Monthly Archives: September 2013

Varsity plans to conserve every drop of rainwater

Education, Green Initiatives / Environment

Comprehensive watershed system to be adopted on UAS-B campus

The University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore has taken up an ambitious project to convert its entire 1,300-acre campus into a comprehensive watershed system using scientific method so that not a drop of rainwater goes waste.

Under the proposed comprehensive watershed system, said to be the first of its kind in the country’s agricultural sciences universities, the UAS-B will build eight new ponds. At present there are six major and six minor watershed ponds.

UAS-B Director of Research M.A. Shankar said different catchment areas have been identified within the campus based on the nature of terrains, contour divides and water flow pattern. The project is said to become a watershed model for others especially the institutions with campuses, he says.

The project, which is being taken up at a cost of Rs. 40 lakh, would be completed in about six months from now, he said. The university has taken the services of retired soil conservators of the State Agriculture Department to implement the scheme.

UAS-B Vice-Chancellor K. Narayana Gowda, who conceptualised the project, says the intention is to put in place a highly efficient system of watershed where every drop of rainwater is put to use.

“We decided to develop the entire university campus into a watershed system after our terrible experience during summer this year when there was severe water shortage. With the increasing number of big and luxury apartments mushrooming around the university campus, the groundwater level has depleted in the campus as these apartments account for a large number of borewells which go as deep as 1,500 feet. Such was the water shortage that we took Cauvery water connection. That made us think seriously about the comprehensive watershed model,” Prof. Gowda said.

Head of UAS-B’s Horticulture Department B.N. Sathyanarayana, who monitored the task of reviving this huge watershed tank, says that the tank got filled up now after nearly two decades.

“Water is becoming increasingly precious. Unless we try to preserve it and recharge the groundwater through the above methods, we will have to face a tough time,” he says.

The works related to the revival of the above watershed system was inaugurated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Director-General S. Ayyappan before the commencement of the monsoon.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by B.S. Satish Kumar / Bangalore – September 15th, 2013

Mysore Police Band

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

MysorePoliceBand22Sept2013

Lakhs of tourists throng the ‘City of Palaces’ to be a part of the world famous Dasara festivities. Among the star attractions is the Mysore Police Band which has been adding flavour to Naada Habba for the past several decades. This weekend’s Star Supplement introduces the Mysore Police Band for those who are newly acquainted with Dasara

An Integral Part of the City’s Culture: 140 years of of Rich Heritage

by  S. Kenneth Shishir

The famous Police Band of Mysore, once an integral part of the Maharaja’s court, has been giving top performances, particularly during the famous Dasara festivities.

Band culture is an integral part of the culture of Mysore. Dating back to 1868, Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar along with his Dewans formed ‘The Palace Bands’ namely the English Band (playing Western music) and the ‘Karnatak Orchestra’ (playing Karnatak classical music) to cater to the official needs of having ceremonials.

Later, the groups were divided into Karnatak music group and English Band. Then they were rechristened as: ‘Karnataka Government Band’ (English Band) and ‘Karnataka Government Orchestra’ (Karnatak troupe).

This 140 year old heritage is a rich legacy connected to the Mysore Palace. Being great patrons and versatile musicians themselves, Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar followed by Krishna Raja Wadiyar and Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar encouraged the band and orchestra in a great way. The successive rulers were broad minded enough to integrate this art into the social and cultural fabric of the former Mysore State.

The band was formed under the great patronage of Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur- IV and was known as the Palace Band. These Palace Bands (Indian Orchestra and English Band) were integrated to the Police Department in the year 1951 and were invited to Delhi in the same year for the Republic Day Parade.

The Wadiyars are known for their province- a bastion of music, learning and art. Many members of the Royal Family were themselves well-versed in Karnatak and Western music. As such, they felt the need to establish a regimental Band based on the pattern of the English. During the days of the Maharajas, it was presumably a 150 strong orchestra at par with any symphony orchestra in the world. Many directors and scholars of music such as the renowned Frenchman D’fries, Otto Schmidt of Germany, Dr. Alfred Mistowski from Poland and others were hired to train the local musicians.

