LIFE & STYLE

Glitz & glamour
Blend some glamour with fun on Valentine's
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Buttercup's scared. Reposing on a comfortable sofa in his living room with a self-help magazine in his constantly trembling hands, he can feel pins and needles piercing his cold shattered heart, palpating for love pangs, every time he thinks of St Valentine's Day.

Beads of perspiration dot his brow as he recalls the trauma of proposing the "young lights of his life". Taking them out to the same old rundown fast food joint after zipping up and down the geri route. Ordering greasy kiddy burger. Conveniently forgetting to pay the tip. And watch his love extinguish, even before his hopes.

For five years now, post-grad Buttercup — as he calls fondly himself — has followed the same routine on February 14. He gets up in the morning, shaves after a gap of about four or five days for that smooth effect, applies moisturiser, kick starts the bike and reaches Panjab University campus — the venue of prime celebrations. But not before plucking a passionate red rose from his glowering neighbour's front lawn.

Once there, he positions himself strategically and looks out for willing victims. For him, it's now or never. Little wonder, age is not bar. Even fresh out of school damsels are "fine". Complexion, features, height… ? Well he believes in love without discrimination. After all, they are all God's creation.

Having mugged up mathematics and English lessons in a co-ed institute has its own advantage. Sooner or later, Buttercup comes across dames he borrowed notes from, but never appreciated. Now, dejected after repeated refusals, he dares and succeeds. Takes them out for a ride and loses them on way to a "long lasting relationship".

Buttercup cannot understand. He is smart. Has a car he seldom drives. And a sense of humor that can even make a chicken laugh, chicks of course are an exception. But why can't he succeed — the question bothers him.

If your plight is similar, add glamour to your life on St Valentine's Day, at least. The way Zainab did. Every year, she was driving up and down the geri route with Mr Eligible. Seeing the same old sights. The same "run-of-the-mill ways of celebrating Valentines". Till, she decided it was time for a change.

"In 2002, I started saving my pocket money," the under-grad asserts. "Told Rahul to do the same. It wasn't easy. The entire month of January we did not enjoy even a single cup of coffee. By February 14, we had good 500 bucks in our pockets. Went to the dining hall of a posh hotel and savoured exotic cuisine. It's been an year, I still remember the taste of it".

So all you guys and dolls high on the Valentine's spirit, remember it is time of the year to indulge in your relationship. Pull out dough from your hand bags. Make partner the top priority. Do things you will remember the next 365 days.

Just don't waste affection on the geri route. Anyway it is blocked most of the times by the cops on February 14. Go to an expensive fast food haunt, even coffee shops, and buy him the alien dish you cannot even pronounce. Even if you do not like the taste of it, you will remember the disaster.

Also, go to a discotheque, even if you do not wish to twirl around . Almost all the discotheques and nigh-clubs are organising dance parties. Make sure you have the passes, and a partner, lest you are not allowed to enter Cupid's synthetic world of affection, divorced from reality. So folks, be ready to spend a little dough. After all it's St Valentine’s Day.

Venus Speaks
She likes to party

She likes to party. Has twirled around the polished dance floor at the Halloween bash, tied the laces of her dancing shoes on the New Year’s Eve. Now Valentine Day is just around the corner and the lady is all ready for the occasion.

Komal is yet to decide where to go. But one thing is for sure, very soon her fair fingers will be tearing the edges of the envelopes with invitations to parties on February 14. That's why the pretty damsel had picked up a nice dress to "set the afternoon on fire ".

"We will be going for a drive in the morning with class fellows," she asserts. "Will zip up and down the city. Later, we might go to a bash, or a fast food joint and have some real good fun savouring burgers and pizzas". All the best and have a nice time, Komal.

Denim & Silk? why not?
A.S.Prashar
Tribune News Service

PRASAD BIDAPA, the fashion guru says that the new approach to dressing must combine the most unusual elements to create a new synergy for your look this New Year.

When Calcutta designer Sabyasachi created a huge sensation at the Lakme Fashion Week this year, it was because of the fresh viewpoint he brought to traditional dressing. He took a basic sari, embroidered it to perfection, threw out the choli and added a kurti instead. He then added a soft denim jacket to the ensemble and threw a beautiful dupatta over his models shoulder. Accessorise with imaginative bags, caps, jewellery and watches, and a whole new attitude was born!

Denim & Silk? Jeans and a Bandhgala? Well, why not? Take a look at the ways in which you can create a highly personalized look by mixing and matching unexpected combinations or just wearing an unusual piece with formal wear that lifts the look and takes it beyond the mundane. Check out these combinations we put together and approximate them with a little bit of this, a little bit of that, lots of attitude and impeccable style!

