Sound of music binds this Mangalurean Abreo family

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's

Mangaluru :

Like sound of music filled the von Trapp house, the Abreos’ home in Texas Houston, US, is filled with the sweet notes of violin. For, this family has seven child violinists and another two are in the making! This probably makes them the only family in the world to have so many fiddlers under one roof.

Dr Gerard Abreo, hailing from Kulshekar here married to Nicole has settled in the US. They have nine children – Michael Joseph, 16, Daniel Francis, 15, Christine Marie, 13, Maria Therese, 11, Jane Elizabeth, 9, Rachel Ann, 7, John Paul, 5, Luke Walter, 3 and the one year old Joseph. Of them while seven play the violin, John Paul has started practicing to join the group. “Luke will also join soon,” says the proud Dr Abreo, a well-known cardiologist. Nicole is an accomplished violinist with a degree to boot.

Why violin? “Violin is a difficult instrument to master. It requires immense concentration, perseverance, endurance and discipline. I believe this helped children do well in studies and it has spilled into their education and moral fibre,” says Dr Abreo adding soon the last one will also hold the fiddle. “They may have been forced to learn violin when they were young. But they play with joy now,” said Dr Abreo to TOI.

He admits the children have a lot of talent, which is backed by lot of hard work. The truth is that both paternal and maternal side has plenty of musical notes in them. Dr Gerard was the part of the Abreo Quartet David, Patsy, Gerald and Peter in the early 70’s at Bengaluru. They performed at various clubs, including the Catholic club, till the quartet broke in 1985 when brothers went to pursue their careers. Dr Abreo had organized a band when studying medicine at St John’s in Bengaluru and his band became the first college band to play at the St John’s Ball in 1990.

To help matters, his wife Nicole, a bachelor in Music from University of Toronto, assists the children in keeping in tune. Daniel says: Since everybody plays, it caught on. We practise every day for an hour at home. Once a week we get tutored. It’s fun.

Nicole, a home maker, says: Gerard helps a lot at home, hence things are easy and manageable even with nine kids around.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangaluru / by Stanley Pinto, TNN / June 25th, 2015

Beyond the hurdles

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

MeghnaBF25jun2015

It’s not everyday that a student from Bengaluru wins laurels in sports on an international level. Meet Meghna Shetty, a final-year B.Com student of St Joseph’s College of Commerce, who recently took part in the Asian Junior Athletic Championship and emerged triumphant.

The athlete came second in the 100 metres hurdle competition of the event that was held in Taipei, Taiwan and terms the experience as an amazing one. “It was my first international competition and I saw so many athletes and learnt a number of different exercises from them,” she recalls.

Meghna started training at the age of ten. “I always loved sports and entered the field thanks to my mother. At first, I was not that serious about athletics and would just train in the mornings. But later, I thought I should start competing and now, I have been hurdling for ten years,” she adds.

Ask her about her daily routine and she says, “I start my day at 5.45 am and train till 7.30 am. Then after college, I train once again between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.”

Is it hard to balance it with her academics? She answers, “I have been managing it with my studies for ten years now. So the practice actually helps me focus better. I know that the little time that I have in the evenings is all that I have to study properly.” However, during exams, it does get challenging. “I am not off from training at that time and sometimes, even I am injured or exhausted from training, I can’t take a break,” she notes.

Meghna feels that there are plenty of talented sportspeople in the country, yet India is unable to make a mark worldwide in sports due to less exposure.

“Just like how the cricket team is sent for different tournaments abroad and appreciated when it wins, all sportspersons should be sent for more international competitions and given a chance to showcase their talent abroad,” she explains.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Deepa Natarajan Lobo / DHNS – June 11th, 2015

This ice cream cart is now running online

Business & Economy
Corner House has partnered with food ordering start-up Swiggy to take orders online.— File Photo
Corner House has partnered with food ordering start-up Swiggy to take orders online.— File Photo

Bengaluru-based Swiggy promises to deliver food in about 35 minutes.

