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School principals welcome CBSE move on homework
Chandigarh, February
19 Welcoming the move by the CBSE, they said the kids should be allowed to learn through environment during free time. Correlating every aspect with one’s surrounding would make the learning process more exciting and interesting, said Ms Punam Dogra, Principal of Rai School, Sector 48, here. Already a number of upmarket schools, in order to place themselves a notch above their rivals, promise homework-free learning and no examination and internal assessment models. Most of the principals contacted by Chandigarh Tribune evinced curiosity in the alternative homework plan being drafted by the CBSE. Ms Madhu Behl, Principal of KB DAV, Sector 7, said, “I am trying to reduce the number of periods for students of Classes I and II from present eight periods.” She believes that teachers should be helping students in doing their homework during the school time. Mr D.S. Bedi, president of the Independent Schools Association, said it was a timely step. An official of the CBSE said the alternative homework plan being drafted by the board could be modified by a school to suit its needs. The CBSE model would be in the form of suggestive guidelines that schools would be expected to follow. “Since the school are given consolidated affiliation from Class I to VIII, the schools were expected to follow the guidelines although these are not binding, said the official. Mr Atul Khanna, director of Strawberry Fields, said it was a wise step. He opined that the process of reducing homework should be introduced in a phased manner. Ms Punam Dogra said learning should be more activity oriented. Rai School was restricting to two subjects in Classes I and II. “The students are provided lockers in school so that they do not have to carry homework books to home,” she added. |
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Exams weigh heavier on girls Chandigarh, February 19 Some are candid enough to admit that they are not prepared and plead for shortcuts to pass examination. Most prefer to call when their parents are not around or are busy in the morning chores. “The anxiety hovers around the possible questions that can be asked in the examinations and will they get through or not, said Ms Madhu Behl, counsellor. Since the start of the helpline, she is answering around 30 calls daily, mostly from girl students. “The intensity of the calls reaches up to 500 calls a day as the examination dates draw nearer and before the declaration of the results,” she said. From the number of questions to be asked in each paper to ways to manage time and what subjects to be revised immediately before the exams — everything is discussed during the counselling session, which can last for few hours. For getting information relating to the syllabi, the students can log on to the CBSE’s website, Shikshanet. “In case I feel that the caller needs personal attention, I make it a point to have face-to-face interaction with students and their parents. Even parents of troubled children ask for personal meeting. I am taking help of a psychologist and a psychiatrist from the PGI,” said Ms Behl. “So far, no student has discussed the distraction they face while studying or their family problems,” she added. “A call from a student from Himachal Pradesh made me sit up and think. She said her teacher had not told her about the changed style of question paper and was given a sample paper as per the old style. When I told her about the new style of question paper, her anxiety increased and I have to counsel her. Some students are not aware about the syllabi,” said the counsellor. Ever since its start, the counselling has been providing an effective channel to get feedback from students about the level of education being imparted in their schools. At times, the counsellors get complaints about schools not informing students about the changed syllabi. Said Mr Behl, “I even reply to the text message of students.” Ms Behl, who is the Principal of KB DAV, Sector 7, has been answering calls on her mobile phone round-the-clock. She strongly feels that the CBSE should be providing the facility throughout the year and principals and teachers of schools in the region should regularly meet to address the examination-related problems of students. |
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NIIFT festival concludes Mohali, February 19 Students of the institute participated in a wide variety of creative competitions during the two days of the festival. The chief guest gave away prizes to the winners of the competitions today. Among those who won these competitions included Ekta Khosla for Rangoli, Sharad for clay modelling, Ekta Khosla for nail painting, Sharad for t-shirt painting, Mandeep Kaur for headgear, Vinod Bhatia for best card, Tarun Kaur for face painting, Harjinder Singh for male solo singing, Meenakshi for female solo singing, Harjinder and Navinder for duet singing, Vipul for tattoo making, Amal Kumar and Swati Choudhry for quiz, Rupika and Harjinder for antakshri and Ashu for poetry. A special scholarship award instituted by Groz Beckert Asia Private Limited was also given to Ms Swati Choudhry, Ms Anu Prashar and Mrs Priyanka Singh. Ms Vijay Sharma, director of the institute, congratulated all the award winners and stressed the importance of organising such events. The SDM, Mohali, Mr M.L. Sharma, Additional Director, Industries, Mr B.D. Dhuppar and senior officials of the Mohali Industries Association were also present. Mr Ranjit Singh and Mr S Kanwal of Groz Beckert Asia Pvt Ltd were also present. Babbu Mann interacted with the students and regaled them with his hit numbers like “tupka tupka”, “mehfil mitran di,” etc. |
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AIDS awareness workshop at college Chandigarh, February 19 A poster-making competition on AIDS was also organised. The winners were: Chetna 1, Gurnandan 2 and Anu Devi 3. Mr C.L. Narang, Head of the Department of Adult Education, Panjab University, was the chief guest. Meanwhile, an inter-department declamation contest was organised by the Commerce and Business Administration Department, Government College for Girls, Sector 11. The topics for the contest were ethics in business, ethics in advertising, consumer perception on entry of MNCs and e-banking. Mr Usha Khetarpal, Principal of the college, addressed the students. The winners of the contest were: Priyanka 1, Neha Merry James 2 and Gauri and Deepika 3.
