Category Archives: World Opinion

Bengaluru academy offers summer camps for UAE children

Sports, World Opinion

Advanced cricket students to benefit the most, says coach Madhavan

Dubai:

When temperatures soar in the UAE summer and make it difficult to play cricket outdoors, SGK International Cricket Academy, based on the outskirts of Bengaluru in South India, offers a perfect solution to aspiring cricketers to hone their skills.

R. Madhavan, a former Tamil Nadu batsman who represented Under-25 India against England in the Eighties, will be one of the coaches while there will be several other renowned coaches and ex-internationals at hand to provide the guidance.

“It is open for clubs, academies and even school teams in the UAE to make use of the facilities. However, the advanced and semi-advanced level players stand to benefit the most,” said Madhavan, a former UAE resident who once shared a 240-run partnership with Mohammad Azharuddin for the Under-25 national team against England, led by David Gower.

An added incentive, according to Madhavan, is that, should some of these academies or teams require further training, the left-hander is willing to bring a set of coaches to the UAE as a follow-up. 

The academy has five turf wickets, besides a concrete wicket and two artificial turf wickets, a gymnasium, swimming pool, a dormitory to house a 15-member team and a bowling machine. The academy is also planning to offer video analysis. Incidentally, the Kerala Ranji Trophy team used the facilities to prepare for the 2012 season.

“Keeping the interest of state teams from India and abroad, we plan to create indoor nets where teams can practice on natural grass,” says Chandrashekhar K., Chairman and Managing Director of the academy.

For further details, contact www.sgkinternationalcricketacademy.com or Chandrashekhar K. 050-6589449

source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Gulf News / Home> Sport> Cricket / by A.K.S. Satish, Pages Editor / April 02nd, 2013

Bangalore emerges as Mecca of startups; engineers, customers transforming city into a hub for new businesses

Business & Economy, World Opinion

Bangalore :

Its well-publicised troubles with basic infrastructure and political instability notwithstanding, Bangalore is proving that it is by far and away India’s startup capital, aided in the assumption of this title by the software companies which first put the city on the global map. A strong community of engineers with global work experience, savvy customers and growing pools of early-stage capital, are transforming the city into a global startup hub, much like the Silicon Valley in the United States.

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“Almost every day a new startup keeps coming up here,” said TV Mohandas Pai, a former director of Infosys and a prominent investor backing new technology ventures. So, despite the potholed roads, patchy power supply and a mostly apathetic government, entrepreneurs flocking to Karnataka’s capital say they are drawn by a unique culture of mentorship and networking that pervades the city.

“In Bangalore you don’t have to boil the ocean yourself,” said Sundi Natarajan, an angel investor, who relocated to the city after a decade-long stint in the US as a technology professional. Next month, Natarajan and a group of overseas investors will launch the city’s first global accelerator programme that will comprise entrepreneurs from Brazil and the US in addition to India-based ventures. The first batch of about 10 companies will be backed by a proposed $50-million (Rs 270-crore ) fund. “There are mentors here willing to meet entrepreneurs on a Sunday evening and brainstorm until midnight ,” said Natarajan, explaining his group’s decision to launch the accelerator in Bangalore. This cultural advantage is now being reflected in hard numbers.

Bangalore accounts for 41% of all new ventures launched in India, according to the World Startup Report, released last week by Bowei Gai, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is mapping the startup ecosystem in 29 countries. In response to this definitive change, city stalwarts, including Pai, are nudging a hitherto comatose government into action.

The Karnataka Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Group 2020 last year had asked for a Rs 1,000-crore fund to drive infrastructure development and a further Rs 100 crore to be set apart for incubation of startups and new IT firms. “The fund for startups has been approved; we are in the process of setting it up and finding a fund manager to run it,” said Pai, who is the co-founder of Aarin Capital — a $50-million venture firm. Industry experts are of the opinion that with the city being home to some of the country’s biggest software companies, it is a ripe pool of talent for startups.

