 |
|
|
Nanakshahi Calender
Farmers upbeat over widespread rain in region
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Power Hike Rollback This cricket coach talks of peace in Kashmir
PPCC Membership Drive
Price line: Unifying factor for working class
Milk price hiked
Developing Scientific Temper
BSF sanitises Pak border
Sumo-truck collision kills 4
The Sumo that met with an accident on Sunday morning at Ropar. A Tribune photograph
Migratory birds flock Chhatbir zoo
Kurali road project hangs fire
House Tax
Jahaz Haveli to get a facelift
Bridge awaits VVIP inauguration
New Mexico offers ‘sister state’ status to Punjab
Archaic excise laws mock at system
‘Music can generate lot more jobs’ This cricket coach talks of peace in Kashmir
|
Nanakshahi Calender
Amritsar, January 3 The Nanakshahi calendar, which was adopted by the SGPC in 2003 after having been approved by Akal Takht, will almost resemble the Bikrami calendar if the changes approved by the executive were implemented. The proposed changes suggested by the SGPC chief Avtar Singh and the orthodox Sikh organisations led by the Damdami Taksal chief, Harnam Singh, however, will come into force as and when these were endorsed by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. Ignoring the opposition put up by three executive members --- the SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Bibi Ravinder Kaur and Karnail Singh Panjauli ---the SGPC executive led by Avtar Singh has recommended that Sangrands along with the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev should be observed as per the “old tradition” (read Bikrami calendar). Besides, some important days such as the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, Gurta Gaddi Divas and Jyoti Jot Samaun Divas of Guru Gobind Singh were also likely to be observed as per the Bikrami calendar. According to Avtar Singh, the five Sikh high priests had already recommended that these three historic days should be observed as per the “old tradition.” He, however, made it clear that the proposed changes would come into force only if endorsed by the Akal Takht Jathedar. Till then, the SGPC would be adhering to the existing Nanakshahi calendar and the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh would be celebrated as per the existing calendar on January 5. “We have to effect some changes in order to keep the panth united. The Sant Samaj is an important component of the Sikh panth. The decision was taken by the majority in the executive. We don’t have any pressure from any quarter including the RSS. Those opposing me or those who are planning to gherao my residence are doing it without any valid reason. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee leader Parmjit Singh Sarna is a Congress agent and he has proved it by honouring Delhi Chief Minister and Congress leader Shiela Dixit and by backing Prof Darshan Singh. The Nanakshahi calendar will continue to stay,” said Avtar Singh while talking to The Tribune. Executive members including Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Bibi Ravinder Kaur and Karnail Singh Panjauli tried to persuade Avtar Singh that they could not support any changes as the executive was neither provided with any documents nor any time to study the agenda. “The president wanted us to endorse the agenda but we declined on the ground that no decision can be taken in haste as it involved a sensitive issue like the calendar which was a treasure of the Sikh nation. But we were not listened to, rued Sukhdev Singh Bhaur while talking to The Tribune. He has already voiced his concern over the proposed changes. A number of Sikh organisations opposing any changes in the calendar, including the Dal Khalsa, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee led by Parmjit Singh Sarna, SAD (Panch Pardhani), American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and a number of other Sikh bodies have alleged that the proposed changes were part of the “wider conspiracy” to relapse to the old Bikrami Calendar. They have also decided to adhere to the Nanakshahi calendar and have decided to gherao the Ludhiana residence of the SGPC chief on January 12.
