The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Science Cong winners given medals
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5
Local schoolchildren who had won prizes and participated in the 10th Children’s Science Congress-2002 at Mysore in December last year were awarded medals and certificates by the Secretary, Science and Technology, Mr M.P. Singh.

The Project Director, Department of Science and Technology, Mr G.S. Bains, briefed the gathering about the objectives of the National Children’s Science Congress. He said the President of India had inaugurated the Congress at Mysore and interacted. For the first time, Chandigarh had participated in the national event.

Earlier, an orientation programme for teachers was conducted in October last year for motivating the teachers. A state-level Science Congress was held at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh, in November last on “Food Systems — towards nutrition for all”.

The first and second prize-winners in the junior and senior categories were sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology for participation in the Science Congress at Mysore.

In a goodwill gesture, Mr M.P. Singh announced cash prizes of Rs 7,500 each students of the winning team, St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, for overall outstanding performance and Rs 4,000 each for other participating school teams — Government High School, Sector 40, Government High School, Karsan, and D.A.V. Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, Chandigarh.

Among others present were the Director, Science and Technology, Mr Vivek Atray, the Additional Director, Science and Technology, Mr P.J.S. Dadhwal, and the District Education Officer, Ms Rajesh Choudhary.

Training of DEOs concludes
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, February 5
Over 70 District Education Officers, Assistant Survey Officers and officials of Punjab and Chandigarh attended the state level training programme on its second and concluding day here today. The programme was regarding the seventh All-India School Education Survey organised by the State Council of Education Research and Training (Punjab).

Mr Bladev Raj, Deputy Director and State Survey Officer, who presided over the valedictory function, said: “Details of concepts and definitions, tools of training, coding procedures and correction of errors and monitoring of survey activities were discussed at the programme.” Mr Sadhu Singh Randhawa, Director SCERT, has been appointed a member of the National Advisory Committee of the seventh AISES.

The others who were present on the occasion included the NCERT experts, Mr Manju Trehan, Dr V.P. Singh, Ms Usha Rai and Ms Depinder Dhillon. Training at the district level for officials and teachers involved in data collection will be organised soon by the DEOs concerned.

DAV College to host ‘Lakshya-2003'
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5
The local DAV College is hosting a three-day Information Technology and Management Festival "Lakshya 2003" from February 26. This was stated by Principal S.C.Marriya while addressing a press conference here today.

The festival will lay emphasis on management skills and test the students by putting their skills into practice.

Events like interactive seminars, mock press conference, ad-mad show, dumb charades and extempore will test the academic abilities. The event will also witness competitions in 'antakshri', clay modelling, 'spin-a-yarn', 'rangoli' and face painting. The show also features cultural events, including competition in solo songs, group songs, dance and Punjabi songs categories.

Vikas Kaushal, president of the student council, said special efforts were being made to invite students from professional colleges to raise the level of competition.

‘Flower Day’ fun
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5
The Students Centre of Panjab University witnessed a heavy rush on the occasion of 'Flower Day' organised by the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) here today.

Music at the venue blared full volume even as girls and boys danced merrily, mostly on Punjabi numbers.

The ground opposite the Student Centre saw a number of students engaged in kite flying, which is usually a low-note activity in the city. Some girls were seen handling strings of the 'paper bird'.

Khusbaz Singh Jattana, president of the SOPU, said the effort was to include maximum students in fun activities.

COURTS

Hearing on JBT, ETT teachers’ plea
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5
A petition filed by JBT and ETT teachers working in various local schools with five to 10 years of experience but not admitted to Panjab University’s recently-introduced B.Ed course for in-service teachers will come up for hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on February 20 after the university sought time to file reply.

In their petition, Suman Tara and other petitioners had earlier submitted that although they were eligible for admission to the two-year course introduced for in-service teachers, yet were rejected as preference was given to those teaching in secondary schools.

The counsel had contended that the petitioners were “shocked” when they came to know that their names had not been included in the list of successful candidates.

On inquiry, they found that “their candidature had been rejected because in-service teachers, working in secondary schools, had been given preference over JBT and ETT teachers.

The counsel added that the teachers working in secondary schools with two years of teaching experience had been selected, whereas the petitioners with five to 10 years of teaching experience had been rejected.

DSP’s son files complaint
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 5
Sanjeev, son of UT DSP, Om Parkash, who has been booked by the UT police in an attempt to murder case, today filed a complaint against seven persons who had lodged a complaint against him.

Sanjeev has stated that due to rivalry he had been falsely implicated in the case. He has pleaded that a case under Sections 147, 148, 506, 323 and 342 of the IPC be registered against them.

