Every parent would dream of their children excelling in studies and later in their field of interest. When the dream comes true, there are no words to express the joy. Such is the situation of Dr. Dinesh, Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, and Vidya Dinesh, a homemaker. The reason for joy, D. Vasudha, their daughter, has emerged State Topper scoring 594 out of 600 marks.
Vasudha, a student of Sadvidya Pre-University College, has scored 100 each in Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Sanskrit, 99 marks in Physics and 95 in English. Speaking to Star of Mysore, Vasudha, expressed happiness over the results and thanked her parents and teachers for their constant guidance.
Speaking about her future plans, Vasudha said that she had not decided on the future but added that it would depend on the CET result which is to be announced shortly. “There was no specific planning to prepare for the examination. I used to study during the free time but I made sure that I spent 3-4 hours a day to prepare for my examination”, said Vasudha.
Talking about her parents, she mentioned that both her father and mother had been supportive throughout and it is because of them that she could achieve the fete. Vasudha also thanked her teachers in the college for their continuous help and guidance.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Dr. Dinesh, said that he had expected a good result, but there was a little anxiety. “When the result was announced we got to know that she had emerged a topper. But, still there was a little anxiety. When we got the confirmation about her topping the State, we were relieved”, said Dr. Dinesh.
He further said that Vasudha had been given an open invitation from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, on which they were yet to decide. Dr. Dinesh also mentioned that Vasudha had also done well in Manipal University Entrance Examination which was held yesterday in Bangalore.
“My first priority is to get my daughter admitted in one of the institutions in Mysore, which depends on the CET result. But, the final decision will be taken after the CET result are announced in which we are expecting high ranking”, said Dr. Dinesh.
Vasudha previously had emerged 2nd topper in SSLC where she had scored 621 marks out of 625 studying in Sadvidya High School. By going one step further, Vasudha has made her parents and teachers feel proud.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 09th, 2014
JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science on Ooty Road has organised a function to felicitate Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. M. Mahadevappa, Chairman, Task Force, SC/ST and Rural Development, Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi and Director, JSS Rural Development Division, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysore, at the college premises on May 10 at 11.30 am.
Dr. Mahadevappa received the Padma Bhushan from the President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapathi Bhavan in Delhi on April 26.
The valedictory of PG Cultural Forum of the college will also be held on the occasion. Prof. T.D. Subbanna, Director, College Education Division, JSS mahavidyapeetha, will preside.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 09th, 2014
Shivanna, a Congress leader, popularly known as Broadway Shivanna owing to his association with a company by that name in Mumbai, passed away at his residence in Vidyaranyapuram here this morning.
Shivanna (69) was the Secretary of OBC cell of KPCC.
He leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters.
Shivanna and other family members were in celebration mood last evening as Shivanna’s granddaughter Chandana, a student of Marimallappa’s PU College had passed II PU examination securing 90% marks. Destiny had something in store in a tragedy the next morning.
Chief Minister Siddharamaiah visited the house today and paid his last respects. City Congress President C. Dasegowda, MLA M.K. Somashekhar, Minister H.S. Mahadevaprasad and others too paid their last respects to the departed soul.
Last rites will be held in the evening at the foot of Chamundi Hill, according to family sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 09th, 2014
Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist disabled swimmer Prasanta Karmakar is looking forward to the day when the Sports Authority of India will start a specialized SAI Training Centre (STC) for disabled athletes after receiving the Diploma in Sports coaching on Wednesday.
“I wanted to learn more about sports and that was the reason why I joined this course. And today I feel that all the elites in our country should find some time to do this course. It will surely help them to prolong their careers by few years,” said Karmakar, who landed from Mumbai just in time to receive the certificate of honour.
“I have requested the SAI director to start special courses to train para athletes. He has promised to look into the matter but I hope something positive happens,” said Karmakar echoing the sentiments of disabled athletes in the country.
Karmakar, who was the first Indian to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games for disabled and Asian para Games, is confident that the diploma will help to do well as a coach. “I’m employed by the Haryana government but I will get leave so I can go to train athletes,” he said.
Karmakar was one among the 102 students who got provisional certificates for successfully completing the 10-month course at an impressive ceremony at the National Institute of Sports, Southern Centre here. The new coaches will get their certificate and mark list on the completion of their two-month internship at the various SAI centres across the country.
The highest number of coaches passed out in athletics (24) followed by swimming (21) and kabbadi (18). Surprisingly, tennis (6) had the lowest number of coaches followed by badminton (7).
‘Appoint them as assistant coaches’
Olympian Ashwinini Nachappa, who was the guest of honour asked SAI to give the graduates more exposure by attaching them to the national camps.
