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Woman power with a difference
Message received: Girls rule SMS world
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Spreading fragrance
all the way
Poor performance by students in PSEB’s Class VIII exam
Traffic woes continue to haunt Kapurthala residents
Cycling for literacy
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Women in unconventional jobs often arouse a mix of curiosity and wonder coupled with grudging admiration. Yet surprisingly, many of these women themselves are blissfully unaware of their avant-garde stance, finds out Minna Zutshi during her interaction with ‘dhabha-women’ of Jalandhar However, for some women, the very three C’s form the basis of empowerment, as we learn after meeting Shanti, Veena and Manju, who run their own dhabhas in the city. “Our day starts early in the morning. We get up at the crack of the dawn. After all, the responsibility is entirely ours. If we don’t put in hard work, we cannot expect success,” says Veena, who learnt to differentiate between the aromas of coriander and mint when she learnt to prattle. Her mother, Shanti, who is in her seventies, may not be one of those flamboyant feminists, but she has a quiet dignity about her. “Shanti Dhabha” was her venture, and she managed it single-handedly. Though the dhabha has nothing up-market or chic about it, undeniably it is a testimony to the sheer resilience of Shanti. “My mother had to face life in the raw. She could have let herself be bogged down by circumstances. But she chose to live life to its fullest,” explains Veena, adding that even after 52-long-years, her mother has not lost her spunk. In spite of her failing health, the septuagenarian still does a bit of cooking and she retains her control over her dhabha. Interestingly, for Manju, too, who along with her family manages “Golu Ka Dhabha”, there was hardly any thought about “doing something unusual” when the dhabha business was started. Economic hardship and a string of failures in other ventures made her try the option of starting the dhabha. “Earlier, I used to assist my husband in his photography shop. But the venture proved to be unprofitable. We could barely manage two square meals a day. Our son had to drop out of his school. It was a tough time,” she says, adding that once they started the dhabha business, their financial stars started shining brightly, if not brilliantly. Of course, Manju has no hang-ups about doing the cooking herself. Though today, her son assists her in her culinary work, earlier she used to do all work without any help. Her day would start with ladles and spoons, and end with the same! And like Shanti and Veena, she is delightfully unselfconscious about the rather unconventional nature of her work.
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Message received: Girls rule SMS world
Sometimes, it seems as if the cellphones today serve more for sending text messages than for the actual purpose of making a conversation. Notwithstanding age groups, SMSing is a growing craze. Even as it might sound cumbersome to SMS than to make a vocal conversation, SMSing keeps the phones abuzz.
But a recent global research attributes SMSing as a rather feminine trait. It claims that it is largely women and young girls who resort to using the text language than reach out to use the “talk mode”. Jalandhar Plus tries to reason this trend among the city girls. As companies lure with packages offering free SMSes, it seems only natural to get busy typing away at the phone keypads more often. “Usually students do not have much money to spend. And its always cheaper to send messages than make calls,” Shruti Chopra, a college student, says. But even as messaging seems like a more economically-viable option, girls opt for it more than guys do. Preddie Singla, another college student, attempts to demystify the situation, attributing the distinction to gender aptitude. He adds, “Guys are short on patience. And typing a message is time consuming. But girls have the capacity to go on typing.” Technology advances have made it easier to send messages today. Even as technology is largely considered a “man thing”, at least as far as messaging is concerned, girls seem to have taken the lead. Ripudaman, a second-year student, takes it as far as saying, “It is just another example of women beating their male counterparts in their own bastion!” “Mobile technology provides the option of the dictionary mode of typing words. But much as men rant and rave about being tech-savvy, they do not have the inclination to make up words!” Ripudaman said. Finally, the argument rests with gender make-up. Sikandar, a software engineer, concludes, “Men are usually all about few words. Typing away lengthy text messages is not their type!”
