‘Open day’ at DAV School
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
An ‘open day’ was organised at DAV Public School here today. The chief guest of the day was Dr V.K. Sharma, Registrar, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). This was the third open day organised by the school.

The day gives an insight into for the overall working of the school and the performance of students.

The day began with the students of pre KG presenting bouquets to the chief guest. They also performed dances and recited poems and stories. A class room displayed teaching aids used by the primary wing.

The entrance of the school was aesthetically done up with displays by the gardening, flower arrangements and table setting clubs. The highlight of the maths junior section room was a super market counter which enabled the students to have a peep into billing accounts. And in the senior section there were charts and models depicting concepts of solid figures. One minute games were also organised for parents.

In the social studies section, the main attraction was the live show depicting Vedic culture and Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. There were also the models of the volcano and deserts. The children had beautifully displayed the green revolution and the old and new methods of farming.

The budding scientists of the school exhibited that the shift over to renewable sources will make the difference. The junior section gave tips on water conservation, soil drilling and working of traffic systems. Many slide shows were prepared on the computer showing earthquake resistant houses.

It was a treat to see the displays by the Art and Craft Department. There were beautiful displays by the pot painting, candle making, glass and nib painting, clay modelling and embroidery and stitching. Members of the Mehandi Club were seen applying mehndi. Members of the Rangoli Club had made beautiful designs. The Sports Department had put up a brilliant show of dumb bells, lezium and aerobics.

Self-realisation day celebrated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
The teachers and students of Mata Ganga Khalsa College Kottan, celebrated the self-realisation day of Guru Nanak Dev yesterday.

The programme began with a ‘sehaj path’, which was followed by a shabad.

The function was presided over by Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, SGPC President. Mr Chanan Singh, Principal Grewal and Mr Devinder Singh Cheena.

A lecture was given by Mr Satnam Singh on the importance of religion in the modern era. Prof. Badungar spoke on the evils of dowry, ultra-sound scanning and emphasised upon the need for spiritual development.

The guests were honoured and the sangat served guru ka langar. The main attraction of the celebration was the screening of film “Encyclopaedia of Sikhs” directed by Dr Raghbir Singh Bains from Canada.

Annual day celebrations
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
Little Angel Nursery School celebrated their annual day on December 5. Students participated in cultural items with enthusiasm. The ‘colour dance’ by students was appreciated by the audience.

A fancy dress competition was also held. The first prize was given to Ujwal Talwar who was dressed as a Naga boy. The second prize went to Sameer Sharma and the third to Lavanya Arora dressed as a fairy. Mrs Jyotsna Dewan who was the chief guest gave away the prizes.

‘Aao bune’ contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
Students of the local Sacred Heart Convent School participated in the ‘Aao Bune Knitting Contest’ organised by Vardhman Spinning and General Mills here. The contest was held among five categories for classes VI to X and the participants were given a free hand to knit on the spot on the pattern of their choice. The winners in each category will participate in at zonal-level competitions to be held here in January, 2003, and the state-level winners will get cash prizes between Rs 2,100 and Rs 5,100.

COURTS

Hearing in Gurdev Badal’s case on Dec 16
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
The Special Judge, Mr Inderjit Kaushik today adjourned the hearing on the bail application of Gurdev Badal, former Agriculture Minister for December 16. He issued a notice to the state and directed to produce the relevant record on the date fixed.

Gurdev Badal is facing charges of allegedly amassing property worth Rs 1.7 crore by a misusing his position as a minister.

The Vigilance Bureau had booked him on November 23 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was arrested the same day and produced before the Duty Magistrate, Ludhiana the following day. He was remanded to police custody till December 2. On December 2, Chief Judicial Magistrate Arunvir Vashisht remanded him to judicial custody.

Claiming himself to be innocent Gurdev Badal filed a bail application before the Sessions Court on December 5. Taking up his petition, the Sessions Judge, Mr Baldev Singh, marked his bail application to the Special Judge.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Sukhbir Badal today met Gurdev Badal in Central Jail. Later talking to mediapersons he alleged that Congress government was victimising Akali leaders due to political vendetta. He claimed that SAD would stand by its party leaders and workers, who are being implicated in false cases by the ruling party.

Baldev Singh takes charge
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
Mr Baldev Singh today joined as District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana. Earlier he was posted at Chandigarh as Vigilance Judge. He has worked as Sub-Judge in Ludhiana.

Visual treat for art lovers
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7
Art lovers and connoisseurs are in for a delightful visual treat at Guru Nanak Bhavan where at least 113 paintings of around 25 reputed and upcoming painters are on display. The exhibition seems to have created an artistic landscape with oil, water, acrylic and other works.

The exhibition is being organised by E Paintings, a company with a focus on the sale of art through the electronic media on a worldwide basis. And, according to Abha Kapoor and Shail Singh, two art connoisseurs, the paintings will be available for a reasonable price ranging between Rs 2,000 and Rs 50,000.