Corner House, a popular Bengaluru-based ice cream parlour, has partnered with food ordering start-up Swiggy to go online. Consumers can now use a mobile app to order ice creams of their choice delivered from different outlets across the city.

To celebrate the partnership, Corner House said it has introduced a special sundae, a sweet ice cream dessert, available exclusively through Swiggy.

This includes chocolate brownie base topped with butterscotch ice cream, caramel sauce and an optional sprinkle of nuts.

“We are also excited with this new partnership with Swiggy which will bring Corner House right into people’s homes,” said Dhananjay Rao, who runs operations at the iconic parlour. His father Narayan Rao set up Corner House more than three decades ago. He initially started it as a bakery and a fast food place and then converted it into an ice cream parlour. “We also felt that the moment was right considering the increasing feedback that we have been getting from our customers to go online,” said Mr. Rao.

Bengaluru-based Swiggy, founded by BITS Pilani alumni Sriharsha Majety and Nandan Reddy and IIT Kharagpur graduate Rahul Jaimini, promises to deliver food in about 35 minutes.

Its delivery executives use smartphones and an algorithm-powered app to efficiently deliver food. Consumers can also discover popular restaurants and track their food orders in real time.

“I hope that this exclusive collaboration will bring in more customers to our platform,” said Mr. Majety.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – June 25th, 2015

Eight Police Constables receive Knights in Khaki shield

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

Policemen deserve better salary and housing facility: MP

Eight Police Constables of the District were presented the ‘Knights in Khaki’ Shield for their commendable service at a function held at Darbar Hall, Hotel Regaalis, in city last evening under the joint auspices of Mysore Round Table - 21 and Mysore Ladies Circle - 9. Seen in the picture are (standing from left) Mysore Round Table - 21 Chairman Tharun Giri, International Round Table Treasurer Harish Shenoy, MP Pratap Simha, Mysuru SP Abhinav Ashok Khare, City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, National Ladies Circle President Masuma Vagh and Mysore Ladies Circle - 9 Chairperson Preethi Agarwal Ranjan.
Eight Police Constables of the District were presented the ‘Knights in Khaki’ Shield for their commendable service at a function held at Darbar Hall, Hotel Regaalis, in city last evening under the joint auspices of Mysore Round Table – 21 and Mysore Ladies Circle – 9. Seen in the picture are (standing from left) Mysore Round Table – 21 Chairman Tharun Giri, International Round Table Treasurer Harish Shenoy, MP Pratap Simha, Mysuru SP Abhinav Ashok Khare, City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, National Ladies Circle President Masuma Vagh and Mysore Ladies Circle – 9 Chairperson Preethi Agarwal Ranjan.

Mysuru :

The 43rd annual ‘Knights in Khaki’ Police Shield, instituted by Mysore Round Table-21 and Mysore Ladies Circle-9, was presented to eight Police Constables of the District at a function held at Darbar Hall of Hotel Regaalis, in city last evening, for their exemplary service.

The recipients of the ‘Knights in Khaki’ Shield are M. J. Shankar (Mandi Police Station); H. V. Madhukesh (Nazarbad Police Station); M. Pushpa (City Crime Branch); K. C. Basavaraju (K. R. Traffic Police Station); Ravi (K. R. Nagar Police Station); T. H. Manchigaiah (Talakad Police Station); Umesh (Periyapatna Police Station) and M. J. Raghu (District Armed Reserve Police).

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest for the event, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, said that the society always criticises the Police Department but conveniently fails to appreciate them when they do a good job. He added saying that the Police do a very good job considering that they are heavily understaffed.

Pratap Simha pointed out that while many army-men are rightly hailed as martyrs as they succumb to the bullets of terrorists, we forget the numerous Police personnel who have died in the hands of naxalites and are never called martyrs. He then recalled the heroics of Constable Tukaram Kamble who helped in apprehending Kasab during the 26/11 attack on Taj Hotel in Mumbai.

