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Audiences Endure 3 Long Hours of Absorbing Court Craft™

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Audiences Endure 3 Long Hours of Absorbing Court Craft™

A great open air venue in the lap of Chandigarh’s iconic Open Hand monument at the USESCO World Heritage Site, Capitol Complex, was a perfect setting on a cool Sunday evening for a unique and absorbing ‘staged’ or ‘performative’ hearing of a fictional petition ‘In The Matter Re: Rights of Nature’ before a fictional bench of NGT (National Green Tribunal).

The ‘NGT bench’, hearing the case of great significance in the wake of the increasing number of devastating worldwide adverse events apparently occurring due to climate change, was impressive, as were the advocates representing the petitioners, the state and a fictional farmers’ organisation.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

The ‘expert witnesses’ were among the best brains in the country in their respective fields. The other ‘witnesses’ from the parties concerned were artists known to have done notable work in fields related to environment, climate change, farming, cropping patterns and distress among marginal as well as landless farmers and farm labourers.

The ‘petition’ was filed by Pooja Sood, founding member and Director of Delhi-based Khoj International Artists’ Association, and theatre director Zuleikha Chaudhari along with a minor living in Delhi. The context was the relationship between the air pollution of Delhi / National Capital Region (NCR) and the stubble burning phenomena which occurs annually in neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab.

The prayer of the ‘petitioners’ was in two parts – one, seeking absolute prohibition on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, and imposing costs over the respective state functionaries, including the farmers, for violations of various judgements of the Supreme Court and the NGT itself; and two, to declare ‘Rights of Nature’ or ‘Naturehood’ status to be an essential feature of the ‘Right to Life’, as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Even though the ‘staged hearing’ was rather too long, and had its share of glitches with mikes, etc, a vast majority of the sizable audience, apparently comprising citizens concerned over the issue of environmental degradation and climate change, not only endured through the three hours, but rather enjoyed the absorbing and informative points and counter points presented. The ‘judges’ contributed their bit to keep the audiences in good humour with their occasional mirthful interventions.

The ‘staged hearing’ followed all protocols, procedures and laws of the NGT, which would have been a first time experience for almost everyone in the audience. It had all the elements of an actual hearing with opening and closing statements by the lawyers, examination and cross examination of witness testimonies (along with evidence), and the final judgement on the matter.

Eventually, after hearing the counterpoints presented by the ‘counsel’ and witnesses for the farmers’ organisation, that the farmers were in fact the victims of various government policies, including the seasonal mono crop patte thrust upon them to ensure food security of the country, and agreeing with it, the counsel for the ‘petitioners’ withdrew the first part of the prayer.

In its final judgement the ‘NGT bench’ accepted the plea of the ‘petitioners’ that the ‘Right To Life’, as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, is inseparable from the ‘Rights of Nature’ and directed the government to initiate necessary steps to incorporate amendments in the mentioned Article to grant ‘Naturehood’ status.

Audiences at the start of the proceedings. The seats filled up further as the evening progressed

Conceived by: Pooja Sood, founding member and Director, Delhi-based Khoj International Artists’ Association, and theatre director Zuleikha Chaudhari, and developed with advocate Harish Mehla.

The distinguished ‘NGT bench’ comprised retired Punjab & Haryana High Court justices Rajive Bhalla, Kamaljit Singh Garewal and K. Kannan.

The ‘appellants’ were represented by advocate Harish Mehla, who is co-founder of ‘Collective of Lawyers’.

The ‘farmers’ organisation’ was represented by well known senior advocate Manmohan Lal Sarin.

The ‘state’ was defended by young advocate Mannat Anand, who is a partner at Anand & Sood Law firm.

The impressive list of ‘expert witnesses’ included a practicing farmer and well known former bureaucrat Kahan Singh Pannu, who has worked in various senior capacities in the agriculture domain as well as state pollution control board; Prof (Dr) Tarini Mehta, a professor and advocate specialising in environmental and human rights law; and Dr Manish Kumar Shrivastava, a senior fellow at Teri, the reputed energy and resources institute which is known to create innovative solutions for a sustainable future.

The ‘other witnesses’ were  Shweta Bhattad, who has created a collective space for the people in Paradsinga, Madhya Pradesh with the Gram Art Project; Delhi-based artist duo of Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra, whose recent interest in ecology and climate change has manifested in revisiting of their family histories of migration and farming in Punjab; and Randeep Maddoke, a Punjab-based concept photographer and documentary filmmaker, whose debut documentary film ‘Landless’ on the issues faced by Indian Dalit farm labourers was also screened during the ‘staged hearing’.

The role of ‘Court Master’ was enacted by Zuleikha Chaudhari

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
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Come To Open Hand Monument Sunday, All Ye Environment Lovers!

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Come To Open Hand Monument Sunday, All Ye Environment Lovers!

