EDUCATION

Life returns to PAU campus
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 25 — After being dormant for a-month-and-a-half, the PAU campus has sprung back to life. The registration process for all students began today. The campus remained abuzz with activity as thousands of students visited it today.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, many students said the day had been boring as well as hectic, while many others said they had been eagerly looking forward to reunion with friends after a long break.

Students have to get the registration cards signed by the teachers concerned and advisers. Serpentine queues of students were seen outside the rooms of teachers for this purpose.

Gungeet, a fourth-year home science student, is happy after meeting all her friends again. Registration day is fun for her, despite being a hectic one. Divya, Gauri, Jagjeet, Danmeet and Nidhi are scared as they have to receive previous year's marksheets on the day.

The 40 students who migrated from the Kaoni college of Home Science appeared to be uncomfortable as they were not familiar with the place, teachers and the registration process.

Filling five registration cards appeared to be too boring and cumbersome for the MBA students who wished the process could be managed differently. Munish Mehandru, one such student, said, "I wish Xerox machines are used and the system is computerised." Pankaj Shrivastav, like most students, was happy at getting to meet friends after so many days. Manish Sharma, a student of agriculture economics, was sad because he was not able to meet all his friends.

Prof I.J.S. Jaswal, a teacher, said the registration system should be computerised and changed according to the present conditions. Dr O.P. Sahni, Head of the MBA Department, says that the faculty eagerly awaits this day, though it is hectic for both teachers and students.

Lawns preferred to canteen
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 25 — Some of the most unforgettable memories are attached to campus canteens, a place where students meet, discuss about the teachers and classmates.

But, the scene is not the same at the students’ home canteen in Punjab Agricultural University.

According to Mr Gulzar Singh, a worker, nearly 600 students visit the canteen everyday. But Mr M.S. Grewal, Welfare Officer, claims that at least 1000 students visit the canteen on an average.

Students prefer to sit outside the canteen. Monika, a final year student, said. “We prefer to sit outside as it is suffocating inside the canteen”.

The lawns outside the canteen get crowded right from the morning. Before going for the class or home, the students have a relaxing break here. Adjacent to the canteen is a cafe where junk food is available. Whereas the other booth supplies fresh juices.

Vishal Gupta, a third-year student, is not satisfied with the canteen. No serious discussions or arguments could take place there, he adds.

COURTS

Car company dupes consumers
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, July 25 — The District Consumer Forum here has been besieged with complaints against Pal Peugots Ltd., a car manufacturing company based in Thane (Maharashtra). A large number of consumers have approached the forum for the refund of earnest money amounting to Rs 25,000 along with applicable interest and compensation as the company had allegedly failed to produce and deliver the promised new model of the car.

Interestingly, while complaints keep pouring in daily, the forum had already decided against the company in more than 15 cases. The subsequent warrants of recovery of the earnest money and compensation sent to the company have either not been received or have had no action taken on them.

According to sources, the forum also received 15 another complaints against the company and the cases are under consideration. However, the non-refund of the earnest money to the consumers who had already won the case has demoralised complainants whose cases are pending.

On July 21, as many as four cases, all of different companies of M/s Bhogals Ltd. of the city, were decided against the car manufacturing company. According to the orders, these consumers had deposited Rs 25,000 each with the company and booked a new car named ‘model-309’ about three years back. Though the company had assured that the car would soon hit the roads, yet even after three years the promised model did not arrive. Deciding the cases, the forum had directed the company to pay a compensation of 18 per cent on the earnest money as well as compensation for costs.

The consumer forum, according to procedure sends a copy of the orders to the states concerned, which get the same implemented through the state police or authorities concerned with the “faulty” department.

Sources said that warrants had been issued and delivered but still the authorities concerned had not been able to force the “faulty” company to part with money. Interestingly, it has not come to the notice of the district forum here whether the “faulty” company approached the state commission against the orders. 

