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Varsity to honour Prof. C.N.R. Rao with Study Chair

Education, Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion

CM fetes Bharat Ratna in City

Prof. C.N.R. Rao and his wife Indumathi Rao, who were felicitated at a function held at Crawford Hall in city this morning, are seen with (from left) Mysore University VC Prof. K.S. Rangappa, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, MLA Vasu, District Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad, NIE President M. Sreepada Rao, KSOU VC Prof. M.G. Krishnan, Administrative Officer of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Dr. Jayachandra and NIE Principal G.L. Shekar.
Prof. C.N.R. Rao and his wife Indumathi Rao, who were felicitated at a function held at Crawford Hall in city this morning, are seen with (from left) Mysore University VC Prof. K.S. Rangappa, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, MLA Vasu, District Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad, NIE President M. Sreepada Rao, KSOU VC Prof. M.G. Krishnan, Administrative Officer of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Dr. Jayachandra and NIE Principal G.L. Shekar.

Mysore :

Bharat Ratna Prof. C.N.R. Rao, who is also the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, was this morning felicitated by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah at a function organised jointly by the University of Mysore, Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and the NIE at Crawford Hall in city.

Prof. Rao, who also is the Hon. President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, was adorned with a Mysore Peta, shawl and garland while his wife Indumathi Rao was also felicitated.

The Chief Minister also unveiled a plaque of Vignana Bhavan at Mukta Gangotri, which will be formally inaugurated by him later today.

University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa, presiding over the function, said that the University has planned to set up ‘Prof. C.N.R. Rao Study Chair’ during the centenary celebrations and added that Chief Minister Siddharamaiah had assured all financial assistance for the same.

Prof. Rangappa also urged Prof. Rao to give his valuable opinions on development of the standard of higher education in the University of Mysore to both the Central and State governments.

KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. M.G. Krishnan, NIE President M. Sreepada Rao, District Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad, MLA Vasu, Mysore University Registrar Sri Jayadev Raje Urs, NIE Principal G.L. Shekhar, who introduced Prof. Rao to the audience, members of the teaching and non-teaching faculties of NIE, KSOU and University of Mysore, members of the Academic Council, Syndicate of the University, Board of Management members of KSOU and NIE and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General  News / June 14th, 2014

Teaching the tricks of Spin

Sports
Legendary Spinner Raghuram Bhat is seen demonstrating bowling action to youngsters.
Legendary Spinner Raghuram Bhat is seen demonstrating bowling action to youngsters.

Mysore :

by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

During his prime as a young cricketer, he was one of the few spinners in the country who dominated the batsmen. In fact, at the time when he represented the Karnataka State in Ranji Trophy semi final against Bombay in early 80s, he forced batsman like Sunil Gavaskar to bat left handed as he proved to be unplayable for the little master batting right handed. Having played just two tests for the country, this legendary left-arm spinner has scalped 373 wickets for State in First Class Cricket. Though, his services were needed for the national side for a longer duration, it was unfortunate for him not to be given enough opportunity to prove his skills. We are speaking about Raghuram Bhat, who is currently in city to conduct spinners’ camp to unearth the talent in budding cricketers.

Star of Mysore caught up with the legendary spinner. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): Having been a legendary spinner yourself , do you feel there is a dearth of quality spinners in the State?

Raghuram Bhat: Definitely, there is a dearth of quality spinners. There is no dearth for talent, but quality has to be improved. Not only in spin, quality has to improve in all departments which includes batting, bowling and fielding. Now, that KSCA has started the academies throughout the State, emphasis is being given to improve the quality of cricket and also to identify talented cricketers.

SOM: Tell us about the spinners’ camp conducted by KSCA?

Raghuram Bhat: The camp is being conducted to identify the potential of budding cricketers at junior level. This will enable them to learn the art of spin and will also help us to identify the talent and guide them throughout their career.

We are thinking of organising the camp throughout the year where a few talented spinners will be picked and trained by the qualified coaches at the academy. I would be visiting the academy once in a month to record the progress of the cricketers and also to enhance their skills.

SOM: What are the important qualities of a good spinner?

