The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

B.Ed aspirants to move court on UT pool issue
Monica Sharma

Chandigarh, August 4
Even after securing “high ranks” in B.Ed entrance examinations conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University, scores of graduates from all over the region studying at Chandigarh and surrounding areas have been denied admission to the city colleges. The students have now been forced to take admission in colleges located in places as far as Bathinda, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Moga, even Hoshiarpur and Ferozepore.

The affected students, claiming that they were entitled to be considered for admission to institutes in both Punjab and Chandigarh, had filled up “Punjab” as an option in form “A” enclosed in the prospectus. As per it, two more forms “B” and “D” were to be issued after the declaration of the results. Form “B” was for students “desirous of taking admission in the colleges in Punjab”. Form “D” was for admission to “colleges in Chandigarh”.

The prospectus had further stated that a booklet containing the forms would be available at designated branches of Punjab and Sindh Bank on the payment of Rs 200. In case of the SC and ST candidates, it was to be offered for Rs 100. However, the booklet was never issued. Only form “C” for “admission to 70 per cent seats reserved for the rural area women candidates” was issued. For days, the candidates kept on frequenting the bank branches, but in vain.

When they finally went for counselling at GND varsity in Amritsar, the candidates were clearly told that they were not being considered for the UT pool as they had ticked “Punjab” in the application form. Their plea that they were entitled to admission both in Punjab and Chandigarh fell on deaf ears. They were subsequently considered in the general pool.

As per the rules for the UT pool, 85 per cent seats were to be filled from amongst the students passing their qualifying examinations from colleges recognised by the Chandigarh Administration and situated in the union territory. They should be regular students of the colleges and institutions, subject to the condition that such students had studied for two years at Chandigarh.

In the general pool, 15 per cent of the seats were to be filled from amongst the students passing their qualifying examination from the “institutes other than those located in the Union Territory of Chandigarh”.

The students have now decided to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to Punjab and other respondents to consider the candidates for admission in the UT pool. The important point to come up for consideration is — whether the students from Chandigarh are entitled to be considered for both Punjab and UT.

Learning maths through Abacus
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 4
With the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) giving emphasis on making mathematics a joyous learning experience by making the subject practical-oriented, the recent entry of the Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS) — a modern representation of an ancient art of mental mathematics using a Chinese ‘Abacus’, can be just the answer, the mathematics teachers are looking for.

After introducing the concept of mental arithmetic through Chinese Abacus in the city about three months ago, the UCMAS experts have chalked out a plan to introduce the concept at the school-level. “We have already approached various schools for demonstrations of our technique and many of the private schools in the city are showing interest in incorporating Abacus in their academic curriculum,” says Ms Malini Sivaram, a mathematics teachers who runs Leelawati UCMAS Centre in Sector 19.

According to Ms Sivaram, mental arithmetic using Abacus will go a long way in eliminating the maths phobia from students’ mind and as well as building up confidence. “Now that the CBSE has focussed on inventing ways and means to make mathematics practical-oriented, the concept of mental arithmetic using Abacus can be a part of the practical curriculum,” she says.

The concept of UCMAS uses beads of an Abacus for calculations. However, learning the use of Abacus which comprises vertical rods that represent decimal positions and beads to carry out most difficult calculations with the speed of a calculator.

“The UCMAS is not just about learning how to do addition and subtraction through beads and rods but it also teaches a child how to coordinate hand movements with that of the thinking process and the result is enhancement in the child’s photographic memory, sense of observation and concentration,” says Mr K.K. Bansal, who is the master franchisee of UCMAS Mental Arithmetic India Pvt Ltd, a Chennai-based company for this region.

Originally from China and popular all over Far Eastern nations, the concept of mental arithmetic came to India about three years ago. “The concept became popular in Chennai but now has gained popularity all over the country. We have about 300 UCMAS centres in India at present,” says Mr Bansal.

Though in Chandigarh the concept is just three-month-old, according to Mr Bansal, it is picking up well with more and more people coming forward to open such centres. At present, there are three UCMAS centres in Chandigarh, one in Panchkula and another in Barnala in Punjab. The complete UCMAS course stretches over 10 terms of three months each. To monitor and encourage excellence, all-India level examination-cum-competitions are held by UCMAS India. The course is open for children between the age group of four to fourteen.

Take to DEAR, students counselled
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 4
The Chairman of the Department of Library and Information Sciences, Prof H.R. Chopra, asked students to cultivate the habit of reading good books. He was speaking on the second day of the Readers’ Motivation Programme at Government College, Sector 46, here today.

Earlier, the Principal of the college, Mr S.C. Nijhawan, called upon the students to have a regular reading schedule. The college librarian, Mr I.B. Verma, said the college was the first to set up a Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) club with an objective to motivate maximum number of students to read.

He said such DEAR clubs existed in western countries and were playing a significant role in developing the reading habit among school and college students.

Green Day observed
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 4
The Gurukul, Sector 20, here, in association with the Horticulture Wing of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), observed Green Day”today. The idea was to impress upon the students the importance of tree.

The Administrator, HUDA, Mr C.R. Rana, was the chief guest. He planted a sapling on the school premises, following which students planted saplings on the school premises and its surrounding areas. The children also pledged to monitor the growth of these saplings.

The tree plantation drive was followed by a cultural programme. A play “Ped Hamara Jeevan Data”, a satire on the present degradation of environment, was the main attraction. Speeches on the uses of trees were also delivered by students.

