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Eyebrows raised at NRI-sponsored seats Chandigarh, March 28 Achieved by creating additional seats for the NRI-sponsored candidates and implementing an increase in fee and funds to the tune of 10 per cent, as pointed out in the budget speech of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof K.N. Pathak, the source of the "extra earnings" snowballed into a heated discussion. The commercialisation of education brought about by an increase in the number of NRI seats and imposing an annual fee hike came under fire. Members also expressed concern over the colleges and the university's haste to start new courses and subsequently close when those prove worthless. Even as Prof Pathak tried to defend the income-generation spree, and the introduction of self-financing courses Senators were given a chance to express their views on the subject. Mr Satya Pal Dang suggested the abolition of quotas while Mr S.S. Kumar was critical of the government withdrawing its support to education. Terming students as the most ignored category, Mr Ashok Goyal pointed out that merit was being given a go-by as in University Business School over half the seats were NRI-sponsored and only one-thirds were for the open category. Stating that talking about money amounted to talking business, Mr Dhirinder Tayal said the university must draft a vision statement and accordingly, devise a formula for helping poor meritorious students. Mr G.K. Chatrath opined that the university should strengthen existing courses instead of starting new ones while Mr Charanjit Chawla rejected the trend of starting self-financing courses to raise money. Principal Tarsem Bahiya favoured a deferential fee structure which would enable the university to give concessions to those in need. He also favoured the pursuing of research focussed on local needs which would benefit society and industry and, in turn, bring more lucrative projects for departments. Another issue which generated a lot of heat at the meeting was the pension issue hanging fire for long. Prof S.P. Gautam said teachers must unitedly represent for the cause to make some headway. Dr Harjinder Singh Laltoo said the pension scheme was like a train without wheels. |
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School building inaugurated Chandigarh, March 28 He was
addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a new building of St Mary’s School in Sector 46 here. The bishop, while quoting Swami Vivekananda and Nani Palkivala, said it needed to be seen whether school education was still a medium for character-making and transmitting civilization from one generation to another. Mr Justice N.K. Sud of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who inaugurated the school building, said being literate was different from being educated. It was important to see the conduct of an individual at home and at workplace, he stressed. Mr John V. George, ADGP, Haryana, said the parents played an important role in inculcating values in their children. Expressing concern over the cases of mass copying during board examinations in Haryana and Punjab, he said it reflected on the state of education. The outgoing Member of Parliament, Mr Pawan Bansal, also spoke on the occasion. A spokesman for the school said the institution, started in 1989 by the Orthodox Syrian Church Society, provided free education to many needy students. There were 18 schools under the Delhi Diocesan Education Board, he said, adding that it was the only school run by Christians from Kerala in the city. |
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Cambridge certificates for 125 students Chandigarh, March 28 Every year, over 60,000 persons in 50 countries take the BEC tests of Cambridge University-ESOL that assess the language of students and professionals who are learning English as a second or foreign language. |
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40 take part in
drawing contest Mohali, March 28 BMD School function:
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Seminar on IT Chandigarh, March 28 The seminar was attended by principals of various colleges, representatives of IT companies and at least 200 students of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology.
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Foreign lands attract tourists Tour operators in the city say that a majority of residents are heading for the exotic locales in the South-East Asia or five star retreats in Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan. Himachal Pradesh or Uttaranchal do not seem to be high on their priority list. Adds Mr Varinder Singh, who deals with the foreign-bound tourists: "Other than the cruise on Singapore- Langkawi- Port Klang circuit, the hottest destinations for vacation on foreign shores are Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Singapore. Earlier the most popular foreign destinations were Europe, US, Australia and New Zealand, but because of the tax exemptions being offered by the UAE, Malaysia and Singapore governments, these have become the favourite destinations this year." So, while the minimum package for Goa by air (and five-star accommodation for four nights and five days) costs anywhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 24,000 per person, a Malaysian sojourn with two nights in Kuala Lumpur and two in Genting would cost Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000. A three-night four-day trip to Dubai would cost Rs 22,000 per person. Similarly, a Sri Lankan Airways tour package for Singapore-Bangkok and Colombo would cost Rs 25,700 per person, while a tour to Kerala works out to Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per person. "Foreign travel is no longer the prerogative of the rich and famous — now anyone having a budget of Rs 50,000 for a couple can go abroad," says a representative at Ekido Holiday Tours.
