Denim splash

Guys, you have guessed it right. The showery dance and rhythmic beats of raindrops have brought along with them denims that wouldn’t save you from getting drenched — for that you will still have to buy waterproofs — but promise to keep you dazzling, rain or shine.

Torrent of colours

And it’s not just a sizzling ensemble of washed-down jeans that’s causing ripples among the bubbly youngsters gushing through the narrow streets of life on their single-cylinder motorbikes. You also have hot pants, and even spaghetti tops in vibrant hues, that guarantee to bring the temperatures close to the boiling point, even as the mercury is plunging.

Right, the feel-good fabric and the hues guarantee to make you feel relaxed and comfortable in the sultry conditions, besides assuring clean-look that hides all those loathsome stains so closely allied with the dirty weather. The entire collection is spruced up with refreshing elements like colored leather, printed denim labels and enameled rivets.

“Just in case you haven’t picked up the stuff, look out for tops in grays, tans and beiges that are uplifted with embroidery,” says Amanbir Singh of Denim Republic. The store was inaugurated in Sector 17 just this week.

You can also go in for “distressed foil prints” that add glamour to the drenched-with-style tees. “The stuff, an integral part of the Monsoon collection, can be teamed strikingly with light-weight trousers in paprika, elm, tan and clay colours,” suggests Amanbir Singh.

Burst of style

Guys can go in for jeans in crisp raw to heavy fades. Then they have fabrics like pigment-padded crosshatch, broken twill, streaky indigo and the forever favorite stretch denim. The stuff sees an addition of metallic studs in pewter, bronze and nickel. Besides, decorative repair stitch details, like multi-hued threads, add stare value to every pair of jeans that you pick up.

“Then there are two new fits for men. To begin with, you have the Cowboy fit with a curved inseam that will help you strut in glory through the falling weather. You can also go in for low-rise straight leg option. It’s back in vogue,” says young city-based fashion designer Tanya Vashistha. She is working with a Sector 35 boutique.

For all you girls eager to zip down the fast track of life in driving rain, there is a distinctive look with softer colours, styles and patterns to choose from. The denim line showcases jeans, capris, skirts and hot pants with details like cobbler stitching, appliqué in reverse broken twill, logo prints and lace.

The non-denim line sees combat pants, cuffed capris, roll-up wader pants and mini skirts in summery fabrics like poplin, tussore and peached twills. So folks, get ready to bathe in pouring style, heavily.

Photos Pradeep Tewari

Chandigarh reads
Chitleen K. Sethi

A city, which has more libraries than shopping malls, points to just one thing—Chandigarh is a city of book lovers. But what is this rare breed of men, women and children actually reading? Chandigarh Administration tried to find out. As part of the efforts to revamp the city’s two most visited libraries, the Central State Library in Sector 17 and Central State Library in Sector 34, the Education Department has come up with some interesting discoveries….

Facts vs fiction

City women prefer to read fiction over anything else. Staff at both libraries reported that other than the Mills and Boons romances, which are an all time favourite, the Sidney Sheldons and latest thrillers are also in big demand. Romance might be the winner but cooking comes a definite second for city women. Cookery books of all kinds are constantly in circulation followed by self-help and motivational books, books on religion and biographies.

Children in both libraries are hankering after computer books, general knowledge, quiz books and comics. The teenagers are focusing on books for competitions, how to be successful, personality development, computers and comics.

The elderly and the retired readers who are also the most devoted library users are reading about religion, astrology, spiritualism and go through lots of biographies too.

The Central State Library in Sector 17 has over 33,000 members and over 2 lakh books and gets over a thousand footfalls each day. Probably the largest library in the city going by the number of members, it has in the past five years alone added four thousand new members. The Sector 34 library has over 7,500 members out of which almost 3,000 are children.

Other than readership trends, the libraries also listed their most issued books in the recent past and also the most active readers. Mr Ashok Dogra, a banker by profession and member of the Sector 17 library, visits the library daily. “I am an avid reader of magazines and books on satire and wit. A visit to the library is an essential part of my day,” he says.

Mr Rajinder Pal, another avid reader, visits the library at least twice a week. “I am a junior engineer in the Irrigation Department and read anything and everything about science and technology,” he says.

