Vivek school to go on air
G. S. Paul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14
“Rocking School Ka Rocking Station, “ Hila Dega Sara Nation”; “Campus Calling”, “Fly High with Vivek High”. These are some of the slogans keeping Sector 38 Vivek High School students busy these days at the anvil of their new venture - community radio. It’s to be launched soon at 50 watts frequency module (FM) of 90.4.

The Vivek High School will be a ‘pioneer’ in bringing the community radio to the city. The channel is being successfully run on a trial basis. Initially, the programmes will be broadcast in two sessions, from 6 am to 9 am, and 6 pm to 9 pm.

The main focus will be on career counselling, interactive education programmes and talk shows. Famous radio jockey Hardeep Chandpuri has been engaged as consultant for this news assignment.

Principal Daman Dugal views this project as an instrument in bringing the community of students, teachers and parents together.

“There will be a healthy mix of infotainment. We will invite people from all walks of life for chat shows. The programmes will be in English, Hindi and Punjabi,” informed Deepinder Khera, a teacher .

Dr Parminder Duggal, in charge of the project, described it as a medium to explore leadership qualities aimed at bringing about social development and cultural awareness. The children are understandably excited. As many as 800 to 900 of them, helped by teachers, are working hard to make the project a hit. Danish Mehta says, “This FM project is a route to fame. I am no longer hesitant to hold a mike.”

Mehakdeep Kaur of Class VIII is keen to be heard by the world and become famous.

“My creative talent will grow and so will my confidence,” says Manleen Kaur of Class VIII. “This will be a real platform for share our experiences and feelings,” says Sukhbir of Class X.

“It will be of great help in improving our communication skills,” chips in Misha of Class VII. Gagandeep Singh seems impressed by the sophisticated equipment he will get a chance to handle.

AIEEE Counselling
PEC electronics engg cut-off rank 2,258
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14
The ongoing joint AIEEE counselling at Panjab University for admissions to BE and BArch courses at Punjab Engineering College, department of chemical engineering, Panjab University, UIET, CCET and SSG College of Engineering and Panjab University Regional Centre, Hoshiarpur, today entered its third day. The counselling was held for the general category. To facilitate the admission process, all five institutes have set up their help desks at the venue outside the main hall. Also, a projector has also been installed at the venue to update the admission seekers with the tally of seats available at each institute.

In the open category at PEC, the last rank to be admitted in electronics engineering was 2,258. In computer science, the last rank was 1,373, in IT it was 2,778 and in mechanical, it was 4,154. The last rank in electrical was 5,083, in production engineering, it was 6,568, in aeronautical, it was 5,139, in civil, it was 7,196 and in metallurgy, it was 9,784 rank. In the UT category, in electronics engineering, the last rank to be admitted was 4,136, in computer science, it was 2,052, in IT, it was 5,196. While mechanical closed at 6,496, the electrical closed at 7,881, production at 11,714, aeronautical engineering at 11,961 and civil closed at 11,785. All seats in metallurgy were left vacant. At the CCET, in the open category, four out of six seats were filled in electronics. In computer science, the last rank admitted was 10,158. Out of the three seats in mechanical, two were lying vacant and seats in civil were also vacant. In the UT pool, all 38 seats in electronics, 38 in computer science, 12 in mechanical, and 12 in civil were left unfilled.

At UIET, in computer engineering, the last rank admitted was 11,095. In IT, only eight out of 39 seats were filled while all seats in mechanical remained vacant. In biotechnology, all 39 seats were lying vacant. The last rank admitted in E and EC was 11,836. In the electrical branch, only two out of 39 seats were filled.

In chemical engineering, only two out of 40 seats were filled and in food technology, all 12 seats were lying vacant. At SSG College, Hoshiarpur, in the all-India category, all 39 seats in each branch, including computer science, mechanical, EC and communication and electrical remained unfilled.

Counselling schedule
Tribune News Service

US educationists interact with villagers

Chandigarh, July 14
A 15-member team of US educationists today visited Kot, a village in Ramgarh (Haryana), on a two-week international faculty development seminar. They went to the primary health centre and temple and spent a couple of hours talking to local residents, particularly women and children. Their trip to Kot village was facilitated by Dr Vijay Kumar, executive director of the SWACH (Society for the Welfare of Women and Children) Foundation, an NGO actively involved in social work in that area.

Later, the delegates interacted with senior government officials, R.K. Sharma and Gurpreet Deol over lunch.

The visiting team was led by Dr Sharada Nayak, former director, USEFI (United States Educational Foundation in India, New Delhi). Accompanying them was Kelly Sullivan, manager, international studies programme, Council for International Educational Exchange. — TNS

Class XI admissions conclude
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14
As many as 729 students were enrolled on the 10th and the last day of counselling for Class XI admissions at GMSSS-23, here, today.

