EDUCATION

Aero-Quiz winners honoured
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 1
The final round of the Aero-Quiz, organised by the local chapter of the Aeronautical Society of India, was held here today. Four teams each in the junior and senior categories representing various schools participated in the finals. A total of 76 teams had contested to reach the final round.

Besides, prizes were also awarded for various other competitions held during the year. Air Vice-Marshal Manjit Singh (retd) was the chief guest. The Air Officer Commanding of 3 BRD, Air Cmde S.B. Prashar, who is the chairman of the local chapter, was also present.

The winners are:

Aero-Quiz (Juniors): Ankur Aggarwal and Bhupesh, (Little Flower); Nehar Mishra and Kriti Ashok (Sacred Heart); Ritwik Grover and Tarunpreet (St John); and Akshat Sondhi and Ravneet Singh (St Kabir).

Seniors : Suhail Shergill and Tashil Phuntsog (Bhawan Vidyalaya); Ankur Goel and Hrisharan (Little Flower); Bhitesh Bhalla and Harmeet Singh (Shivalik); and Vineet and Dinker (DAV, Sector 15).

Essay competition, (Juniors): Jaspreet Kaur (AKS International); Megha Singla (St Joseph); and Deepinder Kaur (Sacred Heart).

Seniors : Amita Rana (Bhawan Vidyalaya); Vishesh (Little Flower)’ and Aditi Nagpal (Sacred Heart).

Aero News Scrapbook Competition: Ruchi Sharma (DAV, Sector 8); Vimmi Ahuja (Little Flower); and Bajrang Vats (Air Force School, 3 BRD).

This year, the society has also instituted an award of Rs 3,000 for the best academic student of Air Force School, 3 BRD. The ward went to Nidhi Kapoor.

Chaos marks talent search contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 1
As many as 1,500 students from 17 different schools from the city and it’s satellite towns, teachers and parents accompanying the participants for Mahindra Talent Search Competition were in for a big disappointment as confusion and chaos marked the entire event which was organised by Starfizz, an event management company at Shivalik Public School in Sector 41 here today.

The event that included on-the-spot painting competition, flower arrangement, clay modelling and dance competition took an ugly turn as two of the employees of the company Ms Baljit Kaur and Ms Pawanjit Kaur alleged Mr Yadvindra Singh for firing them without even paying there salaries. However the matter was settled amicably later.

“The event was a total fiasco right from the beginning,” said the staff of Guru Nanak Public School, sector 36, who along with their students had arrived at the venue on stipulated time only to find that nobody from the organising committee was around. “Even after paying the entry fee, students were not provided the needful material like drawing sheets, clay and the refreshment that was promised to them on time,” they alleged.

Even the staff of the Shivalik Public School were resentful about the whole episode. “The organising company which initially requested us only for the space made no arrangements on their own and the school authority had to provide the necessary infrastructure like mikes and chairs within a short time,” said Ms Birender Sidhu, a teacher from the school.

If that was not all, about 130 students from Paragan Senior Secondary School, Sector 71 had to pay twice to gain entry into the competition as the management committee refused to acknowledge their earlier payment. After sorting out all problems the competitions, which were categorised into sub juniors, juniors and senior categories started.

A lone judge Ms Kawaljit Kaur, Director, International Polytechnic, judged all three events on the-spot painting competition, clay modelling and flower arrangement. The results of the competitions are as follows:

Flower arrangement: Sub junior: First - Eeshna , second - Ramandeep and third- Ravneet all from Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36 Junior: first- Chabil Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, second-Divya from Shivalik Public School; and third — Ekta from Sukhmani International School, Dera Bassi.

Senior: first- Nitu from Sant Ishwar Singh School, Mohali; second — Jasleen from Sukhmani International School and third — Gareena from Sukhmani International School.

On-the-spot painting: Sub junior: first - Harpreet Kaur Suri from DAV Public School, Mohali, second — Rishu Sehgal from Gem Public School, Mohali; and third — Gaganpreet Singh from Gem Public School, Mohali.

Junior: first — Manpreet Singh, Golden Bell Public School, Sohana, second — Satjeet Kaur, Shiv Public School, Mohali and third — Navneet Kaur from Guru Nanak Public School. Senior: first- Anchita Agarwal from Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, second — Richa Sarin from Sacred Heart School and third — Simran Kaur from Sri Guru Harikrishan Public School, Sector 40.

