Category Archives: Education

100 Years of Mysore University : A Special Article

Education, Records, All

A Scholar Extraordinary: Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri

1) Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri [1904-1974] 2) A group photo of B.A. Honours (1936 - 37), Maharaja’s College. Sitting (on chairs): Sathyagirinathan, V. Raghavendra Rao, S. Srikanta Sastri, N. Kasturi, M. H. Krishna, Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, J. C. Rollo, C. S. Seshadri, H. Muddaraje Urs, A. Sharadamma and Y. Venkamma; Standing (first row): B. Basappa, B. S. Rama Rao, K. S. Venkatanarayana, A. S. Lakshminarayana Rao, S. Mohammed Zakaria, A. S. Jagannath, S. Devaraje Urs, M. S. Bhimasenachar, M. V. Lakshmana Rao and D. L. Narasimha Sastry; Standing (second row): B. K. Raghunatha Murthy, M. L. Krishna Murthy, M. L. Ramaswamy, B. V. Venkannachar, C. V. Venkatesaiah, K. B. Ramaswamy Iyengar, B. Chikke Urs, V. S. Krishna Murthy and B. Puttaraje Urs; Standing (third row): B. V. Keshava Iyengar, D. Chokkanna and K. S. Subba Rao.
1) Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri [1904-1974] 2) A group photo of B.A. Honours (1936 – 37), Maharaja’s College. Sitting (on chairs): Sathyagirinathan, V. Raghavendra Rao, S. Srikanta Sastri, N. Kasturi, M. H. Krishna, Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, J. C. Rollo, C. S. Seshadri, H. Muddaraje Urs, A. Sharadamma and Y. Venkamma; Standing (first row): B. Basappa, B. S. Rama Rao, K. S. Venkatanarayana, A. S. Lakshminarayana Rao, S. Mohammed Zakaria, A. S. Jagannath, S. Devaraje Urs, M. S. Bhimasenachar, M. V. Lakshmana Rao and D. L. Narasimha Sastry; Standing (second row): B. K. Raghunatha Murthy, M. L. Krishna Murthy, M. L. Ramaswamy, B. V. Venkannachar, C. V. Venkatesaiah, K. B. Ramaswamy Iyengar, B. Chikke Urs, V. S. Krishna Murthy and B. Puttaraje Urs; Standing (third row): B. V. Keshava Iyengar, D. Chokkanna and K. S. Subba Rao.
Dr. S.N. Bhagirath, an avid reader of Star of Mysore, has sent a special article on his grand-father Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri, a renowned historian, to mark the Centenary Year of the University of Mysore. Dr. Srikanta Sastri, who studied BA and MA at Maharaja’s College in the nascent University of Mysore, also served the University as a Lecturer and Professor for thirty-five years.

Dr. Bhagirath, who is presently a Consultant Anaesthesiologist at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Bangalore, was formerly at JSS Hospital, Mysore. Apart from Medicine, Dr. Bhagirath’s core passion is study of English Literature, writing and reading poetry, collecting information on Indus Valley artifacts and deciphering of Indus Valley Scripts.

Here we publish the special article as a befitting tribute to the polyglot in the Centenary Year of the University. Now read on.—Ed

—–

“It is scholars like Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri who build and make the reputation of a University. A University contributes precious little to build a scholar like S. Srikanta Sastri.”

— Dr. U. R. Ananthamurthy, Jnanpith awardee

——

by Dr. S. N. Bhagirath

During the Centenary Year of the University of Mysore, many of its luminaries, scholars, scientists, technologists and litterateurs of yesteryears are remembered with nostalgia. Among this galaxy of stars, Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri, the historian, stands out as a scholar of international fame on par with Dr. A. Venkatasubbaiah (Berne Univ.). On the advice of this historian, the corrected version of the Asoka pillar now stands in front of Maharaja’s College. The earlier pillar had various animals like the Bull, Lion, Elephant and Horse pushing the Dharma Wheel from the either side and not going anywhere!

