Prof. Avinash Singh

27/10/2023

Edge of seats thriller makes chase history for SA . One-wkt win against Pakistan.

24/10/2023

WHEN 'RAVANA' DIED SAVING OTHERS ON RAIL TRACKS IN AMRITSAR

REMEMBERING 69 RUN OVER BY TWO TRAINS ON 2018 DUSSEHRA NIGHT

Till 2017, Dalbir Singh of Jaura Phatak in Amritsar, donned the most applauded role of Hanuman at the local Ramlila. On the fateful Dussehra of 2018, he was asked to play the character of Ravana. And he accepted.

Within next 25 minutes, Dalbir died twice -- once on the stage at the hands of Lord Rama and then on the railway line that separated his home and the venue! However, not before he had saved many a precious life pulling people off the track before his foot got struck in a gap. He was among the 69 who were run over by two trains as effigy of Ravana was burning amidst deafning sound of crackers.

First the Amritsar-Kalka Mail killed half a dozen people caught unaware watching the Ravana dahan on one track. As the crowd ran in different directions the oncoming Ludhiana-Amritsar DMU ran over scores on the second line. Both the trains were at speed beyond the advised limits.

Dalbir, having noticed headlight from a distance was pulling people off the track, when in the melee he got his foot trapped in a slit!

Even after having played a villain on stage, for which he won a prize too, he was still doing the role of Hanuman or Ram as a saviour when he like several others was crushed under the wheels.

Like other days Dalbir had reported at the venue of age-old Ramlila in advance to help in the make up of other characters and mug up his own dialogues.

What is latest on his old mother, wife Navjot Kaur and daughter, who was barely two then? Only a local journalist can tell us!

I'm reproducing an uncut version of my coverage for Instafeed, a multi-lingual
online app-based platform from ground zero, a day after the Oct 18, 2018 tragedy besides giving links to other reports.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/AVCP8KajorcWdrMH/?mibextid=e1zS5d

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/g5QHGXqwecrwE16U/?mibextid=e1zS5d

23/10/2023

नहीं रहे बिशन बेदी!

ਸਪਿਨ ਸਾਸਟਰ ਬਿਸ਼ਨ ਬੇਦੀ ਦਾ ਇਂਤਕਾਲ

SPIN-MAESTRO BISHAN BEDI BIDS ADIEU AT 77

A STOREHOUSE OF READY WIT AND REPARTEE

One of the greatest spin masters of his times, the former India captain, manager and coach, Bishan Singh Bedi, is no more! Not keeping well for a very long time, he passed off peacefully today.

He is survived by son, model and actor-turned-developer Angad Bedi and Neha Singh from Anu Indejeet Bedi. Angad is married to Neha Dhupia.

From an earlier marriage with Glineth Miles, Bedi had two offsprings named Gavasinder Bedi and Gill Bedi.

The legendary left-arm orthodox spinner Bishan Bedi was the global brand ambassador of cricket. He played for India in 67 Tests between 1966 to 1979 bagging 266 wickets. These included 14 five-wickets haul including 10 scalps in one Test. He led India in 22 Tests.

His match figures of 1975 inaugural one-day World Cup against the then East Africa 12-8-6-1 are a mirror to his tight bowling that had restricted the oppososion to 120 runs. He took 7 wickets in 12 one-day internationals.

In one of the recent interactions little master Sunil Gavaskar talking about Bedi had said he was accurate to the extent that the captain could decide the spot where the ball would hit the pitch before turning to the almost desired angle.

Bedi 'Paji' was part of India's most celebrated quartet of Erapalli Prasanna, B S Chandrasekhar and Venkataraghavan. He was known for his graceful, rhythmic action and was believed be voice of what was right for cricket. His forthrightness apart, he was known for his humour through his ready wit, repartee and one one liners.

On personal level last four meetings -- the antim ardas of author and chef Jiggs Kalra, release of a book by Indian politicial Manish Tewari (see picture) at IIC, his office in Lajpat Nagar-II and National Stadium -- are all etched fresh in my mind. His best gesture was to visit my Hindustan Times office-cum-residence at Amritsar unannounced.