Says Bidapa: "I chose two designers – Paresh Lamba for his impeccable formal menswear and Anita Dongre’s collection of womenswear and mixed it with one of my favourite denim labels – Wrangler! I’ve been wearing their classics for years, having in my youth begged relatives in America to supply me from time to time with their trendy jeans and jackets. Now, they are firmly established in India and I was thrilled to see the huge variety of designs in their collection. I thought it would be great to mix the three together to create a new viewpoint. Check out these looks".

1 Robin wears Wrangler jeans under a Bandhgala by designer Paresh Lamba. The grey cuffs and collar offset the distressed denim perfectly, creating a look that stays formal while it gets witty! Throw a beaded scarf by Designer Anita Dongre over the jacket and you’re set to party till dawn.

2 Prasanna wears her frayed, boot cut Wranglers with a skinny denim shirt from their women's range. Take a dupatta from Anita Dongre and drape it imaginatively to change the look from classroom to club!

3 Robin takes faded moustache jeans and teams it with a bright red shirt in brushed cotton, both by wrangler. Add a pinstriped waistcoat by Paresh Lamba that’s actually part of a three-piece suit and create your own personal statement.

4 Prasanna borrows her mothers Kanjeevaram sari but not the blouse and petticoat. Instead, Wrangler Jeans are worn under the saree and a classic denim jacket in the new proportions doubles as a choli. Creative ethnicity!

5 Robin goes executive with a twist. A black Wrangler Denim shirt is worn with a tie and a Paresh Lamba jackets without buttons. The single attached lapels of the jacket are longer than usual, and the fabric is an Italian polyviscose.

6 Wrangler’s halter-tops make great cholis and work well with embroidered crepe saris in Prasanna’s look.

Valentine songs from the 70s

Wanna go back in time and reminiscence…that Hippie rage, sideburns, bell-bottoms and Rock'n roll. We bet these songs will remind you of all that.

10. When You're In Love DR. HOOK 

EDUCATION

Paragon school students win at science exhibition
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 21
A four-day state-level Science Exhibition organised by the Punjab Education Department concluded at Anandgarh Sahib today.

Models based on topics ‘‘Effect of Current’’ and ‘‘Railway Safety Bridge’’, created by the students of Paragon Senior Secondary School, Sector 71, won the first and the third positions respectively.

Model created by Anakh Singh and Dilpreet Singh bagged the first prize while third prize was won by the model created by Gagandeep Singh and Amandeep Singh.

Ropar district was declared the over all champion while Muktsar district was adjudged second, said Mr Balraj Singh Shergill, secretary of the school.

Mr KV Bhatnagar, Secretary, Education, who was the chief guest at the function, appreciated the efforts made by the students to create the models.

Those present on the occasion, included Ms Seema Jain, SDM Anandpur Sahib, Mr Ujjagar Singh Mali, DEO (s), Ropar, and some other prominent persons from all over the state.

Seminar on personality development
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21
Global Voice, a leading training organisation with a tie-up with Credenz Systems, USA, organised a seminar in association with DAV College, Chandigarh, on "Personality Development and Career Planning" here today.

Eminent speakers from varied backgrounds, including Brig M.L. Kataria (retd), a doctor and a management expert who is recipient of the prestigious Dr B.C. Ray Award, Mr Ashok Khanna, Managing-Director, Khanna Watches and former President, PHD Chambers, Ms Archana Nagrath, Director, Global Voice, Mr Harbir Khurana, Managing-Director, Excel Callnet, and Col D.S. Cheema, Director, Professional Studies, DAV College, spoke on different facets of personality and the role of personality development in shaping the future of individuals, organisations and countries.

Opening the seminar, Ms Nagrath, defined personality development as development of the physical, mental, social, emotional, intellectual, moral, aesthetic and spiritual faculties of a person and highlighted the importance of personality development in the changing scenario where globalisation has resulted in intense competition in every sphere of life.

Ms Nagrath said the personality development programme is aimed at developing a new and a broader perspective on life and it results in the complete transformation of the individual. In today's world, it is not knowledge alone that is important. Your confidence, attitude, inter-personal skills and ability to adapt to change are becoming more important.

Brig Kataria, in his address, spoke about the challenges faced by individuals in today's environment and ways and means of facing these successfully. He encouraged students to look at life from a broader perspective and also highlighted the importance of spirituality in shaping personalities.

Mr Ashok Khanna spoke about the competition that had come in from large multinationals. He said the corporate landscape had changed dramatically in the past few years and the success of organisations depended on the quality of their people. He gave examples of the western world and Japan and also quoted Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that we should first learn to compete with our own selves and then successfully compete with the world outside.

