AVN couple celebrate golden jubilee of marital bliss

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Caption: Historian Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy and his wife Kamalamba (sitting centre) are seen with their family members and (sitting from left) NIE Founder-Chairman M.A. Sampath Iyengar, litterateur Dr. D. Javare Gowda, Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Karnataka Chairman N. Ramanuja.

Mysore, May 27

A huge number of friends, relatives and well-wishers had gathered at Silent Shores Resort on the outskirts of the city last evening where a programme was organised to mark the 50th wedding anniversary of renowned historian and researcher Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy (AVN) and Kamalamba.

The occasion also saw the release of two books written by Prof. AVN. While NIE Founder-Chairman M.A. Sampath Iyengar released the book Namo Narasimha, Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy released Ithihasada Putagalinda.

The couple, dressed immaculately, exchanged garlands and cut a cake. To give a traditional touch, Sampath Iyengar, who is also the Chairman of Lakshmi Venkataramanaswami Temple Committee in Vontikoppal, offered the temple Prasad to the couple and blessed them.

Litterateur Dr. D. Javare Gowda, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) Karnataka Chairman Ramanuja, Academy Newspapers Executive Director Ralie Ganapathy, former Mayor Vasu, Dr. K. Rajashekar, writer Latha Rajashekar, litterateur Dr. T.V. Venkatachala Shastri, publisher Chayapathi, denseuse Tulasi Ramachandra, BVB (Mysore) Treasurer A.T. Bhashyam, Kodagu Assistant Commissioner M.R. Ravi, Editor of Tamil newspaper Dinamalar Krishnamurthy and others were present.

Prof. AVN’s son Dr. A.N. Santosh Kumar, daughter-in-law Roopashri, daughter Dr. Savita, son-in-law Dr. Rajan, grand children Meghana, Mayur, Sheela, Smitha, Aishwarya and Archana were present.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / May 27th, 2012

State records lowest growth rate

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Thiruvanthapuram:

Kerala has recorded least growth rate in the fish production during the years 2004-05 and 2010-11, according to an independent research and analysis by the apex industry body of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

According to the survey, the fish production in the state has come down from around 8.66 lakh tonnes in the year 2008-09 to the current level of around 6.82 lakh tonnes. Karnataka has emerged as the leading coastal state with highest growth rate in fish production.

With around five lakh tonnes of annual fish production, Karnataka accounts for almost six per cent of the overall fish production in the country which is currently estimated at 91 lakh tonnes. Besides, in value terms, the fisheries sector in Karnataka is worth around Rs 4,000 crore.

Amid leading coastal states in India, Andhra Pradesh ranks second in terms of growth in fish production with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about eight per cent and with over 13.5 lakh tonnes of fish production annually.

West Bengal (4.85 per cent), Tamil Nadu (4.47 per cent), Gujarat (3.37 per cent) and Odisha (3.25 per cent) are other leading fish producing states in India which recorded fish production growth rate in between three and four per cent.

Goa has registered a negative growth rate of fish production of around minus 33 per cent as the fish production has slipped from a whopping 9.9 lakh tonnes in 2004-05 to the current level of just 94,000 tonnes mostly due to over-exploitation of fisheries resources.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News / Thiruvananthapuram / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / may 25ht, 2012

 

NIMMA NEIGHBOUR: She can cure you with plants

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Dr Prathibha Vinay is a doctorate in botany, and resident of JP Nagar since 1997. From 2002 onwards she has dedicated herself to promoting medicinal plants. She even planted them at JP Nagar’s Dhanwantari park.

In 2002, she founded TULSI (Treasure and Utilise the Life Sustaining Ingredients of Nature) an NGO that promotes medicinal plants for health and raises awareness on conservation of such plants.

Dr Pratibha Vinay at her residence.

Pratibha earned her doctorate degree in Palynology-a super speciality in Botany in 1972. Later she was awarded Post Doctoral Fellowship at Bangalore University -Department of Botany in 1973. In the due course she was also invited by Washington University, St Louis, Missouri USA as Research Associate Professor around 1975. She is also the first non-physician member of the Indian College of Allergy and Immunology.

TULSI is dedicated towards educational programmes to various user groups, promoting medicinal plants for family health care and creating awareness, conservation and sustainable utilisation of it.

Pratibha’s has even authored a book, First Aid by Nature in 2007. In March 2012,  the same book was translated and published in Kannada asPrakruthiyindha Prathama Chikitse.

