Category Archives: World Opinion

Rockets of Tipu Sultan to get pride of place

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Cannon used by Tippu Sultan’s forces at the battle of Seringapatam 1799 – Wikimedia commons

Srirangapatna:

Saluting the vision of the father of  modern missile technology, Tipu Sultan, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to set up India’s first  archaeological rocket centre at his rocket court in Srirangapatna from where he fired the world’s first war rocket during the Anglo-Mysore battle.

DRDO Chief Controller (R&D), Dr W. Selvamurthy, who visited the rocket court on Friday  with other top defence scientists, was shocked  to see its condition. A portion of the front wall has collapsed and illegal constructions have cropped up on all sides.

Dr Selvamurthy said, “It’s really sad and appalling. The matter is of a great concern. The place which gave birth to the basics of rocket technology can’t be treated this way.  I will immediately write to the state Chief Secretary, the Archa­eo­logical Survey of India and the  state Dep­a­rtment of Arch­a­eology and Mus­e­u­ms  to restore and convert the mon­ument into an archaeological centre of great importance.”

He said that in the 16th century, the country’s core competence in rocket and missile technology was superior to rest of the world. The DRDO proposes to use the space to showcase India’s technological advancements. The wea­p­onry of  Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan was formidable and quite ahead of its time, he noted.

“We could have a life-size prototype of BrahMos, and models of a wide-range of missiles that India has developed like Prithvi, Agni and ballistic missiles, besides an original piece of Tipu’s rocket at the archaeological rocket centre we are proposing,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ASI and the state archaeological department continue to pass the buck on  the conditon of the rocket court. While  ASI representative, Satish Kumar says the department is responsible for the upkeep of the moument,  Mr. Gopal, director of the state department, contends it is the ASI’s job to restore it.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com  / Home> News> Current Affairs / by S. v. Krishna Chaitanya / December 29th, 2012

I want to provide Indians an increased opportunity in sports: Steve Waugh

Sports, World Opinion

Bangalore:

Well known cricketer and former Australian captain, Steve Waugh , who is known for his philanthropy work in India recently launched sports trained facility especially designed for Indians. Speaking about it, Steve says, “The sport facility which I am starting here was initially started in Kolkata but it ran in to some developmental problems and hence we decided to start it in Bangalore first, but the project there will revive soon.” Steve’s main aim of coming up with such a sports training facility is to make available the same kind of opportunities to the Indians available in Australia. He says, “We wanted to provide the same facilities here which we take for granted in Australia. It will give an increased opportunity to Indians and will also get the family involved in a sport.”

Moving on to cricket we quizzed Steve about his thoughts on the T20 form of cricket which has gained a lot of momentum. To which he says, “Ask the players today about T20 form of cricket and they will be pretty happy about it, there is a lot of money in it. But having said that, I think this is the way game going forward. It helps develop a lot of new skills, batters and ballers have to try thing differently and field has gone to another level.” Steve is also happy with the current captain of the Australian cricket team, Michael Clarke, he says, “Clarke is enjoying his captaincy better than anyone now.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Cricket> Sports / by Taniya Talukdar, TNN / November 24th, 2012

Strides Arcolab Limited : Strides Arcolab Receives US FDA Nod To Commercialize First Liquid Injectable Product From Its New Facility

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

• First shipments to commence in April 2011

Bangalore:

Strides Arcolab Limited (Strides) today announced that it has received approval from the US FDA to commercialize the first liquid injection sterile product from the Company’s new Sterile Injectable complex in Bangalore. The approved product has been facing prolonged shortage in the USA and approval from the new facility will offer Strides unconstrained capacities to meet the market demand.

With this approval, significant capacity will be released from the existing site enabling

Strides to commercialize additional liquid injectable products.

Strides had earlier announced approval for Vancomycin Injection from its new facility in Bangalore in a lyophilized format and the Company has already started supplies to the US market in March 2011.

