Terror Plot Averted: Cops Find Bomb, Timer In Suspicious Packet In Amritsar
Amritsar Rural Police averts a terror plot targeting a police establishment and recovers an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighing 690 grams, along with an electronic detonator, battery, timer and iron box, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.
PM Modi Remembers Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Deep Respect on His Death Anniversary
New Delhi, August 16: The nation is remembering former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary. In this context, a BJP leader from Punjab shared an emotional story highlighting the deep respect and admiration between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mentor, Vajpayee. The social media account Modi Story, which shares inspiring tales ... Read more PM Modi Remembers Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Deep Respect on His Death Anniversary
Farmers march to Delhi stopped at Haryana-Punjab border
The Haryana Police, in anticipation of the march, sealed the stretch between the Khanauri border in Punjab and the Data Singhwala border in Haryana with concrete barriers and barbed wires
Two Srinagar residents among 3 killed in Jalandhar road accident
Punjab/Srinagar, Aug 16: Three persons, including two residents of Srinagar, were killed while three others sustained injuries in a road accident in Bhogpur area of Jalandhar, Punjab, officials said. Officials told news agency JKNS that, the accident occurred when a speeding Maruti Fronx collided with a roadside vendor before crashing into a tree, resulting in multiple casualties. The roadside vendor, a Punjab resident, also died in the accident. Officials said three other occupants of the vehicle, all residents of Srinagar, sustained injuries in the accident and were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Further details regarding the condition of the injured and circumstances leading to the accident are awaited.
Punjab Police foils terror plot, recovers 690 gram IED
Amritsar Rural Police have effectively disrupted a potential terrorist attack aimed at a police establishment, recovering a 690-gram improvised explosive device. The Bomb Disposal Squad swiftly defused the explosive, ensuring public safety. In light of Independence Day approaching, security measures have been ramped up, and a case is currently under investigation to unravel further details.
Weather Tomorrow August 17: The Meteorological Department has released a new weather alert for Monday, August 17. Expect heavy rain and thunderstorms in Delhi and Punjab, while Gujarat and Bihar are warned of intense showers alongside lightning strikes. In Himachal Pradesh, light to moderate rain is likely, with localized heavy downpours. On the other hand, Maharashtra and Haryana will enjoy partly sunny skies, though afternoon thunderstorms could develop.
Demand for NIA Investigation into Attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal
New Delhi, August 16: There is a rising demand for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the life-threatening attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal, the President of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, which occurred on August 13. Former Union Minister and Member of Parliament from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, ... Read more Demand for NIA Investigation into Attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal
Rajouri , August 16 : The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has intensified landslide clearance operations on National Highway 144 (NH-144) in the Rajouri-Poonch sector following heavy rainfall and flash floods that affected several parts of the region. Several stretches of the highway were hit by landslides and falling boulders following the recent adverse weather conditions, disrupting road connectivity and posing challenges to traffic movement. BRO teams have been working on a war footing, deploying heavy machinery to remove debris, clear boulders and restore the affected portions of the highway. A heavy boulder-triggered landslide was reported at Nadpur and Thalka on July 19 during the flash floods. BRO personnel have since been carrying out continuous clearance operations at the affected locations. The ongoing restoration work is aimed at ensuring smooth movement of vehicles between Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu and maintaining connectivity along NH-144. Residents have appreciated the efforts of the BRO personnel and the district administration in restoring road connectivity. Khadim Hussain, a resident of Anaipur in Thalka, expressed gratitude to the district administration and the BRO for their efforts. I am very thankful to my district DC, who has helped the BRO in the construction of the Jammu-Punjab National Highway. BRO is doing a very good job. They listen to people's problems, Hussain told ANI. He said that the heavy machinery deployed by the BRO could be seen working at the affected locations and praised the teams for resuming clearance work as soon as weather conditions permitted. When the rain stops, you can see them working. They are doing a very good job, he said. Another resident, Rajesh Kumar, said that the BRO personnel are working day and night to clear the landslides and restore the highway. You can see the big machines. BRO is working day and night. The drivers are also working day and night, he said. Kumar said that several landslides had occurred in the region and that some houses had also been damaged due to the heavy rainfall and resulting flash floods. He expressed hope that the remaining clearance work would be completed within the next few days and that normal traffic movement would continue. Many landslides have happened. Houses have been damaged. In two to four days, the landslides will be over. I am thankful to BRO. They are working day and night, Kumar said. The BRO has continued to deploy heavy equipment at the landslide sites to remove accumulated debris and boulders and ensure that the highway remains operational. The restoration of NH-144 is considered important for maintaining connectivity between Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch, particularly after the disruption caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods. (ANI)
Punjab and Haryana HC asks govt to frame timeline, SOP for clearing debris after civic work
After Ambala And Hansi, Haryana Police Braces For Protests In Khanauri
Farmers from Haryana and Punjab are preparing to march towards Delhi against the proposed India-US trade deal.
Sonam Bajwa Birthday Special: Interesting Facts You Can
Sonam Bajwa has won the hearts of audiences with her talent, beauty, and memorable performances in Punjabi and Indian cinema. Although her achievements as an actress are well known, several fascinating aspects of her life and career remain lesser known. Check out the full article to witness some interesting facts that provide a deeper insight []
Watch the song - Tere Naal Ka from punjabi movie 'Judaa' starring Gulab Sidhu and Jasmine Bhasin. 'Judaa' song - Tere Naal Ka is sung by G Khan & Jasmeen Akhtar and music is given by Goldboy . Lyrics of 'Judaa' song - Tere Naal Ka are written by Happy Raikoti. To know more about song - Tere Naal Ka from Gulab Sidhu and Jasmine Bhasin starrer 'Judaa' watch the video.
Punjab & Sind Bank exploring QIP option to raise funds, bring down govt holding: MD Saha
Currently, the government holds a 93.85% stake in Delhi-headquartered Punjab & Sind Bank
Punjab & Sind Bank eyes QIP option to raise funds, cut govt stake: MD Saha
Public sector lender Punjab & Sind Bank is exploring raising funds through various means, including the QIP route to dilute the government's stake to meet Sebi's minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms. As per the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), all listed companies must maintain an MPS of 25 per cent. We have got board approval for fundraise through qualified institutional placement (QIP) and others means as part of effort to bring down the government holding in a phased manner, Punjab & Sind Bank MD and CEO Swarup Kumar Saha told PTI in an interview. Besides, he said, the bank has on boarded merchant bankers and legal advisors for the same. The proposed fundraise may happen this financial year depending on market conditions, he added. Currently, the government holds a 93.85 per cent stake in Delhi-headquartered Punjab & Sind Bank. This is the highest stake of the Government of India in any public sector bank. Three other banks have a minimum public ...
'She Fell From Roof': Border Force Jawan Tells Family After Killing Wife In Punjab
The woman, identified as Rama, lived with her husband Amarjit Singh. The couple had been married for around 12 years and have two children, a son and a daughter.
Punjabs cashless healthcare scheme eases medical costs for families
Dr. Balbir Singh said, From dialysis to cancer care, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana crosses six lakh treatments in Punjab.
