Fazilka Heritage Festival 2009-Invitation

Fazilka Heritage Festival 2009

Annual Art, Food and Cultural Festival of Fazilka Region

www.fazilkafestival.org

Venue: Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Park, Fazilka (Pratap Bagh)

Theme: Organic Food and Global Warming

Country’s first of its kind unique festival with scientific theme

India’s smallest big town, inviting people across the country and continent to come and discover the rich heritage and culture of Fazilka.

It gives us immense pleasure to announce the dates for Fazilka’s third annual, food, art and cultural festival “FAZILKA HERITAGE FESTIVAL -2009” from 09^nd to 12^th April 2009. Started in the year 2006 under the aegis of the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka^®, the Fazilka Heritage Festival is an annual feature ornamenting the fair face of the city of Fazilka. Fazilka Heritage Festival is an offering sublime not just for the music and art lovers of Fazilka but also for those of the entire state of Punjab and region put together. Conceived and planned as a cultural event showcasing the various aspects of art, music and food culture of the erstwhile Fazilka with a view to injecting a fresh lease of life into them, the Festival is literally an art and cultural extravaganza. Fazilka Heritage Festival 2009 brings out this very spirit alive in the shape of a mega cultural fest where cultures unite, wits battle, ideas and imaginations evolve creating a joint and everlasting euphemism. The cultural facet of the event provides a podium for creative and imaginative display of teams, talent, ideas and thoughts. The season is all set and the mood is like never before. Fazilka Heritage Festival 2009 promises to be a much bigger, broader and better affair that will go down the memories as a sophisticated as well as enjoyable event - the basic essence of this festival. The main aim of this heritage festival is to promote Fazilka’s rich culture and heritage worldwide. This event will not only promote the vibrancy of Fazilka’s culture and Punjabiat in the border region of Punjab but also will help to establish Fazilka as a Brand city. This branding will directly or indirectly support the local handicraft, workers, sweet makers and this will generate employment opportunity through tourism in the region for many.

Teams meet from corners of the country, and we have confluence of ideas. The vision of Fazilka Heritage Festival continues to be. The targets that we set out last year, in Mehak Sarhad Di, we managed to achieve, and our goals are set higher now.

The main highlights of this mega event shall be;

1. VIBRANT FAZILKA- a night dedicates to display the vibrancy and cheerful nature of royal Fazilites.

2. HAMARE PREHRI- In collaboration with Indian Armed Forces. A night dedicate to Indian Armed forces, defenders of Fazilka.

3. WOMEN OF FAZILKA – A Night dedicate to honour and celebrate the females of Fazilka region, who made city proud, fashion show, achievers and many more....

4. YOUTH FAZILKA – A night dedicate to youth of the city.

5. ROCK YOU - Live DJ performances and live shows in front of Fazilka’s historic building Clock Tower. Live rock band performances…

THEME: ORGANIC FOOD and GLOBAL WARMING

6. FOOD ZONE: a dedicated zone will demonstrate the famous Fazilka recipe and Street Food made by known chefs of the area, just to retune your taste buds. The main idea behind Food Zone is to promote organic food. Many activists and volunteer organizations working in this field are likely to participate in the same

7. PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FRIENDLY CITY – This will not just improve the health of participants through walking but here you can also taste the delicious food of Malwa region of Punjab around clock tower. Use of Plastic shall be banned during the festival and practice may be followed by the alert citizen after the festival.

8. GARDEN FESTIVAL: during Day time, people will be able to enjoy the beauty of our historical Partap Bagh at festival location. Entire Park will be decorated with seasonal flowers. Nature lovers would love this initiative. Many competitive events like flower decoration, rangoli, best landscape design will be followed at the venue

THE COMMUNITY

1. ART and CRAFT ZONE- Artist’s corner –, where on the both sides of the roads, local artist will display their products related to handicrafts and traditional fine arts.

