Patiala in Punjab is the fourth largest
city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala
is located around the Qila Mubarak (the Fortunate Castle).
It was constructed by militiamen Sardar Lakhna and Baba Ala Singh in 1763. In
popular culture, the city remains famous for its traditional turban(a type of
headgear), paranda (a tasselled tag for braiding hair), patiala
salwar (a type of female trousers), jutti (a type of footwear) and Patiala peg (a measure of
liquor).
Not sure how much of IPL you are following ~
as usual it started with Ravi Shastri shouting ~ Sunil Gavaskar is at the helm
on Court orders and is not on mike…. While Sherry continues to add flavor – as
he has more time since not contesting elections. Sidhuisms are treat …. Once he said … “Its
very difficult to kill a man who is hell bent upon committing suicide!” ~ "When you are dining with the demon
you've got to have a long spoon!"; “The cat with gloves catches no mice.”
Day before when I returned late in the night from
Bramothsava purappadu, the match was interestingly poised. My son described of the whirlwind knock by Glenn
Maxwell who executed so many reverse sweeps and hits …. Still chasing 192
looked improbable ~ David Miller made it look so simple hitting 27 runs in that
18th over of Dhawal Kulkarni as Kings XI Punjab hammered Rajasthan Royals by
seven wickets. Yesterday, CSK helped by
Raina’s fine half-ton posted 177-7 in 20 overs ….that six of Dhoni was only 88M
but appeared to be disappearing in the horizon … DDR put up no fight folding at
84 all out in 15.4 overs.
Navjot Singh Sidhu was born in Patiala
but represented Amritsar
constituency….. electioneering has changed ~ in earlier days, there used to
cycle rallies – the candidate would often come in open vans - with auto blaring theme songs and praising
the qualities of the candidate (speaking from an auto – introducing the
candidate is an art …… any experience !!!! – I have my share !!!!)
Yesterday, OMR was more colourful though people had
difficulty in returning home….. reason – TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wound up her
campaign, beginning at Kandhanchavadi on
the IT Corridor, and concluding in the heart of the city at T. Nagar. During
the stops en route, she went all out against her political rivals, DMK and
Congress, and took head on, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra
Modi. Ms. Jayalalithaa said the Human
Development Index served as a crystal-clear mirror to a State’s growth and
development, and growth was inclusive only if it reached the poor, downtrodden
and oppressed sections of the society. There was a difference between “true
growth” and “growth through publicity”, she said. She accused the DMK of
betraying the fishermen and resolved that she would never do that. “The DMK was
a part of the government at the Centre for nearly 17 years, but have they done
anything for the State?” she asked rhetorically. “Nothing! He only took care of
the welfare of his own family.” Ms. Jayalalithaa also lashed out at Mr.
Karunanidhi, accusing him of sacrificing the interest of the nation. That was a
whirlwind tour….
Miles away, one of the most respected politicians in
Punjab’s political landscape, Preneet Kaur, the Maharani of the erstwhile
princely state of Patiala from which this Lok Sabha seat derives its name, is
locked in a unique electoral battle — she faces a challenge from her protégé,
Deepinder Singh Dhillon, who joined the Shiromani Akali Dal after being denied
ticket by the Congress in the 2012 Assembly elections, which he contested as an
independent. While Ms. Kaur, who became Union Minister of State for External
Affairs in UPA-II, has won the seat three times in row since 1999, her husband
Captain Amarinder Singh, the former Chief Minister, and his mother Mohinder
Kaur, now fondly referred to as the Rajmata, represented Patiala in 1980 and 1967 respectively. The
present contest has become more interesting after Capt. Singh was fielded from Amritsar to take on the
BJP’s Arun Jaitley.
Today’s Hindu features an interesting article titled ‘Is India about to elect its Reagan?’ …… where the
author sees several commonalities
between Gujarat’s Chief Minister and America’s 40th President Ronald
Reagan. Both Mr. Modi and Mr. Reagan rose from humble origins. Both were
popular and successful State leaders: Reagan was “chief minister” (governor, as
we say) of home state of California. Mr. Modi, like
Mr. Reagan, is an unabashed proponent of free market economics: the term
“Modinomics” is of course a nod to “Reaganomics.”
Now there are not much representation from the erstwhile
rulers, the present day dynasties are all clan of politicians – you see so many
candidates getting tickets because their father was a leader. In 2012
by-election to Pudukkottai Assembly
constituency the descendant of the Thondaiman dynasty that ruled the erstwhile
princely state of Pudukkottai – Karthik Thondaiman won. Now kings do not have much say in elections …
Do you know the candidates in your constituency…
in TN election is on 24th Apr 2014 ~ it is our duty to vote – vote with
conscience and vote without fail.
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
22nd Apr 2014.