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| Sunday,
August 19, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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CAMPUS
ROUND-UP Chandigarh It has proved an embarrassment for the university because only a few days ago, it had taken a decision and announced it at a press conference, that students who did not pass the examination but had at least 92 credits would be given a special chance in September. The Panjab University Students Union, which had organised a ‘dharna’, withdrew it after the university’s decision was announced. All other students’ organisations had got together to support the university’s decision not to lower the merit further. The PUSU, the Haryana Students Association, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the All India Sikh Students Federation had got together to oppose the agitation. These organisations describe the latest decision of the university as unfortunate, and point out that similar demands can also be raised in other departments. Following the university’s decision to give a special chance to all students, the student organisations have lashed out at the university’s ‘cowardice’ in not upholding its own decisions. Another university decision which has come under criticism is to add nearly 60 seats in the Department of Laws. The students allege favouritism and the decision has also drawn criticism from some members of the faculty and the Senate. Prof P.P. Arya, a senior Fellow, in a representation to the Vice-Chancellor has pointed out that a decision taken by the university in 1994 prevents the Vice-Chancellor from increasing any seats without the permission of the Senate. The university in its defence had earlier said that a number of students had gone to court over admission faults. The problem arose on account of several factors and the university thought it proper to increase the number of seats and avoid legal wranglings. A senior Fellow, wanting to remain anonymous, said that there were several faults in the admission process which were the responsibility of the university. The university’s decision for a ‘peaceful settlement’ can encourage other student organisations to take the path of agitation to get their demands accepted. The university has only Sunday on its hands to announce a ‘deal’ because the 48-hour ultimatum for an agitation in support of several demands ends on Monday morning. This time the demands include things that do not exist in the university calendar. The students are seeking representation on the Senate and a promise to help members of the non-teaching staff to get them representation on the university House.  |
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St. Johns wins music
competition Chandigarh, August 18 Competition was held in two categories inter-school qawwali competition and solo competition (geet/ghazal). Children between the age group of seven to 10 years were selected for the qawwali competition. The lyrics of renowned poets, including Shiv Kumar Batalvi and Amrita Pritam were selected by the solo group participants. Ten teams participated in the qawwali competition and 15 students from different schools participated in the solo competition. The judges for the competitions were Prof Harvinder Singh from Government College, Sector 11, Ms Parminder Phool from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Ms Sukhraj, music teacher, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16. A Former DPI, Ms K Atma Ram, presided over the function. Ms K Atma Ram, highlighted the privileges and facilities provided to the students. She appreciated the show put up by the students and felt as it was a show presented by professional artists. The principal of the school, Ms J Sekhon, welcomed the chief guest. The results of the competitions are as follows: Sole event: First — St Johns High School; Second — Shishu Niketan School; Third — Shivalik Public School, SAS Nagar and Stepping Stones School; Consolation prize — Ajit Karam Singh International Public School Qawwali: First — Shivalik Public School, Sector 41; Second — Sacred Heart Convent School; Third — Ajit Karam Singh International Public School; Consolation — Stepping Stones School. |
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Govt teachers flay Admn Chandigarh, August 18 A press note issued by the union alleged that the Administration had violated principles of stay of seven years at one place. Teachers, who were to retire within one year, had been shuffled. Even teachers, who had short stay, had been transferred without obtaining their consent. Some of the teachers had been transferred from rural areas to rural areas and from colony to colony. The press note added that the demand of the union to shift Mr Chanchal Singh, Deputy District Education Officer, had not been accepted by the department. The union said their long-pending demand of promoting lecturers as principals and masters as head masters had also not accepted. The press note said the union leaders, including Dr Vinod Sharma, had appealed to the Administration to ratify the violations in the transfer policy and to issue promotion orders of lecturers as principals and masters as head masters. |
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Stress on quality control in concrete
structures Chandigarh, August 18 The chief guest on the occasion Manohar Singh, former member, Technical, PSEB, stressed the need for strict quality management in civil engineering works. Emphasising the sustainability of concrete structures, he expressed that sampling should be carried out at reputed laboratories. Representatives of Grasim Industries, Mr Davinder Singh, General Manager-Marketing, and S.K. Tamhane, General Manager, (Tech) also spoke on the occasion. |
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Bail plea dismissed Chandigarh, August 18 |
Blending women’s power and
