C H A N D I G A R H   S T O R I E S


 
EDUCATION
 

1,071 admissions to Class XI on day one
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4
A rush of students, anxious parents and 1,071 admissions. That was the scene on day of counselling for centralised admission to Class XI in local government schools being held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, here today.

The remaining seats under the reserved categories would be transferred to the general category, counselling for which begins tomorrow, said a senior officer in the UT Education Department. Around 1,000 candidates are expected to appear for counselling tomorrow.

Today, students reached the venue well in advance and were accompanied by their parents. The maximum number of applicants belonged to the Scheduled Caste category and nearly 900 appeared before various committees.

As the day advanced, there was chaos at fee collection centres also at the venue where more and more students started queuing up as the process of admission gathered momentum.

According to information available, all the science seats under the Scheduled Caste (SC) quota were filled in the GMSSS, Sector 16, GMSSS, 35, GMSSS, Sector 37, and GMSSS, Sector 40. While a total of 496 seats were filled in science stream, 242 students were admitted in commerce and 224 in humanities. The vocational stream also saw 109 admissions.

The cut off percentage under the reserved category was GMSSS, Sector 16 (61.1 %), GMSSS, Sector 35 (64.8 %), GMSSS, Sector 37 (46 %), GMSSS, Sector 40 (49.6 %), and GMSSS-19 (53%). Similarly in the commerce stream the cut-off in GMSSS-16 was 52.1 per cent, in GMSSS-19 (48%), GMSSS-32 (46.6%), GMSSS-35 (55%) and in GMSSS-40 it was 56 per cent. All reserved seats in the commerce, humanities and vocational streams could not be filled.

The officials said the number of seats filled in different streams were science (286), commerce (132), humanities (178) and vocational (106). A total of 785 students were admitted in the SC category, 61 in sports, 23 in the wards of freedom fighters, 187 in defence and 15 in physically handicapped category.

The admissions for the general category students get underway tomorrow and will continue till July 20.

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Foreign students visit Mohali school
Our Correspondent

Mohali, July 4
Delegates from 19 countries visited Sanjay Public School here today under a global exchange programme, “Project Worldview”. They came from counties like The Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Taiwan, Kazakhastan, France, Germany, Thailand and Italy to conduct interactive workshops on cultural education, career opportunities, environmental issues, social awareness, sports and activities, music and dance.

Ms Harveen Kaur from the AIESEC. who is the project coordinator, said the project aimed at bringing people from different countries on a common platform working towards a common vision as one team.

The project aimed to make efforts to imbibe the spirit of sensitivity and understanding of different cultures by challenging the worldview of the people.

The foreign interns suggested various innovative methods to strengthen the education system. Dr Don Misha from the Netherlands said that these type of programmes provided a better platform for learning by giving the students a holistic picture of today’s world.

Ms Jidith from France said the exchange programme would help in creating leaders with a strong sense of social responsibility by empowering young learners with all necessary skills.

Mr T.R. Sethi, chairman of the school, said these types of programmes and projects should be undertaken regularly at these would help strengthen the education system by developing a multi faceted personality in students.

He said the foreign delegates were received with bouquets by tiny tots of the school. An interactive session was held with the teachers of the school.

The workshop will be for two months. The delegates would be visiting some other schools of the area as well.

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AIESEC interns interact with students
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4
A team of 20 interns from AIESEC was accorded a warm welcome at DAV Public School, Sector 8, here today, where they will interact with the students and exchange views on numerous topics.

The team of interns in due course of time will be dealing with issues like leadership, entrepreneurship, cultural sensitivity, social responsibility under the Project Worldview with an aim to challenge the view of young minds and give them a more holistic picture of the world today and empower them with all necessary qualities to make them responsible and successful citizens of the world.

The idea is to foster the concept of globalisation and its impact amongst the younger generation studying in the school, said Ms Usha Jindal, coordinator teacher at DAV Public School. The Principal, Ms Sarita Manuja, said, “By engaging our school with AIESEC Project Worldview, we have attempted to provide a window to our students through which they envision a global perspective to their learning. We are sure that the whole exercise would lead our students and teachers enriched and empowered.” 

