Inaugration of Veena Chokkamma Hall and Veena Concert at Ganabharathi

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

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Mysore :

The newly-built Veena Chokkamma Hall in Veene Seshanna Bhavana of Ganabharathi, Adichunchanagiri Road, Kuvempunagar, will be inaugurated today (May 2) at 5 pm by Vidushi M. K. Saraswathi, Senior Veena artiste of Mysore. Following this event, Vidu. Saraswathi will present a Veena recital at 6 pm accompanied by Vid. G. S. Ramanujan on Mridanga and Vid. S. Manjunath on Ghata.

The programme is sponsored by Veena Vidushi Chokkamma Memorial Trust. All are invited.

Profile: Vidu. M. K. Saraswathi was initiated into music at a young age by her mother Kamalamma. Later, she received advanced training from Dr. Gowri Kuppuswamy and Veena Maestro M. J. Srinivasa Iyengar. She is thus an embodiment of the legendary GNB and Saint Thyagaraja parampara. Saraswathi is a top grade artiste of AIR and Doordarshan.

Saraswathi is a Veena player par excellence. When she plays this vedic instrument, it appears as if it sings ! Dignity, simplicity and profundity set to creative melody are the key ingredients of her style. Several major music organisations and doyens of music have showered her with accolades and honour. Some of the titles she has been awarded are Veena Gana Visharade, Gandharva Gana Vidhyadhari, Sangeetha Kala Tapasvi and Lalitha-kala Ratna. Her lifetime contribution to Music has been very well recognised and evident by titles like Karnataka Kalashree by Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy in 2006 and Ananya Puraskara in 2005 in addition to several other decorations by prestigious music sabhas in Karnataka.

She has performed at many prestigious music Sabhas all over India and has enthralled international audiences in Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia with much appreciations.

Her music recordings are in wide circulation, carrying the Mysore bani all over the globe, according to Dr. T. P. Krishnakantha, Joint Secretary, Ganabharathi.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 02nd, 2014

JSW Steel commissions Cold Rolling Mill in Karnataka

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

Company has invested Rs 4,500 cr to set up the 2.3 mn tonne per annum plant to manufacture high-end auto-grade steel, first time in India

JSW Steel  has taken one more step forward in its journey of diversification by commissioning the first phase of 2.3 million tonne per annum (MTPA) Cold Rolling Mill -2 at Toranagallu in Karnataka’s  Bellary district. The company has invested Rs 4,500 crore to set up the plant in technical collaboration with Japan’s JFE Steel.

The CRM-1 is already operational since 8 years and manufactures special steel for under body parts in passenger cars.

With this, the company aims to capture a sizeable portion of auto-grade steel market in India. Currently, Indian automobile  industry imports about 1 million tonnes of high-end steel with a strength level of 980 MPA (Megapascal) annually to manufacture premium passenger cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). The company plans to capture a sizeable portion of this market, which is estimated to grow at 0-15% in the coming years.

“We have invested a huge amount of money to set up this plant, which will help the automobile industry save precious foreign exchange and also reduce dependency on the imported steel. We will be able to supply the high-quality steel at shorter duration (4 weeks) compared to the present time period of 3 months to import. We can also offer the steel at 15% lesser cost compared to the imported material,” said Vinod Nowal, deputy managing director, JSW Steel Limited.

He said the company has entered into a dialogue with several automobile companies to test its new steel. They include Honda, Hyundai, Maruti, Toyota, Ford, Nissan and Volkswagen among others.

“The entire process of test and try our new steel will take at least 8 months for the automakers and once they place the order, we will start the supplies. Until then, we will manufacture the product for general engineering industries,” he told reporters, here today.

Nowal said the new CRM-2 complex, with a production capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per annum has capability to produce high strength and advanced high strength steel, both in uncoated and coated (galvanized and galvannealed GI and GA) categories and wider width up to 1,870 mm. It also includes a Continuous Annealing Line, which is the first to start operations in India, he said.