2. BANGLA THEATRE – Nukkar Theatre event dedicated to street and stag plays by various participants groups across the country.

3. LIBAAS- A fashion event based upon the theme Fazilka revisited.

4. RENDEZVOUS WITH FAZILKA – An exhibition portraying transition of Fazilka in Post Independence era and many others fine and performing art events.

5. KALAM SE: an event dedicated to honor the renowned writer/poet of Fazilka region. Know face to face interaction with Satish”Bedag”, Baldev Singh “Azad” and Laxman “Dost”

OUR ACHIEVEMENT-OUR SOCIAL COMMITMENT

2006-2007: Theme: Cycle and Pedestrian Friendly City

This event has already added success stories in its last two year celebration in row. In year 2006, pedestrianisation in Fazilka through festival was appreciated by Transport Department, University of Vienna, Austria. During festival time, special emphasis was given to keep the city as pedestrian and cycle friendly. Experiment of “Car Free Zone” through this festival has already made us on country’s map being first Indian car free city. Leading environment magazine of the country “DOWN to EARTH” highlighted the same success story in special 400th edition of their Magazine (http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20090115&filename=news&sec_id=4&sid=13)

2007-2008: Theme: Energy and Ecology

This year use of plastic was banned in the festival arena and special discount stalls were established by the CFL suppliers to mark city as first CFL city in the country. A cycle rally for senior citizen and with Indian Army was organized during the festival time. The aim behind all these activities was to promote best energy saving practices through in the daily lifestyle of Fazilites.

This year we are expecting nearby 1 lack visitor in this festival. Our Fazilka Heritage Festival is already recorded as world’s most eco friendly festival. In continuation to that, this year festival theme has been chosen as “Promotion of Organic Food and suppressing the effect of Global Warming”.

Media coverage about our last year events are available at our website www.fazilkafestival.org. Videos can be checked at youtube.com (keyword search: Fazilka heritage festival).

So tighten up your belt to fly with us on a journey called Fazilka Heritage Festival.

Cheers,

Fazilka Rocks

Team Fazilka Heritage Festival

contact@lovefazilka.com

Fazilka Girl created history…..

This must be great news for the people of Fazilka town that Medical student Gurpreet Kaur of Armed forces Medical College, Pune, who hails from Fazilka

 Town, won the prestigious President's Gold Medal. She was awarded the same on the passing out Prade of 2008 Medical Batch held at Armed Force Medical College, Pune. This year out of 43 academics awards 28 were bagged by girl students only and out of that 7 are credited to Gurpreet alone. Gurpreet did her basic schooling for Sacred Heart Convent School Fazilka.

She surpassed her 102 fellow cadets to win the prestigious President's Gold

 Medal. This award has been given for the best all-round outgoing medical cadet of the year 2008.

Rejoicing her success story, she said, "Initially, I wanted to join the armed forces as fighter pilot and my father wanted me to be a doctor and after getting selected in the AFMC and becoming an officer today, both these dreams have come true.” Gurpreet is the first in her families to serve the Defense force. Gurpreet dedicated this award to her family especially her father. Her Father is working with Industrial Training Institute, Fazilka and her younger sister is doing her bachelor degree in Nursing from PGI Chandigarh.

She will be posted at Military Hospital, Jalandhar to complete her internship, where she is keener to work in the pediatric department.

Fazilka town has given few outstanding doctors to the world and Padam-vibhushan Dr. Jagjit Chopra, founder principal of Govt Medical College, Chandigarh,world famous neurologist, we can name at top amongst all. Lieutenant (Dr.) Gurpreet is next addition to this medical-tradition.

