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Kidwai’s Birthday
Chandigarh, October 30 Adding to the revelry were the remarks by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who was at his wittiest best. “At 82, I am feeling young again,” he said, after coming to know that it was Kidwai’s 88th birthday. Describing the atmosphere of the university as the most conducive for higher studies, Badal in his speech stressed upon the need for spreading education in rural areas. He laid emphasis on making education affordable to weaker sections of society. Kidwai, in his presidential remarks, stressed upon the need for knowledge and technology-based education. R.C. Sobti, vice-chancellor, traced the history of the university since its establishment on October 14, 1882, at Lahore.
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UGC spending unscientifically: Simhadri
Chandigarh, October 30 Well versed with the administration of the universities given his twelve years of experience as vice chancellor of Nagarjuna University, Benaras Hindu University, Andhra University, Andhra Pradesh, and now Patna University, he said, “Changes are constantly taking place in various ways in all the three branches of a university including teaching content, research and extension content. As a matter of fact universities have inherited many problems due to social, political, cultural and historical factors that interfere with their workings”. Advocating autonomy for the state universities, Simhadri stated that at the same time they should be free from all political impositions. Lashing it out on the lack of proper distribution of funds among the universities by the UGC, Simhadri said, “ Central universities are a privileged lot when it comes to grants and funds but at the same time non-central universities have to go through financial crunches throughout the year. Unfortunately the grant would only come at the fag end of the financial year making matters worse”. Commenting on the current trend of students preferring foreign universities over Indian universities for higher studies, Simhadri said, “Primarily, its the attraction of foreign shores that lure students to
move out. Secondly, our universities lack discipline and commitment both at the student and teacher-level. Nevertheless, most of the Indian universities are at par with the ones abroad and in some cases they are even better”.
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Going beyond academics
Chandigarh, October 30 As the protagonist scales the walls of an empty school wandering through the classes, holding crayons, drawing butterflies, the viewers can actually feel the little girl’s yearning for the freedom that comes with learning and experiencing, all in a few minutes. And this motley bunch of 10 youngsters, Sujay Kar, Ravish Keswani, Pankaj Motwani, Nimisha Saxena, Rahul Rathee, Natasha Bopparai, Kunal Handa, Namrata Siviya, Arun Rajput and Ishveep Bhatia, from their first and second year MBA programmes at UBS, was very clear on what they were doing. “We wanted to go beyond just academics which take up most of our time,” explains Sujay, who, along with Nimisha, has written the words and composed the music for the song ‘Sun Lo Na’ that strings the film through a background track. Why this film in the middle of the training to become tough as nails managers? “As students, we realise how important education is, especially for those who have to struggle to get it,” Sujay adds. “We wanted to make something that is our own, something that would give us a sense of identity of who we are and what is it we wish to do with our lives,” avers Ravish. At the department, support came from chairman Prof S.C. Vaidya and placement coordinator Dr A.K. Vashisht. “The minute you enter UBS you can take the initiative to do what you wish. When there is freedom, people come up with new ideas,” they smile. There were difficult moments. From deciding on the right concept to searching for a school (Ankur Nursery School on the campus where “the kids were very naughty”) to finding their way to recording studios, they did it all. “We spoke to every student at UBS to contribute Rs 200 and collected Rs 45,000 and made the film,” says the group. Today, the film is part of just the “legacy” they wish to build as it becomes part of every placement brochure. But they want to go further. “Hope is a lifelong passion for us,” they say and they are already speaking to NGOs in the region to take the project forward on a larger scale.
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Coaching centres fraught with danger
Chandigarh, October 30 None of the academies are following fire safety norms and students have to cross cramped passages with loose electricity wires and open junction boxes. The recent incident in which around 70 students were trapped in a fire that broke out in a coaching centre in Sector 19 has done little to wake up the administration. Station fire officer S.K. Gusain agreed that the Sector 19 SCO building and several coaching centres running in such buildings are a threat to the lives of students. “We are conducting surprise inspections of such buildings and serving notices in case of deficiencies. After the Sector 19 incident, we have placed the security check of coaching centres on the priority list,” he said. A random survey by the Tribune team revealed that hardly any centre followed safety norms set by the administration. Narrow staircases with naked electricity wires lead to dingy classrooms that house around 70 to 80 students in a single shift. There is no way to evacuate students in case of a fire. Unauthorised temporary glass enclosures make things worse. Administration officials express their helplessness. “What can we do? Security norms came up at a very late stage and owners of these SCOs procured occupation certificates before the implementation of the bylaws,”an official said on the condition of anonymity. Gusain said the system needed to be revamped. “When they fail to comply with our norms, we declare the building unsafe by putting a board. In the next step, we seal the building. That’s what we can do,” he said. Most of the tenants who run these centres argue that it is the job of the building owner to provide safety measures. “Since most of the tenants are paying very low rent, the owner would only be too happy if the building is sealed because after complying with the norms, he could rent it out on a hefty amount to a new tenant,” Gusain added.
