 |
|
| Sunday,
October 6, 2002, Chandigarh, India
|
|
||||
|
|
Fun and frolic at carnival Ramgarh (Panchkula), October 5 Organised to promote young talent and create opportunities and a platform for healthy competition among kids and youth, over 1000 entries were received from various schools located in Panchkula, Chandigarh, SAS Nagar, Rajpura, Patiala, Jagadhari and surrounding areas. Competitions on essay-writing, slogan-writing, tattoo-making, face-painting, solo-singing, dance competition, fashion show and science fair were held. The contests were divided in the three categories — junior, middle and senior. The winners were given gifts apart from joy rides in the Amusment Park and the Water Wonder, informed Ms Bhupinder Kaur, manager, events. The results of different competitions held are as follows: Barbie-painting Essay
writing Slogan-writing Dance Solo singing Collage-making Face painting Tattoo-making Science fair |
|
Talk on water conservation Chandigarh, October 5 He said that water was too serious a problem to be left to the government and the challenge ought to be taken up by the student community. Later, the students were shown two documentaries “Born in Debt” and “In Dark Times” which motivated the children to promote communal harmony and national unity. In Palsora colony NSS volunteers took ailing children to the mobile medical vans for treatment. Parents were motivated to send their children to school.
Dev Samaj College for Women NSS volunteers of the college visited “Sehaj Safai Kendra” run by CAWED and the Municipal Corporation in Sector 27 where the Project Coordinator, Ms Payal Sodhi, explained how manure was prepared out of garbage. Later, a rally was taken out in Burail village to create awareness on cleanliness and safe environment among villagers. Two nukad nataks were also staged on the idea of proper disposal of garbage and curbing use of polythene bags. As many as 22 students from the local Chandigarh Coaching Centre, Sector 35, have made it to the medical colleges of Himachal Pradesh, while two of them have secured two positions among the top nine. Stating that Himachal Pradesh had great untapped potential, Dr Vinod C Khera, Director of the institute, said that the good results were a consequence of devotion of teachers and personal guidance given to students at the centre. Kalpana Sharma who stood first in the HP PMT examination, said,” I rose from humble performances in daily tests conducted at the centre.” |
|
Students
organise mock conference Chandigarh, October 5 The conference, which was inaugurated by Mr T.C.
Gupta, Senior Regional Manager, Food Corporation of India, had three rounds. It began with the General Assembly session that focused on the theme of terrorism. It was followed by three committee meetings on social, economic and security affairs. The participants were required to give their viewpoints on each topic in the context of the socio- political scenario of the country they represented in the conference. A mock press conference and prize distribution ceremony were the last items in the event. The team representing PMLSD Public School here was declared winner, followed by Shivalik Public School, SAS Nagar and Mount Carmel school here. Harmeet Singh of Shivalik Public School was declared the best participant. |
|
Kids put up a lively show Chandigarh, October 5 Their soulful presentation of the fable of a poor girl uniting with her Prince Charming in the end proved to be a great hit with the gathering. Sporting lovely smiles and innocent gestures, the kids talked of how Cinderella went through the thick and thin to court love and happiness. Each item of the cultural extravaganza presented by the tiny tots of the school proved to be a treat for the audience, completely bowled over as the children put their best foot forward to win one round of applause after another. An equally lively dance performance on “Yeh desh hai veer jawanon ka”, which was dedicated to Army personnel, kept the audience mesmerised. Earlier, the programme began with a prayer song, “God’s love” followed by a welcome to the guests by the colourfully attired kids. Dressed in shiny silver skirts and green short tops, nimble-toed little girls danced with young “men” in suits and caps to the peppy English number “Uncle John from Jamaica”. The Army band played melodious tunes to mark the celebration. The chief guest, Mr H.S. Hanspal, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, appreciated the efforts of the school authorities for putting up a wonderful show. Earlier, the Principal, Ms Anuroop Jouhal, presented the annual report highlighting the various activities undertaken during the session and the facilities being offered by the school to make the children feel at home. Also present on the occasion were Mr Ramesh Dutt, Punjab Health Minister, Mr R.L. Chowdhary, MLA, Dr Shamsher Singh, former policy adviser to the World Bank, and Mr Avtar Singh Brar, former Education Minister of Punjab. The Director of the school, Mr Lakhwinder Singh, was also present. |
