EDUCATION

335 scientific models on display
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — As many as 335 models of scientific projects have been put on display by students of 67 secondary and senior secondary schools of the city in the 24th State Science Exhibition-2000, inaugurated at the Parade Ground in Sector 17, here today.

The three-day exhibition on the theme of ‘science and technology for development’ is being organised by the State Institute of Education , UT, in collaboration with the National Council of Educational, Research and Training, New Delhi, and the local Department of Science and Technology.

The sub themes are food, health and nutrition for all, industry, transport and communication, energy and information technology. Schools have been divided into three categories of rural, urban and model. In evaluating the exhibits , 70 per cent weightage will be given to the technical skill and creative ability and 30 per cent to presentation and educative value, informed Head of the Department of Science and Maths , State Institute of Education, Ms Asha Gupta .

Students were mostly helped by their teachers in making of their models. The students explained their respective models in detail. They felt the exhibition would educate the public about the role of science and technology in life and about various advancements made in the scientific field.

The students were full of enthusiasm and hopeful of winning an award for their respective schools. Some of the students had got the ideas of their own, some from the project books. Most of them were guided by their teachers and parents. It took about two to three months for the students to prepare their models. They have made the best use of waste products in the models and spent minimum amount of money in making these models.

The Adviser to the Administrator, UT, Ms Vineeta Rai, inaugurated the exhibition and interacted with the students at various stalls. She lauded the efforts of the students. She said, the exhibition is an effort to create a meaningful interface between science, technology and education to meet the challenges of life. Only knowledge and effective use of innovations in science and technology can improve the quality of life and enhance the standard of living, she added.

The Director SIE, Chandigarh, Dr H.C. Sharma, said, this exhibition is a unified and purposeful activity which gives confidence and opportunity to the students to express themselves through an educational project.

The Director Science and Technology, Chandigarh, Mr Vivek Atray, said that holding of such exhibitions broadens the outlook of the students and develops in them a spirit of healthy competition.

Winter school for children
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — The approaching winter break for children has a bonanza in the shape of a special winter school being run by the Durga Das Foundation at Nehru Bhavan in Sector 24. It will start on December 26 and continue till December 31. The winter school has fun, excitement, thrill and adventure for children.

It offers children a scope for personal growth, interaction, knowledge dissemination, a lot of stimulation and challenge. Each session would have a separate schedule which would include air gliding camping, horse riding, trekking and adventure.

Spirit of Xmas concert
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — The Yuletide spirit was in the air as 140 students from eight schools of Chandigarh sang Christmas carols to usher in the ‘Spirit of X-mas School Concert’ at St Stephen’s School here today.

The host school had put up a Christmas tableau and Santa Claus mingled with the children, ready with a treat for every child.

Each school sang three hymns to capture the spirit.

And waiting for the children after the carol singing was the giant wheel on which they had a grand ride.

The following schools took part in the concert: Mount Carmel, St Xavier, Baptist School, Carmel Convent, St Anne’s Convent, Sacred Heart School, St John’s and the host school.

Xmas celebration

Government Home Science College, Sector 10, celebrated Christmas in the college’s MSC Hostel here today.

More than 100 inmates were involved in the decoration of the Christmas tree.

Decon Anil roy, Decon Justin and Decon Noel Kokhar had come from The CNA Church, Sector 18, to sermon the students and sing Christmas carols. The students lighted candles on the occasion and participated in carol singing. 

UGC cell always on the move
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — The UGC cell is the only public dealing centre in the Panjab University, the address of which has been changed at least five times in the last five years. The coordinator of the UGC centre has changed an equal number of times and as it happens the coordinator promptly shifts the cell to his department for convenience.

With the number of candidates appearing for the UGC-NET examination increasing every year, there is a need to regularise this temporary status of the cell.

The cell had been operating from the Botany Department in 1995, then it was shifted to the Education Department from where it was shifted to the Department of Laws and from there to the Student's Centre and currently it is operating from the Mathematics Department.

"The UGC has asked the universities to assign a coordinator for the centre who is paid a nominal amount per month from the date of appearance of advertisement to the date of examination. Even the employees employed for the clerical work are kept on a temporary basis," says Prof Jagat Jerath, who remained the coordinator of the centre for a year.

The members of the faculty who become in charge of the cell and the coordinator of the examinations, in accordance with the UGC directive, do the job rather reluctantly since they are paid a nominal amount for the extra work. The erstwhile Vice-Chancellor was in fact requesting various heads of departments to do the work and this is how the centre landed up being now in the Mathematics Department whose chairman Prof Khasa is the coordinator of the UGC examination.

The former coordinators also point out that sufficient space is not provided to do even the basic work, like receiving applications, preparing roll number cards etc and so the respective department space is used by the coordinators to get the work done.

In spite of its constant shifts, the cell, whenever it comes into existence, has been able to maintain a record of the students who have appeared in the examination. "But as the years go by it will be difficult to shift material from one place to another and records might get lost," says Prof Jerath.

