Soak in ragas of glorious past

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

Bengaluru :

Bengalureans can now walk into the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and treat themselves to vocal and instrumental music of legendary singers, free of cost.

Carnatic and Hindustani musicians like Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Shemmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M S Subbulakshmi, N Ramani, T R Mahalingam, D K Pattamal, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan will be available at the newly set-up digital music archive.

Vikram Sampath, executive director, IGNCA, southern region, said: “I started working on the project soon after I took charge of the centre a year ago. R T Chari, MD of TAG Corporation, shared 1,000 hours of live recordings of Carnatic music since the 1930s.They are from his collection that he has put together in the past 30 years, digitized and catalogued.”

The collections include concerts of artistes like Chembai, Subbulakshmi, K V Narayanaswamy, Alathur Brothers and M D Ramanathan.

Vikram, too, donated his collections from the Archive of Indian Music (AIM). “They include recordings on gramophone discs from 1902 in Hindustani and Carnatic music, folk music, movies and plays. Works of Gauhar Jaan, Peara Sahab, Kesarbai Kerkar, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Salem Godavari, Bidaram Krishnappa, Veene Sheshanna, Bal Gandharva, K L Saigal, P Kalinga Rao and speeches of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Subhash Chandra Bose are part of this collection,” he said.

Chari also helped IGNCA develop user-friendly software that allows users to select songs by using parametres like raga, genre and names of composers/singers. They are categorized in alphabetical order. He has also donated paintings and murals of Indian music icons to adorn the walls of the archival unit. The unit, reprography and library are open from Monday to Friday between 9.30 am and 5.30pm. Contact: executivedirector.igncasrc@ gmail.com

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / by G S Kumar, TNN / February 24th, 2015

Yaduveer to wed Trishika Kumari

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

YaduveerBF24feb2015

Mysuru :

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar at a royal ceremony at the Amba Vilas Palace yesterday, is likely to enter into wedlock with Trishika Kumari, daughter of Harshavardhan Singh, the Yuvaraja of Dungarpur, Rajasthan and Mahesri Kumari.

Trishika Kumari and her family members were among the dignitaries who witnessed the adoption ceremony of Yaduveer at the ornate Kalyana Mantap where, co-incidentally, the marriage of Pramoda Devi and Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar took place 39 years ago in 1976.

According to Palace sources, the wedding of Yaduveer is expected to take place after the coronation, which is expected to be held after Ugadi festival.

Sources also said that the Royal families of both Dungarpur and Mysuru are expected to meet after the coronation to discuss the wedding dates. It is said that the marriage ceremony is likely to take place during November this year after the Dasara festival.

Meanwhile, Yaduveer, who is currently pursuing his under-graduation at University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA, majoring in Economics and English, will complete his course by May 2015. The coronation will take place only after he receives his graduation certificate.

Yaduveer, who has also the responsibility of conducting this year’s Dasara festivities at the Mysore Palace, is expected to be coronated before the commencement of the festival.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday – February 24th, 2015

Hubballi ICAI bags all-India best branch award

Business & Economy, Records, All

Hubballi :

The Hubballi branch of the Southern India Regional Council of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has been adjudged the best branch for 2014 at an all-India level for its outstanding services.

ICAI Hubballi chairman Hitesh Kumar Modi told reporters here on Sunday that this is the fourth time that the branch has been awarded. “The Hubballi branch achieved its objective of enhancing the value of the profession by organizing various professional programmes last year. An auditorium with a seating capacity for 450 was inaugurated on December 6, 2014, to facilitate various seminars and conferences of different organizations. A library and an information technology laboratory have been opened for students. Coaching classes for CA examinations are being conducted by the branch regularly.”

He said various workshops and seminars were also organized to help members stay up to date on the auditing of banks, cooperative societies, income tax, service tax and value added tax during the year. “Social programmes like blood donation camps, free distribution of books to students, women empowerment programmes and Swachh Bharat campaigns were often conducte.”

The city branch has won the ‘most active branch award’ and the ‘highly commanded performance certificate’ by the parent institute since 1993.

RR Joshi, chairman of Southern India CA Students Association, said the students wing of the Hubballi ICAI has been awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation-2014 at the national-level by ICAI, Delhi.

ICAI office bearers Nandaraj Khatavkar, YM Khatavkar, Prakash Kadur, G Shivakumar and others were present.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubballi / TNN / February 16th, 2015

Aequs expects more business at its SEZ plant

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Aerospace components manufacturer Aequs said it is sitting with an order book of $150 million over five year period and investment commitment of five more units at its SEZ facility in Belagavi.

Aequs chairman and chief executive Aravind Melligeri told Deccan Herald the company’s SEZ has 10 units operating. “We have 250 acres of land, of which 25 acres are for the SEZ. We have already made investment of $30 million to the facility,” said Melligeri.

Aequs established an aerospace industrial hub in 2009 at Belagavi. “We have developed 130,000 square metres of facility from the 65,000 square metres in the last two years. This year we are planning to add 120,000 square metres of property,” he said. The company has already developed 40 per cent of the SEZ land and 50 per cent of the land outside.

Aequs, which began its operations in 1997 as an engineering services company called QuEST Global Manufacturing based out of the US, entered into manufacturing of aerospace and defence components in 2006.

“We import 100 per cent of raw materials and 100 per cent of cutting materials. Even though we have a tie-up with HAL, we export 99 per cent of our products,” he said.

He said the company is into the automotive and oil and gas business. “These verticals help us in balancing the business cycle. Aerospace requires long gestation period in getting business returns. Oil and gas are short cycle, and auto medium cycle,” he said.

“Aerospace sector is a $80 billion-$100 billion industry globally and India is only touching at a few hundred million dollars right now,” said Melligeri.

Even though the high cost of capital, weak infrastructure and power support continue to be a challenge in India, the industry is gaining momentum with the growing skill sets of the country.

He said Aequs is the largest player in machining. “We can touch five per cent of the market in this segment. We are competing in a global scale and there is a cost advantage in India,” said Melligeri.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business / by N.V. Vijayakumar, Bengaluru / DHNS – February 21st, 2015

Lakshman Rau passes away

Leaders, Records, All

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Bangalore :

N. Lakshman Rau, former Administrator of the then Bangalore City Municipal Corporation and son of late N. Madhav Rau, former Dewan of Mysore, died here on Friday. He was 88 and is survived by his wife, Indira, and three daughters.

Family sources told The Hindu that Mr. Lakshman Rau had more or less maintained good health until the very end. In a way, he was the architect of new Bangalore, which has earned the sobriquet, “Garden City.” Mr. Lakshman Rau enjoyed good relations with several Chief Ministers, and he and his brother, the former Chief Secretary N. Narasimha Rau were quite popular both in the Government and the higher echelons of society. Trees were planted along many roads on the advice of Mr. Lakshman Rau to the then Chief Minister, late Ramakrishna Hegde. Mr. Rau was Home Secretary in the Devaraj Urs Government.

Mr. Rau, who developed all the 10 residential blocks of Jayanagar, did not own a house or even a housing site in Bangalore. He died at his daughter’s residence near Banaswadi. The two boulevards bisecting Jayanagar (South End Circle onwards) were developed by him. In recent years, the Government sought his services for preserving tanks and lakes in the city, and he prepared a report, “Lakes of Bangalore.” The Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, in a condolence message, said: “Mr. Rau was an able administrator and a man of dynamic action.”

The Minister for Water Resources and Transport, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, and the Commissioner of the Bangalore Development Authority, M.N. Vidyashankar, have mourned Mr. Rau. The former Chief Secretary to the Government G.V.K. Rao and the former Chairman of the Bangalore Urban Arts Commission M.A. Parthasarathy visited his residence.

The cremation took place in the afternoon at the electric crematorium at Kalpalli.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Online edition / Saturday – June 11th, 2005

D.A. Pandu dead

Education, Leaders

PanduBF24feb2015

Bangalore :

D.A. Pandu, 69, Chief Mentor of the Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, which managed the R.V. Group of educational institutions, died here after a brief illness on Friday.

Born in Kolar on July 5, 1935, Mr. Pandu had his early education in R.V. School established by late M.C. Sivananda Sarma.

Mr. Sarma appointed him Assistant Secretary of the growing R.V. Group in 1964, and after the former’s death in 1969, Mr. Pandu became the Honorary Secretary. Since 2003, he was Chief Mentor of the educational institutions. Under Mr. Pandu’s visionary leadership and guidance, the R.V. Group has grown.

The State Government recognised his services by conferring on him the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1995. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike honoured him with the Kempe Gowda Award in 2002.

The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, his Cabinet colleagues, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H. Shankaramurthy, have mourned his death.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / Online Edition / by Special Correspondent / Saturday – June 11th, 2005

Mysore Rail Museum expansion under way

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion
The rail museum in Mysuru is yet to become popular among tourists despite a collection of steam locomotives, rail wagons, and coaches.—Photos: M.A. Sriram
The rail museum in Mysuru is yet to become popular among tourists despite a collection of steam locomotives, rail wagons, and coaches.—Photos: M.A. Sriram

A sound-and-light show showcasing history of Railways is being planned

The rhythm of the steam locomotive conjuring up images of belching smoke and shifting tracks will come alive at the Mysore Rail Museum, which is poised for expansion.

