A Farmer in Me

 

A farmer is one who works in farms not sitting and ruling from 5 star bungalows. Understand the plight of poor farmers who puts in hard labour in farming. Their conditions need to be improved . Leaders who exploits real farmers should be condemned."

"The definition of farmers should exclude all rich farmers and no income tax exemption should be given to these rich so called farmers who are infact exploiting real farm labour. Law should be amended to take care of only poor and real farmers."

Reaction to the comment by Mr MK Garg above:

If some farmer with his hard work becomes rich and influential, why do you want to cut him off from his roots. We should not compare oranges with apples.

Mr Garg, I have never known you and similarly you may not be knowing me well. Your comments are biased and full of frustration. This is not a forum to decide/change the definition of a farmer. 

What if I continue to do farm work even at this ripe age, should I be ripped of the title of a farmer I have been working hard without retiring.

For four decades, my Dad did not make a penny from the lands we were allotted after partition. There were hills and pebbles all over. I worked hard to grade and level and toiled for many years spending huge money from my job savings and my extra time to make it agriculture worthy. I am able to contribute towards nation’s progress in the Agriculture farms. Agriculture is an important sector of Indian economy as it contributes about 17% to the total GDP and provides employment to over 60% of the population. 

My heart pains, when some body calls me ‘so called farmers’. 

Dr Gagandeep Gulati also reacts as below:

"Preet Mohan Singh Kapoor sir you are a role model for many. We so much hope that all the farmers who work so hard always remain in Chardikala and prosper. Correctly said that agriculture contributes towards the GDP of any economy and provides employment as well. Much more than that, farmers are the Ann Data who provide us food to survive. Proud to be associated like farmers like you 💐💐

Geet finds a common factor between ‘Guru Nanak’ and herself

                                                                            Geet Kapoor

Shilpy brought ‘Amat Chitra Katha’ books on Sikhism. After Gobind and Jania, Geet gets the chance to go through since she started reading lately. 

After reading this first book on Guru Nanak, she concludes “Some thing is common between me and Guru Nanak” and further adds, “he was also a singer like me”.

My Maru Lands in Badbar

This is a trip to our lands in village Badbar. We were allotted half Nehri and half Maru( marusthal) after partition. There was no crop in Maru for 40 years.

I tried to change the scene, purchased a tractor and invested in its development as there were hills and hills and before I migrated to US, the Maru land started producing after so much hard work in three years. 

But one hill on one Acre still could not be graded and left. In last couple of years I decided to level that hill of 30 ft high and now I am successful. Ironically I earn more than Nehri here.

This is a small story of a farmer in me.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aRhgoCUoQGhEpjEu8

Nawab Malerkotla

Nawab of MalerKotla Muhammad Ahmad Ali Khan Bahadur , c.1920.

 Muhammad Ahmad Ali was born at Malerkotla in 1881. He attempted to modernize his state and improve the living conditions of his subjects . He built a railroad , schools , hospitals , and a college . He also constructed a bazaar based on Jaipur's " pink city " . These projects resulted in major debts for the Nawab , and his state . Malerkotla's administration reportedly went bankrupt soon after Ahmad's accession to the throne , and remained in this state during most of his rule . Corruption among the state's public services were also a problem But Unlike the other parts of eastern Punjab , there was no mob violence in Malerkotla State during the Partition of India in 1947. Ahmad Ali Khan maintained an army until the independence of India . Malerkotla's forces tried to keep order , while thousands of refugees took refuge in the small state . In September 1947 , the Nawab signed the Instrument of Accession to join the newly created Dominion of India , and requested that the Indian central government send the Indian Army to prevent chaos in Malerkotla .

The roots of communal harmony in the area date back to 1705 , when Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh , 9 and 7 year - old sons of tenth Sikh Guru , Guru Gobind Singh , were ordered to be bricked alive by the governor of Sirhind , Wazir Khan . His close relative , Sher Mohammed Khan , the then Nawab of Malerkotla , who was present in the court , lodged a vehement protest against this inhuman act and said it was against Islam . Wazir Khan nevertheless had the Sahibzadas tortured and bricked into a section of wall while still alive . At this , the Nawab of Malerkotla walked out of the court in protest . Guru Gobind Singh on learning this kind and humanitarian approach profusely thanked the Nawab of Malerkotla and blessed him with his Hukamnama , Kirpan , etc. In recognition of this act , the State of Malerkotla did not witness a single incident of violence during partition.

How My Mom Spotted a Girl for Me

It was on the wedding of my Cousin, my Mom spotted Dari to be my life partner. When it on the wedding of my cousin Bubble ( Jai Singh Mama Ji’s daughter) in Nov 1969 at Chandigarh. Dari accompanied her grandmother Bai Ji for the occasion. My Mom had gone there along with Ambu Bhenji and happened to share a room with her older sister Bai ji who had companied her grand daughter.

Bhai Dooj Tikka Multani Style

Bhai Dooj Tikka celebrates the bond of love between brothers and sisters, and is popularly observed as the last and fifth day of the Diwali festival by Hindus/Sikhs of western Pakistan. On this day, sisters apply tika made of Zafran and rice on the forehead and ears of their brothers and pray for their well-being. 

