Chandigarh, December 29
The Chandigarh Librarians Association organised the 14th Competition Master library-related competitions - 2006 on November 19, at the Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45B, Chandigarh.

The following is the list of prizewinners of competitions like, essay writing, GK and IQ, which could not be declared earlier. The prizes will be awarded to all winners of different competitions held on November 19, at the annual function to be held in the last week of January.

English essay writing: ready-made entries: Rakhi J. Singh, Dev Samaj College for Women I, Manjeet Cheema, Shivalik Public School Mohali II, Hardeep Kaur, Shivalik Public School, Mohali III; Category: IV: Firoza Devi, Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, I, Meghna Kanwar, Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College, II, Divya Kaul, DAV College, III, Deepika Sharma, Dev Samaj College of Education, consolation, Prachi Kapil, Dev Samaj College for Women, consolation, Sonia Sharma, Dhanwantri Ayurvedic College, consolation, Esha Mahajan, Government College for Women, Sector 42, consolation, Harlin Kaur, MCM DAV College for Women, consolation; Category III: Arsh Verma, St. John’s High School, I, Inderjeet Singh, Shivalik Public School II, Sehaj, DAV Model, Sector 15, II, Mehak Arora, St. Xavier Senior Secondary School, III, Gurleen Kaur, Shivalik Public School, Mohali, consolation, Ishani Pawar, DAV Model, Sector 15, consolation, Abhilaksh Gaind, St John’s High School, consolation.

Punjabi essay writing: readymade entries: Dr. Harjeet Kaur Sandhu, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, I; Category IV: Rajvinder Kaur, Dev Samaj College for Women I, Navjot Kaur, Dev Samaj College of Education, II, Poonam, Dev Samaj College for Women, III; Category III: Anuveer Kaur Shivalik Public School, Mohali I, Jagpreet Singh, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sec 46, II, Gaganjot Kaur, Shivalik Public School, Mohali III.

Hindi essay writing: ready-made entries: Parvati Bai Sharma, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, I, Renu Sharma, Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, II; Category IV: Archana Kamal Dr.Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, I, Mukesh Kumar, DAV College, II Poonam, Dev Samaj College of Education, III, Jyoti Government College of Education, consolation, Category III: Ruchika Shivalik Public School I, Gurleen Kaur, Shivalik Public School, Mohali, II, Silky Soni Kendriya Vidyalaya III, Manpreet Kaur, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, consolation.

GK and IQ.: Category IV: Shalini Sharma, MCM DAV College I, Prachi Kapil, Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, II, Swati Mittal, DAV College, III, Sehaj Preet Kaur, SGGS College, III, Surinder Kaur, Dev Samaj College for Women, consolation; Category III: Tushar Khanna, St John’s High School I, Nikhil Pratap Singh, St John’s High School, II, Abhiraj Singh St Xavier’s School, Mohali, III, Gursheel Singh, St John’s High School, III; Category II: Prabhav Puri, St John’s High School, I, Abhinav Negi, St John’s High School, II, Shobhit Narain, St John’s High School, III, Category: I A: Shamin, St John’s High School I, Archit Nanda, St John’s High School, II, Purusharth, St John’s High School, III, Chiraag, St John’s High School, consolation; Category I B: Divakar, St John’s High School, I, Sidharth Jain, St John’s High School, II, Harman Singh, Saupins School III, Dhruv Sarwal, St John’s High School, III.

Chandigarh, December 29
The NSS unit of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, organised a 10-day camp on the school premises here.

During the camp, various activities like poster making, slogan writing, card making, handicrafts and poem recitation were held to give an opportunity to volunteers to exhibit their skill.

A rally was also organised to create awareness about AIDS. The lectures by eminent persons and educationist were delivered on the themes of AIDS, drug abuse, female 
foeticide, dowry and other social evils. The volunteers visited Burail village to make people aware about the importance of being literate.

The Principal, Dr Surendra Singh, addressed the students and stressed their role in eradicating social evils.

A cultural programme and the prize distribution function were held on the concluding day. The chief guest, Mrs Kamla Bains, DEO, Chandigarh Administration, distributed 
the prizes. 

Chandigarh, December 29
From slogging it out in the fields of Nepal to ruling the hearts of millions through his melodious voice, one of the most sought-after playback singers in Bollywood, Udit Narayan, has certainly not let success go to his head. His humility, perseverance and immense talents has got him far.

Udit who started singing as a child at festivals and community fairs in border areas of UP, Bihar and Nepal was a radio singer with Kathmandu Radio Station for more than 10 years.

It was only when the Indian Embassy in Nepal offered him a scholarship that he shifted his base to Bombay in 1978. From there onwards, his training in music began till the next few years and finally he was given his first break as a playback singer by music director Rajesh Roshan in the movie “Unnees Bees”.

