Students of History Department at Government College and employees of Government Museum, Kalaburagi, and others took part in a function to celebrate International Museum Day, here on Friday.
“Museums collect, preserve, archive and display elements of our past and have a story to tell. The collection displayed at the museums could do with more attention,” observed Manjula Chincholli, Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in History, Gulbarga University.
Emphasising the need to involve students in museum and archaeology studies, Dr. Chincholli added that visiting museums should be a part of the curriculum for history students. The task to draw in more people is not managed by increasing the number of objects or artifacts, but by a regular communication between people and scholars and the museum, she added.
Sarvodaya Shivaputra, head of History Department, Government College Kalaburagi, said that museums must promote exhibitions that are topical and challenging.
“They must broaden their scope and not restrict themselves solely to objects and materials in their collections. Museums must show leadership in the promotion of the heritage of the nation.”
Later, S.S. Wani, convener for INTACH, took the students around the museum and explained the significance of the artefacts.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Kalaburagi – May 19th, 2018
Raahul Khadaliya, 36, founder, Studio ABCD, started the dialogue around reusing waste in 2011. That was when sustainability had yet not become a buzzword. “Clients didn’t want to pay extra for sustainable practices,” says Khadaliya, a NIFT Bengaluru graduate, whose design firm helped businesses with branding and visual communication with a focus on sustainability.
With an idea to launch a project that was sustainable from a social, innovation and environmental impact, Khadaliya, started The Second Life Project in 2012 that was upcycling newspapers using traditional block printing technique to turn discarded paper into gift wrapping paper.
“Block printers are losing their livelihood to machine printed products. The idea was to think of an alternative livelihood for these craftsmen. It had three purposes — waste management, sustainable livelihoods and to raise consumer awareness on reusing waste,” he adds.
Over time, Khadaliya realised that a large amount of paper was also wasted in printing presses. “There is 5-8% of wastage when brochures and other such things are printed. On a large scale that amounts to a lot. These end up in landfills or waste because there’s no place to store them,” he says.
It was then that the idea of weaving handloom from waste paper began to take shape. After eight months of research, Khadaliya built a paper weave loom, a redesigned version of the handloom. Made from waste wood, it can weave flat substances into raw material to be used further. “While our current focus is on paper, in future, we have identified waste materials like rubber tube strips and flex banners, which are a great nuisance, to be turned into woven handloom. The loom works completely on renewable human energy and the entire process is green,” he adds.
While making garment is not possible from this woven handloom, it can be used for panelling in interiors, making removable partitions, linings, wall art, gift wrapping. “We are currently looking at funds to scale this up. In future, we will collaborate with nonprofits to increase production. The final aim is to build a cooperative like the Lijjat Papad and provide meaningful and sustainable livelihoods to artisans and people,” Khadaliya says
According to Sunitha Jayaram, product lead, Saahas Zero Waste, a socio-environmental enterprise that believes in a circular economy, an innovation like this can help raise awareness about not only waste produced by different industries but also how to put that to good use. “Using the waste of one industry as a raw material for another is what circular economy is. Once people see products that come out of waste, it can also help behavioural change towards reduce, reuse and recycle,” Jayaram adds.
source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / ET Home> Magazine> Panache / by Ipsita Basu, ET Bureau / May 24th, 2018
Actress Priyanka Upendra talks about what she loves and hates about this city
I moved to Bengaluru after my marriage in 2003 and have been living in Banashankari ever since. We never moved from here. The one thing I remember about Bengaluru is that it was very green when I first came here and there was hardly any traffic. It was a lot easier to get around and the weather was cooler. Sadly, over the years, the city has changed so much. Traffic has increased, trees have been cut down in the name of development and the population has increased drastically. I see an influx of people in every part of this city. There are people everywhere and I find the city is getting crowded everyday. No matter where you go, you will see people and more people everywhere – be it at parks, lakes or restaurants.
