Boeing expands aerospace engineering footprint in Bengaluru

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

To work on cutting-edge tech that drives aerospace innovation

Bengaluru :

Boeing inaugurated its Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) in Bengaluru. The facility, spread across 150,000 square feet and eight floors, will double Boeing’s existing footprint of 160,000 square feet and will accommodate another 1,000 employees, who will work on cutting-edge technologies that will drive aerospace innovation from India, for India and the world.

While the new facility will incorporate software technologies into design, manufacturing and service offerings, Boeing will continue to scale up its aerospace, R&D and engineering activities at its existing facilities.

BIETC is recruiting and scaling up exponentially. The centre has increased its employee count from just 100 when it was inaugurated in early 2017, to over 1,000. And, as the centre grows over the next few years, it will develop into a team of over 2,500 employees in specialised fields of IT, engineering and R&D.

From an IT perspective, key focus would be on cutting-edge areas such as Product Lifecycle Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Data Analytics and Software Design for aerospace. BIETC is also continuing to build teams focused on advanced aerospace research in materials and manufacturing, aircraft structures and airplane health management.

Boeing’s engineering teams continue to excel and innovate in Digital Aviation, electrical, mechanical and systems design and providing support for lab and flight testing for aircraft.

“We see India as a hotbed for path-breaking software solutions that can redefine the way the world designs, operates and manages airplanes,” said Ted Colbert, Boeing’s chief information officer and senior vice president of Information Technology & Data Analytics, while inaugurating the new facility. “The IT talent and capabilities available in India will be an enabler for Boeing’s success across the world.”

The facility will contain an integrated lab for Internet of Things (IoT), Analytics and Mobility, a 3DX lab to develop 3D experiences, a Systems Integration Lab and a Proof of Concepts Lab. Over 25 Collaboration Areas in the facility will further enable teams to work together to develop, scale and deliver aerospace innovations with agility. The new facility will also enable driving strategic initiatives like Digital Transformation.

“We are excited about Boeing’s ever expanding footprint in India. The new engineering facility at BIETC reflects an agile and driven Boeing in India, one that inspires people to collaborate and accelerate step-change innovation,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India.

“This centre brings together engineers from the fields of aerospace, computer science and mathematics, who will collaborate to achieve next-gen breakthroughs for aircraft design, manufacturing and maintenance,” he added.

In addition to developing engineering capabilities, Boeing is actively involved in developing skills across the aviation sector by partnering with Indian vocational training institutes and industrial training institutes to train workers for the aerospace industry.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> Special / by Anil Urs / Bengaluru – June 15th, 2018

Flaneur in the city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Writer Shoba Narayan | Photo Credit: S_R_Raghunathan
Writer Shoba Narayan | Photo Credit: S_R_Raghunathan

Author Shoba Narayan on her relationship with Bengaluru and what makes it ‘home’ for her

My first encounter with Bengaluru happened in the 80s when I was still a student. I would visit my cousins in Rajaji Nagar. At that time, Bengaluru seemed like a small town with good weather, lovely people, greenery and all the clichés. All those things that old-timers in the city hark back to are true.

I moved to the city in 2005. Even then, the city seemed liveable. My children began their schooling here. I think the drastic changes started happening when the construction of the metro began, though it is a positive step.

I find the people of Bengaluru are genteel in the sense of being welcoming. Even the auto drivers are more polite, you can walk into a shop and look around and leave, without the shopkeeper saying something rude. People have more of a ‘live and let live’ attitude, they speak multiple languages, which is good for an immigrant like me. The sad part, however, is that I am learning Kannada only now. I love the weather, parks, and flowering trees, with different blooms at different times. I love the fragrance of the Millingtonia Hortensis (Indian cork tree), also known as the tree jasmine.

The best part about Bengaluru is that it is enough of a South Indian city, for what we expect from one, with some sense of civility and cleanliness. At the same time, it is enough of a cosmopolitan city for global citizens to feel at home.

