EDUCATION

Stage set for Management Fest
Tribune News Service

While various contests will get underway at 10 am, the registration for these will begin at 9 am when participants will begin to flow in on the premises.

Paper-reading contest

A science paper-reading contest was organised by the Science Society of the Government College of Education, Sector 20, here today. Twelve papers on five topics of “Human Genome-Prospectives, Non-conventional Energy, Astrology, Genetically Modified Food, WWW.com were read at the contest.

The Principal of the college, Ms Surinder Tangri, said scientists came to the rescue in times of need but cautioned society of unthoughtful applications of science through misuse of projects like the Human Genome Project.

The judges for the paper-reading contest included Dr S. Saini, Dr J. Mukherjee and Dr Kulbir Kaur. The prize winners for the contest are — Ritu Gupta (1), Shruti Vig (2), and Sandeep (3).

Play staged

Mime, monoacting and theme songs combined together to form an entertaining play on “Politics — Past, Present and Future’’ staged by the Political Science Society of the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, here today.

Focussing on the nationalism of the past which won the Indians their independence, the play portrayed rampant corruption in all areas of activity in the present. The future, however, showed the positive side of the race for materialism and trend towards commercialisation.

Earlier, a poster-making contest on the same theme was also held. The results are as follows: Karnica-BA III, Saroj-BA III, Amandeep-BA III.

The function was presided over by the college Principal, Ms Vijay Lakshmi. The in-charge of the society, Ms Suman Gupta, said the theme was chosen in keeping with the times and educating the students of the scope of politics which was not confined to electioneering alone.``It encompasses a whole lot of things which include society, religion, culture among others,’’ she added.

Tiny tots stress peace and harmony
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 20
Students at Golden Bell Public School believe in educating the masses in a fun-filled way. So, every item they prepared for their 16th annual function at Lecma Theatre in 3BRD Air Force Station here today, carried messages like communal harmony and peace and fight against social evils like dowry, corruption and dishonesty.

The cultural show began with a hymn “Awal Allah Nur Upaia”, which says that every religion teaches us to believe in peace and be tolerant towards each other. After the spiritual health, the show moved onto the physical aspect of the mankind and the tiny tots stressed the need for nutrition and vitamins to remain healthy.

The saga of Indian freedom fighters was portrayed by the students in the third item, “Our National Heroes”, with students depicting personalities like Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantia Tope, Udham Singh, Lajpat Rai and others with a brief sketch of their contribution to the freedom struggle.

A one act play titled “Ashoka Ka Shastra Tyag” was a message to the present war-torn world to shun violence. Another play “To give a daughter away” presented the need to fight against the existing dowry system. Similarly, a Punjabi play “Yamraj Di Adalat” depicted the existing evils in the society.

Dance troupes of various dance forms enthralled the audience. Be it Rajasthani folk dance or giddah or the Russian dance based on Boney M’s “Ra Ra Rasputin” , they performed with full enthusiasm. A few group songs, “Ekta Samanta” and “Kai Rang Hai Kaie Nam Hai” were both educative and entertaining.

The function was inaugurated by Air Commodore V.S. Govindarajan, Air Officer Commanding, 12 Wing Air Force. Applauding the hard work by the students and the staff for putting up a wonderful show, Mr Govindarajan gave away the prizes, merit certificates and scholarships to students for their academic excellence for the year 2000-2001.

Earlier, Ms Gurjit Bawa, the Principal of the school, welcomed the chief guest and parents and read out the annual report of the school.

Teaching shops under fire
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, October 20
Private educational institutions have become teaching shops where the fee is high and admission is difficult.

Stating this at the annual prize distribution function of Swami Ram Tirtha Public High School here today, the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, said that privatisation had led to the failure of the government schools.

The Governor said in government schools in general nobody wanted to teach and no one was prepared to learn. Earlier, education was not for sale. There was discipline and teachers were respected.

However, now teachers were not respected as much as in earlier times. There had been all-round deterioration in the system. He said there was need to bring about a cultural revolution.

He called upon the students to study with dedication. He also laid stress on selfless service, love for others and help to the poor. He said the realisation of oneself was the realisation of God.

The school today also celebrated the birthday of Swami Ram Tirtha and the silver jubilee of the Swami Ram Tirtha Memorial Society.

The Governor earlier garlanded the statue of Swami Ram Tirtha on the premises and inaugurated the school hall.

The president of the society, Mr Hans Raj Sharma, said the school was going to be upgraded first to the plus one level and then to the plus two level.

Students presented a cultural programme which included items like the Haryanvi dance, kathak and gidha.

CAMPUS ROUND-UP
PU plans building complexes
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh
Panjab University has prepared a plan for building a residential complex for university employees on its land in Sector 25, much of which has been encroached upon by slum-dwellers of Janata Colony and Kumhar Colony.

The PU Board of Finance cleared Rs 83.54 lakh for the new housing complex. The university has surrendered nearly 70 acres to the administration for the resettlement of the slum dwellers.

The land in this sector has been marked for academic and extra-currical activities. The plan includes construction of arts and science blocks besides a students centre and a centre for performing arts. The administration has assured the university that the slums will be shifted by mid-2001.

There have been demands for the construction of more houses on the campus. The poor financial condition of the university has been the primary reason for the university’s inability to take up the project.

The university has sanctioned Rs 8 lakh for a golden jubilee guest house. The Department of Pharmacy is likely to make a significant contribution to the project.

In order to speed up internet facilities, the university has given a grant of Rs 20 lakh. A fund-starved Department of Indian Theatre will receive of Rs 6 lakh for a theatre lab.

