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VARSITY BUILDING YET TO COME UP AFTER FIVE YEARS
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Critical emergency handled by 108 ambulance staff
Retired armed forces personnel are assets: CPS
Construction of parking complex under scanner
8-day International Minjar Fair from July 28
Nurpur boy joins Indian Navy
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VARSITY BUILDING YET TO COME UP AFTER FIVE YEARS
Dharamsala, June 11 It is an irony that due to politics, the building of Central University has not come up as yet, despite the fact that the institute was sanctioned to the state in 2008. The institute has been running from its temporary campus at Shahpur, about 20 km from Dharamsala. The previous BJP government proposed two campuses of Central University in Kangra district. The state government offered land for the institute at Dharamsala and Dehra. About 66 hectares land was given for the Central University campus at Dharamsala and about 300 hectares at Dehra. The justification for the split campus was that enough land was not available at Dharamsala. The proposal of the state government was accepted by the site selection committee of the Union Ministry for Human Resources Development. According to the proposal, the administrative headquarters and a few humanities departments were to come up at Dharamsala while the science, engineering and medical schools were to come up at Dehra. This also meant that 70 per cent of the campus was to come up at Dehra while 30 per cent was to come up at Dharamsala. The decision was more political than administrative. The Dehra subdivision of Kangra district falls in the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency that is represented by Anurag Thakur, the son of former Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal. The decision to have the majority campus of Central University at Dehra was motivated more by that fact that the area fell in Hamirpur parliamentary constituency rather than administrative suitability. The Congress at that time criticised the previous government for proposing split campuses of Central University. However, the entire land that was offered by the previous government for the Central University campus was forest land. According to the report prepared by the Forest Department, there were about 1 lakh trees on the land proposed by Central University. These included 10,000 trees at Dharamsala and 90,000 trees at Dharamsala. Since the forest land was to be diverted for construction of Central University, permission for it was to come from the special empowered committee of Union Ministry for Environment and Forests. The said committee was formed on the directions of the Supreme Court. The sources here said that the Special Empowered Committee had raised objections regarding diversion of such a huge chunk of forest land for another purpose. It had asked the Central University authorities to rationalise their demand for land and also asked the state government to look for some alternative land so that the diversion of such a huge chunk of forest land could be averted. The Central University authorities had initially demanded about 600-700 acre land for its campus. However, the total build-up area was just about 46 acres. While all this formalities were being completed, there was change in government in state. The Congress came to power in Himachal. Sudhir Sharma, a trusted lieutenant of Virbhadra Singh, was elected from Dharamsala. Sharma is now the Minister for Housing and Urban Development and was considered as the confidant of the Chief Minister. This brought another change in proposal for campus of Central University. The state government has now offered an additional 120 hectares land for Central University campus at Dharamsala. This means that now about 180 hectares or 450 acres land was being made available for the Central University campus at Dharamsala. Another site selection committee of the Union Ministry for HRD is coming on June 12-13 for inspecting the additional land being offered by the state government for the Central University campus at Dharamsala. Highly placed sources here told The Tribune with Central University also willing to rationalise its demand of land for campus, the proposal for having two campuses of the institute might be dropped. This means that a consolidated campus of Central University might come up at Dharamsala in case the site-selection committee approves the additional land being offered by the state government. However, the BJP is not going to digest the move easily. The Former Minister and MLA from Dehra, Ravinder Ravi and MP Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur, have already announced agitation against the move. With Parliament elections around the corner, the people fear that in case the NDA government comes to power, it once again might bring the project to a halt. However, with this power and political struggle, the real sufferer is a prestigious project of Central University that has the potential of changing the economy of Kangra district.
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Critical emergency handled by 108 ambulance staff
Shimla, June 11 As she was about to deliver, they took her inside the ambulance and assisted her in delivering. It turned out to be a case of the amniotic sac which was made more critical by being a pre-term delivery. The amniotic sac is a bag of fluid inside a woman's womb where the unborn baby develops and grows. During labour it breaks and the fluid drains out through the vagina. But in this critical case, the woman gave birth to a baby girl with the amniotic sac intact. Without wasting any time, the ambulance crew called up for medical assistance and the doctor who sits at 108 Emergency Response Centre, LB Purohit, instructed them to cut carefully the amniotic sac so that the baby was not harmed. On cutting the sac, Dutt found the new-born baby was not moving and had a pulse rate below 100. The respiration was irregular. Purohit instructed them to clean the baby and give oxygen at the rate of 5 litre per minute and rub the foot, palm and back of the baby. After a few minutes, the new-born baby started crying. By that time the ambulance reached the Civil Hospital, Sunder Nagar, and the crew safely handed over the mother and the baby. The GVK EMRI 108 staff has successfully assisted 2,108 pregnancy delivery cases since December 2010.