Talk Chandigarh has witnessed 36 fold population growth since its inception. The issue was raised during a talk on ‘Population, growth and migration — a visual account of migrants in and around Chandigarh’ by Dr Joginder Mukherjee, a senior lecturer in the Government College of Education, here on Thursday. The talk was supported with multimedia projections and a short self-prepared movie.
NAAC team visit The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the university Grants Commission, will visit Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, on February 21 and 22. The assessment will be based on the validation of the self-study report submitted by the college to NAAC in November, 2003.
Prize distribution A prize-distribution function was organised by the Kusum Arora Memorial Trust, a charitable organisation, in coordination with the UT Education Department at Government Senior Secondary School, Dadu Majra Colony, Sector 38 (west). Mr K.D. Arora, chairman of the trust, highlighted the activities of the trust. The winners of the human development talent contest (secondary level) were: slum/colony schools: Inder Kali 1, Rinku and Rajeev 2 and Rajni 3; rural schools: Gurpreet Kaur 1, Manoj Kumari 2 and Amrinder Kaur 3. |
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Greens galore at Strawberry Fields Chandigarh, February 19 It is interspersed with carefully planned blossoms, creepers, seasonal and evergreen plantations. The end result is a luxuriant setting, which provides the ideal backdrop to the creative outpourings of 350- odd students of the kindergarten. Spaces flow seamlessly with one functional area leading to the next. Different utility areas of the school are distinctly set apart with intelligent use of flora and fauna. If the entrance gate to the school is framed with a vivid orange Begonia Vinesta, the porch is resplendent with Erica palms. The serenity of pathways is gently broken with a splash of colour, which comes from the Larkspurs, Stalks, Sweet Alysum and Anteherinums. The school premises itself are bordered with trees like Ashokas, Casserinas, Silver Oaks and Pines, which are majestic. The classroom areas and corridors are not cluttered with pots and plants. Instead, these are sparkling clean and provide unhindered movement to children. Each class opens out to a different portion of the garden and day-dreaming is something that is not strictly prohibited! |
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Deliberations on
human rights Chandigarh, February 19 Delivering the keynote address, Prof S.L. Sharma, Dean, Faculty of Arts, emphasised that human rights discourses had received increased attention. In a paper on “A metaphysical approach to human rights: an Indian perspective” by Dr V.T. Sebastian emphasised on human rights as a contemporary mode of ancient metaphysical wisdom. “The issue of human rights has never been a problem for the Indian masses as they have led an individual existence with support, concern and care of social existence. Hence, the Indian worldview has generated a sense of compassion rather than social justice in man towards all beings,” he added. Dr Rakesh Khullar said examining the issue of human rights and relating the same to the medical field emphasised the ethical strength of human rights and the personal dignity of individuals in community. Dr Nandita, Dr Harjot Singh Bhatia and Dr Raunki Ram, in their presentations, hoped that the apparent political manifestations of human rights on the world scene may revive and popularise this concept to motivate social, political and philosophical thought. |
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School farewell Panchkula, February 19 A lively dance by Class XI girl students and a hilarious comedy by boys were the main attractions. A question and answer session and personality rounds adjudged Ashish and Sheetal Mr and Miss DAV, respectively. Mr Vijay Kumar, principal of Hansraj Public School, Panchkula, who was the chief guest of the function, wished departing students a bright future. |
High Court Chandigarh, February 19 Appearing before the Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Surya Kant Sharma, counsel for the Union of India informed the court that alternate sites were being explored. Taking up the case, the judges fixed March 16 as the next date of hearing in the matter. The club has been involved in a controversy ever since a report appeared in the newspaper claiming that the construction at the club site had been carried out in grave and blatant violation of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 as per Union Ministry of Environment and
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‘Dhai lakh da’
munda whips up a frenzy Chandigarh, February 19 Karan, who entertained the audience for nearly an hour with Punjabi numbers, bowled them over with his hit “Dhai lakh di”as students broke into a dance and sang with him. Starting the evening with a song for the heart-broken, he went on to add a dash of friendship to his performance with his “Mashooq de nalon yaar da darja ucha honda hai”. Both were songs from his new album. Next was “Bol, bol, bol, ve tun hauli hauli bol” which set the mood for an entertaining evening. The crowd swayed with the singer and asked for more. Excitement was in the air as teams from various colleges danced to the latest in remixes and movie numbers in the dance competition. Shweta, a former student of the university, along with her group, boys from various departments of the university and Government College, Sector 11, set the evening ablaze with “Babuji zara dhere chalo, bijli kharhi, yahan bijli kharhi” and “It’s the time to disco”. The “Bachelors” from Rohtak, the team from the University Institute of Engineering and Technology gave a zestful performance much to the delight of the crowd. The comperes of the show, Balwinder and Ashutosh, entertained with their tongue-in-cheek humour and couplets on romance to a crowd waiting to lap up everything in the name of love.  |
