Monthly Archives: August 2013

Bangalore: St John’s Medical College golden jubilee celebrations from Aug 7

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

Bangalore :

St John’s Medical College, Bangalore, which has emerged as one the best medical colleges in the country, is all set to celebrate its golden jubilee this year with many events and programmes starting from August 7.

The college was started in 1963 by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India (CBCI), New Delhi, with the lofty objective of training doctors to work in the underserved areas of India.

StJohnsBF19aug2013

Karnataka Governor H D Bhardwaj would be inaugurating the year-long golden jubilee celebrations on August 11 with dedication of four golden jubilee projects comprising St John’s Oncology Centre for treatment of cancer patients, Unit of Hope for treatment of children with disabilities, renovation of the auditorium and students’ dining hall.

Dr Aaron Friedman, Dean of Medical School, Minnesota University, USA, will be the guest of honour while Most Rev Francis Kallarkal, Archbishop of Verapoly and Chairman of St John’s Governing Board, will be presiding over the golden jubilee year inaugural function being held at the St John’s Medical College Lawns.

Infosys Technologies Executive Chairman N R Narayana Murthy will be the guest of honour at the public function to mark the golden jubilee year programmes on August 9, which will have Most Rev Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio in India, at the chief guest and His Eminence Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, CBCI Vice President I, will preside. The Apostolic Nuncio in India Most Rev Salvatore Pennacchio will be the main celebrant at the solemn Eucharistic celebration prior to the public function.
1500 Alumni To Attend

The actual golden jubilee year celebrations will commence with Alumni Reunions on August 7 and 8, which will be participated by over 1500 almni from all over the world, including nearly 300 religious sisters, according to Rev Dr Lawrence D’Souza, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences.

The Alumni will be participating in the sports and cultural events organised as part of the golden jubilee year programme, he said pointing out that the Alumni occupied key positions in leading medical institutions all over the world including McMaster University, King’s College, Emory University, Mayo Clinic, University of Nottingham etc.

Adressing a news conference on Saturday, Fr D’Souza said two other important events forming part of the Golden Jubilee on August 9 will be the special orations by Dr Sr Lucian, President of Sister Doctors’ Forum in India, on ‘Contribution of St John’s to the promotion of health and prevention of illeness in the medically underserved areas’ and Dr Salim Yusuf, Endowed Chair at CVS Research for Heart and Stoke Foundation, Ontario, on ‘Contribution of St John’s to the promotion of medical and clinical research.’

There will be two other orations by Dr K M Venkat Narayan, Emory University, who is a world-renowned authority on diabetes and public health, and Dr Mario Vaz, a former student and staff of St John’s Medical College, on the history of St John’s, along with a programme for felicitation of all retired teachers.

“The golden jubilee year will be a befitting occasion for the institution, its students, staff and alumni to celebrate this glorious journey and a recognition to the yeomen service rendered by the staff and students in the field of healthcare,” said Fr D’Souza, adding: ”This is an occasion for reflection, re-evaluation and setting new goals and missions to meet contemporary social needs in a rapidly changing country.
Intake Increase from 60 to 150

With clamour for admission in the college over the years from different parts of the country, Fr D’Souza said the intake for admissions for the MBBS course was proposed to be increased from the present 60 to 150 from next academic year.

“We will submit a detailed proposal to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) by this year end and Medical Council of India is expected to inspect availabilities facilities in coming February,” he explained.

He said the college and its hospital had the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the increased intake. ”We wish to fully utilise the teaching material and infrastructure available on the campus,” the Director said.

The college conducts all India entrance test for admission of MBBS students and the practice was started from the very first batch with examinations conducted in Bangalore, Mangalore, Belgaum, Trivandrum, Chennai, Vijayawada, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Nagpur, Ranchi, Allahabad, Kolkata, Shillong and Delhi besides Hyderabad, Ernakulam, Panaji, Mapusa and Colombo, which were added as examination centres later.
Compulsory Rural Service for Docs From 1973

”One of the distinguishing quality about the St John’s Medical College is the reservation of 15 seats for religious sisters every year, who will be permanently serving in rural areas,” explained Fr Glen Mascarenhas, adding: ”The college has made 2-year compulsory rural service bond for all students from 1973 itself.”

Over 250 religious sister almni were permanently serving in rural and remote hospitals, including disturbed areas in Kashmir, Jarkhand and north-east, Fr D’Souza said. As many as 25 per cent of the graduates were permanently settled and working in undeserved and remote areas including Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Kashmir, tribal belts of Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The college offers graduate, postgraduate, diploma and super specialty degrees recognised by the RGUHS, said Dr Prem Pais, Dean.

