The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

No exam duty for kin of examinee
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2 —In a commendable but strict step, Panjab University has barred deployment of any university staff on paper-setting and examining duty whose 'relation' is appearing in the university examination.

The campus history does have earlier mention of cases where allegations regarding involvement of the relations was questioned in cases where their wards or relatives appeared.

During the recent times ,however, the university governing body officially communicated displeasure to two teachers for possible influence on boards where their wards were appearing. The governing body expressed its displeasure in case of a teacher of the Sanskrit Department and another in the University Business School.

The existing provision says that 'Each Board of Studies shall suggest paper-setters and examiners in its subjects. Such recommendations shall be made by the various boards.'

The introduction to the provision adds, 'In case any relation of the convener or the member of the Board of Studies or Board of Control is appearing in the university examination , he will not be a party to the meeting of the university work. This is to be followed in regard to complaints against question-paper setting proceedings also.

The proposal said in case the convener's ward is an examinee, the Board of Studies shall elect a 'pro tem' convener who would take full charge till his kin has ceased to be an examinee.

The exact field covered under 'relations' includes 'wife, husband, son, daughter, mother, wife's brother, wife's sister, husband's father, husband's sister, nephew, niece, grandchildren, son-in-law and daughter-in-law'.

The board has also clarified that conveners and examiners should refrain from appointments of teachers as examiners where their relations are involved. They have also been requested to refrain from hearing cases against mistakes in question papers where their relations were involved.

Even in cases where a convener's ward is an examinee, a special 'pro tem' convener will be appointed.

Another provision provides that any complaint against the paper's contents of the graduate-level examination will be referred to the university faculty while the university-level 'problem papers' will be referred to outside experts.

The step was mooted by a special committee with Prof Ashok Sahni as the chairman. Other members on the list included Prof Bal Krishan, Prof B.S.Brar and Mr R.P.Bedi. The university Syndicate has subsequently adopted the amendments.

797 GCG students get degrees
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2- As many as 797 graduates and postgraduates were conferred with degrees at the 43rd Annual Convocation of Government College for Girls Sector 11, here today.

The college holds a distinction of being the institution of Panjab University having the highest number of academic prizes to its credit. Silky Chhabra got a medal and a roll of honours for standing first in M.A. dance category, in the Panjab University. Aditi Chhabra topped Psychology, Harneet in English, and Sonu in Accountancy in the university examination.

Nine prizes were given to second position holders in P.U. and seven to third position holders.The college also figures in the list of achievers in other activities of the P.U. also.

Panjab University championships in table tennis and lawn tennis were won by the college teams. Anita brought laurels to the college for being the all-round best gymnast of Panjab University consecutively for the second time.

Swami Pitambaranand, Secretary of the Ramakrishan Mission Ashrama, the chief guest, addressed the graduates and the postgraduates of the college.

In his talk Swami exhorted the students to take on the challenges with conviction and confidence, which according to him can be done only if one is awakened to spiritual growth. He dwelt upon the differences between the living beings and the human beings. Human beings are the incarnation of the God and have infinite capacity to grow,will to know, and will to struggle.

The highest form of joy lies in perpetual struggle, whereas modern ways of enjoyment are merely a slide into despair and desperation.

Earlier the principal, Mrs Vijay Lakshmi read out the Annual report highlihting the tremendous achievements in various fields. She spoke highly of college students Shabnam and Reena Gulia who represented Northern region in N.S.S and N.C.C. respectively in the Republic Day parade in Delhi.

GCM-11 holds annual convocation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2 — Students who excelled in extra-curricular activities in Government College for Men, Sector 11, were honoured at the annual convocation of the college here today.

Sajjan Singh was the winner of the inter-college declamation contest; Pradeep Malik had stood first in the AC Bali Inter-College Declamation Contest; Parminder Singh Kamboj had represented India in the VIII Asian Roller Skating Contest; and Bhupinder Singh had won the classical music and folk songs contests in the PU Zonal Youth Festival.

