EDUCATION

PU students lose cool
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 18
An altercation reportedly took place between the supporters of two students’ groups in the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) over the issue of seats in the Gymnasium Hall of the university during the penultimate day of the inter-university youth festival here yesterday evening. A star night was held at the hall.

According to information available, the problem started when Pradeep Yadav and Jaswant Yadav, two supporters of the Haryana Students Association (HSA), were reportedly asked by the supporters of the Panjab University Students Council (PUSU) to vacate chairs in the hall. It is learnt that when the two refused to do so, heated arguments ensued.

When contacted Mr Bhupinder Singh Bhupi, president of the PUCSC, denied any such altercation. However, he admitted that an altercation did took place but ‘‘the HSA supporters had arguments with some outsiders and not with PUSU activists’’.

During the same programme supporters of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and student supporting PUCSC also entered into arguments over the issue of entry and allotments of seats in the hall. SOPU supporters alleged that the PUCSC had adopted a biased attitude and had prevented the SOPU supporters from occupying seats in the front rows.

According to eyewitnesses, chairs were hurled at each other. But no one sustained injuries. Sources points out that a fight could have broken out had the Dean Students Welfare not present in the hall. According to information, DSW intervened and averted the situation from developing into anything serious.

The programme started two hours late from its scheduled time because of the scuffle. However, the programme later went off peacefully, thereafter.

HP varsity bags 11 prizes at Jhankar 2001
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 18
Colourful celebrations marked the concluding ceremony of the four-day youth festival “Jhankar 2001”, organised by the Panjab University Campus Student’s Union on the University campus here today.

The valedictory function that started with lighting the traditional lamp by the chief guest, Mr Ashok Sahani, Dean University Instructions (DUI), saw some colourful dance items including “Chamma chamma....” performed by students of the host university. Students from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, rendered a prayer “Satyam Shivam Sundaram.”

The winners of various competitions held during the past three days were awarded at the valedictory function today. The medal tally showed a landslide victory for HP University (HPU) with 11 first prizes and a second prize. The events in which the HPU excelled included folk dance, classical vocal, Indian group singing, classical instrumentals, debate, quiz, clay modelling and second prize in collage making.

Panjab University won first positions in poster and collage making, Western dance (solo) and bagged 11 second prizes for choreography, folk song , Western group dance, classical vocal, ghazals, Western song (solo) , debate, clay modelling, on the spot painting and cartooning. DAV College, Sector 10, representing PU got the second prize in one act play contests.

BSBR Ambedkar University, Lucknow, won the second prize in classical dance (solo) and rangoli while MLH College, Yamunanagar, representing Kurukshetra University, won the first prize for one act play. In mime SRT Marathwada University, Nanded bagged the first prize.

The third day’s events yesterday included two mime performances by SRT Marathwara University and Panjab University which the highlight of the evening session performances. Western solo and group dance competitions were also major attractions of the session.

In the morning session light vocal Indian music, rangoli and clay modelling competitions were also held in the morning session.

CAMPUS BEAT
A day of seminars, workshops
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 18
India is an ancient civilisation, but a young nation. As a civilisation India has a distinct identity but as a nation it is still growing.

This was said by Dr Kashi Ram Sharma, Professor of Chinese and Japanese Studies, Delhi University here yesterday. He was delivering the memorial lecture ‘Towards an Understanding of Indian Identity’ on the 19th death anniversary of Tara Chand Gupta, founder of the India-China Association at Panjab University.

He said India was one of the five civilisations of the world. “Indians and Chinese are in touch with the past. These civilisations are based on catholicity of thought.

Raja Narinder Singh, Minister of Public Health and Civil Aviation, Punjab, was the chief guest. Mr Xue Ke Qiao and Mr Cheng Shuai from the Chinese embassy were the guests of honour.

Prof K.N. Pathak, the Vice Chancellor, welcomed the guests. Mr Jiwan Tewari, president of the association, gave a resume of activities of the association.

