The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

PU deans’ election completed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23
Elections of deans to various faculties of Panjab University were completed here today.

Dr S.K. Sharma, Director of the PGI, was elected as dean of the faculty of medical science, while Dr S.B.S. Mann as secretary.

The elections for the faculties of medical science, pharmaceutical science, design and fine arts were unanimous. The faculty of education witnessed polling. Principal Satinder Dhillon, of the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, was elected. Dr Ranbir Partap Pasija was elected as secretary.

Prof S.K. Kulkarni was elected as dean of the faculty of pharmaceutical science, while Prof T.R. Bhardwaj as secretary. Prof Pankaj Mala Sharma was elected dean of the faculty of design and fine arts, while Dr Gurpreet Kaur as secretary.

Meetings of the board of studies were also held where syllabi and the new changes came up for discussion.

Learning made fun
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 23
Six -year- old Mansh loves going to school, and certainly not for good friends he has made in school. Learning his lessons at school and back home is no longer an ordeal for Mansh studying in class I. Thanks to the new activity- based system of education, he has developed an interest in studies and a will to learn.

Till last year, he had to be bribed with sweets , chocolates and other gifts to be sent to school . But that is the past, says his mother, Ms Bharti Gupta. This new system has made education fun by eliminating school books.

Welcome to the designer schools in the township, which can well be called a Mecca for people in the region. Each school is trying to outdo the other in providing the best facilities.

The latest in the offing is the Early Education Learning Programme being introduced from nursery class to class II in most of the schools here. From English to maths and general knowledge to science, every subject at the schools here is now being taught through educational kits. Education is based on activity and effort is to involve children in the learning process.

Says Ms A. Birdi, Principal of The Gurukul, " This is a playful method of teaching, which makes learning spontaneous and enjoyable. “Thus, alphabet is taught through Alphabet Bingo- a kit through which children learn alphabets while playing tombola; pairing is taught through " Made For Each Other Kit' , and there is "Fish Fun' for nursery classes to improve the motor and cognitive skills of the students.

"In order to improve the reading ability of children and their language skills, kits like “story calendar” and story cassettes and cards are being used for class I and II, children” says Ms Monica Madan, senior coordinator, Hansraj Public School.

In fact, a few schools here, The Gurukul, Sector 21, for instance, have custom-made educational kits. Even the DAV management, which has at least three schools in the township, has designed its own educational kits. Though these kits are also available in the market, which are marketed by an American and an Indian company, yet these schools prefer to have their own specially designed kits based on local needs.

In fact, some schools like the Gurukul have completely done away with books till class II. However, others like Hansraj Public School and Satluj Public School are using the kits in addition to books. Says Mr Krit Serai, Principal of Satluj Public School, " Books are man's best friend and habit of reading books has to be inculcated in students. Though activity kits help in increasing the imagination of students, books cannot be replaced. "

Most of the schools have evolved their own system of education like Shemrock Fort, which combines both the Irish and American form of education. They have tried to emulate an American system with minor alterations according to local needs.

National integration camp
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 23
The three-day national integration camp for youth from several states of North India began here today. More than 300 youth from all over the North region had converged at Satluj Public School here to participate in the camp.

The camp, which is being organised by the Ghoomer Academy of Arts and Culture, was inaugurated by Mr P.S. Serai, Director Satluj Public School. Mr R.D. Garg, Ms Sunneta Dhariwal, president and general secretary of the academy, respectively, were present.

They welcomed the participants from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The participants, within the age group of 15 to 35, will be interacting with each other and learning the folk forms of art and dances of other states.

The participants will take part in a cultural procession tomorrow.

MCM DAV College convocation

Chandigarh, March 23
At the 30th annual convocation held of MCM DAV College in Sector 36, Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs conferred degrees on 540 students from various streams. While 128 students of BA honours were given degrees, 270 BA, 83 B.Sc, 44 B.Com and 15 B Com (Hons) students also received degrees. College toppers were also honoured. The Principal, Ms Usha Gupta, gave away degrees.

Special awards were given to Sheetal Sharma (first in B.Sc III), Maryada Sharma (first in B Sc III medical), Anupreet Kalsi (first in B.Com III), Deepti Laroia (first in English Hons) and Shikha (IIIrd in B.Com III).

On behalf of the DAV management, Justice D.V. Sehgal, welcomed the chief guest and the guest of honour, Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University.

Ms Usha Gupta read out the college report highlighting the accomplishments of the college and enumerated the achievements of the students in academics, sports and co-curricular activities.

Children’s creations
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23
Children of the Sector 35-A and SAS Nagar branches of Aanchal Preparatory School organised an art-and-craft exhibition on the school premises today. Participants had prepared the exhibits in their art-and-craft classes throughout the session.

Children of pre-nursery had made paper bags, thermocol huts, pencil caps, sofa sets, paper dolls, paper flowers and many other items.

