EDUCATION

Students’ interest in science ‘waning’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Body is the biggest chemical factory covering a whole range of related complex events.

This was said by Dr C.N.R Rao from the Jawahar Lal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research and the Indian Institute of Science, in his talk on ‘a Celebration of Chemistry’ at the local DAV College here today. On the second day of an ongoing national conference of the CSRI at Panjab University.

At one time Chemistry was considered to be “a bad smelling corner” of the institutions for students. The scene now had changed lending more grace for attracting students. Dr Rao said that real work in Chemistry started in the 16th century.

He said beauty of the subject was an element of regular change. He showed atomic and molecular structures which had been developed for mass use of the mankind.

Dr Rao held Michael Faraday and Linus Pauling as the greatest scientists. Faraday attended just three classes and lent electricity and discoveries in magnetism besides other activities “which made him fit for at least seven Nobel Prizes”. The writer of 450 research papers made 26 discoveries in 1833 alone.

Linus Pauling has lent incalcuable gifts with his work on chemical bonds and proteins besides others.

Prof V. Krishnan, Secretary, showed school-kit specially designed for encouraging school children. “Ten easily available chemicals which do not litter the place form the base”, he added.

Prof G. Mehta, president of the INSA, said that “we are concerned that interest in science was falling rapidly among new students. Such programmes were intended to show the real capability of the subject. It might not bring in pocketfuls of money but was the most satisfying.

Earlier Principal R.C. Jeewan from the host college welcomed the guest. He highlighted the importance of the visit keeping up the tradition of the institution’s history.

Visiting school children were educated about the subject using simple but attractive techniques.

Yogananda scholarships
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The Yogada Satsang Society Dhyan Kendra , Sector 29, a branch of the Yogada Satsang Society of India, has constituted eight Paramhansa Yogananda scholarships for the post graduate students. A sum of Rs 250 per month will be given each month to the scholarship holders.

According to Dr Suman Bala Beri, Incharge of the Scholarship branch of the society, the eight students will be selected for schorlarship through examination to be conducted on February 25. The exam will be based on the classic “Autobiography of a Yogi”, a famous book written on the life of great yogi Paramhansa Yaganandaji. Interested students can register their names without any fee before February 10 with Dr K. Dharamvir, Department of Physics, Panjab University or at Yogada Dhyana Kendra , Sector 28. Students of MA(I), M.Sc(I), MMC(I), M.Com(I) and MBA(I) are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

IT seminar held in school
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Lions club rose, Chandigarh, in collaboration with anwayz organised a seminar and it quiz at government model school sector 21, today students of senior classes attended the seminar. 

Ms Ranjana Sharma ,software engineer from USA was the key note speaker on the occasion. She stressed the need to have more computer literate students .Mrs Urmil Seth,a teacher in Shishu Niketan School, and president of the club, Mrs Renu Bali, also addressed the students.

A quiz on computer and IT was also held on the occasion and prizes were given to the winners.

Annual function organised
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — St. Joseph’s High School, Sector 44, organised their annual function at LECMA theatre, Sector 47, which was presided over by the Chairman of the school, Mr R.S. Grewal.

The colourful function started with vandana, then the tiny tots danced to the tune of newly learnt poems. A parody signifying the Kashmir problem was also presented. Students of Class 1 staged a play Emperor’s clothes.

Young boys and girls tapped their toes to “sleeping beauty”. Students from Classes 5 to 9 gave demonstrations of martial arts. Students also presented bhangra and giddha on the occassion.

The school has declared Monday as a holiday on demand of the students. 

Programme for trainers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — With a view to promoting the voice of women, the Panjab University Centre for Women’s Studies has launched a “capability-building programme for university and college teachers on human rights of women” here.

Dr Pam Rajput, Director of the centre, said the programme was the first of its kind in north India, under which, 25 university and college teachers of Punjab had been selected for training.

The British Council has also offered its help for the programme. Mr Kirti Singh, an advocate, Prof S.P. Sanghwan (MDU) and Mr Anupam Gupta, a legal luminary, are among the resource personnel for the programme.

“The next training schedule will be in March and another in April. Student interaction will begin in August, followed by a review seminar in September,” Dr Rajput said.

Dr Rajput said in context of human rights, key issues related to welfare of women were often ignored. “What are women’s rights? What are these worldwide? What is the relation between these two? — are some of the questions for debate,” Dr Rajput said.

“After receiving training, teachers will be expected to transfer this knowledge to their students. A trainer’s manual has also been planned,” Dr Rajput said.

Sanskriti Year celebrated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — Bharat Vikas Parishad, Chandigarh (west), organised a function at the Government High School, Sector 40, as part of the Sanskriti Year celebrations marking the birthday of Subhash Chandra Bose.

Glowing tributes were paid to the leader by various speakers of the function while, Mr H.S. Cheema, Major Jaswant Singh and Mr Jagan Nath were honoured at the occasion.

Prof Virender Kumar, former Professor and Chairman, Department of Laws, Panjab University, was the chief guest at the occasion and Mr Avinash Jain, national convener of the parishad, was the main speaker. Two minutes of silence was also observed at the occasion to pay homage to the earthquake victims of Gujarat. 

