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School kids bag it with panache
Passengers complain of
overpriced commodities at bus stand
Can(e) do your house in style
From Schools and Colleges
Annual function
Students present ‘Lavanya-2006’
Medical camp
Market Buzz
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Hearth & Home
Planning your dream house in Jalandhar may no longer be an unenviable proposition. While the Improvement Trust is coming up with six different schemes of constructing flats in the hub of the city, the Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA) is also in the process of acquiring 300 acres of land near Rama Mandi for developing an Urban Estate and allotting another 40 plots for the construction of houses near Punjab Roadways Workshop close to Kapurthala Chowk.
This Sunday, the Improvement Trust started a new scheme for the construction of 362 LIG flats in “Rajiv Dawar” near Pathankot Bypass. Another plan was announced on the same day for the construction of 40 flats in a six-storey super-deluxe building coming up at “Sri Ram Vatika” on 13.37 acres of prime land in Guru Ravi Dass Nagar. Already having rolled out plans for developing 1,000 flats in Surya Enclave near Pathankot Bypass and 942 LIG flats in Indira Puram near Salempur on the GT Road, the Improvement Trust has also proposed to construct 70 MIG flats in “Ambedkar Apartments” coming up in Gazi Gulla Colony at Patel Chowk on a land recently acquired from the Municipal Corporation Jalandhar (MCJ) for Rs 6 crore. The trust has also acquired another 100 acres of land for developing Yadvindra Enclave adjacent to Surya Enclave. Discussing various schemes, Mr Tajinder Singh Bittu, Chairman, Improvement Trust, said that all the societies would have modern amenities, including LPG pipeline, security system, a fire station and a bank. He said that the luxurious flats in Guru Ravi Dass Nagar to be sold out for Rs 31 lakh would have all services, including high security system and fencing on all sides, health club, yoga hall, swimming pool, squash court, telephone and internet lines and a shopping plaza. He said that Rs 10 lakh would be handed over to the residents’ society for upkeep and maintenance purposes. “The idea is to offer lucrative housing schemes to residents so that they do not fall in the trap of dubious private colonisers. The residents are being promised high-tech services, including finger-touch doors, and modern facilities like shopping plaza,” said Mr Bittu. He also claimed that his name was likely to figure in the Limca Book of Records on account of being the only government official to have started the maximum number of housing schemes on acquired lands in a short time period. He counts his major success on evacuation of the trust land that had remained occupied as a dera run by Baba Kashmira Singh for more than 25 years. The evacuated land would now be used for developing deluxe flats. Besides, he added that he had meticulously planned all types of flats, including LIG, MIG and HIG, at a cost ranging from as low as Rs 2 lakh to as high as Rs 31 lakh. Mr Vikas Garg, Additional Chief Administrator, PUDA, pointed out that land was still being acquired for developing Urban Estate, near Rama Mandi. He added that tenders had already been invited from developers for 40 plots near Punjab Roadways Workshop. He said that possession of plots would be allowed after another six to seven months. Meanwhile, some private colonisers are also coming up with flats and colonies. Mr Anil Chopra, a coloniser revealed, that he was in the process of developing as many as 500 flats on Mithapur Road and Wariana village at a cost of Rs 18 to Rs 20 lakh each. He said that his son, too, was coming up with new colonies on Kapurthala Road and in Ladhewali, near Pathankot Bypass.
