X’mas celebrations in schools
Tribune News Service

Mohali/Kharar, December 26
Students of Sacred Souls School, Gharuan near Kharar, took part in a function organised to celebrate Christmas. The school was decorated with buntings, stars, a Christmas tree and balloons. A skit depicting the birth of Christ was performed by students.

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A Christmas party was organised for tiny-tots of Spring Valley Public School, Phase-XI, Mohali. The children came to school dressed in fancy outfits, The children were given cakes and other gifts by Santa Claus. The school campus was decorated with traditional Christmas decorations — stars, bells and balloons.

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Students of Sector 70-based Ashma International School, celebrated Christmas with enthusiasm. Special games were organised for the kids, including musical chairs, dance competitions, passing the parcel and various other games. The kids also sang carols.

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The Swami Ram Tiratha Public High School bore a festive look for Christmas celebrations. A cultural programme was organised to mark the occasion. Tiny tots performed action songs leaving everyone spell bound. Christmas carols were sung and students were given sweets by Santa Claus. A skit — “Unity is Strength” was also performed by the students of Class I.

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NSS camp in college
Our Correspondent

NSS volunteers remove wild growth at a camp in Government College, Mohali, on Monday. — Photo by Vicky Gharu

Mohali, December 26
Students of the NSS wing of Government college are working on a project to study the contribution of the industry of the town.

Dr B.S. Gill said here today that the project was given to the students by the Mohali Industries Association and students were carrying out a survey to find out the products being produced in the town and the turn over of the industrial units. They would also find out how much manpower had been engaged by them.

He said that some students were doing a socio-economic survey of the inmates of the Paraplegic Home and were also trying to create awareness about AIDS, drugs and hygiene in the Shastri Colony.

A 10-day NSS camp was going on in the college and students were working on beautifying the area by removing congress grass and other wild growth.

Dev Samaj students meet Kalam
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26
The silver jubilee batch of the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, here met the President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in New Delhi on December 23. The students accompanied by the college chairperson, Ms Satyawati, and the Principal Dr Satinder Dhillon. spent 45 minutes with the President.

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in character, where there is beauty in character, there is harmony at home; when there is harmony at home, there is order in the nation and when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world” were the words of the President which the prospective teachers carried back home.

During interaction with the young students, President Kalam answered many questions. He recalled lessons of humility, curiosity, taking initiatives, working and defeating problems.

NSS camp ends
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26
A-10-day NSS camp concluded yesterday at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, here. Held under the guidance of Mr Nirmal Singh and Ms Arti, eminent persons from various walks of life gave lectures on different issues.

Students performed a cultural programme and presented a skit on drug abuse. Mr Karan Singh, Principal of the school, gave a lecture on ‘creative awareness of students for development of the nation’.

Students install submersible pumps
Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 26
Participating in the ongoing NSS camp, volunteers of the Rayat and Bahra College of Education, Sahauran, installed submersible pump worth Rs 38,000 in government school in the village.

Other than the village sarpanch, Mr Kirpal Singh, the other guests on the occasion praised the efforts and the gesture of the students towards society. The chief guest was Ms Kuldeep Kaur, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Ropar.

Mr Pritam Singh Bhatti, secretary, Punjab Congress, Mr Shamsher Singh, secretary, district Congress, Ropar, the Headmaster, Mr Dharam Singh, Ms Nasib Kaur, member of the Block Samiti, Kharar, were present among others.

Mangal Dhillon shines in solo performance
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, December 26
Behind all artistic creations there exists an emotional urge to express in some form, the vaguely felt or perceived experiences and the noted cine star and thespian Mangal Dhillon had veritably relied on the powerful medium of theatre to share his anguish through his creative artistic presentation of a play ‘Theatrewala urf Pagal’ staged at the Tagore Theatre today. Never in the recent past had the city’s elite audience witnessed the dynamic, didactic and dashing solo performance like this one that was brought to the city in association with the Department of Cultural Affairs. The writer, director, producer and lone actor of the play, versatile Mangal Dhillon at times identified himself with each member of the audience and his performance at stage seemed to represent their ethos eloquently.

The captivating theatrical performance saw an incomprehensible but powerful impulse in the form of stimulus entering Mangal’s consciousness and penetrating the deeper levels of his mind . It dug out the constraints, problems, anguish pain and saga of sufferings of a dedicated artist - who is extolled as a visionary and endowed with a blissful sensibility of a true human being.

The potent plot, brilliant dialogue delivery and eloquent stage movements compatible to the emotional display were topped by the exuberant confidence with which Mangal bared the hypocrisy, political and sentimental exploitation of an ‘artist’ left at the mercy of the lords reigning control of every realm of art. He juxtaposed the chinks in every system, be it the unfair patronage to naïve artists or establishments, governance, socio political set up and above all the art critics associated with media, through an immaculate spell. 

Musical soiree
Our Correspondent

Panchkula, December 26
“Bhar Gaya Hai Zakhm-e- Jigar Uska Nishan Baaki Hai, Bhujh Gyi Aag Magar Uska Duaan Baki Hai” in the mellifluous voice of Hemant Kumar and “Mein Iss Umeed Se Sooba Tha Ke Tu Bacha Lega.” by classical vocalist Amritpal Singh lit up the musical soiree organised by the Chandan Memorial Society at the Hindu Secondary School hall, Kalka. While a composition in Raga Miyan Ki Malahar rendered by Romesh Chander was well received, it was the veteran Doordarshan composer, Samuel Rajan, who stole the limelight as he presented a Chhota Khyal in Raga Jaijawanti. A captivating recital of Raga Yaman by Professor Sushil Kumar embellished by the able accompaniment of Sunil Kumar on tabla won applause. Nirmal Kashyap, Miss Parul and Dr Nirmal Kumar also presented ghazals. The chief guest, Mr Ashok Kumar, honoured the artistes.

Sunil Babbar to produce film on city
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26
Chandigarh will soon have another documentary on the city. To be shot this month, the film titled, “Chandigarh Calling” is a first person account of the story of the making of Chandigarh, its world famous architecture, basic plan, culture, tourism, industrial and economic growth and the character of the “City Beautiful”.

The film is being produced and directed by Mr Sunil Babbar, the maker of “Ants” that received the “Best Foreign Film” award at the Yellowstone International Film Festival, 2002 at Montana, USA. Mr. Babbar received the “Producer of the Year Award-2002” at the same festival.

The documentary in English is being made for the international film circuit in Europe and USA and is for telecast on TV channels. The film of about 50 minutes duration will highlight the architecture of Le-Corbusier. The script is written by Mrs. Bharati Babbar, a winner of the Haryana Sahitya Akademi Award, and the film has been cinematographed by Mr. Manjit Singh. It will be shot at different locations in the city.