Our residential area had so many empty sites when I first moved there. Now all I see is huge commercial complexes. Those days we could hear birds chirp in our garden and our home was also visited by monkeys. Now all we see is concrete buildings and hear traffic snarls. The main road in front of my home is now going to house the metro. So, more trees are being cut down to make the new flyover. It is good to have the metro as it connects places and cuts down on traffic. What’s heart breaking is the number of trees that have been cut down to accomplish this project.
There are also many ups in namma Bengaluru. One is the numerous Bengali associations that have come up. When I moved here, there were hardly any Bengali associations or Durga pujas. Now you are treated to so many Durga pujas happening in and around our city. We also have so many options of the festive food. Initially, I would travel all the way to the Ulsoor Bengali Association. Now I go to the one on Bannerghatta Road as it is closer home. I have always loved Bengaluru and the various festivals that are celebrated here.
I love the food we get here. The typical uppittu, the Bengaluru breakfast places like MTR, Kamat and Halli Thindi. I specially love the Davangere benne dose. I love the people of this city. I find it to be a nice cosmopolitan crowd, which is calm and friendly.
We have people living in harmony – be it a software engineer from outside, the typical Bengalurean or the expat – they all blend in well, each with his/her own culture and lifestyle.
The city has many options when it comes to entertainment. You can take off to Koramangala, Sadashivanagar or Basavanagudi, and you sure will find something unique to that particular area when it comes to food, culture and people. If you go to Whitefield you will get that ex-pat experience, at Gandhinagar, you get the old Bengaluru charm, and so on.
The only thing that bugs me about this city is the traffic situation. I hope it improves and that we plant more trees so that we can enjoy the city as it was. I wish we could take off on long walks amidst the lush greenery that this city was once known for.
(As told to Shilpa Sebastian R)
This column features the city through the eyes of a prominent Bengalurean
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by Shilpa Sebastian R / May 24th, 2018
SLICE OF HISTORY: The inscription bears the name of king Veera Ballala
Bengaluru :
A team of heritage enthusiasts has stumbled upon a 13th-century stone inscription in JP Nagar’s Sarakki in south Bengaluru. Strangely, a major portion of the relic is buried in the foundation of Anjaneya temple and talks are on with the temple trust to recover the same.
Rajeeva Nrupathunga, founder of Revival Heritage Hub (RHH), an NGO, said the inscription bears the name Veera Ballala, who was a king of the Hosyala empire. “The Hosyala dynasty ruled the present Karnataka region between the 10th and 14th centuries. A large portion of the stone, which measures 8×8 ft, is buried in the foundation. Going by the dimensions, it could be the second-biggest stone inscription for the city after the Hero Stone Inscription in Begur, which dates back to 900AD,” he added.
“After speaking to the temple trustee, we learnt that the stone inscription might have shifted to the foundation area during the temple’s renovation about 60 years ago or another makeover the temple went through 15 years ago. The temple has ahistory of over 350 years,” said Prashanth B, a heritage buff.
RHH is in talks with temple authorities to restore the stone inscription so that it can be studied. “There was more than one king by the name Veera Ballala under the Hoysalas. Only after analysing the entire inscription can we say which one it mentions,” said an RHH member.
According to historians, Bengaluru was home to over 175 recorded stone inscriptions in the early 21st century, with some dating back to the 5th century. But 70% of them have either been lost or are in bad shape due to negligence.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Bangalore News / by Rohith BR / TNN/ May 29th, 2018
The management keeps track of the number of customers each day through a dose lekka . | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy
Vidyarthi Bhavan in Basavanagudi has stood the test of time
What started as a modest eatery for students has, over the years, become a landmark of sorts. Vidyarthi Bhavan in Basavanagudi has come a long way since it was established in 1943. This year, as it turns 75, the restaurant has managed to stand the test of time, the changing palates of Bengalureans, and the onslaught of newcomers in the food and beverages space offering everything from Mediterranean to Vietnamese cuisine, with its staple six offerings.
