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| Sunday,
September 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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CAMPUS ROUND-UP Chandigarh Inter-group politics claimed its first victim with the breaking up of the Haryana Students Association. A group announced the appointment of Amit Rana as the new chairman of the party. This was followed by a scuffle in his room where he was allegedly manhandled. The incident led to a scuffle the next day where the founder chairman of the HSA, Chand Singh Madaan, was allegedly manhandled. As many as nine students ended up in police lock up for a night till they were released on bail the next day. The students are confused and unable to decide which is the actual body and who is the actual head. The Panjab University Student Union has suffered a major blow with the announcement of a breakaway faction. The new body is the Panjab University Students Association. As many as five members of PUSU have sent a resignation letter to the president. They include Gurdeep Singh Sandhu, H.S.Hundal, Parminder Sihag, Amandeep Virk, and Rushpinder Mahal. The name of president of the Panjab University Students Union, Malwinder Singh Kang, got into the limelight following a scuffle in Hostel Number 5 a few days ago. Supporters of the Students Organisation of Panjab University allege that their supporters were attacked by PUSU supporters with hockey sticks. The assailants also carried swords. It was, however, maintained by Kang that he was not involved in the incident. The police spent more than a couple of hours at the hostel recording statements. There is a general feeling that the SOPU has made a dent in the student vote banks by having the university meet their demand of lowering the credit requirement in the honours science streams. The university had taken the stand that those scoring less than 92 credits would not be given any chance. PUSU which was also part of the agitation, withdrew from it. Interestingly, the HSA, PUSU and the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad at a joint press conference supported the university’s move. The university, however, took a U-turn and accepted the demand of SOPU by lowering the merit. Senior students feel that one big danger during the elections was the constant threat of inter-party fights taking an ugly turn. The history of the university shows a series of unpleasant incidents. There are whispers of an ongoing tussle in SOPU which has been denied by the office-bearers with certain old leaders back in the news. The visit by the Union Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, recently has given more confidence to the local unit of the ABVP. The election environment in the colleges will also pick up force after a formal announcement of dates. At a meeting of a special committee of the university, a majority of principals had expressed opposition to the holding of elections in colleges. A principal strongly advocating the need of elections said that if there was no need for elections then the practice should not have been allowed to start. The police is going to be more strict this time. The university has already started the practice of checking one entrance during the day. Students have also been waned against defacement of walls with posters. The police will keep a regular tab on the leaders of all student parties. |
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STATE OF HOSTELS Chandigarh For those who won the race, the experience has been mixed. They are, by and large, a happy lot except some minor problems which can easily be solved. The first and the most distressing problem is the absence of a water cooler for the students. “We have been asking the warden for a water cooler, but despite all the promises it has not arrived. It is so irksome to drink tap water in summer. We go to the neighboring Kasturba Hall to get cold water”, says a resident. “Most of the time, we are hunting for cold water”, she says. The new hostel has two floors and houses more than 120 girls. They share rooms which they say are much better designed than those in the other four hostels for girls. “The rooms are spacious enough for two girls. Unlike the other hostel rooms which have wooden
almirahs, here we have a steel almirah in every room”, says a resident. Being a new building, it does not have problems such as leaking roofs, blocked drains in bathrooms and old fans that do not work. The hostel and the facilities are all new and well oiled. “The crockery is new and so is the furniture. The other hostels have a rationed supply of water, thrice a day, but here the taps run all 24 hours, thanks to the storage system.” The rooms are so nice that we do not feel like using any wall paper,” says another resident. Another major problem which the residents face is the unbuilt road from the hostel gate to the main road. “This road has only been gravelled. Everytime it rains, we have to save our clothes while coming to the hostel. Some of us have slipped in the mud and fallen, much to the amusement of the on-lookers.” It is hardly a 200 meter stretch and its construction should not be a problem. Then there are other