|
|
Farmers upbeat over widespread rain in region
Chandigarh, January 3 There was a major power blip also with the National Grid witnessing a breakdown last night. The DGM Load and Despatch Centre of the Power Grid Corporation stated that a heavy spark reported in the 400 kV substation at Bawana in Haryana led to tripping of all lines in the region, affecting power supply in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal and affecting rail movement from Panipat, Narela and Punjab. While Punjab, whose thermal plants also tripped, suffered a generation loss of 1,700 MW, Haryana suffered a generation loss of 950 MW and Himachal that of 275 MW. The entire region witnessed light to moderate winter rain, which started late last night and continued intermittently till this evening. Agriculture experts said the rain was good for the wheat crop and that resultant foggy conditions would lead to more robust growth. The rain is also a godsend for the state electricity utility - the PSEB- as farmers were getting irregular supply of power since the last fortnight, which was severely affecting irrigation of wheat crop. According to reports reaching here, the rain was consistent be it Bathinda, in the Malwa region to Jalandhar and Ludhiana in the Malwa region. Similarly Ambala, Hisar and Karnal in Haryana reported light rain. Himachal also reported widespread rain since last night. According to the local Meteorological Department, light rain or thundershowers accompanied with fog and cloudy skies would occur in Chandigarh in the next 24 hours. There is also likely to be a rise in day temperature and a fall in night temperature. The met office said the maximum temperature in the city tomorrow was likely be around 16 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature on Tuesday was likely to be around six degrees Celsius. As far as the region in concerned, the met office said light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at many places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours and at isolated placed thereafter. Cold wave conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets of Punjab and are likely to abate during the next 24 hours. Days are likely to be cold in both Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. The met office while giving its outlook for subsequent two days, said weather would be mainly dry with fall in night temperature by two to four degrees. Fog and mist is likely to occur both at night and during the mornings.
|
|
Power Hike Rollback
Chandigarh, January 3 Emboldened by the reaction of the party high command, the state unit has now called a meeting of its legislature party here tomorrow in which it will take stock of the SAD’s reluctance to honour the promise to subsidise the power hike ordered by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission a few months back. According to sources, the senior SAD leadership including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Naresh Gujral held a number of meetings with senior BJP leaders in Delhi to apprise them of what they termed as the “obstinate” stand of the Punjab BJP unit on the power issue. The delegation met senior leaders including LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitely and Balbir Punj and apprised them that the state could ill afford to take the burden of subsidising the roll back. According to sources despite “complaining” about the BJP state unit, the SAD delegation could not succeed in its mission to persuade the BJP top brass to snub its state unit. According to sources, the central leaders held cordial meetings with the SAD delegation but refused to adjudicate on the issue of power rollback. Sources said the SAD could still meet the new BJP President Nitin Gadkari who was in Pune today but is expected to reach Delhi late today. The meeting with Gadkari could take place tomorrow. According to sources, the BJP state unit, which has been consistently asking its coalition partner to honour the commitment made to subsidise the power hike which will involve an expenditure of around 900 crore, is set to harden its stand on the issue. The party is set to demand that the issue of power roll back should be detached from the issue of review of all subsidies, which is being done by a two-member committee of Sukhbir Badal and Manoranjan Kalia (from the BJP). Meanwhile, even as the coalition partners debate the issue of subsidies and the power hike roll back, the state’s debt has gone up to Rs 63,500 crore. The government is raising Rs 500 to Rs 600 crore every month by way of loans to pay its bills, including salary to employees leaving no money for development projects.
|
PPCC Membership Drive
Patiala, January 3 Minister of State for External Affairs and Congress MP from Patiala Preneet Kaur submitted 99,200 enrolment forms at the PPCC headquarters in Chandigarh today. Speaking to mediapersons in Patiala, Preneet said, “Hopefully, we will be submitting one lakh more membership forms in coming days.” She asserted that all the district presidents of the Congress have been working hard for providing entry to “hardworking” and “sincere” people in
the party fold. Giving the credit of enrolling these members to Preneet, the Congress leaders, including Patiala District Congress Committee (rural) president Tarsem Chand Bansal claimed, “The number of forms submitted by Preneet is the highest number of forms deposited by any Congress leader in the state.” Besides the forms, Preneet also deposited the requisite fee of Rs 2.97 lakh (approximately) for the forms. The Congress leaders disclosed that the enrolment in Rajpura, Ghanour and Patiala (urban) stands at 19,600, 17,000 and 13,200 respectively. The enrolment figures of the other areas coming under the Patiala Parliamentary constituency are Bhunerheri 14,000, Sanuar and Nabha 10,000 each, Patiala (rural) 6,900 and Samana 6,500. Besides, 5,000 forms of the members enrolled in the Amargarh block of neighboring district Sangrur were also submitted to the PPCC. Notably, the enrolment drive initiated by the PPCC concluded on December 31. The cost of the one application form for the Congress membership was fixed at Rs 3. The applicants were to give declaration of 10 things in the form. Apart from attaining age of 18 years, the applicants had to give declaration in writing for being non-alcoholic and habitual wearer of Khadi.
