|
|
Bright college days Parbina Rashid raises a toast to the days that were and the people who made college a better place
Years of being on the art beat in the city have driven me to one conclusion — our homegrown artists really dig into samosas. Wherever there is an exhibition, the inaugural function inevitably offers this triangular treat among others. I recently stumbled upon the reason for the samosa fixation when I tasted the chacha ka samosa. Every student and pass out of the Government College of Art swears by it. This is one place that besides instilling the love of art also develops one’s taste buds to the pleasure of samosas. Sweet ‘n’ salty
Ujagar Singh or chacha, originally from Una, is as much a landmark to the art college as the college is to the city. He got associated with the college as the ‘official samosa maker’ when the College of Art — an offshoot of Mayo College of Art, Lahore — started in Shimla. “I started working on the Shimla campus in 1958 and came to Chandigarh in 1962 when the college shifted to its present location. Now, I am so attached to the college that wherever it goes, I am willing to go with it,” says chacha, flashing his winsome smile. If his spicy samosa does not bowl you over, his smile certainly will! He has priced samosa at Rs 2.50 apiece but it does not matter if you do not have the money to pay him. “Many times students who passed out and went abroad come back and pay me for the samosas and adrak chais they had had in their student life,” he tells. Yes, nobody forgets him and neither does he! “They are like my children. I have seen them coming in as students and blossoming into artists,” he says, nostalgically. But are there any changes in the atmosphere on campus over the years? “Yes, earlier there were few girls but now they outnumber boys.” But the demand for his fresh samosas has only increased as his fame spread far and wide. King of hearts
If artists swear by chacha ka samosa, then it is
lalaji ki chaat for GCG-11 girls. Lalaji, now 68, came from Meerut in 1966 and put up a modest rehri on the college campus. And for the past 42 years, he has been the undisputed King Of Chaat. Rehris came and went but could not dent his roaring business. His clients include celebrities like Poonam Dhillon and Kiran Bedi. “Even girls who passed out long ago come back for a plate of bhelpuri or gol gappas whenever they are in town,” he beams. Now a heart-patient, Lalaji has passed on his trade secrets to his two sons, who practically run the show. But lalaji simply does not have the heart to retire. “I have spent my entire life here. This is home and it is difficult to stay away,” he shares. Looking at his ever-growing fan club, even the girls seem to find his charm and chaat irresistible. That too for just Rs 5 a plate! For that money he will even share the secret of that tempting chutney – “gur, fresh imli and amchur in liberal quantity.” Serve it right
One does not have to be a culinary expert to win the hearts of our students or grown-ups. Chunni Lal, the senior-most waiter of the Indian Coffee House at Stu-Cee, has proved just that. More than the dosa and coffee, it is his company that students crave for. For political bigwigs like Jagmohan Singh Kang and Satya Pal Jain, a visit to the university campus remains incomplete unless they catch up with their ol’ pal Chunni Lal. “It is actually one’s behaviour that counts,” declares Chunni Lal, a master in the art of passing on gossip without breaking the rule of confidentiality. “I am from Kangra and came to the city as a young man. I joined the Indian Coffee House in Sector 17. When this branch was started in 1973, I was brought here,” he tells. However, what makes this veteran sad is not the change in the furniture in the Coffee House but the general atmosphere on campus. “Earlier, students were like family. We would talk, share our joys and sorrows but now most of them remain aloof,” he says. Well, change is inevitable. But what remains unchanged is that these names still bring a smile. parbina@tribunemail.com |
|
Gurumaa, a spiritual being with an unfaltering love of humanity, visits the city to enlighten and captivate the followers with her discourse and music, writes S. D. Sharma. Anandmurti Gurumaa’ s
virtuous teachings have assumed an altogether new secular dimension over
the years. On her visit to the city, she released two of her latest
musical creations. The albums are replete with blissful spiritual
experience of two diverse genres of thought and philosophical
formulations. The first album Zikr, submerged in the Sufiana
thought and philosophical content features authentic sufi
meditation from the land of Turkey. The soulful music opens with the
call of heart and includes Wazzad, the divine union, Rooh –E-Parwaz,
Tariqat and Jannat- the paradise; all depict the relationship
of a seeker and preceptor. Gurumaa disclosed that it took over
two years for her and artists to feel, imbibe and bring alive the
pristine soulful sufi element of the Turky sufi saints.
