EDUCATION

Common syllabus for science courses soon
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
A common syllabus for undergraduate science courses has been recommended for all colleges of Chandigarh and Punjab regardless of their affiliation with different universities.

The undergraduate board of studies for respective studies has formulated the syllabus. It would be taken up by the Panjab University’s Faculty of Science at its meeting scheduled for March 28.

The common syllabus is envisaged to be implemented from the forthcoming academic session. All colleges affiliated to Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar will be required to follow the new syllabus.

Representatives from the undergraduate boards of studies for different subjects from all three universities had held meetings during the past few days to work out a syllabus acceptable all around, it is learnt. The pattern of question papers for examinations will also be the same.

Panjab University here had been given the responsibility to formulate syllabus for mathematics, statistics, home science, chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, biotechnology, computer science and environmental studies. The board of studies for bio-technology had met on March 20.

The conveners of the Undergraduate Board of Studies of Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, were the first to meet and prescribe a common syllabus, with others following suit.

While the syllabus of B.Sc-I will be common for all three universities from 2003-04 session, the second and third year classes will begin following the new syllabus from the 2004-05 and 2005-06 session, respectively.

260 students get degrees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
As many as 260 students of Guru Gobind Singh College for Women were awarded degrees at the college’s annual convocation, held here today. The Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr Virendra Singh, was the chief guest.

Earlier, the Principal, Dr Harinder Jit Kaur, read out the college’s annual report and highlighted the achievements of the students in academic, sports and extra-curricular activities. The college won seven inter-college sports championships, while 12 students bagged top positions in Panjab University examinations.

The Award of Honour was conferred on Preeti, who scored first position in the annual Business Administration examination conducted by Panjab University. While 133 degrees were awarded in the Arts stream, 62 were awarded in Commerce, 30 in BCA and 29 in BBA.

‘Sadbhavana divas’ at PU
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh,, March 27
The ‘sadbhavana divas’ organised by the Panjab University Non Teaching Employees Federation here today was well attended by the staff as well as students on the campus.

The day was organised in memory of Kalpana Chawla, Indian astronaut who died recent Columbia space shuttle tragedy.

Mayor Subhash Chawla attended the function. Also present on the occasion were Mr Kuldeep Singh Kajheri, Senior Deputy Mayor and councillors Anu Chatrath and Sohan Lal Vaid.

Mr Chawla said, ‘‘We should be proud of what Chawla had attained during the short span of her life’’.

Workshop on analytical instrumentation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
A three-day workshop on analytical instrumentation was inaugurated at the Regional Instrumentation Centre of Panjab University by Dr Jujhar Singh, director of Morepen Laboratories, Parwanoo, here yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jujhar Singh highlighted the role of analytical instruments in bringing indigenous industrial products up to international standards.

In his presidential address, Prof S.V.Kessar, an internationally acclaimed scientist, said analytical demands had become very challenging, with reactions occurring in a time frame of 10 seconds being studied.

Prof S.K.Sharma, director of the centre, said in today’s scenario of quality consciousness and growing health concerns, sound knowledge and practice of analytical spectroscopy was a must.

Dr Keshav Agnihotri, convener of the workshop, highlighted the major areas of discussion.

Himalayan fault lines
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
A review of the broad physiographic features of South Asia was central to the lecture by Prof P.K. Verma at Panjab University here today.

Professor Verma, an earth scientist from Delhi University, delivered the M.R. Sahni Memorial Lecture organised by the Department of Geology. He related the relative heights of the Himalayas to the underthrusting of the Indian plate some 50 million years ago.

His talk dealt with the movement of slices along faults and how this phenomenon had generated pockets of granites in the Himalayas.

Prof Ramesh K. Kakkar, chairman of the Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, gave an introduction, in which he recalled the small beginnings of the department. Professor Sahni was mainly behind the establishment of the centre here.

