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Law students in dark about exam datesheet Chandigarh, April 21 Irked students of the department complained that the datesheet finalised after consultation with the department representatives (DRs) yesterday, was modified today in the wake of protests by a handful of students, three days before the examinations which begin on April 24. The students maintain it is not certain whether the revised datesheet, still unknown to them, will be further changed to “accommodate” other “dissatisfied” students. The first datesheet, prepared by the faculty, was put on display on April 19. It was removed the same evening and a new datesheet took its place. According to this datesheet, the examination was slated to begin on April 24 and conclude on June 9. The president of the Panjab University Students’ Union (PUSU), Rajwinder Singh Lucky, said on the first day the datesheet was changed at the instance of one group which pointed out that while one paper had a gap of 15 days, another had only two days in between. “The next day another dissatisfied group protested and it was changed to please them. This is going to continue since most students are taking their re-appear examinations and current course papers together. A handful of students, according to the latest datesheet, have to appear for six papers without a break in between. Obviously, they are unhappy with the arrangement,” he explained. Also causing anxiety to the students is the non-availability of admit cards till date and the inability to elicit a response from the authorities concerned. “We have, time and again, made queries about our roll numbers. They haven’t reached the department so far. We even went to meet the Controller of Examination and the Joint Controller. They were, however, not available in their offices. The datesheet, too, is changing everyday. Everything is very uncertain and we don’t even know which paper we should prepare for first,” rued the local president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Nitin Goyal. Gurparvez Sandhu, heading PUSU (Shelly), is critical of the fact that the university has failed in its mission of sending roll numbers on time. “All the students are getting together to lodge a protest,” he added. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Department of Laws, Prof Kulwant Gill, said, “We have no problem with our datesheet. It was finalised yesterday and removed today only for minor modifications. Examinations will begin on April 24. Though the roll numbers of students have not reached us so far, we will definitely get these before the examinations begins.” |
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Hamara School Stepping Stones Secondary School, Sector 37, Chandigarh, runs the primary classes. It is housed in a 2-acre plot. In the modern classrooms and open grounds, we strive for achieving high academic standards. We aim at promoting national consciousness and overall development of students, preparing them to face the challenges of life. Innovative programmes and teaching methods are introduced from time to time to motivate the students to work independently and create confidence in them through gentle but firm guidance. A lot of emphasis is laid on creative learning in the school. This enables the child to wonder, appreciate and think about the things and be inspired by them. The school tries to develop sensitivity towards colour and beauty in the environment. Continuous and comprehensive evaluation is intended to provide a holistic profile of the learner through assessment of scholastic and non —scholastic aspects of education spread over the total span of instructional time in school. DISHA, the school magazine, is a platform that provides the children to express themselves. The school news, happening achievements and much more information is also covered in the magazine. |
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We toughen up children
to face challenges
It is with a sense of great satisfaction and pride that I look forward to the new academic session of the junior wing in Sector 37. The new school has got real positive response from both parents as well as students. At Stepping Stones, we are aware that in this fast changing world, the needs of education too need to be regularly realigned. Perhaps the single biggest factor is the increased competition and the rising expectations of parents. This has put a great burden on today’s child. In their enthusiasm of having a perfect children, parents rush their child to innumerable tuitions, sports and extra curricular coaching classes. Even vacations are today utilised to train the children in new fields. |
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Bansal appointed Principal
Mohali, April 21 During his service there, he held a number of positions involving multi-dimensional responsibilities. He has published a number of research papers in international and national journals, attended several Conferences and guided a number of ME theses. The Chandigarh Administration had sent him to Tokyo in Japan to present one of his research papers in the World Congress-III in 1986. Dr Bansal said that uplifting academic standards of students as well as the faculty of the institute would be his first priority. Emphasis would be laid on the overall personality development of the students, he added.  |
