The grain market of Jagraon

It is said that the grain market of Jagraon is the second biggest
grain market in Asia.It is said that Khanna mandi is the biggest.Mandi
is the best place to learn motor driving as there is a vast open space
available.Nowdays there is hardly any activity going on there.It is a
good time to learn two wheeler riding or car diving.

Basant Marriage Palace

Most of the marriage palaces are located along the Ludhiana Moga GT
road.There are three Palaces which aren't at this road. Gulmohar
Palace is near the grain market.The Paradise marriage Palace is on the
Galib road.Basant marriage palace is situated at Sidhwan Bet Road
also called the Jallundher road.Sardar
Basant Singh Dhaliwal of village Bhamipura is its owner.For contacting
Sardar Basant Singh Dhaliwal dial
Ph-98554-77990
94171-91133
At USA
TIME REALTY
Off-(559)647-3814
Direct-(559)367-6638
Fax-(559)324-1926
Basantdhaliwal@yahoo.com

Christmas tree but no Christians

There isn't any Christian around.The spirit is there.Some may feel
that Jagraon is a remote area.It might be true to some extent. But
nevertheless we are celebrating the Christmas at our coaching
institute. We have a Christmas tree,candies,Santa Claus,a special
lunch.I think only Christmas Carols are missing.That also must have
been sung at the Church that is next to the Legends English Institute.

A trouble called Phatak

Jagraon is divided into two parts by the railway lining.The two parts
are so near yet far apart.It is because the phataks remain closed most
of the time.At present there are 3 phataks.Tehsil road Phataks cannot
be counted as they are permanently closed.The phataks on the Nanaksar
side of the grain market are called the Lande phatak as they were not
unmanned earlier.Earlier they were very risky.Once I narrowly escaped
the train.The train at that place did not make much noise as the
surroundings were open and
the sound could not echo.It is good that there are Phataks at that place now.

When the sun rises at 1 pm.

There are days in the winter season when the visibility is only a few
meters.It is due to fog.This year it was less fog in the month of
December.Today morning it was quite foggy.It is quite risky to drive
these days.People eat Pinnies(the energy balls) or a similar thing
called Panjiri.It may be good to fight the cold but is quite heavy for
the heart.

There is hardly a place where it does not ring in Punjab

At bhog it rings.People attend when it rings at a crematorium or in
the middle of the Ardas.During Hukamnama it rings and it rings during
a bath.It rings for the granthis,for the oldies and ladies ,girls and
the boys for me and for you.What maximum we can do is to put it in a
silent mode.Switch it off,perhaps,we can never do come what may.At The
Golden temple there are jammers for it.Where else it is so I know not
but on our own switch it off we cannot.Let us declare that the world
is addicted to the rings rings and rings.

The Punjabi complex

Whereas the Punjabis have a rare gift of Gurbani there is much
adultration in the language. Can we be proud of Punjabi?Probably 20%of
the language is made up of abuses.The chances of you being addressed
as Sardarji are very high outside Punjab.In Punjab it would almost be
a surprise if you are addressed with ji.Polite language seems
not to be a part of Punjabi culture.There are Gurudwaras all around
reciting Gurbani but the ears appear to have become deaf.I feel that
it is only an illusion that other places are better.They may actually
be worse.When we are away from Punjab we miss it.We miss the frankness
of Punjabi.However when we live here we do not value it.Good or bad it
is ours.The tongue speaks what is there in the mind.Are our minds
polluted?

A Senior Sec. CBSE school in Jagraon

GHG Academy Jagraon is,perhaps,doing a good job to promote Sikhi and
education at the same time.Earlier there was a senior secondary school
of cbse board at village Sidhwan Khurd at some distance from
Jagraon.Now it is good that we have that facility in Jagraon itself.

Wrist watches are facing extinction

Very few people in the town are wearing the wrist watches.I don't know
how are the watch makers are making a living these days.It seems that
Malhotra watch makers have very successfully switched over to the
business of mobile phones.