COURTS

BEANT SINGH TRIAL
Production of fingerprints sought
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 27
The defence counsel for the accused alleged to be involved in the Beant Singh assassination case today pleaded for the production of photographs of the fingerprints of the accused taken by the CBI while arguing in a special court room in Model Burail Jail today.

Pleading before the UT Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Balbir Singh, the defence counsel stated that the defence had the right to ask for the production of documents.

The counsel for the CBI, however, argued that the statement of the witness, Mr S.K. Chadha, a Senior Scientist with CFSL laboratory, Delhi, be recorded as he had been coming all the way from Delhi. It was his sixth appearance before the judge today. The CBI counsel also submitted a Supreme Court judgment arguing that while the witness was in the witness box, the case could not be deferred. After hearing the defence plea, the judge asked the defence counsel to file a written application giving details about his claims and adjourned the case for tomorrow.

CULTURE

WORLD THEATRE DAY
The show goes on and on
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27
Regarded extremely significant in the theatre circles, World Theatre Day is looked upon as an opportunity for theatre people to focus attention on the force of the performing arts and the creative verve that stems from the collective creative act. It is also taken as an occasion for reminding us all of how much theatre can contribute to the strengthening of understanding and peace between all the world’s people.

Even as the world attaches importance to the day, the city also plays its part at its own level. A spate of presentations marked the celebrations of the day in the city, with the beginning being made in the afternoon by Theatre Age, which presented its own version of theatre in the form of street play. “Screen Test”, the play featured an outstanding issue — that of the youngsters being lured by the world of films. The chord the script touched was important, but at the end of the day the street theatre could manage only non serious audience at Sector 17 Plaza. People came, laughed, and went away, little empathising with the real issue behind the presentation, which was made by Sudesh Sharma, Rajiv Mehta, Kapil Kalyan, Yogesh, Manpreet Singh, Paramjit Walia, among others.

Another play was presented by amateurs in Sector 34. Revolving around the theme of dowry, the play failed to manage a decent audience. It had to be wounded up in 15 minutes. Treemat, directed by Neeta Mohindra, was performed by Rang Toli of Amritsar at Tagore Theatre in the evening. There were three street play presentations in Sector 17.

Ironically, even as these presentations were held, hardly any presenters knew what the day signified. The World Theatre Day has been celebrated on March 27 since 1962. The date was chosen at the ninth World Congress of ITI (the International Theatre Institute) held in 1961. The most well-known names from theatre are chosen to give the World Theatre Day messages every year. Those who have give the message include Jean Octeau (1962), Peter Brook (1988), Richard Burton (1974) and Vaclav Havel (1994). Girish Karnad is the only Indian to have delivered the message in 2002. This year’s message has been given by Tankred Dorst (2003) from France. The theme of the World Theatre Day message is always linked to theatre and international harmony. It is translated into more than 20 world languages and is broadcast widely.

Today’s celebrations raise a debate on the status of theatre in Chandigarh, where there is no culture of paying for theatre, nor any consistent audience or any professional theatre. Most theatre is being done by amateurs. Interestingly, most theatre persons contacted said they still faced dearth of female artistes. They also feel the city lacks proper paraphernalia for theatre. There is no space where rehearsals can be held.

NEW RELEASE
Subhash Ghai back with action, humour

Subhash Ghai, the showman famous for 70 mm melodramas, is back after producing “Rahul” with his banner Mukta Arts Limited’s “Ek Aur Ek Gyarah” which will hit the screen today all over and at Picaddily, Chandigarh and KC, Panchkula.

A scene from “Ek Aur Ek Gyarah”

Love, action and humour are the audience-hooking ingredients. Right now, David Dhawan’s “Ek Aur Ek Gyarah” is very close to his heart and this film will be more interesting than his earlier hits “Shola Aur Shabnam” and “Aankhen”, according to a trade analyst. Yunus Sejawal is the story writer and the camera man is Nadeem Khan. Sameer has penned the lyrics. The trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have come up with a very interesting score, which will appeal to the masses. “Beimaan Mohabbat” and “Main Jogiya” are already chartbusters. DP