JFE Steel of Japan has a 15% stake in JSW Steel and has provided technical assistance to develop various grades of auto steel, including steel for external panels for automobiles, to meet the high demand from both domestic and international arena, he said. The phase-2 of the CRM-2 plant consisting of 0.95 MTPA Continuous Annealing Line (CAL-2) is targetted to be commissioned during the first half of FY16.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by Mahesh Kulkarni / Toranagallu (Bellary District) / April 23rd, 2014

University of Agricultural Sciences to tie up with Australian centre for crop development

Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hubli :

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, has sent a proposal to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Canberra, Australia, seeking collaboration in natural resources management, crop improvement and agriculture business development.

The proposal was submitted to Dr Ejaz Qureshi, the research programme manager of the Agricultural Development Programme for South Asia and the Pacific (ACIAR). The varsity is in the process of signing an MoU with the government of Monitoba.

If it happens then the varsity can have the expertise in food technology to provide exposure in the food processing technology. It is also decided to create experiential learning opportunities for students, establishing pilot plants for food technology centre and academic exchange programme for scientists.

The initiation was taken up during the visit of Dr Robin Young, project coordinator of Food Development Centre, Government of Monitoba, Canada in the month of February, 2014, said Dr Rajendra Potdar, Head, Project Planning & Monitoring Cell, UAS.: The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, has sent a proposal to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Canberra, Australia, seeking collaboration in natural resources management, crop improvement and agriculture business development.

The proposal was submitted to Dr Ejaz Qureshi, the research programme manager of the Agricultural Development Programme for South Asia and the Pacific (ACIAR). The varsity is in the process of signing an MoU with the government of Monitoba.

If it happens then the varsity can have the expertise in food technology to provide exposure in the food processing technology. It is also decided to create experiential learning opportunities for students, establishing pilot plants for food technology centre and academic exchange programme for scientists.

The initiation was taken up during the visit of Dr Robin Young, project co-ordinator of Food Development Centre, Government of Monitoba, Canada in the month of February, 2014, said Dr Rajendra Potdar, Head, Project Planning & Monitoring Cell, UAS.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli / by Srinivas Reddy, TNN / April 23rd, 2014

Chief Commissioner of Income Tax feted

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

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Mysore:

Dr. K. Satyanarayana, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Cadre Controlling Authority), Bangalore-1, who is retiring today, was felicitated by the Officers and Staff of Income Tax, Mysore, recently.

Under Dr. Satyanarayana, Karnataka and Goa region of Income Tax performed exceedingly well and surpassed the targets fixed for collection of taxes besides receiving praises from the Union Finance Minister.

Dr. Satyanarayana is also a well-known Kannada writer having many publications to his credit and recipient of several prestigious awards including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Masti Venkatesh Iyengar Award. The University of Bangalore, considering his achievements recently conferred Hon. Doctorate on him.

S.K. Sahai, Chief Commissioner of IT, Bangalore-II, Nutan Wadiyar, Chief Commissioner of IT, Bangalore- III, M. Tirumala Kumar, Commissioner of IT, Mysore and G.R. Reddy, Commissioner of IT (Appeals), Mysore, were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General New / April 30th, 2014

Prof. Indira felicitated on retirement

Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

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Mysore :

“The Post Graduate Department in Sociology at Manasagangotri has a long history extending over 6 decades and it is left to the students and the teaching faculty to carry forward the legacy of the department,” opined Prof. R. Indira, who is retiring from service today.

She was speaking at the function organised by the Sociology Department to felicitate her on attaining superannuation, at the department premises in Mansagangotri yesterday.

Citing the example of Dr. T. Scarlett Epstein, a women social anthropologist from England who had conducted studies in Mandya District in the 1950’s on ‘Rural Transformation in South India,’ Prof. Indira called upon the sociology students to read Scarlett’s works such as ‘Economic development and social change in South India,’ ‘Capitalism, Primitive and Modern’ and ‘Village Voices.’

Scarlett Epstein, popularly known as Mangala Kempamma, left an indelible footprint on Mangala and its surrounding village in Mandya, Prof. Indira said and added that Epstein’s books have been included in the curriculum of many Indian Universities.

Recalling her association with the University in various capacities which extended over four decades, Prof. Indira said she was delighted with the warmth in the University campus.

She also expressed thanks to everyone for extending their co-operation during her long association with the University.

