The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

UK varsity contemplate sex change programme
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 18 — Nottingham University, UK, is contemplating academic exchange programme with Panjab University. This was stated by Prof Sir Colin Campbell while talking to TNS here yesterday.

Prof Campbell, Vice-Chancellor, visited Panjab University during the earlier part of the day. He had a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and other senior staff. The team also went round various departments of the university.

Prof Campbell said he expected Peter Mansfield an expert in magnet resonance imaging, to visit the campus to study the latest developments in the field. The VC said the field had gained importance during the recent times.

Prof Colins said he was keen while his visit to the Chemical Engineering Department. About 15 years ago the two institutions were planning research activities together. The programme, however, could not materialise.

Prof Colins said that the UK had nearly 140 universities divided into leagues. Mr Nathu Ram Puri, a prominent NRI, was also present on the occasion.

A press release of PU said the faculty here should identify areas of research at Nottingham that interest the PU scholars and formulate proposal on these which would have financial support.

Exhibition on May 27
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 18 — An exhibition of products made by plus two students pursuing vocational courses in fashion designing, clothing construction and textile design printing is being organised by the UT Education Department on May 27 and 28 at the Sector 15 Lajpat Rai Bhavan.

The items on display and sale will include stuff for children, teenagers, women’s garments, besides hand painted, block and screen printed linen, sarees, dupattas and other gift items. According to D.S. Saroya, DPI (Schools), the main objective of organising this exhibition was to develop entrepreneurship skills among students so that they could start their own ventures after passing these courses. Informaton regarding avenues for further employment and training will be given to the visitors.

CULTURE

The madari tradition

IT is commonly believed that the culture of the west has influenced the rich cultural heritage of our country to such an extent that the day is not so far when even its traces would be lost for ever. Such belief is both baseless and untrue because a survey of the cultural scenario of the northern region establishes that the roots of our cultural heritage have been so deep and strong that one can’t even dream of its extinction.

Take, for instance, the madari culture and tradition to justify the above. In the prominent cities of the undivided Punjab — Sialkot, Gujranwala, Lahore, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Shimla — the madaris were an integral part to our society, holding a place of prominence on the socio-cultural scene of the north. And they are as popular today as they were before the partition. My 75-year old mother often tells me that while she was a student of a primary school at Sialkot, all the school children looked forward to a madari who frequented the school during the recess to regale the children with the monkey show. The headmistress paid him a dhela for each performance. During my childhood at Shimla, I observed that the madaris were a common sight in various localities of the city. In the late 50s the madaris appeared in Chandigarh and its adjoining hamlets wherefrom they moved about in the lanes of the government quarters to entertain the settlers here by exhibiting the traditional monkey and bear dances. The spectacular demonstration of the feat focussing on the monkeys marriage is still very popular among the children, the young as well as the old. Similarly, a large number of people are tempted towards a madari who enthrals them with a typical dance performance by a bear. The monkeys and the bears dance to the loud beat produced by the dugdugi (a handy drum played skillfully by the madari).

For providing such an entertainment, a madari earns about a minimum of Rs 50 a day. Interestingly, this money, mostly in coins, is collected by the performing animals in the bowls which they extend towards the spectators. A madari confessed that taming the animals for such performances is an uphill task. I was surprised to know from him that the snake-charmers, known as sapiadas, also fall into their category. As elsewhere in the northern region, the snake-charmers are also popular among the inhabitants of Chandigarh and its nearby colonies for they provide entertainment to the spectators with an musical dance of the snake. Besides, an interesting battle of life and death between the saanp and the nevla with an interesting commentary by the snake-charmers keeps the spectators spell-bound. Artist Sobha Singh was so enamored of a sight of the snake-charmer that he painted him on his canvas. The painting is very popular for its beauty and accuracy in the world of art.

Although the madaris are termed as just ‘tamashawala’ by the people, their history of origin is very old and rich. Unlike the marasis, the younger generation of madaris is unaware of its rich historical past. When an attempt was made to have the first-hand account from a few of them in the open lawns of city’s Sector 17, they replied in naught. History has it that the madaris, also known as qalandars, are the followers of Zindah Shah Madar, the celebrated saint of Makanpur in Oudh. His name was Bazi-ul-din Shah, and he was a converted Jew who was born at Aleppo in 1050 A.D. He is said to have died at Makanpur at the mature age of 383 years. His descendants are the madaris about whom it was said that they were never to be scorched by fire, and to be secure against venomous snakes and scorpions, the bites of which they have power to cure. Even the monkeys and the bears can’t do any harm to them. From the earliest times the madaris wear their hair matted and tied in a knot. Their favourite dress is kurta-lungi. Some of them are also found dressed in white kurta and pyjama. Most of them belong to the beshara section of the Muslim orders who regard no religion, creed, or rules of life, though they take pride is introducing themselves as Muslims. The statistics indicate that at present there are 3200 madaris in Amritsar, 6600 in Jalandhar, 5400 in Ludhiana, 2000 in Hoshiarpur and 800 in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

— By J.S. Bedi

Talent as transparent as glass
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 18 — Talent has no age, they say... and rightly so. One believes this after taking a round of Art Folio which has on display, pieces of glass made exquisite by a 23-year-old for whom, "life is about refining one's skill".

Ask Komal Kumar what makes her put up an exhibition of paintings on glass at such an age when few artists dare to face the world, and the reply is, "I have invested a lot of sweat in making this exhibition come true. Each piece has been created with great toil. I have worked on perfecting and upgrading my skill. I owe much to my family and friends, too."

Her paintings bear a testimony to her toil. These are not only professional, but also powerful. Komal, a graduate of the local College of Arts, said she had finished the displayed paintings in about a month. However, it seems that a lot more time has been invested in making these.

The artist, who received training in stained-glass painting from a private teacher in Delhi, specialised in it from the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. She has allowed her imagination to travel wide. Therefore, she paints in all colours...from the traditional reds, blues and greens to the bold and modern yellows and oranges. Her themes are varied and far from conventional. "I don't believe in too much rigidity," she says.

Ganesha is in focus and Komal has painted four images in different postures. Krishna has also been painted and she has taken care of details like the tilt of his flute.

"One among these is not for sale," says Komal, pointing towards a bright red floral assemblage. "This is my first painting and I have a lot of emotions attached to it." She has also painted women in powerful hues.

Another feature is that all these paintings are set in cloth. "It gives a brighter look to these. One can also choose foil in some cases," says Komal. She also says that apart from the wiring technique, she has also employed the tube technique. "Wiring is done on the panel in the form of the image you want to create, after which, the colours are filled," she says.

The pedestal lamps are exquisite and seem to have many admirers. Apart from this, there are also napkin holders and coasters.