Dr Ranganth Nayak said the college has specialized facilities like kidney dialysis, critical care, neonatal intensive care, renal and corneal transplantation, open heart surgery, cardiac catherisation lab. It offers super-speciality training courses in D.M. (Cardiology), M.Ch (Plastic Surgery), M.Ch (Paediatric Surgery), D.M. courses in Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology and M.Ch courses in Urology and Neosurgery.
First Medical College to Teach Medical Ethics

”St John’s is the first medical college to include teaching of medical ethics as part of MBBS curriculam and has set up a full-fledged department of medical ethics,” he said,

The college will be opening a new e-library facility and establish a clinical skill laboratory to meet the basic and highly advanced training requirements of students and faculty during the year.

The present college building came up in 1968 and was inaugurated by late Dr Zakir Hussain, the former president of India. The college gets students from various parts of the globe and also receives externship students from countries like USA, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, Sweden, UAE, Oman and Malaysia.

Equipped with a full-fledged Department of Medical Education, the college conducts regular training programmes for doctors from several medical colleges across the country. It also has a research society conducting round-the-year training and programmes in research methodology.

St John’s is one of the few leading medical colleges in the country to have academic and scientific collaborations with institutions like National Institutes of Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Wellcome Foundation, WHO, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Indian Institute of Science, said Dr Prem Pais.

The college recently received the Singh-Obama Award and got itself connected with the Harvard School of Public Health under the Harvard-India Nutrition Initiative.

Dr Prem Pais said that the college has 1250 bed teaching hospital and nearly 2500 patients receive treatment daily. About 18000 patients received various treatments, including surgeries per year.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / from Special Correspondent of DaijiWorld /  Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore / Saturday, August 03rd, 2013

St John’s Medical College to celebrate golden jubilee

Records, All, Science & Technology

St John’s Medical College, Bangalore, is all set to celebrate its golden jubilee this year with a series of events from August 7.

Governor H.D. Bhardwaj will inaugurate the celebrations on August 11 and dedicate four newly-built buildings. N.R. Narayana Murthy, executive chairman, Infosys, will be the guest honour at a function on August 9.

Rev. Lawrence D’souza, Director, St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, told presspersons here on Saturday that a decision had been taken to increase the student intake for MBBS course from 60 to 150 from the next academic year.

“We will submit a proposal to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) by this year end and Medical Council of India is expected to inspect availabilities facilities in February,” he said.

The main reason for increasing MBBS seats is to fully utilise the teaching material and infrastructure available on the campus, Dr. D’souza said.

e-library

The college would also open a new e-library and establish a clinical skill laboratory to meet the basic and highly advanced training requirements of students and faculty.

Started in 1963 by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India, St. John’s Medical College has grown to be listed as one of the top medical educational institutions in the country.

The college has a two-year compulsory rural service bond for its students from 1973.

“About 25 of students are permanently working in remote areas, and are committed to addressing the desperate health needs of these unreached rural populations,” he said.

The present college building came up in 1968 and was inaugurated by Zakir Hussain, the former president of India.

The college receive students from various parts of the globe and recently it has received the Singh-Obama Award.

Dr. D’souza said 1,500 alumni from across the world are attending the golden jubilee celebrations from August 7 to 11 and various cultural and sporting events.

Prem Pais, Dean, said that the college has 1,250-bed teaching hospital and nearly 2500 patients receive treatment daily. About 1,800 surgeries are conducted a year.

To mark the occasion, the college would dedicate renovated students’ dining hall, auditorium, St John’s Oncology Centre, and Unit of Hope (for treatment of children with disabilities).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bangalore – August 04th, 2013

Star of this week: Talented athlete : Reena George

Records, All, Sports

ReenaGeorgeBF17aug2013

Mysore :

Athletics is a sport which is considered as the mother of all sporting activities and an individual who needs to excel in athletics needs to have the power, stamina, killer instinct to make it to the higher level in this world’s most attractive Olympic sport. Our city’s talented athlete Reena George made waves with her performance in the recently concluded Karnataka State Junior Athletics Championships-2013 held at Shimoga by winning the ‘Best Athlete’ award in the girls Under-20 section. Reena won gold in the girls Under-20 200m and 400m event and bagged the coveted title. She is our “Star This Week.”

Reena George is a product of the Sports Hostel, Mysore, and is a student of the Teresian College, Mysore. She is coached by former International athlete, Damodar Gowda, SAK athletic coach at the DYSS, Mysore.

