EDUCATION

She makes Punjabi easy for kids
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — Literary streak seems to be a part of her genes. That explains her tremendous achievements in the field of building literature, specific to the needs of children. Despite the long list of credits which describe Mrs Gurdev Kaur, a primary school teacher based in the UK, there are other encompassing features in her personality which raise the curiosity of an objective viewer.

Chandigarh Tribune today had an interface with the woman who has, for the past about 30 years, been evolving newer techniques of turning Punjabi into a friendly language for children. She was in the city today on the invitation of Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi. Speaking about her projects, the Bal Shiromani Sahitkar Award winner for 1997, Gurdev Kaur, said: “It was about 30 years back that I immigrated to England. Since then, I have been into teaching children. Being a Punjabi, the concern of promoting the language as a medium of expression has always been pricking me. That is from where I picked up my inspiration.”

Gurdev was always quite uncomfortable with the traditional method of teaching Punjabi in gurdwaras. “These are outdated methods. I have tried to evolve techniques which make the language learning pleasant for children,” said Gurdev, who began with writing songs in Punjabi, translating them into English and then rendering them in music.

Till date she has about 35 books to her credit, and each one targets children and explores the means of making learning enjoyable to children. “The themes I dealt with are diverse — from religious to cultural to musical. I have introduced the concept of talking books also,” she says.

The talking books guide children on everything about the Punjabi language and are sold with two audio cassettes meant to improve pronunciation. Also Gurdev has to her credit printing of the first-ever Sikh colouring book which contains methods of teaching Punjabi and Sikh tenets to a two-year-old child. This one was introduced in 1996, followed by books in which she has taught Sikh scriptures.

The idea of promoting Sikhism abroad struck Gurdev when the British government relaxed rules to allow teaching of five other religions in schools apart from Christianity. These included Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam. “There were no resources to teach Sikh religion. “So I had to evolve them,” said Gurdev, who then wrote the first-ever Sikh hymn to be taught in schools. The original hymn was written in Gurbani and then translated into English. It was also given a musical composition for easy learning by children. The most novel part of the whole project was the Western notation of the hymn so as to make it universally applicable and understandable.

Apart from teaching the hymn, Gurdev also started recording cassettes on Sikh shabads rendered in pure ragas. “Shabads were also classified for teachers to offer a wider base to the religion which has a lot to do with music,” informed Gurdev. For her efforts in the field of promoting the religion and the language abroad, Gurdev was also honoured by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee in 1995. She was also an honorary delegate on the occasion of the Tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa.

CAREER COURSES
Teachers want deadline extended
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — Scores of teachers of Panjab University and affiliated colleges await an official extension of time as the deadline for compulsory courses for career benefits nears end and the university showing no signs of their conduct.

The University Grants Commission deadline has neared its end. Teachers unable to complete the course may not get promoted to the next scale. There is a demand for extension of the course opportunity till March, 2002, Dr R.P.S. Josh, a fellow of Panjab University, said.

More interesting is the fact that the Panjab University centre has not been able to conduct refresher courses in many subjects affecting the teachers of the stream concerned. There have been no courses in home science, library science, physical education, fine arts, dance and statistics for a very long time on the campus.

The UGC rule for promotion says “requirement of participation in an orientation or refresher course, each of at least three to four weeks’ duration, consistent and satisfactory performance will be made compulsory, and appraisal shall be mandatory for promotion from one scale to another.

Teachers are expected to attend one refresher course and an orientation course for promotion to a senior grade. For promotion in the senior selection grade, two refresher courses are necessary requirements. Ph.D scholars have lesser conditions to meet.

Dr Josh said that courses at other centres were often inconvenient to the teachers. A parent course centre should attempt to arrange courses for all streams.

Prof Gopal Krishan, honorary director of the Academic Staff Council, PU, said that couple of letters had been sent to the UGC highlighting problems of teachers to go out. Each centre should have arrangements for all courses. He said that there were 45 academic staff colleges. There was the possibility of extension of services to each centre.

A letter by Dr Josh to the Vice-Chancellor said that sufferers fell in the categories of no courses in home science, physical education and dance, besides others. There were several who were not relieved for courses at the beginning or of academic session by the principals “owing to shortage of staff”. Dr Josh also pointed out a special category of those who were prevented by adverse family circumstances from attending the courses.

The next higher grades of affected teachers have been withheld, causing them financial inconvenience, Dr Josh added.

PSEB exam dates
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 8 — The Punjab School Education Board has announced the dates of practical examination for matric and senior secondary level examination for the board being held in 2001. The practical exams are being held before the written tests.

A spokesman of the board said the practical tests for the science, health, physical education and other subjects of the matric class would be held from February 3, 2001, to February 7. In the senior secondary class, the tests for the medical and non-medical stream would be held from January 19, 2001, to January 29. For the vocational stream the practical exams would be held from Jan 29, 2001, to January 31. For the humanities stream, the tests would be held from January 30, 2001, to February 7.

