The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

SOPU, PUSU finalise candidates
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17
In complete defiance of rules laid down by the Panjab University authorities and the city police for the conduct of election campaigns on the university campus, leaders and supporters of both SOPU and PUSU groups campaigned openly in classes here today.

The Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and the Panjab University Students Association (PUSA), a breakaway faction of the Panjab University Students Union, have finalised the lists of their candidates. Other than Santokhvinder Singh Nabha of the History Department who will contest for the post of the president of the student body name of Nidhi Puri of the Department of Biochemistry has been finalised for the post of vice-president. Pankaj Sharma of the Department of Laws will be contesting for the post of the general secretary while Nishu Dubey of the Botany Department will contest for the post of joint secretary.

The PUSU-ABVP-HSA-AISSF combine has decided to field Sulakshna Bramta for the post of vice-president and Vibhor Jain for the post of joint secretary. Sources, however, indicate that the Haryana Students Association (HSA) and the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) have been ignored while fielding candidates and these two parties were not so happy with the PUSU-ABVP leadership.

Governor to open computer project
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 17
The Chandigarh Education Department’s prestigious project of introducing computer education in government schools is all set to be launched on September 24. The scheme will be inaugurated by Lieut-Gen J. F.R. Jacob (retd) at Government Model Senior Secondary School Sector 16.

The contract for this project was bagged by Jaipur-based ISO 9001 company — Compu Com. They have reportedly installed hardware and other peripherals, besides furniture for working on computers in all high schools where at least 125 students have opted for the optional computer courses.

According to Compu Com officials, they have recruited qualified instructors for imparting computer education to the students.

The instructional material and books will be provided by the company to the students free of cost as per the agreement signed by them.

The UT Administration had earlier signed the agreement with Compu Com software limited for conducting the school-level computer courses for classes VI to XII in Government schools of the city at the rate of Rs 72 per student per month .

The contract is for five years and can be renewed.`

Teachers attend seminar
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 17
Forty teachers from different schools attended a seminar on ‘Insaan Kis Aur’ held at Government High School, Sector 40-A, here today.

The Director, NSS, Panjab University, Mr C.L. Narang, inaugurated the seminar. He said people should themselves find a solution to end the rising crime.

The Principal, Mr Bahadur Singh, Ms Sunita Arora, Ms Nirmal Kumari, Ms Prem Dass, Mr Nirmal Singh, Ms Parneet Pritima Kaur, Ms Kiran Jyoti and Mr Jarnail Singh also spoke on the occasion .

PU roll numbers dispatched
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17
Panjab University has stated in a press note that the roll numbers of all eligible candidates for BA/BSc/BCom/BBA/BCA first, second and third year/B.Ed, MIL/MA/MSc/MFC (Part I and II) supplementary examinations scheduled to be held in September-October, 2001, commencing on September 27 have been dispatched.

Any candidate who has not received his/her roll number is required to personally visit the office of the Assistant Registrar of the examination branch concerned for issuance of a duplicate roll number card on Monday (September 24) between 9 am to 3pm.

The candidate should bring with him an attested passport size photo as well as a written request. The duplicate roll numbers will be issued after payment of Rs 28. All such candidates are also requested to bring along sufficient documentary evidence of submitting the examination form along with full examination fee well in time to the examination branch concerned.

Panjab University results declared
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17
Panjab University has declared the re-evaluation results of BA/BSc (IInd year), BA/BSc (IIIrd year) and BCA (IIIrd year) examinations.

The copies of the result gazette are available at the PU main enquiry counter for personal consultation on all working days during working hours only.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
SP told to submit rape case to CBI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 17
Taking up a petition alleging police inaction in a rape case allegedly involving a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Justice R.L. Anand of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed Hisar’s Superintendent of Police to hand over the investigation of the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Pronouncing the orders, Mr Justice Anand also directed the premier investigation agency to look into the matter “as early as possible and submit report within six months of receiving a copy of the order.”

In his order, the Judge observed that the Hisar SP was being directed to hand over the investigation of case, FIR No 435 registered at Civil Lines police station on October 29, 1998, to the CBI in order allay the fear of the complainant.

In her petition, the “victim”, a resident of Motipura in Hisar, had alleged that the police had failed to take any action against the culprits even though the High Court, on August 10, 1999, had directed the SP to verify the investigation.

Going into the background, counsel for the petitioner had contended that the “victim” was allegedly raped by Hisar’s DSP Hazari Lal and others. Directions for registering the case were subsequently issued after the matter was brought to the notice of the High Court. An FIR under Sections 363, 366, 376, 344, 347, 368, 406, 506 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code was later registered.

IG (Prisons) summoned

Mr Justice Jawahal Lal Gupta and Mr Justice Ashutosh Mohunta of the High Court today directed Haryana’s Inspector General of Prisons to appear in the court on a petition for constructing jails at Rewari, Mahendragarh and Narnaul after state counsel today revealed that information had not been received from the IGP’s office.

Taking suo motu notice, Mr Justice B.Rai had earlier observed: “It is desirable that the matter regarding the construction of jails at Rewari, Mahendragarh and Narnaul be taken up on the judicial side, along with the writ petition concerning the construction of jails at Gurgaon”.

