The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Student toppers honoured by Atlas Cycles
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, December 25
At a function organised by the Atlas Cycles, the cycle major honoured students who had excelled in their respective examinations. Students who had secured top positions in the various graduation examinations of the Maharishi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, and the Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, as well as those who had topped in matriculation and 10 plus 2 level examinations conducted by the Board of School Education, Haryana, were presented a bicycle and an appreciation certificate.

According to a report, students securing top positions in the final examination at the college and school levels were also honoured with cash awards on this occasion.

Apart from this, 32 scholarships for a period of two years on the basis of a competitive examination conducted by the Atlas company were also distributed during the function.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, who was the chief guest for the function, distributed the awards to the students. He also called upon other industrialists to come forward and follow the example set by the Atlas Cycles.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Vikram Kapur, president of the Atlas Cycles, outlined various social welfare schemes launched by the company and the trusts in order to encourage deserving and brilliant students. Mr N.P.Sinha of the Atlas Cycles also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the students of the Jankidas Kapur Public School staged a colourful cultural programme on this occasion. Large number of prominent citizens from all walks of life participated in this function.

CULTURE

Artscape
Pictorial jugalbandi: Redefining the art of Khajuraho
Ravi Bhatia

The workmanship of Amit Dutt.

This is a unique attempt by Amit Dutt-Mohan Kumar duo to redefine the art of Khajuraho through their respective artistic approaches. The result of this experiment, a collection of photographs, entitled “Drawing on Paper and Digital Photography on Canvas” are on display at the Lalit Kala Akademi here and will remain open for public till December 27.

The famous Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh remains unique in the history of temple architecture in India. Under the generous and artistic patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings, the conglomerate of 85 exquisitely carved temples came up near this village in the heart of the country over a 1,000 years ago. The exquisite and erotic art of the temples is recognised universally for its vibrancy, originality and creativity.

The modern-day interpretation of this art is always searched by the serious and sensitive artists like Amit Dutt and Mohan Kumar. Both of them belong to that special group of artists who do not depend on live models for their creativity. The duo offer a modern-day interpretation of the classical Indian figure.

While Amit Dutt is a qualified artist from Shilpa Bharti Institute of Fine Arts and Crafts, Mohan Kumar has been an ardent lover of nature and culture.

Philatelic tribute

Kathak dancer Rekha Mehra presenting the ballet Atal Shanti Ki Khoj Mein organised by Urvashi Dance, Music, Art and Cultural Society.

The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, released a set of three commemorative postage stamps on Sangeet Natak Akademi at a function here earlier this week. The Minister of Communications, Information Technology and Disinvestment, Mr Arun Shourie, and the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr Jagmohan, were present on the occasion. Issued by the Department of Posts (DoP), the three stamps are in the denomination of Rs 5 each.

The Akademi completed 50 eventful years of its existence in January this year. The DoP celebrates its Golden Jubilee with the release of this set of three commemorative postage stamps and a miniature sheet which capture the vibrant spirit of the performing arts they portray.

As the apex public body in the field of performing arts, the Sangeet Natak Akademi has not only opened new vistas for art traditions, but has also fostered cultural contacts among the various regions in India and between India and the world. Besides, it renders advice and assistance to the Government of India in formulating and implementing policies and programmes in the field of performing arts.

At present, the Akademi is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India and is fully funded for implementation of its schemes and programmes.

The Akademi has also established institutions like the National School of Drama, Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy at Imphal and Kathak Kendra– National Institute of Kathak Dance at New Delhi in order to chisel talent and create excellence in these areas.

It has taken up National Projects to rejuvenate such ancient dance forms as Kutiyattam (Kerala), Chhau (Orissa) and Sattriya (Assam).

The First Day Cover along with the information sheet will be available on sale at all philatelic bureaux/counters and at selected post offices.

Brand endorsers

Photographic products major Jindal Photo Ltd (JPL) held its first-ever photo exhibition displaying select collection of photographs shot on Fujifilm, by renowned photographers, with the objective of inspiring young talent to take up photography as a hobby and a vacation.

The photographs shown at the six-day exhibition “Fujifilm- Capturing the spirit of life through the lens” here are shot by Fujifilm super six photographers Rajesh Bedi (Wildlife), Prabuddha Dasgupta (Fashion), Avinash Pasricha (Dance), Pradeep Mandhani (Cricket), Ashok Dilwali (Nature) and Prakash Dubey (Creative). All the renowned photographers have been recently appointed as brand endorsers for Fujifilm in India.

“The idea behind organising such event is to generate interest in photography as a hobby among the amateur segment. Through these events, we communicate with our customers as we come closer and educate them about the superiority of our products. Moreover, this is a way of showing the fantastic results of Fujifilm products, which can be used by the common man,” said Mr Rathi B Pal, Managing Director, JPL, at the launch of the event. This event will be an annual feature and will be organised in different parts of the country, he added.

Ballet for peace

If one were to analyse Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani’s unstinting praise of children’s efforts and wishes for peace at a recent ballet presented by a local dance and musical society, then surely the message is clear from the corridors of power. The show also caught the imagination of a packed audience, who braved the chilly winter last evening to witness a dance ballet – “Atal Shanti ki Khoj mein”.

Even the worst critics would forgive the attempt to showcase Vajpayee’s peace initiatives and equate him with Buddha and Gandhi, for the message was: stop the war; we want peace. “It’s great to see little children spreading the message of peace through art and dance... reflecting the changing times through art is challenging and wonderful,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

The ballet, organised by Urvashi Dance, Music, Art and Cultural Society, was based on the ‘poet’ Vajpayee’s writings highlighting the importance of peace while depicting the miseries and destruction that comes with war.

The ballet started with a battle-scene in the middle of a war followed by children in white attire spreading the message of peace. Scene two went to the epic battle of Kurukshetra depicting death and destruction and how war wiped out a whole clan in quest of a kingdom.

The next was Emperor Ashoka moved by the aftermath of the Kalinga war as the realisation dawns on him that even the victor is ultimately a loser. The portrayal of the horrific destruction of the two World Wars and dropping of atom bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki made even the bravest of hearts skip a beat.

Then came the ‘high drama’ or the finale as Lord Buddha’s image gradually transformed into that of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and finally to that of Vajpayee!