The most visible organization and the foundation of the government machinery is the police. To judge the performance of police stations at grassroots level, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs conducts an yearly exercise to adjudge the best police stations across India. In Chandigarh, Sector 11 police station has been ranked the best police station in its annual ranking of police stations for the year 2022.

Sector 11 police station is headed by SHOJasbir Singh. A Certificate of Excellence signed by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah  and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla was issued to the police station.

“A lot of parameters are taken into consideration for the award. The team visits the police station 3-4 times over a period of over 5 months and checks records, talk to the RWAs (resident welfare associations), market associations and take feedback from the public,” says SHO Jasbir Singh, heading the Sector 11 police station.

Talking to CityWoofer,  Jasbir Snigh says,”My main aim along with my staff is prevention and detection of crime. I lay stress on how the police personnel deal with complainants and their behaviour with the general public”. Inspector Jasbir Singh has investigated over 11 cases of murder and secured convictions against suspects in all cases.

Talking about Chandigarh,  where he has been deployed since 1992, he says, “There is no political  pressure or  bureaucratic interference  or by the senior police officers in the registration of FIRs . Everything is free and fair.”

Regarding the dismal image of the police pan-India, he says, “There are inherent problems in every department of the government, so we cannot pinpoint the police alone”.

Dalbir Singh, Senior Advisor, TRUAGRICO, a body which conducted the survey on behalf of MHA, says, “We check data of the past three years, the daily performance, type of cases registered and in how much time they were resolved, etc. There are about 60-70 indicators on the basis of which report is prepared”.

How well are the government flagship programmes like sarva shiksha abhiyaan, safai abhiyaan,cyber crime, and other awareness campaigns propagated among the public is also one of the criteria. There are three types of interviews that are conducted by the MHA team. “Firstly, we talk to complainants about  police behaviour and response to their complaint, secondly we talk to shopkeepers, RWAs, in the vicinity and thirdly, we take the general public’s perception into account. We have questionnaires with at least 25-30 questions in each type,” says Singh.

SHO Jasbir Singh has won award earlier too

In 2020 and 2021, Sector 26 police station had been declared the best police station respectively. Interestingly, Inspector Jasbir Singh, was the SHO of Sector 26 police station in both 2020 and 2021.

The newly operational Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in New Chandigarh is making its presence felt in the Tricity, with its Mumbai branch having already put its stamp of excellence in research and holistic development of a student’s personality with its modern facilities, faculty and recognition.

NMIMS Chandigarh, one of the newest contenders in the academic field in the Tricity, has taken the initiative of organizing a half-marathon on March 5 to commemorate International Women’s Day which falls on March 8, with the unveiling of the half marathon T-shirt at its New Chandigarh campus.

Dharam Pal , Adviser to Administrator, UT, will be the chief guest and Nitika Pawar(IAS), Secretary Social Welfare & Special Secretary Personnel, UT, will flag off the run on March 5.

111-yr old marathon runner Fauja Singh’s grand daughter, Deep Shergill, a noted educationist and a fitness expert herself, was present at the T-Shirt launch event along with singer Naveed Akhtar and twice cancer survivor and a master national athlete Opinder Kaur Sekhon.

Amit Seth, Honorary Secretary & Mentor, NMIMS, is himself a well-known marathoner and was the first Indian national to have run the Comrades Marathon in 2009, he is the Comrades International Brand Ambassador for the Indian Subcontinent.  A highly accomplished ultra-runner Amit Gulia, will be the race director at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Jaskiran Kaur, Campus Director, NMIMS said, “I am happy to know that over 30 women have already registered for the 21.1 km half-marathon. The funds collected through the marathon will go for a noble cause to the Tata Memorial Research Institute”.

“If you want to change your life, run a marathon. The mind, body, heart ,soul — everything is working in coordination at the same time,” said Shergill who herself is a keen sports enthusiast.

“Being in Punjab, NMIMS has taken a big initiative in the direction of giving the message of staying fit and healthy, in the same spirit we must also initiate ourselves into a healthy lifestyle,” said Akhtar, who is a keen fitness freak along with being an accomplished singer.