newsness-related problems. “We have no STD facility here and we have to go to other hostels to make our calls. We have a telephone on which we can receive calls but cannot make any calls. There is no dhobi or ironing man. So we end up washing our clothes and getting them ironed by the next hostel’s dhobi. Then there is no parking place. So we park our vehicles in the parking lot of Kasturba Hall.” But all of them know that once these things are sorted out, they will be living in one of the finest hostels in the university. |
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REMINISCENCES Chandigarh Dr Jeevan says: “I will move out of this college by the end of this month but I am sure, the students and the teachers will miss me, as I will miss them.” Pushing aside a bunch of files he has signed, Dr Jeevan adds: “All this love makes me feel happy and contented. I am glad I took up teaching as a profession and received so much warmth and friendliness in return”. Going back in time, he recalls, “After completing my post-graduation in Chemistry, I had many options including a job with a nationalised bank, which in those days was considered lucrative. However, teaching was what I wanted to participate in”. Looking out from the window, he recalls: “The reason for this was not hard to see. All through my childhood I had seen my father, also a principal, teach his students with honesty and dedication and I wanted to be like him, something within told me that training students, leading them from darkness to light, was the right option”. He adds: “Nevertheless before taking any decision, I wanted to consult my father. I went up to him and conveyed my love for the profession. He was glad that his son would be doing what he had dedicated his life to”. Encouraged by his father’s response, Dr Jeevan took up teaching and became principal in 1976, the year his father retired. “But that was not the end of it. Until recently, I kept delivering lectures to chemistry students because of the simple reason that I still consider myself to be more of a teacher and less of a principal.” He has written several books on the subject. The Board of School Education has approved one of his books for class IX students”. Dr Jeevan concludes, “When I look back upon my life, it is with a sense of complete satisfaction. I am glad I was in a profession where I was able to contribute to the development of society”. |
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50 participate in talent search contest Chandigarh, September 8 MA:
bhajans: Shivani; classical singing: Sonia, Kalpana; ghazals: Shivani,
Reena; geet: Sonia; instrumental music: Paramjit, Anupma, Manisha;
dhun: Anupma BA: music vocal: ghazals: Kavita, Nitika, Kulwinder;
geet: Mankiran, Rupika, Maninder; classical recital: Kavita. Music (vocal): ghazal and
geet: Pooja Sharma, Priya, Santosh, Karandip; folk music: Gurpinder, Meenakshi,
Deepti; instrumental music (classical): Rohita. Present on the occasion were Mrs
Vijayalakshmi, Principal of the college, along with Mrs Uma Paul and Mrs Pamela Singh, Heads of the Departments of Instrumental and Vocal Music, respectively. |
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Study centre inaugurated Kharar, September 8 While addressing the gathering Mr Kanwaljeet Singh said only those countries which would progress in the field of information technology would progress in future. He also added that because of development on this front all countries of the world have become inter-dependent. He said the Punjab government had decided to give many facilities to interested parties for setting up information technology units in SAS Nagar. Mr Garcha while addressing the gathering said technical education was the need of the hour and the state government had updated various courses in technical education. |
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Saroya may be repatriated Chandigarh, September 8 Sources said the Punjab
Government had made a request, seeking back Mr Saroya’s services. Incidentally, Mr Saroya at the moment is handling the important project of starting computer education in 67 government school in the city. Senior officers in the Chandigarh
Administration refused to comment. |
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Parminder is
Miss Fresher Chandigarh, September 8 While Aditi became the first runner-up, Pooja was crowned the second runner-up on the occasion. Ripujit Sidhu welcomed the students and participants at the beginning of the function, which was followed by a dance on “Sunre Saajan” by MA II students. Nirmala, a student of MA I, sang a song, followed by an dance on a Punjabi folk number “Dhol Jagiro Daa” presented by BA III students. |
