The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SPECIAL FOCUS ON ROHTAK
MDU to introduce job-oriented courses
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, December 12
Funds amounting to 32 per cent of the total budget of Maharshi Dayanand University are allocated for the academic programmes of the university departments and the unit cost of education for postgraduate, M.Phil/Ph.D in these departments is about Rs 60,000.

The income of the university has increased manifold during the past 26 years of its existence. Against an income of Rs 156.60 lakh in 1976, the university earned Rs 7688.33 lakh in the current financial year.

The university has proposed to introduce new professional and job oriented courses during the tenth plan period. The new courses proposed to be introduced include diploma in forensic science and criminology and diploma in taxation in the Department of Law and one-year vocational diploma course or postgraduate students in rehabilitation in the Department of Psychology.

The university also proposes to introduce `Special Studies in Rural Journalism and Cinema’ in the Department of Journalism and diploma in population and health studies, social action programme, training of NGOs and de-addiction under the Department of Sociology and one-year diploma course in tourism in the Department of History.

The new subjects/courses proposed to be started during the tenth plan also include the study, Centre for State Politics, by the Department of Political Science, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Centre for Haryana Studies in the Department of History, master’s course in journalism and MA (Human Rights) in the Departments of Journalism and Sociology. The professional courses likely to be introduced include a two-year master’s degree in global business and a two-year master’s degree in flask management in IMSAR. During the past 26 years of its existence, Maharshi Dayanand University has also achieved remarkable degree of success in its expansion programmes, infrastructural development and in academic excellence. In the past five years, 421 students have been awarded PhD degrees and 517 more students have been registered for research work leading to PhD. There is a provision for Academic Planning Board which will advise on the planning and development of the university, particularly in respect of the standard of education and research. An Academic Staff College is also being set up in the university.

Tailpiece: At present, there are 3,900 students on the campus of the university with female and male ratio of 5:8. The corresponding figure in 126 affiliated colleges is 13,6223 with female-male ratio being 3:4.

Guest faculty to be paid more
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, December 12
The Executive Council of Maharshi Dayanand University has approved enhancement of payment to the guest faculty and fixed the upper ceiling of honorarium at Rs 10,000 per month from Rs 5,000.

The Executive Council, which met here today under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Maj-Gen Bhim Singh Suhag(retd), also approved concession to SC/BC candidates of Haryana in fee and the price of prospectuses from the current session. Accordingly, the SC/BC candidates of Haryana would be charged one-fourth of the total price/fee of a prospectus.

The Registrar, Dr A.K. Rajan, told newspersons the Executive Council had approved reimbursement of the medical bills of deceased lecturer of bio-sciences, Dr Sunita Taxak. The Executive Council has also acceded to the request of Mrs Murti Devi, Library Attendant, widow of late Ranbir Singh Suhag, lecturer in the Journalism Department, for promotion to the post of hostel supervisor as a one-time exception. It also approved the qualifications for the post of Director, Directorate of Distance Education, for the same to be filled from among Professor(s) of the university.

The Registrar said the Executive Council had acceded to the request of Prof Ranbir Singh of the Department of Law on deputation with the NRLSAR, Hyderabad, for extension in his deputation period up to October 2, 2004. The Council decided that the number of days for personal contact programme in respect of undergraduate courses of distance education be kept at 40 days for the current session.

“A workshop on stress management would be organised on December 18. Prof Akbar Hussain of the Psychology Department of Aligarh Muslim University would conduct the workshop. He would also deliver a lecture on stress management strategies”, Dr Rajan said.

CULTURE

ARTSSCAPE
The poise of his strokes defines his art
Garima Pant

Painting that helps uplift your mood.

An exhibition of oils on canvas and watercolours by Niladri Paul is on at Art Indus. Inaugurating the event, Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj said, “Very few artists can capture the grace and rhythm of ‘abhinaya’ the way Niladri has with his masterful use of colours”.

The exposition titled ‘Transcending Rhythms’, showcases the artist’s fascination with colours and the refinement with which he expresses the grace in ‘abinaya’ and ‘mudra’.

Niladri Paul, a graduate from Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata has several solo and group shows to his credit. Paul has studied auto-suggestion, meditation and colour-gazing since he considered each of these related to paintings.

In his present exhibition (at Art Indus from December 9-16), one can see the poise of his strokes, the subtle grace and rhythm that define his works of art. Added to it is a perfect blend of colours that presents a vibrant impression of the actual performance itself.

The owner of Art Indus, Ms Vijaylakshmi, said, “These visuals invoke spiritual subtleties and emotions that are soothing and healing to the mind. I have experimented with several techniques and mediums before being convinced that the right colours can help in various ways, from uplifting your mood to mending a broken relationship,” says Niladri.