“In my academic years, I used to play a lot of sports casually, then I got into the usual humdrum of life. When cancer struck, I got majorly into different types of physical activity and then I literally realized the importance of sports. Now, my day ends and begins in the sports ground with one activity or the other,” says Opinder, who battled cancer twice.

Student council members were also given an opportunity to speak on a public platform at the press meet to initiate them into public speaking.

 More about NMIMS half-marathon

Categories:  5 km run,  10 km run,  21.1 km half marathon

Date: Sunday, 5th March 2023

Venue:  Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), New Chandigarh

Route Details: NMIMS campus, New Chandigarh to Sukhna Lake and back for the 21.1 km run, NMIMS campus to Botanical Gardens, Sarangpur for 5 km run

Flag Off Timings:

21.1 KM Half Marathon – 05:30 AM

10 KM Run – 06:15 AM

5 KM Run – 07:00 AM

Participants need to be at the venue, 30 minutes before their event timing.

Cash prizes have also been announced for the winners separately in the men and women category

Where to register: Online registrations only at citywoofer.com

Bib Expo: On March 4, Saturday, a day preceding the main event, the BIBs will be provided at the NMIMS campus,which will also help you check out the route map, start and finish venue and to meet pacers and fellow runners.To collect your kit, show the soft copy of the confirmation mail of your participation.

Event partners, cycle worx — a cycling group, will be joining as marshals, showing runners the correct way to run, warning them of any obstacles or hazards etc. The event is being supported by ICICI Bank (Banking Partner), Chandigarh Bytes (Promotional Partner), 94.3 My FM (Radio Partner), Jal (Hydration Partner), Aashray (NGO Partner), The Run Club Chandigarh, and run club – Himalayan Knights.

About NMIMS Chandigarh

With the foundation stone of the New Chandigarh campus being laid in October 2009, the first batch of students enrolled for the academic year 2021-2022. The campus started with two exclusive undergraduate disciplines of Commerce and Law. Two engineering programs have recently been added.

The School of Commerce provides the BBA & B Com programs.

The School of Law provides the BA LLB & BBA LLB programs.

The B. Tech Computer Engineering and B. Tech Computer Science and Engineering (Data Science) are being provided by the School of Technology Management and Engineering.

The University has cultivated a rich tradition of giving students the freedom to think out of the box and bring initiative and innovation in their day to day life by providing them the right platform through clubs and societies to participate in co-curricular activities through their four clubs – Literary Club, Cultural Club, CSIR Club, and Sports & Adventure Club).

There is no denying the fact that women, once dubbed as ‘Frailty thy name is woman’, have stormed the male bastion in a big way, be it education, sports, science and technology, polity, police and now the armed forces, they have proved their mettle.

IG, ITBP, Ishwar Singh Duhan, addressing mediapersons at Bhanu on Feb 24

Five women teams from the armed forces will take part in the 23rd edition of the All-India Police Band Competition (AIPBC) to be held at BTC, ITBP, Bhanu, Panchkula, from February 28.

Interacting with the media, Inspector General of Indian Tibet Border Police (ITBP), Ishwar Singh Duhan said that the 23rd edition of the All-India Police Band Competition would be held at BTC, ITBP, Bhanu, Panchkula from February 28 onwards.

Governor of Haryana Bandaru Dattatreya will inaugurate the first-of-its-kind band competition of this massive scale amid various colourful cultural presentations lined up for the inaugural day.

A total of 28 teams, including five women teams, comprising 1,510 personnel from State Police and Central Armed Police Forces, will participate in the event and showcase their skills.

But the cynosure of all the eyes would be the women teams from the force, which would take part, for the first time in this edition and give a tough competition to their male counterparts at the mega competition, Duhan added with oodles of optimism writ large on his face.

 All-women teams from ITBP, Border Security Force (BSF), Ladakh Police, Delhi Police, and Jharkhand police are participating. In addition to this, women teams are also part of the mixed teams from Sashatra Seema Bal and Rajasthan police.

The competitions will be held in various categories, including brass band, pipe band, drums and bugle call, which would be conspicuous by both outdoor and indoor performances, which would be a melting pot of musical extravaganza.

Chandigarh’s TS Central State Library was buzzing with literary enthusiasts as they eagerly awaited the launch of Bhagwan Kaushik’s latest book Ye Kaisa Nasha Hai. The event was graced by the presence of literary expert Rishi Bharti, Ex-IG Police Haryana Mahinder Singh Ahlawat, Author Bhagwan Kaushik and renowned author Ashok Bhandari Nadir.

