Staqu is a brainchild of all tech-oriented co-founders. Since the beginning, we had all been super excited about Artificial Intelligence and the unique capabilities it possesses to solve the present-day conundrums. We had believed that the ground-breaking technology would be able to sell itself. Six months into the business, when we had hardly closed any sale, we realised it was time for some introspection and policy overhauls.
Instead of trying to sell the technology now, we disrupted that tunnelled vision of our own and started creating products instead, which explored the different facets of AI. The same led to the creation of our VGREP API, an AI empowered solution OEMs and e-commerce players could utilise to deliver a more intuitive and smart search experience to their users. Our first key collaboration with an OEM brand followed right after and that alone was the sign we needed to know we were on the right path.
These days, while unveiling the new features of this potent technology, we try to wrap it around a product and promote that solution, instead of the technology.
Atul Rai
(The author is the CEO and co-founder of Staqu, an Artificial Intelligence startup that allows users to search something by uploading its images)
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Atul Rai / Express News Service / February 23rd, 2017
David Wash-brook: History of princely states do not feature in the larger Indian narrative, says Cambridge professor
Mysuru :
Professor of world history at the prestigious Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, David Washbrook said that the history of princely states – territories that entered into Lord Wellesley’s treaty of subsidiary alliance – had been relegated to the marginalia in the larger narrative of India’s modern nationhood.
Prof Washbrook on Friday delivered the keynote address during the Prof Achuta Rao memorial international conference at the Rani Bahaddur auditorium within the University of Mysore (UoM) premises on ‘Power, resistance and sovereignty in princely South India’. Organised by UoM, and the Prod DS Achuta Rao Centenary Programme, the conference saw discussion on the past and present of the princely states.
DS Achuta Rao was a professor of history at UoM, whose research into Mysuru’s past earned him accolades aplenty. Prof Achuta Rao passed away in 1965, aged 47. The conference was organised as part of a series of events to commemorate his centenary this year.
Washbrook opined that the Indian National Congress was so focused on fighting the British that it ignored the princely states till 1930. “They were then subsumed into a programme designed to obliterate their difference. Also, given the circumstances that prevailed in the early years of independence – partition and accession of states – also made post-independent India instinctively hostile to the traces of princely privilege and power. Perceived as feudal relics, India’s maharajas were meant to fade into history, while the societies they held dominion over were meant to blend into a single, homogenous and continuous national modernity,” he added.
Although the princely states, and their rulers, did not essay prominent roles in the political struggle against colonialism, particularly after 1857, they led the country in terms of social development, Washbrook said. “The strides these territories made in education, public health and other sectors put the backwardness of British India to shame. It’s scarcely a coincidence that cities such as Bengaluru and Vadodara, which were part of erstwhile princely states, should be leading centres of science and industry today. The history of the princely states may be more relevant to understanding India in the 21st century than it ever was in the 20th,” Washbrook said.
Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Janaki Nair delivered a talk on ‘The making of the modern Mysore Matha’, while associate professor at the University of Tokyo Aya Ikegame lectured on ‘Was power transferred to whom? Princes and gurus in modern Mysore’, at the conference.
UOM registrar Prof R Rajanna also inaugurated an exhibition on the life and works of DS Achuta Rao.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mysore News / TNN / February 18th, 2017
Masterpiece Students working on artist John Devaraj’s artwork at the Indian Agricultural Science Congress in Bengaluru on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain
Titled tree of life, artist attempts to enter Guinness Book of World Records
The sprawling campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru is set to have a 29-ft-tall terracotta tree, which is claimed to be the world’s tallest terracotta structure.
Bengaluru-based artist John Devaraj is trying to create the tree, titled ‘tree of life’, with the involvement of scientists and students of the university. Mr. Devaraj plans to seek entry for this structure into the Guinness Book of World Records.
The process of creating the tree of life has begun at the Indian Agricultural Science Congress, where nearly 2,000 scientists are deliberating on the theme ‘climate smart agriculture’. The creators of the tree are not only getting mud impressions of leaves from different species of trees on the university campus, but also the signatures of scientists on it. “It is like an endorsement from scientists and dignitaries that they would commit themselves to protecting farmers,” says B.N. Sathyanarayana, university Head of Horticulture Division, who is co-ordinating the artwork.
Mr. Devaraj said: “Our tree of life tries to send a message that the society will stand by farmers when the agriculture sector is going through crisis,” he says.
The artist has also come out with two paintings on either side of the entrance to the venue. While one depicts the bountifulness of nature, which was extracted by humans, the other represents a sorry state of affairs in which a farmer is being crucified to his plough.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by B S Satish Kumar / February 23rd, 2017
The team of students from SDM Institute of Technology, Ujire, receiving the Guinness certificate at Dharmasthala recently.
SDMIT Cubers, a team of students from SDM Institute of Technology, Ujire, recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the ‘Largest Dual-sided Rubik’s Cube Mosaic’, measuring 14,981 sq m and involving 4,500 Rubik’s Cubes.
Led by Prithveesh K., a final-year engineering student, the team attempted the record on October 2 last year at the Indraprastha Indoor Stadium, Ujire. Mr. Prithveesh said the mosaic was constructed vertically, depicting images — of Charlie Chaplin and Mr. Bean — on both the sides using 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cubes. The team began working at 7.30 a.m. and completed the 15-foot mosaic around 2.30 p.m.
Mr. Prithveesh said Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade had offered financial support for their effort, which was also backed by SDM Society secretary B. Yashovarma and SDMIT principal K. Suresh. The certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records was received on February 15 and handed over to the team members by Mr. Heggade recently.
The team also included Sharathkrishna K., Viresh Baragi, Shantinath Bharatesh Khurd, Shivakumar T., Prajwal Patil, Vinay T., Swapnil A. Arali, Prahlad M.M., Harikrishna V., Shayeel S. Naik, Sathwik S. Paranjape, Stephen K.A., Madhur G., Karthik M., Mallanagouda Meti, Sujay Suresh, Sanjaya Holla, Rohan R. Gumathanavar and Shiva H..
Mr. Prithveesh said he has been promoting ‘cubing’ through various workshops and he entered the India Book of Records for training 500 students in solving different kinds of Rubik’s Cubes in 2015. He hails from Cherkady village in Udupi district and is the son of agriculturist Shyam Prasad.
He said, “I want to make Rubik’s Cube more popular in India and hope to create another Guinness record at my home town Udupi.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correpondent / Mangaluru – February 23rd, 2017
Rural entrepreneur Keshava A. runs a factory in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada that employs 50 people.
Keshava, who is visually challenged, has sold one lakh ladders
Keshava A., 41, is popular as ‘ladder man’ in rural areas of Dakshina Kannada district. Lightweight foldable aluminium ladders designed by him help even women and children climb the tall areca palms or harvest pepper from climbers on tall trees. Not many know that he is visually challenged.
Mr. Keshava was the star attraction for scientists from different parts of the country at the ongoing Agricultural Science Congress here, where he has set up a stall.
“I dropped out of college while doing PU as my vision was affected owing to glaucoma. Now, 90 per cent of my vision is affected and I cannot see anything clearly even if it is very near to me,” said Mr. Keshava.
Pursuing his dream
The vision problem, however, did not come in his way of pursuing his dream of helping farmers climb tall areca palms. “As a person from the farming family, I was witness to the problems of farmers because of lack of skilled labourers who can climb areca trees. Hence I designed a lightweight ladder which can not only stretch for 40 to 50 feet, but also have a firm grip on the ground,” he said. He has so far sold over one lakh ladders.
About his vision problem, he said, “When I started my enterprise, I was able to see the objects if they were very close to me, but my vision deteriorated in the course of time. It is not an obstacle as I have continued to innovate and also improvised the ladder models.”
He has a full-fledged factory in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada which manufactures a range of farm equipment, including ladders, mango/coconut harvesters, sprayer extensions, and arecanut huskers. He has employed 50 people and registers a turnover of about ₹3 crore a year. “According to me, disability is actually a psychological issue and not a physical barrier,” said Mr. Keshava. He is now trying to motivate his 10-year-old son who too is affected by vision problem.
The head of the Agricultural Engineering Department of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, said, “He is the real hero as he has been successfully operating his enterprise despite being visually challenged.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by B S Satish Kumar / February 23rd, 2017
As many as 600 women artistes will present all major folk forms of the State for three days starting Tuesday. What makes the event special is that many of them are forms traditionally performed only by men.
Marali Janapadakke (back to folklore) on the premises of Ravindra Kalakshetra on Tuesday will have women performing not only Sobane (sung during auspicious occasions like weddings), but also performing Veeragaase and Karadi Majalu rarely performed by women.
According to Pichalli Srinivas, chairperson, Karnataka Janapada Academy, it is an attempt to attract young women to the rich folk art traditions, some of which are on the verge of extinction. All performers are trained by the academy and this will also empower women economically, he said, considering the demand for folk artistes in even events like IPL.
He said that ₹ 1.30 crore has been spent on this project. Folk experts, including Padma Shri award recipient Sukri Bomma Gowda have trained them. Workshops were conducted in five revenue divisions. “All artists will be given folk instruments and costumes to help them perform on their own in future,” Mr. Pichalli said.
“Young girls are now beating Tasharam Dolu, a drum women traditionally were not allowed to touch,” said Mr. Pichalli. Other forms to be displayed include Puravantike, Halakki Suggi, Veeramakkala Kunita, Koragara Dolu, Mulluhejje Kunita, Nandi Dhwaja Kunita, and others.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the three-day programme of the academy to re-invent dying folk art forms on the premises of Ravindra Kalakshetra on Tuesday. Apart from performances, experts in nine traditional folk arts will make a presentation on the richness of various traditions, including Manteswamy, Male Madeshwara, Mylaralinga, Biligiriranga, Halakki and so on.
Transgenders too perform
In what can be described as first attempt of the kind, transgenders have also been trained in folk forms. Over 40 selected transgender artistes in four groups have undergone rigorous training in Goravara Kunita, Veeragaase, and Dollu Kunita. “We hope that this will help the community earn through folk arts,” said Pichalli Srinivas, chairperson, Karnataka Janapada Academy.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – February 21st, 2017
Bengaluru had its first date with an air show 106 years ago
In 1911, Jules Wyck and Belgian adventurer Baron Pierre De Caters were the two pilots who brought their aircraft to Bengaluru
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Bengaluru :
As the curtains were drawn on the 11th edition of Aero India on Saturday, thousands who thronged the Yelahanka Air Force Station need to know that they are not the first patrons of such a show. In fact, they are not even the first generation.
Bengaluru, India’s aviation capital, had its first date with an air show106 years ago. February 3, 1911. Cricket hadn’t become the religion it is today in India. The Chinnaswamy Stadium was a barren land, and parts of Bengaluru were still a functional cantonment.
While people from districts neighbouring Bengaluru had made their way back then to catch what the organizers had called a “miracle in the skies,” Bengaluru’s quest for the flying machines remained intact in 2017 with at least three lakh people reported to have visited the aero show.
In 1911, Jules Wyck and Belgian adventurer Baron Pierre De Caters were the two pilots who brought their aircraft to Bengaluru, for a show that garnered a huge response. “But police had been prepared to handle the crowd here, after things had gotten slightly out of hand in Kolkata,” historian Vemagal Somashekar said.
If the elaborate preparations of the organizers a century ago are any indication then it only shows that a lacklustre event, like the 2017 edition of Aero India — just 53 aircraft on display and four aerobatic display teams — may fail to garner similar response in the coming years.
(The poster in Urdu, issued by merchants and businessmen from the Baidwadi (present day Shivajinagar) area. Photo Credit: fly.historicwings.com)
The fact that organizers did not reveal the right number of aircraft at Aero India 2017 is an indication that even they know it. When TOI enquired about the details of the show and the preparations in the run-up to the show, Mayaskar Deo Singh, director, Defence Exhibition Organisation, the nodal government agency organizing the show said: “An official release with final numbers on participation and other details will be issued so that there is no confusion.”
The official release days before the show had claimed that the number of aircraft participating would be 72, as many as the 2015 show, rated much better, had seen. Answering a specific question, defence minister Manohar Parrikar, however, had said on February 14: “There are 53 aircraft participating…”
Also, there are ways to watch the show for free, hundreds of citizens who stood with their cameras on terraces, the highway, some even got hospitality at villages around the air base.
But organizers in 1911 had figured out a plan for such free viewers. A poster in Urdu, issued by merchants and businessmen from the Baidwadi (present day Shivajinagar) area, reveals that the organizers, who had learnt that people would not buy tickets as they thought planes could be spotted even otherwise, had organized the show in such a way that only those with tickets (worth 25 paise each) had a one-hour exclusive.
“…Between 3.30pm and 4.30pm the planes will fly at a height of just 30 metre which only the ticket holders can see. For a few minutes after 4.30pm, the planes will fly a little higher,” reads a translation of the poster documented by the state archives department.
Mustafa Khan (mandi merchants, Ibrahim Sahib Street); Abdul Razak (businessman, Modi Road); Ibrahim Sahib (Meenakshi Kovil Street), Abdul Razak Sahib (steel merchant, Narayan Pillai Street) and Mastan Khan from Baidwadi (present day Shivajinagar) were the men who had signed off on the poster —they are an indication of how Bengaluru had a good trade set-up.
While TOI got a look at the poster, permission to take a photograph was denied. The poster, which has been sourced from fly.historicwings.com, further reveals as Somashekar had pointed out.
Police had been ordered to patrol major roads leading to the venue such as South Parade Road (now MG Road), Brigade Road and Church Street and even in Cubbon Park.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Bangalore News / Chethan Kumar, TNN / February 20th, 2017
The Sustainable Development Forum and the Pune-based Kirloskar Vasundara Institution are jointly organizing a two-day international environment film festival — Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival — that begins today at the Srujana Rangamandira in Dharwad .
The aim of the film festival, which is being held in Dharwad for the first time, is to create awareness and concern for the environment. A film show, lectures and debate by the scholars will all be held at the film festival.
Social and environmental worker, Shivaji Kaganikar, from Belagavi, will inaugurate the film festival, at which he will be presented the Vasundhara Award. The Vasundara Mitra will be presented to the Pampayya Malesamath of Hampi.
In the run-up to the fest, several competition, with the environment as a theme, were held in the schools and colleges of Hubballi and Dharwad. FILMS TO BE SCREENED AT THE FILM FEST
February 18
India’s Western Ghats
Nagarhole
Varasa
Miracle Water Village
Orange Pennant
Dholera Sir
Don’t Buy Trouble
Story of Bottled Water
Not in my Backyard
All is Well
Umed
North Eastern Diaries
Vedavati Rejuvenation
February 19
Kali River
Guppies Journey
Future Starts Today
Climate Solver Boond
Blocks of Green
Towards Sustainable Living
Tiger Queen
A Plea form Himalaya
I Matter
Together Possible
Crazy on the Rocks
Living with Change
The Bitter Truth
Crabs of Karwar
Pakke Paga
Khet Chhorab Nahi
Path to Resilience
Hamburg
— Manjunath Somaraddi
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Hubli News / TNN / February 18th, 2017
Geetha A.B. has been elected Chairperson of the Bengaluru branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for 2017-18.
She is the first woman head of the professional body. She has over 13 years of professional experience and is specialised in direct taxation and auditing. Her contributions to the CA professional community as Secretary, Treasurer and CA Students’ Head have been noteworthy, said an official press note.
The Bengaluru branch caters to the needs of nearly 13,500 CAs and 30,000 students on its rolls. Ms. Geetha has also been an active member of Karnataka State Chartered Accountants Association and AWAKE, women entrepreneurs association of Karnataka.
Other office-bearers are Shravan Guduthur (Vice-Chairman) Bhat Shivaram Shankar (Secretary), Raveendra S. Kore (Treasurer), and Bhojaraj T. Shetty (nominated-Chairman).
The ICAI, a statutory body, has a Council comprising 40 members, with 32 elected and the rest nominated by the Central government.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – February 18th, 2017
Bengaluru has emerged as the biotech startup capital of India -it’s home to 190 ventures out of the 1,022 set up in the past five years, according to a study by the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE).
The National Capital Region (NCR) comes second with 164, followed by Mumbai and Hyderabad with 163 and 160, respectively. The study finds that $2.6 billion of private equity investments went into these companies, with $851 million coming in 2015 -the highest in a year so far. The segment also received government grants and funds from HNIs.
“This is good news and we are aiming to double this number with the ABLE Startups 2020 initiative to take the count to 2020 companies by the year 2020 and $5 bil lion of investments,” ABLE president PM Murali said.The study observed that 3,000 new entrepreneurs emerged between 2012 and 2016 in the biotech sector and at least a third of them were women. The bio-pharma sec tor continues to dominate the indus try, accounting for 57% share of the companies formed, followed by bioresearch (16%), bio-agri (10%), and bio-industrial (9%). Of the total, about 40% of the companies were involved in manufacture of products and ingredients, and 16% were into research and experimental development.
The study observed that the government’s startup policy, funds allocated for the sector, and presence of bio-incubators such as C-Camp and Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre were helping the sector to grow.
Of the 1,022 new startups, 104 were formed in 2016, 367 during 2014 and 2015. Another 551 companies were established between 2012 and 2014.
Biocon chairman and MD, Kiran MazumdarShaw, also ABLE honorary chairman, said ABLE is initiating a mentoring cell of senior industry leaders to guide the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News / TNN / February 2017
