EDUCATION

489 students get prizes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
As many as 489 students were awarded prizes for excelling in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities at the annual prize distribution function of GGDSD College, Sector 32, here today.

While 282 students got prizes in academics, 97 for cultural activities and 110 students for sports. Nineteen students were awarded the roll of honour for outstanding performance in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities.

Pooja Sharma and Nona Bains were awarded for standing first in M.Com II, in Panjab University. Rajan Vishal and Anup Pathania got the roll of honour for extra-curricular activities and 15 for sports. More than 300 students were awarded certificates of distinction and 130 students given certificates of merit.

The chief guest, Mr Khushhal Bahl, Punjab Education Minister, exhorted the students not to lose their moorings in life.

He advised students to work for others and said the criminalisation of society and rampant corruption were threatening the human race. He urged the students to fight against poverty, disease and illiteracy.

Earlier, the Principal, Dr A.C. Vaid, read out the college annual report and highlighted the achievements of the college in academics, sports and co-curricular activities.

He said the college was holding free Sanskrit classes. It had set up Mrs Kaushaliya Devi Verma Memorial Charitable Institute for women which was running a diploma in tailoring and embroidery which provided free training to women from the underprivileged section.

Earlier, the President of the college managing committee, Mr Upkar Krishan Sharma, welcomed the chief guest and traced the history of the college.

Degree course in hotel management
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
Students of the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Sector 42, would be awarded a three-year degree in hotel management instead of the diploma from the next academic session.

This was stated by the Principal of the college, Mr Navin Kumar Nanchahal, after an entertaining cultural programme that marked the annual day of the institute, here today.

He announced that under the MoU between the National Council for Hotel Management and Indira Gandhi National Open University, the three-year diploma in hotel management has been given the status of a degree.

Earlier, the chief guest, Chairman of CITCO, Mr G.K. Marwah, gave away prizes to 50 students and released the fourth issue of the annual magazine, Gourmet Affair.

Mr Nanchahal, read out the annual report highlighting the achievements of the institute. He also outlined the new measures being introduced for improving the existing infrastructure on the college premises.

While Deepak Barua was declared “chef of the year”, the prize for the “best all rounder” went to Dinesh Gandhi and Gautam Aul and Deepti Prabhakar were declared “gentleman of the year” and “lady of the year” respectively.

UGC-NET coaching from April 8
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
The IAS centre in Panjab University, after a successful completion of the IAS (Preliminary) course, will begin coaching classes for competitive examinations of the UGC (NET)/CSIR, the Banking Services (PO) and the Judicial Services (Delhi) from April 8. Application forms for joining these courses are available at the centre and these can even be downloaded from the website http//iasc.puchd.ac.in.

Forms with requisite fee should be deposited at the centre by 5 pm on April 4. Regular classes will commence on April 8. Hostel and library facilities are also available. Any enquiry regarding these courses can be made on telephone numbers 0172-534367-68 and 784156.

320 DAV boys awarded degrees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
Degrees were conferred upon 320 graduates at the annual convocation of DAV College, Sector 10, here yesterday. As many as 47 students were awarded BSc degrees, 180 degrees were given to students of BA, 40 of B.Com, 25 of BBA and 27 of BCA also received degrees.

The chief guest, Dr S.K. Sharma, Director PGIMER, advised students to work hard to spread the new technological revolution throughout the country. He urged them to imbibe the ancient Indian values and help wipe out corruption from the country.

The convocation began with the chanting of Vedic mantras and ended with the national anthem.

Earlier, the Principal, Mr S.C. Marriya, reading the annual report, informed the cheering audience about the achievements of the college, students who won distinction at national and international contests and the laurels won in the co-curricular activities. He added that the Sir Shadi Lal Trophy of Excellence and Efficiency in Sports had gone to the college for the 31st year in a row. Justice D.V. Sehgal welcomed the chief guest and gave a brief history of his career. 

200 children receive certificates of merit
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, March 27
As many as 200 students were awarded with mementoes and certificates during the first “achievement day” celebration of The Gurukul, Sector 20, here yesterday.

The function was held in two sessions. Lined in a row, tiny tots came to the stage and received their prizes from the chief guest, Mr Suresh Kumar Goel, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula.

Besides this, they were also given sweets by the Principal, Ms A. Birdi.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Goel appreciated the school for polishing the hidden talent by organising such functions.

He said such function helped to build confidence in children.

The Administrator of HUDA, Mr Arun Kumar Gupta, chief guest of the second session, emphasised that Indian culture and moral values should be inculcated in children. The students also recited poems.

Students block traffic
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 27
More than 100 students of Government College here blocked traffic on the National Highway 23 for about 30 minutes in protest against the decision of the authorities not to issue them roll numbers for the ensuing annual examinations.

