The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

‘Civic awareness poor’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Various issues relating to the media’s role in civic awareness were discussed at a seminar on “Communication for Civic Awareness and Development” organised by the Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (SIMC), Pune, here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Anuradha Gupta, Managing Director of Haryana Sugarfed, who was the chief guest, expressed concern at the lack of civic awareness in the country. “When we compare the level of civic awareness with other countries, particularly with Australia, it was really a sorry state of affairs,” she added.

The Associate Editor of The Tribune, Mr KP Sinha, wanted the state organisations to establish mass communication bodies in every district. “If these district organisations spread out to every village, we shall have a real claim to full and meaningful communication,” he added.

“Training local researchers and creating an institutional environment that supports independent policy research, including civic studies, can help a developing country like ours formulate solutions to local problems that are informed by experiences elsewhere, tested analytically and empirically, and tailored to their needs”, he emphasised.

Stressing the need for worldwide network of development researchers, he cautioned that we would be swept into oblivion if we could not achieve harmony between our social conditions and demands of the modern age. National unity is not becoming real because of the separation between the educated classes and and the masses, he added.

The Station Director of the Chandigarh station of AIR, Mr DP Malik, said in the developing countries communication through mass media could contribute in a big way for the formulation of the national policies.

Saying that the broadcast media should identify with the target groups, he claimed that radio was playing a major role in the development of the country in various fields. He,however, regretted that in spite of a high level of education, the civic awareness had declined in Chandigarh over the years.

A former Resident Editor of the Chandigarh edition of the Indian Express, Mr Kanwar Sandhu, while stressing upon “journalisitic restraint” in reporting, regretted that not enough investigative reporting was done by the print and electronic media.

Dr Pam Rajput, Director of the Centre for Women Studies, Panjab University, wanted a balance demands of the industry and the social responsibility. The inculcation of the moral values should be one of the main objectives of the media, she felt.

The Director of SIMC, Prof Ujjwal K Chawdhury, said culture could not survive without the national channels as the private channels functioned according to whims and fancies of the advertisement firms. There must be a symbiotic relationship between the presentation and content of the programmes, he added.

Recipe for resurgent India
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Mr S.S. Bhatti, former Principal of the College of Architecture, in his talk on “Recipe for Resurgent India” pointed out that Swami Vivekananda’s chief contribution was that he drew the attention of the modern youth of India to a significant task before them. The symposium was organised by IndusInd Bank as part of the Friday forum yesterday.

Swami Vivekananda had tried to raise their thought above the woolly profundities of Indian metaphysics. In the good old times, an atheist was one who did not believe in God, but, according to him, an atheist was one who did not believe in himself.

Mr Bhatti talked at length about Swami Vivekanada’s life.

Inter-college competition results
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — A number of competitions for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh colleges were organised by the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, here today.

The Malwa Central College of Education, Ludhiana, won the trophies in skill-in-teaching and home science competitions. While trophies in Fine Arts and literary competitions went to the Government College of Education, Sector 20. GHGH College of Education, Sidhwan Khurd, bagged the trophy in black board writing and sketching contest.

Dr Surinder Sharma, Reader, Chemistry Department, Panjab University, was the chief guest, while Dr D.S. Gupt presided over the function.

The results of the competitions are as follows: skill-in-teaching contest; Languages — Neelam Rani of MCCE, Ludhiana, first, Prerna of DSCE, Sector 36, second and Jaspreet from DDJE, Ludhiana, third.

In social sciences — Gurpreet Issar of DSCE 36, first, Sarvjit Kaur, DJCE, Ludhiana, second and Poonam of DAV CE, Abohar, third. In the science category — Sandeep Kaur MCCE, first, Sukhpal, from Sohan Lal DAV College of Education, Ambala, second and Jaspreet of GCE third.

In the on-the-spot teaching competition (languages group) — Poonam from the host college, first, Babita from DD JCE, Ludhiana, second and Manpreet from SDS CE, Lopon, third. In social sciences category — Trilochan Singh, BCM CE, Ludhiana, first, Kuldeep, SDS, Lopon, second and Amardeep of GCE, Sector 20, third. Sciences — Gurmukh Singh, BCM CE, Ludhiana, first, Hargurjeet MCCE, Ludhiana, second.