Carrot

In my town Carrot is Rs15per Kg whereas apples are more than Rs50
perkg.Nourishment wise they are,perhaps,almost equal.Therefore go for
the carrots and be healthy.

The alarm bell

The alarm bell of many in Jagraon and the adjoining villages is the
Public address system of the neighbouring Gurudwara.Sometimes the
Gurudwara speaker does not work and the people forget to get up.This
happens sometimes when I go to the villages to provide the early
morning tuition to the group of students.The early morning walk for
many is to go to the Gurudwara after taking a bath.

Season of golden sunshine and saag

Now that the smoke of the paddy straw has settled soothing and nectar
like sunny afternoons are being enjoyed by the people of
Jagraon.Moreover the people are enjoying the wonder dish called saag.A
lot of thanks to God for providing the priceless gifts of sunshine and
saag to the people of Jagraon.

Christian cemetery

Christian community is not much visible in Jagraon.However there is a
Sacred Heart School which is run by them.It is one of the leading
Schools of Jagraon.At a little distance from the Church is the
Christian cemetery.It is providing a green Patch to the busy Tehsil
road.

A visit to the Jain temple

The Jains are a strong community in Jagraon.Several institutions are
being run by this community.They include Swami Roopchand Jain
school,Sanmati Vimal Jain schoo,Anuvrat Jain school,Mahapragya
school.A hospital named Swami Roop Chand charitable hospital is about
to function.The construction work is near copletion.There is a very
well maintaine Jain temple near the Bus Stand which is dedicated to
the Jain saint Swami Roop Chand.When I visited the temple I asked a
turbuned security guard if I could take a photograph.He refused and on
being asked he told that I could visit the temple but without taking
much time.The temple is at the centre of a well maintained garden.

Bandhs a bit too frequent in Punjab

It is Punjab Bandh today.Bandh is quite frequent in Punjab these
day.Almost every month there is a bandh.It would be fine if the Bandh
days be fixed.In this way one can plan to enjoy it thoroughly.Like
weekly holidays,the Sundays,there should be one monthly Bandh day.In
that case I could have wished you a happy monthly bandh day.

Turbans not much in fashion nowadays

The youth of Punjab are fast giving up the turbans.Many do not even
use a comb.They often applly gel and straighten their hair and make
them appear like a broom.

Why not Akharae wali Nahaer near Jagraon

There was a time when peopll threw the mortal remains at Hardwar in
the Ganga.After that the Sikhs started immersing that at Kiratpur
Sahib.Since the flowing water at Kiratpur is quite less ,probably due
to the nearby canals,people immerse the mortal remains at one of the
several places that include canal near Katani Sahib,canal near
Patiala,Hari ke Pattan,Canal near Babbanpur.There is a fairly big
canal near Jagraon where I live with an adjoinin Gurudwara.I am not
sure if people are using it for immersing the mortal remains.I see no
harm as a lot of time is saved and perhaps the only purpose behind
these activities is merely to erase the memories of the deadones from
our minds.WJKKWJKF

No No Tata Nano

Even after a great publicity there is no Nano visible in Punjab.The
apt name of Tata Nano can be Tata NoNo.

The sixth river

Guess which is the sixth river of Punjab?Perhaps you might be
knowing.Yes, it is wine.The marriage season has started and it flows
like the waters of river Satluj in the marriage palaces.College
students often mix up with the crowd and take bath in this river for
free.Sometimes a person may be over and while going home may lose his
life on the roads.Roads of Punjab are cruel.Be careful when you take
bath in the sixth river next time.

The most common bird of Punjab is vanishing.

The most common little bird of the countryside is vanishing fast.It is
a clear indication of the deteriorating condition of the
environment.In Punjab, one may see crows,pigeons or some other strange
looking birds but,perhaps,not a sparrow which was once such a common
bird.

Everyone has it

People of Jagraon are very fond of mobiles.Kids have them.So do the
labourers.A teenager might even be having two.Not surprising if he has
given one to his girlfriend.So, early exposure to pornography is not
uncommon.The whole of Punjab has become like a village.At the same
time the farmhouses and other isolated houses have become
safer.Nevertheless criminals too coordinate in a better way.

