Chandigarh, January 20
Prof S.K. Kulkarni, the senior-most professor of the Panjab University, will be the new Dean University Instructions. Prof Kulkarni’s name was given the nod by the university syndicate members today. The term of the current DUI, Prof Veer Singh, ends on January 31.

The syndics also decided to refer to Justice H.S. Brar a report by Mr Varinder Kumar on the drawing up of a time table for the evening studies department. The report was prepared to look into a demand made by Prof Vijay Chopra, a faculty member of the department, that an entire session be declared “zero” session since the department was not following the UGC norms in terms of its time table and working days. Prof Chopra, claiming to be the convener of the time table committee, had come up with a new time table for the department.

Prof Kumar’s report had however found that Mr Chopra was not a member of the academic committee of the department. “As a result, he could not have been the member, much less the convener of the time table making sub-committee. The very formation of the time table making sub-committee as part of the administrative committee is illegal and needs to be brought to the notice of all concerned,” stated the report.

The syndicate has recommended that the entire matter be forwarded to Justice Brar to be looked into,” said the VC Prof R.C. Sobti adding that a consent from Justice Brar first will be sought.

Syndicate members once again could not take a final decision regarding the introduction of Environment Education as a compulsory subject for under graduate classes. A committee, heeded by the DUI, had recommended the introduction of the subject from the coming session. Members from the colleges opposed the introduction of the course as a compulsory subject and it was decided that a committee constituted from within the syndicate members take a final view of the matter and report it to the VC.

Syndicate members also granted three per cent grace marks to Ms Sunita Dogra, a physically challenged student, who wanted admission to MPhil but could not get it as she had only 42 per cent marks in MA and needed 45 per cent marks to apply for admission into MPhil. While allowing her the relaxation, the syndicate recommended the constitution of a committee to formulate guidelines for such cases for future reference.

The reduction of fee charged by the university from jail inmates who were pursuing its courses, was rejected by syndicate members. It was felt that since the Department of Welfare paid for the courses, there was no point in reducing the fee.

Chandigarh: The Asian Education Society (AES), in association with the Smriti Netcom, launched its first IT training programme at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here, on Saturday.

Cisco-Systems awardee Smriti Netcom has set up a computer lab in the school where Microsoft and Cisco-certified engineers shall train students. — TNS

Chandigarh, January 20
Mr Sanjeev Arora, a fine arts teacher at the Government Model High School, Sector 20-D, here, was adjudged first in the slogan writing contest and second in the collage-making contest in the teachers category at the ‘Competition Master Library Related Competition-2006’, a state-level contest organised by the Chandigarh Librarians Association. Ms Raji P Shrivastava, Joint Secretary, Finance-cum-DPI (Colleges), Chandigarh Administration, presented the award yesterday.

Dr Harjit Kaur Sandhu, teacher of Punjabi at the Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, here bagged the first prize in the essay writing competition. The topic was “Role of parents in promoting the use of libraries among children”.

Chandigarh, January 20
A Punjabi music album “Giddha Pa Nikkiye” was released by Gaurav Trehan of Catrack Entertainment Music company at the Chandigarh Press Club here on Friday.

It is maiden venture of Inder Mangat as a lyricist, singer and music composer.

Chandigarh, January 20
The lyrical intensity of sufiana, folk and ghazal found its true expression in the melodic renditions of young maestro, Manak Ali, at the Plaza Carnival, here today. The largely-attended musical bonanza is a weekly feature of the Society for Chandigarh Carnival with the Tribune Group of Newspapers as the media sponsor.

Opening with a salutation to the mysticism of Shah Hussain, the young singer Manak Ali with vocal support from Salim Khan, created a spell with the rendition of 'Naal Sajna de Rahiyo..' He displayed his virtuosity doling out 'saregamas' to embellish the sufiana qalaam. Sensing the mood and occasion, Manak paid a tribute to the beauty of the 'city' through a crisp romantic spell of 'Tumhaare shehar ka mausam badaa suhan lagge, Ikk shaam chura lun gar bura na lage..'.

He then presented 'Aah lai saamb lei..' in sufi style from his album. 'Mehram', which was followed by a classic from the Sufi mystic, Bulle Shah. Co-vocalist Salim on the harmonium, Tarlochan on the keyboard and Shamshad Ali on the tabla provided perfect accompaniment. Carnival president, Mrs Manki Deep, honoured the artists.

Chandigarh, January 20
"Haadson se mujhe jisne bachaya hoga, Voh meri maa ki duaaon ka hi sya hoga". This couplet by Urdu poet Shams Tabrezi is seemingly the summation of the thematic essence of a cultural bonanza, 'Maat Pita Sanmaan Divas', organised by Dr Khera's Chandigarh Coaching Centre at the Tagore theatre, here today. As the title of the four-hour programme suggests, all the presentations were laced with the ethical content and didactic messages on parent-progeny relationships as a tribute to parenthood. Prof R.C. Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, was the chief guest.

After the inaugural address by Dr Vinod Khera, the centre director, the programme commenced with a salutation to motherhood by Chanda through the soulful song 'Maa Pyari maa'. The students staged a short play: 'Zinda hai Aurangjeb', depicting the last repentant days of the tyrant emperor who tortured his father and killed his own brothers.

The sentiment of love for parents found further expression in a song 'Shravan Kumar'. While the musical items were well-presented, the dramatics lacked professional competence.