Good news for Chandigarhians residing in the southern sectors — 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and Mohali. Keeping in mind the inconvenience to residents of these sectors in frequently visiting GMCH 32 and the long queues which add to the rush, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, has started a full-fledged outpatient department (OPD) facility at its South Campus in Sector 48.

From December 1, OPDs will be available for four departments—general medicine, general surgery, paediatrics and orthopaedics.

At present, the South Campus of the hospital has indoor admission wards of four departments including psychiatry, dermatology, oncology and radiology, and tuberculosis and respiratory medicine

GMCH-32 OPDs witness a huge rush of patients from Tricity and nearby states. Patients have to stand in queues for hours from early morning for registration .

The highest patient footfall is in the departments of general medicine, surgery, paediatrics and orthopaedics. Therefore, OPDs for these four departments will be open at Sector 48.

OPD timings: 10 am to 12 noon

Registration timing for OPDs (new patients):  9 am to 11.00 am

General medicine OPD: Monday and Thursday

General Surgery OPD: Tuesday and Friday

Pediatrics OPD: Wednesday

Orthopedics OPD: Saturday

Other OPDS:  Dermatology, psychiatry, radiotherapy and oncology, tuberculosis and respiratory medicine

Sample collection and X-rays: During OPD hours.

Ravina, a first year student of Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, Chandigarh made the nation proud by winning the Youth World Boxing Championship 2022, held in Spain. The Indian pugilist who was in the red corner thwarted her opponent in the blue corner, Megan De Cler (Netherlands) in the finals of the 60-63 kg category.

Before the bout, Ravina got a call from CWG boxing gold medallist Nikhat Zareen, while Ravina was training at the camp. Zareen spoke to all the girls in the group along with their head coach Amanpreet Kaur.

Belonging to Hisar in Haryana, Ravina started boxing in 2018 when she was in IXth standard. “My brother used to do boxing, but he suffered an injury due to which he had to quit. From then, I started training at the Universal Boxing Academy in Hisar,” she says, while talking to CityWoofer.

Where there are 150 boxers training in the Academy, there are only 15-20 girls out of whom Ravina is the only one who has made it to the national and international level. “There is another girl who won the gold in Asia Cup,” she adds.

Talking about the challenges she overcame, she says, “Earlier I used to always lose at the district level and state level. With experience, I got to learn the technique and the competition-wali fight.”

Ravina is now all set to participate in the 12-nation Cup to be held in Siberia in December, if she gets selected in the trials.

Millets like ragi , jowar, bajra and many others are a good alternative to polished rice and processed wheat flour. Famous as millet guru, Ram Babu, 47, a vociferous exponent of inclusion of millets in our diet instead of processed rice and wheat, was at NIFT Mohali to give a live cooking session to students.

While sowing and during their growth, millets do not require any kind of pesticides, unlike rice and wheat. “They just grow like grass, there is no special requirement. Millets are more filling than rice and wheat, so if one kg of rice feeds eight persons, a kg of millets will feed 12 people,” says Ram Babu, while speaking to CityWoofer.

Having learnt all the necessary details while growing up from his maternal grandmother, he says, “Cooking is like meditation for me. Our body organs have developed fully well over centuries and by know, we should know which kind of food suits them”.

When the Green Revolution came in 1960s, wheat and rice were promoted by the governments because companies needed to sell their pesticides. Now, millets sell at very high prices. “Once production of millets starts again, rates will come down,” says Ram Babu giving a ray of hope.

He also stressed that foods change with seasons, millets can be consumed throughout the year but in different forms and compositions.

“Millets are like crawling babies now. They will come full circle in about 50-60 years from now, my aim is to atleast start that process,” he says on an optimistic note.

Lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, high gylcerides, thyroid were never heard of earlier, now there is no dietician who would not recommend millets to get rid of these medical problems.

How do millets help diabetics and obese people?

Millet is lower on the glycemic index (GI) than many other grains. That means it raises your blood sugar slowly and gradually, instead of in quick spikes.

“I never consume white processed foods, white sugar, white salt. I have been working at different levels with farmers, women, so that they can collaborate at different levels to begin the reuse of millets in their daily food again,” says Ram Babu. There are about 1,000 recipes Ram Babu has shared in his books and through his youtube channel which includes millet dosa, muffins, cakes, pastas and what not.

His final message to us? Our food is not only meant to satisfy our taste buds, it builds the relation between Nature and Me, it makes me understand soil, Nature, biodiversity, family welfare, national economy, etc.

