Chandigarh, August 11
St Jospeh’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44-D, celebrated Janmasthami in the school today.

Chandigarh, August 11
The Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, Prof R.C.Sobti, was felicitated at SGGS College,Sector 26, here today. The Principal of the college, Dr Kuldeep Singh, welcomed the Vice- Chancellor and other guests present on the occasion. He lauded the achievements of Prof. Sobti who, he said, had carved a niche for himself in the field of research and education. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bharpur Singh, Secretary, Sikh Educational Society, stressed on the need for reforms in the higher education sector.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Sobti, recalled his long association with SGGS College and expressed happiness to see the institution grow over the years. He appreciated the vision of the management and the perseverance of the Principal. He called upon the teaching community to instill confidence among the students and stressed on a healthy interaction between college and university teachers for academic enhancement.

Chandigarh, August 11
The four-day inter-state cultural programme concluded at the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, here yesterday. It was inaugurated by the DEO, Ms Kamla Bains, on August 7.

Competitions were organised for various categories and there was an overwhelming response from more than 30 schools.

Results: group song (boys) category I (Model/Sr/Public School): 1st Moti Ram Arya School, Sector 27, Chd; 2nd GMSSS-16 and GMSSS-47, Chd; 3rd GMSSS-46 and GMSSS-10, Chd.; group dance (boys) 1st GMSSS-47, Chd; 2nd GMSSS-32, Chd; 3rd GMSSS-10, Chd; group song (girls) category 1 (Model/Sr/Public School): 1st GMSSS-16, Chd; 2nd GMSSS-35 and GMSSS-18, Chd; 3rd GGSSS-23 and GMSSS-47, Chd; group dance (girls): 1st GMSSS-10, Chd; 2nd GMSSS-47 and Moti Ram Arya Schoo, Sector 27, Chd; 3rd GMSSS-46 and GMSSS-16, Chd.

Chandigarh, August 11
Students of Saupin’s School, Sector 32, had an interactive session with Mr Hardyal Singh, a senior officer of the Health and Sanitation wing of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, today.

The Class IX students discussed supply of contaminated water, step-motherly treatment to southern sectors, stray dog and cattle menace and the growth of congress grass.

Mr Hardyal Singh educated the students about the important environment issues and the need to conserve environment.

He also told them about the measures taken by the Municipal Corporation in this regard and the need of public participation to make them successful. TNS

Chandigarh, August 11
The children of Asha School, Chandimandir, an institute for the physically challenged, enthralled the audience at a cultural show staged by them today. Proving that they are in no way inferior to any other children, these differently-abled children put up a spellbinding performance comprising dance and song sequences.

The cultural show marked the beginning of the celebration of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) week. Starting off with the Saraswati Vandana, the programme included group songs, dance, skits, western dance, bhangra and a Rajasthani dance.

Giving prizes, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Daljeet Singh appreciated the cultural presentation.

The school was established in 1992 under the aegis of AWWA and aims at providing avenues to differently abled children so that they can become an integral part of the society. The school uses a holistic approach, including education, physiotherapy, vocational training, games and sports.

Chandigarh, August 11
Yuvsatta, Dev Samaj College of Education, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti observed World Forgiveness Day by holding an inter-school essay and poem writing contest on the theme of forgiveness today. Mr Ishwar Singh, Director, Environment, Chandigarh Administration, was chief guest on the occasion.

International Forgiveness Day originated in Marin County in a Corte Madera park in 1996, and now is being celebrated the world over. Last year, it was celebrated in Hawaii, Washington State, Oregon, Ghana, Canada and Nigeria as well as Southern California.

Pramod Sharma from Yuvsatta said the day was being observed in the city for the past two years.

Mr Singh honoured the winners of the contest in which more then 1000 students from 21 different schools participated.

The winners for essay writing are Priya Singh of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Ritvika Luthra of Carmel Convent School, Anchal Chauhan of Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector, 16, Chesta of Ryan International School, Palkit Kaur of Guru Nanak Public School, Sarita Dhawan of Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Karsan,  Dinaz and Smriti Mahajan of Sacred Heart School.

