Yearly Archives: 2015

Loud patterns, bold statements

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
Ajay Kumar
Ajay Kumar

Bengaluru’s designer Ajay Kumar marks his fashion week debut with his quirky menswear collection

At first look, Ajay Kumar’s clothes scream “look at me”. Face to face with the quirkily-dressed man, and you know his collection is all him. He’s wearing floral-printed cream pants, a white sharply cut bib shirt, sports a very Italian brown-brogues-without-socks look, a waxed twirly moustache, and a Mohawk hairdo to boot. He shows me a flaming red jacket he usually wears.

“I like flamboyant,” he declares with a hearty laugh and a twinkle in his eyes. A NIFT graduate who’s worked with Blackberry’s, Indigo Nation, Reid & Taylor, and Peter England, Ajay has embarked on his own creative journey now — he will be launching his eponymous menswear label “Mr. Ajay Kumar” at the Gen Next designer platform of Lakmé Fashion Week in its Winter/Festive 2015 edition in August. “If someone has achieved something they should show it. I was inspired by the movies, by the corporate life and look…you should not hide behind anything. I like to dress up, look bold. You should be someone to look up to,” he says with finality.

The 36-year-old Bengaluru-based designer is from Uttar Pradesh and makes no bones of his lower middle class upbringing. He grew up in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand, where his father was Deputy Post Master; he credits his parents with being his biggest support, specially having come from a small town where a career in fashion is far removed from life. He talks of how he almost applied to be an aeronautical engineer, then got through a hotel management course, before he finally landed in National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi. He now lives in Bengaluru with wife Lavanya Venkatraman, co-founder at a fashion startup, and son Siddhanth. He wanted to be in Bengaluru, the corporate hub, and live the life with a beautiful house, car, and clothes. Ajay’s collection ‘Consonance & Dissonance’ is taking shape at his newly set-up studio in HSR Layout. On one side hang his sports collection and after-office wear, “bread-and-butter” shirts he designs with his partner Bhupesh. “Every designer uses market input to create something that sells. Then, there are the things he makes for his passion.” He says he styles for photo-shoots to sustain. “I like to style a whole look. I’ve always done that.”

On the opposite end of his studio, is his “passion” — the collection he’s taking to LFW. “Everything has importance in our lives. The problem is that we try to make everything perfect. But in every person there is something positive and negative. And if I don’t have the negativity, I don’t have personality. Even in a piano, the black and white keys are about consonance and dissonance…So my collection has lots of layering of patterns, colours; they are multitudinous. I’ve not tried to synchronise anything.” Earlier everyone looked toward the West but now there’s a turnaround and everyone looks towards India, even for silhouettes, he says.

Out of the eight ensembles he’s taking to the LFW 2015, six are ready. “The silhouettes are structured yet flowy, Indian yet contemporary. I’ve always created very constructed patterns. A guy should look sleek. You’ll find in this collection drop-crotch pants, cowl necked shirts, angrakha styled shirts, Rajasthani- style Bhagatri en’s kurtas fused with formal white collars, a tuxedo-inspired jacket, a kilt-inspired pant with an overskirt…” Black and white geometric patterns are interrupted with colourful flowers, elephants, birds, and motifs of men in pagdi, twirling their moustaches! “This elaborate surface work is hypnotic and like the kaleidoscope.” Bib shirts and layers, really, though, are his thing. “I can wear anything. I can look like what I want. We can experiment. We all have licence to do it.” That quite sums up the man, and his creations.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Bhumika .K / July 09th, 2015

Premji gives half of his stake in Wipro for charity

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
In Wipro's annual report for the year ended March 2015, Premji said he has now allocated the equivalent of 39% of the company's shares to a trust focussed on philanthropic initiatives, mainly primary education.
In Wipro’s annual report for the year ended March 2015, Premji said he has now allocated the equivalent of 39% of the company’s shares to a trust focussed on philanthropic initiatives, mainly primary education.

Bengaluru :

Wipro’s billionaire chairman Azim Premji, the first Indian to sign the Giving Pledge, has set aside more than half of his wealth for charity by allocating an additional 18% stake in the company to fund philanthropy.