An alumni of Hindu College, Amritsar, he was born on Sept 27,1946 in the Putlighar area of the city. My first close encounter with the legend was at Gandhi grounds, Amritsar in late 1960s when yours truly was leading the cricket team of Govt Sr Secondary School Town Hall, Amritsar. His spinning tips apart, he organised a special pass for me for the four-day match of North Zone with visiting West Indian team of Gary Sobers and opening bowler Wes Hall.

Our friend Venkat Sundaram has been closest to Bishan Bedi sir. "Every single cricketer or individual who was in touch with Bishan Pa, would have tales to recount for his humour and anecdots," quips Venkat. Another close pal of the spin magician has been Sarkar Talwar.

Bishan got a Padma Shri in 1970 and a lifetime achivement award in 2004, an event that I had the honour to attend, besides Arjuna Award.

13/10/2023

Revised

My friend Sham Singh Kalra is back in India after a prolonged trip Down Under - he was in Melbourne among other places there. An honours graduate and a Masters in English Literature is once again accepting translation work in English, Hindi & Punjabi. A former Principal, he is an expert in all three. Sham has penned a few books too. His Grammar for Schools often comes handy to me! He can be contacted at +918360674566.

It won't be out of place to mention here that I cleared my Masters in English (Litt.) thanks to the guidance and books provided by friends like Sham Kalra and Shalinder Shalinder Mohan Malhotra !

13/10/2023

Wisdom with weapons!
Need of the hour!

11/10/2023

'BAYWATANA' HIGHLIGHTS
TRIAL BY FIRE OF AFGHAN SIKHS & HINDUS

YOUNGSTERS TO THE FORE IN NISHKAM TV's EMOTIONAL DOCUMENTARY

By Prof Avinash Singh

A chill was sent down many a spine in a packed hall thronged by reps of different faiths of the world! There were innumerable moist eyes.... some zapped faces.... goose bumps .... and cold creeps too! Several broke down openly in the convention centre!

The occasion was the powerful release of 90-minute plus documentary 'BAYWATANA' at the Parliament of the World Religions at Chicago on India's Independence Day (Aug. 15) highlighting the massacre most foul of 25 mortals, including women and children, at Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib, Shor Bazar, Kabul and subsequent exodus of Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan.

The film is shot by six high school students under the expert eye of Emmy Award winner Harbaldeep Singh and his three executive producers, Dr Jasjyot Kaur Nanra (a former Delhi State star and national level swimmer), Simerpreet Kaur and Rajni Singh, all professionals and members of the Sikh Study Circle of New England Gurdwara, common meeting place of devotees from Grafton, Shrewsbury, Northborough and Worcester less than an hour's drive from Boston.

Chicago apart, at another screening in Harvard University auditorium a massive round of applause, amidst tears rolling down many eyes, was reserved for Aekem Singh, Jaskeerat Singh, Sahej Singh, Tanisha Kaur Kapoor, Suner Kaur Chopra (both script handlers) and Jasratan Chopra, the super six students behind this feat of calling attention to the sufferings of over 600 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus families.

Close to 40 months on, majority of those displaced are far from being settled despite timely help coming from organisations like United Sikhs (briefly), Mandeep Bhullar Foundation and individuals such as Manohar Singh Grewal of UK, Dalip Singh Sethi, Paramjit Singh Bedi, Jasbir Singh in the US and a team led by Hardeep Singh Puri and Vikramjit Singh Sahney in India.

The 10-month long project that made team members visit New York (on many a weekend), Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, London, New Delhi and other destinations, taking off from respective schools, would not have been achieved but for the invaluable partnership of Sikh Coalition represented by Harpreet Singh.

In all, 150 hours were spent on recording the interviews and 700 hours on editing at a cost of USD 350,000. There are plans to shoot a sequel and making it to one of the world class platforms like Netflix, informs Harbalpreet Singh.

