Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy (second from right), Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Mysuru, released the Commemoration Volume “Abhyudaya” brought out in honour of late Dr.K.V.Ramesh, an erudite scholar and an epigraphist of international-fame, edited by Dr.T.S. Ravishankar (extreme left) and Dr. S. Swaminathan (extreme right), at function in BVB premises in Vijayanagar here recently under the auspices of K.V.Ramesh Memorial Committee, Mysuru.
Prema Ramesh (second from left), wife of late Dr. K.V. Ramesh and Kamalamba Narasimha Murthy are also seen.
The volume contains a detailed bibliography of Dr. Ramesh’s research work and his bio-data.
It has been embedded with 72 pearls (research articles penned by scholars from all over India and abroad).
Published by Bharatiya Kala Prakashana, Delhi, the book is priced at Rs.4,000
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday – January 25th, 2016
The city on Friday saw the inauguration of the three-day All Women World Folk Arts Festival. Pegged as a first of its kind, the arts festival was launched at the Ravindra Kalakshetra by KA Dayananda, director, department of Kannada & culture and actor and classical dancer Lakshmi Gopalaswamy.
Not just a man’s domain:
Setting the evening on an energetic note were folk dance performances by all women groups. This included a Dollu Kunitha performance by M Sujatha Murthy and ensemble and Kaikottikali performance by the Monisha Arts Dance ensemble. “The reason we chose to focus on women’s folk dances is because there’s a stereotypical thought that folk dances and music are a men’s-only arts. By getting all women performers and groups to perform, we hope to dispel this myth,” said Srivatsa, managing trustee of International Arts and Cultural Foundation that’ s organiz ing the festival.
Talking about what’s in store for interested viewers on Saturday, he said, “There’s a workshop on Hejje Kunitha that will be held at the Maharani’s College in the morning. The highlight of the day will be a musical performance in the evening by Gangamma Keshavamurthy at Kalagrama in Malathahalli.She will be presenting a very rare form of folk songs called Hase Hadu – these are wedding songs that are sung by the (Havyaka) community and what’s really unique is that these songs are passed down by word of mouth and have never been recorded. On Sunday, we again have an all-woman’s group that will perform folk music on classical instruments such as the ghatam, morsing and the mrudangam.”
While the festival has just begun, Srivatsa said the dates for the next year have already been set: The festival will be held on January 27, 28, 29, 2017. This is to facilitate easy travelling for international dance groups,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / January 23rd, 2015
More than 900 students of Mount Carmel College created a Guinness world record for opening the most number of softdrink cans simultaneously at their annual ‘Cul-Ah 2016’ fest on Friday.
They broke the previous record created by Ltd CidoGrupa (Latvia) in Ligatne, Latvia, on August 2, 2014, involving 689 people. Representatives of the Guinness World Records, who were present on the occasion, validated the new world record and an official certificate will be issued in a week, said a release.
Niveditha Umesh, general secretary, Students’ Union, Mount Carmel College, said, “We at Mount Carmel College always look for something different in whatever we do and that has been our key differentiator. We are happy to partner with TWISS to set this new record. We hope to become the first college in India to take away this kind of Guinness World Record honour. Cul-Ah, our annual cultural fest, is the right platform for this.”
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / DHNS – Bengaluru – January 23rd, 2016
Dr. Manik Bengeri being felicitated by the guests at the awards function in Bengaluru recently
Mysuru :
City’s noted music critic and Hindustani vocalist Dr. Manik Bengeri is among the 33 achievers in various fields, who have been honoured with the Vishisht Naagrik Sammaan-2016 by Parivartan Prabha at a ceremony held at Haryana Bhavan in Bengaluru on Jan. 9.
A regular contributor to SOM, Dr. Manik Bengeri was felicitated in recognition of her contribution to the cultural field with her vast knowledge on Hindustani music. By learning music under her, precision is attained not only in singing but also the pronunciations in Sanskrit, Hindi and Marathi.
She has authored quite a few books in Marathi, Hindi and Sanskrit languages.
Padma Shri and Chancellor of Karpagam University Dr. R. M. Vasagam; Vice-Chancellor of Vivekanand Vishwa Vidyalaya Dr. Ramchandra G. Bhatt; Higher Education Department Principal Secretary Bharath Lal Meena and CMD of Prashant Goenka Group Prashant Goenka were the chief guests, who gave away the awards.
The voluntary organisation ‘Universal Forum For Human Dignity’ was the associate partner of the awards ceremony.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Saturday – January 23rd, 2016
With the District Administration taking all measures to ensure total success of the Republic Day celebrations at the new venue — Torchlight Parade Ground in Bannimantap, the Police Department held a rehearsal at the venue this morning.