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Life returns to city school campuses
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4
Life returned to private school campuses with the re-opening of city schools today. The one-and-a-half-month break, full of summer camps and workshops, study sessions and playful moments all came to an end today and all schools marked almost full attendance in classes.

Opening sessions are always full of their fair share of confusion and excitement and today was no different. Confusion because invariably there are mix-ups about pick-up times, and excitement because the new term is a time to reforge friendships and acquaintances, show off new holiday acquisitions and catch up on news accumulated during the summer holidays.

Buses ferrying children showed up late even as parents waited at the bus-stops. Later, most of them chose to drop off their wards to school rather than wait at these stops. The students ended up being late for the morning assembly in a handful of schools.

The first day of school was full of refresher courses and a look ahead at the term. Teachers largely went over the material covered before the holidays and laid out the teaching plans for the new semester. Most schools got over early and classes will begin in earnest only tomorrow.

While most government schools opened on the July 1, private schools in the city had the opportunity to enjoy the weekend as well. So its back to the grind for most and until the next vacations, it is all about book, tuitions and extra curriculars.

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Running from pillar to post for result
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 4
Hundreds of students turned up at the examination hall of Panjab University today to know their results of BA (honours) final year. Despite running from pillar to post, they couldn’t know their result.

Earlier, the authorities had claimed that they had sent the detailed marksheets to respective colleges of the students.

While counselling for MA has already begun, students are still looking for their result. Apart from this, even BA students whose results were declared RLA and ML are struggling to know about their result.

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SSC exam on July 19
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will hold the computer skills test of qualified candidates of Tax Assistant (Income Tax and Central Excise), Examination, 2004, on July 19 here.

According to Mr Naresh Virdi, Deputy Regional Director of the SSC here, the call letters have been despatched.

If any candidate does not receive the call letter by July 6, he or she should contact the SSC Office in Karuna Sadan in Sector 9 here.

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Case against Bhatti adjourned
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr BK Mehta, today adjourned a case against noted comedian and president of the Nonsense Club Jaspal Bhatti till August 12.
Mr Mehta had earlier stayed proceedings by a lower court and issued notice to the respondent, Mr Vijay Singh Bhardwaj, for today.

In his application before the court, Bhatti had argued that his summoning under Sections 295-A and 298 of the IPC by the court was against law.

The case, filed by Mr Vijay Singh Bhardwaj, prachar pramukh of the VHP, dates back to July 21,2004, when Bhatti and members of his Nonsense Club held a demonstration in Sector 17 mocking at the wrong prediction of the Weather Department about the monsoon. The demonstrators had mocked the Hindu gods, which hurt the religious sentiments of the majority community, it was alleged.

Among others, the rain god, Indira, was invoked in such a way as to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus. It was also alleged that a “mock yagya” was organised and Hindu rituals were performed to make fun of the Hindu gods.

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Waiting in the wings to rock
Samreet

Alena
Alena 

Anjali Selena Krishen a.k.a. Alena is a “jolie femme” with a velvety voice, one who has the talent to make the world rock to her tunes. An upcoming singer, she is determined to carve a niche for herself in the world of music.

Music happened very early in her life. She was inspired to take up music by her brother Jay, who is an accomplished pianist.

Another influence that she swears by is her mother. “She has played a very positive role in my life. She has supported me through the thick and thin. In fact, she is like a cornerstone of my life, my anchor.”

Though she has spent very little time in the city, ironically it was the city that propelled her towards her first encounter with fame. While a student at Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh; she participated in a competition organised by the French Embassy and went on to win the National French Nightingale title at Delhi.

And she has never looked back ever since. She has formed a band along with her brother, christened “Jay and Alena”. They are inspired by Yanni and wish to make some very serious music, which cuts people to the deep.

Their forte is fusion — western rhythms and lyrics on a very strong Indian base. Not willing to follow the crowd, she says: “I want to be creative and original. I would certainly like to hear people say ‘wow, they are good! Let’s listen to them’.”

While studying in Australia, she had teamed up with a Filipino band, “Third Dimension”. Besides, she has given several live performances in Delhi, Bangalore, Malaysia and of course France.