Prof Khasa who is getting the examinations conducted for the second time, has had things worse this year with the new UGC directive that all examination centres should be on the university campus itself. That has been arranged, and the roll numbers have been sent through courier.

PEC student develops ‘lost and found’ site
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — The world of communication through computers seems to open up a new ‘window’ every day.

Ankush Aggarwal, a final year student at the local Punjab Engineering College, announced a new site for community assistance in case of ‘lost and found’ cases. He said that ‘lost and found’ items often went unreturned, not because the finder is dishonest but it is too much trouble and expense finding the owner’.

Ankush said he had developed a site at nsn@chandigarhx.com to provide service to lost and found cases’. One can plug in his problem on the net and also the finder can plug in his surprise find on the net.

“If you want to put a picture or photograph of the property online or any other help, then the problem can be mailed at help@chandigarhx.com”, he said.

Ankush has also developed few other sites independently. Work on this service started in December 1999 and concluded recently, Ankush added.

COURTS

Maid for CBI probe into molestation bid
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — Mamta Sharma, resident of Mohan Nagar, Kurukshetra, filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court today seeking a CBI inquiry into her charge that Mr RP Tiwari, Punjab’s Additional Director-General of Police (Security), had allegedly outraging her modesty and attempted to commit rape while she was working at his house.

Mamta has also sought a direction to the SP, Kurukshetra, to ensure protection to her life and liberty and that of her family members. The petitioner, along with her family, had migrated to Kurukshetra in 1991 when the terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. The father of the petitioner died in 1995.

The petitioner submitted that one Jagjit Singh Sandhu, a social worker, who was under protection of the Punjab Police, approached Mr Tiwari for getting security. It is alleged that Mr Tiwari suggested to him to provide a girl as a helper to his wife, who had sustained knee fracture. On Mr Sandhu’s suggestion, the petitioner’s mother allowed her to work as a maid at the ADGP’s house, and on December 10, the petitioner took up work there.

According to the petitioner on December 13, Mr Tiwari asked the petitioner to hold the plate while he took breakfast and asked embarrassing questions. She further alleged that later he tried to outrage her modesty by touching her. It was further alleged that he asked her to sleep between Mrs. Tiwari and himself which she objected. She was told by Mrs Tiwari that he would not be able to help her financially “till she came near him”. On December 14, he allegedly gave capsules to the petitioner, which she took to be vitamin capsules as a result of which she felt heaviness in her head. Mr Tiwari is also alleged to have caught hold of her when he was under the influence of liquor. Mr Sandhu brought her back to Kurukshetra.

The petition will come up for hearing tomorrow.

Death sentence made life term

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice A.S. Garg today converted the death sentence on Puran Chand, a 50-year-old resident of Damla Kishanpura village in Yamunanagar district, to life imprisonment.

Puran Chand was sentenced to death by Yamunanagar’s District and Session Judge in June for killing Ram Sarup and his two nephews, Ramesh Chander and Surinder Kumar, in June 1997 over a minor dispute.

The prosecution has alleged that accused, an ex-serviceman, had fired from his licensed gun after his mother, Mahanto Devi, told him that the accused had stopped her from placing cowdung cakes over a wall which the two parties shared. On getting funshots all three died on the spot and the accused fled from the scene.

The Bench also fined Puran Chand Rs 75,000 to be paid to the families of the deceased.

Ruchika case put off to Jan 13

FOC adds: Mr Justice Amar Dutt of the High Court today adjourned the case of a former Haryana DGP, S.P.S Rathore, to January 13 for filing a reply and January 18 for arguments.

Mr Rathore had moved that the court last week for quashing the order of the Special CBI Judge, Ambala, for condoning the delay in filing the FIR against Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case.

In the charge sheet, it was alleged that Rathore had called Ruchika to his residence on August 12, 1990, and attempted to molest her. Rathore was then IG, Bhakra-Beas Management Board, and head of the Table Tennis Association, Haryana.

Mr Justice Dutt directed Ms Madhu Anand Parkash who appeared in court through her counsel to become a party in the case, to file an application.

CULTURE

Bhag Singh returns with a dream
From Parbina Rashid

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — Bhag Singh is not an unfamiliar name for art lovers of the region. This folk dancer, actor, playwright and novelist has dedicated his life to promoting culture and folk arts of Punjab. After spending some time in hibernation, he is ready to be in the limelight again. Now, he wants to produce a Punjabi film.

“Punjabi films that are made these days are not good. After the death of Varinder, Punjabi films have entered an era of darkness. Good directors, good scripts and good comedians are just not there.” he said.

Bhag Singh said he would not like to disclose the name of his new film, but Gulzar would be associated with it. “The script is ready and I am looking for a financer. The story is about the simplicity in Punjabi lifestyle,” he said.

Bhag Singh has written and produced plays like Talash Ek Aurat Ki, Ram Kah Gaye Hai, Chaleda, Do Nadiya, Ek Darwaza and Ek Aurat, Ek Bhariya. He is confident that he will be able to revive the public interest in Punjabi movies.