“Talent is expensive but a startup can be assured of finding a minimum number of qualified people in Bangalore, rather than in any other Indian city,” said Rishikesha Krishnan, a professor at the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, who is part of iSpirit — a think-tank for software product companies. Around 70% of the top venture capital firms have a presence in Bangalore. Now funds such as Canaan Partners, SAIF and Lightspeed Venture Partners based in Delhi are setting up offices here. “A majority of the startup activity in India lies here,” said Nishant Verman, associate at Canaan Partners, which has invested in Bangalore companies such as mobile advertising platform Adnear and software services provider Happiest Minds.

Dave McClure, founding partner at 500 Startups, a US-based seed fund and startup accelerator, who is setting up a seed fund of $10 million for India, is of the view that while companies such as online retailer Flipkart and advertising platoform InMobi have gained size, new ventures in Bangalore such as online ticketing firm red-Bus are “just really impressive”.

A high density of entrepreneurs and investors is also drawing established entrepreneurs to relocate to the city. “If you are a technology firm focusing on the global market and cannot start in Silicon Valley, then Bangalore is the best place,” said Pallavi Nadhani , who moved his venture Fusion Charts from Kolkata two years ago and has since clocked revenues of Rs 40 crore.

As dozens of new companies build products in information technology, healthcare, education and retail, Bangalore’s reputation as a hub for cutting edge technology is being underlined further. Globally, nearly 25 million smartphones and tablets that were sold since April last 2011 use technology built by citybased venture Ittiam Systems to enable high definition video playback and camcorder applications . Mistral Solutions has developed wearable video cameras used by law enforcement agencies across the US.

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source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / Home> News> Emerging Businesses> Start ups / by Peerzada Abrar, ET Bureau / March 29th, 2013

This mum can cook

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel, World Opinion

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Kate Bracks might be a celebrity chef back in Australia but she was indeed very shocked to find that she had fans in India too. “I didn’t know people watchedMasterchef so seriously over here! When Matthew Cooper, (general manager, Bengaluru Marriott Whitefield ) sent me an email and asked me if I would like to come to Bangalore to do a few activities, I wasn’t too sure. I had never seen India and I had to think over it.

But then we chatted on the phone and I agreed; I am so glad that I did. Bangalore is fantastic — I am loving it. We went out yesterday andI ate at Queens, which I thought was brilliant, cooked naan at the hotel and ate the best butter chicken I have ever had. So yes, it has been a pretty good start,” says Kate, with her signature laugh. In town to launch Whitefield Baking Company at the hotel, Kate has a stuffed schedule over the next few days that she is here.

The story behind the title
That’s the thing about this celebrity cook— she doesn’t like being called a chef; her infectious positivity will force you to believe that you can make quite a lemonade out of lemons. “I am extremely passionate about cooking. When the first edition of Masterchef Australia was announced, my husband asked me to apply. But when I was going through the form, it had a question that asked if I was willing to stay away from my family for three months. My daughter was only one year old at the time. I couldn’t do it. But I watched a few episodes of it. And then when season two happened, I watched every single episode.

At the end of the show, there was an ad on TV inviting applications for the third season and I applied. But I forgot about it until they called me up two months later for the auditions. I was like, “errm.. I am not sure. Let me get back to you. I need to talk to my family”. I never knew I’d do it and I never knew I’d win. Neither did my husband! Every time I passed an elimination test, I’d call and tell him, “I am still in!” says Kate, of her entry into one of the coolest culinary contests to be aired on television.

The Masterchef kitchen was a massive learning process for Kate. “What you see on TV is only a part of it. We shot for seven months, with breaks of course, and the sessions were intense. But we are constantly learning something. We have master classes, training programs and we cook in professional kitchens and most of all, we are constantly discussing food in the ‘house’. So you’re constantly surrounded by these fabulous people and food… it’s life changing,” she says.

Not just yet
So why is there no restaurant from her yet? “It’s because of my family. I can’t do something that will take away all my time and focus from the children. But I do a lot of things when the kids are away at school. I hold cooking demonstrations; I teach kids to cook; I wrote my recipe book The Sweet Life, among other things.