Students impress at cultural contest
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 1
The third day of the 32nd All India inter-school cultural contest saw quality performances by the participants in the category of folk song, ghazal, classical vocal and classical instrumental music at DAV Senior Secondary School in Sector 8 here yesterday.

In the morning session 12 teams from various schools took part in the Mahatma Hans Raj Memorial Hindi Debate Contest. The trophy was won by Ankita and Rakhi from Chaman Lal DAV School , Sector 11, Panchkula. The first prize was bagged by Aanchal Malhotra from DAV Model School, Sector 15, followed by Rakhi from Chaman Lal DAV School. The third prize went to Ankita Chauhan from Chaman Lal DAV School.

Rohani Wadhwa from Stepping Stones School, Sector 38, won the first consolation prize and the second prize won by Amrita Bhattacharya from DAV Public School, Sector 8.

YPS re-union: Olde Lang Syne
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 1
“Yadvindrian” neatly printed on the near windshield of semi-limousines casually parked in front of the Chandigarh Club clearly indicated that a get-together was on, but gave little idea about the extent of celebrations. Inside the club, there was no stopping the old friends as they laughed together after hugging each other.

The social get-together of old Aitchison and Patiala Yadavindra Public School provided old pals the opportunity of being together once again and re-live the days they had so regretfully left behind. The oldest students who passed in 1948, Mr Onkar S.Phoolka, and the youngest passout, Ms Jasmeet Guron of the 1993 batch, exchanged pleasantries over a self-contributory lunch.

Among the students present at the club, those who had done well academically, included IPS officer Dinkar Gupta, IAS officer G.S. Pirzada, IPS officer V.P. Singh, IPS officer Birinderpal Gill, Senior Excise Officer Kiranbir S. Mann and PGI’s senior Doctor Mandeep Dhillon.

Other distinguished members were former minister Brij Bupinder, industrialist Mukesh Aggarwal, President of Young Farmer forum of India Harminder S. Sidhu, the Principal of SAS Nagar’s Yadavindra Public School, Harish Dhillon was a special invitee on the occasion.

According to the convener-cum-secretary general of the Old Boys’ Association G.S. Sandhu, the school came in existance in 1948. It was founded by the late Maharaja Yadvindra Singh of Patiala in affiliation with Aitchison College at Lahore. He added that such get-together would be held annually as per association’s decision.

‘New education policy required’
Our Correspondent

Zirakpur, December 1
To compete with developed countries, a change in the basic education policy is required. Apart from this students, the future of the country, must be given better education so that they could lead the country in a better way, said Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister at a school function here today.

He said the schools should provide quality education so that their students could compete in an era of healthy competitions.

He criticised the Congress for not giving proper consideration to this aspect in the past 50 years , following which the standard of education had declined drastically. He also held the Congress responsible for the backwardness of the Banur assembly constituency.

Later, the minister was also honoured with the Parsuram Memorial Award by the Brahmin Sabha, Dera Bassi.

He presented mementoes to students for their outstanding performance in academic and other co-curricular activities

Others who were present on the occasion include, Mr P.S. Johal, SDM, Mr Vinod Bhalla, Director Lotteries Punjab, Mr Narinder Sharma, a former sarpanch of Lohgarh village, Mr Narinder Mohan, General Secretary of Dera Bassi Brahman Sabha and parents of the students.

COURTS

CONSUMER COURT
Passenger awarded compensation
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 1
In a major decision in favour of consumer interest, the UT Dispute Redressal Forum-II has directed Northern Railways to pay compensation to a Mohali resident, who was trapped inside the toilet of the Shatabdi for half-an-hour. The complainant, Mr N.S. Saini, was travelling from Chandigarh to Delhi in the Shatabdi Express on July 7. He alleged that after half-an-hour the train leaving Chandigarh Station he went to the toilet attached to the compartment and locked it from inside. But when he tried to open the latch, it got stuck in the middle and would not budge despite his best efforts.

The complainant added that he pounded the door for help, but to no avail. He complained that the noise of the train drowned all his efforts to seek help. The complainant then tried number of methods to get out of the toilet but all in vain. Finally he managed to attract the attention of a passenger going to the opposite toilet through the slit window.

The complainant alleged that he was suffering from angina and the half hour he spent locked in the toilet was traumatic for him.

He also alleged that his pulse rate rose so much that he had to rest for three to four hours at Punjab Bhavan, his destination before he could feel normal again.

