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Passions: Bringing ethnicity home

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
The ethnic connect Roshni Puthukudy
The ethnic connect Roshni Puthukudy

Roshni Puthukudy started EthniChic to reach out to the modern Indian woman who is fashionable yet connected to her roots

A civil engineer by training with a degree in financial management, city-based Roshni Puthukudy, is a Malayalee who grew up in nine different states, thanks to her defence background. It was during these years that she was exposed to various art forms and her passion for crafting took root. However, it was only when she took a break from her corporate life in 2014 that she decided to do something more serious with her oodles of creativity.

Roshni decided to answer her calling to be a crafter while on vacation in her hometown. “While dusting out old school books and papers, I found a preserved file which contained all my childhood paintings and drawings. That visual inspired me to take up my long lost passion. I started attending art classes where they specifically taught traditional art forms. I would accompany my son to his drawing classes as well. I started learning new techniques through YouTube videos. And then it was all about experimenting. I am blessed to have the support and encouragement of my husband and kids. When things started falling in place and I found my products saleable, EthniChic was born,” she recalls.

Reaching out to the modern Indian woman who is fashionable yet connected to her roots, EthniChic is an initiative that brings Indian ethnicity to one’s home, in the form of home décor, accessories, and apparels that are hand painted or decoupaged. Roshni’s products range from jewellery boxes, trays, votive stands, khullads, hand mirrors, lamp shades and palm leaf fans to bangles, neck pieces, earrings and much more. She also hand paints saris, skirts, jumpsuits, kurtas, waistcoats and dresses. “Each piece of art is crafted with utmost care and passion. I still don’t like calling it a business because for me it feels like meditation,” says Roshni. Prepping up for her journey as an entrepreneur was interesting. “The biggest challenge was to take the risk and see if my idea would work. Then, I had to understand what customers really want. I did at least six to eight months of research and exhibition hoping to understand how and what works. I’ve tried out various products in the first six months of setting up before I finally arrived at the current product line. I attended various training programmes on Indian art forms to learn with a deeper sense.”

Of her challenges so far, she says: “Time is the biggest challenge. Then there’s tons of competition in the market so much so that handmade items are often not given their due. Also, since it takes lot of time and effort to hand paint/hand craft things, they are slightly costlier than the mass produced/printed items, and therefore our market is not as large.”

While plans to expand her business are in the pipeline, she says: “I keep trying new products regularly. I started with hand painted apparels and then moved on to home decor and accessories. I love to innovate. There is always a quench to try out new things to keep myself active creatively.”

(This column features people who have veered off the beaten track)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Neeti Sarkar /Bengaluru – October 13th, 2015

Nonagenarian Sports Coach Lakshmanappa passes away

Sports

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Mysuru :

Freedom fighter and nonagenarian National Wrestling and Basketball coach, M.S. Lakshmanappa (95) passed away at his residence near Jaganmohan Palace in city this morning.

He leaves behind 3 sons, including Ekalavya awardee kho-kho player M.L. Gopinath and 2 daughters.

After retiring as PE Director of city’s D. Banumaiah College in 1975, he took to coaching in wrestling and basketball.

Last rites were performed this evening.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Monday – October 12th, 2015

‘Mysore Memories’ : Mysore in the 1920S

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

by Girija Madhavan

Mysuru has a tradition of holding concerts for festive occasions like Ramanavami and Vinayaka Chathurthi. Lovers of music eagerly look forward to these events. The concerts held at 8th Cross in Vani Vilasa Mohalla have been going on for decades. Even earlier there were recitals in Bidaram Krishnappa Prasanna Sri Rama Mandira in the heart of the city. A temple as well as a venue for “kacheris,” it is the confluence of two streams of art. As music swirls around the room, the walls display precious paintings in elaborately carved frames. Some of them are in the Mysore tradition of art, depicting themes like Durga’s victory or Rama’s coronation. Some are adorned with gold leaf and some are in the style of Raja Ravi Varma.

