M. Arun Shenoy (52), Chairman of Bantwal Sulochana Madhava Shenoy (BSMS) Trust, which runs Kamakshi Hospital in Kuvempunagar and Director of DMS Technologies, Mysuru, passed away in the wee hours of today at M.S. Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru after a brief illness.
Arun Shenoy, son of late M. Ananda Rao, partner of Mangalore Ganesh Beedies, was a resident of Jayalakshmipuram.
He leaves behind his wife Shamma, two sons — Arjun and Arinjay — mother Nagarathna, elder brother M. Ashok Shenoy, sisters — Anjana, Anupama and Archana — and a host of relatives and friends.
Last rites were performed at the foot of Chamundi Hill today at 4 pm.
Condoled: The Management and staff of Kamakshi Hospital held a meeting in the hospital premises this morning to condole the untimely demise of Arun Shenoy.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / March 12th, 2016
The collection of stamps and coins is a good hobby which a few pursue. One such philatelist-cum-numismatic is S. Amrutesh, who has kept a low profile after settling down in Mysuru. Very keen to know what efforts the University of Mysore (UoM) was doing to bring out the commemorative stamp and coin during its Centenary celebrations, this shy, reticent, passionate collector opened up to Senior Journalist N. Niranjan Nikam to share his rare collection and the journey thus far.—Ed
S. Amrutesh with his wife Jayanthi.
by N. Niranjan Nikam
If the physically challenged young man had not cajoled me to start the stamp collection, I would never have started this wonderful hobby at all and my life would have been poorer today,” said the tall, erect, shy 83-year-old, even as he started looking at the many stamps and coins, he had spread on the table, through the magnifying glass.
This passionate collector who retired as Manager, Circulation, Times of India, Mumbai, after 36 years of service, settled down in Mysuru almost 24 years ago, was very excited when he heard about the Centenary celebrations of the University of Mysore. He took the stamps of the three Universities of Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai released in 1957, during their Centenary celebrations and rushed to a Professor in the University asking him whether he could do something to bring a commemorative coin and stamp of our University also.
The philatelist-cum-numismatic was very pleased to hear that the University was making all efforts to bring out both the coin and the stamp this year when it completes its Centenary.
Recalling the days when he first landed in the then Bombay to start his work as an apprentice at the Times of India in 1956, the very calm, composed and reticent S. Amrutesh said, “I used to walk on D.N. Road every evening after work and there were all these stamp dealers who were showcasing their wares in shops and makeshift stands. This boy who was differently-abled and was dealing in stamps of all hues and sizes would change the display every three or four days. One day he called me and asked me whether I collected stamps. I replied in the negative.”
The young man would not leave the passerby alone. He told him, “You just start collecting.” But the problem for Amrutesh was he did not have money to buy the stamps. The dealer asked him how much he could afford and he told him not much. He gave Rs. 60 worth of stamps and asked him to clear it in instalments. “I could afford only Rs. 5 a month for which the young man agreed!” he chuckled.
Asked whether he had any other influence on him, Amrutesh said that his uncle who was a Hindi Professor in the University of Mysore was a collector of stamps. But he always used to show a few collections and immediately hide them. When one is young it is common to show interest in collecting matches, marbles, stamps, coins, peacock feathers, dry leaves and flowers keeping them in-between sheets of books, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners and the list can go on.
A majority, however, give it up as one grows and the interests change. The passion for such hobbies is something that one needs to cultivate. “Once when the Gandhi Centenary stamp was released, I stood the whole day in the queue as it snaked its way from the GPO to the VT Station. I finally managed to buy the stamps worth Rs. 50 in the evening at 5.”
There are more than 5,000 stamps in his collection. When one looks at them each one is eye-popping. I was privy to a couple of hundreds only as Amrutesh has stacked them in all available spaces in his home — on the lofts, in the almirahs, in the old aluminium trunks and nooks and corners!
The collection of stamps includes First Day Covers. The Royal Mail First Day Cover issued when it completed 500 years is really eye-catching. The Magna Carta, 1215 — Foundation of Liberty reads, “No Free Man Shall Be Seized or Imprisoned…Except by the Lawful Judgment of his Equals or By The Law of the Land. Magna Carta, 1215.”