Students demand course upgradation
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — Students of the Bachelor of Computer Application course who have been on a protest dharna at Panjab University since Sunday took out a procession on the campus here today, demanding university orders for the upgradation of their course by one year.

Students are demanding that their BCA course be upgraded to Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) by adding one more academic session to the current curricula. “This has been repeatedly assured to students on earlier occasions”, a student said.

Students from colleges in other parts of the state also joined the protest rally today. There have been confirmed reports of examination boycott in different colleges.

Students are arguing that BIT had become a professional necessity. “There is a mode of having an alternative with the university providing an alternative course at the higher level which should be equivalent to the BIT. This one year could be added independently to the current BCA”, a student said.

One student said that there had been certain shortcomings in the course right from the beginning.

Students have met the Vice-Chancellor in this regard earlier. However, there was no official reaction in this regard today.

COURTS

Conduct bond not unfair labour practice: MUL
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — Arguments were witnessed today in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a writ petition filed by Maruti Udyog Employees’ Union for taking action against the management and the Managing Director of Maruti Udyog Ltd, Mr Jagdish Khattar, for allegedly following unfair labour practices. The union also sought a direction to the management that the employees of the employees union should be allowed entry into the factory without furnishing a good conduct bond.

The petition came up for hearing before Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar.It was argued on behalf of the management that the writ petition was not maintainable since Maruti Udyog was not an instrumentality of the state and that the union be stopped from filing the writ petition invoking the original jurisdiction of the High Court, because its plea on the same cause of action and on the same grounds has already been dismissed by the Additional Civil Judge (Senior), Gurgaon. 

The Civil Judge had found the strike to be prime facie illegal and that requiring the employees to sign the bond was not a change in the service condition. Arguing on behalf of the petitioner-union, Mrs Indira Jaisingh, a Supreme Court lawyer, contended that the principle of estoppel did not apply in this case. It was the public duty which an organisation performs, which would determine whether a writ can be issued to it or not. She contended that principle of estoppel would apply only when the decision had been given by a court of equal jurisdiction. 

According to the management, the workers were indulging in go-slow and pen-down protests. Therefore, the requirement of a good conduct bond was not an unfair labour practice. The case was adjourned till Monday when counsel was still arguing. 

Consumer forum order to Fiat company
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — The UT District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed Fiat India Automobile Private Limited, Mumbai, and Amardeep Motors Limited Industrial Area, Chandigarh, to pay 12 per cent interest for two years on the booking amount to a resident of Mohali, Mr Parminder Pal Singh Bhatia.

He had filed complaint against Fiat India Automobile Private Limited, Mumbai, and Amardeep Motors Industrial Area, Chandigarh, for not giving any interest on booking amount of Rs 21,000 for Fiat Uno car, before the UT District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum II on January 27,1999.

The complainant had alleged that he had booked Uno car by depositing Rs 21,000 with Fiat Automobiles Private Limited, Mumbai, on February 14,1996. He was allotted the priority number 06/008821 but he had cancelled the booking by sending a registered letter to Automobile Limited on May 20, 1996.

The complainant had alleged that he had not received the amount in spite of repeated requests sent through letters. Later, he filed a complaint before the UT District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.

The redressal forum observed that the complainant had received the amount of Rs 21,000 from Fiat India Limited in July 1998 but the company had retained the interest amount with it for over two years and as per stipulation, the company was liable to pay interest at the rate 12 per cent per annum. 

Court notices issued to PWD Minister
From Our Correspondent

KHARAR, Dec 8 — Mrs Neelam Arora, Civil Judge (senior division) Kharar, today issued notices to Mr Sucha Singh Langah, PWD Minister, Punjab, through its Collector Ropar, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&R) Link Roads at Ropar and SDO, PWD (B&R) Link Roads at Mohali for January 10, 2001, in a suit filed by Mr Jagar Singh of Toder Majra village (Kharar) for mandatory injunction under a public interest litigation directing the defendants to construct on a priority basis the kutcha link road (0.70 km) leading to the cremation ground of Toder Majra village and also directing the defendants to release all funds for constructing the said kutcha road on a priority basis.

The plaintiff has submitted that the Chief Minister of Punjab had issued a letter dated 1-3-1999 to Mrs Daljit Kaur, MLA from Kharar, regarding the construction of 20 km new roads in the Kharar constituency as per the recommendations of the MLA and this policy decision was taken at the meeting of the Council of Ministers. He has submitted that Mrs Daljit Kaur, MLA, recommended the roads, including the road in this suit, to the Deputy Commissioner Ropar and the Deputy Commissioner has also signed the list. He has written that on the basis of recommendations of the MLA, the department had issued letter no 5610 dated 18-6-1999 along with the list of roads, including this road. He has written that there were two cremation grounds in the village on this road, and residents face a lot of problems due to this kutcha road.

