EDUCATION

Refresher course in history concludes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1— “Make sense of what the past was like” said Prof B.N. Goswamy, art historian, at the valedictory lecture at the three-week refresher course organised by the Department of History, Panjab University, here today.

“There are a large number of gaps which need to be filled, specially in the field of Sikh paintings.” he said. Prof Goswamy talked about the origin and growth of Sikh paintings in an absorbing presentation at the ICSSR. “By the 1850s, Sikhs had clearly established a style of their own, which had a peculiar warmth, an earthiness which no other form of painting in India at that time had. What is remarkable is the absence of any work on these paintings, although instances of Sikh chiefs and later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, patronising these paintings are many.”

More than 45 history teachers from all over India had participated in the refresher course, which had eminent historians, sociologists, philosophers and economists as resource persons.

The participants were later awarded certificates and one of them thanked the department for the course. Earlier, Dr J. S. Dhaki, head of the Department welcomed the guests and participants. Prof Gopal Krishan, Director, Academic Staff College, was also present on the occasion, along with the department’s faculty. 

NSS camp concludes at village 
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — Where there is a will, there is a way, is an epithet which was proved true by staff and students of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here today. The valedictory function of the 10-day NSS camp scheduled to be held at the Khudda Jasso village seemed doomed, due to excessive rains, but the venue was then shifted, more than 80 villagers included, to the college premises where the function commenced.

A cultural programme was jointly presented by NSS volunteers and village children. The principal, Ms Vijalakshmi, administered a pledge to the NSS volunteers, the village children and youth to do nothing which would be against the dignity, interest and progress of the nation.

During the camp, projects of literacy, legal awareness, national integration, women empowerment and AIDS awareness were undertaken. A float on AIDS awareness was made by students during the camp and sent for Chandigarh carnival. Dr Patial and Mr G.S. Gill supervised the camp.

Dr C.L. Narang, Director, NSS, Panjab University, was the chief guest at the occasion. He appreciated the efforts put in by volunteers. Mr Baldev Singh spoke on behalf of the villagers and requested the principal to continue to adopt the village for such activities.

He said that the villagers had a lot to learn, especially the women and children, from the girls of the college.

The function ended with the distributing of awards to village children, who had participated in the cultural programmes. Ms Amar Kaur, president of the Mahila Mandal of the village and sarpanch, Ms Tirath Kaur Mahan, also attended the function.

PU examinations postponed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — All examinations of Panjab University scheduled to be held on January 2 have been postponed by the university on account of the holiday to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The new dates for the examinations will be notified later.

CULTURE

An ode in colours to New Year
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 1 — Artists celebrate in style, and so they did today when 13 of them got together at the IndusInd Bank Art Gallery to welcome the New Year by singing an ode to creation...an ode in colours which spilled brightness all over the ambience.

The deftly-used colours paint life red in tooth and claw in some works; while in others they bring out the malady of existence. But in whatever form they covered the canvas, they exuded energy, power and rhythm, so typical of an artist's world.

On display till January 9 will be works by some very eminent artists from the city, including the Principal of the Government College of Art, Sector 10, Prof Prem Singh, Prof Bheem Malhotra of the Chandigarh College of Architecture, Satwant Singh, Viren Tanwer, Vinay Vadhera and Balvinder Singh.

All the works mounted on the walls are more than just appealing both in form and meaning. Prof Prem Singh's work in ink looks hauntingly beautiful, and so does the work by Viren Tanwar in which he reflects the dilemma of the Indian woman who is forever caught in the race of balancing herself to the requirements of the essentially-patriarchal society. Colours add charm to the work and further the theme amazingly. Viney Vadhera's Mask in acrylic medium also projects a powerful theme. It portrays man busy with choosing a mask to hide his reality. The deep blue effect makes the form all the more powerful.

Bheem Malhotra's frame titled Misty Moments bring out the beauty of the Morni hills. It's a moment in one languid day which lies captured in the work which found a buyer at the very first day of the show. Ishwar Dass's work in etching titled Flying Animals and Balvinder Singh's work reflecting the all-encompassing television are quite appealing.

Savage gender by Satwant Singh revels in black and white. It explores the male-female forms which are so basic to existence. The work in tin printing by H.G. Jhamb stands out for its technique and finesse, and so does the landscapic work by Raj Jain. Another work in printing technique on display is by Nirmal Prakash, a professor in the Graphics Department, College of Art, is titled Fishes Guild. This one is from a series of Nirmal's works on fishes.

The youngest artist participating in this show is Rajinder whose work in acrylic reflects his growth and maturity as an artist. The on-the-spot creation is quite overpowering.