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ODE to organise seminar on learning disability Panchkula, April 21 According to a press note issued by Ms Sumita Mehta Ms Anupriya Chaddha, Senior consultant, Inclusive Education, Education Consultants India Limited, Delhi; Dr Prabhjot Malli, Assistant Professor, Advanced Centre of Paediatrics, PGIMR, Chandigarh; and Dr Renu Malviya, Head of Department of Education Lady Irwin College, Delhi will be among the main speakers on the occasion. Slum kids attend literacy programme Panchkula, April 21 Mr Ramesh Sethi, AGM of the bank, who distributed prizes among the participants, stressed the need for eradicating illiteracy in the country. As many as 48 slum children participated in the programme. The participants were given knowledge about the language, counting, reading and writing by probationary officers of the Delhi and Patna circles, according to a press note. |
CAT expunges adverse
remarks from doctor’s ACRs Chandigarh, April 21 In his 20-page order, CAT Member (Judicial) Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal held that the adverse remarks entered in the ACRs of Dr Jagdish Chander, Reader in the Department of Microbiology of the GMCH-32, in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 were the result of animosity and competition between the petitioner and Dr R.M. Joshi, the then Head of the Department. Apart from this, costs of Rs 4,000 were also imposed on the respondents, with the government given the liberty to recover the same from Dr Joshi if deemed fit. In his petition, Dr Chander had claimed that due to professional rivalry between him and Dr Joshi, the latter wrote adverse remarks in his ACRs for the financial years 2000-01 and 2001-2002. He also claimed that despite repeated appeals to the UT Administration, the remarks were not expunged. |
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Notice served on DC Panchkula, April 21 The advocates, Mr Yogesh Mohan Sharma and Mr M.G. Sharma,had filed an application before the court saying that the licences of the two stamp vendors, which expired last month, had not been renewed by the DC. The application said the general public was facing a lot of inconvenience on account of the non-availability of the court fee stamps. The stamp vendors, Ms Pushpa Gupta and Mr BS Yadav, had reportedly applied to the DC for the renewal of the licences, the application said. The CJM has asked the DC to clarify the stand of the district administration on the issue on April 26.
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Tracing harmony between cultures Chandigarh, April 21 Evolved by Indian and French artistes, the performance brings together dance, martial art, north and south Indian musical forms and Western classical music. While French musician Nicholas Carpentrie plays the “cello”, an instrument that traces its form from the Indian sarangi, Rukmini, with her bharatnatyam nuances, plays the key role in the project that creates symbiotic harmony implied in its title. For Rukmini who married a French, the piece is a reflection of her desire as an artiste to reconcile the modern world with the ancient art of bharatnatyam in which she was trained. “It is also an attempt to find a balance between my Indian roots and European home. The issues we explore are the ones that concern us as we go through the daily grind. We use various art forms to discover the dynamics of love, hatred, spirituality and materialism. The interplay of male and female energy, as enshrined in the Ardhanarisvar, comes into focus as kalaripayattu and bharatnatyam artistes share space of performance.” Much of the piece is about achieving a balance of contrasting forms and finding how they finally complement each other to evolve as a harmonious whole. Speaking to The Tribune, Rukmini said, “Ardhanarisvar was born out of my urge to balance art forms and philosophies across borders. The inclusion of French instrumentalists, kalaripayattu artistes, carnatic and Hindustani musicians is very conscious. Each artiste occupies a special space and complements that of another. We opened the piece some time ago in the theatres of France and Italy. The audience were more than receptive to the theme.” The success of the project has a lot to do with its universal appeal. While Nicholas comes from a reputed institute of Western classical music in France, Peter and Sachit bring with them the verve, typical of kalaripayattu. Nicholas is quick to say that he feels at home in India. “The cello I play sounds like sarangi, but it is an underplayed version of the sarangi which I am yet to master. I tried playing the sarangi, but failed every time. My presence in this concert is a manifestation of my urge to play in India.” Kalaripayattu came because Rukmini could not think of a better form to reflect masculine energy. “I have used kalaripayattu as a form that travels into the space of bharatatyam and finds a delightful unity therein. It was not the spectacular kill of kalaripayattu that attracted me. I was smitten with the use of body language and the exhibition of control by these artistes from Kerala.” Integrally linked to the production is Keshav Bhattacharjee, a Hindustani vocalist from ITC’s Sangeet Research Akademi, Kolkata, Maheshwari Nagarajan, a Carnatic vocalist from Kalashetra tradition and another French on the saxophone. As myriad forms get together on stage, what results is a harmonious blend that celebrates the concept underlined in Ardhanarisvar. Harmony paves way for a clash of egos, violence emerges to breed violence, the feminine energy symbolized by “Yadevi” then assumes control to root out forces of degeneration. Once the masculine ego is forced into humility, harmony prevails as it should. |
Home Decor