Seasonal Summer fruits for sale in Bengaluru | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar
Seasonal Summer fruits for sale in Bengaluru | Photo Credit: G_P_Sampath Kumar

As an author, I find there are many Bengalurus, as it should be, in every great city. The Bengaluru that interests me is that of the vendors who walk the street. The jamun season is here and in Malleswaram, you’ll find baskets of litchis and jamuns, the way they are arranged, in pyramids, is so beautiful, as are the santhes and melas of averkkai, and the seasonal flowers in the city market. I like how when you walk into Russell market, you will find English vegetables on one side and Indian vegetables on the other. In the Dharmaraja Koil street intersection, you will find a woman who knows the benefits of different greens. This is the Bengaluru I am interested in, it provides a lot of fodder for anyone who wants to write about it.

Cubbon Park | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy
Cubbon Park | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy

And of course, there are the milk ladies and the milkmen. Even yesterday, I saw a man on a bicycle carrying milk in aluminium pails. They are ubiquitous in my neighbourhood, around Ulsoor . They are part of a way of life that I find hard to replicate in other cities.

The changes I have hoped to see in the city are already happening. Most writers have this element of ‘flaneur’ where they walk around the streets to get inspired. It is nice to see that public spaces such as Church Street, are being remodeled for pedestrians. I feel this is still a pedestrian-friendly city, where throngs walk on the streets. I would like this writerly aspect to grow.

A view of fruits shops at Russell Market in Bangalore | Photo Credit: Bhagya Prakash K
A view of fruits shops at Russell Market in Bangalore | Photo Credit: Bhagya Prakash K

I began as a reluctant Bengalurean. Those who grow up in one location all their lives, leave a little bit of their hearts behind. I always thought of Chennai as home. Now Bengaluru is my home, where I take NRIs out for shopping, go to Avenue road for street food, to CTR or Vidyarthi Bhavan for good morning dosas, walk around Ulsoor lake, go birding in Lalbagh or Cubbon park. The process by which a city becomes ‘home’ is when every place is associated with a memory. I have so many associations with the city. I have spent so many afternoons at the tennis association, hanging around while my daughter learned tennis. I have gone rock climbing at the Kanteerava stadium, I have signed up for 10k runs.

What I regret is not being engaged in the vernacular circles, which I was not able to do because I can’t read and write in Kannada. On the positive side, there is enough fodder for writers (in English) in Bengaluru, from lit fests to spaces such as Atta Galatta or initiatives such as The Great Indian Poetry Collective. One has the chance to listen to inspiring talks at several venues from The Bangalore International Centre to the National Gallery of Modern Art. One can choose to be part of the community of writers if one so chooses, people here are inclusive, accepting and welcoming.

The fact that I have got by for 10 years, communicating in Tamil, until I learned Kannada, says something about the city.

As told to Harshini Vakkalanka

This column features the city through the eyes of a prominent Bangalorean

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Harshini Vakkalanka / June 13th, 2018

Seed swap, a growing trend among green thumbs

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Sharing a passion: A file photo of participants at a seed swap event organised at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sharing a passion: A file photo of participants at a seed swap event organised at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

From virtual connection on social media to physical meet-ups, urban gardeners are slowly but surely warming up to the idea

Sharing food, or even ingredients, is common. Now, however, the growing number of people who share a passion for growing their own food also share an essential component of what they produce: the seeds.

Right from virtual connection on social media to physically meeting, residents of the city are slowly but surely warming up to the idea of seed sharing.

This exercise not only ensures higher germination rates and less dependence on commercial sellers, but also gives novices in the field a chance to learn first-hand from the experienced on how to go green and organic, they say.

Good response

After organising its first Seed Swap in 2017, the Backyard Factory is back with another swapping event this month. “The first seed swap event was well appreciated. We had posted information about the event on Facebook and a good number of people turned up for the event at Cubbon Park. The idea was to let people bring excess seeds from their produce and share them with people who are interested in growing their own food. It was a mutual exchange. What was surprising was most of the participants were young gardening enthusiasts,” said Lincy Inder, who conducts kitchen gardening workshops for schoolchildren.

