The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

India visit fascinates UK students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
Students of Priesthorpe School, Leeds, led by their Assistant Head Teacher, Ms Alison Hardaker, arrived in India last week under an exchange programme with Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy, Ropar.

Visiting The Tribune today as part of their itinerary, Ms Hardaker said, “The real India is completely different from what we had perceived, based on reports in television and newspapers. The media is always into sensationalising news which, perhaps, explains why we have heard nothing of the hardworking middle class educated Indian, which is truly representative of the country. It seems the working Indian population doesn’t make headlines. Instead, all we knew was that the country was always in the news for floods, droughts or its population.”

After a brief round of introduction and going around The Tribune office to understand the functioning of the newspaper, the group of eight — five girls and three boys — narrating their Indian experience, said that India was synonymous with the Taj Mahal for them.

“Pictures don’t do justice to the monument. It is a beautiful piece of architecture and we only had that in mind when we started from home. Once here, we found out that there is more to India than the monument and it begins with the affection and warmth of the Indians that has bowled us over completely. It feels like home,” they said.

A Class XI student, Rebecca, chips in, “We are ordinary people and treated like royalty.” Taking home bangles in various hues, Charlotte adds, “A lot of Asians stay at Leeds and bangles are available, though I have never seen so many of them before.”

Showing off her mehndi, Rachael, said, “The most interesting part of the visit has been the road travel. We have seen nothing more than cabs and lorries on our roads in the UK, while India has two, three and four wheelers besides horses, camels, elephants and cows. The roads are lively places, vibrating with life and a lot of noise.”

The Indian food with its spices and curries has fascinated the boys. However, freaking out on “chappatis” at the academy and restaurants, the students have tried most Indian dishes and sweets, and are, now, waiting for the sky to light up on Divali night. “It’s a nice time to be in the country when celebrations and festivities are in full swing and markets are full of people,” says Heather.

Earlier this year, students of the SAS Academy had gone on an exchange programme to the same school in the UK. These students, too, had accompanied the group to their visit to The Tribune.

Seminar on teenage challenges, problems
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
Beautifying the inner self rather than concentrating on the outer appearance formed the theme of the seminar “Teens — challenges ahead”, which was organised at Manav Mangal High School in Sector 21 here on Sunday.

The speakers asked the students to commit themselves to their own self and prove their worth to society. Organised by the school in collaboration with the Lions Club Central, the speakers interacted with students of Class IX and tried to identify the problems being faced by them in their “vulnerable” teens.

The region chairperson of the Lions Club, Ms Sushma Malhotra, said that no problem was so big that it could not be conquered, and that they must grow bigger than the problem and face it with determination.

The seminar concluded with students being briefed about the challenges ahead of them and expectations of society from them. School Principal Sanjay Sardana said that a set of 10 books in Hindi and English on the subject of adolescent education, problems and solutions in adolescene as well as challenges ahead had been added to the school library for ready reference.

Veenu declared Miss Fresher
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
Veenu Anand of the Law Department was declared Miss Fresher at a freshers’ night organised at Laxmi Bai Hostel on the Panjab University campus here on Thursday evening.

While stating this here today, the warden of the hostel, Dr Sukhbir, said Amandeep of the university Institute of Engineering and Technology was the first runner-up, while Meenu of the same institute was adjudged second runner-up. Also, Nidhi was adjudged Debonair Damsel at the function.

She said Gurneet was awarded for best singing and Iqbal and Meenu won the prize for best dance performance during the cultural programme.

Ms Paramjit Singh, wife of the Registrar of Panjab University, who was the chief guest, gave away prizes to the winner. She said such functions not only enabled the new comers to exhibit their talent but also maintain cordial relations with their seniors.

Sufi influence — the Kashmir link
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
Any mention of Sufi influences and poetry would remain incomplete without a reference to the rich Sufiana tradition that developed and grew in Kashmir, the heart of love which now stands scarred at the hands of secessionists.

It was a treat to watch Sufi musicians from the valley play soft instruments and render subtle poetry during the Sufi Foundation of India’s Sada-e-Sufi concert held at the Leisure Valley yesterday. In command was Ghulam Nabi Namtahali, a traditional singer from Kashmir, who was here in Punjab with a message of Sufi saints. Rooted in peace and all that it implies, Ghulam Nabi Namtahali talked about the beautiful Sufi instruments which are typical of Kashmir. “Saza-e-Kashmir or “tumbaknaar”, as we call it, is rarely played at folk concerts now. “Our family has been singing Sufiana qalaam for over 100 years.”

It was in Kashmir that film maker Muzaffar Ali received his first taste of Sufi lineage. He became a follower of the tradition ever since he met a Sufi saint in Kashmir. But it is a good thing that he is spreading the tradition in through his annual Jahan-e-Khusrau festival.

Although here in Chandigarh, the folk artiste performed along with Rajasthani performer, Samandar Khan Manganiar and his group, back home they love to sing on “mazaars”, especially the famous Chahar-e-Sharief and the Ahmad Badshah “mazaar”. Said Ghulam Nabi: “Our tradition is being safeguarded by the Doordarshan and Kashmir Radio. Our programmes are broadcast regularly.”

Interestingly, although Kashmiri Sufi poetry is influenced by Persian mystic poetry, along with Islamic and mystic influences, Kashmiri poetry is equally influenced by Hindu mythology, local traditions and faiths. This influence has made Kashmiri mystic poetry highly symbolic in tone and style. The Sufi poets have evolved a kind of poetics known as “shastra”.

Namtahali informed that the poetics in Shastra lay stress on the divine secrets, love, transience of life, and search for the self. A leading expert on the Kashmiri tradition, Bashir Budgami adds, “The Sufi poets expressed great concern for the evils prevalent in human society, such as communalism, pretension, fanaticism and bigotry. They were against all kinds of orthodox practices”.

That Sufi concerns are common was reflected amply by the way Manganiars and Namtahalis performed fusion on stage yesterday.