Commenting on this development Venkat Iyer, CEO, Agila Specialties, said, “The US FDA approval for the product from the new site will go a long way in ameliorating product shortages in critical therapeutic areas. Two significant product approvals from the new facility augur well for the launch of a series of products in the USA during 2011”

For reasons of confidentiality, the Company is not in a position to disclose the name of the product.

Additional information is available at the company’s website at www.stridesarco.com  www.stridesarco.com.

source: http://www.4-traders.com / Home Page> Shares> National Stock Exchange of India> News / Press Release – Strides – PR Consultancy / November 10th, 2012

Canada PM concludes India visit with hockey game in Bangalore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Sports, World Opinion

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wound up his six-day trip to India with a visit to a leading local school, where he played a game of hockey enthralling students on friday. Accompanied by wife Laureen Harper, he visited the Bishop Cotton Boys School where he was received by school captains. Students of Bishop Cotton Girls School were also in attendance to welcome the visiting dignitaries.

The Boys school principal, Prof John P Zachraiah, briefed him about the school, its pupils and their achievements.

At the playground, Harper had a feel of the cricket bat, but chose not to face a single delivery though Prithvi of Class XI was practicing vigorously to bowl.

Harper then joined Cotton Girls Camp led by Nandini S Patil of Class X to play a 10-minute hockey match, while Canadian sports minister Baljit Singh Gosal joined forces with boys’ team led by Yash Gopalka, studying in Class XII.

Boys’ team beat the rival camp which included Harper 2-0.

The Harpers then drove straight to Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli and boarded the Manila-bound Royal Canadian Air Force special aircraft.

source: http://www.HindustanTimes.com / Home> Punjab> Canada / by PTI / Bangalore, November 10th, 2012

Mysore Maharaja’s carriage to be auctioned at UK

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, World Opinion

A magnificent 19th century State carriage which belonged to the Mysore Maharajas, is set to be auctioned in the United Kingdom by historics auctioneers.

Used exclusively by the royal family of Mysore and to transport European royalty including the Prince of Wales, the carriage is expected to sell for £70,000 to £100,000. This horse or elephant-drawn State carriage is thought to be of British origin and dates from arou-nd early to mid-19th century.

It features an imposing and ornately finished cruciform body with a vaulted, domed roof situated atop double elliptic springs and iron bound artillery patterned wheels. The basic colour is olive green embellished with delicate meander boarders, floral and heraldic motifs and the family coat of arms. Most of the 16 windows offer drop-down, decorated panels and shutters for privacy.

The interior is upholstered in beige damask and the roof has decorative paintwork, carved border moldings and finials.

The exterior houses two seats perhaps used by servants and courtiers and given the detailing and design throughout, could easily be described as a work of art, as can be seen in a wall painting of it at the Mysore Palace Museum. It is thought to have been last used at the Cha-mundeshwari Festival in 1927.

The Wadiyar dynasty, established by Vijaya, ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399. Vijaya took on the name and ruled Mysore, then a small town, from 1399 CE to 1423 CE. From 1760 to 1799, the rule of the dynasty was essentially nominal, with real power in the hands of successive Dalwai, or Commanders-in-Chief, Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who expanded the kingdom aggressively, but clashed with the East India Company.

After Tipu Sultan was killed when the British stormed Seringapatnam in 1799, the Wadiyars were restored to power by the British.

It was offered at auction by an Australian firm, Leonard Joel, on Feb. 22. It is believed to have been offered by a private British collection. It was later exhibited at Sotheby’s Olympia on 1991, and was acquired by historians.

The carriage will be auctioned on Nov. 24, 2012 at the Brooklands Museum in the United Kingdom.

[For more details, contact Dr. Rahul Sharma on email: drrahulsharmaji@yahoo.com.]

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> Feature Articles / November 07th, 2012

Noor Inayat Khan: The Indian princess who spied for Britai

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

The Princess Royal is set to unveil a sculpture of Noor Inayat Khan, dubbed the “Spy Princess” by her biographer Shrabani Basu in London’s Gordon Square Gardens.

