Photo 01: Young Innovators: Kirthi Sudhir (left), Aditya Vikram and Nidhi Ashok. Photo 02 :The trio with their award winning model ‘Cloud Charger Extractor.’
Students of this generation have great understanding of science and also possess capabilities to come out with good experiments, which in most cases mesmerise their teachers and parents.
After Shreesha, a student of Vijaya Vittala PU College, who has invented a self-sustained wheelchair, here is a group of students from Vidhyaashram PU College, who have come out with a new model which known as ‘Cloud Charger Extractor.’
The team comprising Aditya S. Vikram, Nidhi Ashok and Kirthi Sudhir, all II PU students, recently participated at the Amateur Scientist-2013, a national-level science competition organised by PESIT, Bangalore, where they won ‘The Most Innovative Award.’
As Aditya explains, the main aim of their project was to show how electrodes from clouds could be extracted to produce electricity. “The clouds have negatively charged electrons which we attract to our apparatus that is charged positively. The electrons are made to pass through the apparatus to produce electricity”, he said.
When asked about the project for the competition, Nidhi said that before they could decide on the project they held discussions on various subjects.
“The idea was to come out with a project which could address the needs of the shortage of energy. Currently we are facing shortage of electricity. Through our experiment we wanted to show people that electricity could be produced using the clouds”, added Nidhi.
Winning an award at the national level has not stopped the trio. They are determined to continue with the experiment to take the same to a higher level.
Kirthi, another team member, said, “We want to conduct further researches on our project and make it successful. There is much more to be added to our project since it is still in the basic level. We will now concentrate on enhancing the project since we are looking forward to apply for a patent.”
The trio is determined to make the project successful so that the product they are working on becomes self-sustained. With encouragement extended to such talented students, more such innovations are sure to spring up.
Aditya Vikram is the son of Dr. S.B.Vikram of Vikram Hospitals and Rathi Vikram. Nidhi Ashok is the daughter of Ashok, Superintendent of Central Excise and Padma Ashok while Kirthi Sudhir is the daughter of Dr. Sudhir, Surgeon and Professor, JSS Hospital and Naidele Sudhir.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S. N . Venkatnag Sobers / September 20th, 2013
Bangalore, Sep 12 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, participating in the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting at Dalian in China, is exploring partnerships in interactions with global leaders, officials said Thursday.
“The chief minister attended the plenary of the WEF annual meeting, unveiled by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the presence of about 2,000 delegates from over 90 countries, including heads of state and ministers,” an official said.
The three-day meeting which began Wednesday, is dubbed “Summer Davos” and brings together thought leaders, policy-makers, decision-makers and chief executives of multi-nationals to deliberate on global socio-economic issues and problems.
The forum’s new champions are companies, young global leaders, scientists, geeks, social entrepreneurs and global shapers.
Siddaramaiah, who is on a week-long overseas trip for the first time since becoming chief minister in May, also met Japanese Science and Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura at the Dalian conference centre, and discussed partnerships in the IT space and education sector. “Being in the forefront of hardware and software technologies, Japan and Karnataka can jointly promote the IT and electronics sector.
Both officials also decided to explore additional funding from Japan for infrastructure corridors and high speed rail projects,” the official told IANS here.
The chief minister invited Shimomura to visit Bangalore for a first-hand view of the phenomenal growth of the software industry in India’s tech hub. Siddaramaiah also called on WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab at the mega event venue and discussed expansion of the forum’s activities in the state. Accompanied by a 22-member team, including a 15-member group of business delegates in formal suits, the chief minister visited the Dalian port and evinced keen interest in its operations.
The chief minister visited the control room of the port, and authorities made a presentation on port management. The Dalian port has capacity to handle 1.7 million tonnes of food grains with hi-tech storage facility and rail connectivity.
