Chandigarh, September 25
As part its Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Panjab University has decided to grant a special chance to all candidates who, despite availing themselves of the admissible chances, have not been able to clear their compartment/reappear papers of all professional courses, BFA and all masters-level courses in the faculty of arts and science (except MA), languages, education, business management and commerce, law, medical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, design and fine arts among other masters-level courses held between April, 1980, and April, 2007.

Further, it has also decided to grant a special chance to all such candidates of all postgraduate diplomas, advance diploma, certificate and diploma courses, including prak shastri/shastri/ gyani/ prabhakar as well.

The examination fees for all professional courses for reappear/compartment are Rs 5,000 up to two semesters (for one paper) plus Rs1,000 for each extra paper.

A fee of Rs 10,000 will be charged for more than two semesters (for one paper per semester) plus Rs 1,000 for each extra paper while Rs 3,150 will be charged for all courses other than professional ones.

The dates for submitting the examination form without late fee and with late fee will be the same as that of regular candidates already notified for November, 2007, and April, 2008, examination.

Results of the following examinations have been declared: BSc (H S) microbiology (I) (reappear), August, 2007, BSc (HS) microbiology (II) examination (reappear), August, 2007, BSc (HS) bio-physics (I) (reappear), August, 2007, BSc (HS) bio-physics (II) (reappear), August, 2007, B E (chemical) (4th semester) (reappear), May, 2007, postgraduate diploma in guidance and counselling (2nd semester), June, 2007, BE (chemical) (5th semester) reappear, June, 2007, BE (chemical) (8th semester additional chance), August, 2007.

Chandigarh, September 25
The Department of Political Science in association with the ICSSR, North Western Regional Centre, organised a lecture on ‘Managing Diversity in Indian Democracy’ today. The lecture was delivered by Prof A.S. Narang from the Indira Gandhi National Open University, who is the visiting faculty with the department.

Emphasising on the necessity of managing diversity, Professor Narang said this posed a challenge for almost all countries around the world today. Various methods like federalism, multiple official languages, minority rights and consociation systems have been facilitated yet the issue demands the attention of most governments continually, he added.

Independent India aimed at harmonious co-existence rather than introducing assimilation policies, he said. However, for the country, the task was made more complex as it had to simultaneously carry out the task of nation-state building along with managing multiple diversities. Hence pluralism, regionalism and decentralisation were the natural tendencies of Indian society.

However, various reasons like the legacy of British rule, the impact of Partition and the Nehruvian understanding that modernisation would solve the cultural question resulted in an inadequate expression of this aspect in the Constitution, said Prof Narang. As a result, even the basic provisions of secularism and affirmative action were compromised in practice.

He said various studies have shown that the Indian state has performed badly in ensuring political representation and economic opportunity for the deprived sections and minority communities.

Seminar: A two-day seminar on ‘Challenges in Plastic Industry’ organised by the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology and the Indian Plastics Institute, Chandigarh, was inaugurated today at the ICSSR Complex by Prof S.K. Kulkarni, Dean University Instructions.

In his inaugural address, Prof Kulkarni emphasised the growing role of plastics in all aspects of life, including health care. Prof Daljit Singh, chairperson, emphasised that plastics had already become all-pervasive in every aspect of our life yet there are exciting opportunities and challenges, particularly in the development of new materials like nano composites.

PU faculty invited: Prof B.S. Ghuman, dean, Faculty of Arts and chairman, Department of Public Administration and Akshat Mehta, lecturer, Police Administration, Centre for Emerging Areas in Social Sciences have been invited to present a paper and participate in an international conference on ‘The Role of the State in Public Service Delivery’ at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, on September 27-28.

Chandigarh, September 25
Government College, Sector 46, got a new science block after UT Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Education Krishna Mohan inaugurated the building today. Director, Higher Education, Raji P. Shrivastava was the guest of honour.

The chief guest said the UT Administration had taken steps to provide the best teaching facilities to the students of this region.

The inaugural session began with a prayer song performed by the students of the music department. College principal Dr K.S. Saluja called it a landmark in the history of the college not only for the extension of the college building but also to have two luminaries from the department of higher education as special guests at the function. Vice-principal Dr Shyam Sunder proposed a vote of thanks.

NSS Foundation Day: The NSS volunteers of the three units of Government College, Sector 11, celebrated NSS Foundation Day with great zeal today. The volunteers presented a variety programme to mark the occasion.

Dean Student Welfare Dr S.S. Sidhu said the college had started an NSS unit for girls from this session and more than 51 students had already got themselves enrolled. NCC in charge Dr Vinod Vijay spoke on the glorious history of NSS.