Bhagwan Kaushik, a literary enthusiast hailing from Haryana, discovered his passion for poetry at a young age, which led him to explore various forms of writing. His journey took him to work in prestigious organizations like Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel as a writer. Bhagwan’s latest venture is “Ye Kaisa Nasha Hai,” a book that explores the omnipresence of the supreme being.

It takes readers on a spiritual journey of awakening and exploring the omnipresence of the supreme being. As the world navigated the difficult times of the Covid pandemic, Bhagwan Kaushik was inspired to write about the all-pervading Almighty, realizing that no matter how powerful humans may think they are, there is a Supreme Power above them that runs the entire universe.

Kaushik traces his personal journey from dvaita to advaita, the book is a collection of thought-provoking content that is sure to inspire readers and deepen their understanding of the divine.

During the event, Bhagwan Kaushik spoke about his journey as a writer and the inspiration behind the book, saying, “My love for literature started at a young age, and over the years, I have explored various forms of writing. This book is my attempt to explore the omnipresence of the supreme being, and I hope readers find inspiration in its pages.”

Ashok Bhandari, author of ‘Mera safar’, praised Bhagwan Kaushik for his contribution to literature and said, “Bhagwan’s writing style is unique, and his words have the power to inspire and uplift readers. Ye Kaisa Nasha Hai is a beautiful book, and I am sure it will touch the hearts of all those who read it.”

The book is available on leading online platforms like Flipkart, Amazon, and Kindle, as well as Rigi Publication and Kopykitab.

The 4th edition of Sikhlens, Sikh Arts and Film Festival-23, will witness a bonanza of film screening featuring as many as 20 films from eight countries at the Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh, on February 25.

Brought in by Pinaka Mediaworks, Rolling Frames Entertainment the festival is being organised under the aegis of the Chandigarh Administration, the Department of Cultural Affairs, UT, the Government of Canada, and the United Sikh Mission.

Films from India, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Kenya, Pakistan, Malawi, and Singapore, will be screened at the festival to name a few.

Diplomats and other dignitaries from the Govt of Canada and the UK are likely to attend the screening of the films. The festival will be curated by Canada-based author Karen Dosanjh who will share her experiences on documenting and film-making.

The event will witness the world premiere of two documentaries, “One Beat” and the “Hidden Histories: The Sikh Migration Path to Canada”.

“One Beat” brings to life the saga of the Himalayan efforts made in the field of education and free healthcare to the underprivileged in the nondescript Bhira town in Uttar Pradesh, by American-Sikh philanthropist Bahadur Singh. The “Hidden Histories: The Sikh Migration Path to Canada” showcases the historic milestones of the first South Asians settlers who migrated from India to Canada in the early 1900s.

Sikhlens founder Bicky Singh addressing the media at Chandigarh Press Club on Feb 23. Ojaswwee Sharma, Sikhlens India Head and Festival Director also seen in the picture, among others.

Premiere of the other films will also be held during the festival, including Okra King, Children of Partition: An Oral History of Pothoharis, Tilla Jogia, Kala Singa and Jitt De Nishaan and Badlaav, to name a few, which is, surely than not, high on entertainment quotient, besides offering food for thought.

The other key highlights of the event include the launch of trailer of Sikhlens Publications Book – “The Legend of 1972 – Like Hockey and Beyond”. The Sikhlens Calendar-23 the “Hidden Histories: Pioneer Sikhs in Canada” will also be launched.

The day-long activity during the one-day festival will be packed with screening of films on the ancient Sikh heritage and culture, showcasing the Sikh-centric philanthropic works being carried out in various parts of the world by the Sikh community, which would be a prominent takeaway for the entire human race, to say the least. 

There will be a special ‘Gatka’ performance by the Shaheed Baba Deep Singh ji Gatka Akhara, which will offer an insight into the feats of bravery of the martial Sikh community, besides an exhibition to be organised on the occasion by some acclaimed artists displaying more than 1800 heritage artefacts and contemporary art on the Sikh history and cultural diversity of the community. 