The Palace Band underwent a subtle transformation of sorts when it was amalgamated into the Police Band during the 1950s. In 1958, they were brought under the offices of the Mounted Police Company of Karnataka.

The English band has a varied range of musical instruments most of which were procured by the Wadiyars. An array of musical instruments, such as Clarinets, Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpets, French horn, Circle Bass, Tuba, Euphonium, Trombone, Drums, etc.

The Band also boasts of a collection of other instruments such as Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double-Bass, Grecian Harp, Bass-Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Percussive instruments, etc.

Some rare instruments like Horn Cello, Tubular-Bells, Deagan Organ pipes (Tubular Organ), Accordion, Glockenspiel and Xylophone are also the prized collection.

The band enviably has one of the richest music libraries. It houses printed music of the most exotic styles and genres of innumerable composers arranged for various instruments.

A number of Hindustani and Karnatak ragas that have been transcribed into western notation. The band in view of diversifying from playing only martial music has of recent included instruments like Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar and a Drum Kit.

In 1981, Dr.G.V.Rao, the then Director General of Police, was instrumental in combining the Police Bands of all district headquarters to give birth to the first massed band programme in front of the Mysore Palace during the Dasara festivities. With a strength, of some 500 men in spectacular uniforms of various colours, the mass band was the first of its kind in South India, second to the “Beating the Retreat” programme by the armed forces during the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

Here the English and Karnatak bands take lead and perform a variety of displays, tunes and drill formations.

‘Abide with Me’ composed by W.H. Monk the favourite hymn of Mahatma Gandhi is played by all the units along with trumpets from a distance, giving it an echoing effect. It is also played with Tubular Bells as a finale at the programme.

The Mysore bands, owing to their reputation and expertise have a training centre of martial music, wherein all District Police Bands come and get trained.

Pieces that the English band plays are compositions like Colonel Bogey, Queens Colours, Where the café lights are gleaming, My regiment, Gladiators farewell, Amparito Roca, Sol a Seville, In a Persian market, Hoch Hiedeksberg!, May Blossom, The Sound of Music, Saare -Jahan se achcha, Sher-e-Jawan, Bharath ke jawan, Vienna waltz, etc.

Alla Figaro, Sealed with a Kiss, El-bimbo, Lambada, Every breath you take, My Way, Congratulations, Beethoven’s fifth and Mozart’s Symphony No.40 are some of the more contemporary adaptations for the concert band done by band Masters Felix M. Joseph, Felician M. Joseph, J.M. Pereira and Arokyaswamy.

Ever since its inception, the Band has been winning awards of the highest order. It was awarded ‘Karnataka Kalashree Puraskar’ by Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy in 2001.

The bands perform during government functions, programmes at Mysore Palace, sports event sorganised by the Police Department, visit of VIPs and VVIPs and any other function, under the directive of the three IGPs in charge. English Band and Karnatak bands perform in city parks and also at KRS during certain occasions.

‘Band House’

In the early 20’s, a separate ‘Band House’ on Mirza Road was constructed to house the band and orchestra. Separate enclosures such as the Instruments’ room, music library and an exclusive concert hall apart from other rooms were part of this magnificent structure. This building is presently used as the office of the Commissioner of Police of Mysore city.

The English Band presently has about 50 musicians while the Karnatak band has about 35 in its fold. The induction of these musicians is based on their musical knowledge and qualifications from reputed universities of music.

Former Band Master Felix speaking to SOM, said that the Band is an integral part of the culture of Mysore from the days of the Maharajas, hence should be preserved for heritage sake and added that musicians from Mysore would love to preserve the rich heritage of Mysore city.

