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Conference on disasters Chandigarh, March 24 The conference will assess the risks and vulnerabilities associated with various disasters; enable institution building for efficient and effective administration to deal with natural disasters; help understand the process of planning and coordination activities associated with preparing for and managing disasters and encourage people’s participation in the post-rehabilitation period. The presentations
will focus on key segments of natural disasters — exposure and
vulnerability; preparedness, mitigation and management of natural
disasters; coping with natural disasters and crises; capacity building
for mitigation; role of NGOs and urban earthquakes. |
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Campus notes Chandigarh, March 24 Contesting as an Independent, Mr
Sharma says, “Employees constitute almost 80 per cent of the population
of the city and yet, they miserably fail to be heard on any platform.
They are forced to suffer exploitation at the hands of the employers.”
Having represented the non-teaching employees as convener, Mr Sharma
claimed that he understood problems of the students better since his
association with Panjab University was almost four decades old. “I have
been to the slums in the city and heard the problem posed by the public
on account of fee in parking lots. If elected, I would strive for
implementation of the minimum wages to all contractual employees, press
for framing of proper promotion policies for regular employees and make
the city a beautiful place to be in,” he said. Seminar organised:
“The
non-government organisations need to conduct their operations not just
with passion alone but in a professional manner, spending money
scientifically and cost-effectively.” This was stated by Dr Satnam
Singh, head of the regional Centre of Public Health, Panjab University.
He chaired the seminar on “Networking of NGOs in Chandigarh and Punjab”,
organised at Panjab University, here today. Guriqbal Singh and Amit
Khanna, students of a management institute, presented a collaborative
framework that an NGO can follow for functioning. The students also
introduced a demand-based approach rather than supply-based initiatives
currently being undertaken by the various income generation programmes.
Twenty-five NGOs participated in the seminar. They expressed concern
over the ever-increasing gap between the training programme being
provided to beneficiaries and the marketability of their skills and
products. |
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From College Chandigarh, March 24 Ashutosh
Awasthi and Ruchita Butail were declared the gentleman and lady of the
year. Meenakshi Suri was awarded most dedicated and best all rounder of
the year. Mr. R.S. Gujral, Home-cum-Secretary, Tourism, was the guest of
honour. The Principal, Mr Navin Kumar Nanchahal, highlighted the
achievements of the institute during the year. Mr Nanchahal informed
that in academics the students had shown remarkable performance and the
pass percentage was over 90 per cent for all three years. Gaurav Bajaj,
Meenakshi Suri and Ishroop Kaur were awarded cash prizes and
certificates in culinary art by Everest Masala. He said the institute
had achieved the main objective of providing100 per cent placement to
students last year and he was sure that this year also all the students
of the Institute would be absorbed in the hospitality industry. The
main institutions which had employed students of the Institute included
Oberoi Group of Hotel, McDonald, Taj Group of Hotel and Majestic Plaza.
The students of the institute organised a blood donation camp, he
said. The Adviser released the annual magazine “Gourmet’s Affair 2004”
and launched the website of the institute “www.ihmchandigarh.org”. A
cultural extravaganza by the students also marked the occasion.
DAV
College function The DAV College, Sector 10, will honour its star
students for the year 2003-04 session at the prize-giving function of
the college to be held on March 26 at the college auditorium. Besides
honouring students who have excelled in various fields, the college
authorities will also honour former students of its college on the
occasion. These include Dr Rajan Saxena, Professor of Surgical
Gastroenterology at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical
Sciences, Lucknow, Capt Mohan Bir Singh (retd), owner of a chain of
restaurants, Mr Harjinder Singh, a member of the Indian junior
football team in 1973, and cricketer Dinesh Mongia. The college will
honour the parents of Lt Anil Yadav, a recipient of the Sena Medal. He
graduated from this college in 1992 and later joined the Army. |
A powerful play
with poignant end Chandigarh, March 24 In the city some time ago for a production titled, “The Divine
Child”, which had evoked controversy, the theatre group was hopeful of a
better response this time. Today’s play, “The Chairs”, was interesting
and contemporary. Under the direction of Chris Simion, actors Gabriel
Fatu, Alexander Pop and Adriana Trandafir portrayed a powerful script
strongly. The play was about an old couple living alone in a house built
in the middle of an island. To fight their loneliness spurred by a life
full of failures and humiliations, the couple organises a big reception
in which they invite imaginary guests. The guest list is diverse and
features personalities of different status, including the emperor
himself. However, at another level, the increasing number of empty
chairs signifies the absence of the crowd, visible only to the couple.
