Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Shivamogga girl wins state-level painting contest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

An­us­h­r­ee K, a Class VII student of Shree Mahaveer Vidyalaya, Koti Road, Shivamoga eme­rged the winner of the state-level painting competition on the theme:

“Conservation of Water and Pollution”. The 7th annual competition was hosted by the Central Ground Water Board in the city.

Anushree will represent the state at the national level competition, which will be held in Delhi. The second and third prizes went to Amithraj, Class VII student from Amrutha Bharathi Vidya Kendra of Udupi and Sujana S Godbole, Class VIII student from Sant Meera’s English School of Angol – Belagavi respectively.

In all, around 55,000 students from 550 schools across the state took part in the school-level competition. Of them, 50 best paintings were selected for the state-level competition.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / DHNS / Bengaluru – November 28th, 2016

Bengaluru boy Vishnu Raj Menon is Mr India 2016

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Menon will now compete in the world pageant, which Rohit Khandelwal won last year.

Hrithik Roshan and Mr World Rohit Khandelwal, with Mr India World, Vishnu Raj S Menon, and the runners-up. Photo: Yogen Shah
Hrithik Roshan and Mr World Rohit Khandelwal, with Mr India World, Vishnu Raj S Menon, and the runners-up. Photo: Yogen Shah

Last year, Rohit Khandelwal made history as the first Asian man to win the title of Mr World. This year, it’s up to Vishnu Raj S Menon from Bengaluru to make India proud.

Menon was crowned as Peter England Mr India World by Hrithik Roshan last evening at a star-studded event. Viren Barman and Altamash Faraz, both from Delhi, were announced as the first and the second runner-up respectively at the finale of the pageant.

16 contestants from all over the country had to go through various grooming sessions that were mentored by eminent panelists from the fashion and film industry of India.

Rohit Khandelwal passed down his ‘crown’ to Menon after a tough competition from the others, at this gala event attended by many celebs like Kirti Kulhari, Gurmeet Choudhary with wife Debina Bonnerjee, Sana Khan, Madhurimma Tuli, Sharad Kelkar, Freddy Daruwalla, Ankita Shorey, Adah Sharma.

“I am very inspired. This competition is not just about looks. This shows lots of characters. These people, while doing their jobs, took out time and disciplined themselves to reach this far. I think that is commendable. I think, if they can achieve this, they can achieve whatever they want in life,” Hrithik told TOI about his experience at the event.

Now we have the global pageant to look forward to. Here’s hoping Vishnu Raj S Menon can bring home the prestigious title, just like his predecesor, Rohit Khandelwal did.

source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / IndiaToday.in / Home> News> Lifestyle > What’s Hot / November 25th, 2016

Sharjah: Multitalented Ganesh Rai to be honoured with ‘Global Man Award’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Dubai :

Multitalented former president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, B K Ganesh Rai is being bestowed with the ‘Global Man Award 2015’ for his contributions to Kannada language, literature, art, folk and social service both globally and in India and is the only one chosen from the UAE for this award. The award will be presented to him during the 12th Vishwa Kannada Samskruthi Sammelana and 13th anniversary of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah celebrations to be held on November 19 and 20 at Al Boom Tourist Village, Sharjah, UAE.

Ganesh Rai is the name that flashes in the minds of every Kannadiga specially in the UAE when it comes to matters of creativity. Multitalented, one can call him “Sakala Kala Vallaban”, be it different forms of painting, from miniatures to wall size, various forms of sculptures, from paper pulp to plaster or parry’s, large stage settings, tableaux, palatial sets, photography, videography, brochures, digital banners, souvenirs, models… you name it and you will find the skills in this great man, Ganesh Rai. He will simply smile and says yes without any hesitation, as for him work is worship and so he does it with ease. He is a good speaker too, a recepient of “Karnataka State Best Teacher Award” in the year 1993.

Hailing from Madikeri, Coorg, Ganesh Rai was born to Thulasiamma and Krishnappa Rai who themselves sound ‘Krishna Tulasi’, close to the Lords. Madikeri has gifted to the world this unique personality called Ganesh Rai who always keep saying “Elladaru iru, yenthadaru iru, yendendhigu nee Kannada vaagiru. (Live wherever you want to, be whatever you want to be, but remain a Kannadiga forever).”

