The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Arya College controversy continues
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 23
The controversy between two groups of Arya College teachers refuses to die down. Yesterday, supporters of Prof V.K. Handa and Prof Devinder Joshi claimed that annoyed at the termination of primary membership of these two professors, 48 teachers had disassociated themselves from the PCCTU.

But in a counterclaim today, Prof Prem Walia, unit president of the Arya College Teachers’ Union (ACTU), which is affiliated to the PCCTU, refuted the statement that 48 teachers had disassociated from the PCCTU. He said he had received no resignation letter from any teacher so far.

Mr Parminder Singh, district president and Prof V.K. Bhardwaj, executive member of the PCCTU, said the two teachers from Arya College Ludhiana, Prof A.K. Handa and Prof Davinder Joshi, who were expelled from the PCCTU, were spreading rumours that some teachers from other colleges had resigned.

“Not a single teacher from any college of the Ludhiana district has resigned from the PCCTU in protest against these expulsions. It is pertinent to mention here that the Ludhiana district council of the PCCTU, which includes presidents and secretaries of all college units of the district, has unanimously recommended to the central executive that an action should be taken against them for their anti-union actions,” they said.

They further said the supporters of expelled teachers were levelling baseless allegations against the central leadership. It would not serve any purpose except showing how low they could go in bringing a bad name to the PCCTU.

Science and home science competitions
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 23
Mouth-watering salads and pudding competitions were not only visually appealing but also very delicious which were held on the third day of the ongoing diamond jubilee celebrations of the Government College for Women.

The Old Students Association of the Government College for Women here, celebrating its diamond jubilee, organised an inter-college science quiz in the college auditorium today.

Mrs Inderjit Gill Vashisht, Principal of the college, welcomed the chief guest, Dr B.C. Gupta, Financial Commissioner, Cooperation of Punjab.

The function began with the lighting of a lamp by the chief guest. Many old students of the college were present on the occasion.

Almost all the colleges of Ludhiana and also some from other parts of Punjab participated in the quiz. There was a team of four students from each college.

Dr Manju Sahini conducted the stage proceedings. The quiz tested the scientific knowledge of the participants as well as the audience.

The function was very well organised by Mrs Narinder Sekhon, Head of the Chemistry Department. The first prize was won by Government College for Boys, second prize by the Government College of Education, Chandigarh, and the third prize by the GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar.

Simultaneously, the Home Science Department of the college held several competitions . The students in the best salad and pudding, embroidery and flower arrangement competitions.

There were two representatives from each college. The judges were Dr (Mrs) Rupa Bakshi (PAU), Dr Heera (PAU) and Dr Ritu Sudhakar (DMC).

Jacob to inaugurate conference
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 23
The Punjab Governor, Lieut-Gen J.R.F. Jacob (retd), will inaugurate a three-day international students conference at Punjab Agricultural University on February 7. The conference is being held under the auspices of the Central Students Council (CSU) of the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, a socio-cultural academic NGO.

Mr J.S. Toor, Director, Students’ Welfare, said the PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, Dr S.S. Johl, a former VC of Punjabi University, Mr Inderpal Singh, Deputy Chief Organiser, and Dr Charan Kamal Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, met the Governor in this regard and apprised him of the conference agenda and schedule. The event is being organised in the series of programmes designed to promote the culture of peace and spirit of volunteering, especially, amongst students.

According to Dr Manmohanjit Singh, general secretary, CSC, the conference will be a landmark in inspiring the youth for taking initiative for establishment of a foe less and fearless society.

More than 400 students from all over the country and abroad will participate.

CULTURE

Reflections of rural Punjab
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 23
Exhibits at Indus Ind Art Gallery in Sector 8 have more form and less technique to show. The painter is as passionate about art as any serious artist would be. In fact, his name spells art. He calls himself Ajnabee.

The works of art he has created, however, are all an expression of his thoughts, images and feelings, which he has gathered along the road to self-discovery. Most works are on the vivacious woman of the land of five rivers. Ajnabee paints the female form with great deal of sensitivity and sensibility. The result is charming and subtle.

Highly figurative in nature, the collection seems to draw a lot of inspiration from the kind of work Punjab’s legendary artist Sobha Singh did. Although comparisons are nowhere to be struck, the painter admits, “At no level do I compare with the great painter, nor would I ever seek to do that because art has to be a statement of individual perception. But I must state that I have learnt a lot from the works of Sobha Singh, who gave to Punjab a rich lineage which will go down into the history of art as unparalleled.”

As for the current show most images are those from rural Punjab. Detailing has been done with a lot of care to enhance the effect of female form in the background of a village location. So the symbols have been accordingly employed — right from pitchers to drapery of women.

The richness of colours is another striking area. Normally, the artist who indulges in figurative work, faces the challenge of sprucing it up with motifs and symbols that add life to the theme and further without obstructing the basic form on the canvas.

Ajnabee meets up to this challenge well. He uses just the right symbols in the right context and also in the right colours. Hues of fire dominate the artists’s mind, related as they are with the vigour of Punjab.

The show can be viewed between 10 am and 6 pm.