The couple is as unreal as the crowd, which embodies emptiness and is
made powerful by its very absence. When the stage is filled with empty
chairs to the point where the couple is trapped, as in an immobile
shipwreck, the narrator appears. For them it is the sign if deliverance
as they can finally commit suicide in peace since they have passed on to
the narrator the message meant to save humanity. They kill themselves
shouting, “Long live the emperor.” The play ends on a poignant note.
The narrator, facing the chairs, opens his mouth to speak but only
guttural sounds come out of his mouth. The narrator is deaf and dumb. |
Home Decor Home
is where the heart is... and who knows it
better than Mr Ajay Johl. Through and through a city-bred person, his
yearning for the roots reflects in his dream house, reminiscent of the
rustic houses of yore. Simple in structural design, facade and
completely out of sync with today’s monotonous double-height
structures with slanting roofs, yet stands out with its rustic
interiors and aspect. This single- storey house has a covered area of
1600 square feet with large airy rooms, and has been constructed in 11
months stat (from the laying of foundation to finally moving in).
Displaying old-world Punjabi charm in each nook and corner, the house
has been constructed at a cost of Rs 5.5 lakh. How, you may ask.
Well for one, instead of cement, clay has been used for the bonding
while laying the bricks to raise the walls. The interior walls have no
fancy paints or finishes, as clay (peeli mitti) has been used for
plastering the walls. Emphasis has been on simplicity, even in the
grills on windows which are plain bars affixed in the wood. Even the
design of the windows overlooking the two front gardens, one on each
side of the driveway, is such that it has helped cut costs of the
wall. There are no expensive tiles in the bathroom, except in the
bathing area. The house is a must see for all, as the structure and
simple yet effective cost-cutting methods can teach a thing or two to
those constructing their houses, and architects for recommending these
to their clients. Aptly named “Foliage”, the house emerges from behind
the greens planted on both sides of the long-metalled driveway. Going
for a piece on home designing and interiors can actually put you back
by looking at the aspect of the house, plastered unevenly and painted
in the earth yellow hue. Once at the main door, we are taken in by the
normal bell for a call bell and porch created with an intricate frame
covered with climbers, and are reassured that this is just a glimpse
of a perfect home. Inside the house that the home created by Ajay
Johl himself strikes you with its simple design. An architect,
landscape designer and golf course designer by profession, Johl has
used all his ingenuity with grace and elan in the house. There are no
perfectly polished marble floorings where you can see your face, or
the spotless white roofs with PoP work. The floors and ceiling are
made of machine-baked polished bricks. The electric fittings too are
very inexpensive, from wooden strips holding the wires outside,
instead of the internal wiring, to switches, black ones that your
grandparents will remember from their times, and simple bulbs hanging
aesthetically from the ceiling. The spaces are visually interacting.
