The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Celebrating the genius of Kaifi Azmi

Shabana, Javed, Baba, Tanvi Azmi make it to the show
Chandigarh, December 23
Very few creations live up to their source. Rani Balbir Kaur’s production spanning the life and times of Kaifi Azmi is one such show that shines with theatrical class and directorial elegance alike.

From left: Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Tanvi Azmi and Baba Azmi in Chandigarh on Thursday to attend the presentation of a play based on the life of Kaifi Azmi.

Transfer CBSE officer, says rights body
Chandigarh December 23
The local unit of the Lawyers for Human Rights International (LHRI) today demanded a judicial inquiry into the allegations of sexual harassment made by certain staff members against the Regional Officer of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Mr P.I. Sabu.

Sons of banker held for snatching mobile
Chandigarh, December 23
The police arrested two brothers a few minutes after they snatched a mobile phone from a student in the Sector 20-C market, last evening.

UT police review ignores Burail jailbreak
Chandigarh, December 23
Taking its annual report on crime in 2004 in a flippant manner, the Chandigarh police today failed to even mention a word about the sensational Burail jailbreak case, which shook the nation. However, surprisingly, claims about even solving petty crime have found mention in the review.

All flights to Chandigarh cancelled
Temperatures drops significantly in region
Chandigarh, December 23
Cold wave gripped the north western region as the temperature dropped significantly in comparison to the last few days. As the blanket of fog remained firmly in place, air and rail traffic across the entire stretch from Amritsar to Delhi was disrupted severely for the second day in a row.

2004: IN RETROSPECT
The year gave GMCH regular head, new block
Chandigarh, December 23
The long-pending inauguration of Block C of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, was the highlight of 2004.

2004: IN RETROSPECT
Police busted flesh trade rackets as other crime cases rose
Panchkula, December 23
The year 2004 would be best remembered for the police overdrive in busting flesh trade rackets and failing to control the spate of burglaries and snatchings in the district.

COMMUNITY

Harpal suggests free flow of medicines between India, Pak
Chandigarh, December 23
“Free flow of patients, medical samples and medicines will not only help promote medical tourism between India and Pakistan but also help the two neighbours to further improve their healthcare systems,” says Mr Harpal Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Fortis Healthcare Limited.

The meaning of Christmas
IN any enactment of the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth, you will not miss the three wise men who came from the East and presented the baby in the manger (in Bethlehem) gifts-gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:12)

Leopard cub dies due to alleged negligence
Chhat Bir (Patiala), December 23
Deeya, a female leopard cub, that was bought by Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park located in Chhat village, 20 km from Chandigarh, for rehabilitation from the Wild Life Institute of India, Dehra Dun, has died.

Pak military stumbling block: seminar
Chandigarh, December 23
While the people of Pakistan are all for friendly and cordial bilateral relations with India, it is the military in that country which is proving to be the stumbling block. Though the recently introduced peace initiatives are a step in the right direction, peace and an amiable environment between the two countries could be a long way off.

Anti-terrorist front mourns Rao’s death
Mohali, December 23
The All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) in an emergency meeting held at front office here today a former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

CRIME

Firing over property dispute
Kharar, December 23
A dispute over property led to firing at Daon village near here. No one was, however, injured.

Boy hurt in blast dies
Zirakpur, December 23
Mr Vinod Kumar, a 10-year-old boy, who was admitted to the PGI, Chandigarh, with serious head injuries he received in an explosion at Bhabhat village near Zirakpur yesterday, succumbed to injuries this morning.

9 bags of poppy husk seized
Mohali, December 23
The police seized nine bags of poppy husk, worth Rs 1.5 lakh, at Tangori village here today.

5 women shoplift suits worth Rs 30,000
Mohali, December 23
Five women shoplifted six heavily embroidered suits, costing more than Rs 30,000, from a boutique in Phase II, here last evening.

Gang of thieves busted
Panchkula, December 23
The police has busted a gang involved in chain snatchings in the district and recovered six gold chains from the three gang members.

EDUCATION

Christmas functions in schools
Chandigarh, December 23
Christmas was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in various city school today. Students sang Christmas carols and Santa Claus distributed sweets to them. At Shishu Niketan Public School, Sector 43, the programme began with a welcome song.

Students of Guru Nanak Public School (Junior Wing), Sector 37, participate in a Christmas function held on the school premises in Chandigarh on Thursday.

Students of Guru Nanak Public School (Junior Wing), Sector 37, participate in a Christmas function held on the school premises in Chandigarh on Thursday.

IIM aspirants back to the grind mill
Chandigarh, December 23
After the initial euphoria of having come out with flying colours in the written examination of the Common Admission Test (CAT), IIM aspirants of the city are back to the grind mill, beginning preparations to face the interview and group discussion.

