EDUCATION

DUTA to sit on dharna against ‘heavy’ workload
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, August 20
The Delhi University Teachers Union along with the students will hold a dharna on the main campus and the south campus on September 10 against the UGC’s move to increase the workload and cut down the number of teachers in colleges.

The move was decided in the DUTA Extended Executive meet, which took place here on Monday. The members have taken a decision to hold a week-long strike from September 10-16. The agitating teachers have demanded that the UGC withdraw the move to increase the working hours of teachers and make necessary moves to improve the working conditions of the teachers. They are also protesting against the Government’s plan of transferring the disbursement of funds to the state government, thereby delinking the Delhi University Colleges from the university. The move to empower the UGC to constitute governing bodies has also irked the DUTA.

With the students supporting the agitating teachers, the strike has been scheduled to take place at a time when the students union elections will not be disrupted. The elections will be held on September 6. In a release issued here today, the DUTA has pointed out that the dharnas outside colleges will be organised to draw the attention of the people to the alleged moves to destroy the quality of higher education.

The protesting teachers who are meeting for the general body meet in the Capital tomorrow have also decided to conduct a mass signature campaign addressed to the President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Azad, seeking his intervention against the moves of the UGC and the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The general body meet will be followed by a demonstration outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office demanding a speedy and positive resolution.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Decks cleared for brides
Smriti Kak

AFTER the Lakme India Fashion Week, it is time for another mega event, the ‘Bride and Groom’ exhibition. Starting on August 24, the designers will showcase their line for the brides and the grooms.

Not that it should be any difficult for our designers who take the cake when it comes to designing for weddings. In the country where marriage translates into ‘big’, ‘lavish’ and often ‘ostentatious’ wedding wear has of long become the staple of designers.

PEACHES AND CREAM: Flower pendant from Swarovski.

With the exhibition the designers will have the right platform to present the bridal wear. From lehngas that sweep you off your feet and to sarees that sweep across yards there will be a plethora of clothes for the to-be brides and grooms. Designer Babita has crafted a special range for the exhibition. She will be showcasing her collection at the Hyatt. She claims that she has put together lehngas of various hues for the brides. From a straight look lehnga that can be worn on cocktails to a 24-kali lehnga for the engagement and a 36-kali lehnga for the D-day, the designer has played with fabrics and cuts. Crepe, tie and dye, brocade and silk have been extensively used. These lehngas have been embroidered with intricate motifs and adorned with crystals and Swarovski. Also, participating in the exhibition is jewellery designer, Anuradha Chhabra who has used precious and semi-precious stones to create special pieces for the weddings. From the traditional kundan to thewa in 23K gold to contemporary designs in white gold the collection is a blend of the traditional Indian with the modern daywear.For the grooms lest they feel left out, Anuradha has designed buttons and cuff links in gold and diamond. The designer claims to have something for everyone right from the mother-in-law to the little ones.

Miss Teen India

CATWALK SIZZLER: Yana Gupta in all her glory.

The Alee Club, a voluntary society, remains dedicated to its endeavour of spreading awareness about the dreaded killer disease AIDS. So, whether it is through IQ contest and beauty contest or maybe both, the Alee Club remains devoted to its aim of weeding out all social evils.

The club organised the Mr and Miss Teen India-2002 an IQ and personality contest last month. The contest started with the preliminary round where contestants from the National Capital Region were screened. A written test followed by an interview judged the contestants’ mettle. A total of 34 participants were grilled by personalities like former beauty queen, Annie Thomas, TV personality Pallab Bose and educationist, Ratna Sethi. Tips on groups dancing, rhythm walking, expressions and behaviour were provided to the contestants during the seven-day workshop. After a grueling final day contest, Priyanka Soni of Gurgaon won the Miss Teen crown while Kartik Uppal of Rajinder Nagar won the Mr Teen title.

For the youth

Swarovski has launched crystals for the younger generation. Pendants and charms designed in trendy colours are for the women who prefer the chic to the traditional. With themes like ‘Flower Power’, “For ever young’ and ‘Fishing for compliments’ young girls are being offered an option to dress and kill. The Flower charm, a whimsical stainless steel spiral with a rotating flower charm is pegged to be the next hot thing for girls.