EDUCATION

‘Tutde Rishte’ play gets first prize
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
The second day of the PU Zone B Youth Festival elicited a better response from the students with the morning session dominated by literary activities at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, here today.

Teams from city colleges participated in the debate on “In the opinion of the house, the celebrities pay a heavier price for the crime they commit than ordinary mortals”.

Later, the poem recitation contest also drew an enthusiastic response from students who recited poetry of eminent poets of Hindi and Punjabi. The most popular among them were Batalvi, Javed Akhtar, Bhai Mohan Singh among others.

However, the plays in the afternoon session were the highlight of the day, with participants completely involving themselves in their performance and characters.

“Tutde Rishte”, highlighting sufferings of women in society, staged by the host college won them the first position, while “Dharam vriksh par vish ki bel” by DAV College, Sector 10, on the use of common man by the powers that be for attaining selfish goals and settling personal scores got the second position.

The play “Chhakke” by students of GGDSD College, Sector 32, on the life, pain and suffering of eunuchs won the third position in the one-act plays category.

However, students of DAV College alleged that the decision to award the first prize to the host college was biased since mikes provided on-stage were switched off, the director of the play staged by SGGS abused them and a lecturer from the host college approached the dais and spoke to the announcer while the results were being declared.

Debate: Vivek Kumar-GC-11 (1), Harleen Kaur-GGDSD-32 (2), Neha Arora and Amit Shivrain-DAV (3); Poetry recitation: Harleen Kaur-SD-32 (1), Naveen Sangwan-GC-11 (2), Gumanjot Kaur-SGGS-26 (3); Histrionics: Arvinder Singh-SD-32 (1), Sapna Verma-GCA-10 (2).

Folk dances by students
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, October 30
The annual prize distribution function of the local branch of Shivalik Public School was held here today. Students from Classes VII to XII were given prizes for outstanding performance.

Mr Amit Ghosh, Director, Institute of Microbial Technology, who was chief guest, inaugurated an exhibition on arts and craft put up by schoolchildren, before the start of the function.

The function started with the shabad “Deh Shiva Var Mohe Ihay” followed by lighting of the lamp by Mr Ghosh.

Students wearing colourful costumes presented a Rajasthani folk dance “Ghoomer”. Another presentation “Lambadi dance” expressing the joyous mood of banjarans won great applause. A satire on the political scenario “Chunav Prachar” presented by a student of Class XII was well received.

A Kashmiri dance was vibrant enough to enable the audience visualise the beauty of Kashmir. A Haryanavi dance “Nau Ghar Jal Barse” was highly appreciated. Monami of Class VIII presented a Bengali dance and Gurtaj as Class XII gave a English number “Larger than life”. A shadow play “Creation” kept the audience spell bound.

The annual report of the school, which highlighted the achievements of students in the sphere of academics, co-curricular activities and sports, was read by Ms Baltej Matharu, head mistress.

Mr Ghosh while appreciating the performance of the students exhorted them to strive even harder.

DAV Surajpur team excels
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
The team of Nidhi and Bhavesh from DAV Secondary Public School, Surajpur, reigned supreme in the Principal Milkhi Ram Mahajan Memorial Kavita Recitation Contest at the ongoing All India Inter-State, Inter-School Cultural Competitions at the 33rd Annual Festival Week at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, here today.

Three special prizes were given to Keshav of DAV, Ropar, Onkar of GMSSS-46 and Agam of GMSSS-16 in the contest, which saw participation from 22 teams, while 11 individual participants contested for the award.

In the Principal Hari Ram Memorial Music Contest, the chief guest, Mr V.S. Kundu, Director, Science and Technology, Haryana, appreciated the dedication and enthusiasm among young generation and added that school was an institution that served as the foundation for a successful future of the students.

The results are: Poetry recitation: Vivek — GMSSS-16 (1), Mrinal — DAV, Thermal Plant (2), Anuj — GMSSS-16 (3); Consolation: Gurvinder — DAV, Ropar, Anisha — Army School, Chandimandir.

Bhajan: Kartik — Bhawan Vidyalaya (1), Vikas — GMSSS-37 and Bhavsetu — CL DAV, Panchkula (2), Kartika — DAV Centenary, Jaipur and palak — DAV Model-15 (3).

300 students honoured
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 30
At a function held at Tagore Theatre this evening, prizes were given to over 300 students for their performance in the field of academics, sports and cultural activities. The awards were presented on the concluding day of the annual function of Sector 19 Government Model Senior Secondary School.