Later in the day, the chief minister went to International Metal Working Company (IMC) in the new development area of the port city. “As IMC has a subsidiary in Bangalore — Taegu Tech Ltd — the chief minister told the company management to expand capacity of its India operations,” the official said. US multinational Berkshire Hathway fully acquired IMC recently by picking up 20 percent share six years after it bought 80 percent of the equity. As a global player, IMC has 140 subsidiaries in 65 countries the world over.
Siddaramaiah also took time from his busy schedule to visit the wind turbine manufacturing facility of Sinovel Wind Group at Ganjing Zi district in the Liaoning province of mainland China. “The chief minister discussed with the company officials on the knowhow (technology) to further harness the wind energy potential in the state, which is estimated to be about 11,000 mw and promote clean energy,” the official said.
source: http://www.firstpost.com / First Post / Home> FWire / September 13th, 2013
The department of forensic odontology, SDM Dental College, Dharwad, which played a vital role in proving guilty all the accused in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case, works closely with the police department to solve criminal cases.
Established in January 2006 in SDM Dental College, Sattur, near Dharwad, its main service is carrying out dental analysis to find clues in solving crime cases. It’s the first of its kind in the state and country, where dental modules are put to forensic analysis.
In recognition of its service, the state government recognized this department as a referral centre for forensic dental cases in Karnataka in 2010. Spread over a 500 sqft area, the lab is equipped with light tables, forensic magnifying glasses, digital calipers and computers to conduct forensic analysis.
Dr Ashit B Acharya, head of the department, said, “It’s team work and the collective effort of all departments — mainly oral digital radiology, paediatric dentistry, oral pathology and oral surgery. We take help from these departments to conduct forensic analysis and give the final results. Every year, we will get 20-22 cases from the police department to conduct dental forensic analysis seeking our help in determining the age of adults, children, postmortem age estimation, sex determination of skulls and bite mark analysis.”
Apart from the police department, the lab also gets cases from the Kerala Government Dental College and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. Police from Hubli, Gulbarga, Kushalngar, Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum and other places refer cases to our department, he said.
He said the Nirbhaya case is not the first one from Delhi, with Delhi Police contacting them on a regular basis.
“Our department also played a significant role in solving the mystery shrouding the age and sex of hundreds of skulls found in Annigeri, near Hubli. We conducted a thorough forensic analysis of skulls and teeth for one month and established that the skulls belonged to children aged 6-8 years, and men and women aged between 30 and 50 years. The state archaeology department finally came to the conclusion that the skulls belonged to those who died in a famine and it helped them conclude that it was a heterogeneous population,” Dr Acharya said.
The lab uses two methods: x-rays for children and anatomic and microscopic methods for forensic analysis of adults. A microscopic method is used for the dead, that requires them to slice the teeth. For living people, they use anatomic or x-ray based method. X-rays are also used for the dead. Depending on the cases, analysis is done in a day or week or even a month. “We took about a month’s time to complete analysis of the Annigeri skulls,” he said.
THE DOCTOR IN CHARGE
Dr Ashit B Acharya is among the few experts in the dental forensic field. He is from Puttur, near Sullia, in Dakshina Kannada district. He did his high school and college education in Mysore, and BDS from SDM Dental College in 1999-2000.
After graduating, he specialized in forensic dentistry in Australia, then started his own lab in Nepal, working there from 2002 to 2005, before coming to Dharwad. He joined SDM College as head of the forensic department in 2006.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli> Forensic Analysis / by Basavaraj F. Kattimani, TNN / September 14th, 2013
Supreme Plasticisers Executive Partner S. Vishal (2nd from right) receiving the award from Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma at the event.
Mumbai :
Supreme Plasticisers, Belagola Industrial area, Mysore, was presented the ‘Excellence in Exports’ award under SME segment of the ‘Chemical Exports Promotion Council (Chemexcil)’ at a ceremony held on Aug. 30 at Trident Hotel in Mumbai.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 18th, 2013
Renowned folk artiste and centenarian Enagi Balappa is likely to inaugurate the cultural programmes of Dasara-2013, at the Palace premises on Oct. 5 while well-known musician Pandit Jasraj is likely to present a musical concert at the Palace.
