Dara Singh - Arnold's Forerunner, India's Pride

Playbill advertising the World Wrestling Champion

As a world wrestling champion, a movie star and a politician, he foreshadowed Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dara Singh, who turns 80 on November 19, 2008, says after starring in over 120 films that the big screen was never his aspiration.
"I was never interested in doing films. I was pulled into the industry because of the fame I received from wrestling. I was forced to do King Kong (1962) and it became a hit and that started my film career," said Dara Singh .
"But I made it clear to the filmmakers at that time that my main concern was my wrestling career and I would not compromise on that. They agreed. However, after beating American wrestler Lou Thesz in the 1960s and becoming a world champion, I started concentrating on my film career."
Dara Singh said he never wanted to play a negative role.
"The only thing I never wanted to do and have not done so far is playing a villain. I was always adamant to do positive roles and I also made it clear to the filmmakers that I will not accept a villain's role," he said.
Not many know that prior to starring in Babubhai Mistri's King Kong, Dara Singh had done cameos in films like Sangdil (1952), Pehli Jhalak (1955) and Jagga Daku (1959).
Born in 1928 in Amritsar, Punjab, Dara Singh is credited to be the first hero in Bollywood to bring the machismo appeal on-screen with his well-built body.
Commenting upon that, he said: "It felt good to be the first macho actor as my colleagues at that time were very thin and lanky. No one had a body like mine."
Much like Arnold Schwarzenegger in Hollywood, Dara Singh's career, too, rose because of his body, landing him roles in hero-centric films like Rustam-E-Baghdad (1963), Faulad (1963), Hercules (1964), Tarzan Dilli Mein (1965), Sikander-E-Azam (1965), Rustom-E-Hind (1965), and Boxer (1965), among others.
After 1970, he forayed into direction and directed six films in Hindi and Punjabi - Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar (1970), Mera Desh Mera Dharam (1973), Bhakti Mein Shakti (1978) and Rustom (1982) among them.
Dara Singh has been immortalized among younger viewers for his portrayal of the monkey king Hanuman in Ramanand Sagar's TV adaptation of the epic Ramayan (1986).
On being asked what keeps him going, he quipped: "One should keep working. Otherwise, you grow old."
Dara Singh was also seen on TV in programmes like Had Kar Di and Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka. Right now, though, he doesn't have any plan to go back to the small screen.
"TV demands a lot of time and is too tiring. I won't do any TV now. That way, I am better off playing a grandfather or some other role in a film or two," he said.
Dara Singh still picks up roles that he "feels like doing."
He was also upbeat about new actors working out in the gym for a muscular look.
"New actors want to be like Salman Khan, so they hit the gym for a body like his, which is good for them. At least, they stay fit that way. But they should not consume any body supplements, which in the long run harms the body," he suggested.
So how did Dara Singh maintain his body in his prime?
"In those days, we used to maintain ourselves by a healthy diet that included milk, homemade butter, almonds and chicken soup," he replied.
On his birthday, Dara Singh only planned to spend time with his family. He said he was "content with whatever I have done in life."
"I've done everything in life. In fact, I have also worked with everyone from thespians like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor to the new league of actors."
 
[Trivia: Dara Singh became the wrestling champion of India before winning the World Championship Crown. Later in life, he, too, dabbled in politics -  though he is not to be confused with another "Dara Singh," a Hindu fundamentalist who adopted the actor's macho name and was, not too long ago, convicted for the murder of some Christian missionaries in India.]

Wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh hospitalised in critical condition

Mumbai: Wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh, who is known for his roles in 'King Kong' and 'Faulad', suffered cardiac arrest and was admitted to a city hospital in a 'critical' condition, according to the doctors.

"He is very, very critical. He was brought in an emergency condition to hospital at 5:15 pm. He had suffered cardiac arrest. He is in ICU and we are monitoring his condition hour-by-hour," Dr Ram Narain, Chief Operating Officer at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in suburban Andheri, told PTI tonight.

Earlier, the 83-years- old actor's son, Vindu, had said that his father was serious.

"He is serious. There is blood clot in his brain or he has suffered heart attack... We are not sure what has happened. We have been told that he is under observation for 24 hours," Mr Vindu said.

The veteran actor played the character of Hanuman in Ramanand Sagar's television series 'Ramayan' and was last seen in Imtiaz Ali's "Jab We Met" in 2007.

