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Punjab culture brought alive by Government College
girls Mohali, February 2 All efforts were made by students and staff members to bring alive the culture of Punjab at a sabhyacharak mela organised by the Punjabi Department of the college. The stage for the occasion was decorated with durries, phulkaris, old utensils, a charkha etc. The cultural programme went on for honours keeping most of the gathering glued to the area around the stage. Special dishes of Punjab like makki di roti and sag, lassi, jalebis were there for all. In a rural setting, a marriage ceremony, in the traditional style, was enacted and Jagga, a final year student, acted as the bridegroom. The ceremony started with the application of “watna” to Jagga, followed by another ceremony to be performed by a “mama” (maternal uncle). Then the sisters of the bridegroom, along with other relatives, took part in a “Jago”. Carrying a gagar on the head, with lit candles, and singing relevant songs the group passed through different areas of the college. The “sehra” tying ceremony was followed by the Departure of the “barat”. For some distance the “baratis” were led by “machars” before they left for the bride’s house. Ms Ranjit Kaur and Dr Mehar Singh Malhi, both from the Punjabi Department, who took active part in the marriage ceremony, said the mela had been organised to link students practically with the Punjab culture. Nachars had been arranged from Paintpur village in Ropar district. |
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NAAC team to visit
Govt College on Feb 6 Mohali, February 2 Mr Harkuldeep Singh, Principal, told Chandigarh Tribune here today that the college authorities will be going to Ropar on February 5 to get the team members, who would be made to stay in the UT state guest house. The team members would be inspecting a college in Ropar on February 4 and 5 and the local college on February 6 and 7. He said as part of the gearing up activities, a dispensary had been opened in the college, membership of the British Library had also been attained, apart from getting an internet connection. Wild growth from the college campus had been got removed and every laboratory had been got whitewashed and cleaned. A room for the Old Students Association had also been reserved. Rooms had been allocated to the staff members of 22 departments and the relevant boards had been put to make things easier for the committee members. He said the NAAC team would interact with the faculty and the students, apart from interacting with the representatives of the Old Students Association and parents. The team would be giving a grade to the college after the inspection by which the institution would get to know its place in the academic circle. Mr Harkuldeep Singh said that a self study report of the college, running into more than 400 pages, was submitted to NAAC authorities on December 16. Details about the functioning of the college, relevant data, subjects taught, performance in examinations, number of dropouts, teaching methods for weak and intelligent students, extra curricular activities were mentioned in the report. Now the team members would be checking that whether the information provided in the report matched with the ground reality. He said seven criterion had been set up for assessing an institution on the basis of which marks would be given. The criteria were curricular aspects; teaching, learning and evaluation; research consultancy and extension; infrastructure and learning resources; student support and progression; organisation and management; healthy practise. |
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Seminar on Cambridge YLE
test Chandigarh, February 2 These tests are run by Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), a department of University of Cambridge in England, and are set and marked by experts in language teaching and assessment. Mr Manish Puri and Mr Vivek from the British Counsel conducted the seminar to familiarise the staff and the parents with features of the test, principles of communicative language, teaching and interactive classroom techniques. The tests are offered at three levels, starters, movers and flyers, for students 7 years and above. The teaching and evaluation for these examinations is totally different from the existing structure. Children are rewarded through certificates in which “shield grading” is done. Nobody fails the test and the awards show positive achievement in each skill, giving an indication of a child’s strength and areas of improvement. Also, grading is done for all four language skills, reading, writing listening and speaking. The tests are carefully designed to be enjoyable and stress-free and promote effective learning and teaching. The school plans to start YLE tests and Cambridge International Exams (CIE) for “O” level (equivalent to Class X of CBSE and ICSE) and “A”/“AS” level (equivalent to Class XI & XII of CBSE and ICSE) from the coming session for which certificates will be given by University of Cambridge. The curriculum will run parallel with its CBSE curriculum. According to Mr Mitul Dikshit, Director, Dikshant, “this facility will be a boon for students seeking admission to foreign universities for higher studies. They will be directly eligible having already cleared the “O”, “A” and “AS” level examinations”. |
