Category Archives: World Opinion

To UN, on mission menstruation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinion

MenstruationBF14mar2018

City-based 9th graders take discussion of tabooed subject to govt schools, distribute sanitary napkins

For most adolescent girls, menstruation is a hush-hush affair.

But Nina Reddy and Preethi Subbiah, 9th graders from The International School Bangalore (TISB), want to change this dismal scenario. They have started a project, Svaasthy, to spread awareness on menstruation to girls from underprivileged families. The two girls will also present their work to policy-makers at the UN headquarters in New York.

“We want to educate young girls who are unaware of menstruation because it is a taboo. One of the most integral parts of being a woman is a taboo, and we want to change that. It happens to half the world, why should we hide our feminine nature? What is there to be ashamed of? Being a woman? We think it is necessary to educate girls that menstruation is what makes us women and we need to be able to take care of our menstrual health with the right products and pride,” Reddy said.

“Young girls who cannot possibly ask women in their family about such a tabooed topic, need to know what’s going on inside of them and how to deal with it,” she added. These two girls have found a two-fold solution to the menstrual problem in Indian. “One, is to generate awareness about menstrual health and hygiene via workshops in rural areas as well as to underserved communities and second is to distribute sanitary napkins and the Menstrupedia comic as a guide to girls,” Reddy said.

The girls have been working on implementing their solution and in the last two months they have impacted the lives of 200 girls and handed out over 1,600 sanitary pads with the aid of Apollo Hospitals in three locations in Bengaluru- Government Higher School, Doddakanneli, Namma Mane Orphanage and Samarthanam High School.

They have also created a website (www.svaasthy.net).

About their next project, Subbiah said, “We plan to hold at least two workshops every month in various orphanages and government schools of Bengaluru and distribute more than 5,000 sanitary pads by the end of April, hold fundraisers like bake sales and walkathons and to decrease the overall hesitation around menstruation.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bengaluru> Others / by Kumaran P, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / March 14th, 2018

Centre’s help may be sought to get Kittur Rani’s sword

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Bengaluru :

Running against time in fulfilling politically significant obligations days before announcement of the assembly elections, the government is likely to seek the Centre’s help to bring back 19th century queen Kittur Rani Chennamma’s sword, believed to be kept in the London Museum.
Lingayat community members, especially those from the politically dominant Pachamasali sect which the queen is believed to be from, have been demanding that the sword, reportedly used by Chennamma while fighting the Britishers, be brought back.

Sources said chief minister Siddaramaiah is likely to write to the ministry of external affairs about the sword after the state cabinet meeting scheduled on Wednesday. The meeting is expected to approve the report, recommending separate religion status to the Lingayat community.

The community members met Siddaramaiah at Koodalasangama in Bagalkot district on Monday, and urged him to expedite the process. “The issue will get complicated if the government fails to fulfil the procedural steps before the announcement of elections,” said Shivanand Jamdar, a former bureaucrat and general secretary of Lingayat Mahasabha Vedike.

Demanding initiation of diplomatic consultations between India and Britain in the matter, Jagadguru Jaya Mrutyunajya Swamy, pontiff of Lingayat Panchamasali Mahapeetha of Koodalasangama, said: “We’re ready to fulfil all formalities and mobilise required funds to bring back the sword.”

Earlier in 2012, the BJP government had set up a committee headed by scholar M M Kalburgi to look into the issue. But efforts came to a standstill after he was gunned down by unknown assailants in 2015.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News / by B V Shiva Shankar / TNN / March 13th, 2018

Indo-French centre of excellence

Business & Economy, Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The Indo-French Centre of Excellence in Electricity Automation and Energy was inaugurated by French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation Frédérique Vidal on Monday at the New Horizon College of Engineering.

According to a press release issued by the Consulate General of France, this was an initiative of French company Schneider Electric, which would impart technical training to future professionals. It would have a combination of theoretical knowledge with practical use of tools and equipment, the release added.

At the same event, the Minister also witnessed the signing of a partnership between New Horizon College of Engineering and CMQ3M of Rouen, France, which is an institute specialising in electrical engineering and efficiency.

The Minister was on a three day visit to India. On Monday, she also visited the ISRO Satellite Integration and test establishment, and had a collective meeting with French companies which have research and development centres in the city.

