Bhopal, May 5: A seven-day in-service training programme for the teachers was inaugurated at Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Ratanpur on Monday. The programme is being conducted by Maharishi Organisation for the teachers of Science and English, with the objective of upgrading the knowledge of in-service teachers. Around 50 teachers from all over the country are participating in the training. The inaugural ceremony began with the Guru Puja.

The programme was graced by renowned educationist Dr RR Das, former Vice-Chancellor, Jiwaji University Gwalior, and Col UC Pandey (Retd.), Regional Director, Bhopal.

Dr RR Das, in his impressive speech expressed that science and literature go hand-in-hand as real knowledge emerges due to happy wedding of science and literature. He remarked that a teacher of Science must have good command over language so that he could impart the ocean of knowledge within him to his students and teachers must come to the level of students to carry them along for the uplift. He emphasised on the "holistic approach" of knowledge and learning by "Trial and Error" method.

In his address, Col UC Pandey confronted that such types of in-service programmes are regularly organised in our institutions to upgrade the teachers with modern trends and innovative techniques of teaching and expressed his heartfelt happiness by sharing his experience of finding the trained teachers of the previous year. Performing very well in their institutions and producing tremendous results. The course Directors CK Sharma, Principal MVM Modinagar and Dr BB Mishra. Principal MVM, Seoni highlighted the man in objectives and planning of the training programme. The Inaugural programme was anchored by Ms Vinda Guhe and Ms Archana Pandey. Ms Seema Sarkar, Academic Co-ordinator MVM, Ratanpur Proposed vote of thanks to the guests.

Labourer's diamond sold for Rs 18.4 lakh

By Our Staff Reporter

Bhopal, May 5: A 15-carat diamond has been sold at Panna for Rs 18,44,426 amid tight security. The gem was found in this district's Bhutiyau mining area nine months back by quarry labourer Shyamlal Luniya who would be provided the entire amount minus 12.24 per cent. Luniya had deposited the gem at the diamonds office here.

It was kept for auction twice earlier and finally purchased by a young Indore-resident businessman Rajkumar Dhruv last evening. ''I will now give a better life to my family and a good education for my child who will not work in a quarry but be a senior officer,'' said an elated Luniya. Diamonds Officer JK Solanki said that the auctioning began on April 28 and, by the third day, 135 gems totalling 86 carat were sold for Rs 22,69,212. A total 265 diamonds - weighing 165 carats - were kept for auctioning and today was the last day.