‘Shiva’s ecstasy ‘- a musical ode to Lord Shiva brings alive the
spiritual and cultural heritage of India. Gurumaa explained the
contradictory attributes of the great guru Shiva as the destroyer
and restorer representing asceticism and sensuality. Holding
reverence for all religions, Gurumaa maintains that the visionary
Indian sages and seers nurtured the eternal Vedic treatise,
scriptures and culture. She further emphasised, that the spiritual
realism that she propagates takes within its vortex the spiritual
realities of life in all its manifestations. Her four-day
spiritual discourse in the city will focus on stress and rising
competition among students. A proponent of`A0a good social structure,
she denounces female foeticide and disparity to woman and will also be
talking on these topics as a part of the discourses. At: The ground
near Attawa Chowk, Sector 43 –A from April 19 to 22, from 6 to 8 pm. |
Booked for life It all started with an Amar Chitra Katha comic. Simar Onkar was just about six years old when his father brought him one, but he was wise enough to know its value and preserve it. And thus was born a collector of great and rare books! Life gave him the taste of different stages, different professions—marketing, counselling to the executive director of Athenaeum Institute and finally the owner of his shop ‘Great Books’. But his love for rare and unique books remained unchanged. "I have been collecting all sorts of books. In the process I came across books which were rare and unique and I collected quite a few of them. The mission took off from that point. Visits to all over the country to meet such collectors (though there are only a few) and rummaging through people’s attics and junks to search for the rarest of the rare`85 Like this House of Bagrian which was about to be sold off to a raddiwala at Simar’s ancestral house in Gwalior. He intervened just in time and later restored it page by page. Now this is one of the rarest books he has with its price going up to lakhs. "This book was printed sometime around 1940 by Lion Press in Lahore. It comes under the rare book category as there are only a few copies in existence," says Simar. The book with beautiful pictures of the Bagrian family traces its lineage even beyond guru Gobind Singh’s period. It has 38 plates of rare photographs. As Simar shows us his collection, we get valuable inputs on the categorisation of rare books. "Since the publishing industry is not so organised, there are no fixed parametres to judge the value of a book. A rare book may not be an old one. By and large, we categorise it as a rare book if it is a first edition book or if it is of limited edition," he says. He has quite a few first edition books. But the closest to his heart is William James’s Principles of Psychology. The book was published in 1890 in two volumes by Henry Holt and Co. "I will never part with this one as psychology is my favourite subject. In fact these two are the first text books in this subject," he adds. Collecting first edition books for this book lover is as heady as watching a first day first show of a film. But there are other books in his collection which are as unique in their own right. "Look at this one, he says pointing to The Heritage of Poetry. This book shows the healing effect of poetry and the role it played in World War II. The book was published in 1945 for the soldiers for the His Majesty Forces. "This is one of the best anthology of poems I have come across and the best part is this book was not meant for sale," he adds. Simar, besides collecting rare books but also buys and sells them. A lover of English
literature and poetry, Simar has many volumes like a draft copy of All
the Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling published in 1895 with its
rough-edged pages which goes to say that the copy was a free copy meant
for proof reading, The Age of Shakespeare, which was originally
published in 1903 and authored by Thomas Secombe and J.W. Allen and
Charles Dicken’s 1915 edition One most interesting book that catches our eyes is Reading Poems. This rare anthology of poems which was published by Oxford University Press in 1941 is unique for it has a hand written version of The Eve of St. Agnes by John Keats. A special section in this book called The Creation of Poems shows how many times these poems were re-written by the poets. "It is amazing to see how such great poets used to work on their poems. It has many other famous poems like The Express by Stephen Scender and The Lady of Shallet right from its birth to maturity." It really is! An avid reader, Simar has learnt all the tricks that one should know about rare books and restoring them is the toughest of them. He admits: "None of the books you have seen here was in this shape," showing a new-arrival which is currently undergoing the process of restoration. Simar does it page by page, rubbing off any pencil mark, ironing out the creases and keeping the torn pieces intact with cello-tape and fevicol. "Sometimes it takes months to do it," he says. But he finds joy in his task. A joy, which seem to be infecting others too`85. If you too collect unique things and wish to be featured, write to us at lifestyletribune@gmail.com |
Kya film
hai !
