Greed
for NRI grooms be curbed and more vigilance required: Justice Rakesh Garg
Sangrur, November 22: Chairman
of India’s first and only NRI Commission, Justice
(retd) Rakesh Garg asked the
people of Punjab to be more vigilant and curb their desire to have NRI grooms
to protect their daughters against fraudulent weddings.
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| Chairman of NRI Commission, Mr. Justice (retd) Rakesh Garg |
Addressing on the last
day of the three-day Sangrur Heritage & Literary Festival he informed that
since the formation of the Commission in 2011, there had been about 1150 cases registered
predominantly relating to matrimonial and property disputes out of which only
200 odd cases may be pending but in my tenure, he reitereated, 100 percent of
the cases have been decide.
 |
Dr. Raj Mohan Gandhi (centre) in discussion with
former VC of Panjabi University Dr SS Boparai (left) and
Prof Harpal Singh Pannu (right) |
He said that the police
authorities need also to be more vigilant especially where the boy does not
return or calls the bride overseas after wedding here, which calls for more
stringent action and including sections 406, 420 and 498A as well as the
charges of fraud and rape.
Earlier on the day the Punjabi
edition of Rajmohan Gandhi’s book “A
History from Aurangreeb to Mount Batten” was released by the Panjabi University’s
former vice chancellor Dr. Swaran Singh
Boparai. “I said written this book
because of my deep curiosity in the history of Punjab and my affection for Punjabis,”
he added.
The young writers
session saw Khushwant Singh of “Maharaja
in Denim” fame,
Suditi Jindal of “Grow
up Moon”, photographer and artist Sandeep
Singh, digital art specialist Mandeep
Singh, and poetess haiku writer, Jaspreet Mandher from Panjabi
University Patiala. Moderated by journalist
Balpreet, on their respective
process of writing, Khushwant Singh considered it a divine process and he lets
his pen do the writing at first and it is only later that he works on
developing or refining the story line, while for Suditi Jindal it came
naturally from her subconscious where this art lay dormant but once discovered,
she found writing an energizing experience.
The digital artist
Mandeep and photographer Sandeep that
any form of art is an artist’s expression and even when a biography is being
written, it is the author’s perspective and persona that gets reflected in the
writing.
 |
| Noted calligraphist, Kamaljeet Kaur |
Earlier in the day,
Sandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh showcased the art of digital photography and
graphic designing while Suditi Jindal conducted a workshop on story writing at
the Festival.
Kamaljeet Kaur the
noted and lone Panjabi calligraphist underlined the need for students to learn
Gurmukhi and art of writing which would generate interest amongst the young generation
in their mother-tongue, on which, in another session, Dr. Surjit Singh of
Punjabi University and Manmohan Singh made passionate appeal to revive interest
in the language.
Panjabi language can be
saved through the collective consistent efforts of writers, community,
government, academicians, religious leaders, publishers, and the media, and
emphasised that educational institutions have a great role to play, said noted
writer Surjit Pattar. We are undermining
and demeaning study of Punjabi for which appropriate strategy should be
developed, he added.
Mrs. Bittu Sandhu
recited poems from her books Safina and
Sadran and shared her views on poetry.
Former Punjab chief
minister Smt Rajinder Kaur Bhattal
along with the queen of the jungle, environmentalist and author Sunita Dhairyam shared their life’s
journey and challenges they encountered in the male-dominated society.
Honouring Sangrur’s Icons
Sangrur Heritage &
Literary Festival also recognized some of the sporting icons of Sangrur , including the hero of Mission Thar Desert Col. Parry Grewal, Mission Artic expeditionist Alamjit Sekhon, Senior Trap Shooter Capt Fatehbir Shergill, and Junior Trap Champion Haqiqat Singh, and short documentaries of their respective
expeditions were also screened.
Sangrur Kala Kendra also honoured the Festival Director and founder of
the heritage and literary event in Sangrur, Karanvir Singh Sibia and historian
author of Sangrur, Rajeev Jindal for reviving the interest in heritage and
literature of the region amongst the community. Both of them, who have authored and chronicled
the history of Sangrur and the Jind state in their respective books, shared
their memories and the great contribution to the society their forefathers had
made to the city.
The day’s proceedings
opened with a classical dance performance by students of General Gurnam Singh
Public School and Krishnanshu Jindal, student of Class VIII gave a presentation
on how to preserve heritage buildings of Sangrur.
The Festival came to an
end with the Rajasthani folk performance
‘Tera Bandhani’.