Professor of art, B K Ganesh Rai needs no introduction in this part of the world. He is a person who rises above boundaries of colour, caste, creed, religion and language. Be it a request for art, stage setting, designing, printing, executing brochures, logos, invitations, souvenirs, sculpture, decorating stage from any corner of people, any corner of UAE, at any point of time, you will find only one person who creates with a smile and executes in spite of his busy schedule. ‘Sirigannadam Gelge, Sirigannadam Baalge’ – he never forgets to say that when completing his speech in any of the respected podiums he addresses.
Ganesh Rai’s Work – Service without Boundaries

* Turnkey project management for almost all social organisations without linguistic barriers
* Conceptualization, designing, printing and distribution of invitations
* Creation of giant size banners, stage backdrops, stage settings, cut-outs, posters etc.
* Creative journalism writing to various web media flashing timely news around the world
* Publication of high profile visit reports of specially invited artistes and guests from India
* Master of ceremony (MC) par excellence with easy flow of language and literature
* Conceptualization of ‘Certificate of Honour’ for dignitaries, high profile guests, artistes etc.
* Concept, design and execution of various souvenirs to almost all the existing Associations in UAE
* Creating sculptures especially Ganesha idol every year, Narayan Guru idol and many more
* Paintings of deities, brush arts, pencil art, charcoal art and various naturalistic creations
* Assumed and discharged active role as president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in 2004
* Conducted first blood donation camp for Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in association with MOH
* Attends all blood donation camps organised by various associations and spreads awareness
by creating banners, role-ups and notices for blood donation camps and providing media news
* Compiled, created and released brochure of all Karnataka-based organisations’ blood donations. Brochure released by M K Lokesh, Ambassador of India
* Record of Indian blood donors presented to governments of India, UAE and Karnataka
* Helping the unfortunate deceased Indians in formalities of sending the mortal remains to India
* Enlightening and spreading the essence of Kannada as a soldier of Karnataka to Kannadigas
* Attained appreciations and accolades from almost all Karnataka based associations, and from Tamil, Malayalam and other Indian associations
* Won accolades from NMC Group where he is serving as creative art director
* Supported people of Bangladesh during the flood and natural disasters and helped those affected by the calamities.

Rai, a BCom graduate of Government College, Madikeri, a fine arts diploma holder of Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Art6s, an art master certificate holder from Kalanikethan School of Arts, Mysore and Mahalasa School of Arts, Mangaluru, is very well supported by his charming wife Manjula Rai, beautiful daughter Aishwarya Rai and handsome son Monish Rai.

 

Below are some of the creations for which he has been applauded:

Rai’s creations in India

Sculpture / Statues: Created Pushpanjali, Elephants, Lion and Carving Designs in the year 1974 at Govt Junior College Madikeri – Courtesy P P Ayyanna, principal, and unveiled by Field Marshal K M Cariappa

Ganapathy Statues: From 1979 onwards he has created more than 350 statues (2ft – 12 ft) for Karnataka Electricity Board Madikeri 1979-1995, Archana Ganapathy Festival, Virajpet, Angala Parameshwari Temple, Virajpet, Sri Rama Mandir Dechoor Madikeri, Hindu Yuva Shakti New Extn, G T Circle, Madikeri.

Paper Pulp Statues: Created paper moulding statues 8ft-12ft of different styles at Madikeri Dasara Festival, Gonikoppal Dasara Festival, viz, Ganapathy, Natya Ganapathy, Durga Parameshwari, Lakshmi, Saraswaty, Cauvery, Subramanya, Veera Hanumaan, Soorya Bhagavan with Seven Horses, Shanmuka Tarakasura vadhe, Vishnu Bhagavan, Narada, Thumbura, Shiva Linga, Lions, Tigers, Swamy Ayyappa, Maha Kali and many more. Also at Kanchi Kamakshi Temple Gouli street Madikeri, Kote Mariyamma Temple new Extn. Madikeri, Dechoor Sri Rama Mandir Madikeri, Kote Ganapathy Temple Madikeri, Kundurumotte Chamundeshwari Temple Madikeri Uma Maheshwari Temple Gonikoppal, Sree Hanuman Garadi, Beltangadi, South Canara, Bhuvaneshwari Statue – Kannada Rajyotsava celebration – Virajpet etc.