|
Workshop
for DAV school teachers Panchkula, October 5 Initiated by the Directorate of Project Planning and DAV College Managing Committee and under the guidance of Regional Director DAV schools, Ambala zone, the workshop is organised for secondary school teachers, especially those teaching English and Hindi. The workshop aimed at providing reorientation to teachers of DAV schools, said Dr R.K. Chauhan, Regional Director, DAV Public School, Ambala zone. The workshop in English is being conducted by Ms Sarita Manuja, Principal, DAV public school, Sector 8, Chandigarh, and in Hindi by Dr D.S. Gupt and Mr Surinder Sharma. |
|
Group song competition Chandigarh, October 5 The contest was dedicated to Surinder Pal Mahajan, the elder brother of Mr Rakesh Mahajan, a noted social worker. A running trophy also initiated by Mr Mahajan in the memory of his brother. The team representing Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 41, bagged the trophy. Sharda Sarav Hitkari School, Sector 40 and Government High School, Sector 24, were declared second and third runners up, respectively. Besides, individual prizes were also given to the members of the winning team. Earlier, the competition was inaugurated by the District Education Officer, UT, Chandigarh, Mr Brahmjit
Kalia. |
|
Runfun at school Panchkula, October 5 The function began with the students singing a prayer song. This was followed by students of pre-nursery performing a nursery rhyme ‘Old MacDonald had a farm’, with children dressed up in outfits of different animals and bringing a farm scene to life. Choreography on Vengaboys hit number “Sha-la-la” and “I’m a Barbie Girl” enthralled the audience. A skit “Astha” showing the faith of a child in God- was widely appreciated. |
|
Craft exhibition at Woodlands school Panchkula, October 5 Pre-nursery classes had put up their projects on colours, vehicles, germination and personal hygiene. Students of nursery classes had created a model of jungle for their project animals. On the creative side, every class had made things using old plastic bottles, bangles, paper
mache’ objects, and other items using paper leaves. Science experiments done by children included “ See a plant drink’, “Use of air” etc. |
|
|
Pammi Bai revives the magic of Plaza Carnival Chandigarh, October 5 Starting the programme with a devotional song from his latest album, “Kisda Ram Kisda Allah”, he moved on to some of his foot-tapping numbers, including his most favourite number “Jee ni jan nu karda rangli duniya ton”. He also sang “Nach nach pauni dhamal,” “Eh dil mitran da,”Do cheezan jat mangda” and “Giddeh wich nach kudiye”. Pammi Bai was accompanied by a musical troupe “Nachdi Jawani” from Patiala. Pammi Bai, famous for his devotion towards Punjabi folk culture has a number of music albums to his credit, including “Dance with Pammi Bai”, “Majhe Malwe Doabe Diyan Boliyan”, “Nach Nach Pauni Dhamaal” and the latest “Kisda Ram Kisda Allah.” Centre for Carnival Arts, the organising body of the
Carnival since 1993 had to give last year a miss as the stage was undergoing renovation. “With extension of the stage and other infrastructure like green room, storage space, running this event is going to be much more easier than earlier,” said Mr Sandeep Malhotra, general secretary of the Centre for Carnival Arts. The centre, however, is yet to decide the names of those who are going to feature in this longest weekly series of carnivals (the carnival starts in October and will conclude in May next year) but keeping up with the previous tradition, this year too it would be an amalgamation of inter-state cultures, featuring mainly programmes from neighbouring Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. “To make this event interesting, we are already negotiating with a couple of famous singers,” said Mr Malhotra. The centre is also going to launch a website called www plazacarnivalorg.com on October19 to coincide with the birth anniversary of the carnival 10 years back. The carnival today was infused with life with live cartoon
