Fazilka’s pride: 5 Padma awardees

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100201/punjab.htm#7

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, January 31
Fazilka is perhaps the only sub-divisional headquarters whose citizens have got five Padma Awards. The residents proudly quote the name of Kanwar Surinder Singh Bedi — perhaps the only Indian Civil Services (now Indian Administrative Services) bureaucrat in the country who has been conferred with both Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his meritorious contribution in civil services during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars.

Belonging to a small village of Chack Bedi in Sahiwal town of Mintgomery district (now in Pakistan) Kanwar Surinder Singh Bedi was a tehsildar then. At the time of Partition, his family migrated to India and settled in Lalowali village of Fazilka subdivision.

Bedi then qualified for Indian Civil Services and was posted as DC of Amritsar in 1965. He showed rare administrative skills and helped the Army during the 1965 war. He was conferred with Padma Shri in 1966 for providing outstanding administration and health services towards the Army.

Later, he was promoted as commissioner and was posted in Jalandhar division in 1971. Again following his meritorious services during the 1971 war, Bedi was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1972.

Veteran Punjabi singer Pushpa Hans, who hails from the area, was given Padma Shri in 2007 for her outstanding performance in the fields of art and culture. A heartthrob of millions in the 40s and the 50s, Hans acted and sang in movies.

Her acting added dimensions to movies like V Shanta Ram's "Apna Desh" (1949), Sohrab Modi's "Sheesh Mahal" (1950). The melodious compositions like "Channa kithan guzari raat wey", "Gallan dilan diyaan dila vich reh gayiyaan" and "Tarean to puchh Chann wey" are still hold the public in awe. She has also been awarded Punjabi Bhushan Award by Punjabi Academy, Delhi, and Kalpana Chawla Excellence Awards - 2007.

World famous neurologist and former principal of Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, Dr Jagjit Singh Chopra is also a resident of Fazilka. He is a member of American Academy of Neurology and editor of World Neurology - an International journal of World Federation of Neurology. He was awarded Padma Shri (correction : Bhushan) in 2008 for his contribution in the medical field.

It was the proud moment for Sikhs when Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa became the first Sikh kirtania to get Padma Shri in 2009. Bhai Nirmal Singh is the Hazoori Raagi of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar.

Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa is doing kirtan for the past 25 years and is one of the finest raagis having knowledge of all 31 raags in the Gurbani of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. From 1979 he has been serving as a Hazoori Raagi, Sach Khand Harmandir Sahib. He has also performed kirtan at the five Takhts, historical gurdwaras in India and abroad.

A clarification
Chandigarh, February 1.2010
Dr JS Chopra, a top neurologist and founder Director-Principal of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, here was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2008 and not Padma Shri as erroneously mentioned in the report “Fazilka’s pride: 5 Padma awardees” today. — TNS

Lohri for girls receives appreciation

Anilesh S Mahajan TNN
13th January, 2008, Times of India, Chandigarh Edition
Chandigarh: Fazilka, situated near the Indo-Pak border, has put itself at the heart of the battle against female foeticide. On Friday the town celebrated a collective Lohri for more than 100 newborn girls. The folk festival of Punjab is usually celebrated for newborn boys only. While this reflects on the inherent patriarchic nature of the society in the state, the celebration for girls can be seen as an attempt to reform the mindset that works against them. The celebrations, organized by a local tabloid Sarhad Kesri have now received the appreciation of two women who hail from the town and have been successful in different spheres of life. Padmashree award winning singer Pushpa Hans and Maharashtra IG (crime) Meera Chadha Borwankar told TOI in separate communications that they were moved by the report regarding the celebration they read in the electronic version of the newspaper's Chandigarh edition. The celebration in Fazilka had the town's who's who taking part. This was a first of its kind celebration in the state organized without government help. Rakesh Nagpal, the organizer of the event said he was happy that two of the successful women from the town had appreciated the effort. Punjab has been criticized globally for its skewed sex ratio. The government has started acting against the evil of female foeticide but has not been very successful. "I still remember my days at my home there. My town has a history of supporting girls. The people there will not allow the menace of female foeticide to prevail," said Pushpa Hans. She is a noted Punjabi singer considered a living legend. She added that her area is known more for successful women than men. Be it Noorjahan, Reshma or Mandira Bedi. "I am sure that my town is proud of its girls," she said. Meanwhile, Meera Chadha Borwankar said she was proud of the efforts being made in her hometown. She stated that it was only because of her hometown's culture that both she and her sister, who is senior income tax officer had made it big. "We are ready to make any contribution needed to spread the message for saving the girl child," she said. It is high time that we wake up and stop female foeticide and killing of newborn girls, she said.

