EDUCATION

DUTA steps up pressure with relay hunger strike
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, September 17
The resolve of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) to intensify pressure on the Vice-Chancellor came forth today in the form of a relay hunger strike outside his office.

Eight teachers, including the DUTA president, vice-president and other members of the executive were involved in the demonstration.

The decision to organise relay hunger strike and dharnas outside the VC’s office was taken at the DUTA General Body Meeting yesterday, which was attended by over two thousand teachers. The move was aimed at ensuring that the V-C upholds the Ordinance XIII of the Delhi University, which sets the workload of teachers at 15 hours. The General Body of DUTA had condemned the Vice- Chancellor for delaying the completion of proceedings of the Workload Committee and bowing to the pressures of the UGC, thereby jeopardising the autonomous status of the University. It is widely believed that the Workload Committee in a meeting on 9th September had more or less decided to uphold Ordinance XIII but did not release the formal minutes of its meeting at the V-C’s behest. Shaswati Mazumdar, the DUTA president said, “the V-C’s obstinate refusal to convene the Academic Council for resolving of the workload issue is inexcusable.”

The General Body of DUTA had decided to step up pressure on the V-C and planned to sustain the pressure through various means of protest. Apart from dharnas, it resolved to hold a march to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and submit a memorandum to the President of India seeking his intervention.

It also decided to conduct classes wearing black armbands as a sign of protest and to mobilise students support. DUTA has warned the V-C that if he failed to act on their demand, it will be forced to further intensify the agitation.

It has said that the responsibility of such a development and its repercussions on the university will solely fall upon him.

‘Emotions’ showcases talent of young jewellery designers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 17
Jewellery Design and Technology Institute, Noida, recently organised its second jewellery showcase, ‘Emotions 2002’. The event presented the collections of JDTI’s second batch of young jewellery designers.

On this occasion, Mr B.K.Narula, chairman, JDTI, said, “We are proud to showcase the collections of our second graduating batch. With each passing year, the JDTI has further cemented its activities in jewellery designing and manufacturing.”

Praising the work of the students, Mr Narula added, “The jewellery displayed are innovative in terms of product design and are of the highest good quality. We wish the students a successful career.”

Conceptualised by Silver Smith India Limited, the Jewellery Design and Technology Institute is supported by the World Gold Council. It is a model institute aimed to bring about an essential modification in the jewellery industry in India.

With a modern and well-developed industrial infrastructure within its premises, JDTI provides state-of-the-art workshop, fully equipped with the latest machines, tools and accessories. Theoretical training is conducted in modern classrooms, using the latest audio-visual techniques.

Regular lectures, seminars and workshops are held by jewellery designers, manufacturers and marketing experts in order to

familiarise the students with the various aspects of the jewellery industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sylvo Richard Schroeder, the CEO of JDTI said, “Today, our young designers are being launched through ‘Emotions 2002.’ The students have chosen a wide range of themes like Adam and Eve, glass and gloss, surface art, basketry, cloth meets metal, line bond form, romance, swastika, raindrops, Taj Mahal, the crystal story etc. Taking inspiration from them, they have conceptualised, designed and manufactured their own pieces in our workshop.”

“Our new venture”, he said “includes Silver Smiting tableware and accessories, design development centre and expert consultancy services”.

The list of invitees included prominent names in the field of jewellery and fashion designing, celebrities, executives from World Gold Council, NIFT, embassy officials and eminent personalities from the corporate world.

Education yatra by primary teachers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 17
With what they claim has been the “abject failure” of the government’s ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ that was meant for achieving universal primary education, the All India Primary Teachers’ Federation (AIPTF) has announced to launch a ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Yatra’.

The yatra, scheduled to begin from September 23 from across the country, will sensitise students and children who are unable to attain education. The AIPTF claims that there are 120 million uneducated children in the country, about two-third (90 million) of whom are girls. The federation points out that unless current trends are reversed and these challenges met, the progress towards reaching basic education for all will be very slow.

President of the Federation Ram Pal Singh said at a press conference here today that a mass campaign was also needed to sensitise the people on the evils of child labour, which was a cause of keeping children away from education.

During the yatra, the federation, covering over 20 lakh primary teachers in government schools across the country, would come out with a time-bound programme for universalisation of primary education and provision of quality education at the basic level by involving its block and district branches.

The yatra will start on September 23 from Attari border in Punjab and Motihari (Bihar), on September 30 from Guwahati, and on October 3 from Tamil Nadu. It will culminate at the biennial conference of the AIPTF in Bangalore, which will be held from October 19 to October 20. Mr Singh added that a large number of primary schools had only one teacher and were without any teaching infrastructure.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
A waft of French fragrance drifts into Delhi air
Smriti Kak

The word French perfume conjures an image of a classy designed bottle with all the works and a price tag that makes your heart skip a beat. But Emmanuel Balayer, the executive director of Paris Elysees, a 70 million-dollar French perfume major, is determined to change that.

