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Lecture on ‘Analysis of Budget’ Chandigarh, March 11 Dr Aggarwal discussed the implications of the recent interim Budget of the Central Government (2004-2005) from the point of view of economic growth. He said it was heartening that the fiscal deficit had been fixed at 4.8 per cent of the GDP with a rate of economic growth of 8 per cent per annum. This was very respectable and without having any major change in the tax structure. It would go a long way in accelerating the process of economic growth and eradicating poverty. However, the government must reduce its revenue deficit, he added. |
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CAMPUS BEAT Chandigarh, March 11 He said 80 per cent of the technology would be redundant if one did not upgrade oneself. He called for effective harnessing of the information technology revolution for an effective and wider spread of education. Earlier, Prof Devinder Singh, chairperson of the department, said the department had gone a long way to establish the credibility and efficacy of distance education. In the current academic year, the department had enrolled 15,ooo students and 23 professors, 30 readers and 35 lecturers were engaged in teaching. The department also offered postal library services. Staff’s protest The Joint Action Committee of teaching and non-teaching employees of Panjab University will hold a general house in front of the establishment office here on Friday. According to the secretary of PUTA, Mr Achaia Kumar, the meeting has been called to protest against the proposed compulsory retirement scheme for employees and the delay in the implementation of a pension scheme. Refresher course A three-week refresher course ended at the Department of Political Science on Thursday. Teachers from colleges and universities in Assam, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab attended it. The theme of the course was ‘Political science in the 21st century’. Resource persons from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Social Sciences Department of the Panjab University gave presentations. The valedictory address was delivered by Prof Randhir Singh, senior fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla. AIDS awareness A nine-day AIDS awareness programme begin at the six boys’ hostels of Panjab University on Wednesday. It was being organized by the health center and te office of the Dean, Students Welfare, in collaboration with the State AIDS Control Society. 2-day symposium The Chemistry Department and the Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry will organise a two-day annual national symposium on ‘Recent trends in chemistry’ from Friday. A number of scientists from different parts of the country are expected to participate in the symposium. ABVP delegation A delegation of the ABVP, Punjab and Chandigarh unit, submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor on Thursday regarding the demands of students of Punjab Technical University regarding promotion. The ABVP urged the Governor to intervene and decide in the interest of the students. The ABVP condemned the attitude of the DAV College management in connection with the suicide by a hostel inmate of the College. |
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Architecture student shares the Bionic Tower experience Chandigarh, March 11 Back home in Chandigarh, Rajender has a lot of experiences to share. He has come up with an exhibition on the images of Spain, particularly Madrid, which features some of his classic compositions, apart from his work tables on the 1228-metre Bionic Tower, which will stand as the highest tower in the world. It is designed to have 300 storeys. While the images, put up in the Foyers Gallery of the college, offer an insight into the masterly urban planning in Madrid, a separate section on the Bionic Tower shows all about Rajender’s working relationship with architects Javier Pioz and Rosa Cervera, handling the tower project. Rajender, the first South Asian who got to work on this project, says, “I had never thought a simple college exercise will prove so fruitful for me. In fact, I had casually sent my portfolio to them. They were impressed with my work and called me instantly to work with them on the Bionic Tower project. It was a dream come true for me.” Picturing Spain was not on the agenda of Rajender, who spent almost 24 weeks on the job in Madrid. It was only later, during the period of rest and relaxation, that he thought of capturing some of the memorable spaces in Spain’s landscape. These include Cuenca in Spain, the last destination of master painter Picasso, the bear sculpture, which is the symbol of municipal corporations in Spain, the massive book sculpture, executed with lakhs of books hanging artistically from the walls of a city building, and the world-famous Madrid stadium, that hosts bull fights. On the professional front, Rajender worked on 3-D views, animation and web designing for the Bionic Tower project, on which he later wrote an article for the magazine “Architecture and Design”. On March 22, the budding architect plans to host a presentation on the Bionic Tower, lest his experience in Spain goes a waste. “I have many audio-visual presentations on the project. It will be of interest to the region. After all, the Bionic Tower will be the highest in the world,” he says. |