2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYOM).

On the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millet (IYOM).

The Government of India had notified millets as a nutritious- cereal in April 2018 and millets have also been included in the Poshan Mission campaign.

Under the National Food Security Mission (NFMS), a nutritious cereal component for millets is being implemented in 212 districts of 14 States.

Asia and Africa are the major production and consumption centres of millet crops. India, Niger, Sudan and Nigeria are the major producer of millets.

India is the major production country of millets in which Kangni, Kutki or small millet, Kodon, Gangora or Barnyard, china and Brown top are included along with jowar, bajra, ragi and small millets. Most of the states in India grow one or more millet crop species. During the last 5 years, our country produced more than 13.71 to 18 million tonnes of millet with the highest production in 2020-21.

It’s the next level of art form—with sound, 3D and movement. The first ever augmented reality (AR) exhibition with 12 paintings by French artist Béatrice de Fays was held in Chandigarh. The paintings narrate a story of a woman, a man and a child, taking you into a different world of AR (sound and image).The exhibition was held at the Sector16/17 underpass and at Alliance Française, Sector 36, Chandigarh.

The Artwork

This artwork unfolded a story in augmented reality inspired by the granite rocks of Hyderabad on the Deccan plateau. Titled, ‘A Woman in the Dance City’, the paintings narrated the story of a woman in Hyderabad. But what sets this apart is Beatrice’s use of AR.

In this series, a visitor sees 12 entities, spaces and energies: the Buddha of the rocks, the dragonfly, the tree, the source, the rest, the dance.

“In AR, you can use sound, 3D and movement. The idea as to combine digital and material and using this, I have tried to show people my perception of the world. I have used some sceneries too in my work”, says Beatrice.

A devout Buddhist herself, Béatrice has included Buddha in her works. “It is about how a girl meets Buddha and how he teaches her the way of life”, she explains, adding, she took about two years to complete the series.

What is Augmented Reality?

Visitors can watch the paintings come alive by downloading in.space app and scanning each painting to discover spatial, narrative and sound dimensions.

The “in.space” application for Android and Apple (downloadable from Google play or Apple store) allows you to discover the augmented reality linked to each painting from a phone or tablet. Visitors enter the AR universe by scanning each painting using the “in.space” application previously downloaded on a mobile device. The use of headphones or earphones is strongly recommended to live the experience more intensely. By moving through the works with their mobile device, the visitor discovers their spatial, narrative and sound dimensions. Thus,  the pictorial space unfolds in front of the painting in a dematerialized universe.

The Team

Besides conceptualising and painting, artist Béatrice de Fays has given a voice over to the exhibits along with Bari Kumar. Music is by Mathieu Constans and Guillaume Evrard is the AR Developer.

The Artist’s Evolution

Béatrice de Fays, aka B2Fays, is a French-Belgian artist. She develops her creations using diverse media: paintings, illustrations, video projections, local or network interactive installations and augmented reality. In 1984, she realised that creation was the only way for her to evolve in a universe. She refused to join an art school, and began her self-taught career in Paris.

Her work began with making a comic strip, then her work appeared in magazines, fanzines, and on television.

An art lover ordered a 3-meter-long canvas painting of one of her published panels. This life-sized painting and the involvement of the whole body to achieve it, made the artist aware of the positive impact of this medium on herself, both physically and mentally. After this experience, she distanced herself from digital images, and worked exclusively with material picturization.

In 1994, all her paintings were destroyed in a fire. The shock made her realise the fragility of matter and decided to once again turn towards computers, but this time to integrate the viewer into the creatibe process and share the experience.

In 2008, she designed a display consisting of two interactive networked installations at La Géode (La Cité des Sciences, Paris), and the Nehru Science Center, Mumbai, India, where visitors could meet, interact and create together, in real time, 7000 km apart.

The prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademy awards for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 have been announced, which sprang a pleasant surprise for the Tricity as it bagged five of the total awards announced under various categories of performing arts.

The proud recipients of these coveted awards, among others, included veteran Hindustani vocalist Pandit Bhim Sen Sharma and a tabla  exponent of a popular music ‘gharana’ of Punjab Sushil Kumar Jain. Both the maestros have been awarded the Lifetime Presidential Award under the ongoing ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’ the 75th glorious year of India’s independence.

Balkar Singh Sidhu, an acclaimed dance ‘guru’ is the recipient of the award under the folk dances category, while Sudesh Sharma was awarded under the theatre direction category.

