EDUCATION

Colleges’ demand for dissociation resented
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 26
Reacting to the demand of private colleges seeking dissociation from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Dr P.S. Ranu, a member of both the central and Punjab homoeopathic councils, alleged that some private colleges had vested interests and wanted to run the institutions on commercial lines.

Dr Ranu, in a press statement issued today, said one such college was Khalsa Dental College for Women, Mansa. He said the university had not allowed it to function like a “teaching shop.” The ayurvedic and dental college managements are now interested in running their colleges like teaching shops, which will not be allowed under any circumstances, he said. Dr Banu said it was enshrined in the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Act, 1998, that uniformity had to be established in standards of education in all faculties of health sciences, including the modern system of medicine, dental medicine and surgery, Indian system of medicine, homoeopathy and various paramedical and paradental disciplines, with a view to enhancing the quality of education and consistently aiming to modernise, improve and achieve the highest standards of academic excellence at all levels”.

It was in pursuance of this view that the Punjab Government transferred colleges affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Punjab University, Chandigarh, to the Baba Farid University. Dr Ranu said the university had made rapid strides in improving the quality of education in the field of health science.

He said inspections were conducted by the university frequently to ensure the maintenance of standards of health science institutions.

Dr Ranu said some dental and ayurvedic colleges wanted to admit students on their own, without following the procedures laid down by the university, in order to make easy money.

Dr Ranu stressed that such private institutions were playing havoc with the future of medical students.

Camp to tap creativity at BCM school
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 26
Vedic Karamyoga Cap-2002 for girls is being organised in BCM Arya Model School from December 25 to 31 to instil spiritual and moral values amongest girl students supplemented by personality grooming and development programmes.

The week-long programme aims at tapping the creativity of students, channelising their energy by imparting knowledge of materialism and spiritualism.

Mr Satyanand Munjal graced the occasion as chief guest and inaugurated the camp yesterday. The programme started with lamp lighting followed by bhajan, ‘gyan ka saagar char ved’ emphasising the importance of the Vedas in the present set-up. Addressing the audience, Principal Paramjit Kaur emphasised on the need of organising such camps.

On the occasion, students also delivered speeches expressing their views about how valuable these camps are to them. An action song “Meri ammi....” was presented which described the feelings of motherless daughter who desires her mother to come back.

The colourful spectrum of this camp will provide a variety of activities which include havan, yoga exercises, personality grooming, P.T. games and artistic skills. Not only this, the camp will keep the girls, “Fit as a fiddle” by imparting lessons in Yoga but also tap their potential to the fullest. Besides developing the students’ confidence, it will also promote mutual understanding and other social values.

CULTURE

Kutiyattam, kathak dancers enthral
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 26
Students attending the silver jubilee convention of SPICMACAY were yesterday treated to dance performances by Uma Sharma Padambhushan, an exponent of kathak, and Kalpana, trained by Gopal Venu in Kutiyattam.

The dances were part of “Nritya Sur Taal Sangam”, organised on the second day of the national convention at GRD Academy last evening. The dance performances mesmerised the children and they sat glued braving the chilly weather. Kalpana proved words were non-essential and expressed her feelings through her lotus eyes, facial expressions and gestures of hands. She depicted the playfulness of Krishna and showed the killing of Putna through a range of expressions conveying maternal as well as demonic feelings. Her grace and mastery of the dance were applauded. Musicians Sanjeev and Hariharan played on the traditional instrument mijahoob, while Krishnan played iddaka deftly. Nirmal Panikar was on the thalam and narrated the tale, which was much appreciated.

Uma interacted with the students by dancing like a peacock and making various gestures, asking the students to guess what she was performing.

The most breathtaking performance came at the end. It was the question and answer duel between the beats of tabla and the tinkling matching sound produced by Uma’s “ghungroos”. Mubark Ali on the tabla and Mustafa on the sitar supported her ably while Ramesh Parihar provided the vocals.

In the afternoon, the students witnessed a slide show of paintings of artist Arpana Caur. Seventy paintings out of a total of 150 were based on the theme of women’s liberation. She told the students that she had started painting in 1974 and her paintings had been exhibited on 70 occasions.

Lok Kala Manch presented a thought-provoking play that depicted the fate of women. Playwright Ajmer Aulakh, in his play “Channa de Paani”, highlighted the exploitation of women.

Earlier, on Tuesday night two Rumi Sufi singers and five members of their troupe opened the 25th convention of SPIC MACAY at a programme titled “Dialogue with Civilisation”, at GRD Academy here.

The intense cold wave notwithstanding, around 500 students and other local residents listened to the impassioned singing of Mehsa Wahdat and Marjan Wahdat, the two vocalists of the group. On an instrument called “Dhaichak,” the leader of the group Riza Abbai displayed his mastery. Azhar Ilhami showed his deft playing and moving of the “Daf” really applause. Ali Rajsi also performed well.

Ustad Allauddin Khan charmed the audience by his skilful performance on “Esraj”. He started with Raag Saraswati.

Dr Kiran Seth, the founder of SPIC MACAY, appealed to the chief guest Mr Partap Bajwa, Minister for PWD, and the residents help in promoting old art forms.

Earlier, Mr S.P. Singh Varanasi, an old associate of the organisation, told the students that they had not come to attend a “youth festival”, but to “worship music and commune with God.”

The function was attended by Ms Ganga Devi from Andhra Pardesh D Sucheta Kulkarni from Nagpur Ms Malvika Mazumdar and Ms Madhumita, all of whom have been associated with the organisation for a long time. The Ludhiana Sankritik Samagam, a voluntry organisation promoting performing arts, had also joined for the show.

Ms Hacharanjit Kaur Haer, wife of the Ambassador of India to Iran, inaugurated an exhibition of photograph based on the life of various Punjabi artists. The exhibition was titled “Roop Punjab Da”. It presented a photographic representation of folk musicians of Punjab. The photographer was Diwan Mann. The event was presented by the Chandigarh Administration and the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Academy.