ਗਿਆਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੋਟਲੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਬਣੇ

ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਦੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਚੁਣੇ ਅਹੁਦੇਦਾਰ।

ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ, 7 ਮਾਰਚ - ਅੱਜ ਏਥੇ ਬੜੇ ਸੁਖਾਵੇਂ ਮਾਹੌਲ ਵਿਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਆਫ ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਦੀ ਚੋਣ ਹੋਈ ਜਿਸ ਵਿਖੇ ਏਥੋਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਮਵਰ ਸ਼ਾਇਰ ਤੇ ਲਿਖਾਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੀਪਲ ਗਿਆਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੋਟਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਰਬ ਸੰਮਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਦੋ ਸਾਲ ਲਈ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਚੁਣ ਲਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਬਾਕੀ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਾਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਵਿਚ ਬੀਬੀ ਕੁਲਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ, ਗੁਰਲਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਜਰਨਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ, ਹਰਗੋਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਰੰਧਾਵਾ ਮੀਤ ਸਕੱਤਰ, ਹਰਕੀਰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੁਲਾਰ ਖਜ਼ਾਨਚੀ, ਗੁਰਸੇਵਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਧੇਰ ਮੀਤ ਖਜ਼ਾਨਚੀ ਤੇ ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਪੋਕਸਮੈਨ ਚੁਣਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਅਵਸਰ ਤੇ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਉੱਘੇ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰ ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਚੀਮਾ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ, ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੰਡੇਰ, ਪਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ, ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਰਟਿਸਟ, ਮੇਜਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਰੰਧਾਵਾ ਤੇ ਅਮਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਇਸ ਗੱਲ 'ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕੀਤੀ ਕਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੋਟਲੀ ਜੇਹੇ ਸੁਲਝੇ ਹੋਏ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨਗੀ ਲਈ ਸਰਬ ਸੰਮਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਚੁਣਿਆ ਗਿਆ। ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪ੍ਰੈੱਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਦੀ ਬਿਹਤਰੀ ਲਈ ਨਵੀਂ ਚੁਣੀ ਗਈ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਵਿਸਥਾਰ ਦੁਆਇਆ

ਵਿਯਨ ਆਫ਼ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਆਰਟਸ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜਨਾਬ ਅਫ਼ਜ਼ਲ ਸਾਹਿਰ ਦਾ ਸਨਮਾਨ

ਜਨਾਬ ਅਫ਼ਜ਼ਲ ਸਾਹਿਰ ਦਾ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਇਕਬਾਲ ਮਾਹਲ, ਨੀਟਾ ਬਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਅਤੇ ਬਲਜਿੰਦਰ ਲੇਲ੍ਹਣਾ।

ਟੋਰਾਂਟੋ, 7 ਮਾਰਚ - ਬੀਤੇ ਦਿਨੀਂ ਇਥੇ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਬਟਾਲਵੀ ਵਜੋਂ ਜਾਣੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਉੱਘੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਕਵੀ ਜਨਾਬ ਅਫ਼ਜ਼ਲ ਸਾਹਿਰ ਦਾ ਵਿਯਨ ਆਫ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਟੀ. ਵੀ. ਦੇ ਸੰਚਾਲਕ ਸ: ਇਕਬਾਲ ਮਾਹਲ ਅਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਆਰਟਸ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਆਫ ਟੋਰਾਂਟੋ ਦੇ ਸ: ਬਲਜਿੰਦਰ ਲੇਲ੍ਹਣਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਬਰੈਂਪਟਨ ਵਿਚ ਕਰਵਾਏ ਇਕ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਚਿੰਨ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਜਨਾਬ ਸਾਹਿਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮਾਖਿਓਂ ਮਿੱਠੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਬੋਲੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਜਿਉਂਦੀ ਰਹੇਗੀ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸਟੇਜ ਦੀ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਬੀਬਾ ਨੀਟਾ ਬਲਵਿੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਨਿਭਾਈ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਇਕਬਾਲ ਮਾਹਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜਨਾਬ ਸਾਹਿਰ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਾਇਰੀ ਦੇ ਸਫਰ ਬਾਰੇ ਚਾਨਣਾ ਪਾਇਆ।

Congress banked on history but let the Badals rewrite it

Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine today became the first incumbent government in Punjab to get a consecutive second shot at government since the state was reorganised in 1966. What was being viewed as a close fight between the Akalis and Congress on counting day eventually became heavily loaded in favour of the SAD-BJP combine as the day progressed.

