Dr Gupta hopes to make PEC world class
Gayatri Rajwade
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30
This man hopes to take Punjab Engineering College (PEC) to the pinnacle of success and ‘perseverance’ and ‘determination’ are his keywords. For Dr Vijay Gupta, the institute’s newly-appointed Director, this deputation is a “mission”, as he strives to build PEC as the “best teaching institution”.

Recently awarded a citation for his exemplary teaching at IIT Kanpur, he brushes the honour aside as “routine” saying that “what should matter is what we achieve here instead of there now”.

The journey is not easy, for PEC has seen several changes in the past one year. Dr Gupta says, “With the kind of budget and facilities we possess currently, we may not take it to the top rung of research in the next five years but we hope to attract worthy faculty members and to excel in application oriented research, taking care of the problems of the industry”.

These are doughty words indeed, but he points to a heap of papers lying near him, “Look at that, a 1,500 pages of the agenda we have planned for this place. We are working day and night to take PEC to where we believe it belongs”. The volume reflects the academic objectives PEC envisages to achieve, the challenges before them and the strategies to realise these objectives.

The buzz word is dynamic change. “We are working on alumni funding and have even formed an advisory committee to improve interaction with our alumni. It is not only about funding, we are looking at roping in their expertise and experience in full measure,” affirms Dr Gupta.

A program to garner international students is also on the anvil as are several curriculum changes and administrative upgrades to make the facilities top-notch. As for attracting good faculty, Dr Gupta believes that while PEC may not be able to offer more money, “it has a good working environment and the freedom to develop professionals that will get us the people”.

“We need to reach deeper into undergraduate education, look at the technical orientation of education, help students over reach and then reward them for that. Introduce new ways of doing things.”

Does the balancing act between his pressing administrative role and his teaching pull at the seams? “I cannot live without teaching and I will always find the time for it. Over the years I have learnt to define administrative processes and juggle other activities. Everything can be achieved,” Dr Gupta replies. In fact, an introductory course on engineering design is being taken by him in the new semester!

He comes highly qualified to run the establishment. B. Tech from IIT Delhi, Ph.D from the University of Minnesota and a professor with IIT Kanpur thereafter, Dr Gupta has run the gamut of educational experiences and administrative management.

From Schools & Colleges
Vanamahotsava drive organised
Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, July 30
A month-long sapling plantation drive was organised at Sharda Sarvhitkari Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 40. Slogans writing, poem recitation, inter-house skit competition and paper reading contest were also organised throughout the month.

Charts and posters were displayed to create environmental awareness among students. Saplings of neem and gulmohar were also planted on the school premises by the Principal, Mr B.S. Kanwar and other members of the staff.

Environment awareness week which was organised at Government Model Middle School, Sector 39, concluded with a sapling plantation drive today. As many as 100 saplings were planted on the occasion. The Headmistress, Ms Kamlesh Chauhan, distributed prizes among students who secured first,second and third positions in various competitions.

Vivek High School, Sector 38, today, adopted Maloya village. The students of this school will be in regular touch with villagers to create eco–friendly programs like importance of clean water and surroundings and use of solar energy for saving electricity.

To kick off the drive, students have recently distributed 800 saplings among villagers. They will also plant more saplings in parks and open spaces all over the city. Students will request people to stop using polythene bags.

The Department of Botany and Environment Society, MCM DAV College, Sector 36, organised a sapling plantation drive today. Mr Ishwar Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Forests, was present on the occasion. He planted some saplings of medicinal trees on the campus. He also gifted 40 saplings of Arjuna tree to the college.

As many as 101 saplings of medicinal and ornamental plants were planted by the “Sheesham”, an eco club of Government Model High School, Sector 36, on Saturday. While Mr R.K. Rana, District Governor, Lions Club Chandigarh(Host), was the chief guest, Dr S.K. Sharma, president, Environment Society of India, presided over the function. Prizes were distributed among winners of various competitions, Ms Rita Jauhar, Principal, said.