It is through columns that the drawing room is separated from the
dining area, which in fact is an extension of the open kitchen. These
columns also help break the monotony of the room. If the tapestry used
in the living room is raw silk, the jute carpet in the brick floor or
the simple blue drapes hanging gracefully from the windows, the dining
area and chairs in the kitchen table are simple yet stylish. The
bedrooms are large with huge windows, and the furniture minimal. Says
Mr Johl, “I always wanted to create a house which was in sync with the
climate of the place and the materials available. It is now just been
appreciated, but the cost-effective measures taken by us are
exemplary.” TNS |
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Morning
Chatter
Crystal ball gazing
These are some of the “issues” which take up our mind space one time or the other. Since everyone is not blessed with conflict-resolution skills, the entire breed of astrologers, soothsayers, mendicants, tarot card readers, face readers and cartomancy experts are sought out in the hope of gaining insight into what tomorrow holds for us. A Delhi-based tarot card reader, who was in the city recently, was deluged with phone calls requesting ‘exclusive’ time slots. Given her ESP skills, she gauged that the city had a desperate need to first know what was happening in others’ lives. They were, however, extremely secretive and cagey about what they wanted to disclose about themselves. In fact, they feared that if they were spotted going to a card reader, the gossip mill would start working overtime as their friends would start speculating on the nature of the problem. Though the city does boast of its share of tarot card readers, a general attitude prevails that “anyone from outside, preferably Delhi, Mumbai or overseas has to be better.” However, Gayatri MM Singh, popular cartomancy expert (predictions made through playing cards), says, “The desire to know what lies ahead is what gets people to us.” Interestingly, the bulk of her clientele comprises young high school and college students. For a couple of hundred rupees for a sitting, the experience with the occult and the mysterious is something many try out. Many go on to become regular patrons who continue coming much after the problem has ceased to bother them. Clearly, “prediction experts” are filling in for regular counselors. If earlier there was the joint family to ensure the presence of someone to talk to, unburden one’s feelings and seek advice, today it is this genre of sensitive and interested futurologists who connect to troubled souls, calming them, offering temporary respite and in rare cases actually helping prepare them for an impending crisis. Rare because many know that the peep they offer into the future is based on certain configurations and more importantly are a combination of human psychology, face reading, body language and a smart maneuvering which gets the client to open up and divulge details making the session more of a gentle and compassionate conversation piece than a pure astrological prediction. Minus the string of ‘upayas’, which
conventional astrologers tend to come up with, these tarot card readers
and others of their ilk then tend to become more of friendly counselors
who are unfailingly there to hear you out and pull you out of your lows
— at a small price, of course! |
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No takers for
art in Chandigarh Whether
for lack of awareness among people or their
indifferent attitude towards arts, the artists of this city are a
demoralised lot. The creativity is there, but the lack of buyers and art
lovers is what is breaking the heart of the creative community. The
situation is forcing many artists to seek their “bread and butter,”
rather “easel and colour,” in other metropolises. At the same time, art
galleries are being forced to either close down or diversify into
related activities. The city has already witnessed the closure of a
couple art galleries, including Tejee’s Studio 17, one of the pioneers
of the concept in the city. “Our family had started Studio 17 in the
early 60s, a time when the concept of art galleries was new to the
city,” say Mr Tejbans Singh and Ms Neena Johar, who now runs a digital
studio in place of the art gallery. An attempt to revive the gallery
two years ago failed. “We tried to revive the gallery, but after running
it for six months we realised it was a futile exercise. Even after so
many years, people are still not aware of art. They would rather buy
expensive crystal than a painting” says Ms Johar. “Art does not sell in
the city,” says Ms Neeru Suri, who runs Art Folio, a leading art gallery
in the city. “Had we depended only on selling paintings, we would not
have been able to survive for so long. To combat the financial problems
we diversified into allied activities like music and painting classes
and summer workshops,” she said, adding that they are also going in for
spoken English and English language teaching classes. While this
attitude of the residents is forcing the artist community to go
elsewhere to exhibit their work, those who remain here are forced to
limit themselves to commercial art to cater to the taste of the people
here. “People are more than happy with print work. Even those who go for
a real painting, would rather go for calendar art than abstracts or
other creative forms. The price tag should fall between Rs 5,000 and Rs
20,000” says Viren Tanwar, a world-renowned artist who admits to have
sold only about six works to private collectors in the city. Another
damper is prospective buyers bargaining for creative works. “When we
exhibit our works here, people actually haggle over the price, which is
unknown in places like Delhi and Mumbai. But the same set of people
would go to Delhi and buy paintings from there as it then becomes a
status symbol,” says Nirmala Singh, another city-based artist. “It’s
not that our artists are not producing good work. When we go to places
like Delhi or Kolkata, we manage to sell our works,” says Madan Lal, a
senior artist and general secretary of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi.
