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84 gold medals to be given away at RGUHS convocation

April 15, 2018Education, Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

Those excelling in Ayurveda courses have been considered for gold medals

As many as 64 girls will receive gold medals out of a total of 84 gold medals that will be presented at the 20th convocation of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) on April 12.

RGUHS Vice-Chancellor M.K. Ramesh said on Tuesday that 26,469 candidates will receive degrees and prizes at the convocation. Among these, 6,111 will get degree under faculty of medicine, 3,095 under dentistry, 1,278 under Ayurveda, Unani, Naturopathy, and Yogic sciences, 177 under Homoeopathy, 2,931 under pharmacy and 11,423 under nursing. This year, 68 candidates will be awarded doctorate. For the first time, candidates who have excelled in Ayurveda courses have been considered for gold medals. Three will receive the medal this year. Consideration has been given only to those from colleges having 25 students and courses offered in at least five affiliated colleges.

In another first, the university has taken a decision to constitute gold medals for subjects in postgraduate courses where there are no prizes or medals constituted by donors. “Twenty-five gold medals have been added by the university,” said M.K. Ramesh, in-charge Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS.

Each gold medal weighs 5 gm and is of 22-carrat gold. RGUHS has set aside IRs. 5 crore for the gold medals. The total spend of the university this year for the gold medals is IRs.16 lakh.

Swetha Sridhar from M.S. Ramaiah Medical College topped the university with two gold medals and one cash prize. She scored an aggregate of 80.5% in MBBS. The 24-year-old, who has always been a topper in college, said she wants to pursue MD in either general medicine, dermatology or psychiatry.

No honorary doctorate

It is for the first time in six years that RGUHS will not be conferring honorary doctorate during the annual convocation. Though the names were discussed in the Syndicate, it failed to constitute an expert panel to shortlist the names to be recommended to the Governor. Owing to the delay in the process, honorary doctorate will not be given this time, officials said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – April 10th, 2018

Film on reservation for women in politics bags Rajat Kamal

April 14, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

Actors Tara and Devaraj in Hebbettu Ramakka. | Photo Credit: Handout E mail

Tulu film makes a mark on the national stage again

In poll season in Karnataka, as coincidence would have it, a Kannada film on reservation for women in politics, starring an actor-turned-politician, got the Rajat Kamal at the 65th National Awards for 2017, announced in New Delhi on Friday.

Hebbettu Ramakka, starring BJP MLC Tara Anuradha, which delineates the issue of political reservation for women, got the honours as the Regional Best Film-Kannada. The film depicts how an uneducated woman’s intelligence, dedication and honesty helps in getting justice to oppressed classes in a village.

An elated Nanjunde Gowda, director of Hebbettu Ramakka, said he was expecting an award, as it speaks about a pan-Indian issue, though he is disappointed about Tara not getting an award.

March 22, a Kannada film by Kodlu Ramakrishna on communal harmony, got the award in the Best Lyrics category for the song ‘Muttu Rathna’ by J.M. Prahlad.

The award came as a surprise for Prahlad. “The song with a Sufi touch had turned popular on YouTube. I am happy with the recognition for the song,” he said.

Again, a Tulu language film made it at the national level. Paddayi, a film directed by Abhay Simha and which is about the culture of the fishing community in coastal Karnataka, bagged the Rajat Kamal for languages outside of the 8th Schedule.

The film is a modern-day take on Shakespear’s Macbeth. Director Abhaya Simha had got national honours for his film Gubbachigalu in 2008. Abhay Simha said the film looks at the question of culture, community living and morality in a neo-liberal context.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Benglauru / by Muralidhara Khajane / April 13th, 2018

‘Mysore Brothers’ to receive Rama Gana Kalacharya Award

April 14, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

Will be presented on Saturday evening at the Chamarajpet Sree Ramaseva Mandali

The ‘Mysore Brothers’, violinists Nagaraj and Manjunath, have been selected for the Chamarajpet Sree Ramaseva Mandali’s ‘Rama Gana Kalacharya National Award-2018’ to be presented on Saturday for their outstanding contribution to and propagation of Carnatic music.

The child prodigies are sons and disciples of violinist Prof. Mahadevappa. Their first concert for the Ramaseva Mandali was flagged off as teenagers. While Nagaraj accompanied vocalist Maharajapuram Santhanam on his debut, Manjunath had played for flute maestro N. Ramani. Manjunath was by default pushed to play solo when flautist Mali, whom he was supposed to accompany, did not turn up. “I was pushed to the stage for a solo performance at the Mandali by veteran mridangists Thanjavur Upendran and Guruvayur Dorai, who accompanied me,” recalled Manjunath with pride.

