Wednesday, December 11, 2002, Chandigarh, India


C H A N D I G A R H   S T O R I E S


 

YOUTH LIFE & STYLE
Forget the chill, take out your skirts, please
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

TEENY-weeny baby skirts with twin tantalising slits on either sides — revealing a bare to dare mood — are ready to expose pretty damsels of the world to the passionate heat of cool New Year Eve parties. No doubt about it.

It’s resolved. The guys can shake, rattle and roll in jeans, even in suits brought specially from London. For good £ 1,500. Like student Aditya Goyal has done. Anything. Dancing dames are hell bent upon twisting and shouting on the polished floor to the deafening beat of bhangra music in long-breath-inviting short skirts.

Chill, they are sure, will not freeze the thrill. If you do not believe it, listen to what li’l miss Tanhai has to say. “Even if I cough my lungs out, I will go to the New Year bash in my alluring micro-mini. That or nothing. Anyway chum Rahul has promised to pick me up from my residence at 8 sharp on December 31. Nothing to worry at all. He, unfortunately, is a thorough gentleman. Will be safe with him. Am sure”.

Her previous year’s purple salwar-kameez with rich zari work at the borders is all starched, folded, and neatly stacked in the closet of her memory. Never to be taken out, again. At least not during the formally casual parties. At home, she can consider donning it. Outside, no way.

For teaming the adorable black skirt — embellished with ribbon piping — the demoiselle has picked up a cheerful red halter neck top. And net stockings. High heel ankle boots also. For cover, she will zip up a nice faux leather jacket.

Her best pal-cum-neighbour Chhaat is contemplating the same. She is planning to descend on the illuminated floor in a red sleeveless top with blue beads, or else in a Lycra viscose top in the same hue, under a black jacket with hard metal buttons.

“When the tearing passion breaks lose and the spirits are high even without booze, the jacket will go off the shoulder, up in the air,” jabs the postgraduate student. “Then I wouldn’t mind even if the hugging top exposes my little tummy to biting stares, if not the nippy December-end wind”.

For the two, feeling the warmth of party glad-rags around their beauteous self wasn’t easy. The duo, for 90 days and 89 nights, suffered with grace the pangs of temptation. Pushed chicken-in-a-bun, even black currant ice creams, out of their restless secret dreams. To save 6,000 bucks. They succeeded, fortunately.

“The skirt turned out to be more expensive than I could have ever imagined — Rs 850. But then I was lucky enough to get the top cheap from Janpath in Delhi,” chirps Chhaat. “It was the leather jacket that burnt gaping holes in my handbag”.

Tanhai and Chhaat are good and ready. What about you? What did you say? Minis excite a frown on daddy’s weather-beaten wrinkled face. Worry not, you can still twirl around the floor in a saucy red tie-and-dye drawstring pant with black belt and a top of the same colour. Else, you can wear lurex gowns. This is not all. “You can cut foot loose in wrap-arounds, bright long dresses, even formal suits with a lot of buttons,” suggests fashion designer Zainab. Now kids, what are you waiting for?

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Buy cards, but with caution

ALL you kids eager to play the game of sending and receiving greeting cards on Christmas and New Year, remember to take some "necessary precautionary steps", lest the fag end of the dying year brings loathsome tears in your misty eyes filled with affection.

First of all, do not sign the card if his mom does not know about your little “friendship”. It can lead to unnecessary trouble. You can ask him to "store" the card in some remote corner of the closet, but the possibility of it being discovered one bad morning cannot be ruled out. You can even ask him to "destroy" the card after reading it, but then it will be rude. The best thing is not to sign the card at all. Or else, pen down your pet name like "Buttercup" or "Cutie-pie". No one will be able to detect the source. You can be sure of that.

Another suggestion. Instead of buying cards at all, go in for nice little gifts. You can buy traditional chocolates nicely packed in boxes covered with bright cellophane paper. Or else, you can buy a huge teddy bear or an impressive pink panther. Experts, however, suggest personal gifts that "suit the occasion".