Reena has been making a steady progress in the athletic scene in the State as well as in the National level in her age category. She has represented Karnataka State in the junior Nationals last year and has performed creditably.

Reena, taking part in the Karnataka State Junior Athletic Meet held in Shimoga from August 3 to 5, won the girls Under-20, 200m gold with a timing of 24.9sec. She completed a fine double by also winning the girls Under-20 400m gold with a timing of 56.5s. With this performance, she was adjudged as the ‘Best Athlete” in the girls Under-20 section in the championship.

Reena has been selected to represent the State in the South Zone Junior Athletic Meet-2013 to be held in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, next month.

Reena, taking part in the Mysore District Athletic Association’s District Athletic Meet a fortnight back, won gold in the 100m event with a timing of 12.34s and emerged as the fastest athlete in the girls Under-20 section.

Reena George, encouraged by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), Mysore, Teresian College, Mysore District Athletic Association (MDAA) and guided well by her coach Damodar Gowda, intends to work hard and make a mark in the National and International level in the days to come.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / August 11th, 2013

Mangalore: Multi-talented Poorvi Rao achieves big at small age

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Mangalore :

Multi-talented Poorvi K Rao has earned several feathers to her cap at a young age. A bundle of talents, Poorvi, a class 3 student of Mount Carmel School, has made achievements in dance, singing, fancy dress and several other fields.

She started learning dancing at the age of 2 and has bagged several prizes. She won her first big award in the ‘Champion of Champions’ competition, organized by Future Group at Big Bazaar in the year 2010. With this victory, she got a chance to become model for a cloth store ‘Costume Cottage’. Thereafter, her bag of achievements never stopped filling.

In 2010, she won the JC Princess crown at the JC Prince Princess competition held at Town Hall.

In 2011, she was awarded ‘Little Master Mangalore – 2011’ award at Big Bazaar. In 2011, she bagged the first place in ‘Shri Krishna Vesha Competition’ organized by Kalkura Prathistana held at Kadri Temple and bagged second place along with her mother in national level ‘Yashoda Krishna’ competition.

The judges lauded her dancing skills in the ETV dance reality competition ‘D’. She was one among the five contestants to reach the finals and performed Western, Bollywood, classical, semi-classical, Kathak and Tappanguchi. Presently she is hosting the show ‘Putaani Bataani’ in Sahaya TV. She was also featured in programmes on Kannada channels. She has participated in ‘Chinnara Chilipili’ Udaya TV programme.

Mangalore’s singing and cultural committee, Samatha Balaga Mangalore, Shaastri Pratishtana Kulai, Lions Club Mangalore, Subramanya Sabha Sadhana Mangalore, Oceans Friends Club Aakashbhavan, Kadri Friends Mangalore and other organizations have honoured her.

She was awarded the ‘Yuva Prathibhe’ award by Lions Club Mangalore in 2011-12. She has won more than 175 awards. Aamir Khan is her favourite actor, and she herself is called ‘Choti Madhuri Dixit’. She is learning western dance from Boyzone Dance acadamey and is trained by Prathima Shreedhar for classical dance.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / Daijiworld Media Network  – Mangalore / Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

City’s Freedom Fighters

About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders
Replica of theDandi March statue at Freedom Fighters park in city.
Replica of theDandi March statue at Freedom Fighters park in city.

The city of the Mysore is usually identified for its tradition, culture and aesthetics. Thousands of tourists from across the globe visit Mysore every day to view various tourist spots across the city. While the Government has been chalking out plans to improve city’s tourism, little is done to promote the city’s role in the freedom struggle and freedom fighters who laid their lives. Tyagis such as Thagadur Ramachandra Rao, M.N. Jois, Yashodamma Dasappa, Ramaswamy and many more fought for the freedom. Mysore, which was a Princely State then, witnessed ‘Mysore Chalo’ agitation against the rulers, for disagreeing to join the Union of India. Prior to Mysore Chalo, freedom fighters took active part in the ‘Quit India Movement.’

This Weekend’s Star Supplement tries to give an insight into the freedom struggle in Mysore.

Freedom Struggle and Mysore

Mysore :

As India celebrates its 67th Independence Day on August 15, 2013, people in Mysore also remember the contributions of freedom fighters from Mysore, who braved their hearts to fight for Independence and also during ‘Mysore Chalo,’ the post-independence struggle to bring the Princely State of Mysore under the Union of India.

