EDUCATION

Gurwinder tops Class XII (Arts) exam in Ropar dist
Tribune News Service

Safalpreet Singh, second in Ropar with 82.66 per cent marks, is the son of Mr Hardev Singh, SHO, Sector 39 Police Station. A good cricket player, Safalpreet wants to follow his father and become a policeman. “But I would also want him to take his cricket seriously,” said Mr Hardev Singh.

Summer camps conclude
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
As many as eight summer camps organised at KB DAV Centenary Public School, Sector 7, concluded with a valedictory function in the school premises here today.

Various issues covered during the camps were skating, karate, taekwondo, dumble, cricket, yoga, computer education, calligraphy, music ,dance, art and mosaic.

At the concluding function, Ms Ramesh Sethi, AGM, Training Centre (Panchkula) SBI, was the chief guest. Mr B.S.Bahl, Vice-President of the DAV College Managing Committee, Delhi, was the guest of honour.

Ms S. Acharya from the school said the participants were also taken on an excursion to Yadvindra Gardens and various other places. The participants had a chance to interact with Ms Vineet Jain, and Mr Girish Bhanot, both cricketers, Mr Ashok Dhamu and Mr Vishnu Sharma, both taekwondo experts.

Meanwhile, a two-week summer camp conducted by Go Bananas Kids Club concluded at the Indira Holiday Home auditorium here yesterday. The function had a host of items for the audience, which ranged from English and Hindi dance items, a full-fledged play, “Mera Bharat Mahaan” and also a fashion show

According to Anu Vala , director of the club , “ our workshop also included field trips to Dominos, the Carpet weaving industry, and a farmhouse. Special sessions for public speaking and correct pronunciation were also held.” Around 40 kids visited Domino’s -34 for their Junior Pizza Maker Workshop as part of the camp activities. The participants tried their hand at making pizzas under the supervision of experts of Dominos.

Orientation workshop

An orientation workshop was conducted for parents by Optimising Development In Education (ODE), under the aegis of the Joy Lall Educational Memorial Society at Indira Holiday Home, Sector 24. The workshop was divided into different modules. The modules dealt with different kinds of problems , learning styles of children, pre academic skills, language remediation and maths.

Quiz

Three teams from local schools have qualified for the second stage of the CBSE-Intel Science Quiz along with six other schools from the region.

The quiz would be held in July. The schools are Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sacred Heart School, Guru Nanak Public School, Sainik School, Karnal, Model School, Rohtak, Sanatan Sharm Vidya Mandir, Panipat, Guru Nanak Model School, Ludhiana, Kendrya Vidalaya No.1, Jalandhar.

In-service course

A 21 day in-service course for drawing teachers of Kendriya Vidyalayas concluded at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31 , here. Participants from Bhopal, Lucknow, Dehradun, Jabalpur, Jammu, Delhi, Jaipur, Patna and Chandigarh took part in the course. During the course, lectures-cum-demonstrations were held.

Education Dept’s vision document on jobs
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
The UT Education Department has come out with a vision document for its passouts in 21 vocational courses, run in local government schools. The document, prepared in the form of a booklet, guides the students on the various employment prospects and avenues for higher studies after vocational courses at the senior secondary level.

After a detailed study on the employment scenario, the vocational education unit of the department prepared the 46-page document. It would be given to each student in government schools.

Officials in the department said it had been seen that due to lack of awareness, the students were confused about specialisation. Those willing to take up a job were not aware about the avenues, they said.

To ensure that the students were aware of avenues, the booklet was being given at the start of the academic session. Mr D.S.Mangat, DPI (S), said the purpose of the document was to inform them about the opportunities available. “It can be called in-course counselling”, said the DPI (S).

CULTURE

Two-day fashion voyage begins
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 19
Leading fashion designers of the country arrived at Forest Hill Resorts, near here, today to promote contemporary ethnic wear through “Colgate Fashion Voyage 2004”. The two-day event was inaugurated by the first lady of Punjab, Ms Shobha Verma.

Delhi-based designer Aprna Wangdi said, “I like to create my own patterns. I am very fond of deep colours. For tomorrow’s show, I am taking up the theme of black, white and pink with details in blue and green”

She likes darker and taller models for collection, with Sapna, Jessey Randhawa and Bhawna Sharma being her preferences. She has been associated with the costumes for a musical play, in addition to the Indo-French cultural meet in June 2000. More recently, she had been involved with the costume design for the Indo-French opera by Muzaffar Ali, staged in 2002.

Another designer, an NIFT alumnus Ashish Pandey, with his roots in classicism, combines the exquisite of Indian designs with international fashion. He is now an international name with his label available at RCKC, London, and at Ascthetics, Dubai. From pure brocades to woven jacquard, he keeps experimenting with fabric. Georrtte and chiffon come alive with his touch.

