The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

UK teachers visit city schools
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 15
A 12-member team of teachers from the UK that has come to Punjab under the Commonwealth teachers exchange programme is greatly impressed by the manner in which students are taught human values in schools.

The team has visited several schools in Chandigarh and its suburban areas. The educational institutions that they visited are St John’s School, St Stephen’s School, Sector 16 Government Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh Shivalik Public School, Ropar, and Guru Teg Bahadur School, Dhuri. They also visited the chairman of the Punjab School Education Board and the DPI (School).

Talking to mediapersons, the UK teachers said in India more stress was laid on learning than on practice. Under the International Professional Development Programme their country would to happy to invite teachers and artists from India on exchange basis They wanted to establish links with Punjab. They said there were many things that they could learn from India and vice versa.

The members of the visiting group from Kent are Mr Martyn Doole (District Education Officer), Mrs Sue Dunn (Group Leader), Dr Jill Key (Principal, Northfleet Girls High School), Mr Jon Morgan, Ms Nicola Tyler, Ms Susan Garrard, Mrs Townsend, Ms Nina Ellis, Mrs Linda Beation, Mrs Geeta Vyas, Ms Nicola Purbrick and Mr Peter Quinlan.

They said that it had been an amazing and rewarding experience for all the teachers meeting such welcoming and dedicated principals and teachers. The group would go back to England with a variety of lasting and rewarding experiences about the culture of Punjab. This would in the longer term have an impact on the standards of teaching and learning in Kent and North Wales schools.

They said now many Punjab teachers would visit Kent and other UK schools. The teachers from North Wales and Kent would be writing their findings into a research project for use in all schools throughout the UK.

They added that their trip would not have been successful but for the support and kindness of the Patiala-based voluntary cultural and educational organisation, Heritage. They expressed gratitude and appreciation to Prof Rajpal Singh who helped them visiting various educational educations.

