Chandigarh, June 23
Members of the Substitute Computer Union, Punjab, today threatened to gherao the state education minister in case their demands are not fulfilled by the state government.

Baljinder Singh, president of the union, said they would start a relay fast and the state government would be responsible for its consequences.

Meanwhile, he said their protest had entered into 181th day today.

Panchkula, June 23
A seminar on “Parenting Children and Teenagers” was organised on Smart Mind’s campus here today. While addressing parents, a renowned psychologist Dr Vidhu Mohan, said there were no good or bad children but only good or bad parents and teachers.

While concluding a three-week workshop on “Creativity and Film-Making Process”, Dr Mohan said instead of suppressing and scolding children, parents should make an effort to give them recognition and respect.

While answering parents’ questions, Dr Mohan highlighted that parents should communicate with their children regularly so that they could understand their emotions and problems properly. “As parents, we should take active interest in our children and not neglect them. Most of the parents are only concerned in “well-being clinic” laying emphasis on the physical aspect of the child’s development and totally ignoring the mental growth. The parents should also educate their children towards the physiological changes in their bodies during the adolescent year. Instead of avoiding these issues, the matter should be dealt openly,” she explained.

Dr Mohan said a mother was the first guru of the child and the socialisation process began from her. While stating that parents should not give in to all demands of their kids and learn to say no to them, she suggested that autonomy should be given to the children towards making their own choices.

While concluding the session, Dr Mohan opined that parenthood was a gift from nature, but parenting is a skill and sessions like this were very helpful in creating awareness amongst parents. The programme ended with distribution of certificates for the Smart Mind’s first batch of personality-grooming students. The children of creativity and film-making workshop also got participation certificates from Dr Mohan.

Chandigarh, June 23
The last day for submission of admission forms in various city colleges saw students flocking the campuses. Some of them were even seen finding last-minute details and making changes in their respective forms. The figures, till now, reveal that BCA, BCom and BBA are the most sought-after courses.

While MCM DAV College, Sector 36, received around 2,000 forms for 140 seats in BCom and 700 forms for 40 seats in BCA while GGDSD College, Sector 32, where BCom is the most preferred course, received around 2,000 forms for BCom and 750 forms for 40 seats in BCA. Meanwhile, in DAV College, Sector 10, for 210 seats in BCom, around 2,000 forms have been submitted. The college has also received 800 forms for 40 seats in BCA and 950 forms for BBA.

In Guru Gobind Singh College for women, Sector 26, for 140 seats in BCom, 225 forms have been received while for 40 seats in BCA, 143 forms have been received. Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, also received 600 forms for 210 seats in BCom.

Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, received the least number of forms. For 140 seats in BCom, 81 forms were received whereas for 40 seats in BCA, 192 forms were received.

At Government College for Girls, Sector 11, 1,250 forms for 140 seats of BCom were received while for 40 seats in BCA, 950 forms were received. Government College, Sector 11, received 1,029 forms for BCom, 740 forms for BBA and 858 forms for BCA.

In Government College, Sector 46, students submitted 950 forms for BCom and 1,085 for BCA. In the newly launched Government College of Commerce and Business Administration, Sector 19, 1,316 forms were received for BCom and 643 for BBA. Similarly, in Government College for Girls, Sector 42, more than 700 forms were received against 140 seats in BCom and around 500 forms were received in BCA.

Also due to non-declaration of some results, GGDSD College has shifted the last date for submission to June 29. For students seeking admission in MBE, MSc (bio-informatics) and MSc (biotech), the merit list will be displayed on June 30. For BCom, BBA, BCA, BSc (biotech), BSc (bio informatics), MCom and MSc (IT), the last date for submission of forms is June 26 and the merit list will be displayed on June 28. — TNS

Panchkula, June 23
The Sursangam Cultural Society, comprising only of medics, presented 'Sursangam-07', their 11th grand musical bonanza, here at the Yavanika open-air theatre.

The amateur doctor-singers administered a large dose of entertainment to the vast assemblage in celebration of World Music Day.

After the 'Ganesh Vandana', wherein the artistes donned traditional costumes, Dr Pardeep Bhardwaj, a specialist on allergies, gave a majestic start to the musical soiree. Along with co-singer Rekha, Pardeep sang 'Inteha Ho Gayi', before doling out more numbers like 'Gore Rang Pe and Dekha Na Hai Re’. Laparoscopic surgeon Dr Ravi Sharma presented 'Ai Mere Vatan Ke and Ek Chatur Naar. Doctors Rozy Aneja and Rekha teamed up for a lilting number, ‘Hazurewala’.

Well-known surgeon and guitarist Dr Rupka Das articulated melody on the Spanish guitar, ably supported by Vipin on the tabla and Raj on the keyboard.

The artistes were selected after a talent hunt. Jainendra Singh of AIR Lucknow conducted the show.

Chandigarh, June 23
The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi organised a poetry symposium titled 'Kavita Bela' at their conference hall here today. After a mundane beginning, the programme gained a refined literary temper and elegance as Rattan Singh Dhillon touched the poignant issues of gender inequality and the heinous Nithari killings.

Bureaucrat poetess Usha Sharma delved deep into the internal conflicts pitted against external pressures in life while her compatriot Hukam Singh Rana captured the prevailing hypocrisy of ideals and ethics to satisfy personal egos. He depicted life engrossed in worldly pursuits as 'Halaat huye hain haavi kuchh iss terah, ke mudhat huyi hai khud se batein kiye huye'. However, the symposium attained an inevitable climax with an acclaimed poet S.V. Kapil spelling poetic elegance in tarannum ‘Dhoop ke aangan mein samandar ka basera hoga’.

'Tameer' Chandigarhi was more articulate on the technical aspects of poetry like prosody and enunciated rich Urdu ornate poetry. Young poetess Robina Shabnam covered social issues while the oldest poet Talib Shimlavi talked of romanticism. Besides, Kamaljit Bhathal, Lekh Raj Parwana, Ratneev, H.S. Kaler, Navin Kamal, Satyapal Sewhgal, Taslib Shimlavi, Rupa Saba, Robina Shabnam, S.S. Bhatti and B.K. Pannu Parwaz read out more verses.

The programme concluded with a didactic note from akademi chairperson Dr Naresh ‘Husan iss daur mein jadoo nahin, ayyari hai, Jis par bhi marna hai soch samjh ke marna’.

Udai Kumar, editor, Amar Ujala, was the chief guest. Neetu Latant compered the programme and Vikram Viveki proposed a vote of thanks.

Chandigarh, June 23
Giving a boost to “My Chandigarh Campaign”, UT administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) today said the process had been initiated to prepare a theme song for the city, keeping in view its unique feature and distinctive place in the country.

He said a book, “Moods of Sukhna”, was also being brought out soon.

He was addressing a gathering of academia and professionals in the field of art and photography at a prize distribution function of the photography competition on “Chandigarh in April” at Museum and Art Gallery today.

In his welcome address, Museum and Art Gallery director V.N. Singh elaborated the theme of the exhibition.

He said 115 entries by 35 professionals and amateurs were selected for competition and put on display.

In amateur photographers’ category, Randeep Singh won first prize, Bhim Malhotra and Dr Shubh Mohan shared second prize and Dr Sandeep S. Chhatwal and Sanjeev Kumar Sharma shared third prize.

Besides, Satya Saroj, Dr V.D. Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Rupinder Singh, Sarvesh Kumar and Anil Kumar were given consolation prizes.

In professionals’ category, no photography work was selected for first prize whereas Surinder M. Dhami got second prize, Jai Pal Singh and Kamleshwar Singh shared third prize.