The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

All set for poll in PU colleges
By Kiran Deep and Nishikant Dwivedi

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The election process which started in the city colleges on 17 of this month will come to an end tomorrow with voting taking place in the morning. The results will be declared on the same day. Today was the last day of the campaigning.

The police has made elaborate security arrangements to ward off any untoward incident.

However, voting in two city colleges, namely the Government College for Men, Sector 11 and the Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, will not be held as the council had been elected unanimously Also, in the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, voting will take place for the post of joint secretary only, as the other three candidates have been elected unanimously.

The classes in most of the City colleges remained affected with students busy canvassing for their candidates. Students were seen making last ditch efforts to see their candidates in the office.

The colleges wore a look of festivity. The supporters had put up coloured banners and posters in support for their candidates. At some colleges, the students even did not mind pasting posters on the walls. A girl student of MCM DAV College, Sector 36 said, "Our Principal has allowed us to put these posters on the walls on the condition that after the elections we would have to remove them".

Ms Prachi Yadav, who is contesting for the post of president of the college said, ‘‘It is for the first time I am contesting any election but I am not nervous". She admitted that she was going to face tough competition. Supporters of Aarushi Barowalia, who is contesting for the top post, were sure of defeating the rival candidate.

Nishu Dubey, sitting general secretary of the DAV Students Council, Sector 10, who is seeking re-election looked confident of his victory. On the other hand, his opponent, too was equally confident of wining the seat.

There are some colleges in the city where elections will not be held tomorrow. One of them is the Government College for Education, Sector 20. Ms S. Tangari, Principal the college, when contacted, said that the Directorate of Public Instructions (Colleges) was aware of it. She informed that in the beginning of the session, the cultural and academic committees are formed. From these two committees college representatives are nominated.

Similarly, elections in Panjab Engineering College, Sector 12, are held in a different manner. In Government Home Science College, Sector 10, also elections will not take place tomorrow.

When The Tribune team contacted students of Home Science College, they were ignorant about the reason why elections are not held in the college. As one of them said, "May be because ours' is professional college". But all them wanted an elected body in their college to deal with the problems faced by them. As a postgraduate student of the college said, "The Principal was not available for comments".

Nisha Thakur of the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, who is contesting for the post of vice-president said, "Last year I was elected general secretary unopposed but this time I am facing a contest". According to her, girls in her college are very sensible and would use their conscience while voting".

Ms Ripujeet K. Sidhu of the same college is the candidate for the post of general secretary on the SOPU ticket. She is also banking on the performances of her party in Panjab University.

Polytechnic students stage Meghdoota
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — Pretty damsels decked up as peacocks fluttered their wings as others, dressed up as clouds, twirled all around trying to cheer up depressed Yaksha. Audience sat mesmerised as students of Sector 10 Government Polytechnic for Women staged Kalidasa's famous play, Meghdoota, during their annual function celebrations today.

It was inaugurated by Mr Ashok Sanghwan, Director, Technical Education, UT, on the institute's campus.

The function started with Sarasvati Vandana followed by a group song Satthi chal re. The evening was a colourful mix of various dance forms which included an impressive ballet, Western group dance and Gidda.

The Principal, Mr Balbir Singh, welcomed the chief guest. Mr Sanghwan applauded the efforts made by the institute towards providing quality education to the students. He appreciated the inclusion of various IT related changes that had been made in the curriculum of various trades keeping pace with the ongoing trend in the world of work.

Prizes were distributed to students and the evening ended with a vote of thanks to the chief guest.

COURTS

Cutting of trees: HC notice to Punjab
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — In a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for direction to the Conservator of Forests Government of India and others to remove the trees for the construction of 2-km long, railway overbridge and approach road near Dera Bassi on the Ambala Kalka road, a Division Bench issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab and other respondents for filing reply by November 7, 2000.

The Division Bench comprising Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice K.C. Gupta adjourned the case for November 11 for arguments.

Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur, wife of a lecturer in engineering college at Dera Bassi and another had filed the PIL, in which the petitioner had submitted that clearance for four lane railway bridge at Bhankharpur was given in 1977 by the Ministry of Surface Transport to check the heavy flow of traffic and avoid accidents and Rs 3.52 lakh was deposited with the Forest Department as compensation for cutting the trees.

It was further submitted that the level-crossing at the spot closed 28 times in a day every 30 minutes, thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic. A bridge at the Ghaggar was constructed 45 years ago, which is also in a bad shape, said the petitioners.

The Chief Conservator of Forests is required to give clearance in the matter, who is not giving formal clearance.

Jakhar’s plea dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the petition of the former Lok Sabha Speaker Bal Ram Jakhar challenging a notice issued to him by the Income Tax Commissioner of Jalandhar under Sections 147 and 148 of the Income Tax Act seeking a reassessment of his income for 1988-89. Dr Jakhar had filed returns of Rs 41,950 and Rs 2,11,822 ( for agriculture which is non-taxable) for that year.

The department in its notice had stated in that as per the CBI charge sheet filed against Dr Jakhar, he had received Rs 17 lakh as “hawala” money from the Jain Brothers and that money has not been included in the assessment.

Dr Jakhar, after filing the petition, sought to quash the notice pleading that “he has been absolved of the charge sheet issued against him by Delhi’s Special Magistrate, Mr V.B. Gupta, and inclusion of the hawala money in his assessment was uncalled for and should be quashed.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh dismissed the petition as “premature conjecture” by the petitioner.