Raghuram Bhat: The most important factor for a quality spinner is the length and line. For a spinner it is important to maintain good length and line unlike fast bowlers for which importance is given to line and length. This apart, another important factor is the flight which a spinner has to concentrate.

SOM: What do you have to say about cricketers in Mysore?

Raghuram Bhat: Cricketers in Mysore have been impressive so far. There are currently 15-18 good spinners in the camp who posses the talent of being good cricketers. It is important to nourish them and mould them into quality cricketers. KSCA Mysore Zone has been providing quality infrastructure with the help of KSCA Bangalore, which is helping young cricketers to play quality cricket.

SOM: Karnataka has done well in the previous Ranji season. How do see the prospects in the next season?

Raghuram Bhat: We have a bunch of young and talented cricketers in the team who have been performing consistently for the State. These boys were identified at the U-14 level and trained at KSCA academy under Brijesh Patel to become the top players in the country. There is no doubt that the boys will perform in a similar way in the next season also and become an inspiration for the younger generation.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / June 13th, 2014

Star this week : Talented Golfer : Pranavi S. Urs

Sports

PranaviBF19jun2014

Mysore :

Golf is a sport that attracts more players than any other outdoor sport; one of the reasons is the beautiful surroundings and the pleasure of being on the course to share this experience amongst friends and nature. To be able to perform successfully on such a playing field demands the ability to analyse and adjust to variable elements as well as the risk-reward factor, altogether making the game so rewarding or, so humbling.

The game is played and patronised in Mysore at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Course (JWGC). JWGC has been producing talented golfers from time to time with their development programmes. One such product out of their junior programme is Pranavi S. Urs, who made waves with her excellent performance in the recently concluded NR Group IGU Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championships held at JWGC course here recently where she won the Sub-Junior Girls (Category C – 11-12 years) title. She is our ‘Star This Week.’

Pranavi, a VI std. student of National Public School, Mysore, is the daughter of Sharath Chandra Raj Urs and Kaivalya, residents of Lakshmipuram.

Pranavi encouraged by her parents, took up to golf at the age of 8 and after her success in the South Zone Sub-Junior Golf Tourney, she took up to the game seriously and has made steady progress since then. Pranavi is presently ranked No.2 in the Sub-Junior Girls in the IGU merit list in the country and is No.1 golfer in the South Zone. She presently trains under Tarun Sardesai (IGU qualified coach) at the Champions Reef Golf Club in Kolar.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News  / June 15th, 2014

India Post celebrates Fifa World Cup 2014

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, World Opinion

Mysore :

Fifa World Cup 2014 stamps, miniature sheets and first-day covers are up for grabs at the Philately Bureau of the Mysore Head Post Office, Nazarabad.

Philatelists and soccer fans in Mysore made their way to post offices on Friday morning, snapping up over 6,000 stamps. Three of the stamps depict players in action; the fourth one is of mascot Fuleco.

“A total of 514 sheets, each of all the four stamps, are being sold. Each sheet comprises 49 stamps; 4,000 miniature sheets are also available. In addition, 560 first-day Covers and 560 information sheets are on display too. Stamps worth of Rs 9,95,580 are here,” said S Mahadevaiah, senior post master.

“We have 849 philately account holders. When Sachin Tendulakar’s 200 century commemoration stamp was released, we got a good response. Around 1 lakh stamps were sold then. This time, too, we are expecting a similar response,” he added.

The Head Post Office will despatch these stamps to the regional post offices at Nanjangud, Kollegal, Chitradurga, Chikkaballapur, Davanagere, Tumkur, Tiptur, Mandya, Madikeri and Srirangapatna. In Mysore, the stamps will be on sale at the Saraswathipuram Head Post Office from Saturday.

Philatelist Anand Kumar observes: “These commemorative stamps popularize sports especially among youths. India Post must release sports-related stamps on every such occasion.”

“The size of the stamps could have been increased. The pictures are not clearly visible and not so attractive,” says Nagendra, a student of Banvai College.

