EDUCATION

Poet of the Millennium award for Dr Naresh
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — A professor of Modern Literature at Panjab University, Dr Naresh, was presented with the ‘‘Poet of the Millennium’’ award for his outstanding contribution to the Indian literature at a ceremony held in Birmingham recently.

An eminent poet and scholar, Dr Naresh is an author of 56 books and has received over 20 awards, which include state awards from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab and Bihar. He has also received the national awards from the President of India and the Imtiaz-e-Mir award from the All India Mir Academy.

Dr Naresh and other poets from Indian and Pakistan also recited their poetry at a Mushaira and a cultural programme following the award presentation ceremony.

Rush for provisional matric result
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, July 2 — Even as the UT Education Department has extended the last date of submitting application forms for admission to senior secondary classes in government schools till July 5, there was a rush of students seeking provisional result of the matriculation examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board in the board complex during the past two days.

However, yesterday the students had to return empty-handed as the counter to deposit fees was not open.

Meanwhile, the result gazette of Class X of the board will now be available at the district textbook depots from 8 a.m tomorrow. The gazettes have been dispatched to all the district sales book depots. Earlier the board authorities had said that the gazette would be available in the afternoon.

The result of the humanities group of the 10+2 class examination is likely to be declared by July 15.

Teachers trained in adolescent education
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, July 2 — A four-day workshop on adolescent education conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education concluded at Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, here today.

The workshop was held as part of training teachers before incorporating the subject of adolescent education in the school curriculum under the project on Population and Development Education launched by the CBSE in cooperation with the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Attended by 40 teachers from various schools of the city and Ambala, it was conducted by CBSE-appointed master trainers from Delhi who took sessions on population, environment and sustainable development, needs of adolescents and reproductive health, understanding adolescents and their problems.

The Registrar of the PGI, Mr D.R. Yadav, was the chief guest for the closing ceremony. He appreciated the project and gave mementoes to the experts and certificates to participating teachers. He said that the project was crucial in modern times.

CULTURE

Rann Babey Di tastes success
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Aerizzona was again the centre of attraction today and as the news spread that DJ Akbar Sami and pop singer Vikrant were to perform there. Within about half an hour of it, the discotheque got so crowded that persons could be seen struggling to gain an entry.

When things settled, the dance floor was jampacked. With Akbar Sami mixing music and Vikrant offering his latest hit number Rann Babey Di, the hall was ablaze. Vikrant was at his best today on his third visit to the city. On the earlier two occasions, the crowd had not appreciated him enough, but, it was different this time.

Vikrant said, "It is not the same every time. People may take time to appreciate you, but, if you have talent, they will surely accept you some day." Vikrant, whose first number, Gori Cham Cham Nache, had become an instant hit, could not stay for long on the pop scene. He said, "I realised that people wanted something closer to their roots. They have had an overdose of western rhythms."

That is how Vikrant got the idea to make Rann Babey Di, his first Punjabi pop album, which has six songs written by Vikrant himself and one by his late father. All songs have been composed by Vikrant who learnt music from Pandit Vishwapratap in London.

That the album was a hit was proved when Vikrant sang numbers from it at Aerizzona today. The crowd kept asking him for more and it seemed he was right when he said folk clicked. Vikrant also interacted with the Press today.

The Jalwa man and his new ventures
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — No matter how out of control life gets, there is always scope to bridle it. That is what Akbar Sami, the hottest DJ around, believes in.

And so even after his first album Jalwa 1 became a thundering hit, he did not sit pretty. He kept working on his talent and kept holding it, only to be offered the big task of mixing music for the hit number — Phir bhi dil hai hindustani. Yes, he was the man who worked with the London-based Partners in Rhyme and Bally Sagoo to make the song what it was — a big hit. He was especially invited by Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla to do this.

That is not the only success which he has achieved. The latest on Sami's credit list is that he is required to represent India in the All-Asia DJ's Meet, to be held at Singapore shortly. This is the first time an Indian DJ has been invited to take part in the big event.

"It is all by God's grace," said the humble DJ, who played for his fans at the local discotheque Aerizzona here today. Sami was in town only for about three hours when we caught up with him to know more about his latest album Jalwa 2, which was as amazing a hit as its earlier version. But what inspired Sami to continue with the same title. "It was the goodwill Jalwa 1 earned among the fans. They wanted more wildness and so I gave them Jalwa 2."

The new album also has a remix of a Marathi number from one of those Dada Kondke's films. The number, which goes Daga la lagli kad, was sung by Vijay Amin and Vaishali, and was suggested by Sami. Interestingly, Akbar is working on an album which will have a mixture of folk songs from all over India. "I plan to have about eight numbers in this folk album and I am travelling widely to pick a good assortment."