The ruling combine ended up winning 68 seats while the Congress managed 46, two more than last time. The remaining three seats were bagged by Independents.

Significantly, while the BJP’s tally came down from 19 seats in 2007 to just 12 this time, the Akalis romped home by increasing their tally from 48 seats last time to 56 seats now.

Former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s newly floated People’s Party of Punjab failed to open its account. In what could have major ramifications for his political career, Manpreet lost from both the Gidderbaha and Maur constituencies. He, in fact, finished third in both places. While Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal retained his Lambi seat by defeating cousin and Congress candidate Maheshinder Singh Badal by 24,682 votes, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal clinched Jalalabad seat by a whopping 50,246 votes — the biggest margin in these polls. SAD’s Avinash Chander’s winning margin of 26 votes from Phillaur was the lowest.

Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh retained his Patiala seat by defeating SAD’s Surjit Singh Kohli by 42,318 votes.

His son Raninder Singh, however, lost from Samana by a margin of 6,930 votes.

Six Cabinet ministers of the ruling combine — Dr Upinderjit Kaur, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Sucha Singh Langah, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Tikshan Sood, Arunesh Kumar Shakir — and Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon lost the elections.

Despite the BJP’s tally going down by six seats, a good show by the Akalis in the all-important Malwa region proved decisive. In stark comparison to 2007, when the Akalis had managed just 19 of the 68 seats in Malwa, this time they won 34, a net gain of 15 seats. The Congress tally in Malwa dwindled from 37 last time to 31 this time while the BJP got decimated there with a single seat.

In Doaba and Majha regions, the SAD won a total 22 seats while the Congress could manage only 15. Eleven of the 12 seats the BJP won in the state are from these two regions.

In terms of vote share, the Congress emerged as the largest party, getting 40.11 per cent of the total votes cast. While the Akalis got 34.75 per cent of the votes, the BJP managed 7.13 per cent. Put together, the combine’s vote share, at 41.88 percent, was marginally higher than the Congress’s.

The next biggest chunk of votes went to the Independents, who polled 6.76 per cent votes. The PPP and BSP polled 5.17 and 4.30 per cent votes, respectively.

It turned out be a sour political outing for babus-turned-politicians, with both former DGP P S Gill and former principal secretary to the chief minister, Darbara Singh Guru, both SAD candidates, losing from their seats. The Muslim-dominated Malerkotla — where the wives of two IPS officers were pitted against each other — saw sitting Congress MLA Razia Sultana being defeated by the SAD’s Farzana Alam.

Former Indian hockey captain and SAD candidate Pargat Singh won from Jalandhar Cantonment seat with a margin of 6,798 votes. Rahul Gandhi’s handpicked candidate Amarinder Singh Raja Warring probably created one the greatest upsets by trouncing four-time Gidderbaha MLA and PPP Chief Manpreet Badal from that constituency.

Manpreet, in fact, finished third, behind the SAD candidate. “The main credit for the victory goes to the people of Punjab. But I really appreciate the efforts of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. He has worked really hard. He has organised the party very well and played a good role. I am really satisfied with him,” a beaming Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said.

He also slammed the Congress for failing to have provided security to the country and to tackle issues like inflation and unemployment. Asked about Manpreet, the CM said: “He has committed a Himalayan blunder and political suicide. I have an experience of 50 years which says that people do not come along so early.”

“This is my fight and my loss. I take full responsibility for this battle,” Captain Amarinder Singh said.

Two Punjab bureaucrats-turned-politicians Darbara Singh Guru,IAS & Former DGP Paramdeep Singh Gill bite the dust

Chandigarh : Two top functionaries of the outgoing Punjab government who got into electoral politics have bitten the dust.

In the assembly election results declared Tuesday, Darbara Singh Guru, a senior IAS officer and former principal secretary to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who quit his job to contest the Bhadaur (Reserved) seat as an Akali Dal candidate lost to singer Mohammed Sadique. Guru had nursed the constituency in his capacity as the most powerful bureaucrat in the Badal government but that did not pay off.

Former Punjab police chief Paramdeep Singh Gill, who had quit his job as special adviser (Security) to the state home minister to contest the elections as an Akali Dal candidate from Moga, also lost.

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Dissident brothers win

Two brothers, Simranjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, are among the three Independent legislators elected this time. Both of them were Akali Dal dissidents and beat the official candidates convincingly - by margins of over 28,500 votes and 32,200 votes - from the Atam Nagar and Ludhiana south seats.