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In a folder of sketches by my mother, Mukta Venkatesh, I found two water-colours. The first depicts a Karnatak concert (kacheri) with the musicians seated on a striped durrie. The small picture hanging above the door is the ‘Ala-ele Krishna’ (the infant Krishna on a peepul leaf), a theme favoured by both Tanjore and Mysore style artists. The paintings of Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati in traditional style flank a larger picture of Rama Pattabhisheka. Mukta depicts herself and two sisters in the audience. This is a sketch of Bidaram Krishnappa Prasanna Sitarama Mandira, a personal portrayal of a heritage landmark of Mysuru.

The second picture is set in Lakshmipuram of those days. The architecture is drawn with care. The people on the street belong to different classes of society. The vendor woman, accompanied by her small child, is dressed in a crumpled cotton sari, the head covered with the end of the sari or “seragu.” In contrast, the ladies in silk saris worn in the “kachche” style (perhaps of Madhwa origin), flowers adorning their hair, have returned from a puja, holding coconuts and betel leaves in their hands.

Just beyond these figures is a mendicant with a white beard. A toddler rides on his shoulders. This poor man and his child “Vasuki” occasionally visited my mother, had a meal and left with a present of money, clothes or toys. She was attached to Vasuki and was distressed when the visits suddenly stopped. Perhaps that is why she painted them as pale, ghostly figures.

In the Tonga, a dignified, Muslim gentleman travels to his appointment. Another older man in a three-piece suit wearing a Mysore Peta is walking down the pavement. A young man lounges against the wall. This picture was a microcosm of life in suburbia.

Old photographs capture past reality in their sepia tints. But drawings like these can be even more evocative, bringing up a flavour of a bygone time through the eyes of a person who lived then and translated these perceptions into art.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Monday – October 12th, 2015

Star this week : Talented Athlete : Reena George

Sports

Athletics is the mother of all sporting activities and is a global sport. An athlete needs good stamina and will power to excel in the top level. Mysuru has been producing top class athletes from time to time, who have represented the State and the Country in various events.

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One such upcoming talent is Reena George from Mysuru who has been doing well in the women’s section in the State, National and Inter-University level. Reena, was part of the 4x400m Relay team of Teresian College for Women, Mysuru, which won gold with a New Meet Record at the 87th Mysore University Inter-Collegiate Athletic Meet held at District Stadium, Hassan, on Friday and Saturday. She also won 200m gold. She is our ‘Star This Week.’

Reena, a student of Teresian College for Women in Mysuru, is a product of DYES, Mysuru and is presently coached by Vasanth Kumar, National athletic coach at DYES, Mysuru. She had also earlier trained with international athlete and SAK athletic coach Damodara Gowda.

Reena, a sprinter who excels in the 100m and 200m events, has represented Karnataka State in National level. She is an All-India Inter-University medallist representing Mysore University.

Renna, taking part in the 87th Mysore University Inter-Collegiate Athletic Meet – 2015 held at Hassan from Oct. 9 to 11, created a New Meet Record by being the part of the 4x400m Relay Team of Teresian College for Women, Mysuru, which won gold with a timing of 3:58.87s, erasing the old record of 4:03.10s set by Teresian College in 2013-14. The winning race was run by M. Likitha, R.A. Chaitra, Reena George and H.R. Navami.

Reena also won 200m gold with an timing of 24.89s. Reena has represented Karnataka in the Federation Cup Athletic Meet held at Mangaluru this year. She has won the 100m gold in the Dasara Games – 2014, with a timing of 11.09s.

Reena has won silver medal in the women’s 200m event in the 2014 Dasara games.

This talented sprinter wishes to work hard in the days to come and win a medal in the All-India Inter-University Athletic Meet 2015 and intends to make a mark in the National level in the days to come.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Sunday – October 11th, 2015

West Bengal All India Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championship : City’s Pranavi Urs wins category ‘C’ title

Sports

Kolkata :

City’s Pranavi S. Urs, representing Karnataka in the West Bengal All India Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championships 2015, which concluded at Tollygunge Golf Club in Kolkata, emerged as the winner in the Category ‘C’ yesterday.