This was disclosed by Dasara Cultural Sub-Committee Chairman K.R. Mohan Kumar, at a press conference held at the Palace premises this afternoon, while adding that no programme has so far been finalised.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 18th, 2013
At Rasa India, the Quick Lunch is your best option
Rasa India, Bangalore. Photo:
Rasa, the chain of restaurants in London, is now in Bangalore as Rasa India. Chef and food writer Das Sreedharan is excited about his new experiment that launched quietly on CMH Road, Indiranagar, less than a month ago. “I have so many plans, but it will all have to roll out slowly,” says Sreedharan, who opened his first restaurant, Rasa, in London in 1994. The author of four cookbooks who has featured on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain , sources all his vegetables from organic farmers around Bangalore.
The good stuff
Although the present menu (vegetarian only) suggests a bias towards Kerala food (Sreedharan lived in Kerala until he was 19), the cuisine is Indian, says the chef, pointing out that the menu will change every eight weeks. Our meal began with a basket ofpoppadams, murukku and banana chips and an assortment of pickles, all made in Sreedharan’s kitchen. We got puli inji, a tamarind chutney with ginger, coriander and garlic chutney. These change as per season and availability of vegetables. Sreedharan plans to jar these and sell them at the restaurant starting next month. We ordered a Quick Lunch and Yam Sear with red rice from the a la carte menu. Quick lunch includes a salad, two vegetables curries (we got avial and olan), rasam, rice andpayasam. My dining companion, who hails from Kerala, gave the Quick Lunch a thumbs-up for authenticity. What was missing was a banana leaf, but if you remove that association from your mind, the meal is well presented. The Yam Sear was low on spice, which suited us well. The must-order from the menu is the tea. Sreedharan grew up helping his father run a tea stall in Kerala, which he brings to the Rasa menu. The tea is brewed in Kerala style with a layer of froth on top.
The restaurant will obtain a licence to serve wine soon.
The not-so-good
We were piqued at the presence of Aubergine Tikkis on the menu and wondered how they fit in amid all that Kerala food. They turned out to be brinjal bhajiyas. The co-diner found a stone in his red rice. If you drop by during lunch, go with the set lunch. While we did order partially from the a la carte menu, not everything was available.
Talk plastic
The Quick Lunch costs Rs.250 while the Super Set lunch is Rs.300. A meal for two, if you choose to order a la carte, comes to Rs.1,000.
Rasa India, CMH road, Indiranagar, Bangalore, will host Onam meals from 14-16 September. For reservations, call 8041518237.
source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint & Wall Street Journal / Home> Lounge Review / by Pavitra Jayaraman / Saturday – September 14th, 2013
Keeping exalted company with ‘Mysore Pak’, ‘Villeydele’, ‘Mallige’ and Sandal enjoying intimate connect with Mysore city, among many more articles that appeal to persons endowed with refined tastes is ‘Mysore Peta’. The attractive headgear which was virtually the gold standard for identifying officials of the government in important posts and honours conferred to achievers in various pursuits during the era of kings and their Dewans is in demand even in the present era.
Mysore Peta generates a feeling of respect in the minds of everyone. The headgear made of high quality silk and laced with golden thread as well as colourful exterior was known to heighten not only honour but also status in society of the VIPs visiting the Palace on different occasions.
Kadaiah and members of his lineage are prominent among the traditional producers of Mysore Peta dating back to the era of Mysore’s rulers. Mysore Peta production in ‘Kadaiah’s New Textile Mart’ (Kadaiah Hosa Javali Angadi) on Sayyaji Rao Road dates back to 1886. The headgear was produced using raw materials brought from Benares (now ‘Varanasi’). The enterprise is being continued by Kadaiah’s fifth generation. Their products have adorned Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and Dewans over the decades past. The decorative headgear is conspicuous by its presence in all auspicious events of Mysore Palace and also weddings as well as jaatras. Honouring scholars and littérateurs with Mysore Peta is common nowadays.
