Chandigarh, November 5
Continuing with its founder’s day celebrations, students of Vivek High School, Sector 38, organised a unique theme-based exhibition on its premises here today. The exhibition proved to be a blend of entertainment and information for the visitors.

In the arts section, students of the English Department recreated Shimla’s Gaiety Theatre in their classroom and staged scenes from the novel Pollyyama by Eleanor H. Porter, enacted by Class IV and VI, while students of Class VII to XII staged Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice.

Nature’s unfathomable power was exhibited with the aim of reducing vulnerability and risk of disasters, with the Geography Department displaying models on “Towards a secure future” and “Prevention is better than cure”.

“Kavita Mein Ras Nishpati” of the Hindi Department showcased different moods through poems like Veer, Hasya, Raider, Karun, Veerbhata, Adhbhut, Vatsatya, Shingar while others performed skits and recited poems.

The History Department displayed world events between 1100 AD to 1300 AD, the era of the Mughals, Rise of Myans and the condition of Jews in Europe.

The advantages of science had displays on adulterants in various food products, harmful substances. Fun with chemistry was brought out in “smoking dog”, “fire in ice”, “blood without wounds”, games and quiz. The importance of plants and herbs was brought out models of biology.

At the Commerce Department, students shared leadership ideas, a presentation of views about famous companies of the world and an insight into Vivek High’s own J.A. Company was projected. Computer ethics, dealing with piracy, hacking, viruses and threats were brought out by the school’s IT Department.

Punjabi Virsa exhibited models on the rich heritage of Punjab before and after Partition using pictures, charts, paintings and portraits. A song and rhyme show was organised by the tiny tots of the school, while the Photography Club exhibited 170 pictures of landscapes.

The Psychology Department’s exhibits were divided into two parts — Aks (reflection) covering topics of positive aggression therapies, animation, black and white of life, conflicts, misconceptions. Jagriti (awakening) portrayed challenges of students today and growing up conflicts. The three-day fest will end with a fete to be held at the school tomorrow.

Panchkula, November 5
The smile on their faces and curiosity in their eyes was for real. As the 100 odd street children, residing in jhuggis of Rajiv Colony, Indira Colony in Sector 9 and 10, got a set of books and sweaters, their joie de vivre was for everyone to see.

These children, along with 276 others of the NGO Jeevan Mukt Nishulk Vidyalaya, were given sweaters and exercise books by Mr Arun Soni, an NRI from Australia, who was accompanied by his mother, Ms Ramesh Rani.

Moved by the Chandigarh Tribune report on the efforts being made by the NGO to educate rag-pickers, child beggars and child labourers, he decided to contribute his mite to help these deprived sections of society.

“I believe that spreading literacy and educating a person is the biggest service to humanity. Because by educating a person, you are opening new vistas for his employment,” said Mr Soni, who writes software for the Australian government for managing traffic lights in Sydney. He said he read the report about the NGO in the Internet edition of The Tribune, and decided to come here and help out the children. “I will also be sponsoring the complete education and transportation charges of some children.”

For the children, it was a Divali gift as they got brand new sweaters. Ruby, 6, daughter of a part-time maid and a daily wager, said this was the first time that she had got a sweater. “Throughout the winters, I keep warm by putting on three shirts, one on top of the other. This is for the first time that I am getting a sweater,” she says, as she tries on her bright red pullover.

Mr Mansa Ram Ahuja and Mr O.P. Seth, who run the NGO, said it was because of the support of philanthropists that they were able to achieve their objective of spreading literacy and removing beggary.

“Kyon ki” (because) Salman Khan is mentally ill in this Priya Darshan’s tearjerker, his fans will miss a beat to see him die especially after a series of prankish session.

When the leading man is not romancing, he is prankish. He playing a lunatic, following the death of his lover, is not very convincing. He is much like a doctor’s boy, full of beans. Post-interval one sees Salman in a new avatar -a new love mall opens for him again. His ballooning tactics never end. The lunatic character never gets deep for Salman. He is found wanting on many counts.

Kareena,who plays a doctor, deviates from her usual glamorous role for a change. Kareena-Salman chemistry has some positive streaks. Kareena looks charming enough and Salman is not without humour here. However, the reel length spared to Kareena does not do full justice to her character of a compassionate doctor. Instead, it is prankster Rimi Sen who does a better job of romancing with the leading hero.

Dr Khurana (Om Puri) who runs a sanatorium is a staggering bully. And he does it with quite aplomb.

Director Priya Darshan’s ‘lunatics tactics’ are not close to reality. Rather these are non-savvy. But the film overall is saleable stuff.