EDUCATION

MTS College row: teachers’ body seeks CM’s intervention
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 9 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) has sent a telegram to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, seeking his immediate intervention into the on-going controversy over extension to the Principal of Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women.

In his message, Professor K.B.S. Sodhi, president of the union, said the Chief Minister should review his orders of 95 per cent grant to the Principal from the Punjab Government. He said the advice of the Advocate General, Punjab, given to the Chief Minister regarding the grant was against the grant-in-aid rules as the Principal had crossed the age of 60 years. Professor Sodhi has asked the Chief Minister to consult the Education Secretary and the DPI (Colleges) on the issue.

The Principal, talking to Ludhiana Tribune, said she was not seeking any approval from the Vice Chancellor of Panjab University as stated by the college management. She said since the past eight months, all forms as well as the appointments of over 25 ad hoc teachers made by her had been accepted by the VC which proved his consent. Giving reasons for not coming to the college, she said she wanted that the examinations should commence smoothly.

LUDHIANA, Dec 9 — The Read for 2001 Worldwide Programme was organised for the students of classes I to IV of GRD Academy, Humbran Road, here yesterday. As a part of the programme, the students and teachers of the kindergarten section changed into their nightdresses, cuddled up to their favourite stuffed toys and read bed time stories.

CULTURE

Global outlook for Punjabi literature stressed
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 9 — A two-day seminar on Punjabi literature — future, challenges and possibilities, organised by Punjabi Sahit Academy, began at Punjabi Bhawan here, with the inaugural address by Dr S.S. Joshi, professor and Head, Department of Languages, Punjabi University, Patiala.

He remarked that the 21st century was the age of information technology, fast-changing economic scenario and global awareness. He stressed the need for the writers, critics and readers of Punjabi literature to acquire a global outlook to move with the changing times and to face the new challenges.

The presidium of the seminar comprised noted playwright Jaswant Singh Kanwal, Dr Prem Parkash (Patiala), Dr Jagbir Singh (Delhi University) and Mr Jagjit Singh Anand, chief editor, Nawan Zamana.

More than 100 Punjabi writers and critics paid tributes to prominent Persian and Punjabi writer Dr Kulwant Singh, who passed away in Patiala last evening. Describing the demise of the writer, who was busy these days with Persian rendering of Guru Granth Sahib, as an irreparable loss to the literary world, they said Punjabi literature had become poorer. The participants observed-two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr Gurbhajan Gill, Vice-President, Punjabi Sahit Academy, observed that the academy was making an attempt to prepare a future strategy for literatures by identifying challenges and prospects before Punjabi literature in future.

Taking part in the discussion, Dr Harbhajan Singh Bhatia, professor in Punjabi Department of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar focused on the role of literary critics. “Critics during the 20th century, had more or less confined their role to investigators. But we need to evolve an approach to identify various developments in the literary field in respect of their relevance to historical documentation and aspirations of the readers in the changing scenario.”

He was of the opinion that major challenges before the critics were to link philosophical issues with literature and literary approach to burning problems of life. The writers and critics, in days to come, would have to effectively deal with these issues.

Dr Navjit Singh, professor, Department of Journalism, Punjabi University, Patiala, in his paper on Future of communication and challenges before it, opined that the communication, media had become so strong that they held the reins of the future of any society in their hands.

Speaking on Punjabi culture, Amarjit Singh Grewal said the new ‘trans-national Punjabi cultural awareness’ had freed people from the caged environments and had prepared them for a ‘free flight’. “The Punjabi culture had assumed a new identity and the national and international barriers posed no hindrance in the free exchange.”

Others who took part in the deliberations were Dr Jagbir Singh (Delhi), Mr Jagjit Singh Anand (Jalandhar) Mr Jaswant Singh Kanwal, Dr Inder Pal Singh (Chandigarh), Dr Sarbjit Singh (Chandigarh), Mr Kulwant (Jagraon), Mr Inderjit Hasanpuri, Mr Parduman Singh Bedi, Mr Karamjit Aujla, Mr Bhupinder Harsh, Principal Sardoo Singh, Dr Joginder Singh Chhabra, Dr S.N.Sewak, Mr Ajaib Chitrakar, Mr Balbir Parwana, Dr Sarbjot Kaur, Mr Surinder Rampuri, Mr Jatinder Preet, Dr Surjit Singh Muktsar, Mr Dan Singh Komal, Dr Balwant Singh Noor, Dr Joginder Singh Nirala, Principal Prem Singh Bajaj, Dr Parminder Singh and Mr Narinder Singh Marwaha.