Six govt school teachers suspended
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 29
The Director of Education (Senior Secondary) Haryana, Mr R. K. Khullar, has ordered the suspension of six government school teachers working in this district with immediate effect on the charge of dereliction of duty during the annual examinations conducted by the Board of School Education, Haryana.

This action followed after receipt of the report sent by the Chairman/Secretary of the board against them, alleging that they had failed to check copying by the examinees during the examinations.

The names of the teachers are: Mr Padam Singh, a PTI in the government school at Niat village, Mr Maman Singh, a mathematics teacher working in the government school at Kheri Damkan village, Ms Rajo Devi, social sciences teacher working in the government school at Barona village, Mr Prem Singh, social sciences master working in the government school at Farmana village, Mr Satbir Singh, a Hindi teacher working in the government school at Mandora village and a woman teacher of the government school in Mohalla Jatwara, Sonepat.

Another 12 teachers allegedly involved in irregularities and malpractices in the annual examinations conducted by the Board of School Education, Haryana, are likely to be suspended from service pending departmental inquiry.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh has termed the order of the Director of Education as dictatorial and said these orders would be challenged in the court of law as they were unjust and unwarranted.

In a press statement, it has claimed that the teachers had done their duty honestly for making the annual examination free of copying but they had no authority to search the garments of the examinees. It urged the Chief Minister to order reinstatement of the teachers who had been suspended by the Director of School Education, Haryana.

Youth gets life term for killing woman
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 29
After two years a city court today sentenced a youth to life imprisonment for murdering a woman in the Mohan Nagar area of South West Delhi in 2002. The accused, Vijay (21), had killed the woman, Shashi Sharma, following a dispute with the victim’s son, Gaurav Sharma, on who would fetch the water first.

Additional Sessions Judge R. K. Yadav also ordered the convict, Vijay (21), to pay a fine of Rs 500. Gaurav, on July 8, 2002, had gone to fetch water from a pipe in the Mohan Garden area near Uttam Nagar where he was staying.

When Vijay met Gaurav both had an argument over who would collect water first. Vijay then passed indecent remarks against Gaurav’s mother, Shashi Sharma. Gaurav went home and narrated the incident to his mother. Thereafter, both Shashi and Gaurav went to the residence of Vijay and had a heated argument, which resulted in Vijay killing Shashi, beating her with a belt and a brick on her head.

CULTURE

Artscape
The miracle of the left hand
Ravi Bhatia

An exhibition of paintings “Baayen Haath Ka Kamaal” at Krishna’s Collection Art Gallery is on till May 4.Curated by well-known art critic Sanjiv Nair, it showcases physically challenged artist Shreekant Dubey’s series on “Dasavtar”, fabulous creations based on the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Born and brought up in Ghazipur, near Benaras in Uttar Pradesh, Dubey aspired to be a footballer, till destiny played its role in 1982. Going out for the usual morning stroll when he was barely 14, the young Dubey saw a coil of cable in his path. Unwittingly, he picked it up to clear his path and then literally got a jolt of his life as 11,000 volts of electricity zapped him. The live electric cable had apparently snapped overnight. He came to the hospital only to find that his right hand had been amputated.

The shock of the loss of a vital limb was devastating for the young lad. But thanks to the support of the family and his own strong will, he succeeded in becoming an adept painter.

But it was not easy. He had to struggle for hours together to learn and write with his left hand initially. It was only through tremendous perseverance and hard work that he succeeded in it. He recalls how one day he sat in his room and cried all day till he suddenly realised that the almighty was with him and all that had happened was his will. It was then that he decided to become an artist and paint pictures of Lord Vishnu in his various incarnations.

Married with children, Dubey now lives in Jagatpuri in East Delhi. He did his BFA from Kashi Vidyapeeth and then devoted himself to pursue art in all its manifestations.

Making a statement through painting

An exhibition of paintings by the well-known Delhi-based artist, Mohan Singh, is being showcased at the Shridharani Art Gallery on Tansen Marg here from April 30 to May 9.

Mohan Singh, a postgraduate in Arts from the Delhi College of Art, excels in making a statement of the inner depth through his paintings. Known as one of the upcoming contemporary artists, Mohan Singh’s works reflect the present day themes.

