Monthly Archives: April 2013

‘Shreshta Kala Pracharak’ award to Dr. Vasundhara

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy
Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy

Mysore :

Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi, headed by Bharatanatyam legend Padmasri, Kalaimamani Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan has selected noted danseuse Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy of Mysore for the prestigious “Shreshta Kala Pracharak” award for her rich contribution to her chosen art of Bharatanatya. She is the one and only Danseuse from Mysore, Karnataka to receive this Award.

The award will be presented to her at a function on Apr. 12 at 6.30 pm at No.1, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, Delhi, according to T.R.Harish, Managing Trustee, Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre Trust, Mysore.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 09th, 2013

Mysore railway workshop : Only one in the country that manufactures train brakes

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Railway Workshop's Deputy Chief Manager P.A. Salahuddin (extreme left) is seen explaining about the components of Composite Brake Block while senior Section In-charge Ananth Kumar and Railway Workshop Chief Manager U. Subba Rao (extreme right) look on. Picture right shows Subba Rao pointing at the latest model of Disk-Wheel Brake of a LHB bogie.
Railway Workshop’s Deputy Chief Manager P.A. Salahuddin (extreme left) is seen explaining about the components of Composite Brake Block while senior Section In-charge Ananth Kumar and Railway Workshop Chief Manager U. Subba Rao (extreme right) look on. Picture right shows Subba Rao pointing at the latest model of Disk-Wheel Brake of a LHB bogie.

Among the many feathers in the cap of Mysore city — as the first of its kind in the entire nation — is the Railway Workshop in Ashokapuram where Composite Brake Blocks (CBBs) for trains are being manufactured on a large scale, sufficient to meet the demands of South Western Railways (SWR).

Among the 17 units of the Railways across the country, Mysore Railway Workshop is the only one which manufactures CBB, while the rest outsource them from private companies, said U. Subba Rao, Chief Workshop Manager, in an exclusive interview with Star of Mysore yesterday.

He said that the Railway Workshop in Mysore, established in 1924, took up the initiative of manufacturing the CBB around 12 years ago. However, it got the official clearance from Railway Ministry only last year. Till last year, the workshop had produced 75,000 CBBs while this year, it had touched one lakh, said Rao and added that the Mysore Workshop had won the Railway Minister’s second Best Innovation Award for the year 2012.

“The CBB is lighter in weight compared to the conventional cast-iron tread brakes and is less harsh on the wheels, thus enhancing their longevity. Life span of each brake component is around three months or nearly one lakh kilometers,” said Rao.

Deputy Chief Workshop Manager P.A. Salahuddin and Senior Section In-Charge of the CBB workshop, Ananth Kumar, explained about the CBB manufacturing process.

The Railway Workshop at Mysore was established as a Base Workshop of the erstwhile Mysore State Railway in 1924. With the formation of integrated Southern Railway in 1951, this workshop became part of Southern Railway.

Other activities of the workshop include periodic overhauling of all types of BG coaches, refurbishment of coaches, intermediate overhauling of bogies, manufacturing of toy trains and conversion of coaches.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / by K.M. Chengappa / April 09th, 2013

LISAA School of Design launches its Second School in Bangalore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, World Opinion
New Delhi:
 Lisaa is a premier French design school based on founding principles of French design and aesthetics with multiple schools located in Paris, Nantes, Rennes and Strasbourg.  In India, Lisaa School of Design established its first institute in 2011 in Gurgaon. This has been followed by the recent launch of its second institute in Bangalore in March 2013, which saw Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri add her Midas touch to the star studded affair.
Ms. Nargis Fakhri had this to say “I am immensely pleased to be associated with this launch. Before a lot of students would go overseas to gain that much required work experience due to which we had missed out on many good talents. Thanks to Lisaa School of Design, Bangalore, students can gain the same expertise and skills sitting in India. I extend my heartiest congratulations to Lisaa Bangalore and wish the management all the very best for this venture.”
Lisaa School of Design, Bangalore is the city’s first ever branch of the acclaimed Paris based French design school. With a far sighted vision for quality education in design, Creo Valley has ventured to bring forth Lisaa School of Design, a globally reputed institute in the creative field of design to Bangalore.
Lisaa School of Design partners with world renowned universities such as the Rochester University and over 50 design schools globally. In addition, it has an association with prominent brands like Eurodisney, BNP Paribas, Louis Vuitton Moet Hannessy (LVMH), Saatch & Saatchi, and Christian Dior just to name a few.
source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / report by India Education Bureau, New Delhi / Thursday, April 04th, 2013

Hon. Professorship conferred

Education, Records, All

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Mysore :

In consideration of their services in the field of music, two eminent personalities, Prof. Mysore V. Subramanya, senior art critic and musicologist, great grandson of Veene Seshanna and Nadoja Dr. Mahesh Joshi, Additional Director General of Prasara Bharathi, Bangalore were conferred Honorary Professorships by the University of Tumkur in a glittering function held at the University premises on Apr. 4.

