EDUCATION

Awareness exercise for workers
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 30
Vardhaman Spinning and General Mills Ltd and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) conducted an extensive awareness exercise for industrial workers to motivate and sensitise them about the opportunities of higher education available at the Vardhman workers colony here today.

Dr U.C. Pandey, Regional Director of IGNOU for Punjab and Chandigarh, was specially invited to give counselling to the workers. Dr Pandey said distance education was most suited to the requirements of industrial workers. He said IGNOU had a number of academic programmes, which were of considerable relevance to them." Anybody who has not done formal schooling but completed 18 years of age can directly do graduation from IGNOU.” IGNOU was running 76 academic programmes in Punjab and Chandigarh, most of which were extremely flexible in terms of entry requirements, he added.

Dr Pandey, while emphasising the utility of these academic programmes, said the university sent high-quality, self-learning materials directly to the students and provided support services to them on the weekends at its study centres. IGNOU was also extensively using the video tele-conferencing and live interactive radio counselling for the benefit of the students.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Mr V.K. Goyal, Chief Executive, Vardhaman Spinning and General Mills Limited, stressed that there was an urgent need for collaboration between the industry and universities so that peculiar educational requirement of working class could be addressed in a meaningful way. He said the universities ought to offer more and more flexibility in their programmes offering so that it became consistent with the requirements of workers.

Mr Goyal expressed the hope that this kind of activities and awareness programmes would go a long way in catering to the educational needs of those workers who could not go to the conventional universities to take education.

Teachers get teaching tips
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 30
“If you give a student reading skills early in his academic life, you can help the students to be self taught for the rest of his life,” said Mr John Mason, Headmaster, Doon School, Dehra Dun. He was the resource person of the seminar organised for the teachers of various schools in English language teaching today. The seminar was organised by the Oxford University Press.

He said two important points have to be focussed in order to make the teaching more meaningful. A teacher should develop more confidence in rules of English without pedantic adherence to the rules of grammar. This confidence would provide greater ease and flexibility to the teacher.

The school should develop reading skills of its students so that the students once empowered with the reading skills will become selfeducated. These days the children depend too much on their parents and teachers . Effective reading will initiate the learning process faster.

In the first session, Mr John suggested ways to make listening and speaking more effective. In the second session, he gave new insights into teaching of ‘reading and writing’. He told teachers how to teach poems and plays in the class and how to teach composition . The stress was laid on to develop a child’s talent by gentle prodding rather than spoon feeding.

Cultural extravaganza at GCW
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 30
The Old Students’ Association of Government College for Women, Ludhiana, organised a cultural function. A fabulous show of dance and music was put up on the ongoing celebrations of diamond jubilee of the college. The association has planned a number of events and today’s event was second in line.

Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib, MP, was the chief guest and presided over the function. He inaugurated the newly constructed bio-chemistry lab and also an exhibition that displayed beautiful phulkaris, traditional attire, utensils, parandas and even nalas (tapes). The students had painstakingly collected the traditional articles from villages and brought some from their homes. When Mr. Ghalib reached the room, gaily dressed girls presented a beautiful ‘giddha’.

The Principal, Mrs Inderjeet Kaur Gill Vashisht, formally welcomed the chief guest of the day. She also congratulated all prize winners of the zonal youth festival which was held at Ramgarhia Girls College, Ludhiana. These achievements added to the joy of diamond jubilee celebrations of the college. The programme started with a music item titled ‘Jeewan Jyoti’. A team of eight students played beautifully on the Indian instruments sitar, dilruba, binjo, santoor, dholak, bansuri, tanpura and jaltarang. The performance of the girls left the audience spell bound. It was followed by a gazal of Bashir Badar melodiously sung by Nimrita, a student BA 1st year. Later she also sang a semi-classical song based on raag madhiwanti.

All performances of the day were the presentations that had won first prizes during the zonal youth festival. Then, Jasdeep of MA II year played sitar followed by a performance on dholki by Surinder Kumar. The audience applauded the ‘kathak’ performance by Shalini, of BA III. A Rajasthani folk dance by the students dressed in the beautiful Rajasthani attire added colour to the programme. Ghazal ‘Ankhon mein raha dil mein’.... by Ninata of BA I and geet Mahi ve jind na meri rol by Rasi of BA III enthralled the audience.

In poetical recitation, self-composed poem by Jaskanwal Sobti and Tamasha by Samridhi stirred the audience. A special item ‘Seasons’ was performed by the commerce stream of the college. The modelling by students in different attires reflected the seasons of the year.

Mr Gurcharan Singh Ghalib also addressed the students.

The programe ended with a ‘giddha’ perfomed by giddha team of the college.

Management students organise cultural fete
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, November 30
Xclusive-Xpression, a cultural fete, which was organised in Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences, culminated here today.

The events included rangoli, debate, clay modelling, painting, face painting, fancy dress competition, skits, volleyball match and bhangra. Akshay, a student of MBA-1, entertained the audience with a song ‘khat tukde kar dena’ and a dance number by Pawan, Chetan and Yashma was lauded by the audience. On demand of the audience, the director of the institution, Ms Shalini Gupta, also presented a classical song.

