Local lad gets 24th rank in PTU-CET
Our Correspondent

Rohit Kaushal said that his parents, who are working as teachers, were his real inspiration. He said that he wanted to take admission in electronics branch at Guru Nanak Engineering College. But he said that he would make a final decision only when the results of DCE and AIEEE were declared.

PCCTU gives memo to DC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 6
Representatives of the PCCTU, a body of 7000 college teachers of 140 govt-aided colleges, have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner Mr Anurag Verma.

Mr Parminder Singh, district president, Mr V.K. Bhardwaj and Mr Kuldeep Singh, executive members have also sent copies of memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner and to Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.

The memorandum said the government college teachers had made a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, to assign them the election duties according to their status and pay scales. Endorsing the decision of the Elecoral Officer, Punjab, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana directed to Subdivisional Magistrates -cum-Electoral Officers the status and salary of the employees be given due regard while assigning the election duties.

Members of the PCCTU said the teachers of govt-aided colleges enjoy parity with the teachers of government colleges in their qualifications and pay scales. Therefore, they deserve the same status which is given to the teachers of the government colleges.

Appointment of GNEC Principal challenged
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 6
The appointment of Col D.S. Grewal as the Principal of Guru Nanak Engineering College has been challenged by a lecturer from the same college in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court has issued a notice to the college trust for July 21.

Stating in her writ petition, Ms Satwinderjit Kaur, complainant, has said the Principal did not fulfill the qualifications for appointment to the post and that his appointment was conducted in a totally illegal and arbitrary manner. She has filed the petition against the Nankana Sahib Education Trust through its president, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar.

Ms Satwinderjit has stated that the Principal on this post should be an eminent person in the field with atleast 15 years of experience in teaching, research or industry out of which five years must be at the level of professor but Colonel Grewal did not fulfill these requirements. She has also stated that the selection committee for his appointment was not properly constituted as the AICTE nominee and three experts in the field were not present as per the requirement. She said out of the total nine members in the meeting, seven were the trustees.

The complainant has sought that his confirmation through a meeting of the Trust be quashed. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 2 and has now be postponed for June 9. Meanwhile, Colonel Grewal has said he qualified for the post and his appointment was justified.

Students try their hand at tabla
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 6
A tabla workshop is being conducted at the Government College for Women. The Kala Sewa Society, the organiser, has brought in reputed artistes from all over the country. One such artiste is Fateh Singh Gangani, a renowned tabla and pakhawaj player who has received training in tabla from his father, Guru Kundal Lal Gangani.

Students were told about the difference between pakhawaj and tabla. He said, “We can trace the family lineage of tabla over the 18th century when it gained importance in North India. Pakhawaj is essentially a north Indian version of mridangam.

Harsh, a student, said, “First of all, we were taught different ‘taals’. We practised these and gained rhythm. It was a delight learning from such a talented tabla player.

Fifteen students could be seen playing tabla with great enthusiasm. Fateh Singh seemed to be equally enjoying teaching his pupils. Another student, Gitika, said people were surprised when she showed interest in learning tabla as they felt it falls in the male bastion. “I think girls can do equally well. I am learning tabla to prove that girls are no less than boys,” she said.

PU to hold maths exam again
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 6
Students of government colleges of Hoshiarpur, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana and other institutions were elated at the decision of Panjab University to conduct maths paper of MA/M.Sc. first year again. The students urged Vice-Chancellor K.N. Pathak and the Controller of Examinations to conduct the exam before June 16, so that results were not delayed.

The maths paper was held on April 29. The students had protested that 80 per cent of the paper was out of syllabus. After raising a hue and cry, the university had decided to give students grace marks. But this was not acceptable to some students as the granting of grace marks would have made them lose their scholarships and others to lose a year. They urged the Vice-Chancellor and the Controller of Examinations to conduct the examination again.

Lalit Gupta, a student of Government College for Boys, said the students were happy at the decision of the university to conduct the examination again. He said their one year had been saved by the decision. They had appealed to Mr Pathak to conduct the examination before June 16.

Students take lessons in pottery
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 6
“You are the potter, I am the clay, mould me the way you want.” These words of a song were evident in a pottery workshop at the Government College for Women being organised under the aegis of the Kala Sewa Society. The pottery workshop is being conducted by Bhuvnesh Prasad, younger brother of Shyama Prasad, winner of the Delhi State Award in pottery.

“The smell of the ‘mother earth’ is so rejuvenating that it binds you to it. Clay is one of the earliest mediums used by man to express himself. In rural areas, things made out of clay are a necessity for household and religious purposes. However, now pottery has become very popular with the urban people also. It has become stylish and has gone designer,” says Bhuvnesh.

He briefed students about the mud needed for pottery and gave a demonstration.

Survesh was thrilled when she made a rose. Kavita was delighted to see clay on the potter’s wheel take amazing shapes. She and her friend Kajol felt on top of the world when they made a bowl and other things using clay with their hands.

Another student Anachal said, “I felt so good and relaxed working with clay. I had a lot of tension as I am waiting for my results. I feel pottery is an art complete in itself. Maybe, I take pottery as a profession.

Dairy farming course ends
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 6
The 12-day training course in dairy farming, organised by the Department of Extension Education, PAU, for dairy farmers of the state concluded today. In her presidential remarks, Dr (Mrs) Ranvir Randhawa, Professor and Head of the Department of Extension Education, said that since seeing was believing, so the participants were taken to the dairy farm of a progressive farmer. Also an educational tours to Nestle Moga, Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana, University Dairy Farm and Veterinary Clinic were also arranged. She also promised to extend all possible help to the trainees in future.

The course coordinator, Dr J S Bhalla, said the trainees were imparted knowledge in the techniques of breeding, disease prevention and protection and the general upkeep of dairy animals in different seasons. As many as 28 dairy farmers participated in the course.

DEO begins inquiry
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 6
Following a complaint by students and teachers of Bharatiya Vidya Mandir to the district administration, Mr Bachitar Singh, District Education Officer (Secondary), started his inquiry in the case here today.

The DEO went to the school this morning and held separate meetings with the trustees and teachers. He said eight members of the trust gave him their statement. Nearly 10 teachers also got their statements recorded. He said another meeting would be arranged with the teachers next week and then the final inquiry report would be submitted to the DC, Mr Anurag Verma.