2nd Mysorean to take over as Round Table India President
Mysore :
The ‘Change over Banquet’ of the Round Table India will be held in Mysore for the first time in the history of the city.
The function will be held tomorrow (July 19) at Hotel Lalitha Mahal Palace here at 7 pm during which city businessman Tr. Harish Shenoy, member, Mysore Heritage Round Table-109, will be sworn-in as the National President of Round Table India.
This is for the second time that a Mysorean will be taking over as the National President of Round Table India.
Tr. Harish Shenoy will be taking over the post from Tr. Vineet Parikh, member of Round Table-40, Ahmedabad.
Earlier, city-based industrialist Tr. Ashwinni Kumar Hemdev of Darshan Flexibles Private Limited, member of Mysore Round Table-21, became the first Mysorean to take charge as the National President of Round Table India in the year 2011-12, which was also the Golden Year of Round Table India.
More than 300 delegates from all over India will be taking part in the event.
The delegates will be staying at Lalitha Mahal Palace, Windflower Resorts & Spa and Hotel Regaalis during their visit to Mysore.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 18th, 2013
He has been collecting Indian currency from the time he was a 15-year-old boy. Today, he has a priceless collection, which he says “is more valuable than his kids”.
Rezwan Razack , Managing Director, Prestige Group
His is a familiar name among the realtors in the city. His name is on most buildings dotting the urban skyline of Bangalore. Rezwan Razack is a busy man, yet he makes time for his hobby, collecting notes, which began when he was a teenager. Even after 40 years his passion for currency remains evergreen. “I don’t do metal. I am an Indian notes specialist,” says Razack.
The love for “notes” was triggered when he found a Rs 5 note in his granddad’s house with Reserved Bank of India printed on it. What made this note special and which piqued Razack’s interest was a seal on the note that said: Pakistan note payment refused. “I couldn’t understand why an Indian note had a Pakistan seal. That aroused my curiosity to find out what it was all about,” he says. Apparently, Pakistan didn’t have their own currency but had an arrangement with the RBI to use Indian currency with an over-print that said Government of Pakistan in English and Hukkumat of Pakistan in Urdu. The notes were printed in the Nasik press; till June 1948. Some people would use a blade to erase the over-print. When it came for encashment the banks were looking for the serial numbers. Instead of tearing it up, banks would put a rubber stamp and say Pakistan note payment refused.
That was the beginning of Razack’s life-long dalliance with notes. “After this I got a good starter kit from my cousin in Coonor,” he says about the time when he received 30 notes from his cousin.
“Traditionally, not many people collected money because paper disintegrates over a long time. But I do because of the satisfaction it gives me. It is a stress buster to find out the history behind each note.” Razack collects only Indian currency notes. He has around 1,000 in his collection, valued “priceless,” he says. “To me, it’s a national treasure of notional value. It’s more valuable than my kids.” Razack collects his notes at auction houses, cut note dealers and even from relatives and friends.
One of the oldest notes in the world is a Rs 100 Indian currency from 1812, and you can find it in Razack’s collection. It bears the serial number 108. He also has a note with a serial number 10.02.58, which also happens to be his birth date. “I don’t chase the notes, they come to me,” he says.
Razack preserves his notes first in a Mylar holder before storing them in albums. He also has a curator to help him with his collection because, he says, “it is important to have a curator to keep a tab on the notes collected and preserved”.
“My family thinks I’m crazy,” he says. “My shopaholic daughter says that I should spend all this money on her retail therapy and not notes.”
As Razack’s hobby started many years ago, he did not pay a fortune for these. He says, “For a Rs 10,000 note, I would have paid Rs 15,000, but today, it would cost close to Rs 5 to 6 lacs. It’s like buying land.” But, one wrong bend or fold can devalue the note. It has to be handled with care. “If you’re not mad, you can’t do this. You have to be obsessed. This is my stressbuster. Each note is a learning experience.”
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Wellness> You> Story / by Khushali P Madhwani / Sunday, July 14th, 2013
Rahul Gupta has written 22 international research papers. During his Manipal days, the engg student never topped in class but recently got a call from the more famous MIT to present papers
An Information Technology student who was never a topper in terms of grades and marks has penned 22 international research publications on business analytics, artificial intelligence and information retrieval. Rahul Gupta, who has just completed his engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, is likely to surpass the current record in the Limca Book of Records for the highest number of research papers written by an undergraduate student. Official confirmation from Limca records is expected soon.
“Teachers tend to judge students on their ability to score high marks. It should be discouraged,” Gupta, the first in the family to take up engineering, said. His parents, Rajendra Gupta and Gayatri Gupta, are government servants. “I have covered a whole range of marks by getting a meagre GPA of 5.5 out of 10 in first semester to 9.9 out of 10 in the eighth semester. I believe that marks can never define the ability of student,” Gupta said.
Research and development is Gupta’s passion and he has won several awards in this field. He has already given 35 technical presentations all across the country and was invited by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA to present two research papers last week.
Last year, he was called to Cape Town, South Africa to present his innovative software which was in a form of a research paper. His papers have been published in leading science organisations and journals like IEEE, Springer and ASME and he is credited with being the youngest in the reviewing team for many science journals and international conferences.
“Engineering was a platform to learn something new each day,” Gupta, who is from Jaipur, said. “My attendance in every subject was close to 100 per cent which is rare in an engineering course. Attending lectures was never a burden and it helped me realise that there is so much more to explore in artificial intelligence, which is my main field of research. Of the total 22 research papers that I have published in last two years, I was first author in 21 of the papers. Labs and practical sessions are of great interest. In the last two years, working late night in labs was my favourite way to spend time. I mostly used to be alone. ”
The two papers co-authored by Gupta which were presented at the Sixth International Conference of MIT’s Learning International Networks Consortium (LINC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts last week were: A Satellite EDUSAT: ‘Changing the State of Education in India’, and ‘E-learning: Enabling the Differently Able People in India’.
The papers he presented this year include: ‘Stock Market Prediction Accuracy Analysis Using Kappa Measure’ at the International Conference on Communication Systems and Network Technologies (CSNT) held at Gwalior from April 6 to 8 and ‘Working mechanism of Sponsored Search using a new algorithm to calculate CTR’ at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Soft Computing (AISC) held in Bangalore from February 18 to 20.
Record research
Rahul Gupta is likely to erase V P Sree Divya’s feat of 16 international and national level research publications from the Limca Book of Records. Divya, a BTech graduate from Sri Nidhi Institute of Science and Technology (SNIST), Hyderabad, had seven more in the pipeline when she entered the record books. Eleven of her published works were presented at international conferences and three in journals of international repute.
The two papers co-authored by Gupta which were presented at the Sixth International Conference of MIT’s Learning International Networks Consortium (LINC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts last week were: A Satellite EDUSAT: ‘Changing the State of Education in India’, and ‘E-learning: Enabling the Differently Able People in India’.
The papers he presented this year include: ‘Stock Market Prediction Accuracy Analysis Using Kappa Measure’ at the International Conference on Communication Systems and Network Technologies (CSNT) held at Gwalior from April 6 to 8 and ‘Working mechanism of Sponsored Search using a new algorithm to calculate CTR’ at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Soft Computing (AISC) held in Bangalore from February 18 to 20.
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Cover Story / by Deepthi Shridhar, Mangalore / Saturday – June 29th, 2013
Dharwad Rangayana has embarked on a novel project titled Ranga Granthayana wherein it will collect the drama books and other books related to theatre from houses and maintain them in the library.
Rangayana director Subhas Narendra on Tuesday said the Rangayana is aiming to set up a full-fledged library at its premises to give a boost for new experiments in the field of theatre.
As part of this, it will launch the Ranga Granthayana. The Rangayana members and artistes will go to the doorsteps of people asking them to donate rare theatre books. Narendra said, the new generation does not have any idea of the books bought by their forefathers and many households have stacked them in book shelves. If these books are donated to Rangayana, a full-fledged library could be set up and the plays that have not been staged could be considered for performance.
Sulochana Kotur has donated as many as 250 books, while Shahshidhar Narendra has given more than 50 books to Rangayana.
Recently at the Ranga Samaj meeting, the state government was urged to hand over the Kannada and Culture Department library to Dharwad Rangayana. The government has positively responded to the plea and has handed over the library to the Rangayana, Narendra informed.
Now, the books donated by the theatre personalities and writers would be stored here. This project would begin from this week, he added.
Narendra said, the Rangayana was involving people from all walks of life in its activities in different capacities. Already, training camps for school, college children has been organised and now,
Rangayana would be holding a month-long theatre training camp from Thursday for the inmates of Beggars Rehabilitation Centre located at Rayapur.