“Both Manjunath and me feel blessed to receive this award from the Mandali. Receiving this during the Mandali’s 80th year celebrations makes it more special as our bond started from the time my father Mahadevappa performed for the founder S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao,” said Mr. Nagaraj.

The Mysore Brothers have taken part in prestigious Indian festivals, including the Sawai Gandharva SangithMahotsav and the Tansen Sangith Samaroh, apart from performing at the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. They have taken part in the Bozar music conference in Belgium, Conservatorium Van Amsterdam, and the National Centre for early music-UK, amongst others.

The brothers are looking forward to playing at the Mandali after the award function.

Nagaraj is happy that they will bring in a special raga — Tana-Pallavi — composed by them as a tribute to the Mandali turning 80. Manjunath, who had created a new raga ‘Yaduveera Manohari’ especially for the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar during his wedding, will be sharing it for the first time in a public concert.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / April 13th, 2018

Bengaluru students volunteer at refugee camp in France

April 13, 2018Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Having heard the plight of refugees after their camps were burnt down, Amrutamshu Iyengar could relate to the conditions in which they survived.

This student also had an opportunity to contribute his bit to help a group of refugees in Calais, in the northern tip of France.

Amrutamshu was among 12 other students from Trio World Academy in Bengaluru who visited France as part of an educational trip. While these students were denied direct access to refugee camps as they were below the age of 18, these school students could work with voluntary organisations that help improve the living conditions for the refugees.

“We had the opportunity to work at a warehouse for four days. It was here that we understood the condition of refugees. Some of them live in shacks, some have nothing but sleeping bags and a few others live on the streets. These are people who have been displaced from home due to various factors and it is sad to see their conditions,” said Amrutamshu.

The students worked at the warehouse sorting the materials that were received as a donation. Amrutamshu said this gave them exposure to some of the conditions under which the refugees lived.

“We would sort clothes that could either be reused or be recycled through our stay here,” he explained.

The activity was part of an educational trip co-ordinated by one of the teachers, Chandniee. “We left on March 19 and returned on April 4. It was a 12-member group which had children between the ages 16 and 19. It was part of a Research Bound Outreach programme,” she said.

Chandniee explained that having the children volunteer for the refugees to get them hands-on experience involved a lot of effort.

“We tried reaching out to voluntary organisations who work there. One of them obliged and we took that forward,” she said.

“The volunteering work would begin early in the morning with a briefing session by their floor managers, and end by evening. Trio students also attended a Field Training Course organised by Utopia 56 on how to work on the field for the betterment of refugees getting educated on the dos and don’ts while interacting with them,” Chandniee added.

She later clarified that the volunteers they worked with said that this was the first time that students from India participated in such activities.

“It’s a great feeling to be indirectly helping the refugees though we don’t get to see who these clothes will go to because we know that we have helped them keep warm from the cold,” said Tushara, another student of Year 1 IB Diploma.

“It is a matter of immense pride. We wish to give any kind of support that they need to realize their dreams and would love to witness more such participation in the days to come,” said Naveen K M, managing director, Trio World Academy.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / DH News Service / Bengaluru – April 13th, 2018

Basavashri award 2017 to be presented to Kamegouda

April 12, 2018Records, Alladmin

Shri Shivamurty Muruga Sharana said the Basavashri award for 2017 will be presented to shepherd and nature lover Kamegouda of Dasandoddi village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district.

The award honours people for services to society in their fields by following the principles of Lord Basaveshwar. It is presented by the Bruhanmutt Chitradurga. It includes a ₹5 lakh cash prize and a memento and is being presented from 1997.

So far the award has been presented to personalities like Siddarama Sharanaru Beldal (1997) of Bidar for being a Basava culture propagator, Hire Malluru Eshwarana (1998) for his contribution to Vachana revolution, Sudarshan (1999) of B.R. Hills for giving new dimension to Soligas, Anna Hazare (2000) for his fight against corruption, environmentalist Medha Patkar (2001), Peace Messenger from Buddha’s Land Dharma Guru Dalai Lama (2002), poet Gaddar (2003) of Andhra Pradesh, and Vandana Shiva (2004).