A set of four stamps costs Rs 60. Two stamps cost Rs 25 each and two Rs 5 each. First-day covers cost Rs 5 and information sheets Rs 5, said Tabassum, a postal assistant at the Mysore Head Post Office.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home>  City> Mysore / TNN / June 14th, 2014

Gokulam gets Open Air Theatre

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

GokulamBF19jun2014

District in-Charge Minister performs guddali puja; Construction to be completed in nine months; Rest rooms for senior citizens in second phase

Mysore :

The citizens residing near Gokulam and surrounding areas have all reasons to smile as the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) will be constructing an Open Air Theatre along with walkway and other facilities on a one acre land near the Doctor’s Corner in Gokulam 3rd Stage.

MUDA will be constructing the Open Air Theatre and walkway at a cost of Rs. 99.50 lakh and the facility is expected to be made available for public in nine months. The Open Air Theatre will have 250 seating capacity along with green rooms, toilets and drinking water facilities.

District in-Charge and Revenue Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad performed guddali puja for the project at the site this morning in the presence of MLA Vasu and Corporators Girish Prasad and Bhagya.

The contract for the construction of the Open Air Theatre and walkway has been awarded to Mysore-based contractor A. Dinesh.

The project will be taken up on a land measuring 43,253 sqft. and has been designed by M/s Imprints of Bangalore.

This apart, MUDA has also planned to construct rest rooms for senior citizens, library and a gym in the second phase for which the tender process is yet to commence.

MUDA Superintending Engineer M. Shivakumar, Executive Engineer S. Veerabhadraiah, Zonal Officer Rajashekar, Junior Engineer S. Satyanarayana Joshi and other officials were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 17th, 2014

Amazon India gets FDI battleready

Business & Economy, World Opinion

 

Amazon India has commissioned two warehouses in Karnataka bigger than those in Mumbai and Bangalore.
Amazon India has commissioned two warehouses in Karnataka bigger than those in Mumbai and Bangalore.

SUMMARY

Continuing with its rapid expansion plans, Amazon India has commissioned…

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Continuing with its rapid expansion plans, Amazon India has commissioned two warehouses in Karnataka bigger than those in Mumbai and Bangalore.

The two new warehouses, or fulfilment centres as Amazon calls them, are at Tumkur, 70 km from Bangalore, and Hoskote, 30 km from the city. The warehouses are said to be around 200,000 sq ft, bigger than the company’s two existing 150,000 sq ft fulfillment centres.

The warehouses are expected to give a fillip to the Seattle-based Amazon’s operations in India if the Centre allows foreign e-commerce companies to hold their own inventory and sell directly to consumers. At present, foreign companies can engage in business-to-business e-commerce, where 100% FDI is permitted.

Consequently, Amazon is restricted to being a marketplace in the country, providing third-party sellers with a platform to trade their wares.

The Centre is likely to open up the sector to foreign investment as early as next month, which, industry observers believe, might give players like Amazon — with deep pockets and proven infrastructure — an edge over its Indian competitors. The Indian e-commerce industry is valued at $3.1 billion and is expected to cross the $20-billion mark in the next five years.

Amazon declined to comment on the warehouses. A company spokesperson, however, said the company believed that opening up e-commerce to FDI would be good for consumers and businesses.

“We believe that opening up this sector to FDI will be good for consumers and Indian businesses as it would allow us to partner with local manufacturers to source products not carried by other sellers on the marketplace, giving Indian consumers unique and wider choices at lower prices. Allowing FDI will positively impact infrastructure development in the country,” the spokesperson said.

Since its arrival in India last June, Amazon has expanded its portfolio at a rate which has alarmed its rivals in the country. In the last one year, the company has increased its offerings to 15 million products across 28 categories and claims to have the largest selection in 11 segments, including books, movies & TV shows, home and kitchen ware, music and video games. The number of sellers on its platform has also grown 50 times since its launch to 5,000. Amazon has also forayed into the high-margin fashion with the launch of apparel stores for men and women.

According to Ankur Bisen, senior VP, retail, at advisory firm Technopak, “In the US, Amazon’s share is around one-fourth of the $220-billion e-commerce industry. It’s not that Amazon will come and take away everything that domestic players have accrued over the years. We will see some fair competition between the Indian and foreign players,” he said.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com / The Financial Express / Home> Companies / by Sayan Chakraboty / Bangalore – June 12th, 2014

NRDC ready to commercialise UAS’ patent-pending instant Ragi Mudde Mix

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) is ready for the  commercialisation of instant ragi mudde mix, a patent-pending product of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru’s (UAS-B) Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) of Process Technology.

The department, led by Dr H B Shivaleela, professor and university head, FSN, academic council member and scheme head. She, along with S Meenakumari and Rani Arvind, provided the technical know-how about the product to NRDC, which could be accessed by the small and medium food companies in India.

The instant ragi mudde mix formula has been developed to suit both small-scale and  mechanised processing. It does not involve a tedious process or require advanced processing equipment.

It could simply be blended with a specific amount of water in the desired cups/bowls, and heated in a microwave for four minutes, or steamed for four minutes in a pressure cooker.

“Ragi is known for its phyto-chemicals and calcium and fibre content. Developing an instant ragi mudde mix would now allow consumers easy access to the required daily nutrition intake,” said Dr Shivaleela.

The invention is aimed at developing simple process to prepare the ragi-based dumpling mix, which is a specialty food of Karnataka. The mix has brought stability and enhanced the value addition to cater to the growing demand of the product, particularly by the natives of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

“There is also immense export potential for the instant ragi mix. People from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh residing overseas can now pick it off supermarket shelves,” said N G Lakshminarayan, manager, business development; coordinator, IPFC, and chief vigilance officer, NRDC.

“A novel feature of the invention is that the mudde mix is a processed flour blend and ready to be used to prepare the Karnataka specialty, which is consumed by all strata of the local population,” said Dr Shivleela.

“In fact, the readymade mix is far more convenient with no lump formation during the predation process in contrast to the conventional process of preparing ragi mudde, which requires skill,” she added.

Therefore, UAS-B viewed it as a nutritionally-improved value-added processed food, saving considerable time vis-a-vis the traditional mode of preparation.

The option of easy preparation and cooking in microwave ovens could attract modern consumers towards instant ragi mixes in an age of ready- to-cook versions of processed foods.

source: http://www.fnbnews.com / FnBnews.com / Home> WideView> Top News / by Nandita Vijay, Bengaluru / Saturday – June 07th, 2014

Kannada cinema going global

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
Actor Yash (Photo: DC archives)
Actor Yash (Photo: DC archives)

Bengaluru: 

Kannada cinema’s market has widened up, thanks to the class and hit movies it is producing. After Maanikya creating records, Gajakesari will be releasing in as many as nine countries shortly. The overseas release is being planned with 5 digital prints.

Gajakesari will be screened in the US, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and the UK in the month of June and July. One of the overseas distributor has disclosed this information.

Yash will be attending the premiere at most of the places.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Sandalwood / by DC Correspondent / June 05th, 2014

A R Ramalingam, activist and former botany professor, dies

Education, Science & Technology

Mysore :

A R Ramalingam, activist and former botany professor of UoM and Karnatak University (Dharwad), died on Friday morning. The 78-year-old veteran was ailing for some time. Being the voice of the oppressed class, Ramalingam had inspired many people to fight for their rights.

He leaves behind his wife Kusuma and daughter Vijaya Narasimhan. His doctor-son Ajay, who ran an NGO providing safe drinking water to the villagers of Mysore taluk, died long ago.

Born in a rich zamindar’s family from a village in Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, he arrived here in the late 60s and joined UoM as a botany teacher. While discharging his duties at the university, he took up various public issues and fought for them, becoming a rebel of sorts.

While being in the forefront of various pro-people movements and agitations in the city, Ramalingam joined Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) and worked for the cause of consumers and the general public.

His long-drawn battle against the government on the issue of establishing Rare Metal Plant (RMP) at Ratnahalli village near here made him to face the wrath of the government. The fight also made him move out of Mysore city — he was transferred to Karnatak University. But the undeterred activist kept fighting on the issue. His agitation, backed by some progressive organizations in the city, was so intense that it forced the central government to constitute an expert team which ordered that the plant should not harm the people. But Ramalingam, who had tasted the crops and many horticultural produces grown in the vicinity of the plant, found them to have been affected by the radioactive emissions from the plant. He had contended that the tamarind fruits grown near the plant were small in size due to radiation. He also got the fruits tasted in a private lab in Mumbai and Hyderabad to substantiate his claim.

