EDUCATION

SCHOOL WORLD
Young Achiever
Striving for excellence
Geetanjali Gayatri

Full of beans, 11-year-old Sankalp Sardana is a jack-of-all-trades and master of a few. Though books are his best friends, he is no bookworm. Having set for himself a tradition of being among the top in his class, this young boy, a student of St John’s, has a passion for learning.

Be it playing the casio or hitting the ball to the boundary on the cricket field, using paints to color the canvas or shaking a leg to peppy numbers, he knows it all and enjoys every bit of the adulation his talent brings with it.

And yet, there are no compromises on his studies. “I snatch time for everything and keep in touch though it gets hectic sometimes. My inspiration for trying my hand at varied activities stems from the desires of my father. The only thing he wants from me is to be an all rounder and I have succeeded in fulfilling his wish so far,” he says.

His love for books began at a very young age and now his personal library, in his bedroom, has over 100 books, fiction, non-fiction and encyclopedias. “I always reach out for my Mathematics encyclopedia whenever I am free. It gives me great satisfaction to know I am always on top when it comes to solving problems. Then, there are other encyclopedias which have widened my horizons,” he adds.

He claims that his library has helped him look beyond his school books, arousing his curiosity, tickling his fancy, comforting him and offering counsel in reordering his life.

And yet, staying confined to books is not his cup of tea. Adorning his study table are cups and medals won in various competitions which speak volumes of his talent. “I participate in almost all activities whether it is a quiz, a painting contest or a dance competition. These are only a recognition of my capabilities. I have double the number of certificates collected over the years,” he explains.

Shuttling between classes to further hone his skills at painting and playing the casio, he finds time to go for a swim and come back to his tennis table. “Table tennis helps me build up my concentration, gets me focused. This enables switching from one activity to another easy,” he says.

Playing "Zindagi ek safar hai suhana" in the school assembly gives him a high. However, the moment he cherishes most was the time his Class I result was declared.

"I scored over the boy who managed to beat me in kindergarten. After that I haven't looked back. Now, I am also focussing on becoming an all rounder and dream of being an educationist when I grow up. For this, I am acquiring all kinds of skills to be a role model. This is just the beginning and I have a long way to go,” he remarks.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Gupta’s remand extended
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 25
Jalandhar's suspended District and Sessions Judge R.M. Gupta was today further sent to judicial custody by a local court in a corruption case registered against him by the CBI. Gupta was produced in the court of CBI Special Judge Balbir Singh who remanded him in judicial custody till July 7.

Meanwhile, Gupta has filed an application in the case for the supply of his medical record prepared by the CBI during police remand. The hearing of the application was fixed for July 7.

According to the FIR registered by the CBI, after completing formalities a trap was laid by the CBI and suspended Judicial Magistrate S.S. Bhardwaj was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 7 lakh for himself and R.M. Gupta from Gurvinder Singh, the complainant for favouring him in consideration of anticipatory bail pending before him.

Bhardwaj has been lodged in Model Burail Jail.

Reply filed

Pleading that the application moved by Reedhima's father for her custody be dismissed, her counsel today filed a reply in a local court. Claiming that Reedhima was a minor girl and he was her natural guardian, the father of the 17-year-old city girl, Reedhima, had filed application in the court for issuing directions to the superintendent of Nari Niketan to hand over her custody.

Claiming that Reedhima could not be handed over to her parents, her counsel stated in the reply that the custody of the minor child cannot be given to the natural guardian. There are certain provisions in the Hindu Minority and Natural Guardian Act, 1956, where it was clearly mentioned that the welfare of the minor to be paramount consideration where the integrity of the parents was doubtful, then the courts play a vital role in the case of custody of the minors.”

Denying the allegation that Reedhima was kidnapped by her lover, Rajiv, the counsel further stated that she had not been kidnapped by her lover but she herself came to Chandigarh from Solan where she was allegedly illegally detained by her relatives. Thereafter she was sent to Nari Niketan.

Earlier Reedhima had recorded her statement that she was in love with Rajiv, therefore, she was allegedly tortured by her relatives.

CULTURE

Bharatnatyam at its best
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 25
Suchitra Mitra’s control over her medium is absolute. That is one reason why year, after year, her bharatnatyam workshops seem to be growing in popularity. Skilled in the art herself, Suchitra comes down from Delhi every year during this part of the season so that she can do what she likes doing the best — impart training in bharatnatyam to young ones, eager to pick up the nuances of the oldest dance tradition in the Indian classical stream.

The best thing about Suchitra’s workshops, as always, is their practicability. In her role as a guru to a score of students, who attended her workshop that started in Chandigarh on June 1, Suchitra does not wind up things simply by offering the knowledge she has. She goes a few steps beyond the realm of academics and injectes the dance form with life. That is why everytime you see her and her troupe don the mantle of classical dancers, you are impressed with the novelty of pieces presented. There is hardly any repetition in the performance which she structures towards the end of workshop, every year.

This day saw another of such presentation, meant to air the talent of children. Gathered at the Government Home Science College in Sector 10 were a host of Suchitra’s students, loaded with energy channelised in the form of grace. Presented under the aegis of Padam, the cultural evening showcased genuine talent, honed at its best by Suchitra, who is regarded in the world of bharatnatyam as a presenter par excellence.

The evening was presented in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, UT. Blending lecture demonstration with dance presentations, Suchitra made the evening worthwhile for the audience who could easily understand the techniques being employed to put across various themes.