She visited the Indian Institute of Science to focus on Indo-French collaborations in the field of scientific research undertaken at IISc. She met French scholars and students on the campus.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / March 12th, 2018

Xylem expands Indian operations, opens tech centre in Bengaluru

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Bengaluru :

Xylem Inc, an NYSE listed global water technology company, has expanded its Indian operations by opening an India Technology and Customer Experience Centre in Bengaluru. Today’s launch will be followed by opening of a similar technology centre in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Xylem is bringing together a broad spectrum of competencies at these centres to accelerate the development of critical water and infrastructure solutions for its customers in India and around the world. The India Technology Centre in Bengaluru was opened by Mahendra Jain, Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, and Patrick Decker, President and CEO of Xylem.

The centre in Bengaluru will develop products and solutions with a focus on software and advanced infrastructure analytics. The centre will ultimately have over 400 engineers creating smart, innovative solutions to treat, analyse, monitor and return water to the environment, and to address critical energy resource infrastructure needs.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Specials / by Anil Urs / Bengaluru – March 06th, 2018

CM inaugurates first phase of Pavagada Solar Park

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the first phase of Pavagada Solar Park at Thirumani in Pavagada taluk of Tumakuru district on Thursday.

Addressing a large gathering, Mr. Siddaramaiah termed the solar park as the “eighth wonder of the world.” He said that “we are thankful to all those farmers who have leased out their land to the government for the project.”

In the first phase, the solar park will produce 600 MW. A total of 2,300 farmers of Pavagada have leased out 13,000 acres of land at Rs.21,000 per acre per annum. This will help to boost the economic activities in the most backward taluk. Before the solar park was established, the land rates were around Rs. 25,000 per acre but now they have risen to Rs. 4-5 lakh.

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that Karnataka will become self-reliant in the production of power and there will be no need to depend on other States. Pavagada Solar Park will be completed by December 2018 and will generate 2000 MW of power, he added.

District-in-charge Minister T.B. Jayachandra, MP Chandrappa, MLA Thimmarayappa, former Minister Venkataramanappa and others were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Tumakuru – March 01st, 2018

Celebration of Kannada ‘power’ at BIFFes

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Posters of Kannada films at the 10th Bengaluru International Film Festival at Orion Mall in Bengaluru on Monday. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain
Posters of Kannada films at the 10th Bengaluru International Film Festival at Orion Mall in Bengaluru on Monday. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain

12 films are in the competition section of the Kannada cinema category

The tenth edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) has become a carnival for the celebration of the eight-decade-old Kannada film industry.

Reservation, directed by Nikhil Manjoo, which bagged the Rajat Kamal for the best Kannada film, and T.S. Nagabharana’s Allama, recipient of best make-up and best music direction national award, are among the 12 films in the competition section in the Kannada cinema category.

Beti (which dispels the myth that gender discrimination has religious sanction and cultural intolerance) by P. Sheshadri, Dr. Sukanya (about female foeticide)by Srinath Vasistha, March 22 (on water conversation) by Koodlu Ramakrishna, Mooka Hakki (on cow slaughter) by N. Manjunath, Mookanayaka (which discusses relationship between art and social life) by Baraguru Ramachandrappa, Moodalaseemeyali (on patriachy) by Shivarudraiah, Neeru Tandavaru (on water and caste system) by Asif Kshatriya and Nemodaya Boolya (a Tulu film set in a village nearly two centuries ago) by Gangadhara Kirodian are competing for the coveted prize.

In a further proof of the celebration of Kannada films, renowned film maker N. Lakshminarayana, who was influenced by directors De Sica and Satyajit Ray, is being honoured with the screening of Bettada Huvu, Abachurina Post Office, Naandi and Uyyale. These movies are milestones in Kannada film and art cinema. Naandi, for instance, was the first ever Kannada film to be screened in an international film festival.

Besides these films, Bhakta Kanakadasa, Mithileya Seetheyaru, Edakallu Guddadamele, Avale Nanna Hendti, Chigurida Kanasu and Vijayanagarada Veeraputra are being screened in the homage section to pay tributes to departed artistes Krishna Kumari, B.V. Radha, Edakallu Chandru, Kashinath, Parvathamma Rajkumar and R.N. Sudarshan.

In its attempt to remember classics, BIFFes has chosen Samskara by Pattabhirama Reddy. The path-breaking film is supposed to have pioneered the parallel cinema movement in Kannada. In 50th year of making Samskara, Tom Cowan, the renowned cinematographer from Australia who worked for this film, shares his experience.

Besides these, mainstream Kannada films are being screened in the popular entertainment section.

