EDUCATION

Commerce is hot favourite
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
The scales are heavily tilted in favour of the B.Com stream going by the response it is eliciting from the student community. At the on-going centralised admissions at GGS College, Sector 26, the cut-off percentage continues to be high though all seats have been exhausted.

With only two seats left for girl students in the general pool of the open category, admissions will be held only for these tomorrow. With seats left only in the Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, counselling of top two girls next on the merit list would take place.

For the boys, there are no s eats despite the fact that a combined merit list of over 1,600 students had been prepared from the 4,000 forms received for the course. Though tomorrow had also been kept for the open category, admissions are practically over in the 10 city colleges.

The admissions to all reserved categories will be held on July 22 as per schedule for the 320 seats in the 10 colleges.

Inter-school competitions conclude
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 20
Udit Narula of St Stephen’s School was declared Mr Jamboree and Deepika Mathur of Sacred Heart Convent was declared Ms Jamboree on the concluding day of the three-day inter-school competitions, Jamboree-2002 in the Government Art Gallery Auditorium, Sector 10.

Excited about the competition, the budding models could be seen sashaying down the ramp in colourful attires.

For the mock press conference, students were dressed up as Rabri Devi, Laloo Yadav, Bill Gates, Madonna and even Atal Behari Vajpayee. Other events held during the competition included debate, dumb charades, group songs, slogan-writing and rangoli-making. Paint-your-face and painting competitions were also held.

The results of the various competitions are as follows: Debate: Udit Narula of St Stephen’s School; Manbir of St Kabir School, Sector 26, and Suchreet of Shivalik Public School; 2; Gaurav Chhibar of DAV College and Kriti of Sacred Heart Convent 3.

Dumb charades: Alia, Animesh, Harveen of Bhavan Vidyalaya 1; Rohit, Gagan, Arun of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School 2; Abhimanyu, Kanav, Shivdeep of St Johns High School 3.

Group song: St Stephen’s School 1; Government Model Senior Secondary School Sector 16, 2; Sacred Heart Convent and Bhavan Vidyalaya School 3. Ad spoof: Sacred Heart Convent and St Stephen’s School 1; Shivalik Public School 2; S D Public School 3.

Slogan-writing: Animesh Sharma of Bhavan Vidyalaya 1; Sanam of St John’s High School 2. Rangoli-making: DAV Model School, Sector 15, 1; and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, 2; Paint-your-face contest: Aksh of St Stephen’s School 1; Dharna and Jaspreet of St Kabir School, Sector 26, 2. Painting Contest: Aanchal Sharma and Arshdeep Kaur of Manav Mangal School won the first and the second prize, respectively.

Group discussion: Rahul of DAVC 1; Neharika of SD School and Akashi of St Stephen’s School 2. Mock press conference: Akashi of St Stephen’s School 1; Alia Malhotra of Bhavan Vidyalaya 2; Jayant of DAV, Sector 8, 3. JAM: Manas of DAVC 1; Ankita of Sacred Heart Convent School 2; Gautam of DAVC 3.

The top five positions went to the following schools: St Stephen’s School 1; Sacred Heart Convent School 2; St Kabir School 3; Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, 4; and Bhavan Vidyalaya School 5.

Air hostess, steward training course
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
Keeping in view the fast rising demand in the aviation industry, which is always on the lookout for fresh faces, audio-visual production house IAAN Creations today launched a 10-day crash course in air hostess and flight steward training. The workshop, held at Hotel Jasmine in Sector 35 today, was thrown open by psychologist Renu Thakur who conducted an ice-breaking session with the prospective candidates. It was attended by over 40 participants from different parts of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The current workshop has been inspired by the success of IAAN Creation’s earlier workshop on the same subject which was held in February. In the same month Jet Airways had conducted its interviews and shortlisted 15 candidates who had taken the comprehensive training in February. Out of the 15 short listed candidates 10 were selected for appointments in various airlines. The course, which started today, aims at providing a comprehensive package to the aspirants and enable them to face the challenges that lie ahead.

The course is designed to select some candidates in the first phase and then train them to improve their personality, confidence and candidature.The students will also be introduced to the job profile and the aviation industry at large, apart from being trained in communication skills, analysis of body language, etiquette and mannerism, personal care and dress code. In order to ensure a better flight, they will also be trained in safety standards, first aid procedures, situational management, in-flight announcements, passenger interactions, team work and interview techniques.

In the first session that began today, psychologist Ms Renu Thakur instilled confidence in the aspirants. After she is through with the ice breaking phase, the faculty, to follow her will comprise top air hostesses and flight stewards from domestic and international airlines.

For the 40 students who took the first class today, the prospects are bright for sure. They can look at a future at least for 10 years, which is the normal span of an air hostess’s career.

PG diploma introduced
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 20
To keep pace with latest happenings in the competitive corporate scenario, the Institute of Tourism and Future Management has introduced one-year postgraduate diploma course in future trends in business management (PGFBM). The programme, apart from being an independent PG diploma, will serve as a prelude for students who want to obtain an MBA degree at Woodbury University, California.

Based on business curriculum in the USA, the PGFBM programme includes principles of management and marketing, business economics, accounting principles, financial management, production and operations management and business laws that gives a comprehensive business insight to face the challenges both in India and abroad.

The ITFT has also introduced a programme to prepare students to work and travel abroad. It is of three months’ duration and includes personality development, communicative English, manners and etiquette, computer knowledge, public speaking, elementary knowledge of history and geography, ethnic cuisine and formalities involved with documentation while travelling abroad.

Nishank wins vocal music contest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 20
“Swar Udgam”, an inter-school classical vocal music competition was organised at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, here today. Nine schools participated in the programme which saw a contest among 15 participants.

