'Onion fashion show' by Jaspal Bhatti CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — What do glamour dolls of the fashion world have to do with onions? Ask Jaspal Bhatti. He replies that if a female model could promote products which are not even vaguely related with feminity, why can't they serve as exhibits for highlighting woes of the public as far as "ever-increasing prices of onions are concerned..."

— A Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

7,500 seek 'donor eyes' in UT CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — In Chandigarh, nearly 175 eye transplant operations are done every year but almost 7,500 patients come up with demand every year.

Weaving moods in melody

Pace- maker to correct faster heart beats
CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — In a first-ever surgical feat of its type in the region, a heart specialist at the PGI has carried out a procedure to cure a patient having a faster heart beat and installed a pace maker to set it right — pace makers controlling slower heart beats have been around for a few years.

Plea adjourned in Sikh Council case
CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The Senior Sub Judge today adjourned to November 6 the application seeking a stay against the functioning of Justice Kuldip Singh, a former Judge of the Supreme Court, as president of the World Sikh Council.

IA to use Airbus on Delhi-UT sector
CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Indian Airlines will now operate an Airbus 320 on the Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar-Delhi sector from October 26, Mr P.P. Singh, Station Manager of the airlines here, said today.

Rallies held to mobilise protesters

Hotel union flays Administration move

17 HIV cases in babies detected
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — In this year alone the PGI has screened 17 babies who are HIV positive and the dreaded virus travelled into them through their respective mothers, said noted immunopathologist, Prof Sobha Sehgal, while talking to mediapersons at the PGI here today.

A total of 60 children who are HIV positive have visited the PGI in the past few years, she said.

The professor was attending a two-day national conference on paediatric haematology — oncology at the Advanced Paediatric Centre , PGI. " The numbers are increasing and they are not reaching a stable level," she added with concern.

There is no countrywide data in India on mother to child infections as no systematic study has ever been carried out.

The cost of checking all pregnant mothers and the logistics of managing these women would be enormous, she added.

The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has started a multi centre study in places where mother to child infection rate is to very high. However, the PGI is not covered by this, the professor informed.

Discussing cancer among children, Dr R.K. Marwaha said: " Some kinds of cancers are hereditary". For cancer of the eye and kidney tumours the child is at risk even at birth, he said. However, interestingly, cancer when cured in childhood showed better results than in adults. "Children respond well to chemotherapy," he added.

The success rates in curing children are good. The biggest problem is of delayed referrals and children usually come at an advanced stage, Dr Marwaha said. One of the earliest danger signs was unexplained fever.

One of features of the conference is that some of the topics are meant for the education of general practitioners and Post Graduate students.

Prof Anil Narang expressed concern at large number of deaths caused due to asphyxia at birth. Around 60 per cent of neo-natal deaths occur due to asphyxia. Similarly very few women get themselves screened for hepatitis--B while 11 per cent of the country's population is suffering from the virus.

As many as 60 per cent of the women bear children without proper ante-natal testing, he said.

Romesh Chandra for disarmament
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — India should get itself prepared for a second war of Independence. This has to be waged for economic development of the country and has to be directed against economic domination by a few international powers .

These observations were made by Mr Romesh Chandra , a former president of the World Peace Council, while addressing a seminar on" India after the bomb : agenda for peace and security " .

The seminar was organised by the local chapter of the All-India Peace and Solidarity Organisation to mark UN Day today.

Mr Chandra made a strong appeal for international disarmament. There were wider global problems which needed immediate attention, he said. Nearly 40,000 children died every- day because of poverty related problems. Approximately 13 to 18 million people died every year because of poverty .

The former president of the Peace Council said after 53 years of formation of United Nations, one out of every four persons was unable to read or write.

Mr Chandra said 800 million people were suffering from malnutrition. Of these, 200 million were children. World leaders said there was enough food for all. In that case there has to be a fair distribution .

The 20 per cent of the richest in the world controlled 85 per cent of the world income. The richest 358 individuals of the world owned $ 62 billion which amounted to the income of 40 per cent of the world population, he added.

Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, president of the local chapter of the AIPSO, said that the post Pokhran II scenario had not been handled effectively by the Centre. "India finds itself isolated in the international scene".

Pakistan which for long remained a bilateral issue had now been catapulted into an international issue which again showed inept handling of the situation by the government, Mr Bansal added.

