Enigmatic theme mystifies
CHANDIGARH: The concept of Ardhanarishvara — a synthesis of Shiva and his Shakti, Parvati or Durga — in our Hindu myth serves the symbolic intent of signifying that male and female principles are inseparable. And this process of unifying the two was dealt with by Anuradha Kapur's "Sundari — An Actor Prepares"

Light showers bring down temperature
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The city and surrounding areas had light showers this morning, effecting a fall in the temperature.

Vaccination camp organised
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — Hepatitis-B is more deadly than AIDS, as the number of persons dying during a day due to hepatitis-B was more than those dying due to AIDS in a year.
ISKCON celebrations
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The appearance day of the founder Acharya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, was celebrated as Vyas Puja Day by the local branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Features of EPS highlighted
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The office of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner organised a function to mark the conclusion of the Independence Day functions here today.
Navtej Singh Puadhi dead
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — Noted Punjabi author Navtej Singh Puadhi died of a heart attack here today. He was 60.
Clubs adopt 15 children
CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The Rotary and Innerwheel Clubs of Kharar, near here, today decided to adopt 15 children from weaker sections of society.

Enigmatic theme mystifies

CHANDIGARH: The concept of Ardhanarishvara — a synthesis of Shiva and his Shakti, Parvati or Durga — in our Hindu myth serves the symbolic intent of signifying that male and female principles are inseparable. And this process of unifying the two was dealt with by Anuradha Kapur's "Sundari — An Actor Prepares" both at the psychological and the material level, at Tagore Theatre on Friday evening. It was a befitting finale to the golden jubilee celebrations of Independence, presented by the NZCC, Patiala, the Chandigarh Administration and the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi.

It is based on an autobiographical account of Jaishankar Sundari, a female impersonator of the Gujarati stage in the 18th century.

Whether it is the backdrop of curtains inspired from the Parsi theatre traditions, a front see-through curtain painted by Bhupen Khakhar, the gramophone music, the intimacy of an actor towards his make-up, or the play of lights — all conjure up various subliminal images of the well-defined niches that society has created for the two sexes.

Jitu Shastri as Sundari beautifully brought about the disquietude of being divided between the two sexes. The scene of removing his choli and then placing lighted diyas on the chest was like a purifying ritual for a woman going back into the mould of a man.

The Hindi dialogues with a dash of Gujarati and the enigmatic theme mystify the audience.

Nilima Sheikh's visual designs, Vidya Rao's music and lights by Zuleikha Allana embellished the show greatly. — Sonoo Singh

Light showers bring down temperature
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The city and surrounding areas had light showers this morning, effecting a fall in the temperature.

The maximum temperature in the city fell to 27.4°C as against 28.8°C yesterday. The temperature was 6°C below normal today, a met office spokesman said.

Today was the second day when it rained in many parts of the region. The rain is considered beneficial for the standing paddy crops.

The city recorded a 17.9 mm of rainfall, Ambala 7.2 mm, Ludhiana 1.1 mm and Patiala 7.8 mm, the spokesman added.

The weather office has predicted heavy rain at a few places in Punjab and Haryana in the next 48 hours.

33 per cent reservation for women sought
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The All-India Dalit and Minorities Front today demanded 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures with a separate quota for women of other backward classes and minority communities.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the Front here.

The meeting also sought a ceiling on the urban and rural property so that the concentration of wealth in a few hands was stopped.

The accountability of the three organs of the state — the legislature, the executive and the judiciary — and clearance of the backlog as regards reservation in government services were among the other resolutions passed at the meeting.

Vaccination camp organised

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 (PTI) — Hepatitis-B is more deadly than AIDS, as the number of persons dying during a day due to hepatitis-B was more than those dying due to AIDS in a year.

Throwing fresh light on the deadly disease, Dr Puran Singh Jassi, Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, said today hepatitis-B was 100 times more infectious than AIDS as the infection could spread through infected blood, body secretions and unsafe sex whereas AIDS mostly spread through unsafe sex or infected blood.

Inaugurating a hepatitis-B vaccination camp at the Press Club here today, Dr Jassi observed even if the vaccine is administered to the hepatitis-B carrier it is not harmful. After vaccination the body is able to provide antibodies which protect against hepatitis-B. He also observed that all newborns should be immunised against hepatitis-B, irrespective of the mother’s status.

As many as 250 regular members, candidate members and their families were administered the second dose of hepatitis-B vaccine today at subsidised rates.

PANCHKULA (FOC): The local workstation of the Department of Social Service and Survey, International Sri Geeta Ashram (IGSA), has announced to provide free hepatitis-B vaccination to the aged persons, mentally and physically handicapped persons, and orphans.

