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From Colleges Chandigarh, January 28 He said people were living in a fraudulent society, where frauds were evident in all fields, right from economic, political, social and educational to health systems. He attributed this to the paradigm of development, which was synonymous with economic progress. “We only have the economic viewpoint to explain success. Everybody is working towards building up careers and getting hefty pay packets. The value system has been the casualty and good human beings, good parents and people with good character are in short supply. Happiness has almost disappeared,” he explained. Stating that the present concept of development in terms of money was wrong, Professor Sharma said it had made men economic species. “This type of society cannot last for long. We need to redefine a developed society to mean a society where trust reigns supreme. Today, India is a functioning anarchy with chaos all around. For a good society and good tomorrow, we need to move from an immoral society to moral society,” he stated. Specifying the parameters of a developed society, Professor Sharma said any society with uniform standards of conduct with integrity, maximum good to maximum people, a strong value system and where self-interest was of least importance should be considered advanced. Blaming the media, especially television, for the degeneration of society, the principal of the college, Ms Geeta Mohan, said India’s own culture and value system were being eroded and western values were being imposed on the young minds. She said there was an urgent need to tackle the fall in moral values and put the youngsters on track to happiness and peace of mind. R-Day celebrations: The sacrifices made by soldiers were remembered at the Republic Day celebrations held at DAV College, Sector 10, on January 26. The students presented patriotic songs, poems and speeches to mark the occasion. |
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Students attend courses on networking
Mohali, January 28 These courses were inaugurated by Mr E. Barwa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Each of these programmes is of 12 weeks duration. As many as 40 students from Abidzan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar Oman, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe were attending these training programmes. These programmes have been sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan. The course is aimed at developing skills for planning, establishing and managing the high speed Gigabit Ethernet local area networking connectivity for organisations. The CADD course is to develop the skill sets for producing 2D and 3D views of the mechanical designed models, surface modeling, assembling and animations. Mr Barwa said sponsoring scholarships for students of the developing nations was a part of the “education diplomacy” being pursued by the Ministry of External Affairs which alone sponsored training of as many as 3,000 students from 155 counties. He said the ministry was likely to raise this target to 4,000 students in the coming year. Mr J.S. Bhatia, Director-in-Charge, CDAC, said M.E. (VLSI) was likely to start from July. Necessary approval from the AICTE had been obtained. Affiliation with PTU was being done. Ms Inderpal Kaur, senior design engineer course coordinator, proposed a vote of thanks. The participants appreciated the efforts of Ms Inderpal Kaur in making excellent arrangements. They attributed their presence in India to the detailed coordination by Ms Inderpal Kaur. At the dinner party in the evening, the participants presented a colourful cultural programme of their respective countries. |
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Where stress is on varied
experiences
Chandigarh, January 28 Ms Sharma said in their allotted five acres, they would have a skating rink, a basketball court and a tennis court. She said they would like to provide facilties for football, hockey and other disciplines also. |
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RIMC entrance test on June 1, 2
Chandigarh, January 28 Lt-Col. G.S . Dhillon (retd ), Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, Chandigarh said boys were eligible to apply for admission to the RIMC, Dehra Dun. Candidates appearing for the test should be at least 11 and a half years of age, but should not have attained 13 years of age as on January 1, 2005. The candidates should either be studying in Class VII or passed Class VII from a recognised school at the time of admission to the RIMC on January 1, 2005 . The writing part of the examination would consist of three papers — English, mathematics and general knowledge. The mathematics paper may be answered either in Hindi or English and the general knowledge paper in Hindi or English, besides in any regional language. The interview date would be intimated to successful candidates by September 2004, he said. |
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Storytelling sessions
for kids
Chandigarh, January 28 According to a press note, both parents and children will experience the enthralling journey from reading pictures to words. This is a unique opportunity for parents to actively participate in their child’s world. |
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Application sought for lawyer chambers
Chandigarh, January 28 The notice issued by the Registrar of the High Court states that a meeting in this context will held on Thursday in the chamber of Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar in the High Court complex. The president and the secretary of the District Bar Association have been invited to attend the meeting. The advocates willing to have chambers in the new court complex will have to pay an application fee. The fee is yet to be decided.