“Two months of internship is not enough. They should be appointed as assistant coaches with the foreign trainers as it will help them to learn a lot,” she said.
Bangalore University vice-chancellor BN Thimme Gowda exhorted the new coaches to acquire more skills and do research in sports. “You should all try and go to the next level. Try and do the masters and take up research,” he said.
SAI director Ramachandran, head of academics Nataraj, former national champion in badminton U Vimal Kumar were also present at the graduation ceremony.
The price of rashi, idi, api and chali varieties of arecanut, which was around Rs. 130 a kg during the same period last year, is now Rs. 320 a kg. The price of saraku variety that was around Rs. 180 a kg last year is being traded at Rs. 370 now. / File photo / The Hindu
Prices of local varieties have gone up from Rs. 130 a kg to Rs. 320
Arecanut prices have more than doubled in a year bringing cheer to growers. Factors such as gutka ban and the rumours on a possible ban on arecanut itself have not affected the optimistic mood prevailing in the market.
D.B. Shankarappa, director, Shimoga Arecanut Merchants’ Association, told The Hindu that the decision taken by the Centre to hike the minimum import price of arecanut and the decline in production owing to climatic changes were the reasons for the sharp increase in the prices.
The price of rashi, idi, api and chali varieties of arecanut, which was around Rs. 130 a kg during the same period last year, is now Rs. 320 a kg. The price of saraku variety that was around Rs. 180 a kg last year is being traded at Rs. 370 now.
The Central government decided on May 13 last year to hike the minimum import price of arecanut from Rs. 75 to Rs. 110 a kg. This decision triggered an upward movement in the prices of locally grown arecanut. The prices of rashi, idi, api and chali varieties that was at Rs. 130 a kg in the first week of May last year reached Rs. 180 a kg by the end of the month.
The growers were under the apprehension that the prices might crash following the decision taken by the State government on May 31, 2013, to ban gutka. However, after the ban, gutka entered the market in a new avatar.
As mixing of arecanut with tobacco was banned, firms engaged in the production of gutka began selling arecanut and tobacco in separate pouches. Even after the ban, the prices continued to rise. The prices of rashi, idi, api and chali varieties reached Rs. 210 a kg by the first week of August and remained stable for six months after.
In September 2013, Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare wrote to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to examine the scientific evidences on the harmful effects of arecanut on human health, with a view to classify it as an injurious substance and prohibit its use as an ingredient in food products.
A section of growers saw this as a first step to ban arecanut. The protests and debates that happened in January this year over the issue again led to the concern that the prices may fall. Interestingly, the prices remained insulated from these developments. The prices of arecanut began to move northwards again from the first week of February this year.
Owing to heavy rain that lashed the Malnad region and coastal Karnataka in the 2013 monsoon, more than 50 per cent of arecanut plantations were infected with kole roga, also known as fruit rot disease. The yield declined by more than 30 per cent resulting in a mismatch between the demand and supply for arecanut, owing to which the prices increased since February. Arecanut merchants here anticipate a further increase of 10 per cent in the prices by the end of this month.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by Veerendra P.M. / Shimoga – May 02nd, 2014
Brigade Group that currently has two operating hotels – The Grand Mercure, Bengaluru and the Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway in the country has confirmed to come up with eight new hotels in south India soon.
Nirupa Shankar, Director, Brigade Group said, “We currently have eight hotels in the pipeline – one in Chennai, two in Mysore, two in Kochi and three in Bengaluru. The hotel in Chennai and one of the hotels in Mysore will be launched in 2015. None of them are opening in 2014, as they are still under construction or under design development.”
Brigade Group has a signed management contract for the two hotels opening up in 2015. They are Holiday Inn-Chennai, Old Madras Road (managed by IHG) and Grand Mercure in Mysore (managed by Accor). The management of the remaining hotels is still under discussion with major international operators mentioned Shankar.
source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com / HospitalityBizIndia.com / Home> News Travk / by Shweta Ramsay, Mumbai / Friday – May 02nd, 2014
1) Marquetry artwork of yours truly 2) R.G. Singh 3) R. Puttaraju
I am no great connoisseur of art. However, whenever opportunity presents itself to see art works and paintings, I simply give in. This is because of my dalliance in advertising for some years in Mumbai and Pune where I learnt the difference between fine arts and commercial arts. While the former is for the soul, the latter is for stomach. Advertising agencies are the practitioners of commercial art, to sell products and services. Fine art is of metaphysical in character, no matter whatever the form — abstract, surreal, still life, cubism, portrait etc.