Pankaj Sri Vastava was mentioned for his special contribution in the NSS Wing, while Upinder Singh was praised for the NCC Wing activities.

In all, 314 graduates in commerce, science and arts, besides postgraduates in English were presented degrees by Dr S.N. Singla, Principal of the college.

Blank papers in lieu of degrees
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2 — How would you feel if you travelled from Bathinda or Rajasthan for the college convocation and got a blank paper in return at the official function?

A number of stunned students contacted the Tribune today and said the degrees which they had received from the Principal at the annual convocation of Government College for Men, Sector 11, were absolutely blank.

College Principal, Dr S.N. Singla, said it had happened indeed, but, only in a few cases. Students who were to re-appear in the examination or were awaiting re-evaluation results were not supposed to receive degrees at the convocation. They, however, wanted to get themselves "photographed with the chief guest" for personal records, Dr Singla added.

A section of students, however, said even students who had their results declared on schedule, did not receive their degrees.

Unsung, Baba Khan returns to Lord
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

PINJORE, April 2 — Disillusionment got the better of him and Baba Khan, synonymous with the Yadavindra Gardens where he created magic with his flute from time immemorial, passed away in his sleep last night without a whimper and not so much as a complaint on his lips.

Now, the portals of his temple are desolate and his two flutes stand in a corner, without melody, mere pipes, mourning for their “magician” who endeared himself to visitors, but will not come back.

For Baba, the adulation he had pined for after developing cancer of the mouth and feeling completely alienated from his popular image, came his way only when he was no more. It was evident in the befitting tribute paid by his admirers who turned up for his cremation as the news got around not only from Pinjore but Chandigarh and around and also in the gesture of the Haryana Tourism Department, which bore the expenses of the cremation.

A regular visitor of Baba, Mr Shammi was the last one to speak to him last night. He recalls: “Though he had been disturbed after returning from hospital and had come to believe that he would never get back the lost image he had taken years nurturing, he was very perturbed. He kept telling me what I should do once he was no more, which implies he had an inkling that he would not see the light of day. Call it intuition, if you may.”

An admirer of the maestro, Mr Jatin Salwan, says: “He has been a part of my life ever since I saw him 25 years back. He attended my marriage, used to write letters to me and had come to my residence a couple of days back but I missed meeting him. Now, I regret it and am deeply hurt that the fragrance of music passed away in spring.”

Before his pyre was lit, a wreath was placed on behalf of the three people who saw him through the troubled times. Mr Salwan, Mr Gurbir Singh and Mrs Madhu Anil came to his rescue when he developed cancer and were with him right through the treatment at the PGI. Also, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr SK Monga, expressed his sorrow at the demise of the “charmer”. The Superintendent of Police, Mr

Sudhir Chowdhary, was also present along with Mr S.K. Sharma, Divisional Manager of Yadavindra Gardens.

Baba Khan was found dead on the porch of his temple by a devotee who had come to pay obeisance at his temple. Later, he gathered the people in the vicinity and gradually the word got around.

Speaking to The Tribune a couple of days back, Baba Khan had said that he was suffering from an identity crisis and that it was gnawing away at his soul to feel the indifference of his own people who had failed to recognise him in the face of his appearance due to the treatment for cancer. However, he had managed to play the flute with difficulty and was planning to make a new beginning at the Yadavindra Gardens by playing his flute in the evening on the coming weekend but God wished otherwise.

As of now his couplets scribbled, steeped in the sorrow within, are his only remnants along with pictures, both old and new, and his flute are a part of his lifetime saving which lie at the temple. Meanwhile, a few admirers have expressed the desire to get his verses published to immortalise his memory but for now he is a closed chapter, ready to fade into oblivion, which was the only thing he could not come to terms with during the last few months of his life.

Spotlight on an unassuming VJ
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2 — One has often seen him on the small screen, busy finding out what is buzzing on campuses all over the country and sometimes profiling jobs for the ‘confused’ youth on Channel V’s Job Shop. He reaches out to people in the most unassuming manner. He is Yudhishthir, alias UD, who was recently in the city on a promotional tour.