Rice is not merely a staple crop in Kashmirit is woven into the geography, folklore, and civilizational memory of the Valley. From mythological beginnings as an aquatic expanse to the modern scientific interventions at SKUAST-Kashmir (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology), the narrative of Kashmiri paddy reflects an ongoing balance between ecology, engineering, and economic survival. Coming from district Pulwama till recently the rice bowl of the valley, I have seen and am fully cognizant of the paddy culture of rural Kashmir. According to Kalhanas Rajatarangini and local tradition, the Kashmir Valley was once Satisar, a vast primeval lake. The desiccation of this lake laid bare rich alluvial beds, but early agrarian efforts were constantly thwarted by devastating floods along the Vitasta (Jhelum River). The true turning point in Kashmirs agricultural history arrived in the 9th century AD under King Avantivarman, the founder of the Utpala dynasty and King of Kashmir (855883 AD). His brilliant prime minister and engineer, Suyya, executed one of the greatest hydrological feats of the ancient world by a number of measures: 1. River Regulation: Suyya desilted the Vitasta at its bottleneck in Baramulla, cleared obstacles, and redirected river courses. 2. Canal Network: He established an intricate network of irrigation canals (Kulls) that regulated water distribution across flood-prone basins. 3. Economic Transformation: By preventing seasonal inundations, rice yields quadrupled almost overnight. A kharwar (a traditional measure of grain /paddy, which previously cost 200 dinnaras (medieval kashmis currency) during famines, fell to a mere 36 dinnaras. Kashmir transformed into a food-surplus state, solidifying rice as the core of its dietary, cultural, and tax identity. Mushk Budji and Fragrant varieties For centuries, Kashmiri farmers cultivated distinct indigenous landraces tailored to cold high-altitude microclimates. Chief among these was Mushk Budjia bold, short-grain aromatic rice renowned for its rich taste and intoxicating fragrance, traditionally reserved for festive occasions and royalty. Other landraces like Zag (red rice), Kamad, and Nivar thrived across temperate terraces. However, these traditional cultivars carried inherent agronomic vulnerabilities like the low yield potential and disease susceptibility with extreme vulnerability to rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae), which repeatedly wiped-out crops. Average productivity remained under 1.52 tonnes per hectare. By the mid-20th century, rapid population growth necessitated higher productivity. Kashmir embraced semi-dwarf, cold-tolerant high-yielding varieties (HYVs), mainly derived from temperate Chinese and East Asian germplasm (such as K-39, Barkat, and early IRRI derivatives). These dwarf varieties revolutionized production. Their shorter, stiffer stalks allowed higher fertilizer application without crop collapse. The yields with these varieties surged to 56 tonnes per hectare, driving indigenous landraces like Mushk Budji to near extinction. Over the past two decades, the agricultural landscape, particularly in South Kashmir (districts like Kulgam, Pulwama, and Anantnag), has undergone a fundamental structural shift, with preference of conversion of the traditional paddy cultivation to high density apple orchards. The key drivers of land conversion are: High-Density Apple (HDA) plantations yield substantially higher net income per unit area compared to conventional paddy. Paddy farming is intensely back-breaking during transplanting (Thal) and harvesting in autumn (harud). Local labour shortages have made farmers almost entirely dependent on seasonal migrant workforces (largely from Bihar). However, the unchecked conversion of prime paddy land threatens local food sovereignty, making Kashmir increasingly reliant on external grain imports. Comparing Kashmirs paddy culture with that of other major rice-growing regions in India reveals stark contrasts in ecology, botany, agricultural practices, and socio-economic dynamics. While much of mainland India views rice through the lens of tropical, multi-crop monsoon agriculture or high-volume industrial farming, Kashmirs paddy system is defined by its temperate alpine setting, unique landraces, and distinct civilizational traditions. The Valleys high altitude (1,5002,200m above sea level) enforces a strict single-crop season (sowing in May, harvesting in September). Temperatures fall rapidly by October, causing cold injury during flowering or grain filling. Plants must mature quickly within 120140 days. On the other hand, tropical and subtropical states enjoy year-round warmth, allowing states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu to harvest at least twice a year and in some cases even three rice crops per year on the same piece of land. In Punjab and Haryana, paddy is largely a commercial export crop (Basmati) or central pool procurement commodity. In Kashmir, paddy has been traditionally cultivated primarily for household self-sufficiency and local barter. Future of Paddy Cultivation in Kashmir valley sits at a critical intersection of economic pressures, ecological necessity, and scientific innovation. While the rapid conversion of prime agricultural land into high-density apple orchards poses an existential threat to traditional rice farming, institutional interventionsled by SKUAST-Kashmir and backed by the Union Territorys Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP)are charting a sustainable path forward. These pathways are development of high yielding hybrid varieties, special niche rice like Mushk budgi and health promoting red rice (Zag tomul). In addition, research products like cold tolerant short duration varieties and finally the introduction of integrating farming systems combining paddy-cum-fish and paddy-cum-duck farming models especially in water logged areas like the wet lands of Bandipora and Kulgam. These models give farmers dual revenue streams from the same plot of land without changing land use. Conclusion From the desiccation of Satisar to the research fields of SKUAST, paddy cultivation has defined the economic and cultural rhythm of the Kashmir Valley for millennia. Today, as high-density apple orchards reshape the agrarian countryside, the survival of Kashmiri rice hinges on striking a pragmatic balance between productivity, profitability, and heritage. Through climate-resilient breeding, the revival of prized varieties like Mushk Budji, and sustainable multi-enterprise models, the Valley can secure both economic vitality and food independence. The future of Kashmiri paddy culture is not about resisting change, but ensuring that progress continues to root itself in the very soil that made our valley charming. Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director Gauri Kaul Foundation
Sikh Massacre in Pakistan During Partition: The Forgotten Bloodbath of Saka Bhuler
As devotees stream through the historic Ghanta Ghar entrance of the Golden Temple each The post Sikh Massacre in Pakistan During Partition: The Forgotten Bloodbath of Saka Bhuler appeared first on Khalsa Vox .
12 Punjab Police Officers Conferred President
Twelve Punjab Police personnel were conferred the Presidents Police Medals on the occasion of The post 12 Punjab Police Officers Conferred Presidents Medals appeared first on Khalsa Vox .
Some Unknown Footnotes Of Independence
ASHOK OGRA Lord Mountbatten announced the Partition plan on All-India Radio on 3 June 1947. He was followed on the microphone by Nehru, Jinnah and Baldev Singh (speaking for the Sikhs). The next morning, the Viceroy addressed a press conference. It was here that he suggested, for the first time, that the British would leave not by June 1948 (as originally planned) but by the middle of August 1947, that is, in less than ten weeks. There were many interesting moments leading to Independence that are not talked about as often. Here are a few of them. DEMARCATING BORDERS The task of partitioning Bengal and the Punjab was entrusted to a British judge named Sir Cyril Radcliffe. He was given just 35 days to divide colonial India into two nations. He had no prior knowledge of India (this was deemed an advantage). He was assigned four advisers: two Muslims, one Hindu, and one Sikh. But since they fought on every point, he soon dispensed with them. He did not bother to visit the areas that were to be demarcated. Journalist Jayanta Kalita writes that Radcliffe submitted his final boundary maps on August 12, 1947. But Mountbatten decided not to make them public immediately. So, when Pakistan became independent on August 14 and India on August 15, people did not know exactly where the border would run. The Radcliffe Line was announced only on August 17. The confusion that followed was enormous. Families suddenly discovered that their homes were in one country and their fields in another. In Punjab, Muslim-majority areas of Gurdaspur district went to India, giving it an important land route to Kashmir. Pakistan strongly opposed the decision. In the east, the mainly Buddhist Chittagong Hill Tracts went to East Pakistan, leading to tensions and displacement. Radcliffe left India on August 18. Disturbed by the bloodshed, he reportedly burned his notes, refused his 3,000 fee and never returned to the subcontinent. The story of integrating the princely states presented a greater challenge. RECALCITRANT PRINCELY STATES India became independent on August 15, 1947, but the India we know today had not yet fully taken shape. More than 560 princely states had to decide their future. Most had acceded to India, but some important states were still holding out. Kashmir had not joined either India or Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh remained ambivalent. Hyderabad wanted