CULTURE

Captivating sitar recital by Hungarian ensemble
S.D. Sharma

Chandigarh, October 24
The world-known Hungarian ensemble, the Calcutta Trio, presented a soulful sitar recital at the auditorium of the Guru Gobind Singh College for Girls here today. The event organised by the college, in association with the Indian Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries, was a part of the old college students meet. This was stated by Dr Rupinder Kaur, coordinator.

The programme began with a scintillating presentation of an Indian instrumental classical music composition directed by Lucky Malhotra. The 12-piece orchestra weaved melodies from ragas and folklore with Gautam Dhar and Satinder articulating the melody meter on the tabla.

Amidst welcome ovation, the maestros of the Calcutta Trio, led by sitar virtuoso Dr Andras Kozma, took the centrestage only to mesmerise the audience. Ably accompanied by Peter Szalai on the tabla and Dr Andras Molnar on the tanpura, Kozma bared the melodic characters of South Indian raga Chaukeshi. He displayed his adroit mastery over the instrument and an in-depth knowledge of music with the exposition of a short alaap and the composition (gat) set to roopak taal. An interactive “swaal- jawaab” in a short jugalbandi of sitar and tabla induced novelty in the performance.

Coping with the disturbing sound system Kozma presented raga Mishar Ghara in teen taal commencing in a medium tempo (madhya laya) which subsequently melted into a fast tempo (drut laya) to embellish the sargams and layakari. While the maestro excelled with the true planting of notes and sticking to rhythmic cycles, the charismatic punch of astounding triumph expected of a world-renowned disciple of the great master was missing.

Earlier, talking to the Chandigarh Tribune, the trio disclosed that their obsession with Indian classical arts had made them imbibe the best of Indian traditions in life. Dr Kozma, besides practising Indian music, teaches Indian philosophy and has authored a book on the subject. With fluency in Bengali and Hindustani he loves to feel the splendour of our music which has a rich repository of ragas and folklore. “Guru Ravi Shankar” is a hard task master, a traditionalist, purist and disciplinarian. He sings the compositions for you which are indeed masterpieces to be imbibed through oral transmission. My only ambition is to play in the Mitsoura Group who sing gypsy Rajasthani songs also,” said Dr Kozma.

Co-artist Dr Andras Molnar is an executive officer in the Hungarian finance ministry wedded to Indian culture. He proudly shares his expertise at cooking Indian meals and samosas at home. Similarly, the percussionist Peter Szalai, a disciple of late Ustad Allah Rakha, owes his aesthetic potential as the bliss of his Ustad.

Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan from Oct 27
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 24
Art lovers in the city will be treated to a three-day melodic session of classical music during the annual Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan which will begin from October 27 at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan auditorium here.

The event, organised by the Indian National Theatre Society annually for the past 29 years without a break, has brought legends like Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Kumar Gandharva, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Kishori Amonkar, Parveen Sultana and others to the city.

Addressing mediapersons, the society Chairman and former bureaucrat Navjivan Khosla said, ‘‘Keeping up our tradition the society has invited acclaimed virtuosos for the ensuing musical bonanza’’.

On Friday October 27 at 6.30 pm the sammelan will commence with a flute recital by Kailash Sharma, winner of the Grand Prix Manpasicjok award at Seoul. Versatile vocal music virtuoso and proponent of Amir Khan gayaki style, Shanthi Sharma will regale the audience in the second session.

Manjari Alegaonkar and globe-trotting classical vocalist and musicologist Padmashri Madhup Mudgal will take on the audience on the second day.

An upcoming classical music prodigy from the city, Aditya Sharma, will give vocal performance at the concluding session on October 29 at 10.30 am.

HEALTH

Chinks in PGI security
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
The PGI authorities seem to have no system in place to check impersonators who can pose a serious security threat to this premier health institute of the region. Yesterday’s incident of a youth posing as a doctor and barging into the gynaecology ward has exposed chinks in the security of the PGI.

The authorities seem to be in deep slumber as hardly any preventive measures have been taken to check impersonation. The authorities claimed that checking each and every person wearing a doctor’s overcoat with a stethoscope was not feasible.

Security personnel claim that doctors generally avoid wearing aprons and putting identity cards around necks. If stopped for checking, they often indulge in altercations with them.

Sources in the PGI disclosed that the authorities had issued a circular asking every employee of the institute to wear an identity card on duty. However, throwing all norms to the wind, a majority of the doctors, including interns or those pursuing studies, have been performing duties without it.

A visit to the hospital revealed that the authorities had not tightened the security cover in and around the PGI. 

SPORTS

Buchanan not taking India lightly
Shane Watson hospitalised
G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
“India has a sound top batting order and with players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, there could be no second thought about it. Above all, India has the privilege of home ground also”, said Australian coach John Buchanan after a practice session of the team at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium here today. The team practised for about three hours.

“No one can take the risk of assessing India lightly. The team is in good shape and has performed well in the opener. Moreover, Kuala Lumpur is the past,” said the Aussie coach.

On long time gaps between matches of the ICC Champions Trophy, John said: “It’s nice to have long gaps in-between. I am quite optimistic about the long eight days’ rest. It is advantageous for us as we have ample time to acclimatise ourselves to the conditions here and get fully fit,” John smiles.

Australia suffered a major setback when Shane Watson was rushed to the hospital with chest and stomach pains early this morning.

The coach said he was optimistic that Watson would be better soon and would play in the Sunday’s final Group-A match against India in Mohali. “As far as I know at the moment, he is in hospital and they are just doing all tests.”

Several players of the Australian squad complained of stomach problems and had to miss training. “We’ve had a couple of cases of sickness already,” Buchanan said, adding “We’re taking every possible precaution but, nonetheless, sometimes those things happen.”