A case under Sections 307, 452, 323, 147 and 148 of the IPC had been registered against Sanjeev, alias Sonu, on December 8 last.

Two get five-year RI for attempt to murder
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, February 5
Two city residents were today sentenced to five-year rigorous imprisonment in an attempt to murder case by a local court. The two, Kulwant Singh and Inderjit Singh, were convicted by the UT Additional and Sessions Judge.

The complainant, Ms Satwinder Kaur, had lodged a complaint against the accused that he had stopped her from washing clothes at a hand-pump in Sector 31 on April, 22, 1997. When she called Sunil to help her, the accused hit Sunil with a spade. Sunil sustained serious injuries on the forehead and other parts of the body. Later the accused was booked under Sections 307 and 506 of the IPC. Sidhu’s remand

Former Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission Ravi Sidhu was on Wednesday further remanded in judicial custody till February 18 by a local court under the Excise Act. The case was registered against Sidhu following recovery of 14 bottles of foreign liquor, 250 rounds of .12 bore gun cartridges and 225 rounds of Springfield rifle cartridges from his house in Sector 39.

Judicial remand

Two persons, Sarabjit and his father, C.S. Mandher, who had been arrested by the UT Police for killing their tenant, Davinder, were on Wednesday remanded in judicial custody by a local court.

CULTURE

Jagjit strikes right chord
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5
Jagjit Singh always strikes the right chord. After a brief spell of absence from the city’s concert circuit (he was here about two months ago for a presentation), the king of ghazals was back in his ‘melodious mould’. But this time, he came armed with yet another honour — the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in the country. Expect that he had this weighty prefix to his name this evening, Jagjit Singh was the same as always — in control and melodious.

The occasion was the formal opening of Standard Chartered Bank in the city, which will now see further diversification in the field of banking services. Mr Neel Chatterjee, Senior Vice-President, Regional Head, Corporate Affairs, India, had explanation for lending “musical colour to the inauguration of a commercial venture”: There were two reasons for arranging a light musical concert by Jagjit Singh. One, we did not want to start a new relationship in a mundane manner. We had the option of either taking the usual road towards establishment of a business relationship or creating an informal set-up, where bonds get nurtured. So we decided to call Jagjit Singh who has an account with us for over 30 years now.”

As the concert took off, it was the usual affair of rhythm that continued for well over three hours. Among the guest list were Kapil Dev and Gen V.P. Malik (retd). Keeping the audience enraptured, Jagjit Singh doled out all his melodies, right from his latest versions of light classical forms like ‘Tera chehra’ to old classics for which we know the man and his music. Some of the old time favourites were the greatest hits, like ‘Kal chaudvi ki raat thi shab bhar raha charcha tera’, ‘Saun da mahina and Yeh daulat bhi le lo.”

The interesting part of the show was Jagjit’s concern for Punjabiat. The last quarter of the show was thus devoted to Punjabi beat and music.

Enter Roerich’s world
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 5
As you enter the world of Nicholas Roerich, you get a fresh view of the Himalayas. Showcasing the grandeur of the ranges, the works of the legendary Russian artist beckon you to feel the forces of earth — so powerful yet so delicate; so majestic yet so earthy.

There is something about the new exhibition at Government Museum and art gallry, Sector 10, that you don’t want to miss. As Dr B.N. Goswami rightly avered before the show was formally opened by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd): “These are not landscapes. These are mindscapes.”

After a beautiful and gripping account of Roerich by Dr Goswami, it was the turn of General Jacob to talk about the works, grand in content and appeal. “Roerich followed the tradition of foreigners who painted in India. The stark reality of his works is amazing. There is s definite impression of Buddhism in Roerich’s works. He also drew from the Hindu pantheon. Art is what you feel and express. It is not a mechanical process. Roerich painted with his heart,” said the Governor.

General Jacob went into the history of the painter who chose to settle in the Kulu valley. The Governor said: “Country estate Isvara in St Petersburg where Roerich was born and where he spent is early childhood had a deep impact on his psyche. He was commissioned to prepare murals and mosaic for several churches between 1904 and World War-I. Later, he started his five-year-long expedition which took him through India and Central Asia. These expeditions resulted in 500 works. Roerich was so attracted by the beauty of the Himalayas that he settled in the Kully valley. “He has left behind a rich legacy comprising 7000 paintings, drawings and costume designs.”

After releasing picture postcards bearing prints of Roerich’s works, General Jacob inaugurated the ‘Nature in Art’ section of the Government Museum. The section comprises 12 lithographic prints of the 19th century donated by General Jacob, along with 62 embroidered works donated by Sardar Jogindar Singh, who was honoured today.