A writing on the wall

When the Octroi got abolished in my town it left scores of young people out of work. With the advent of mobile phones scores of families got affected as all the PCOs of the town were closed. When the ATMs and the computers got introduced in the banks of Jagraon the staff of the banks got reduced to one fourth. This, probably, affected fifty families even if we assume that each bank in the town shunted three clerks. Then came the Mall called Easyday, which hit hard the grocery stores of the town. Roughly this mall must have caused the closure of twelve grocery stores. The construction workers lost work as the construction work slowed down due to the scarcity of sand and gravel. Now let us talk about the watch makers of the town. As the watches eloped from the wrists of the people due to mobile phones, all the shops dealing with watches were pushed to the tight corners. When the personal computers were becoming popular a few people invested their time and money dealing with computers and its accessaries. But when smart phones started doing almost all what a PC could do, it hit these computer dealers on the nose. Now photographers were also pushed to the brink as most phones could shoot professional level pictures and videos. Since last year payment via Debit card has been allowed on the internet. Due to this buying things online has become common. This has affected the shops that deal in readymade clothes, shoes,kithchen ware, electronic items etc. It is obvious that when the trade activities reduce the state revenue also drops. That forces the government to tax its citizens harder in order to pay the salaries to its staff. That is exactly what the Punjab Government did. Property tax and house tax were introduced. Many industrialists fled due to the harsh tax policies introduced by the Akali-BJP government. That further aggravated the problem. Since the energy of the people in general and youth in paticular is not channelised the problems of drug abuse, crime, religious fundamentalism,etc is bound to witness a surge. The positive thing we can embark upon is that the people of my town are capable of adjusting to any type of situation how so ever grim it might be. The migration has increased manifold. The explosive situation is less dangerous due to the IELTS window that gives the youth a chance to sneak out of the country. Nevertheless the thing that the people of the town have started hating bitterly is the corruption and the inefficiency amongst the government employees. It is needless to say that the corrupt leaders would be thrown out of the political arena by the people very soon. It is a writng on the wall.

Thinking of Swaraj

Ideally in a democracy citizen is the king. Swaraj is his birth right. A civil servant is no more than a servant and a police officer is no more than a watchman. A  leader is just a representative of the citizen and no more than a clerk managing the finances of his boss, the common person of the town. A clerk in the municipality would never in his wildest dreams ever think about extorting money for a death certificate or a birth certificate by putting up a middle man like some owner of a photocoping shop outside the municipal committee office. The Patwari would behave just like a lower division clerk and so on. Afterall the citizen pays them from his pocket. Red tapism would become extinct. Genuine work would be as simple as withdrawing money from an ATM. We the citizens of the country should strive persistently to achieve an ideal swaraj. It might be difficult but not impossible.

Memorandum to the election comissioner Mr VS Sampath

Sir,
Elections in a democracy ought to be a kind of national festival. I wished to give some joy to my old mother by making her take part in the elections. But the callous attitude of the electoral staff has deprived her of the feeling of being a proud citizen of the nation. My mother's voter card number is HGH2241248. Her name was excluded from the voter's list without any valid reason. The election comission's Android app didnot show her records but they didnot show my record aswell although my name was there in the list (My voter card No is HGH2242816). Since the Android app did not show anyone's name, I thought it to be semi functional as most of the things of our system usually are. From the booth I was directed to the office of Ms Apneet Riyat (SDM Jagraon). She talked to the DC Ludhiana and informed me that she was helpless. She directed me to complain to the electoral office Chandigarh. I contacted Electoral office Chandigarh via landline numbers 0172-2724037 and 0172-2704779. From there I was directed to the mobile phone number of Sh Harpal Singh(9872659437). He said that nothing could be done. From him I got the number of additional chief electoral officer Punjab(Sh Raminder Singh IAS ;mobile no 9417604198). He said that he could not help either. On being asked the contact details of his senior, he asked me to check from the web site of the election comission of India or from tel no. 1950. I checked the website and found scores of numbers written there. I contacted the main number of Nirvachan Sadan but could not get any response. I had no option but to give up my chase. Most humbly and with due respect I wish to say that the fundamental right of a senior citizen who is suffering from cancer has been trampled by the callous attitude of the electoral staff.
Humbly.
Kamaljit Singh Gill

Whatsapp is replacing conventional media in Jagraon

The pressing of a button on the voting machine on 30th April would create news. It would remain preserved for a fortnight or so. After that there would be a mega news explosion which is quite likely to leave the whole nation in a state of orgasm. One thing that has definitely emerged stronger out of this political festival is the social media like Whatsapp. This smartphone application along with facebook is greatly responsible for changing the tide of the politics in Punjab. In merely two months the political equation of Ludhiana has changed beyond imagination. It has particularly worked in favour of the Aam Admi Party. But some messages are downright vulgar. Some religious fundamenalists are also spoiling the show. The party leaders must instruct their workers to refrain from posting matter pertaining to religious fundamentalism, personal lives of leaders or vulgarity. Such hate messages and slander campaigns harm the same very leader who is being canvassed.

