Category Archives: Records, All

Kalaburagi’s SBR School gears up for a alumni utsav, golden jubilee celebration

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All
A view of Sharnbasveshwar Residential Public School (SBR School) in Kalaburagi. | Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni
A view of Sharnbasveshwar Residential Public School (SBR School) in Kalaburagi. | Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni

Sharanbasveshwar Residential Public School, popularly known as SBR School, is gearing up for its alumni utsav and golden jubilee celebration.Activities are in full swing on the campus of Sharnbasveshwar Vidya Vardhak Sangh (SVVS), the parental body that runs the school, for making the five-day celebration a success. The event is scheduled to begin on November 9. A huge pandal that could accommodate around 5,000 people is being built for the purpose.

The SBR Alumni Association is playing a key role in organising the event. Attempts are on for inviting Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu for inaugurating the event.

Congress Leader in Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge and former Supreme Court judge Shivaraj Patil have consented to be part of the inaugural session. Justice Patil would deliver a special lecture.

Swamy Nirbhayananda Saraswathi from Vijayapura would be the chief guest on the second day. Prominent alumni of SBR who have attained great heights in their careers would share the dais to share their experiences with the audience. Mohan Palesha, Past District Governor of Rotary International from Pune, would address the evening session which would be followed by cultural programmes.

Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamy of Suttur Mutt will be the chief guest on the third day. The heads of major educational institutions in the State, including Prabhakar Kore from Belagavi, Veeranna Charantimath from Bagalakot, M.B. Patil from Vijayapur, Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini from Kalaburagi and Shamanur Shivashankarappa from Davanagere would participate in the morning session. Lavanya Patel, motivational speaker, would address the gathering in the evening.

Siddeshwar Swamy of Vijayapura would be the chief guest on the fourth day.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Kalaburagi – September 29th, 2018

Gangambike is city Mayor, Ramila her deputy

Records, All
Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun and her deputy Ramila Umashankar accept a silver key and an idol of Kempegowda from outgoing Mayor Sampath Raj after the elections on Friday. | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy
Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun and her deputy Ramila Umashankar accept a silver key and an idol of Kempegowda from outgoing Mayor Sampath Raj after the elections on Friday. | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy

The elections were streamed live on television

The race for power that had gripped the State after the ssembly elections echoed in the halls of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) during the mayoral elections on Friday.

After a tussle and much drama, Jayanagar councillor Gangambike Mallikarjun, from the Congress, was elected as Mayor and Kaveripura councillor R. Ramila Umashankar from JD(S) was elected as Deputy Mayor. Ms. Mallikarjun secured 130 votes and Ms. Umashankar bagged 129 votes.

As the elections were being streamed live, citizens were privy to the mayhem that marked the proceedings, which saw members of the BJP and Congress climbing over tables and fighting over independents. The BJP later staged a walkout thus ensuring an unopposed election.

For the first time in 22 years, two women hold the post of mayor and deputy mayor of Bengaluru for the same term. Gangambike Mallikarjun secured 130 votes to be elected as the city’s 52nd Mayor while R. Ramila Umashankar became the 53rd Deputy Mayor with 129 votes.

Before the polls were held, the BJP had claimed stake for the top posts and attempted to swing the votes of five independent councillors, which would have tilted the balance towards its nominees. Sensing this, the Congress had shifted six independent councillors to a private resort on the outskirts of the city on Thursday night. They were escorted by Congress councillors to the BBMP council on Friday where a tussle over them became apparent.

Tug-of-war for independents

Independent Anand Kumar, who had reportedly joined the BJP camp, was escorted into the BBMP by BJP MLAs R. Ashok and Satish Reddy. However, Congress councillors managed to grab Mr. Kumar and drag him to where they were sitting.

As BJP members tried to ‘rescue’ him, Congress members formed a defensive shield around him. Undeterred, a few BJP members tried to get to him by standing on tables in the council hall.

Members of the Congress and BJP almost came to blows. This prompted the Regional Commissioner to repeatedly remind them that the proceedings were being watched live by citizens.

Among the absentees were Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.N. Ananthkumar.

BJP stages a walkout

The BJP had fielded Shobha Anjanappa from Padmanabhanagar ward and Pratibha Dhanraj from Dharmarayaswamy Temple ward for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Opposition Leader Padmanabha Reddy once again sought the removal of four voters — MP Jairam Ramesh, and MLCs V.S. Ugrappa, Ragu Achar and C.R. Manohar — as they had been elected from other districts.

However, when the Regional Commissioner did not disqualify their votes, the disgruntled BJP members, led by MP P.C. Mohan and Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, staged a walkout.

This ensured an unopposed election.

Women hold both posts

The last time two women held the posts of mayor and deputy mayor was in 1996. At the time, Padmavathy Gangadhar Gowda was elected as Mayor and Venkatalakshmi as the Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun is a two-time councillor from Jayanagar ward (Chikpete Assembly constituency). She is the first member of the Lingayat community to hold the post in over 30 years. The last time a councillor belonging to the Lingayat community was elected mayor was in 1985-86.

Sources in the BBMP council said this was one of the considerations before Gangambike’s name was finalised for the top post.

Deputy mayor R. Ramila Umashankar from the JD(S) is a councillor from Kaveripura ward (Govindarajanagar Assembly constituency).

Disrespect to national anthem

Both the BJP and Congress accused each other of hijacking an independent councillor from their camp. The war of words continued even when the national anthem was being played.

It was only when television channels trained their cameras on the warring members did they realise that the national anthem was being played and stood at attention.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / September 28th, 2018

Young farmers feted as Krishi Mela ends

Agriculture, Education, Records, All
Young progressive farmers and farm women who were felicitated on the concluding day of Krishi Mela in Dharwad on Tuesday.
Young progressive farmers and farm women who were felicitated on the concluding day of Krishi Mela in Dharwad on Tuesday.

Farmers told to adopt the art of climate-smart farming

The four-day Krishi Mela organised by University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, concluded here on Tuesday with lakhs of people, mainly farmers from across the State and elsewhere, visiting the agricultural fair and benefiting from it. According to a release from UAS, Dharwad, 16.65 lakh farmers, farm women, extension scientists, officers of various departments and students benefited from the fair organised with an objective of dissemination of information on the advancements in the field of agriculture.

While 547 quintals of various seeds for rabi season worth ₹ 20 lakh were sold during the Krishi Mela, 1,820 farmers visited the consultancy cell individually to seek solutions for various farm-related problems.

The maximum consultancies during the period were on plant protection followed by agronomy and horticulture crops. The UAS also sold publications worth ₹ 1.87 lakh and 1.64 lakh organic inputs.

As it has been a practice, on the concluding day, various progressive young farmers and young farm women from different districts in the region were felicitated. They subsequently shared their experiences with other farmers.

Honouring the award winners, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner M.N. Nagaraj lauded the work of UAS and said that in the days of climate change, farmers should adopt farm technologies and the art of climate-smart farming.

The former MLA Chandrakanth Bellad stressed on the need for value addition to crops to make farming viable and rewarding. The former Vice-Chancellor of UAS, Dharwad, J.V. Goud stressed on the transfer of technology.

Presiding over the function, Vice-Chancellor of UAS, Dharwad, M.B. Chetti said that the awards were aimed at making the young farmers adopt newer technologies.

“In the coming years, the university will strive to attract more and more youths to take up innovative technologies,” he said.

On the concluding day of the mela, a special programme too was organised for the benefit of farmers on institutional support and support price provided by various financial and government institutions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Dharwad – September 26th, 2018

Winners of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology 2018 announced

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology

Dr Aditi Sen De is the only female winner this year

On the occasion of its foundation day, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has put out the list of recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology for 2018.

Every year, several scientists below the age of 45 are selected from various institutions across the country and awarded for their outstanding scientific work in the last five years.

Here is the full list of winners this year in various categories

Category Winner Affiliation
Biological Sciences Dr Ganesh Nagaraju IISc Bengaluru
Dr Thomas Pucadyil IISER Pune
Chemical Sciences Dr Rahul Banerjee IISER Kolkata
Dr Swadhin Kumar Mandal IISER Kolkata
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences Dr Madineni Venkat Ratnam National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Tirupati
Dr Parthasarathi Chakraborty CSIR-NIO, Goa
Engineering Sciences Dr Amit Agrawal IIT Bombay
Dr Ashwin Anil Gumaste IIT Bombay
Mathematical Sciences Dr Amit Kumar IIT Delhi
Dr Nitin Saxena IIT Kanpur
Medical Sciences Dr Ganesan Venkatasubramanian NIMHANS, Bengaluru
Physical Sciences Dr Aditi Sen De Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad
Dr Ambarish Ghosh IISc Bengaluru

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech / by The Hindu Net Desk / September 26th, 2018

Infosys gets $80.3 million contract from Canadian firm

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
The logo of Infosys is pictured inside the company's headquarters in Bengaluru. File | Photo Credit: Reuters
The logo of Infosys is pictured inside the company’s headquarters in Bengaluru. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

The new platform will enable PSPC to purchase various goods and services through a single portal.

Infosys Public Services on Monday announced that it has been awarded a computer-aided design contract worth $80.3 million by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to modernise and automate their procurement processes.

IPS is working with Ernst & Young and SAP Canada to digitise PSPC procurement system through the implementation and management of a cloud-based electronic procurement solution. The new solution will provide an intuitive, web-based portal for PSPC and its suppliers to access procurement information and services in both English and French, according to a company statement.

The new platform will enable PSPC to purchase various goods and services through a single portal, easily configure specific requirements, and access data, reporting, and analytics information in real-time to support more effective decision-making.

Based on the experience within PSPC, the government will determine whether to expand the solution to other federal departments and agencies. Provincial and municipal organizations will later be offered an option to use this new platform to streamline their procurement processes and reduce the administrative burden while engaging with more than 183,000 government suppliers.

As the prime system integrator, Infosys will implement the SAP-based solution and set up a network that provides tier 1, 2 and 3 support services. EY Canada will facilitate the design and deployment of future state processes and enabling technology to support the PSPC procurement modernization agenda. EY Canada will also provide change management and training support as the program gets rolled out.

“Navigating their programs and services to a digital future requires organizations to not only identify the right technologies to implement but also to enable them quickly and at scale,” said Eric Paternoster, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys Public Services.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Business> Industry / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – September 24th, 2018

Udupi’s Shilpa Bhat selected as Google Indie Accelerator Mentor

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Shilpa oversees production of game titles at 99Games including Game Design, Development and Analytics.

Shilpa Bhat
Shilpa Bhat

Udupi :

Shilpa Bhat, Vice President – Games, 99Games is the only woman gaming expert from India chosen by Google to mentor Indies across APAC region at Google’s Indie Games Accelerator programme to be held at Singapore on September 24. The term ‘Indie’ is used to refer to promising and upcoming gaming companies across the world.

Indie Games Accelerator is a four month programme for top indie game start ups from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam who are looking to supercharge their growth on Android.

Mentorship sessions will cover a broad variety of game topics including technical development, design, gameplay, user retention, user acquisition, monetization and team leadership.

There will be personalised mentorship from top experts from Google and the gaming industry during this programme. Shilpa will be leading five mentorship sessions around a comprehensive gaming curriculum across Game Development including design best practices, Google Platforms (Android Studio, AR Core, Firebase, Google Cloud, Instant Games), Unity.

Shilpa who hails from Ajjarakad in Udupi is a Computer Engineering (BTech) from MIT, Manipal. Participants of the programme will have access to leading game experts from Google as well as from leading game studios and institutions around the world.

Shilpa told TNIE: “Having started as an indie studio ourselves, it is my privilege to be considered as a mentor for other Indies by Google. The Indie Accelerator programme is an excellent initiative and I look forward to participating in it, interacting with upcoming indies, sharing my knowledge and learning from their experienc.” Shilpa also said her most fierce critic is her 11-year-old daughter Tanya who does not hesitate in giving her unbiased opinion on games under development.

Shilpa oversees production of game titles at 99Games including Game Design, Development and Analytics. She started her career as OpenGL developer and has 16 years of industry experience. She has led the production of stand out hits like Dhoom:3 The Game, Sultan: The Game and Star Chef. Star Chef, is the best monetised global game from an Indian developer.

Rohith Bhat, CEO of 99Games told TNIE: “9Games has created a name for itself by creating successful mobile games for female gamers across the globe. Now that mobile games are becoming popular in India as well, we are thrilled that Shilpa has been chosen by Google as the only female mentor from India to groom indie studios from across Asia.”

99Games is India’s leading developer and publisher of games of international standards for Global and Indian consumers. It takes pride in creating India’s most successfully monetised game ‘Star Chef’ and one of India’s most downloaded game ‘Dhoom:3 The Game’. 99Games has published over 22 game titles and has clocked in more than million downloads globally till date. It has a unique growth strategy of addressing the global and Indian market.

With a highly experienced and stable management team working collaboratively for over five years and a team of 85, 99Games is considered as thought leaders in the Indian gaming industry. 99Games has raised multiple rounds of investments from quality institutional investors – Dream Incubator, Kalaari Capital and Ascent Capital.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prakash Samaga, Express News Service / September 25th, 2018

A course for men to share, care, and cook

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All
The workshop is conducted by Murali Mohan Kati. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The workshop is conducted by Murali Mohan Kati. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Workshop aims to ‘provide young men the space to reflect on their lives and gain new perspectives’

Ever since he became a father a year ago, 33-year-old graphic designer Narayan has been reflecting on his role at home and traditionally assigned gender roles. Is his duty limited to being the sole provider for the family?

In his endeavour to seek answers and discover facets of himself, he has signed up for a weekend course, simply titled ‘Reserved for Men’. The two-month course aims to ‘provide young men the space to reflect on their lives as men and gain new perspectives’.

Participants will also be taught skills and values usually assigned to women: they will learn how to share, care and cook.

“The very fact that there is such a course speaks volumes on social mores and gender roles. But I’m excited and look forward to the course,” said Narayan.

The course is being taught at Baduku Community College, which is part of Samvada, an organisation that works with youth from marginalised groups and offers flexible course formats in subjects such as sustainable agriculture and waste management. Murali Mohan Kati, the principal of the college whose brainchild it is, said the idea of running such a course took root many years ago, but became reality only after he experienced fatherhood. It gave him new perspectives on gender roles.

“Globally, the focus is now shifting towards sensitising men. Masculinity is at the root of many problems in the social sphere, including trolls issuing rape threats on social media. Masculine studies is taking a big leap in gender studies academically as well. We are trying to help a set of men reflect on their lives,” Mr. Kati said.

Vineeth R., an economics lecturer who has signed up for the course, said that every time he washes up after dinner, he hears a little voice in his head telling him it’s not his job.

“I often see myself as helping my wife. That’s wrong. Doing the dishes is my responsibility as well. But the conditioning is too hard. I hope I gain a clearer perspective on this through the course,” he said.

‘Reserved for men’ will also equip men with skill sets to help them lead a more fulfilling life.

Mr. Kati gave the example of the simple act of expressing one’s emotions. The stoic man who does not indulge in sharing his feelings is a common cultural stereotype. To counter this, the course will enlist psychologists and relationship counsellors who will teach participants how to create a space conducive to talking about their feelings.

Group activities and theatre workshops will be tools to help men empathise with the women in their lives.

Participants will have to bring a female member of their family – a partner, mother, sister – during the last two weekends. “Many youth in their 20s face issues with their mothers and start screaming at them. They are even clueless about menopause,” Mr. Kati said.

To maintain diary

Those attending the course – men in the age group of 21 and 40 – will maintain a diary recording their reflections. “By the end of eight weeks, if they begin questioning themselves and their role even in small everyday tasks, the course will be a success,” he added.

The course will start from September 22 and will be held for a duration of eight weekends for Rs. 1,000.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj / Bengaluru – September 21st, 2018

A film fest to mark 100th Tulu film

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

KCA to hold regional film festival in Mangaluru

Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) is holding a three-day regional film festival in Mangaluru to mark the achievement of the Tulu film industry in crossing the 100-movie mark. Four landmark Tulu films, including national award winning movie Paddayi, directed by Abhaya Simha, will be screened in the festival, besides films in Kannada, Kodava, Banjara, Konkani and Beary languages.

According to Nagatihalli Chandrashekar, Chairman, KCA, nine films will be screened at the regional film festival scheduled to be held at a state-of-the-art screen in St. Aloysius College from September 21 to 23.

“This week, the number of Tulu films made in the last four decades will be crossing the 100 mark. This regional film festival is to mark the event,” he said.

Many of the Tulu films have managed to complete 100 days in theatres. The ₹60-lakh Chaali Polilu made ₹2 crore at the box office recently. This despite the fact that Tulu is not a language included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution, and is spoken only in the coastal districts of Karnataka by about 75-lakh people, said Mr. Chandrashekar.

Attributing the success of the Tulu film industry to the patronage of Tulu-speaking people in Mumbai and abroad, especially in the United Arab Emirates, Tulu scholar Dr. Na. Damodadara Shetty said, “No other language, being spoken by a small community, in the country has made an achievement of this kind in films.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / September 15th, 2018

Google’s tribute to engineer par excellence

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
A doodle dedicated to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, on his 158 th birth anniversary.
A doodle dedicated to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, on his 158 th birth anniversary.