Bhag Singh has recently received the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the second time. He has also got the National Award for best story. He got this award for the story Kadi Dhup, Kadi Chhaan. His documentary, Bera Saguna Da, which is about rituals associated with a Punjabi marriage, has been a hit all over Punjab.

His novels Ishq Di Eko Jaat, Inteha, Awaz Do Kahan Ho, Seema and Galatfahmi are widely read. He has recently compiled Punjabi bolis in a book form.

Bhag Singh, after coming here from Gujranwala in Pakistan, began his career by playing Sita in a Ramlila. He is a good Sammi and Jhumar dancer and conducts regular workshops to teach these arts to youngsters.

Let’s understand British culture
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — If you are interested in spicing up your life with the Spice Girls or yearn to plan your wardrobe with Chata Ramano, then British Library gives you this unique opportunity to pick up hints in various issues from sports to fashion by organising UK Today, an exhibition of books at the library hall in Sector 8 here today.

This five-day-long exhibition provides a unique opportunity to the city residents to get an insight into contemporary British culture, art and design, sports, film and television, youth culture, fashion and pop music.

“The exhibition presents the latest books on the contemporary issues” said another visitor, Mr Pallav Mukharjee, who is an architect. “It was worthwhile going through the art and design section as the books on architecture gave the latest happenings in Great Britain, which are not available in any other city library”, he added. The book named Fantasy Art of the New Millennium by Dick Jude was the most sought after by the people visiting the exhibition.

Though the collection at the exhibition is less in number, it certainly makes up in the variety. One can learn the A to Z of British life with the Dictionary of Britain, share the pop culture with Andrew Blake’s Living through Pop or take tips on fashion learning from Fashion Writing, an edited volume by Judith Watt. The fashion conscious can learn about clothes and accessories from a book called The story of cloth, that gives you facts at your fingertips.

The exhibition also has some interesting collections on film and television including Salman Rushdie’s Midnight Children, Richard Curter’s Notting Hill and the original edition of the famous Hollywood hit Shakespeare in Love. Among the youth section We are kids in Britain, Cult fiction and In the culture society: art, fashion and popular music by Angela McRobbie make interesting reading.

Cultural festival on Dec 24
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Dec 19 — The local Punjabi Cultural Society will organise the ninth Dr M.S. Randhawa Memorial Cultural Festival at the Dashera ground, Phase VIII, here on December 24.

Mr Phool Raj Singh, Municipal Councillor and president of the society, said here today that prominent singers like Harbhajan Mann, Sardool Sikander, Surinder Shinda, Hardeep, Paramjit Sidhu, Butta Mohammad, Sunita Bhatti and Raj Tiwari were likely to take part. Comedy artist Gurdev Dhillon would also regale the audience.

The president said the festival would be dedicated to Major J.D.S. Dhaliwal, who was a resident of Phase VII and had sacrificed his life during operation Rakshak. His widow would be honoured with a gold medal.

Waris all set to enter pop arena
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 19 — More than anything else, Manmohan Waris remembers his mentor, Ustad Jaswant Bhauria. And more so today when he is about to project himself to the world in an entirely new avataar. Not that he is fresh in the seemingly-saturated world of Punjabi singing, but that he is breaking the cocoon built threads of folk music and is tying a knot with popular music which has become synonymous with survival in the field of singing today.

The young folk singer, who rose from a small village of Malpur in Hoshiarpur district to make it big in Canada, was in the city today on a promotional tour for his latest album titled Husn da jadu which is being released by TIPS tomorrow.

The album is surely not just another one in the series of his earlier five albums. It offers a blend of folk and classical tunes. There are 10 numbers in the album and each one has been composed with freshness.

Interestingly, his brother Sangtar has directed music for the album. The lyrics are by Devinder Khannewala, Malkiat and Sangtar, while the video director is Azim Parkar from Mumbai. The songs are well rendered and reflect the tutored voice of Manmohan who sings with an amazing punch, be it folk or pop or a classical sad song.

Speaking to the Chandigarh Tribune today, he said that singing is his passion and will always remain so. "I rehearse regularly. That is the one thing that my ustad asked me never to leave. I went to Canada in 1990 and when I came back my album Gairan naal pingan chutdiyan, which was released in India in 1994, helped me to make a respectable comeback. "

Manmohan was also not always Waris. "Well, that was the name of the music group we formed in Canada for live performances. That is how I adopted the suffix," said Waris who still remembers the days of learning from Ustad Jaswant. "Whatever I am today is due to him," he said. Waris has performed over 1000 shows in India and abroad.

While he is comfortable with any kind of singing, he has a special inclination towards soft, sad numbers. Says Waris, "I am trying to target the youth of the country, because I want them to identify with me." That is why Waris is now out with the latest album which lays the focus on popular music. The music is loud, but goes with the mood.