The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

City schools brace up for computer era
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
Many surprises await students when schools reopen for the new academic session in April. While computers hold the key to all the excitement brewing on the school campuses, the changes range from greater activity-based education to more facilities for students and improved decor in classrooms.

The agenda is to computerise teaching work in every subject while building up a knowledge bank year after year till all lessons make it onto discs. While this is priority in all schools after their teachers received computer training, St John’s School, Sector 26, has a different plan altogether.

“We will allow Internet access to all students. Also, since we have been winning prizes for the best library in the past, computerising it is a priority as well,” says Ms P. Cheema, Principal of the school.

Schools are keen on adopting computers for teaching tiny tots. “The multimedia CDs containing animation films and music will definitely hold the interest of the child longer,” claims Ms Madhu Bahl, Principal of KB DAV School, Sector 7.

On similar lines, Hansraj School in Panchkula has planned a separate cyber room for its tiny tots. Says Principal Rajni Thareja, “Since children are already using computers at home, it is natural for us to introduce this concept. The room decor will be done keeping in view their lessons.”

In Manav Mangal School, Sector 21, and its branch in Panchkula, the focus is squarely on co-curricular activities. “There has been enough stress on bookish knowledge. In fact, students learn a lot better through quizzes, debates and declamation contests. There is need for a change and it has to begin now,” says Mr Sanjay Sardana, Principal of the school in Sector 21.

“We have made a special provision to have an activity day at least once a month in addition to the regular festivities associated with celebrations of Indian festivals, Teachers’ Day and Childrens’ Day. Awards will also be given,” adds Mr Sandeep Sardana, Principal, Manav Mangal School, Panchkula.

In St Kabir School, Sector 26, renovation and development is on in a big way. Claims Principal J.P. Singh, “We are building new laboratories for science subjects equipped with the latest technology. A multipurpose hall and a big library is also under construction.”

Shivalik Public School, Sector 45, has decided to prepare question banks for all subjects. “Teachers have been asked to prepare such question banks for all classes. This was earlier limited to students taking their Board examinations,” says Principal D.S. Bedi.

While schools have finalised their plans for the coming academic session, more would be subsequently added to make classroom teaching interesting and more informative which would mean computers acquiring the centre stage.

Teacher’s death dampens ‘Cyanide’ spirit
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
Day two of ‘Cyanide’ — the annual all-India-inter college cultural festival organised by the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, remained low spirited all through the day due to untimely death of Dr Lakhmir Singh, Reader, Department of Chemical Engineering, PU, yesterday.

Although all events slated for the day were postponed for the evening, events held later in the day failed to lift the spirits of the students many of whom had been students of Dr Lakhmir Singh.

In the music events held today, Amandeep Singh got the first prize, Ravinder Singh second and Nitin Yogi came third in the Hindi solo. Piyush and Manisha won the first prize in Hindi duet singing while Yamini and Anshul came second. Anita won the first prize in western solo while Vijnesh came second and Manu came third. In the cartoon-making competition, Manjeet Kaur and Ankit came first while Neha Jaiswal got the second prize and Ekta came third.

Yesterday, a technical paper presentation symposium named ‘Esoterica’ was held which featured teams from various engineering colleges from all over the country. The symposium was inaugurated by Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director, CSIO. It was divided into two sections — chemical and environmental engineering and biotech and biochemical engineering.

Swati Aggarwal and Shikha Jain won the first prize in the first section while the second prize was won by Ankit Hakhu and Nupur Datta. In the second section, the first prize was won by Tamanna while the second prize was won by Sumit Gupta and Raj Kumar.

PU Reader cremated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
Dr Lakhmir Singh, Reader, of the Panjab University Department of Chemical Engineering, who died yesterday of brain fever was cremated here today.

Dr Lakhmir Singh, born in July, 1946, had joined the department in 1984 and was considered a lovable and friendly person. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. Dr Lakhmir Singh was running fever for the past one week and was admitted to the GMCH, Sector 32, where he died yesterday.

Dr S.C. Jain, Head of the Department, said the death of Dr Lakhmir Singh was a big loss to the department.

First school to get ISO 9001 status in Punjab
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
Bhupindra International Public School (BIPS), Patiala, has created history of sorts by becoming the first ISO 9001 school of Punjab. ISO 9001 is a certification of quality given by the International Organisation of Standards. This certificate is given only to those institutions that maintain an international level of quality in their working. In the school category, it is a guarantee for Quality Education. Only a few numbered schools in India possess this certificate, which BIPS has achieved just a year after its establishment.

In a talk with mediapersons, Mr Gurmeet Singh, president of the school, said, “BIPS, which was established in April 2001, is the first school in the region to use IT as a teaching aid. The entire curriculum of all classes is covered through interactive software which leads to quicker grasping and longer retention”. “The softwares for senior classes include packages in English, mathematics, general knowledge, social science etc. For nursery and pre-nursery there are illustrative packages based on phonetics, which not only teaches correct pronunciation, but also tells children about word usage”.

Ms Roopali Philip, Principal of the school, said, “We ensure quality education by using innovative teaching method using information technology as a teaching aid.

The school has introduced the most economic transport facility covering the entire Patiala city in which student has to pay only the running cost.