NSS camp organised
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, October 20
An NSS camp was organised at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, here from October 10 to October 19, attended by 50 students. Mrs Shashi Sharma, NSS-incharge, said a literacy drive was launched in the local Rajiv Colony on the occasion during which people were educated about virtues of good hygiene and rights of women. A cleanliness drive was also launched in and around the school campus.

A rally was organised from the school campus to Budanpur village to underscore the theme of literacy and conservation of environment. The students raised slogans to ban polythene.

The students organised a skit on family planning on the concluding day when prizes were distributed among the winners.

Minister lays foundation stone
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, October 20
Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister, today laid the foundation stone of ‘‘Sher-e-Punjab’’, a school block in Smt N.N. Mohan DAV High School, here today.

Mr R.C. Jeewan, a former Principal of DAV College, Chandigarh, and Manager of the school, demanded a separate road to the school as the institution was located on the busy highway.

Mr B.D. Bali, Vice-President of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, Mr Jagjit Singh Dalli, president of the Municipal Council, Dera Bassi, and prominent persons of the area were present on the occasion, said Ms K. Narang, Principal of the school.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Judicial remand for robbery accused
Our Correspondent

It was alleged that the accused along with four others had tried to commit a robbery at Sector 35-A.

Police remand

Vishwas Nath Atri, who is allegedly involved in a case of cheating, was produced before the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class) and sent to two-day police remand. The case against the accused was registered under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the IPC.

Bails granted

A local court on Saturday granted a bail to an accused arrested by the local police in a theft case. The accused was granted bail on the furnishing bail bond of Rs 5,000.

He was arrested on October 19 for stealing Rs 20. In another case, Tajinder Singh, an accused in a car theft case, was granted bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs 20,000.

Contract killing case

A contract killing case was committed in the court of UT District and Sessions Judge on Saturday. It was alleged that the accused, Balwant Rai, alias Chumma, had asked Ashok Kumar, driver of the another accused, Sant Kumar, that he should arrange hitmen for eliminating some person. The deal was struck for Rs 10 lakh for eliminating Harjinder Singh, alias Ghugi, a timber merchant. It was also alleged that Chumma had paid Rs 2.5 lakh to Bittu and another accused, Sant Kumar, the brother of Chumma, paid Rs 50, 000 to Bittu.

The case against the accused was registered under Section 115 of the IPC on the complaint of Mr Harjinder Singh on August 4.

CULTURE

Gypsies cast magical spell
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
As strains of a gypsy song scattered in the air, the mood for feasting was set. Just as the evening took off on the note of a trance, it ended up being all about gypsy and Latin melodies which hung thick in the air of a local discotheque tonight. It was almost impossible for revellers to grow out of the aura which the visiting troupe from Brazil created.

Four gypsies were busy painting bodies and distributing beautiful balloons. Headed by Michel, the main dancer and singer of the troupe, the other three, Lynda, Joe and Mirlee, were surely winsome. They threw themselves headlong into action at the venue. Said Lynda, “The world knows very little of heaven. We are here to show them some heaven and happiness.”

As one dug deeper into the troupe members, one realised that they were heading for a bigger, more serious, more humble purpose. Michel, belonging to Brazil, had been in and out of Gujarat ever since the recent massive earthquake. She said, “We are born to serve. Even our music is a medium of service. We use it to help others.”

Lynda informed of how Michel and others had been working to gather relief for Gujarat earthquake victims. She said, “They got many people to sponsor help. We have long been into this kind of social work. My daughter is also a dancer and she uses her art to spread anti-drug messages. We are all inclined similarly.” Lynda added how Joe, the master balloon maker, had been helping in many social causes.

Joe surprised the visitors by moulding the balloons into amazing shapes like those of an elephant, a deer, a dog, a horse and so on. He said, “I learnt the art from an American friend and I am using it to spread happiness.”

The objective of the troupe today was to help the gathering amass bits of scattered bliss. They performed on two gypsy numbers, with Michel and Mirlee dancing away to glory. The traditional gypsy folk instrument tambourine added more zing to the festivity. Joe and Michel were the main singers tonight. To get the crowds dancing was present Mandeep Bewly, a Channel V anchor.

After the gypsy songs, came a pure Latin sequence, which matched well with the moods. Most of those present tried their level best to dress up to the gypsy theme. There was also live tarot card reading. The musical mix was also near perfect, with deejay Bijan taking charge.

The serial attempts to take a fresh look at the commercial side of education. It is a satire put across in a light fashion. Besides Jaspal Bhatti, Sunil Grover and Savita Bhatti, the other actors include BN Sharma, Brijesh Ahuja, Deepak Raja, Suvinderpal, Hariom Jalota, Gurkirtan, Natasha, Parveen, among others. The script has been created by Satish Tandon, Ranvir Rana and Jaspal Bhatti himself. Rajinder Kashyap is the associate director of the serial while the music direction has been done by Brijesh Ahuja.

Akademi plans exhibition
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20
The Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi is collaborating with the All-India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi, to hold a state-level exhibition in the city. The Chairman of the akademi, Shiv Singh, has invited artists of the city to send their entries (painting, drawing, graphics and sculpture) up to October 30, to the Government College of Art, Sector 10. Artists of Haryana can send their entries to the AIFACS Regional Centre, 48/49, Swastik Vihar, Panchkula.

The works of merit, eight each from Chandigarh and Haryana, will be awarded Rs 7,500 each. These works will also be considered for the 74th national-level exhibition in Delhi. There are four awards of Rs 25,000 each, two awards of Rs 15,000 each and four awards of Rs 10,000 each. The best exhibit will be awarded the President of India’s Silver Plaque.