List of Band Masters and Asst. Band Masters till date

J. De’fries, M. Pereira, J.M. Pereira, J. Francis Xavier, Felician Joseph, Felix M. Joseph, Arokyaswamy, M.K.Rajendra and Sudharma.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Features Articles / by S. Kenneth Shishir /  September 15th, 2013

City’s Ashwinni Hemdev is India’s first ‘Int’l. Round Tabler’ of the Year

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

 

Ashwinni (third from left) is seen with National Presidents of Round Tables of other countries.
Ashwinni (third from left) is seen with National Presidents of Round Tables of other countries.

by  S.N. Venkatnag Sobers 

Mysore :

Seems Mysoreans are going places. Yesterday it was reported that Dr. Ashith Acharya was Indian first Forensic Dentist and now we have our city’s industrialist Ashwinni Kumar Hemdev, who has become the first Indian to be awarded the prestigious International Round Tabler of the Year award 2012-2013. This award has been bestowed upon Ashwinni for his public service through Round Table. It is indeed an honour considering that here are 40,000 Round Tablers from 67 countries! Ashwinni is the first Indian to get the prestigious award since the inception of Round Table India 50 years ago in 1962 by John Barton in then Madras.

Ashwinni Kumar Hemdev, Managing Director, Darshan Flexibles Private Limited, has followed the footsteps of his father P.G. Hemdev, both in business and social service. The senior Hemdev was the founder member of Mysore Round Table-21, one of the oldest Round Table in the country. So as Ashwinni says “Round Table is in my blood I suppose so it comes naturally to me.” Considering the fellowship is a big part of Round Table it is no surprise that jovial Ashwinni Kumar Hemdev has won this honour.

Ashwinni also has the record of being the first President of Round Table of India from Mysore, “and that too during the Golden Jubilee year of Round Table India made it quiet an interesting time” says an ever smiling Ashwinni.

Speaking about Round Table, Ashwinni Kumar Hemdev said that it has been an excellent experience to be a part of an organisation which not only gives importance to fellowship which helps in personality development but also involves itself with a single minded mission — to educated the under privileged children in the country.

Being the President of Round Table India, Ashwinni Hemdev travelled extensively to various places throughout the country and abroad. In fact he says “It gave me an opportunity to see the world. Also, thanks to my wife Divya for holding fort when I was busy travelling.” When asked how his wife tolerated all his travelling Ashwinni says “Divya knew what to expect as she is a Circler, the ladies wing of Round Table and also she joined me in quite a few travels.”

Apart from his works during his more than a decade association with Mysore Round Table -21, Ashwinni was instrumental in taking Round Table to Singapore. He has also the credit of conducting Round Table International World Meeting in 2012, which was named a ‘Wah India’ in Hyderabad. It was the first time that a world meeting of the Tablers and Circlers was held in India.

Though Ashwinni loves Round Table, he says “Its time for me to retire” with a hint of sadness. The tenure of a Round Tabler ends when he turns 40 and Ashwinni has just a year left. “Yes, I am a little disheartened, but this is what keeps Round Table fresh and flush with new ideas and friendships,” says Ashwinni. He now jokes saying he will have more time to spend with his family while also looking forward to serve as an Honorary Tabler for a year or two.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / September 15th, 2013

Bangalore, you are still beautiful

About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Travel

Bangalore :

Early on Sunday evening, the sky was clear and a soft wind blew across Ulsoor, lined by the lake on one side and expensive real estate on the other. There was an edge to the traffic racing towards the city’s downtown area, dodging pedestrians and potholes.

A young girl of perhaps 18 was at the front of the traffic on Gangadhar Chetty Road, close to the Thiruvalluvar statue. A pothole that had matured into a crater with water from early morning showers flooding the area, lay ominously across the road.

The girl and her two-wheeler, followed closely by an autorickshaw, were stalled by the condition of the surface. The slightly-built teenager, who was trying to manoeuvre her bike through the slush, lost her balance and tumbled into the muck.

The auto driver and the passengers in his vehicle sat unmoving. Behind them, traffic started piling up. A young man on a bike suddenly raced through the crowd and tossed his vehicle to the side. He didn’t even pause to take off his helmet before pulling the girl out of the slush and depositing her on the footpath. He then returned to move her vehicle.