The poem writing contest was won by the following: Deepali Arora of Moti Ram Arya Sr. Sec. School, Ankita Lathani of Mount Carmel, Lovneet Saini of St. Soldier International School, Yachna of Shivalik Public School, Khushboo Thakur and Tanuj Kalia of Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 16, Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, August 11
The annual inter-school patriotic song competition was held in Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education. SD Sharma secretary of Aurobindo society lighted the lamp and inaugurated the function. The competition is held annually as a treat to Aurobindo whose birthday falls on August 15.

Speaking on the occasion, Amrita Vatsyayan, Principal of the school, hoped that all the teams would imbibe the spirit of patriotism and honour the freedom won for the country by our forefathers.

Fourteen schools participated in the competition. Manav Mangal school won the over all trophy for the year 2006-2007. First prize in Group A was bagged by DAV School, Sector 7, while St Annes Convent School bagged the first prize in Group B.

Chandigarh, August 11
The Teaching Departments and Administrative Offices of the Panjab University, Chandigarh shall remain closed on Monday, August 14.

In lieu of that, Saturday, August 19, shall be the working day. The work and teaching schedule of Monday shall be operative on that day.

Admission Counselling/ Examinations etc. will, however, continue as per schedule on Monday.

Chandigarh, August 11
A local court has directed the Chandigarh Police to register a first information report (FIR) and investigate allegations of criminal trespass and intimidation against a tenant in a Sector 15 house.

The Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr R.K. Mehta, has directed the police to hold a preliminary inquiry as the police had failed to find credible evidence for cognizable offences against the tenant, Sunil Sharma.

Mr Tulsi Goel, a resident of Sector 16, in his application had alleged criminal trespass and intimidation by his tenant. The court also rejected the contention of the police on the grounds that cognizable offence does exist in the circumstances for registering of an FIR.

The issue dates back to June 1, 2006 when the land lord rented out two rooms in the house to the tenant. Acting upon application filed u/s 156(3) of Cr. PC, the court stated that prima facie there was enough evidence to book tenant Sunil Sharma for cognizable offences under Section 447 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, thus paving way for criminal proceedings to be the IPC.

Chandigarh, August 11
The Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, today released a book, “The Return of the King”, written by young writer Sikandar Sidhu.

He started writing this book when he was in Class VII. Sikandar is a grandson of Mr Harbans Singh Sidhu, a former minister.

Appreciating Sikandar, Ms Bhattal said the writer was declared the best orator in the Tri City Declamation contest held in Chandigarh. She encouraged him to write more to highlight the issues related to social evils.

Among others present at the function were Ms Harbans Singh Sidhu, Mr Ashwani Sekhri, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Amarbir Sidhu, father of the writer, and Mr G.K. Singh, Officer on Special Duty to Ms Bhattal.

Chandigarh, August 11
Yet another theatrical endeavour to reveal the tragedy of Indian peasantry through an immaculate staging of a play ‘Bawa –Jito’ by the Jammu-based ensemble Natrang cast a spell on the large receptive audience on the second day of the ongoing event ‘Theatre days with Balwant Thakur’ being held at the Tagore Theatre.

The largely attended drama festival had been organised by the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy in collaboration with the Department of Public Relations, Haryana, Cultural Affairs and Jammu and Kashmir Akademy of Art, Culture and Languages.

Set in the pastoral backdrop of Dogri folklore of the 15th century, the touching play was a veritable portrayal of the poor farm workers struggling and perishing in their struggle against exploitation and poverty. The thematic essence of the play held relevance even today.

Drawing on the story by Prof Ram Nath Shastri, director Balwant Thakur effectively depicted the lively, realistic and intimate elucidation of the anguish and pain due to social disparity meted out to the honest landless farmer, Bawa-Jito.

Succumbing to the clever motifs of close relations he was doomed to leave his home village along with his nine-years-old innocent daughter. Armed with an unflinching zeal to work hard, humble Jito transformed the discarded barren land of his new landlord to fertile with enormous crop yield, only to earn the ire of the avarice landlord.

The past was repeated for Jito, losing his life and innocent Gauri too immolated herself at the pyre of her father. The social evils were so firmly rooted in the soil that a complete revolution was necessary for reformation.

Despite the audience mostly unfamiliar with Dogri and Pahari dialects they relished the performance, enlivened by the accomplished set of actors, folk musicians, matching costumes and chiaroscuro effects.