Patna University team returns from Jaipur literature fest

PATNA: At least 20 postgraduate (PG) students of Patna University (PU) English department, accompanied by head Shankar Ashish Dutt and senior guest faculty member Muniba Sami, returned to the university headquarters on Wednesday after attending the Jaipur Literature Festival held from January 25 to 28.

It was for the first time that so many PU students attended sessions like ‘Empress: Nur Jahan and the Women of the Mughal Empire’ by Ira Mukhoty, Ruby Lal and Parvati Sharma, ‘Where does Fiction Come from’ by Andrew Sean Greer, Ben Okri, Tania James, Vikram Chandra and Chandrahas Choudhury, ‘Indian Princes vs the Raj’ by Moin Mir, Stewart Gordon, Sunil S Amrith and Ira Mukhoty and ‘Cellphone Nation’ by Assa Doron, Ravi Agrawal, Robin Jeffrey and Barkha Dutt, among others, at the fest.

“The educational trip helped students gain exposure, engage intellectually with writers and participate in discussions to enhance critical understanding of the text,” said Dutt.

NDA: At least 200 students of the Montessori wing took part in a painting event, christened ‘Play with Colours’, organized by the parents-teachers’ association of Notre Dame Academy on the school campus on Thursday.

Students drew and painted flowers, mountains, trains, butterflies, jokers and birds at the event.

Association president Amitabh Pandey said, “Our purpose was to make students take interest in painting. Usually, a topic is given to the participants in any painting event, certain rules are followed and only few win prizes in the end. We, however, have not organized a competition. There are no rules and regulations and the kids are free to draw whatever they like.”

Cartoonist Pavan, College of Arts and Crafts officiating principal Ajay Kumar Pandey and National Institute of Fashion Technology-Patna’s faculty members Rajini Shrivastav encouraged the students on the occasion.

Montessori wing headmistress Sr Mary Tresa, her primary wing counterpart Sr Mary Rosemary and school principal Sr Mary Jessy were also present along with the members of the association.

IGIMS: A valedictory function of ‘Safety Awareness Month’ was organized at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday.

IGIMS director Dr N R Biswas, who was the chief guest of the event, distributed prizes among those who had taken part in various activities organized during this month.

PPU: Teachers of Patna and Nalanda colleges, falling under the jurisdiction of Pataliputra University (PPU), have decided to hold a mass meeting in the state capital on Sunday.

“A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of teachers under the chairmanship of MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav on Wednesday. They will discuss the formation of Pataliputra University Teachers and Employees’ Association and its rules. They will also elect the office-bearers of the association,” senior teacher A K Singh Thakur said.