EDUCATION

Panjab University
Admission forms from today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31
The prospectus-cum-form for admission to courses available in the Department of Correspondence Studies would be available for sale at the SBI Extension Counter, Panjab University, from August 1, 2006. The first copy of the prospectus was presented to Dr R.C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, by Prof Jagmohan Chopra, Chairperson, Department of Correspondence Studies, here today. The last date for admission without late fee is September 29 and with a late fee of Rs 150 up to October 31.

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Dr R.C. Sobti, VC, condoled the passing away of Dr D.C. Saxena, former Professor of English, Panjab University. In a condolence message he said in his death the country had lost a crusader and a man of conviction and the university an “eminent teacher and a wonderful colleague”.

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Prof Nerijus Milerius of Vilnius University, Lithuania, shall deliver lectures on “Film Philosophy” in the Department of Philosophy from August 2 to August 4 at 3 pm. Professor Milerius shall deliver three lectures on the topics that pertain to cinema and philosophy such as “Film philosophy and its boundaries”, “Cinema and its fundamentals” and “Cinema and reality”. According to Dr Sebastian Velassery, Chairman, Department of Philosophy, the relationship between cinema and modern life is particularly important in the existence of modern man. Therefore, a topic such as film philosophy is particularly important to describe the lifestyles of the modern man. Professor Milerius is a member of the Lithuanian Society for Philosophy.

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The Department of Hindi organised a special function to celebrate Prem Chand Jayanti today. A paper-reading contest on various aspects of Premchand’s writings was held in which as many as 15 students participated. Dr Jagmohan Chopra, Chairperson, Department of Correspondence Studies, and a poet-critic presided over the function. In his presidential remarks he said “Premchand’s literature touched the urban and middle class milieu and was popularly known as a great exponent of the reality of rural India. His writings hit upon social decadency with a humanistic and progressive worldview. His stories are among the best in world literature.”

Dr Neerja Sood, Chairperson of the department, welcoming the audience stated that the department held this Jayanti each year. She said Premchand’s writings gave direction in life matters to all readers. “His dream of a society based on social equality and highest human values is still unfulfilled. This is why he is relevant today,” she said. Dr Satyapal Sehgal, Reader and former Chairperson, while proposing a vote of thanks, talked of Premchand’s relevance as social issues like “land problem, communalism, casteism, foreign and national capitalism are still haunting us.”

The student-participants read papers on topics like “Premchand’s philosophy”. The judges included Dr Vasundhara Rehani, Reader, Dayanand Chair for Vedic Studies, Dr Neeru, Reader, Department of Correspondence Studies, Dr Neeraj Jain, Reader, Department of Evening Studies. The winners included Shivani, Sarita, Rachna Udeshaya, Kawaljeet, Nirmala and Shanti Sagar.

PU students can pay fees at their depts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31
Panjab University students can now deposit their fee in their respective departments. A decision to this effect was taken by PU Syndicate members who held a meeting here this evening.

At present, students have to submit their admission forms in the departments and then make a beeline at the university bank's counters to pay the fee. Bank counters as a result are overcrowded and students have to stand in queues for hours to pay the fees.

It was decided that the new system be implemented forthwith and the university employees posted in the departments should be given the task of collecting the fees. These employees would be paid honorarium for the extra work.

The Syndicate members also accepted the inquiry report submitted by the Chandigarh police regarding the role of the PU Controller of Examination, Mr Sodhi Ram, in the CET fiasco.

The CET conducted by the university had to be cancelled at the last minute when the question papers for the test failed to arrive in time.

The police report had stated that while there was negligence of duty it was not due to any mala fide intention. As a result there were no criminal charges that could be made out against the Controller.

It was decided that a formal and detailed inquiry should be conducted by Mr Varinder Kumar, a former Haryana bureaucrat, into the entire episode. Mr Sodhi Ram had been chargesheeted for negligence by the university.

The Syndicate members authorised the Vice-Chancellor to select the Dean, Alumni Association, the Dean, Students Welfare and the Dean, Foreign Students. The term of the three deans will end on August, 2006.

Syndicate members also decided to hand over the charge of the Finance and Development Officer, Mr Ashok Raj Bhandari, to the Registrar. The Syndicate also approved affiliation to 15 new B.Ed colleges in Punjab and add on courses to 18 arts colleges across the state.

Aeronautical society felicitates Apeejay students
Tribune News Service

Lighting up lives
Tribune News Service

Chandi Mandir, July 31
Dance and music is in the air as you walk into a highly-charged rehearsal room. Excited voices, shy glances and retakes are the scenes that energise the space, till it sinks in that the 30-odd children around you are different. Some are in wheel chairs, while the rest are autistic, hearing and speech impaired and physically challenged. Yet, the common thread running through each one of them is that of hope, joy and participation. Oblivious of what the world may think, they are trying to get their act together, sure that they will triumph. The motto of the workshop, “have feet, will dance” has been achieved.

Children of “Asha” have been part of a specially mounted modern dance workshop for three weeks, courtesy the celebrated Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts and the Durga Das Foundation. Run under the aegis of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AAWA), specially abled children have thoroughly enjoyed the action-packed sessions. They have danced, matched step-for-step and grooved to modulated music and rhythm, coming up with dance compositions that would make the toughest ones of us, sentimental.

Overcoming barriers of disability they have gradually built up stamina, interest, confidence and performance levels. Dancing to the tune of “Hindustani”, their patriotic feelings come to the fore as they synchronise body, mind and soul to create harmonious rhythms and beats.

The VAF projects (Victory Arts Foundation) have been running successfully in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai before coming up with a Chandigarh branch. VAF was founded by Shiamak in January last year. It is an organisation where in Shiamak, with the help of his instructors, spreads the joy of dance to the children whom he calls ‘special in their own way’.

According to the instructors Sandhya and Karan, “We worked around a set of exercises which were mostly isolation-based. By working on one part of the body at a time, like shoulder, head or hand isolation, we managed to create in them a greater awareness about their own bodies.” The trained and sensitive teachers allowed dance to be used as a medium of therapy. Looking at the smiling faces and the ring of unadulterated laughter, you could see that the dance therapy was working!

COURTS

HC reprieve for residents of Kishangarh
Our High Court Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 31
The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the dispossession of some residents of Kishangarh village from their houses here today.

The order was passed on a petition filed by Mr Ranjit Singh and 30 other residents of the village, all residing in the village since the last many decades.

In their petition, the villagers, whose houses were among those earmarked by the UT Administration for acquisition for the purpose of extension of the IT Park and development of the area properly, had alleged that the Administration was adopting a pick-and-choose policy while deciding which property to acquire.

As per the notification issued by the Administration, it planned to acquire 11 houses for the purpose.

The petitioners had stated that the Administration was also making false claims with regard to the purpose for which the acquisition was being done.

They had stated that while poor people like them were being deprived of their houses, the Administration had been handing over their land to big builders such as Parsavnath Builders for constructing residential colonies.

The petitioners had stated that this was not for the first time that they were being dispossessed from their houses.

Earlier, when the Raj Bhawan, Punjab, was to be constructed, their land had been acquired.

After hearing their counsel, the Bench headed by Mr Justice Ashutosh Mohunta issued a notice of motion for August 21 and also restrained the respondents from dispossessing them.