Her late husband P M Vinay was the CEO of Mallaya Hospital-Bangalore and Wellington Hospital, Chennai.

Meet the impressive Dr Pratibha

How did you develop interest in medicinal plants and herbs. In general, what are the benefits of these plants?

Being a student of botany and having specialised in palynology and airborne allergens, I thought there was a call to bring the awareness of preventive and curative properties of Medicinal plants that our nature has provided as a solution for every ailment.

The knowledge of medicinal plants as healers dates back since the origin of man. Ironically humans in their quest for materialistic gains have forgotten that health and discipline are the basic insignia of life. Medicinal plants can be used for common ailments and also as first aid in primary health care. These medicinal plants and trees not merely facilitate people in breathing healthy air but also prevent spreading of highly communicable, dreadful respiratory and allied maladies like tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, lung cancer amongst others.

Tell us about TULSI.

TULSI has worked for various civic parks and unutilised public parks and private lands planting medicinal herbs and plants. I conduct workshops on the Awareness of Primary Health Care and Home Remedies for common ailments. A practical demonstration of simple home remedies is given.

Among school children, I inculcate them a sense of clean environment care. I also give them saplings and plants to grow, to encourage a better utilisation of the natural resources.

The UGC has approved a syllabus for a Certificate Course in BioDiversity and Role of Medicinal Plants in Primary Health Care as a career oriented programme. I had proposed this. Today it is being applied in some colleges in Bangalore where I am invited as visiting professor to teach the subject.

Where in Bangalore people can avail these plants?

Dhanavantri nursery at Bangalore University Campus; Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) Jarakabande, Bangalore; Biological Research Centre, Bannerghatta Road; Lalbagh Nursery and also a few private nurseries.

Do you think indigenous medical traditions are dying in Bangalore? In the age of allopathic medicines where do you place the role of herbal plants and medicines?

As our government is also encouraging holistic approach for the treatment at the hospitals, people are getting aware of the usage of the indigenous medical traditions more so in Urban areas. Hence I do not think the usage of traditional medicines are neglected nor forgotten as both allopathic and traditional medicines are parallel.

There are lot of parks in Bangalore, can this space be used?

Yes the park spaces can be utilised. A directory of the plants should be posted at the parks giving their botanical names/common names and their uses for public information.

One favorite place you would often like to go in bangalore.
I like visiting Lalbagh gardens

Other than spreading awareness about medicinal plants, what is your favorite past time?
I read books on spiritual masters for their inspiration and their guidance on human services.⊕

Dr Pratibha’s ready reckoner for some common ailments using home remedies.

Hair Loss and dandruff

Paste of red Hibiscus flowers and few leaves along with hand full of leaves of Wedelia Chinesis (Peeta Bhringaraja) when applied to the scalp for about 20 minutes and washed will relieve dandruff when used twice a week over a period of 2 months.

Sinus-Headache

Turmeric root burnt over a flame and fumes inhaled through the nostrils alternatively for 5 minutes twice a day, will reduce the sinus problem.

Pimples and black patches

Paste made from a handful of fresh mint leaves(Pudina) along with a teaspoon of turmeric powder and a one teaspoon of lime juice when applied to the face and left for 20 minutes and then washed will reduce the black patches and pimples.

Ulcers in the mouth

1gm of alum dissolved in water to be gargled once a day before meal.
Gargle mouth with fresh unboiled milk once a day.

For Flatulence and gas

Mix 1 gm of rock salt with 5 gms of fresh ginger chewed together twice a day during morning and night will reduce flatulence.
One glass of lime juice made with water mixed with one pinch of cooking soda taken once a day will reduce the problem.

Constipation

One ripened banana (Pachha bale) eaten along with 2 pinches of cardamom in the night will relieve constipation.

21 May 2012

Abhishek Angad is a Staff Journalist at Citizen Matters.

source: http://www.bangalore.citizenmatters.in / Home> Conversations> People> JP Nagar / buy Abhishek Anjad / Citizen Matters / May 21st, 2012

Subir Roy: What’s in a house name?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The environs of East Bangalore railway station were once the edge of town, where those who wanted to live in spacious suburbia chose to build. Today, a succession of names like Cooke Town, Richards Town and that of a neighbourhood presumably founded by a certain Mr D’Costa form a quaint little enclave of gentility within a city now sprawling way beyond.

