Category Archives: Records, All

Malavalli lake man Express wrote about, among 63 to get Rajyotsava award

Amazing Feats, Records, All

Former Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva, National Public School founder K P Gopalkrishna and Sandalwood actor Jai Jagadish are among the other awardees.

82-year-old Kaamegowda has created 14 ponds in his village Daasanadoddi | pandarinath b
82-year-old Kaamegowda has created 14 ponds in his village Daasanadoddi | pandarinath b

Bengaluru :

Kaamegowda, the 82-year-old shepherd from Daasanadoddi village in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district, got glad tidings on Wednesday when he was informed that his four-decade-long effort to create 14 ponds in his village, had been recognised by the state government. On Thursday, Kaamegowda will be among 63 recipients of this year’s Rajyotsava award, to be given by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru.

Former Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva, National Public School founder K P Gopalkrishna and Sandalwood actor Jai Jagadish are among the other awardees.On July 15 this year, The New Indian Express had first reported on Kaamegowda’s inspiring tale in a story titled ‘Shepherd from Karnataka builds 14 ponds on barren hill, turns his village green’.

Kaamegowda, who has not had any formal education, dedicated 40 years of his life to digging, creating and maintaining 14 ponds on a hillock in his village. Thanks to his efforts, the ponds remain full of water, even during the scorching Mandya summers.
“Let there be more lakes,” he said, upbeat at having been recognised by the government.

“It is a service to mother nature and I must not take credit. We humans can afford to buy water but animals and birds cannot,” he told TNIE on Wednesday. True to form, Kaamegowda said that the `1 lakh purse that the Rajyotsava award carries would also be spent on the upkeep of the ponds.

When TNIE first visited his house, Kaamegowda, who sleeps in a cattle shed under a mosquito mat, said that his family had given up on trying to convince him to stop spending on the ponds. His stubborn dedication to seeing the water bodies develop meant that he would spend all cash awards and other money that he received into the effort instead of spending it on mending his house, in severe disrepair. True to form, Kaamegowda on Wednesday said that the `1 lakh purse that the Rajyotsava award carries would also be spent on the upkeep of the ponds.

In a modest tone, he added that repairing his house was last on his list of priorities for the moment. “These gestures are our contribution to nature which has given us so much. Till I am alive, I can only think of the ponds,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / November 29th, 2018

Azim Premji conferred highest French civilian award

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Wipro Limited Chairman Azim Premji receives the highest French civilian distinction, Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), from Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler, in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Wipro Limited Chairman Azim Premji receives the highest French civilian distinction, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour), from Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler, in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Azim Premji, philanthropist and Chairman of Wipro Limited, on Wednesday received the highest French civilian distinction, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) from Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler.

Speaking on the occasion at the Wipro campus, Ziegler said the award was bestowed on Azim Premji for his outstanding contribution to developing the information technology industry in India.

“Also, for his economic outreach in France, and his laudable contribution to society as a philanthropist through the Azim Premji Foundation and Azim Premji University,” he said.

TheLegion d’Honneur , instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients.

The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour.

In his acceptance speech, Premji said he is extremely honoured by the award bestowed on me. “The vibrancy of the French democracy and its diversity is an inspiration to all across the world,” he said.

Wipro’s association with France spans over 15 years and the company enjoys a close relationship with several French organizations. Nearly 65% of Wipro’s employees in France are locals.

France is a key market for Wipro and the company is committed to continues investments there. Large French digital companies already have a strong footprint in India, employing over 1.3 lakh people at their R&D centres and facilities.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business> Business News / by N.V. Vijayakumar / DH News Service, Bengaluru / November 28th, 2018

The politician who fought hard for State’s cause

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AmbareeshBF28nov2018Ambareesh was a three-time MP who represented Mandya constituency

M.H. Ambareesh, who distanced himself from active politics during the 2018 Legislative Assembly elections, was a politician who fought hard on issues affecting the State.

The actor-turned politician served as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting in the UPA government, led by the Manmohan Singh government. However, he resigned from the ministry in 2008.

A three-time MP, Mr. Ambareesh was elected to the 12, 13 and 14th Lok Sabha from Mandya constituency. He had served as the Housing Minister in the Siddaramaiah government. He was dropped from the Cabinet by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2017.

He was a member of the Assembly from 2013 to 2018. Though the party had given him ‘B’ Form to contest the 2018 Assembly elections, Mr. Ambareesh did not contest from the Mandya Assembly Constituency, citing health issues.

True to his ‘rebel star’ style, Mr. Ambareesh was an avid racer and active member of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC). He opposed his government’s move to relocate the BTC saying racing is not gambling, and hundreds of families would lose their livelihood if it is moved out of the city.