Premji, who will turn 70 this month, controls a 73.39% stake in India’s third-largest software company, which is worth about Rs 99,500 crore ($15.7 billion). In Wipro’s annual report for the year ended March 2015, Premji said he has now allocated the equivalent of 39% of the company’s shares to a trust focussed on philanthropic initiatives, mainly primary education. The additional 18% stake forms the latest tranche of shares Premji has allocated for charity.

The Giving Pledge is an effort to invite the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit half of their wealth to philanthropic causes and charitable organisations. In his pledge in 2013, Premji said he believes that those who are privileged to have wealth should contribute significantly to try and create a better world for the millions who are far less privileged. “Over the past 15 years, I have tried to put this belief into action through my personal philanthropic work. Over these years, I have irrevocably transferred a significant part of the shareholding in WiproBSE -0.03 %, amounting to 39% of the shares of Wipro, to a trust (of which ownership of 21.14% was transferred and for the balance, the trust is entitled to the beneficial interest of dividends and sale proceeds),” Premji wrote in a letter to shareholders.

People close to Premji said he has been quietly and steadily been transferring wealth to fund philanthropy.

“Apart from the Tata Trust, nothing comes close to the commitment made by him on this front,” said a person who knows him well. “And now, he has two engines to carry on philanthropy—the Azim Premji Foundation, and the newly formed Philanthropic Initiatives formed to making grants to NGOs.”

Last year, Premji hired Amnesty India head G Anantha Padmanabhan to build an organization that will offer grants to external agencies.

“The new initiative of making grants to NGOs has just started under what we call Philanthropic Initiatives. We are continuing to look at various areas, e.g., nutrition, water — the only area that we have decided on is support to NGOs working with the most vulnerable people — eg, street children, urban homeless, teenage girls from disadvantaged communities, women at risk of violence,” said Anurag Behar, CEO of Azim Premji Foundation and vice-chancellor of Azim Premji University.

“The Foundation’s work continues to expand and deepen in helping improve public (government) school education across seven states, which have about 350,000 schools. The university that we run also continues to expand. This year, we have launched a Master’s in public policy and governance and also our undergraduate programme,” Behar added.

Philanthropy has been on the rise among the rich in India as Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates , the world’s richest person, and business magnate Warren Buffet urged the wealthy to give their fortunes to charitable causes.

According to the Hurun Research Institute, at least 50 individuals donated over Rs 10 crore to philanthropic causes in 2014.

Premji, Anil Agarwal, Shiv Nadar and Ratan Tata were the most generous givers in India, according to the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2014.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Business> India Business / by Pankaj Mishra, ET Bureau / July 08th, 2015

Training in Ginger Cultivation for farmers held at Horticulture College

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
The dignitaries are seen watering a sapling to inaugurate the training programme at College of Horticulture in Yelwala, Mysuru, on June 30.
The dignitaries are seen watering a sapling to inaugurate the training programme at College of Horticulture in Yelwala, Mysuru, on June 30.

Mysuru :

A ginger training-cum-exhibition was held at College of Horticulture (COH), Yelachahalli, Yelwala, Mysuru, on June 30 by Horticultural Extension Education Unit of College of Horticulture for the benefit of ginger growers around Mysuru.

Farmers around this region are growing ginger since 5 to 8 years after its introduction by the traders from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the border areas of Chamarajanagar. Although farmers have accepted this as a lucrative and remunerative crop, the package of practices was not well-known. Hence, this Extension Unit organised a training programme on ginger for the benefit of farmers from Chamarajanagar, Hunsur and Hassan.

About 100 farmers attended this training along with scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) Suttur and Gonikoppa, University of Mysore and officials of Department of Horticulture, Mysuru.

Dr. K.T. Shivashankar, Retd. Dean, UAS, Bengaluru, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the programme. Speaking on the occasion, he expressed happiness over the conduct of the training programme which was long due. He advised the farmers to follow the advanced technologies in ginger cultivation to harvest rich dividends.

He also cautioned them that it was very difficult to raise any other crops after the harvest of ginger crop. He suggested the farmers to form an association of growers to discuss their problems.

Dr. Arun Balamatti, Programme co-ordinator, KVK, Suttur, Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat, Principal, Government Ayurveda College, Mysuru, also spoke. Dr. Krishnakumar and Dr. B.C. Anand, SADH, Mysuru and Dr. Vasanthkumar Thimkapur were present. Dr. K.M. Indiresh, Dean (Hort.), COH, Mysuru, presided.