Immigration fraud

Mohali, July 5
The local court today sent Dolly Arora, who had cheated several persons on the pretext of sending them abroad, to judicial custody for 14 days. Dolly, alias Jyoti Gupta, was arrested by the Zirakpur police last week. The police had recovered about 2.5kg of gold worth Rs 75 lakh yesterday.
She was produced in the court today which sent her to judicial custody.
Meanwhile, Tarlochan Singh, SHO, Zirakpur, said they had recovered cash worth Rs 89,000 and 20 passports of various persons at the behest of Dolly Arora.
"Raids are being conducted to nab her husband Deepak Arora and their accomplice Madhu," said Tarlochan Singh.
The couple had defrauded several persons while running their immigration offices, Jet International Consultant Service at Phase V and Jet International Placement Service at Phase VI. The two had been declared proclaimed offenders.
The police claimed that as many as 74 cases had been registered at the Phase I police station against the couple. They had also opened a jewellery shop, Jet Jewellers at Phase VI.
The couple used to take gold from customers who did not have sufficient amount in their bank accounts and got loans after mortgaging that gold in different finance companies. It was learnt that Dolly was not on good terms with her husband Deepak Arora.

SC: panchayats enjoy Constitutional status

NEW DELHI: Panchayats can formulate their own programmes of economic development and social justice as they enjoy a Constitutional status, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The apex court said Article 40 and Articles 243 to 243-O envisages that the framers of the Constitution had envisaged village panchayat to be the foundation of the country's political democracy - a decentralised form of government where each village was to be responsible for its own affairs.

Bench of Justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhya passed the ruling while allowing an appeal filed by the village panchayat of Calangute in Goa challenging a Bombay High Court order which had taken the view that the local body cannot challenge any decision taken by the executive authority.

In this case, the Additional Director of Panchayat-II had overruled a resolution passed by the panchayat quashing the permission granted to a private company for carrying out certain commercial activities.

Though the panchayat appealed against the official's decision the high court dismissed it following which it appealed in the apex court.

"The primary focus of the subjects enumerated in the Eleventh Schedule is on social and economic development of the rural parts of the country by conferring upon the Panchayat the status of a constitutional body.

"Parliament has ensured that the Panchayats would no longer perform the role of simply executing the programmes and policies evolved by the political executive of the state. 

"By virtue of the provisions contained in Part IX, the panchayats have been empowered to formulate and implement their own programs of economic development and social justice in tune with their status as the third tier of Government which is mandated to represent the interests of the people living within its jurisdiction", the Bench said. 

The apex court said the Constitution's Preamble, Part IV and Part IX must guide our understanding of the Panchayati Raj institutions and the role they play in the lives of the people in rural parts of the country.

"The conceptualisation of the village panchayat as a unit of self government having the responsibility to promote social justice and economic development and as a representative of the people within its jurisdiction must be borne in mind while interpreting the laws enacted by the state which seek to define the ambit and scope of the powers and the functions of Panchayats at various levels.

"An analysis of Article 40 and Articles 243 to 243-O shows that the framers of the Constitution had envisaged village panchayat to be the foundation of the country's political democracy - a decentralised form of government where each village was to be responsible for its own affairs," the Bench said.

According to the court by enacting the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act, Parliament has attempted to remedy the defects and remove the deficiencies of the Panchayati Raj system evolved after independence, which failed to live up to the expectation of the people in rural India.

"The provisions contained in Part IX provide firm basis for self-governance by the people at the grass root through the institution of panchayats at different levels.

"For achieving the objectives enshrined in Part IX of the Constitution, the state legislatures have enacted laws and made provision for devolution of powers upon and assigned various functions listed in the Eleventh Schedule to the Panchayats", the court said.

Hence it directed the High Court to issue notices on the issue raised by the panchayat and decide the matter on merits. PTI 

TIME LINE: THE CASE

2006: Calangute panchayat grants permission to builder for construction at Porbawado, Calangute. Locals complain that builder has blocked access to well and chapel.

MARCH 2008: Following complaints, Calangute panchayat passes resolution for revocation of occupancy certificate.

MARCH 2009: The panchayat passes another resolution and revokes permission to the company. 

2009: Company challenges the ruling on grounds that it was contrary to rules of natural justice.

JULY 2009:Panchayat revokes earlier resolution and issues notice to the company to   stop further construction and fixes site inspection for August 4, 2009.

