EDUCATION

Rs 73 lakh for upgradation of PU Physics Dept
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9
With the University Grants Commission (UGC) extending the status of Panjab University’s Department of Physics as a Centre for Advanced Studies for another five years, the department is expected to undertake a major programme to add new equipment to its laboratories and upgrade the existing facilities.

A sum of Rs 73 lakh has been allocated for this purpose. This is in addition to the grants sanctioned for individual research projects. Besides, another Rs 23 lakh has been earmarked for recurring expenditure.

Development of a “silicon vertex” and gaseous detectors have bagged the lion’s share of the allotment with Rs 15 lakh to be spent on it. These products are to be used in a multi-national project being carried out in Geneva. The project is aimed at the discovery of certain fundamental particles in nature. Another Rs 15 lakh is to be spent on research activities related to theoretical nuclear physics, particle physics and solid state physics.

The department’s cyclotron laboratory, engaged in carrying out research associated with peaceful use of nuclear energy, is also being considered for augmentation with Rs 8 lakh earmarked for the purpose.

Add-on facilities and accessories for a fast ion transport laboratory, upgradation of the three-dimensional detector set-up, X-ray data analysing system and the semi-conductor laboratory is also on the agenda.

In addition, the department’s geo-chronology laboratory, engaged in carrying out dating of Himalayan rock samples, is also being upgraded, which is estimated to cost Rs 3 lakh.

The Department of Physics is among the half a dozen or so centres for advanced studies in physics in the country and the only one in North India. Nuclear physics, solid state physics and high energy particle physics are its thrust areas in theoretical as well as experimental aspects.

At present, about 30 major research projects, stated to have national as well as international ramifications, are said to be underway at the department. These include 16 projects being sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, six being funded jointly by the UGC and the Nuclear Science Centre and two by the Department of Atomic Energy.

In addition, one research project each is being undertaken under the aegis of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

FROM THE COLLEGES
166 students get degrees
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9
As many as 166 students of the Government College of Education, Sector 20, received degrees at the annual convocation organised here today. The Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr Virendra Singh, was the chief guest on the occasion and delivered the convocation address.

Degrees were conferred by the college principal, Ms Surinder Kaur Tangri, on 15 students of Master of Education, 140 of Bachelor of Education and 11 students of B.Ed (Yoga).

Those who received prizes for bagging the top three positions in academics, respectively, : M.Ed : Kalpana Thakur, Jaspreet Kaur and Sapna Kakkar; B.Ed: Navneet, Palvinder Kaur and Ashima; and B.Ed (Yoga) : Lavanya, Ritu Jetly, and Varuna Kakria.

Clothes exhibition

A two-day exhibition on garments designed and stitched by students of Home Science College, Sector 10, was organised on the college premises here today. The works of the students of Postgraduate Diploma in Dress Designing were also put on display. These included sections on nighties-gowns, jump suits, “perfect looks garments”, “honeymoon time” and “glorious kiddies”.

PU dispatches roll numbers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9
Panjab University has dispatched the roll numbers of all eligible candidates for the forthcoming annual examinations of the post graduate classes, an official press note said here on Monday.

These roll numbers pertain to the first and second year classes of MA, M.Sc., M.Com. and MFC (Annual system). The examinations are scheduled to commence from April 16.

Roll numbers have been dispatched to the respective colleges in the case of regular candidates and at private residential addresses in the case of private candidates. Candidates who do not receive the roll numbers are expected to go to the office of the Joint Controller of Examinations on April 10. They are also expected to bring along attested passport size photographs as well as a letter of request for the purpose.

Students are required to pay a special fee of Rs 35. Candidates are also expected to bring along sufficient documentary evidence of having submitted the examination forms as well as having met the eligibility requirements for appearing in the examinations.

SCHOOL WORLD

ENTER ENGLISH

She knows how to carry herself. No wonder she is known all over the place for her snazzy outfits.

KNOW YOUR WORDS

trammel \noun\ also verb (trammelled)

MEANING (as verb)

Be restricted, shackled, trapped.

(as noun)

 Something that impedes/ obstructs growth.

SENTENCES

(when used as verb)

Don’t trammel this enterprise with regulations.

He felt trammelled by domestic responsibilities.

(when used as noun)

Shake off those trammels of reason.

You must learn to break the trammels that restrict your flight to success.

***

snazzy\adjective

MEANINGS

Stylish, attractive, often in a bright and showy way.

Smart, trendy, neat.

SENTENCES

The princess caught the attention of everybody present in the room, courtesy her snazzy attire.

I like your outfit; it’s very snazzy!

Discotheques are loaded with youngsters, sporting snazzy dresses.

***

mordant\adjective

MEANING

 Sharply critical wit or humour.

 Biting, caustic, sarcastic, acerbic.

SENTENCES

This book is interesting; it is all about mordant humour.