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Mayor World School held a seminar on child psychology and learning disabilities on Saturday. Parents and faculty attended the programme. Ms Bharati Kapoor from Optimising Development in Education, an organisation involved in the education sector, spoke on disabilities related to acquisition of academic skills like accounting. She said 10 to 12 per cent of all school children were affected by the disability. She added that the CBSE and the ICSE were giving concessions for such difficulties, but parents were unaware of it. On Wednesday, the school had also organised a seminar for enhancing parental skills by imparting tips on bringing up children. Ms Pria Warrick, former Miss India America, head of 28 finishing school centres, said children nowadays were less prepared for life. The parents were given self-introspection exercises on the occasion. Blood donation The NSS unit of Lovely Institute organised a blood donation camp on Wednesday. Mr H.R. Singla, Director General, Mr Kulwinder Singh, Coordinatr, NSS, Ms Rashmi Mittal, Dean, Lovely Institutes, were also present on the occasion. Dr H.S. Lamba from the Civil Hospital answered queries of the students about blood transfusion and blood testing techniques. Tree plantation “Van Mahotsav” was organised at Seth Hukum Chand SD Public Senior Secondary School, Kapurthala Road, last week. Saplings of trees were planted by students, teachers and Principal, Ms Manju Arora. She stressed on planting more and more saplings and nurturing them well. She told the students to follow the motto, “Each one plant one”. Farewell Final year students of Banarasi Dass Arya Girls’ College, Jalandhar Cantonment, were bid adieu during a farewell party organised on Wednesday. The programme took off with bhajan singing. Ms Aditi Sharma, head girl, was chosen as Ms BD Arya. Ms Priyanka was chosen as first runner-up, while Ms Sunita was selected as second runner-up. Ms Sapna Sehgal won Ms Fashionable title and Ms Richa Soni clinched the Ms Crowning Glory title. (Compiled by
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As many as 445 students were given prizes during an annual function held at Lyallpur Khalsa College on Monday. Of the total prizes, 325 were for achievement in academics, 12 for NCC, 103 for sports and five for extra-curricular activities. Two students were also given Rolls of Honour by the chief guest, Mr Harmohinder Singh Chatha, Agriculture Minister, Haryana. Jaswinder Kaur of BSc (Computer Science) received the Roll of Honour for winning the first Michael Sehgal Scholarship of Rs 10 lakh for pursuing higher studies in the UK. Amanpreet Singh, winner of two gold medals in international junior shooting championships, was also awarded the Roll of Honour.
Meanwhile, fiftyfive students of Lyallpur Khalsa College who had been placed with various corporate offices during the recent placement drive were honoured during a function held on Saturday. Mr Balbir Singh, President of the governing council, and Dr Satish K. Kapoor, Principal, distributed offer letters to 19 students selected by Wipro Technologies, (14 with Wipro BPO, 21 with IBM and one with Mahindra British Telecom). Among the selected candidates were 45 girls and 10 boys. — TNS
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From Doordarshan to Paramount Studios
Rita Atwal once wrote a play for her broadcasting course in a local Los Angeles college. “I am Anu” told the story of a woman named Anuradha who had bravely walked out of her fragile marriage in India and come to America to find a life for herself that she always wanted. And in the multi-ethnicity of the US, Anuradha reclaims her identity.
In one scene, she tells her American friend: “It was my life and I had to take control of it.” It was a metaphor Rita had lived through and triumphed. She became an actor, first stage plays in college, then TV in Jalandhar, some Punjabi films and finally Hollywood. Ms Atwal, as much adept in Punjabi as in the American accent, says, “In the US, you don’t have to pretend to nobody.” And that strength took her to the auditions of “Star Trek: Voyager” at Paramount Studio, where she was selected from 100 participants to play the role of a Hindu woman who, along with a group of four other people, were frozen in nitrogen and rescued many decades later by the Starship Voyager. “It was exciting but very tiring,” she says. Born in Rehana Jatan village in Kapurthala district, Ms Atwal got married when she was 20. She came to Delhi, where her twins were born: a boy and a girl. Then the mother of two joined the Kamla Nehru College, where she discovered the stage. Then came MA and some more plays, which bagged her awards. “A year later, me and my husband