The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

‘History, literature and society inter-related’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19
History, literature and society together form a complex matrix, making it difficult to say where one ends and the other begins and also the manner in which they are inter-related with one another.

These views were expressed by Prof Jasbir Jain, University of Rajasthan, in her keynote address at the inauguration of the three-day seminar on “History, Literature and Society: Treatment of Social Problems in Punjabi fiction during Twentieth Century” being organised by the Institute of Punjab Studies and Sheikh Baba Farid Chair of Panjab University at the ICSSR Complex here today.

Professor Jain said: “None of the three is an independent, self-contained entity. Each one calls into question a whole lot of submerged groups, categories and formations. Not only are they constructed by each other, they also flow back to alter their own self-narratives. In India, with our location in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual context, our social formations are subject to myriad influences and there is always the risk of over-generalisation.”

Professor Jain said: “History and literature both are social narratives. Even as they differ in their methods of apprehending reality, time, space and ideology are relevant to both. All history is potential literature, as the writer’s continued fascination with the past goes to prove, and all literature is potential history.”

“Two main constructs of history are power and articulation. In the past both happened to be vested in the ruling elite. In our life times, many of us have witnessed significant shifts in ideas and ideologies and a total dislocation of accepted concepts and values. For instance, concepts like universalism and humanism stand discredited today,” Professor Jain added.

Inaugurating the seminar, Dr Surjit Patar, an eminent poet and president of the Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, said every story writer was a poet in his own right and every poet was a story writer. In fact, there are certain portions of the story which had more poetic content than poetry itself. Both are two faces of the same coin. Modernism in Punjabi poetry started when people started questioning the most famous concepts of medieval times; those of God and love, Patar added.

Prof K.N. Pathak, the Vice-Chancellor of PU, said literature was a common denominator between language and society. Earlier, Prof Indu Banga introduced the seminar.

Prof J.S. Grewal, introducing the theme said creative literature had been a powerful tool of reflecting upon the social set-up and the changes that occur. Prof Deepak Manmohan of the Sheikh Baba Farid Chair proposed the vote of thanks.

Ensemble of talent
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19
After a display of talent by final- year students of applied arts and painting of the Sector 10 Government College of Art, today it was the turn of graphics students to keep their commitment to the world of art. And they lived upto the standards set by their counterparts. The prints created by 13 final year students of the Graphics Department clearly reflected their passion for art. Exclusive to each artist, yet common at some level, all works put together lend substance to Kalaswar — the show. It is the pursuit of a common creative goal that has helped the students come up with a powerful ensemble.

Woman is the focus of the creative endeavours of Shweta Kaura, who handles the female form with dignity, exploring woman’s moods, Shweta’s prints have a power that beckons you. Manoj captures the complications of life and thought in his prints. The young artist makes a coherent artistic statement.

Pankaj Sharma has based his artistic exercise on a key and created a wonderful maze of photographs that capture images of keys caught up in flames. The pictures depict keys as mediums of salvation. The collection is called ‘Keys and soul’.

Monika Rana’s prints depict struggle, beginning with the struggle for existence. Wheels and stairs, as symbols of man’s onward journey, are fitted well into the scheme of thought. She also pictures sand dunes bearing footprints.

Hardeep Kaur’s works rest on three bubbles, stairs and the sun. While bubbles exhibit the transience of everything material, stairs are a symbol of struggle. The Sun stands in her prints as the perennial source of energy and hope.

Vaishali Sood goes through the cycle of 12 signs of Zodiac, in her collection called ‘Star Signs’. From Libra to Virgo, the artist creates symbols with precision and style and so does Amandeep Kaur, whose singular print shows how memories of the past cling on to the heart that yearns to break free. Shefali Takhar’s affair with emotions finds a place in her prints, with each work dealing with a different set of emotions.

Ranjit Dhaiya allows his imagination to wander and find space on the print. Freedom is the basis of his works. Lekhoni Gupta concentrates on the latest fad — computer prints. Her works, through the child who features predominantly in her works, voice, her own yearning for innocence.

