Dr. P. R. Kulkarni (90), formerly Professor of ENT and Director of All India Institute of Speech & Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru, breathed his last early this morning at his residence in Sankalp Central Park, Yadavagiri.
Dr. Kulkarni, who had established the Sankalp Hospital (now defunct) in Yadavagiri, was also the Founder-President of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club (JWGC) and a Rotarian. He leaves behind his wife Dr. Lalit Kulkarni, son Srirang, daughter Vrinda and grand children Vinay, Deepali, Neha and Priyanka.
Last rites took place this noon at the foot of Chamundi Hill.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday , November 11th, 2014
The awardees Shalini and Karthik are seen with Sri Charamurthi Mummadi Shivarudra Swamiji of Shri Kshetra Marale Gavi Mutt, Kanakapura, Go. Ru. Channabasappa, President, Akhila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Bengaluru, M. Nagendra Swamy, Regional Director, Directorate of Field and Publicity, Central Board of Film Certification, Bengaluru and Pramila Shankar, President, Kadali Mahila Vedike, Bengaluru
Mysuru :
Kadali Mahila Vedike, Bangalore, which celebrated its Sixteenth Anniversary on Oct. 18 at Shivaratheeswara Kendra in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, presented multi-talented award to two youngsters of Mysuru.
The recipients are K.M. Karthik of Vijaya Vittala PU College and M. Shalini of Ideal Jawa Rotary School in city.
Karthik was awarded for his talent in Dancing, Skating, Martial Art, Archery, Aero Modeling, Classical Vocal, Horse Riding, Scuba Diving, Trekking and Biking while Shalini for her writing and memory skill — a magical wizard of Mysore city.
The awards were presented to the duo in the presence of Sri Charamurthi Mummadi Shivarudra Swamiji, President of Shri Kshetra Marale Gavi Mutt, Kanakapura, Go. Ru. Channabasappa, President, Akhila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Bengaluru, M. Nagendra Swamy, Regional Director, Censor Board, Film Certification, Bengaluru, Dr. C. Soma Shekar, IAS (Rtd.) and Pramila Shankar, President, Kadali Mahila Vedike, Bengaluru.
Karthik, a 2nd PUC student at Vijaya Vittala is the son of Suma Mahesh and Mahesh Kumar, a Professional photographer of Mysore city while Shalini, studying in 6th Standard in Ideal Jawa Rotary School, is the daughter of Latha Manjunath andManjunath, a businessman by profession.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday , November 10th, 2014
The city-based Cycle Pure Agarbathies, the world’s largest incense stick manufacturer, is organising the Mysore Warriors Cricket Quiz in association with Association of Cricket Umpires Karnataka (ACUK), Mysore Forum, on Nov.15 from 1 pm onwards at Sarada Vilas Law College auditorium in city.
The quiz is open to all school students studying between 8th and 10th grades and 1st and 2nd PUC in the city.
The last date for the schools and colleges to register for the competition is Nov. 14. To register, contact Sindhu Prasad on Ph: 0821-2521985 between 9.30 am and 6 pm or e-mail the entries to: pr@nrrs.net
Entry to the quiz is free and institutions can send multiple entries with a team consisting of two members.
The quiz is organised to commemorate the 24th Umpires Day to be held at Bengaluru with a State-level Final Quiz.
The winning team at Mysuru will be sent to take part in the State-level Finals to be conducted at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Nov. 30 (Sunday).
About ACUK: Association of Cricket Umpires Karnataka (ACUK) was started in 1974 to honour the victorious Ranji trophy team of Mysore for winning the coveted trophy for the first time and with the sole intention of improving standards of Umpires.
ACUK, Mysore, was formed in 2005 November with 20 umpires. ACUK Mysore is known for its professional way of engineering characters by updating them with the latest in the game. It has team of young umpires who have access to the latest developments in cricket laws by getting Videos, answered Q and A’s, mock plays, etc., which has made the umpires to be on par with other umpires in the game.
Today, ACUK Mysore Zone has around 25 qualified umpires and 20 registered umpires from in and around Mysore. The major activities include annual cricket tourney for High school boys which has created a brand for itself, annual School quiz, workshops and involving itself in many social activities.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>General News / Sunday , November 09th, 2014
With University of Mysore (UoM) gearing towards its Centenary, it seems that some exciting steps are being taken by the University to enter the international academic community.