Come Sunday, the Open Hand monument next to the Punjab & Haryana High Court building in Sector 1 will be the venue for a unique 3-hour realistic, yet artistic, ‘staged’ legal hearing performance that I am sure all of us citizens concerned about the future of our environment would want to be part of.

Pooja Sood, founding member and Director of Delhi-based Khoj International Artists’ Association, and theatre director Zuleikha Chaudhari have collaborated with seasoned legal practitioner Harish Mehla to curate and stage a realistic legal hearing performance of a fictional petition “In the matter Re: Rights of Nature” filed by ‘Khoj’, Zuleikha and a minor living in Delhi before a fictional ‘NGT’ (National Green Tribunal).

(Left To Right) Harish Mehla, Zuleikha Chaudhari, artist Shweta Bhattad & Pooja Sood 

The context is the relationship between the air pollution of Delhi / National Capital Region (NCR) and the stubble burning phenomena which occurs annually in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab.

Retired judges, practicing lawyers, and artists will be part of the performance. A 60-odd page petition, though fictional in status, will have all the elements of a legally sound document with all supporting annexures. The ‘NGT bench’ will have on it retired judges and the ‘case’ will be presented and argued in a legally professional manner by practicing lawyers. The ‘witnesses’ will be stage artists who are also subject experts and stakeholders, including one ‘representing’ the farming community.

The ‘staged hearing’ will follow all protocols, procedures and laws of the NGT.

The ‘hearing’ is grounded in current environmental laws in India which exist within major central legislations. The ‘hearing’, therefore, will entail opening and closing statements by the lawyers, examination and cross examination of witness testimonies (along with evidence), and the final ‘judgement’ on the matter. The ‘verdict’ is unknown as of now, and will be delivered at the end of the ‘hearing’.

The ‘verdict’ will be documented and published for the benefit of the general public. The petition, fictional as of now, will eventually be filed in the NGT in the form of serious public interest litigation.

Sharing their thoughts with select media in Chandigarh on Friday, Pooja, Zuleikha and Harish said the ‘staged hearing’ foregrounds ‘Rights Of Nature’ as an expansion of ‘Right to Life’ as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The idea of ‘Rights of Nature’ as a legal entity, though it has assumed utmost urgency in the wake of the dangerously recurring adverse environmental episodes worldwide, is largely an unexplored subject in India, with no serious discussion in either Parliament or the Apex court.

Therefore, through the medium of this ‘staged hearing’ performance, the trio are seeking to sensitise the general population and enlist its active participation in starting a serious nationwide dialogue, leading up to urgent and remedial action.

So, the ‘staged hearing’ will not be a normal stage performance, with the artists on stage and an audience being distinct entities. It will be all of us together as concerned citizens participating in deliberations on issues involved in securing our future from the disastrous effects of climate change which are staring us in the face.

The setting will be an open court of the ‘NGT’ and we as stakeholders, will get maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness LIVE the ‘proceedings’ as these happen in a real court with real participants and real issues.

About Khoj International Artists’ Association

Khoj is an autonomous not-for-profit contemporary arts organisation based in New Delhi. Through its programs, Khoj supports and incubates emerging, experimental and transdisciplinary creative practices and pedagogies. Since its inception in 1997, Khoj has been committed towards building global networks and solidarities, especially in the subcontinent. Khoj believes that art is of intrinsic value to society; it is a crucial form of inquiry that provides unique insights and drives change through affect.

Event: Khoj’s performative hearing ‘In the matter Re: Rights of Nature’ 
Event Date: March 5. 2023 (Sunday) 6 PM – 9PM
Event Venue: Open Hand Monument, Sector 1, Chandigarh.

Multilingual presentation (Hindi, Punjabi and English)

The event is open for all, with free entry

Event being held in association with Elsewhere, founded by Nagina Bains and Sukant Deepak.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
981561767

Each Of Nine Plants Here Is Associated With A Celestial Body

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Each Of Nine Plants Here Is Associated With A Celestial Body

It’s natural for the pure sciences subject of Botany to be linked to Ayurveda, but Panjab University’s (PU’s) Department of Botany has sought to re-emphasise its association with Vedic astrology as well, officially launching a newly created ‘Navgraha Vatika’ (garden of nine major celestial bodies) on International Science Day, Tuesday

Inaugurated by Panjab University Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) Renu Vig, the open ‘vatika’, within the sprawling but entry-restricted P.N. Mehra Botanical Garden, has plants, trees, bushes or grasses planted in particular directions depending on the different celestial force each of these represent.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

Chairperson of the Botany Department at PU Prof (Dr) Promila Pathak told your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony, attended by students and faculty of the department along with select invitees, that the ‘vatika’ is aimed at  creating awareness among the masses about the contribution of these plants, associated with  ‘Navgraha’, in creating positive energy, purifying the air, bringing prosperity, good health and wealth in our lives, as well as removing ‘vastu dosha’.

“We cannot limit the study of Indian plants to their therapeutic values alone, but also consider their contribution from astrological point of view. Astrology along with Ayurveda shows how we can heal ourselves through the herbs corresponding to our particular star,” she opined.