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Hamara School BLUE Bird High School, Panchkula, was established in Chandigarh in 1966. Later, the school opened its branch at Panchkula in 1989. Since then the institution has come a long way to attain excellence under the guidance and supervision of the Principal, Mrs Bhatnagar. The school has a playroom enriched with the latest toys, indoor games and music system. The institution is equipped with trained and qualified staff. The multimedia room has the latest versions of the computer with Internet facilities with audio-visual C-Ds for all classes. The highly qualified sincere and devoted staff of the school gives priority for development of learning skills and adopting successful innovative and motivating techniques. The house system of the school provides the platform for organising various competitions like debate, music, dance, drawing, quiz etc. The school also organised educational trips that provide knowledge of science, art and other social fields. The students are taken on regular excursions to favourite spots to develop activities towards socially useful and productive work. Excursions to the museums, airport, railway station, post offices, traffic parks, hospitals, press and fun parks are a few of the favourite spots. The school imparts the quality education involving the parents so that the students are guided smoothly through their problems. Along with academics, the school functions are a necessary part of
education. The school celebrates the annual function with great zeal and fervour. Children are inculcated with the spirit of patriotism with the celebration of national festivals. All religious festivals are celebrated with equal importance, cultivating feelings of secularism. The school boasts of scoring 100 per cent results in the CBSE secondary school examinations. The school is giving special attention to the poor students and is not charging any fee for their education. The school has 17 students of Ashiana Orphanage whose fee and uniform are provided free of charge. The school provides excellent facilities in basketball, cricket, kho-kho, badminton and roller-skating. The school skating rink is as per international dimensions and is the only one of its kind in the entire Haryana. The school rink has a floor of Kota stone and has a provision of lights from 6 poles and each pole has 5 bulbs. It is equipped with a stereo-system and two-step sitting arrangement with a well-furnished office. National-level skating matches have been held in the school skating rink. Recently students brought laurels by winning gold medals at Vishakapatnam in the National Games in December and in portugal. Teachers and students alike eagerly await the annual sports day. The annual cricket match, skating competitions and basketball tournaments are the major attractions. The school has tasted success in various inter-school cultural activities and competitions at the district state and national levels. Recently, Mr P.I. Sabu, Regional Officer, CBSE, Chandigarh, inaugurated a social science, arts and crafts exhibition in the premises. The students exhibit their wonderful imagination and talent through innumerable shows. |
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‘I believe in stress-free education’
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7-day remand for dacoity accused Panchkula, March 11 This is the second arrest in the dacoity case. Earlier, Balwinder, a resident of Chalon in Ropar district, was nabbed. According to police sources, the other five accused in the case are: Rakesh and Ravinder (Bhiwani) , Jaspal Bhatti (Mohali), Vijay (Muzaffarnagar) and Madhu (Baltana). The 40-year-old main accused Ravinder, had already undergone a 14-year jail term and was released from the Burail Jail in 1996. It may be recalled that cash, ornaments, mobile phones and valuables amounting to over Rs 8 lakh were looted from the house of Mr Manoj Nangia, an LPG dealer, on February 19 morning. A car, which was also taken away by the dacoits, was later found abandoned near the BEL factory. |
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4-day remand for inspector
Mohali, March 11 The prosecution stated that Harbans Singh had amassed a lot of wealth and property while he was posted as the reader of former DGP O.P. Sharma. The defence counsel however stated that has client had been falsely implicated and he had brought the property from bank loans.