Silver Lining

Beginning April 29, the Italian Institute of Culture here will come alive with an exhibition of contemporary Italian designs. Works of some of the better-known contemporary designers and artists of Italy will be part of the exhibition entitled “Silver- From Gods to Commoners”. The exhibition will remain open till May 21.

Interpreting woman through dance

Renowned Odissi dancer and a disciple of prestigious Sahitya Academy awardee 2003, Guru Behera Das, Alpana Nayak won the hearts the audience by her mesmerizing performance at the city’s Kamani Auditorium on Sunday.

The dance recital was organised by the Association for Learning and Performing Arts and Normative Action. Many dance enthusiasts of the city, including foreign nationals, were present on the occasion to watch and encourage Alpana’s performance.

The Odissi recital started with ‘Mangalacharan’, with Alpana dedicating herself to the almighty and begging excuse from the mother earth for stamping feet on her and also to the audience for shortcomings if any, during her recital. The danseuse also paid obeisance to her Guru. The next item that followed was Vichitravarna-an innovative interpretation of woman through Odissi style, portraying womanhood as an embodiment of six different roles. Alpana depicted the different roles of woman, as an embodiment of love, freedom, equality, procreator, tolerance and destructor through the different expressions of Mohini, Mukti, Badhu, Janani, Khsyama, and Samhara respectively. Music for Vichitravarna was composed by Prashant Behera and was choreographed by Guru H. K. Behera, Alpana Nayak and Kaveri Behera.

Born and brought up in Orissa, Alpana Nayak began her training in Odissi at the age of seven under late Guru Deva Prasad Das and Guru Sudhakar Sahoo. She gained her “Nritya Shree” degree at the age of thirteen. For the last two decades, she has enriched her Odissi style under Guru H K Behera. She has been awarded the fellowship of the Department of Culture in 2004.

Alpana has performed in many cities and cultural festivals of India and England. Along with her performing career, Alapna is also a dedicated teacher. She is actively involved in promotion of Indian culture in India and abroad by conceiving, developing and presenting new compositions. She has taught Odissi and different Indian folk dances in several cities of India and in London. Currently, she teaches Odissi in Delhi and Ghaziabad. She also teaches Odissi to special children in East Delhi.

Music zone
Shiv Namokaar for global audience

Lord Shiva is the oldest God known to mankind. His name means the ‘Auspicious One’. He is ‘pure consciousness’, the creator of time, all-powerful and all-knowing. He is the lord of the soul and lord of the three conditions of nature. From Him comes the transmigration of life and liberation, bondage in time and freedom in eternity. We humans accept and worship him as `One Inimitable Divine’.

Times Music launches ‘Shiv Namokaar’ by Anandmurti Guru Maa, an album that salutes both the ‘Sargun’ and ‘Nirgun’ facets of Lord Shiva. An enlightening foreword before the chanting of Shiva’s mantra- ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, emphasises on the content, mood and philosophy of this album that compliments Lord Shiva’s benefactor role (Kalyanrupi).

These chantings are recorded in the soothing and unforgettable voice of Anandmurti Guru Maa, the world renowned spiritual teacher and mystic. The significance of the album ‘Shiv Namokar’ is best explained in Guru Maa’s own words: “Lord Shiva is the first master of Hinduism. Lord Shiva blessed earth with magic of resonance of sound and speech. He is also the creator of ‘Taal’, ‘Damru’ and ‘Ghungroo’. His abode is the fountainhead of esoteric knowledge and music. There is a divine potency in the chanting of his name.”

When Guru Maa planned to record this album, it was her vision to make these chants as appealing to audiences across the world. Thus, stepped in a unique sound design, which is unlike the traditional ‘pakhavaz’, ‘tabla’, and ‘tanpura’, set-up used for chanting.

Electronic groove, percussion, drums, synthesizer keys and flute account for the cosmic feel in ‘Shiv Namokaar’, while Guru Maa’s voice resonates in the power packed chant. An influence of world music and fusion is experienced in this album.

The non-stop recital of ‘Om Namoh Shivaya’ in happy moods is very beneficial and Guru Maa’s chanting evokes true devotion. The album concludes on a beautiful fusion of chantings amidst western percussions. The music is arranged by Kanchman Babbar.

‘Shiv Namokaar’ is an amazing offering for lovers of devotional music and followers of Lord Shiva. But it could easily be heard at your favourite club or nightspot.