Category Archives: Nri’s / Pio’s

Mandya-origin Vivek H Murthy next US Surgeon General

Amazing Feats, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

President Barack Obama plans to nominate Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy, the Indian-American head of a doctors group that promotes his signature healthcare law to be the next US surgeon general.

DrVivekBF02dec2013

Murthy is a hospitalist at the Brigham and is co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a Washington, DC-based group of 16,000 physicians and medical students that advocates for access to affordable, high quality health care.If confirmed by the Senate, Murthy will replace Regina Benjamin, who was appointed by Obama in 2009 and left her post last summer.

The job focuses heavily on public health issues.Murthy was appointed to the President’s Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health in 2011. The prevention group was created as part of the Affordable Care Act health reform law.

His group, Doctors for America, was originally called Doctors for Obama and helped to campaign for Obama’s election.

Murthy co-founded VISIONS Worldwide in 1995, a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS education in India and the United States, where he served as President from 1995 to 2000 and Chairman of the Board from 2000 to 2003.

Murthy received a BA from Harvard University, an MBA from Yale School of Management, and an MD from Yale School of Medicine.

“I am confident that these outstanding individuals will greatly serve the American people in their new roles and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in announcing Murthy’s appointment along with three other key posts.

The announcement came shortly after Obama acknowledging that his administration “fumbled” in the troubled rollout of his healthcare law offered a fix that would allow insurers to keep for another year people on plans that were to be cancelled for not meeting minimum standards under the new law.

In the midst of mounting criticism of the troubled healthcare website, former President Bill Clinton had Tuesday suggested that Obama should make sure Americans can retain their current health insurance plans, even if it means revamping the Affordable Care Act.

“I personally believe, even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honour the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they’ve got,” Clinton told OZY, a news website.

Murthy, though was born in London and shifted base to the US later, he has links with the Hallegere village of Mandya district.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> International / by Agencies / Washington – November 15th, 2013

Colours of Karnataka!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's
The designer - Lavanyaa KR.
The designer – Lavanyaa KR.

“Clothes are like an extension of one’s personality, so it really shouldn’t matter from which part of the world it comes,” believes Lavanyaa KR, a 30-year-old techie-turned-fashion designer. This Bengalurean is blowing minds away with her vibrant collection of South Indian traditional wear, titled Varnanggall.

“Varnanggall is a Tamil word for ‘colours.’ It’s about an artiste’s dream and vision to paint the world with her colours!” explains a passionate Lavanyaa. She is the light at the end of the tunnel for all those desis stuck abroad desparately planning their wedding.

“Based on my travels to some parts of the globe I sensed that people abroad were missing the online presence of an ‘affordable, unique 24 carat’ Indian traditional wear. I found it difficult to plan my wedding sitting in Boston, USA in spite of the existence of many e-commerce Indian fashion platforms,” she explains.

Her clothing line comprises sarees, dupattas, stoles and langa dhawanis. She also has home décor items. The starting price of a saree during an exhibitions is Rs 3,500.

During October, she held an exhibition called Aalapana in Bengaluru and was stunned with the response. “I will remain forever grateful to all the ladies for trusting and accepting this budding artiste,” she smiles.

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Moving to UK with her husband helped her expand the reach of her products. She has sold her products in India, USA, UK, Dubai, Australia, Finland, Germany, Malayasia, Singapore and Canada. She informs that there is a mad demand for Indian traditional wear all over the world, “Especially the South Indian traditional wear with zari work, traditional temple borders, kalamkari motifs, block prints, vibrant colours and beautiful workmanship,” all of which she offers.

What makes her clothing so accessible is that she operates entirely on Facebook. “With the confined investment in my kitty, it was not feasible and practical to set up a physical store. So I opted to work online,” she says, but she says a new store is “positively in the pipeline.” She has been strongly supported by her family and friends, who model for her brand and help her gain popularity. “My friend Supriya even wrote about me in her blog Aalayam and has helped my customer base know who I really am,” she says, sounding grateful.

