EDUCATION

Alumni goldmine that PU’s ignoring
By Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Today, when Panjab University is facing a shortage of funds, contributions from alumni can help it a lot. However, this potential goldmine is not being used. Though former students of the university are spread all over the globe, the alumni list includes names of only 2,233 members even after 50 years of the setting up of the university here.

The list has been prepared in about a year with the “individual” efforts of the Dean Alumni Relations, who admits that there might be several errors in the list.

“Birthday cards were being sent to even those members who had passed away, until I discovered it and decided to revamp the system,” said Dr Dinesh Kumar Gupta, Dean Alumni Relations.

“The alumni were willing to help, but the university failed to support the action. One would have needed to visit all places where potential members could be found. The university would have had to take care of them on their campus visits,” he said.

The number of members is small and only Rs 500 is paid for a lifetime membership. The maximum attendance one can expect even at an annual general-body meeting of the alumni is only about 150. The attendance has been a lot thinner at times. There are rarely any get-togethers throughout the year. Dr Dinesh said, “The university should strive to create goodwill with its students, which it hasn’t been able to do in most of the cases.”

Dr Dinesh receives many letters from former students who have now settled abroad. He has often gone out of his way to take up the cases of such students with the departments concerned.

A person named Udham Singh, who had graduated in early 70s, once wrote to Dr Gupta, saying that he had not received his degree. Dr Gupta wrote to the college concerned. “The Principal of the college refused to give the degree until the candidate made a telephone call from England. It had become a little awkward for us because we had asked for the document on basis of a formal letter,” Dr Gupta said.

Another former student, Verinder Singh, wrote from the USA that he had taken an improvement examination in the year 1986-87 and needed his marks-sheet. He wrote to the authorities concerned several times and even visited the campus, but never got his documents.

Dr Gupta said the system of handling the alumni issues needed to be revamped, for which, greater administrative support was required.

The facility system for students needs to be improved. Delays in conducting examinations and declaring results have affected many students. The university will have to reapproach the alumni who have been alienated.

Reunions are to be remembered for life. The university can learn the art of organising reunions from leading public schools, the IITs and several other technical institutions.

14 teachers chargesheeted for ‘bunking classes’
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 16 — In a bid to instill discipline and contribute to a more student-centric system of education, 14 teachers of the local Government College, Sector 1, were chargesheeted for “bunking classes”.

The chargesheet came after a team of the Directorate of Higher Education, Haryana, found these teachers playing truant when they arrived on the college campus in the afternoon a fortnight back.

Sources in the Higher Education Department contend that an on-the-spot decision was taken to send a team for carrying out random inspection at the college. On arriving there at 2 p.m., the team found the college sans students and only one teacher at the premises.

The team was told that the Principal was also at his residence and he was immediately summoned to clarify the position. Also, the team found that not only lecturers, who had no classes were absent, but teachers who had their practicals and subject classes were also absent.

Essentially, a coveted college for its proximity to Chandigarh where most of the teachers happen to be “somebody”, it was usual practice to pack up much before 2 p.m. and coming late was an accepted norm despite a work schedule issued by the directorate, officials of the department said.

To cross-check the status of teaching in the college, another exercise to this effect was carried out on January 12, this time in the morning at 9 a.m. the scheduled time for college to begin. This time the team, much to its surprise, found a notice on the board claiming the college would begin at 9.45 a.m. on account of unfavourable weather conditions. Also, another violation came with the late start which resulted in reduction of classes by five minutes in violation of the approved 45-minute per class schedule of the directorate.

The directorate called for the explanation from the Principal, Mr R.L. Madan, who said that the order on reversal to 45-minute period was given following instructions from the authorities. He adds that changing timings was under his purview and he only exercised his power.

The Director, Higher Education, Ms Anuradha Gupta, says, “The idea is ensure the students get the best out of the teacher and bring about discipline in educational institutions. While we are sorting out tangles for the teaching community in our office, we expect them to do their best for the students, making the system more student-centric rather than teacher-centric.”

She added that among the many grievances redressed by the department is the implementation of pension scheme, release of grant-in-aid to colleges and benefit of previous service rendered.

DAV team wins quiz contest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Jan 16 — The DAV College Sector 10 team won the inter-college quiz held in the college here today.

Organised by the College Quiz Club, five teams other than the host team participated in the contest. These included teams from MCM DAV College Sector 36, GCG Sector 11, PEC, Government College for Men, Sector 11and SGGS College, Sector 26.

The team of Gaurav Sood and Dinkar Vashist won the contest, while the team of Pratik and Namish of PEC took away the second prize. Aarushi and Mukesh of MCM DAV won the third prize.

The quiz was organised by the students of the college under the supervision of Mr Jyotirmaya Khatri of the Department of History. Sudip Rawat, Kunal and Siddharth conducted the quiz.

Inter-school quiz competition 
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — Students from almost 12 leading schools of the city participated in the inter-school quiz competition held her today in St Stephens School Sector 45 here today. The competition was organised as a part of library related competitions by the Chandigarh Librarians Association.

St Annes School, Sector 32, bagged the inter-school quiz trophy by coming first, St Johns High School, Sector 26, came second and Hans Raj Public School, Sector 4 Panchkula, got the third position.

The chief guest, Mr D.S.Saroya , Director Public Instructions (School), UT, said, ‘’ It is important to be knowledgeable. By reading good books one’s character is built which helps in broadening reader’s point of view and intellectual level”.

The general secretary of the Chandigarh Librarians Association, Mr I.B. Verma, briefed about the week-long events which are being organised in various schools and colleges as a part of the competition.

Inter-school group song competition on books and libraries will be held in St Johns High School, Sector 26, on January 17.

COURTS

HC issues notice to SAI officials
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice to the Regional Director of Sports Authority of India, Dr P.C. Kashyap, UT Administration, and the Assistant Director-cum-Drawing and Disbursement officer of SAI, Mr Ajit Singh, for February 13, 2001 on a public interest litigation filed by a local advocate, Mohnish Sharma.

It was alleged in the PIL that Dr Kashyap had supplied forged bills to the department. The three main allegations as mentioned in the said PIL pertains to presenting a jewellery gift to the VIP, altering the cash bill of a brief case and approving the tenders for the purchase of furniture before the stipulated date.

CULTURE

Swarnotsav theatre festival begins
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The rich cultural heritage of India was reflected today, as the Delhi Sangeet Natak Akademi opened the fourth in the series of theatre festivals titled Swarnotsav, to the viewers of the City Beautiful. Swarnotsav is not just a festival it indeed has been designed to showcase the tremendous progress which the Indian performing arts have made over the past 50 years of Independence. The focus in this festival is on reflecting the grandeur of regional theatre as also pointing out how in various parts of the country, from Maharashtra to Jammu and Kashmir, theatre has evolved as a medium of social change and enlightenment.

The two inaugural theatrical presentations made in Tagore Theatre today left the audience craving for more of the traditional theatre of Maharashtra and Assam. Where, Maharashtra’s Tamasha presented by Swaragandha, Pune, ended on a highly positive note, conveying the theatrical nuances of entertainment and enlightenment, Assam’s folk theatre, Ankiya Nat, written by Srimanta Sankardev, ended on the note of devotion.

Tamasha (play titled Bin Biyache Jhad directed by Raviraj) began with an offering to Lord Ganesha, and went on to portray a delectable fusion of bells and drums. This was followed by the scene in which Lord Krishna is shown dancing with the milk maids of Gokul. Then comes the humorous part of Tamasha (Gaulan) which was followed by the actual play (Wag) titled Tree without seeds.

The story revolves around a king who is cursed by a saint for his habit of eavesdropping. Through the blend of music, drama, dialogue and song, the play conveys the social message of “setting one’s own house in order instead of meddling into the affairs of others.”

This three century old folk theatre form of Maharashtra was being staged in the city for the very first time, and after watching the performance, one knew why Tamasha was so much a part of every Maharashtrian. The theatre form is all about how the combination of song, drama and music. While the actors speak their parts, the songs, called Laavni, come as interludes and pad the story further.

Today’s play was directed by Raviraj who started his career as a child artiste in theatre. Ravi, who was also selected as a member of the National Folk Dance Ensemble, Delhi, under the famous film personality Zora Sehgal, directed this play for the Swaragandha, Pune.

The second presentation of the evening was the Akinya Nat, the very famous form of Assam’s folk theatre. In this performance, two groups of musicians participate. Vocal music is complimented by the mridang and cymbals. The hallmark of the presentation is its very-mystic streak which is furthered by masks, distinctive costumes and the make up used by artistes. The Nat is basically a Krishna drama which originated in the wake of the neo-Vaishnavite movement in the 16th century.

Today’s presentation was made by Sattriya Akademi, Guwahati, which was founded by Guru Shri Jatin Goswami. The presentation was very well received by the city audience.

Tomorrow’s presentation, Bidesia, will be in Bhojpuri, and will be presented at Tagore Theatre at 6.30 p.m. by Nirman Kala Manch, Patna.