Students showcase talent at youth fest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 9
“The most important task before young generation is to fight the menace of dowry. Let merit be your dowry,” said Mr Darbara Singh Guru (IAS), Managing Director, Punjab System Health Corporation, addressing students of Ramgarhia Girls College on the third day of PU Zonal Youth Festival. He said the students have to steer clear of drugs and help society fight social evils prevalent today. He said, “Youth festivals help us to connect with the wondrous treasures of our heritage.”

The third day’s events started with beautifully synchronised competition “Orchestra Indian”. Six teams took part in the competition. Students had to make use of five different instruments. The teams made good use of sitar, harmonium, tabla, flute, benjo, matka, dholak, dilruba and ghungroos. The students showed their skill in ample measure. In some of the teams, one individual managed to play three instruments within a span of 10 minutes. Five judges for this competition were — Mr N.S. Rathore, Mr Tejinder Singh Pathan, both from Dev Samaj College, Chandigarh, Ms Anju Gill, TV singer, Principal S.S. Karin, Panjab University, Ms Harvinder Sharma, Govt College, Kalka.

The other contests lined up for the day were competitions in instrumental music and Punjabi folk instruments.

Creative writing competitions were also held. Students were given topics to write essays, poems and stories within a specified time period.

In the afternoon session , in classical dance competitions, students showed their skills in different dances like kathak, bharatnatyam etc. The group dancers were a visual delight. Dressed in colourful dresses of different states, their vigorous steps and perfect co-ordination electrified the audience.

The results are as follows: Poetry writing competition — Harmeet (RGC) 1; Sonjit KCW & Ravinder (GNG) 2; Shelly Sood 3; and consolation Prize was given to Harjinder (KCW).

Story writing competition — Vijeyta (KCW) 1; Anu Sharma (RGC), and Sarita Tiwari (MTS) 2; Shabnam (GNG) 3. Essay writing competition — Neha Saini (GCW) 1; Babita (MTS) and Gurpreet (RGC) 2; Shruti (SDP) and Anandeep (KCW) 3. Indian orchestra — Govt College for Women1; Ramgarhia Girls College 2; Khalsa College for Women 3. Sitar solo — Jasdeep Kaur (GCW) 1; Amandeep (KCW) 2; Inderpreet (GNG) 3. Punjabi folk — Surinder Kumar (GCW) 1; Ankit Kapoor (RGC) 2. Indian orchestra individual — Amanpreet, Deepti and Prabjeet were placed first, second and third, respectively.

Spreading peace through music
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 9
In the wake of present unrest and growing fundamentalism in the country, there’s a strong need to make the common people realise the vision and ideals of our Constitution and the basic values of humanity.

Keeping this in mind, a musical show “Insan Hain Hum” was organised at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, wherein Vinay Mahajan and Charu Bharwade from the IIM, Ahmedabad, stirred young minds by simple and haunting songs and presented the real picture of the present Indian society.

Vinay Mahajan is an agricultural engineer from Punjab and a postgraduate from IIM, Ahmedabad, and Charul Bharwada is an architect from Mumbai and a postgraduate from the School of Planning, Ahmedabad. The two have been involved in the issues related to water, agriculture and magrinalised communities. They are not formally trained in music but have developed a keen interest in using songs as a way to take the findings of their studies and field experiences to people.

Through their songs they made an appeal to say no to violence and hatred within and across our borders, for a peaceful new century and for a dignified human existence. The function was largely attended. Mr Satyanandji Munjal graced the occasion as chief guest. The performance of Vinay and Charul was so mesmerising that it cast a magnetic spell on the students.

DMC wins national quiz
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 9
The postgraduate team from the Department of Paediatrics, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, comprising of Dr Prateek Kapila and Shalindre S. Samra, have brought accolades to the institution by winning the national level PG quiz held during the ‘First national update on paediatric emergencies’ held at PGI, Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Paediatrics.

Dr Daljit Singh, Professor and Head, Department of Paediatrics, was also invited to deliver a talk on ‘Management of Acute Diarrhoea’ and ‘Dehydration in Children’. He stressed the initiation of oral rehydration therapy at home to decrease the morbidity and morality in such cases. Food based solutions like rice water with salt or lassi with salt were also recommended. Other fluids like plain water, thin rice kanji, dal water without salt, coconut water and soups were also acceptable as forms of oral rehydration therapy.