Reaching out

Realising the perceptible growth in the number its readers in these libraries the Administration has now planned to improve and broad base its services. These have been made handicapped friendly, better lighted, well catalogued and plans are afoot to create a special section of books with large prints for the elderly and also at a later date maybe stock books on tape.

Both libraries have completed the Herculean task of changing the old library cards into smart cards and by the end of this year, the Sector 17 library users, specially the elderly would be glad that there is a lift in place. The interiors of the library a face lift so as to make the ambience better for readers.

Director Public Instruction (DPI) UT Ms Raji P. Srivastava adds that the aim of the augmenting was to improve facilities at these libraries in general and put in some special efforts for the elderly. “And it is heartening to see that there is a growing number of young readers who come to the library to spend time particularly during vacations. It is contrary to the lament that only the elderly are visiting these libraries. Also we have noticed that the tendency among school students consulting libraries for their school projects and college students aiming to study abroad has also increased,” she says adding that a host of activities, including the constitution of a Readers Club, a book treasure hunt, a book quiz and related contests were being planned for members during the year.

Walk to fitness indoors

As people are getting progressively health conscious, homes are increasingly being equipped to keep their owners in shape. Home gym has moved beyond a treadmill or a stationary bike taking up valuable space in your bedroom. Let’s create your home gym in a fashion that it becomes easier to motivate yourself to head for a workout, especially since it’s been pleasantly decorated, well-lit and inspiringly designed.

Choose an appropriate spot in your house. Spare room, part of a larger room, basement, even sizeable staircase landing, lobby upstairs or covered patio/verandah are just a handful of many areas which you can turn into a home gym.

Plan your room according to your fitness goals and activities you like. Building muscles need more weights, while aerobics will need more space and a good music system. Yoga requires green peaceful room with no clutter and sound system for soothing chants. Expensive gadgets are merely going to burn a hole in your pocket especially if you merely fancy them rather than make use of them.

A health regime however can be achieved with far less. A box to hold your equipment quietly tucked under a table in the corner of your designated gym area. Collars to hold the plates on the dumbbell handles and barbell, 2 small wraparound 1 lb wrist weights which come in handy for adding small increments of weight to dumbbells or barbell, 2 standard dumbbell handles, skipping rope, bull worker, ab-trimmer, twister, timer, doorway pull-up bar, old coffee table as bench and rag cotton rug as gym mat and your front steps is more than sufficient to keep you in shape. You can always add stationary bike, rowing machine, elliptical trainers, and specialist weight lifting systems at a later stage by rewarding yourself for reaching a better state of fitness.

If budget is not a constraint and you have the luxury of having a whole area/room for your home gym, consider installing a sauna/steam bath, a glass fronted Jacuzzi with green foliage offering the privacy from prying eyes. Good entertainment unit comprising of music system, TV could be considered indispensable by some. Add a jungle gym with ropes, swings and ladders for the children. Think about theme based interiors too. Nautical features such as ropes, wheels, anchors in white/blue interiors or modern orange/ beige/wenge interiors with exposed maple, beech, burl, cedar, ash, oak, pine wood work in simple straight lines. How about a jungle theme for outdoor loving people and let waves with fish to adorn the gym for the sea lovers?

Would you like to display trophies, photos and other artwork? Wall murals can add a feeling of depth and space to small, dark rooms like basements. Choose an ocean scene for the wall facing your treadmill and envision yourself running along the beach with the breeze blowing through your hair instead of huffing and puffing on a treadmill indoors. A woody wall mural lets you imagine you’re mountain biking down a forest trail instead of pedaling a stationary bike in the basement. Selected quotes can also be a motivational tool.

Leave smaller windows uncovered or use coloured glass bricks. Give light window treatment such as wooden blinds, colourful aluminum slats. Sheers may be topped with Roman blinds. Floors should be left bare but good light fittings are essential. Unless installing a separate refrigerator, keep a refreshment table handy to hold drinks that will help keep you hydrated during and after your workout.

There’s no better way to start your day wearing a major bed-head and jimjams, knowing there’s no one to hog your equipment, the two second commute from your bed negating any excuses which surface to skip your health regime, for even a single day.

