Remembering a Great Teacher and Academic Leader

 Remembering a Great Teacher and Academic Leader

 Memories of college times flashed through my mind when, as a member of the Kurukshetra University Court, I recently had the honour of participating in the University’s Convocation Procession.

 I was a student of the first batch of B.Sc. Hons (Physics) cohort at the Kurukshetra University, in 1962. The Vice-Chancellor, Hardawari Lal, had left to join politics and Lala Suraj Bhan had recently joined as Vice-Chancellor of the University.

 I remember Lala Suraj Bhan as a Vice Chancellor who not only helped to establish the budding university from 1962 to 1965 but also left a long-lasting impact on the young students, many of whom went on to scale the heights of their respective careers.

 Lala Suraj Bhan was an eminent educationist who remained Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University Chandigarh for three terms and retired from there in 1974. Later, he became the President of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, till his death in 1980. He received his first master’s degree in English literature from Panjab University, Lahore, followed by a second from London University. He started his career as a lecturer in English at the DAV College in Lahore and, after Partition, became Principal of DAV College at Jalandhar.  

 He was a very soft-spoken but strict disciplinarian, who was much-loved by students for his fatherly guidance and advice. He had one-to-one relationships with talented students and introduced scholarships for students to fulfil their ambitions and achieve heights in their careers. The world-famous ghazal singer Jagjit Singh was one of his students, as were several sportspersons, like triple-jumper Mohinder Singh Gill, Hammer-thrower Nirmal Singh and Harinder Gill, and William Massey, who all won laurels at the international level.    

 A few incidents personifying his character came to my mind when the other day one of my friends Amarpal Singh, who was a national-level sportsperson during student days, recalled an anecdote from that time. Led by Nirmal Singh the hammer thrower, a few sports students living in the hostel wrapped themselves in bedsheets and went from room to room collecting money for movie tickets during the night, violating hostel closing time. They were caught by the hostel warden and paraded to the Vice Chancellor Mr. Suraj Bhan. He fined them Rs 150/- each but when the students pleaded that they were not in a position to pay such a heavy fine, Lala Suraj Bhan increased their sports stipend for one month by exactly that amount.

 Once, when Suraj Bhan was passing through the office of the Registrar, he found that a fan in an empty room was switched on. He immediately ordered the removal of the fan. After one and half months, he mentioned to the Registrar that his PA seemed to be a stubborn person who preferred to work without a fan rather than apologising for his mistake. The registrar explained that, in fact, his PA has apologized daily to him but said he was too ashamed to face the Vice Chancellor for seeking forgiveness. The VC expressed surprise but then allowed the Registrar to put the fan back in the PA’s office.   

 Suraj Bhan ji was very fond of ‘chatti ki lassi’. My father had offered to deliver such lassi daily to his residence from our family dairy, and he had assigned me the job of delivering said ‘lassi’ at VC’s residence on my way to the college classrooms. A few months in, when Lala Suraj Bhan came to know that his friend’s son was delivering the ‘lassi’, he ensured that he would walk into the lawns of his house at the time of my arrival to respond to my ‘namaste’. To this day I remember the warmth of the great teacher that Lala Suraj Bhan was to many of his students and colleagues, alike.

 

Revisiting Nanda’s Message of Simplicity and Ethical Character on his 125th birth anniversary.

 Revisiting Nanda’s Message of Simplicity and Ethical Character on his 125^th birth anniversary.

It can often seem that corruption is but a natural characteristic of our political system – we often hear stories about how the practice of “baksheesh” has been part of South Asian culture for generations. On Gulzarilal Nanda’s 125^th birth anniversary on July 4, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the conduct of leaders like him that would prove otherwise.

Gulzarilal Nanda acted as interim Prime Minister of India on two occasions – following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964 and that of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966. He was a man of unflinching integrity who always believed in simple living and nurtured genuine concern for the poor and the downtrodden. Some of the glimpses from Nanda’s life that I was privy to seem almost unbelievable in the present day. Gulzarilal Nanda always practiced values-based politics and fought relentlessly against corruption in all its forms.

Nanda’s focus on a simple, even austere, lifestyle showed even in his choice of food: his usual morning routine would see him eating one chapati with curd, while the evening was generally a single chapati accompanied by a glass of milk and a spoon or two of honey. He would often narrate the benefits of having honey with curd and milk.

One day when my father Dharambir Sabharwal saw Nanda having his evening meals with shakkar (raw sugar) instead of honey, he enquired from Nanda’s secretary about the change. The secretary disclosed that Nanda did not have enough money to buy honey, so he had resorted to using raw sugar instead. My father scolded the secretary for not letting him know about this, as he would gladly have sent over a bottle of honey. The secretary responded by saying that he had himself offered to buy honey from his own pocket, but that Nanda had flatly refused the offer.