Before the advent of photography, painting was the only way to capture the images of natural scenes, of flora and fauna and human beings. Portrait painting was thus patronised by Royal Courts and the aristocracy. If one is art, the other is craft; some times the dividing line becomes blurred so much so the practitioners of both are called artists.
On 2nd March 2014 I had been to Ramsons Kala Pratishtana’s Pratima Gallery of R.G. Singh, city’s art collector and patron of artists known to encourage specially Karnataka artists. As I know, because of him some unknown have become known and some in strained financial position got relief. The occasion was a lecture on Ganjifa Raghupati Bhatta’s works on Ram Setu. It was a select gathering of artists from city and art lovers. Krishna Shetty, former Chairman of Karnataka Lalith Kala Academy, was the speaker on the subject. Among the artists present was artist R. Puttaraju, a product of the renowned Chamaraja Technical Institute (CTI) on Sayyaji Rao Road, the original avatar of the present CAVA in the same place. He had specialised in inlay works, marquetry and fine arts.
On 28th April 2014 I was again at the Pratima Gallery to inaugurate ‘Kuncha Bhramari,’ an exhibition of late Mukta Venkatesh’s art works of flowers with her daughter, equally talented Mrs. Girija Madhavan and her husband, former Ambassador A. Madhavan. After the vote of thanks, R.G. Singh said he would like me to meet one famous artist R. Puttaraju. To my surprise he was there holding what I thought was an inlay work. He seemed much delighted to meet me, garlanded me and presented a framed art work of my portrait in profile. R.G. Singh explained the work was not inlay but known as marquetry, created by inlaying wood pieces one above the other creating the image with raised surface. I had not seen this kind of work before. It is unlike the usual inlay works we see in handicraft shops.
I then asked R.G. Singh out of sheer curiosity, why this special affection. And thereby hangs a tale. I have to narrate this tale even at the risk of being immodest writing about myself.
But before I come to that, a brief bio of Puttaraju who hails from Mulloor, a non-descript village near Kollegal.
Early in his childhood, he was influenced by the oil paintings and beautiful statues at the St. Francis Assisi Church at Kollegal which he used to visit regularly. His sketches of biblical stories at the Sunday classes at the Church caught the eye of a German priest, father Handy Kohrt, who encouraged the lad to draw more.
In 1956, Father Kohrt persuaded Puttaraju’s parents to send him to CTI to be trained in art. Puttaraju finished the inlay certificate course in four years. He took up another five-year diploma course in fine arts at CTI. He stood first in the class all four years.
All the while he was getting nostalgic about the church back home in Kollegal. He wanted to create something new in inlay. He extensively experimented with wood collage and in 1968 created a panel ‘Submission with devotion’. This was the first ever relief work in wood collage; it fetched him the coveted first prize at the Mysore Dasara Exhibition.
Puttaraju’s friend who went to Madras coaxed Puttaraju to join him. Thus Puttaraju came to Madras in 1969 and was supplying his inlay creations to Victoria Technical Institute. He worked in Madras Film industry as an assistant art director and later set up a small workshop in Madras. In 1993, Puttaraju returned to Mysore and in 1995 he married Philomena who was working as a teacher.
In 2003, a person took all of Puttaraju’s works promising to pay handsomely but he neither paid nor returned the artefacts. His house at Tilaknagar, workshop and a thriving business of inlay handicrafts, everything was lost during that financial crisis. Now Puttaraju lives in a rented house and along with his wife and three assistants toying to reinvent himself at age 76.
It is said that luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. Puttaraju was all prepared with talent and skill but opportunity eluded him many times. One example is when an invitation to teach his technique and hold exhibition of his creations, specially wooden collages, came from Chicago which was sent to St. Philomena’s hostel address in Mysore but he was in Madras. He received the invitation one-and-a-half years too late. Like most artists his life too seems chequered.
However, the star of Puttaraju seems to have brightened after he came in contact with R.G. Singh. He was honoured with Rotary Ramsons Kala Pratishtana Award in June 2005. But the higher award awaited in 2008 when he received the much coveted Rajyotsava Award from the Karnataka Government.
To revert to where I left off at Pratima Gallery, I wanted to know why Puttaraju chose me for his gift.
R.G. Singh had commissioned Puttaraju to recreate some of Raja Ravi Verma’s more celebrated paintings into inlay — marquetry work — some years ago. This had projected Puttaraju as an important artist among the art community in Karnataka and also abroad. However, the critical acclaim he received was possible mainly because of Star of Mysore and Mysooru Mithra, which published his works with a detailed report.
