 |
|
|
|
|
||||
Panjab University’s poll date soon
Chandigarh, September 7 It is learnt that the Administration has not suggested any dates for the elections and the final decision would rest with the university. The Dean Students Welfare, Dr Nirmal Singh, said the office of the Home Secretary had cleared the file pertaining to students’ elections though it was still to reach them. “The letter may come to us through the Deputy Commissioner by tomorrow. Once we have the permission letter to go ahead with the elections, we will announce the date. We want to hold elections at the earliest and will try for a date before September 19, the day the elections to the graduate constituency of the Senate are slated,” he added. Dr Nirmal Singh ruled out any more meetings with principals of colleges with regard to the elections. “We have already held one meting to know their views. In the light of the discussions, we will take our decision,” he said. The principals were of the view that indirect elections should be held in local colleges. This suggestion did not find favour with the university authorities. They also wanted to push back the election date till the end of the month. However, this, too, was turned down by the authorities which wanted to get over with the elections to put an end to everyday protests by students’ bodies and ensure that students got back to their studies. It is not only college principals but also candidates contesting from the graduate constituency as well who want a delayed election on the campus. Meanwhile, election fever is in the air on the campus, with posters of candidates from various organisations adorning walls and trees. Meetings to plan campaign strategies are already in place and most organisations have begun canvassing and garnering support in university hostels.
|
|
New Zealand Commissioner woos
students at education fair
Chandigarh, September 7 This was stated by Trade Commissioner of New Zealand, Peter Hobbs, in an interview on the sidelines of a day-long education fair organised at Hotel Mountview, here today. He said that education in New Zealand was more affordable in comparison to other countries. “The fee for the various post-graduate and under-graduate courses is far less than what developed countries are charging. Then, we also offer opportunities for employment. At present, there is great demand for science and technology and creative sectors like fashion designing, film production among others. An added advantage in our classrooms is that of personal attention to students since the class size is usually small,” he added. Presently, New Zealand has 2222 Indian students studying in its colleges. Twenty-one of the best polytechnics and colleges of New Zealand offered counselling and guidance to students. A seminar to answer queries of parents and students complete with slide shows was also held. This was the first time that an education fair by institutes of New Zealand has been held in the city. Some colleges gave on-the-spot admissions while others provided information of their campuses, the courses offered, the fee structure as well as giving details of residential accommodation available for foreign students. While there are no scholarships for foreign students, Mr Hobbs said that the New Zealand government was working on the lines of offering limited scholarships for particular courses.
|
|
Unmasking “morality”
Chandigarh, September 7 Much is said on the stage of Tagore Theatre through a beautifully woven script that unmasks the self-styled custodians of morality who use the smokescreen of religion to indulge in everything immoral. The story is set around the body of a reputed social worker who has left behind a legacy rich enough to entice others into inheriting it. What follows is a crude representation of how matters as serious as death can also be diluted at the hands of insensitive men lusting for power and wealth. The story also reflects the insincerity of people who are eagerly awaiting the cremation that has been delayed by rains. And in their attempt to put time to “productive” use, they do everything from chanting bhajans to reciting shlokas until their repertoire of verses exhausts. It is here that boredom sets in and true faces of people begin to bare themselves. Gradually the site of cremation witnesses a painful transformation, with men indulging in slander as well as character assassination. To save their skin, they blame each other. The buck stops only at the funeral pyre, where a dead man awaits his last rites, even as his beloved is charged with moral impropriety. In the powerful denouement of the play, the woman smothers the spin not with offence but with defence. She steers clear of all charges but in the process unmasks all those dubious men who have assumed the responsibility of administering justice. As the tale gets a twist, the play transcends the space of performance and attains greater relevance. The plot is so interestingly scripted that it flows effortlessly towards its end. In the director’s role Sudesh Sharma is commendable as he allows every character to shape powerfully on stage. He plays a simmering Genda Singh with great passion. All others, including Parvesh Sethi, justify their roles well in the production presented under the aegis of Theatre for Theatre. In the end, however, it is the script that goes home with you. |
Fashion photography in its infancy in city
The fashion circuit here is facing a paradox. While fashion shows beauty contests have contributed their bit in producing national-level models and designers, fashion photography, an important component of the glamour world, has been grossly neglected.
