The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Stir affects teaching in colleges
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
Teaching in various local colleges was affected on the second day of an indefinite agitation called by different student organisations against the proposed fee hike announced by Panjab University.

MCM DAV College today suspended its teaching. The response was a mixed one in other colleges of the city.

The joint action committee of different student organisations on the campus and colleges held a meeting today and decided that they would not back out from a complete strike till their demands were accepted. Those who participated in the meeting included Gurparvez Singh Sandhu, president of the Panjab University Students Union (Shellay), Karanbir Singh Kaler, president of the students council of the Government College for Men, Sector 11, Dalip Singh Virk, president of the students council of DAV College, Sector 10, Gayatri Bawa, president of GCG, Sector 42, Gagandeep, vice-president of GCG, Sector 11, Aman Dhanoa, GGDSD College, Haresh Attri, Government College, Sector 46, and Nitin Goyal, president of the National Student Union of India.

Students said the hike already announced was too much and the university should immediately announce a rollback. Students have pointed out that there is already great disparity between fees in government and private colleges which should be looked into by the university.

The response was not total in all colleges. In GGDSD College, the response was poor. Students at SGGS Khalsa College, Sector 26, said they would like to go into details of the issue before taking any decision.

Agitating students said they would be meeting the Education Secretary with regard to their demands.

Debate on liberal thinking
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
Challenging the traditional subjects for academic debates in educational institutions, students of Panjab University have picked a controversial subject, “Liberal thinking: path to moral and social degradation”, for a debate scheduled for November 5. The debate is being organised by students of the Department of Chemical Engineering in collaboration with the Panjab University Campus Students Council.

Students yesterday took out a big rally concerning the debate on the campus. More than 50 two-wheelers and at least 10 cars took rounds of the university campus and later assembled at the Student Centre. The purpose of the rally is to spread awareness among students about the subject, said Ankur Sood, a student.

Sood said there was an apprehension that the controversial subject would hamper student participation, particularly of girls. “We want to take up controversial subjects like sex, homosexuality and other social truths which are talked about only with a sense of guilt or shame. We want to spread the message for a clean discussion to get a healthier perspective on the subjects”, Shanker Soni said.

The preliminary round is scheduled for November 3 at the Department of Chemical Engineering and the topic is “Religion is the opium of the masses”.

The rally today featured big posters reading “A” which signified “For adults only” and asked students to “Grow up”. The posters also read, “Always on your mind but never on your lips” and “Do you have guts to discuss?”

Children diffuse boundaries on canvas
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
Three days of collective thinking under the international collaborative art project between artists from India and Pakistan has resulted in the creation of a huge piece of art, that spells love and warmth.

For the past three days, 28 children from various age groups have been sitting together and trying to ask themselves what it meant to be divided and separated by boundaries. After a great deal of questioning and active interaction within the group, the members of the workshop which was conducted by Mantej Singh, arrived at interesting conclusions.

One of these was, “Boundaries exist more in the mind than anywhere else. There are no preconditions for peace, love, affection or friendship. These are spheres where one must only talk of giving and not of commanding.”

Looking at the Indo-Pakistan relationship in a fresh perspective, the participants were able to break their cocoons and emerge as clear individuals who wish to foster ties between themselves and children in Pakistan. All these views about terrorism, peace and normalcy found their way on to one canvas, which is the concrete result of the workshop, that was supported by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi.

As in Chandigarh, a similar workshop was also held in Pakistan where a student named Farida captured the entire workshop on screen. Informed Mantej Singh, who thought of this idea, “We will finally make a film on these workshops and send it to all concerned.

