Competition held to spot singing talent 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
Nearly 150 young budding singers aged between 5 to 25 years showcased their singing talent at a competition organised by the Sangam Kala Group in Government College for Women here today. It is a part of Surtarang Group sponsored by Hero Honda with 40 chapters in India and 4 chapters abroad. The group organises a singing competition every year to provide a platform to common people to attain their goal.

The Sangam Group has spotted brilliant singers like Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, and Jaspinder Narula. It also discovered Chinmai from Chennai, whom the noted music director A.R. Rehman has given 32 songs to play back.

Today, the participants had the choice to sing film or non-film songs. There were three categories, sub-junior, junior, senior and aged between 5 to 12, 12-18 and 18-25 years, respectively.

Mr Shamshad Ali, Professor in Vocal Music, Punjabi University, Patiala. Mr Desraj, Programme Executive, Jalandhar Doordarshan, Mr D.S. Narula, Vocal Music Professor (retd.) , Malout, visiting Professor of Punjabi University, Patiala, were the judges. The judges will shortlist the singers who will participate in the finals to be held on February 11 at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi. Ms Prabhjot Kaur, Principal of the college, inaugurated the function while Mr Raj Chopra of the Surtarang group presided over the function. Mr and Mrs Ujjawal Munjal represented the Hero Group.

The special guest was Sharib from Jaipur. His melodious voice endeared him to the audience. He told Ludhiana Tribune that he did not even complete his matriculation as he got a call from the popular Sa Re Ga Ma to participate in the Challenger Series programme on the Zee TV. Out of thousands of participants, he made it to the last 10 finalists. Unfortunately, he was eliminated.

His failure has turned into success as a noted music director, Ismail Darbar has given him a chance to record a song with Queen of Melody, Lata Mangeshkar, in the forthcoming movie titled 'Pyar Kiya to Nibhana'.

He said," I am 17-year-old and would be singing with Lata ji. It is dream come to true. I live in Mumbai as I am recording songs for Jatin Lalit and Himeshji. We are participating in a number of competitions. Once I settle down, I will continue my studies." 

Teachers’ body to launch agitation
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, January 15
Taking serious notice of alleged indifferent attitude of DPI (secondary), the Government Teachers Union has decided to launch an agitation against the department from January 23. The decision was taken at a meeting held at the local Municipal Children Park on Saturday.

Mr Sikander Singh Jartoli said it was resolved to stage protest rallies and dharnas opposite the office of the DPI at Chandigarh on January 23, 24 and 25. "Those present in the meeting have taken a serious view of the indifferent attitude of the DPI, who evaded a scheduled meeting with office-bearers of the union. Considering it an insult to the teacher fraternity, we have decided to launch an agitation according to instructions of the state body," said Mr Jartoli.

Mr Jartoli further said the union would continue its struggle till the demands, including lifting ban on appointments, promotions and disbursement of salaries on scheduled dates, were not accepted. Harbans Singh Aulakh, Jagrup Singh, Brij Bhushan and Janail Singh were prominent among others who attended the meeting. 

Fete at DD Jain college

Ludhiana, January 15
In a series of functions celebrating the birth anniversary of Behn Devki Devi Jain, a fete was organised at DD Jain Memorial College for Women, Ludhiana, here today. The fete was inaugurated by Mr Dawar, Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs. Ten stalls each games and eatables were arranged. A cultural programme was also presented. There was a raffle draw also.

The prominent managing committee members present were Mr Narinder Jain, Mr Shanti Sarup Jain, Mr Surinder Jain, Mr Yogesh Jain, Mr Sheetal Jain, Mr Ajit Jain, Mr Shiv Jain, Mr Naresh Jain, Mr Arvind Jain, Mrs Kamla Jain, and Ms Kartar Kaur. — OC

CULTURE

Nature at its best in photos

NATURE has always fascinated human beings by virtue of its sights and sounds, colours and contours. Artists have painted nature in all its forms throughout the ages. Photo-artists, on their part, have vied with painters to capture nature in calm as well as restless moods. It is the interaction of human nature with nature that results in beautiful images on canvas or glossy paper. An object of nature seems to be perfect if it seems to be the product of handicraft. Likewise, a painting or a photograph is praised when it appears to be actual. Hence, the feasibility of art to be artless and an artefact to be real.