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Uzbeks make sufiana impact Chandigarh, March 11 The presentation attained a Sufi tinge, as it was in the praise of God who is the central theme of most literary creations of Uzbek poets. Commencing the programme with a vocal presentation that drew on verses of Sufi poets from Uzbekistan, the troupe members went on to present a ghazal. In Uzbekistan, a ghazal is understood as a piece of music that offers tributes to God. Munojat Yulchieva, the vocalist after whom the ensemble is named, said: “We also have a vast repertory of Sufi poetry, written by celebrated poets of Uzbekistan. Most of our presentations are in Urdu, Turkish and Persian languages. Turkish dominates most of the pieces.” Among the vocal presentations were sequences based on the poetry of Uzbek poets — Faizuli (16th century), Ali Sher Nowan (15th century), Shah Babur and Fazli Mesherab. Soothing and spiritual, the songs were like the Indian sufiana qalaam. The difference, however, lay in the use of instruments. The ensemble used rabab extensively. Mukhamedov Shavkat, the rabab player, is the guru of Munojat who later founded the group. Other performers included Samadov Kudratulla on the doyra, Matanov Ikram on the surnay and kashnay (traditional instruments) and Rano Zoraboiva, a dancer. Among the two dance items, one was presented on instrumental music while the other was presented on vocal support. One of the performers said: “Our spiritual dance is like that of Mira Bai who used to write Sufi poetry in praise of lord Krishna.” Glad to be part of the festival being organised to promote tolerance and brotherhood, the Uzbeks will tour Lucknow, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar and Hyderabad. While Jaipur is famous for Manhaniars and Langas, Srinagar is rich with the Sufi music of Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Sanawaz. Among the five countries participating in the festival are Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Syria and Uzbekistan. From India, those participating in the festival are Wadalis and Barkat Sidhu from Punjab, Ustad Ghulam Sarnawaz from Jammu, Sindhi Sufi by Langas and Manganiars of Rajasthan and Qutbi Brothers from Delhi. |
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Sohan Qadri opens art college annual show Chandigarh, March 11 The exhibition, which will go on till March 15, was inaugurated by Sohan Qadri, the internationally famous artist, who is visiting India these days. Besides appreciating the works of students, Qadri, an alumnus of the art college, also talked about his favourite subject, “Symbol and beyond”. He had earlier delivered this lecture at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Sector 19. Comparing the artist with a sage, Qadri went on to describe his symbolism as an expression of creativity at a given point in time. He said the artist, like a saint, should seek the transcendental state beyond which formation of new images becomes possible. Throughout his talk, the painter asserted the need to transcend symbols instead of being arrested by them. He said, “An artist is the one who has a vision. He thinks and creates a world of his own. He perceives and forms symbols which are not related to his previous experiences. And while he does that, he should consciously avoid copy work. Also, it is important for an artist not to rely on his memory. That’s another trap, which kills originality. The attempt should be to create afresh.” Detesting those who are bound by themes and idioms, Qadri said art should be free of the fetters of time, space and symbols. “I believe in aesthetic sensibility and in the permanence of artistic hunger,” said Qadri, before inaugurating the exhibition which has been put up in almost every gallery of the college. While final year students occupied the gallery space, students of junior classes displayed their creations in classrooms as well as galleries in the main college building. |
Cricket fever grips city
WITH the media hype about the Indo-Pakistan cricket series, the local cricket buffs are gearing themselves upto watch cricket live. Though visitors to Pakistan from the city to watch cricket may not be many but all people are eagerly awaiting the exciting series being played nearly after 15 years. Suraj Theatre, Panchkula, has planned to show live One day International matches. The first ODI match on March 13, could be watched on the giant screen from 10 am onwards, while on March 16, the match will be shown 2 pm onwards, according to Mr Kamal Kapoor, Manager, Suraj Theatre. He said the rates of Rs 150, Rs 100 and Rs 60 had been fixed for balcony, upper and lower stalls. Pizza Hut is also planning to attract customers by introducing various