Raised in Britain and France and a descendant of Indian royalty, bilingual Noor Inayat Khan was recruited by the elite Special Operations Executive (SOE) in 1942 to work in Paris as a radio operator.

Records from the national archives show she was the first female wireless operator sent to Nazi-occupied France during World War II.

After evading capture for three months, the spy was imprisoned, tortured and eventually shot by the German Gestapo at Dachau concentration camp in 1944.

Her final word – uttered as the German firing squad raised their weapons – was simple. “Liberté”.

Liberty was a notion the pacificist-turned-war-heroine held deeply, according to Ms Basu.

For her bravery, she was posthumously awarded the George Cross. In France she was honoured with the Croix de Guerre, and later with two memorials and an annual ceremony marking her death.

Indian royalty

Brave, glamorous and both sensitive and formidable, it is said she acted not out of a love for Britain, but out of an aversion to fascism and dictatorial rule.

Her father was a musician and Sufi teacher, and Noor Inayat Khan was raised with strong principles and believed in religious tolerance and non-violence.

Ms Basu claims she “couldn’t bear to see an occupied country”, a notion that seems to run in her family.

Noor Inayat Khan’s great-great-great-grandfather was Tipu Sultan, an 18th century Muslim ruler of Mysore. He refused to submit to British rule and was killed in battle in 1799.

Born on 1 January 1914 in Russia to an Indian father and American mother, the agent’s infancy was spent in London.

The family moved to France when she was a child and lived in Paris, where she was educated and learnt fluent French.

A bronze sculpture of Khan has been erected in Gordon Square Gardens on land owned by the University of London

The national archives describe how the sensitive young woman studied both medicine and music.

In 1939 the Twenty Jataka Tales, a collection of traditional Indian children’s stories she had retold, were published in Le Figaro.

When war broke out in 1939, Noor Inayat Khan trained as a nurse with the French Red Cross.

She fled the country just before the government surrendered to Germany in November 1940, escaping by boat to England with her mother and sister.

‘Tigress’

Shortly after arriving in the UK, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) as a wireless operator and soon caught the attention of recruiters from the SOE.

Also known at the time as Nora Baker, Khan joined the elite spy squad in 1942.

She was deployed to France a short time later despite an SOE training report describing her as “not over-burdened with brains” and “unsuited to work in her field”.

Codenamed “Madeleine”, she joined others in the resistance network Prosper, famously tasked by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze”.

Despite suspicions that the network had been infiltrated by a Nazi spy, Khan refused to return to Britain, risking arrest by the Gestapo.

Ms Basu – who spent eight years researching her life – told the BBC: “She was this gentle writer of children’s stories, a musician, but she was transformed. She was a tigress in the field.”

Noor Inayat Khan was raised by her Sufi father to be tolerant of other religions and a pacifist

With her team gradually captured by the Gestapo, Noor Inayat Khan continued for as long as possible to send intercepted radio messages back to England.

Despite her commanders urging her to return to England, she single-handedly ran a cell of spies across Paris for three more months, frequently changing her appearance and alias.

Eventually, she was betrayed, arrested and imprisoned. She was sent to Pforzheim prison in Germany where she was kept shackled and in solitary confinement.

She refused to reveal any information, despite 10 months of repeated beatings, starvation and torture by her Nazi captors.

Her fortitude – and two escape attempts – led her captors to brand her “highly dangerous”, despite her pacifist upbringing.

‘Inner strength’

In September 1944, she and three other female SOE agents were transferred to Dachau concentration camp where on 13 September they were shot and killed.

Ms Basu has described her life as “inspirational”, and said the modern world can draw lessons from the story of Noor Inayat Khan.

She said: “For her to come into this world on the front line taking on the Gestapo, showed her inner strength and her courage, her immense courage and resilience.

“It’s very inspiring, especially given the the troubled times that we live in. It is important to remember these qualities and values.