Courtsey: A.P. Singh Besten & Co.

In Corbusier’s town
Gayatri Rajwade

TALE OF TWO CITIES: Photographer Diwan Manna returns home to the city that Le Corbusier built after photographing the city that the maestro lived in as part of a cultural exchange programme. — Photo by Pradeep Tewari

Living in Le Corbusier’s city affords a certain nonchalant acceptance of the heritage one lives with and it took an unusual assignment to change this perception for city-based photographer Diwan Manna.

This artist has just come back from Firminy, a small town in Central France and the second largest architectural accomplishment of Le Corbusier after Chandigarh, where he was commissioned to click the people and architecture of Firminy for a photography exhibition “regards croises franco-indiens” (Indo-French Glances) on Corbusier’s works.

“He is really important to the world of architecture and one never really thought of it from that perspective. He was a master of light and played with forms in a sculptural way,” smiles Manna.

The results are magical. With over 15,000 photographs taken, there is a lyrical breath to them. Understanding Corbusier’s work is tracing a line across boundaries and countries and to give depth to his architecture, Manna also worked extensively with light.

The church, still under construction, the Maison de la Culture (Cultural Centre), the stadium, Unite de la habitation (social housing units) all abound with the radiance of day. Waves of light that move with the time of day in the Church, “marvellous like the stars and the moon at night,” the play of shadow and light in the habitation units, the colours that come, “not from pieces of vibrant glass but from reflections that play naturally with the painted structures,” in the Cultural Centre, each photograph looks strangely ethereal.

The details in the housing units where the kitchen, the cupboards, the concrete sofa, staircase, study table have all been designed by Corbusier, “In India what we see is the city plan not architecture in its full splendour but the buildings designed by him are lovely.”

Despite Manna’s belief that the scope of Corbusier has not been left open to change, “for everything done is final” yet there are some outstanding examples of his work in the form of a Monastery at Le Tourette near Lyons and a church in LongChamps, some of the structures outside of Firminy that Manna got to see.

“There is a revival and there is an organised focus in attracting tourists who wish to see Corbusier’s work. In fact Chandigarh being his largest project could benefit too. In fact our guides should be trained in Corbusier specific information,” avers Manna who believes we have forgotten Corbusier. “He needs to be reinvented, reincarnated, only then will be known the strengths and weaknesses of his works. Every generation gets further removed from the whole concept of Chandigarh, here is the chance to give it the value it deserves.”

Talk of value and Manna is so happy with the pictures that he has come back with that he now plans to have an exhibition only devoted to light in Corbusier’s structures and who knows, perhaps even a book. His ode, perhaps, to the man who built the city he loves so much.

French Festivty
Shreyasi Thakur

Alliance Francaise- the stairway escalates and with every step unfastens the knot of unfamiliarity and acquaints us with the realms of French in a grace so dignified. But this week was different. Solemnity gave way to festivity, for it was time to indulge in bitter- sweet symphony. Though music is a celebration in itself, but if you still need a reason to celebrate music, what could be a better occasion than Fete De La Musique or the World Music Day itself? And on this musical occasion, Alliance Francaise and The French Embassy organised a series of different activities from June 17 to 21.

This Saturday saw an open stage show where amateur as well as professional singers and musicians performed for five minutes each to showcase their talent. Around 30 participants of all age groups took part in this event.

Another grand part of this celebration was a music concert by the French group, Jugalbandi, on June 19 at Tagore Theatre. Riggie Walia, the Cultural Coordinator, called this concert as her personal favourite of all the activities. “The music they presented had the power to touch the hearts. It was amazing to hear Vande Matram by one of the African artists of the group and it was done very beautifully,” she shares.

Also, June 21 had a Salsa workshop in store for many boys and girls beaming with enthusiasm. In seven steps Varun Rana, a certified Salsa trainer, eased the complexity of salsa for the beginners. He and his wife Barsha took an instant to enliven the hall with the spirit of Salsa and within just half an hour, around 10 couples were grooving majestically with the Salsa music.

