EDUCATION

Five college lecturers cry foul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20
Five city Government College lecturers have made yet another representation to the UT Education Secretary requesting for senior scales in accordance with the norms laid down by the UGC and as followed by the UT Administration.

Government College lecturers with a PhD who have served for five years are to be granted senior scales in accordance with the 1986 UGC guidelines, while according to the 1996 UGC guidelines, the years of service have been reduced to four.

The Education Department granted senior scales to college lecturers in accordance with the UGC guidelines. However, an exception was made in the case of five lecturers who were granted senior scales after a period of five and a half years of service, a duration which neither the 1986 nor the 1996 UGC guidelines mention.

These lecturers have been running from pillar to post trying to get a hearing by someone who will understand their problem.

In their latest representation dated January 17, 2001, they have alleged that they had met the Registrar, Education (Colleges), Mr A.L. Nanda, several times but he “seems to be creating unnecessary hurdles in resolving this problem. He is also misguiding other officers and staff in the context”.

Moksha steals school show
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20
It was entertainment all the way at the annual function of Silver Oak School held at Lecma Hall, 3 BRD, Air Force Station, here today, as children danced and sang their way through the programme.

Students of Silver Oak School, Sector 32, in fancy dresses, during their annual function held at 3BRD Lecma in Chandigarh on Sunday. — A Tribune photograph

A student of nursery, Moksha, was the star attraction as she recited the Gayatri mantra and sang a bhajan “Piyo ji maine’’ followed by “Deh Shiva var mohe’’.

Next on the agenda was “Twinkle, twinkle little star’’ and a “buddy dance” where students in pairs (boys in black suits and girls in white frills) danced to a peppy English number. A group performance on the “Krishan lila” was performed well. A child-artiste featuring in Harbhajan Mann’s video, Simran Lishu, gave a dance performance on “Dhol jagiro da’’.

A nursery rhyme, “Mama Darling, papa darling, I love you’’ received a tremendous applause. A play on the need to spread literacy was also staged by students.

A fancy dress contest saw participation of 35 students who came dressed as Charlie Chaplin, a soldier, a bridegroom etc. One dressed as Sunny Deol in “Main nikla gadi leke’’ was a hit with the crowd. A magic show and a puppet show had the children spellbound.

Earlier, principal, Pritpal Singh read out the school report in which he highlighted the academic and cultural achievements of students.

The results of the contests are: Solo item: Simran Lishu (1), Navneet (2), Moksha-consolation prize; Group item: Maiya Yashodha (1), Old Mac Donald (20, Buddy dance (3); Fancy dress: Moksha-Kashmiri girl (1), Anmol Bansal-Bin Laden (2) and Kartik-Krishna (3).

Tiny fingers model clay
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20
For the tiny tots of Ashiana Public School, Sector 9, it was a day devoted to paints and clay modelling. The school had organised an art and craft workshop where children were introduced to several activities and forms relating to paint, the idea being to create colour awareness among them.

The workshop was attended by art and craft teachers of various city schools. It gave them an opportunity to witness the little ones at work.

The principal, Ms Lalita Prakash, said the workshop was organised to tap creativity and imagination in children. “We encourage participation of teachers and parents to prompt the child to handle his assignment and, in the process boost his morale,” she explained.

Models and art and craft items were displayed at the annual exhibition of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, here today.

Models prepared by students on various subjects as well as paintings and embroidered items by students during the academic session were exhibited.

The principal, Mr Karan Singh, who has made the exhibition an annual affair, said all classes were given separate topics and asked to prepare models and art and craft items, involving all students in the work.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Director, SIE, Ms S. Tangri. She appreciated the efforts of the students while applauding the role of the principal and staff in encouraging teamwork in joint projects.

8 teams in quiz final
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20
Describing libraries as paradise of knowledge, the Director, Public Instruction (Schools), Mr D.S. Saroya, said librarians possessed the key to this paradise for readers. He was speaking at an inter-school quiz organised at St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today.

Fourteen students from schools of Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula participated in the quiz. Eight teams made it to the final.

The quiz was conducted by Ms Rita David of Government College, Sector 11, and Ms Surinder Kaur of Government College, Sector 46. Ms Shabnam Verma, coordinator, St John’s High School, and Mr J.K. Kataria, president of the CLA, welcomed the chief guest.

