The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sacked employee told to return money
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 27
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has asked a former junior assistant of its estate office to return its embezzled money, failing which, the PAU will file a civil suit against him.

Sources close to the university authorities said the university had dispatched this notice today to Bikramjit Singh, whose services had been terminated on June 21 for allegedly forging documents and making bogus entries to dupe the university of Rs 7 lakh. The sources said the university would file a suit against Bikramjit if he did not return the money within a given time as an FIR had already been registered against him.

The accused had even allegedly tried to destroy the evidence of embezzlement by showing that the relevant papers had been damaged in a “fake” fire in his office.

The authorities had also issued charge sheets to two other former employees of the estate office for their alleged involvement in the case and ordered the recovery of the embezzled money from them.

These three used to maintain a record of money received as earnings from a number of guest houses of the university for depositing the money with the cashier. The action against Bikram was taken after an inquiry by the PAU that showed he had not deposited the money and prepared fake receipts and vouchers to cover it up. Bikramjit allegedly pocketed the money that belonged to the university.

He had shown the deposits on vouchers that already had other entries, whereas, the PAU rules permit only single receipt number to be entered on a single voucher and vice-versa. The receipts submitted by the accused showed a voucher number, but the voucher bearing the same receipt number had, strangely, two entries that made the senior staff suspicious.

BCA final-year results
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 27
Pawanjit K. Bathla from Khalsa College for Women and Maninder Kaur from Ramgarhia Girls’ College have stood first in the district scoring 1,878 marks out of the total 2,400 marks in the BCA final year examination conducted by Panjab University this year.

Shalini Khera from Ramgarhia Girls’ College has stood second with 1,877 marks. Bemita Mittal from Khalsa College for Women and Simpal from Ramgarhia Girls’ College have together secured third position with 1,860 marks. Scoring 1,849 marks, Harmanjit Kaur from Khalsa College for Women has stood fourth in the district.

Among the students of Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, Jasmeet Kaur has stood first with 1,832 marks, followed by Shruti Prabhakar with 1,828 marks and Taranjot Kaur with 1,789 marks.

Sakshi Bhartiya from Sanatan Dharam Pracharak College for Women has stood first in her college with 1,808 marks, Sukhjit Kaur has stood second with 1,728 marks and Teena Gupta has scored 1,702 marks, standing third in her college.

Among the students of Devki Devi Jain Memorial College for Women, Pooja Gupta has stood first with 1,730 marks, followed by Rachna Rani with 1,669 marks and Anamika Sood with 1,651 marks.

Selia from Guru Hargobind College for Women, Gurusar Sudhar, has stood first in her college with 1,817 marks, Gagandeep has scored 1,701 marks and Ankur Sood has stood third with 1,603 marks. From A.S. College, Khanna, Payal Sukhija has stood first with 1,754 marks, followed by Navneet Kaur with 1,731 marks and Harjit with 1,670 marks.

Among the students from boys’ colleges, Tarun Gupta from Arya College has stood first with 1,790 marks. Amrish Aggarwal has stood second in the college with 1,725 marks and Jaspreet Singh has scored 1,705 marks, bagging third position in his college.

Munish Gupta from Kamla Lohia Sanatan Dharam College has stood first with 1,780 marks, followed by Sawan Gogna with 1,744 marks and Munish with 1,734 marks.

1,735 candidates appear in CET
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 27
As many as 1,735 students from all over the state appeared in the Common Entrance Test conducted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), for admission to B.Sc (agriculture) and bachelor in veterinary sciences, here yesterday.

According to Dr M.S Tiwana, Dean, College of Agriculture and Controller of CET, as many as 1,953 candidates had applied for the test but only 1,735 appeared in it. He said that the on-the- spot evaluation of the papers would start from June 27 at 7:30 a.m. and would continue till the completion and no evaluator would be allowed to go out of the evaluation hall till the result is prepared and sealed. The result would be sent to the Registrar office the same day.

The Registrar, Mr Alok Shekhar, said that the list of the candidates qualifying the examination would be displayed outside the Thapar Hall on June 29. The counselling of the candidates would be held in the office of the Dean, College of Agriculture, on July 16. Mr Shekhar also said that the candidates who qualify the test should submit the white-coloured application forms enclosed with the prospectus with the office of the registrar by July 9.

CULTURE

In fashion, Ludhianvis outdo even Delhites
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, June 27
The fashion scene in any place is never the same again, specially in a city like Ludhiana which is always moving ahead in all fields and aspects of life. From staid old shops to ‘frankie’ stores, the city has witnessed a dramatic transformation in fashion scenario. But even more important than the change in style of the outlet, is the change in people’s outlook. Gone are the days when looking frumpy was the hallmark of ‘good breeding’. Now-a-days looking ‘chic’ and fashionable is what matters and counts. It seems as if fashion in Ludhiana has been liberated from ‘moralistic overtones’ that it carried only a couple of years ago.

