कार फ्री जोन वाला शहर बना फाजिल्का

फाजिल्का -अपने मजबूत इरादों के लिए जाने जाते नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी के नेतृत्व में परिषद ने यूरोपीय देशों के कुछ चुनिंदा शहरों की तर्ज पर ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ जारी जंग के तहत फाजिल्का में लगभग छह सौ मीटर परिधि क्षेत्र को कार फ्री जोन बना दिया गया है। गौर हो कि मोटर व इंधन से चलने वाले वाहनों का प्रयोग कम कर ग्लोबल वार्मिग रोकने के लिए एशिया महाद्वीप में सबसे पहले फाजिल्का में रिक्शा कॉल सर्विस शुरू की गई है। इसके तहत लोग एक लोकल फोन कॉल पर नजदीकी रिक्शा स्टैड से रिक्शा मंगवा सकते है। इसके अलावा नगर परिषद ग्लोबल वार्मिग का कारण बनने वाली सोडियम स्ट्रीट लाइट उतारकर उसकी जगह पर्यावरण के लिए हितकर सीएफएल बल्ब लगाने का अभियान भी छेड़े हुए है। रिक्शा कॉल सर्विस की कामयाबी के बाद फाजिल्का नगर परिषद ने ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ जंग में अपनी आहुति डालते हुए अब शहर के ऐतिहासिक घंटाघर चौक के आसपास की चार सड़कों पर अवरोधक लगाकर इसे कार फ्री जोन बना दिया है।

नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी ने बताया कि सुबह आठ से लेकर रात आठ बजे तक कार फ्री जोन घंटाघर के आसपास उसकी खूबसूरती को निहारने वाले सिर्फ पैदल लोग या दुपहिया वाहन चालक ही आ-जा सकेंगे। रात आठ से सुबह दस बजे तक कोई दुकानदार बड़े वाहनों से सामान लोड या अनलोड करवाना चाहे, तो अवरोधक हटाए जाएंगे। उन्होंने बताया कि ऐसा करने से जहां ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ सार्थक कदम उठा है, वहीं घंटाघर के आसपास यातायात अव्यवस्था का आलम भी समाप्त हुआ है। ऐसी व्यवस्था करने से फाजिल्का देश का पहला शहर बन गया है, जहां कार फ्री जोन स्थापित किया गया है। उन्होंने कहा कि इसके चलते ऐतिहासिक घंटाघर के निकट यहां के प्रसिद्ध पकवानों से सुसज्जिात फूड स्ट्रीट भी विकसित की जाएगी। लोग यातायात के शोर से दूर शुद्ध वातावरण में अपने मनपसंद पकवानों का लुत्फ उठाया करेगे।

उल्लेखनीय है कि अब से पहले एशिया में सिर्फ सिंगापुर में ही कार फ्री जोन की व्यवस्था है। इसके अलावा यूरोपीय देश नीदरलैंड की राजधानी एम्सटर्डम, कोलंबिया की राजधानी बैगोटा व बेल्जियम की सिटी ब्रुगे भी कार फ्री जोन व ग्लोबल वार्मिग रोकने के लिए प्रसिद्ध है।

टॉप टेन मेयर प्रतिस्पर्धा के लिए जाएगा सेठी का नाम

फाजिल्का : ग्रेजुएट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशन फाजिल्का घंटाघर क्षेत्र में कार फ्री जोन की व्यवस्था करने वाले नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी का नाम व‌र्ल्ड के टॉप टेन मेयर की प्रतिस्पर्धा के लिए भेजेगी। एसोसिएशन के पदाधिकारी इंजीनियर नवदीप असीजा ने बताया कि उनकी संस्था ग्लोबल वार्मिग के खिलाफ प्रयास करने वाले दुनिया के टॉप टेन मेयरों की प्रतिस्पर्धा के लिए परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी का नाम भेजेगी।
http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_5026966.html

Fazilka become first to implement ‘Car-free city’ concept in the Country

Fazilka, a small township near India Pakistan border made history yesterday. Fazilka become the first to implement another unique concept of "Car free city" in the region. Yesterday, city centre i.e. market area nearby clock tower has been declared “Car Free Zone”. No motorised four vehicles and heavy vehicles will be allowed to move in this zone for 12 hours during day time. Special emphasis through traffic calming devices and permanent barriers at few locations has been installed to make this zone as pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Credit for the successful implementation of this concept goes to Mr. Anil Sethi, newly elected President of Municipal Council Fazilka. Fazilka city and its residents are already doing many activities to promote Non-motorised vehicle (NMV) for transport within the city. 21st century is governed with the agenda to pacify the affect of Global Warming and I am sure Fazilka town is going to be the flag bearer for the cause of suppressing effect of Global Warming through energy conservation and transportation. 77-80% of the air pollution is contributed by transportation sector alone.