“The school has ideal teacher-student ratio, which is 1:25 in every class which ensures personal attention to every child. A weak student identification and rectification record is maintained and implemented for all students on academic and as well as non-academic fronts. The school has an optional boarding facility which ensure an ideal environment for child development. The management of the school proposes to upgrade it every year. This year, Class V has been started,” she said.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Impose heavy fines on litterbugs
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a significant judgement, has ruled that the Punjab Government should frame model bylaws “which may be adopted by all the municipalities in the state for imposing heavy fine on all those found guilty of throwing litter or garbage in the drains or on roads and public streets”.

Delivering the verdict, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice M.M. Kumar, observed: “Punjab’s Deputy Advocate-General states that written instructions will be issued by the Local Government Department to the officers and the functionaries of all municipalities in the state requiring them to enforce the provisions contained in the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, for sanitation and also call for bi-monthly reports. We are further of the view that the government should frame model bylaws which may be adopted by all the municipalities in the state....” The case will now come up for hearing on April 30.

Pay 10,000 as harassment costs

Mr Justice J.S. Narang of the High Court has directed that an Amritsar-based firm should be paid Rs 10,000 for the harassment caused to it while getting certain documents released. The amount shall be paid within two weeks of receiving a copy of the order.

Pronouncing the orders on a petition filed by Deepak Foundry against the Union of India, the Reserve Bank of India and another respondent, Mr Justice Narang ruled that the amount shall be recoverable from the officials directly connected with the release of the documents. The Judge also recommended that an inquiry might be held by the managing director of the Punjab Financial Corporation and liability fixed accordingly”.

In its petition, the firm had stated that it had requested for the issuance of a no dues certificate for obtaining certain original documents, but the same was not given.

CULTURE

A revolutionary behind the camera
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

RAISEDamidst the sand dunes of the Sirsa belt, soft-spoken but intense-looking Manmohan Singh, alias Manji, has brought about revolutionary changes in film photography. His emphasis on background and vacant spaces while focussing his camera on the object has given a new meaning to cinematography in Bollywood.

And that is why he is one of the most-sought-after cameramen in the film industry. For the past several years, he has been the first choice of the masters of show business like Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai. But at the moment he has been concentrating on film direction.

Starting his career as an Assistant cameraman of R. Karmakar in Raj Kapoor’s film “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram”, one of the most-talked-about movies of the king of show business, Manmohan’s first venture as a full-fledged cameraman was “Ahsaas” of G.P.Sippy.

Those who have seen “Betaab”, made to launch Sunny Deol as hero, remember the film more for Manmohan’s camera work than for the performance of Sunny. His unique approach behind the camera gave a new meaning to the art of film-making. He was the man behind the camera in “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge”, “Machis”, “Lamhe”, “Dil to Pagal Hai”, “Darr”, “Faasle”, “Sautan”, “Lekin” and so on. Manmohan says one needs a discerning eye to capture the required expression of the hero, heroine and other artistes involved in a scene. By using the camera dexterously, even the most mundane incidents and objects can come alive in a magical way.

One cannot do so without understanding the “grammar of film-making”. He has enjoyed working with Sridevi, Amitabh Bachchan and other top film artistes.

“One has to study the total personality of the hero and heroine before stepping behind the camera,” says Manmohan.

There are scenes which require a poetic touch from the cameraman to highlight the vitality of a particular situation in the film footage.

Manmohan, who directed Buta Singh Shad’s film “Pehla Pehla Pyar” in Hindi, has been busy directing a Punjabi film, “Jee Ayan Nu”, being produced by T-Series. Its hero is a known Punjabi folk and pop singer, Harbhajan Mann, and the heroine Priya Gill.

The first movie with a multi-crore budget, it has artistes from Punjab, and also Canada where the second half will be filmed in May-June. The first half has been completed. Manmohan claim’s that this movie is a “total break” from the Punjabi films made so far.

Manmohan, who has recorded songs with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, says his inner voice has been compelling him to do something for Punjabi cinema, which has failed to meet the aspirations of the Punjabi audience. Except three or four films produced in recent decades, all other Punjabi films were “wretched ones”. Movie-goers rejected these outright.

Manmohan, who is staying with a close relative in Chandigarh, did MSc (Botany) from Panjab University before joining the Film Institute at Pune in 1972. At the institute his course mates were Shabana Azmi, Om Puri and Naseerudin Shah.

Though his original village is Jalalabad near Moga, his father, Mr Saudagar Singh, settled in Sirsa where he was posted by PAU, Ludhiana, in its horticulture wing.

Amit, Rishi charm audience
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
The nuances of Delhi, Ajrara and Punjab gharana of instrumental classical music were presented by Amit Sachdeva at Kala Gram today. Beginning his tabla recital with “vilambit teen taal” in which he presented “peshkar”, “kaayde”, “chankdadar”, “rele”, “gat”, “paran”, Amit went on to perform other items taught to him by Ustad Shafaat Ahmad Khan and Pt Manmohan Singh Dixit.

Taking over the hold from Amit was sarod played Rishi Ranjan, who began with raga “Bhadiali” and presented a Bengali folk tune in the same. He later played an Assamese folk tune in raga “Beehu”. Finally, the two entered into a delightful fusion.