It is difficult to ascertain the root cause for its stunted growth. Fashion photographers and aspirants put the blame on lack of a good market. They say models are not willing to pay a decent amount on a portfolio and there is also lack of a good market to give boost to this allied profession, whereas models and fashion designers rue that lack of professional photographers here in the city forces them to go outside for getting their portfolios made. One of the reasons for models running to Delhi could be that though the city boasts of about 250-odd fashion photographers, including those operating from their homes, only a few have modern equipment. One needs to invest a minimum of Rs 2 lakh on camera and lights to set up a decent studio and it costs at least Rs 10,000 to do a proper portfolio. But as nobody is willing to shell out that kind of money on portfolios, it has proved to be a risky business for city photographers to invest in hi-tech equipment. “The city lacks professionalism when it comes to fashion photography,” says Sunil Bansal, a city-based fashion photographer. Fashion photography is not just about handling the camera, but it requires a proper understanding of fashion trends, including make-up and wardrobe, art direction,he adds. Armed with an engineering degree, Bansal started his studio eight years ago with well-known model Candy Brar. So much has changed over the years in the fashion scene, but the standard of photography here has remained the same, says Bansal. For many, the city itself is to be blamed for lack of growth. “There are not many clients who generate business here, nor many business houses to provide scope for the growth of fashion photography,” says Navneet Saxena, a freelance fashion photographer who also teaches photography in many city schools. However, Priyanka Singh, centre director of the National Institute of Fashion Design, Chandigarh, sees a bright future for budding photographers. “Making a portfolio is not a one-time affair, as looks keep changing and so do the requirements of the industry. For that models have to keep updating their portfolios so that business houses know about their current looks and chose accordingly,” she says. Though a few private fashion designing institutes, including NIFD, have started teaching fashion photography as a part of their curriculum, it is still considered to be in its infancy by veterans here. “One or two institutes which claim to be teaching photography are just teaching the basics. Such degrees do not equip one to be a professional fashion photographer,” says an artist. There are only a few institutions in India, which teach fashion photography per se, but one can learn the nuances by attending workshops conducted by famous fashion photographers, which are a regular feature in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, says Navneet. To be a true fashion photographer, one needs to develop, besides learning the technical part feel for fabric, fashion as a whole and the human psyche to get the best out of a model, according to Diwan Manna, a city-based photographer. “A modern outlook towards life is a must to survive in this field,” he adds. If you already know how to handle a camera and aspire to be a fashion photographer, here are a few tips from an expert. The best way to learn it is to work as an assistant for some expert. But in the absence of good teachers here, aspirants can try out periodicals on photography or books by renowned photographers.
|
|
Getting into shape after childbirth
Renu Manish Sinha
The birth of a child is a life-changing experience. But that is not the only thing that changes after your bundle of joy enters your life, the new mother’s body also changes to a large (pun intended) extent.