Associate Professor Dr. S. Yashoda, Sociology Department students and others were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General New / April 30th, 2014

Mangalore Darshana to hit book shelves in a year

About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mangalore :

An initiative by the Mangalore City Corporation and Mangalore Urban Development Authority will see people of this coastal city flip through pages an encyclopaedia of sorts on the city. The book planned in two volumes intends to provide insight into historical, cultural, social life and growth of Kudla and is expected to be ready in a year. The project is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh, according to deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim.

Titled Mangalore Darshana volume 1 and 2, the book, Ibrahim, who is also the chairman of Muda, said will chronicle the past and growth of the city limited to the present boundaries of the Corporation. Plans are afoot to print 1,000 copies each of the two volumes, with each volume containing 752 pages. A reader can go through 65 articles with each article running in to 10 pages. Scholar B A Viveka Rai will be the chief editor of the book.

Rai, also former vice-chancellors of Karnataka State Open University, Mysore and Kannada University, Hampi, said Mangalore Darshana volumes will record development based on evidence as well as oral narrative from memory relating personal experiences. The socio-economic, cultural, trade, commerce, education, lifestyle and other aspects of people in the coastal city from pre-history to 21st Century will go on record in this official effort.

Old photographs including those from archives of Bassel Mission will go into embellishing the visual appeal of this book. While oral narratives of leading citizens such as VIPs may not form part of the book, Rai said, experiences of aam aadmi including an old time bus conductor, fish or vegetable sellers, a farm worker or those involved in such routine and sundry chores will form part of this effort at chronicling the city’s history.

Trivia such as Karnataka’s first printing press being set up in this city and the first Kannada newspaper too getting published here will add value. Mangalore Darshana will focus on aspects such as city administration, sports, industry, and politics. Vamana Nandavara, former president, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Muddu Moodubelle, writer will be assistant editors and a 14-member honorary advisory committee will assist them.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangalore / TNN / April 24th, 2014

Mangalore: City witnesses first ever literary conference on environment

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

Mangalore :

With an aim to create awareness on the necessity to protect the environment, a maiden ‘Parisara Sahitya Sammelana’ (literary conference on environment) was held on Thursday April 24 in a makeshift setup that resembled a forest near Shediguri at Ashok Nagar here.

The conference was organized by National Environment Protection Union with an aim to garner support to work towards the protection of environment.

The conference expressed stiff opposition to the proposed Yettinahole project, displaying leaflets sent through posts to the organizers by many school children across the district. The display was inaugurated by artist Dinesh Holla in a unique way by painting and writing a poem.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the environment conference, environment journalist Nagesh Hegde expressed his discontent over human greed that has been turning out as a tragic curse to mother earth. “Human ever since his advent on the earth has indulged in destroying the environment around him for his own benefits, neglecting the importance of the earth,” he said.

Adding a touch of imagination to the scientific definition of the evolution of the earth, he said, “Imagine that the earth is now 46 years old, which means the earth was born 46 years back. When the earth was one year old 45 years ago, it started to cool itself to make the conditions suitable for living. The process went on till it reached 40 years. At the age of 42, rain lashed the earth further cooling the heat and enabling the earth to support life on its surface. As a result, at 43, the first flower blossomed beautifying the mother. At the age of 45, dinosaurs made their way to earth and vanished in a year.

“Currently the earth is aged 46. Nine months back mammals came into existence, one week back apes started to roam around the earth and 4 hours back humans started walking on the earth. An hour back, the human started to till the arable land learning agriculture. A minute back he studied to drill the land for petrol and coal ransacking the earth, leaving its womb damaged. His greed minute by minute is growing on a distructive mode further drying up the ground water,” he said.

“The population of the world has reached 750 crore milling on the earth, with man encroaching the maximum land, doubling his vicious aspirations and killing nature. At least now we have to understand the importance of protection of nature for a sustainable living,” said, appreciating the initiative of the organizers to spread awareness on the necessity of preserving the environment.

Prior to the formal programme, book stalls and herbal products stalls were inaugurated by the guests.

On the occasion litterateur Dr Na D’Souza, bureau chief of Prajavani Balakrishna Puttige, president of Ramakrishna Math Sri Jitakamananda Swamiji, environment columnist Dr Narendra Rai Derla, professor of Milagres College A A Richard Rebello and others were present.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network (SHS) / Mangalore – April 24th, 2014

Bangalore teen wins Brain Bee, to compete in international finale

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinion

Bangalore :

Gayathri Muthukumar (17) stood in front of five doctors who were enacting a disease each. She looked at them carefully, listened to their complaints and diagnosed their conditions – Parkinsons, Spinocerebellar ataxia, Huntington’s disease (HD), major depression and amnesia. The Bangalore girl emerged the winner at the 7th Indian National Brain Bee (INBB) finale held on Sunday at SevenHills Hospital in Mumbai.