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Spreading fragrance
all the way
Come summer and anti-perspirants and deodorants assume more importance than ever. Jalandhar is no different. The fashion-conscious residents of the city, who want to look chic and smell fragrant all the time, have made it a routine to spray deodorants and dab some sun-screen lotions before they venture out into the hot world. The demand from the consumers with higher disposable incomes has inevitably pushed up the sales of deodorants, even higher than previous years. The deodorant market across the country is estimated at Rs 1,500 million and has a strong potential to grow. “To meet the rising demand, the companies keep on introducing new products with different fragrances in the market,” Gurdeep Singh of Hallmark said. “It’s difficult to say which brand is selling the most, as deodorants are popular among every section of the society. People from all categories use deodorants now, as per affordability and requirement to mask the odour of perspiration in the body,” he adds. “Before going to college or going to a hang out, spraying a deodorant is must. It gives me a refreshing feeling,” Namita Kapoor, a BA, IInd year, student said. “Body odour is something disliked by everybody. To prevent this, people use perfumes, talc and deodorants. The latter is more popular as it is available in a wide variety in all price ranges,” Gautam from Ebony said. “Perfumes are beyond my budget, so I go for deodorants, which work the same way,” Kapil Sharma, a B. Sc., IIIrd year, student said. The woody and spicy fragrances are common among boys, while the girls prefer deodorants with florax, jasmine and fruity fragrances, the shop owners said. Besides, unisex varieties, that are meant for both the sexes, are also available in the market. Though aerosol sprays are the most popular, more recently, consumers have also developed a taste for deodorants available as a cream or in gel or roll-on forms, Ravinder Singh from Archies said.
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Poor performance by students in PSEB’s Class VIII exam
With just five students from Jalandhar figuring in the merit list of 517 top students of Class VIII in Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) examination, the students from the district seem to have performed poorly this time.
The topper from the district stands far too low in the list on 68th position. Nidhi, a student of Shiv Devi Girls’ High School, has stood first. The second rank holder from the district is too far behind her. Nikhil Sharma of Government Middle School, Rurka Khurd, is on 413th position. The other three students, however, follow him closely. Jagandeep Singh Sandhu from Sada Sukh Chopra SD Public Senior Secondary School is on 436th rank. Inpreet, a private candidate, stands fourth on 442nd rank, while Neha of Sada Sukh Chopra SD Public Senior Secondary School has managed to obtain 444th rank. A close analysis of the contents of the gazette has revealed that the number of students who have flunk in mathematics is far too high. Almost all schools have one to many students failing in this highly scoring subject. In Government Middle School, Dhanal Kalan, none of the students have passed in all subjects. While 15 of the total 18 students of Class VIII have failed, two have flunk in one subject and the examination of one of the students has been cancelled. Similarly, in Babu Labh Singh School, nine of the 11 students have failed and the remaining two have flunk in a subject. The number of failing students is very high in the two government schools of Phillaur. In Government Middle School for boys there, only six of the total 173 students have passed and 28 have a compartment. Likewise, out of a total 115 students from Government Girls’ Middle School in Phillaur, 54 students have failed, 22 have passed and a majority of the rest 39 students have failed in mathematics. In Dosanj Khurd School, only two of the total 32 students have passed in all subjects. The number is low in many other schools with one of 23 passing in Ittan Bhadi, again one of 23 in Buttnan, two of 43 in Bhatija Randhawa, two of 30 students in Chak Muglani, three of 40 in Balno, five of 32 in Chuharwali, five of 42 in Dhande and seven of 32 in Bashesarpur There, of course, are a few government schools that have managed a cent per cent result. Government Middle Schools, Bhoepur, Ismailpur and Tahli Mohalla, have been able to achieve the all-pass result. In Government Middle School, Gadran, all the 16 students have passed, but three of them have failed in a subject. The result of Government Middle School, Gill, is also fairly okay as just one student out of a total of 37 has failed and another one has flunk in one subject. Another startling revelation was that a number of private schools had awarded very high marks for internal assessment to some students who are otherwise passing with marginal difference. Many students who have around 40 per cent marks in most subjects have been given as much as 153 to 157 marks for internal assessment out of a total of 160.
