EDUCATION

Aviation management programme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 6 — A delegation from the USA, specialising in aviation management, recently signed an agreement with the Institute of Future Management Trends (ITFT) during a visit here. As part of the agreement, students will acquire professional competency in aviation management.

Dr Gulshan Sharma, Director, ITFT, said the areas chosen for training are for air hostess, flight steward, airlines city office, automation training, and ground handling staff at international and domestic airports. Among the highlights of the programme are the use of sophisticated software exhibits, presentations and other material. ITFT has also been invited to take part in the World Air Transport Training Conference and Tradeshow (WATS 2000) being held at Frankfurt.

PU bids farewell to seniors
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 6 — Ruksat, the farewell cultural programme for Panjab University senior batches was marked with a jam-packed auditorium and a good response here today.

The show proved to be a good mix of music, dance and drama. Comedy items, in particular, drew the maximum applause. Pankaj, a student of the Department of Indian Theatre, who was the anchor, entertained the crowd with sheer variety, both comic and musical.

Mr B.M. Sagar, presided over the function. Noted comedian Jaspal Bhatti was the special guest. He showed a glimpse of his stage excellence in a brief but amusing address. Dr V.K. Bansal, Dean Student Welfare, introduced the events.

The function seemed to be organised by the Student Organisation of Panjab University, judging by the banners at the venue. The SOPU President, Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa, also happens to be the President of the Panjab University Campus Students Council. The invitation also came in a PUCSC press note.

A mimicry about a Punjabi village school teacher and the musical number Hai O Rabba were the highlights of the show. Shravan presented a recent hit Bollywood number.

Trust to set up orphanage
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, April 6 — An orphanage and a yatri nivas will be set up in Phase IIIA, here, by the Shaheed Udham Singh Educational and Charitable Trust.

Addressing a press conference today, the trust Chairman Wing Cdr Baldev Singh (retd), said in the three-storey building with a basement, the first floor would house the yartri nivas while the orphanage with the school would be on the second floor. Besides, there would be an auditorium on the ground floor and a charitable dispensary in the basement. The project would cost around Rs 1.25 crore.

The trust, he said, comprised 93 trustees, each of whom had to contribute Rs 11,000. There were 17 life members.

The foundation stone of the building would be laid by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on April 9 as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of the martyr.

Club gives books to school
From Our Correspondent

PARWANOO, April 6 — The Rotary Club here in collaboration with the local State Bank of India distributed books, note books and writing material to all students of Government Primary School, Ambota, near Parwanoo.

Mr Sanjay Sharma, Assistant Commissioner, presided over the function and Kanwar Virender Singh was the guest of honour at the function.

According to Sanjeev Jain, president of the club, Rs 20,000 contributed by the Rotary Club and Rs 5,000 by SBI for the distribution of the books.

Ex-Welhamites honour new Principal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 5 — Welham Girls High School, Dehradun a prestigious school of the country, held a meeting of ex-Welhamites at the DSOI, Sector 36, here today to honour the new Principal, Mrs Jyotsna Brar.

An ex-Welhamite, Mrs Brar joined the school in 1959. She returned to school in 1987 and taught till 1992.

An interactive session was held with the Principal.

One of the most progressive all-girls residential school, Welham was founded in 1957 by Miss Oliphant. It was named by its first Principal, Miss Grace Mary Linnell, after a little village in England. Over the years Welham has produced women who have made a mark for themselves in such diverse fields as law, media, business and education, including Radhika Roy, Tavleen Singh and Neerja Guleri.

COURTS

AC company fined and told to refund purchase price
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, April 6 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum ordered M/s Pearl Marketing Agency, Chandigarh, to refund Rs 23,000 to Mr R.K. Kaushal towards price of a defective air-conditioner and pay Rs 1,000 as litigation expenses.

In his complaint, Mr Kaushal had alleged that in June, 1998, he purchased a 1.5 ton capacity air-conditioner fitted with a Carrier compressor and assembled by the agency at a cost of Rs 23,000. No bill or guarantee card was issued.

However, within a week of the AC's installation, it started giving trouble on one account or another. He asked the agency to replace the AC or refund the amount but according to the complaint, the agency turned a deaf ear.

He further stated that the guarantee period was to lapse in June, 1999, which necessitated the complaint. The AC had been lying unused for about 11 months. He alleged that even after issuance of a notice in May, 1999, no purpose had been served.

Upon notice, the agency put in no appearance and thereafter was duly proceeded against ex parte in September, 1999. Finding the company guilty of deficient service, the bench observed that from the evidence produced by the complainant, it was established on record that the AC was defective and the agency had not dared to rebut the evidence.