Commenting on the increasing inclination of listeners towards folk music, Sami said, "Culture is very dear to Indians. No matter how much they stray, they come back to their roots. That is why while the craze for the so-called Western beats is still on, they are also nourishing a liking for the traditional."

And Sami's observation is well established by the success of the Marathi folk number in his otherwise hot album Jalwa 2. "There was much resistance to the inclusion of that number. But later everything came around. Now that people have liked the number, I feel I should give them an-all-folk album." Another interesting fact about Sami is that his website, which is nearing completion.

Young performers steal the show
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — About 41 children performed at Tagore Theatre here today for the winning title in Tak Dhina Dhin programme, organised by Payal Music Club. The programme comes closely at the heels of the dance contest organised by the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts about a week back.

Today's programme is the third in the series of dance contests being organised by Payal Music Club, which seems to be engaged in the work of hunting for talent. As informed by the Director of the club, Mr Yashpal Chauhan, many entries were received. Before they actually decided to conduct the function, about 41 persons were shortlisted to perform in today's show, which was the 49th show being hosted by the club.

Today's function began with lighting of the lamp by Mr Krishanjit Singh, Assistant Secretary, Tagore Theatre. While Mr V. K. Bhadrwaj, superintending engineer, construction circle, Engineering Department, was the chief guest, Mr Vivek Atray, DPR, UT, was the guest of honour.

As for the performance, it was quite gripping as the children put in their best. The favourite numbers chosen were Chhaiyan chhaiyan, Chak dhum dhum, Pichhe pichhe aunda meri and Nimbura nimbura. The performance by Divya Ohri, a Class IV student, who danced on the tune of Teri meri ik jind, and that of Jagjot Singh Minhas, who presented a bhangra item, were well received. Other performers were also quite promising. Among the judges were Ms Shobha Koser, Mr Balkar Sidhu and Kamal Arora.

Children learn to recite mantras
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, July 2 — A summer training camp, Bal Sanskar Shivar, concluded amidst the chanting of mantras by children at the Arya Samaj, Sector 9, here today. While nine children learnt to recite advanced mantras of Swasti Vachan, 19 others received complete training in performing Brahm yajna independently.

Organised by the samaj, the camp drew an enthusiastic response from the children who proved to be quick learners during the one-month camp and recited the vedic mantras to perfection. Also the concluding function of the camp proved to be a success as the parents of participating children and members of the samaj turned up in large numbers for the programme.

Children performed Brahm yajna and recited swasti vachan mantras at the function.

The audience was particularly appreciative of the efforts of the youngest participant of the camp, Parul Aggarwal, who lived up to the expectations of her camp teachers, while reciting mantras at the conclusion ceremony.

A well-known scholar of Sanskrit, Dr B.D. Dhawan, a former Sessions Judge, presided over the function. He expressed delight over the extraordinary perfection displayed by the children during the recitation and later distributed prizes among the participating children.

The secretary of the samaj, Mr D.V. Batra, said that the zeal shown by the ''modern parents'' in inculcating moral values and keeping them well-versed with the tradition had encouraged the samaj to make this training a regular feature.

The purohit of the samaj, Mr Ram Murti Shastry, informed that the samaj had trained 54 children at the camps organised during the past three years.

Summer camp kids make statues of chalk
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 2 — Statues carved out of writing chalk, murals made with the help of white grams and plaster of paris from an interesting part of a fine exhibition of children's creations on display at Pracheen Kala Kendra in Sector 35. This is the output of a 15-day summer camp organised by two city residents.

The young artists have used a needle, poster colours, glitter and modelling clay to give shape to the writing chalk. Rabindranath Tagore, Lord Shiva, Lady of Kashmir and other statues in beautiful dresses.

Murals in the form of wall panels have also been made by the students. Paris plaster, chalk mitti, paints, varnish and white gram seeds have all gone into the making of these murals.

The other attractions of the display are 'emboj' paintings. A piece of velvet is used as the base for these three-dimensional lustrous pieces in floral designs, birds' pictures, folk lore and many more.

Soft and cuddly toys are cute enough to demand attention. Hanging, whistling and sleeping dolls, dumbo ducklings, clowns and other such toys are all the consequence of the kids' imagination.

Pots decorated with silver rice, thread and coloured ropes, tissue paper flowers, stocking flowers and dry flowers made with the help of grams and pulses and broom sticks are also on display.

Stain glass paintings, dot paintings, nib paintings and sketches are the other examples of a good effort by the students.

The exhibition was put on June 28 and will conclude tomorrow. The camp was organised from June 10 to 24 and an exhibition-cum-sale was put up at the Tagore Theatre earlier.

The summer camp was organised by Ms Seema Jaitley, lecturer at Government Home Science College, and Ms Anuradha Thakur, controller of examinations, at Pracheen Kala Kendra.