“I always dreamt of entertaining people and my life has been all about risks and profits,” says UD as he recalls his days at Rajkot Boarding School where he learnt things which a protected home environment could never have taught him. “I went through immense insecurity. There was a lot of friction in relationships and nothing was as simple as it seemed from home,” he said. Even today, Yudhishthir cherishes those eight years for the “tremendous realisation” they gave him.

“I learnt that life was too short to be wasted in bearing grudges and jealousies. I swore that I will always make people laugh. I had decided that if ever I am into any business, it would be the one of entertaining people,” says UD.

His dream came true with an offer from Channel V. UD entered a new world where he got a chance to be one with the crowds. Today he is seen anchoring whacky interactive shows where he makes people smile and, more importantly, tells them which exams to enter, what forms to fill, which keys to buy, what money it takes and what money one can make.

Although his work schedule is hectic as he is shooting seven days a week, UD enjoys every bit of it. Ask him what is important to him money or space? “Space”, comes the prompt reply. “Freedom is indispensable. Money can’t buy it,” he says.

As for inspiration, he says he never gave away control of his life to anyone. “I am my own inspiration. I have learnt the nuances of life on my own and I have never regretted the decisions I have taken. My experiences are valuable to me because hey have guided me through thick and thin, through sun and shade,” he said.

Being a star on the STAR TV he must be admired by the opposite sex. What about love life? “Love for me has a very wide connotation I hate to verbalise it. It’s to be felt, not spoken about. All I can tell you is that I am perennially in love,”says the VJ.

Centre favours hire-and-fire policy
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The Central Government will consider allowing certain areas where the employers can have the freedom to hire and fire workers, the Union Labour Minister, Dr Satyanarayan Jatiya, said here today.

Announcing this at a press conference, Dr Jatiya said the government would identify the areas where the hire-and-fire policy could be applied. The present laws do not allow the companies to freely recruit and retrench the labour and even the Exim policy announced on Friday does not allow the hire-and-fire in the proposed Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which would be free from several Indian economic laws in a bid to boost exports.

Saying that the Union Cabinet had okayed the amendments to the Trade Union Act, 1926, Dr Jatiya informed that under the proposed amendments, recognition would only be given to those trade unions which had 10 per cent of the workforce of the organisation registered with them.

Conceding that hard days were ahead for the labour class in the wake of opening up of the Indian markets and globalisation, the minister said the second Labour Commission had started working under the chairmanship of Mr Virender Verma to review the labour scenario.

He claimed that the International labour Organisation (ILO) had recognised India’s position on implementing the global labour standards.

The Indian Labour Conference, which will be held in New Delhi on April 14 will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, he informed, adding that the upgradation of the skills of the labour force and ways to reduce the industrial sickness would be among the issues to be discussed at the conference to be attended by over 250 delegates.

To tackle the problem of child labour, the government had increased the number of hazardous processes and occupations for child labour to 51 and 13, respectively, and asked the state government to implement the labour laws strictly.

For the benefit of PF members, the accounts of the employees would be operated through the Internet through a specific code so that it becomes easier for the persons changing jobs and places.

Earlier, Dr Jatiya reviewed the working of the offices under the Ministry of Labour. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Mr AS Ahluwalia, Director of the Labour Bureau, Mr M.L. Meena, Regional Provident Commissioner(I), Punjab and UT, Mr BC Bhardwaj, Regional Director of the ESIC, and Mr Vishwanath, Regional Labour Commissioner (Central).

Wage board ‘soon’: Following the completion of the recording of evidence in the Manisana Singh Wage Board for Journalists and Non-journalists in the newspapers and agencies on March 31, the compilation of the final report is in progress, Dr Jatiya said. However, he refused to give any time-frame, saying that it would be “submitted soon”.