Lavanyaa doesn’t just design. She also loves to bake, photograph, visit flea markets and charity shops. “I enjoy collecting artwork, swimming and doing pottery as well. But quality time with my family tops my list,” she concludes.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Fashion-Beauty / by Agencies/DC Online / by Swathi Chatrapathy / November 10th, 2013

Abracadabra : Passing thoughts on men and mice

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Kennedy, Sabu and Anekaroti

(1-Top Left )Sabu, the elephant boy. (2-Top Right) Sabu with his father, a mahout (3- Middle) This is the rear of the building from where Kennedy was shot and killed. (4-Bottom) The memorial like a wall with vertical lines at the spot where Kennedy delivered his last speech. Dr. Sunder Raj is seen standing by the side of the information plaque.
(1-Top Left )Sabu, the elephant boy.
(2-Top Right) Sabu with his father, a mahout
(3- Middle) This is the rear of the building from where Kennedy was shot and killed.
(4-Bottom) The memorial like a wall with vertical lines at the spot where Kennedy delivered his last speech. Dr. Sunder Raj is seen standing by the side of the information plaque.

A couple of days back, an old friend of mine from Bangalore had come to meet me and casually asked if Dr. J.K. Sunder Raj, a well-known family doctor of our city, had hung his stethoscope. Since I am in regular contact with him either in the Sports Club or Mysore Race Club or in connection with the Zoo (where he treats the gorillas), I answered in the negative.

“What makes you think Dr. Sunder Raj has called it a day and closed shop?” I asked.

It seems my friend had gone to see him at his clinic on Old Mysore Bank Road in city and found there was no clinic. That was news for me too. I called him on telephone to check. Yes, indeed he had closed his city clinic, but continues his service to the sick families from his house on Vivekananda Road in Yadavagiri. It was then that the good doctor said he was wanting to see me personally to hand over a unique newspaper that he had purchased in Dallas, Texas, where he had been recently to be with his daughter.

As promised, he came to my office with his special newspaper and more. The cover page of the newspaper is produced here… and the headline is self-speaking.

The daily newspaper ‘The Dallas Times Herald’, in its Friday evening Nov. 22, 1963 Final Edition, had carried world’s most shocking and tragic news of the day that happened in the city from where the paper was published. The assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. Looking at the paper that appeared as pulled out from the well-preserved archive, I wondered how our doctor managed to get the paper which will have huge antique value ! He asked me to take it easy. There is nothing like grabbing an old copy of that day of tragedy of Nov. 22, 1963. The credit for making available this copy of the newspaper to tourists should go to the Curator of Kennedy Museum at Dallas where Dr. Sunder Raj purchased it by paying $ 4.60. The cover price of the newspaper in 1963 was five cents.

The Museum authorities periodically print this historic newspaper as it was printed on that tragic day and sell them. What better souvenir one would want for visiting the Kennedy Museum ?

I took a copy of it before returning the original to the doctor and wondered if anything like this is being done at Gandhi Museum or Nehru Museum in our country. Readers with information on this may please write or e-mail to me.

Dr. Sunder Raj also gave me two photographs he had taken — one of the building from where Lee Oswald, the assassin, shot the President from the sixth floor which has now been converted into a Museum and another, the spot where President Kennedy delivered his last speech.

Dr. Sunder Raj also had two more surprise photographs with him which were of personal nature. One was a photograph he had clicked in the year 1951-52 at the elephant stables of the Maharaja, known famously as ‘Anekaroti.’ Now the new generation as also of the old generation may not know that the Anekaroti ever existed in Mysore, attracting huge number of tourists those days.

The stable was located where the JSS Hospital Complex is now. There used to be 20 to 25 elephants, well fed and healthy, says the doctor. The area of the Anekaroti used to be green and cool with plenty of trees, adds Dr. Sunder Raj.

