The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

UGC delay irks NET candidates
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 28
Candidates appearing for national eligibility test conducted by the University Grants Commission are facing a lot of problems as the UGC has failed to declare the results of the NET examination held in December, 2004. The next examination is slated for June 26.

Students are in confusion whether they should prepare for the next exam or wait for the previous exam result.

Usually, the UGC declares the result of the previous exam before the last date of submission of forms of the next exam. Those candidates, who qualify in the test, do not need to fill the form for the next exam.

The UGC conducts the national eligibility test twice in a year, (June and December). Even the official website of the UGC claims that results of these exams are declared in April and October, respectively.

The Aryan Educational and Charitable Trust, an NGO working for creating awareness for UGC NET in the region, has written to the University Grants Commission to declare the result at the earliest otherwise students will fail to prepare for the next test.

Prof D.C. Kataria, Director of the trust, said he had called up the officials concerned in the UGC to declare the result as early as possible in the interest of students.

But they said that because of technical reasons, it was not ready. Earlier, they said it would declare the result in mid-May, and now they claimed that it would be declared in the first week of June.

Priyanka who is preparing for the UGC test in Management said,” I don’t understand why the authorities have not declared the result of previous exam till date. It is a sheer harassment of students. Moreover, I bought the form and had to submit the draft of Rs 450 again.

Bhawana Sharma, who is preparing for the UGC NET in commerce said,” The pattern of exam gets changed entirely every time. It becomes very difficult to prepare for the exam again and again.

PU’s digital library inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 28
Member of Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal today inaugurated digital library’ at A.C. Joshi Library, Panjab University and announced a grant of Rs 2 lakhs for providing more facilities in the library from his MPLAD funds here today.

The digital Library, established at a cost of Rs 5 lakh, is the latest addition to the IT infrastructure of PU, of which all operations have now become computerised. Prof. K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, PU presided over the function.

Mr Bansal, while lauding the efforts of the library staff, emphasised on reading habit among students. Mr Bansal also released volume-III of catalogue of ‘Pre-1947 published books in PU library, covering arts and humanities.

Prof Pathak described the digitalisation as a step towards keeping pace with fast changing technology. Earlier, university librarian, A.R. Sethi said it was a momentous occasion as the library cold now be accessed for 5000 full-text, scholarly journals made available by the UGC-INFONET and the MHRD-INDEST Consortia, in addition to providing a link to hundreds of other databases in the public domain.

While the Consortia-enabled databases could be accessed within the university campus, the public domain databases, including the library OPAC, could be accessed by anyone on the website: www.library.puchd.ac.in .

Punjab University has 6.5 lakh printed volumes in its collection, some of them published in the 18 th and the 19 th centuries.

Peerless teacher is no more

Chandigarh, May 28
A legend is no more. Rev. Br. Roylance Ignatius Meredith (1914-2005) a teacher, friend, guide, advisor and confidant to all his pupils passed away in the early hours today. He loved and liked all. It turn, his pupils — young and old-adored him. St. John’s High School in the city was synonymous with Rev. Br. Meredith. He was an apostle of simplicity with high values and strong traditions.

Rev. Br. Meredith’s association began with our family in 1967 on his transfer to Chandigarh. Lively, friendly, cheerful and always a ready smile, a brief joke or anecdote followed when he greeted you. A devoted class teacher by the day, a football coach or a javelin teacher in the evening and a geologist by the night. That is how we remember him. A versatile personality, till late 1980’s, he often walked from Sector 26 to Sector14 greeting on the way one and all who knew him. A friendly counsellor to any pupil with a problem.

Rev. Br. Meredith devoted his entire life to the Society of Christian Brothers. Having spent his early years in Calcutta, New Delhi and Mount Abu, he was at St. John’s Chandigarh, for the past 38 years which was home for him. A familiar face in the school corridors everyday, he was not deterred by the amputation of his right leg several years ago.

Armed with an artificial limb, he disliked any other aid and preferred to help himself. Extremely simple, austere in habits and noble in thoughts, Rev Br. Meredith was a role model teacher. An ardent lover of nature, he never ever raised his voice and abhorred any form of physical reprimand in the handling of school children. Respected, loved and adored, everybody was his friend.

Till date, even at the age of 91, as Principal of the junior School, Rev Br. Meredith came to school from the Brothers residence everyday and personally read the progress report of all children before he signed them. On the last Parent-Teacher meeting in school on May 14, 2005, he exhorted ex-pupils and parents to generously donate blood at a camp on the school premises on the same day. The memories are vivid and fresh in our minds.

For himself, he lived the life of a hermit, but inspired his pupils to achieve impossible heights. He is gone now. But he has left ideals, values and principles for us to treasure and emulate. Seeing Br. Meredith as pupils and now as parents for 38 years, we well deeply miss him. The physical loss is purely ours. But, he will continue to live in our thoughts, inspire us and motivate us in all our acts, deeds and intents.

