Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Meet Mr. and Mrs. Gopalan …

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Science & Technology

The Enthusiastic Elderly Couple

“We both have an in-born desire to engage ourselves in our fields of interest and work hard. I am interested in academics and Yadu in arts. We both have the ambition to live, survive and come up in life.”

He is the body and she is the soul. That’s how the couple Prof. M. N. Gopalan and Yadugiri Gopalan live together. Suffering from paralysis from past fifteen years, Gopalan, who is a Ph.D holder, is presently trying his hands at his D.Litt Degree. Prof. Gopalan has seen a tremendous cure, yet he barely steps out of his home. If so he does, his wife Yadugiri has to be with him holding his hand. Yadugiri Gopalan looks after her husband day and night, yet finds time to practice, portray and involve herself in numerous creative and art competitions in and around the city. The couple are supporting each other to fulfil their desires and ambitions. He is 80 and she is 70 now…

 

by Phalgunn Maharishi

GopalanBF06jul2014Unfortunately, the Gopalan couple have no children. Yet they say, “We both ourselves are children for each other.” Prof. Gopalan added, “I am her son and she’s my daughter.” Enthusiasm has not faded away from the couple. They both, in spite of their current circumstances, still want to achieve something more. While talking about the sources of their wide interests, Prof. Gopalan said, “We both have an in-born desire to engage ourselves in our fields of interest and work hard. I am interested in academics and Yadu (in short for Yadugiri) in arts. We both have the ambition to live, survive and come up in life.”

Prof. Gopalan was associated with IIT Bombay for thirty five years from 1960 to 1995, before which he completed his B.Sc Honours in Statistics from Maharaja’s College and M.Sc in Statistics from the University of Mysore. After the completion of his studies, he joined the Bureau of Economics and Statistics in 1958 and later stepped into IIT Bombay. While talking about his tenure at IIT Bombay, Prof. Gopalan recalled, “I had joined IIT Bombay as a technical assistant in 1960 and after consistent promotions, I landed with the post of a lecturer. I was then granted a paid leave for two years to pursue my Ph.D at IIT Madras where I coached M.Tech students part-time. Later, I was appointed at IIT Bombay as an assistant professor and then, I retired in 1995 as the HoD for Interdisciplinary Programme in Reliability Engineering, which is a part of Total Quality Management.”

Mr. and Mrs. Gopalan came into each other’s life through arranged marriage. When they got married in 1965, Gopalan was a lecturer at IIT Bombay. When Gopalan shifted to IIT Madras to pursue his Ph.D in Reliability Analysis of Systems, Yadugiri Gopalan came back to Mysore to pursue her PUC in Fine Arts at Lalitha Kala Academy. She has practised Karnatak Music and Light Music under the able Professor Gauri Kuppaswami, Vidushi H. N. Manjula and H. R. Leelavathi. She has also specialised in Embroidery and Rangoli. Her attractive rangoli designs can be found in their home on the floor and also on walls!

It can surely be mentioned that if you come across any fancy dress competition, rangoli competition or any other cultural programmes in the city, you are sure to find Mrs. Yadugiri Gopalan there with her own unique dress. “My husband feels very happy when I return home bagging a prize. Yet, he has always motivated me to participate in such competitions, not just to win. But I have won more than 200 prizes till now,” said Yadugiri Gopalan and giggled with a wink. With no waste of time, Prof. Gopalan commented, “I am her personal assistant you see! I follow-up all her competition and programme dates,” with a million dollar smile.

Yadugiri said, “He cannot come and watch my stage performances live due to health issues. But he does enjoy it when we receive the photographs. That’s my husband!”

Both Mr. and Mrs. Gopalan are known in their own fields of interest. Prof. Gopalan has been a respectable fellow member of various professional bodies like “The Institution of Engineers,” “Operational Research Society of India,” “Systems Society of India” and “United Writer’s Association of India” and many honours have been bestowed upon him by various organisations for his contributions in the field of education and literature. A few such honours are “Sir M. Vishvesvaraya Award,” “Sahithya Sindhu,” “Sadbhavana Award,” etc. He is also the recipient of “Life-time Achievement Award” conferred by the Operational Research Society of India at Delhi in 2007. He also served as an Emeritus Fellow of the All India Council for Technical Education and University Grants Commission (UGC).