For a while, people just watched, stunned by the little drama playing out before them. I realized the girl might need medical attention and got out of my car, leaving it in the middle of the road. By then, a biggish crowd had gathered around.

It took me a couple of minutes to get back to my vehicle which was clearly blocking the traffic. But no one objected. No one honked. There was a considerable pile-up and people in the vehicles in the rear probably didn’t even know what was happening up in front, but nobody made a sound. Everyone waited patiently. At a time when rapes and crimes against women headline newspapers every day, it was an especially sweet moment. The rider who cared, the crowd that paused.

As Metallica’s James Hetfield’s told the city’s rapt audience not so long ago, “Bangalore, you’re beautiful.”

It might have been the time of day, that day of the week, when the mood relaxed. It might have been the most patient were in the pile-up. Or maybe, just maybe, the city is regaining some of its lost temperament. Fair-weathered, pot-holed Bangalore.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Auto Driver / by Prajwal Hegde, TNN / September 04th, 2013

Treading on a different path …

Education

ManasaRaoBF20sept2013

Children mean life to many. But she restructured her life for them. From pursuing Master’s in one of the most interesting Science subjects and working in a renowned scientific firm to taking a U-turn with the idea of doing something else altogether and establishing a playschool of her own, she has come a long way. Doing it all at a young age of 28 is what makes it an achievement.

Manasa Rao, a budding achiever from city, is based at Bangalore where she went chasing her dreams about six years ago. Having completed her schooling at Mysore and Masters in Biochemistry at Manasagangotri here, she too like many youngsters in city relocated to the Garden City in search of a job. And in the year 2009, she found herself placed as a junior scientist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and two years later went on to become a scientist in a world renowned healthcare company at Bangalore. But a little while later did she realise that her interests were something else altogether — children, child growth and the edification of early growers and thus decided upon coming up with something of her own for them.

In 2011, she set up a preschool of her own with the franchise of a leading preschool group, thus turning out to become a young and budding entrepreneur. “Starting up a business of your own with no prior experience is no mean task and it took me quite a bit of time to understand and get into the swing of things,” says Manasa, adding, “But as I learnt the art of managing things, it all turned out to seem exciting. Waking up each day to see the smiling faces of little learners full of enthusiasm is a feeling so wonderful that I forget everything else around me as I enter the centre.”

While she initially started with the admission of less than six children for day care, play group, nursery, junior and senior KG education programmes, the centre began picking up with time with over 70 children pursuing various programmes at it currently.

Ask her what she feels about the growth of herself and the education centre in these two years and she replies, “I am happy and it gives me a sense of satisfaction. However, having blend with so many little ones all of different nature, I now yearn for more knowledge in the area of child growth and education.”

Married to Vishnu Kumar, an engineer and a mother of a one-year-old, Manasa feels she is still quite young to be known the ‘principal’ of a school, and says, “I might have achieved things but I still have a lot more to learn and a long way to go. I have a sense of responsibility towards these children and their parents who come to me with loads of questions about children and their growth and education.”

Hence, the young entrepreneur’s next venture is to research upon the area of child education, child psychology, special children and their needs. “With that I will get to know children even better and can provide for them better,” she says.

But does she miss being a scientist? “At times, yes. I miss working as a scientist and learning new things in the area of Science. But guess this is a field that has been teaching more than what I would have learnt as a scientist. The little ones teach me so many things that I have not known as an elder myself in all these years,” she gushes.

