Corruption even on the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh

BHAGAT SINGH BIRTH CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS SCAM
Former bureaucrat surrenders
By Parmod BhartI The Tribune 22 May 2012

Nawanshahr, May 21 Dr Swarn Singh, former Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, and former Chairman of the Punjab Arts Council, who was indicted by the Vigilance Bureau (VB) for allegedly committing irregularities to the tune of Rs 1.96 crore during Shaheed Bhagat Singh birth centenary celebrations in 2008, surrendered before a local court today.

Additional District Sessions Judge Avtar Singh sent him to judicial custody till May 31. The VB had arrested two other accused in the case – Sanjay Gera and Vikas Mehra of GM Entertainment – from Faridabad in February this year. Satbir Bajwa, also an accused, is still at large.

The case came to light when the Human Empowerment League of Punjab (HELP) sought details of expenditure incurred on the centenary celebrations at Khatkar Kalan under the Right to Information Act. HELP activist Parvinder Singh Kittna, after getting information that Rs 3.05 crore were spent on the occasion, had filed a complaint with the VB in October 2009. After a 14-month-long probe, the VB indicted Dr Swarn Singh as the prime accused in the case. It was found that bogus bills were raised in the name of event managers, suppliers and top Bollywood artistes.

The PAC had engaged GM Entertainment to invite celebrities to the event. The company had allegedly claimed to have paid the performers (also to those who did not even turn up at the event) at a much higher price than actually paid. The VB obtained statements of all artistes and promoters. Even quotations by the companies were found fake.

The addresses given by the companies submitting quotations were also incorrect. The VB also found that Dr Swarn Singh had sent a letter to a number of Bollywood actors stating that GM Entertainment would contact them for participating in the event. While the letter was written on September 13, 2008, the quotations were submitted by the company on September 15.

CHRONIC BACHELORS OF KANDHALA JATTAN (ਕੰਧਾਲਾ ਜੱਟਾਂ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੇ ਛੜੇ)

CHRONIC BACHELORS OF VILLAGE

(ਪਿੰਡ ਦੇ ਛੜੇ)

Recent death of Mohani  (Real name could be Mohan Singh) son of late Pritam Singh Gagha (  ਗਾਘਾ  ) and brother of Shindi and Geli of Lehindi Patti has prompted me write about chronic bachelors  (ਛੜੇ  ) of the village.  This tradition had been carried over since long – that one or two brothers from the house will marry and rest will stay bachelors. One may recall the episode of Mahabharta – Daropti and Pandavs. In present scenario the reason being that property (land ) should not get further divided since families have small holdings. Usually the smartest of the brothers will marry and rest of them would stay unmarried.

The biggest challenge faced by the household was to keep them from pestering for marriage. Besides the mother and married brothers it was probably left to the bride in the house to keep these bachelors happy in whatever manner she could – by looking after their food, clothes and other needs. Of course the prime reason why she would do that was the lure of property. Some of the famous chronic bachelors of Kandhala Jattan that I remember were / are:-

1. Jalwa (Bhajinan da)  ਭ੍ਜਨੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਜਲਵਾ
2. Bikar the nambardar  ਬਿਕਰ ਲੰਬੜਦਾਰ
3. Mohani Ghaghiyan da ਮੋਹਣੀ ਗਾਹ੍ਘਿਆਂ ਦਾ
4. Karmu hakeem ਕਰਮੂ ਹਕੀਮ
5. Dharma and Kaila – shahan da ਸ਼ਾਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਕੈਲਾ ਤੇ ਧਰਮਾ
6. Chooda son of Sumittar ਛਿਤੋ ਦਾ ਚੂੜਾ
7. Nimbo kaloo diyan da ਕਾਲੂ ਦਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਨਿਮ੍ਬੋ
8. And many more………….

Readers may recall and suggest some more names.

Inside the Pakistan Army

Pakistan and its Army had been one of my favourite topics of books that I like to read. This book, written by Carey Schofield, just after Osama Bin Laden was knocked out, assumes greater significance.
Author has given almost ninety percent view of Pak army and few tidbits of her analysis. In many ways Pak Army is just like Indian Army. Their training,org structure and Regimental affiliations are akin to or army. Author has failed to justify what Pak feels proud of. After all there were no winners in 1965. Author has given an account of battle fought by 25 Cav. However it must be remembered that the battle was fought inside Pak territory.
Author has tried to highlight and glorify the record of Pak Army in fighting terrorism. However other than Lal Masjid, there is hardly an operation of which Pak Army can feel proud of.
Pak Generals fighting turf wars rather than fighting the terrorists is another revelation. Most of them are divided on ways to fight Terrorists and have divided loyalties towa. They are shying away and ever willing to strike a deal with tribals so that they have a comfortable tenure.
Author appears to be mighty impressed by Maj Gen Faisal Alavi who had been head of Pak SSG an anti terrorist outfit. Maj Gen Faisal
Alavi was dishonourably discharged from army on disciplinarian grounds. He was later on killed by suspected terrorists or by army Generals whom he wanted to expose; his death has remained a mystery.

