Discerning Dharma: Debating Universal vs Contextual Morality in The Mahabharata

On April 6th, 2023, the philosophical society at PGGCG-11 Chandigarh organized a student seminar on the topic “Discerning Dharma: Debating Universal vs Contextual Morality in The Mahabharata” as part of their ongoing seminar series ‘Dialogue.’ The speaker for the day was Dr Pankaj Srivastava from the Department of Philosophy at Panjab University. Dr Ambuj Sharma coordinated the session, which was chaired by Vanisha, a BA1 student.

The seminar began with Dr Ambuj introducing the philosophical society and its department, followed by Vanisha’s brief introduction to the topic and the speaker. Dr Pankaj Srivastava shared his views on the topic, including discussions on the traditions of Epics, the objectives of Dharma, and Homo sapiens. He also delved into the conflict between universal and contextual Dharma in the Mahabharata.

After his speech, students asked questions, with Tanu (BA1) inquiring about the speaker’s opinion on which morality was superior – universal or contextual, and Vanisha (BA1) asking about his personal dilemmas regarding the two moralities. The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Ambuj Sharma and the office bearers of the philosophical society, who presented Dr Pankaj with flowers and took photographs with the students.

PGGCG-11 Organized Poetry Recitation and Declamation

The event ‘Droit à l’égalité, tout le monde en a’ organized by the Department of French at Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector-11, Chandigarh, on 5th April 2023 was a resounding success, thanks to the able guidance and support of Prof. Dr. Anita Kaushal, the college principal. The event witnessed the participation of 25 talented individuals, who recited and declaimed poetry with great passion and conviction. The event also saw the active participation of 52 students, who were enthralled by the performances and showed immense enthusiasm throughout the event. The Head of the Department of French, Dr. Nidhi Sharma, presented each participant with a token of appreciation to recognize their hard work and dedication towards the event. Overall, it was a remarkable event that showcased the talents of the participants and highlighted the importance of equality for all.

PGGCG-11 Organized Blood Donation Camp 2022-23

The Blood Donation camp not only provided an opportunity for students to contribute to a noble cause but also served as an educational platform to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation. The organizers had set up informative booths at the camp, which helped educate the students about the significance of donating blood and the impact it can have on the lives of those in need.

The Blood Donation Society of Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector-11 Chandigarh, partnered with the Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGI, Chandigarh, and Lions Club Panchkula Premier to organize a successful Blood Donation camp. In collaboration with the NSS units of the college and NOSTALGIA, the Alumni Association of the college, the camp received an enthusiastic response from the students. The event collected a total of 51 units of blood, with each donor receiving a certificate, gift, and refreshments as a token of appreciation. The camp was well-received by the college staff and students and ended on a high note, marking a significant achievement for all those involved.

PGGCG-11 Organized 64thAnnual Convocation

64thAnnual Convocation ofPost Graduate Government College for Girls, Sec-11, Chandigarh was held on 29th March, 2023. Professor S. K. Tomar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of JC Bose University of Science and Technology Faridabad, Haryana was the Chief Guest. The Convocation began with the lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp by the Chief Guest and Principal Prof. Anita Kaushal and a rendition of SaraswatiVandana by the students.

Prof. Anita Kaushal presented the College Annual Report and praised the achievements of the students in academics, co-curricular activities, and sports. She also acknowledged the contributions of the Faculty as members of Academic Bodies of Panjab University and highlighted their endeavors in research and publications. She listed the college’s progress in winning many awards in Environmental conservation, Sustainable development practices, cleanliness at national and international levels, pioneering efforts towards Tree Plantation, Eat right campus and Beat Covid Campaign, Cyber security drive, and Drug De-addiction campaign. The Principal also announced the inauguration of Multimedia Centre and Research Block and highlighted the latest MoUs signed between the college and industries.

Prof S K Tomar congratulated the Graduates and Post-Graduates in his Convocation Address and motivated them to approach life as a learning process with unity and uniformity. He stressed that the value, knowledge, and skills imparted by the institution will shape their career, and emphasized the importance of judicious use of technology. He urged the students to choose an idea, think, live it, develop it, and implement it for success. He also highlighted the importance of respecting and appreciating everyone.