Along with taking care of the particular directions in which the plants have been grown, each plant bed has been architecturally designed and coloured corresponding to the celestial body it represents.

So, according to Prof Pathak, among the plants grown in the ‘vatika’, the ‘safed aak’ represents the Sun, ‘Shatavari’ the Moon, ‘tulsi’ Mercury, ‘parijat’ or ‘harsingar’ (flowering plant) represents Venus, ‘ashwagandha’ Mars, banana Jupiter and ‘bhang’ Saturn.

Though astronomically not planets, ‘Rahu’ and ‘Ketu’ are considered ‘planets’ in Vedic astrology because of their believed huge impact on human lives. These ‘planets’, considered the north and south nodes of the Moon respectively, are represented by ‘durva’ (grass) and ‘bhringraj’ plants in the ‘navgraha vatika’.

P.N. Mehra Botanical Garden

(Info extracted from PU website) Spread over more than 16 acres of land, and named after the founder of the department, it is one of the better known botanical gardens attached to a university in the country.

Special attractions in the garden for the visitors are the Arboretum (a botanical garden devoted to trees) with nearly 225 species of trees and water garden consisting of lily-ponds. The Cactus-House has more than 100 species of cacti while the Orchid-House has beautiful orchids from different parts of the country. In the Fern-House grow nearly 50 species of ferns and fern allies.

Of considerable botanical interest is the Bambusetum with over two dozen rare species of bamboos collected and grown during the last many decades. Several interesting succulent plants from different parts of the country further contribute to the beauty of the garden.

In order to grow plants under controlled conditions the garden has an automated Greenhouse. There is a well-maintained nursery where plants are raised, multiplied, acclimatized and then transplanted.

The botanical garden, besides serving as the repository of the source material for botanical studies, is also geared to cater to the dire need of conserving and enriching plant bio-diversity through exchange of plants and seeds.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Women’s Health In Focus As Part Of 2023 Theme #EmbraceEquity

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Women’s Health In Focus As Part Of 2023 Theme #EmbraceEquity

While worldwide various activities will be organised in connection with International Women’s Day falling on March 8, revolving around the 2023 theme #EmbraceEquity (or embracing a truly inclusive world), Chandigarh campus of the noted Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) will organise a series of runs on March 5, focusing on the most neglected area, of women’s health.

Releasing a T-shirt for the event at a media meet on its sprawling campus located in EduCity, Sarangpur, Campus Director Prof. (Dr.) Jaskiran Kaur lead the faculty and students council in announcing that the run will be professionally organized in three different categories – Half Marathon (21.1 km), Mighty (10 km) and Fun Run (5km). There is a token participation fee in all three categories and registrations are being accepted online by the event partners CityWoofer (https://www.citywoofer.com/e/narsee-monjee-half-marathon).

Photos By: NMIMS & Life In Chandigarh

There are winner cash prizes for men and women separately in all three races in the open category, while winners in various age categories within each race will be presented trophies and gift hampers. Overall Rs 1 lakh worth of cash prizes are up for grabs.

Each participant will get a half marathon t-shirt and a finisher e-certificate. Refreshments will also be served. There will be hydrations points at designated points along the routes of each race. Ambulances with attending doctors and a physio will be at hand for assistance. 

The run is supported by a couple of run groups and a cycling group, members of which will guide the runners as marshals. Ultra marathoner Amit Gulia is the Race Director.  

The minimum age for participation in the 21.1 km half marathon is 18 years, For 10 km run it is 15 years and for 5 km run 12 years.

Among others who participated in today’s half marathon T-shirt release event was sports and social activist Deep Shergill, who is also a fitness enthusiast, noted singer Naveed Akhtar and cancer survivor turned national masters athlete Opinder Kaur Sekhon.

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Get Hooked On Delicious, Rich, Creamy, Real Fruit Flavours

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Get Hooked On Delicious, Rich, Creamy, Real Fruit Flavours

From being popularly known as the ‘Ice Cream of Juhu Scheme’ (Bombay) in the late 1980s to now having 150 stand alone real fruit ice cream stores in 16 states, Naturals has come a long way, winning hearts with its impressive range of delicious artisanal (kalatmak) ice creams. Now the 100% home grown brand has arrived in our city with a sprawling sit-in ice cream parlour on Madhya Marg in Sector 7, right next to Nik Baker’s.

Just as in case of the quintessential ‘pudding’, the proof of the ice cream is in the eating. So, at the pre-launch media preview, your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com got to exclusively savour a few of the two dozen odd real fruit ice creams Naturals, one of the most popular brands, has on offer in its 2300 sq feet Chandigarh store with generous seating capacity and a slick ambience.