Later, he said that Police need the society’s support to do their job well and can’t always be criticised by citing a corrupt few.

He also suggested that the salaries of Policemen be increased, their children be given free education and proper housing be provided to them close to their stations as their’s is a 24×7 job.

Simha lauds SP Khare

Pratap Simha praised SP Abhinav Khare for the way the officer handled the recent case involving the death of four-year-old boy in Periyapatna.

He also said that Mysore is lucky to have an officer like Dayananda as Police Commissioner and that he was an upright officer. Simha recalled how the officer had helped him when he had a death-threat a few years ago.

Our duty is to deliver justice: Police Commissioner

City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, who was the guest of honour, said that the Police Department is always at the forefront to maintain peace and harmony in the society, adding that the honour to the eight Police constables is a recognition given to the entire Police force in the district.

He said that social media had helped in recognising the services rendered by the men in khaki and it has given the Police a positive image in the minds of the public. He cited the example of Bengaluru Police constable Bhaskar, popularly known as ‘Singham’ Bhaskar, who has a fan following for his sincere service.

Speaking of pleasing the public, he said, “We can never make everyone happy, after all, there is always an accused and a complainant, and one of them is bound to be upset with us. It is not our job to make everyone happy, and our duty is to deliver justice.”

Absorbing negativity in society

SP Abhinav Ashok Khare, who was also the guest of honour, said that he was glad that his men had won awards and added that people do not realise that the Police not only stop the evil, but also absorb the negativity in society by taking most of the blame. He then added saying that the Police must not be judged by an inefficient few.

Round Table International Treasurer Harish Shenoy, National Ladies Circle President Masuma Vagh, Mysore Round Table-21 Chairman Tharun Giri, Mysore Ladies Circle – 9 Chairperson Preethi Agarwal Ranjan and families of the Police personnel were present at the event.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore/ Home> General News / Thursday – June 18th, 2015

Crochet still rocks

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Archana Acharya and her mum Viraja. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Archana Acharya and her mum Viraja. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Meet the mother-daughter duo who create and sell crocheted products

Gone are the days when most of the women you saw doing crochet or knitting were grandmas in their rocking chairs. Crocheting has now become an obsession with the younger generation too and chances are you would never find a crotchetier, who says she has enough yarn!

This is pretty much the tale of how Viraja and her daughter Archana Acharya took their passion to the next level and set up Knotty Nest, a haven for all things crocheted.

This mother-daughter venture is a hand-made lifestyle and accessories brand . Viraja started crocheting at the tender age of six and has perfected her craft over the years, while Archana is an IT professional. They bring in the element of modernity by creating products that appeal to the younger crowd and those that draw from themes best loved by them. They also take on customised orders for which you can log on to (www.facebook.com/ KnottyNest).

Vijara, who used to crochet “till Archana was born” says bringing up two children took up her time and she stopped this craft.

“In the meanwhile, I learned baking, stuffed-toy making, and fabric painting. So I never really stopped learning. However, it was only when my daughter moved to Bangalore for her higher studies that she motivated me to start my crochet and embroidery work again. She inspired me to create more products. I received support from my family and that helped me turn my passion into a lucrative business. That’s how Knotty Nest was started in May 2012. It has been the best thing my daughter has gifted me with.”

At Knotty Nest, one can order a wide range of lifestyle accessories. “Through our products, we illustrate various cartoon characters. We sell everything from hand-crafted magnets, key chains and bookmarks to hair clips, sling bags, brooches, baby dresses, and earrings. We also make home décor products like canning jar lids and coasters, among other items,” the entrepreneur informs.

The duo enjoy what they do. “It has been a great learning experience so far. We participate in flea markets held in the city and have a good customer base here and in Mangalore. On the flipside, we still need to build a strong and viable market for our products. One of the turning points for us has been that we are now online on Junglee and Indibazaar where we get to showcase our work,” beams Archana.

