The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Students exhibit artifacts made out of waste
Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 1
The fast degrading environment can be preserved and improved as well, if elders learn to transform wastes into artifacts.

This message was conveyed by students of Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, who exhibited artifacts prepared by them from waste materials on the conclusion of their hobby session, here today.

Appreciating the skill of children, Ms Kamla Devi Sharma, Director of the school, called upon the elders of society to imbibe constructive character from the younger generation and contribute their bit in saving the planet.

Students showing outstanding performance were felicitated at a brief function that was organised after the exhibition.

Manpreet Kaur, Manju, Tejashwar, Shehbaz Singh, Anu Mishra, Jaspreet Singh, Neha, Gurjant Singh and Vikramjit Singh were adjudged first in their respective categories. Luxmi, Sinzan, Ranvijay , Kamal, Kirandeep Kaur, Palvi, Aman Sharma, Jashandeep, Balwinder Singh and Prince stood second in these categories. Naval, Likhil, Sahil, Chirag, Priyanka, Vivek, Luxmi and Pawanpreet Kaur were also felicitated for their outstanding performance in embroidery, painting, collections, bhangra, giddha and literature.

Physically challenged students impress with cultural items
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 1
A cultural function was organised by various NGOs working for physically challenged children to observe World Disability Day at the Guru Nanak Bhavan here today. The function began with rendering of Gayatri mantra by students of Ashirwad, Ek Prayas, VRTC for Blind, School for Deaf and Dumb, Darpan and Nirdosh. The students mesmerised the audience with their brilliant performances.
Tiny-tots of GNI Public School with their certificates at the graduation ceremony in Ludhiana on Friday.

Swiss International Public School, Jain Public Senior Secondary School, BCM Arya Senior Secondary School and KVM School also participated in the function. A medley of old and new songs by students of Swiss International School stole the show with little children dancing to the tunes of oldies like ‘Chahe koi mujhe jangli kahe’, ‘Kajrare kajrare’ etc.

Students of Nirdosh performed bhangra while Ek Prayas students performed on ‘Vande Mataram’. Despite their disability (blindness), the students of VRTC and school for Deaf and Dumb put many of those present in awe with their giddha. Prizes were given to the winners of various events.

200 KG students pass

Two hundred kindergarten students of GNI Public School were given certificates for passing the class at a function on Friday. The chief guest, Ms Amrit Gill, SDM (East), presided over the function.

The function began with shabad gayan. The Principal, Ms B.Gulati, welcomed the chief guest. Ms Gill gave away the cetificates to the students. Special prizes were given to Mehakjot Kaur, Arshdeep Kaur and Jasleen Kaur as best dancers and Jagsewa Singh and Komalpreet Kaur as best orators. Ms Amrit Kaur was given the best teacher award. To add charm and zing to the occasion a colourful variety programme was performed. The function concluded with a vote of thanks.

Campus interview

Mandi Gobindgarh, December 1
Voltix, a renowned IT company from Chandigarh, held campus interview of MCA students of the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management & Computer Sciences at the institute today. As many as seven students were shortlisted for training.

Earlier, MCA students of the institute had participated in the induction programme conducted by various top notch companies like Wipro, FCS Solutions, Sebiz, InfoTech and Tech Mahindra in which 30 students were selected for placement.
— OC

CULTURE

At the Crossroads
The divine song of seasons

Photo artist Tej Partap Singh Sandhu has done it again with the publication of the new edition of 'Baramaha'. Last year this photo album, a visual study of the varying moods of nature, was hailed as the true depiction of the divine song of seasons. In this album, each page carries a stanza (pauri) of 'Baramaha Majh', along with its English and Punjabi translations. The facing page holds a photograph illustrating the change of season each month.

Amidst the fields stands a tree as a witness to the seasonal changes around. The presence of the same tree in each photograph indicates the inherent unity in the diversity of nature's moods. The message conveyed by the tree, as mentioned below each photograph, is in fact conveyance, in a pithy form, of the theme of the 'pauri'. In a way, this saintly tree, standing undeterred at its place, centralizes the whole concept of the divine glory.Sandhu made certain other observations in the course of a brief encounter with him.

In what way is the new edition different from the earlier one?

"This time there has been shifting of light and shade in some photographs. New plates have been prepared for toning up the colours and some change in the format is also discernible."

What about the response to the earlier edition which was released a year ago with great fanfare?

"The response was tremendous. It was not a coffee-table type of book to be gone through and kept aside. One wanted to refer to it again and again, particularly at the start of each month. It was also presented as a gift, mostly by the NRIs."

What has been the objective of the issuance of this pictorial album which has appeal only for a particular section of the society?

"In fact, it has a universal appeal. It contains 12 messages which have relevance for the whole year. The photographs depict the moods of the land that is very dear to the Punjabis settled abroad. The photograph leads to the text and the translation brings home to the reader its true significance. The changes in the season also correspond to the changing moods of human beings during the year."

Photography is considered not merely a profession, but also an artistic pursuit. How far is it correct to term it as a fine art?

"Earlier, photography was made use of for documentation. Now the aim is to convey a mood or a message through camera. In fact, clicking without vision is a pastime, whereas clicking with vision is an artistic device. It can help change the concepts of people."

Nature has a special appeal for you. How did you acquire love for the objects of nature?

"My village background has been the main factor. I found that the village folk, particularly the farmers, are the true admirers of nature. But their admiration is rooted to the spot. I wanted people to be aware of the message that nature conveys for leading a meaningful life. Ultimately, it leads the admirers of nature to the spiritual domain as is evident in the Baramaha’.’’

You have exhibited paintings depicting objects of nature a number of times in the city as well as Jalandhar and Chandigarh. How far have you been successful in this venture?

"Together with S. Ranjodh Singh, industrialist-cum-photo artist of renown, I have held five exhibitions wherein all paintings reflected the varying moods of nature on our earth as well as in exotic lands. "

What is the next item on your mind as a lover of the art of photography?

"Now I want to produce a photo-album depicting all aspects of our daily prayer, known as ‘Ardas’."

— N.S. Tasneem