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Stress on job-oriented
courses
Chandigarh, January 27 Speaking at the Republic Day function yesterday, after unfurling the tricolour, Prof Pathak added that recruitment of faculty would be undertaken soon to fill the vacuum created by retirement of teaching and non-teaching staff. Stating that while a number of reforms had taken place in the examination system, a lot still remained to be done. He emphasised the necessity of a viable pension scheme. |
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Confusion over holiday in schools
Chandigarh, January 27 As a result, attendance in schools that did open was thin as parents presumed that it was a holiday. The school managements blamed the Administration for the confusion. “The announcement about the holiday could have been made at the cultural function organised by the Administration on January 25,” the principal of a private school said. The announcement about the holiday was made by the UT Adviser at the Republic Day function held at the Parade Ground. District Education Officer(DEO) Rajesh Chaudhary said since the announcement had been made by the Adviser, the schools should have abided by it. “There should be uniformity in adhering to the order as it was related to the Republic Day. The department can take action against the schools if it is brought to our notice,” the DEO said. Mr D.S.Bedi, president of the Independent Schools Association of Chandigarh, said some schools had already announced the schedule of examinations and practicals and that it was not a gazetted holiday. Principals of the schools contacted by the Chandigarh Tribune maintained that no information regarding the holiday was conveyed by the Administration. “Only the schools that participate in the main Republic Day function come to know about the holiday,” the association president said. Vivek High School, Sector 38, was open and efforts to contact the principal remained futile. At St John’s School, Sector 26, it was a holiday but practicals for Class X were held. Bal Niketan School, Sector 37, and Aurobindo School also remained open. In some schools, special classes were held for students appearing for matriculation and senior secondary examinations. |
Hooda joins probe in dowry case
Panchkula, January 27 Mr Hooda went to Sector 19 Police Station this morning and is understood to have presented his side of the story. He assured the police of his family’s cooperation in the investigations into the allegations levelled by Dr Grewal, police sources said. However, Mr Hooda refused to comment on the case terming it as “sub-judice”.It may be recalled that while staying the arrest of the Hoodas till February 4, a court had asked the family to join investigation by January 27. Dr Grewal had filed a dowry case against four members of the Hooda family, including her husband, Mr Deepinder Hooda, her mother-in-law, Mrs Asha Hooda, and Mrs Saroj Hooda, wife of Mr Hooda’s elder brother, on January 19. Mr Deepinder Hooda is currently in the USA. Mr Hooda had termed the case as a “politically-motivated” and alleged that the Grewals had demanded Rs 60 lakh for a “mutual” divorce. |
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Court seeks details of
members, fees
Chandigarh, January 27 The directions were issued after a list of members, including 32 honorary, the same number of ex-officio, and 399 paid members, was submitted. The list included the names of politicians, sports personalities, besides senior civil servants and bureaucrats, along with two Judicial Members. The list includes the names of Capt Amarinder Singh, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Wasim Akram, Harsha Bhogle, S.K. Sinha and Shashi Kant, besides other prominent figures. Issuing the directions, the Bench comprising Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Surya Kant Sharma also sought details whether the members, particularly the bureaucrats, were involved in the decision making process at any point of time. Arguing before the court, amicus curie appointed by the court asserted that despite a communication by the Conservator of Forests for fixing responsibility, the state had apparently failed to initiate proceedings regarding the violations. Counsel for the club, on the other hand, asserted that the land acquired was not entirely forest area. Moreover, notification in this regard had not been issued. Time, he said, should be granted to him for filing an affidavit in this regard. It may be recalled that the Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Surya Kant Sharma, had, on the last date of hearing, issued notice to the Government of India, besides Punjab’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and other respondents after taking suo motu notice of the story published regarding the club being under the Central government scanner. The Bench had also restrained the Punjab Housing and Urban Development Authority (PUDA) from granting any permission for change of use of land under the New Capital Periphery Control Act subject to the decision of the court. The judges had observed that the news had shocked their conscience and directed that the news story should to be treated as a writ petition. The story had mentioned that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had found that the construction at the club site was carried out in grave and blatant violation of the Forest Conservation Act 1980. The story had also mentioned that a large number of top IAS and IPS officers had either been given honorary membership of the club or were allowed to use the premises and its facilities for private functions. |
Fitness Trail