There is history, romance, knowledge, ideas and excitement when one embarks on such journeys that last a life time. “One day when my husband was out at work, I got a mail from England from my brother-in-law. In the eagerness to read the letter, I just tore the cover open only to realise that it was a First Day Cover featuring Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s Royal Wedding,” said Jayanthi Amrutesh and added, “I was terrified and grief-stricken to face my husband when he returned. All he did was had tears in his eyes. I promised myself that I would never again repeat the mistake.” But she was happy that her brother-in-law sent a new set which she proudly displayed to me.
Amongst the collections, one which caught my eyes again was the new UN Stamp Supporting Gay Rights, a hot topic these days on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) which the world body has taken note of. “I had asked my son Karthik who lives in the US to send it to me, once he receives it himself at his home, as I was afraid that if I asked for it directly, it would be stolen, something that I had experienced before,” said Amrutesh.
There is also a special commemorative stamp on Mahatma Gandhi printed on Khadi in 2011, as also on First Man on the Moon-1969. The list of stamps include cinema, sports, defence, musicians, composers, freedom fighters, christmas, soccer, birds, wildlife, politicians, tribes of India, sadhus and seers, actors of the likes of Madhubala, playback singers like Lata Mangeshkar, countries that include Pakistan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia.
The brochures that are brought out along with the release of stamps are very informative. For instance, when you read about Nabakalebara, a stamp released in 2015, it gives so much of information that I was inspired to write on it in a Kannada magazine, said Jayanthi.
Coin Collection: Asked when the coin collection began, Amrutesh said that he started collecting them after his retirement. Taking out a collection of coins of England, America and our own country’s old coins which take us back to the ‘good old days,’ when we still used to see the annas, paise (mooru kasu) and the rupee had cent per cent value, Amrutesh said that he has more than 500 coins and still counting.
The Rs. 1000 commemorative coin of Brihadeeshwarar Temple when it completed its 1000 years is a rare collection.
In the present day when hardly anyone writes in post cards, inland letters or airmails, how does one maintain interest in stamps? This question does bother Amrutesh. The attitude of the Postal Department is also something which leaves a lot to be desired.
“The fear of stamps being stolen is always there. Once, I complained to the Royal Mail, England, that I had not received the stamps and the First Day Cover they had sent me. I had written to them after a lot of hesitation thinking that they would ignore my complaint. But I promptly received a fresh set with no questions asked,” he said.
Sadly the same is not true in our country. “I have not received any fresh set of stamps in the last six months. The Post Office in Saraswathipuram is very non-committal,” he added.
He sometimes thinks of quitting but the moment he sees on the internet the stamp on Geological Survey of India released a couple of months ago, “my heart flutters and I feel that I should continue,” said the octogenarian with agony in his voice, even as he answers a phone call from a young stamp collector wanting to know when he is going to get the new set of stamps.
If one is interested in stamp collection, his advise to the collectors is to open a “Philately Deposit Account,” by paying a minimum of Rs. 200 in the Post Office and they would get all the details about the stamps.
However, whether it is philatelist-cum-numismatist Amrutesh, the coin collector R.M. Chetty of the Senior Citizens Forum, Rajarajeshwarinagar or Sanjay Kansal, the coin expert from Delhi — their common interest is to see that the University of Mysore comes out with the Centenary Commemorative Coin and Stamp.
We only hope the Ministries concerned are listening to the call of the collectors.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / March 11th, 2016
Uber, the technology company that seamlessly connects riders with drivers at the push of a button, has today inaugurated Asia’s first Engineering Center in Bangalore.
Today, Uber celebrated its engineers and together with Thuan Pham, Uber’s chief technology officer, officially opened the doors of Asia’s first Engineering Center in Bengaluru.
After hosting his first chai pe charcha with members of the press as part of the inauguration, Thuan Phamsaid, “The talent we see in India and the sheer passion and eagerness of these Engineers to build world class products and services to improve the lives of people and cities around the world is remarkable,”
The Engineering Center in Bangalore will hire the best-in-class software engineers who will focus on developing customized solutions to better serve our rider and driver partners in India, in collaboration with on-the-ground operations teams as well as global Engineering and Product teams.
