EDUCATION

Exciting, colourful start to youth festival
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — It was a day full of life, colour and excitement at the Tagore Theatre where six women’s college teams of Chandigarh got together to participate in the various events on the first day of the Panjab University Youth Festival, Zone A.

The youth festival was inaugurated by the Director Public Instructions (Colleges) cum Joint Secretary, Finance, UT Administration, Mr K.A.P. Sinha. The festival is being hosted by the Government college for Girls, Sector 42. The Principal of the college, Mrs Mohini Sharma, welcomed the chief guest and thanked him for all the cooperation he had extended for the organisation of the youth festival. Mr Sinha lighted the deepshikha and welcomed the participating teams. He also announced that newer courses would be started in the college.

The morning’s set of events started with competitions in Shabad and Bhajan group singing. The team of Sudeshna Chatterjee, Neeraj, Manisha, Mahua Mundal, Geetika, Sarla and Neetu from GCG-42 won the first prize in this competition while the Dev Samaj college team stood second and MCM DAV college stood third. Neeraj of GCG-42 won the individual first prize in this event and Ruchi Arora of Dev Samaj College won the individual second prize.

In the orchestra competitions, the team of Ritu Saroch, Agma, Gurinder Kainth, Jaspreet Kaur, Sunita Garg, Poonam Mongia, Parul Sharma and Gurpreet Kaur of GCG-11 won the first prize, while MCM DAV college won the second prize and GCG-42 won the third prize in the event. Gurinder Kainth and Ritu of GCG-11 won the individual first two prizes in the event while Payal of MCM DAV college won the third individual prize in the event.

Rampriya of Government Home Science College won the first prize in the classical instrument playing competition while Sumati of MCM DAV college won the second prize and Pragati Sabharwal of GCG-11 won the third prize.

For ghazal singing, Richa Sharma of MCM DAV college fetched the first prize, while Ritu of GCG-11 won the second prize and Shivani Chaddha of Dev Samaj college won the third prize for the event.

Manpreet Kaur of GCG-42 won the first prize for folk song for her song Kadni hai Phulkari, mere maie ne aana. Tamanna of Dev Samaj college won the second prize while Simmi Ahuja of GGS college won the third prize.

The evening events had two dance events.Two teams from GCG-11 and GCG-42 participated in the classical dance competition. Madhuri of GCG-11 won the first prize for her performance of Kathak.

The grand finale of today’s events came with the group dance competitions. The Dev Samaj college team of Chitra Bharti, Rishu Nagpal, Awantika, Simrat Rihal, Ruchi Jasrai, Sashi Paricha, Ruby Bal, Richa Kaushal, Anju Sood and Yachika won the first prize for their performance of a Mallari dance. Government College of Home Science won the second prize for the performance of a Haryanavi dance, while GCG-11 bagged the third prize for their performance of a Marathi dance. Anju sood of Dev Samaj college and Preeti Verma of the Home Science college won the first two individual prizes in the group dance event.

Principal R. Vasu gave away the prizes to the winners. The award giving ceremony was punctuated by the screams of delight of the various college students who occupied different quarters of the auditorium. The prize winners of yesterday’s creative writing, rangoli and fine art events were also given today.

Dr Mrs Pankaj Mala Sharma of Panjab University, Mr Kailash Sood of Shimla and Ms Bhagwant Kaur were the three judges for the morning events while Ms Rachna Sharma and Ms Dhillon judged the evening events.

The auditorium was decorated with handmade creations by the college students and each day the stage is to be decorated differently. Tomorrow group singing, Indian classical (vocal), geet, vaar, debate events etc. will be held.

Santokhwinder is SOPU chief
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — In an interesting turn of events, the Students Organisation of Panjab University today unanimously elected Santokhwinder Singh Nabha as its president.

The change comes little a week after SOPU presidential candidate in the Panjab University Campus Students Council, Bhupinder Singh Beniwal, lost the elections.

The decision was announced by Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa, chairman, in an informal meeting with the Press. He said the organisation had also decided to work out a plan for a shadow council.

An artist’s quest for freedom
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — Beyond realism lies an intense desire and superhuman effort to break free from day to day struggles and obstacles and achieve victory over one’s weakness. Presented in bright hues and sharp, bold strokes, this is the theme of works of art by a city artist, Raman Bhardwaj.

As many as 23 paintings on canvas and paper have been displayed at an exhibition, which began at the Fine Arts Department’s museum at Panjab University today.

Besides an exhibition in Norway, this is the second solo exhibition by Raman, an alumnus of Government Arts College, Sector 10, and a gold medallist from the Panjab University’s Department of Fine Arts.

“My human figures are continuously struggling to achieve a certain idealism. The man, to satisfy his lust for perfection, tries to put superhuman efforts,” Raman said. “I project him like a strong, well-built hero who cannot under any circumstances give up. He has limitations and finds himself bound in the hard frames of his surroundings,” the 25-year-old artist added.