The doctor recalls: Once a team of Hollywood film-makers visited Mysore in around 1950. They also visited the then famous Anekaroti. As they went around Anekaroti, they saw a young, bright and handsome boy playing with a huge elephant. His name was Sabu Dastagir who later became a famous Hollywood actor under the name Mysore Sabu (27.1.1924 – 2.12.1963). He was born in Karapore in H.D. Kote, the famous hunting forest of the Maharaja of Mysore. His father was a mahout (elephant attendant) and trainer of elephants. Sabu, his son, too was following his father’s profession where he was spotted by the Hollywood film-maker Robert J. Flaherty.

Dr. Sunder Raj says that Robert Flaherty persuaded Sabu’s father to let him take Sabu to Hollywood. Once in the US, Sabu was taught English and given training in acting.

Sabu acted in several English movies, specially connected to the jungles. His first movie was ‘Elephant Boy’ which was a great hit. Other movies were ‘Song of India,’ ‘The Jungle Book,’ ‘The Thief of Baghdad’ etc. It is sad that such a talented Mysore boy died young at the age of 39.

To those working to develop Mysore as a tourist destination, I may suggest that they revive the ‘Anekaroti’ which is sure to become a tourist attraction. Some lessons from the ‘elephant show’ of Bangkok’s ‘Rose Garden’ may be learnt and incorporated to this Anekaroti. Howzzat?

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra / by K.B. Ganapathy, Editor  e-mail kbg@starofmysore.com / November 18th, 2013

India is the place to be, say home-bound doctors

Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Bangalore :

After technology sector, it’s the health sector in Bangalore that is witnessing a reverse brain drain. Across fields-nephrology, general medicine, pathology, orthopaedics and oncology among others, doctors are returning to India in general and Bangalore in particular.

On an average big medical hospital chains in the city each get 8 to 10 applications every month from Indian doctors in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore. “I interview one doctor a week. And in the last six months I have got 12 applications for jobs from doctors abroad. They are all in their 30s,” says Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Hospitals.

The scene is no different at Sparsh Hospital on Narayana Health City campus where chief orthopaedic and hospital head Dr Sharan Patil scrutinizes at least 10 applications every month from doctors in the UK, Australia and the US.

“There is no bigger canvas to paint yourself than in medicine. Two decades ago when doctors left India, the opportunities were few. Today opportunities outweigh frustrations. After the training, they want to return,” says Dr Patil, who himself spent five years in the UK before returning to the city to become a doctor-entrepreneur.

Ten of the 40 orthopaedicians at Sparsh are those who have returned from abroad. “I began to feel I was making no difference in my job and decided to leave Australia. I find it more satisfying here. But it is good to study and train abroad for some time,” says Dr A Thomas, spine surgeon, who practised for five years at St George Hospital, University of South Wales.

Hospital honchos are seeing the trend only in the past five years. In many hospital chains of Bangalore, the entrepreneurs are doctors themselves who left practice in the dream country where they were and came back home.

For Dr Ajai Kumar who worked at the Anderson Cancer Hospital in the US, India is evolved and it’s an experience doctors don’t want to miss out on. “The country I left in the 1970s is astounding now. It has all the infrastructure and there is no dearth of training. So what is the excuse now?” says the oncologist, who started the HCG chain of hospitals in India after spending nearly two decades in the US.

The alarming growth of cancer is also one factor drawing doctors to Bangalore. Dr Ajai gets about 15 applications from doctors in the 30-40 age group every year. From paediatric oncologist to hepato biliary surgeon at HCG, the specialists who have returned to Bangalore are from across the spectrum.

Ask Dr Pallavi Rao, pathologist, who got back to Bangalore from the UK with her radiologist husband Dr Srikanth Narayanaswamy, why she took the call. “We were there from 2005 to 2012. We chose to come back home as it stopped exciting us there,” she says.

Ditto with Dr Rekha Bhatt who joined the Manipal hospital after winding up her practice in the US. “Go there to study but get back here. India is the place to put your studies to use,” says the pathologist.

For many, it is the learning experience that matters. There is no TB, dengue or malaria in western countries. “For doctors, especially youngsters, treating diseases that are prevalent means more exposure. India is a great lab for doctors because of the sheer size and the number of surgeries we do,” says cardiologist Dr Devi Shetty.