However, glucose water without salt, cold drinks, sweetened fruit drinks, coffee etc were not considered appropriate fluids, as these had high osmotic pressure and tended to aggravate diarrhoea and electrolyte disturbance, he added.

Orientation programme begins at GNIMT
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 9
‘Orientation programme towards corporate environment’, a programme for students of MBA and MCA, started at the Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, here today. The programme, comprises a series of lectures and presentations by eminent educationists, will conclude on November 21.

Today Mr Nitin Sawhney, consultant, personality development, International Institute of Successful Persons, Yamunanagar, spoke on ‘Ensuring success in life’. He enlightened the students on various aspects of achieving success in life through positive thinking and self-development. 

Science exhibition

Khanna, November 9
A science, art and craft exhibition was organised at Sacred Heart Convent School here today. “Budding scientists” of the school presented 50 models. Coal burning power plant by Rimaljeet, Navneet Kaur, transformation of solar energy by Gunjan Gera and Lagalmeet, heart and its functioning by Megha and Lefia were awarded the first, second and third prize, respectively. OC

1450 cases settled at Lok Adalat
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 9
A state-level special Lok Adalat based on 20 benches was organised by the Punjab State Legal Service Authority here today, in which around 2000 cases of different nature were taken up and more than 1450 cases were settled. Mr V.B. Handa, District and Sessions Judge, presided over the Lok Adalat.

Earlier addressing a seminar on ‘Free Legal Service’ organised by the District Legal Services Authority to mark Legal Service Day, the District and Sessions Judge informed that a special campaign would be launched to create awareness among the people regarding free legal service facility available for the poor, women, children and other many categories in which sarpanches and members of village panchayats and other representatives of various social and voluntary organisations would be actively involved.

Mr Handa expressing his concern over the poor response by the poor and other categories for getting free legal service, said because of the lack of correct knowledge about the facility, the needy had have to spend exorbitant fees to the lawyers to fight their cases in the courts. He said the state Legal Service Authority had constituted broad panels at district levels based upon reputed lawyers and sufficient charges were being paid by the government. Mr Handa informed that as a part of the awareness campaign seminars and big meetings would be conducted at subdivision and block levels where judicial, police and civil officers, lawyers and opinion makers would apprise general public regarding this facility and persuade them to avail it without any hesitation. He appealed the litigants from different eligible categories to avail of the facility without any apprehensions and in case of any problem they should bring it into his notice.

Phillaur: About 500 persons including lawyers, petitioners and general public attended a seminar on free legal services at Phillaur today S.N. Aggrawal, President Bar Association, Additional Civil Judge Jasjit Singh Bhinder and SDM Phillaur Sandeep Hans were among those who attended the seminar.

Cultural mela today
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, November 9
The Punjabi Sabhyacharak Kendra, Machhiwara, will organise a cultural mela tomorrow in SJS Nagar, near the bus stand. Stating this, Mr Dilbag Singh Mangat, chairman of the club, said renowned singers Gurdas Mann and Sardool Sikandar would be honoured with the “Man Vatan Da” and “Suran Da Badshah” awards, respectively, during the mela.

According to Mr Shakti Anand, patron of the club, the cultural programme will begin at 10 a.m. and is likely to continue till late hours. The Punjabi singers likely to perform are Kuldeep Manak, Surinder Shinda, Yudhvir Manak, Meet Malkit, Gurbaksh Shonki, Gurdeep Mehatpuri, Atma Budhewalia, Balwinder Mangat, Kulwant Billa and Kulwant Kaur, Bhupinder Gill and Neelam, Balwinder Sampla, Dildarpreet, Gurdev Sandhu, Surinder Mahiwal, S S Azad, Jagjit Johri, Asha Sharma, Satpal Satti, Pali Detwalia, Pawan Pummi, Malkeet Manga, Jagdeep Ghuman, Davinder Virk, Shabnam Khanna and Surinder Ladi.

The mela will be inaugurated by Mr Tejinder Singh Kooner, a former Chairman of the Central Cooperative Bank, Ludhiana, while a former Punjab minister, Mr Ishar Singh Meharbaan, will preside over the function.