|
|
Price line: Unifying factor for working class
Chandigarh, January 3
Festivities and celebrations associated with the beginning of a New Year notwithstanding, the common man continues to be tormented by a rising price line that has jeopardised his or her household budget. Some of the major essential items, including atta, rice, pulses, sugar, salt and tea, have increasingly been squeezing his or her wallet or purse. Though both the Central and the state governments have shown their growing concern over rising prices, little has been done to put a stop to it. No one would have imagined a couple of years ago that an egg would be selling for more than Rs 3 and chicken would be as dear as Rs 150 a kg or sugar selling for Rs 40 a kg. Now the milk prices will go up by Rs 2 a litre from Monday. Though prices of chicken and eggs have come down slightly but they are still much higher than the last year’s level. While a section in the Union Government holds the policy of revising upwards Minimum Support Prices of various Rabi and Kharif crops as one of major contributing factors for an upward swing in the prices of basic commodities like sugar, wheat and rice, farmers ridicule this hypothesis. They refer to the steep rise in the per capita debt of farming community, maintaining that revision in the MSP was nothing but only jugglery of figures. Cost of inputs - from seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides and importantly diesel - has been hit by inflation more than anything else. “We want the MSP to be linked to price index. Why the government is not doing it?” asks a senior leader of the Bharti Kisan Union. If the end of last year had the middle class in general and the working class in particular worried about rising prices, including of common vegetables and fruit, farmers in this region have decided not to take it any more. “We want to send a strong and peaceful message to those sitting in the nationl capital as to what it takes to produce food grains for the central kitty. We plan to choke the union capital in the first week of March, in time before the procurement of wheat starts,” says Balbir Singh Rajewal, President of the Bharti Kisan Union. In six years - between 2004 and the start of 2010 - prices of most of essential and daily-use commodities and items have witnessed 50 to 75 per cent increase. These include those of eggs, milk, chicken, vegetables like onions, potatoes besides sugar and common salt. Though the Essential Commodities Act has been amended recently, yet it has not shown any impact on the price line. Hoarding may be one of the reasons for escalation in prices. The argument of the Union Government that rising prices were a worldwide phenomenon is perhaps only a cover- up and an exaggeration as a country like Germany reported early this week that prices of essential commodities have remained static. A recent report from Germany read: “German consumers have gotten a break this year, as prices have held steady. The inflation rate is likely to be a mere 0.4 per cent for 2009, the lowest 12-month average in 20 years.” The global recession put the brakes on Germany's export-driven economy this year, leading to stagnation in prices. Statisticians say that low oil prices have helped keep prices down. It is, however, the other way round in India. Oil and diesel prices are being blamed for a steep increase in the prices of essential commodities. Pulses are already out of the reach of the common man. Instead of being an essential ingredient of their daily menu, pulses and cereals are becoming a luxury.
|
||
|
Milk price hiked
Chandigarh, January 3 With the hike in rates, standardised milk will be available at Rs 25 per litre instead of Rs 24, double-toned milk at Rs 21 a litre and single-toned milk at Rs 23 per litre, an official of the federation said.