A total of 30 contingents, including more than 15 Police teams (City Police, Mounted Police, CAR, DAR, KSRP, Home Guards, Traffic, Women, Fire Services, Police Band, etc.) and hundreds of children from schools, including NCC and Scouts & Guides across the city took part in the rehearsal.
For the first time, the Mounted Police will be performing equestrian events and show jumping during the celebrations.
The participants were rehearsed to a few patriotic songs and march past. Pavani, an LKG kid of Teresian School, who was the youngest participant at the parade, presented an attractive dance performance.
KSRP Commandant Ramdas Gowda supervised the rehearsal, which was led by CAR ACP K.N. Suresh. CAR DCP B.V. Kittur, Palace Police Inspector Chandrasekhar and others were present.
The rehearsal will also be held tomorrow, which will be attended by City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Saturday – January 23rd, 2016
The day-long Golden Jubilee Celebration of Mysore Diocesan Educational Society (MDES) began at St. Philomena’s College Indoor Stadium in Bannimantap here this morning.
The programme commenced with thanksgiving concelebrated high mass.
Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bengaluru, Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Vazhapilly, Bishop of Mysuru and President of MDES and Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao, Bishop of Shivamogga, graced the occasion.
The programme features two lecture sessions with Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao speaking on the topic ‘The Vision and Mission of Christain Education and Prof. M. Krishnegowda, Principal, St. Philomena’s College, speaking on the topic ‘The challenges in this era of competitive world and the role of teachers in preparing the students for meeting such challenges,’ in the second session.
The valedictory will be held later in the evening.
Rev. Fr. Dr. N.S. Marie Joseph, Rev. Fr. Desmond, Rev. Fr. Joseph Manipadam and others were present.
Hundreds of students and teachers from educational institutions run by the MDES in Mysuru, Mandya, Kodagu and Chamarajanagar districts are taking part in the day-long event.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Saturday – January 23rd, 2016
St Joseph’s Convent High School for Girls will observe its quasquicentennial (125 years) jubilee in a grand manner here on Friday. Superior General of the Canossian Daughters of Charity from Italy M. Annamaria Babbini will be present to witness the celebrations.
Addressing a press conference, school principal Thankam Michael said here on Tuesday that the school had been functioning under the management of the Canossian Sisters Congregation since 1891.
It was founded 125 years ago when the British civilian and military officers petitioned the then Archbishop of Goa to establish an English-medium school here.
In response to the request from the Archbishop, Mother Stella of the Canossians in Hong Kong sent five nuns who reached Cochin by ship and then Belgaum (now Belagavi) covering the distance by bullock cart and on foot. Since then the school has shaped the lives of a large number of girl students of Belagavi, Goa and north Karnataka region.
To commemorate the occasion, the school has given a facelift to basic infrastructure and also launched a project, Light a Lamp, to help the poor and deserving girl students. Donors and philanthropists could sponsor a girl child for education.
About 15 former students, including social activist Olive D’silva, Anita Rodrigues, Ruhi Sait, Padmashree award winner Sucheta Dalal, psychiatrist Belinda Viegas Muller, Sadhan Pote, renowned artist and sculptor Veena Chandavarkar and the former Deputy Mayor of Belagavi Asma Tahsildar, who have excelled in various fields, would be honoured.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – January 21st, 2016
Kannada literary critic Giraddi Govindaraj and poet H.S. Venkatesh Murthy have been selected for this year’s Ambikatanayadatta Award instituted by the Da.Ra. Bendre National Memorial Trust.
Trust chairman Shyamsunder Bidarkundi told presspersons here on Thursday that the award carried a purse of Rs. 50,000 each and a citation and it would be presented at a function at the Bendre Bhavan here on January 31.
As a prelude to this event, the trust would hold Bendre Bhava Geethe Sanje, a music programme by Bengaluru-based Poorvi Sangeeta Academy at the Alur Venkatrao Bhavan. Senior All India Radio artiste Srikanth Kulkarni would inaugurate the programme, he said.
On January 31, the award distribution ceremony would be preceded by a literary programme at 11 a.m. to discuss the literary works of the award winners.
There will be an interaction session with them. The former MP I.G. Sanadi would present the awards at 6 p.m., Mr. Bidarakundi said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Dharwad – January 22nd, 2016
At the Bengaluru chapter. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash / The Hindu
The day to reveal the largest crochet blanket in the world stitched by Indian women is fast approaching. Karnataka too has contributed to this cause.
