Exhibition on progressive farmer
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 5
A two-day photo exhibition on the success story of Mr Mohinder Singh Grewal, a farmer of Punjab, was organised by the Fine Arts and Photography Club of Punjab Agricultural University at the Students Home, here today.

On the occasion, a recently published book, “Mohinder Singh Grewal: A farmer with a mission”, authored by Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, was released. This is probably the first book written on a progressive farmers by a scientist in India.

Inaugurating the exhibition, the Vice-Chairman of the Punjab Planning Commission, Dr Sardara Singh Johl, said Mr Grewal had shown how need-based innovations enabled one to optimise ones profitability from a small holding through innovations, multi-cropping and indigenously developed technologies.

The exhibition shows how he keeps his fields green through new crop sequences and keeping in view the market requirements, labour availability and weather conditions. These achievements have been recognised at the national level.

Dr G.S. Nanda, Director, Research, PAU, said the varsity had recognised Mr Grewal’s contributions by awarding him the Dalip Singh Dhaliwal award recently.

Earlier, Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu, Director, Extension Education, said the university wanted to involve such progressive farmers in its programmes so that their expertise was taken into account while formulating the extension programmes of the varsity.

NIIFT fashion show held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 5
Thirty models from Mumbai and Delhi took part in a catwalk, flashing outfits by students of the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT), here on Sunday. It was organised in collaboration with Doubloon- The Gold Coin.

The models sashayed down the ramp in colourful dresses with trendy and ethnic handwork, including zardosi, stone work, salma and mirror, creatively done on the fabrics. The models wore a blend of Indo-Western outfits with latest cuts. The work of the budding designers matched the models' personalities.

Said the Mumbai-based choreographer of the event, Vijay Roy, “We have put in efforts to make the event successful. I hope that the people of Ludhiana will appreciate our efforts and hard work.” The models included Ankur Choudhry, Angela Sharma, Ankita Garg, Anup, Avneet, Arpana, Meenakshi, Dhrup, Maghna and Preet.

Desh Seva Divas observed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 5
Shaheed Memorial International Society observed the 38th Desh Seva Divas at Ramgarhia Girls College here today. Mr Hirla Lal Gabaria, former MLA, honoured 350 students at the function. Three doctors, Dr Rama Sofat, Dr B.P. Misra and Dr Pushpinder Singh, and three professors, Prof Manjeet Randhawa, Prof Kulwant Kaur and Ms Narinderjit Kaur Saini, were honoured.

Ms Manjit Kaur, Deputy District Education Officer, Mr Charanjit Mahal, Principal of Guru Nanak Girls College, Mr Harish Chander Gupta, Principal of New Senior Secondary School, Ms Maninder Kaur, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Ms Harminder Kaur, Principal of Saini Public Senior School, Ms Manjit Kaur Lotey, Principal of Har Krishan Public Senior Secondary School, Mr Nahan Singh Kaler, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Ms Malkiat Kaur, Headmistress of Government Girls High School, Ms Yachna Chawla, Headmistress of USPC Jain Public School, Mr Surat Singh, Principal of Nirdosh, and Ms Nivedita, Principal of Ek Prayas, were honoured. Fifty teachers were also honoured.

From Schools and Colleges
10-day NSS camp concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 5
A 10-day NSS camp at the Khalsa College for Women here, which was attended by 147 volunteers, concluded today. Dr Harkamal Sidhu from Gurdev Hospital delivered a lecture on population explosion. Ms Dwinder Kaur, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, educated farmers on protecting crops from rodents.

Mr Sham Sunder Juneja from Children's Traffic Training Park delivered a lecture on the importance of traffic rules. The volunteers visited the park, where they were informed about avoiding road accidents. Ms Manmeet Grewal from Agaaz, a non-government organisation, delivered a lecture on social activities and welfare projects. Mr Sarabjit Singh from Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle educated the students on the need to reduce drug dependence.

Traffic directed: Twenty NCC cadets of the Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women directed traffic at the busy old Sabzi Mandi crossing here from 10 am to 1 pm on Tuesday. The Principal of the college, Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, motivated the students to learn traffic management.

Modelling team: The modelling team of LCFT, Katani Kalan, stood first at the three-day technical-cum-cultural Law Fiesta-2004 at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, which concluded on Monday. The team comprised Shikha, Deepika, Kajal, Sunaina, Vishavjeet, Jatin, Ashish, Deepak, Sameer, Rajat, Priyanka, Anu and Simranjeet.

NSS camp ends: A 10-day NSS camp at Ramgarhia Girls College concluded on Tuesday. The students who secured the top three positions were honoured. 

Desert musicians cast a spell
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, October 5
The Nehru Sidhant Kendra resounded with the vibrant notes of singers of the Manganiyar and Langa tribes of Jaisalmer, casting a spell on the audience here today.

Pandey Auditorium came alive with the glorious desert folk culture with the exhilarating performance, including that of two young boys yet to enter the teens. The programme was organised by SPICMACAY in association with Sat Paul Mittal School. Children from various schools were invited so that they could be exposed to cultural heritage.

These tribal singers have music in their blood and are well versed with classical ragas. The leader of the troupe, Khete Khan, said, “We do not get any formal training. The children learn the ragas while playing. Music is our legacy. The Manganiyars have Hindu patrons while Langas have Muslim patrons. We get gifts from them at festivals and the birth of children."

Two boys, Butey Khan and Ashraf Khan, not even in their teens, sang a Rajasthani song in their young high-pitched but trained voices. Jalal Khan sang “Hicki” in raga Bhairvi while Bindu Khan sang “Gorpath” that describes the decoration of a camel on which a rider goes to meet his beloved.

One thing that strikes the uninitiated audience the most is the khartaal, essentially a set of four wooden pieces. But in the hands of Khete Khan, they came alive. The music that he strikes with them using his deft and skillful fingers takes you to another world. His body’s rhythm matches that of the khartaal. His jugalbandi with the dholak was moving.

The piece de resistance of the evening was “Dama Dum Mast Kalandar”, sung with such passion that it was virtually a spiritual experience for the audience. Another moving presentation was “Nimuda”, popularised in a movie, which is actually a folk song that they also sung for French radio in 1982.

“The instruments used were khamaycha , murli, surnai, afgoza, morchhang and khartaal, which have existed in India since ages,” said Khete Khan at a press conference after the performance. They often gave performances the world over and their talent was hugely appreciated, but in their own country they were being ignored, he said.

These tribes, keeping traditional Indian arts alive, had not been getting any support from the government and they had to subsist on the favours extended by their patrons. They were grateful to Komal Kothari, founder of National Folklore Support Programme, New Delhi, who helped these artistes by recognising their worth, otherwise, said Khete Khan, the tribes would have been lost in the sands of Jaisalmer.