Last year, through one week long “Fazilka Heritage Festival” this experiment as a part of case study was conducted by Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) by keeping same city central zone as car free zone. Study revealed that, this experiment had not just improved the quality of social life but also improved the law and order, environment through less air pollution emitted, economy and road safety of the residents. As a part of study and analysis random sampling was done under randomized controlled conditions.

Communities that are NMV-friendly are seen as places with a high quality of life in the society. NMV-friendly communities are places where people feel safe and comfortable riding their cycles and walking for fun, fitness, and transportation. Encouraging NMV is a simple way towards improving public health. With more people joining NMV, communities experience reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness. In addition, NMV-friendly towns are often seen as most safe place to live. “The aim to create car free zone and also to promote NMV mode of transport within city to build bridges between the prosperous sections of society in the city and the less well-off”, said Anil Sethi. He is already taking strong action against the decision of building Road over bridge within city limits. No European and American city has built flyover within their city from last 15-20 years.

Eco-cab (Dial-a Rickshaw) is another successfully implemented concept, in which cycle Rickshaw has been introduced as Public Transport System using latest Intelligent Transport tools. For the next year, GWAF is all set to send the nomination of Fazilka Mayor for the award of “Worlds Best Mayor”, as people of Fazilka have already done that what famous mayors like Enrique Peñalosa, mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, Elmar Ledergerber, Zurich, Switzerland and much appreciated Lee Myung-bak, Seoul mayor, current President who initiated the project to remove the elevated highway/flyovers and restore the Cheonggyecheon water stream under urban renewal and beautification have done.

फ्लाई ओवर निर्माण में सुरक्षा मानक रखे ताक पर

Nov 19, 09:10 pm
Amrit Sachdeva

फाजिल्का -फिरोजपुर-फाजिल्का मार्ग पर स्थानीय रेलवे क्रासिंग के ऊपर बनाया जा रहे फ्लाई ओवर निर्माण कार्य में निर्माता कंपनी चेतक प्राइवेट लिमिटेड ने राहगीरों की सुरक्षा के लिए अपनाए जाने वाले मानकों को ताक पर रख दिया है। नतीजतन पुल निर्माण के निकट से प्रतिदिन हजारों वाहनों व पैदल यात्रियों को जहां अपनी जान हथेली पर रख वहां से गुजरना पड़ रहा है, वहीं कंपनी के लालच के चलते जरूरत से ज्यादा लंबे बनाए जा रहे पुल के आसपास के सैकड़ों दुकानदारों का कामकाज ठप हो गया है।

उल्लेखनीय है कि देश भर में जहां भी फ्लाई ओवर या अंडर ब्रिज बनाने का काम चलता है, वहां निर्माता कंपनी या सरकारी विभाग को निर्माण कार्य के आसपास शीट्स की दीवार लगाकर भीतर ही भीतर काम करना होता है। इसके अलावा वहां से गुजरने वाले ट्रैफिक के सही संचालन के लिए वैकल्पिक मार्ग भी बनाकर देना होता है, लेकिन फाजिल्का पुल निर्माण मामले में निर्माता कंपनी अपने पैसे बचाने के चक्कर में कोई भी सुरक्षा मानक नहीं अपना रही। रेलवे क्रासिंग के दोनों ओर पुल के लिए स्थापित किए जा रहे पिल्लरों के लिए खोदे गढ्डें जस के तस खुले ही पड़े है, जिससे तेज रफ्तार वाहनों या पैदल यात्रियों के उनमें गिरने का अंदेशा बना है। कारण यह है कि कंपनी ने पुल निर्माण के दौरान कोई वैकल्पिक मार्ग बनाकर नहीं दिया है। इसके चलते एक मजदूर गढ्डों के कारण कच्ची मिट्टी के निकट बनी दीवार में दबकर अपनी जान गवां चुका है, लेकिन कंपनी के कानों पर जूं तक नहीं रेगी। वहीं, निर्माणाधीन पुल की जरूरत से ज्यादा लंबाई भी आसपास के सैकड़ों दुकानदारों के जी का जंजाल बनी हुई है। दुकानदारों का कहना है कि आमतौर पर बनाए जाने वाले पुलों की अधिकतम लंबाई छह सौ मीटर होती है, लेकिन फाजिल्का में पुल बनाने वाली प्राइवेट कंपनी लोगों से अधिक टोल टैक्स उगाहने के लिए नौ सौ मीटर लंबा पुल बना रही है।

