EDUCATION

KVM team wins declamation contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 23
“India is not crumbling under modernisation and modernisation is not westernisation as commonly believed,” thundered a passionate voice of a young participant in the 22nd Inter-School Reena Simmi Memorial Declamation Contest held in KVM today. The young speakers were well prepared and spoke with great conviction.

The contest held in memory of Reena and Simmi is an annual feature and is one of the prestigious declamation contests. This year like the previous years, it got an overwhelming response from the schools both within and outside Ludhiana. The contest was presided over by Dr (Ms) Inderjit Gill Vashisht, Principal, Government College for Women. The other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, Rajya Sabha and president, KVM Managing Committee, Dr D.V. Jindal, an expert and retired lecturer, Government College for Boys and the other members of the school managing committee.

The Principal of KVM School, Ms Neena Khanna, accorded a warm welcome to the dignitaries and the outside teams. “In this digital era where there’s neck and neck competition, the talent of good communication takes people ahead both in professional and personal lives”, said Ms Khanna.

The topics for both Hindi and English declamation were selected by Ms Neena Khanna and were relevant and thought provoking. The popular topics that the students spoke on were “Increasing Modernisation — Crumbling Values”, “Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire”, “Female Foeticide — a blot of mankind”, “Youth is not a matter of years but of attitude blooming with cheers” and in Hindi section the students spoke on “Naitik muliyon ki raksha, desh ka vikas”, Charitra ke bina shiksha adhoori hai”, “Adhunikta ka daur na badla shishka ka swarop” etc. As many as 26 participants from 13 schools participated in the contest giving the judges a tough time.

The chief guest, Ms Inderjit Gill Vashisht, congratulated the winners and appreciated the Principal of the school for the excellent organisation and selection of topics.

The Reena Simmi Trophy was won by KVM School (city branch) whereas the second position was bagged by Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar.

In English declamation, Taran Khangura (KVM, Civil Lines), Nidhi Bhuchar (BCM Arya School) and Sheebs Soin (KVM city school) bagged first, second and third prizes, respectively. Neelam Narula of BSF school bagged the consolation prize. In Hindi declamation, Varun Garg (Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar), Sahib Preet (KVM, city branch) and Jagriti (KVM city branch) bagged the first, second and third positions. The consolation prize was won by D. Jagriti (DAV Public School).

Two PAU scientists selected
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 23
The PAU scientists, Dr K.S. Dhillon, Senior Radiation Soil Chemist, and Dr B.D. Sharma, Senior Soil Scientist, have been selected as Fellows of the National Academy of Agricultural Scientists in recognition of their research work in soil science.

Dr Dhillon has made significant contributions on the toxicity of selenium in soil-plant-animal system. Selenium toxic areas have been identified in some villages of Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab. He has identified the sources and pattern of distribution of selenium.

He has suggested that the excessive transfer of selenium from soil to certain crops has resulted in acute health problems in animals and human beings.

Dr Sharma has done outstanding work on micronutrient in soil-plant system and the classification and genesis of soils in Punjab. His work on the nutrition of zinc has found wide applicability. Dr Sharma has also pioneered studies on the resource inventory of the benchmark soils of Punjab.

Orientation week ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 23
The ‘orientation programme towards corporate environment’ that commenced at the Guru Nanak Institute of Management & Technology, Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, on November 9, 2002, concluded here yesterday.

The orientation week was organised with view to acquaint MBA students with the practical aspects of corporate environment. The orientation exercise comprised seminars by eminent educationists from diverse fields.

On the last day of the programme, a seminar was organised on ‘understanding published financial statements’. Dr Y.P. Sachdeva from PAU was the guest speaker.

He addressed the students and shared fine nuances of preparing financial statements. An understanding of these statements is vital for the aspiring managers as it gives an insight into the financial soundness of a concern. The financial stability of a business reflects its ability to survive and prospects of future growth in the market.

Hence, financial statements provide a true picture of an enterprises’ health and vitality.

The seminar was followed by an interaction of the speaker with the audience.

PU Zonal Youth Fest results
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 23
The third day of the Panjab University Zonal Youth Festival here was marked by the presentation of various items related to instrumental music, orchestra, Indian classical music, ghazal, folk songs, giddha and creative writing at Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College for Women , Kamalpura.