Interviews recorded by youngsters carry hair-raising tales of brothers Harinder Singh and Kulwinder Singh survivors who lost family members, including a three year old daughter, and others whose kins were silenced by guns of Islamic State and Haqqani milita.

The March 25 carnage was followed by bomb blast at Gurdwara Karte Parwan on June 19. It was basically to prevent them from flying out.

Harbaldeep Singh says 'Baywatana' , a Pasto word meaning 'without a country', a production of all-youth on-line Nishkam TV, is not a story, a film or a documentary but a journey of Sikhs and Hindus through the ages from being the most prosperous trading and business communities of Afghanistan, to being hounded out through several attacks since 1996, the worst being in March and June 2020.

The Hindus have been staying in Afghanistan from third century and Sikhs after the 1520 visit of Guru Nanak. And for centuries they enjoyed a unique place in the Afghan Society. There were over 1400 places of worships for Hindus and Sikh before 1980. Gurdwaras being acceptable to both the religions were more. Today all, but few, have been destroyed. Of the seven historic gurdwaras only Karte Parwan in Kabul is intact today.

We all remember what happened Buddha relics carved in Bamiyan Cliffs. The giant Buddha statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

The August-September 2020 exodus through three special Air India planes, thanks to the efforts of the then Civil Aviation Minister Puri and Vikramjit Singh, about 650 were brought to India and put in various gurdwaras. Others were taken to Canada and UK, while 13 families were accommodated in the US.

The interviews in 'Baywatana', have insisted that help came from many across the globe to sponsor these families. The fact remains that the Afghan migrants, where ever they are still do not 'feel at home' even today. "Assi na ghar de rahe na ghat de," confided one of the known Afghan Sikhs staying in a resettlement colony in Delhi on condition of strict confidentiality.

In Delhi they are in Mahavir Nagar and some other areas of West Delhi besides Jahangir Puri and Burari. "We still have a status of refugees," my acquaintance quipped. He was quick to justify: "We were still to reconcile when COVID happened and the world went into hibernation, each taking care of self. The Governments threrafter had other agenda to follow and "we were forgotten".

The film that has captured some of the sensitive and gut-wrenching post shootout and blasts footage, has been mentioned by BBC Channel 4 in the Thought for the Day, and has made into the columns of Chandigarh edition of The Times of India.

From 2 lakh Sikhs and Hindus in 1992, only 9 Sikhs are left in Afghanistan today, 3 of these are indigenous Afghanis, who have taken to Islam, and six who were part of Pakistan forces and fled their country fearing persecution.

More on ordeal, hardships , challenges of resettling in new countries and coming of age of Nishkam TV, set up in 2016, future plans for 'Baywatana' we will talk in part II of our story on the weekend! It would also delve on thumb nail sketches of those behind the film.

(Continued)





https://youtu.be/1AsyGs4AolM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VVj_WijjxaY

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gb4vyt

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/baywatana

Pictures show post screening of the documentary 'Baywatana' at Harvard University Auditorium

28/09/2023

Revised

My friend Sham Singh Kalra is back in India after a prolonged trip Down Under - he was in Melbourne among other places there. An honours graduate and a Masters in English Literature is once again accepting translation work in English, Hindi & Punjabi. A former Principal, he is an expert in all three. Sham has penned a few books too. His Grammar for Schools often comes handy to me! He can be contacted at +918360674566.

It won't be out of place to mention here that I cleared my Masters in English (Litt.) thanks to the guidance and books provided by friends Sham Kalra and Shalinder Malhotra.

13/09/2023

Good Looks and Sharp Hooks are effective management skills in life-
Personal or Pro!

11/09/2023

I will settle for Hindustan Petroleum!

09/09/2023

BIRTHDAY GREETINS TO MY YOUNG-AT-HEART 'RICH' FRIEND

My friend RICH Pal Singh HP Singh Rishi turns a year wiser today. Harish Pal is Rich at heart, Intelligent to forsee things, Charming to capture young hearts and Healthy in mind.

It is a 42 years of friendship, where the Bains family gave me the tag of elder 'son'. We agree to disagree on a number of issues, but all such differences have cemented our bond stronger and firmer.