|
||
|
Developing Scientific Temper
Chandigarh, January 3 A spokesman for the department said the objective of the INSPIRE programme, initiated by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, was to communicate to the youth excitements of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the excitement to the study of science at an early stage. Besides, it will help the country in building the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the science and technology system. The spokesman said the department planned to offer this “innovation awards” every year to five brilliant children who thought outside the boundaries set by the school syllabus. Two students from each school in the age group of 10 to 17 years would be identified for the INSPIRE Award in order to invigorate scientific thinking, he added. “The scheme plans to reach students of about 5,000 upper primary schools in the state and selected students will participate, along with their scientific innovations, at a state- level science exhibition to be held in the second week of April," he added. He further said all heads of government and affiliated schools from classes VI to X had been asked to submit nominations of two best creative students till January 10 to their DEOs concerned without any delay. He emphasised that knowledge and innovation had emerged out as the vital keys for competitiveness and wealth creation in the fast evolving global economy and INSPIRE would open up the prospects of careers in research. Besides, it would also strengthen the roots of the knowledge infrastructure of Indian economy, he added.
|
|
BSF sanitises Pak border
Abohar, January 3 Though the BSF authorities have received no intelligence input in connection with the plan to push narcotics or men by Pakistan-based anti-India elements from the border by taking advantage of the weather, additional troops have been deployed, horse mounted and vehicle patrolling has been intensified to deal with any situation. Himmat Singh, Inspector-General, BSF, Punjab Frontier, said: “We have already taken enough and adequate measures as per our apprehensions during the foggy season and we will not allow anyone to play mischief on the border.” It is learnt that the BSF authorities would be carrying out a mock drill in connection with the border security in foggy conditions shortly in this sector. The vehicles, which would patrol the border, were fitted with light machine guns, mortars and night vision devices. The hand-held thermal imagers were also being used to detect the movement of any person or animal within the radius of three km of the border points. The BSF personnel had been provided with extreme cold climate clothing so that they could perform well in biting cold.
|
|
Sumo-truck collision kills 4
Ropar, January 3 The incident took place around 6.30 am, when a Sumo, carrying residents of Baghrol village, Sangrur district, were returning from nearby Paniala village. All occupants of the Sumo had visited nambardar Joga Singh at Paniala village in Ropar for taking some ayurvedic medicine. They had reached the village at 3 am and were returning to Sangrur. The Sumo’s driver Karnail Singh could not spot a truck parked in the middle of the road due to dense fog and the vehicle collided with it. The truck was stationed on the road as its rear tyres had burst. Four people, including Sadhu Singh, Jagir Kaur, Amarjit Kaur, all three from Baghrol, Sangrur, and Jaspal Kaur from Chukki village in Patiala got killed in the accident. The injured include driver Karnail Sigh, Jit Singh, Zora Singh, Shinder Kaur, Jaswinder Kaur, Gurmail Kaur, Harbans Kaur and Jarnail Kaur -- all from Baghrol village. While injured Karnail and Gurmail are undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, Ropar, rest all have been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, with serious head, chest and face injuries. The police informed Baghrol villagers and around 50 of them reached Ropar by afternoon. The police has registered a case against the truck driver Malkit Singh, a resident of Gora village, Gardhiwal, Hoshiarpur district. The police added that Malkit was bringing the truck from the Talwara area and was bound for a paper mill. After the rear tyres of the truck burst, he left the vehicle and had gone to the paper mill seeking help. The accused has not been arrested so far. The Sumo’s driver could not spot a truck parked in the middle of the road due to dense fog and the vehicle collided with it
|
|
Migratory birds flock Chhatbir zoo
Chhat (Banur), January 3 At present, around 2,000 varieties of migratory birds are present at the lake or have nested in different corners of the zoo area. These include graylag goose, rudddy shelduck, gadwal, eurasian wigeon, mallard, spotbilled duck, northern pintail, red-crested pochard, common pochard, tufted duck, common coot, common moorhen, purple moorhen, little grebe, darter, little cormorant and great cormorant. Most of these birds have migrated from various parts of Siberia. Lush green forests, grassy swamps and pollution-free atmosphere provide congenial atmosphere for the migratory birds that remain the centre of attraction for the bird lovers. One of the largest parks in the northern India, the zoo spreads in an area of over 500 acres. It plays an important role in attracting both local and migratory birds even from the trans-Himalayan zone. Some of these migratory birds have come after two years. Sometime, they find water bodies in some others parts on their way from Siberia or other parts. They have been camping at the Sukhna lake in Chandigarh or an adjoining village Banur and other parts of the area. Zoo officials said with continuous rain, birds and other animals have got some respite from biting cold today.