	Workshop on self-learning concludes Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 1 A four-day workshop on “Developing self-learning material for Bachelor and Master of Education through distance mode” concluded at Punjab University here today. The workshop was organised by the Department of Correspondence Studies. The workshop was inaugurated by Prof S. Bhatnagar, a former Director of the department. Prof K.P. Pandey, a former Vice-Chancellor of Kashi Vidya Peeth, Benares, presided over the workshop. He stressed that cultural and academic ethos should be combined in designing self-learning material. Prof J.N. Joshi, a former Dean, University Instructions, delivered the valedictory address. Prof Devinder Singh, chairman of the department, highlighted the importance of self-learning modules and multimedia in distance learning. Prof Sudesh Gakhar proposed the vote of thanks.
	Students awarded degrees Tribune News Service SAS Nagar, November 1 Students of Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology here were awarded degrees at the second convocation held today. Prof Y.S. Rajan, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, and Scientific Adviser to the Chief Minister, Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. He awarded degrees to students. In his convocation address Dr Rajan emphasised that as regular job markets were diminishing students should prepare themselves for entrepreneurship if they wanted to create space for themselves. He praised the private sector institutes for providing better job placements to students in comparison to public-sector institutes. He also stated that as the population was growing the need to develop the institutions which could provide quality education was also growing. Dr Rajan also released Gyan, maiden newsletter of the institute on the occasion. Mr J.S. Bedi, chairman of the institute, stated that the newsletter would be sent to various corporate houses of the region and converted into a management and information technology journal. The chief guest also awarded robes of honour to Riti Chaudhry, Meeta Nanchal, Rupa and Randeep Kaur for bagging top positions in MBA and BCA programmes. The convocation ceremony was followed by an alumni meet of the institute. An interactive session was organised at the end of the function.
	Science Fiesta stresses on environment Our Correspondent SAS Nagar, November 1 An exhibition, Science Fiesta, was organised by students of St Soldier International Convent School in Phase VII here today. Students from classes II to XII took part in the exhibition which was inaugurated by Gaurav Yadav, SSP, Chandigarh. Students displayed some working models and covered various themes like energy, pollution, health and hygiene and conservation of natural resources. Students of class II exhibited models related to soil and noise pollution. Students of class III displayed models showing different modes of transport and technology. Class VIII students tried to explain the respiratory system, digestive system and excretory system through models. Students of class X prepared models of factories while those of commerce stream provided information regarding techno-savvy banking. A model focusing on conservation of water was displayed by students of class XII (non-medical). A model on automatic natural cooling of a house was also on display.
	St Xavier’s wins declamation contest Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 1 As many as 17 teams from schools in Chandigarh, Panchkula, SAS Nagar, Dagshai, Ambala and Jalandhar participated in an inter-school declamation contest organised by the Army School, Chandimandir, today. The winners in the order of merit are: Juniors: Kabir Nanda (Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula), Upasna Deep (St Xavier’s, Panchkula) and Aruj Garg (Hansraj, Panchkula). Seniors: Gursimran Singh (St Xavier’s, Panchkula), Payal Jain (Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula) and Mandeep Kaur (Army School, Chandimandir). The over all trophy went to St Xavier’s High School, Panchkula. Brig S.S. Sarawat from Western Command, Headquarters, Chandimandir, was the chief guest on the occasion and gave away the prizes.
	Getting hang of painting pottery Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 1 As part of The Tribune in Education (TIE) programme a pot-painting workshop was organised at the Chandigarh Baptist School, Sector 45. The idea was to teach school children methods of painting pottery. They were taught the blow, marble and stroke effects. Advisers of the TIE programme taught children the art of designs. In the past also the TIE programme has been teaching the rock and leather effects along with other such effects and methods of painting pottery at other local schools and adjoining townships of Panchkula and SAS Nagar. Today’s workshop was for two batches of students comprising classes VI to X. The school management appreciated the effort of The Tribune in providing such a opportunity to the students. Painting pottery is a major vocation and has become a cottage industry as painted pots are in demand in hotels, airline offices, corporate offices and by major event managers.
	From fairy tales to Potter mania Our Correspondent Chandigarh, November 1 The message of love and chivalry reverberated in every stanza of “Mirror World” — a science fiction, fun and drama staged by students of Vivek High School’s junior wing this evening in the school auditorium. The play about a time machine was adapted from the original by Keith West. From the heart-warming fairy tales to the enchanting world of the present Potter mania, via an alien land on Mars, the play meandered through parallel worlds seen through grand dad’s Time Machine. There were bullies and friends, along with Red Riding Hood, wolves, foxes and dwarfs. Even Goldilocks, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Baby Bear, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and the fairy godmother were there to enthrall the audience. For the young and the innocent, the play was full of scenes that left them excited. But the interpretation of the events conveyed the underlying message of love and chivalry loudly and clearly. In the end, the bullies promised to “forget bullying” and “learn to love, help and give”. According to the school authorities, the preparations of the play started early. “With time ticking away for the eighth founder’s day celebrations, the little big ones of Class III and their teachers began dreaming big dreams of a big show,” the authorities revealed. The script was adapted by students and teachers of Class III. The direction team comprised Ms Aurna Ahluwalia, Ms Komal Anand, Ms Minni Sarkaria, Ms Sandy Kaur, Ms Inderjit Grewal and Ms Bindu Singh.