Agriculturist Subhas Palekar (2005), social worker Shabana Azmi (2006), Swami Agnivesh (2007) for his efforts to bring communal harmony, First Woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi (2008), athlete P.T. Usha (2009), A.T. Ariya Ratne (2010) were recipients. The award was posthumously presented to M.D. Nanjunda Swamy, founder, Karnataka State Farmers’ Association in 2011. Police officer Shankar Bidari (2012), Infosys founder Narayanmurthy and his wife Sudha Murthy (2013), Nobel prize winner and female education activist Malala Yousafzai (2014), litterateur M.M. Kalburgi (2016) and journalist P. Sainath (2016) have also got it.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / April 10th, 2018

Footballer killed in hit-and-run

April 11, 2018Sportsadmin

Was part of the Bangalore United FC

A 22-year-old footballer from the city was killed in a hit-and-run road accident on Sunday. Tejaswini was riding pillion on a scooter when a car hit the two-wheeler on the Hosakerehalli flyover near PESIT College. “She fell to the right and was run over by the car,” said her coach Chitra Gangadharan.

The car driver did not stop. Police are analysing CCTV footage from the area to identify the vehicle involved in the accident.

An engineer, Tejaswini, was employed with an IT firm in Cessna Business Park. She had represented Karnataka in the Senior Nationals in Assam in 2015. She had turned out for the State U-19 side and was part of the Bangalore United FC (BUFC) women’s team.

She had begun training in high school with BUFC. “She was very disciplined in her training. She was a good midfielder,” recalled Chitra.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / April 09th, 2018

Udupi girl spins her way to Guinness fame

April 10, 2018Education, Records, All, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Tanushree performing full-body revolutions maintaining a chest stand position in Udupi on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Tanushree (9) performed 42 full-body revolutions in one minute on Saturday.

A nine-year-old girl from Udyavar near Udupi has set the Guinness record for most full-body revolutions maintaining a chest stand position. Tanushree performed 42 full-body revolutions in one minute on Saturday.

At the Ammanni Ramanna Shetty Hall, Swapnil Dangirkar, official adjudicator of the Guinness World Records, confirmed the feat. The performance was also recorded. The record used to be held by 13-year-old Mohammed Alsheikh of Palestine, who performed 38 revolutions in a minute on February 8, 2017.

Mr. Dangarikar said: “I am happy to announce that Tanushree has broken the record. She has done so by a huge margin of four revolutions… one has to put in a lot of effort and energy to complete the revolutions. I congratulate her. We at Guinness World Records like to say ‘she is officially amazing’.”

She is delighted

Tanushree, a class 4 student of St. Cecily’s Higher Primary School, Udupi, said she was delighted to create a Guinness record. She learned to perform body revolutions by watching videos on YouTube. “I used to practice the revolutions in the morning, evening and night. My father Uday Kumar and my mother Sandhya Kumar encouraged me,” she said.

She also learns Bharatnatyam and likes doing yoga. “I want to practise yoga and participate in competitions. I dedicate my Guinness record to my country,” she said.

Mr. Uday Kumar, an electrical contractor, said Tanushree practised body revolutions daily for the past four months. “I and my wife were very happy with our daughter’s achievement as it has brought fame to our place (Udyavar), our district and our country. In the future, we would like her to represent our country in yoga,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Udupi – April 07th, 2018

Tirupati-born ‘Miss Karnataka’ now eyes ‘Miss India’ crown

April 9, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, Alladmin

Bhavana Durgam with her family members at their house in Tirupati. | Photo Credit: K_V_PoornachandraKumar

Say her purpose is to help raise funds to improve schools

She was totally unprepared and was not expecting the crown, but the pleasant touch of serendipity propelled 21-year-old Bhavana Durgam to the summit of ‘Miss Karnataka 2018’ beauty pageant. Buoyed by the result, she has now set her eyes on bagging the ‘Miss India’ title.

Born in Tirupati, Bhavana had her nursery schooling here before moving to Bengaluru along with her parents Durgam Prabhakara Reddy and Krishnaveni. She finished her schooling in Baldwin Girls High School as is now studying Medical Electronics Engineering at BMS College of Engineering, Basavanagudi.