I take opportunity to thank Ravinder Kaur, Ravi for us, being part of his life all these years hand-holding and guiding this irrepressible soul.

Rishi is all set to e-launch his fourth book shortly. Titled 'Rishi ki Zubani, Dil ki Kahani'. The 250-page book being released by 'The Senior Saga', thanks to the efforts of Mona Singh could be a torch-bearer for many a young life.

It carries episodes of this former ITOCHU Corporation GM (Strategic Affairs, India) and former DDG (C'wealth Games 2010) life's which are touching, hilarious, solomn, encouraging and path-breaking at the same time, told in a manner unheard, untried and untouched so far -- so thing only Rishi can dare.

My wife Neelu Singh - Varinder Kaur - and all our near and dears, join me in wishing Rishi the absolute best on his Birthday - the most auspicious occasion of the year.

Cheers and more fun, more memories and glories and cakes.... Rishi Singh !

24/08/2023

The Great Expressway Robbery (NE-4 Experience)
vs
A Soothing Cup of Tea n Matthi

Mewat region of Nuh in Haryana has been in the news for the wrong reasons of late. While uneasy calm in Nuh and surrounding villages is still on the limp, a great Expressway robbery is taking place courtesy IndianOil. There are other players like NHAI too in this money spinning game. May be some functionaries of Khattar Govt too.

A large hoarding on NE 4 (newly opened Delhi-Vadodara Expressway) in Ferozepur Jhirka Tehsil in Mewat proudly announces:

"Last pump of Haryana. Petrol ₹ 12 and Diesel ₹ 4 cheaper from Rajasthan". After two failed attempts for facilities -- both not operational -- you take an exit to find only one eating joint out of half a dozen scheduled, to be open and only one toilet each for men and women working with long embarrasssing queues outside. Longer for the fair s*x.

In contrast one could see six or seven fuel outlets in service spread over an eight-acre patch. By the time you put your vehicle in one of the lines you realise the gridlock you have got into. It's free for all and total chaos on an Expressway to glory.

A little less than 25 minutes later when your turn comes, it is extragreen diesel offered to you as the only choice. Your tank is topped up with ₹2000. And then is the honking of horns competition to find your way out of the maze of vehicles from the Swagat complex of IndianOil. You grab some food, awful in all respects, at two and a half time the market price on the exit.

Till the Rajasthan border my Ertiga was logging an encouraging average of 22.4 kms a litre (touchibg 24 at times) at a speed ranging between 90-100 kmph. Suddenly it dropped down to around 16 km per litre before settling for less than 15 kmpl. All thanks to allgreen fuel.

You reduce speed and reset mileage configurations, more than once, to no avail.

Attention Hardeep Singh Puri sahib.

Rate charged for extragreen diesel is ₹ 94 a litre against the normal fuel price of ₹ 89.86. For normal petrol it is Rs 97.41. They sell almost 25 tankers a day at one of these halts.

Green fuel is welcome but if it is spurious, as the drop in mileage and snarl in engine purring displayed, it is a loot to be looked into. The density of the fuel too was much lower than the permissible mark.

While going from Delhi to Jaipur eight-laned NE-4 was all fun barring some joints on bridges and some brims caving it. The first milestone on Sohna-Vadodara Expressway for Jaipur was 70 short of the Pink City. Once you crossed Dausa on traditional Agra-Jaipur highway with capital being only 23 kms you are struck at a toll plaza for nearly 20 minutes squandering all the time advatage gained at 4 NE.

Return from Jaipur using same route is much more bumpy. Speed of 120 kmph for cars, 100 for buses and 80 for the trucks did not justify the rough patches -- little too many -- that have developed only in couple of months after inauguration. No wonder the trucks, against clearly specified norms, drive in right lane, meant for overtaking. A truck in the designated lane overturned in front of my eyes trying trying to save a bunch of peacocks.

