The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

A guiding light to students
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — Surely a human angel to students aided by him under a special scholarship for higher studies, Dr Awtar Singh from the USA comes to the city tomorrow, meeting the faculty of his former institute, Punjab Engineering College, and of the Civil Engineering Department in particular.

He has gained a reputation as a guiding and supporting light to students wishing to pursue higher studies in the USA, particularly in the Civil Engineering Department. Following his course completion at the PEC, Dr Awtar Singh went to the University of California, Berkley, for higher education and ended up settling in that city.

A special scholarship was instituted in the name of his wife, the Awtar and Teji Singh Scholarship, in 1998, which provides for a stipend of $ 29,000 and an additional $ 1,000 for travel to Berkley.

In 1998, it was awarded to Arvinder S.Chopra from Chandigarh. He graduated in 1999 and is at present working at a senior position for Chevron, a reputed industrial name. In 1999 no one got the scholarship because there was only one candidate who declined at the eleventh hour.

The recipients for 2000 are Shruti Malik and Pratyush Bhatia. Nimrat Bhattal has been chosen for partial assistance. All pursue their courses at UC, Berkley.

Getting the scholarship is not easy. Aspirants need high scholastic standing, a high GRE score, a high TOEFL score and three letters of recommendation from the PEC. Besides, they have to give a “statement of intention”.

Pratyush Bhatia, a topper of the 1998 batch, says in his statement of intention: “Over the years we have witnessed globally a mismatch between the urban form and transportation systems with deterioration in environment, increasing traffic congestion in metropolitan areas, unsightly urban sprawl and the like. I believe that the issues needed to be addressed and researched seriously”.

Pratyush also says that he is working on two research papers for submission to the Indian Roads Congress, Delhi.

Dr Awtar Singh, who is a leading consultant at Berkley, instituted the scholarship in memory of his wife. He is also scheduled to address PEC students.

Natyotsav 2000 on Nov 24
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — Sambhang Theatre Group and Swami Ram Tirath Educational, Cultural and Homoeo Medical Society is holding its 10th Natyotsav-2000 (one act play and histrionics competition) on November 24.

The competition will be organised in DAV College, Sector 10. The competition, which is sponsored by Department of Public Relations, UT Administration, will provide a stage to as many as 250 young artistes from schools and colleges of Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.

Sambhang Theatre Group, a society of performing arts was started 13 years ago in the memory of Prabhat, a student of Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, who sacrificed his life on campus to save a child. Panjab University has instituted a gold medal in his name to be given to topper of the Theatre Department every year.

According to chairman and general secretary, Dr D.S. Gupt and Dr(Ms) Manju Jaidka, a theatre artiste of national fame Gursharan Singh will be conferred Sambhang Theatre Award for 2000-2001.

Sixty teachers honoured
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — The Association of Private Educational Institution today honoured five of its members besides 60 teachers. They were presented with mementos and commendation certificates at a function held in the Multi Purpose Hall of Bal Bhavan, Sector 23.

The function was conducted by the Principal S.M. Verma, general secretary, who highlighted the evolution, development and achievements of the association. Mr G.S. Shergill, a former Chairman of the Punjab School Education Board, and Mr Harold Carver, were present at the function.

The president and founder of the association, Principal S.S. Prince, spoke emphatically about the missionary role of the teachers in the modern society and also about the sustained efforts of the association in the field of education.

The vote of thanks was conveyed by chairman function committee, Principal Kamal Arora. The chief guest and the presiding officer were introduced by the Sr vice-president, Principal K. Dhaliwal and joint secretary, Principal S.C. Vohra.

Kids given tips on traffic rules
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — Tiny tots of Evergreen Academy, Sector 34, were imparted knowledge about the traffic rules in the Children’s Traffic Park at Sector 23. The parents of the children too were urged to obey traffic rules.

Police personnel told the children about the need for crossing roads only at the zebra crossing and not to walk on the road. The parents, on their part, pledged that they would clip on the safety belts besides not answering mobile phones while driving.

The students also went around the traffic park on their cycles and were shown a cartoon movie.

Ms Kuljip Suri, principal of the school said, “The parents were also involved in the workshop because they are the role models for the children. They should be made aware of the basic traffic rules.