OC
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Seeking peace in turbulent
times
Chandigarh, January 28 Loaded with acerbic remarks, just right to show the sullen moods and morose lifestyles that dominate urban settings, the play offered a great deal of food for thought. The only regret was that, at times, its script was too stingy to inspire thought. The theme of the play was nevertheless striking, as it attempted to bare wounded souls, languishing for love in a world averse to care. The setting of the play was simple, as was its message of patience, conveyed in a rather impatient manner. Used to living in solitude with utmost sincerity, two strangers meet at a strange intersection along a road that leads nowhere. One of them belongs to the city and thus dares to intercept the other, who is still struggling for his share of earth on the alien soil. The interceptor — played by the translator-director of the play, Umesh Kaushik — is a dealer in products he chooses not to disclose but claims are of universal consumption. As he gets into the act of selling, unsavoury exchanges spoil the harmony of the surroundings that suddenly turn hostile to the very idea of friendliness. There is satire on urban society in every word uttered by the dealer and stranger, played by Parveen Yadav. As the contours of conversation go from bad to worse, the characters reveal their distress, frustration and boredom, unwinding themselves in the only way they have been instructed. Tension mounts, as references to the Gujarat riots, the World Trade Center terrorist strikes and the Gujarat earthquake flash across the screen in the background. From one episode of strife to another, the conflict raises its ugly head even higher, bringing to light the futility of life itself. Without reaching any conclusions, the play seeks to unravel the sweet secrets of happiness and dispels the notion that two strangers cannot greet one another with affection. And though the characters spit venom on one another almost throughout the play, in their hearts and minds they are actually yearning for peace, like every other man caught in the urban web. |
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Impressive cultural
programme by PNB
Chandigarh, January 28 Mr Harwant Singh, General Manager, PNB Northern Zone, was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Mr harwant Singh highlighted the importance of such cultural functions and cultural activities. He said that these activities not only broke monotony but also give the opportunity to staff members for exhibiting the hidden talent of their personalities. One act play “Sasi-Punnu” based on a true love story was acclaimed by the audience. The play mixed with traditional folk music reflected in social tradition, culture and human values of society of that time. The audience also enjoyed the traditional Punjabi bhangra. |
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Art works with a
difference
Chandigarh, January 28 Having held about 10 solo exhibitions in Chandigarh and around, Sanjay Gupta is now attempting to challenge himself by exposing the audience to the contrast of his creations. Where, on the one hand, he has displayed about eight big installations by combining individual paintings, on the other, he has displayed a separate range of art works, inspired by the sensuality in nature. Punjab Kala Bhavan is showing about 45 paintings of the artist who has been widely recognised for his individualistic style and technique. This collection is dominated by hues of fire, symbolising aggression that dominates the artist’s personality. Lines, forms and themes are wild and portray emotions at some level or the other. The mediums used for creation are varied, but impressive. The collection at Government Museum, stands in stark contrast to the one in Kala Bhavan. Titled Art works, this ensemble boasts of 35 paintings, all juxtaposed in some thematic sequence or the other to bring a new art work to life. There are works that comprise as many as six or even more paintings placed together in succession. The exhibition will be open till January 29. |
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Basant fest concludes on a springy
note
Chandigarh, January 28 Most kids participated in talent-hunt contests on folk dancing, mimickery, patriotic singing and nature modelling. The following were the winners in various categories (in orer of merit) Painting (up to 5 years): Harnoor Kaur, Kiranpreet Kaur; 5 to 8 years: Arshita Sharma, Jasleen Kaur, Prabhjot Sandhu; 8 to 12 years: Barinderjit Kaur, Harjot Singh, Priyanka Yadav, and consolation prize Neeru Chauhan and Jaspreet Kaur. In 12 to 15 years category, prizes went to Prabhjot Kaur Gill, Ritu Beri and Arvind Kumar. The consolation prizes went to Varinder Deep Kaur, Bharti, Neha Uppal and Manju Negi. Kite flying: MM Badda, Yadvinder Singh and Rajnish won the second prize, while Dr Barinder Pal Singh Sehgal was declared third. The consolation prizes went to Umesh and Jagjeet. Decorative kite making contest: Gurpreet, Deepak Jain and Asheesh Bansal. Partiotic model contest: Munish, Paramjeet Singh and Pooja. Fancy dress (Group A): Ashish Garg, Mansi Singh Gulia and Ashish Sobti; and group B: Vir Manocha, Paarth Joshi; Group C: Suraj and Karan. The prizes were given away by Prof S.C. Jain, president,
ESI. |
