HEALTH

Cosmetic surgery in 4th century
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 23
Strange as it may sound but evidence of hospitals, practicing reconstruction, cosmetic surgery and therapy for one and all, including royales, monks and the commoners, proves that the first such institute was set up in Sri Lanka, way back in the 4th century.

“For us Sri Lankans, procedures like operative therapeutics and cosmetic surgery are nothing new as going by Gautam Buddha’s saying, “Health is the greatest gain”, even the monasteries for monks had disciplines catering to personal hygiene and health,” said Dr Lakshman Ranasinghe, a renowned dermatologist from Colombo. He is here to attend the fifth Biennial conference of Association of Cutaneous Surgeons of India, being held at PGI.

“Excavations undertaken near the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, in the north central province, have established the presence of the first hospital “Mihintale” way back in the 4th century, “he revealed. Surgical procedures and cosmetic surgery was performed to give solace to a woman whose nose was cut if she was found to be unfaithful to her husband or to a warrior whose ear was chopped off if he brought disgrace by defeat in some battle, during the reign of King Buddhadasa in 337 AD.

“The warrior whose ears were chopped for having lost the battle, was made to look normal through a surgical procedure, where the undercut flap below the missing ear was later turned up, when there was adequate blood supply,” said Dr Ranasinghe, while explaining the reconstruction of the ear.

“Cosmetic reconstruction of external appendages and organs was practiced with utmost skill, granite medicinal baths were used for cosmetological therapy, herbs and natural products, including clay, were used to beautify prospective brides and skin damaged from chicken pox was treated with soothing and healing herbal pastes,” he says, to give a glimpse into the cosmetology and dermato surgery in ancient health in Sri Lanka.

Dr Ranasinghe said out of a total of 23 category of diseases 14 were skin related, with hot baths, oil baths, granite medicinal baths and pastes made from gold being used to improve coarse and blemished skin in ancient Sri Lanka. “There were effective remedies for dry skin, chapped soles and small pox blemishes, proving that the roots of modern day allopathy can be traced to ancient ayurveda,” he stated.

Declamation contest on AIDS
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 23
Finding effective ways of spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS and care and support of persons suffering from the infection were some of the issues which came to forefront at Lala Lajpat Rai Bhavan in Sector 15 here yesterday.

These discussions were the part of a declamation contest, organised by the Servants of the People Society as a part of the ongoing Sher-e-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai martyrdom fortnight celebrations.

About 40 students from urban and rural schools of Chandigarh participated in the contest, speaking on topics, including effective ways of spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS, care and support of persons suffering from HIV infection, effective ways of spreading awareness on ill-effects of tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse, healthy life style leading to longevity and happiness and the role of family members in dealing with addiction as an illness.

Mr G. K. Marwah, Secretary, Social Welfare, in his presidential address, said participation was more important than winning a prize.

Mr Onkar Chand, Chairman, of the local branch of the society, highlighted the importance of Lala Lajpat Rai as a role model for the youth of India and urged them to carry forward the tradition set up by one the greatest freedom fighters of the country.

Dr Ajit Saroha, Deputy Director, State AIDS Control Society, UT, Prof Pooja Sharma from GCM, Sector 11, and Prof R P Chaddah from DAV College judged the event.

On this occasion, the society awarded the second installment of Dr Amolak Singh Arora Scholarship to 53 students of selected rural and slum schools. Under the scheme, over Rs 90,000 would be disbursed during the academic year 2002-03. In today’s function, each student was given Rs 600 in cash for four months from August to November.

Following students were awarded prizes for their performance in the declamation contest: In the rural category - Manglesh Kumar, Institute for the Blind, Sector 26, (first); Renu, Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 38 (second); and Anu Babbar (third).

In the urban category - Ankita Sagar (first); Mehak Dhandhe, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26 (second); and Deepika Moti Ram Arya Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, (third).

SPORTS

Roller skating championship begins
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, November 23
Juhi Bhatnagar and Aseem Jindal of Hansraj Public School, Panchkula bagged honours in the six to eight age group in the Rink Race II (quad) event of the District Roller Skating Championship which began at the skating rink of Hansraj Public School here today. The other winners in various sections are: Below six (boys): Arpit Walia (Bhavan Vidyalya, Panchkula), and girls: Arushi Ganotra- Bhavan Vidyalya, Panchkula); six-to-eight years — boys-Naman Nanda (Bhavan Vidyalya) girls: Sanchi Ahuja (Shemrock Fort school). The other winners in different age groups are, 10-12 years (boys): Akshay (Blue Bird Skating club) and girls: Devanshi Mittal (Manav Mangal School), Jeetu (Manav Mangal), Arjun Gaddi (Blue Bird Skating Club), Megha Mehta, Amit Chaudhary (Manav Mangal School, Panchkula) and Anuradha (Blue Bird Skating Club).

