EDUCATION

Teachers’ rally today
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 17
Teachers of non-government aided colleges affiliated to Panjab University and Punjabi University will hold a protest rally near the office of the DPI (Colleges), Punjab, in Sector 17 tomorrow.

In a press statement, Prof N.P. Mancoha and Prof Karamjit Singh, president and secretary, respectively, of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union, stated that the rally was being organised to protest against the non-implementation of the pension-cum-gratuity scheme, non-release of pending grants amounting to nearly Rs 100 crore, detention of leaders of the PCCTU in jails and to impress upon the Punjab Government to bring unaided posts and colleges under 95 per cent grant aid scheme as per the election manifesto of the Shiromani Akali Dal and immediate release of the UGC pay scale arrears.

Prof Jaspal Singh Randhawa, general secretary of the PCCTU, stated that another rally would be organised at Amritsar in which teachers of the non-government aided colleges affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University would participate. Mr Randhawa also threatened to intensify the agitation in case of non-acceptance of their demands by the government.

CAMPUS ROUND-UP
Importance of accreditation
Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Chandigarh
The calendar year, 2002, will be observed as the year of quality in higher education. This decision was taken at a conference of Secretaries of Higher Education of different states held in Delhi earlier this year, and communicated to the conference of Vice-Chancellors which concluded recently in Chandigarh.

Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University, was at the meeting, which was also attended by Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Joint Secretary of Higher Education (UT).

Dr V.N. Rajasekhran Pillai, Director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), said the NAAC was actively engaged in performance evaluation and implementation of quality sustenance procedure in universities and colleges. It followed internationally recognised patterns of assessment.

Most of the state governments appreciated the move initiated by the University Grants Commission to make accreditation of institutions mandatory. Representatives of a state government expressed apprehensions that denial of accreditation on the ground of low grading could cause embarrassment to the university and the state. It was clarified that accreditation was always open. Any institution could apply once again if it felt that certain improvements had been made.

It was decided that state governments should have a pro-active role in the accreditation process and should organise seminars, orientation programmes, discussions and meetings of principals, team managers and students for understanding the relevance and advantages of accreditation.

One important point was the establishment of an effective mechanism in every state to monitor the progress of assessment and accreditation. It was felt that the NAAC’s comprehensive technical report about a college, university or an institution of higher education should be made available to all stake holders.

There was also a proposal to initiate departmental accreditation in universities and autonomous institutions. Certain departments in an institution were miles ahead of the others. Separate accreditation was vital for their recognition.

It was also felt that NAAC accreditation with a suitable grading should be made a pre-requisite for granting and continuation of autonomous status or that of self-financing or deemed universities.

It may be mentioned that Panjab University has been granted five star status by the NAAC. Members pointed out that certain universities, which had been accorded the five star status, were far below the rating and performance of other universities placed on the same platform. 

2-day workshop on geoscience education
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17
A two-day national workshop on geoscience education for natural resource management started at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Geology, Panjab University, here today.

Organised by the CAS in collaboration with the Central Ground Water Board and Association of Geoscientists for International Development, more than 30 scientists are participating in the workshop.

The workshop will have lectures on themes ranging from geoscience curriculum in schools and universities, promoting environment awareness in industries and civil authorities, enhancement of quality of geoscience educator and public education through media.

Those who spoke today included Dr Amit Ghosh, Mr B.K. Chaddha, Dr V.M. Sikka, Prof K.P. Singh and Dr S.M. Rao. The themes discussed included participatory approach in natural resource management and role of government organisations and other agencies.

Speaking Out
Students want K3G price hike withdrawn
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 17
Students of the city termed the hike in the tickets of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham as unjustified and urged the Administration to withdraw the hike. However, most of them were willing to pay extra for this star-studded film.

‘‘Cinema owners know that people will watch the movie whatever the prices may be,” said Ms Parul Sharma, a student of the Department of Anthropology, Panjab University. She was of the view that the Administration should not have allowed the price hike. Ms Deepa Rane of the Department of Zoology was of the view that the price hike effected the student community the most. ‘‘We students form a major part of the city cine goers and any price raise should be made keeping in mind the student community’’ said Ms Deepa.