“I have been a student of Alliance Francaise but I had to leave in between when I got a call from Dance Dance, a dance show on Sony Entertainment but I’m back once again to contribute in the Music Day celebrations,” shares Varun, who is also taking Salsa classes at Ozone-9.

Sukhmani who is learning French in this institute had a blast in the Salsa workshop. She says, “It was a different experience and it was fun learning something which I was completely unaware of.”

Following the workshop, Music on Stage, a DVD, was screened. It saw a collection of movies, which projected the new generation French music coming up these days.

CAMPUS CAFE
Back to boys

Guess what’s back in vogue on the Panjab University campus…. Did you say short skirts with slits and delightful spaghetti tops? Well, drive down the road to the university and you will see so many damsels trotting down the corridors dressed to glamour in the stuff. But it is not exactly hot-off-the-fire passion on the campus. Ex-students are the latest craze on the university grounds.

Right folks! You may find it hard to believe, but macho guys or bhaijis — once ruling the campus on their single-cylinder 350 cc bikes, now slaving around in offices as executives or growing flowers of affection on ancestral lands in native villages — are topping the list of “most-wanted” prepared just for pretty damsels seeking admission to different courses.

As the admission season is gradually picking up momentum on the campus, so many youngsters, in quest of guidance, are catching hold of the bhaijis for giving them a lesson or two before the classes of their lives commence.

You can see them sitting around the main library under the rejuvenating shade of dense trees, or even on the hard concrete benches of the students’ centre, softly telling the young crowd all about the tough realities of the university life.

There are all those voluminous books on English Literature that need mugging up, teachers who go on and on, and guys who just do not believe in giving up. They all need to be tackled, with charm and care.

Then there is the biggest challenge of staying on the campus on one pretext or another for over five years so that you leave the place as a university green-card holder. No wonder, the conversations revolve around these subjects.

Well guys, you can tell the difference between young students enlightened by the seniors and the ignorant ones. It’s actually easy. You will find the uninformed students frequenting the makeshift offices of the students’ union around the enquiry office. They are the ones walking down the university grounds with eyes fixed before their feet, exhaling short and infrequent sights. Others… you will find them everywhere, already treating the campus as their own. That’s the way it is folks.

The cop land

The controversy is out of the bag again, arresting the attention of so many students living in Panjab University campus. Once more, the cops are talking about setting up a permanent picket on the campus. Again the students are lodging a protest against the move.

Their argument is not so complicated. Ever since the alleged firing incident took place at the university students’ centre two months ago, the cops have unduly been harassing the students in the name of security, they claim.

The students allege in hushed voices that the men in khaki not only stop them for checking identity cards and other documents again and again, but also raise eyebrows every time guys on roaring motorbikes come to pick up their girlfriends. A permanent picket would only worsen the situation.

Seeking complete revamping of the prevailing security system, the students assert that except for causing undue annoyance, the cops are hardly doing anything else. In fact, they have not even been able to instill a sense of confidence amidst the students.

This, they assert, is evident from the fact that even now few learners frequent the students’ centre after sunset even though the shops there remain open till 9 pm. Moreover, few girl students come to the outer reading hall of the university’s main library for studying the book of success after sunset because of the existing law and order situation on the campus.

The cops, on the other hand, argue that the university is not an isolated island. It is a part of the city and maintaining the law and order situation on the campus is a part of their duty. As the union activists and the police authorities argue, the students — especially the young ones seeking admission — are getting discouraged. It’s high time that the police, the university authorities and the students’ organisations should hold a round-table conference for doing something about the controversy, once and for all.

— Saurabh Malik

Their Best Friend’s wedding
Anandita Gupta

Doggy mere sathi: Dog trainer Vinod Kumar receiving a boquet of flowers from his tailed companion — a special wedding guest.

The fluff vanilla cake seemed a temptation enough for these furry, frisky guests to attend this party. What made it all the more irresistible was a lavish display of Dalia, eggs, chicken and dog feed! No wonder, these bow wow beasts were in no mood to brood. They rather tip toed happily, their tails dancing and mouths salivating, to attend their master’s pre wedding bash.