	Workshop on creative writing ends Our Correspondent Chandigarh, February 15 The three-month-old workshop on creative writing conducted at DAV Public School, Sector 8, concluded with the display of a wall magazine by students here today. About 25 students participated in the workshop that included short story and poetry writing both in Hindi and English. The writings included in the magazine showed originality as students described various themes in the contemporary set-up. Later the students illustrated their writings in colours. The workshop was conducted by a former principal of DAV College, Malout, Dr D.S. Gupt and the wall magazine was inaugurated by the school principal, Ms Sarita Manuja. The participants who bagged the first prize in creative writing were Ayushi Goel (English poem) followed by Tary Vats in the second position (English poem). In the Hindi section, Sameer Dutt (poem) bagged the first prize followed by Shikha Gogra (short story).
	When lilting voices tingle the senses Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 15 Notes of music sung in the lilting voices of young boys and girls tingle your senses as you walk leisurely into the Strawberry Fields Kindergarten run by the Durga Das Foundation. It is their music morning when students of each class right from the play class to nursery, lower and upper KG present to their parents a musical morning which has a medley of foot-tapping numbers, playful jamborees and soulful tunes as well. The kindergarten has from the beginning incorporated music as an integral part of the school curriculum. According to them children love rhyming words, unusual sounds and simple lyrics which revolve around themes which surround them in their daily lives. Music then not just calms them and refines their aesthetic sensibilities but also becomes an effective learning aid. Domestic animals, toys, flowers, mountains, food, manners, etiquette and values are all woven into sweet rhymes, which are set to music turning them into happy melodies. While most schools use the convenient casio or the synthesiser, Strawberry Fields has always gone in for the piano. It was difficult in the earlier years when a piano teacher was difficult to come by and the piano tuner had to specially be brought over from Delhi. But the end result was always very fulfilling and today when the little ones sing simple tunes in an environment which fosters their imaginative spirit, the efforts all seem worth their while. A lot of thought goes into choosing the songs for each class. Care is taken not to burden the child with words he does not understand or themes, which are far removed from his circle of experience. All songs and rhymes are first told in story format with animated actions. When the children are familiar with the words they are shown various physical steps and expressions, which can match the verbal singing. The music day is not something that is preceded with a lot of preparation and rehearsals. It is just a formal culmination of what they have been doing every day. The school believes in involving parents into their child’s early educational experience and knows that parents love seeing what their little one is doing at school. Not always are children in a position to answer their parents’ excited queries about ‘‘What did you do at school?’’ ‘‘What did you learn’’, ‘‘Sing us your latest rhyme’’. The music day is an informal gathering where parents get together in the cosy confines of the school’s well-equipped library to see what their little ones have up their sleeve. The creative backdrop done by the teachers strengthens the themes of the poems bringing the room alive in a fairytale sort of a way. Singing regular rhymes like Old Mac Donald, Looby loo, Two little eyes and Eincy-wincy spider acquire a new aura as parents watch with rapt attention amazed at the precision, timing and performance which their little ones have so sincerely put forward exclusively for their benefit.
	Senior PU prof’s degrees ‘fake’ Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 15 A senior professor of Panjab University with more than 20 years of service has been questioned about the authenticity of his academic record. The professor, however, says that his original certificates and copies of these have been lost, an explanation that has been found “far from satisfactory” in an inquiry by Mr R.S. Verma, a former Chief Secretary of Haryana. The professor, who teaches in one of the PU departments of social sciences, had recently sought premature retirement citing medical reasons, but it was not allowed. According to sources, the professor was unable to produce his original certificates when sought by the PU Establishment Branch to verify his date of birth. The PU records dating back to his recruitment did not match with copies of certificates that he had produced. At this, the PU Vice-Chancellor had ordered an inquiry into the matter. Mr R.S. Verma, when contacted, said he had finished his report and submitted it to the PU VC some weeks ago, in which, he had mentioned that he was not satisfied with the professor’s explanation. “He has several copies of two matriculation certificates of two different years and not even one of the intermediate or BA degrees,” said Mr Verma. Both matriculation certificates are of institutions in Bihar. The R.S. Verma report is likely to come up for discussion in the next meeting of the Syndicate. The professor joined as a Reader here in 1978 and was made a professor in the merit promotion scheme in the late 1980s. Reportedly, he has also had a stint in the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration at Mussourie. If found guilty of producing false certificates, the university can file a case against him, terminate his service and withhold his retirement benefits. Doubts can also be raised on the authenticity of M.Phil and PhD degrees awarded under his guidance. There can be a debate on the convenient practice of colleagues attesting copies of each other’s original certificates without checking original documents. The professor could be contacted even after repeated attempts.
	Four-day Euphoria — 2002 begins Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 15 Euphoria-2002, a four-day festival, began at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, today. Many competitions were organised during the day and the day ended with a live performance by Harbhajan Mann at the Sector 46 stadium. The day began with events like story writing, egg catching, cartoon making, mask making, caption contest etc. Parminder of GMCH-32 got the first prize in soap carving while Mili from GMCH-32 stood second and Ramandeep Singh of CDC, Ludhiana, came third. The team of Neeraj, Rakhi, Harmanpreet and Ritu from GMCH-32 won the first prize in collage-making contest, while the team of Anu, Rohini, Deepa and Ashish from CDC, Ludhiana, came second and Ikjot, Niyati, Ritu and Gunnet from GMCH-32 won the third prize. Among those who won the second round of cricket matches being held at Sector 16 included PGIMS, Rohtak, who defeated GMC, Patiala, and ASCOMS, Jammu, who defeated GDC, Amritsar.
	Australian award for PU’s ex-scholar Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 15 A former Panjab University scholar and a popular karate instructor, Dr P. Raghavan, has been awarded Australia’s prestigious award to work as a senior research scientist in Australian National University at Canberra along with one of the leading prehistoric archaeologists, Dr David Bulbeck, who has done extensive archaeological research on Malaysian peninsula, to work on an internationally important project based on palaeolithic migration from South-Asia to Australasia via South-East Asia. The project which is the original inspiration of Dr Raghavan titled “The contribution of South Asia to the human colonisation of Australasia” has been jointly submitted by Dr Bulbeck, Dr Raghavan and Prof Colin Groves to the Australian Research Council on behalf of the Discovery project which has been accepted for funding. Prof Groves who is an authority in the world for human evolution, will be the principal investigator of this project. The project focuses on the human fossil record from three regions critical to understanding the origin of our species, Homo sapiens. Equally critical are South and Southeast Asia as they defined the tropical route from Africa to Australia. Osteological and archaeological evidence of the selection pressures that operated on earlier hunters-gathers will play a major role in explaining the observed patterns of morphological evolution throughout the region.

