VC releases calendar
Tribune News service

Ludhiana, January 2
Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University released the varsity calendar and the Punjab Agricultural Handbook for the year 2003, here today. Speaking on the occasion Dr Aulakh appreciated the efforts of the Communication Centre in bringing out these in time.

Dr Jaspinder Singh Kolar, Director, Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana, said, “The handbook is published every year by the Communication Centre. It contains information on indifferent aspects of agriculture like meteorological data of Punjab and details about area, production and yield of important crops, fruit production practices, dairy farming, poultry farming, fish farming, bee keeping, rabbit farming, mushroom cultivation etc. It also contains information about the telephone helpline for farmers recently started by the varsity”.

Dr S.S. Gill, Additional Director, Extension Education, Communication Centre, PAU, said, “The handbook, which is published in English and Punjabi, can serve as a ready reference book-cum-diary for extension workers and farmers”. He said farm literature worth Rs 40 lakh was purchased by farmers of the state during the previous year.

This was possible because of the timely publications of various books and magazines, he said. “These publications have played a big role in helping the farmers to come out of the present crises through use of scientific agricultural technology,” he added.

Declamation contest on political leaders
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 2
“Siberian cranes and some other migratory birds appeared before Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee in a dream. Much to the astonishment of the PM, they told him that some politicians of his country had been banished to Siberia and they had made their living difficult and if only he could recall them and put them in some institution to educate them”. These were the opening lines of a student speaking on “Political education is necessary for politicians.”

He said instead of banishing them to Siberia (another popular topic of the declamation contest was “Banish all politicians to Siberia”), the politicians should be educated.

Eleven teams comprising two speakers each participated in the declamation contest organised by Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women. Another interesting topic was “Man has failed. Let women take over the reins”.

The students condemned the rampant corruption in the system, politicians for bringing ruin to the country, and erosion of Indian culture.

Mr Ashwani Sekri, Minister for Cultural Affairs and Transport, was the chief guest. So pleased was he with the level of the contest, that he gave a sum of Rs 51,000 to the college cultural organisation to encourage it to carry out more such activities.

The results of the contest are: Megha Bhardwaj of A.S College, Khanna-1; Tripta Sethi of the same college 3 and Kumud Chander of SCD College, Ludhiana second.

The consolation prize was shared by Mandeep Kaur of Mai Bhagho College, Ramgarh, and Babita of the host college.

Chart and poster-making competitions were also held.

Law Classes in Regional Centre from July
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 2
The UGC’s 56th orientation course for college teachers being had in the local Ramgarhia Girls College, concluded yesterday. Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, presided over the concluding day function. The 25-day course for college lecturers from different streams was organised by Academic Staff College, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Principal of the college, Harmmet Kaur was the coordinator of the course.

Addressing the function, Dr Pathak said Law Classes would start in Regional Centre being set up in Extension Library from July. This would be the third law college of the university, the others being in Chandigarh and Muktsar. Entrance test for admission to the college was likely to be held in April or May. It would be a common test for all three law colleges, he added.

Sixty students would be admitted for the session 2003-2004 in one section, whereas the next session onwards 120 students would be admitted. The university had appointed three lecturers for this college.

Set up in 1964, the library was getting a facelift. It had proved a boon for students. Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, had given Rs 8 lakh from his discretionary fund for it. Renovation work in the library was in full swing. Classes would be held in the auditorium till classrooms were built.

New law books would be stocked in the library. The university might offer courses like MBA, MCA at the centre. The four-storeyed centre would be built at a cost of Rs 2 crore. Lala Lajpat Rai would give Rs 1 crore in the first phase and another instalment of Rs 1 crore would be released later on.

Experienced academicians from various universities shared their ideas and experiences with college teachers. Dr Pasha, Dr P.S. Verma, honorary director, Academic Staff College, and Mr Satish Sharma, Senator, help organised the camp.

Lala Lajpat Rai also attended the function.

Poet’s demise bemoaned
Amarjit Thind

Ludhiana, January 2
Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, has expressed grief over the demise of popular Punjabi Poet Pritam Dass Thakur. He recalled his fight against social evils like intoxicants, dowry and illiteracy through his poems which he used to recite regularly at kisan melas organised by the university. The deceased also played a significant role in inculcating values among school students through his poetry.

Dr S.S. Gill, Additional Director Extension Education, Communication Centre, PAU said by compiling and editing a book on his selected poems, Mr Gurbhajan Singh Gill, Editor had developed a permanent link of the poet’s creations with the university.

Besides Dr J.S. Kolar, Director of Extension Education, Dr Kanwal Mohindra, Dr Surjit Pattar, president, PAU Sahit Sabha, Dr Gulzar Pandher, general secretary, PAU Sahit Sabha, Dr Joginder Singh Nirala, in-charge Young Writers Association, Mr Janmeja Singh Johal, Dr Joginder Singh Dhillon, Mr Gurbhajan Singh Gill and Mr Haqiqat Singh Mangat have expressed shock and grief over the demise.

Mann is Dean
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 2
Dr Amrit Pal Singh Mann took over as Dean, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, PAU, Ludhiana, today. A doctorate in Biochemistry, Dr Mann joined PAU in 1973 and worked in different capacities, including Head, Bio-Chemistry and Coordinator, Research. He also served as Adviser, Sugarfed, for some time and on various academic bodies, including the Board of Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and the Academic Council, PAU.

He also worked as panel member for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Microbiology of UGC and technical member for specialist assistance programme in biochemistry of Osmania University, Hyderabad. Dr Mann was on panel for revising the syllabi which has been adopted in all universities of the country since July, 2002.

Ultra-modern complex for lawyers 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 2
An ultra-modern Lawyers Chamber Complex, a long-cherished dream of the local Bar Association, will soon become functional. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Agarwal, here today.

Mr Agarwal was addressing lawyers at a function organised by the District Bar Association in new courts compound here. He said the work on the internal furnishing had started and the lawyer fraternity would be able to shift from old courts complex in June.

He said the city was an exceptional case where the government had contributed an Rs 4 crore for the lawyers chamber which would come up at a cost of Rs 8 crore. The Deputy Commissioner lauded the role of the Bar President, Mr Harish Dhanda, in setting up the project.

Of late the government has decided not to contribute even a single penny for construction of lawyers chambers elsewhere in state.

Mr Dhanda blamed the government for the delay in justice to a common man due to lack of proper infrastructure and less number of judicial officers. Every judge was handling around 10,000 cases on an average so the efficiency was bound to suffer, he said.

He appealed to the lawyers’ community to play their role efficiently in the system of justice.

Interestingly, the function became a platform for the lawyers to discuss their problems, share jokes and hold discussions about the serious issues confronting the society like female foeticide. Poetry recitations on female foeticide were much appreciated by the audience.

Mr Baldev Singh, District and Sessions Judge, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The Additional Sessions Judges, Mr S.M.S. Mahal, Mr H.S. Madan, Mr Inderjit Kaushik, Mr D.R. Arora, Mr G.R.Banyal, Mr Sunil Arora and Mr Vijay Singh, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Arunvir Vashishta, Mr J.S.Chouhan, Civil Judge (Senior Division), the Judicial Magistrates, Mr R.K. Sharma, Mr Balwinder Kumar, Mr Ashok Kapoor, Mr D.P. Singla, Ms Anshul Berry, the Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, Mr Surinder Dawar, MLA, Mr Rahul Bhandari, ADC(D), were also present. Mr B.P. Singh Gill, vice-president, Mr T.P.S. Dhaliwal, secretary, actively participated in the function.