Chandigarh, September 29
In a major project undertaken by the Punjab Engineering College for the Municipal Corporation, students of the college would help the corporation earn at least Rs 30 crore as service tax.

The project has been completed by the college's Centre for Computational Engineering which is likely to be paid at least Rs 1 crore by the corporation for the job.

Over 100 students, mostly from the Civil Engineering Department, have painstakingly shortlisted, categorised and computerised the area and structure of almost every public building in the city. These buildings are liable to be charged service tax by the Municipal Corporation calculated at varying rates applicable to different types of public buildings depending on the floorwise area these occupy.

"The entire exercise was extremely laborious since there are buildings of which there is no record available with the Administration or the corporation. While these exist on the ground, the area and other structural details are missing. Our students went from one building to another, measuring the entire building, noting the structural details and then re-creating the building as three dimension geo spatial images on the computers. Once this was complete the actual area calculated was tallied with what owner claimed," explained Dr SC Dhawan, in charge, Computation Centre and Head, Civil Engineering Department.

Starting during their summer vacations, the students worked for over eight months before the project was completed and submitted to the corporation recently." We have covered around 500 buildings and the taxable area calculated by our centre is over two crore square feet. This should help the corporation earn at least Rs 30 crore depending on the rates they levy on these buildings," said Dr Dhawan.

While the project has covered majority of public buildings in the city which includes all government and private colleges, PEC itself, Panjab University, PGIMER, all theatres, bhawans, schools, both private and government, nursing homes etc there are at least 75 public buildings, data for which could not be gathered.

"Students were not allowed entry into about 75 buildings, including the entire Capitol Complex where we have the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Punjab and Haryana secretariat etc. The approximate taxable area here would be at least 50 lakh square feet and this converts into a substantial service tax," added Dr Dhawan.

Since a detailed data bank of these buildings has been created by PEC as part of the project, a move is also on to have this date on the official website of the corporation for ready reference by both the corporation employees and the owners. "But the move is still under consideration and a final decision has to be taken on it," said Dr Dhawan.

In any case the entire exercise is bound to help students go places. The computational centre has been approached by some other corporations and councils in Punjab to undertake a similar project for them.

Chandigarh, Sept 29
The Department of College Education will organise guided tours to enhance students’ knowledge on the various aspects of Indian history and culture. It has tied up with Government Museum and Art gallery, Sector 10, for the purpose.

Groups of 50 college students at a time will attend each such tour, which will be organised to acquaint students with the museum’s collection. The museum has a rich collection of fossils and other objects of anthropological importance in its Natural History section.

It also has rare specimens of Gandhara period, large-sized Buddha and Bodhisattva images, Hindu deities, Pahari Art and Sikh school paintings and more. Displays on textile art and contemporary Indian art are also impressive.

Among the groups to visit the museum will be students of history, anthropology and design. Tours will be preceded by a briefing by college faculty, will involve a quiz and will be followed by some projects on art appreciation and history of Indian art.

These are scheduled throughout October and November and will include students from Government Colleges of Sectors 10, 11, 20, 42 and 46.

Chandigarh, September 29
The Dev Samaj College of Education yesterday looked enticingly green, with all dressed in different shades of green. The zest of the college and the lovely green spread all over in varied forms, made it no less than a festival.

The day had innumerable activities like green salad making, green drinks, best dressed in green, green snacks, rangoli, flower arrangement and slogan writing. All the competitions were held in the true spirit of the word.

Chandigarh, September 29
Panjab University has extended the last date of admission to various courses being offered by the Department of Correspondence Studies.

These include BA/BCom (I, II and III), MA (English, Hindi, Punjabi, political science, history, economics, public administration and sociology) part-I and II, BLib Science (one-year course), MFC, MCom (part-I and II), PG Diploma in Health, Family Welfare and Population Education, PG Diploma in Mass Communication, PG Diploma in Computer Applications, PG Diploma in Human Rights and Duties, Diploma in Statistics, Certificate Course in Vivekananda Studies, Diploma in Statistics (excluding BEd and MEd classes).

Prospectus is available on cash payment of Rs 200 and by registered post through bank draft worth Rs 260 drawn in favour of Registrar, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and payable at Chandigarh.