Eco-panorama in GCG-II
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 15
All environment-related events organised throughout the year by Prakriti, the environment society of the GCG, Sector 11, culminated with eco-panorama today. Among the several events organised during this function were environment-related quiz, slide presentation contest, collage making, poster making, slogan writing, cartoon making, art from waste, group dance, dohas and also a static walk through the City Beautiful.

The display programme was inaugurated by Mr K.A.P. Sinha, DPI (Colleges), UT, and it remained open for students, teachers and others for a week. Principal Vijay Lakshmi Sharma, also president of the society, highlighted the challenge of immediate environmental protection. She also stressed upon the need for a sustainable national development.

The chief guest on the function spent a lot of time interacting with people over the issues displayed in exhibits. He had many words of praise for students who were able to highlight their concerns through the medium of art. Success of the entire effort was visible from huge audience to the grand finale held on college campus today. It was presided over by the Director, Public Relation, Mr Vivek Attray, who stressed upon the need to promote environment awareness through young minds. He also gave away prizes to the winners in various categories.

The winners in order of merit are quiz contest: Sangeeta from B.Com-I; slide presentation: Deepti from BSc-III; collage making: Khusboo and others, BA-I, Tania and others, BA-I, Neetika and others, BA-I and consolation: Priyanka and others, BSc-II; poster-making: Niti BSc-II, B.M. Roopa, BSc-II, Sushmita and Nidhi, BSc-II, consolation to Neeru and others; slogan writing: Hemkiran and Monika, BSc-I, Amisha, BA-I, Rupinder BSc-II; cartoon making: Priyanka, BSc-II, Priyanka and others, BSc-II, Simran Dhaliwal, BA-I; Art from waste: B.M. Roopa, BSc-II; rangoli: Sushmita and Roopa, BSc-II, special prize went to Meenakshi and Annapurna, BA-I.

The first prize in play went to Tina and her group, BA-I and in dance it went to Ruchi and her group, BSc-II.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Take action against SP on encroachment
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 15
Coming down heavily on the police authorities for “violating the letter of law” instead of protecting it, Mr Justice Jawahar Lal Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sud of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the state of Haryana to inform them about the action taken against an officer who had unauthorisedly occupied a factory in Rewari.

Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by a Rewari resident, the Judges also directed the state and another respondent to vacate the premises “and hand over the vacant possession to the petitioner in accordance with an undertaking given in the court”. They further ruled that compensation of Rs 12 lakh to be paid to the petitioner “would be in addition to Rs 1 lakh already stated to have been paid”. They also asked the state of Haryana, through its Home Secretary, to explain why an inaccurate written statement had been filed and also to show cause why proceedings for contempt should not be initiated.

The Judges added: “We are not happy with the manner in which the written statement has been filed. However, we have noticed the conduct of respondent Superintendent of Police. He has been forthright in admitting his fault and has undertaken to be more careful in future. Even otherwise, he was not the officer who was responsible for taking over the possession of the premises. Thus, we do not consider it necessary to give any direction in the matter qua him”.

The Judges ruled: “This is a typical instance of protectors of law violating the letter of law. Instead of protecting a citizen, they have inflicted injury and caused harm to the petitioner.... The police is charged with the duty of protecting the citizens. In this case, it usurped the possession in violation of the law. In the present case, the protector of law has itself acted contrary to law. The rights of a citizen were violated by the respondents in complete disregard of the law. Still further, even after having come to know of the petitioner’s grievance, the state government took no remedial steps. It has persisted in defending the indefensible”.