separated, after irreconcilable differences.” But she had her stage to carry her forward. She returned to Jalandhar and started doing street plays, most of them directed by noted theatre artiste, Suresh Sagar. “My favourite was ‘Dulari Bai’.” “I also met Raj Kapoor that time.” She still has the autograph. Then came her biggest break yet: a major role in Gurdas Mann’s superhit film, “Mamla Gadbad Hai.” A few more films and limelight followed. In the meantime, there were serials for Jalandhar Doordarshan and plays for All India Radio. When asked what happened to all her fellow actors, she said: “Some passed away, some went to Mumbai; some made it big, some gave up.” In 1987, she decided to leave for California, where her brother, noted sculptor, artist and animator, Mr Sukhdev Singh Dail, was staying. “I got a job in a bank; but acting had to continue. Searching for an agent was tough.” Eventually, a year later, with a new surname, Dail, Rita got her first role in “The Judge”, a TV drama. From one casting agency to another, her voyage in Hollywood had started. Appearances in NYPD Blue (1995), Marshal Law (1999) and Veronica’s Closet (1997). Also among these castings was her presence in a video of one of America’s biggest rap stars, Puff Daddy. “During the shooting, there was a Mexican-looking woman dancing in a corner. We didn’t know it was Jennifer Lopez.” The year was 1997. In the process, she also became member of the Screen Actors Guild and the Academy of television Arts & Sciences. “They gave us actors some security, insurance and all.” Ms Atwal says that in Hollywood, junior artists were treated well. “There was free lunch and we were spoilt for choice. We were paid for overtime.” Meeting Halle Berry at the Emmy Awards and Bill Clinton in a shopping mall are the memories she cherishes. “In the Emmy’s, you had to dress like them (the stars): all flashy.” In 1984, she even went to the Oscars. “Charlton Heston was the host.” “Later my agent gave up on me. They were getting too particular about a role. It was also getting boring.” Now the grandmother of four children is in Jalandhar for the past two years, to build an American-style house in GTB Nagar, with frequent trips to LA. She says she wants to return to the limelight. “I have become a part of the Indian Institute of Film and Media Arts. I plan to do some stage or TV may be.”
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School kids bag it with panache
From back hung bags to sling backs, school bags are available in an array of colours, shapes and sizes. Some shaped like animals and others with cartoons printed on them, bags are coming in various stuffs similar to soft toys and others with water proof fabric. While Barbie Doll and Power Puff Girls bags are available for girls, those with Pooh, Spiderman, Pokemon and Digimon characters printed on them are preferred by boys. Children also have a choice to pick up from small, single section bags, without pocket bags to big multi-section, multi-pocket bags. Water bottles, too, are available in various unconventional designs, most of these are without straw with foldable sippers attached on the lid. The outer covers are also variedly designed, some with protruding ears and others transparent. Tiffin boxes have an endless range, most of these with a spill-free cover with a matching fork, a spoon and a vegetable box. Pencil boxes, too, come in a wide variety, some with games on top of the lid, others that are reversible with inside part going outside and still others opening from both sides. Stationery materials such as pencils with detachable erasers of different shapes are also commonly available in the market. Small little items such as name slip stickers also coming in a vast range with different shapes and patterns. While children have a wide variety to take their pick, it is the parents who feel a pinch in their pockets. Says Ms Sareena Bala, a mother, “I asked my daughter to use the same bag and other stuff she had carried to school last year since these were in good condition. At this, she started crying. She told me that all their friends had bought new items and she would be let down if she carried old things for another year.” Ms Neelu Verma, mother of two kids, said she had ended up spending as much as Rs 800 for getting school bags, water bottles and stationery goods for her two children, who wanted everything to be unique and different from others.
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Designer flower pots for all seasons
Cement and clay are not just powdered material for Zahid Ali, better known as “Numberdarji”: these are “khazanas” of beautiful designs and for flower pots and numerous decorative items which fins place in almost all urban houses in the city.
