EDUCATION

Symposium on solid state physics
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 27
Seven talks by eminent scientists marked the second day of the symposium on solid state physics being organised by the Department of Atomic Energy at the Panjab University here.

Deliberations were made on topics like high-temperature superconductors, magnetic materials and collidial solutions, all of which are of current technological importance. About 100 research papers were presented today, out of which 10 were oral talks, while the rest were poster presentations.

Professor S. Dattagupta, Director, S.N. Bose Centre of Basic Sciences, Kolkata, talked about coherence versus decoherence in some problems of condensed matter physics, while Lavanya M. Ramaniah from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, highlighted studies of condensed phase systems. Indra Dasgupta from the IIT, Mumbai, and Dr D.K. Aswal from the BARC spoke on recent advances in the field of super conductors.

Later, Dr P.S. Goyal of the BARC apprised the participants about small angle neutron scattering experiments being performed at the indigenous Dhruva nuclear reactor for studying the properties of micellar solutions.

Dr B. Sundaravel from the IGCAR, Kalpakkam, talked about several new advanced semiconductor materials which now in the forefront of semiconductor research, while Dr I. Das of Saha Institute, Kolkata, gave a talk on magnetocaloric effect in rare-earth compounds and its importance.

CULTURE

‘Poor scripts have let me down’
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 27
The model-turned actress, Pooja Batra, was in the town to inaugurate a VLCC outlet today. A Punjabi kudi to the core, she did not shy away talking to newsmen in Punjabi when asked whether they (actors), were aware of the underworld links of producers they were working for. “Nahin pata lagda. Jadon waah painda hai, tan pata lagda hai. ( We do not get to know initially. Only when you work with people that you get to know of this nexus),” she said.

Her auburn locks flaying all over her delicate shoulders and glares resting smartly over her petite nose, she had heads turning as she went around the centre and later performed puja. Attired in a perfect black and white combination (a white crocheted top and white pedal pushers with a black knee-length leather overcoat), Pooja looked her very best. Fresh and charming, she went about meeting people, signing autographs and getting snaps clicked with excited fans.

Ask her about her career graph, she makes a candid confession by saying that not very many good roles have come her way. “Viraasat my maiden film did very well at the box office and my role was also well appreciated. But then, after this no good roles have come my way,”.

But she has the ability to bounce back. After being written off after her performances in unforgettable movies like “Bhai”, “Kuch Kuch Khatti, Kuch Kuch Meethi” and “Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya”, she was again in the professional league with movies like “Haseena Man Jayegi” and “Jodi No. 1”.

However, Pooja feels that the reason for the failure of her earlier movies was poor script and not her own performance. “I have matured as an actor ever since I joined the film industry. My role, even if it was miniscule and had negative shades, in “Kuch Kuch Khatti, Kuch Kuch Meethi”, was appreciated by the critics. Even in “Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye”, my performance as a wannabe actress was lauded by a number of people,” she said.

Interestingly, things are now looking up for the actress. She loves to talk about her role as Noor Jehan — the queen of Mughal emperor Jehangir — in a period drama. “I have a wonderful character in this historic film and hope it will also promote my career,” she says. She is also excited about her role in “Talaash” which is awaiting release next year.

Earlier, she along with Ms Luthra and Mr Sandeep Ahuja gave a presentation of the growth of VLCC and its various specialisations in slimming, fitness and beauty industry.