The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Discussion on energy sources
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 28
A three-week faculty training programme of the Department of Farm Power and Machinery, PAU, concluded here on Thursday. The programme was held under the aegis of the Centre of Advance Studies (CAS) for the teachers of agricultural engineering institutions and colleges of agricultural universities and the ICAR institutes.

The objective of the programme was to upgrade the quality of teaching and research by promoting awareness regarding the recent advances in alternative energy sources. At least 22 participants from different states, including Tamil Nadu, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, New Delhi, and Punjab etc., attended the course.

Eminent experts, including Dr K.N. Nag, Dr J.P. Mittal, national co-ordinator, NATP, Dr Murari Shyam, principal co-ordinator of Renewable Energy, CIAE, Bhopal, and Dr S.R. Verma, former Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, PAU, delivered lectures.

A total of 28 lectures, practical and visits to fields and farm machinery manufactures in Punjab were conducted. Dr I.K. Garg, Senior Research Engineer-cum-Head and Director of the course, said mechanisation had helped cut down the cost of cultivation and losses.

Dr Garg emphasised that the Department of Farm Power and Machinery had developed a large number of machines that had been commercialised and adopted by farmers. These include no tillage, strip till drill, reaper, self-propelled sprayer, sunflower and paddy thresher etc.

Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean (Postgraduate Studies), PAU, was the chief guest. Dr H.S. Sekhon, Dean, College of Agricultural Engineering, presided over the function. Dr D.N. Shukla, former Head of Department, mentioned that the Department of Farm Power and Machinery had been recognised as a centre of advance studies by the ICAR, the only such centre to get this recognition.

Beant, Sarbjit best students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 28
GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, today organised its annual prize distribution function at Nihang Shamsher Singh Hall of the college. Prof Ramesh Kapoor, Dean, College Development Council, Panjab University, Chandigarh, was the chief guest. The Principal of the college, Dr J.S. Cheema, presented the annual report and enumerated various achievements of the students in the fields of academics, sports, and cultural and socio-religious activities.

Beant Kaur of BA III and Sarbjit Kaur of BSc III were jointly declared best students of the year. Prof Ramesh Kapoor gave away prizes and praised the work done by the students and college. Mr Manjit Singh Khattra, honorary director, expressed the vote of thanks. The college bhangra and gidha teams enthralled those present.

CULTURE

Seminar, plays mark World Theatre Day
Asha Ahuja

World Theatre Day celebrations at Punjabi Bhavan in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

Ludhiana, March 28
“The problems of theatre, specially of Punjabi theatre are the lack of proper lights sound equipment and stage, lack of funds as well as interest of government agencies and people,” said members of the Ludhiana Rangmanch Sansthan at a seminar organised on World Theatre Day here at Punjabi Bhavan yesterday.

The seminar was presided over by Dr S.N. Sewak, Director, Ludhiana Kala Manch. It was organised by the Malwa Rangmanch led by Nirmal Jaura. A large number of theatre persons attended the seminar. All nine local theatre groups decided to form the Ludhiana Ranghmanch Sansthan. The ad hoc committee of the sansthan elected Prof S.N. Sewak — Convener and H.S. Randhawa, Trilochan Singh, Mota Singh, and Nirmal Jaura — members.

The next meeting will be held on April 14 at Punjabi Bhavan. The Sansthan will co-ordinate the activities of all theatre groups and aid in production of plays at different places. Kheeva Garg, H.S. Randhawa, Gurbhajan Gill, Janmega Singh Johal, Prof Ravinder Bhattal and many others attended the seminar.

After the seminar, the Malwa Rangmanch organised a Natak Mela. The Mela was inaugurated by poet Surjit Patar. Three plays were staged. The first play: “Kadon Tak” was staged by the Art Theatre, Ludhiana. The play revolved round the struggle for independence. Performers depicted India without the chains of slavery, but in the chains of hunger, unemployment, lack of housing. The play raises the question, how long will these shackles remain?

Jaswinder Singh from the Government College for Boys, sang and Navdeep danced during an interlude.

The second play “Wagde Paneeyan di Gatha” focussed on the problems of farmers. Due to the ambition of youngsters, the head of the family gets into debt and commits suicide. The play written by Jagdev Dhillon was directed by Kirti Kirpal. It was a presentation of the North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala. janmeja Singh Johal, Secretary, Punjabi Likhari Sabha, said; “suicide is not a solution to any problem”.

The third play was “Bukal de Aag” from a Barnala group. The play shows how a widow refuses marriage proposals to keep the property within the family and later decides to live all by herself. The play was directed by Surjit Sandhu.

A few theatre personalities were honoured. Pali Bhupinder Singh was awarded the I.C. Nanda award for directing several plays of Guru Nanak Dev University. Dr M.S. Randhawa Award was presented to Maha Shakti Kala Mandir, Barnala, for presenting plays of quality. Narinder Singh won the Safdar Hashmi Award whereas Ved Sharma was given the Balraj Sahni Award. Hardip Gill was given the Bunty Moga Award.

The awards were presented by Surjit Patar. The show was anchored by Nirmal Jaura. Mr N.S. Nanda, special invitee; Gurcharan Singh, Director, Shingar Group; Mr Harjit Singh Bedi, (IRS), Chairman Sobha Singh Memorial Foundation were among those present in the audience.

Handling myths in Jagtar style
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, March 28
He is different. For this reason, he wants to be known as Dr Jagtar only. No Middle or last names for him. Period. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book “Diva Dariya” the only Punjabi book of ghazals to be awarded so far. He is well known among the Punjabi literary fraternity in the world. He is in the city in connection with the seminar: “A Review of Punjabi Literature after Independence.”

He has had a chequered career as a writer, critic, translator lecturer and a fellow of Punjabi University. To his credit are 32 books. Out of these books 11 are anthologies of his poems. He has translated Pakistani’s author Abdulla Hassan’s popular Urdu work “Raat” into Punjabi and also Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s work “Raat di Raaz”.

He stayed in Pakistan to do his research on modern Punjabi poetry in Pakistan from 1947 to 1972. His translated works include History of Paintings in India “and “A Red Kite” (children’s books and same short stories) of Pakistani writer Qeuratul Haider.

His research on “Heer Damodar”, which was discovered by Ganga Singh Bedi in 1927, is extensive. Dr Jagtar found the manuscript in 1981 in Multan. He researched on the book and corrected the discrepancies that had got into its editions. The book has been prescribed as a text-book in Punjabi University. He compiled a dictionary of difficult works from Baba Farid and other Sufi poets as part of his Fellowship work for three years. He has translated 200 words and idioms including Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit from Kissas.

The task was not difficult for him as he is a post-graduate in Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Punjabi. He says, “It is very essential for a writer to know different languages. Many of today’s writers do not know languages other than the one they use and hence cannot use myths in different ways. He reproduces them as he has been told. “The right people are not getting their due. The Sahitya Akademi award to Dev — a painter poet is in the thick of controversy. The awardees should be carefully selected. The upcoming poets lack sensitivity and seriousness of efforts. Their works appears to be more of patch work. Some poets are churning out most deplorable literary works. The readers have no time. Moreover due to commercialisation, the poetry is losing its sting. Literature is no longer the mirror of society.”

He is a modern poet, but a “ghazalgo”. He has mastery in blank and free verse. His songs and ghazals have won him the Bhasha Vibhag award. The Pakistanis have given him the Poet of Today award. In America, he was voted the Poet of Millennium in the year 2000 and recognised as the Poet of the Century. Besides this, he has bagged the professor Mohan Singh and the Baba Balwant awards.