Udit Narayan, who shot to fame with the musical success of ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Se Tak’, attributes his success to hard work and God’s blessings. Udit stresses on the need of healthy competition, even in the field of singing. Lashing it out on the numerous talent shows on the small screen, Udit believes there are no shortcuts to success. “For a while one can be a star, but if one intends to last long in the industry, struggle is the only key to it”.

He was accompanied by his wife, Deepa Narayan, an equally talented singer. After the success of her first Bhojpuri film titled, “Kab Hui Gaona Hamar”, she is ready with her next production to be released soon.

On his son Aditya Narayan, who started his career as a child singer, Udit says his 19-year old son is about to finish a western vocal course in London.

After singing the melodious songs in the Anrita Rao and Shahid Kapur starrer ‘Vivah’, Udit is all set to lend his voice once again for the upcoming flick, “Guru”.

“But there are still many battles to be won… life should continuously have a goal so that we continue to work hard and reach out for the stars,” he signs off, rather humbly. 

Chandigarh, December 29
Chill notwithstanding, the music lovers thronged the Leisure Valley for a live music concert by celebrated Bollywood playback singer Udit Narayan here today. The music extravaganza was organised by the Department of Tourism, Chandigarh, in association with Airtel as part of the Chandigarh New Year Eve Festival.

The singing star took the centre stage with the opening song “Papa kehte hain” followed by the popular “Ud ja kale kaavan”. He modulated his voice in full range to bring alive the pastoral Punjabi touch, much to the acclaim of the audience. He delved deep into the lyrical content to embellish the element of romanticism in “Kyon ke itna pyar tumko” as also in “Jaan meri jaa rahi sanam”. The audience really relished “Mit gyi dooriyan”. He avoided the accompaniment of dancers in serious songs.

He lauded the versatility of his wife Deepa Narayan, a playback singer and producer of Bhojpuri films. After doling out hit numbers like “Ham chale ham”, “Tum se milna”, “Idhar chala Udhar chala”, Udit again cast a spell with “Tere naam hamne kiya hai”, but he set the stage at fire with “Khai ke paan Benaras wala” as the audience danced and clapped along.

The “Do re mi” orchestra, conducted by composers Satish Popli and Jaswant Popli, augmented the presentation anchored by Ms Saundriya.

Earlier, Anupama Choudhry and Gaurav presented some hit film songs while Uday Dahiya of the Laughter Challenge kept the audience in good humour.

Chandigarh, December 29
Gursharan Singh personifies simplicity. Venerated as the king of Punjabi theatre, he has been selected for Sangeet Natak Akademi Rattan award.

An institution in himself, he won the Sangeet Natak Award in 1993 and the prestigious national Kalidas Samman in 2003. An author of 13 books, 132 short and six-full-length plays with over 8,500 stage performances to his credit, this chemical engineer stood tall in the toughest of times as a messiah of the under privileged.

He was there to counter terrorism with his play “Baba Bolda Hai”. He was also in Bhopal to heal the wounds of the suffering humanity with “Bhai Manna Singh” during the Bhopal gas leak tragedy.

Sharing his feelings with The Tribune on his latest achievement, a beaming Gursharan Singh said: “This is in reciprocation of my concern for the people and their love, but I am never-the-less happy to see the award as a recognition of the Punjabi theatre”.

He said the award had inspired him to visit 300 villages in Punjab during the 100th birth anniversary year of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Through the door-to-door campaign, I wish to create an awakening among the masses on mutual brotherhood and harmony.

Chairperson of the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Adademi Kamal Tewari, said the decision on awarding Gursharan Singh was unanimous unlike other nominations.

Chandigarh, December 29
Over the years Indians have become conscious of their rich musical heritage, specially with its growing popularity among art lovers in foreign countries. Many Indian performing arts, like Bharatnatyam and Bhangra are becoming more and more popular.

Indian music is witnessing an unprecedented boom in its business, especially with the advent of television channels. “However, the spurt of folk and film music has not only overshadowed the grandeur of Indian classical musical arts, but has also to some extent stalled its promotion and propagation”, observes Kamal Tewari, Chairperson, Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy.

He says that the large number of people attending classical music concerts is very encouraging but also poses the question: how many of them really appreciate and imbibe the finer nuances of the art?

Government and private organisations, like SPIC-MACAY( Society for promotion of Indian Classical Arts and Culture among Youth), have made substantial contributions in preserving and disseminating classical arts, adds Tewari.

Acclaimed classical vocalist, Pandit Yash Paul of Agra Gharana, however, feels that patronage to local maestros can go a long way in promoting classical music in the region as performers from outside are concerned with presentation and not art propagation.

Defending the inevitable western influence on our music, young music director and professor of music, Kanwar Iqbal, observes that though 'change' is dynamic, yet Indian classical music with its divine origin and potential, is bound to stay and reign supreme in the world of music.