Chandigarh/Mohali, September 29
A Nane Show ballet was presented by a young professional group from Armenia in Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, here today. The show was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The group had a multi- genre repertoire. Eight scintillating dance performances Snowhite and Dwofd, Armenian national dance, Ukranian Dance, Komitaj-Little Bird, Armenian Dance about a young lady, American Dance, Flame Dance and Armenian Dance Artashat Kochrie, were presented by a group of eight artists in the age group of 9-16 years.

Chandigarh, September 29
The Chandigarh police has failed to nab the DAV college students involved in a clash which left a B.Sc -II year student of the college injured.

The police had booked Sukhmit Sra, the president of the DAV college and a SOPU activist, along with other students in a case of rioting, criminal intimidation and causing hurt on a complaint filed by Sahil Sharma.

The police said on a clash broke out between ABVP and SOPU on Wednesday in which supports of both the organisations used batons, swords and rods. Sahil Sharma was admitted to the Sector 16 General Hospital after being injured in the clash.

The SHO of the Sector 3 police station, Inspector Rajinder Singh Dhani, said raids were being conducted at the residences and other hideouts of the accused, but they were still at large. He further added that the accused had also not been appearing in the exams apprehending their arrest.

In a press note issued by Mr Rupinder Singh Rimpy, PUSU president in the college, stated that an atmosphere of fear loomed large over the college students since the police had not been able to nab the culprits. He added that a BCA students was merely passing in front of the clashing students and was injured in their scuffle. He added that PUSU activists staged a dharna outside the principal’s office requesting the removal of Sukhmeet Sra.

Chandigarh/Mohali/Panchkula, September 29
Traditionally Dasehra marks the triumph of good over evil and the vicarious pleasure that communities receive in burning the effigies of Ravana, is ample proof that we still yearn for a clean society and a corruption-free environment inhabited by decent souls. And what better place to instil values than at the very foundation stage of children, when they are at their impressionable best.

The Strawberry Fields Kindergarten under the aegis of the Durga Das Foundation celebrated Dasehra in a way that involved each student of the kindergarten.

According to Mr Atul Khanna, Director of the Foundation, “Reinforcing messages today is not so easy since children have become much too smart. They do not respond to rhetoric or moral wordy lectures, unless these are substantiated with fun packed events”.

To bring forth the message of victory of good over evil, Dasehra was celebrated by the kindergarten and primary wing at St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here today. The programme commenced in a traditional manner with the little children of Class I performing the ‘Ram Vandana’ followed by the devotional ballet ‘Akshatam Keshwam’ which was highly appreciated.

Thereafter, Durga stuti was beautifully depicted and the bhajans aroused great fervour. The primary wing enacted Ram Leela. Later, the effigy of Ravana was burnt by the Director-Principal, Mr Rupinder Grewal.

Students of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, celebrated Dasehra with members of Old Age Home, Sector 15 here, today. The programme started with the presentation of dandiya.

The enactment of the battle scene of Ramayana was highly appreciated by the elderly. Later on, the child enacting Lord Rama distributed ‘prasad’ among those present.

Students of LKG and KG of Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, Mohali, celebrated Dasehra. The teachers told the students about the importance of Dasehra.

Junior wing of Shemrock School, Mohali, celebrated Dasehra festival with joy and enthusiasm. An effigy of Ravana was made with the help of all junior wing teachers and kept in the big ground.

Students were dressed up as Rama, Sita, Hanuman, Lakshman and Ravana. A story of Lord Rama was narrated to the students.

Then a skit was presented depicting the story of Lord Rama’s life. Face masks of Ravana were made by the students with the help of the teachers.

Tiny tots of Saint Soldiers International Convent School, Phase 7, Mohali, celebrated Dasehra with fervour. The toddlers of pre-nursery and nusery presented a few scenes of Ramlila. Meeting of Hanuman and Sita at Ashok Vatika and the battle was dramatised.

The effigy of Ravana was lit on fire. Jashandeep who portrayed as hanuman stole the show. Rama and Lakshman were played by Aditya Sharma and Swaroop Singh and Abhishek became Ravana. Children were made aware of the reason for Dasehra celebrations.

The story was narrated in short by Principal V. Tiwana. She also advised the students to be obedient and children-loving.