Mr Rishi Mahajan, programme coordinator, said today that the vaccination would be done under a group percentile call programme (GPCP) before which all the eligible persons will be registered.

The programme has been launched after a trial of four months, he claimed.

ISKCON celebrations
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The appearance day of the founder Acharya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, was celebrated as Vyas Puja Day by the local branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The programme started with an aarti and Guru puja of the Acharaya. All devotees paid their tributes to him and recalled his role in preaching the message of Bhagvada Gita all over the world. With Srila Prabhupada's efforts, Vedic teachings are now being practised by thousands of devotees in all continents.

Srila Prabhupada transformed the entire Vedic culture in the West and established more than 100 Radha Krishna temples, gurukuls etc there during a short span of 12 years. He wrote over 80 books, including translations and commentary of the Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam in English. His books have been translated into more than 70 languages of the world.

At the end of the programme, 108 dishes were offered to Srila Prabhupada and then prasadam was distributed to all participants who were about 1,000 in number, according to Thakur Bhakti Vinod Dasa Prabhu, president of the local unit of ISKCON.

Features of EPS highlighted
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The office of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner organised a function to mark the conclusion of the Independence Day functions here today.

Mr M.L. Meena, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Punjab and UT, distributed annual accounts slips, pass books, cheques and PPO's to employees, widows and pensioners.

Mr Meena highlighted the salient features of the EPS and gave an appraisal of the programme in Punjab. Information pamphlets were also distributed.

Navtej Singh Puadhi dead
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — Noted Punjabi author Navtej Singh Puadhi died of a heart attack here today. He was 60.

Puadhi was a member of the National Commission for Backward Classes. He was senior vice-president of the Punjabi Sahitya Akademy, Ludhiana, besides holding the charge as chairperson of the Punjabi Society, Delhi.

He authored 'Gau te Sharaab' and 'Poora mard' besides other publications. The cremation will take place at his native village Bheora, near Ropar, tomorrow.

Various Punjabi art lovers, including Dr Shinder Pal, Dr Devinder Pal Singh and Dr Deepak Manmohan, have mourned the death of Puadhi.

The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), and the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, today expressed deep shock over the death of Mr Puadhi, Member National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.

Clubs adopt 15 children
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The Rotary and Innerwheel Clubs of Kharar, near here, today decided to adopt 15 children from weaker sections of society.

A press note issued here said today that the adopted children would be given free education, clothes and medicines and overall development of their personalities would be taken care of.

Mr Lal Bahadur Gupta, an advocate, who was chief guest, donated Rs 5100 for the project.

Campus beat
Ensure basic 'upkeep of buildings'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — The decay in various Panjab University buildings, including residences, has been highlighted in the findings of a task force of the university which submitted its report to the Syndicate recently.

The report said the recent escalation in wages of the staff and ever increasing costs of materials had "compelled the office to give a stock reply of 'no funds'. There is a definite paucity of funds under the head, "annual repair and minor improvements".

It has been recommended that apart from diverting some funds into the "depreciation fund", a team of experts be involved so that minimal standard of campus buildings, parks, ,inner roads and residential complexes could be maintained.

The task force recommended that the present system of cashier (on a contractual basis) be continued. In the meantime university may consider entering into negotiations with some nationalised bank to handle the cash transactions on a day-to-day basis.

It was unanimously felt that no piecemeal approach to computerisation in the main office of the university be carried out.It was recommended that a sub-committee comprising members of the task force and others be formed to thoroughly probe the type of system that would suit the university functioning.

The task force also recommended that a committee be formed to take stock of the escalation of provisions under 'Medical reimbursements' because of a large number of retirees availing of the benefits from the university health centre and other government approved hospitals.

The task force made recommendations for the simplification in the process of administering the claims of travelling allowances.In cases where an employee has prior permission of the competent authority, it should not be necessary to have the bill countersigned from the same authority.

The task force also made various observations regarding other aspects for streamlining the procedures in accounts and financial management. A few of the areas were — more financial powers to heads of departments ; delegation of other powers to department heads; timely payment to examiners of answerscripts, dissertations and Ph.D thesis; and augmentation of the resident audit scheme.

Teachers' strike: The executive committee of the Punjab Federation of University Teachers' Association at a meeting here on Sunday reviewed various aspects of the ongoing teachers strike.

PFUTA condemned the HRD ministry for recommending two separate pay scales for university and college teachers, one effective from January, 1996, another from July, 1998.