The students staged a dharna on the highway and demanded that the college authorities forward their case to Kurukshetra University. It is learnt that these students have been denied the roll numbers for failing to meet the minimum attendance criterion and also for failing to appear in the in-house examinations yesterday. With the last day for filing applications for appearing through correspondence today, the students alleged that they had been left in the lurch and they would lose an academic year.

The annual examinations being conducted by Kurukshetra University are scheduled to begin on April 1. As many as 167 students have not been issued their roll numbers. Many of these students had also reportedly failed to clear four of the five subjects in the in-house examinations conducted earlier.

As soon as the news of the college students blocking the highway reached the local administration, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Goyal, and the ASP (Rural), Ms Bharti Arora rushed to the spot. They asked the students to lift the jam and not cause any inconvenience to the commuters.

The students lifted the jam only when these officials agreed to take up their cause with the college Principal, Mr B.S. Dahiya.

It was then that the Deputy Commissioner, Ms Jyoti Arora, intervened and the last day for filing applications of correspondence candidates was extended by the university authorities till March 28.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Chemist granted bail
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 27
A chemist, Sudarshan Kumar, who had been arrested by the CBI was granted bail today by a local court on furnishing a bond of Rs 20, 000.

He was arrested for allegedly acting as a conduit for the former CIA Inspector, J. S Cheema. The CBI team also seized a large cache of currency from Sudarshan’s shop. The haul included $ 2,810, £ 1,700 and 150 Euros, besides Rs 5 lakh in Indian currency.

Police remand for murder accused

Ashish Arora, an accused in a murder case was today remanded to police custody till April 2 by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L Mohal. It was alleged that accused had murdered his brother-in-law, Joginder Singh, in Sector 23 on September 28 last year.

The police had sought police remand of the accused to recover weapon used in the crime. The police also informed the court that the accused had stayed in Mumbai, Nepal and some other places while he was absconding. Therefore the police remand of the accused was necessary.

The accused’s brother, Sanjay, had already been arrested by the police. According to the police, the accused is also wanted by the local police in several cases. A five-member team headed by a sub-inspector had left for Mumbai on March 9 today after production warrants were issued by a magistrate. The police had received a letter from the Oshi Bara Police Station in Mumbai, informing it of Arora’s arrest.

CULTURE

‘Lagaan gave me strength to survive’
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
He still remembers each moment of the hectic shooting schedule under the scorching sun of Bhuj. For 200-odd days, Rajinder Gupta had the chance of living the experience called Lagaan along with 400 other members of the cast.

Having lived the same, he is a different man today...so different that he does not think twice before declaring, "Lagaan was the turning point in my career. It not only rejuvenated my depleting energy, but also helped me find an anchor in Aamir Khan. He is one man I want to look upto and follow. I must not hesitate in saying that five and a half month of shooting for Lagaan gave me the strength and confidence which over 30 years of experience in the industry could never give."

Coming from the man who has behind him a strong academic training of the National School of Drama, over 100 productions and so many other serials and films, the observation means a lot. Rajinder Gupta's remarks serve as a mirror to the film industry, where to remain inspired is a matter of great difficulty. Talking to The Tribune today, Gupta admitted, "I may have won the best actor award for my role as the father of the protagonist in Sony's prime time serial Saaya, but what does that mean really? After years in the profession I had actually begun to question its worth. I had become dejected and cynical and was actually thinking of renouncing the industry for good...until, of course, Lagaan happened to me. It was an experience of a lifetime. I have worked with many people, but I have never seen a man more honest than Aamir Khan, who ensured a bottle of Bisleri even for his spot boy on the sets of Lagaan. It is this honesty and diligence which made Lagaan the best production. Losing the Oscar does not really matter. What matters is that the industry still has people who will stand by conviction and will dare to realise creative urges."

In city to take classes in theatre at the theatre workshop being organised at Haryana Panchayat Bhawan by Sangeet Natak Akademy and Haryana Cultural Affairs Department, Rajinder Gupta also talked about his passion for theatre. At his home in Mumbai, he has a theatre, a sound recording section and a chaupal. Chaupal, a gathering of like-minded people, is all about informal meetings where the participants discuss theatre. Said Gupta, "It is a non-commercial meeting. We invite actors, directors, producers, musicians, who sit together and read plays. You can say Chaupal is about entertaining the people in entertainment industry."

After having directed a host of plays and acted in many more, Gupta is now planning to work on his own scripts. As he said today, "There are many ideas floating in the mind. The very thought of wording one's own ideas and then moulding them for stage is very exciting. That is one thing I would love to indulge in."