सुरक्षा मानकों का हर हाल में करवाया जाएगा पालन : सेठी

फाजिल्का: फ्लाई ओवर की जरूरत से ज्यादा लंबाई व सुरक्षा मानकों में बरती जा रही कोताही के खिलाफ पुल के दोनों ओर के दुकानदारों ने मोर्चा खोल दिया है। बुधवार को फाजिल्का-फिरोजपुर मार्ग के सैकड़ों दुकानदारों ने प्रदर्शन किया। उन्होंने पुल निर्माण के गलत ढंग के खिलाफ नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी व ईओ से शिकायत की और तत्काल प्रभाव से पुल निर्माण रुकवाने की मांग की। इस पर परिषद अध्यक्ष सेठी ने दुकानदारों को विश्वास दिलाया कि सुरक्षा मानकों की जांच की जाएगी और अनियमितता पाए जाने पर पुल निर्माण रुकवा कर कंपनी को पहले सुरक्षा के बंदोबस्त करने के लिए कहा जाएगा।

http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_5002518_1.html

फ्लाई ओवर निर्माण में सुरक्षा मानक रखे ताक पर

Nov 19, 09:10 pm
Amrit Sachdeva

फाजिल्का -फिरोजपुर-फाजिल्का मार्ग पर स्थानीय रेलवे क्रासिंग के ऊपर बनाया जा रहे फ्लाई ओवर निर्माण कार्य में निर्माता कंपनी चेतक प्राइवेट लिमिटेड ने राहगीरों की सुरक्षा के लिए अपनाए जाने वाले मानकों को ताक पर रख दिया है। नतीजतन पुल निर्माण के निकट से प्रतिदिन हजारों वाहनों व पैदल यात्रियों को जहां अपनी जान हथेली पर रख वहां से गुजरना पड़ रहा है, वहीं कंपनी के लालच के चलते जरूरत से ज्यादा लंबे बनाए जा रहे पुल के आसपास के सैकड़ों दुकानदारों का कामकाज ठप हो गया है।

उल्लेखनीय है कि देश भर में जहां भी फ्लाई ओवर या अंडर ब्रिज बनाने का काम चलता है, वहां निर्माता कंपनी या सरकारी विभाग को निर्माण कार्य के आसपास शीट्स की दीवार लगाकर भीतर ही भीतर काम करना होता है। इसके अलावा वहां से गुजरने वाले ट्रैफिक के सही संचालन के लिए वैकल्पिक मार्ग भी बनाकर देना होता है, लेकिन फाजिल्का पुल निर्माण मामले में निर्माता कंपनी अपने पैसे बचाने के चक्कर में कोई भी सुरक्षा मानक नहीं अपना रही। रेलवे क्रासिंग के दोनों ओर पुल के लिए स्थापित किए जा रहे पिल्लरों के लिए खोदे गढ्डें जस के तस खुले ही पड़े है, जिससे तेज रफ्तार वाहनों या पैदल यात्रियों के उनमें गिरने का अंदेशा बना है। कारण यह है कि कंपनी ने पुल निर्माण के दौरान कोई वैकल्पिक मार्ग बनाकर नहीं दिया है। इसके चलते एक मजदूर गढ्डों के कारण कच्ची मिट्टी के निकट बनी दीवार में दबकर अपनी जान गवां चुका है, लेकिन कंपनी के कानों पर जूं तक नहीं रेगी। वहीं, निर्माणाधीन पुल की जरूरत से ज्यादा लंबाई भी आसपास के सैकड़ों दुकानदारों के जी का जंजाल बनी हुई है। दुकानदारों का कहना है कि आमतौर पर बनाए जाने वाले पुलों की अधिकतम लंबाई छह सौ मीटर होती है, लेकिन फाजिल्का में पुल बनाने वाली प्राइवेट कंपनी लोगों से अधिक टोल टैक्स उगाहने के लिए नौ सौ मीटर लंबा पुल बना रही है।