Abhimanyu Imroz, who has been an integral part of serious theatre since the tender age of nine, has been bestowed upon the award under the Bismillah Khan Yuva Puruskar category for his insignificant contribution to the specific genre – theatre direction.

Octogenarian Pandit Bhim Sen Sharma is twice lucky to have been awarded under the twin categories- Hindustani vocal and instrumental music. Crediting the crowning achievement to his erudite and visionary ‘gurus’, he says, “The accolades and awards are an endorsement of one’s contribution to the field one has been diligently pursuing and, of course, a set of new responsibilities to continue working with the never-before gravitas”.

The iconic ‘tabla’ wizard Sushil Kumar Jain was gung-ho as the good tidings announcing the award trickled in. He confideshow the award was special to him, saying “I could not have asked for more on this day, being my 76th birth anniversary, when this coveted honour landed in my lap”. He expressed his gratitude to teeming millions of his fans and friends from across India and the neighbouring sub-continent.

“I am grateful to CSNA for considering me worthy of this honour for the services rendered by me to  promote the traditional folk dances of Punjab for several decades now,” says Balkar Singh Sidhu in a sibilate whisper.

Sudesh Sharma says, “This prestigious award will continue motivating me to carry on with renewed enthusiasm and commitment. I firmly believe that there is always room for improvement to prove your mettle and bring the best out of you”.

The youngest of the lot, Abhmanyu Imroz turned emotional as he coyly confides, “My father, a ‘naqal’ dancer (a typical folk dance of Punjab), who had been my mentor, taught me the first lesson to grow as an astute artiste and carve out a niche for himself among the galaxy of stars and here I am today receiving the honour”.

Speaking with CityWoofer,  Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademy (CSNA) Chairman Atul Sharma says that as many as 128 who’s who from various performing art spectrums, including music, dance, theatre, traditional folk, tribal music and dance and puppetry had been selected for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards.

The Chandigarh Traffic Police has always been at the forefront of good policing and making residents aware of the rules from time to time. In a new move, Chandigarh traffic police has issued a warning and are also educating the masses on how and where not to park or stop your vehicle wrongfully, even if it is for a short while. A quick go-through to where not to stop your vehicle:

• Cannot park or stop your car anywhere on the road or near the road, other than a proper parking space.
• Cannot park/ stop your car on cycle track/ footpath even for a while
• Can’t leave your vehicle disowned or in a dangerous position
• Can’t park your vehicle in a public place and relax or eat inside
• Must not stop the vehicles on these points where you have the following sign boards: NO STANDING; NO STOPPING AND NO STANDING; NO PARKING
• Can’t stop the vehicle in front of other vehicles or on a curve

Rule book says: A vehicle shall not be parked/stopped

• At a place where stopping a vehicle is prohibited.
• On a footpath, cycle track and pedestrian crossing.
• Before or after an intersection or a junction up to a distance of fifty meters from the edge of the intersection or junction.
• Where it would block access to designated parking spaces.
• Near a bus stop, at the entrance to an educational institution or a hospital or if it is likely to block a traffic sign or a fire hydrant.
• In a bus lane.
• In front of the entrance or exit of a property.
• where there is a continuous yellow line installed or painted on the carriageway on the kerb side;
• Away from the edge of the footpath.
• Opposite another parked vehicle.
• If it is likely obstruct any other vehicle or cause inconvenience to any person.
• Alongside another parked vehicle.
• Beyond the specified duration at a place where parking is permitted for a specified duration only.
• In a place where parking is permitted for a specified category or categories of vehicles and the vehicle does not belong to the specified category
• By a driver who is not differently abled in a parking space reserved for vehicles driven by differently-abled drivers.
• In a manner other than that specified in the parking bays in a designated parking lot or in such a manner as to occupy excessive space.
• Where parking is prohibited by a “No Parking” sign.
• On the main road or at a stretch of a road where the notified maximum speed limit is fifty kilometers per hour or more

Why these rules:

Inconvenience to passengers, drivers, pedestrians

Can cause accidents

Regulation 22(1) & (2) MVDR 2017 Parking of the Vehicle:

Every driver of a motor vehicle parking on any road shall park in such a way that it does not cause or is not likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience to other road users

What action will be taken?