In the black board writing and sketching contest, English group — Anil from BCM CE, Ludhiana, first, Dimple, MCCE, Ludhiana, second and Harsimrat from DSCE 36, third. In the Hindi category — Gurmeet GHGH CE, Sidhwan Khurd, first, Suresh, SL DAV, Ambala, second, and Sunita DD JCE, Ludhiana, third. Punjabi — Virender from Sidhwan Khurd, first, Kulwinder Kaur, Ludhiana, second, and Gagndeep, DSCE 36, third.

In the fine arts competitions; Cartooning — Kamaljeet Kaur, GCE, Patiala, first, Sandeep, DD JCE, Ludhiana, second, and Sanjeev, DAV CE, Ambala, third. In the fabric painting — Shalini, GCE 20, first, Amandeep MCCE, Ludhiana, second and Payal GCE 20, third. Land Scape — Pooja, GCE, Patiala, first, Namita, GCE 20, second and Harmeet, Sihwan Khurd, third. In composition from memory; Monika, DD JCE, Ludhiana, first, Bindu, DSCE 36, second and Puneet, MCCE, Ludhiana, third.

In the Home Sciences; embroidery — Karishma and Shruti from GCE 20, were first and second, respectively, Kulwinder from Sidhwan Khurd, was third. ‘Mehendi’ group — Mamta, SL DAV CE, Ambala, first, Amit Goyal, MCCE, Ludhiana, second and Sangeeta, GCE Patiala, third. Table setting — Shefali, DSE 20, first, Tarandeep Kaur and Raj Rani, Ludhiana, second and third, respectively. In best out of waste — Ritu, GCE 20, first, Mrinalini, DD JCE, Ludhiana, second and Poornima from Ambala, third.

In literacy competitions; Mock press conference — Novita and Saloni both form DSE 20 were first and second, respectively. Pooja, DD JCE Ludhiana, third. Extempore speech group — Sulkshana GCE 20, first Shagun, DSCE, 36, second and Neetu, MCCE Ludhiana, third. Dumb charades — The host Dev Samaj College was first, University College of Education, Kurukshetra second and DD Jain College of Education Ludhiana, third. SDS College of Education, Lopon won the prepared aids contest.

Students present songs, dances
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Feb 12 — Songs and dances highlighted the Annual Rhyme and Singing Day of Woodlands House School in Sector 8 here today.

Over 150 children, from nursery to class II, participated in the function. The show commenced with the tiny-tots, presenting a Haryanavi folk dance.

The academic in-charge, Ms Vijay Baksh, stressed the need for collective participation of parents and teachers in a child’s personality development. The theme of the day was ‘fun and happiness’.

Students display handicrafts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Students of classes IV to VIII of Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, today put up a handicrafts exhibition for parents and visitors.

The spirit of spring was captured by the students who had decorated the school with kites, paper flowers, decorated diyas and a whole lot of paint and colours.

All the handicrafts items displayed today were a part of the school projects of the children that they had executed over the past one year. They included cross-stitch items, nib paintings, pencil sketches, paper masks, photo frames, file covers, turtle cushions, paintings and science projects.

Need for research agenda stressed at conference
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Extensive exchange of views by a large number of eminent experts, including professors, social scientists and heads of various social science institutions on a “National Policy for Research, Social Science and Related issues” took place during the two-day conference held at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial development here.

The Union Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, had inaugurated the conference yesterday. In his inaugural address, Dr Joshi referred to his background of training as a professor of physics and spoke of the sway of science over all spheres of knowledge. There were areas of knowledge outside science and areas of convergence had to be rediscovered in different disciplines and approaches to knowledge.

This was the greatest challenge. India has a tradition of stunning complexity which could be developed. The straight hijacking of western discourse should not bind India as there were other modes of learning.