— Anil Malhotra

BCom II results declared
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh May 28
Panjab University has declared the results of B. Com II here today. The gazettes will be available at the main enquiry counter at PU at 2 pm. These will also be available at the PU website “www.puchd. ac.in”.

Lift opened: Member Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal inaugurated a lift at the Kasturba Girls Hostel, Panjab University, on Saturday. The funding for the lift came from MPLAD fund given by Mr Bansal. Vice-Chancellor K.N. Pathak and Dean, Students Welfare, Nirmal Singh, were also present on the occasion.

Seminar on Australian education system
Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 28
A two-day seminar on education began at Hotel Mohan Continental here on Saturday. Delegates from Australia and Chandigarh are taking part in the seminar and will highlight the Australia education system to Indian students.

The seminar is being organised as per the Australian system of education in accordance with the Department of Science and Management under the Australian Universities Pathway Program (AUPP) programme of Marjorie Milner College, Australia.

The programme is being supported by “Austrade” of the Australian High Commission and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Film Review
A comedy worth watching
Rama Sharma

Making quick money and getting famous in short time is what young generation is looking for. This flick by Yash Chopra clicks on this point, pulling in youngsters.

After ‘Yuva’, Rani Mukherjee and Abhishek Bachchan have come together again in ‘Bunty Aur Babli’. They fit well into the scheme of things. Except at times you feel that Rani is too short for tall Abhishek. Never mind, they team up well.

Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee leave their modest homes with desires to prove their worth.

The couple do everything unimaginable. Disguising themselves as bureaucrats, babas, business partners and even minister, they play pranks, which defies common sense. Befooling the rich, both seems to be in perfect control of the fun fabric.

Abhishek’s humpty-dumpty manoeuvres take you on a pleasurable ride. Here he optimises his output. Bunching up as a pack of lies, Rani captures the screen with vivacity, that distinguishes her from her clan.

Chasing the chivalrous couple is beedi-smoking cop Dasrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan). Wearing a black jacket with a ‘parna’ , he plays the “dynamic cop’, adding to the entertainment masala with a scant regard for the sense. He imparts a sarcastic touch to this otherwise hum-drum drama. He is brilliant acting wise.

The father and son appearing together for the first time on silver screen together belt out comical and not so-comical scenes. But these are lapped up for their sheer mannerism.

The first half passes smoothly. The second half, at few places, lose pace but it doesn’t test our patience.

Relish the movie for sheer exuberance of the Bunty-Babli pair. Ignore decencies of the common sense and the script. It is worth watching once.

LEISURE

An evening of Haryanvi folklore

THE richness of spiritual fervour, rustic vigour and elan of Harynavi folklore with all the appeal mesmerised audience at a programme organised by the Welfare cadre group.

The programme was directed by K.C. Sharma who was brought on a wheelchair.

Justice Suryakant Sharma of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was the chief guest.

Vocalist Kanupriya began with a bhajan “Aaja Nand ke dulare” followed by a song “Hum bharan gayi thi neer”.

After a ragani by Shivnath, Jyoti Jaypuri presented a devotional folk song and later joinied Prem Dehati for a traditional song based on the love legend of Puran Bhagat.

Arjun Jaypuri, Zahur Mir, Gulab Singh and Pt Tule Ram, son of the late Lakhmi Chand, presented songs supported by a team of 15 musicians. — OC

‘Sham-e-ghazal’ well received

As part of the campaign of the Chandigarh Administration to boost culture, a Sham Ghazal was organised by the Chandigarh Institute of Performing Arts in association with the Administration at the Fragrance Garden on Saturday.

Despite the heat, people made it to the venue in good number. They applauded jigar Hoshiarpuri who sang ghazals of Ghulam Ali, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Gurdip Singh and others, besides Punjabi songs.

Accompanied by Sucha Singh Hazi on tabla, Jigar presented the ghazals with a simple but rich content, starting with “Kaise kehdoon ke mulaqat hoti hai” followed by “Akhiri waqt hai saans hai akhiri”.

Punjabi ghazals and songs like “Tenu kehda pajj laake dassan”, “Sohniyen jet re naal” were very well appreciated. — OC

Children show interest in writing, painting

It was the fifth day of cultural workshop being organised under the patronage of Srijan, an institute of creativity, at DAV Public School, Sector 8. Children are showing keen interest in writing, poems, and short stories and in painting. They developed new ideas on the canvas with water colours.

It was inaugurated by Mr Parmod Kumar, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Panjab University branch, on Monday. According to the chairman of the institute Dr D.S. Gupt, and secretary-general, principal Charles Samual, nearly 60 boys and girls from different schools are participating in these workshops.

The workshops include creative writing, painting, craft, dance, music and other performing activities.

Various experts of repute, including noted artist Somesh, short story writer and a poetess Dr Gargi, renowned painter, Ms Asha Sharma, dancer, Ms Rekha Gupta and a dramatist, Mr Yogesh Arora are giving training to the young minds.

The final programme where the students will display their creativity will be held on June 8 at Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, at 8.30 am. OC