The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

CAMPUS ROUND-UP
Panel to study pending RL cases
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH: Panjab University has constituted a committee to study the cases of students whose results have been withheld for not depositing the fees at the time of submitting their examination forms.

There are several cases of undeclared results for non-payment of fees. Some of these cases are several years old. In most such cases the student has failed, got information about his result, and lost interest in paying the fee. The university proposes to fix a time limit within which such student should pay their fees or their examination would be cancelled.

This question figured at the Senate meeting and a committee has been set up to go into the matter in detail before a final decision is taken. An office note in this regard says: “It has been observed in the past many years that a large number of students do not pay the examination fee including late fee in full at the time of submission of examination forms. This also applied to several funds.”

The fee checking section writes to all such students and follows the letters with reminders. Still, these students fail to pay the due amount for years. This leads to a large number of results being marked RL (Fee).

It has been noticed that some cases have been pending for the past 10 or 15 years.

The Vice Chancellor had called a meeting of senior officers to discuss this issue. It was felt that “a period of two years was more than sufficient to get the cases settled”. It was recommended that all RL(Fee) cases pending since September, 1999 (supplementary examination) should be settled immediately.

It was also suggested that the university should send press releases to various newspapers. In addition, two paid insertions (advertisements) should be given in selected newspapers asking the defaulting candidates to pay the examination fee, or other dues within three months.

The official note says: “In case the candidates still did not respond, their candidature as well as examination results should be cancelled without giving them any additional information”.

The committee has suggested that a maximum period of two years should be fixed for the future.

PUSU plans to hold big IT fair
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
The Panjab University Students Union will organise an information technology and education fair on the campus from November 21 to November 23.

Malwinder Singh Kang, PUSU chief, said, “The country is witnessing a change in education trends and the IT industry offers alternative avenues of employment for the youth. There are several areas of the IT revolution that students and parents are unaware of, so, the fair aims at presenting them with a clear picture of the scope in this field.”

The fair, ‘Vision 2002’, is being presented as “a beneficial event for training institutions as well as students”. “The event is more relevant in view of the present hype about the slowdown in the American IT sector. The slowdown is supposed to have had an adverse effect on software industry in the country and software training institutes in particular,” Kang said.

He said the fair was also aimed at providing students, parents and trainers with a common platform for discussing and removing apprehensions regarding the course.

Kang said the PU campus had been selected as the venue because it was the hub of education in the city, with about 70,000 students on the PU rolls. Besides, a large number of college students were regular visitors to the campus.

Another organiser said, “In view of globalisation, students need information on the real potential of the IT industry. Many students are curious to know what are Java, e-commerce and the new things that are coming up in this sector.”

Organisers said the city was witnessing a rapid growth of computer institutes, due to which, students of neighbouring small towns and villages were also coming here to make a career in IT industry. They needed correct information regarding various courses, the pursuit of which often led to wastage of time and money.

Besides stalls of various IT institutes, a seminar on ‘Various Aspects of the IT and Education’ has also been planned to be held on the occasion. Students, parents, teachers and the IT training providers will be invited for debates.

Kang said the fair would also include coaching classes for competitive examination, banks offering loans for education, advice on studying abroad and youth activities. The fair, however, will not include any cultural events.

Government College to host Zone B Youth Festival
Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, November 10
Finally, the word of the DPI (Colleges) proved the clincher in a lost battle of initiative: Government College, Sector 11, will host the Panjab University Zone B Youth Festival for the boys’ colleges. The decision comes a fortnight after the DPI (C), Mr K.A.P. Sinha, asked the college to hold the fest.

The dates for the event, too, have been finalised with the various colleges involved in the exercise voting for scheduling the programme for November 26, 27 and 28 at a recent meeting held to finalise the matter.

With the fest for the boys’ colleges of the city on a weak wicket with no takers for hosting the three-day show, it was almost certain the event would have to be cancelled, which prompted representatives of local colleges to step in and resolve the dispute.

When contacted Mr Sinha said that most colleges were reluctant to host the show for want of infrastructure in their respective colleges and paucity of funds. “For the the government colleges, it is trifle easier since the funds for the show go out of the pocket of the government. However, the matter of hosting the show does not rest here and the department concerned will have to frame rules to ensure against a repeat of the situation,” he added.

Sources said that while it was the turn of either of the two private colleges, SD College and SGGS College, to host the show, the meeting, usually held in July, was not held till as late as October.

Sources said that the colleges in the Zone B category decided that last year’s host, Government College, Sector 46, hold the festival for the second consecutive year. This, however, was turned down by the Principal, Major D.P. Singh, after consideration.

“I was given time till October 10 but informed them of my inability to hold the festival well in time. The others, too, backed out and it was almost certain the event had to be cancelled this term,” he added.

The Principal of SGGS, Sector 26, Mr PS Sangha, said, “I offered my college as the venue for the next festival. This time I was unable to extend help in organising it at such short notice.”

Meanwhile, preparations are already under way in various colleges for finalising teams for the various events and Principals are hoping they will be able to generate enthusiasm amongst students despite the event being slated in the last week of November, on the eve of the examination.