Sikhlens  Founder Bicky Singh says, “Sikhlens-23 in Chandigarh will be our fourth annual Sikhlens: Sikh Arts and film Festival in India, during which we bring to the fore a bouquet of beautiful cultural heritage of the Sikhs from around the world. We look forward to a humongous response from the art lovers, regardless of their race religion or region”. 

This is what Ojaswwee Sharma, India Head and Festival Director, Sikhlens tells “We had three successful festivals organised during 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively, held in India. This year there is a huge line-up of original films, a large pre-event symposium, launch of book and calendar, a slew of cultural performances, and a mammoth display of heritage art and books from around the world for the city audience this year around, with the focus this year on the diversity of the Sikh diaspora et al”

Entry: Free

Time: 11 am-9 pm

Venue: Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, Chandigarh

Date: February 25

A two-day 5th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2023 commenced in Mohali with the theme ‘Invest in the Best’. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann kicked off the Fifth edition of progressive Punjab summit by inaugurating a hi-tech exhibition at the Indian School of Business, Mohali. The summit organised by the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government aims at showcasing the state as a “preferred investment destination”.

A total of nine sessions have been planned covering different sectors like agri-food processing, textiles, healthcare, education, tourism, information technology, and start-ups and exports. Two sessions on Japan and UK will also be held. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had travelled to Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Germany to meet business leaders and representatives of the industry associations, inviting them for the summit.

On the first day, leading industrial captains from across the country hailed the path breaking initiatives taken by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

In his address Chairman Medanta Group Dr Naresh Trehan said that since Punjab is a developing economy so there is a lot of potential in the state.

Chairman & MD, ITC group Sanjiv Puri hailed the industrially conducive environment created by the AAP government.

Lauding the government’s professional and industrial friendly approach Executive Chairperson, Godrej Consumers Products Nisaba Godrej appreciated setting up of schools of eminence to impart quality education to students.

Vice Chairman, Bharti Group Rakesh Bharti Mittal said that increase in GSDP compared to last year speaks volumes of transformation of Punjab.

Addressing the gathering MD, Murugappa Group Arun Murugappan said that Punjab is on threshold of transition due to its top class infrastructure coupled with conducive government policies. He also lauded the single window system being offered by the state government for clearances. Arun Murugappan also appreciated the state government for launching comprehensive electric vehicle policy.

During his address President, Cargill India, Simon George said that the group will double its investment in the coming two years due to industrial friendly policies of the state. George also hailed the Chief Minister for taking several path breaking initiatives.

Chairman & MD, RJ Corp, Ravikant Jaipuria said that now Punjab was ready for the big leap in the industrial sector due to the policies of the state government. Ravikant Jaipuria exhorted industrialists to invest in the state in a big way.

Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, Rajesh Jejurikar, said lauded the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in transforming the state into an industrial hub,

Board of Director HMEL, Prabh Dass said that the support of the people and Punjab government has encouraged them to invest more in Punjab.

Lauding the initiatives being taken by the Chief Minister, Chairman CII, Anshuman Magazine called the summit a successful venture as every interaction was very fruitful.

Participants in the exhibition 

In the exhibition a number of leading companies from across the globe had showcased their products.

HMEL Bathinda, ITC, Palaksha University, ESR Lopistics Pvt. Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Limited, International Tractors limited, Tynor Orthotics Pvt. Ltd, Savi Exports, Sanathan Polyoot Private Limited, Trident Group, UK High Commissioner Office, Hartek Power, Masters Creation, Gilard Electronics Pvt. Ltd, Avon Cycles Ltd, M/s Raja Fat & Feeds Pvt. Ltd, IIT Ropar,, Technology Business Incubation Foundation, Nanokriti Pvt. Ltd, Edith Healthcare, Dakters Software
Startup Punjab, M/s Black Eye Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Agnext
B.G. INnovatech, Holokitab Technologies, Vishwaaz AI Pvt. LTD, Breww Therapeutics Private Limited, Kielde Private Limited, Cyberhawks Intelligence Services, LLP
Lowcal Ventures Pvt. Ltd, NIRVIGHNA SERVICES PVT LTD, KCSAD LIGHTS (INDIA) PVT. LTD, JK Papers, Nestle India Ltd and others who have took part in the exhibition.