For those golden moments.

“Most people think that French perfume is going to cost them the earth. We at Paris Elysees are offering original French perfume at very affordable prices. We want to break the myth that French perfume is expensive and is only for a select few.”

The French company, which has a manufacturing unit with a capacity of 1.75 lakh bottles per month, is all set to conquer the domestic market. Paris Elysees has launched 27 fragrances in the country and hopes to take the number to 45 by the end of this year.

“We are going to be present in all the states. In Delhi alone, we will be present at 2,000 outlets. Though, initially, we are going to operate through our distributors, we will open our exclusive outlets once we are ready with our entire range of cosmetics for the Indian markets,” points out Balayer.

Having spent close to three years in the country, Balayer discloses that the company is looking at producing something specially for India. “We are still forecasting and within some time should be able to create something special for Indian consumers.”

The company imports all its raw materials from France, but the bottling and packaging will be done in its manufacturing unit in the country. “We are sure that our capacity can be enhanced from 1.75 lakh bottles per month to 7 lakh bottles,” says Balayer. Though the company has already invested heavily in its Indian operations, it is hoping to attract the consumers by the pocket-friendly price tags and by cashing on the curiosity that a new product evokes.

“Earlier, our products used to come to the country from Dubai and most of the stuff is old. Now we are giving the consumer a chance to use the fresh and the latest product at an affordable price,” adds Balayer.

With an aim to establish itself in the domestic market, the company is courting a turnover of Rs 100 crore in a period of less than five years. Known in the international markets under the segments Paris Elysees, Paris Club and First Class, the company has plans of roping in Bollywood stars and cricket players for promotion of their product. “The problem with the Bollywood stars is that the new comers are not bankable. One flop, and they are not as hot. We need stars like Amitabh Bachchan who are stars forever,” says Balayer.

Star endorsements or not, the pocket-friendly fragrance has slowly started to waft across.

For Gujarat victims

Charity has always found favour with the stars. Whether it is doing a free show or parting with their clothes and other memoirs, the stars have always found a way to ‘give back something to the society’.

The Sur team has had the privilege of doing the same. The proceeds from the film’s premier in the Capital will support ActionAid India, working with the riot victims in Gujarat.

SOUND OF MUSIC: The leading ‘Sur’ pair.

Simone Singh with ActionAid country director Harsh Mander.

The film crew, including director Tanuja Chandra and stars Lucky Ali, Simone Singh and Gauri Karnik, was in town for the premier. At a party hosted in The Fox, the stars spoke not just about the film, but how enthralling it was to support a cause as compassionate as this. Said Tanuja Chandra, “I enjoyed working in Sur and I am glad that this special premier in the city will support a cause so close to the nation’s heart.”

Singer Bobby Cash had the gathering enraptured by his songs while the stars of the movie tried their best to shine.

Jhule Lal

The ‘Jhule Lal’ film crew, including producer S.R. Milan and director Ashok Soni.

Jhule Lal, a film based on the Sindhi deity, is being made in Hindi now. The movie is being produced by S. R. Milan and will be directed by Ashok Soni. While newcomers have been signed for the movie, the Asian Academy of Films will provide the technical support. The film is scheduled to be released later this year.

The film that was made in Sindhi earlier is an attempt to familiarise the Sindhis settled across the world with their culture and tradition. The songs of the film have been recorded. The music directors are Chandra Kamal and Ramesh Krishan. Vandana Vajpayee, Aman Chauhan and Vipin Sachdeva have lent their voices to the songs.

Moods of a man

Designer Amarjyot Singh is all set to showcase his Fall-Winter 2002 collection in the Capital.

Rahul Dev in a dashing Amarjyot outfit.

Amarjyot’s collection, which is eclectic, is his tribute to the many moods of a man. The designer calls it a collection from the casual to the sublime and from the ethnic to the western.

Inspired by natural motifs, sharply defined lines and contemporary silhouettes, Amarjyot gives even the ethnic sherwani a new twist.

The new collection will include traditional clothes like sherwanis, draped kurtas, and accessories. The work is fine hand embroidery with swarovski, sequins, resham and dabka on the neck and shoulders. Crepe silks, brocade, tussar and polynosic have been used and the accessories include Rajasthani turbans and jutties.

The collection showcases sharp cuts of western ensembles. The designer has worked on long and short jackets making it a collection of two and three piece suits. The jackets are presented in a well-balanced form in materials like suede, linen, faux snakeskin and fleece.

True blue shirts in linen and metallic tones are the part of the party collection. Bold animals’ prints and sleek shirts in blue, purple and silver are included. The mood is funky and the collection vibrant.

Among the models who will participate in the show scheduled to be held in the Capital’s Park Hotel are Zulfi, Rahul Dev, Aditya Bal, Rajat Raina, Amit Ralli and Jesse.