Budding designers rule Bangalore FW

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Several budding designers on Friday showcased their collection at the ongoing Bangalore Fashion Week. Debutant designers, Mandeep and Shubhangi Pandey, seemed quite excited about displaying their creations at the do.

Model Bhoomika, who walked the ramp for Mandeep and Shubhangi, praised the couple for their exquisite designs.

Later in the day designer, Pallavi Mahindraa, showcased her collection. Her line consisted mostly of Indian trousseau with the western touch. The colour palette ranged from beige, peach, red, blue and pink to orange, fuschia, yellow, green and gold.

source: http://www.IndianExpress.com / Saturday, February 04th, 2012

Antiques on Display at Farmers Convention

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized

Caption: N.J. Ramakrishna seen with his gramophone player and radio. Picture right shows lanterns & rare wooden cradles.

Mysore, Feb. 4:

Thousands of farmers who have assembled at the the Dasara Expo in connection with the ongoing farmers convention have an opportunity to witness a rare exhibition of antiques like old radio sets weighing more than a present day TV in working condition, a gramo-phone player, primitive models of rifles used for hunting during British times, stone cannonballs etc.

These are only some of the numerous other items, which are on display at the expo by N. J. Ramakrishna, a former Councilor of Nagamangala in Mandya district, who is a professional collector of antique items. His collection includes old lamps that are hard to come by even in rural areas, a large pot filled with rice called Kanaja in Kannada.

Ramakrishna, who claimed that he is a collector of antiques for decades, added that he helped Dharamsthala Manjunatheswara Trust in augmenting the collection. He has also put up his personal collection of Kannada newspapers since 1949 and a visitor is greeted with the headline of the newspaper of 1950 which indicated a hike in rail fare saying ‘Railu dara dubari’ and another newspaper documenting the resignation of D. Devaraj Urs as Chief Minister with inside pages having photographs of litterateur Ha.Ma. Nayak, which can be instantly recognised.

He also has displayed a few copies of Kannada magazine Prajamatha which was sold for three annas in 1951.

Adding to this, an expo of old coins by a retired teacher, Thimmashetty Gowda, has also been put on display. These coins are those of the Vijayanagar rulers which had been supplemented by the coins issued by East India Company and the British.

Thimmashetty said that he achieves satisfaction by understanding history of the age which had inspired him to involve in collection of rare coins.

These antiques have been put on show at the building of the Archaeology Department at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / February 04th, 2012

 

City Doc Wins Prestigious National Gold Medal

Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology

Caption: Dr. Nairuthya Shivathirthan (centre) receiving the NBE gold medal from Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at New Delhi on Feb. 1 as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar looks on.

Mysore, Feb. 4:

City-based well-known gastroenterologist Dr. Nairuthya Shivathirthan was recently presented a Gold Medal for Meritorious Service by the National Board of Examinations, at its 17th convocation on Feb. 1 at Siri Fort Auditorium, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi.

The award and citation was presented to Dr. N. Shivathirthan and others by Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

Dr. Shivathirthan is the son of late K.N. Shivathirthan and Dr. B. Nirmala, proprietor of Karuna Hospitals in Kuvempunagar and Vinayakanagar in city.

Dr. Shivathirthan is presently serving as the IHPBA Fellow in Minimal Access HPB Surgery at the Institute of Mutualiste Montsouris in Paris, France.

Dr. Shivathirthan graduated in MBBS from the Mysore Medical College in July 2000, obtained MS (General Surgery) degree from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Sept. 2006, became MRCS (Glasgow) and attained DNB (General Surgery) from National Board of Examinations, New Delhi.

“Receiving the prestigious award was a great moment for me. I have fulfilled my mother’s wish. I intend to serve Mysoreans better by bringing home the experience in health care from abroad,” said Dr. Shivathirthan, who happens to be the first Mysorean to win the NBE gold medal.

His mother Dr. Nirmala, a well known gynaecologist of the city, was beaming with pride on her son’s achievement. “Yes, I am very happy. But more than winning medals, it is important that he treats his patients with love and compassion. Along with vidya (education), one should also cultivate vinaya (humility),” she told SOM today.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / February 04th, 2012

Karnataka to get its second planetarium

Science & Technology

Karnataka will soon be the first state in the country to have two planetariums.

