Science seminar series starts
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 11
A two-day science seminar series started at the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Model Town, Ludhiana here today. The series is being organised by the Science Department of the college comprising botany, zoology, physics, chemistry, maths, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology and industrial chemistry streams. The seminar started with the introduction note by Dr Bhupinder Kaur, Head of the Science Department. Principal Charanjit Mahal welcomed the distinguished guests.

Dr T.A. Sarma, Dean Research and Life Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, inaugurated the function. He delivered a lecture on ‘Bio-technology — its origin and development’. Dr M.I.S. Sagoo, Professor, Botany Department, Punjabi University, spoke on ‘structure of the DNA and its over view’ in the afternoon session. Dr Sandeep Kaur of the Chemistry Department of the college thanked all guests.

The seminar hall was packed to full strength. The high level of interest was obvious in queries put to renowned speakers by the students.

‘Dastak’ exhibition impresses
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 11
Dastak, an art exhibition by Nona Khanna and Dolly Kalra, is on at the Nehru Sidhant Kendra. The exhibition lays emphasis on affordable art — art within the reach of the common people. It also aims to revive traditional rural art forms of various parts of India. Many paintings have used mud and cow-dung with colours to make these more attractive.

Similar are the paintings in Madhubani (rural style used by women of Bihar) in vegetable dyes. The exquisite framing makes these more attractive. These are folk paintings of Mithila from the Madhubani and Dharbanga districts of Bihar. It is a traditional domestic art done entirely by a group of women on walls of the houses which are plastered with cow-dung. Natural colours prepared from Kusuma and Patasa flowers; bel leaves, turmeric etc are used.

Ordinary clay has been used at in some of the paintings to create interesting textures. At some places, newspapers have been used as the base instead of canvasses and boards. Lamps are made out of ordinary pickle jars and empty bottles.

Another interesting corner displays a village scene with “leppen paintings”. The original style of this painting is called “Lapen”. In ancient times, women of the house used to plaster the walls with cow dung and clay to make decorative designs on the walls. Small pieces of glass are used to adorn the paintings.

Pieces of Kundan, semi-precious stones, mina, gold and silver powder have been used to highlight the pictures of God and folk scenes.

Paper mache has also been used to make interesting figures and faces. The exhibition also covers glass paintings, charcoal works, oils on canvasses, murals, crayons, impastos, a French painting technique, and water colours also.