EDUCATION

Commercialisation of education opposed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — An organisation of educationists, doctors, engineers, parents and students — the Save Education Committee — yesterday highlighted central issues of concern facing education system.

The committee members staged a dharna carrying placards opposing commercialisation of education. There was also a voice against entrance tests for the medical and engineering courses.

The committee convenor, Mr P.S. Gill, said that industry should invest adequately in research and development to strengthen the education system. The committee also welcomed the starting of night classes. A memorandum in related issues were presented to the UT Administrator.

Dr K.K. Sharma, a former PUTA treasurer, Prof Ajit Singh, a former Panjab University fellow, Mr S.L. Bansal, secretary CPI, Prof N.P. Minocha, finance secretary of the PCCTU, Dr Jagwant Singh, president of the local unit of the PCCTU, and Prof Anil Sarwal, a former president, also participated in the dharna.

300 students get degrees
From A Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — Addressing the convocation and prize distribution function of the Dev Samaj College of Education, here, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, expressed concern over the deteriorating values in all spheres of life.

As many as 300 students were conferred degrees and prizes at the function. Professor Dhumal delivered the convocation address and gave away the prizes. Degrees were awarded to 150 BEd and MEd students of the session 1998-99. The toppers of the BEd course were Preet Raman, Manpreet, Sumeera and Gurjit. The toppers of MEd course were Sonia Thamman, Surbhi and Anu Joshi. Prerna Dhillon was declared as the all-round best student.

Dr Satinder Dhillon, Principal read the annual report.

CULTURE

Painting complexities of life
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — It's the entire labour of his life put together. He used to sketch in bits and pieces and save the creations for his own admiration. "But I never thought of displaying my creations until I was goaded by my friends into putting up an exhibition," said Ajaib Chitrakaar, whose exhibition has been inaugurated at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16, here by Dr Harcharan Singh, chairman, Punjab Arts Council.

The paintings are based on a variety of themes taken from life. There are scenes from the village, friends sharing a moment, a cold winter night and a tree reflecting a family.

The medium used is poster and pastel colours. "Although I am more comfortable with poster colours, I like to experiment with the mediums. Every medium has its own qualities. Its use depends upon the idea which the artist has chosen to put across," explained Ajaib Singh, who has also worked as a senior artist at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He is now teaching painting at his home in Ludhiana.

Among over 60 paintings on display, the most appealing ones are portraits of the artist himself and that of the legendary poet Sahir Ludhianavi. "We were great pals," said the artist as he pulled out a photograph which featured him in the presence of Sahir, Shiv Kumar Batalvi and Krishna Adib.

A variety of human emotions have been explored in the works which have been carefully chosen for the purpose of exhibition. The human emotions of sorrow and happiness have also been put on the canvass. The artist seems to be very comfortable with the depiction of families in the form of trees. So there are strong colours depicting a mother, father and a child. The painter's urge of peaceful co-existence is quite underlying.

There is a deviation from the routine of painting comfort. Ajaib Singh paints the burial ground with as much depth as he paints four girl children playing. The rhythm is strong in both works. There is one work which is noticeable from a distance, the one which explains complexities of life in colour. There is birth, death, bliss and sadness, all portrayed on the same canvas.

Graceful duet of sarod and violin

CHANDIGARH: As the mercury, tempers and sweating go on a high rise, exhausted bodies and souls look for a respite. The respite of soothing tones and tints. This is exactly what the instrumentalist duo, Mukesh Sharma and Anupriya Deotale, provided to a select gathering of music lovers at the Pracheen Kala Kendra here on Thursday evening. The humid, suffocating evening changed its tint and temper in favour of the musical duo, by translating the melody of different strings into an atmosphere of cool harmony.

In the times of all kinds of mindless fusions, a classical jugalbandi of two instruments of different behaviour and the scope is certainly creditable if not unique. Since sarod played by Mukesh and, violin played by Anupriya are instruments that express themselves at different levels of pitch and sound, so it is more a matter of creating harmony while integrating the two sound and instruments. Sarod demands more care with the pitch since the instrument does not have frets to help the player.

Mukesh, a disciple of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, played a finely tuned instrument with deft hands. Anupriya’s bowing technique on the violin accentuated its tonal and melodic quality. Anupriya is a disciple of Pandit Ramnarain. Both chose to play raga Maru Bihag, a raga that is played in the first quarter of the night using both madhyams shuddha as well as sharp. The recital began with a short alap executed aesthetically within a short time frame. This was followed by three compositions in jhaptaal and teentaal. The melody introduced in the alaap was led to its logical culmination in the rhythmic patterns.

The second raga for the evening chosen by the artistes is played at around midnight, raga Gorakh Kalyan, which sounds quite unlike Kalyan and give shages of raga Durga and Bageshri in its movement. The use of Komal Nishad makes it a raga of tender and serene mood. The expressive potentialities of both the instruments being different, to maintain the psychological and emotional balance of the notes is a work of deft hands and imaginative minds. Both the artistes possess these in abundance. They were accompanied on the tabla by Arshad Khan.

— By Vandana Shukla

Window to culture through dances
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 12 — A colourful cultural programme, showcasing the varied culture of the region, was presented at the annual programme of the Sri Sai Arts, a theatre and arts group, at Tagore Theatre, here today.

The programme began with an invocation to Goddess Saraswati, followed by an enactment of Cinderella by three-year-olds of Toddlers World, a Panchkula school. A dance number, Churri Jo Khanki Haathon Mein, was also presented.

Later, members of the group, aged between 12 and 20, presented a glimpse of Himachali music culture. Dancing to the tune of Niki Balen Rakhni, Woti Rakhni Kabootar Vargi, girls put up a good show.

Girls in traditional Rajasthani attire presented a splendid dance to the tune of Nimbuda, whirling colourful lehngas. A Haryanavi dance based on a folklore was also presented, besides a solo performance on a Punjabi number.

A play Vyah Kuddi Da, Mundan Pyo Da was staged by amateur artists. Based on the evils of dowry, it conveyed the message that the problem could be removed if the youth took a stern stand on the issue.

The Managing Director of the Punjab Cooperative Training Institute, Mr J.P. Gupta, was the chief guest at the function.