As part of these steps, a day-long workshop has been organised by UoM in association with the Alabama University of Huntsville, USA on Nov. 8 at 11 am at Maharaja College Centenary Hall.
According to a press release, circulars have already been sent to the Principals of all the University affiliated colleges to bring in ten of their most meritorious students who are pursuing their final year B.Com., B.B.M., B.B.A and B.Sc.
Speaking to SOM, Director of College Development Council Prof. Lingaraj Gandhi said that the workshop will be inspiring the students of various affiliated colleges to pursue their higher education at Alabama University. He added that the workshop will emphasise on the fact that not just technical students, but also other graduate students can pursue their higher education in the USA.
The idea behind this workshop is to develop relations among other international Universities, said Prof. Lingaraj Gandhi and also added that the University is looking forward to establish new ties in the global level. He also said that nearly 200 meritorious students from 40 to 50 colleges are expected to take part in this workshop.
Prof. Lingaraj told SOM that the workshop will be providing an insight on the admission process, scholarships, research assistantship and other information related to higher education at Alabama University.
He also added that H.S. Ranganath of Computer Science Department in Alabama University and Prof. Susan Steele will be presenting the slides on these subjects while UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa will be presiding over the workshop.
Prof. Lingaraj Gandhi, Prof. G. Hemant Kumar and Harsha Patel of Alabama University will be present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>General News / Friday, November 07th, 2014
Mangalore University on Wednesday launched the global document verification system for certificate and mark list making it the first state university in Karnataka to do so. The system will enable the University to bring to students and global alumni of the university various advantages. This includes faster verification, cost effective, transparent and efficient, prevents document frauds, facilitates single platform for multiple verification requests.
In addition, it offers paperless verification of degrees/mark sheets online. It is also a onetime verification option with multiple download options and ensures highly secure data privacy and has been developed by Myeasydocs.com. To verify Mangalore University issued certificates or mark lists, alumnus or any other document user only needs to upload the said documents at www.mangaloreuniversity.directverify.in and make an online payment.
University will verify credentials of uploaded certificate/ mark list with its records. On completion, an email with link of verified document will be sent to requesting party. To ensure high security, system uses internationally approved system data privacy encryption technologies and reliability processes. These include logins, one time password, automatic embedding of verifier credentials and verification result onto the certificate/marks list to leave an audit trail.
www.Mangaloreuniversity.directverify.in has been launched because of numerous fake documents that are reported and have hampered credibility of various institutions thereby rendering the certificates issued to students to lose their value. Mangalore University’s participation in the paperless verification mechanism will curtail the fake document menace and most importantly, ensure credibility of Mangalore University’s certificates and mark lists. System will also facilitate interlinking of various institutions and universities enabling expeditious admissions of student from different institutions. The Greens will also have a reason to cheer for as this e-governance drive will reduce use of paper and exchange of couriers. This internet based system is a one stop solution to government, citizens and university officials and opens up possibilities of location-independent and instantaneous transactions.
The system blocks data theft and use of fraudulent documents that are potential threats to national security, saves stakeholders a lot of time and effort spent in first getting their documents and then having them attested by third parties and helps university officials/authorities from managing huge repositories of papers. The system has been implemented as part of technology transfer from Myeasydocs.com, a company incubated by IIT Madras and supported by their department of management studies and department of computer science and engineering.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangaluru / by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / November 12th, 2014
A nano drug and mega relief for those niggling joint pains? In a novel development, a team of engineers and pharmacologists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy has come up with nano particles that can stimulate growth of bone-forming cells and deliver the drug used for osteoporosis.
Quoting various studies, the team pointed out that at least nine million bone fractures occur annually due to osteoporosis, a progressive bone disease in which the bone loses both its mass and density.
“Current treatment regimes involve restricting further bone damage, but not restoring previous strength. Zoledronic acid (ZOL) is the commonly used drug. It has successfully reduced risk of fracture in postmenopausal women. However, its prolonged use can cause several adverse effects like unwanted bone changes,” the team said.
The team has now come up with a modified ZOL drug, proven effective in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. What makes this novel mode of treatment even more special is the use of nano particles for drug delivery. These are made of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA). HA is naturally present in our bodies: it makes up bone mineral and the matrix of teeth and stimulates bone-forming cells.