The honours were conferred on them by Dr. S.C. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of University.

The chief guest of the function was Swami Veereshananda Saraswathi, the head of Ramakrishna Mission, Tumkur and was chaired by the VC.

Prof. Shivalingaiah and N. Lakshmikanth, Registrar of the University, were present.

In reply to the honours received, Prof. Subramanya requested the University to constitute a Chair in the name of Veene Seshanna in Instrumental Music for which he would donate Rs. 1 lakh.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 08th, 2013

Mumbai: Billava Sangha Kundapur women’s wing office bearers elected

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mumbai :

The office bearers of Billava Sangha, Kundapur women’s wing were elected during a meeting held at Bhai Kabhi Bhai hall held recently.

The election meeting was presided over by Manjunath Billava Shirooru, president of the Sangha.

The elected office bearers are as follows: Santhoshi S Poojary as honorary president, Sushila S Poojary as working president, Sumathi S Poojary as vice president, Rekha S Billava as vice president, Susheela S Poojary by secretary, Susheel S Poojary as joint secretary and Suganda S Poojary as joint secretary.

The executive committee members who were selected are as follows: Shakunthala S Poojary, Yashoda N Poojary, Girija K Hokkolli, Vimala S Poojary, Babi R Poojary, Seetha G Poojary, Sharada M Poojary, Vishalaakshi C Poojary and Lalitha S Poojary.

Speaking on the occasion, working president Susheela S Poojary said that the women’s wing will put in their efforts to strengthen the party and will organize several programmes in future.

K N Hukolli, former president, KD Poojary, Anand M Poojary, ST Poojary, NG Poojary, Sudhakar C Poojary shared the dais and congratulated the elected members.

Soorya S Poojary, chief secretary welcomed the gathering while Ashok N  Poojary delivered the vote of thanks.

Sanjeeva Poojary, vice president, Rajeeva Poojary, treasurer, Ashok Poojary, joint secretary, Laxman Poojary, joint secretary, Nagesh Billawa, joint treasurer, Jagannath Poojary, joint treasurer, committee members SK Poojary, Sadanand Poojary, Ranga Poojary, B A Billawa, Raghavendra Poojary, Poornima Poojary among others were present.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daiji World / Home> Mumbai / by Rons Bantwal / Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (VM) / Tuesday, April 02nd, 2013

‘BS’ Special Show URA Attend

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

KannadafilmBF13apr2013

The premiere show of national award winning Kannada film ‘Bharath Store’ was attended by Jnanapith award winner Dr U R Ananthamurthy with his wife and another notable dignitary was Padmasri Dr Girish Kasaravalli at Renukamba Digital theatre in Malleswaram Bangalore.  BS Lingadevaru director of award winning Kannada film ‘Mouni’ was also present.

The idea what director P Seshadri had developed for this film is not lost. He has not given importance to the emotions but carried the idea till the end. As a writer what I feel is that it is difficult to maintain it till the end. The purpose for which the film is made is carried out. We need at least eight directors like P Seshadri to keep up the offbeat thoughts presentation on silver screen in a meaningful way disclosed Jnanapith award winner Dr UR Anantha Murthy.

Dr Girish Kasaravalli also lauded the good work of his junior colleague P Seshadri who is on a winning spree at the national level. Seven films of P Seshadri have got the national awards makes him another pinch hitter like Padmasri Dr Girish Kasaravalli.

source: http://www.indiaglitz.com / IndiaGlitz / Wednesday, April 03rd, 2013

India’s first indoor climbing gym opens in Bangalore

Records, All, Sports

Bangalore is the heartland of sport climbing in India, and it’s rather appropriate that the country’s first indoor climbing gym should open in the city.

Named Equilibrium, the country’s first indoor gym promises to revolutionise the sport in India. It is the execution of an idea that has nestled in Keerthi Pais’s mind for long.