The artist has used certain elements like a bell to depict slavery as well as wooden bars, logs and frames to depict obstacles, struggles and depression. “These are depressions of defeat, helplessness and certain weaknesses,” Raman said. “I shall always strive to overcome these through the symbol of superhumanism, which can never be defeated. Stating that the superhuman is eternal and universal with no face or clothes because he does not belong to the weak and fragile humanity, Raman added that the superhuman lives only within those who try to fight out their weakness and depression.

Another aspect of Raman’s work is the Chakravyuha series, which revolves around the mythical hero Abhimanyu. The character, according to Raman, suits the superhuman image and the wheel depicted in the paintings symbolises the movement of time, where the hero changes but not the circle of human struggle.

The non-figurative work, titled Turmoil, does not have any semblance to the tangible world. Here the artist expresses his love for contour drawing and applies the “by chance” factor of art to create such compositions. “I feel they are the best exercise to stir imagination and use your skills in improvisation,” he said.

An innovative and interesting work, titled Self, depicts the artist himself painting from through the other side of the canvas. Using different mediums including wood, paint and fibre to create a 3-dimensional image, the work, according to the artist, shows his tendency to work simultaneously on more than one painting which may differ in composition, subject and style.

College seeks out ‘‘old’’ Stephenians
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — To record the achievements of Stephenian sportspersons, St Stephens’ College, New Delhi, has launched a project to compile a sports directory, which will list the names of persons who have been awarded college colours.

The college has earned its place as a prestigious and premier education institute in the country. Its alumni, Stephenians, as they called, have been serving the nation for over a century by providing the country with freedom-fighters, head of the states, chief ministers, parliamentarians, legislators, diplomats, bureaucrats, soldiers, policemen, teachers and exemplary citizens. They have not only been men and women of brilliant academic records, but have also been sportsmen and sportswomen of university, state, national and international standards.

An old boy of the college, Ranjit Bhatia, who now teaches mathematics at the College, represented India in the Rome Olympics from Oxford where was a Rhodes Scholar then. Shooting Olympians, Maharaja Karni Singh and Raja Randhir Singh, both of whom represented the country at the Mexico Olympics, as well as Jaspal Rana have a common bond of being Stephenians. Natwar Singh, diplomat turned politician, captained college and university tennis teams, while Arun Shourie, journalistturned-politician, captained the college hockey eleven. Fearless cop Arvinder Brar, who laid down his life fighting terrorism in Punjab, had set up a new national mark in swimming while in college. Neera Nath, who created waves in Paris fashion circles, was college captain of the combined athletics squad of men and women as well as of the university.

The list is endless and incomplete. Stephenians, who took part in sports in college, may get in touch which B.S. Sukarchakia, at 124, Sector 45-A, Chandigarh (phone: 603218), at the earliest to get their names included in this directory.

Children entertain senior citizens
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — A cultural show was put up by students of different schools for the celebration of Vikas Parv-2000, a day for senior citizens, organised by Mother India Education, Welfare and Industrial Society at Old Age Home, Sector 15, in association with Chandigarh Social Welfare Advisory Board.

Senior citizens of the city attended the function. The senior citizens of Old Age Home were thrilled and appreciated the performances by the kids and desired for more such programmes in the future.

Children from Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, Strawberry Fields School, Tribune Model School and Bal Bhawan gave various performances of songs and dances.

Ms Kamla Sharma, ex Mayor, Chandigarh, inaugurated and presided over the function. She stressed the need for NGO’s to come forward and work in slum areas.

Dr Rajani Thakural, consultant with Mother India Society, co-ordinated the function. She informed about the working of the society which has organised four Vikas Parvs so far during the year, in addition to more than 30 awareness camps in Punjab and Chandigarh. The society has worked for the upliftment of women and many other social issues and is eager to expand its activities which are limited for want of funds.

Ms Rita Vahi, assistant project officer, Mother India Education, Welfare and Industrial Society, said the concept of nuclear families coming up is the root cause of the problems faced by the old people. We Indians have started adopting western norms without knowing their adverse effects on our traditional values.

Mrs Manmohan Singh Walia, zonal chairman, Lions International; Mrs Santosh Walia, media secretary, Lions Club; Mr Mittal, president, Sewa Bharati, and Dr Saroha, Chandigarh AIDS Control Society were the special guests of honour. Gifts were given away to children and some of the senior social workers.

Iron lady of hostel No. 1
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — The never-say-quits spirit of the grand old lady of a Panjab University’s hostel number 1 conveys a picture of strength and bears an image of her permanent identification with the walls and corridors of the complex over the past innumerable years.

Several big names in diverse fields have passed out but remember her vividly at a mere mention of the hostel. Hundreds of clothes even today await her ironing and dozens are carried to her for immediate attention each day.

Parvati Karongia, the 79 year-old ‘iron-lady’ of hostel number I , has seen a long line of highly successful bureaucrats, politicians, actors and sportsmen often ‘grumble with her for their clothes to be done first’ during their university days. She remembers a long list of them and none is above the other in sentimental value as each year has a bunch of her favorites.

The old lady, generally referred to as ‘Maaji’ is at the her job at 7 am much before the majority of the boys are awake. She yields a nearly nine kilograms coal press. The aged lady with a bent back, however, has very expressive ‘young’ eyes and says “My children ask me to rest. The problem is that if I get off my work, I feel physically uncomfortable”.