“We’ve designed a new formulation, where the ZOL is first adsorbed on nano particles of hydroxyapatite and carried to osteoporotic bone by intravenous injection,” said Deepak Kumar Khajuria, lead author of the team. The team has been able to demonstrate successfully that this formulation not only prevents further bone loss, but also stimulates bone growth, he added.
The team used 12-week-old female rats, whose ovaries were removed so that bone remodelling would not occur. Various doses of HA, ZOL and a combination of both were tested on the rats. Three months after the treatment, the lumbar vertebra and femur (thigh bone) was tested for mechanical properties. Both showed better strength and structure after the combined treatment.
JOINT EFFORT
* IISc-Al Ameen team modifies Zoledronic acid, common drug for osteoporosis
* Team develops nano particles as carriers of the drug
* Nano particles are made of synthetic hydroxyapatite
* New ZOL drug prevents bone loss, stimulates its growth, claims team
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / TNN / November 11th, 2014
Dr. R. Subbakrishna (61), a retired Deputy Director of CIIL and a resident of Jayalakshmipuram here, passed away yesterday afternoon.
He leaves behind his wife Rohini, son Sriranga and a host of relatives and friends. Last rites were performed this morning at the foot of Chamundi Hill.
A native of Yelandur, Dr. Subbakrishna had served at CIIL as a Researcher, Head of Classical Kannada Department and also as Deputy Director.
Actively involved in social work, Dr. Subbakrishna, started Yelandur Gowramma Rangaswamaiah Charitable Trust and served the poor and needy rural people by arranging health camps and distributing free medicines. Also, he was providing scholarships for poor students and had renovated the old Kashivishwanatha Swamy Temple at G.B. Saragur in Mysore.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday, November 05th, 2014
Says Syed Amanulla, ‘National Brand Ambassador’ from Mysuru
Amanulla is seen receiving the award from Alok Kumar, Director General of Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour & Employment, GOI.
As a general trend, pass-outs from education system do not take admission in ITIs as their first choice. They mostly end up in ITI after exhausting all other options for higher education. This is because the blue collar work is not respected and regarded in society. But there are many who have excelled professionally after passing ITI.
Meet A. Syed Amanulla, who passed ITI course in ‘Fitter’ trade in the year 1975 at his native, Kolar Gold Fields. He is presently serving as Principal-cum-Deputy Director of Government ITI, Srirangapatna. He was awarded ‘National Brand Ambassador of Vocational Training-2014’ in the Service Sector (Salaried Employee) by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, at a National-level Programme held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Oct.16, 2014 for his exceptional achievements and excellence in Vocational Training. He received the award from Alok Kumar, Director-General, Department of Employment and Training, New Delhi and was honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After passing ITI and getting a job, Amanulla did not stop his education. Along with his job, he completed Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and B.E, both with a first class by attending evening college. He is an example for the saying “Education has nothing to do with age” because at the age of 50, he did his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). Throughout his education, he has been a topper and received many merit scholarships.
Amanulla is married to Shaheen. He has two children, who are married and well settled in Bangalore. Amanulla resides in Rajivnagar, Mysuru, with his mother and wife.
Star of Mysore caught up with this ‘Brand Ambassador’ and spoke to him regarding vocational training sector and his professional achievements. Excerpts…
by Arafat Ahmed Aizaz
SOM: What got you the ‘National Brand Ambassador of Vocational Training-2014’ award?
Amanulla: I have provided 100% placement to all my students who have passed ITI course. They are working in reputed firms and drawing high salaries. I am in good terms with companies and factories in India as well as abroad because of which they contact me to get ITI pass-outs for their firms. My students are highly skilled and sought after by the companies. I have consistently maintained pass percentage of 95% at Government ITI, Srirangapatna. I have personally met wealthy people and NGOs and made them to donate for poor meritorious students of Government ITI, Srirangapatna. Regarding my career success, academically I have grown from ITI-level to Master degree and professionally from Instructor to Deputy Director. Considering all these achievements, the Government has honoured me with the ‘National Brand Ambassador of Vocational Training-2014.’
SOM: Recently you were featured in Doordarshan Channel. Tell us about it.
Amanulla: Doordarshan TV channel crew had come all the way from Delhi to Mysuru to interview me on my achievements. The interview was telecast in DD’s ‘Hunarbaaz’ programme on Aug. 31, 2014.
SOM: What are your other achievements?
Amanulla: I was selected as Hajj Officer by Ministry of External Affairs during 2001-02 and 2005-06; I was appointed as Wakf Board Administrator in Hassan district. I was also honoured with “Eminent Engineer Award” by the Institution of Engineers (India) on Sept.15, 2013 during 46th Engineer’s Day. I have met Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at his office in the year 2006, when he was the President of India and apprised him about improving Vocational Training in India.
SOM: Do Vocational Training (ITI) pass-outs have better career opportunities?
Amanulla: Yes. Just by studying for two years after 10th, ITI pass-outs can get jobs in both Government and Private sectors. They can even establish their own Industries. ITI pass-outs get jobs quickly because of shortage of skilled labour in India. After ITI, along with earning through a full-time job during day, one can upgrade his qualification by pursuing courses such as diploma in Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering in evening colleges.
SOM: Even PU course pass-outs can get jobs. What advantage does ITI have over PUC (12th)?
Amanulla: Blue-collar job requirement for any industry is more compared to white-collar jobs. For example in a factory, there will be hundreds of workers who indulge in production but there will be few Administrative staff. Blue-collars’ salaries are high these days because there is shortage of workers of this class. So, ITI pass-outs have an edge over Pre-University Course (12th standard) pass-outs. And even promotion chances are more for blue-collar jobs.
SOM: Usually in Government ITIs, faculties are not punctual. You being the Principal-cum-Deputy Director of Government ITI, how do you check on their attendance and discipline?
Amanulla: They are Government employees and they can take their leave for which they are entitled. But I don’t spare the teachers who are lazy and those who are not punctual. I visit all the classes daily and take the feedback from students regarding classes and teachers. When a staff goes on leave, I engage the classes myself.
SOM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured you recently when you were awarded ‘National Brand Ambassador of Vocational Training-2014.’ What is Modi doing to improve Vocational training?
Amanulla: Narendra Modi has a good view for Vocational training. He is giving priority for the improvement of Vocational Training in India. Modi has said “ITIs are shishu mandir of technical education. Those who may have knowledge other than that of books, that of skills, must be respected. The talented among the ITI graduates must get new opportunities.” To fulfill ‘Make in India’ vision Modi believes in skill development among the youths in India.
SOM: Why are they calling ITI pass-outs as ITI graduates these days?
Amanulla: Western countries consider ITI pass-outs as ITI graduates. According to me, not only persons who have passed 10+2+3 is a graduate, but also those who pass ITI after 10th should be called ITI graduates in India hereafter because graduate means “a person who has successfully completed a course of study or training and acquired some skill.” Even Narendra Modi has called them as ‘ITI graduates’ in his speech at New Delhi recently.
SOM: Your message to students and parents?
Amanulla: China has improved because of skilled labour. India has shortage of skilled labour. I request the parents to admit their wards into ITI courses so that India can get more skilled labours and become a developed country soon. Vocational Training too has a bright future and more youth should opt for this stream.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Tuesday, November 04th, 2014
When I was studying for my Library Science degree, we had a professor who would teach through anecdotes that often had us in splits. To stress how important it is for a librarian to know the location and appearance of every single book on the shelves he would narrate how a student came to him once and asked him, “Sir, please give me the red book with four authors.” Only the librarian’s years of experience plus the fact that, the particular book was most in demand among the students of B.Com prevented him from throwing the student out.
We librarians are used to the strangest demands, believe me. I have always felt that a library should be the friendliest place, where you can curl up in a corner with your book or browse shelves undisturbed by time or crowds.
I have always loved cataloguing books. To determine the subject of a book, and to give it the appropriate numbers in the cataloguing system and then place it correctly in the shelves — it gives me a sense of joy. The circulation desk is, of course, where all the activities go on in a library, with people coming and going constantly, borrowing or returning books, and searching for particular volumes. However, the stacks — the shelves where books are stored — is where the heart of the library resides.
The simplest arrangement of books is by subject matter and the world’s libraries use mostly what is known as the Dewey Decimal System of cataloguing created by Professor Melvil Dewey in America in the 19th century. You may have seen in libraries like The British Council numbers on the spine of any book: a set of 3 numbers followed by a decimal point and then further sets of numbers. The first number is the code for the subject and can be from 0 to 9. Thus 954 is the number classification for Indian History. Anyway, to get a librarian started on the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system is asking for trouble, so I will spare you the details.