Training on ginger cultivation was imparted by experts: B.N. Harish on varieties and package of practices; G.K. Sudharshan on diseases; Dr. Prasadkumar, on pests; H.B. Rashmi on post harvest products; Professors of COH and Anjanappa, Agronomist, NETAFIM, Bengaluru gave lecture on use of drip irrigation.

An exhibition was also arranged with display of products of ginger, disease symptoms, diseased and infected specimens of ginger crop etc.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Friday – July 03rd, 2015

A bundle of charm

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

VolkswagenBF07Jul2015

They got her an imported ‘body cream’ and she is massaged to sparkle her pista green colour every Sunday. A 1968 Volkswagen Beetle, she is the “happiness” of GB Ravichandra’s family. The best-selling car for the longest time, she has a unique body shape with fins, a rear engine, and a huge boot space at the front.

A classic beauty, she was the childhood dream of Ravichandra who says, “I watched the Beetle rallies as a kid. It was after 20 years that I am able to own one.”
He adds that his dream would not have been fulfilled if it was not for his wife Bharathi. “Although I wanted to own a Beetle, I was skeptical about spending money on it, as it is an expensive hobby. My wife’s support was and is still the biggest boost to my passion.”

It is not just the Beetle that takes him back to his childhood. He also owns a Bajaj scooter. He explains, “It belonged to my dad Bhaskarayya. A family of four — my father, mother, sister and I — have travelled all around in this scooter. With the four of us, there would be some extra luggage too. My father was very passionate and cared more for his scooter than his wife!” A layman’s mode of transport, it is in good running condition and has a humble charm.

His passionate collection of many antique and classic things has led his daughters — Aishwarya and Aashika — to follow his footsteps.

“The passion is completely passed on as we, at the beginning, did not understand the so-called antique charm. But we are a part of it now and have emotions attached to our Beetle,”  they say in unison. They call it a package of love and happiness and Aashika says, “I love the rallies that happen in the City and it is exciting to see many colourful Beetles moving in a single lane. We have made so many friends who share the same passion because of this car.”

Bharathi is equally passionate about this small car and she has made it a point to include the car in every family celebration. “During birthdays or anniversary celebrations, we make sure to deck the car with flowers and placards and take her for a drive with all family members. She is a part of every special
occasion.”

There is a story behind the car’s arrival which he summerises, “I saw an advertisement and she was in Cochin. Hesitant, but later encouraged by my wife, I flew to Cochin. She was in a bad condition and it was an expensive affair. However, I picked her up and got her to Bengaluru in a truck.” She was restored and it took him a year to find the right mechanics and get her back in shape. “Some parts were not original and I had to source them from abroad. It took me a year to get everything fixed — all to her original charm,” he adds.

A left hand drive car, she is a showstopper in the busy traffic and Bharathi says, “While taking her for a drive, people first tend to look at the driving seat, which is usually on the right and jovially think that a lady is driving. Sometimes, we even pretend to hold a rod in the front trying to fool them and this is a fun process.” She adds that the car is a bit tougher to drive because of the left hand steering.

They own another unusual car — 2004 Ambassador Avigo — that has a body shape of a classic ambassador, but a power steering with all the modern amenities. “There are about only hundred cars produced in India and this is made to look like a 1960 model,” he says. He comments on the technology of the classic cars and says, “They are very superior and reliable. The engine parts of this Beetle are rugged and the car does not topple.” With a dream to own many cars including the Citroen 1970 and a classic Mercedes Benz, he concludes, “It has taken me twenty years to own a Beetle and I will never let go of her.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Prajna GR, Bengaluru / DHNS – July 07th, 2015

A taste that binds together

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

BangaloreFoodClubBF07jul2015

In 2011, a group of cousins with a love for food decided to start a club called the Bangalore Food Club (BFC). Nanda Kishor KN, a senior member of technical staff, Oracle; Deepak Rajanikanth, a technical lead at IBM; Rakesh R a freelancer and an IT consultant at Compass IT Systems and Solutions and Kiran Ramaprasad, an R&D hydraulic engineer at Yuken Indian Ltd, aimed at getting the foodies of the City together and make them aware of the local food and delicacies available here. 