“Two and a half million Indians volunteered for the war effort and it was the largest single volunteer army.

“I think we must not forget their contribution. Noor was part of this.”

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk / Home> UK / by Samantha Dalton, BBC News / November 08th, 2012

Hotels, retail target Japanese community

Business & Economy, Travel, World Opinion

Bangalore:

The large and rising number of Japanese enterprises and families in Bangalore is encouraging the emergence of products and services targeted at this community.

Tokyo-based  Nippon Infrastructure Company, in association with entrepreneur Nic U Iqbal, is setting up an exclusive business hotel for the  Japanese community  on Langford Road. This fully Jap-styled, 30-room hotel called Uno-Inn will be operational from November 1. Iqbal, together with another investor, is also launching a chain of Kenkos (Japanese health outlets) to sell Japanese health drugs, herbs, health devices, health accessories, skin, hair and hygiene products. The maiden store is coming up on Brigade Road on a 7,000 sqft facility.

In August, Toyota Enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary of  Toyota Motor Corporation, entered into a joint venture with Hyagreeva Hotels and Resorts that owns and operates The Chancery hospitality brand in Bangalore. TOI had then reported that, under this pact, Toyota Enterprises would take over 52 rooms in The Chancery on Lavelle Road and invest in styling and ambience to fit Japanese standards. A Japanese restaurant and spa are also being added and will be operational from January 2013.

The Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) estimates that Bangalore is home to around 200 Japanese companies — most prominent of which is Toyota Motor Company — and over 600 Japanese families. It also estimates that over 12,000 Japanese visit Bangalore every year on business assignments.

The Karnataka government has also made a big pitch for Japanese investments. At the Global Investors Meet this year, the largest foreign delegation, with some 50 members, was said to have been from Japan. The government has been talking about establishing a township exclusively for Japanese expats on 1,000 acres of land, with residential accommodation, restaurants, pagodas, hospitals and schools. The government, in association with the Japanese government, is also said to be looking at establishing a Japanese-language school in Bangalore to help Kannadigas learn Japanese and improve their chances of employment in Japanese firms. A plan for a Japanese bullet train project between Chennai and Bangalore, and Bangalore and Hubli is occasionally heard.

So understandably there is increasing demand for quality Japanese lodging and dining facilities in Bangalore. Iqbal, who has 15 years of working experience in Japan including a five-year term with the Japanese government, told TOI: “Many of these Japanese visitors to Bangalore are on slightly long visits, like a week or more. From my interaction with them I understand that they prefer to stay in a place that gives them a touch of home and Japanese food.”

Naomi Isono, director of Uno-Inn, said, “We are tying to make this hotel as Japanese as possible. It will have Japanese executives, Japanese chefs and Japanese food. The entire decor and ambience of rooms, restaurants and the hotel building will be in Japanese style.”

The Chancery’s Japanese wing will include a dedicated Japanese concierge service, reception desk, signboards, staff for guidance, a floor manager, and a large communal bath area.

This bath area will replicate the hot spring bath experience common in Japan. The rooms will be customized to Japanese requirements, with large desks, bidet toilets and expanded space for long stay guests.

In an earlier interaction, Naveen Raju, director, Hyagreeva Hotels and Resorts, had said that the city hotels sold 1,800 room nights to Japanese business travellers every month.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Business> India Business / by Mini Joseph Tejaswi & Anshul Dhamija, TNN / October 23rd, 2012

Austrian Co’s community service in N’GUD

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Caption: AT&S Austria’s Chairman of Supervisory Board Honnes Androsch (extreme right) is seen with Mysore Unit’s Executive Secretary Roopa Rao and Managing Director Ric Rawlley.

Mysore, Oct. 7

An Austria-based company called AT&S India, having an electronic micro-chip industry in Nanjangud, has been providing community services in the areas of health and education for villages in the surroundings for the past several years.

AT&S Mysore Unit Managing Director Ric Rawlley, addressing a press meet in city yesterday, said that AT&S India has been providing regular medical services to the residents of Korehundi village located just behind the plant, in association with JSS Medical Institution.