Yuvaraja’s headgear used to be produced using special quality silk brought from Varanasi and gold lace, apart from expensive beads and peacock feathers. Shawls, silk sarees with exclusive design and exquisite veils to gently cover the faces of princesses in the Palace also were produced by the Kadaiah team.
Although the headgear has acquired intimate connect with Mysore, traditionally its raw materials have been coming from Varanasi. The Peta is produced around a mould wrapped in canvas. The subsequent art work resulting in the final product, some with frills, is totally hand-crafted by skilled workers.
More than 15 differently designed petas are produced by the enterprise hosted by Mysore namely Bidadi Peta, Yuvaraja Peta, Shivaji Peta, Kodagu Peta, Visvesvaraya Peta, Durbar Peta, Tricolour Peta and headgears adorning characters on stage enacting epics. These different types of petas command a price tag in the range of Rs. 200 to Rs. 2,000. According to the shop owner, 200 petas are sold in a year and available at Kadaiah Hosa Javali Angadi. The enterprise won first prize in the public poll conducted by 93.5 Red FM Radio for its Mysore Peta.
Demand never down
Sales of Mysore Peta is witnessing good times. Demand for the crown continues to be like in the past. It is being supplied to honour achievers, for weddings and other events in Mysore Palace. The attractive headgear is produced by a team of five skilled workers without using any equipment. We are producing it in more than 15 designs.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by H. S. Thejas / Nagesh, Shopowner / September 17th, 2013
Wins II place at Natl-level Amateur Scientist contest
by S.N.Venkatnag Sobers
At a time when most students aspire to become software engineers or doctors, here is a student who wants to get into Research and Development (R&D) in the field of basic science.
Shreesha, a Ist year PU student of Vijaya Vittala Pre-University College has set an example for the other students through his new invention, a ‘Self Sustainable Wheelchair’, which is a boon for the differently-abled and elderly citizens.
Most of the self-sustained wheelchairs available in the market are limited to only basic movements; but Shreesha’s wheelchair is different. He has added more features into the wheelchair. No wonder he won the second place at ‘The Amateur Scientist – 2013,’ a National level science competition organised by PESIT, Bangalore recently.
The wheelchair is powered by battery and runs on motors. People using it need not depend on others’ physical assistance and can easily move around by themselves.
Features
1. Rain Sensitive convertible roof-top: The top cover of the wheelchair covers automatically in case of a rainfall.
2. Darkness-sensing front headlights: In case of a power cut during night hours, the headlights of the wheelchair switches on automatically to help the user move around with ease.
3. Temperature-sensitive fans: There are two fans fixed on either sides of the wheelchair that turn on automatically when the temperature increases.
4. Self-deploying fire extinguisher: In case of fire, the fire sensor installed in the wheelchair sends a signal to the controller and automatically starts sprinkling water on the wheelchair to extinguish fire.
5. Solar Charger: Solar panels are fixed at the backside of the wheelchair to assist in charging the battery.
6. The system is completely portable and can be fixed into any other ordinary wheelchair to make it completely self-sustained.
Shreesha has invented a sensor-equipped footwear to be worn by the caretaker who when unable to push the wheelchair in case they are carrying bags in their arms, the wheel chair will move according to the feet movement of the caretaker. Which means, the wheelchair will move as the caretaker moves.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Shreesha said that the wheelchair was invented keeping in mind the need for the differently-abled and the elderly citizens. “I want to help the needy using technology to make their lives comfortable. The inventions which I make should be economically viable so that it reaches every person who is in need of it,” added Shreesha.
When asked about his inspiration, Shreesha said that more than inspiration, it was the encouragement of his parents. His father S.R. Ramaswamy, a retired science teacher, always motivated Shreesha in all his endeavours, while his mother S.Srimathi gave him moral support.
