PU comes to life again
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 7
City colleges and Panjab University were abuzz with activity, here today, after the week-long autumn break, here today, though attendance was thin on the first day.

While most hostel residents failed to show up on the first day, students are likely to return in full strength only after the Dusehra break. However, life returned on the deserted campuses with the day scholars attending classes in full strength though serious teaching did not take off.

Seminar: The Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, Panjab University, organised a discussion-cum-seminar on “Role of Community in Environment Protection” at Government High School, Khuda Ali Sher, here today.

The Director, Dr Ajaib Singh, expressed his concern over the depleting forest cover resulting in global warming, lesser rain, fall in water table and imbalance on environment equilibrium.

The Chairman of the Bio-Technology Department, Dr R.C. Sobti, spoke about “Pollution in and around our homes”. He said low roofs, absence of ventilators, use of plastic paint was affecting the health of man adversely. The Principal of the school, Ms Veena Aggarwal, proposed the vote of thanks.

Course on Paleoseismology: The Department of Geology, Panjab University, is organising a short course on Paleoseismology and earthquake Geology from tomorrow. About 20 participants from various geological organisations and universities are participating in the course. The faculty includes scientists from the Centre of earth Studies, Trivandrum, Geological Survey of India and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and Panjab University.

The course would be followed by a two-day field trip to Renuka and adjoining areas. The inaugural function would be held at the ICSSR Complex and would be inaugurated by Director, CSIO, Dr RP Bajpai, and presided over by Prof Hans Raj Gill, DUI.

PU results: The university declared the results of reappear and supplementary examinations of B Sc (Hons school), physics (I and II), maths (I and III), chemistry (I and II), microbiology (II), bio-chemistry (II and III) and Botany (III) conducted by Panjab University in August-September this year.

The result gazettes would be available at the new enquiry office for personal consultation during office hours on all working days. 

FROM SCHOOLS
Population Education Week
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 7
The Population and Development Education Cell of the State Institute of Education will observe Population Education Week from tomorrow. Various activities for this have been approved by the State Advisory Committee of the DPI (Colleges), UT.

The population week would conclude on October 14 with a paper-reading contest. Various activities will include an on-the-spot painting competition for students of classes VI and VII, slogan-writing contest for primary school teachers, group song, folk dances, essay writing and paper-reading contests. ‘Nukkad nataks’ on issues of population, development and education will also be staged in government schools on October 8 and14.

Rally by students

Students of primary schools of the city organised a rally to spread the message of leprosy elimination in urban slums, here yesterday.

The rally was organised by the District Leprosy Society, UT, to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. During the campaign, which began on October 4 and concluded on Sunday, 64,000 slum dwellers, mostly migrants, were surveyed and examined by specialists from the PGI and the General Hospital, Sector 16.

A house-to-house survey to spot leprosy cases was also held. Fifty schoolchildren of Mauli Jagran High School, along with anganwari workers and staff of the local dispensary, brought in 611 suspected cases who were examined by skin specialists. Of these, 11 cases of leprosy were confirmed. Free medicines were distributed to all patients suffering from skin ailments. The Director, Health Services, Dr C.P. Bansal, also visited the camp.

Painting contest

The Population Week being observed by the Population and Development Education Cell of the State Institute of Education, Sector 32, was launched with an on-the-spot painting competition here today.

Over 50 students from government schools participated in the contest on “Increasing population and its effects on environment”. The Director, SIE, Ms Surinder Tangri, inaugurated the competition. She asked students to act as torch-bearers and spread the message of small family. The venue would be host to a slogan-writing competition for primary teachers tomorrow.

The results are: Urban: Jogesh — GSSS-20 (1), Manoj-GSSS — 20 (2), Rajinder Kumar — GHS-41 (3), Ajay — GHS-38 (consolation); Rural: Yogesh — GHS-26 (1), Satnam Singh — GHS-Sarangpur (2), Deepak — GHS-26 (3); Model: Vandana — GMHS-44 (1), Ankit Awasthi — GMSSS-Mani Majra (2), Ishant — GMSSS-37 (3), Amanpreet Kaur — GMSSS-44 (consolation).

Saplings planted

A sapling plantation day was observed at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, here today. The SDM (South), Ms Madhvi Kataria, inaugurated the programme. Different types of trees were planted by members of the Lions Club Central Panchkula, while NSS cadets helped them in the endeavour.

Ms Kataria spoke on the importance of plantation of trees for pollution-free environment. A cultural programme was organised by the students.

The Principal of school, Mr Harjot Singh, thanked the chief guest and members of the Lions Club (central) Panchkula and prizes were distributed to the participants. Dr Ramneet Sharma also spoke on AIDS to the senior students of the school.

Inaugural meeting

The inaugural meeting of the Moti Ram Old Students Association was held here today. Old students, teachers and their families participated in the programme. At the meet, an executive body was also formed.