Asked about the delay in the submission of the recommendations, he said the wage board being a tripartite body comprising the employers, employees and government, the ministry could not force its decision on it.

CHANDIGARH CALLING

Scholars’ suggestion contrasted by students

On an interesting day last week in Panjab University, scholars deliberated on various reforms needed to be introduced in the current “decaying” system.

The deliberations meant for improvement in the current system had the current Controller of Examination and the Registrar missing during deliberations.

On another venue the same day students surrounded the office of the Controller of Examination and the Registrar. Scholars’ suggestion of timely conduct of examination was contrasted by the students asking a postponement.

Private colleges of Punjab on another account chalked their plan of action which could go the extent of boycotting the examination in case their demands were not met.

Dr K.S. Chugh: Dr K.S. Chugh, MD, FACP (Honorary), FAMS, the winner of the Padma Shri Award this year, is a Professor Emeritus and Former Professor and Head of Department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

Dr Chugh is a world renowned nephrologist and has made pioneering contribution to the development of nephrology in India. He started this specially in India in 1956 and organised the first training programme (DM Nephrology) at the PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 1969. He has been responsible for training of over 70% of the nephrologists, several of whom are currently heading the various nephrology departments in India and important positions in India and abroad.

He has published 380 papers in national and international journals and has 28 chapters in various national and international books. He is the Editor of five international and national journals of nephrology.

In recognition of his major contribution as a leader, educator and research worker in kidney diseases, Dr Chugh has been conferred with 29 awards and honours in India and abroad. In 1992 he was selected for the prestigious Dr B C Roy National Award as Eminent Medical Man of the country (conferred by the President of India). He is also recipient of Dhanvantri National Award, Nishan-e-Khalsa Award, Gifted Medical Teacher Award, Distinguished International Award by National Kidney Foundation of USA, Honourary Fellowship of the American College of Physician (FACP), Nephrology Forum Award by Kidney International, Dr B.C. Roy Award for the Development of Speciality of Nephrology and Nihon University, Gold Medal, Tokyo, Japan besides many others.

He has been the President of the Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology; President, Association of Physicians of India; President, Indian Society of Nephrology; Member Executive, Medical Council of India and Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Panjab University, besides many other prestigious posts.

Retirement gift: His own lithographic portrait print was the best gift which 36 years of long service as a peon in Government College of Art, Chandigarh had given Ram Kishore on his retirement day (see photo on top of the page).

The portrait was sketched and printed by the college principal and an eminent artist, Mr Prem Singh. Mr Prem Singh said that as an artist he always wanted to gift a work of art and dreamt of covering all the empty walls that he came across with works of art.

For Ram Kishore, it was the most precious gift he had received during his entire service . He said that working with great artists throughout his life taught him the value of such a gift and specially when it was made and presented by an artist of international fame . A copy of the print will also be displayed in the college.

Novel scheme: The city police has evolved a scheme to recognise the good work done by samaritans and to encourage his spirit in other residents. The cops will publicly facilitate and honour such individuals.

Special emphasis will be laid on persons who remove accident victims to hospitals for first aid. This gesture was aimed at urging more people to come forward and save precious human lives. Commendation certificates with suitable cash reward would be given.

Instructions have been issued to the police personnel not to harass such persons in any way through elaborate documentation and questioning when they reach the hospitals. It was common feeling among people that they unnecessarily dragged in an unwanted controversy and harassed for an innocent and humane gesture.

Besides this, at least one person of the PCR staff posted on each shift of the PCR vehicle would be trained in first aid techniques. These vehicles are often involved in rendering assistance to road accident victims who have to be removed to the nearest hospital or medical centre.

For the purpose, the services of the St. John’s Ambulance or some NGOs would be solicited. Slowly, all the staff of the PCR would be trained in giving first aid.

Healthy baby: Dhruv Guleria did his mother proud when he was selected Britannia Tiger Healthy Baby at a contest held at the Parade Ground recently.

