The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

PU extends concession to college staff
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18
Panjab University has extended the fee concession of 50 per cent to wards of employees of colleges, affiliated to the university, in courses which offer seats to the NRI and NRI-sponsored categories. These largely pertain to professional courses.

This concession is applicable from the next academic session. The issue cleared by the Senate meeting of March earlier this year has been formally circulated to all teaching departments and colleges. The concession is available to a large number of courses offered in different teaching departments on the campus only.

The concession will be applicable to in-service and confirmed employees of the colleges only. At the moment the concession was extended only to the sons and daughters of the confirmed employees of the university.

The concession will be applicable to all courses offering seats in the NRI quota on the campus, including the chemical engineering, BSc(honours school), English, Master of Business Administration, degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics, besides several others. The concession does to not apply to the newly opened University Institute of Engineering and Technology because this being a self-financing course.

The proposal was originally mooted by Dr Dinesh Talwar, a fellow. The proposal was followed up by the proposals of Principal Harmit Kaur, Principal A.S. Dua and Principal B.D. Budhiraja. The issue was finally clinched by the university house in the March syndicate.

One point raised on the issue by a Fellow said that similar concession should be extended by the colleges to the wards of the university employees.

In case of seats for the wards of the university employees the circular says that “in all such courses where concession has already been granted by the Board of Finance, syndicate and Senate, employment certificates for the purpose be issued by the Head of the Department or the branch for each year of the course”.

In case of the wards of college employees the college principal is required to give a certificate to this regard. Interestingly, fund in this account will be charged out of the College Development Council Fund of the university.

Dr Talwar said that even after circulation of the notice, there were complaints from certain quarters that the departments were not allowing the fee concession by not accepting applications. The departments maintained that they had not received any circular from the university office. Even that has been settled now, Dr Talwar added.

8 PU students held, let off on bail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18
Eight students were arrested from a counselling tent of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) on the Panjab University (PU) campus here today to avoid a conflict between warring PUSU factions.

The students, who were arrested under Sections 107 and 151 of the CrPC, were later produced before an SDM, who let them off on bail. For the past over a month, the campus had witnessed a series of press conferences in this regard.

Malwinder Singh Kang, PUSU president, had called a press conference and said Yadwinder Singh Yadu, the chairman, and his supporters had been expelled from the party. Yadu has invited the press on at least two occasions and said Kang had been thrown out of the party.

The tent near the Administrative Block had been set up by Kang and his supporters a few days back. The banner also carried the name of Kang. The supporters of the other group today removed the poster of Kang and replaced it with their own. Kang was said to be out of town and could not be contacted.

Ashley’s date with NIFD students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18
Internationally acclaimed Indian designer Ashley Rebello, who designed costumes for Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge, today conducted a design workshop for students of the National Institute of Fashion Design, Sector 8.

The four-hour-long workshop conducted on the NIFD campus began with Ashley introducing the students to the basic elements of design construction, including aspects like budget, situation, star image, occasion and delivery deadline. Citing examples from various films for which he has designed costumes, Ashley made a mention of how he forced Karisma Kapoor to change her look for Fiza.

Next came the discussion on the importance of being a professional fashion designer and also on how they should present themselves. Ashley focused on how students could develop their individual styles, which is the quintessence for any successful designer. Students also got a chance to learn about how to make their portfolio while entering the film industry. He further guided them on how they could get break as designers for television soaps and films.

After dealing in detail with queries of students, the star designer went on to discuss the difference between clothes designed for ramp models and those for the racks, as also the points to be kept in mind for personalised designing like making the heavier woman look thin and vice versa.

Finally, Ashley also shared some interesting details about designing for stars like Sushmita Sen, Tabu, Karisma Kapoor, Aamir Khan and Sonali Bendre.

Bhagwant Mann entertains kids

SAS Nagar, June 18
Children had a hilarious time when comedian Bhagwant Mann shared some happy moments of his life and jokes with them at a workshop organised by Suchketak Rang Manch at Paragon Senior Secondary School here today.

Addressing children he said that hard work was the key to success. But these days there were a number of artists who indulged in short cuts to achieve success. Such a success, if achieved, had a temporary phase as it was difficult to remain on the top than reaching the top.

Bhagwant Mann was accompanied by co-artist Ranbir Rana.

As many as 30 children, aged between 5 years and 17 years, are taking part in the 20-day workshop.

Mrs Anita Shabdeesh, president of the manch, said children were being given training in choreography, dance and theatre. She said that there was a plan to invite Kamaljit Neelon to talk to children. OC

The ‘bold’ & beautiful girl of ‘Khwahish’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 18
Mallika Sherawat’s bare-dare portrayal of an independent, urban woman in ‘Khwahish’ has triggered off a debate on the issue of sexuality in the Indian cinema. But more than forcing minds of the audience into action, Mallika’s debut in Govind Menon’s ‘Khwahish’ that explores the passionate husband-wife relationship, has assured Haryana a place on the Bollywood map.

More than Haryana, it is Rohtak which is struggling to cope with the outcome of the “progressive” film that talks freely about contraceptives and boasts of 17 kissing scenes. In the city today, Mallika reaffirm faith in the film and also claimed that the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala gave her a congratulation call.

Reacting to the attitude of her family in Rohtak, Mallika virtually derided people for drawing a line between a man and a woman. “I wanted to be an actress, but my family never supported me. Had my brothers wanted this they would have been lauded as studs. I was disowned. It’s only now that my father has started talking to me,” disclosed Mallika who was accompanied by her brothers today.

With a degree from Miranda House and a training in kathak from Lata Mangeshkar’s brother Tulsi Mangeshkar, Mallika went on to clinch two major ad campaigns — Santro with Shah Rukh Khan and BPL with Amitabh Bachchan. She was immediately noticed and picked up for ‘Khwahish’ by Govind Menon.

Supporting ‘Khwahish’ which is loaded with steam, Mallika said, “It is time we stopped mothering our audience. In our film we have been strong enough to broach topics reserved for male consumption. Why can’t we talk of contraceptives when the Indian government is publicising them.”

Paired with Himanshu Malik, better known as the Vimal model, Mallika also talked about the role she has bagged in an Indo-French film which has British actors and a French director. She is also doing the next Govind Menon film that explores traditionalism in India in the light of the sordid reality that grows underneath it.

For Jalandhar’s Himanshu Malik, ‘Khwahish’ was a major learning experience. “Everyone in the film — from director Govind Menon and the lead pair to music director and producer — is new. The element of freshness is there for everyone to see. The film explores love in all its shades. It voices the needs of a young urban couple that believes in love, which is inextricably linked to passion,” he said.

Having acted in Tum Bin and also bagged a role in J.P. Dutta’s LOC, Himanshu wants to work with Ram Gopal Verma and Vidhu Chopra. “After struggling for six years I am now getting quality offers, courtesy ‘Khwahish’,” he said.

Taking over the charge from the lead pair, director Govind Menon had the final word on ‘Khwahish’. With a degree in theatre and films from Houston to back him, Govind picked up the script of ‘Khwahish’ without any hesitation. “We wanted to make a formula film and fit modern thinking into a cliched block. So we picked up the story of an urban couple that enters into marriage purely to gratify sexual needs but grows beyond these needs to nurture a mature, sensitive bond.”

Having worked with ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan, who directed Shah Rukh Khan in Asoka, Govind Menon selected Mallika after conducting over 100 screening tests. “I picked her up for her Hindi-speaking skills. Himanshu was a natural choice, with his clean, royal looks.”