Brain Bee is a quiz competition on neurosciences for students who have exceptional credentials in Biology and are keen on pursuing careers in healthcare. Apart from testing students’ knowledge on the human brain, the competition engages them in learning about neuroscience. Students have to answer a quiz, write a test and identify specimens shown to them. The doctor-patient stimulation, where doctors enact a disease and the student has to make a diagnosis, makes for the most interesting bit. Participants are handed out preparation material before the quiz.

Gayathri, a Class 11 student at National Public School, Indiranagar, is eager to take up a career in Biology. “I have a strong foundation in Science. I visited a few museums during my childhood, which kindled my curiosity in the subject. Since then, there has been no looking back,” beamed the teenager. The daughter of an engineer and a homemaker, Gayathri had been preparing for the quiz for a month. “The practical sessions were very interesting. They actually tested our application skills,” she said.

A learner of Carnatic music and Bharatnatyam, Gayathri says she takes out time for all the activities she loves. Gayathri will participate in the 16th International Brain Bee finals, scheduled from August 7 to 10, 2014, along with the 122nd American Psychology Association Convention, in Washington DC.

Dr Harleen Luther, senior consultant, brain, spine and peripheral nerve surgery, dept. of neurosurgery, SevenHills Hospital, said, “The purpose of INBB is to motivate young students to learn about the brain and inspire them to opt for careers in basic and clinical neurosciences. Witnessing this talent at such a young age in India is a satisfying experience.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / April 24th, 2014

Shine Spa for Sheraton named Best Luxury Hotel Spa at World Luxury Spa Awards

Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Shine Spa for Sheraton at the Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway has been awarded with the Best Luxury Hotel Spa award in India at the recently concluded World Luxury Spa Awards. The World Luxury Spa Awards is an annual search for the best spas across the globe based on votes by their guests. This annual voting process pans over thousands of spa guests from 144 countries, who are given the opportunity to vote online. Apart from Shine Spa for Sheraton, other competing spas in 2014 included small sized privately owned spas to globally renowned spa groups.

“We are incredibly excited to receive this recognition,” said Saurabh Bakshi, General Manager, Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway. “This award is truly the icing on the cake to an incredible year. The very heart of the hotel and all its success to date is our staff; an extraordinary team in every way, consistently placing the guest experience above everything else,” he added.

source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com / TravelBizMonitor.com / Home / by TBM Staff – Mumbai / Thursday, April 24th, 2014

Vasisht , Prajwal Dev duo triumphs

Sports

ITF Junior Tennis

City’s Vasisht (left) and Prajwal Dev who emerged winners in the Junior Boys Doubles event in the ITF Juniors Tennis Tournament held at Indore recently, are seen with the trophy.
City’s Vasisht (left) and Prajwal Dev who emerged winners in the Junior Boys Doubles event in the ITF Juniors Tennis Tournament held at Indore recently, are seen with the trophy.

 Mysore :

City’s tennis players C. Vasisht and S.D. Prajwal Dev, on Friday, won Junior Boys Doubles title at the ITF Junior Tennis Tourney held at Indore from Apr. 21 to 26.

In the final, fourth seeded Vasisht and Prajwal Dev combined well to score a upset win over topseeds Kennosuke Nouchi of Japan and Deepak Vishvakarma of India 7-6 (5), 6-1.

In the semi-finals, the two players played well to register a 6-3, 1-6 (10-4) win over Aryan Goves & P.V. Gnana Bhaskar of India.

In the quarter-finals, the duo had beat Shrey Gupta and Yash Yadav 6-1, 4-6 (10-4) and in the pre-quarters they had beat Sai Nikhil and R. Mayukh 6-3, 6-2.’

In the Junior Boys Singles, Vasisht lost to Shrey Gupta of India in the pre-quarterfinals 6-7 (3), 7-5, 2-6.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>  Sports News / April 29th, 2014