One of the lesser known yet iconic places of tourist interest in Chandigarh, one can’t afford to miss a visit to is the International Doll Museum in Chandigarh, housing a treasure trove of colourful handmade dolls from across as many as 31 countries of the world. A visit to this place is an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ moment especially for kids.

Established in 1985 in the Bal Bhawan complex in Sector 23, Chandigarh, the museum showcases a conglomeration of colourful and captivating dolls of heritage value, comprising exotic and indigenous dolls with historical, socio-cultural, geographical backgrounds, offering a flashback of artistic, intricate fashion design and costume culture and other features of the times gone by.

The International Doll Museum, Chandigarh, was actually conceptualised and created with an eye to offer a window of entertainment, especially kids, to indulge in a fiesta of fun-n-frolic and, all the while, learning through the language of silence these mute fairies speak to convey their hidden feelings.

One comes across a melange of multi-hued dolls on display at the museum, offering a peep into their inanimate yet intriguing lives. Among them are tribal dolls depicting the composite cultural diversity of the tribes of India and the sartorial and other rich traditions they have fiercely guarded against time. Tribal communities predominantly featured in the works include the Todas, Santhals, Nagas, Bodos, Bheels, Bagris and Banjaras, to name a few.

There are bridal dolls looking elegant in their bridal finery, a showcase of the traditional wedding costumes the Indian states have been pursuing since time immemorial.

Majority of these tastefully designed dolls have been donated by various countries through their respective embassies. Touted to be one of the best museums across the country with international outreach, the museum is being run under the aegis of Indian Council of Child Welfare, UT Administration, in collaboration with Rotary Club, Chandigarh.

Speaking with CityWoofer, Information officer at the museum Mehak Sembal says, “The historic museum houses dolls and puppets from over 31 countries, including Spain, Russia, Korea, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Thailand, France, Japan, China, et al, doling out some 200 dolls on display here at the museum and, of course, more than 190 from various parts of our own country”.

Prominent among the states which donated dolls for the museum include West Bengal,  UP, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoran and Delhi so on.

The dazzling tribal and bridal dolls adoring the museum were donated by Shanker Dolls Museum in Delhi, says Sembal, while some 40 dolls of different sizes and shapes were donated by the students of fashion designing at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

The Norway doll, which we call ‘the pride of the museum’, was donated by a childless couple from Norway. The doll looks stunning with her blue eyes made of sparkling ‘crushed diamond’.

However, the star attraction for the tots remains the toy train, a replica of a railway station in Germany that keeps them on cloud nine for a while. The museum looks more like an amusement park for kids, besides a getaway for those having keen eye for creative art and cultural diversity of the country.

A visit to this museum holds special significance as it offers random glimpses from the times of Ramayana and Mahabharata, depicted through these mute images, like the coronation of Bharat as a king, King Dashratha lying unconscious on bed that followed the 14-year-old exile of Lord Rama, Laxman and Sita; Lord Krishna as the mythological ‘makhan chor’ caught in the act. It also brings back the saga of martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and ‘Sacha Sauda’ by Guru Nanak Dev. Feats of chivalry by Rani Luxmi Bai and young King Ranjit Singh are depicted through the language of the mute.

The museum nestling in close proximity of the ISBT, Sector 17, Chandigarh, is well connected by road, rail and air to the rest of north India and the other parts of India. It remains open for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 5 pm. While entry is free for children below 18 years and school groups, those above 18 years of age, the ticket costs Rs 20 per head.

A virtual visual treat for those visiting this place of wonderful fairies, the museum and a huge amalgam of mute fairies instantly transport curious children into a different world of innocence. These mute images narrate incredible stories from mythology, history, fairy tales and other daredevil fetes of chivalry brought about through these mute images, speaking the language of the heart, keeping you entranced for a while.

A popular belief about dolls has it that they play a pivotal role in developing and honing the social, emotional and language skills among children and also apprentice them on how to interact with others in the language of silence that leaves an indelible mark on their minds.

In an attempt to provide a safe space for processing emotions in a healthy manner, Tricity-based Mera Qi studios has started ‘Dance as Devotion’ sessions. The aim is to make space for movement, where it becomes pertinent to move to your own rhythm and to a playlist responding to the emotions or the sensations that will arise within.

