Jalandhar, August 17
The Punjab Technical University has got into a remedial mode ever since it realised that as many as 70,000 students of various streams, including those of engineering and pharmacy, flunked the mathematics examination in the last semester. The university today held a workshop for 47 mathematics teachers from 39 colleges affiliated to it. During the course, it was decided that students who had cleared all other subjects, but will not be able to get their degrees because of failure in the maths, be given a special chance at the end of next month.

The university has decided to conduct a special re-appear examination for such students on the last Sunday of September and the first and second Sundays of October. Vice Chancellor Dr Rajneesh Arora, today said the colleges were being asked to conduct extra classes on the subject so that the pass percentage in the July 2011 result be raised to 85 per cent from 35 per cent this year. A news item on poor results of the subject had been carried recently in Jalandhar Plus.

The VC blamed this on the poor basic knowledge of the students. He said students were being made scared of mathematics and science subjects just at the introductory levels.

In yet another effort, he said it had been decided that the science and mathematics books of classes VIII to X be translated in Punjabi.

Dr Arora said this had been decided taking into account the fact that all Nobel Laureates, including Amartya Sen and CV Raman, pursued school in their mother tongue. He said an assistant professor of Punjabi, recently employed on the campus, would take into account these projects.

The VC said some important subjects of humanities, including sociology and psychology, would be introduced as optional subjects from the next year. He added that a book on human values and professional ethics had been introduced from the new session.

Jalandhar, August 17
At 75, he could have quietly rested in his couch, passing time by reading the dailies or playing with his grandchildren as most retired people do, but VS Jolly, instead, chooses to champion the cause of pensioners.

People in the government offices and media circles identify him as the printed-kurta-white-pajama-clad, high-voiced elderly man who walks in at an almost regular four-day-interval, carrying a handful of papers and kicking up an issue related to pensioners.

Ever since he retired as Chief Telegram Officer from the Department of Telecommunication, he felt that pensioners and senior citizens in the country were a deprived lot.

“The very next year I thought of forming an association. I could gather just 10 likeminded persons. But by and by we built up our network as a result of which we are now an association (All India Central Government Pensioner’s Association) of 8,000 persons including those from telecom, railways, income tax and paramilitary forces,” he said.

An MA in English, Jolly has also been coming up with a monthly magazine Pensioner’s Friend, dedicated to the same cause.

The magazine carries write-ups on various pending issues of pensioners and various new welfare schemes being offered by the government. He said he began with writing newsletters, but for the past almost nine years he has been regularly coming up with the magazine.

Jolly has even set up a small office at home where he says that he spends two to three hours daily, composing stuff for the magazine, writing press notes and attending to individual problems. He discussed how he had helped several widows and children get pension after the death of the actual beneficiary.

Jolly says he strongly believes in the might of the pen. “I do not believe in taking the matter to the courts. I just believe that a strong-worded missive shot off to the officials can do wonders,” he signs off.

Phagwara, August 17
A middle-aged man was allegedly beaten to death by his daughter-in-law, her father, brother and their accomplices here today.

According to the complaint lodged by Pushpa Sharma, wife of the deceased, Sham Lal Arora, with the police this evening, her son Munish, who is running a boutique in the town, was married to Bharti, daughter of Pardeep Chopra of Cheema Chowk, Transport Nagar, Ludhiana, two years back and had a one-year-old daughter.

Munish and Bharti were not having cordial relations and used to fight daily. After a minor quarrel, Bharti slapped her husband last evening and left the house, but returned late last night. This afternoon Bharti’s father Pardeep Chopra, brother Guggu Chopra, local resident Baboo Chopra and three other persons along with Bharti attacked Sham Lal and beat him up mercilessly. He was admitted to the Civil Hospital, where he died this evening.

The SHO (City), Amrik Singh Chahal said the police had registered a case under sections 304 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code against Bharti, her father Pardeep Kumar, brother Guggu, Baboo and three others. All accused were absconding. The body of Sham Lal had been kept in the mortuary and the postmortem would be conducted tomorrow.

Jalandhar, August 17
A ‘Global Village Fair’ was organised at Lovely Professional University in which students from more than 15 countries and 25 different Indian states who are studying on the campus exhibited their culture and traditions.

There were students from Switzerland, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Ivory-Coast, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and China dressed in their cultural attire and carrying their country flag.

Inaugurating the fair, Ashok Mittal, Chancellor LPU, said, “We have more than 200 students from different parts of the world including Indonesia, US, UK, Nigeria, Tanzania and other 10 countries studying in our campus. In addition, our university also has tied-up with more than 20 foreign universities of US, UK, Canada and Australia to provide Indian students the opportunity to study and work abroad.”

The students of Switzerland laid a table showing their basic food items including a huge selection of bread, dairy products, vegetables etc. Students explained about special bread ‘Zopf’ & “Birchermüesli"- an unprocessed food. Knowledge about traditional Swiss folklore music ‘Alpsegen and Yodelling was also shared with onlookers. The students of Poland let aware through the Opera performances about the great culture of their country. At the stall of China, a commonly practiced traditional Chinese form of exercise ‘Tai Chi’ - a combination of aerobic exercise, stretching, and stress relaxation, was liked by all. The Turkey Stall displayed art and craft through tiles, pottery, carpet, jewellery.