More than 1300 Graduates and Post-Graduates were conferred degrees, including 305 Post-Graduate degrees and 995 undergraduate degrees. The college felicitated more than 92 students who secured positions in the Panjab University Examination and in college. The college has carved a niche in the region and country, not just in infrastructure, but in awards and accolades.

Workshop on Recent trends in Science

On Friday, 24th March 2023, Jigyasa – The Science Society, under the guidance of IQAC, organized a one-day workshop on Medicinal Plants and Instrumentation at PGGCG-11, Chandigarh. The Department of Science and Technology and Renewable Energy, Chandigarh Administration sponsored the program, which saw the participation of 20 faculty members and 95 students from the Science Department.

The workshop began with a lecture-cum-demonstration by Mr. Om Prakash, Regional Environment Coordinator at Vidya Bharti – North Region and Consultant Herbal Garden, Herbal Plants, Nursery, and Environmental Activities. Mr. Prakash emphasized the importance of Ayurveda, an ancient therapy gifted to us by our Rishi Munis. He spoke about various medicinal plants such as Kapoor Tulsi for eye medicine, Astevia for diabetes, Bharmi as a memory booster, Shatavari as an immunity booster for ladies, and Sarpgandha for high BP cure. He stressed on the need for taking herbal plants as medicine under the supervision of an Ayurvedic doctor, as these plants can be harmful if taken without consultation.

The lecture was informative and well-received by the students, who interacted enthusiastically with the resource person.

Another workshop on “Instrumentation” was also conducted on the same day by Mr. Anuj from Samarth Scientifics. He explained the working and handling of various instruments such as U.V. spectrophotometer, conductivity meter, flame photometer, digital melting point, and pH meter. The session was informative for both students and faculty members.

In the end, Dr. Sadhana Verma, the Convener of the Science Society, gave a vote of thanks for the successful organization of the workshop. Overall, the workshop was a great success in spreading awareness about the benefits of medicinal plants and instrumentation in the field of science.

College Society VIRASAT Organises Lecture on ” The Invaluable contribution of Indian Revolutionary Freedom Fighters”

In honor of Martyr’s Day on March 23rd, the History Society “VIRASAT” of Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 11 Chandigarh, collaborated with NOSTALGIA under the Aegis of IQAC to organize a lecture on “The Invaluable Contribution of Indian Revolutionary Freedom Fighters.” The lecture was presented by Retd. Professor (Dr.) Manju Malhotra from the Department of History at USOL, Panjab University Chandigarh. The lecture focused on the ideology and methodology of Indian Revolutionaries and their significant contributions during the freedom movement, with a special emphasis on the contributions of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Raj guru ji, and Sukhdev ji. The Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal, commended the Department of History for this initiative, and the Head of the Department, Dr. Asha Kiran, encouraged students to participate. The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session and a vote of thanks.

Valedictory Session – “NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan”

The Post Graduate Government College for Girls in Sector-11, Chandigarh held its Valedictory Session today to mark the conclusion of various events and activities organized in February and March 2023, as part of the government’s “NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan” campaign aimed at creating drug abuse awareness among young people. The college’s Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal, was the chief guest of the event, while the college’s Vice Principal, Dr. Monika Vij, also attended and praised the students’ efforts.

The event’s Guests of Honour included Dr. Mahender Singh, Principal of Yoga College and Nodal-cum-Liaison Officer for the Higher Education Department’s Drug De-addiction program, and Ms. Prabhjot Kaur Atwal, Nodal Officer for the Social Welfare Department. During her address to the students, Ms. Prabhjot highlighted the problem of drug abuse in the region.

The VADA (Victory Against Drug Abuse) Club members, Mehfooz-the Drug De-addiction Society, and NSS Volunteers, in accordance with the directives of the Director Higher Education and Department of Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration, participated in various activities such as poster-making, Instagram Reel making, pledge-taking, workshops, and rallies to raise awareness about drug abuse. More than 100 students participated in the rally and attended the valedictory session.

The VADA Club members presented a video showcasing the activities they had undertaken throughout the year under the “NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan” campaign, which was highly appreciated by everyone.

Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal awarded the prize winners and participants of various competitions with prizes and certificates, congratulating them for their hard work and efforts. She also expressed concern about the alarming issue of drug abuse and emphasized the need for young people’s involvement in spreading awareness about it. The session ended with Prof. Anita Kaushal leading the pledge of “Say No to Drugs” with all the participants. The society’s convenor, Dr. Neelam Rathee, thanked the guests with a token of gratitude.

Alumni talk on “Career in Kathak Dance” by Mrs. Smriti Sharma

On 22 March 2023, the Dance department of Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector-11 Chandigarh, organized a talk on the topic of ‘Career in Kathak Dance’ as a part of the ongoing G20 Summit and the celebration of 75th Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The event was organized in collaboration with ‘Nostalgia- Alumni association of the college.

The talk was conducted by an esteemed alumna of the department, Mrs. Smriti Sharma, who shed light on the various career prospects in the vast world of commercialization. Mrs. Sharma not only discussed professional and academic opportunities but also highlighted the potential of the industry and commercial platforms. The students actively participated in the discussion, asking questions about the upliftment of the arts community and the scope for future generations who want to pursue Indian classical art forms. In conclusion, Mrs. Sharma motivated the students to become financially independent women and take the legacy of Indian classical dance forward. The event was attended by approximately 50 students, and the department teachers thanked Mrs. Sharma for her motivational session.

Technology ki Pathshala

40 studentsfrom the PG department of Bachelor of Computer Application, and  PG department of Commerce of PGGCG sector 11 Chandigarh,visited  Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) in sector 17 Chandigarhto attend “Technology ki Pathshala”. Dr Naveen Pandhi and Ms Harpteet Kaur accompanied the students.

The ICCC is a command-and-control center, also known as a “situation room,” where monitoring, controlling, and commanding operations are conducted. It serves not only the government but also departments such as Police & Fire, universities, utility companies, and others, facilitating the sharing of commands, warnings, and alerts seamlessly and flawlessly in large numbers.

One of the primary objectives of Chandigarh’s smart city mission is to enhance safety and security, improve the efficiency of municipal services, and promote a better quality of life for residents. To achieve these objectives, a robust ICT infrastructure that supports digital applications and ensures seamless steady state operations, city management, surveillance, emergency response mechanisms, and real-time tracking of services and vital city metrics is necessary throughout the city and in government departments.

The ICCC project aims to establish a collaborative framework that assimilates and analyzes input from different functional departments of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and other stakeholders, such as transport, water, fire, and police, on a single platform, resulting in aggregated city-level information. This information can be converted to actionable intelligence and propagated to relevant stakeholders and citizens. The project’s implementation scope includes CCTV surveillance, intelligent traffic management systems, adaptive traffic controlling systems with video analytic software, data analytical inter-departmental assistance, a communication center, and an integrated command and control center platform integration with digital services.

During the visit, Mr. Ashish Sharma, an information and communication technology expert at the ICCC, educated the students about the development of Chandigarh as a smart city.

Students were shown how the ICCC provides safety and security to citizens and how the command center improves the efficiency of municipal services. They also learned about the benefits of placing more than 2500 cameras across 300 different locations throughout the city. The purpose of the activity was to raise awareness among the younger generation about the role of data and technology in making the city better and safer. The students had an interactive and enjoyable session, actively participating and learning about the city’s development as a smart city.

An interclass competition on the theme “Inculcating Reading Habits amongst students”

The Department of Library Science at Post Graduate Govt. College for Girls Sector-11, Chandigarh, successfully organized a series of stimulating competitions for its students. These included Slogan Writing, Book Jacket Making, Book Mark Making, Book Hunting, and Reference Hunting. The competitions aimed to inspire and encourage the students to develop a strong passion for reading and enhance their awareness about the library’s role in shaping their educational journeys.

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Prof. (Dr.) Anita Kaushal, the college’s Principal, who distributed prizes to the winners. She also took the opportunity to motivate the students to utilize the library to its fullest potential. Prof. Kaushal emphasized the importance of libraries as excellent learning environments that provide access to abundant resources, foster new ideas and perspectives, and ultimately help shape future leaders.

Close to 80 students participated in the competitions, showcasing their creativity and skills. The contests were not only fun and engaging, but they also contributed to developing the students’ knowledge and skills. Overall, the event successfully instilled a love for reading and appreciation for libraries among the students, and it served as an excellent platform to showcase their talent.