Capturing planned cities on lens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — For someone who has been photographing for magazines like The Vogue, Vanity Fair, Architecture, House and Garden, Architectural Digest, it is natural to say, “I like to photograph people and buildings, because both are about form, structure and expressions”.

Todd Eberle, a US freelance photographer, who is in Chandigarh to document various “Corbusierian” aspects of the city, while talking to TNS said, “I first documented Brasilia, built by Oscar Nie Meyers, a protege of Le Corbusier, and a city which is 10-year younger than Chandigarh. So I became interested in capturing these two planned and very modern cities”.

Todd has been sent on this project by an Italian fashion magazine, Amica. “I am hoping that with this project, I would be able to compare the visions of architectures of Brasilia and Chandigarh, but I think my works might create many questions”.

Commenting on the impressions that Chandigarh has made on him, Todd said, “I have been here for only two days, and have not been able to see too much of Corbusier’s work. But after Brasilia, I think Chandigarh is more humane. Brasilia was constructed as a grand example of what a planned city must look like, for the world to see. But your city is throbbing with life”.

For someone who as a young child wanted to become an architect, architectural photography became his first love.

On modernism and planned cities he said, “one of the biggest failures of the great planned cities, is that they were created with very Utopian plans. Chandigarh seems to function very well as a planned city. There is a certain peace, comfort and a certain quietness about this place”.

After brief stints in Delhi, Jaipur and Varanasi, Todd said, “All these places were full of chaos, and I had no urge to document the “traditional Indian” way of life in these cities, because I seem to be interested only in modern things. Chandigarh is modern in the sense that it does not have any of those terrifying imposing buildings that one would associate modernism with, and there is this happiness about the city”.

For someone who believes in the abstraction of form and design, Todd has an array of photographs of several celebrities like comedian actor Adam Sandler and Calvin Klein. “I have even photographed Bill Gates’ house, a project which was extremely exciting, as it had a whole lot of technology to it”.

Using a large format view camera, which most of us recognise as the ‘meal-type’ tripod camera Todd says, “This camera lets me line everything up, and I like working with straight lines”.

‘Pop music like a temporary wave’
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, April 8 — Pop music is like a wave which just comes and goes. It does not need much “riaz”. “Zor ke gana” reveals that a person cannot sing properly, according to E.R. Das, a ghazal singer from Sialkot in Pakistan, now settled in the USA.

Das, who was talking to newspersons at the house of Gurdarshan Bal, a song and ghazal writer, here today, said he had been invited by a business group to perform in India.

Mr Anup Prashar, proprietor of the group, said a programme had been fixed at Gidderbaha for April 24, where Das would perform. The business group wanted him to sing in Chandigarh and Panchkula, too.

Born and brought up in Pakistan, Das graduated from Murray College, Sialkot. He learnt music from Ustad Mubarak Ali of the Patiala gharana.

Das said he had loved music from his childhood and had won several awards at the school and college levels.

He shifted to the USA in 1980, where he worked as a salesman in an electronics goods company. However, his daily “riaz” of two to three hours continued.

When asked about his favourite ghazal singer, he said he liked Mehndi Hasan, Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh and others. They formed a “guldasta”, with all types of flowers, each with its own fragrance, he said.

The ghazals he sang, he said, did not depend on the writer, but the selection was based on what he liked.

His son, Ameet Raj, now 13, had been learning to play the tabla since he was four. He sometimes accompanied his father on the tabla when the latter sang.

Das declined to sing for mediapersons on the plea that there was no harmonium. However, a cassette of his ghazals was played.

Garbage heaps worry residents
From Our Correspondent

MULLANPUR- GARIBDASS, April 8— Heaps of garbage and cow dung near the market of the village here are a cause of concern for the local residents.

Villagers complain that there is no provision for waste disposal. “We need a sufficient number of dust bins”, said Mr Ranjit Singh, a local resident.

Mr Arvind Puri, a social activist, blamed the local residents for creating a nuisance by throwing garbage in the open, thus inviting flies and mosquitoes. The sarpanch of the local gram panchayat, Mr Diwan Singh, said a public announcement had been done for checking such activities in the village.

The problems of the village have been highlighted several times in the past, but nothing had been done, said a villager.

The village has a very poor water supply and water pressure remain s low. It has only one water supply pump which is not sufficient. Sources said a proposal about laying down of new pipes is with the authorities.

Power supply in the village is also poor. Residents say that unscheduled power cuts in the area have become a daily feature. Mr Abdul Sattar Khan, a local shopkeeper, said voltage in the village remains low. School children also suffer on account of frequent power failures.

Stained glass art her forte
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — " The first thing that impressed me about City Beautiful is the landscaping of Dr M.S Randhawa for the city can easily pass off as the emerald city, " says Mrs Surinder Hayer Warboys, an artist from England who is here these days. In fact, the greenery is the crowning glory of the place and without this, it would look like a concrete jungle, she adds.

No doubt the architecture of the city reflects the single vision of French architect, Le Corbusier, but no aspect of it hits you immediately. However, unlike most other cities, there is no medley of architecture and uniformity of buildings is quite remarkable.

These are some of the initial impressions of the artist who has come to India for the first time after emigrating to England in 1950s at the age of three. She first returned on December 25, 1998, stayed here until February 24 and came back on March 12.

In an interview with the Chandigarh Tribune, she said that she is back again for she is planning to write a book on the world famous Rock Garden and its creator, Nek Chand. `` It is one artist's curiosity about the creation of another,'' said Mrs Hayer while answering a question as to why she thought of writing this book.

`` I thought it was a very inspirational place and reflected a vast imagination on the creator's part,'' this is how she felt after visiting the Rock Garden. The swings in the third phase of the garden fascinated her because of their monumental size. She finds the lake calm and cool and enjoys boating there.