He was an extraordinary teacher and research scholar with knowledge of fourteen languages. He took up the first research project of the University of Mysore in 1925 to lay the foundation of Karnataka history by writing “Sources of Karnataka History, Vol I.” In 1926, he published his first research article “The Conquests of Siladitya in the South” in the ‘Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland.’ Srikanta Sastri happens to be the second person in the University of Mysore to receive a D. Litt degree in 1949 for his contribution to Indology. He preoccupied himself with Karnataka history, when in reality only Princely Mysore State existed. He wrote extensively in English, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi and Sanskrit. He was a personal friend of Prof. M. V. Gopalaswamy, Head of the Department of Psychology and later Principal of Maharaja’s College, Mysore. Srikanta Sastri collaborated with Gopalaswamy in nurturing his pet project of Radio Broadcasting (Akashavani). Later, Prof. Sastri delivered more than twenty lectures in English and Kannada on All India Radio (Akashavani) from Mysore, Bangalore and Dharwad. Through his famous student Gorkha Dakshin Bahu Y. G. Krishnamurti (Nepal), he was keeping in touch with Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose. Nehru sent the first print copy of “Discovery of India” to Prof. Sastri and wanted to know his opinion. Srikanta Sastri later wrote an article titled “Nehru as a historian.” Sastri also contributed an anonymous article to Haripur Congress Souvenir in 1938 with the title “The History of Congress Polity.” This was a historic session where Mahatma Gandhi’s conscience candidate Pattabhi Seetaramaiah lost his election against Subhash Chandra Bose. To this souvenir Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose has sent a special message as President of the Congress party. Sastri’s student Y. G. Krishnamurti is the editor of this souvenir.

Srikanta Sastri’s introduction to Y.G. Krishnamurti’s book “Independent India and a New World Order” in 1943 attracted the attention of Joseph Goebbels – Adolf Hitler’s propaganda chief, who announced Sastri’s name along with that of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan over Berlin Radio one evening. This prompted the British Secret Service to arrest and interrogate Srikanta Sastri about his activities. This German broadcast was heard by several of his students, who began to hero worship him. He also had the courage of conviction to write an article during the time of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar with the title “Is the Maharaja of Mysore a True Sovereign?” This article invited the wrath of the then Diwan of Mysore State Sir Mirza Ismail and one must remember Prof. Sastri was still teaching at Maharaja’s College. This firebrand professor also taught Prince Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar — History in the year 1936-37.

In 1943, he wrote a futuristic historical work “Geo-politics of India & Greater India,” which predicted a greater role for the Indian nation after Independence in South East Asia. He also predicted that India had the potential of becoming a world superpower with its large population and rich mineral resources. He heralded the formation of Karnataka State on Nov. 1, 1956 with a series of articles glorifying the history, culture and diversity of our State. His most famous work “Bharathiya Samskruthi” in Kannada has seen five reprints. In all, he authored about 12 books and 224 articles during his lifetime. His collected English works “Srikantayaana – Vol I & Vol II” is being brought forth by Mythic Society, Bangalore in 2016.

When he retired in 1960, the UGC appointed him as the first Emeritus Research Scholar of Mysore University. He was honoured by the University of Mysore during the Vice-Chancellorship of Dr. D. Javaregowda in 1973 with a Festschrift Volume by name “Srikanthika.” This volume contains scholarly articles of very high standard written by T. V. Mahalingam, S. R. Rao, S. Settar, B. R. Gopal, M. Chidanandamurthy, K. V. Ramesh, B. Sheikh Ali, T. V. Venkatachala Sastry, S. S. Raghavachar and A. V. Narasimha Murthy. The then Governor of Karnataka State Mohanlal Sukhadia honoured Prof. Srikanta Sastri during the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Mythic Society, Bangalore. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat honoured him during the Annual Sahitya Sammelan in Bangalore in 1970. He was one of the first of the Indian historians to refute the Aryan invasion theory hoisted by the westerners. He wanted Indian history and especially Karnataka history to be written by Indian historians who had an insight into the Indian culture and philosophy. He passed away in 1974. His centenary was celebrated in 2004 by the Mythic Society by conducting a two-day national seminar.

His most famous students are: Former VC Dr. D. Javaregowda, Dr. T. V. Venkatachala Sastry, R. K. Laxman and his brother R. K. Narayan, Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, H. Y. Sharada Prasad, U. R. Ananthamurthy, T. S. Satyan, S. R. Rao, M. S. Nagaraj Rao and his oldest living student Dr. G. Venkatasubbaiah. Some of his contemporaries were B. M. Sri, Ti Nam Sri, D. L. Narasimhachar, Kuvempu, Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma, Prof. Nikam and M. H. Krishna.

