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Contest to prop up young writers held
Chandigarh, December 12 At least 60 students from 40 schools participated in the contest held for the first time in Chandigarh. Headed by Ruskin Bond, a jury panel would decide the best entries in the contest being held in 2000 schools across 12 major cities in the country. The competition was open to students from Class IX to XII and
the participation of more than 40,000 children across the country were likely to participate in it. The participants were asked to write a short story on any of the subjects-- A Perfect Morning, The Candle and the Mirror, In Search of Beauty and Flight 307. The best 12 stories would be selected and compiled in form of a book. The winner of the Young Author Contest will be awarded a seven-day trip to England for a literary tour covering London, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Edinburgh. Mr Chand Das, Chief Executive ITC Greeting Card Business, organisers of the event, said the contest was started last year to provide a platform for budding writers among the students to showcase their talent and an opportunity to develop it through interaction with some of the country's literary icons. He said the contest would help to discover hidden talent and to encourage students towards literary pursuits. After the success of the contest in 2003, poetry writing had also been included. The contest was being held in three stages culminating in a national final in Mumbai. Each city final winner would get a cash prize of Rs 1000 and a gift hamper from classmate notebooks. At the national level finals, the jury panel would go through the stories of the students from the city finals and short list the best 12 stories.
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Students decry ‘police presence’ on campus
Chandigarh, December 12 The two students, Harpreet Singh Harry, NSUI president, and Vishal, went on fast to press for condonation of lectures, were forcibly picked up from outside the VC’s office by the police and admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16, after their health started deteriorating. Earlier, four students were on fast among whom two were picked by the police. The students have been demanding condonation of lectures and issue of roll number. Following this, two more students, Sumit Malhotra of Department of Laws and Prithpal Jeet Singh Sangha of University Institute of Legal Studies sat on fast.
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Shirdi Samaj temple case: Kalia’s plea disallowed
Chandigarh, December 12 While dismissing the application, Mr R.K. Mehta, Civil Judge, yesterday ordered that there “appears to be no requirement to implead applicant as defendant in the suit.” Mr Kalia had pleaded that the temple should also be pleaded in the suit saying the compromise reached two parties was the result of collusion between them. The alleged elected office-bearers of the Samaj, a registered body under the Societies Registration Act, had filed a suit seeking stay and directing the defendants from interfering in the affairs the society. However, later on May 30,2004, both parties reportedly reached a compromise, which was opposed by Mr Kalia alleging that the elections to the office-bearers were never held. The Judge also dismissed the main suit following a compromise between the two parties.
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Evening of bhajans at
Plaza organised
Chandigarh, December 12 The evening started with a bhajan in the praise of Lord Krishna ‘ teri murli pe ho gaya fida’. It was followed by ‘teri tasveer kaya dekh lee saanwariya’ and
‘main to baanke ki baanki’. In the end the soulful ‘ dama dam mast qalandar’ was rendered which filled the ambience with spiritual notes. This event was organised by Department of Tourism Chandigarh Administration and Oasis events. |
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Hundreds audition for
game show
Chandigarh, December 12 As they filled registration forms , it was evident that the youth were hopeful of winning a forture. Manohar Gill said: “I trust my stars. If destiny wills, I can open the gate to success which is the privilege of a chosen few.” Sadashiv Kumar was emphatic. “ I have come just to accompany
Manohar. I do not think that I will ever win prizes like this. Taking part in these programmes is a waste of time. I would rather watch an English movie or take a walk than be part of the game.” At least 600 city residents had came for the auditions. Sixty to seventy persons will go to Mumbai. Age is the only criteria for the show. Participants should be above 18 years and should have an impressive personality. |
Nature trails draw young riders
Sundays are meant to be lazy and moreso in winter when there is a blanket of fog. But there are some children for whom Sundays have an altogether different meaning. Their Sundays are packed with adventure.