This time, the event will be held on June 30 at Cubbon Park, and Ms. Inder expects even better participation than the last time.

While meetings are very essential for seed sharing, another group also makes good use of social media to share seeds with the community. Members of Grow Your Own Food, a Facebook community, put up details of excess seeds available with them on social media. Others can contact the group if interested. The members meet once in two months for a seed swapping event at Lalbagh.

“Whatever we grow, we save the seeds for ourself and to share with others,” said Suresh Rao, a member of the group.

Mr. Rao said the best thing about seed sharing is that there is 100% guarantee of the seeds germinating. “It is not the case with store-bought seeds. We usually share tomato, brinjal, gourd, and all types of greens during the meets,” he said. The group also promotes heirloom seeds by sharing them.

Explaining how the members store the excess seeds for sharing, he said, “It is quite easy. From two tomatoes, 100 seeds can be obtained, which can be saved for the next season. One brinjal has around 200 seeds. Though the seed saving technique for each variety differs, it is not rocket science. During the meet-ups, we share the concepts with newcomers,” Mr. Rao said.

Another city-based group, Oota From Your Thota, which encourages people to grow their food organically, also organises seed swaps among members regularly.

A common practice

While urban gardeners are just getting used to the idea of seed sharing, the practice is common among farmers, said Hemanth, farmer and member of the Facebook group Bangalore Gardening. “In our farming community, seed sharing has always been a common practice. It helps reduce farmer’s dependence on commercially sold seeds and saves a lot of money,” he says.

The Horticulture Department too gives away seedlings instead of just seeds to anyone interested. “After monsoon, we distribute the excess seedlings to interested people for free. Most are tree seedlings. In a year, at least 5,000 seedlings are given away,” said M.R. Chandrashekar, Deputy Director, Lalbagh.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Sarumathi K  / Bengaluru – June 11th, 2018

Women drivers take the road to Lo Manthang

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
The team comprised four women from Bengaluru and one from Pune. | Photo Credit: Handout E Mail
The team comprised four women from Bengaluru and one from Pune. | Photo Credit: Handout E Mail

It is one of the most treacherous extreme terrain routes in the Himalayas

When it comes to negotiating extreme roads of the Greater Himalayas, Bengaluru’s Nidhi Tiwari, founder of Women Beyond Boundaries (WBB), has yet again made it to the mountain range. Nidhi recently led a crew of five women drivers on a daunting expedition to Upper Mustang in northern Nepal. They drove for 13 days from Delhi to Lo Manthang and back, covering 3,000 km.

“We have now become the first crew of women drivers to reach Lo Manthang, the erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Lo,” said Nidhi.

Desolate and rarely accessed, the road to Lo Manthang is considered to be among the top three extreme terrain roads in the Himalayan belt. The 36-year-old mother of two, an outdoor educator and adventure lover, was born in Dharwad and raised in Bengaluru. “I heard the northern Nepal terrain was challenging. That’s how we had the temerity to choose something that poses a challenge to all of us. If you have a nose to drive, love to be part of driving expeditions and a strong mind to take up challenges, this is what you should do,” she added.

With an average elevation of over 12,000 feet, the area hosts two of the higher peaks in the Greater Himalayas that stand above 8,000 metres – the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.

“We drove from Delhi and entered Nepal via Gorakhpur, and reached Pokhara in two days. From there started the off-road section into the Mustang valley. The section from Muktinath to Lo Manthang is ambitious, located just 50 km short of the Chinese border, and offers some breathtaking views,” she said.

The other participants on this drive were Bengaluru-based Rashmi Gururaja Koppar, an academician; Suneeti Sudame, an IT professional from Pune; physiotherapist Soumya Goyal and e-commerce professional Deepa Krishnan, both from Bengaluru.

“The learning curve was simply incredible, as Mustang is famous, or rather infamous, for its non-existent and challenging roads, punctuated by numerous streams,” adds Nidhi.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / June 09th, 2018

Two Indian kids to be Official Match Ball Carriers at FIFA World Cup

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Sunil Chhetri, Manohar Bhat (Head - sales & marketing, Kia Motors India), Nathania John K., and Rishi Tej.
Sunil Chhetri, Manohar Bhat (Head – sales & marketing, Kia Motors India), Nathania John K., and Rishi Tej.

