EDUCATION

Ryan school students set to present ‘Hey Dumbo’
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 2
Take a flight of fancy with the circus team of Ryan International School. Feel the despair of Dumbo, the baby elephant, with his extraordinary ears and his joy when he comes out of his deformity to emerge as the hero of the circus team. Between the ups and downs of Dumbo’s emotional ride, what we are going to see is a lot of colour and choreographed dance items, giving a touch of Bollywood to this musical which is being directed by Utkarsh Marwah.

A part of the three-day International Children’s Festival of Performing Arts, the musical going to be staged at Tagore Theatre tomorrow. “Hey Dumbo”, Walt Disney’s magnum opus musical is the highlight of the festival which has been conceptualised by Dr A.F. Pinto and Ms Grace Pinto,” says Ms Poonam Sharma, Headmistress of Ryan International, Chandigarh.

“Dumbo is the story of a little elephant with huge ears, who is sad because of his defect but overcomes it to emerge as a hero,” says Utkarsh Marwah. A host of professionals are being involved in the musical to take care of the technical aspects.

Recently this production won the Best Jury Award at the Festival International De Theatre in Morocco and will be travelling to Toyama, Tokyo, to take part in one of the world’s biggest theatre festivals. According to Marwah, this festival will give an opportunity to more than 900 children to be a part of it.

This is not all. The festival will also showcase dances from Poland, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Morocco. “We are presenting a butterfly dance which is an abstract modern dance form,” says Monica Smekot from Poland. Monica who doing a diploma in Hindi from Delhi is teaching the students the essence of modern Polish dances.

Gulaz Rasulova from Uzbekistan and her group will be presenting a folk dance based on famous Uzbek singer S. Nazarickarova. Gulaz, who is learning Kathak in India, says the dance item is done in Russian ballet style that gives ample of opportunity to the dancers to try out hand movements.

The festival starts from tomorrow at Tagore Theatre in two shifts - morning show from 10. 30 am and evening from 6.30 pm. The festival will also include a host of inter-school competitions like installation art, group painting, folk dances, one act play, street play and soliloquy. The school will also organise a one-day free workshop for children on theatre and international dance on May 5.

Hamara School
Blending traditional values with modern concepts

Children enjoying their meal in the spacious mess of the school hostel.

Jainendra Public School, co-educational, English medium, residential, day-boarding, affiliated to CBSE since 1982 is one of the pioneer institutions of the city. It is managed and run by Jainender Gurukul Educational Trust, Panchkula, which was established in February 1929 with the efforts of Jain Saint, Shri Krishan Chander ji Acharya and others.

The school is housed in a beautiful ancient building. The entire infrastructure of the school was revamped recently in accordance with the present day requirements. The new construction houses a theatre complete with modern equipment and facilities and a conference hall. Beautiful lawns have also been redefined and playfields for small children have been carved out in an artistic manner where the children play and enjoy while learning. A water body (fountain) has been constructed to give soothing effect to the eyes.

The institution blends traditional values with modern and advanced educational and technological concepts. The school nurtures inherent talents and skills of the students to enable them to excel in their respective fields. It endeavours to inculcate self-discipline, diligence and dedication to groom them to perfection. Talks by renowned saints and eminent educationlists are organised from time to time to instil spiritual, moral and human values in the students. The school also has all modern facilities and education is imparted with modern educational practices. The school has a modern computer lab, a library and well equipped separate laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology.

The school has its own band, well equipped music and recreation rooms managed by very talented and renowned music and dance teachers. The school provides ample opportunities to children interested in sports under the guidance of expert coaches.

The curriculum and the entire learning process is planned and organised in such a manner that the child enjoys fun-filled moments in the school. It accords high priority to use of innovative techniques to develop learning skills and groom creativity in the child. The school provides a wide range of activities for all round development of personality of the students. The school is constantly engaged in discharging its social responsibilities. In addition to helping the children from the weaker sections of the society, the school has a moderate fee structure. Due consideration is given to the wards of martyrs and destitute children.