Left wing approach vs right wing approach

Leftist movements like Maoism or Nexalism take birth when there develops a huge gap between the rich and the poor. The rich refuse to share anything with the poor. Once the leftists take over the stage, there occurs widescale violence and plundering whereby the rich tend to lose almost everything. Guru Nanak's principle of sharing food prevents extreme left like conditions (seen in states like West Bengal and Jharkhand) to develop. The 'atta dal' scheme for the poor started by the Punjab government, as such, is not a bad idea. However, If such benefit is given permanently, the poor people might tend to procreate at a faster rate and hence the situation might not change at all or may worsen even further. Also such offerings can make the population unduely lazy and hence unfit for survival. Therefore the best option for any government is to lay more focus on quality education and creating job opportunities rather than providing 'atta dal' at throw away prices to the poor section of the society. Aam Admi Party is flexibile regarding its ideology.
Right wing parties are those which support the rich whereas the left wing parties favour the labour class. The main stream parties adopt a midway approach. Aam Admi Party, as claimed by its leaders is not married to any ideology. They say 'If we find solution from the left, we would go for it and also if we find it from right we would seek it with equal interest.'

Whatsapp washing the dirt of the politicians

There are two types of people in my town. First are those who use WhatsApp messaging services and the second are those who can't use it for one reason or the other. The second group consists mainly of old people, computer illiterates and small children. There is a wide gap between the people of these two groups. While the Whatsapp smart can bring revolutions with their finger tips, the Whatsapp ignorant can only gape with astonishment the fast changes occurring around them. The most recent example is the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. The traditional leaders were unaware of the power of Whatsapp till now and perhaps, they would learn it in a hard way by losing vote count. At the same time it has been found that while venting out their emotions people often resort to slandering and propogating hate messages. It is well known that slander campaigns and ugly jokes often turnout to be beneficial for those against whom they are targetted. It is because such hatred and slander generates a sympathy wave. Social media can yield positive results only if there are healthy discussions. No accusation ought to be made withot substantial base. Their is a belief in my country that a slanderer virtually washes the clothes of the person whom he slanders (Nindak hamre kapre thove- Kabir). May be it is due to this very reason that the politicians are dressed in such sparkling white clothes!

Impressive road show by AamAdmi Party at Ludhiana

All the party workers gathered at Jagraon office. First we went through the main roads of Jagraon on motorcycles shouting party slogans. Then we started for Ludhiana. There was a massive crowd at Ludhiana to have a glimpse of
Arvind Kejriwal. From our
vehicles we waved at the
Ludhianvis seeking support
from them and as a pleasant
surprise ninty nine percent of them waved back asuaring full support for the Aam Admi Party. The road show was remarkable indeed. The brief
speech of Arvind Kejriwal
struck cord with the crowd.
He has certainly become an
undisputed leader of the
masses.

Youth of Sherpura Khurd Pledge support to Aam Admi Party

Visited Sherpura Khurd with Baba Nand and another party worker. It was a religious function and most of the eminent villagers were present in the house of Sardar Saudagar Singh Garewal. The gathering at that place received us with affection that is shown only to the family members. The visit was indeed very satisfactory as the youth have pledged their support to us. Back at the election office met Sardar Gurbinder Singh Kang and Yuvi Phoolka (cousin and nephew of Sardar HS Phoolka). Found them very gentle and down to earth.

The awe inspiring ribbon of Aam Admi Party

The ribbon of AAM ADMI party that we wear around the turban or the forehead is awe inspiring. We went to a social function and met some eminent personalities. Men shook hands with us with a lot of enthusiasm. We were four party workers including Jasmail Singh Sidhu of Rasulpur (Puppa Rasulpuri), Waheguru Pal Singh and Numberdar of Malha village. We were overwhelmed as well as humbled by the respect, attention and affection of the crowd. The credit goes to the ribbon of the Aam Admi Party.
Tireless Party worker Jasmail Singh Sidhu  (Puppa Rasoolpuri) wears the adorable ribbon of the Aam Admi Party

Phukra

Phukra is a slang in this part of Punjab. It denotes a person who shows off unduely. The act of showing off is called Phukri marna. A phukra is, basically, a lier. He tries to show what he is actually not. Usually a person on a Bullet is a typical Phukra. He would own and ride it burning the expensive fuel despite his parents difficulty in making both ends meet.Another major sign is the piercing of one ear. Normally a Punjabi Phukra with one ear pierced might have a slightly higher IQ than a person who is a confirmed retard. In his defence a Phukra usually says 'Phukri marn wastae hi hundi hai'(Showing off is ofcourse meant for showing off). They alone know what that means.