Ten-year-old Rishi Tej of Karnataka and 11-year-old Nathania John K. of Tamil Nadu will be two of the Official Match Ball Carriers (OMBC) at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia.

One of them will carry the match ball during the Belgium vs Panama game while the other will get a chance to get onto the pitch before the Brazil vs Costa Rica match.

India captain Sunil Chhetri conducted the trials — as part of the Kia Official Match Ball Carrier (OMBC) programme — in Gurugram last month.

As many as 1600 children participated in the programme, with 50 short-listed for the final selections.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Football / by PTI / New Delhi – June 11th, 2018

Stamping home the message of orchid conservation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
M. Lokeshwara Rao
M. Lokeshwara Rao

For many, retirement can pave away for new opportunities and give time to pursue forgotten hobbies. M. Lokeshwara Rao, retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Nagaland who was the director of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education in the city, is highlighting the destruction of a species of flowering plant and the ways to conserve it. And he is doing this not as a forest service official, but as a philatelist.

Mr. Rao, who retired in June last year and lives in Bengaluru, always liked collecting stamps. “As a child, I used to collect whatever stamps I could. But once I got selected as an IFS officer, I had to give up the hobby as there was no time to pursue it. Now, after retirement I have all the time I need,” he said.

The theme he has chosen is orchids.

“Orchids are only found in the Western Ghats region and in the northeastern regions of the country. I am fascinated by them. It is no secret that we are losing forest cover. I wanted my stamp collection to represent this,” said Mr. Rao, who within a few months of starting his collection won a bronze medal at the IMPEX-2017 contest held by the Philatelic Society of India.

Silver medal

In May this year, he was awarded a silver medal at the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show in Denver, United States, for his exhibition on ‘Orchid distribution, its habitat destruction and conservation’.

At the exhibition, he displayed orchid stamps from 65 countries. “The first orchid stamp was released in 1909 by countries in the Caribbean Islands. Now I am collecting stamps representing national parks,” said Mr. Rao, who during his service was recognised for his efforts to save the Amur falcon.

He is now getting ready for his next international exhibition, in Macau in September.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / June 09th, 2018

Jallikattu champs, born in Karnataka

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Records, All, Sports
Racing bull: A Hori Habba enthusiast displays a Hallikar sporting breed at Tadasanahalli, in Shikaripur taluk. | Photo Credit: Vaidya
Racing bull: A Hori Habba enthusiast displays a Hallikar sporting breed at Tadasanahalli, in Shikaripur taluk. | Photo Credit: Vaidya

Drought-hit farmers rescued by the popularity of their bulls in Tamil Nadu

Vishnuvardhan, Sudeep, Darshan Thoogudeepa, Yash, and Duniya Vijay are not only popular Kannada film stars – all of them are also sturdy bulls from Karnataka that are taking Tamil Nadu’s Jallikattu by storm, with some of them selling for as much as ₹12 lakh, and earning their breeders a neat profit.

The bulls, reared and trained in the semi-arid Shikaripur taluk of Shivamogga district, have acquired a reputation for agility, speed and sturdiness. They are in great demand in Tamil Nadu following the resumption of Jallikattu in the State.

Shikaripur’s racing bulls are fetching almost double the money the farmers invested on purchasing the calf, and rearing and training it.

Trained for local sport

The bulls get trained in the local bull-catching sport, ‘Hori Habba.’ In Shikaripur taluk alone, more than 120 Hori Habba events are held between Deepavali and Sankranthi. The sport involves making bulls of the ‘Amruth Mahal’ and ‘Hallikar’ breeds run in the ring. Whoever succeeds in catching or taming them wins. Mr. Kumaranna, a farmer from Gandhi Nagar village of Shikaripur said that it costs him around ₹12,000 a month to keep the bull fighting fit. Four years ago, he bought a six-month old male Hallikar calf for ₹50,000. Recently, he sold it to a Jallikattu enthusiast from Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district for ₹12 lakh. Another bull reared by Zakir Saab in Narasapura was sold to a buyer from Alanganallur in Madurai district for ₹11 lakh.

