EDUCATION

Entertaining show by children
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, March 23—The students of DC Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, presented an entertaining cultural programme at the annual function held at the premises, here today. Nearly 200 students were given prizes for excellence in academics, sports and co-curricular activities at the function.

The tiny tots of pre-nursery, nursery and kindergarten classes presented the lively gidda while the seniors put up the Kalbalia dance. These snake charmers, dressed in black, charmed the audience with their effortless movements and grace while the melody of the rustic number gave life to the dance.

A ballet with the message of “Save the Environment” was also well staged. It depicted man’s selfishness to usurp land by recklessly cutting down trees, taking its toll on the animal population in the forest and leading to depletion of the environment.

“Never, never, nest”, an English play put up by Class VII, made a mockery of the various schemes of easy installments being floated by finance companies. It showed the dilemma of families in arranging the installments. A Hindi play, “Asto Maa Sadgammaya”, spoke of the triumph of virtues over vices, conveying that gain of wealth does not mean peace of mind.

The function was dedicated to Bhagat Singh and was specially organised on his Martyrdom Day. A play depicting his death scene was put up by the students in his memory.

On the occasion, the school magazine, Images 2000, was also released and a website of the school launched by the chief guest, Mr YR Sachdeva, Regional Director of CBSE, who gave away prizes to students.

Course for teachers concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The 72nd PGCTE course for in-service English teachers of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh concluded here today. The refresher course was conducted by the Regional Institute of English. In all, 24 participants attended the course.

A press note issued here said the course had a twin focus, on improving the general proficiency of the participants in the use of English and improving pedagogical skills. A significant portion of the curricula comprised the methodology of presenting the language in the classrooms so that language learning became an easy and learning exercise, the press note said.

'Need to spend more on education'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — An immediate requirement of the hour was developing a sense of belonging to the education system where one worked both formally and the non-formally.

This was said by Prof G.S. Randhawa, a former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University at Amritsar, at the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on Transformation of Print Material into Self-learning Material being organised by the Department of Correspondence Studies of Panjab University here today.

He said the government also needed to enhance its total expenditure on education corresponding to the total revenue. This could be enhanced by pooling resources, Professor Randhawa said.

He also said there was a need to have a relook at the role of teachers in the present education system. He said teachers needed to be directly involved in the transformation process which was a need of the hour.

Prof Santosh K. Sharma, Chairperson, welcomed the guests.

Those present also included Prof R.K. Murthy and Dr Sanjaya Mishra, resource personnel of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, who will conduct the workshop. IGNOU is also a co-sponsor of the workshop.

Dr A.K. Saihjpal, Convenor of the workshop, introduced the topics. The printed material was playing a key role in providing education to distance learners.

The Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education is an independent school of IGNOU.

The Department of Correspondence studies was established at the PU in 1971. It has undergraduate courses in arts and commerce, besides postgraduate courses in Hindi, Punjabi, Political Science, History, Economics and other subjects.

Prof L.K. Bansal, proposed the vote of thanks.

Students honoured at Annual Day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The Annual Day-2000 function of Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Sector 42-D, was held at the campus today.

More than 50 students received prizes for achieving excellence in academics, sports and cultural activities. Mr Naranjan Singh, Principal Secretary, Government of Punjab, who was the chief guest at the function gave away the prizes.

Members of the Tourism Promotion Society and officers of the Chandigarh Administration attended the function. The function was jointly sponsored by CITCO and State Bank of India, Sector 37. Mr Satish Chandra, MD, CITCO was the guest of honour.

The Principal, Mr Navin Kumar Nanchahal, read out the annual college report highlighting the achievements of the institute. He also talked about the new measures which are being introduced to improve the existing courses.

Vikas Sawhney, Meeta Thareja and Kulpreet Kaur were declared best students in academics in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year, respectively, for the session 1998-1999. Deepak Barua, Gaurav Sethi and Parul Fakay were given prizes for being the most regular student for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year respectively. While Manav Singh Bisht was adjudged the Gentleman of the year, Meeta Thareja was adjudged the lady of the year. Sagar Tyagi was adjudged as the most dedicated student. Mr Tapan Piplani was awarded the Ved Prakash Nanchahal memorial trophy for being the all round best student.

COURTS

Sentenced for using obscene words
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — For uttering obscene words to a ‘lady’ passing by, a Una district resident has been sentenced to simple imprisonment for seven days by UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Paramvir Nijjar.

The convict — Ramesh — was earlier booked by the Chandigarh Police for uttering obscene words under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code. According to the prosecution, Ramesh, on February 25, had passed comments at the lady in Khajeri village.

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

Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the Judicial Magistrate had observed: “I am of the considered view that the prosecution has fully proved its case against the accused under Section 294 of the IPC and convict him thereunder”.

In her detailed order, the Judicial Magistrate further observed: “Keeping in view the nature of the offence and other antecedents, I am not inclined to take a lenient view and accordingly the convict is ordered to undergo simple imprisonment for seven days”.

1 released on probation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — Convicting a Dharwa village resident, accused of assaulting a home guard volunteer, the UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr H.S. Madaan today directed his release on probation.

The convict — Mohinder Singh — was earlier booked by the Chandigarh Police for causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty under Sections 332, 353 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code on Ms Baljinder Kaur’s complaint.

According to the prosecution, the complainant had sustained injuries after she fell down following a push from the accused. Her shirt’s button also broke in the scuffle, the prosecution had added.

Arguing before the court, the public prosecutor had stated that the complainant had asked the accused, who was on a cycle, to move on to the slip road instead of going straight.

The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence against him, had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to have been implicated in the case, he had asked for a trial.

After hearing the arguments, the ACJM observed: “The prosecution has been successful in its endeavour to bring home the guilt to the accused conclusively and affirmitively”.