Vehicle can be towed away or clamped down

Action will be taken against the driver

Removal of motor vehicles abandoned or left unattended on a public place (Removed by Towing)

1. Where any motor vehicle is abandoned or left unattended on a public place for ten hours or more or is parked in a place where parking is legally prohibited, its removal by a towing service or its immobilization by any means including wheel clamping may be done.
2. Where an abandoned, unattended, wrecked, burnt or partially dismantled vehicle is creating a traffic hazard, because of its position in relation to the (public place), or its physical appearance is causing the impediment to the traffic, it will be immediately removed from the (public place) by a towing serving
3. Where a vehicle is authorized to be removed by a police officer, the owner of the vehicle shall be responsible for all towing costs, besides any other penalty.

What are the laws?

Section 122 MV Act Amendment 2019 Leaving Vehicle in Dangerous Position: No person in charge of a motor vehicle shall cause or allow the vehicle to be abandoned or to remain at rest on any public place in such a position or in such a condition or in such circumstances as to cause or likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience to other users of the public place or to the passengers.

 Section 122 MV Act, 1988 (as amended in 2019) Penalty for Causing Obstruction to Free Flow of Traffic U/s 177 MV Act, 1988:

Whoever keeps a disabled vehicle on any public place, in such a manner, so as to cause impediment to the free flow of traffic, shall be liable for penalty up to fifty rupees per hour.

Where the vehicle is removed by a government agency, towing charges shall be recovered from the vehicle owner or person in-charge of such vehicle.

Where to contact?

Traffic Helpline 1073

The land of BTS is where they come from — South Korea. All the children and youngsters were hooked to the dance performances when Korean Ambassador to India, Chang Jae-Bok was at the Elante Mall along with his Korean delegation.

The exhibition, being held at the main atrium of the Elante mall, is a part of the 4-day Korea Fair to showcase the culture of Korea to its patrons. The fair is showcasing various products from the guest country.

The mall has collaborated with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) to offer unique experience to the visitors from 24^th to 27^th November.

Products including eatables, cosmetics, jewellery, etc of over 16 Korean companies with more than 50 brands are on display. The other products include stationary, clothes, beauty products, snacks,  and  electronic products too like water purifiers.

The fair is a good exposure to Tricity residents as they get to know the culture and food of Korea.

Special performance by K-pop and a few Taekwondo performers were the main attractions at the inauguration of the exhibition.

The most anticipated 3-day techno-cultural fest ‘PECFEST: An Indian Odyssey’ is on at the Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University).

The fest began with an inaugural ceremony held in the main arena on November 25, 2022. Prof Baldev Setia, Director PEC, was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.

The fest began with the roadshow on November 24. ‘Hop on hop off’ bus took students through Chandigarh streets starting from Hotel Parkview, Sector 24, Chandigarh.

The music club of the college performed the Ganesh Vandana, followed by a folk performance, wherein the energetic troupe of seasoned bhangra dancers mesmerized the audience with their performance. Groovz, a western culture dance competition, saw students swaying to their favourite numbers. Later, a fashion show walk competition, Glitterati, was staged by the students of PEC and other colleges.

PECobians worked day and night to bring marketing deals with the zeal to organize one of the best fests in PEC history. They succeeded in getting many sponsors on board including Trident group, Sparkx, JLPL, Quark City, Jubilee, Canara Bank, Union Bank Of India, HitBullsEye, Xeam Ventures IBS (ICFAI business schools) and Venus Education Services. Tinder India is the experience partner and Crax is the official snack partner. State Bank of India is the official payment partner while Canva, Crimsoune club and Roadies KoffeeHouz are the event sponsors.

PECFEST is known for organizing competitions which cover a wide spectrum of interesting activities. Student Counselling Cell is an all-time achiever in bringing smiles to the faces of participants by organizing witty and exciting contests.

This time a participation of 170 teams and 200 teams was recorded for the event ‘Unveil the Culprit’ and ‘Treasure Hunt’ respectively. Extensive participation was observed from colleges like Thapar University, Delhi University, Chandigarh University and Chitkara University.

ASCE organised NEEV-The PECFEST Olympiad with 500 registrations on Day 1 and 200 registrations for Day 2. Students from all the major schools of Chandigarh participated with huge interest. ASPS conducted events namely ‘Race to Jupiter’ and ‘Para Rocket’.

Rang Punjab De event was organised by Punjabi Editorial Board of College in which there were performances that included Bhangra, Malwayi Giddha and singing.