However, over the years, the club grew by leaps and bounds and today, it boasts of over 1250 members on Facebook.

“There are many food apps today. But most of them focus on luxury hotels and posh eat-outs. That’s how we differ as we give information on all kinds of places from streetside stalls to five star hotels,” says Nanda Kishor KN.

“We share what we experience as foodies and there is no competition. We are very active on Facebook and always follow a theme pertaining to food. For instance, we recently held the ‘idli’campaign, where we focussed on popular and unique recipes of ‘idlis’ prepared by the popular local hotels of Bengaluru.”

“We keep meeting on a regular basis and discuss our love for food with each other. We get a lot of appreciation for our work. There are people who have come to us asking for the address of a particular eatery that we recommend,” says Rakesh.
However, distance proves to be a major challenge when it comes to meetings. That’s when social media comes to their rescue.

Posting photographs about a particular theme not only allows them to be in constant touch with each other but also learn more about food.

“Everyone in the City is well-versed with popular restaurants. But what we want to highlight is the little ‘gems’ of the City,” says Deepak.

“By the end of this year, we are hoping to have 5,000 members. We are very active on Facebook and Twitter,” he adds.

The members also want to help people from other parts of the country settled here learn more about the local food and culture.

“Bengaluru is full of people from different parts of the world and we want to popularise the local food among them. We want small eateries to gain more popularity and be appreciated for their hard work,” says Sahana, another active member.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Surupasree Sarmmah / DHNS- Bengaluru,  July 07th, 2015

City’s Thriveni C. Mysore’s article published in WW-I Centenary special German Book

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

Mysuru :

An article titled ‘My dear son’ written by Thriveni C. Mysore has become the only article from India to be published in a German project — ‘The Book of Plans, Hopes and Dreams,’ that marks the Centenary of the beginning of the First World War (1914-2014).

Thriveni C. Mysore’s article, written under the pen name ‘Bharathi,’ gives the picture of India’s struggles during World War I and the turmoil in the country before and after Mahatma Gandhi.

‘The Book of Plans, Hopes and Dreams’ project is a German-British WW-I remembrance activity concentrated on local and European history. It was created to let the people of today remember people in the time of war by finding out about them, and setting down their own ideals and stories, to hand on to generations to come. The project is a writing competition to link 1914 to 2014 and beyond, by writing a letter, story or poem.

The project has won the European Association for the Education for Adults (EAEA) International Grundtvig Award, launched by EAEA in order to recognise and celebrate excellence in adult education.

The articles that were selected for ‘The Book of Plans, Hopes and Dreams’ were printed in the form of a book and were presented to the Blackburn Cathedral by the Diocese of Braunschweig, Germany, while the only two original copies of the book are kept in Brunswick Cathedral, Brunswick, Germany and Blackburn Cathedral, Lancashire, England. The project is described by the Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral, Lancashire, Ian Stockton as “A symbol of reconciliation and hope.”

A lecturer in Yuvaraja’s College here, writer and critic, Thriveni is a graduate from Yuvaraja’s College who has won the prestigious Kannada Sahitya Parishat award for her book on religious ethics and a State level award for her criticism on D.V. Gundappa’s ‘Kagga.’ She also holds lectures on environment and conservation.

Thriveni’s letter that was selected to the project can be viewed at www.book-of-phd.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / Wednesday – July 01st, 2015

SSLC result : Sadvidya student tops District after revaluation

Education, Records, All

KruthiBF07jul2015

Mysuru :

In a sudden turn of fate, K. Kruthi of Sadvidya High School, Mysuru, has become the topper of the district in the SSLC examination held in April this year, securing a total of 622 out of 625 after revaluation.

Kruthi replaces A.G. Rashmi (99.36 per cent) of CFTRI School as the topper of the district by securing 99.52 per cent. Kruthi also becomes the second topper in the State after Vishwajit Prakash Hegde of Sirsi, who has secured 99.68 per cent (623/625).

Prior to revaluation, Kruthi had secured a total of 615 out of 625 marks but gained seven extra marks — five in II language English, one in III language Kannada and one in Social Studies.

Kruthi has scored cent per cent marks in I language Sanskrit, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies, 99/100 in III language Kannada and 98/100 in II language English.