There’s a movement happening as you read this. The protagonists are women and children from age eight to 85.
Since August 2015, the group Mother India’s Crochet Queens, spearheaded by Subashri Natarajan in Chennai, comprising nearly 1,000 Indian women from India and other countries, including the USA, the Gulf, Europe, and Australia, have been busy with their hooks and yarn to beat the current record of the biggest crochet blanket in the world, that stands at 3,377 square meters set by South Africa in April 2015. But the intention is not just to create a world record, but to donate the blankets to the needy.
Subashri, who has been crocheting since she was 10 years old, says the idea for making the world’s largest crochet blanket was to make it a nationwide movement.
“I first approached my friends and relatives who know crocheting, but then the movement grew with people joining the Facebook group, and through word of mouth. Every thing these days is made out of machines. But crocheting is all hand work.”
She adds that crocheting isn’t a dying art, considering the number of women who are passionate about it. “Even children are participating. Our youngest participant is an eight-year-old girl. There are even young boys. There are schools in Kerala who have participated. It’s not true that children are only interested in technology and video games.”
Women from Karnataka have contributed to the event too. In Bengaluru, at Cubbon Park earlier this month, on a pleasant Saturday afternoon, colourful blankets were laid out, with women engaged in crocheting blankets. Padma Srinivasan, 75, and her friend Thiru Rajan sat together chatting and laughing as they nimbly crafted blankets. “Crochet has been a hobby since ten years for me,” says Padma. “I came to know about this event from a friend of mine in Chennai in December. I completed eight blankets in one month.” Thiru adds: “I have completed two blankets.”
Padma and Thiru are glad that they are contributing to a noble cause. “Through the thread—this mission binds women to bring love, peace and harmony. It is similar to the Swadeshi Movement, when it was the charkha and the thread that brought people together,” says a passionate Padma. Thiru adds: “Doing this for others is a great honour for me.”
A vibrant Varalakshmi S. had a number of blankets laid out in front of her. “I have stitched 67 blankets since August 2015. I learnt crocheting from my neighbour, from 1997 to 2002. I got to know of this event from Facebook.” What appeals to her is the passion behind the cause and that the blankets will go to charity. “Over the weekends I would decide colour combinations, and would crochet one blanket per day during weekdays.” For Mughda Manasa too, it is the cause that matters. “What interested me is that this is going to charity, and that this event has brought Indian women together from across the world.”
Poornima Kannan also says that she joined because it brought people from diverse backgrounds together. Dina Sengupta says blankets have been crocheted in Mangaluru, Hubli and Mysuru. “We had about five meets in the city. And subdivided groups according to area.”
Through Facebook and Whatsapp, crochet meets were organised. Technology, Subashri says, has been a boon. “We realised that Facebook alone wasn’t enough to get everyone together. So we created Whatsapp groups. We have co-ordinators and associate co-ordinator to help organise meet ups.”
Though the event was mostly self-funded, Subashri adds they received support from Knit Pro and Ganga wool manufacturing company in Noida. “Harish Mehta, secretary of MNM Jain Engineering College in Chennai, has also been very supportive,” says Subashri.
The initial target was to join 5,000 blankets together, but Subashri says they have even exceeded that. The final event will be held on January 31 at MNM Jain Engineering College, Chennai.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Sravasti Datta / Bengaluru – January 20th, 2016
Nearly a millennium has passed since Sri Ramanujacharya (ca. 1017-1137) travelled through India, spreading the Bhakti Movement. The year 2017 marks the 1000th birth anniversary of the great Social Reformer, Saint and Guru Sri Ramanujacharya. At a time when the society was gripped with the social evils of untouchability and class based discrimination, Ramanujacharya made history by propounding Equality of all people. The depressed classes (now called Harijans) of the Melukote were of great service to Ramanujacharya and he gave them the right of entry inside the temple which he constructed at Melukote and gave them the name “Tirukkulathaar,” meaning “Children of Lakshmi.” Throughout India he spread the Bhakti Marga. He was an exponent of “qualified non-dualism” known as Vishishta-Advaita. His life and works show a truly unique personality, combining charismatic energy, logical acumen, contemplative insight, catholicity and selfless dedication to God.
At that time the king Krimikanta Chola, in Tamil Nadu, started relentless persecution of Sri Vaishnavas. Though Ramanujacharya was not afraid of the king or of his own death, on his disciples’ insistent prayers, he left Tamil Nadu and travelled to Karnataka. He reached the foot-hills of the Western Ghats, about forty miles west of Mysore. The king of the place was Bitti Deva of the Hoysala dynasty. The Raja’s daughter was possessed of some devil and nobody was able to cure her. Ramanujacharya succeeded in exorcizing the devil and the princess was restored to her former health. The king was very much pleased with Ramanujacharya and readily became his disciple and became a Vaishnava.
