Seminar focuses on use of renewable energy sources
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 11
The Renewable Energy Club of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, organised a seminar on ‘‘Environment and Renewable Energy Sources’’ at the ICSSR Complex on Monday.

Prof R.C Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, was the chief guest on the occasion. Professor Sobti stressed upon the use of renewable sources, effacement management of urban waste and shared his experiences regarding the same in Miami and Florida.

Mr S.S Sekhon, Director, Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) enlightened the audience about the ongoing projects on renewable energy sources. Mr P.J.S. Dhadwal, Additional Director (Environment) and Member Secretary, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, apart from sharing his views, praised the students for organising the first of its kind event.

Contestants from eminent institutes such as the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University Business School, UCIM and Department of Law, Panjab University, Punjab Engineering College, N.I.T., Jalandhar, Lovely Institute of Technology, Jalandhar and IITT College of Engg., Pojewal, participated in the seminar and presented papers on topics as fuel cells, emulsion fuels, global dimming and next general alternative fuel.

The judges of the contests were, Dr Sanchita Chauhan (Reader), Dr Neeta Sharma (Reader) and Dr Ritu Gupta (Lecturer) from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, as per a press note issued by the Coordinator, Renewable Energy Club, Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, PU.

Taking an initiative in spreading awareness among the masses, students of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology have formed the Renewable Energy Club. The club works under the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), Government of India and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Chandigarh.

The coordinator of the club, Dr Amrit Pal Toor, and student coordinator Ankit Singhal said other than the seminar a paper presentation contest was also organised by the club under the guidance of Dr Daljit Singh, Chairperson of the department. 

From PU
Khurana gets Best Poster Prize
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 11
Mr Rajiv K. Khurana, pursuing PhD in pharmaceutics at the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been awarded with the Best Poster Prize at the Indo-US Symposium on “Nanotechnology in Advanced Drug Delivery” held at NIPER, Mohali, from October 4 to 6, 2006.

The research work entails the development of novel nanotech-based drug delivery system wherein efforts are being made to find a newer application.

NSS camp concludes

The special camping programme of the National Service Scheme (NSS), in which 687 boy and 2110 girl volunteers of various Punjab and union territory colleges affiliated to Panjab University participated, concluded here yesterday.

Dr M.S. Bains, programme coordinator, NSS, Panjab University, visited a number of local colleges as well as colleges of Punjab, especially the DAV College for Girls, Garhshankar, GGD S.D. College, Hariana, Public Khalsa College for Women, Kandhala Jattain, A.S. College for Women, Khanna, Guru Nanak College, Civil Lines, Ludhiana.

Seminar held

A seminar was organised at the Sanskrit Department in which a large number of researchers talked about their work. The Head of the department, Dr Virender Kumar, addressed the students and warned them against the falling standards of research in the country.

3,000 treated for dental problems
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh October 11
The Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital is holding a series of free dental check-up camps all over Punjab. A team of doctors led by Dr Vimal Kalia, Principal of the college, have checked and treated dental problems of over 3,000 students of various schools which included Senior Secondary School, Muktsar, DAV Public School, DAV Girls Senior Secondary School, Ramakrishana Middle School and DVM Public School Udekarn. Dr Zora Singh, Chairman of the Desh Bhagat Group, said within this month 20,000 children would be covered in Muktsar district alone.

Lecture held

The Dean, University Instructions, Panjab University, Dr Veer Singh today delivered a lecture at the Rayat College of Law, Railmajra, Nawanshahr. He spoke on the topic, “Law and Social Change,” in which he pointed out that law is one of the major instruments of social change.

Earlier, Prof P.S. Jaswal, Director-Principal of the college, welcomed the guests. Mr Gurvinder Singh Bahra, Vice-Chairman, Rayat and Bahra Group of Institutes, and Prof C.M. Behl, Managing Director, were also present on the occasion. Prof K.K. Sharma proposed a vote of thanks.

NSUI delegates meet IGP Jain

Chandigarh, October 11
A delegation of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Chandigarh, and Abhilasha of Panjab University’s NSUI unit met IGP S.K. Jain today and apprised him of the fact that the effective term of Panjab University Campus Students Council is eight months only and in the wake of yesterday’s violence, if the newly elected president of PUCSC is put behind bars under serious sections of the IPC, he may not be able to get bail for a couple of months. Consequently, the Students’ Council will become headless.

“We suggested to the IGP to call a meeting of all Munnabhais of the university campus and provide them counselling for teaching them non-violence,” said Nitin Goyal, president, NSUI, Chandigarh. — TNS

Pak poetess traces Indo-Pak bondings
S.D. Sharma

Panchkula, October 11
The Haryana Urdu Academy and Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Haryana, organised a poetic symposium — “Ek Shaam Kishwar Naheed Ke Naam” — at Red Bishop here yesterday.