|
|
Kurali road project hangs fire
Ropar, January 3 Though the deadline for completion of the project’s third phase, costing a whopping Rs 309 crore, will expire next July 2010, 40 per cent of the work, covered under the National Highways Development Project, is still pending. The major roadblock in completing the project is construction of a rail overbridge at Nangal Chowk, which has failed to take off. Land to be acquired for the overbridge, which belongs to the irrigation department, currently has about 82 families residing on it. The Ropar Improvement Trust has been entrusted with the job to provide alternative land where these families can be rehabilitated, as per the orders of Punjab & Haryana High Court passed ten years ago. Officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said they had made several representations to the state government on vacation of the land as early as possible so that construction could begin but to no avail. “Every department blames another for not passing on the files promptly. This may hamper the widening work going on at the road,” said the officials, requesting anonymity. However, NHAI project director Anil Dahiya said almost 40 per cent of work still remains to be finished. “Even if the land in question is vacated by January 15 we would be able to complete the project in a specified time period or else an extension may be sought,” he said. Meanwhile, Ropar deputy commissioner Priyank Bharti said he had received a communiqué from the Punjab chief secretary wherein the rural development principal secretary has been asked to expedite the rehabilitation work. “The Improvement Trust is providing alternative land to the affected families in the Transport Nagar area. The chief town planner has already prepared its master plan, which would be approved within the next one week. The entire module has been worked out and a list of beneficiaries would be put up in the next 15 days,” said Bharti. He added the state government was keen on getting the work completed as soon as possible.
|
|
House Tax
Kharar, January 3 However, NGO Citizen Welfare Council
alleged that the MC has arbitrarily imposed house tax. In a press statement issued here today, council chairperson Pawan Kumar Jain said those, who had been victimised by the council, should not pay house tax unless the committee did not rectify the error. The NGO called upon people to submit objections before the committee and complain against the wrong done to them. Jain added that in spite of helping the residents, the council was troubling them by imposing wrongly assessed taxes.
|
|
Jahaz Haveli to get a facelift
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 3
Wazir demanded gold coins in vertical shape equal to the size of land sought to perform last rites of younger sahibzada of Guru Gobind Singh and Mata Gujri. Todar Mal gave his savings and land to buy land for the last rites. A meeting of SGPC officials was held recently to restore the haveli in its original shape. Sirhind MLA Didar Singh Bhatti, SGPC member Karnail Singh Panjoli and others were also present. The officials said the tenders of Rs 70 lakh had been called for the restoration, which would be opened on January 20. The SGPC members said a letter had been written to the Punjab Chief Minister to purchase 10-acre land at government price adjoining the haveli, so that the haveeli could be given its actual shape. The SGPC had last year decided to reshape the haveli besides other buildings and monuments. Though the haveli is dilapidating for long, the SGPC has initiated efforts to restore it. The land on which the haveli was built brawled into controversy last year, as Jain community and its owner claimed that the land did not belong to the SGPC, however, it was donated to it later with the intervention of senior Akali leaders and local administrative officials. The papers belonging to the haveli land were given to the SGPC members after its measurement and the SGPC took 2 canal and marla land in its possession. Architects from across the country have also been consulted for the restoration work.
