The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

SOPU delegation meets VC
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 11
To press their demands a delegation of over 50 members of the Student’s Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) met the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University today and handed a memorandum.

According to Mr Khushbaz Singh Jattana, president of SOPU, the memorandum lists the demands like immediate declaration of re-evaluation results of B, SC. and M Sc. (HS), re-conducting re-appear examinations of B.Sc. and MSc. (HS) classes, declaration of the BSc. (HS) examination result, Installation of photostat machine and PCO and new furniture in BMS Block.

Mr Jattana also informed that these facilities, which the campus has been lacking since long, would help the students a lot.

2-day training programme opens
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 11
A two-day training programme on ‘Pollution measurement and monitoring instrument’ as part of the National Technology Day celebrations was inaugurated at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) under the sponsorship of Punjab State Council for Science and Technology. Around 25 students from all over Punjab participated in the programme.

Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director CSIO, in his inaugural address stressed upon the collective importance of energy and environment that constituted the environmental impact assessment programme. He emphasised that science was now in a turning phase where due importance had to be given to issues of global concern. Emissions from industries posed a major health hazard. The Additional Director in the Ministry of Environment and Forests , Dr K.K. Garg, highlighted the threats of growing environmental pollution that had resulted in a huge depletion of biotic resources.

The president of the Environmental Society of India, Mr S.K. Sharma, inspired the students to adopt constructive measures to reduce pollution in and around their surroundings.

In another training programme on operation, maintenance and repair of bio-medical equipment at the CSIO, Dr J.D. Wig, Head of the Surgery Department , PGI, said new technologies promised to monitor the whole genome on a single chip so that researchers could have a picture of the interaction among thousands of genes simultaneously. Some of the equipment required specialised robotics and imaging equipment to provide multiple applications.

Dr I.B. Singh, Director in the Department of Science and Technology, highlighted the benefits of the programme for the health-care systems in the country. He said instrumentation had become all the more important since not only diagnosis of the disease but also the treatment of the ailments was to a large extent dependent on instrumentation.

COURTS

Another case filed against jail authorities
Kiran Deep

Chandigarh, November 11
With the UT Administration failing to mark a probe into the recent seizure of articles in the Model Burail jail, counsels for the accused in the Beant Singh assassination case today filed another case against the Inspector-General of Prison and the jail authorities. They have sought a judicial inquiry into the seizure of articles, including a mobile phone, Rs 40,000, from the barracks and the alleged torture of the accused. This was the third complaint filed against the jail authorities since the recovery.

Meanwhile, the CBI and the jail authorities today sought time to file reply in two different complaints filed by the accused to get their medical examination and against their confinement in small barracks.

Counsels stated that keeping in view the past misconduct of the jail authorities and the present incident, it had become necessary to hold the judicial inquiry with regard to smoking on the jail premises or in the Bakshi Khana located in the district court complex or in the bus or providing smoking material to the undertrials while going to the courts in a bus is permissible, whether the right of protesting against such smoking is legal.

Counsels — Mr Amar Singh Chahal and Mr N.S. Minhas — have filed the case on behalf of one of the accused in the Beant assassination case, Paramjit Singh, against the UT Administration through the IG (Prison), the Superintendent of the jail, the Deputy Superintendent and wardens.

They also sought probe whether there was any justification for solitary confinement of Jagtar Singh Tara, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh because of their protest against the smoking; whether Jagtar Singh Tara, Jagtar Singh Hawara, Paramjit Singh have been beaten up by jail staff in the presence of the Jail Superintendent; whether the jail authorities recovered the mobile phone and the cash from the accused; and what was the reason for not getting the judicial appraisal about the solitary confinement of the accused.

Meanwhile, other two cases filed by the accused — to get their medical examination and against their confinement in small barrack — CBI counsels — today sought more time to file reply. They stated that since the CBI had been investigating the case, therefore, they would file the reply after getting feedback from the CBI.

CULTURE

Lively show by foreign students
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 11
A myriad of different cultures joined hands in a most spectacular fashion as different segments of foreign students residing in the city put up a show the at Tagore Theatre this evening. The occasion was to celebrate ‘The International Students Day’, a day dedicated to the memory of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the founder of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The platform to the students was provided by the Chandigarh chapter of the ICCR.

The programme started with a Tibetan dance item performed by a group of four boys and four girls, all attired in colourful dresses. It was followed by a host of songs and dance items from Thailand, Bhutan, Africa and Japan.

Though traditional dance items reigned the show, a few like the Bhutanese dance troupe opted for modern dance items. Ethiopian students presented a traditional dance ‘Iskiota’, depicting the festive season of the country, while Tibetans besides performing the famous Yak dance, installed an essence of spiritualism in their performance by presenting an item in praise of the Dalai Lama.

Richard from Keneya recited a self-composed poem ‘I love you Africa’, while Tenzing presented a folk song from Eastern Tibet. The show concluded with a fashion show, which was participated by all. Mr R.C. Nayyar, was the chief guest.