When asked about his future plans, Shreesha said that he wanted to study basic science for now and later specialise in Mechatronics which would help him become more inventive. ‘Mechatronics’ is a design process that includes combination of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control engineering and computer engineering.
Elaborating on the wheelchair, he said that for now he was using a 12V battery for its operation and added that it could be further enhanced to make it more efficient. Shreesha also said he would add a blood pressure monitor and make the wheelchair completely computer programmed for better efficiency.
Other Inventions
This is not all. Shreesha has also invented ‘Rain Sensitive Clothing Line’. What does it do? As Shreesha himself explains, “when you put your clothes to dry on this clothes line, it rings an alarm when it senses rain and automatically pulls the clothes towards one corner of the line which is covered.”
For now, Shreesha is very proud of his new invention and says “the wheelchair is affordable compared to those currently available in the market. I have spent around Rs. 8000 (excluding the wheelchair’s cost) to make it self-sustained.”
Speaking on Shreesha’s achievement, R. Vasudev Bhat, Secretary, Vijaya Vittala Education Trust, said he was proud of Shreesha and added the management would continue to help such students in their endeavours. Vijaya Vittala Pre-University College Principal H. Satyaprasad mentioned that Shreesha was an example of a student using his knowledge, understanding, application and skills in a scientific way to come out with such innovative products.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers / September 17th, 2013
Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visveswaraya’s birthday today (September 16th)
Bharat Rathna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya 1860-1962
Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara form the Hindu trinity with each assigned a specific job. Creation, preservation and destruction. Brahma will create. He is the creator of this world, architect of this universe and Vishnu is the preserver of that creation while Maheshwara, Shiva, is the destroyer of what is created so that Brahma will get new contract to create the universe again…
We see this happening since 1947 rather religiously and constitutionally. Nehru was the first Brahma after independence. Indeed he did create an India that would make it industrialised and march towards modernisation. Two major steel factories Bokaro and Rourkela; Bhakra-Nangal dam which he called the ‘modern temple,’ Scientific and Technological Research Centre so on and so forth. However, after the first few years of his 17-year-long rule as Prime Minister down-slide began, administration turned effete, corruption raised its ugly head and finally, culminated in the humiliating defeat in the 1962 China war. Soon after, he died.
Next one to rule us for almost as long a period, 16 years, as Nehru did was his daughter Indira Gandhi. She was more a Maheshwara and less of a Brahma. Bank nationalisation, abolition of the privy purse, yes. However, she was the prime cause for weakening our till then sound and strong constitutional institutions that were in place, in order to perpetuate her rule. She made the Supreme Court and even the Parliament captive in 1975 when she declared the internal emergency and passed draconian laws. Virtual dictatorship.
Time passed. Six years of NDA rule was colourless, spineless. Remember exchanging a terrorist to release passengers of a hijacked plane… in a foreign country… our Foreign Minister personally going…? However, NDA had good excuse for its pusillanimous performance: NDA is not BJP; hence following coalition dharma was a great hindrance and hugely restrictive to function freely.
People answered appropriately when time came. UPA under the leadership of Congress came to rule with Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. Now it is about to complete 10 years. But where are we? Are we seeing Dr. Manmohan Singh as the creator of a new, resurgent India? He has wasted his time gathering votes for the 2014 Parliamentary election doling out rice, sugar and edibles and such other concessions to poor voters who are in majority instead of building a new dynamic India creating new industries, infrastructure and schemes that would generate employment, and as a natural, general rule increase per capita income.
The 2014 election-oriented laws and schemes like doling out rice at Re. 1 a kg, cash subsidy etc., by the UPA are counter-development-economic incentives. This will make the beneficiaries lazy, absent themselves from work, spouse to separate and as in Charles Dickens novel to ask ‘Some more Sir.’
Such are the leaders we got after independence. No wonder we still belong to the third world, to the category of developing country, as the developed countries call us.