The centre has 150 inmates and the theatre artistes would identify the inmates interested in theatre works and train them in dramatics. At the end of the camp those trained will stage a play.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> News / by BS Reporter / Dharwad – July 02nd, 2013
Dr. Parpia with Andal Siddharthachary during “Save People’s Park” protest when he was 90 years young.
By Bhamy V. Shenoy, Convenor, MGP
How many top scientists we can identify in Mysore who after having achieved the pinnacle of success will take up the equally important role of questioning the status quo in our society and fight for the much-needed reform? But for Dr. H.A.B. Parpia, I have not come across any such person in Mysore.
With his passing on July 9 at the age of 91 years, Mysore has lost a great social worker with many outstanding qualities.
Just two weeks before his demise, he was busy writing letters to different authorities on the justification for awarding high grade to Amity University by NAAC. Since one year, he was collecting information on the amount of money spent on different Ministers in Karnataka using RTI.
Parpia was pushing the MGP members to publish an article using the information before the recent Assembly election so that voters can elect the right candidates.
He was very much agitated about the corruption in high places. He had gathered volumes of information through RTI on this issue and was very serious in exposing this malady in our democracy.
As an educationist, he constantly questioned the rote learning and examination oriented education system. He was involved in the management of People’s Education Trust (PET) as its Founder-President.
PET must have helped several hundred poor students from different parts of Mysore. He took active part in promoting education reform.
It was because of Parpia’s efforts as a member of MGP education committee that today students in Karnataka are able to get their answer sheets back to make sure they have been evaluated correctly.
Dr. Parpia was also instrumental in convincing the Education Department to stop announcing ranks based on public examination marks. He never believed that examination marks are the true indicator of one’s capacity. It is unfortunate that private schools/coaching centres are again highlighting “ranks” to promote themselves.
He constantly worried about the worsening traffic situation in Mysore. Whenever there was a new Police Commissioner he gave a lot of information which he had collected from different countries on how to improve traffic conditions. Because of his initiative, NIE conducted the first scientific traffic study of Mysore.
Soon after Bangalore Agenda Task Force was constituted, he wrote a vision paper for Mysore to convince the then Chief Minister S.M. Krishna to have a Mysore Agenda Task Force (MATF). He succeeded. He was one of the most active members of MATF constantly pushing the bureaucrats to improve governance.
Having spent one year in Sevagram serving Mahatma Gandhi, he imbibed many qualities (punctuality, men toring young talents, courtesy to all, never exceeding time allotted to deliver talks, etc.) at a young age.
Parpia never hesitated to stand for principles even if he was the only one in the group and consequences could work against him.
During Ayodhya riots in the city, Dr. Parpia took an active part to bring about peace in the city. Fighting for religious harmony and to get rid of casteism in the society remained his cherished goals till the last.
One of his great contributions to promote activism in Mysore was the role he played during the start of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) and also later as it took up civic issues. He never hesitated to call a spade a spade. He was never afraid to expose corruption even at the highest levels. This made him an unpopular figure in several government offices and also educational institutions.
Because of his scientific background, Dr. Parpia had the unusual talent of identifying the strategic factors needed for bringing about any reform.
A mantra he used to chant for any activist group (MGP, MATF, PET, etc.) he was involved, was that we need a sound policy, a good strategy and well thought-out plan of action to bring about any reform.
In Mysore today, sincere activists receive less gratitude than they deserve for the good they do. But Dr. Parpia soldiered on without worrying about bouquets or brickbats. Mysore will miss him.
Years to come, Mysore will be recalling the great service Dr. Parpia has rendered in the areas of education, traffic, environmental protection and above all governance.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Bhamy V. Shenoy, Convenor, MGP / July 11th, 2013
Braving all odds, Jyoti Rangaswamy, wife of Rangaswamy, a resident of B.B. Keri on Pulakeshi Road and daughter of Pourakarmika couple Armugam and Parvathi, has bagged 5 gold medals and 2 cash prizes in the Mysore University Convocation held on Friday.
Jyoti Rangaswamy achieved the feat by topping in MA (Economics) .
Jyoti is said to be the first from the Pourakarmika community to achieve this feat, thus bringing glory to her family and as well as to the Economics Department of the University.
Jyoti now intends to pursue doctorate degree and make a career in teaching.
