Fazilka Value Education Lecture Series-Physics by Nitin Setia, Samsung Electronics India Limited

Lecture on Electronics and Physics by Nitin Setia, Samsung Electronics India Limited on 26th December 2009 at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Park Library, Fazilka

Vijay Diwas 16th December- Asafwala War Memorial Fazilka

On the occasion of Vijay Diwas-1971 India Pakistan War
A 1971 Indo-Pak War's Martyrs Memorial

By Ashwini Ahuja (Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka)

Just seven kilometers away from Fazilka town, Aasafwala Shaheedon Ki Samadh- a sacred memorial in the remembrance of the martyrs of 1971 war between Indo-Pak is managed by "War Memorial Committee", Aasafwala (Fazilka) with the co-operation of civil and army administration. It is an historical place to visit if you come to Fazilka. You can pay reverence towards all those martyrs who had sacrificed their lives to defend Fazilka from Pakistan aggression.

Way back in 1971 during Indo-Pak war, several valiant Jat soldiers of 67 Infantry Brigade had sacrificed his precious life while fighting with Pakistan military near Gurmi Khera village. Before the enemies entered the village, the soldiers on India's side geared themselves up to hit back the enemies. They were equipped with high quality guns, tanks & ammunitions etc.

Needless to say the inhabitants of every house in the village and the surrounding areas had attached themselves through secret tunnels strategically to encounter the Pakistan army. Brave soldiers of "67 Infantry Brigade" regularly pray to Lord Hanumana to earn His blessing. They have the immense desire to sacrifice their life for the country particularly to defend the Fazilka city.

December 3rd 1971 was the beginning of doom days coming ahead. In a macabre evening that day, Pakistan Army attacked on Beri Wala Bridge and began to rush towards Fazilka. The skirmishes continued till 17th of December 1971. Our soldiers fought with bravery and succeeded in retaining back the areas which we had lost earlier except Beri Wala. Their strenuous and indefatigable efforts resulted in the protection of Fazilka but unfortunately, they couldn't save their lives.

On 17th December, 1971 exactly at 8 pm, the war stopped until then several brave soldiers had sacrificed their lives in their efforts to save the city. On 18th December 1971, the all dead bodies were collected in the nearby area. Mass funeral was arranged in a 90 feet long huge pyre. It is proudly said that all those who serve the country and bow their heads at Shaheedon ki Samadh are blessed ones. Every year, a function is organized in the memories of martyrs at that place. Dignitaries from different walks of life, politicians, highly government & Army officials, civilians and even students from professional colleges to offer floral tribute to the martyrs.

Regards,
--
Navdeep Asija
http://navdeepasija.blogspot.com
Fazilka - 152123

Picture Courtesy : Mr Pardeep, Unique Studio Fazilka

Gazal Maestro Mehandi Hasan and Fazilka

Mehdi Hassan was born in the village of Luna in Jhunjhunu district in Rajasthan, India in 1927 into a Shia Muslim family of traditional musicians. He claims to be the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant.

He received his musical training under his father, Ustad Azeem Khan and his uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were classical musicians, well-versed in the dhrupad style of singing. They instructed him in classical music and voice production within the framework of classical forms of thumri, dhrupad, khayal and dadra, from the age of eight.

Hassan started to perform at a young age and the first concert of dhrupad and kheyal with his elder brother is reported to have been held in Fazilka Bungla, near present SDM Court (1935) district Ferozepur of Undivided Punjab. After the Partition of India, 20-year-old Hassan and his family migrated to Pakistan and suffered severe financial hardships. To make ends meet, Hassan began working in a bicycle shop and later became a car and diesel tractor mechanic.
The struggle ended when Mehdi Hassan was given the opportunity to sing on Radio Pakistan in 1952, primarily as a thumri singer, which earned him recognition within the musical fraternity. At the time, Ustad Barkat Ali Khan, Begum Akhtar and Mukhtar Begum were considered the stalwarts of ghazal gayaki.