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Traffic woes continue to haunt Kapurthala residents
Even after its formation early last year, the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) of Kapurthala proved to be ineffective in addressing the traffic woes of the city residents.
Keeping in view the chaotic traffic conditions in the city, Mr Arun Pal Singh, the then SSP of Kapurthala, constituted a committee to advise and help the police administration to handle the increasing traffic of the city. The TAC consisted of SP Headquarter, a DSP, Executive Officer of Municipal Committee and various social and political organisations of the city. The media persons and business community were also involved in the functioning of the committee. It was decided during the first meeting of the committee that a parking lot should be earmarked near the building of the State Bank of Patiala situated near the Natraj Hotel at Satnarayan Bazar, which would help in decongestion on the roads of Red Cross Market, and Sat Narayan Bazar. It was also proposed that the shopkeepers would be asked not to encroach upon the space outside their shops. They would be allowed to use only up to one-and-a-half feet space outside their shops to display their goods. It was also proposed that the yellow fluorescent paint markings be applied at the busy roads of Sadar bazaar, Kaserian Bazar, Sat Narayan Bazar, DC Chowk to Amritsar Octroi Post and Kachehri Chowk to Subhash Palace Chowk. To restrict the entry of four-wheelers during the day time in Sadar Bazar, a chain was proposed to be installed on the entry point of the market. A ban on the entry of heavy vehicles in the city through the Amritsar road leading to bus stand was also proposed from 8 am to 8 pm. In 2004, Mr S.K. Asthana, the then SSP of Kapurthala, also consulted with a traffic control expert from Ludhiana in this regard, but nothing could be done as Mr Asthana was transferred. His successor, Mr Arun Pal Singh, also tried to cope up with the increasing problem of traffic in this princely state city, but he was also transferred within six months of his posting. The decisions taken by the committee were nowhere visibly implemented resulting in the crowded roads of the city. The yellow fluorescent paint markings were done in Sadar Bazaar and at a small portion of Sarafa Bazar and Red Cross Market. The heavy vehicles could be seen plying throughout the day from the bus stand to Amritsar road resulting in frequent traffic jams on the road. Meanwhile, Mr Rajiv Ahir, SSP, Kapurthala, when contacted, informed that the committee was being re-activated and the public representatives would be taken into confidence during the process of making the city’s roads jam-free.
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Cycling for literacy
Makhan Singh who runs a school for under-privileged children recently reached Jalandhar on his way to spreading the message of education. He began his rally two months ago and sees it as one of the most effective ways of spreading his message. Makhan Singh’s inspiration behind the rally, he said, was a 57-year-old Andhra Pradesh resident Ramul Gad from Ranga Reddy district who undertook such a rally to spread AIDS awareness. Makhan said he would submit a memorandum to the Governor of Punjab as he finishes his the rally in Ajnala. He also aims to meet the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with his message. Targeting social evils like nudity, superstitions, dowry, female feoticide, pollution and illiteracy, he said his only wish was to one day see an educated society. Makhan Singh is running his school with help of philanthropists and social service organisations.