Tulu film in Asian section

Paddayi, a Tulu film by national award winning director Abhaya Simha, is competing in the Asian Section. This is one among the Indian language contingent including Paathi (The half) by debutant Chandran Narikkod, which arrests the attention with its straightforward presentation, and Ashwathama by Pushpendra Singh, which explores undertones of superstition. Paddayi is a modern day adaptation of the epic drama Macbeth by Shakespeare.

Similarly, Hebbettu Ramakka by N.R. Nanjunde Gowda is the only Kannada film figuring in the Indian cinema section. The film deals with a village woman standing up to the patriarchy and caste systems of her village.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muralidhara Khajane / February 26th, 2018

Women as game-changers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

The 8th International Women’s Conference will host women from all over the world who share the objective of a stress and violence free society

Since its first edition in 2005, the International Women’s Conference (IWC) has hosted over 375 speakers and 5,500 delegates from over 100 countries. This February (23-25) in its eighth edition, it is all set to host 500 women delegates from diverse backgrounds and professions, across the world.

“This year’s theme is ‘Life: A Mystical Journey’. In the past we have dealt with a wide variety of subjects from women in technology to women in leadership, and exploring inner beauty. This time, our chairperson, Bhanumathi Narasimhan, wanted to explore the mystical aspect, through spirituality. We will have sessions on everything from the relationship between science and spirituality to 360 degree views on behaviour patterns,” says Chinky Sen, one of the lead organisers of the conference.

The 2018 edition of the conference will feature a range of speakers from actor Rani Mukherji to environmentalist Vandana Shiva; Mridula Sinha, Governor, Goa; Adriana Marais, theoretical physicist, head of innovation at SAP Africa; Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe, founder director of Center for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya to Arundhati Bhattacharya, former chairman, State Bank of India; and Chetna Gala Sinha, Founder-Chairperson Mann Deshi Bank and Mann Deshi Foundation.

“Women are leading peacemakers. They work together towards creating a stress-free, violence-free society. The conference is a message in peace and unity,” says Bhanumathi Narasimhan, Chairperson, IWC.

The goal of the conference, which is hosted at the Art of Living International Centre, is individual development and collective action and to ‘facilitate partnership-building and leadership development among women leaders globally’.

“The sessions at the conference will be engaging and exciting. Among the highlights this year, is an exclusive dialogue with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Founder, Art of Living), called ‘Mind Matters’. There are some interesting sessions on topics such as ‘Intuition, Innovation and Creativity’; on life as a game, a play, a war; and the session on 360 degree behaviour patterns will also address how they can be changed through yoga and meditation,” says Sen.

The conference is also associated with the Art of Living’s ‘Gift A Smile’ project, which offers education to over 58,000 students in 435 free schools across 20 Indian states. Girl children comprise 48 per cent of the student demographic and 90 per cent of the students are first-generation learners.

This year the conference will also support the creation of open-defecation free districts in India. The project involves two phases. In the first phase, the organisation will work towards sensitisation and awareness, on the importance of health and hygiene. “We have already reached out to 12 gram panchayats in seven states. We will be presenting the report in the conference. We will then build toilets in the second phase.”

The organisation plans to build over 4000 toilets. In keeping with another social impact tradition, the conference will also include a signature campaign on violence against women and on gender equality.

The IWC in its previous editions, has worked on initiatives such as constructing homes for the underprivileged, creating awareness on environmental care, organising a movement to stop violence against women, and empowering women through skills training. It has also worked with the World Bank Institute to develop empowerment schemes for women in vulnerable nations and expanded vocational training for widows in Iraq.

The 8th International Women’s Conference will take place between February 23 and February 25 at the Art of Living International Centre on Kanakapura Road. For details visit artofliving.org/iwc.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Society / by Harshini Vakkalanka / February 20th, 2018

Theatre Olympics comes to Bengaluru

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

24 world-class performances to be staged over 15 days from Tuesday

As the city is gearing up for the weeklong Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes) from Thursday, it is all set for a mega theatre event. The 8th Theatre Olympics, organised by the National School of Drama (NSD) along with the Department of Kannada and Culture, will be held for 15 days here from Tuesday.

This is for the first time the country is hosting the largest international theatre festival, and Bengaluru is one of the co-hosts. Plays will be staged at Ravindra Kalakshetra and at Kalagrama, Mallathahalli Road, Jnana Bharati campus, from 7 p.m. till March 6.