In the coming days, Viraja informs: “We will be working on creating new and unique products and expanding our product line. We are looking at tying up with retail brands and are also interested in teaching this art to the younger generation.”

This column features those who choose to veer off the beaten track.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Neeti Sarkar / June 23rd, 2015

Resurrecting Roerich

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Travel, World Opinion

The first phase of Roerich Estate restoration work has been completed. Bangalore Mirror has the first pics of the internationally renowned artist’s dwelling

A few metres away from the house are the huge tombstones place
A few metres away from the house are the huge tombstones place

Russian ambassador Alexander Kadakin’s primary concern when he landed in the city in January was the beautification of tombstones of Russian artist Svetoslav Roerich and actress wife Devika Rani. His visit to Tataguni Estate – the residence of the couple on Kanakapura Road – came at a time when the state government was restoring a part of the property.
And now the first phase of Roerich Estate restoration work that kicked off about a year ago has been completed. The tombstones are spruced up, the quaint cottage where the couple lived has been restored without disturbing the aesthetics, a five-acre rose garden has been laid and the property has come alive. The Phase I work has cost the government Rs 2 crore.

Abode of an artist
The stone building has been restored along with its old charm with the stone left exposed in its original state. Some repairs on the flooring, painting of the building, a fresh coat of polish on the red-oxide flooring, etc gave the house the traditional look.
A few metres away from the house are the huge tombstones placed. The couple’s names are written in Russian apart from English and Kannada.
The pathway leading up the tombstones is done up with granite, with steps. The walkway along the estate and into the wild has been cleaned up. The lake, that once was alive is dead now and the Lake Development Authority is taking up work on clearing out the natural vents to the water body from the adjacent catchment, that have been blocked.
“Due to rampant constructions in the adjacent areas and reckless earth filling up, water from the natural source has been blocked and the lake has dried up. LDA is now opening up the blocked channels and this monsoon, the lake should see some water,” says Manu Baligar, the chief executive officer of the Roerich and Devikarani Roerich Estate Board, which functions under the state government’s revenue department.
On the bund of this lake Roerich couple spent their evenings, Baligar said. The bench has not been altered, unlike the other fancier benches on the bund. The five acre land opposite the house has been turned into a beautiful rose garden.
The 468.33 acre estate is rich with fauna, has sandalwood trees and Bursera plantation from which the couple extracted linoloe aromatic oil. The sprawling plantation regularly has elephants and leopards as its uninvited guests. So much so, Kadrappa, one of the labourers is always armed with a sickle and escorts the guests into the wild with his weapon. Kadrappa, has been a loyal at the estate since 25 years and has seen Svetoslav and Devikarani in their last stages, before they shifted out of the estate and moved into a five-star hotel following ill health.

With a touch of Van Gogh

After a long drawn legal battle at the Supreme Court, against property encroachment, the state government set up the Board in 1996 to protect the heritage left behind by the renowned artist. While a lot of antique jewellery reportedly went missing from the house after the death of the couple, the government moved Roerich’s 241 paintings from his studio in the house to Venkatappa Art Gallery which is now under lock and key. “In the second phase of work, there is a project to set up a world-class art museum on the lines of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. We have asked the archaeology and museums department to come up with concepts. This will be a cultural centre and once the work is completed, all the Roerich paintings from Venkatappa Art Gallery will be shifted here,” Baligar told Bangalore Mirror.

source:http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Kushala S, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / June 23rd, 2015

State ranking Table Tennis : City girl Spoorthy bags triple crown

Records, All, Sports

Bengaluru :

City’s M.V. Spoorthy continued her fine run in the State circuit by winning the women’s singles and youth girls singles title on the concluding day of the State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament 2015 conducted at the Canara Union Prakash Courts in Bengaluru yesterday.

Spoorthy had won the junior girls singles title on Sunday and this completed a fine treble. In the women’s singles final, M.V. Spoorthy beat Swetha Kumaravel (AGORC) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 3-11, 0-11, 11-7, 11-3 to clinch the title.

Spoorthy got the better of A. Samyuktha 12-10, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 and won the Youth girls singles title.

Anirban Choudhary (SWR) won the men’s singles title beating Mysuru lad Akshay Mohanta 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7 in the final.

The results: Men’s singles: Final: Anirban Roy Choudhary (SWR) bt Akshay Mahanta (MYS) 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7; Semi-finals: Anirban Roy Choudhary bt Anirban Tarafdar 10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 13-15, 15-13, 5-11, 11-7; Akshay Mahanta bt R.B. Rakshith 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8.

Women’s singles: Final: M.V. Spoorthy bt Swetha Kumaravel 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 3-11, 0-11, 11-7, 11-3; Semi-finals: M.V. Spoorthy bt A. Samyuktha 11-9, 13-11, 13-11, 11-9; K. Swetha bt Koumudi Patankar 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8.

Youth Girls: Final: M.V. Spoorthy bt A. Samyuktha 12-10, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-9.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com /Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Tuesday – June 16th, 2015

Prof. Padma Shekar of Mysure is Sanskrit University VC

Education, Leaders

Dr. S.R. Niranjana Gulbarga Varsity VC

PadmaShekharBF22jun2015

Bengaluru :

Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala on Monday approved the names of six Vice-Chancellors for State Universities. They are Pramod B. Gai (Karnatak University, Dharwad), S.B. Hosamani (Rani Channamma University, Belagavi), S.R. Niranjana (Gulbarga University, Kalaburgi), Jogan Shankar (Kuvempu University, Shivamogga), M.S. Subhas (Krishnadevaraya University, Ballari) and Padma Shekar (Sanskrit University, Bengaluru).

Dr. S.R. Niranjana and Prof. Padma Shekar are from Mysuru. While Prof. Padma Shekar is Head of the Department of Jainology, University of Mysore, Dr. S.R. Niranjana is serving as Professor and Chairman, Department of Studies in Biotechnology, University of Mysore.

The appointments came after Chief Minister Siddharamaiah on Monday evening met Governor Vajubhai Vala, who is also the Chancellor of Universities and explained to him that the State Government had followed all norms and procedures on the issue of appointment of VCs to six State Universities.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com /Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday – June 16th, 2015

Indian origin scientist to get Russia’s highest tech award

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

St Petersburg :

B Jayant Baliga, a US-based Indian-origin scientist, is being awarded Russia’s top technology award in recognition of his work as a major development in energy management which brought about huge increase in efficiency and major savings.

B Jayant Baliga, a US-based Indian-origin scientist, is being awarded Russia's top technology award. (Representative image)
B Jayant Baliga, a US-based Indian-origin scientist, is being awarded Russia’s top technology award. (Representative image)

The award will presented to Professor Baliga and Shuji Nakamura on Friday by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony here.

Nakamura, a Nobel Laureate, is being recognised for his work on blue light emitting diodes (LEDs). In Russia, the Global Energy Prize is known as the electronics equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

Professor Baliga invented the digital switch or the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) while working at General Electrical research & development centre in New York state in the US in 1983. The IGBT switches energy hundreds of thousands of times a second, raising the efficiency of any equipment manifold.

“Every equipment from your refrigerator to lights to motor vehicles has the need to use energy efficiently. If you take away the IGBT today, almost everything will come to a standstill,” Baliga told a visiting IANS correspondent on the eve of receiving the award.

Scientific American magazine called him among the ‘eight heroes of the semiconductor revolution’, and President Barack Obama awarded him the highest American technology prize last year and he is the 2014 recipient of the IEEE Medal of Honour, a rare distinction.

