For the People

The first volume of my book,Chandigarh and its Leading Personalities,was a major success. In fact,the coffee table book has become a reference point of sort for the people of Chandigarh. So here I am,with Volume 2 of the book,” said author Aneesh Bhanot at the release of the book on Saturday afternoon. The launch was done at the hands of Nek Chand at Chandigarh Press Club. Bhanot’s new book profiles 70 leading personalities from the tricity. The first volume,which was released in July 2011,similarly profiled 70 eminent citizens,who Bhanot,an advertising professional,felt have contributed to the growth of Chandigarh and made it the unique city that it is today.

“Both books recognise the zeal and worth of these people,” said Bhanot,adding that just like last time,it was a tough choice to draw up a final list for Volume 2. Two pages have been devoted to each personality,with one page reserved for photographs. Finding a place of pride in the book are Nek Chand,Milkha Singh,Jeev Milka Singh,Atulvir Arora,Anil Malhotra (General Manager,The Taj Chandigarh),Dr S S Bhatti,Gaurav Chhabbra,Daman Dugal,Jagmohan Singh Kang,DS Kapoor,Virendra Mehndiratta,Dr Satish Narula,Dr Krishan Kumar Rattu,costume designer Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari and musician Prof Pt Yashpaul. As a tribute to Neerja Bhanot,the Chandigarh girl who gave up her life while saving others during the Pan Am plane hijack in 1986,Dr Devinder Pal Singh Sehgal presented a kite to her mother,Rama Bhanot. The paperback edition of Chandigarh and its Leading Personalities Vol 2 is priced at Rs 900 while the hard-bound edition is for Rs 3,000.