Category Archives: Records, All

Commonwealth bronze sweetens life for Sakina Khatun

August 4, 2014Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Sakina khatun with the bronze medal she won at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. / The Hindu — Sakina khatun with the bronze medal she won at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. /
The Hindu

Her success is all down to her hard work: coach

Life has not been kind to Sakina Khatun, who won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

In Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium, the 25-year-old Bangalore-based para-athlete lifted a weight of 88.2 kg to finish third in the women’s powerlifting event (Lightweight Group A). It was a success that came after prolonged hardship.

“My parents cried when I broke the news to them on the phone,” she told The Hindu from Glasgow.

Her coach and mentor Farman Basha, who also competed at the Games, faltered in his event on account of an injury, but his delight was enormous. “She has been through a lot. So I’m very happy for her,” he said.

Sakina hails from Basirhat in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. Her mother is a farm labourer while her father, ailing with a serious back condition, is unable to work. “He can’t even walk,” Sakina said. “We don’t have the money for his treatment.”

Afflicted with polio at a young age, she took up swimming on her doctor’s suggestion, learning in ponds in her village before a teacher in school noticed she had an aptitude for it. “Despite steady success at the national level, I was ignored for the 2010 Commonwealth Games team. It left me disheartened and I quit the sport,” she said.

Sakina switched over to powerlifting on the advice of one of her swimming coaches, and in 2010 was directed to Basha. “She wanted to come over to Bangalore to be trained by me,” he said. “She had no money and I couldn’t afford to spend a rupee on her.”

But Sakina found a benefactor in Dilip Majumdar, a businessman who volunteered to support her training. “I’m a girl and my parents were against my leaving home,” she recalled. “But my sponsor managed to convince them.”

“At first, she could only lift around 25 kg,” recalled Basha. “But gradually she improved. Her success is all down to her hard work.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Shreedutta Chidananda / Bangalore – August 04th, 2014

HIEMA presents laptop to IIT-JEE Topper in city

August 4, 2014Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, Alladmin

IIT-JEE topper from city Prasanth is seen receiving the laptop from ACP (Traffic) Prabhakar Bharki as Srinivas- Past Secretary, Subramanian- Secretary, Nagaraj- Past President, Harsha- Treasurer, Jayanth- President, Raghavendra- Past President, Kumar- Vice President, Prakash- Joint Secretary and Harish- Past Secretary look on.

Mysore :

HIEMA (Hebbal Industrial Estate Manufacturers Association) after reports published in SOM that C. Prasanth, son of Chandra Nayaka, a daily wager, who secured 255th rank in IIT-JEE exam wanted financial help, HIEMA approached him to extend financial assistance.

When they approached him, he said that he wanted a laptop which would be of immense help to pursue his studies.

Few industrialists joined together along with HIEMA and purchased the latest HP Laptop with graphic card as Prasanth had opted for Mechanical Branch.

The laptop was presented to him by ACP (Traffic) Prabhakar Bharki at a function organised in city recently.

The industrialists who supported this cause includes Nagesh of Vinay Packings, Jayanth of Sri Sachidananda Industries, Jayanth of Enn Forgings, Raghavendra Raghavan of Baba Industries, Srinivas of Elcap Systems, Nagaraj of Chamundi Electrial Stampings, Subramanian of Deepak Tools Heat Treaters, Satish of Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Siddharth of Thimpson Cables, Prabu and Abhisekh of MGM Computers, Lakshmesh of Global Enterprises, Abhilash of Baba Mechanical Industries and Ghouse of Canara Packings.

Prabhakar Barki Asst. Commissioner of Police (Traffic) presented Laptop to Prasanth.

Jayanth- President welcomed the gathering, Raghavendra- Past President of HIEMA introduced the chief guest while Subramanian- Secretary proposed vote of thanks.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 29th, 2014

Bangalore’s rail connectivity turns 150 years

August 3, 2014Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technology, Traveladmin

A front view of Bangalore City Railway Station some time before it was completed in April 1968.

It has been 150 years since Bangalore appeared on the railway map of India. It was on August 1, 1864 that Jolarpet was connected to Bangalore Cantonment.