The bare legs of a Sofa - A short story

'Why not use this holiday for some productive activity that could provide an enriching experience as well?' thought the professor. It was early in the morning. The morning in January is quite cold in the Jagraon. He covered his head with a yellow turban. He tied it in a round shape so that nobody could recognise him. He tied a piece of cloth around his waist to be in a sort of disguise. He picked up all the oranges that he purchased from the wholesale market. While lifting a sack of oranges in the right arm and having a folded mat in the armpit he waited for a train to reach Buggipura bypass near Moga. He could have very well sold the oranges in Jagraon itself but he was ashamed lest someone should watch him doing this petty roadside business. Moga is thirty five kilometers from Jagraon and nobody would recognise him there. Moreover he was now dressed as a humble Sikh.
A baby started crying in the arms of her mother in the running train.The mother wrapped herself gracefully and started breastfeeding the child. The baby calmed down. There was silence in the compartment. Only the ordinary running noise of the train was there. The trees and the green fields seem to be running backwards in the moving train. However the distant trees seemed to run along the train. Perhaps a sort of illusion. When it reached at Nanaksar the young lady with the baby got down. A man wearing a lot of rosaries on his neck started a conversation. He started telling a story which went on somewhat like this :- Once upon a time a lover was desperate to win the love of his dreamgirl. He came across a holy tree that could speak. The speaking tree said to the young man ''In your previous incarnation you yearned to fondle the bosom of a girl of tender age. A person of your age could have had a daughter of her age but you were blinded by lust. Your wish was fulfilled but in a different way. You died in an accident and your soul transmigrated into the womb of the girl whose cleavage you looked at stealthily and lecherously. You got what you desired. You sucked her breast as a baby in the present birth. Now why don't you rise above lust? Why do you wish to restart the cycle of life and death all over again? So silly of you!''. The man in saffron clothes and rosaries around his neck took a pause as the train halted at a station.
Another gentleman with a short moustache and a long beard said.''Are the men to be blamed for all the problem? The women communicate by partially exposing their bosom every now and then. They try to lure men and gain their attention. A major part of their seductive prowess lies in the cleavage of their bosoms. Every minute they transmit signals through them. It is not merely bosom. It is their arsenal as well. That is why in our culture we ask them to remain fully covered with a veil.''
A man dressed in perfectly white clothes added,''If you do not have a control on your eyes nothing can work. Why blame anyone when the control mechanism is weak? In our culture meat and other concentrated food items are not allowed.They are an hinderance in the proper functioning of the control system. If the food eaten is pure even total nudity would not corrupt a person's mind.''
In the end the professor said,''It all depends on the way one is accustomed to. The things would not go utterly bad if our actions are guided by truth.There was a society a few centuries ago. In that society women folk remained covered from head to toe.The men folk were not accustomed to seeing anything bare.They could get seducted even by the bare legs of a Sofa. So they started clothing even the legs of the Sofa''
At Mehna an elderly women in her late seventies came and sat in the apartment. She had a Serenity on her face and piosity in her manners. All the men fell silent as though their wisdom had evaporated all of a sudden.
The train stopped near Buggipura bypass. The professor got down the train to try out his experiment of selling the oranges. The sunshine was soothing. He spread his mat and on the mat spread the oranges.'Two oranges for ten rupees'. He would speakout loudly the rate whenever somebody asked the price.Travellers got down from the long route buses and while waiting for the three wheelers they bought the oranges from him. Across the road there were green fields offering a feast to the eyes. At noon he relished the lunchpack that he had brought from his home. By 2PM he sold all the oranges and came back home.

Be aware of Mobile Frauds

Today I got a miss call at 10:11am from +923434993753.Since I was curious,I called back.The person over there said he was calling from Airtel N Delhi.I asked them to drop the call and call from there number.It was a call of 18 seconds but Rs 9.25 were deducted from my account.This is very unfair.Kindly look into the matter and do the needful. Regards Kamaljit Singh
They replied like this---
Dear Kamaljit Singh , Thank you for writing to airtel. With reference to your e-mail dated 07/12/2010, you have expressed concern regarding wrong charging for your airtel mobile number 9878771449. We understand that the receipt of such calls must have inconvenienced you. We would like to inform you that +923434993753 call is from Pakistan.As per the ISD tariff balance deducted. Airtel does not operate in Pakistan and is not running any promotional campaign offering cash prize to the user in the form of a lottery as of now. Also, several complaints of similar nature have been reported to CBI/CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) for further verification and we are constantly following up with them for the progress updates. However, to safeguard our customer interest, we always try to educate our customers on frauds of this nature through SMS, Bills and Our website. We would urge you to safeguard your personal details. Please find the link below of our website where details of some common frauds have been reported and how to safeguard against them:http:// www.airtel.in/fraudAlert/ fraudalert.html. For further assistance, mail us at 121@ airtelindia.com. We thank you and value your association with airtel. Yours Sincerely, Sangeetha P Customer Care Bharti Airtel Limited

