Kanwaljit Bhullar

Early Life: Roots in the Punjab Soil               Born as Deedar Singh Randhawa on 19 November 1928 in Dharmuchak village, Amritsar district of Punjab, Dara Singh belonged to a humble Jat Sikh farming family. His childhood, shaped by the rustic discipline of agrarian life, laid the foundation for his formidable physique and mental resilience.                As a young boy, he stood tall and sturdy, drawing attention from wrestling enthusiasts in local akhadas. His relentless pursuit of physical perfection led him into the traditional Indian style of wrestling - kushti . Mud arenas, rigorous training, oil massages, and a vegetarian, high-protein diet formed the early chapters of his life.   “Even as a boy, Dara had the gait of a lion,” said a fellow wrestler from his akhada days. The Rise of a Champion: Wrestling Glory              Dara...

     Ashok Kumar, affectionately known as Dadamuni , was a towering figure in the annals of Hindi cinema. While Rajesh Khanna is widely celebrated as India’s first mass-market “superstar,” it was Ashok Kumar who, decades earlier, laid the foundation for star-driven cinema in India. In the 1940s, at a time when the film industry was still in its formative years, Ashok Kumar became the first screen icon whose name alone could draw audiences to theatres across the country. His long and illustrious career, spanning over six decades, not only witnessed but actively shaped the growth of Indian cinema from its black-and-white roots to the era of colour and television. Born Kumudlal Ganguly on 13 October 1911 in Bhagalpur, Bihar, his journey from lab assistant to pioneering actor marked the beginning of star culture in Indian films. The Ganguly Roots: A Family of Talents      Kumudlal Ganguly was born into an educated Bengali family that valued the arts and int...

     Dilip Kumar, born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on December 11, 1922, in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), was a pioneering figure in Indian cinema. Renowned as the " Tragedy King ," he introduced method acting to Bollywood, bringing a nuanced realism to his performances that set him apart from his contemporaries. His career, spanning over five decades, left an indelible mark on the film industry and inspired generations of actors. Early Life and Entry into Cinema        Yusuf Khan was born into a Pashtun family and was one of twelve children. In the 1940s, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) and worked in a British army canteen. His life took a turn when he met actress Devika Rani, who offered him a role in Bombay Talkies' production. Adopting the screen name Dilip Kumar, he made his acting debut with “ Jwar Bhata ” in 1944.   Rise to Stardom      Dilip Kumar's breakthrough came with “ Jugnu ” (1947), followed by “ Shaheed ” (1948) and “ ...

The sweet curse of the Indian plate Rice, roti, and a little something on the side - this has long been the comfort zone of the Indian table. But beneath that simplicity lies a bitter truth. Our heavy dependence on carbohydrates - particularly the polished, processed kind - is slowly nudging millions toward a chronic disease that is no longer the preserve of the rich or the old. India, the land of dal-chawal and poori-sabzi, has become the diabetes capital of the world . Nearly 101 million Indians live with diabetes, and another 136 million are pre-diabetic - according to the ICMR-INDIAB study, the most comprehensive health survey of its kind. What ties these numbers together, beyond genes or lifestyle, is one common denominator - carb overload .   The carb conundrum Carbohydrates are not villains by themselves. They’re the body’s primary source of energy - the fuel for every breath, step, and thought. But the problem begins when the balance tips - when carbs dominate the p...