Kya Love Story Hai Cast: Tusshar Kapoor and Ayesha Takia Tusshar Kapoor and Ayesha Takia starrer, Kya Love Story Hai is a feel-good romantic comedy. It focuses on love and its hurdles. Those who have sneaked the preview, says that the flick has a contemporary and slick feel. Ayesha once again plays the role of a girl next door. Debutant Karan Hukkoo supports the lead stars. The film has been shot in exquisite locales of South Africa. N R Pachisia and Adlabs have produced the light romantic comedy, after action packed thrillers like Apradhi. Ziddi and Haqeeqat. Kareena Kapoor flashes her sensuality in a rocking number ‘Miss you everyday’. Music composer Pritam’s catchy beats has already made its way to the city discotheques. Shabbir Ahmad has penned the lyrics. Showing at Piccadilly and Fun Republic — Dharam Pal |
Sanjaya Malakar, the under-talented but unflappable singer who horrified and captivated millions in his improbable American Idol run, was finally voted out of the singing competition TV show. When the result was announced on Wednesday night, Malakar wiped away tears and got a big hug from Lakisha Jones, the next lowest vote-getter. "I’m fine," he told Ryan Seacrest. "It was an amazing experience." "I can promise you: We won’t soon forget you," Seacrest replied. Malakar then performed one last song, Something To Talk About. Putting his own twist on the song, the 17-year-old known for his pretty looks and ever-changing hairstyles ad-libbed: "Let’s give them something to talk about other than hair." Malakar was routinely savaged by Cowell as he developed into one of the weakest, most awkward Idol finalists ever. Still, the gangly teen managed to outlast better singers by cultivating an unlikely fan base that helped him survive round after round of viewer elimination. Though his breathy, childlike singing voice paled in comparison with other finalists, his ability to stand out kept him in the competition. He consistently delivered the season’s most talked-about performances, even daring to sport a ponytail mohawk that added pizazz to an otherwise tepid rendition of No Doubt’s Bathwater. That, of course, wound up fodder for watercooler discussion on G-rated morning programs and smart-alecky websites, stoking suspicion that Malakar was self-consciously manipulating the media to carve a place in American Idol history. Among Malakar’s supporters, radio jockey Howard Stern and the website Votefortheworst.com, which has long promoted the show’s tone-deaf candidates. Malakar also had the backing of friends and family in his home state of Washington. Indeed, after panning another of Malakar’s performances, Cowell threw up his arms and said there was nothing he could say to prevent people from voting for the oddball-turned-national phenomenon. But, in the end, Malakar could not win enough votes to join the ranks of Taylor Hicks, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. He will, however, live forever on YouTube. — AP |
Tackle the rising mercury by dressing in elegant cottons, writes Purva Grover If the heat is taking its toll on you, then it is time you redo your wardrobe. Put away synthetic and nylon clothing and move on to cotton wear. The mantra this summer with the city fashionistas is long flowing or knee length skirts and floral patterned kurtas, which allow the body to breathe. Keeping you cool, the cotton kurtis are surely the delight of summers. Elegant floral prints in hues of soothing shades are enveloping the market. Suvasa, in Sector 8 has an interesting array of combinations to choose from. You can pick on a turquoise, orange, red and green khadi work salwar or churidaar and team it up with a white cotton kurta. And, if it is pastel colours that you are set on, then go in for lemon, olives, cherry and yellows. Says Simeran, Manager, "In summers, avoid dark colours like black and blues as these colours absorb heat and make you feel more hot." And, if you are one of those who loves to mix and match then Suvasa is the place to be. Pick on a maroon kurta with paisleys and match it up with a beige salwar and adorn it with a duppata with ghungroos. Knee-length kurtis that can be teamed with a pair of jeans or even with a Patiala salwar are also on offer. Says Simeran, "We use vegetable dye for all our outfits." The store sees a fresh collection every fortnight and is created by their base designer unit in Jaipur. Also, on offer are skirts both the straight fits and ghaghara style which when worn with a short cotton kurti makes up for a fashion statement at the workplace. "Our footfall increase from 50 per cent sales to 90 per cent in summers," says Simeran. The price range here is between an affordable Rs 350 and 800. Another such store that has brought Rajasthani elegance to Punjab is Missprints, Sector 8. At this store, there is everything that is quintessentially Rajasthani. Feather-soft cotton kurtis forms 90 per cent of their collection; the most popular here is the block printing kurtis. If it is a formal wear you are looking for, then pick up a kurti embellished with sequins for just Rs 650 and if it is regular wear you are in for then how about kurtis in fruity colours teamed up with a white salwar or if you like experimenting then sport it with capris. For the young workingwoman, the store has cotton fish cut skirts with tops with mirror and thread work. Says Rajpal Singh, Manager, "Our sale increases by almost 300 per cent in summers." And for all those who like to stick on to the traditional patterns of filigreed leaves, petals, vines, and the inevitable paisleys on the kurtas then head to FabIndia, Sector 9. The colours ruling here are sky blues, light green, lemon, peach, cream, light pinks and lemon yellow. A kurti with the traditional border on the sleeves is perfect for an evening wear; and a simple printed or plain colour kurta makes up for chic casual wear at work. The college students can choose from a collection of sleeveless short kurtas and complement them with a colourful stole to complete the look. So, what are you waiting for; just go ahead and pick up a cottony delight and beat the sweltering heat. purva@tribunemail.com |