Srikanta Sastri Gold Medal has been instituted by the historian himself to be awarded to a M. A. student who scores highest marks in cultural history of Karnataka in the University of Mysore.

[Dr. S. N. Bhagirath can be contacted on Mob: +91 – 9886803724 or email: bugs2beatles@gmail.com; Visit: www.srikanta-sastri.org]

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / April 03rd, 2016

Govt polytechnic girls walk the ramp in style

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Hubballi  :

On Friday, the campus of the Government Polytechnic for Women wa s packed with models showcasing innovative and colourful themes. Themes like straw, peacock, mirror, flowers and Matsya Kanye (fish lady) attracted huge crowds.

However, most audiences were unaware that the designs were prepared by models themselves who are students of the Apparel Design and Fabrication Technology (ADFT). This show was not organised by a corporate company, but hosted by the Government Polytechnic for Women whose students are studying for a diploma in ADFT.

Polytechnic principal GM Goni said the college has girl students from poor or middle class families. “These girls sought permission to host a fashion show and since designing is part of their curriculum, we allowed it for the annual gathering,” he said.

Manjula Kadam, head of the ADFT department, said it’s a three-year course and it has been helpful for girls of middle or lower middle class families. “It’s generally assumed that fashion designing is for students of rich families. However, ADFT has enabled poor girls with a sense of fashion to do the course. Now, students have made us proud by showcasing designs stitched by themselves. It shows they have updated their knowledge on a par with industry requirement,” she said.

Kalyani L, who guided the students, said they used skills like hand embroidery and handicraft to prepare innovative themes. “In all, 23 girl students in the sixth semester prepared designs as part of their project. They started preparing eight days ago. As modeling is not prescribed in their syllabus, they practiced walking on the ramp and other actions required for the show,” she said. Shivaleela Hosamani and MS Bijapur, other faculty members of ADFT, said students were cautious while chosing themes for the show.

Annapurna Mysuru, who presented designs on the Straw theme, shared her friends’ used synthetic material. Krutika Bendigeri, who showcased the Peacock theme, said she wanted to chose a Nature-related theme. Rohini Devadas, who prepared and presented designs on the Mirror theme, said this show has given her confidence to continue in the garment industry.

Innovative designs
The students’ designs were very innovative. They ensured there was not even a hint of obscenity. When beauty is being commercialized, students proved it can be presented without compromising on the modesty of women. Young minds at work educated the audience about fashion, said writer Prajna Mattihalli .

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hubli / Sangamesh Menasinakai / March 19th, 2016

Old Student Gathers Forces, Restores 149-year-old School

Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

GovtSchoolAnekalBF23mar2016

Bengaluru :

Government Model Primary Boys School, in Anekal, was started in 1867 by the British. It will turn 150 years next year and should’ve been preserved as a heritage building.

Instead, it was falling to pieces. The floors were cracked and the roof broken. The school lacked basic facilities like chairs and tables, and even toilets.

When Prem Kumari, who was a student here in the early 80s, came back as a teacher in 1994, she was disappointed with the way the school was being maintained.

“For the past 6 years, there had been a sharp fall in the strength of students because of the school’s condition. Since  I joined, I have been trying to convince people to save it. Elders of the community and panchayat members wanted to demolish it rather than restore it,” she says.

She approached the B R Sridhar, who was the president of Rotary Bangalore South, and spoke to the other members about the necessity to rennovate this heritage building.

It was adopted by the Club in 2014 and with the help of SABIC, a diversified chemical company, improved its structure and facilities. It has benefited over 218 students in Anekal Taluk, Sarjapura. This is the second school renovated by the club under the Rotary Mission to Teach programme, with SABIC as their CSR partner.

The chemical company’s CSR fund was channelled into the restoration of the school over the last 18 months — replacing the roof, keeping the old design intact; re-plastering the walls; replacing flooring with natural stone flooring; redesigning the courtyard; constructing a separate morning-assembly section; renovation of the kitchen; fixing new gates for the school compound; re-constructing toilets for boys and girls; installing an open-well water pump and purification system for providing drinking water and installation of CCTV security cameras. The refurbished school was inaugurated early this month.

Devendra, a Class 7 student of the school who has been studying there for the past 4 years, says “Earlier our classrooms were bad and there were no toilet facilities either. Now these are better and classes have become interesting with projectors and tablets.”