Besides, what better opportunity would these cute creatures get to cuddle around their friend, philosopher and guide—Vinod Kumar, aka Sonu? For, Sonu, who’s been training these dogs for over a decade, is more of a buddy to his tailed trainees than a strict dog master. Wonder not, these dogs were Vinod’s special guests on the most special day of his life— his wedding day.

On 30th April, there were about 35 of them zooming around on the floor, curling between the would-be-bridegroom’s legs and celebrating the occasion with their playful antics, doggie istyle. And ofcourse, those trained human courtesies are on a brilliant display too—tails dancing, baskets of flowers hanging down their cute little jaws, paws folded in a congratulatory namaste.

And here’s something for all pet lovers, coming straight from this dog trainer’s heart, “Most of us keep pets for fun and claim to be sharing all our love and attention on them. Then, why don’t we include them in our celebrations, our special occasions?” Adds the dog trainer, “I was really thrilled to marry my love Manu and wanted to have a special wedding. What else could have made it special than inviting my dogs— my livelihood and best friends at a pre-wedding bash thrown exclusively for them?”

Having won many awards for best dog training (best dog trainer at Ambala, Jagraon, and Chandigarh in 2001-2002) and being approached by Burail jail to train their sniffer dog squad, Vinod has many fluff feathers in his cap. However, the fluff he loves to feel and pamper (besides training that is!) is that of the dogs—Dalmatians, Golden Retrievers, Boxers, Daschunds, German Shepherds, Rottweiler and Pugs. Little wonder he treated them with a scrumptious meal at the bash— Dalia, chicken, eggs and dog feed!

Rajesh Khanna did it in Haathi mere saathi and now it’s our very own dog trainer who’s made animals his baraatis. Who says hip parties are only for socialites?

Rhythm of the soil
Parbina Rashid

Santokh may be committed to the needs of the audience and doing a splendid job at that too, but he is one man who is all for pure melody. Yes, we are talking about Santokh Singh of Channa Ve Ghar Aaja Ve… fame. A little chit-chat with this upcoming music director who was in town to release his new album Blossom and also to take part in a special show organised by the Chandigarh Press Club and you learn beneath a jazzy façade beats a heart steeped into culture and tradition.

On remixes: The remix phase is almost over. Audience has had enough of it and now they want something original.

His type of music: I like meaningful, soulful and ballad type of music. But like any other show business music too goes by the dictate of the audience. Hence I produce music according to cater to the taste of the audience. As for films it all depends on the situation. So one can do very little as far as lyrics or even rhythm is concerned.

His favourites: I love working with Kunal Ganjawala, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chahan. Among the new ones Zubin Garg is one of the most promising talent in the industry.

On singers mushrooming through SMSes: Programmes like Indian Idols, Sa Re Ga Ma are doing a wonderful job as such programmes are providing a platform to the budding singers. But at the same time the SMSs business is dicey, as the general public cannot judge a singer with professional parameter. Even so as most of the SMSers are youngsters who may get swayed by a contestant’s looks rather than his or her singing talent. Nevertheless, some good talented singers have come up through such programmes.

His professional background: This Ganga Nagar guy is well equipped in his chosen field with proper training in Indian classical vocal, both in Patiala Gharana and Gwalior Gharana. “I was trained by Ustad Nawab Khan, Ustad Shahid Khan, Sajid-Wajid and Pandit Dayal Thakur.

His forthcoming projects:

I am working for two films Palak and Red Carpet and also my new album Sabera is going to be completed soon.

FILM & FASHION
Kiss and tell

He may find kissing scenes a but ‘peculiar’, but Orlando Bloom admits that he enjoys locking lips onscreen with his Pirates of the Caribbean co-star Keira Knightley, for he thinks she’s a great kisser.

Bloom, who plays Knightey’s love interest in the hit movie trilogy that also stars Johnny Depp, said though he found kissing scenes a little strange, he enjoyed smooching the English beauty who he termed as a “great kisser”. She’s a great kisser and a lovely, and very funny, person. She’s absolutely gorgeous,” The Sun quoted him, as telling Top Of The Pops magazine.