Concrete Moulding Statues: Created 9 ft Cauvery Statue both front and back faced double dimension in front of Cauvery Kalakshetra Madikeri, St Michael Statue (9 ft) at St Michael’s Church Madikeri, St Mary Statue at Kedamalloor Church – Virajpet, Nandi Basava – Arameri Kalancheri Mata statues, Raghavendra Swamy Statue at Raghavendra Temple – Mantralaya, AP, Karu Mariyamma / Nandi / Shiva Linga statues at Karu Mariyamma Temple Madikeri, Swamy Vivekananda 12 ft statue at Cauvery Krupa Madikeri and Prabhavali at Ganapathy Temple Virajpet

Wax Statues: Created Ganapathy, Lakshmi, Sarswathy, Cauvery statues at Madikeri.

Oil Colour/Water Colour Paintings: Created Birth Place of Cauvery oil color canvas painting for Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Board, Chennai. Also created Field Marshal K M Cariappa lifesize oil colour painting, Gopala Krishna Gokale lifesize oil colour painting for Govt Junior College Auditorium Madikeri, Coorg landscape paintings in oil colour for Public Library Virajpet, Jayaprakash Narayan oil colour portrait for A B Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, Omkareshwara Temple by night oil colour painting for Lalitha Kala Academy Bengaluru and many painting collections in Delhi, USA, Australia, France, Dubai etc.

Besides, he has participated in a number of art exhibitions in several places right from 1977.
Souvenir Cover Page Design and Logos

Created souvenir pages for 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Madikeri, Madikeri Kodava Samaj Amruta Mahotsava (80 Years), Karnataka Police Centenary Celebration, St Anne’s Church 200 years Celebration, Kodagu Dist Honey & Wax Co-op Society Virajpet.

Created logos for Kodagu District Co-op Central Bank, Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodagu Zilla Parishat, 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Taranga Virajpet, St Anne’s High School Virajpet, Many more commercial company

He was responsible for multi-coloured picture, offset printing at Shivakasi which was the first time a multi-coloured picture was published in Kodagu (1980)

Birth Place of River Cauvery – Released by Field Marshal K M Cariappa.
Tala Cauvery – Poster released by A Ramaswamy, former deputy commissioner, Kodagu
Tala Cauvery – Triveni Sangama, Theerta Kundike – Picture cards released by M K Poovaiah
Tala Cauvery – Raja Seat Madikeri, Abbi Falls Madikeri – Greetings cards released by R Gundu Rao, the then chief minister of Karnataka
Cauvery – Amar Chitra Katha (pictorial book) Kannada, English, Kodava language released by M C Nanaiah, the then law minister of Karnataka government.
Aishwaraiswara Kubera Lakshmi, Framing picture – Released by Shekar Shetty of Arab Udupi Group of Hotels UAE


Organisations Served

President –Kodagu Kala Parishat / Kodagu Art Masters Association
Secretary –Bharat Scouts and Guides Taluk Association
Secretary –Kodagu District Bunts Association
Founder Member – ‘Taranga’ Cultural Association Virajpet
Technical Advisor – Field Marshal K M Cariappa Statue Committee, Madikeri
Rai’s activities in United Arab Emirates from 1996 onwards

Served as creative art director at Mirrage Advertising, Winning Communivations, Modern Graphics and now currently serving as creative director in Gulf Public Relations Advertising – Signage Division, NMC Group

Public Service

President – Karnataka Sangaha Sharjah 2004 – 2006
Entertainment Secretary – Karnataka Sangha Dubai 2000-2002
Art Director – UAE Tulu Koota Dubai, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE
Organising Committee Member – UAE Bunts -2000-2001
Blood Donation Camp, 2006 – Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman and Ministry of Health, Sharjah


Art works created in UAE: Digital banners created with the concept of Karnataka art and culture and Indian traditional art for Karnataka Sangha Dubai, UAE Tulu Koota, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, UAE Bunts, Mogaveers UAE, Billawas Dubai & Northers Emirates, Billawas Dubai, Gulf Billawa Sangha, Daiji Rang Mandir, Symphony Music Institute – Ajman/Sharjah, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Nama Tuluveru UAE, Vishwakarma Seva Samiti UAE, Devaadiga Sangha UAE.

