The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

UGC move to cut vacant posts decried
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 30
The Forum of Academics for Social Justice today protested against the move of the UGC to cut 20 per cent of the vacant positions in Central Universities and its affiliated colleges.

The UGC has also directed them to abolish all posts, which are lying vacant for the last one-year. The forum has alleged that this is an attempt to deny reservation in higher education to the underprivileged.

According to Mr Hansraj `Suman’, the national chairman and Dr P D Sahare, the general secretary of the forum, “implementation of the reservation policy in central universities has started only few years back and according to a survey conducted by the forum, hardly 2 per cent of the reservation quota has been filled up. In such circumstances, the move of the UGC to cut 20 per cent of the vacant positions is an ‘anti-reservation move.’

The worst part of the new directive is the abolition of those posts, which are lying vacant for last one year. They alleged that these vacant posts are actually reserved back-log posts.

They further alleged that the vacant reserved posts have been used to favour people from the general category. As such, the people from the deprived sections have been denied their dues. Now, with the new directives, the UGC, which is an agency to help implement the reservation policy in education, is creating new hurdles.

The forum has already lodged a protest with the HRD Ministry, UGC, National Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes.

They have demanded the reversal of this anti-reservation circular. They have threatened to intensify their protest nation wide and have planned to stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar shortly.

COURTS

HC admits plea against L-G order
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 30
The order of the Lt-Governor of Delhi, Mr Vijay Kapoor, to over rule the resolution of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) granting extension in service to its Additional Commissioner was challenged in the High Court today.

The High Court today admitted two petitions in this regard. The L-G had overruled a unanimous resolution of the MDC granting one year extension to Additional Commissioner Manjit Singh after his superannuantion on June 30, Singh’s counsel K T S Tulsi told a division Bench comprising Justice Anil Dev Singh and Justice Mukul Mudgal.

His counsel contended that Manjit Singh was granted extension because some major projects including cleaning of Yamuna and shifting of slum dwellers to resettlement colonies were being executed in his supervision and due to his experience he had attained expertise in dealing with such matter.

The writ petition by Singh and a PIL by three corporators challenged the LG’s order on the ground that it was contrary to the law and prevailed over the democratic ethos.

Additional Solicitor General Mukul Rohtagi sought the dismissal of the petitions saying the resolution of MCD was “not valid without a 48 hours notice on the issue before it was taken up for debate”.

There is an express provision for compulsory 48 hours advance notice to all councillors on a particular issue when put on the agenda for discussion, Rohtagi said.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Cool couture designed for dude
Smriti Kak

A designer from Kolkata is on his way to the LIFW to create new fashion for the male form. Meet Lalit Jalan who comes armed with a wish to breathe life into the male form, giving it fluid form and ethnic simplicity. Along with wife, Sunita, Lalit believes that men’s fashion, which he claims, is still in its infancy and needs reinvention.

And with his refreshing collection, he has set about to offer what will surely turn some heads. The Jalans will present their collection under the diffusion line. The collection will have ornate sherwanis, flowing kurtas, shirts and a small collection for the women as well. Of his collection, Jalan says, “The look is individual, and each style-ethnic, contemporary and modern, finds it’s rightful place in the eclectic collection. Our forte is in embroidery and minute texturisation of garments. The look and the feel is always classic with rich detailing and scrupulous attention to detail.”

Sherwani for the look royale, designed by Lalit Jalan and Sunita.

He elucidates, “We try to make timeless pieces keeping current fashion trends in mind. Men are the same, never adventurous, never experimental, especially when it comes to ‘dressing up’. Well, we can say that was earlier, but things are changing now”. Even when the clothes are being designed for the modern man, attention is paid to the fact that they have to contain the essentials of the India’s rich cultural heritage. The clothes have to imbibe a spirit of the East just as it is done keeping on mind the requirements of the present day.

The LIFW will see both Lalit and Sunita bend all the rules and blend the traditional with the contemporary, which seems to be the rule anyway. “We have followed our instincts, played around with the strengths of the male form and put together a fashion line where theme, fabrics, colour and silhouettes are perfectly balanced”. As for colours, the collection is hallmarked with subtle, sombre tones of cream, peach, brown, mauves and greens, creating a very mellow effect. The silhouettes bear intricate embroidery and the symbiosis of concepts. Says Jalan, who runs a studio, ‘Hunar’ in Kolkatta, “Fashion is just not experimenting with ideas but creation that is authentic and approachable”.

In a moss green decolletage.

Sucharita in a blue ensemble oozing oomph.