Busy bee Paris

Socialite Paris Hilton made a promotional appearance at Macy’s New York to push her second fragrance, ‘Just Me’. The hotel heiress insists that she plays a vital part in the production process, “I go to all the factories and smell the scents and pick out what I like best and smell the bottles. I am involved in the whole process.” Talking about her busy schedule she said, “I am a workaholic. I love to work and I travel around the world everyday. Every day I am working one of my brands all at once.” The Simple Life, star has also recently recorded an album and her first single Stars Are Blind is already a hit on top 40 radio stations.

Jessica quits alcohol

It seems singer/actress Jessica Simpson is determined to quit her drinking addiction. The actress used her recent location shoots in New Mexico to rid her body of toxins.The Dukes of Hazard star who was shooting for her upcoming movie Employee Of The Month and wanted to take the time during the shoot to get healthy, and hence asked her friends to come with her and make sure she stuck to her tee-total resolution.

Why me?

Pop star Britney Spears has no idea why she has become a victim of media’s anger for reportedly breaking up a romance, while actress Julia Roberts escaped their wrath for doing exactly the same thing. Speaking on her much publicised US news show Dateline, the diva revealed she was taken aback by the tabloid attacks levelled at her after she appeared to steal husband Kevin Federline away from his pregnant girlfriend Shar Jackson. In a rather questioning tone, the Toxic singer asked the tabloid reporters why she is not treated like Roberts, whose husband Danny Moder was a father when he left his wife and started dating the Pretty Woman star.

Katie’s fitness regime

Friends of new mum Katie Holmes have become concerned about the new actress as she has reportedly lost 12.7 kg since giving birth to baby daughter Suri in April. Holmes is said to be desperate to regain her figure in time for her wedding to actor Tom Cruise. The actress’ strict diet and exercise regime has been slammed by health experts who insist she should be losing weight more leisurely. However, friends believe Holmes is pushing herself to hard, one told the Daily Star: “Katie has embarked on a hardcore fitness regime and does 200 sit-ups a day, combined with two hours of cardio work before pilates.”

NEW RELEASES
A visual spectacle

Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra in Krrish

Teaming up with his son Hrithik Roshan on the silver screen for the third time, Rakesh Roshan hopes to put his banner Film Craft Productions (India) Pvt Ltd on the road to success with the much-awaited Rs. 50 crore sci-fi thriller Krrish.

Since Krrish is a sequel to Koi Mil Gaya, Rakesh Roshan and his star prot`E9g`E9s are hoping to give us a super duper hit which is a great combination of Chinese talent merging with the Indian soul. Not surprisingly, Krrish is a film everyone’s waiting to watch. The film will see a release today at Nirman, Neelam, Fun Republic and Suraj, Panchkula.

Those who have seen the rush say that Rakesh Roshan’s directorial expertise has germinated this technically crafted visual spectacle. Krrish, takes up from where Koi Mil Gaya left off. Hrithik Roshan who made sensational start with his launch pad Kaho Na Pyar Hai will be noticed playing six roles in his home production Krrish.

Another feature of this film is that Preity Zinta plays a mother of Hrithik though for a very brief period. Hot shot Priyanka Chopra plays the love interest of Hrithik Roshan along with Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharad Saxena, Hemant Pande and Puneet Issar in supporting roles. Besides, Krrish carries all that a ‘Hollywood’ flick has these days.

Another highlight of Krrish is its action-packed fantasy conceived by Tony Ching, the action director of innumerable Hollywood and Hong Kong projects with the support of Sham Kaushal Hollywood’s, Craig Mumma and Mark Koble’s expertise which has further groomed the box office success of this film.

Spectacular action sequences, spine-chilling adventures, bungee jumping, acrobatics and somersaulting are major highlights of Krrish. Rajesh Roshan, the composer, has conceived melodious and trendy soundtracks. Salim-Sulaiman has come up with daunting background music. Vijaya Akela along with Ibrahim Ashq have penned the lyrics.

— D.P

HOPSCOTCH
Song sparrow song

The song of the song sparrow is sweeter than that of the swamp sparrow. The song begins with a series of liquid notes going ‘sweet, sweet sweet’ and then dissolving into a lower pitched quaver. The song is sung to attract a mate or defend the territory. It was this song sparrow that Mumbai-based resource centre that is involved in building a sound and pictures archives for research on women to name themselves ‘SPARROW’. The organisation under the leadership of C.S. Lakshmi has done pioneering work in collecting the histories of women from different fields and giving them the due that is often denied to them in the mainstream.