HIGH COURT Chandigarh, September 8 Pronouncing the orders on Ram Snehi’s petition, the Judges observed: “The Civil Court, in its order dated September 3, 1997, had clearly indicated that the suit of the plaintiff would be maintainable if filed either at Courts in Delhi or at Mohendragarh. But the petitioner chose to ignore the guidance rendered by the Civil Courts. He did not even care to challenge the Civil Court’s decision by filing an appeal or a revision before the Higher Court. Instead, he chose to file the present writ petition, which is clearly not maintainable. We are of the considered opinion that the petitioner is deliberately abusing the process of the Court”. In their detailed order, the Judges added: “Very rightly, in the interest of justice and the petitioner, a Division Bench had earlier offered the petitioner the services of an advocate. Callously, he spurned the offer and refused to accept his services. Yet, we find that he is unable to assist the Court in a meaningful manner”. The Judges concluded: “In view of all this, the petitioner’s conduct has to be viewed by the Court with disapproval…. The writ petition is dismissed with costs of Rs 5,000”. Filling of posts stayed Issuing notice of motion for October 24 on a petition against the state of Punjab and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday stayed “further process of filling the posts of drivers, in terms of an advertisement, till further orders”. In their petition taken up by the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar, Mr Joginder Singh and eight other drivers working with Punjab Afforestation Project aided by the Japan Bank for Industrial Corporation, had earlier sought directions for quashing the advertisement dated August 8. Their counsel had argued that ad hoc and daily wagers, as per the settled law, could not be replaced by another set of ad hoc or daily wagers unless there were complaints against them, which was not there in the present case. Promotion ordered Allowing a writ petition, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the High Court has directed Punjab State Cooperative Bank Limited and other respondents to consider an employee for the post of senior clerk and “further for the post of junior assistant with all consequential benefits from the date persons junior to her were promoted”. Delivering the verdict on Ms Pavitar Kaur Walia’s petition, Mr Justice Gill also quashed the orders rejecting the representations submitted by the petitioner. The Judge observed: “After going through the annual confidential reports from 1994 to 1999 nothing of grave nature can be found on the basis of which the petitioner should not be given a promotion”. The respondents, it may be recalled, had earlier contended that ACR for 1992-93 could not be recorded as the petitioner had been placed under suspension “for an act of gross indiscipline and misconduct”. Order on medical bill Quashing the orders passed by the state of Punjab rejecting the medical claim of a retired District Revenue Officer and his wife, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the High Court on Saturday directed the respondents to reimburse his bill of Rs 75, 546 as per the instructions. Seeking directions to the respondents to reimburse the bill, counsel for retired officer Manohar Singh had earlier contended that the petitioner was suffering from chronic sugar and blood sugar since 1978. After hearing the arguments, Mr Justice Gill observed: “I have no hesitation in quashing the orders dated August 2 last year vide which the respondents had rejected the claim of the petitioner and his wife on account of expenses incurred by them for follow up treatment”. |
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Petition in Nagi case referred
to another Bench Chandigarh, September 8 The petition was earlier referred to another Bench by Mr Justice S.S. Sudhalkar and Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court. It will now be placed before the Chief Justice for appropriate orders. In her petition, Dr Suri had stated that even though the court had directed the PGI and other respondents to keep the proceedings of the governing body in a sealed cover, the appointment of Dr Nagi as the Dean had been published in complete violation of the orders. Quoting newspaper reports, Dr Suri had stated that as per certain items a senior politician was instrumental in the appointment of Dr Nagi as the Dean. Her counsel had added that Dr Nagi was being informed about the developments, as was evident from the fact that he had filed a caveat on July 26, apprehending a challenge to his selection, even though the governing body proceedings were kept in a sealed cover. Dr Nagi, it may be recalled, was appointed the Dean on Wednesday after Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi and Mr Justice Jasbir Singh permitted the PGI to declare the result which were earlier directed to be kept in a sealed cover. |
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HC issues notice
