Check sale of spurious cotton seed from
 Gujarat: PAU
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 15
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has cautioned the cotton growers in the state not to buy the cotton seeds brought from Gujarat being sold under the name of Bt cotton. It has advised the farmers to purchase the seed only from the responsible companies and that too after the Government of India gives its nod to cultivate Bt cotton.

The experts at the PAU said that the productivity and production of cotton in Punjab had been declining for the past couple of years, which had caused panic among the cotton growers. Under such situations some private companies were exploiting the market by selling seed of unrecommended hybrids and varieties under different names.

The Bt cotton had emerged as a new technology to reduce the menace caused by the American bollworm. The past experiments conducted on Bt cotton revealed although it was not possible to completely eliminate the attack of American bollworm by growing Bt cotton but it was certainly capable of reducing the pesticide load against this pest to a large extent, which was the need of the hour.

The experts maintained that so far the Government of India had not cleared the cultivation of Bt cotton in the country but the illegal growing of Bt cotton in Gujarat during last year had attracted the farmers especially from the northern states to go for the cultivation of such seeds.

Feeling the pulse of the farmers some of the traders had started bringing large quantities of F2 seeds under the name of Bt cotton from Gujarat for its sale in the state. Practically the sowing of F2 seed was of no use in case of hybrid varieties, which were to be sown only for one year as F1 seed, stated the experts. The sowing of such F2 seed even of Bt-based hybrids by the farmers would definitely cause a further setback to the cotton crop in the state.

Therefore, the cotton growers should not fall in the trap of the traders and purchase the seed brought from Gujarat sold under the name of Bt cotton, the experts have suggested. 

MC postpones horticulture seminar
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 15
An exhibition-cum-seminar on ‘Urban horticulture’, scheduled to be organised by the Municipal Corporation here on March 17 has been postponed by a week and would now be held on March 24. The seminar will aim at creating technical awareness among the city residents in general and the office-bearers of the park management committees, in particular.

According to Mr Raminder Singh, MC Additional Commissioner, as part of the seminar, technical lectures would be delivered by the horticulture experts from Punjab Agricultural University and other departments on the latest technical know how for growing of different ornamental plants and their use in gardening. The necessary measures for the control of diseases and insects in garden plants would also be discussed in detail.

He further said that lectures would be arranged for propagation of various horticultural plants and nursery management. Besides lectures and discussion, a beautiful exhibition would also be organised at the Rose Garden, covering varieties of plants, garden tools, insecticides, pesticides, fertilisers, along with other horticultural items like garden fountains, lights and ornamental furniture for the gardens.

Farmer seeks damages
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 15
A farmer of Birmi village, near here, has demanded compensation from a pesticide company stating that the pesticide manufactured by the company destroyed wheat crop in 5 acres of his land.

In a written complaint to the Chief Agricultural Officer, Mr Sandeep Singh, the farmer said he had purchased the pesticide worth Rs 7,000 from an outlet in Noorpur Bet village to control the weed ‘gulli danda’. He said instead it damaged the entire crop.

The CAO had appointed an Agriculture Officer of the same area to look into the matter, who in his report has suggested action against the dealer and company under the Insecticide Act. He said the dealer and the company should pay the compensation for the damaged crop. As per the report, the crop was damaged only after the pesticide was sprayed. 

A collage of beauty & diversity of nature
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, March 15
‘Seasons’ — a musical extravaganza highlighting the beauty of all seasons and diversity of nature in all its splendour — was presented by Music and Theatre Workshop of Christian Medical College at Guru Nanak Bhavan, here last evening.

‘Seasons’ indeed was a conglomerate of singing and dancing signifying the spontaneity and abundance of four seasons. In unfurling the four seasons, medicos proved that not only did they possess medical knowledge but could sing with elan and perfection and dance in a very professional manner.

‘Seasons’ captured that spirit of nature which each one of us identifies within ourselves. This spirit could only be displayed only through songs and dances and students proved their versatility in ample measures. The choreography notated the beauty and diversity of nature in its myriad splendour. The choir singing was excellent and it became apparent right in the beginning when the choir invoked God’s blessings by singing ‘Praise to Lord’ in Afro- American rendition of this hymn.

The backdrop curtains showing birds and pretty flowers and lovely flowers placed on the sides. What the students wanted to show through their songs and dances were four perfect movements of the year in intermittent harmony.

‘Spring’ presented an excellent fusion of kathak and Russian folk dances. The lively and colourful dance was followed by a song of love sung by Preethi Paul. ‘Danny Boy’,a song that prisoners sang in Japanese concentration camps, was rendered in a unique manner. The prisoners sang this song to keep their hopes alive. ‘Mr Postman’ was another delightful song where a girl exposes her longing for her love. It was sung in a very lively manner.

Summer season presented a very colourful and imaginatively choreographed Rajasthani dance. Costume designers have done a perfect job. What followed was a viewer’s delight? The viewers were transported to the fabulous court of Pharo in Egypt as in ‘Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Coat’, a biblical story, Joseph reaches the court of Pharo to tell him that next seven years in Egypt would be of plenty. Pleased Pharo offers him his throne and Joseph, who had this fore knowledge after wearing his technicolour, could not believe his amazing luck. His eleven brothers had pooh-poohed his ideas and turned him out. It tells a story of Joseph’s despair to his becoming a Pharo, all in a medley. The costumes were fantabulous and the backdrop painted with Egyptian figures made one believe one was in Pharo’s court.

After intermission, the elegant waltz done to the flowing music of Vivaldi was eye catching. By this time the interest flagged as what came after were pieces of choir singing. The singing one couldn’t fault with, but lack of action and devoid of a strong storyline proved to be weak link. Even Beethoven’s symphony ‘Hallelujah’ and the festive mood of the dancers to usher in winters failed to enthuse the audience. The musical was rather long and some songs could have been cut short to sustain the interest of the audience.