For instance, I do a pop-up kitchen with Chef Michael Manners who’s a very popular chef there. And that gives me the opportunity to actually work in a professional kitchen without having to get involved full time into the operations and logistics. I am also working with chef Shaun Arantz, who has earlier been chosen as the Regional Chef of the Year and is also from Orange, NSW (Kate’s hometown); we’re planning to bring out a range of culinary and food products together….”

So, is there not going to be a restaurant — ever? “No, no. I will perhaps have one when my kids are all grown up. I have one mantra — if I do something, it has to be perfect and I want it to do well. So when I can actually give that much time to a restaurant — I am definitely going to have one!” assures Kate.

Family first, seriously
Her devotion towards her family is quite admirable. For a woman who’s never “got any formal training in cooking like many other celebrity chefs”, it is her innate love for cooking that led her to win the coveted title two years ago. However, she couldn’t quite stop reiterating how much she owes her family for it. “It’s hard to stay away from the kids for so long and I have never done it before. It was their constant support and courage that has led me this far… I would like to be a mum first and everything else after,” she says.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Home> Lifestyle> Report / by Priyadarshini Nandy, Place:Bangalore, Agency:DNA / Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Steven Spi­elberg compliments Bengaluru student on animation film

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

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Steven Spielberg has been my favourite filmmaker for the last decade. He has a way of inspiring emotions in the audience in ways that not many filmmakers can. I love the way he he combines images and sound to have the maximum impact— Krishna Bala Shenoi

Bengaluru:

 A 19-year-old Bengaluru student was paid the ultimate compliment on Wednesday when his hero Steven Spi­elberg wrote him a letter of appreciation after his own animated tribute caught the legendary film maker’s eye.

The handwritten letter of appreciation from Spiel­berg sees him use the word ‘im­press’ not once, but twice.

“Getting this letter from my childhood hero was such a shock,” said an ecs­tatic Krishna Bala Shenoi, second year student at Sri­shti School of Art, Design and Technology, who couldn’t contain his excitement.

“Getting this letter from my hero was such a shock, I was shivering. My knees were wobbly. I am so thankful to Steven Spielberg for being gracious enough to have taken the time to write me such a kind letter. I am convinced that his goodness isn’t restricted to just his films,” says Krishna Bala Shenoi, Second Year of Foundation Studies Programme at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology.

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Steven Spielberg’s hand-written letter addressed to Krishna Bala Shenoi

He has admired filmmaker Steven Spielberg since he was a child and now he has received a handwritten letter of appreciation from the man himself.

The 19-year-old, who compelled Spielberg to use the word “impress” twice in his letter in appreciation of his animation film, does not want to stop at animation. He wants to be a filmmaker like his hero.

“I haven’t been able to capture my awe for him. And therefore, I decided to create this animated tribute to him. It took me four months to make the video. I worked on it whenever I was free from college work. I have used a technique called rotoscoping, which involved drawing over the original video, which was, in this case, my favourite images from Spielberg’s movies. But this was only for my hero. In the long run, I want to make films,” says Krishna.

“I’ve been interested in filmmaking ever since I began watching films, when I was around eight years old. My mother introduced me to great movies like Superman, ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, etc.

“I started making short movies with an old Sony camcorder, building blocks, clay models, and whatever I could find, employing very rough stop-motion animation techniques,” Krishna adds.
He is also the youngest Far-Flung Correspondent on film critic Roger Ebert’s blog. “In 2010, the world’s most read film critic, Roger Ebert, contacted me via e-mail after seeing my films and writing on the internet, and Invited me to the Foreign Correspondents’ blog on his website.

The Foreign Correspondents blog is a feature of Roger Ebert’s Journal in which film commentators from all over the world contribute their video reviews, observations, musings, philosophies and pronouncements. Another foreign correspondent for Ebert’s blog, Anath White, sent my video to Lois Burwell, a make-up artist who has worked with Spielberg on films like Lincoln, and Saving Private Ryan, who passed it on to Spielberg.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Entertainment> Hollywood  /DC / March 08th, 2013

Indo-Canadian workshop on training health professionals in suicide prevention held

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

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Caption: Dr.G.M. Vamadeva is seen addressing the gathering yesterday.