Many of the houses are gone, and first-generation apartment blocks took their place years ago. When all the other distinctiveness of the neighbourhoods also disappears, what will probably survive is a way with house names. I have discovered this while walking and exploring in the early morning, trying to get to know the new area where I currently live. In the stillness when nothing happens, the house names – by turns winning, inappropriate and telling – make things come alive.

They indicate these are neighbourhoods of mixed communities of the better-off, who value their Anglicised upbringing and sometimes wish they were in some picture-postcard location in the West. And the fact that the streets are well preserved – and mostly spotlessly clean – underlines the clout and resources of their current residents.

A stolid apartment block is called Favourite Chalet, although it has none of the petite prettiness of one such at home in its Swiss surroundings. Silverdale is not in a valley by a long chalk, but on a plateau, if you want to be particular. One of the older apartment blocks, Oxford Greens, evokes none of the features of the Oxfordshire countryside but is plainly dull, with an equally dull garden upfront. Maxim’s is distinctive in its use of steel and the way an upper floor has been built — but has nothing in common with one of the most famous Paris restaurants of the last century, with its signature interior décor. There is an obvious desire to live well and in keeping with the times; but one apartment building puts it all upfront by naming itself Live in Style.

Not all house names, though, seek to conjure up far off places. Some simply say what most people would want their homes to be. A very large apartment block near an intersection bears the legend Oasis. Don’t we all want to come back home to one? Then there is Graceland, which could be anywhere, if it is home to people with some old-fashioned grace.

Hutchins Manor could not have been more appropriately named, standing where Mr Hutchins must have lived in some style, in a manor of sorts, once upon a time — considering the road was named after him. And, of course, there is nothing to beat East Mansion, which is both a decent pile and in what was the eastern edge of town. In being precise, if prosaic, Syed Sardar Mansion wins hands down.

Some houses could not have been better named and give an idea of the kind of people within their walls. Chitrakoota is distinctive, full of modern straight lines softened by a lot of overhanging green. Kottarathil looks not entirely unimpressive and offers no reason why its owner should not see himself living in a palace of sorts.

Shanthi Nilayam could be anybody’s home, considering we all look for peace when we come there at the end of the day to rest our tired feet. And who can quarrel with someone who has named his modest home, a bit prosaically perhaps, House of Sunshine? On the other hand, there is Mukadam Manor, which holds its head high — almost literally. At one end of the area, The Anchorage gives a mooring to all habitats around it — though, at first glance, you may wonder if its resident longs for the adventure and arctic cold of Alaska’s foremost city.

If you ask me to pick the winners, then almost near the top comes Anugraha; the gentleness in someone seeking your blessings is difficult to better. Which is why maybe there are two houses bearing that name. In the same league will be Halcyon. It is those memories that keep you going at the end of the day, isn’t it? Since it is all about home, neatly painted Homeland with its profusion of potted plants must be an abode for rested souls.

But for the all-time winner, I have to go out of the area to Museum Road where resides magical Abracadabra. What fun people must be there inside! I am determined one day to knock on the door and demand to see a rabbit pulled out of a hat.

source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> Opinion & Analysis / by Subir Roy / May 19th, 2012

Braving odds, they come out with flying colours in SSLC exams

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Mysore:

The inmates of the government-run girls’ home here, who had to go through the dark realities of life, have come out with flying colours in the recently-held SSLC examinations.

Sindhu of Chitradurga secured the highest marks – 488-while Niveditha scored 412 out of 625 marks. Except one, all the 13 students appeared for the exam emerged victorious.

Girls’ home superintendent Geethalakshmi told TOI that Sindhu had struggled hard in life after her father died when she was young.

Her mother Poornima was shattered after the death of her husband Chandru. Later, she got admitted all her four girl children to government rehab centres in Hassan, Bijapur and Udupi.

Sindhu was relocated to Mysore from Hassan centre a year ago. As per her request, all her sisters were also brought to Mysore centre later. Lavanya, Ranjitha, Hemalatha, Kavitha, Niveditha, Mamatha M, Shobha S, Lakshmi N, Vidya, Kalaveni and Nirosha too had to face many challenges in their life. This success is a morale booster for them who are now hoping for a better future.

ODANADI INMATES SHINE

Six out of seven inmates of Odanadi Seva Samsthe passed the SSLC examinations this year. Rathna, who had worked as a bonded labour for two years, was one among them. Saraswathi, Nischitha, Manjunath, Ganesh and Hema are the other students. Odanadi is working for the welfare of sex workers and their children.