"If you are planning to buy her a present for the Christmas, go in for a full-fashioned Christmas tree. Otherwise purchase a Santa," recommends Raman of a Sector 11 card and gift shop. "In 2002, you can actually buy an electronic Santa which can even turn its head around and hand over the gifts".

In case hard cash is a problem, you can pick up attractive stars. "You can hang these from the ceiling", Raman adds. "The heavenly bodies made out of cellophane paper, in different sizes and hues, will kind of twinkle if you place these under high wattage bulbs".

This is not all. You can also purchase buntings and gift then to your pal so that he can hang them all over his house. "The best thing about buntings is that you do not have to remove them even after Christmas, they will last till the new year".

Else, buy him a nice pull-over. You can even ask a professional to knit one for you. Trying buying the wool yourself so that you are sure of the quality and do not end up paying extra.

After you have selected a souvenir, do not forget to wrap it up in cute imposing paper. “Show off sometimes is as essential as the gesture,” insists Raman. “Even if the product is good, no one is going to accept it unless the packaging is striking — that’s the basic principle of marketing. Have you ever purchased sweets from a dingy shop? So make sure that the award is nicely wrapped up. Also, tie it up with a ribbon. It looks inspiring”.

If you are presenting a bouquet of love, carry it not like a baton, but like a child, close to your heart. “Flowers are tender,” says florist Kapil Kumar. “They should be handled with care and affection both by the donor and the acceptor. As soon as you receive the bundle of joy, remove the cellophane wrapping before placing it in a vase”.

Other gifts should also be opened and appreciated in front of the giver. Just make sure you do not appear “hungry to open the covering”. “If you like the gift, air your feelings,” asserts Kapil. “If you do not, still welcome it. But do not praise it so much that he gets another one for you”. So kids, go ahead, buy your gift today.

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Water is the secret of my beauty’

WATER, water and more water —that is the secret of Ruhi's beauty. The student-cum-ramp model not only believes in gulping a lot of aqua pura, she even keeps her skin free from germs and grime by washing her face as many times as she can.

No wonder, Ruhi keeps a hand towel ready in her bag so that she can just wash and wipe dry her face whenever she can. "No, I do not use harsh soaps, even face wash, for keeping my visage free from blemishes". Otherwise, she seldom goes out after dabbing roose on her fair visage. In fact, she doesn’t apply make-up at all. At least not till she is going for some special bash like the one being organised on Christmas.

“I love to be simple,” she asserts, “that's the why I only apply lippers and nothing else", she explains. Pulling back her silky tresses, she hastily adds, “This, however, does not mean that I do not take care of myself. I do make sure that my tresses are clean and shining and my visage is not oily for long”. That’s it folks. 

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Students mesmerise audience
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 10
Sector 38 and Dadu Majra branches of SSN Model School, celebrated their annual day with fervor in the Tagore Theatre, here today.

Though the cultural programme started an hour late due to the late arrival of the chief guest, making the audience impatient, the show put up by the students later compensated for it.

The programme started with ‘Saraswati Vandana’. Tiny tots of the school presented a doll show. After a spell of melodious songs and qawaali, students presented Rajasthani and Haryanvi dances that mesmerised the audience.

Senior students staged a one-act play depicting the failure of the democratic system of the country. The programme concluded with Rangla Punjab, a bhangra item that compelled the audience clap in appreciation.

Earlier, Ms Pushpa Kaushik, Principal of the school, highlighted the achievements of the school by reading out the annual report. The chief guest, Mr K.C. Sharma, Financial Commissioner, Haryana, gave away certificates to the meritorious students and those who excelled in extra-curricular activities.

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Pre-school education goes international
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 10
Pre-school education in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh is set to go international following the entry of foreign multinationals in the field of education.

After launching 110 international standard “EuroKids” pre-schools in eight states of India in the past two years, Egmont Imagination India Ltd. the leading children education, publishing and entertainment company, is now spreading its wings to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The company has entered into a strategic agreement with K.N. Educational Foundation to establish ‘EuroKids’ chain in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Seven “EuroKids” pre-schools in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh will start operating from April, 2003. This will also see the launch of ‘EuroSmart’ — Egmont International Activity Club with fun, exploration and adventure to achieve a well-rounded personality at its core.