In another case, against the Haryana Urban Development Authority, the court ordered an interest compensation of 15 per cent, a payment of Rs 10,000 for mental agony and Rs 2,000 towards cost of proceedings in favour of Ms Pushpa Ran of Bhatinda, for not offering the possession of her plot within a reasonable period of three years. The complainant stated that she was allotted a plot in Sirsa for a tentative cost of Rs 2,94,800, which was deposited from time to time and yet the possession of the plot was not given to her.

Following this, she wrote a letter to HUDA in 1993 and received a reply which said they were unable to offer possession since electric wires were passing over the plot in question. In 1998, she was informed that she could take the possession of the plot from HUDA but was surprised to find that the electric wires were still passing over the plot.

In reply, HUDA admitted that they were bound to offer possession of the plot after removal of the electric wires which was done in 1998 and possession had been taken. The bench, in its order, observed that the plot was offered after a lapse of seven years of initial allotment though it should have been done within a reasonable period of three years.

Two-yr RI for forging marksheet
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 6 — Convicting two brothers of forging marks statement, the UT Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr H.S. Madaan, today sentenced them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years and also pay a fine of Rs 500 each. The magistrate further directed accused Ajay Kumar and Jamna Prasad to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of three months in case of default of payment of fine.

Ajay and Jamna were booked for forgery on July 27, 1992, following a detailed inquiry into the allegations that Jamna had helped his brother Ajay in forging the original marksheet and had prepared a false marks statement where his marks were shown as enhanced. Ajay, a student of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, was in the dock after he showed a forged marksheet to his principal who questioned him on how his marks were enhanced. He explained his position by saying that the marks were increased after re-evaluation.

The prosecution stated that the complaint in this regard was forwarded by Regional Officer, CBSE, Mr Y.P. Katyal, who received both marks statements at his office. Following investigation, Jamna Prasad was asked to reveal the source of both the statements. While one statement was found to be genuinely issued by the CBSE the other was found to be a fake one. Jamna also gave a confessional statement in this regard. Although the defence counsel argued that the said statement was sought under coercion and that Katyal himself had dictated the matter of the said statement, the Magistrate held that since Katyal and Prasad never had any enmity, it was improbable that such an act would be done.

CULTURE

Computer-aided designs dominate
By Gaurav Sood
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 6 — Advertising campaigns created by 18 students of the Applied Arts stream of the Government College of Art went on display at the college yesterday. The campaigns are supposed to embody all that the students have learnt in the fouryear degree course.

The trend toward computer-aided design has been much in evidence over the past couple of years. The number of students who prepare their campaigns completely “by hand” is clearly on the decline. Needless to say, not everyone approves of the trend. Bhanu, a topper for the past three years, described the professionally done, computer-graphics effort as “a moral threat” and “bad for those students in the long run since I don’t think they will do well in their careers”. Pointing to the 16 works she had done, she said that she had done the entire job herself and used airbrushing to show off the talent she had honed during her years in college.

Computer graphics artist Arvind Naregal who provided the skill that materialised the ideas of many students, admitted: “Most of the students got their campaign designed from different advertising agencies and graphic artists; it suits both parties,” he said. Sanjay Singh, a graphic artist with a city’s advertising agency, shoued many campaigns which his office had designed for the students. “I like the business it brings me, but of course doing it this way makes a mockery of the Panjab University’s examination policy.” Sector 17’s Ajanta Graphics proprietor, Gagan Gupta, described the projects as “good business for us” and went on to plug his services ... “best quality work but also a discount to professional course students”.

But it doesn,t come cheap. A man helping his daughter put up her campaign display admitted that he had paid a fat sum to an advertising agency.

Bahadur Singh created a campaign for “Pack Tours and Travels Pvt. Ltd.” used computer-aided design. But he did the work himself. He pointed out that some students had spent up to Rs 10,000 on outside professional help. “I can’t afford that ... mine is a do-it-yourself effort.” Bahadur has displayed excellent work using various Software packages.

Of course, even when the work is all by hand, one can spend quite a packet on the project. Manisha Singh, an appliedarts student, has displayed marvellous work in charcoal sketched posters and layouts for CRY. “I spent Rs 5,000,” she says.

Mr Brahm Prakash, a senior teacher of the college, declared that he never allowed students of his department to work anywhere other than the college and wanted “stern steps taken against students who buy their work from professionals”. Another teacher, Mr D.S Kapoor, comments on the situation: “Computers are now part of our daily lives. They students will come to computers eventually, but they should avoid them when they are still learning because they will not develop as artists. They will be aesthetically weak.”