The playschool is based at HSR Layout in Bangalore. —AN

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / September 17th, 2013

From Beans to Bricks

Business & Economy, Leaders

Brigade Group Founder speaks to SOM

1) M.R. Jaishankar 2) Brigade Sparkle at J.P. Nagar
1) M.R. Jaishankar 2) Brigade Sparkle at J.P. Nagar

Mysore :  

Brigade Group, unlike most developers from Bangalore, has not ignored Mysore and has had a number of projects in the city. M.R. Jaishankar, Founder and CMD of Brigade Group, spoke to SOM during his visit to city recently to inaugurate the Company’s latest project.

by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

Having come from a family of coffee growers in Chikmagalur, M.R. Jaishankar completed his degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and then secured an MBA degree from the University of Mysore. He worked as a management trainee at the UB-MEC Batteries after which he started his own company MLR Industries in 1980. The company manufactured Chicory. MLR industries, under the leadership of Jaishankar, went on to become the largest supplier of Chicory to Brooke Bond India Limited.

In 1984, Jaishankar decided to diversify into real estate and launched his construction company ‘Brigade Enterprises Limited’ with a grand construction of Brigade Towers during October 1986, which at that time was the tallest building constructed by a private developer.

When asked why he chose the construction business, he says because it was viable.

“Any business is 80 percent common sense coupled with hard work and good use of opportunities. Right decisions at right time in the interest of the company with no selfish motive will always help in the growth of a business”, says Jaishankar.

He then adds, “Though we had a presence in Mysore, here too we have become the first company to build the tallest apartment complex Brigade Horizon.”

Sharing his idea on housing for the middle-class sector, Jaishankar said that the prices of land have gone up which has resulted in rise in prices of the apartments. “The Government should come forward and provide lands at a cheaper rate so that the private developers come forward to construct affordable houses”, he added.

KPL and Brigade Group

Brigade Group was one of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) franchise owners, Bangalore Brigadiers. The franchise was bought for a whopping USD 1.1 million. Though, first two seasons were conducted in 2009 and 2010, the tournament has not been conducted since 2011 owing to misunderstanding with KSCA authorities.

Sharing his experience on KPL, Jaishankar said “from the beginning itself KPL was a badly conducted tournament.” He then added, “Even the present committee too did not take much interest in solving the issued related to KPL.”

When asked whether Brigade Group would still want to be a part of KPL, Jaishankar mentioned that it depended on the planning and handling of the tournament. He said that the tournament should be conducted with a good intention.

“We have an open mind. But, everything depends on what the KSCA offers to the franchise and promotions on the tournament”, said Jaishankar.

Speaking of his company’s plans for Mysore, Jaishankar said that they are also coming up with two luxury hotels — one on New Sayyaji Rao Road with 150 rooms and other on KRS Road. This apart, the group is also coming up with another apartment project on Nanjangud Road shortly.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S. N. Venkatnag Sobers / September 13th, 2013

Sakaala extended to Mangalore University colleges

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education

Seats will be reserved for students excelling in art and culture; students to get TC in four days, says VC

Students of Mangalore University can get transfer certificate in four days after submitting applications and marks cards in three days from the date of announcement of results.

Vice-Chancellor T.C. Shivashankara Murthy told reporters that Right to Services Act (Sakaala) had been extended to all the 195 colleges coming under the university. Mangalore University and other universities in the State came under the Act since August 16.

As many as 14 services are being provided in a time-bound manner by the colleges. It includes transfer certificate and duplicate of admission letter (four days), conduct and study certificates (two days), issuance of marks cards and bus passes (three days). A.M. Khan has been appointed the nodal officer who will be looking at the implementation of the Act in the University and its affiliate colleges.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by Staff Correspondent / Mangalore – September 01st, 2013

Man who makes Howdah Elephant comfortable

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

PashaMahoutBF18sept2013

Mysore :

Jumboo Savari, the finale of Dasara festival is no doubt the prime attraction in city especially the golden howdah being carried by a mighty humble elephant.

Many are unaware of the intricate preparations to be made before the howdah could be mounted on the back of the elephant.

The howdah is actually placed on a thick mattress which is fastened to the back of the elephant using jute ropes.

The mattress is actually a combination of three different layers colloquially called Gaadhi, Namda and chapu.