schemes. According to Mr Pankaj Batra, Director, Marketing, the outlet will begin its best offers from March 13 till the completion of the series. These have been termed as per the cricket terminology. Like veggie pavilion (buy any medium pan pizza and get a second veg. medium open pizza free). Then there is medium pacer (with any medium pan pizza one can get a personal pan pizza for rupeee one) and double century: With personal pan pizza and one portion of garlic bread and one regular Pepsi. Mr Mukul Khanna, DGM, Marketing, Spice, said the company always launched marketing schemes always whenever India played a cricket series. He said by tomorrow, they would finalise the attractive offers for their customers. Fun Republic, Manimajra, will be putting various TV screens on its various floors so that customers could watch every minute of cricket. Similarly many hotels in the city have already prepared themselves to meet any demand from their cricket-loving customers. Then various television dealers were also eagerly awaiting cricket series as they expected their sales to pick up. People can watch matches on Ten Sports without paying extra charges to Siti cable. |
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STYLE
I SUMMER is the time to show off skin in a big
way. The temptation is all the more hard to resist with all those sleeveless, noodle-strapped or halter-neck tops or backless cholies just waiting to come out of
hibernation. This is the ideal season to sport teasing and enticing colourful tattoos that are a rage in the fashion world. Who can forget the pulse-raising effect of the tattoo of ‘Kanta laga’ girl Shefali that made several line up to get these sexy eye-catchers. Tattooing has come a long way from being a painful skin-damaging experience that left one ‘scarred’ for life to being an art form and a style statement sported by ramp models as well as college students or brides with equal elan. The whole range of temporary tattoos available now gives one the flexibility to match these with the outfit, mood and the trend. Painted ones or stick-ons, plain or the ones with sequins, crystals and beads... these virtual accessories are hot favourites among youngsters. Matched with Indian as well as Western ensemble these are patronised by the style divas. City women are going in for traditional designs like peacock, paisley in bright colours like orange and green and even match these with the embroidery or work on the dress. ‘‘It is not just a sticker as we take care to match it with the outfit’’, says Ramandeep, a beauty consultant. Trained tattoo artistes are engaged for laying intricate and creative patterns of different sizes and shapes. The cost of each work depends on the pattern and the amount of crystals, sequins or beads being used, she adds. However, a simple design can cost about Rs 250 to Rs 350 while an intricate one can set one back by almost Rs 1,000. “The tattoo motifs also offer a good option when I don’t feel like wearing jewellery, especially in the summer heat. Rings, bangle and necklace-shaped motifs look very trendy,” says Tanushi, a student. Apart from these navel tattoos in henna colour and speckled with glitter and crystals, accentuated by non-piercing navel clips add zing to the costume, be it Indian or Western. Navel clips are available in a wide variety like gemstone clips, dangles, yin-yangs, “captive bead” look-alikes etc. Crystal-studded tattoos in different geometrical and abstract designs in vivid hues light up the whole ensemble. “Crystals sparkle like diamonds and are affordable. These are sure shot head turners at formal dos. ‘‘I like the freedom to try out new designs, like I have this floral design in muted shades and it can just come off when I get bored with it’’, says Nima, a budding designer. According to Meenaxi from Ethos the Swarovski readymade transfer designs can be put on face, neck, arms or legs, while the Crystal Belly Jewels in aquamarine and clear crystal can be re-used and are hot favourites this season. ‘‘A special adhesive is used for sticking these. First of all the skin or the area where we are going to paint is cleansed and given a base polish. After this the work begins with special brushes and nibs to sketch the intricate details. A design can take from half an hour to three hours to be completed. After this it is dried with a special dryer so that it stays for two to three days,” says Harveen of Cleopatra salon, Sector 8. For a different and chic look try these on eyes especially with shimmery eye make-up, suggests Harveen. ‘‘The colours used for these tattoos are skin friendly as they are dermatologically tested. Also these tattoo marks are just temporary which last up to just about five days — just the time one could get