CHANDIGARH: It was fund-raising with a difference. The participants were the elite, the NRI Punjabis, who, having struck gold at El Dorado, were here for a homecoming. Amidst them was a seasoned politician — busy raising funds, though it wasn’t election time.
For once, the NRIs were cornered. And the Chief Minister of the cash-strapped Punjab government, Parkash Singh Badal, proved his expertise at fund-raising. He aggressively raised funds for a cause other than elections — children’s education in rural areas; and apparently did well for his “moderate” abilities. By the end of the NRI “mela”, he had solicited collections well over Rs 1 crore apart from his own commitment of another Rs 1 crore, unless legal wrangling come in the way.
The conference, organised by the International Punjabi Society (IPS) at the Guru Gobind Singh Bhawan, was like any other conference until Badal turned the tables today.
“Organising conferences, with dining and socialising, achieves nothing. It is not a club but a Society and next time, the International Punjabi Conference should be held in a village,” Badal said, as he pleaded with participants to do something “concrete”. He talked about the pathetic state of education in the rural areas of Punjab and took a snipe at the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other religious organisations, saying that young children were going astray.
“Adopt poor children at the rate of a thousand a year or a hundred villages annually. I will provide the list of poor children whom you can support,” Badal suggested as he took his seat. A minute later, as if seized by an idea, he came back to the dais and asked the announcer to make way. “Let us make a beginning, my contribution is a lakh of rupees,” he said, and immediately asked others to follow. Within minutes, a Punjabi Foundation was created. Badal asked the president of the Los Angeles branch of IPS, A.S. Marwaha, to contribute Rs 1 crore. Marwaha did not refuse. “I cannot, since we went to school together,” he remarked, and announced his contribution of $51,000. “It is no big deal for you,” Badal said as he “summoned” other prominent NRIs.
The president of the New York branch, Sant Singh Chatwal, was next on Badal’s list and he, too, announced $51,000. G.S. Gujral, president of the London branch, followed. He was initially hesitant to commit himself and wished to consult his colleagues in the branch, but later promised 11,000 pounds.
As speakers announced their commitments, confusion followed. Some were hesitant to commit. A little persuasion and many agreed. “Koi zabardasti nahin,” Badal said, but the spectre of a Chief Minister asking an NRI for funds and calling him by name made a difference. Another gentleman was asked by Badal and he replied by saying that whatever Badal announced was fine. “I will make the announcement but will you contribute?” Badal quipped, as the hall resounded with laughter. He agreed, and Badal asked him to contribute a lakh.. Another NRI announced a lakh. Badal was at his best: “Dollars or rupees? Rupees? As you wish.”
The IPS president , Bhai Mohan Singh, announced that he would take the responsibility of educating five children. He said the IPS had 16 branches abroad and in case the Foundation did well, funds would not be an issue. Another NRI from Canada did not wish to contribute by way of cash and instead announced to set up five ITIs in the state.

pTuesday, January 5, 1999