The complainant alleged about poor sanitation and refreshments, lack of proper information in the ticket and non-availability of the railway time-table for procuring which he strained a muscle.

Besides seeking a sum of Rs 5,000 as compensation for the mental and physical harassment suffered by him in the toilet, the complainant also sought direction to the railways to restore the quality of refreshment and other amenities.

CULTURE

Moments of trance, courtesy Shovana
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 1
Some performances rise above the perimeters of performance space and become eternal. And in their eternity they bless and inspire all those who have lived the bliss of performance along with the performer.

Padmashri Shovana Narayan was again on stage today. But just as has been in the past, one did not witness even an iota of repetition in her performance. She was as vibrant and as exuberant as she always is. So as her feet moved ahead of time, the space of Tagore Theatre resonated with vibrations of peace and amity — the two basic elements which the danseuse was stressing through her kathak sequence.

Accompanied by maestros in their own right — Pandit Jwala Prasad for vocal, Pandit Hari Mohan Sharma on tabla, Pandit Vijay Sharma on sitar, and Gopal Jhadav on pakhawaj and Aishwarya Sinha as the narrator — Shovana went on to create countless spells of magic. From one rhythmic pattern to another, from one Sanskrit verse stressing brotherhood to another and from one Sufiana qalaam by Jalaludin Rumi to another, Shovana used her art with utter perfection to spread to message which lies hidden in all our Vedas and Upnishadas.

Commencing the recital with traditional verses of the Om Shovana went on to interpret some other verses which directly suggest harmony. Her ‘abhinaya’ was impressive, her eyes serving as windows to her soul. Such was the passion of her portrayal of themes that the gathering lived the script written by Geeta Dhawan entirely. And more than the script the gathering lived the soul of the performance. Elaborating on Om as the medium of emancipation, Shovana showed how Krishna’s flute speaks of Om.

The presentation was unique in that it blended music, dance, and narrative well. In between the sequences, Shovana herself came up to the mike and analysed the Sanskrit verses for better comprehension of the audience. Rythm flowed from every verse as also from every step and the message of peace was conveyed just as it was meant to be.

Every sequence cast a spell and one could experience the trance, especially in the one where Shovana talked of how pure notes emanating from the flute have the power of purging the soul of all evil. She blended Sanskrit verses with Sufi qalaam of Jalaludin Rumi and established a striking correlation between the themes conveyed by both. As pandit Jwala Prasad sang the Sanskrit verse first and the Rumi’s qalaam later, the danseuse enacted the verse and explained to the gathering how the sound of flute could act as the sutra tying us to the almighty. She also took into account the ‘kalachakra sidhant’ — the cyclic quality of nature and used ‘abhinaya ang’ to show how the water cycle in nature completes itself. “These cycles can be seen in ‘aavardhans’, each one bringing a different experience in ‘gati’ and ‘laya’,” she said. Embodying grace incarnate, Shovana also went on to exhort against evils like greed.

Her enactment of Sheela Gujral’s story related to the pain of the fish was superb in technique and content. She bared the pain of the fish caught in a net so well that it seemed almost impossible to distinguish her from the character she was playing.

Ash in her new mould

EVER since she rocked the world by lifting the Miss World title, they have been saying a lot about her beauty. But the latest statement doing rounds of the industry about the perfect personality of Aishwarya Rai is that if beauty had a face, it would look like her. Well that apart, this lass has quite smitten the world with her charms.

Not the world alone, but some of the most sought-after Bollywood directors have long been smitten with her. The news is that most producers are waiting in line for the final nod from the beauty queen-turned actress. More than the producers, the directors are now demanding her. No wonder, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is all set to cast her again in his much-awaited classical love triangle Devdas.

The role ash is slated to do is the one which Vyjanthimala did in the old-time classic with Dalip Kumar as the male lead. Ash will now don Chandramukhi. Right opposite her will be the once numero uno of the industry, Madhru Dixit, whose charms never seem to fail her. In the role of Paro, Madhuri will play hide and seek with the love-lorn Devdas (Shahrukh Khan). The film, which has a somewhat at contemporary interpretation of the timeless emotion called love, will again test Ash for her acting and improvisation skills. However, going by the breathtakingly fresh performance she gave for Sanjay Leela Bhansali in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, there is little cause of worry for the producer, the financier or even the director of the film.