of motion to Admn Chandigarh, September 8 Pronouncing the orders, Mr Justice Jain observed: “There is a news item in national dailies on the front page that Dr
A.K. Gupta has received a letter threatening to eliminate him, like his parents who were murdered in Jammu on July 8. From the news item, it appears that some FIR has since been registered in Chandigarh on the basis of the letter. However, there is nothing to indicate if any security has been provided to Dr Gupta in view of the threatening letter”. |
A banker’s brush with art Chandigarh, September 8 But today, he seemed to be a different person altogether — as if the child in him had been on the road to self discovery and had returned with many blissful moments, both in hands as also in mind. These very blissful moments finally found their way into photo frames and walled canvases to make Ravi what he is today — an artist in search of divinity. Not long before he was the director of a bank, but things were never the same after retirement. It was then that the futility of life started bothering Ravi who never knew he had some aesthetic inclination hidden inside his character. But he did not take very long to discover that. Especially when he often found himself waking up close to dawn and photographing the best in nature. Later, he also began playing with oil and acrylics to lend expression to thoughts. What resulted was a maze of ideas captured in colour on canvases and more often in pictures. Right from clouds and flowers to leaves and faces, Ravi went on to experiment with his skills in photography and painting. One day, he had in front of him a whole set of nature’s manifestations pictured perfectly. Hence, the birth of the artist, who then travelled to various countries to hone his photography. “I attended several workshops because I wanted to imbibe all possible nuances of the art of photography. Although I am a self-taught photographer, I am well aware of all techniques,” he said, on the occasion of preview show of his works today. But more than the technique, it is Ravi’s romance with the natural look, which find the most dominant reflection in his pictures. He loves photographing people and nature at large. “In fact, I love to work on anything that is close to nature. And I don’t like to tamper with the freshness which natural things beget.” Tomorrow onwards Ravi will be a part of the exhibiting world. On display in his small studio called Portraits and Portfolios Art Gallery in Sector 17 are a variety of pictures and paintings. Where one photo frame pays a tribute to the fiery horizon (with hues of fire dominating the scene), others capture the verdant leaves and flowers. There are some works which are the photographs of Ravi’s paintings, which have mostly been executed in acrylic. The works can clearly be put under three different heads: Life-long gifts (where the artist has placed pictures of flowers and other natural scenes), greeting cards (again comprising pictures which showcase the magnificent nature) and cloudscape (where clouds and their amazing formations have been captured). The artist has also travelled abroad in search of cloud formations, which are not found in India. The paintings are mostly abstract. The exhibition will open tomorrow at 11 am and can be viewed till about 7.30 pm. |
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From the heart of rural Orissa Chandigarh, September 8 Images now mounted on the walls of the gallery derive inspiration from various Vaishnava episodes which happen to form the major theme of all paintings. Translated into art are the stories from the Bhagvad
Gita, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. All paintings, whether on silk or palm leaves, are rooted in tradition. Images of Krishna and Radha dominate the present collection, with many other works featuring Lord Krishna in his various
‘lilas’. The rest of the themes have been derived from spiritual texts. Interestingly, the erotic element has also been weaved into the main theme, So as you unfold a particular leaf on the painting, you find a shloka from the Bhagvad Gita written on one leaf and a pictorial story of two lovers on the other. Many works also feature gods and goddesses like Vishnu,
Ganesha. and Durga. The works, executed under the banner of Traditional Art Promoters, aim at reviving the dying pattachitra art of Orissa. The art has a long history. Patta has been derived from the Sanskrit word
patta, meaning cloth. This form of painting is also done on the palm leaf and is then called taalpatra
chitra. Mostly the paintings are made of intricate mixtures of natural earth and stone colours with combinations of soot and vegetable dyes on tussor silk and palm leaves. As for the history of this art, it dates back to the 15th century when there were definite attempts to revive Hinduism. The paintings served to educate the masses about their religion and the legends of their land. Ever since, the art form became an integral part of the Orissan culture.