TPS Sandhu and Ranjodh Singh have made the city proud by their achievements in the field of art-photography. The duo have been holding exhibitions of their photographs, focusing on nature, since 2002. This is an annual feature, three out of the five exhibitions have been held at Sutlej Club, Ludhiana. The other two were held at Gymkhana Club, Jalandhar, in February, 2003 and Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh in February, 2004. Their forays into art photography have been eulogised both by the connoisseurs and laymen. Awards they have received in plenty but it is the encouragement they get from the general viewers that they hold dear to their hearts.

Interestingly, both of them have been inspired by the personality and paintings of Sobha Singh. It was on August 21, 1983, that this great artist inaugurated a photo-exhibition at P.U. Extension Library at Ludhiana. TPS Sandhu was associated professionally with this photo-exhibition whereas Ranjodh Singh was a mere spectator. Janmeja Singh Johl had organised this exhibition. Ranjodh Singh had started photography as a hobby in 1981 but it was watching Sobha Singh inaugurate the photo-exhibition of 1983 that instilled in his mind the idea of treading on the path of art-photography. For TPS Sandhu the occasion was no less worthwhile as Sobha Singh gave valuable suggestions and expressed the hope for many such exhibitions in the future. So for one it was the starting point, whereas for the other it sounded the clarion call.

TPS Sandhu is a mystic by temperament as he seeks sermons in stones and books in running brooks. He considers nature the manifestation of creative energy inherent in the universe. His photographs reveal tenderness of feelings and subtlety of ideas. Gifted with the faculty of keen observation, he tries to eternise the fleeting moment in the form of a rainbow or a butterfly settling on a flower. He is all the time conscious of subduing the foreground so as to highlight the background. Else he mellows the background so as to present in sharp relief the foreground. He is also aware of the need to depict nature in the context of Punjabi Cultural heritage through the lens of his camera — ‘Soul of Nature’ (1995), ‘Balhari Qudrat Wassia’ (1998), ‘Qadar di Phulkari’ (1999), ‘Anhad Naad’ (2000) and ‘Barah Maha’ (2005).

Ranjodh Singh is eager to portray the panorama of nature in his photographs.

— N.S. Tasneem

HEALTH

Children immunised against polio
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
The Health Department, with the help of some 8,800 volunteers, including those from other government departments, NGOs, hospitals, medical, dental and nursing colleges and service clubs carried out polio immunisation in the second round of the mop-up drive against the crippling disease here today.

The drive got under way with the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Kaur, administering polio drops to some children at a booth in the Civil Lines area. Later in the day, she went a round several slum colonies and other vulnerable areas in the city to supervise the progress of the pulse polio campaign.

The Health Department had set up 2,100 polio booths all over the district to cover nearly 5.22 lakh children in the age group of 0-5 years during the drive and the city had been divided into 15 sectors with the respective senior medical officers looking after the immunisation work in their assigned sectors.

In a bid to ensure complete coverage and smooth working at the polio booths, senior officials of the department, including Dr Charanjit Singh, Deputy Civil Surgeon, Dr Manorama Awasthi, District Family Welfare Officer, Dr Harwinder Singh, SMO, Samrala, and Dr Rajinder Singh, District Health Officer, visited different development blocks in the district to assess the progress of the polio vaccination.

According to Dr Rajinder Kaur, some 150 mobile teams of volunteers had been deployed to cover children in slum areas, at brick-kiln, the railway station and the general bus stand. She said on January 16 and 17, teams of volunteers would go from door to door all over the district to immunise children who were not given drops today.

According to Dr Rajinder Gulati, Senior Paediatrician at ESIC Model Hospital, 36 personnel were deployed at the railway station for the mop-up operation, who were working under the supervision of staff from Railway Hospital. Dr Gulati, who was coordinating 40 posts as in charge of sector 11, said of these 40 posts, 14 were transit posts, including nine at the railway station, two each at the bus stand and Bharat Nagar Chowk for incoming and outgoing buses, and another at ESIC Model Hospital. The transit post will continue to work in a similar fashion for all three days.