Poetess Kishwar Naheed from Pakistan traced the age-old social and cultural similarities of India and Pakistan lost to the barren pride of political ventures. She depicted the feeling of the masses longing for better relationship in her couplets “Kuchh yun bhi jard jard si ‘Naheed’ aaj thi, kuchh odni ka rang be khilta hua na tha”.

She rued the growing cultural pollution and deterioration of moral values, all going unchecked, in another couplet “Kuyen bhi khatam huye panghaton ka daur gaya, yahi sababb hai koi theh mein jhankta na mila”. She read more poems on woman empowerment, social evils like dowry and divorce, ailing society.

“Udassiyon ko to angan hi chahiye, chhaton mein chandni ka silsila rakhna”, suggested Kishwar to all peace-loving brethren in both countries.

Kashmiri Lal Zakir comments on certain personalities, mainly from the political field “Vo chala jayega zakhmon ki tizarart karke, mudton shehar mein uss shakas ka charcha hoga”. On the literary and film scene, Shamas Tabrezi said: “Ajeeb kism ki ubhri thi shakl lafjon se, kitab band na karta to dar gaya hota”. Noorjahan Sarval, Krishan Kumar Tur, Mahendra Partap Chand, Ashraf Sahil also participated in the mushaira.

The chief guest, Dr A.R. Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, exhorted the litterateurs and scholars to contribute for building mutual harmony between the two countries. Education Minister of Haryana Phool Chand Maulana, Lieut- Gen B.K.N. Chhibber, former Punjab Governor, and Mr Rajiv Sharma, IAS, were present.

The venue of the mushaira was too small to accommodate the audience most of whom had to stand all the time.

Zameer, Ishu enthral
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, October 11
The 111th musical programme of Sham-e-Ghazal organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra here today was a veritable confluence of music, melody and poetry. Ustad Zameer Ahmed, from Delhi gharana, and Ishu Sharma cast a magical spell with their soulful renditions of ghazals in varied moods.

Ishu Sharma opened with a Dagg Dehlvi’s ghazal “Le chala jaan meri rooth ke jana tera” in raga pahari followed by Kamil’s composition “Yar rab gam-e-hijre mein” weaved in the melody of raga bageshri. She used captivating alaaps and sargams without drifting from the mood of the ghazal.

Ustad Zameer Ahmed, who recently performed in Pakistan and Dubai, augmented the mood with Parween Shakir’s famous ghazal “Khu-b-khu feil gayi baat shanasai ki”. He brought out the melody of raga darbari and the poetic depth. His next rendering was “Kabhi kaha na kisi se tere fasane ko”, which he sang with grace and expression. Even in the higher octaves, Zameer’s voice retained its sonority and control.

Zameer’s melodious voice and flawless Urdu pronunciation proved his knowledge of literature and music. He presented Jigar Muradabadi’s ghazal “Duniya ke sitam”, which drew rich applause.

Ishu and Zammer then moved on to present a duet composition “Dyary-e-Dil ki raat mein chirag sa jala gaya”. The evening rounded off with “Damadam mast kalandar”.

They were accompanied by Salim Ahmed Khan on tabla while Mohammad Aleem Khan played violin.

Festival of music and dance at Shanti Kunj
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 11
The Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration, has decided to organise a three-day Shanti Kunj festival of classical music, dance and vocal performance from October 13 to 15 at Shanti Kunj Garden, Sector 16, from 6 pm onwards.

During the festival, Pratibha Prahlad, an outstanding exponent of Bharatanatyam, Bharati Shivaji, famous Mohiniyattam dances, and Misra Bandhu (Rajnish and Ritesh), sons of Rajan-Sajan Misra of Benaras Gharana, will give performances.

It has been decided that on October 13, Pratibha Prahlad, an outstanding exponent of Bharata-natyam, will perform along with her troupe.

On October 14, Bharati Shivaji, famous Mohiniyattam dances, along with her troupe will give her performance of a new choreographic composition based on the “Swan Lake”, the celebrated composition of the great Russian composer, Tchaikovsky.

The performance on October 15 will feature Misra Bandhu.

One-act comedy plays staged
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 11
The Facets International Theatre Group staged two one-act comedy plays under the direction of Gaurav Sharma at the Punjab Kala Bhavan Open-Air Theatre today. The situational comedies brought out in the Hindi play “Chaar So Bees”, written by Rajinder Kumar Sharma, and the Punjabi play, “Dr Palta”, written by Balwant Gargi, were well received and applauded.

“Chaar So Bees” depicts the confusion arising out the deletion of a slash from the number plate of House No. 4/20 which reads 420. The situational comedy is generated through a sequence of events.

Similarly, “Dr Palta” depicts the story of a struggling dentist. Desperately engaged in raising money, he plays pranks on prospective customers pretending to be the busiest doctor in the profession and gets caught unawares every time.

Most of the actors were medical students of Dhanwantri Ayurvedic College. Mukesh Chandelia Harsh Bookel, Rajiv Kaushal and Sukriti Garg, Parvesh Ladwal and Niti Gupta played major roles.