Chandigarh, August 17
It is a classic case of biting off more than the university can chew. In protest against the lack of facilities, faculty and infrastructure provided at the new Panjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana, students of the MBA programme squatted outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office on campus for two days in a row.

While classes under the programme, introduced this academic year, began on August 6, problems have surfaced already.

It all began when a decision was taken to open an extension centre in Ludhiana. The vice-chancellor was not completely in unison with the decision, say sources, but having been assured by the department that they were ready, it was initiated.

Christened UBS Ludhiana, the programme began with 49 students.

“At the time of admissions we were assured of being provided with all facilities identical to those offered on the university campus. But we soon found out that this was not the case,” says a student.

For one, the nomenclature was changed from UBS to UIMS (University Institute of Management Studies), which the students say is unfair because it is the reputation of UBS Chandigarh that has drawn them to the course in the first place.

Also, the details of where the classes would be held in Ludhiana were not given till admissions were completed and the fee (around Rs 1.5 lakh per student) submitted.

Once the course began, they realised that the facilities were negligible.

A single room with no multimedia support is where the classes are held. “Also, none of the teachers is qualified enough,” say the students and as of now there are three teachers for seven courses.

The library is inadequate for the number of students in the course, especially since the prescribed texts are very expensive and not all can be bought, the students elucidate.

What has really bothered them is that the centralised placement facilities offered at the time of admissions is not applicable to the centre at Ludhiana.

However, the students stress that they do not want anything special, just the same level of interaction and exposure as the students at UBS Chandigarh so that they can also compete at the same level.

Vice-Chancellor Prof R.C. Sobti has decided to take the matter up immediately and has assured the students of sorting out all issues by the beginning of the next session.

Also to facilitate the exposure for students, they will be brought here for any special programme being conducted on campus, at the department.

Furthermore, he says posts for faculty are being advertised within the next few days and till more teachers come in, a faculty member will be sent to the centre in Ludhiana from the department on campus.

Also, in a bid to enhance the library facilities, a whole set of books from the library here are being sent to Ludhiana.

However, the question remains as to whether in the process of reaching out, basic infrastructure should be compromised while beginning a new course.

Chandigarh, August 17
The student protest at the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) at Panjab University yesterday resulted in the vice-chancellor acting with his customary aplomb to resolve the problem at hand.

While he has once again promised to look into the problems that seem to be besieging the department, he sought to clarify that the issue of lack of teaching faculty would be taken up on a war footing. Addressing the problems that the students had listed yesterday, he said provisions for guest faculty had been made and a letter issued to this effect in July. He expressed his surprise that the letter had not reached the department and said the department could facilitate this immediately for the students.

He also elaborated that those teachers who had been appointed through walk-in interviews had already joined and the others would be selected through the formal procedure for which interviews had been fixed on August 24.

With regard to the canteen facility, the VC said the contract had already been given and the contractor had been asked to start immediately. The VC also initiated a cleanliness drive today at the department.

Interestingly, today was a day for announcements. The VC has appointed the DSW for women. Dr Paramjit Tewari from the Department of zoology will take charge and has also been given the additional responsibility of dean alumni until such time someone is appointed.

The vice-chancellor has also appointed R.K. Gupta from the Department of correspondence studies as officiating FDO.

Chandigarh, August 17
The Chandigarh Education Department has decided to keep last two periods of Classes XI and XII (science) students reserved for practical, tutorials or other activities like library games and general studies etc, here, today.

The attendance for practical shall be compulsory but would be optional for other activities. During these periods, the students can discuss hard-spots, difficulties, points of competitive examination or for individualised guidance, would be enable them to directly contact the teachers who would be specially instructed to be present in the classrooms.

The classes for science students will start at 8.00 a.m. sharp (without prayer and zero period). The timetable and syllabus would be adjusted/completed accordingly and it would be their duty to ensure the availability of computers for the science students.

“It was felt that as science students of class XI and XII are under pressure because of the competitive-career examinations and regular schooling for CBSE exams as the pattern of question papers in these examinations are at variance”, added the DPI (S). — TNS

Mohali, August 17
Academic session of Aryans Business School, was inaugurated today at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sector 31, Chandigarh. P.K. Verma, regional director, PHDCCI, chief guest gave his inaugural address to MBA students. Inaugural ceremony was presided over by Anshu Kataria, chairman, ABS. Prof S. P. Singh, mentor, ABS and Dr. S.V. Malhotra, director, ABS also addressed the students.

