EDUCATION

To sir, with love
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 26
Litterateur N.S. Tasneem who retired from the English Department of the local Government College for Boys some years ago was felicitated at Punjabi Bhavan by some of his old students yesterday.

His Ludhiana-based students occupying high positions got together to felicitate him for his achievements.

The idea of holding a get-together came from Jaswant Multani, based in the USA, who had sent him a pen that is used by NASA astronauts. The ink lasts a century at high pressure and zero gravity.

This motivated other students to organise a seminar.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Harmeet Kaur recalled the days when teachers were devoted to their work and the students held them in high esteem. Mr Bharat Bhushan, Assistant Commissioner (Excise and Taxation), eulogised the role of the teachers in shaping the destiny of the younger generation.

The convener of the seminar, Col Chaman Singh Dhillon, said the same old bond of affection should be established among the teachers and the students.

Prof M.S. Cheema, Principal Surjit Singh Bhatia, Dr Prem Goyal, Dr Kulwinder Kaur Minhas, and Principal Prem Singh Bajaj were of the view that the gap between the teachers and seekers of knowledge needed to be bridged.

Writers like Inderjit Hasanpuri, Ravinder Bhattal, Gursharan Singh Narula, Gurcharan Kaur Kochar, Surinder Jit Kaur,Dr Ajit Singh Sikka and Shah Chaman also participated in the seminar.

Toppers felicitated
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 26
To felicitate students who secured enviable positions in the entrance tests held for admission to various medical and engineering colleges, the H.K. Sidhu Institute of Sciences, Sarabha Nagar, organised a function at Wheat Auditorium, Department of Economics, Punjab Agricultural University, here last evening.

Among those honoured on the occasion were Brijesh Takkar, who topped AIIMS, Banaras Hindu University and Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. Rohit Rampal received a prize for attaining the seventh rank in PMT. Harsimran Sethi, who stood 34th in CMC, Ludhiana, 21st in the exam held by the College of Veterinary Sciences, PAU, and 426th in the entrance test to Manipal Academy of Higher Education, was also honoured. Anshul Joshi received a prize for standing 430 from Punjab in the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination.

Daaman Syal, Navreet and Rasleen were felicitated for securing 172nd, 320th and 352nd positions in the Pre-Medical Test. Sumit Bhatia, Kirandeep Gill, Harleen Kaur Taneja, Simarjot and Arshkabir were also honoured.

A cultural programme was organised on the occasion. The function was presided over by Ms Amrit Varsha Rampal, councillor, Municipal Corporation, who lauded the efforts of students.

Winners of GK contest awarded
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 26
At least 168 students from 21 schools of the city who had emerged winners in a mega general knowledge contest organised by the All- India Society for Electronic and Computer Technology received prizes during a function held at Guru Nanak Public School here today.

More than 24,000 students had participated in the contest in three categories. In the first category, there were students from Classes VI to VIII. The second category had students from classes IX and X and the third category from classes XI and XII. During the contest held in various schools during May and June, students were given 30 questions which they had to answer in 30 minutes.

Besides, a slogan contest was held. The students from the host school won the overall trophy in the contest. Mr Manjit Singh, MD, Bonn Nutrients and organiser of the contest, said prizes worth Rs 1.5 lakh which were in the form of books were sponsored by Tata McGraw Hill.

On the occasion, a cultural programme was also held. Mr Kuldeep Singh, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr Bachitar Singh, District Education Officer, Giani Bhagat Singh, chairman of the host school, and Mr Rajiv Johar, advocate, were present.

One-day workshop

Ludhiana, July 26
The Fine Arts Department of the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, Ludhiana, organised a one-day workshop today.

Ms Ranjana from Camlin colours conducted the workshop. She highlighted the use of ceramic colours on pottery. About 80 students participated in the workshop. The Principal of the college, Ms Anup Kaur Bansal, thanked Ms Ranjana for conducting the workshop. OC

School management elections today
Our Correspondent

Khanna, July 26
The stage is set for electing new office-bearers of the prestigious A S High School Management Society and Trust. The annual election is scheduled for tomorrow.

The election has assumed significance as members of the management stand divided and after the death of Mr Onkar Rai Mehta and the subsequent resignation of Mr J.S. Lotey and Mr Krishan Murari Bedi, the ruling group has lost majority.