Thuan Phama added, “Launching Asia’s first Engineering Center in Bengaluru is a testament to our commitment to investing in India, and I can’t wait to see the innovations that will come from this team as they work to support the phenomenal growth of our business in cities across the country.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Banglore / by Hemali Chhapia / TNN / March 10th, 2016
Cine actor and Theatre Director Mandya Ramesh has been selected for Rotary Kadamba Theatre Award – 2016, given jointly by Rotary Mysore North and Kadamba Rangavedike.
A native of Mandya, Ramesh, who was interested in theatre since his childhood, was trained at Ninasam. Later, he joined Rangayana under the guidance of B.V. Karanth and worked under directors like C. Basavalingaiah and Prasanna.
He made his debut on silver screen through Shiva Rajkumar starer ‘Janumada Jodi’ and went to act in many movies. Mandya Ramesh won the State Award for Best Supporting Role for the movie ‘Nagamandala.’ He has also built a theatre of his own in Mysuru — ‘Natana Rangamandira’ which has been catering to the needs of many theatre buffs in the city.
The Rotary Kadamba Theatre Award-2016 will be presented by Film Director Nagabharana at a function to be held on Mar. 18 at 6.30 pm, according to a press release from Rajashekara Kadama, President, Kadamba Ranga Vedike.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / March 08th, 2016
Front view of Chaturmukha Basadi; (right) Gerusoppa is very close to Jog Falls
Bengaluru :
Stories of kings and queens always attract the young and the old alike. Indian history is abundant with interesting tales of brave queens. In India, where women strive to emulate Sita, and are often docile and meekly submit without resisting , there were valiant women taking up arms against enemies and often succeeded in their attempts. One such brave ruler was Rani Chennabhairadevi, the queen of Gerusoppa, who ruled for 54 years — the longest reign by any Indian woman ruler.
Gerusoppa, situated on the banks of the river Sharavathi in Uttara Kannada, was under the control of the Vijayanagara kings. In the decentralised Vijayanagara empire, various regions were ruled by royal families known as Mahamandaleshwaras. By the early 1550s, Chennabhairadevi, who belonged to the Saluva dynasty, became the queen. As per the inscriptions, her kingdom extended from south of Goa to Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Malabar. This region is known not only for harbours like Bhatkala, Honnavar, Mirjan, Ankola and Baindur but also for pepper.
A brass idol of Chennabhairadevi
Honnavar and Bhatkala served as internal and international, flourishing trading centres. Arabian horses and weapons were imported from the West. Pepper, betel nut and nutmeg were exported to European and Arab countries. Chennabhairadevi found herself at confrontation with the neighbouring rival kingdoms as well as the Portuguese. The attempts of the Keladi kings and Bilgi chieftains to pull the queen down proved futile.
The queen had to resist the Portuguese who tried to grab the ports and take over the trade. She was at war with the Portuguese in 1559 and again in 1570. She crushed the Portuguese army with her intelligent battle strategy. One of the Portuguese chronicles states that during the war of 1570, the Portuguese attacked Honnavar and burnt it to the ground. After the decline of Vijayanagar, Chennabhairadevi dealt with the Portuguese diplomatically, who nicknamed her ‘Raina de Pimenta’ — the Pepper Queen.
A letter sheds more light on the importance of pepper trade with the Portuguese. Affonso Mexia, the Portuguese Captain of Cochin, writes to the King of Portugal: “Between Baticala and Goa there are certain places called Onor, Mergen and Ancola, from which I hear 5,000 crusados worth of pepper are annually shipped… These places are under the dominion of Queen of Guarcopa… This pepper is larger than that in Cochin, but is lighter and not so hot. It appears to me that we ought to secure…”
Queen Chennabhairadvi was a Jain. The Chaturmukha Basadi of Gerusoppa is attributed to her. She gave grants to Shaiva and Vaishnava temples too. Saraswath Brahmin businessmen and skilled Konkani craftsmen took shelter in her kingdom to escape Portuguese persecution. Jain scholars Akalanka and Bhattakalaka were under the Queen’s patronage. She is credited with building the Mirjan Fort and is believed to have lived there for several years.