The student strength is now 200 and but the current infrastructure can serve up to 400 students.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Preeja Prasad / March 21st, 2016

Vedashastra Poshini Sabha to Honour Sanskrit Scholars

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment

Mysuru :

Vedashastra Poshini Sabha, Khille Mohalla, Mysuru, has organised a function to felicitate Sanskrit scholars on Mar. 20 at 4.30 pm at Jaganmohan Palace in city.

Well-known Scholar Dr. K.S. Narayanacharya of Bengaluru will do the honours. Vid. Prof. B.N. Nagaraj Bhat, President, Vedashastra Poshini Sabha, will preside. The Sabha will be felicitating the following 11 Vedic scholars tomorrow:

SanskritScholarsBF19mar2016

1. Vid. Dwijaraja Umashiva Upadhyaya: Aged 89, he is a native of the famous Gokarna in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district. An expert in Rig Veda, he retired as chief teacher of Vidyadayini Vedashastra School in Gokarna.

2. Vid. Prabhakara Dixit: An expert in Rig Veda, he is a resident of Vidyaranyapura Agrahara in Sringeri Taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. He taught Veda to more than 150 students at Sadvidya Sanjeevini Pa-tashale in Sringeri. He is now 65-years-old.

3. Vid. P. Vishweswara Bhatta: The 74-year-old Krishna Yajur Veda scholar, who has taught more than 600 students, is a resident of Pallatadka village in Kasargod, Kerala.

4. Vid. Shivarama Bhatta Aleka: A Sama Veda expert from Hosakuli village in Uttara Kannada district, the 78-year-old scholar has served in Sri Raghavendra Bharathi Veda Samskrutha Mahavidyalaya for more than 40 years and taught over 200 students.

5. Vidu. Dr. K. L. Prasannakshi: A native of Kolar district, Vidu. Prasannakshi, 62, served as Professor in Maharani’s College and Government Women’s College in Mandya. A resident of Mysuru, she has mastered Alankara Shastra and has worked for popularising Sanskrit language. She has also authored ‘Nityamadhiyatam’ and ‘Yogavasistasara.’

6. Vid. S. Narayana Bhatta: A native of Golagodu village in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district, the 74-year-old scholar has mastered the Vyakarana Shastra and has worked as a lecturer in Kasturba PU College of Rashtriya Shikshana Samsthe in Shivamogga.

7. Vid. Nagendra Anantha Bhatta: The 86-year-old scholar is the master of Aagama, Sasya, Vaastu, Jala and Murti Shatras along with astrology. A native of Hithnalli village in Uttara Kannada district, he has also involved himself in agriculture.

8. Vid. Dr. M. A. Lakshmithatacharya: Former Director of Sanskrit Research Institute in Melukote, he was born in the spiritual land of Melukote in Mandya district. A Vidwat degree holder in Navinanyaya and Alankara Shastra, the 79-year-old scholar worked as a Professor in Bangalore University and also authored books like Sabhaparva Sangraha, Ramanuja Life’s Philosophy among others.

9. Vid. Dr. Venimadhavashastry B. Joshi: The 67- year-old scholar is a resident of Sadanakeri in Dharwad district. An expert in Vedanta, Nyaya and Alankara Shastra, he served in Karnataka College at Dharwad and Karnataka University. He has to his credit around 150 research papers.

10. Vid. Dr. M.E. Rangachar: A native of Melukote in Mandya district, the 81-year-old scholar has expertise in Vishistadwaitha, Vedanta and Nyaya Shastra. Having served in D.V.S Mahavidyalaya in Shivamogga, he is the author of ‘Maharshi Vedavyasaru,’ ‘Ramanageeta,’ ‘Raghavayadaveeyam’ and other books. His books have been published in Kannada, English and Sanskrit languages.

11. Vid. Dr. K.S. Narayanacharya: This 83- year-old scholar is a resident of Kanakanahalli in Bengaluru. He served as an English lecturer and as professor in Karnataka Arts College, Dharwad. Having gained mastery over Sanskrit, he is known for his discourses on Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and Bhagavad Gita.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / March 19th, 2016

Maharaja Film Club inaugrated

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All
Film columnist M.N.Swamy (second from left) is seen inaugurating the Maharaja Film Club at Maharaja’s College Centenary Hall here this morning as wildlife photographer Lokesh Mosale Maharaja’s College Principal Dr. B. Nagarajamurthy, Maharaja's College Administrator Dr. Vasantha and others look on.
Film columnist M.N.Swamy (second from left) is seen inaugurating the Maharaja Film Club at Maharaja’s College Centenary Hall here this morning as wildlife photographer Lokesh Mosale Maharaja’s College Principal Dr. B. Nagarajamurthy, Maharaja’s College Administrator Dr. Vasantha and others look on.

