EDUCATION

Romani scholar turns 84
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The founder-director of the Indian Institute of Romani Studies at Shivalik Public School Complex, Sector 41, and the author of many books and dictionaries, Dr Weer Rajendra Rishi celebrates the 84th year of his life tomorrow.

A former Indian Foreign Service officer, who worked at the Indian Embassy in Moscow and later at the Indian High Commissions in Singapore and London, Dr Rishi has been awarded the Padmashri, for his contributions in the filed of linguistics.

Dr Rishi, responsible for awakening an interest among Indians in the Romani Diaspora among Indians, founded the Indian Institute of Romani Studies at Panjab university in 1973.

Today, the Nehru Romano Kher the Nehru Roma House and Museum is in Shivalik School Complex in Sector 41, which contains audio-visal material on the life, language and culture of the Roma. Dr Rishi also edits a half-yearly journal titled 'Roma'.

Recently, Nek Chand, the creator director of the Rock Garden presented Dr Rishi with two life-size figurines of Roma people for the Nehru Romano Kher.

Principals threaten dharna on Jan 12
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Association of the Principals of Non-Government Colleges has threatened to organise a dharna on January 12 on the issue of reported move to withdraw 95 per cent grant-in-aid to the private colleges.

In a written statement, Mr P.S. Sangha, President of the association, said that the protest would be staged jointly by the executive committees of the Federation of the Principals, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union and the Non-Teaching Employees Union of the aided colleges.

The President said that at a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister any such move was denied by the state government. But the Chief Minister clarified that all the government departments were facing a cut of 5 per cent in grants. This had created resentment among the private colleges who had not received grants for the past six months.

Delay in grants has resulted in the non-payment of salaries in most of the colleges.

Yoga classes in school
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — St Peters High School in Sector 37 here has introduced hamsa yoga, meditative and physical exercises for the school children.The yoga is being taught to students by Ms Jyoti Subramaniam, who holds such workshops in the city, which emphasise on the spiritual and physical well-being.

The exercises being taught to the children include those that help to increase concentration, power of retention, stamina and the will to deal with stresses and strains of daily life.

COURTS

Court holidays announced
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — In a notification, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stated that all subordinate courts here will observe second Saturdays falling on May 13, June 10, September 9 and November 11 as holidays.

The other holidays to be observed by the subordinate courts are as follows: All Sundays, Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (January 5), Id-ul-Fitar (January 9), Republic Day (January 26), Guru Ravi Dass Jayanti (February 19), Shivratri (March 4), Id-ul-Zuha (March 17), holiday in lieu of the second Saturday of March (March 18), Holi (March 20), Ram Naumi (April 12), Baisakhi (April 13), Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), holiday in lieu of the second Saturday of April (April 15), Mahavir Jayanti (April 16), Good Friday (April 21), Independence Day (August 15), Janamashtami (August 23), Mahatama Gandhi’s birthday (October 2), Dussehra (October 7), Maharishi Balmiki’s birthday (October 13), Divali (October 26), Vishavkarma Day (October 27), holiday in lieu of the second Saturday of October (October 28), Guru Nanak Dev’s birthday (November 11), Guru Teg Bahadur’s martrydrom day (November 24), Christmas (December 25), holiday in lieu of the second Saturday of February (December 26), holiday in lieu of the second Saturday of July (December 27), Id-ul-Fitr (December 28), holiday in lieu of second Saturday of August (December 29), holiday in lieu of Saturday of December 9 (December 30).

Jailed for creating nuisance
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — For creating nuisance under the influence of liquor, the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr A.K. Bishnoi, has sentenced two Colony Number 5 dwellers to simple imprisonment for a period already undergone after convicting them.

The duo —Anokhe Lal and Surinder — were booked by the Chandigarh police under Sections 34, 5 and 61 of the Police Act on December 27, 1999.

According to the prosecution, the accused were found creating nuisance under the influence of liquor. When confronted with the incriminating evidence against them, the accused had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, they had stated that they were being implicated in the case.

Company directors get bail
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr A.K. Bishnoi, has granted bail to two directors of Money Kunj Forests in a cheque dishonour case. The two —Suman Sobti and Madhurima Malhotra — were admitted to bail "on their furnishing bail bonds of Rs 15,000 with a surety of the like amount."

Pronouncing the directive, Mr Bishnoi observed: "The accused have appeared and filed bail applications. The offenses being bailable, the accused are admitted to bail."

The Judicial Magistrate further observed: "Counsel for the complainant has stated that the remaining accused are evading service and they be summoned through bailable warrants. In view of the reports, this court is satisfied that the accused are deliberately evading the service. Let these accused be summoned through bailable warrants in sum of Rs 5,000 with a surety in the like amount."