So why choose India over the West where people are indeed more receptive to her kind of music? “West was a good learning experience but India is home. It sometimes takes a lot before you realise the real value of the things you have left behind. Shifting my base to India was a very conscious decision I made after weighing the pros and cons. Music is a universal language. You do not connect with people only at a linguistic front, rather you do so at a purely spiritual level.”

An alumnus of GCG-11 who’s done her master’s in French from the PU, Alena has even dabbled in fashion designing. She’s planning to launch a collection of her designer-wear in Delhi, which, like her music, is sure to be fusion as well.

That’s all very well, but how does music fit in the busy schedule?

“Music is something inside that I can’t deny. Music has been there throughout my life. My music instills faith in me. It’s nothing I consciously indulge in. It is just a way of life.”

With an album on cards in the near future, she hopes to storm the music world with her beats. She says the mood of the album will be a bit serious but will have a contemporary touch as well, keeping in mind the preferences of young listeners.

But she is just keeping her fingers crossed as yet, which means a wait of another 10 months or so. After all, perfection is attained with time. In the meantime, she happily preoccupies herself with the launch of her designer collection.

Never mind the starry dreams; this young lady is surely on a firm footing.

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A political satire in ‘nautanki’ style
S.D. Sharma

“Bakkri sharnam gachhami…” and chants of ‘Om’ intended to reflect the perpetual conflict among different ideologies formed the background for the satirical comedy ‘Ab Hamari Baari Hai..’ which commenced in a ‘nautanki styleat the Tagore Theatre.

Directed by Sangeeta Gupta, back from a sojourn of Bollywood for the Roopak Kala and Welfare Society, the comedy produced in association with the Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration, was a feast to the eyes.

The presentation was a reminder of the Emergency era in which the playwright Sarveshwar Saxena attempted to introspect the role of politicians and corrupt officials with least respect for ethical values and humanism propounded by seers and nation-builders like Mahatama Gandhi.

With a realistic viewpoint articulating a didactic aim of educating the masses for their fundamental rights and to fight the corrupt agents of the political and administrative system, the play was well-received despite some holes.

The play is about dacoits who craft a novel idea of continuing their mission of ‘loot’ in the garb of politics, pretending to be followers of the Mahatama by opening an ashram worshiping a smuggled goat.

The play progresses to bring alive the degradation in moral, and social values.

The choreographer and lead dancer, Shweta Sood, stole the limelight with her troupe as also Jatinder shah, the lead singer and composer. Versatile Gaurav Sharma, Sahib Singh, Manpreet, Sunny, Amarjit,anad Shanti Saini did justice to their roles. Parveen Jaggi and Loveleen also did well.

Chief guest Jagjit Puri announced a grant of Rs 21,000 to the group.

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Revellers jive through the night
Tribune News Service

Rhythmic music mingled with excited shrieks, fire-juggling bartenders, DJ christened Flame and pretty girls in hot outfits? It was all there during the Fling vodka bash at Jalapenos and the Silk Lounge in Sector 8 on Sunday night.

For so many youngsters, heaven descended on earth as they gathered at the dance floor to cut foot loose during the party organised by Seagrams as part of their brand promotion activity.

It wasn’t until half past 10 that the party warmed up with the DJs from Delhi - lady DJ Flame and DJ T-Nu taking control of the evening. The crowd could not help swinging as they dished out some predictable, some not-so-predictable and some groovy numbers.

As they shook, rattled and rolled, the overhead speakers boomed Bunty Aur Babli’s “Kajrare”, Kunal Ganjawala’s “Channa ve” did the rounds followed by a dash of Bolly-remixes — “Woh Lamhe”, “Dus bahane karke...”

If you think that DJs are all sugar and no substance, you are in for a surprise as DJ Menaka Virmani has classical interests and is a Masters in bharatnatyam. She got into DJ ing much against her parents wishes, but as she started taking them along, they let her be. And she performs at various parties and happening places in the Capital.

The bar too ran to a full house with the bartenders doing a neat job with the juggling. All in all, a fun affair. And yes, the party was dotted with many wearing Fling caps with devil horns.

The organisers said such parties were being organised at various places to establish a “connect” with its consumers on a personal note and claimed that the brand was doing well in Maharashtra and Punjab.

The party was reportedly marred by a few incidents of violence later in the night. TNS

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