She says “Gandhi said earn your living. I have a son and even grandchildren who would look after me fondly. The work schedule has become a part of my whole being and I enjoy this more than sitting idle. I get tired but would not sit till my hands can work. This adds to the family income for I do not get any pension”.

Parvati’s family lived in Pakistan during the pre-partition days. She was married to a army sepoy. The family settled in Rawalpindi had no land in India. Her husband’s younger brother was in the ironing business . The family became a part of the campus as early as 1957.

“I have seen the university grow from scratch to its magnificent complex now. I have seen the time when there were only about 20 boy hostellers at one time. Presently the number is nearly 2000.

“Things have never been impossible in this work. I remember a warden who objected to my being on the hostel premises as I was a woman. I said I was an old woman. When women could become administrators and policemen, the bastions of male society, why couldn’t I be allowed to carry on with my work? I do not enter into hostel residences”, she says.

She adds that as yet there has been no objection or complaint from the students or authorities, which is satisfying enough for her.

Architecture students excel at Sirjan 2000
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — A delegation of 21 students from the Chandigarh College of Architecture participated in the zonal NASA (National Association of Student of Architecture) meet titled Sirjan 2000 hosted by the Department of Architecture, Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology, Bathinda, from October 22 to October 24. Ten architectural institutions from the northern zone participated in the meet where a number of academic and co-curricular activities were held.

Students from Chandigarh College of Architecture bagged the maximum of prizes in the meet which included top honours in the environmentally responsive housing design competition, 3-D design and many other art and architecture related activities. A total of 20 prizes were won by the CCA teams. 

COURTS

Three acquitted in murder case
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S.Bedi and Mr Justice A.S.Garg today amended the order of the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jind, and acquitted Des Raj (father-in-law), Subhash (brother-in-law), and Bohthi (mother-in-law) who, along with Gopal (husband), were charged with the murder of Sulochna for dowry.

While pronouncing the order, the Bench upheld the conviction of Gopal and acquitted three others.

The girl’s father, Ram Sawroop, had alleged that his daughter Sulochna, was done to death by her in-laws seven days after her marriage even though he had paid Rs 20,000 as dowry to his son-in-law, Gopal, in the form of Kisan Vikas Patras. He alleged that his daughter was killed after her in-laws had given “aluminium phosphide” and died within seven days of her marriage.

The Bench upheld the conviction of Gopal awarded by the Additional Sessions Judge but acquitted other three members of the family charged by the prosecution.

Plea on kidnapping dismissed with costs

Mr Justice S S Nijjar of the High Court has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by one Sonu, a resident of Amritsar, seeking the production of his “wife” Paramjit Kaur who, he alleged, was kidnapped by his in-laws.

The High Court had issued notice to the respondent and the girl appeared in the court today. However, she told the judge that she never married the petitioner but some time back Sonu with the connivance of his relatives, took her somewhere on some pretext and got her intoxicated and later married her.

Following the girl’s statement, Mr justice Nijjar dismissed the petition with costs of Rs 5,000 observing that the petitioner had wasted the time of the court. The fine should be deposited with the Legal Aid Cell, Punjab.

Notice to Haryana on acclaimed film

Our Legal Correspondent Adds: On a writ petition filed by Mrs Kumud Chaudhary, producer director of the Haryana film, “Laddo”, a Division Bench of the High Court today issued notice of motion to the Haryana Government for January 8.

The petitioner challenged the action of the Haryana Government in not exempting the film from entertainment tax despite the film being acclaimed as one of the best Haryanvi films, which won a number of national awards. It was submitted by the petitioners that the film depicted Haryanvi culture and the role of women. In spite of this the state government refused to give tax exemption because of political reasons.

Arraying Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Chief Minister, as one of the respondents, it was alleged that her request was rejected because her father-in-law was the Political Secretary to Mr Bansi Lal, former Chief Minister, the political rival of Mr Chautala.

Earlier the High Court had issued notice of motion to the Haryana Government on the condition that the petitioner would deposit Rs 50,000 with the Registrar of the High Court which was challenged by the petitioner in the apex court, which allowed her plea.

The petitioner, with the Supreme Court’s order in her favour, again approached the High Court and the Bench issued notice accordingly.

The police apprehended that they might escape from the police custody. The court granted the permission.

Special Lok Adalat on Nov 9
 From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Oct 31 — To celebrate the Legal Service Day, a special Lok Adalat will be held on November 9, in the district court complex. The District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman District Legal Services Authority, Mr H.S. Bhalla, said in a press release here today that the 16 Benches of Lok Adalat had been constituted, including Labour Court to deal with various types of cases such as motor accident cases, matrimonial disputes, rent matters, recovery matters and also the summary cases involving traffic offenses and the cases under the Shop Act.

The Chairman, Mr H.S. Bhalla, further added that there would be more than thousand cases of all categories for settlement.

The Chairman, Mr H.S. Bhalla, also informed that any person, who wished to settled the matter in the Lok Adalat to be held on November 9, could approach him or Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash-cum-Secretary of the District Legal Service Authority, UT, Chandigarh, In the district court complex building, Sector 17.