“Bibi Nachiyar” was presented as a dance-drama by Sri Vaishnavi School of Dance on 10th January at the Jaganmohan Palace auditorium, Mysuru. The aesthetic sensibility through the entire presentation held our rapt attention. When the programme ended one could not but wonder how the time passed. Generally when a dance programme is presented with recorded music there are glitches and even with live music sometimes the programme does not flow smoothly. It was incredible that the whole dance-drama with recorded music flowed like a taila daara (flow of oil) without a break. Every aspect of this programme was superb. The choreography was so artistic with different patterns formed on the stage by the dancers without confusion; symmetries in the patterns, the use of the entire stage, the graceful movements, statuesque poses, correct postures, footwork and facial and body expression (abhinaya) of the dancers were superb.
The dance-drama opened with a scene from Vaikunta and devotees worshipping Narayana. In a sloka, the Mascha (fish), Koorma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Namahari and Vamana-Trivikrama avatara episodes were depicted in a crisp, clear and brief manner. Omitting Parasurama, Sri Rama and Balarama avatars, the dancers moved on to show Sri Krishna who becomes the centre of Bhakti Marga. Mithun Shyam appears on the stage as Ramanuja. His expression throughout all the episodes was so serene, and his dance perfect with grace and no excessive movements, portraying a spiritual guru perfectly. Following the instructions of the Lord he goes on to find the Narayana inside the anthill. The tribal people are enjoying themselves in a dance and Ramanuja tells them that they should break the anthill and take out the idol. The tribal people are terrified and ask how they can touch the idol. Ramanuja tells them all are equal before God. The idol is taken out and installed in the temple. The tribal people are allowed to enter the temple and worship the deity. In a vision, Ramanuja is told that the utsava moorthy is with the Sultan’s daughter in Delhi and he should bring it back and install it in Melukote.
The next scene opens with the Sultan’s daughter Mumtaj playing with the idol from childhood and loving the idol. Even after she has blossomed into a beautiful maiden she cannot live without the idol. The Sultan is worried about this and at this time Ramanuja arrives and requests the return of the idol. The Sultan challenges him to call the idol from where he is and Ramanuja calls out endearingly ‘Selva Pillaiye Vaarum.’ The idol, in child form, comes dancing to Sri Rama- nuja and sits on his lap. The Sultan is stunned and allows Ramanuja to take the idol. He returns to Melukote and installs the deity.
The last scene shows the Sultan’s daughter unable to bear the separation from her idol follows Ramanuja to Melukote and Sri Ramanuja allows her to enter the sanctum where she merges with her idol.
“Bibi Nachiyar” enchanted and elevated the audience to a higher plane through its dance and music suffused with Bhakti Bhava. It was an artistic triumph through the grace of Sri Ramanujacharya.
Bharatanatyam, Folk, Kathak and Mohini Attam have been blended without sacrificing the special beauty of each one. The costumes have been designed in a very attractive manner. Bharatanatyam and Kathak (in respective costumes) together, for the same music using ragas common both to Karnatak and Hindusthani systems, depicted the Sultan’s daughter playing and dancing with the idol, the Sultan’s court and the Sultan’s daughter following Ramanuja to Melukote.
Mohini Attam was selected with Mohini costume because Vishnu appeared as Mohini when the Asuras and Devas were fighting over who should get the Amrit. Since Krishna was enticing all beings, Mohini Attam was appropriate. The Raga Ananda Bhairavi selected for Ramanuja’s lyrics was the most suited. It portrayed Peace (Shanti), Dignity (Gambhira) and Confidence. The inspiration for this dance-drama was from Sri Melukote Jeeyar Swami. The script and lyrics were by Smt. Dwaraki Krishnaswami. She along with Balasubramanya Sharma composed the music and the singers were Balasubramanya Sharma and Samanvita. Every one of them and each one of the dancers gave their best for this production. Omkar Sound & Light System provided excellent support. I congratulate all of them on a scintillating and spiritually elevating presentation.
Sri Yathiraja Jeeyar Swamy of Melukote Yathiraja Mutt graced the programme and stayed till the end. He said he has begun going to every nook and corner in India taking Sri Ramanujacharya’s padukas for reviving the Bhakti Movement. Let us be blessed to be a part of it.
—Bhaagavata Paada Renu
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Wednesday – January 20th, 2016