On the occasion of “Fazilka Heritage Festival-2009”, which is going to held in the month of April, GWAF will honor Gurpreet on a special event dedicated to ‘Women of Fazilka”; for bringing laurels to the name of this small town with her outstanding contribution in the field of medicine. Malika-e-Tarannum Noorjahan, Padamshri Pushpa Hans, Maharashtra Cadre IPS officer Meera Chadha Borwankar and Mandira Bedi are the renowned female achievers from this small town, we can name them. Surely Doctor Gurpreet is next name to it who is going to be flag bearer to carry forward the unmatched legacy of this small town. We the citizen of this India’s smallest big town congratulate Gurpreet for her success and we wish her quality and successful life ahead. On the occasion of World’s Women day, this is an advance gift to the citizen of Fazilka and entire Punjab by Lieutenant (Dr.) Gurpreet Kaur.

Inklings of politics in urban India-Down To Earth

The traditional non-politics of Indian cities is confronted by rapid urbanization 

THERE are signs that urban India is discovering politics after a long interval. City after congested city is demanding funds for new, comfortable buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Municipal managers see a clear political advantage in pushing public transport, and no merkely pandering to the car lobby (see ‘More bus rides’ Down To Earth, February 16-28, 2009).

Now, Thane has announced an ambitious plan to have a cycle track. The lobbies of truckers and personal vehicles are quite clearly up in arms. Their resistance to the cycle track should be seen in the context of what has happened in the town of Fazilka in Punjab (see ‘Come without your car’, Down To Earth, January 1-15, 2009). The trader lobby, the interests of which are aligned with the interests of truckers, was dead against restrictions on cars in the main market of the town. They feared the inability to park cars close to the shops would dissuade their clientele. But after the ban on cars came about, shopkeepers said they registered an increase in sales.

There is no mystery at work here, no surprise. When citizens have greater mobility, economic activities only increase. People of Fazilka realized mobility was not the same thing as automobility—private vehicles, when uncontrolled, cause more congestion and immobility than their adverts would have people believe.

Urban planners and city managers in India have for too long mistaken automobility for mobility. This is because they have identified too closely with the interests of the minority that gains from concessions to private vehicles, because urban voters were indifferent. Urban voters did not form as big a part of the polity as they do now, given rapid urbanization. This shift is leading to new strategies among all political parties.

It stands to reason that managment of cities will make or break many a political career. Consider the case of slum redevelopment in Bengaluru. The interests of the real estate sector are not aligned with those of people living in the city’s slums. Till now, city managers and urban planners have chosen to not deal with the interests of slums and the people who live there. Low-cost housing has never been taken seriously in India despite several international examples of the social and economic role it can play. It is hoped the discovery of politics in urban India will extend to land use and housing. 

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20090315&filename=led&sec_id=3&sid=1

Punjabi kudis create history

Pune: Lt Harleen Chopra became the first Indian woman cadet to command a passing out parade of the AFMC graduates, while Lt Gurpreet Kaur from Fazilka won the prestigious President's Gold Medal

Once again the fairer sex has intruded the male bastion by commanding the passing out parade of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) graduates in Pune yesterday.Lt Harleen Chopra, a medical cadet of the AFMC became the first-ever Indian woman cadet to command a passing out parade of the graduates who would be commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Lt Chopra, who awed the spectators with her supreme authority while giving the commands to other cadets, believes that women are equally tough and strong as their male counterparts. Apart from drills, Lt Chopra has fared well in her academics too. She has topped in four subjects pathology, microbiology, ophthalmology and ENT. 

Lt Gen Yogendra Singh, PVSM, VSM, PHS, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, said, " Lt Harleen is a brilliant student and we have considered her four and half years' performance before selecting her to be the First Lady Cadet to command AFMC POP." 

Even Lt Chopra's parents were present when the history was being created. And soon after the parade was over, her mother, Neelam Chopra, exclaimed, 'No other day in my life could be better than this'. 

