EDUCATION

Law students told to report on Dec 16

Chandigarh, December 13
The Law Department of Panjab University has asked students of first, third and fifth semesters, who have deficiency of lectures, to report in the department on December 16 morning, official sources said here today.

However, nothing was conveyed about whether the department had condoned the number of lectures required by students or would they have to attend the special lectures.

Meanwhile, Prof Bal Krishan, Chairman of Law Department, today offered his resignation to VC in the morning. This was, however, not accepted. TNS

Schools’ panel for fresh allotment guidelines
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13
The Chandigarh Private Schools Association has demanded that the Chandigarh Administration should lay down fresh guidelines in which the main criterion for allotment should be the experience in running the institution. No distinction should be made in the matter of allotment of the sites in respect of the so-called recognised schools and unrecognised schools functioning for decades in residential buildings.

Those outside Chandigarh and the others who have already been allotted school sites may not be considered for allotment. Play classes and preparatory schools may be allowed to continue to function from the present sites. No such school be disturbed till designated sites are allotted to them.

CULTURE

Craft Bazar-2002 opens
Tribune News Service

Some of the finest handloom products on the display are from Himachal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Kashmir and Lucknow. Applique work from Nainital is yet another interesting entry in the show. The puppet makers and presenters from Rajasthan are keeping the audience spell bound.

Casting spell with Batalvi’s songs
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13
Describing the poetry of Shiv Kumar Batalvi is like lending words to pain. So full of depth were his verses that even today they cast their spell on every listener. It is for the richness of his poetry and presentation that Batalvi has been sung by every vocalist worth the name — from Ghulam Ali to Jagjit Singh, who have contributed their bit in further immortalising the classic works of “Birha da sultan”.

This evening was dedicated to the memory of the poet, whose verses emerge from pain and end in pain. Lending music to Batalvi’s timeless songs was Varinder Bachan, who, in his own small way attempted to pay a tribute to the poet.

Featuring in today’s show, which was organised under the aegis of Swar Lehar Musical Group were all famous songs of Shiv Kumar Batalvi. The show was aptly titled “Peedan da padaga.”

The first song of the evening came from Jatinder, who begun with the legendary lyrics by Batalvi. “Peedan da padaga” set the affair of music rolling at Tagore Theatre today. Experimenting with the style of presentation Varinder Bachan offered a number of group songs during the show. And though the quality of every singer’s voice was more than impressive, the general feeling was that every song should have been presented in a solo format. This would have allowed the audience not only to feel the pain which was intrinsic to Batalvi’s poems, but would also have enabled a better sound quality.

The show, anyhow, progressed well and did impress the listeners. Among the singers were Chitvan, Poonam, Paramjit, Shallu, Muktesh Dewan and Kuljit. Rajan, who presented “Asan taan jauvan rute marna”....was especially delightful in his rendering.

Among the other songs presented today were “Jaach mainu aa gaye gham khaan di”, “Jhurmut bole”, “Ek meri aakh kashni”, “Asi kachiyaan anar diyaan tehniyaan”, “Main ni mai mere geetaan de, Main ek shikra yaar” and many more...

Every song presented today was being judged for its appeal and music, simply because it has been, at some point in time or the other, been rendered by a famous singer. Jagjit Singh’s collection of Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s songs is still remembered with fondness and awe. So is Ghulam Ali’s famous Batalvi song, “Ki puchde o haal fakiraan da.”

Most of the singers who featured in today’s evening did their best to live upto the quality of Batalvi’s poetry and also succeeded in doing so to a fair extent.

88 works of art on display
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13
The much-awaited annual art exhibition organised by the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi today opened in the gallery of the Government College of Art, Sector 10.

Open to all artists of Chandigarh region, which forms a separate zone under the AIFACS, the exhibition is showcasing artistic talent of the highest order. With the participation coming from 88 artists of the region, the response to the show has been tremendous.

Although the jury that comprises AIFACS people from Delhi has awarded five works, all the 44 works submitted for the exhibition have been displayed at the venue. Among the prize winning works are two paintings and two graphic works. However, there is only one work of sculpture on display. Interestingly, no drawing has been awarded because none of the participating artists submitted more than 15 drawings. Shiv Singh, chairman, Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi, informed, “Awards were given only to artists who had submitted more than 15 works in various categories.”

Among the two paintings that have been awarded the cash prize of Rs 7,500 each are Prabhinder Lall’s “Lovers” and Rajesh Tanghur’s “The Reminder”. The two works of graphics that have been awarded are Kavita Singh’s “The temptation” and Navroop Kaur’s “Untitled graphic works”.

The only sculpture that has been awarded is by Parminder Singh, titled “Flexibility”. The exhibition was formally inaugurated by the Commissioner MC, Mr M.P. Singh.

Apart from the prize winning works, the show features many outstanding works of art, which not only inspire the aesthetic sense but also come across as perfect examples of technique and form. Most of the works make powerful statements in their own right, especially the two creations by Ravindra Sharma, who has just begun working on his latest series “Ekla Chalo”. Deriving inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore’s poem, the artist paints hope, with hopelessness resting in the background. Some other artists whose works feature in the show are Satwant Singh, J.R. Yadav, P.S. Verma, Anubhuti Bhalla, Pritpal Singh, Iva Kaur, Vasudha Sehgal and Rosy Khosla.

The exhibition can be visited between 10 am and 6 pm till December 24.