EDUCATION

'Reforms needed in other fields, too'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — Reforms in the modern world should not be sought only in the economic field. Rather, the entire socio-economic fabric of the society, whether it is education, banking, environment or total institutional framework, need to be covered.

This was said by a former Rear Admiral, Madan Mohan Chopra (AVSM), who is a member of the governing board of the Delhi Public Schools Society. He was here to participate in a seminar of University Business School of Panjab University.

After serving for over 35 years in the Indian Navy, he shifted to the Bombay Dyeing industries. The society of which he is a member, runs six schools in Delhi and 50 more in the rest of the country. The society also runs schools in Kuwait, Nepal, Sharjah and Indonesia.

Mr Chopra lost both his children, Geeta and Sanjay, in Delhi, following a kidnapping about 20 years ago. The case had remained in the media limelight for a long time.

Mr Chopra was awarded the Presidents Medal for service of the most exceptional order. He held crucial appointments of operations and diplomatic services, besides judicial, personnel and higher planning.

Mr Chopra shifted to the corporate world in 1988. He has now taken premature retirement from the corporate world to devote himself "completely to social work, particularly, in the fields of education, environment and community development".

Mr Chopra said, "I sensitise citizens on what goes on in India in the name of the reform process. I want to go back to the society to return at least a part of what it has given me."

Mr Chopra is still a part of the management of Indian Navy. He also has his name associated with social-work associations, including the Indian Council for Child Welfare, the Rural Rehabilitation Committee, the National Bravery Award Committee, Geeta Sanjay Memorial Public School and Chinmaya Mission, besides others.

Exams — time when books beat girls

Exams — the mere mention of this word pulls us up our chairs, makes us go sniffing for notes from all possible sources and simply makes us have nightmares. This might not be the case for those who have submitted their assignments and prepared notes, but for most students it is bad news even if they have long been prepared for it. With the beginning of March, examination blues engulf the entire campus leaving the various hot spots and food joints almost deserted. Every nook and corner of the campus is suddenly transformed into a mobile classroom as everything seen is the exchange of notes and note books and everything heard is a never ending discussion on the syllabus. Pankaj, an M.Sc student, comments, “Now there is no more wasting of time and money on girls because the time is utilised in the library while the money gets exhausted on getting the notes photocopied”.During the exams, some students follow a regular studying pattern while most of them depend on last-minute preparations. As the countdown begins they retrace the forgotten path leading to the library. Mohita, an Economics student, says, “As the exams approach, the library becomes more like a sacred place and everyone is sure to visit it before and after going to the department. Also, the teachers suddenly become the most sought after.”

The aim of preparation may be the same among all but the style definitely varies. While the girls spend fixed hours of the day in the library, the boys usually get started only after the hostel for girls closes at 6.30 p.m. The evenings at the library are quite interesting as the reading room is packed with bys seated on chairs and at times even on tables. For some even now a visit to the library is more of a prestige issue than a necessity.

During the exams everything moves out of place: time starts running faster and all the forces start working against you — Well so it seems. There is a stiff competition among the friends as to who will complete the course first. “I usually bolt the door of my room in the hostel, draw the curtains and study under the table lamp so that my so-called friends get an impression that I have fallen asleep”, says Gurjant, an M.A. Punjabi student. Though some prefer to utilise the privacy of their rooms, most of the students intend to go home during the preparation break. Rosy, a journalism student, feels, “It is better to go home for preparation as in the hostel somebody or the other is always poking his nose in your books or notes and is always keen on wasting your time”. For the day scholars, however, the follow-up during the preparatories is often done through the telephone by which their family members get an impression that they would spend their entire lifeclinging on to the telephone.

For the photocopying shops, exams are definitely good news. It is the time when their photocopiers turn into money-spinning machines. Mr Gopal, a photocopying shop owner, says, “The month of March brings us so much work that the money earned during this month is enough for us to maintain our machines during the whole year”.

Tension prevailing during the examination also gives a boost to various antibiotics and health drinks that either claim to improve the memory or give extra energy for preparation.

After spending several days like a bookworm and many sleepless nights, finally comes the examination day. The morning begins with quick revisions and a sudden realisation that you have probably forgotten everything. Then comes the time for a hurried breakfast and a short prayer before you leave because now only God can do the rest. But once the exams are over, there is no discussion of how it was but an endless joy that it is finally over. The first thing to do is to break up all kinds of rules and routines. No more controlled diets, no more early mornings but all kinds of fun and enjoyment. And of course a maximum distance from the books till the same time comes all over again. — Tanu Rawal

COURTS

Judge orders trial of doctors for negligence
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — Almost 10 years after a city boy, Manpreet Singh Makol, died due to alleged negligence of doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the Delhi Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.P. Garg, today transferred the case to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi, to try the doctors for causing death by rash and negligent act under Section 304-A of the IPC.

Directing the accused, Dr Kashmiri Lal Kalra and Dr Devinder Kumar Malik, to appear before the trial court on March 29, the ADSJ observed, “I am of the view that there is no evidence on record to presume the commission of offences punishable under Section 304 of the IPC. Hence, both the accused are discharged for the commission of offence punishable under Section 304 of the IPC. However, prima facie, I am of the view that there is ample evidence on record to presume the commission of offence punishable under Section 304-A of the IPC by the accused persons. “

Manpreet Singh Makol , was 18 years old when he was diagnosed as suffering from bone cancer , or osteosarcoma, at the PGI on July 18, 1989. On July 27, 1989 he was taken to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for further treatment. The doctors allegedly grafted Manpreet’s bone without waiting for the biopsy report.

When the cancer spread, his leg was amputated from the middle of his thigh on October 10, 1989. Manpreet, however, died on August 3, 1990. His father, Mr B.S. Makol, alleged negligence and lodged a complaint at the Rajinder Nagar Police Station, New Delhi, against. Dr Kalra, Dr Malik and Dr Joginder Singh Makhani. The last mentioned doctor died a couple of months ago.

Referring to these facts, the ADSJ observed, “The rash and negligent act of the accused persons is apparent as without waiting for the biopsy report and without taking into consideration the FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) test the doctors had gone for bone grafting in a hurry.”

He further observed, “Had they waited for the report and had considered the FNAC test, they must have resorted to the standard treatment of amputation of the leg, which was done by them the second time, when the condition of the patient deteriorated and open biopsy was done and the leg of the patient was amputated. Had the leg been amputated at the earliest, the accused persons would not have discharged the patient just after bone grafting without waiting for the biopsy report. The patient could have got proper treatment.”

The order added that the accused persons were experts and they did not follow prima facie the standard treatment. Even the ethical committee of the Medical Council of India has found a prima facie case worth consideration,’’ it further said.

The Judge observed, “I am of the view that accused persons cannot escape from their liability under Section 304-A of the IPC.”

SPORT

Kharar lads win
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 18 — The Kharar Football Association defeated HSB, Banga, 4-2, in the final through a tie-breaker to lift the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Trophy in the fifth Maharaja Ranjit Singh Memorial Football Championship which concluded at Government Polytechnic at Khuni Majra, today. The championship was organised by the Kharar Football Association.

After the two teams failed to break the deadlock, the tie-breaker rule was enforced. Rinku, Tara, Parveen and Geet converted their chances for the Kharar team, while Mohan Lal and Mandeep were the only successful strikers for the Banga team.

Mr Darshan Singh Walia, an industrialist and a veteran footballer of Kharar, gave away the prizes to the winners.

Ashok Kumar of the Kharar Football Association was adjudged the best player of the tournament, while Avneet Abu, also of the same team, was adjudged the best scorer of the tournament.