The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

National seminar begins at PU
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
“Science, society, values and consciousness” was the theme of a two-day national seminar, which started today at Panjab University’s ICSSR Seminar Complex.

Welcoming the participants, Prof K.N. Pathak cautioned that the role of science can either be a blessing or a curse depending to a large extent on the nature of those in power. “As citizens of India, we cannot afford to remain aloof from sharing the concerns of people of other countries about the limits of modern Western scientific culture and the relevance and significance of our ancient values”, he said. He added that the objective of education should be, besides teaching and learning, the growth and development of body, mind and soul, making each one of us aware not only of our rights but also of our duties towards fellow humans, other living beings and nature.

Inaugurating the seminar, Prof D.P. Chattopadhayaya, President, Indian Philosophical Congress and Chairman, Centre for Studies in Civilizations, New Delhi, traced the roots of science in Egypt, India, China, Mesopotamia and Greece. He emphasised that science began neither in laboratories nor in libraries but in human sense of wonder, curiosity and the longing to make sense of the world. Professor Chattopadhayaya was critical of the tendencies to divorce scientific investigations from larger human concern of living a good life in a good society by knowing what is it to be a good human being

Prof T.V. Ramakrishnan of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, gave a special lecture on “emergence in science”. Criticising the reductionistic and mechanistic approaches in science, he emphasised the emergent character of reality and suggested that we need to recognise the significance of qualitative character of emerging realities, which go beyond quantitative dimension of what is already given.

Prof G.C. Pandey, Chairman, governing body, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, delivered the presidential address entitled “Neuro Sciences and Philosophy”. Professor Pandey was of the view that human beings are value seeking beings as distinct from other creatures who live in a life of instincts and appetites.

In the next session, Prof A.R. Verma pointed out that science opened new possibilities before human beings without providing any normative or value orientation as to how to handle these possibilities. Self knowledge is as significant, perhaps more, as knowledge of the world. Self knowledge goes beyond scientific knowledge but is not contradictory to it.

Prof Arjun Sengupta warned that the process of globalisation and liberalisation should not be regarded as ends in themselves. These processes must be pursued to serve the goals of human well being and basic human rights to good life, education, health, social security and personal well being through respect for human equality, freedom and dignity. Prof Sengupta agreed with the suggestion from a participant that the union and state governments need to fulfil their constitutional obligations by allocating more funds for education and research. Privatisation of education will only harm the nation in the long run.

The afternoon sessions were addressed by Dr Sampooran Singh and Prof V.C. Shrivastava, Director, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. Prof Shrivastava highlighted the link between moral decline and modern western culture due to neglect of basic human values of human well being in pursuit of consumerist production patterns. Dr Sampooran Singh urged that there is an urgent need to harmonise scientific education with value education.

The deliberations will continue tomorrow.

College lecturers meet Adviser
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Representatives of more than 50 UT college lecturers met with the Adviser to the UT Administrator, Ms Neeru Nanda, here today, requesting the sending back of Punjab and Haryana lecturers on deputation serving in the city colleges in compliance with CAT orders.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, these representatives said they were disappointed by the Adviser’s attitude towards their demands. According to them, she told them that UT was created to serve Punjab and Haryana and there was no question of sending any person serving in the city back to his or her state.

These lecturers also handed over to the Adviser, a written representation to this effect. The representation states: ‘‘In the 1990 Recruitment Rules there was no provision of taking persons on deputation and the mode of recruitment was 100 per cent direct through the Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi, and despite this the Chandigarh Administration kept on taking persons on deputation directly in violation of the rules.’’

These lecturers also claimed that the UT administration, instead of honouring the decision of CAT, is devising ways to keep those on deputation in an illegal manner against the statutory rules.

The lecturers also pointed out that the post of lecturer at present is a gazetted post and there is no such provision for taking persons on deputation in the other related institutions like in Punjab Engineer College, College of Art, College of Architecture, Polytechnique College, Government Medical College, Government Home Science College, Government College of Education, Regional Institute of English and State Institute of Education etc.

Interactive programme on women
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 27
A three-day interactive programme to enhance the personality of women was launched here today. The “Ponds Personality Programme” was inaugurated by Mr. R S Gujral, Education and Home Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, at MCM DAV College. It is exclusively designed for young women and provides an integral module on personality development.

The programme stresses on three key areas — appearance, communication, and home decor. Appearances are not just about looking good but also about the confidence one exudes. The workshop on appearance includes sessions on skin care, make-up, personal hygiene and exercise. Advice will also be given on dress style to suit different body shapes.

An essential requirement for success is the ability to communicate correctly and effectively. The course content includes body languages ,non-verbal communication, listening and feedback skills, grammar and developing conversational skills.

For a woman, her home is a reflection of her identity. Workshop subjects to be covered include furniture layout, design and styles, use of materials, use of lights and colour schemes.

The programme aims to help young women enrich their personality and realise their ability and self-worth. This will enable them to excel in all their roles — of a dutiful daughter, nurturing trend , responsible colleague, obedient student or caring daughter -in- law.