Brothers give cash/gifts in return.

Prior to that the family Pandit or head would record the celebrations in ‘Geru’ on a corner of a prominent wall in sitting room or kitchen. I will write as per my Dad Style like given below:

੧ਓ ਸਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦ 

ਅੱਜ ਤਾਰੀਖ਼ ਨਵੰਬਰ ੧੬, ੨੦੨੦, ਦਿਹਾੜਾ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ, ਹਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ, ਸ਼ਿਵਪਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ, ਦਸ਼ਮਿਦਂਰ ਕੌਰ, ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ, ਜਾਨਿਆ ਕੌਰ ਤੇ ਗੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਲਕਸ਼ਮੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਦਿਵਾਲੀ ਮਨਾਈ।

So every year, the whole house will get cleaned up, white washed and the old writings will get erased too.

I have seen similar writings in Lachhmi Masi House, Hari Bai Masi house, and in Bai ji house in their respective kitchens.

Bhagwant, Ambu and Bobi may recall this in our Panipat house.

On Tikka day, My Dad will push some coins in my hands to hand them over to my sisters.

And when I grew up, he made sure that I was ready with cash at the time ceremony. He will not start the ceremony until I got money from my Wallet. He hated my habit of saying ‘later’. 

‘Did you bring the money?’, was enquisistive first question every time knowing my lithargic and ‘putting off’ habit.

It was also a tradition to place Zafran on the shelled Almond a keep it safe till the sister virtually meets the brother in person and hands over zaforon pasted Almond. Most of the brothers who were on a Military duty, this procedure was adopted.

It was also a opportunity occasion when die t some unforeseen reasons, the siblings will be at logger heads at eac other. So on Bhai Tikka day they will assemble among other common relatives and thrash out out their differences. 

On my sister Bhagwant wedding, it happened to be a Tikka day. Due to trifle reasons, our cousin Satwant had not done Tika on her older Brother S Hari Narain Singh for past couple of years. So prominent family members made them thrash out their differences and Tikka was done. So Tikka gives an opportunity and and reason to continue to exchange love within the siblings and unite the family.

A Baby Eagle comes to meet us on Diwali 2020

A baby eagle in our back yard sits on a branch of a plant near the window of our guest room. I could snap him from a close distance of about two feet through the window glass though. The hooked beak is visible.

Thanks Caronavirus, the wilderness is at best!

Yes I am thrilled! 

Such a beautiful bird of prey, who is so agile and looks straight into my eyes, is beyond fear. Evidently the birds of prey are brave.

Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large, hooked beaks for ripping flesh from their prey, strong, muscular legs, and powerful talons. The beak is typically heavier than that of most other birds of prey. 

Eagles' eyes are extremely powerful. It is estimated that the martial eagle, whose eye is more than twice as long as a human eye, has a visual acuity 3.0 to 3.6 times that of humans. This acuity enables eagles to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This keen eyesight is primarily attributed to their extremely large pupils which ensuire minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light. The female of all known species of eagles is larger than the male.

Black hawks, bald eagles and guolden eagles are inhabitants in our area.

Baby Hawk in Our back yard

Diwali Guest 2020 in Our backyard - A Baby Hawk hiding from the rains.

World War I and my Grandfather

Every year on November 11th we commemorate the end of the First World War and the thousands of soldiers and civilians who died as a result. This year we encourage you to remember the Sikh soldiers who volunteered to fight in the British Armed Forces on behalf of the British Raj, many of whom died during the four-year conflict. 

Sikhs fought and died on every major front of the war, from Ypres and Flanders in Belgium, the Somme in France, Gallipoli in Turkey, to East Africa, Palestine, and Egypt. Throughout this war they not only battled the Germans but the disease and filth that came with trench warfare.

Sikhs became known for their bravery and fearlessness under fire. They fought while wearing their dastars proudly, and carried their talwars into infantry charges against enemy forces. 

Sikh battalions would carry a saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji wherever they went. It was not uncommon for Sikhs to set up temporary Gurdwaras behind trench lines, so they could do their nitnem and celebrate Gurpurabs and Prakash Purabs.

This year and every year forward, we ask that you remember how these Sikhs kept their rehat while they fought in foreign lands, around strange people, surrounded by the horror of modern warfare.

The war ended on 11th month, 11th day and 11th hour. That’s why Veterans Day is on 11th and does not change.

Sikhs as above gave exampalary sacrifices even maintaining their ‘Rehat’ I.e. keeping their hair and turbans intact and taking holy book along with them with continuous praying even in trenches.

Our maternal grand father late L Kanwar Bhan as a Quarter Master played a prominent part and earned many rewards & laurels. He brought a bag full of gold coins, thus earning a fortune.

Enjoying ‘The Melbourne Cup’ Nov 6 2018

"The race that stops a nation".

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most well known annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over, as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. 

It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races.

The total prize money for today’s race was AD 7.3 M.

The race was won by Cross Counter - AD 4 M, ahead of Marmelo - AD 1M, A Prince of Arran - AD .5M were the highest Placed.

We were fortunate to witness the race that stopped the nation, but at the finish only one horse triumphed and one did not survive unfortunately. We found many couples well dressed up walking on the roads to catch public transports.