EDUCATION

Water discussed at seminar
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 13 — The Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) organised a seminar on freedom of expression and expression of freedom in the ICSSR complex here today.

The discussion was centred on the controversy about film Water. Participants gave different views on the topic. Prof Pradeep Kumar, Dr Jai Prakesh and Neelam Mansingh were the speakers at the seminar. Members from the audience put questions to them.

Neelam Mansingh, a close friend of Deepa Mehta, said: ''We should accept the reality about the condition of a widow in our country and making of such films shows the change in society.'' She said that freedom of expression was more important than making of a film and in a democracy an artiste should be given this freedom.

Dr Jai Prakesh, Professor of the Hindi Department, said that although he did not know much about the film, yet an artiste should also respect the sentiments of the masses. He said that commercialism led to the making of such controversial films and, political colour had also being given to the film.

Prof Pradeep Kumar said that communication between supporters and opponents was must to find a solution.

Constitution review disfavoured
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Feb 13 — An attempt by the BJP-led government to review the Constitution to make changes in its basic features is against its democratic and secular tenor. This was the general view of the speakers at a seminar on "Review of Indian Constitution in Public Interest" organised by the Adara Tarak Mohali (a non-political forum) here today.

A number of speakers felt that the move by the ruling coalition to amend the Constitution was due to its selfish political motives. Mr Rajinder Singh Cheema, an advocate of Punjab and Haryana High Court, said instead of making changes in the Constitution, the politicians should improve their conduct and incorporate ethical values.

He described the attempt to make changes as a threat from fundamentalists and communal forces which wanted to change the basic structure of the Constitution. Mr Cheema answered a number of queries from the participants during the seminar.

Mr Bhupinder Samber, Editor of Sada Yug, alleged that the irresponsible attitude of politicians had resulted in an unstable democratic set-up, but there was nothing wrong in the basic structure of the Constitution. He opined that good features in the constitutions of the other nations could be incorporated in the Indian Constitution.

The right to vote against a government which failed to perform its duties was an important right given to the masses in the Constitution. Mr Prem Singh, Editor of Desh Sewak, said the stand of the President against the review of the Constitution was in the interest of the country. He said the BJP-led government wanted to retain power by making changes in the Constitution.

"People who were behind the demolition of the Babri Masjid had not been punished and, instead, the government was favouring an amendment in the Constitution", he said.

Mr Santokh Singh Dheer, a writer, felt that division among the Left forces was creating hindrances in the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution.

50 scripts for neo-literates
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 13 — About 50 scripts were prepared in the form of dialogues, stories, poems, songs and one-act plays during the four-day writers’ workshop for neo-literates concluded in the ICSSR complex, Panjab University, here on Friday. The workshop was organised by the Department of Adult, Continuing Education and Extension.

The literature was created on the themes of population, girl-child, environment protection, literacy, national integration and drug addiction. Prof M.M. Puri, Vice-Chancellor of the university, while addressing the valedictory session, stressed the need for removal of social inequality, intolerance and evils with the help of good literature.

‘Gandhi relevant for all times’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 13 — The biggest threat in the modern times was financial power and not political, said Prof Joginder Kaushal, a leading educationist, in a discussion on Africa — a sleeping giant, organised by Yuvsatta here today.

The argument was highlighted by several other participants in the discussion.

The relevance of Gandhi in modern times also came up for discussion. Speakers mentioned that Gandhi would have struggled to find relevance in the current situation. Terrorism, drug smuggling, besides several other factors, would have made things difficult. However, on the contrary it was put forward by others that Gandhi was relevant for all times.

A speaker from Bangladesh said that the developing countries formed 70 per cent of the total world population, yet it managed only 20 per cent of the total earnings. Premier trade organisations also felicitated money transfer to the developed countries.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh Bhattal, a former counsel of Liberia in India, who spent more than three decades in Africa, gave the first-hand account of the socio-economic conditions there. He deliberated on various aspects of management to manage unity, peace and prosperity.

Mr Prasantha Kumar Banerjee, President of the Foreign Students Association, said that it was important to understand the reason for poor population, equality and make them aware of their rights. They should know why they lagged behind despite big strides in science in the 20th century.

Mr Pramod Sharma, President of Yuvsatta, said that there was no denial of the problems existing in the developing countries. The need of the hour was to find solutions.

First-ever reunion at Dagshai school
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 13 — A new chapter was added to the history of the Army Public School, Dagshai, when the first ever reunion was convened at the school premises yesterday.

The reunion was to discuss the modalities to form an old students' association.

The objectives as set forward include enrolling more students for the association, to cement the bond of affinity with the school and work for the welfare of the school besides keeping the institute informed of the latest information in their respective fields.

Two faculty members, Mr S. Ahluwalia and Mrs D. Malhotra are to monitor the activities of the association.

