EDUCATION

Add-on courses lose sheen
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 23
The educationists in the city feel that the UGC sponsored add-on courses seem to be losing their track in absence of proper academic monitoring for the desired results by the funding agency. They feel that the real spirit of the courses, has been defeated. Some of them even alleged that efforts were being made by colleges for the placement of students and they had introduced the courses just to get huge grants.

These courses were introduced along with general education to make students aware about additional skills of market oriented courses. The teaching community feels that the courses were started to get the students familiarised with work culture. Tarsem Bahia, senate member, Panjab University, Chandigarh, said it was a novel idea to introduce these add-on courses. “UGC is spending crore of rupees to make the entire project successful but some of the colleges are not taking it seriously. They are not providing qualified staff to give the students proper theoretical and practical training. No one but students suffer because of this”, said Bahia.

Dr Madanjit Kaur Sahota, principal, Master Tara Singh Memorial College for Women, said the whole system is responsible for its failure as anything is not accepted here easily. “We all lack commitment, otherwise the concept of add-on courses is very unique. We are providing classes of these add-on courses in the morning. But students are already reeling under so much study pressure. They consider it as extra burden on them. Some of the results of the add-on courses were declared late by the university last year as a result, the students lost their interest. The whole add-on system needs an overhauling”, said Dr Sahota.

Diwali mela at SDP college

Ludhiana, October 23
SDP senior secondary school, Hazuri Road, SDP senior secondary school, Basti Jodhewal and Sh O P Gupta model senior secondary school , Quilla Mohalla jointly celebrated the festival of Diwali in the premises of the SDP College for Women here today. Sudesh Bajaj, DEO, was the chief guest.

While addressing the students, Balraj Bhasin said such programmes were conducted to make the young generation to realise the importance of their rich cultural heritage. Decked up stalls of eatables were there to enjoy the fair. Students participated in various competitions like solo dance, group dance, bhangra, choreography etc. The students held the audience spellbound with their scintillating performance. The president awarded the teachers and students for their distinguished achievements in various fields of education. — TNS

PAU organises lecture

Ludhiana, October 23
Agricultural journalism, languages and culture section (College of Basic Sciences and Humanities) of Punjab Agricultural University organised Sonia Bathla lecture here at the committee room of the Farmers Service Centre today.

The lecture was delivered by Surinder Sud, Agricultural Editor, Business Standard while Dr Manjit Singh Kang, PAU vice-chancellor was the chief guest on the occasion. Bathla was an alumnus of the department of Agricultural Journalism, Languages and Culture who had authored a book on Hindi poetry and Journalism each.She died in January 2005. — TNS

CULTURE

Popularity of art growing: Artist
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 23
Growing awareness on art works is finally bringing creations of artists to the homes of Punjabis as well. They might be late in following the trend but they are quite there and not just the elite, the middle class too are in line.

It is this encouragement that has brought Vandya Bagrodia, owner and curator of Art Folio, to Ludhiana again. “I can’t say that they buy a work of art instantly. In fact, it is good that they do not consider purchasing a creation as if they are making just any other routine buy. They try to find details, give a thought and come out with an encouraging response which makes me quite happy about the future as well,” said Bagrodia.

Among the works she has brought this time are those of renowned artist from Bengal, Prokash Karmakar, who now regularly features at the Indian Art Auctions at Sothbey and Christies. Then there is Bratin Khan whose work was sold at Christie’s auction in aid of the Concern for India Foundation in March 2001 and again in 2002.

One can also see works of Ashok Bhowmick, Kinkar Ghosh, Ratan Acharya, Somenath Maity, Dipali Bhattacharya, Sudipto Tewari, Sumita Maity and Asit Sarkar.

Bagrodia, to whom bringing art awareness is a mission, is now busy holding exhibitions at various places. She is quite happy that art these days is being considered an investment too.