To this day, the benne masala dose is the top seller. In fact, the management keeps track of the number of customers each day through a dose lekka. The number is around 1,250 on a weekday, and up to 2,200 per day on a weekend. The other items are poori-saagu, khara bath and kesari bath, idli-sambar, uppittu and rave vade.
The menu has more or less remained the same over the years. One item that disappeared, said Arun Adiga, managing partner, Vidyarthi Bhavan, was the gulab jamun (not in the regular round shape) after the chef who made it from scratch passed away in the 1980s.
The benne masala dose remains the top seller. | Photo Credit: KARAN ANANTH
Changes over the years
The timings have been extended only slightly, closing at 8 p.m. now instead of 7.30 p.m., on popular demand. There are no plans to extend this further though, as the restaurant does not offer meals. The management pointed out that it will have implications on the shift timings of the 28 employees.
The rates, though, have seen a huge change: from ₹1 in the 1980s to ₹46 for a dosa now. This, Mr. Adiga said, was proportional to other overheads.
Their customer base has expanded. “Bengaluru has changed. In the 1940s, when Vidyarthi Bhavan was started, people were conservative about eating out. People who came here were students and people who came to Bengaluru. Now, it is the other way round. People barely cook at home and eating out is the norm. People will search for new restaurants. But, unless you maintain quality, there will not be repeat customers,” he said.
he timings have been changed only slightly. | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy
Flip side of popularity
From being an adda of intellectuals, writers and famous personalities, including the likes of Rajnikanth — who apparently comes in disguise, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, D.V. Gundappa, C. Ashwath and Nissar Ahmed, to becoming one of the must-go destinations for anyone who lives in or is exploring Bengaluru, publicity through media, particularly social media, has expanded its popularity beyond its regular circles and south Bengaluru. But, there is a flip side.
Mr. Adiga said some customers come in with high expectations, and end up disappointed with the way things are, be it the building (the management has brought in some changes, yet kept it like its old self), the fact that they may have to share a table with strangers, or if they are not blown away by the taste of the food.
“Some people ask for the menu. They are disappointed when we tell them that we have only six items to offer. In other cases, even before they have paid the bill, they have reviewed the food on social media and branded it good or bad. But we can’t satisfy everyone, though we try to satisfy at least 90% of the customers,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / May 29th, 2018
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paying tributes to Siddu Nyamagouda, veteran Congress leader, at Jamkhandi in Bagalkot district on Tuesday.
The last rites of Siddu Nyamagouda, Jamkhandi MLA, were performed with full State honours at his native town of Jamkhandi on Tuesday.
The Congress veteran died in a road accidentin Bagalkot taluk on Monday.
His body was first kept at Polo Grounds in town for the people to pay their last respects. Later, the body was taken in a procession to Jamkhandi sugar factory premises — of which he was the chairman — where he was buried.
Thousands of people, mainly farmers, participated in the procession and paid tribute to the leader.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G. Parameshwara, elected representatives of various parties of Bagalkot district, and several seers were present on the occasion.
In his condolence message, Mr. Siddaramaiah remembered Nyamagouda as ‘Barrage Siddu’ a moniker he got when he took the onus of constructing a barrage at Chikkapadasalagi village for the farmers, with public money and support.
In his address, Dr. Parameshwara said the party has lost a true public leader and down-to-earth man.
Chikkapadasalagi barrage
Karnataka Pradesh Campaign Committee chairman D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday urged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to name Chikkapadasalagi barrage after Congress legislator Siddu Nyamagouda. In a letter, he said Siddu Nyamegouda was instrumental in building the barrage across the Krishna through shramdhan and donations received from farmers. Naming the barrage after him and installing his statue would be a befitting honour, he added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bagalkot – May 29th, 2018
In an unique initiative, Yenepoya (deemed to be university), has undertaken a comprehensive study of the mushrooms present on the Derlakatte campus.
The study, which was conducted over a period of six months, has yielded rich information on the macrofungal resources of the campus. About 60 species of mushrooms have been observed on the campus, out of which about 40 have been described in the book. Out of the 40 species published, 12 species are edible, 12 species are medicinal, two species ectomycorrhizal and one species is parasitic. Two species which are rare and known to be poisonous are also recorded.
The information was documented in a ready reference book titled ,‘Macrofungal resources of Yenepoya University’. Yenepoya chancellor Abdullah Kunhi released the book at a ceremony held on the campus on Tuesday, in the presence of vice-chancellor M Vijayakumar and registrar G Shreekumar Menon. The book is dedicated to M Abdul Rahiman, former vice-chancellor, Kannur and Calicut Universities.
Yenepoya is the first educational institution in the region to initiate such a study of mushrooms on the campus. Though mushrooms play a unique role in the ecosystem, importance is always given to only flora and fauna, said sources. Yenepoya has initiated other similar studies to document the flora and fauna of the campus too.
The study of macrofungal life on the campus was undertaken by a research team led by K R Sridhar, Dr N C Karun and Dr Bhagya B Sharma from June-November 2016.
Yenepoya has striven to make its 32 acre campus into an eco-friendly zone. The institution has undertaken various measures for greening the campus with different landscapes like lawns, arboretum, bamboo thickets, medicinal plant garden, areca plantation and acacia grove. The campus includes a large rainwater harvesting pond, roof water harvesting facilities, waste water treatment and recycling plant, vermicompost unit and solar power generation facility. The university carries out a regular environmental audit of the campus and has an eco club for students. It is hoped that these activities will inculcate a love for nature among the students who study here, and inspire them to act as brand ambassadors for nature conservation in their future life.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mangalore News / by Kevin Mendonsa / TNN / May 23rd, 2018
Department of Medical Genetics at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal collaborated with Institute of Medical Biology, A*STAR, Singapore and Istanbul University, Turkey to discover a new gene as a cause of human limb abnormalities or tetra amelia syndrome.
The Manipal team led by Dr Girish Katta, comprising Dr Anju Shukla and Dr Shalini S Nayak, along with the international teams found that mutations in RSPO2 gene as the cause of the condition.
“These doctors offer postnatal evaluation of fetuses as a routine clinical service. They came across a consanguineous family (parents who are close relatives) with three consecutive pregnancies affected by complete or partial absence of all four limbs along with agenesis of lungs and cleft lip and palate,” said Dr Pragna Rao, dean, KMC, Manipal while giving the details of the discovery. “The international collaboration then brought together more affected families and discovered the mechanism of disease”, she added.
Eleven affected individuals from five families from the different parts of the world were noted to have either complete absence or deficiency of upper and lower limbs along with small or absent lungs and cleft lip and cleft palate. The work has been now published in a highly reputed journal ‘Nature’ published by Nature Publishing Group.
Girish said, “The study not only identified the cause of human limb abnormalities or tetra amelia syndrome but also explains the mechanism of how exactly the defect in RSPO2 (R-spondin 2) gene leads to deficiencies in limb and lung growth by conducting several experiments on HEK293T and HEK293T-STF cell lines and animal models such as mouse and frog.” Girish added that the department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India partially funded the work.
Dr H Vinod Bhat, vice chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education appreciated the hard work done in identifying the genetic causes of human diseases. He added that a new neurodevelopmental disorder ‘Multiple mitochondrial dysfunction syndrome’ and a bone disease ‘Short rib thoracic dysplasia type 16’ were also identified by this team and these are already catalogued in Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). “MAHE is working towards becoming one of the best research centers globally,” Bhat said.