Gulzarilal Nanda had a special interest in cow welfare. He resigned from the post of Union Home Minister following a lathi-charge on sadhus agitating for the cause of cow protection. After shifting to Kurukshetra, Nanda set up a cow shelter or gaushala and invited Maa Anandmayi to lay its foundation stone. My father Dharambir Sabharwal was chairman of the committee set up to look after this gaushala. Nanda mobilised funds for the gaushala by personally collecting donations from the public. Once, when Nanda could not garner Rupees Twenty Thousand for the repair of a tractor of the gaushala, he requested his son Narinder, residing overseas, to contribute money for this purpose – even though he would never ask for any monetary help from his children for himself.

Nanda worked for the welfare of the labour class during the freedom struggle in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. After Independence, he represented the Ahmedabad Lok Sabha constituency but shifted to Kaithal (later named Kurukshetra) in Haryana, in 1967. After winning the election from Kaithal, he made the historic and religious town of Kurukshetra his karam bhoomi.

Nanda died in 1998 at the age of 99 years in Ahmedabad. He was cremated on the banks of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, while his Samadhi was built on the eastern part of the holy Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra by bringing his ashes to his karam Bhoomi, on the insistence of then Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal. Later, on his 100^th birth anniversary, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee along with Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, and other dignitaries including Haryana Governor Mahavir Prasad and Chief Minister Bansi Lal, laid the foundation stone of a memorial, named Sadachar Sthal, in memory of Bharat Rattan Gulzarilal Nanda who throughout his life had emphasised the need for imbibing good moral values.

A Havan Yajana was performed today at the ‘Sadachar Sthal’ to mark the 125 th birthday of Nanda ji in which a number of dignitaries including Swami Gyana Nand Ji, Maharaj, Swami Hari om Dass Parivachak. Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, Kurukshetra Vice-Chancellor, Som Nath Sachdeva. Chairman Haryana Animal husbandry Dharamvir Mirjapur, KDB Hounrary Secretary Upender Singhal, former KDB Hon Secretary Madan Mohan Chhabra, former Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra, RR Langyan. From Delh Pankaj Malhotra, Prof. Shuchismiti Sharma, senior journalist cum social activist Krishan Dhamija, and Nanda’s old associate Rajinder Bhargawa, offered ‘puran ahuti’ in the yajana, and then flowers at Nanda’s ‘samadhi’.

After ‘bhajan’ by singers from the music department of Kurukshetra all the dignitaries, including this writer, remembered Nanda ji by speaking on the various aspects of his political career, religious, and simple living.

Bharat Ratna Nanda ji worked in his life for the upliftment of the backward, poor and downtrodden as well as the needy people of the society. Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj expressed this idea on Tuesday as the chief guest at the 125^th birth anniversary celebrations of Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda organized under the joint aegis of Bharat Ratna Late Gulzari Lal Nanda, Center for Ethics and Philosophy Kurukshetra University and Kurukshetra Development Board. Swami Gyananand said that just as a tree should never forget its origin i.e. root, similarly  Gulzari Lal Nanda ji will always be remembered in the restoration and rebuilding of pilgrimage sites in Kurukshetra. He did commendable work of taking Kurukshetra to the global level..

Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha as a special guest said that the development of Kurukshetra was always the priority of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda. He further said that a small museum should be built by the university administration at Sadachara Sthal in memory of the three social workers who worked with Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda ji—late Dharambir Sabharwal, late Devi Dayal Nanha and late Shanti Swaroop Sharma,. Whatever budget will be spent for this small museum, we will bear that budget.

Professor Som Nath Sachdeva, Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, while presiding over the program, said that Bharat Ratna Late Gulzari Lal Nanda had planted a sapling in Kurukshetra in the form of AYUSH University, which would soon be made grand by the efforts of Chief Minister and MLA Subhash Sudha.  Prof. Som Nath said that Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda did the work of creating employment for the labourers and also made laws. KU has also established Employment Generation Center at Nanda Ji Kendra so that maximum employment can be made available to the youth. He said that 37 crore youth is the strength of India and youth will be made employable through self-employment. Kurukshetra University is continuously working to inspire the young generation from the life of Nanda ji. He said that seminars based on the life of Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda as well as other competitions will continue to be organized at Sadachar Sthal in the coming times.

Pankaj Malhotra, the adopted son of Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda said that Bharat Ratna late Gulzari Lal Nanda made Haryana his workplace and contributed significantly to develop Dharmakshetra-Kurukshetra Geeta Sthali. KDB's Honorary Secretary Upendra Singhal said that the inclusion of Brahmasarovar in the country's 30 iconic sites has already been announced. Now in the next few days, the development work of Brahmsarovar will be started by signing MoU with IOCand  on Iconic Sites and this work will be completed within a year. Social worker Vijay Sabharwal also shared his personal experiences of the days spent with Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda ji.