Earlier, in his complaint before the court, complainant H.K. Dadlani had alleged that he had received information regarding the non-clearance of a cheque due to "insufficient funds". This, he had added, indicated that the accused had "intentionally and wilfully dishonoured the cheque without any rhyme or reason."

Arrest warrants against four
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Issuing arrest warrants against a Punjab police Head Constable, Nikka Ram, and three other accused in the Kulwinder Singh Kid murder case, the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate Mr Sant Parkash, today also directed the verification of reports of the death of the accused, Charan Singh, by the Station House Officer concerned.

Pronouncing the directions in the open court, the CJM said, “Keeping in view the report submitted by the serving constable, who is present in the court, it appears that the accused-Birbal Dass, Gurcharan Singh, Nikka Ram and Dayal Singh are avoiding their service on one pretext or the other.”

The CJM also said, “In the given circumstances, I am convinced that the accused are intentionally avoiding their appearance and their presence can not be secured without the issuance of the warrants of arrest.”

The CJM further said, “Now warrants of arrest of the accused Nikka Ram, Birbal Dass, Gurcharan Singh and Dayal Singh be issued for January 31, 2000.”

Earlier during the proceedings, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Surjit Singh, and the accused Amarjit Singh placed on the file, the copies of the orders passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court here, granting them anticipatory bail “to the satisfaction of the investigating officer or the illaqua magistrate”.

In a petition before the High Court, Kid’s father Tarlochan Singh had alleged that his son was forcibly taken away from their SAS Nagar residence by a police party in plain clothes in July 1989.

Taking up the petition, the High Court had directed the then UT Sessions Judge, Mr M.S. Lobana, to submit a report after investigating the matter. In his report, submitted in September 1995, the Sessions Judge had observed that on July 22, 1989, a police party in plain clothes, headed by Surjit Singh Grewal of the CIA Staff at Patiala, raided a house in SAS Nagar and took away Kulwinder Singh.

On the basis of the inquiry report, the High Court, on July 5, 1996, directed the registration of a case against the accused police officials and handed over the case to the premier investigating agency. In its report, the agency stated that the officials entered into a conspiracy to kill Kid in a fake encounter and to show him as an absconder.

Forum order to HUDA on plot allotment
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 3 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) to hand over the plot allotted to Mrs Bhupinder Kaur, a resident of Chandigarh, after due development within three months or allot an alternative plot in a developed sector, refund Rs 35,504 charged over and above the price of the plot, pay Rs 1,00,000 as compensation and Rs 1,000 as costs of proceedings.

In case of failure to comply with the directions, the forum ordered HUDA to pay interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum on all amounts deposited in addition to Rs 1,00,000 as compensation from March 10 till payment.

The complaint stated that Mrs Bhupinder Kaur was reallotted a plot in Sonepat for a balance cost of Rs 1,20, 227, taking the total amount paid to Rs 2,23,668 inclusive of additional price of plot but was not given possession of the plot.

In a written reply, HUDA said that initially the plot in question was allotted to Mrs Kamla Devi and later the same was reallotted to the complainant in 1991. She deposited the interest and penalty for not paying the instalments on time and said that it “takes time to develop 384 acres of land”.

However, the Bench observed that a reasonable period to offer the plot after the completion of development works would be about three years which implies they have indulged in deficient services.

In another case, the forum has directed HUDA to refund the entire amount deposited by Mrs Harinder Kaur, a resident of Sector 16, at 10 per cent rate of interest from the date of payment till actual payment and Rs 500 as cost of proceedings.

In her complaint, Mrs Harinder Kaur stated that she was allotted a plot in Sonepat in 1991. After the allotment of the plot, she deposited Rs 62,114 but the possession of the plot was not offered to her. Finally, she wrote a letter demanding refund of the entire amount with interest in 1996 but was informed that the amount could not be refunded to her as per the HUDA policy.

In a written reply, HUDA officials stated that five instalments of the plot and the enhanced amount were pending with the complainant. It was also stated that the development work in the area was complete while the electrification work was in progress.

The Bench, comprising Mr RC Taneja and Mr BS Badhran, observed that HUDA had failed to give possession of the plot even after a lapse of nearly eight years and had failed to complete the development works. Also, HUDA, after making allotment, has not got her plot even though the application and allotment money was deposited with them. Also, she has already paid her first and second instalment. Therefore, there is no justification for refusing to refund the money.

MCC allowed to file reply
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh was today permitted by a city court to file reply to an application seeking details regarding the utilisation of the budget received for fodder “subject to the payment of Rs 100 as costs”.

