Summer workshop at BVM ends
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 11
A 10-day summer workshop organised by Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, Dugri, provided ample opportunities for children to learn without teaching. The workshop, which started on June 1, concluded yesterday.

It included an art exhibition in which handmade craft items, glass painting, tile painting, pot painting, emboss painting, M-seal painting, nib painting, fabric painting etc were displayed. The students were also taught different patterns of mehandi and the ways to apply them. The students also learnt classical dance, western dance and bhangra.

Computer experts taught flash and web designing. Mr Mittar Sain, president of the BVM Trust, had inaugurated the exhibition. The Principal, Ms Anu Gupta, commended the students for displaying art in an innovative way.

Training programme

To upkeep the standard of imparting education to the students and to refresh the method of teaching techniques and best utilisation of summer holidays, the Springdale School management arranged to provide intensive teachers training programme in computer science and in modern and innovative teaching skills in various subjects.

As part of the training programme all teachers were asked to give teaching demonstration in their respective subject. Each teacher gave demonstration with the help of lesson plan, innovative teaching aids, charts and models etc which were attended by all other colleagues and supervised by the Principal and other members of the management committee.

Vedic camp

Valedictory function of Vedic karamyoga camp (for girls) was held at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, here yesterday. Mr B.D. Arora was the chief guest on the occasion. During the seven-day camp, a wide array of activities were taken up for personality development of the children, which included moral training, cultural activities like training for dance, music, art and craft, sports activities, yoga, personality grooming sessions and lectures by experts.

To add charm and zing to the show on the concluding evening, various items were presented by the campers which made the evening worth remembering. Group songs and folk dances were some of the musical items which mesmerised the audience.

Classes for teachers

The teachers of USPC Jain Public School spent summer vacation in a novel way. They rubbed their shoulders together for a conclave on embedding modern methodology and technology for futuristic teaching and learning process. The fortnight-long programme was supported by the experts like Mr Sanjay Shroff, Ms Preeti, Dr D.V. Jindal, Ms Yachna Chawla (Principal).

As part of the modernisation process, Mr M.P. Jain, general secretary, announced that a state of the art research centre for teachers would be set up soon in the school. The teachers felt that the conclave would help the students to enhance their learning skills in a stress free manner as also suggested by the CBSE.

Punjab Board Class X merit list
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 11
The following students have made it to the merit list of the Punjab School Education Board’s matriculation examination for 2005-06:

Randeep Singh of Baba Isher (N) Singh Public Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar; Neha Chopra of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar; Jaspreet Kaur of Shalimar Model High School, Guru Angad Colony; Ramanpreet Kaur of Senior National High School, Krishna Nagar; Anuradha Kumar of BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point; Rupali and Jasmeet Kaur of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar; Nitish Goel and Amit Kumar of Baba Isher Singh Public Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar; Sanni Rattan of BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point; Harinderpal Singh of Nankana Sahib Senior Secondary Public School, Kila Raipur; Simranjit Kaur from Government High School, Katahari; Rimmi Singh from Blosson English High School, Shastri Nagar; Madhwi Arora of R.S. Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar; Daljeet Singh Panesar of Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Janta Nagar; Rohini Gupta of BVM Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar; Deepak Narula of Swami Roop Chand Senior Secondary Public School, Jagraon; Sukhdeep Kaur of GTB National Public Senior Secondary School, Dakha; Amanpreet Kaur of Sargodha National Public Senior Secondary School, Jail Road; Harpreet Kaur of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Narangwal; Manisha Rana of BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point; Nishesh Mehra of Saraswati Modern High School, Rajpura Road; Amanpreet Singh, a private candidate; Arshdeep Kaur of Rajindra Model Senior Secondary School, Haibowal Kalan; Satnam Kaur Sohal and Tanisha Jain of Atam Public Senior Secondary School, Atam Nagar.

This soldier refuses to let sculptor in him die
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 11
It was his undying passion that made Bhagwant Singh not to let the sculptor in him die. Belonging to a poor family of Daad village, Bhagwant was a bright student. However, his family circumstances did not let him to continue his studies. He joined the Army as a soldier. “That was not the end, but the beginning of a long affair with sculpture”, he says.

Bhagwant Singh served for 17 years in the Army. His career remained eventful. But despite that he continued with his passion of sculpting. In fact the Army helped him to fine tune his art. He continued to carve out the idols of gods and deities. With due course of time, he mastered his art and today he happens to be a full grown sculptor.

However, Bhagwant regrets, “the fine art in India still cannot feed you”. He draws pension and manages to earn some extra money from sculpting. “So far I have focussed on gods, deities and famous people only, now I want to explore the creative and imaginative world of art”, he says.

His skills appear to be quite perfect. Show him a person and he will carve out a perfect replica in a couple of days. So far he has not been able to earn much. But he hopes to make it big some day. “Right now it is just a hobby”, he remarks, “I do get some professional orders once in a while, but I want to make it full time now”.

Bhagwant maintains that it took a lot of hard work and perseverance to reach this stage. Braving the rigorous duty schedule in the Army (he was also deployed at the Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar), he tried to keep his passion alive. He has started getting dividends, albeit only in small proportions.

He remains quite optimistic about getting the recognition due to him. He claims that he does not want to run after money. Even he does not charge much for the assignments he gets. “I just want to keep my passion alive and if I get something in return I consider it as a bonus”, he says. “I am confident that my work of art would be recognised and acknowledged someday and I would get my due.”

He also wishes to set up an institute of fine arts in Ludhiana where people like him, who do not have many avenues, could nourish their talent without any hindrances or handicaps rising out of financial problems.