Daughters of Amrita

Since 2005 SPARROW worked out a project to celebrate and publish women’s writings called ‘Leaps and Bounds’. The project aimed to do this with a Women’s Expression Camp. The camp held at a beach resort off Mumbai had as many as fifty writers of fiction and poetry holidaying and working together. The happy news was that for the first time women writers of Punjabi from Punjab were invited in good measure. Usually, only a couple of Punjabi writers in Delhi are all that the rest of the country knows of. However, daughters of Amrita Pritam are scattered all over Punjab too. The three writers, of the five who were invited, included Sukhwant Kaur Maan of Mohali, Deepinder Kaur of Chandigarh and Simrat Gagan of Amritsar. To Maan went the honour of hoisting the flag of the camp and the younger two had everyone excited by their lively participation, silk salwar-kameez and vigorous dancing of the giddha.

Ladies’ man

Sidhu Damdami, editor of the literary bimonthly, Sankh, who ha acquired quite a reputation for being a ladies’man, made the participation of the women writers possible. He was the one who conducted and recorded lengthy interviews of women for SPARROW. In fact, some of the most talked-about contributions in poetry and prose to his magazine come from women. He encourages women to be more personal in their writings. Is this a genuine belief that for a woman the personal is also the political is it the usual male voyeuristic urge. One can keep guessing!

Munda Sialkotia

PUNJABIS’ PRIDE: Rana Nayar flnaked by Punjabi writers Mohan Bhandari and Prem Gorkhy

Professor of English Rana Nayar has taken a laudable one-man translation effort in the past decade and more. A nominee for the Crossword award for translation, Rana has translated many works of celebrated writer Gurdial Singh, Dalip Kaur Tiwana, Raghbir Dhand and many others. The most recent was an anthology of Punjabi short stories in English, Melting Moments. At the release ceremony in the British Library, a friend got up and corrected the mispronunciation of his second name by the compere: “ Ai apna Punjabi munda hai. Amritsar da hai te picchon Sialkot da. Rabb de vaaste Nayar nu Nair na kaho.” The point was noted. As an aside men from Sialkot are known for their good looks. Remember that old son: Gore mukharhe te kala kala til hai, Ve mundea Sialkotia… But here is one with good looks and a good pen.

Dramatic reading

The local chapter of the Kaifi Azmi Foundation is organizing a dramatic narration of the autobiography of Shaukat Kaifi Azmi: Yaad ki Rehguzar. Rani Balbir Kaur and Wasiuzzaman will do the readings and then the audience will be joining in for a discussion. The venue is Rani’s home and one looks forward to the readings because Shaukat’s memories will be interesting for not only was she wife to poet Kaifi and mother to Shabana but a talented IPTA actress who later did memorable roles in films.

— Nirupama Dutt

An artist’s way
Gayatri Rajwade

Youth SPEAK
A troublesome creation called man

Once upon a time, the earth was a beautiful place to live in— with all those wonderful plants and animals. The harmonious functioning of nature pleased God and made him extremely proud of his creation. After this tedious task, he sat back to enjoy the sight of his masterpiece. But as they say ‘an idle mind is a devil’s workshop’, a devil crept into His mind and He thought of adding zing to his creation. Thus, he made humans. About the creation of humans, I’m a bit confused. Either God selected some of the animals from the repertoire of his creations for further development, as stated by Darwin in his theory or he directly sent Adam and Eve on earth for sample test whose apple consummation multiplied his follies in outgrowing numbers. Whatever the reason, the mistake had already been committed, topped with the icing of ‘brain’. Initially man, unaware of the whole situation, coordinated with nature. But his intelligence separated him from the other earthly beings. As soon as he attained a sustainable population for his species, he started carving his own ways. The application of the unique facility of intellect made him invent systems and technologies for his own betterment. So different did his settings become from the existing ones that now everything on earth constitutes nature excluding humans.

— Akanksha Bansal