Dr Poornima Baliga, pro vice chancellor, (Health Sciences) and N Udupa, professor and Research Director (Health Sciences) congratulated the team for the discovery.
source: http://www.timeofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mysore News / by Kevin Mendonsa / TNN / May 17th, 2018
Farmer couple Shankar and Roopa have cultivated 13 different varieties of Ladies Finer at their land in Periyapatna taluk
Mysuru:
Organic farming is no longer just a buzzword that inspires those living in cities to leave their highly lucrative and conventional, ‘Nine to five’ jobs and return to the roots, and till the soil to reap the dividends of their labour. Tucked away in a small village in Periyapatna taluk, a farmer couple has successfully managed to cultivate 15 different varieties of ladies using organic means.
With the help of the city-based NGO Sahaja Samrudha, farmer couple Shankar and Roopa have managed to harvest a rich yield of ladies finger crop – all 15 varieties are of Indian origin – on their half acre plot in Hittnehebbagilu village in Periyapatna taluk. The NGO had organised Field Day on May 17 to encourage farmers to grow indigenous varieties of vegetables.
The seeds of the many varieties of ladies finger and other vegetables have been collected by Sahaja Seeds, an organisation that has gathered them at crop and agriculture fairs held across the country. It was from Sahaja Seeds that Shankar and Roopa managed to get the seeds for their plot.
Star okra from Odisha, red bhindi from Puducherry, Sri bhindi from Sri Lanka, besides breeds local to Karnataka are among those that have been cultivated by Shankar and Roopa, in what was an experiment to see if different breeds of ladies finger could be grown under the same climactic conditions.
The farmer couple planted 30 seeds of each variety in single beds, and have managed to reap a rich yield, with each plant bearing at least 25 ladies finger, much to their delight.
“I have not used chemical fertilisers or pesticides in my plot. I used a type of organic pesticide called Jeevamrutha, which has earthworm compost as one of its ingredients. Compared to growing other vegetables, cultivating these Indian varieties of ladies finger did not require as much money. The seeds will be processed further,” Shankar told TOI.
Asha of Sahaja Seeds, said that on Field Day, farmers were shown a wide assortment of seeds of ladies finger. “Farmers, who had years of experience, selected those varieties that promised a good yield. Women from the village, meanwhile, prepared dishes using the ladies finger, and we held tasting sessions throughout the day. Farmers have already chosen what varieties they want to cultivate,” she told TOI.
Assistant professor at the College of Horticulture JS Aravind Kumar said, “Organic breeds are rich in nutritional value, when compared to other vegetables. In the coming days, through participatory varietal selection, more farmers in Periyapatna will be able to grow different breeds of vegetables. Lately, there is a lot of buzz around organic food and health consciousness, and demand for ‘Desi’ ladies finger will be high on the market.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mysore News / May 24th, 2018
The wall was built to save the then settlement from floods
Bengaluru :
A team of archaeologists recently discovered a 10-ft thick and100-ft deep masonry wall in Mysuru district, which dates back to the 5th century.
The wall, excavated in Talakadu, a desert-like town on the left bank of Cauvery river and located about 45km from Mysuru, was built to save the then settlement from floods, according to experts.
Archaeologist MS Krishna Murthy, who spearheaded the excavation work, said some portions of the wall still stand strong indicating the level of expertise of ancient engineers. “We have excavated the wall up to a length of 15ft. But evidence from the site shows the wall was once 1-km long. It is the largest masonry wall in South India. Historical and archaeological analysis shows it stood strong for at least 1,000 years from the 5th to 15th century,” he said
Murthy, who has conducted extensive excavation work in Talakadu since 1992, made this revelation as spoke on ‘New archaeological discoveries at Talakadu, Karnataka’, at an event organised by the southern regional centre of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR).
The expert said the outer side of the wall bears signs of corrosion, which can be attributed to the continuous presence of river water. “The wall is even more significant as it is mostly built of bricks, clay and mortar as stones were not available in large quantities in the region. It has three layers and an interesting design, which indicates how skilled the people were during that era.It may have been built during the regime of Kiriya Madhava, a ruler from the Ganga dynasty,” he added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mysore New / TNN / My 23rd, 2018
