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| Sunday,
May 4, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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College teachers not to guide research Chandigarh, May 3 A decision on the ban was taken by the Joint Research Board of the arts stream. The matter however, subsequently featured in the university Syndicate where ‘discrimination against college teachers’ was pointed out. The university has assured to look into the matter. Dr Dinesh Talwar, a Fellow, said science was an area where one could say colleges were lesser equipped for the experiment work so college teachers should work in tandem with university teachers for research projects. There was no university provision regarding prohibiting college teachers to guide
research in science. In the arts stream however, this argument did not find logic because a PhD teacher in the college was in no way less qualified to guide doctoral research. Dr Talwar said the National Assessment and Accreditation Council which was evaluating the functioning of all colleges in the country by grading them had provided for a special provision pertaining to research guidance. This column asked whether there were any research guides in the colleges concerned. Not allowing college teachers to guide research was against this provision. The issue was also raised by Prof Charanjit Chawla, in the Syndicate, who said in the neighbouring universities of Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan research guidance in colleges, particularly those offering postgraduate degrees, was common. A research scholar said not allowing college teachers to guide research directly meant that postgraduation in colleges was less valuable than education at the university level. Sources pointed out that the issue had basically emerged from the music department where college teachers were refused to guide research. Interestingly, one of the teachers under question had already guided five researches. “Does not allowing college teachers to guide research mean that those who had already done it earlier will be de-recognised?’ a teacher asked. Dr Talwar had written a letter to the Vice Chancellor on April 7 asking ‘why college teachers who had themselves done a doctoral research should not be allowed to guide research?” He pointed out that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had provision of grants for colleges promoting research work. |
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TGTs unite
to fight back Chandigarh, May 3 The Administration’s general policy of filling up the vacant posts of lecturers either by deputation or appointing teachers on contract basis has proved to be a bone of contention for the teachers, majority of whom have been waiting for their due promotions for the past seven to eight years. “We have been approaching the Administration time and again to fill up the vacant posts of lecturers, which are roughly 160 posts in Chandigarh, by promoting TGT’s into that particular category but the authorities have given no heed to our requests,” said a senior member of the union. Teachers alleged that among the three ways of filling up the vacant posts: 45 per cent by promotion quota, 35 per cent by direct promotion and 20 per cent on deputation basis, the third mode has been particularly favourable among the policy makers as a result of which the deputation quota has far more exceeded than its allotted quota. According to information, there are more than 100 teachers who are awaiting their turn for their promotion as lecturer in the promotional quota. About 20 posts of headmaster and an equal number of posts of principal are also lying vacant. Meanwhile, the long wait for their due promotion is having its toll on the teaching community. “I was appointed as a TGT in November, 1990, and was supposed to get promoted as a school lecturer in 1996. But even after seven years , I am still working in the same post in spite of having MAs in three subjects and a number of diplomas in the allied field,” said a teacher on the condition of anonymity. Long waiting list gives up little hope that we will be getting a promotion within our service time,” said a group of teachers. The Director Public Instructions (Schools), Mr D.S. Mangat, said the matter of teachers promotion was pending in the court and the administration could do nothing by then. “It is high time that the Administration should stop using the lawsuit as an excuse and work for the interest of the student and the teaching community,” feels the members of the union. “The negligence of the Administration has a negative affect on the students, for if there is no incentive for a teacher in his professional career, how can you expect one to deliver his best? asked a teacher. |
YPS
students get starry treat SAS Nagar, May 3 The planetarium, a dome shaped nylon structure, has been placed in the gymnasium hall and accommodates 35 students at a time. Each show lasts for about an hour and gives the students a first hand experience of what the universe looks like. “We have divided the complete session into three parts. The first is the starfield show in which computer generated starfield is projected on top of the dome. Over 3,000 stars with the 14 brightest stars individually projected, are pin pointed. This is followed by a show of constellations and deep sky objects like nebulae and galaxies,” informs Siddharth Trivedi, an astronomer by profession, who takes the students through this remarkable journey once they are inside the dome. The students are also given an overall view of the weather pattern across the world and plate tectonics. “What we can show inside depends on the type of cylinder that is used for projection. For example the weather cylinder is basically based on a booklet by Gary D. Kratzer which enables the students to interactively explore pressure systems, storm systems, longitudes and latitudes, coordinate plotting etc. Similarly, the global tectonic projection is based on the work of Paul D. Lowman on the continental drift theory,” says Rajbir Grewal, a promoter of the company. The CMeLT also organises some pre-dome sessions for the students during the course of their dome sessions. These include quizzes, colouring, puzzles etc. Being marketed by Time Value Services in the city, the planetarium will be installed in other schools of the city after its debut week is over at SAS Nagar.