Another student, Ms Sandeep Mann, was of the view the price hike should be uniform and should not be made for just a particular film. “I have heard that the film’s music rights were sold for Rs 10 crore. This means the producer has already reclaimed a significant chunk of his investment and, thus, the general public should not be over burdened’’, complained Ms Mann.

‘‘Thank God the ticket prices here have not been put at par with Delhi’’, said another student, Ms Chyanika Nayar, a PU student. But she was of the opinion that despite of the price rise, the younger generation will not shy away from the movie.

Chandigarh Tribune today met some people who seemed little bothered about the raised prices. ‘‘I watch movies occasionally and hence the price hike makes little difference to me’’, said Mr Paramjit Singh, a Sector 45 resident. A Panchkula resident, Mr Sanjeev Sood, who is a businessman, alleged that hike in the ticket prices was unjustified but added: ‘‘If people are willing to pay, then what’s the idea of making a fuss about the issue?’’.

CULTURE

Seven wonders on rice grain
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 17
The name Jagdish Kumar is not new to the art lovers of the city whose previous exhibition of paintings on rice and mustard grains got him enough media attention a couple of years ago. This young lad from Dhanas is back again with a collection of greeting cards which he is exhibiting at Tejee’s Art Gallery in Sector 17 here.

Tastefully done in water colour and rice grains, the cards convey some warm messages on new year, friendship and birthday, all minutely written on rice grains. However, the messages are loud and clear and one does not even need an aid to read them.

“I use a brush made of a single hair to imprint the messages,” says the artist. Jagdish who started practising this peculiar art form about eight years back is trying to pursue a career in fine arts. “I had applied for a degree course in the Government College of Arts but could not get through the entrance test because of tough competition,” says Jagdish.

Jagdish is planning his third exhibition on miniature paintings on rice and mustard. “I have made the seven wonders of the world in a single rice and also a peacock made of a human hair,” says Jagdish.

Along with Jagdish, Sapna Choudhury, an amateur artist, has exhibited a few of her paintings done in oil. A self-taught painter, Sapna has selected simple themes like woman, village life and nature which she executed with simple brush strokes.

Among the paintings she has displayed , “Tribal Woman”, “Chinese Woman”, “Banjara Life”, “Rajasthani Village Life” and a paintings on a few dogs were eye-catching. In “Landscape” she has experimented with a thick application of colour with a knife that gave the painting a three-dimensional effect.

Sapna, who is exhibiting for the first time, is a bit unsure about giving titles to her paintings. However, it is the simplicity of her work coupled with the low affordable price that makes her paintings lucrative.

Bhatti’s “Prof Money Plant”
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17
Jaspal Bhatti’s ‘‘Prof Money Plant’’, being shown on Alpha Punjabi, will now be telecast from 8 p.m. every Tuesday.

The change in timing has come about after Mr Batra, journalist from Samrala, continued wrote several letters to the channel authorities to change the programme time from 8.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It was felt that during winters people go to bed early.

“Prof Money Plant” is a satire on the education system. To make the serial more entertaining, new faces have been added to the cast which includes Arti Puri, Vijay Tondon, Vinod Sharma, Sanju and Ashish.

In this serial Sunil Grover, B.N. Sharma, Savita Bhatti, Brijesh Ahuja, Gurkirton, Hari Om Jalota, Sowinder, Raja have lead roles.

Harbhajan Mann to star in movie
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 17
Punjabi pop singer Harbhajan Mann, after crooning with pretty damsels in music videos, will now be acting in a Punjabi movie ‘Jee Aayan Noon’ along with Navneet Nishan and Kawaljeet Singh. The heroine’s name is being kept a secret for the time being.

The movie, being launched by T-series, will be shot in Canada and India and will take seven to eight months for completion. A love story, the movie will be directed by Man Mohan Singh, who will also handle the camera. The music is by Jai Dev Kumar and the lyrics are by Baboo Mann. The script and dialogues are by Baldev Gill.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Harbhajan Mann, who recently released his 10th album ‘Hai Meri Billo’, said, “The attempt is to bring Punjabi cinema at a par with Hindi movies. I am confident about acting in the film”.