NIFD students hold X’mas bash
Chandigarh, December 23
Students of the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD) today organised a Christmas bash here today.

Students of the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), Sector 8, Chandigarh, celebrate Christmas bash at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Christmas celebrations in Mohali schools
Mohali, December 23
A Christmas party was organised for tiny tots of Spring Valley Public School, Phase VII, here. The children came to school in fancy outfits. They were distributed cakes and other gifts by Santa Claus.

From Schools
Students give benevolent touch to X’mas celebrations
Panchkula, December 23
Christmas was celebrated in Shishu Niketan School, Mansa Devi Complex, with fervour. Santa Claus found favour with children by distributing goodies to them. The centre of attraction was the bedecked Christmas tree.
Students of Satluj Public School, Sector 4, Panchkula, in a light mood during their annual function on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Project to provide counselling to adolescent girls
Kharar, December 23
A preparatory workshop in connection with a special project planned for providing counselling to adolescent girls of government senior secondary schools was organised here today.

Students sing carols
Zirakpur, December 23
Students of Guardian Angels Public School, here yesterday celebrated Christmas with great enthusiasm.

Lecture on patents organised
Chandigarh, December 23
Need for awareness for the library professionals on patents was stressed by Dr Neelima Jerath, Joint Director (Environment), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, at a lecture on “Patents Awareness for Library Professionals”. The lecture was delivered at the Department of Library and Information Science, Panjab University, here today.

Santa tells kids to say goodbye to bad habits
Zirakpur, December 23
Students of Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, celebrated Christmas on the school campus here today. The celebrations started with singing of Christmas carols in the morning assembly.

CULTURE

New Releases
Rituparno Ghosh’s Hindi offering
I T is poised to be a good week for Bollywood with line-up of three films. What is interesting is that all three established banners have tried something different.

LIFESTYLE

Vasundhara, Kalapini enthral residents

PANCHKULA had a date with melodious and divine music as the strains of soulful renditions by Vasundhara Komkali and her versatile daughter, Kalapini Komkali, reverberated the indoor auditorium of the Bhavan Vidyalaya complex here today. The ecstatic experience was indeed a rarity for the city audience.

Vocalist Vasundhara Komkali (left) and her daughter Kalapini perform at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma
Vocalist Vasundhara Komkali and her daughter Kalapini perform at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula, on Thursday.

PU students to stage ‘Daayan’
STUDENTS of the Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, have endeavored to prepare and stage a social play ‘Daayan’. The play has been directed by Chander Shekhar, a student, under the observant eyes of the faculty.

Plays mark year of scientific awareness

THE Punjab State Council of Science and Technology and the National Council of Science and Technology celebrated the year of scientific awareness by staging Punjabi plays at the Tagore Theatre on Wednesday. The plays, originally written in Bengali and Malayam, were adapted and scripted in Punjabi, said Gursharan Singh, chairman of the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Punjab and Chandigarh chapter.

Rani Balbir Kaur enacts a sequence during the presentation of “Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Hasin Sitam”, a play based on the life of Kaifi Azmi, Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

HEALTH

Spinal centre to start functioning by mid-April: minister
Mohali, December 23
he Regional Spinal Injury Centre, Mohali, will start functioning by the middle of April, 2005. Mrs Gurkanwal Kaur, Minister of State for Social Security and chairperson of the general body of the centre, disclosed this during a meeting of the body held in Chandigarh today.

SPORTS

Sabeeha Dhillon

Sabeeha to attend 7-day training camp
Chandigarh, December 23
City-based international rifle shooter Sabeeha Dhillon will take part in a seven-day training camp to be held at the Tughlakabad Shooting Range, near Delhi. The camp is being held under the supervision of world renowned air rifle shooting coach Lazslo Szucask from Hungary. Sabeeha look forward to meet Mr Lazslo after a gap of four years. He was on a contract with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) at that time.

ADMINISTRATION

Estate Office told to issue NOC to booth owner
Chandigarh, December 23
The Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services) has asked the Estate Office to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Mr Bhupinder Pal Singh Pannu, a resident of Sector 35.

Head Constable suspended
Panchkula, December 23
The Superintendent of Police, Ms Mamta Singh, today placed under suspension a Head Constable for the allegedly sabotaging a police raid on drug peddlars in Pinjore.

New SHO
Mohali, December 23
Mr Raminder Singh was posted as SHO, police station, Phase I, here yesterday. Mr Raminder Singh was working as Inspector in the Mohali control room. He has been posted in place of Mr Jagjit Singh who was transferred to the Police Lines, Ropar on Tuesday.