Apart from this, he is into writing too and several articles by him have been published in various newspapers, magazines and journals. He, even today, upon special requests visits many schools with his wife to address the students about various educational facilities and to ward off the societal problems and eradicate social evils. His D.Litt degree application is currently in process and the topic is Interdisciplinary Programme Connecting Management Science and Philosophy.

Yadugiri is no less than her husband. She has so far won a number of awards from various organisations in the city for her unique talent and enthusiasm. “Karakushala Praveene,” “Sthree Kala Prapoorne,” “Kala Tapaswini,” “Kala Saraswathi,” “Kalaratna Prashasthi” are a few among many. She portrays many historical and societal personalities to spread and mould the younger generation and love for the Nation.

When a person visits their residence at Saraswathipuram, he is surely going to come out with an increase in his knowledge and a whole lot of freshness. Such humble and society-oriented couple are surely worth giving a hand and applaud and say proudly, these are our Mysoreans !

source: http://www.starofmysore.com/ Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles  / July 01st, 2014

Sculpture workshop at IGRMS in city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Open air exhibition on traditional terracotta and sculptures soon

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Mysore :

The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS), a National Museum of Mankind at Southern Regional Centre (SRC), Mysore, is developing an Open Air Exhibition on traditional terracotta and sculptures at its premises on Irwin road in city.

In this connection, stone sculptors (craftsmen) from Karnataka and Orissa are taking part in a workshop at IGRMS since May first week.

In all, five artists each from Odisha and Karnataka are participating in the workshop. They are: Sudarshan Sahoo, Dharnidhar Rantaray, Alokkumar Swain, Kshetra Mohan Maharana and Ashokkumar Swain (all from Odisha); L. Basavaraja, T.R. Puneeth, Satish B. Badiger, S. Nagendra and H.P. Shankar (all from Karnataka).

The Orissa sculptors are creating the temple architecture of Orissa tradition while the Karnataka sculptors are creating the folk traditions.

The sculpture workshop will conclude in a week and the art works will be displayed for the public, according to a press release from V. Ashok Vardhan, Officer-In-Charge.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com/ Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 01st, 2014

A Book Chronicling 2,000 Years of Mangalore’s History, Plurality

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Chief Editor B A Viveka Rai, flanked by associate editors Muddu Moodbelle (right) and Vaman Nandavar at the Mangalore Darshana project office in Mangalore | RAJESH SHETTY BALLALBAGH
Chief Editor B A Viveka Rai, flanked by associate editors Muddu Moodbelle (right) and Vaman Nandavar at the Mangalore Darshana project office in Mangalore | RAJESH SHETTY BALLALBAGH

Mangalore :

A team of erudite scholars, at the behest of Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, began work on a gigantic project chronicling 2,000 years of Mangalore’s history.

The 1,000-page ‘Mangalore Darshana,’ to be published in two volumes, will highlight plurality of Mangalore, Chief Editor of Mangalore Darshana, Prof B A Viveka Rai said.

The book begins from Christian era where Roman geographer Claudius Ptolemy mentions the Netravathy river. Govinda Pai in one of his works also quotes Ptolemy, said Rai.

From Alupa dynasty, the first kings who ruled Mangalore from sixth century to 14th century, the narration will cover arrival of Portuguese in 1526, rise of Hyder Ali and beginning of British rule in Mangalore from 1799 onwards.

Information available in travelogues of Abdul Razak (a Persian ambassador who visited Mangalore in 1132 AD), Scottish doctor Francis Buccaneer (who visited Mangalore in 1801), is being utilised to liven up the account.

