The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

AGRICULTURE

Wheat arrivals pick up
Our Correspondent

Khanna, May 22
Arhtiyas of the grain market and flour mills are competing with each other in importing wheat from UP and Kota in Rajasthan. The flour mills are purchasing this wheat since the wheat from Shahjahanpur (UP) is cheaper and of good quality as compared to Punjab.

On an average one rack contains 2,40,000 bags of wheat. In this way local arhtiyas go up UP markets and purchase in open auction there and also from farmers of UP directly on cheap rates. According to sources, the traders of Punjab are collaborating with traders of UP. In this connection the wheat which is purchased from UP at Rs 450 per quintal costs Rs 618 to the traders in Punjab, whereas the wheat purchased in Punjab is priced at Rs 705 per quintal. Members of the market committee, Khanna, also verified that wheat from UP and Rajasthan has come in Khanna mandi. The wheat from UP has been purchased by flour mills. The wheat for Rajasthan, which is of Sarbati quality and is of high quality, has also arrived. This wheat is purchased by traders from Rajasthan at Rs 800 per quintal and is sold in this market at Rs 1100, including overhead expenses.

EDUCATION

Students’ parents stage dharna
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 22
Demanding slashing of school fee and funds, parents of the children studying at Smt Satyawati Oswal Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Millerganj, staged a dharna in front of the school building here today.

The parents alleged that the school management was charging a high amount for the school building funds, sports and computer education. The parents said they were not getting adequate concession for the second and third child studying in the school. They added that the school authorities were not providing adequate sports and medical facilities, for which they were charging annual funds. The parents lamented that the school was not functioning properly for the past few months as the post of principal was lying vacant.

The agitated parents raised slogans and staged dharna in front of the office of the manager for more than two hours. Adequate security arrangements had been made to avoid any mishap. Later representatives of the parents held a meeting with the members of the management, but no agreement could be reached at.

The members of the management said the demands of the parents were not genuine and they did not raise any school fee and funds this year. They said the parents wanted that the school authorities slashed funds for second and third child studying in the school and they had reduced the building funds from Rs 375 to Rs 150. They also said the school had charged minimal annual amount of Rs 50 for computer education and reducing this amount further was not possible. Regarding the demand of the parents to appoint a new principal, the members of the management said they had advertised for the post and fresh appointment would be made soon.

PAU training courses for youth club leaders
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 22
Dr Kashmira Singh Sekhon, Dean, Postgraduate Studies-cum-Director Students Welfare, PAU, advised the rural youth to work hard and take full advantage of every moment of their lives. Dr Sekhon gave this advice while inaugurating a training course for youth club leaders in farm project work organised by the Department of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana. He further exhorted the students to prepare themselves for competitions.

He appreciated the efforts of the department in providing timely guidance to the students. The course was attended by 104 youth leaders and their teacher-advisers. Lectures and discussions on social evils such as drug abuse, illiteracy and population control were also held. The participants were also advised to follow the principles of ‘Learning by Doing’ and ‘Earn while Learning.’

Meanwhile, a training course for youth club leaders (girls) in Home Science, organised in the Department of Extension Education of the varsity, concluded here today. Dr S.K.Mann, Dean, College of Home Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, asked the rural girls to take up science subjects at plus two level. This would help them to get admission in the College of Home Science of the university. She gave this advice in her presidential address in the concluding function of the course.

The course was attended by 73 yuvti leaders and their teacher-advisers. The participants were given training in different areas of home science such as clothing and textile, home management and food and nutrition.

MLA grants Rs 2 lakh to school
Our Correspondent

Amloh, May 22
“The educational policies of the previous Congress government in the state by upgrading the standard of schools without providing teachers, and the announcement of no failure policy in fifth class since 1972 have lowered the standard of education which is now being improved by the allotment of funds raised through cess on liquor,” said Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur, MLA, while addressing a gathering in Senior Secondary School, (Boys) on Monday.