Contrast these so-called leaders and nation builders with some others; but the most well-known and famous among them is Sir M. Vivesvaraya whose 152nd birthday is today rightly observed as Engineers’ Day. Though it may be a bit of exaggeration to say he was the builder of India when British were ruling us, his contribution was substantial in many areas of development, wherever he served — Bombay, Hyderabad and Karnataka. As for Karnataka, he was really the Brahma, the creator. Son of Karnataka (then Mysore Kingdom), no son of this soil has done so much for its development as he has done in just six years when he was the Dewan from 1912 to 1918. That he was fortunate, so also the people of Mysore, in having Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV as the ruler, a Raja Rishi and philosopher-king. He gave full support to Sir Vivesvaraya’s many visionary projects. Of the many, I must mention at least a few major one’s — KRS Dam, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bhadravati Iron and Steel Mill, Government Soap Factory, Sandal Wood Oi
l and Soap Factory, State Bank of Mysore, Mysore University, Hydro-Electric Project at Shivanasamudra, Mysore Sugar Factory, Hindu Modern Hotel and Metropole Hotel in our city, Century Club, Bangalore, Engineering College and more. The list seems endless. One man and what a service to the country. A real Brahma.
But sadly we have now only Maheshwaras coming in the way of Vishnu who is prevented from even maintaining what Brahma Sir M. Vivesvarayahad created for us. Look at the maintenance of KRS dam and garden; Bhadravati Steel Mill, HAL and a host of other institutions and industries. Mysore Sandal Wood Oil Factory is closed or almost closed but a huge sandal oil factory is flourishing in Kerala border. Raw material is from Karnataka! Sir M. Vivesvaraya must be turning in his grave!
Such a great man, it is said, had a very disturbing, unhappy family life. The cliche often used while honouring great achievers is that ‘behind every great man there is a woman’, inspiring him. Fate cheated him with his first wife Savithramma, who died early after marriage. Second wife died at delivery. At the persistent request of his mother he married again but this too led to his despair. Thus the aphorism that behind every successful man there is a woman was belied in Vivesvaraya’s case, so also in many other cases.
Some examples. Abraham Lincon. He had a quarrelsome, nagging wife. Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, father of Independent India’s Defence Forces, rose to that height even as his wife separated when he was a Brigadier. And he never married again. And to go to ancient times, Socrates, the world’s greatest philosopher. He had a nagging, quarrelling and cantankerous wife so much so once while he was having his dialogue with the youngsters of Athens in the garden Arcadia, his wife, enraged, came with a bucket full of water and poured it over his head. Socrates did not lose his cool but simply humoured himself muttering: “I thought it was only thunder, it also rained.”
I think it is Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, the great Kannada novelist and littérateur, who also served at the Palace, while giving a pen sketch of the great builder statesman, had mentioned some of Vivesvaraya’s idiosyncrasies. Sir MV was very meticulous in his sartorial outfit and in his speech highly measured. Carried himself with great dignity at all times even while eating food. For example, while eating banana he would gently peal it to a small length, break it with his fingers and plunk that portion to his mouth. He would not bite it like most do.
How I wish we had builders like Sir M. Vivesvaraya and rulers like Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. Now let us pray to Shiva and request him to keep quite for just next five years. Who knows Narendra Modi may play the role of Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. But where would Modi find his Visvesvaraya? Let us pray.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra……. Abracadabra kbg@starofmysore.com / September 16th, 2013
Mohammed Bilal Siddiqui, a student of Mysore District Zen Shito-Ryu-Karate School who participated in the National Shito-Ryu Karate Championship held at NIE on Mandavadi road recently bagged a gold medal in Kata Men – 21 years category and a bronze medal Kumite- Men-21 yrs, below 55 Kgs. category.
He is the son of Arshad Hussain Siddique and Fathima Razia couple and is trained by Sensei Azeez Khan.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / September 16th, 2013
