Specially-abled persons — Akash Raghav and Srivats — who were felicitated by AIISH during ‘Specially-abled Day’ celebrations yesterday, are seen with AIISH Director Dr. Savithri and others. Picture right shows C.S. Savitha who received ‘AIISH Mother of the Year 2016’ award.
Mysuru :
The specially-abled children displayed their cultural skills during the ‘Specially-abled Day’ celebrations at Panchavati campus of the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH).
Prior to the event, C.S. Savitha was awarded with the ‘AIISH Mother of the Year 2016’ award which has been instituted by Dr. Prathiba Karanth, to encourage mother looking after their special kids.
C.S. Savitha, who is trained in special skills, has been able to improve the communication skills in her kid. Considering this, the AIISH conferred the award upon her.
The Institute also felicitated two specially-abled persons, Aakash Raghav, an engineer working with a private company and Srivats, who also works for a private company, for their achievements.
Speaking on the occasion, AIISH Director Dr. S.R. Savithri, said that the specially-abled children are trained before they are allowed to join the normal school.
She also expressed her concerns over some institutions not providing admissions to special children despite government orders and also mentioned that there were examples of educational institutions not providing the necessary facilities even though the special children are admitted to the schools.
Department of Women and Child Welfare Deputy Director K. Radha, Dr. N. Sridevi of AIISH and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / December 10th, 2016
w of Halmidi incription, the first Kannada inscription, found in Halmidi in Hassan district displayed at the Government Museum on Kasturba Road. | Photo Credit: Bhagya Prakash K
Is conducting trials of an app that seeks to serve as an audio guide to visitors
Bengaluru:
Moving through the dank corridors where exhibits — often thousands of years old — lie in the shadows, an app could be the gateway to the rich history within the Government Museum.
The 151-year-old museum on Kasturba Road is preparing to enter into the digital world with a tour of the premises being incorporated in an app, named Pinakin. The app seeks to serve as an audio guide to visitors.
For a visitor, the labels around the Deccan-style paintings in the museum hardly provide adequate details. On the app, however, a voice guides you into the time of the kings and the techniques of the painters. The strokes that bring out the colours were done using squirrel or pig tail hair, guides the voice.
Similarly, the hero stone – where again the museum has put little by way of information. The app brings out the tale of the chieftain who died in a battle against the Ganga king.
Officials said the app is undergoing trials. “It should be available in a week or so. People can use the app to find more information about the exhibits and we hope this will lead to greater footfalls,” said an official.
Pinakin already offers free tours of Mysore Palace and Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, among other places.
Need for curation
Pinakin is free to download and covers over 20 exhibits out of the more than 185 in the museum. Available in English and Kannada, the recordings – which can be downloaded offline – runs to around 40 minutes.
“It is not merely a lecture on history. It brings out interesting facts to induce inquisitiveness among visitors and shifts the perspective from merely photographic memory to information,” says Srikanth Iyer, Chief Executive Officer of Aseuro Technologies, which has developed the app.
He hopes to expand the app to include paintings in the Venkatappa Art Gallery while information on the Government Museum will be constantly updated. “After six months or so, we can add 15 to 20 exhibits in the app so that those revisiting the museum will always have something more to see,” said Mr. Iyer.
Revamping the city’s heritage through museums
The city is far more than just about pubs and IT hubs. Bengaluru is, contrary to popular perception, a city where history played out for over five centuries.
This history, however, seems to have been forced into the sidelines during the city’s exponential growth. The birthplace of the ‘Bangalore Rocket’ – a torpedo which was developed by Tipu Sultan – has virtually disappeared, while the city’s museums – which are to chronicle this history – remains little more than storehouses of antiques.
Priyank Kharge, State Minister of Tourism, hopes to change the perception of the city’s history by introducing the Kempegowda Tower Tourism Circuit or tours featuring Colonial history at Cantonment. “It is an uphill task, and much of it has disappeared. But, whatever is there needs to be protected. As a start, we need to celebrate our museums and ensure that there is better curation so that a visit becomes an experience for tourists. We have started this on a trial basis in the Government Museum through an app,” he said.