The National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) organised a polio camp at Gupta Clinic in Shivpuri Colony in which polio drops were given to more than 550 children, said the NIMA general secretary, Dr Surinder Gupta.

Members of the Rotary Club of Ludhiana North went around various polio booths falling under the area of the Civil Dispensary in Model Town and Abdulapur Basti to monitor the drive. Mr R.S. Behal, secretary of the club, claimed that more than 7,500 children were given polio drops.

Rotaractors from GGN Khalsa College and the Government College for Women also participated in the pulse polio campaign. They supervised the vaccination work in slum areas of Dhakka Colony and jhuggis in Abdulapur Basti.

In a pulse polio camp, organised by NSS volunteers of Government Multipurpose Senior Secondary School at Naulakha Cinema Road here, nearly 300 children were administered polio drops. Nearly 50 volunteers, under the guidance of the Principal, Mr H.K. Mayer, participated in the camp.

Civil Surgeon gives polio drops
Our Correspondent

Machhiwara, January 15
Civil Surgeon Rajinder Kaur administered polio drops to children at the Civil Hospital here this morning. She had come here to take stock of the pulse polio campaign. She expressed hope that no more round would be needed to eradicate polio throughout Punjab.

Dr Jasdev Singh, SMO, Machhiwara, apprised the Civil Surgeon of the arrangements in the Machhiwara block. He said over 12,000 children had been administered polio drops at 85 booths. A total of 256 volunteers had been engaged in the task. Three mobile teams had been set up to cover the areas adjacent to the Sutlej.

125 examined at ayurveda camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
More than 125 patients were examined at a free health camp based on ayurveda, nature cure and herbal treatment. The camp was organised by the Tagore Lok Kalyan Trust at Tagore Bhawan here today.

A team of doctors led by Dr Som Nath Goyal, Principal, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Ayurvedic College examined the patients, who were also provided ayurvedic and herbal medicines and laboratory tests.

Mr S.R. Mittal, a naturopath, made an audio-visual presentation on the healing powers of naturopathy. He explained the benefits of wheat grass juice, describing it as a panacea for all health problems. The method of preparation of wheat grass juice was demonstrated at the camp.

Dr Gayatri Kalia, said she would be going to Europe to deliver lectures on the ayurvedic system of medicine.

Artificial limbs given to needy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
Artificial limbs were provided to 22 physically challenged patients by the Bharat Vikas Parishad in a camp organised in coordination with its Ludhiana branches. Office bearers and members of different branches participated. Looking at the success of the camp, it was decided to hold another camp on February 6.

SPORTS

Bharat excels in KVM win
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 15
Bharat Malhotra excelled with the bat, hitting a century (106) as Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School trounced CFC Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, in the opening match of the annual PCA Parle Inter-School Cricket Tournament (u-17) being organised by the Ludhiana Cricket Association (LDCA) under the aegis of the Punjab Cricket Association at the Baba Bachan Singh Academy ground, Balloke village, near Haibowal Khurd, here today.

CFC School won the toss and put KVM School into bat. In the stipulated 40 overs, KVM School batsmen went on to post a big total of 242 runs for the loss of four wickets. An upcoming Punjab player, Bharat Malhotra, cracked a superb century with the help of 14 boundaries while Akhil and Sanchit Gosain contributed 19 and 31 runs, respectively. For CFC School, Harshdeep claimed two wickets for 53 runs and Jasdeep took one for 27.

In reply, CFC School batsmen failed as their essay culminated at 40 runs in 8 overs. KVM School’s bowlers maintained a good line and length to restrict their opponents to a meagre total. Tarun Bawa and Varun Chitkara were the pick of the bowlers. Tarun grabbed four wickets for just 6 runs while Varun Chitkara scalped three victims conceding only two runs. Ankit and Bharat Malhotra captured two and one wickets, respectively.

Earlier, Mr Lachhman Dass Dravid and Mr Neelam Kanish, both vice-presidents of the LDCA inaugurated the tournament in which six teams are taking part. Mr Vinod Chitkara and Mr Pawan Pandey, honorary general secretary and secretary, respectively, of the LDCA were among others who attended the inaugural function.