Monthly Archives: April 2018

US-based Analog Devices opens new facility in Bengaluru

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

US-based technology company Analog Devices (ADI) on Wednesday unveiled its new state-of-the-art facility for nearly 600 Bengaluru-based staff who are part of ADI India.

Bengaluru:

US-based technology company Analog Devices (ADI) on Wednesday unveiled its new state-of-the-art facility for nearly 600 Bengaluru-based staff who are part of ADI India.

The new facility, which houses one of ADI’s top three global design centres, will focus on developing and selling technologies and solutions for the global automotive, industrial, healthcare, consumer, Internet of Things (IoT), security, communications, and energy markets, the company said in a statement.

“We have been aggressively investing in our global facilities. This investment in ADI India will better position us to accelerate growth and impact for ADI,” said Yusuf Jamal, Senior Vice President of ADI’s Industrial, Healthcare, Consumer, and IoT Solutions and Security Group.

ADI India started as a three-person product development centre in 1995.

Today, ADI India is a global development centre, working collaboratively across ADI businesses at every stage of product development as well as providing the supporting software.

“As we move into this new facility, we plan to expand our university relations programme work with reputed academic institutions, which includes fellowships, sponsorships and internship opportunities, through additional partnerships and talent acquisition from engineering colleges across the country,” said Sai Krishna Mopuri, Managing Director, ADI India.

ADI India plans to hire software, systems engineering, and IC design and development engineers both at the experienced and entry levels.

source: http://www.telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com / ET Telecom from The Economic Times / Home> Telecom> Latest Telecom News> Industry / by IANS / April 25th, 2018

Tech graduate among 4 devotees to take deeksha

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Shravanabelagola (Hassan) :

Twenty-five years ago, her grandfather took sanyasa deeksha in Shravanabelagola and travelled across the country, propagating universal peace and harmony. Charukeethi Bhattaraka Swamiji of the mutt had presided over the event.

Kumari Siddhaini
Kumari Siddhaini

On Wednesday, 29-year-old Kumari Siddhaini, a resident of Sanawad, Madhya Pradesh, disassociated herself from all worldly connections, again in the presence of Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji in the same place.

After performing various rituals, she was given Mataji deeksha in the presence of thousands of devotees and hundreds of saints. After all the rituals, she was renamed Aryika Mahayashomati Mataji. Her father Ajaykumar said he will also take Sanyasa deeksha.

After completing MTech, Kumari Siddhaini worked as a journalist for a few years. She edited the souvenir of Acharya Vardhamanasagar Maharaj. According to her family, for the past 10 years, she was with the Sangha of Acharya Vardhamanasagar Maharaj and had travelled across the country. As she used social media extensively to propagate Jainism, thousands of her followers from various parts of the country gathered at Shravanabelagola to witness her deeksha programme.

Along with Kumari Siddhaini, Nemichandra Jain, 83, a businessman from Damoh, Madhya Pradesh; Raosaheb Nabukoruche, 75, an agriculturist from Mumbai, and Subhashji Jain, 69, a resident of Kolegaon, Maharashtra took sanyasa deeksha and become munis.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News / by Shrinivasa M / TNN / April 26th,2018

Time travel: Bengaluru history on wheels

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Heritage on wheels will take place between April 27 and 29 starting 7.30am.
Heritage on wheels will take place between April 27 and 29 starting 7.30am.

Bengaluru :

Did you know that Malleswaram had a Maratha connection? Or that Shivaji’s brother Venkoji built the Kadu Malleswaram temple with an inscription that speaks of breaking religious barriers? This and other tidbits of history is what’s in store at a three-day programme, “Heritage on wheels”, beginning tomorrow. Quite literally, the wheels in the event’s title refers to a 20-foot container truck with info panels on the inside.

A conservation architect by profession, Sridevi Changali, the co-founder of Masons Ink, an architecture company often found that people make heritage sound elitist. “Only a few academic circles get to decide the future of ancient structures. We want to change that, and give a chance to ordinary folk, auto drivers, school children, IT professionals to have a say in the matter,” Sridevi says.