Photos By: Life In Chandigarh & Naturals

Though all the flavours were equally tempting, this writer eventually zeroed in on tender coconut, orange pistachio (two flavours claimed to be unique and original to the brand) and blueberry for the tasting. Must say, the craving got stronger with every lick. The rich creamy texture and the taste of real fruit were overwhelming, simply DELICIOUS! In the tender coconut ice cream scoop, one could actually feel and taste the real coconut pulp.

It was live proof of what the founder and Managing Director of Naturals Ice Creams, Raghunandan Kamath had claimed earlier in his interaction with this writer, that they use the best of ingredients – whole fat A2 buffalo milk, individual seasonal fruits sourced from areas best known for them, and pharma grade sugar. No artificial flavours are used in the ice creams “made with love”. 

Sharing the art of making the ice cream, “the way it was back then in 1984, when we started, and continues without dilution till date,” one of the directors in the company Siddhant Kamath said, “the process we follow to make our ice cream is slow and unhurried. The original, consistent and unwavering taste of our ice creams is precisely due to the small batches in which they are made and the time we allow them to be created in.

“While we continue to grow, we still make our ice creams with love and care, devoting much time for creating them. We continue to innovate and introduce new flavours, and to cater to increased demand following nationwide expansion, we have got developed special machinery while keeping the slow process of making our ice creams intact,” Siddhant added.

In the Chandigarh store, the brand will offer 20-plus different ice cream flavours at any given time with new ‘Friday Funday’ flavours being added for every weekend. Since berry season is on, a berry ice cream festival has been coincided with the launch. As part of the festival, in addition to the ‘Round The Year’ and ‘Seasonal Fruit’ offerings, the brand has introduced five berry ice cream flavours –   black currant, blueberry, gooseberry, mulberry and raspberry.

Two of the flavours being offered – mango and anjeer – carry only the fruits’ natural sweetness, with no added sugar.

The brand is present in 42 cities across 16 states, and currently Punjab is a major focus area. After Chandigarh, the next destinations are Panchkula and Mohali in the Chandigarh tricity, and onwards towards Ludhiana, Amritsar, etc. Expansion towards the East in Orissa and West Bengal is also on the agenda with a foray in Tamil Nadu as well.

Naturals Ice Creams was included in India’s top 10 most trusted brands by a survey conducted by global advisory services company KPMG in 2018.

The brand has a centralised 35,000 sq feet manufacturing facility in Mumbai from where ice creams are transported in strict refrigerated conditions by rail to its stores in other cities.

It follows a hybrid model of business with the Chandigarh store being the 20th company owned outlet, while the other 130 stores are run by franchisees. The company opens its own large format store in every new area it ventures into to make an initial impact and then opens up the field to franchisees.

A scoop in cup or waffle cone starts from Rs 80 (all inclusive) and a double scoop from Rs 150. Ice creams are also available in 500 grams packs and 300 grams mini packs, as also in 300 grams x 3 mini pack combos.

Timings: 10 a.m. to 12 midnight

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Find Mode Home/Space, Under One Roof

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Find Mode Home/Space, Under One Roof

The four-day Archex Interior, Exterior and Building Materials exhibition, which got underway at the Parade Ground in Sector 17 Chandigarh on Friday, is more than just glitz and glamour. Step in and you will find just about anything you would need to set up or make over a mode home, office, showroom, hospital, resort, real estate project, and more.

Your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com took a round of the sprawling exhibition hall to bring you eye-catching pictures and some detail of the hundreds of quality products on display in scores of stalls put up by manufacturers and dealers, most of them from North India and some beyond.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

Among the products on display are quick-erecting prefabricated homes, home and office automation systems, sanitary and bath wares, marbles, granites and tiles, natural and cultured stone cladding products, passenger elevators and modular kitchens and wardrobes.

And, this is not all. Resin and metal furniture, wood and wooden finish designer metal doors and aluminium alloy windows, quartz kitchen sinks, interior and exterior decor items, decorative and utility LED lighting for homes, commercial and industrial use, latest multi-layered pipes and fittings, water storage and purifying solutions and rooftop solar solutions also attract visitors’ eyeballs.

Here are a few of the stalls reviewed by this writer on the opening day for the benefit of readers.

Coming to home decor first, the most striking I thought was a stall put up by Ludhiana based Teesri Dimension which has displayed a range of exquisite decorative items for homes, offices and commercial establishments. Under the Teesri Dimension brand they have art works made of fibre, while under the brand Metalicious Art they have eye-popping creations made from metal.

Chandigarh based Greenish Decor (www.greenishdecor.com) has put up a beautiful range of artificial plants and foliage to ado the corners and walls, though the company also deals in a variety of blinds and flooring, wall and ceiling products, partitions and sports complex products.

CB Electrics India based out of Panipat has brought a wide range of decorative and utility consumer and industrial LED lighting products under the brand Epsori (www.epsori.in).

There are stalls offering wooden, brass and marble art too.

In modular kitchens and wardrobes, two stalls stand out.

JLPL Mohali based Nomatic (www.nomatickitchens.com) is promising German engineering with Indian values. On display in their large stall are modular kitchen items, wardrobes, LED/TV units, bathroom vanities and bedroom solutions.