In Ad-Mad show Arvind and Tam of MCA-II were winners of an ad on body lotion- ‘Baygon’. Mr Arvind got first position in fancy dress contest. The cultural programme ended with bhangra.

The chief guest was Mr V.K. Goyal, chief executive officer (CEO), Vardhman Spinning and General Mills Ltd. He distributed prizes to the students who won prizes in their respective events. In his key note address he appreciated the newly formed ‘Dhanurjay Club’ by the students of the institute which had organised such a successful function.

Dr Zora Singh, chairman of the management committee, said that informal way of learning was always fun and not a burden, which left an everlasting impact on the minds of people. Ms Shalini Gupta, director of the institute, said that students learnt better by doing rather than closed classroom teaching. As such students had to come and join informal clubs to learn by hands-on experience. Among other Mr O.P. Sahni (Director PIMT), and Mr P.K. Garg (Principal O.P. Bansal Public School) were also present.

Panel discussion on communalism
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 30
“Nationalism is becoming a weapon in the hands of the majority groups to capture power. Communalism has become a shield in the hands of the minorities to defend and safeguard their interests. The basic cause of religious communalism is not the religion-cultural differences but the intolerance amongst the people for each other’s religion.”

These were some of the views shared by the students of Lord Mahavira Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital during a panel discussion held in the college recently. The discussion was conducted by Dr Deepinder Singh and students, including Shweta, Maninder Kaur, Amritpreet Kaur, Chandni, Rajneet and Tarun, participated in this discussion. They all agreed to the view that religion was not the cause of communal disharmony but the politicians were misusing the name of religion for their own interests. These so-called politicians were using religion both as a sword and as a shield - sword for the Opposition and shield for themselves.

Communalism is a sensitive issue that must be tackled more as a political problem than a religious one. It is strange that even in the 21st century people were being killed by their fellow countrymen just in the name of religion or majority. The college students also collected some contributions for the riot-hit children of the country and presented it to the Principal, Dr Ravinder Kochhar. Dr Kochhar in his address said that the need of the hour was to mould the young minds and hold such informative talks, discussions and conferences. Dr Kochhar also congratulated the students and presented mementoes to them.

Sahir Ludhianvi remembered
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 30
There was dance, histrionics, drama, and different shades of music. One could witness explosion of talent of students of SCD, Government College yesterday in a cultural programme, Kahkashan. The programme was held in Sahir Auditorium and was dedicated to the memory of legendry poet , Sahir Ludhianvi, an alumnus of the college.

The evening was a kaleidoscope of different performing arts presented by students from all disciplines. The programme started with a shabad -’De Shiva Var Mohey’ followed by Jyoti Vandana. A solo tabla demonstration by Gurmeet folk songs ‘Ek tara bajda and later ‘do tare bajde’ were rendered beautifully. Malwai giddha and giddha were mind blowing. Jaswant presented histrionics. The robust and energetic bhangra by young boys enthralled the audience. Mr O.P. Munjal, patron of art and culture was the chief guest. He urged the students to develop passion for their work. He said success could be theirs if they follow 5 D’s. These are dreams, determination, direction, dedication and discipline. Pleased with the students’ performance, he gave Rs 11,000 to them and gifted Rs 21,000 to the college.

Prof Bhupinder Parhar, convenor, cultural affairs, and other members of the Cultural Society had worked hard to make the evening a success.

COURTS

CJM deputes Duty Magistrates 
A Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 30
The Chief Judicial Magistrate; Mr Arunvir Vashisht, has deputed Duty Magistrates at Khanna, Samrala, Jagraon and Ludhiana to do the duty work during December.

Mr Balwinder Kumar, Judicial Magistrate (class 1) Ludhiana, will work as Duty Magistrate from December 1 to 4; Mr R.K. Sharma, Judicial Magistrate (class 1) from December 5 to 7, Mrs Anshul Berry, JMIC, from December 8 to 11, Mr D.P. Singh, JMIC, from December 12 to 15, Mr Sanjay Agnihotri, JMIC, from December 16 to 19 shall remain on duty.

Mr Vashisht will personally do the duty work on December 20, while Mr J.S. Chouhan, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate will do the duty work on December 21. Mr Ashok Kapoor, JMIC, will perform the duty work from December 22 to 24.

Mr Gurmail Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, shall work as duty magistrate from December 1 to 12 and Mr Munish Arora, Judicial Magistrate class 1 from December 13 to 24 at Khanna.

Mrs Asha Kondal, Sub Divisional Magistrate, will perform the duty work from December 1 to 12 and Mr Ravinder Kumar, JMIC, from December 13 to 24 at Samrala.

Mr Tejwinder Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, will work as Duty Magistrate from December 1 to 12 and Mr H.S. Grewal, JMIC, from December 13 to 24 at Jagraon.

Mr Vashisht has further clarified that in case any Judicial Officer is unable to attend the duty work, it shall be his responsibility to make prior adjustment and alternative arrangement with some other officer.

In case both officers at Samrala happen to be on leave, then the duty work there shall be attended to by the Duty Magistrate, Khanna, and in the same eventuality the work of Khanna shall be attended to by the Duty Magistrate, Samrala. If both officers at Jagraon happen to be on leave then their duty work shall be performed by the Duty Magistrate, Ludhiana.