Earlier Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj, MLA Subhash Sudha, Vice Chancellor Prof. Som Nath Sachdeva, Prof. Shuchismita, Chairman of Haryana Livestock and Dairy Development Corporation Dharamveer Mirzapur, KDB Honorary Secretary Upendra Singhal, Bharat Ratna Gulzari Lal Nanda's adopted son Pankaj Malhotra, Former Honorary Secretary Madan Mohan Chhabra, Social worker Vijay Sabharwal, Social worker Krishna Dhamija, Vinod Sharma, Swami Hariom Parivrajak, Retd IAS Dr. RB Langyan, Incharge of Nanda Memorial Dr. Lalit Goud, Deputy Director of Public Relations Department Dr. Deepak Rai Babbar, Dr. Vivek Chawla paid floral tributes at the memorial of Late Gulzari Lal Nanda. Along with this, everyone offered oblations by chanting mantras in the Havan Yagya organized at Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda Kendra. On this occasion, the students who won the speech and painting competition on Nanda ji were rewarded by all the dignitaries.

Vijay Sabharwal

Bruno taught the art of love to the family.

 Bruno taught the art of love to the family.

On the persistent demands of my grandson Rushat, both my daughter Palka and son-in-law Rohit agreed to cradle a dog when Rushat, who had gone vegetarian, agreed to eat non-vegetarian for a period of one year. After a year a German Shepherd dog was purchased and named Bruno, 12 years back. Bruno was hardly one month old when he fell from the first floor of the house and as I was there, I rushed him to a veterinary doctor. This created a special bond between the two of us and whenever we went to my daughter’s home at Gurugram, he used to enjoy jumping and clinging to me. The other members of the family used to get jealous of this excitement on Bruno’s part and try to bribe him by offering biscuits and other items to extract from his mad love for me, but he refused to budge.  

In due course of time, Bruno became a family member. Whenever the family used to go on holiday, Bruno was sent to a dog hostel for a few days. However, he showed his anger by not clinging to my son-in-law when he used to take him back. Time passed and my granddaughter left for the USA for her post-graduation and my grandson to Canada for his graduation. Whenever they called on WhatsApp for video conference Bruno’s ears were erected, and he started watching the mobile in curiosity.

My daughter and son-in-law were to go to the USA to attend my granddaughter Ridhi’s graduation, and Canada for one and a half months leaving their old mother back home this month. I along with my wife went to Gurugram to take charge of the house.  The family realized that Bruno would not survive such a long separation from the family at the dog hostel. and it was decided that as he is too strong for me to take him out in the morning and evenings, a former young servant be employed to perform this duty. 

As if Bruno was listening and understanding everything going on in the house, his behaviour changed, he started clinging to my daughter and son-in-law and licking their hands and feet more frequently. However, it was a surprise for all of us to see that Bruno, like a child, had hidden himself when the young servant came to take charge of him. He did not allow the servant to leash him and kept on barking at him. We all helped the servant to leash him, but he refused to walk with the servant, despite offering a bribe of biscuits. Ultimate I had to walk with the servant to carry him out for three days.

 However, Bruno went silent and did not eat anything for two days after my daughter and son-in-law left for the USA. He kept on sitting in the corner of their room motionless for days, feeling separated and showing his moist eye to me asking where they had gone. During the night Bruno waited at the door hoping they would be coming late. Alas, we humans must learn the art of love from animals.

 

My middle article in Tribune 20-2-23

 

Doctor murdered in Kurukshetra, 5 accused arrested

 Doctor murdered in Kurukshetra, 5 accused arrested

Kurukshetra, Jan 10 --- Acting swiftly the Kurukshetra police claim to have traced the murder of a young lady doctor here last evening by arresting five accused involved in looting and murder today evening.

Addressing a hurriedly called press conference here today in the evening, the Superintendent of Police, S.S. Bhoria said that immediately after the incident at Dr. Atul Arora’s clinic last night, an SIT under the command of CIA-2 was constituted, which collected all evidence from the spot besides from CCTV cameras and using electronic gadgets during whole night succeeded in tracing the accused.

He said that at about 3.45 pm today, the police got information that five accused were travelling from Pehowa to Kurukshetra in their car. A police team followed them. When close to Kurukshetra, the accused turned towards Dhand Road. When police tried to stop them, they fired on the police party, and the police retaliated in which one of the accused got injured in his feet.

