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PU may withdraw fee concession
Chandigarh, May 20 Under the existing PU rules, the wards of the PU teaching and non-teaching employees and employees of the affiliated colleges can avail 50 per cent fee concession if they get admission in the NRI-sponsored category, the fees of which is very high in comparison to the fees charged for the general category students. If the PU Syndicate accepts the proposal on Saturday, it would imply that if a student takes admission on the basis of this fee concession in his first year, the concession could be withdrawn in subsequent years of his study if his parent retires from service. Till previous session, the wards once eligible to avail the concession at the time of admission, continued to avail it despite their parents’ retirement during the course of study. Meanwhile, sharply reacting to the proposal Dr Ronki Ram, president of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), today said, “It is wrong and anti-employee proposal. In any case, the employees are not getting any pension in the university once they retire and the minimum benefit available to them after service, the concession to their wards, is also being withdrawn. The university Syndicate should not go ahead and pass this item.’’
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‘Merit ignored’ in selection of PU readers
Chandigarh, May 20 Sources say that in all 12 candidates, five from within the department working as lecturers and seven from outside, had applied for the two regular posts, which were advertised by the PU recently. The selection committee selected one lecturer serving currently in the department and another candidate from outside the university. Senior faculty in the department, on condition of anonymity, says that the selection of the “less experienced candidate” has caused resentment and is likely to “create further rift in the faculty”. The selection committee has given its approval to the already serving lecturer, Ms Anupama Sharma, with nine years of experience, while, sources say, candidates with 12 to 14 years of experience with Ph.Ds were not considered by the selection committee.
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School holds investiture ceremony
Chandigarh, May 20 A prize distribution function to honour the meritorious students was also organised on the occasion. The topper of each class was given a scholarship of Rs 250 per month. The scholarship awardees were Dashmeet, Arnav, Pandey, Akshita Kapur and Ashita Singh. Meanwhile, “Fruit Day” was organised in the school premises. The tiny tots of pre-KG learnt the importance of fruits. The concept of peeling and washing of fruits was also explained to the children. A fruit chat was prepared for the kids. The director of the junior wing, Simar Grewal, was also present on the
occasion.
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PU may go in for internal assessment
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 20 While the assessment for regular students is based on lecture attendance and class participation, for correspondence students the assessment would be based on home assignments that are submitted twice in an academic session. “After the university introduced the internal assessment system in the undergraduate and postgraduate courses recently, we decided to introduce such a system for our students as well. Since the very character of the department is different, we decided to implement the internal assessment through assignments submitted by the students,’’ said Chairman of the Department, Prof Devinder Singh, today. The proposal for the introduction of internal assessment for the correspondence students also features on the agenda of the Syndicate meeting scheduled to take place on Saturday. The department currently has 14,000 students enrolled in all streams. The chairman added that though they would begin the introduction of internal assessment by evaluating “response sheets’’ , another effective way for the implementation of the system could be worked upon in subsequent years. “It is not that the assignments were not being evaluated all these years. In fact, the assignments submitted by the students were evaluated. But we were not including the marks and grades awarded to these assignments in the scores obtained in each subject in the final exams. However, if our proposal is implemented, we will start adding the marks of the response sheets in the final scores,’’ added Prof Singh.
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New teaching aid introduced
Panchkula, May 20 The Gurukul, Sector 20, has introduced these interactive boards as a
teaching aid for students. A combination of the traditional blackboard and the modern computer, this computer operated board, with a custom-made software for schools, serves as a multi-purpose tool. A huge white touch screen board which is attached to a small projector and computer. The teachers play educational CD Roms and also incorporate their own specially designed lesson plans in the software. Information can also be downloaded from the Internet and used in class room teaching. All lessons are saved in the Smart Board and can be shown again. Even print-outs can be taken out and given to students side by side. The pictures or text can be increased or decreased in size by the touch of a finger, which also serves the purpose of chalk. Mr Sanjay Thareja, director of the school, says that the benefit of this smart board is that it is as wide in scope as the imagination of a teacher. “Seeing and doing things on your own can make learning faster. By this aid, students are taught lessons using virtual classroom concept,” he says.
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A fun-filled start to vacations
Mohali, May 20 The function started with a dance item by the kids of the junior section followed by water activities. Kids soaked themselves in a splash pool to beat the heat. The school also concluded its nutrition week. “Our good eating habits can keep us away from various seasonal diseases and it is always advisable to avoid junk food. A home cooked healthy meal can be the best medium to keep us healthy and strong,” Jaya Bhardwaj told the students. Students were also given their attractive assignments for the vacation. The school had implemented a unique concept of summer assignments to replace the tedious concept of home work. Students were also given certificates for the summer workshop by the Principal.
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Ban on construction
activity at night
Chandigarh, May 20 Issuing the order under Section 133 Cr P C, the Additional District Magistrate said: “You have caused nuisance to the general public by carrying out construction of a three-storey house (585/16-D)round the clock and stocking construction material on the berms and on the road thereby causing obstruction to the general public ...” The Station House Officer of the Sector 17 police station has been directed to display the order at the site and ensure that no construction work in the house is carried out before 8 in
the morning and after 7 in the evening.
