Linguistic Society of India (LSI) President Prof. Anvita Abbi is seen lighting the lamp as CIIL Director Prof. Awadesh Kumar Mishra, New York State University’s Prof. S. N. Sridhar and others look on.
Mysore :
The three-day 35th annual and first international conference of Linguistic Society of India (LSI) commenced yesterday at the premises of Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) on Hunsur Road here which has been organised jointly by CIIL and LSI.
The conference is being attended by 200 delegates from 18 countries which features paper presentations and discussions.
Inaugurating the conference, CIIL Director Prof. Awadesh Kumar Mishra said that the institute was striving to develop small languages. He opined that all linguists should work together to promote and develop all the Indian languages. He contended that education was mandatory in all the languages for an overall development.
Presiding over the programme, LSI President Prof. Anvita Abbi opined that language of North Eastern States were rich in culture which need to be developed fully. She suggested linguists to also focus on research in the field.
New York State University’s Prof. S.N. Sridhar delivered the keynote address on ‘The world of a multilingual: An Indian perspective.’
LSI Secretary Dr. Shailendra Mishra, Conference Co-ordinator Dr. L. Ramamurthy and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 28th, 2013
“Let us reject superstitions and at the same time retain our strong beliefs,” observed District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President M. Chandrashekar.
He was speaking at the “Acharya Sri Vidyaranya Rajyotsava award” presentation function organised by Himalaya Foundation at the Institution of Engineers Hall on JLB road in the city on Sunday.
The Himalaya Foundation’s initiative to institute the award in the name of Vidyaranya, who was the inspiration behind the Vijayanagar empire, is really commendable, he said.
Seven eminent personalities — Senior Journalist Krishna Vattam (Journalism), Dr. M. Dejamma (Educationist), Advocate O. Sham Bhat (Religious Service), Dr. C. Sharath Kumar (Medicine), Sharath Jois (Yoga), Somasekhar Gowda (Social Service) and Shyamala Murthy (Literature) were presented the awards.
A Kavigoshti (poets meet) also was held on the occasion. Ramanahalli Bhavaikya Basava Kendra’s Basavalingamurthy Swamiji graced the occasion.
Former District Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Himalaya Foundation’s N. Ananth, District Brahmana Mahasabha President B.R. Nataraja Jois and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 26th, 2013
A mother’s wish to meet Sachin Tendulkar ended in the entire Indian team snacking at a modest house in Hubli at an impromptu get-together.
Former India ‘A’ and Karnataka stumper Avinash Vaidya was keen that his mother Meenaxi Vaidya had a glimpse of Sachin Tendulkar when he played a benefit match in Hubli on June 4, 1997.
“Since it was a once-in-a life time opportunity for anybody from my region to meet cricket stars, my mother expressed desire to have a glimpse of India’s favourite son,” Vaidya told TOI. “She came to the stadium to watch the match, but returned due to the rush. The stadium was packed beyond its capacity. I was keeping wickets, while Sachin was blazing his way to a big innings. During the drinks break, I was told my mother had gone home. I asked Sachin if I could get my mother to the hotel lobby to meet him.”
Sachin didn’t say much then. He was about to retire from the game after scoring a century and ready to return to the hotel. He asked Vaidya to give him a call after the game.
“I was pleasantly shocked when he told me it wouldn’t look nice asking my mother to come to meet him. ‘Instead, why don’t we go to your home?’ he asked. I was stumped as it wouldn’t have been fair to take Sachin alone as I was good friends with others — Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman , Saba Karim, Atul Bedade, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi and Sujith Somasundar. The team comprised 15-18 players and I invited everyone home without even thinking how I was going to accommodate them in our humble 12ftx10ft hall,” said Vaidya, recalling those days.
‘The moment lingered long after Sachin left’
Even as the convoy set out from the hotel to our home at Hemanth Nagar, Keshavapur, a distance of about 3km, my brother borrowed a few chairs from our neighbours even as our friend at Woodlands managed to prepare uppittu and shira for our guests,” said Vaidya.
Curious onlookers and fans followed the bus to Vaidya’s home around 5.30pm, with police forming a tight ring of security around the players.