“Coming back was no compromise for me. I began to feel that Bangalore was in no way inferior to other countries, especially in my area of specialization,” says endocrinologist Dr Karthik Prabhakar who left for the UK in 1998 only to get back to the city.

For many the dream of foreign shores is over. As a child, one of India’s top nephrologists Dr Ballal dreamt of going to the US and working there. He worked towards his dream and at 21, got his green card to do his MD in nephrology and critical care. “I was not keen on coming back. In 1991, I reluctantly returned. I told myself I will give two years to decide if I want to go back. The first few months were miserable. Twenty years on, I have no regrets. I will never leave India.”

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ The Times of India / Home> India> HCG / by Seethalakshmi, TNN / September 03rd, 2013

City student’s childhood dream takes flight to reality

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

AjaiRaghavendraBF14sept2013

Mysore :

At the age of two he was declared a winner at the Johnson & Johnson’s healthy baby contest, at three he was crowned the ‘Baby Prince’ at a competition in city and by the time he turned four, he, unlike other kids, was obsessed with planes. He would sketch pictures of aeroplanes and aircrafts every time he got a chance. It is from that tender age that his mind began developing an interest in the world of aeronautics.

“From a very early age he was inclined towards aeronautics,” says Suma Prakash about her 19-year-old son Ajay Raghavendra who has gone on to turn his dream into reality by pursuing studies in the interesting subject of Aeronautical Science in the USA.

Ajay Raghavendra is a youngster from city, who was always fascinated by the subject of aeronautics. He took to everything that was associated with the subject ever since he was in School. His first step towards it began with him joining the NCC air wing as a student at the city’s St. Joseph’s Central School.

“I remember he was declared the best cadet there,” recalls his mother Suma. “Ajay had further drawn inspiration from two of our acquaintances Captain S. R. Swaroop and Captain Aravind Sharma, whom he would meet occasionally when he was student here in Mysore.” And on watching him show so much interest in the field, parents B. M. Prakash and Suma decided to let him pursue higher studies in what interested him most — Aeronautical Science.

“It was totally Ajay’s idea and we in no way interfered as we neither had any idea about the subject nor did we intend to come in his way,” says Suma. Soon after his PUC at Vijaya Vitthala P U College in Mysore, Ajay flew to Florida in USA to pursue an under graduate programme at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), to satiate his craving for all things aviation and aerospace.

What’s more, now in the second year of the four year bachelor’s degree programme that he is pursuing, Ajay went on to prove his potential there too. Deemed the best student for his high scores and excellence in academics in the very first year, he has been declared an honours student, according to Suma, who proudly adds: “The subjects he specialises in are meteorology and mathematics and he is a certified flight instructor as well.”

That apart, Ajay is even multifaceted. He happens to be an excellent painter, a trained tabla artiste and a golfer too.

As happy and proud the parents are about their son, so does Ajay feel about his parents as well. When asked about his achievements, he says, “If I am doing something good and interesting today, it is all because of my parents who have stood by me and supported all my decisions wholeheartedly. They have always guided me to choose what I feel is best. I will do my best to live up to their expectations. I still have a long way to go.”

With such unlimited potential, Ajay could truly be an inspiration to many.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / September 08th, 2013

US pro-immigration for talented people: Gururaj Deshpande

Business & Economy, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology
Gururaj 'Desh' Deshpande
Gururaj ‘Desh’ Deshpande

Bangalore :

Gururaj ‘Desh’ Deshpande is an Indian American investor, best known for cofounding Sycamore Networks and the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at MIT in the US. In Bangalore, he co-founded Tejas Networks. Three years ago, US President Barack Obama appointed him co-chair of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. For those new to this space, he is related to Infosys’ N R NarayanaMurthy (his and Murthy’s wives are sisters ), and it is said that Deshpande used to be introduced as Murthy’s brother-in-law in India, and vice-versa in the US. Deshpande spoke exclusively to TOI on a visit to Bangalore on Thursday:

How do you see the immigration debate in the US?
The US wants highly talented people to be part of its economy. When we went to the US in the ’70s, we didn’t have that many opportunities to come back. Now, a lot of people going there for education are not staying back and the US is getting to the point where their education is the best in the world and they are not benefiting from it. They are pro-immigration for highly talented people. But there are also 20 million illegal immigrants in US, hence there’s this big debate about granting citizenship to immigrants.

