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A SINCERE REQUEST TO ONE & ALL:
BABY CLOTHES: 0 to 6 years, for village girls & boys required...
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
JAI JAWAN, JAI KISAAN !!
This was the slogan that was coined by the most honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri...
Jawan = Soldiers and Kisaan = Farmers are the two most important pillars for any nation. While soldiers guard the nation from external aggression to protect the nation, the farmers grow food to feed the nation. Any nation would be a dead nation without the two... and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri gave utmost importance to both the communities.
Ironical and sad to say, since his departure (he was poisoned during his visit to Russia) none of the Prime Ministers has really bothered to take good care of the two communities.
During my recent visit, I had the chance to meet two extraordinary gentlemen, who belonged to the farmers' families... one is perhaps the oldest freedom fighter alive today in India as he recently completed 98 years in Dharour village, district Ludhiana of Punjab. I was fortunate to spend few days at his home, interact with him and get his blessings. Meet Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal, the freedom fighter from Punjab. I wonder how many of us would be as agile as he is at 99 running years and how many of us would have such a sharp memory even at his age... he remembers each and every date from his childhood and recalls each incident and happening with great detail... even though while serving the Burma Military Police during the Second World War, he was hit by a bullet and sustained multiple injury allover his body, he lost an eye with bullet wounds... every morning he reads newspapers without fail and told us that one of his comrade lost the battle to life recently...
99 years young Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal with son Ranjit Singh...
All my respect and words will not suffice to tell the story of this brave soldier, son of a farmer. Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal was born on the 1st of March 1914. He studied in Sahnewal village school till VIII th grade and in 1932 joined the Burma Military Police and served for 14 years 90 days, when his battalion was captured by the Japanese and they were PoW for two long months in Rangoon in 1943 during the Second World War. He along with many of Indian soldiers were helped by his own nephew Capt. Ajmer Singh to get released from the Japanese jail in Rangoon and later sent to Singapore unit. After a while Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal along with two soldiers and two officers returned back to Burma and was given the duty to administer accomodation and ration for soldiers.
He remembers the emergence of 4 brigades of Subhas Chandra Bose's INA in Singapore in 1943,... he recalls the name of the four brigades (Subhas / Gandhi / Nehru & Rani Jhansi Brigades) with great precision. Later, Bahadur brigade was also formed... he recalls the disastrous day of 1945 when America dropped two Atom Bombs in Japan... Japan gave away their conquest of the world and there was ceasefire... INA too laid their arms in the same year... Indian soldiers fighting under the British Regime gathered at the Central Jail Rangoon in Burma and in 1945 few of them were sent to India. One among the many, Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal was sent to Momiyon City in Andaman & Nicobar island and were asked to maintain secrecy. He smiles to recall that here they were given a good bungalow for accommodation and the food was very good.
Shri Sarwan Singh Grewal with son Ranjit Singh...
While they were at Momiyon, they were told by officials that their individual records were sent to India and once it arrives, they will be discharged from service. The long battle surely had taken a toll on every individual fighting to protect the nation... he finally wrote a letter home after many-many years that he was very much alive. Finally in 1946, all the soldiers got their salary and were sent to India... it certainly was an overwhelming moment to meet family members after so many years being away from home. His sweet smile reflects how he cherishes that particular moment even today at 99 years young...
He is thankful to the Burmese Government & the State of Punjab because they still provide Pension for his invaluable service to the nation even now... but the Nation’s Government have been callous to stop the Pension when he returned from Canada after a five-year (2002 – 2007) stay with his NRI son... they have pursued the case but the Central Government Pension have stopped since 2002...
At 99, he wakes up early and have his breakfast at 7 am. After the breakfast, he walks for a while at home only with his stick for his company. His agility is worth mentioning because very rarely he takes support of his son... at 10 am, he eats his lunch and during the day time, he keeps drinking fruit juice or tea or cool drinks... after his lunch he spends near about an hour to read newspapers... a die-hard habit indeed. At 7 pm, after his dinner... he walks for a while and then retire to bed. Oh yes, he always has his wrist watch on to note his food timings shouldn’t be delayed by any chance. He remembers everyone who arrives at home and he also tells family members visiting from USA that so many days are left for them to return back.
I am have been blessed by this wonderful soul and when I went for the second time, he said to me with a smile, “So you love Punjab a lot to have returned back again, good.” It was the sweetest moment of all to be loved so much by him...