THE magnificent house of golfer Amandeep Johl and Hardawin Johl in the Sector 11 neighbourhood stands out from other houses with its adobe facade. Painted in earth hues, the house is every bit a blend of the Oriental and European architecture- the adobe finish gives it a rustic look, while the garden on the first split-level, visible even when standing outside, is quite contemporary. The use of lights that fall on the house lend a regal appeal to the structure. Though built on a one-kanal plot, the house looks more spacious because of the split-level architectural design. The driveway is on the ground level, while a few steps lead to a garden and the entrance to the house. A small gallery inside leads to the drawing room on the side, steps lead to the first floor on the other side, while deep down the gallery a few steps unwind to the dining area, a small den, kitchen and two bedrooms. Says Mr Amandeep Johl, “Since I do a lot of travel to Europe for my golf, I have always been fascinated with the adobe look. So I listed my requirements to my architect and elder brother, Ajay Johl, who did the entire designing.” The magnificence rules even inside the house in the structural design. The decor is minimalist which lends the house an earthy appeal. The flooring is all in Dholpur stone with borders and designs in rough granite. A melamine finish has been given to the stone to have a shine on the floor. The walls are done up in creme and yellow, with accent towards the warm colours. The living room is mainly a blend of Oriental — the furniture again minimalist and traditional; lotus pond set up on the central table, jade artifacts, Japanese and Korean artifacts, an old gramophone and other Oriental decorations. A full length bay window overlooks the garden outside. But the most captivating piece in the drawing room is a huge jharokha, which has a tiled wall in the centre and photograph of Hardawin’s father superimposed on the tiles. “This jharokha was bought by my father from a junk dealer in Jalandhar, several years ago. Now, it adds grace to our living room,” says the lady of the house. The second floor is done up in a contemporary style, with rough granite, “normal granite which has been blown upon to create a rough surface on the floors, spotless walls, and rooms with the bare minimum furniture. The couple’s love for open spaces is evident from their open bathroom and open kitchenette. This floor also has a den two bedrooms and balconies adjoining all rooms. The kitchenette is American in design, with a cellar and glass door cabinets that show off the crockery collected by this globe-trotting couple. The den is brightened with the prints of beautiful Gemini Roy paintings and Hussain prints. The den leads to the balcony outside, which in turn leads to three split-level smaller balconies (including one facing the east, that opens outside the master bedroom, where the couple do their daily regimen of yoga). TNS |
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Morning chatter When a candidate was asked about his salary expectations at an interview, he humbly put the figure at 40 per cent less than what his counterparts in other metros were expecting. The interviewer was taken aback. Was the confidence of the youngster a hoax? Was he hiding some deficiency or flaw? Or were his qualifications and work experience not commensurate with the demands of the job? May be, he was simply under-rating his own self. Whatever, the applicant was clearly oblivious of the going market rate and seemed happier accepting a lower salary package than the other applicants in Delhi or Mumbai. The interviewer, who was in the city for a week, could figure out the reasons for this rather modest expectation of job-seekers at the end of his stay. Staying with parents, a majority of the employed young have not really felt the pinch of making it on their own, or struggling to make ends meet. So, at one level, they actually do not appreciate what they get on a platter from their parents and the existing support systems. And, at another level, they don’t really consider expenses like house rent, car maintenance and other generic day-to-day expenses into what should ideally form their realistic salary expectations. As a result, while youngsters in cities like Mumbai have to start off by living as paying guests or taking up accommodation in working hostels, Chandigarh’s fresh recruits have none of these teething problems. In a worst-case scenario, there is some obliging aunt or uncle with whom they can stay till they are earning enough to rent a house, which again comes at a much lower price than what would be available elsewhere. Perhaps, this is why, if statistics are anything to go by, 60 per cent people in the age group of 24-28 in Delhi book a flat within the first year of their getting a confirmation letter from their companies. By applying for house loans at an extended easy monthly instalment plan, they either buy and live in the same house, converting their official rent allowance into an EMI, or they rent out the property and make themselves financially comfortable. Also, 70 per cent of them go in for a car which is again financed through an investment firm. The moment a promotion comes along or a windfall comes in terms of bonus, the car is upgraded. Chandigarh youngsters, on the other hand, spend their additional income on a lifestyle which is governed by visible props like fancy mobile handsets, pub-hopping, eating out and extravagant clothes and accessories. As one parent put it, “Unless our children live on their own, they will never experience a sense of gratitude - appreciation for what they have and acquire respect for what they earn and acquire.” Indeed, the feeling of rootedness can come only when you feel the pinch, come up the hard way and learn to deny yourself things which could be important, but not essential, to your existence. |