Logos created in UAE for Karnataka Sangah Sharjah, UAE Tulu Koota (decennial), UAE Bunts, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Al Ain Kannada Sangha, Dhvani Pratistana UAE (silver jubilee), Mogaveers UAE, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Gulf Kannadiga Forum, Devadiga Sangha UAE, UAE Tamil Sangam, Mangalore Konkans (20 years), Daiijiword website, Kannadadhvani website

Stage settings and gateway creations in UAE with the concept of Karnataka art and culture and Indian traditional art for Karnataka Sangah Dubai – Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore setting in 2001, Mysore Palace setting in 2002 (Karnatakotsava – Vishnuvardhan Kannada cine star), UAE Tulu Koota – Tulunadu setting.


Tableaux, gateways and souvenirs designed

* UAE Bunts Souvenir Cover page design – 1999
* Karnataka Sangha Dubai Souvenir – “Gaana Vaibhava”2001 , “Chandana” 2010
* Karnataka Sangha Sharjah – “Saadhane” – 2006
* Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha “Rajata Rashmi” – 2006
* Mangalore Konkans Dubai 2003 – 2010
* Billawas Dubai & Northern Emirates “Suvarna Kedage”- 2007
* UAE Tulukoota – “Sangama” 2000
* St Mary’s Church Dubai – 2005
* St Francis Assisi Jebal Ali – 2007
* St Michael’s Church Sharjah
* SMC Malayalee Catholics
* Tamil Sangam Ras Al Khaimah
* SMC Fr Daniel’s Hon Souvenir
* Dhvani Pratistaana UAE – “Kannada Naadu Nudi Rakshane” Cover
* Karnataka Sangha Sharjah -” Suvarna Karnataka Picture Card”

Besides, he has written and conceptualised a book titled ‘Footprints – A fascinating journey’ to Padmashri Dr B R Shetty.
Awards

Honoured at Govt Junior College Madikeri 1974 at Field Marshal K M Cariappa unveiling ceremony of sculptured art work, Main Gate GJC Madikeri
Karnataka State Best Teacher Award – 1993 by Karnataka Teachers Benefit Fund Bangalore
Karnataka Rajyotsava District Award -1987 by R Gundu Rao, the then chief minister of Karnataka
Gold Medal -1987 at Lakshadeepotsava Dharmasthala by Dr Veerendra Heggade
State Level Honouring – 1993 – at Gokrananatheshwara Temple Mangaluru, by Sri Pejawar Swamiji
Dr Shivaram Karanth Shilpa Kala Rathna Award – 1983 at Karnataka Electricity Board – Madikeri, by K A Somanna, state commissioner, Bharat Scouts – Karnataka
Kala Praveena Award – 1984 Ganapathy Utsava Samiti Gandhi Nagara Virajpet by Sri Shanthamalla Swamiji, Arameri Mata
Kala Kirana Award – 1990 at Angala Parameshwari Temple Virajpet, by M K Poovaiah, president, town muncipal council, Virajpet
Honoured at 100 years Karnataka Police Celebration – 1984 by P S Ramanujam, DIG Mysore
Honoured at Lalitha Kala Academy, Bangalore -1991 by P R Thippeswamy, president, Lalitha Kala Academy Bangalore
Honoured at Madikeri Dasara – Navaratri festival by M C Nanaiah, the then law minister Karnataka
Honourred at Sarva Dharma Sammelana – Arameri Math, by Shiva Kumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math,Tumakuru and Shantha Malla Swamiji Kalncheri Arameri Math
Honoured at Madikeri Dasara Utasav Temples by Kanchi Kaamkshi Temple, Kote Mariyamma Temple
Honoured by Kodagu Bunts Association 1993 at Rotary Hall Madikeri
Honoured at Vishwa Bunts Convention -1993 at Art Exhibition – Chitra Kala Parishat Bangalore by Dr Shivarama Karanth and Jeevaraj Alva, the then minister of Kannada and culture, Karnataka
Awards in UAE

Was honoured with ‘Mayura Award’ by Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in 2009
Received ‘Prathiba Puraskar Award’ at Vishwa Kannada Cultural Convention in 2009
Honoured at Nama Tuluveru ‘Tuluvere Parba 2012’
Honoured at Kuvempu Utsava 2012 at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Honoured at UAE Bunts Satyanarayana Pooja by Dr. B.R. Shetty in 2015
Honoured at UAE Tulukoota Silver Jubilee Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Devadigas Dubai Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Ramakshatriya Sangha in 2015
Honoured by Shri. Veerendra Hegde at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sanga Rajyotsava Celebration 2015
Other than the above there are innumerable events Ganesh Rai has contributed selflessly to in one or the other way which was noticed and appreciated by the concerned on various occasions.

