Banks closed, essential services not affected in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh: The nationwide strike call today badly hit the banking services in Punjab and Haryana, while the total strike by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) hit the commuters in the Union Territory. In Punjab and Haryana, banks and post offices remained by and large closed but the bus and rail services in the region perated normaly.There was no incident of violence or road blockade so far and the schools, business establishments and shops were open. The power supply was unaffected even as the employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), remained on strike across Punjab, holding small protest rallies at different places. The Central and state government employees federations and various trade unions had given the nationwide strike call for today.

Harbhajan let off with reprimand

Mohali: Harbhajan Singh on Thursday escaped any major disciplinary actions for his comments on Indian coach Greg Chappell as Punjab Cricket Association let him off with an advice "to exercise caution while talking to media."

The PCA had summoned the off-spinner for a hearing over the latter’s comments that Chappell’s strict regime had instilled fears and insecurity among members of the Indian team and that the Australian was using a divide and rule policy.
PCA president I S Bindra, after the hearing by the administrative committee, said that the bowler had been told that his action was "not in consonance with the code of the BCCI and the state association."

STRIKE-IN-CHANDIGARH

Transport services were disrupted in the city today as employees of state-owned Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) joined the nation wide strike called by various trade unions.

The local bus service in the Union Territory as well as services to neighbouring towns in Punjab and Haryana operated by the CTU were suspended.

A CTU spokesman told PTI that its inter-state bus services to various states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir were suspended.

Power and water supply was normal whereas sanitation services were affected as sweepers of the Municipal Corporation failed to report for duty.

The employees are scheduled to hold a protest rally later in the day.

The Punjab Festival 26th September to 10th November 2005

Perhaps, it would be appropriate to call it the land of Plenty!! The fertility of its fields and the richness of its dairy have been the envy of the sub-continent and it being named as the granary of India.

Punjab – this side of the border or that – is situated at the crossroads of the Silk Route. This allowed the Punjabis – Sikh, Hindu and Muslim –to imbibe diverse culinary influences. They tasted the best of the rest before anyone else on the sub-continent. The proximity with Persia, Afghanistan and Central Asia also gave them a taste for fresh and dried fruits and exotic nuts. Tandoori, an integral part of Punjabi cooking has evolved as one of the most popular global cooking techniques.

The emphasis has traditionally been on robust, food, grains and vegetables in their basic form, prepared with the simplest of ingredients and basic techniques. The food continues to be robust with a premium on quality and purity. This is what the undivided Punjab took pride in. More

RBI nod for Centurion-Bank of Punjab merger

Centurion Bank and Bank of Punjab have received regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the merger of the two banks, effective October 1, 2005. The merger had been approved by the boards of directors and shareholders of both banks at a swap ratio 9:4. The combined bank is proposed to be called Centurion Bank of Punjab, and will build upon the strong brand identities of the two banks in their respective markets.

PM to dedicate Chandigarh Technology Park to people tomorrow

PM to dedicate Chandigarh Technology Park to people tomorrow

The City Beautiful is all set to leap into a new era of economic growth and prosperity tomorrow when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will dedicate the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (CTP) to the people of the region.
About 20,000 professionals are expected to work at the CTP once it is fully established. It is hoped that the annual software export from the park will touch Rs 1000 crore in the next three years, an official spokesman said today.

It is expected that about 1000 engineers and professionals will start working at CTP by October 31. By the end of this year about 5000 professionals are likely to be employed.

The Chandigarh Administration has developed sufficient infrastructure for the technology companies to set up their facilities in the Park which will go a long way to boost the economy of not only Chandigarh but also of entire northern region.

Twelve Sikh Misls at ipunjab.com

Twelve Sikh Misls
1. Ahluwalia
Misldhar - Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, who also became the supreme commander of all the Misls.
2. Bhangi
Misldhar - Hari Singh of village Panjwad, also Bhuma Singh.
3. Dhallewalia
Misldhar - Gulab Singh of the village Dhalliwal.
4. Fyzullapuria
Also known as Singhpuria. Misldhar - Nawab Kapur Singh, one time commander of all the Misls.
5. Kanhaya
Misldhar - Jai Singh of the village Khanna.
6. Karora
Misldhar - Karora Singh of the village Paigarh.
7. Nakkai
Misldhar - Hira Singh of the village Baharwal, situated in a tract near Lahore called Nakka.
8. Nishanwalia
Misldhar - Dasundha Singh, the standard bearer (nishanwala) of the Dhal Khalsa.
9. Phoolkia
Misldhar - Ala Singh of Patiala district.
10. Ramghariha
Misldhar - Nand Singh, later controlled by Jassa Singh Ramgharia. Name Ramghariha was taken after winning a major battle near the village of Ramghar.
11. Shaheed
Misldhar (Commander) - Baba Deep Singh. The name Shaheed (martyr) was taken after Baba Ji's death in the defence of the Harminder Sahib (Golden temple).
12. Sukerchakia
Misldhar - Naudh Singh from the village Sukerchak near Gujranwala. Naudh Singh was the father of Charhat Singh Sukerchakia whose grandson , Ranjit Singh became the first Sikh Maharaja of the Punjab

Sikh Misls

The Arabic word misl means 'like'. The Sikh misls were 'alike', in the sense that they were considered equals. The Misls were twelve companies of Sikhs , some numbering a few hundred while others could field tens of thousands of men. Each Sikh was free to join any Misl he chose, and every Misl was free to act in any way it wished in the area under its control. Only matters affecting the community as a whole were they to take orders from the Supreme Commander Nawab Kapur Singh (see picture in Gallary). It is estimated that the total force which the Dhal Khalsa (army of veterans) could put in the field was about seventy thousand Sikhs. The misldhar system was ideally suited to the conditions of the time and worked well under leaders like Nawab Kapur Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia. It combined freedom of action with the discipline of a unified command; it channeled the energies of the fiercely independent Khalsa soldier in the service of a cause which he held dear - the expulsion of hostile foreigners from the Punjab and the fulfilment of the prophecy of Guru Gobind Singh Ji of the establishment of a Sikh state.

Punja Blog launched

we just launched ThePunjab Blog. It’s still in beta