Speaking during ceremony P.K. Verma, regional director, PHDCCI enlightened the students about the platform for becoming successful and effective managers. He also said the Indian industry requires large number of MBA's in the professional set up of the country. He said the demand for professional and young upcoming managers has increased manifold. With the coming up of professional areas in the Indian industry, the demand for management professionals is still to rise further.

Mohali, August 17
A short-term orientation course on effective teaching methodology began at Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and Technology (SUSCET) today.

With a host of educationists from diverse backgrounds participating in the programme, it is being conducted by the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) Chandigarh. It is aimed at grooming the faculty members of the institute with the latest and most advanced developments in teaching techniques being witnessed worldwide.

Professor, Department of Education and Educational Training, NITTTR, Dr H.K. Gill was the chief guest for the inaugural function, which saw Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu (chairman SUSCET), Gurlabh Singh (general secretary SUSCET), Dr Navjot Singh Dhaliwal (member of SUSCET management committee) and Dr D.S. Hira (director SUSCET), gracing the event.

Dean, Academic Affairs, SUSCET, Dr Geetika Thapar welcomed the guests and participants and said the short term course would focus on improving skill sets. She said 25 faculty members of the institute have been sponsored for the programme.

Chandigarh, August 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday adjourned the hearing on a petition seeking a stay on the auction of commercial sites as well as residential plots by GMADA on August 21.

The petitioner, Punjab Housing Development Board Work Charged Employees’ Union, Mohali, sought the quashing of the GMADA order announcing the said auctions. A public notice for the auctions had been issued on August 4.

The petitioner also sought that the development authority be directed to not transfer or alienate the properties of PUDA in any manner till the final decision by the court on related writs. The next hearing is on August 21. 

Chandigarh, August 17
The hearing on the case titled ‘Court on its own motion vs UT adminstration’ was adjourned to August 24 following UT counsel’s plea that he needed time to seek instructions on the issue as to what action was contemplated against the erring news-report in view of the affidavits filed by adviser to UT administrator Lalit Sharma and UT’s deputy commissioner R.K. Rao.The news-item had appeared in an English daily on May 28 alleging “clash between the adviser and the DC over order of restoration of some properties or sites”.

Justice Ranjit Singh, on June 7, had expressed the view that the matter needed to be taken notice of on the judicial side and might require adjudication “to avoid loss of crores of rupees to the public exchequer”. On June 8, a Division Bench, comprising Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Pritam Pal, had issued a notice to Lalit Sharma and R.K. Rao for July 3 asking them to file their affidavits as to why the matter be not entrusted to the CBI for investigation. In the meantime, the restoration of disputed plots and sites to original allottees had been stayed.

On July 3, the affidavit filed by Lalit Sharma and R.K. Roy was taken on record by the high court. The next hearing is on August 24.

Chandigarh, August 17
Theatre, to Mohan Maharishi, is the bridge between illusion and reality, the seen and unseen. No wonder his plays illuminate the hitherto hidden alleyways of human imagination and endeavour, where stories of struggle, passion, triumph and tragedy are abound, waiting to be told.

“Dear Bapu” is one such story, born out of Maharishi’s urge to revisit India’s freedom struggle from the perspective of men who shaped it. Based on 22 unedited letters, exchanged in those times between Gandhi and Nehru, and brought to life by Kamla Choudhary of the Vikram Sarabhai Foundation, the subject posed itself as a challenge to the thespian.

In Chandigarh today to stage the play at the invitation of the Durga Das Foundation and The Tribune, Maharishi said: “Going into other disciplines has always helped me get new themes for theatre. And here was one such theme, hidden in the most important letters ever written in history - letters that highlight the pressing developmental issues of those times. The most difficult aspect of the play was to put the exchanges between Gandhi and Nehru into perspective and evoke the period in all its might.”

To do the needful, Maharishi handpicked Bhaskar Ghose, Sunit Tandon and Sabina Mehta, actors of eminence, who readily accepted the offers.