From Panchkula, Hokitch (www.hokitchhomes.com) has on display a collection of “premium and classical” modular kitchens, wardrobes and walk-in closets.

Again from Chandigarh, Quarto has displayed a range of good looking multi-layered quartz kitchen sinks, which are claimed to be noise, rust, corrosion proof and everlasting. They come in a variety of eye-catching colours. Quarto also manufactures quality composite sanitary ware and quartz slabs.

Coming to furniture, Radharaman Epoxy Studio (www.radharamanepoxystudio.com) has on display a range of shiny epoxy resin dining tables & primary tables and epoxy quartz tables. The Panchkula based company also has in its portfolio, epoxy modular cookhouse and epoxy resin headboards for beds.

Amco Furniture Udyog, again from Chandigarh, has on offer a collection of its attractive golden PVD coated metal furniture. The company also manufacturers SS gates, railings & furniture, wrought iron furniture, revolving chairs, restaurant furniture, computer & office furniture. It also offers customised solutions.

Panchkula based SHP Hardware Studio (www.shpindia.in) has displayed an impressive range of its mode hardware and decor products, from door handles to door locks, smart locks, safes, kitchen and wardrobe accessories, chimneys, and more. The hardware studio claims to have in its portfolio quality products from 300 brands. 

Jupiter Aqua Lines (www.jaljoy.com), another Mohali based big brand, and growing bigger by the day, also has a large stall where it has displayed a wide range of its exquisite sanitary wares, bath wares, mirrors, jacuzzi and vanity products under its brands Jal and Nobero.

Companies offering passenger lifts are also present in strength.

Here, a very big name is that of Gurugram based Easa Elevators (www.easaelevators.in), which provides standard and special purpose elevators for homes, apartments, villas, factories, showrooms, hospitals, et al. It has its manufacturing facility at Khuskhera in Rajasthan.

Mohali based IEE Lifts (www.ieelifts.com) is another player in passenger elevators, offering  quality standard and custom built passenger products for homes and villas, commercial undertakings, hospitals, hotels, etc. It also has on offer hydraulic elevators.

Coming to marbles, granites, tiles, etc, JLPL Mohali based Shyam Marbles and Granite (www.shyammarbles.com) has a dominant presence in the exhibition pavilion. It has on offer over 300 varieties of Indian and imported marbles, granites, natural stone and tiles in a wide range of colours.

Dev Stone Cladding (www.devstonecladding.com) in Zirakpur is offering computer designed art works, ‘jaali’ works, natural stone claddings, 3D/4D slabs and more.

Another Mohali based company Sham Tiles & Concrete Products, is displaying its range of Rockstone brand of cultural stone and architectural cladding in natural finish and designer exterior pavers.

In doors and windows, there are two large stalls.

Megastar Doors & Windows (www.megastardoors.com) from Panipat has on display a wide range of eye-catching designer wooden finish steel doors. The range includes single doors, double doors, window doors and mother-son doors. Standard and premium aluminium alloy frame horizontal-opening and sliding windows are also available.

German brand Alupure Aluminium Systems (www.alupure.co.in/) also has a sizable presence in the pavilion with a range of high quality, tough, weather and sound resistant doors, windows and sliding systems on display. The brand is represented at the exhibition by its Ludhiana based fabricating partner Budding Group (https://buddinggroup.com/).

A big name in smart automation, Navi Mumbai based BuildTrack (www.buildtrack.in) & (www.smarttouchswitch.com) has also put up an impressive stall. It offers solutions for safety, security, energy savings and convenience needs through internet enabled devices. Smart touch switches, home automation, enterprise solutions, hotel automation and building management system are some of its key strengths.

Little is known about prefabricated wooden and steel homes in these parts. New Delhi based Blooms has showcased a one-room wooden home under its brand Prefab Wooden Homes (www.prefabwoodenhomes.com), which its workforce erected on the spot in just 36 hours.

The company makes eco-accommodating and rich wooden house designs to suit individual needs and local climatic conditions, and claims that these can withstand the harshest of weather and seismic conditions. It offers mobile houses, log houses, wooden cottages, wooden bungalows, prefabricated houses, and more, in German pine, Canadian spruce and SPF.

The various possibilities include resorts, gazebos, pergola rooftops, bar & restaurants, tree houses, small dog/cat houses, kids’ playhouses, terrace houses and cabins.

Ek visit tto bantaa hai !

What: Archex Interior Exterior Exhibition

Where: Prarade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh

When: On Till Feb 13

Timing: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Entry: Free

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Change In Attitudes Must For Gender Equality, Says Dr Ratna Ghosh

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Change In Attitudes Must For Gender Equality, Says Dr Ratna Ghosh

A 5th lecture after the pandemic in a series of regular Colloquium lectures organised by Panjab University Chandigarh was delivered on the subject ‘Gender Mainstreaming’ by an eminent international educationist Dr Ratna Ghosh, Distinguished James McGill Professor and Sir W.C. Macdonald Professor of Education, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, at the Dr. SS Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (UICET) on Tuesday.