Giving details the Judges observed: “In 1989, the petitioner’s premises were in the unauthorised occupation of a Superintendent of Police. Despite repeated efforts, the respondent did not vacate the premises. Various representations evoked no response. Even a legal notice remained unanswered. On April 19, 2001, the petitioner approached the court, praying for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the police authorities to restore the possession of the factory premises to him”. The case will come up for hearing on February 26.

Release grades to supervisors

Allowing a writ petition filed by personnel of the General Reserve Engineer Force, a Division Bench of the High Court on Friday directed the Union of India and other respondents to “release the grades of non-technical supervisors (grade I) from January 1, 1996”.

In a ruling on a petition filed by two supervisors seeking the removal of anomaly created in the grades given by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice R.L. Anand and Mr Justice Amar Dutt observed: “The Union of India is not indicating its disinclination to accept the recommendations. It is unfortunate that on account of bureaucratic delays, the decision regarding the removal of this anomaly has been delayed for over seven years”.

Natural justice not in all cases

The High Court, in a significant judgement, today ruled that the principles of natural justice “are not supposed to be followed in each and every case”.

Pronouncing the orders, Mr Justice R.L. Anand and Mr Justice Amar Dutt further ruled: “It will apply certainly where the facts so justify and demand but when there is a mass bungling in the process of selection, or when conditions of advertisement have been flouted with impunity or when rules and regulations have not been adhered to, we need not adopt the principles of natural justice”.

The Judges added that the “principles should also not be adopted when insubordination has been shown to the statutory directions of the Union and state governments, when the principles of equality under Sections 14 and 16 of the Constitution have been flouted or when the selectees are usurpers of public posts or when the constitution of the selection committee itself is bad”.

CULTURE

Lagaan to ‘inspire producers’
A. S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh
The taste of the Indian film audiences is finally changing. They no longer care for big stars or an expensively mounted movie. Nor do they want the same old love story in which the hero and heroine go round and round trees, singing songs, says well-known Bollywood film director and producer Sawan Kumar Tak.

“What they want”, he said in an interview here on Friday, “is an interesting storyline, something new, something off-beat, a fresh angle.... And this has been amply proved by the runaway success of starless movies like ‘Raaz’, ‘Yeh Dil Ashiquana’ and ‘Tum Bin’.

“Even ‘Lagaan’, the latest blockbuster from Bollywood which has gone on to win the nomination for an Oscar, falls in this category. Although it stars a top Bollywood hero like Aamir Khan, its storyline is totally offbeat and gripping. It is such a well-made movie ably backed by a wonderful musical score”.

Tak is of the view that the nomination of “Lagaan” for an Oscar will inspire a whole generation of Indian film producers to make similar or even better movies which can attract foreign audiences and compete internationally.

Tak is in Chandigarh in connection with the wedding of the daughter of a friend. He has so far produced and directed 18 movies, including “Naunihal”, “Gomti ke Kinare”, “Hawas”, “Saajan Bina Suhagan”, “Sautan”, “Sanam Bewafa”, “Khalnayika”, “Chand ka Tukra”, “Salma pe dil aa Gaya” and “Mother”. His wife, Usha Khanna, is a well-known music director.

Tak is now making a new movie, “Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya”. “It is a love story involving a boy from India and a girl from Pakistan. I am looking for fresh faces to do the lead roles which include two Indian Army officers and that of a heroine who plays a Pakistani girl. The boys should be tall and handsome, six-footers while the girl should be around five feet, four inches. She should be between the age of 18 and 22 years while the boys should be between the age of 20 and 26 years”.

The movie depicts a love story with a difference. “I feel that no war can achieve what love can conquer. After all, the erection of the Berlin Wall was the result of hate and what brought it down finally was love. Similarly, only love, and not war, can solve problems bedevilling relations between India and Pakistan”.

Tak says that he has already recorded six of the eight songs of the movie, the music for which is being provided by Usha Khanna. “Änd as soon as I can get the hero and heroine of my choice, I will start non-stop shooting and complete the movie within six months.”