‘Non-teaching staff main pillar of univarsity’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — 'Non-teaching employees constitute a very significant segment of the education system but they do not find their voice at important decision making fora', says a paper of non-teaching employees presented at the ongoing convention of "Millennium's first national convention of non-teaching employees" being organised by the Panjab University (non-teaching) Employees Federation and the Non-Teaching Employees Federation (Punjab and Chandigarh).

The convention featured 'growing problems' and possible remedies.

The convention was inaugurated by Justice Kuldip Singh yesterday. Speaking on the occasion he said, “Why should the university awaits grants from the government? It is government's duty to hand over the grants. In fact the Senate is and should be ensured as the supreme body of university control".

“Non-teaching forces are strongest pillars in the university system”, he said. "It is ridiculous that the government spent mere three per cent on education. This was ridiculous in a setting where more than 50 per cent were illiterate", he added.

Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, the local Member of Parliament, said that there was a need for a systematic change. Mr Bansal announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for the university community centre.

Prof K.N.Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, said that discussion on ‘Challenges to autonomy’ and other issues would give a lot of input for discussion. "There are certain technical problems in having elections of non-teaching employees to the Senate. I shall look into the matter and try for positive results”, Prof Pathak added.

Non-teaching representatives from Shillong, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad, Dharwad, Warrangal, Jammu, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Solan, Jaipur, Patiala, Kohima and Orissa have turned up. An office-bearer said that there would be separate sessions for different streams like colleges, universities and schools.

Census work to affect exams
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12—The examinations for the Matriculation and Senior Secondary classes conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education every year will be delayed this year due to the Census. According to highly placed sources in the CBSE the examinations will start from March 16, 2001 instead of March 1.

Sources said the census would affect the schedule of all competitive as well as final examinations conducted by the ICSE, and the Punjab, Haryana and Himachal school boards.

According to the sources the practical examination will begin in December 2000 or January 2001 before the start of the census. An official in the regional department of the CBSE, on the condition of anonymity, said the delay would affect the students as the competitive examinations conducted by various institutions would be delayed.

The official further said that the students seeking admission in professional colleges abroad would be the worst hit.

CULTURE

The Surma man rocks crowds
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — Jazzy Bains, the man whose voice has rocked many a club across Canada and the UK, was in the city today. This new singer, who was earlier formally introduced by a music company on June 21 in Timber Trail Resorts, quite lives up to his name, Jazzy.

As he entered a local discotheque in Sector 9 for a performance this afternoon, one could see a lot of glitter around him — right from his bleached hair up to his stone-studded belt. Ask him how he manages to carry himself through with that wild style, and Jazzy Bains (who likes to be called Jazzy B instead) replies, "I feel it is very important for a singer to look stylish. I am recognised by the curl of my hair where ever I go. And I am quite comfortable with the way I look. Also I can't discount the factor that all my life I have been abroad. Hence I carry those traits."

Bains has already released a cassette in India titled Surma. The album is known best for its song Husna di sarkar dilan nu lutde jave which is shot on a rather vague theme. The prime attraction of the song, however, is the former Gladrags supermodel John Abrahim. The lead female in his album is straight from the foreign land.

Jazzy added, "I was quite particular on roping the foreign talent. So when I made my album I wanted that it should feature a lot of foreign artistes. Hence the girl. Even the music director of Surma is based in London." Videos of the album were by Kookie Gulati.

Jazzy was coming straight from London today and during his short halt in the city he performed in the jam-packed disco, singing hit numbers from his own album.

Tiny-tots present fancy dress show
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 12 — A colourful function marked the annual day and prize distribution of Sharda Sarvhitkari Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40, which was organised here today. The function started with “Saraswati vandana” by a group of students of the school.

A fancy dress show was presented by the students of pre-nursery class. A jungle scene conveying a message that the trees should not be felled was also enacted by tiny tots. A patriotic song was also sung by a group of students.

A punjabi play “toya” (a pit) was also staged by students of the school. It was a satire on the public servants of the country paying a deaf ear to the problems of the general public.

Mr Rajbir Singh, Assistant Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education, regional office, was the chief guest. In his address he said he was pleased to see that the aim of the institution was not only to impart education but to develop the overall personality of the students. He said the school was also inculcating moral values among the students as it was clear from the messages they conveyed through their performances on the stage.

He gave away the prizes to the students excelling in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities. Mr Brahmjit Kalia, District Education Officer presided over the function.