Bags gold in B.Sc
Anjali, a B.Sc student of St. Philomena’s College in city, has secured Annapoorna Kamath Memorial Gold Medal at the Mysore University Convocation held at Crawford Hall here on July 5. She is the daughter of C. Pradeep Kumar and Sheetal Goel, residents of Sri Shivarathreeshwara Nagar, Bannimantap ‘B’ Layout.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 07th, 2013
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., America’s trusted source for identifying top doctors, has selected Maywood’s Psychiatry specialist Dr. Murali Rao, an alumnus of Mysore Medical College (MMC) in city, for inclusion in its highly selective list of Regional Top Doctors this year.
Dr. Murali Rao, MD, FAPM, DFAPA, is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at the Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago.
Castle Connolly Top Doctors are selected by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. after being nominated by peer physicians in an online nomination process.
Nominations are open to all board certified MDs and DOs and each year tens of thousands of doctors cast many tens of thousands of nominations.
The honourees are selected from the nominees by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team based on criteria including their medical education, training, hospital appointments, disciplinary histories and more.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 06th, 2013
Chandrakumar Nayak, a Second Division clerk at Forest Department, Ramanagar, is on a mission to enter Guinness Book of World Records by dancing for 15 days non-stop.
Chandrakumar, who started his record attempt in Mysore on a stage erected next to the Palace Anjaneyaswamy Temple on Wednesday, aims to dance continuously for 15 days, during which he takes 15 minutes break once in 8 hours and resumes his dance. A native of Kanakapura, Chandrakumar has donned the Lord Shiva costume and has been dancing to different songs which are composed on Lord Shiva.
Earlier, Chandrakumar had attempted similar record twice by dancing continuously for a week. He will be sending the recorded CD to the Guinness Record officials after completing the attempt.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 05th, 2013
Outgoing City Police Commissioner K.L. Sudheer is seen handing over the baton to Dr. M.A. Saleem, who assumed charge as the new Police Commissioner at the Commissioner’s office in Nazarbad this morning. DCPs Basavaraj Malagathi (extreme left), K.P. Bheemaiah and Prabhashankar are also seen.
Mysore :
Emphasises on accountability, transparency and responsibility among the Police; Assures efficient traffic management
“Accountability, transparency and responsibility will be strictly enforced among the Police personnel of the city to make them more people-friendly,” said City Police Commissioner Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, who assumed charge this morning from his predecessor K.L. Sudheer, who has been posted as Additional Director of Fire Services at Bangalore.
Dr. M.A. Saleem, who has obtained Ph.D in Traffic Management and was serving as Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) in Bangalore, said that traffic problem is not limited to Mysore city alone but is global, because of the rise in population and increase in number of vehicles.
Dr. Saleem, who has undergone a training course in Traffic Management in the US, assured of streamlining the city’s traffic system using the existing infrastructure, after studying the existing system and then holding discussions with the elected representatives, government organisations and NGOs.
Recalling that he had served as the DCP in Mysore city for nine months during 1997-98, the new Police Commissioner said that a lot of changes have taken place since then. I will study the priorities for policing here and then implement schemes if required.
Sudheer thanks efficient colleagues, alert media and co-operative citizenry: Outgoing Commissioner Sudheer, who had served here for one and a half years, said that he could serve Mysore successfully because of the efficient Police personnel, alert media and a co-operative citizenry.
“People of Mysore are very peace-loving; hence we were able to implement ‘people-friendly policing’ in city. The successful conduct of Dasara and other events requiring elaborate Police security is because of the people’s co-operation,” he said.
DCPs Basavaraj Malagathi, K.P. Bheemaiah and Prabhashankar, all ACPs and Inspectors were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 03rd, 2013
Office bearers of Govinda Pai Memorial Committee informed at a press conference held here on Friday June 21, that union petroleum minister, M Veerappa Moily, will be laying the foundation stone for the construction of ‘Gilivindu’, a cultural hub being built as memorial to Rashtrakavi Manjeshwar Govinda Pai. The building, which was conceptualized several years ago, will come up at Manjeshwar in the district where the late poet’s house stands.
“The foundation-laying function will be chaired by MP, P Karunakaran. MLAs, P B Abdul Razack and N A Nellikunnu, zilla panchayat president, Shyamala Devi, district collector, P S Muhammed Sagir, will be among the dignitaries who will grace the function. The project cost of this cultural hub, including museum, open air theatre, indoor theatre and library, has been put at Rs 3.8 crore.
This project will be jointly funded by Kerala and Karnataka state governments besides the central government.
District collector, P S Muhammed Sagir, additional district magistrate, H Dineshan, information officer, K Abdul Rahman, B V Kakkillaya, and others were present at the press conference
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Stephen Kayyar / Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP) / Saturday – June 23rd, 2013