Sent from my Nokia phone

Counterfeit currency in circulation

It could convince me only 20% that the 500 rupees note could be counterfeit.I received a telephone from my wife in the private institute where I teach.She said that it was a note that I had received as a fee for providing private tuitions.It could not be ascertained as to who paid that note to me.My wife had gone to pay the electricity bill and the note was rejected.''The rejection could be because of the arrogant nature of the clerks''I thought.In Punjab the Electicity is owned by the state government and the clercks in such departments are no less than the government itself.When I came home my son asserted that the note was indeed counterfeit.Now my belief grew by 10%.Thirty percent of my mind started believing the story of the fake note.''This boy loves to think negative''I thought to myself.The note was with my mother who lives across the road.She had promised to pass it on to someone as genuine.She wanted to pay my younger son 5 notes of Rs 100.I did not like the idea as it would amount to cheating.Then my wife asserted that the note was fake.My belief grew by 10% more.''Ladies ought to think positive''I thought.Sixty percent of my mind still believed that the note was genuine.My son brought the note and showed me the defects in it.Eighty % of my mind started believing that the note was counterfeit.It was dark by now and I wanted to go to the Petrol Pump for refilling the petrol.I desired to keep another note of 500 should the note get rejected again.I dropped the idea as it could possibly lower the image of a Sikh who has a flowing beard.We decided to dispose of the note.Just then I and my elder son spotted another defect in the note.This time I was cent percent sure that the note was counterfeit.In Punjab people throw notes at the boys and girls who dance at a marriage function.Marriage season is approaching and my wife wanted to preserve the note for that purpose.I and my son had our say.We disected the note to study the trick.It was cleverly made by pasting two thin papers back to back.After studying the trick we burnt the note.I advised my sons that they should remain truthful in life.Did I suffer the loss?Not at all.I adjusted the money from the 'Daswand Golak'(One tenth amount meant for charity)that I keep.A moral lesson was sent across to my children.It was an extra profit.We all learnt how to verify a true note.This was an added bonus.I did not complain any of my students regarding it as my loss was adjusted.Moreover when they come to me their tensions ought to be reduced and not multiplied.

One earns a lot of vices by ego inflation due to caste

Guruji says 'jaat ka garb na keeje moorakh gavaara is garaab te
khatiye bahut vikara'(Take not pride in your caste o fool one earns a
lot of vices due to this pride.Many Punjabi singers placed their caste
above Sikhi.Perhaps the Jatts started it.Now others are also not
lagging behind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zXYix_z0g&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-k-wyFgcRE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

May be it a healthy competition.Good or bad?????
Satnam Wahaguru

Stooping morality

'Par triya roop na pekhe netar'Sukhmani Sahib(sees not the beauty of
another's woman)
Seeing not the curves of anothers wife is a high moral.Since long I have
been hearing about wall jumping(kandhan tapna)for sex from my
students.It is horrifying.Some of my students claimed themself to be wall
jumpers and the problems they felt in their adventure.Such stories can
well create a sore in the ears due to their acidic nature.Due to
mobile phones wall jumping increased manifold as per my students.We
have agricultural land in Punjab but we remained outside
Punjab(Mumbai,N Delhi,NOIDA)till 1999.Untill then I could not even
imagine what is, perhaps, actually happening and becoming so frequent
in Punjab
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100820/punjab.htm#1
Who is at fault in this case?What should have any true Sikh
done?Anyhow it all gives a vomit like sensation.
There may be several factors behind this menace
1-Arousal due to porne matter in mobiles or elsewhere
2-Boys gifting mobile sets to their girlfriends
3-Marriage age going a bit too farther.
4-Sikh values diminishing
5-Drugs
'Kam Krodh nagar boh bariya'(World is full of lust and anger).
Satnam Waheguru

Some Punjabi sayings on beard

Darhi da aag vich sarrna(beard getting burnt in fire)It has been used in SGGSG as follows-
'Gariban ooper khinje darhi parbrahm sa agan meh Saarri'--(a person who oppresses the poor by an imposing beard,gets it burnt in fire by the almighty as a punishment).