Jalandhar, August 17
Saint Joseph Boys Senior Secondary School, Defence Colony, celebrated the 64th Independence Day. Rich tributes were paid to freedom fighters. Students participated in the various activities highlighting the various events of freedom movement. The musical numbers “Maa Tujhe Salaam” and “Aye Mere Vatan Ke Logo” was played by sub-senior group.

Tiny tots of Millennium School (right) and Euro Kids School, Rama Mandi branch, celebrate the day with patriotic songs. Tribune photos

The Independence Day was celebrated with great zeal at Millennium School. Baljit Singh Neelamahal, Chairman, Improvement Trust, was the guest of honour. Eminent freedom fighter Balwant Rai Uppal was also present on the occasion, whose presence made everyone feel proud of their nation. India’s heritage was depicted by the spectacular performance of dance, highlighting the culture of various states.

On the eve of Independence Day, students and staff members of the Manav Sehyog School hoisted the Tricolour in the school campus. The students presented solo song, solo dance, group songs and skits disseminating the spirit of patriotism.

Inter-House patriotic poem recitation competition was organised in Guru Amar Dass Public School on the occasion of Independence Day.

In the senior category, Deep Kiran of Bibi Bhani House bagged the first position while Chirag Sharma of Bibi Dani House and Birinder Singh of Baba Mohri House got the second and third position, respectively.

In the junior category, Harmandeep Kaur of Baba Mohri House got the first position. Shifali of Bibi Bhani House and Gurnoor Kaur of Baba Mohan House stood second and third, respectively.

Maya Academy of Advance Cinematics (MAAC), Jalandhar, centre organised a cultural programme on Independence Day. Events of Photoshop competition, best slogan competition, best photography competition (Theme: Progressive India) were organised during the function.

Various local schools and colleges held Independence Day functions on their campuses.

Students of Kanya Maha Vidyalaya came dressed in saffron, white and green colours. Many had their faces painted in tri-colours. Their accessories were also in the same colours.

One minute games based on the national heritage were played. A skit presented on the day filled the atmosphere with patriotism.

The primary section of Apeejay School, Model Town, also held celebrations today. Headmistress Asha Mittal hoisted the national flag and gave a speech quoting lines from Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s speech, a tryst with destiny.

A tableaux depicting ‘unity in diversity’ was taken out.

Raj Rising Kids, Madar village, also held Independence Day celebrations wherein tiny tots came dressed as freedom fighters and political leaders. While some wore the attire of Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi, others dressed up like Parkash Singh Badal. Col Dharamvir Singh, Group Commandant, NCC, was the chief guest.

Jalandhar, August 17
With a demand to revive public sector vaccination producing units, six months maternity leave for women sakes promotion employees and to highlight the exploitation of medical representatives at the hands of private pharmaceutical firms, tens of thousands of medical and sales representatives working in the various pharmaceutical companies across the country would hold two-day nationwide strike on August 17 and 18.

The strike would be organised under the banner of Federation of Medical Representative Associations of India (FMRAI), an umbrella organisation of all state unions and associations of medical and sales representatives.

The constituent associations would also demand the removal of excise duty from the essential medicines, cap on prices of all kinds of medicines, revival of public sector drug manufacturing companies and strengthening of public sector vaccinating units, said R Sahni, unit president, Punjab and Chandigarh Medical and Sales Representatives Union, a constituent of FMRAI.

Besides, the strike would also highlight the exploitation of the medical and sales representatives at the hands of private companies, which have failed to implement the Sales Promotion Employees (Conditions of services) Act 1976.

“For the last over two decades, both subsequent central and state governments have failed to enforce the Act, which implies that pharmaceutical firms cannot force medical and sales representatives to work for more than eight hours,” said Shiv Avasthi, a member of working committee, FMRAI.

We also demand from the government to check the exploitation of our female counterparts by enforcing private firms to pay them equal salary, said Avasthi.

Jalandhar, August 17
The family members of Pramod Kumar, a resident of Abadpura, who was done to death by certain assailants late last night, lodged a protest against the district police by placing the body on the road and disrupting traffic near Ravidas Chowk, this morning.

The protestors were demanding the arrest of the accused in the Pramod murder case. The police later reached the spot and assured them that the accused would be behind bars soon as a hunt had already begun to nab them.

Pramod Kumar, who came to the rescue of his friend Pawan Kumar, alias Babbu, was attacked by a group of persons with sharp-edged weapons, causing injuries to the two. Seriously injured Pramod was rushed to the local Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The police said old rivalry between Pawan Kumar and Gand, a resident of the same area, was the cause of the assault.

Meanwhile, the police has booked over six assailants, including Gand, on the complaint of Pawan Kumar and a hunt to nab them has been launched. No arrest has been made of far.