Principal Speak
‘Making quality education affordable’

Our institution blends traditional values with modern realities. We do not compromise on values at all. Our main aim is to provide best possible education with modern techniques while keeping the fee structure moderate. We believe in the dictum that “the destiny of a nation is shaped in classrooms.” Our endeavour is, therefore, to provide an ideal atmosphere for learning without any extra burden of private tuitions. To achieve this we have dedicated, sincere, hardworking committed and well qualified staff.’’ School education plays an important role in grooming a child’s personality. To achieve this objective the school organises various stage activities, arranges special assemblies, inter-house competitions, games, music, dance and various academic activities to make the child responsible, stress-free and confident. We want our students to grow into responsible, wealthy citizens and good human beings. We provide the best possible infrastructure and stress free environment where teaching-learning process takes place through direct interaction and personal parental touch”.

“Our school’s motto is, light to enlighten and this light will continue to illumine the human hearts for all times to come.”

Teachers’ body chief elected

Chandigarh, May 2
The Chandigarh district council of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union today elected Dr Karamjeet Singh of SGGS College, Sector 26, and Dr Rajeev Behl of GGDSD College, Sector 32, as president and secretary, respectively. TNS

LIFESTYLE

Bonsai small in size, but a big attraction
Ruchika M. Khanna

Mr Anil Kaushik and Ms Renu Kaushik with their collection of bonsai; A bonsai forest cultivated on a hand-made tray. — Tribune photos by Parvesh Chauhan and Pawan Sharma

From Japan to many a homes in City Beautiful, the Japanese art of dwarfing trees, Bonsai, has found many a takers.

As living spaces reduce in size, and love for bringing nature in close proximity, though in a representative form, this Oriental art of dwarfing trees is being rediscovered by the residents. They now have bonsai peepal, pilkhan, jamun and mango adorning their terrace, drawing room, or the specialised bonsai racks in their gardens. These bonsai enthusiasts swear by the art, and maintain that creating bonsai gives them satisfaction as it is recreating nature.

From the candle trees of Argentina, to Chinese elms, and from dwarf eucalyptus to malpighea coccigera from West Indies and long island II from the USA, the city’s obsession with green has brought in the world’s best trees here to be cultivated as bonsais. Juniperus prostrata, cryptomeria japonica globosonana, duranta, various ficus varieties, multi-trunk bonsais, or bonsais ranging from two inch (called shitos) to as large as 48 inches (called dai), you name it and the green brigade in the city will have prepared bonsais for these trees.

Though city residents’ affair with the Japanese art is not very old, they have managed to cultivate a wide variety and priceless collection of bonsai. The Bonsai Club, India, was founded by local businessman- cum- landscape artist, Anil Kaushik, with the active support of Dr J.S. Sarkaria, curator-director of the National Cactus and Succulent Botanical Garden and Research Centre, Panchkula, in 1999. Since then, the club has over 200 members, and though none of them has had a formal training in bonsai, they have been learning to cultivate bonsai through books and exchanging notes amongst themselves during the club’s meetings. We decided to check up the creations of a few of the enthusiasts.

Mr Anil Kaushik, founder-promoter of the Bonsai Club, says he learnt of bonsai during a visit to a bonsai exhibition in Delhi. “I was very impressed with the art, and wanted to learn to cultivate bonsai. I was a cacti enthusiast and in regular touch with Dr Sarkaria. I spoke to him about my new interest upon coming back, and after reading all available books on bonsai, I began cultivating trees,” he says.

In the past four years, Mr Kaushik, assisted by wife Renu, has a collection of about 80 different bonsai, in all the five styles (with straight trunk, curved trunk, slanting trunk, cascading trunk till the base and cascading trunk below the base) and all five sizes –shito (2”to3”), mame(3” to6”), kotate (6” to12”), chiu (12” to24”) and dai (24” to 48”). His collection includes candle tree from Argentina in a raft style, imported phalsa, dwarf eucalyptus, malpighea coccigera and local trees like dahia. He says about 150 trees are still ‘under training’ (they are being trained by regular defoliation and pruning of roots to make them smaller in size so that they can be cultivated as bonsai.)

Another cultivator, Mrs Vimal Chawla, has a collection of over 50 bonsai in the past two years that she has become a member of the Bonsai Club. “ I was always very fond of the greens, but since I was earlier staying on the top floor of a house, I missed out on a garden. It was then that I got interested in cultivating bonsai, and cultivated a good collection.”