At the outset, as was to be expected, Dr Ghosh, before broaching the topic of the lecture, took pains to enlighten the audience about the concept of ‘Gender’ as opposed to ‘Sex’. ‘Gender’, she emphasised, is not a biological term as in male or female, but a concept wherein socially constructed roles and responsibilities are assigned to male/female/non-conforming people by society, culture and environment where one lives. And, this discrimination begins even before birth.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

‘Gender Mainstreaming’, she explained, is a global strategy to level the playing field, an attempt to equalise opportunities irrespective of various differentiators among people, the markers of which could be gender, religion, social class, caste, sexual orientation, physical or mental challenges, language, etc. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to achieve gender equality.

While emphasising that women continue to be the worst sufferers of gender inequality, Dr Ghosh reeled out global data to buttress her point. Even after 25 years of endorsing gender mainstreaming as a critical and strategic approach for achieving gender equality commitments, women are still left far behind in many sectors.

She informed that countries with less gender equality have poor economic performance and are less developed. Societies that treat women badly are poorer and less stable. Improving gender equality is good for all because it creates fairer and more peaceful societies, she asserted.

Harping on the subject of ‘missing women’ (females that were never allowed to be born), she said though current estimates put the number of women missing globally at 130 million, the problem is most pronounced in South Asia and China because of the preference for male child.

Giving an example of status of women’s education in India, the international educationist informed that though between 2015 and 2020 the number of women enrolled in higher education increased by almost a fifth, female participation in the workforce in the country remains dismally low (only 7% of urban Indian women have paid jobs). This, she reasoned, was because in most cases the educational courses they pursue are not job-oriented.

Advocating clear cut vision, policy and goals to achieve gender balance society in light of international commitments towards ensuring equity in education by policy makers, Dr Ghosh said there is also a need to establish institutional arrangements to support gender mainstreaming such as gender units and gender focal points system.

Further, at a programme level, gender mainstreaming can be applied based on a few steps, including gender analysis, programme design, resource allocation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, she added.

Sharing Martin Luther King Jr.’s quote “Legislation cannot change the hearts of the people, but it can restrain the heartless”, Dr Gosh averred that eventually it is the attitudes – at the political, social and individual levels – that count the most towards achieving gender mainstreaming.

Other data shared by Dr Ghosh

* Women earn 23 per cent less than men
* Women’s (aged 25-54) labour force participation rate is 63 per cent compared to 94 per cent for men
* Women spend approx. 2.5 times more time on unpaid care and domestic work than men
* Only 24 per cent of all national parliamentarians were women as of February 2019, a slow increase from 11.3 per cent in 1995
* As of June 2019, only 11 women were serving as Heads of State and 12 as Heads of Government
* It is estimated that 35 per cent of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner at some point in their lives
* 49 countries still lack laws protecting women from domestic violence
* There are 650 million women and girls in the world today who were married before the age of 18
* At least 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone some form of female genital mutilation
* Between 1990 and 2017, women constituted only 2 per cent of mediators, 8 percent of negotiators, and 5 per cent of witnesses and signatories in all major peace processes    

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

A One-Stop Destination To Embrace A Mode Lifestyle

Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
A One-Stop Destination To Embrace A Mode Lifestyle

If you are planning a mode new home, business/commercial premises or project, or renovating it, then a one-stop destination ARCHEX, an expo of interiors, exteriors and construction materials, awaits you with hundreds of products and solutions from 120-plus brands at the Parade Ground in Chandigarh from February 10 to 13.

Some of these are Indian brands, internationally acclaimed and award-winning, offering solutions like quick-erecting prefab wooden homes, smart automation and building management systems, designer steel doors with wooden finish and all sorts of capsule to large vertical elevators.

The expo was announced at a news conference here on Monday by the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Chandigarh Chapter, which is organizing it in association with Minds Media and Management Pvt. Ltd. The expo is supported by Green and Eco-Friendly Movement (GEM) of ASSOCHAM, Chandigarh Chapter and Chandigarh Chapter of Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI).

Among the segments on view would be bath and sanitary, natural stone, marble and granite, tiles and ceramics, water technologies, designer doors and windows, floorings, roofing techniques, home furnishings, home and office furniture, kitchen and bath technologies, electricals, etc.

Here, your own news website LifeInChandigarh.com, after doing background checks, highlights some of the award-winning Indian companies which will be showcasing during the expo modern, innovative and environmentally friendly products and solutions.

Delhi-based Prefab Wooden Homes (www.prefabwoodenhomes.com) are bringing to the expo their world class quick-erecting prefab wooden log homes, from small, simple ones to large luxurious ones in German pine, Canadian spruce and SPF. These are suitable for individual homes, holiday homes, farm houses and mountain houses.

