Ulamba

Ulamba is a Punjabi word.It is a gentleman's way of lodging a
complaint.It is supposedly unloaded on the receiver's head.It is
delivered just like passing of load from one person to the other.When
I was small scene such as this was quite common.
A lady enters your house. You ask her to sit. She refuses.She says she
has come to give Ulamba.She delivers and places Ulamba on your head
and walks away feeling light at head and heart.The Ulamba could be
regarding a child of your house troubling them.
In Gurbani this word is mentioned as Ulahna.'Ulahno maein kahoon na
deeyo.man meeth tuharo keeyo'(I do not blame anybody.Sweet is what you
do).In SGGS there is a bani'titled Ulahanya.The theme of this Bani is
yet to be sought by me.

Family case

It is a common phrase in Punjab.It means that the whole family is
awaiting Canadian or American visa.Children of such families never
quit studies as they have to be shown as dependents.Demography of
Punjab is changing with each passing day.When an NRI visits Punjab he
gets a cultural shock as he finds things quite contrary to his
expectations.

Burri Nazar(The evil glance)

If one enters a shop in Jagraon one can note green chilies and lemon
hung at the entrance.This is to ward of Burri Nazar(evil look).The
chillies and the lemon indicate that the owner wishes to put green
chillies and lemon juice into the eyes of a person who gives a jealous
look at his shop.People believe that a Burri Nazar(evil eye) can
pierce through even the rocks.For this reason they hang a black boot
at the front which may hang from the grill of the terrace.There is a
Nazar Pattu(the teasing devil)at the entrance to ward of the Burri
Nazar(evil eye). Generally it is painted on a small earthen port and
hung.People prefer to paint the front gates in black colour.On the
back of the trucks it is written Burri Nazar wale tera moonh kala(May
the face of a person casting evil looks be blackened).A black ribbon
or a black dori(thin rope) is tied to a new vehicle some hang an old
boot or draw the same on the rear of their truck.Some parents name
their sons Kala(The black)so that the son does not suffer due to any
Burri Nazar.However the Gurmukhs write Satnam Waheguru at their gates.

Police Police

A few days ago a policeman stopped me at the Sherpura Chowk Jagraon
while I was going to Sherpura at 7.30 pm.I told him that I lived near
the Chowk.He noted my name motorcycle registration No.,mobile phone
No.,address,father's name and let me go.Yesterday I was coming from
Sherpura at around 8.30 pm and again I was stopped by a policeman.I
told him that I lived near Sherpura Chowk itself and he let me go.Now
it is easy to guess why people never moved out after sunset during the
days of militancy.

Langar in the whole month of Maagh at Akhare wali Canal

It becomes easy for the poor in the month of Maagh as there is langar at several places.Akhare wali Naher is one such place where there is Langar for the whole of the month of Maagh.Akhand Path is done along side for the whole month.Langar is prepared at a very large level.Langar is delicious and mainly the poor people relish it.

Warm clothes being given to students in the month of Maagh

Some teachers of Dholan school pooled in money at personal level and gave warm clothes to the poor students.After all it is the month of Maagh.

Free meals at Government schools

One thing wonderful that the central government is doing is the free midday meals that they provide to the government school students.Would they grow up into good citizens or not is a different matter though.

Murga

This is a special type of punishment which is common in the government schools.The students are asked to hold their ears by bringing their hands from under their thighs.In this way they look like a cock and hence they are called a Murga.

College of delearning

Do the students go to the colleges to learn anything?Not
exactly.Infact, they unlearn whatever they learnt earlier if at all
anything at schools.In the colleges a bully pastes a notice claiming
that he is the president.There is a fight if some other bully tears
that notice.Recently there was a murder of two students in jagraon
allegedly due to similar reasons.These two students were shot dead
when they were riding on a motorcycle near the Jagraon round about.

Neck tie and the modern education

Earlier students were asked to wear a tie even in the summer season.I remember when I pointed this out to the principal of the DAV school Jagraon.It is good that nowadays children have to wear neck tie only in the winters.It is noteworthy that the government schools never make a tie compulsory.There was a time when Kurta Pajama and turban was the school uniform in the government schools.