सुरक्षा मानकों का हर हाल में करवाया जाएगा पालन : सेठी

फाजिल्का: फ्लाई ओवर की जरूरत से ज्यादा लंबाई व सुरक्षा मानकों में बरती जा रही कोताही के खिलाफ पुल के दोनों ओर के दुकानदारों ने मोर्चा खोल दिया है। बुधवार को फाजिल्का-फिरोजपुर मार्ग के सैकड़ों दुकानदारों ने प्रदर्शन किया। उन्होंने पुल निर्माण के गलत ढंग के खिलाफ नगर परिषद अध्यक्ष अनिल सेठी व ईओ से शिकायत की और तत्काल प्रभाव से पुल निर्माण रुकवाने की मांग की। इस पर परिषद अध्यक्ष सेठी ने दुकानदारों को विश्वास दिलाया कि सुरक्षा मानकों की जांच की जाएगी और अनियमितता पाए जाने पर पुल निर्माण रुकवा कर कंपनी को पहले सुरक्षा के बंदोबस्त करने के लिए कहा जाएगा।

http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/punjab/4_2_5002518_1.html

Badha Lake : Lost Glory of Fazilka

by Aarish Chabra, Indian Express
http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2008/11/10/ArticleHtmls/10_11_2008_684_004.shtml?Mode=0

The town of Fazilka owes its very existence to the location of Badha Lake at the place where the town stands now. In 1844, Vans Pat Agnew, the first British officer stationed in the area, selected the place for installation of a surveillance station of East India Company and built himself a bungalow on the banks of the horse-shoe lake of Badha. The bungalow still exists and houses the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Fazilka. But the irony is that the once 150-acre lake is nowhere to be found. It dried out, or rather, was made to dry out by people. The lake, which was, till the 60s, a flourishing water body that attracted several species of migratory birds, now exists only on paper. "A horseshoe lake develops when a river en ters the plains and seeks its path of least resistance. Badha Lake received water as recharge from Satluj, but the illconceived Indus Water Treaty, 1960, sealed its fate. The Satluj has been truncated at Suleimanki Head Works by the Water Commission of the Central government, leaving it with no source of water," says Dr Bhupinder Singh, an IIT professor, who has written a booklet on the issue. "The stretch of stream from Ferozepur to Fazilka hardly gets any water from Satluj; all the 105-kilometre stretch carries is waste from the leather industry of Kasur in Pakistan. This has affected the ecology badly and has left many such smaller horse-shoe lakes on its banks dry," he adds. "It was home to a huge population of peacocks, running into hundreds, but now not even one peacock is alive and if this is the fate of the national bird, one can well imagine the callous attitude of the officials concerned," says Navdeep Asija, a researcher based in Chandigarh. The attitude of the authorities can very well be gauged from the fact that despite the wetland being a place famous for the peacock population that once thronged it, District Forest Officer (Wildlife) Balbir Singh is unaware of its existence. However, when told about its history and importance, he said he would personally visit the area and inspect. The lake was a source of quality drinking water for 100 years (1844-1946). In the 50s, people of this region used hand pumps to extract water from a depth of four metres. But following the treaty and the subsequent diversion of Satluj, ground water depleted to such an extent that people now have to install submersible pumps to lift water from the a depth of 30 metres. The lake-bed is now listed as panchayat land in the local revenue department's documents and has been leased out for cultivation. "Repeated attempts have been made to construct colonies and to mine sand from its dry bed, but vigil by some local people has helped stop the area from becoming a concrete jungle," says Asija. "In 2000, the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) warned in its report to the state Environment Department that the conservation of this wetland is essential. Even the then DC of Ferozepur, Kulbir Singh Sidhu, had assured of all efforts to retrieve the sites as the natural habitats of migratory birds. Till today, no long-term conservation measure on saving wetlands has been taken by the government," he adds. Ferozepur DC Megh Raj, however, does not remember any such assurance given by one of his predecessors and, perhaps not so surprisingly, is not even aware of the two major wetlands we mentioned in the conversation with him — Ganj Baksh and Badha. Both of these are situated in his own district, Ferozepur. He says, "I have been caught up in election duties and procurement, the issue of environment has not got my due attention I admit." Scientists at the PSCST say that disappearance is a serious matter, but express helplessness as the lake-bed is panchayat land. "It can still be recharged through a channel routed from the Bhakra main canal to the existing network of channels in south Punjab, but past experience stands testimony that the lake's obituary is well overdue. All we can do is hope," rues Dr Bhupinder.


