Students reveal hidden talents
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
Kundan Vidya Mandir organised an inter-house talent search contest here today. Students of Patel, Gandhi, Nehru, Raman, Subhash and Tagore Houses of the school presented solo songs, dances, and duets.

The function was aimed at letting the children express hidden talents. Ms Neelam Khanna, Principal of the school, presided over the function. Each of the six houses presented two solo songs, a duet, a mono-acting item and instrumental-music compositions.

A solo song, ‘Hulle Hullare’, sung by Suman Jain, received a rich applause from the audience. Swati Goel presented an ethereal dance, followed by Alpa who presented a melodious song.

The other singers that charmed the audience were Ritika of Gandhi House and Arpit of Raman House. Aditi Shrotri presented a fascinating classical dance. The performance of Gypsy and Akanshya on the song ‘Jaane Kyun Log Pyar Karte Hain’ was mind-blowing. Aditya’s ghazal ‘Chaandi Jaisa Raang Hai Tera’ was also well appreciated.

The judges for the contest were Dr Shuchi Agarwal (Head of the nursery and the KG sections, KVM), Ms Neelam Sharma (Head of the Department of Music, the Government College for Women) and Ms Aruna Verma (dance teacher, Guru Nanak Public School). The winners were Patel and Gandhi Houses. The second place went to Nehru House. Raman and Subhash Houses were joint third, followed by Tagore House.

Paper-reading contest in GPS
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
An inter-school paper-reading contest on “How and why to save Energy” was organised by Gobindgarh Public School (GPS) in collaboration with Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) on Friday.

Eighteen students from 10 senior secondary schools of Sirhind, Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna participated in the competition. All the participants in the contest were well prepared and succeeded in highlighting the importance of the energy conservation.

Class XII student of the GPS was adjudged best in the competition. Vani Goyal from Om parkash Bansal Model School was second and Priyanka Goyal from Sacred Heart School was paced at third position.

The main points touched by the competitors were the use of solar energy, diversification of crops to save energy and importance of energy conservation.

While addressing the function, Mr J.K. Bhakhoo, Deputy Director, Energy Conservation, PSEB, said the main objective of the contest was to create awareness among the young generation about the importance of energy and how it can be saved.

He also gave away prizes to the participants. Mr Swaranjit Singh Bagli, president, Gobindgarh Educational and Social welfare Trust, Mr R.P. Bhatia, chairman of the school committee, and Mr Bahadur Singh, Principal, also spoke at the occasion.

New swimming pool complex in GRD Academy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
Parents and students applauded the five swimmers who dived in the water with their instructor on the inauguration of a swimming pool complex at GRD Academy, here today.

With this three-pool complex, the academy has taken a lead in the sport among the city schools. The complex is designed to cater to different age groups and is fitted with a state-of-the-art filtration plant.

Coach Karamjit Singh Gill, who has represented Punjab at the junior and senior-level for 14 consecutive years, gave a demonstration of butterfly, backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke and water polo.

A cultural programme was also presented on the occasion. Earlier, the chairman of the governing board, Mr Raja Singh, formally inaugurated the complex.

In his address, he exhorted the students to win laurels at the state and national- level. 

Dental education programme
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
The National School Dental Health Programme was inaugurated in BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, today. This awareness programe ‘Bright Smiles, Bright Future’ was organised by Indian Dental Association, Ludhiana Branch, in collaboration with Colgate India Ltd.

Mr Satyanand Ji Munjal, president of the Managing Committee and M.D. Hero Cycles, Ludhiana, was the chief guest and Dr P.S. Brar, Assistant Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, was the guest of honour. The programme was attended by Principal , members of the managing committee, teachers and officers of the IDA. This programe was specifically initiated to train and make aware the teachers about the oral health care so that they may further impart the information to their students.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr T.P. Singh, chief coordinator of the programme, exhorted the need to impart this training to teachers first so that they may instill it among their students. The aim of the programme is to cover one lakh schools.

SSF wants apology from Ashutosh Maharaj
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 23
The Sikh Students Federation (SSF) has demanded that Ashutosh Maharaj of the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, Noormehal, should appear before Akal Takht and tender an unconditional apology for denigrating Sikh Gurus and Sikhism.

Mr Gurcharan Singh Grewal, president of the outfit, who is also a member of the 31, member committee constituted by the Akal Takht Jathedar to look into the issue, said Ashutosh should not be forgiven till he appeared before the highest temporal seat of the community. No appeal from other office-bearers of the sansthan should be admitted, he stressed.

He said by dismissing one of its preachers did not exonerate the sansthan since all the preachers had been trained by Ashutosh to misguide and play with the religious sentiments of the Sikhs. 

Seminar on job opportunities
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, August 24
The scope of getting a government job in the state has became bleak and the number of unemployed youth is increasing by the day. To tide over this problem, students will have to prepare for competing in Information Technology at the global-level. These were some of the views expressed by speakers at a seminar organised by the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences, here yesterday.

Annu no longer a copycat
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 24
Music director Annu Malik, who was here today, told reporters at a press conference that allegation of plagiarism against him were a thing of the past. He said the success of his music in films like ‘Aks’, ‘Border’, ‘Fiza’ and ‘Refugee’ had removed all doubts regarding his ability and silenced his critics.

Annu organised this press conference in a hotel late today before presenting a programme in Guru Nanak Bhavan. This programme is organised by the Ludhiana Sanskriti Samagam.

The Bollywood music director said it was a homecoming for him, as he belonged to Punjab. His birthplace is Kapurthala, where he had spent several years of his life.