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Israeli film
festival begins Chandigarh, February 19 “We chose to start the festival with ‘Desperado Square’ because Raj Kapoor’s “Sangam” is central to the film’s plot, said Tapesh Sharma, Secretary, Chandigarh Film Society. The six films for the festival have been provided by the Israeli Embassy. The festival is being held in collaboration with the Staff Club, CSIO. The films being shown are: “Besame Mucho” (Friday), “The Investigation Must Go On “(Saturday), “Clean Sweep and Time of Favour” (Sunday). The last film of the festival would be “Giraffes”, Mr Sharma said. |
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Kathak students mesmerise Chandigarh, February 19 The first item presented at the festival was Luxmi Satuti by Vimpy Parmar, Indu, Rakhi, Harmeet, Abha and Anju. Shamim Iqbal gave vocal support, while Madhuresh Bhatt was on the tabla. The second item was a kathak performance by Mansi Saxena. She won a gold medal at Kurukshetra University in the North Zone Youth Festival Competition held last month and was adjudged second at the All-India Inter University Youth Festival National Competition at Gwalior from February 4 to 9, 2004. The third item was “Tarana” composed by Shamim Iqbal based on Sufiana
kalam. |
STYLE I
All you guys there make sure that your shoes match the rest of your outfit and are of the latest style, if you want to leave a lasting impression, be it charming a dame or influencing a prospective employer. With city stores stocked with the latest international and Indian brands, the men’s segment too, is, brimming with the choice and comfort, hitherto, enjoyed by women alone. Here is a rundown of fashionable, dressy, casual and sporty shoes for guys with fetish for shoes. There is a fine line between dressy and casual shoes. Many styles can be sported for both dressy and less formal occasions. The trend in dress shoes is more of square toe in both laced shoes or loafers though this year the toes are likely to get more pointier, a la women’s shoes. Loafers have remained the mainstay of men’s footwear. Whether leather or suede, go for round-toe loafers free of tassels. These can be worn with a pair of flat-front pants, a suit or even a classic pair of jeans for a chic look. Square-toed party shoes called Grand Canyon in two-toned leather (Rs 1,699) from Stryde (Tata International), a new designer collection from Red Tape in an impressive selection of colours ranging from the stylish black, stone to brandy, ochre and tan (priced between Rs 1,595 to Rs 3,445) are among the favourites in the city. Full-grain cow softy from Kent Originals (Rs 1795), Hides Nubuck (Rs 1250), too, are worth a dekho in this segment. Ankle boots are in style according to style experts. With laces, a velcro strip or an elastic band, these fashionable and practical shoes are suitable for formal as well as casual occasions. For those wanting to go casual, sandals, which are the best way to sport the stylish and comfortable look in summers, are the hottest thing for feet this season. Also known as slides, this versatile footwear comes in a variety of styles and shapes. Slip-ons or shoes with a strap or buckle, too, are comfortable for hot summer months. Stryde’s floaters like Siberian Frost for formals and Athletic for casuals light polyurethane soles in black, tan and burgundy in its formal range (Rs 699 to 1099) have a number of fans of all age groups. Whether you are a sporty person or just sport this persona, there is a wide variety of athletic shoes to choose from. Sneakers double up as “going out shoes” . These running shoes have become lifestyle shoes as well. Most sports and fashion apparel companies, from Puma and Adidas to Diesel, have a version of the “boxer style sneaker”. Another cool laceless sneaker is Puma’s slip-on. The mesh detailing on these puppies give them a lot of style and breathability. They look great with everything from pants and jeans to chinos. Nike’s Air Max and Shox R4 are the hot ones in the market. The elastic band trend (rather than laces) is also in style in the sneaker market and makes these look more dressy. “One of the trendiest looks to hit the scene this year is wearing sneakers with a suit”, says Rishabh, a budding designer. “You can match these with jeans or a khaki green pair of cargos”. Sneakers now offer all-round sporty sophistication. Many say that clothes and shoes do not make a man, but they do reflect a man’s taste, class and sense of style, and this makes all the difference. |
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Comfort is the buzzword
THE Indian look for your dream house would just not do. Or so depict the interior design pundits, who are showcasing a solely contemporary look, or a Victorian look, for the homes of today, with comfort being the