There are some remarkably outstanding works like the 1930s “Watercolour on Paper” by Abani Sen. There are some other equally beautiful paintings of Sen on display. Similarly, there are the works of contemporary art like the oil paintings by Niren Sen Gupta, a retired principal of the College of Art, Delhi. Interestingly, the exhibition puts together the works of senior artists like Gupta as well as his students. “We are trying to give them a common platform to enhance the confidence of the upcoming painters,” remarked Shail Singh.

Prominent painters whose works are on display in the exhibition include Abani Sen, Alok Bhowmick, Amit Dutt, Ashutosh Saran, Awtans, Ashok Roy Karmakar, Dhiraj Chowdry, Dharmendra Rathore, Girish Adannavar, Hemraj, Jagidsh Dey, Kaya, Kaushik Ghosh, Manoj Nayak, Mamta and Amar, Niren Sen Gupta, Nirmal Kapoor, C. Prakash, Shefali, Shail Singh, Vandana Shourie, Vimal Yurioko Lochan, a Delhi-based Japanese painter, and others.

Abha and Shail said prior to establishing the final content on their website, they decided to do some shows throughout the country. They have launched this art campaign from Ludhiana in cooperation with the Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam. After completing their nationwide shows, they would launch the works on the website for the buyers world over. The site will be updated on a daily basis and will provide for an online payment gateway.

The two Delhi-based curators said the underlying policy of E Paintings was to make the art available to the buyers and collectors at affordable prices. “With overhead down to a bare minimum and no huge rentals payable for gallery sites, it will be possible to offer prices that may even be as low as half of those compared to what high street galleries are charging,” they maintained.

They said while the main focus was to promote emerging and upcoming artists, E Paintings would also offer works of senior artists whose works would also become more affordable due to the very reasonable price structure on which the newly-founded company proposed to work.

Playwright promises feel-good moments
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7
There are times when one just wants to forget the tensions and worries of life and laugh. These are the 'feel good' moments which revive the joie de vivre by looking at ourselves and society around us through a fusion of fiction and reality.

That is what Sita Raina promises with her series of small plays written by Nicholas Kharkongar. Relevant, contemporary and imaginatively tied with humour the plays include a hilarious confusion of events like a Sardar arriving in London and unable to contact his friends, a teenage boy who tries to chat up an older woman and is in for a rude shock in the end, a teenage daughter breaking the news of her pregnancy to her conservative mother and the publicity hungry ‘page three’ people of Delhi.

Sita says, ‘‘‘Feel Good’ has been one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. I met Nicholas perchance at AJ’s office just when I was looking for an entertaining, snappy, simple and yet meaningful script. I personally prefer wit and laughter in any situation no matter how dire it may be.’’ The cast of ‘Feel Good’ includes Yuri, Roshni Chopra, Dhruv Jagasia and Sita Raina.

‘Feel Good’ ran to full house in Delhi and is now travelling around India. Sita Raina set up a company Prime Time theatre in March 1991. She has rich and varied experience in the fields of theatre, TV and films. She has acted and has done over 100 plays of every genre from comedies to musicals. Sita has also directed and produced many award-winning plays like ‘Blithe Spirit’ by Noel Coward, in March, 1991; ‘Kauwa Chala Hans Ki Chaal’ in July 1995, ‘Dance like a Man’ by Mahesh Dattani in July 1995, ‘Autobiography’ by Mahesh Elkunchwar in April 1996, ‘Where There is a Will’ by Mahesh Dattani, in September, 1998; ‘The Unexpected Man’ by Usamina Reza in February 2001 and ‘Feel Good’ by Nicholas Kharkongar in April 2002.

Body-painting competition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 7
Slim-n-Shape organised a body-painting competition on their premises here yesterday. Ms Archana Sarup, the center head in a press note said that more than nine contestants took part in this unique competition.

Ms Simran was declared first as she made a beautiful pattern of studs and glitters on the hands. The theme of her painting was ‘embroidery’. Ms Gauri Sharma was declared second for her copper green and red pattern on feet and legs. The third prize was given to Ms Archana from Niharika Ladies Club. She had made a necklace on front and back and a tikka on the forehead with black and silver colours. Ms Varsha Sood was given the consolation prize.

The two judges on the occasion were Ms Rippi Chatwal and Ms Archana Sarup.

Ludhiana printers visit Germany
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 7
A delegation of the Offset Printers Association Ludhiana recently visited Germany. The delegation had gone their on the invitation of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The delegation included Mr Romi Malhotra, Mr Kamal Chopra, Mr Amarjeet Singh Mancoo, Mr Sanjay Gandhi and Mr Venay Oberoi.

The delegation was invited to present the awards to the embassy on behalf of Ms Mariko Takagi for producing the 'Most beautiful book in the world' and M/s Faber and Faber Publishers of Germany for publishing the 'World's smallest book.' These awards were conferred on them in absentia during the Gutneberg Festival, organised by the Offset Printers Association at Ludhiana recently.

Mr Michael Reiffenstuel, Head of Press and Information Counsellor and his deputy Ms Christen Kolvenbach, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, New Delhi, received the honours on behalf of these personalities.

Going through the annual report of the association, Mr Reiffenstuel appreciated the efforts of the OPA and showed keen interest in its activities. The latest issue of Punjab Print, the official journal of the association, was also presented to them.