Children's Day celebrated with fervour
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 15
Children are the most precious asset of a nation and providing them with good education, hygiene and health is the duty of every citizen.

This was stated by the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, while inaugurating the state-level Children’s Day function at the Yavanika Open Air Theatre here today. He lit the traditional lamp and was accompanied by his wife, Ms Sudesh Kumari. They paid floral tributes to the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Speaking on the occassion, the Governor said if children were healthy, well-educated and civilised, the nation would be strong, progressive and prosperous. He stressed on inculcating the values of discipline, love, peace and cooperation in children at a young age.

He lamented that we had failed to achieve the target of providing universal education to children even after 54 years of Independence. He said the state should endeavour to provide education for all children within 10 years.

A science exhibition, besides mehndi and rangoli competition, was also held for students of various schools. A variety cultural programme, including folk dances, group songs, folk songs and patriotic songs were performed by the students.

Ms Sudesh Kumari also visited Ashiana School in Sector 16 and gave away gifts to the 42 children staying here. She was informed of the activities in this orphanage. Ms Pushpa Ahuja, president of the Haryana unit of the All India Social Health Organisation, informed that 300 students had passed out from this school and the Haryana Government was spending Rs 400 per month per child on health care.

Following are the results of the competitions held here today: Green Group Painting Competition: first Kiran Verma from Panipat; second Parveen from Narnaul; third Anita from Rohtak; White Group painting competition: (9 to 11 years); first Anurag Malik from Rohtak; second Ramanpreet from Sirsa; third Amandeep from Kurukshetra; Blue Group painting competition (13 to 16 years): first Ravi Kumar from Panipat; second Divya Sharma from Narnaul; third Neha Sharma from Kurukshetra; Yellow Group painting competition (5 to 10 years): first Som Nath from Karnal; second Nirmal Singh from Karnal; third Madhu from Ambala; declamation contest: first Inderdeep from Panchkula; second Anjali Saini; third Prince Pahwa; rangoli competition: first Haryana Model School, Panchkula; third Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Panchkula; fancy dress competition: first Vikramjeet Singh from Panchkula; second Harpreet Singh from Panchkula; third Bhoomika from Panchkula; poster-making competition: first Neha Aggarwal from Panchkula; second Poonam Sharma from Panchkula; third Shailendra Kumar from Panchkula; science and technology competition: first Little Flower Public School; second Little Flower Public School; third Chaman Lal DAV School.

COURTS

Two arrested for violating order
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 15
Two persons have been arrested for allegedly bursting fire crackers after 10 p.m. on Divali, while 13 cases for similar offences have been registered by the police.

It may be recalled that following a recent Supreme Court order, the local authorities had issued directives that bursting fire-crackers would be allowed only between 6 pm to 10 pm.

Those arrested have been identified as Anil Barja and Sumer Wadhwa, both residents of the same house in Sector 30. They were bursting crackers outside their house.

Other cases of bursting crackers after the stipulated time-period were reported from Sector 7 market, Sector 27 market, Sector 29 market, Indira Colony, Sector 47, Ram Darbar, Sector 42, Badheri barrier, Sector 16, near the Coal Depot in Sector 22, Sector 8 bus stop and Sector 10.

In all these cases, the offenders have been listed as “unknown boys”, who bursted fire crackers in the streets and then ran away. Separate cases have been registered in police stations concerned under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for disobeying an order promulgated by a public servant.

Meanwhile, Divali passed off peaceful in the city, with no reports of any untoward incident or mishap. Police had made extensive security arrangements in the city. Only a lone case of purse snatching by some car-borne youths, where a sector 37 resident, Jaswinder Kaur lost about Rs 1,200 and a gold chain, was reported.

According to police officials, over 1,300 personnel had been deployed at various places. These included 10 officers of the rank of deputy superintendent of police, 25 inspectors, 90 sub inspectors and assistant sub inspectors and over 600 constables besides about 500 home guard volunteers. Special nakas were also set up at market places and other important places.

Senior police officers also went around the city checking security arrangements. In fact the UT IGP, Mr B.S. Bassi and the SSP, Mr Parag Jain were also on the road, interacting with those on duty and presenting them sweets as a morale booster.

Honour for Hans Raj
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, November 15
Punjabi folk and sufi singer Hans Raj Hans will be conferred the title of ‘Rajgayak’ for his contribution to the Punjabi music.

The title has been mooted by the Punjab Government to patronise artists of the region. Hans Raj is the first recipient of the honour. The decision to confer the title on Hans Raj was announced by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, at a religious function held at Devi Talab Temple in Jalandhar on October 21.

Hans Raj Hans, disciple of Puran Shah Koti, is a versatile singer who has made his mark in a wide range of music, right from light vocal to qawwali to ghazal to pop. His first album “Jogiyan De Kannan Vicch Kachch Diyan Mundran” had created a new wave in the music world.

While on the one hand his rendition of sufi songs has been providing sub-lime peace to audience, on the other, his albums “Lal Garara”, “Chorni” and “Janjhar” have proved a big hit in the world of music.

Impressed by his talent, Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, honoured him by appointing him ‘Visiting Professor” in the university.

Hans Raj would be conferred the title by Mr Parkash Singh Badal during the Bi-centenary celebrations of the coronation of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh on November 17 at Rambagh in Amritsar.

Acting comes naturally to me: Aarti
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, November 15
Comedians may be a dime a dozen in the world of Punjabi entertainment , but when it comes to women only a few have been able to make a mark. And Aarti Puri is certainly one of those few. Aarti who entered this field with Jaspal Bhatti’s ‘Mahol Theek Hai’, will be working with him once again in his TV production ‘Professor Moneyplant.’

“It is great to be working with him after such a long time,” says Aarti recalling the start of her career when after winning the title of Miss Punjab in 1997 she went for an audition for ‘Mahol Theek Hai,’ which was conducted by none other than Mr Bhatti himself. “At that time I did not know even the basics of acting,” she adds.

Aarti has certainly come a long way in such a short span of time. Not only has she acted in Punjabi teleserials like ‘Apni Mitti’, ‘Tuta Wala Khuh,’ ‘Patake Thaa’, ‘Chandigarh Campus’ and ‘Door Nahi Nankana’ an Indo-American production with conviction but also has started her own production ‘Tilhi da Nishan’, a serial based on a woman who fights against obsolete social customs.

“I want to portray women in a better light, depicting all roles she has to play in her life such as a caring mother, sister, beloved and most of all, a social reformer,” says Aarti. Six episodes of the serial have already been shot under the direction of Darshan Bagga.

However, this serial is only a stepping stone for Aarti who wants to enter the film warld. “I have acted in Hindi serials like ‘Kashmir’, ‘Behta Pani’ and ‘Wapsi’ for Doordarshan and would certainly like to try my hand at production of Hindi serials and movies,” she says.

Though comedy is her forte, serious roles hold a special appeal for her. “Acting is something one can learn while on the job, each day brings a new experience,” says Aarti. Her role int he forthcoming teleserial ‘Sucche Moti,’ proves her versatility.

Exhibitions to mark heritage week
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 15
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will exhibit photographs of Harappan and Buddhist monuments in the northwest circle in Panipat, Amritsar and Mandi as part of the World Heritage Week from November 19.

Kala Amb at Panipat, Indian Academy of Fine Arts at Amritsar and Trilokinath Temple at Mandi will witness photo exhibitions on world, Buddhist and Harappan heritage from the region.