THIRTYFOUR-year-old Taranjit Samra was 27 when he took to bodybuilding, an age when most body builders hang their dumb-bells and retire to lead a quite life or at the most become gym instructors or personal trainers. Samra, a perfect mix of brain and brawn, is a software engineer. He migrated to the USA in 1992 for higher studies. But along with studies he also developed a passion for bodybuilding. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, USA. He has also won a few bodybuilding competitions in India and the USA. On a recent visit to India, Samra blasted myths about weight training and gave a few handy tips to the fitness conscious. Weight training is only for young Age is no barrier to any kind of exercise programme. Samra’s own example cheerfully blasts this myth. Any exercise, including weight or strength training, can be started at any age. The only condition is that one should start gradually and build up the endurance slowly. The time, too, should be increased slowly. If you have been a leading a sedentry life don’t just jump off the couch and break into a five-mile jog. Slow and steady is the key word. Women will bulk up if they weight train. Myths about weight training have stopped several women from enjoying its benefits. The truth is that women cannot get big and muscular even if they want to, explains Samra. ‘‘Women cannot gain bulky muscles because they lack the necessary hormonal system. Women do not produce male harmone testosterone in large quantities so as to get that beef-cake look. On the contrary, it can be beneficial to women as weight training can provide a lean and toned body for that sleek look’’. Weight training is not for elderly/senior citizens Benefits of weight training can be reaped at any age. In fact as we age our bones become weak. Weight training helps the bones to become stronger. It also strengthens the joints. Weight training can also be beneficial for menopausal women as it helps in fighting osteoporosis. Spot toning or spot-reduction can be achieved by weight training Although it is a very common myth but there is nothing as spot toning or reduction. Fat is placed in our body generally. Fat will also burn out and leave similarly. We cannot target fat in specific areas (example: abdominal fat) and work those areas so as to achieve spot reduction. Muscle will turn into fat when you stop weight training Fat and muscle are two separate tissues of the body and cannot inter change. But if you stop weight training without making the necessary dietary changes and adopting some other physical activity you will put on weight. Weight training can damage back. The reality is otherwise weight training can strengthen back muscles and improves posture. However, an incorrect way of lifting weights can hurt back, cautions Samra. So training should be done under expert guidance or under supervision a trainer or instructor to avoid injury. Supplements/steroids help in building muscle faster While this may be true but for any shortcuts one has to pay a heavy price in the long run, says Samra. Anabolic steroids, the current rage among weight trainers, have harmful and life threatening side effects, including cholesterol imbalance, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney damage, baldness, acne, diarrhoea, insomnia, liver damage, water retention, nausea strokes, brain clots, severe mood swings and depression. However, supplements like protein drinks or whey protein can be taken but only under expert guidance and in moderate amounts. Because these are just supplements, reminds Samra and ‘‘should supplement your diet and not replace it’’.
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He has a fascination for coins
TWENTYTHREE-year-old Dil Bahadur’s favourite haunt has been the “bartan bazaar” of Patiala for years together. Having surveyed the local ‘bazaar’ he has branched out to other such bazaars in Delhi, Ludhiana, Moga, Jagadhri and Badni. The result has been a virtual hoard — in priceless coins. For someone who did not know anything about numistology, Dil Bahadur was attracted to this hobby by a single action. Playing with kites when in class VIII, Dil Bahadur saw a coin slipping out of a friend’s pocket. After picking it up he realised it was one an old one which was not in circulation any longer. Allowed to keep the coin once he showed interest in it, Dil Bahadur had found the hobby of his life. The hobby has expanded since then. Dil Bahadur surveyed the ‘bartan bazaar’ of Patiala and was rewarded with both ancient and medieval coins. Following his graduation he has taken up a marketing job which involves a lot of travel. The hobby continues to grow with the avid collector visiting old utensil shops with the aim of enlarging his coin collection. Dil Bahadur has notched up an enviable collection already. He has coins from the Maurya and Kushan periods. Particularly interesting are Kushan era coins showing warriors in ankle length boots belying the foreign origin of the Kushans who came to India nearly 2000 years back. A coin of the King Kanishka forms pride of place in Dil Bahadur’s collection. Besides these coins from the Gupta period, there are a number of punch mark coins with the collector. These are also from the ancient era. Coins detailing Lord Rama and Hanuman besides others belong to this period. Coins from the Mughal era right from Humayaun in 1539 to the reign of Shah Alam in 1806 besides the intermitten dynasties of the Khiljis, Lodhis and Suris also form part of the collection. The coin collector has a fair sprinking of coins of the British era in India. These include coins of various emperors on different units of currency from half an anna upwards. Even more interesting are coins from the erstwhile princely states which include coins of the Sikh kingdom which depict Guru Nanak with Bala and Mardana, the Ratlam ‘reyasat’ which has the portrait of ‘Hanuman’ on them, coins minted by Jiwaji Rao Scindia of Gwalior and also “Shrimant Maharaj Shivaji Rao Holkar Bahadur”. There are also coins of the Bahawalpur and Baroda states. Dil Bahadur also possesses a few medals and currency notes of various countries in his collection. This includes medals of the two World Wars which were sold off for their value in silver and bronze to goldsmiths by families of those who fought in the wars. He has also collected currency notes of India which are no longer in circulation as well as currency notes of various other countries. The collector says he is presently trying to catalogue his collection so that he can better access its worth from the academic point of view. And his search for more coins continues. |