Which is how the non-profit initiative came about, where Sridevi promises a large pick of event including a Malleswaram darshan, ancient board games, tracing Tipu’s rocket technology, tent cinema, a temple run heritage hunt, a VV Puram food walk and another walk reflecting the food traditions of the Tamil and Kannada communities in Malleswaram .

On Friday, the opening day of the event, the van will be stationed near Sankey Tank. “We want to make it fun and accessible which is why we have activities in both Kannada and English. For example, we have a bilingual storytelling session to rediscover Karnataka, its people, culture and traditions,” Sridevi adds.

At Thotta Tales, storyteller Soumya Srinivasan will narrate traditional folk stories that have passed on by word of mouth for centuries.“We need to look at heritage in terms of invisible citizens — the birds, trees and animals. I’ve chosen a folk tale called Punyakoti, about a cow who sacrifices herself to a tiger, in exchange for keeping her calf safe. The story goes to show the cow’s integrity. People know these stories but seem to have forgotten them,” Soumya explains, adding that she will also be narrating a fable–Bhaghirathi’s Pond– re-written by Sudha Murthy.

Bilingual storytelling by Ramya Srinidhi, a Basvangudi to Cottonpet story about famous dargahs in Bengaluru, and the mythology behind the Basavangudi Bull Temple by Lavanya Prasad are also part of the line-up. Other events include visiting graves of noblemen associated with Tipu Sultan, flipping through history using images and an interactive session with photographer Peevee, riding cycles in the quest for hidden art by Gathr, and a workshop by Back to Basics, at the end of which you will have created a hand-drawn heritage pocket-map of the city.

So, even if Pallanguzhi, Huli Aadu Aata, Chowka Bhara, Pachisi didn’t ring a bell so far, this show on heritage will ensure that you come away being introduced to these bygone board games.

Heritage on wheels will take place between April 27 and 29 starting 7.30am. While Day 1 will be held at Sankey Tank, Day 2 is at Fort High School, KR Road, and Day 3 at Cubbon Park.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Madhavan / Express News Service / April 26th, 2018

Rubber farmers to get free rain guard

Agriculture, Records, All, Science & Technology

Bengaluru :

Tyre manufacturer MRF Limited will provide free rain guarding materials to about 7,500 rubber farmers in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Udupi and Mangaluru.
MRF stated on Monday that they have identified seven cooperative as well as rubber processing societies in the state for implementing this programme.

“With four months of heavy rainfall, marginal farmers in Karnataka are unable to eke out their living by tapping rubber as they are unable to afford rain guarding materials. Seeing their plight, MRF has now stepped in deciding to extend support to such farmers” said a press release.
“We have decided to cover 8,005 hectares of rubber plantations in Karnataka with more than 32 lakh rubber trees for rain guarding this year,” said Arun Mammen, vice chairman and managing director of MRF Limited.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News / by Christin Mathew Philip / April 24th, 2018

It’s Bangalore Club’s sesquicentenary!

About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

This year, they turn 150 with much ceremony, as is their custom and continue to be bearers of the city’s history.

The 150-year anniversary will be marked by celebrations that continue through 2018.
The 150-year anniversary will be marked by celebrations that continue through 2018.

Winston Churchill’s questionable commitment to paying his bills was embedded in the history of Bengaluru after his noteworthy visit to the Bangalore United Services Club in the 1800s. This debt was amply repaid by Prince Charles when he visited the place, by which time the BUS club was known to Bengaluru society as the Bangalore Club.

This year, they turn 150 with much ceremony, as is their custom and continue to be bearers of the city’s history. Much has changed, of course and the club’s architecture is now a fusion of the historic and the contemporary with as elite a membership as ever.

Formerly known as the Bangalore United Services Club, it was formed exclusively for British officers in 1868. The building that became the club house had been constructed in the 1850s. Until then, the club was restricted to the British and it was only after Independence that Indian army men slowly began to use the premises.