The programme started with a gazal presentation by Stuti Vashisht of the host school. Students presented ragas like yaman, jaunpuri, and asawari which were rendered beautifully by the budding artistes from the participating schools.

Students from St Kabir, St Stephen’s and St Anne’s were accompanied the participants on tabla and harmonium. The results are as follows: Nishank Jaura-St John’s (1), Gehna Gujral-St Stephen’s (2), Prabhkirat-Vivek High School (3), Dhaniya Narsiman-St Stephen’s (consolation).

Merger of schools
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 20
The Dev Samaj School Management has decided to merge Dev Samaj Junior Model School with the parent school, Ishwar Singh Dev Samaj Girls Secondary School, Sector 21, in order to comply with an order on violation of building bylaws, according to a press note issued by the manager of the Ishwar Singh Dev Samaj Girls Secondary School here today.

The manager has claimed that the decision to merge the schools will not affect the students of the junior school as there will be substantial cut in fee structure.

The studies will also not be affected as both English and Hindi mediums of instructions are available in the main school.

The management of the main school also bears the financial burden of the junior school staff and the salaries will be protected.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Sidhu’s remand extended
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 20
Suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today further remanded in judicial custody under the Excise Act by a local court. The accused was produced in the court of the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr Sanjay Sandhir, who remanded him in judicial custody till August 2.

The case against the accused was registered after the seizure of 14 bottles of foreign liquor, 250 rounds of .12 bore gun and 225 rounds of Springfield rifle from his house in Sector 39. The accused was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, on March 26 allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh.

ADJOURNED: A defamation complaint filed by the Chief Minister, Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh, against the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, was adjourned for further evidence by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L Mohal, till September 21.

In his complaint, Capt Amarinder Singh, stated that Mr Badal had filed the defamation complaint with a view to misuse the forum of the court for political gains and to mislead the public on the basis of his oral testimony in the court that he had not received any favour from the Haryana Government for sacrificing the interest of the state of Punjab. The counsel of the Congress chief appeared in court on his behalf.

Capt Amarinder Singh had prayed in the complaint that any order on the complaint of Mr Badal be passed only after the court summoned the officials of Haryana Government and HSIDC with relevant record to clarify facts relating to allegations levelled by the Congress.

APPEAL DISMISSED: A local court on Friday dismissed an appeal moved by Hari Singh, against the order of the UT Judicial Magistrate(First Class) who sentenced him to one year’s rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 700 in a case of causing death due to rash and negligent driving. The court of UT Additional and Sessions Judge had sentenced the accused to one year’s rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 700 for causing death due to rash and negligent manner and also three months’ rigorous imprisonment for rash driving.

CULTURE

FILM REVIEW
Hackneyed, jerky, avoidable
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

‘OM Jai Jagdish’ (KC) is an avoidable cinema outing because it presents nothing new. Emotional bonding in a hackneyed ‘too-good-to-be-believed filmi’ style coupled with a jerky storyline do not promise a good future for Anupam Kher’s first directorial venture.

Abhishek Bachchan is, perhaps, compared too much with his superstar father because of which the lad will have to struggle a long way up the Bollywood ladder. This film does not hold much in store for him. Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan also do not have characters to leave fond memories. Lillete Dubey, Urmila Matondkar and Raju Kher have roles they would like to forget.

A lackadaisical first half with a crumbling storyline is compensated with some pace in the second half although more through emotional manoeuvring. The music by Anu Malik is jarring and more of an impediment in an already patchy whole. Sameer, the lyricist, has failed to web any magic.

The film show is mentionable only in parts where Fardeen, Abhishek and Anil, all manage good performances.

The family of Waheeda Rehman lives on a beach in Bombay. Fardeen is in America studying mechanical engineering for which Anil Kapoor has borrowed money from his friend Parneet Sethi. Abhishek stays at home and is a computer freak. They all love each other very much.

Fardeen gets a job in America and falls in love with Urmila. He does get her to India but soon leaves back for the USA, much to the disappointment of the family. Abhishek is caught leaking a question paper through computer hacking. He, too, leaves home. Anil’s friend asks him to vacate the house because he is unable to repay the debt and lands on the road with his wife Mahima, mother and daughter.

The film also stars Anu Kapoor, Rakesh Bedi and debutant Tara Sharma. Rahul Nanda has scripted the story and Raman Kumar and Rumi Jafri have penned the dialogues. The film is based on a Malayalam hit. ‘Om Jai Jagdish’ is a Vashu Bhagnani presentation.

WESTERN FILM REVIEW
Blazing action all the way
Rajiv Kaplish

Chandigarh
He is a warrior, a legend and a king all rolled into one. His mission — to assassinate the sorceress of an evil warlord. She is an embodiment of beauty and vision. Her high points — sorcery and seduction. What happens when their paths cross?

The hunter falls for the charms of the hunted. The prey joins hands with the predator. The erstwhile master of the sorceress is now the common enemy of the two.

So much hype, yet so little to write about “The Scorpion King” (Kiran). What can you write about a movie which blazes with action from the word go and leaps from one incongruity to another till the denouement?

Granted that Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock of WWF fame, who made a howling and shrieking debut as the Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns”, has, besides showing steel and muscle, demonstrated some familiarity with acting. Granted too that Kelly Hu bewitches the audience with her scanty ensembles and is a perfect foil for the fighting machine.

Agreed that sword fights and special effects, especially those during a sandstorm, are dazzling.

But was it necessary for director Chuck Russell to twist the narrative to reduce it to a rescue mission of a lover instead of unfolding it like a gripping tale of an assassin? Would it not have been better had he desisted from throwing in liberal doses of buffoonery of an aide of the Rock or spared us the spectacle of a pigeon carrying messages across the border, a la “Kabootar Jaa Ja”?