Mr Shahpur said, he was proud of the all round achievements of the school of his constituency which has shown 100 per cent result in plus two without even a single third division and its science student got first position in the district besides four players — Harvinder Singh, Gurinder Singh, Satwinder Sharma and Amarjit Singh had been selected to play nationals and 58 had played for the state.

Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh for the construction of the boundary wall and Rs 1 lakh for the repair of vocational sheds of the school. He honoured the outstanding players also.

Earlier, Mr Roshan Lal Sood, Principal of the school pointed out that in order to maintain the pace of development in the school, 13 vacant posts of teachers be filled up. The Principal added, the school had organised blood donation camp. Contribution for earthquake victims, was at the top in the district, first position of the school in cultural activities, in the state, besides the construction of office complex and science laboratories.

Among others who addressed the gathering included Mr harbans Lal Pajni, President of parent-teacher association (PTA), Mr Ashok Bansal, President Bar Association, Amloh, Mr Hari Chand Mittal, Member Vikas Committee and Circle President SAD (B), Urban Unit, Jathedar Hari Singh Virk, Circle Presidents SAD (B) Rural Unit, Amloh, Mr Karamjit Singh Bhagrana , Vice-President Punjab State Karamchari Dal and Mr Baldev Sedha, President, Municipal Council Amloh. School students presented a cultural programme on the occasion.

Summer school at PAU
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 22
The Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has organised a summer school on recent advances in the field of seeding and harvesting machinery which was sanctioned by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

The summer school which started here today will continue up to June, 19. The school has been organised for the teachers of various agricultural universities and ICAR institutes in the country to upgrade the quality of teaching and research work by promoting awareness regarding the recent advances in the area of seeding and harvesting machinery.

About 22 engineers and scientists from all over the country including the states of Orissa, Kerala, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are participating in the school. While welcoming the participants Dr I.K. Garg, head, Department of Farm Power and Machinery and director of the course, highlighted the role played by farm mechanisation in the state of Punjab during green revolution. He also emphasised that during this period the department developed large number of machines which were later commercialised and adopted by farmers.

While inaugurating the summer school, Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, emphasised the need for such training to strengthen the knowledge of participants about the latest developments. Dr H.S. Sekhon, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, said this course would help participants make progress in their teaching research career. It would also help farmers of their region by accelerating the adoption of new technologies developed by the department.

He also thanked the ICAR for granting summer school to the Department of Farm Power and Machinery. Dr V.K. Sharma, Additional Director of Research (Engg), said the trainees would gain a lot through this programme. He referred to straw combine, tractor mounted combine and some other machines developed by the Punjab Agricultural University in collaboration with the manufacturers. Dr Surendra Singh and Dr Nirmal Singh Sandhar, co-directors of the course, thanked the participants.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURT
10-year RI in murder case
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 22
The District and Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Arora, has convicted Surjit Singh (29), a resident of New Shimlapuri for culpable homicide under Section 340 (1) of the IPC. Mr Arora sentenced him to 10-year rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 2,000 for killing Subhash (27). However, the other accused Charanjit Kaur (36) was acquitted in the case giving her benefit of doubt.

Surjit Singh was a tenant of Charanjit Kaur and both of them had differences with Subhash. On July 5, 1996, when Subhash was passing by their house, the accused had allegedly dragged him into their house and killed him.

Rigorous imprisonment

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Mehandiratta, has convicted Mandar Singh for possessing 25 kg poppy husk under Section 15 of the NDPS Act. He has been sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment.

The accused was arrested by the police in Sherpur Kalan village when he was carrying 25 kg of poppy husk on scooter in 1999.

Anticipatory bail

The district and Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Arora, has granted bail to S.L. Abhyankar and R.N. Engineer, residents of Mumbai, in a case registered under Sections 465, 467,468 and 471 of the IPC.