The agitations and movements carried out by him posed danger to his teaching profession, and the rebel in him deprived him of retirement benefits. On occasions, he led a miserable life having almost nothing to sustain. He lived in a small rented house in the city. The activist was made to run from pillar to post to meet his medical expenses.

Green crusader

Ramalingam had a lot of love for the environment, particularly trees. By identifying the species of trees, he branding some of them as Heritage Trees, so as to prevent their felling. After his retirement in 1997, he settled down in Mysore and fought for several public issues, particularly the contamination of drinking water and water sources, by associating himself with MGP.

He used to give lectures to rural and urban groups and students on safe drinking water. His booklet in Kannada explains the importance of safe drinking water, complete with details on how water gets contaminated. It also narrates simple and inexpensive methods to make water potable. Consumers from across the district have been benefitted from his work on water issues.

His detection of a cause of pollution of the water source of Mysore city prompted the city corporation to take remedial action. Similarly, he had made the corporation repair a dilapidated structure of a water reservoir.

To make bacteriologically contaminated water potable, he developed a simple copper-plate method and inexpensive chlorination kits. He had also developed an easy method to estimate the amount of dissolved solids in water. He propagated simple and inexpensive rainwater harvesting methods.

In 2008, he unearthed a tea powder adulteration scandal in Mysore. His campaign for burning several hundred kgs of adulterated tea powder forced the civic authorities to raid shops and confiscate adulterated tea. Most of his public-interest activities were financed by himself.

As per wishes, his family members donated his body to JSS Medical College.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore / by M B Maramkal, TNN / June 06th, 2014

Maritime Firm Makes Hot Picks at UVCE

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technology

Bangalore :

For the first time in its campus placement process, a Nagpur-based company has selected 22 students of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) with a pay package each of a whopping Rs 18 lakh per year!

A first-time recruiter at UVCE, Phoenix Maritime Sea Services, a ship management company providing services to shipping firms and merchant navy academies, has picked 11 mechanical, three electronics and communication and eight electrical and electronics students for jobs based out of Karnataka.

“A single company making so many offers with such impressive packages has not happened before,” said UVCE Principal K R Venugopal. However, there is a catch, he says. “The company requires students to pay `3-4 lakh towards training as a means to ensure students don’t take it up and leave.”

Vinay P, a mechanical engineering student, who has received the offer, said Phoenix works like a consultancy company to provide further training. “After we are trained, we can join merchant navy companies where our CTC may even increase,” he said.

Thumping Into UVCE

E-commerce giant Amazon selected two computer science students offering `11 lakh per year, investment banker Goldman Sachs selected one mechanical student for `10 lakh, Adobe offered two computer science students `8.3 lakh and Oracle offered seven students `7.5 lakh per year. But it is not the big payers that got students excited this time.

According to Varun K, a third year electrical and electronics student and placement coordinator, the maker of the legendary Bullet motorcycle, Royal Enfield, came to UVCE for the first time offering three mechanical students Rs 3.60 lakh per year.

“More than Phoenix, we were excited with RE coming here, which is the first time they are recruiting outside Chennai,” he said.

In the fag-end of its 2013-14 placement process, the 97-year-old UVCE had 87 companies visiting its campus making 539 offers to 301 students.

With results from six companies awaited, another 20 students could be placed. In 2012-13, there were 699 offers to 362 UVCE students.

Other Maiden Recruiters

First-time recruiters Godrej & Boyce made offers of `3.60 lakh each to seven students and Dell Research and Development also offered `5.50 lakh each to seven computer and information science students.

Other maiden big payers this year were Google, which came with an offer of Rs 13 lakh per annum and Tokyo-based Work Applications, which came with `30 lakh per annum.

However, they did not select any student.

“We have done better than R V College of Engineering, PES Institute of Technology and even M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology. But BMS College of Engineering is competing neck-and-neck with us,” Varun added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Bharath Joshi / June 07th, 2014