The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Mediums cause discomfort, evaluation work suffers
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
The fate of a student in the annual examination of Panjab University depends on the ability of an examiner to handle answer sheets in English, Hindi and Punjabi mediums.

The problem came up recently when some evaluators coming from other places complained that they were unable to handle answer sheets in the Punjabi medium. Senior university officials rushed to the spot, but were helpless in handling the problem.

Prof Lalit Bansal, adviser to the Vice-Chancellor on examination related work, agreed that some evaluators were facing the problem. Most of the teachers facing the problem were from Himachal Pradesh.

A research scholar and activist of the Haryana Students Association, on the condition of anonymity, said the copies needed to be first separated on the basis of the medium and evaluators should be given the answer sheets in mediums they were comfortable with. He said it was not possible for most evaluators to be able to handle answer sheets in all mediums.

A teacher on examination duty said when teachers expressed their inability to handle answer sheets, they were asked to go back. Persons from Kullu, Shimla and other places in Himachal Pradesh had complained on the issue.

Reacting to the proposal of exchanging answer sheets, a teacher said this would affect result compilation because of the codes assigned to answer sheets. He said the university should separate said the Board of Studies should was clear on the issue. He said the board was expected to work out the details of the evaluation work and decide on the evaluators.

For speedy result compilation, the answer sheets of postgraduate students would be evaluated on-the-spot. The evaluation work would begin on May 1 after consulting departments to ensure the teachers were given all facilities, Professor Bansal added.

GMCH-32 hopes to get nod for 5 PG courses
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 is most likely to get a nod from the Medical Council of India (MCI), for starting postgraduate courses in five disciplines — Orthopaedics, ENT, Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Community Medicine, during the next MCI meeting scheduled on May 1.

GMCH Director-Principal, Prof S.B.S. Mann, says that after preliminary discussions with the MCI authorities, he is hopeful of positive results, following which PG courses in these disciplines would most probably begin by the year end.

The MCI, in October, 2000, had struck down the GMCH proposal for starting PG courses in seven out of the 11 disciplines, mainly on the basis of inadequate teaching experience of professors and other faculty members.

GMCH had proposed starting postgraduate courses in 11 disciplines and had asked permission from the Central Government last year during the tenure of Prof V.K. Kak as the Director-Principal, GMCH. The proposal was subsequently referred to the MCI for evaluation and recommendation. However, the council, after carrying out an inspection of the college, noted certain deficiencies, mostly those regarding the inadequate teaching experience of faculty posted as lecturers, and therefore issued letter of intent for starting PG courses only in Anatomy, Anaesthesia, Pathology and Ophthalmology.

The MCI had also objected that the heads of these departments had been promoted as Associate Professors without requisite experience of at least five years as Assistant Professor, as per MCI norms.

When contacted, the GMCH Medical Superintendent, Prof Raj Bahadur, said that deficient experience in stage one (appointment as Associate Professor/Reader) would hopefully be compensated by the more than excess teaching experience that most GMCH faculty members have at the stage two (Assistant Professor/Lecturer to Associate Professor/Reader) and stage three (associate Professor/Reader to Professor).

Incidentally, doctors under the central residency, which includes institutions like PGI, Chandigarh; AIIMS, New Delhi; Lady Harding Medical College, Delhi; Sanjay Gandhi PGI, Lukhnow; Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; besides GMCH, also spend three years after post graduation as senior residents before they are promoted as assistant professors.

However, according to the Teachers Essential Qualifications under MCI Regulations 1998, anybody with MD and MS can be appointed as Assistant Professor or Lecturer and after spending five years can be promoted as Associate Professor or Readers and subsequently as Professors after four years. This has been done under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, to maintain standards and regulate promotions.

But doctors under central residency spend three years as Assistant Professors. However, as Prof Raj Bahadur explains, these doctors also undergo three years of service as senior residents before being promoted as Assistant Professors. Moreover, while doctors in other institutions take nine years to be promoted as professors, those in central residency take more than 12 years.