To Ghose, who portrays Gandhi’s part, the play, truly, is a celebration of India’s freedom. “It is, after all, about the interactions between two great men whose ideas shaped India as we see it today. The play also highlights the deep differences of opinion on certain issues that existed between Gandhi and Nehru, and extreme personal affections between them,” said Ghose, the bureaucrat whose contribution to Indian theatre is significant.

These days, he is directing a lot of English plays written by Indian playwrights, particularly Poily Sengupta from South India. As part of Yatrik, a Delhi-based group, Ghose is also busy essaying meaningful roles but his latest is the most special.

“It brings alive the intense love Gandhi and Nehru shared. Gandhi’s letter to Nehru in the wake of Indira’s marriage to Feroze Gandhi is particularly striking, as a proof of his affections for the family. The marriage had caused significant heartburn as Feroze was not a Brahmin,” Ghose adds.

The play is also very well-researched, courtesy Maharishi and Karuna Harinarayan of the JNU. “Missing links had to be dug out to ensure proper script construction. Vision of the two men had to be kept intact and yet translated in theatrical terms. The process was certainly tough,” says Maharishi, whose latest work “Vidyotman” has fetched rave reviews.

So has “Dear Bapu”, generously hailed for its aesthetic employment of archival material and audiovisual media for the narration of a powerful tale of political reality. The play’s greatest strength, however, lies in the fact that its actors never attempt to impersonate the characters. In Maharishi words: “I was clear I didn’t want Roshan Seth for Nehru’s role. I wanted Sunit Tandon, who could simply play the character without ‘becoming’ one.”

Chandigarh, August 17
Rarely the exhibited works of any artists in the exhibition are subject to critical scrutiny by connoisseurs and openly debated at a seminar especially when these paintings merited for adulation by art aficionados and elicited rave reviews from the media. But the concluding ceremony of prodigious Tara Sharma's painting exhibition ‘Eclipsed-The brilliance of black’ proved more enlightening as the masters of the craft offered their considered views.

Eminent artist and secretary of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala akademy, Ravinder Sharma opined that the weeklong exhibition was a commendable effort that explored the innate beauty of the 'Black' colour with its hues.

Young virtuoso, Tara Sharma had deftly employed her vision, imagination, acquired skills, experience and natural aptitude to embellish all the fifty exhibits, which vied for viewer’s attention. He maintained that 'drawing' is the most suitable medium to express without loosing the originality of expression. Acting on her impulses, Tara had followed the spontaneous and subtle thoughts, emanating from her sensitive mind to translate them into visual art works. Drawing a caution between illusions and perceptions Tara had her true form in realm of darkness. 'A star is born on the horizons of aesthetic world' added Sharma.

The former principal of College of Architecture, I.J. Bakshi, said Tara, after achieving excellence in academics, architecture had added fourth dimension by maintaining her usual tradition of excellence in painting.

Chandigarh, August 17
Glitter, glamour and glitterati defined Abhivyakti- the fashion show held in the evening today showcasing the collections of students of Eidos Institute of fashion Technologies, Mohali.

The show put up by the young designers of the institute could give many designers a run for their money. Nonetheless, all the collections were a stunning display of design with an exuberance of style, innovation and creativity. Top models of the country walked down the ramp wearing the ensembles created and meticulously by the students under five different themes including air, water, space, earth and fire.

The opening round titled ‘space’ saw the models sashay down the ramp in spiritual ensembles in shades of browns, chocolates, orange with pearl work on them. The ‘earth’ round saw the magic of animal prints in the creations complete with accessories like feathers, frills etc.

The ‘Fire’ inspired round, showcased denim capris with intricately embroidered ends teamed with feisty tops in hues of red and yellow. The glitters and shine was the main theme of the round.

The round inspired with the element of water had the models walk down the ramp in aqua coloured, sea green outfits in georgettes. The models walked carrying various props, including water tubes, balls etc.

The show reached its peak with the final round collection that was inspired by the item girls of Bollywood. All the models wore outfits inspired by the item songs from the movies of 70’s in shades of deep pink, purple, blue and red.

The show ended with Riya Sen, the chief guest of the show posing with the faculty members, teachers and students of the institute on stage.