Nandan Sommananavar, who is doing research on Hori Habba in Kuvempu University said that in the past six months enthusiasts from Tamil Nadu bought more than 60 bulls from Shikaripur. The bulls are typically named after Kannada films (Mylari, Raja Huli, Tagaru, Hathavadi, Saarathi) and film stars.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by Veerandra P.M. / Shivamogga – June 08th, 2018

Women scale Himalayan heights

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports
Chasing the thrill: The all-woman team of trekkers on the expedition to Mount Baradasar Pass in the Himalayas.
Chasing the thrill: The all-woman team of trekkers on the expedition to Mount Baradasar Pass in the Himalayas.

27 women from Karnataka trekked to Mount Baradasar Pass in a fortnight

They had heard exciting tales of trekking in the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, but were apprehensive whether they could embark upon one such expedition in view of the freezing temperatures and alien terrain.

But, a total of 27 women from different parts of Karnataka successfully pulled it off by completing a trekking expedition to Mount Baradasar Pass in the Himalayas recently.

Adventure groups Tiger Adventure Foundation (TAF) and Mountain Goat organised a trekking expedition to the Himalayas exclusively for women. During the fortnight-long expedition, the women – between 13 and 65 years of age – passed through various camps in the Himalayas before reaching the summit of Mount Baradasar Pass situated at a height of 14,500 ft on the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

TAF’s D.S.D. Solanki, an adventure enthusiast, who has been organising trekking expeditions for more than two decades, said the recent expedition to Baradasar Pass by women was the first of its kind in the adventure history of Karnataka. After undergoing endurance training for three weeks, the trekkers – hailing from Shivamogga, Madikeri, Hassan, Chickaballapur, Mysuru and Bengaluru – assembled in Mysuru and left for the expedition on April 17. They reached Dehradun on April 20, where acclimatisation and orientation programmes were held at the Sankri base camp.

For Anitha Arunakshi, a housewife, who had only seen hailstones accompany rains in Mysuru, the huge hailstorm that rocked Dhal Dhal Ridge camp during the expedition was an experience of a lifetime. The entire camp site turned white after the hailstorm, she said. In Devabasa camp, the trekkers experienced large amount of snowfall, submerging them in knee-deep snow. “With snow all around, it was bliss,” said Pratibha Garla, a dentist from Mysuru.

The trekkers reached the summit of Baradasar Pass on April 26 at 10.38 a.m. and hoisted the national tricolour. They spent a few minutes on the peak enjoying breathtaking visuals of different mountain peaks, besides the valleys.

The team returned to Mysuru on May 2.

Suma Mahesh, past president, Inner Wheel Club, Mysore Central, said she was able to complete the expedition and experience the thrill of trekking after overcoming her initial apprehensions.

Riya Solanki, 13, who recently trekked to the Everest Base camp situated at a height of 17,590 ft, was another member of the camp.

Before embarking on the expedition, the trekkers, whose team was named ‘Nari Shakti’, took part in Josh Run and took out an awareness rally on voting rights in Mysuru.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – June 06th, 2018

Indian rallyists win European Rally Championship, ERC 3 category

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Proud moment: Indian rallyist team comprising Ashwin Naik from Mangaluru and Amitrrajit Ghosh from Kolkata won the European Rally Championship, ERC 3 category, at Athens, organised by the Federation of Internationale de lautomobile; (right) the team during the race.
Proud moment: Indian rallyist team comprising Ashwin Naik from Mangaluru and Amitrrajit Ghosh from Kolkata won the European Rally Championship, ERC 3 category, at Athens, organised by the Federation of Internationale de lautomobile; (right) the team during the race.

This is the first time the duo has won the coveted championship

The Indian rallyist team, comprising Amitrrajit Ghosh of Kolkata and Ashwin Naik from Mangaluru, on Sunday won the European Rally Championship, ERC 3 category, at Athens in Greece organised by the Federation of Internationale de l’automobile (FIA).