The event will provide people of the State a chance to watch 24 stimulating world-class performances, including six specially invited plays from renowned theatre maestros — Kabeer (Shekhar Sen), Esranga Rod (Pranjal Saikia), Madaiah the Cobbler (Ramaswamy Prasanna), Gunamukha (C. Basavalingaiah), Parindey(Satish Anand), Krapp’s Last Tape (Jaroslaw Fret, Poland) — and international productions The Method of National Constellations (Michal Stankiewicz), Women of Passion, Women of Greece (Tatiana Ligari, Greece), and Arrived(Adrian Schvarzstein, Lithuania).

The other plays that will be staged include Kuthirai Muttai (Sanmugaraja), Karnabharam (Chandradasan), Abayab (Nebakumar Banarjee), Allasani Peddana(Akella), Jathegiruvanu Chandra (Hulugappa Kattimani), Actress Are Not Allowed (V. Arumugham), Moment Just Before (Liju Krishna), Laagi Chhute Na(Veena Sharma), Mahabharath (Anurupa Roy), Prof. Kelfa’s Factory (Ranhang Choudhury), Tansen (Govind Singh Yadav), Dhaubar Ratani (Bidyut Kr. Nath), and Antariksha Sanchar (Jayalakshmi Eshwar), Indur O Manushi (Bebashis Biswas), and Naganandam (Kavalam Padmanabhan).

C. Basavalingaiah
C. Basavalingaiah

The 8th edition of Theatre Olympics, according to C. Basavalingaiah, director of NSD Bengaluru chapter, is “a celebration of universal friendship and human values by showcasing theatre traditions of India and the world. It is an attempt to bridge the borders across countries through the call of theatre and engage in creating a global village.”

Over 450 performances

The Theatre Olympics, which opened in Delhi on Saturday, will span 17 Indian cities with over 450 performances, seminars, and youth forums in which 25,000 artistes from 31 countries will participate, said Mr. Basavalingaiah.

The festival, spread over 51 days, will be held in cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, Imphal, Varanasi, Chandigarh, and Thiruvananthapuram.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / February 18th, 2018

INTACH takes up restoration of paintings at St. Aloysius Chapel

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Subhash Basu, convener of INTACH Mangaluru, with Major Gen. L.V. Gupta (retd), chairman, INTACH, in Mangaluru on Thursday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH
Subhash Basu, convener of INTACH Mangaluru, with Major Gen. L.V. Gupta (retd), chairman, INTACH, in Mangaluru on Thursday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

Mangaluru chapter to document Guttu houses

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has taken up the restoration of old paintings at St. Aloysius Chapel in the city since a month, according to its chairman Major Gen. L.V. Gupta (retd).

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Mangaluru chapter of the INTACH here on Thursday, he said: “We are glad that the church has invested in this work. Please do visit the chapel and see the laboratory set up for restoration work.”

Stressing the need to protect and conserve heritage monuments and structures, he said that no country can be great without its heritage.

Mr. Gupta said that largely people are ignorant of India’s diverse history and heritage.

“Only 7,500 monuments have so far been declared as protected monuments. As per an estimate by INTACH, there are five million heritage sites in the country. Many of these monuments and structures are unprotected. They were being destroyed for lack of awareness of heritage value of these monuments,” he said.

He said the INTACH was working on listing and documentation of heritage structures and monuments and asking the government and people to protect them.

Subash Basu, convener of INTACH Mangaluru chapter, said that the chapter will document old Guttu houses and also visit houses of fishermen and artisans to document the way they build their houses.

They will work to revive some traditional methods of building houses that includes use of mud, timber and lime for construction.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – February 23rd, 2018

Honour for SOAHS faculty member

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Abraham Samuel Babu, Associate Professor in the Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences (SOAHS), has been made ‘Endeavour Ambassador’ by the Department of Education and Training, Australian High Commission, India.

The 2018 Ambassadors’ event was held in New Delhi on February 16.

As many as 20 ambassadors from India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh have been appointed.

Among them, 10 are from India: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bhopal, Mizoram, and New Delhi.

They will also be recognized in the Australian government publications and events and will have the opportunity to meet and network with others from the region.

For MAHE, Dr. Abraham is the second ambassador. The first was Arun Chawla, Professor, Department of Urology, Kasturba Medical College (KMC) here.

Dr Abraham received the Endeavour Executive Fellowship in 2015 to train in heart rate variability measurements and scale development under the supervision of David Hare, Department of Cardiology, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Australia. MAHE has also been home to 13 various Endeavour Fellow recipients.

Following his training, he was offered an Honorary Research Fellow position in the Department of Cardiology at Austin Health, Melbourne to continue research activities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special Correspondent / Manipal – February 24th, 2018