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Social sciences losing sheen among students
Chandigarh, August 31 A look at the number of applications received by the departments under the faculty of arts at Panjab University over the years reveals a definite
decline.
In the year 2000-01, MA-I philosophy received 213 applications for 35 seats. This year, the applications fell to 123. Similarly, the department of ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology has seen a fall of almost 100 applications in the same time frame. In 2000-01, for 40 seats in MA-I, it received 271 applications, this year it got 170. Similarly, Gandhian Studies with 20 seats got 192 applications 7 years ago. This year there were only 121 applications. While students argue that these subjects have no relevance in a competitive world, even courses like economics, considered “white-collared” till a few years ago, are receiving cold vibes. In 2000-01, for 115 seats for MA part-I, it got 480 applications. In 2007-08, for 120 seats, it got only 333 applications. Surprisingly, just last year it had received 452 applications. It is no wonder then that social scientists and professors are a worried lot. According to Dr B.S. Ghuman, dean, faculty of arts and chairman, department of public administration at PU, “It is a paradoxical situation. While market-driven professional courses like engineering technology, management, computer, law and pharmaceutical sciences are creating better job opportunities, the result is a loss of all-round comprehension and sensitivity that inter-disciplinary training brings with it,” he averred. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is increasing, he said, and the divide is only getting bigger, thanks to these market forces. He also puts it down to the changing face of social scientists. “We need to sharpen our methodological tools and take a multi-dimensional approach to make ourselves more relevant.” Even prof Manjit Singh, coordinator for the Ambedkar Centre and professor of sociology, explained that society today was moving towards a consumerism. “Everything is for consumption and is focused on individual achievement. To understand social systems and to appreciate them, you need social sciences,” he stated. Dr Ghuman suggests a five-pronged approach to revive the discipline because, “Handing of social problems needs new policy initiatives and the key lies in research within the social sciences.
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No poll date, yet ready for big day
Chandigarh, August 31 Today, the Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) raised their voice against non-availability of basic facilities like class rooms. Showing a unique face of protesting INSO activists along with some students of department of women studies held their classes
under the tree outside the department. They were remonstrating against the lack of infrastructure in their department along with INSO state unit president, Vikas Rathee. The campus president INSO, Deepak Hooda, pointed out that despite the statement made by the V-C that the University is not facing any financial crunch they said was unfortunate that even basic facilities were not provided in several departments to students. Earlier in the week, a delegation of NSUI led by Bhuwan Azad met the DSW professor, Naval Kishore, and submitted a memorandum for
installation of signal boosters for wi-fi internet connectivity in all the PU hostels. While yesterday it was PUSU activists who were in the thick of things when matters went awry at the counselling for the
MEd course. The PUSU president, Abhishek Puri, was then called who intervened and discussed the whole matter with the concerned authorities present. According to PUSU representatives, the authorities accepted their mistake and it was decided that the counselling for general category will be postponed.
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School kid expelled; parents livid
Chandigarh, August 31 The situation arose when Jagdeep, a student of Class XI, was told by the principal Karan Singh, in the morning that his name has been expelled from the school because of his mischievous activities. Two days back, Jagdeep was involved in a scuffle with his classmates, which resulted to a broken switchboard in the classroom. Taking cognisance of the act, the principal struck off his name from the students’ list. When his mother Manpreet came to see the principal in morning today, they landed up in heated arguments. “The principal started shouting at me and used unparliamentary language with me. He even threatened to call the police,” she alleged. I was worried because Jagdeep is having his exam tomorrow and he could not concentrate. On the other hand, principal denied all the allegations imposed by the student’s mother and told that he was expelled for his poor behaviour. “He broke the switchboard of the classroom and is usually involved in impish activities.” Later, on PTA members’ insistence, the principal agreed to re-admit the student with the assurance that the parents would repair the broken switchboard and the student would create no trouble in future. “I did this so that the child realises his fault. The principal also allowed the students take the examination tomorrow.”