Rai said a sea trader Abraham Ben Yaju’s account of his stay in Mangalore, including being married to a local woman Ashur, his metal industry, lifestyle from 1132 to 1149 which was in old Arabic was translated to English two years ago.

People from different parts of world, including Jews, came and settled in Mangalore. Before Islam became an institution country wide, many in Mangalore were converted to Islam, he said.

Archives on Mangalore

Besides history, geography, geology, epigraphy, socio-cultural development in the region, the unique influence of natha cult, transport, media, industries, administration, heritage buildings, sports, visit of Gandhiji, Tagore, hotels and more will be included in Darshana, associate editors Vaman Nandavar and Muddu Moodbelle said.

On their approach, Rai said discussions were still in formative stages. “The framework, strategies keep changing, but we have a vision and know what needs to be done,” he said.

Chronicling history is nothing new to Prof Rai. While serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, he chronicled 50 years of the state’s history.

As the V-C of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), he initiated work on chronicling history of Mysore and his successor published Mysore Darshana in four volumes.

It was his work in Mysore Darshana that was noticed by Ibrahim.

“The DC asked us to complete Mangalore Darshana within a year and most importantly spared us a headache of maintaining accounts,” he said.

Unlike anything before they had done, Mangalore Darshana project is challenging, admits Rai.

Unlike Mysore Palace, Mangalore has had no culture of maintaining archives.

A previous compilation of Mangalore’s history, ‘Sturrock Manual,’ borrowed for a doctoral thesis was never returned. “We will have to tap information outside Mangalore and India. For instance we will be at Asiatic Society of India in Kolkata to know about plants,” Rai said.

“I am lucky for the fact that I have good network of scholars who will not turn down my request,” he said.

The work will begin with interview of elderly residents to shed light on life in bygone era. Next experts will contribute 100 articles of 10 pages each about Mangalore.

“We hope that an archive of Mangalore will be a byproduct of this initiative,” Rai said.

It is Payback Time

Mangalore: Prof Viveka Rai, who returned from Germany in October 2013, where he serves as guest professor, Chair of Indology, University of Wurzburg, is presently translating Basava’s vachanas to Tulu. He is bringing out a volume (300 pages) on classical Kannada in English translations with Prof C N Ramachandra. He is also working on another book, translating English grammar to Kannada which will be completed within a week. Despite being pre-occupied with close-academic work, he was still drawn to Mangalore Darshana because he loved the subject. “I have lived in Mangalore since 1968 and the city has given me everything,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Harsha / June 30th, 2014

A tree of solace for cancer patients

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
The decoction of leaves of the Paradise tree is being used as a complement to chemotherapy | Wikipedia
The decoction of leaves of the Paradise tree is being used as a complement to chemotherapy | Wikipedia

Paradise tree, a native of South and Central America and now grown widely in Karnataka, is fast becoming a tree of solace for many cancer patients in the state. The decoction of leaves is being used as a complement to chemotherapy, with patients vouching that it drastically improves the quality of life and even cure the cancer.

The leaves are sourced from Bangalore, where two retired agricultural scientists, Syamasundar Joshi and Shantha Joshi, are engaged in popularising this tree and the decoction. They do it without taking any money, charging patients only labour cost.

“We just want people to grow this tree. It is like taking health insurance,’’ said 73-year-old Syamsundar Joshi. The scientist duo said that the tree was originally brought to India to tide over the edible oil crisis. They noticed the plant was anti-bacterial, anti-tumorous and was good for gynaecological problems.

It was effective for cancer patients and the scientist couple found that the decoction could also bring down side effects of chemotherapy, minimise appetite loss and ensure fast recovery.

Shyla Ramdas of Vazhuthacaud here, who had heard about this decoction, was at first hesitant to give it to her husband, a stage-four cancer patient, who had malignancy in and around his intestine.

“The doctors were not very hopeful about his case and he kept on losing weight. But once he started taking this decoction, he was much healthier, driving the car and generally managing on his own. He even gained back the weight he had lost,’’ said Shyla.