IT is not just another photographic exhibition, which leaves you feeling good. Here 16 huge panels come with hard-hitting facts in the form of text and pictures one would like to forget. But they are effective enough to imprint themselves in one’s mind and spark a little soul-searching—are we actually doing enough to save our environment? Looking at the enthusiastic children from various schools visiting the venue, Government Museum and Art Gallery in Sector 10, there is reason to believe that we do have a conscience. It just needs to be directed. And the ‘Seeds of Change: The Earth Charter and Human Potential’ aims to do just that. Organised by Bharat Soka Gokkai, a voluntary organisation, in association with UNESCO, the exhibition is based on, as the name suggests, the Earth Charter—a declaration of eight principles for building a peaceful global society through sustainable development. The exhibits have gone to several cities in the world before coming to Chandigarh. There are panels showing how continents like Africa and Asia have been suffering from drinking water problem and pollution—both water and air. Others show how one half of the population is over-exploiting the natural resources and the other half in paying the price for it. The facts are hard hitting so are the figures, making you ashamed of yourself for taking all these material comforts for granted. But not everything is glum. There are panels that illustrate success stories and others that give solutions. The hope comes from the one that says—“No matter how complex the global problems may seem, it is we ourselves who have created them. They cannot be beyond our power to resolve.” There is this panel showing Nobel-laureate Wangari Maathai who started an afforestation movement in Kenya, a one-woman initiative, which became so big that 20 million trees have already been planted. There is another success story from Rajasthan. It is about Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat Sangh, a voluntary organisation, who brought about a water revolution by building Johads (water tanks). Today, villages in different parts of Rajasthan have built over 4,500 water-harvesting structures. The exhibition also highlights the role of women inside a community and how different communities are availing of their services to make a difference to their immediate surroundings. In Chandigarh, though we can boast of living in a green and relatively clean city, the fast receding water tables and frequent cuts in water supply tell us that it is time for us too to sow some ‘seeds of change’. A visit to this exhibition can initiate the thought process in the much- needed direction. On till April 22 — P. R. |
Dream-like reality Subhash Sapru captures the vibrancy of people & places SUBHASH SAPRU likes to define life as water and memories as ice-cubes in a mould tray. He cannot be farther from the truth. For, life may be a stream of flowing water, carrying him around places, but as far as memories are concerned, his are nothing like the dead ice-cubes. In fact, they are well-composed photographs, each telling an eloquent tale. It’s been years since we had last seen his photographs on Gujarat earthquake. It made news that time, labelling Sapru as a photojournalist who had the sensitivity to capture a tragedy without hurting the feelings of both victims and viewers. His sensitivity is very much alive in the frames now on display at Punjab Kala Bhavan art gallery, though the subject has changed—from tragedy to the vibrancy of people and places. ‘In Passing’, as he chooses to call his second solo exhibition which was inaugurated this Thursday, brings us a couple of scenes from Ellora, one of them showing a group of young artists learning from heritage and others showing the vibrancy of the age-old temple. A good number of prints come from Jaipur like Faces of India, Soaring Prayers, Choose One and War and Peace. The last one brings out the humorous side of Sapru, when he framed a few ladies gossiping in front of the portrait of a war hero in Jaipur Museum. There are others closer to home like Chakwal in Pak, which narrates a scene with colourful umbrellas and another one called Illusion showing the red-carpet ritual at the Wagah border. One of his photographs of the Dalai Lama shows the spiritual head in a rare moment of sipping a liquid from a vessel. As a Public Relations Officer with the Department of Public Relations and Cultural Affairs, Haryana, Sapru gets enough opportunities and access to difficult places and unique moments to satisfy his photographic urge. But then it has proved to be a handicap too. “I have some rare photographs of politicians and famous personalities caught in tricky situations. But I cannot print them for obvious reasons,” he says. Well, we can wait till the time is appropriate. But what interests us right now is his technique. And Sapru shares it with us—“I use a Nikon N65 camera, an SLR film camera. Though I have an assortment of cameras, I am still faithful to the old methods of photography.” The reason is simple, when it comes to creativity, digital camera is an absolute no-no, he adds pointing at the flatness of one of his photographs, which he had clicked at Wagah. “I use the digital when I run out of films.” But even the ‘running out of film phenomena’ is a boon for him. For Sapru has developed this technique of using an expiry dated 800 ASA film to get the grainy effect or dreamy look. His picture may have the dreamy look, but Subhash’s thoughts are firmly rooted in the ground. “A photojournalist should never get over-excited about his subject. If one does, he tends to lose focus and it shows in the print,” is his advice. Mercifully, this advice does not apply to the viewers. So here is your chance to see India through his eyes and get excited. For his exhibits do come with a ‘feel good factor’. On till April 22 |