COURTS

Bail granted in criminal intimidation case
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Justice S.K. Goel, today granted bail to a resident of Sangrur, Ravinder Singh, in a case of criminal intimidation. The accused had moved a bail plea under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The case against the accused had been registered under Sections 452, 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code on October 1995, in Sector 39 police station. The complainant, a resident of Sector 37, Mr Shivinder Singh, had alleged that accused along with three others came to his house and had beaten him and his family members with iron rods.

The accused was declared as proclaimed offender in 1997 and had surrendered before the court on January 5, 2001. The accused was granted bail on furnishing bond of Rs 25, 000, with two sureties of same amount.

Bail pleas dismissed

The UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Justice S.K. Goel, today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea moved by four persons in a theft case. Ajay Pal Singh, Rajnish Kumar, Suresh Gaur, Daljit Singh had moved bail plea under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The complaint against the accused had been registered under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code on January 16 in Manimajra police station. The complainant, Mr Mohamad Idrish Khan, had registered complaint that his Maruti car was stolen from Indira Colony, Mani Majra. The complainant alleged that Rs 2,200, gold chain, car keys were also stolen, which were kept in the car.

It was alleged that during the investigation the car was recovered from the office of the accused, Access Marketing. The defence counsel argued that four were falsely implicated in the case.The judge observed that the documents of the car were yet to be recovered and there was specific allegation against the accused.

In another case the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge today granted bail to a city resident, Ravinder Kumar, in a kidnapping case.It was alleged that the accused, Ravinder Kumar, along with his wife, Monica, had kidnapped a minor girl, Chinky, from Sector 41.

Ravinder and Monica were arrested by the crime branch of the Chandigarh police. The case against the accused had been registered under Sections 363 and 384 of the Indian Penal Code on March 28, on the complaint of Mr Narinder Singh,who was running a canteen in St John,s School in Sector 26. The accused was granted bail on furnishing bond of Rs 20, 000.

Case adjourned

The UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr Justice H.S. Bhalla, today adjourned the case pertaining to stay the telecast of gurbani from Golden Temple and other holy shrines, till February 6.

The petitioner, North India Television Limited, through its Director, had filed a petition under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, before the court to issue an ad interim injunction restraining the SGPC from interfering with the execution and performance of the contract and functions assigned to it and from allotting the contract irrevocably for six years assigned to it, to any other, pending the arbitration proceedings. As per the agreement the petitioner had exclusive rights of taking photos, recording of the materials for telecast and to telecast live gurbani kirtan from the Golden Temple and other holy shrines.

On January 27, the SGPC, had filed a reply before the court that the agreement between the SGPC and petitioner had been cancelled on December 9, 1999. The petitioner had failed to conduct itself as per the term and conditions of the agreement. The SGPC reserved the rights to terminate the agreement if it felt or came to the conclusion that the company was failing in fulfilling any conditions of the agreement.It was also stated in the report that the Local Commissioner appointed by the court on January 23, 2001 also proved that the fact. The ETC company, which was telecasting the gurbani from the Golden Temple, had also filed application on January 27, to become one of the party in the case.

6-month jail

The UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) sentenced a resident of Panchkula, Gurdev Singh, six-month rigorous imprisonment in a cheque bounce case. The complainant, Mr Ramandeep, had alleged that the cheque for Rs 40, 000 issued by the accused was bounced in the bank. The accused was sentenced to six-month rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 500.

Court casts doubt on Admn survey
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice M.S. Gill, today, directed the Chandigarh Administration to verify the authenticity of a survey report submitted today in the court by an official of the Administration. The report was on the additional constructions in government houses of Sector 16 and 7 here. The survey had been conducted after a person named Mr Darshan Lal Chawla had filed a writ petition in this regard.

The Bench had expressed doubt on the authenticity of a survey in about 30 houses of various VIPs where additional constructions had been made. The case has now been adjourned till February 23.

Mr Chawla’s house had been resumed as he had made unauthorised additional constructions. He objected to the action being taken in his case only, while many VIPs had also made similar constructions in their houses.

CULTURE

Art, craft and science exhibition
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 3 — The St Anne’s Convent School today organised its annual art, craft and science exhibition which was inaugurated by Mr Gerald John Mathias, Bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh Diocese.

A press note issued by the school said the exhibition was a mega display of children talent, potential, coupled with the teachers’ enthusiasm and efforts. The tiny tots exhibited their share by making drawings, cartoons and little cut-outs of flowers and trees.

The press note added that in science section, the display was primarily focused on the structure and working of heart, nutrition and models of cold storage. Computer had live models displaying advertisement in MS world, worksheet and charts in MS excel, Internet, programming in Fox-pro, basic and multimedia computers.

In the craft section children made murals, tin-foil painting, sand painting, emboss painting, nib painting, glass painting, Rajasthani block printing and table mats. The special feature of this year was the hand painted glass bowls, organdy flowers and stuffed toys. The art exhibition showed various pencil shaded landscapes, seascapes, posters related to child labour, road safety, collages oil paintings and thermocol cuttings.

The press also note appealed to one and all to donate liberally for the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund.