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PU declares MA results
Chandigarh, June 12
CELEBRATED: Maharana Pratap Jayanti was celebrated by the Rajput Student’s Aid Society, Chandigarh, today. Parliametary Secretary, Punjab, Rana K.P. Singh, said Maharana Pratap’s high, noble and exalted idealism, spirit of self sacrifice and capacity to undergo sufferings should inspire everyone. Chairman of the Punjab Rajput Mahasabha, Raghunath Singh Rana presided over the function. Dr Pardaman Singh, President of the society, traced the nature of Maharana’s struggle against the Mughal empire.
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School summer camp ends
Dera Bassi, June 12 Besides fun and frolic, the students participated in a number of activities like cookery, art and craft, acting, dancing, dye and tie, spoken English, crash course on personality development, communication skills, table manners and etiquette and splash pool. A visit to historical place and education-cum-picnic trip by the students added more excitement to the camp. The students also presented a cultural programme to mark the camp, claimed Dr G.S. Rekhi, Director of the school. Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur, Director of International Polytechnic for Women, Chandigarh, who was the chief guest on the valedictory function, lauded the creative talent of the students.
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Deepak Manmohan for UK
Chandigarh, June 12
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Author’s insight into Bhagat Puran Singh’s life
Mohali, June 12 The Principal of Yadvindra Public School, Mohali, Mr Dhillon teaches English and has earlier written on many historical and fictional themes. “I have never met Bhagat Puran Singh but I have been extremely impressed with his personality and work. From a young age, the baba deliberately chose a life of poverty and want. He never passed high school and ultimately found his vocation in helping those who needed help the most,” said Mr Dhillon. “Also important was to notice the role played by his mother in his life. I believe that despite the fact that women have been through the ages suppressed and exploited, she is a much stronger individual than any man can ever be. The baba’s source of strength came from his mother,” he said. Author of “The Legend of Banda Bahadur”, “The Lives and Teachings of the Sikh Gurus”, “The Love Stories of Punjab” and a book of short stories in English, “After the Storm”, Mr Dhillon has also written “Kali Saver” in Punjabi. “When I took up this subject I realised that others have already documented Puran Singh’s life in great detail. There is ‘Garland Around My Neck’ by Patwant Singh and Harinder Kaur Sekhon and ‘His Sacred Burden’ by Reema Anand. Both are beautifully written biographies of the baba, very well researched and brought out. But I thought that these two works had missed out on the ‘story’ of the baba. I have tried to narrate that story to the reader.” “My book might not be looked upon as an authoritative source of information on the life of Bhagat Puran Singh but it is readable. Symbolism has not been used to complicate the story. The style is simple, almost naive, and since I write mainly for youngsters, the effort is to use words that are within the understanding of the reader,” he adds. Mr Dhillon found that Puran Singh’s unique logic of the way he ran the Pingalwara was one of many striking facts about his life. “He did not want to institutionalise the foundation. He had even said it on many occasions that he was not just helping the poor but also in many ways serving the rich by making them feel that they had to contribute towards helping the poor. He ensured that the Pingalwara continued to remain dependent on the charity. This saved the Pingalwara from the control of politicians or other institutional forces. It is not amazing to see that years after his death, money continues to pour in from Punjab and abroad and the contributor is sure that it would be used well.” “And it is equally remarkable that his principles are being followed even today by Dr Inderjit Kaur who is the adopted daughter of baba. She continues the hard work with the dedication and selflessness of her father,” said Mr Dhillon. |
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Natak Akademi to dish out interesting
Chandigarh, June 12 Vowing to promote art instead of reducing it to an object of entertainment, chairperson Kamal Tiwari said the akademi would work to create and cultivate a discerning audience for the three streams of performing arts - theatre, music and dance. “We have to avoid the forces of commercialisation and ensure that genuine talent gets support. Also, there is a need to check the credibility of several institutions that are making a quick buck in the name of art.” As for the annual list of events, it begins with a theatre workshop by GS Chani this June. From July onwards the calendar becomes even more impressive with famous screenplay writer Amrik Gill coming to Chandigarh to hold a workshop. Hailed for his dialogue writing in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”, Gill will also bring a production of his Living Theatre to town. Other artistes tapped for this year’s events include gurbani sangeet singer Dr Jagir Singh, rababis from Pakistan and Hans Raj Hans among others. |
Poonam awaits good offer
Amid the sweltering heat and the jostling crowd appears a pretty face. Cool vibrant looks, crystal clear eyes, yesteryear actress Poonam Dhillon surfaces, wearing a charming smile. It didn’t take long to realise that here is a beauty transcending age barrier. This correspondent held on to some fleeting moments with her at the airport today from where she headed for Ludhiana for her play “The perfect Husband”.
She was just back from Bangalore after a show of the play. From the industrial city she will fly over to London. In all, 35 shows of this comedy play will be staged. The play is directed by Nitin Jagdish and has been penned by three writers, Ashwini Dheer, Kajal Ojha and Ashutosh Sena. Suraj Thapar is playing the perfect husband’s character in this play. “My kids and theatre are keeping me busy these days” she smiles. “Does big screen not attract you much now?” A reply comes straight from her heart. “I am happy doing my little bit and if I will get good offer, then I will accept it.” She will be seen in “Hum hai naa”. She has one son and one daughter and has no plan to launch them in Bollywood. The Chandigarh-born actress feels that the city should have a film studio. Being the heartthrob of the north region, the city is well-suited to house a studio. She knows the city well as she has received her school and college education from here. She opined that the Chandigarh administration and the Tourism Department should give more facilities to artistes. Poonam is all for discarding ban on smoking scenes in films. “Though I am not in favour of smoking at all, ban won’t work much,” she averred. Suraj Thapar and president of “Yatri” theatre group Rekha Sahay were also heading for Ludhiana along with Poonam Dhillon.
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A bureaucrat who is a poet at heart
“De bagwaan bhi kaise dilaasa inh gulon ko, kaanton ki ikk saleeb perr latke huye hain jo...” or “Phool hi toa bataate hain mausam ka nikhrna, phir inhin masumon perr mausam ka kehhar kyon....”
The couplets expressing the nobility of thought and felicity of verse by well acclaimed litterateur Usha R. Sharma eulogises her intense longing for nature and humanity. The bureaucrat maestro, while talking to the Chandigarh Tribune opined that a poet is blessed to be an omniscient person gifted with the virtues of a visionary who represents the cultural ethos of the human race. The adage ‘Coming events cast their shadows before’ is a veritable summation of the persona of Usha if her accomplishments in varied aesthetic and literary realms are to go by. Besides being a luminary academician with two postgraduations and having a fair knowledge of French, gardening, she has also participated in AIR and Doordarshan programmes. She played lead female in classic plays like Mohan Rakesh ’s “Ashad ka ek din”, “Pair talle ki zameen” and Badal Sircars ‘Baki itihas, saari raat”. The inquisitive artiste in her had persuaded and prompted her to travel on scooter all the way from Patiala (where she was posted) to attend rehearsals and shows in Chandigarh way back in the eighties when only a few females dared to venture in theatre activities. With the growing official and family responsibilities her artistic blaze melted into literary form with ‘Ek Varg Aakash’, hitting the stands in 1997. Encouraged by the positive critical appreciation she never looked back and enriched Hindi literature with a book almost every year and a chain of publications followed with “Pighlati Sanklen”, Bhoj patron ke Beech”, “Dosti Hawaon se” and short stories “Kyon na Kahoon”. However, she established her versatility as she captured the grandeur of Urdu poetry in ‘Parinde dhoop ke’ and the majesty of English rhymes in her innovative endeavour ‘Heart to Heart’. All her literary creations encompass the joys and sorrows, trials and tribulations of the common man. Expounding the divine mysticism of saints and sages she is a strong proponent of our rich cultural heritage and ethical values. Chandigarh-bred Usha, presently serving as Special Secretary, Punjab Government, owes the credit of her literary achievements to her inspiring husband, Col Suresh Kumar. On relationships she quips “Mere khwaab ka markaz unki justju nahin, Vo phir bhi gar naraaz hain naraaz hi sahii”.
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On a mission to spread Punjab: culture
Punjabi pop singer Paramjit Singh, aka Pammi Bai, is strongly averse to vulgarity and nudity in his musical albums. He says that only those musical videos hit the market which could be enjoined by the whole family. He stressed upon the need to impose a ban on vulgarity on television.
His album ‘Nachde Punjabi’ has recently come into the market and this time he has sung two songs with a Pakistani singer Nasebo Lal. “I want to bring the two countries closer through my music”, he said. The Patiala-based singer is on a mission to spread Punjabi culture and its folk music everywhere. Besides singing, he is also trying his hand at acting and has played a few small roles in films. But he is determined to be a performer and will never be a playback singer. He performed on the occasion of silver jubilee celebrations of Press Club, Sector 27 today and enthralled the club’s members and their families with his passionate voice.
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