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Pais, chief national coach and until recently the Director of Indian Mountaineering Foundation’s sport climbing committee, has been toying with the idea for years, but it was only recently that it found fruition. He was discussing it with a friend, Sriram Devatha, whose family owns Devatha Plaza (a commercial complex) on Residency Road. Sriram suggested they could set up a gym on the sixth floor. Work on the place took two months, and by the look of things, Equilibrium is just what the city needed for sport enthusiasts.

Built by national champion Praveen CM, what strikes one immediately are the bright colours of the walls and holds that will attract children. There are multiple routes and gradients, designed to cater to first-timers and professionals. The climbing area is air-conditioned, and with crash mats spread underneath, climbers can spend the entire day on the walls by themselves or with friends. One part of the gym has training equipment (treadmill, weight balls, trampoline, etc), while another section has a retail store for adventure products that will be run by former international medalist and national champion Archana BS. Climbers can either buy shoes from the store or rent them for their climbs. Keerthi also plans to open a small café from where people can watch climbers in action, and possibly a cycle store as well.

For Keerthi, the gym is “a dream come true. I’ve been thinking of this for many years, but it all fell into place over just one conversation,” he says. “This can improve the standard of our climbers. It will also attract new climbers. I will also be conducting national camps here, so we will have the country’s best climbers training in Bangalore. We have all the equipment required to train top-class climbers; they don’t need to seek anything elsewhere. This is the sort of facility that international climbers have access to, but which we’ve never had. We haven’t compromised on anything. We got the holds from Korea, because their texture is such that it won’t hurt your fingers.”

The gym will also help in cross-training athletes of other sports, and Keerthi plans to invite them to train at Equilibrium. After all, climbing does wonders to the upper body in particular, and a session on the walls can be both fun and useful in building strength. But it’s for the climbing community that the wall holds most significance, and with the city already having produced the country’s best climbers, such as Praveen CM, Chea Marak, Archana BS, Vathsala MN and Karthik CP, among others, Equilibrium promises better times ahead.

Contact Equilibrium: 9964857497 (Kirthana) or 9886009488 (Keerthi).

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Sports Keeda / Home> All Sports> Adventure Sports> News / Bangalore / by Dev Sukumar, Featured Columnist / April 04th, 2013

There’s method to the madness

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel
At Commercial Street, the branded comfortably coexists with the unbranded, with the latter dominating the platter. / Photo: Mohan Prasad / The Hindu
At Commercial Street, the branded comfortably coexists with the unbranded, with the latter dominating the platter. / Photo: Mohan Prasad / The Hindu

It may be the less glitzy cousin of the brand-heavy Brigade Road, but Commercial Street is easily the sworn shopaholics’ most preferred destination.

‘Com Street’ is easily Bangalore’s answer to New Delhi’s legendary Sarojininagar Market, offering everything from dupattas to doorknobs. And though it falls under the radius of the central business district, which includes Brigade Road and M.G. Road, it offers visitors the delightful option of bargaining.

Old timers remember the “quiet elegance” of the place some 40 years ago. “We did not have the bumper-to-bumper parking that we see today. While Brigade Road was for the young, brash shopper, Commercial Street was for the middle-aged,” says N. Krishnakumar.

The heady aroma wafting out of Bhagatram Sweets and lilting music from music shops may have been replaced by the whirr of traffic and the blasts of horns, but that is no deterrent to the loyalist who keeps going back, braving the notoriously potholed and often waterlogged street.

PROUDLY UNBRANDED

The branded comfortably coexists with the unbranded, with the latter dominating the platter. The same goes for food avenues, as mid-range restaurants offer the regular ‘north Indian, south Indian’ fare, while smaller chaat-cum-fast food joints draw true swarms.

An interesting aspect of this bustling area is the accidental, or perhaps intentional, organisation of shops. Take for instance the ‘chappal street’. Perpendicular to the main street, row upon row of shops specialise in footwear from the functional kholapuris and flip-flops,to peep-toes and stilettos in lush satin.

Similarly, ‘duppatta street’, again perpendicular to Commercial Street, promises to be a one-stop solution for all your duppatta needs: tie-dye, printed, plain, cotton, silk, synthetic… take your pick.

INEXPENSIVE

The unbelievably cheap ‘China bazaar’ offering inexpensive handbags that may not last you a lifetime but could give its posh, branded competitors a run for their money; street vendors selling imported fruits on the roadside, a stone’s throw away from sanitary fittings — it is all right here.

In fact, it is here that the real commerce happens.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by K. C> Deepika / April 04th, 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

A son’s tribute to Bhakti Gananiratha Sangeetha Vidwan T.R. Srinivasan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders
T.R. Srinivasan (circled) and other disciples seen with Mysore Vasudevacharya (left) and Piteel Chowdaiah. / Star of Mysore
T.R. Srinivasan (circled) and other disciples seen with Mysore Vasudevacharya (left) and Piteel Chowdaiah. / Star of Mysore

 By Dr. T.S. Ravishankar, Director of Epigraphy Branch, Mysore

Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha Trust has arranged a jugalbandi concert in memory of Bhakti Gananiratha Vid. T.R. Srinivasan on Apr. 6 at 5.30 pm at Veene Seshanna Bhavana in Kuvempunagar. The participants are Vid. H.N. Bhaskar (violin), Pt. Pravin Godkhindi (flute), Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma (mridanga) and Pt. Udayaraj Karpur (tabla).

I am indebted to Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha Trust, Mysore, which has arranged this Memorial Music Concert on April 6. Especially, I am beholden to Prof. Poornaprajna of Kansas University, USA, for having taken the initiative to arrange the concert.

Here I would like to give a brief profile about my father and his contribution to the music world. This concert dedicated to the memory of Bhakti Gananirata Vid. T.R. Srinivasan aptly proves that he had created a niche in the hearts of contemporary musicians, artistes and music-lovers.

He was greatly acclaimed for his booming, resonating, melodious voice and impeccable pronunciation, coupled with great devotion, which formed his strong forte.

His great grandfather, Ganapati Dikshitar, belonged to the lineage of Sadguru Sri Tyagaraja Swamy. His father Tirupattur R. Ramanatha Iyer was the disciple of Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar and his co-disciple was Sangeeta Kalanidhi Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar.

Born in 1927, he came under the tutelage of Sangeeta Vidwan T. Puttuswamaiah, brother of Sangeeta Ratna T. Chowdaiah at the age of 12. He subsequently learnt music under Vid. Veena Gopalaraya, Sangeeta Vidwan Ramaratnam, Principal of Music College. He also learnt mridangam from Vid. S.R. Varadachar.

He gave his maiden concert when he was 17 at Bandikeri Prasanna Venkataramanaswamy temple, Mysore. In 1957, he gave a concert before His Highness Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. Again, in 1959 and 1961 he sang at the Music Academy, Madras, during the Presidentship of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Rajaratnam Pillai and Sangeetha Kalanidhi G.N. Balasubrahmanyam.

Other important concerts were at Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Nada Brahma Sabha, Karnataka Sangha at Bombay and Guntur, Andhra Pradesh and also in the presence of Sringeri Jagadguru and before Sosale Prasanna Theertha Sripadangalavaru and Parakala Swamiji.

He gave concerts right from the year 1947 from All India Radio, to begin with Dharwad and Madras, and subsequently at Mysore. As a very popular music teacher, he was teaching music at Mahila Samaja for many years and other institutions including Ramakrishna School and RIE, Mysore.

Though he got trained under different musicians, he never came under the spell of a particular style of singing and he evolved his own distinct style. Always he used to stress among his students to become creative musicians and follow manodharma sangeeta and emphasise the tonal quality of the voice so that music emerges from the depth of heart and used to cite a phrase from Sri Tyagaraja kirtana — Shobillu sapta swara, which defines the art of articulating the voice.

He has given innumerable concerts in his music career spanning more than five decades and I had the great fortune of accompanying him in many concerts in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Apart from music, because of his endearing qualities he had earned a large number of admirers and friends. His humbleness, down-to-earth nature won him a lot of friends and he was always generous in his disposition in helping the needy.

Among the virtues to be reckoned with is his nature of nurturing and encouraging young talents. He used to attend many concerts given by young musicians and encourage them. In one of the Bharatanatyam performances given by his daughter-in-law, Bhagyalakshmi, he rendered songs as part of Nattuvangam, and chose songs from DVG’s Antahpura Gitegalu, which was appreciated by the audience.

Thus he left an indelible impression on the connoisseurs of music and led an active life by teaching his disciples and giving concerts till the end. He breathed his last on 25th May 1996.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> Feature Articles / April 05th, 2013