EDUCATION

‘Education bandh’ today 
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11 — The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) has decided to observe a ‘‘complete education bandh’’ tomorrow a press note said here today.

The general secretary, PCCTU, Prof Charanjit Chawla said teachers from 165 colleges of Punjab and seven colleges from Chandigarh will sit on a dharna out side the office of their respective Principals and they will not perform examination duties, sports work or other academic assignments.

Meanwhile the All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Association (AIFUTA) and the Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) has decided to hold a joint action programme in Delhi on Tuesday, a press note said here today. Teachers from Panjab University, Chandigarh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjabi University, Patiala, Panjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Agriculture University, Palampur, Jammu University, Horticulture University, Solan etc are likely to participate in a march from the UGC office to Parliament seeking the implementation of various demands of the teachers.

These includes the notification of placement of Professor of eminence in the super time scale agreed upon in July by the MHRD and the UGC; super selection grade to the selection grade teachers, withdrawal of notification of the UGC regarding observers for selection etc. PCCTU is supporting AIFUTA in this march.

City school goes high-tech
 From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11 — Online teaching has been introduced for the first time in the UT in Shivalik Public School in Sector 41. The willingness of the students to adopt this system is indicated by the tremendous response it has received from them.

Equipped with a web server, the school is perhaps the only one in India where the teacher prepares on-line lessons for the students.

The project has been introduced by Mr Rajnish Malwia and his wife, Shalini, who have been working for two years to make this idea successful.

“In our project the module is designed by the teachers themselves. Apart from being futuristic, it helps the growth of the teachers. Most of the sites offer homework facility which needs to be updated. The emphasis is on points that benefit the student as well as the teachers. The contents are designed by the teachers. Students who miss the class can go through the syllabus of the whole week.” says Mrs Shalini Malwia.

The system has started showing results. The students are taking interest in the notes prepared by the teachers. Jyoti Kaur, a class VIII student of the school, says she always faced problems in studying chemistry. But now she is improving by repeating the lessons on the computer. Another student of the same class, Pushkar Singh, says the lesson plans introduced by the teachers have proved helpful, specially to those who are not able to attend the class.

According to Mr D.S. Bedi, Director, Shivalik Public School, the system of chalk and blackboard is going to become obsolete. Online chatting and on line counselling will be started in the school shortly, where the students and the teachers will be able to interact easily.

In another school which is planning to introduce online studies soon, a teacher said they would select a dot com company to do the job for them.

COURTS

Remand of four extended
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11—The UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) today extended the judicial remand of Dhanu, Jinder, Ravi, Satpal till December 19, in a murder case. It was alleged that four accused had murdered Narinder Singh at Mauli Jagran. The victim Narinder was a resident of Rajiv Colony, Panchkula and a class X student .

Notice on bail

The UT Additional District and Session Judge, today issued a notice for December 13 on the bail application moved by Sarabjit Singh and others in a case of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

The case against the seven accused Sarabjit Singh, alias Khalsa, Gurjant Singh, Paramdeep Singh, Tajinder Singh, Surinder Singh, Jagjit Sing, Karamjit Singh had been registered under Section 147,148,149 and 323,506 of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant Gurjeet Singh had alleged that the accused had beaten him and his two friends namely Harpreet and Kamalinder Singh with iron rods and sticks in Sector 46.

The seven were sentenced to 14 days of judicial remand on December 9 by the UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class).

Police remand

The UT Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) today sentenced police remand for two days to Bhim Seni, a resident of Mani Majra, in a forgery case. The accused was arrested by the CIA branch of Chandigarh Police.

It was alleged that the accused had sold mortgaged vehicles by using forged documents and the police reportedly had recovered Zen and Maruti -800 from his possession.

CULTURE

Freedom is essence of life: Aditya Prakash 
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11 — A shackled mind thinks little. And hence the need to break free — not only to let the thoughts prosper, but also to make the spirit soar. Freedom ...is always basic to man, to beast, to all creation.

This eternal theory of the heart lies framed in the works of former principal, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Mr Aditya Prakash, who is back with an inspiring collection after a gap of two years. The painter in the academician breaks free in each work of the assembly titled Birds.

Smiles the artist whose romance with the brush dates back to 1965, “Freedom is the essence of all life, it is one treasure everyone wishes to possess. Of late, I have had this persisting urge to paint birds because I could not think of a greater or better expression of freedom in life than what the birds encompass.”

Blessed with a free mind and thought, the artist thus began doodling with the painting brush, something which he has always loved to do. “I have never believed in being tutored in art. I feel there are streaks of art in everyone who takes birth. The only difference is that some discover the same while others let it get lost in the humdrum of living. I have always learnt from letting myself be. Never have I governed the movement of my brush,” said Aditya Prakash while viewing his works with nostalgia at the Indus Ind Art Gallery in Sector 8.

The works number 26, and are all oil and acrylic on canvas. Apart from the strength of the artist’s imagination, they also showcase his concern about environmental degradation and his love for birds. “Mostly I have mounted the canvas on board. I think it is safer that way,” laughed the seasoned artist who has had no formal training in art except a short course at Glasgow School of Art, London.

The employment of colours is such as inspires optimism in the very being of a person. There are greens, yellows, reds and all the rest in the bright brigade to lift the sinking spirit.

For that is the actual idea behind painting. “Painting is a form of relaxation. Just as others pray for solace, I paint when I want to relieve myself of tensions. And take it from me, it really works. After a session on the canvas, you have overcome a lot of stress,” says the artist, who has several exhibitions to his credit.

No training helps. All that helps is practice. Adds Aditya Prakash, “If you practise art, there is no reason why you should not discover the artist in you. I think art is one way to feel close to God, and it is a blessed form of expression. It is just like prose which is pregnant with poetry.”

The exhibition will remain on view till December 19.

Preparing the soul for something higher
 Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 11 — Melody struck a chord with those who filled Bhaskar Rao Auditorium of Pracheen Kala Kender, Sector 35, here today to listen to sitar maestro Ustad Salamat Ali Khan at the monthly baithak programme.

Born in 1968, the artiste has carved a niche for himself in the field of music. The raagas floated in still air until a pause happened in which some information was given about Salamat Ali Khan. He said, “It was long back that I was under the tutelage of my father Ustad Nasir Khan and my uncle Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan, graded artistes of All India Radio. Music is so varied that you are always in the process of learning.”

His music retains the gravity and depth of the alaap. The maestro brought to light the soothing effect of music which had the power to alter attitudes. His brother Ustad Sultan Khan is a famous sarangi player and a recipient of the President’s Award.

Speaking about the effects of music and his mission as an instrumentalist, Ustad Salamat said, “As a performer, I want to catch the emotions of the listeners. While I play, they are inspired. It is my duty to do justice to the inspiration which traces its roots in divinity.”