The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Cultural feast in teachers’ honour
Tribune News Service

The DPI, Mr DS Mangat, declared a holiday for KB DAV School, Sector 7, for tomorrow. Ms Madhu Bahl said that the teachers had worked very hard to put up a grand show and in reward, the school would remain closed tomorrow.

Chandigarh, September 12
A feast for the eyes, the cultural extravaganza of music and dance presented by the teachers of KB DAV Centenary Public School, Sector 7, to mark Teachers’ Day celebrations, came in for a big round of applause from students, here today.

Based on film songs, both old and new, the programme stood for all that was Indian and was critical of the younger generation aping the West.

Liberally peppered with songs on themes, the “students” danced to modern tunes.

A parody traced the change in music trends over the years.

The best performance came from the non-teaching staff of the school.

An item on patriotism earned the third place. The programme ended with a grand finale which saw not only the participating teachers but the chief guest, Mr D.S. Mangat, DPI (Schools), the DEO, Ms Rajesh Chaudhary, Principal, Ms Madhu Bahl, and principals of other DAV institutions, take to the stage.

The five best teachers of the school — Kiran Soni, Priyanka Puja, Gauri Kapur, Cecilia Francis and Sarita Ahluwalia — were honoured by the chief guest.

The management of the school felicitated Ms Madhu Bahl with a memento and flowers for winning the State Award for Teachers, 2003. Also honoured at the function was another recipient of the award, Mr Sanjay Sardana, Principal of Manav Mangal School.

Training programmes for foreign students
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, September 12
Specially designed training programmes for international participants on ‘Advanced course on multimedia and web designing technology’ and ‘Repair and maintenance of telecom terminal equipment, computers and peripherals’ were inaugurated at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) here today.

Mr R.S. Khandpur, Director-General, Pushpa Gujral Science City, and former Director-General and founder-Director of the centre, who inaugurated the courses, said the aim of these training programmes was to enable developing countries to maintain their existing infrastructure in the most cost-effective manner.

He emphasised on the importance of information technology for developing countries as it helped in generating employment and wealth.

Talking about the science city, Mr Khandpur said the basic concepts of space and other technologies had been explained by displaying various simulation models. He said the city would give a boot to research and development activities in the country by inculcating scientific temperament in students.

The aim of the advanced course on multimedia and web designing technology is to enable the participants to use these technologies to increase productivity in various sectors of economy.

The aim of the course on repair and maintenance of telecom terminal equipment is to prepare the participants to maintain telecommunication and computer network in the most cost-effective manner as easy availability of such an infrastructure in a country increases its competitive advantage in the global market.

Mr N.S. Kalsi, Managing Director, Punjab Infotech, talked about the global and Indian scenario and the rapid strides that India has made in IT revolution.

As many as 51 students from various countries like Zambia, Myanmar, Angola, Bhutan, Madagascar, Cuba, Namibia, Sudan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Jordan, Syria, Guyana, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tazikistan, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Angola, Papua-New Guinea, Oman and Senegal are attending these training programmes.

The training programmes have been sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs under the India Technical and Economic Cooperation and Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan.

Package to curb tuition menace
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 12
Making an effort to curb the tuition menace, Saral Aquarius in collaboration with DAV Public School, Sector 8, has developed Class Tech a home series package for Class X students covering mathematics and science subjects which was launched on the school premises here today.

Developed by Ms Ruchi Rehlan, Director of Saral Aquarius, the package aims at the enhancement of self-learning habits of the students covering the two subjects as per revised syllabi of the CBSE. “Class Tech is a complete animated package, however, the multimedia content does not divert the attention of student from the main subject matter of learning,” said M. Rehlan.

Launching the package, Ms Sarita Manuja, Principal of the school, said technology was the hallmark of today’s changing world. “As far as the Class Tech package is concerned, it makes the job of a teacher easy in the classroom, thus increasing his effectiveness in the class,” she added.

Class Tech is available in two modes — educational CD and educational CD plus guidance. Guidance includes the tele-guidance support and interaction with student, as per his requirements, for complete academic session.

COURTS

High Court
Report on mental state
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
In a report submitted before the High Court by the UT Administration, it was stated on Friday that Ropar’s former District Education Officer (DEO) Malti Batra was suffering from a psychological problem.

The report was handed over to a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, by UT’s standing counsel Rajiv Atma Ram. A copy was also handed over to Mr Navkiran Singh who was representing Ms Batra.