You advise Obama on innovation and entrepreneurship. How is that initiative going?
Innovation is as important in the US as it is in India. In the US, for the last 15 years, 5 lakh new companies have started every year, generating 4 million new jobs each year. This has happened independent of slowdowns . The only way to solve the long-term problem is to create more jobs and take it to 8 or 10 million. The question is how do you get startups and how do you bring them up to speed? We cameup with a policy on how to generate ideas, promote entrepreneurship and provide access to capital. The key message that applies to India also is that government should not be in the game of picking winners and losers. They should explore co-investing opportunities or give tax breaks to angel investors and VCs.

What is your assessment of the startup ecosystem in India?
I’m excited. Sometimes in India people’s expectation goes out of hand. People think that they can create entrepreneurship by building infrastructure and incubators. It doesn’t happen. It happens only by people actively engaging in it. The best policy is, you let a lot of people play and not pick the winners and losers. It’s like having a cricket team with a lot of street cricket. Once you have big platforms, you have good people coming to it.

You’ve set up what you call a Social Innovation Sandbox to nurture social enterprise and innovation in the Hubli-Dharwad region. How is that going?
If impact is what you desire, you have to get connected to real problems. If you want social innovation to happen, you have to have a deep understanding of the problem itself and then to solve it. You need new ideas that needn’t be patentable and looking for huge competitive advantage. Relevance is the most important piece in social innovation. We have 10,000 college students in Hubli-Dharwad doing about 2,000 projects. You’re using society as a lab. Even if 3-4 % of them become entrepreneurs and employ 10 or 100 people, it’s a huge booster to the economy. When you bring execution excellence to the compassion of the non-profit , magic happens. Ratan Tata  was a part of the Sandbox last year. I met him in Mumbai recently and he said he wants to do something similar. Ratan is motivated to solve huge problems . He thinks Akshaya Patra can scale from feeding 1.2 million to 100 million.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Tech> Enterprise IT> Entrepreneurship / by Shilpa Padnis & Sujit John, TNN / August 09th, 2013

Software paradigms : A Home-grown entrepreneurial success story

Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

SPICity Phase II of Software Paradigms Infotech (SPI) will be inaugurated tomorrow at # 316 – 318(P), Hebbal Industrial Area, Mysore, at 4 pm. Minister for IT and BT S.R. Patil will be the chief guest. Swami Muktidanandaji, President, Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore, will be the guest of honour. B.V. Naidu, Chairman and CEO, Sagitaur Ventures India Pvt. Ltd. will preside. Sid Mookerji, Global CEO & Co-founder of SPI, will be present.

SidMukerjiBF18jul2013

 Mysore : 

SPI was founded in 1994 by Sid Mookerji in the United States with the company headquarters in Atlanta. Sid, a graduate of BITS Pilani and the Goizueta Business School, had worked extensively overseas. Sid saw an opportunity during his stint at a leading retail giant in the US that led him to start his own company. He grew up in Mysore and calls the city his home.

“I always knew that if I started my own company, I would do it right here in Mysore,” says Sid Mookerji, Global CEO & CoFounder, SPI. In 1997, SPI’s first offshore development centre was established at an incubation centre in Mysore with three employees and one client. Local leadership was provided by K.K. Mookerji, a retired scientist from CFTRI. Success came quickly and today the company has 1,500 knowledge workers globally with nearly a 1,000 of them based in city.

SPICity: The Mysore office boasts of a state-of-the-art Offshore Development Centre (ODC) called ‘SPICity’ that sits on a sprawling campus spanning 13 acres in Hebbal Industrial Area. A second ODC is situated in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Phase 2 of SPICity that is built to accommodate an additional 1,000 employees is being inaugurated on July 13 by S.R.Patil, Minister of Planning and Statistics, IT, BT and S&T.