“We’re always working to balance the old and the new,” says Mr Girish Punja, President of the Bangalore Club, who walked a battery of media personnel through the property on Tuesday afternoon. The club’s military history still has  prominent display, with awards and weapons on display at the Club House. Animal skins and horns pay tribute to the glorious hunting days.

The Burma Bell stands between the Club House and the annexe, another proud piece of history. The stone plaque beside it tells the story of Brigadier Hill, who sold his Polo court and donated the money to the club. The Bell itself is from Burma, where it was struck down by lightning in a temple. “The priests took it to be a bad omen  and left it on the streets. Fortunately, it made its way to the club thanks to Brigadier Hill, who brought it here from Madras.” The vineyards in the lawns alongside are 150 years old – this chunk was preserved and re-installed after the walkway was built.

Of course, modernity had to be acknowledged and Bangalore Club installed what is now one of the city’s oldest swimming pools. The Billiards Room, Gym, squash and tennis courts give members the amenities they need, the library contains 20,000 books and periodicals from around the world.

That’s not all. As Bengaluru struggles with water shortages, sewage problems and encroached lake beds, the Club is the model of sustainability. Their sewage treatment plants see to most of their landscaping needs, leaving so much water in excess that the Club administration has considered sharing it with neighbouring buildings. “It has a capacity of 60,000 litres,” says Mr Punja.

“Neighbours have asked us to share this water with them but our gardeners say it can be used to convert concrete surfaces in the club house into lawns. The gardens are a prized possession and are declared winners every year by the Lalbagh  Horticultural Society.

The 150-year anniversary will be marked by celebrations that continue through 2018.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle. com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> In Other News / Deccan Chronicle / April 18th, 2018

Bengaluru airport to host India’s first-ever runway race

Records, All, Sports
Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport | Pic courtesy: BIAL
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport | Pic courtesy: BIAL

For runners of marathons and other such racing events, the prospect of running on a smooth and endlessly flat airport runway is incredibly tantalising. In fact, there are airports in the United States which allow their airfields to be turned into racing tracks surrounded by family and friends cheering loudly from the sidelines. JFK has an annual fundraiser called “Run on the Runway” where an active runway hosts a 5K race by holding off landing and take-offs for a few hours and diverting all airplanes to a secondary runaway on the day of the event.

Now runners in India too can gloat about racing on the runways. If all goes according to plan, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport will be the first-ever Indian airport to host a 10K run on May 8, as part of its 10th year anniversary celebrations. Organised by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the Runway 10K is open to all adults, although they will be required to submit details of their “past accolades” at the time of registration, so that serious runners are given preference. Entries will be accepted till April 30 and the racing event will only allow a total of 100 participants. The race starts at 12:45pm and ends at 2:15pm.

An initiative like this is likely to generate a barrage of inquiries. To begin with, this is not a marathon run, affirms a BIAL spokesperson. “It’s a 10K race and it’s going to be done on an active runway. It will take place on a Tuesday afternoon which is when our airport is closed for its weekly scheduled maintenance,” says the spokesperson. Frequent fliers to and from the city will know that every Tuesday, the Bengaluru airport is closed between 12:30 and 3pm for maintenance and clean-up, and flights are not scheduled in this time period.

The airport has the DGCA approval for this run. Special airport entry passes will be handed out to selected participants only, and because this isn’t a spectator event, the highly secure zone will not permit family and friends of the chosen runners.

Can the victors look forward to any prizes? “Not really. It is basically about the joy of being associated with a run like this, because it’s never happened before (in India). It’s just aspirational to be a part of it. Because the airport is restricted to people who are travelling, this gives us an opportunity to open up to others as well,” says the spokesperson.

source: http://www.theweek.com / The Week / Home> Leisure> Lifestyle / by Sneha Bhura / April 24th, 2018

Bengaluru-based saxphonist Raman to perform in the city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

SaxophonistRamanBF23apr2018

One of Bengaluru’s most well-known saxophonists, Raman is all set to perform this week in the city.

