Panchkula, November 10, 2026: Spreading the message of service, compassion and humanity on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the Purushottam Das Rungta Charitable Trust organised its 240th Ann Bhandara, distributing free meals among the needy. Through this initiative, the Trust celebrated Diwali in a unique way by sharing the joy of the festival with those in need.
Highlighting the significance of food donation (Ann Daan) during Diwali, Amitabh Rungta, Founder of the Trust and social worker, said, “Diwali is a festival of sharing happiness, spreading light and bringing hope into the lives of others. Serving food to the needy is one of the most meaningful acts of service. Ann Daan holds a special place in our traditions, and there can be no better way to celebrate a festival than by sharing our happiness and blessings with those in need.”
He further said that in Indian tradition, feeding the hungry is regarded as one of the noblest forms of charity. Through its regular Ann Bhandaras, the Trust continues to promote the values of compassion, humanity and selfless service.
Chandigarh: As gold finds its way back into festive wardrobes, jewellery is taking on a contemporary edge with designs that balance tradition, versatility and modern aesthetics. Palmonas brings together a curated selection of 9KT Gold jewellery featuring Lab-grown diamonds, offering thoughtful gifting options for the festive season. From delicate everyday accents to meaningful pieces that celebrate love and relationships, the collection brings a fresh perspective to gold jewellery.
The selection features designs that transition effortlessly from festive celebrations to everyday styling, making them versatile additions to any jewellery collection.
Bloom Cluster 9KT Gold Laboratory-Grown Diamond Ring Inspired by a blooming flower, the Bloom Cluster Ring features lab-grown diamonds arranged in a floral cluster to create a radiant design. Set in 9KT gold, its balance of soft detailing and striking sparkle makes it a thoughtful gift for someone who appreciates feminine, contemporary jewellery.
Forever Linked Heart 9KT Gold Laboratory-Grown Diamond Bracelet Symbolising connection, the Forever Linked Heart Bracelet pairs a delicate chain with an infinity-inspired motif accented by pavé diamonds. Lightweight and versatile, it can be worn on its own for a minimal look or layered with other bracelets, making it a meaningful gifting choice for the festive season.
Swirling Pearl 9KT Gold Laboratory-Grown Diamond Earrings Combining the elegance of pearls with the brilliance of lab-grown diamonds, the Swirling Pearl Earrings feature a fluid, curved design that wraps around a luminous pearl. Their contemporary silhouette makes them suitable for festive occasions as well as everyday wear, offering a refined alternative to traditional occasion jewellery.
Luna Swing 9KT Gold Laboratory-Grown Diamond Halo Necklace
Inspired by the beauty of moonlit nights, the Luna Swing Halo Necklace features a delicate circular design that brings together simplicity and sparkle. Its versatile silhouette works across daytime festivities and evening celebrations, making it an easy-to-style gift for those who prefer understated elegance.
Endless Love Infinity 9KT Gold Laboratory-Grown Diamond Mangalsutra
Blending traditional symbolism with contemporary design, the Endless Love Infinity Mangalsutra features an infinity-inspired pendant embellished with lab-grown diamonds. Representing enduring love and connection, the design offers a modern interpretation of a meaningful jewellery staple, making it a considered festive gift for a partner or spouse.
Stella 9KT Gold Laboratory-Grown Diamond Mangalsutra Bracelet For those who prefer a more minimal take on traditional jewellery, the Stella Mangalsutra Bracelet offers a subtle sparkle while retaining the significance of the mangalsutra. Its understated design pairs easily with ethnic ensembles and modern silhouettes, making it a versatile choice for everyday wear and festive gifting alike.
With this selection, Palmonas brings together the appeal of gold, the brilliance of lab-grown diamonds, and designs suited to contemporary lifestyles. Whether chosen to mark a special relationship or to add a thoughtful touch to festive gifting, these 9KT jewellery pieces offer a modern way to make gold part of the season’s celebrations. The designs can be personalised in white, yellow, or rose gold tones, allowing each piece to reflect individual style.
