Chandigarh, December 21
Inclusive education for special students still seems a distant dream in Chandigarh. Despite the administration’s approval to postgraduate diploma for special students at Government Art College, the course is nowhere near start even when regular MFA (masters of fine art) classes for the current academic session have commenced.

Cleared by the administration in May this year, the course has been hanging fire for want of All-India Council for Technical Education’s nod, which hasn’t come, courtesy lack of official will to pursue the case.

If that was less, the hearing and speech impaired students who have completed the four-year (graduate level) diploma in fine art, instituted at the college in 2003, are yet to get their detailed marks certificates from Panjab University. Despite having cleared the diploma they have no evidence of it.

J.S. Saini, father of Sourabh Saini, one of the affected students, says, “I have been running from pillar to post to get the DMC of my son so he can pursue a job or some other course. But PU has not issued the DMC since two years.” The PU, sources say, does not have the format of DMC, required to be issued in case of special diploma in fine art. But Saini and other parents feel the delay is rooted in the fact that there are just 11 special students pursuing diploma at Art College. “These students mean nothing to anyone because they are in minority,” Saini says.

Two of the special students - Sourabh Saini and Vriti - are particularly stressed as they have nowhere to go after having finished their diploma in fine art. Neither do they have avenues for higher studies at the college nor DMCs to pursue another course elsewhere. It was to avoid this crisis that all special students of the college had on May 1 this year represented their case to the administration and Panjab University. They had sought commencement of PG diploma from this session.

Ironically, despite the administration granting its approval to the course, no headway was made. This despite joint secretary, technical education, Vivek Atray writing twice to deputy director, the AICTE and the vice-chancellor, Panjab University, for grant of necessary approval for the course. But to no avail. “The principal must himself follow up the case. We will also push for it,” Atray today told The Tribune.

Though as per rules, art college can start special PG diploma by creating seats within the MFA course which AICTE has already approved, college principal Brahm Prakash says the same is not possible. “I had made enquiries. Without the AICTE approval, no such seats can be created. But I am on the job.”

PU degree mela on Dec 28
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 21
With an aim to give the degrees of thousands of students lying with Panjab University, the authorities have decided to hold a ‘degree mela’ on December 28.

Approximately 7,000 degrees of students of courses such as BA, B Sc, B Com, M A, M Sc, BE, ME for the last several years (up to 2006) are lying pending due to various reasons, including non-attendance of convocation, received back undelivered and others.

The university will hold the mela in the old UIET building from 10 am to 5 pm.

The students are required to bring a photo identity card and an original DMC (detailed marks card) and can collect their degrees.

In case the degrees are available with the office, the candidates will have to make a payment of Rs 500 for the degrees of session 2000-2002, Rs 1,000 for the degrees of sessions 1990-1999.

The authorities will not charge any fee for the degrees for sessions 2003-06.

All toppers who failed to attend the convocation will get their degrees free of cost.

In addition, approximately 8500 degrees of BA, B Sc, and B Com are also withheld due to non-clearance of the environment education examination.

Panjab University will be holding a special environmental education examination on February 13, according to the registrar-cum-controller.

Chandigarh, December 21
Students of Sri Guru Harkrishan Model School, Sector 38-D, here, presented a colourful extravaganza, Vibrant India, today on the school premises. Dr Sharda Kaushik, director, Regional Institute of English was the chief guest on the occasion.

The programme highlighted the glorious cultural heritage showing different facets of modern India. The students presented 'Saraswati Vandana' seeking the blessings of Goddess Saraswati. Dressed in traditional attires and swaying to the authentic beats representing the regional flavours like Ghoomer, Pongal, Manipuri, Haryanvi, the students mesmerised the audience.

CHRISTMAS BASH: Students of International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), Sector 8, today organised a theme based Christmas bash today at Jat Bhawan, Sector 27. The students decorated the venue in white and red. Handmade cutouts of Santa caps, golden and silver bells, vibrant stars, pretty mistletoes, golden lights and innovative stockings made by students marked the venue. The highlight was a huge backdrop hand painted by the interior design students marking the arrival of Santa on his famous sledge at midnight.

ANNUAL MAHOTSAVA: Dev Samaj Annual Mahotsava will be celebrated at Dev Samaj Bhawan, Sector 36, here, from December 22 to 25.

Giving this information Kailash Chander, secretary, Dev Samaj said this function is being held to commemorate the 157th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Devatma, the founder of Dev Samaj. The Dev Samaj devotees and students from Dev Samaj educational institutions from all over the country would be assembled at Chandigarh to take part in the four-day long festival. “The religious discourses and public lectures on the philosophy of Dev Dharma by prominent life workers, debates, play on the life and teachings of Bhagwan Devatma would be part of the programme”, told Kailash Chander.