Gandhian studies

The Department of Gandhian Studies organised a one day conference to strengthen Gandhian Studies programmes in colleges and universities at Panjab University here. The Gandhi Samriti and Darshan Samriti, Delhi, have come together for the programme.

Prof N Radhakrishnan, director of the Gandhi Samriti, said steps were being taken to introduce Gandhian studies in the curricula of universities.

Prof K.D. Gangrade, emphasised that the NSS and other NGOs should not look merely towards government for help in this direction.

Leading participants included Prof R.N. Pal, Dr K.C. Agnihotri, Dr M.L. Sharma, Dr R.K. Gupta, Dr Ramesh Madaan, Dr Goindi , Dr D.R. Sharma and Dr Vivek Kumar.

Workshop

An Indo-German workshop on soft matter research on NMR and holography was inaugurated by Prof Ashok Sahni, DUI, Panjab University, at the Chemistry Department.

The workshop, is part of the XIV Annual National symposium on Recent Trends in Chemistry. A research collaboration between Panjab University and Aachen University of Germany is in the offing.

COLLEGE FUNCTIONS
85 students get degrees
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 18
Education is not only a means to earn livelihood, but a means of making a better human being. This was stated by the Registrar, Panjab University, Dr Paramjit Singh, who delivered the convocation address at Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, here today.

“Education does not mean stuffing only the empty mind. Rather it is opening the closed mind. The students should grow up with the changing times as it is the need of information technology. Information technology should be used as a tool to explore new horizons,” he added. He also stressed on need of environment education.

The Principal of the college, Ms Harjit Kaur Khanna was honoured for 25 years of meritorious service by the acting vice-president of the Sikh Education Society, Gurdev Singh Brar. Ms Khanna read out the annual report.

Sixty students of B.Com and 85 students of BA were awarded degrees at the 24th annual convocation. Academic prizes were given to 133 students, and 90 prizes were given away for performance in cultural activities. Eleven outgoing students were awarded roll of honour and 100 students were awarded for outstanding performance in sports.

The all-round runners-up trophy of Panjab University for 2000-2001 was bagged by the college.

Twentyfive students of the college had represented Panjab University in all-India varsity competitions.

Anti-copying drive by school board
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, March 18
The Punjab School Education Board has launched a special campaign to check copying and other irregularities during its ongoing matriculation and senior secondary level school examination. The board authorities deployed its academic staff to check examination centres in Amritsar, Bathinda, Hoshairpur, Ludhiana and Nangal.

A spokesman of the board said the vice-chairman of the board, Dr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, checked several centres in Amritsar and booked 28 students for using unfair means. In Jalandhar, a team recommended closing of the examination centre at Lyallpur Khalsa Senior Secondary School. The drive would continue in the coming days.

CULTURE

Cultural evening for senior citizens
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 18
Senior citizens of the city got together to enjoy a cultural evening organised by Adhar, a helpline for the old, at Senior Citizen’s Home in Sector 43, here today.

Bridging the gap between the older generation and the younger ones among the audience, the participants rendered songs right from the time of K.L. Sehgal to the latest by Jagjit Singh. Mr Bhupinder Singh, one of the senior citizens, in his melodious voice revived the magic of Shegal era with three performances. “Ye Takdir...”, “Makhan Khayo....” and “Aas Niras Bhayi......”

Ms Radha Chopra in her nasal voice, which was the trademark of Sitara Khan, a famous playback singer from the yesteryear, enthralled the audience with the song “Duniya..” The function was made lively by throwing questions at the audience regarding the titles of the movies and the names of the playback singers of songs. The function started with “sabadh” by Ms Gurbachan Kaur.

Welcoming the guests, Justice Surinder Singh, a voluntary member of the home, said that the concept of old people moving in old-age homes has not yet caught up with the Indians. High room rent, which is Rs 3,500 per month for a single room and Rs 1,500 extra for food, has also discouraged many people from joining the home.

Mr Kesho Ram Gupta of the International Testing Centre, Panchkula presided over the function and Mr M.L. Sarin, a senior Advocate, was the chief guest on the occasion.