EDUCATION

Haryana ignored by researchers
By Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — Vivek Yadav, a bespectacled research student in the Political Science department of Panjab University here, has a tough job in hand. His research pertains to Haryana and the problem he is stumbling upon is the absence of good works done on history or politics of Haryana.

"A few good books help a researcher to sharpen his perspective, for my thesis I am doing everything from a scratch", moans Yadav.

It seems that the state of Haryana, while it has made significant strides in industrial and agricultural sectors, has got very little academic attention. For instance, in the university library at Chandigarh, there are only 174 assorted items on Haryana, while for Punjab the number of entries is a staggering 1005.

There is also this interesting information about the Haryana Assembly library here. Attempts were made to build up a section on Haryana in the library. However, only 50 books, including five in English, could be procured for this ambitious project. Not all books in Hindi in this section can be strictly called research-based works.

"It is like a vicious spiral, because not much in print is available on Haryana, researchers tend to ignore this state and since the researchers ignore it, works are not done on Haryana", said Dr Pradeep Kumar of Panjab University.

"One does not find it sufficiently fascinating, somehow nothing in Haryana really appeals" Dr Kumar says. It is not surprising that none among the social science faculty members of Panjab University is interested in working on Haryana. Pradeep Kumar's own interest lies in the Uttarkhand region.

The argument that Haryana was part of Punjab till 1967 and the works on pre-1967. Punjab covered Haryana as well does not hold water either. The area and people now constituting Haryana were hardly dealt with in those studies.

The Sikh assertion in the modern era, first through the Akali movement, and the latter phenomenon of armed militancy, have also produced a crop of books, including some by Western scholars. On the other hand, in the absence of any worthwhile political or socio-religious movements in Haryana, scholars from that state have studied the frequent defection by its politicians. As a matter of fact a number of local scholars have written on this disreputable habit of Haryana politicians.

"Scholarship will be attracted to phenomena which are distinctive or affecting a large number of people", said Dr Indu Banga while reflecting upon the articles written on defections.

Scholars, cutting across their specialisations, pinpoint certain factors for lack of researches on Haryana. The nebulous state of Haryanvi identity has scuttled the growth of a particular genre of literature, say these scholars.

Historian J.S. Grewal, while maintaining that more than 150 books on Haryana during its 33 years of existence is "not bad", said: "If Haryana was created through a popular movement, it would have led to a crop of literature for consolidation of the identity of the people of the new state." As the formation of Haryana was not preceded by any such movement, the academic initiative was also missing".

According to Dr Pradeep Kumar, Kurukshetra University, which was supposed to pave the way for researches in Haryana and help lead to the evolution of a Haryanvi identity, has failed in its task. The Journal of Haryana Studies, brought out by Kurukshetra University, has become one of the most infrequent publications. "It comes out probably once in 10 years", rued Dr Kumar.

Although archeology and ancient and medieval period of Haryana is relatively well researched, what is known as the modern period is neglected by the academic world, perhaps, because nothing worthwhile happened in Haryana, said Dr Indu Banga.

Lack of growth of English educated intelligentia, and the absence of important princely states as patrons of art and culture are also cited as factors for Haryana remaining in the backwaters. Though of late there have been a few good works on Haryana, Prem Chowdhary being one of the significant authors, the state is yet to figure prominently in researchers' agenda, say scholars.

Haryanvi scholars, however, turn down the point of view that Haryana was a "gift" from the Centre. On the intellectual inertia, D.R. Chaudhry, who is known for his passionate writings on Haryana, felt that the middle class in Haryana had failed in its historical task to bring about a renaissance in the state.

Silver jubilee function
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Feb 11 — A cultural programme marked the celebrations of the silver jubilee of Government Degree College here today.

The college has also invited old students, residents of the surrounding areas and the parents of students to participate in the two-day function.

Competitions in Shabad recitation and fancy dress were held. Students presented giddha. A one-act play, Court Marshal, was presented by Theatre for Theatre, a drama group from Punjab Kala Bhavan, Chandigarh.