JUBILIATIONS: KIDS-R-KIDS School, Sector-42, Chandigarh, celebrated Christmas on Thursday, December 20, 2007. The grandparents of children were the guests of honour on the occasion. Pre-K.G took everyone to the North Pole by giving a glimpse of how hard the elves were working to meet their Christmas Eve deadline.

Of course no Christmas gathering is complete without a visit from Santa Claus. How the legend of Santa Claus came into being was explained followed by a jolly visit by him.

Chandigarh, December 21
The two-day alumni meet of Punjab Engineering College Old Students Association (PECOSA) would be inaugurated by A.R. Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, on the college campus here tomorrow. With 400 old students already confirming their participation and many more expected to join in the next two days, this meet is going to be the largest ever PECOSA alumni meet in the history of the college till date.

A notable feature of this year's meet is the holding of an Engineering Entrepreneurship Conclave aimed at providing a forum to the alumni to exchange ideas on business opportunities in the global markets. The keynote address at conclave would be delivered by Subodh Bhargav, chairman VSNL and former president CII and former CMD of Eicher Motors. RC Sobti, vice-chancellor, Punjab University will preside over the concluding day function. 

Panchkula, December 21
Providing fun unlimited to one and all, Christmas Carnival-2007 was organised by Saupin’s School here today. The carnival was inaugurated by Jal Megha Dahiya, municpal councillor. Fun games, joy rides and food stalls made the event a roaring success. Santa Claus distributed gifts among all. Special visitors on this occasion were children from Bal Bhavan.

NSS CAMP: A 10-day NSS special camp was inaugurated under the campaign “Healthy Youth-Healthy India” by Raj Dulari, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Rattewali, today.

Mohali
SPORTS DAY: Students and staff of Sri Hemkunt Public School, Sector 71, Mohali, organised the annual sports day and prize distribution function on the school premises. Chief guest Jasjit Singh Bunny, chairman of Punjab State Co-operative Bank and general secretary of Youth Akali Dal, inaugurated the function.

CELEBRATED: Students of Saint Soldier International Convent School celebrated Christmas. Principal V. Tiwana narrated ‘Jesus Jeevni’ to students.

CHRISTMAS: Swami Ram Tirtha Public High School, Phase IV, wore a festive look yesterday as Christmas was celebrated with much fervour in the school. A show and tell competition was organised for the kindergarten section. The toddlers were also taken to Sector 19 church.

CAROLS: The kindergarten wing of Doon International School celebrated Christmas with fervour yesterday. The junior wing vibrated with echoes of Christmas carol as Santa distributed sweets among the children.

JINGLE BELLS: Students of classes pre-nursery to II of Shivalik Public School, Phase VI, participated in pre-Christmas day celebrations yesterday. The tiny tots danced to the tune of “Jingle Bells” with Santa Claus.

LISTED: Dr I.T. Business School has been listed in All India Management Association. The institute claimed that it was the only institute at Banur to get management aptitude test participation.

FOOD FEST: A food festival was organised at Swami Vivekanand College of Education, Banur. The programme was inaugurated by Kuldeep Singh, tehsildar, Rajpura.

Chandigarh, December 21
Picturesque beauty of nature captured in art form, paintings that bring alive varied hues of environment and preserved well for that evergreen look, get an insight into the works of renowned artist Baldev Raj Rattan. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator S.F. Rodrigues inaugurated Rattan’s ‘Retrospective (1942-2007) of paintings’ today at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10.

Organised by Adity Dua, former national president of the public relations society of India, the paintings present great landscapes in watercolours. H.K Dua, Editor-in-Chief, The Tribune, was present at the inauguration.

Rodrigues, accompanied by wife Jean Rodrigues, while taking a round of the exhibition suggested measures to promote the paintings which have captivated glorious moments of nature. He was awed by the works and suggested to make postcards of the paintings for use in Chandigarh Tourism for its promotion.

“The paintings are marked with rare talent, they bring alive charming moments and beauties of nature. There is a dire need to identify people like Baldev Raj Rattan and pass this talent on,” said Rodrigues.

He asked the Director Museum and Art Gallery, V.N. Singh to organise workshops for carrying forward the watercolour painting techniques further by identifying suitable talent among the budding artists.

“Most of the paintings are made from watercolours. They can fade easily. A lot of hard work has also gone to ensure that the magical aura of the paintings stays alive forever,” said Rattan.

The exhibition is on till December 29.

Chandigarh, December 21
The four-day workshop on Historic Urban Landscapes of the 20th century organised by the Chandigarh administration in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at CII concluded here today. The fourth technical session, chaired by Minja Yang, director, UNESCO, New Delhi, was guided by the theme ‘The Process of Urban Conservation’.

The first presentation was given by Leo Schubert from IUAV University, Venice, Italy.

Dr Shikha Jain, director, DRONAH and Chief Editor, Context-Built, (Living and Natural) spoke on ‘Heritage Conservation and City Development Plan-The Case of Udaipur and Nasik.’ Harjinder Kaur released the Chandigarh Tourism calendar.