|
|
Bridge awaits VVIP inauguration
Abohar, January 3 The railway over bridge (ROB) on 48-A railway-level crossing, which has been completed few weeks back, has still been sealed by raising temporary walls on its both sides by the authorities and is waiting its formal opening. “We have been suffering on account of closure of this railway-level crossing for the past more than two years and now, when the bridge has been completed, the civil authorities have been delaying its opening by keeping on waiting for the politicians to inaugurate it,” alleged Gurpreet Singh, an advocate of the town. Despite the fact that the area where it has been constructed had been facing traffic jams, a cross section of the State Public Works Department officials said they were government servants and could not answer any questions. However, a functionary said they had sent a completion report of the bridge to the state PWD authorities few weeks back and after that they were told that bridge would be inaugurated by CM or Dy CM. He added that they had also been facing the resentment of people of this town on account of non-opening of the bridge. Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that few weeks back, a senior politician of the Congress belonging to this area made an attempt to open the bridge for vehicular traffic. However, he was requested by the PWD officials not to do so, as it would invite strict action against them (PWD officials). The construction of 823 m long and 9.5 m wide bridge was started in 2007 and it was to be completed in the time period of 15 months at a cost of about Rs 12 crore. Due to various reasons, the bridge could not be completed in stipulated time. Abohar SDM Amit Dhaka said efforts were on to get the bridge formally inaugurated by January 11, 2010, from a ruling politician. He added that no deliberate delay was being caused in the inauguration of the bridge.
|
|
New Mexico offers ‘sister state’ status to Punjab
Chandigarh, January 3 The offer was conveyed by the visiting Secretary of State of New Mexico, Mary Herrara, at a special function held in her honour here last night. Harcharan Bains, media adviser to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, received the offer on behalf of the latter. Bains said the offer would be considered by the Chief Minister next week and if needed, the matter would be pursued with the Government of India through the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Ministry of External Affairs. He also accepted the invitation from the New Mexican Secretary of State to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal for taking part in functions in connection with the 400th anniversary of the City of Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico. A delegation, led by Mary Herrara, comprised Deputy State Treasurer Mark F. Valdes and State Counsel Pawan Dhindsa. Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary of the State said the New Mexican Government was in touch with the Government of India and would seek the facilitation of “a sister state” relationship between Punjab and her state. She said arrangement, the first of its kind from any American state, would not only boost people-to-people interaction between Punjab and New Mexico, but would also remove unnecessary hassles faced by Punjabis in securing a visa for the USA. She said her government would be looking forward to a fruitful relationship with the government and the people of Punjab, especially in the fields of tourism, cultural, social and economic exchanges. She said there was a significant presence of Punjabis in New Mexico and “majority of them were engaged in highly lucrative business activities. This could be further enhanced”. Punjab PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa thanked Herrara for her offer to Punjab and assured her that the Punjab Government would look closely at the possibility of turning this proposal into a reality. “We will explore the possibility of agreeing into the agreement after necessary consultations with the Government of India,” he said. Advocate General, Punjab, Hardev Singh Mattewal said Punjabis and New Mexicans could contribute immensely to the prosperity and development of their respective states through a creative synergy between the two governments. He said the Punjabis had a lot to contribute in terms of their fabled hard work and enterprise as well as through their rich cultural and religious heritage.
|
|
Archaic excise laws mock at system
Sangrur/ Bathinda, January 3
Under the Section: “Rules prohibiting the sale of liquor to certain persons and classes of person”, there is a clause that reads: A licencee (a liquor-vend owner) cannot sell liquor to “any person whom he knows or has reason to believe to be a policeman, excise officer or railway servant on duty.” If the excise officials follow this law, no policeman in uniform can buy liquor from any vend across the state. Moreover, the excise officials themselves cannot purchase liquor. The railway employees also come under the same category. However, the policemen and railway officials are openly flouting the rules. The next clause states that the liquor cannot be sold to “any person in custody or under escort of the police.” At vends located near the district courts at both Sangrur and Bathinda, it has been seen many times that the policemen accompanying the undertrials often purchase liquor from these shops. The next clause pertains to selling of the liquor to “any person who is in a state of intoxication.” The sources disclose that 40 per cent of the people visiting vends between 11 am and 8 pm are already drunk. These are just a few of the rules that openly mock at the system. Till they are redrafted, Bacchus lovers can have a field day.