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Aroma therapy can be harmful
NEERU Jain (not the real name) is scared of anybody even suggesting a facial or other skin treatment. Though blessed with normal skin, 18 months ago she had decided to go in for aroma therapy to remove the slight blemishes on her skin. However, instead of getting a glowing skin, as promised by the neighbourhood salon, the aroma therapy session led to further pigmentation of the skin, itching on the face and the neck, and her skin gave a burnt out look. It's been a year- and- a- half, and besides innumerable sessions at the beauty clinic, she had to take steroid for eight months, to undo the harm. She is not the only one suffering from the side effects of aroma therapy. The popularity of this treatments and its side effects, in the city, are directly proportional to each other. From headaches to causing rashes and skin allergies, and from causing high blood pressure to triggering off asthma and epileptic attacks, the side effects of these treatments are the cause of concern. Used increasingly for hair treatments (controlling dandruff, hair fall), skin treatment ( facials), for relaxation ( in a spa, during massages), for weight loss ( cellulite control therapies), and as cure in arthritis), this treatment, using natural oil extracts, is finding many takers in the city. Though fragrance products are being marketed with claims that their use will improve personality by strengthening the body's self defence mechanisms, dermatologists and qualified beauticians warn against the indiscriminate use of aroma oils, and in disproportionate concentrations. Another case is that of Ms Anju ( not the real name), who went in for an aroma facial at a saloon in Sector 8. Four months into her first pregnancy, the unsuspecting woman had rashes all over her body, besides a migraine attack after undergoing the "lavender aroma treatment". After the facial, she was advised a complete bed rest for a week. Just as suggested by the beautician, the aroma therapy gave me "complete relaxation". Says Ms Anju Khanna, clinic manager, VLCC- 9, "With aroma treatments getting popular with city residents, almost every saloon offers aroma treatments, be it for beauty or slimming treatments, and without having the technical know how". She says that most of the saloons do not even bother to read the brochures of these oils, and as against the prescribed formulations of essential and carrier oils, they are making their own formulations, which are causing these side- effects. She says that it is must for beauticians and saloons, offering these treatments, to maintain personal profiles of their clients and know their medical history ( to check if the patient is asthmatic, epileptic or allergic to certain strong oils), before undergoing the treatment. Plus, it is important for the beautician to have proper training before you began these treatments, she adds. |
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Winter not over yet,
says met official
SUUNY
days are here again... But only for a while. So before you get befooled by the Sun God shining in its full splendour today, and decide to finally bid adieu to your winter wear, the local Metrological Department advises against hurry.
Don't put away your heavy woolens and quilts, to bring out summer wardrobe, that you have prepared for the spring season, for another 20 days, warn the met officials. The rise in temperature will continue till tomorrow evening. The clouds are again expected to hide the sun. The weather forecast suggests that from Thursday onwards, the weather is again expected to be cloudy, with the possibility of the rain. Fog or mist in the early morning hours could also reduce the visibility. With the minimum temperature today being just one degree below normal, it is a temporary adieu to the winter. Says the Director of the Regional Meteorological Office, Mr S.C. Bhan," The winters are expected to stay till mid February, though there will be temporary breaks from the chill." He said the total amount of rainfall received this year was more than that recorded in the past three years.So far, 7.7 cm of rainfall has been received, as compared to 2.5 cm in 2003,1 cm in 2002 and 3.5 cm in 2001."Though there is nothing unusual about the rain at this time of the year, it has been raining more this year. However, the highest rainfall received on a single day this year (88.1mm ) is less than the highest rainfall received on a single day last year (97.2 mm)," say local metrological officials. — TNS |
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Sukhshinder latest album popular among fans WHEN
it comes to mixing western beats with Punjabi rhythm, Sukhshinder Shinda is a name to reckon with. After delivering hit numbers like "Soorma","Chak De Boly", "Has Bol Ve" and "Oh Kheri", Shinda has now reached new heights with his latest album "Gal Sun Ja", this time as a singer.
Sukhshinder, who is known for his musical compositions, is now sought after for his voice as well. The tracks in his album, a delightful blend of eastern music and western beat, has been widely appreciated by his fans. He has the sense to choose the right kind of lyrics, beats that jells well with the youngsters and above all a voice to match. Sukhshinder entered the world of music a decade ago and now has more than 200 albums to his credit. What stands Shinda's music apart from the rest of his clan is his powerful rhythm and expertise to blend different kinds of music. Tutored by legendary Dhol master Laal S. Bhatti and Ustad Mathleshji, Shinda's aims at revolutionising the sound of harmonium and tabla which is well reflected in his latest creation "Gal Sun Ja."
— OC |
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