At Ferozepur Jhirka's yet to be operational Swagat Complex on the opposite side, there was usual clamour for fuel. Washrooms were without light. Thrill and solace, however, was provided by a refreshing double cup (180 ml) of tea and matthi from makeshift floor unit of Aashu Khan (Dr Harish Kumar.)

Khan, a victim of the recent riots, comes here at 7 pm and is around till 7 am. His three grandchidren help him sell 90 ml paper cup for ₹ 10 only. Matthi apart, he sells fans and some kind of local 'khatais'. Khan, who lost his dwelling during disturbances, had spent four nights in the nearby Aravali hills. Khan is aware that his 'tapri' is temporary.

While going to Jaipur my phone was on GPS. So no pics were taken. Did take some on way back.

On return, while I could have taken Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad highway, confusing signages made me reach Gurugram to do 45 kms and 75 minutes extra

Hardeep Singh Puri
Nitin Gadkari
Manohar Lal Khattar

23/08/2023

You are way too fast for me! And I am way too demanding for u!

23/08/2023

16/08/2023

LITTLE CHAMP KNOWS HOW TO EXULT, CELEBRATE

Drishika made her mark at Independence Day last year when she was yet to be two by winning a certificate for posing and uploading picture with Tiranga.

She was one up this 15 August. She showed everyone present that she already knew how to exult and celebrate after winning her first-ever trophy for a podium finish in Ball Collecting n Dropping. She missed another prize in tri-cycle racing for under three by a whisker.

This was at first AJ Sports Carnival at Angel Jupiter, Indirapuram, between Aug.4 to 14.

Honhar birwan ke hote chikne paat (Coming events cast their shadow before).

She deserves your blessings!

03/08/2023

Courtesy Pinterest via Gurdev Singh

26/07/2023

Via WA Univ.

21/07/2023

HE DROVE 4000 KM TO DONATE AN AMBULANCE

From the wall Elizabeth Thapa

When an elderly person passes away, we spend lakhs of rupees on their funeral expenses. However, Brigadier B. S. Gill, Vir Chakra, made the decision to donate a Scorpio ambulance in memory of his 71-year-old wife who passed away. He traveled 3500 km from Chandigarh to Aizawl, Mizoram, and another 400 km to the village of Dilatlang, located in the hills beyond Lunglei, where he had served as a post commander in 1972. There, he donated an ambulance worth Rs 20 lakhs. This photo was sent from the village of Pukpui near Lunglei.

Now, think about how much genuine affection and love the true soldiers of the country have for the people even in insurgency-affected areas. The people of the village warmly welcomed Brigadier Saheb by carrying him in a palanquin through the village. How the elderly are respected even after the departure of their spouses.

Write up coutesy: Anil

20/07/2023

Meeting to finish the drug menace in Punjab!

07/07/2023

Your Attention Please!

Your complaints are welcome in this column!

A KHUSHI WHO HAS BEEN DISHING ME GUM (SUFFERING) WEEK AFTER WEEK

An ICICI misadventure!

Way back in 2013 a deputy manager of ICICI Vaishali Branch 'tricked' my wife into going for an inventment proposal that she insisted was 'most paying and secure'.

Since the lady was always helpful in the branch and other funds in saving bank were not earning much in terms of interest, my better half did not bat an eyelid in accepting the suggestion.

Result: We began depositing
₹ 1Lakh every year for next five years in an ICICI Prudential plan called Pinnacle. The lady at the time of filling the form, never (I repeat never) talked about the pros and cons of the product other than saying that this plan was 'best suited' for us.

Not even once we were told that it was insurance linked scheme that involved a hefty annual premium to be auto charged from our funds.

At the end of paying them for five consecutive years, executives from ICICI Prudential started contacting us. They told us, to our shock and horror, that we have an amount of ₹ 4.58 lakhs lying in our 'Pinnacle Policy' matured account -- word policy being used for the first time - and they wanted know as to what would we like to do next?

The options given were: a)To withdraw the amount b) To invest in Mutual Funds c) Or in some safe and steady shares d) Or to let it be there in Prudential account for next five years. For the first time we were told that "growth in all such investments are subject to market risks', a term we had heard many times over on TV ads.