A catalyst for religion Joyshri Lobo Dan Brown’s writings have raised questions, fuelled controversies and jeopardised existing institutions. The debate created by The Da Vinci Code will continue for long. The author’s writing capability is not being questioned here. His viewpoint is. He will find himself ostracised, admired and sometimes shunned. However, whether his writings are factual or fictional, his greatest gift to literate humanity has been to stimulate and question existing norms and rituals. Faith has been one of the greatest supports in our lives. Faith in a higher being keeps us hopeful in extreme sorrow and deprivation. We feel secure in the belief that someone greater than us all and who created a universe that we are just starting to fathom and understand, is watching over us. This thought alone keeps us trying to do the best in our lives. We also rely in the faith that He cannot make things worse and His powerful presence will overcome the worst that can happen to countries and people. This tremendous faith is common to most of us, even if we are agnostics or atheists. As long as faith exists, we can carry on with our daily lives. Faith in ourselves is a natural continuation of the faith in a higher being. A part of His energy is within us and this makes us believe in ourselves. As we grow older we introspect, look back, look within and reminisce. Childhood doubts and uncertainties are explained or reasoned out and we start loving and respecting ourselves more. Only if we have faith in ourselves, are we capable of being confident enough to help, advise and listen to others. All of the above is shattered when faith is taken over by religion. We human beings get fragmented and often confused when the religion of our birth prescribes definite norms, rituals and readings. Most religions make their believers feel that theirs is the only true way to salvation. Any deviations can lead to disapproval from the religious community and thereafter from the ruling deity. The fear of this keeps us reigned in within the confines of our religion. If I have to offer charity it should be to people of my religion. If I celebrate a holy day, I should invite those of my religion. Enforcing these rules are the keepers of religion — priests and preachers. Step out of the blessed circle and damnation is a certainty. Within religions there are sub divisions and sects. Each sect narrows humanity’s circle further. The confines and righteousness of each religion has led to the wars of today. “I am better than you and therefore you have to listen to me. If you don’t, I shall have to make you…” With that threat, the global community is being polarised or ghettoised into groups. The Da Vinci Code sent shock waves through the Christian community. Its story line mixed with existing places and some historical truths has confused readers who so far felt secure in set patterns and religious instructions. All of a sudden books pertaining to the Holy Grail, Templar Knights, Mary Magdalene and Opus Dei are being bought off the shelves. The interpreters of religion are very agitated as the very foundations of their teachings are being rattled. The more they tell their flock not to read such books and see such films, the more the people’s curiosity is roused. Sales boom. Even J.K. Rowling’s work has become more popular ever since cautionary notices were sent out! Dan Brown has certainly got us all thinking and asking questions. We can no longer accept what we are told to but are looking for answers as well as what lies behind the scenes. To my mind, this is the start of bringing a scattered, global community together once again. |
Strikes – for
how long?
The rights given to us are. misused by the citizens. The right to speech and assembling is misinterpreted and we go for unwanted strikes, which in most of the cases lead to violence and chaos in the nation. Our student community has specially accepted strikes as an effective panacea for every ailment. Often, we have seen a concerted refusal of students to attend classes and the staging of massive dharnas if they want their demands to be met. Students can be from Panjab University or from AIIMS and IITs, issues can vary from quota controversy to attendance issue. Suddenly the most studious students transform into anarchists. Why are students so discontent that they need to rebel from time to time? This all happens because there is still a deep gap between teachers and students. In case of a problem they approach the so-called student leaders; who in turn fulfill their own political motives. We can put forward our demands through magazine or newspaper, or do it through paintings, poetry or songs. |
Health tip of the day
Pain associated with tail bone can be cured by massage, exercise, manipulation and by using a
pillow or donut cushion. — Dr Ravinder Chadha |
TAROT TALK
|
HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |