By Lalit Gupta

JAMMU, Mar 18: Organized by Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Annual Drama Festival 2012, opened with Amateur Theatre Group’s performance of Rajneesh Gupta’s Dogri adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic drama ‘Othello’, at the Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Directed by Mushtak Kak, the play titled ‘Oma’, though retaining the main plot of Othello, was a clever collage of traditional and the popular which for its entertaining quality won the appreciation of the audience.
Today’s Dogri version although retaining Othello’s original structure-like the love angle between the beautiful girl and an ugly but honest, hard working young man and the villain who through his vile mechanizations succeeds in creating doubt about the fidelity of the young lady in the mind of her lover who ultimately kills her and later also ends his life-laced with colloquial as well as modern expressions came out as an independent production.
The fast pace of the unfolding event supported by competent acting and the well knit background music-a mix of catchy old and contemporary numbers engrossed as well as amused the spectators.
The minimal sets and effective light design also came out as strong points of the production.
The cast of the play included Sunil Sharma as Oma, Aparna Kapoor as Raani, Sandeep Verma as Fanna, Rahul Kumar as Kaku, Indu Kerni as Rajji, Mohit Mehra as Moolraj, Shabnam Dogra as Makhani, Mohit Chib as Desa Papa, Janak Khajuria as Sarpanch, Pooja Langeh as Laali, Vishal Mahajan as Bonsi. Other members of cast were Vimal Mehra, Sourav Verma and Deepak Singh Jamwal.
The background music was designed by Surinder Manhas and lights by Junaid Kak. Sandeep Verma was the assistant director.
Today’s function was inaugurated by Nwang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism and Culture while Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, was the guest of honour. Atal Dullo, Secretary Cultural Academy, Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, Sudhir Mahajan, Senior Drama Instructor, were also present on the occasion.
Tomorrow the Hindi play, ‘Tees Din Sitamber Ke’ by Lakshya-The Aim. will be staged at 5.30 pm.

Excelsior Correspondent
BILLAWAR, Mar 18: A dead body was found from the pond at Challa Ramkote area of Billawar tehsil today.
Police spokesman said that, some local persons spotted a dead body in the pond at Chall Ramkote and informed the police.
“After getting information a police party from Ramkote Police Station rushed to the spot and fished out the dead body from the pond”, spokesman added.
He further stated that the dead body of the person identified as Bittu, son of Tej Ram, a resident of Razwalta, was shifted to hospital and was later handed over to the family members for last rites after autopsy. He added that the said person was missing since March 9.
A case under section 174 Cr PC has been registered at concerned police station.

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Mar 18: A 56 years old Army jawan allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself at 59 Battalion headquarters stationed at Sumb area of the district.
Reports said that Army jawan namely K Sadanandan, son of Late NK Keshwan of Kerala, posted at 59 Battalion Headquarter stationed at Sumb area was found hanged near the shed of his accommodated room.
Reason behind such extreme step could not be ascertained while the investigation were in progress.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: All J&K (10+2) Contractual Lecturers Forum (JKCLF) here today held a meeting under the chairmanship of its provincial president, Anil Kumar and criticized the Government for dilly-dallying in issuing appointment letters to contractual lecturers who had completed seven years of service.
The meeting demanded in one voice to issue regularization list which former Education Minister, Peerzada Mohd Sayeed had directed to GAD on December 8, 2011.
Stressing the Government to give 12 month salary to contractual lecturers on the lines of contractual JE’s, agricultural technocrats and doctors, Surinder Pal Singh said the contractual lecturers are getting merely Rs 7000 per month for their work which is a very small amount in this expensive era, and demanded that they should be paid basic salary of permanent lecturers.
Vikas Gupta, district president Kathua raised the issue of salary hike of contractual lecturers.
Kirpal Singh and Rajni Jamwal said that like permanent lecturers, the contractual lecturers be given DA and arrears.
Surinder Shastri and Suresh Kumar Sudan while addressing the meeting asked the Government to collect the datas of all other contractual lecturers submitted  it to Empowerment Committee on the pattern of 12 contractual lecturers who completed seven years of service, on High Court order CMP No 966/2010, which is one of the solid base of regularization of contractual lecturers..
The meeting decided that the Forum will observe one day ‘Kam Chhar hartal’ on March 12, 2012 to pressurize the Government for settlement of their demands, and requested all the contractual lecturers to gather at Press Club to protest peacefully for getting their demands fulfilled.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 18: Department of Posts today held Postmasters conference at Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University.
During the conference an interactive session was held with Postmasters of Jammu division with Chief Postmaster General to ascertain the ground level situation. Faculty of  the Business School of Jammu University gave discourse on Customer Relation, Commission and Business Verification.
The function was presided over by John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K. In his inaugural address he stated that post office was a unique infrastructure and it is going all out to built its customer relations. He advised participants that they should interact with customers with positive frame of mind, so that a customer after visiting a post office is fully satisfied from its services. He also informed that in order to bind with the public, Department has launched “I Love My Post Office” campaign. During the campaign, members of civil society will be invited to visit to neighbourhood post office for a bounding which is far reaching and permanent.
Amit Sharma, Director Postal Services addressed gathering on the theme “Post Office Touching the Life”. He emphasized role of Postmasters and their obligations towards society.
Presidential address of John Samuel  was followed by an interactive session of participants with panel of  faculty members who imparted training to the Postmasters.  Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Director Business School Jammu University, Dr. Anil Gupta and Dr. Komal Nagar imparted the training. Faculty members felt that time was right for department for effecting a change by team work and better customers relation.
Prof. Neelu  Rohmetra exhorted the participants to have a vision of  post office and a clear direction of  its  main objectives to be achieved. She also stated that front desk services were interaction points with the general public and they will have to change first.
Minister for  Medical Education, Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports  R.S Chib presented awards to outstanding postal employees
AK Bhasin, SPM Jammu Cantt, Asha Sharma, SPM Lakhanpur and Chandan Singh, SPM Gangyal were felicitated on the occasion.
Services of Jang Bahadur, Postman Vinaik Bazar, Bahadur Singh, Postman Gandhinagar, Ved Prakash , Postman Jammu Tawi and Harbans Lal, Postman Gandhinagar were recognized for their outstanding services. They were presented mementos.
Employees who had procured business in PLI and RPLI were also awarded. For PLI Daleep Kumar Gumbal. PA Circle Office, Jammu got the first position while Chand Kumar, SDI Akhnoor  stood second and VK Mehara, APM Jammu Tawi stood third.