poignancy Chandigarh, August 18 The preview show had offered an insight into the theme, but not justifiably so. For instance, it suggested treatment of lesbianism in the script, but did not suggest the context of this treatment. Today, however, as the two-hour-long play was presented before the public, all doubts were put to rest. The play not only rose to the expected standard in dealing with the highly-inflammable issue of feminism, it also set standards of sorts for the society. In its sensitivity and strength, the play aptly portrayed the agony of women, who are not immune to emotional mess, which life has stored in plenty for them. The three central characters were powerful in their respective roles. Anita as Meena Tandon, Jaspal Deol as Pal and Raman Waraich in the role of Geeta were in complete control of their moulds. Through the lives of these three women, playwright-director Atmajit attempted to challenge the societal tendency of sitting in judgement on “what a woman should do and what she should not.” The story takes lead from the folktale of sarangi. In the end, the instrument is used as a perfect metaphor for a woman, who wishes to lend voice to her dreams and yearnings. The director has tried to explore the possibility of experimenting with less-exposed issues like women choosing to stay single, women choosing to draw affection from one another, and finally women declaring complete control over their existence, thus stripping self-styled masters of her fate of the wrested control. One thing that added flavour to the theme were good lyrics coupled with some fine music by Kamal Tewari. The three budding singers, Ritu, Rakhi and Shalini, were part of the cast in the sense that they were present on the stage throughout the show. Apart from a thought-provoking script, Atmajit also scored on his chorus. He used his title song as a tool to voice the yearnings of each character. While costumes could have been a little better, the show, on the whole, was meaningful in the message it conveyed. The show will be repeated on Sunday and Monday after at 6.45 pm at Tagore Theatre. |
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You find spiritualism in her art Chandigarh, August 18 Ask the self-taught artist how she decided to put up her works for the public after silently practising art for years, and she hands over the entire credit to P.S. Verma, a city-based artist, who is also the founder of Fine Arts Hobby Centre and City Beautiful Art School. The works on display derive meaning from all the elements of nature — air, water, earth. Sometimes the artist works to do justice to the beauty of flowers on the canvas; sometimes she paints the lofty waves of the sea. From seascapes to landscapes and further to ethereal beauty of women — Archana seeks to translate in colour every thought that ever crossed her mind. The best part of the ensemble is its spiritual colour. Being a devotee of Ma Sarada and Swami Vivekanand, Archana has often been exhibiting her works at Ramakrishna Mission Centre of Chandigarh. Her devotional offerings have been highly appreciated in art circuit of the city. Some of these works which are based on themes from spiritual texts are currently on display at the Museum Gallery. Siddhi Vinayak is one of them; Radha-Madhav yugal chavi is another. Among other promising works on display are Udeek and Ubtan ceremony of the bride. Where in the first painting the artist uses her brush strokes to voice the impatience of a woman waiting for her beloved, in the second she uses the same tool to depict the realisation of woman’s dreams. The enthusiasm of marriage is writ large all over the canvas titled Ubatan. As for the medium, it’s a unique one — the one which was used by artists of tall order — Picasso, Degas and Rasolba. Oil pastels have not been so frequently employed by artists for the challenge they offer. But Archana has deliberately chosen the medium, for the variety and impact it provides. The show was inaugurated by DPI (Schools), Mr D.S. Saroya, and it will be on till August 25. The exhibition can be viewed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. |
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Honour for poet Chandigarh, August 18 He is among the 33 poets whose works have been recorded as part of a new three-album collection of poems, ‘The Sound of Poetry’, which will be released on the occasion. He has been an active theatre artiste for the past two decades and has a number of poetic and lyrical creations in Hindi and Punjabi to his credit. Albela is the chairman of the Progressive Arts Theatre and the honorary secretary of the National Institute of Performing Arts, New Delhi. |
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‘Kudiyan’ released Chandigarh, August 18 The album contains 10 songs out which three are sad songs and the remaining are dance numbers. Music is given by Anand Raj Anand and Jawahar Wattal and the songs have been penned by Sahney himself, Babu Singh Mann,Dev Kohli and Dev Rishi. Shankar Sahney shot to fame with the launch of his album ‘Yari Yari’. ‘Kudi Kurmuri’, a song of this album, was an instant hit. |
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WESTERN FILM REVIEW When a film maker pegs a movie’s budget at $180 million, defers his and others’ salaries to get the nod to make it at $135 million and settles for nothing less than Industrial Light + Magic of George Lucas for special effects, it is nothing but blockbuster fare. But isn’t it tragic? Imagine splurging $135 million on the recreation of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged the USA into World War II — the actual raid, we are sure, would not have cost half the amount. Or, on the depiction of the struggles of two Tennessee fighter pilots, Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett, stationed at Pearl Harbor, who both fall in love with Navy nurse Kate Beckinsale (shades of Timothy Bottoms — Jeff Bridges starrer, “The Last Picture Show”). And or on repeated forays into jingoism (Jon Voight, acting as President Roosevelt, getting up awkwardly from his wheelchair and thundering to his commanders: “Nothing is impossible for the USA”). For Mr Director, rewriting history on celluloid is much more than putting up a bravura show. It needs deeper insight. The handling of a love triangle requires certain kind of finesse and not Affleck and Hartnett’s infatuation with each other and with Beckinsale who is torn between them. Scenes involving soldiers and nurses and the lead actors taking to the skies and shooting down a few Japanese as their colleagues cry in agony below only expose your limitations while dealing with your protagonists’ emotions. Should we rip your movie off its pyrotechnics and cut its love triangle, pray, what shall we be left with? Pulp patriotism of Yankee variety which may have many takers in the USA but will be taken with a pinch of salt elsewhere. |
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