Col D.S. Cheema spoke about personality ethics and their importance in building a better society and stronger nation. Col Cheema, who has also authored a book, highlighted the importance of recognising the unique individuality in one's self and said self-development led to a more meaningful and successful life. He said there was a need to integrate character ethics and personality ethics.

Mr Harbir Khurana gave a detailed presentation on the call centre industry in India and career options for youngsters. He said multinational companies were saving millions of dollars by outsourcing their business processes to India.

India not only provided cost advantages but research had shown that Indian call centres were on a par with western counterparts in providing world-class quality services.

Essay-writing, GK contest results
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21
The winners of essay-writing competitions and general knowledge quiz conducted by the Chandigarh Librarians Association on January 12 are as follows:

Essay writing: Class IX-XII — Neha Thakur; Seema Thakur; Bableen Kaur. College level — Navneet Kaur; Vibha; Gurmanjot Kaur.

Parents and teachers — Abhishek Bali; Swapna Kanogia, Dr Harjeet Kaur Sandhu.

General knowledge test: Category I — Darin Markanda. Category II — Abhijeet Singh; Prateek Sharma. Category III — Himanshu Kaul. Category IV — Varun Kumar.

The inter-school quiz will be held on January 23 at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45.

COURTS

2 accused in NK Jain case get bail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21
Two accused in the alleged rape case involving a Shimla district resident — Ram Lal and constable Narvir Singh — were today granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The orders were pronounced in the open court by a High Court Judge after hearing arguments and going through the documents in the case for over an hour. According to the police, Ram Lal and Narvir Singh, were allegedly involved in hatching a conspiracy for framing M.K. Jain in the case.

It may be recalled that the alleged victim, in a petition, had earlier sought directions to the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents to protect her life and liberty. Claiming to be 21, she had submitted that she had boarded the car of a Sector 8 resident from Sector 20 on August 14, but lost consciousness after consuming a cold drink purchased by him. Later, she found herself unconscious in the Sector 16 General Hospital, where she learnt about the violence against her.

Going into the background of the case, the petitioner had said for a part-time job and quest for knowledge on computers had brought her in contact with the accused, running a computer institute.

The accused, after alluring her with the promise of a job, had taken her in his car from his Sector 20 office. The police, on the other hand, had claimed that it was a frame-up and had initiated proceedings against alleged witness. 

DISTRICT COURTS
Beant case: another witness turns hostile
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 21
One of the witnesses in the Beant Singh assassination case turned hostile while deposing before the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr H.S Bhalla, in a special court room in the Model Burail Jail here today. The witness, Mr Harpreet Singh, stated in the court that he did not make any statement with regard to Jagtar Singh, one of the accused in the case, to the CBI.

The CBI had claimed that the witness had stated that the accused Jagtar Singh had visited different countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal in connection with the Beant Singh assassination case. The CBI had also claimed that the accused, Jagtar, had met an ISI agent in Pakistan in order to get some training.

Another witness, Mr Harcharan Singh, today identified the photograph and signatures of Budhawa Singh who had been declared a proclaimed offender (PO) in the case.

Meanwhile, the Sessions Judge, Mr Bhalla has adjourned the hearing on the bail plea moved by Navjot Singh, one of the accused alleged to be involved in the case, for January 23.

Case adjourned: The hearing of a case under the Arms Act against the suspended Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) Chairman, Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu, was today adjourned for February 3. The case against the accused was registered after the recovery of 14 bottles of foreign liquor under the Excise Act and under the Arms Act after the recovery of 250 rounds of .12 bore gun and 225 rounds of Springfield rifle 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.

Chani to take city kids to NSD show
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21
There is no limit to a child’s imagination. And when 27 of them come together under a single hand to create something vibrant and novel, this is exactly what happens.

A play created for sheer fun after a month long workshop in summers makes it to the most professional stage theatre can manage in India. The news is that G.S. Chani’s production “Daantte raho”, which explores the mechanics of reprimand and the consequences thereof, has made it to the National School of Drama’s annual children’s festival. The festival, titled Jash-e-bachpan, will begin at the NSD on January 24.

Sharing stage with some of the most seriously worked out theatrical themes will be 27 children from the city, who had worked with GS Chani and Harleen Kohli last summers to evolve a script out of real-life experiences. And easy as it is for kids to state facts and improvise them, Chani was able to formulate a strong script which dealt thoroughly with the menace of scolding. Every participant at the workshop was asked to scribble feelings on paper and then tell them in the language of theatre.

What resulted was a caustic product which not only denounced the practice of pinning down children by scolding them, but also subtly suggested means to do away with the problem.

As a rehearsal for the forthcoming festival, Chani and his enthusiastic team of 27 presented the play at the Sector 17 Piazza yesterday. The dialogues are plain and simple.