The Judge had also observed: “There is no jail at Narnaul whereas most of the government offices are located here. Even if Narnaul is taken as a sub division, then also it is very essential to construct a new jail here having a capacity of accommodating at least 250 inmates so that no inconvenience or harassment is caused to them and to avoid any incident during the process of shifting them”.

Costs imposed for abuse of court

Imposing costs of Rs 5,000 on an Uttar Pradesh resident for abusing the process of court, Mr Justice M.L. Singhal of the High Court on Monday directed the Collector of Bulandshahr to recover the amount.

Issuing the directions on a petition filed by Hem Singh, Mr Justice Singhal also ordered that the money so recovered would be deposited with the Haryana State Legal Services Authority. The judge also dismissed the petition.

In his two-page judgement, Mr Justice Singhal observed: “As per the reply submitted by Faridabad’s Superintendent of Police, the allegations of the civil writ petition are false and the filing of the same by Hem Singh is an abuse of the process”. The Judge added: “It is stated in the reply that Hem Singh and his sons, besides others, are accused in a first information report registered on June 12 under Sections 342, 363, 366 and 120-B, IPC with regard to enticing a minor girl.... The writ petition is consequently dismissed”.

CULTURE

Of divine melodies and their keepers...
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Sufi singers Idu Sharif (left), Puran Shahkoti and his son, Salim, sing at the Punjab Food Craft and Cultural Fair in Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Monday. — Tribune photographs

Chandigarh, September 17
Strange as it many sound, but in this very world driven by material pursuits, there is a certain genre which takes comfort in servility. Especially when the question involved is that of serving music — which they call God. This rare class of singers, whom we call Sufi, come across as people from another land — a land where life is treated as a gift from God; a land where God is treated as the beloved.

Spearheading the Sufi movement in India is an unassuming man from Jalandhar, who now has his son in the form of an earnest disciple. Puran Shahkoti abhors to brag his connection with Hans Raj Hans (Shahkoti is the guru of the celebrated Punjabi singer). All he likes to do is talk music, breathe music and live music ....

Backstage at the Parade Grounds, Shahkoti sat in a meditative mood. “Meditation is all important. It brings you closer to God. And unless you feel his presence all around you, you cannot sing Sufiana qalaam.” For Shahkoti, life starts and ends with Sufism and also at the doorstep of his guru, Ustad Bakar Hussain Khan, who is nowadays in Malerkotla. He says, “The guru’s place is very significant in the field of music. The guru can make or mar you. Whatever I am is credited to my guru Bakar Hussain, who brought me closer to God through the Sufi qalaam,” he said.

Today Shahkoti sang the best of Bulle Shah, Baba Farid, Ghulam Farid and many other great Sufi saints. Striking a divine chord, he transported the audience into a spiritual world. Talking to The Tribune, he said, “That is the purpose of Sufism — bridging the gap between self and God, who is the beloved.” Ask him about what music means to him and his eyes sparkle in an answer, “It’s divine. It is something which has held the whole world together. Be it Europe or India, everyone understands the language of music.”

Shahkoti has not only passed on his treasure to his son Salim, but has also been training some Westerners. He says, “My disciples Hans, Jasbir Jassi and Sabarkoti have proved that they have the power to control the world with their rhythm. The Europeans admire Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan just because they know there is something more to his music than just the beat. Relate music to beat and it is pop music. Inject divinity into the same beat and it becomes spiritual and everlasting.”

His son Salim reflects the greatness of his father. He quit studies after matriculation, just to serve music. At the age of 20, he already has two cassettes to his name. The latest one being “Jalsa” (which is Salim’s tribute to Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan). He sang many songs from this album today, including Kinna sona, Charkhe de har har..., Mera piya ghar aaya...just to mention a few. The most favourite song with the audience, however, remained, Aaj hona didar mahi da.... Inspired by Nusrat Fateh Ali, Shauqat Ali and Reshma, Salim still considers himself to be a fledgling in the vast field of music.

Interestingly, unlike many other singers, Shahkoti did not denounce pop music as “vague and useless.” He had something else to say: “We must be happy that Punjabi language has been raised to an international platform, thanks to this popular music.”

‘Villa 303’ adjudged best play
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Sept 17
It was a morning dedicated to music, dance and dramatics. Huge participation marked the contests organised in the two fields of debating and dramatics by the respective societies at Government College for Girls, Sector 11.

The contest started with nearly 20 participants debating on the topic: “Man-made calamity is more disastrous than natural calamity.” After a neck-to-neck contest, the judges declared the following as winners (in order of merit): Individual prizes: Rupika and Priyanka; Pious and Manju; Bhavneet. Team prizes: Aditi and Gurneet; Nidhi and Richa; Sukhwant and Suman.

Following the debating contest organised by the Literary and Debating Society, the Dance and Dramatics Society took charge of the stage. What followed was a medley of dances and skits. ‘Villa 303’ was adjudged the best play, whereas ‘Beemar Kaun’ and ‘East meets West’ were given the second and third prizes, respectively. The programme was coordinated by Ms Neelam Rattan, in charge of the society. She was assisted by Ms Jamit Kaur.