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GMCH principal’s plea for extension rejected
Chandigarh, October 30 The retirement age for teachers of medical college here is 58 years and Dr Swami was due to retire tomorrow. On April 23, the Punjab government had relaxed the retirement age of teachers in medical, dental and ayurvedic colleges by two years i.e. from 58 to 60 years. The state government took this step to prevent the Medical Council of India (MCI) from slashing the number of seats in MBBS, MD and MS courses in government medical colleges on account of staff shortage. Citing the Punjab government notification, Dr Krishan Gopal Vij, professor and head, department of forensic medicine, GMCH, had got a stay on his retirement on June 29 from CAT. He was scheduled to retire on June 30. Dismissing Dr Swami’s petition today, CAT said he was holding an administrative post and the Punjab government had increased the retirement age of medical teachers only. The administration had advertised the post to be filled through deputation first in December last year and then on July 9. However, no decision on the successor of Dr Swami has been taken yet.
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‘Dreams and Beyond’ staged
Chandigarh, October 30 Without any dialogue therein, every sequence in the play virtually generated curiosity leaving a lot for the imagination of theviewers and at the same time eloquently conveying muchmore than desired through language of the theatre. The theatrical expressions of colour, music, masks, body movement, music and sounds, lights and colours, synthesised into a magical array of sequences, displayed adroit mastery of the directors. Besides, the immaculate acting spells by Kaushlesh, Rajesh, Amit Ajit, Reema Anup, Gaurav and Abhishek effectively brought alive the thematic content that “Dreams ought to be dreamt to make them real and obstacles are never the finalities”. The show was addressed to the spirit of struggle to survive and then to excel. In our daily life, each one of us carries the mythical rock up the hill, sometimes achieving or faltering but never giving up. The man stumbles only to wake up to a newer ideology which inspires him to resurrect and celebrate the life in all its varied manifestations.
— OC
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From Colleges
Mohali, October 30 Freshers’ party: The Northern Indian Institute of Fashion and Technology (NIIFT) here organised a fresher’s party. The party was organised at Makhan Shah Lobana Auditorium, Sector 30, Chandigarh. Vijay Sharma, director, NIIFT, presided over the function. Junior students were dressed on the theme “Back To The Future 2020”. The function had a traditional start with Bharatnatyam followed by pop numbers. Sharma, along with Anu H Gupta, cultural coordinator, gave away prizes. The party ended with the declaration of Prashant and Samridhi as Mr and Ms Fresher 2007-08, respectively.
— TNS
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World Thrift Day
Chandigarh, October 30 Director of the Labour Bureau Yash Pal was the chief guest and B.S. Rai, regional manager, Vijaya Bank, was the guest of honour. Yash Pal highlighted the significance of small savings in the economic development of the country. Rajiv Sagar, regional director, NSI, said Rs 3,035.20 crore were collected during 2006-07 under various small savings schemes from the Chandigarh area comprising Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh. Principal of the school Amarjit Kaur and assistant director of the NSI K.K. Sharma also spoke.
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Toyota-Kirloskar fined Rs 25,000
Chandigarh, October 30 The forum stated: “We are of the opinion that the Toyota Corolla car involved in an accident had a manufacturing defect. The opposite party (seller) made false claims about the operation of the airbag system that it protects the driver and passenger, but actually it did not. It had put the life of the complainant in danger. “We are, therefore, of the opinion that 10 per cent of the cost of the car be deducted.” Tirath Singh Oberio, a resident of Sector 44, had purchased a Toyota Corolla car for Rs 10.5 lakh. The manual stated that in case of severe frontal impact, the sensor would detect de-acceleration and trigger the airbag inflator which would momentarily fill the airbag with non-toxic nitrogen. Oberio met with an accident involving a truck, but after the collision, the airbag system failed to act. The manufacturers refused to replace the car, saying that the impact of the collision was not severe and thus, the airbags did not function. The surveyor, who examined the car, however, said in his report that due to the severe impact, the front portion of the vehicle was crushed and the airbag was found disconnected. It was pointed out that the location of the sensor was wrong.
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A date with Himachali folklore
Chandigarh, October 30 As many as 15 artistes of the Sanskritik Dal Renukaji from Sirmour (HP) performed under the direction of Yoginder Kapila from the ICCR, under their ‘Horizon’ series. The glimpses of their rich cultural heritage, including diverse community cultures, rituals and religious ceremonies, were perceptible in all presentations by the troupe. The artistes participated in the opening invocatory mala dance ‘Jhillo re kinare’, paying obeisance to Goddess Renuka. The moods changed to the festive Diwali merriment in the next exciting Sirmuari naati dance. Deep and Nikka Ram displayed dexterity and geometrical accuracy while dancing on a brass plate, singing love song "Maan jaa". The lofty applause greeted Kiran and Asha as they danced holding earthen lamps atop their heads. The dancers armed with arrows enacted dance sequences in another myth-based rare folk dance form ‘thoda’, depicting the rivalry between Kauravs and Pandavs. However, the dance soiree concluded on a romantic note as Kiran and Deep Ram, along with Basanti and Jai Parkash pairing as love birds, expressed their sentiments in jhuri dance. Director of the kendra M.L. Koser honoured
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