The Keladi and Bilgi chiefs adopted ‘Unity is Strength’ formula. Matrimonial alliances brought these two families together. The combined forces of Keladi and Bilgi attacked Gerusoppa, finally defeating the Queen. Gerusoppa came under the control of Keladi. The ageing queen was taken prisoner to Keladi and she breathed her last in prison. If the strategy of unity was adopted against the foreign intruders, India’s history could have been different.
Queen Chennabhairadevi projects herself as a powerful woman, when other women stayed indoors under submission. She was the contemporary of the Queen Elizabeth I of England and succeeded in ruling for the longest period against all odds.
(Lakshmi Murthy is the principal of J V Vidyapeetha, Bengaluru. Ravi Hegde is a researcher in the field of biological sciences from NIMHANS. They are working as a team in conserving archaeological, cultural and natural heritage of Uttara Kannada district.)
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Lakshmi Murthy & Ravi Hegde / March 07th, 2016
World Association of Kick-boxing Organisation Indian Unit, WAKO India, had organised Junior National Kick-boxing Championship and Federation Cup (Cadet & Senior) at Takatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, from Feb.17 to 21.
More than 900 participants (550 male and 350 female) from Maharashtra, MP, UP, Jharkhand, Haryana, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, AP, Telengana, Punjab, Assam, Manipur, Gujarath, Orissa, Karnataka, J&K took part in this event which was divided into 7 categories (Musical Form, Point Fight, Kick Light, Low Kick, Light Contact, Full Contact & K-1).
Kickboxers from Karnataka Kick-boxing Association who took part in this championship won 4 Gold and 1 Silver medals. While Bengaluru’s R. Girish and Ajith Kumar Rai won Gold in -91 kg & -81 kg K-1 senior category respectively, city’s Inchara Bhavith won Gold in – 81 kg Light Contact senior category. Mysuru city’s Karate Kid Deia S. Urs won Gold in the Junior Girls (15 -18 Years, below 48 kg) K-1 Category, becoming the first girl from Karnataka to win Gold Medal in K-1 Category (Full Contact Ring Sport including Knee Strikes). The Karnataka Team was led by Karnataka Kick-boxing Association General Secretary C. Ravi.
Deia S Urs proudly displaying the Gold Medal along with her MMA Coach Kru. Chethan M. Ashwathama at Kimura Fight Club.
The 15-year-old Deia, who is studying in 9th standard at Vidyavardhaka B.M. Sri Education Institutions, Mysuru, is trained by Kimura Fight Club Chief Coach Kru. Chethan Mysuru Ashwathama in Mixed Martial Arts including Kick-boxing, Muay Thai, Muay Boran and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Sunday – March 06th, 2016
Prof. C. Naganna is seen addressing as sculptor L.Shivalingappa, Prof. AVN and others look on.
Mysuru:
“Even as we admire the sculptures at historical places and exhibitions we tend to fail to identify the sculptors,” said Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Mysuru.
He was speaking after releasing the books ‘Badami Chalukya Temples Foundation Designs’ by Dr. Virupaksha B. Badigera and ‘Shilpi A. Kiran Subbaiah’ by N.B. Kaverappa at a function held as a part of ‘Shilpakala Sambhrama’ at Maneyangala in Kalamandira in city on Saturday.
Stating that sculptors were professionals who continue their work without expecting any fruits, Prof. Murthy added that it was the duty of the society to identify such persons.
“Tourists do not come to our city to visit IT&BT industries but to study our culture and heritage in which art plays a vital role as it is nothing but the reflection of our society,” he added.
Former Director of Mysore University Prasaranga Prof. C. Naganna spoke about the books. Karnataka Shilpakala Academy Chairman Mahadevappa Shambulingappa, authors Dr. Badigera and Kaverappa were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / March 06th, 2016
Khadri Achyuthan has a soft corner for rural India. First as a journalist with a Kannada newspaper and then as a communications officer with the government, he had to extensively travel to the rural areas of Karnataka and popularise new methods of agriculture and irrigation. Even after retirement, the 70-year-old has found it difficult to sever ties with the rural people.