At a time when the struggle for independence had begun, Mysore was also influenced by the national awakening which was being evidenced by newspapers such as The Hindu, The New India, Maratha and some of the local newspapers such as Karnataka Prakashika, Suryodaya Prakashika and Vrittanta Chittamani.

There was definite activity in the direction of national awakening as was evidenced during the I World War when Thagadur Ramachandra Rao started his movement against the foul criticism of the Hindu Society by the Christian Missionaries and also started selling pictures of Jalianwallah Bagh tragedy at his shop in Mysore in 1919.

When Bal Gangadhar Tilak passed away on August 1, 1920, there was a huge procession of mourners and shops in Mysore were closed. Even the district court was forced to shut. The procession was led by the students of Maharaja’s College followed by the boys of Marimallappa High School and other schools and among the leaders were Devudu Narasimha Shastry, a college student then, M. Venkatakrishnaiah, who was the Principal of Marimallappa High School, who were responsible for bringing in leaders such as Thagadur Ramachandra Rao, M.N. Jois, Palahalli Sitaramaiayya and Agaram Rangayya to the national cause.

When KPCC was formed in the Nagpur Congress convention, its branches were opened all over Karnataka in 1921 and M. Venkatakrishnaiah was the first President of Mysore District Congress Committee. In the mofussil areas, Visveswara Gowda of Nanjangud, T. S. Subbanna of Thagadur, T. Rama Rao, Siddhoji Rao and T.P. Boraiah at T.Narasipur, advocate M.A. Srinivas Iyengar and G. Krishna Murthy of Hunsur and Ganapathi Shastry of Saligrama were some of the early leaders of Congress during 1920s and early 1930s who spearheaded the freedom movement.

The Congress in this part of the region was funded by philanthropists like Sahukar D. Banumaiah, P.N. Sangappa and hotelier Badri Prasad.

By 1938, the struggle for independence intensified after the Shivapura Congress was held. Many leaders were imprisoned after the Shivapura Satyagraha and Dwaja Satyagraha in Mysore region. Freedom fighters from Chamarajanagar and K.R. Nagar actively participated in the freedom struggle which resulted in about 6000 people being sent to jails across Karnataka.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Mysore District Freedom Fighters Association President D.S. Jagadish said that at the time of Quit India Movement people involved in freedom struggle laid a siege on the post offices, damaged the railway tracks and cut off the telephone lines in protest. The protest intensified after news about Mahatma Gandhi’s arrest was announced.

Majority of the planning regarding the freedom struggle was being done at Subbarayana Kere, which is located opposite Anathalaya on Narayana Shastri Road in city.

Mysore also witnessed the visit of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle on August 19, 1927 to propagate the cause of khadi following which a khadi production unit was started at Badanawal in Nanjangud Taluk.

Later, at the time of the Simon Commission visit to India, Thagadur Ramachandra Rao published a booklet ‘Simon Commissionnige Dhikkara’ (Down, Down Simon Commission) and addressed a public meeting in Mysore. He was sent to 15 days imprisonment and thus became the first political prisoner in Mysore State (1928).

The Tricolour was hoisted by M.N. Jois and L.V. Rajagopal on January 26, 1930 at Mysore as per the call of the All India Congress Committee. When the Civil Disobedience movement was launched in the British territories, two batches of volunteers — one led by Siddhanath Pant and another led by G.R. Swamy — went to Bombay-Karnataka area and returned after the signing of Gandhi-Irvine Pact in 1931.

Mysore also witnessed the commencement of Diamonds’ League, a nationalist youth organisation started by B. Srinivas Murthy and Krishnamurthy Padaki with the help of A.N. Suryanarayan Rao at Chamundipuram. The organisation was started to mobilise youths for the national movement. It also organised an exhibition of Swadeshi goods in 1932 at Chamundipuram.

Again, a large number of youths went to Bombay in 1932 and underwent imprisonment. Among them were M.N. Jois, his wife Subbamma Jois, Suryanarayan Pandit, N.D. Srirangachar and T.S. Subbanna. Many faced social boycott on return and M.N. Jois and his wife were even refused entry into their house.

Thagadur Ramachandra Rao organised temple entry programme for untouchables at Nanjangud and also founded a Harijan hostel in Thagadur in 1934. Gandhiji visited Mysore to advocate the eradication of untouchability and raised contributions for Harijan fund. After this, Thagadur Ramachandra Rao and his colleagues like M.N. Jois had to face lot of humiliation and insults when they went to work among the villagers. They were denied food and shelter even by the hostels and were greeted by pelting of stones, footwear and cowdung.