Kruthi, a resident of Sardar Vallabhai Patel Nagar, is the daughter of A.N. Krishna and B.M. Lathamma.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, father of Kruthi, A.N. Krishna said that the marks should have been announced correctly when the results were out on May 12 and blamed the officials for negligence which resulted in the disparity.

A.N. Krishna further added that Kruthi was encouraged by the staff of Sadvidya High School to apply for revaluation as she had topped all the exams conducted prior to the board examination. An elated Krishna also said that they were expecting two more marks and that they are quite happy with the changes.

The management, faculty and students of Savidya High School were in a celebration mood today as their student and classmate had topped the district.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / Wednesday – July 01st, 2015

Civil Services eighth ranker wants to work in rural areas

Education, Records, All
Civil Services eighth ranker and Karnataka topper Nitish K. Photo: Special Arrangement
Civil Services eighth ranker and Karnataka topper Nitish K. Photo: Special Arrangement

Nitish K. (26), a native of Udupi district, was in disbelief when he learnt of his Civil Services Examination (CSE) results. The eighth ranker, Nitish had managed the feat in his third attempt.

Currently undergoing training at the Indian Audit and Account Service in Shimla since December 2014, the 2011-batch engineering graduate from PES Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, said he will migrate to the Indian Administrative Service and straightaway join training in Mussoorie.

Son of bank manager K. Ramakrishna Hebbar and homemaker G. Bharathi, Nitish plunged into preparing for the CSE soon after he graduated. In his first attempt, he missed getting a rank by 10 marks, and then ranked 547 in his second attempt.

“I would like to improve facilities in rural areas,” he said, adding that he would be the first IAS officer in his family.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Deepika K.C. / Bengaluru – July 05th, 2015

Kamakshi Hospital celebrates 42nd anniversary

Records, All, Science & Technology

Senior Surgeon Dr. C. G. Narasimhan and staff felicitated

Senior Surgeon Dr. C. G. Narasimhan, who was felicitated during the 42nd Anniversary celebrations of Kamakshi Hospital at Kuvempunagar in city yesterday, is seen with Mayor R. Lingappa and BSMS Trust’s senior Trustee M. Vinod Rao. Picture right shows (seated from left) Ashwini Kumar, Rajashekar Shastri and Poornima, who were felicitated on completion of 25 years service in the hospital, with (standing from left) Kamakshi Hospital Administrator Dr. K. R. Kamath, Mayor Lingappa, Trustee Vishwanath Rao, BSMS Trust Chairman Arun Shenoy, Joint Managing Trustee Ashok Shenoy and Managing Trustee Mahesh Shenoy.
Senior Surgeon Dr. C. G. Narasimhan, who was felicitated during the 42nd Anniversary celebrations of Kamakshi Hospital at Kuvempunagar in city yesterday, is seen with Mayor R. Lingappa and BSMS Trust’s senior Trustee M. Vinod Rao. Picture right shows (seated from left) Ashwini Kumar, Rajashekar Shastri and Poornima, who were felicitated on completion of 25 years service in the hospital, with (standing from left) Kamakshi Hospital Administrator Dr. K. R. Kamath, Mayor Lingappa, Trustee Vishwanath Rao, BSMS Trust Chairman Arun Shenoy, Joint Managing Trustee Ashok Shenoy and Managing Trustee Mahesh Shenoy.

Mysuru :

The Kamakshi Multi-Specialty Hospital celebrated its Founders Day (B. Madhav Shenoy and Sulochana Bai) and 42nd Anniversary at a function held in the hospital premises at Kuvempunagar in city yesterday.

Mayor R. Lingappa, who was the chief guest, felicitated Senior Surgeon Dr. C. G. Narasimhan, who has been serving in Kamakshi Hospital from the day of its opening.

Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor recalled his association with the hospital and lauded the yeoman service of hospital doctors and staff to the society. In times of difficulty, each one of us seek God’s blessings and God disguises himself in Doctor’s form to save us, the Mayor said.

On the occasion, Kamakshi Hospital staff Ashwini Kumar, Rajashekar Shastri and Poornima, who have been serving in the hospital for over 25 years, were felicitated.

Children of hospital staff, who have achieved distinction in SSLC and PUC examinations, were given prizes.

BSMS Trust’s senior Trustee M. Vinod Rao presided.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / Tuesday – June 30th, 2015