AMRITSAR:

This was the essence of the workshop held at DAV Public School, that focused on teachers as “Whole Brain Creativity Training Program” addressed by Dr. Shankar Goenka country Head WOW factors, India Private Limited who was heartily welcomed by School principal Mrs Neera Sharma.

The workshop was organized in School in collaboration with ‘WOW factors’ an SA organization devoted to cause of Brain profiling for optimum results and was attended by 89 teachers of the schools besides of other schools .

Explaining the working of the brain, the experts  touched upon the area of “thinking preferences” among students developed due to working combination of 4-parts of brain the ‘left’ and ‘right’ side and the ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ of each side that develops specific learning skills amongst us all .

They identified that a ‘Left top Brain’ person –is seen to be Logical, Emotionless, Rational, Correct, Exact etc while an ‘Left bottom Brain’ person is – Methodological, Time-Conscious, Meticulous, Result-driven and Habitual.

A ‘Right Top Brain’ would be Simultaneous, undisciplined, Day-dreaming, Flexible; Unorthodox while a ‘Right Bottom Brain’ person would be Sensitive, Playful, People’s people, Empathic, Cooperative, friendly. Human preferences come due to a combination of these portions of the Human Brain.

Based on these, the experts explained that, “It is critical for us to understand the uniqueness of the child and using different techniques to address different types, we can help them achieve their full potential and further groom them for global fields”. He focused on defining the patterns of different working of our brain which if understood would help us to know ourselves and facilitate in establishing quality correlations helping them succeed in socially and academic environment.

They gave demonstrative examples for increasing interactive learning, engaging emotions, stimulating all senses including visual, audio, kinesthetic leading to better involvement, renewed interest leading to ‘improved outcome’. This was followed by a lively interactive question-answer session.

AMRITSAR:

The compilation will include around 2,000 words in its first edition, with signs also covering certain words that are typical of the Punjabi language, and have no literal equivalent in English.

The dictionary will cover 50 topics, or chapters, including colours, families, body parts, health and behavioral aspects, clothes, earth and sky constituents, furniture, metals and metallic objects and other objects if daily use.

R.P. Singh, director of the Bhagat Puran Singh School for the Deaf, the man behind the project, says: “The words and their Hand representations have been Finalized. Now we only have to arrange photographs to illustrate the book before it is published.”

In the Punjabi dictionary, the essence of the sign language will remain the same as the conventional one. What will differ is its usage for certain typical Punjabi words. “I have tried to create signs for words that are used in day-to­ day Punjabi life, like ’seva’ and ‘datun’,” Singh says. There are also specific signs for various family relations, which other­ wise in English are often described by generic words such as ‘uncle’ or ‘aunt’.

The standard sign-language dictionaries – the Indian, British and Amercian versions- however, remain the foundation for the Punjabi dictionary.

The Pingalwara society’s Manawala branch, which deals with 58 deaf children, got working on the idea when it observed the kids did not want to go home after school, as they could not express themselves to their families very well, as the parents didn’t know the sign language. And to a young mind exploring the world, communication is very important. As teaching the English sign language was not possible with many families, it was decided to create one in Punjabi.

News by: Rashmi Talwar

Students of DAV Public School in a project, flayed the global contribution to rising temperatures in the world and singularly castigated America and other developing  countries towards this inglorious challenge faced by the world  today that has lead to melting glaciers, rising water levels  and  threatens to gobble up land spaces worldwide starting with smaller island nations, at their annual Art &Craft cum Fete held in the school premises today.

The annual fair was inaugurated by Mr JP Khanna President NRI Mr Mohinder Singh member LMC who was extended a warm welcome by School Principal Mrs Neera Sharma with Principal BBK DAV College Dr Neelam Kamra.

Along with these projects that highlighted the worldwide threat by vagaries of nature students presented a delightful fare of “Coffee Paintings” that not only surprised onlookers but also exuded  the special flavor of the beverage brew and  were done beautifully in many styles of Mughal, Pahari , Tribal and Mandana art forms.

Besides this the exhibition  served to present meaningful  art  with  an array of educational projects including one on   literature(that exhibited  hand made book covers of well known literary authors , poets and writers), of Science, as also about Awareness   and  social issues.

Impressive collage art  vividly depicted the scourge of female foeticide identifying it with “crushed flower buds” besides projects on HIV AIDS, Drug Addiction and Terrorism made the audience stand and stare.

A stall ‘Jago Grahak Jago‘ on guidelines to consumers and  awareness about their rights  made the event more meaningful for all.