Guru Harkrishan society honours 36 toppers
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 29
Almost 36 students from various universities and institutions who had topped in engineering, medicine and other professional courses were given prizes by the Guru Harkrishan Educational Society here today.

The students were honoured at the ninth Sanman Samaroh function at the Rotary Club hall. The students honoured for excellence in their respective fields included those from Punjab University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University, Punjab Agriculture University, Punjab Technical University, Baba Farid Health Sciences University, Kurukshetra University, M.D.N. University, T.I.E.T Universities, Punjab School Education Board and Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training.

Dr J.S. Gujral, Vice-Chancellor of`Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, who was the chief guest, conferred the awards. He stressed the need for vocational education. He appreciated the role of the society in helping poor students. The society deserved support from philanthropists, he added.

The honorary secretary of the society, Mr A.S. Rawel, while reading the annual report, informed that the society was set up in 1986 to provide financial assistance to intelligent and needy students. It had disbursed Rs 33.26 lakh to 2820 students.

The toppers were given cash prizes of Rs 500 to Rs 1100 each, besides a roll of honour certificate. The students awarded were Dr Jagmail Singh, Parag Jain, Annu Thukral and Ritu Ahuja from Punjab University, Raj Kumar from Punjab Engineering College, Jaswinder Singh, Manjit Kaur and Munira Modi from Punjabi University, Ramandeep Hundal and Ajay Pal from Guru Nanak Dev University, Sandhya and Amandeep Singh from Punjab Agricultural University, Gurpreet Singh Dua and Bankesh Sharma from TIET, Amardeep Kaur and Harsimran Bedi from Baba Farid University of Medical Science, Pooja Chaudhary from MDN University, Muneesh from Kurukshetra University, Vajinder Singh Pawha from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Sonia Gupta and Anurag Kumar from Punjab State Board of Technical Education, Jyotsna from Government Polytechnic for Women, Pardeep Gogna from Central Polytechnic, Shaifali from Punjab School Education Board, Ranbir Kaur from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Senior Secondary School, Faridkot, Pooja Rani from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridkot, Seema Rani from Government Senior Secondary School, Randhawa, Jasleen Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, Chandigarh, Tejpreet Singh from Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, Chandigarh, Gurdip Singh from Government High School, Ber Kalan, Shruti Sharma and Mamta Vermani from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Jatinder Kumar from SAS Nagar, Ashwani Kumar and Jagbinder Singh from Guru Tegh Bahadur Public School, Sector 15, Chandigarh, and Harinder Singh from Government High School, Moga.

COURTS

Pay interest, HUDA told
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 29
The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission yesterday directed the Haryana Urban Development Authority to pay interest at the rate of 15 per cent on the amount deposited for the allotment of a plot by a resident of Patiala.

The complainant, Ms Pushup Lata, had filed a complaint that she failed to get the physical possession of the plot allotted to her by the Estate Officer, HUDA, Panipat, even after 15 years of wait. She alleged that there was deficiency in service on the part of HUDA.

The complainant had submitted an application on the prescribed form for the allotment of the plot along with prescribed earnest money amounting to Rs 9,603 in 1985. The complainant was allotted one kanal plot by draw of lots at Panipat at a tentative price of Rs 10,05,631.70. The complainant made full payment in instalments.

The Bench comprising Justice K.K Srivastava, Dr P.K Vasudeva, Ms Devinderjit Dhatt observed that “HUDA should have verified and checked all details regarding the land which has been offered to the complainant and same should be free from all encumbrance before advertisement to avoid any kind of undue litigation.

We are, therefore, of the considered opinion that HUDA are liable to pay interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum on the amount deposited Rs 1,34,891.70 from December 12,1985, to November 20, 2000, the date of offer of physical possession”. The complainant was also awarded Rs 2,000 as cost of litigation.

