EDUCATION

Day of music, poetry at youth fest
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — The second day of the youth festival zone A, being hosted by the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, at the Tagore theatre, focused on individual talent in the field of music, singing, debates and poetry recitation.

The morning began with competitions in group singing among GCG-11, GCG-42 and MCM DAV college. Starting with patriotic songs the mood shifted to folk singing of tappas and bolis. The GCG-42 team of Sudeshna, Neeraj, Manisha, Mahua Mandal, Geetika Gupta and Sarla won the first prize for the song “subah ka suraj Nikal raha hai” while GCG-11 stood second and MCM DAV college stood third. The individual prizes in the event went to Neeraj of GCG-42 who won the first prize, Richa Sharma of MCM DAV who stood second and Meenakshi of GCG-11 won the third prize.

The Indian classical (vocal) event was next. Hardeep Bani of MCM DAV College stood first while Manjinder Kaur of GCG-42 stood second and Punita Jain of GCG-11 stood third.

All six colleges participated in the “geet” competitions and Neeraj of GCG-42 won the first prize in this event. Mandeep of MCM DAV College stood second, while Meenakshi Sharma of GCG-11 was declared third.

The “geet” competitions were followed by the “Vaar” competitions where two members from a single team were participating. GCG-11 stood first while GCG-42 fetched the second prize and MCM DAV College team stood third in the event. Hardeep Kaur of GCG-42 won the first individual prize and Guninder Kainth of GCG-11 won the second individual prize.

These music competitions were followed by a thought provoking and well argued debate on ‘Privatisation is the cure for all ills’. Two participants from each college spoke for and against the motion. Latika Sukhija of GCG-11 was declared first while Harleen Sachdeva of Dev Samaj College stood second and Jasmeet Baath woof MCM DAV College won the third prize.

The days events concluded with a poetical symposium and two participants from each team participated. Neha Sharma of Government College of Home Science took away the first prize while Geeta Singla of MCM DAV College stood second and Ruby Charak of GCG-11stood third.

The chief guest on the occasion was noted Punjabi writer Jasbir Bhullar who encouraged the students in his speech to keep their sensitivities alive. He, along with the Director, Youth Welfare, (Punjab), Mr Iqbal Singh Dhillon, gave away the prizes to the winners. The days events were conducted by Dr Jyoti, Ms Hardeep and Ms Upwinder on the stage.

Mrs Bhagwant Kaur, Dr Rajinder Singh, Mrs Asha Sharma and Mr Kailash Sood judged the music events while Mr C.L. Narang, Dr Bahl and Mr V.K. Tewari judged the poetry recitation and debate.

Tomorrow is the concluding day of the Youth festival and will feature competitions in quiz, drama, histrionics and giddha. 

Exciting lab tests at physics teachers’ convention
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — Exciting laboratory tests involving day-to-day normal life activities but underlining serious connecting issues of physics is among the prime attractions at the XVth convention of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers beginning at Panjab University tomorrow.

A white paper sheet displaying numbers at different places gives a small example. Put a finger on the forehead and get your finger close to the sheet displayed at the arms distance. The number of visible numbers decreases. Objects look different with a single eye.

Dr Y.K. Waghmara, Chairman, Dr U.S. Kushwaha, convener of the Indian Association of the Physics Teachers addressing a press conference gave detailed information on the three day convention.

Prof K.N. Parthak, the Vice- Chancellor, will preside over the inauguration function where Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director, Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, will be the chief guest. Prof Yash Pal will deliver the key-note address on “Physics in the 21st century: Indian perspectives”.

Dr Kushwaha said that one important area of discussion was understanding needs of education in the Indian context. The recent advances and related work in the computers field had become issues of paramount interest suited to the current times.

Another key area was the national level examination conducted by the association. More than 40,000 students in above 500 centres were covered, which was a step towards selection for the national team.

Shows of Prof Lalchandani (Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh) and Prof Tarnekar (Raipur, MP) have been selected as the show organisers for the audience interest. Simple but interesting shows have fascinated audiences all over the country.

Prof Sathya Prakash, Chairman of the department, said that education in the country had become marks-oriented. Practicals have suffered on this account and this was a blow to the beauty of the subject.

COURTS

Ex-minister’s bail plea dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — Mr Justice Amar Dutt of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former Minister Jagvir Singh Malik in the Bansi Lal Government in a corruption and cheating case registered against him at Panipat on March 7. Earlier, the court had granted interim bail to Malik.

Dismissing the bail plea, Mr Justice Amar Dutt said the charges against the petitioner were of a serious nature.

The Vigilance Bureau had registered an FIR against Malik in a spurious urea case under Sections 420, 465, 468, 120-B and 13 (1).

Pleading for the bail plea, counsel for Malik contended that his client had been falsely implicated due to political rivalry with Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala.

Order to reinstate college employee

The High Court today set aside the award of the Labour Court, Patiala, and ordered the reinstatement of a work-charged employee with full back wages from the date of demand notice.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice S. S. Sudhalkar and Mr Justice J. S. Narang handed down this order on a petition filed by Sher Singh, a work-charged employee of the college.

