Alva’s College student is India basketball team captain

November 9, 2016Education, Sports, Uncategorizedadmin

Bhandavya Gowda is among the two players from the State on the team

Bhandavya H.M. Gowda, captain of the Indian team participating in the Junior Asian Women (Under-18) Basketball Championship in Bangkok, is a student of the Alva’s College in Moodbidri.

A native of Mandya, Bhandavya Gowda is a first year B.Com student. She is among the two basketball players from the State who are part of the national team for the Junior Asian Women Basketball Championship in Bangkok between November 13 and 20. She is one among the many students with exceptional talent who are being offered free education by Alva’s Education Foundation under its adoption scheme. Bhandavya Gowda joined the college two years ago.

A good three-point shooter and point guard, Bhandavya Gowda was part of the national team in the 2013 Asian Youth Basketball tournament held in Colombo.

She was also in the team that took part in the 2014 Junior Asian Basketball tournament in Jordan. The Junior Asian Championship in Bangkok will be her fourth international tournament.

Naveen Shetty from Mangalore Basketball Club, who has seen Bhandavya Gowda play at close quarters, said that she has been in basketball since she was 12. A product of Sports School in Mandya, Bhandavya Gowda was groomed by Raviprakash, a former coach in the Department of Youth Services and Sports. It was a pride that a player from the State was captaining the national team, Mr. Naveen Shetty said.

Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation Mohan Alva has wished Bhandavya Gowda and the national team a success in the upcoming championship.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Staff Reporter / Mangaluru – November 03rd, 2016

Mangaluruean wins 2016 International Creative Writing Contest

November 9, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Mangaluru :

Dr Geralyn Pinto, Associate Professor of English at St Agnes College, Mangaluru, has won the first prize for her short story, “Here they are, Saar….” in the 2016 International Creative Writing Contest organized by the Save as Writers Group, Canterbury, England. The theme of this year’s contest was ‘Rebellion’ in commemoration of the Irish Rising of Easter, 1916.

Geralyn, who views creative writing as an agent of social rebellion and memory retrieval, chose to write on Nangeli, a woman of the Ezhava community of early 19th century Travancore. The young Nangeli looked at society in the face and decided to show it who she really was. Her self-mutilation in 1803 as a form of rebellion against the levying of the hideous ‘mulakkaram’ or breast tax earned all women, but particularly those of the lower castes, the inalienable right to cover themselves in modesty and decency, if they so chose. The humiliating tax was eventually repealed by the British Crown, upon pressure from the British Resident of Travancore, Col. John Munro.

Geralyn’s powerfully-told story won the first place from an otherwise all-British shortlist of nine stories and was described by judge, Derek Sellen, as an amazing story with a sinuous narrative that impressed one right from the beginning. Sellen said, upon presenting the prize to Geralyn at the Awards Evening held on October 29 in the hall of St Mary Bredin Church, Canterbury, that he had no doubt when he began reading it that her story would be the top prize winner.

This is the third time that Geralyn Pinto has won a prize in the Save as Writers annually-held International Creative Writing Contest.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mangalore / by Stanley Pinto / TNN / November 07th, 2016

Bengaluru auto driver spreads his love for Kannada

November 2, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

History on wheels:Shivakumar’s aesthetically made up three-wheeler is a library holding260 Kannada books, magazines and newspapers.—Photos: Bhagya Prakash K.

Wants to create awareness so that people can observe, reflect, think and be inspired by Kannada history and literature.

:“I am not a November Kannadiga sporting artificial patriotism during the month of Rajyotsava. My passion towards my State is wholesome and my language repertoire is intrinsic to me,” says 50-year-old autorickshaw owner and driver Shivakumar from Dasarahalli, Magadi Road. His 4-stroke autorickshaw, registration number KA05 B-370, is curiously designed to showcase his love for Kannada.

Sporting a huge flag in the front, Shivakumar’s aesthetically made up three-wheeler is also a library holding 260 Kannada books, magazines and newspapers. It also exhibits 360 different-sized photos of Kannada writers, actors, reformers, poets and freedom fighters. “This is my style of ‘creating awareness’ amongst people to observe, reflect and think during the city drives,” says Shivakumar, who also offers mineral water to his passengers.

“I once gave a book to an ex-serviceman in my auto. He returned it promptly and said, ‘I learnt so much about Karnataka’s freedom fighters like Kittur Rani Chennamma and Onake Obavva from you in the last one hour. Books are useful tools that kindle curiosity — have them for your collection,” Shivakumar recalled.

Curious people

Shivakumar’s auto library introduces passengers to the Kannada literary world with a historical perspective. Let alone his continuous gyaan on everything Kannada and Karnataka, his knowledge is mind-blowing. Curious people gather to see his auto even as he stops in front of the Vidhana Soudha for a ‘Rajyotsava Special’. “If you want me to talk of history or literature, Karnataka is rich in everything. Only people have to get richer with curiosity, and have the patience to lend a ear,” said Shivakumar.

He elaborates on the history behind the Cauvery and Mahadayi issues, descriptions of DVG (the popular acronym for writer D.V. Gundappa), poems by G.P. Rajaratnam and T.P. Kailasam, the recitation of vachanas (sayings) by Basavanna, Allama Prabhu and Akka Mahadevi, and lectures on freedom fighters. “May be some talk on Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Shankar Nag and Puttanna Kanagal is what you want,” he guesses when he notices a silent crowd.

Multi-faceted

Hailing from Bengaluru, Shivakumar grew up in Yeshwantpur and studied up to Class 7 at the Vishwabharati Vidya Mandira. His love for Bhavageete (‘emotional poetry’) had him win prizes from poet Dodda Range Gowda. Apart from driving his autorickshaw for 25 years, he is a radio jockey at 90.4 FM, and he regularly talks about road-sense and civic issues for the C-Bangalore cable TV network. His two sons, the older of them pursuing a Masters in Science and the other into dance choreography, are also Kannada history enthusiasts.

Best services

Shivakumar is excited about the 14 awards he received from the Police Commissioner’s office over two decades for his ‘sincerity drives’. The best service he renders is a 50 per cent discount on the meter for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students during exams. “Pregnant ladies can travel free,” says Shivakumar, who has composed 1,500 couplets in Kannada.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / Bengaluru – November02nd, 2016

Mysore Rajya: Diverse areas bound by one tongue

November 1, 2016About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, Alladmin

slice of history:The cover of the 440-page bookMysore Rajya;

The book, released by Information Department on Nov. 1, 1956, emphasised that Mysore was a State of diverse cultures, but Kannada was the binding factor

When the erstwhile Mysore State, comprising Kannada-speaking territories, came into existence on November 1, 1956, the Information Department of the then Mysore government brought out Mysore Rajya, a 440-page book, to mark the occasion. This six-decade-old volume laid emphasis on the fact that Mysore is a State of diverse cultures, but Kannada is the binding factor.

The book consists of two parts: the first containing articles by eminent people from Kannada-speaking areas, and the second on statistical data about 19 districts that formed the new State of Mysore. According to the preface, the idea behind the government bringing out the book “is to see that it will serve to create a mental and psychological fusion among its several areas”.

In the article Our Culture , R.R. Diwakar, the then Governor of Bihar, explained the difference between individual and social culture and pointed out that Kannada culture is part of Indian culture. Dr. Srikanata Shastry in his article The History of Karnataka dealt with the succession of ings who ruled Karnataka namely the Kadambas, Gangas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas culminating in the establishment of the Vijayanagar Empire. He also made a reference to the Mahratta influence on Mysore and Mohammedan rule under Hyder and Tipu.

B. Shivamurthy Shastry, in his article on Religious Movements in Karnataka, dealt with several religious movements that left their impression on Kannadigas. In his illuminating article on thePolitical Life of Kannadigas , Tirumale Tatacharya Sharma pointed out that the kings of Karnataka have always stood for a Welfare State. Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar has traced several events that led to the formation of the New Mysore State in his article on The Formation of New Mysore. Writer Jayadevi Taayi Ligade has given a good account of the part played by women in Karnataka. Writing on modern Kannada literature, A.N. Krishna Rao dealt in detail about development in prose, drama, short story, lyric, novel, and literary review, and indicated that the influence of English literature has given a liberal outlook among the Kannada authors.

The publication has messages from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, first Vice-President of India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, Governor Mysore State, and Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa.

Kadidal Manjappa, who was Chief Minister till October 31, 1956, in his introduction stated: “We must not forget that under the scheme of States’ Reorganisation, we are only altering the number and boundaries of the States for administrative purposes and not trying to set up Independent Sovereign States”.

A photo of the Vidhana Soudha in the book.