According to J.S. Basota, spokesperson of the department, few seats in arts are still vacant at schools in the rural areas, including the ones at Kuda Lahora (23), Behlana(52) and Mani Majra Town (110). In addition, one seat is still vacant at GGSSS-20.

While eight seats in English stenography are still lying vacant at Mani Majra Complex, in Hindi stenography, 18 seats are available at Karsan.

Appointed

Chandigarh, July 14
Dr V.K. Walia, reader, department of zoology, Panjab University, has been appointed cultural co-ordinator up to May 31, 2008. He has been contributing to the cultural affairs on the campus since 1973 and has also represented the university at the inter-university youth festival held at Jaipur. — TNS

Six Days To Go
Potter frenzy palpable, already
Gayatri Rajwade
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 14
What is the Deathly Hallows? Author J.K. Rowling will not tell simply because the story of this final volume in the Potter saga will be revealed. But with the magic wand about to be waved in combat with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the most anticipated battle between good and evil, “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows” is already a best-seller.

And with six days to go for its release, no-one is in the mood to miss history being made. Preeti Khanna (26) who works with a computing firm in Mohali has already taken the day off on Saturday to sit and read the book over the weekend.

“There is no way that I am going to work. With the whole world starting to read the book on that day, I will not risk anyone telling me what happens in the end,” she says.

What is more, bookstores around the city are ready for the onslaught. Everyone is opening shop at 6 am, which is when the books hit the stands, so to speak.

“Last year we had people lining up well before the store opened. This year we are ready,” smiles Ajay Arora of Capital Book Depot, Sector 17.

Ditto for Browser Library and Bookstore in Sector 8, who are going to start handing over the first copies just as soon as they get them from the local distributors.

And just like the end of the book, which is a closely guarded secret, even the events planned around the release of the book are being zealously protected.

The British Library, Sector 9, has lots of fun stuff planned, “but all in good time”, laughs manager Bipin Kumar.

Six days to go and the Potter frenzy is already under way.

A treat for music lovers
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 14
The city music lovers were treated to a divine spell of Hindustani classical music by Pune-based vocalist Upendra Bhatt at a special musical soiree organised by Pracheen Kala Kendra at its auditorium here today. The captivating concert was marked by profound proficiency in "khayal gayaki", brilliant exposition of ragas, elegant artistry in display of ‘taans’ and a dexterous rendering of 'layakari'. Bhatt owed acquiring these skills under the tutelage of his great guru Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Bhatt commenced the concert with a short alaap before presenting the bara khayal "Kahe sakhi kaise ke kariye...” in the common but appealing raga Yaman set to vilambit ek tala. In the reposeful and elaborate alaap, in which he delved deep into the khairj, atypical attribute of his Kirana gharana, Bhatt established his supremacy before delineating the badhat, sargams and bol-taans in virile but refreshingly deployed variations. The perceived phrasings adorned with melodic spell rendition embellished the chhota khayal composition "Guru sang rakho emaan". Bhatt displayed his versatility bringing alive the pathos-laced romance in a thumri as also the folk fervour and splendour of spring in "Fagwa Braj’ to a lofty applause. He delineated the serenity and spirituality of devotional bhajans before concluding the recital with raga Pilu-based bhajan "Jo bhaje Hari ko sada..." in raga Bhairavi.

Vinod Lele was on tabla, Narendra Nayak on harmonium while Pushpita Sen and Partha Sen provided support on taanpura. Kendra director M.L. Koser honoured the artistes.

Talent aplenty in region, says music director
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 14
With the advent of many TV channels and talent-hunt shows, a large number of youngsters seeking a career in Bollywood are coming forth to try their luck, says Bollywood music composer Annuj Kappoo, son of the legendary film actor Satyen Kappoo. Annuj is in town to watch a competition of junior singers being held tomorrow at Museum Art Gallery under the aegis of the Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Annuj, who has directed a number of musical TV shows like Close-up Antakshri, Sa Re Ga Ma and the latest Star Voice of India, reiterated that there was enough talent in this region. “As many as 50 artistes from the region had participated and won positions in our Sa Re Ga Ma and other programmes,” added Kappoo.

Since the knowledge and expertise of singing is not sufficient nowadays and an artiste is also required to be a versatile actor, anchor and stage performer. Keeping this in mind, we have come up with a noble venture of establishing an academy, Sa Re Gaa Ma Pa Dha Ni Saa, under the direction and chairmanship of Gajendrra Singh, man behind many successful talent shows, reveals Kappoo.

“The academy was formally launched at Spanish Villa, Jogeshwari, Mumbai, and the classes will commence from August next. It has the patronage of stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Girija Devi, Jagjit Singh, Ghulam Ali, judges of Star Voice of India, classical maestros Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Pandit Askaran Sharma. Anand Sharma and myself will groom artistes in the light music category,” added Kappoo.