The routine of a new mom is an endless rigmarole of frequent feedings, diaper changes and taking over domestic responsibilities. Amid all this activity the motivation to get back to shape gets lost. So at the altar of sleep-deprived life of the new mother, exercise is the most obvious sacrifice. And yet exercise should be a top priority at this time of your life, says Chandigarh-based gynaecologist Dr Umesh Jindal. Because it is vital to re-educate the muscles that have become weak during pregnancy, she adds. Exercise also helps you to return to your pre-pregnancy weight and shape, says another Chandigarh-based gynaecologist Dr Sonica Chugh. Post-natal exercises offer many other benefits as well, asserts Dr Chugh. These include increased energy to cope up with the demands of new motherhood, faster healing process after birth, overall feeling of well being and health and reduced stress and post-partum depression. There is no fixed time to start your post-natal exercises but according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology resuming or starting your exercise routine should be based on your physical capacity. But always consult your doctor before starting any post-natal exercise routine, cautions Dr Jindal. It is essential to take time to recover as childbirth can place enormous strain on your body even if the birth was a normal one. While certain simple toning and stretching exercises like Kegel and isometric contractions can be started in the first week after delivery (strictly under your doctor’s guidance), Dr Jindal advises to wait till the stitches have healed. Normally after your six-week post-partum check up most doctors advise some sort of exercise routine unless you have had a Caesarean section, then the advisable waiting period is at least three months, adds Dr Jindal. During pregnancy and childbirth uterine, abdominal and back muscles become lax, Dr Chugh advises some simple leg raises and stretches to tone these muscles. However, if you had a Caesarean section, only deep or abdominal breathing is advised, along with simple toning exercises. Any exercise which puts pressure on abdominal muscles should be avoided for at least three months, she asserts. Ms Jasbir Kaur, owner of a gym in Mohali, says many women want to join the gym immediately after delivery but ‘‘we normally advise them to wait for at least a month before joining any sort of exercise programme. And even after a month I make them start with light cardiovascular and floor exercises for toning their abdominal muscles. These are for not more than 30 minutes. These may include walking on a treadmill, cycling and simple stretching exercises. This light schedule is of at least one-month duration depending on the stamina of the individual. No weights or jumping exercises are recommended for another six weeks after starting the post-natal exercises’’. Aerobics, too, are advised after three months even after a normal delivery, she adds. Simrit Dhanoa (29), a Mohali-based housewife and a mother of two kids, highly recommends post-natal exercises to new mothers. Simrit has had two Caesarean sections. Both times she gained over 15 kg during pregnancy. Six months after her both deliveries she joined a gym. Beginning with 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercises she increased it to 90 minutes and lost around 15 kg in four months after the first baby and 10 kg in two and a half months after the second delivery. She strongly recommends working with an experienced trainer as only a sustained effort will help you get back into shape which is not possible working out on your own. A dietician, Dr Neelu Malhotra of Mohali, recommends a high calorie, high protein diet for lactating mothers. However, only 500 extra calories are needed for new mothers making it roughly a 3000-calorie diet. She also advises an intake of at least three litre of liquids out of which one litres should be milk. Dr Jindal recommends calcium and iron-rich foods for lactating mothers. But fats should be strictly avoided, she says. So go easy on that ‘panjiri’ or just dry roast the atta and use ‘shakkar’ instead of sugar, suggests Dr Malhotra. A simple exercise routine and a sensible diet along with breast feeding will soon get you back into shape.
|
|
Drinking no longer taboo for girls
Since liberation is the new mantra, girls in their early twenties are catching up with men in drinking and smoking. For them treating themselves to beer, vodka, rum with coke, gin or smoking Marlboro is the ultimate indulgence.
A Sector 17 restaurant and bar owner confirms the trend. “At least 16 to 17 girls come to the bar daily”, he said. It is an assertion of freedom and identity. it is also a statement that if men can do it so can we. In cases of college-going or university students their parents are unaware of it. For these students a hostel or house of a student living alone or a party give them a chance to fulfil their craving. “If my parents came to know about it, they would be shocked and outraged,” confides a college student. “I never drink alone we are a group of five, including two boys. I see nothing wrong in it as long as we keep within our limit,” she says. Another girl says that she drinks only in discos to have a high. “I like to dance and I can dance three to four hours continuously after having a drink. Initially it was an occasional fling. Now it has become a craving,” she admits. Information gathered from several bars and discos reveal that number of women who drink or smoke is on the rise. Earlier this was confined to only upper class women. But now middle class girls, too have shed their inhibitions. While smoking in the open is not so common because it invites the public glare, however, a very few eyes are raised when they drink in clubs, bars or disco. “I don’t care what people think . My job of a high-profile marketing executive is strenuous and taxing. A drink in the evening helps me to unwind and relax. I also smoke sometimes to enjoy but only with friends,” said a 20-year-old Aneesha who was sitting in a Sector 35 hotel bar with her friends. Ninteen-year-old, Nishi (name changed), a college student, said, “I used to watch my father enjoying smoking and one day when my friend asked me to try it I couldn't stop myself. I started liking it slowly and now I smoke at least seven cigarettes in a day. Sometimes I do feel guilty about it but I find myself unable to stop it”. A city-based psychologist said “What is happening is that the youngsters who are habitual are adopting the habits of the age group of above them, which carry heavy medical and social costs. Girls, who are taking hard drinks frequently it is a matter of deep concern. Extreme of anything is bad and it should be checked at right time”.