Interestingly, batting for the need of “multilingual, multinational State”, C. Rajagopalachari dubbed such State as “ideal State in political theory”. He also said: “let us not allow small and narrow interests to take obstinate root and obstruct real progress”.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities > Bengaluru / by Muralidhar Khajane / Bengaluru – November 01st, 2016

… and the award turns 50

October 31, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

It is the 50th year of the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.

Though the Mysore State comprising Kannada-speaking territories came into existence on November 1, 1956 the tradition of conferring the award — considered to be the second highest civilian honour for persons of eminence for their contribution to their respective fields — began in 1966.

Except on two occasions, once during the Vishwa Kannada Sammelan held in Mysuru in 1985 and Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in 2008, the award ceremony has been held in Ravindra Kalakshetra, which is the icon of Kannada and culture in the State.

While 10 eminent persons, including Dr. M.C. Modi, who claimed to have performed a record half-a-million eye surgeries, were selected for the award in 1966, the number did not change for the next decade. However, this was increased to 21 in 1973. The number even crossed three digits in the later years. The S. Bangarappa regime had chosen 175 awardees and the Dharam Singh government had chosen 176. But at that time, the cash component was just Rs. 10,000, which was increased to Rs. 1 lakh in 2008. As many as 92 personalities were chosen for the award in 2008 during B.S. Yeddyurappa’s tenure as the Chief Minister. The number even reached 162 in 2010 during Mr. Yeddyurappa’s tenure.

In the last 50 years, awards were not conferred for various reasons, including natural calamities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – October 31st, 2016

College lecturers make film for students

October 31, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Educationadmin

Lecturers of a private pre-university college have shot a film with students as the target audience. A Sunny Morning, an educational movie, will be screened at Adichunchanagiri Community Hall in Hassan on Tuesday.

The film has been directed by J. Shivaprasad, an English lecturer and A.R. Sachidananda, who teaches Physics. Both are working at B.G.S.PU College. “The movie is all about attractions that disturb students in the age group 16-18 years, primarily those in the PU colleges. We lecturers thought of this theme and developed a script keeping the students in mind,” Mr. Sachidananda said.

The college lecturers have contributed from their salaries for making of the movie, which cost about Rs.4 lakh. “It is a short movie of about 20 minutes. Our students have played acted in it. We hired a cameraman, an editor and other technicians for production,” said Sachidanand.

The movie will be released in a programme on Tuesday. Nirmalanananatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math, C.Shikha, Director of PU Department and others will participate in the event.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Hassan – October 31st, 2016

My dream has been fulfilled, says Rajyotsava awardee Ballari Sujathamma

October 31, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Uncategorizedadmin

“My dream has been fulfilled. I am very happy.” This was how septuagenarian Ballari Sujathamma, a well-known ‘bylaata’ and ‘parijatha’ artiste, reacted when she heard that the government was conferring the prestigious ‘Rajyotsava’ award on her.

After learning music under the tutelage of her father, Ms. Sujathamma took to acting at the age of ten. Her career as an artiste began with ‘Girija Kalyan,’ where she donned the role of Rathi. Since then, she has acted in various mythological plays not only in Bylaata and Parijatha, but also in theatre, including Ramayana, where she donned the lead roles. She has acted in plays such as Rakta Ratri, Kurukshetra, Dushyasana Vadhe , Daksha Brahma in over six decades of her acting career.

Ms. Sujathamma has also performed in Telugu plays in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

“Acting was the only source of income to feed my family and also to raise my children. I was forced to act in a play when my son, daughter-in-law and my grandson died in a fire accident. Such was our economic condition. Luckily, I used to get opportunities to act and I won the appreciation of the connoisseurs throughout and now Government has chosen me for the Rajyotsava award. I am very happy,” she told The Hindu.

Ms. Sujathamma is also a recipient of Karnataka Janapada, Yakshagana Academy award and the Kittur Rani Chennamma Award.

Though she still gets requests to act in plays, Ms. Sujathamma rejects them owing to age factor. She now imparts training in acting and singing to interested people.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Ballari – October 31st, 2016

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October 31, 2016Uncategorizedadmin

Bengaluru skater helps India win 1st medal at international meet

October 30, 2016Records, All, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Dhanush Babu(right) with teammates Vikram Ingale and Nikhilesh Tabhane after winning the medal in the 17th Asian Speed Skating Championships in Lishui, China

“I was determined to win a medal and it did not matter even if I lost a leg,” were the words of determination of Bengaluru skater Dhanush Babu, after winning India’s first-ever medal in the 17th Asian Speed Skating Championships in Lishui, China, on Thursday.