Curator of the space that hosts such events regularly, Ayesha Sandhu calls it “exploring between comfort and discovery, stillness and movement, patterns and ease, and interaction between the internal and external.”  She further shares that the session will be mildly guided but there are no steps to follow: “YOU do YOU!” These sessions will be held bi-monthly on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month.

A great way to release all stuck emotions and usher in new energy, the event is meant to be playful and is open for everyone.

About Mera Qi

Sharing more about Mera Qi, Ayesha says, “Mera Qi is a space to explore the self and invite play into life so we can dance through the cycles of life.”

The studio space continues to host interesting events aimed at making people see life as a joy to be celebrated. Ayesha hosts many movement facilitators who conduct workshops at the space. Ayesha is a 900 hrs YTTC Yoga teacher and a breathwork facilitator herself. From open mics to full moon ceremonies, from kirtan to yoga sessions and meditation events, Mera Qi is fast becoming a space of experimentation and out-of-the-box events in the Tricity. They also host picnics on certain weekends at Leisure Valley. All their events are open to all.

Venue: Mera Qi Space #544, Sector 18B, Chandigarh

Dates: 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month

Time: 6:30 PM

Contribution: ₹250

Back in the 1970s, women were restricted to households, only a few elite women made their way into the men-dominated social hierarchy. The young ladies who faced their inner demons shedding old shibboleths paved the way for the others of their league with the passage of time.

One such Tricity resident is Prakash Kaur Ahluwalia, now in her seventies, who was the face of one of India’s leading banks post-independence, the UCO Bank, caIled United Commercial Bank then, owned by the Birlas until it was nationalized in 1969.

With head office in Kolkata, Prakash was selected as the first lady manager in the UCO Bank in India, which had over 1200 branches nationwide and ten branches abroad. When the first branch of the bank opened at Jaipur in Rajasthan, which was the hometown of the UCO Bank founder GD Birla, they wanted a woman to lead the bank. The owners wanted a promising and dynamic Indian woman banker to lead the bank to open new vistas for women and set a benchmark. Let us hear her story in her own words:

I was posted in the Syndicate Bank as an officer in New Delhi, one day the bank manager called me and, without telling me about an interview planned by the UCO Bank director and higher officials, sent me to the Parliament Street branch on the pretext of some office work. After I saw three General Managers from Kolkata in a big hall waiting for me, I knew it was an interview, an offer which I had refused earlier because I knew my parents wouldn’t send me beyond Delhi and they were looking for a lady manager in Jaipur. Without any fear, I answered their questions in the interview which went for over an hour. They had already interviewed many other lady bankers, but were not satisfied. Here was I ready to say ‘No’ to the offer because my parents wouldn’t let me go. They selected me, but I declined the offer fearing my parents refusal and that is what actually happened. Now, my current boss spoke to my father and convinced him to atleast talk to the Syndicate Bank chairman who told my father ‘had my daughter got selected for this opportunity, I would have definitely let her go’.  My father somehow agreed, they sent two air tickets, for my father and myself, to Dehradun where my father lived. where we hit another dead end. My mother stuck to her decision not to let her daughter go as far as Jaipur to work, and get me married instead. In those days, nobody wanted to make daughters work in offices, it was kind of a taboo. Somehow, my father was able to convince her, it is solely because of his efforts that I was able to breach social inhibitions and cross the threshold of women empowerment.  

 An avid dancer and athlete at 70s

After I retired about 15 years ago and after my husband’s death, I started looking at my other interests which I could not pursue while I was working. I started dancing in public functions though I was not a trained dancer, I participated in many competitions which gave me the inspiration to do what I like and which I could not do earlier because of my job.

She has given a dance performance at the Tagore Theatre to a full house where famous playback singer Kavita Krishnamoorthy personally appreciated her display of talent. She regularly participates in the Rose Festival contests for senior citizens and has won the Rose Queen contest a couple of times. She participated in the Haryana Government sponsored athletic events at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector 3, Panchkula and won many prizes.

Six-seven years when I gave my first public performance on the stage at a Haryana government function at the Pinjore Gardens, the then Director, Haryana Tourism, Sunita Mishra, addressed me a as a dancer and it gave me a different feeling, I did not understand whether it was a promotion or a demotion, from a banker to a dancer.