The plaintiff has alleged that the PWD Minister, Mr Sucha Singh Langah, had given oral orders to other defendants not to construct this road because the majority of voters of the village are with the present MLA, Mrs Daljit Kaur, who is in the opposite group of Mr Langah and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab. He has written that the defendants have failed to fulfil their legal duty by not constructing the road and villagers were suffering due to this.

Special lok adalats at police stations
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — For expeditious disposal of cases, the Chandigarh police has decided to hold special lok adalats in police stations. According to sources in the Police Department, cases involving minor and compoundable offences will be taken up at the adalats. The modalities were being worked out, said a senior police officer when contacted late in the evening.

CULTURE

A successful comeback by Aman
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — Nature manifests itself in various forms and no matter how varied the manifestations, beauty drips from each one of them. The faith in nature’s grandeur was reasserted today after viewing the collection of photographs by city-based photo artist Aman Gupta who has had quite a chequered past. In his second photo exhibition which went on view today at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, the artist has captured roses of the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden at their majestic best. The show offers a great variety and visual appeal, despite the fact that the theme of the collection remains constant.

Aman’s exhibition is his way of making a comeback to life. After he met with an accident which confined him to bed for two long months of his life, Aman had lost a great amount of hope and aplomb. Things, however, never remained the same, as the artist himself says: “The accident changed a lot in me. For a while I thought the artist in me would die a gradual death. It was difficult to come back to normalcy, but inspiration from several quarters did the trick.”

Aman was already into active photography and had staged one photo exhibition before he met with an accident some six years back. The impact of the accident was strong enough to disturb the mental balance of Aman. But he later decided to seek confidence from his job. He joined his father who is running a photograph shop on the Panjab University campus. “Taking time off from the schedule, I used to go and visit the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden where I observed roses for long hours. “

That was when Aman got the theme of his next photo exhibition. He wanted to showcase the beauty of roses in the famous garden, and he began collecting his prints. The exhibition is well-projected in that the artist has been able to offer variety despite a constant subject which finds expression in roses. Though no bold technique is on play on the photographs, what is striking is their visual appeal and their ability to sooth the sense.

Roses have been captured at their charming best, and the entire garden stands recreated in a small exhibition hall of the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10. The exhibition will be on till December 10.

Gandhara collections to be renamed
By Parbina Rashid

CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — The Government Museum and Art Gallery plans to rename the Gandhara sculptures on the basis of the comprehensive details given by a book which is going to be published soon.

“All speculation about some of the Gandhara labeling being incorrect is going to be put to an end once the edited volume on the proceedings of the colloquium, which was organised with the purpose of identifying the Gandhara collections, is published”, said Mr V.N. Singh, Director of the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, here today.

Most of the information in terms of chronology, province and titles furnished by the labels on the sculptures which are being displayed in the museum were found to be incorrect by the experts. To sort out all related problems of Gandhara sculptures in general and the sculptures in the hold of the Government Museum and Art Gallery in particular, an international colloquium was organised by the museum in 1998. More than 50 per cent of the sculptures were rightly organised during the colloquium.

The book which is titled Gandhara Sculptures in the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh, along with the sub-title, proceedings of the International Colloquium is to be published by March 31, informed the Director. The book contains a comprehensive details of the Gandhara collections including origin, identification and style of the sculptures and also clues to determine the time frame during which they were created.

Most of the Gandhara sculptures of the museum were not correctly labeled, said Prof D.C. Banerjee, Academic Director of the colloquium and also the editor of the volume. The entire collection of Gandhara sculptures of the museum which were inherited from the Lahore museum, after partition, were not accompanied by any identifying list which made it hard for the experts to label the sculptures , he added.

The Government Museum and Art Gallery with a collection about 627 Gandhara sculptures ranks second after the National Museum in Calcutta, which treasures approximately 800 Gandhara sculptures. Keeping it in view that most of the Gandhara area lies in Pakistan, Afghanistan and to some extent Iran and Iraq, the Chandigarh collection assumes significance both in terms of exhibition and scholastic activities.

Gandhara sculptures based on the life and teachings of Buddha were made during the period ranging from 2nd century to 5th century A.D. The sculptures which show various foreign influences especially the Greco-Roman, also depicts the art, customs, fashions and languages of the region, and is of great value to the researchers.

The book will have a revised text on the entire 627 Gandhara sculptures, illustrated with photographs besides articles contributed by world famous Gandhara experts including Dr S.R. Dar, Director of the Lahore Museum, Prof Farid Khan of Peshawar University, Dr Inamul Haque of the National Museum, Dhaka and Dr B.N. Mukharjee from Calcutta Museum.