Mr. Ambareesh questioned the motive behind the move to relocate the club. Noting that even in New Delhi, the Prime Minister’s official residence (7 Race Course Road) is very close to the Delhi Race Course, he opposed relocation of the BTC. Congress leaders M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Siddaramaiah, G. Parameshwara, D.K. Shivakumar and others condoled his death.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Nagesh Prabhu / Bengaluru – November 25th, 2018

‘KGF’ audio rights sold for record sum

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A still of the Kannada film ‘KGF’.
A still of the Kannada film ‘KGF’.

Lahari Audio acquires the rights of the multi-lingual film for ₹3.6 crore

Touted as the costliest film made in Kannada, KGF created a records of sorts with Bengaluru-based Lahari Audio acquiring audio rights of the film on Saturday by paying ₹3.6 crore.

According to Tulasiram Naidu of Lahari, popularly known as Lahari Velu in the film industry, his company, which had acquired the audio rights of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion by paying ₹2.25 crore, bought the audio rights of KGF by paying more than that.

“It is a whopping sum of ₹3.6 crore and the highest amount being paid for acquiring audio rights of a film in the history of south Indian cinema,” said Mr. Velu.

“While the Kannada version of audio with six songs and four bit music pieces will be released on November 29, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam versions are set to release in the first week of December,” producer Vijay Kiragandur told The Hindu.

Like Bahubali, which was released in two parts, KGF is also being made in two parts. While the first part is set to release in the last week of December, the sequel is slated for release in mid-next year. In actor Yash’s own words, “With KGF, Kannada films get a new found respect in Indian cinema”.

The much-awaited KGF is being widely talked about in the Kannada film industry for the past three years, as it is showing all signals of becoming a trendsetter.

Mr. Kiragandur has refused to disclose the budget of the film and has maintained that he is not worried about the budget, as making the film is more of a passion for him than a business proposition.

While the film is shot in Kannada, it will be dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi and released simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Mr. Velu is in the process of making a multi-lingual and multi-starrer film on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh which is being scripted by K.V. Vijayendra Prasad of the Bahubali fame.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengluru – November 26th, 2018

Karanth’s rare collection finally gets a shelter

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
B.V. Karanth Theatre Complex that has come up at Heggodu in Shivamogga district. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
B.V. Karanth Theatre Complex that has come up at Heggodu in Shivamogga district. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Heggodu complex to house his books, audio-video documents

The dream of the Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth Theatre Trust (BVKTT) to protect and preserve the huge repository of books, musical instruments, posters, and theatre properties collected by the doyen of Indian theatre is finally being fulfilled with B.V. Karanth Theatre Complex coming up at Heggodu in Shivamogga district.

The complex has been developed in association with Nilakanteshwara Natya Seva Sangha (Ninasam), Heggodu, at a cost of ₹65 lakh. Ninasam, established in 1949, had set up a theatre library facility back in 1980, and it has a collection of over 15,000 rare works on theatre. With Karnath’s collection on theatre now added, the library will be further enriched. “Probably, this will one of the very few libraries on theatre in the country,” said Jayaram Patil, managing trustee of the BVKTT.

The former director of the National School of Drama Kirti Jain will open the complex on December 2. In all, the complex will have around 30,000 books and over 1,000 audio-video documents. The complex will be open to students and faculty of Ninasam, besides visiting scholars, theatre enthusiasts, and the public, according to Akshara K.V. of Ninasam.

Music instruments

Meanwhile, the repository of rare musical instruments collected by Karanth during his lifetime, from all over India, are now at the Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village in Manipal, founded by Vijaynath Shenoy.

Musical instruments collected by B.V. Karanth are now at Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village in Manipal. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Musical instruments collected by B.V. Karanth are now at Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village in Manipal. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Karnath had over 150 rare musical instruments. As there is no person to preserve and protect them, our trust decided to donate all the musical instruments, which were stored in Karanth’s house in Bengaluru, to Hasta Shilpa. Karanth himself had agreed to give them to Hasta Shilpa following an appeal from Mr. Shenoy. Now, they are under the safe custody of curators and preserved in an air-conditioned storage facility,” said Mr. Patil.

State project was shelved

A decade ago, Rangayana in Mysuru, of which Karanth was the first director, had planned a theatre library and museum on its premises.

The Department of Kannada and Culture had also shown interest. The late H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, who headed the department, had formed a committee of experts in theatre and architects, headed by the director of Rangayana, in 2007. A facility at a cost of ₹2.5 crore was planned and a plan was sent to the government. The Minister even sanctioned ₹10 lakh as a token honorarium to the trust to part with Karanth’s collection, and preparations were made to lay the foundation stone for the ambitious project.