Mr Sarat Chandra, the first principal of the college, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the function. Besides Ms Satwant Kaur Juneja, Principal, some former principals of the college were also present on this occasion.

COURTS

Convicted of selling substandard milk
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — Convicting a milkman accused of selling substandard milk, the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, besides imposing a fine of Rs 1,000.

The convict — Surmukh Singh of District Ropar — was further directed by the CJM to undergo imprisonment for another two months in default of payment.

He was earlier booked under Sections 16 (1) (a) (i) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, after the milk he was carrying was found to be adulterated.

According to the report by the public analyst, "Milk fat was deficient by 10 per cent while milk solid not fat was deficient by 11 per cent of the minimum prescribed standard".

The sample, the prosecution had added, was taken by Food Inspector Balbir Singh on August 14, 1992, in Sector 24. The prosecution had stated that the accused was carrying 20 kg of milk when apprehended.

The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence, had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, he had asked for a trial.

Today, pronouncing the orders in the open court, the CJM observed: "The prosecution has been able to establish that the accused was found selling mixed milk and the same was found to be adulterated on analysis and the case against the accused is established beyond the shadow of reasonable doubt. The accused is accordingly held guilty and convicted for offences under Section 7 (1) punishable under Section 16 (1) (a) (i) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954".

Bail denied in fake currency case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The bail application moved by Sector 25 resident Kamlesh, accused of handing over a counterfeit currency note to a Sector 17 belt seller, was today rejected by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi.

She was booked by the Chandigarh police on January 19 for using forged or counterfeit currency notes as genuine and for possessing forged or counterfeit currency under Sections 489-B, 489-C, 420 and 120-B of Indian Penal Code.

According to the prosecution, the accused had handed over a forged Rs 500 note to complainant Ravi Kumar's brother, Yogesh, for a leather belt she and a co-accused had purchased.

The prosecution had added that the co-accused had managed to slip away while Kamlesh was apprehended and handed over to the police after the complainant got suspicious regarding the currency note being fake.

The prosecution had further added that another fake currency note was recovered from the co-accused after he was arrested subsequently. During interrogation, the prosecution had claimed, the accused had stated that the note was acquired from Mustkeen of Muzaffarnagar.

Claiming to have arrested Mustkeen also, the prosecution had stated that Kamal, from whom another fake currency note had been taken by the former, was still at large.

CULTURE

Mixed media works on display
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — An exhibition of mixed media artworks — Heavenly Abode — by Gurjind Sandhu was put up at Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, here today.

The artist's desire to fly is beautifully portrayed with the help of kites. He is a Fine Arts graduate from Chandigarh College of Art. Apart from participating in exhibitions, he has done many campaigns, including some with newspapers and advertisement agencies. The exhibition is open till February 19.

Painting contest on environment
From a Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — The celebrations of Basant Panchmi continued for the second day on the premises of the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, here today.

Today's function marked the martyrdom day of Veer Hakikat Rai along with an environment awareness campaign. A painting competition was organised by the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, under the National Environment Awareness Campaign of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, in which nearly 1,000 students from about 28 schools of Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula participated.

The celebrations began with havan-yajna. The inaugural speech delivered by Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal of the school, in which he talked about the sacrifice made by the great martyr.

The painting competition was inaugurated by Mr P.S. Gill, SDM (Central), who also announced a prize of Rs 500 from his pocket for the best painter. Mr Vikas Kohli, General Secretary of the Indian Council for Environment Education, stressed the need for organising such functions to save Indian values and traditions.

The result of the painting competition are: group A — Amrita Kaur (Government Model High School, Sector 44) 1; Navneet Sandhu (DAV Public School, SAS Nagar) 2; and Simranjeet Kaur (Shivalik Public School, Sector 41) 3; group B — Sonakshi (AKS Public School, Sector 41) 1; Rahul Kumar (Sharda Sarvhitkari School, Sector 40) 2; and Arjun Maurya (DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8) 3; group C — Bharat Sindhawani (Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 20) 1; Bansi Lal (DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8) 2; and Amrinder Singh (Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 20) 3.

The prize will be distributed at a function to be held at Government Home Science College, Sector 10, on February 13.