In later years, student leaders like Ramachandra Jois, H.S. Sadashivaiah and T.S. Subbanna conducted nationalist programmes at Maharaja’s College including flag hoisting in 1937, 1938 and 1939. To curb the nationalist activities among students, an order was passed in June 1938 that students failing in annual examination of the high school classes should not be allowed to attend classes for a second year. This resulted in Congress leaders like M.N. Jois taking initiative to start the Mahajan High School for victimised students in 1938.

Student strike continued even after the students spread themselves in groups to mofussil areas. Eight student leaders including H.Y. Sharada Prasad and Abdul Gafoor were arrested and 26 elder detainees from Mysore Jail were shifted to Bangalore Central Jail with a view to keep the students in ‘isolation’ in Mysore Jail. Despite all efforts by the Government to stop the students from striking, it continued. But, the death of a student, Shankarappa, in Mysore jail due to lathi charge on October 29, 1942, created panic among both the jail inmates and their parents. A student meeting at the Town Hall on November 23, 1942 which was chaired by Bhupalan Vasudeva Murthy, was attended by more than 1000 students who passed a resolution to withdraw the strike and return to classes and engage themselves in national and constructive work.

This was followed by the release of H.Y. Sharada Prasad and other convicted leaders on December 3, 1942. Even after the schools and colleges reopened, incidents of explosions were reported from Maharaja College Library on December 9, 1942. M.V. Krishnappa, one of the leaders, who was underground, offered satyagraha and courted arrested in January, 1943. The 11- week student struggle in Mysore went on to become one of the unique factors in Karnataka’s history of Quit India Movement.

Even today, freedom fighters in Mysore observe Quit India Movement Day. The District Freedom Fighters Association organises special function on August 9 every year and remembers those who sacrificed their lives during independence struggle.

Mysore Chalo

Even after India achieved independence from the British Rule on August 15, 1947, the celebrations in Mysore were subdued due to the resistance from the administrators of the Princely State. The then ruler Jayachamaraja Wadiyar refused to establish Responsible Government. Even the Indian Tricolour was not allowed to be hoisted. This prompted for yet another struggle called as ‘Mysore Chalo’, the last phase of freedom struggle. Even when the nationalists hoisted the flag at Subbarayana Kere, the Police intervened and removed the flag on September 3.

The Congress gave a call to volunteers from all parts of the then Mysore State to organise jathas to officially announce the commencement of ‘Mysore Chalo’ on September 4, 1947. Everyone including the students, workers, railway employees from all parts of the State rushed towards Mysore to take out rallies against the rulers of Mysore. Several liquor shops were attacked, taluk offices gheraoed, telegraphic wires delinked and railway lines removed.

At the time of intense protest, one high school student, Ramaswamy, died in Mysore when the Police opened fire at a procession at the Circle in the junction of JLB Road and Chamaraja Double Road, which has been appropriately named after him. A boy called Chandrashekar managed to hoist the National Flag on the Palace. As the jails were full, the arrested were taken in vehicles to be let off in far off places.

Later, Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar climbed down by accepting the demands on September 24, 1947 which was announced by K.C. Reddy at Subbarayana Kere. Following this, a responsible K.C. Reddy was sworn-in as CM on September 27.

The city also observes the ‘Mysore Chalo’ anniversary every year at the Freedom Fighters Park. People who participated in the ‘Mysore Chalo’ movement assemble at the park and pay respects to those who lost their lives in the struggle. It is said that around 69 people died and about 229 were injured during the struggle. [Source: Karnataka State Gazetteer]

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / August 10th, 2013

Builder of Billion Dollar IT Giant, Azim Premji Turns 68!

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology

AzimPremjiBF14aug2013

# Became the Bellwether At 21

Premji completed his schooling from St Mary’s School in Mumbai, and later to pursue his graduation he went to the world renounced Stanford University, USA. Unfortunately he had to drop his studies because of the untimely demise of his father, M.H.Premji, the then owner of Wipro and so, Premji had to take over of the chairmanship.
# Tagged among the World’s Most Powerful CEOs
Premji is a person of clear vision with the ability to create a brand name through sheer integrity and innovation. Infact, he is the voted as the most powerful CEOs in 2013.
It wasn’t an easy task for Premji to guide his company for four decades which has now become one of the most successful companies in the world. In the year 2000, he was voted as 20 most powerful personalities in the world by “Asiaweek”.
Forbes recognized Premji as 100 most influential people in the world in 2000. For many years now, he was voted as one of the richest people in India and in the year 1995, he was honored with Padma Bhushan in 2009 and Padma Vibhushan in 2011.

