Suresh Kumar (in yellow suit) during the zero-gravity flight. Photo: Special Arrangement
On April 2, T.N. Suresh Kumar achieved what some of us can only dream of.
The senior scientist of ISRO’s Master Control Facility in Hassan, took a ride in a zero-gravity flight from the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Moscow. This was a fulfilment of his long-cherished dream, a step up for his last year’s feat, when he became the first Indian to visit the stratosphere — the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Then, he had made it to an altitude of 17,100 metres from the Sokol Airbase near Nizhny Novgorod in Russia.
This time, he spent $ 5,400 for the flight, covering an altitude of around 8,500 m.
Mr. Suresh Kumar, who has travelled to 114 countries, told The Hindu over the phone: “I took the Indian flag and my mother’s photo for the flight as it was a memorable event in my life. I was one among 15 members from different countries.
We took the flight after completing medical fitness tests.
Only those who are fit physically and understand the instructions given at the training centre can take the flight.”
He lived with the passion to take the flight after he missed a chance to be part of ISRO’s team to visit space in 1986.
The visit was cancelled following the explosion of space shuttle Challenger.
He will return to India on April 18.
Mr. Suresh Kumar’s wife, Geetha, is also a scientist at the MCF.
They save a major portion of their salary for travel.
Geetha has also visited more than 90 countries.
Their daughter, Raksha, has visited more than 45 countries.
His family had accompanied him to Moscow.
While Geetha and Raksha have returned to India, Mr. Suresh Kumar continued on his visit to central Asia.
“We are budget-travellers. We book tickets in advance and carry ready-to-eat food to reduce expenditure,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Satish G. T / Hassan – April 05th, 2015
Cricket is a very popular game in our country and after the exploits of the Indian team which has been doing well in the International scene, many youngsters have taken up cricket as their career. Mysuru also has its share of producing talented cricketers who have gone on to represent the country. On these lines is Mandya-born speedster H.S. Sharath who recently was part of the triumphant Karnataka team which won the Ranji Trophy for the second year in succession. Karnataka won the Ranji title with a innings and 217-runs win over Tamil Nadu at the Wankhede Stadium at Mumbai on Thursday. Sharath played his role with figures of 1/17 & 1/77 against Tamil Nadu and helped his team retain the coveted Ranji Trophy. He is our ‘Star This Week.’
Sharath, a right-hand medim-pacer and right-hand batsman, combined well with skipper R. Vinay Kumar, A. Mithun and S. Aravind to bowl out Tamil Nadu for a low first innings score of 134. He returned with figures of 15-6-17-1 in the first innings and in the second innings had figures of 20-4-77-1. He played three Ranji Trophy games for Karnataka this season and with four wickets, is an important member in the Karnataka team and has played his part in his team’s eighth Ranji title triumph.
Sharath came into the limelight when he won ‘Man of the Match’ award with his excellent eight wicket haul against Mumbai (five for 57 & three for 12) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in December 2013, which helped Karnataka to score a historic win in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘A’ tie against Mumbai at home after 22 years.
Sharath comes from a modest background, he started his cricket in Mandya seven years ago. He joined Vidyaranya Cricket Club and excelled in the KSCA Mysore Zonal league.
Helped and guided by his coach Mahadev, Sharath learnt the finer aspects of fast bowling and made his Ranji debut against UP at Meerut in November 2012.
He emerged as the highest wicket taker for Karnataka in 2013 with 24 wickets from seven matches. With 68 wickets already in Ranji trophy in 21 matches, Sharath is one of the main-stay in Karnataka’s battery of fast bowlers.
Sharath owes a lot to his father Shivalingaiah, who has sacrificed a lot for molding him into a fine cricketer. Helped by his Club Secretary Nagesh and KSCA Mysuru Zone, Sharath aims to do well in the days to come. Presently employed with State Bank of Mysuru, Bengaluru, he visits MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai for a three month period and trains under the legendary Australian fast bowler Glen McGrath.
The 6 foot 3 inch speedster and 21-year-old Sharath has the talent in him to go to the next higher grade.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / March 15th, 2015
Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairperson Rehana Banu is seen delivering inaugural address during the award function organised by R.S. Naidu Art and Cultural Welfare Trust in memory of Freedom Fighter R.S. Naidu at Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha in city recently as Sanjhi Artist S.F. Huseni, Freedom Fighter M.R. Ramashesh, Brahmana Association Chairman Raghuram and R.S. Naidu Trust President P.Y. Venkatadri look on.
Mysuru :
Freedom fighter M.R. Ramashesh and Sanjhi Artist S.F. Huseni were conferred with ‘RSN Memorial Award’ at a programme organised by R.S. Naidu Art and Cultural Welfare Trust in memory of freedom fighter R.S. Naidu at Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha in city recently.
Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Chairperson Rehana Banu said, “Many artists across the country have contributed in their respective fields despite lack of encouragement and recognition. They should be lauded for their commitment and passion. We should encourage the artists through felicitation programmes.”
After the award function, Indu Shekhar and Troupe presented a musical programme.
Renowned artists of Mysuru and Bengaluru sang the old film songs sung by P.B. Sreenivas, S.P. Balasubramanyam, P. Susheela, S. Janaki and others. They even sang the songs from the movies of Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Vishnuvardhan and Puttanna Kanagal.
The following songs were sung on the occasion: ‘Hindusthanu endu mareyada…’ from the movie Amrutha Ghalige, ‘Snehada kadalalli…’, ‘Aseya bhava olavina jeeva’, ‘Karunada thayi’, ‘Haadu haleyadaadarenu’, ‘Jeeva veene needu midithada sangeetha’, which made the audience to travel down the memory lane.
Mike Chandru compered the musical programme.
Singers including Indrani Anantharam, CFTRI Krishnamurthy, KEB Gangadhar, Srinivas Hemanth, Vijayanand, Joyce Peters, Anantharam, Kiran Kumar, Geethalakshmi Keni, Vijay Manasa and others took part in the function.
R.S. Naidu Art and Cultural Welfare Trust President P.Y. Venkatadri and Trustee M.K. Ramesh; K. Raghuram, Chairman, Brahmana Association; Mysuru Anand and Parthasarathy were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday – March 04th, 2015
Ricky Kej (L) and Wouter Kellerman of Winds of Samsara pose with their trophy that they won in the new age album category at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. / AP
India-based Ricky Kej’s collaborated album Winds Of Samsara won the Best New Age Album trophy at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards here.
Ricky teamed up with South African musician Wouter Kellerman for the album, which symbolises peace and harmony.
The website of the album describes the project as a “truly global effort”, which draws inspiration from two cultures. The music of the album blends in the creative influences of the cultures to generate a sound of calmness and positivity.
Other albums nominated in the category were Bhakti by Paul Avgerinos, Ritual by Peter Kater and R. Carlos Nakai, Symphony Live In Istanbul by Kitaro and In Love And Longing by Silvia Nakkach and David Darling.
Neela Vaswani poses with the award for best children’s album for “I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World” at the 57th annual Grammy Awards, in Los Angeles on Sunday. / AP
Another Indian artist to make it big at the awards this year was Neela Vaswani. She won the trophy in the Best Children’s Album category for I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai). Vaswani narrated the audio version of the book.
However, sitarist and daughter of the late sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, Anoushka, who was nominated for her album Traces of You in the Best World Music Album category lost out to Angelique Kidjo’s album Eve.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> International / IANS / Los Angeles, February 09th, 2015
Dr Baba Adhav, veteran activist and president of Mahatma Phule Samata Pratishthan, Pune, will be honoured with the “Rashtriya Basava Krishi Award-2015”.
The award, constituted by Lingayata Panchamasali Jagadguru Mahapeetha of Kudalasangama, will be presented to Adhav at the fifth Krishi Sankranti at Kudalasangama on January 15, said Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya Mahaswami of Kudalasangama Lingayata Panchamasali Jagadguru Maha Peetha here on Saturday. The award carries Rs 50,000 in cash and a citation. Agriculture ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka will be present at the award presentation function, he told reporters.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubballi / TNN /January 11th, 2015
Mohan Manoraj from Mysuru was consecrated and installed as the Bishop of the Church of South India (CSI) in Karnataka Southern Diocese recently.
He was installed at a ceremony organised by the CSI Moderator G. Dyvasirvadam at CSI Shanthi Cathedral, Balmatta, in Mangaluru.
During the ceremony, followed by a short procession, the moderator consecrated the new Bishop by presenting a copy of Bible and the Pastoral Staff. Prayers were sung and various religious rituals were performed as the new Bishop was installed. During his address, Bishop Mohan Manoraj said: “In the past, there was a belief that Bishop leads the people, now things are different. Where there are people of God, there will be a Bishop. He is for common man, who is nearer to God.”
About Mohan Manoraj:
Mohan Manoraj, born in 1954, is a postgraduate in Sociology from University of Mysore, Bachelor of Divinity KTC (SSC) and M.Th Social Analysis TTS (SSC). In his previous assignment, he was the Priest of Sawday Church in Mysuru. He has served as Vice-President of Karnataka Southern Diocese (KSD) and Convenor of Socio-Economic Concern Committee, KSD. He has worked in various posts in Synod level as well. At present, he works as guest lecturer at Karnataka Theological College in Mangaluru.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday , December 24th, 2014
Time warp: In striking contrast to nearby Cambridge Layout, Murphy Town resists change and remains the settlement that was planned a century ago. Photo: Karan Ananth / The Hindu
Once called ‘a settlement too good for its inhabitants’, Murphy Town retains many of its century-old amenities
Sahayaraj, a 49-year-old driver, stays in a single bedroom house near Indiranagar, paying rent of Rs. 3 per month to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). So does 85-year-old Sivalingam, who works in the 125-year-old temple in his area, after having retired from the Army 25 years ago. Their neighbour pays only Rs. 0.50 a month for a slightly smaller house.
There are 37 such households living in what is perhaps the most unchanged legacy of the erstwhile Cantonment — Murphy Town. In striking contrast to the modern Cambridge Layout part of Jogupalya, Murphy Town is a settlement that stays true to its colonial past.
“My grandfather came here with the British army contingent from Vellore,” recalls Sivalingam. “Then, in 1913, Engineer Murphy, who went on to work for Binny Mills, designed this settlement for the Indian servants of the British army.”
LOADED WITH AMENITIES
Famously called ‘a settlement too good for its inhabitants’ by the colonial masters, Murphy Town retains many of its century-old amenities, which residents continue to use.
For starters, there is the Murphy Town market, well known for its meat sales all over east Bangalore. Shops assigned for chicken, mutton, fish and other meats are arranged around a square. A separated section sells beef.
35-year-old Mani has been cutting and selling meat here almost all his life. “I came here to work as a little boy. My parents were factory workers who got quarters in Murphy Town,” he narrates. Visitors to the market can also make use of the reading room set up by the State government in a stone building at the centre of the market.
“The State library is on the other side, occupying a whole floor of a corporation complex in Jogupalya,” says Kokilakshmi, the librarian. “But, many people, even the policemen who come to the grounds nearby, come here to read as the building is spacious, comfortable and well lit.”
OWNERSHIP ISSUES
“From what I remember, there is almost nothing that has changed in this area. Even the drainage system we use today was laid by the British,” Mani adds.
The rentals too stay at what was fixed by the British administration. “Once the country became independent, residents went to Murphy and demanded that they be given ownership of the houses,” Sahayaraj narrates. “Some 37 of them were left without papers and we are stuck, unable to do anything with our houses or sell them.”
But, does he want to sell his house and move out? His answer is an assertive no. “Nobody ever leaves this area. Some have built apartments on their sites and rented them out,” Sahayaraj says, pointing to a freshly painted three-storeyed building beside the row of single-storeyed houses with tiled roofs.
So, why the necessity to own a house when the rental is negligible? Karmegavannan, a political worker in the area, has a political explanation to the question. “They are still considered migrants when they go for services to government or other establishments. People treat them as if they are living on the charity of the government even though they are perhaps older residents of the city than many others,” he explains. “Getting legal documentation for their house strengthens their position.”
Karmegavannan has been living in Murphy Town since his childhood. He remembers visiting Jogupalya village to watch movies in the ‘tent theatre’ there, before Adarsha or Lido cinemas were built. He remembers a time when the Lakshmipuram graveyard was the only feature opposite Murphy Town, where CMH Road is now.
NON-STEREOTYPICAL
“People tend to stereotype the area as having a culture of only temple festivals such as ‘walking on fire’ ceremonies. But, it is actually a beautifully designed area. There are nine squares, with playgrounds in the middle, which are a riot of games in the evenings and on Sundays even today,” he says. “The roads are named after the Mudaliars who were prominent businessmen among the community here.”
“The schools used to be Tamil medium, now they have been converted to Kannada-medium schools,” he points out. One school bears the plaque ‘1913 Elementary School’. A crèche cum primary school also runs nearby. “People who go for construction or domestic work leave their children here,” says Kousalya, a teacher there.
The other school has a dilapidated stone building in the front named ‘the Evelyn Barton Welfare Centre’. Says the principal, M. Muniyappa, “This centre was closed down because the building was considered dangerous.” “Now, the appearance of the building from outside makes a bad impression on parents whose preference to put their children in the numerous English medium schools around gets reinforced.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Niranjana Ramesh / August 08th, 2012
Prof. Shivaram Malavalli, ýResident Chairman of San Francisco – Bangalore Sister City Initiative, has been invited to serve on the Advisory Board of Institute for Drug Delivery and Biomedical Research (IDBR) Bangalore, along with Dr. Michael Repka, Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Mississippi, USA and Dr. Howard Maibach, Professor-Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA by Dr. S. Narasimha Murthy, Founder-Director, Associate Professor-Pharmaceutics, The University of Mississippi, USA.
Institute for Drug Delivery and Biomedical Research (IDBR) is a non-profit research organisation set up to conduct interdisciplinary and advanced research on innovative drug delivery and novel treatment methods. One of the goals of IDBR is to act as a platform for Industry-Academia collaborations. IDBR is open for collaborations with renowned academic institutions, industries and research organisations.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday , November 11th, 2014
Bellary has come to acquire, in the recent years, a pleasing monument in memory of Turkish Prisoners of War (PoW) of the First World War (1914-18).
For nearly a century, hundreds of Turkish prisoners who were brought here in 1918, from the Suez Canal war zone by the British, have rested in the soil of Bellary Cantonment area. Thanks to the interest shown by the Turkish Embassy in Delhi, the
Turkish Martyrs Graveyard stands here now, commemorating their sacrifice for the nation, ten thousand miles away from their motherland.
The memorial raised over nearly two-acre site next to the Bellary Airport, and in the vicinity of Visveswaraiah Institute of Medical Science (VIMS), has a spiral column made in stone over a rectangular platform. Flags of Turkey and India flutter over high masts near the column. The memorial has been aesthetically landscaped with a number of fountains, trees, flower-beds and grass courts, lending it great charm.
Of the two marble-dressed graves in the complex, the memorial plaque on one
of them records the name of the person buried as General Agha Pasha Abdussalam. He is said to have been a prince from the Ottoman ruling family of Turkey.
The plaque mentions his date of demise in Persian as 10th Rajab 1336, of the Islamic Hijri lunar year. It is just 100 lunar years since then as the new Islamic lunar year 1436 started on October 25, 2014. [Note: The lunar century is shorter than Gregorian century by three years.
According to the old-timers, there used to be hundreds of graves of Turkish
soldiers in the area till 1980s. But they vanished as granite slabs were pilfered away and other remains were erased during the expansion of the Bellary Aerodrome.
Haji Abdussalam, a businessman of the Cowl Bazaar, wrote to the Turkish
Embassy in Delhi about the derelict condition of the graves.
Later, former municipal councilor, Haji Adam, took up the case and supervised the construction of the memorial at the direction of the Turkish Embassy in consultation with the Bellary Deputy Commissioner who allocated the site for the memorial.
Historical records say that nearly 2,000 Turkish soldiers taken captive at the Suez Canal were brought to India and lodged at Thane in Maharashtra and the famous Allipuram Jail in Bellary. But it is a mystery as to how so many soldiers died in Bellary.
According to the management of a Muslim graveyard in Banhatti locality, 2.5 km south of the city centre, dozens of graves of Turkish soldiers could be spotted in the graveyard a decade or two ago.
But over a period, granite gravestones were stolen and since the land had to be used and reused, several of these graves have disappeared and only seven or eight of these Turkish graves could still be seen surviving with mortar pillar standing over them.
Satyanarayana Rao, a retired professor of the local Veerashaiva College, says, it is a puzzle as to how such mass graves came to be located in Bellary. According to him, in normal course, so many soldiers could not have died. He says some historical records attribute these to several prisoners being mowed down by a trigger-happy British officer (like General Dwyer in the Jallianwalla Bagh) when they went on a strike at a worksite and knelt while doing namaz. Another report, according to him, links the mass deaths to a plague but adds that the plague struck the area in 1934, while prisoners died in 1918.
Whatever may be the reason, the new Memorial is seen as a picturesque locale for the local folk who come visiting the memorial.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by M.A. Siraj / DHNS-Bangalore, November 11th, 2014
The Gateway Hotel on Residency Road in Bangalore, an iconic hotel located in the heart of the city, turned 25 on October 10.
Catering to the needs of the ‘urban nomad’, the hotel is designed with a ‘green’ theme keeping with the changing trends. As a part of its silver jubilee anniversary celebrations, the hotel has lined up various interactive events and activities for the next 25 days. Ranging from eye-catching rare images of the hotel in the archival corridor to retro music tributes, from classical dance performances to an interactive workshop on movies, the Gateway Hotel celebrates the true essence of the city of Bangalore. Guests will also be treated to an extensive culinary journey featuring the 25 years special celebration menu crafted by Chef Naren Thimmaih which pays ode to the city of Bangalore.
Speaking on the milestone, Prabhat Verma, COO, The Gateway Hotels and Resorts said, “The Gateway Hotels and Resorts are full service upscale hotels and resorts in the South Asia offering consistent, quick and crisp service for travelers seeking contemporary experiences. From 1989 to today, the hotel has gone through a host of changes while remaining true to the spirit of the brand Gateway by delivering the brand promise of welcome perfection.
“As an iconic landmark in the cultural hub of the city, it is a property which has grown along with Bangalore, playing host to numerous dignitaries, film thespians and artists. Needless to say, we remain grateful to the support we have received from our guests and patrons and look forward to a brighter future,” said Albert Rebello, general manager, The Gateway Hotel.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Bangalore / by Saswati Mukherjee, TNN / October 10th, 2014