The people of Kollegal who had forgotten their native son all these years suddenly discovered him through Mysooru Mithra and wanted to honour their famous son. So it was, Puttaraju was felicitated, after being taken in a procession, by placing a silver crown on his head and presenting a citation.
Eversince that day, R.G. Singh told me, Puttaraju wanted to personally thank me. An opportunity presented itself when he saw me at Pratima Gallery on March 2, 2014. I was photographed that evening very ‘discretely’ specially for creating my profile in marquetry. So it was, I was presented with his masterpiece of my marquetry image on Apr. 28. Does it look like me? I asked R.G. Singh and Raghupathi Bhatta. Absolutely, they said in chorus.
Thank you Puttaraju. May your star keep glowing bright always with support from patrons like R.G. Singh.
e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra / by K. B . Ganapathy / May 08th, 2014
LUSCIOUS: Syed Ghani Khan in his orchard at Kirugavalu village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district. / The Hindu
Kirugavalu farmer has 116 mango trees which are 200-year-old
This farmer from Kirugavalu village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district has preserved 116 mango trees dating back to the times of the then Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan.
Carbon dating and other scientific assessment by the Genetics and Plant Breeding Department of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, have shown that these trees are more than 200 years old.
This 20-acre orchard, popularly known as ‘Bada Bagh’, is said to have been raised by those in the palace of Tipu, who was a great lover of fruits, especially mangoes. The orchard was later gifted to a farmer by Tipu. Syed Ghani Khan (39), who has inherited this from his forefathers, is preserving it with care.
According to Mr. Khan, the trees yield exotic varieties of fruits. “While some trees yield fruits that taste like sweet lime, others produce fruits with cumin flavour. There are some trees that yield fruits resembling the shape of fish,” he said.
In great demand
Till recently, his family used to sell the fruits locally. But from the last two years, he has been selling the fruits at organic outlets in Mysore apart from exporting them to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where they are in great demand and also fetch a premium price.
In fact, Mr. Khan, who was passionate about becoming a curator at an archaeological museum, he did his graduation in archaeology and museology. But he had to return to his native village from Mysore to take care of his farm and support his family after his father became bedridden due to an ailment. “I then decided to turn my exotic farm itself into a live museum and started working on it,” he said.
Paddy varieties too
Mr. Khan also pursues another avocation passionately. He collects native varieties of paddy and grows them mainly to preserve those rare varieties. “Presently, I have a collection of about 600 native varieties of paddy, including ‘rakta dham’, ‘naadikeli’ and ‘jugal’,” he said.
His efforts paid off as his farm caught the attention of Delhi-based Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, which has started registration of the exotic varieties of mangoes in the garden. He will get legal right over the plant species after the registration.
Mr. Khan was also honoured with the ‘Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Recognition’ award by the authority in 2012.
Mr. Khan now wants other farmers to grow these rare varieties of mangoes. He, however, is unable to take up propagation of these rare varieties systematically by constructing a poly-house as it requires big investment. As none of the government agencies offered him any help, Mr. Khan himself started an organisation to train farmers and students about local varieties of crops.
He is looking forward to getting government assistance to take his mission forward and ensure that these exotic varieties of mangoes are grown in the orchards of many more farmers.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by B. S. Satish Kumar / Bangalore – May 12th, 2014
Amar A Sharma gazing through a telescope atthe Nikaya observatory near Hosur
by: S Shyam Prasad & Niranjan Kaggere
Although he has never met Amar A Sharma, David H Levy has named asteroid 380607, he first spied in 2004 after the city-based amateur astronomer.
Bangalorean Amar A Sharma joined a galaxy of Greek gods, Roman heroes and even Dr Spock, the Vulcan in Star Trek, by having an asteroid named after him. David H Levy, the world’s elite US astronomer, has named an asteroid he discovered after Amar, making him the first Indian non-scientist amateur astronomer to receive the honour.
Surprisingly, Levy and Sharma, a resident of Kumaraswamy Layout, have never met in person and only interacted online over the last several years. Levy, discovered asteroid 380607 over a course of 10 years in his Arizona observatory. The International Astronomical Union has officially named the asteroid, ‘380607 Sharma’ last week, bringing the 29-year-old Amar and Bangalore’s name on the top of India’s amateur astronomy list.Sharma says it is “more than a dream come true”. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Sharma said, “Levy is among the elite amateur astronomers in the world. He must really like me for naming it after me. He must have met so many eminent people in the field, but he decided to name it after me. Many people aspire for such an honour. You are always hoping that someday someone will recognise your work. He could have named it after anyone. But that he has chosen me, gives me a special feeling.”