Students of the LKG had made table lamps, fancy sunglasses, wall hangings, photo frames, writing pads, letter holders, envelopes, pencil holders and egg-shell flowers.

Children of senior classes had made soft toys, scarves, pots, lamps and attractive paintings.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Deletion in contempt notice ordered
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23
In less than 24 hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked an advocate and other respondents to show cause why proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act be not initiated against them, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the High Court directed deletion of a line in the order stating that “a copy of the order should be sent to the Bar Council”.

Mr Justice Nijjar observed that an application was presented at his residence by Special Secretary Joginder Singh. In the application, it was stated by a senior scale stenographer that due to commotion a bona fide typographical mistake occurred in the order stating that a copy of the order should be sent to the Bar Council.

The Judge further observed: “This was, obviously, a typographical error as it would be wholly premature to send a copy of the order to the Bar Council at this stage. This line was, in fact, never dictated in the open court. At the moment only show cause notice has been issued. Therefore, advocate, Ashok Saini, is yet to submit his reply to the show cause notice. In the event his explanation is accepted, no further proceedings will be taken on the basis of the present “show cause notice. In such eventuality, there would be no necessity to send the present order issuing show cause notice to the Bar Council. This being purely an inadvertent clerical mistake, can be corrected by Section 482 CrPC. In the interest of justice the last line in the order is hereby ordered to be deleted”.

Mr Justice Nijjar on Friday observed: “The facts with regard to the appointment of a receiver and the possession having been taken by the receiver were not disclosed to this court. I am constrained to hold that the respondents have not been absolutely candid with this court or with the court of Bholath’s Sub-divisional Magistrate. It also deserves to be noticed that Mr Ashok Saini, advocate, who filed an application under Section 482 of the CrPC had given a note that no affidavit was required. Therefore, the only conclusion to be drawn is that he had taken responsibility for the facts stated in the application”.

CULTURE

Music is religion for Abhyankar
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 23
He is more conscious of the sanctity of swara than he is of his own existence. Not just because he traces his lineage to the renowned Mewati gharana which is as old as the 18th century but also because he is naturally groomed to secure the rich musical tradition he has inherited.

It is this strong sense of commitment towards heritage which has always driven vocalist Sanjeev Abhyankar hard. So much so that professing music like religion has become a way of life with him. And treading the path of melody he has reached a point where music lovers take pride in addressing him as a maestro. No wonder then that at a young age of 33, he already has in his kitty an award as coveted as the National Award for the best male playback singer in Hindi film ‘Godmother’.

Sanjeev has been a frequent performer in the city but this time around he sounded far more mature than ever. As one talked to him about the nuances of his gharana, one could trace all the elements of a musical genius in him. He looked humble, versatile and graceful and appeared to possess all that it takes to be a custodian of ragas.

Starting young, Sanjeev gave his first public performance at the age of 11 in Mumbai. But he started even younger. “I was just eight when I had my first tryst with pure classical tradition. I was groomed by my mother Shobha Abhyankar, Pandit Pimpalkhare ji and Padmavibhushan Pandit Jasraj ji.” With a blessed line of gurus to back him, the disciple was only sure to rise to the zenith. As of today, he has won great acclaim in the field of Marathi abhangs and Hindi bhajans.

He has also rendered classical scores in three famous films — Gulzar’s Maachis, wherein he was especially invited by music maker Vishal to render an alaap in the song ‘Tum gaye sab gaya’; Govind Nihalani’s Sanshodhan wherein he sang a folk song titled ‘tan bheeje man bheeje mhara’; Nidaan, wherein he rendered a bhajan; and ‘Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar’. Flooded with many more offers, the vocalist is on his guard, as he explains: “The song has to be classic to arouse my devotion. I will not sing for the sake of featuring in the films. That does not fall in line with my faith.”

In the city to perform under the 32nd Bhaskar Rao sangeet and nritya sammelan, Sanjeev talked about how the city audiences had graduated over the years. "They are disciplined and they have the culture to respect our tradition.” Sanjeev also highlighted the nuances of his gharana.

Blessed with an exceptionally versatile and sweet voice, Sanjeev has already bagged the President’s award from the All India Radio in 1990, the FIE Foundation National Award 1996 and the prestigious title ‘Sur Ratna’ from the Bhatkhande School, Pandit Jasraj, Gaurav Puraskar and Master Krishnarao Gold Medal, to name a few. he has also travelled extensively throughout the country, performing in all the prestigious conferences and art circles. A frequent performer in USA, Canada , Australia , London , Germany and the Middle East , Sanjeev has never been tempted to attempt fusion. “I would rather have a musical partnership with the violin than try fusion with the Western traditions which are based on different concepts.”

Currently the maestro is busy adding his own compositions. He has contributed widely to the already existing vast repertoire of Mewati Gharana compositions (bandishes).