Expressing doubts about her mental state, the Bench had earlier directed the Registrar-General to send her for an examination to the Psychiatry Department of the Sector 32 Government Medical College and Hospital. The case will now come up for hearing on January 16 next year.

In their detailed order, the Bench had observed that the directions for a check-up were being issued as an insane person could not be proceeded against or sentenced. As such, in the interest of justice she was being sent for the medical examination.

Bhattal corruption case
Lawyer told to produce valid documents
Kiran Deep

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune after the hearing of the case, Mr R.K. Anand, said that he was appointed Special Public Prosecutor by the Punjab Government for this case. He said that he is Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court and could appear on behalf of the Punjab state.

Chandigarh, September 12
The Punjab Government today suffered a major setback as criminal lawyer and Congress Member of Parliament, R.K. Anand, appointed by it in a corruption case against Agriculture Minister, Punjab, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, was directed to produce valid documents if he had to appear in the case by a local court.

Mr Anand was appointed by the Punjab Government to appear on behalf of the Punjab State against Ms Bhattal in a case of corruption registered against her by the Punjab Vigilance Department. Mr Anand’s appointment has given rise to speculation that it is a legal intervention by the Congress high command to stop the feud between Chief Minister, Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh, and Ms Bhattal.

During the hearing of Ms Bhattal’s case before the UT Vigilance Special Judge, Mr R. S Baswana, Mr Anand said he was a senior Supreme Court counsel appearing on behalf of the Punjab State and also showed his appointment letter issued by the Punjab Government to the Judge. The Judge then told Mr Anand that he required UT Administration’s notification regarding his appointment as Public Prosecutor to appear in the case and not the Punjab Government’s order.

Meanwhile, stating that as no direction needed to be given to the prosecution to produce any other documents in the case, the Judge said in his order that the application moved by Ms Bhattal’s counsel for the supply of relevant documents in the case had become infructious.

The court room was packed to capacity in the morning when Ms Bhattal accompanied by a battery of lawyers, Mr P.N. Lekhi, counsel for complainant, Mr Balwant Singh Dhillon, appeared there. The arguments in the case were heard for more than an hour.

Ms Bhattal’s counsel argued that the prosecution had not supplied complete documents, including statement made by Mr Parkash Singh Badal in the Punjab Assembly in 1997 regarding the alleged embezzlement of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister relief fund by Ms Bhattal. On the other hand, the prosecution said that the investigation agency had already submitted all relevant documents in the case.

Mr Baswana observed in the order that the defence counsel submitted that he wanted to produce certain documents, which would provide clincher in the case. He added that the case had been lingering for hearing arguments on the point of defence counsel. Therefore, there is no justification for adjournment for this purpose but still the door of justice can not be closed on this ground. The case was adjourned till September 19.

Mr Baswana added that the defence counsel was at liberty and placed on record documents he wanted to rely on in addition to the documents already placed on file by both parties. Mr Baswana further added that prior to the address of arguments, all documents shown be taken into consideration if relevant while considering the matter purpose of framing the charges.

Kuchipudi couple to start ‘Natya Tarangini’
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
Every meeting with Padma Bhushan Raja Reddy and his ever-charming partner in life and in performance Radha Reddy seems to be the first one. No matter how much they may have added to the repertoire of kuchipudi over the years, they are always brimming with fresh ideas, loaded with the power to enrich the dance tradition.

As expected, the couple, which was in the city today to inaugurate the new complex of the Pracheen Kala Kendra in SAS Nagar, had a new dream to share. The last time when Raja Reddy visited Chandigarh for a recital at the Bhaskar Rao Sammelan, he had made twin promises to the audiences — that he would introduce to them his talented daughter, Yamini, as soon as she was trained enough to take on the sacred performance space and that he would ensure proper tutelage for the aspirants of kuchipudi through his school, which was still awaiting the allotment of land in Delhi.

A year later, the celebrated dancer and his wife, Radha, an equally blessed performer, have now fulfilled their promises. They supervised their daughter Yamini’s first-ever performance in Chandigarh today. They also informed The Tribune that the Government of India had sanctioned land for their ambitious project to start a kuchipudi school in Delhi.

Some time from now, Saket in Delhi, would be home to Raja and Radha Reddy’s dream project, “Natya Tarangini”, a place from where perfect instruction of kuchipudi will find its way into the lives of thousands of aspirants, who could not be accommodated due to dearth of space earlier. After handling all sorts of administrative and bureaucratic hassles for years, the dancers finally got their due, with the government clearing land and the plan for the school.