Scientifically, validations are yet to come but isolated studies have shown that several compounds such as the quassinoids in Simarouba has anti-tumour and anti-leukemic (against blood cancer) action.  Glaucarubinone, one such compound, has been found to have activity against drug-resistant mammary tumours in mice and anti-leukemic activity, again in mice. It has also been found to improve mitochondrial metabolism and extend lifespan in the nematode, Caenohabditis elegans.

Most patients that ‘Express’ talked to were willing to let chemotherapy or surgery take credit for their recovery, but in their hearts, believed that it was the Simarouba leaves that made them better. Simarouba glauca is the scientific name of the tree, the local one being ‘Lakshmitaru.’ The leaves are considered to be very effective in curing cancer of first and second stages, whereas in later stages, improvement in quality of life is what is expected. But for Lakshmidevi Pillai of Thrissur, who was suffering with an ovarian cancer that had spread to kidney and intestine, these leaves seemed to have worked.

‘’I had to undergo several rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, but on my last check-up date on October 28, they said everything was fine with me. I continue to drink the decoction,’’ said Shyla, who got her treatment in Gujarat, where her husband worked. Many of the patients, like Pearly Karun of Vazhuthacaud, came to know of these leaves from friends or relatives.

Pearly, whose malignancy had spread from the uterus to the lung, still had a 0.4 cm big tumour even after her chemotherapy.

“I used to feel drained but after starting on this decoction, my fatigue just disappeared. My stamina increased and I have become at least ten times more active now. I am sure that whatever is left of my tumour, will go away,” Pearly sounds confident.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Reema Narendran / ENS – Thiruvananthapuram / January 18th, 2013

Every home should have a library: Kalam

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Bangalore :

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam  on Sunday asked parents to have a small library at home to encourage their children to read books.

“Every home should have a small library with a minimum of 10 books to inculcate the reading habit in children,” Kalam said at a function to mark the sesquicentennial (150 years) of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School here.

Citing the importance of education, he said parents should take sincere steps to increase the collection of books every now and then. “And they should make their wards refer to the books at least an hour a day,” he added.

Paying a tribute to his science teacher Siva Subramaniam Iyer, Kalam said he was inspired by him to become a rocket scientist. “When we were in Class 5, he took us to Rameswaram beach to show students the birds’ flying pattern. He also had a model aircraft to show us the similarity. This eventually inspired me to become a rocket scientist,” he added

Hailing the significance of the Bishop Cotton Schools, the former president said: “One hundred and fifty years is a long time for a school. In astronomy, it’s equal to the number of time taken by the Earth to orbit around the Sun. But most importantly in its every orbit, a star is born.”

Earlier in the day, Bishop Cottons Girls’ School, founded in 1865, celebrated a Holy Communion service on St Peter’s Day at its Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton auditorium. Archbishop of Dublin Dr Michael Geoffrey Jackson, Bishop Cotton Boys’ School principal John K Zachariah and Bishop Cotton Girls’ School principal Princess Franklyn presided over the service. The day was named after the school’s patron saint and inspiring role model.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> /City> Bangalore> Namma Metro / TNN / June 30th, 2014

Star Eves : Her steps are classic and so is her school ….

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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Mysore :

This danseuse runs a dance school with a difference. Her dance school takes pride in being a one- of-its-kind institute that aims to transform budding young students to talented and informed artistes. Brought into existence in Mysore by the young and capable Anitha Yathiraj, Nrutya Vidyapeetha is distinctive, not just for it believes in nurturing every individual artiste to awaken the dancer within, but for the Bharatanatya Training School is run and managed by both the founder of the institute as well as parents of the students training in it.

“I believe in providing quality education and thus, my dance school is run differently,” asserts Anitha, a disciple of city based danseuse Kripa Phadke and dance exponent K. Muralidhar Rao. “I do not believe in publicising much about the school and believe in paying individual attention to each of them.”

Having grown extensively in Mysore in the last 13 years, Anitha’s dance school has various branches across the city, some of which are being run by her own students. According to her, Indian classical dance is a very special form of dance that speaks about the richness of Indian culture and is important to educate the students about the art form the right way.