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Trust boon for 1,500 rural youth
Dalhousie, June 11 The institute has trained more than 1,500 rural youth since 2003 in various vocational fields. Moreover, out of 1,500 students, 90 per cent are girls. The trust commenced its first activity in vocational training with the establishment of Yog Manav Vocational Training Institute in 2002 and had undertaken courses of cutting and tailoring, dress making, and beauty culture etc, said Kiran Dodeja, chairperson of the trust. After getting accreditation from National Institute of Open Schools (NIOS), the institute started providing additional training in courses of catering management, electrician, technician, fruits and vegetables preservation, bakery and confectionary etc. The most favoured course is one-year programme of cutting and tailoring and dress making as over 800 girls are enrolled in the same. The mobile centres are running in Brangal, Hathini and other villages wherever the sufficient number of girls gets admission. The nominal subsidised fee of only Rs 100 per month is being charged from the rural girls. The centres for the schedule caste and tribe girls are not charging any fee from the girls belonging to backward communities. Many of girls are earning their livelihood on self-employment basis in their villages. The reputation of the training institute remained high with substantial admissions taking place every year despite a number of other institutes mushrooming at Banikhet and its adjacent areas. The quality of education and practical training of these courses remains the thrust and core areas of the institute. The education session of students is commenced with a period of moral teachings, exercises and meditations, which is an innovative concept introduced by this institute in Chamba district, said Kiran Dodeja.
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Retired armed forces personnel are assets: CPS
Bilaspur, June 11 This was said by Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Forests and Fisheries) Rajesh Dharmani at a function organised by the district Central Retired Armed Forces Services Union for honouring him at Ghumarwin, near here, recently. He urged that all of them should remain active even after retirement and should contribute their talent, skill and experience to society in more effective way by taking part in functions of gram panchayats and other development activities in their areas. He said they could play an effective role in removal of social evils and propagation of social welfare programmes and schemes. He promised to take up their pension-related issues with the Chief Minister and assured that the government would do everything possible in this regard. Dharmani exhorted them to lead villagers in planting the maximum number of plants on their own and government land. DIG Bishan Dass Bhardwaj (retd) and Nikka Ram felicitated Dharmani on behalf of the union. While district president of the union Roop Lal Lakhanpal, vice-president SK Nadda, general secretary DS Chauhan, chief coordinator Roop Lal Sharma and chief adviser Amin Chand Thakur were among others who addressed
the function.
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Construction of parking complex under scanner
Hamirpur, June 11 While the construction work is under way, people here have raised their eyebrows
over quality of the construction work. A local senior citizen on condition of anonymity told the Tribune, "The prescribed norms for
constructing such complexes are not being followed by the contractor and the MC authorities are not taking steps to ensure quality of work." Telling about technical lapses, a retired senior engineer said, "Wooden shuttering material is being used for laying the lintel while steal plates are used for laying heavy structures and proper curing of raised pillars is also not being done, which is very important in raising such a heavy structure." Since the lintel would be used for parking vehicles, its strength has to be up to the mark. They have also demanded that the MC authorities should closely monitor theconstruction of the complex and ensure quality of construction. The multi-storied parking complex being constructed in the middle of Hamirpur town is raised on a land donated for charity by a localfamily to construct a serai with other facilities. The parking complex would be very beneficial for local residents in the absence of a parking facility in the main bazar. Executive Officer, Hamirpur MC, RK Sharma said, "I will look into the matter and direct MC engineers to ensure quality construction of the parking complex, according to norms."