Apart from this working models in science of water harvesting , power conservation, Hydro Electric Turbine  and traffic management served to help public in greater awareness about these issues .

In addition to this  students had prepared varied household and decorative pieces including paintings using different techniques and bases including ink, paper, fabric, colors , studs, stones, crystals, mirrors to create a varied assortment of items. They had even prepared beautifully embellished accessories like belts, shoes, bags, mobile cases, purses using traditional artwork from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and other states of the country.

In addition to this, people had a lot of fun  enjoying the various entertainments including food stalls serving cuisine such as Chole Bhature, golgappas, Chat , Noodles, Band-Tikki besides playing  Tambola , Hoopla or even requesting  their favourite bollywood numbers on “Request stall ” . This besides getting themselves clicked in Santa Claus’s sledge driven by reindeers or their custom made personal calendar for the coming year.

Around 200 activists of the union, who sat on the dharna, raised slogans against the SAD-BJP government and criticized it for ignoring their demands since long. Union chief Jagtar Singh Chabhar said, “The Punjab government, in its election manifesto, had promised to give us regular jobs, but three years have passed and nothing has been done. The ETT teachers continue to remain unemployed.” “Even as the education graph in rural areas is going down and there is an urgent need of quality teachers, we fail to understand that why our demands are being ignored,” he added.

MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, who gave the protesters a patient hearing, assured the teachers all help and promised to come with them for talks with the government.

AMRITSAR: The Panther Division celebrated “VIJAY DIWAS” on today to commemorate the historic victory of Indian Army in 1971 war with Pakistan.

The event was marked by a simple and solemn memorial service held in memory of brave soldiers who laid down their life while fighting for the Nation at DOGRAI war memorial in Amritsar.

On this occasion, Deputy General Officer Commanding Panther Division, Brigadier AK Ganguly, paid rich tributes to the brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice for the honour and integrity of the nation by laying a wreath at the ‘Dograi War Memorial’.

He was accompanied by senior serving officers of the station including Commander Khasa Brigade and other senior officers of the Panther Division and Dograi Brigade. A large number of Ex-Servicemen were also present to pay homage and commemorate the occasion.

Brigadier AK Ganguly, highlighted that in December 1971, ninety three thousand soldiers of Pakistan Army surrendered to Indian Army making it the largest Military surrender after World War-II.

It was on this day 38 years ago, When the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Arora, accepted the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ from Lt Gen AAK Niazi of Pakistan Army at Dhaka. Since then, 16 December is celebrated as “Vijay Diwas” to mark the historic victory of Indian Army.
Speaking on the occasion he exhorted all ranks to continue to retain the highest standards of operational preparedness in order to serve the mother land as and when required at short notice.

AMRITSAR: In the present times, when terrorism has become the single most destructive factor for the world, Tiny Tots of class –I of  DAV public school prayed for peace to prevail on their annual day and  took the audience on a tour of “Priceless India“(Amulya Bharat), reiterating the  spirit of Patriotism among all.

Dedicated to the revival of patriotic spirit in the new generation as many as 515 tiny-tots of the school presented a thought provoking one hour presentation highlighting the glory of India with its rich cultural heritage.

Earlier the function was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr Vimal Setia state additional commissioner transport, Chandigarh and warmly welcomed by DAV Public School Principal Mrs Neera Sharma who read the annual report of the school in the presence of Dr Neelam Kamra Principal BBK DAV College, Amritsar.

The function started with Tiny-tots presentation of an impressive narrative, song, drama with semi classical dance tracing the folk and cultural history of India throughout the length and breadth of the country.

From Kashmir to Kanya Kumari in the south and from Assam to Gujarat the students presented various landmarks of India interspersed with folk music and dance followed by narrative explaining the importance of the place.

While the  song “Bomroo” brought out the beauty of Kashmir in the backdrop of ’shikaras’, ‘house- boats’ and flower girls of the beautiful valley considered heaven on earth, the ‘Braj Ki Holi’ scene added color and rhythm to the folk dances of Uttar Pradesh.

A scene of “Sabramati Ashram” denoted Gujarat as the birthplace of greats like father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi. Punjab’s ‘Gidda’ added much merriment in the backdrop of ‘Phulkari’ making and butter-churning scenes of rural Punjab while the “Behu’ folk dance of Assam matched steps with Goa’s famous carnival , Rajasthan’s “Ghumar peacock dance” and Orissa’s Jaganath Yatra exhibiting the emotional and spiritual spirit of India .

