EDUCATION

Students develop new technology
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, July 20 — Students of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bhaddal (Ropar), which is temporarily based here, have developed a new technology using light dependent resistors (LDRs).

Mr G.S. Virdi, head of the department of Computer Science and Instrumentation, said today that four students — Ms Ritu, Ms Satwinder Kaur, Ms Anjali Gupta and Ms Neetu Kainth — had successfully exploited the properties of the resistors and integrated these components with other devices to fabricate utility models such as an automatic hand dryer and a power failure indicator.

The students of the institute, which is affiliated to Punjab Technical University, observed that the characteristics of the LDR depended on the light falling on it. Whenever the light was cut off, the resistance reached a very high value. This aspect was used by them to trigger action of the associated components such as simple timers. Applications of this technology include starting of the motor of a dryer and activating alarms or sirens at banks, factories, ammunition depots, etc.

BE, B.Arch (general) seats filled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — At the joint admission to BE and B.Arch courses, all the 39 seats in BE chemical engineering in the general category were filled today. For Punjab Engineering College, all seats in the general pool were filled. However, some seats in the UT pool remained vacant.

The coordinator of the joint admissions has decided to hold counselling for the remaining seats tomorrow at 9 am. These seats are two in aeronautical engineering, PEC, 38 for civil engineering, PEC, 26 in metallurgy, PEC, and one in BE agro-processing technology.

It was further decided that counselling for foreign/NRI-sponsored/industry-sponsored candidates will be held on July 31 in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, PU.

Teacher denies beating principal
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Mr Harbir Singh Anand, a schoolteacher, today clarified that no violence took place during his meeting with the Principal of Government High School, Sector 11.

Reacting to a news item, ''Teacher suspended for beating the Principal'', he said, ''There was a discussion on the late coming of teachers due to heavy rain on July 18 with Mr S.K.Bharti, Headmaster of Government High School, Sector 11. Though the discussion took a hot turn between me and Mr Bharti, there was no beating, no dragging and no threatening of dire consequences by me. The discussion ended in a peaceful note.”

PU admissions
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — The interview for admission to M.Sc. Botany Honours first year, Panjab University, will be held on July 31 at 10 a.m. in the Department of Botany, Panjab University. Admission for the Foreign/ NRI/NRI-sponsored category will be held on August 1, at 10 a.m. The admission to the M.Tech microelectronics and instrumentation courses will be as per the schedule reported earlier at the Department of RSIC/CIL/USIC. 

COURTS

RI for two in burning case
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Nearly two years after a city resident was burnt to death by his in-laws, the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Godara, today sentenced the two accused to rigrous imprisonment for life, besides imposing a fine of Rs 500 each.

The two, Raja Ram and Shanti Devi of Ram Darbar, were directed by the Additional Sessions Judge to undergo imprisonment for another four months in default of payment.

The two were earlier booked by the Chandigarh police after victim Shambu Yadav, in his dying declaration recorded by Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr K.C. Garg, stated that his in-laws had poured kerosene on him before setting him ablaze. He had also alleged that they were not willing to send his wife with him.

The in-laws, when confronted with the incriminating evidence against them, had, however, denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, they had asked for trial. Deposing before the court, the two had alleged that Shambhu used to harass and frequently beat up their daughter.

Meanwhile, the convicted couple today moved a separate application before the ADJ requesting him to allow them to retain the six-year-old daughter of the deceased on the jail premises. The order on the application will be passed here on Monday.

Jain’s remand extended
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Former Home Secretary of the Chandigarh Administration N.K. Jain's judicial remand in a corruption case was today extended till July 29 by the Special Judge for CBI cases, Mr Lakhbir Singh.

Jain, booked in a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act along with Superintendent K.B. Goel, was earlier arrested by the CBI after he surrendered to it on May 9.

It was alleged in the first information report that Jain was operating in tandem with Goel to receive money from parties interested in the settlement of their cases pending before the Administration. Jain, it was also alleged, had dropped a charge sheet against Goel who had paid him Rs 25,000 for the purpose.

Jain had allegedly also asked Goel to get in touch with people interested in the settlement of their cases. He had also allegedly passed favourable orders in all such cases, which indicated that the parties concerned were accommodated by breaking rules. The FIR also stated that as per evidence, Goel was collecting money from people.

About Rs 2 lakh was allegedly collected from Mr Baljit Singh, who was promoted from the rank of Sectional Officer to that of Assistant Secretary, State Transport Authority. Mr Amarjit Singh, driver in the Weights and Supplies Department, had also paid money for being promoted as inspector in the department, it was alleged.

Remand extended
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — Mr Jatender Walia, Civil Judge (Junior Division) today extended the judicial remand of three accused in the Ranjit Bajaj case.

According to sources, the remand of the accused — Jagtinder Pal Singh, Surjeet and Ranbir — who had allegedly assaulted Ranjit Bajaj with swords, was extended till August 3 this year.

CULTURE

Images that exude freedom
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 20 — When a piece of art becomes the voice itself, the work becomes eternal. A part of this saying comes true when one views the works of this post-modernist artist from the city, who has been romancing with abstract expressionism for a long time now.

Now that his love with art has matured, it has a universal appeal and a lasting relevance. The strokes, nurtured for almost 20 years, speak the language of his heart in soft, subtle tones. When you sit opposite his work, which exudes freedom in every form, the rigidities which shackle art seem to crumble under the weight of liberated thought which his vibrant colours portray. What stands before you is a work inspired by mysticism of the East and concreteness of the West.

Brij is exhibiting ten works from his studio in Sector 11 and each tickles one's imagination. His triangles within triangles, circles within circles and straight lines grip the thought process at once, but release it still sooner. What lasts is freedom, a sensibility of intellectual symbolism and a sense of maturity of art — features which dominate Brij's creations. The power of portrayal suggests what the artist himself claims, "My works will be aesthetically valid for long because I am talking about what I feel as I see."

Brij is the only artist in the city who is wedded to abstract art and has not acquired this inclination from this land. There are complexions of the West in all his attempts at art. After taking a Masters in Fine Arts from Virginia, USA, Brij knew that he was not going to be another votary of the inflexibility of art. "In India, the artists are extremely conditioned. They know what they want to say. But what art are they propagating? Art should be all about aesthetics. You hold a brush, but you never know what it is going to create, because you are being guided by a mystic force which we call God."

Brij works with absolute independence and admits that he is working on the reality of God. His works have titles straight from life, which include At the other extreme (zero), Give me a kiss she said, Artist as a young man, Rich and famous paradox. Which work is the closest to his heart? "The one which idolises zero, the master of all numbers, the source from where numerology flows. Yet another is where the artist is soaring high as a youth. This one brings out the spirit of freedom through the wonderful play of whites and pinks," he says.

There is a lot of Vedantism in his creations, but there is Picasso's cubism also. The inspiration comes from Paul Klee, Miro and Kandinsky — proponents of abstract expressionism. "It is easy to pick up something which lets you be yourself, without any pretensions which are so dominant in the works of most Indian artists," he says. Brij praises the works of Arpana Caur, with whom he has held an exhibition in London.

As for experience at abstract forms, there is no dearth. With 21 one-man shows and 20 group shows, Brij is planning to hold another exhibition at Alliance Francaise shortly. He also has three foreign shows to his credit.