“Physicians visit this village – which has a population of approximately 800 people — every week to attend to the patients and provide free consultation and medicines. AT&S India has constructed a medical examination centre and also a room for small children who attend the Anganwadi (special educational / health system for poor children),” said Rawlley.

AT&S has set up a new high capacity pump installed at Srikanteswara Water Works in Nanjangud, providing 100 liters of drinking water to Sujathapuram School everyday.

“The industry has been providing scholarships for employees’ children each year, along with free medical facility to nearby village people. Regular free medical checkup and distribution of medicine to Handuvinahalli villagers is being done,” he said.

Other community service works done by the industry are: Sponsoring three eye camps per year in association with Rotary Club of Nanjangud, distribution of uniforms, school bags and drinking water to Korehundi primary school and Anganawadi children, monetary rewards for toppers, computer literacy, sponsoring vocational training to villagers, etc.

AT&S unit is situated close to river Kabini. The company has a captive power generating station to meet operational requirements. The total land area is 42 acres, which is sufficient to take care of all future expansions. The present built up area is 39,300 sq mtrs.

AT&S Austria’s Chairman of Supervisory Board Honne

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / October 07th, 2012

Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan becomes UN Goodwill Ambassador

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, World Opinion

Bollywood’s lovely Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan is now an International UN Goodwill Ambassador, specifically for the UNAIDS (United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS). Doing so, Ms. Rai-Bachchan is following the footsteps of friend and fellow star, Preity Zinta, as well as Hollywood actress and Oscar nominee, Naomi Watts, and many other influential celebrity activists.

Wondering what the beauty has to say about this new responsibility? At the press conference, she said, ““I will initially be like a student, holding the hand of the organization which will lead me to the real picture on the ground.”

Later, Aishwarya went on to say, “I don’t want to be just a poster girl, don’t want to be just part of a platform that will have my face and quotes and voice. By coming on board, I hope to give further impetus to the work that UNAIDS has done and further contribute to the help spread the message. This is a turning point in my life.”

What a fantastic story, right? Hearts are warmed at Aishwarya’s genuine concern for the UN and for making a difference.

By: Brittney Schering

source: http://www.desihits.com / Home> News / September 29th, 2012

Brown University launches initiative for study of India

Business & Economy, Leaders, World Opinion

New York:

Prestigious Ivy leagure Brown University has launched an India-centric initiative that will focus on academic research and public discourse on India.

The ‘Brown-India Initiative’ was launched by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna who visited the Rhode Island-based university yesterday and addressed students on ‘India’s Foreign Policy Priorities for the 21st Century.’

Brown said the initiative would be an interdisciplinary hub for the study of contemporary India through research and a series of public lectures and events throughout the academic year. The initiative would be based out of the university’s Watson Institute for International Studies.

“Developments in India are generating enormous intellectual and practical curiosities,” International Studies and Social Sciences Professor and Brown-India Initiative director Ashutosh Varshney said.

He said the rapid pace of change over the last two decades has led to exciting research puzzles and new challenges have also been posed for the politics and economics of the country.

“By promoting research on questions of contemporary political and economic relevance, Brown University can play a significant role in analyzing key issues and can influence public debates about the future evolution of India,” he added.

The initiative’s goals would be to produce exemplary academic research and to contribute to public discourse on India through convergence of figures from academia, civil society, literature, public policy and journalism.

The initiative would promote research in economics, politics, urbanization, national security and domestic conflict management and work with partners in India to conduct the research.

The partners include Bangalore based nonprofit organization Janaagraha, Center for Policy Research and the National Council of Applied Economic Research, both in Delhi.

Krishna’s lecture was the first in a series of year-long public presentations to be offered by the initiative.

The initiative would also host other prominent public figures like World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu, who would focus on two decades of India’s economic reform.

source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / Home> News By Industry> Education / by PTI / September 29th, 2012