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Five booked for filing false case
Chandigarh, May 20 It may be recalled that Jagtar Singh and four others had filed a complaint on April 22 alleging that Vijay Kumar and his son Navnish Kumar had made an attempt on Jagtar’s life. They had alleged that after a scuffle, Vijay and Navish tried to stab Jagtar Singh. He had claimed that he had been injured and had also filed a medical report in his complaint. The issue stirred up a row after the father-son duo was arrested by the police on the charges of an attempt to murder. Irate shopkeepers of Sector 15 blocked the road and raised slogans against the alleged partisan role of the police. Following the protests, an inquiry was marked to the CIA wing of the UT police which, after investigation, yesterday registered a case of false evidence, voluntary causing injury and criminal conspiracy against Jagtar Singh and others. The then SHO of the Sector 11 police station Jaswant Singh Khera had also been transferred to the Police Lines after protest on April 22. Mr Om Prakash, DSP Crime Branch, told Chandigarh Tribune that Jagtar, who has two criminal cases registered against him in Bathinda, had inflicted the injuries on his own person and then got Vijay Kumar and his son arrested on the charges of attempt to murder. According to the police, Jagtar had reportedly been hired by the two property dealers — Jaskaran Singh Bajwa and Amritpal Singh — who wanted to get the property vacated from Vijay Kumar.
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From mythology to war — Sagars do it all
Chandigarh, May 20 As for Moti Sagar, one of the two famous sons of the man who brought the sacred ‘Ramayan’ to millions of Indian homes, the observation is nothing less than a complement. Sojourning in Chandigarh today, he told The Tribune in an exclusive interview: “We inherited novelty from our father. When he made the ‘Ramayan’ for the Indian television, the industry was still in its nascent stage. Obviously he generated heated debates. It was sheer commitment that saw him through a tough task. We have only followed in his lines. We are now making a film on the prisoners of the 1971 War. This will be our first film after 1985 when we released ‘Badal’ and ‘Salma’.” The other famous films from the repertoire of the Sagars are “Aarzoo”, “Aankhein”, “Geet”, “Lalkar” and “Charas”. Besides contributing actively to films, Moti Sagar, along with brother Prem, later embarked on TV productions that became trendsetters for the otherwise lackluster Indian TV fare. Titled “Dada Dadi ki Kahaniyaan”, “Bikram aur Betaal”, “Hatim” and “Alif Laila”, the programmes changed the definition of TV entertainment, so much so that they became part of the staple diet children grew up on. That familiar experimental streak still drives the creative artiste in Moti Sagar who is ready with another novelty, this time for cinema. After 20 years, the Sagar family is venturing back into film production and its creative heads have rolled a theme never experimented with earlier. He says, “Our latest film is called ‘1971’. Although it is based on the aftermath of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, it is not really a war film. It is a story about six prisoners of war who could never make it back home. For the first time in the history of Indian cinema, we have broached such a sensitive topic, the one that concerns hundreds of widows and their families in India. We met families of POWs who never returned. We are still interviewing some.” Being produced by Moti Sagar and directed by his son Amrit, a passout in film direction from the California College of Arts and Craft, the film has been structured in the adventure format. “But its base is true. The script has been written by NSD alumnus Piyush Mishra, who is also a key character in this all-male star cast film.” The director has deliberately cast low-profile stars in the production, lest attention gets deflected from key issues. Moti Sagar explains, “We cannot afford to dilute issues as vital as emotions. Also, we wanted actors with great substance. So we settled for Manoj Bajpai, Ravi Krishen and Piyush Mishra in the lead roles.” Casting of the film took a year. Being shot in Kulu, it will be released in August this year. |
Theatre of message and mission
City-based theatre personality Zulfiqar Khan of Theatre Age group is not only a man with a mission but also the one with a persistent will to achieve his goal. Giving a chance to live a better life to the underprivileged children has been his aim for the past 15 years and his passion for theatre has shown him a way to do this in an effective way. He believes in making society a better place for everyone, especially children.Thus be it running a school for slum kids since 1992 or giving the message of religious tolerance and harmony through the medium of theatre and through his play “Ek Safar Dard Ka..” , his aim is to build a better society where there is sensitivity for the underprivileged and love and respect for human values. The artiste in him envisages a society where human values are not sacrificed on the altar of sinister designs of the power hungry. While sharing his thoughts, he says it is the lust for power which makes a handful of people create a wedge in the hearts of neighbours and friends and that religious fanaticism strangulates humanity and relationships. The play, which will be staged at Tagore Theatre on Saturday and Sunday evening, is not only about the clichéd message of communal harmony, it also touches on the sensitive human relations that transcend the barriers of religion and countries and the pain of losing their dear ones. Borders are artificial lines but they change the destinies of people. He says, ‘‘I have tried to portray that if persons belonging to two different religions can live in harmony under one roof then why not in one country. This message of communal amity may be cliched but it bares the irony of knowing that God is one, but not practising it in real life’’. Building up the script from K.L Zakir’s novel ‘‘Karmawali’’, Zulfiqar tells the story of Karmawali’s son who is left behind in India during the Partition melee. The child is brought up by a Sikh cleric in the true spirit of Islam and both father and son share a strong bond even while belonging to different religions. The Sikh cleric withstands stiff opposition from friends and villagers to bring up his Muslim son. Karmawali who was separated from her son at the time of Partition due to religious fanaticism is once again separated from him due to the iron fist of law. Lyrics are by Shumz Tabrezi and music by Sanjeev Kapur the play has four songs with moving lyrics, says Zulfiqar. The cast includes Jainendra Singh, Anita Shabdeesh and Tej Bhan Gandhi. Among the 40 actors performing in the play are also the children from slum areas who are getting a first hand experience of theatre. ‘‘Theatre brings public recognition for these kids which acts as a deterrent for them and saves the generating a sense of social responsibility’’. Zulfiqar, a post graduate from the theatre department of Panjab University, has worked with stalwarts like Habib Tanveer and Anamika Haksar in Delhi and Pankaj Kapur and Satish Kaushik in Mumbai. ‘‘I had been working on the script for the past five years but it was only in the last one month or so that I actually gave a shape to the concept’’, he adds.