Egmont Imagination India Ltd. is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Egmont International Holding Ltd (EIH) a $1.8 billion turnover company with presences in 29 countries worldwide. EIH was established in 1878 in Copenhagen (Denmark) and has provided quality teaching aids, entertainment and reading material for children all over the world. In India, Egmont Imagination India Ltd is the fastest growing children publishing, entertainment and distribution company with four offices and a retail base of 9000 outlets.

According to Mr R. Dutta, Regional Manager, EuroKids, Egmont has done extensive research worldwide to understand the current scenario in pre-schools. They have interviewed parents, teachers and primary schools to understand the system. Their research has thrown up some interesting facts, which imply that children need to be nurtured and cultivated into good and confident human beings at this most important stage of their life and this is not being brought out in the system that currently exists. EuroKids is very colourful and child friendly, says Mr Dutta. To avoid cluttering of place the school is not filled with a lot of furniture. Instead of black boards, EuroKids has scribble boards for the kids. The schools have quality equipment, a puppet theatre (which is going to be used by the trained teachers to teach children) and outdoor play and library. Says Mr Rajesh Sharma, Head of Operations, K.N. Educational Foundation: “We share the view with Egmont that the Indian children will now be able to avail international standard pre-school education and thereby get a solid foundation in terms of learning with fun”.

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Parents, students have a gala day
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 10
It was a perfect blend of physical activity and dances that made the annual day function of Guru Nanak Public School, a memorable one for parents, students and teachers. The function was organised on the school premises in Sector 36, here today.

The programme started with a welcome song. Races were a major attraction of the programme. Separate races were held for Nursery and KG classes, students were divided into under-14 and under-19 categories for 100m and 200m races. Parents also ran a race.

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DISTRICT COURTS
Case against Badal: hearing on January 29
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 10
Hearing in a defamation complaint filed against the former Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his son, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, by the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) was today adjourned for January 29.

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), through Mr R.R. Bhardwaj, ex-officio general secretary, and Chairman, Economic and Planning cell, filed the criminal complaint against Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the SGPC, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar and a local Akali leader, Mr N.S. Minhas. The Congress alleged that the Akali Dal (Badal) had defamed the party through statements and the publication of advertisements in various newspapers.

Framing of charges

A case registered under the Excise Act against the suspended Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today fixed for framing of charges for December 13 by a local court. The case against Sidhu was registered under Excise Act after the recovery of 14 bottles of foreign liquor from his house in Sector 39. The accused was arrested by the Vigilance Department, Punjab, on March 26 allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh.

Judicial custody

A son of UT DSP and three others arrested by the UT police in an attempt to murder case were today remanded to judicial custody till December 24 by a local court. The accused, Sonu, along with his friends allegedly attacked two residents of Sector-38 with a sickle and other sharp edged weapons and injured them.

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Harpriya arrested, released on bail
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 10
Harpriya Grewal, who was said to be driving the car involved in the mishap in which two PEC girls were injured, was arrested here today. She was booked under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC but later released on bail.

Shivani and Preeti were injured on December 7 on the dividing road of Sector 16 and 17 after the scooter they were riding was allegedly hit by a car. The car was said to be driven by Harpriya Grewal, daughter of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

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Sonal Mansingh to be honoured
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 10
Pracheen Kala Kendra will honour — Padma Bhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra (Odissi dancer), Padma Bhushan Sonal Mansingh (Odissi dancer), Padma Bhushan Girja Devi (vocalist), Kumar Gandharva award winner Ustad Rashid Khan (vocalist), Biswanath Das (Director, Doordarshan, Kolkata), sankarlal Bhattacharjee (writer, journalist), Ashok Majumdar (Photo journalist), Bharati Bandopadhyay and Kasturi Chattopadhyay (news reader) with cash award of Rs 5,001 each, a scroll, a citation and a shawl for contributing in their respective fields.

The kendra will honour the artistes during its 30th annual convocation at Sri Sikshayatan College auditorium in Kolkata. Successful Visharad and Bhaskar students will be awarded certificates and diplomas.

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