to remain independent, while Hindu-majority Junagadh opted for Pakistan, creating a serious problem. Bhopal, Travancore and some other states had also shown reluctance to join India. There were other smaller princely states across central, northern and western India that had their own doubts and concerns. Jodhpur and Indore, too, hesitated at different stages. The possibility of India ending up as a patchwork of separate territories was not entirely out of the question. Writer-journalist Josy Joseph, in his well-researched book Birth of a Nation: Twenty-One Days That Made India, gives a fascinating account of those anxious days leading up to Independence. He writes about the pressure being put on the princes as their hopes of remaining independent began to fade. Nehru was firm. Patel and his ministry were prepared to go beyond persuasion if necessary. One of the first princes to come over to Patels side was the Maharaja of Bikaner. His Dewan was K. M. Panikkar, a widely respected historian who, more clearly than other people, could see that the Vasco da Gama epoch of Asian history. This encouraged other princely states in the region to voluntarily join the Dominion of India. A number of people worked behind the scenes. One of the most important was V. P. Menon. He had started his career as a typist and rose through the administrative system to become Patel's key aide in dealing with the princes. Officials, activists and intelligence operatives also played their part. In one of his books, Menon describes in some detail the tortuous negotiations with the rulers. The process of give and take involved much massaging of egos: one ruler claimed descent from Lord Rama, another from Sri Krishna, while a third said his lineage was immortal, as it had been blessed by the Sikh Gurus. I have a personal memory connected with the late V. P. Menon. Capt. C. P. Nair, founder of the Leela group of hotels, was a dear friend. Whenever I was in Mumbai, I would often stay at the Leela. He was a nephew of V. P. Menon and would regale me with stories about his uncle-his pragmatism, his practical approach and the way he could be soft and firm at the same time while dealing with the princely states and their Dewans. Manipur and Tripura had their own stories. They acceded to India in 1947 but retained considerable internal autonomy before their complete merger with India in 1949. The major unresolved cases were settled later, and in different ways. Junagadh eventually became part of India after a hectic parleys and pressure. Hyderabad was integrated in September 1948 through Operation Polo. Kashmir acceded to India in October 1947 after tribal forces from Pakistan entered the state and the Maharaja sought India's military assistance. This was the uncertain political situation when the Constituent Assembly met in Delhi on the night of August 14-15 to mark India's freedom. THE MIDNIGHT SESSION The Constituent Assembly met at 11 pm, with Dr Rajendra Prasad presiding. Sucheta Kripalani opened the proceedings by singing Vande Mataram. Rajendra Prasad paid tribute to Gandhi and reassured minorities about their rights. Then came Nehru's Tryst with Destiny speech: At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. Nehru also reminded the country that Independence was not just an occasion for celebration. It carried a responsibility to serve India and its people. There were other important voices that night. Muslim League leader Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman, who was still a member of the Indian Constituent Assembly, supported Nehru's pledge and spoke of governing without favour. S. Radhakrishnan spoke about India's largely peaceful transfer of political power and contrasted it with the violence that had often accompanied such changes elsewhere. At midnight, the members stood and took a solemn pledge, dedicating themselves to the service of India and its people and to world peace and human welfare. Then came another memorable moment. Hansa Mehta presented the national flag to the Assembly on behalf of the women of India. Sucheta Kripalani later sang Sare Jahan Se Achha and the first verse of Jana Gana Mana. In the early hours of August 15, Rajendra Prasad and Nehru went to Viceroy's House to formally inform Mountbatten that the Constituent Assembly had approved his appointment as independent India's first Governor-General. There is a delightful little story from that night. Nehru handed Mountbatten an envelope that was supposed to contain the list of portfolios of his new Cabinet. Mountbatten opened it and found only a blank sheet of paper. The correct list was soon recovered. Yet, amid all the uncertainty, a new country had been born. Millions of people were now beginning the difficult task of building a democratic India and deciding what kind of nation it would become. What followed was an experiment in democracy that often looked untidy and chaotic, but proved remarkably resilient. The economist John Kenneth Galbraith memorably called India a functioning anarchy. The phrase sounds dismissive, but its more interesting word may be functioning. India argues, protests, quarrels and frequently appears chaotic, yet the democratic machinery somehow keeps moving. (The Author works as Advisor with Apeejay Education, New Delhi)
Chandigarh: Beant Singh assassin release march turns violent
Chandigarh police on Saturday used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to breach barricades during a march towards Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's residence, seeking the release of Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence for the assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995.
Echoes Across The Radcliffe Line: The Battle For 'Punjabiyat' In Pakistan
Decades after Partition drew a line through their shared heritage, people on both sides remain on a quest to preserve the true essence of Punjabiyat -- the Punjabi identity.
Movers & Shakers: Stocks that will see action this week
Here is what the charts say about the shares of Bharti Airtel, Hindalco Industries and Punjab National Bank
In Congress vs Congress, Punjab Chief's Ticket Stance Publicly Contradicted
Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Randhawa shared the stage at Issru near Khanna, while Warring wasn't present, adding to the buzz around the party's growing factional divide.
Sonam Bajwa: From Air Hostess to Bollywood Star
Mumbai, August 15: Sonam Bajwa is one of the leading actresses in the Hindi and Punjabi film industries. Known for her beauty, exceptional acting skills, and impressive dance moves, she has captured the hearts of millions of fans. Born as Sonam Preet Kaur Bajwa on August 16, 1989, in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, she began her acting ... Read more Sonam Bajwa: From Air Hostess to Bollywood Star
Mahaproloy Teaser : Saswata Chatterjee Starrer Mahaproloy Official Teaser
Mahaproloy : Watch the Official teaser from punjabi Web movie 'Mahaproloy' starring Saswata Chatterjee. Mahaproloy is directed by Raj Chakraborty. To know more about Mahaproloy, watch the video. Check out the latest punjabi teaser, new movie teaser, trending punjabi movie teaser, Saswata Chatterjee's videos at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.
Sukhbir Singh Badal: The Man Punjab Can
On August 13, 2026, Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked with a kirpan inside a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, while visiting Takht Sri Hazur Sahib with his wife and Akali Dal MP, Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The assailant, identified as Jaspal Singh a Pune-based Nihang with degrees in commerce and law struck at Badals hand [] The post Sukhbir Singh Badal: The Man Punjab Cant Ignore. A Second Brush With Death appeared first on Tfipost.com .
Tear gas, water cannons used against Qaumi Insaf morcha protesters, Punjab Bandh call on August 21
Some protesters attempted to remove barricades and barbed wire, and some others tried to pull them down using a tractor as they attempted to proceed towards the residence of the Punjab Governor at the Lok Bhavan in Chandigarh
Punjab CM Highlights Achievements on Independence Day, Promotes Love Over Hatred
Firozpur, August 15: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the 80th year of Indias independence marks a significant milestone for the women of Punjab. For the first time, mothers and daughters are gaining the freedom to spend their money as they wish. He announced that over 6.5 million women have already received honorarium under ... Read more Punjab CM Highlights Achievements on Independence Day, Promotes Love Over Hatred
Bol Bhavein Na Bol - Official Trailer
Watch the Official trailer from punjabi movie 'Bol Bhavein Na Bol' starring Sidak Gill, Jaanya Joshi, kaka ji, Anand Priya and Hardip Gill, Pavan Raj Malhotra. 'Bol Bhavein Na Bol' movie is directed by Rakesh Dhawan. To know more about 'Bol Bhavein Na Bol' trailer watch the video. Check out the latest punjabi trailers, new movie trailers, trending punjabi movie trailer, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.
xperience The New Punjabi Music Video 'Safar' by Harvy Sandhu
Get ready to be swept away by the latest punjabi track 'Safar' beautifully sung by Harvy Sandhu. This captivating track feature mesmerizing music given by Harvy Sandhu and beautiful lyrics are also penned by Kuhliwala. Don't miss the chance to witness Harvy Sandhu's performance in the captivating punjabi video track 'Safar'. Dive into a world of musical excellence by exploring more punjabi tracks in the music videos section of punjabi ETimes. Discover the incredible vocal talents of Harvy Sandhu. Indulge in the latest punjabi video tracks of 2026, groove to the soulful compositions by Harvy Sandhu, immerse in the punjabi music video tracks.
