 |
|
| Tuesday,
January 21, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
|
||||
Defence centre to hold seminars on security Chandigarh, January 20 While the first seminar, “Dynamics of India’s Security in North Western Region : Challenges and Responses” is scheduled for February 13 and 14, the second would be a three-day national level affair during the last week of March, which would be aimed at undertaking a comprehensive and multi-dimensional analysis of several Mid-Western and Central Asian countries. The centre’s honorary co-ordinator, Dr T.R. Sharma, told TNS here today that this was for the first time that the centre was organising such seminars. About 40 delegates, including security experts and academicians from this region as well as serving and retired military officers, were expected to attend the seminar in February. “The seminar will address itself to identifying core problems concerning national security in the North-Western states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan,” Dr Sharma said. The sub themes for the seminar included regional security environment, military and non-military threats, contribution of security forces in the development and security of the region, and the armed forces and society in North-Western region. As far as the seminar on Central Asian republics was concerned, five countries from that region, including Kajakhztan, Kirgyztan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan besides Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan would be covered. The Central Asian countries were rich in oil, natural gas and minerals and in decades to come, would play a crucial role in Indian security concerns. Some of these countries were forging ties with China, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which was of serious concern to India. In this backdrop, a serious, systematic and policy oriented effort to understand this compact yet complex area in its totality, focusing on its people, culture, traditions, values and beliefs as well as its economic and political scenario, was yet to be made. The seminar, with its 10-point agenda was expected to see participation of experts from various parts of the country, including representatives from the embassies of the countries concerned to discuss the present and proposed aspects of Indian foreign policy towards these countries. |
|
Refresher course for biology lecturers Chandigarh, January 20 In his inaugural address, the chairperson of Botany Department, Prof S.P. Khullar, emphasised the role of refresher courses in keeping abreast of the latest developments on the subject. The course is being conducted by Ms Satinder Jeet Kaur. A lecture on creativity and art of science was delivered by Dr D.S. Gupt. In a well-illustrated lecture, Prof S.P. Vij acquainted the participants with the world of orchids, while Prof M.P. Sharma and Dr I.B. Prasher highlighted modern techniques of mushroom cultivation. |
|
Honorary degree for NRI physician Chandigarh, January 20 According to the university’s spokesman, Dr Chandra, a well known philanthropist, had given Rs 1.5 crore to the university, which was used to construct the building presently housing the University Institute of Engineering and Technology. The building has been named after his deceased wife, Ms Aruna Chandra. An NRI, Dr Chandra is expected to arrive here from Canada next week. Both are alumni of Panjab University. The Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, will be the chief guest at the convocation. This would be the minister’s first visit to the university, the spokesman added. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.N. Pathak, held a meeting today to work out the modalities of organising the convocation. |
|
Manav Mangal students excel Chandigarh, January 20 The competitions in which the students from various schools participated were painting, rangoli, collage making, clay modelling and need for speed. The students of Manav Mangal High School got first prize in rangoli competition (category-II), second in clay modelling (category II), second in rangoli competition (category I), first in need for speed (category I) and second in clay modelling (category I). On the basis of the performance in various competitions, they were awarded the “Best school trophy” under category I.
|
|
|
MP announces
grant for RTC Chandigarh, January 20 Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a training programme at the centre today, he appreciated the efforts of the management for making the Red Cross active for welfare programme. Nearly 60 teachers of high and senior secondary schools of Ropar district are being given training in First Aid and AIDS awareness. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of Punjab Red Cross Capt Rajdeep Singh Jaiya said this was the only regional training centre set up by the Red Cross where training of teachers, students, Red Cross staff and volunteers had been started. |
|
PCCTU to begin
agitation Chandigarh, January 20 A statement issued here today said the Chief Minister had failed to keep up his poll commitments regarding the restoration of grant-in aid and implementation of pension and gratuity scheme. The college teachers are also demanding implementation of the complete UGC notified package on pay revision, house rent allowance and the rural area allowance. They are also demanding an inquiry into the allegations of misconduct and corruption against some college principals. |
|
Hearing on petrol station of CM’s son on Jan 28 Chandigarh, January 20 The allotment of petrol station to Mr Dhumal’s son had been cancelled by the high court on March 21, 2002, but the judgement was stayed by the Supreme Court in July, 2002. It was cancelled in the wake of a petition filed by Manjit Singh also from Jalandhar who had pointed out that the petrol station was close to an ammunition dump of the Army and that the district authorities had wrongly, issued the NOC to Mr Dhumals son due to political pressure. After the stay granted by the apex court the matter was taken up by the IOC with the High Court arguing the Deputy Commissioner had neither given it an opportunity of hearing nor any Army ammunition dump existed around the the petrol station. Following this, the Deputy Commissioner directed the District Food and Supplies Officer to look into the matter. In his report, the DFSO favoured a review of the order of cancellation of NOC reportedly observing that no ammunition dump was located close to the site. UNI |
|
|