He wants them to grow, and come on a par with the ones living in urban land. To ensure that, Achyuthan is now on a mission to take social media causes to the grassroots level. Realising the importance of social communication in the rural areas, a group of journalists has launched a media research studies institute in Bengaluru, and as a managing trustee, he is training village youngsters in skill development.
The institute, which started its journey in the beginning of the month, is trying to garner funds by holding monthly media workshops, seminars and publications. “Journalism has taken different shapes and has impacted the society over a period of time. But technology has overtaken the language of the media and young journalists have to be equipped with storytelling abilities for portraying an event in the right perspective,” he says, adding that media education scenario in the country is quite depressing. “Language is losing its importance. The academicians and journalists have to come together to give hands on training to print and broadcast journalists,” he says.
Before taking up the government job in 1966, Achyuthan worked as a journalist with Navakalyan, a weekly paper published from Gulbarga. As he speaks, the veteran admits that the travails have helped him dissolve into something complete and fulfilling. It was in 1965 that he came to Bengaluru in search of a job. “My mother was not well and we had no money to buy her medicines, but she was bent upon sending me to the city. I managed to get a job at a salary of `60 per month. My passion for Kannada did not allow me to join an English newspaper. I shunted from one paper to another,” he says.
During his stint with Navakalyan, he came closer to rural people. However, after the Indo-Pak war in 1965, the government of India was in need of information officers and he cleared the tests successfully in an emergency recruitment in Madras and joined service at Shimla in 1966.
He was also one of the first 24 candidates to be selected by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and was posted as Field Publicity Officer, a position created by Jawaharlal Nehru to popularise the Five Year Plan at the grass-roots level.
In those days, when television was a distant dream, people flocked to see the news reels or any developmental films shown by the government. “Topics on agriculture, family planning and national integration were shown to the masses and the issues discussed threadbare. Most of the audience were illiterate and cinema itself was a new medium,” he says.
In his long tenure, he has come across instances when the government found it difficult to spread social issues among the rural people. He still remembers how the villagers would run away from the government officials thinking that they would be forced to follow family planning programmes.
Even as the influx of refugees from Bangladesh began in 1971, Achyuthan admits that rural communications in the country grew at that time. “Films Division was making and sending documentaries on the plight of Bangladeshis. We had to explain rural people about the creation of West Pakistan and the exploitation of East Pakistanis. To our surprise, people were eager to know and understand the refugee problem, while school children used to queue before information office to know the show timings,” he says.
Also a noted Kannada author, Achyuthan’s tryst with audio-visual communications began in 1981 when the first regional Kannada news on All India Radio Dharwar was launched. “Telecommunications had not improved and with the Dharwar services, both Press Trust of India and United News of India too started. Our bulletin almost became a mouthpiece for Gokak agitation in 1982-83,” he says.
The veteran journalist and a writer believes that those avenues helped rural communication grow. He has also written a book in Kannada on the Indian Space Research Organisation and its grassroots application. His other works include translation of Ashok Mehta’s studies in socialism, a German diary, Tenali Ram’s applications for modern business management.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Meera Bharadwaj / February 27th, 2016
by Ankitha Kishorchandra, National Balshree Awardee for Creative Writing
I still remember the day that found my mom and me shooting off to Jawahar Bal Bhavan right here in Mysuru. She was taking me to participate in the district-level Balashree Competition under the Creative Writing category. She had seen the circular in this very paper, Star of Mysore. I was initially hesitant and unwilling to participate in the competition for the prestigious Balashree Award which is a Presidential Award. I never knew the intensity and importance of the whole award then !
Finally, I groused, groaned, moaned about losing a whole afternoon [which would have been spent in reading books, nevertheless…], I sat behind my mom on her two-wheeler and found myself in Bal Bhavan.
