The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Pro-teachers group wins Arya college elections
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
The annual elections of Arya College Teachers' Union (ACTU) were held here recently under the supervision of Prof Sophat, Prof P.K.Sharma and Prof Amrinder Singh, the three observers appointed by the PCCTU for the purpose.

The pro-union and pro-teachers' group got a thumping majority and won 11 posts out of 14 and in case of one post, there was a tie.

On behalf of the winners, Prof A.K.Malhotra, the newly elected secretary of ACTU congratulated Prof R.P.Sabharwal, outgoing president and Prof R.L.Behl, outgoing secretary, for their valuable contribution in this landslide victory. Prof Malhotra also assured the teachers that the new team would do its level best to come up to the expectations of teaching fraternity and all demands of teachers would be taken up with the managing committee of Arya College, Ludhiana and Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Punjab, for early acceptance.

Prof Rajinder Bhandari, Senator and Syndic of Punjab University, Chandigarh, has also congratulated the winners of ACTU elections 2005-2006. Prof Bhandari has also congratulated all members of ACTU for taking keen interest in the elections.

The results are: Dr T.L.Joshi- President; Prof Sunil Khosla-Vice-President; Prof A.K.Malhotra- Secretary; Prof R.L.Behl-Joint Secretary; Prof S.C.Lekhi and Dr S.P.Singh- Finance Secretary. The executive committee include Prof Sushma Sood, Prof Urmila Jalota, Prof Sumir Sharma, Dr S.C.Ahuja. The delegates are Prof Anuradha Dhiman, Prof Reena Chabra, Prof Praveen Sharma and Prof Surinder Khanna.

	Arya College teachers’ union elections held Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 25 The annual elections of the Arya College Teachers’ Union was held here on April 22 under the supervision of Prof Sofat, Prof P K Sharma and Prof Amrinder Singh, the three observers appointed by the Punjab Chandigarh College Teachers Union for this purpose. All the four delegates, who will represent the ACTU in the election of PCCTU office-bearers and in the election of office bearers of District Council of PCCTU, Ludhiana were elected from this group. On behalf of all winners, Prof A.K. Malhotra, the newly elected Secretary of ACTU congratulated Prof R P Sabharwal, the outgoing President and Prof R.L. Behl, the outgoing secretary for their valuable contribution in this victory.
	Education Bill ‘will hit’ tuition centres Our Correspondent Ludhiana, April 25 Mr Vinayak’s (names changed) monthly turnover is Rs 5 lakh while Mr Gogia earns Rs 3 lakh. Their counterparts Mr Somesh makes around 2.5 lakh while Ms Vinita makes a lakh. All of them are teachers of science, commerce and social sciences in reputed schools. After the school gets over and before it starts, they give students extra coaching. Parents said: “If there are 65 students in a classroom, can anyone explain the logic how the same teacher can do justice teaching 80 students during an hour of extra coaching class and that too a subject like physics? The teachers have started coaching in academies where not only a high tuition fee of Rs 1,000 is charged per student, but also there is registration fee. The teachers help one another. A chemistry teacher will recommend the name of a certain physics teacher and vice -versa.” The students taking board examinations go from one tuition to another and the teachers are in demand. Some parents said the students were pressured to take tuitions as teachers gave internal marks for practicals. At times, parents take snacks and milk shakes for their children as right after school, they start their tuitions and are busy till 7pm. Things might change with the government considering a proposal to prohibit teachers from taking tuitions. The proposed fee and education Bill, if passed, will cut parents’ expenditure on tuitions. Public school teachers will not be allowed to take tuitions. The proposal has been accepted by the Central Advisory Board of Education which was set up in August by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development. The proposal will break the nexus between the teachers and coaching centres, feel educationists.
	Students demand re-examination Shivani Bhakoo Ludhiana, April 25 The students of MA II Fine Arts of Panjab University have demanded that paper of History of Modern Art, which was held on April 23, should be re-examined as it was entirely out of syllabus. The students rued that questions asked were related to Paper I and not even a single question came from syllabus of Paper II of Modern Art. Ms Aradhna Chopra, an affected student from Khalsa College for Women said that the students were shocked to see the paper, which was based on Paper A. “Even the maximum marks printed on question paper were incorrect i.e. 80 instead of 60. All the students were confused. This mistake is on part of university and students should not suffer for this. Even grace marks will not do justice”, added Ms Chopra. Another student, Priyal Goel said since it was the final year, the results mattered too much. “We are dependent on these results. We will be appearing for several interviews once results are declared. The students want that there should be re-examination. Only that can solve the problem”, said Priyal Goel. Angry parents of some of the students said that such an examiner should be debarred from the university and disciplinary action be taken against the paper-setter for ruining the career of several students. One of the parent said that students had sent their representation to the Panjab University regarding the matter. “We have requested that a fresh date be announced for the same”, said one parent. Ludhiana Tribune contacted office at the Controller Examinations Punjab University Office. One of the spokesperson said that if this was the matter, the students were required to send their representation to Controller, Examinations within 10 days. The representation would be placed before the expert and Board of Studies. Only after that some decision would be taken. “They will decide whether to conduct the exam again or to provide grace marks to the students”, said the official.
	Parents of students form association Our Correspondent Ludhiana, April 25 With a view to resolve the serious problems being faced by the medical students, the parents of students in the private medical and dental colleges in Punjab have formed an association at a meeting held here on Sunday. Mr Mega Singh Shergil was unanimously elected as the convener of the new body and an 11 member executive committee was also constituted to assist him. In a statement issued here today, Mr Shergil informed than the association had demanded from the Punjab Government to immediately release the final report of the fee fixation committee, constituted by the government regarding the fee structure of private medical and dental colleges. It also wanted the implementation of temporary fee structure, fixed by the Majithia Committee, till the recommendations of the fee fixation committee were accepted and given effect by the government. He further informed that the association had strongly criticised the management of Guru Ram Das Dental and Medical College at Amritsar for not obeying the directions of the Majithia Committee. The management of this particular institution was not only acting in complete disregard of the Majithia Committee report but the students were also being harassed on one pretext or the other. The association urged the SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur to get the directions of the Majithia Committee implemented in the colleges run by the SGPC.