In my view, Ganesh Rai should be considered as a great asset to the Kannadigas in the UAE and India as well, for his contribution so far. With his sheer enthusiasm and commitment towards Kannada and Tulu language, he is promoting community spirit from so many years in this part of the world. He deserves all accolades and appreciation from the government of Karnataka which should recognize his service towards Kannada/Tulu language, art, folk and literature packed with a unique blend of artistry, social awareness, commitment of service to humanity and honour him soon.

Wishing him more success in his future endeavors.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Shodhan Prasad / Dubai – November 19th, 2015

City theatrist NA.Ratna bags B.V. Karanth Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

T. Chowdiah Award for Suresh Talwalkar

Bengaluru :

The Kannada and Culture Department has announced various awards including the prestigious Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Award and T. Chowdiah National Award for the year 2015.

Renowned city theatrist Na. Ratna has bagged the prestigious B.V. Karanth Award. Mumbai-based senior tabla artiste Suresh Talwalkar has bagged T. Chowdiah Award.

The other awardees are: Peter Lewis of Dakshina Kannada – Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award; N. Pushpamala of Bengaluru – Jakanachari Award; Belakawadi Rangaswamy Iyengar of Bengaluru – Nijaguna Purandara Award; Kamalamma Vittal Rao of Bengaluru – Kumaravyasa Award; Singer Ratnamala Prakash – Santa Shishunala Sharif Award; M. Shakuntala of Bengaluru – Natyarani Shantala Award; Sattur Imamsab of Ballari – Janapada Sri Award; R. Paramashivan of Bengaluru – Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Award; Nemichandra of Bengaluru – Danachintamani Attimabbe Award; M.S. Sindhura – Prof. K.G. Kundanagara Award; Jambanna Amarachintana of Raichur – Sangolli Rayanna Award; Dr. B.A. Sanadi of Kumta, UK District – Pampa Award.

The T. Chowdiah Award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh and a citation, while all other awards carry a cash prize of Rs. 3 lakh each and a citation. The Awards will be presented by CM Siddharamaiah at a function to take place at Ravindra Kalakshetra in the State capital on Nov. 15.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 10th, 2016

Tribal activist presented ‘People’s Rajyotsava’ award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Writer Devanur Mahadeva presenting the award to Somanna at Motta haadi near H.D. Kote in Mysuru district on Saturday.
Writer Devanur Mahadeva presenting the award to Somanna at Motta haadi near H.D. Kote in Mysuru district on Saturday.

The first list of Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards announced this year had the name of Somanna, a tribal rights activist for four decades from the backward Jenu Kuruba community, as one of the winners in the social service category. But his name disappeared from the final list.

In response to this “insensitivity” of the government, a group of social activists, writers and academics on Saturday felicitated Mr. Somanna in what they called “People’s Rajyotsava” at his haadi (tribal settlement) of Motta, near Heggadadevanakote, in Mysuru district.

The award, which included a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, put together through people’s contributions, was presented by Devanur Mahadeva, writer and activist, in a warm ceremony. Mr. Mahadeva said the award represented the “voice of conscience” at a time when the tribal communities were losing their livelihoods to the so-called “civilised” ways of the world.

Responding to the felicitation, Mr. Somanna said the award had made him “much happier than any State award ever could” as it came from the hearts of the people.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – November 13th, 2016

Tree Facts : Floral Splendour

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

treefactsbf12nov2016

Ornamental garden is the dream of plant-loving urban dwellers. Plants, foliage and flowering of different hues in various combination can express the beauty of nature around the living area. It is not the size that matters as one can landscape even a small home ground in the same way as done for larger estates or public parks. When done in the best form it is the pride of the house.

An ‘ornamental garden’ developed by a woman falls into this category. The owner, gardener and executor is none other than the winner of the first prize in the Annual Dasara Flower Show under ornamental garden category: Ms. Hashmath Fathima. It is an artistic outdoor garden developed around her little dwelling place in a plot of land in Kalyanagiri, all on her own. The garden has all the ingredients of a modern ornamental garden with display of choicest flowering and foliage plants in the form of annuals and perennials (herbs, shrubs, climbers, trees, ornamental grasses, bulbs etc.) embellished with various design elements.