COURTS

MP’s party: 7 granted bail
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 1
Seven youths arrested by the UT police in a clash that took place at a ladies sangeet party of the daughter of the Congress MP from Punjab, Ms Santosh Chaudhary, at Aroma Hotel, were today granted bail by a local court. The youth, Ranjit, and six others were ordered to be released by the UT Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr C.L Mohal, on furnishing surety bond of Rs 10, 000 each.

The seven had pleaded in bail applications that they were falsely implicated in the case by the police. Meanwhile, two other youths arrested today in the case were remanded in judicial custody by a local court.

The police had claimed that two students from Patiala, Ranjeet and Devinder, allegedly barged into the private party in the hotel. When the personal security staff of Ms Chaudhary stopped them, they called seven others through their mobile phones. As soon as the group of hooligans swelled, it turned into a scuffle in which one of the security personnel of Ms Chaudhary sustained “minor” injuries.

Police remand for Jasdeep

Jasdeep Singh Bains, one of the three directors of the Online Jobwork.com(P) Limited, who had been arrested by the crime branch of the UT police for his alleged involvement in Rs 12.53-crore fraud was today further remanded in police custody till November 4 by a local court.

The suspect was arrested by the police for allegedly cheating around 7500 investors.

Western film review
A slapstick comedy
Rajiv Kaplish

CHANDIGARH: George Wade (Hugh Grant) is a millionaire. Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) is a pauper. He owns a hotel and has a private jet. She lives in a ramshackle house and has a passion for taking up environmental causes. George has a bad reputation for hiring attractive female attorneys and firing them after exploiting them. Lucy has impeccable legal credentials and is always ready for pro-bono work. He is not the kind of guy you would like to come calling on your daughter. She is the type of woman every man would like to love.

What happens when George, the philanderer, meets Lucy, the philanthropist, in “Two Weeks Notice” (Kiran)? The tycoon offers her a job as the chief legal counsel of his corporation. Lucy, who is more interested in stopping the demolition of a community centre in her neighbourhood by George’s company than in playing ball with him, takes up the assignment after extracting a promise that the centre would not be razed.

She would regret the decision soon. Extremely irresponsible and self-related, George starts treating her like his private property. He wakes her up in the middle of the night and asks her to advise his girlfriend on insignificant matters, tells her to give him advice on everything from clothes to tennis game to divorce. Fed up, Lucy wants to quit. She gives him two weeks notice. But the incorrigible George, who by now is totally dependent on her, won’t let her go easily. She can quit only on one condition — after finding her replacement.

Enters June Carter (Alicia Witt), a vivacious young lawyer, who does not mind mixing business with pleasure. Lucy goes back to her charity work and June begins her manipulations. But soon her machinations get exposed and George and Lucy, who have realised that they have fallen in love with each other, are united.

The movie may not be a laugh riot but it certainly passes muster as a slapstick comedy. Scenes like those in which Bullock and Alicia fight over a stapler at a farewell party and where Bullock has her hairpin entangled in the fly of Grant are particularly hilarious. Other funny antics of the lead players also raise laughs. It is a pity that films like these which are devoid of vulgarity and bereft of melodrama run to empty houses while third-rate Hollywood action flicks draw audiences in hordes.