Officiating BDPO’s petition dismissed Chandigarh, January 20 While rejecting the petition, the CAT observed: “There is nothing in the order of the apex court that the applicant was necessarily to be promoted to the post of the BDPO. The passing remarks made by the apex court that ‘it may be borne in mind that stagnation in service for unduly long period without having an avenue for promotion is not in the interest of the Administration’ has the relevance of creation of the post of the BDPO and has nothing to do with the promotion of the applicant.” Mr Avtar Singh has filed the petition against the Union Territory claiming that the post existed in the Chandigarh Administration but its function were assigned to one or the other officer as a temporary measure. The applicant further stated that since he was holding the post of the Social Education and Panchayat Officer’, he was entitled to be promoted. The CAT stated that the only direction of the apex court was that after the creation of the post, the case of the applicant should be considered for promotion. As a matter of fact, the applicant was considered for promotion by the Union Public Service Commission. It further observed: “It is something different that the result of the recommendation of the commission went against the applicant. The applicant has no right to challenge the selection of Mr Gurdeep Singh as BDPO made by the commission”. |
|
Shopowner counter-charges Delhi lawyer Chandigarh, January 20 On January 18, a Delhi-based lawyer, Mr Hardev Chadha, had alleged that he was assaulted inside a garment store in Sector 17 where he had gone, along with a process server of a local court, to serve summons of a Delhi court. Mr Goyal said that he and his father had gone to Delhi and his brother was away to SAS Nagar on that particular day. He said it was Mr Chadha who had assaulted his employees inside the shop. Showing the relevant documents, he claimed that Pawan Sachdeva and his concern, for whom Mr Hardev Chadha was the counsel, had been convicted by a local court. Another case of forgery of documents had been registered against the family of Pawan Sachdeva. The proceedings against Pawan Sachdeva, Sadhna Sachdeva, Krishna Sachdeva and Urmil Suri under Sections 83 and 84 of the CrPC were pending in the court of ACJM, Chandigarh. Both the parties have registered counter daily diary reports (DDR) at the Sector 17 Police Station. |
||||
Leaf from history History is all about memories. It is also a puzzle. No one knows which of the numerous remembrances of the past will remain alive, and in a sense come to life at a later date and which will vanish into the myriad folds of the past. Yet a story from the past can hold intrinsic value, even though the residents of Chandigarh are rather indifferent to the ancestry of their town.
Few users of Vidya Path, including the gheri route, know that this road was part of the old dirt track from the Ropar-Kalka main road to small villages along the Choe Patiali Rao. An important village along this road was Shahzadpur. Its residential area covered what is currently the Sector 11 market and part of Government College. The upper caste people lived in the north of the village. Towards the southwest, where a swimming pool of Government College is coming up, lived the untouchables. They had their 15 small huts clustered around a shallow well there. As the Sector 11 developed, Shahzadpur village was obliterated. Howsoever condescending the present may be towards the past and try to delete it, there always are bits and pieces that refuse to be effaced. One such is the temple of the old Harijan Basti of Shahzadpur. Going by the tradition of this land, the Dalits had a small Shivalaya here. The village map, as recorded by the Tehsildar of Kharar subdivision, drawn up in 1851, shows it to be the largest structure in the basti on a plot almost as big as the household plots of rich farmers of the village. The map indicates about three bighas of land with the temple; this included the area of the basti too.
Shiva, Mahakali and Kalbhairav were originally located here. ‘Langars’ were held on many festive occasions such as Mahashivratri, Baisakhi and Purnamasi during the months of May and June. With Baba Birag Giri becoming its caretaker in the early 20th century, people from neighbouring villages like Dhanas, Khudda and Lahora too came to visit the temple. The prasad here was said to cure a variety of skin ailments. Till date the ash from its ‘havan kund’ is used by Valmikis for treating skin problems. The successors of Baba Birag Giri, Kartar Giri and now Surinder Nath Giri continued with these traditions. The original single-room temple still stands and can be seen from Vidya Path across the newly constructed boundary wall of Government College. It continues to attract devotees from neighbouring villages. The Dalit residents of Shahzadpur who moved to Mani Majra, too come with their “choori ka prasad” every Wednesday. Old users of Vidya Path would remember how rooms were added to this small structure and the large Kali statue that was kept there for several months before being installed in a newly constructed temple. The Chandigarh authorities consider this as encroachment. After all, compensation had been paid to owners of this land in 1955 and now this land belongs to the new city of Chandigarh. Since it is the land of those who were once considered untouchables, it is all the easier to enforce rules. All extra structures were demolished in November, 2000. The current Baba lives in a plastic tent, hoping to continue with his now beleaguered temple. The place is part of the green belt of Chandigarh. So the veritable Panchavati, the sacred grove, which existed here, has been allowed with eight neem trees, two pipal trees, two bargad, three guava trees and a number of saplings. There even stands a sacred “triveni” — neem, bargad and peepal — growing from the same trunk!  |
|
Surinam singer weaves magic Chandigarh, January 20 Born to Rampersad Ramkhelawan, Kries has been and is still specialising in ghazals, bhajans and nirguns. Today he recreated the magic of all these forms, which are less heard in the concert circuit. Interesting is the fact that Kries dropped school to pursue his career in music. He picked up yoga as a way of life and then he devoted himself to music, developing a distinct style of his own. Ask him and he had loads to talk about the fading traditions. This evening he sang his favourite melodies, most of which have been written by him. With a strong repertoire of 500 songs, Kries inspiration was from the day to day situations. His experience, analyses and philosophy made it possible for him to deliver a message in the form of a song. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
