EDUCATION

PU students develop cyber book-bank
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 2 — Students of the Master of Computer Applications course in Panjab University have developed a book-bank website for users.

The website is an independent effort of the students and a test version of it was launched in December 1999 in the city. Its success at the local level has led to developing of a similar programme at the national level.

Click on name of a desired book on the website and even if you are in Kohima, it will be delivered to you within two days.

"On April 24, we have put the new version on-line. The concept is easier to understand and the website is technically better than the rest of the similar ones," Munish Jauhar, a team-member said. The computer book bank has access to all Internet-linked computers nationwide. All systems users can be the possible buyers.

Explaining the concept, Wangchuk Dorjay said one could open an account on the site www.inthebrowser.com with any amount one liked. Persons could borrow or buy books against the balance sum in their accounts. One could continue to buy or borrow as many times as one needed. There was also a provision for closing the account and refunding the balance.

Anil Kumar Sharma said one could order the book from anywhere all over the country on the Internet using the website. The "library-cum-bookshop" has tied up with a leading courier company. No extra charges have been proposed for the book delivery.

Pankaj Singh said 15 per cent discount could be offered on the purchase of books. The discount could even be 50 per cent in case of selected books.

The site offers about 50,000 titles. Books can be traced under various heads like subjects, authors, titles and publishers, besides the others.

Jauhar said, "There are other similar sites also, but, our site is technically better. The highlight of the bank is its user friendliness." There will be pass books on the site, maintaining individual records. The books borrowed for reading, but, not returned within three months will be treated as sold.

Poster-making competition for kids
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, May 2 — An inter-school painting-cum-poster-making competition was held at Yadavindra Public School here today.

A large number of students from 15 schools of Chandigarh and SAS Nagar took part in the event, organised by the Generation Saviour Association.

According to the President of the association, Ms Amteshwar Kaur, students from Classes I to XII had been divided into five categories. The aim of the competition was to bring about awareness among schoolchildren about the ill-effects of tobacco.

As many as 78 prizes will be given to the winners on May 31 (No Tobacco Day).

Pak writer for promoting all languages
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 2 — Popularisation of Punjabi in Pakistan was a “linguistic jehad” for its righteous place. Urdu was given far more importance compared to other languages, which was wrong.

This was remarked by Fakhar Zaman, a social activist and an established author in Punjabi from Pakistan, while speaking at the ICSSR complex at Punjab University. Zaman has worked as cultural advisor to Benazir Bhutto.

Zaman was also sent to prison when Zia-ul-Haq took over the country. His books were banned. It was only in 1996 that his books were printed.

Zaman emphasised that all languages spoken in the country were national and deserved equal status.

There could be no art without commitment, he said. Art for arts sake deserved a debate. Art has to be for social change and literature has to be an instrument for social change.

Strong writers are basically anti-establishment. In today’s times, the ruling elite bends rules to suit its convenience.

Zaman said traditional views needed a shake-up during the changing times. Traditional views and concepts needed to be adjusted according to times and need a close look. Literature has no boundaries and limits.

Prof M.M. Puri, Vice Chancellor, also spoke on the occasion.

COURTS

Forum holds Hoffland Finance guilty
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 2 — Disposing of two complaints filed here by local residents against Hoffland Finance, Chandigarh and Delhi branch, the UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum I here held the company guilty of having withheld the deposits of the complainants and not having paid back despite maturity.

The bench consisting of the president, Dr H.C. Modi, and members, Dr R.K. Behl and Mrs Shashi Kanta, directed the two branches of the company to bear the liability and pay back principal amounts to the complainants along with interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum. The complaints were filed here by Mr Baldev Singh Ahluwalia (who had made a deposit of Rs 1.40 lakh in a scheme floated by the company) and by his daughter, Ms Indu Ahluwalia, who had deposited Rs 1 lakh.

The Bench, while announcing the order in favour of the complainants, also directed the respondent firm to pay Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000, respectively, to Mr B.S. Ahluwalia and Ms Indu Ahluwalia against the costs of litigation incurred by them.

