Montek conferred 'Best Punjabi of the Year' award

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) Amid much fanfare, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia was today given the 'Best Punjabi of the Year' award.

Montek, who received the award from Industry and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, was the focal point of the ceremony with showers of praises heaped on him from one and all.

Montek was variously described as an economist par excellence, a man who was humble to a fault, gentlemanly, known for the strength of his character, one who had honesty of purpose, was diligent and above all a great human being.

Those who were applauding him from the dais included Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, Punjab Finance Minister Surinder Singhla, Punjab Home Secretary B C Gupta, Punjab Minister for Animal Husbandry Jagmohan Singh Kang and head of Punjabi Foundation Braham Mahindra.

The award was conferred on Dr Ahluwalia by Punjabi Foundation and is the eighth in the series. It is given to a Punjabi for outstanding contribution, not just to Punjab but for the cause of the nation.

Previous winners include Navjot Singh Sidhu, I K Gujral, Sunil Dutt, Harbhajan Singh Yogi, Surjit Singh Barnala and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister's wife Gursharan Kaur presented a 'phukari shawl' to Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia, Montek's wife. Dr Isher Ahluwalia, also a well known economist, is the Chairperson of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations.

A visibly moved Montek said the award was not for him, but an acknowledgement of the new found confidence resulting from the economic policies being pursued under the direction of the Prime Minister.

He alluded to the fact that Punjab has a great future, thanks to the development of the infrastructure which linked rural areas and the hinterland to the mainland.

Dr Ahluwalia said Punjab has the potential of becoming truly global, resulting from its history and culture as well as the pattern of development.

"Punjab is on a rebound," he said and added that much water has flown in the rivers ever since the days of terrorism.

Montek, who for a change was tri-lingual, smattering his speech in English, Hindi and Punjabi, quoted the famous lines of English poet William Wordsworth."Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heavenly!" "The centre of gravity has shifted from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean", Montek said.

The function, attended by intellectuals, policy makers, bureaucrats and politicians, commenced with the singing of 'Guranai' and ended with the national anthem.

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