Since its inception, the company has come a long way and now has offices in North America, South America, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, India and Nepal. Primarily an IT services and solutions provider for retailers around the globe, SPI also has a Financial Services division and recently forayed into Products, Platforms & Solutions building intellectual property in the Retail domain.

SPI has made its mark globally and has won various prestigious awards — ‘Highest Exporter Award (IT)- Mysore Region’ for four consecutive years by the Govt. of Karnataka; Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2012 ‘Pacesetter Award’; named as one of ‘Georgia’s Fast 40’ companies by the Association for Corporate Growth, Atlanta.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community development programmes have been an integral part of SPI. Under the stewardship of Sophie Mookerji (Chairperson and Co-founder, SPI), SPI Foundation supports a wide range of socio-economic and educational causes. For example, SPI has adopted Kudremala Higher Primary School in Mysore and has been providing funds and volunteers’ time to the school. Funds are provided to sponsor education, upgrade the school’s infrastructure and support other rural schools.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 12th, 2013

Doha: TKQ Tulu Parba showcases rich culture, unity in diversity

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

Doha :

Tuluvas residing in Qatar witnessed the rich cultural heritage their native land come alive with Tulu Koota hosting ‘Tulu Parba-2013’ on Friday April 19 at Al Ghazal Club in Doha.

Guests of honour Tukaram Poojary, Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli, Ravi Shetty were honoured with ‘Panchavadyam’ which showcased the rich traditional culture of Tulu Nadu.

The event was compered by Prarthana Shetty who was introduced on stage by cultural secretary Padmashree Shetty. The green signal for the first part of Tulu Parbha-2013 was given with the traditional dance form of Yakshagana Sthreevesha followed by a welcome dance to escort the guests to light the lamp. A Tulu song to welcome the audience then followed. A beautiful diya dance by young talented team of children lit up the stage.

Later, the audience were entertained with one hour of flawless performance of different dance forms depicting different stages and shades of life, which culminated with ‘Janapada Dibbana’, a traditional Tulu procession which involved 30 different characters such as Shoola, Navilu, Bannada Kode, tribal folk, Yakshagana characters, Bhootha Kola, Bonte, Kambula, Kumbara, Moorthe, Korida Katta, Natti Ponjovu, fishermen, Anarkali and Pili Vesha which symbolised the unity in the diversified culture of Tulu Nadu.

During the stage programme, Tulu Koota president Seethram Shetty welcomed the gathering and emphasized that youth must be initiated to learn more about their culture. Tulu Parba-2013 brochure was released by chief guest Nilanshu Dey, chairman of ICBF Advisory Board along with chief editior Prakash Ajila and team. Mementos were presented to pouplar music director Charan Das and Sathish Venkataramana who came all the way from Dubai in support of Tulu Koota Qatar.

Ravi Shetty, past president and main sponosr of the event in his brief introduction of guest of honour Prof Tukaram Poojary (history head of the department, SVS College, Bantwal) highlighted the contribution of Poojary to Tulu culture, Tulu baduku and appreciated his single-handed effort of now famous Rani Abbakka Adyayana Kendra at Bantwal. Past president Divakar Poojary later introduced guest of honour Vidhya Rathna Prof Bhaskara Rai Kukkuvalli (scholar and multi-talented personality from Tulu Nadu) and highlighted his contribution to Kannada and Tulu literature, culture and art and also media service. President and dignitaries on the dias felicitated Prof Poojary, Prof Kukkuvalli and Ravi Shetty with traditional shawla and presented them with mementos.

Thukaram Poojary and Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli spoke about the heritage of Tulu culture and praised Tulu Koota Qatar for the hard work in preserving and promoting our rich Tulu culture in this part of the world and also for imparting these values to the younger generation. President and dignitaries also felicitated chief guest Nilanshu Dey and presented him with a memento. Dey in his address appreciated Tulu Koota Qatar’s consistent contribution to the community not only in culture front but also in meeting special needs.