Tewari is PCCTU general secy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Prof V.K.Tewari was elected as the general secretary of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union in the elections held at Jalandhar, reliable sources said here today.

Professor Tewari from DAV College, Jalandhar, polled 314 votes against 80 polled by Prof V.K.Sareen from the same college. The two-day 53rd annual session of the PCCTU also concluded today.

Prof S.S. Hundal from Guru Nanak Dev College, Moga, was elected president. He polled 309 votes to defeat Prof Shinder Pal who polled 90. Prof Gurnam Singh Kahlon from Khalsa College, Amritsar, was elected vice-president.

Prof V.K. Sharma was elected secretary of Guru Nanak Dev University area. Prof Karamjeet Singh and Prof Amrinder Singh were elected unopposed secretaries of Panjab University and Punjabi University areas, respectively.

Prof J.S. Randhawa, the outgoing general secretary, presented the annual report yesterday which was accepted. Prof Balbir Singh presented the financial report which was also accepted.

32 colleges accredited
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Performance evaluation and assessment of 32 more colleges and universities in the country have been completed during the past three months. The executive committee of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has accredited these 32 institutions, according to Prof V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Director, NAAC. With this, NAAC has completed the assessment and accreditation of 261 institutions.

Twentyeight sitting and former Vice-Chancellors, 35 Principals and 15 Deans/Professors were involved in this process. A recent meeting of the Ministry of Human Resource Development has suggested that NAAC should identify 20 top departments in each discipline on an all-India basis. It also suggested that the UGC should evolve a system for linking grant with assessment/accreditation process and work out mechanism to provide incentive to those institutions/universities which are graded high by NAAC.

41 students given mementoes
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
A memorable evening for the ‘brilliant’ students of the city, who scored more than 90 percent marks in the Class X examination conducted by the ICSE, was organised by a travel company last evening. As many as 41 students from seven institutions were given mementoes followed by dinner at a hotel. The students danced to the thrilling music as the evening progressed.

All principals including Mr J P Singh of St Kabir and Ms Jyoti Agnihotri of DAV School, Derabassi, appreciated the gesture. Mr S Marriya, Principal of DAV College, and guest of honour, announced a scholarship of Rs 1000 each for the high achievers .

COURTS

Bank employees granted bail
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, May 27
Accused of not returning money after a stipulated period, three persons, including two employees of a co-operative bank, were arrested by the police here today.

Police sources said Ram Swaroop, a resident of Chhat Kishangarh, and two employees of Ramgarh-located branch of the bank — Gobind Singh and Suresh Kumar — who were declared defaulters by the bank authorities, were arrested today. The bank employees were granted bail while the third accused is still in police custody.

Sources said that Ram swaroop failed to return Rs 19,000 loan from the bank some years ago. Moreover, he had also eluded two employees who were accompanying him to Ramgarh located branch on February 13.

Committee stays bar council order
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 27
The disciplinary committee of the Bar Council of India (BCI) has stayed the order passed by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana regarding the removal of Mr A.K. Maleri from the role of advocates. The council had cancelled the license of Mr A.R. Maleri for life acting on a compliant of professional misconduct filed against him by the litigant on May 12.

Mr A.K Maleri, an advocate practicing in the district courts, informed that the order passed by the Council on May 12, 2002 regarding cancelling of his license has been stayed till next date of hearing before the BCI disciplinary committee.

Bar to hold strike today
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 27
The District Bar Association (DBA) would observe a strike tomorrow in protest against the alleged role of certain high court judges in the PPSC scandal on the call of the Bar Association of Punjab and Haryana, said the president of the DBA, Mr N.K. Nanda here today. Mr Nanda said executive members of the DBA had decided to observe the strike at a meeting today.

CULTURE

Reconstitute arts council: artistes
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 27
A proposal to rent the building of the Punjab Kala Bhavan to raise funds for the staff of the Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy by the Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab, Ms Geetika Kalha, triggered a lot of resentment among artistes who met at the Punjab Kala Bhavan here today.

The artistes demanded that the Punjab Arts Council should be reconstituted immediately which will later decide the means of raising funds. However, the meeting ended with resolution to rent the newly built auditorium of the bhavan.

The fiasco started as Ms Kalha chose to limiting the topic of the meeting in raising funds for the smooth run of the academy and refusing to hear other pleas of the gathering.

Ms Kalha’s rude attitude towards the gathering made many a people leave the hall.

“This is a typical bureaucratic way to approach towards a problem,” said Mr Devinder Daman, a veteran theatre artiste. “When a full fledged department is there to take care of the problems, why should the artiste community should be involved in raising funds for such matters,” he added.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Mr Inderjeet Singh, Director, Tourism and Additional Secretary, Cultural Department; Mr Malkit Singh, a former Secretary, Punjab Lalit Kala Academy; Ms Harjinder Kaur; Prof Raj Pal Singh, a former Secretary, Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy; Mr H.S. Bhatti, acting secretary-general, Punjab Arts Council; Prof Jodh Singh, a former president, Punjab Lalit Kala Academy; Dr Rama Ratan, a former secretary, Punjab Sahit Academy.