All is well without a Well

Most of the well to do or the average households of Punjab own the
submersible pumps.Even the handpumps are rarely seen.Since the water
supply and the severage is managed by the houses at their own
level,people do not mind owning a house a little away from the main
town or a village.All seems well without Wells.

Fast food Junction

Fast food is really bad for health. Guess which is the fast food
Junction in Jagraon.It is the Rani Jhansi Chowk.The boys who go to the
gym stop here for the Soya products.AlooTikki,Gol
guppas,Noodles,Burgers,Manchurian,Masala dosa,Paneer
Pakodas,Chicken,Chicken soup etc can be had here and that too at quite
reasonable rates.But never forget that fast food is fat food and is
very unreasonable for the health in general and heart in particular.

Work at a government office

I am standing in the queue for the last seven minutes to pay the
electricity bill.I am probably the fifteenth person in the
queue.Chances are that it may take one hour or so.I am standing in the
queue and punching the buttons to put this experience on the
blog.There are chances that the counter may close before my turn
comes.In spite of the computers it takes so much time in the
government offices.
*** *** ***
Twenty minutes later the queue has not even reached the half way.
*** *** ***
The process has caught speed as the lazy clerk has been replaced by
the two active ones.Two men and a computer are at work now. *** ***
*** At last it is over in 35 minutes.Thank God

A simple house verses a Kothi

Every third or fourth house in a village is a Kothi.Earlier the
Punjabi's lived in simple houses.Such houses could be easily divided
among the brothers.In case of a Kothi one finds two main
difficulties.First is that division of property becomes difficult.The
second main problem is that when the street is elevated it becomes
difficult to elevate the roofs of a Kothi.

Popularity of IELTS institutes

For some time the IELTS institutes were doing a brisk business.However
the popularity of these coaching centres has seen a downward trend
recently.The reason is that some countries like UK have started
issuing Visas to the Indian students without IELTS.The
feedback,however,is that the life of an Indian Student in UK is quite
tough indeed.Foreign land is by no means a bed of roses.

Whereas one onehand the land of Punjab is known for Gurbani that
delivers nectar in the music,these days there is music that contains
poison.It seems that a music cassette does not become a hit unless it
is engulfed in somecontroversy.Recently a Pop singer of Punjab
indulged in slandering a famous Keeratania objecting to his possessing
a car.His cassette is a hit.This indicates several things.The taste
for music in Punjab seems to have gone a few notch lower.It also
indicates how much the Punjabi Sikhs in Punjab rever the Gurmukhs
anymore.Yot might have,perhaps,guessed by now that the pop singer is
Babbu Mann and the keertania is Sant Dhanderian Wale.

The road that leads to the foreign lands.

One may say that the Tehsil road leads to nowhere as the railway
bridge is underconstruction.But this is the road that leads to the
foreign countries as there several IELETS coaching centres on this
road.Looking at the number of IELTS centres the apt name of this road
could be the IELTS road.

Rude on the road

While the bridge that is underconstruction has become a headache for
the residents, the people people behave rudly to others when ever
there is chaos due to the traffic Jam.The car owners do not think
twice before passing an ugly comment to the two wheeler riders.When a
car owner behaves rudely with the motorcyclists he reveals his
poverty.A truely rich wouldn't perhaps be rude to a humble owner of a
small vehicle.
*********
The Principal of the GHG Academy has asked the students to remain
absent from the school in case they have common cold.The swine flew is
causing all the panic.The students have started buying masks.

Even the lanes are not safe

It is often said that more people die on the roads than the battle
field.Yesterday an accident of a serious nature occured in the lanes
of Punjabi Bagh where a motorcyclist got injuries on the head.

Smoke not over yet

People of Jagraon have not been able to breathe properly for the past
several weeks.The Paddy straw is being burnt in the fields.It may take
some more days as all of it has not been done away with yet.