Qaumi Insaaf Morcha protesters clash with police at Chandigarh border; Punjab bandh on August 21
Punjab: Protest march for release of Sikh prisoners met with water cannons, tear gas
Punjab Protest march for release of Sikh prisoners met with water cannons tear gas
Roof Collapse at National Institute of Sports During Independence Day Celebration Injures Athlete
Patiala, August 15: A significant incident occurred at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala, Punjab, during the 80th Independence Day celebrations. A portion of the buildings roof unexpectedly collapsed, injuring several individuals present at the event. Chaos ensued as news of the accident spread throughout the premises. Initial reports indicate that ... Read more Roof Collapse at National Institute of Sports During Independence Day Celebration Injures Athlete
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Wont allow anti-Punjab forces to disturb peace: Sukhbir Singh Badal; wife thanks human-shield cop
Amitabh Bachchan recalls Dharmendras open-door hospitality on KBC 18: He had such a massive heart
Amitabh Bachchan recently revisited a warm memory of his late friend and longtime co-star Dharmendra while hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. Remembering the veteran actors generosity and grounded nature, Bachchan shared how Dharmendras home was always open to people, including those who travelled from his village in Punjab. According to Bachchan, Dharmendras hospitality was so unrestricted that people would often enter his house freely and make themselves comfortable. The anecdote offered a glimpse into the actors personality away from the spotlight, particularly his connection to his roots and his willingness to welcome people with warmth. Recalling one such incident, Bachchan said, Let me tell you another thing about his house. Their home was a free for all whoever came, it was like their own house! I remember one day Dharam ji came home and saw 4-5 men walking up the stairs. So he asked them, Who are you? What are you doing here? They said they had come from the village. Bachchan explained that Dharmendra initially assumed that his wife had invited the visitors. However, the actor himself apparently had no idea how many people would arrive at his home. Dharmendra assumed that his wife had probably invited them! He himself didnt even know how many people were coming and going in his house and always welcomed everybody with love and warmth. He had such a massive heart, Bachchan recalled. Amitabh Bachchan remembered Dharmendras simplicity After Dharmendras death, Bachchan had written an emotional note remembering his friend not only for his screen presence but also for his simplicity and warmth. He described him as the epitome of greatness and praised the largeness of his heart that remained a defining part of his personality. Bachchan also recalled how Dharmendra remained connected to his Punjabi roots despite spending decades in the Hindi film industry. He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from, and remained true to its temperament, unsoiled throughout his glorious career, in a fraternity that witnessed changes every decade. The fraternity underwent changes, not him, he had written. He further remembered Dharmendras smile, charm and warmth, describing the way he extended that affection to everyone around him as a rarity in the profession. Bachchan concluded the tribute with the words, The air about us swings vacant, a vacuum that shall ever remain vacuus. Also Read:Amitabh Bachchan offers a poignant tribute to Dharmendra: He brought with him the earthiness of the village in Punjab he came from
Jay Shah, Virat Kohli Lead Indian Sporting Fraternitys Independence Day Wishes
ICC Chairman Jay Shah: India is celebrating its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, with members of the countrys sporting fraternity taking to social media to extend their wishes and reflect on the values of freedom, unity, sacrifice and national pride. Leading the wishes were ICC Chairman Jay Shah and former India captain Virat Kohli, who shared messages highlighting the values that continue to unite the country. The year also marks 150 years of Vande Mataram, which played a significant role in Indias freedom movement and continues to hold a special place in the countrys national consciousness. The true strength of a nation lies not only in its victories, but in the values that unite its people. Wishing everyone a proud and Happy Independence Day, ICC Chairman Jay Shah wrote. Virat Kohli also shared a post on Instagram that read, Happy Independence Day. Celebrating the freedom that unites us, the diversity that defines us, and the dreams that drive us forward. May we continue building an India that inspires generations. Jai Hind. Indias cricketing legends also joined the celebrations. Happy Independence Day!, wrote both former India legend Sachin Tendulkar and Indian T20I captain Shreyas Iyer. Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra used the occasion to highlight the importance of sport and ensuring every child gets the opportunity to play. Ill never forget standing there and watching the tricolour rise. This Independence Day, my hope is that every child in India has the right and opportunity to play. Because play is joy. Play is freedom. And every child deserves both, wrote Indias Olympic gold winning legend Abhinav Bindra. Former India cricketer VVS Laxman called for people to honour the sacrifices behind Indias freedom and contribute towards building a stronger nation. Happy Independence Day. Let us celebrate the spirit of freedom, honour the sacrifices of those who gave us our independence, and continue to contribute towards building a stronger, more united and progressive India. Jai Hind! posted VVS Laxman. Former India captain Mithali Raj wrote, Wishing everyone a very Happy 80th Independence Day, while former India all-rounder Suresh Raina said, Our identity is enshrined in the colors of the Tricolor. 80 years of freedom, countless sacrifices. Heartfelt wishes on August 15, 2026, Shikhar Dhawan also looked back at some of the proudest moments of his career in the India jersey. Some of the proudest moments of my life have come wearing the India jersey. Heres to the country that gave me the dream, the opportunity and the belief to chase it. Happy 80th Independence Day, former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan wrote. Indias sporting organisations and IPL franchises also marked the occasion with messages celebrating the Tricolour and the spirit of the nation. From the turf to every Indian heart, we play for the pride of our nation. A very Happy 80th Independence Day from all of us at Hockey India!, Hockey India posted on X. Celebrating the spirit that brings us together. Happy Independence Day, SunRisers Hyderabad posted. Pround. United. Indian. Wishing everyone a very happy #IndependenceDay, Punjab Kings said. The National Rifle Association of India posted, From setting our sights on bigger dreams to hitting every milestone with purpose. Happy 80th Independence Day, India, while the Athletics Federation of India said, From the track to the world stage, the Tiranga flies higher every time. Happy Independence Day! Lucknow Super Giants also joined in, writing, Let the Tricolour wave, let India smile. Heartfelt wishes on Independence Day! Royal Challengers Bengaluru connected the countrys freedom journey with the dreams of its people, posting, From a dream of freedom to a nation of dreamers. For every dream that was fought for, every dream that was realised, and every dream that still lies ahead. Happy 80th Independence Day, India. Chennai Super Kings wrote, Let the tricolour fly high! Heres to the freedom, togetherness and spirit that make India what it is. Happy Independence Day! Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, looked towards the future with their message: Entering the 80th year of writing our own story. Vande Mataram, India! Indian mens cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir remembered those whose sacrifices made Indias freedom possible. Their sacrifice. Our freedom. Our responsibility: India. Jai Hind, Indian mens cricket teams head coach Gautam Gambhir wrote. The Board of Control for Cricket in India also extended its wishes, saying, Here's wishing every Indian a very Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind, while former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan wrote, Wishing everyone a very happy Independence Day. Their sacrifice. Our freedom. Our responsibility: India. Jai Hind, Indian mens cricket teams head coach Gautam Gambhir wrote. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The messages from Indias sporting fraternity brought together athletes, cricketers, sporting bodies and IPL franchises, with a shared focus on freedom, sacrifice, unity and the aspirations of a nation entering its 80th year of independence. Article Source: IANS
Parents praise arrangements as NIT Srinagar UG admissions continue
Srinagar, Aug 14: For many parents, accompanying their children to the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar for undergraduate admissions was an occasion marked by pride, anticipation and a sense of achievement, as their wards embarked on a new phase of academic life. On the second day of undergraduate admissions at the Institute on Friday, parents accompanying students seeking admission to various programmes appreciated the arrangements, describing the process as orderly, efficient and convenient. For families who had travelled from different parts of the country, the admission day also brought relief after months of preparation and uncertainty. Parents said clear guidance from staff and the availability of essential services on campus helped them complete the formalities without much difficulty. Rajesh Kumar, a parent from Punjab, said seeing his son secure admission to NIT Srinagar was a proud moment for the family. We had been waiting for this day for a long time. There was naturally some nervousness when we arrived, but the way the staff guided us made everything much easier. From document verification to the final formalities, everyone was very cooperative, he said. Ram Prasad Meena, a parent from Rajasthan whose son secured admission to Mechanical Engineering, said the arrangements had made the transition easier for both students and families. For us, this is a very important moment. Our son is beginning a new chapter of his life, and as parents we wanted everything to go smoothly. The staff guided us properly, while having different facilities available at one place made the process much easier, he said. Shradda Kumari from Patna, Bihar, whose ward was admitted to the Institute, said her family was impressed by the way the rush of students and parents was managed. We were expecting a long and tiring process, but things moved smoothly. The staff was patient and cooperative. It was reassuring to see that the Institute had made arrangements to assist parents at every stage, she said. Shradda said parents often carry concerns when their children leave home for higher education, adding that the arrangements at the campus helped ease some of those apprehensions. As parents, we always worry when our children take such a big step. Seeing the arrangements here and the way officials are helping students gives us confidence, she said. She added that the atmosphere on campus was encouraging, with students appearing excited about beginning their journey at one of the countrys premier technical institutions. Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. B.A. Mir, said the admission process was progressing smoothly, with teams working continuously to facilitate students and their parents. Today, we have completed the admission process for around 80 candidates, taking the overall number of admissions to 169 so far. The response has been encouraging, and our teams are working to ensure that every student and parent gets proper assistance throughout the process, Prof. Mir said. He said the Institute had streamlined the admission procedure by bringing different facilities and services together at the campus, allowing students to complete their formalities in a coordinated manner. Our teams are working tirelessly from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM to ensure a hassle-free experience for students and parents. We have tried to make the process as convenient as possible, with the required facilities available under one roof, he said. Senior officials are monitoring the arrangements and speaking with students, parents, and staff to ensure coordination across teams during the ongoing admission process.