Son of martyr Capt Deepak Guleria, who gave his life fighting intruders in Jammu and Kashmir in January and was later awarded the Sena Medal this year, is all set to be a winner from the start. Sentinel wishes him good luck in all he undertakes.

Fatehnama: The English version of the Fatehnama of Gurugobind Singh translated from original Persian was recently released by Mr Ranjit Singh Balia, Housing, Urban Development Minister, Punjab, at a function, organised by the Punjab Language Department to commemorate the tercentenary celebrations of the creation of Khalsa.

With the publication of the Fatehnama in the form of a book along with relevant research material, it has come to light that the Guru wrote two letters to Aurangzeb, namely Fatehnama and Zafarnama. from Machhiwara after the cruel murder of the Guru’s younger sons aged 5 and 7 years, by the then tyrant rulers of Sirhind. Till now, there has been a confusion about the identity of two letters.

Zafarnama was written from Dinakinyar after the receipt of the reply of Fatehnama from Aurangzeb through a kazi. There are crystal-clear references to this point in the Zafarnama in Guru’s original Persian epistle, says the translator, Miss Jasbir Kaur Ahuja

— Sentinel

READERS WRITE

Cess on commode uncalled for

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has announced a levy of Rs 5 per commode per month from April 18, 2000. It is not understood what for this cess has been levied. We pay for water, and we have to pay to private sweepers for any blockage of W.C.

First we ask: will the officials and officers occupying official residence pay such cess from their own pocket ? This is another occasion when the MCC is making itself a laughing stock, the first being division of service lane areas and second levying of tax on berms.

Next, we may have to pay for walking on pavements, and on roads we use. Will the MCC reconsider and withdraw this uncalled for and ridiculous levy of WC cess?

K. Chaudhry
(for the Welfare Society, Sector 15)
Chandigarh

Challan erring cops, too

This refers to your news item "Traffic Management Reviewed" (Chandigarh Tribune, March 30).

The news makes ridiculous reading. You have mentioned that lakhs of rupees had been collected in the form of penalty imposed on traffic violators, including those driving two-wheelers without helmets, and driving on the wrong side.

It seems that the real job of the police is not traffic management but traffic harassment.

Secondly, it cannot be denied that most of the policemen themselves violate traffic rules and there is no agency to punish them. A policeman has the unwritten authority to stop a scooterist and ask for lift without helmet while a civilian cannot even give lift to a wounded or sick person stranded on the way because of fear of being challaned by the same policeman.

Citizens' councils should be formed in each locality to keep watch on erring policemen who violate traffic rules and bring them to book.

J. Bhattacharya
Panchkula

Ration card hard to get

The most difficult job for Patiala residents is to get new ration cards.

To be a ration card holder here is more difficult than becoming a passport holder or even green-card holder.

You have to pass through number of formalities before getting it. Besides submitting a group photo of your family, residential proof is must and this proof is to be supplied by the office of the Deputy Commissioner after verifying all facts. To fulfil this condition, it may take months, years and there is no time limit. To complete the whole process, sometimes a person forgets that he ever had applied for a ration-card.

Now, it comes the turn of gas connections. If one is in need to transfer one's domestic gas connection from one agency to another due to shifting of residence, it takes a considerably long time and causes undue harassment.

On the one side the soaring prices of essential commodities has broken backbone of lower and middle class people, on the other hand, corrupt practices in vital departments have made his life a hell.

Are the authorities listening ?

Puneet Mehta
Patiala

Reel not real

The public, various organisations and the Minister for Information and Broadcasting should take serious note of the trend of various serials being shown on cable TV.

The theme invariably dwells upon adultery, extra-marital relations etc so casually as if such things are routine. It might be not be unusual in the other cultures, but not so in our society.

Take up any serial: Aur Ek Din, Kora Kagaz, Palchhin.... one can go on endlessly to see such things being aired.