Meanwhile, boys and girls of the Junior Wing of Satluj Public School, planted 150 saplings of Ashok longifolia and gulmohar to add to the beauty and greenery of the school. The students dug up pits and planted saplings under the supervision of their teachers.

COURTS

Inspector deposes in Beant case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 4
An inspector posted with the crime branch, Mr P.K Dhawan, today deposed before the court in the Beant Singh assassination trial that the CBI team had collected various articles, including a skull with hair, at the site where the blast took place. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh was assassinated outside the Civil Secretariat in 1995.

In his statement before the UT Additional and Sessions Judge in Model Burail Jail, Mr Dhawan said he was associated with the CBI in the case and had joined its team on September 2, 1995.

He stated that in his presence, the members of the CFSL team from Delhi had inspected four Ambassador cars and a Gypsy, including the car of Beant Singh and collected blood-stained caps, turbans and a shirt from the spot. On September 3, the CBI team had collected a part of a skull with hair.

CULTURE

He laughs and makes others laugh
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 4
It’s not difficult to sense the worth of Jaaved Jafferi, who strikes an essentially harmonious conversation. Seated across the table in an interface, he throws up sequences that reflect the lesser-known aspects of his life and leads you into the days which saw his father Jagdeep sweat it out on the roads for every single penny.

Perhaps all the laughter with which Jaaved now fills up lives of people came as the interest on all the pain that he bore as a child. Forced to abandon home and hearth in Pakistan, his father had been condemned to hard life. No wonder the son proudly recalls, “My father was virtually on the roads. So pathetic was his state that he could have easily fallen to beggary. But he chose walk the tough road than to throw away his dignity. He earned every single penny from the sweat of his brow. We, as a family, grew up counting our blessings and holding on to our ideals.”

Putting melancholy behind him, Jaaved instantly switched over to his true self, which is essentially exuberant, lively and comic. “Finally, however, life is full of hopes and dreams and laughter. I always had this gift of comedy from my father. It is another matter that I was cast as a villain in my first break Meri Jung. I opted for that film because it required me to dance a lot, “said the actor, who dances with his heart.

Jaaved does not remember having lived too many sad moments. As he recalls, “I would always laugh and make others laugh. That is exactly what I did even while I was part of the dance show Boogie Woogie which was structured for fun and celebration. Even as children, we were left to lead our respective lives and make our respective choices. We lived in a Christian locality. Every second day I was sneaking into a Christian wedding which was all about dance and music. I often paired with friends and gate crashed into weddings.”

Carrying his spirited mood into college, Jaaved went on to win a series of dance contests — from the All Bombay dance contest held in 1982 to the All-India Solo dance contest in 1984. Remembers Jaaved, “Dancing was in the genes. I sought no training. Likewise, the art of offering comic relief also came naturally to me. I did not have to make attempts in the beginning. But now I have to make efforts to don a comedian’s role. It’s not easy. You have to be extremely observant if you have to keep adding smart one liners to your kitty. That’s why I love observing people.” Jaaved was great with comedy in the latest IDreams production “Jajantaram Mamantram, which targeted children. The actor admits, “I thoroughly enjoyed my role. I tickled all the funny bones I could.”

Although Jaaved began his film career playing the villain, he later restrained from choosing negative roles. “It affects your image. I always thought I fitted well into the typical hero image. May be others did not feel that way. I was always playing the other one. Even in 100 Days, I was second in the lead to Jackie Shroff and Madhuri Dixit. I have started enjoying films lately.” Jaaved’s performance in Deepa Mehta’s films — Sam and Me and Fire — has fetched him appreciation in serious roles. He is also featuring in Jackie Shroff’s international film “Boom” which boasts of a celebrated star cast, including model Padma Lakshmi and Amitabh Bachchan.

But he still yearns to play a hero. “May be someday film makers start looking at me from my own perspective” — comes another smart one from Jaaved’s quiver.

Boogie Woogie Jaaved on talent hunt
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 4
After breaking away from Boogie Woogie, actor-dancer Jaaved Jafferi is now on the verge of creating history on television. He will be spearheading the first ever international talent search show ‘Grooves’, which will sift international talent in the world of music and dance. To be telecast from the first week of September on Sahara Manoranjan, this talent show will first select dancers and singers at the local level, then the zonal, the national and then the international level.

In the city to announce the novel game show, Jaaved Jafferi said the idea behind ‘Grooves’ was to bind the world with music and dance. “We have designed a game show in which each round will be decisive because it will lead to another. Every episode will progress to form a pyramid. In the final stage only the best people in the respective categories will remain. So there will be room only for talent not for luck," informed Jaaved, who will anchor the show along with Shraddha Pandit and Reshma Khan.

While selections continue at the local level, contests will also be organised in 10 countries of the world. Once the best people have been selected, they will contest for a Mercedes Benz, which will be the first prize for winners in each of the seven categories. The four categories in dance include: freestyle solo (12 years and below), free style solo for males (13 to 21 years), freestyle solo for females (13 to 21 years), freestyle group (21 and below ).

Interestingly, in the junior section, Jaaved has not kept separate slots for boys and girls. He reasoned, "We researched and found that till about 12 years of age, both the boys and girls sound almost similar. So we have female and male categories only for those above 12 years of age." The three sections in the song category are — solo (12 years and below), solo males (13 to 21 years) and solo females (13 to 21 years). In Chandigarh the audition for the show will be held between August 14 and 16 at hotel Marc Royale in Zirakpur.