EDUCATION

Seminar on ‘Marginality in Modern India’ ends
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16
The structures of discrimination and exclusion, which constitute the multi-layered marginality of the Indian Muslims cannot be addressed by merely allocating more economic resources to the community. In order to effectively deal with the problems of the Muslims, the politicians must first look into these mechanisms of complicity of the state apparatus so as to make them feel that their life and property was secure in this country,” said Dr Bhagwan Josh, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, during the concluding day of the national seminar on "Meanings of Marginality in Modern India" organised by the Department of Political Science, Panjab University today.

Speaking on ‘Nehru, constitution and the making of Muslim marginality’, Dr Josh pointed out that in his writings Nehru continued to harp on ‘composite country’ and ‘composite state’. “But he never felt the need to clarify these concepts. In practice Nehru implemented the notion of ‘composite culture’ in a way which went against the very idea of common citizenship and maintained the pre-partitioned conception of communities being fundamentally different from each other,” he said.

He said that it should have been logical that a leader like him insist on legislating a uniform civil code for all the Indian women irrespective of their caste and religious belonging. “The exclusivist idea of a Hindu code bill should have alerted if not alarmed him to its future consequences. In the aftermath of partition here was an opportunity for him to implement his ideological conviction for which he had fought so hard during his negotiations with Jinnah and Muslim league. This single act of statesmanship of passing the uniform civil code on his part would have considerably neutralised some of the deep seated anger and resentment against the Muslims of this country,’ he said.

The other speakers included Yogendra Yadav, Debi Chatterjee, Shashi Joshi, Kamlesh Mohan, A.S. Narang, V. SriRanjani, Birendra P. Singh and Surinder S. Jodhka. Yogendra Yadav posed what he called the central paradox of 21st century India, which is the coexistence of persistent poverty with democracy. He said that Indian democracy had the potential but institutions and policies did not translate this into practice.

Many speakers spoke about the experiences of religious communities and dalits in India. The deliberations in the seminar pointed towards what should be the future agenda of research and policy making.

NIPER celebrates foundation day
Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 16
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, celebrated its foundation day on Thursday. Prof D. Balasubramanian, Director of Research, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad delivered the Foundation Day Lecture, “From Bench to Bedside: Translating Basic Research Findings into improving Health”, to mark the occasion.

Speaking on medical research, he outlined the steps the government has taken in the area of drug discovery and emphasised on medical health care.

Dr Nitya Nand, former Director, CDRI, Lucknow, presided over the function. In his presidential remarks he stressed upon the multi-disciplinary approach to carry out pharmaceutical research.

Director of NIPER, Prof P. Rama Rao presented the welcome address and took the distinguished gathering comprising scientists, faculty and students on a trip down the memory lane by presenting a slide show which include the progress report of the year 2006-07 and photographs showing the growth of the institute and highlighted the collaborations with industries and achievements.

Prizes were distributed for various quiz competition organised during the function involving students, staff and faculty of NIPER.

Vivek High School branch in Mohali soon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16
With the mission to disseminate value-based education, knowledge and a strive for excellence, Vivek High School, Chandigarh, in collaboration with Riverdale Preparatory School Society of the Shri Gurudev Group, is coming up with a new branch in Sector 70, Mohali, from this academic session with pre-primary and primary sections.

The infrastructure for the school, including its building, is being provided by Riverdale Preparatory School Society. The management and functioning of the school rests with Vivek High School-38.

The new school slated to commence from the coming academic session, will be the fruition of the vision of its founding father late Sardar Bhagwant Singh.

The school makes a commitment to draw out the potential and talents inherent in every child.

To execute its philosophy and value-based system of education, the emphasis will be on a low student-teacher ratio, the continuous striving for excellence by the students, leading to their growth and advancement in all facets of their personality.

Saupins exhibit impressive craft
Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 16
Saupins School here wore a festive look on the occasion of their annual art, craft and science exhibition. Multi-coloured sarees and beautiful attractive mobiles and kites were the backdrop of the exhibition organised by the students of Classes I to VII.

The science exhibition by the seniors was impressive. Much talked about was Priya Soni’s model of space probe, Arshpreet’s star, Sahil Bansal’s electromagnet and water clock by Maninder and Ankita.

CULTURE

Nehru Yuva Kendra to take out ‘historic rally’
UT unit to pick up 252 youths
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 16
Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), here, is commemorating the 150 years of the first war of India’s independence of 1857. In this context multifarious programmes are being implemented by the NYK- affiliated youth clubs in villages. The sangathan resolve to give opportunities to 252 youths of Chandigarh to participate in a ‘Historic Rally’ to be organised from May 7 to 11 at Lal Quila, New Delhi. The participation in the rally will be once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 50,000 youths selected from all over the country.

The Nehru Yuva Kendra, Chandigarh, has planned to organise a number of programmes and activates like the Jung-E-Azadi programme in all villages of the UT, Chandigarh, in association with the village-level youth clubs. The major programmes are slogan writing on village walls, cultural programmes, sports meet, nukkar natak, cycle rally, candle march, pledge taking and signature campaign, meeting with freedom fighters, organisation of exhibitions and activities like painting and poster making, essay competition and debate competition will be conducted at the school level.

These activities will be organised during the month of March - April 2007, and finally 252 youth volunteers will be reaching at the Meerut rally on May 5, 2007.