Though the studio takes pride for pampering the clients with a feel of opulence, Jalan maintains that he does not restrict his range for, “a chosen few”. Lalit broke the norms of the family. Instead of joining the family business, he decided to nurture his aspirations to become a designer. His roots in the city conditioned him to choose Kolkata as the base, which then lacked exclusive designer outlets for men. Through his creation, Lalit personified the rich traditional ensembles, in a contemporary style. His ensemble showcases clean cut, traditional hand embroidery, in every conceivable edge, for the bridal range.

The designer chooses not to conjure pricey sherwanis or lehngas, his latest specialisation for the Bridal season, but deftly a handle ranges at affordable and appropriate prices. He chooses his fabrics by virtue of their feel followed by the look. He chooses comfort as the aesthetic quality of his garments besides the flawless finish.

Designer Bros

The designer duo, Shantanu and Nikhil have laid their plans for the LIFW. The brothers are all set to, “recreate the magic and passion of the golden era of India”.

The collection, which has been inspired from, “congenial on peace loving India”, will take the onlookers back to the time of flamboyance and prosperity. The workmanship and the designs will be an ode to the traditional and the rich cultural heritage.

The men’s range will have a collection of sherwanis, long waist coats, short kurtas, jackets to be worn with dhotis, cigarette pants and flared pants. The collection will also have four lines on display each with a distinct style. The fabrics used are primarily raw silk and Indian silk like jacquard. The garments are embellished with intricate embroidery done out of metallic threads exuding the royalty of the golden era. Use of uncut stones and mirrors have also been used.

For the women, the collection consists of short kurtas with capris and straight pants with sarees. The line is inspired by the men’s line. High slits with asymmetric shapes and short hems will be the high points in the women’s collection. The clothes on display at the LIFW will be complemented with stoles made of fake fur.

Body care products

A body shop that will tell you all that you needed to know about skin and hair care has opened its doors in the Capital. Beautique Body Shoppe, claims to offer the world’s best body care products along with a free ‘Body truth Analysis’.

Cine star Mahima Chaudhury, who came to inaugurate the Shoppe, was the first recipient of the analysis that gave spelt her body needs for her. The gushing actress had this to say, “I really fell in love with the idea of the ‘Beautique Body Shoppe’. To have a store that will be able to guide me and provide me with high quality products just perfect for my body needs, leaves the guess work out and assures me of quick results, just what I want in keeping with my busy schedules”.

Body Shoppe has flown in a team of its leading merchandising and consulting team to India to support the launch. Says the CEO, Aneeta Gupta, “This is the first time we are providing the discerning India consumer the opportunity to know more about their unique body needs before choosing a personalised grooming regimen. We believe that looking good and feeling good are as much a birth right of a human being as is eating and drinking”.

Now that you have been initiated about the right to look good, time to pay attention to the face in the mirror.

India fashion week

The LIFW is going to be a ‘strictly by invitation’ feat. Those of you who thought that gate crashing was a norm in the Capital and can take you right up to where the spot lights are going to be, beware buzz is that the burly security guys have been put in place. A lil birdie told us that the organisers are really mean business this time around. There will be no invites handed down to everybody who cares to come. So much so the designers who wish to see the wonder works of their counterparts will have to get invited, which means they will have to have the passes. Wonder if the step is “plain duty” or a bulwark against “lifting ideas”.

A Phulkari treat at National Museum
Megha Manchanda

New Delhi, July 30
“Phulkari Saadi reshmi Uttee Chamkan Mor” (a couplet describing the peacock motif embroidered on her silk Phulkari)

Phulkari, literally meaning the work of flowers, is the traditional way of embroidery on the ordhni’s of Punjabi women. The National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, Delhi, is displaying select items of Phulkari embroidery. It also comprises slides of Amrita Shergill’s paintings.

Phulkari have geometric and folk designs, with unparallel symmetry. Motifs of animals, household articles, jewellery etc are freely used. The inspiration for drawing these designs is taken from the unique surrounding world. They also have narratives depicting the folk tales of Punjab, love tales like Heer Ranjha and Sohni Mahiwal.

Animal designs also form part of Phulkari, which includes cow, buffalo, goat, cat, rat, frog etc. The exhibition comprises various forms of Phulkari which were prevalent in the western part of Punjab during the middle of the 20th century, namely Shishedar, Tilpatra, Darshandwar etc.

Shishedar: In this form, circular glass pieces along with thread are used.

Tilpatra: Wraps with a green base.

Darshandwar: These are the wraps offered to the deities in the temple.

These forms were present both in eastern and western Punjab during the middle of 20th century.

Apart from this bagh with its various other varieties in Chandni Bagh and Patti Bagh were also on display. This exhibition tomorrow has already become very popular with the Punjabi community residing in Delhi. “Excellent” and “magnificent” were the words inscribed on the comment register of the gallery. A grateful acknowledgement is made to the Director General (NIFT), Delhi and Mr. S. S. Hitkari for their generous loans.