Shelly Gupta has made prints that are a mirror to her heart which houses a world of emotions. Sikander Singh’s works depict love and his ensemble grows, deriving inspiration from the Indian heritage. Harmandeep’s, works that focus extensively on female forms in waiting, wind up the exhibition. The exhibition is open till April 23.

City students at PATA
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19
The ITFT (Institute of Tourism and Future Management Trends) of Chandigarh had 28 of its students associated with the 51st Annual Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference, held in New Delhi from April 14 to 18.

The students were given various protocol duties like ushering and handling the media, delegates and the VIPs before and during the conference, besides managing the Macau government tourist stall along with various other assignments.

More than 1,200 delegates of various countries and high-ranking officials of almost all states of the country participated in this mega event. Appreciating the efforts of the ITFT students, Mr John Sandford, Chairman of PATA, said: “ It has been wonderful to have travel and hospitality students assisting us during this conference." Even Mr Peter De Jong, PATA president and the Chief Executive Officer, was impressed with the ITFT students and so were the Director General Tourism, Mr V.K. Duggal, and the Director of PATA's India Chapter, Mr Ashok Bhatnagar.

One of the student volunteers of the ITFT thanked the Union Ministry of Tourism and the PATA Operational Headquarters of Thailand for giving students an opportunity to interact with global personalities related to travel and tourism. The ITFT volunteers were happy at this cross-cultural interface with delegates from across the world. They said it had helped them in understanding global culture and tourism.

PEC students enliven club function
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 19
Peppy dance numbers and soul searching melody showcasing the multifaceted talents of engineering students marked the annual club function of Punjab Engineering College, Sector 12, here today.

The club function that marks the last academic day of the college started with a Western dance item presented by Akhil Bharat Sharma and his friends and then moved on to capture the vigour of Punjab through a Bhangra dance number.

The major attraction of the function was the award giving ceremony in which the students who won accolades for the college in various activities like debates, photographic completion, environment-related activities, dramatics etc. during the four years of their stay in the college were honoured.

Mr V. Bhardwaj, Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, who was the chief guest of the function, presented the college colours while the guest of honour, Air Cdr, S.B. Prashar, Air Officer Commanding, 3BRD, Chandigarh, gave away the appreciation awards to the students. Earlier, the Principal, Dr Baljeet S. Kapoor, addressed the guests after a formal welcome ceremony.

COURTS

HIGH COURT
Regularise services of 30 blind workers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19
Coming down heavily on the state of Haryana for discriminating against 30 blind workers serving for the past five years, Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Director of Social Defence and Security, besides other respondents, to regularise their services “from the date their juniors were regularised”.

Delivering the verdict on a petition filed by Kaithal district resident Birbal Dass and 29 others, Mr Justice Gill also ordered that the petitioners “were entitled to all the benefits which accrue to them as regular employees”.

In their detailed order, Mr Justice Gill: “There is a clear discrimination against the petitioners as the services of the persons who joined later have been regularised and they have been ignored.

The respondents have been adopting policy of pick and choose. Instead of giving sympathetic consideration to the cause of the petitioners, the respondents have taken their physical plight very casually. The respondents have regularised the services of some of the persons who were junior to the petitioners. The respondents are, therefore, directed to regularise the service of the petitioners....”

State told to substantiate reply

Rapping the state counsel for failure to answer a question asked by a Judge during the proceedings of a criminal case, Mr Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel of the High Court has ruled that the court expected answers to specific questions asked during the proceedings and could not be left at the mercy of the state.

In a ruling on a petition filed by a Bathinda resident, the Judge observed: “Counsel for the state was asked to explain the basis on which the version put forward by the petitioners, regarding injuries being inflicted on them, was found to be false. His reply was that he cannot go beyond the reply. The court expects answers to patent questions which arise in cases.... It is hoped that the state of Punjab will not take such a stand in future.”