(Darhi naal paer chaarrne)-To dust a persons feet with the beard.Long time ago I heard a Sakhi(religious story)in which there was a similar reference.In the story somebody(I think Guru Nanak Devji's son) asked Guru Ramdasji why he had such a long beard.Guruji said ''It is to dust your feet'''

Pio dee darhi dee laaj rakhna(to keep the honour of ones father's beard)-This is said to advise the young children especially girls to be careful about the father's honour.

Darhi de sharam karna(not to do any idiot like activity and remain concious about the beard)-This can be said to teenagers advising them to behave responsibly.

Darhi puttna(to uproot ones beard)-This is said in complete disregard for an elderly person.

Dharhi farhna(To hold a person responsible for anything wrong with utter disregard)

Chitti Dharhi wala(An elderly person)-This is not used openly but it denotes an elderly person.

Gith gith darhi hona(One having become mature)This is to taunt a person who behaves in an immature way inspite of having grown up.

Kuchar baeth ke Darhi munnana(To trim a person's beard while being a guest)
I heard this for the first and the last time in Punjabi movie 'jee aayan nu'.

Undarhia hona(a teenager who is immature)

Darhi da rulna(the beard not getting any regard)This is used when an elderly person is ignored and not listened to in a quarrel of the young.

Darhi tunnana-(to tie a beard)

Tunnee nalon munni changgi(It is better to cut the beard than tie it)-I heard that this used to be written on the walls in Punjab during the millitancy days to advise people not to cut the beard.

Darhi da Parkash karna(To let the beard glow)-This proveb is used by the people who tie the beard.They say this when they keep the beard flowing while doing Path(prayers)etc.

Over 90% of the youth in Punjab are hobbyless

I often ask my student jokingly how a new born baby girl in Punjab cry at birth.I make them laugh by telling them that they say Caaa------naaaa----daaa----while crying.All seem to have a desire to migrate to Canada.However,there are two ways of looking at a glass containing water.One way is to call it half empty.The other way is to call it half full.There are a few qualities in the girls from Punjab.They do not smoke.They do not drink.It is not a very good idea to talk about hobbies with a Punjabi youth.I feel; over 90% of the Punjabis are hobbyless.It could be because of the workload they have.One can try talking about the work they do.One may talk about the elders and their health.Talking about their NRI relatives and friends is a good idea.If a person is talking with a boy he may discuss the mobile'set they have.With girls one can try discussing the latest suit they have acquired or some latest jewellery.One can ask them their favourite bollywood actors.

The mirage epidemic

There is a mirage epidemic in Punjab.Everybody is out chasing the
golden stag(In Ramayana Ramchanderji chases the golden stag of
illusion and suffers).The foreign bug seem to have entered the water
and soil of Punjab.Going abroad on study basis is the latest
fever.What I often observe is a hunting process going on in Punjab for
an NRI groom or an NRI bride.Girls and boys who suffer abroad ought to
puncture the illusion bubble and save others.The problem is that when
an NRI visits Punjab he never portrays himself as a loser.He spends
lavishly over here for a few days and is thus able to uproot a dozen
or so innocent boys and girls.

Crude Survival index

Crude Survival Index is a simple formula developed by me.It provides a rough idea how life would be in a foreign country.It is meant to help the people who wish to migrate to the foreign lands from Punjab.It goes like this.CSI(crude survival index) of a country is the number of Samosas a person can purchase by the earnings of a single day and that number should be divided by 3 if it is not a his home country.It is because accomodation etc in a foreign country saps away a significant amount of earnings.Let us suppose the price of plain Samosa(fresh and hot) in Southhal (London)is 1pound.If a Punjabi clerk earns 80 pounds in a day in London then he can buy 80 Samosas and hence his CSI in Southall is 80 divided by 3 which is slightly more than 26.In Jagraon a plain Samosa from the best shop is for Rs6.A Clerk in Jagraon may easily earn Rs 200 in a day and hence his CSI is little above 33.This number need not be divided by 3 as it is assumed that he is a local.This tells that he would be a loser if he migrates to London.

I chose Samosa for the calculations because it involves manual labour as well as the material used.In many countries manual work is comparitavely costlier.

Satnam Waheguru.