He disclosed that 4 accused are from the Kaithal district of Haryana, and one is from the Aligarh area of Uttar Pradesh. He said that four country-made 315-bore and one 132-bore revolver were recovered from their possession.  

He refused to identify the accused till they are produced before the court as well as presented for the Identification parade tomorrow.

However, he said that during preliminary interrogation, it has come out that the robbery was a motive, but when lady doctor Vinita Arora physically resisted, she was assaulted, and she got a head injury resulting in her death.

The accused had also disclosed where they had placed the jewellery and cash of Rs.1.50 lakh looted from the home of the deceased doctor, which police would recover later.

 

60 years old Dr.Vinita, as a hobby used to make and sell cakes and biscuits, in her bakery at home, in sector-13, Urban Estate, here.

According to some employees of the Dr. Atul Arora Clinic, four persons had come to the clinic at about 9 pm in a car and went upstairs to take delivery of a cake ordered a day earlier.

Meanwhile, Dr. Atul Arora went up to the first floor after attending to the patients in the clinic. As soon as he reached upstairs the accused pointed a pistol over his head and looted cash and other jewellery placed at various places in the home.

As the accused went inside the adjoining room, Atul Arora jumped from the first floor on the back side of the home and called upon the neighbours, and also made a phone call to the police.

By the time Dr. Atul came back to his clinic, the accused had left the place carrying the loot in their bags and found Vinita Arora lying in a pool of blood in one of the rooms, while his old parents were in the adjoining room.

Police said probably, the victim would have resisted the criminal who hit her head. She died on the spot.

The police are learned to have been working on the theory that one of the Arora family's maidservants had committed a theft in the home recently after which she was turned out after scolding a few months back.

Police suspect, she had connections with a few criminals who planned the robbery to take revenge.

Dr Vinita had asked one of her servants to tell the person to take the delivery of the booked cake at 3 pm, but he said that they would come at 9 pm to take delivery of the cake.

Hundreds of residents from all walks of life including politicians attended the funeral of the deceased doctor in the evening today.

My sister Prabha Anand’s poem book was released by Sharmila Tagore

 My sister Prabha Anand’s poem book was released by Sharmila Tagore

I had a very nice interaction with eminent actress Sharmila Tagore for about one hour on January 5, 2023, at Gurugram. The occasion was the launching of a program to make contract-blindness-free Gurgaon under the Prime Minister’s National Blindness and Vision Defect Control Program at the premises of Arunodaya Desert Eye Hospital, Gurgaon where famous actress and goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO, Sharmila Tagore, was the chief guest, in the august presence of Gurugram Commissioner R.C. Bidan and Prof. Dinesh Singh, a renowned academician and former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, besides others. Besides, Sharmila Tagore released a book ‘Jeevan Jharokha’ a compilation of Poems by 85 years old my sister, Prabha Anand, on the occasion.

Sharmila’s husband ‘Tiger’ Mohamad Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was remembered and his outstanding contributions to Indian Cricket were highlighted as it happened to be his birth anniversary.

During the informal talk before the launching of the campaign. Prof. Dinesh Singh recalled how young ‘Tiger’ Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi revamped the Indian team in the early 60s as the youngest ever captain of a team in the world at the age of 21. In the absence of a fast bowler, he used the strength of Indian spinners and his victories included India's first-ever Test match series win overseas against New Zealand in 1968, where in one of the matches Indian spinners opened the bowling with a new ball.  

Discussing various challenges being faced by the Hindi movie industry she said that besides challenges from south Indian movies, the Hindi movie industry faces challenges from regional movies.  She said that the cost of Hindi movies has gone very high with good actors asking for Rs. 75 crores and more for one movie. Besides, the lack of availability of good stories is also adversely affecting Hindi cinema. Regional movies especially dubbed ones with much less financial cost are giving challenges to Hindi movies through digitization.

Sighting the difference between her time and the current phase of filmmaking, the actress said that the film industry has become more systematic and the public craze towards movie actors has declined in view of various programmes in the electronic media.

Everything is organised now. Actors work in one film at a time. We used to do four or five films at a time and were not able to experiment with too many things. But the heart was in the right place, and everybody worked passionately. We had wonderful directors like Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and Raj Kapoor," she said.

Sharmila, who started her career with Satyajit Ray's Bengali film Apur Sansar, made a switch to Bollywood with hits like Aradhana, An Evening in Paris, and Mausam, but the actress never lost touch with regional cinema.

Sharmila Tagore appreciated the work done by the Arunodaya Desert Eye hospital trust (being run by my niece an eminent eye surgeon Dr. Reena and her husband Dr. Arun Sethi along with their all doctor children) in eradicating the cataract-blindness in the rural areas of Gurugram.