“Sachin was relaxed as he happily chatted with my family. He enjoyed the uppittu and chutney pudi the most. We were transfixed as he spent around one hour with us. When it was time for a photo session, Sachin grabbed a chair and ensured my mother was seated. “I’d rather stand,” he said. When she thanked him for the visit, he said, “Maaji, aap baas hamey ashirwad deejiye.”
My mother was emotional as she wished him well. The moment lingered long after Sachin and others left.”
On another occasion, Vaidya’s son Anmol, who was five years old then, was so thrilled at getting Sachin’s autograph that he wanted to reciprocate by signing one. “Sachin coolly offered his palm and let my son scribble on it,” says Vaidya.
Vaidya’s association with Sachin was limited to his playing days in the Challenger Trophy and a Duleep Trophy game at Rajkot in the 1993-94 season. “I spent long hours at the crease in both innings to get chatting with Sachin. Since then, he has always been cordial and never failed to acknowledge me at any gathering. It’s this humility that has endeared him to millions. I’m touched and lucky to be one of them,” says Vaidya.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Rahul Dravid / by V Narayan Swamy, TNN / November 09th, 2013
The state government has decided to conduct the three day Hampi Utsav-2014 from January 10. Speaking to reporters here on Friday, minister of state for labour P.T. Parameshwar Naik, who is also in-charge minister for Bellary district said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate Hampi Utsav.
Tourism minister R.V. Despande and Mandya Lok Sabha member Ramya will be the chief guests at the programme. Since former deputy chief minister M.P. Prakash had started Hampi Utsav, the government has decided to honor his wife Rudramma on the occasion.
Naik also announced that the government is committed to pay minimum wages to garment factory workers. At present, the government has fixed the minimum wage at Rs 4700, but due to the increase in the price index, it has been decided to raise the minimum wage for garment factory workers, Naik said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / November 09th, 2013
The recently concluded Krishi Mela in Bangalore had a head-turner. Displaying bouquets of multihued flowers, garlands and greeting cards, all created out of used and damaged cocoons, the Cocoon Craft stall was stunningly attractive. Holding bunches of artificial flowers modelling tulips, dahlia and rhododendron, the stalls were swarmed by many a well-heeled women who were attracted to the novelty of the art.
Cocoon shells, either damaged or discarded from silk reeling units, have traditionally been considered a waste product which are dumped in compost pits for their protein content. But no longer so. They are being turned into art by a growing breed of students pursuing sericulture.
The project to make art out of cocoon shells is the brainchild of Dr Fatima Sadatulla, a teacher in the Department of Sericulture at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bangalore. Fatima says the idea of using such an unusual material for craftwork came to her by chance. During her days as an undergraduate student at the UAS in the late 1980s, sitting amid cocoons scattered all around her, she would cut a few shells into various shapes, paint them and create artistic motifs for greeting cards. The pastime grew into a hobby, and, still later, began to take shape as an artistic skill.
Having joined the department as a teacher a few years later, she began to train her students into collecting damaged or waste cocoons from granages and cut them into various patterns, chiefly flowers. She began training students of sericulture four years ago under an entrepreneurship scheme. She would collect damaged cocoons from the Central Silk Board office in Madiwala to teach students. She would even train women farmers during her project work in sericulture farms.
The production of this craft has also been undertaken on a larger scale at the College of Sericulture in Chintamani by Vijeyendra who teaches there and was among the early trainees at the UAS. The college has even organised training camps in several villages around Chintamani. He says two NGOs, Aadhar and Swabhimana Sangha in Chintamani and Kolar taluk respectively, have begun producing bouquets and garlands in large quantities and are selling them in shandies in the nearby towns of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Several physically disabled persons too have been trained in the art. The college which received finance from the UAS towards a revolving fund, is now able to generate enough revenue to sustain its activities. Vijeyendra says the bouquets and garlands could have a shelf life of two years. But careful preservation under glass cases can ensure a life span of ten years.
The transformation of cocoon shells into such arts and crafts certainly signals the emergence of a new art form. With districts of Old Mysore being the bastion of silk farming, the new art form has unlimited prospects for expansion.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by M A Siraj / DHNS – November 26th, 2013
The Dariya Daulat Bagh (Tipu Sultan’s summer palace) at Srirangapatna in Mandya. Superintendent of Police Borase Bhushan Gulabrao has suggested that the Tourism Department appoint trained guides at popular tourism spots in the district. / File photo / The Hindu
‘Develop well-known religious places into tourism hubs’
Superintendent of Police Borase Bhushan Gulabrao has suggested that the Tourism Department initiate measures to give a boost to religious tourism in Mandya.