A day among the villagers

The national census take place after 10 years.The duty has been alloted to the teachers of the government schools.My wife has also been alloted the duty.It is Sunday and I am accompanying her for the duty.We arrived at village Dholan on our Maruti car at 8:20AM.We parked our car at the house of one of wife's colleagues.She too had got this duty but in a different part of the village.This is the third house and we have already spent one and a half hour.The forms of census provided by the government are indeed very long.I drank butter milk in the first two houses.This house had a very posh toilet and bathroom.Two of their sons are in Australia.The grandfather of these boys lives in Canada.There was a ferocious dog in their house.I do not know much about the breeds of dogs but I guess it was German Shephered.
* * *
We refused any drink at the fourth house.At the fifth house we are being served butter milk.All these appear to be well to do Jatt families.This family,however lives in a house that belong to their relatives.Where do the relatives live?Do not know.
* * *
We visited a few poor families of Jatt(farmers).Seemed to be having very meagre incomes .We also went to a Jullajha Sikh family.They were forcing us to have tea but we refused as we had butter milk in the earlier houses.It is 12:06pm now.This family where we are now got a son after 5 daughters.They have donated one daughter to their relatives.Cheerful family.The girls are very well mannered and with smiling faces.My wife asked me to give Rs.100 to them as a shagun for their new baby son.The person used to drive the tempo(a huge three wheeler)for my wife and her colleagues.
* * *
In this house cable T V is showing in front of me.This is a big house.Generally the children of the houses know my wife as she is a teacher in the village.The children of well to do families do not study in the government schoolsThis is one such house.The man in this house doesn't seem to be welcoming us.He has asked us to sit down only half heartedly.He did not even offer us water.This man has studied upto seventh standard.May God bless him.This is the house that I mentioned earlier that did not offer us water.
* * *
The head members of most of the families cannot do signature.They put a thumb impression where signatures are needed.
* * *
First thing some houses ask is water and tea.They are welcoming in nature.The present house has offered us aerated drink.This one is a big Kothi.It is 2:10PM.I think I we have to remain without lunch today.Due to this reason I have accepted sweet drink today.Otherwise I avoid things which contain refined sugar.
* * God had planned our lunch.We got a call from the house of my wife's colleague where we had parked our car.We were served lunch at around 3PM.

Enduring power cuts

Some times I wonder how the developed nations are able to provide its
citizens an uninterrupted power supply.People never own an electric
generator set or an inverter in these countries.How the world managed
when there was no electicity?In Jagraon an eight hour power cut is a
normal thing in the hot summers.Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise
as the people remain in touch with the natural life.Anyhow one ought
to endure what cannot be cured.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Jat boys of Punjab

These boys are in a tuition class.Two of their companions have not
turned up due to one reason or the other.They are pursuing BA but are
really weak in English.Private tuitions are a fashion these days.These
boys love fun more than the studies.All of them love the game of
Kabbadi.They love going to gym for building their muscles.They learn
the central idea of an English poem with great great difficulty.

Dowry

In Punjab people do a plain talk.The girl side pose a simple question
like 'What is your demand?'It is a simple and straight forward
question.In Baniya families the boy's side plainly ask 'How much and
in what way are you planning to spend on your daughter's wedding?'.I
think if we can not eradicate dowry we must be straight forward and
honest in its transaction.Atleast there is truthfulness in that
marriage.Misunderstanding is also avoided.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Veg Food(writes Ishkaran Singh from middle east)

I gotto tell u this humorous incident. .

As you must have guessed middle east is not the best place food Veg food. .

The other day we had gone to this place "Steak House" for dinner . . .(
Steak means Beef , the *goras *with whom I went for dinner are mad for Beef
)

Judging by the name of the restaurant ( & the strict veg fellow I am)
without seeing the Menu card i asked the waiter if they had any veg food ,
he replied negative, saying that they only had Salads for me ..

Later when I opened the Menu Card I saw an item that appeared vegetarian to
which the waiter replied " Sir this is not Vegetarian as it is having MILK "
I almost broke the chair laughing ! !

The whole world is a home

The whole world is your home if you have an internet enabled mobile
phone.Twitter is a site which is quite suitable for the working
people.Orkut charms the youth and the children who have ample free
time.I follow HT Sikhnet and a few more people on twitter.I do not
know how to use it fully but I know the following things about it-
1-You should enter a few words after you sign in. It is some thing
like what you are doing or post a link to any of your recent blog
enteries.Keep seeing the tweets till you reach your previous tweet.
2-You are close to the people whom you wish to be close to without
even causing any disturbance.
Best way to blog
At blogspot,we can start a blog.By going to the settings we can
get a secret email address.We can always punch a few lines based on
our feelings and post it to our blog site by sending an email to the
secret email address.The link of this post can be tweeted after that.
And all this from a mobile phone.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Social Status