It was also resolved that an annual get-together of old students would be held on June 2 every year. Coordinators were also appointed to liaise the activities of old students within their respective clusters. For the Delhi region, Yuvraj Kanwar (011-6882438) and Kamal Sultanpuri (0172-27575) have been appointed. For the Chandigarh region, Gurteg Sandhu (0172-562793), Amrita Singh (0172-546289) and Ishpreet Malhotra (0172-708660) will look after the old students' interests.

COURTS

Notice issued in Kid case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 13 — On Deputy Superintendent of Police S. S. Grewal and Sub-Inspector Amarjit Singh's bail applications in Kulwinder Singh Kid murder case, UT Additional District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge for CBI cases S. S. Lamba yesterday issued notice to the state for February 21.

Seeking the grant of bail, counsel for the applicants stated that there was no evidence regarding Kid's abduction and subsequent murder by the applicants. The Sub-Inspector, counsel had added, was not even present when Kid was allegedly killed.

Claiming to have been implicated in the case, counsel stated that the allegations against the two applicants were false. The first information report, he added, was lodged after an inordinate delay.

Earlier, in his petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court here, Kid's father Tarlochan Singh had alleged that his son had forcibly been taken away from their S.A.S. Nagar residence by a police party in plain clothes in July, 1989.

Taking up the petition, the high court here had directed the then Chandigarh 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 CIA Staff at Patiala, had taken away Kulwinder Singh, alias Kid, after raiding his house in S.A.S. Nagar.

On the basis of the inquiry report, the high court, on July 5, 1996, had 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 investigating agency had stated that the officials had entered into a conspiracy to kill Kulwinder Singh in a fake encounter and to show him as an absconder.

CULTURE

Plea to set up Punjab heritage museum
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Feb 13 — The Environment and Heritage Society of Punjab has sought setting up of a Punjab heritage museum and a heritage park in this town to give the place a distinctive identity.

The demand was put forth to the officials of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) and the local administration by the members of the Environment and Heritage Society at a “city environment meet” organised at Government Senior Secondary School in Phase 3B-I here yesterday.

Prof S.Gurbax Singh Shergill, President of the Society, said that PUDA had been requested to provide land for the heritage museum and Non-resident Indians (NRIs). An area of about nine acres for developing an environment park — having a nursery of plants associated with heritage of Punjab and rest of the country — had also been suggested by the society. The saplings developed in the nursery would be given to schools throughout the state, said Prof Shergill.

Mr Dipinder Singh, Additional Chief Administrator (ACA), PUDA, said the issue of environment needed to be given more attention. He said the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) should perform their role with dedication and not just to get grants from the government. The Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM)-cum-Administrator of local municipal council, Mr O.P.Popli, said an environment and cleanliness committee would be soon constituted to improve the environment in the town.

Mr S.S. Sekhon, a senior architect in the Punjab Mandi Board, said there was a need to set up a separate wing of landscaping open spaces in the town. The open areas in the town were lying in a state of neglect, projecting a poor picture.

Mr S.R. Chaudhary of the local environment society said there needed to be a clear cut policy to identify the places in which tree saplings had to be planted. Giving examples, he said due to lack of coordination between the Horticulture Department and the Electricity Department the canopy of fully grown trees was cut.

Mr S.S. Ghuman, Mr P.L. Kelar, Mr Arjun Singh Shergill, Mr Boparai and representatives of residents welfare associations of the town also spoke on the occasion.

Poor display of good exhibits
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 13 — The three-day all-India exhibition, organised by a group called Avantika, opened at Punjab Kala Bhavan here yesterday.

The poor look of the clustered exhibition, which has on display some 100-odd works, is added by the dirty entrance of the bhavan that today had paper plates and styrofoam cups scattered all around the area where the children's paintings had been put up for viewership. Children from all over the country, as far as Bihar and Kerala, have also participated in the exhibition. But the 35 works of these children find themselves displayed in a tacky manner with the paintings loosely hanging on to the torn-at-ends black sheets, and that too outside the exhibition hall.

Some of the works of the children are quite eye-catching that include vibrantly coloured paintings drawn from imagination and some very good copies from calendar pictures, etc. A few of these works also provide an interesting insight into the child's mind.

Inside the hall, about 65 works of senior artists and photographers are on display. In fact, so shabby is the display that some of the good works also tend to get lost in this otherwise very mediocre show. The photographs have been out up with one atop another and at such a height that the viewer has to crane the neck to have a good look at the exhibits.

Some of the senior artists that have been exhibited in the include Sumail Singh, Jabbal and Nirmal Parkash. The part where photographs have been put up is the only area where some choicest of works are on display. These include photographs by Ashok Kaushal, N. Loganathan and Shyamal Dass.