To maintain precision, the danseuse has included in the committee of the dance school, parents of her students and also some alumni of her institute. “I involve them in the committee for I believe as parents of my students, they have a major role to play in managing the institute, which they trust will guide their children rightly. And all those who are associated with my school are very dedicated and cooperative. It is because of them, arranging programmes and performances from my institute is always fun.”

For this distinctiveness, this small yet exceptional institute was recognised and has collaborated with the University of Paris since five years from where, students come down to learn Bharatanatya every year.

“Students of the University come down to learn Bharatanatya during their summer time which is between July and September. During their visit, I train them according to a special syllabus I have framed for them, who are then certified by Nruthya Vidyapeetha,” says Anitha, adding, “however, for me, it is not the collaboration with the foreign University that means special but it’s the special bonding with my Indian students is what I enjoy most. Most of them do not even know about the institute’s collaboration with the Paris Varsity. My students enjoy the individual attention they receive and I too love spending time with them.”

Apart from running the dance school, Anitha sometime before has also remained a dance tutor in schools like the De Paul International Residential School and Green Valley International School, a casual announcer in Akashavani and is a Post Graduate in Kannada literature.

That apart, she also has several students who exclusively come down from places like Bangalore and Hassan once a week or 15 days to learn the art from her. “They come and learn classes for hours at a stretch, according to the time they can manage to spend here. I am glad they are so dedicated towards their interests,” Anitha feels. And for all her achievements, she reveres her family’s support without which, she says, things would have really been difficult for her. Now a mother of one and still beautifully managing several dance training classes, Anitha is a resident of Vijayanagar 4th Stage, Mysore. Reach her out on: 94483-32200.

— AN

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / June 29th, 2014

Meet star singer Ashwin Prabhu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

A second year Computer Science student at SJCE in city.

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Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing’ and for Ashwin M. Prabhu life has offered him not just a chance to work hard at what he loves doing, but has also given him the best and costliest prize he has bagged till date — a kitty of Rs. 5 lakhs!

Meet 18-year-old Ashwin M. Prabhu from Mysore, who won the ‘Star Singer’ award in the Star Singer contest hosted by Suvarna TV, the finals of which was held on June 8. Ashwin reached the finals with two of his fellow contestants marching ahead of 14 others.

“I’m too young and it’s too early for me to speak about my achievements, as I have a long way to go. I am happy I won the contest and every opportunity like this gives me a chance to work harder and accomplish something more in the field of music,” says the youngster for whom academic excellence too comes as easy as the trophies he wins at music competitions!

A 2nd year student of Computer Science at SJCE in city, Ashwin has been a topper throughout and has no problems juggling between his studies and his passion.

Winning the title was good but what was more heartening and gave him a sense of achievement was when the legendary singer S. Janaki, who was the judge for the finals, was so impressed with Ashwin’s singing that she walked up to the dais and hugged him! “It was very overwhelming for me to be appreciated thus by a singer of her stature…That was an award by itself!” says Ashwin who never failed to impress the other two judges — well-known singer Vijay Prakash and Music Director Giridhar Dewan — throughout the contest.

Starting his music lessons with his first guru S. Ratna, Ashwin learnt Karnatak classical under Vid. C. A. Sridhar and Gamaka vocal with Shubha Raghavendra. He is now training for senior-level in Karnatak music under Vid. R. S. Nandakumar.

With a sound base in classical music, Ashwin’s love for Sugam Sangeeth was kindled by the well-known singer late Raju Ananthaswamy. Raju, who had his own inimitable style of singing, encouraged Ashwin to sing more of songs in the sugam sangeet genre. Music has no boundaries and Ashwin is into all genres of singing today, making him a versatile singer.