According to a press note, prominent prize winners included Neha Anand who stood first among all city schools by securing 96 per cent in the AISSE of 2001, Nazma won four gold medals in state-level gymnastics, Shailpreet won the gold in sub-Junior Judo Championship, Vijay Prasad, Jasbir Kaur, Harminder Takkar, Sulbha, Kirti, Neha and Sonam won gold medals in state-level karate championship and the school was awarded over-all trophy for best in karate boys’ section.

Abhishek and Monica won the gold in Junior National Gymnastics Championship during 2001-2002. Vivek Sharma bagged the first prize in quiz on environment. In essay writing competition organised by Indian Oil Corporation, Diksha bagged the first prize and cash award of Rs 3,000. Gurpreet Singh and Gaurav Sharma bagged the first prize in English handwriting competition. Pradeep Nagar and Jatinder Singh bagged the first prize in Hindi and Punjabi competitions, respectively.

Old Stephenians’ get-together
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
The Old Stephenian Society (TOSS), an authorised ex-students’ body of St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, is holding a get-together for all former students of the school on November 2.

This is the first time that such a programme for all batches which have passed out of the school is being organised. The idea is to promote interaction and provide a platform to all former students of the school.

Entry will be through passes only. These are available in Chandigarh and panchkula. Further information of the availability of passes can be had from Nitin Soni (Treasurer) at 734419 or from Dhiresh Kumar at 875209.

All former students are also required to give their latest contact information, including roll numbers, year of passing out, current residence address and phone numbers.

Workshop on teaching science
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 30
“Science is an intellectual interaction and should be taught in a systematic way”.

This was stated by Prof Sudesh Gakhar of Panjab University’s Department of Education while inaugurating a day-long workshop on methods and techniques of teaching science.

The workshop, sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC), was organised by the Dev Samaj College of Education Sector 36.

Addressing the gathering, Professor Gakhar asserted that an open-minded approach should be adopted as scientific theories and facts were ever-changing.

The inaugural speech was followed by a series of lectures by eminent teachers from Panjab University, besides government schools.

The speakers included Ms Manju Dhinga, Ms Sunisha Sharma and Ms Raj Gupta. According to a press note, the chief guest Dr D.R. Vij, appreciated the efforts of the Principal, Dr Satinder Dhillon, for taking initiative in the field of research.

First prize for Ankita Sagar
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
The three-day celebrations of the seventh founder’s day of Vivek High School, Sector 38, began, here today, with an inter-school debate. Nine schools took part in this competition.

Departing from convention of having one speaker for and another against the motion, the organisers pitted one school against the other for discussions various topics.

The topics included “George Bush is a greater threat to world peace than Saddam Hussain”, “Retirement age for politicians should be made mandatory”, “In individuals, insanity is rare but in groups, parties and nations, it is the rule” and “Education abroad is no longer necessary”.

While Ankita Sagar of sacred Heart School was declared first, Chitwan Keith and Natasha Garcha of the host school were jointly declared second.

COURTS

Bar Council poll

Chandigarh, October 30
The Advocate General Haryana today cleared the nomination of one more candidate to contest the forthcoming elections of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, informed the Returning Officer of Bar Council, Mr Nirmal Singh Dhillon here today. Mr Dhillon informed that now there are total 118 candidates in the fray.

Mr Dhillon added that on October 28 earlier he had cleared the nomination papers of as many as 117 candidates whose nomination papers were found to be correct. He further informed that the council had fixed November 22 for polling to be held in Chandigarh and November 23 for polling to be held at district and Tehsil head quarters. OC

CULTURE

Rhythms of Punjab dominate
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30
The penultimate day of regional music festival at Punjab Kala Bhavan was all about the magic of Punjabi folk tunes. Songs of dhadis by Bhai Daya Singh Dilbar and Desraj Lackhani set the evening rolling. The form of music became better with songs from the Malwa region which were presented by master Bheem and his group.

Lalka and group took over to present songs on traditional folk instrument tumbi. Kafi and Heer by Barkat Sidhu created a mystic ambience, with specific reference to heroes and heroines. Trained in Patiala gharana, Barkat Sidhu brought the evening alive with the range of his voice. The line of rhythm was taken to the height by the famous Wadali brothers who regaled the audience by presenting the sufiana qalaam in their inimitable style. Folk songs by Kulwant Kaur and group also fitted well in the affair of melody.

Final session of the festival tomorrow will be chaired by renowned vocalist Shanno Khurana.