|
|
A topper who wants to be lecturer
WHEN 21-year-old Purnima Sehgal says that she wants to be a lecturer in finance and accounting you can vouch for it. A topper throughout her school and college, she has won many prizes and scholarships.
She stood first in Panjab University in business and accounting scoring 64 per cent. She also stood first in M.Com first semester by scoring 87 per cent. She received certificate of merit, gold medal and scholarship of Rs 3,000. Acknowledging the contribution of her parents, teachers and friends, she says her parents propelled her to success . “I am very grateful to my college, DAV Sector 10, Principal, Mr S. Marriya. He has been encouraging me with scholarships. A scholarship is not just an incentive, but also a recognition of hard work,” Purnima said. Commerce is in her blood. Her father is the Head, Department of Commerce, DES, Panjab University. Her mother is the Head, Department of Commerce, GGS College for Women, Sector 26. Her sisters, too, have exemplary academic performance to their credit. She devotes at least two to three hours daily to studies. In exam times she can study for 12 hours. But Purnima is not a book worm. She likes dance and music. She enjoyed watching “Titanic” movie and it is still her favourite. Watching news channels is very gainful, she has realised. New clothes and perfumes put her on. Cosmetics also hold a pull for her. Her proud mother, Ms Rakesh Sehgal, says “We have given good values to our children. We have raised them in an disciplined atmosphere. We try to help her in every problem. I want my daughter to be on the top always. She should be highly educated and excel in her field.” My guy has to be very caring and understanding, she says with a smile. This draws immediate reaction from the concerned mother. “We are looking for a suitable match for her.Things are not easy for women in male-dominant society,” she says. OC
|
|
Under a unique project to introduce fresh look to khadi garments being sold in khadi stores at Chandigarh and Ropar, the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT) here has created a set of trendy khadi designs. These designs would be followed by the Punjab Khadi Mandal (PKM) tailors for mass production and make them available at the PKM stores across the state.
Giving information about the project, the NIIFT Director, Ms Vijay Sharma, said that the design samples had been handed over to the Khadi and Village Industry Director, Mr H.C. Upreti. ‘‘The project is now complete. We have given the KVIC, 20 new designs made in khadi cotton and silk,’’she added. Ms Simrita Singh, Assistant Professor at the institute and one of the design team members, told the Chandigarh Tribune that a large number of combinations were possible with khadi fabric. ‘‘A comparative analysis of the variations from the earlier or existing khadi garments was necessary. Use of accessories like laces, buttons, trims, piping and fancy decorative edging was done judiciously to give the garment enough personality as could be portrayed through its simple yet aristocratic lines,’’she pointed out. Ms Anu G. Gupta, another faculty and team member, said that a lot of effort had also gone in training the tailors to ensure that they understood the concept of the design and its elements. ‘‘Tailors were well versed with cutting but were found to be lacking in inputs on better methods that would enable them to give a better finishing to the garments, ’’she said. Mrs Sharma pointed out that visual display or window dressing would be an important facet for the presentation of these designs to the public. ‘‘Our design team would be going to the khadi store in Sector 22 to ensure that these designs are displayed well.’’she said.
TNS
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