The authorities are planning a sound-and-light programme complete with the history of the railways as part of the renovation plan.

“We have Rs. 1 crore with us while the cost of expansion is around Rs. 4.62 crore. We are awaiting the release of additional funds to take up the project, which has already been approved by the Railways,” said Rajkumar Lal, Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru.

Rajkumar Lal,Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru
Rajkumar Lal,Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru

But, expansion work has already begun in the earnest. A wooden metre gauge vintage wagon from Banapur (Hospet) of Hubballi Division has been shifted to the Mysore Rail Museum. The central workshop staff here have rebuilt and provided an under gear for the wagon,” Mr. Lal said.

In addition, two wagons of a rail bus, which was operating on the Shivamogga –Talaguppa route, have been added and so has a diesel locomotive.

A senior engineer involved with the project said they have already acquired heritage furniture from different divisions and they are being repaired for display at the museum. A steam-operated crane will be procured from Bhusaval in Maharashtra and narrow gauge coaches from Nagpur, he said.

RailBF24feb2015

Our vision is to make it a star attraction for tourists visiting Mysuru. The Additional Secretary, Tourism, Government of Karnataka, has evinced keen interest in the development of the museum and has promised aid, the official said.

In what maybe the first of its kind in the country, a touchscreen device providing comprehensive details of the Railways, the divisions, locomotives, trains, rolling stock etc. will be kept at the museum, he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru – February 01st, 2015

 

 

Gallery blended in heritage structure

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

National Gallery of Modern Art celebrates its 6th anniversary on February 18

Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road, Bengaluru, houses the National Gallery of Modern Art. File Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy
Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road, Bengaluru, houses the National Gallery of Modern Art. File Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Until June 2001 when the foundation stone for NGMA was laid, the Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road was a verdant 3.5-acre campus with a stunning but crumbling colonial-style mansion.

“It is to the credit of Ministers, activists and officials, including Ananth Kumar, Maneka Gandhi, K.N. Srivastava and Chiranjeev Singh, that the building was restored for housing the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), which is celebrating its 6th anniversary on February 18,” says architect Naresh Narasimhan who redesigned Manikyavelu Mansion. “Today, the NGMA stands as the premier cultural institution of Bengaluru and the gallery demonstrates how a heritage structure can be adaptively reused for public spaces that throb with international art and culture exhibitions.”

Mr. Narasimhan, who has also had a hand in the restoration of Metropole in Mysuru and the Maharaja’s Hotel in Brindavan Gardens, is of the view that city planners should see an ‘opportunity’ to conserve and restore heritage spaces rather than treat them as a ‘burden’.

Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road, Bengaluru, houses the National Gallery of Modern Art. File Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road, Bengaluru, houses the National Gallery of Modern Art. File Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

“It was an interesting experience to take up the over 90-year-old Manikyavelu Mansion, once the property of the Mysuru royal family,” he says. It later came to be owned by Raja Manikyavelu Mudaliar, a mine owner. It was taken over by the State government in the late sixties and handed over to the Ministry of Culture for constructing an art museum. NGMA was formally inaugurated in 2009.

The historic heritage mansion, transformed from a residence into a museum gallery at a cost of Rs. 8 crore, has been further supplemented by a Gallery Block. A 1,260-square metre extension has been added to the 1,500-square metre of the mansion, making it the best example of a surviving bungalow.

“The new design blends with spaces required for a modern museum, and coexists with the ambience of a traditional mansion,” says Mr. Narasimhan, adding that the first floor has the capacity to hold sculptures weighing up to five tonnes.

The NGMA includes a smartened up auditorium, open-air theatre, reference library, offices and art storage area, a cafeteria, and a museum shop-cum-facilitations block.

Minimalist design

Architect Sathya Prakash Varanashi of INTACH says the new NGMA building fits perfectly with the endearing old mansion in a balanced way. “With the central open space swaying with trees amidst the stone seating and water bodies, the minimalist design brings in a subdued non-dominant character required for public spaces. The external façade is skilfully retained to bring in a sense of déjà vu, which is all about adaptive re-use in conservation architecture,” he says.