Clay modelling contest on wildlife
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 7
During the ongoing Wildlife Week celebrations by the UT Forest and Wildlife Department, an on-the-spot ‘clay modelling’ competition was organised at the Nepli Forest Rest House in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary near here today.

The competition was focused to create awareness among different sections of society, especially students, for protection and conservation of wildlife, including wild animals and birds like elephant, deer, pangolin, peacock, sambhar, porcupine, lion, red jungle fowl, cattle egret, parrot, koel, tortoise, turtle and rabbit, on which they were asked to prepare clay models.

The clay for the participants was provided by the department besides light refreshments and other material.

Mr Ishwar Singh, Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, who was also the chief guest of the function, said that the main objective of the celebrations was to educate the students about wildlife and its conservation, besides inculcating the feeling of love and affection for wildlife.

As many as 180 students from 15 schools located in Kaimbwala, Suketri, Mahadev, Kishangarh, Mouli Jagran, Manimajra and nearby villages showed interest in the competition. The competition was divided into two — senior and junior — age groups.

On the concluding day, a rally starting from DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8 to Leisure Valley in Sector 10 would be organised tomorrow at 9 a.m.

The results of the competitions are:

Senior: Ramakant and Jaswinder Singh (both of Government High School, Manimajra; 1, 2 and Kulwinder Singh (Alpha Educational Society, Gobindpura, Manimajra); 3.

Junior : Baljeet Singh (Government Model School, Manimajra); 1, Jagtar Singh (Giyan Jyoti Model School, Suketri); 2 and Abdul Razige (Shiwalik Public School, Suketri); 3.

Two participants — Varun of GN Hole Heart Public School, Mouli, and Nishu of Government Primary School, Kishangarh, were also given consolation prizes for their creations. 

SHIMLA-GIRL RAPE CASE
Notice of motion to UT
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 7
Taking up a petition filed by a witness in Shimla-girl rape case, Ram Lal, seeking the quashing of ‘illegal’ and ‘partial’ investigation into the matter by the Chandigarh Police, Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued a notice of motion to the Union Territory of Chandigarh for November 11.

The first information report in the case was registered on the statement of a Shimla-based girl on August 15. The victim had alleged that she was raped by M.K. Jain on August 14. She had made a similar statements in the court of a Judicial Magistrate the next day, it was alleged.

However, in an attempt to help M.K. Jain, the Chandigarh Police pressurised the alleged victim into changing her statement. They managed to get statements recorded in accordance with their wishes on September 6 absolving M.K. Jain.

Today, Ram Lal, in his petition, prayed for quashing of ‘illegal, partial and unfair’ investigation by the Chandigarh Police.

Arguing on his behalf, his counsel said in spite of a notification regarding probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the matter, the Chandigarh Police was still investigating the case.

CULTURE

Of ethereal melodies and soulful moods
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Presently concentrating on his 100 disciples, Pt Chaurasia talked with great hope about the future of Indian classical musical forms. “I am working towards revival, so are many other musicians. I am sure this pop music which has suddenly found unlimited takers will one day pass off as fast as it came in. In the end good senses will prevail,” said the maestro.

Mika bringing grunge music to India
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, October 7
It was not the compositions of the universe, but the effect of moonlight on human heart that intrigued Mika, Punjabi pop singer. This made him leave formal education early in life and surrender himself to music. He has become famous in the bargain.

“To me, music has always been everything — my companion and passion,” says Mika, in Hotel Shivalikview here to sing at a corporate party. “I was initiated into the world of music at the age of five by my father, Ajmer Singh Chandan of Patiala and Benaras Gharanas of Hindustani vocal music. Ever since, there has been no place for scientific jargon in my life,” says Mika.

The youngest of six brothers, with pop icon Daler Mehndi for an elder sibling, Mika has had a good life. His first album, ‘Sawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag’, hit the market in 1998; he has never been out of limelight ever since. His next albums, ‘Ishq Parande’ and ‘Gabru’, made him a singer of repute.

Regarding comparisons with his brother Daler Mehndi, he says: “I have been maintaining my own identity, be it hair style, way of singing or personality. It leaves no scope for any such comparison.” He does not carry the tag of Mehndi with his name, keeping it short and sweet — Mika, which is short for his name, Amrik Singh.

It is hard for him to step out of Daler’s shadow, but there is no love lost between the two. “With both of us globetrotting most of the time, we hardly ever meet, but, when we do, it’s like brothers. The others in the family, too, are good singers, though not as famous,” he says.

Mika is working on his next album, a fusion of Punjabi folk and grunge music, in vogue in America.

“This is new music, untried in India, so far,” he says. His passion for experiment, combined with his unique voice and dance style, is the secret of his success.

He was, once, an aspiring music director, but today, Mika is contented. “I have no ambition, but to do good work. I do not believe that one hit or one flop should be a yardstick for judging a person.

I would like to be a music director one day and wait till some good music comes my way,” says Mika, with a shrug that speaks volumes of his happy-go-lucky attitude.