Navi Mumbai-based BuildTrack (www.buildtrack.in), a leader in its category, will be offering its award-winning smart automation solutions for homes, enterprises, hotels, hospitals, senior living, energy efficiency and building management systems, which can be integrated with Google Home and Amazon Alexa voice control. The solutions have options of wired, wireless and hybrid connectivity.

The latest focus area of the company is BuildTrack smart touch switches (www.smarttouchswitch.com) that can be operated using highly visual Smart App, which provides access to the switches within a 360 degree panoramic photograph of a room. The highly visual setting enables users to easily identify and control the appliances that are linked to the switches like lighting, fans, curtains or blinds. The switch LED also reflects the status of the device even when it is operated by the App.

Combining the strength of steel and the beauty of wooden finish, Panipat-based Megastar Doors and Windows (www.megastardoors.com) will seek to impress the visitors with a range of their designer doors, which besides their aesthetics, keep your loved ones safe and secure.

Manesar, Gurgaon-based Easa Elevators (www.easaelevators.in), one of the largest manufacturers of vertical elevators in North India, will be showcasing a range of its smart city passenger elevators for homes, commercial spaces and offices. The brand has provided standard and special purpose elevators for homes, apartments, villas, factories, showrooms, hospitals, power plants, distilleries, pubs, godowns, historical buildings, museums, as well as  schools and colleges.

Where: Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh

When: Feb 10 to 13

Timing: 10 am to 7 pm

Entry: Free

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Single Vote In Gir Forest Reserve Equally Important, says EC

Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Single Vote In Gir Forest Reserve Equally Important, says EC

An entire polling team catering to a lone voter deep inside Gujarat’s Gir forest reserve, home to an entire population of 600 odd Asiatic lions in the country, and another team trekking for three days each side to supervise polling in the remotest and most inaccessible corner of Himachal Pradesh, that’s how gruelling the General Elections in the world’s largest democracy are.

The gigantic exercise involves 1 crore personnel, 10 lakh polling booths and 95 crore voters, shared Dr Anup Chandra Pandey, Election Commissioner of India, while delivering the 7th annual Prof. JC Anand Memorial lecture on the subject “70 Years Journey of Elections in India: Experiences, Issues and Challenges’, organised by the Department of Political Science, Panjab University, recently.

Dr AC Pandey delivering the memorial lecture

Photos By: Life In Chandigarh & Panjab University

A highly respected and popular professor of political science in Panjab University and an authority on Punjab politics, Prof JC Anand later in life provided coaching to IAS aspirants. His three daughters – Meenakshi Anand Chaudhary, Urvashi Gulati and Keshni Anand Arora – went on to hold the post of Chief Secretary of Haryana, a singular achievement. Meenakshi was the first woman to hold the post of Chief Secretary of Haryana.

In his address, Dr Pandey recalled the immense contribution of the first Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen in overseeing the successful conduct of first two general elections in 1951 and 1956, despite great difficulties of there being no election laws or rules of conduct and a very high illiteracy rate among the electors. What the elections achieved was to establish faith in a skeptical nation and the world regarding the very survival of the fledgling Indian democracy after attaining independence.

Even as Dr Pandey mentioned the name of Sukumar Sen in his lecture, another name immediately sprung to my mind for cleaning up the by then highly corrupted Indian electoral system in the 1990s, that of TN Seshan. The ‘Iron Man’ that he was, he was able to assert his authority like none other before him to reclaim the supremacy of the commission in the conduct of the electoral process.

Fearlessly, he not only rooted out many of the corrupt and unfair practices followed by political parties and powerful individual candidates during the elections despite strong resistance, but also strictly enforced the model code of conduct. Introduction of photo identity cards for voters was one of his notable contributions which went a long way in reducing the menace of bogus voting.

For his resolute actions in bringing order, fairness and integrity to the elections in the world’s largest democracy, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1996.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Pandey shared that Indian democracy and its electoral system has matured a long way since the first elections in 1951 when only 45% voters exercised their right to franchise, with women participation being abysmally low. In the last general elections in 2019, after seven decades and 17 general elections, the overall voting percentage was 67.4% with voting percentage of women for the first time outshining that of men.

There were many a shocked/amused face in the audience when he informed that in the first two general elections in 1951 and 1956, the ballot was blank and each voter dropped the ballot in the box earmarked for the candidate of his/her choice. The marking of names of candidates and poll symbols on the ballots was introduced first time in the 1961 general elections, he added.

EVM were first introduced in an election in Kerala in 1982 but it took 20 long years to create a political consensus on their use in the electoral process nationally and then to pass a legislation.

Dr Pandey said that following persistent controversies over the tampering and manipulation of EVMs, VVPATs, or paper trail of the EVMs, were introduced and the SC ordered matching of VVPAT slips with vote counts in five randomly selected EVMs per assembly constituency.