When the opportunity came calling early this year for the ‘Miss Karnataka’ pageant, Bhavana entered the arena untrained, but her typical composure, relaxation techniques practised at home, training in basics of Carnatic music and relaxed communication with peers helped her score brownie points. At 5’10”, Bhavana had never worn high-heeled shoes, but started using one for the first time since it is a primary accessory for ramp walkers. She has also started doing basic make-up and hair-do on her own, which is a prerequisite for the aspirants.

Actress Rakul Preet Singh is providing guidance and tips to the contestants from the five southern States.

Speaking to The Hindu, Bhavana recalled her interaction with children in her immediate neighbourhood. “My friends and I teach underprivileged students under the innovative ‘I teach’ concept,” she said. Her altruistic attitude paid dividends, as Bhavana was selected as the ‘Miss Goodness’ ambassador in a sub-contest held during the pageant. She has acted in a TV commercial with actress Sneha, besides in advertisements for Bengaluru Football Club and a drug company. Her younger brother Bhargava Durgam, an upcoming cricket player, is equally prominent through his leading TV commercials.

With keen focus now on ‘Miss India’ event scheduled during May 21 – June 23 at Mumbai, Bhavana spends half a day at her college and the other half for practice. She is confident that her purpose will ensure her win. “If I win, I will use my brand to help raise funds to improve State-funded schools, not only in Karnataka, but across India,” she signs off.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by A. D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – April 05th, 2018

A glimpse of the rich legacy of Central College

April 9, 2018Education, Records, Alladmin

An exhibition in Sir M. Visvesvaraya metro station traces the 160-year-old history of Central College. | Photo Credit: K_MURALI_KUMAR

Students of Bengaluru Central University and Srishti School of Art Design & Technology organise exhibition

Sir M. Visvesvaraya metro station is hosting an exhibition that gives commuters a glimpse of the rich legacy of the Central College campus, located in the heart of the city.

Students of Bengaluru Central University, along with the Srishti School of Art Design and Technology, have organised the exhibition that traces the 160-year-old history of Central College till the birth of Bengaluru Central University last year.

Apart from documents and photographs, display panels also feature alumni who have made their mark in different fields as well as teachers who have taught at the university. There are profiles of physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, writer Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, politician and stateman C. Rajagopalachari, journalist P. Lankesh and scientist C.N.R. Rao.

Documenting history

S. Japhet, Vice Chancellor, said that the aim of the exhibition is not only to document the history, but also reclaim and revive the rich intellectual legacy of Central College, which is the headquarters of the BCU. “The portraits remind us of how vibrant the college was. It’s not only about the past, but also about the future of BCU,” he said.

Students who saw the exhibition on their way to college said that they were pleasantly surprised to learn that several eminent personalities had studied in their college. “After I saw the exhibition, I went back to my lecturer and asked him more about them. I feel proud that I am studying in this college,” said Rahul S., a student.

The panels have captions in English and Kannada. The exhibition will be on for two weeks.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / April 07th, 2018

NCBS team wins award from American Society of Naturalists

April 7, 2018Records, All, World Opinionadmin

First Asians to win the Presidential Award of the society

A team of evolutionary biologists from city-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have been awarded the 2018 Presidential Award from the American Society of Naturalists (ASN). This is the first time researchers in Asia have been presented with the award. The award is given to an outstanding research article published in the society’s journal, The American Naturalist. Jahnavi Joshi, Anupama Prakash and lead author Krushnamegh Kunte from NCBS had, in a research paper published in the journal in April 2017, probed how evolutionary processes shape the formation of ecological communities in diverse tropical ecosystems.

While the ASN was founded in 1883 to study evolution, ecology and animal behaviour, the presidential award was started in 1984. “It’s a terrific recognition for my research group, and a great personal honour,” said Prof. Kunte in a release.

Their research paper looked at evolutionary convergence (when different species evolve the same mechanisms to deal with evolutionary pressures) among the groups of ‘palatable’ — that is, non-toxic — butterflies who mimic the colours and patterns of toxic butterflies that are avoided by predators. The team focused on butterfly species in the Western Ghats, and on these ecological communities called ‘Mimicry rings’.

The research paper challenged some previously believed thoughts around evolution. For instance, contrary to the assumption that mimicry rings are formed from convergent evolution between highly dissimilar butterflies, the NCBS team discovered that toxic butterfly species in the mimicry rings are indeed closely-related, sharing their ancestral, warning-wing colour patterns even when new species are formed. The mimics join the mimicry rings after remarkable bouts of convergent evolution, sometimes separated by tens of millions of years.