Columnists
Phulwaarhi:
A Garden
T. SHER SINGH
This week I came across a report on a sports meet in Ludhiana, Punjab.
Specifically, at the 39th Inter-House Athletics Meet of The Guru Nanak Public School.
What grabbed me instantly was the musicality of the names that spilled out of the report, and bounced all around me.
Here they are, unedited and as they appear on the school’s roster for the day, a phulwaarhi of buds and saplings that hold the future of Sikhi in the little palms of their hands.
Reading these names aloud, in the early hours of the morning, I was reminded of the ’Symphony of Fire’ I witnessed on the lakeshore one summer in Toronto - a potent combination of music and fireworks to be heard and seen for miles around. Try it out for yourself and see if you can feel the same poetry I do …
* * * * *
Ramneet Kaur. Sehajdeep Kaur. Shambhavi Kaur. Ravneet Kaur. Harsharan Kaur. Rehmat Kaur. Saanvi. Mannat. Gurnadar Kaur.
Jappanjot Singh. Pawandeep Singh. Jasraj Singh. Manjot Singh. Prabhdeep Singh. Manikpreet Singh. Harbir Singh. Ajit Singh. Amandeep Singh. Haripal Singh. Imroj Singh.
Anhad Kaur. Bani Kaur. Ajooni Kaur. Amreen Kaur. Robinpreet Kaur. Yuvleen Kaur. Meharjot Kaur. Manya Khurana. Gurleen Kaur. Ekjot Kaur.
Harkirat Singh. Gurjot Singh. Arshpreet Singh. Imroz Singh. Rann Singh. Ramjot Singh. Amar Singh. Harsimran Singh. Sidakveer Singh. Japbir Singh. Agamveer Singh. Prabhnoor Singh. Gurasis Singh. Sukhvir Singh. Sarabnoor Singh.
Divnoor Kaur. Amritpal Kaur. Harleen Kaur. Harkeerat Gogna. Nadar Kaur. Arshmeet Kaur. Supreet Kaur. Nemat Kaur. Bhavleen Kaur. Gunneet Kaur. Guneet Kaur.
Agambir Singh. Varundeep Singh. Jagatveer Singh. Kuwarpreet Singh. Naazveer Singh. Harcharanpreet Singh. Anmol Singh. Darshpal Singh. Samarpartap Singh.
Gursimarjeet Singh. Manmohan Singh. Pavitdeep Singh. Prabhnoor Singh. Karanveer Singh. Manavjot Singh. Randeep Singh. Navjot Singh. Snimerbir Singh. Montek Singh. Ishraj Singh.
* * * * *
Now let these raags sink in, and tell me which chords they strike in you?
November 27, 2015
Conversation about this article
1: Arjan Singh (USA), December 04, 2015, 2:43 PM.
I must say it is a small world indeed. I am assuming the school mentioned in this article is none other than Guru Nanak Public School located in Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. I studied in this school till the 1st grade and visited it often to attend their annual sports meet. The school was established and administered by a very able and talented principal named Mrs. Virdi. In its heyday this school was known for producing well-rounded pupils who did well not only academically but also were known for their prowess on the hockey field and dramatics. My mother started her teaching career at this school as did many other teachers who went on to lead other educational institutions around the country. Some of my friends and cousins attending the school had names such as these: Harpreet, Sarbdeep, Puneet, Imroz, Sandeep, etc. So, yes, if you attended the annual sports meet at this school you would definitely hear the raags in the air as these melodic names were called out at the beginning of each sports event. Brings back good memories of traveling in the orange colored buses of this school and wearing blue colored turbans.