Login / Register
The roof art of Doaba region is well-noted for its distinctively styled cisterns. The trend can be traced back to 25 years. Bang up to date, the variety in the land is copious with striking erections. Tribune correspondent Deepkamal Kaur and lensman Sarabjit Singh let you feast your eyes upon some.
Updated At: May 21, 2021 06:23 PM (IST)
The talk of the town: Water tank artist Balwinder Kaul from Jandiala Manjki village of Jalandhar has been creating water reservoirs and rooftop creative artwork since the past 21 years. He learnt it from his father, who started this work in 1995, and cannot count the number of such designer structures they have readied. The twosome has even got featured on the 'OMG Yeh Mera India' show aired on the History Channel. They began it all with simpler designs like football and airplane and have now graduated to more complex designs like tractor, kabaddi players, and even statues of Dr BR Ambedkar and the heroes from the Sikh history.
The rural skyline in this part of Punjab is a little different. Since it is the NRIs who dominate the Doaba region, they have also made it a point that when they reach village, they should get a feeling that their home is around. With that sentiment in mind, the art of styling the rooftop of the house by erecting concrete-based water tanks of distinct shapes started here some 25 years back.
Over the years, the shape of the water reservoirs has evolved from airplanes to ships, army tanks, trucks, birds like eagles and hawks, horses, kangaroos (marking relocation to Australia), bullock carts and of late more popular tractors, bhangra-performing Punjabi couple and sports figures. Since all the shapes desired cannot be used for water storage, some villagers also prefer to install them as artwork only.
More recently, people have also started preferring having iconic figures of their choice as larger than life statues. For instance, a house at Dhanoa village near Jalandhar has the statue of Rani Laxmibai riding a horse. Two houses in the ancestral village of Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr have his statues atop an already constructed water tank. The idea of having statue of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar is also a favourite among many.
Having a unique showpiece on the house has become such a matter of prestige for some families that they do not mind even if the local artisans or fabricators ask for hefty amount for the work. Their only demand is getting a finely chiseled piece with bright colours such that it makes their house stand apart.
What do you think? (Share your feedback)
Ludhiana blast accused had links with agencies abroad, drug mafia and Khalistanis: DGP
Was addressing a press conference
Central teams deployed in Punjab, 9 other states reporting high omicron cases, slow vaccination
As per the document, these 10 states are Kerala, Maharashtra...
25 farm unions decide to contest Punjab elections; formal announcement likely today
7 unions that were part of the SKM have decided to keep away
2 militants killed in encounter with security forces in J-K's Shopian
Pictures: No ‘white’ Christmas in Shimla, but excited holidaymakers have bags packed for New Year
Amritsar: Postal Dept fined for stealing electronic gadgets after 7 yrs
Narrow escape for transporter's four security guards as miscreants open fire at Jandiala Guru grain market
FIR against Bikram Majithia: SAD, BSP demonstrate outside top cop's office
Punjab's Channi govt weak, unstable: Arvind Kejriwal
Aided-college managements say no to help in managing affairs
Cancel FIR against Bikram Majithia: Akalis
Bathinda: STF DSP acquitted in Sexual exploitation case
Lambi: VIP seat developed like no other
5 years on, no headway in Maur blast investigation
Not vaccinated? Can't enter public places in Chandigarh from January 1
60.45% voters show up, seal fate of 203 candidates in Chandigarh MC polls
Fully enthused, residents of 13 merged Chandigarh villages vote for 1st time
Covid patient father-son duo reaches Chandigarh polling station in PPE kits
Dwellers of Chandigarh colonies, slums vote for a change this time
Delhi's air recorded in 'severe' category
5 held for trying to blackmail MoS Ajay Mishra's staff with videos of Lakhimpur Kheri violence
Multi-vitamins, paracetamol were only treatment given to 40 Omicron patients at Delhi hospital
Delhi logs 180 fresh Covid cases in a day, highest since June 16; positivity rate rises to 0.29 pc
State of affairs frightening; people flowing like river in Sarojini Nagar market, could lead to stampede: Delhi HC
CM: Nursing college at Comrade Harkishan Surjeet's village soon
Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan begins at Devi Talab Mandir in Jalandhar
17 fresh cases surface in Jalandhar district
Deputy CM Soni lays stone of emergency block in Mukerian
Angry activists burn effigy of govt over FIR against Bikram Majithia
Ludhiana bomb blast: Deceased identified, remains main suspect
Arm tattoo helped identify deceased in Ludhiana blast
Security beefed up at District Court Complex, Ludhiana
Condition of all injured in Ludhiana blast stable, one discharged from hospital
Announce ex gratia relief to injured: Sukhbir Badal to CM
Patiala: Services of cleanliness workers regularised
Health workers protest, threaten to gherao Punjab CM's house over demands
Punjabi University research scholars want UGC grants released
Shaheedi Jor Mela begins in Fatehgarh Sahib today
Jagat Guru Nanak Punjab State Open University signs pact with ICAI
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling English daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia
Designed and Developed by: Grazitti Interactive