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Talk on global warming
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 31 Professor Naval Kishore from the geology department was the chief guest and Sudarshan Singh Kanwar, deputy director-general, Geological Survey of India, (retd), was the guest of honour. Kanwar was a student of the same department in 1964. The talk was held by professor A.D. Ahluwalia, in charge of PU environment outreach. Four films on environmental issues were screened as were portions of Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. FRESHERS’ PARTY: University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) organised a freshers’ party at the University Auditorium, Panjab University, here on Friday. Professor R.S. Grewal, director of the institute, presided over the function. The lighting of the ceremonial lamp was followed by various cultural programmes. The highlight of the event was a ramp modelling and talent round, where Ishneet and Gautam were declared Miss and Mr Fresher of UILS, respectively. FAREWELL: Dr Vijay Gupta, director, Punjab Engineering College, was given a warm farewell after he was relieved from the post of director at the college on Thursday. He was given a farewell by PECOSA (Punjab Engineering College Old students association), followed by the Kalpana Chawla Memorial Foundation, comprising heads of departments, deans and functionaries of the institute. BLOOD DONATION: The blood donation society of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, organised a blood donation camp on Thursday. Students also staged a skit on the occasion to signify the importance of blood donation. A poster-making competition was also organised on the occasion. RETIRED: Dr A.N. Garg retired as the officiating principal of Government College, Sector 11, here on Thursday. “In my three-decade long teaching career, I have tried my level best to enhance academic standards”, Dr Garg said. RALLY: Around 300 students and 10 faculty members of Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, took out a rally to spread the message of a drugless society, here on Thursday. The rally, which was, flagged off by M.S. Bitta at the Beant Singh Memorial in Sector 42, was organised by the Anti-Terrorist Front. Students walked up to Phase II, Mohali, carrying placards and posters with slogans like “Say No to Drugs: Save’ the Nation” and “Say No to Drugs: Save Punjab”. FUNCTION: Dr Satinder Dhillon, principal Dev Samaj College of Education, retired on Thursday after 26 years of teaching. A retirement function was held at the college, which saw the presence of eminent educationists and members of the Dev Samaj family. Kumari Satyawati, chairperson of the college, appreciated the good work done by Dhillon and acknowledged her contribution to the college. The Dev Samaj management presented her with a citation and a lifetime-achievement award.
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Car rally marks SOPU’s anniversary
Chandigarh, August 31 The revelry began with a raucous car rally that took cars festooned with SOPU stickers all over the campus. This was followed by a cake-cutting ceremony after which Dayal Pratap Singh Randhawa who was SOPU’s first president in 1997, when the organisation was formed, took up the formal talk. Speaking of how the organisation has ‘walked the student’s talk’ in all these years he said it was the democratic right of students to be represented which had prompted them to take up this ‘cause’. “We have been asking for years now for representation of the governing bodies like the senate and academic council and want the authorities to once again hear us and give representation not just to us but also to the non-teaching staff just as
PUTA,” he explained. While the forthcoming manifesto and issues were discussed, it was the issue of 48 students (some with
SOPU) against whom a case under sections 107/150 of the CrPC has been registered by the police to allegedly prevent further violence which had them speaking vociferously. Protesting against what they claim to be harassment by the police they said there had been no incidents of violence after the August 2 incident at
Stu-C. Finally, Harpreet Singh Multani, president, spoke of SOPU’s demands for this year saying that they would emphasise on group medical insurance, demand for central university status and ventilation in buildings.