Prof Rabinder Nath introduced the speakers.

Mr K. Natwar Singh, a former union minister, could not make it to the seminar.

The address was followed by a question-answer session .

Western influence evident
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Attires designed by students of the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology, SAS Nagar, were displayed by leading ramp models of the country, including Mehar Bhasin, Malini and Manpreet Brar, here today.

There were more than 25 rounds with one round presenting creations solely by one designer. The creations clearly underlined the dominance of Western influence but the traditional Indian and Oriental creations stood apart in the entire show.

Black and white seem to be the colours of the season with a large number of creations experimenting in various shades of these colours — be it the flowing gowns, skirts or shirts.

Vibha in her creation of the beachwear made a digression from the routine stuff by using tiny-tots as her models much to the delight of the audience. Navneet Sandhu "epitomised the inherent poetry in reality of death" in her creations dominated by the black colour.

Another round which received a applause was the creations by Aman Garcha. In a pleasant surprise for the audience, turbaned youth presented the glory of the flowing ornamental robes of princes of Punjab. Garcha seems to have been influenced by portraits of Maharaja Dalip Singh.

Casual safari designs by Geetika, outfits by Deepali Khanna and Gurvinder Randhawa deserve special mention.

Good sound and light arrangements in addition to an impressive ramp contributed towards decent show. The show marked out the passing out of the first batch of students of the institute.

Some of the creations that won prizes are; Best design — Gurkiran; Best construction — Bhavna; Most wearable dress — Parneet Aulakh; Most dramatic — Ankur; Best menswear — Abhilasha; and Most creative — Jyoti.

'Onion fashion show' by Jaspal Bhatti
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — What do glamour dolls of the fashion world have to do with onions?

Ask Jaspal Bhatti. He replies that if a female model could promote products which are not even vaguely related with feminity, why can't they serve as exhibits for highlighting woes of the public as far as "ever-increasing prices of onions are concerned. At least people stop, and watch and a few may even think".

Who other than Jaspal Bhatti can invent and execute such a satirical device to drive home the point wrapped under a sweet garb. The occasion was an "Onion fashion show" at Sector 17 today organised by the poker-faced president of the Nonsense Club .

Five models dressed in slick Western attires and heavy make ups struck a pose with the veteran TV comedian. Onlookers jostled to have a closer look at the latest "antics of the fool with a social concern".

Models wore onion garlands, onion bracelets and onion belts. He also showed "sashayed down the pavement of the market in a humorous imitation of fashion shows". This will at least make people wait and watch. The show also seeks greater social mobilisation for public opinion on related issues which has not been to the desired level as far as the prices of onions are concerned ", he said .

In a lighter vein, Bhatti says: May be while taking a look at the models politicians wake up to the problems of the common man. Glitter forces public attention automatically."

The fashion show is close on the heels of another show in which Jaspal Bhatti carried a basket of onions under heavy security of Black Cats in the grain market recently.

7,500 seek 'donor eyes' in UT
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — An estimated 2.2 million "donor eyes" were needed in the country. Last year only 15,000 "donor eyes" were available due to fewer donations. In Chandigarh nearly 175 transplant operations are done every year but almost 7,500 patients come up with demand every year.

Dr Jagjit S. Saini, vice-president of the Eye Association of India and Additional Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology, PGI, gave out these not-so-encouraging figures during the day-long public seminar "Eye care and eye donation" here today.

The seminar was organised by the Eye Care and Research Foundation.

Citing reasons for the lack of eye donations, he said doctors encountered difficulties in obtaining an affirmative consent from the family of the deceased soon after death. In Chandigarh, it was easy to reach the eye bank on phone no 1919 and upon information eye bank teams help procurement of eyes. Eyes were the best for further use if these were procured within six hours of death, he added, encouraging people to make donations.

Earlier, Mr T.D. Jogpal, inaugurated an exhibition at the venue of the seminar, the State Institute of Education.

Mr K.P. Sinha, Associate Editor, The Tribune, spoke about the need and feasibility of eye donation. This year an essay writing competition on "value of eyes in life and afterwards" was organised for school and college children by the Foundation.