Home Decor THE Tanwars’ home is warm and welcoming. Its like a whiff of fresh air, and unlike most other homes in the city, this home is designed to let in sunshine, and allow you to gaze at the stars on a clear night. Inspite of the space constraints’ — the covered area of the top floor flat in Sector 48 is 1,500 square meters — the house encompasses all the hues from white to black, and still the element of space is not lost. Each and every corner of the house reflects its famous owner, artist Viren Tanwar’s, ideology — the world revolves between white and black and the search lies within. Thus the colour concept of the house is black and white, with one wall in each room painted in a primary colour to create emphasis and impact. The furniture in all rooms is ebony, the walls are painted the softest crème, and the flooring unlike the marble or granite used in most homes, is simple white tiles, with a black skirting. Not only are these easy to maintain, but also give a feeling of purity, besides making the room look spacious, says Mr Tanwar. The drapes are white, with just a hint of black in the weave, the carpets are black and white, and the tapestry on the settees is also ebony. The best feature of the house is that it is contemporary in design, yet traditional. The walls are stark — no exquisite paintings or wall panels, which is in fact a breather and makes the rooms look more spacious, except for the children’s room which proudly displays a Hussein painting. Antiques — terracotta and brass — some inherited from his family, others procured by the Tanwars over a period of time, are displayed in the drawing room on the tables, in the see through showcase, or in specially designed checkered wooden showcase. “I wanted to have a feel of our rich heritage in my home, so we displayed the antiques like old jewellery box, some utencils, and pieces from Bastar” adds Mr Tanwar. In fact the drawing room settees are actually made of a pair of beds gifted to Mr Tanwar’s mother at her time of marriage, almost 60 years ago. They just got the beds cut into settees, and repolished, when they moved in a year ago. Colour is brought in with the exquisitely embroidered red, scarlet and yellow cushion covers, the sculptures- in marble and paper mache, and installations. The dining room consists of an ebony polished top square table, with low lying chairs, painted in the basic colours — red, yellow, and blue. Two antique tea kettles are the only decoration on this Japanese style dining table. One of the walls is painted black — for a feeling of infinity. Mr Tanwar’s studio is not at all messy as one would like to believe. Rather, each thing — be it the paints, the brushes, the spectacles or his works — both finished and unfinished — are placed in a meticulous manner. Even the old style chowki, which serves as a desk, is placed in the middle and works as his smaller work station. The dressing room here, as well as his sons’ room, has been converted into a small reference study. However, it is Mr Tanwar’s daughter’s room which has been done the most painstakingly. The entire emphasis in this room is created on a wall, with base painted in sunshine colour, and Worli paints, a rustic style of painting fables, adorn the wall.
— TNS |
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A cafe that will entertain Airtel staff If the consumer is the king, then the employee is supreme. Following in the footsteps of large multinational companies which try to provide the best possible working environment to their employees, Airtel here today launched a concept cafe and entertainment centre in the office for the exclusive use of its employees. Inaugurated by international sports star and Arjuna awardee, Alok Kumar, the centre named “Wheelz”, is innovatively designed consisting of a theme cafe while the entertainment centre has a library, a pool table, carom, chess and a state-of-the-art gymnasium. Mr Vinod Sawhny, CEO and Director-Mobility, Bharti Mobile Ltd, said on the occasion that Airtel’s corner stone of success has been its world class customer service and the ability to innovate. “Through Wheelz, we are now extending the same spirit to our employees by creating the right ambience to help them rejuvenate their mind and body,” he added. The cafe is built around the Formula One car racing theme, which has traffic lights and a race track, and the biggest attraction of the place is an actual racing car that doubles up to provide extra seating space. The area is sprinkled with racing car accessories and road signs. The roof of the cafe and the service counter has fibre optic to give it the look of a coffee lounge. The tables are in the shape of a steering wheel with customised tablemats. The cafe opens into the entertainment area with a library which has been named ‘Athena’. A Ferrari cutout adorns the wall with track lights. A part of the entertainment area can be turned into a disco for a party. There is a pool table, carrom and chessboards for the team members to get a break from work. A state-of-the-art gymnasium and shower rooms adjoin the entertainment area. Wheelz also has arrangements for channel music and two DVD systems apart from a television set. According to Mr. Harshvendra Soin, General Manager (HR), AirTel Northern Region, “The entire theme has been conceived in-house by the HR team.”