Zahid came to this city in 1989 from the Unnav district near the city of Lucknow to visit his relatives. They suggested that he should enter the business of making pots and decorative items to earn a living. Then on, Numberdarji’s business has been thriving on the taste of Jalandhar residents towards keeping plants and decorating their homes with earthen items. He says the fascination draws the residents to his shop that sells designer items made out of cement and clay. “People here are ready to pay for good “gamlas” (flower pots), as they are besotted with plants and want to keep nature in designer earthy company.” Zahid brings most of his plain flower pots from Kapurthala and Moga, while the designer ones are brought from Rajasthan. He says the craftsmen in Moga are better. “The clay pots made by them are of superior quality.” Numberdarji, with a special participation from his wife Farzana and other family members, works on the pieces brought from Kapurthala and Moga adding designs to these. He also sells “kujjis”, bells, pot stands, “chowkis”, tulsi chauras, and flowerpots, garden fountains, benches, kitchen sinks, fibre glass moulds, POP design moulds. The prices range between Rs 5 for one Kujji and Rs 300 for a clay pot. Cement flower pots and flower pots cost between Rs 15 and Rs 300. The only hitch in his ever-growing business is the fact that he does not have a permanent place to set his shop. “I keep fearing the days the land owners ask me to vacate their place.” But he is not discouraged. Zahir says he would like to his children to learn all the tricks of the clay trade. He adds that after seeing his 11-year-old daughter’s inclination towards designing flower pots and decorative pots, he wants her to take up an art course. Numberdarji says the rainy season does play spoilsport in the business and the strong winds accompanying the showers sometimes spoil the freshly-made pieces. As for the business to grow, he has one plea: people should buy more of his items and more women should buy his clay flower pots.
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Passengers complain of
overpriced commodities at bus stand
Buying eatables and other commodities at the Jalandhar bus stand is a costly affair, with the shopkeepers and hawkers unabashedly overcharging for the items on sale.
Hence the harassment of the passengers continue, even as the authorities turn a blind eye to the issue. The passengers rue that they have to surrender to the whims of the shopkeepers and the hawkers, as most of them are in a rush to catch their bus. One of the passengers, Ms Satinder Kaur, says the people do not know where to go to complain about the overpricing as well. “The children often ask for snacks like chips and other stuff, which are being sold at the bus stand two to three rupees higher than the normal market price,” she laments. The pack of chips, which costs Rs 20 outside the boundary of the bus stand, costs Rs 24 inside the premises of the bus stand. “The only explanation the sellers arrogantly provide is that the Rs 20 price is for outside the bus stand,” she adds. Similarly, the cold drinks here cost higher than the prices in shops outside. Navdeep, a student, says he often has to buy a cold drink bottle Rs 6 higher than the normal price. When contacted, the General Manager of the Punjab Roadways, Mr Parneet Singh, said that he had received complaints about more expensive cold drinks, but the authorities found that the shopkeepers freeze it and thus spend something on it by way of arranging ice etc. “So the price for the cold drinks is justified but the overpricing of the packaged foods like chips and snacks will be duly looked into”, he said. Sources, however, point out that the products sold at the bus stand are under “theka” system, wherein the shopkeepers charge at their own whim and fancy and the authorities are still sleeping over the issue.
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Can(e) do your house in style
When it comes to breathing some life into a home, the first step is getting some furniture.
Say, shall we deviate from the same old wooden things and give environmentalists a reason to relax? Furniture made from eco-friendly materials like cane is available aplenty. So, experience the natural variation that’s part of the aesthetic appeal of handmade products. If you are looking for comfort and elegant styling, cane gives it all. “Nowadays, cane furniture is combined with wrought iron to add colour and strength,” Ms Loveleen Chopra, an interior designer here, says. Moreover, cane has a warm and soft colour and bends easily into elegant curves. Simple and classic dining room suites, coffee tables and lounge suites can adorn your drawing room, bedroom and garden. Besides, beds, futons, chaise, newspaper holders, mirrors, showcases in cane are in vogue. Conservatory suites and chairs are ideal, the easy chairs combine ultimate comfort with the timeless Scandinavian design. “Upholstery materials used are Italian leather, cotton, satins and silk fabrics. Peach and mahogany rule the frames,” Ms Chopra adds. A homemaker also has a wide range of choice with woven upholstery, grade fabrics as well as the more traditional cotton prints. Webbed or sprung seating with leather bindings ensure durability. They can also have removable covers to enable easy cleaning. Smaller rooms in compact apartments look better with lighter furniture pieces. Contemporary design can be sleek, visually elegant and adaptable to the modern living room. The materials used are light wood, metals, glass, chrome, bamboo, cane, leather, textiles or plastics. Since cane is easy to care for, it adds to the appeal. Besides being strong and durable, it is light and easy to move and can withstand extreme temperatures and humidity. To take care of cane furniture, the designer says one should wipe these with a cloth soaked in extra warm water, which should also have two tsp salt for keeping firmness of the meshing intact.