High Court Chandigarh, February 2 After placing him under suspension in September last year, Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy had directed the registration of a criminal case against him under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. This was, perhaps, the first time action was initiated by the high court against an officer of Registrar’s rank. A case was, subsequently, registered against him by the Chandigarh Police. Accordingly to the prosecution, Tara Chand was facing the allegations of amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income. |
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Passion binds this French rock band
together Chandigarh, February 2 “We do not sing about fast cars and hot babes like most of the traditional rock bands. Our music is more like poetry with child-like innocence, often telling a story,” said Nicolas Schauer, the drum player, while interacting with this correspondent today. “So, even though many people back in France call our music “stupid”, we do not care for we are unique in the rock clan; whether it is good or bad is immaterial,” says the drummer with a take it or leave it attitude. One of the five top bands in France, Les Wampas is performing in the India for the first time, courtesy Alliance Francaise and the French Embassy which collaborated with the Department of French, Panjab University, to organise the concert here. “On this tour, we performed in New Delhi and after Chandigarh we are heading for Bangalore and later to Mumbai before going back to France,” said Schaner. Talking about their experience with the Indian audience, the band says,” the Indian audience is not familiar with our kind of music. It is so different for them that it takes a few songs to warm them up and another few to get them to swing.” But we will be happy if our music acts as an inspiration for some youngsters here and help them come up with their own bands, adds Schaner. Though Les Wampas was formed way back in 1983, it is only recently that it has achieved international fame. “We were all amateur musicians with little experience when we started the band,” says Schauer, who joined the band sometime in 1986. Little experience but abundance of passion seems to be the binding element for all six of them — Didier Chappedelaine, lead singer, Philippe Almosnino, guitarist, Olivier Joseph, guitarist, Nicolas Schauer, drum player, Jean Michel, bass player and Jacques Simon, sound technician. Fame came to them with the huge success of their ninth album, “Never Trust a Guy”, that put the band on the international scene of modern rock and roll. “We are receiving invitations from all over the world and have been regularly featured by French TV and radio but “we are now fed up with doing gigs and want to concentrate more on cutting albums,” says the troupe. The group today entertained the audience with more than 25 songs from their various albums like “Tooti Fruti”, “Hot Dirty and “Wet” and their masterpiece “Never Trust a Guy”. The stage was shared by another local rock band “The Triangle” which gave the opening performance. |
Fashion statement by little gals Gold bangles with tiny bells jingle as she ties her tresses with a floral band after standing in front of a mirror. Admiring her image, she adjusts her glittering earrings with ringed fingers before leaving the house for a birthday bash. No, she is not a model but a seven-year-old student. She is not the only one passionate about make-up and good looks. Tarunima’s school friends also apply glitter on their tender lips and wear alluring bangles in different hues to go along with their dresses. Not after picking up things from the dressing table, but after purchasing them from jewellery shops and garment houses all over the city. You may find it hard to believe if you do not have a chuckling little girl at home, but it is true. The market is actually flooded with charming articles for the little ones along with branded apparels. In fact, you have special stores exclusively for the little ones in Chandigarh. There are at least five such showrooms in Sector 17 alone, besides some others in Sector 8 and 9. They not only offer just designer wear, specially created for the little ones with cartoon characters, but also hair bands with Walt Disney characters and rubber bands with plastic candies. Chunk jewellery shops in Sector 11 and 35 are also selling “expressly-for-kids” products. “You have hair clips with twinkling stars