He also had a passion for Urdu poetry and began to experiment by singing ghazals on a part-time basis. He cites radio officers Z.A. Bukhari and Rafiq Anwar as additional influences in his progression as a ghazal singer.

Following a severe illness in the late 80s, Mehdi Hassan stepped down from playback singing. Later due to severity of his illness he completely departed from music. He now lives a secluded life in Karachi which he has made his permanent residence. Nevertheless he often visits Lahore where he spends most of his time with his children and other family members.
While he was singing in the Court of Nepal's King Shah Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, he forgot the lines of his song "Zindagi mein to sabhii pyar kya kerte hain". Shah, then stood from his seat and start singing the next line.

He has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions: the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz granted to him by Gen Ayub Khan; the Pride of Performance bestowed on him by Gen Ziaul Haq; and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz conferred by Gen Pervez Musharraf. Besides the Nigar Film and Graduate Awards from Pakistan, he was presented the Saigal Award in Jalandhar, India, in 1979, whereas the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu Award was given to him in Nepal in 1983. Recently, he travelled to Dubai to receive yet another award.

(Source: Wikipedia)
http://whoiswhoinkarachi.blogspot.com/2009/12/mehdi-hassan.html

Fazilka residents donate for face-lifting of war memorial

Fazilka residents donate for face-lifting of war memorial
SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Fazilka, December 8
The war memorial set up by residents of this town in the memory of 82 soldiers of the Indian Army, who laid their lives while protecting the area during the India-Pakistan war of 1971, is being renovated these days. It is being done with the donations from residents of the town that has the distinction of having established the country's only war memorial built out of funds raised from public.

Mohan Lal Paruthi, a prominent person of the area, who was among those who collected the mutilated bodies of the 82 soldiers of the 4 JAT and cremated them at the site of the war memorial in village Asafwala, is supervising the renovation work.

The war memorial committee has also set up a high school, a primary school, a dispensary and a community centre on the five-acre complex. A war museum is also under construction. The pillar on which the names of martyrs have been inscribed is also being renovated.

Paruthi recalled that the 82 soldiers laid their lives at Grumikhera while preventing the Pakistani troops from advancing towards the Fazilka town. A couple of residents on December 18 collected the mutilated remains of the soldiers from 7 in the morning till 3 pm and thereafter, performed the last rites on a mass pyre.

The war memorial was initially established on one acre land and was later expanded to five acres. The state government was approached for setting up a school that has now been upgraded to high school.

Paruthi said the war memorial had become an attraction for not only residents of the surrounding towns but also for visitors from outside who visit Fazilka to pay respect to the martyrs. He said portraits of the martyrs and pictures of the war would be displayed in the museum.

Shashi Kant, also involved in the renovation work, has published a booklet on the heroic deeds of the soldiers.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091209/bathinda.htm#2

Abohar Fazilka Area Association honored Ex. CBI Director Joginder Singh

CHANDIGARH: Chandigarh based Abohar fazilka Area Association (AFAA)
recently honored Ex. CBI Director, Retd. IPS  Joginder Singh for his
outstanding social service.

He was honored by giving momentum, Shawl & citation by Prof
.J.C.Nagpal, President; Dr.Anshu Kataria, Covenor; Bhupinder Nagpal,
B. L. Chawla and P. D. Wadhera.

Joginder Singh belongs from a very small town Jalalabad (West), which
is located at the border of Punjab, near Pakistan. Considering his
services to the society, AFAA honored him. Recently AFAA also, honored
Fazilka born Dr. Rajneesh Arora Vice-Chancellor (VC) Punjab Technical
University (PTU), Jalandhar. It is to be mentioned that The Abohar
fazilka Area Association (AFAA) (Regd.), an around 30 year old
association for the residents of Abohar Fazilka area.

It is worth mentioning that Sh. Joginder Singh has already been
awarded with "Panth Rattan", "Delhi Rattan" and "Punjabian DI Shan".
He has also been conferred the Millennium Sikh Gold Award. He has also
been conferred Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sadbhavana Award.

http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/21653/143/