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Govt fails to provide heritage status to Andretta village
Palampur, June 11 Norah built a beautiful English style cottage, constructed of mud, slate and local bamboo there. Here she used to teach drama to students from Punjab and other parts of the country. She is fondly referred as grandmother of the Punjabi theatre. She was also honoured by Punjabi University, Patiala, and made a fellow. She had donated her house and land to the university, which is preserved as a heritage monument. In the eighties, Dr SS Boparai, the then Vice- Chancellor of Punjabi University took keen interest in the property of Norah. He declared her house as a heritage monument of the university. Since the house of late artist being old and had lived its life, Dr Boparai, with the help of local craftsmen, carpenters and masons lovingly restored the house to its
original look. The original shape and interiors of the house were not disturbed, now its life has increase by another
30 years. Students and teachers from Punjabi University every year come to Andretta on October 29 to celebrate the birth anniversary of Norah Richard. They enact professional dramas in her modest memory. Besides, on her death anniversary special functions are also organised here by the students. From Lahore, Norah called BC Sanyal, the well known painter and sculptor, and Professor Jaidyal, who had been her husband’s pupil. They had also built a mud house in this village. Prithviraj Kapoor also used to visit this village and stay with Professor Jaidyal, who had been his tutor in Lahore. Another famous artist Sobha Singh also settled in this village and lived until his death. His memories are still in the village. One can visit his art gallery where several paintings of the artist can be seen and blue prints of his paintings are also available. After the death of Norah in 1971, there was a vacuum in the cultural activities in this village. Now, Amba, BC Sanyal’s daughter, has started a new venture known as “Norah’s Centre for Arts”. Mini, son of great artist Sardar Gurcharan Singh, is also settled in this village. He has also started the “Andretta Pottery and Craft Society”. The society sells its rangoli- patterned glazed earth ware across the world.Mini also teaches students about how to make and appreciate pottery. Besides, he had also set up a museum with complete collection of the Himachal village pottery, which is on the verge of extinction today. The government is unconcerned and till date, it has failed to declare it as a heritage village.
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8-day International Minjar Fair from July 28
Chamba, June 11 The Deputy Commissioner said the sub-committees had been formulated to carry out the task assigned to them. They had been told to commence preparations in a big way, he added. Vasant said all-out efforts would be made to celebrate this fair as a festival to make it more enjoyable and thrilling than it was in the previous years. Besides this, with a view to adding uniqueness to the fair with the cultural heritage of this mountainous region, importance will be given to folk artistes who will perform their traditional musical instruments, in addition to artistes from other states, the DC said. However, a big question mark remains whether commercial activities will be allowed to continue even after the closing date of the fair on August 4 or not? Saving the Chougan from further degradation and destruction has always been a matter of concern for the residents.
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Himachal diary
An all artist non-government youth organisation, Unified Shimla Musicians (USM), organised “Shimla Fest-2013” at the Gaiety Theatre as part of its effort to create social awareness about important issues like drug menace through entertainment.
Comprising college students, the USM was formed in 2009 by Saurav Chauhan along with his friends mainly to provide budding artists a platform to showcase their talent. Its music concerts where bands and individual competed evoked a huge response from the youth and it was encouraged to expand the scope of its festival to include dance, painting, creative writing, debate, band, photography so that the maximum number of youth could participate. The festival featured various competitions with three major themes, drug demotion, green tourism and gender sensitisation. Participating students had to use their creativity and artistic finesse to throw light on these causes. Students penned down impact writings with strong messages against drug addiction. Likewise, they eloquently put across their thoughts against gender inequality through declamations and interactive competitions. The festival witnessed impressive participation from nearly every school and college of the city. With this year's festival, the USM completed the fourth year of its anti-drug campaign called "D-Cube: Don't Do Drugs". “The festival has been designed not only to showcase young talent but also to encourage youth to channelise their energy in creative pursuits for the overall good of society," says Chauhan. Further, when students in different age groups perform and compete on the same platform, they get an opportunity to learn from each other. Such festivals provide a breather to students and they get the much-needed respite from academic, social or parental pressure. Various bands from schools also took part in a competition called “School of Rock” with the same message that music should not be associated with drugs. It also gave a chance to many school bands and budding musicians to perform on a good platform in front of an appreciative audience. These bands otherwise, more often than not, remain confined to jam rooms or school shows. Last year, the USM organised three events in Kolkata and New Delhi to showcase the talent of musicians from Shimla. The artists drew acclaim from the audience in the two cities. The USM is also looking forward to establishing a learning institute for all aspiring musicians of Shimla where youngsters can learn music and get a platform to perform too.
Music concert
APG Shimla University organised "Soul Sync Music Concert” on the campus with Sahil Jagtiani from the “Art of Living” organisation early this week. Jagtiani told the students that Guru Sri Sri Shankar Ji had changed his musical preferences making him more inclined towards devotional music. It was the earlier influence of western music that gave Sahil the desire to produce songs in a more contemporary manner. From a person who would only listen to dance, trance and rock music, Sahil has now started to compose devotional music that gives meaning to his very existence -- Bhajans. Sahil's style has attracted many newcomers to the Art of Living through his contemporary bhajans appealing to a universal audience. People who would never listen to Sanskrit devotional music started getting attracted to it. All the students of APG were inspired and got attracted to Satsangs and devotional music. Sahil could have been a mainstream artist singing for money, but he chose to sing in praise of the divine as that was where he found satisfaction and peace.