Over the years, a mixture of apathy and lack of public interest in history has seen museums being forced into the sidelines. For instance, in its heydays at the start of the last century, over four lakh people would visit the museum (or, Tamasha House as it was called). Now, the number barely touches two lakh. Of this, many are school students out on an excursion.
While welcoming initiatives such as an audio-visual app for exploration of museums, Meera Iyer, co-convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), says much more needs to be done to improve facilities on the ground. “What needs to be done is to revamp the museum. The method of labelling and giving out information is abysmal; the walls are damp, the lighting is not good. There is poor display. All of this needs to change,” she says.
The Tourism Department has sought a proposal from the State Archaeology Department on projects that would improve facilities and conservation of artifacts of the Government Museum.
The potential of museums
“There are a lot of interesting stories to be told of the heritage of Bengaluru. Apart from Government Museum, we want to include Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and the historical Someshwara Temple in our audio tours. Even the botanical gardens of Lalbagh will provide lots of interesting stories for visitors,” says Srikanth Iyer, CEO, Aseuro Technologies.
“In other cities, museums are celebrated. But here, they are not being curated properly. We are trying to change this. To begin with, we are starting with museums of the State Archaeology Department,” says Priyank Kharge, Tourism Minister.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Mohit M. Rao / December 13th, 2016
The process of installing solar lamps at all houses of Amasebailu Gram Panchayat is nearing completion and with this, Amasebailu Gram Panchayat is all set to become the first ‘Solar Gram Panchayat’ in Udupi district.
Amasebailu Charitable Trust President A G Kodgi told reporters that Amasebailu has two villages, Rattadi and Machattu, with 1,872 houses. The trust had chalked out programmes to instal solar lamps at all households in 2012 itself. But owing to various reasons, the project was delayed. The installation of solar lamps was started in May this year and India Pvt. Ltd was entrusted with the responsibility of installing lamps. According to the conditions agreed upon in the tender, the company gave a five-year guarantee for solar lamps with a half-yearly maintenance and a provision to replace faulty lamps.
In the first phase, 397 houses were illuminated and 548 houses were covered in the second phase. The third phase of lighting 73 houses is currently under way. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2.13 crore and about 20% of the cost has been shared by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd, 30% by the ministry of energy and Rs 25 lakh from district administration.
Amasebailu PDO Bhaskar Shetty said some families have already installed solar lamps before the commencement of the project. About 20 streetlights light up with solar power, Shetty said.
“There are 30 temples and a mosque in the Gram Panchayat jurisdiction and efforts are on to promote solar lamps in places of worship as well,” he said. Vishwesha Theertha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt has agreed to sponsor the installation of solar lamps in these places of worship, Kodgi said.
The cost for installing two solar lamps was Rs 9,900, while it was Rs 16,000 for four lamps. The beneficiaries had to pay Rs 3,000 for two lamps, while it cost Rs 6,000 for four solar lamps.
In the case of Koraga community beneficiaries, the Gram Panchayat has borne the amount of Rs 3,000 per beneficiary while in the case of other Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes beneficiaries, it had spent Rs 2,000 per beneficiary for installation of lamps, he said.
With the accomplishment of the project the efforts of the district administration, Gram Panchayat, Amasebailu Charitable Trust, Karnataka Bank and Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project have borne fruit, he said.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Udupi, December 10th, 2016
T. Sunandamma, popular humour writer, was the first president of the Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha | Photo Credit: Handout E Mail
The KLS was formed by women writers, who felt they were being excluded from the mainstream
Bengaluru :
Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha (KLS), a collective of women writers started in 1979, has released documentaries on eight remarkable women who have steered the organisation since its inception.