source: http://www.siliconindia.com / Silicon India / Home> News> Business / Tuesday – July 23rd, 2013

27,164 candidates to receive degrees today

Education, Records, All
Giving details: Vice-Chancellor of KSOU M.G. Krishnan addressing presspersons in Mysore on Monday. Registrar S.N. Vikram Raje Urs and Registrar (Evaluation) K.J. Suresh are seen / Photo: M.A. Sriram / The Hindu
Giving details: Vice-Chancellor of KSOU M.G. Krishnan addressing presspersons in Mysore on Monday. Registrar S.N. Vikram Raje Urs and Registrar (Evaluation) K.J. Suresh are seen / Photo: M.A. Sriram / The Hindu

As many as 27,164 candidates will receive their degrees at the 13th annual convocation of the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) here on Tuesday, Vice-Chancellor M.G. Krishnan told presspersons here on Monday. He said that 25 students would receive Ph.D degree, 59 M.Phil. degree, 38 people gold medals and 24 would receive cash prizes. As many as 15,649 women are set to receive their degrees as against 11,515 men.

Governor H.R. Bhardwaj would preside over the function. Vice-Chancellor of North Bengal University, West Bengal, Samir Kumar Das, will deliver the convocation address. Minister for Higher Education R.V. Deshpande is also expected to attend the event, Prof. Krishnan said.

In response to a question on the KSOU’s decision not to accord honorary doctorate this year, Prof. Krishnan said the first reason was that he did not get sufficient time to identify candidates and the second was that many universities had accorded the recognition to a number of candidates, which ha drawn flak.

Not conferring honorary doctorate would not amount to breaking any set tradition, he said, in reply to a question, and added that it would definitely be considered next year.

He denied that the Governor had suggested a few names for the honorary doctorate.

ACTION TAKEN

Prof. Krishnan had initiated disciplinary action against two collaborative institutions in Bangalore and Belgaum where cases of examination malpractice had been detected. He had, for the first time, deputed KSOU invigilators to all regional centres across the State to check examination malpractice, Prof. Krishna said. The onus was on the collaborative institutions as the KSOU was not directly responsible.

On the infrastructure front, he said that the auditorium and the administrative block buildings, which would be unique to the city, would come up in six months.

Registrar S.N. Vikram Raje Urs, Registrar (Evaluation) K.J. Suresh and Chief Financial Officer L. Rajashekaraiah were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore – July 23rd, 2013

Hasiru Grama mooted in every forest division

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
Workshop on medicinal plants held
Workshop on medicinal plants held

Mysore :

“The government proposes to establish ‘Hasiru Grama’ in every forest division in the State to promote cultivation of exclusive medicinal plants,” said B. Shivanagowda, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF).

He was speaking after inaugurating a workshop on medicinal plants organised by the Village Forest Committee (VFC) at Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram here today.

Over 100 growers of medicinal plants, native doctors and VFC members are participating in the programme which features lectures on sustainable storage, value addition, transportation and marketing of medicinal herbs which are on the verge of extinction.

Shivanagowda said that the three VFCs were monitoring the cultivation of medicinal plants grown in 16 villages abutting the forests. He assured that the department would provide all needed support for developing the sector with value addition in every stage.

He proposed to hold a medicinal herbs buyers’ meet to explore direct sale of the herbs to manufacturing units. He said that Shathavari, Makaliberu and Gowri hoovu plants had tremendous potential in the medicine sector.

Speaking on the occasion, APCCF Dr. G.N. Srikantaiah said that the buy back system would be immensely beneficial to the growers.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Bamboo mission) A.C. Keshavamurthy opined that Health Tourism would give a fillip to the growers as herbal medicines have become very popular now.

Chief Conservator of Forests K.B. Markandaiah welcomed. FRLHT senior Programmer Jagannath Rao spoke. DCF D.S. Gaonkar was present.

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

Teacher carries water 22 km for students

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Students at the Doni Thanda school —DC
Students at the Doni Thanda school —DC

Hubli: 

Wary of her students fall­ing ill because of the high fluoride content in the vill­age water, the headmi­s­t­r­ess of a government prim­ary school in Doni Thanda, a hamlet in Gadag district has been carrying 18 litres of purified water over 22 km  to cook the mid-day meal for them. She has also been bearing the expenses from her pocket.

Doni Thanda and adjacent villages have no acc­ess to pure drinking water. “Around 30 students in our school suffer from stunted growth of their arms because of the consumption of water with high fluoride,” said headmistress Anusuya Thu­ppad of the Doni Thanda school.