The Bench observed that the petitioner was “gainfully employed during the period of forced unemployment. The petitioner worked more than 240 days and this fact has to be accepted. The writ petition deserves to be allowed and as a result it is allowed”.

2 yr RI in theft case
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — A resident of Haryana, Somesh Kumar, was sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment today by the UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) in a theft case.

The complainant Ravinder Singh, a resident of Sector 15, had registered a complaint that his car, bearing registration number CHO1-C-0393 was stolen on June 17, 1999, from his house. The police had registered case against the accused under Sections 379, 411 of the IPC. The Crime Branch of the Delhi police had recovered the stolen vehicle from the accused Somesh Kumar.

Bail granted

A city resident, Sanjay, was granted a bail on Wednesday by the UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) in a case of voluntarily causing grievous injuries.

The complainant Abdul Rehman had alleged that the accused had attacked his right shoulder with a knife. The case against the accused had been registered under Sections 324, 326 and 34 of the IPC.

The accused had been granted bail on furnishing a bond of Rs 20,000.

CULTURE

Halloween with bhangra beats
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — Exhilarated figures, illuminated by colourful blinking lights, swayed to bhangra beats during a Halloween party, late in the evening yesterday.

It was a bash the city teeny boppers will remember — at least till the next party. Pretty damsels in micro minis with legs painted white and golden, wearing masks, twirled all around the polished dance floor.

Even though Halloween is an American concept, the spirits were high as the late-night revellers danced away their blues. The party continued till about 1.30 a.m.

Halloween is the day when the spirits of the dead visit their living dear ones for solace and comfort. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Mr Naresh Goswami, one of the organisers, said they had brought this concept to the city two years back. To frighten the evil spirits lights, fires and sound were a part of the party.

The added attraction of the party were the Punjabi Munde of Mahi Mahi fame.

GCG girls win in ‘Vaar’ singing
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — ‘Vaar’ singing was one of the main attractions on the second day today of the Panjab University Zonal Youth Festival organised by Government College for Girls, Sector 42, at Tagore Theatre.

‘Vaar’ is traditional folk, sung during wars to motivate soldiers and boost their morale. It narrates the valiant acts of heroes who had taken part in similar campaigns.

It is sung predominantly by Dhadis accompanied by sarangi players. Legend has it that it was first sung by Natha and Abdul at Shri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.

Students of GCG, Sector -11, MCM Girls College, Sector 36 and GCG, Sector-42 took part in this singing competition.

Gurinder Kainth and Ritu Saroch of GCG, Sector-11, won the first prize and the second prize went to Harjeet and Komal of GCG, Sector 42. Mr Premchand who is a professional dhadi trained the students for this competition along with Mr Nidhan Singh and Mr Kirpal Singh from Mullanpur.

The golden poet of Punjab

Dr Ajit Singh Sikka has achieved both name and fame in the world of literature. Winner of many national and international awards like Golden Poet from World of Poetry, California, Natraj Award and Jyotish Shiromani, Dr Sikka has written about 33 books in Punjabi, Hindi and English. He is considered to be one of the famous Punjabi poets, who has skillfully written more than 16 prose and poetry books in English.

Born at Lahindi, Pakistan, Dr Sikka was brought up in a simple Punjabi atmosphere. He was blessed with an innate interest for literature. Belonging to a business family, Dr Sikka shifted to India when he was 18. His never ending interest in Punjabi inclined him to earn his doctorate in the subject. He served as head of the Punjabi Department at Sikh National College, Banga, for almost 17 years. During this time, Dr Sikka wrote many books on the subject which turned out to be quite popular.

The most melodious of his collections of poems, Motian de thal, was written in 1955 in which various aspects of love and subtle passions are depicted in Punjabi folk songs. Other than this, he wrote Noor di dhara, Sat Sri Akal, Ludhiane da ghantaghar, Garibi hatao, Science te dharam (epic), Nazuk khiyalian, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Darshan, Baba Bhagat Singh Nanaksar and Vani Sheikh Farid — a commentary in the light of Koran Sharif. Dr Gurmohan Walia of the Punjabi Department of G.G.N. Khalsa College, while talking about his written biography on Baba Bhagat Singh Nanaksar, said: “His written biography is the sweet outcome of hard labour, gentleness of heart and deep historical and cultural sense and determination”.

It was during this time that he diverted to writing in English when he went to the U.S.A. for four years. Dr Sikka informed: “I had no mastery over the language (English). I used to visit various libraries in the USA and learnt the language and its writing style gradually”. Dr Sikka has written three books on Sikh religion and philosophy in English prose, which include Facets of Guru Nanak’s Thought, Beacons of light and philosophy of mind in the poetry of Guru Nanak — a comparative study with European Philosophy. Besides, he has written thirteen books of English poetry like Sing Songs unto Guru Nanak, Forty ballads about Guru Gobind Singh, Odes to great Sikhs, First Martyr of Sikh Faith, Ophelia of Denmark (epic), Loneliness of a Woman (sonnets) and A Light in Sound (collection of 50 poems). About his 40 ballads on Guru Gobind Singh, Elizabeth. H. House said: “Forty Ballads about Guru Gobind Singh is a unique collection of poetry relating to the inspiring life of Guru Gobind Singh, the last prophet of the Sikh faith”. — FOC