The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

College honours 250 students
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 3
More than 250 students were honoured at the annual prize distribution function at Shanti Tara College, here, yesterday. Professor Rajinder Bhandari, a senator of Panjab University and a BJP leader, presided over the function and Mr Kesho Ram, an industrialist of Ludhiana, was the chief guest.

In his presidential address, Mr Bhandari called upon the students to join hands against the anti- national forces which were luring youth towards drugs.

Gurpreet Kaur and Monica Vaid were honoured for their outstanding performance in academics and sports fields, respectively. Jagdev Singh and Simranjit Kaur were honoured for being the best athletes in their respective categories, while 122 students were honored for their outstanding performance in studies, 44 for their achievements in cultural activities, 18 for their service under the banner of college NSS unit and 49 for distinguished performance in sports.

Seventeen students were awarded the college colour.

Mr Prem Gupta, president of the trust running the affairs of the college, gave Rs 1 lakh to the cultural society while Mr Kesho Ram donated Rs 30,000 to the college.

IGNOU convocation
Our Correspondent

Khanna, March 3
The 16th convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is being organised at Regional Centre, Bulepur, Khanna, on March 5. According to Mr Umesh Chandar Pandey, Regional Director, the unique feature of the convocation is that it will be organised at different regional centres simultaneously with the main function at the university headquarters through teleconferencing.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will be the chief guest at the main venue, whereas Prof S. S. Johl, Vice-Chairman, Punjab State Planning Board, Chandigarh, will be guest of honour at IGNOU regional centre, Khanna.

Nearly 200 students belonging to different parts of Punjab and Chandigarh will be awarded degrees and diplomas during the convocation at Khanna.

COURTS

Bail denied to 2 in case of fraud
Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 3
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr J.S. Bhatia, has dismissed the bail applications filed by Rakesh Jain and Raju of Aggar Nagar. They were allegedly involved in duping a businessman, Kuldip Singh Ghai, of Ghai Estates, Feroze Gandhi Market, Ludhiana.

Following the complaint of Mr Ghai, the local police had booked six persons, including two NRIs. The complainant had alleged that he had entered into an agreement of sale with respect to three different properties worth Rs 4.5 crore in September 2004 with Vaikunth Lal. The purchaser had failed to make the payments within the stipulated period. However, he had made some payments.

It was further alleged that later on the two parties had arrived at a compromise with the condition that the complainant would pay back Rs 61 lakh and the purchaser would return the original agreements of sale. Thereafter, the accused Rakesh Kumar Jain, Joga Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Kamal Kumar and Ramesh Kumar took Rs 51 lakh in cash and two demand drafts worth Rs 5 lakh from the complainant on behalf of Vaikunth Lal. But instead of returning the original sale agreements they returned coloured photocopies of the same and cheated the complainant.

CULTURE

Spiritual leanings reflect in his paintings
Lovleen Bains

Doraha, March 3
Ramvinder, a B.A. final year student of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, is bound to make a breakthrough with his exemplary artistic quality of a painter. His paintings seem to be a highly spiritual endeavour to discover the best in mankind. The portraits of Ramvinder, most of which are more or less an imitation of Sobha Singh's works, are in no way less expressive and outstanding. Following the creative appeal of the great painter, the young artist is creating ripples in the field of art.

The artist in him was discovered by his ownself at a tender age of five when he failed to believe his fingers, having formed the image of a sparrow on the heap of mud lying in the courtyard of his house. He was left spellbound at the creativity of his thought and action. That was the time when he distinguished himself from others and the natural talent in him now became irresistible.

With minor participations here and there while at Government Primary school, Mutton in Samrala, a breakthrough came when he participated at the block- level competitions at Payal and came first. At that time he was in standard VIIIth and was studying in Government Senior Secondary School, Doraha. He formed the portrait of a mother elephant with her small baby. In a series of competitions that followed, Ramvinder astonished one and all with his creative talent. At college, he participated in the zonal youth festival at A.S. College for Women, Khanna, and secured the distinguished position. Again, at the zonal festival organised at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, he secured the first prize in painting from still life category.

But these achievements carry little significance for Ram whose mind and heart crave to quote the spiritual aspect of an individual which has been lost in the pursuit of materialisation. For him modern art is meaning;less as it exposes the outer man, thus completely neglecting the eternal self. He feels The humdrum activities of day-to-day life and living have arrested the growth of the genius.

The flowering of the spirit has been throttled by the unimaginative works of humans. Man has been caught in the nightmarish desires of the physical self.

Ramvinder has formed a number of portraits but he is yet to initiate the work his heart craves for. The 'Meera' of his dreams has yet to receive a form on his canvass. "Her serene beauty and endless yearning I still have at the back of my mind. I shall surely give it a practical shape and that would be the zenith of my art," shares the young meditative artist.

He has no guru as he has long ago discovered it in his inner self. Yet he feels, that Mr Dilbag Singh, who is a disciple of Sobha Singh, of New Janta Nagar, Ludhiana, has made things easier for him. "He gave me lessons on self and the need to bring it before the world," Ram says. At this time, Ram surely needs a sound financial support and the promotive knowhow to pursue his talent in the right direction.

HEALTH

Medical reps’ plea to government
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 3
The Punjab Medical Representatives Association has called for security of service by covering them under minimum wages Act and the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act so that they could be saved from the exploitation at the hands of pharmaceutical companies.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the association here last evening, Mr G.S. Chadha, general secretary, alleged that the medical representatives were subjected to harassment by their employers by posting them at far-flung places. Not only this, at times they were implicated in false police cases by their employers before summary dismissals. Making a plea for improvement in the service conditions of more than 5,000 medical representatives in the North, he wanted the state to follow legislations brought by Maharashtra Government for their welfare.

The chief guest at the function, Mr Surinder Dawar, Parliamentary Secretary, Power and Housing, assured that the police administration would be directed to take action on complaints lodged against medical representatives only after proper investigation. Further they would also be asked to initiate criminal action against the complainant if it was established that complaints were false or motivated.

He lauded the social service activities like blood donation and medical camps undertaken by the association. Mr Dawar urged other voluntary and professional bodies to come forward for the welfare of people.

Mr R.K. Jaiswal, SP (City I), who presided over the function, gave an assurance that the medical representatives would be given a fair treatment by the police.

A colourful cultural programme was presented by members of the association. Among those present at the function were Mr Rohit Sharma, Mr Vijay Danav, Mr Rohit Sharma, Mr Amit Sharma, Mr Pushpinder Singh, Mr Manjit Singh and Mr Rajesh Kaul.

Apollo to open hospital in city
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 3
Satguru Partap Singh Apollo Hospitals, a joint venture of Apollo Hospitals and SJS Holdings Ltd, will commence the out patient department (OPD), laboratories and diagnostic facilities in the city on March 28. The 350-bedded multi-speciality hospital will open admissions to 175 beds in the initial phase.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Mr Jugdiep Singh, Director of the company, said the Apollo group was successfully running 23 hospitals in 14 countries. In India, the group had established 13 hospitals and 14 facilitation centres attached to these hospitals.

Dr G. Awasthy, a former Head of the Medicine Department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, who has joined as Director, Medical Services, Apollo, said the institution would endeavour to provide best of medical treatment. He said a special fund would be created to make available highly subsidised medical care to the poor.

Dr Prabbhjot Singh Bhatia, Medical Superintendent, said the hospital would have a comprehensive radiology department.

Besides other senior medical and administrative personnel of the institution, Dr S.P. Singh, a nominee of the Apollo group, and Mr Dalip Singh Naamdhari were present.