Punjab-based designer Harpreet Narula’s ‘By gone Mughal era calling’ sums up the new fall collection. He loves to reflect back to his roots and make the most of his traditional background to create striking collections. He uses embroideries like zardosi, chikenkari and gara to add opulence to his royal costumes. The blend of traditional crafts like kundan and gota with modern embellishments like crystal, sequins and stones can be seen in each garment. The trend-setting designs and pain-staking attention to detail will give each woman the confidence to invest in her outfits.

Designer Niki Mahajan has worked with talented artisans from Bihar, Rajasthan and Assam. Her endeavour is to strike a connection with the huge talent resources. Working with the tribals, she has developed a fabric called reeds, which is made by splitting grass and treating it with natural elements. She is a recipient of the Yuva Ratan Award for excellence in promoting the production of unique fabrics by the Ministry of Textiles.

Budding designer Payal Jain has a strong foundation in neo-classical aesthetics of perfection in production, which is the essence of her designs. Clear silhouettes, innovative fabrics and a wealth of crafts come alive in her creations.

Her designs are a homage to the modern woman, who is a blend of sensuality and confidence.

She has captured the Indian soul in her classic Western silhouettes. She said designer clothes were affordable and her collection started from Rs 800. She is a fashion and styling consultant at the Lakme Beauty Studio.

Noted designer Monu Khemka believes that designer outfits should not be costly. She tries to keep prices low to create a larger clientele. She has a wide range of sarees and kurtas which can be a part of regular wear.

Film Review
Delectable fare with message for youth
Rama Sharma

CHANDIGARH: If director Farhan Akhtar aims to touch a new high with “Lakshya” in Bollywood, the film has certainly missed the mark. But this is not to underestimate a delectable fare which the film is. And that too with an essential message for the youth-love does not always deviate; it can channelise energies towards a meaningful direction.

Karan Shergil (Hrithik Roshan) is a careless and aimless spirit. He detests his father, comparing him with his brother, successfully settled in the USA. A rollicking and frolicking Hrithik doles out a lot of zany moments in the first half. In contrast, his college friend Romi (Preity Zinta) is more determined and ambitious. A lazy being, he marvels at his rudderless mind and breaking into a marvellous jig in number “Main aisa kyon hoon”.

Finally the boy who is awakened by the gentle nudge of servants late in the morning, surprises everyone with his decision to join the Army. Preity Zinta is refreshing in short hair and long traditional skirts. The pair gives clean romantic scenes. Some of the visual effects are excellent.

Amitabh Bachchan as the boss of Lt-Col Shergill shines in a brief role. The latter half dips into dullness, with extensive war scenes shot in Kargil. We have been treated to war and patriotic glory so often that watching these scenes is tedious.

The flick is not without its high points. Scenes of Karan’s emotional reunion with his father and later with Romi are touching. Another thrilling moment is jawans led by Hrithik scaling a 800-foot peak with ropes. — TNS

Screen mom looks for image makeover
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19
Reema Lagoo is looking for an image makeover. Apparently tired of playing the glamorous mother, the Marathi actress is looking forward to “AK 47”.

“I play a Parsi woman with fresh shades. It was fun shooting for this film as it offered scope for something new and challenging,” said the actress. She arrived in Chandigarh today to shoot for Kuku Babbar’s “Dil Humko Dijiye”.

She admitted, “The film “Maine Pyar Kiya” worked because of its ingenuous packaging. Almost everyone in the cast was new. We shared a strange chemistry, which facilitated acting. That was what made the film endearing. The happiness that we experienced while on the sets with Suraj Barjatya found its way on to the screen and made the film a blockbuster”.

Originally a theatre actress, Reema took long to be recognised for good. She recalled, “My mother is an actress. So it was natural for me to follow the art. I began with theatre, both Hindi and Marathi. I have worked with directors like Shafi Inamdar, Bijaya Mehta, Amol Palekar and Gulzar. I was associated for a long time with Satyadev Dubey”. The shift from theatre to cinema was, in a way, not conscious.

Reema said, “I just cashed on the opportunities that came my way. Though I started long ago with films like Shyam Benegal’s “Kalyug” and “Aakrosh”, I was genuinely accepted only with “Maine Pyar Kiya”. After that, there has been no looking back. I have also done serials like “Tu Tu Main Main”, which helped me exploit my skills as a comedian”.

Then came Mahesh Manjrekar’s “Vaastav”, which offered Reema greater scope for acting. She is again working with him in a film. Reema is also returning to theatre. “I am doing theatre after 10 years. The plan now is to be consistent and concerted in the effort to promote theatre, which gave me so much. The current play is with Shailesh Dave,” she said.