Besides these events, there were also numerous competitions organized by different clubs and societies of the institute. Kavyanjali, Baazar, IPL Auction, Wordict, different quizzes, Robotics competitions, Spandhan- stage play, Solo singing competition, Open Mic and treasure hunt are the various events that gathered attraction from various colleges and schools within the Tricity and outside as well.

Day 1 witnessed an exemplary footfall of participants from colleges from the Tricity and outside as well. PECFEST coordinated with various schools from Chandigarh. School students were accompanied by teachers and took part in various competitions. This fest gave them an opportunity to experience activities outside academics. A collaboration has been done with major food joints from and around the Chandigarh region and 20 food stalls have been set up.

 SinghPunjabi film ‘Baghi Di Dhee’ (daughter of a rebel) released under the banner of PTC Motion Pictures, hit the big screen on November 25. It is an engaging story of revenge, revolt and rivalry, all rolled into one.

The film takes us through the long-forgotten era of the struggle and sacrifices made by the unsung heroes, especially those Indian immigrants in US and Canada who associated with the ‘Ghadar’ movement from across the seven seas to liberate their motherland from the shackles of British Raj.

It is based on the original story written by a Punjabi stalwart the legendary Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir. The story revolves around a 14-year-old-girl, Deep (Dilnoor Kaur), who decides to step into her father’s (Kuljinder Singh Sidhu) shoes at the tender age of 14. She shoulders the responsibility of taking the movement forward after her father is sent to the gallows on the flimsy charges of raising a pitch against the ruthless regime. Her forceful outpouring against the ruling monarchs through the written word won the hearts of the people associated with the long-drawn freedom struggle and others.

The revolutionary poems she penned during her school days refurbished the fading spirit of freedom on the forefront of the big fight. She led the march against the British despite her failing health. Her plain-speak and a distinct streak of patriotism endeared this young crusader to one and all.

The iconic film under the impeccable direction of Mukesh Gautam is poised to pack a punch on the Punjabi audience which seems to have lost interest in film viewing, apparently for want of quality content. The film is all set to chart out a set of new paradigms in the Punjabi film industry to deliver a wholesome message across the board.

The hallmark of the film is the out-of-the-box script helmed by a highly acclaimed writer Pali Bhupinder Singh. Singer-lyricist Bir Singh has created stunning lyrics while music has been scored by Tejwant Kittu, a prominent face in the music industry.

The film produced by Rabindra Narayan, MD and President, PTC Network, ‘Baghi Di Dhee’ is likely to evoke a humongous response from the audience, if the premier screening of the film in Chandigarh and elsewhere having packed-like-sardine theatres were any indication. The meaningful film connecting the dots of India’s independence struggle is all set to create history of sorts by connecting the people with their rich cultural and religious roots.

The star cast of this stellar film includes accomplished actors like Kuljinder Singh Sidhu, Dilnoor Kaur, Vaquar Shaikh, Gurpreet Bhangu, among others, who have gotten into the skin of their respective characters, making it a must-watch film for the season.

Speaking to Citybuzz, producer of the film Rabindra Narayan says “PTC has never been driven by the idea of making their productions a box office hit or swayed by the propensity to cast big names with the intent just to grab public attention or make them a commercial hit”.

“The sole intention is to sensitise our future generations about the supreme sacrifices made by our predecessors. For us what was imperative was not the moolah but the moving content that defines the ethos of Punjab, the land Gurus, and the insignificant contribution of our freedom fighters,” he says.

“Baghi Di Dhee is undoubtedly a must-watch family film for all generations, especially the younger lot, who are gradually drifting away from the rich cultural and historical heritage about the sacrifices made by our ancestors”, says Surjeet, Kaur, a retired government school principal.

Riding on the fame of Big Boss, model Arshi Khan is using this achievement for a bigger and better cause. In Chandigarh for the launch of her mission ‘Nirbhik’, she has started on a journey to equip young girls and boys with martial arts training. When you are out there alone, especially at young age when you don’t know how to react to a criminal mind, be prepared. This is the message.

Master Bhupesh, one of the 10 best martial arts trainers in India, is helping her in this drive. On a visit to Israel, they realized people, especially women, roam around freely without any fear, this gave a direction to their purpose.

Nirbhik mission

To be spread across the country,  the mission will teach girls and boys from schools and colleges the techniques of self defence with the help of Israeli martial art Krav Maga.  The first thing that comes to mind is how do you decide you are actually facing a criminal mind — Read their facial expression and body language to get a clue.