Chandigarh: Welcoming the Canadian government’s announcement of its 2027 – 2029 Immigration Levels Plan, Col B S Sandhu, CMD, Worldwide Immigration & Consultancy Services (WWICS), has said the proposed measures would provide a significant opportunity for eligible individuals already living in Canada to secure permanent residence (PR), while strengthening the country’s workforce and fulfilling humanitarian commitments.
Under the plan, Canada will maintain its annual permanent residence admissions target at 380,000 for 2027. In addition, the government has announced a time-limited measure providing up to 200,000 additional PR spaces in 2027, comprising up to 100,000 spaces for eligible workers already in Canada and up to 100,000 for specified humanitarian populations. This brings the combined potential admissions figure to 580,000.
“This is a welcome and pragmatic step towards providing greater stability and certainty to the people who have already established their lives, careers and families in Canada. By facilitating the transition of eligible workers to permanent residence and addressing long-pending humanitarian and family applications, the government is recognising the contribution these individuals make to Canadian society and the economy,” Col Sandhu said.
The workers’ component will cover eligible individuals and their accompanying families, including those with applications under select immigration programmes that are closed to new applicants, as well as eligible candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program. The humanitarian component aims to address pending applications involving spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, applicants under specified Hong Kong and Ukraine pathways, and certain in-Canada humanitarian and compassionate cases.
Col Sandhu said the measures could help eligible applicants gain greater clarity about their long-term future, improve family stability and enable employers to retain experienced workers. He also emphasised that prospective immigrants must understand the eligibility requirements and specific scope of the announced measures before making immigration decisions.
“Canada continues to recognise the importance of attracting talent, addressing regional workforce requirements and keeping families together. Applicants should seek professional guidance, assess their eligibility carefully and rely on official immigration information before proceeding,” he added. “We at WWICS will continue to guide prospective immigrants through available Canadian immigration pathways, helping them understand programme requirements and make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances,” said Col Sandhu.
Chandigarh: I.S. Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School, Sector 21-C, Chandigarh, organised the annual function of the school’s Primary Wing , ‘Guldasta’, with a vibrant showcase of music, dance and theatrical performances by students.
Ajay Kumar Pandey, IPS, ADGP, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Guests of Honour included Dr. Agnese Dhillon, Secretary, The Dev Samaj; President, Dev Samaj Colleges; Chairperson, Dev Samaj Schools and Incharge, Dev Samaj Vidya Vibhag; Maanvinder Singh Mangat, Chief Executive Officer, The Dev Samaj; Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Manager, I.S. Dev Samaj Senior Secondary School; Loveleen Bedi; Karnail Singh, Member, Managing Committee; and Dr. Neeru Malik, Principal, Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45, Chandigarh.
The cultural programme featured a special Haryanvi dance celebrating the inspiring journey and achievements of astronaut Kalpana Chawla, while an energetic Bhangra performance brought vibrant Punjabi flavour to the celebrations. A major highlight was the play ‘Akbar-Birbal’. The school choir further captivated the audience with a melodious musical presentation.
Dr. Agnese Dhillon underscored the importance of moral values in shaping responsible individuals, in keeping with the philosophy of Dev Samaj.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by School Principal Dr. Sabeeha Dhillon Mangat.
Founder of renowned national student living brands The Hive Hostels and Aurus Luxury Residences, Bharat Agarwal, upbeat about collaboration.
Chandigarh: In a significant development, PLPB Infra has partnered with Aurus Luxury Residences, the premium student living brand founded by Bharat Agarwal, who also founded The Hive Hostels, a renowned network of student housing and co-living spaces. The collaboration aims to introduce a new benchmark in organised student accommodation across Chandigarh and Punjab.