Mr. Gulabrao convened a meeting of religious leaders at his office on Sunday.
He said there were several tourism spots of religious importance in the district. “However, many tourism spots are yet to be developed,” he said.
The district has war memorials, archeologically important temples, ancient churches, centuries-old mosques, Buddhist temple and other pilgrimage-cum-tourism destinations.
Emphasising the need to promote religious tourism in the district, Mr. Gulabrao requested department officials to develop well-known religious places into tourism hubs.
Uniforms for guides
He said that thousands of tourists came to Srirangapatna every day to visit the tourism spots. But, guides did not have enough knowledge about the historical significance of places in the town. The department should provide information and uniforms to the guides, Mr. Gulabrao said. He suggested that the department appoint trained guides at popular tourism spots in the district.
‘Several plans made’
Adilakshmi, Assistant Director of Tourism Department, also underlined the need to promote religious tourism in Mandya.
She said the department had several plans to strengthen pilgrimage-cum-tourism destinations in the district.
Suggestions received
Mr. Gulabrao and Additional Deputy Commissioner Shankarappa received suggestions during the meeting on popularising religious tourism. Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti leader Venkatagiri, activists Jayaramu and Mahesh, senior citizen Shivaramaiah, social worker Mehboob Pasha and others requested the district administration to develop Kere Thonnur, Kere Thonnur dargah, Kunti Betta, Balmuri waterfalls, war memorials at Srirangapatna and other popular tourism spots by improving infrastructure.
Additional Superintendent of Police Puttamadappa, Deputy Superintendents of Police B.J. Shobharani and Geetha were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Mandya – November 11th, 2013
Sunday Soul Sante, in association with Bangalore Mirror, was the place to be spotted at in the city on Sunday
When the ball-of-white-fur Django walked into the Sunday Soul Sante on his leash escorted by his owner, he was in for a treat — from colourful stalls, to fashionably dressed folk of different ages and lots of food treats… It was a mela.
It was a spectacle of Bangalore’s fantastic community spirit at this new venue at Embassy Riding School in Devanahalli. Geared to bear the sun with their shades and scarves, Bangaloreans were in for a picnic after an hour long drive from MG Road to the venue. “What I love about this venue is that there is no garbage or plastic or dust around,” says Asha Rao (59), founder, Soul Sante. “There is greenery all around. It’s a beautiful location.”
The average age group of visitors was between 20 to 28 and everyone at the venue shared equal enthusiasm. During the Bangalore Mirror Talent Show, children from the age group of 4 to 10 danced, sang and did some mimicry. The one that stood out was five-year-old Kaya Gupta who sang Give me some sunshine from the flick Three Idiots. “This was her first stage performance and we will walk out of this festival remembering that forever as proud parents,” says her mother Gunjan Gupta. Apart from the Talent Show stage that had people crowding around and cheering contestants, every stall had people hovering around shopping or window shopping.
From Meghna Khanna’s new jootis to Jayant Srikumar Gauri’s glow lanterns and even Manjunath’s OWL lamps, people were spoilt for choice at the Sante.
Many youngsters head to the Sante in search of kitsch stuff. Pink Jalebi was one such stall where youngsters were looking for laptop sleeves, purses and phone cases. Another popular stall was Rishabh Sachdeva’s Chalk Peace. This artist makes his works on Power Point. “It takes me three days to make a piece and Power Point is my canvas,” says Sachdeva as he shows off a notepad with a cover of his. Including the multiple food stalls serving a range of cuisines, there were 250 stalls at the Sante.
The crowd puller though was definitely Amrapali Shindhe’s melodious voice. While she performed at the main stage, people would rush from any corner of the festival just to hear her cover of Adele.
Rao concludes, “If I can pull the crowd here, I’d love to be in this serene location forever.” The crowd she did pull, because by 7 pm, it was bursting at the seams.