The bottom layer Namda is actually a combination of gunny cloth and white cotton cloth woven together to get a soft texture.

Over Namda is Gaadhi which is a huge square gunny sack stuffed with wild grass grown on the bank of lakes.

Chapu is the top most layered thick cloth cover.

In short the three layer mattress is supposed to provide a firm soft support for the howdah and make the bearer elephant comfortable to carry the heavy load for a good distance.

The unsung hero instrumental in making the mattress is Pasha, a mahout of elephant Sarala who retired in 2006 but has also been doing this job of stitching the three-layer mattress right from 1971. His passion for the job and love of elephants has been recognised by the Forest Department to still keep him on the rolls. Pasha’s father Sultan too was a mahout for the Pattada Aane Hamsaraja of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar.

Pasha does not just make Namda, Gaadhi and Chapu but also weaves the thick jute rope from strands which takes about three days to make.

Speaking to SOM, Pasha said that he would begin making the jute rope ten days before Dasara. He added that he has been training other mahouts to make the mattress and rope. However he said that he was not happy to be in the forest all through and wanted his son Mansoor not to step into his shoes.

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

Made by Martha

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nature, World Opinion
A basketful of yum: Fusing recipes from the USA and Europe with Indian flavours / Photo: Murali Kumar K. / The Hindu
A basketful of yum: Fusing recipes from the USA and Europe with Indian flavours / Photo: Murali Kumar K. / The Hindu

Martha Kohlhagen, who settled down in Bangalore and runs a gourmet enterprise. She makes preserves, sauces, and desserts

Chicken breast stuffed with apple and onion relish, lemon tarts made with lemon curd, pannacotta vanilla cream dessert using caramel sauce, fresh vegetable salad with orange vinaigrette and chicken and pesto pastry. Such delicious food was prepared at Foodhall in 1 M.G. Road recently by Martha Kohlhagen with Chef Lynn Clemente, from Vivanta by Taj Whitefield. They also shared insights on what goes into preparing a good continental meal.

Martha, from Colorado in the United States, made Bangalore her home six years ago. “I first came to the city with an IT firm,” says Martha. But her interest in food led her to start her own company, Martha’s Preserves, in the city, which offers gourmet preserves, sauces, and desserts.

With continental restaurants mushrooming at every corner of the city and shows like MasterChef becoming increasingly popular, the interest in continental cuisine has been growing.

“There’s a huge market and interest in continental food. It’s a question of how you go about it. Where do you get ingredients? You have to pay attention to and look for what products are available in the market,” says Martha, who launched Martha’s Preserves in December last year.

“I have taken traditional recipes from the US and Europe and blended Indian flavours within them. My most popular products are my pineapple chilli jams, pomegranate orange marmalades, chocolate and pesto sauce. I have introduced French caramel sauce and fig and raisin jam. All of my products are an infusion of flavours of different cuisines.”

All the products of Martha’s Preserves are a 100 per cent natural, with no preservatives. “And it’s good, good food. I don’t compromise on the quality of my products. Each bottle is full of fruit and vegetables” adds Martha.

Gourmet food to her is about using the best ingredients to bring out the best flavours. “There is a difference between eating and really enjoying food. Gourmet food is about enjoying what you eat and saying ‘wow, that’s really good!’ It goes back to the quality and care in making the product.”

Martha speaks of what constitutes continental cuisine, and says depending on how you prepare it, there is something for vegetarians in it too. “It’s primarily preparations of meat and vegetable. If you are a vegetarian, you can expand on the vegetarian part — it’s a good balance of various types of food in one meal. The main course must be as good as the accompaniments and vice-versa. You can stuff the same things in a zucchini as you do in a chicken and it tastes equally good. All my products are vegetarian. But the lemon curd does have egg.”

Martha’s facebook page, Martha’s Preserves, also has recipes, which suggest ways in which you could use her products. You could also visit her website www.marthasfoods.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Food / by Sravasti Datta / Bangalore – September 01st, 2013

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

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

Bangalore :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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