hanging at the end of beaded strings along with bands and stockings with Bugs Bunny and Pokemon,” says Mr Yogender Kumar of a Sector 11 gift shop. This is not all. The girls can take home fluorescent heart-shaped rings, besides the ones with Mickey Mouse, Tweety and even Santa smiling back at you. They can also wear floral rings. Elegant wrist watches that promise “to go along with any dress” are also there. You can also take home complete make-up kits with tiny combs and mirrors along with earrings. A quiz with questions about fashion and beauty is also on display. They are expensive and that is a fact most of the parents learn to live with. “My daughter wanted a pair of stocking with frills in baby pink, just like the ones her friend got from London. So, I took her to the market. Well, I was shocked to learn the price. They were costing Rs 80. But then I had to buy it to stop her from crying”. Explaining the trend, young sociologist Ramneeta Singh says, “The young ones were always interested in make-up. There was a time they would sneak into the bedroom and apply lipstick and roose in their mother’s absence because she would never approve of the act.” But things have changed. “You have young mothers brought up when Ash and Sushmita Sen made it big. They believe in glamour and want their kids to look splendid. That is why they buy expensive things.” “Exposed to teenage serials on 24-hour channels they too wish to look cool like their counterparts across the seven seas,” she adds. No wonder, the business houses across the country are cashing in on the craze. “There was a time when you could buy just Barbie or locally manufactured dolls. Or black rubber bands for tying their hair,” Mr Kumar adds. “But now you have more and more organisations concentrating on beauty products for kids, instead of toys, which you get cheap from shops selling Chinese goods.” |
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Is investment in gold a safe
bet? THE glittering yellow metal, though ruling the jewellery scene in the city as a possession, has failed to make an impact as a sound investment option. The ever-increasing prices of gold and desire to possess more and more of this precious metal notwithstanding, its lustre has failed to catch the attention of the investor here. The latter, it seems, is still obsessed with investing in real estate, bonds, shares or as fixed deposits in banks, while gold jewellery continues to be bought, with the intention that it can be sold off in times of financial crisis. This in spite of the fact that gold prices have risen by almost 25 per cent since April last year and given investors returns of 15 per cent. From Rs 5260 per 10 grams in March last year to Rs 6070 per 10 grams today, the yellow metal is turning elusive for a larger section of society. With a 60 per cent cut in import of this precious metal, and a worldwide increase in its demand, especially after the weakening of the US dollar against other currencies, the prices of the metal have continued to increase. Though the sharp rise in prices should have elevated the status of the yellow metal to that of an investment product, the city residents, it seems, are still waiting for the price to stabilise, before they look at gold as an investment option. It is estimated that the annual demand of gold in the city is 730 quintals, which also includes recycled gold. However, 95 per cent of the demand is in the form of jewellery only, and the remaining 5 per cent is bought as an investment product in the form of coins or as pure gold. Many banks like ICICI, Corporation Bank are promoting gold as an investment option by either retailing pure quality gold, with a stamp of authenticity in the form of coins, or giving loans to those planning to buy gold. Ever since the price of gold began to summersault from April 2003, the demand for the yellow metal has reached an all-time low. City-based jewellers say that the demand has gone down by almost 80 per cent in the past one year, as people are buying gold only in case there is utmost necessity for the same. “It is only those who have a marriage or any other family celebration, who are buying gold. Even the studded gold jewellery sale has shown a downward trend,” says a jeweller in Sector 17, requesting anonymity. He says that 80 per cent of the people are selling gold, while a mere 20 per cent people in the city are buying gold. The fact that there is no secondary market for resale of gold in the city also adds to its failure to come up as an investment option. Most jewellers in the city buy back jewellery originally made by them, nor do they buy back converted jewellery items. Says Mr Subhash Kataria, Chairman of Chandigarh Jewellers Association, “unlike in foreign countries, where the jewellers enjoy patronage from the administration while buying jewellery, we are at the risk of being embroiled in legal cases in case the jewellery sold to us is stolen.”