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Software
for testing of solar cookers Chandigarh, May 3 Prof
S.K. Sharma, Honorary Director of the centre, gave details of the major research activity at the centre. The solar equipment facilities were available in various departments on the campus and in the PGI, beside several other research institutions in the city. A hybrid solar cooker with an electric back-up for cooking during cloudy and stormy evenings was a new addition to the department armoury. He said the international “Sun Day” reminded us of the grim situation on the energy front and strengthened the resolve to tap the potential of the renewable energy resources. Extensive use of conventional sources of energy had given rise to problems like global warming and environmental pollution, causing adverse effects to ecology. Sustainable development was possible only if there was development on the front of alternative sources of energy. The centre has also developed a technique to eliminate the formation of algae in the solar distillation which was the main bottleneck in large-scale use of this technology. With this technique the output of distilled water also increased. The department had also created an inhouse facility for the repair and maintenance of solar systems. The research centre is the only research and development centre in the country that was designated as a ‘nodal agency’ for different programmes of the
MNES. Chandigarh was the city with highest per capita alternative energy consumption in the Asia and the Pacific region. The Environmental Society of India celebrated the day at SD High School, Sector 24. An exhibition of solar education kits and other devices was put up. Scores of children marched with placards through the streets near the school with banners saying “use solar energy” and “save fuel and electricity”. Mr
S.K.Sharma, president, urged the Administration to make solar cookers mandatory in all college and school canteens. |
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Panchkula
St Xavier’s wins debate contest Chandigarh, May 3 The theme of the debate was “Cricket is no longer cricket, it is the satisfaction of aggression and hatred”. Seven teams took part in the contest. They included DAV Public School, Dera Bassi, St Stephen’s School, Chandigarh, St Xavier’s School, Panchkula, Little Flower Convent, Panchkula, St Kabir Public School, Chandigarh, St Xavier’s School, Chandigarh, and St Xavier’s School, Mohali. Kshitiz Sharma of St Xavier’s School, Panchkula, was adjudged the best speaker. The runner-up spot was shared by Gursimran J. Gill (St Xavier’s, Panchkula) and Dhaarna Tangri of St Kabir Public School, Chandigarh. The best team award went to St Xavier’s School, Panchkula. The judges for the contest were Dr S.L. Kansra, Mr C. Sequerea, and Ms Gauri Sharma. |
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Kids enjoy pool party SAS Nagar, May 3 The tiny tots had their first experience of being in a swimming pool which was decorated with
colored toys and balls and water animals. With music accompanying, children danced in the pool. |
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Schoolchildren
win prizes SAS Nagar, May 3 According to a press note issued by the school today, Dikshit Soni and Amit Puri won the third prize in paper presentation using LCDs while Sandeep Singh, Sorabh and Tarun Gupta won consolation prizes in project making. In another set of drawing and painting competitions organised in the school by the ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Tushar Dogra, Simran, Gagandeep Kaur, Sandeep Kaur, Randeep Singh, Shubhdeep Singh, Antarpreet and Ramanjot Singh won prizes.
