The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

PU centre to be renamed after Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28
As part of the bicentenary celebrations of the coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Panjab University has decided to prefix the name of the Maharaja with the university’s Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.

Contributions from the academics who have been connected with history, polity, ideology, love for art, “Punjabiat”, business, society, paintings, coins and security during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s times will be invited.

The university has decided to organise a three-day academic programme on various aspects of his life.

Panjab University had closed down the Department of Defence Studies during the tenure of a former Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N. Pathak, the present VC, however, showed keen interest in revamping the department. Prof M.M. Sharma, a leading light in the academic field concerned, and Prof T.R. Sharma assisted him.

The university will approach the Punjab and the Central governments for the post of a professor at the centre so that the research work is taken care of. In order to meet the costs of the celebrations, the university will require finances for the remuneration of contributors, TA and DA and other related expenses. The state and Central governments are expected to help in this regard.

The decision to hold the celebrations follow the recommendations of a committee constituted under the chairmanship of Prof Ashok Sahni.

In a related aspect, in has been repeatedly pointed out that the centre needed to be more specific in the study of areas concerning the defence of the country, with particular reference to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, a committee under the chairmanship of Professor Pathak has laid down norms for selecting eminent personalities for Chairs of Jawahar Lal Nehru Professor of Technology, Lal Bahadur Shastri Professor of Public Administration, Sri Aurobindo Professor of Philosophy, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Professor of Political Science and Sarojini Naidu Professor of English.

The university had instituted these in July, 1997.

After discussions, it was decided that professors of eminence be invited. The minimum stay of the professors will be two months which can be extended up to a year. The university will publish the lectures delivered by them.

PU guidelines on book issue
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28
A Panjab University student who loses a library book shall have to replace it with a latest edition of the book along with Rs 50 as charges of binding and 10 per cent additional price of the book as service charges.

A decision in this regard has been taken by the Senate. Earlier, the student was to return a new book alone.

The university has also decided the candidates of Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy will have to deposit a refundable security of Rs 1,000 each. Earlier, the amount was Rs 250.

The librarian can enroll borrowing members with approval of the Dean University Instructions. However, the fee is Rs 500 annually in addition to a refundable security of Rs 2,500.

Overdue charges of Re 1 per day will be charged if the book is returned beyond the due date. For books issued for overnight use, the rate of overdue charges will be Re 1 per volume per hour.

60 primary teachers given prizes, certificates
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28
More than 60 government non-model primary school teachers were given away prizes and attendance certificates by the Director, Public Instructions (Colleges), UT, Ms Madhavi Kataria, at the valedictory function of the two 10-day workshops organised by the Regional Institute of English, Sector 32, here today.

Ms Kataria, who was the chief guest on the occasion, also inaugurated the media centre at the institute. Ms Anand Aulukh, Director of the institute, informed that the two workshops were organised to orient these primary school teachers with teaching in English language and the focus was on both reading and writing in the language.

Choosing to speak in Hindi, Ms Kataria stated that she was glad that all those who had chosen to attend the workshop were open minded about learning something new even after many of them had a large number of years of experience behind them. ‘‘The key to the future lies in learning and being able to impart the language of globalisation which is English.’’ she said. She further lauded the contribution of primary school teachers in the role they play to educate the young with the right values.

Smita and Shammi received first prizes while Surinder and Sunita got second prizes and Sharanjit and Jaimita came third in the workshop tests.

Mr Brahmjit Kalia, District Education Officer, also spoke on the occasion.

COURTS

Minors granted bail
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 28
Finally a local court came to the rescue of two minor children of Bapu Dham, who were held by the city police in a case of theft. The children, Arshi and Dinesh, were granted bail on personal bail bond by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Sant Parkash, today.

It may be recalled that the two were arrested by the city police and a case was registered against them under Section 379 of the IPC. The two had been remanded to the Juvenile Home by the UT Judicial Magistrate First Class) on May 26. Chandigarh Tribune had carried news items on May 27 and May 28 about the illegal detention of these two children. Acting on these reports the police department had already marked an inquiry to find out the persons responsible for the illegal detention of the children. The inquiry would be conducted by the DSP (East), Mr Surjit Singh.

CULTURE

Aruna on AIDS awareness drive
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28
After doing a variety of roles on the silver screen in the past four decades, versatile actress Aruna Irani has decided to focus on HIV/AIDS awareness.

