EDUCATION

PAU not to hold veterinary entrance test
K.S. Chawla

Ludhiana, May 4
The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed the Bill for the establishment of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University at Ludhiana but it awaits President’s assent. The Secretary, Animal Husbandry, of the Punjab Government who has been designated as the Vice-Chancellor of the new university in the Bill, has asked Punjab Agricultural University not to held the entrance test for admission to B.V.Sc and animal husbandry course of the College of Veterinary Science, a constituent college of the PAU till now.

The College of Veterinary Science located on the PAU campus has been transferred to the new veterinary university under the Bill. The provision of the College of Veterinary Science is mandatory under the Haryana and Punjab Agricultural University Act 1970 passed by Parliament.

The Secretary Animal Husbandry, said: “As the new academic session (2005-2006) will begin in the new university, necessary arrangement for the printing of prospectuses may be made immediately so that the process of admission is started as and when the Guru Anged Dev and Animal Science University Bill-2005 comes into force.”

At the same time, the Secretary has asked the Registrar of Punjab Agricultural University to delete the courses from the university prospectus which have been transferred to Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

Meanwhile Dr. V.K. Sharma, Registrar of the PAU said. We have deleted the courses related the College of Veterinary Science from the prospectus and the new prospectus of the PAU would be available from May 6.

PAU staff protest non-payment of salaries
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 4
The teaching and non- teaching employees of PAU today staged a demonstration against the non-payment of salaries for the months of March and April. They said, it was for the first time that the salaries of the employees of the PAU had been delayed for two months.

The demonstration was jointly organised by the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association, the Punjab Agricultural University Employees Union and the Punjab Agricultural University Class IV Workers’ Union. The speakers at the demonstration criticised the Punjab Government for delaying the grants to the university which led to the delay in the payment of the salaries.

The speakers said, this was too obvious that the government was not in a position to meet the financial requirements of the PAU, how it could run the Guru Angad Dev University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. They observed that the government appeared to be quite indifferent towards the plight of the employees working in the university.

The employees said, the delay in the payment of salaries had led to severe hardships to them. Most of the employees have to pay the fee of their children as in these two months the educational expenses of the children are incurred. They demanded that it should be made mandatory that the employees were paid salaries on the first day of every month so that they do not suffer the delay.

School holds talent hunt competition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 4
A talent hunt competition was organised at New Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, here yesterday. The function started with the lighting of the lamp followed by the singing of Vande Matram. The chief guest at the function was Mr Sunil Maria, president, School Managing Committee.

The function was presided over by Ms Inderjit Bakshi, AGM State Bank of India.

More than 50 students took part in the contest. The function was divided into two parts namely — fancy dress competition and dance competition. The fancy dress competition was further divided into two groups — Group I consisted of students from Classes I and II and group II consisted of students from Classes III to V. The dance competition was also divided into two groups —Group ‘A’ consisted of students from Classes IV to VI. And group ‘B’ consisted of students from Classes VII and VIII. The judges were Mr Brij Bhushan Bansal and Ms Madhu Bansal.

In fancy dress competition (Group I) Anjala was first,Sonika came second and Aman was third. In Group II Ramandeep came first, Bharat was adjudged second and Mitika got the third prize.

In dance competition (Group A) Manpreet Kaur came first, Bharat Sharma was adjudged second and Harsimran was declared third.In group B — Gurinder Singh was first, Kriti Seth was second and Sakshi Kapoor third.

The president praised the efforts of the students in preparing for the contest. She said such cultural functions should be encouraged so as to develop respect for our cultural heritage.

All the winners and the participants were given trophies and merit certificates. The students who had stood first in the annual examination held in March 2005 were also given trophies and merit certificates.

KVM bags declamation trophy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 4
The 12th inter-school declamation contest was organised by the Nehru Sidhant Kender Trust here today at the trust complex in memory of Jawaharlal.

The chief guest for the occasion was Mr Yash Paul Mehra, DEO, Ludhiana.

The contest was held in English, Punjabi and Hindi. Forty eight students from 24 schools vied with one another for the first three positions. Students spoke with elan and expressed their views confidently on topics related to education, politics, corruption and social problems.

Lieut-Col (Dr) D. B. Sharma, organising secretary, said the trust was distributing scholarships to 550 students from weaker sections of society. He told the audience that Sat Paul Mittal School a unit of Nehru Sidhant Kender Trust had earmarked 10 per cent of the seats for the meritorious but needy students.