Social status of a person in Punjab has also become proportional to
the bands one gets in the IELTS examination. These bands are potent
enough to alter the marriage prospects of a person.A girl with more
bands may actually demand dowry from the boy or atleast ask the grooms
side to bear all the cost of marriage and also the cost of a foreign
ride which seems compulsory for every Punjabi for attaining
salvation.Flying Foreign may be hobby,fashion or need.But a person who
has no plans of flying foreign may not be able to find a partner for
marriage.Ha ha !WJKKWJKF

--
Sent from my mobile device

Health not in safe hands

Health in Punjab is at risk as PPSC commisson appoints the doctors
after taking bribes.Government has set up an inquiry as usual only to
bury the matter.The government is very cunning as it reserves 50%
marks for interviews.In this way there is a lot of scope for bribery.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100309/main7.htm
News of this type does not cause a ripple as the public has gotten
used to such a news.

Internet is becoming popular in Jagraon

The favourite site of the young people of Jagraon is orkut.com
Some boys visit sites that provides Punjabi songs.I would recommend
the people of Jagraon to visit
http://www.sikhnet.com/discussion/search.php?search_id=newposts Most
of the boys of affluent families have assess to internet.Porn sites
are having a negative affect on the young minds.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Guess any department more inefficient than the Passport office.

Terribly slow and thoroughly corrupt are the passport people.
1-Too much delay in receiving or sending documents in this age of
internet.Perhaps the guys over there are computer illiterates.
2-Status enquiry isn't updated on the web site regularly.Website is,
perhaps,only a showpiece.
3-The passport applications are received only upto 12 Noon.Why halfday
work and fullday salaries?
4-Bribe to the policeboys one must give.And we think only parasites
and Leeches suck blood.
5-It may take four months to get a passport issued.Look at the
efficiency when we have such fast means of communication.
Why not the old boys out there learn computers.

--
Sent from my mobile device

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.

Gurudwara Gurusar

There is a beautiful Gurudwara called Gurudwara Gurusar which is about
5 kilometers from Jagraon and about 1 km farther than Nanaksar.Today
we were served Dal,Parshada,butter milk and teaat langar.We also had
Karha Parshad at the Gurudwara.The oid hall has been replaced by a new
one.The present hall is indeed a big one.The road to Gurusar has also
been diverted near Nanaksar as the circumfrence of Nanaksar dera has
increased a bit.While returning we gave lift to an old lady. We went
an extra.Kilometer to drop her at the bus stop.She gave us a lot of
blessings.

Kite flying

Basant the spring season is the most lovely season in
Jagraon.Although kite flying is not very popular these days some
children enjoy flying kites while basking in the golden and crispy
sunshine.

The story of the cows

One needs to think twice if he wants to own a cow in Jagraon.It is a
holy animal in India.When it stops giving milk the farmers abandon
it.If they give it to the Gau Shala(charity based cowshed) they are
charged.So the farmers drive them away in the darkness of the
night.Since the cows damage the crops.The farmers often remain awake
at night to save thier wheat crop.They drive them away to another
persons farms or to another village.They do it stealithly lest others
should object.Sometimes they pool in funds to drop them in trucks at
far of villages at night.The villagers remain ever vigilant lest some
truck shouid drop the holy passengers(cows)near their fields.Some
farmers give bath to the cow,tie a thread accross its neck before
abandoning it.In this way a farmer may take it to his home thinking
that it is a milk giving cow who could have escaped from somebody's
house.He pulls the cow by the rope and takes it to its house little
knowing that it then becomes his liability to dispose of the
animal.About 10years ago we were getting our Kothi constructed when I
was misguided by the mason to domesticate a stray cow.the mason
misguided me to get it artificially insemenated.It had to be abandoned
with difficulty.

Murder at the Chowk

There has been a shooting incidence at the roundabout Jagraon.At least
one person is reportedly killed on the spot.The car from which the
firing took place sped away.The victims were said to be on a two
wheeler.

Good news or bad news

Punjab government has declaired a holiday today as a mark of respect
for the late Jyoti Basu the ex CM of west Bengal.This bad news would
be a good news for the students of the govt. schools as it is very
cold and nobody likes to come out of the quilt.

Village Sherpur Kalan

Sherpura is a village which is abov 5 kms from Jagraon.The bigger
Sherpura is called Sherpur Kalan where as smaller Sherpura which is
further 2 kms away from Jagraon is called Sherpura Khurd(I believe
that the bigger village is always kalan and the smaller one is always
khurd).Sherpur Kalan is known for Baba A(nand) Singhji.There is a 13
storey Gurudwara at the birthplace.It also has a village Gurudwara and
two more Gurudwaras.The farmers of the village are
Toor,Khela,Sohi,Gill,Dhillon,Grewal etc.Mistri,Chamar,Bauria,Jheaor
also live in this village.Landholdings are small.Farmers other than
Khela and Toor have settled here after partition.People milk their
baffalos and put the milk in dairies.The get payment after 15
days.Baurias cultivate vegetables and sell it in the vegetable market
Jagraon.Other farmers cultivate wheat and paddy.Some Jats also
cultivate vegitables.Financer Bindu Khela is the Sarpanch.He has
beautiful horses and dogs in his kothi.He keeps a revolver and his
finance company is at Mandi Road Sherpura Chowk Jagraon.