Prof A.S. Chahal, a member of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union, said in a press note that a seminar on teacher agitations and higher education in the past 50 years would be organised at the English Auditorium at Panjab University tomorrow.

Crime file
Caught redhanded while stealing
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 16 — A resident of Sector 45, Ambrata, was caught redhanded while stealing cash from a showroom in Sector 35 here last night.

According to the police, the accused had stolen Rs 5,630 after breaking the lock of the showroom owned by Mr Sat Pal. He was arrested while he was trying to flee after stealing the cash.

A case has been registered.

Motor cycle stolen: A motor cycle (CH-01-V-6700) belonging to Mr Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Sector 23, was stolen on Saturday.

A case has been registered.

Car stereo stolen: Stereo was stolen from a car (HR-51-A-3792) from the Sector 39 market here on Saturday.

The main Independence Day function organised at the Sector 17 parade ground turned out to be memorable for many people because of more than one reasons. It was for the first time that the Administrator of Chandigarh, Lt-Gen B.K.N. Chhibber (retd), who is also Governor of Punjab, chose to hoist Tricolour in Chandigarh instead of some place in Punjab.

The function, which marked the culmination of the year-long celebrations in connection with the golden jubilee of Independence, will remain etched in the memory of the 13 persons and their families who were honoured by the Administrator for their meritorious services in different fields.

Furthermore, many of those present had to have a taste of good spell of rain. Although it was cloudy in the early morning, a number of the people were caught unawares because they did not bring umbrellas etc. It was because of this that many people were compelled to use seat cushions etc to save them from the showers (see photograph above). The showers made some students who had been brought to the function to beat a hasty retreat. The number of common people attending the function was rather low this year.

Vande Mataram!
Being patriotic is good. And as the country celebrates the golden jubilee of its Independence it is even better. But the local telephone department probably ended up creating more confusion than good.

The department selected around 18,000 telephones working on levels 54, 77 and 78 to record a message Vande Mataram that was to be heard along with the dial tone. Without prior announcement the department started off the scheme and subscribers thought they were getting a cross connection.

The same evening the department issued a press release that appeared in the next morning's newspapers and things were clarified to a certain extent. However, even the most patriotic Indian would not have liked the way a barely audible female voiced tiredly rendered Vande Mataram in the background as one picked up the receiver.

Some residents were in favour of the telecom department working on holidays to clear the pending files to show its love for the country and not create confusion, that too without informing its subscribers.

I-Day greetings
Two readers have sent us beautiful greetings on the occasion of Independence Day. Mr Pankaj Chandgothia from Panchkula has sent a handmade poster showing a tree with 51 leaves. On each leaf is a coin or a postage stamp, which says Mr Chandgothia, are the foremost symbols of a country's independence and sovereignty. All the stamps are commemorative ones, ranging from two paise to 305 paise. Similarly, different coins ranging from 1 paisa to Rs 5 have been used.

The total monetary value of the stamps and coins used comes to Rs 51, in keeping with the 51st anniversary of India's Independence.

Similarly, Ms Yasmin Dutta of Panchkula has sent a hand-painted vase draped in a Tricolour ribbon. She is a regular sender of such mementos and now runs a handicraft centre for women.

Kapil's gift
The age-old Indian tradition of guru dakshina is still alive. At least the legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has not forgotten it. The world record holder for Test wickets was on a visit to his alma mater, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, when he announced that he would install floodlights at the school ground where he practised in his initial years.

It was from this school that the living legend passed out some 24 years ago and went to achieve world fame as a fast bowler. Local coaches are of the opinion that the floodlights will be very useful in the winter months as practice is not possible after 5.30 p.m. when the sun goes down.

Before announcing his "gift" to the school the legend arrived and first took a look at the school building. Then he praised the beautifully maintained ground and turned to talk to the Principal, Mr Ravinder Talwar. Moments later he was talking to excited young trainees and announced the "gift". If this materialises the school that has produced many sporting and academic stalwarts will add another feather to its cap.

As for Kapil Dev he could not have given a better dakshina to his school as well as to the city where the sporting population calls him either "paaji" or simply Kapil.

Ms Surinder Kaur
A teacher of Government High School, Sector 41, has been selected for the national award to be presented by the President of India on September 5.

Ms Surinder Kaur, a JBT teacher, has received a communication in this regard from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. She will receive the award for her contribution in the field of education, art, culture and social services. Ms Surinder Kaur is also a recipient of the state award of the UT in 1994.

Ms Surinder Kaur joined the profession in 1980. She was given special recognition by the NCERT for her singing capabilities. And why not for she can sing in 14 different Indian languages.