‘Mahi Mereya’ released
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, November 11
To lip sync is to kill the art of singing. This was stated by film producer Ajit Sailani after releasing Punjabi pop songs cassette ‘Mahi Mereya’, at a press conference held here today.

This is the first cassette of singer Bai Amarjit who has sung punjabi numbers on music given by Madan Shoki. Speaking on the occasion, Bai Amarjit said he had tried to stay away from singing vulgar songs or even working in videos that projected his songs as vulgar. Mr Shoki also pointed out that the other than the electronic music which had been used for the songs, of traditional music instruments of Punjab, had also been used.

The producer of the cassette, Mr Inderjit Singh Waraich, said more than Rs 20 lakh had been spent in bringing out the cassette and videos of some of the songs which would be soon on air.

A protagonist of classical music
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 11
Rupande Shah is all for promoting classical music among the younger generation. A renowned vocalist herself with ‘taalim’ of different gharanas to back up her talent, she does not believe in limiting her talent on just to herself but disseminating the knowledge she has accumulated from several gurus through her Saptak School of Music in Ahmedabad with a trust fund which takes care of the needs of poor talented children.

Endowed with a rich mellifluous voice, Rupande Shah possesses a unique style of singing which could be contributed to her training under different gurus from different gharanas. Her initiation into music started with Raosaheb Mhasker of Gwalior Gharana at a very early age, which was later honed by Ustad Kadir Khan from Mewati Gharana, Ustad Gulam Ahmed Khan from Agra Gharana and finally Pandit Maniramji of Benaras Gharana.

Though a staunch devotee of Hindistani vocal since the last 25 years, Rupande has her share of experimentation in various art forms. From a singer to a Bharatnatyam dancer to television actress and finally back to her first love singing, Rupande’s life has gone through a full circle.

“Even when I was learning music, I enrolled myself for Bharatnatyam under Mrinalini Sarabhai ,which dominated my life for about a decade,” says Rupande, who is in town to perform at Pracheen Kala Kendra on the occasion of the 70th monthly baithak programme at its Bhaskar Rao Indoor Auditorium in Sector 35 here today.

And when the age for TV came, she did not hesitate to seize the opportunity when it knocked her door. Besides working in a number of Gujarati series, Rupande also worked for many offbeat plays, the theatre wing of “Darpana’, finally bagging the prestigious “Gaurav Puraskar” by Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Academy.

However, it was the Chandigarh audience that saw the singer avtar of Rupande at the Kendra today. Starting the programme with a bandish “Kanwan dhang tora” set to raag Behag in Vilambit teen taal, she got into the siprit of Sringer Ras. Moving on to Pt. Rajan Mishra’s soul searching composition “Ab sudh na rahe mohe Ghansham” in Raag Behag, doing full justice to the composition.

Presenting another bandish in raag Behag “kanha bhar bhar mare pichkari’ in a deep voice, showing full control over voice and rhythm, she moved onto other compositions in raag Hamir. The evening concluded with a thumri and Bhajan which received thunderous applause from the audience.

Rupande was accompanied by matang Parekh on the tabla and Neeraj Gandhi on the harmonium.

EXHIBITION
Vastness of basic elements captured on canvas
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 11
“Panch Mahabhota” or the five basic elements of life have found a new meaning in Parveen Kumar Rajput’s work, through amalgamation and unification with each other to create life and each invariably depicting a sound philosophy through simple brush strokes. The artist through a series of 10 paintings in oil has captured the significance of Aakash, Jal, Vayu, Agni and Prithvi in creation of life.

With his current exhibition at IndusInd Art Gallery in Sector 8, art lovers have got an opportunity to take a deep plunge into the Indian philosophy. So as you look at his “Akash,” it not the limitless space you see, but it gives you a feeling of life which the artist has effectively executed by using a body of white feathery clouds in contrast to the vast blue.

Using the same technique, he has painted “Vayu”, with a single leaf floating in the air to give the feel that “Vayu” around you is vibrating with life, one just has to reach out to touch it.

Third of the series “Prithvi” is equally intriguing, showing a small mass of earth, gradually merging into the mother earth symbolising the fate of every living being.

“These paintings are an attempt to capture the profundity, the depth, the splendour, the sublimity and serenity "of these immortal constituents of mortal beings,” says Parveen adding that “along with them, an effort has been made to portray the mystique of body, soul and universe”.

His “Idam Shariram”, “Brahmand”, “Descent of Soul”, “Life” and “Flight of Soul” are all intriguing, giving one the visual pleasure and at the same time leaving a deep imprint of reality on mind.

Parveen’s simple strokes and judicious use of colour has enhanced the beauty of his creations.

A former student of the local Government College of Art, this is the first time the artist has put up a solo show in the city. “As a lecturer in art I came in contact with people from different walks of life whose philosophy of life left a mark on me,” says the artist. And this exhibition is the result of his subsequent interest in Hindu mythology.

Parveen’s solo works have already been exhibited in various art galleries in the region and has won awards like MS Randhawa Award from the Government College of Art and also for his work during the All-India Poster Competition on social welfare subject, All-India Exhibition of Art, The Creators and SPYM, New Delhi.