EDUCATION

32 students complete science popularisation programme
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
As many as 32 science students of Chandigarh and Haryana here yesterday completed a two-day science popularisation and leadership development programme of the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), a premier scientific facility of the country.

Rahul Balkrishnan of Faridabad, Naveen Khurana and Sonal Grover from Sirsa won the first, second and third prizes, respectively, of the science quiz organised during the programme.

The young scientist aspirants felt elated when they were exposed to indigenous scientific facilities at the CSIO and future world class projects the organisation is going to take up.

They were told about yet unknown scientific vistas available in the market.

The programme was aimed at arresting the decreasing science education enrolments in the country to check a hampering effect on the growth of the country.

Mr S. R. Taneja, senior scientist, gave away certificates and mementoes to students.

The programme is being supported by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the scientific backbone of the country.

In a science leadership development lecture, Dr Ashok Jain, former Director, National Institute of Science, Technology and Development, New Delhi, and presently professor emeritus with the Institute of Informatics and Communication, New Delhi, said the country was a knowledge-respecting society for thousands of years.

Dr Jain said there was abundance of innovation being practised in the country but that is not well documented but with the patent regime, these could prove to be a treasure for the country which now needs its young to carry forward the scientific competition race.

The CSIO Director, Dr. R. P. Bajpai, termed science as the best effort for self-growth and contribution to society, which brings fullfilment in an individual’s life.

Teachers against private tuitions
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 7
In an attempt to fight against the menace of private tuition and bring the students back to the classroom, the teaching staff of DAV College, Sector 10 have appealed to parents to help in fighting this practice at a parents-teachers interacting session here.

The teachers of the college had chalked out an effective plan to ‘lure back’ the students from the tutorial homes to the classrooms, said the Principal of the college, Mr S Marriya, while addressing the gathering. The plan included steps like regular classes, mock tests and better teacher-student interactions in the classrooms.

Besides the college was planning to constitute a cell which would keep an eye on students who continuously missed classes without informing their parents, informed Mr Marriya. The authority would also employ a psychologist for the mental well being of the students. The principal also appealed to the parents not to overburden their children with higher expectations which in many a cases had negative impact on the child.

‘‘Most of the parents are over concerned with their children’s studies, not letting the child to have some space which can easily make them lose their interest in studies ,’’ said Mr Marriya. Instead of forcing them to attend tutorial homes which was time consuming and expensive, they should be encouraged by their parents to attend regular classes for overall personality development, he added.

‘Empathy must for researchers’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
Unlike in the case of research into natural phenomenon, in the context of social studies, a researcher has social responsibility. The researcher can relate to the community being investigated, rather than treating them merely as ethnographic or demographic material to be evaluated.

This was stated by Prof Satya P. Gautam of the department of philosophy, at a panel discussion on ‘Participatory Research’ organised by the ICSSR (North-Western region) at Panjab University here today.

Professor Gautam said the academia could play a significant role in helping researchers organise their thoughts and become more coherent about the problems that needed to be addressed.

Dr Suzanne Speak, from the University of New Castle, in her presentation, observed that the participatory research approach involves empowering subjects to take control of knowledge and demand change if possible. According to her, participatory appraisals are two distinct terms, often used interchangeably. She also said that researchers should abandon all knowledge when going to the field and should be free from ‘ one-size-fits-all’ and ‘didn’t-read-the-question’ approaches, when conducting research.

Dr (Mrs) Rajesh Gill pointed out the fundamental differences between a positive researcher and a participatory researcher and said a participatory researcher had to enter the lives those being investigated, which was indeed difficult. Prof S.L. Sharma said the growing emphasis on funded and sponsored research was playing a havoc with social science research. Earlier, Prof Sahib Singh Bhayana, honorary director of the ICSSR, welcomed the guests. Prof B.S. Ghuman introduced the panel discussion.

CULTURE

‘Lare’ a satire on red tape
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7
Continuing his tradition of serving a social cause through theatre, Gursharan Singh returned to Tagore Theatre with three more productions today. Enlightening as always, his plays with all their truth and bitterness, stared the audience in the face and posed a million questions. Voiced loudly in each of the three productions, which came under the respective titles of “Lare”, “Har ik nu jeen da haq chahida” and “Inam”, were larger concerns of people, who have become so immune to the prevalent social rot that even their human sensibilities fail to respond to pain.

Bared also in the process was the dead political set-up, which revels in hypocrisy and red tape. “Lare” was a strong satire on this hopeless system which first breeds big hopes in people and then disillusions them. The story revolves around the powers that be which declare that they would make pension available to old people. Hopeful of the forthcoming help, an old couple is shown waiting in line for the postman, who will deliver them their cheques for Rs 200 each. The playwright puts across a highly sensitive theme in few words. He reflects the dreams this couple weaves day in and day out, the dreams it plans to realise with the help of the money and the long wait they subject their ageing eyes to.

The play ends on a sour note, with no postman turning up. Instead comes a representative of the electricity department with a hefty power bill. As the play ends, the hopes of the old couple also come crashing down. Bashir Ali, Amit, Jai Teging and Dilawar Sidhu did justice to the theme.

“Har ik nu jeen da haq chahida” was yet another strongly-worded script, presented in the style of street theatre. Presented by Naval, Mandip, Sunny, Sandeep, Bitty, Kapil and Jai Teging, the play hit the target. Layer by layer, word by word, it bared the rampant evils of dowry, social apathy and political high-handedness. Woven into the play was a deep message which must sure have reached every heart. It said: “We must point a finger at evil. “

“Inaam”, presented by Amrit, Jai Teging, Dilawar Sidhu and child artiste Ashraf, was about how strong is corruption rooted. The play progresses with the reward which the government announces for anyone who dares bring official corruption to light. The story ends on the expected note. The one who dares ,ends up embroiling himself in the controversy.