The special feature is most part of the garden is developed using containers of various size, shape and hues. The entrance gate opens up into a path leading to the garage, beautifully paved with lawn grass in the crevices which makes up for the absence of a lawn (due to lack of space). On entry into the garden you can notice the potted plants stacked up in multiple rows in various colour combination of foliage and flowers & height along side the wooden wall. The half wall of the verandah has been decked up with colourful overhanging Lantanas, besides the hanging pots at the entrance of the house.

For embellishment valuable objects of artefacts in the form of figurines of various objects, birds nests etc., are placed at vantage points. The northern wall of the house is fully green, a breathing wall completely covered with creeping fig (Ficus repens). The perennial climbers (Allamanda, Quisqualis, Bougainvillea etc.) with their foothold on the northern edge ramble on the wooden barricade. The garlic vine (Mansoa alliacea) overarching the garage makes spectacular display with purple coloured blooms and attracts the onlookers. A small pond is also designed in the backyard with water lily (Nymphae sps) in it. In addition to being pleasant to look at, this ornamental garden is also enjoyable to use with a recreation area to sit and enjoy reading etc., in the form of a bench decorated with an arch covered with a climber in the front yard and an aviary with plenty of beautiful birds in the backyard.

Another eye-catching addition is the bottle garden (hanging) created using soft drink bottles planted with variegated Alternantheras. This impressed me a lot. In general the display of plants is such that as soon as one enters one can experience the burst of flowers of all hues amidst the colourful foliage. Above all, with innumerable flowering and foliage plants (Acalypha, Althea rosea, Asparagus, Aglonema, Alternanthera, Anthuriums, Asters, Coleus, Catharanthus, Chrysanthemums, Cocks comb, Begonias, Cosmos, Calendulas, Chlorophytum, Duranta, Euphorbia milii, Gamphrena, Gazania, Gerberas, Day lily, Ferns, Marigolds, Pentas, Petunias, Zinnias etc., etc.) this little paradise looked like a “mini flower show.”

Ms. Hashmath is into gardening for more than a decade and has won several first prizes in the past too. I understand that she herself carries out most of her gardening work and uses only organic manure. Most of her earnings are spent on maintaining the garden. A dress designer by profession, she has put her heart and soul in designing the beautiful and attractive garden as well! Furthermore, she has shown the ability and imagination of the gardener in her in the best form besides the woman power.

Text & photographs by Dr. Mahadeswara Swamy, Scientist, Mob: 97429-91057, e-mail: swamy_clri@hotmail.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / November 06th, 2016

Rajyotsava Award conferred on J.R. Lakshmana Rao

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree is seen presenting Kannada Rajyotsava Award to Prof. J.R. Lakshmana Rao at his residence last evening. Others seen are Prof. Rao’s wife Jeevu Bai, daughter Vidya Shankar, son Anil Kumar, niece Jayanthi, her husband Mohan, along with MLA Vasu, Kannada and Culture Director K.A. Dayanand, former Mayor Modamani and others
Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree is seen presenting Kannada Rajyotsava Award to Prof. J.R. Lakshmana Rao at his residence last evening. Others seen are Prof. Rao’s wife Jeevu Bai, daughter Vidya Shankar, son Anil Kumar, niece Jayanthi, her husband Mohan, along with MLA Vasu, Kannada and Culture Director K.A. Dayanand, former Mayor Modamani and others

Mysuru :

Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree yesterday conferred Kannada Rajyotsava Award on Kannada science writer G.R. Lakshmana Rao at the latter’s residence on 12th Main, Saraswathipuram here.

Umashree, who conferred the ward on Lakshmana Rao, also met his wife Jeevu Bai and handed over a cheque for Rs.1 lakh which is a purse associated with the award.

Speaking to media persons on the occasion, Umashree said that the Government had chosen Lakshmana Rao for the award on the basis of his contribution to the world of Science literature.

She also said that she came to Mysuru to personally present the ward as Lakshmana Rao could not attend the award presentation ceremony on Nov. 1 owing to ill health.

MLA Vasu, former Mayor R. Lingappa, Kannada and Culture Director K.A. Dayanand, Asst. Director Chennappa and family members of Lakshman Rao were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 06th, 2016

Selected for Rotary – Muktaka Sahitya Award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mysuru :

Noted Muktaka poet K.S. Manjunatha of Hariharapura, Chikkamagalur, has been selected for the Rotary-Muktaka Sahitya Award.