TNS
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Morning Chatter The same jokes about how girls were wooed from the convent across, the same anecdotes about the way teachers were hoodwinked and the same catching up on who is where and doing what. The enactment of these conversations among “boys” belonging to the same alma mater is not the only thing that irks their other halves. It is the incongruity of seeing men past their prime — some with pot bellies and receding hair lines — behaving as if they were lovelorn teenagers, saying, behaving and doing things they normally don’t. The silly guffawing, smirking, giggling (yes, men can have this typically female affliction) and gossiping erases all possibility of sane conversation or behaviour at old boys’ congregations. Is it any wonder that most such dos are stag affairs, with the girl friends and wives studiously staying away. Women who do brave these bashes are often found wearing common expressions of boredom and disgust, marginalised from all that goes on in the name of “catching up”. According to Renee, wife of a city Sanawarian, “It is difficult to plaster a smile at a joke I have heard at least 100 times. Sometimes I manage a laugh, not at the contents of the joke but at seeing my otherwise humourless husband in the midst of a side-splitting laughter attack. However, one thing the wives agree upon is the huge amount of bonding and brotherhood that the old boys network provides. It is the kind of comfort which comes from a long association based on mutual trust and confidence. Even those who did not get along in college or were not on back-slapping terms can now, after all these years, forge a bond based on just the fact that they hail from the same institution. The sense of belonging and pride which binds them together is incredible. Whether it is the Nabhaites, St Johnians or the Stephanians, a lot of effort goes behind the scenes in maintaining addresses, keeping track of who is where, organising get-togethers with little institutional support, done as they are on an individual level, with volunteers pitching in to go that extra yard. There are side benefits like being able to network with people who are now positioned in places of power and authority. No amount of “sifarish” can outdo the “Kamaal” which a reference to the old school can bring. Just asking an officer’s secretary to tell “saab” that an old boy wants to meet him can assure him of a one-to-one meeting, never mind if the person is 20 years his junior! The affability and instant rapport that one can establish is something that is unique to the brotherhood feeling which the old boys have for each other. Miraculous stories abound in cases where funds have been generated, people helped, projects initiated and teachers rehabilitated. While one is at it, it is worth researching as to what is it with the old women’s network and what keeps them from developing their association into just as much of a potent and powerful entity.
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Beauty creates art As a model she had her share of glamour and limelight but she left all this happily for almost 15 years to give total attention to her husband and son (to whom she gives the credit for her success today). But all this while she did not let her creative self rust and kept the fire burning inside. This is what gave her inspiration to follow her passion for painting. Brushes, canvas and colours are the media which she uses to satisfy her creative urge. Glamour is an important part of her personality as well as work as Bollywood stars and subjects inspire her a lot. In fact this is what brought her to the city. She was here to meet Yash Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan, the two men who inspire her a lot. If it was Helen of Troy whose face launched a thousand ships then for her it is Shah Rukh’s face that has become the inspiration for a number of paintings. She was in town to plan an exhibition with him as the central character. “Shah Rukh is the most down to earth star. He does not thrust his stardom on other people. My admiration for him is not because he is a good actor but because he has the sincerity to give his 100 per cent to whatever he does whether it is being a good husband, good father, artist or a good human being. Apart from this he is witty, sensitive and mature”. That is the reason why he is the only male figure painted by Anjana who usually paints only female characters. He has myriad shades like the colours of a rainbow. So his paintings too will be in water colours oil paints and sketches as using one media for him would be limiting his personality. An exhibition of her paintings on Shah Rukh Khan will be held at India Habitat Centre in Delhi in August. Yash Chopra, her other muse, she says is exceptional as “he has made some of the best romantic films and I am a great admirer of his ability to depict the emotion of love with sensitivity and depth. His portrayal of female protagonists is another high of his technique of film-making. Be it “Daag”, “Silsila” or “Chandni” the female characters have a very strong presence in his films. The exhibition that I am planning to hold will capture the essence of Yash Chopra’s heroines. The exhibition will be held in November when Yash Chopra’s film(that is being shot near Chandigarh) will be released”. She has painted some of the most beautiful faces in Bollywood from Devika Rani to Aishwarya Rai presenting the changing face of women in Indian cinema. Her women are a blend of East and West and she captures the feelings through eyes ‘‘My paintings may not be rich in details but are rich in essence’’. Striking eyes set her paintings apart and bring her subjects alive. She has been holding exhibitions since 1989 and has held as many as 30 exhibitions in India and abroad so far. Apart from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Shimla and Chandigarh, she has held exhibitions in Dubai, Bangkok, and London. Not the one to limit herself she is also writing her biography. “I have inherited love for writing from my grandfather Dev Raj Sood, who was Joint Editor of The Tribune in 60s’’. She herself has been writing for several newspapers and magazines. She is also working in ‘Page 3’, a film by Madhur Bhandarkar where she is playing an artist. She is particularly impressed by crossover cinema,especially directors like Mira Nayar, Gurinder Chadha, Madhur, etc “as these are the people who portray multi- dimensional characters that are very human”. So what makes her put her fingers in so many pies and succeed. “Destiny and hardwork go hand in hand so do whatever you do with sincerity and happiness and success will be yours”. Sound advice! |