BLINDNESS, NO HINDRANCE

All the four students of Helen Keller Blind School in Mysore secured first classes in the examinations.

Mahadevaswamy secured the highest marks in the school with 443 marks. Prathap bagged 439 marks while Rameshnayaka and Nataraju B secured 420 and 419 respectively.

Mahadevaswamy and Prathap scored 98 marks in mathematics. Nataraju B managed to score 97 in social studies.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / TNN / May 18th, 2012

Fashionista in the making

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Uncategorized

To wear lingerie that fits perfectly, is a dream come true for a woman, and this young NIFT student aims to do just that. 20-year-old Pooja Upadhyay just bagged the Triumph International Award in Mumbai and come October, she will be representing India in the finals at Shanghai.

Designing and art always inspired Pooja, who never thought about a career in fashion until a few years ago. “My father encouraged me to pursue fashion as a career and there has been no looking back ever since.” Though based in Mumbai, Pooja’s maternal and paternal grandparents hail from the state and she is enamoured by what the city has to offer to the world of fashion. “Bengaluru has a huge market for fashion and people are clued in to the proceedings. It’s just a matter of time before the city will be reckoned as a fashion hub in India,” claims the young design student.

The award came as a complete surprise to Pooja. She contested with several people across the country and was chosen in the top ten for the finals. “We had to depict duality in our design. I have combined the dragon and butterfly coming together in my lingerie design. I also had to consider the flow of the garment, since lingerie has to be well-fitting and accentuate a woman’s curves. The idea is to make the garment sensuous, not vulgar.”

Inspired by designers like Alexander McQueen, Ritu Beri, brands like Victoria’s Secret among others, Pooja too aims to launch her own fashion line one day. “Making the cut in this industry is not easy. Apart from a unique sense of design, you also need to have excellent social skills.” One particular designer who inspires her is, “Manish Arora. He was the artistic director for Paco Rabane and that’s very inspiring. Indian designers are being recognised by international brands.”

So what does it take to carve a niche in this fiercely competitive industry? “From what I’ve seen, handmade creations are deeply valued. At the turn of the millenium, trends were leaning towards the sporty side. Solid colours and bold cuts dominated the fashion preference. Now, people are inching towards surface ornamentation. It’s challenging and opens up a window of opportunties.”

Pooja has spent a good number of weeks in interior Karnataka, researching on local art and design. “My personal favourite is the lambani design. I would love to incorporate them in my work in the future.” In her spare time, Pooja loves shopping and reading up on the latest fashion trends. “I also sing, but that’s only in front of my close friends!” adds the bubbly youngster with a laugh.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Lifestyle> Fashion / by Sindhuja Balaji / DC, May 17th, 2012

 

US varsity honours Narayana Murthy

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Tampa (Florida) May 16

The University of South Florida has honoured Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy with the Global leadership and Free Enterprise Awards for his leadership and contributions to the international business world.

Presenting Infosys chairman emeritus Murthy with the awards at the Patel Centre for Global Sustainability here Monday, USF President Judy Genshaft praised him for his entrepreneurial spirit, according to a university press release.

Earlier, in an informal conversation with past and present students, Murthy said because of his middle class background, it was not as difficult for his company to maintain its values as it might be for the mass of people eking out a living.

‘You need a spirit of sacrifice and you need to have trust,’ he said.

Murthy explained how the company’s ethos has its roots in the very first meeting held at his house in Mumbai with his six fellow founders. Their discussion was focused on profitability.

Murthy focused their attention on ‘seeking respect’, ‘living in harmony with society’ and making sure ‘you don’t shortchange your customers,’ he said. When you do those things, ‘revenue will come. Profit will come’.

In response to a question from about the chances of Murthy entering politics, he mentioned his preference for ‘rational discussion’ and the difficulty the political world offers for such and expressed some hesitation.

Kaushal Chari, chair of the USF information systems and decision sciences department, said Murthy’s story is inspiring for students.

‘He’s a world-class business leader,’ said Chari, who leads a study abroad trip to India every year for business students.

IANS

source: http://www.india.nydailynews.com / Home> News> Desi News / Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Tere Bin Nahi Lagda with a jazz essence released online by Jim Ankan and Ritwika Bhattacharya

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Jim Ankan Deka and Ritwika Bhattacharya, the musician duo from Bangalore released ‘Tere Bin Nahi Lagda’ online, a tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Bengaluru, Karnataka

There aren’t enough words to surmise Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s contribution to the world of Sufi music nor his limitless musical genius. There’s certainly no way to replicate his six-octave vocal range or his meticulous compositions. “Tere Bin Nahi Ladga”, recently covered by Rittwika Bhattacharya and Jim Ankan Deka, is an interesting rendition of the virtuoso’s soulful melody.