There, I could see kids around my age and older, carrying things that totally matched the category they were participating in. I saw a few kids in colourful Bharatanatyam costumes and some carrying musical instruments. Others were holding bags overflowing with brushes, paint tubes, and pencils. Some were balancing science models precariously in their hands. The rest were like me; wielding nothing but an exam pad and a pen or two… All of us kids under the ‘Creative Writing’ category were made to sit in an auditorium in the campus itself. Parents were asked to move out, and my mom taking her cue, flashed me a ‘thumbs-up’ sign and requested me to take the whole thing seriously as taking things seriously was not something that I usually did for any competition.
The competition started. We were told that there would be three different sessions and were given sheets of paper. The first session was to write an essay on ‘India’s Heritage Sites.’ With a rather resolute sigh, I started penning down whatever I knew about our heritage sites, and almost coincidentally, just when I was finishing my essay with a flourish, a person came to take the sheet away and gave us new ones for another session.
This time, we had to write a story with mythological elements… This was my piece of cake ! I made my protagonists the avatars of Indian Gods [I know what you are thinking…But I had never even heard of the Kane Chronicles then!], and they saved their city from blood-thirsty demons.
The next hour was truly poetic… We had to write a poem on ‘Nature.’ We had to write only four stanzas… Nothing more, nothing less. I made it as beautiful as I could… and thus ended my saga here at Mysuru.
Two days later, the good news reached us! I got selected to compete in the Zonal-level between Andhra Pradesh [it included Telengana then] and Karnataka. I couldn’t have been more pleased! Heartened by this good happening, I started believing my own abilities better. So, the D-day arrived and we found ourselves in Hyderabad for the competition. There were arrangements for us to stay in a very nice hotel, which was quite spacious [and I do miss the food!]. On the first day, we did some sightseeing and did some shopping too. The sessions started on the second day. Forgive me, I only remember two sessions out of the four sessions that we had. One session was a poem that we had to write on ‘Superstitions’ and the other session was about writing a story on ‘Time Travelling.’ I made a few friends too — Pabitra, Ansar, Sathvika and Prathyusha.
Soon, we were heading back to Mysuru. I had done my best in Hyderabad. It was now up to the guiding light above me, to put me through to the National-level or not. The long wait ended with good news again. I was through to the National-level to be held in Delhi. But what was more exciting to me was all my friends from the Zonal-level had also made it to the Nationals! So, in August of 2014, we headed to Delhi [we first got down at Agra and paid a much needed visit to the Taj. Wah, Taj! My friends and I had a happy reunion in Delhi National Bal Bhavan, where only we kids and our escorts were supposed to stay. Our parents had to find other places for accommodation. It was a rather wild, ragged experience, staying away from my mom for five days.
For the National-level, we had seven sessions in all and I remember every session very vividly. But I don’t think I can give an elaborate writeup on every one of them, as unfortunately, my time is running short… It is a mysterious thing, time, always being fluid at the wrong hour. Anyway, that is not relevant. Back to square one.
The first session was a common session for all the four categories. We had to dish out different uses of a cotton cloth — that was quite brain-storming. The second session was to write a poem on ‘Mythological characters’ — this was a little tricky as we were given word and stanza limits. The third session was also a poem on ‘I remember.’ The fourth session was to write a story based on a picture that was given to us. The fifth session was again a story on ‘I lost my way’ [I gave it a tinge of terror]. The sixth session was to write ‘An autobiography of our School Gate’ [Yes, you read it right], and lastly, the seventh session was to come out with an advertisement to invite people to our home city for an event it was famous for [I proudly showcased our Dasara], but this had to be done in just 6 sentences!
The sessions were brain storming, but nice and different.
We all had an awesome time and it was then time to bid adieu to Bal Bhavan… another sad farewell to my friends and Delhi too.
