15 students to visit Germany
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21
The Jamia University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Erfurt University of Germany seeking co-operation in the field of education, research and staff development.

According to the university officials, 15 students from both the countries will take part in the exchange programme. The programme wherein the students will visit the countries was planned in the current academic year.

Besides faculty exchange, joint seminars and conferences will also be organised and the exchange of academic data and information will take place as per the MoU signed here yesterday. The MoU was signed by the Jamia Vice-Chancellor, Mr Syed Shahid Mehdi, and his Erfurt University counterpart Prof Dietmar Herz, who is currently in the country, accompanied by a high-level German delegation.

The details and operational part of the MoU are likely to be worked out soon, the officials pointed out.

SHRADHANAND MURDER
Students, teachers hold fast
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21
Agitated students, teachers and karamcharis of Swami Shradhanand College held a dharna and began a hunger strike outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office here today.

The Joint Action Committee of Shradhanand College is protesting against the Delhi University’s delay in providing compensation to the family of late Dr M. N. Singh, who was gunned down in the college premises by a former student. The teachers are objecting to the University’s inability to deliver relief to the family of Dr Singh. “We have been demanding action for a month now. Innumerable pleas and requests have been made apart from the more recent protests, but the authorities have failed to take action,” pointed out Prof Suraj Yadav, Senior Lecturer, Swami Shradhanand College.

The agitating teachers today began a hunger strike outside the VC’s office. “The teachers together with the students and the karamcharis kept a one-day fast and some will continue the fast till tomorrow,” Yadav added. The president of the College Teachers’ Association and convenor of the JAC, Dr Amarnath Jha is reported to have stated a ‘maun vrat’.

“Neither the University nor the college governing body has come forward with any material relief after the declaration of an ex gratia payment. Nobody from the VC’s office has tried to contact us. The registrar told us that the declaration made vis-a-vis the payment of the ex gratia has been made based on concrete evidence and that we must now wait,” said Yadav. Following the gruesome murder of Dr Singh, the University had announced an ex gratia payment to victim’s family, which is yet to be paid. Earlier, the Delhi University Teachers’ Union had staged protest in all the colleges across the city demanding an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh, residential facility and provision for a job.

The teacher’s association of the college pointed out that the 10 point demands charter presented to the university authorities and the governing body of the college, has been responded to, “only in terms of assurances and nothing concrete has come through”. The DUTA has also threatened to boycott exams if the University fails to release the dues to the victim’s family. Meanwhile, the college JAC is also demanding that the college security be increased. “There are two unarmed private guards at the gate and this is barely enough. The college operates from two buildings, and between the old and the new building is the Nehru Yuva Kendra, which adds to the security risk in the college,” said Yadav adding, “We will raise all these issues at the DUTA general body meeting scheduled for tomorrow.” 

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Hair-raising tales authored by Vandana Luthra
Smriti Kak

Quick-fix solutions to short haircut problems. We are talking about a hair-raising experience. For those with short hair, the New Year has untied a bundle of surprise, you don’t have to wait endlessly for the tresses to grow. We are told that human hair grows a measly one centimetre a month. That’s bad news for the impatient ones.

Divine intervention comes in myriad forms. Here, we are referring to implants that will make your hair grow from anything between 18 to 26 inches. If VLCC’s word is to be believed then hair solutions at a price are soon going to be the buzzword.

VLCC has introduced a technique of hair extensions, whereby women and men can add length or volume to their hair. The extensions, which are incidentally natural hair, though from another human being, are fused to the hair with the aid of an applicator.

The point of attachment is composed of a polymer chain whose molecular structure is similar to that of human hair joins and this is where the real hair is joined to the extensions.

Make-up artist Vidya Tikari became the first to sport the invention in India. International hair sculptor Milad Chihadeh was flown in to do the first hair extension operation. Though the extensions are easy to take care of, the cost of implants is Rs 35,000 and above. The extensions also require a ‘refresher’ once every 10 months.

VLCC points out that the extensions can be oiled, shampooed, coloured and combed like natural hair, but one needs to go easy on the combing part. These extensions, available in 40 different colours, are used not just to add length but also volume to thin hair and can be detached should you tire of them.

