The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Principal fails to appear again
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 12
While an inquiry is being conducted by the Punjab Government into a complaint lodged by Prof K.B.S. Sodhi, chief of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), against Ms Madhu Prashar, Principal of the Dev Samaj College for Women at Ferozepore, Ms Madhu failed to appear before the inquiry officer, Mr H.R. Gangar, Additional Secretary Higher Education of Punjab, here today for the second time.

Earlier, she had been asked to appear on January 28 in Circuit House before the inquiry committee. However, the statement of Prof Sodhi was recorded.

Prof Sodhi had said Ms Madhu Prashar had filed a case in the court of the Vacation Judge at Ferozepore in June 2001, accusing him of visiting her college on May 16, 2001, and indulging in violence and vandalism. He said, whereas, he had been in Chandigarh on that day for an official meeting with the Minister for Higher Education. He produced before the inquiry officials relevant gate pass for entry to the Secretariat on May 16, 2000, as evidence.

Meanwhile, Ms Surinder Kaur Grewal, Chairperson of the Punjab State Women’s Commission, in a letter written on November 28, 2001, had sought the intervention of the DPI Colleges for redressing the grievances of women lecturers of the Dev Samaj College for Women at Ferozepore, where a senior lecturer, Ms Harbans Kaur, was suspended on May 12, 2001. Prof Sodhi said some anti-social elements in the university were responsible for this victimisation of women lecturers.

‘Follow Vivekananda’s teachings’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 12
Swami Vivekananda Study Circle here today recalled Swami Vivekananda’s historic words on the occasion of the National Youth Day at Shefali Public School here. It was in the context of Swami’s observation — ‘Touching upon every facet of our national life, with their freshness and vigour, provide answers to questions that agitate both the individuals and society’ that the then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had remarked that to the youth, there could be no better leader than Swami Vivekananda.

Dwelling upon Swamiji’s love and faith for motherland and the younger generation, several speakers at the function quoted from his speeches — “My faith in the younger generation, the modern generation, out of them will come my workers. They will work out the whole problem, like lions. I have formulated the idea and given my life to it. They will spread from centre to centre, until we have covered the whole of India.”

Swami Vivekananda’s observations on patriotism and nationalism, it was remarked, were relevant even today, “What we want are some young men who will renounce everything and sacrifice their lives for their country’s sake. We should first learn from their lives and then some real work can be expected.”

Lamenting that the country had not become what visionaries like Swami Vivekananda had dreamt of and even after over five decades of Independence the gap between rich and the poor, the educated and the illiterate, the high caste and the Dalits was increasing, it was emphasised that what Swami Vivekanand propounded, should be put to practice.

Lohri celebrated with fervour
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 12
Youth Club of the Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women celebrated Lohri with traditional zeal and fervour. Students attired in colourful traditional costumes danced around the bonfire which was lit by the Principal, Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, amidst the traditional fanfare and gaiety.

While speaking on the occasion, she stressed the need for celebrating festivals associated with the Punjabi culture with a view to keep our rich traditions alive.

Such celebration must be made a vital part of our college curriculum to inculcate a sense of being togetherness among the students. Sundar mundriye rented the air as the students virtually flocked towards the faculty. Reodis and gachak added flavour and warmth to the occasion.

The celebration concluded with a colourful and thrilling performances of traditional giddha with the whole college giving into the thrilling beats of the drum.

The students of Gupta Model School also organised a cultural show to mark the celebrations of Lohri. A kite flying competition was organised by Government College for Boys on occasion of Lohri. A rich Punjabi cultural programme was also organised at the Government College for Girls. Lohri was also celebrated by Defence Public School, New Janak Puri.