The other extraordinary gentleman is my friend Satpal Singh’s elder brother Jagtar Singh’s father-in-law Masterji... well, everyone calls him Masterji with great respect because he was a teacher in the village. However, after retirement, he took to farming and his farms is taken personal care by this 86-year-young gentleman... at such an age he gives the young a tough time to match his energy level and high spirits. Every morning, he gets up early and heads to his farm... works there till 9 or 10 am and then comes back for breakfast... after having had his siesta, he is back again at his farm to work. It was indeed great lucky moments to have had the chance to hear various fascinating stories about their lives...
I salute these two and many others who even at this age show how we youngsters should work with passion... from the bottom of my heart!
Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan!!!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
LUCKY TO BE BORN UNLUCKY...
I must confess I have been very lucky to be born unlucky!
UNLUCKY because I never got any love from my own family...
LUCKY because I got multifold unconditional love from many of my good friends’ families, strangers who became part of destiny from all over the world and villagers from different States of India...
Satpal Singh's 87-year-old loving Mother...
I am very-very grateful and thankful to my Sai Baba for blessing me in such a way!
I also wish to thank from the bottom of my heart, all of the above mentioned special people who gave me unconditional love all through my growing up years....
However, whenever I look at true loving bonding of any of my friends' families... I wonder, why I was deprived of my parents' love??? I have no clue and perhaps I will leave this world without ever knowing the reasons, as to why they didn't loved me, even when I loved them with all my heart... it surely saddens my heart but now I know it is all part of the 'Journey of Destiny" and growing up.
Friends & the loving Mother...
The last two years have been really a trying times of my life and a great period of learning many important lessons of life, as each day I had to overcome my anxieties, patience, worries, obstacles, trauma, depression, and pain... on February 26th, 2012 I took the much-needed break to be with my friend's families in Punjab... you all must have known that instead, I had a nervous breakdown and I returned almost immediately after the wedding... it took me a month to overcome my breakdown and I realized I have not spend a good time with my dear friend Satpal Singh (who lives in New York now) because at his niece's wedding... we all were busy at the celebration.
Quenching my thirst at a farm...
On 29th March when I woke up from my siesta, I had a very strong urge to be with my friend... I called him and he said, "Most welcome." Good friends are the best gift life can give and the understanding we both share is indeed a boon! On 31st, I left for Ludhiana once again and I felt such a great relief to be with him and his in-laws... everyone was happy to see me again and the unconditional love they all showered on me... TOTALLY BLISSFUL PRICELESS!
My friend & My Parjaiji...
I met some of the most extraordinary Indians among his families and I feel truly blessed to get their love and blessings during my stay with them... UNCONDITIONAL LOVE was everywhere I went... as I connected with total strangers and was welcomed with open arms in their homes and hearts... all the while visiting various villages and meeting villagers, who were more enlightened than us, living in cities.
Ranjit Singh Grewal & his 99-year-young father...
Satpal’s wife (my Parjaiji = sister-in-law) Rajinder Singh Garcha’s loving family consisting of her loving mother and mother’s sisters, younger sister Baby, Baby’s husband Ranjit Singh Grewal, his amazing 99-year-young freedom fighter father (I will be writing an exclusive blog post because he is exceptional even at this age – fully agile, sharp memory to tell you each date and everything about his life and full of love and high spirits), his sweet daughter Mandeep and her husband, ever smiling son Lali... and Satpal’s 87-year-old loving mother, brother Jagtar Singh and his family and in-laws... and many villagers that I was lucky to interact with... I wish to thank everyone for all their love. Parjaiji was truly so-so loving (I was meeting her for the very first time)... Satpal’s mother was so-so kind, loving and active that at the age of 87, every morning she loved to make tea for us... and felt happy to see us sons enjoying her tea... even at this age, she is so active in keeping her home neat and tidy that it would put a young city woman to shame... with no offence at all.
Parjaiji's Loving Mother & younger sister...
While I was visiting villages in various districts of Punjab, I was always keeping a keen eye to grasp the reasons of Punjab farmers’ healthy prospects in farming... I also managed to convince a farmer to start kitchen garden, which he did and was happy to show me during my second visit... I also captured Jaggery-Making and understood the procedures from villagers...
At a Jaggery making unit at a village in Hoshiarpur District...
My Birthday on the Fools’ Day (1st April) was memorable as I was with my friend Satpal and his family... the evening was very special as he treated all the family members at a nice restaurant... it was the closeness of togetherness that mattered full of love... Memorable indeed! Grateful Satpal for everything you have showered on my destiny... I am glad you are part of my destiny!!! Sai Baba bless you and everyone in your families always and forever!!!
Life, O’ Life!!! How beautiful you are and Sai Baba thank you so much for everything!!! From Punjab, I was invited by my Fifth Beautiful Angel Palak Jha at Tundla to spend few days with them... This time, I felt very relaxed and the much-needed-break was a boon in many regards... I am glad that I made the trip... more about Tundla trip in my next post...