Mysore, Mar. 1 :

The Department of Psychiatry, JSS Medical College, in association with Schullich University of Medicine & Dentistry, Canada conducted a one-day workshop on Training Health Professionals in Suicide Prevention at Sri Rajendra Auditorium in JSS Hospital premises here yesterday.

The workshop was attended by nearly 200 health professionals including Psychiatrists, Physicians, Family Physicians, General Practitioners, Auyrveda Practitioners, Psychologist, Social Workers & Nursing staff from JSS Medical College, JSS Nursing School and College, Mysore Medical College, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences and Mysore University. It was inaugurated by dignitaries — JSS Medical College Principal Dr.H. Basavannagowdappa, Senior Journalist Niranjan Nikam, Mysore District Surgeon Dr.G.M.Vamadeva, JSS Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. M. Guruswamy, JSS Mahavidyapeeta Medical Education Director R.Mahesh, Head of the Department of Psychiatry Prof.T.S.S.Rao and Dr. Amresh Srivastava, Dr.Paul Links and Dr.Rahel Eynan from Canada.

The dignitaries emphasised the need for such workshop as suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death. They also noted the importance of personal narratives in fighting the stigma associated with seeking help, initiatives from the government to tackle the issue, the greater role of public & media in creating awareness and relevance of sharing the experiences for effective strategies in prevention of suicide.

The first session was on the role of family physicians and other health professionals in suicide prevention by Prof. T.S.S. Rao, who said that south India was noted across the world as suicide prone region and it was crucial that family physicians should be aware of the risk factors and protective factors.

The second session was by Dr.Paul Links on Clinical Manifestations and Causes of Suicide Behaviour. He emphasised the need to recognise suicidal behaviour at early stages and relevance of psychiatric disorders which increases the risk of suicide. The third session was by Consultant Psychiatrist at JSS, Dr.M. Kishor on Psychosocial Factors, in which he appealed for individualising risk assessment based on psychosocial factors. He also highlighted the need for health professionals’ awareness about culture and socio-economic conditions.

The session was followed by role play, coordinated by Dr.Sam Manickam on effective ways of communication by health professionals during interaction with patients. Interactive session with audience coordinated by Dr. Amaresh, Dr. Paul Links and Dr.Rahel Eynan.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / March 01st, 2013

Indo-Canadian symposium on Nano-Science & Technology concludes

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

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Caption: Seen in the picture are (from left) S.L.Ramachandra, Hon. Secretary, NIE M.Sreepada Rao, Vice-President, Prof. Peter Mascher, Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, H.N. Ramathirtha, NIE Director, Prof. Rajasekara Murthy, Emeritus Scientist, National Water Research Institute, Canada, S.K. Lakshminarayana, Hon. Treasurer, NIE and Dr. G.L.Shekar, Principal, NIE.

Mysore, Feb.23 :

The first Indo-Canadian Symposium on Nano-Science and Technology, organised by the National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysore, in association with McMaster University, Canada, concluded on Feb. 21.

Prof. Peter Mascher, Professor and William Sinclair Chair in Optoelectronics, Associate Dean (Research and External Relations), Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University, delivered the valedictory address.

Prof. Rajasekara Murthy, Emeritus Scientist, National Water Research Institute, Canada, was the guest of honour.

H.N. Ramathirtha, Past-President and Director, NIE, presided over the function.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / February 23rd, 2013

Dubai: Dhwani to Stage Girish Karnad’s ‘Bali’ on March 22

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion

Dubai, Feb 12:

The internationally acclaimed play ‘Bali’, written by Jnanapeeth awardee, Padmabhushan Girish Karnad, will be staged on March 22 at Emirates Theatre (Emirates International School Auditorium), Dubai at 5.30 pm.

Dhwani Pratishthana artistes will stage the play under the direction of its president Prakash Rao Payyar.

Girish Karnad

The play supports non-violence and explores the confrontation between violence and non-violence discussing it at philosophical-level and also focuses on the woman’s fight for freedom and self-respect. Performance of the play in Hindi and English earned much significance. Its English version was first presented by the Haymarket Theatre of Leicester in the UK.