Early spring collection 2003

Winter’s here and spring is still far ahead. A chilly winter has hardly given the city’s fashion frat an occasion to display their best. With the mercury having taken a plunge, the only fashion statement you can make is with warm woollens. People stuffed into the warmest of warm clothes have something to look forward to as design houses have launched their spring collections.

Adding a dash of modernism to a traditional outfit.

Crafting the look of early spring with a freshness of design, Manish, Gaurav and Varun Chabbra present the Early Spring UTSA Collection, 2003. The collection is all about bright hues that the house claims subtly reflect the designers’ strong influence of the Buddhist palette.

This is a strongly influenced-by-the-West collection for the Indian bride’s trousseau. It lends an air of comfort and modernism to an otherwise traditional collection. The look is that of fusion. The straight lined structure gives in to interesting silhouettes while the cut experiments with traditional designs.

The collection focuses on exquisite evening styles. The day look is smart and casual with red, maroon and beige creating drama through interesting drape styles, layering and other fine detailing. It comprises short kurtis worn over stylish churidars, straight lined shararas, structured saris with dramatic cholis.

Bizarre has also unveiled their collection for the spring, which crafts together a look that blends perfectly into every mood and taste. There is the subtle, official and formal look that is juxtaposed with the funky and frolicsome designs.

Puja Mehra Gupta, design head, says, “ The collection is eclectic. Day lends into night. Bright fuses with the subtle to create a look of total harmony, flashing the brilliance of your real persona.”

The collection also includes a range of casual and party-wear. For Valentine’s Day Bizarre offers an enchanting evening range in formal black with the interplay of hot red lending just that touch of romance young girls look for on this special day. Shirts with black leaf embroidery, red beaded stretch crop pants, sheer chiffon dresses, long and short, chic leather jackets with flared cord pants for day wear all form part of this mesmerising collection.

Suits, jackets in imported fabric

Denis Parkar’s fall winter 2002-03 collection showcases the Western suits and jackets designed from imported fabrics from Italy and Japan. The formal range of suits has jackets with three button and four button options with a leather look. The collars are graceful, long and sleek. The trousers with flat front are in vogue but the regular fit in tasteful cut is also a classic. It also claims that the premium quality fabric used is dust and spill-proof and appropriate for Indian conditions.

In the Youngster collection, the suits are more stylish with self-pattern on the fabric in chic colours and extra sleek-edged contours. The components of Swarovski crystals have also been used. The collection also has short jackets and long jackets with four buttons in metallic and shimmer fabrics ready to be worn with cutting contrast bottoms.

Apart from the regular line of neutral colours like black, grey and brown Denis Parkar has attained the edge over other brands to give its customers the largest colour bonanza in suits and jackets. Fawn, pistachio green, peach, beige and pastel orange are sure to catch the fancy of young experimenting souls.

AAFT session commences

An exclusive ensemble from Gujralsons.

Former Uttar Pradesh Governor B. Satyanarayan Reddy while pointing out that Indian films had played a pivotal role in the country’s image abroad urged the film makers to “be good human beings too”.

Dr Satyanarayan was addressing students of the Asian Academy of Film and Television at the inauguration of the new academic session. Emphasising on the need for systematic training in the field of art and craft, he advised filmmakers to be good and sincere human beings.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr P. K. Jain, President of the PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said besides being a medium of knowledge, sharing and influencing society films are also a potential means of earning foreign exchange. Mr Jain pointed out that there was a proposal to add a chapter on films in the PHD Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The President of the All-India Human Rights Association, Mr M. U. Dua, was also present on the occasion.

For that special day for men

The wedding collection from the house of Gujralsons has a Jodhpuri collection, a sherwani collection, a kurta line and formal suits.

In the Jodhpuri collection there are ensembles with hand embroidery and Swarovski crystals. The sherwani collection boasts of exclusive embroidery on fabrics such as crash tissue and micro polynosic. While the suits are a fusion of the traditional and the western look, the kurtas are available in a vast range of fabrics and designs.