Journalism of Courage
Punjabi superhero Dharmendra returned home on Wednesday carrying the torch from Khatkar Kalan,the ancestral village of martyr Bhagat Singh,for the second Saheed Bhagat Singh International Wrestling Tournament being held in Jalandhar.
Addressing the people in Jalandhars Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall,he shared old memories and his love for Hindi movies. Dharmendra recalled how he once came to watch a film at a cinema in Jalandhar and was to catch a bus to return home in Phagwara in time. I was scared I would get a thrashing at home if got late. The bus conductor was not allowing me to board as he was interested in passengers for Ludhiana only,but I could not afford to miss it and reached the top of the bus, he said. It was too cold but I had no option, said the superstar,adding that when he was descending from the bus,the conductor saw him and started abusing in Punjabi,which I retaliated in the same manner.
But I could save five annas (30 paisa),which was the bus fare then, said Dharmendra,bursting into laughter. Because of Jalandhars cinema halls,I could reach Mumbai, he said. He also spoke about his college days in Phagwara. During his journey from Nawanshahr to Jalandhar,he was greeted by people at various places on the way.