primary concern. The interior designers who have gathered here say that the traditional Indian look for the homes of today is out. As comfort becomes the buzzword and living spaces reduce in size, the heavy traditional look with antique furniture — lacquer inlay work, silver furniture, or the Gujarati look with jhoolas is passe. So are the granite floors and the ornamental lights, as depicted in the Inside Outside Mega show, which was inaugurated at Parade Grounds today, is selling “The American homes”. The show was inaugurated by Deputy Speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Mr Bir Devinder Singh. What is in, is the huge comfortable leather couches or the bean bags, leather sofas — and before you think of leather as black and inauspicious, look around you. More than 15 shades of leather- red, green, blue, yellow, brown, beige,and, of course, black, are there to brighten up your home. The furniture is done up in synthetic leather or foam leather, is more durable than wood. Says Nitin Pratap, of Lazy Beans Bags, Mumbai: “The changing lifestyle has led to a change in people’s” preferences in home decor. Most people like a semi-formal look in the drawing rooms, which explains why comfy furniture is in”. Agrees Rajesh Bajaj of Sai Furniture Art, Delhi, who has brought a range of leather sofa sets: “Most people think of home as a private place and prefer to meet guests outside. This also explains why the homes have a personal touch and the comfy and casual look is in vogue”. With Indippies (hippies on the outlook and Indian in heart) making way for the yuppies, the living spaces, too, reflect change. Says Shahina Rana of Concepts, a city-based interior shop: “Though the mix ‘n’ match look is out for the Indian designs with the American designs, people are asking only for mixing of Victorian with American styles of designing”. Concepts has itself showcased a Victorian living space, with a fireplace and a bedroom with four poster beds. Comfort is not just the keyword with the interior designers. Modular kitchens and racks, roto swings, roto baskets (rotating table tops and table baskets), vinyl flooring, textured wooden flooring, electrical appliances and kitchen appliances- each and every concept of home designing under the sun, has been showcased at the exhibition, going with the trend of comfortable living spaces. A number of stalls of wooden flooring, vinyl flooring or the tiled flooring again shows the trend towards a more comfortable and maintenance-free look for the floors, without losing on the aesthetics. As many as 120 companies have been represented in this Inside Outside Mega Show, which will be on till February 22. |
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Home Theatre systems are the latest rage COUCH potatoes here are enjoying the evolution of their tellys into the home theatre systems, which are the current rage in the city. Plasma televisions and Barco projections, with the state-of-the-art sound guides, are the latest fad with the city residents. Samsung, Sony, LG, Akai and Philips, or the foreign assembled ones with Fujitsu TV’s and Denon and Jamo sound bites and Wharfedale speakers (photo frame style features), are being increasingly preferred by the couch potatoes. Inquiries made at various company outlets in the city revealed that as many as 50 home theatre systems are sold each month, which is over and above the systems being bought from the grey market in Delhi and Mumbai. In spite of the high cost — ranging from Rs 40,000 to Rs 20 lakh —more and more people in the city prefer the home theatre system to the ordinary television, says Varun Juneja, Director of Circuit Mall, which stocks Jamo, Denon and Fujitsu systems, which are assembled into home theatres. He says that the city residents are well aware of good picture and sound quality, and thus prefer getting a home theatre system. Cost being a major factor, most people just buy the sound system and DVD’s and have a home theatre system on a normal television, which costs them about Rs 40,000. And they do not mind spending couple of thousands for making the rooms sound proof. And it is mainly the “keeping with the Jones’ “ factor, that is propelling the sale of home theatre systems in the city, he adds. However, the plasma TV’s which cost anything between Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh do not have many takers. It is learnt that other than the home segment, the home theatre systems were getting popular in board rooms and hotels. With the dealers offering integrated solutions, depending on the room size, the market for home theatre systems in the city is growing at almost 100 per cent each year. Cinebels — the Jamo shop, sold as many as 50 imported high end home theatre systems in its first year of operation in the city last year. With more and more disposable incomes coming in, such high-end consumer products are getting very popular, says Mr Sunit Mathur, Director of Cinebels.
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REAL fruit juice has got together with the best bartenders to specially create the Real love potions in this month of love. Aptly titled Cupids Spell (blend of guava nectar, passion fruit, fresh lime juice and lemonade); Sultry Sigh ( mix of pineapple juice, coconut milk, banana, sugar and strawberry syrup); and, Italian Smooch (grape juice, lemon chunks, sugar granules, gingerale, fresh lime juice and soda)- these mocktails from Dabur Foods are non
available at various departmental stores. OC |
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BELIEVE it or not, but shoes are one of the first things that people notice while meeting a person for the first time and these can literally make or break an
outfit. This holds true not only in the case of women, but men too. 