Balwinder Bains was previously the official Akali Dal candidate but was removed as his brother revolted against the ruling party. Simarjit Bains defeated sitting Akali minister Hira Singh Gabria from Atam Nagar.

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Congress Young Turks lose

Two prominent Congress legislators in the outgoing Punjab assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Jasbir Singh Khangura (Jassi Khangura), who were part of the party's active young brigade, have been defeated in the election. Khaira lost the Bholath seat to former SGPC president Jagir Kaur while Khangura lost from the new seat of Dakha.

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An Olympian and a legislator

Former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Pargat Singh won the Jalandhar Cantt seat as an Akali Dal candidate. A reluctant Pargat Singh, who was Punjab's Director of Sports till early January, was picked up by Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal to fight as a party candidate. He won the seat by nearly 6,700 votes.

The soft-spoken Pargat, who excelled as a player and later as sports director, will now have a new field - politics - to play on.

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Small victory for Badal's son-in-law

Punjab minister and Chief Mminister Parkash Singh Badal's son-in-law Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon may be linked to two prominent political families of the state - the Kairons and the Badals, but he just managed to scrape through on Tuesday. Adesh won by only 59 votes from the border area seat of Patti. Badal may find it difficult to adjust a candidate with such a small victory margin in his ministry.

Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla

Born and brought up in Manitoba, Ruby Dhalla made history in 2004 when she became the first South Asian woman to be elected to the Canadian Parliament. She was re-elected in 2006 and 2008.

Dhalla, who is one of the only two Sikh women to have ever served in the Canadian House of Commons, was very enthusiastic about more women joining politics.


“Punjabi is one of the most commonly used languages in Canada. This is now the fourth most popular language in the Canadian parliament after English, French and Italian with the election of seven Punjabi-speaking MPs to the newly-elected House of Commons in Canada,” she said.
According to Statistics Canada, there are over 2,75,000 people in Canada who identify Punjabi as their mother tongue.

Calm Akhilesh trumps angry Rahul

Lucknow - Parallels were drawn between the two scions during the recently concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and more than often it was Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who hogged the limelight as compared to the state's Samajwadi Party general secretary, Akhilesh Yadav.

However, with the results going completely in favour of the SP, a calm Akhilesh has emerged a much better leader than an aggressive Rahul, whose party seemed set to finish a dismal fourth yet again.

During his campaigns in the state, Akhilesh had recently said: "Rahul seems angry. Earlier he used to get angry by folding hands. Then he got angry by tearing up paper (SP's manifesto). Who knows, next time he might jump off the stage in anger."

Akhilesh was reacting to Rahul's hostile gesture during the latter's election rally in UP. His comment was a rare moment when the Yadav leader seemed to lose his cool. Otherwise, he had a measured answer for every provocation.

"I know Akhilesh went to a public school... but he doesn't want English and computers for you," Rahul had said addressing an election rally.

To this, Akhilesh had reacted: "That is not true... It is in the manifesto."

Akhilesh's entire campaign at times looked designed to answer his critics, with the strongest of them being Rahul.

Akhilesh took pains to sound humble, often owning up to mistakes of the past. The SP's unsavoury reputation of being a party of goons was one he tried hard to change. He quickly learned that it was the way to the heart of Uttar Pradesh's restive youth, not taunting them for being treated as beggars in other states as done by Rahul.

On the face of it, there was not much to separate the two. While Rahul is 41, Akhilesh is 37. Both were catapulted forward through dynastic politics. Both ran gruelling campaigns clocking over 200 rallies. But what Uttar Pradesh desired was a man to call its own, a man who would not abandon it the moment the election bugles were packed away.

Away from the media glare cornered by Rahul, Akhilesh conducted his cycle yatras. His Kranti Rath rolled out in September 2011, three months before the election dates were announced.

Rahul's sudden dashes to UP made the splashes. However, Akhilesh quietly pedalled away with his road trip coming to a halt only before the last phase of polling.

Akhilesh's transformation as the future of Samajwadi Party after his father is complete. However, what remains to be seen is whether Akhilesh has the natural leadership qualities and the organisational prowess of the senior Yadav.

Minar-e-Pakistan

Minar-e-Pakistan (Pakistan Day Memorial) is a minar which was built to commemorate the day when the Pakistan resolution was passed on March 23, 1940. The main tower of this memorial was completed on March 22, 1968. 

The location was originally known as Minto Park. It was here that the historic session of the All-India Muslim League was held on March 23, 1940.