The World Carries India Within It
On 15 August 2026, India will raise its flag for the eightieth time. Seventy-nine years since the British left. Seventy-nine years since freedom arrived carrying both a promise and a question: What would we do with it? Every Independence Day, we remember the struggle, the marches, the prisons, the salt, the sacrifice, the long and wounded birth of a nation. But perhaps Independence Day is also a time to remember another inheritance, the ideas, inventions, practices and traditions that India has sent out into the world. Not as a boast, not as a claim staked on history, but as a quiet reckoning with the ways in which knowledge travels, leaving one civilization, entering another, and finally becoming so ordinary that nobody remembers where it began. One of Indias most influential contributions came from mathematics. Its story was not the work of one mathematician alone. In the fifth century, Aryabhata developed a place-value system that depended on the idea of an empty position, creating what we might call a silent zero. Although he did not use a separate written symbol for zero, his system required a placeholder to distinguish numerical values according to their position. More than a century later, Brahmagupta gave that silence a mathematical identity. In the seventh century, he described zero, or Shunya, as a number in its own right and established rules for calculating with it. Together with the decimal and place-value systems, their work transformed calculation and gave the world a numerical language in which stars could be measured, economies could be built and machines could think. The mobile phone in your hand, the satellite circling above you and the spreadsheet waiting for its next figure all carry, somewhere inside their intricate machinery, the inheritance of that ancient Indian insight. But Indias mathematical imagination did not end with zero. Indian scholars made significant advances in algebra, geometry, astronomy, trigonometry and the calculation of pi. Aryabhata wrote about the rotation of the Earth and developed methods for calculating astronomical positions. The Sulba Sutras contained early geometrical knowledge, while later mathematicians such as Bhaskara II explored ideas that anticipated aspects of algebra and calculus. These achievements remind us that mathematics is not merely a collection of formulas. It is a way of asking the universe to reveal its pattern. Chess travelled in a different way. It began, historians broadly believe, in the form of Chaturanga, a game of war and strategy played in India during the Gupta period. Its pieces represented the forces of an army: infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots. Over centuries, the game moved through Persia and the Arab world before reaching Europe, changing shape as it travelled. Today, a chessboard can be found in a schoolroom in Srinagar, a caf in Paris, a park in Moscow or a championship hall in Chennai. Indias gift was not only the game. It was the idea that conflict could be studied, contained and transformed into thought. Indias contributions to language were equally profound. Paninis Ashtadhyayi, composed more than two thousand years ago, presented Sanskrit grammar through an extraordinarily precise system of rules. Its structure has drawn the attention of modern linguists and computer scientists because of its formal, almost algorithmic quality. It showed that language could be observed not only as poetry and expression, but also as a system with patterns, structures and transformations. In India, language was not simply a tool for communication. It was a universe to be examined. The countrys reputation as a centre of learning is older than its modern universities. Takshashila and Nalanda were places where students and scholars gathered from different regions to study medicine, astronomy, philosophy, grammar and logic. Nalanda, in present-day Bihar, drew scholars from China and Central Asia. It belonged to an age when knowledge did not always arrive divided into departments, syllabi and examination halls. It moved more freely, like water finding its level. Indias medical traditions also travelled through time and across borders. Ayurveda developed a holistic approach to health, placing attention on diet, herbs, daily routines and the relationship between body and mind. The Charaka Samhita explored internal medicine, while the surgical writings attributed to Sushruta described procedures and instruments that reveal the sophistication of early Indian surgery. These traditions have immense historical significance. Their modern use, however, must be approached responsibly. Ancient systems may inform contemporary wellness, but they cannot replace evidence-based clinical care. India also made remarkable advances in metallurgy. The Iron Pillar of Delhi, known for its resistance to corrosion, remains a striking example of ancient Indian metalworking. Indian wootz steel, produced through a sophisticated crucible process, became renowned for its quality and influenced the development of famous Damascus blades. Behind these achievements lay an understanding of heat, carbon, minerals and materials that was practical, experimental and highly refined. Few Indian traditions have travelled as visibly as yoga. Once practised by relatively small circles of seekers, yoga now appears in schools, studios, hospitals, gyms and living rooms across the world. It has been stretched, commercialised, branded and sometimes separated from its philosophical roots. Yet beneath the mats, the postures and the breath-counting remains an old proposition: that the body is not merely a machine carrying the mind, but a doorway into it. The United Nations recognised 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, and UNESCO placed yoga on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. Long before institutions gave it official recognition, people had already discovered what the practice could offer: a pause in a world that profits from permanent motion. Indias philosophical gifts have travelled even further. Buddhism carried ideas of compassion, mindfulness and freedom from suffering across Asia and eventually into the wider world. Jainism placed non-violence and respect for all living beings at the centre of spiritual life. Sikhism brought together equality, courage, devotion and service. And then there was ahimsa, non-violence, not as weakness and not as surrender, but as a force capable of unsettling an empire. Mahatma Gandhi transformed it into a method of mass resistance. Martin Luther King Jr. studied and adapted its principles during the American civil rights movement. Others, in different countries and different struggles, found in it a way to confront power without becoming its mirror. Indias gifts have not travelled only through books and laboratories. They have travelled in song, spice, fabric, rhythm and story. Indian cotton and textiles were traded across the ancient world. Hindustani and Carnatic music carry centuries of listening. Bharatanatyam and Kathak turn the body into language. Indian food crosses borders in tiffin boxes, restaurants, kitchens and family recipes altered by migration. Indian cinema, made in many languages and many emotional registers, has created its own geography of longing. Its songs travel farther than its plots. Its faces become familiar in places where the languages are not. The world may not understand every word, but it recognises the gesture: the mother waiting, the lover returning, the family breaking and remaking itself. These are not small things. A culture survives not only in monuments, but in what people hum while washing dishes, in what they cook when they are homesick and in the stories they tell their children before sleep. Modern India has continued to send its ideas outward. The Indian Space Research Organisation has shown that ambitious scientific work need not always be accompanied by extravagant spending. The Mars Orbiter Mission, launched in 2013, entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014 on its first attempt. ISRO describes it as Indias first interplanetary mission and notes that its success demonstrated the countrys ability to carry out a complex mission in a cost-effective manner. But science is not a miracle performed by a nation. It is the result of people: scientists, technicians, teachers, programmers, machinists, students and workers whose names rarely appear in celebration speeches. The same is true of the Universal Serial Bus, now so familiar that its name has almost disappeared into everyday language. Indian-American computer architect Ajay V. Bhatt led the team at Intel that developed the technology. The device that connects our phones, cameras, hard drives and laptops is another reminder that innovation often arrives quietly, then becomes indispensable. Indias scientific contribution also includes the work of Jagadish Chandra Bose in radio and plant science, the development of fibre-optic communication by Narinder Singh Kapany and the achievements of Indian doctors, engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs working across the world. The story of Indias gifts is therefore not a straight line from an ancient past to a glorious present. It is a river with many streams. Some flow from Sanskrit texts and temple schools. Some come from laboratories, universities and space centres. Some emerge from workshops, kitchens, farms, weaving communities and ordinary homes. There is a danger, however, in making a catalogue of Indias achievements. A country can become so enchanted by its ancient glory that it forgets the living people standing in its shadow. What does it mean to praise Nalanda while schools crumble? To celebrate Ayurveda while public hospitals struggle? To speak of the wisdom of non-violence while hatred is made profitable? To celebrate the sophistication of Indian mathematics while children are denied the education needed to understand