She won’t let her 30 students suffer

The headmistress of a government primary school in the hamlet of Doni Thanda in Gadag district has been carrying 18 litres of purified water over 22 kms to cook the mid-day meal and provide students with drinking water, bearing the entire cost from her own pocket as the high fluoride content in the village water makes it unfit for consumption.

The problem is not confined to Doni Thanda, however, as several schools in the adjacent villages of Dindur, Attikatti, Singatarayankere too have no access to pure drinking water, making their students vulnerable to all kinds of ailments.

“Around 30 students in our school are suffering from significant  loss of growth in their arms as a result of their dependance on high fluoride containing water. And two months ago the classrooms had to be turned into a hospital for hundreds of villagers suffering from dengue, and malaria.

The education department is paying Rs 220 a month to provide drinking water to 166 students of the school, but this is hardly adequate as we need more than 100 litres of purified water every day for cooking the mid-day meal. We have  not received any response to our appeal for a  water filter kit either,” said headmistress Anusuya Thuppad of the Doni Thanda school.

Blaming the  stunted growth of arms seen among  some of the children on malnutrition , district health officer,  B V Chennashetti , explains that fluoride content in water can affect people’s bones and teeth. But ask Gadag Zilla Panchayat CEO,  V G Turamuri and he claims arrangements have been made to supply purified water to all schools.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Vittal Shastri, DC / August 03rd, 2013

The grand old man of Gwalior gharana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
1) Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan presenting Hindustani music at Vivekananda Hall, Mahajana College, Jayalakshmipuram. He is accompanied by Hafeez Ahmed Khan on harmonium, Sarwar Hussain on Sarangi, Bilas Khan on tabla, Ahmed Ali and Asad Ali on vocal & tanpura. 2) Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan presenting his second programme at SJCE auditorium.
1) Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan presenting Hindustani music at Vivekananda Hall, Mahajana College, Jayalakshmipuram. He is accompanied by Hafeez Ahmed Khan on harmonium, Sarwar Hussain on Sarangi, Bilas Khan on tabla, Ahmed Ali and Asad Ali on vocal & tanpura. 2) Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan presenting his second programme at SJCE auditorium.

By S.R. Krishna Murthy

Most of us do not live a century. Even those who live a hundred years will have so many age-related physical problems and will be dependent on others for every activity of daily chores. Audio and video faculties will be weak. The voice will be failing to convey distinctly, what our minds want to convey to others. Mobility will be restricted. Not that everyone who lives that long paint such a dire picture. Some live happily without any such impediments.

Coming to the Grand Old Man of Gwalior Gharana, Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan. He is 105 years old (born 19th August, 1908). He is a descendent of Miya Tansen (1506-2589) and is twenty-sixth in the lineage. Of course, he too suffers from age related problems.

He is confined to a wheel chair as has lost the ability to walk. His hands have become gnarled with age. He has to be physically lifted on to the platform. When he talks, one has to listen carefully as some of the words will be incomprehensible. Someone has to repeat in his ears what others say to him.

With all this, when he takes his place on the platform and hits his first note, perfectly aligned to the Adhara Shadja, it is difficult to connect his voice with the image he had presented when he was being carried on to the stage.

The range he can reach and the volume of his voice are amazing. It is just unbelievable that this fragile person can produce such wonderful music and manages to regale and mesmerise the audience with such powerful singing.

Khan Saab, recognised as one of the greatest exponents of the Gwalior Gayaki, was born in a family of musicians tracing back to Behram Khan, who was a singer of Gwalior Gharana Gayaki. His father’s elder brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father Chote Yusuf Khan initiated him to music. Other elders in the family like Chand Khan, Barkhurdar Khan, Mahtab Khan gave him extensive guidance in Gwalior style of singing. He developed this technique suiting his own artistic ability. He is equally versatile with Dhrupad, Dhamar, Dadra, Thumri, Bhajans and Sufiyana music.

Khan Saab has composed more than 2,000 compositions and is also a prolific writer (consider his age and eye sight !). His poems carry the pen name ‘Rasan Piya.’ He has trained innumerable students as a Guru at the ITC Sangeeth Research Academy, Kolkata. He is a part of Spicmacay (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth) in its campaign ‘Virasat’ and travels all over the country, singing for young students. He has received many awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the ITC award and the Kashi Swar Ganga Award. He has been bestowed with titles like ‘Ras Sagar,’ ‘Sangeet Maharishi,’ ‘Sangeet Sartaz’ and ‘Bandish Samrat.’