The curtain was brought down on the song and dance extravaganza with the unfurling of tricolor flag, whose colors were described glowingly as that denoting sacrifice (saffron) peace (white) prosperity (Green). Similarly various Indian symbols such as lotus, tiger and peacock were explained through interesting narrative.

In the play Palace guards were seen with placards around their necks urging conservation like “water is precious.. save it ‘ , ‘Nature is God.. worship it’ to bring home the message of importance of environment for our present and future.

On this occasion Chief Guest Mr Navjot Sidhu Member Parliament was accorded a floral welcome by the school Principal, Mrs Amandeep Sekhon who read out school’s annual progress report and outlined the future plans of the institute.

The function started with “Saraswati Vandana”—offering to the goddess of Knowledge followed by a merry dance by toddlers to the number “Lakdi Ki Kathi, while another set of students performed acrobatics on “Boogie Woogie” title song.

In the play Cinderella  and another performance “Animal Kingdom’ students of lower Kindergarten presented a colorful dance by children dressed in  animals outfits who exhibited  complete harmony of ‘Nature’ where flora and fauna (plants and animals) dance and swing alike to the music and share a hearty meal together. Senior students took the stage and danced on title song “Jai Ho” of Oscar winning film “Slum Dog Millionaire”.

However the most thrilling moments were during the thumping ‘Bhangra’ in a show title ‘Rangla Punjab’  glorifying  the beauty of Punjab’s  People and its Rich Cultural Heritage in the song …’Mein Punjab di sift sunavan..ethey Rab vargian Maava…Dharti Punj Darya di Rani…’

On the occasion meritorious students were awarded medals including (athlete) Jaideep Gill as ‘Sportsperson of the year’, Ghazal Bhalla (best in Academics) and Gursharan Kaur (best Extra-curricular). The gathering was addressed by the Chief Guest, who impressed upon the need for parents to inculcate the right values in their children. He felt that society seems more engrossed in watching TV at the cost of spending quality time with the children. While appreciating the efforts of the school he announced a grant of Rs.3.0 lacs during the next financial year.

Ushering in new hope for present and future energy needs as Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy on Tuesday inaugurated the   2 MW Solar Power Plant proposed to be expanded to 5 MW in District Amritsar, in the presence of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal and local MP Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The plant set up by Solar Company Azure Power in IPP Mode in the decrepit village Awan about 40 Kms from Amritsar city was a scene of activity since early morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdullah said it was the first step of India towards a future of renewable energy taken by Punjab Government in fulfilling the target of producing 20,000 MW Solar Power by year 2020 under its Solar Mission plan. He further added that India was committed to the production of clean energy power to save future generations from the effects of global warming.  He said that his Ministry was targeting to produce 1300 MW power from new energy sector within next three years. Abdullah assured positive response to the demand of Deputy Chief Minister to enhance subsidy of Solar Tube wells for Punjab.

Welcoming Dr. Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister, and Badal assured him that this experiment of Awan would be soon replicated in total border belt of Punjab with three Solar Power Plants of 10 MW each in each border district. He informed that Punjab has already achieved 282 MW in Renewable Power Sector and was aiming to increase it to 700 MW by the year 2011. He said that State has an ambitious programme to produce 300 MW power from 20 million tonnes rice husk, through 28 biomass plants being set up in Punjab. About the present plant he informed that the first solar plant would provide electricity to approximate 42 villages and help light up 4,000 rural homes while eliminating as much carbon dioxide pollution, close to 53500 trees do annually.

Demanding restoration of enhanced subsidy on Solar Tubewells to the previous rate of Rs. 1.80 lac instead of present rate of Rs. 50,000, Badal said that farmers of Punjab, despite 50s percent deficient rains in Punjab have produced record 150 lac tonnes paddy for the national pool, spending over additional Rs. 3000 crores on diesel.  Mr. Badal said that as Punjab farmers were performing the national duty, the New Energy Ministry should immediately sanction enhanced subsidy of Rs.1.80 lac for new 10,000 tubewell connections in Punjab.

Vishavjit Khanna, Secretary, Science Technology and Environment informed that PEDA was performing pioneering role in attracting entrepreneurs in clean power sector. He said that PEDA has come out with zero cost models to provide efficient street lights in all urban areas of Punjab.

T.P.S. Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer, PEDA informed that Punjab under the NRSE Policy-2006 has achieved a total installed generation capacity of 282 MW and it is proposed to increase this capacity to a total of 700 MW by the end of the 2011.

Expressing his commitment to expand this 2 MW Plant to 10 MW, Inderpreet Wadhwa, CEO, Azure Power said that his company has already received sanction for 5 MW plant and has applied for expanding it into 10 MW.