The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Schoolchildren have a gala time
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 12
Tiny tots of St Xavier Playway School, Civil Lines, and Cherryfields Nursery School, Atam Nagar, had a gala time during Children’s Day celebrations here today.

At St Xavier Playway School, a kids’ carnival was organised in which a puppet show and a magic show were held. Various puppet items presented by Rajasthani artists depicted the tales of Indian emperors, nawabs and rulers. Dancer, ‘saanp sapera’ and magic items were the main attractions of the show.

Bouncers were placed and the kids enjoyed climbing and jumping on it. Children also had a gala time with Mickey Mouse, Charlie Chaplin and a dinosaur. The kids came to school in colourful dresses, most of them appearing like Jawaharlal Nehru. Many stalls of popcorn and cotton candies were put up for the enjoyment of the children. Sweets and chocolates were distributed after the function.

Earlier, Ms S. Chopra, Principal, threw light on the importance of Children’s Day and the life and teachings of Pandit Nehru. She told them that Pandit Nehru loved children and they affectionately called him Chacha Nehru.

The main theme of the Children’s Day celebration at Cherryfields Nursery School was ‘Save our earth’. Children of pre-nursery and nursery classes came dressed up as lion, elephant, peacock, flowers and vegetables to convey messages like ‘Save trees, save life’, ‘Keep the environment green’ and ‘Protect wildlife’.

The tiny tots were told about Mother Earth and why they should love animals and protect trees and wild life. Ms Santosh Sharma, Principal, explained how plastic bags were spoiling the environment and how green vegetables helped in good health.

A fancy dress-cum-theme party was also organised, for which many students won prizes. Amandeep, Pranav and Aryan were declared the most active students. Amisha, Shreya and Muskan won prizes for ‘best in green’. Chirag, Yadwinder and Kunwardeep won prizes for fancy dress. In theme party, four students received prizes. These included Garima dressed up like lion, Khushi as peacock, Yavnika as deer and Harsimran as elephant. Even the staff members were dressed up in green. Lunch in the form of ‘saag’ and ‘makki di roti’ were served to all.

PU youth festival concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 12
On the concluding day of the three-day Panjab University Zonal Youth Festival, Zone A (Colleges of Education), the soon-to-be teachers proved their mettle in Punjabi folk dances. Teams presented colourful and vigorous giddhas. Before this, teams participated in group dances and solo classical dances were also presented.

A quiz comprising several rounds like audio-visual general knowledge and sports was held. The festival ended with bhangra after the prize distribution function. Nine colleges participated in the festival.

The chief guest was Ms Usha Nanda, wife of the Principal of BCM, Mr S.K. Nanda.

In the morning students debated on “Whether ‘Indian woman is losing her womanhood in the modern times.” The next in line was histrionics and drama. Five plays — Kot Katchere Wich, Pinjar, Mitti Rudan Kare, Unlipiya and Chavvean Di Rut — were staged by students. Other events that marked the day included collage making, clay modelling, essay writing, short story writing and poetry.

The results in order of merit are as follows :

Debate: Tripti Sehti, Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana ; Paramjit Singh, BCM College of Education, Ludhiana; and Chyanika Singh, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh.

Histrionics: Karamjeet Kaur, Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana; Damandeep Singh, Guru Nanak College of Education, Dallewal; and Harpreet Kaur, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh.

Poetry: Tripti Sethi, Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana; Sarita, Government College of Education, Chandigarh; and Rupa Dara, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh.

Drama: Pinjar staged by Government College of Education, Chandigarh; Kot Katchere Wich by Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh; and Unlipiya staged by BCM College of Education, Ludhiana.

Individual prizes in drama: Sukhdeep Singh, BCM College of Education, Ludhiana; Bhavana, Government College of Education, Chandigarh; and Karpal Singh, DAV College of Education, Hoshiarpur.

Clay modelling: Monica, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh; Daljit Kaur, Pratap College of Education Ludhiana; and Meena Rani BCM College of Education, Ludhiana.

Collage making: Amit Joshi, DAV College of Education, Hoshiarpur; Shveta, Government College of Education, Chandigarh; and Aruna, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh.

Essay writing: Pratibha, Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana; Geetanjali, Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana and Gurpreet Kaur, Pratap College of Education, Ludhiana.

Short story writing: Swati, Government College of Education, Chandigarh; Kuldip Singh, Pratap College of Education, Ludhiana; and Anu Mathur, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh.

Poetry: Seema Bakshi, Dev Samaj College of Education, Chandigarh; Mamata Rani, DAV College of Education, Hoshiarpur; and Kuldip Singh, Guru Nanak College of Education, Dallewal.

Nine-day science seminar ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 12
Teachers from government schools in the district participated in a nine-day science seminar which concluded at Government Inservice Training Centre here yesterday.

The topic of the seminar was ‘Scientific approach, multimedia and quality education — need of the hour’. Mr Harchand Singh Barsat, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, who was the chief guest, advised the teachers to adopt and follow the latest trends and techniques of education so as to compete with international standards.

Mr Barsat said in the larger interests of society and the Punjab Government, schoolteachers would have to show enthusiasm, interest and inspiration to create an environment of learning and teaching. He appealed to the teachers to take education as a mode of social service to the community in general and to down-trodden children in particular. He was honoured by the Principal and staff of the centre for his services to the teaching community.

Dr Shashi Trehan, a resource person, spoke on the ‘Importance of inservice training to teachers’. He urged the teachers to adopt multimedia techniques for teaching. Prof Rajdeep Gill, another resource person, spoke on ‘Language — the spoken medium’. The Principal of the centre, Ms Sarabjeet Kaur, stressed on the need for quality education and science seminars.

Mr Davinder Singh Chhina, lecturer, spoke on scientific approach, role of media in science, need to form science clubs and human rights education. Principal Iqbal Singh spoke on population education. Prof Kanwaljit Singh from Guru Nanak Engineering College spoke on ‘Internet and computer technology’. Ms Harpreet Kaur, lecturer, spoke on periodic table and other scientific topics. Mr C.H. Puri, senior lecturer, spoke on the Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan Scheme.

During the seminar, science teachers were taken to the Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park at Guru Nanak Engineering College. Mr J.S. Kular, the Manager, told them about job-oriented courses.

Deployment of teachers for govt work draws flak
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, November 11
After completing the campaign of issuing birth certificates, the district administration may be forced to start a campaign of giving school leaving certificates to the poor studying in government schools where teachers have been deployed to do this duty. The administration and the government have come under criticism for using government teachers for the purpose.

Whenever the government starts a scheme or launches a campaign, the government teachers are deployed on duty. A survey conducted by this correspondent reveals that 14 teachers from 12 primary schools of the Machhiwara block alone have been sent on duty since October 22 to prepare birth certificates. The block has 138 posts of primary teacher against the sanctioned 430. There are more than 6,000 students who study in 88 primary schools.

CULTURE

Plays evoke strong emotions
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, November 12
“Religious fundamentalism is the root of communalism and is tearing apart the social fabric. Demolition of Babri Masjid and riots in Gujarat are proof of it . The youth has to fight fundamentalism that is worse than poison,” said Habib Tanveer, Padma Bhushan, and theatre artiste. He was addressing a gathering at Government College for Boys where he staged two of his plays, “Jine Lahore Nahi Vaikhye, Oh Jamyea hi Nahin’ and “Ponga Pandit” here last evening.

Habib criticised the phenomenon of globalisation as he said it would encourage multinational companies to monopolise every trade. “This is not the right way to development as India is made of villages and villagers have not gained much from “gram panchyats”, he said. “Jine Lahore Nahin Vaikhye” is based on narrow vision and fundamentalism of some Muslims.

Theatre lovers of Ludhiana had a bonus as he offered to stage “Ponga Pandit”. Habib has gained national and international fame.

The play is based on a true story. In the play, Ratan Lal Johri’s mother refuses to migrate to India after Partition and decides to stay back in Lahore. A Muslim family is earlier hostile to her but gradually begins to love her. Everyone begins to love her for her kind and helpful nature. However, a fundamentalist Muslim and his two stooges hate the Hindu woman staying in Lahore, bathing in the Ravi and saying her prayers. They try to turn the people against her including a maulvi, a broad -minded man. He advises them to follow the teachings of Koran.

Finally when she dies, the people of the area decide to bury her but the maulvi says she should be cremated as per her religion. A poet, Nasir, tells them how to go about the cremation as he had seen some in Ambala. The maulvi meanwhile is killed by a fundamentalist and in the end two bodies, one in the Hindu tradition and the other in the Muslim tradition taken out and there is tension as the fundamentalists cannot bear to see the Muslims chanting, ‘Ram naam satya hai” and the play ends showing chaos.

The play was staged about two decades ago but still has not lost its relevance.

Poignancy was added by interspersing songs by Nageen Tanveer and chorus of powerful lyrics written by Sahir Ludhianavi, Amrita Pritam, Waris Shah, and Firaq Gorakhpuri.

“Ponga Pandit” was written by two villagers of Chhattisgarh-Sitaram and Shubha Ram in 1935. It was in Chhattisgarhi language and a satire on untouchability and how pandits exploited people. Tanveer said a lot of hue and cry was raised when it was staged recently in Bhopal but the comedy was based on incidents of everyday life and was written and modified by the villagers of Chhattisgarh only. That it retained its flavour was evident from its popularity.

Habib Tanveer with artistes of his New Theatre, mostly comprising villagers of Chhattisgarh, had come at the invitation of the Ludhiana Chapter of SPIC MACAY. Before the staging of play, Mr Navin Talwar, coordinator of SPIC MACAY, urged students to participate at the meetings of the society held in the Hindi Department of the college every Tuesday.