Journalism of Courage
Now known as eminent scientists but once a bunch of college students who enjoyed their time together then, it was a walk down memory lane for alumni of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) as the 3rd alumni meet of Punjab Agricultural University and 52nd meet of College of Agriculture ended on Friday.
Poems, satire and politics were the highlights of the spicy and interesting session as the alumni took potshots at the government. Even the temperament of Vice-Chancellor B S Dhillon was the plot of satirical poetry that the alumni read at Pal Auditorium.
V-C Dhillon was seen sitting on the stage and enjoying the session.
During the technical session on Friday, eminent agri-economist and Padam Bhushan awardee Dr S S Johl, chancellor of Central University Bathinda, during his lecture on ‘Growth and Role of Banks’ stated that “these days successful governments are those which make promises but never fulfil them”.
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Clearly hitting at the Punjab government over its policies for farmers, Johl said that “non-deserving people are getting subsidies in agriculture sector while the deserving ones are being ignored”.
“I am not against subsidies but they should be focused. One should not give free power and tubewell water to the rich farmers but to those who actually need it,” said Johl amidst applause.
Johl also made fun of the manifestos of political parties. “According to me, the best political parties are those which successfully fool the masses and evade the promises made by them during campaigning. According to this formula, it means that all parties are successful these days,” he said.
Johl also shared a personal experience with the audience and said that once he was asked to prepare a note on improving the education system in Punjab by the then education minister and it was promised that the note would be forwarded to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
“I realised that I left one page of the note at home. I thought that the minister will definitely ask for that missing page but the call never came. The note was never read probably and it was just a formality,” said Johl. “Every political party should release its manifesto in advance so that people can evaluate and compare it.”
However, Dr Johl said that “manifestos have turned into a gimmick”. “These parties deliberately circulate few copies of manifestos and its work gets over after release. It hardly reaches the common man,” he added.
The four-member Pakistan delegation which was to arrive for the meet from Faisalabad cancelled their trip at the last moment.
VC’s temper to financial crunch, poems had it all
The alumni of PAU expressed themselves in the form of poetry. From the vice-chancellor’s temper to a financial crunch in PAU, they touched each and every subject, and left all laughing aloud.
Dr S S Gill, former additional director (communication), PAU, said, “Main nahi kehnda log kehnde, VC saab jhidakde bahut. (I don’t say but others say that V-C sir scolds us). Pardey vich jo marzi aakh lain, par eh sabha de vich fatkardey hann (scold us behind the doors, but he scolds us in meetings). Ohdo namoshi jhalli nahi jaandi, jadon meeting vich pagg uchaalde hann (Its gets intolerable when he scolds during a meeting).’
Taking the poems sportingly, Dhillon said, “The poems need to be more satirical and spicy. I will enjoy more and expect more poems next year.”
Poems were also recited on the financial crunch of PAU and controversies over changing buildings. On pending LTA dues of pensioners not paid by the government, an alumnus said, “Haathi nang gaya, poonchh reh gayi. (We have got pension dues, get us LTA too).
A poem also suggested that the V-C should be more polite in the next term and a poem went like this, “Mannyeha tuhadi jhidak naal, university di tarakki hoyi chokhi; agli term vich pyar de padho mantar, te dekho tarakki iss to vi hor hosi.’ (V-C should be more polite in the next term for the progress of PAU.)