The flavours of Malwa
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 19
The rich culture of Punjab was once again packaged attractively during the annual cultural show, "Moh Malwa Da," organised by the Malwa Cultural and Social Welfare Society in Tagore Theatre here yesterday.

The programme featured energetic bhangra numbers and moved on to the melodious side, with folk singer, Balwinder Mangat, singing the famous 'Heer' and other folk songs.

Taking a deep plunge into the issue of social maladies, members of the society staged a play, ‘Kudi,’ based on female foeticide. The play was based on a story written by Balbir Kaur and directed by Kulwant Gill. A comedy skit ‘Monitory’ was also staged by the children group.

Punjab Transport Minister Mr Tej Prakash Singh was the chief guest on this occasion.

The Society honoured Dr (Mrs) Gurminder Sidhu, a Punjabi writer, for her contribution to Punjabi literature.

Poets, writers meet tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19
An unusual literary get-together of eminent poets, short story writers and ghazal exponents will be held at the Sector 8 residence of Mr Tejbans Singh Jauhar on April 21 at 5.30 p.m.

The meeting, which is being organised in memory of Diljang Singh Jauhar, would see the participation of eminent literary personalities like Dr Balbir Singh Dil, Mr Pritam Singh, Prof Nirmal Datt, Mr Shiv Nath, Mrs Surjit Bains, Dr Gurminder Sidhu, Mr Manmohan Singh Daun, Mrs Tarun Gujral, Ms Kana Singh, Mrs Rajinder Kaur, Col Jasbir Bhullar, Dr Sharanjit Kaur, Dr Baldev Singh Khaira, Mr S.S. Cheema, Dr Manjit Singh, Dr Jagmohan Chopra, Prof P.C. Manav, Mrs Yogeshwar manav, Mr B.D. Kalia Hamdam, Mr Amarjit Amar, Prof Gurdial Singh Bhatia Arif, Mr Bhag Singh, Mr Siri Ram Arsh, Dr Gurcharan Singh Saqi, Mr S.R. Diwana, Dr Gurcharan Singh, Mr Inder Singh Raaz, Mr G.S. Boparai, Mr Raj Zakhmi, Ms Bhagwant Kaur, Mr Kuldip Komal, Mrs Mehtab Matwala, Mr Amrik Singh Pooni, Dr Harnam Singh Shan, Mr Nripinder Singh Rattan, Dr Viremndra Mehndiratta and Mr Kashmiri Lal Zakir.

Vandana enchants devotees
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 19
Hundreds of devotees of Mata Mansa Devi got a chance to savour bhajan by playback singer Vandana Vajpayee at the Mansa Devi shrine here today.

An acclaimed exponent of classical music, Vandana kept the audience captivated with her soulful redention of ‘Ganesh Aarti’. The ambience, full of religious fervour, was perfect.

The programme, which continued for about two hours, saw Vandana sing bhajan in praise of the Goddess, Lord Krishna, Rama, Hanumaan and Balaji. She beautifully unfolded the melody of ‘Maa tera Chola Lal Gulal’ and ‘Hum Nanhe Se Phool’.

She also presented numbers from her album ‘Maa ka Jagran.’ Her bhajan set to the soundtrack of popular Hindi film numbers were also a big draw.

Mr Govind Bathri accompanied her on harmonium and Mr Roshan on keyboard. Mr Pawan Sharma gave vocal support. Six other musicians played various other instruments.

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and his family were the chief guests. Mr Chautala honoured the artistes and presenting Vandana with a shawl and lighted the traditional lamp to inaugurate the programme.

Earlier, he laid the foundation stone of a dharamshala to be built near the shrine at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. It will have 66 rooms, dormitories and a multipurpose hall.

Meanwhile, 5 lakh devotees have already visited the shrine, so far, this year Rs 14.5 lakh, 462 items of silver and 45 items of gold have been offered at the temple.