That determination is perhaps the reason for the success. Dhanush along with Vikram Ingale and Nikhilesh Tabhane, created history. The trio came out with all guns blazing to win the bronze medal in the 3,000 metres relay event. This is the first time India has won a medal in competitive skating in two decades. This is also a first in the senior category.

Speaking to Express from China, Dhanush, the youngest of the three, said, “I was the last to start the last 200-metre lap in the race. We were in the fourth position and the only thing that went through my mind was, I am not going to return without a medal. Let me give it whatever I have got, even if it means injuring my leg’. That 200-metre sprint was the best one of my life,” he said.

The Indian team was fourth in the five-team race when Dhanush went for the final push. His late charge resulted in the Indian team getting past Chinese Taipei to clinch the coveted medal. South Korea won the gold and China clinched the silver medal.

About his first stint in the senior category, Dhanush said, “At the national level, the three of us are hardcore competitors. We don’t even talk to each other before the event. But here, representing India, we came together as a force and won the medal. This has definitely boosted our confidence to win more medals as a team in future championships. This team is considered to be a ‘dream relay team’.

From Vidhana Soudha to Asian Championship medal

Dhanush’s mother Sudha Babu, who is also in China, said that she was in tears when her son won the medal. “The hard work and sacrifice that we invested has paved the way for success,” she said.
Recalling how Dhanush got the determination to pursue skating she said, “When Dhanush was three years old, he saw an eagle flying high with its wings spread wide near the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. At that moment, he expressed his desire to do something of that sort. After being enrolled for skating classes, he was not really comfortable. Later, his father Babu started training him in front of Vidhana Soudha and by the time he started practicing in the rink, he was into competitive skating,” she remarked.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Kiran Parashar K M / Express News Service / October 29th, 2016

Karnataka on the antarjaala

October 30, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economyadmin

An online space for products from small and rural entrepreneurs of Karnataka, Total Karnataka is all set to reach out to the world

Natural dyed khadi kurtas from Shikaripura in Karnataka’s Sagar district can now be shipped to Australia or anywhere in the world. Traditional Kinhal dolls can now be delivered to the grandchildren in America.

An NGO in Shimoga is able to sell its terracota jewellery online. People of Karnataka who live all over the world can have gifts with a flavour and feel of their home states delivered at their doorstep. Even pickle!

Chandrasekhar Kakal, a food entrepreneur and start-up coach with three decades of corporate experience and Lakshmikanth V., a software engineer-turned- entrepreneur passionate about Kannada and Karnataka, have launched totalkarnataka.com. Lakshmikanth has earlier experience from his venture Total Kannada.

“We have on board a family in Bidar district of Karnataka engaged for generations in carving traditional Bidriware, artisans of Channapattana shaping the famous Channapattana toys, carpenters chiselling white wood, rose wood or sandalwood in the lanes of Mysuru’s Mandi Mohalla region. These are people who know their craft well but are unable to market themselves and find themselves lost in the online market space,” says Lakshmikanth. They all belong to micro, small, or medium enterprises (MSME) segments, and they are struggling to keep their tradition alive, and even earn a livelihood for their families, he points out.

“Our idea is to bring them to the mainstream and connect them directly with the customer.

We have put in place a system whereby the craftsman can directly ship an order. Even rejects and returns go back to him with a reason, so he can change and adapt accordingly. The craftsman also feels a sense of pride that he is selling his work online to people in other countries,” explains Lakshmikanth.

They also want to make speciality products of Karnataka origin available to consumers anywhere in the world under one umbrella.

As of now they have over 500 products across nine categories.

There is also a small video accompanying each category so that people get an idea of how a particular hand-crafted piece is made.

Soon translation services and state-specific tourism services will also be added, along with many other categories of products. It is also the only online market place where there is an English and a complete Kannada version — “and it is not done using Google translate”, he laughs. In the three months that they have been in operation, they have shipped over 180 orders, including those to the U.S.A.

The site now stocks terracotta jewellery, hand crafted cotton and khadi dresses, paddy craft display pieces, speciality pickles, north Karnataka food products including the famous jolada rotti, traditional Channapattana toys, Mysore handicrafts, Kannada books and movies, T-shirts with Kannada slogans etc.

For details see www.totalkarnataka.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / Bhumika K / Bengaluru – October 28th, 2016

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