CULTURE

“Jhankar” takes off with five blissful recitals
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29
This evening saw a group of six young disciples from foreign lands and their illustrious Guru reflect the cultural and spiritual grandeur of India through five delectably-choreographed dance sequences. Holding the viewers’ attention throughout the two-hour long Bharatanatyam presentation at Shanti Kunj in Sector 16, today was the renowned danseuse and choreographer from Delhi, Saroja Vaidyanathan and her troupe of six disciples — all from different countries. The six girls are currently in India on the Indian Council of Cultural Relations scholarship.

The commencement of “Jhankar”, the ambitious project mooted by the UT Administrator Lt Gen JFR Jacob, could certainly not have been more appropriate. While today’s Bharatanatyam recital by Saroja and her troupe was the first in the series of the programmes to be organised under Jhankar, the Administration plans to take the project far and wide.

The objective is to invite maestros in the field of Indian classical dance and music to the city and inspire youth to get back to the roots. In the process, local talent would also be promoted. Interestingly, a programme of morning ragas is also being planned at Shanti Kunj, at the behest of the Administrator. This would be on the pattern of the morning raga programmes of classical music being held regularly at Nehru Park, New Delhi.

With the beginning having been made, the city also seemed to be a willing party to the decision of the Administrator. That everyone in the gathering enjoyed the blissful performance by the dancers was evident from the frequent applause, as also from the fact that most of the visitors sat through the recital.

The presentation was divine, not just on account of the grace it was laced with, but also on account of the themes it portrayed. All the five recitals reflected the greatness of Indian Gods — Krishna and Rama. Set in mythological themes, the presentations were full of vigour and vibrancy. The charm of each presentation was further enhanced by the tastefully-decorated stage.

Among the star performers of the evening were Saroja herself, and her two distinguished disciples — Izumi Sato from Japan, who was recently awarded the Indian Priyadarshini Award and Lilia Toneva from Bulgaria. The other four performers were Okasana from Russia, Marina and Olina from Ukaraine and Anjini from Fiji.

The first recital came from Izumi, who enacted the might of Lord Rama. With her graceful yet powerful movements, she instantly won over the gathering.The second presentation came from the Guru herself. Saroja danced on Rama aarti — Sri Ramchandra kripalu bhajman, composed by the Tulsidas. Her recital was full of “abhinaya”. The third presentation of the evening came again from Izumi, who, with her lyrical poise, did full justice to the Tillana. Tillana is akin to tarana in kathak.

The rhythmic patterns and graceful foot movements were the hallmark of this recital, which was followed by Saroja Vaidyanathan dancing on a thumri.

This was probably the first time a Bharatanatyam recital was presented on Thumri, which is a form of Hindustani classical vocal music. The thumri was rendered by Hemant Kumar, who also accompanied the dancers on the tabla.

The last presentation of the evening was delightful. Enacting the Dashavataram of Lord Krishna, the six dancers brought home the magnificence of Indian culture. One was surprised as to how well the foreign students translated the Indian mythological themes through their abhinaya. They began with the first avataar of Krishna — Matsyavataram (in which Lord Krishna protects the sacred Vedas from the demon) and went on to enact the last avataar — Kalike (which the Lord is expected to take in this age). In between came the following Krishnavataras — Brahmavatara (Krishna saves the earth by holding her at the tip of his tusk); Narshimhavatara (The Lord saves Prahlad by killing the demon king, Hirnakashyapu); Vamanavatara (the Lord conquers the earth, heaven and waters in three steps and overcomes king Bali); Parsuramavatara (the Lord puts an end to Kshyatriyas who were unleashing terror on commoners); Ramavatara (in this avataar, Rama ends the life of Ravana); Balramavatara (The Lord prevents the Yamuna from flooding the earth by ploughing it), and the Buddhavatara (the Lord enlightens people).

The show concluded with the Adviser to UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, offering bouquets to the performers. Accompanying Saroja and her troupe were singer, O.P. Sridhar, A. Prem Kumar on the mridangam, V.S.K. Chakrapani on the violin and Hemant Kumar on the tabla. In return, Saroja Vaidyanathan presented an “angvastram” to the Adviser.