The only thing constant in one’s life is change. So the weathers change, nature changes and from nature one has learnt to change. To look beautiful and glamourous has been inherent desire of both males and females. Only now due to the vast media exposure by fashion magazines, the interest in fashions has become all pervasive. Gone are the humble ‘darzis’ who stitched clothes at homes. The boutiques took over and the humble ‘darzis’ and ‘karigars’ were shifted to far-off places. The ladies bought books( which flooded the market) of latest designs in suits. They fabricated suits on orders and every locality, whether posh or ordinary, boasted of a couple of boutiques. The ladies of Ludhiana paid through the nose, but the posher the boutique, the costlier the label. One could spend any amount to look fashionable and in sync with fashion. Soon due to liberalisation of economic policies, the floodgates for multi national companies opened and the ‘designer wear’ became the in-thing. The stuff churned out by boutiques was now considered ‘passe’ by the elite.

The young boys and girls of the higher economic class would rather die than be caught in anything but designer’s labels. The VJs of MTVs and V channels are their ‘fashion gurus’. Foreign trips and fashion magazines have kept Ludhiana girls well abreast of fashion. The girls know all about short skirts and sleeveless tops. ‘Duppatas’ with colourful ‘bandhini work’ and cotton ‘muls’ are used as scarves. Transparent tops and skimpy short skirts, floral prints, bright hues are fashion’s bounty for this season and are great favourites with young girls. Capries (ankle length pants), ‘chudidars’ or skirts, anything goes. Crinkled shirts in cotton, in georgettes, tunics, short and long in silk organza, cropped trousers and organdy kurtas are considered the latest. Infact, fashion walks on the street.

The boys, too, wear lacy shirts, and colourful cool T-shirts with funny messages. The designer T-shirts are being preferred. Sir Paul Mc-Cartney bought an Om TantraT-shirts very popular with young boys. Men are freaking out over shirts of bright shades and hues. The stiff collars have given way to round collars. For formal occasions, Ludhiana boys and men prefer ethnic ‘kurta and pyjama’ ensembles.The men’s parlous are doing brisk business. It has become very common for the boys to go for facials, bleach, pedicures and manicures. The boys are sporting Italian short hairstyles or crew cuts. Neat look is the order of the day. They use wet gel to look sleek. The boys wear looped earrings and love to wear gold chains and ‘kadas’. Shoes of Indian make are out. Only brand names will do.

Lorries Azzaro, the perfume king, says: “In the 60s people always followed the latest trends but since the 90s pretty much anything goes. Fashion is more free spirited now.” Fashion roams the streets of Ludhiana freely.

Coiffure takes a new twist and many new saloons are catering to the crowning glory. The Beauticians say that Ludhiana girls are more conscious of the hairstyles than even Delhi girls. The girls are going for multilayered hair cut of Urmila Matondkar kind. They prefer to have either shoulder-length haircut in style of some popular VJ or cut short, or ‘razor cut hair’. The hair are long at back and short in front, flipped out hair, but not boy-cuts though they are popular in Delhi. Most of the girls are trying new hair colours from a wide range of hundred shades. For formal occasions hair are touched with glitter.

Trendy toe nails are in. Chic women are getting ritzy logos and runway looks emblazoned on their toes. The cocky colours compliment the designer nails. The girls are getting third finger nail pierced and putting a small looped ring. The make up is in matt finish. Glossy look is out. The new calligraphy — the eye liners — make a dramatic statement with swift , straight lines. Girls are creating a dramatic look for the eyes by using pearlised eye shadows.

Fashion shows are an extravaganza of style, fashion and high art and do dictate the latest trends.

The popular Indian designers find good clientele among the Ludhiana crowd. Moreover, films, TV channels plus the visits abroad by the rich and famous have brought a tremendous change in the fashion scene, so much so that Ludhianvis do not remember that last year metallic colours and frosty make- up was the in-thing.

Socialites are wearing high buns and monochromes, where the timeless elegance of black and white is ignited by crimson streak. Mix and match. They dress with flair. Yin and Yang for opposite attracts. Sarees in graphic designs make bold statements.

New perfumes are spreading their soft, teasing and lingering smells. Good ones cost a lot. Unless one wears a designer perfume, one is really not considered well dressed.

Looking natural and glamourous is today’s mantra but will clothing and fashions take us closer to Nirvana? Fashion is inspired by events. With the Maha Kumbh being the hottest Indian event, will saffron colour be the colour, or is personal spirituality the key?