Children of the Chandigarh Horse Riders Society (CHRS) in Chandigarh can’t wait for the clock to strike six in the morning on a Sunday. Excitement writ large on their faces, they arrive well before 7 am to embark on their journey. Riding horses for over an hour is fun for them, as they keep their eyes peeled for wild animals and birds. The nature trail and cross-country ride with six to eight riders, for children aged between seven and 15 years, and adults, supervised by two experienced riders, lasts from an hour to half-a-day. On longer rides, the CHRS team provides a packed meal or a barbeque at a scenic location. It gives the horses rest and the riders an opportunity to interact and explore the new location. Thirteen-year-old Nawab Matharoo says, “It gives me a high. I have spotted five peacocks while riding through the jungle and watching them in their habitat is far more interesting than seeing them caged. I go home and narrate my experiences to my friends and family who are in awe of these.” Spotting three wild cocks and a hen, excited Jannat Gill enough to repeat the nature trail. “I can’t go on every such trail because there are so many in the queue but look forward to my turn with expectation since I don’t know what will come my way on the next visit. On several occasions we have spotted sambars,” she says. The general secretary of the CHRS, Mr Jessie Toor, says, “Most of the horses are well trained and the riders are matched with the horses depending on their riding ability and the temperament of the horses. The route is selected carefully to expose the riders to different situations, including undulating terrains, rivulets, streams, agricultural fields, forests and traffic.” “The pace varies from a trot to a canter and occasionally a gallop. After the ride, the riders are encouraged to visit the stables and learn the basics of horse care. Invariably over-subscribed and booked in advance, the cross-country rides enable the children to explore the forests and agricultural tracts around the city,” he says. “This is a good way to expose the children and adults to nature and the outdoors while at the same time giving them an opportunity to exercise and socialise” says Mr Jaikaran Sandhawalia, joint secretary of the CHRS. This year, Chandigarh riders, with the help of CHRS and the Chandigarh Sports Department, won seven prizes at the recently concluded National Horse Show conducted at the Territorial Army grounds.
TNS
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Protect chest
to check
cold: doc
Running noses, sour throats, mild fever and dry skin. With mercury dipping in the city with each passing day, the residents are already facing the winter blues in Chandigarh.
The cases of the flu and cold are on the rise. With more and more persons complaining of morning and late evening chill. The weather is also detrimental for the asthmatic patients whom the doctors are advising to rely more and more on the inhalers. “The key to check cold in the winters is to protect the chest with warm clothing. If the cold chill affects the chest the person can fall ill very easily. At the more complicated stage, the infection, if not treated in time, could develop into severe bronchitis infections too,” said Dr G. Dewan of the Government Hospital, Sector 16. Common cold should not be neglected. Accompanied by headache, body ache, fatigue and irritation, it poses a big distraction while performing daily chores. Moreover, the easily controllable infection can become chronic if not treated in time. The best relief for the cold symptoms is the inhaling of steam, especially before sleeping at night. The addition of eucalyptus to the boiling water for steam is also effective. Sipping herbal tea and the other hot fluid in addition to taking adequate rest also helps if the person has caught cold. “The anti-biotics course is also prescribed by flu, where the temperature comes down within three to four days,” add doctors. The season is particularly severe and testing for the persons suffering from asthma, which can at the best be controlled, but till date does not have any cure. Doctors says since the pollen levels are high in the season, asthmatic patients should avoid morning walks and the inhalers should be used for soothing breathing. As for the skin, which could turn extremely dry in winters, the in-take of plain water or the fluids without preservatives would keep the skin supple and the soft.
TNS
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Ru-ba-ru with Dr Trikha
“Kaise umar guzari likh, likh apni lachaari likh, Mir -O-Ghalib fakar karen, aisi ghazal kanwari likh..” is reflective of the psyche of the reticent poet and journalist, Dr Chander Trikha. He evaluated the virtues of pathos which was certainly not within the conceptual grasp of an adolescent as he scribbled “Har khushi do chaar din ka rog hai,dard hi kaam ayega taa-zindagi”.
“Poetry is the articulation of inner urges and tensions in an inimitable archetype of words, phrases and metaphors”, he said at a largely attended programme organised by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi at the State Library complex here today. He shared his experiences of his journalistic career during which he served the Daily Milap, Navbharat Times and The Tribune group of newspapers in various capacities. He elaborated his encounters with people like Morarji Desai on the latter’s biography which he published based on 15 interviews of the then Deputy Prime Minister. The audience enjoyed his renditions of poetry from his books “Pashan Yug”, “Shabdon ka Jungle”, “Kali Nadi ke Uss Paar” and “Dost, Ab Parda Girao”. He negates the diabolic attitude of barbaric agents of instability through terrorism in his couplets “Sab ke kandhon pe apni laashen theen, aaj sooraj ke ghar mein raat mili” and “Kaun dehshat bhar gya Monalisa ki aankh mein, kaun thaa, muskaan ke jo mookzevar le gaya”.
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Christmas spirit prevailed at the annual function of the pre-primary section of Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, in Chandigarh on Sunday. Bedecked for the occasion, the little angels gave a splendid performance, which kept the parents glued to their seats. Sprinkled with acts of innocence, tiny tots presented a short play ‘ The Benevolent Divine Child’, followed by the Christmas carols. Christened “An Exuberant Rendezvous”, the participants convinced their parents that the door to heaven was only for those whose benevolence and love overpowers their materialistic desires. The tiny tots through an item “Babies Burden” brought the woes of babies of overprotective and ambitious fathers. Prayer song, Bhangra, dandia and harvest dance of farmers added colour to the day. Other items were musical picnic party, aerobics and boogie woogie. The function ended with the participants singing Christmas carols. Mr D.S. Mangat, DPI ( Schools), Chandigarh, was the chief guest. TNS
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