Meritorious students honoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
Only the hardworking can achieve success in the field of education. It was to such hard workers that the Principal of Ryan International School, Ms Jaishree Gupta, presented the ‘scholar ties’. At the start of the academic year, the students with over 90 per cent marks were given ‘ties’ that will make them stand apart from others.

Ms Gupta said these ties were to act as motivation for all others to score high and for the achievers to maintain their percentage. The scholars were awarded certificates of merit and they stood beaming as they got encouraging pats on their backs by the Principal. The students who won distinction included: Abhinav Dhingra, Moksh Bansal, Pratibha Jain, Yashika Jain, Mehak Chawla, Kirti Jain, Paras Ahuja, Parul, Aaradhayay Gupta, Aastha Kapoor, Nagina Chawla, Abhivnav Kapoor, Shubhangi Sheel.

Children of Lovely Lotus School enjoy a beach party organised in the school on Monday. — A Tribune photograph.

Beach party for kids: Lovely Lotus school children had a beach party at the school. It was an entertaining as well educative exercise. With summer heat on and children wanting to play with sand and water, there was nothing more appropriate than this party to give them a joyful start. They built sand castles and touched and felt sea treasures like conches and shells. There were models of some sea animals like seals and dolphins for familiarisation.

Children learnt how they feel safe in the sea with tubes around them. There were multicolour umbrellas and chairs to tell them how people relax on the beach and have picnics. There were makeshift beds to tell children how people take a sunbath. Some of the magic was created through models while pictures with painted backdrops created a virtual reality. Pictures depicted stories about some funfilled activities at sea like swimming , fishing, rafting, skiing, and boating. There was a lighthouse to tell the children how it warns travellers about rocks. There were lifeguards around to reassure people that help is around in case of an accident. It was a wonderful experience for the children.

PCCTU election on May 1
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 25
The election to the post of the district president of PCCTU, Ludhiana, will be held at Malwa College of Education, Ludhiana on May1 from 9a.m to 2p.m. Two candidates are in fray for the post. Prof. Kamaljit Singh of G.T.B Nundal and of the V.K Tiwari group whereas Prof. Khushwinder Kumar of G.H.G Khalsa College of Education , Gurusar Sudhar is the Candidate of the R.S Brar/ Jagwant group.

Prof Rohit Kumar of S.D Kamla Lohtia College , Ludhiana of the Brar Jagwant Group has already been elected district Secretary of Ludhiana, unopposed since there was only single nomination for the post.

This was stated at a press note issued today by the existing district president, Mr V.K. Bhardwaj.

Declamation contest held in school
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
To encourage students in oration, an Interhouse Talent Contest was organised in the Tagore Public School here today. In the first category for class VI to VIII, winners were Ramandeep-VIII A -First, Shruti Jain VII A- Second, and Divakar VII B-third.

In the second category comprising Classes IX and XII, 12 students participated. These students spoke on Role of Intellectuals in Democratic Society, Punctuality is the Politeness of Princess etc. Divya Goel secured first position along with Sanyam Vinayak whereas second and third positions were won by Onkarjit and Pratima Gupta.

The views of the speakers were appreciated by principal, Ms Anita Gakhar.

CULTURE

‘Sirhind De Deewar’ isolates the tyrant
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 25
Harpal Tiwana’s Sirhind De Deewar may deservingly be described to be an epic play. Indians in general and Punjabis in particular are too familiar with Sirhind and the martyrdom of two Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh. And the play not only tries to recreate the history, but also clear certain misgivings about history.

The play revolves mainly around the central character Nawab Wazir Khan of Suba Sirhind, who wants the Sahibzadas to convert to Islam.

He tries all methods including the offer of riches and throne. But the Sahibzadas bravely snub him.

One interesting and significant aspect of the play is the widespread outcry from the masses, mainly the Muslims against the Nawab’s decision to burry the Sahibzadas a live in the wall. In fact it is vehemently opposed by his own court historian Mian Kateeb, who tries to convince him that history will not forgive him. Even the Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla also tries to argue with him against his barbaric decision.

Even one of the descendants of the sufi saint Fatima Beewi, whose role was performed, rather brilliantly by Nirmal Rishi, questions his actions. She ridicules him for paying obeisance at Roza Sharief, while going against the tenets of Islam by killing the innocents.

It exploded the myth of the common Muslims supporting Nawab Wazir Khan, who was rather scorned by the average devout Muslims who scorned his fanaticism.

Rightly the play was full of drama and action. Added to it was the classic performance by Manpal Tiwana, who enacted the role of Nawab Wazir Khan. Besides that Nirmal Rishi’s role was equally outstanding. The sound and visual effects were unmatched and not to speak of the music by Jagjit Singh.