It may be mentioned here that two directors of the firm (Lt Gen Jagdish Narain and Maj Gen Pramod Kapur), treated as respondents by the complainants, were absolved of the responsibility by the Forum on grounds that the two had joined the company after the scheme in question was floated. The manager of the firm was also not directly held responsible for the deficiency on part of the firm.

The complainants in their complaint to the Forum had earlier mentioned that they deposited the amounts in a scheme floated by the firm but the amount was not paid back to them despite the fact that the maturity date had long expired. Taking a serious view of the situation, the Bench ordered the firm through its Chairman and Managing Director based at Delhi, Mr B.B. Sharma, and also through its Director, Mr D.P. Nayyar.

CULTURE

Fragrance of rural life

BHUP SINGH GULIA is the best known artist of Haryana. He was born and brought up in a small village in the district of Jhajjar. The village was without electricity and roads. Farming was the only occupation. Mud houses, rural landscape and lively peacocks enriched his delight as a young boy. The dust, smoke and light created a kind of mystery which not only was etched on his memory but aroused his curiosity to go a little deeper into it. The silhouetted form and the simmering colour that he experienced later became the search of his artistic journey. The walls of village houses served as canvas for him and he was often seen making drawings at the behest of villagers.

Drawing was not a subject at his school. It all began when his science teacher engaged him in the decoration of his school room. He was so impressed by Bhup’s art that he advised him to take up art as one of the subjects. The art teacher refused but later he admitted him with great reluctance. Impressed by his son’s artistic talent, his father got him admitted to the Chandigarh College of Art. He was excited by the beauty of the city. He topped the examination and his creative artistic expressions gave him an identity.

Today Bhup Singh Gulia is an artist of recognised merit. His drawings and paintings are the reflections of his experiences that he has had as a rural boy. The misty effects with all its variation of tones and gradations mark his compositions. These are playful expressions of a relaxed and passionate mind. The expressions slowly unveil the layers of memory with no inhibition. These are born out of pure enjoyment. The images appear freely. The nuances of texture and tone enliven his drawings and paintings.

His imagination expresses man and his response to nature. The harmonious wholeness between the two in different states and situations is what he seeks. Bhup uses powder colour, pencil, crayons and wax in single or in combination on paper in a variety of ways. The simmering glow and the silhouetted effects bring one closer to the village and the fragrance of its life. The medium facilitates the transmission of the passion. He paints in oil but sometimes, in his opinion, the lengthy process of the technique kills the joy of spontaneity in expression.

Gulia is holding an exhibition of his new paintings and drawings from May 6 to 9 at the galleries of Punjab Kala Bhavan, Rose Garden, Chandigarh. Mr S.S. Jha, Commissioner, Central Excise and Customs, will inaugurate it on May 6. — Prem Singh

Frames speak at new art gallery

THE wait is over. The doors of the new art gallery are open for and all. Yes, Reymen’s Art Gallery was inaugurated today by none other than the renowned artist Shiv Singh. Located in Sector 17, opposite Ghazal Restaurant/Hot Millions in the basement of a bank it is really a cool place to be in, particularly in summers. On display were beautiful works of art in oil, water, plaster-of-paris, pastels. There were about 50 bigger frames and 100 miniatures. The figuratives were very beautiful. It seemed as if they would speak up any moment, and most of them were village belles.

The gallery will be divided into two sections. One will house those works which will be only for display like European reproductions and Indian original works. The other section will be utilised for exhibitions. According to Mr. M.S. Nagra and his daughter Reyman, people responsible for the launching of this gallery “We will first screen the works of the artist and then give approval for exhibiting them.”

The subjects of works were as distinct as they could be-abstract, semi-abstract, figurative, nature. Themes were from Hindu mythology, Sikh heritage, Haryanvi, Rajasthani rural background. Some of the works were from Mr. Nagra’s personal collection.

— Priti Verma