The entire event was compered by energetic and enthusiastic Prarthana Shetty. Guest of honour Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli gave a timely and expert narration in original Tulu ridham. On the whole Tulu Parbha 2013.Cultural secretary Padmashree Shetty proposed vote of thanks

Prarthana handed over the dais to culutural secretary Padmashree Roshan Shetty, who has in turn invited Rajshekar Bappal to brief and introduce various artists of the drama. Bappal was the story writer and Director of “Tulu Drama Julie My Darling”, a 75 minute drama with two songs and a complete entertainment combining comedy, love, emotion and a strong message for the society based on the life in the Gulf, beliefs, and values imparted to children and to the society. Charan Das of the ‘Ashok Charan Nite Fame and Tulu films’ led the music of the play.The play was choreographed by Milan Arun who is also a singer and the creative director of the play. The lyrics of the songs were written and sung by Charan Kumar from the ‘Raagdev’ fame in Mangalore. Milaan Arun.The play was lit up and sounds were provided by Pramod. The play brings out the truth behind the myth and prejudices of caste, money and dowry. The main characters of the play were portrayed as: Kuwait Mary – Milan Arun, Dubai Ram -Ramchandra Shetty, Julie (Daughter of Mary) – Akila Rao, Vijay (son of Ram) – Vijay Rai, Broker Benji – Ajay Raj, Thomasa (brother Mary) – Mohan jeppinamogaru, Saudi Mammuni – Mamouni, Vincy (drama actor)-Vincy Lobo, Qatar Rego – Albert Rego, Rego – Della Rego, Hotel supplier – Alron Rego.

Tulu Koota committee members, volunteers worked hard in presenting this exclusive event which was witnessed by Tulu expatriate community members in large numbers. Choreographers and directors for the event were Veena Rao, Milan Arun, Archana Shetty, Rajshekar Bappal, Roopesh Kumar, Chaitali Shetty, Akshaya Shetty. Overall cordination of the cultural event was done by the cultural secretary Padmashree Shetty. Mementos were presented to all the participants. Tea, snacks and dinner were served to the audience.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daiji World / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Doha / Doha, April 21st, 2013

Bangkok: Thai Kannada Balaga celebrates Ugadi

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

Bangkok :

Sunday April 21, 2013 was a memorable day for Thai Kannada Balaga-Thailand. The Kannada community in Bangkok witnessed Vijaya Samvatsara Ugadi celebrations at Indo Thai Chamber of Commerce Bangkok.

ThaiKannadaBF22apr2013

The event was attended by all Kannadigas living in Thailand.

The TKB children performed various cultural activities. Supraba Shetty compered the programe.

Prasad was the star performer with various Bollywood songs and bhajan songs. TKB president Muhtu Ingalagi, secretary Nagayya and treasurer Subbu arranged the event with refreshments and ‘Habbada Oota’.

The former presidents of TKB Mohandas, Habib, Vinaya and Vincy Daniel Pinto distributed prizes and certificates to children who performed during the function.

KannadaThaiBF22apr2013

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daiji World / Home> Media Release / Bangkok, April 22nd, 2013

Doha: Dr B M Hegde to grace Bunts Qatar first Annual Day event

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Doha :

The stage is set for the first-ever Annual Day celebration of Bunts Qatar to be held on Friday April 5 at 4.30 pm at Al Jazeera Academy.

Padma Bhushan Dr B M Hegde will be the chief guest. Guests of honour will be Chidanand Naik, general manager of Pallonji Qatar, Sarvotham Shetty, president UAE Bunts, and K D Shetty, chairman, Bhavani Shipping lines.

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Within a short span of time, the association has become known for its charity and social works in Qatar, apart from sports and cultural activities. Former president of Tulu Koota Qatar and managing director of Advanced Technical Services M Ravi Shetty was elected its first president. It aims to extend every possible help to the needy members of the community, with motto of ’unite for a good cause and support the needy’. With this in mind, every year Qatar Bunts will be honouring one personality for his or her service to the community in Qatar.

The event will included dances, songs and skits by the members of the Forum. The first edition of the Association’s souvenir ‘Gari’ will also be released on the occasion.