However, the dream could not be realised with the fall of the coalition government headed then by H.D. Kumaraswamy. “As successive governments failed to take initiative in the museum project to protect and preserve the priceless collection of Karanth, the Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth Theatre Trust, in association with Ninasam, finally found a safe place for the collection,” said Mr. Patil.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – November 26th, 2018

PES varsity first in state with IET accreditation

Education, Records, All

The Minister for Higher Education, G T Devegowda, also attended the event.

Minister G T Devegowda at the PES University foundation day ceremony where students were given scholarships, in Bengaluru on Saturday
Minister G T Devegowda at the PES University foundation day ceremony where students were given scholarships, in Bengaluru on Saturday

Bengaluru :

The foundation day of the PES university was held on Saturday where it was announced that the University was the first institution in Karnataka to secure the IET’s international Accreditation for 8 of its engineering programmes. The Minister for Higher Education, G T Devegowda, also attended the event.

The formal accreditation was handed over by Mustafa Wajid, Chairman of IET, India Development Panel. IET accreditation is an internationally recognised benchmark, awarded to high quality programmes that provide an ideal preparation for aspiring professional engineers.
PES University applied for IET Accreditation in 2014.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / November 25th, 2018

Look up with pride: 100-ft tall flag for Bengaluru railway stations

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Before the year rolls to a close, you will see the tricolour atop two railway stations in Bengaluru. And you won’t have to crane your neck to see it because, at a mandated 100 ft, it’s not easy to miss.

According to a circular issued by the Railway Board last month, 75 railway stations in India, whose annual earnings exceed Rs 50 crore (called A-1 category stations) have been asked to ensure that our national flag flies atop their premises at a height of 100 ft.

The National Military memorial in Bengaluru has the tallest flag mast in India at 65 metres ( or around 213 ft). The flag mast also has the country’s largest national flag measuring 48 x 78 ft.

The deadline to install the national flag at these chosen railway stations is December 31, 2018. On the lines of the national anthem being played at cinema halls, the government has directed 75 of the busiest railway stations in the country to install the national flag on their premises.

In Bengaluru, the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru City railway station (Majestic) and Yeshwanthpur railway station will have a tricolour each. In KSR, the flag location has been finalised at the circulating area outside the main entrance, giving visitors a full frontal view of the national flag. Sources said that the flag installation has been classified under “soft upgrade improvements at stations.”

The Railway Board circular has directed that the flags should have focus lights and the Railway Protection Force has been tasked to safeguard it. The cost of installing the flag will be around nine lakh rupees, including focus lights and other decorative elements.

A senior railway official said that the flag installations were a part of the government’s drive to project “symbols of nationalism. Whether it is portraits of freedom fighters or the national flag, the aim is to showcase the symbols of our country at public places.” The Railway Board directive says tricolours should be installed at spots close to the entry/exit points.

E Vijaya, Chief Public Relations Officer, South Western Railways said, “We hope to complete the installation by December-end.” A railway source said that there are plans to paint the tricolour on the coaches of local trains. “Already, the tricolour has been painted on several first-class compartments of local trains. More trains will be covered in the coming months,” the railway source said.
Flags at railway stations is yet another example of the nationalist fervour sweeping through not just India but some other countries too. On Sunday, when more than 60 world leaders gathered in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron’s words strongly resonated with many Indians when he delivered a forceful rebuke against rising nationalism, calling it a “betrayal of patriotism” and warning against “old demons coming back to wreak chaos and death.”

Macron’s speech, at the Armistice Day ceremony, was a pointed rebuke to US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin but was also aimed at a global audience. India, meanwhile, has made it amply clear where it stands in the nationalism vs patriotism debate.

Reacting to this circular, Prakash Mandoth said, “It a wonderful move. Anybody would love to see the national flag flying so high. And to have it installed in the city railway station where about two lakh people come every day is a great decision. It creates a sense of nationalism. Usually people bring out national flags only during Independence day or Republic day, but now we will be able to see it flying tall and respect it every day.

However, another railway activist had this to say: “The Indian Railways is suffering from a dearth of funds and this is the reason why no new trains have been announced in the recent past as they need to improve existing infrastructure. So, a fitting tribute would be to invest more in railway infrastructure.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Cover Story / by  Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 14th, 2018

Country’s first digital library to be launched at VTU

Education, Records, All

The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, has become the first in the country to launch a virtual/digital library.

Bengaluru :

The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, has become the first in the country to launch a virtual/digital library. It was launched during the “Tech VCs Conclave-2018,” a two-day conference inaugurated in Bengaluru on Friday.