The governor’s speech to the joint houses of legislature on the opening day of the current session touched upon this issue kindling hopes that the state’s second planetarium will come up in Pilikula before the academic year 2013.

It will have state-of-the-art ‘hybrid optical system’ that will be imported from France, Germany or Japan.

“The Pilikula Nisarga Dhama Society (PNDS) will be the host of the planetarium at the Nisarga Dhama located in the rural settings ofMoodushedde village. This facility has also been notified as the regional science centre catering to coastal, Malnad and some Bayaluseemedistricts. It is a multi-state facility considering four northern districts ofKerala will also use it for study of science at school level,” said JR Lobo, executive director of Nisarga Dhama and secretary of the planetarium expert committee set up by the government of Karnataka.

“The planetarium committee has already started the process of shopping globally for optical systems. The hybrid system
is a combination of conventional convex mirror system and digital imagery system,” Lobo said.

“The conventional optics will help to sharpen the images of the celestial bodies while the digital part will beam the images with accuracy to the last detail,” he added.

But will the planetarium be ready for the next academic year?
“The planning for the structure has been completed; it will have a 15-metre dome. We hope to complete the basic structure by January 2013. The tendering process for optics and systems has already begun on a global platform,” he said.

“The committee consisting of former director of the Nehru Planetarium ofBangalore Prof Shukra and five others has already visited several planetariums in the country and studied the systems and need for improvisations,” the executive directore added.

The planetarium will be set up at an estimated cost of `15 crore of which `12.5 crore will be funded by the state government and rest will have to be locally collected through public and corporate donations, said Anand VAsnotikar, state science and technology minister.

The PNDS will appeal to corporate entities in Mangalore for donations. It will not be difficult to collect `3 crore since the city has many large corporate bodies and also multinational companies which have large kitties for meeting their corporate social responsibilities.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> Bangalore> Report / by M Raghuram/ Place: Mangalore / Agency: DNA/ Thursday, February 02nd, 2012

MU flaunts all new science world

Science & Technology

Many institutions including ISRO showcase their work at the varsity campus

The exhibition put up by the  ISRO, Bharath Electronics Ltd, MCF, KIOCL, National Centre for Ocean Information Sciences, Hyderabad, MRPL and others at the fourth convention of Karnataka Science and Technology Academy held at Mangalore University attracted large crowd consisting of people from all walks of life.

Students from various colleges visited the programme and availed the advantage of gaining the first hand information about the functioning models and the achievement of various organisations.

The Indian Space Research organisations (ISRO) had highlighted its success story in the last four decades of Indian Space Programmes on charts put up at the exhibition. It also displayed models of Chandrayana, GSAT-8, GSLV MK III, ASTRO SAT. All the charts at the stall gave complete details on how the satellite functions and what are the uses of INSAT, a multi-purpose satellite.

Another interesting stall was by Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore which explained the stars, the sun and Indian Astronomical Observatories and others.

While explaining the Indian Astronomical Observatory situated at Hanle in Ladakh, an official from Indian Institute of Astrophysics said it is the world’s highest observatory for optical and infra-red astronomy.

As there is no power in Hanle, 90 kilo watt solar energy is produced in the Observatory to support the power supply. The Indian Astronomical Observatory is the high-altitude station of IIA, situated at an altitude of 4,500 mts above the sea level to the north of Western Himalayas. The cloudless skies and low atmospheric water vapour make it one of the best sites in the world for optical, infrared, sub-millimeter, and millimeter wavelengths, he said.

He said a 2-m optical infrared telescope is installed at the observatory. This telescope is remotely operated from CREST, Hosakote, using dedicated satellite links.

The stall put up by KIOCL had a ‘pig iron’ and iron pellets. Various charts by Bharat Electronics Lit, Bangalore exhibited solar power signals, 3 D Radar used in navy and others.

National Centre for Ocean Information Sciences, Hyderabad had displayed an electronic display board, which displays potential fishing zone in the sea. Using the data of potential fishing zone, the fishermen venture into the sea.