Lucknow Boy

I have just finished reading Lucknow Boy the autobiography of Vinod Mehta . The book has been written in the characteristic Vinod Mehta style.

I have liked following part of the book:-

His writing style is superb.
He has followed probity to the hilt.
He has been brutally honest in describing his life.
There is no doubt it has taken a lot of hardwork, sweat, hunger and tenacity to reach at the position where he is now.
He has recently retired from being active editor of ‘Outlook’.
He went to Mumbai at the age of 27 with no particular aim as to what to do in life. Starting from a copywriter to an eminent editor has been an eventful journey.
His advice to fellow journalists in the chapter ‘Sweeper’s Wisdom’ is excellent one. These gems of advice may not be part of any curriculum of any mass media communication school or college.

While he has barred life of many and his own but he has carefully skirted his  ‘twice  married’ life.

I have also liked piece on Shobhaa De which he has written possibly to irritate her as she rejected his foreword for her book ‘Shooting from the hip’.

Overall it is very engrossing and interesting book especially for someone who is interested in affairs of the country and its men.

Autobiography of S Nihal Singh

An autobiography of a journalist makes a very interesting reading. `Ink in my veins’ an autobiography, written by eminent journalist S Nihal Singh is no exception. Author has seen interesting times and he gives very impartial and honest onlooker’s view point.

Low Medical Persons Indian Army

All those who are low medical persons must be very careful in getting their re-categorisation medical boards. Normally we do not care as to what is written there and we are in a tearing hurry. Also there is fear of annoying the doctor as to what he will do.

However one has to face the music at the end of the day when towards retirement one has to undergo Release Medical Board or RMB.
One generally goes into the detail of ‘Attributability’ and / or ‘Aggravation’ aspect however most of the time a do not bother about the percentage aspect and that a leave it to the imagination of Medical Officer who is the Presiding Officer of the Medical Board. In most of the Military Hospital it is generally some superseded / general duty Medical Officer who is mostly disinterested in the job. He rarely goes into the details and writes percentage as per his imagination. Of some person who is conscious of the percentage part raises quarry – that is brushed aside saying that – you do not worry; it is just provisional; you will get final percentage during the RMB. Most of us keep quite at that.

What happens during RMB is another story. Most of the Medical Officers go by the previous percentages. They do not apply their minds. As nothing is told to the persons undergoing RMB so it is convenient for Medical Officer to get away with whatever he wants to do. No logic and no reasoning.

Therefore while undergoing any re-categorisation board one has to assertive and must insist on mentioning the actual percentage which a person is entitled for his disease / disability. Percentages for disability / diseases are given in ‘Guide to medical officers’ that is available in all Military Hospitals and also on the Web site DGMS .

Death of a Retired Foreman

Recently one of my relative has expired. He  had worked as Foreman in one of the workshop of Bhakhra Beas Management Board, Nangal. He belonged to village near Bulhowal in Hoshiarpur District, Punjab. He joined BBMB as worker when Bhakhra Dam was being constructed. He would narrate many stories about how the dam came into being, how many people died, visit of Jawahar Lal Nehru etc.

In fact he served for good about 40 to 50 years . He was a hard worker and had lots of stamina. His wife and children stayed at village where he would visit on weekends. It would be surprising to know that he would travel all the way to Nanal on cycle. He would come on Saturday work in field alongwith his aged father and go back on Sunday morning – driving cycle all the way – almost 75-80 Kilometers one way. In earlier days there were number of streams  that would flow from Shivalik Hills and had lots of water in them, especially in rainy season. There were no bridges on number of such streams. He would pick up cycle on his shoulders and wade through.

He stayed at Nangal in a quarter allotted by BBMB. I remember visiting him there when he was staying in one-quarter number 10 FF. In fact some of his colleagues would call hom ’10 Numbri’.  He cooked his own food and even cooked for all those who visited him. He was indeed a hard worker. He initially took to occasional drinking.

After retirement he did work at home in small piece of land of one of his son – as the land was divided amongst his four sons. His sons somehow could not rise upto his expectations. Eldest became driver and took to heavy drinking. ?Next one was good but not so good in studies. He got him a piece of land at Una where he established scooter repair workshop and settled there. Next one went to Dubai and worked there. The youngest one joined Punjab Police as Sepoy.

After retirement his drinking frequency increased. It ultimately led to Kidney failure. Surviving in Dialysis or donation of a Kidney was the    answer. But his sons somehow developed reluctance to his frequent Dialysis (probably due to expenditure involved – as none of them was rich enough) and thus he died few days back.

As people talk – everybody attributed his death to heavy drinking and talked like that – but I have always remembered him a very hard worker  and a sincere father who  wanted to see his sons prosper. Whenever I visited him he would have number of stories to tell – which nobody else wanted to hear.