And then, the eternal wait started… My mom anxiously scoured through the official website of National Bal Bhavan at least a gazillion times everyday. The number of times she went through the site everyday actually resulted in ‘National Bal Bhavan’ becoming a suggested site on the Home Page. I just kept silent, and when anyone asked me about my chances of winning the award, I gave an aloof ‘I don’t know’ and acted like I didn’t care. But I did. A lot. It would colossally crush me if I didn’t get it. And then one fine day, on March 17, 2015, to be precise, my mother was doing her routine check on the site [this time on her phone]. She saw a marquee ‘National Balashree Results 2013’ flashing past. She immediately swept away to the computer to check it on a ‘big screen,’ all in a state of great confusion and impasse, on whether I would get it or not. This was it. The sounding board. The judgement of my ability. The state of my ego. My entire life. I was totally freaking out and I tried my best not to hyperventilate. My mom clicked on that marquee with a shaking mouse, or rather, a shaking hand. The first category was Creative Performance, the second was Scientific Innovation, and the third was Creative Writing. As we went down the list of awardees, I felt my heart in my mouth. There was no trace of my name. Not yet… And there it appeared! Serial No. 41-ANKITHA KISHORCHANDRA, all in bold! My mom gave a resounding scream of delight and thereafter, she burst into volumes of tears. I admit, I teared up a little. It was a huge relief for me. Then there were the phone calls to our family and friends and the good news went around.
Life went on normally after that. Then the time came for us to send certain details about me to Bal Bhavan, Delhi, for the Award Ceremony and all this was done through e-mails and couriers, and my mom took great pleasure in sending all these herself.
The days, instead of slowly passing by, started whizzing past on full thrust… The day of the Award Ceremony dawned upon me like a bright star. But I had to taste this sweet with a huge pinch of salt. My father could not come to attend the Award Ceremony as someone had to stay behind to look after our pet dog, Bonia, and he chose to. I was of course, engulfed with sadness, and I knew that no pleading or compelling on my part would help.
So, again January 31, 2016 found us (my mom and me) in National Bal Bhavan, Delhi. None of my friends from the Zonal and National-level had made it, so I made other friends, though I missed my old friends very much. The stage rehearsals went on in full swing on February 1 and 2. We, the Creative Writing awardees had to write a poem and we decided on the topic ‘A clean India in the eyes of the youth.’ We didn’t focus only on the garbage littering the streets of our country but also on the social evils that have almost swallowed India. The Creative Performance kids had prepared a beautifully choreographed dance ready and the Creative Arts Awardees got busy with painting huge canvases. All these preparations along with rehearsals kept us busy for those two days.
And then the day arrived… February 3, it will be etched in the memory of all of us 62 Awardees forever in our lives. We were taken to the Vigyan Bhavan at 8.30 in the morning where we had another round of rehearsal.
The Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhavan was the venue. Our parents followed us at 10.30. Time flew past in great dollops. The chief guest for the day was Hon. Minister for HRD, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani. She arrived exactly on time, 12 noon. The ceremony started. Though every second passed by faster than the speed of light, I remember each second clearly… The Award Ceremony began with the Creative Performance awardees.
Soon, my name was called out to go and receive the award. I was not nervous, but I did feel trembly, happy, proud, confident and satisfied, all at once (and I do not know if there is a word that includes all those feelings). I received the award, spoke a few words with the Minister [everybody later told I spoke a lot…] and went back to my assigned seat. The ceremony got over just as quickly as it had started. I was extremely happy for myself and for my parents too and knew they felt the same. The next day, we were on our way back to Mysuru.
The whole experience was very nice, memorable and made me think and view things differently. The feeling and the Euphoria of winning a Presidential Award has not yet sunk in, and I do not want to think too much about it. I want to be the humble person that I am and keep reading more and more books always…
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / March 03rd, 2016
Dr. S.G. Ramdasa Reddy, HoD of History and NSS Officer at the Government First Grade College in Kuvempunagar here has bagged the ‘Best NSS Officer’ State Award and the NSS Unit of the college has been selected for the ‘Best NSS Unit’ State Award.
The awards were conferred by Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala at a function organised at Rajbhavan in Bengaluru this morning.
Dr. Ramdasa has, in a press release, expressed his gratitude to NSS volunteers, students, College Principal Dr. Annegowda and NSS Co-ordinator Dr. K. Kalachannegowda, University of Mysore, for guiding him in all his activities.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Saturday, March 05th, 2016