Those who have contributed to the community will be presented mementos. Also, the Outstanding Community Service Award will be present.

Chief guest Padma Bhushan Dr B M Hegde will be felicitated by the Association, so also the guests of honour.

Orchestra by guest artistes will also add charm to the occasion.

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About Dr Belle Monappa Hegde

Prof Belle Monappa Hegde is a physician par, excellence, an astute clinician and a teacher in the true Guru tradition. Prof Hegde’s encyclopaedic knowledge, brilliant oratorical skills and natural instinct to teach have endeared him to generations of students and teachers across the globe.

Prof B M Hegde was born on August 18, 1938, to V Shankar Hegde and Chandravathi. After his early education at Hiriadka and Udupi, Prof Hegde proceeded to Madras for his medical education. Through out his tenure as a medical student at Stanley Medical College, Madras, Prof Hegde was a brilliant student and had received a Gold medal and a special prize in surgery from Madras University. He did his MD (Medicine) from Lucknow University with scholarship of Govt. of India. Subsequently, he went to England on Commonwealth Fellowship and had passed the Membership of Royal College of Physicians of UK examination. He then underwent advanced training in Cardiology at Harvard Medical School, Boston under Nobel Laureate Bernard Lown; and at the National Heart and The Middlesex Hospitals in London under Late Walter Somerville and Late Richard Emanuel. He is now the Fellow of all Royal Colleges and the American College of Cardiology.

Prof Hegde started his teaching career as a tutor in 1962 in Manipal. He then served the Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and Manipal for 45 long years, occupying with distinction the posts of professor of Medicine, director PG studies, principal, dean, pro, and vice-chancellor of Manipal University.

Prof B M Hegde’s academic brilliance has been recognized globally. He is affiliate professor of Human Health (University of Northern Colorado); and former professor of Cardiology (The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London). He is also the chairman, State Health Society’s Expert Committee, Govt of Bihar. He has been the visiting professor to number of universities in India and many countries abroad.

Prof Hegde has been the recipient of numerous National and International Awards. To name a few: Dr B C Roy National Award for being an Eminent Medical Teacher, Dr J C Bose Award for Life Science Research, Pride of India Award from the US, Distinguished Physician of India Award from A P I, Healer of Mankind Award (from Symbiosis University, Pune), Vaidya Ratnakara award, Karnataka Rajyothsava Award among many others. Prof Hegde has been examiner for the MRCP (UK) and MRCPI (Dublin) examinations. Prof Hegde’s monumental contributions to the art of bed, side clinical examination regarding “how to detect early splenic enlargement”, “auscultation for mitral valve prolapse” and “how to assess the second heart sound with the stethoscope correctly” have been published in prestigious medical journals, such as, The Lancet, The German Tribune, The Practioner and the JRCP (London) over the years and two of these have been cited in the American College of Physicians book on Bed side diagnosis.

Prof Hegde is a prolific writer and his articles are frequently published in various magazines and newspapers and his talk shows are sought after in the electronic media. Prof Hegde has penned nearly 35 books and over 3,000 articles in lay press. During the last decade, Prof Hedge along with 15 world renowned scientists, some of them Nobel Laureates, has been publishing a journal titled “Journal of the Science of Healing Outcomes”, of which he is the Founder Editor, in, Chief. Late Prof Rustum Roy, considered to be the father of nanoscience, was Prof Hegde’s mentor and had helped Prof Hegde to start the journal. Professor Hegde’s service to the society through Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and its activity are legendary.

In 2010, Prof B M Hegde was conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award by the President of India. Professor Hegde’s dear wife, Late Malathi Hegde, was his conscience keeper. They have three children,  two doctor daughters, an engineer son, sons in law, daughter in law and three grand children. They are a close knit family.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions as a dedicated teacher in the true Guru tradition, a physician par excellence, original researcher, a medical philosopher, and an able administrator, the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (State University) presented Professor B M Hegde the award of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Honoris Causa) in 2011.

He was the first Bunt and the first medical doctor from Karnataka to be awarded the Padma Bhushan.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / Media Release / Wednesday, April 03rd,2013