Panchkula
Investiture ceremony: “Rights cannot be enjoyed without performing duties”. This was stated by Ms Sarita Kaushik, officiating principal of DAV Senior Public School, Surjapur, on the occasion of the investiture ceremony held on school premises, here today.

The Dean CCA, Ms Shashi Gupta, inaugurated the ceremony followed by recitation of mantras. Ms Anju Sharma Sadan, Coordinator, also spoke on the occasion. Ms Mamta Singh, Sadan co-ordinator (Junior wing) too acquainted the students with the relevance of the ceremony. The oath taking ceremony by the school captains — Himanshu and Vishal for senior wing and swati and Shubham Bohra for the junior wing was followed by the oath taking ceremonies by the four houses—-Dharma, Ahimsa, Vivek and Satya, where in house cabinets were formed.

Preneet Kaur inaugurates school
Our Correspondent

Mohali, July 30
Punjab is discriminated against by the Centre when rains or drought damage crops. This was stated by Mr Preneet Kaur, MP, while talking to mediapersons after inaugurating a pre-school here today.

She alleged that the Central Government took notice when such calamities struck other states but adopted an indifferent attitude in the case of Punjab. She said she had raised this issue in Parliament.

She said when drought - like conditions prevailed in Punjab last year, the government had to buy power worth about Rs 500 crore.

Farmers also had to bear additional financial burden as they were compelled to buy diesel to save their crops. but no help was provided by the Centre.

She said Rs 78 crore was being sanctioned through Nabard for Punjab but the amount was linked with the Shahpur, Kandi project, Efforts were being made to de-link amount. 

Contractual teachers hold protest
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30
As many as 350 contractual teachers working in various government schools of the city held a protest at Matka Chowk here today to press for protection of their services and revoking termination of services of some teachers.

The teachers, accompanied by their families, including small children, formed a human chain to protest against the alleged adamant attitude of the Chandigarh Administration.

SGPC chief gets bail in defamation case
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30
A local court today granted bail to the SGPC president, Bibi Jagir Kaur, in a defamation case. Bibi Jagir Kaur, who appeared in the court of Ms Kiran Bala, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC), was granted bail on the surety of Rs 10,000. The SGPC chief had allegedly been ignoring the court summons and seeking exemption to appear personally in the court. On June 30, the Judge had asked her to appear in the court and seek bail.

Answering a question, Bibi claimed that she did not make any statements against SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann, which led to his arrest.

She expressed ignorance about the stoppage of grant to the Guru Asra Trust, Mohali, during her earlier tenure in 1999-2000. The SGPC could adopt the children of the trust if the need arose, she added.

A defamation suit was filed against Bibi in 2000 by Ms Kulbir Kaur Dhami, who runs the Trust for children of slain militants at Mohali.

Film Review
‘Yahaan’ soul is missing
Rama Sharma

“Yahaan” revolves around the Kashmir problem. It is devoted to a cause which has never been attained. It does not depict the Kashmiris’ plight very poignantly, but it manages to touch their raw nerves. The humane face of the Army is depicted well but hardly conforms to the ground situation.

The lush green valley and its love-hungry people are in synergy with the camera.

Jimmy Shergill, who has till now remained in the shadow of stars, makes his bid as an actor here. He is not without humour here. Behind the persona of an Army man he emits a warmth so uncommon to personnel of the clan.

Minissha Lamba, though not having a fresh face, has managed to make a mark, courtesy director Shoojit Sircar, who has definitely made a sincere attempt.

The storyline is strewn with romance of an Army officer with a sister of a top militant leader. The romance, overtaken by militancy, is aptly nostalgic.

Intermittent firing between jawans and the mercenaries in hiding helps us in understanding the crux to an extent. Cinematography has managed to capture the brutality of situation.

Dialogues in the first half are well-meaning, intensive and original.

After intermission, the price of the ticket begins to weigh on your mind. Somewhere, the tragedy gets trivialised by the camera. The climax becomes empty, devoid of realness.

However, the sets, similar to J&K surroundings, speaks about the film’s credibility. A good balance between reality and drama. However, it is meant only for those viewers who are keen to discover reality in entertainment.