Raman has recorded and toured with many international and national artistes like Fleetwood Mac’s Jeremy Spencer, Vision Authentique, Jazz revivals, Chronic Blues, Tribal Chaos, East West encounter and more.

He is known for jazz, Indo, retro and Bollywood music and has a solo set up where he mixes his sax with his own electronic music and has people listening, singing along and dancing the night away.

Watch him perform at 1Q1 on April 25, 8 pm.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Entertainment>  Kannada> Music / April 22nd, 2018

Fruit vendor’s son qualifies for national science scholarship

Amazing Feats, Education
Arun Kumar (second from right) with his mother Manjula, father Shivanna, and Akshay Rao of Sankalpa Gopalswamy College.
Arun Kumar (second from right) with his mother Manjula, father Shivanna, and Akshay Rao of Sankalpa Gopalswamy College.

S. Arun Kumar of Sankalpa Gopalaswamy College in the city, who is awaiting his II PUC results, is the son of Shivanna, a banana seller at Nanjumalige Circle, and Manjula, a daily wager.

A II PUC student from a humble background has done his parents and teachers proud by qualifying in the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY).

KVPY is an ongoing National Programme of Fellowship in Basic Sciences initiated and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to attract highly motivated students to pursue basic science courses and research in science.

S. Arun Kumar of Sankalpa Gopalaswamy College in the city, who is awaiting his II PUC results, is the son of Shivanna, a banana seller at Nanjumalige Circle, and Manjula, a daily wager.

He was brilliant

“We found that he was brilliant and put him through competitive examination coaching conducted by a dedicated cell in our college to train students. And he excelled,” said Akshay Rao, Academic-in-charge in the college.

Based on his performance, Arun is expected to get admission at IISc. based on merit. He will pursue an integrated pure science course leading to a PG. During the course of his study, he will receive scholarship which will be enhanced periodically till the completion of his postgraduation, according to Mr.Rao.

Apart from Arun, two other students – Riya Pearl Menezes and A. Akanksh Manjunath – from the same college have also cleared the KVPY exam and interview by a panel of top scientists at IISc. The college authorities are confident that they will easily make it to either IISc. or Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)

“The best and the brilliant minds are opting for professional courses. Hence, the government has introduced this scholarship programme to draw young minds to pursue pure science courses. This will ensure the growth of best scientific minds to undertake research and development for the country. Arun Kumar, Riya and Akanksh have proved their potential,” Mr. Rao said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 23rd, 2018

Kayak instructor sets out on coastal expedition

Education, Records, All, Sports

KayakBF22apr2018

Mangaluru :

The coastal stretch of Karnataka has played host to several adventures and unique expeditions. Buoyed by the pristine beaches, a 28-year-old has now embarked on a solo kayaking expedition from Karwar  to Mangaluru, clocking at least 240 km in 12 days.
Sushant first arrived in the city a decade ago from Bihar, to pursue engineering. The brochure-blue beaches cast a spell on him, and Sushant began investing time and energy in the water. Eight months ago, he bid adieu to his engineering profession and turned into a full-time kayaking instructor operating from Mulki. Sushant has now taken out nearly a couple of weeks off his busy schedule to explore everything the coast has in store for him.

The idea struck Sushant a month ago while kayaking with a friend in Gokarna. “It was such a memorable experience that I wanted more of it. I fancied an idea to kayak beside the virgin beaches and camp on the shores. I downloaded satellite views online, identified beaches and I was almost there,” he told STOI, after ending the fourth day of his expedition.

Sushant carries goods and groceries weighing approximately 40 kg with him. Sushant cooks his food himself. He lights his stove on the shores after the day’s kayaking, and relishes simple, delicious and wholesome food such as dal. “I carry a gas stove and a cooker among other appliances. I carry dal, rice, masala for khichdi and ghee for taste. I cook enough for dinner and breakfast the next morning. I consume protein bars in the afternoon, so I don’t lack nutrition. The apples that I have been carrying may last for three more days. I may visit some restaurants after that,” he said.