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Food Fest Perhaps the most interesting part that even invites amusing glances from adjoining tables is the special pumpkin soup. It is designed to tickle your taste buds as well as humour. The concoction is not served in a normal bowl, but in a full pumpkin. A slice from the top round fruit is cut and improvised into a lid. Then, the pumpkin pulp is scooped out to make way for the liquid to be steamed and laid for you on the table, piping hot. The soup comprises delectable portions of a choice of seafood, meat, chicken and select vegetables and peppered with nuts. The thin stew is mildly flavoured with seasoning. But there’s a word of caution. The portion of the soup is huge (obviously, pumpkins come in big sizes). So, think before you place the order for the main course. And, be prepared to wait a while for the delicacies to materialise. As you cool your heels, the music blaring from the high-watt system keeps you occupied when you run out of conversation with your group. The dancing Chinese lions and dragons on the wall as also the Chinese lamps, fans and banners dangling from the roof attract attention and are attempts to give a festive look. The delicacies on the menu should have lovers of seafood drooling. Served with a choice of fried rice or noodles, the lobsters, prawns, crabs and pomfrets are dressed in myriad ways, with you getting to pick the preference of sauce. Garlic sauce in Peking style is a hot favourite. So is the red wine sauce in which pomfrets float in the Mandarin way. Check out the king prawns to get that taste of out-of-home food. The snacks for starters are an interesting array of prawns stuffed with ham, crispy crab balls, steamed black mushroom stuffed with chicken and roast pork with barbeque sprouts. A variety of meals has been lined up for the vegetarians, too. They get to munch diced veggies, babycorn, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus and beans cooked in hot garlic sauce or schezwan sauce in Hong Kong style. Catering to the sweet tooth are date pancakes , apple toffee and banana toffee with ice-cream. However, these may not be readily available. Don’t forget to ask for the complimentary jasmine tea to wash down the fare in the end, says manager Rahul Kakkar. Complimentary alcohol is also on offer. If the Chinese cuisine does not go down well with somebody in the group, he can always fall back on the regular menu to suit his taste. TNS |
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The forum to sell second-hand cars ARE you looking for the best option to sell your car, and at the same time get a finance option for the new car? Or planning to buy a second-hand car, but scared of being cheated into a deal, and landing up with a messy machine? Then the pre-owned car showroom is the answer to your problems. This Gen Z breed of pre-owned car dealers is out to change the rules of the game in the second-hand car market. And city residents, fed up of spoiling their Sundays scourging for a perfect buy, amidst the dust and grime, are now making a beeline for the plush and air- conditioned pre-owned car show-rooms, where they not only get a warranty for the vehicle, but are also assured that the car they are buying is not stolen or involved in any crime. On offer are middle segment and luxury cars-Honda City, Mitsubishi Lancer, Hyundai Accent, or the middle sized cars-Santro and Indica (the most wide selling second hand car - Maruti 800 is not exactly the favourite thing on offer at the pre-owned cars showroom). The city now boasts of two of these dealers — the pioneers Berkeley Automall, and United Autowheelz. These two dealers claim that their monthly sale of cars is anywhere between 10 - 12 each. As compared to this, the average monthly sale of second-hand cars through the 100 odd dealers and sub-dealers in the Car Bazaar is pegged at 100 cars each week, says Mr Rupinder Bir Singh, president of Car Dealers Association, Chandigarh. Mr Rajesh Kumar Gilhotra, Director, United Autowheelz, said: “We offer the best of facilities — three free services of the vehicle bought from us, six months warranty, finance facility through a reputed financier for getting the car financed, if buying from us; all RTO checked, and we issue certificates to our buyers after a multi-point check on the cars.” Adds Mr Ranjeev Dahuja, Director of Berkeley Group “Our USP is the quality of service we offer, and rates are comparative with the rates being offered by the second hand car dealers. Our quality inspection team will assure that each vehicle available for sale is free from any registration complications, accidental damage and pending insurance claims”. It is thus that the Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) is now pushing its dealers in the city for relaunching the Maruti True Value service for buying and selling pre-owned cars. Mr I. J. Kumar, general manager, Pasco Automobiles, reveals that they are in the process of getting the True Value service organised. “Once we get the final approval from MUL , and the latter has tied up the local issues such as sales tax, with Chandigarh Administration, we will begin this service.” Sources in Maruti Udyog Limited say that the Chandigarh Administration is yet to release a notification giving clarification on sales tax that it will charge on each deal. In Delhi the local government charges Rs 750 as fee for each deal of cars at a pre-owned showroom. Instead of charging 12 per cent as sales tax on customer-to-customer transaction here, the Administration could come up with a similar notification. This is a certified programme of selling second hand cars and could actually give a fillip to the second-hand car market, that is presently in recession because of easy finance option available for new cars,” says a senior official in MUL.