The electronic machine also alerts the fishermen during tsunami.

The Mangalore Chemical Fertilisers (MCF) had array of products meant for farming community as well as the precautionary measures used in the MCF to safeguard the employees. Vision Group of State government, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Marine Product Export Development Authority, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bangalore, BASF, JSS STEP had also put up their stalls explaining various activities taken up by them.

The mobile exhibition by Vishweshwaraiah Industrial and Technical Museum was another attraction.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Mangalore, January 29th, 2012 / DHNS

Wipro awarded US patent

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized
Bangalore, JAN 30:

Wipro Technologies has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its Statistics Operations Research Matrix (StORM) methodology.

StORM, a system and method for software test suite optimisation, increases the effectiveness of the testing process while reducing the number of test cases.

The company said that StORM can reduce the software test suite by around 30 per cent.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Info-Tech / Our Bureau / January 30th, 2012

Tata Global Beverages unit invests in Bjets

Business & Economy

Mumbai:

In February 2008, Bjets had said that it aims to become Asia’s largest business jet operator with Tata Group as a significant investor

Tata Global Beverages Ltd said on Tuesday that an overseas unit of the company has invested in Bjets Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based company engaged in the business of owing and operating private jets.

Tata Global did not disclose details of the investment or the size of the stake that the company owns. In February 2008, Bjets had said that it aims to become Asia’s largest business jet operator with Tata Group as a significant investor.

 

 

An alliance was announced in February last year involving G.R. Gopinath’s aviation services company Deccan Charters Ltd, Taj Air, the airplane charter company of the Tata group’s Indian Hotels Co. Ltd, and Bjets.

Besides the marketing alliance, Deccan Charters will provide maintenance and operational support for Bjets’ planes.

source: http://www.livemint.com / Corporate News / by P R Sanjai / Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

 

Beethoven listens as Patdeep flows in

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment

WHAT AN ORCHESTRA! Rahman’s collaboration with the Babelsberg group had its evocative moments. Photo: Sampath Kumar.G.P.  / The Hindu

The Babelsberg German Film Orchestra playing A.R. Rahman’s compositions was a rich experience. The 100-odd musicians and the audience gathered in thousands were engaged in finding home in each other’s musical ideas, says Deepa Ganesh

Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Daniel Barenboim said this in one of his interviews. “Where are you at home?” his interviewer asked. Barenboim said, “Wherever I make music.” He further explained: “My feeling of being at home somewhere is really a feeling of transition. Music is transition, too. I am happiest when I can be at peace with the idea of fluidity.”

The air was thick with curiosity at the “Classic Incantations” concert in the city on Sunday evening — the Babelsberg German Film Orchestra performing our own A.R. Rahman’s compositions. As the phenomenal hundred-odd orchestral group presented a rich aural and visual treat, I, perhaps like several others, was trying to catch glimpses of ragas Charukeshi and Patdeep in the Soprano, and when I found shades of Yaman emanating from the absolutely grand cello portions, I was truly elated.

An audience who is witness to a synthesis of such nature, is anxiously awaiting its entry point – most in the audience found it when the theme music of Rahman’s first film “Roja” (Cry of the Rose) was played. The piece was a melange of all the musical ideas that crisscross in “Roja” – from the soft romantic tones of “Kadal Rojave” to the more forceful mood of patriotism in “Tamilah Tamilah”. Navin Iyer, Rahman’s flautist, worked his own little details, and stole the show.

The opening piece, “Warriors of Heaven and Earth suite”, was subtle and serene. It gave you a complete sense of listening to a live, full blown orchestra with a lush violin section – complete with cellos, violas, sax, cymbals and harp. The piece reminded one of many earlier musical experiences, for instance, the luxuriant violin passages were reminiscent of Ilaiyaraja, and did the overall texture of tones bring Beethoven to mind?