He will be conferred the award at a function jointly organised by Mysuru-based Karnataka Muktaka Sahitya Academy and Rotary Mysore North, on Nov. 25 at Rotary Centre on JLB Road at 6.30 pm. Dr. K. Anantharamu, retired Professor of Kannada, University of Mysore, will inaugurate the function.

Profile: K.S. Manjunatha hails from Hariharapura in Chikkamagalur district and is serving as Sub-Divisional Engineer of Bharath Seva Sanchara Nigam Limited in Hassan. A Muktaka poet by virtue of his literary involvements, he has produced a Muktaka book titled “Sri Manjunatha Vachanamrutha” which contains more than 13,000 Muktaka verses.

Apart from this, he has authored books, Sri Raghavendra Bhakthi Sukthi, Sri Govindha Suktha and the like. An expert in Yakshagana, Talamaddale arts, he was instrumental in establishing a number of Socio – Cultural organisations like Yakshavedike.

The award consists of a cash prize, citation and a memento, according to a press release from S. Ramaprasad, President of the Academy.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 05th, 2016

Finding meaning in the mundane

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
K. V. Akshara
K. V. Akshara

Writing and the practice of theatre is not merely an exercise of the mind, nor is it an act of self gratification. It is, for K.V. Akshara, living it out in real life, in all its pains and pleasures

If you have to describe, say a writer, you would perhaps speak of the key features of his writing. Maybe his style, his language and his chief creative concerns. But in the case of K.V. Akshara, this more or less general methodology, needs to be altered. A playwright, an essayist, translator, theatre director, teacher, and a diligent student of philosophy, who, with his unconventional, bold views, surprises even the masters. In modesty, Akshara calls himself a la Jack of all, “ellakku edataakuva edabidangi” as he dabbles in mythology, economics, science… with the seriousness, rigour and curiosity of an academic. It is impossible for an individual to become these multiple interests all at the same time, and it is true in Akshara’s case as well. What is different is that these several pursuits are never insulated from each other at any given time – so if one stream takes centre stage, the others fuel from the periphery. Let us illustrate this with his essay “Maatina Nona” from the collection, Sammukhadali Svagata. The essay begins on a note of remembrance – a joke made on the weariness of the word by the late critic D.R. Nagaraj. Using the “word or speech” as his starting point, Akshara unravels its hidden meanings from philosophical, scientific, literary and theatrical points of view. He evokes Shakespeare’s “Words, Words, Words” from the play Hamlet and climaxes it with the “bhrunga” of Bendre’s poem, Kalpana Vilasa. Akshara’s writing is not merely an indulgent collage of his varied interests, but it is inherently inter disciplinary through which he expands the very meaning of what he seeks.

Early on in his writing life, Akshara published an anthology of poetry, though prose writings and drama are his key interests. Apart from being a playwright, he teaches drama at the reputed Ninasam Theatre Institute which he heads. Theatre, for Akshara, is not a pastime, neither is it his profession. For him, it is a way of life. Even while he is addressing his other interests, it is through the language and mimetics of theatre that Akshara negotiates with the world and interacts with his fellow beings. In other words theatre is his modus operandi. His literary writings are also marked by his essential dialogic imagination. For instance, Akshara’s essay “Naanu” based on his theatre production of Gopalakrishna Adiga’s poetry (with Channakeshava, 1999), is starkly different from conventional literary criticism. His two major productions G.K. MaastararaPranayaPrasaga (Chandrashekhara Kambar) and Babugiri (Rabindranath Tagore) are based on fictional narratives. Akshara deals with his literary experience through theatrical tools, thereby opening up rich, new possibilities of these texts. In fact, summing up his approach is his collection of essays titled, “Rangabhoomiya Mukhaantara” (Via Theatre).