Besides this, the kuchipudi couple, known for adding new dimensions to the age old tradition, are also engaged in training their daughter Yamini, who lately earned accolades from none other than Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar. Interestingly, a student of B.Com (Hons) at Lady Shriram College in Delhi, Yamini had also been selected for pursuing medical in the USA. She, however, shelved the idea.

In Chandigarh today, she talked of her parents as gurus. “My father is a disciplinarian. He often chides me to such an extent that I fail to hold my tears. But it is this kind of a strict schedule which perfects the art form. My mother Radha is more of a friend. She helps me imbibe the best nuances of kuchipudi.”

Wadalis, Yamini weave transcendental web
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 12
Once again, the melodies of the Wadali brothers led the grand evening at Pracheen Kala Kendra, SAS Nagar, to a classic conclusion. As the cultural ceremony, marking the shifting of Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35, to its new base at SAS Nagar rolled, it was time for the gathering to pick up bits and pieces of a scattered Indian tradition and hold it at a common platform for a while.

The beginning was made by the illustrious daughter of kuchiupdi dancers Raja and Radha Reddy. Yamini Reddy enthralled the gathering with her delightful presentation that took off from the legendary M. Balamurali Krishna's composition "Omkara karaini", rendered almost perfectly by Sai Bhawani, vocalist in Raja Reddy's group. Complementing the scintillating kuchipudi recital of Yamini Reddy was the musical support provided by Kumbakonam Annadurai on the violin, B. Bhaskarrao on the mridangam and Raja Reddy on the natuvangam.

From one piece to another, Yamini graduated towards excellence. After the dedication to Paravati, she danced to another special composition dedicated to Lord Shiva. Using her art form, she exemplified the grandeur of Shiva, the cosmic dancer, who is the creator, the preserver and the destroyer.

A dexterous footwork, coupled with beautiful abhinaya, gave Yamini Reddy's performance a definite edge, which this most seasoned of performers crave to have.

After presenting a piece on Lord Shiva, the young dancer proved her substance yet again with another composition that explored the vivacious Lord Krishna.

The ultimate presentation of the evening was Yamini Reddy's dance on the rim of a brass plate. Matching her rhythm with tala, she wove a transcendental web for the audience, which could not cease clapping in the recognition of her exceptional talent.

Taking over the stage from Yamini were equally seasoned performers in Puran Chand and Pyare Lala Wadali, who presented the best of the North Indian tradition, thus completing the canvas for the evening, that had taken off from the dance tradition of Andhra Pradesh. In their patent style, the Wadalis sang what came their way, more often resting on the intense verses of Baba Bulle Shah and Baba Farid.

Paper cuttings tell a tale
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 12
It was altogether a new experience for the audience at the Tagore Theatre who witnessed stories coming alive bits and pieces of paper cuttings as Nobuko Furihata, the lead artiste of the visiting Japanese musical group “Twinkle”, narrated folk tales of Japan through this technique called Panel theatre here today.

The show was organised by the International Institute of Perfect Arts in association with the Embassies of Japan, the Japan Foundation and the UT Administration, Chandigarh. Evolved a decade ago by Japanese educationist Prof Ryoujun Kounda to teach schoolchildren about various developmental programmes, the panel theatre, which presented three short stories, carried messages of love, peace and brotherhood.

Starting with an item called “Namaste”, Ms Furihata sang a Hindi song.

It was followed by a folk tale of Japan called “Crab and Monkey” in which the plot moved at a fast pace, keeping the continuity of the storyline which was amazing considering the show was manipulated manually. Two narrators were present to complete the picture. The show ended with a Japanese love song.

The show also introduced the audience to a unique instrument called 'Arpa' which was presented by renowned instrumentalist Leena Tomioka. Dressed in a “lehenga choli”, she created melodies on the stringed instrument, a combination of the Santoor and the Harp, which kept the audience spellbound.

The show was not entirely of Japanese origin as Indian counterparts lived up to the occasion as artistes from the Haryana Cultural Department presented colourful items, including a Rajasthani dance, a Haryanvi dance and a Punjabi dance. The show opened with a Sarangi recital by Maman Khan who was accompanied by Gautam Dhar and his brother on the Tabla and Laxman Neeta on the Harmonium.

Earlier, the Twinkle group presented two Japanese feature films “My Secret Cache” and “Kids Return” at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41.