The challenge in most such cross cultural collaborations is the articulation of the “other”. Matt Dunkley, the conductor, orchestrator and composer of Babelsberg executed this daunting task with remarkable elan and perfection. So much so that in the piece that was a tribute to the great maestros — which the audience loved — evergreen numbers like Madan Mohan’s “Aap ki nazarone samjha”, Ilaiyaraja’s “Sindhoora Poove”, Lakshmikant Pyarelaal’s “Suhana Safar” and Rahman’s “Kehna Hai Kya” sparkled with a refreshing emotive quality.

The compositions chosen were in themselves largely “Western” in idea – “Lord of the Rings suite”, “127 hours suite”, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age Suite” and several others. Nevertheless, it needs to be said to the credit of the conductor and his remarkably-talented orchestra, that the journey was constantly outward, seeing it in Rahman’s way and never an affirmation of one’s own identity. It would have perhaps been more interesting to see what new meanings would have emerged if the orchestra had played some of Rahman’s stunning compositions in the typical Indian repertoire, like his compositions in Vasanta or Natakuranji.

The outstanding soprano singer Kavitha Baliga and Bangalore’s vibrant Arun H.K., the audience favourite Asad Ali Khan on sitar, and the perfectly co-ordinated choir group, made the concert extremely lively and also provided some of the most intense moments.

It was a perfect orchestral experience. However, I am more an admirer of Rahman’s compositions of pan-Indian feel, than those of global sounds. It could have perhaps been richer if Rahman had built some artistic tension into the Babelsberg orchestra that was so immensely accomplished.

If your passion becomes your way of life, then geographical location is less important. Daniel Barenboim, who brought together Arab and Israeli musicians to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Goethe years ago, did agree that it was impossible to have “multiple identities” but remained emphatic that the sense of belonging to different cultures can only be enriching.

At the end of all, one didn’t feel a sense of belonging.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Arts> Music / Bangalore / by Deepa Ganesh/ January 30th, 2012

Gem of a career with opportunities galore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Lucrative trade

The glitter will just does not fade away, it seems. No wonder, a career in the jewellery industry is being seen as an increasingly lucrative option for students.

The burgeoning gold market in India is beckoning students and there was more proof of this when close to thousand students and working professionals thronged Vijaya College for the career fair organised recently by the Gemological Institute of India and Jewellers’ Association, Bangalore.

India is the leading consumer of gold in the world with about 800 million (80 crore) tonnes – 20 per cent of the global consumption. More than 50 per cent of this is used for making gold jewellery.

According to industry sources it is estimated that the size of the Indian jewellery market is Rs 1,25,000 crore annually.

The Indian Diamond Industry has established itself as the world’s largest manufacturing hub of cut and polished diamond in the last many years, contributing 60 per cent of the world’s supply in terms of value, 85 per cent and 92 per cent in terms of volume and pieces respectively. Eleven out of 12 diamonds set in jewellery worldwide are processed in India.

Participating in the panel discussion at the career fair, Vinod Hayagriv, Managing Director of C Krishniah Chetty & Sons, said: “Gems and Jewellery (G&J) is one of the fastest growing sectors in Indian economy, with significant employment opportunities. We at the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation are looking at targeting a 40-lakh strong skilled workforce demand in the next 10 to 15 years.”

Mahesh Rao, Managing Director of Peakok Jewellery Ltd, said: “With the jewellery industry getting professional, there are several openings for designers at the manufacturing level in factories and also at retail jewellery stores.”

Rao said: “They can become entrepreneurs themselves by setting up boutique catering to a niche market.”

Agrees Pratap Kamath, CEO of Abaran Jewellers. He said: “The working atmosphere has changed compared to the past 10 to 15 years. The industry is structured and very well organised with the entry of many retailers.”

Pallavi Foley, designer, opined that one must have a passion for design and fashion to make a mark in the profession. The designers are the link between jewellery houses and fashion, she said.

Says Hayagriv: “Jewellery designers start with preparing design sketches by hand or on the computer. With time, they have options to become merchandisers and heads who manage profitability of companies.”

He said: “They can become consultants for the customers or the manufacturing team. They create detailed drawings, a structural model, computer simulations or full-scale prototyping. Increasingly, computer aided design programmes and tools are being used to create and better visualise the final product.”