The results are as follows:

English: Karan Khangura (I), Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines Sidhant Srivastava, and Anubhav Malhotra (2), Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar &DAV Public School, Ludhiana Rabeyg Dhillon (3) -Sacred Heart Convent School Consolation Prize- Garima Prabhakar-Tagore Public School Special Consolation prize - Aseem Pandher Sat Paul Mittal School

Hindi: Shalini (I), BCM Arya Model School Sheeba Soin (2), Kundan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines Tarunpreet Chawla (3) DAV Public School Consolation prize-Tanseem Abbas KVM School-City Branch Special consolation prize- Satyam Kalia-Sat Paul Mittal School

Punjabi: Chamanpreet Kaur (I), Guru Nanak International Public School Dapinder Kaur (2), Baba Isher Singh Secondary School Lovika (3). Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udhanm Singh Nagar Consolation prize- Kuljeet Kaur- GGN Public School.

The overall trophy was bagged by KVM, Civil Lines, Ludhiana.

Parents’ panel holds protest

Ludhiana, May 4
The parents committee of Nankana Sahib Public School (Gill road ) who are at loggerheads with the school authorities over raise in fees took out a protest rally against the hike. Mr Mashesh Inder Singh Grewal, secretary, Education Trust, Nankana Sahib, and trust member Mohan Singh, Principal, Ms Parminder Kaur Sekhon, assured the president, Mr Jang Jasbir Singh Gill, general secretary Anand Priya, vice-president Ragbir Singh and cashier Balwinder Singh of the parents committee that they had discussed the matter with Bibi Jagir Kaur and she had assured that she would reduce the fees.

The second demand of the parents was that teachers should not take private tuitions. Otherwise they should be removed from their jobs. The other demand was that they should not be forced to buy books from the school. The parents got the assurance that they were free to buy books from the market.

The parents said that they would wait till the end of the month for the school to reduce the fee before intensifying their agitation. OC

KV annual function

Ludhiana, May 4
Kendriya Vidyala Baddowal Cantonment celebrated its annual function here today. Parents were given a warm welcome by the students who sang and danced on the welcome song. Mr K.L. Anand, principal, read out the annual report. The chief guest, Col Rattan Singh, Commandant 17 FAd, and Ms Vijay Singh gave away the prizes.

The cultural programme was thrilling and exciting, especially the Naga dance. The National Integration dance won the hearts of all, as it represented all states of the country. OC

Rally against privatisation
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, May 4
Anti-Privatisation Teachers, Struggle Committee organised a protest rally at Municipal Children Park yesterday. Activists of Government Teachers Union, SCBC Teachers Union, Adhyapak Dal, and Democratic Teachers Front and Government School Lecturers Association attended the rally.

Tiny tots present show
Our Correspondent

Doraha, May 4
Tiny tots of Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Doraha, presented a cultural programme here today to commemorate Labour Day. Teachers and students dressed themselves in red.

Mr Sukhpal Singh, chairman of DIMT, spoke on the importance of dignity of labour. Mrs Gurpreet Kaur, too, presented her views.

CULTURE

Preety enthrals with melodious voice
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, May 4
Preety Bhalla charmed the city audience with her melodious voice. She was invited by the Sutlej Club to sing on the Baisakhi function held last week . According to the cultural secretary, Mr Sanjeev Dhanda, Punjabis are always looking for occasions to celebrate, so one can celebrate Baisakhi throughout the month of April.

Her rendering of ‘Dama dam mast kalandar’ made the audience sway with her. Her ‘Bheege honth tere’ and ‘kanta laga’ made the audience go wild. Preety has made her mark in music world with her song ‘Dama dam’ (Sufi composition) from her album Jalwa II.

She has a vast vocal range and is a versatile singer.

She said, “My Marathi-flavoured song ‘Saangu naka’ was nominated for new talent in the Immies MTV Music Awards. My song with Baba Sehgal in Punjabi film ‘Nalaik’ has also been well appreciated .”

Preety can be called ‘pretty woman’ as her winsome looks and her melodious voice charm the audience. Talking with Ludhiana Tribune , Preety said ,”I have been passionate about music since my childhood. I think I have inherited the talent from my parents as they are both good singers. My mother is M.A in music) and father a former merchant navy Captain who also sings well. An MBA myself , I took training in classical music from many gurus.”