bored with it’’, says Anita Kaushal, beauty manager, VLCC. Mehndi, that became a fad all over the world with the likes of Madonna, Demi Moore, Naomi Campbell and Drew Barrymore wearing it, too, has taken a new avatar in the form of mehndi tattoos that are fast becoming a red-hot fashion trend. ‘‘Now it is not just hands and feet that are adorned, but also the arms, neck, back and navel,” says Ramesh, a city-based mehndi artist. The magic is no longer confined to just women as macho guys, too, have jumped into the race to adorn their bodies with the paste. Highlighted with elaborate designs like the soaring eagle, flames, barbed wires and even snakes, it is popularly believed that it adds to the macho image most men are fond of flaunting. The traditional reddish-brown colour has been enhanced by a variety of shades (contrasts of black, red and maroon) and glitters (highlights of gold, silver or copper). Best of all, these are no longer reserved for weddings only as these can be worn to a Valentine’s Day bash, a formal party or even an evening at the disco. |
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Blending gharanas with subtlety Evolving her own signature style in Hindustani vocal music, gharanas hold little significance for her. “The recent trend in music shows that individualism is creeping in,” she says. “Gharanas thrived when there was little mobility for singers. As no musician lives in isolation, influences from various quarters are inevitable,” she adds. Her background in musical training supports her statement. Starting with Prof Tara Singh of Gwalior gharana under whom she learnt music for 12 years, she mastered the “taan”of Indore gharana under Dr Ajit Singh Paintal. She moved onto Sahaswan School of Music under the tutelage of Pandit Ganesh Prasad Sharma, who taught her the systematic way of executing a raga. As a performing artiste and academician (she teaches vocal music at punjabi University, Patiala), Nivedita’s strength lies in her ability to understand tradition and re - interpret it in her own style. Her search for her own roots has led her to write a book, “Sociology of Hindustani Music,” which is due to be published soon. In tonight’s concert, she started her performance with the evergreen raga, “Marubihag”, that brought out the discipline over her vocal chords and her sensitivity in the handling of the raga. She sang two compositions in this raga “Raisa ho na janoon”, a Vilamvit Khayal set to Ektaal, followed by Pandit Ganesh Prasad Sharma’s Drut bandish, “Jiya lage naunke bina” set to Teen Taal. Moving on to a Khayal bandish, “Aaj anand mukh” in Jhaptaal, she acquainted the audience with lesser known raga called “Khokhar” which was followed by a tarana, “Dil dir daani ta daani”. She concluded her recital with a shabad, “Ram sion kar preet”. She was accompanied by Jaidev on tabla and Neeraj Gandhi on harmonium. |
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Anti-perspirants do not cause cancer, say docs ANTIPERSPIRANTS do not cause cancer and soaps are not bad for your skin. If someone has advised you against the use of these products in the summers, just do not believe him. Doctors and dermatologists insist that such assertions are nothing but myths. “Every year a large number of beauticians and make-up artists come out with suggestions to beat the heat. Some of them caution you against the use of antiperspirants,” says a doctor with the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). “They even refer to articles on the Internet to support their contentions. But there is no meat in their submissions. There is no correlation between antiperspirants and cancer”. As far as soaps are concerned, majority of the ones available in the market are formulated to be milder. They also contain moisturisers that prevent the skin from drying out. Another thing. Though drinking a lot of water is recommended in the summers to prevent dehydration and other problems, it does not lead to “beautiful skin”. The doctors also warn you against making attempts to “wash acne and pimples away”. “Vigorous scrubbing will only lead to an increase in oil production,” the doctor says. “In the end it will only aggravate the condition”. Also, do not believe people who tell you that over-exposure to sun will clear up blemishes. “Sun will temporarily dry out pimples, no doubt about it. But it can lead to wrinkles also. Moreover, interference with healthy skin cells can cause a worse breakout after a couple of days,” the doctor insists. The story does not end here. It is wrong to suggest that people need not apply sunscreen on cloudy days. “The sun's ultraviolet rays can penetrate clouds. As such they can be harmful for the skin”. It is also a myth that natural ingredients cannot