Details of the collaboration were shared by Sumit Singla, CEO & MD, PLPB, and Bharat Agarwal, Founder of The Hive Hostels and Founder & MD of Aurus Luxury Residences, at a press conference held at the Chandigarh Press Club.
Agarwal co-founded The Hive Hostels in 2019 alongside Siddharth Agarwal and has spearheaded its expansion to more than 11 cities across India, developing a technology-enabled and community-oriented accommodation model.
Sumit Singla and Bharat Agarwal announced the collaboration in a press conference in Chandigarh.
Singla informed that the first project of Aurus Luxury Residences will come up at PLPB Wellness City on Zirakpur–Patiala Road towards Rajpura, bringing together premium student living, well-being and professionally managed hospitality.
Speaking at the press conference, Singla said, “After the success of PLPB Wellness City, we plan to develop around 3,000 studio apartments for students in collaboration with Aurus. The aim is to cover Rajpura & major cities like Mohali, Amritsar, Jalandhar , Ludhiana & Bathinda over a period of 4-5 years.”
Singla added, “The partnership seeks to address the growing demand for safe, comfortable and thoughtfully designed student residences that go beyond conventional accommodation. The positioning of Aurus Luxury Residences aligns with PLPB Wellness City’s emphasis on a contemporary, well-planned environment, providing a suitable setting for a student living concept centred on comfort, convenience, safety and community.”
Bharat Agarwal, Founder of The Hive Hostels and Aurus Luxury Residences, said the initiative was aimed at creating a holistic living experience that supports students’ academic pursuits, personal development, wellness and social connections.
Agarwal, a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honouree, said, “Student accommodation is evolving rapidly in India. Students and their families are looking for professionally managed residences that offer much more than a place to stay. Through Aurus Luxury Residences, our endeavour is to bring together hospitality, thoughtful design, modern amenities and a vibrant community. Our association with PLPB Infra will help us take this vision to Chandigarh and Punjab, beginning with PLPB Wellness City.”
“Chandigarh and Punjab attract students from across the country, and their accommodation needs are evolving. Students and parents increasingly seek living spaces that combine safety, comfort, convenience and quality services. Our association with Aurus Luxury Residences is aimed at bringing a premium, organised student living concept to the region,” Singla said.
He said the partnership would combine PLPB Infra’s infrastructure capabilities with Aurus’s expertise in student living and hospitality to develop accommodation solutions that respond to the changing expectations of students and their families
Aurus Luxury Residences focuses on premium, fully furnished student residences designed around comfort, safety, convenience and community engagement. Its proposed facilities include high-speed Wi-Fi, dedicated study spaces, recreational and fitness facilities, dining services, round-the-clock security and curated community activities, enabling students to balance academics with wellness and social development.
In reply to a question, Agarwal said the partnership reflected the growing potential of organised student housing as an emerging segment of India’s hospitality and real estate sectors. The collaboration aims to contribute to a more structured student housing ecosystem in the region by combining infrastructure development with a hospitality-led accommodation model.
With its first project planned at PLPB Wellness City, Aurus Luxury Residences aims to establish a premium student living offering in the Chandigarh–Punjab region.
Chandigarh, October 30, 2026: More than 150 students and faculty members participated in the first National Awaaz Session organised by the Prof Anil Kumar Thakur Debating Society, Department of Laws, Panjab University in collaboration with the Museum of British Colonialism (MBC), at the department’s Moot Court Hall here on Friday. The session examined the colonial roots of India’s voting rights and explored how the legacy of British rule continues to shape the country’s laws, institutions and society.
Themed “Colonial History of Voting Rights”, the session traced the evolution of electoral rights in India under British rule, when voting was restricted to a small section of the population on the basis of property, income and education. The system of separate electorates for different communities also shaped political representation during the colonial period.