Preety has also featured in a music video and given solo conserts in Pune Festival 1998. She rendered background vocals for a Markand Deshpande film “Daanav” which was selected for Cannes Film Festival.

She is currently singing for albums, ad-films, television serials and films. She has sung a number of popular film songs.

Gurbhajan Gill — poet who touches your heart
Lovleen Bains

Doraha, May 4
Gurbhajan Gill is a poet who ventures through time and space with his literary imagination and foresighted vision. The ultimate aim of his writings is to expose and purge society of its foibles and shortcomings in the most rational and formulative style.

He portrays with wisdom the cultural and moral values, the dehumanisation of humans, the onslaughts of globalisation, the disruption and favouritism prevailing in society, the environmental degradation the moral stagnation and shallowness of relationships. The phase of terrorism and the hitherto estranged relations between India and Pakistan seem to have shaken his 'sensitivity' as a writer. The nostalgic 'vision' of pre-independent Punjab, the love and faith that kept the Punjabis intact and the final division of hands, hearts and humanity, find a place of prominence in his literary works. He feels like Mathew Arnold that "we are here on a darkling plain---where ignorant armies flash by night" and is disturbed to find as Wordsworth ''what man has made of man".

Gurbhajan seems to wage an eternal war against hunger, orthodox customs,economic exploitation, stagnation and corruption, indolence and blind faith when he says:

''Jindagi de samooh sarokaran lai,

Mehakdian Baharan te gulzaran lai,

Nikki jahi ladai nari,

Bahut sare dushmanan de khilaf,

Karoran Bahan naal ladanan hai.'

(In order to enjoy life to its fullest and to herald a new era of peace and prosperity, we have to fight a big battle against a number of 'foes' with countless arms).

The freedom that India attained in 1947 holds little significance for Gill as he feels that it brought crude divisions and slavery for the people of Punjab. He quotes his mother in one of his poems, who he says has till date not been able to reconcile with the fact that India is an independent country. He expresses this feeling in the following lines:

'Santali wele ujaran di gal, Maa de man to lahindi nahi,

Main lakh wari samjhaia eh,

oh is nu azadi kahindi nahin'.

(My mother can't forget the partition of 1947. Hence she refuses to regard it as independence inspite of my repeated claims).

The nostalgic vision of the poet, when the bonds of understanding, compassion, fellowship and goodwill were snapped forever, is the dominant theme of his recent creation ''Khair Panjan Panian Di,'' the turbulent times that his land of five rivers witnessed, shakes his being. He writes:

''Ravi te Beas mainu kai vaar puchade, kehri gallon dovein hi Punjab rus gaye.''

(Ravi and Beas rivers question me time and again, why are the two 'Punjabs' annoyed with each other)?

The poet feels that people have gained nothing but lost all by fighting without logic. The following lines convey his thought process:

''Sarhadan, hoddan, baal baal

Asi larh larh mar mar vekh liya,

Ik duje de ghar saar saar,

Asi kole kar kar vekh liya.''

(We have attained death by creating boundaries, we have burnt our own homes in the process).

His heart yearns for the time when the ''healing fountain shall start" and ultimate peace shall be restored on the two lands.

''Bandiyan te rok sarhad taar kandiali khari,

Kaun dak sakdae bhala das haukiyan da kafala''

(Wires can restrict the human inflow but emotional ties know no boundaries).

Gurbhajan Gill is a prolific writer and has published half a dozen collections of nazams, ghazals and geets, including 'Sheesha jhuth bolda hai'' (1978), ''Har dhukhda pind mera hai'' (1985), ''Bol mitti dia bawea'' (1992), ''Agan katha'' (2002), ''Mann de buhe barian'' (2003), ''Dhardi naad'' (2005), ''Phullan di jhangar'' (2005 ) and ''Khair panjan panian dee'' (2005).

Born at Basant Kot, Gurbhajan Gill post graduated in Punjabi from SCD Government College for Boys, Ludhiana . He has received a number of awards for his poetic excellence, including Bhai Veer Singh Award (1979), Shiv Kumar Batalavi Award (1992), Bawa Balwant Award (1998) , Prof Puran Singh Award (2002) , Giani Sunder Singh Award (2002), S S Misha Award (2002), Safdar Hashmi Literary Award (2003), Principal Sant Singh Sekhon Memorial Award (2003), Surjit Rampuri Award (2005) and Balvinder Rishi Memorial Ghazal Award (2005 ).