The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Stage set for PUTA poll
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
The stage is all set for the elections to the Panjab University Teachers Association scheduled tomorrow with three candidates in to race for the president’s post.

While Dr Ronki Ram (Political Science) and Prof P. K. Mittal (Zoology) belong to the two major groups in the race, Dr Anirudh Joshi (Dayanand Anglo Vedic Studies) has decided to battle it out singly.

The other candidates in the race from Dr Ronki Ram’s group include : general secretary — Dr Rajan Gaur; vice-president — Dr D.S.Toor; joint secretary — Dr Sudip Minhas; and treasurer — Dr Ranbir Kaur. Candidates in the fray for various posts from Dr Mittal’s group include: vice-president — Dr Krishna Mohan; secretary — Dr Ashwani Sharma; joint secretary — Dr Charanjeev Singh; and treasurer — Dr D.V. Rai.

Dr Ronki Ram’s panel in the election manifesto says: “ Back in the past, PUTA has gone through a tough period, and the magnitude and intensity of the troubles have increased considerably. We have not made any significant achievement on various fronts that demanded our earnest and sincere attention”.

It adds that “enough is enough and time has come to call a spade a spade and without malice”.

The group of Dr Mittal who is also the sitting president says; “Our team will strive for “ : central university status for Panjab University; clearance of pension scheme; enhancement of retirement age; filling of open vacant posts; relaxation of refresher course conditions for university teachers; more elected university teachers representation in the Senate; earned leave in lieu of summer vacation; construction of new houses on the campus; and counting of past service for promotion.

Dr Ronki Ram’s panel says; “Can tall and unsubstantiated claims of private contacts with political bigwigs in the Punjab government fetch the teaching community in PU any collective benefits? We doubt it very much. Should we accept unsubstantiated claims, made surreptitiously and with the aim of generating insidious fears or for seeking votes, that teachers can get promotions and university appointments simply as favours to undeserving proteges?”

This group underlines some of the issues as ‘ enhanced elected representation of the university teachers in the Senate; more earned leave in lieu of vacations; practice of guest faculty should be stopped as far as possible; no changes in the system of rotation of chairs; enhancement in retirement age upto 62 and pension; and improved laboratory and library facilities.

Orientation programme for M.Ed teachers
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 12
A three-day orientation programme on the revised curriculum of the M.Ed course of Panjab University began in the Sector 36 Dev Samaj College of Education here today. The college has organised this in collaboration with the PU College Development Council, the Special Assistance Programme of the University Grants Commission and the PU Department of Education.

The programme is aimed at making the college lecturers learn topics introduced in the syllabus this year. Teachers will get to study the latest works of education research done worldwide. Dr Ramesh Kapoor, Dean College Development Council of Panjab University (PU), who was the chief guest at the inaugural session, stressed the need for periodically revising the education policy for quality education. He also offered to allocate 50 per cent of the expenditure on college teachers for organising and attending national-level seminars.

Dr Satinder Dhillon, Principal of the Dev Samaj College of Education, urged teachers to inculcate traditional values among students. Prof Sudesh Gakhar delivered the keynote address. The programme is also aimed at helping students crack competitive examinations and meet the needs of the job sector.

Garments focused during NIIFT’s course
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
The ongoing orientation programme for students of the National India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT) aims at exposing budding designers to the fast expanding field of garments.

After being inaugurated by Mr T.R. Sarangal, Secretary, Industries and Commerce, and currently executive director, NIIFT, the programme took off on the note of the challenges which the garment industry was currently facing. Where Mr Sarangal advised the students to work hard, the Director, NIIFT, Ms Vijay Sharma, motivated the students to be focused and achievement-oriented. As always, the programme will include talks on design, psychology, management and industry. Mrs Retinder Kohli, a psychoanalyst, spoke to the students on August 9, the first day of the six-day session. Dr B.S. Bhatia management expert apprised the students with importance of principles of management.

The programme will also include talks by eminent art historian Dr B.N. Goswamy, theatre artiste Neelam Mansingh, senior quality controller, Reebok, Ms Abhilasha, and the Executive, Australian Immigration Centre, Ms Shalini.

The session will conclude on August 14 at the Mohali campus of the NIIFT.

Exhibition in Manav Mangal
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 12
An exhibition of science and arts models was organised at Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, here yesterday. The efforts of students from different wings made the experience a wholesome one for about 1,000 parents who visited the exhibition.

The computer wing attracted a big crowd. Visitors lined up to get their horoscope made by ‘Computer Pandit’. They also got an opportunity to assess their knowledge in English literature and mathematics through quiz contests and puzzles. The English Department displayed live models from Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice’ and Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Posters and collages made by students conveyed messages of world peace, environment protection, eye and blood donation, need to check female foeticide, importance of traffic rules, national integration and corruption. The history wing also contributed by setting up a newsroom which gave the latest news to the visitors.