New Entrants

For the first time, the organisers, Government College, Sector 11, are roping in new colleges with the idea of increasing the scope of the festival. “While the College of Nursing, PGIMER, has given its approval to participate, teams from the Punjab Engineering College have also been invited and we have an informal approval from them as well,” said Dr S.N. Singla, Principal of the host college.

School’s annual function held
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
Students of Stepping Stones, Sector 38, celebrated their annual function with music, sports and dances at a function held on the premises of the school, here today.

Held in three shifts, the programme began with prayer songs by students. While the students of the junior wing won much applause for the gymnastics, the Haryanavi dance on ‘‘Bhari Dupehri’’ by tiny tots proved to be a hit with the audience.

In the middle classes, students from Class II to V added variety by an action song on ‘A 100 miles’' and a skit with the message of the futility of being selfish. Dances ranging from the dandia to performing those from the movie ‘Lagaan’ were a hit with those present.

The senior wing, too, played its part well, their qawali and giddah setting the mood for the afternoon, enjoyed by the parents of the students. Other items included a lively aerobics demonstration. The school orchestra churned out musical notes and skits with messages of honesty and trust.

GC-11 emerge winners
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
A seminar-cum-presentation contest, which saw participation of six teams from city colleges, was organised by the department of Computer Applications, Government College, Sector 46, here today.

Topics for the contest included “Evolution of Dot Com”, “E-Commerce” and “Network Security”. The first position went to the team from Government College, Sector 11, comprising Piyush Vig, Rahul Dhammy and Nakul Goyal. While the team of the host college of Suksham, Akshay, Hardeep and Dixon came second, the third place went to the team of Ravneet, Nisha, Monika and Gita of Dev Samaj College for Women.

Speaking at the function, the chief guest, Mr Vivek Atray, advised students to keep abreast with the developments in the field of information technology.

He added that the Chandigarh Administration was making efforts to promote IT industry by way of setting up an IT park.

Earlier, the Principal, Maj D.P. Singh (retd), emphasised the importance of IT industry, he said that it occupied an important place in the present times, which was evident from the fact that a transaction of nearly eight trillion dollars had taken place in the field the world over.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Statement of two witnesses recorded
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 10
The statement of two witnesses were recorded in the Sector 34 bomb blast case today. The statement of Sub-Inspectors, Ram Singh and Nirmal Singh, were recorded before the UT Additional and Sessions Judge, and the Judge adjourned the case till November 27.

It was alleged that the accused, Sher Singh and Gurbax Singh, were involved in the Sector 34 bomb blast.

Bail plea dismissed: A local court today dismissed the bail plea moved by an employee of Panjab University who had been caught by the city police for allegedly selling fake degree certificates and marksheets.

The accused, Suraj Parkash Joshi, was caught by the police on a tip-off that a person selling fake certificates was operating from the Sector 15 market.

Judicial remand: The two accused arrested by the police in the Palsora murder case were sent on judicial remand by a local court. The accused, Kaka and Harpreet Singh, had been arrested by the city police and a case of murder was registered under Section 302 of the IPC.

Election of Bar Council chairman challenged
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 10
The election of the chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, Dr Anmol Rattan Sidhu, and vice-president, Mr Balwan Singh Sohag, and constitution and reconstitution of various committees of the Bar Council was challenged by eight members of the Bar in a petition before the Bar Council of India, New Delhi.

After hearing, Mr S.P. Gupta, former chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, and former secretary, Bar Council of India, Mr P.S. Hundal, issued a notice to the chairman and vice-chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana for November 20 and directed them to file return before November 16.

The Bar Council of India further directed that it will not deal with any policy or financial matter and will not implement any decision taken on any financial matter after October 10.

CULTURE

Divali bonanza on Lashkara
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
Lashkara, the Punjabi channel, will present a bonanza of entertainment for all viewers with a Divali Week Special.

The festival will be a bonanza of musical entertainment titled “Raunkaan Divali Diyan” with three celebrity special editions of Raunkaan. These specials will feature live performances by some of Punjab’s well-known singing stars. The first edition was telecast on Thursday at 9 pm featuring the popular Richa Sharma singing her most popular songs. The second edition at 9 pm on November 11 will feature Sardool Sikander and Gurdas Mann. The final edition, which will round off the Divali Week Special, will feature Bhupi on November 15, also at 9 pm.

On Divali, November 14, Divali Masti will begin at 1.30 pm with the telecast of a stage performance by Lashkara Punjabi Music Award winner Hans Raj Hans singing his way into the hearts of Punjabi families not just in Punjab but all over the country. There will be an animated film “Khed Khani” for children at 4 pm. The fun will continue with a special Divali episode of the hilarious comedy serial “Bhand Punjab De” featuring Jaspal Bhatti and his all star cast of Meher Mittal, Savita Bhatti, Jaswinder Bhalla and others at 7.30 pm. Sardool Sikander will feature in “Phulchadian” at 9 pm and “Divali Dhamaka” at 10.30 pm starring Gurdas mann. To end the day on a warm note Lashkara will present greetings and good wishes from some of the leading icons of Punjab.