A special doodle, featuring Sir M. Visvesvaraya wearing the Mysuru peta against the backdrop of an engineering marvel

Google honoured one of the greatest Indian engineers, Sir M. Visvesvaraya, on his 158th birth anniversary with a special doodle, featuring him wearing the Mysuru peta against the backdrop of an engineering marvel, the Krishna Raja Sagar dam, built across the Cauvery river.

Visvesvaraya oversaw construction of his design for the dam and lake, which was at that time the largest reservoir in the country, providing drinking water to several cities.

Google.com, in its tribute on Saturday, said, “Living by the phrase ‘Work is Worship,’ Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya — fondly known as Sir MV — devoted his life to engineering. A master of irrigation design, the world-renowned civil engineer became so respected in his field that India celebrates Engineers Day each year on his birthday. While some sources cite his birth year as 1861, after speaking to his family, we’ve learned that Sir MV was actually born a year earlier.”

Visvesvaraya was born to a humble family in a small village Muddenahalli in Chickaballapur district in Karnataka. His father, a Sanskrit scholar, passed away when Visvesvaraya was very young. “According to stories passed down over generations, Sir MV had to walk over 60 km to Bengaluru to attend United Mission School, eating the food served in temples around the city, and studying under street lamps,” Google said in its post.

After completing his schooling, he earned a B.A. from Madras University in 1881, and went on to study civil engineering at the College of Science in Pune. As a young graduate, Visvesvaraya took up a job with the Public Works Department of the then Bombay Presidency, and later joined the Indian Irrigation Commission. He is credited with establishing extremely intricate systems of irrigation in the Deccan area. His flood protection system for Hyderabad and his irrigation plans for Visakhapatnam made him something of a celebrity.

He was conferred knighthood by the British Empire under King George V. In 1909, he became the Chief Engineer of Mysore and three years later, the Dewan of Mysore.

In 1918, he resigned from the post in protest over the Maharaja’s decision to set aside state jobs for non-Brahmins. By this time, he had helped establish the University of Mysore, the State Bank of Mysore, Bangalore Agricultural University, Mysore Chamber of Commerce, among other institutions.

He was known for his love for the Kannada language, and was instrumental in setting up the Kannada Parishat.

True to the title of his autobiography ‘Memoirs of my working life’, his devotion to work continued till the last days of his life. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1952. He passed away in Bengaluru on April 12, 1962.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / September 15th, 2018

Samsung opens its largest experience store in Bengaluru

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
The newly opened Samsung store in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: Reuters
The newly opened Samsung store in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Renovated Opera House will showcase experiences revolving around niche technologies

The iconic ‘Opera House’ will now showcase experiences revolving around Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things. Samsung Electronics on Tuesday opened its world’s largest mobile experience centre in Bengaluru. The Opera House on Brigade Road, which has been renovated and restored, will bring together technology, lifestyle and innovation to offer people unique experiences.

“Noida got the world’s largest mobile factory and now Bengaluru has got the world’s largest mobile experience centre,” said H.C. Hong, President and CEO, Samsung SouthWest Asia, at an event here. “Samsung has taken a leap from ‘make in India to make for India’ and now ‘make for the world’,” said Mr. Hong.

The standalone property as big as a shopping mall has been named ‘Samsung Opera House’, and will showcase experiences revolving around niche technologies.

For instance, Samsung said, one can slip into the role of a fighter pilot doing extreme aircraft stunts and experience a space battle, or a roller coaster ride, using these technologies. The other virtual experiences include kayaking or rowing as well as cycling through scenic Europe.

“From the outside, it looks like a piece of art and from the inside, a tech paradise that the people of this city… will cherish,” said Stephanie Choi, senior vice president, global head of retail, mobile division, Samsung.

The South Korean conglomerate will also showcase its full line up of smartphones and wearable devices at the experience centre alongside flagship consumer electronics products such as the QLED TV, Smart TVs, The Frame, and Family Hub refrigerators.

Startup hub

The facility aims at becoming the hub for events organized around fitness, gaming, music, movies, food, stand-up comedy and startups. The facility will also have a fully functional customer service centre and is equipped with high-speed public Wi-Fi.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Peerzada Abrar / Bengaluru – September 12th, 2018