The Election Commissioner conceded that controversies over the tampering or manipulation of EVMs continue but pleas challenging their use have been set aside by the SC from time to time. The reality is that no significant mismatch has been detected between EVM counts and their paper trails despite 350 crore votes having been polled in EVMs across the country so far, he asserted.

The commission has also launched a suite of 20 user friendly mobile apps (https://eci.gov.in/divisions-of-eci/ict-apps/) with a view to making the entire electoral system, from registration to results, accessible, transparent, accountable and fair.

To further cut down on malpractices during elections, the process of deployment of polling staff and EVMs at polling stations has been randomised. So no one knows till very late which polling staff and which EVMs are being assigned to which polling station.

Dr Pandey revealed that contrary to the general belief, it is the educated urban class which is shy of voting in elections as the voting percentage of rural voters is much more than in metros. Low turnout of young votes is also a challenge, he said, adding that this is likely because of disenchantment of these categories of voters, who might feel that their vote does not count towards deciding who wins. For such voters pressing the NOTA (none of the above) button on the EVMs is an option to express their sentiments, he averred.

To further facilitate registration of newly eligible voters, the Election Commissioner informed that instead of a single qualifying date (January 1 each year) for those who turn 18, now youth who attain the age of 18 as on 1st of January, April, July and October in any year can apply online on the ‘Voter Portal’ to register as voters.

He said efforts are being made to explore the technical feasibility and generating a political consensus on making arrangements for integrating an estimated 10 crore migrant labourers and 1.5 crore NRIs in the electoral process.

Urvashi Gulati addressing the audience

Guest of honour, Prof (Emeritus) Pam Rajput, whose area of research/expertise has been women issues, Indian political system and international law, in her address gave full credit to the Election Commission of India for setting an example before the world of the humongous task of holding free and fair elections to world’s largest democracy.

At the same time while conceding that the system is by no means perfect, she said that there are issues which have been addressed by various committees and groups from time to time. Some of their recommendations have been incorporated, some have not, she observed.

Noting with satisfaction that in percentage terms women voters were outshining men in many states, she wanted more women to contest elections too. While batting for gender equality, she opposed gender stereotyping in the process, giving the example of exclusive women-only pink polling booths.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

Come, Fall In Love With Amazing Small Format Art Works Of 105 Talented Artists

Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Come, Fall In Love With Amazing Small Format Art Works Of 105 Talented Artists

The New Year brings another quality art exhibition to the city, where art lovers who appreciate and patronise creativity are aplenty. Privately owned young art gallery 105 Arts in Sector 11 has put together a first of its kind small format but big art exhibition ‘Small Is Beautiful’ in Chandigarh, featuring 210-plus strikingly impressive works of 105 talented artists – young, budding and established – from across the country and beyond.

Your very own news website LifeInChandigarh.com got an opportunity to exclusively media preview the exhibition in a select by-invitation-only event on Friday where some of the participating artists were also in attendance.

Photos By: Life In Chandigarh

Art lovers and enthusiasts are free to immerse in the ‘one foot by one foot’ art wonders at 105 Arts from February 4 to 10 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day.

Accomplished visual artist, Hyderabad-based Bolgum Nagesh Goud, who has conceived and conceptualised this exhibition, curated by Mehak Bhan, will be at hand along with some of the other participating artists to interact with early visitors between 11 a.m. and 12 noon on the opening day.

Bolgum Nagesh Goud

This writer was so impressed with the wide variety of artworks, in which artists have conveyed their signature styles through differing ethos, themes and mediums, that an unusually large number of the artworks have been included in this write-up for the benefit of art lovers and enthusiasts. An entire spectrum of colour and gamut of themes have been covered, from nature, mythology, religion to memories, folk art, love, life and longing.

Interacting with this writer, Bolgum Nagesh Goud shared: “We reached out to the artists, everyone came on board unconditionally. What started as an idea with works from 50 artists, quickly swelled to 75, 90 and then 100. My senior, Laxman Aelay suggested why not make it 105, fashioned after the name of the gallery. So here we are, with art works of 105 artists. Even well established artists, who do not work on such a small format, have readily contributed their works. From students, to mid career, to emerging and upcoming artists and seniors, works from all backgrounds are on display in mixed clusters.”

He clarified that the red dots seen pasted alongside many of the art works were indicative of them having been sold already. The art works carry a price tag ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs.

Proceeds from the show are to be shared with Nanhi Jaan, a reputed NGO working towards medical treatment and education of underprivileged children.

Mehak Bhan

Mehak Bhan added: “This visually stimulating show has been a first on many levels, and most evidently on a structural level to exhibit a humongous number of artists and artworks under one roof in an art gallery in the best light possible. It’s a new year, and with it we bring a new perspective, a new thought, an exhibition that aspires to instill hope, resilience and a celebration of beauty and love, with a bit of magic. Each work of art gives you an opportunity to escape into a ‘one foot by one foot’ wonderland.”

When: Feb 4 to 10

Timing: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: 105 Arts, H.No. 105, Sector 11, Chandigarh

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

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