“Raju Sir was an embodiment of talent as a singer and a presenter. One needs to learn from him the art of presenting songs in the sugam sangeet genre where lyrics are the real show stealers. He used to bring alive the sentiments of the poets so well that it would reach out to a listener who knew nothing about music too,” reminisces Ashwin who tries hard to follow in his master’s foot-steps. He has accompanied Raju in many music programmes.

Winning has become almost a habit for Ashwin ever since he started participating in contests since the age of 6. Among several prizes and titles that he has won, the most notable ones are he being recognised as Mysore district-level ‘Extraordinary Music Talent’ by the Women and Child Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka, for the year 2010 and winning the first place in the State-level Bhavageete contest twice, conducted by Sugam Sangeeth Academy of well-known singer H.R. Leelavathi. He also stood 4th for Mysore in the Junior Karnatak vocal exam and 1st for Mysore in the Gamaka Prathama vocal conducted by Karnataka Gamaka Parishat. He also presided over one of the sessions of State-level 2nd Children’s Gamaka Conference held at Udupi in November 2011 under the aegis of Karnataka Gamaka Kala Parishat.

Among the TV shows, Ashwin had gone up to the semi-finals in the Sarigamapa Little Champs on Zee Kannada and Little Star Singer on Suvarna TV.

Ashwin has accompanied well- known singers on stage shows in the city and other places and was specially invited by noted singer Sangeeta Katti Kulkarni to sing in Bendre Geethe Yaatre held in city last year.

Ashwin emphasises that there is nothing ‘fake’ about Reality Shows on TV! “All the shows that I have attended have been real and there was no drama or anything fake about it. All comments we get too are as seen on TV and no drama added,” he says adding he doesn’t find anything negative about such shows and on the other hand these shows have given him a chance to experience how it feels to sing in front of a camera.

In fact many of the special judges on the show, who were so impressed with his dashing looks and screen presence on the show wanted to know if Ashwin would join the movies! Ashwin is a very good calligraphist and a creative painter too!

But for this talented youngster who took up engineering instead of medicine, so he would have more time to pursue music, it’s only his academic studies and music lessons right now, as he knows there’s a lot of hard work and dedication needed if he wants to make a mark in the field of music, especially classical music. S.P. Balasubramanyam and Mohd. Rafi are his idols who enchant and inspire him everytime he hears them singing.

His proud parents Mohandas Prabhu, Head-Operations at VST Tillers and Tractors in city and mother Jyothi Prabhu too agree that academics cannot take a backseat. Ashwin’s elder brother Sandeep Prabhu, who is pursuing his MBA at TAPMI, Manipal, has been his constant support.

All the accolades he has earned at such a young age sit lightly on his shoulder for he knows that these achievements are only his stepping stones to a bigger ones.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles  / by Nandini Srinivasan / Saturday  – June 28th, 2014

NIE-CREST to exhibit eco-friendly energy systems at ‘ MYGREEN- 2014 ‘

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology
A stall being readied for the Mygreen- 2014 expo at the Mysore Builders’ Charitable Trust premises on Sterling Theatre road, which will be inaugurated this evening.
A stall being readied for the Mygreen- 2014 expo at the Mysore Builders’ Charitable Trust premises on Sterling Theatre road, which will be inaugurated this evening.

Mysore :

NIE-CREST, a centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies in city will be displaying the technologies for various energy saving concepts at the three-day Mygreen- 2014 expo to be inaugurated this evening at the Mysore Builders’ Charitable Trust premises on Sterling Theatre Road in city.

Technologies that will be displayed are: Waste to Wealth Systems (Kitchen Waste Biogas Plants), Biodiesel from non edible seeds like Pongamia (Honge), Mahua and Jatropha, Solar Energy Technologies (Parabolic concentrators, Solar Box type cooker), Sustainable building materials (Stabilised Mud Blocks and Alternative building materials), Biomass based energy systems- Astra-ole (fuel efficient biomass chullas), Water conservation technologies like Rainwater harvesting systems and Tippy tap systems, Muscle powered water pumps, Charcoal cookers, Muscle powered flour mill and more.

