Raina on nostalgic trip
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Continuing with its series of workshops in theatre, dance and music, the Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi today started a 10-day workshop in acting with theatre personality M.K. Raina, at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 18. This workshop will be held till October 14.

With about 20 students, Raina said he had arranged the workshop in two stages — one in which the body would be made to react to theatre, and the other in which the mind would be opened to theatre. It would not focus on any production at its culmination but on a story-making session with participants.

"Theatre is not an exclusive affair and is complete when audience takes part. There is this give-and-take about theatre, which needs to be understood," he said.

Participants were seen exercising their vocal chords, to 'see' what their speech and sound could do for theatre. The last time Raina was in the city was in the mid-70s, when he staged 'Parayee Kokh'.

"I have come to the city after such a long time that this trip has proved to be more a nostalgic trip than anything else for me. There was a time when I was familiar with every nook and corner of the city," he said. His production 'Karmawali' was seen at a theatre festival here in 1993.

Commenting on theatre in North India, Raina said, "I believe that this region has given the maximum number of new and experimental ideas to theatre. But we have always lacked patron producers here."

The akademi plans to hold a workshop with Bansi Kaul next. He will hold his workshop on 'Vidushak' — the clown.

No teacher in primary school
From Our Correspondent

BHAGENDI (Kharar), Oct 4 — The absence of any teacher in the local Government Primary School has forced the students — all below the age of 12 — to abandon their school and attend classes in another village, 2 km away.

No teacher has been posted here for the past five years and the children have to go to Kasoli, an elderly resident of the village said. Mr Atma Ram, sarpanch of the village, endorsed his statement. And this is happening just 10 km from the state capital, pointed out another resident.

At Kasoli Government Primary School,10 classes of the two schools are held jointly. Most of the classes are held in the open. Residents of Kasoli village say that students from Bhagendi school have been going there for more than five years.

The school presents a picture of sheer neglect. For a strength of 90 students, there are only two rooms. The building is without electricity. Another problem highlighted by the students was the absence of ventilation in the rooms. Two windows of room were were virtually bricked up when a resident of the village raised a wall blocking the windows.

"Due to the indifferent attitude of the panchayat, the house owner has constructed the wall, right along the windows. Now it is not possible for us to hold classes in the rooms," said a teacher. Plaster from the walls of rooms and the floor has peeled off.

The school has also insufficient number of teachers. Only two teachers have been posted at this rural school. The teachers also face several difficulties. There is no bus service to the village. "In the absence of any road we have to wade through "choes" (seasonal rivulets), said a teacher.

Gadget to cope with water shortage
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Top and middle floor residents in the city facing water supply problems due to ''low pressure'' can be relaxed with manufacture of an aiding gadget by a local scientist. The gadget promises hope to such residents, particularly during summer when the supply is the lowest.

Amarjeet Singh , running electronics business in Sector 21, has created a gadget to energise the pump as soon as the overhead tank runs out of water. The circuit saves "50 to 70 per cent" energy, works in relation to the lower tank and stops the burdening for supply in the case of shortage.

Amarjeet Singh says that the system does not allow the motor to run even a second after the tank is filled. This prevents overhead spillage. Apart from savings on electricity and water, the system prolongs the life of the motor by less burden and not restarting the motor immediately after the electricity is restored.

The scientist says that system also has operations of semi-automatic functions as well. It can be programmed accordingly and the system can be managed with a soft touch.

The system does not have any sensors fit in the water which stops absolutely the possibility of electric shocks. A unique feature of the water level meters is that they show the ''exact quantity of water" unlike the present ones which only showed whether the water was present or not.

These meters work without installation or addition of any other component except dry cells. The system can be used for any capacity of water motor in homes, colonies and government tanks.

Amarjeet Singh says that the system has been tried over the past couple of months and he is now applying for the patent of the device.

The scientist says that the water supply problem on the top floors in many sectors is prominent.

Amarjeet Singh also has several other scientific creations to his credit. These include an electronically remote-controlled desert cooler which is very economic, he claims.

He is known for developing a television antenna which ideally suits this region. The most important device was developing an electronic eye which was suited for the Pakistan border. He also has to his credit a "special burglars alarm for the cars"