His wit was mordant, wicked, waspish.

***

pillage\noun\ also verb (pillaged)

MEANING

Stealing of property in a rough, violent manner.

Sentences

They were involved in pillage, murder and rape.

Armies of the enemy pillaged the temple and destroyed villages.

IDIOMS

Pull a long face

Meaning

Put on an expression which shows that one is unhappy, one does not like something.

SENTENCES

When I asked my sister to accompany me to the morning walk, she pulled a long face; she hates going for walks.

 He always shirked work. So when he was assigned a new project, he pulled a long face.

On tenterhooks

MEANING

Very tense about something; extremely nervous.

SENTENCES

The accused in the rape case had lied in the court. So when he realised that the prosecution was ready to prove him wrong, he was on tenterhooks..

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Puri’s bail plea rendered infructuous
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 9
An anticipatory bail application, moved by a former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Prof M.M Puri, regarding the alleged misuse of official telephones for personnel use, was rendered infructuous by UT Additional District and Sessions Judge Sneh Prashar, acting on a police report that no case or any inquiry was pending in the Sector-11 police station against Professor Puri.

Professor Puri stated in the bail application that he had used telephones installed in his office for official work and not for personal use as alleged by the university. It may be recalled that the university had decided to file a criminal case against Professor Puri for the recovery of certain amounts which he had allegedly misappropriated. These include Rs 2,16,970 on account of ISD calls and certain amount on the account of TA claims he had made for a journey to Canada.

3 acquitted: A local court today acquitted three persons, Resham, Surinder and Mukesh, allegedly involved in the rape case as the complainant and other two witnesses in the case turned hostile. As per the prosecution, on September 21, 2002, the three had taken the victim to the Haryana Tourism Department guest house in Sector 2, where Resham and Surinder had allegedly raped the girl while Mukesh stood outside the guest house.

Mandeep murder case: Three persons, Gur Iqbal Singh, Pushpinder Singh and Ajit Singh, arrested by the police for allegedly murdering a Burail youth, Mandeep Kumar, were remanded to the police custody by a local court. Mandeep was allegedly murdered by a group of eight persons while he was sitting with his friend in a park in Sector 44.

Slum-free urbanisation sought
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9
In a petition filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a Naya Gaon resident Dr B. Singh today sought directions to the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents to ensure “slum-free” urbanisation.

Directions for shifting the slums and rehabilitating the dwellers “specially around the City Beautiful” were also sought. Taking up the petition, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice of motion to the respondents.

Describing the slums as “product of political and bureaucratic nexus” the petitioner added that they were “a reflection of ill-planning”, besides “mismanagement of man and material resources”’.

Giving details, he asserted that the slums were breeding “corruption” and “promoting violence”.

Ranjit Bajaj case

A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Mr B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar, today fixed April 30 as the next date of hearing in the matter involving Ranjit Bajaj. He was accused of driving a car without valid registration number and black films.

The Bench, comprising Justice Sat Pal and Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar, had also directed the punching of licence for each traffic offence. Licences were also made compulsory for conductors. The Administration was also told to demarcate parking areas in each sector for vehicles within a month.

CULTURE

French musicians spill magic
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9
It was a day of divine melodies at Leisure Valley in Sector 10, where the visitors had gathered to treat themselves to the ethno-rock concert presented by a seven-member rock troupe from France.

Faubourg de Biognard wove a web of rhythms as they doled out one melody after another at the special rock concert organised by Alliance Francaise, Sector 36, in collaboration with the UT Administration. The evening rolled with members of a local band (Triangle) presenting some of the finest rock melodies ever created. Taking over from the local presenters, the seven members of the visiting music troupe displayed great command over all instruments. As the narrator Christophe Raillard decried the war on Iraq in one piece, the accompanying music added to the melancholy tunes. Music made waves with instruments like bagpipes, accordion and guitar teaming up to fill the evening with rhythms.

Sparing a thought for world peace, the musicians performed for long, by city standards. The crowd was still wanting more of the folk music from Morvan in Central France where the foundation of the troupe was laid.

Amit charms with tabla recital
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9
Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi today started its series of music programmes with a tabla recital by Amit Sachdeva.

Known for his exquisite handling of the instrument, Amit commenced his recital with vilambit teen taal in which he displayed the various technical points that make tabla recital dear to the audiences. So there were various patterns from uthaan, peshkars, kaidas and gats. Further, he played bidai laya chakradhar (a beautiful element known to the art form of tabla) in which he presented kaidas of Delhi and Punjab gharana.

He also presented tihais, tukras, tipalli and relas of the Ajrada gharana. The presentation was concluded with various styles of Delhi, Ajrada and Punjab gharanas. The tabla recital was followed by a presentation of ghazals by Arjan Jaipuri. Col I.J.S. Bakshi, secretary, Punjab Arts Council, presided over the function.