EDUCATION

DAV college wins quiz contest
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — It was DAV College, Chandigarh, all the way in the inter college quiz competition — Quizine at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18 here today. The students of the college won the first prize and most of the audience prizes were also bagged by the students of the college. The quiz was organised by Bulls Eye in collaboration with Education Times.

The top five teams which were shortlisted had a tough time answering the questions posed to them by Mr Saurabh Roy, the quiz master.

The questions which were not answered by any of the teams were thrown to the audience which comprised mostly of students from the city colleges. And they answered all of them and won walkmans and music CDs.

The organsiers claim that more than 150 teams from different colleges of the region participated in the competition. Telling about the selection procedure of the teams Mr Hridesh Madaan of the Bulls Eye said, ‘‘We selected the top five teams out of the total 150 after a written test’’.

Final results: Mr Sukhdeep Kundra and Mr Shiv Darshan, DAV College, Sector 10; first; Ms Palka Sahni and Ms Swati Choudhary MCM DAV College, Sector 36, second; and third — Ms Nandni Srivastva and Ms Aarti Lakhotra, Government College of Women, Sector 11.

Workshop for the disabled at TTTI
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — A two-day national workshop on integrating persons with disabilities in the mainstream of technical and vocational education, commenced at Technical Teachers Training Institute here today. The aim of the workshop is the identification of skill-oriented training programmes for the benefit of disabled persons, so that they too could join the national mainstream.

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr R.C. Chauhan, Director, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology(SLIET). He lauded the policy initiatives taken by central and state governments in the direction of helping the disabled through education.

As part of the workshop, TTTI has organised an art exhibition by Saurabh Saini, a hearing and speech impaired fifteen-year-old student of Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 27. His works include paintings and pencil sketches and speaks volumes about the potential of the disabled.

Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, Chairman, Board of Governors of TTTI, Chandigarh, presided over the function and gave details in his address about the role of the four TTTI’s and National Resource Institutions in the field of curing disabilities.

Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries and participants of the workshop, Dr S. Krishnamurthy, Principal, TTTI, Chandigarh, traced the history of the conception of the idea of integrating persons with disability. Dr S.C. Handa of Roorkee University spoke about the miseries and hardships experienced by the disabled and their parents.

Dr L.N. Mittal, Professor of curriculum development and coordinator of the workshop described the objectives of the workshop. Professor P.K. Singla offered a formal vote of thanks.

COURTS

Haryana told to produce records
Selection of teachers
From Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, Nov 28 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V. S. Aggarwal today directed the Haryana Government to produce all records concerning the appointment of Punjabi teachers in Haryana.

Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of district Fatehabad, and 35 other petitioners have alleged that out of the total 88 posts advertised for Punjabi teachers , 38 ( 24 in the general category and 14 in the reserved category) candidates had been recruited from Sirsa district alone which happens to be the traditional constituency of Haryana Chief Minister’s family.

The petitioners also alleged that these were district-level posts falling under the ambit of the Short Services Selection Board but the State Government decided to recruit the teachers through district-level selection committees whose chairmen were District Education Officers concerned.

The petitioners have sought quashing of the selection list as large-scale irregularities had been committed by the State Government in preparing the list of successful candidates.

Punjab official fined

A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice G. S. Singhvi and Mr Justice R. C. Kathuria on Tuesday fined the Education Secretary, Punjab, Rs 5,000 and directed him to personally appear in the court on December 12 and explain why there had been a three-year delay in filing a reply in a civil writ petition of 1997 which has been pending at the motion stage because of non-filing of the reply by the Education Department.

Earlier, on October 3 another Division Bench headed by Mr Justice N. K. Sodhi had directed the Education Secretary to find out the official/ officer responsible for the delay in filing of reply but with a fine of Rs 1000 and had fixed the date for Tuesday.

On Tuesday when the State Government again failed to file its reply, the Bench fined and summoned the secretary to appear personally in court on December 12 next. The secretary has been directed to explain what action he had taken against the erring official/ officer who did not file reply on October 3 as well as on Tuesday.

Dilip Kumar issued bailable warrants
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class), Mr Phalit Sharma, has issued a bailable warrant to thespian actor Dilip Kumar, alias Yusuf Khan, and others for December 16 in a cheque bounce case today.

The complainant, Ranjana, a resident of Sector 45, had filed a complaint under Section 138 read with Section 142, of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Dilip Kumar, Director of Sagar Suri Estate and Finance Limited, Bombay and G. Sagar Suri, chairman-cum-managing director, Sagar Suri Estate and Finance, New Delhi, and others.

It was alleged that Ranjana had deposited two cheques worth Rs 15,500 on February 2,1997, with the companies of the accused under a scheme and depositors were to be returned the amount with interest.