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26 cases disposed of at lok adalat Chandigarh, May 3 UT Member Secretary-cum-Judge, Permanent Lok Adalat, Mr Sant Parkash, said so far 96 cases had been disposed of and Rs 57.84 lakh awarded to the UBI at three lok adalats
organised by the SLSA. Talking about the services being provided by the SLSA, Mr Sant Parkash said any person from general public before going to the court, could submit an application to get his dispute settled at pre-litigative stage. He added that the SLSA has been providing free legal aid and services at the UT courts to poor and physically challenged persons. The SLSA provides free counselling and assistance in cases related to divorce, job discrimination and advice in welfare benefits and accident claim cases. |
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Pain of Vrindavan’s widows revisited Chandigarh, May 3 Leading the list of her works is “Panchvati”, the humble piece on human relationships, which was picked up by the famous film maker Basu Bhattacharya, known for his sensitive handling of stories. In the city today on an invitation from the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi, Kusum Ansal talked about her novel, which was later immortalised in the film “Panchvati” by actors like Suresh Oberoi, Deepti Naval and Akbar Khan. “It was a simple theme, simply narrated. It talked of woman, constantly failed by her husband, who treats her with contempt. Basu Bhattacharya could sensitise the issue. I did the screenplay for him; also wrote half of the dialogues. Since the later half of the film was shot in Nepal, we even went to Pashupati Nath temple to seek blessings for the production,” she said. Kusum Ansal has come a long way from “Panchvati”, which later inspired her to write two plays. Unfettered by language and style, she enriched her repertoire with works of all shades. She has two novels to her credit, two story collections and six collections of poems. Her medium is Hindi, Punjabi and English. But by far, Kusum seems to be most proud of her latest novel — “Tapsi”, which is earning warm reviews for its power to portray evil that feeds on the decaying social fabric, so peculiar of our place of pilgrimage. The novel is set in Vrindavan, the place symbolic of purity. The story serves to unveil the reality that remains shrouded by pretensions. It talks of the “cured” life of numerous widows who are forced to live a life of indignity. They have been dumped in the ashrams run in the name of charity. Abused day in and day out by the revered priests and mahants of the area, they have even taken to prostitution, just in case they have not already been forced into it. The novelist gets unnerved even as she recalls the days spent in the alleys of Vrindavan, trying to record case histories of these countless women, who are always ready to pour their heart out. “Most of them come from Kolkata, where they are held responsible for the death of their husband. They are forced to renounce comforts of life. I spent five years documenting their tragic lives. You will be surprised to know that they get food only if they offer prayers for six hours. The quantum of food is fixed — either two rotis and some dal or some 300 grams of rice. If they want another, they must offer prayers for six more hours. The priests are ruthless. They feed the deadly nexus which involves the police,” said Kusum. Keeping her commitment to the widows, Kusum has written about all that she saw and experienced. But in the end she feels that “Tapsi” may not be able to serve the purpose for which it was written. |
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‘Sur
sparsh’ touches city audience Chandigarh, May 3 After a short delay, the programme, “Sur sparsh,” started amid a great hype. Well-attended for a change, the show took off with a beautiful evening raga, rendered on his sarangi by the Ustad. Known for weaving magic with his sarangi, Ustad Sultan Khan started off in raga yaman. He was accompanied on the tabla by a famous Delhi-based tabla player, Rafiquddin. For about half an hour, Ustad Sultan Khan elaborated the raga, presenting it in various shades and reflecting its nuances. After a long instrumental schedule, the renowned vocalist began pouring out his melodies that we first heard in his album “Piya Basanti Re”. Quite expectedly, the first song he rendered this evening was “Piya basanti re kaahe sataye aaja ...kaisa ye jaado kiya; tere hain hum tere piya...” After this song, he presented some fresh songs from the albums that are yet to be released. Some songs from Sehra, his latest album, were also rendered. |
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