With his father K.V. Subbanna
With his father K.V. Subbanna

Akshara, like his father K.V. Subbanna, has a remarkable sense of language: it is at once poetic, charming and quirky. Since both Akshara and Subbanna are translators, they have often come up with new coinages, which eventually have become part of the Kannada lexicon itself. If Subbanna coined words like “antahpatya” to mean subtext, Akshara has come up with brilliant words like Akarmaka, Sakarmaka as Kannada equivalents for French words ecrivain and ecrivaint. This keen and dynamic sense of language, renders Akshara as one of our finest translators. Shakespeare’s outstanding rhetoric acquires equally grand poetic dimensions in his Kannada translations. So much so that they refrain from being literal translations and embody Kannada itself. Speaking about the right approach to translate Shakespeare, Akshara says: “He has to be captured in meaning, the way we hold on to a song. To be able to get him into your language successfully, the contempt of Navya writers for rhetoric has to be abandoned. You must don the playfulness and love of language that the Navodaya writers had.” The rhythm of the text is so creatively exploited that one can read his translations and also watch them on stage without losing out on its poetry, politics or philosophy. Akshara interprets Shakespeare in the immediate context of our time and space without being over indulgent or didactic. Akshara’s love of the word, its inherent drama and also his reading, can be seen in his choice of titles itself: Merchant of Venice becomes Venissina Vyapaara, Winter’s Tale becomes Shishira Vasanta and so on. Apart from this, Akshara has also translated Chekov’s Cherry Orchard, Gogol’s The Inspector General of Police, Dario Fo’s Virtuous Burglar which are also memorable productions for theatre audiences.

Akshara, in all his five plays, deals with contemporary issues. The problems they negotiate are the real problems of contemporary India. If Sahyadri Kanda is about the ripples caused in the life of the people in a village on the Western Coast which will soon have a nuclear plant, Choorikatte Artharth Kalyanapura, deals with communalism. While the former addresses the notion of development, the latter raises questions on identity politics. His trilogy Swayamvaraloka, Bharatha Yatra and Sethubandhana dwell on the seeming binaries of village-city, success-failure, modern-traditional… but examines the nature of human relationships in the changing world. Even when Akshara deals with “real” problems of life and living, he never traps his plays in the realistic mode. His plays reflect an ambition to elevate the real experience to a mythical level. While most playwrights attempt to echo contemporary concerns by reinterpreting history and mythology, Akshara reverses the process: he transforms contemporary experience into myths. For Akshara, the epics, their grandeur, the struggle, the wars are not episodes that happen in kingdoms and palaces and battlefields, they are also that which takes place in the microworld of one’s consciousness. Each time you encounter the epics — either through reading them or reliving them in the mind, it is to live life all over again. The repeated talk of dharma in these classics is the constant search for an anchor in the seamless ocean of infinite possibilities of being in the world, feels Akshara. Each character in these epics find their own dharma, yet it offers no model for the reader, and remains only a pointer to the complex process of finding it.

In his play Sethubandhana, there is a ‘play within the play’ which is an interpretation of not just politics but also aesthetics. Akshara, through the character of Jois, seems to say that it is only through art experience that one can re-encounter life experiences.

This takes us to two things: one is Akshara’s engagement with Kavya literature where emotion takes precedence over the world itself. To put it in Akshara’s terms “bhaava is higher than bhava”. While Akshara constantly waters his imagination in the Kavya mode which stresses on the nurturing of the antahkarana (inner emphathy), he lives it in his everyday life working with students at Ninasam, doing theatre with farmers and fellow villagers at Heggodu, mentoring and guiding all who come by. Writing, theatre and the politics that he believes in, bears meaning only when it is practised in the life around him — as in kriyajnana (the knowledge of action), to which philosophy accords the highest place. Speaking on contemporary Indian theatre, Akshara, by way of validating these observations, says: “We have reached a point where we need to develop our capabilities to address politics in radically different ways. The trite political correctness of being with the oppressed, or the more intelligent way of problematising oneself – all these are becoming easy ‘conventions’, and we urgently need to develop deeper philosophical modes of questioning.”

A reader of Akshara’s writings is familiar with his deconstruction mode. He strips the layers of meaning, only to reconstruct it with fresh meanings. Whether it is a foreword, or an essay, or a play, writing for Akshara is not a commodity with which he wishes to woo his reader, it is an unsparing tool of self exploration.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by T.P.Ashok & Deepa Ganesh / Bengaluru – November 10th, 2016

Dragon boat race draws huge crowd to Ulsoor Lake

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports
dragonracebf09nov2016
 The finals of the 200-metre Dragon Boat Championships, which was held for the first time in Bengaluru, on Sunday proved to be a fine spectacle for the residents of the city, especially for those in and around Ulsoor Lake.
 The race was held in three categories — women’s, men’s and mixed — with participants from Kerala,  Maharashtra as well as different parts of Karnataka, as well as from those from armed and naval forces.
The races were eagerly cheered on by curious, enthusiastic crowds.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News Home> City News> Bangalore News / by Mohammed Waseem / TNN / November 08th, 2016