Indian, US scientists deliberate on scientific issues
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17
The Indo-US workshop on “Physics with energetic heavy ion and rare isotopes: towards a common ground between US and Indian Scientists” was inaugurated by Dr A.R. Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, at Taj hotel in Sector 17 today.

The conference is being hosted by the department of Physics, Panjab University. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kidwai, stated that such interactive conferences between Indian and US scientists were vital for the development of science and technology in the country.

Prof I.M. Govil, principal investigator and coordinator of the workshop, highlighted that seven US and more than 30 Indian scientists are participating in the workshop. Scientists from various parts of the country, nuclear science centre, New Delhi, BARC, Mumbai, VECC, Kolkata, IOP, Bhubhneshwar, and other institutions will present their papers in the workshop.

Several directors of the leading Indian laboratories are also attending the conference. According to Dr Govil, such interactive workshop between Indian and US scientists, which is first of its kind in the region, shall open doors and provide platform for joint collaborative research activities between India and the USA.

Earlier, Dr Veer Singh, Dean, University Instructions, Panjab University, listed the achievements of the university and also pointed out that the university was one of the top universities in the emerging area of science and technology. Dr Nirmal Singh, chairman of the department, talked about the achievements of the department.

Later, in the academic sessions, Dr Amit Roy, Director of Nuclear Science Centre, presented the details of the infrastructure for nuclear physics research at IUAC.

Camp for YPS students
Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 17
A four-day camp organised for students of the junior wing of Yadavindra Public School (YPS) concluded here today. The camp “Love You” was directed at inculcating basic human values such as respect and love for each other and love for our country in the children.

It aimed to enhance the overall personality of the students through multifaceted fun-filled activities. Over 200 children, in the age group of nine years to 11 years, participated in the camp. It was organised by ‘Life Station’.

According to Ms Komal Anand, Headmistress, students had a hands-on experience on the potter’s wheel, rangoli-making and paper craft. The day started with Surya namaskar from yoga followed by chanting of mantras from different religions. Interactive sessions on child heroes, gurus of all faiths and japa were held. Various festivals were also celebrated in a traditional way at the camp and children were told about their significance. Live shows of classical dances helped propagate the knowledge and history of diverse and rich Indian culture. Films based on mythological stories were shown to the students.

COURTS

5 sent to judicial custody for attacking 2 students
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 17
The local court today sent five students, accused of thrashing two students belonging to a different group, to judicial custody. The police has arrested all five accused, including Vikas Rathi, the president of the Indian National Students Organisation, Naveen Sherry, Rajiv, Himmat Singh and Jasbir Singh on the allegations of rioting, causing hurt and criminal intimidation.

Though Vikas Rathi, Naveen Sherry and Rajiv were arrested last evening, Jasbir Singh and Himmat Singh were taken in custody late last night, the police said. They were today produced before a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody, said the SHO of Sector 11, police station.

A case under Sections 147, 148, 323 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code had been registered against them following a complaint made by Sandeep Baniwal and Sajan Malik of the Law Department.

Mr Sandeep Baniwal said the election rivalry was the reason behind the attack, as they had supported another faction in the recent Panjab University Student Council Elections. 

CULTURE

A master thespian
S.D. Sharma

‘An artist is an omniscient person , a sage or a visionary who represents the cultural ethos of the people, rather of the whole human race through any realm of art, painting , music or theatre with a timeless flow of cultural nuances, which had adored life in its plenitude from time to time’, feels the master thespian, Rudraprasad Sengupta, regarded as a living legend of theatrical arts.

Credited with peerless performances in India and abroad in the plays staged by ‘Nandikar’, a leading theatre group of Kolkatta, Rudraprasad is in city on the invitation of the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy along with 40 actors and stage craftsmen all associated with the making of a Bengali play ‘Feriwalaar Mrityu’ to be staged at the Tagore Theatre.

The dynamic young theatre maestro , just stepped into seventies, sharing his theatrical experiences of decades said that “By and large the society is anti-social whereas the theatre is a social phenomenon which limits its promotion or growth.

Basically a teacher of English literature and politician, Rudraprasad was drawn to theatre gradually while his friend Ajitesh Bannerjee was in the process of forming ‘Nandikar’, a confluence of dramatic art, music , literature and technical virtuosity making it a complete theatre establishment.

Or probably the artist in me revolted to advise that the ‘Politics was not my cup of tea’ and ‘my career in theatre was not nicely planned like the city beautiful’ laughs the theatrical genius.

Artists like Swati Lekha, his better-half, Deb Shanker and Gautam Haldar have turned ideals for the art aspirants of the group.

‘Unlike the Evening theatrewalas, we the 40 odd dedicated artists attend regular practice sessions in music or dance, both folk and classical, brain-storming discussions on scripts and evaluating the amateur and professional theatre, its passion, vigour and intensity at the national and international level’, disclosed Rudraprasad, talking of intense realism of classic plays.

The exercise keeps us rejuvenated to fight any eventuality or crisis.

Rudraprasad is proponent of an integrated national theatre policy for its propagation to a mass theatre movement and eventually a few institutions like the National School of Drama (NSD) with larger fund allocations will not be required.

Appreciative of the awareness due to globalisation and television, Rudraprasad laments the proliferation of synthetic culture rather than the gharana-based organic culture in close proximity with the Indian cultural traditions.

“Feriwalaar Mrityu”— a slick performance
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, October 17
If theatre is to be of any moment and significance it must necessarily be an embodiment of the contemporary life of the masses depicting their beliefs and ideals, aims and aspirations, dreams and realities. A peerless production of theatrical excellence titled “Feriwalaar Mrityu” in Bengali, that was staged at the Tagore Theatre today, had all the ingredients of a model play.

The play, based on Arthur Miller’s classic “Death of a Salesman” and a prestigious production of the ‘Nandikar’ theatre ensemble of Kolkata was brought to the city by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Academy in collaboration with the department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Haryana. The presentation was a part of the ongoing National Theatre Interaction Programme by the academy and the Central Sangeet Natak Akademy, New Delhi.

An immaculate adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play with befitting aberrations by Rudraprasad Sengupta eloquently brought alive the existential truths concerning human nature. The protagonist, Amalkanti Choudhry, is a salesman with the complexity of emotions and multiplicity of motives with a stream of dreams for himself and his family. Pursuing many illusions in vain with a pragmatic egoism he is grounded and left to face the sordid realities. His over ambitious plans, love for a maid earn him the wrath of elder son Babua.

Adroit acting by all artists, the brilliance and drollery of crisp dialogues and above all the directorial elegance of Rudraprasad Sengupta made the performance a memorable one for the audience. With all its superlative qualities the performance transcended the language barriers.

Rudraparsad Sengupta as Amalkanti Chowdhari, Swatilekha as Parbati, Goutam Haldar as Babua, Susanta Mukherjee as Khushi Choudhri, Samanta Ganguli as Rahul excelled in their respective roles. Debshanker Haldar, Dipak Mitra, Goutam Basak, Rina Rana, Naminita Das, and Antra Banerjee formed the cast.

Akademy chairperson welcomed the chief guest H.K. Dua, the Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune, who honoured the accomplished artists.