“Panjab University, Chandigarh is a heritage university having its origin from the pre- partition era as Punjab University Lahore. So is the department of laws as old as Panjab University. Prof. Dr. Anil kumar debating Society has been established in 2022 and is doing wonders by organizing multiple events of national repute from multiple streams. We are grateful to the vice chancellor of PU, our special guest Sh. Lallan baghel, faculty, staff, students and the participants and MBC.” said Prof. (Dr.) Supinder Kaur of the Department of Laws, Panjab University.
“Colonialism is the most recent chapter of our history, and yet its impact on ordinary Indians is the one we understand the least. We remember our leaders and our freedom struggle, but rarely the millions who lost their lives to famine, debt and repression. Colonial history is widely studied in our universities, but it has never moved beyond the classroom into how we remember as a nation. We still see English as superior to our own languages, which shows how deeply that legacy runs. History is not black and white, and it must be studied with honesty, not reduced to slogans. A National Day of Commemoration would give these victims the place in our memory they deserve. I urge every Indian to sign the petition at indiascolonialstory.org and help make that day a reality,” said Chandini Jaswal, India representative, Museum of British Colonisation and student of Department of Laws, Panjab University
Participants discussed how independent India departed from this restricted electoral framework by adopting universal adult franchise under its Constitution, granting citizens equal voting rights irrespective of property, income, education or social background. The session drew lively participation from students, who engaged closely with the theme and spoke candidly about how India’s colonial past still shapes its present.
Language was also one of the issues raised. One student observed that while English is useful as a language of convenience, giving it greater importance than Hindi and other Indian languages is itself a legacy of colonial rule, one that still influences how status and opportunity are measured in India.
Another student turned to the legal system, pointing out that many of India’s laws, procedures and courtroom traditions still follow the framework laid down by the British. The student argued that India’s legal system remains deeply shaped by colonial rule, and that it needs to be reviewed and reformed to reflect Indian values and the needs of its people.
The discussion showed that, for the next generation of lawyers, decolonisation is not only a chapter of history but an unfinished conversation about language, law and identity.
Students also raised questions about the colonial origins of India’s legal and political institutions. The discussion encouraged participants to examine the continuing influence of colonial history on contemporary law and society, while also reflecting on how the country remembers its past.
At the conclusion of the session, the Museum of British Colonialism invited students and faculty members to support its public petition seeking the establishment of a National Day of Commemoration for the Victims of British Colonialism in India.
The initiative seeks national recognition for the millions of Indians who lost their lives under colonial rule through famines, economic exploitation, repression and policies that deepened social and communal divisions. MBC highlighted the absence of a dedicated national day to commemorate these victims and urged participants to sign the petition at indiascolonialstory.org to help bring this history into wider public consciousness.
The session was coordinated by faculty coordinators Prof. (Dr.) Supinder Kaur and Dr. Manisha Garg, along with student coordinators Chandini Jaswal (who is also India representative of MBC) and Durgeish Damini.
About the Museum of British Colonialism
The Museum of British Colonialism (MBC) is a platform dedicated to challenging myths surrounding British colonialism and amplifying underrepresented voices and experiences from across the world. Through research, public engagement and educational initiatives, it seeks to encourage a deeper understanding of colonial histories and their continuing impact.
Around 1,000 runners took part in the 8th edition of the IIT Ropar Unity Run on Sunday. Students, staff, faculty members and their children ran side by side. Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, presented medals to every participant.
The run was organised by the Outdoor Adventure Club (ODAC) and the Fitness Club of IIT Ropar. It honoured the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Mahatma Gandhi. This year’s theme was “Run Together. Rise Together.”
Participants chose between two categories: a 5 km Fun Run and an 11 km Quarter Marathon. Many families chose the Fun Run. Seasoned runners took on the longer course.
Before the start, participants took a pledge to support one another, celebrate every stride and build a stronger, more united community. The Director then flagged off the run. Runners moved through the campus and lush green surroundings in the cool morning air.
Prof. Ahuja also joined the participants and completed the 5 km Fun Run himself, finishing alongside students, staff and children.