Professor Baliga, who now teaches to the North Carolina university as ‘distinguished university professor’, said that the IGBT that his invention combines two streams of electronics and electrical engineering and has possibly saved the world around $24 trillion dollars by raising efficiency, according to one detailed calculation.

“I got zero out of it. But then I did it all for humanity.”

Of course, says Prof Baliga, that he did make some money when he started three companies, but these were financed by venture capitalists who exited with enormous profits at the right time.

He says every motor today is at least 40 percent more efficient, the light bulb like the CFL better by almost 75 percent and a motor vehicle saves over 10 percent fuel because of his invention. He has written 19 books and over 500 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Baliga passed out of IIT Madras before going to the US for his MS and PhD after electrical engineering after which he joined GE where he spent over 15 years.

After his ‘switch’ was invented, several of his colleagues told him that it would not work, and many scientists said he would fall “flat on his face”. But he said it stood the test of time.

The chairman of GE at that time, Jack Welch flew down especially to meet him when he heard what it could do. GE used the switch in the several of the equipments it sold, including medical devices.

A US citizen since 2000, he now has very little connection with India and does not travel to his home country much, especially after his parents and parents of his wife passed away. But, says Prof Baliga, an invention like his is unlikely in India, because it needs huge research infrastructure to be in place from universities to industries.

He feels, that India has a potential which has not been fully used, although in software “it has made great strides”.

Could a Nobel be on its way in the future? “I used to say no way,” but with so many recognitions and this “global prize where I am being feted with a Nobel Laureate, who knows”, he says. His regret though is that India does not know much about him.

“Top scientists that I meet always ask me, why has India not recognised your achievement?” And with characteristic modesty, Baliga told IANS, “I tell them that perhaps my country does not know about what I did.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> NRI / IANS / June 18th, 2015

This Samaritan Contributes 5kW Solar Power to HESCOM

Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Sirsi :

A house in Gurunagar has become a solar power-generating station with the owner contributing power to HESCOM. ‘Shreyas’, the residence of Shrikant Hegde, an entrepreneur, has a 5 kW-capacity solar rooftop power unit, linked to the power grid.

The state’s solar energy policy encourages individuals, societies, institutions and companies to set up grid-connected rooftop solar units, and for ESCOMs to buy power from these units. The houses have to install a two-way meter to measure the flow of power in both the directions. The scheme is administered by respective ESCOMs, including registration, approval, metering protocols, standards and safety protocol.

Hegde has signed a 25-year agreement with HESCOM to export excess solar power to its grid. He is able to contribute a surplus of 500-600 units of power per month to the HESCOM grid at Rs 9.56 per unit.

In the first five years, HESCOM will purchase power at Rs 9.56 per unit (later at revised rates fixed by Karnataka Regulatory Energy Commission). “I will earn at least Rs 60,000 per annum,” Hegde said, adding that he will recover his investment in about seven years.

On the technical side, Hegde got the support from Apollo Power Systems Private Ltd, Bengaluru, and Tejas Energy,

Sirsi. The rooftop unit has been installed at a cost of about Rs 5 lakh. Gurucharana, executive, Apollo Power Systems Private Ltd, said the project was started in November 2014 by the state government on a power-purchase agreement (PPA) for 25 years.

Sunilkumar, head of the Renewable Energy of Appollo Renewable, said that even in rainy season like in Sirsi and Malnad area, 4-5 units of power could be generated daily.

Nagendra Honnalli, assistant commissioner of Sirsi, said that he would send a proposal to the government to provide finance through cooperative societies to farmers who want to take up this project. It costs about Rs 1 lakh per 1kW capacity.

He said this project would reduce transmission losses and dissemination costs. Panduranga Pai, general manager, Sirsi Urban Cooperative Bank, has offered to provide a loan of up to 75 per cent of the cost of the project at 2 per cent interest.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Shripad Bhat / June 21st, 2015