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN VIDARBHA WILL NEVER BE COMPLETE, Courtesy: The GOVERNMENT
Only when the Supreme Court, Lokayukta, High Court or else the Governor admonish the ruling government under the most corrupt Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh about various irregularities of various scams... only then a probe is ordered or action taken (actually not taken at all, they are only on papers)...
When I started the series WHAT THE FARMERS NEED? - in February 2011, the first point I discussed was IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE without which the farmers' community are totally at the mercy of the Rain Goddess... yes, Bhartiya Kisaan Bhagwan Barose! Even a class fifth student will tell you that Irrigation Infrastructure is the most mandatory for the agriculture nation (70 % of the population depends on Agriculture related industries... but ever since 1947, the nation has been incapable (because of corruption) to build a fool-proof Irrigation Infrastructure for the farmers' community to grow crops year after year.
BUDGET 2012-13:
* Proposal to allocate Rs 300 crore to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY was made
• Outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) increased to `9,217 crore in 2012-13
• The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed structural changes in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) to maximise flow of benefit from investments in irrigation projects.
• Allocation for AIBP in 2012-13 stepped up by 13 per cent to Rs 14242 crore."""
BUDGET 2012-13:
* Proposal to allocate Rs 300 crore to Vidarbha Intensified Irrigation Development Programme under RKVY was made
• Outlay for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) increased to `9,217 crore in 2012-13
• The Union Budget 2012-13 proposed structural changes in Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) to maximise flow of benefit from investments in irrigation projects.
• Allocation for AIBP in 2012-13 stepped up by 13 per cent to Rs 14242 crore."""
One can imagine the heights of callousness of the nation's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee callous attitude for Irrigation Infrastructure of the Nation!!! As per THE HITAVADA dtd: 28th March 2012, the Governor of Maharastra K Sankaranarayanan has slammed the State Government over the HUGE "Balance Cost" of Irrigation Infrastructure Projects. As per April 1, 2011, the balance cost of irrigation projects in the State of Maharastra is Rs. 75,366 Crore / Billion....
Only one state's Balance Cost is Rs. 75,366 Crore... imagine the scale of 28 States and 7 Union Territories' TOTAL BALANCE COST of the Nation??? And what does the FM allocates in the Budget 2012-13???
This project in Vidarbha Region is still incomplete after 29 years... the Project Cost has been escalated to the tune of 2000 %... and yet... yes, there is no sign of water for irrigation....
As per the reported figures, 277 Projects in Vidarbha Region requires Rs. 29,413 Crore as on April 1,2011. In all, 183 projects in Marathawada region requires Rs. 13,580 Crore and 287 projects in the Rest of Maharastra requires Rs. 32,373 Crore. As on paper (only in paper not on real grounds) there are 747 ongoing projects which requires a total of Rs. 75,366 Crore...
The well-known and often written about Gosikhurd Irrigation Project has still not been completed and year after year the project cost is escalated since the last 30 Years... yes, three decades of Maharastra must have seen more than 10 Chief Ministers come and go... and not a single one has really bothered about the Irrigation Projects... whereas, as many as 87 Thermal Power Projects have been sanctioned by various CMs to help the MNCs and Corporate World... Drinking Water in town city of Wardha is at the mercy of Municipal Corporation to provide drinking water alternate day for just 1 hour and at times one hour after three days' gap... and during summer many times just twice a week... villagers have to walk miles to fetch water for the family in hot sun...in remote villages of Maharastra and other states.
While the PM and his Planning Commission is projecting the Nation's Economic Growth in the world... one look at the picture below will reveal the truth of Indian State's Pathetic Condition of the Tribal Villagers, who are digging wells with bare hands with simple tools (Fawda aur Gaintee)... in the Melghat Region of Amravati district (the district which is home to the "who cares about the villagers" attitude President of the Nation)
The Tribal Villagers of Melghat are still digging wells with bare hands....
Vidarbha Region and the Rest of Indian States will never see completion of Irrigation Projects in another 1000 years because of the corrupt callous government... in spite of the nation claiming in the world about Rapid Economic Growth... I really admire Libyan leader Gaddafi who built GREAT OMAR MUKHTAR MAN-MADE RIVER (GMMR) - World's Eighth Wonder, which irrigates the whole of Libyan farms and also provide drinking water to the whole Libya... Gaddafi may be a tyrant for the world but what he visioned for his nation is OUTSTANDING and the GMMR will not dry up for the next 50 years... and it is this precious thing why the US invaded Libya to kill him....
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
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