At the closing ceremony, Prof. Ahuja personally handed medals to all finishers. Children received some of the loudest cheers.
“The Unity Run is not about who finishes first. It is about who shows up. When students, staff, faculty and families run together, the campus becomes one team. Fitness is the foundation of a sharp mind. I am proud of every single runner today,” said Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar.
“The 8th edition shows how far this event has come. It started as a small campus run. It is now a day the whole IIT Ropar family looks forward to,” said Dr. Mukesh Saini, Faculty Coordinator, ODAC.
The run reflects IIT Ropar’s commitment to wellness, inclusion and community spirit alongside academic excellence.
Chandigarh: Eminent poet, author and academician Dr. Naresh, former Professor of Modern Literature at Panjab University and former Chairman of the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi (Chandigarh Academy of Letters), has been selected for the Award of Recognition (Lifelong Contribution to Literature) in Urdu for 2025 by the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi. The coveted honour recognises his remarkable contribution to Urdu literature and a distinguished literary and academic career spanning more than six decades.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Naresh thanked the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi for recognising his lifelong contribution to Urdu literature, describing the honour as a source of encouragement to continue his literary journey.
Dr. Naresh has made significant contributions to Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and English literature. He has authored more than 100 books spanning poetry, fiction, literary criticism, philosophy, spirituality and other fields. More than 1,000 of his articles, poems and short stories have also appeared in journals and newspapers, besides his contributions to numerous anthologies.
Urdu has occupied a particularly important place in Dr. Naresh’s literary journey. His contribution to the language has been recognised by several leading literary institutions and governments. His honours include the Ghalib Award, Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy’s All India Award, Punjab Government’s Shiromani Sahityakar Award, Khwaja Altaf Hussain Hali Award, Lala Jagat Narain Award and Haryana Government’s Fakhr-e-Haryana Award. He has also received awards from the Urdu academies of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar. His book Lauh-e-Hayat was honoured by the Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy.
His wider literary contributions have earned him numerous national and international distinctions, including the Government of India Award for Chintan aur Mulyankan and the Haryana Government Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi literature.
The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi’s Award of Recognition for 2025 adds another significant honour to Dr. Naresh’s literary journey, devoted to enriching Urdu literature and building bridges between India’s major literary languages.
Chandigarh: The Annual Shri Ram Prakash Chawla Memorial SJOBA Racquet Tournament 2026 concluded with immense enthusiasm and high-octane sporting action at St. John’s High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh.Organised by the St. John’s Old Boys Association SJOBA), the event brought together alumni from across generations to compete, reconnect, and celebrate sportsmanship. The tournament drew strong participation across multiple age groups and categories in three major racquet sports: Badminton, Table Tennis, and Squash.
Tournament Results & Roll of Honour celebrated outstanding performances. In Squash, Inderjit Singh emerged as the winner, while Shivam Bansal secured the runner-up position. In Table Tennis, Krish Gupta won the singles title, with Karan Gautam finishing as runner-up. The doubles title was claimed by Krish Gupta and Kanwar Walia, while Karan Gupta and SPS Garcha finished as runners-up. In Badminton, Bhavesh and Armaan won the Men’s Doubles title, followed by Animesh and Aniket as runners-up. In Mixed Doubles, Manan and Mala emerged as winners, while Arjun and Ashima secured the runner-up position.
It is pertinent to mention that the tournament is held annually in memory of the late Shri Ram Prakash Chawla.
“This year’s tournament marked a historic milestone for SJOBA’s sports infrastructure. For the first time, matches were played on brand-new, state-of-the-art professional badminton flooring,” said SJOBA President Nikhil Jaspal.
Jaspal added, “I also take this opportunity to express sincere appreciation to Old Boy Ranjan Chawla for his family’s enduring support and patronage, and special gratitude to Old Boy Manu Mehta, whose instrumental contributions made the world class badminton court flooring a reality for the school and alumni.”