In the Rink Race II (quad), the winners are, Pritish, Arshi Ghanotra, Satvik and Naurin. In the various heats for 10-12 years age group in 1500 metre, Rohit Bajaj led in I, Ashish Duggal in II and Achal in III. The other winners in the age group of 10 to 14 years were, Amber, Mayank, Geetika Anand, Mohnish and Anuradha. In the roller hockey matches, the Hansraj Skating Club defeated Manav Mangal School by 3-1 while Bhavan Vidyalya, Panchkula beat Roller Hawks by 6-0.

Chess championship

The Chandigarh Chess Championship for below seven, nine, 11 and 13 age groups in both boys and girls sections began at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here today. As many as 58 participants in various categories took part in this meet organised by the Chandigarh Chess Association. Two top-ranking players in each age group will represent the UT in the National Chess Meet to be held at Lucknow (below 7, 9 and 11) and at Kolkata (below 11 and 13). Those leading at the end of today’s round were: Below seven — Shivam Rahi; below seven (girls): Ayushi Tokhi; below nine (girls): Subhneet Kaur; below nine boys: Hemil Gosain; below 11 (girls): Malika Goel; below 11 (boys): Anmol Razdan.

Annual sports day

Gian Jyoti Public School, SAS Nagar today organised its annual sports day. Students presented a welcome song followed by flag hoisting by the chief guest. Various races in different age groups were also held. A cultural programme was also held which included Patriotic dance and a fancy dress competition. Students also presented bhangra. Mr J.S. Bedi, Secretary of the school, gave a vote of thanks.

Inter-college cricket tourney

Panjab University Campus and SD College ‘A’ will meet in the final of the UT Inter-College Cricket Tournament for Kapil Dev Trophy on DAV College, Sector 10 grounds. In the semi-final played today, SD College defeated DAV ‘A’ team by a narrow margin of two runs. SD College ‘A’ made 225 runs while DAV ‘A’ were allout for 223 runs in 44.2 overs. In the other semi-final, PU campus batted first and scored 233 runs for nine while the DAV College ‘B’ team scored 135 runs.

Table tennis team

The Chandigarh Table Tennis Association has selected a 16-member team in the sub-junior and cadet sections for its participation in the 64th National Sub-Junior and Interstate TT championship to be held at Sirsa from December 2 to 9. Mr Harish Kumar and Mr Narinder Saini will accompany the team as manager and coach respectively. The teams are as following — Sub-Junior (boys): Sumit Kumar, Rajan, Manik Vig and Sameer Singla. (Girls): Sunanda, Mahima, Guneet Kaur and Sadhika Kaushal. cadet (below 12): (Boys): Rajan, Sameer Singla, Mohit Malik and Puneet Kumar. (Girls): Sadhika Kaushal, Meghna, Naina Suri and Aalamjit Kaur.

Volleyball selections

The Chandigarh Volleyball Association has selected a 24-member UT senior team, including 12 women players which will take part in the 51st Senior National Volleyball Championship to be held at Chautala (Haryana) from November 24 to December 1. Gagandeep Singh will lead the men section and Sapna Joshi the women section. According to Mr B.L. Malhotra, honorary, secretary of the association, the teams and as following — Men: Kehar Singh, Prahlad Singh, Anil Nainta, Daleep Singh, Vijay Ahuja, Gagandeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Kawaljeet, Satpal, Sanjeev Kumar, Gaurav Chauhan and Rajeev. Women:Mukta, Shivani, Lata, Apneet, Sapna Joshi, Poonam, Priyanka, Inderpreet Kaur, Rachna, Amandeep Kaur, Nisha and Rupinder Kaur.

Kho-Kho meet

The First Challenger Kho-Kho meet will be organised in both men and women sections on November 30 and December 1. This meet will be held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 43. Entries may be sent to Mr Satpal or Mr Madan Tiwari at the above-mentioned venue on November 28.