A Village called Dholan

Dholan is a village that is at a distance of twelve kilometers from
Jagraon.There are a good number of Rajput Sikhs in this
village.Besides agriculture the village is known for its electricians
and the transporters.It was perhaps due to the influence of Sant Fateh
Singhji that a large number of the villagers got employed in the
Punjab electricity board.Dholan is a village where hockey is still
popular among the youth.Recently Government High School Dholan
arranged an educational trip for the students.It was a trip to the
city beautiful.The students saw various places at Chandigarh.Rock
garden ,the sports stadium,museum and the market of sec 17 were among
the places that the students visited.The children were extremely happy
as they rarely get a chance to visit such places. Recently the school
participated in the science and the Maths quiz and secured the ninth
position.The copetition was held at Government Senior Secondary School
Jagraon.

Good bye to the simple past.

What did not change in the past several centuries changed in the past
few years.It is all God's will.All must have been for good.Perhaps it
is the time to say good bye to the simple village life.

The left overs

Brain drain was a problem in India even decades ago.But now the matter
has acquired a funny dimension especialy in Punjab.Almost every person
with even an average IQ has left Punjab.Youth with good looks have
been married to NRI guys.Many have left and remaining are waiting for
there turn to leave.A person who is staying back here is not
considered smart enough. Imagine who are the left overs.Perhaps you
might have guessed.Morons,the half wits and the near donkeys.A specie
that resembles homosapiens but has the wit of a buffallow.When a
person comes from a foreign country he finds every thing either
shocking or laughable.Now what is my position.It is said that in a
country of blind a one eyed man is considered a King.Yes,I am
considered a sholar over here,a rare genius.Once I went to an
institute that teaches English.The owner remarked 'Why are you here in
India when you can speak English so well'.Never the less people at
this place live a life King Size.An average house in a village has 5
phones,cable connection,one motorcycle and often a car as well.Sofa
sets,English toilets.gysers and lpg cylinders have been in use since
long.Many own computers.People enjoy the best of both the
worlds.Inspite of that every Punjabi is waiting in a queue to board a
plane to a foreign country.

Omission and commisson

A road has been constructed at a place where there used to be a branch
of the irrigation canal(it is called Sooa in Punjabi).This land being
in red tape is unable to get developed.However due to the influence of
some real estate agents a 9 foot road has been constructed that
connects the Tehsil road and the Mandi road.This road has provided a
good access to the Royal city which is otherwise very narrowly
connected with the GT road from the other side.Therefore it is not
difficult to guess the beneficiaries of this act of omission and
commission.

Racism thrust upon dogs in the land of the Gurus

The Humble me.I am hired by parents to teach their children at their
houses.Sometimes I observe strange things at their houses which are in
the villages.Villagers prepare the dinner at around 7 pm.The first
freshly baked large and well buttered Chappatis are served to a street
dog.Not just any dog.Only a dog that is jet black in colour.I don't
know what the other dogs in the street might be feeling.What a strange
discrimination based on colour in the land of the Gurus !!!

Drain affecting the prices of the real estate.

The drain or the Saem as it is called in Punjabi passes through the
Kothe Sherjung.It is affecting the prices of the property at Kothe
Sherjung,Kothe Baggu , Kothe Jeevae and the newly made colonies near
the truck union.

Satluj Nagar

A beautiful colony Satluj Nagar is coming up on the Sidhwan Bet
road.The prices at this place are expected to witness a sharp rise
after the bridge at the Tehsil road starts functioning.

New branch of SBI

The new branch of SBI at GTroad near Sherpura Chowk has made banking a
pleasure for the residents of Kothe Sherjung,Kothe Baggu,Kothe
Fatehdeeen,Kothe Jevae,Royal city and the residents of Sherpura Chowk
Mandi Road.

Narrow road to the Royal City.

Royal City is perhaps one of the best colonies of Jagraon but the road
that connects it to the GTroad is a rather narrow one.

Sach Shopping complex

Sach Shopping Complex is coming up at Sherpura Chowk.There is no round
about here but this area has become important for business activity.It
is famous for the Hero Honda Showroom.It is a fairly big market for
the sale and purchase of second hand two wheelers.There are several
Auto financers like Gill and Khela.Recently several new Shops have
come up,Sidhu Verka dairy being one of them.SBI branch and its ATM
facility has added more importance to
this area which connects the GT road to the new grain market.