Read Full Article at : http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2008/11/10/index.shtml#

Badha Lake : Lost Glory of Fazilka

by Aarish Chabra, Indian Express
http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2008/11/10/ArticleHtmls/10_11_2008_684_004.shtml?Mode=0

The town of Fazilka owes its very existence to the location of Badha Lake at the place where the town stands now. In 1844, Vans Pat Agnew, the first British officer stationed in the area, selected the place for installation of a surveillance station of East India Company and built himself a bungalow on the banks of the horse-shoe lake of Badha. The bungalow still exists and houses the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Fazilka. But the irony is that the once 150-acre lake is nowhere to be found. It dried out, or rather, was made to dry out by people. The lake, which was, till the 60s, a flourishing water body that attracted several species of migratory birds, now exists only on paper. "A horseshoe lake develops when a river en ters the plains and seeks its path of least resistance. Badha Lake received water as recharge from Satluj, but the illconceived Indus Water Treaty, 1960, sealed its fate. The Satluj has been truncated at Suleimanki Head Works by the Water Commission of the Central government, leaving it with no source of water," says Dr Bhupinder Singh, an IIT professor, who has written a booklet on the issue. "The stretch of stream from Ferozepur to Fazilka hardly gets any water from Satluj; all the 105-kilometre stretch carries is waste from the leather industry of Kasur in Pakistan. This has affected the ecology badly and has left many such smaller horse-shoe lakes on its banks dry," he adds. "It was home to a huge population of peacocks, running into hundreds, but now not even one peacock is alive and if this is the fate of the national bird, one can well imagine the callous attitude of the officials concerned," says Navdeep Asija, a researcher based in Chandigarh. The attitude of the authorities can very well be gauged from the fact that despite the wetland being a place famous for the peacock population that once thronged it, District Forest Officer (Wildlife) Balbir Singh is unaware of its existence. However, when told about its history and importance, he said he would personally visit the area and inspect. The lake was a source of quality drinking water for 100 years (1844-1946). In the 50s, people of this region used hand pumps to extract water from a depth of four metres. But following the treaty and the subsequent diversion of Satluj, ground water depleted to such an extent that people now have to install submersible pumps to lift water from the a depth of 30 metres. The lake-bed is now listed as panchayat land in the local revenue department's documents and has been leased out for cultivation. "Repeated attempts have been made to construct colonies and to mine sand from its dry bed, but vigil by some local people has helped stop the area from becoming a concrete jungle," says Asija. "In 2000, the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) warned in its report to the state Environment Department that the conservation of this wetland is essential. Even the then DC of Ferozepur, Kulbir Singh Sidhu, had assured of all efforts to retrieve the sites as the natural habitats of migratory birds. Till today, no long-term conservation measure on saving wetlands has been taken by the government," he adds. Ferozepur DC Megh Raj, however, does not remember any such assurance given by one of his predecessors and, perhaps not so surprisingly, is not even aware of the two major wetlands we mentioned in the conversation with him — Ganj Baksh and Badha. Both of these are situated in his own district, Ferozepur. He says, "I have been caught up in election duties and procurement, the issue of environment has not got my due attention I admit." Scientists at the PSCST say that disappearance is a serious matter, but express helplessness as the lake-bed is panchayat land. "It can still be recharged through a channel routed from the Bhakra main canal to the existing network of channels in south Punjab, but past experience stands testimony that the lake's obituary is well overdue. All we can do is hope," rues Dr Bhupinder.


Read Full Article at : http://epaper.indianexpress.com/IE/IEH/2008/11/10/index.shtml#

My Yatra to Fazilka..

In yatras one is supposed to come back to where one started from .Mine was different.It started from my chak 19 GD Haripur,Okara, Pakistan and ended at Fazilka, with no possibility of return.