An Organic Food mela will also be held in the evenings on all three days.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  / Friday – June 27th, 2014

State topper in IIT JEE trains next batch

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Karnataka Mangalore :Sumith (centre) a student of Sharada Vidyalaya who ranked 38th in JEE Advanced examination Teaching students who would be writing JEE next year.Mangalore on Wednesday 25th June 2014./ Photo: R.Eswarraj / The Hindu
Karnataka Mangalore :Sumith (centre) a student of Sharada Vidyalaya who ranked 38th in JEE Advanced examination Teaching students who would be writing JEE next year.Mangalore on Wednesday 25th June 2014./ Photo: R.Eswarraj / The Hindu

Since announcement of the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) results last week, 18-year-old Sumith, who has ranked 38, is keeping himself busy giving lectures and helping students training for the JEE and another national-level entrance examination.

“I try my best to explain the concepts. There are some problems related to preparation (for competitive exams); I am in a better position to answer (help),” says Mr. Sumith as he is getting ready to take a class at Kuntikana-based institute on Wednesday. Apart from giving lectures, Mr. Sumith also spends time preparing test question papers for the trainees and solves problems brought before him. “Our seniors held sessions for us and I am following suit,” says Mr. Sumith.

Mr. Sumith, a student of Sharada Vidyalaya, has been the topper among the students from Karnataka who wrote the JEE Advanced Examination. With his ranking, Mr. Sumith is hopeful of pursuing computer science course in IIT Mumbai. He reasons, “Computer science involves logical thinking. IIT Mumbai’s computer science branch is the best.” Mr. Sumith is waiting for the announcement of the first list on July 1.

Mr. Sumith has been ranked third in the Common Entrance Test and seventh in the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana examination. He is among 38 students from selected from the country for the orientation-cum-selection camp for International Physics and Chemistry Olympiad held at the Homi Bhabha Centre For Science Education last month.

Mr. Sumith says his preparation for the examinations was centred on understanding concepts.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by Staff Correspondent / Mangalore – June 28th, 2014

Bikers get a lesson in safe driving at boot camp

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Bikers taking part in a slow race in an awareness camp on ‘safe roads for self and others’ organised by Jawa & Yezdi Owners Club of India in Mangalore on Sunday./ Photo: Eswarraj / The Hindu
Bikers taking part in a slow race in an awareness camp on ‘safe roads for self and others’ organised by Jawa & Yezdi Owners Club of India in Mangalore on Sunday./ Photo: Eswarraj / The Hindu

Classes on motorcycle maintenance, changing flat tyre and driving

Nearly 60 bikers participated in Riders’ Boot Camp, a road safety awareness initiative, organised by Jawa & Yezdi Owners Club of India, Mangalore, here on Sunday where they were informed about the fallouts of careless driving and given tips about safe driving.

The club took this initiative of organising the event in the wake of increasing road fatalities, particularly involving two-wheeler drivers, said Arun Shiri, a club member. While the World Motorcycle Day was on Saturday, the club organised the event on Sunday to attract more people. Mr. Shiri said the initiative is a trial run, which would later be taken to the public.

The participants were shown many video clippings of accidents, majority of which were captured through CCTV cameras installed at busy junctions in various cities. The participants were told to learn safe driving by watching such incidents and not to commit similar mistakes.

Maintenance training

There were presentations about road safety by civil engineer Sudhir Bhandarkar and first-aid by Brijesh Khandige. Rohan David, who had been to Laddakh a couple years ago on his Yezdi, shared his experiences and elaborated about the preparations before and during the expedition.

There were many practical events to test drivers’ skill in various aspects, including on maintenance and driving. After a brief about bike maintenance and repair, a competition on changing flat tyre was organised. Similarly, a slow bike racing was organised for the enthusiasts.

Joyel Fernandes from Zero Gravity, a professional stunt group, performed stunts and advised the participants to confine stunts to secluded places and not endanger life of public. Those performing stunts should wear safety gears to protect themselves, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by Special Correspondent / Mangalore – June 23rd, 2014