The four educational institutes that will be affected by the election on Sunday include the A S College for Boys, A S College for Women, A S Senior Secondary School and the A S Modern Senior Secondary School.

COURTS

Bar chief refutes bungling allegation
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 26
The District Bar Association president, Mr Harish Rai Dhanda, has refuted the charges levelled by Mr Sandeep Kapoor, joint secretary of the association, regarding alleged bungling in the purchase of tables for the lawyers. He was addressing a general house meeting of the DBA here today.

He said the decision to purchase tables was not taken by him alone. A five-member team was constituted and the order was placed after verification by the team. He said all decisions were taken keeping in view the interests of lawyers. He alleged that Mr Kapoor was indulging in petty politics.

It was a stormy meeting. Mr Dhanda faced a lot of opposition. The matter could not resolved as both the parties were not ready to buzz from their respective stands. Ultimately, the association president asked the young lawyers to get back Rs 1,000 out of Rs 2,000 deposited by them. He said they should make their own seating arrangement and purchase the tables themselves. But they did not accept the decision and expressed resentment.

A demonstration was held by Mr Sandeep Kapoor and other lawyers in the new complex yesterday. They had criticised Mr Dhanda for allegedly working against the interests of the lawyers. Mr Kapoor had alleged that Rs 2,000 was charged from each lawyer for providing them seats in new complex, but they were not provided proper seats. It was alleged that four lawyers would be forced to share one table, which, he said, would adversely affect their work.

He had further alleged that in the last executive meeting, he had opposed the proposal of providing one table to four advocates. However, the president did not agree with this and placed orders for the tables, he said.

Young lawyers have decided to hold a meeting on Monday at 4 pm in the new complex.

Mr Malwinder Singh Sekhon, president of the Organisation of Young Lawyers, Mr Bir Inder Singh Sekhon, Mr Rohit Thapar, Mr Kewal Sood, Mr Rupinder Jit Singh, Mr Jairaj Singh Gill, Mr Harpreet Singh, Mr Vikram Singh, Mr Pankaj Sharma, Mr Rajesh Maurya, Mr Rakesh Kumar, Mr Rakesh Arora have expressed resentment over the behaviour of the Bar president.

CULTURE

Exploring the dark side of modern life
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 26
Modern life and the fast-changing business world have altered the corporate ethos. Things have changed with technology kicking life into top gear. Political intrigues and bitching has transformed thinking in the business world.

People from the corporate world have become demi-gods, but lost their link with life. It was a replay of real-life situations by Srishti Centre for Arts, whose performers kept the audience glued to their seats during the enactment of ‘Saanp Seedhi’, a play based on Anurag Mathur’s novel ‘Scenes From an Executive’s Life’.

Many city-based executives who came to watch the play at Guru Nanak Bhavan last evening could draw parallel with the protagonist, Gambhir Kumar (played by Rohit Batra), a typical north Indian male, who finds fame and fortune at a young age, but has no clue about the real life. Gambhir has money, power and fame, but his life is so meaningless.

He becomes a source of envy for all his colleagues, who finally nail him by using deceit and guile — a typical real-life situation. Directed by famous Mohan Maharishi, the play neatly packages corporate politics with pressures of work, extramarital affairs and mundane things in life.

The central character, Gambhir Kumar falls in love with a girl and causes more jealousy. Colleagues project him in a bad light before their boss. The boss harbours no ill-feeling towards Gambhir, but when the couple is caught in a compromising position by colleagues, the boss, already fed on venom by his staff, decides to sack Gambhir, which makes his colleagues feel relieved.

The spellbound audience was all praise for Kapila (played by Tahira) and Ms Himmat (played by Namrata Batra), whose roles were absorbing. The play was gripping right from the beginning. Partly in English, the play challenged the institution of marriage.

Scenes depicted how cut-throat competition and materalism were forcing people to clamour for making a fashion statement in the “real” world. Compromising on morals, ethics and values comes naturally with modern living and this has been captured beautifully in ‘Saanp Seedhi’.

The actors had the tough task of maintaining a fine balance between their on-stage personalities, where they were coping with the mounting pressure rather than balancing professional and personal lives.