— TNS |
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Eating out THERE are times when you look for a retreat. A time to spend in a leisurely manner. Where there is enough for everyone in the family to feel okay about. Specially the kids. They must not feel neglected or bored. Some entertainment to keep them happily occupied. At the same time, you can also relax with your family or friends. When you have a couple of hours to spare and you feel like getting out, Vatika in Sector 5, Panchkula, is a good option. For residents of not only Panchkula, but also Chandigarh and Mohali. The green belt attracts people from early morning to late in the night. The morning walkers, the after-dinner strollers, and casual visitors, all can be found aplenty whenever you go to Vatika. The Hot Millions outlet in the centre of the verdant surroundings is usually the hub of activity. The residents occupy tables laid under the canopy and enjoy the notes of latest pop music from the TV monitors renting the air. In winters, the sun on the terrace beckons invitingly while in the summers, the cool roof is preferred in the late evenings. The little pond with its noisy geese swimming in a group has most of the kids fascinated. And when the geese come out into the garden for a walk in a queue, it is mesmerising. However, you should not encourage your children to trouble the graceful white birds. With a number of outlets in City Beautiful as well as Mohali, HM, needs no introduction. Most of us are familiar with the joint that specialises in almost everything — from the delicious burger and sandwiches to the Continental pizzas, Chinese chowmein, delightfully South Indian dosa, sambar and typically northern butter chicken with naan. You can take a pick from the snacky kathi kebabs to the full meal thali (both veg and non-veg) or just do with a soup, sundae soft drink, tea, coffee or thick shake or a scoop of ice-cream. After placing the order, you wait for your number. There is self-service. Even water glasses have to be fetched from the water cooler installed on one side. As you soak in the beauty of the green lawns and the thick foliage of trees, the landscape as also the colourfully lighted fountains on the corner you feel your blues vanish away. And the eatery seems like an island of food in a verdant patch. But an island that abounds in eats to pamper almost any taste bud, with over 250 items to choose from. In fact, with more 20 kinds of burgers and 22 pizzas, among other delicacies, it is quite an exercise to decide the menu. |
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A new fabric for the fashion conscious
AS the winter is preparing a retreat, Malavika Sen, an upcoming entrepreneur, is all set to introduce to the fashion conscious crowd of the city a new fabric for the coming summer, Bagh. Though the name immediately conjures up an image of the bright floral patterns of our own Bagh embroidery, Malavika’s Bagh is very different from what we see. This Bagh offers a variety of block printed cotton dress materials which is essentially ethnic in nature but highly adaptable to suit the modern taste. “Though the root of Bagh fabric goes back to the 12th century, we are trying to give a contemporary flavour to the fabric by creating different kinds of outfits,” says Malavika who has started an exhibition of her creations in her house in Sector 32 Chandigarh. An array of Indo Western outfit in patch work, teamed with slim fit trousers proves her point. This ancient fabric which is almost on the verge of extinction belongs to a small village near Indore where a handful of artisans are trying hard to survive. Coloured and printed with vegetable dyes and washed and dried by the water of river Bagh from which the name had been derived, the cloth looks vibrant yet earthy at he same time. What attracted Malavika to experiment with this lesser known fabric was its unique quality of getting brighter with every wash. “I have always been fascinated by the texture of cotton but designing on this fabric poses one problem as colours fade very fast. But with Bagh we face no such problem as the material gets better with every wash,” says Malavika. “Bagh has another interesting angle too.” “Though Bagh is a heritage of a small Muslim community, creation of this fabric involves a very secular act as it is mandatory for the artisan community to pray to Devi Bageshwari before they embark upon any new consignment,” says Malavika. Using embroidery and Bhopali bead works to enhance the beauty of the fabric, Malavika has created a range of traditional salwar suits, Indo-Western outfits as well as bridal lehengas. “Bagh materials can be used as drapes, bed spreads and table covers as well to lend an ethnic aura to the interior. In fact it has gained immense popularity abroad as a part of home decor,” she claims. The exhibition is on at House No - 3116, Sector 32 D. |
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Parvesh Sethi, well-known theatre artiste of this region, has been awarded with a lifetime achievement award by the UT Administration for his contribution towards performing arts. He was given a commendation certificate by Mr Lalit Sharma, Adviser to the UT Administrator on the Republic Day function organised at the Sector 17 Parade Ground. “This is a good sign for us theatre artistes who are struggling hard to revive this ailing art form,” says Mr Sethi. However, according to Mr Sethi, theatre in this region has improved considerably in the recent past. “We have seen a lot of quality productions in the region and having those national level theatre festivals have certainly helped us regional artistes getting an wider exposure,” he says. Sethi, who had started his acting at an early stage has been actively involved in theatre for more than 53 years. Under the banner of his “Theatre for Theatre”, Sethi has acted and directed about 50 plays besides acting in a number of TV serials and films. Trained by veteran theatre artiste Hans Raj Nangia and make-up artiste Indo Ghosh from National School of Drama, Parvesh Sethi is the man behind giving the art of stage make up a professional angle in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Sethi, who has worked with theatre personalities like Balwant Gargi, Mohan Maharishi, Bhag Singh, Rani Balbir Kaur and Dr Kumar Verma, has also written a number of successful Punjabi plays.
— OC |
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