Meet at SD: A Spirit India Volunteers meet was organised at GGDSD College, Sector 32, today. The theme for the meet was ‘Coming Out of the Shell’. A senior faculty member of the college and a chief crusader behind the group, Meera Sharma, emphasised that true freedom is possible only when we realize our responsibility towards our motherland. Dr Nidhi Mittal, a teacher volunteer of the group, encouraged the students to manifest their love for the country through their positive and responsible actions. 

Chandigarh, September 25
The junior wing students of Yadvindra Public School, Mohali, staged their annual school play ‘Charandas Chor’ at Lobana Bhavan auditorium in Sector 30, today. The much-celebrated play of playwright director Padmabhushan Habib Tanvir was evolved from Vijay Daan Theta’s story and tailored by virtuoso director Zubin Mehta and associate Inderjit Grewal to suit the contemporary audience.

The play eulogizes the relationship of a ‘guru’ with his ‘shishya’ - a concept that cannot wither away with time. The theme was effectively illustrated by the student actors enacting the story of thief Charandas, who is dedicated to the ‘profession’ of stealing but sincerely observes the vows given to his guru. Whatever may be the circumstances, Charandas does not let his greed get the better of the promises made to his guru. He even goes to the extent of choosing his own execution over marrying a queen dishonestly.

The young actors, especially Adesh Partap Singh, Manleen Rekhi, Tushar, Raunaqjit, Anad Aneja and Aran surpassed the barriers of age and depicted the theme of the play beautifully. The structuring of the play, set in pastoral surroundings with a dominating folk idiom, was indeed a challenge for the students. However, the direction, musical compositions by Vinod Pawar, skilled choreography by Renu Pant, chiaroscuro light effects by Zubin and Parvin Jaggi improved the standard of the production. There would be a repeat performance at the same time and venue tomorrow.

Chandigarh, September 25
The A.R.Y International Academy of Martial Arts today gave a demonstration of the Oriental art for the girl students at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 10, today. The demonstration was inaugurated by chief guest DPI Schools S.K. Setia, who lit the ceremonial lamp.

A.R.Y. stands for Atma Raksha Yoga and the academy has a tie up with the UT Education Department to train girl students of all government schools in martial arts.

The demonstration was given by a team of Grand Master Salim Donit, 9th degree black belt, who is also the founder of the academy. — TNS

Chandigarh, September 25
In a glaring example of how different wings of a department are working at cross-purposes, the UT Education Department has recently moved a proposal to construct a residential complex for the heads and principals of schools within the campus. However, the reality is that the ones at colleges are mostly lying unused.

At present, there are principals’ residences at Government College, Sector 11; Government College for Girls, Sector 11; Government Home Science College, Sector 10; Government College for Girls, Sector 42; and Government College of Education, Sector 20.

While the one at GC-11 has been lying vacant for the last two years, the one at GCE-20 has not been put to use for many years now. Similarly, at GCG- 42, the house built for the principal has been unused for three years now. Even at GCG-11, the principal has just moved in. Government Home Science College, Sector 10 is the only college where the residence had always been occupied.

It is pertinent to mention here that CSR (civil services rules) Vol. 1 Part II clearly mentions under rent-free accommodation, no government accommodation should be left vacant. Otherwise, a prior permission from the competent authority is a must in case one doesn’t want to stay there.

At GC-11, Balwinder Singh, Dr S.N. Singla and Pahlad Agarwal were the ones who stayed on campus while being principals, whereas Dr A.N. Garg skipped the option.

“The basic purpose to stay on campus is to have a better administrative control. Apart from this, since the hostels are on campus, the head of the college can help in case of an emergency,” said Dr A.L. Gauba, who would soon be shifting to the on-campus premises at GC-11.

Principal of GCG-11, Promila Kaushal, who has just moved in about 10 days ago, says, “In the age of easy mobility, the principals don’t want to stay at the official residence as it will only take a few minutes to reach the campus in case of an emergency.”

“There is direct control over the campus in terms of security and vigil if one stays on campus,” feels Sukhvarsha Narula, principal, Government Home Science College, who has been staying on campus for the last four years.

At GCG-42, the on-campus residence has not been occupied since three years. In fact, a visit to the site speaks volumes of the poor conditions and upkeep with wild growth all over the place.

However, irrespective of their occupancy, Education Department is spending lakhs of rupees every year on the ‘upkeep and maintenance’ of these official residences. It’s a different matter that all this money could be spent on student welfare and better infrastructure at educational institutions.