cause allergies. “You can be allergic to both natural and chemical ingredients. That is why you should use the products with caution,” beauty consultant Neeru Sidhu adds. She also asserts that it is not essential to use a toner in summers unless you have a very oily skin. “However, you can use it to freshen up your tired face”. In any case, you should start the day with a good detoxifying cleanser. You should also use a gentle exfoliant daily to get rid of the flakes and the dulling dry cells. Last thing. You can eat as much chocolate as you like without the fear of acne breaking out. “No single food is known to cause breakouts. Study your eating habits. If you find a correlation between a particular food and acne, quit eating the stuff. |
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Sudershan Walia’s album released “BHIJE
Mausan”, a collection of ghazals by well-known poet Ms Sudershan Walia, was released by Kidar Abadi Trust at Punjab Kala Bhavan in Sector 16, here on Wednesday. After lighting of the traditional lamp by Mr Amrik Singh Pooni, former Chief Secretary, Punjab, the president of the trust, Mr Kidar Nath Kidar, honoured the writer with a shawl and certificate of merit. The function started with the singing of Sudershan Walia’s ghazals by Prabhjot Singh Bali, an eminent singer. Papers on the book were read by ghazal writers Ram Arash and “Naaz” Bharti from Malerkotla. In his presidential address noted poet Dr Surjit Pattar specially chose Sudershan Walia’s opening couplet for special praise and said that she is one of the leading poeteses in this region. Others who recited poems on this occasion included Joginder Singh Rankh, Manjit Indira, Sardar Panchi, Mohinder Deep Grewal, Gurdial Singh Araf, Poonam, Sukhminder Amrit, R S Fraz, Gurcharan Singh Boparai, B D Kalia and Kidar Nath Kidar.
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OOBE out with men’s wear collection OOBE (Out of Body Experience), the trendy fashion brand for women’s ready-to-wear garments, announced its entry in the men’s wear segment with the launch of its Men’s Wear Collection. OOBE also introduced its new Spring-Summer 2004 Collection. Ever since its introduction in 2000 when there was no distinct retail fashion brand in women’s casual wear, OOBE has been steadily strengthening its position in this segment. But after receiving continuous requests from customers and trade for a men’s wear range, OOBE has decided to start this year’s first season with men’s wear also. Targeted at the young, energetic adult males, the Men’s Wear Collection is sporty with an urban edge. Clothes in luxurious materials, masterful cuts and carefully studied volumes resulting in elegant and functional garments, are perfect for both work and leisure. Fabrics used are stretch cotton, linen, washed poplins, with flourishing graphic prints, stripes and floral themes, have diagonal cuts with their fitted forms. The prices for the Men’s Wear Collection range between Rs. 550 and Rs 750. The brand, which has won the “Western Women’s Wear Brand of the Year 2001-02” award at CMAI’s Apex Awards 2003 and has thrice been nominated as the “Most Admired Western Wear Brand of the Year” for the Images Fashion Awards — IFA from the year 2000-2002, is available at Ebony and Pantaloon stores in the city. At the launch of the men’s range, Mr Nilesh Mehta, Managing Director, also announced the launch of Spring-Summer Collection of 2004. From collars with fastenings to prints and embellishments accentuating the interplay of styles and colours, the new OOBE Spring-Summer 2004 Collection has it all and more. The summer lines are a vision of vibrant colours and ornamentation. The price range of the Women’s Wear Collection is between Rs 335 and Rs 995.
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As the new academic session is round the corner, I would like that the emphasis should be laid on stress-free studies. Teacher-student relationship should be more open and approachable. Studies should be practical and meaningful and not just cramming and pouring on the examination answersheets. Stress on moral values and cultural activities and sports in normal educational system will enhance the values of relationships, which are fading fast from our lives. In a nutshell, teaching should be enjoyable and meaningful to each and every child so that his\her personality blooms fully under the guidance of their teachers.
NUANCES of various gharanas, blended together and executed with harmony, adds up to Dr Nivedita Singh’s music. Her recital on the occasion of the monthly Baithak of the Pracheen Kala Kendra here tonight, was a delightful experience as she unfolded the ragas with a subtle delicacy of notes and mastery over “taans” and “layakari”.