From now on, students need not go sit in libraries. Instead, they can just access the reference books or journals they want at the click of a button.  The university will provide them login IDs and passwords through which students can access the digital library, which is free of cost.

AICTE chairman Dr D Anil Sahasrabude said, “VTU is the first university in country to introduce such a facility for the benefit of students and faculty. Hope other universities across the nation will follow this.”
VTU Vice Chancellor Dr Karisidappa said, “We will give a password for students so that they can log-in from VTU website and can access all their textbooks materials whenever and wherever they want to.”
He even said that it is possible to access these books from mobile phones. “We will soon make an option for students to avail this facility on the phone as well. They can make notes, prepare for exams and also lab exams through these digital books,” he explained.

Innovation will be a major parameters for ranking of technical Institutions in the country by AICTE from here on, AICTE chairman announced this during the conclave. He said, “A new ranking system called ‘Atal Ranking System’ has been started for which registration is open. The officials said they are working in this respect to enhance the quality of education.”

Open book exams not mandatory
The ‘open book’ examination proposed by AICTE for engineering courses will not be implemented at VTU Belagavi, at least for the next four years. Vice Chancellor of VTU, Dr Karisiddappa, said, “It is not mandatory to introduce ‘open book’ exams.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / November 24th, 2018

Festival of M.S. Sathyu’s films at NGMA

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Film director M.S. Sathyu. | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy
Film director M.S. Sathyu. | Photo Credit: V Sreenivasa Murthy

He is best known for his partition drama Garam Hawa

National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) Bengaluru is offering a rare opportunity for film and theatre enthusiasts to savour the complete creative repertoire of M.S. Sathyu, one of the renowned filmmakers and theatre personalities in India, by organising a week-long festival of his films.

Mysore Srinivas Sathyu, popularly known as Sathyu, is best known for his partition drama Garam Hawa, which bagged several national awards, including the National Integration Award in 1974. He was awarded the Padmashri for his contribution to Indian cinema. At 88, he continues to be active on stage. Last year, he staged his version of fantasy adventure Gulebakavali. With his undiminished passion for film-making, he is still raring to direct a film.

Kahan Kahan Se Guzre, a documentary on the life and works of Sathyu, directed by Masood Akhtar will be screened in the inaugural session. It will be followed by a panel discussion on the relevance of films and theatre dealing with social and political issues where noted cinematographer G.S. Bhaskar, filmmaker Chaitanya K.M. and film critic George Kutty will speak.

Four of his Kannada films — the award-winning Bara, Chitegu Chinte, Ijjodu and Ghalige — will be screened during the festival.

Pratidhwani, a serial based on stories of Jnanapith recipient writer Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, two episodes of Balina Chowkabara and Acharyavanta Ayyangar documentary Nataka Ratna Gubbi Veeranna, directed by Sathyu, will be screened on November 27.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / November 23rd, 2018

Making of the real stars

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports

Srikanth Bhat, an agriculturist-cum-hotelier in Kanchinabailu in Hirebettu village near Manipal, is an ardent lover of the festive sport.

Udupi :

The owners of Kambala buffalos are busy with last-minute preparations as they consider it a matter of prestige and pride. The buffaloes are the prized possession of the owners who raise them with care and indulgence.

Srikanth Bhat, an agriculturist-cum-hotelier in Kanchinabailu in Hirebettu village near Manipal, is an ardent lover of the festive sport. He rears seven Kambala buffalos at a spacious and well-ventilated shed in his 15-acre garden. The routine diet for them includes 5 kg baked horse gram, hay, half a kg jaggery, and 150 ml of sesame and coconut oil once a week.

The caretaker of Bhat’s buffaloes, Sachin S Kotian, told TNIE that the animals are like family members for Bhat. ‘‘The buffaloes stand whenever Bhat arrives in their shed and flap their ears. This is how they show their love for their owner,’’ he says. Another caretaker, Prasad Kumar, assists Sachin in ensuring that proper care is taken of the buffaloes.

The animals are given oil massage and left under the sun for about three hours every day, before they are taken for a swim and bath in a specially-designed pool. Bhat has two kambala jockeys, Nakre Jayakar Madivala and Nakre Manjunath Bhandari.

The recent incident of sudden death of Rocket Moda, Bhat’s 20-year-old buffalo, has upset the team. The Pairu breed buffalo of Kota origin had created a record in 2014 by completing the 144-metre distance in just 13.40 seconds, along with his partner Kutty. They have decided to venture into the race from November 24 after paying respect to the place where Moda was buried, Sachin adds.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prakash Samaja / Express News Service / November 24th, 2018