The chief guest of the morning session was Dr Sodhi Ram, Controller of Examinations, Panjab University, Chandigarh. The chief guest of the evening session was Mr Gurmeet Singh, SDM, Jagraon. The guests of honour included Mr Jaswant Singh Kanwal, a novelist, Dr Surinder Kumar Sharma, Director, Youth Welfare Activities at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Dr Baljit Singh Hansra, Assistant Director-General, ICAR, New Delhi.

College Principal Manjit Singh Khattra welcomed the chief guests and distributed prizes among the winners. Giddha stole the show and L.R.DAV College, Jagraon, bagged the first prize. In all, teams from eight colleges participated in the event.

The results are as following: Instrumental Music (Percussion) — Rajinder Singh of GN College, Narangwal, I; and Jatinder Singh of L.R.DAV College, Jagraon, II. Instrumental Music (non-percussion) — Neeru Bala of SGGJ Girls College, Raikot, I; Kirandeep Kaur of Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, II. Instrumental Music (Punjabi folk) — Gursewak Singh of Government College, Karamsar I. Indian Classical Music (Vocal) — Gurpreet Kaur, SGGJ, Girls College Raikot. Orchestra — Government College, Karamsar, I. Geet — Vishav Bharti of L.R.DAV College, Jagraon, I; Dhanwant Singh of GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar, II; Anju Rani Verma of SGGJ Girls College, Raikot, III. Ghazal — Veerpal Kaur of Khalsa College for Women, Sidhwan Khurd, I; Jatinder Singh of L.R.DAV College, Jagraon, II; Gurjit Kaur of GGS Khalsa College, Jagraon, III. Folk song — Anudeep Kaur of GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar, I; Gagandeep Kaur of GGS Khalsa College, Kamalpura, II; and Pawanjeet Kaur of KCW, Sidhwan Khurd, III. Giddha: L.R.DAV College, Jagraon, I; GTB National College, Dakha, II; and GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sudhar, III.

Chetna yatra for social cause
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 23
“We should allow the girls to study, treat women as equals, not encourage child marriages were the messages conveyed to the school children of DAV Public School, BRS Nagar, through a play titled “Ishwar Kya Hai” based on the teachings of Swami Dayanand. Students had staged the play before starting the “Jan chetna yatra” in which 1600 students from classes VI to XII walked a distance of 7 km. Mr R.S. Patial, the principal explained the route that the students would walk from the school to Aarti Chowk and from there to Ghumar Mandi to Fountain Chowk and finally assemble in Rose Garden.

Talking to this correspondent Mr Patial said rally was being organised for the second time by the Arya Pradeshik Sabha and DAV School to make the students aware of Social ills like female infanticide, dowry problem, gender discrimination.

Mr Satyanand Munjal, vice-president of the DAV Managing Committee, while addressing the students said,” I do appreciate your enthusiasm for the cause. Swami Dayanand walked his path alone and was precursor of social reforms. He highlighted the problems of child marriage, advocated re-marriages of child widows, and led ‘a one man crusade’ with great zeal.

Mr Munjal and Mr Patial led the rally. A group of class XII class students said,” We are feeling privileged that we have got a chance to do something for society. We have made banners depicting social evils like ‘female foeticide’, dowry problem etc. We are going to march silently. If a handful of people change their view points and learn to think afresh, we feel our walk of 7 kilometers will be worth while.”

CULTURE

‘Akh da Ishara’ released
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 23
“Akh da Ishara”, the maiden cassette of Rimpi, was released by Mr Jagdev Singh Jassowal, Chairperson of Prof Mohan Singh Foundation, at Basant Resorts here today. The cassette has brought out under the banner of T Series.

Rimpi’s father Tej Ludhianvi discovered his son’s talent and wrote some lyrics for him. The father-son duo went to renowned music director Surinder Bachchan. After the audition and subsequent recording of songs in Chandigarh, they shot the video of the title song at the T Series studio in Noida. Rimpi says, “I am very happy that my cassette has received a good response. It is selling well in Punjab. I had taken to singing as a hobby, but now I am going to make it my profession.”

Rimpi, who completed his Masters Degree in History from Panjab University last year, proposes to do Ph.D in History. Still unaccustomed to adulation, Rimpi was pleasantly surprised when some among the audience wanted to take his autographs.