Nri's 'ode' to a plane

Chandigarh: Is it a plane? Is it a house? Well its a house with a plane, a livable one at that. The dream of an NRI who returned to his roots after 32 years in England. The couple's farmhouse at Uppal Bhupa village near Phillaur is an 85-foot replica of an Air India aircraft, made of brick and mortar.
Today, the entire village is known as jahaj wala pind (village with the aeroplane). The construction is a tribute to the aircraft.
Santokh, left his village for UK in 1959 in search of job and served as a employee for 32 years (in a company that manufactured engines for aeroplanes and tractors).
After retiring in 1991, he set up Uppal Sweets Centre, a restaurant-cum-catering house in Wolver Hampton.
Having enough time and money in possession, Singh handed over his business to his sons and returned to his native village in Punjab to construct a holiday home for his family.
The idea of a dummy plane wasnt there in the initial blueprint of the project. Rather, it was a creative touch added later by builder and architect Amarnath from Umarpur village.
07/12/06 Times of India

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