Releasing the convict on probation, the ACJM observed: “Keeping in view the nature of offence and the fact that trend of modern penalogy is towards reforms rather than retribution and that accused should be given an opportunity to reform himself”.

Bail for plus-two student
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — A plus-two student, accused of assaulting a city resident in Sector 18 market, was toady granted anticipatory bail by UT Additional District and Sessions Judge R.C. Godara.

The student — Damanjeet Singh of Sector 36 — was apprehending arrest in a rioting and criminal intimidation case registered by the Chandigarh Police under Section 147, 149, 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the prosecution, the First Information Report was registered after one Michal Anto was beaten up outside a shop while he was standing with a friend.

Opposing the anticipatory bail plea, the public prosecutor had stated that the weapon of offence was to be recovered. Arguing before the Judge, the public prosecutor had contended that Damanjeet Singh was also required for interrogation.

Pronouncing the orders in the open court, the Additional Sessions Judge observed: “After hearing the arguments of both the sides, it is clear that the name of the present applicant does not find mention in the FIR”.

The Judge also observed: “In the FIR, it is not alleged that the applicant had caused any injury on the person of the complainant with cricket wicket log. Therefore, there is no question of effecting any recovery from the applicant”.

The Judge further added: “In the event of his arrest the applicant would be released on bail by the arresting officer in the sum of Rs. 10,000 with a surety in the like amount to his entire satisfaction”.

CULTURE

The Empire Builders on Saturday
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 23 — The troupe “Theatre de Poche” of Alliance Francaise, Delhi, will perform a Hindi translation of the play ‘The Empire builders’ at 6 pm and 8 pm, respectively, on March 25, 2000, at Le Cafe’ Noir, Alliance Francaise, Sector 36.

The play by French play-wright Boris Vian shows how progress has changed us and our environment. The play is about a man, his wife their daughter and their maid who keep shifting from one apartment to the other when they hear the “Noise”.

The playwright, Boris Vian, died due to lung infection, at the age of 39, his deep sense of humour starts expressing itself into aggressive, absurd and spatial forms that allowed Boris to play hide-n-seek with his illness, obsessions, nightmares and pessimism. The play has been translated by Asad Hussain and directed by S. Somasundaram.

Kathak: journey from temple to court

ONCE again, Pracheen Kala Kendra is providing a treat to art lovers in the form of the 30th All-India Bhaskar Rao Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan which begins today. The organisers, Mr M.L. Koser and Ms Shobha Koser, are renowned patrons and promoters of classical dance in this region. Apart from vocal and flute recitals, the audience will also get to see kathak, bharatnatyam and kuchipudi performances.

The only classical dance of north India, kathak is characterised by elaborate rhythmic footwork. Wearing a pad studded with 100 ghungroos the dancer performs on themes drawn from Persian and Urdu poetry besides the Hindu mythology.

The word kathak means ‘one who tells a story’. The dance originated as a style of presenting the Hindu mythological stories in temples, using facial expressions and body movements. However, during the Mughal regime (1526 to 1761 AD). the dancer left the temple and entered the durbar, modifying the style of presentation to suit the court. Sensuous elements in the form of physical nuances were added and Hindu literary content was pushed backstage. The presentation changed from religious to aesthetic. Abhinaya — the use of mime and gestures — was refined and the performer was given more latitude to express a theme in various ways.

The rule of Wajid Ali Khan, the last Nawab of Avadh, was the golden period for kathak. In spite of beng a Muslim, he appreciated the Krishna theme in Indian art forms. Under his patronage, a new school of this dance form, the Lucknow Gharana, was established. Founded by Thakur Prasad Ji and his sons — Kalka Prasad and Binda Din — it soon flourished. Receiving training from their uncle Binda Din, Kalka Prasad’s three sons — Jagannath Prasad (Achan Maharaj), Baijnath Prasad (Lachhu Maharaj) and Shambhu Maharaj earned wide acclaim. Connoisseurs of performing arts hold Birju Maharaj, too, in high esteem.

Kathak is divided into three schools — the Lucknow Gharana, the Jaipur Gharana and the Banaras Gharana. The typical characteristics of the Lucknow Gharana are graceful movements, subtle facial expressions and rhythm. Thumri, a semi-classical form of love song, forms an integral ingredient of this school. The masters of the Jaipur Gharana are adept at tabla and pakhawaj as well. Since the dances by great masters influenced both these schools, there is no rigid line demarcating the two. Moreover, these days, some performers present a blend of both styles. Only an expert can differentiate between the two.

The third school, the Banaras Gharana, was established by Janaki Prasad. Also called the Janaki Prasad Gharana, it stresses pure dance sequences. The performer uses moderate pace and is particular about precision and grace.

Before the dance, a vandana is performed to pay respect to a deity (usually Shiva, Ganesh, Durga or Saraswati). While performing, a dancer can improvise, since there is no fixed order of presentation. Aamad, which means ‘arrival’ in Persian, forms the first step. The dancer enters the stage while using subtle hand and forso movements to the beat of tabla. Vigorous footwork is used to execute rhythmic compositions called Parans, todas, and tukadas. These require agility, speed and a capacity to control these. In between, the dancer takes chakkars (pirouettes). The speed of the spin and the ability to stop abruptly while maintaining one’s balance and poise, requires a lot of practice and skill. Tatkaar, meaning stamping on the floor, is derived from the sound tat, produced by the foot. While there are vigorous movements of the legs and the feet, the upper part of the dancer’s body remains still. The viewer is mesmerised to see the dancer take three fast chakkars and then, suddenly, strike a perfect pose.

Kathak was orginally a solo dance. However, in the modern times, a number of dance dramas based on the dance are also enacted.

— Thakur Paramjit