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Khushali P. Madhwani, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 12th, 2013
There’s the Adam’s Family, the Jetsons, the Simpsons and The Flintstones and then there is Bangalore’s very own biker family —the Acharya family. This family of five — mother Jayashree, 56; father GV Acharya, 64; brother Srikanth, 31 and sister-in-law Namitha, 30 — led by daughter Shubra Acharya, holds the Limca Book Record of being the only family to have crossed the world’s highest motorable pass the Khardung La pass in Leh in 2011.
Riding through the 18,379 ft pass, Shubra, anardent biker, says, “We felt like we had conquered the world! My father owned a Bullet. Since then, we are familiar with the thump of the bike.”
It was during her MBA in 2010 that Shubra’s brother got her a Bullet Classic 500cc on her birthday. The brother-sister duo would set out on road trips around Bangalore with their dad; who would borrow a bike from friends and set out on a road trip. “I would write about the trips on my blog. Once my mother read the stories and wanted to be with us on a trip.”
It was during the Tonnur Kere ride on Mysore Road in December 2010 that they decided on a bike trip to Ladakh. “We just wanted to do it with mum. So we coaxed her to ride pillion with dad.”
It was a surreal experience for the Acharya family. “We stopped after the two and- a-half hour ride from Leh to the top of the pass and were drinking a lot of lemon tea because it was freezing,” says Shubra. They met other bikers who told them to send applications to the Limca Book of Records. They garnered two records: GV Acharya at 64 became the oldest man to have crossed the pass and the Acharya family became the “largest family” to have conquered Khardung La pass. For this family, no mountain is too high!
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Columns> Work / by Ayesha Tabussum, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 11th, 2013
“Clothes are like an extension of one’s personality, so it really shouldn’t matter from which part of the world it comes,” believes Lavanyaa KR, a 30-year-old techie-turned-fashion designer. This Bengalurean is blowing minds away with her vibrant collection of South Indian traditional wear, titled Varnanggall.
“Varnanggall is a Tamil word for ‘colours.’ It’s about an artiste’s dream and vision to paint the world with her colours!” explains a passionate Lavanyaa. She is the light at the end of the tunnel for all those desis stuck abroad desparately planning their wedding.
“Based on my travels to some parts of the globe I sensed that people abroad were missing the online presence of an ‘affordable, unique 24 carat’ Indian traditional wear. I found it difficult to plan my wedding sitting in Boston, USA in spite of the existence of many e-commerce Indian fashion platforms,” she explains.
Her clothing line comprises sarees, dupattas, stoles and langa dhawanis. She also has home décor items. The starting price of a saree during an exhibitions is Rs 3,500.
During October, she held an exhibition called Aalapana in Bengaluru and was stunned with the response. “I will remain forever grateful to all the ladies for trusting and accepting this budding artiste,” she smiles.
Moving to UK with her husband helped her expand the reach of her products. She has sold her products in India, USA, UK, Dubai, Australia, Finland, Germany, Malayasia, Singapore and Canada. She informs that there is a mad demand for Indian traditional wear all over the world, “Especially the South Indian traditional wear with zari work, traditional temple borders, kalamkari motifs, block prints, vibrant colours and beautiful workmanship,” all of which she offers.
What makes her clothing so accessible is that she operates entirely on Facebook. “With the confined investment in my kitty, it was not feasible and practical to set up a physical store. So I opted to work online,” she says, but she says a new store is “positively in the pipeline.” She has been strongly supported by her family and friends, who model for her brand and help her gain popularity. “My friend Supriya even wrote about me in her blog Aalayam and has helped my customer base know who I really am,” she says, sounding grateful.
Lavanyaa doesn’t just design. She also loves to bake, photograph, visit flea markets and charity shops. “I enjoy collecting artwork, swimming and doing pottery as well. But quality time with my family tops my list,” she concludes.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Fashion-Beauty / by Agencies/DC Online / by Swathi Chatrapathy / November 10th, 2013
(1-Top Left )Sabu, the elephant boy. (2-Top Right) Sabu with his father, a mahout (3- Middle) This is the rear of the building from where Kennedy was shot and killed. (4-Bottom) The memorial like a wall with vertical lines at the spot where Kennedy delivered his last speech. Dr. Sunder Raj is seen standing by the side of the information plaque.