She was no less impressed by the various gardens in the city and the Art Gallery, where she spent a lot of time during the initial two months. She maintained a diary and a sketch book of the places she visited and the things she saw.

She is of the view that it is more important to sit in front of an object and draw it for that ensures a more intimate relationship.

Her other observation pertains to the absence of stained glass in the architecture of the city and the nearby areas. She attributes this to lack of knowledge about the art. With a view to attracting the attention of students, artists and architects, she will deliver a talk on `` Architecture provides the body, stained glass the soul.'' at the College of Architecture on April 21.

According to her, stained glass is an environmental art, which if used imaginatively can enhance architecture.

``I would love to design and make something really nice for Chandigarh if I am given some project. I also wish to exhibit my work, but it has to be commissioned so that I can produce work of some calibre, " said Mrs Hayer.

It was her love for fine arts that made her study art in London, and learn the techniques of stained glass.

According to her, `` Art is something which requires a great deal of self motivation.'' Hence art which comes from within has greater value. Her advise to the artists is to involve themselves in their work for better understanding and results.

Quackery a thriving business
By Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — Quackery is good business in the city and the increasing number of ``medicine men’’ propping up tents all over the city and their concentration along the Chandigarh-Panchkula road, there are four of them within a few metres of each other, vouchsafe for the statement.

These “doctors’” claim to fame is that the secret of their magic potions has travelled down generations and is capable of curing all kinds of ills and ailments that inflict the body and mind. From curing stomachache to asthma, they have worked out solutions for treating impotency. “You name the disease and we will concoct a medicine using our expertise to flush it out of your system. In about a week’s time you will be a new person altogether,’’ remarks Mangu Ram, sitting and grinding a medicine for a patient in his tent.

With an array of glass jars with brightly coloured sugar-coated tablets and gummy liquids in bottles with pictures of various gods and goddesses adorning the makeshift tent, Mangu Ram opens his business at 9 am and calls it a day as soon as the sun sets. He says he gets two to three customers on a lean day while there maybe as many as 10 on a busy one. “Whatever I earn is enough to sustain me and my family in the city,’’ he comments. A tent behind the work place houses a family of six — four children and his wife.

Another such tent owner confirms the claims of Mangu Ram. Ramu says, “The charges for the medicine for stomachache, which is the most inexpensive medicine, are about Rs 200 while the most expensive one goes up to Rs 800 for a dose. Two to three doses are enough to conquer the ailment but are to be taken at regular intervals as prescribed by us.’’

They close down for a few days every month and go to the Himalayas to collect herbs which are combined in different proportions depending on the ailment and the severity with which it has invaded the body. “It is not for everybody to identify these herbs which work magic and practically impossible for anybody who has not had enough exposure in the field,’’ he adds.

Both “doctors” claim to have gone through the tedious process of going up to the hills with their fathers, even though they did not approve of being involved in the family trade, since the age of five years, watching them pick up the herbs and are now so deft in their work that they know precisely where they will get a particular herb.

They are armed with an identity card which has their photograph and thumb impression to protect them from any suspecting official who makes it to their “centre’”. “This has the mane of our employer. Our expertise is being put to good use by these companies and it is high time the residents of the city realise our worth,” one of them opines.

Moreover, people from the colonies make a beeline for these tents, deliberate on their problems with the so-called doctors and are taken in, hoping things will work out their way. The educated are indifferent to their existence though once in a while a curious passerby stops over to pay them a visit and make enquiries about the medicines.

Queues lengthen at pollution centres
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 8 — In anticipation of a vigorous checking drive, pollution checking centres at various petrol pumps in the city today witnessed long queues, with people bringing their vehicles for the precious slip that would mean a saving of Rs 1, 000 if one were to be challaned for not possessing one.

Long queues were seen at various checking centres in the city with people patiently awaiting their turn despite a warm day.

Mrs Surinder Kaur, a resident of Sector 21, who was getting her scooter checked at a petrol station in the same sector, said she had a terrible time last year to get her two-wheeler checked. There were such long queues that she had to waste two days to get the certificate. This time I wanted to get it done before the queues lengthen, she added.

Ms Savita, a college student, who was also getting her two-wheeler checked, said she wanted all documents in order now that Kiran Bedi was here. I have read a lot about her and I feel that at least the women should set an example by not getting challaned at all.

“ It is not only that it has to be done or it was mandatory but we ourselves should not let our vehicle pollute the environment. However, a public notice by the authorities in newspapers about the checking centres in the city would be welcome, she said.

Staff manning a centre said while they had checked only a few vehicles, — averaging between 30 to 40 — few days ago, today they had already checked more then 200 till 1 p.m. and hoped to check an equal number by evening.

Similar slow moving queues were witnessed at Sector 17 checking centres. A long queue was witnessed at one of the petrol stations on the Madhya Marg.

Mr Sunil Sharma, a government employee, said he had used the lunch time to get the work done. Last time, I had to await my turn in such a queue for the whole day. This time the centres are also less and I wanted to get it done in the first go. But the public should be informed at regular intervals to get their vehicles checked, he added. Similar views were echoed by others in the queue.

Staff manning a machine at a centre said they had already checked 300 vehicles till noon. For the past few months we had been sitting idle and hardly checked 35- 40 vehicles a day.

As per the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, all types of vehicles have to be tested for adhering to the pollution levels and the owners have to possess a certificate. It has to be presented at the time of checking either by the police or by the pollution control staff of the State Transport Authority.

In case this is not done, the vehicle has to be repaired to conform to the norms and a certificate to this effect has to be submitted to the STA office within a week following which the offender has to pay a fine of Rs 1,000.

The third-time offence automatically qualifies the vehicle to be taken off the road, the Act states.