The complainant alleged that the accused had issued two cheques worth 15,500 and also the interest on the amount through two cheques worth Rs 2,492 on December 16,1997, but the cheques were dishonoured on March 16,1998. 

Bail application dismissed
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The anticipatory bail application moved by constable Gurdhir Singh and others, who have been allegedly involved in a Sector 23 landlord assault case, was today dismissed by the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.C Godara.

CULTURE

A young director from the city
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — When 27-year-old Mohan Sharma left Chandigarh in 1995 to try hand at film direction, he did not possess any technical know-how. All he had was zeal and determination.

Today, after five years, this product of the local Government College of Art, has realised his dream. Avgat, his debut film as director is being talked about even before its release.

Mohan was in the city today on a personal visit. He spoke about his struggle as an assistant director to Gian Sahay (photography director for Antakshari, Saregama etc), then his brief stints as an actor in films and on the small screen, and finally his launch as the director of Avgat, a film set in the rough ambience of Mumbai’s underworld.

When asked why he chose a theme which has already been tackled by many others, Mohan said: “The baseline of the script is the same as far as the depiction of crime is concerned, but the story graph is different. I have reproduced events which have actually taken place. Violence is not the predominant factor in my film. I focus more on the misery, the pain of the people who get entangled in this messy world which has no (room) for emotions.”

The script has been written by Praveen Raj who is also credited with the script for Saaya, the award-winning Sony serial. The cast is also new. While the lead male role is played by a Marathi boy, Ainkya Deo, the female lead is played by model Natra Raghuraman who has been given a very earthy look.

Coming to his struggle to find a place as a director, he said: “I have been comparatively lucky. At the outset I was associated with Gian Sahay, whi is the director of photography for Antakshari, Saregama, and Bournvita Quiz Contest.” The first film in which he assisted Gian was Sar Aankhon Par which had Mukul Dev and Shruti Ulfat in lead roles. He also worked as an assistant to Gian Sahay in the serial Dal Mein Kala.

The break on the small screen came when Mohan was called by Asha Parekh to direct her serials. He holds Kora Kaagaz quite close to his heart. He also had a short stint as an actor in the serial, Sare Sapne Kahin Kho Gaye. But acting did not last long because of Avgat. Mohan also spoke of Mumbai’s underworld which threatens directors who attempt to highlight its modus operandi. “But we take these threats in our stride. As they say, “the show must go on,” said Mohan.

“I was always keen on direction, and here was a chance. Also in the future, I would rather direct than act”. He also wishes to produce some music videos in association with his uncle, Kamal Sharma, who is into Punjabi music in a big way.

Intimate with nature
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — Dev Inder Singh uses the camera to inspire life into all that is inanimate and when the image comes before the eyes, the mind sings praises of natural splendour.

The auditorium of the local Government College of Art, Sector 10, was today the venue of a slide presentation by the photographer, organised by the college as part of its ongoing golden jubilee celebrations. The theme of the presentation was landscape.

Said Dev Inder, “I have brought the entire collection I had on this subject.” The artist expresses himself strongly in words, harmony and colours. His images, be it the Gurdwara at Hemkund Sahib, the barren splendour of Ladakh or the enlivening majesty of Kashmir, seem to speak even in silence.

Each print stands out as an embodiment of mysticism. The photographer claimed, “I do not photograph, but choreograph images. My motifs are reflections of my inner self. When I capture images in my lens, a poem springs from my heart.” Dev Inder Singh recited three poems — Svet, Shaam and Pathar.

In the prints were images from Dal Lake and Wullar Lake in Kashmir, rural Punjab and Lahaul-Spiti. The waves, hills, plains and plateaus seem to play hide and seek with nature. Towards the end of the show, the artist said he was currently working on the theme of folk motifs.

Nostalgic images
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 28 — The works of oil and acrylic on canvas, put up by Shally Mahajan and Ashwani Kumar, alumni of the Institute of Fine Arts, Jammu, at the PU Fine Arts Museum, present a stark contrast between zesty urban life and serene rural life. The exhibition will be on view till December 2.

While Ashwani has concentrated on painting his village from memory, Shally’s work is all about glittering urban interiors and the related attitudes. She paints the raw enjoyment in the club and in the household, bringing to life the fast pace of city life. The works have been spontaneously painted — whether it is the outdoor restaurant, the banquet hall or the club surroundings.

Ashwani portrays the earthy village life and his paintings reflect his strong association with the village. He has painted series of works, one titled Tending the cow and another titled The village pond. He said, “I have evolved a personal style. I do not know how far have I been successful, but I have tried to inspire freedom in the works.”

Shallly, recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi (Delhi) scholarship for 2000-2001, concentrates on figurative works. “Figurative interiors offer greater freedom of compositional design, colour and pattern,” she said.