CULTURE

Inter-club dance competition
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, July 25 — The Ludhiana branch of the Asian Club in collaboration with the Indian Cultural Entertainment School held an inter- club dance competition at Rajindra Model Senior Secondary School yesterday.

Under the guidance of Mr Ravi Nandan Sharma, Project Director, and Mrs Rosy Chabra, Project Coordinator, nearly18 participants took part in the competition. They danced to the tunes of various latest songs and displayed their talent.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhatti, SP, Traffic, was the chief guest. Mr Ajit Pal Singh, president, Shivpuri Hosiery Welfare Association, inaugurated the colourful event.

The competition was divided in three categories. In the first category of 3-5 years ,Harvaneet got the first prize, while Milee and Guddu got second and third prizes ,respectively. In the category of 6-7 years, Ismat bagged the first prize, Himani and Supreet were declared second and third,respectively. In the last category of above 12 years, Madhuvar was judged first,while Monika and Kiranjot were judged second and third,respectively.

The chief guest gave away prizes to the winners and appealed the people of the city to come forward and help the traffic department to solve the traffic problems.

New life for classical singing
From Shivani Bhakoo

Renowned classical singer of the Patiala Gharana, R.L. Deepak feels that there can be no comparison between classical music and pop music.The Classical singing has feelings, rhythm and meaning whereas pop singing is based on beats only. Deepak started learning classical music under the guidance of his late father, the clarinet maestro, Ram Ditta. His father was a disciple of Ashiq Ali Khan Saheb of the Patiala Gharana.

Deepak has been giving performances on All India Radio and Doordarshan since 1956. Talking to The Tribune, he said, “I was born at Lyalpur (now in Pakistan) in 1937. After partition our family shifted to Ludhiana and I started taking training from the late Sangeetacharya Pt. Naurata Ram of Ludhiana”. After seven years of training, Deepak started learning music from Ustad Bakar Hussain Khan of Malerkotla who was the nephew of Ustad Ashi Ali Khan Saheb. During this time he learnt to have control over the Tanas of the Khayal Gayaki. The result was that he was given the title of ‘Captain of tanas’ by the Saraswati Sangeet Sabha.

In 1957, Deepak was appointed Cultural Welfare Officer in the Indian Railways. He promoted cultural activities in the Northern Railways. He has represented his gharana gayaki in almost all leading conferences through out India, including the famous Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, the Holi conference at Amritsar, the Basant conference at Hoshiarpur and also in Calcutta and Bombay. This classical singer was given a word of appreciation by the famous singers like Ghulam Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan. He admits, “all my achievements are due to my wife, Sudarshna, who has been pillar of strength throughout my life.” Almost all the leading tabla players, including Pt Shanta Prasad, Prem Vallabh and Fayyaz Khan, have accompanied him in his performances.

He has performed not only in India but in Asia and Euorope also where his singing was widely applauded. He has learnt so much from Pt Bhimsen Joshi of the Kirana Gharana. He says, “I am very much impressed by Pandit Ji’s style of singing and I try to follow his style as well.” Deepak follows Ustad Amir Khan’s style in bada khayal gayaki and Patiala ang and Sham Chowrasia ang in Drut Khayal. He has given various performances in light singing, including ghazals, thumri, taraana and khayal. He remarked cheerfully “my thumries yaad piya ki aayee and kya karoon sajni aaye na baalam were appreciated by ‘Shehanshah-e- Mausiki’ Ustad Salamat Ali and Nazakat Ali of Pakistan. Deepak has been appreciated by the Chairman of the Indian Railways for his outstanding performances in various competitions organised by the Indian Railways. He is full of appreciation for Begum Parveen Sultana, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Amir Khan and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb for their deep voices. Deepak has also written a book on primary education in music.

Deepak has trained several artises who are in the film industry like R.K.Khosla, Ajay Kumar and Santosh Kohli and who are promoting the classical music. Deepak has now settled in Ludhiana where he is giving training to budding artises. He wants to promote upcoming artists.He says, “I wish to elaborate the Khayal Gayaki as well as light music throughout my life.”