In 1960 the Muslim League leaders impressed upon the local authorities the need for building a memorial. The governor of West Pakistan, Akhtar Hussain, issued an appeal to the public for contributions for constructing the memorial. He also constituted a memorial committee and a memorial fund for collecting donations from philanthropists. Murat Khan, a Turkish architect, designed the memorial. The governor laid the foundation stone of the memorial on March 23, 1960. The tower took about eight years to complete, at an estimated cost of Rs. 500,000.

The tower rises above a platform shaped like a five-pointed star. The terrace is three feet from ground level, the platform's height is about six feet, and the star platform is about 12 feet high. It is surrounded by two crescent-shaped pools, four feet deep and lined with green and red marble. The tower has a spring shaped hall spanned by arches. The rostrum facing Badshahi Mosque is a quadrant constructed with Mughal patterned tiles. The circular diameter of the tower is 320 feet. The petals, 30 feet high, look like a blooming flower. The total height of the structure is 203 feet from ground level. On the marble slabs of the central shaft are inscribed a brief history of the Pakistan Resolution in English, Urdu and Bengali, the 99 names of God and poetic verses from Allama Iqbal. The tower has 10 vertical covering slabs interlaced with flower petals and glazed cement domes, with a sightseeing platform and a central spiral staircase.

The design of the base and the first four platforms depict the history of the Pakistan Movement through architectural symbols. Rough stones and cement have been haphazardly laid representing the chaotic conditions and the lack of direction in the early stages of the freedom movement of the Indian Muslims. The stones used for the first platform are rough Taxila stones. Hammer-dressed stones are used on the second platform. On the third platform are laid chiseled stones, while the fourth and final platform is of highly polished marble, symbolizing the ultimate success of the freedom movement.

The dome is of stainless steel inlaid with fine glass pieces. Up to the dome there are four stages spread over 162 stairs.The best and encompassing panoramic view of Lahore and the citadel is obtained by using the elevator which takes you all the way up to the top of the tower. The park is a popular recreational spot for Lahorites who congregate there in large numbers. It is often used for holding large public meetings. The locality of the memorial has been highlighted with well planned parks. Eight marble fountains on the main access add to the beauty of the memorial, emitting watery rainbows with the help of multicolored lights.

Lahore

Of all the cities in the world, there is something special about Lahore that strikes the heart.  It could be that I see it that way because it is the city of my birth but that would do little to explain the way it has fascinated the minds throughout the ages.  From pauper to a king or queen, everyone has come under its spell at one time or another.  The city has inspired many to sing praises of its glory and even after numerous upheavals and sorrows, it continues to do so.  Lahore is mysterious, it is romantic, and some describe it as a “melancholy picture of fallen splendor” but in the words of Empress Noor Jahan, it is Paradise.

"I have purchased Lahore with my life.  By giving my life for Lahore, I have actually purchased another Paradise." Empress Noor Jahan

It is human nature to long for something that is lost.  And after moving half a world away, I realized what I have lost.  I have lost the chance to do the things I didn’t do, see the places I didn’t see, and meet the people I didn’t meet, for I have lost Lahore. So, in my little way of reclaiming what I lost, I have promised myself to photograph and preserve the images of Lahore.  And I have created this site in hopes that others who, like myself, are also enchanted by this magical city or even those who have yet to come under its spell can take some benefit.

The photo gallery, though it includes some of my other adventures, is mainly to showcase the images I have captured of Lahore.  I have also included a brief introduction to the city and its history as well as descriptions of some sites of interest.  I will continue to add to this and build a comprehensive list of historical and important places in Lahore, as I have yet to come across a website that provides an up-to-date listing of all the important sites in Lahore.  There are some excellent websites out there about the city of Lahore which, although very extensive and descriptive, unfortunately appear to have copied much of the information from a book written in the 19^th century during the time of British rule.  This makes it very difficult to weed out what has survived to be seen and what has succumbed to the ravages of time or become the loot of conquerors.

Wagah Border

If you are interested in seeing the impressive daily ritual of the flag-hoisting and flag-lowering ceremonies at Pakistan-India border, it is worth traveling on G.T. (Grand Trunk) Road for 29 km (18 miles) to Wagah, which is a border crossing between Lahore and Amritsar in India. The flag-lowering ceremony, which takes place before sunset is particularly interesting. It is performed by active and smartly turned out Pakistani and Indian soldiers and receives spontaneous applause from the audience gathered to watch the ceremony. The ritual comprises a handshake between the captains of the two countries, followed by a battle of angered looks, stomping with vigor to show military strength. The blowing of trumpets and the march past add to the colorful ceremony. It is a unique and thrilling event much enjoyed by people who come from long distances to view it.

Source:http://www.ualberta.ca/~rnoor/sites.html