2009: Company challenges panchayat notice before Additional Director of Panchayat, who passes ex-parte interim order.

JULY 2009: Company applies for permission to use property as guest house, but panchayat rejects application. Company then challenges the decision.

FEBRUARY 2010: Additional Director of Panchayat passes final order, directing panchayat to reconsider application of the company for grant of permission to use the property for running a guest house.  

2010: Panchayat challenges order in High Court, but High Court dismisses petition.

Panchayat then challenges matter before Supreme Court.

NRI in Canada asked to pay alimony to estranged wife in India

NEW DELHI: A non-resident Indian has been asked by a Delhi court to pay an alimony of Rs 33,000 a month to his estranged wife living here.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ila Rawat ordered Puneet Arora, residing in Canada with his parents and sister, to pay maintenance to his wife from January 2010 when she had moved the court for the alimony.

The sessions court's order came on the woman's plea for modification of a magisterial court order, which had allowed her an alimony of Rs 33,000 a month but had slated the date of its payment from August 5, 2011, the day the trial court had given its ruling.

"The respondent no. 1 (Puneet) is directed to pay Rs 33,000 per month towards maintenance and for rent amount to his wife (the petitioner) from the date of filing the application," said ASJ Rawat, slating the 10th day of every month as the date for payment of the alimony.

In her plea, the woman had said she was married to Puneet on September 15, 2009 with her parent giving sufficient dowry to him as per his family's demand.

She said Puneet left for Canada after a fortnight of his marriage and when she joined him after five months after grant of visa, she was not treated properly and was not given the status of wife.

She said her in-laws and husband threatened, harassed, tortured, taunted and even beat her up despite receiving ample amount of dowry from her parents.

She also alleged that her husband was having an extra marital affair with a divorced woman in Canada and with whom she had seen him in objectionable position.

Ultimately, she was forced to leave Canada on December 7, 2009 and took shelter at her parental home in India without any monetary help from her husband for her maintenance and day to day expenses, she said.

Chief Minsiter begins Green ``Punjab Mission`` from Fazilka

Parkash Singh Badal, CM, and Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani plant a sapling in Fazilka on Sunday.

Fazilka, July 1

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal chose to launch the “Green Punjab Mission” from Fazilka today as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest area against the recommended 33 per cent.

Accompanied by Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, the Chief Minister launched the mission by planting a sapling near Puranpatti village on the Fazilka-Malout road, 7 km from the town.

Under the mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years. On an average, five crore saplings are to be planted annually at a cost of Rs 180 crore.

The mission is aimed at enhancing the state’s forest cover from the existing 7 per cent to 15 per cent in the first phase of the mission.

“The people are suffering from different serious ailments, including cancer, diabetes and hypertension, mainly due to air, water and soil pollution. The main cause of pollution is dearth of trees,” said Badal while addressing a gathering at the local grain market.

Appealing to the people to usher in a new beginning, planting and protecting trees, he directed Forest Department officials to bring all government and private land under the mission.

Countering the allegations of CLP leader Sunil Jakhar that Punjab had gone bankrupt, the Chief Minister said the SAD-BJP government did not require a certificate from the Opposition party on the state’s fiscal condition. He held previous Congress governments, both in the state and at the Centre, responsible for Punjab’s ever-rising debt. “A major part of our debt pertains to the terrorism period….The Union Government has failed to provide any financial package for Punjab,” the Chief Minister said.

Badal denied there any differences between the SAD and the BJP over the selection of Mayor for the Amritsar Municipal Corporation. “The issue will be resolved amicably,” he claimed.

Jyani said both environment and the country’s ecology had been ruined by haphazard growth.

“Friendly animal species, including birds, have vanished due to the ecological imbalance. In such a scenario, growing trees is the only way out,” he said.

The Minister said the beats of forest guards had been reorganised to bring all Punjab villages under the forest cover.

Financial Commissioner (Forest) DS Bains said there was a need to establish large, modern nurseries at all district headquarters to disburse saplings among the people and NGOs.

Parliamentary Secretary (Forest) Nand Lal, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg and GS Dhillon, SSP, were present on the occasion.

PLANTATION DRIVE

• Under the Green Mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years
• On an average, five crore saplings would be planted per year at a cost of Rs 180 crore
• The drive is aimed at enhancing the forest cover in the state from the present 7 per cent to 15 per cent
• Fazilka chosen as the starting point as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest cover against the recommended 33 per cent.