Role of IGNOU in spreading education highlighted
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 31
A meeting was held at the IGNOU Special Study Centre at Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, Ludhiana, here today. Ms Santosh Choudhary, MP, chief guest, opened the meeting. Dr V.C. Pandey, Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre, Khanna, Mr M.L. Jharotia, Assistant Regional Director, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), Regional Centre, Chandigarh, and Mr Bachitter Singh, DEO(S), Ludhiana, were the guests of honour.

Dr Pandey spoke on the importance of the higher education and the role of IGNOU in the spread of education among the masses. Mr Rajinder Sharma told the students about the distance education programme of IGNOU through its educational channels, Ek Lavya and Gyan Darshan. Dr Pandey said video conference on September 13 and 14 would be addressed by the Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU, at New Delhi and would be relayed all over the country.

Ms Asha Sharma, co-ordinator, welcomed the new entrants and told them about the vital role played by distance education. She also threw light on technological advancement used in this system to make higher education accessible to all.

A declamation contest was arranged in memory of Late Beant Singh, former Chief Minister, Punjab, and 100 saplings were planted. The results of the declamation contests were:

Gagandeep Kaur I, Isha II and Jasjot Kaur III. Consolation prize was given to Mohneesh.

20 teams participate in contest
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 31
The Bharat Vikas Parishad, Sukhdev branch, Ludhiana, today organised an inter-school national group song competition at the local Devki Devi Jain Memorial College, Kidwai Nagar. Mr Rahul Bhandari, Additional Deputy Commissioner, was the chief guest and Lala Lajpat Rai, MP, presided over the function.

Twenty teams took part in the competition. In the junior wing, students up to Class X took part and in the senior wing, students of Class XI and XII took part. Ms Rachna Khanna, Ms Pavitro Sachdeva and Ms Anuradha Sharma were the judges.

The winning teams were given trophies, certificates and consolation trophies.

The results are: Junior wing: RSM Senior Secondary School (first); BVM Senior Secondary School (second); and Shanti Niketan Adarsh Vidhyala (third).

Senior wing: SDP Senior Secondary School (first); SSF Senior Secondary School (second); and RC Model School (third).

Mr Bhandari applauded the parishad for conducting such activities.

The function ended with the singing of national anthem followed by a vote of thanks by its secretary, Mr Dalbir Nanda.

Students plant saplings
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 31
“Vanmahotsava” was celebrated with zeal by students and staff of Shanti Tara College, Ahmedgarh, yesterday. The head of the Municipal Committee, Ahmedgarh, Mr Rajnish, was the chief guest. The Chief Manager, the Oriental Bank of Commerce, Mr Jain, also attended the function.

The Principal of the college, Mr Inder Mohan, welcomed the guests. He impressed the audience by reciting couplets in Hindi and Urdu. The students were told about the uses of planting trees and their preservation by Mr Prem Gupta, Mr A.K. Malhotra, Prof Rachna Marya and Prof Charanpreet Singh Dua.

Students were also given free saplings to plant at their houses. The students entertained the audience by presenting a number of cultural items.

The Chairman, Milk Plant, Ludhiana, inspired the students to concentrate on their studies with greater interest, and announced a donation of Rs 11,000 for the development of the college. Mr Raghunath Sharma, member, block samiti, Siar, donated Rs 21,000 to the college development fund. A donation of Rs 1,100 was given by Mr Darshan Singh.

Bhai Gurdas Award for Dr Dua
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 31
Dr Amarjit Singh Dua, Dean Colleges, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, was honoured with Bhai Gurdas Award for his contribution in the field of education and promotion of Punjabi language by Mr Karamjit Singh Aujla and Prof Kulwant Jagraon, president and general secretary of Sirjan Dhara, respectively, at a function held at Punjabi Bhavan here today.

Prof Shamsher Singh Sandhu, a Canada-based Punjabi poet, was honoured with Punjab Di Khushboo Award and his collection of ghazals “Ga Zindagi De Geet Tu” was released by Dr Dua.

Prof Mohinder Singh Cheema appreciated the literary achievements of Prof Sandhu and said his ghazals depicted the various moods of modern-day Punjabis living abroad. Mr Aujla said Sirjan Dhara had been working towards promoting Punjabi language and literature for the past 15 years. He lauded the efforts of Dr Dua and Professor Sandhu.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Kulwant Jagraon said Dr Dua was a source of inspiration to students and had helped many needy students to continue their higher education.

Mr Devinder Singh Sekha, Dr Kulwinder Kaur Minhas and Mr Harbir Singh Bhanwar also expressed their views.

CULTURE

Comedy with a social message
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, August 31
“Parents feel they have to keep their children happy and satisfy all their needs. But when they grow up and want to marry a girl or boy of their choice, the parents stand in their way and ensure that the children do not marry the partner of their choice,” says Sudha Chandran, a popular cine and TV star.

This is the crux of the problem of the comedy “Kamaal Karte Ho Aap Bhi” staged last night at Guru Nanak Bhavan.

The story revolves around an old man, his son, grandson and his daughter-in-law. Jairaj, father of Neeraj, is against his son marrying Sharmilee. Sudha Chandran, in the role of mother, begs her husband to accept the match. Rajesh Puri, who enacts the role of grandfather, is more open to the idea that his 65-year-old son who is rigid and stubborn.

After a lot of twists and turns the climate comes with the son telling his father to take Rs 17 lakh for his upbringing, a reflection on modern times.

Sudha Chandran and Rajesh Puri gave excellent performances. The dialogues were witty and included contemporary subjects. The sets and costumes were also good. Music and the lyrics specially written for the play were moving.

It was the 50th presentation of the play by Kala Sangam. The play was directed by Mr Imtiaz Patel.

Earlier at a press conference, Rajesh Puri of the “Hum log” fame told mediapersons that he has acted in more than 150 films and given 4500 stage performances. Sudha Chandran who has gained immense popularity as Ramola Sikand in a TV serial, said: “I was apprehensive whether I would be accepted in a negative role but my winning the award for the most popular mother-in-law proves that the people like me.”

On how had she coped with the tragedy of her right leg being amputated at the age of seventeen, she said: “When a person is thrown into a pool, either he swims or drowns. I chose to swim.”