Now close to ten years down the line we have been told that ₹ 4.07 lakh is fianally due towards us. When asked to explain "how come"?, one Ms Khushi rings me up from services at Jhandewalan every week, without fail, that one of our managers would like to visit you to explain how your money instead of inclreasing has been depleting over the years. "We can offer you better plans,"she quips.

Every such evening a very terse voice would call to check up "so you are okay with 11am next morning meeting". Even when you confirm that you are ready welcome a representative home, no one would ever to come. On such occasions phone of Ms Khushi would be switched off and calls to other evening bird's number would not be possible.

Ms Khushi has been very kind and regular with her weekly calls, in dishing out gum (suffering) to me, knowing well that before I cool down I would like to yell at her. She has been very consistent in rubbing salts in my wounds and would even join me in consoling by saying: "I know in any fixed deposit this money would have almost doubled by now."

As if taking pity she will promise 'a pucca visit' this time by a manager and hang up, but never before listening to me in full. Out if 23 calls by Khushi one Mr Majid Khan has twice only contacted 'threatening' to visit me, alas without standing by his words.

There could not be anything more frustrating than visiting Kaushambi branch where you have your Prudential Account. It is inside a sociey cluster, where you enter only after showing your papers. At the branch after going frim one counter to another, you get a plain simple answer: come after August 23, we would transfer your amount, whatever is due to you, after due verifications. As of today, computer shows your amount stands at ₹4.07 lakhs. This is against an investment of ₹ 5 lakhs.

In one of the several calls made to Majid Khan, he has given me one assurance: With all the bonuses put together, ICICI Prudential "may be able equal the amount you originally invested".

Yes, he is ready to take time out from his busy schedule, to visit me if I'm ready to invest again through ICICI Prudential into abh other product.

Am I that big a fool dear ICICI Prudential?

04/07/2023

Via WhatsApp University

03/07/2023

Your Attention Please!

STORIES OF DAILY LIFE - FROM MUNDANE TO BANAL

Every day we hear of online and offline frauds, deceitful dealings, dishonest activities, fallacious acts, supply of sub-standard goods by outfits promising moon and delivering not even a star.

In last few weeks we have come across shocking stories of a son forcing his mother to shift to another city and then disowning her after grabbing her property, parents being called over to USA, Canada, UK, Australia and other countries and then using them as caretaker and nannies for their kids and their properties being sold behind their backs.

There are cases still where senior citizens in India are being put at old age homes and their assets and belongings usurped.

Also there are complaints against hospitals giving quotations for certain surgeries and replacing organs and then presenting inflated bills, even if the patients died during treatment. Banks too have been doing silly deductions and turning you accounts under 'inoperative' category at the drop of a hat.

Nitish Narula of Janakpuri, to his shock and horror after the sad demise of his mother Neelam Narula on June 6 at prestigious BLK-Max hospital during treatment, was told unless the bills, which Narulas said were highly inflated by several lakhs, were cleared the body would not be given family members. Narulas despite approaching the police, were made to pay before they were able to take the body for cremation.

Joginder Sethi, a well-known IT entrepreneur and philanthropist of Birmingham was duped by Mark Holidays (operating a bank account in name of Majestic Tours and Travels, Amritsar) for a week long trip to Kerala.

The company run by one Madhuri Kapoor (and her brother Mohit Kapoor may be a party too) overcharged Sethis by thousands for the hotel stay at Kovalam and Kumrakonam. And for the taxis provided on three occasions, inflated and exorbitant rates were charged.

There are several other cases where spurious or low quality goods have been provided to consumers. The manner in which large service providers have been biting much more than they can chew is a also matter of concern.

Over the next few days, we would like write in details about the matters related to Nitesh Narula and Joginder Sethi among several other stories of fleecing by individuals and companies.

Daily people are being made to shell out hefty sums by hooking them in the name in them by 'Hum se Dosti Karoge Clubs' on various wings of social media.