Results — public schools: Vineet Sharma and Pulkit Diwan of St John’s High School (1), Arun Kaul of Hansraj Public School (2), Rahul Madan and Prakash Singh of DAV College (3); government schools: Misha Pratap and Ankur Sharma of GMSSS-35 (1), Manu Vivek Sharma and K.B. Bharat Singh of GMSSS-16 (2), Ankit Kohli and Anubhav Sareen of GMSSS-22 (3).

School function
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, January 20
The annual function of Sant Isher Singh Public School was celebrated in the school premises in Sector 70 here today. A former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission, Lt-Gen S.S. Brar (retd), was the chief guest.

Students of the school presented a cultural programme with Indian and Western traditions as the theme. The function started with shabad recital by students of primary classes. General Brar gave away the prizes.

COURTS

Lawyer debarred from practising
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 20
The disciplinary committee of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, headed by Mr Ram Avtar, has ordered the removal of respondent’s advocate’s name from the roll of advocates of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana in the Bar Association, Moga, versus Balwant Singh Brar case.

After holding the advocate guilty of professional misconduct, the council cancelled his licence with immediate effect. He now stood debarred from practising as advocate throughout India, said the secretary of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana in a press note.

CULTURE

Gursewak: A true Punjabi at heart
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20
This one sure is a Punjabi at heart. That is why he formally declares, “I may have connections all over the world but I want to settle in Punjab for all times to come. I am looking for a house in Chandigarh.”

For Gursewak Mann, the real inspiration for singing flows from the earthiness of Punjab’s farmlands. Like the big brother Harbhajan Mann, Gursewak has always had a voracious appetite for Punjabi music in particular. This pilot-turned-singer has carried the influence of his art for many years now and in today’s date he is almost fully trained in classical and in Punjabi folk music. He can play sarangi, tumbi and some other folk instruments of Punjab.

In the city today for a performance in a local discotheque in Sector 9, Gursewak talked very passionately about his music. Not long before he was arranging music for the big brother Harbhajan, who is better known than himself. It was only after Harbhajan coaxed Gursewak that he thought of carving a niche all of his own.

His first album “Lara Lappa”, with music by Jaidev Kumar, somehow did not fare too well. Gursewak admitted today, “Earlier I did not have a very refined voice.

But I have been working on myself. I think my new cassette will prove my maturity as a singer.”

Gursewak’s latest cassette, titled “Chal mere naal”, also has the same team — Jaidev Kumar as the music director and Babu Singh Mann as the lyricist. Where Harbhajan had sung “Mirza” in his last album, Gursewak has sung “Sahiba... ” on folk instruments. He said the collection was varied — it has romantic numbers and some melancholy tunes.

Known for singing the traditional “kavishris” and “kaliyaan”, the two brothers are again planning to come out with an album of folk melodies. They will seek the support of their music mentor Karnail Singh Paras for the same. Gursewak said, “I don’t want myself to fall into the pit of pop singing. I also don’t want to be branded as a pop singer. I would rather keep my talent open-ended. But Punjabi will always be my first love.

Even if I get a movie offer, I would prefer singing a Punjabi song, because that is what my rustic voice can render most finely.

Gursewak also talked about his passion for non-commercial music. He said: “This kind of music may not sell much but the satisfaction it offers is immense. I will return to it some time later.” Currently Gursewak is training under Delhi-based Vinod Chopra.

His idea is to mould his voice well so that it can suit all kinds of melodies.

His ultimate dream is to sing the legendary verses of Shiv Kumar Batalvi.

Later, during the afternoon Gursewak performed at Aerizzona. While he mostly sung hit tracks from his past albums like “Lara lappa” and “Chal mere naal”, he concluded the show with a medley of Hindi songs.

50 take part in dance contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 20
The Chandigarh Art Theatre organised ‘Taal Se Taal Mila’, a western, film and folk dance competition, in which about 50 participants of different age groups showed their dancing talents, at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 here this evening.

The programme started with Disha Sareen’s dance item on ‘Bole churian bole kangna’. Next were bhangra numbers like Gurpreet Saini’s ‘Rangle Punjab Di.’ The programme was dominated by dance items based on film songs and latest bhangra pop numbers.

The competition was divided into four categories. The panel of judges comprised Ms Sunita Dhaliwal from the Ghoomer Academy of Art and Culture, Ms Veena Ravish, Director, Mayuri Dance Academy, Panchkula, and Mr Braham Kumar, dancer and choreographer. Ms Madhvi Kataria, Director, Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration, was the chief guest.