EDUCATION

Jean-clad students stage epic
Nishikant Dwivedi

Chandigarh, March 25
It seems that there is no escape from the influence of Bollywood on everyday life, a fact that became clearer when a group of girls from a local college presented Ramayana with Hindi film songs, adding that quintessential touch of glamour here today, much to the amusement of most of the young crowd.

In the jam-packed English Auditorium of the Panjab University, the epic was presented by a group of girls, which many in the audience felt, could not be termed “tasteful”. Interestingly, the audience included senior BJP leader and horticulture minister of Himachal Pradesh, and Dean Students Welfare of the PU. The presentation lasted over ten minutes.

The occasion was ‘Him-Gunjan, 2001’, an annual cultural function of the Shimla Students Association. The girls, clad in jeans, lehnga-choli and saris who presented the item, said that their purpose was to ‘entertain the audience’.

The chief guest Mr Narender Brata, the HP minister, refused to comment on the presentation. When asked as to how he would react to the presentation of the epic as a member of BJP, he retorted “I have not come here as a BJP member”. However, he was of the view that epics should be presented in such a manner that the real meaning could be communicated.

Mr V.K. Bansal, Dean, Students Welfare of PU, who was sitting with the chief guest, when asked to comment said, the dramatisation was good. He too was of the view that the ‘mode of presentation could have been avoided.

Interestingly, the organisers never screened the presentation. Mr Ashutosh, President of the Association, admitted that he was aware of the presentation in the list but he claimed, “I had not seen it”. Later, Mr Sanjeev Bragta, Chairman of the Association claimed, “These girls had prepared it in their hostel and had we known about its contents, we would have never let it go”. He admitted that the presentation should not have been staged. At the same time, he claimed that the girls had no ill will against the epic.

Earlier, the programme began with the traditional aarti. ‘Duniya haseeno ka mela’ a number from Hindi film ‘Gupt’ by Saurabh Sood of PU was well-received. The Himachali ‘nati’ by a group of SGGS College evoked a good response from the audience.

The attraction of the day was a ‘nati’ by the students of the DAV College, Sector 10. Palvi and Neha, two small girls of Shimla People Welfare Association, enthralled the audience with their solo dance presentation. Last but not the least, the compere Pankaj, kept the whole audience entertained all through the show.

Annual function
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 25
Students of Shardha Public School, Sector 41, presented a colourful programme at the annual prize distribution function of Tagore Education Society.

The children participated in songs, dances and monoacting. The Principal of the school, Ambika Arora, read out the annual report.

The Principal, Government High School, Sector 40, Mr Bhadur Singh was the chief guest for the day. Mr R.K. Mann, President of LIG, Resident Welfare Association presided over the function.

SOPU memo to Senators
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 25
The Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) distributed a memorandum of demands to the Senate members during the Senate meeting in Panjab University here today.

The organisation demanded that the newly built shops at the Student Centre should be made functional immediately. The shops have been lying vacant and they are not serving any purpose, SOPU said.

The organisation resented the proposal of charging Rs 100 from campus students as well as students of affiliated college towards collecting a fund for the construction of a new sports hostel on the campus.

SOPU mentioned that the extra electricity bills charged from every hostel resident or bills in arrears for the past six months was unjust. Students should not be charged the said bills and in case of students who have already paid, the amount should be refunded.

CULTURE

King of musical fusion
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
His personality is overbearing and his movements lyrical. His fingers brim with a spiritual energy, unleashing a world of melody. A performer par excellence, Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has converted every stage of his performance into a world stage. And ever since he did India proud by Indianising the Hawaiian guitar and rechristening it Mohan Veena, Pt Vishwa Mohan has been involved in bringing the world closer through strains of melody. The maestro was today in town, along with his son Salil Bhatt, to perform during the ongoing Bhaskar Rao Sangeet and Nritya Sammelan.

The Tribune spoke to the outstanding musician who is the only Indian to have ever won the most prestigious music award of the world — the Grammy Award. The creator of Mohan Veena, the highly modified concord archtop, cast a magic spell on the city audience by sitting in a delightful jugalbandi over the 19-stringed instrument, along with his son Salil, who is also a master in his own right. Salil gave a solo performance at the Lake Club in the morning and swept the show with his lyrical charms.

As for Pandit Bhatt, he has recorded a project for Mani Ratnam’s Hindi-Tamil bilingual film, along with the famous music director A.R. Rahman. That is just one of the projects taken up by the great musician. In fact there are various others which cannot be listed for their large numbers.

Pandit Bhatt’s greatest achievement lies in the fact that his music has a universal appeal. He plays with his soul resting at his fingers. No wonder then that divinity flows from the 19 strings of the Mohan Veena. Ever since the creation of this instrument, Pandit Bhatt has been involved in fusing the same with instruments the world over. He has great reputation as far as jugalbandis are concerned, and his forte is his dazzling musicality, terrifying virtuosity and bewildering command over the Mohan Veena.

The best part is his natural ability to play with the Tantrakari ang and incorporate the gayaki ang on Mohan Veena, all quite effortlessly. It is due to the unlimited melodious strains that the pandit can produce that he has won the highest music award of the world, the Grammy Award in 1994, along with Ry Cooder for their world music album, A meeting by the river.

The musician has also won international acclaim in large portions, and this mainly for the Indianisation of the Hawaiian guitar which he has perfectly assimilated with the sitar, sarod and veena techniques. Such is his command over the instrument that he plays with a blinding speed, proving his mettle as one of the greatest slide players of the world.

His touring has also been extensive. He has performed in 200 US cities, 25 Canadian, 25 UK cities and 18 cities of Australia. Not just that Pandit Bhatt is also famous for his fusion techniques. He became the first Indian musician to have ever sat in a jugalbandi with a Chinese Erhu player, Jei Bing Chen. This historic jugalbandi is remembered till date with great admiration. Pandit Bhatt has also performed with the ace American Dobro guitar player Jerry Douglas, and the American country music singer Taj Mahal. His presentation with the Arabian Oudh player Simon Shaheen is also very well remembered. All these recordings have been released in the USA and Europe and are setting new sales records.

Pandit Bhatt’s role as a composer has been no less. He has composed music for relaxation for Music Today. This album is creating new records all over the world. He is also the first musician to have composed and recorded Megh Dootam, the Sanskrit work by Kalidasa.

‘Truth is beauty, beauty truth’
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 25
A literary seminar on two recently published poetry anthologies “Nihathi Ladai Ladte Hue” by noted Hindi poet, Prem Vij and “Laut Aao Parth” by Madhav Kaushik was organised by Sakshi Sahitya and Kala Manch, a literary and cultural forum at the Conference Hall of DAV College here today.

The first session of the seminar focused on Mr Vij’s book,” Nihathi Ladai Ladte Hue” which portrays fight the against corruption prevailing in the society. The session was presided over by Dr Hukum Chand Rajpal, former Head of Hindi Department, Punjabi University, Patiala and Dr Meera Gautam, Prof and Head of Hindi department, Kurukshetra University. Dr Gupt presented a paper on the poetic process of Mr Prem Vij. Dr Sudha Jain and Mr Mohan Sapra also presented papers on the book.

The second session highlighted the fact that true humanity lies in ‘Satyam, Shivam, Sunderam’ as portrayed beautifully by Madhav Kaushik in his recent publication “Laut Aao Parth.” The session was presided over by Dr. Sansar Chander, former professor of Hindi Department , Jammu University and Mr R.S. Sharma Taseer. Dr Rajindra Toky and Mr Hira Lala Nagar presented papers on the book.