The State Institute of Education had co-ordinated this and students of Chandigarh were stimulated to write. The winners of this competition were given prizes on the occasion. The first two winners also spoke to the audience. On this occasion a child, Pritpal Singh Laungia who had received as donation in both of his eyes and Mr B.S. Yadav, a senior educationist, who received eye transplant in his only surviving eye, also narrated their personal experiences and benefits.

Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, presided over the seminar.

The results of the essay writing competition:

Sr Secondary level: Sumit Chaudhry and Mona Batish (G.M. Sr. Sec. School, Sec. 35); Manjit Singh (G.M. Sr. Sec. School, Sec. 16).

Undergraduate level: Abilash Gaur (Govt. College, Sec. 11, B.A. III); Harsimran (G.C.G. Sec. 11, B.A. II); and Reema (G.C.G. Sec. 11, B.A. II).

Pace - maker to correct faster heart beats
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Oct 24 — In a first-ever surgical feat of its type in the region, a heart specialist at the PGI has carried out a procedure to cure a patient having a faster heart beat and installed a pace maker to set it right — pace makers controlling slower heart beats have been around for a few years.

So far only 50 pace makers that control faster heart beats have been installed in patients in India and this was the first time that the procedure was carried out at the PGI , explained a cardiac specialist, Prof Jagmohan. S. Varma, while talking to The Tribune.

The first patient to get the device installed, Mr Raj Nath, a paramilitary personnel, was operated upon last week. Doctors are now preparing to discharge him.

The pace maker will be good for five to six years and then the battery will have to be replaced through another surgery, informed Prof Varma, who is also the head of the cardiology department. Without this device the only treatment to cure people with faster heart beats is through drugs. However, 50 per cent of them die in the first year itself and 90 per cent of them die in less than five years, he explained.

Besides the drugs such patients also require timely electric shock as and when the heart beats faster or it can be fatal. In medical terminology people surviving it are known as "survivors of sudden cardiac death" . The device prevents any further complications as it emits energy and monitors the heart.

The moment the heart beats faster the device delivers a shock that terminates the increasing heart beat and brings it back to normal. Supposing the heart stops functioning, the device is also fitted with a conventional pace maker that automatically takes over the functions of the heart, Prof Varma explained.

The device shaped like a small rectangle is made of titanium — a very light metal alloy. The device is just 8 cm in height, 6 cm in breadth, 1.8 cm thick and weighs 125 gm. To implant it, surgeons make a 10 cm wide incision on the chest just below the left shoulder. A "pocket" between the ribs and skin is formed in which the device is placed.

A wire that connects the device with the heart is passed through a vein located just below the left shoulder. The wires are then fixed to the heart with a highly sophisticated flexible mini "screw driver". Doctors control the "screw driver" from outside.

To control a slow beating heart pace makers have been available. However, in India the concept of controlling the reverse of it is yet to catch on. In the USA, nearly 40,000 pace makers controlling faster heart beats are being installed annually, the professor added.

Plea adjourned in Sikh Council case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The Senior Sub Judge, Mr B.C. Gupta, today adjourned to November 6 the application moved by Mr Talib Singh Sandhu and Mr Baldev Singh Brar, seeking a stay against the functioning of Justice Kuldip Singh, a former Judge of the Supreme Court, as president of the World Sikh Council.

The Judge ordered that Justice Kuldip Singh, Mr Jaswant Singh Mann and Mr Justice Kulwant Singh Tiwana would file written reply to the application at the next date of hearing.

Plaintiff Baldev Singh Brar told the court that since summons had not been served on Bhai Ranjit Singh, Mr G.S. Tohra, Mr Justice R.S. Narula and Mr H.K. Manmohan, no relief was claimed against them.

IA to use Airbus on Delhi-UT sector
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Indian Airlines will now operate an Airbus 320 on the Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar-Delhi sector from October 26, Mr P.P. Singh, Station Manager of the airlines here, said today.

The flight (IC 485) will operate on Wednesday and Fridays. Previously, Alliance Air used to operate Boeing 737 on the route.

Under the revised schedule, the flight will now take off from Delhi at 11.45 a.m., reach here at 1225 p.m., leave from Amritsar at 1305 p.m. and reach Delhi at 1510 p.m. after departing from Amritsar at 14.15 p.m.

The Chandigarh-Leh flight will now operate on Wednesday instead of Tuesdays.

After departure from Leh at 8.30 a.m., it will arrive here at 9.25 a.m. and leave for Leh at 10 a.m. to reach Leh at 10.55 a.m. On this sector Indian Airlines will operate Boeing 737 aircraft.

Rallies held to mobilise protesters
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — Members of the Action Committee of UT Employees and Workers Union and the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Road Workers Union held rallies in various parts of the city here today to mobilise employees for the October 28 torchlight procession and dharna.

The main demands of the employees include treating employees sent to the corporation from various departments of the administration as being on deputation, regularisation of the services of daily wagers, and bonus on the Central pattern.

Hotel union flays Administration move
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 24 — The executive committee of the CITCO Workers Union which met today under the chairmanship of Mr VP Vadhera assailed the move of the management as well as the Chandigarh Administration to seek consultancy prior to leasing out Hotel Mountview.

The Union said in a press note that the advertisement inviting offers for consultancy was "bogus" as the selection of private parties for giving the hotel on lease had already been finalised by the top brass of the Administration.

The union maintained that Hotel Mountview was a prestigious institution which had been making huge profits. Out of total profit of Rs 3.86 crore in 1997-98, the contribution of the hotel was to the tune of Rs 2 crore. The union claimed that the Administration had earlier planned to lease out the hotel to the Taj Group in 1993 but opposition by workers had forced the management to change its decision.

The union appealed to people to cooperate with the union to prevent the hotel from being privatised. Members of the Union would wear black badges from Monday and hold a demonstration in front of the CITCO head office in Sector 17 during the lunch hour, the press note said.

Weaving moods in melody

IT was a weaving of different moods in melody on the inaugural day of the 21st Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan. Singers Ms Vijaya Jadhav Gatlewar and Mishra Bandhu chose Ragas to be sung from the first quarter of the night to midnight.

Ms Gatlewar, a disciple of Nivrittibuva Sarnaik, trained in the guru-shishya parampara, began her rendering of 'Shuddha Kalyan' in a subtle but sure voice. "Shuddha Kalyan" a raga to be sung in the first quarter of the night is identified by its beautiful combination of Pancham and Rishabh. In a methodical elaboration of Vilambit Khayal — "Ae ri mai piya" her musical ideas were best expressed in the use of spiral taans and bol taans that lend her singing a distinctive identity. This was followed by another elaborate rendering of Raga "Kamod Nut'. She was at her best in the rendering of intricate taanas in the drut Khayal "Tan man dhan to pe waarun" in a jod — raga — 'Jait Shankar'. Her accompanist couple Vishwanath Shirodkar on the tabla and Seema Shirodkar on the harmonium did a competent job.

After a rather long interval the Mishra Bandhu came attired in traditional dhoti-kurta.Hailing from a family of musicians of Kabir Chaura, Banaras, Rajan and Sajan Mishra are perhaps the most acclaimed stars of their generation. They began their rendering in 'Nayaki Kanhda' a combination of Raga 'Suha' and Raga 'Sarang'. A combination of Rishabh and Pancham and use of Vakra 'gandhaar' in its descent identifies this raga. Choosing old compositions in Shringar Rasa they developed their Vilambit 'Banra Mora Pyara' in a slow and systematic manner in Mandra and Madhya Saptak leading to the scintillating taans ranging from Mandra to Taar Saptak with elan. In 'Sajan bin bhai niras hun' the pain and agony of the nayika's heart was expressed through a variety of combination of notes. Expressing hope and despair of the drut taans were used with soaring imagination. With Raga Jhinjhoti they changed the mood to serenity. The austerity of approach was suffused with feeling in 'Mahadev Stuti'. The singers explained how 'Rishabh' is used differently as Vakra through gandhara to lend the Raga a special identity. They accomplished their performance by a 'Durga Stuti' composed by their guru, the legendary Pandit Bade Ramdasji of Banaras.

Their tuneful voice with gamak, a breathtaking technical virtuosity and an electrifying stage presence made the evening memorable. Their approach towards the accompanists Pawan Kumar Verma on the tabla and Ms Shirodkar on the harmonium, was appreciative and encouraging. Better time management would have provided an opportunity to the audience to receive more from the artists. The ambience had elegance of simplicity and the hall was full to capacity.
— Vandana Shukla