characters mingling in the crowd and distributing sweets to children. Besides the main musical programme, the authority erects side booths for tattooing and sketch and portrait making. “To ensure people’s participation we have also started a
registration counter in which interested people can come and register their names for various cultural activities for the carnival,” said Ms Maniki Deep, president of the centre. All registered members will be subjected to an audition every Friday before being allowed to perform on stage. Meanwhile, another cultural outfit the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts (CIPA) organised “Dance Dhamaka” - a competition of classical, western and film-based dances at the Lake Club today. As many as 45 boys and girls took part in the competition. The organisation also honoured Baby Arzoo Updhaya as best female dancer, Master Paramdeep Singh Pumm as best male dancer and baby Aanchal Malhotra as Allround Talented child during the contest. |
|
WESTERN
FILM REVIEW But this comic flick is not about fun and frolic only. It also takes a look at the problems of cultural identity that the second-generation Indian-Americans face as well as at the way some of them keep their heritage alive while others don’t. Facing such a cultural dilemma is Krishna Gopal Reddy (Deep Katdare) who walks American, talks American and sleeps American. But Krishna has parents who practise Hindu rituals in the country of their adoption. And our desi hunk considers everything that has to do anything with his Indian heritage as an albatross around his neck. Always dreaming of leaving home to lead life his own way, Krishna gets an opportunity to enroll with an engineering programme of a college. He eagerly departs in the hope of finally living a normal ‘‘American’’ life. Krishna Gopal Reddy thus gives way to Kris. But look at his misfortune. At the campus, he is shocked to know that his three assigned roommates are desis — Jagjit Singh (Ronobir Lahiri) is an aspiring artist; Salim Ali Khan (Rizwan Manji) is a fussy traditionalist; and Ajay Pandya (Kal Penn) confuses himself with an African-American homeboy. Kris has hardly recovered from the body-blow when comes the discovery that the sultry siren he has fallen for is not a blonde but an Indian-American beauty who is a firm believer in traditional values and culture. To add to his discomfiture, she chides him for being an ‘‘American Born Confused Desi’’. Smarting under the rebuff, Kris begins a journey on a road to self-discovery which encounters opposition in the form of Rakesh Patel (Anil Kumar) who is also vying with him for the charms of Nina. It takes a dance party replete with garba, bhangra and fisticuffs for Kris’s resurrection as Krishna Gopal Reddy. Though dealing with serious questions pertaining to identity crises faced by Indians living in the USA, the maiden directorial venture of Piyush Dinkar Pandya falters while answering some of these. Why Krishna who loathes anything Indian keeps on pursuing a girl rooted in ethnicity even after discovering that she is not of US origin is anybody’s guess. Again, he does not make a beeline for an-all American ensemble of roommates to get away from his essentially Indian partners. It is also quite ludicrous to watch that the only thing the hero has to do to win the affections of the heroine is a Bollywood-type dance and fight at denouement. But if the director seems to be getting confused while handling the complex subject, the lead actors betray no such signs. Deep Katdare who plays a shallow charmer essays his role with elan. Chandigarh-born Purva Bedi, who looks like a cross between Deepti Naval and Kalpana Iyer is breezy on the eye. Though Ronobir Lahiri, Kal Penn and Anil Kumar add to the merriment in their own way, it is Rizwan Manji who, with his startled looks, takes the piece of cake. One hopes to see more of him in future productions. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
CHANDIGARH:
Move over ‘‘British desis’’, ‘‘American Desi’’ (Neelam) is here. With a bang or, shall we say, with bhangra! After all, where there are mangalsutras, dandiya and garba, there is bhangra.