“However, if one has the right contacts, one can still sell works to
visiting NRIs,” he adds. As a corrective measure, the akademi is
planning a series of workshops and lectures on art appreciation for the
general public. “We plan to create awareness among people and also teach
them the difference between good and bad work through our series of
workshops and lectures,” says the chairman of the akademi. |
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Sectors 10 and 11 are no fun, and Sector 17 is no longer cool. It’s Sector 35 that is hot with teeny-boppers. The geri route has changed. It is in the southern sectors where the real action is now. For the new generation, the rules set by Gen X are passe. Morning hours are for gym, college or dad’s office, besides coaching classes for professional courses, while evenings are for fun. With Sector 17 turning into a family scene by the evening, and Sectors 34 and 35 being the hub of tuition and coaching activity, the teenagers have decided to have a new geri route. “The geri begins from Sector 34 and reaches Sector 35 where the real action is. Have a cuppa mocha or cold frappe as you take in the scene. Later, you zip to Sector 36 and then to Sector 17 for a small round,” says Kehkashan Sharma, a student at Panjab University. Ritesh Gupta, preparing for the Civil Services, says the reason for changing the geri route has been the presence of the police there. Also the crowd is better here because of several coaching centres. Coffee lounges and bars also make Sector 35 a hot spot. If Hot Millions or the bylanes of Panjab University were the perfect dating places earlier, the best places for a date now are coffee bars in Sector 35. The swanky interiors and loud music make them a perfect place to be spotted at. For those who still prefer gardens for a date, Fragrance Garden is a good getaway, says Karandeep Singh. With Sector 35 offering several cuisines like
Mexican, Thai, Continental, Italian, South Indian and Mughlai, it is
also perfect for “pet pooja” after you have tried your luck with the
other Puja on this new geri route! TNS |
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Top women
shooters in city Top-ranked women shooters of the country, Suma Shirur
and Deepali Deshpande who recently earned quota place for the Athens
Olympics, are in the city to take part in the inter-railway shooting
championship to be held in Mohali. Suma from Mumbai who created a world
record when she shot 400 out of 400 in the 10-metre air rifle final in
the Asian shooting championship, said the gold medal earned her a berth
for Athens. Suma is the second shooter after Anjali Bhagwat to excel in
the world shooting meet. She said in the 2004 Olympics, a total of
eight shooters had qualified with five in air rifle and three in clay
pigeon. Before the Athens Olympics, she would be taking part in the
pre-Olympics meet to be held in Athens in April where participants would
vie with one another. A world cup shooting meet would also be held in
Italy in June. She said she practised for over four hours at her own
range. Yoga had helped her to develop concentration. Suma said after
India’s magnificent performance in the Asian championship in Malaysia,
where top shooters of China and Korea had also taken part, India was now
a force to reckon with. Deepali Deshpande who won a silver medal in the
Asian championship said in the Athens Olympics, she would take part in
position events, including, kneeling, standing and floor. She said she
would have the option of training under a world renowned air rifle coach
from Kazakastan who had been hired by the Army. They would be training
under him at Mhow. Deepali said these five months prior to the Athens
Olympics were crucial and hoped for a good performance. Both are
representing Western Railways in the inter-railway meet to be held at
the Markfed shooting range. |
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Insect sting allergies up, but avoidable With the onset of summer, the cases of bee and wasp sting allergies are on the rise in the city. Doctors say everyday 5 or 10 residents turn up in government dispensaries and private clinics all over the city with allergic reactions. A bee or wasp sting can cause dizziness and headache, even abdominal cramps, shock and nausea. Though a sting usually results in swelling that disappears after a few hours in most of the people, it can also cause allergic reactions in some. As bees and wasps get more active in summer, doctors insist that you should take precaution before leaving your residence. Skin specialist Dr Malika Sachdev says difficulty in breathing is one of the first signs of allergy. Swelling may also occur in an area other than where the sting has occurred. She adds that you should immediately consult a physician in case of allergic reaction. “In some cases, antibiotics and steroids are administered to the patients,” she asserts. Otherwise, remove the stinger, if it is in the skin, by gently scraping the surface. You can also take it out with a clean pointed needle after sterilising it. No matter what, you should not squeeze the area as your action may inject more venom into the skin. You should also liberally wash the area with soap and water before applying an antiseptic anti-inflammatory cream. You should further avoid walking barefoot through vegetation. Children should be warned against swatting bees with bare hands. If you are passing through an area with bees and wasps all around, move slowly and steadily. You can also apply mosquito repellent if there is a beehive in the vicinity. As far as possible, avoid wearing very bright clothes
and strong perfumes as these can attract the insects. Remain calm if an
insect gets into your moving car. Safely pull the car off the road
before opening a window or door for allowing it to escape. OC |
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WHAT
will happen tomorrow? Will the Rs 1-crore deal with my European
associate come through? Is my wife having an affair? What if my son’s
surgery is not successful? When will my boy friend pop the question?