Junior wing students worked on the theme of environment protection. The social science wing stole the limelight by making seven wonders of the world in plaster of paris. Important tourist spots of India were also depicted through maps.

The science wing did some community service by conducting diabetes-detection tests. Testing of blood groups was also done for free. Working on the theory of index body mass ratio, students checked the visitors for obesity and prepared diet charts for them. Models of slide projector, dam, telephone and many other devices were also displayed.

Students protest against poor results
A Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 12
In protest against poor results in the previous academic session, students of the Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42, began an agitation, here today.

In a memorandum to the Chandigarh Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd), students said that in the first-year annual examination, only 15 out of 140 students managed to pass due to a change in the policy of the National Council at Delhi.

They alleged that the Principal of the institute at Chandigarh, Mr Naveen Nanchahal, despite being a member of the executive committee of the council did not inform them about the change in the policy.

The memorandum said that as many as 90 per cent students of such institutes, all over the country, had not passed and 35 students of the institute at Chandigarh had failed by a margin of only one mark.

Kehar Singh’s arrest stayed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
Issuing notice of motion for October 4 on a petition filed by the Punjab School Education Board chairman Kehar Singh, Mr Justice R.C. Kathuria of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed his arrest till then.

The judge also asked Kehar Singh to join the investigation on August 19.

He was apprehending arrest in a cheating and forgery case registered by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on July 14 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

Claiming to have been implicated in the case, his counsel had contended that there were no direct allegations against the petitioner. He was not even named in the first information report, counsel had added.

Soap’s emancipated woman comes calling
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12
Fame has a lot to do with happenstance. And no one knows this better than Shweta Tiwari, the Mumbai girl, who rules the roost in Ekta Kapoor's highest selling Star Plus soap “ Kasauti Zindagii Kay”. In the role of Prerna, who swallows the pain of desertion with dignity and moves on with life, Shweta is fairly convincing. But the point is whether, given a chance, she would emulate Prerna in real life.

For the big-eyed beauty, who began acting by chance, answer to the question does not come easy. Not only because it is difficult to speak the truth, but also because it is difficult to balance real and reel life roles. Admitting that she has begun to lose her identity ever since she began playing Prerna, Shweta said, “I love my role, so does my family. But there is a need to break free of a set acting pattern lest one's identity should be jeopardised.”

No wonder, Shweta has made a foray into the world of music videos with Daler Mehndi's latest song, sporting costumes in sync with the look of a modern Indian woman. The actress does not mind the new look, which is much different from the look of “Kasauti's...” Prerna. After talking her heart out, Shweta, however, remembers to return to her present mould. And perhaps unconsciously she makes a contradictory statement, "I wish I could be like Prerna in real life.”

As the debate hangs fire, the focus shifts towards the role which small screen soaps are playing in the social system. They are fast altering the social matrix. And whereas in most serials, including Shweta's own, women are apparently shown to be powerful, they hardly live up to the standard of emancipation. Shweta herself plays Prerna who, on the one hand puts the past behind her to become a media baron, but on the other lacks the conviction to declare her motherhood.

Reacting to inherent contradictions in characters of serials, Shweta said, “The idea is to show a woman in all her shades. She has tones of good and bad at the same time. She is weak and strong at the same time.”

In town today to launch the new academic session for the students of B.Sc degree and 2-year advanced diploma and 1- year diploma fashion design, textile design and interior design at NIFD, Sector 8, Shweta looked confident with her new found success. She talked of a Satish Kaushik film which she declined and also of how serious she was about serials. “At least for a year, I will concentrate on serials. I am gaining experience, learning to handle people through my director and picking up nuances of acting.”

Without any formal training, Shweta is aiming high. Her dream roles are those of Nargis in “ Mother India” and Madhuri Dixit in “Mrityudand”. But how far can on-the-set training take her? “I don't think I can ever match Nargisji. Also, I think the academics of theatre is very important. Although I am not trained, I have been a keen observer of people and situations. This will help me in films.”

While films are still a far cry, Shweta misses her dance, which actually brought her to the zenith. She recalls, “Theatre veteran Shahid Latif was the judge of one of the dance contests I won. He offered me roles in productions like “Khoobsurat Bahu”, “Gaj”, and “Kirayedaar”. That was the beginning. I had not known the destination would be so close.”

Shweta admits that success took her aback. “It happened so suddenly that I was not ready to absorb it. With success has come the fear of loss, which was not there earlier,” says Shweta, elaborating upon her hectic routine which has her on toes for all days in the month. “Balaji has sets for all its serials at Gore Gaon. We shoot as per locations, ” she informed.

As the 22-year-old girl basked in the glory of her fame, NIFD students made her all the more conscious of her stardom. She interacted with them, advised them and did all that a real role model needed to do — sign autographs, talk success and weave dreams...