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10 seats for blind students in colleges
Chandigarh, August 31 A proposal was made to procure the brailler that would help the blind students. It took authorities two years to track down the dealer of the machine in Thiruvananthapuram. “We were told that is the only place where braillers are available in the country,” said Renu Oberoi, librarian of the college. Finally, two ‘Perkins braillers’ at Rs 19,000 were procured and a special corner called “Braille corner” was created in the college library. The corner also boasts a computer system. It features special Braille software, ‘JAWS’. Interestingly, the ‘talking’ software, priced at Rs 90, 000 was given to the college by Rahul. Not only has it helped the six blind students of the college but also encouraged others like them to opt for higher studies. “Now there are eight blind students and we encourage others also,” said Oberoi. “Earlier the students used to face difficulties in making notes. With braillers students are completely self-dependent and prepare their notes well in advance,” said Jaspal, another librarian. After the braillers, now the authorities are considering to buy a book scanner. When contacted Raji P Shrivastava, director higher education said, “ We propose to have ten seats separate over and above for blind students at Government College for Girls, Sector 11 and ten seats at the Government College, Sector 11 from next year with the consensus of the university authorities. Also what ever equipment or books is required for the blind students, we are ready to provide them with”.
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Buses for students sought
Chandigarh, August 31 In a memorandum, INSO leaders asked the Chandigarh Administration to immediately start buses for the students coming in from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali on the same pattern as that in Delhi. “When the Delhi government can run U-specials then students in the city should also benefit from a similar convenience,” said Hooda. INSO said although the UT administration has taken many people-friendly initiatives and decisions but the student community felt neglected.
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PU to remain closed on Sept 3
Chandigarh, August 31 All examinations/meetings scheduled for September 3 will be held as per schedule.
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Cop Beating Case Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 31 He further added that the police’s allegation, that the accused had snatched the mobile phone of the cop, was untrue, as two of the accused had surrendered at 10.30 am on August 22 and records show that the phone had been in use till 2 pm that day. Meanwhile, the police has withdrawn the petition put before the High Court in the same case. In the petition, they had sought police custody for the accused.
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Attariwala acting president of bar body
Chandigarh, August 31 Attariwala has been made the acting president as Dr Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu, the president, will be out for the country for about 45 days.
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Big FM goes international
Chandigarh, August 31 In a first-of-its-kind alliance, Big FM has tied-up with the Asian FM, exclusive radio station for the South Asian community. As part of the alliance, Big FM will syndicate non-music content, largely in Hinglish, to the Asian FM. “Our effort is to entertain the Indian diaspora, giving them the flavour of radio back home, Jayyant Bhokare, vice-president, business development, Big FM said today hoping that sections on devotion, humour, love, Bollywood and television would be a big hit with the South Asian community. As the Asian FM expands its audience base, we believe that the Big FM content will fit well within our existing programme line-up. The NRIs, who have not been to India for a while, will definitely find the content enjoyable with cutting edge humour.” Deepak Viswanath, vice-president of the Asian FM Anand Velayudhan, chief liaison officer-India, ITV Inc, said this was a huge opportunity for Indians in America to get hold of latest in the world of Indian entertainment. Nothing is more important for the NRI in the USA than a daily dose of India. This is a big opportunity for listeners and even bigger for Indian brands to reach NRI listeners.” Radio had been the main source of entertainment for most NRIs before they migrated to the USA. Over the past decade, Indian TV has found a place in the NRI households. However, radio, which was a trustworthy medium for the South Asian community, took a long time to find its foothold. With Asian FM’s launch, that void was filled with a mix of news, discussions on local and national and international issues, a Big FM representative added. |
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Musical treat at Kalagram
Chandigarh, August 31 The event designed and directed by Arjun Jaipuri was focussed on the diverse women psyche, one celebrating the festive moods of “saawan” and the other in a pensive state of mind longing for the company of husband miles away. The lead artist Arjun Jaipuri commenced the programme with the title song “Saawan Suhana Aya Hai”. Ajit Kaur Kanupriya and Yugal Bhardwaj rendered songs capturing the pleasures of saawan as laced in the Haryanvi songs before a captivating Punjabi folk dance. Folk musicians Balle Momin (Harmonium ), Mazid Khan ( Nagada, Tabla) , Parkash Nepali ( Flute), Rajesh ( Sarangi), Subhash and Suresh Nayak accompanied the artists. The city mayor, Harjinder Kaur was the chief guest. |
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