On bicycles from Switzerland

Fatehgarh Sahib: Love for his motherland and adventure motivated Jaskarn Singh and his Swiss wife Pareen to undertake hazardous journey on cycles covering over 15 countries and 8,000 km from Switzerland to Punjab. They passed through different countries and encountered several adventures and misadventures. Even the money they had was stolen in Iran, but in spite of this, they weathered all storms and reached Turkey where they were warmly welcomed and shown hospitality. After covering a long distance, they peddled to their home town, Bassi Pathana, where they were accorded a red carpet welcome by Rajesh Pal Singh Lalli, a renowned social worker, natives and relatives. Pareen was all praise for Punjabi hospitality and said Indians spend time with each other, whereas in Europe even the husband and wife meet after days. The couple runs a restaurant in Switzerland.

One initiative, twin purpose

Amritsar: To pay tributes to the police martyrs, the Amritsar rural police have been planting trees in the name of the martyred jawans at government schools. The idea is to create awareness among the young generation about the supreme sacrifices made by policemen in the service of the country. “We have made it a point to plant tree saplings in government schools. The young minds studying would not only be motivated to grow trees, but they would also be learning about the sacrifices of the police jawans in fighting terrorism in the state,” said Vikram Jeet Duggal, SSP, Amritsar (rural). The police have been celebrating weeklong programmes to mark the police commemoration day on October 21.

Old shows the way to new

Chandigarh: With the selection of 56 students for school games at the national level this year, GMN Senior Secondary School, Ropar, continues the rich legacy of promoting sports among the local population since 1949. Besides, the Old Students Association of the school, functioning since 1979, has earned a special place. President of the OSA says there is a special focus on sports activities by the school authorities, which has yielded good results over the years. Even this year, a number of students are participating in school games at the state level, he adds.

War on Twitter over corridor

Dera Baba Nanak: Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal found herself responsible for sparking off a comedy of errors last week. The minister tweeted two wrong messages inviting the wrath of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Harsimrat first claimed that PM Narendra Modi would be inaugurating the project on November 8. Minutes after her tweet went into cyberspace, Randhawa reminded her that the prerogative of announcing the dates of PM’s visit lay entirely with the PMO. She was left red faced a few days later, when the PMO tweeted that the PM would inaugurate the corridor on November 9. Capt Amarinder too was upset at the timing and content of her statements. “We had announced that the stretch of road leading from Sultanpur Lodhi to Dera Baba Nanak would be named as Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg. Exactly three days later, she tweeted that the road was named after the fist Sikh Guru after she had impressed upon the Centre to do so. The credit war over a pious venture such as the corridor should stop,” he said.

It’s dream come true for them

Abohar: “Mehandi shagna di”, a mass marriage function, held recently brought together people of two different cultures. Members of the local Lions Club led by Ruchika Chugh performed “chooda ceremony” playing as (foster) parents for the day for 31 brides, most of them belonging to Punjabi families. Social activist Lovina Verma monitored the mehandi event that was performed by school girls. The students of a fashion training institute enthralled the audience by presenting “jago” of Punjab and “ghoomar” of Rajasthan. Giddha was performed by female members of the Lions Club. None of the brides had dreamed of such wedding rituals as their parents had been feeling uncomfortable in meeting expenses even for their education.

Contributed by Surinder Bhardwaj, PK Jaiswar, Sanjeev Singh Bariana, Ravi Dhaliwal and Raj Sadosh