The accused had allegedly issued a wrong press note to the The Times of India and the United News of India on the letter head of the All India Council of Technical Education that the council had withdrawn the recognition of the Indian Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IIME) and after that the news was published in the newspaper on May 2, 2000, and the clarification of the same was published on May 6, 2000. The accused were allegedly not holding the office at the time of issuing the press note. Earlier, S.L. Abhiyankar was the president of the council while R.N. Engineer was its treasurer.

CULTURE

Hariharan intends to sing Punjabi numbers
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, May 22
“Chanda re, chanda re, kabhi to zameen par aa, baithenge baatein kareinge”, sang Hariharan in his melodious voice on popular request at a press conference held in Maharaja Regency today.

Hariharan will perform today evening at Guru Nanak Bhawan at a programme organised by Ludhiana Sanskritic Samagam. Looking elegant in his white Lakhnavi kurta-pyjama and ponytail, his trade mark, Hariharan spoke about his favourite songs, writers, music arrangers and life in general.

He confessed, “I am coming to Punjab for the first time and I hope Ludhiana will be my gateway to Punjab. Though I have not sung any Punjabi song, I find Punjabi music very passionate, expressive and energetic. When I talk of Punjabi music, I do not talk of bhangra music only but of the wider range of music, that includes ghazals, thumris and folk music.”

Asked the difference between South Indian and Punjabi music, he said, “The gayaki in Punjabi music is different from South Indian music. In Punjabi music ‘vidar rang’ is used, which means the notes outside the scale can be used, whereas South Indian music is very traditional and is confined within the norms of scale. It does not take any liberties by adding extra notes. I intend to sing Punjabi songs, but before that, I want to develop a proper Punjabi diction. My favourite singers of ghazals are Ghulam Ali, Gulam Mustafa and Mehndi Hassan. I find Noorjahan’s voice very thrilling and alluring. I admire the full-throated voice of Salamat Nazakat Ali.”

Hariharan laughingly told the press that he was identified as ponytail ghazal gayak. He said, “I feel closest and happiest when I am singing ghazals. Ghazal is my root and I can do a lot of improvisation while singing ghazals. Though I started learning music in 1970, I got a break only in 1977. My struggle period is more than my success period. During my 15 years of struggle, I got a lot of time to imbibe different kinds of music. Before I joined Leslie, I was into jazz music, into ghazal singing, into concerts, into playback singing, rather anything that kept me going .”

He went on, “My new pop album about to be released is ‘Tum Aaye’, in which I sing eight duets with Alka Yagnik. Lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar. MTV shows different kind of culture than ours. Sometimes it is vulgar. We should take the best from their music and best from ours and create wonderful music. In Western music harmony is strong, whereas in Indian music melody is prominent. But we can draw a parallel between ‘raagdari’ and scale”.

He added, “My favourite album is Kaash as it reflects deep tradition and my singing is contemporary. Sounds paradoxical, but basically I am very Indian at heart. I need a two-year gap between an album with Leslie and a ghazal album. I have sung in 21 albums, but I want to take out 50 albums before I retire.”

He suggested that music should be made a compulsory subject in schools so that the youngsters developed love for music. The programmes of classical music by Doordarshan were telecast late at night due to lack of sponsors. So we had to develop love for music right from childhood.

Asked why South Indian music had not made a foray into the north, he said South Indian music grew in temples and was very religious oriented. Therefore, it had not found a large audience among North Indians. What A.R. Rehman song was not typical South Indian music, but a general kind of music, with lot of rhythm, and energy that went down well with people. He further said bhangra was popular in the south.

Asked who would be his favourite date, Hariharan named Julia Roberts. “The whole world has become capitalistic and we have brought miseries to ourselves by creating competitions. Life is beautiful, and be humorous. Laughter is essential for health as it prevents cardiac arrests. Be simple in life and communicate with open heart,” he stated.

Hariharan said one of the perks that went with his job work was meeting varied kinds of people at different places. He said people gave an artist a greater image than life and one had to live up to it. Any art form was beautiful as it enabled you to touch the chords of the human heart, he said.