A release here said it was the first time that the Indian rally duo has won the coveted European Rally Championship. The debutantes Ghosh-Naik drove a Ford Fiesta R2.

The event for the Indian duo was sponsored by Ramakrishna Race Performance Management of Kolkata and Pana, a Mangaluru-based Educational conglomerate.

Quoting Mr. Ghosh and Mr. Naik, the release said it was the first time that any Indian team has made it to the top slot. The European rallyists and the FIA were awed by the victory. The international rally scenario for Indian drivers would not be the same any more as Amit-Ashwin duo have just raised the benchmark, the release said.

Congratulating the duo, Chairman of Pana educational group Prasad Hegde said the Amit-Ashwin team have brought laurels to the country and Pana group is extremely happy with the results.

This was also the first international event that any Mangaluru-based organisation has sponsored.

The Indian duo, who scripted début victory, were leading in their class right from the day one of the three-day rally that passed through some torturous terrain.

Mr. Ghosh, an ace driver was ably co-driven by Mr. Naik and his immense experience left no ambiguity about this victory when they started for the last leg on Sunday.

The release quoted them as saying, “We both drove with safety on top of our mind which gave us confidence right from the word go. We just had to bring the car to the ramp in one piece which we did with great aplomb.”

It quoted Mr. Ghosh as saying, “I and Ashwin knew that we were racing with an older generation of Ford Fiesta R2. Our goal was always to finish the rally with honourable points but we did it by winning the ERC 3 on the top slot which is so fulfilling.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – June 07th, 2018

A peep into the past! Private heritage homes in Bengaluru are opening their doors to guided tours

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Bengaluru  :

Within a radius of one kilometre in Basavanagudi are a string of old bungalows, each with a story to tell. One century-old house was built by former Mysore dewan MN Krishna Rao while another stately structure belonged to M Mahadevan of the Survey of India. Two homes nearby belonged to freedom fighter Nittoor Srinivasa Rau and HAL’s former financial director CV Srinivasa Rao.

Telling their stories and what they mean to the city are a bunch of historians who, with help from the present owners of these homes, are organising tours around them.

 “This makes people aware why it is important to conserve private heritage and what it takes to maintain them. By listening to homeowners, people connect better to the city’s past,” said Mansoor Ali, whose Bengaluru By Foot has guided over 750 people through these homes so far.

 Awareness about private heritage is much needed. According to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), private structures are among the most poorly conserved in Bengaluru. In the past 30 years, the city has lost 75% of its heritage homes, with only 129 out of 510 surviving today. While the Revised Master Plan 2031 has included and listed these buildings, the provisions are far from robust.

Malleswaram resident Vardan Chakrapani said that opening out his 82-year-old Arcot House only increases his family’s sense of pride. His grandfather AL Munirathnam was an engineer for the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric project.

Likewise, MR Narendra, grandson of dewan MN Krishna Rao, is happy to indulge tourists with stories and souvenirs of his ancestor. “These are like-minded people who appreciate the value of the old Madras-tile roof, rosewood staircase, teakwood furniture and lime-mortar building. It’s all about giving them a new perspective about old homes.”

Marvelling at a colonial home from the outside gives no glimpse of the travails of its owners, the leaky pipes and crumbling roofs, said Poornima Dasharathi, whose organisation, Unhurried, also organises walks in the city. “Most homeowners are often pestered by real estate sharks. These last-remaining structures survive only because of individual will power. Owners must have a helping hand in a robust legislative framework that recognises, protects and provides some monetary concession.”

 Arjun Chaudhary, an instructional designer at Manipal Global Education, who took a guided tour recently, said these homes also give an insight into how homes could be built in a sustainable and ecofriendly way. “Preservation legislation is easier said than done. But the government must make a genuine effort to categorise them and allocate funds.”

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / ET Home> Magazines> Panache / by Divya Shekhar, ET Bureau / June 05th, 2018