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Young World
Mansi Vaid, a first semester student of the Bachelor of Design from Lovely Institutes, has brought laurels by securing top position in the examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University this year. Mansi has obtained 940 marks out of a total of 1,100. Congratulating the student, Mr Ashok Mittal, president, Lovely Institutes, said that the B.Design had been introduced on the campus last year and Mansi had passed out from the first batch. Declamation contest The environment club of Vivekanand Day Boarding Public School, Guru Nanak Pura West, in association with NGO Pahal, organised a declamation contest on environmental issues on Monday. Students of Classes VIII to X participated in the contest. Gurinder Pal Singh stood first, Pooja Verma secured second position and Jaspreet Kaur received third prize. Prof Lakhbir Singh, president of the NGO, said that environmental degradation was leading to a number of health problems such as cancer, cholera and heart disorders. Neha Sood, a Plus Two non-medical student of Dayanand Model School, Dayanand Nagar, has stood second in the city in the examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) this year. Neha has obtained 94.2 per cent. She has got cent per cent in mathematics, 97 in chemistry, 93 in physical education, 91 in physics and 90 in English. Neha aims at doing engineering from IIT and is awaiting result of the entrance test. Five students of Shiv Jyoti Public School have cleared the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education this year. Nitin Puri has got 29th rank at the state level. Other students who have cleared the test include Akash, Meenakshi, Dheeraj and Karan. Placement
Nearly 89 students of Lyallpur Khalsa College have been placed in top IT and telecom companies, banks and life insurance companies. Mr Jasjit Singh, placement in-charge, said that 23 students had been inducted in Wipro Technologies, 15 in the Centurion Bank of Punjab, six in ICICI Bank, seven in Satyam and three in HDFC Standard Life. Dr Satish Kapoor, Principal, has congratulated the students. Free workshop The Central Workshop of Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) organised a free five-day training programme in carpentry and machine shops for the community under Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP), a project funded by the MHRD, last week. Nearly 22 candidates enrolled for the workshop prepared jobs in carpentry shop and machine shop using modern tools with CNC controls and unconventional technology. The participants were given free books, literature and food during the course of the programme. Dr Moin Uddin, Director, NIT, attended the valedictory function. Dr Rakesh Chandra, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and chairman of the workshop, said that there were plans to organise more training programmes such as those on electrical safety measures, electrical wiring and welding under community development programme. Budding designer Sonam Sharma, a student of Bachelor of Design from the Apeejay College of Fine Arts, has bagged fourth position in examination conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University. She also bagged third prize in Fevicryl Hobby Ideas Contest for using innovative techniques and ideas in her paintings. She has been actively participating in college exhibition and workshops. Even as nature inspires Sonam to express her inner-self by making sketches and paintings, she also loves to pen down poems. But her real aspiration is to become a fashion designer and now she is trying to give shape to her childhood dream when she loved dressing up dolls as models. As a co-curricular activity incharge and house prefect in her alma matar Dayanand Model Senior Secondary School, Sonam had anchored various functions and competitions in the school. She had also won second prize in Sahodaya Folk Dance contest at school level in Plus Two. LLB topper Manav, a student of the Lovely Institute of Law, Phagwara, has topped the Guru Nanak Dev University in BA, LLB 5th semester examination. He secured 406 marks out of total 500. Manav, son of noted advocate of Phagwara Dr S.L. Virdi, said that he believed in gaining more and more knowledge to contribute for ending the sorrows of the sufferers. Painting, essay competitions A total of 53 students from different schools of Kapurthala participated in a Spot painting and essay writing competitions held here on Tuesday. The competitions were organised by the Siddhartha Sharma Charitable Trust. The students were asked to choose a topic from three titles of AIDS, environmental pollution and drug addiction. While 30 students opted for spot painting the rest expressed their concern on the issues through essay writing. The winners would be rewarded on the occasion of free medical check up camp on June 5.
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Women in unconventional jobs often arouse a mix of curiosity and wonder coupled with grudging admiration.
Yet surprisingly, many of these women themselves are blissfully unaware of their avant-garde stance,
finds out
Minna Zutshi
during her interaction with ‘dhabha-women’ of Jalandhar
Sometimes, it seems as if the cellphones today serve more for sending text messages than for the actual purpose of making a conversation. Notwithstanding age groups, SMSing is a growing craze. Even as it might sound cumbersome to SMS than to make a vocal conversation, SMSing keeps the phones abuzz.
Often the feminist talk hinges on the critique of three C’s — cooking, cleaning and caring. Harping on the equality issue, the votaries of equal rights for women complain that women’s lives are relegated to the three C’s, and consequently, empowerment takes a backseat. 
Cycling his way through different parts of Punjab, Makhan Singh from Ajnala has his priorities in the right place— eradicating illiteracy and spreading the message of education.