Besides, Lt Gurpreet Kaur from Fazilka surpassed her 102 fellow cadets to win the prestigious President's Gold Medal. She said, "Initially, I wanted to become a fighter pilot, but then I decided to pursue a career in medicine." Interestingly, both the girls are the first in their families to serve the Defense force.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/mar/060309-Pune-Lt-Harleen-Chopra-Indian-woman-cadet-passing-out-parade-AFMC-graduates-Lt-Gurpreet-Kaur.htm

Punjabi kudis create history

une: Lt Harleen Chopra became the first Indian woman cadet to command a passing out parade of the AFMC graduates, while Lt Gurpreet Kaur from Fazilka won the prestigious President's Gold Medal

Once again the fairer sex has intruded the male bastion by commanding the passing out parade of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) graduates in Pune yesterday.Lt Harleen Chopra, a medical cadet of the AFMC became the first-ever Indian woman cadet to command a passing out parade of the graduates who would be commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Lt Chopra, who awed the spectators with her supreme authority while giving the commands to other cadets, believes that women are equally tough and strong as their male counterparts. Apart from drills, Lt Chopra has fared well in her academics too. She has topped in four subjects pathology, microbiology, ophthalmology and ENT. 

Lt Gen Yogendra Singh, PVSM, VSM, PHS, Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, said, " Lt Harleen is a brilliant student and we have considered her four and half years' performance before selecting her to be the First Lady Cadet to command AFMC POP." 

Even Lt Chopra's parents were present when the history was being created. And soon after the parade was over, her mother, Neelam Chopra, exclaimed, 'No other day in my life could be better than this'. 

Besides, Lt Gurpreet Kaur from Fazilka surpassed her 102 fellow cadets to win the prestigious President's Gold Medal. She said, "Initially, I wanted to become a fighter pilot, but then I decided to pursue a career in medicine." Interestingly, both the girls are the first in their families to serve the Defense force.

Women cadets win laurels at AFMC

6 Mar 2009, 0458 hrs IST, Prasad Kulkarni, TNN

PUNE: Just two days before the International Women's Day, women officers in the passing out batch of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) here on thursday won accolades by bagging 26 of the 43 awards.. In addition to this, woman cadet Harleen Chopra commanded the passing out parade for the first time in the history of the Indian armed forces, said AFMC spokesperson Lt Col Abhijeet Rudra. 

According to Lt Col Rudra, the women bagged awards, including gold, silver and bronze medals, in various categories because of their performance. Some of the cadets won certificate of merit awards for their academic performance. The awards they won also include the President's Gold Medal for the best all-round outgoing medical cadet of the year 2008, maj gen kewal krishna memorial gold medal, Maj Gen pp chowdhary rolling trophy and silver medal, Kalinga Trophy and the Rao Sahab Itto Krishnaji Chavan memorial gold medal. 

"Normally, women's performance is good, but this time, they did exceptionally well. The number of women showing a remarkable performance is very high this year," he said. 

A total of 103 medical graduates were commissioned into the Armed Forces Medical Services at the passing out parade. According to Lt Gen Shiv Kumar Sharma, Director and Commandant AFMC, out of 103 newly commissioned officers, 84 will be joining the army, four air force and 15 Navy. 

Harleen Chopra, who commanded the parade, joined the AFMC in 2004. She hails from Ludhiana in Punjab. "Normally it is considered that women are mentally and physically weaker. But that is not the case. They can perform well in any filed. Even in the armed forces," Chopra said. 

Chopra had topped in Ludhiana during her class 10 examination with 94.6 per cent marks. At the AFMC, she got distinction in pathology, microbiology and ophthalmology. She is also a member of the Students Scientific Society. She was adjudged the second Best speaker' at the Bombay Medical Congress in 2007. 

The President's Gold Medal was awarded to medical cadet Gurpreet Kaur. She will be doing her internship at the Military Hospital in Jalandhar. "I wanted to join the armed forces and my father wanted me to be a doctor. After getting selected in the AFMC and becoming an officer today, both these dreams have come true," said Kaur, who hails from Fazilka, a small village (Township) in Punjab. Kaur said she wants to work in the pediatric department. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Women-cadets-win-laurels-at-AFMC/articleshow/4230759.cms