|
|
‘Music can generate lot more jobs’ Jalandhar, January 3 He was here last week with two of his students to attend the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan. Music, he believes, can generate a lot more employment than it does at present. “A whole lot of people could earn their bread and butter through music if we adopt a professional approach to event management, organisation of music festivals and education in India,” he said. Born in East Africa, he had his education in Amritsar, Patiala and Dehradun. Moving to the tutelage of Ustad Vilayat Khan at the age of 16, in 1979 he moved to the UK. A member of the faculty at the Leeds College of Music since 2004, he has also been associated with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (London) and has served as a member of the Arts Council of England, representing South Asian Arts. “In India, given the standard of education in colleges, there is dire need for children to be taught on a one-to-one basis, but there are no takers. At workshops I have seen that the students here are keen on classical music. If I ask a question, a lot more hands go up than would outside India. But as they grow, the system and lack of proper infrastructure eats up their talent. Only a chosen few are able to get the kind of education they deserve," he rued. A Fellow of the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NESTA) in England, he has also developed many softwares, one of which was presented at the Harivallabh Sangeet Pratiyogita. It enables students to understand ‘Gram’ and ‘Murchana’ and rhythmic ‘jatis’ (concepts dating back to Bharat's Natyashastra, which are almost extinct in the present day practice of music). For ages, explains Singh, teachers have tried to explain the concepts to students (ironically they still are a part of the music curriculum but only in theory). Now he has recreated the Gram system through his software, playing a raag mala based on the old practice. His work was also presented at Shrutinandan (13th December, 2009) in Kolkata, the institute founded by vocal maestro Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty and at also at a seminar held in the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai. Earlier, a teachers’ training workshop at the Shaheed Bishan Singh School (Delhi) also showcased his work. The software that he has developed include the Tanpura Murchana Software, Swarlatiice (a 22 swara pitch training software), Laykari Matronome (rhythmic jatis and tali visualisation software), Swar player (you type sargam and it plays it), Rang Visualiser (associating colours with notes so that children can relate to them) and Lesson Planner (to learn compositions). With a wry smile Dharamveer says he tried pursuing some departments in Punjab to introduce computers in music departments but found a great deal of resistance. “If they can buy computers for the computer department, they can do it for the music department too. But I think they aren't open enough to the idea of technology-based music education as yet," he said while talking to The Tribune.
|
||
|
This cricket coach talks of peace in Kashmir Bathinda, January 3 Sakina, who used to work with the J&K Sports Council before she joined Kashmir University as a full time coach in June 2007, talks of a change in Kashmir. “Ideas lose their freshness because they have a shelf life and sometimes they have to be replaced by other ideas,” says Sakina. Sakina has been coach to an array of renowned women cricketers like Safia Ashraf, Kounsai Ali and Ravinder Kaur, all national level players. All three now have a foot in the door of international cricket and can yank it open anytime. “See how cricket can act as a tool of peace in Kashmir. I am astonished at the way people in my home state follow cricket. The roads in Srinagar are empty whenever India plays Pakistan in either a cricket or hockey match. Why can’t we live peacefully? After all we are two neighbouring and mature nations,” she asks. Where does Sakina go from here? “How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have a passion for life. You have to have a vision, a goal, and you have to be willing to work for it. My parents were against my joining this profession. However, my will prevailed," she says. Speaking about the empowerment of Kashmiri women, Sakina confided,” On many occasions, the state government has launched various schemes related to women empowerment and education, but they have failed at the implementation level. The regime has to do something to strengthen women. A Kashmiri woman should be occupied in fields like education, industry, agriculture, administration and sports, like I am. She pays credit to Prof Nisar Ahmed, Director (Sports), Kashmir University, whom she regards as some sort of a demigod.
|
||
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Ropar, January 3
Thousands of migratory birds have flocked the lake at Chhabtir zoo this winter much to the pleasure of bird watchers and nature lovers.
Field director Tushar Kanti Behera at the Chhatbir zoo said the lake had become the winter home for migratory birds that had taken up the water body as their nesting ground.
The Excise Department is following the Punjab Intoxicants Licence and Sales Order-1956 Act that contains many anomalies. Though there is a law, which states that liquor cannot be given to any person under 25 years of age, yet hordes of youth can be seen buying it. 
