 Painting of Bhagat Puran Singh with Piara Singh - "the garland around my neck"
Essays written by founder of Pingalwara Ashram here late Bhagat Puran Singh have been compiled in the shape of a book “Pawan Guru Pani Pita” by his daughter Dr Inderjit Kaur. The book was released here today by the GNDU vice-chancellor, Dr Jai Rup Singh, at the Malanwala unit of the Pingalwara.
The book seeks to press the panic button on how environmental pollution was posing a threat to future generations. The only solution lies in planting more trees and putting a check on mindless commercialisation, according to the book.
In his book review, Dr Adarsh Pal Vig, reader with GNDU’s Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, says, Bhagat Puran Singh added an autographical touch to his essays. The lifestyle he followed can only be termed “Simple living, high thinking”, even though it sounds like cliché.
Though people know Bhagat Puran Singh more for his love for humanity, particularly disabled and the mentally and physically challenged, his strong views on the need for organic farming and controlled use of chemicals reflect that he equally cherished nature in all its forms.
“The compilation is as relevant today. In his lifetime, Bhagat Puran Singh launched a crusade to save natural environment and his words ring true as more and more surveys are being conducted on harm to nature,” he said.
“The essays emphasise on the fact that no one can escape the fallout of damage to the natural environment. Issues like population explosion, mechanisation and menace of automobiles have been tacked,” he said.
“The solution has been suggested by underlining the need for leading a simple lifestyle by including walking a part of daily routine. The need to shun silver utensils, the effects of noise pollution and need to control growing population are the key messages in the book,” he said.
The essay titled “Khabardaar” also talks of global warming and the need for a consensus to find ways to control it.
Dr Jai Rup Singh said, “Bhagat Puran Singh had written these essays about 50 to 60 years back and one can safely say that his thought process was about a century ahead of his times.”
“The threat of depleting uranium emanating from the Afghanistan war was looming large on the people of Punjab and there was need for the government to take effective steps to take timely precautions,” said the VC.
“If not checked, the dangerous effects would lead to a rise in incidence of cancer, skin diseases and malformations. The radiations affect the entire Punjab, besides Haryana, J&K and Pakistan. But since this is not being seen as a national problem, no preventive measures have been taken so far,” he said.
He said in view of the serious nature of the threat, the GNDU has decided to organise a seminar on the issue next month so that experts could discuss different aspects of the problem and make recommendations on how to avoid the harmful effects of these deadly radiations.
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