About the author: Girish Karnad was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. Apart from working in theatre, he has directed and acted in films. He has served as director of the Film and Television Institute of India, Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy (the National Academy of the Performing Arts) and director of the Nehru Centre, London (the cultural wing of the High Commission of India). He was Visiting Professor and Playwright-in-Residence at the University of Chicago. He has been honored with the Padma Bhushan and conferred the prestigious Jnanpith Award.

Prakash Rao Payyar

About the director: Prakash Rao Payyar, a postgraduate in Kannada literature, has penned and published two full length plays and two collection of poems and has edited three books on different subject. His poems and short stories have been published in most of the Kannada magazines and newspapers from Karnataka and Maharashtra. He was honored with prestigious Karnataka State Nataka Academy Award in the year 2010. Payyar has started directing the play in his college days. Presently he is editing a Kannada Monthly e-Journal on Theatre and Literature titled www.dhwanionline.com.

About Dhwani: Dhwani established in the year 1985 has produced more than thirty plays of renowned playwrights in Kannada and staged the same in Mumbai, Pune and Dubai. Dhwani has so far staged Girish Karnad’s ‘Nagamandala’, ‘Hayavadana’, ‘Odakalu bimba’ and Mohan Rakesh’s “Ashadhada Ondu Dina’ in Dubai.

Entry for the show will be free for all theatre fans.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Home / Media Release / Dubai – February 12th, 2013

Bangalore all set to host largest air show in Asia

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Aero India, the largest air show in Asia and one of the world’s most important military aviation exhibitions, is all set to kick-start at Yelahanka Air Force Station here, from February 6 to 11.

This biennial air show and aviation exhibition organised by the Defence Ministry along with Indian Air Force, DRDO, Department of Space and Union Civil Aviation Ministry, aims at showcasing the range of products and services offered by the Indian Defence Industry in the international market, a press release said.

Aero India also provides an exposure to the Indian Armed Forces, R&D personnel and young engineers to latest technologies and advancements in the aviation and aerospace industries, release said.

The ninth edition of Aero India would be inaugurated by Defence Minister A K Antony on February 6.

The participation in Aero India has grown exponentially by both Indian and international industry since the first edition in Dec 1996.

“This growth has immensely contributed towards modernisation of the aviation and aerospace sector of the three wings of the Armed Forces of India”, the release added.

While Aero India 2011 saw the participation from 29 countries with more than 600 companies and gross exhibition area of 75,000 Sqm, the ninth edition is expected to see participation of over 700 companies and 78 overseas delegations, covering an approximate gross exhibition area of 1,25,000 Sqm.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> National> Bangalore / by PTI  / February 04th, 2013

The biennial Bangalore air show

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Aero India has become a B2B hub for interested third world countries.

Once in every two years, in the month of February, the blue, hot skies of Bangalore reverberate with earth shattering decibels of fighter, transport, cargo, trainer and civil planes and helicopters. Come February 6, namma Bengaluru will once again be hosting the ninth edition of this international aero show, Aero India 2013 for a period of five days at the Yelahanka air force station.

The biennial air show and exhibition has been attracting the aviation who’s who from many countries including America, France, Germany, Russia, UK, Sweden, etc especially in the last nine years. Although it made a small beginning in 1996, it was only after 2005 that it grew in size and stature when manufacturers, defence dealers and users gave it the prominence that it slowly emerged as one of the most important and largest military aviation show in this part of the world.

Gaining international recognition and attracting exhibitors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Thales, SAAB, Eurocopter, Embraer, Dassault, etc, was not easy for the Bangalore air show as it took nearly a decade where participants finally took a call to extend the same importance as the Farnborough air show, RAF Waddington International Air Show, the Bournemouth Air Festival, the Berlin Air Show or the Miramar Air Show at California.

Over the years, the show has attracted the best of global companies from the aviation sector who have flown their products ranging from Sukhois, Super Hornets, Super Vipers, Rafale, Typhoons, Gripens, MIGs to Hawks, Advanced Light Helicopters, Flying Bulls and C-17 Globemaster  and demonstrated its prowess before a discerning experts and interested clients from many countries. In fact, the event has become a B2B hub for interested third world countries who are on the lookout for the latest advancements in the field of both passenger, transport, defence aircraft and avionics.