As a scientist, Dr Joshi said he strongly believed in value-based science and was equally conscious of the limitations of science. Social science creativity was needed, the more so because in the present era every individual was a potential user as well as contributor to knowledge. New developments in information technology had helped to bring about this change. A holistic approach to knowledge was also needed.

At CRRID, Dr Joshi was welcomed by Dr Rashpal Malhotra, Director, and Prof R.P. Bambah, a former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University.

In the general discussion that followed, several major themes for the development of social science emerged. It was felt that there was a need for a national research agenda.

A senior academician participating in the discussion drew attention to the alarming state of social science research in the country. There was a declining interest among students and faculty alike. There was also a damaging impact sponsored and evaluation research which was often externally driven. All the participants expressed strong support for the ICSSR whose activities they wished to be strengthened. The healthy play of ideas and research strengthens democratic society and ICSSR’s role was seen in broader framework.

Another theme, stated by many, was the interdisciplinary activity which needed to be strengthened. Too much research work in separate, con-communicating compartments was wasteful of resources.

The shortage of resources was a common problem faced by all the ICSSR institutions.

Annual day celebrated
From Our Correspondent

LALRU, Feb 12 — Students of Golden Public School near Jharmari village, today presented an impressive cultural programme to mark the second annual day of the school.

Besides a martial arts show, group songs, patriotic songs, a ghazal, a fancy dress show, a qawwali and an one-act play were the highlights of the programme.

Mr G.B. Mathur, Director Education, read the annual report of the school. Later, an art exhibition arranged by the students and teachers, was also inaugurated.

The students given prizes included Vikas Rawat and Madhurima Syal for being overall best students in the senior group and Tejeshwar Jain and Shikha Chaudhary the best in the junior group. Ashish Ahlawat was given the best compere prize.

The results of the events are:

English declamation: Madhurima Syal (1), Neha Wadhwa (2).

Hindi declamation: Swaraj Saini (1), Ishu Sachdeva (2).

English calligraphy: (seniors) - Ankur Malik (1), Rajesh Sharma and Sachi Wadhwa (2). (juniors) - Rupinder Kaur (1), Chirag Saini (2).

Art competition: (seniors) - Rajesh Sharma (1), Neha Wadhwa (2).

(Juniors) - Dishu Grover (1), and Amandeep Singh (2).

Kuldeep Chaudhary won the carrom title while Ankur won the first prize in chess.

CULTURE

New generation selfish, regret UK-based Indian writers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — One of the major problems of living in the West today is that the parent and child interaction is lessening by the day. Also, where the older generation, which once migrated to the West from here, desperately pines for the motherland, the new generation is only concerned about their growing individual interests. These were some of the thoughts shared today by two Indian writers settled in United Kingdom, at a ‘Ru-ba-Ru’ session organised today by the Punjab Kala Parishad in collaboration with Sirnawan Publications, at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16.

The two guests at the session today included Mr Pritam Sidhu, a Punjabi novelist, and Mr Nirpal Singh Shergill, a Punjabi journalist.

Mr Sidhu, while speaking at the occasion said that good literature can come only out of everyday experiences. Talking about himself, he said that he had been deeply moved by the partition of India and Pakistan and also by Marxism, because of which his writing did not reflect any political or religious fanaticisms.

“A White man’s hatred towards the black or the brown is not on his lips but in his stomach — a part of himself”, said this Punjabi novelist who migrated to United Kingdom in 1964, while commenting on the racial prejudices and biases that worked against the non-Whites in the West.

On the subject of journalism as a profession, Mr Nirpal Shergill said that this was one profession that ceased to be one, since it was more of a passion and love and not just another job. But he also added that Punjabi journalism in India was quite biased and relied heavily on the whims and fancies of all those who patronised it, including political parties.

Earlier, while speaking on the occasion, Mr Harbhajan Singh Halwarvi, Editor, Punjabi Tribune, said that it was a pleasure to have someone like Mr Sidhu in the session, since he was considered to be in the same league as writers Ajit Caur and Balwant Gargi.

Also present on the occasion were Mr Gurdip Singh Puri, a writer from Moga, and Mr Sewak Singh Kohli, a renowned social worker.