institutions od Punjab failed to take cognisance of his great contribution. His son Dr Amarjit Singh Marwah, the First Sikh Sheriff of LA and himself a great philanthropist is still a role model for many.
The Book mentions many great sons of Kotkapura- Pratap Singh Sukhija who set up a worthseeing Raam Bagh, Aasa Singh Makkar, the trader who despite his ailing health fought with a terrorist to death,Mrs Ishar kaur who set up a girls school(now Govt Girls School),Sh Om Parkash Grover the RSS activist who set up many philanthopic institutions like Nirog Bal Ashram, Sh Omkar Goyal Who has been leading the retailers of Punjab for two decades and beteer known as Gandhi of Kotkapura, Sh Ajmer Singh Makkar who used Municipal Council Presidency to set up a college and many more institutions and the list is so long.
The bool pays rich tributes to its martyrs-Surjit Singh, Mukesh Koli and folk singer Dilshad Akhtar who was killed while performing in a function.
It remembers its Amninistrator sons and daughters- Sh Ami Chand Aggarwal IAS(Haryana), Mrs Rajinder Girdhar IRS, Naginder singh IAS(UPCadre), Sh Kirandeep Singh Bhullar IAS, Sh Swaran Singh Channy IAS,Sh Arjun Das IRSE,Sh Boota Singh Ghalib PCS, Sh Gurbakhash Singh PCS,Sh Satwant Singh Sangha Engineer- in- Chief PSEB, Jagdish Gupta ETO.
The book highlights its musician sons- Pro. Rajesh Mohan, Singer Gurpal Singh Pal, sculptor Gurmail Singh, Child artist of Hollywood Karan Brar,Singer daughter- Manpreet Akhtar, Its artist painters- Master Atma Singh Anbhol, Aasa Singh, Gulwant singh and Preet Bhagwan Singh. It gives due credence to its talented son Jai Gandhi who became a judge in USA, Sh Naval Kishore, a great legal luminary who rose from the dalit quarters and donned many an imprtant positions in the Ministry of Law and appeared in the Supreme court as Govt Councel, Gurcharan Singh Sran, Distt and Session Judge and now recently, Manu Goyal who succeeded in cracking PCS(Judicial) of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi in one go. Achin Bansal who topped IIT JEE finds special mention.
The book identifies the kotkapura stamp of Dhodha. Royal ATTA Chicken. It finds Basketbal and Handball heroes, coaches and promoters- Jaswant Bittu, Pro Darshan Singh, Tirlok Singh Olympian, Sham Lal Sharma.
The book pats the young social workers- Subash Kataria, Devinder neetu, Chiman Lal Rinki.
There are a lot of narrative of insipiration for the young generation. The religious, social milieu, intellectual climate, secular genes, throbbing sensations of art and literature. Surprisingly, the book is silent about politics and political figures. However, the freedom fighters, the development- oriented municipal councillors and personalities with a dash of politics are well represented like Ajmer Singh Makkar, Bhagwan singh, Omkar Goyal.
The book focusses the power of education as an instrument of change and development for the all inclusive growth of society. Though prepared by Arorbans Sabha, It transcends the barriers of castes and identifies with the entire local legacy, past and present and nurtures a hope for future. Kudos to Harnaam Singh ji and his dedicated team.
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