The documentaries have been made by D.S. Suresh. He had earlier made films on 15 Kannada women writers who have received the prestigious Anupama Award. KLS made use of grants given by the Department of Kannada and Culture for this project.
The documentaries cover T. Sunandamma, H.S. Parvathy, Hemalatha Mahishi, Nagamani S. Rao, Shashikala Veeraiahswamy, Usha P. Rai, Sandhya Reddy and Vasundhara Bhoopathi. It was released by S.G. Siddaramaiah, chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority, on Monday.
Mr. Suresh worked on this ambitious project for more than 18 months. He had interviewed over 125 people, including writers. “These documentaries can reach out to people who have little knowledge about literature. It will help them to know about women writers and their contribution to literature and the Sangha,” he added.
Women writers in Kannada, who felt they were being excluded from the mainstream, decided to join hands to form KLS. “Initially, it was an informal group. It grew slowly and T. Sunandamma, popular humour writer, became the first president of the Sangha, which had only 20 members in 1979.
Dr. Vasundhara Bhoopathi, president of the Sangha, said they are now planning to record the contribution of women Kannada writers in and outside Karnataka under the title ‘Nanna Kavithe Nanna Haadu’ (my poetry, my songs).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / December 12th, 2016
For any hardcore Harry Potter fan, the Sorting Hat, and the medieval wizard Godric Gryffindor is basic knowledge. Three entomologists, who stumbled upon a new species of spider have decided to pay tribute to the character by naming it after him. Though the arachnid bears resemblance to the ‘Sorting Hat’ of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it would be hard to spot it if you are trekking in the Western Ghats.
Eriovixia gryffindori, is the new spider species discovered, details of which was published in the recent edition of Indian Journal of Arachnology.
The discovery of the arachnid was made at ‘Kans’ forestland of Central Western Ghats at Hosanagara taluk of Shivamogga district, by Javed Ahmed, Rajashree Khalap and Sumukha J N. While Javed and Rajashree hail from Mumbai, Sumukha is from Shivamogga.
Describing the etymology of the spider, the scientists write that naming it after Gryffindor – after whom one of the four houses in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is named and who once owned the Sorting Hat – was, “An ode from the authors, for magic lost, and found, in an effort to draw attention to the fascinating, but oft overlooked world of invertebrates, and their secret lives.”
Prior to it, they express their fondness of J K Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series as a ‘wordsmith extraordinaire’.
“This uniquely shaped spider derives its name from the fabulous, sentient magical artifact, the sorting hat, owned by the (fictitious) medieval wizard Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and stemming from the powerful imagination of Ms. J K Rowling….” they wrote.
While the team found a female specimen of the Gryffindor spider, they are yet to describe the holotype of a typical male of the species. The paper notes that the particular species of spider is known to be distributed only from Shivamogga district, as of now.
The spider mimics dry foliage, making it ideal for it to reside almost undetected on the forest floor.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / December 13th, 2016
Padma Bhushan K.V. Kamath, President of New Development Bank of BRICS Countries, is seen presenting the Manava Rathna Award to M. Vinod Rao, first Managing Trustee of BSMS Trust that manages Kamakshi Hospital, at a function in city last evening. Also seen are (from left) Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy, Chairman of Manava Rathna Award Committee and Founder Trustee, Schevaran Scientific Foundation Rtn. Sam Cherian, President of Rotary Club of Mysore West Rtn. C. R. Hanumanth, Secretary Rtn. B.S. Srinath and Inner Wheel President Ann. Sumana.
Mysuru :
Demonetisation will bring in positive changes in India’s economy and will improve financial status of its people, said Padma Bhushan K.V. Kamath, President of New Development Bank of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Countries.
Kamath was speaking as the chief guest after presenting Manava Rathna Award to Kamakshi Hospital at Rotary West Auditorium in Saraswathipuram last evening.
The Manava Rathna Award was instituted by Schevaran Scientific Foundation and was presented to Kamakshi Hospital in recognition of its charity. M. Vinod Rao, the first Managing Trustee of Bantwal Sulochana Madhava Shenoy (BSMS) Trust that manages the hospital, received the award. The event was organised by Schevaran Scientific Foundation and Rotary Club of Mysore West.
“Demonetisation has come as a precursor to digital currency and it would strengthen the country’s economy. It will curb corruption as now only documented money would be in circulation and it would be difficult to move unaccounted money. Even the rate of interest on home and vehicle loans would come down which will help bring down inflation. India has been registering an economic growth of 7.3% for many years and this is a positive sign of development. “We must identify the achievements of the country and celebrate them,” he said.
Kundapur Vaman Kamath, commonly referred to as K.V. Kamath, has served as the Chairman of Infosys Limited, the second-largest Indian IT services company, and as the Non-Executive Chairman of ICICI Bank, India’s largest private bank.
“Food prices and real estate rates will come down and it will be a boon to the market economy and the interest rates will come down by around 2 per cent in the next 12 months. All this will benefit the common man,” he said.
Comparing India with other developing countries like Brazil, China and South Africa, Kamath said that while those countries have shown speedy development, India did not get a platform for development. With demonetisation, India can accelerate growth,” he added.
Recalling the introduction of ATMs in the country by the ICICI bank for the first time, he said while many had doubts about its success the ATM culture soon caught the imagination of the other bankers and also the customers.
The noted banker said that in the year 2000 there were only 150 ATMs and at present, there are more than 3 lakh ATMs in India. “This could be possible only due to digitalisation of banks and people’s participation and acceptance,” he added.
“More than anything, demonetisation will curb the menace of corruption in India. Though the move has led to a lot of inconvenience, it will benefit the country in the future. People will slowly switch over to cashless economy,” he opined.
YEOMAN SERVICE TO THE POOR
Kamakshi Hospital Administrator Dr. K.R. Kamath, Medical Superintendent Dr. C. Umesh Kamath and current Managing Trustee of BSMS Trust Mahesh Shenoy too were felicitated on the occasion.
Speaking after receiving the Manava Rathna Award, M. Vinod Rao said that the hospital was established with an intention of serving the poor and people from lower economic groups. The expansion of the hospital with a second unit has been taken up in J.P Nagar, he said.
Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy, who was the guest of honour, said that service to mankind is equal to service to God. “This is the reason why Mother Teresa compared her service to the dying and the destitute as service to God,” Ganapathy said.
“I personally know the yeoman services provided by Kamakshi Hospital, specially to the poor and middle-class patients since 40 years. The doctors here and also the paramedical staff are so gentle and kind they sincerely consider their service as God’s service,” he said.
The Hospital well deserves this Manava Rathna Award which would further encourage the hospital doctors and staff to serve the community better and with great responsibility, Ganapathy added.
Administrator Dr. K.R. Kamath said that the hospital was committed to serve the poor and has launched several people-friendly programmes like the ‘Save A Child’ in association with Rotary Mysore West. Under this project, any child needing surgical intervention or special medical care is admitted for treatment free of cost. “It is a matter of pride to receive the award and we will continue to remain committed to the service of the society,” Dr. Kamath said.
Managing Trustee of BSMS Trust Mahesh Shenoy said that the hospital had close association with Rotary Mysore West since its inception.
“We will launch a series of healthcare facilities for the benefit of the poor,” he said. Medical Superintendent Dr. C. Umesh Kamath traced the journey of the hospital since it was established in 1973.
President of Rotary Club of Mysore West Rtn. C.R. Hanumanth, Chairman of Manava Rathna Award Committee and Founder Trustee, Schevaran Scientific Foundation Rtn. Sam Cherian, Secretary of Rotary Club of Mysore West Rtn. B.S. Srinath, Dr S.N. Mothi of Asha Kirana Hospital, Proprietor of Mangalore Ganesh Beedies Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy and others were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / December 03rd, 2016
Mysuru’s talented junior golfer Pranavi S. Urs representing Karnataka in the IGU West Bengal Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championships 2016 at the Tollygunge Golf Club, Kolkata won a triple crown by clinching the Ladies Category A & B, Category B & Category A&B combined titles.
Pranavi won the Category ‘B’ title with a three-day aggregate score of 222 (71+81+70). Anika Varma of Uttar Pradesh with a three-day card of 229 (77+77+75) emerged second. Vasundra Thiara of Chandigarh with a three-day score of 235 (86+74+75) secured the third place.
She also won the Category A & B title with a three-day aggregate score of 222. Ananya Barthakur of Delhi with a three-day card of 223 (78+74+71) finished second while Sifat Sagoo of Delhi with a three-day score of 223 (73+75+75) secured the third place.
Pranavi completed the triple crown by clinching the Ladies Category A & B title with a three-day card of 222. Ananya Barthakur of Delhi with a three-day card of 223 (78+74+71) finished second while Sifat Sagoo of Delhi with a three-day score of 223 (73+75+75) secured the third place.
Another Mysuru girl, Disha Kaveri finished eighth with a three-day card of 240 (85+80+75) in the Category ‘C’ section.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / December 02nd, 2016
The Avva Awards ceremony will mark the seventh death anniversary of Guravva Shivalingappa Horatti.
As many as fourteen achievers from different fields will be honoured with ‘Avva Awards’ by the Avva Seva Trust in Hubballi this Sunday.
The ‘Avva Awards ceremony’ will also mark the seventh death anniversary of Guravva Shivalingappa Horatti, in whose memory the Trust has been set up. Writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa will confer the awards, while High Court Judge Justice Koratageri Narasimhamurthy Phaneendra will inaugurate the award ceremony to be held on Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. at Gujarat Bhavan in Hubballi.
Addressing the media along with vice-president and MLA N.H. Konaraddi, secretary Shashi Sali and others chairman of Avva Seva Trust, former minister Basavaraj Horatti said that most of the awardees had been chosen based on reports in newspapers and electronic media and a few through nominations. The selection committee finalised awardees after due discussion, he said.
Mr. Horatti clarified that they had not considered nominations that had come with recommendations. “At a time when awards are losing their credibility because of recommendations, we preferred to cross check through our own network before finalising the list,” he said.
He said the list included a 76-year-old newspaper hawker, visually-impaired person who planted 1,000 saplings, a ‘full time’ teacher, the woman from the region who climbed Mount Everest, artistes, musicians and journalists.
Special honour
Mr. Horatti said the Trust would accord special honour to the residents of Talakawada village in Badami taluk of Bagalkot district, where upper caste people have taken it on themselves to conduct funerals of the dalits in a bid to alleviate untouchability. Freedom fighter, former MLA and centenarian Mahadevappa Pattan and his wife Sharada would also be felicitated on the occasion.
The awardees
The awardees include: vocalists Pt. Venkatesh Kumar and Nanda Patil, theatre artistes Chindodi Shrikanthesh and Yashwanth Sardeshpande, writer Bhuvaneshwari Hegde, journalist Markandeya Doddamani, environmentalists Appaji Wadeyar and Parashuraam N. Habib, Gamaka artiste Khaseem, mountaineer Nandita Naganagoudar, child prodigies Shivappa Kodli and Pooja Milke, teacher Rajkumar M. Mali, newspaper hawker Veeraiah V. Shirahattimath.
Mr. Horatti also said that Avva Trust would adopt a government school and develop it into a model school.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / Hubballi – December 07th, 2016
Sporting a crisp blue coat, cream trousers and a champion’s smile, Peter England Mr India World 2016 Vishnuraj S Menon looked the part for his homecoming to Bengaluru after having won the pageant.
Sporting a crisp blue coat, cream trousers and a champion’s smile, Peter England Mr India World 2016 Vishnuraj S Menon looked the part for his homecoming to Bengaluru after having won the pageant. Awaiting his arrival outside the airport were his parents and elder brother, who had travelled from his hometown of Thrissur just to welcome and congratulate him, his close set of college friends and the media. Upon seeing his inner circle on arrival, the reigning Peter England Mr India World 2016 let out a victory scream. He then let his emotional side get the better of him, tearing up after he embraced his parents warmly. His friends expressed their joy for his victory by hoisting him on to their shoulders and carrying him out of the airport.
Following this, Vishnuraj and team left for his residence in Whitefield, where an even grander welcome awaited him. His house was decorated colourfully, and delicious chocolate cake was presented for him to cut. Once they were rested, they headed to his college MVJ College of Engineering , where he was welcomed by loud cheers from his juniors. He then took a trip down memory lane, visiting his classes and favourite hangout spots in the college. The college then felicitated Vishnuraj, following which he shared some interesting snippets from his college life and his journey from a college student to a pageant winner.
The day could not be complete without the hunk visiting one of his most favourite place in the city — his gym. Vishnuraj and his friends, who are also his workout buddies, visited two gyms — one that he regularly works outs at, and the other a new one run by his trainer. At both the places, he showed off his grueling routine and ripped muscles. “I spend a lot of time at the gym, and especially love working out my chest and biceps. It’s rare that I miss my gym days, and that’s something I’m proud of,” he says.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bengaluru / by Mohammed Waseem / TNN / December 03rd, 2016
Golf is played and patronised in Mysuru at Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Course (JWGC). With its development programmes, JWGC has produced talented golfers from time to time. One such product out of its junior programme is Pranavi S. Urs, who has been performing consistently in the National junior circuit. Pranavi, representing Karnataka in the IGU Eastern India Ladies & Junior Girls Golf Championships at Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Kolkata, from Nov. 23 to 25, won the Category ‘B’ Junior Girls title with a three-day aggregate score of 233 (77+79+77). She has been performing consistently in the National junior circuit in the junior level. She is our ‘Star This Week.’
Pranavi won the Category ‘B’ junior girls title. She also finished runner-up in the Category A & B combined section. Diksha Dagar of Delhi with a three-day aggregate score of 225 (70+80+75) won the title in the Combined A & B section.
Pranavi, taking part in the 8th Albatross International Golf Championships-2016 from Nov. 8 to 11, at Classic Golf & County Club, New Delhi, finished runner-up in the Category ‘B’ girls section with a three-day aggregate score of 232 (79+78+75) after a play-off for the title with the ultimate winner Nicha Kanpai.
Pranavi won the Category ‘B’ title in the Bombay Presidency Golf Club’s All India Ladies & Junior Girls FALDO Series Golf Tournament from Oct. 19-21 and won the title in the category ‘B’ section.
She also took part in the Maharaja’s Cup Open Golf Tournament held recently in Mysuru and performed well. Pranavi had finished runner-up in the team event representing Indian team in the True Visions International Junior Golf Championship at Siam Country Club, Pattaya, from Apr. 5-7 and also finished fourth in the Individual Category ‘C’ section.
Pranavi taking part in the Ladies Amateur Golf Championship at Karnataka Golf Association (KGA), Bengaluru, on Feb. 9 and 10, won the ladies title with a two-day aggregate score of 150 (6 over).
This 12-year-old golfer is the daughter of Sharath Chandra Raj Urs and Kaivalya Urs, residents at Lakshmipuram in Mysuru and is a seventh standard student of National Public School, Mysuru.
Pranavi started playing golf at the age of 8 and after her success in the South Zone Sub-Junior Golf Tournament the next year, she took up to the game seriously and has made steady progress since then. Pranavi presently trains under Vijay Divecha at the Eagleton Golf Course, Bidadi.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / November 27th, 2016
