The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Welcome bash for NIFD freshers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27
Even a heavy shower towards the afternoon failed to dampen the spirit of freshers, who made the National Institute of Fashion Design’s freshers’ party look like some show straight out of a ‘wild and wacky sequence’. Thoroughly living up to the theme of the party which, unlike many welcome bashes that happen around, was a massive affair of glamour, the freshers had actually dressed up wildly enough to attract attention.

Sporting glitters and paints to match the tone of their faces, they had also put up amusing accessories. No wonder the theme of the party ‘Wild and wacky’ stood bared in every corner of Majlis, Shivalikview, the place which NIFD had booked for holding the bash. In fact, to call today’s show a bash would be a major understatement. The entire setting was too professional to be termed as freshers’ party. An almost transparent, vibrant dance floor, a high-wattage music delivery system, manned by deejay Gagrin and, of course, garments to match those of models — everything teamed up to add colour to the party.

The high point of the show was the contest to choose Ms and Mr Fresher, which was finally won by Simran of fashion designing course and Tanan of textile designing course. The contest was rather well planned and organised. The first short-listing was done on the basis of level of confidence of freshers and also their body language. Girls were supposed to hold props and walk the tiny ramp, up to Delhi-based Veejay Madhukar Malhotra, who then quizzed them rather heavily on many an occasion. For a change, most freshers sounded composed and looked confident.

Apart from freshers’ welcome, the day was also chosen to bid farewell to the passing out students. A contest for choosing Ms and Mr outgoing was also held on the occasion. The respective titles finally went to Shilpi and Harshvinder. The contest was also held for Ms beautiful hair, eyes, smile, charming and Mr personality titles. Yet another part of the show, which went on for well over five hours, was a dance party on track music.

FROM THE COLLEGES
Students appeal to Jacob
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27
Criticising a change in policy by the National Council, Delhi, which led to 73 students failing and 49 getting a reappear, the students of the Hotel Management Institute, Sector 42, today urged the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd), to intervene into the issue. In a letter to the Administrator, the protesting students demanded that the result should be revised as per the old policy under which pass marks were increased from 35 per cent to 40 per cent.

The students organised a ‘masked demonstration’ outside the college premises demanding the removal of the Principal for his ‘biased’ attitude and role in changing the result policy. The students said the agitation would be intensified if the local authorities failed to come to the rescue of the students.

Talent search

Interior-decoration skills and personal grooming were displayed at an inter-class talent-search competition organised by the Home Science Department of MCM DAV College, Sector 36, here on Tuesday.

Over 50 students participated in flower arrangement, ‘rangoli’, ‘mehandi’ and wealth-out-of-waste contests coming up with innovative and original ideas. The Principal, Ms Usha Gupta, lauded the efforts of the students.

Freshers’ party

Group songs and group dances marked the freshers’ party for post-graduate students of the five departments in the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here on Tuesday. Beginning with ‘vandana’, students presented “Latthe di chadar” followed by a dance performance on “Ghanan ghanan” from the film “Lagaan”. A solo song was also presented by Gurinder, a student of MA II Music (Vocal).

Later, a modelling session was organised to select Ms Fresher (post-graduate). While Ekta of MA Music (vocal) was declared Ms Fresher, Bharti of MA Public Administration was the first runner-up, while Kamaldeep of MA Music (vocal) was the second runner-up.

Organised by the Post-Graduation Association of the college, it was inaugurated by Principal, Mohini Sharma. The aim of the programme was to initiate freshers on the path of self-reliance.

Blood donation

A blood donation camp was organised by the students of University Business School, Panjab University, here on Tuesday. As many as 78 units of blood were donated by the students. The camp was organised by the department in collaboration with the Blood Bank Society, PGI.

Remand for bribery accused
Our Correspondent

Kharar, August 27
Mr Roshan Lal Chouhan, Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, today remanded three employees of the Municipal Council, SAS Nagar, who were arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on corruption charges, in police custody till tomorrow and ordered that they should be produced at in the court at 11 a.m. Those remanded in police custody were S.K. Gulati, Rajinder Singh and Padam Kumar.

Mr Jatinderjit Singh Punn, Public Prosecutor, had pleaded for 14-day police remand of the accused.

Devotional music touches young hearts
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, August 27
If you derive solace from devotional music, then, Sharma Bandhu are what you need. ‘Bhajan’ by the group educate, entertain and cleanse the soul. Students who heard this music during a performance in the Sector 32 GGD SD College had such an experience. The music of Sharma Bandhu appeals to persons of all age groups and religions.

“Channels like Astha and Sanskar have made devotional music popular even among the youth,” said Gopal and Sukh Dev Sharma, senior members of the group Sharma Bandhu, most popular presenters of ‘Ram Katha’. “Pop music entertains and excites, but it can never touch the soul the way devotional music does,” said Gopal Sharma.

The group Sharma Bandhu comprises four Muzzafarnagar brothers — Gopal Sharma, Sukh Dev Sharma, Kaushalendra Sharma and Raghavendra Sharma — who entered the world of devotional music in 1971 with the album ‘Vinay Patrika’ that was based on ‘Ramacharitamanasa’ by Tulsidasa.

‘Suraj Ki Garmi Se Jalte Huay Tan Ko Mil Jaye Taruvar Ki Chhaya’ for the film ‘Parinay’ was the first and last playback song of the group. The song has been sung time and again ever since, by singers like Anup Jalota, Roop Kohli and Sonu Nigam.

Remixed versions of the ‘bhajan’ do not upset Sharma Bandhu. “Imitation is the best form of flattery,” say the brothers. When asked why did the song have to be their last for the silver screen, the brothers said: “Cinema gave us much wider audience than we could create otherwise, but we decided to stop there to prevent ourselves from deviating from our aim.”

The brothers were initiated into the world of classical music by their father, Pt Rama Nand of Gwalior Gharana. The group has been utilising its deep understanding of classical vocal music to give a modern touch to devotional music to reach the masses.

“We have experimented with our creations, but by remaining well within the purview of classical music,” said Gopal Sharma and Sukhdev Sharma. Students hummed along when Sharma Bandhu presented their last composition of the day, ‘Tum Bhi Kaho Sita Ram, Hum Bhi Kahen Sita Ram’. The experiment seem to be quite successful with students.

Sharma Bandhu had come here to perform at a prayer meeting on the college campus on the third death anniversary of Pt Mohan Lal, a former Education Minister of Punjab and founder president of the SD College.

The function was attended by Mr K.K. Sharma, Mr Surinder Sharma and Mr Upkar Sharma — sons of Pt Mohan Lal — besides principals and representatives of various SD Colleges and the other institutions of Punjab, Haryana and HP.