Buchanan also backed his bowling star Glenn McGrath, saying that he was a “crucial player” in the side even though he might not have been enjoying good outings in the recent past.

“We don’t doubt his intensity and discipline. It would be a concern for Australia if McGrath “can’t find that extra bit of pace and nip” during the Ashes. The foundation for Australia’s great success in the last decade has revolved around the extraordinary combination of McGrath and Shane Warne. 

Police to put up boards around stadium
Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 24
Information boards displaying the list of things that will not be allowed inside the stadium will be put at parking areas as part of security arrangements during the ICC Champions Trophy matches being played at the PCA Stadium here. The boards are being put up in accordance with the response the police got from Flight Lt P.S. Karthik. It had distributed feedback forms among cricket enthusiasts during the last match held between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh here on October 7.

A Delhi resident, Mr Asad Jamal, wanted that the security persons should be briefed better about passes and tickets. The police has implemented suggestions of both spectators.

Nearly 1,000 feedback forms were distributed during the last match. Most of the spectators were satisfied with the arrangements of the police though some elderly persons reported that they had problems in walking in the parking area. A small percentage of spectators complained that the behaviour of the police was rude. 

Teams announced for Indo-Pak tennis series
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) and the All-India Tennis Association (AITA) have announced their teams for the four-Test India-Pakistan Tennis Challenge Series to be played in India and Pakistan from November 6 to 12.

Pakistan’s top player Aisam Ul-Qureshi, having 441 ATP ranking, will captain the six-member Pakistan team. The other members of the team are: Aqueel Khan, Jallil Khan and Nomi Qamar. The Pakistan delegation will comprise 19 members.

On the other hand, two Davis Cup players, Ropan Bopanna and Karan Rastogi, have been included in the Indian team. Bopanna has the highest ATP singles ranking (273) in the Indian team. Karan Rastogi (ATP ranking 361), Divij Sharan (ATP ranking 522) and Vivek Shoken (ATP ranking 603) are the other members of the Indian team.

Mr Rajan Kashyap, Chairman of the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, and AITA secretary Anil Khanna, along with other Indian officials, will accompany the Indian team to Pakistan.

On the Pakistan leg, the Test matches will be played in Islamabad on November 6 and at Lahore on November 8. The third Test will be played at Chandigarh on November 10 and the fourth and final will in Delhi on November 12.

All four Test matches will be shown live in India and Pakistan by Doordarshan and Pakistan Television. 

GCG-42 get walk over
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
The football team of the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, was granted walk over against the Panjab University team on the opening day of the Panjab University Inter-College Football for Women being held at Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, here today. According to the organisers, since the Panjab University eves did not turn up at the venue, GCG girls got the walk over.”

Selection trials: The selection trials for 52nd National School Games 2006-07 in the discipline of football (boys under 14 and under 19) will be held at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, on October 26 and 27, respectively. The games would be held in Uttaranchal from November 28 to December 12 and at the Andeman and Nicobar from December 6 to 12. 

Ashish bags judo gold
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
Ashish Thakur clinched gold medal in the boys’ u-17 category (below 45 kg) while Nivedita bagged gold in below 40 kg girls’ u-17 category in the Junior State Judo Championship held at Sports Complex, Sector 42, here today.

The following are the results: Boys’ category (u-17): below 45 kg: Ashish Thakur 1, Rahul Singh 2 and Raj Kumar 3; below 50 kg: Mandeep Singh 1, Manoj 2 and Sumit Singroha 3; above 60 kg: Kuldeep Kang 1, Anil Singh 2 and Levish 3; U-20 (below 40 kg): Vijay 1, Shammi 2 and Vikram 3; below 60 kg Vivek 1, Tarun 2 and Kumdram 3; below 66 kg: Rajinder 1, Ramandeep 2 and Aman Rana 3; below 73 kg: Mohit 1, Vinod 2 and Kamljeet 3; above 81 kg: Khushal 1 and Ankit 2

Girls’ category (u-17): below 40 kg: Nivedita 1, Renu 2 and Ravinder 3; below 44kg: Neeru 1 and Minakshi 2; below 48 kg: Neetu 1 and Sapna 2; below 52 kg: Manisha 1 and Pooja 2; above 52 kg: Jyotika 1, Priya 2 and Amandeep 3; u-20 (below 48 kg): Sarita 1 and Rinchan 2; below 52 kg: Manju 1 and Ekta 2; below 63 kg: Priyanka 1, Swati 2 and Priti 3; above 63 kg: Yakshi 1, Yogesh Kumari 2 and Sukanya 3.

St. John’s, St. Stephen’s set up final clash
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 24
St. John’s High School, Sector 26, and St. Stephen’s High School, Sector 45, will clash in the final of the 9th Blessed Edmund Rice Under 16 Cricket Tournament being played at St. John’s, Sector 26, here. The tournament is being sponsored by the Chandigarh IT Club.

In the 1st semifinal, St. John’s-26 beat Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, by 51 runs.

Brief scores: St. John’s: 126 for 5 in 25 overs (Aayush Raj Soni 39, Vishal Jhatta 20 and Sahil 2 for 16).

SPS 41: 69 all out in 23 overs (Pavittar 19, Shresht 16, Vishal Jhatta 3 for10 and Vikram 2 for 22).

In the 2nd semifinal, St. Stephen’s-45 beat Bhavan Vidayalaya, Panchkula, by 8 wickets.

Brief scores: Bhavan: 106 all out in 23.1 overs (Anubhav 24, Madhur 21, Hitesh 3 for 16 and Vishal 3 for 30).

St.Stephen’s: 107 for 2 in 16.1 overs (Anurag 52 n.o., Hitesh 25, and Varun 1for 8).