it? To claim the generosity of Indian civilization while dissenters are silenced, minorities are frightened and the poor are asked to be grateful for survival? The question is not whether India has given the world great things. It has. The more difficult question is whether India is still willing to give the world what its oldest traditions demanded of it: curiosity without arrogance, knowledge without ownership, strength without cruelty, faith without hatred and progress without the destruction of the vulnerable. Zero teaches us that absence can contain possibility. Astronomy teaches us to look beyond the limits of the earth. Chess teaches us that every move alters the board. Yoga teaches us to breathe before we act. Language teaches us that every word carries a history. Metallurgy teaches us that patient knowledge can outlast its makers. Music teaches us that memory can be carried in sound. Ahimsa teaches us that power need not resemble violence. Perhaps these are not merely Indias gifts to the world. Perhaps they are instructions sent back to India from its own past. So, when the flag rises on 15 August, let it not be only a symbol of what India once overcame, or a banner beneath which we recite what India once achieved. Let it be a question moving through the country, from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi to the paddy fields of Punjab, the apple orchards of Kashmir and the fishing villages of Kerala; from the farmers who read the sky, to the weavers who preserve memory in thread, to the students building robots in Atal Tinkering Labs, to the scientists sending Indias imagination beyond the earth: What will we do with what we have inherited? Because a nation is not made great by the treasures it locks inside its history. It is made great by what it protects in the present, by what it imagines for the future, and by whether, after giving the world zero, India can still find a way to make sure that no one, no child, no community, no language and no memory is treated as if they count for nothing. (The author is a columnist)
Thousands gather at Kangans Baba Nagri to remember Mian Bashir Larvi
Thousands of devotees gathered at Baba Nagri in Wangath, Kangan, on Friday to mark the fifth death anniversary of Padma Bhushan awardee, veteran tribal leader and Sufi scholar Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi. Mian Bashir, popularly known as Baba Sahib, passed away on August 14, 2021, at the age of 98. The annual observance at the shrine was marked by Fateha Khwani, Quran Khwani and special prayers, with devotees arriving from across Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and other parts of the country. His son and Member of Parliament, Mian Altaf Ahmad, who is also the Sajjada Nasheen of the shrine, led the prayers and paid tribute to his fathers contributions to Sufism, social service, literature and the empowerment of the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities. Addressing the gathering, Mian Altaf urged Ulema and community leaders to help prevent young people from falling into social evils, describing drug abuse as one of the worst of evils. He called upon the youth to stay away from narcotics and other harmful substances. Speakers, including Molvi Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din and Syed Salim Geelani, recalled Mian Bashirs message of communal harmony, pluralism and social equality, saying his teachings remained relevant to the region. Several books were also released during the programme, including Yaad-e-Raftgan, a diary written by Mian Bashir that records social, political and religious developments of his time. A book by Dr Mohammad Rafiq containing biographies of Hazrat Baba Ji Sahib Larvi, Hazrat Mian Nizam-ud-Din Larvi and Hazrat Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi was also released. Devotees said the spiritual bond and affection associated with the Mian family continued to draw people to Baba Nagri. The shrines year-round Langar, or community kitchen, remains another major feature of the institution. During the annual Urs, around 100 permanent workers, assisted by local volunteers, prepare large quantities of food and sweet rice for devotees. Born in November 1923 at Pehalnar Wangath, Mian Bashir inherited the spiritual stewardship of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. He also emerged as a prominent leader of the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, advocating education, social recognition and political representation for the tribal population. He served four terms in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and held ministerial positions under successive governments. He also represented India at the United Nations General Assembly. A prolific writer in Gojri, Urdu and Punjabi, his works included the six-volume Neer Sumandar, Israr-e-Kabari and Mata-e-Faqar-o-Danish. In recognition of his contribution to society, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2008. Five years after his death, devotees said his message of faith, tolerance, education and brotherhood continued to resonate across Jammu and Kashmir.
Finance Minister Punjab honours Dr Anshu Kataria as Voice of Private Unaided Colleges of India
Finance Minister Punjab, S. Harpal Singh Cheema honoured Dr Anshu Kataria, President, Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) & Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura, Near Chandigarh with the prestigious Voice of Private Unaided Colleges of India award during the Millennial Awards 2026, held at JW Marriott, Chandigarh. S Harpal Singh Cheema appreciated Dr. Katarias continuous efforts in raising the concerns of private unaided colleges and working for the welfare of students and educational institutions. On the occasion, Dr Anshu Kataria, President, Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) & Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges, appreciated the efforts of Finance Minister S. Harpal Singh Cheema for reviving the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme for Punjabi students. He said that the Government has sanctioned Rs 432 crore towards pending PMS dues for 201720 and has assured the disbursement of more pending funds in the coming months. Dr Kataria appreciated Cheemas efforts to resolve the long-pending PMS issues of Punjab. On the occasion, teams from Aryans Group of Colleges, Swami Vivekanand Institute of Engineering and Technology, Doaba Group of Colleges, Indo Global Group of Colleges and Saraswati Group of Colleges were present.
Best of BS Opinion: The case for keeping UPI free outweighs its infra costs
Today's columns examine the case for keeping UPI free, Punjab's shifting political landscape, General A S Vaidya's forgotten legacy and the rise of founders as brand ambassadors.
Every August, India performs a ritual of remembering that risks becoming a ritual of forgetting. We hoist flags, recite a familiar pantheon of names, and retire the past into ceremony. But independence was not a single, luminous event delivered on the morning of 15 August 1947. It was a wager, made by exhausted and divided men and women, that a civilisation of extraordinary diversity could govern itself as one republic rather than dissolve into its many parts. That wager has not yet been fully settled. It is renewed, or betrayed, in every generation that inherits it. The twenty-one days that could have ended differently It is worth remembering how contingent the whole enterprise was. Between 25 July and 14 August 1947, as Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah sparred in public and Lord Mountbatten prepared to preside over two new dominions, a small, largely unheralded group of civil servants worked in near-obscurity to prevent a third catastrophe: the Balkanisation of the subcontinent into hundreds of fragments. Over five hundred and fifty princely states, ruling nearly two-fifths of the land and a quarter of its population, stood legally free to remain independent, join Pakistan, or join India. There was no constitutional inevitability that they would choose union. The India we take as a settled fact was, until the last possible hour, an open question and the investigative journalist Josy Josephs recent account of those twenty-one days is a useful reminder that the republic was assembled, not merely declared. This matters philosophically, not just historically. We tend to speak of nations as though they possess an essence some prior, natural unity waiting to be liberated from colonial rule. But Indias founders knew better. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V.P. Menon, working through the States Department, did not appeal to a pre-existing oneness; they built one, through negotiation, pressure, and an act of collective will. The nation was not found. It was made. And anything that is made by human hands and human choices can, by the same token, be unmade by human neglect. This is the first hard truth an honest article on independence must confront: sovereignty is not a possession, like an heirloom passed down and simply held. It is closer to a practice, like a language, or a marriage, that persists only for as long as it is actively spoken and renewed. A struggle that belonged to no single community There is a second, equally uncomfortable truth: the freedom that was won in 1947 was not won by any one community on behalf of the others. It was, in the fullest sense, a shared inheritance and the amnesia that has crept into public memory on this point deserves to be named plainly as a distortion, not a difference of opinion. Ashfaqulla Khan, a young poet and revolutionary from Shahjahanpur, went to the gallows in December 1927 alongside his comrade Ram Prasad Bismil for their part in the Kakori conspiracy, having chosen armed insurrection over accommodation with an empire he considered illegitimate. His last words are said to have invoked both his faith and his country in the same breath, seeing no contradiction between the two. A decade later, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan the Frontier Gandhi built among the Pashtuns of the North-West Frontier a movement of nonviolent resistance so disciplined that the British feared it more than they feared the sword, and he paid for that discipline with decades of imprisonment, first under colonial rule and then, bitterly, under the postcolonial state he helped bring into being. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, meanwhile, offered a rival vision of nationhood to the very idea of Partition that a composite Indian identity, rather than a religiously defined one, was both truer to Indias civilisational history and more durable as a political foundation. And Bhagat Singh, executed at twenty-three for the bombing of the Central Legislative Assembly and his defiant courtroom testimony, remains perhaps the starkest case of all: an avowed atheist and socialist revolutionary whose sacrifice has since been folded into every ideological camp except, often, the internationalist and irreligious one he actually held. To set these lives side by side is not an act of statistical balancing, some anxious effort to ensure proportional representation among the dead. It is to recover a simple and inconvenient fact: the freedom struggle was pluralist in its very architecture, animated by believers, atheists, socialists, and conservatives who disagreed profoundly with one another about the shape of the future India should have, yet judged the present subjugation intolerable enough to die for its end. A nation that silently edits this plurality out of its founding story is not correcting history; it is impoverishing itself, trading a complicated but true inheritance for a simple and false one. What it means to protect, rather than merely possess, a republic Here the argument must turn from memory to obligation, because the past, however faithfully recovered, cannot by itself discharge our present duties. What, then, does it mean to protect a nation once it exists? It cannot mean merely defending its borders, though that is necessary. Nor can it mean defending its symbols like flags, anthems, dates, though these too have their place. The deeper protection a republic requires is the protection of the conditions under which the original wager continues to make sense: that people fundamentally unlike one another in faith, language, and inheritance can nonetheless share equal standing before a common law. This is a more demanding and more fragile achievement than unity of blood or creed, precisely because it rests on nothing more solid than mutual recognition, continually re-extended. The moment one communitys citizenship is treated as more original, more authentic, or more entitled to define the nations character than anothers, the philosophical basis of 1947 - the shared sacrifice memorialised above - is quietly repudiated, even if the flag still flies and the anthem still plays. There is a temptation, especially in times of anxiety, to imagine that a nation is protected by tightening its identity or by deciding, at last, who really belongs. History suggests the opposite. The princely states were not absorbed into India through an exercise of narrower identity, but through an act of expansive accommodation, one that had to persuade Hindu-majority Travancore and Muslim-ruled Junagadh, Sikh Punjab and animist tribal belts alike, that a plural union served them better than isolation or division. The instrument that held the country together in 1947 was not sameness. It was a negotiated, sometimes uneasy, mutual guarantee, the precursor to what the Constitution would later formalise as equal citizenship. To protect the republic today is to keep faith with that instrument, not to discard it in favour of the very fragmentation it was built to prevent. The wager renewed Freedom, then, is not a state achieved once and inherited passively thereafter, like property. It is closer to what philosophers have called a practice of self-legislation - a people continually choosing, through its institutions, its speech, and its treatment of the vulnerable among it, to remain the kind of political community its founders judged worth dying for. Ashfaqulla Khan and Bhagat Singh did not sacrifice themselves for a flag; Ghaffar Khan did not spend decades in prison for a date on the calendar. They wagered their lives on the proposition that a genuinely plural, self-governing India was possible and worth having. Eight decades later, the question is not whether that wager was won in 1947. It plainly was. The harder question - the one this anniversary should force upon us, uncomfortably, each year - is whether we are still willing to place the same wager today, in a country grown large, unequal, and impatient with the difficulty of holding so much difference together. Independence was the easier half of the task, if anything about it can be called easy. It required courage, but courage aimed at a visible, external adversary - an empire whose injustice was, in the end, legible to the world and to history. What remains is a subtler and lonelier struggle, aimed inward, without the moral clarity of a foreign oppressor to unite against: the daily, unglamorous, often thankless labour of protecting a plural republic from its own worst instincts, its own appetite for simplification. This is the harder inheritance, and unlike the flag or the anthem, it cannot simply be received. It must be re-earned, by each generation, in the manner it chooses to treat the citizen who prays differently, speaks differently, or remembers 1947 differently than it does. That, finally, is what it would mean to have been worthy of what Ashfaqulla Khan, Bhagat Singh, and Ghaffar Khan gave up. Malik Daniyal is an economics graduate from Delhi University.
Ludhiana cyclist Harshveer Sekhon qualifies for two events at World Track Championships
City cyclist Harshveer Singh Sekhon has added another significant achievement to his international career The post Ludhiana cyclist Harshveer Sekhon qualifies for two events at World Track Championships appeared first on Khalsa Vox .
A visit to Delhi in search of a suitable UPSC coaching institute for his The post Ludhiana Policemans Free Coaching Initiative Opens Doors to Government Careers appeared first on Khalsa Vox .
Sukhbir Badal Expresses Gratitude After Attack, Calls for Unity and Service
New Delhi, August 15: Senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, recently took to Facebook to express his gratitude towards Guru Sahib following a violent attack. He emphasized that Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj has always been a guiding force in his life during challenging times. ... Read more Sukhbir Badal Expresses Gratitude After Attack, Calls for Unity and Service
Another Arrest in VHP Leader Vikas Prabhakar Murder Case
Amritsar, August 15: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another suspect in the murder case of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vikas Prabhakar in Punjabs Nangal. The accused has been identified as Manveer Ram, also known as Ashu. In a conversation regarding the arrest, the victims brother, Suresh, expressed that some terrorists had martyred ... Read more Another Arrest in VHP Leader Vikas Prabhakar Murder Case
Watch the song Mirzya from punjabi movie 'Ishqnama' starring Jai Randhhawa, Shehnaaz Gill and Saurabh Sachdev. 'Ishqnama' song Mirzya is sung by Afsana Khan and music is given by B Praak. Lyrics of ' Ishqnama' song Mirzya are also written by Jaani. To know more about song Mirzya from Jai Randhhawa, Shehnaaz Gill and Saurabh Sachdev starrer 'Ishqnama' watch the video.
Urban tree felling in Punjab to need tree officer's nod
Blatant lie: Punjab FM slams Shivraj over RDF claims
12 Punjab Police officers to be honoured on I-Day
Punjab VHP leader murder accused arrested
The National Investigation Agency has made another arrest in the case of the targeted killing of Vikas Prabhakar, a prominent Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader. Manveer Ram, referred to as Ashu, was apprehended at Amritsar International Airport on Thursday. Investigators believe that the assassination plot was devised by Germany-based members of Babbar Khalsa International, leading to the filing of several chargesheets by the NIA as part of their probe.
BJP Expresses Concern Over Rising Crime in Punjab
Chandigarh, August 14: The President of the Punjab BJP, Kailash Singh Dhillon, raised alarms on Friday regarding the escalating criminal activities in the state. He claimed that the law and order situation is deteriorating rapidly, leaving ordinary citizens, traders, and businesses feeling unsafe. In a press statement, Dhillon highlighted that incidents of shootings, daylight murders, ... Read more BJP Expresses Concern Over Rising Crime in Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Lays Foundation for Compressed Bio-Gas Plant in Ludhiana
Ludhiana, August 14: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation stone for a 65 crore Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) plant in Hebowal, Ludhiana, on Friday. This project aims to scientifically process 300 tons of animal waste generated daily at the dairy complex, addressing the issues of sewer blockages and pollution in Budha Nala. Spanning 2.5 ... Read more Punjab Chief Minister Lays Foundation for Compressed Bio-Gas Plant in Ludhiana
Punjab begins mapping legitimate raw material supply for stone crushers
Badal attack: Accused blamed SAD govt for Punjab drug crisis, says police
The individual accused of attacking Sukhbir Singh Badal has placed the blame on the escalating drug crisis in Punjab, asserting that the former SAD government did little to resolve the issue. Investigators are currently examining his statements to uncover the true motive behind the assault. At this time, there's no evidence linking the incident to extremist factions.