The musicians, Jahann Ebenezer on key boards, Vineet Jaison on drums, Andrew Lyngdoh on bass guitar and Alok Acharya on rhythm guitar were simply superb. The show was produced by Dr Jasbir Dhanoa, Principal, CMC.

Another show will be held on March 16 and proceeds will go towards the benefit of financially underprivileged patients and students’ welfare.

PU inspection team visits local colleges
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 15
For administrative and academic auditing of the local colleges, an inspection team from the Panjab University is on its three-day tour in the city.

The team headed by Prof P.S. Jaswal, Department of Laws, PU, is here to assess different activities in the colleges like writing for journals, participation in conferences, organising seminars, extension lectures, examination of various facilities for the students, checking of laboratories and libraries, utilisation of UGC grants given to the colleges for the ninth plan to be over on March 31 this year and discussing various schemes for the tenth plan for PU colleges.

The inspection involved interaction with principals, staff and students of the various colleges. The team visited AS College, Khanna, AS College for Women at Khanna, Guru Nanak College, Doraha, Mata Ganga College for Women, Kottan, Mai Bhago College, Ramgarh, and Ramgarhia College for Women yesterday.

The colleges inspected today, included DAV College, Jagraon, Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College for Women, Kamalpura village, Ganga Giri College, Raikot, Guru Hargobind College at Gurusar Sadhar and college at Sidhwan Khurd.

The colleges likely to be visited tomorrow are Khalsa College for Women, GGN Khalsa College, Government College for Boys and Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women.

The other members in the PU team are Prof S.S. Johl, Prof V.K. Mahajan, Prof K.K. Kohli from Panjab University alongwith other local PU senators including Prof Satish Sharma, Ms Harmit Kaur and Prof Mukesh Arora.

A brush with colours of spiritual peace
Our Correspondent

Two of the paintings at an exhibition being held at a hotel in Ludhiana on Friday. —Photo Rajesh Bhambi

Ludhiana, March 15
Awe, sense of peace and elation, these were some of the feelings expressed by the visitors to an exhibition of 51 traditional Thangkha and religious scroll paintings by Amrita that is currently on in the city. Amrita after displaying her Thangkha’s paintings in Italy, Germany and other European countries has brought her collections for Ludhianvis. Her exhibition is being held in Park Plaza from March 15 to 17.

Thangkha form of paintings originated in Buddhist monasteries and revolves around the life and teaching of Buddha. The paintings done by the monks were used to teach the villagers and were carried from village to village. The paintings are seen as harbinger of peace, prosperity, progress, happiness and good health depending on the subject. The “Green Tara”, “Medicinal Mandala”, (Mandala represents the cyclic wheel of existence of man’s life on the universe) and “Medicine Buddha” reportedly bring good health in the family and in case any one is sick, the family praying before the painting is supposed to reduce the suffering and illness. Similarly, “Buddha and 365 days” brings prosperity for the days of the year. “White Tara”, brings good luck and fortune. “White Tara” is a manifestation of Buddha and is considered the most benevolent of all the goddesses. It has seven eyes.

Since she likes to be bedecked up, her jewellery is painstakingly painted with utmost care for details. But since she brings good luck, I like to paint it over and over again so that people can acquire her and enjoy good luck,” says Amrita.

Amrita actually learnt Thangkha style of painting from the monks in Pema Yangsten Monastery in Gangtok. She says,” I was only 15 when I had the overwhelming desire to learn this style of painting. Since my father was a planter, we were in the hilly region. I begged the monks to teach me as women are not supposed to do Thangkha paintings. Finally, the monks relented and I learnt from them for two years. I am filled with great peace when I paint. The vegetable dyes and stone dyes and pure gold is used on the canvas. Special kind of brocade is purchased from Varanasi and the canvas is mounted on the different colours of brocade. Finally a veil is tastefully tied on top of the painting, and the veil can cover the painting if one feels the atmosphere is not good. When I sell the paintings, I make sure that the owners will revere them the way I do”.

The minute details, depicted in paintings based on the Life of Buddha from his conception to Nirvana has to be seen to be believed. Sometimes, Amrita takes “one hair brush” to give fine strokes. Being a perfectionist she makes, each painting unique whether it depicts Buddha’s life story mandala, or Shakyamuni Buddha or Manjushree. The colour schemes are pleasing to the eye. The paintings are aesthetically, and spiritually satisfying and for the first time Ludhianvis have had an opportunity of viewing paintings of this nature.

The exhibition was inaugrated by Ms Abhilash Oswal.

Holi spirit at Ramgarhia club
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 15
Members of the Ramgarhia Club celebrated Holi at Malhotra Mahal, Dugri here today. The members were specially dressed for the occasion. A colourful cultural programme was presented by the club members.

The members danced on various Hindi film songs. Rano Padam, Parvinder Kalsi and Paramjit Manku danced on the ‘Silsila’ number ‘Rang barse’. Loveleen sang ‘Main nikla gaddi le ke’. Surinder Panesar danced on ‘aadha hai chandrama raat aadhi’. Among other Holi songs sung were ‘Holi ke din dil’ and ‘phagun aayo re’.

A mega tambola was held. Sponsored gifts were given to the winners.

There were gifts for women wearing the maximum number of rings, the woman having a thousand rupee note in her purse and the woman wearing the most colourful odhni.

Amongst others present on the occasion were the president Surinder Sondhi, Manjeet Chaggar, Jaswinder Seera and Parminder Hunjal.