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Disability stands by as joy
takes over For the 100 odd kids, who are battling disability in one form or the other, this day was all about fun and entertainment. The best part of the get-together arranged for children from various city institutes was its unexpected sponsorship which came from the owners of Memorable Moments, a restaurant in Sector 35. Had it not been for this gesture, the large-scale arrangements would have been difficult. As for children, the arrangements mattered little. Most of those who landed in the restaurant well in time for the show, the bright ambience of the venue was not much of an attraction. Used to brightness all around, these kids are most driven by good, warm, responsive company which makes them feel at home with the world as well as their disability. No wonder, most of the children, who came from Savera Rehabilitation Centre, Sector 32, Sadhna Institute for the Disabled, Mani Majra and Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, sat dryly until the basement of the restaurant began bursting with people. The moods suddenly changed for the better as the strength of kids on the dance floor increased. Hand in hand, the children put together a great show, inspiring the deejay to mix his songs better. For once, disability took a back seat, as the children enjoyed the special show designed for them by Mr Atmajit Singh Mann, proprietor of the restaurant. He later announced free lunch for the kids every month. The kids were accompanied by their mentors including Mr. Neil Robert from Savera Rehabilitation Centre.
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Getting rid of pain in the neck If you suffering from “heavy” eyes, besides back and neck pain, then something is seriously wrong with your lifestyle. At least this what city-based physiotherapist Harcharan Kaur believes. You can, however, get rid of the problems with the help of physiotherapy. It can also help patients suffering from arthritis, knee and heel pain, besides paralysis and nerve injuries, she says. Giving details, the doctor says, “sedentary lifestyle, and lack of exercise, are the main causes of neck and back pain. And if you think only the aged are affect by it, you are mistaken. Even teenagers are coming to us with back and neck problems nowadays”. Dr Harcharan Kaur runs a clinic in Sector 34. Improve posture — is the first advise the doctors have to offer in such cases. “Besides this, you should immediately go in for physiotherapy. It is effective as physiotherapy tends to move the bones and joints manually,” she says. “Manual mobilisation actually helps not only in reducing pain, but also in cases of nerve injuries due to accidents or problems which arise at the time of birth”, the doctor says. Physiotherapy, she says, also helps in cases of sports injuries, including knee and wrist sprains. Ligament and meniscus injuries also get better. Physiotherapy further helps in cases where surgeries are required. Scientific treatment includes short wave diathermy, ultrasound therapy, and wax therapy, besides nerve and muscle stimulator. The results, she claims, depends on the hand of the therapist. Normally, a person is back to normal within 10 to 15 days. You should consult a doctor as soon as knee discomfort sets in so that it can be cured well in time. In the initial stage of back and neck pain, physiotherapy starts acting on the very first day. The doctor also cautions the residents against going to untrained practitioners. |
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The chef at Blue Ice, Sector 17 (near Meena Bazar), is certainly creative. As part of the ongoing Chinese food festival called Dragon Nights, the restaurant has tried to be innovative not only as far as the dishes and ambience are concerned, but also presentation.