— TNS |
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Youngsters hooked on to kitschy accessories It is back to the kitschy accessories for teenagers of the city. From bright dangling earrings to shell and metal belts, bead work handbags to chunky chains and pendants are the in things for the city’s teeming fashion conscious collegiate. Be it the numerous colleges, university campus, market places, cinemas, discos or the eateries in various sectors, more and more youngsters are seen making a fashion statement in kitschy jewellery and accessories. The designs are as loud as the colours — red, cobalt blue, peridot green , lime. You think of a colour and it is there. From necklaces with a chunky metal piece as a pendant tied on a thread to belts and waistbands made of plastic beads in shimmering colours, plastic bangles in octagonal shapes or the spring-like bangles with glass beads — the kitschy fashion has arrived. Rajinder Singh, a resident of Delhi who has displayed his stock of beaded handbags from Bhopal in Sector 17, says that these sell like hot cakes with the younger crowd. The fact that shops selling these accessories can be found in almost every market in the city and that these are often the best selling items in exhibitions is an indication of their popularity. At a recent exhibition put up by Gurjari and another one put up by the Jute Manufacturers Development Council jute and metal jewellery, jute bags, hand-painted kurtas, etc. were the best selling items. With teenagers finding their style icons in Latino diva Shakira or the desi divas like Bipasha Basu and Kareena Kapoor these cheap fashion accessories having little artistic value and lacking in taste seem to be very popular. Says Radhika Sheroff, a 22- year- old resident of Sector 44, “I love collecting danglers and the necklaces as these are cheap, bright and you can have a matching one with each dress.” Shweta Sharma, a student of Government College of Education, Sector 20, agrees and says that even if these do not have any real taste these are affordable and give a vibrant effect to your personality.
— TNS |
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Face to face with Mr
North Inspired from Mr Universe and Olympia Arnold, the new Mr North and Mr Chandigarh Hari Narayan, says, “Whatever I am today is thanks to my coach Sunil Walia and family. Now my aim is to become Mr Asia.” Excerpts from an interactive session with him in Bon Sante, Sector 17. Q: Who inspired you to take to body building? A: I belong to Patna but have grown up in Chandigarh. I did Class X from Government Model School, Sector 19, and Senior Secondary from Moti Ram Arya School, Sector 27. Arnold’s movie “Commando” inspired me the most. I have also read many books on him. Q: How are you feeling now after winning the crown of Mr Chandigarh and Mr North ? A: I am very happy and excited, especially after Mr North, since there were many national and international players in the competition, including Ramakant and Daljit Singh. Q: When did you start body building ? A: I started it as a hobby but at that moment I did not take the sport seriously. My coach Sunil Walia changed my attitude as a result, I competed in 1996 and became Mr GCM. Q: Your achievements till now? A: I have been Mr Chandigarh for three times in 2000, 2003 and 2004 and have won many other competitions. In 2002, I got the fourth place in Mr North India, held in Karnal, and the sixth place at the national level . Q: What is your schedule of daily practice? A: On Monday — chest and calfs; Tuesday — legs and calfs. Wednesday — shoulder and abs; Thursday — biceps and triceps; and other body parts on rest of the days. Q: What kind of diet do you take? A: I usually take high protein diet during contests. In my daily routine diet, I take 30 to 40 eggs white for protein . I consume fish, chicken, rice, potatoes, chappatis, fruits and milk. Q: What is the role of your coach behind you? A: A player is nothing without a coach, specially in body building. I give credit to my coach who has been a perfect guide and inspiration. Q: What is your future plan? A: My aim is to become Mr Asia and plan is to work hard to achieve it. Q: What will be your suggestion for upcoming body builders? A:
One should be determined and take a healthy diet. One must follow instructions of the coach. Then he must have confidence, diet and practice. |
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Singing audition
on Feb 27 Chandigarh, February 2 The audition for Chandigarh candidates will be held here at Tagore Theatre tomorrow at three levels — sub-junior (five to 12 years), junior (12 to 18 years) and senior (18 to 25 years).
Jewellery exhibition from Feb 4 Chandigarh, February The range includes a breathtaking collection of earrings, necklaces, bangles and bracelets that reflects the spirit of today's woman. The exhibition starts on February 4 at Kidar's Gallery in Sector 7. |
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