Activities for art lovers

NGMA is conducting activities for art lovers on its premises on February 18 from 10.30 a.m. to 5p.m. Contact ngma.bengaluru@gmail.com

Other restored beauties

RBANM's Educational Charities building in Ulsoor. Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
RBANM’s Educational Charities building in Ulsoor. Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

RBANM’s school building in Ulsoor

Fab India building in Koramangala that retains original character of architect Charles Correa’s house

Basava Ambara near Krishna Rao Park in Basavanagudi. Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
Basava Ambara near Krishna Rao Park in Basavanagudi. Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Basava Ambara in Basavanagudi that maintains the splendour of the original bungalow

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / Bengaluru – February 15th, 2015

A Parichay with Avenue Rd’s heritage

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

Bengaluru:

Avenue Road may be known as the city’s wholesale trading and business hub but it’s more than that. Not all would know that the thoroughfare is probably as old as Bengaluru. Come Sunday, a group of 25 enthusiasts will take a stroll down the iconic road to discover its history.

Organized by the Bengaluru chapter of Intach, the Parichay walk aims to familiarize citizens with historical monuments and heritage sites along the road, that have survived the depredations of time. Rice Memorial Church, Rangaswamy temple, Maramma temple and the old post office are some of the structures that dot the road, which has been the city’s lifeline since its birth over 500 years ago.

The monuments are lost in the hustle and bustle of the area. “Parichay will highlight the importance of the heritage sites, when were they built and by whom, and how they should be preserved for posterity as well as for tourists,” C Aravind, chapter coordinator, told TOI.

The organizers have conducted 60-65 such walks in areas like Gavipuram, Fraser Town and Shivajinagar. “We want to make locals proud of their area and take an active interest in protecting it,” said Aravind.

Endorsing Aravind’s view, SK Aruni, deputy director, Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR), said Avenue Road is perhaps as old as the city itself. “The aim of the walk is to explain how the city originated and trace its history through Avenue Road. Though citizens today may pass by a number of monuments, they are hardly aware of their importance,” he said.

What: Avenue Road Parichay. When: Sunday. Where: From State Bank of Mysore, K G Road, to Tipu Palace in Chamarajpet covering the Fort. The walk will begin early morning and may take around 3 hours to cover the distance of nearly 2 km.

One road, many names

SK Aruni, who will lead the guided tour giving the participants a peek into the monuments’ history, said Avenue Road is a modern name for the thoroughfare. “I think it was called Chandra Beedi or Surya Beedi or even Dodda Beedi, because of its vastness. It must have been renamed Avenue Road later as it was lined with massive trees on either side,” said Aruni. The road was also called Raja Beedi as it served as a main entrance to the city and important personalities came to Bengaluru via the road, he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / by GS Kumar / February 12th, 2015

Marching first on R-Day

Education, Leaders, Records, All

The SARS platoon of Carmel School, Padmanabhanagar, won the first place in Group IV, for march past at the Republic Day Parade at Manekshaw Parade Grounds this year. Himagowri, platoon leader, received the prize. High school principal Ganapathy Rao said, “We’re proud of our physical education instructors, who trained students in a short time. Our sc hool gives importance to co-curricular activities and academics, which culminates in awards!”

Kalam on confidence 

“I will fly! I will fly! I am confident I will fly!” This was the mantra former President A P J Abdul Kalam taught children assembled for the Annual Day celebrations at United International School, Kannur, on January 19, 2015.

Children and parents were spell-bound as chief guest Kalam spoke on the topic “I have confidence, I will fly”. He encouraged them to nurture a positive attitude, dream big and work to make it happen. He also spoke on how to make a happy home and challenged kids to make their mothers happy, adding that only then will society and the country be happy.

He answered questions of the motivated children, offered to answer more questions over email and posed for photographs with students and teachers. He presented the school library a set of his books, with his autograph.

The school presented him a beautiful painting by a student Jebastin. Earlier, he was received by founder-chairman John Peter Kirubagaran, principal Chithra Mony and admini strator Rajini Alexander and was escorted by the school band.The principal highlighted activities of the year. Students from neighbouring schools also participated .

Dance and drama 

SG International Public School celebrated its 24th Annual Day on January 7. The school staged two spectacular shows. Ekta (Jack and the Bean Stalk) by the juniors included resplendent dance forms from various states of India. A dance drama Navarasa by seniors was a potpourri of legends from Hindu mythology. The participants, benefactors and choreographer received an ecstatic ovation.

The chief guest for Ekta was singer LN Shastri. Renowned playback singer and actor Rajesh Krishnan was the chief guest for Nava rasa. He also enthralled the audience with a song from the new movie Melody.

Earlier, academic advisor Anuradha Ramesh welcomed the gathering. Principal Varsh Jaideep presented the annual report. The chief guests and dignitaries were honoured by chairman Palanetra and secretary Sunandha.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / TNN / February 23rd, 2015