When Bollywood comes hunting
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
His humble facade belies his tough interior. That is exactly why you cannot tell from his face that he could have masterminded a Bollywood success of the order of ‘Saajan’. But that is how it has been for Lawrence D Souza, the man who has carried the will to survive long spans of struggle.

The success he commands in the film industry flows from the fact that he always valued technique and form and never feared sweat. As he shared the past experiences on his visit to the city yesterday, he recalled many sequences, which make him worthy in the present times. “I was just 17-year-old when I joined Babu Rao Udesi as a production assistant in ‘Gora aur Kala’. The learning experience began at a tender age and it continues till today. In between I even worked as a mechanic in a garage and a labourer in a factory. Finally, I settled for the film industry, which treated me well,” said the director, who has to his credit films like ‘Dil ka kya kasoor’, ‘Balma’, ‘Sapne sajan ke’, ‘Sangram’ and ‘Arzoo’.

With strings of successes to back him, Lawrence is today at a stage where he wishes to share his experiences with young aspirants in the field. He will be in the city for three days, lecturing acting aspirants at DAC Institute, Sector 35, on techniques of acting. Also, he would finally select the lead cast for his new film ‘Balam teri kasam’ from the lot which he trains. The said batch will also be groomed by Kumar Gaurav and Paintal in other nuances of acting.

The director, who is also a seasoned cameraman and cinematographer, however, feels that self analysis on the part of aspirants plays a vital role in their success.

“There are hundreds of youngsters roaming about with portfolios. But they have to rise above the rest. With my background as a cameraman I can tell the acting worth of the person from his face. I can also judge his or her talent to a fair level,” he said.

Being a sound technician came as an added advantage to Lawrence, who used his skills as a cameraman and cinematographer in direction to a large extent. Later he went on to work on Nyaya Anyaya with Sudhakar Bokadia. This was the time when seeds of ‘Saajan’ were being sown. Lawrence’s sensitive handling of the often- experimented theme of love triangle gave him an unexpected edge and he became a star overnight with the movie becoming a blockbuster.

But as in the past, Lawrence kept his feet firmly on the ground and went on to direct Divya Bharti and Prithvi in ‘Dil ka kya kasoor’, which was a family drama laced with emotions of love, longing and separation. Till date this film remains the director’s favourite.

He is shortly releasing ‘Ye pyar hi to hai’ starring Saif Ali and Pooja Bhat. Other films in his repertory include ‘Dil hi kya cheez hai’. Another to be released film is ‘Dil deke dekho’, with Fardeen Khan and Ameesha Patel in lead roles.

The future is still a far cry for this Mangalore man, who would like to experiment with themes with some sense of history. With the much-needed inspiration which he draws from Raj Kapoor and Yash Chopra, may be someday...Lawrence hits his dream project.

WESTERN FILM REVIEW
Doctor in animal company
Rajiv Kaplish

Chandigarh
“The movie is about Dr Dolittle and how he is getting on with his family. It is also about an environment issue”, says Steve Carr, director of “Dr Dolittle 2” (Kiran). Serious stuff, you may wonder. Have a heart. It is not.

The retread is even more hilarious than the 1998 original tale of a genial doctor who can talk to animals. In this outing, the affable Dr Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) is trying to balance his burgeoning medical practice with his family life when his animal friends approach him. This time not for medical help but to save their imperilled home from greedy intruders.

To protect the Pacific Northwest forest from certain ruin at the hands of a heartless developer (Jeffrey Jones) and his scheming lawyer (Kevin Pollak), the multilingual doctor must find an endangered species of bear protected by law.

Unfortunately, there is only one female bear, Ava, left in the wilderness and unless the doctor finds a mate for her, he will be reduced to the status of a doctor who did little for his four-legged friends.

Murphy’s search for the elusive bear, Ava’s stirrings of love and the awkward antics of the male bear, Archie, lend bite as well as bark to the wisecracking comedy.

Murphy who was humbled by the talking animals in the $144 million grossing “Dr Dolittle” edges out the furry tenants of the wild by matching them squawk for squawk and squeal for squeal.

Mom, dad, pigs, dogs and bears for mirthful company — what more you want kids?

A whiff of Goa in city
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 10
After the monotony of Punjabi pop shows which have become an integral part of the city’s entertainment scenario, Taan Trikz’s western pop numbers at the CII Chandigarh Fair at the Parade Ground in Sector 17 today came as a refreshing change. This four-membered Goanese band which is here specially for the CII Fair, is all set to sway people with their music.

Braculio, bass player, Bismarck, guitarist , Ulrick, key board player and Tony, drummer, are happy to be back in Chandigarh for the third time. ‘‘Chandigarh audience are very receptive to our kind of music and they thoroughly enjoy dancing,’’ says Bismarck.

The foursome who started their band five years ago had named it the ‘Rome of the East’’. But they have recently changed the band’s name to Taan Trikz to give it a more Indian flavour. ‘‘We are no longer a strictly western band as to keep up to the popular demand we have decided to sing Hindi and Punjabi pop too’’, says Bismarck.