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Kids theatre fest rolls at Fragrance Garden
Fragrance Garden in Sector 36 was unusually active this evening. Under the charge of volunteers from the Centre for Education and Voluntary Action (CEVA), the venue resounded with joy as children enacted their problems on the first day of a community theatre festival.
The ongoing Children’s Community Theatre Festival, the sixth in the series, is all about helping children understand the nuances of life, with theatre as a tool for learning and instruction. It marks the culmination of the workshops which CEVA organised in five schools across the city. The ritual is to wrap up every festival by showing the people what each children’s community theatre workshops led to. From the workshops come the plays which form a vital part of the three-day show. Supplementing the theatre festival is Friends of Children’s Corner where anyone interested in creating activities for children can sign up. Naturally, the corner attracted several volunteers, including parents, students, even professionals. In the theatre festival section, the students presented two plays today. The first one titled “Zor Ka Jhatka Dheere Se” was all about the menacing stress which has innumerable sources. Through well thought out characterisations, the students of SGHSSS, Sector 38, drove home the theme brilliantly. Then came the turn of children associated with the NGO - Youth Technical Training Society - to present a play on prevalence of superstitions. Called “Jadu Mantar Kala Tantar”, the play was hilariously structured to represent a serious issue. Tomorrow’s plays will include - “Doosra Gabbar and “Kuchh Khatta Hai Kuchh Meetha Hai”.
TNS
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Abhijit plays sarod with élan
Pracheen Kala Kendra today hosted a special programme, featuring a sarod recital by Abhijit Roychoudhury, a noted instrumentalist from Lucknow.
Abhijit had his initial training in music from his father Dr Uma Shankar Choudhury. He later learnt the intricacies of sarod from Bhola Nath Bhattacharjee of Lucknow, who was a disciple of Ustad Amir Khan of Kolkata and Ustad Allauddin Khan of Maihar. His recital displays his virtuosity and imagination. Abhijit began his recital by playing the complex raga Jhinjhoti. He rendered alaap, jod and jhala, followed by a composition in Vilambit teen taal. Then came faster compositions in drut ek and teen taal. The alap was well structured and rendered. It made a good base for better, more challenging musical pieces which Abhijit presented with élan. Notes flowed systematically and the techniques of sarod were also well represented. Raga Jhinjhoti as such is a mesmerising raga and bears a close resemblance to Desh, Bihari and Pahari. Abhijit displayed both gatkari and gayaki angs (musical and lyrical parts) well. His next item exhibited his masterly approach to raga Charukeshi, based on teen taal. He produced a blend of fluency with great attention on the raga and the rhythm. Abhijit has been famous for his unique Thok-Jhala presentation. The systematic manner of musical evolution which he adopts lends an aesthetic feeling. His style of quick turning of notes from soft passage to brisk movements was equally pleasing. Then came a Bengali folk melody with which Abhijit concluded his recital. He was accompanied by Avirbhav Verma on tabla.
TNS
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Designer wear on display
A haute collection for hot summer months is on display at Ganeev Creations’ exhibition in Sector 9 here. The exhibition, which started today, will continue till Sunday. A wide range of designer wear includes sequined pieces, skirts, tops, embroidered suit pieces and other fancy items. The organiser of the exhibition, Ms Rani Lamba, said the collection had been put together by a Delhi-based export house. Meanwhile, a range of Kashmiri sarees is the main attraction at a designer wear exhibition being held at hotel Mezbaan in Sector 17. The exhibition will continue till tomorrow. Georgettes and chiffons dominate the collection. Semi-formal suits and ponchos are also on display under the label of Dareaab. — OC
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