Pronouncing the orders in an open court on the civil suit filed by the Janata Party’s local unit president Mr Ajay Jagga, the UT Civil Judge (Junior Division), Mr Mahendar Singh said, “reply to the application for service interrogatory has not been filed. Adjournment has been sought. Keeping in view the request so made by the counsel for the plaintiff, the case is adjourned till March 3, 2000, for reply, subject to the payment of Rs 100 as costs”.

In his application, Mr Jagga had earlier asked the Corporation to furnish information regarding the amount sanctioned for fodder from April 1, 1997, to March 31, 1998. He had also sought information regarding the utilisation of the received budget.

The plaintiff, in the suit, had sought directions to the corporation for providing fodder, water and shelter to the cattle pounds in the city “in view of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act”. The suit was filed in October 1997 after an item regarding the cattle being kept without fodder and water appeared in a newspaper.

CULTURE

A strong sense of deja vu
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — It sure is an encouragement to see more and more young artists emerging on the Indian art scene who are producing not only experimental work but are also indulging, quite aggressively, to format a language of their own. This is what can be viewed at Preeti Sahota’s exhibition, titled ‘Reflections Recollected’ that opened on January 1 at the Indus Ind Bank Art Gallery, Sector 8.

This exhibition definitely comes across as a great start to this New Year, that seems full of new ideas, new perceptions, new values and also new people.

Most of Preeti’s works are black ink drawings on ivory sheets and only three out of the total 17 are in pastels and ink both. There is a certain quaintness in her works, just as there is this strong sense of deja vu that creeps along while viewing each of her successive works. Even the use of traditional motifs, like hanging ‘parandis’ or sometimes even ritualist backgrounds do not take away any freshness from her works. In fact, the stark black and white paintings not only manage to disturb but also mesmerise, while giving this strange and melancholic feeling of animation and life.

Preeti’s work seems to be dominated by the images of women and youth, and there seems to be no deliberate statement on feminism.

At times, though some of her works, like one of them titled ‘Playmate’ or ‘Hope’ that shows a desolate face of a young girl alongside a hanging string with birds on them, appear so full of life that there occurs a fear of these figures springing forth to life.

Says Preeti, “These paintings centre around expressions, and there lingers a kind of unpredictability of events going to happen or those which happened just a moment ago. The pristine white and pitch black for me have become synonymous with freshness and soulful luminosity”.

The artist is currently teaching at the Appejay College of Art, Jalandhar. Preeti is a Bachelor of Fine Arts pass-out from the Government College of Art, Chandigarh. She went on to do her master of arts from the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, where she majored in drawing and painting.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Prem Singh, Principal, government College of Art, Sector 10. The exhibition will be on view till January 14, everyday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

No tax on film
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — Shaheed Uddham Singh alias Ram Mohammed Singh Azad, a Punjabi film directed by Chitraarth, produced by Iqbal Dhillon and starring Raj Babbar in the lead role has been exempted from the entertainment tax.

Workshop on art conservation opens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 3 — A five-day workshop on preventive conservation of works of art was inaugurated at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, here today.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr O.P. Agarwal, Director-General INTACH, Indian Council of Conservation of Works of Art. It is being held in collaboration with Indian Council of Conservation Institutes and Charles Wallace Institute for Conservation, Restoration and Training, Lucknow.

Inaugurating the workshop, Dr Agarwal said museums needed to be sources of information and not to be used only for exhibitions. He added that most Indian museums were very possessive and hardly shared information with other museums.

The main aim of the workshop is to enable participants to recognise the causes of damage to works of art. Participants will then be able to carry out preventive conservation, which is to reduce risk of deterioration of the collection to the minimum. Main topics of discussion will be definition of deterioration and its causes, recognition and classification of material technology of works of art, strategy for preventive conservation, monitoring the environment factor with group exercises repair as preventive measures for art objects and group exercises on storage and handling.

Talking to TNS, Dr Agarwal said he had visited this museum two years back and had given some suggestions, like improving the condition of stores, purchasing equipment in laboratories and better retrieval system in the library. "Most of these suggestions have been complied with," he said. He added, "Even the display in the foyer has improved."

Dr Agarwal laid emphasis on the role of education and teachers in making museums a living place for imparting history lessons. He said deterioration of art objects was a normal process and only if this was equated with the process of health could this be prevented.

There are 22 participants, including museum curators, librarians, archivists, architects, art conservators, students and personnel of voluntary organisations, from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh. Mr Aditya Prakash, Mr S.S. Bhatti and Mr Shiv Singh have been included in the panel of experts.