The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Classrooms dedicated to training institute
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 10
The Rotary Chandigarh Shivalik dedicated three classrooms to the Vocational Training Institute for Mentally Challenged Children run by the Sadhna Society in Mani Majra. These rooms were inaugurated by the district Governor, Mr Subhash Garg, during his visit to the city. Mr Garg also inspected the projects undertaken by the club during the past one year.

The president of the club, Col A.P. Singh, pointed out that they had adopted Chottiperch village next to the Perch dam, behind the PGI, where they were running a vocational training centre.

A dispensary, which provides medicines free of cost, had also been set up for the villagers. The club has undertaken a major project to renovate and furnish the primary school of the village. The club has also adopted a school in Mauli Jagran colony.

The club is promoting vermiculture as means of environment protection and has approached the Administration to earmark a piece of land for setting up of training facility in vermiculture for the residents of the city.

DISTRICT COURTS
Shootout case adjourned
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 10
A local court today adjourned the district court shootout case till May 3 for fixing charges. It was alleged that the shootout took place on July 6, 1998, when the accused, Harvinder Singh, allegedly involved in the murder of Harjit Singh, was being produced in the court.

The supporters of the accused, had fired shots at the victims’ supporters when they raised slogans against the Punjab police. The city police had arrested 18 persons under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 338 and 353 of IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

Beant case

Consecutively for the third day the proceeding of the Beant Singh assassination case were adjourned today as one of the accused in the case, Jagtar Singh Tara, did not attend the court in Burail Jail. The Superintendent of Burail Jail, Mr D.S. Rana, said before the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S. Bhalla, that due to back pain, the accused failed to appear before the court.

A performance of purity
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 10
Her deft handling of sitar gives evidence of her celebrated tutelage. Anupama Bhagwat began with the evergreen ‘Bihag’ and took the audience on a pleasurable path of music and melody in Pracheen Kala Kendra here today.

Weaving intricate patterns within the parameters of the Imdadkhani Gharana, Anupama did more than just justice to her music lessons. While instrumental finesse was reflected in her presentation off and on, the element of delightful gayaki ang remained throughout.

Before the performance, the USA-based artiste said: “Gayaki ang is quintessential to Imdadkhani Gharana, so, it is naturally secured in our presentations. All ‘gharanas’ have their nuances that enrich the repertory of Indian classical music. I have been taught not to be rigid when it comes to music. The discipline of any gharana only shows the way and does not prevent the artiste from adopting an individual style.”

In her performance today, gayaki ang remained dominant as expected. Her virile handling of the ‘ragas’ would have made her guru, Shri Bimalendu Mukherjee, proud of her.

After displaying her prowess in ‘Bihag’, the artiste captured the beauty of spring in ‘Raag Bahaar’. A ‘thumri’ in ‘Raag Mishra Pahari’ concluded this cycle of rhythm.

Anupama has never found it difficult to continue the rigorous ‘riyaaz’ in an alien land. She gives regular sitar performances back home in Dayton, Ohio. She wishes to contribute to the promotion of Indian classical tradition. “The declining interest among listeners is a cause for concern,” she said.

Born into a family that values this tradition, Anupama began her training at the age of nine. Her real training began with Maihar Gharana and her first guru Shri R.N. Verma. Guru Bimalendu Mukherjee, then, took her under his tutelage.

With a Sangeet Visharad to back her, Anupama has gone places. To master the gayaki ang, Anupama studies vocalists like Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Jasraj, Kumar Gandharva and Ustad Amir Khan Sahib. She said: “A great pianist had once said: Seven days of not practicing music does not make as much difference as seven days of not listening to music. I follow the saying religiously.”

Accompanying her today on tabla was Soumitra Paul, an A-grade artiste of the All-India Radio.