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Students present ‘Lavanya-2006’
“Lavanya-2006 — A designers’ show” was presented on last Saturday. Mr Partap Singh Bajwa, Minister, PWD (B&R), Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museum, Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. Ms Sushma Berlia, president, Apeejay Education Society, president, NIT, presided over the function. The programme included a variety of rounds that focused on outfits of various kinds — ethnic, Western, fusion and experimental. Later, prizes were given to winners of the show. Among those present on the occasion included college Principal, Dr
Sucharita.
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Medical camp
A five-day medical camp, organised by Guru Nanak Dev Reflexology Training and Research Centre at Basti Nau, concluded on Wednesday. A seminar was also organised by the attending doctors on Tuesday during which tips were given to the patients to remain physically fit. Dr H. Nasir from the centre said that several residents of the area had benefited from the camp. — TNS
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Reviving memories, shaping future
The Old Students’ Association (OSA) of Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College, Kapurthala, formerly known as Randhir College, has resolved to celebrate the 150th year of the opening of the college in a befitting manner.
The association members would take up the issues relating to the development of the college with the government. Mr D.S. Jaspal, Principal Secretary, Public Relations Department, Punjab, who is also Financial Commissioner of the Forest Department, and Mr G.S. Aujala, DGP (Rules) of the state, were among more than 100 former students of the college who reached here from different parts of the country recently. They decided that the history of the college be published and the directory of “Who was who?” and “Who is who?” maintained. Recalling the history of the college, Dr Aujala said the college was started in 1856 as a Sanskrit institute. For the memorial of Maharaja Randhir Singh, Rs 1.25 lakh was contributed by the residents of Kapurthala. His son Maharaja Kharag Singh instead decided that the money would be used for constructing the building of an educational institution and the hospital. On the occasion, Mr Surjit Patar, eminent poet and product of the college, also shared his memories with the gathering. Mr Patar revealed that it was in the college time that his first poems were published in Preet Larhi. NRIs and other association members who reached here to attend the get-together opened their coffers as soon as it was told by Ms Om Kumari Patyal, Principal of the college, that some of the projects in the college were languishing due to paucity of funds, and more than Rs 1 lakh was collected on the spot. Arjuna award winners like Sajjan Singh Cheema, Parminder Singh Sr., with veteran leader Ranvir Chopra, who led first Indian Basketball Team in 1951, international players S. Sarwan Singh Ball, Kuldeep Singh Cheema were also present at the get-together. Mr Kirpal Singh Dhillon, veteran Congress leader, who did his graduation from the college in 1946, NRI Sampooran Singh from Lakhan Kalan village, Sukhwant Singh Padda also marked their presence on the day. Earlier, the basketball ground of the college, constructed by the efforts of the OSA was inaugurated. The construction of the ground was started with the initiatives of Mr Bhandal, who passed away recently.
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The Regent Park Hotel, Jalandhar, is organising a two-week “Sizzler Festival” offering a wide variety of “sizzling delicacies”.
During the festival that started from March 10, the residents can enjoy delicacies that include Continental, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai and Sea food. The ambience and décor of the restaurant had also been transformed in accordance with the meals, a press release said. — TNS
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Even as the new academic session is about to commence in schools, children can be seen in markets buying new designer stuff like school bags, tiffins, water bottles, pencil boxes and stationery items.
It was a programme in which young designers presented their collection. Interesting themes like the tranquility of meditation, the exuberance of tribal life and the romance of bygone centuries were part of the show that was organised by students of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts here.