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Youngsters go bonkers over Bollywood stars Bollywood mania continues to grip city youngsters. Though Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Priety Zinta and others have been in the city for quite some time, the youngsters are still struggling to catch a glimpse of them. Excited youngsters have been rushing to a Sector 10 hotel to see them. Go to the hotel in the morning or in the evening and you will find 30 or 50 youngsters, requesting the security to let them in. Among them are college students Rubal and Preeti. They have been making rounds of the hotel for over a week. Though they have got autographs of Shah Rukh Khan and his photograph, they are not satisfied. “Some have been camping in the hotel’s coffee shop and lobby, hoping that the actors will sooner or later arrive,” says a hotel employee. “Others have been trying to find their way into the banquet hall for having dinner with the actors. In fact, you can see screaming and shouting girls rushing from one direction to another after mistaking someone or the other for stars,” says the employees. The fans have been handing over autograph books to the driver of Shah Rukh Khan’s car. “Girls have also been requesting me to convey messages through me,” the driver claims. Others have been calling up the hotel reception to know about the daily schedule of actors. “We have been receiving over 100 calls daily from the fans,” says a receptionist. The rush of calls is maximum in the mornings and in the evenings as the residents want to catch the actors before they leave for the shooting. The callers have to keep down the phone in disappointment. Some children have been asking “influential friends” to arrange for an appointment with the actors. Free from examinations, Ramandeep has been calling up the daughter of a senior IAS officer to find out if her father can do something. The two went to Chandi Mandir last week to catch a glimpse of Amitabh Bachchan, but missed him by a few minutes. The two now plan to visit some village near Kharar where they believe shooting is going on. OC
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Health and beauty store to fit new-age It’s a combined package of health and beauty that Dr Morepen offers at Tango - an internationally styled health and beauty store, that has all ingredients to fit the new-age lifestyle. This speciality retailing model of tango was inaugurated by Mr. Varun Suri, Head Retailer, Dr Morepen Limited, in sector 35, Chandigarh, on Sunday. Tango offers an exquisite range of products and services in health and beauty. “Health is a state of positive well being that is manifested by a euphoria that is the buzzword today . The brand tango is synonymous with the spirit of beautiful living,” says Mr Bhavna Sood, Corporate Communication, Dr Morepen Limited. It is a franchise-based speciality retailing model where all national and international brands in beauty and health care come together. The range includes perfumes, cosmetics, skin and hair care products and many more. There is a special men’s grooming section too. The store provides first hand guidance and advice on product selection best suited to his or her skin. The store also has low-calorie snacks, health food, home health products and a pharmacy corner. Manned by trained pharmacists, it offers customer service on products and prescriptions. The after sale service on various diagnostic products completes the professional aura of the brand and store. Dr Morepen, a familiar name in health care, started with Lifespring which was the first health and beauty store launched in north India. At present there are three lifestyle stores in Delhi. The recently launched Tango stores not only make available of Dr Morepen’s existing product range but also serve as a platform to launch new and innovative health care products. OC
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Cleopatra offers facelift for men Good news for all the young adults who are planning to take the plunge in matrimony. Now you can look the picture perfect on your D- day, thanks to Cleopatra, the beauty saloon for men and women, which has now introduced the art of bridal make-up for men too. “Grooms are a neglected lot in our country,” says Harveen Kathuria, manager of Cleopatra, which is the first day spa, beauty and slimming centre in North India. “Women get to pamper themselves and look their best while a man has no options to get rid of those stress lines or under-the-eye dark circles,” she says. So to provide equal opportunity in beauty, Cleopatra inaugurated its Bride and Groom International Studio in its Sector 8 saloon Chandigarh on Saturday. Starting with a day spa that takes care of your body from head to toe, bringing out the inner glow, The Bride and Groom Studio offers a range of make up for men — right from even toned foundation to match your skin type to finished lipsticks to make you look brighter on that day. That’s not all. If you have the time and cash to spare, you can go for pre-bridal package too to get rid those dead cells or extra tanning or those ugly marks of acne, pigmentation or freckles with the help of specialised facials and beauty treatment made available for both men and women. “In the recent past there is a marked change in the attitude of men regarding beauty and health and the result is more and more men are coming forward to try out the latest technology in beauty and grooming,” says Ms Kathuria. “Now more and more men are opting to have a facial, bleaching and even threading and streaking,” she says. For the youngsters who are running towards the bright lights of modelling and films, taking beauty and health treatment have become a must, says our own glamour boy Babbu Mann, the Punjabi pop singer-turned-actor-turned-producer, who inaugurated the studio today. On this occasion Cleopatra also introduced Elite Beauty Club for its clients through which the members can avail 50 per cent discount on all regular beauty services.
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This year the sun n' sand
beckons the city tourists for their summer sojourn. The "desi" beaches with "videshi" tourists in Goa, the white sand beaches of Mauritius, Phuket and Penang in Malaysia, in addition to Singapore and Dubai, are the sizzling hot tourist destinations to beat the summer heat. 
Thanks to the attractive packages being offered by the retreats and resorts in South-East Asia as well as in Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan, many city dwellers have decided to visit these places. Mr Ekam, a sales executive at Bajaj Travels, says: "The rush for Manali, Shimla and Mussoorie has declined for the summer vacation, while maximum tourists are headed for Goa, Kerala, Bhubaneswar or Darjeeling-Kalimpong-Gangtok." 
There is much more to Anjana Kuthiala than just being a former beauty queen (she was Miss India 1975) and a painter. She is also a writer, was into designing clothes apart from being a homemaker and a doting mother. This elegant former beauty queen with distinctive Indian looks believes that the crux of creativity lies in exploring different fields and getting the maximum out of life. But everything should be done with 100 per cent dedication and sincerity, is her motto.