It was an honour that he was in Mysore and Spicmacay gave Mysore audience a lifetime chance to listen to such a great personality. In fact, it was once again an amazing fact that he gave two concerts on a single day at Mysore, July 11, apart from attending a lengthy press meet before the first concert, where he was honoured by the scribes at Patrakartara Bhavana, along with Pt. Rajiv Taranath, the Sarod maestro and a proud citizen of Mysore.

The first concert of Khan Saab was at Vivekananda Hall of SBRR Mahajana College at Jayalakshmipuram. The programme was organised by Spicmacay and co-sponsored by Mahajana College. It was a noon programme. The singer was accompanied by Hafeez Ahmed Khan (younger brother of the singer) on harmonium, Sarwar Hussain of Bhopal on Sarangi, Bilas Khan (great-grandson of the singer) on tabla. Two disciples of the singer, Ahmed Ali and Asad Ali, gave vocal and tanpura support.

Khan Saab began his concert with a Bada Khyal in a rare Raag Megh. After a short Alap, he took up a Vilambit Khyal in Ek Taal with the Bandish ‘Garajat Aayi Baadalwa,’ in which there was a beautiful description of monsoon. The slow moving air, developing into a forceful gale, the formation of clouds and the thunder and lightning they produce, raindrops slowly trickling and gradually developing into a deluge, were all expressed both in the lyrics and in the singing of Khan Saab. He developed the Raag slowly but steadily, just like the monsoon.

Reaching the higher octaves, he gave a surprise element. He just leapt from the very low octave (Anumandra) to higher octave (Tara Sthayi), just like an unexpected thunderbolt, landing exactly on a required note. Such was his spirit of singing. The unwavering voice at this age, alignment to Shruthi at all levels and clear diction were the highlights.

The second Raag was Khamaj (Hari Kamboji), in which he took up a Meera Bhajan, ‘Maayiri Maine Neeno Govinda Bolo.’ The repetition of the line Govinda Bolo was excellent, earning the encomium of the overflowing gathering, which consisted of musicians, music lovers, litterateurs, elite of Mysore and students.

At SJCE: The second programme had been organised by Spicmacay, in collaboration with Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), at its auditorium in Manasagangothri. This was an evening concert. The accompaniments consisted of the same team. Once again, the auditorium was brimming with listeners.

The performance of Khan Saab was as good as that of the morning session. Only change was that the Raag was different, which was full of grace and pure classical nuances, as if he were a vocalist in his 40s. Starting a Bada Khyal in a more familiar Raag Puria Kalyan, he took up a short Alap and continued with Vilambit in Ek Taal.

The lyrics of the composition ‘Janam ki Emabhayo Leela’ was sung in two speeds. The second speed contained a bit of Taan. He just quipped that the Sargam is not usually sung in his Gharana. But these days, people have started singing Sargam. He had no option but to go along the tide. Therefore, he too would sing some Sargam. Saying so, he took up some extraordinary Sanchara in Sargam. He showed a fine balance of Swaras and Sahitya. The Gamaka in Vilambit and Laykari in the subsequent Dhruth set to Teen Taal, with Bandish — ‘Aaj Rekhiraava Maayo’ — were superb. His Tarana at the end in Jap Taal was definitely not a simple one. He could leap from one octave to another at will, picking up a note from deep below the depth of an unknown territory, right to the heights over the clouds. He could hold his breath on a note steadily for well over a minute and come back to where he started. His energy level was so great, although he looks physically very fragile. Who could say he is past hundred years, when his voice was as young as a man, one third his age?

The second composition he sung was a Raga Malike type. He began with Bhupali (Teen Taal). ‘Jhanana Jhanana Baaje Muraliya’ was the Dhruth in Jai Jaivanti and Mia Ki Malhar, continuing it with another Tarana. Apart from Khyal, he is equally adept at singing Thumri. His third number was a Thumri, which was his own composition, in Mishra Keeravani.

The last one was a Kabeera Sub Karo Ram Bhajan, which he continued with a lengthy Sufiyana ‘Bolo Ram Ram Ram.’ He involved himself so much with lyrics that the mystic element and bhakti engulfed everyone present there. When he repeated the first line after every stanza, the audience too joined him. The atmosphere was so charged, I could see tears in some of the listeners. One must thank Spicmacay for giving the music fraternity of Mysore such a rare opportunity to listen to this Grand Old Man of Gwalier Gharana.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / August 07th, 2013