According to information provided by South Western Railway, the first train journey in south India took place on May 28, 1856 from Royapuram to Wallajah Road. Eight years later, Madras Railway Company opened the Jolarpettai-Bangalore Cantonment branch line. The Madras-Bangalore Mail was launched the same year.

In 1862, the line reached Renigunta and then to Raichur in 1871.

The Yeshwanthpur-Doddaballapur Meter Gauge line was opened in 1892.

In 1944, the rail network was nationalised. On April 14, 1951, the three major networks administered by the erstwhile Madras and Southern Maratha Railway, the Southern Indian Railway and Mysore State Railway were joined to form Southern Railway.

Due to historical reasons, the headquarters of the erstwhile Mysore State Railway was located in Mysore though Bangalore was the hub of operations. To improve administration and enhance monitoring, Bangalore Division was inaugurated on July 27, 1981.

No rail museum

The city does not have a museum to showcase its rail journey. Till a few weeks ago, memorabilia was being exhibited on Platform One of Bangalore City Railway Station. At present, visitors can go to Platform Five where two galleries exhibit cartoons and paintings related to trains.

The galleries had no visitors on Friday. Staff in both galleries said that visitors show up only when trains are delayed.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Renuka Phadnis / August 02nd, 2014

So few and far between

August 3, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

Tradition prevails: ‘Perfect Peace’, the home of Merlyn and son, Paul D’Souza, is located at Inner Circle, Whitefield. / Photo: K. Murali Kumar / The Hindu

The D’Souzas recall the days when Whitefield’s roadsides were venues for long conversations

Sipping a glass of Mango Fool in the tranquil company of squirrels and birds, in a house that dates back to the early 1900s, can give you a natural high. The house, ‘Perfect Peace’, owned by Merlyn D’Souza, is the quintessence of Inner Circle, Whitefield. It has withstood the test of time amid the onslaught of rapid commercialisation.

The Inner Circle is part of the Anglo-Indian settlement which was set up in 1882 on land granted by the Mysore maharaja. Remnants of the colonial era are reflected in the architectural style of the beautiful garden, high-tiled roof and wooden decor and the antique curios in the house (on cover). Merlyn’s son, Paul Gerard D’Souza, explains that very few houses in the area retain the charm and history of the bygone days.

Paul reminisced about the days when Whitefield was a small community of Anglo-Indians and a trunk call away from Bangalore. “Everybody knew each other in the community,” he recalls. “We often got together in the Whitefield Club and at the Memorial Church.” He fondly remembers the days when there was no traffic in Whitefield and the roadsides were perfect venues for long conversations. He recalls that the Whitefield Club, which was then an exclusive Anglo-Indian body, was a place where one could feel the richness of their culture. “Young and old, from toddlers to grannies, were called for parties and gatherings at the club. There was no age distinction. We always got together as a community,” he says.

With the advent of the IT industry in Bangalore, tech parks have spilled all over the town, changing not just the landscape of the area but also the lives of the old Anglo-Indian settlers. Paul lamented that the Anglo-Indian community in the neighbourhood is nearly nonexistent today. “Whitefield today is associated with the rich and the IT industry. A lot of land is being grabbed for big projects,” he rues. The Inner Circle today has very few houses owned by Anglo- Indians. As Paul says, “There is no other place like this in Bangalore, and I intend to preserve the perfect peace of the Inner Circle.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities. Bangalore / by James Prashanth Lobo & Sandra Marina Fernandes / May 11th, 2011

Champion horse ‘CJ-15’ dies at Pinjrapole

August 3, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sportsadmin

Don’t gallop me up the Hill,

Don’t drop me down the Hill, Don’t spare me on the Plain Ground,

Don’t drop me of the feed, Don’t deprive me of the warm bed

Don’t neglect me when I am sick and old, Don’t forget me when I am dead..

This is the prayer of the horse to its master when it stays with him and acting according to his commands. The horse hopes that his master will look after him even in its old age and shall not be deserted. But, the same was not true in case of ‘CJ-15’, the Champion Horse, which died in Mysore yesterday.

21-year-old ‘CJ-15’ which brought laurels to Mysore and the country by winning national and international medals and trophies died a sad death at Pinjrapole in Mysore.

One of the greatest showing jumping Indian Horse, which served in the Mounted Police in Mysore, was left to die unattended. The Mounted Police which is also responsible to look after the horses after they retire did not do much to look after ‘CJ-15’. It died just two days after being sent to Pinjrapole.

‘CJ-15’ was brought from Clive Stud Farm in Bangalore in the 1993 to Mounted Police and it was trained by former Mounted Police Commandant Maribashetty. It was the 15th horse in the fold and was not considered to be an ideal horse for equestrian sport by the stud owner. But, the horse was brought to Mysore and was professionally trained and it yielded good results by winning numerous medal and trophies both at the national and international level. v‘CJ-15’ retired recently as it had grown old. But, it still had eight good years to live as it was healthy. The sudden death of ‘CJ-15’ has come as a shocker for animal lovers, who have been great fans of the horse which was a show stopper during the Torch Light Parade at the Bannimantap Ground held on the last day of the Dasara festivities. vSpeaking to Star of Mysore, Srinivas, a horse rider, expressed the ‘CJ-15’ was a champion horse which had great fan following in the national level. v“The horse was healthy and fit when I last saw in the Mounted Police premises when I visited to see the newly brought horses. The officials informed me the horse would retire soon as it was old. But, none of them informed they would send the horse to Pinjrapole. The sudden death of CJ-15 has come as a shocker. We never knew that it would be sent to Pinjrapole. The Mounted Police have sufficient space to look after the old horses. If the department had made an announcement at least the horse could have been adopted. The horse deserved a decent death since it was a champion. The last rites of the horse should have been performed with state honours”, said Srinivas.

Listed among the Grade I horse by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), CJ-15 was a great fighter when it came to competitions. Both S.G. Maribashetty and his son Arun Maribashetty have won medals and trophies with CJ-15.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, S.G. Maribashetty, former Commandant, Mounted Police, expressed his condolences to the death of CJ-15 and remembered the days he spent with horse while in service.

“CJ-15 never came back without winning a medal in the competitions it participated. Such was the calibre and efficiency of the horse”, he added.

The saddest part is that ‘CJ-15’ did not get the treatment it deserved. When horses and dogs, which retire after serving the Police Department in western countries are taken care by their trainers or handlers till their death, why that provision is not in India?

The Mounted Police need to come out with an answer as to why ‘CJ-15’ was sent to Pinjrapole when it had the facilities to look after it. Did the Commandant of Mounted Police check for the facilities available at the Pinjrapole before deciding to admit the horse?

With the death of ‘CJ-15’, Mysore City has lost a Champion Horse, which died a inhumane death, all thanks to the Mounted Police. — VNS

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 28th, 2014

Jayalalithaa & Vyjayanthimala : Right Royal Mysore connections

August 2, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

A vintage photograph showing Sandhya (middle row - third from left) at an event in Vanita Sadana, a women’s development institution in Mysore, contemporaneous with Mahila Samaja and Mahila Sadana. — A vintage photograph showing Sandhya (middle row – third from left) at an event in Vanita Sadana, a women’s development
institution in Mysore, contemporaneous with Mahila Samaja and Mahila Sadana.

Sir,

Readers of your curiosity-provoking news report on J. Jayalalithaa’s Mysore roots (SOM dated July 9) may find it interesting to know that her mother Sandhya was a socialite in Mysore, with links to the ruling elite. After leaving Mysore and living for a while in Bangalore, Sandhya settled in Madras and started acting in Tamil films at the instance of her actor-sister Ambujavalli (Vidyavathi).

Sandhya’s pre-screen name was Vedavalli (Vedavathi) and it is said that even Jayalalithaa’s original name was different: it was “Komalavalli.” It is also said that the prefix “Jaya” in the names of her family signifies their association with the Palace.

Jayalalithaa’s grandfather Dr. N. Rangachar, L.M. & S., was a Palace doctor in Mysore and his name is exclusively inscribed on a donation plaque in Mahila Samaja, close to Jayalalithaa’s ancestral residence on 2nd Main Road, Lakshmipuram (the building now houses the Lakshmipuram Sports Club). Dr. Rangachar’s image is also seen in an enchanting mural depicting a group of Durbaris at the Mysore Palace.

This context rekindles memories of the similar, interesting roots of Vyjayanthimala in Mysore. Her mother Vasundhara Devi, a glamorous dancer and Tamil film actress, too, enjoyed direct contacts with the Mysore Royalty. Vasundhara Devi counted the Yuvaraja of Mysore, Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar, among her admirers, and she and her family were part of the Yuvaraja’s contingent that toured Europe in 1939. Vyjayanthimala’s paternal grandfather Dhati Gopalacharya and step-grandmother M.D. Ranganayakamma founded Mahila Sadana on N.S. Road (near Maharani’s High School) in Mysore.

—S.G. Seetharam

on e-mail / Gita Road, Mysore / 17.7.2014

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / July 27th, 2014

Nanaiah to head panel on women’s safety

August 1, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

The 26-member committee has to submit its report within three months

The government has set up a 26-member expert committee, headed by the former Law Minister M.C. Nanaiah, to suggest amendments to the law related to sexual assault cases and enhancement of punishment for the crime.

According to a government release on Wednesday, Mr. Nanaiah will have the Cabinet Minister status. As the chairman of the committee, he enjoys powers to invite opinions and suggestions from experts and officers concerned. The committee is expected to submit its report along with its recommendations within three months from the date of its formation, the release said.

Increase in the incidents of sexual assault on women and children, followed by protests both inside and outside the House, prompted the government to constitute the expert committee comprising legislators, representatives of social organisations and women and children’s organisations, and legal experts.

Legislators Shakuntala Shetty, Y.S.V. Datta, Motamma, Jaimala, Tara, V.S. Ugrappa, Basavaraj Horatti, K.B. Shanappa, Govind Karjol, Tanveer Sait and Vinisha Nero, the former Minister Rani Satish, the former MLC Prafulla Madhukar, Leela Sampige, retired IPS officer Jija Hari Singh, writer Suchitra Rao, journalist Gouri Lankesh, Sangeetha Saxena, Krupa Alwa, Chandramouli and M.R. Hegde are members of the committee apart from four government officials from the departments of Home, and Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / Special Correspondent / Bangalore – July 31st, 2014

They were once tots too: Famous Bishop Cotton Alumni

August 1, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Prestigious schools in the city, Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and Bishop Cotton Girls’ School turn 150. As the schools and the Old Cottonians’ Association celebrate the landmark event through the year, Vidya Iyengar brings you some rare photos of eminent personalities who sat on those benches.

POWERPUFF GIRL J. Jayalalithaa (66) Fatima Jaffer, 68, 7th from left, standing in first row) was a class four student in the early 1950s at the Girls’ School. Her classmate was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who studied only in junior school. “I think she was a good student, though I didn’t know much about her. We studied together for a very short time,” she says. Apparently, Jayalalithaa and Jaffer were admitted to the school on the same day — sometime in January (the term back then was between January and December) On Jayalalithaa’s birthday in February every year, sweets are distributed at the school.

FERTILE MIND Dr Kamini Rao (60) Taken in the garden of the Girls’ School in 1962, this photograph of Dr Kamini Rao, the pioneer in the field of Assisted Reproduction in India, shows her in class two. The photograph was taken on Prize day, when she was awarded five prizes. The bright and ambitious student was allowed to come to school in “colour dress”, she recalls, for her outstanding performance.

CHEMICAL POTENTIAL Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (61) We dug out this picture from the school magazine of the ’60s, which mentions that the Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar was a senior prefect in 1968. She was part of the games committee (hockey). The 1967 records mention that she was also a junior prefect of the school.

A FLAIR FOR DRAMA Gautami Tadimalla (45) A ctress and Kamal Hassan’s partner, passed out in the early ’80s. Gautami Tadimalla studied until high school in Bishop Cotton Girls’ School. She was a boarder at the school because her doctor parents practiced in Vandiperiyar, Kerala.

INFORMATION-BOUND Nandan Nilekani (59) This is a class photograph of Std 5 B from 1965 which was the centenary year of BCBS. Can you spot business tycoon Nandan Nilekani? Recalling his classmate, CN Kumar (first on the last row), remembers Nilekani as a bright student who’d always stand first in class. He joined in class four from St Anthony’s School. He was part of the Pakenham-Walsh house. “He was there until class six or seven after which he went off to Dharwad,” he says.

MIND OF STEEL General Thimayya The late General Thimayya is a soldier of the Indian Army who served as Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961, the years leading up to the conflict with China in 1962. This picture was taken when the general visited the school circa in as CAOS and met with Rev IL Thomas, Warden, BCBS. A few years later, on retirement from the Indian Army, he went on to command the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, where he died of a heart attack (1965).

WINNER Lalit Rai (58) A batchmate of Nandan Nilekani, Lalit Rai was a soldier of the Indian Army, who had the task of capturing the strategic heights of Khalubar in the Batalik sub-sector during Operation Vijay in the Kargil War. He was well-known as a football player. Joining the school in class five, he was there until class 10. He was part of the Pope house. Fun and mischievous is how C N Kumar recalls the colonel.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Columns> Sunday Read / by Vidya Iyengar, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / July 19th, 2014

Snake Shyam featured in UK tabloid

July 31, 2014Amazing Feats, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Reaches 28,000 mark yesterday

Mysore :

City’s noted snake rescuer and wildlife conservationist popularly known as Snake Shyam who has been elected as the Corporator of MCC Ward No. 17 was featured in Daily Mail, a UK tabloid on July 23.

The article in the tabloid says that Snake Shyam, despite being allergic to most anti-venom, catches some of the deadly species in Mysore every day.

It also says that this serpent-lover had been bitten four times and the doctors discovered that their treatments were prompting a severe allergic reaction which could kill him.

That means that Snake Shyam’s next call-out could be his last – but despite the dangers, he refuses to give up.

The article also features photographs of Shyam catching snakes, documenting them, his Maruti Omni Van and video of him catching a snake.

Reaches 28,000 mark yesterday

With the rescue of a Rat Snake at a steel godown in Bannimantap here yesterday, Shyam has so far rescued 28,000 snakes.

Snake Shyam speaking to SOM said that he began catching snakes in 1980 and had not documented them till 1997. He further said that on the advice of some, he began to document the snakes he had rescued from 1997 and has so far rescued 28,000 snakes and released them into their habitat far from urban areas.

He has called upon the people not to kill them, but instead call him on Mob; 94480-69399 and keep a watch on the snake till he arrives.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 25th, 2014

Sri Veena Vani Music School might get into Guinness Book of World Records

July 27, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

City based music institute, Sri Veena Vani Music School (SVMS) located in Banahankari has received a green signal from Guinness Book of World Records’ for its dream of gaining the title of Guinness.

The SVMS is planning for a Carnatic classical keyboard performance in the month of October 2014 and enter the Guinness Book of World Records . The program is to ensemble about 500 key board players, collectively performing the national anthem, national song and a Carnatic piece of music in a western instrument on one stage.

The committee of Guinness Book of World Records has communicated with the city based music school and confirmed the participation of its judges and members and they will be arriving to city in October.

B Gireesh Kumar, president of the school told dna,”We have received the official confirmation of participation from Guinness Book of World Records and asked us to pay the registration and judge fee of 8,700 US dollars. Committee has also confirmed the time for the event and it would be in October,” he said.

After getting inspired by the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records as largest keyboard ensemble created involving 175 keyboard players in USA on July 2013, the city based music school Sri Veena Vani Music School in Banashankari has been aiming to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by playing the western keyboard by over 500 keyboard players and singing Carnatic Classic Music by over 500 singers on the same stage.

Speciality of the event is, an attempt is made to adapt keyboard a full fledge western musical instrument to Carnatic Music and for the first time over 500 keyboard players and 500 Carnatic classical singers will perform on the stage by singing only swara for about 40-45 minutes during the third week of October.

The largest keyboard ensemble consisted of 229 participants and was conducted by M.S. Martin and organized by Sangeetha Sriram at Chennai Trade Centre in Chennai, India, on 16 January 2014. And now Sri Veena Vani music school wants to break that record and want to create such a record in Bangalore with over 1000 musicians including singers and musicians.

Now the school has started this unique model for all keyboard music aspirants who would want to be a part of the event and providing training for age groups from 7-60 years. The lessons are imparted via video, through online modules including Skype and Offline classes and also in the Institute premises, Gireesh added.

source: http://www.dnaindia.con / DNA / Home> Bangalore / Place: Bangalore, Agency: DNA / Monday – July 21st, 2014

Bangalore First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Bengaluru, Kannadigas and all the People of Karnataka – here at Home and Overseas