Aruna, who was here on the occasion of the preview of song video on AIDS awareness,”Bachke rah sajjna,” told mediapersons at the Chandigarh Press Club that she planned to make serials to create awareness about the dreaded disease.

With that end in view, she was even open to the idea of incorporating the message about the prevention of the disease in her current serials such as “Mehndi Tere Naam Ki” and “Des Mein Nikla Hoga Chand”.

“Creativity keeps you going and you are finished when you stop working,” quipped a smiling Aruna when a scribe asked her about the secret behind her “everlasting youth. She disagreed that the black money played a major role in financing of the films.

Complimenting Dr G.S. Chahal, Additional Project Director of the Punjab State AIDS Control Society, and Ms Sanjana, who had created the song video, she said everybody should do his bit to spread the message of the prevention of AIDS.

Dr Chahal informed that there were 3.86 million persons infected with HIV in India. As there is no effective treatment available till date, awareness is the only cure for the disease.

Earlier, the video of the song was screened for the media persons. The video was directed by Mangal Dhillon.

The song had been written and sung by Dr Chahal. The music had been given by a noted music director of the region Varinder Bachan.

Bilal, Faisal cast musical spell
Divya Kaushik

Chandigarh, May 28
Shoppers in Sector 17 were in for a lucky treat today as Bilal Masood and Faisal Kapadia of the Pakistani band ‘Strings’ gave an unplugged performance of three of their best songs at one of the showrooms there. The audience sat spellbound as the two gave renditions of their hits ‘Duur’, ‘Sar kiye yeh pahar’ and ‘Kuch to ho gaya’ with only the guitar as an accompaniment.This could only further highlight the sheer vibrancy of their sound and of course suitable back-up was provided by the clapping hands of the many youngsters who had gathered there today evening.

‘Strings’ began their musical career 10 years ago when they were just college students by singing in the class to beat the boredom. Infact even the conception of their bands’ name has an interesting story behind it. Ready to go onstage for a farewell party, they were asked by the host for a name he could introduce them with. As plain ‘Faisal and Bilal’ did not seem enough they came up with ‘Strings’ on the spur of the moment.

Their latest album ‘Duur’, which is already a phenomenal hit. This can easily be judged from the audiences’ reaction to their performance at the Channel V ‘Road Show’ on Saturday. They themselves love Chandigarh and India as a whole. They feel the Chandigarh youth has well justified its reputation of being an enthusiastic crowd as far as music concerts are concerned.

While their earlier hit ‘Sar kiye yeh pahar’ was available only in pirated versions, ‘Duur’ has been released formally.

Theatre workshop begins
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 28
A production-oriented theatre workshop organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra under the guidance of dramatist and director Gursharan Singh was inaugurated at the kendra office in Sector 35 here today.

This participatory workshop will yield four plays — “Guldasta”, “Teen Sawal”, “Laalji” and “Pateh Khan and Nandu Khan”. These plays will be staged at the Tagore Theatre on June 30.

The children will be taught dance by Shobha Koser, yoga and music by Ruchika Takhur, art and craft and making of chalk statues by Anuradha Thakur. Seema Jaitley will teach the students about paintings and mural paintings and personality development and elementary knowledge of computers will imparted by Vandana Korpal and Poonam Verma.

Indo-Pak theatre workshop inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 28
Spreading brotherhood and harmony across the border is the aim of the joint Indo-Pak Theatre Workshop , organised by Futurekids Club, a venture of Besten Foundation, which was inaugurated by model-turned actor Jatin Grewal at Art Follio in sector 9 here today.

About 25 children of different age groups from the city Mohali and Panchkula are waiting for their counterparts from Pakistan who will be joining them on June 2. About 15 children from Ajoka Children Theatre, Pakistan, are going to participate in the workshop under the guidance of Ms Madeeha Gauhar, Director of the theatre group.

Meanwhile, the participants who went through the ice-breaking session of the workshop today, will be polishing their acting skills under the guidance of Mr Pawan Parkhi of the Department of Indian Theatre here. The workshop will culminate in staging of famous playwright Shaheel Nadim’s play “Border” on June 16 at the Tagore Theatre.

Talking about the aim of the workshop, Mr Amrit Pal Singh, Director of Besten Foundation said the workshop will bridge the gap between the two countries by giving a chance to the children of both the countries to interact with each other on “one-to- one” basis.

Inaugurating the workshop Jatin Grewal urged the children to be focussed towards their aim in life and work hard to achieve it.

Members of Futurekids Club will visit Lahore later this year to complete the exchange programme.