Pratap Kamath said: “At the manufacturing level, it involves understanding current trends and developing collections based on the brief provided. At the retail level, designers have opportunities to interact with customers and help them choose the design of their choice,” Kamath said.

A fresher trainee in jewellery designing starts with Rs 10,000 and upwards per month. The salary can go up to between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. With an experience of five years, one can earn about Rs 50,000 per month. Designers can rise to the top management if they possess business acumen.

Says Kamath: “The demand is huge and supply short, therefore the opportunities available are huge. Also, we see the entry of many retail jewellers into the market. This is an indication of the great opportunity for designers. “A five per cent increase from the current figures will really help the industry. Over 5,000 is our estimate of the requirement of specialised professionals,” Kamath added.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> State / Bangalore/ DHNS / by Umesh M Awannavar

Strides sells generics business in Australia & Southeast Asia to Watson Pharma for Rs. 1970-cr

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Strides Arcolab Limited has sold 94 per cent shareholding in Ascent Pharmahealth Limited, its subsidiary with operations in Australia and Southeast Asia, to Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  As part of the transaction, Watson also acquired the remaining 6 per cent shareholding associated with Dennis Bastas, CEO of Ascent.  The transaction was signed and closed simultaneously.  The cash offer from Watson values Ascent at an enterprise value of AU$ 375 million which amounts to around Rs. 1970 crore.  After this announcement Strides’ scrip jumped by nearly 16 per cent on BSE and reached at its 52-week high of Rs. 488.80.

Ascent is a top five generic pharmaceutical company in Australia and is present across several countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore where it is the leading generic pharmaceutical company.

Watson is an integrated global specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of generic pharmaceuticals and specialized branded pharmaceutical products focused on Urology and Women’s Health.  Watson has operations in many of the world’s established and growing international markets.

Commenting on the transaction, Arun Kumar, Executive Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Strides Arcolab, said:  “The sale of Ascent is a value enhancing and forward-looking initiative for Strides.  We have been clear about our intention to focus on our highly attractive steriles segment, which we expect to be our growth engine going forward.  The transaction further facilitates the execution of this strategy and unlocks significant value for the Group.  Furthermore, the proceeds from the transaction considerably strengthens our balance sheet.”

Over the last six months, the Strides–Ascent partnership generated significant economic benefit through the transformation of the latter into a vertically integrated generics business with a robust portfolio of marketed and newly developed pipeline products.  In addition, we further expanded the business from its home market in Australia to establish a scalable platform across high-growth emerging markets in Southeast Asia, said the  Strides chief.

“Combining the product portfolios and commercial infrastructures of Ascent, Watson creates a substantial generics business in the region and provides Ascent with a number of new growth opportunities.  We believe that Ascent, its partners, customer and employees across all of its markets will benefit from the continued development under its new owners,”  he added

Paul Bisaro, president and CEO of Watson, said:  “The acquisition of Ascent provides Watson with a successful commercial structure in both Australia and Southeast Asia and a broader pipeline of products to support continued growth.  We are excited to welcome the Ascent employees in Australia and Southeast Asia to our growing global team and anticipate a seamless and rapid integration of the Ascent businesses.”

Jefferies International Limited acted as sole financial advisor to Strides Arcolab.  Middletons, Herbert Smith LLP and DSK Legal acted as legal counsel.

Strides Arcolab, has 13 manufacturing facilities across 5 countries with presence in more than 75 countries in developed and emerging markets.  It is supported  by a 350-scientist team operating out of its global R&D Centre in Bengaluru .

Agila Specialties Private Limited is the specialties unit of Strides Arcolab which was spun off as a separate division post the company’s restructuring in 2009.  It is engaged in the production of oncolytics, penems, pencillins, cephalosporins, ophthalmics, peptides and biosimilars. It  operates from 8 world class global manufacturing facilities, including one of the largest steriles capacity in India and amongst the largest lyophilization (freeze drying) capacities in the world.  Its  marketing network covered 70 countries and it has partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies globally.

source: http://www.PharmaBiz.com /  Home> News> Corporate / Our Bureau, Bangalore / Tuesday, January 24th, 2012