Meanwhile, the tournament followed SJOBA’s signature pairing rule in the doubles categories—requiring partners to maintain a minimum 10-year pass-out gap(unless both graduated in 2001 or earlier)—bridging generations of Old Boys on the same court. True to SJOBA’s tradition, the event went well beyond competitive sports. The school premises buzzed with energy as visiting alumni and families gathered to cheer the players. SJOBA curated off-court games, interactive challenges, and social engagement zones, transforming the tournament into an unforgettable festival of friendship, nostalgia, and community bonding.
The tournament concluded with a presentation ceremony celebrating the champions, runners-up, and participants, reaffirming the enduring bond andspirited sportsmanship of the SJOBA community.
Chandigarh, October 23, 2026: The Tony Bhinder Para and Wheelchair Sports India Foundation was launched here on Friday to help wheelchair cricketers and other para-sportspersons translate their sporting achievements into sustainable livelihoods, financial independence and a life of dignity. On the occasion, EmPower NGO, which has been working with children with special needs since 2015, was also relaunched, reaffirming its commitment to special education and inclusion.
Launched by Sharmita Bhinder along with her family, the foundation aims to bring together government agencies, NGOs, corporate entities, philanthropists and concerned citizens to facilitate employment, improve living conditions and provide long-term support to wheelchair cricketers who have represented India and won national and international honours but continue to face financial and accommodation-related challenges.
“The idea is to ensure that wheelchair cricketers do not have to struggle for basic necessities despite bringing laurels to the country. True empowerment means having a livelihood, financial independence and the ability to live with dignity,” said Sharmita Bhinder, who has worked in special education for children for the past 20 years.
Lt Col AS Bhinder (Retd.) said the foundation would focus on creating lasting opportunities beyond the playing field, while Veer Singh Sandhu, President of the Wheelchair Sports Society and captain of the Indian Wheelchair Cricket Team, emphasised that players must have a direct role in shaping the foundation’s priorities and programmes.
The foundation will work towards mobilising resources, facilitating employment, improving access to accommodation and enabling experienced players to train and mentor the next generation of para-sportspersons. Its management will include wheelchair cricketers, social workers and members of the wider community.
In collaboration with Sandhu and the Wheelchair Sports Society, Sharmita Bhinder has supported wheelchair cricketers through financial assistance, food and accommodation, tournament organisation and efforts to engage the government on players’ housing concerns. The foundation also seeks to honour the legacy of her late husband, Baljit Singh Bhinder, who passed away during the second wave of COVID-19 in 2021 and consistently encouraged her philanthropic work.
Sharmita Bhinder, who has recently gone into remission after battling breast cancer, remains committed to advancing social causes and promoting inclusion. Wheel chair samples were donated today and wheelchairs for the whole team will be donated soon.
Lt Col AS Bhinder has served in the Indian Army, with his unit, the Second Sikh Regiment, receiving the President’s Colours. He has also served as Sarpanch of Kot Dalpat village in Dera Baba Nanak and held leadership positions in ex-servicemen and residents’ organisations. Sandhu, associated with wheelchair cricket since 2015, has represented India in international tournaments and worked to advance accessibility, equal opportunities and disability rights through sport.
Jasmanpreet Singh, Senior Deputy Mayor, attended the launch as chief guest. Madhavi Kataria, Disability Commissioner, SCPD; Sukhdeep Singh Jhazz, Deputy Director, Social Welfare, Punjab; and Col Daljeet Cheema, author, writer and professor, were among the guests of honour.
Special child Vaibhav Singh performed Ganesh Vandana .
Members of Empower
Neelam Khokha, Pooja Gupta, Radha sinha and Tarvinder Kaur Neepa Arora Suchi Singh Angad Singh. Nishaant Singh bhinder and Manav Singh bhinder sons of Tony and Sharmita Bhinder were also present .