But this time, many aviation experts feel the show in the aftermath of the sealing of the `82,000 crore MMRCA (Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft) deal, may not attract the same attention with India selecting the Rafale from France to upgrade and strengthen the Indian Air Force fleet. Aerobatic display and demonstration of fighter planes especially from Russia, European union and Sweden may take a beating.

However, the ninth edition, exhibitors from 29 countries with 675 companies (380 overseas + 295 domestic) and 47 overseas delegations are participating who will be displaying on a gross exhibition area of 75,000 sqm (including outdoor). According to Defence Ministry sources, Aero India 2013 will be witnessing 57 per cent  more exhibitors compared to 2009. “It will provide a significant platform in bolstering business opportunities in the international aviation sector. Apart from this, it is favourably poised for an exponential growth over the previous edition.  A rapidly growing economy, defence preparedness challenges and opening up of defence production to private sector, has given a major fillip to the defence industry in India. It has also become a hub centre for defence business in the Asia region.”

While on the other hand, some exhibitors who had participated in previous shows say that they are not taking part because of the exorbitant hike in stall prices by FICCI. One exhibitor said, “Last time I had taken a stall space for Rs 2 lakh. But this year, FICCI is charging Rs 4 lakh for the same space. Therefore, many of the previous participants have backed out.”

With all the halls from A to H including the national pavilions, raw stands, chalet area and outdoor display stands already handed over to the respective exhibiting countries, hectic activity is going on at the air force station since January 25. A high security zone, it will be undergoing anti-sabotage and counter terrorist checks after February 3.

For watching the air display and viewing area as well as the exhibition, tickets will be available at Yelahanka air force station, FICCI Bangalore office and selected Axis Bank branches in the city.

The public is allowed only on two days on 9 and 10th and the tickets are priced at Rs 400 (Rs 500 on weekends) for the air display viewing area and Rs 1,000 for exhibition area only.

The general public can also visit the exhibition area between 6-8th February but only using a business visitor’s ticket.

It is mandatory for general public to bring one of the identification proofs like passport, driving license, voter ID, photo ID, or any other government issued identity card. On all days excepting the 6th (when it is 2-5 pm), the visiting hours for public on 9 and 10th is between 10 am to 5 pm. Children below 16 years are not allowed on business days from 6-8 February.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Meera Bharadwaj, ENS-Bangalore / February 02nd, 2013

Sitarist’s strings bridge cultures

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

Bangalore :

Into the sunset of Sunday, arose the strains of a ‘bridge’ across cultures.

Lit candles in the sanctum of St. Andrew’s Church merged with the strings of the sitar, as American musician Paul Livingstone  plunged into the depths of a meditative tune, between the fluidity of bass and treble altitudes.

Internalizing the mellifluousness of raag Jai Jayanti, Livingstone’s soul connected with the heavens in solitary harmony and cascaded into the aura of myriad beating hearts, exploring the communion between heaven and earth.

Keeping the 16-beat pace of the raag, which broke ground and reached sky high, transcending time and space, percussionist Vishwanath Nakod flavoured the range with gentle and powerful finesse.

And into the night’s darkness, candles at the sanctum glowed with acquired intensity, in emotional transcendence with

Livingstone’s alaap swum over the pillars and trusses that have been holding the ancient place of worship steady since the 1860s.

This confluence of music and the magnetic appeal it brought with it reflected the intensity of India’s own music gems — Amiya Dasgupta, Rajeev Taranath and Pandit Ravi Shankar  — under whom Livingstone has trained for over 25 years.

With this Indian connection, Livingstone strummed out of the pages of his own connection to the ‘trinity’ a hymn in raag. “For me, this symbol is about unity and diversity and the love that every person carries for god, no matter what caste or religion,” said Livingstone.

The ‘bridge’ across cultures created a page in the history of spiritual interconnections, as he strummed the strings of the sitar  in an Indian church for the first time ever.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / January 21st, 2012