Plea against SGPC chief disposed of
The High Court disposed of a petition against SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur seeking her removal from office after she was excommunicated from the Sikh Panth by the then Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh.

The petitioner — General Secretary of the Sant Samaj Baba Mangal Singh — had sought a direction from the High Court seeking her removal, allegeing that after being excommunicated, she had no right to hold any office under the Sikh Gurdwara Act. Therefore she (Bibi) should be directed to vacate the office.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Nirmal Singh disposed of the petition as infructuous after the counsel representing the state of Punjab submitted before the court that Bibi’s excommunication had been quashed by the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, and as a result “the cause of action sought by the petitioner does not arise.”

CULTURE

Malkit’s album captures Punjabi festivity
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — He is springing back into action after a long hiatus, but if the quality of his latest market launch is any yardstick to go by, one knows that the tootak tootak man is just the same ...and some better!

Malkit Singh, one of the many kings who rule the roost in the world of Punjabi pop, was in the city today to launch his latest music album — Kudi patola vargi — which is being released after about 10 years. The singer introduced the album as the one which is set in the backdrop of the majestic grandeur of the Land of Five Rivers. “It is a blend of all that is close to Punjabi culture, be it festivity or dance or songs or anything which spills Punjabiyat. I have tried to project the kind of music which is so specific to Punjab. So the album has everything that the listener is looking for . There are amazingly overpowering beats and fairly good music.”

The tracks seem to have been selected to bring out all aspects of the human character. So on the one hand where Malkit is singing the title track Kudi patola vargi, a song which vibrates with rhythm and recreates the magic of melody, on the other he sings the very-festive number Jija ji where he captures the traditional element of the Punjabi dance culture. Beats apart, the lyrics of the song are purely folk based in style. In yet another track titled Mehndi, the newly-wed girl is seen imploring her beloved to put off his foreign visit which is due. Malkit does full justice to the track by presenting it in as poignant a manner as its lyrics and mood called for.

Mukhde di tukree is yet another song in praise of the woman of Malkit’s dreams. Tones of romanticism are very much evident in this track which Malkit seems to have sung with all his heart. The lyrics are complimented by the thunderous qawwali beats which come packaged in Western orchestration. The beat of the songs gets faster with other tracks of the album, and almost reaches its zenith with the Preeto and Nach Nach and yet another track Raveena. Last but not the least, the album features all time-favourites, Boliyan, sans which any Punjabi music collection is incomplete and bland.

Said the singer, “The idea of returning with this very-traditional yet modern mix of songs was to be in the mainstream. As far as the saturation in the field of popular music is concerned, I don’t think it can ever arrive. No matter how many singers invade the market, good music will keep making its own place, even if there is none.”

A painter devoted to folk art
By Prem Singh

CHANDIGARH: Art is born with man. It plays a vital role in culturing life. An urge for expression and the desire to beautify life is ingrained in the nature of man. Women, in the past also, have excelled in art. As a householder, she not only rears the family but expresses herself in myriad forms and colours to enrich life. Art is an integral part of her daily chores.

Anuradha is one such woman who is gifted with a strong urge for expression. Painting is close to her heart. As a young girl she was inspired by her mother’s talent for art and craft. She did her schooling with an abiding interest in art.

All this apart, she is a post-graduate in art from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Though she was born and brought up in Rohtak, yet her fascination for colour and design in folk art is strong. It is, in fact, the basic source of inspiration for her paintings now.

Her paintings of the village houses with focus on the Darwaza are interesting. These works bring into focus the rich tradition of crafts that Haryana has always had. ‘Sanjhi’ is another subject which has stimulated her imagination for in it one finds a harmonious relationship between art and craft. It is a festival celebrated during the Navratras and the ‘Sanjhi’ is created entirely by women. It manifests their faith and its expression in form and colour. Sawan is another theme which has inspired Anuradha to paint. Women engaged in dance or swirling on the swing reflect the youthful and comely spirit. Attired in colourful clothes, they welcome the monsoon and spread the fragrance of love that it has awakened in their hearts. For all this, she has used powder colours and worked with acrylic colours to good effect. Design and decoration are dominant in her compositions.

Anuradha is exhibiting her paintings for the first time. The exhibition will be on view in the galleries at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Rose Garden, from October 22 to October 24.

An orchard of bland cherries
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 19 — Anton Chekov’s classic ‘The Cherry Orchard’ being staged at the Tagore Theatre by the Abhinet group today evening proved to be a dissatisfying experience.

A rather nicely designed stage remained vacant in most portions, in most of the scenes, giving a feeling of stagnation in the progress of action. The show lacked continuity of action as certain cast members switched off their facial expressions after the delivery of their dialogues.

‘The Cherry Orchard’ was Chekov’s last play and was a hit with the audience in the post revolutionary period. Passions hold the key to the script. It expresses scorn at the ‘moral failure of the landed aristocracy and almost sterile passivity of the intellectuals’.

Liuba Andryeevna and Gayev, sister and brother, represent the dying nobility of the post revolution Russia. Liuba is obsessed with her lovers. The innerscape of the characters hearts is central to the story and it is best reflected when it is revealed despite attempts to keep it from being made public.

Trofimov is a wasted intellectual making remarks about the rights of the working class. It is a tale of lives torn ‘between the demands of the hopeless past and hopes of an uncertain future’. The play is a tale of building up tension and resolving it graciously.

Rana Nayar as Lopakhin stood apart from the cast in his commendable performance.Teena Virk as Liuba also maintained a theatrical grace in parts. The play has been directed by Aditya Prakash.