DAV Public Senior Secondary School, Mohali, celebrated Dasehra with fervour and enthusiasm in the school premises. Attired in colourful dresses of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman, Ravana, Meghnath, Mandodari, Vibhishan, vanar sena and lankan sena, the students enacted Ramayana. The students were seen at their creative best when they made face mask of Ravana with the help of their teachers.

An effigy of Ravana was burnt to signify the victory of good over evil. On the occasion, Principal, Jaya Bhardwaj apprised the students who fascinated the whole school and asked them to stand, fight and defeat against the Ravana of terrorism, corruption and other social evils.

She distributed the toy-swords, bows and arrows amongst the students of pre-primary wing. Ms Alka Mahajan, councilor of the school, told the importance of Dasehra festival to the students.

A special Dasehra assembly was organised at the Satluj Public School Sector 4, Panchkula. The assembly began with a speech on the significance of the festival, its history and the message of triumph of good over evil, which was followed by a ballet depicting modern Ramlila.

Tiny tots of Spring Valley Public School Phase IX, Mohali, came to school dressed up in costumes relating to the various characters of Ramayana. The effigy of Ravana was made and decorated by the students with the help of the teachers and consigned to flames. School Principal Ravinder Kaur narrated the brief history of Dasehra and the importance of the festival.

Children of Sanjivni Child Care Centre and members of the Inner Wheel Club Chandigarh Mid-Town had a gala time celebrating Dasehra with enthusiasm. The tiny tots enacted scenes from the Ramayana.

Iranian students Nagin, Ayah and Rajeneh looked fabulous in Indian dresses. The kids were also given gifts by chief guest Jatinder Rai. School Principal Indu Malhotra thanked the participants.

Dasehra was celebrated with much fervour and gaiety by nursery and KG classes at Saupin’s School, Sector 32, Chandigarh, today. The celebrations included a wide variety of activities, in which tiny tots participated. It was nice to see the children dressed up as Ravana, Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Lakshman.They were overjoyed to see the movie ‘Jai Hanuman’. It proved to be an effective and interesting way to introduce the Indian epic to the little ones. The celebration was concluded by burning an effigy of Ravana, which was filled with light and colourful crackers. The atmosphere was filled with music and dance. It was a joyful occasion.

Chandigarh, September 29
“The style in art form is not static but dynamic, changing continuously with different periods of cultural development, which is conditioned by the age, environment and the social milieu. Though the Indian classical art reigns supreme on the world cultural scene, back home there is a growing influence of the alien musical cultures, especially on the youth,” observed eminent classical maestro Dr Ashwini Bhidi.

“It was imperative to involve the youth for grasp and growth of our classical arts,” she opined while lauding SPIC-MACAY for taking the initiative of propagating classical musical arts among the youth.

“The folk music, transformed into faster beats of western music, which is plain and verbose, has an instant influence on them. Classical music is cold and calculating because it deals with moods and sentiments and richly decorative but reticent.”

Almost all classical maestros have teamed up with SPIC-MACAY for promoting the rich cultural heritage among the youth.

Dr Bhidi was in the city to perform on the invitation of the local chapter of SPIC-MACAY today.

A PhD holder in biochemistry and former scientist at the BARC, Mumbai, Dr Bhidi was initiated into music by her mentor, guru and mother Manik Bhidi, a foremost disciple of Kishori Amonkar of Jaipur-Atarauli gharana.

Her passion for music revolted and she left the lucrative job to serve the Indian classical music.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, she expressed optimism about the SPIC-MACAY movement. She cited an experience of her live concert at a Jawahar Navodaya School in rural Gujarat where intuitive youngsters sacrificed their dinner to attend her concert.

“There is certainly an acceptance for the pure classicism despite many internal tensions and external stresses due to influence of faster pop music.

“If the impact of globalisation has resulted in the proliferation of western music, the splendour of Indian music too has reached the West and established its supremacy,” she said.

Referring to her solo concerts in the US, Europe, she said foreign music lovers were so dedicated that they arrived at concerts two hours in advance and sat in calm contemplation to relish the soulful strains of Indian music and how it affected the inner soul.

The change in every sphere, however, is inevitable but any experiment for innovations in musical arts such as fusion or remix if executed within the specified limits should be welcome.

Recording companies in India prefer any devotional or Sufi music to be replete with innovations and not originality, she rued.