Pranavi S. Urs, a product of the JWGC, Mysuru, playing some consistent golf, returned with a three-day aggregate score of 228 (69+81+78) to clinch the title.

Hitaashree Bakshi of Delhi (241= 83+80+78), finished second, while Rakshita Singh of Delhi secured the third place with a three-day aggregate score of 243 (81+85+77).

Final Placings: Category C: 1. Pranavi S. Urs (228= 69+81+78); 2. Hitaashree Bakshi (Delhi-241=81+85+77); 3. Rakshitha Singh (Delhi-243= 81+85+77); 4. Anika Verma (Delhi-244=82+84+78); 5. Anushka Borkar (Karnataka-247=83+84+80); 6. Chitraguda Singh (West Bengal-253=83+84+86); 7. Prakruthi Sastry (Karnataka-257=85+81+91).

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Saturday – October 10th, 2015

In a real world

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

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When this eight-year-old boy was brought to us by his parents, he didn’t speak or play. All he would do was play with his saliva, and roll on the ground. Over days and months, positive changes became visible in him. He started sitting down and playing with a variety of toys. What’s more, he now calls his parents ‘Appa’ and ‘Amma’ ,” Vaishali Pai says with pride.

The Founder and Director of ‘Tamahar’, a centre for children with special needs, points out that in spite of all the efforts, the challenges are many in this field, and the task an uphill one.

Children with special abilities and their parents still  face stigma. Their only fault — these children are unable to live life the conventional way. More often than not, their special needs never get addressed. They continue to be ostracised. For those who are entrusted in teaching and caring for them, it’s a tough task, sometimes a thankless one.

An occupational therapist with two decades of experience, Vaishali came to Bengaluru for paediatric work more than 20 years ago. She used to travel to work for two hours or so. “I remember seeing parents travelling with children with special needs. There were only two or three centres then. This picture remained with me, After about 20 years, I started ‘Tamahar’,” she recollects.

“Children who come here are basically those with brain damage — with conditions like cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism etc. We give a complete development assesment according to their mental age and  intervention — cognitive, occupational, physical and speech therapies and try to make the brain function as a whole. We have also functional academics to make them independent and self-reliant. We are also doing pre-vocational programmes, parent training, both in theory and practicals of developmental therapy. The parents too are learning,” she says.

Chandrika Sheshadri started ‘Take a Break Respite Care’ in Malleswaram when she found that the City was not equipped to provide care for the child and parents. She says. “I have a child with special needs. Before relocating to Bengaluru, we were in the US. When we moved here seven years back, I thought we would get the same kind of caregiving that we got there on a regular basis. But we were disappointed. Soon, with the help of family and friends, we decided to open this place.”  ‘Take a Break Respite Care’ gives a break to families that have individuals with special needs.”

Giving the primary caregiver a break is essential, she says. “We usually provide this care during weekends. Parents can drop the child here and they are here from three to six hours.”

The voices to bring these kids into the mainstream are getting louder. The sympathies can wait. “You can help the kids with something productive, rather than sympathy. I take my daughter wherever I go. Also, the parent has to take care of himself or herself first. Only then they can take care of the child. You need to let go of the child,” adds Chandrika.

The children with special needs are two to three percent of the population and Vaishali feels there should be a centre every five km. “I have a dream to get these children into art, music etc once a month. We also need volunteers for various activities like storytelling,” she points out.

Akila Vaidyanathan’s story is no different. She has a son with autism. Now, the founder-director of Amaze Charitable Trust, and joint secretary of Autism Society of India, says, “My son is now 19 years old. In 1999, when he was first diagnosed with it, I decided to train myself  on how to work with him. Initially, we did speech therapy and vocational  therapy. I was also looking at schools where we could enrol him, but the schools would say that they had no expertise to handle these children. So I did a diploma in social education and worked with the teachers on how to handle him,” she says.

Her son now loves to cook , trek and cycle. He uses alternate modes of communication including a VOCA. He is also a national-level bronze medalist for cycling (Special Olympics Bharat -2010).

On the larger picture, she says, “Very often, teachers are not equipped. Classrooms are crowded. Autistic children have sensory issues, they are sensitive to loud sounds and don’t like people touching them. These are the challenges, ” Akila adds,
“Having dedicated manpower is a challenge,” adds Vaishali. “To work in this section, you need to love children unconditionally. You have to create manpower and we do that too. There are two other challenges — finance and space. The children tend to make a lot of sound and there are certain points of the society where people can’t withstand the sound. So it’s difficult to find space.”

“If each one of us can give half our time for an organisation such as this, it would be such a support,” she says.

Four to five children from Tamahar goto  Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, Canara Union regularly to play badminton. They have cognitive losses — of which one is autistic and the other has a psychiatric disorder,” informs Vaishali. Yet they are all out there, smashing it on a regular wooden court! They are no way hanging up their racquets.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / by Anupama Ramakrishnan, Bengaluru / DHNS – October 09th, 2015

BAI confers “Builder of the Year” and “Project of the Year” Awards

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All
City-based builder P. Nithyanand (left), who was conferred ‘Project of the Year’ award and A.S. Yoganarasimha of Sharp Engineers, who received ‘Builder of the Year’ award during the Builders Day-2015 function organised by Builders Association of India (BAI), Mysuru Centre, at Kalamandira last evening, are seen with (standing from left) BAI Mysuru Centre Chairman M.S. Ramprasad, Builders’ Day Convenor M.S. Nandakumar, Industrialist Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy, BAI State Chairman A.R. Ravindra Bhat and BAI Mysuru Centre Hon. Secretary J.V.R. Naidhruva. Picture right shows noted dancers Nirupama-Rajendra and troupe of Abhinava Dance Company, Bengaluru, presenting a scintillating cultural programme ‘Rang’ on the occasion.
City-based builder P. Nithyanand (left), who was conferred ‘Project of the Year’ award and A.S. Yoganarasimha of Sharp Engineers, who received ‘Builder of the Year’ award during the Builders Day-2015 function organised by Builders Association of India (BAI), Mysuru Centre, at Kalamandira last evening, are seen with (standing from left) BAI Mysuru Centre Chairman M.S. Ramprasad, Builders’ Day Convenor M.S. Nandakumar, Industrialist Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy, BAI State Chairman A.R. Ravindra Bhat and BAI Mysuru Centre Hon. Secretary J.V.R. Naidhruva. Picture right shows noted dancers Nirupama-Rajendra and troupe of Abhinava Dance Company, Bengaluru, presenting a scintillating cultural programme ‘Rang’ on the occasion.

Mysuru :

Marking the Builders Day-2015, the Builders Association of India (BAI), Mysuru Centre, conferred ‘Builder of the Year’ award to city builder A.S. Yoganarasimha, proprietor of Sharp Engineers and ‘Project of the Year’ award to builder and promoter P. Nithyananda of Nithyotsava Convention Hall, at a function held at Kalamandira in city last evening.

Speaking after receiving the award, builder Yoganarasimha said that he was ever grateful to his parents for always supporting him in his endeavours.

Expressing his gratitude to his guru and city’s well-known architect M.S. Vijayashankar for guiding him on discipline, commitment and honesty, Yoganarasimha recalled the support extended by BAI Mysuru Centre to the staff of his company over the years.

Industrialist Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy, BAI State Chairman A.R. Ravindra Bhat, Mysuru Centre Chairman M.S. Ramprasad, Hon. Secretary J.V.R. Naidhruva, Event Convenor M.S. Nandakumar and others were present at the programme which also marked the inauguration of year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations of BAI.

The programme was followed by a cultural event titled ‘Rang’, celebrating colour, culture and creativity, an enchanting evening of dance by Nirupama and Rajendra troupe of Abhinava Dance Company in Bengaluru. Endowed with brilliant talent and stage presence, appropriate expressions, timing and razor sharp precession in synchronisation, the couple’s performance was truly a connoisseur’s delight.

‘Rang’ took the audience into an enchanting world of Indian traditional and contemporary sequence, providing a spectacular view of creativity through exquisite thematic compositions, soulful music, period costumes combined with unique artistry.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Friday – October 09th, 2015

‘Bharathada Anarghya Ratnagulu’ book released in city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Picture shows senior litterateur Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar, Folk Scholar G.S. Bhatta, Writer Bannur K. Raju, senior litterateur Dr. Malali Vasanthakumar, Social Worker K. Raghuram and author D.N. Krishnamurthy, during the book release function held in city recently.
Picture shows senior litterateur Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar, Folk Scholar G.S. Bhatta, Writer Bannur K. Raju, senior litterateur Dr. Malali Vasanthakumar, Social Worker K. Raghuram and author D.N. Krishnamurthy, during the book release function held in city recently.

Mysuru :

Writer and columnist D.N. Krishnamurthy’s book ‘Bharathada Anarghya Ratnagalu’ was released at a function jointly organised by Sri Sharada Vidyapeetha Trust, Swajanya Samskrutika Vedike and Sri Vasavi Prakashana at Rotary Centre on JLB Road in city recently.

Writer Bannur K. Raju, speaking after releasing the book, regretted that groupism was raising its ugly head in the literary world.

Pointing out that the literary field has made its own contribution to the society, which is different from others, he stressed on the need for the literary world to be in its purest form and not get polluted for any reason.

He complimented the author Krishnamurthy for his work, which he said was an excellent one on the personalities and great leaders of our country.

Senior litterateur Dr. Malali Vasanthakumar, in his address, said that the work was a feather in the cap of Kannada literature.

He also said that the book, if published in a text book form, will be of much help to students.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday – October 07th, 2015

Meeting the Book Man of Pandavapura

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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An inside view of the Book House. Another inside view of the Book House. The Book House as seen from road.

Sometimes, I wonder what would be this world for many, like me, without books. Not that I am a book-worm or an voracious reader, but surely one who loves books generally. An ideal friend when alone, whom you can leave easily and choose another, let me say, book-friend who will expect nothing from you yet keeps you engaged, entertained or educated. Which is why, while on holidays, when my wife goes for shopping, I choose a book shop, with her permission, to spend the time till she calls me on cellphone. Happiness for both! Let it be.

I broach on the subject of books because of my recent visit to a store house of books of all sorts, over five lakh in numbers I was told, in an unlikely place and location — Pandavapura, in Mandya district on the Mysuru-Nagamangala road running through a village called Harala Halli. In Kannada it is called Pusthaka Mane, Book House. And, therefore, a store-house of knowledge, since knowledge is power, a store-house of power! Officially it is known as Ankegowda Jnana Pratishtana (R).

Since few years my friend K. Vijaya Kumar has been gently urging me to make a visit to this library, as he called it, giving me some description of its significance and about the man behind this library M. Ankegowda, who has now retired from service at the Pandavapura Sugar Factory. An MA in Kannada from the University of Mysore, collecting books has been his passion, along with coins, postal stamps, greeting cards and even wedding invitation cards that come these days in a variety of shapes, sizes with contents that would make the Royal invitation from the Palace pale into ordinary. To deviate from the library, these invitations are generally from the nouveau-riche, the upstarts in society and the upstart politicians.

To revert to the Book House, it took its birth in Ankegowda’s house to begin with but later when the number increased, the famous Industrialist — Liquor Baron — L.Sri Hari Khoday spent over Rs. 50 lakh and constructed a building to house the books which is where it is now. Many seem to have helped Ankegowda with money to buy books and among them was the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sadananda Gowda, who gave Rs. 25 lakh from the Government and promised more but Ankegowda is unlucky.

For his labour of love and passion in collecting books, he was given an award by the Kannada Book Authority in 2009. He is a recipient of over 25 awards in recognition of his achievement by various organisations which is as it should be in a world where interest in books seems waning due to the appearance of electronic and digital world. The Karnataka Government too honoured him with the Kannada Rajyotsava Award in 2014.

I learnt that Ankegowda has been buying books since 1975 and now in 2015, the number is over 5 lakh, according to what he told me. I believe him because I have seen the book stock at the Book House, when I went there with my friend Vijaya Kumar on Sept. 21. The building looks like a factory shed and the books are stored there in heaps and bundles like in a godown. Some books are kept in steel almirahs with or without glass door. There was not as much of space to walk around freely and easily. Books of all sizes, all languages and on all subjects are strewn all over the place on the ground. The sight was shocking for one who loves books as sacred Saraswathi. It was like an orphanage of books, but even in an orphanage the children are looked after well. Such huge space and all it needed was steel shelves made by angles which will not cost much to keep the books the way they are usually kept. Now the books are dumped on the floor and I am afraid beforelong most of them would be damaged and become useless. I was also left wondering on not finding a single fire extinguisher in the hall nor stored water and sand for emergency. God forbid such an accident, but God helps those who help themselves.

Many students and distinguished persons have visited this House of Book (I can’t call it a library as there is no system of issuing of books to the interested and collecting them) and appreciated Ankegowda’s efforts. One among them was Justice M.N. Venkatachalaiah, who apparently visited along with Justice V. Gopala Gowda, the then Chief Justice of Orissa High Court on May 27, 2010. Here is what he writes in the visitors book which is published here below (see pic).

As we were leaving the place, a couple of youngsters, come from the town, urge us to stay for a while to participate in a condolence meeting to the assassinated Kannada scholar and former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi Kannada University Dr. M.M. Kalburgi. Soon, a small group of college lecturers and members of Taluk Young Writers’ Association gathered there inviting me to speak. I obliged and left the place.

I and Vijaya Kumar began to share our experience of the visit. I thought it was a directionless, purposeless spending on books and storing them to pursue Ankegowda’s passion. No doubt it is commendable but certainly not useful to the community if it is not made available to them as in a Public Library. People may visit the Book House, like tourists visit a Power House in Shimsha or Jog Falls or a Zoo. Then?

Vijaya Kumar gave me a side-long look and gave his last words to my question and doubts:

“Only Goddess Saraswathi must come to his rescue.”

Tailpiece: During the course of our conversation about the Book House, I told Vijaya Kumar that it was like a Power House without a distribution system.

e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra / by K.B. Ganapathy / Monday – October 05th, 2015

Bengaluru hospital introduces world’s fastest German built vitrectomy machine

Records, All, Science & Technology

Bengaluru :

A centre of ocular oncology installed with the world’s fastest German built vitrectomy machine, along with electroretinogram (ERG) and Pascal laser has been inaugurated today in a city eye hospital to provide a comprehensive treatment in the field of vitreoretinal and ocular oncology.

One of the first of its kind in Asia, ‘megaTRON S4 HPS’will ensure safer and faster vitreoretinal surgeries with its double cutter and integrated laser translating into better outcomes, say the doctors of Sankara Eye Hospital, where it has been introduced today.

“This allows 12000 cuts a minute. Pascal laser with yellow 577 nm is the only laser in the county that allows effective treatment of diabetics with minimal collateral damage. This allows 16 simaltaneous laser shots, enhancing patient’s safety and comfort,” said Dr P Mahesh Shanmugam, head of Vitreoretinal and Ocular Oncology Services, Shankar Hospital.

“megaTRON S4 HPS helps to easily recognize the steps for programming and calibrating the equipment and to decide the type of surgery to be made. Different users can be programmed with the pre established parameters, offering more agility in the proceedings in case the machine is used by different surgeons,” he added.

UT Khader, minister for health and family welfare, said: “I am delighted that the state-of-the-art excellence begins from our state and I am sure that a similar centre enabling such technologies will; soon come up across India.”

source: http://ww.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News Home> City> Bengaluru / by Sreemoyee Chatterjee, TNN / Octobter 01st, 2015