She learnt basics of bonsai in the training capsule offered by the club itself, and now has an interesting collection of su babool, ficus salicifodia, myretus communis (a Greek plant, also called vilayti mehandi), caramona microfyla and the dwarf Chinese elm. She adds that her morning hours are spent in pruning and training her bonsai. “It gives me immense pleasure to cultivate bonsai; it is as if you are recreating nature, and training it according to your will,” she adds.

Her views are echoed by Ms Geeta Pasricha, a bonsai enthusiast in Panchkula. “What started as a hobby has now become a passion, and most of my free time is spent tending to my bonsai collection. Now, my daughter, Arshia, too, assists me in pruning and preparing the soil for these,” she says.

With a collection of almost 50 plants in various sizes and styles (including the literati style), and almost a similar number under training, her collection of forest bonsais is the most breathtaking. Dwarf trees, grown as tufts on hand made bonsai trays, with rocks and miniature huts added for the special effect, are truly a work of art. Her fondness for bonsai is evident from the fact that instead of decorating the interiors of her house with fresh flowers, she has placed bonsai to add life to the rooms. TNS

Garden comes alive with sound of laughter

Laughter filled the Fragrance Garden in Chandigarh today as over 100 people laughed and clapped their way to good health. Men, women and children from all over the city participated in the Second World Laughter Day celebrations. The participants clapped their hands to press the acupressure points and did their “pranayam” as they burst into peals of laughter.

Mr Vilas Malhotra anchored the show and made the audience laugh with his colourful couplets. TNS

Girls taking control of the reins
Geetanjali Gayatri

Considered an exclusive male reserve, horse riding is now gaining ground among young girls, conscious about keeping in shape. While working out at gyms is no longer considered attractive by these youngsters looking for adventure, riding has caught their fancy in a big way.

At Lake Club, girls in breaches astride horses and oozing confidence announce the crumbling of another male bastion. They are unanimous about the good the opening of a riding school, the Chandigarh Horse Riding Society, has done to them.

Take six-year-old Noor, for example. Her love for horses has brought her to the club where she practises trotting for over an hour. One of the youngest at the club, all Noor can say about her latest interest is, “I am not afraid of horses and I love riding the white one. I cannot miss riding even if it means sacrificing my playtime with friends.” Her mother, Sapna Ms Dhaliwal, accompanies her to the classes and is equally enthusiastic about her daughter’s interest. “She enjoys it thoroughly. I was initially reluctant to let her join riding since she is very young. Given her interest, I realised I would be doing injustice to her by keeping her away from riding, she adds.

Mr Sanjay Majithia, an advocate, sends his daughter Vasundhara for riding too. He explains, “I always wanted to learn riding but the facility was not available during our times. Through my daughter’s riding experience, I am trying to fulfill that desire. She has been going for these classes for over two months and each day she has a new experience to narrate - stories about her favourite horse, how she is gradually learning to control the animal and the influence it is having on her personality.”

For Dimple Bedi, running her own academy, horse riding is the perfect sport to help her unwind. “Exercising in the open is much more refreshing than being in a gym, lifting dumbbells. Riding is more enervating and exhausting than any other sport or exercise,” she claims.

Guided by an ex-serviceman, Lieut Satman Singh, an instructor at the riding school, which has seven medals to its credit from the equestrian show held recently in the city, Devika is at ease in the saddle as she commands Augustine to halt.

“I had gone to Scotland where I tried riding. I fell in love with horses and the sport. After coming back, the first thing I did was to enrol myself with the club. My parents, too, were very keen after they got to know about my interest, she says.

With 12 girls learning riding among 30 at the club, two instructors remain busy teaching them the finer points of managing horses and being in control.

Overseeing them and ensuring that the riding exercise carries on smoothly is Jasdeep Singh Toor, the man behind the show. His dedication to the sport keeps him committed to popularising horse riding and making it more than just an elitist affair in the city. TNS

Speak English effortlessly

SO the Queen’s English still sounds alien when you speak in the language? Or are you looking for career guidance, not just in choosing a particular line but also to chalk out a career roadmap. Then Career Launchers is the best stop for you.

This programme has been developed by the Department of Psychology, Delhi University, and includes parent counselling, regular career talks, personality enhancement and a personalised route map of what to do next and how to choose the right career. TNS