Barely eleven years after the attached photograph radiating a happy mix of Sikhs and Muslims of the same family was taken in 1936,areas declared as Pakistan (for Muslims)saw unprecedented violence in 1947.Hindu breasts became trophies to Muslim knives.Erstwhile Hindu and Musim friends of years became instant enemies.Easily identifiable sikhs became automatic targets.Prime Minister Nehru wept in Amritsar,And we had only one Gandhi justifiably busy elsewhere to save Muslims.
Sustained British Govt. policy of DIVIDE and RULE had yielded its tsunami like results (It is sad that the people and their Govts are many times so different) .It would impact Indo-Pak relations for decades.
It is no cold comfort that there was violence in other areas too!
In my chak 19,Zaildar Chaudhry Bahadur Khan Dogar (?) herded all the Hindus into a mosque and converted them instantly to Islam.The story of areas around was no different.Human beings were being cut up like cows and goats.There were opportunities galore for settling old scores.The memory of small old arguments was enough to justify imposition of summary justice leading to punishment which courts award to 'rarest of the rare' crimes- death.
In these circumstances death was staring all Hindus of the village in the face.Conversion was no guaranttee for safety.It was felt by new power centres that we had not become genuine Muslims and were to be treated as kafirs any way!
The eight year old me did not understand.My school teacher Pir Mohammed had not returned after summer vacation.Resuming of classes was out of the question.

Two men of the village, Karam Chand Chillana and Lal Chand Pujara ,decided to go to the nearby big town Okara(8 km) to plead for some security.They left on horse back and kept reciting Muslim kalmas within the hearing distance of any human being they encountered.They rightly assumed that they would be spared as long as they were not ordered to undress and be discovered without the cut obligatory for a Muslim.
These two men went to the house of a Muslim friend in Okara but were very kindly asked to leave.He feared inimical reaction from his Muslim friends.This was not a happy time even for the right thinking Muslims.Devil had taken hold of most trusting but ignorant population.These two adventurers then hid in some unlikely place and planned their next moves.

For three days they knocked many door unsuccessfully.They then found out that Army had plans to escort Hindus to the new India according to a time table.They pleaded with men incharge that they must rescue chak 19 GD otherwise they will be left with nobody in the village to rescue.Eventually as a life saving concession it was granted that the Army would route a truck through the village and the rest would have to be taken care of by the two applicants.Same evening a military truck drove through the village and information was spread that Army had arrived and would shoot anything that moved.Some fled to the fields, others hid in their houses.Karam Chand and Lal Chand were now seen as venomous enemies of the local Muslims.Their belief that the Hindus were deceitful was confirmed! Hindus unleashed their animals (to allow them to go to graze and drink water on their own ) and collected in the village centre with roasted gram to sustain themselves.Messages were somehow sent to neighbouring villages that they should collect in chak 19 from where they would move to Okara next morning.They did this on cycles,horses,bullock carts and on foot pouring into chak 19 through the night.
Next mornig they started for Okara giving a last look to their houses.Since my house was located on the street we were moving on, I could see through the big open door the cows and buffaloes moving about as if confused.
In Okara we stayed in one of the vacant houses.We could take hold of anything, any article we wanted.Nobody had any use for any article.

Then on Setember 3,1947 we started in a kafla for new India.I made sure my school bag and wooden takhti was with me.Later school bag would become an obstruction to existence by its weight and would be thrown away.

The road was divided into three lanes.One for pedestrians,the second for private vehicles and the third for the escorting Army.
As people moved some of those on foot started failing.The old and the very young started giving up.Army trucks would pick them up and leave them far ahead of the main stream of kafla.This had to be done again and again.
Our share cropper Narain Singh was driving our bullock cart with his and our articles.Children among us were put on the cart by turns.
Next day people started collapsing.

We also had a horse which carried my dadi (grand mother) and some children in turn.We had gram some of it roasted.It sustained the horse and us but it soon was finished.The horse carried on but the bullocks collapsed.Our luggage on the cart vanished.One of the children was lost but later found.All food and water was now consumed and up. Wells near the kafla were no use.They were known to be poisoned.
Travellers were reduced in strength which ebbed to the minimum.Army trucks would take some who could not move.There were scrambles to get into the Army trucks and Army used sticks to drive away aspirants for lifts.Many fell with exhaustion.I was numb.Dont remember so much.Those with dal and atta would sit on the side of the road,would cook,eat and rest before resuming the journey.
On September 4, my father could not move and collapsed obviously due to tiredness and lack of nuitrition.He wanted to be left there to die.Then my mother saw a woman on the road side cooking,asked for a chapati and was give dal and one chapati both.My father took it, was revived ready to walk again.
Occasionally Army would open fire.I dont know how many people died or were walked upon and injured.