A couple of days back, an old friend of mine from Bangalore had come to meet me and casually asked if Dr. J.K. Sunder Raj, a well-known family doctor of our city, had hung his stethoscope. Since I am in regular contact with him either in the Sports Club or Mysore Race Club or in connection with the Zoo (where he treats the gorillas), I answered in the negative.
“What makes you think Dr. Sunder Raj has called it a day and closed shop?” I asked.
It seems my friend had gone to see him at his clinic on Old Mysore Bank Road in city and found there was no clinic. That was news for me too. I called him on telephone to check. Yes, indeed he had closed his city clinic, but continues his service to the sick families from his house on Vivekananda Road in Yadavagiri. It was then that the good doctor said he was wanting to see me personally to hand over a unique newspaper that he had purchased in Dallas, Texas, where he had been recently to be with his daughter.
As promised, he came to my office with his special newspaper and more. The cover page of the newspaper is produced here… and the headline is self-speaking.
The daily newspaper ‘The Dallas Times Herald’, in its Friday evening Nov. 22, 1963 Final Edition, had carried world’s most shocking and tragic news of the day that happened in the city from where the paper was published. The assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. Looking at the paper that appeared as pulled out from the well-preserved archive, I wondered how our doctor managed to get the paper which will have huge antique value ! He asked me to take it easy. There is nothing like grabbing an old copy of that day of tragedy of Nov. 22, 1963. The credit for making available this copy of the newspaper to tourists should go to the Curator of Kennedy Museum at Dallas where Dr. Sunder Raj purchased it by paying $ 4.60. The cover price of the newspaper in 1963 was five cents.
The Museum authorities periodically print this historic newspaper as it was printed on that tragic day and sell them. What better souvenir one would want for visiting the Kennedy Museum ?
I took a copy of it before returning the original to the doctor and wondered if anything like this is being done at Gandhi Museum or Nehru Museum in our country. Readers with information on this may please write or e-mail to me.
Dr. Sunder Raj also gave me two photographs he had taken — one of the building from where Lee Oswald, the assassin, shot the President from the sixth floor which has now been converted into a Museum and another, the spot where President Kennedy delivered his last speech.
Dr. Sunder Raj also had two more surprise photographs with him which were of personal nature. One was a photograph he had clicked in the year 1951-52 at the elephant stables of the Maharaja, known famously as ‘Anekaroti.’ Now the new generation as also of the old generation may not know that the Anekaroti ever existed in Mysore, attracting huge number of tourists those days.
The stable was located where the JSS Hospital Complex is now. There used to be 20 to 25 elephants, well fed and healthy, says the doctor. The area of the Anekaroti used to be green and cool with plenty of trees, adds Dr. Sunder Raj.
The doctor recalls: Once a team of Hollywood film-makers visited Mysore in around 1950. They also visited the then famous Anekaroti. As they went around Anekaroti, they saw a young, bright and handsome boy playing with a huge elephant. His name was Sabu Dastagir who later became a famous Hollywood actor under the name Mysore Sabu (27.1.1924 – 2.12.1963). He was born in Karapore in H.D. Kote, the famous hunting forest of the Maharaja of Mysore. His father was a mahout (elephant attendant) and trainer of elephants. Sabu, his son, too was following his father’s profession where he was spotted by the Hollywood film-maker Robert J. Flaherty.
Dr. Sunder Raj says that Robert Flaherty persuaded Sabu’s father to let him take Sabu to Hollywood. Once in the US, Sabu was taught English and given training in acting.
Sabu acted in several English movies, specially connected to the jungles. His first movie was ‘Elephant Boy’ which was a great hit. Other movies were ‘Song of India,’ ‘The Jungle Book,’ ‘The Thief of Baghdad’ etc. It is sad that such a talented Mysore boy died young at the age of 39.
To those working to develop Mysore as a tourist destination, I may suggest that they revive the ‘Anekaroti’ which is sure to become a tourist attraction. Some lessons from the ‘elephant show’ of Bangkok’s ‘Rose Garden’ may be learnt and incorporated to this Anekaroti. Howzzat?
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra / by K.B. Ganapathy, Editor e-mail kbg@starofmysore.com / November 18th, 2013