Has something like this happened to you also!Would you be interested in halting this black mailing and extortion rackets. Do contact me, if you find your complaints have not been attended to or pursued by the authorities in the right earnest.

We would assure of follow ups and some action being taken on your genuine complaints. You can write at 9811302082 superscribing your post
'Your Attention Please!

26/06/2023

ANURAG VERMA SUPERSEDES SEVEN TO BE APPOINTED AS PUNJAB CHIEF SECRETARY

As many as seven senior IAS officers have been superseded to make Anurag Verma Chief Secretary of Punjab.

An annoucement to this effect was made this afternoon.

Anurag Verma, a 1993 batch IAS officer, replaces VK Janjua, who retires on June 30.

Verma was currently serving as the State’s Home Secretary.

It is disappointing to note that a 'zero tolerance' Bhagwant Mann Govt, has decided to pick up an officer facing allegations of misappropriation of thousands of Crores of VAT funds, pending a CBI enquiry. A special audit by AG Punjab has also been sought against the officer in question.

A majority of those who have been bypassed in Punjab are the IAS officers known for their integrity, honesty and competence. It is believed that strings for this appointment have been pulled from the AAP high command in Delhi.

A senior former bureaucrat, in know of the cases against Anurag Verma, termed the move as disasterous for the State that has been sliding down the ladder from a top performer to a crawling State over the years. "The appointment has set a wrong precedent and sent a disturbing message among the cardres," he quipped.

Among other allegations, the officer hand-picked, has an affidavit filed before the Secretary Personnel, as well the Director Vigilance, Punjab for his mishandling of VAT funds. A CWP-PIL (no. 231 of 2019) naming him is also under consideration before the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court. The case was revived vide MA CWP no 68 of 2020 in which Anurag Verma has been named as repondant no 4.

20/06/2023

Via Rajwant Singh Grewal

18/06/2023

Happy Fathers all -- B K Singh sahib, Surya Pratap Singh Avre and yours truly in the middle!

16/06/2023

THREE SIKH GURUS VISITED AYODHYA AT DIFFERENT TIMES

Disturbing trends of gurdwara halls looking like
'Sheesh Mahals'!



Guru Nanak during his lifetime visited several places across India and off shores in his four Udasis lasting over 24 years.He was also particular about dropping by existing religious places.

It was in tune with his wont that he visited Ayodhya too propaging his belief in the existence of one supreme power. He believed there was a better way to connect with God through devotion and action.

Ayodhya was also visited by the 9th and 10th Sikh masters Guru Teg Bahadur and Guru Gobind Rai as a child.Places of their visit, all three developed into proper Gurdwaras, by a Kashmiri Sikh Gulab Singh and troops of the Indian Army based at Faizabad Cantonment from time to time, are within a radius of 1.5 km from Brahm Kund at Saryu river.

Guru Nanak's visit was just before Babur destroyed many temples and the worshipping idols at Ayodhya.

It is said that after offering obeisance at the place where Guru Nanak had visited, Guru Teg Bahadur meditated near Brahm Kund for 48 hours. A wooden pair of footwear left there is now kept in Gurdwara Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib nearby.

We visited the majestic Gurdwara at Nazar Bagh that had the touch of Baba Nanak and Guru Teg Bahadur. The Gurdwara on the lines of current trends in recent years has been shifted to the first flight, the ground floor being the langar hall.

Another sour point, in keeping the recent trends set by many self-styled kar sewa heads --this gurdwara, being handled by Jathedar Mohinder Singh -- had main all all decked up with glass, looking more like sheesh mahal than a gurdwara.

I'm reproducing some pictures of my recent journeys to other gurdwaras in Punjab with similar glass work around sanctum sanctorun and the main halls. These are Takht Damdama sahib, Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib apart from the Ayodhya shrine.

Gurdwaras' simplicity had an aura of their own, which is no more these cases.

Another very disturbing trend is making official announcements by granthies and heads of gurdwaras sitting behind holy Guru Granth sahib for contributions. Historic gurdwaras of Delhi are the leaders in this case.