The exhibition will be on view till September 12 between 11 am and 7 pm. |
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Aiming for another high with ‘Kudiyaan’ Chandigarh, September 8 In town for the promotion of his latest work, the singer, who was earlier more acclaimed as a guitarist, talked with passion about how the cassette came through. Tracing his roots from the Kirana gharana of music, it had become important for Shankar to gain an edge over other singers in the saturating world of so-called Punjabi pop. Hence the venture, which has eight popular numbers and two folk numbers which exude Sufi warmth. Speaking this morning about the new elements in his latest album, Shankar recalled how singing happened to him. “Since the age of three, I was initiated into music by my father, who was a renowned singer of Kirana gharana. I learnt singing, but was more inclined towards the instrumental,” he said. No wonder then that Shankar has played the role of a guitarist in over 500 music albums throughout his career. Singing happened later, when Shankar teamed up with Jawahar Wattal to release Kudi Kurmuri. As for the latest album, it has music my Nand Raj Anand and Jawahar Wattal. While Wattal has composed one song in this album, others have fresh music by Nand Raj. The lyrics are by the reputed Babu Singh Mann. The album is doing well in London. On the issue of whether there should be a censor board to monitor the quality of video albums, Shankar said, “There should be a censor board, but there should also be a parallel advisory committee comprising renowned Punjabi singers like Mohammad Siddique, Sardool Sikander and Kuldip Manak. That will help us get a fair representation.” He, however, admitted that a censor board was essential to check the rising incidence of vulgarity in lyrics and videos. Shankar added that he would perform in Jalandhar and Ludhiana on September 14 and 15, respectively. He also performed in Aerizzona tonight. |
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FILM REVIEW The story lacks grip on continuity of action and ‘Superman’ acts of a TV reporter who becomes a Chief Minister for a day are ‘too good’ to be true. Anil Kapoor during a tele-talk on corruption in Amrish Puri’s government accepts a challenge to be the state Chief Minster for a day. He makes a strong impact in checking black-marketing and keeps signing an increasing scroll of corrupt employees in all departments of the administration. Rani Mukherjee has given appreciable performance in a small role. Extravagant sets, colourful costumes and special effects, particularly in a couple of song sequences, are impressive but lose appeal because of an average overall entertainment package. A.R. Rahman this time has played his role of an ‘also ran’ player as a music director of a loosing team.
N. Kumar’s ‘Dil ne phir yaad kiya’ (Batra) is a classical case of befooling the masses. Govinda is shown as the biggest face on posters and his name tops the list of the cast and even in advertisements. He however, makes a presence in a song number and that too in a dream sequence. The attempted comedy starring Govinda’s nephew Vinay Anand is a below average production. Vinay, an America-returned graduate, dreams about Pooja Batra and actually meets her when he returns home to India. He finds out that Pooja is flying abroad on a holiday and manages a ticket on the same flight. The director is also kind enough to mark his role as the tour guide of the trip. Then there is love. The rest of the cast including Kiran Kumar and Sadashiv Amrapurkar, are only a couple of faces in the long list of co-passengers in the movie trip with each trying to impress the audience with witty remarks and antics, but failing miserably. The film is produced by Ahmad Siddiqi and directed by Rajat Rawail. Sameer has penned lyrics to Uttam Singh’s music. |
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WESTERN
FILM
REVIEW Chandigarh But when
we do turn up at the matinee, the spectre of another monstrosity
starts giving way to a spirit of adventure. How else can we see a film
that took 11 screenwriters, three years, two corporate giants, one
voluptuous actress and a sexual harrassment suit to bring video game
siren Lara Croft to life? “Half of the plot came out of New
Scientist articles and the other half emerged from National
Geographic”, says director Simon West (of “Con Air” and “The
General’s Daughter” fame). He combined astronomical facts with
“New Age mysticism” to spin a story that has Lara Croft, played by
Angelina Jolie, searching for pieces of a device that can manipulate
time. While the English heiress wants it to see her dead father
(played by Jolie’s dad in real life, Jon Voight), a bunch of thugs
led by Manfred Powell (Iain Glenn) desires it to gain ultimate power.
Shot in England, Iceland and Cambodia — the first movie to be
filmed in that country in 37 years — the $ 100-million screen
adaptation of the video game series unleashes an array of special
effects that have now become the staple of almost all Hollywood
juggernauts. Performing death-defying stunts, Jolie who underwent
three months’ rigorous training in gymnastics, weighlifting,
running, yoga, kickboxing and bungee-jumping and quit smoking and
drinking, is high on adrenalin and low on substance. Her character’s
trademark, hot pants with guns strapped to them may be an attempt to
play to the gallery but are a poor compensation for her lack of
acting. Jon Voight who has not worked with Jolie since “Lookin’
to Get Out” in 1982, seems to be reconciled to the fact that it’s
out-and-out his daughter’s film. So, he keeps on appearing and
disappearing like a magician. Glenn looks as menacing and power-crazed
as he is required to be. Whether Paramount Pictures’ adventure
turns out to be a turkey or a monster hit, we did n’t get hurt this
time. |
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‘Nayak’ (Nirman and KC Panchkula) is a mere noisy presentation with Anil Kapoor unlikely to live up to the crowd expectations. It is a remake of a South Indian hit.