Janak Khanna
Panchkula

COMMUNITY

State of bridges invites tragedy
From Bipin Bhardwaj

DERA BASSI, April 2 — Waste accumulated on both sides of the bridge over the Ghaggar river near Bhankharpur village is posing a threat to travellers and has reduced the operational area of the bridge

About a six-inch layer of sand and gravel along the sides of the bridge has turned it into a death trap for pedestrians and two-wheelers, in particular. The iron strips that join the pillars of the bridge are jutting out from the road surface. Normally, they should be underneath the road.

Thick layers of bitumen have peeled off from the road surface. All this is a potent formula for a tragedy waiting to happen. This is the only bridge which links Delhi with Chandigarh and large parts of Himachal Pradesh.

A heavy volume of traffic crossing over the bridge has detached the expansion joints. Besides, hundreds of two-wheelers and four-wheelers cross the bridge in one direction per hour, reports say.

Vibrations produced by speeding vehicles on the busy Chandigarh —Ambala road have weakened the bridge and the machines used for mining purposes on the river bed near bridge pillars cause the problem, say experts.

Three years ago, PWD (Band R)had put ‘’mastic asphalt’’ to prevent jerks in the structure of the bridge. The problem has surfaced again .

There are four more bridges — one adjacent to the railway crossing, Bhankharpur, one near DAV School, Dera Bassi, one in Lahli village and one in Jharmari village near Lalru on Highway Number 22.

The condition of bridges at Kakrali village on the Dera Bassi-Mubarikpur- Ramgarh road linking Punjab with Haryana is also pitiable. An old bridge on the Zirakpur-Panchkula road is crying for repair.

Wide breaches have developed at expansion joints. At some places, bridges have lost the railings endangering lives of commuters. Embankments on approach roads to bridges are also in a bad state.

The Punjab Public Works Department authorities were not available for comments.

Bansal’s plea to Administration
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 2 — The local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, has urged the Chandigarh Administration that for the allotment of land to the cooperative house building societies, a rate of Rs 750, and not the enhanced rate of Rs 2,500 per sq yd be charged.

In a written statement, Mr Bansal recalled that such societies had deposited 25 per cent of the earnest money with interest of 18 per cent with effect from 1992 as demanded by the Administration and Chandigarh Housing Board.

The Administration in separate notifications on February 1 and 14 notified the rate of land for the cooperative societies and raised it to Rs 2500 per square yard, and the same was being demanded from all those societies who have already paid 25 per cent earnest money at the old price of Rs 750 per square yard. He said that cases of all such societies should continue to be covered by the old rates as per the explicit agreement between the societies on to one hand, and the Administration and the Housing Board on the other.

The delay in allotment of land to these societies is not attributable to them. They are people with limited income and had been hoping for years to get the land before getting their houses constructed.

BUSINESS

Mouth-watering dishes at Kerala food festival
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, April 2 — Keralites residing in Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula acted as ambassadors of their state as they organised the Kerala food festival under the banner of Malayalee Samajam at the Community Centre in Phase 3B1 here today. The visitors got a chance to taste several traditional mouth-watering dishes of Kerala.

Using the concept of food festival to market Kerela, the organisers provided an opportunity to the visitors to taste a variety of cuisine and to learn cooking of the dishes. Mr P.K. Abdul Kareem, Secretary of the Malayalee Samajam, said their organisation — a social-cultural voluntary organisation — had organised the festival for the first time.

The members of the samajam, known in the Keralite circle for their cooking skills, were asked to cook the dishes for the festival which they were allowed to sell at a no-profit-no-loss basis. By afternoon there was enough rush at the venue giving a hard time to the organisers to cater to the visitors.

Mr Karim said there were more dishes than the Idli, Dosa, Vada and Sambar known to the people in north. The festival, he said, was organised to provided an insight in to the art, culture and beauty of Kerela. He said the Keralites were diet conscious and there were dishes taken in routine and on special occasions.

For the awareness of the visitors there was a stall displaying various ingredients used in preparation of different appetite stimulating recipes.

Later in the evening an on-the-spot training programme was organised for volunteers at the venue.