Sharma moved to Bangalore with his parents in 1997 and studied high school in AV Education in JP Nagar before completing his BSc in National College. His interest in astronomy began after a visit to Bannerghatta National Park in 2000. “I looked up and saw millions of stars and my love with astronomy began. This kindled my curiosity. The first chapter in my X syllabus was named ‘Universe.’ This made me turn my head to the sky. In 2002 I visited the Nehru Planetarium and met members of the amateur astronomers club ABAA.”
Amar went on to co-found the Bangalore Astronomical Society in 2006. He is now pursuing his activities independently while working at the Yoga Nikaya Observatory off Hosur. He was also the first sole discoverer of a celestial object in modern times from India. “It was an accidental discovery,” says Sharma about the variable star, Mira, he discovered in June 2012 using a CCD camera. “People in India do not usually get the chance to discover things by themselves.”
Not Seen The Asteroid
There are uncertainties about the size of 380607 Sharma. “It needs a special telescope to see this asteroid,” Sharma said. “A medium-sized telescope with a CCD camera can capture it. With the equipment I have or even from Nikaya Observatory, there is very little chance of me seeing it. It can be seen with professional telescope setups in India, but who will spare precious time for me? I will hopefully find someone willing to take a photograph of the asteroid for me. It is very difficult.” Amar’s biggest dream is to become the first Indian to discover a comet.
Most Fascinating
Amar says that astronomy is the most fascinating, but the most ignored subject in India. “I have dedicated my life to astronomy. For many it is a hobby, for me it is a job to spread the knowledge of astronomy to people. For the last 12 years, it has been the burning passion inside me and grows each day.”
The 29-year-old is currently writing a book which he says will be an in-depth narration of astronomy for all age groups. “Astronomy is my mission in life. I have seen most things out there. The book will tell everything I have learnt and hope it is an inspiration for everyone.”
David Levy had discovered an asteroid, between Mars and Jupiter, in 2004. The same asteroid has been found yet again on the same orbit recently. It is mandatory for astronomers to name their discoveries in the Solar System by registering with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in the US. Astronomers are supposed to provide documentary evidence of details of their telescope, camera, time and place besides explaining about the latitude and longitude of the observatory. The IAU committee will verify the documents and discovery before making it legal and consider for publication. While it is common for astronomers to name their discoveries after them, Levy has chosen to name it after Amar Sharma as he was impressed by the Bangalore lad’s interest in astronomy. The IAU committee has ratified the naming of asteroid last week.
WHAT IS AN ASTEROID?
planets between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter orbiting around the Sun. Their dimensions range from a few centimeters to several kilometres. There are millions of asteroids in the asteroid belt, many of them yet to be identified.
Asteroids are formed of left over rock and other material mass during the formation of Solar System. These objects were too small to make a planet and most of them are made of rock, carbon and other metals. Depending on their surface composition, asteroids have been classified in to several types. While it is common in the field of astronomy to name a comet after its discoverer, asteroids can be named after anybody by their discoverers.
Newly discovered asteroids are generally given a provisional name (largely in numbers) denoting the year of discovery. An alpha- umeric code suggesting the half-month of discovery and the sequence within the halfmonth will also be used to identify the asteroid. Once the orbit of the asteroid is confirmed, it is given a number and later could also be given a name suggested by their discoverer.
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Cover Story / by Bangalore Mirror Bureau / May 01st, 2014
Wipro, India’s major IT company, has awarded a grant of USD 1.19 million to promote science and teacher education leadership in the US.
According to a statement, Amanda Gunning and Meghan Marrero, of Mercy College School of Education, have been awarded the USD 1.19 million grant to lead the Greater New York Wipro Science Education Fellowship (SEF).
Dr. Arthur Eisenkraft of the University of Massachusetts originally earned the funding to run the SEF in a one-year programme with Boston teachers.
It has now grown to a two-year programme in three states.
The SEF supports three cohorts of 20 science teacher fellows from five local districts during a two-year fellowship that focuses on leadership in science education.
In a statement, Mercy College said the goal is to keep good teachers in the classroom and develop their leadership skills as opposed to putting them in administrative roles.
Major tenets of the professional development include vertical and horizontal articulation across districts and lesson observation and study.
In year two, each fellow will lead professional development in their own district and work on a district-wide initiative of his or her choosing.
This programme has met success in its implementation thus far in Massachusetts and New Jersey, it said.
“The Wipro SEF is an amazing opportunity for Mercy College to support our local districts and improve science teaching and learning from within,” Marrero said.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / Press Trust of India / Washington – April 30th, 2014
