EDUCATION

Batch timings irk students
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 9 — Resentment prevails among students of postgraduate diploma in software exports and e-commerce which was started as a joint venture by Punjab Technical University and Asset International. The students who are employed in some private companies allege that they were told that the classes would be taken in four batches, including one in the evening, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. However, no such batch has been started.

The employed students say, “we are now in a dilemma. We will either have to leave the job or the course. We have already paid a hefty fee of Rs 10,000. Had we known earlier that the evening batch will not be started, we would not have opted for the course.”

Even some girls who are simultaneously taking up other degree courses like M.Tech and B.Ed complain of similar problem. “We were told to fill preferences for either of the four batches. We, therefore, thought we would get the batch according to our convenience. But the evening batch which we preferred has not been started at all.”
Mr Deepinder S. Sekhon, centre

director, Asset International, when contacted said, “We got the form for preferences filled as part of the survey so that we could conduct classes for the three most preferred batches. The evening batch was filled by very few students, so we decided to drop that particular batch.”

CULTURE

Preparations on for Mohan Singh Mela
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 9 — Prominent writers and singers from abroad would take part in the two-day 22nd Prof Mohan Singh Mela to be organised here on October 20 and 21.

Giving details of the preparations, Mr Pargat Singh Grewal, president and Mr Gurbhajan Gill, general secretary of the Prof Mohan Singh Foundation, informed that noted kavishar Karnail Singh Paras Ramoowalia, prominent writers Gurdev Singh Mann, Iqbal Mahal, Iqbal Ramoowalia (all from Canada), Gurdev Singh Chitti, president, Punjabi Sahit Sabha, Yuba City (California), along with singers Mander brothers (Canada), Ranjit Rana (New Zealand) and many others had confirmed their participation in the mela.

A meeting of the foundation was convened earlier at Punjabi Bhavan to take stock of the arrangements and finalise the programme for the cultural event. It was attended, among others, by Principal Prem Singh Bajaj, Prof Ravinder Bhattal, Prof Niranjan Tasneem, Mr Amarjit Grewal, Mr Nirmal Jaura, Dr S. N. Sewak, folk singers Mohammed Siddiq, Surinder Chhinda, president of the Baba Farid foundation, Mr Jaswant Singh Chhapa, and many other prominent persons from different walks of life.

Mr Grewal said that the first day of the mela would be dedicated to literary activities to be held in Punjabi Bhavan. A seminar on the writings of Prof. Mohan Singh, to be organised in collaboration with the Punjabi Sahit Academy, would mark the opening of the mela with presentation of papers by Prof Kirpal Singh Kasel, Dr Surinder Singh Noor and Dr. S. N. Sewak. Prof Ravinder Bhttal would be the convener of the seminar.

A poetical symposium (kavi darbar) by 10 prominent poets would follow the same day.

Internationally acclaimed photo artist Tej Pratap Sandhu would present a slide show on pictorial history of the mela. The foundation has set up a selection committee headed by Mr Amrik Singh Pooni to make final choice of award winners in different categories.

On the concluding day, the venue of the mela would shift to Daad village on the Pakhowal road and the programme would commence with recital by children, followed by dhadi and kavishari darbar, presentation of awards and honours to distinguished personalities in their respective fields and a musical extravaganza by top Punjabi singers and folk artist.

Divine craftmanship for festive season
BY Asha Ahuja

LUDHIANA, Oct 9 — Indian craftsmen are known for their craftsmanship all over the world. During the festival season of Dasehra, Diwali, Gurpurab and later on Christmas and New Year, people do the year's purchasing of statues and idols.

Whether poor or rich, the people will buy idols to put in their home temples and gurdwaras or in niches specially reserved for gods and goddesses. For the rich, silver images of the deities are available at Rs. 300 and upwards. The cost of the images varies according to the sizes and the current price of silver. The price of silver increases during the festivals.

Silver creations are made generally by traditional craftsmen of Uttar Pradesh. Surprisingly, it is the Muslim artisans who create the images of Hindu gods lovingly and beautifully. At this time various idols, specially of Lakshmi are in great demand. Lakshmi, being the goddess of wealth, is the most cherished one - for who does not want to worship Mammon.

Those who cannot afford silver images go in for marble ones. The marble idols come all the way from Jodhpur. The artisans of Jodhpur create the most amazing idols. Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Krishna, Guru Nanak Dev are the favourites. The customer has to pay a whopping sum of Rs 8000 onwards for a medium sized statue. The prices will vary according to the size and shape again.

These high prices should not discourage people of the middle class. They can get astonishing and wonderful images of the entire Ram Darbar, comprising Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. The darbar costs Rs 450 for it is made in plaster of paris and it has travelled all the way from Kohlapur (Maharas htra) and Ambala. A statue of Guru Nanak Dev is available for Rs 150.

Another kind of images that find favour with customers are the ones made in wax. Not only do they look beautiful, but they can also be used as candles if the need arises.

There are scores of idols in white metal. Coloured stones are used for the eyes. These images are also very popular with the people as they do not tarnish and are suitbly priced. Images in black metal, too, have flooded the markets. These also find a lot of buyers.

Then close to Diwali, most people go for hatti as they can serve a dual purpose. People can use them for Diwali Poojan, and since the hatties have the images of both Lakshmi and Ganesh, it suits their pockets and serves their needs. Moreover they are priced very reasonably. The hatties come cheap and the price starts from Rs 30 onwards. The ostentatious two- storey hattis are dearer than the simpler ones.