“I know some students get their works made by professionals. What can you do? Corruption and dishonesty has entered every sphere of life,” shrugs college principal and Triennial Award-wanning painter Prem Singh. “ Since the college lacks proper infrastructure to meet the students’ demands, it becomes very difficult to stop this dishonesty. All we can do is give them lower marks,” he said.

That may not be much of a deterrent.

Ad campaigns reflect social concerns
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 6 — It is an art show which transcends farther beyond. From a commercial tinge to a social concern, it reflects a vast range of creative urges of the students of Government Art College, who have masterminded 18 advertisement campaigns, each equally rich in concept and colour.

The Surajkund Mela depiction by Bhanu Arora and the wonderful blending of red and black for the Pack Travels campaign by Bahadur Singh were particularly striking creations. While Radhika Chaudhary concentrated on spary to show how natural the Ravalgaon products were, Nitasha Gupta chose to go online with Satyam Online.

Yet another fresh attempt came from Manisha Maulia who reflected her concern over the languishing children of India. Lauding the role of Child Relief and You (CRY), she sketched children with a charcoal pencil.

The other students who exhibited their campaigns were Ruchi Gandhi, Sheenu Bimbrahw, Vandana Arora, Nitin Chauhan, Saru Singh, Deepshikha Goyal, Aditi Chahar, Saru Rana, Manu Gupta, Charu Bansal, Pallavi Aggarwal and Bharti Sharma.

Principal of the college, Mr Prem Singh informed: “This print media campaign is also assessed by us. The objective of having this exhibition is to give our students a launching pad in their careers. It’s very interesting to see the youth interested in social problems and taking pains to reflect their concern towards the same through their creativity.”

The exhibition kicked off to a wonderful start today after it was inaugurated by Home Secretary Mr M.P. Singh.

A man with a mission
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 6 — Shashiv Chandran is a man with a mission. An English honours graduate from Delhi University sans any qualifications in textile designing, he has taken upon himself the task of reviving the traditional Indian handicrafts and eliminating the middlemen between the weaver and the consumer.

Chandran, who set up “Utsav”, an exclusive handloom outlet at Delhi 10 years back, said here yesterday that inspite of the onslaught of the MNCs the future of the handicrafts was bright and there was encouraging response to the exhibitions of traditional handicrafts from the people.

Preferring originality, he avoided “mix and match”, as in this way the item lost its identity, he said. And for this he travels to the remote village having ancient skills such as Venkatagiri and Gadwal in Ahdhra Pradesh and Bagru and Sangaver in Rajastan.

In fact at a hotel in Sector 22 he had displayed a wide range of “original” handicrafts such as Ikat from Orissa, Maheshwari from MP and tie and dye from Gujarat. Trying to revive the beauty of saree, he is keen to make the customers aware of the regional specialities.

In the wake of the super cyclone in Orissa, the handicrafts of the state weavers were given special preference in the last exhibition put up by “Utsav”, he said, adding that the theme-based exhibitions were a regular feature.

The response has been tremendous not only in the metropolis but in the smaller cities, he claimed.

Even in the age of the jeans and skirts, saree has its unique place. No bride can wear a jean and at the formal occasions, it was a must for others, he added.

Maati art of women potters

AS part of their fund raising activities, People for Animals, Chandigarh, has ventured into organising a group exhibition displaying an unusual ensemble of earthenware by 10 eminent women potters of the country. The show aptly titled ‘Maati Art from the Earth’ is a Chandigarh special and a continuation of what has already been exhibited by the Delhi chapter of People for Animals. Ever since its inception in 1995, the local wing of this active NGO has portrayed its enterprising spirit by organising crowd-gathering events as their fundraisers. A mention of their previous shows will be sufficient to identify the commitment the NGO has towards its cause. In 1995 they presented Feroze Khan’s popular theatre production ‘Saalgirha’; 1996 gave Chandigarhians the opportunity of meeting their favourite cine stars Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Kapoor at a celebrity dinner hosted by the organisation; in 1997 the Times Bank donated an Ambulance to the NGO besides the Cadbury-Schwepps sponsored raffle draw show. And in 1998 a painting exhibition was held showcasing works of the famous artist Manu Parikh at the Alliance Francaise Art Gallery.

Maati Art from the Earth is a sequel to the painting show which was titled as ‘Art from the Heart’.

The exhibition-cum-sale will be displaying the creations of studio potters Zoya R. Sharma, Lekha Bhagat, Manisha Bhattacharya, Ela Mukherjee, Rachna Parashar, Leena Batra, Usha Chadha, Ruby Singh, Monika Thukral Kohli and 67-year-old Bani De Roy.

The exhibition will be open from April 12 to 15 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10.

— Suparna Saraswati