At first this whole classification business was confined to ten subjects and a hundred sub-categories. Now, as the frontiers of knowledge become ever distant, there is no limit to subjects. The DDC is already in its 23rd edition and has 4 volumes compared to the 4-page pamphlet published in 1876 by Dewey.
In the 1930s, Dr. Ranganathan of Madras University invented the Colon Classification, an extremely complex system but one which could include many more subjects than the Western-centric DDC. Madras University Library and then Delhi University Library were among those catalogued according to the Colon Classification (CC). The system has now fallen into disuse as there are not many people proficient enough to teach it to students of Library Science. Even the very old Nilgiris Library in Ooty which used CC is now digitizing its catalogue as per the DDC.
Sooner or later one has to make way for new ideas, improvements and new versions of the old. Browsing in my personal library some days ago, I unearthed the Agatha Christies that I own, and was happily leafing through them. Coincidentally, I found in an online bookstore a brand new mystery that I ordered right away. It so happened that I read two newly published books which I must share with you.
The first book I read was the mystery I have mentioned above, by British author Sophie Hannah, in which she brings back to life the legendary Agatha Christie detective Hercule Poirot. This is not the first time that fictional icons that died with their creators have been revived. Anthony Horowitz a few years ago wrote The House Of Silk, a riveting story of Sherlock Holmes, and has now written Moriarty, which I am eagerly waiting for.
So, Hercule Poirot in The Monogram Murders. Was it an interesting read? Most certainly. Was it Hercule Poirot? To my mind, and I feel most Christie loyalists will feel the same, Poirot as presented by Hannah lacks a certain gentleness that Christie’s character possessed. This Poirot is more egotistical, rather boastful, as brilliant as ever, but perhaps not as endearing. The humour is not Christie’s, naturally but then the plot has more complexity. In fact, in terms of complexity it compares with some of the classic cases that are solved by Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Sleeping Murder comes to mind as also The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I think this is probably the reason that for the first time the heirs of Agatha Christie’s estate have given permission to publish a book containing her characters, so I assume Miss Marple will also reappear some time. To read The Monogram Murders, you must forget that Hercule Poirot existed before (very difficult) and just go with the story. The only way to enjoy it.
The other book was Chetan Bhagat’s latest, called Half Girlfriend. Set in Bihar, New Delhi and New York, the story takes us through several years in the life of a boy from rural India, as he falls in love with a typically wealthy Delhiwali but has neither the social skills nor the smarts to deal with it. The same goes for his super rich girlfriend as she leads him a merry dance. Even though you can sense that our author has a soft corner for her, perhaps more than for the hero, I found it difficult to feel much sympathy for her. Supposedly she has psychological issues that we get to hear about much later in the story.
At another level the story of rural India is sensitively told, with the clash of feudalism, local politics and corruption sharply defined. All ends well, but I was left feeling slightly irritated at the end of the saga and several times I felt that both protagonists needed a good smack on the head. No, I haven’t forgotten what it was like to be in love, but why has Mr. Bhagat forgotten that he can write better? Where is the superb timing of Five Point Someone, the humour of Two States? You should read this because it’s a Chetan Bhagat quick read, but don’t expect too much.
I am myself working on a modern revamping of a very ancient and much loved story and will share it with you when done. Till then happy reading.
[e-mail: raolalitha@hotmail.com]
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday, October 26th, 2014
Deputy Director of Karnataka Police Academy Dr. Dharanidevi Malagatti has come out with her epic ‘Elabharatham’ focussing on Mahabharatha viewed from a different angle by women.
Her epic has been published by Kannada Sahitya Parishat and will be released on Oct. 30 at 10. 30 am at Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies in Manasagangotri here.
Speaking to the press here recently Dr. Dharanidevi said that it took 10 years to come out with the epic. She added that the epic was written in a different perspective which would be welcomed by literary lovers.
Dharanidevi has obtained Ph.D. in Management Science after. She has also done M.A. (Kannada) through distance education. Her grand father Ramaiah Nayaka and father Dhoomanna Rai too have literary prowess. Her grandmother Lakshmi Alva reads Bhagavatha even now. She is ably supported by her littérateur husband Dr. Aravind Malagatti.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Sunday, October 26th, 2014