Badal Alleges Plot To Destabilise Punjab
SAD chief vows not to be intimidated, stresses commitment to communal harmony
Rs 80cr suspected heroin seized in Guwahati, Punjab man held
Punjab's political climate turns fluid as old alliances lose their grip
Conditions of extreme fluidity hang over Punjab as the weather cools but election fever hots up
BJP turns to Partition trauma to reach out to Punjabi community ahead of polls
'What have I done?': The moment Jinnah confronted the horrors of Partition
Journalist Kuldip Nayar recounted Muhammad Ali Jinnah's despair over Partition's human tragedy. He witnessed streams of people fleeing across the divided Punjab from an aircraft. Nayar also described the devastation and fear he experienced approaching the Wagah border. The scale of the upheaval became increasingly visible as violence escalated significantly. India observes August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to honor the suffering.
Sukhbir Badal To NDTV After Attack: 'I'm Not Scared, Will Never Bow Down'
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has spoken exclusively to NDTV after being discharged from hospital following an attack in Maharashtra. Badal said he is not scared and that this was not the first assassination attempt against him, adding that his father, Parkash Singh Badal, never bowed down to anti-India forces and neither will he. An FIR has been registered in the case under charges including attempt to murder, assault or criminal force against a public servant and the Arms Act. NDTV also examines the wider debate over religious-site security, Nihang vigilantism and the political and social tensions in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
India Resumes Supply of Passenger Coaches to Bangladesh with First Batch of 19 Coaches
Dhaka, August 14: India has restarted the supply of passenger coaches to Bangladesh after nearly a decade. According to Bangladeshi media reports shared on Friday, the first batch of 19 new-generation broad-gauge passenger coaches is being dispatched via the Darshana border. These coaches, manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, Punjab, represent the ... Read more India Resumes Supply of Passenger Coaches to Bangladesh with First Batch of 19 Coaches
Punjab Man Warns Against 'Donkey' Route In Tearful Video From Mexico: Made A Mistake:
A video of a Punjabi Sikh youth crying and claiming that he is trapped in Mexico has gone viral on social media. In the video, the young man appears to be lying on a bed inside a room, pleading with folded hands and urging people not to come to Mexico through the illegal 'donkey' route. The video, captioned Disgusting treatment of an Indian Sikh in Mexico, shows the youth alleging that he was assaulted after trying to escape. He claims that he was beaten so severely that he is unable to walk properly. Visibly distressed and frightened, he repeatedly appeals to others not to make the same mistake.
On Saturday, the monsoon continues to be vigorous in various parts of India. Multiple states and Union Territories are predicted to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall along with widespread thunderstorms. Citizens are urged to stay vigilant due to the potential for strong winds and travel delays that may arise from the persistent monsoon conditions.
They Want To Disturb Punjabs Peace: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has called the Kirpan attack on him inside a Nanded gurdwara a larger conspiracy aimed at disturbing peace in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Badal, discharged after a 90-minute surgery, suffered a five-centimetre wound on his forearm and said he would not be intimidated. Police have arrested Jaspal Singh, a gurdwara sewadar, and registered cases including attempt to murder and Arms Act offences. Investigators are probing the motive behind the attack, while Badal stresses Punjabs brotherhood and communal harmony.
Punjab Kings made a flying start to their IPL 2026 campaign, winning six of their first seven matches, with their game against Kolkata Knight Riders washed out due to rain. The Shreyas Iyer-led side quickly...
New Delhi: As Partition tore through the subcontinent in 1947, millions were forced to flee across a newly drawn border amid communal violence, killings and looting, and it was against this backdrop that Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, after seeing streams of people fleeing across a divided Punjab, reportedly struck his forehead and asked in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Bluetooth devices used: Punjab pharmacy exam aspirant alleges massive security lapses
Bluetooth devices used Punjab pharmacy exam aspirant alleges massive security lapses
Watch | Goosebumps At Attari Border As Grand Beating Retreat Ceremony Sets The Stage For I-Day
The Punjab border of Attari-Wagah has been decorated with the colors of the Indian National flag as the security forces gear up for the 80th anniversary of Independence Day on August 15. There was a final rehearsal of the
Cop Santosh Kendre blunted attack on Badal, injured
An alert police officer, Inspector Santosh Kendre, sustained injuries while bravely intervening to protect former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from a kirpan attack inside a gurdwara in Nanded. Kendre's timely action blunted the assailant's blow, leading to his own injury but ensuring Badal's safety.
BFUHS NEET UG 2026 Merit List Out - Download MBBS
BFUHS has released the provisional combined merit list for NEET UG 2026 Punjab MBBS/BDS counselling. Get the direct PDF download link, learn how to check your rank, and see the full Round 1 counselling schedule, eligibility, fee, and required documents.
A distressing video of a Punjabi Sikh youth claiming to be stranded in Mexico has surfaced on social media, with the man making an emotional appeal to others not to risk their lives by taking...
Delhi government considers hosting World Punjabi Literary Festival
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Their mission is to disturb Punjabs peace: Sukhbir Singh Badals reaction after Nanded attack
Targeted Hits On Sukhbir Badal Expose Simmering Discontent In Punjab Ahead Of Polls
Two brutal attacks hint that the unresolved sacrilege cases have not only made Sukhbir Badal a recurring target of radical anger but have also given radical elements and Khalistanis a potent weapon.
Lot of forces...: Sukhbir Badal's 1st reaction after attack
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked in a Nanded gurdwara, sustaining injuries that required surgery. He alleged that forces opposed to peace are targeting him and his party to disturb communal harmony in Punjab, citing a previous attack at the Golden Temple. Police have arrested the assailant but the motive remains unknown.
Sukhbir Badal discharged from Nanded hospital a day after attack
The former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister underwent surgery that lasted for about 90 minutes and was stable, doctors treating him had said in the morning
Describing the attack on him as a 'mission to take control' of Punjab, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Friday that he is not afraid and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) remains...
PSTET Result 2026 - Download Punjab TET Scorecard
PSTET Result 2026 has been released at pstet2025.org. Check the Punjab TET Paper 1 and Paper 2 result, the final revised answer key uploaded on 13 August 2026, roll-number correction notice, how to download your scorecard, and PSTET qualifying marks all in one place.
I Am Not Afraid: Sukhbir Badal's First Statement After Attack In Maharashtra's Nanded
Sukhbir Singh Badal, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, was attacked during a visit to a gurudwara in Maharashtra's Nanded a day before.
Sukhbir Singh Badals first reaction after Nanded gurdwara attack: I have never been scared
Sukhbir Singh Badal stated the attack aimed to disturb Punjab's peace and vowed to prevent it. He was injured by a kirpan at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra on Thursday. The alleged attacker was taken into custody by the Maharashtra Police. Badal underwent surgery for a tendon injury and nerve damage, and doctors declared him stable. The incident prompted a probe and drew condemnation from political and religious leaders.
Made A Mistake: Punjab Man Warns Against 'Donkey' Route In Tearful Video From Mexico
The video, captioned Disgusting treatment of an Indian Sikh in Mexico, shows the youth alleging that he was assaulted after trying to escape
Won't let Punjab's peace be disturbed: Sukhbir Badal after Nihang's Kirpan attack
Wont let Punjabs peace be disturbed Sukhbir Badal after Nihangs Kirpan attack
Video: Punjab man beats woman beggar with slipper 9 times, kicks her outside temple
Punjabs road safety force turns to AI, drones and satellites after saving 47,000 lives
Sukhbir Badal Underwent Surgery For 90 Minutes, His Condition Stable: Doctors
Sukhbir Singh Badal will be discharged today and is likely to be flown to Punjab in the afternoon, an official said.
Attack on Sukhbir Badal: Doctor says SAD chief underwent surgery for 90 minutes, condition stable
Sukhbir Singh Badal, will be discharged on Friday, August 14, and is likely to be flown to Punjab in the afternoon, an official said.
Sukhbir Singh Badal declared stable after undergoing surgery following Nanded gurdwara attack
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal underwent surgery after a kirpan attack. Doctors repaired a tendon injury and nerve damage during the procedure. He is now stable and expected to be discharged from the hospital today. Badal will likely be flown back to Punjab later this afternoon. Police are investigating the motive behind the attack by the accused volunteer.