Cool climes
With mercury shooting up in the plains, people are rushing to the cool climes of Himachal Pradesh. Tourists are making a beeline to various hill stations and all of these are drawing a good crowd. Another category of visitors seen prominently in the hills these days is that of religious and sect leaders. Sudhanshu (Maharaj), Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh, Maharaj Kamalbir, Kumar Swami and few others have held congregations at different places in the state. They have been accompanied with their close associates and followers. While religious discourses seem to be their main agenda, people say many of their followers are rushing to the hills to enjoy a cool environment and escape the sweltering heat of the plains. The huge rush of the devotees has affected normal life in the hills for the past few weeks as the scant basic amenities have come under intense
pressure. (Contributed by Rakesh Lohumi and DP Gupta)
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vignettes
The major attraction, however, is the so-called "International Shimla Summer Festival" though there is nothing international about it. A huge stage is erected on the Ridge where the deafening voices of TV-fame artistes via hi-fi sound equipment "entertain" the gathered crowd. Those who have eyes for something classical and ears for melody avoid the arena like plague. A couple of years back, a visitor to the Flower Show, arranged by SAGES (Shimla Amateur Garden and Environment Society), had written on the visitor's book that it was the only programme in the Summer Festival that the day-creatures could visit. The district administration rose to the occasion this year and arranged a painting competition in which 229 participants took part. Besides displaying the award-winning entries at the Art Gallery in the Gaiety, an exhibition of a renowned artist of Punjab, Baldev Gambhir, was mounted. Thus, the Shimla Summer Festival Committee, for the first time, presented something to the "day-creatures" besides the Flower Show. The Flower Show 2013 was a success with approximately 13,000 spectators visiting it in two days. About 240 exhibits were on show and queues of people enjoying the colours, species, foliage etc were visible right from the inauguration (see photo). The show was inaugurated by students of BSN School, Chakkar, which had stood first in the flower arrangement competition organised a day earlier. The flower arrangement competition for the schools was organised on the theme "Flowers in Shimla Summers" in which 16 schools had participated, of which the prize winners were BSN, Dayanand and St Edwards. The flower arrangement by the children does them and the parents real good. It adds to the creativity of the children. They are always ready to learn and discover something new. It boosts their imagination and if they design their own vases then the door of creativity opens wider. SAGES organises a competition for hand-made vases too. This time a competitor had made a 3 inch by 3 inch square hollow in a fat book and had grown cactus on it. A visitor from Amethi, DN Tripathi commented, "Physics book should not be used as flower-pot." Coming back to flower arrangements by the children, I believe, once the children are glued to flower arrangement, not for the competitions only, they can brighten up every corner of their houses. I also believe that the nuclear family, where both the parents are working and distancing themselves from the children, finds time during the weekend to bond with children through flower arrangement. They can make it fun and a happy playtime with children and see for themselves the difference they have made in the lives of their children. SAGES giving a pride of place to schoolchildren show is really appreciable. Aeonium brought by Ram Saran from East Bourne Hotel was adjudged the best exhibit of the Show (see photo). Aeoniums, also called houseleek trees, are one of the most ornamental of all succulents. They are native to the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain in the Atlantic Ocean. Aeonium has earned its name from the Greek word 'aionos' which means ageless. The remarks of the visitors on the book are indicators of the success or failure of the show. Dalwadi from Baroda had visited any flower show for the first time and called it his "memorable experience". The Deputy Commissioner of Shimla, Dinesh Malhotra, thought it to be a great platform for flower-lovers. Vibhuti from Karnal wrote, "Dil Khush Ho Gaya!" For Balaji Rao from Chennai, it was "Informative and Educative". CRB Lalit, Registrar at Bahra University, wrote a poem in Pahari that says: "the blooming flowers: the flowers blooming/green, red, white, yellow and blue/ rainbow to the eyes/ intoxicant to the beholders." SAGES, with the support of the district administration, has completed the 16th Flower Show with a bang. In coming years, more support: more bangs. Tailpiece The lotus is the most beautiful flower. But it will only grow in the mud. In order to grow and gain wisdom, first you must have the mud. — Goldie Hawn
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Come summers, come several activities in Shimla town. The halls of the Gaiety Theatre start humming; the clubs organise their annual functions; the playgrounds, in whatever poor shape they are, find flannel-clad young bowling or batting or basket-balling or volleying.