Jim Ankan Deka and Ritwika Bhattacharya

‘It’s a humble tribute to the incredibly gifted maestro’, the budding musicians from Bangalore had to say about their cover.

Tere Bin Nahi Lagda was originally composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for the movie ‘Kachche Dhaage’. It became a super hit in the late 90s.

Rittwika’s sufi styled vocals and Jim’s incorporation of jazz elements don’t simply echo Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s original composition, but paraphases it as contemporary fusion. This is the second song by the musicians together, previously recorded the famous song ‘Ganga’ by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.

The song was recorded in Eastern Fare Studio in Bangalore (Eastern Fare Music Foundation) and was released online on May 13, 2012. The song is available for streaming on Reverbnation, Youtube and iTunes

source: http://www.indiaprwire.com / Home> Music> Other News / May 14th, 2012

City-based Graduate launches new company in US

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technology

Caption: Siddarth is seen with his parents Padma & Satish and sister Anitha.

Mysore, May 11

Success does not see age or education, instead it sees hard work and enthusiasm to succeed in one’s endeavour. This is true in case of a graduate who, while most of his peers are working at entry-level jobs or in graduate school, is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of a medical device startup company.

Siddarth Satish, who has his roots in Mysore, started Gauss Surgical just after finishing Master of Translational Medicine (MTM) programme of Bioengineering Department at University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Siddarth has raised about $1 million in venture funding, hired several full-time staff, recruited a veteran entrepreneur as CEO, and is submitting designs to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

His transition from ChemE undergrad to CTO of his own company in just under two years was due to hard work, brains, ambition and MTM programme. The MTM programme is a one-year master’s degree offered jointly by UC Berkeley and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), aimed at accelerating the translation of cutting-edge research into advances in patient care.

Finishing up his 2010 Berkeley B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Siddarth joined MTM. He was partnered with fellow students Amer Abdulla and Charles Zhao to work with Professor in Bioengineering Dr. David Rempel. Although not all MTM graduates go on to startups or to work in industry, the unique experience helps students with ambition pursue their passion. The team explored several different projects with collaborators at Stanford Medical Center, including one on virtual instrument pedals that resulted in a patent filing and presentation at the American Academy of Pediatrics. All three decided to focus on another operating room problem: estimating surgical blood loss.

The team completed prototyping to accurately diagnose blood loss before graduating in Summer 2011, and then decided to take their work all the way and form a company: Gauss Surgical.

Siddarth is the son of Padma & Satish, residing in the US since 17 years. City’s industrialist and art patron K.V. Murthy is his maternal grandfather while late Dr. M.S. Nagaraja Rao (former Director General of ASI) was his paternal grandfather. Siddarth has a sister Anitha who will be entering medical school soon.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News/ May 11th, 2012

Physically challenged girl from Mandya bags Rs. 12.5 Lakh

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Kannadada Kotyadipathi

Mandya, May 12

Several organisations led by KPCC member and advocate T.S. Satyanand yesterday felicitated Rekha, the 18-year-old physically challenged girl from Kalenahalli village in the taluk, who won Rs. 12.5 lakh at the Kannadada Kotyadipathi quiz programme being hosted by Power Star Punith Rajkumar on Suvarna TV Channel.

Rekha, said to be affected by a rare genetic disorder called MPS Type 4 has a stunted physical growth but has a phenomenal mental growth with a high intelligence quotient. Her witty communication skill coupled with a very good general knowledge, especially physics, mesmerised the audience and the anchor alike.

Speaking after felicitating the winner, Satyanand said “Rekha is coming up challenging the medical fraternity with her incurable disorder. The people of the district should provide moral strength and courage to the physically challenged girl.” He also said that he would approach Union Minister S.M. Krishna, who too hails from the district, to get assistance for the medical and educational expenses of Rekha, who is studying in II PUC.

Incidentally, Rekha’s elder brother, who had accompanied her to the quiz show along with their mother too, is affected by the same genetic disorder. Beating the odds and studying engineering, the boy too is said to be extremely brilliant and an expert in mimicry.

His delivery of dialogues of actor Upendra from the movie Raktha Kanneeru kept the audience and Punith spellbound.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / May 12th,2012