EDUCATION

Educating youth on the thrills of aviation
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 22
Aviation is a fascinating subject and nothing delights locally based retired IAF officer, Wg Cdr D.P. Sabharwal, more than disseminating facts and figures of flying among youngsters. Having authored eights books on aviation in five years, with another two about to be released, is no mean a feat.

His latest book, “Careers in Aviation”, was released by Air Marshal P.K. Desai of the Maintenance Command last Week”. The book targets students and professionals aspiring for a career in aviation and gives out details on opportunities and training establishments in the country.

His earlier books include “Flight: The Basic Book” brought out to coincide with the commemoration of 100 years of manned flight. The book covers all topics associated of flying, including the history of flight, military and civil aviation, technical aspects of aircraft and flight, aviation in India and a glimpse of the future.

Another interesting reading is “Cobras,” which details the history and operations of the IAF’s oldest flying unit No. 3 Squadron. This squadron was the first unit to be re-equipped with the such talked about upgraded MiG-21 Bison aircraft. Other books penned by him include aviation quiz books and books for professional examinations conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Most of the books are meant for the youth.

“Since retirement I have been associated with a host of seminars and student-related activities where I have often been asked about reference books on aviation. Since foreign books are expensive and there are hardly any by Indian authors, I decided to pursue writing,” Wg Cdr Sabharwal said.

A post-graduate in aeronautical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and M.Sc in Defence Studies, he worked on fighter aircraft, including the MiG-29, for 16 years and spent another nine years teaching at the graduate and post-graduate level in the IAF. Having authored 20 technical papers, he is presently a guest lectures in two Engineering Colleges in Chandigarh.

“A quiz book on space and a book on air-hostesses are awaiting release soon,” Wg Cdr Sabharwal said. “I am also planning to write a book on gas turbine engines as there is no such book by an Indian author,” he added. This project was also discussed with Professor B N Raghunandan, Chairman of the Aeronautical Department at the IISc, who is also a member of the international panel on air breathing engines.

Training programme for NIIFT faculty concludes
Our Correspondent

COURTS

Speedy justice a distant dream for senior citizens
Maneesh Chhibber
Our High Court Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 22
In a letter written to the Chief Justices of all the High Courts in the country on April 22, 1999, the then Chief Justice of India, Mr Justice Adarsh Sein Anand, had said that special steps should be taken by the High Courts to dispose of cases involving persons over 65 years of age.

He had requested the Chief Justices to issue instructions to the High Court Registry as well as subordinate courts “to identify and dispose of matters in which persons above 65 years of age are involved on priority basis”. However, for senior citizens, who are litigants in the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well as lower courts in the states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the hope of expeditious disposal of their cases continues to remain just a dream.

Sometime back, The Tribune had highlighted the case of Sodhi Haravtar Singh, 90, whose case has been going on in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the last over 14 years.

Despite the fact that almost half a dozen Judges have heard the case, it is nowhere near complete.

Another such case is that of Harbhajan Singh Saroa, a senior citizen, whose case for regularisation of service, payment of leave encashment and grant of pension is still to be heard.

Mr Saroa, who has been fighting a legal battle for getting his dues from the bank, which allegedly removed him from service on flimsy grounds, had also moved an application for early hearing, following which it was ordered that the case be heard within six months. But, so far, nothing has come out.

Experts say that one of the major reasons for the failure of courts to dispense justice in reasonable time is a large number of vacancies, particularly in the High Court.

As against the sanctioned number of 43, there are presently only 26 Judges in the High Court, leading to a huge backlog of cases.

Notes Punjab Advocate General Harbhagwan Singh. “There is a huge backlog of almost 2.60 lakh cases in this High Court. While it will be a good idea to have special provision made for dealing with cases of senior citizens, the same can work only if all the posts are filled.”

Incidentally, after receiving the letter of then CJI, the then Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Justice A.B. Saharya, ordered immediate implementation of the part relating to issuance of instructions to the judicial officers and High Court Judges to dispose cases of senior citizens. He had also sought a “report within two weeks” about such cases pending in the High Court. But despite such measures, for the senior citizens getting speedy justice is still a mirage.

Carnival on Nov 27, 28
Tribune News Service

Kerala Bhavan to come up soon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 22
Malayalee Samajam, Mohali, comprising Keralites residing in Mohali, Chandigarh and Panchkula, will have a Kerala Bhavan on a 2 kanal plot in Sector 65, Mohali.

The plot is near the PCA cricket stadium and has been allotted by PUDA. Construction will start in a couple of months. The main objective is to foster the culture of Kerala in Punjab, rendering an opportunity to the locals to interact and learn about Kerala.

The samajam is also planning to bring out an address directory which would serve as a data bank for Keralites residing in 
the region.

LIFESTYLE

Yukta loves all things traditional
Swarleen Kaur

Miss World 1999 Yukta Mookhey flashes a smile dressed in a red Jaipuri saree teemed with a conventional Punjabi jutti. As she passes her fingers through silky highlighted tresses, a traditional diamond ring adorning her finger glitters after catching the rays of overhead lights.

Yukta — a picture of poise and grace — loves things that are conventional. “I loves wearing traditional jewellery,” she smiles. “You will find me mostly in sarees or salwar kameez. It goes without saying my jewellery matches my outfits. The stuff I wear is essentially elegant and enhances my personality”.

It is her love for traditional things that is, perhaps, coaxing her to direct a movie ala Guru Dutt. “I have another dream — of becoming a director. I am inspired by Guru Dutt. That is why my movie will have fragrance and quality which Guru Dutt imparted to his movies”.

The fair lady, however, is not so traditional as far as the concept of marriage is concerned. “At least in this life I have no plans of tying the knot even though I believe in love and am very passionate and romantic.

In Chandigarh for the inauguration of a jewellery showroom, she adds, “There is also a writer in me, waiting to unleash the magic of the pen. Someday, I will pen down my experiences in an autobiography. It requires a lot of sincerity and honesty.”

Talking about herself, Yukta says she won the Mrs World title after defeating 93 contestants. She admits that the title catapulted her to Bollywood. “Otherwise I had set my eyes on a career in mass communication and public relations or joining an advertisement agency”.

Talking about her school days, she says, “Being five feet, ten and a-half inches tall, I just could not bunk classes like other students because my height made my absence conspicuous”.

She adds, “During my college days also, I became the object of everybody’s attention. Even hawkers or panwallahs used to comment on the `tall’ girl’s absence or presence”.

Yukta adds with a twinkle in her-eye “But there is an advantage of being so tall. I can spot things at a distance and I do not get lost in a crowded place”.

A member of BJP, Yukta has a high opinion of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “This explains my foray into politics”.

Well, what else she intends to do? “I would like to do youth oriented talk shows”, she asserts.

She has a couple of movies in her hand. “I am very selective about my roles and I do not want to reduce myself to the image of a glamorous doll. I want to be remembered in Bollywood for my good work. I do not even wish to do a small role in a big banner movie. I would prefer a big role with new directors. Script is very important to me”.

The beauty with conviction is bent to set some standards for newcomers. Lets hope she keeps it up.