As he has been rowing for almost 12 hours a day, and venturing as far as 3 km in the sea, Sushant has found friends in dolphins. “I watched them play for at least an hour. They are magnificent,” he said.

Sushant, who began his expedition on April 16, is scheduled to sign off in style at Mulki, the place that changed his life forever, on April 27.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mangalore News / by Chethan Misquithi / TNN / April 22nd, 2018

Tech Incubator Sandbox Startups Provide DST-NIDHI Funding to Three Hubli Based Companies

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Central Government-recognized technology startups incubator, Sandbox Startups invests in three of the incubated companies under NIDHI-SSS funding backed by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Funding will enable the startups to graduate to the next level in terms of technology and this will take them to a better position to raise funds for further growth.

NIDHI-SSS (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations-Seed Support System) is an umbrella program targeting at startups which aims to nurture knowledge-based and technology-driven ideas into successful startups. They also provide financial assistance to startups whose ideas or products offer promise and are designed to address novel problems. The three startups which received funding under the NIDHI-SSS are: Freshboxx Services Pvt.Ltd., a supply chain e-Commerce startup; Wide Mobility Mechatronics Pvt. Ltd., which offers end-to-end machine vision and inspection designed for different industries; and Microchip Payments Pvt. Ltd., a Hubli-based startup that offers reliable digital payment solutions.

C M Patil, CEO, Sandbox Startups, says, “Most entrepreneurs struggle hard to raise the angel or seed funding during the early stages and this fund from NIDHI-SSS is like a boon for the entrepreneurs in the ecosystem. We at the Sandbox Startups are building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in non-metros. Because of our geographical location, it is more difficult for entrepreneurs here to raise funds. We are thankful to the DST for this fund allocation which would help organizations like our Sandbox Startups, a central government-recognized technology business incubator, to invest against equity and build a self-sustainable model wherein we can co-create entrepreneurial culture in our ecosystem. With this funding mechanism in place, it allows us to invite the investment firms to co-invest in the startups associated with us, which in turn will help more mission-driven entrepreneurs.”

Founded in 2008 by Deshpande Foundation, Sandbox Startups is a Hubli-based global incubator which supports impactful entrepreneurs from tier II and tier III cities with seed funding, mentoring, network support, tech assistance, co-working space. It joined hands with Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in 2015-2016 and they’ve incubated more than 70 startups and aided almost 300 budding entrepreneurs.

Incubated three years ago, Freshboxx is an online fruits and vegetables enterprise that caters to customers in tier II cities and operates in B2B and B2C segments. With a network of over 10,000 farmers, Freshboxx saw an exponential growth rate after the incubation. Rohan Kulkarni, CEO of Freshboxx, says, “We want to enable a unified supply chain from farms to stores and our next focus will be to leverage machine learning, Artificial Intelligence and data analytics for improved decision making in understanding the needs of our customers. We are in talks with potential institutional investors to raise funds.”
In 2016, Sandbox Startups incubated Wide Mobility Mechatronics that delivers digital scanning services to industries like food, automobiles and electronics. It also provides internal inspection of products using X-Rays,cameras and digital radiography. Shekhar Basavanna, CEO of Wide Mobility Mechatronics, comments, “Sandbox, I would say, has first of all brought in an understanding of looking into all aspects of growing a start-up, making us realize that making a product/materializing a concept is just a part of the work done.”
On the other hand, Microchip Payments’ mobile-based payment application and point of sale device helps users to make payments without internet connectivity. The product gained appreciation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, DCB Bank and others. Speaking about his startup journey, the company’s CEO & CTO, M. Farhanuddin Firaq says, “Post demonetization, we saw that one of the major problems that people faced in making online payments was poor internet connections. We started working on this idea and were supported and incubated at Sandbox startups.” Adding further, he says, “Today, we are proud to say that we are the world’s first company to build a completely non-internet powered digital transaction mobile application and a point of sale device.”

source: http://www.siliconindia.com / SiliconIndia / Home> Top News> Business / by SiliconIndia / April 19th, 2018