Fazilite Honoured with Padamshree : Paradmshree Mrs Pushpa Hans (Chopra)

An Eternal Cultural Dimension of a of Fazilka Who contributed to enrich the heritage of Punjab

It is a great news and proud moment for citizens of Fazilka that Mrs. Pushpa Hans, a veteran Punjabi singer from this town has been given Padamshri Award, the most prestigious and coveted civilian award for Indian citizens of the sub continent by the President of India, for her outstanding contribution in the field of Art and Culture.
It is heartening to note this as she has contributed immensely to the cause of Punjabi folk and classical music.
Padamshri Pushpa Hans, a heart-throb of millions of cinema fans in the 40s and the 50s, acted in movies as a singing star and also did play back singing for actors of yesteryears. She hails from Fazilka and is now settled at New Delhi. Her acting added laurels and dimensions to movies of Mr. V. Shanta Ram's "Apna Desh, 1949”, Mr. Sohrab Modi's "Sheesh Mahal, 1950”. These are a few out of the many movies which were appreciated by the cine goers of 50s. She sang playback for the Punjabi film "Chaman" and many other films. The melodious compositions are still sung by contestants especially in “Awaz Punjab Di” sponsored by several agencies on TV channels. Older generation still makes it a point to recollect her melodious songs which they still hum at the time of marriages and social functions.
All the musical compositions to which she gave her voice still enthrall the audiences all over the world. Her song "Channa kithan guzari raat wey", "Gallan dilan diyaan dila vich reh gayiyaan" & "Tarean to puchh Chann wey " still hold the public in awe. She is a remembered for her legendary Punjabi folklores and classical renderings. She is one of the few female play back singers for whom the Government of India has recorded a Documentary. The others artistes are Lata Mangeshkar Ji & Asha Bhonsale Ji. Even at a ripe age she continues to sing on TV, launch CDs, and perform on stage. Mrs. Pushpa Hans has been conducting live stage concerts all over the world. She has performed on the prestigious stages of USA, Canada and the UK. She was the leading singing artiste of film actor late Mr. Sunil Dutt’s “The Ajanta Arts” troupe“ which visited the border areas to entertain Jawans on the front. May be her husband’s being in the Defence Services motivated her to do her bit for the Jawans serving on the border under harsh living conditions and rigorous climate.
Padamshri Mrs. Pushpa Hans has brought name and fame to the small town of Fazilka.
We, the citizen of Fazilka congratulate Mrs. Pushpa Hans for bringing laurels to the name of our town of her birth and pray for her long and high quality life. Her achievements in classical music will inspire the younger generations.
Awards:
- Padamshri Award, on the eve of Republic Day, 26th January, 2007, Government of India
- Punjabi Bhushan Award (2007)

Famous Punjabi Songs by Mrs. Pushpa Hans;
· chan kithan gujaari saari raat ve
· sari raat tera takni ha raah tarean to puchh chann wey
· gallan dilan diyaan dila vich reh gayiyaan
· channa meri bah chhad dey
· chunni da palla
· lutti heer wey faqir de
·
Famous Hindi Songs sung by Mrs. Pushpa Hans

· aadmi woh haay musibat se pareshan na ho
· bedard zamaana kya jaane
· bhoole zamaane yaad na kar yaad na kar
· dil kisise lagaake dekh liya
· dil-e-naadaan tujhe kya hua hai
· koi ummeed bar nahin aati
· meri khushiyon ke savere ki kabhi shaam na ho
· taqdeer bananewaale ne kaisi taqdeer banaayi hai
· tohe dil ki qasam tohe dil ki qasam
· tu maane ya na maane
· tum dekh rahe ho ki mite saare sahaare

Personal Details

Husband: Colonel Hans Raj Chopra (Retd)
Parents: Mother: Mrs. Janak Rani Kapoor, Father: Advocate Ratan Lal Kapoor, of Fazilka