Beautiful but nothing

Jagraon needed a flyover at the railway crossing at Tehsil road.The
flyover has been underconstruction for a long time now. It seems to be
an abondened project.It is incomlete as the middle portion which
is to go over the railway tracks is missing.The construction site has
even choked the little movement of traffic that was possible
earlier.As is common with we Indians time has come that we start invoking the divine intervention to get the things fixed.The MLA and the MP must be among the first to be invited to the Pooja.

A guest verses a host

If I am not wrong the best quality of Carbohydrates are in bananas or other fresh fruit.Second best are the potatoes.Refined sugar has no nourirshment and only calories.I was hired as a private tutor in
a village named Sherpura.I was offered milk.I accepted with reluctance and pleaded the lady of the house to give me sugarless milk next time.But after two or three days she again added sugar.May be she wanted that I might discontinue accepting the milk.I surely did.I told her that I was dieting.Moral is that when in India tell to your hosts that you are dieting or allow your body to get spoilt by the junk carbohydrate.

Would you have tea?

Addiction can be defined as a habit of consuming things which lack nourishment and are habit forming.Somethings are habit forming because of the intoxication they provide by triggering the body system.However somethings are habit forming just because they bring a sudden change in the energy level of the body.Refined Sugar is the best example of this type of substance.So,if refined sugar is also considered addictive then perhaps the whole world is addicted.While the people of Punjab are addicted to alcohol and other intoxicants,tea with a heavy dose of sugar is simply inescapable in Jagraon.If you happen to pass by anybody's gate who is even distantly known perhaps you may hear him offering you tea.The famous sentence is' Chaa Peeaea' which means may we offer you tea'. If you are a guest tea is thrust upon you and ultimately you too become an addict of not one but two things namely tea and sugar.If you are a religious person you
would get an overdose of Prashad which is extra rich in sugar.I do not know how far is it right to serve tea in the langar halls.Can it not be replaced by vegetable soups. It is high time the Prasad be changed into nuts or fruit keeping in view the changing life styles.At Nanaksar near Jagraon there is a trend of offering 'Misri' as Prasad which is extra refined sugar.It is perhaps not without a reason that the world is becoming diabetic.

Sikhs being milked in La Royal Style

When you wish a thing to be coveted make it diffiiult to attain-It was the moral of the famous story of Tom Sawyer written by Mark Twain.This Principle is being used by the universities of Australia,Canada and some other countries to milk the youth of Punjab.A student is required to clear International English language testing system.The rural youth in Punjab find it quite difficult to clear.They are given admission by some Roadside universities in some funny courses by asking them to clear some hurdles.The gulliable youth consider it as a prized possession.They are taken for a huu...ge ride.They toil for years,earn in dollars only to pay their fee.There can be a few reasons for this.Due to the British rule over India the rural folk have developed a sort of inferiority complex.Secondly there might be some genetic factor that makes a Sikh too eager to fly.Otherwise why are the youth more than willing to get milked La Royal Style?

Jagraon bridge

Jagraon railway bridge is under construction for a long time now.The work has come to a standstill.What a headache!

15 August and the chai-pani(bribery)trend

It is a bit cool and windy today.It was 15 Aug 1947 when the partition took place.It is said that it rained heavily that day.The cool evening wind is a relief from the punishing heat of the summer but at the same time it seems to be telling a story from the history.Perhaps a sad story.Today I paid Rs 50 to the neighbour for getting the electric wire of our houses from the desired side.I had promised him to share the chai-pani expenses that he would give to the department workers.Chai-pani is the other word for bribe and it means tea and water expenses.He may or may not have given anything but I had to keep the promise.Bribe is perhaps a very normal thing in Punjab.

Foreign bug

People of Jagraon are crazy to fly to a foreign country.IELTS is a new route to get foreign visa.Girls who can write an essay on my best friend want to clear this international English test and go abroad.Every boy and girl dreams to marry an NRI and settle abroad.