Wedding in a village

We were three on a motorcycle.I,my wife and my youngerson Sewapreet
who sat in the middle.It was a sunny day and we reached Sherpura at
12-45 noon.It took us 10 minutes to reach there.The road is in poor
condition.Baraat had also arrived at the same time. Generally the
marriages are arranged in the Palaces but the one we attended was in
a tent house. Knowing that the baraats are late these days we weren't
in hurry.Unlike a marriage palace there was stink of the drain water
coming out of the houses at the entrance.We were served dry fruit at
the enterance.We reached a huge tent hall.There was a plot that lay
vacant adjecent to the house of the bride.It was used for drying the
dung cakes.A tent was erected there.There was no stink of the drain
water here.First the groom's side had the breakfast of Pakoras,sweets
and a few other things.We pulled the chair from the last lane and sat
in the sun as sunlight came in one corner of the tent.Unlike
the marriage palace smell of the dungcakes was coming as the tent
could only block vision and not the adjoining smell. After that the
men of bride's side had the breakfast.After that the women from the
bride's side had the breakfast.For health concious people there is
hardly any suitable dish.Either the things are fried or extra
sweet.Fruit chat and orange juice were the exceptions.Even the juice
seemed to have some sugar base.After the breakfast the main members
from both sides went to the Gurudwara sahib for the Anand karaj.We sat
and the singers started singing.The singing party consisted of one not
so smart probably a majbhi and a slightly healthy but tall probably
Majbhi female,Half a dozen instrument players and two
announcers.Performence of the party was quite satisfactory.The waiters
kept serving liquor to the guests.They also kept serving vegetarian as
well as non vegeterian food.Some guys started doing Bhangra near the
stage. It was 3-45pm and snacks were being served one after the
other.We gave Rs 200 Shagun to the mother of the bride and left
Sherpura.Actual Shagun ceremony and actual lunch could have taken a
lot of time indeed.Imagine lunch at 4-30pm or 5-pm.

Guests are becoming a thing of the past

Now that everybody is having mobile phones there are hardly any guests
in the houses.People talk their heart out while sitting in their
homes.May be in future nobody would ever know what a guest is as video
calls would also be possible in an year or so.

Sugar and the Sugar Mill

Sugarmill of Jagraon is closed for several years now.The employees
adjusted their lives with alternative occupations.They get the salary
from the non functioning mill as well but irregularly.Now why should
the society repent when sugar is Rs 50 per Kg.

Only two wrestlers in the political scene of Jagraon.

Politics in Jagraon is Bipolar.Akali Dal and the congress are the main
parties.Earlier Bhag Singh Malha of Akali Dal was the MLA for two
terms and now there is Gurdeep Singh Bhaini from the congress.Those
who contest for other parties merely do so for dividing the
votes.There isn't any third party in Jagraon.Not even the Lok Bhalai
Party.

Daan(Charity)and the month of Maagh

I didn't know much about the importance of the month of Magh untill I
came and settled in Jagraon in 1999.Both Hindus and Sikh serve free
food as charity (daan).People go to the Gurudwaras where they get tea
and several other things after Path in the early morning.If one is in
the Bazaar one may often spot a shopkeeper distributing Pooris and
Channa or Halwa.Some people remain vegetarian and thus in a way do
daan(charity)by sparing the lives of hen and goat that could have
otherwise been eaten.At Gurudwara Nanaksar they offer in Charity the
free Darshan of the place where a revered saint called Baba (A)Nand Singh meditated.In
other months a person is asked to do a lot of Path in order to see that place(which is written at
that place).Offering Darshan in charity can well be understood as
Guruji says'Nanak mange dars daan kirpa karo Hare'(Nank begs the holy
glimpse-darshan). In Baramah Guruji says that holy bath of Magh can
well be the dust of the Saint's feet.In charity one could well do
simran and distribute it(spiritual knowledge)in charity.As a teacher I
may give some vidya(education)daan by waving off the fees of some poor
student.I am thinking of spending some money in improving the lane in
front of the kothi were my parents live(otherwise it is the
responsibility of the minucipal committee).Gurbani,however,promotes
positive things like daan(charity)irrespective of the month.