Themes of spirituality

Ritu Sangal has presented the Sikh religion in all its fervour.

Tanjore art has been infused with fresh energy and new themes, as Ritu Sangal, a renowned supporter of Tanjore art, presents her latest collection. The exhibition will be on at the Open Palm Courts, India Habitat Centre, from December 21 to 23. She interprets this traditional art in a contemporary and experimental way by presenting the Sikh religion in all its religious fervour.

Spirituality being her main stay and God central to her art, the immortal Sikh Gurus and the reverent Golden Temple comes alive under her creation.

Born on February 15, 1958, Ritu completed her diploma in Textile Designing and master’s in Business Administration. Belonging to Allahabad, she settled down in Delhi as a freelance artist-cum-designer doing on her own research and experimentation to learn other arts. Her mother, Mrs Bala Mittal, has been a guiding force in all her endeavors. She is a registered artist with the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Government of India, New Delhi.

Her interests in different mediums have made her experiment with various art forms and she conveys her inner feelings through her creations.

Apart from organising and participating in various exhibitions, group shows and competitions, both as a participant and a judge, she has been deeply involved in spreading the concept of creativity in art, especially in Tanjore paintings. Her work is simple, realistic and forces one to have a glimpse of the Indian culture. People from all walks of life have appreciated her work.

Her works in Tanjore and other mediums have been exhibited at Allahabad, Muradabad and regularly in New Delhi since 1999.

While inaugurating the exhibition, Union Minister Sushma Swaraj said her world is unique and the portrayal in Tanjore is very impressive. The Tanjore style is a distinguished type of painting, though it is part of a larger pool of Karnataka culture.

The art of the period, when Tanjore paintings as a style became popular, was highly functional and made for a specific demand.

There was a continuity in the art, from the sophisticated to the folk levels, which shows a vertical hierarchy, where each level fed from its ascending or descending variations. Similarly, a horizontal continuity linked several arts, painting, sculpture, jewellery and other handicrafts. Tanjore paintings are in the gilded and gemset technique and have sacred icons of the Hindu deities.

These styles evolved in religious places where devotees thronged from various places and liked to carry an image of their favourite deity back with them.

Compared to the generally known Indian miniatures, the figures in these sacred paintings are large in size and usually framed, apart from being monumental and robust.

“Even in the depiction of ascetics, we do not depict figures that are emancipated. The idea is to have a robust God whose blessings bring prosperity to the householder,” said Ritu Sangal.

The subject matter or themes of the paintings are drawn from the religious texts, myths and legends. Krishna with his delightful pranks is a favourite theme and the solemn Shri Ram adds to the grandeur.

Creative consultancy

Sanjay Dayma and Shibani Banerjee are all ready to take a shot at the SuperPitch 2002.

GreyCells & Crayons (GCnC), India’s first creative consultancy and professional writing outfit founded by the scriptwriter-duo, Sanjay Dayma and Shibani Banerjee, has been nominated to the elite list of six finalists from amongst 120 participants for the SuperPitch 2002, at the third Asia Television Forum 2002 (ATF).

The only contest of its kind in Asia, SuperPitch 2002 is organised and hosted by Asia’s leading television publication, Television Asia, in conjunction with the BANFF Television Festival 2002. The winners will receive a cash award of US $5,000.

GreyCells & Crayons started as pioneering initiative to professionalise script writing in the entertainment and communication industry. Set up by scriptwriter-duo Sanjay Dayma and Shibani Banerjee, GreyCells & Crayons was conceived to achieve their shared vision of a thriving writing resource that would strengthen writers with a secure, workshop atmosphere, which in turn would lead them to deliver the highest quality creative ideation and writing to the industry. GreyCells & Crayons has blazed a trail of success and recognition for itself since it came into existence six months ago.

Sanjay Dayma, one of its promoters, has earned his spurs as a filmmaker with more than 7 years of work experience in the Indian film and television industry.

He has assisted or independently directed several ad films, corporate films, television serials and feature films. He was awarded the ‘8th Screen Award for Excellence in Cinema’ for best screenplay for the film ‘Lagaan’. He was also the chief assistant director to Ashutosh Gowarikar on this critically acclaimed box-office success and was honored with the AIFA award for best screenplay.

Shibani Banerjee has a multi-disciplinary work experience including journalistic stints with ‘The Times of India’ and ‘The Asian Age’. Her entry into film writing commenced with an assistant job to the noted Hindi film writer Honey Irani.

Colourful tiles

It is the time for colourful writings on the wall and to say goodbye to drab and dull walls in your home. Orient Tiles has now brought out an array of colourful and beautifully designed tiles to adorn your walls. The tiles are now available in exciting colours and designs like casanova, maestro and velvetta.