On 5th September kafla reached Head Suleimanki.I remember crossing a bridge walking.On crossing the bridge we found a lot of volunteers waiting to help.This was India we had
struggled extremely hard to reach.Any time I think of this moment, I cry, though it was years ago.
Next I remember is being in a dharamsala in Fazilka , the border town of India.I have gratefully written on the spirit of this town on this blog(www.navdeepasija.blogspot.com).

My father sold the horse for a hundred rupees.He was very fond of this horse and had great understanding with it.They both understood each other.This was a horse which avoided harming children in its way.My mother used to say it was not a horse but a human being.My father did not want to part with it but he had nothing else to fall back upon.A horse can kickstart life.
This is what an eight year old could remember of his one way yatra to Fazilka.This was travel from Hell to Heaven.At least this is what we felt at that time.
But struggle was to be expected to develop new roots.
This would take years.

I must add that my bitterness at being thrown out of my home in 1947 has given way to my refound liking for the people of chak 19 GD Haripur.They were like any other people,
victims of history which had to run its course (even mixed Sikh and Muslim family in the photo had to split in 1947!).I have spent a year trying to establish a contact with present teachers of my old school in this village.I phone these teachers and write to them (my knowledge of Urdu and some Persian and Arabic helps).They read these letters to the children there.
I have written on this blog how I established contact with my old village after 60 years.

The website started by Navdeep Asija (www.navdeepasija.blogspot.com ) is working hard to establish friendships across the two Punjabs ( there are numerous similarities between the two) and I hope that this article posting would also lead to a better understanding so that religion becomes a source of joy and not of suffering.Let 1947 not be allowed to repeat. Let relations existing in 1936 (see the photo) be restored.This is possible!And I am committed to working for this.

Prof Dr. K.K Pujara

M.D.(AM), Ph.D.(UK),FIE,MISME,FASI,MISTE,FSSI.
75,South Park,Kalkaji,
NEW DELHI 110019

Visit www.drspujara.com

Writer is a Guest Professor at IIT Delhi and Retired Prof from Mechanical Engineering Department IIT Delhi. He is also a Chairman of Hukmi Devi Pujara Trust and Practicing Acoustic Consultant.

Fazilite Honored in US : Vinod Gupta’s work with homeless honored by City

IDOT PRO TECH SPREADS PEACE IN SPRINGFIELD
Vinod Gupta’s work with homeless honored by City

Vinod Gupta’s personal philosophy is that we are all born debtors and spend our lives repaying that debt. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it paraphrases one of the most famous of Mahatma Gandhi’s quotes – “we are debtors all our lives and thus for ever bound to serve the universe.”

“Vinnie” Gupta has read volumes about the spiritual leader of his native India and proudly admits that Gandhi’s ideologies guide him. The IDOT Pro Tech has been a well known figure at Helping Hands homeless shelter in Springfield for years as well as at the Springfield Overflow Shelter run by the Salvation Army. His work at the latter earned him a special recognition by Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin who thanked him for his “tireless dedication” in volunteering.

“I was surprised by the award,” said Gupta. “I enjoy serving meals and talking with the people staying at the shelter.” Archie Ford is the director of the Salvation Army in Springfield and said volunteers like Gupta are the reason the Shelter can survive.

“In the last four years, we’ve had to purchase about three meals ourselves, thanks to the volunteers,” said Ford. That’s saying a lot, Ford says, considering the Shelter houses between 40 and 60 people every night between November and March.

“He is truly what I would call a champion for the homeless,” said Brenda Johnson, executive director of Helping Hands, where Gupta serves meals twice a month and regularly emails her with praise and encouragement. “He tells me we are doing God’s work. He sees his contribution as what he should be doing as a human.”

For Gupta, it’s all in a day’s work, except that day doesn’t start until he’s finished his own job at IDOT. The Operations

Coordinator review excess land plats and right-of-way plans for local roads projects utilizing federal funds. He coordinates the environmental process for contaminated parcels, reviews requests for prequalifying consultants, and more.

Born in Fazilka, India, he came to the U.S. with his wife, Anjna, in 1995. The two were college students at the University of Iowa, where Gupta graduated with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering. Their two sons have followed their father’s example of public service. Rohit lives and works in India and Sundeep is a doctor with the Centers for Disease Control, working with HIV patients in Uganda.

Gupta is proud of his sons and has a bit of advice to other young people. “Spend less time on TV and video games and, instead, try to help people,” said Gupta. “There is no greater joy than cheerfulness. Even on your deathbed, you can serve by offering a smile.”

aluuc.org/uploads/Newsletterweb_October2008.pdf