Mysuru :

Film columnist M.N.Swamy this morning inaugurated the Maharaja Film Club at Maharaja’s College Centenary Hall here.

The Club, earlier called Maharaja Film Society, which was defunct for some time, has been revived with assistance from wildlife photographer Lokesh Mosale with the aim of screening motivational and inspirational short films in English and Kannada apart from screening educational-oriented films.

Speaking after inaugurating the Club, Swamy urged society not to discriminate between Art and Commercial movies as the efforts involved in making these films are equal in terms of participation of technicians and artistes.

Film Director Prakash Babu, speaking on the occasion opined that these Clubs would ensure emergence of quality directors. Maharaja’s College Principal Dr. B. Nagarajamurthy was among those present.

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

Mother for a Special Cause …..

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

SowmyaBF12mar2016

 

by Nandini Srinivasan

Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging. Its one such challenge that pushed K.V. Sowmya to harness her innate powers into an opportunity to help the specially-abled. It’s with these inmates of her school Karunamayi Foundation in city that Sowmya finds solace and braces herself to face her tomorrows which still look challenging!

Life for Sowmya, a Journalism Post-graduate, was all pink and rosy, till her husband Rajesh, a journalist with a popular national daily, succumbed to depression, leaving her to fend two young kids and a family that made her go through the travails of widowhood! Driven to the brink of despair by the taboos of the society she was surrounded by, Sowmya could not pursue her studies in Mental Disorders, which she was very passionate about. On one of her visits to a school for special kids, which her nephew attended, her interest in dealing with people with special needs was rekindled when her nephew was treated successfully and joined the mainstream which further pushed her interest. It was then she decided to move from Mandya to Mysuru and started the Karunamayi Foundation, a day school for the specially-abled in a rented building in TK Layout. Despite offering free services, Sowmya had to run the school for a more than a year with just one kid!

Undeterred by the poor response, Sowmya with a meagre income to manage her life with a two-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, decided not to close down the school, as her passion was to work with people with mental disabilities.

When the neighbours of the only student of Sowmya’s school noticed a visible improvement in the way the child learnt to manage herself, curious parents of children with similar disorders visited the school and apprehensively sent their wards there. Today, the school has 35 inmates between the age group of 4 and 43 years, all with different levels of disabilities. No fee was collected all these years but now to bring in a little responsibility amongst the parents, the school charges a very nominal fee of Rs. 100 every month.

Depending on the level of disability, the inmates are given vocational training and three children have managed to pass their SSLC last year.

Those in vocational training are taught to make paper bags and woollen garlands. This year the school was given an opportunity to open a stall at My Build Expo where it managed to earn Rs. 12,500 by selling products.

Sowmya fondly recalls the help extended by Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha, who gave the special kids an opportunity to take part in the march past during last year’s Independence Day celebrations.

Managing an institution with meagre resources is a big challenge which Sowmya still faces. There are some good Samaritans who do come to help. One Mr. Balaji Srinivas, residing in Oman, has donated a Omni van and pays the salary of one teacher and also the monthly rent of the building. He is even prepared to construct a building for the school, if a site is allotted.

The journey of these seven years hasn’t been easy for Sowmya. “It isn’t about finances alone. It’s the taboos and the conflicts within and outside that arise when a woman loses her husband at a young age. In spite of all the progress that we speak of, our society still has ample doses of regressive thinking which can push women to the brink of total despair. It’s your determination and grit to go ahead and do what you passionately believe that gives you a purpose to live,” says Sowmya, who wants her daughter who is now in Class 5 and her son in Class 10 to pursue their education in the field of special education. The school organises a big cultural event every year with more than 300 children participating in dance competitions. Apart from giving a gift to each child, the first three winners are given cash prizes too. This year the school plans to hold a summer camp for specially disabled kids from April 15- 30, the venue of which is yet to be decided.

Though slow, the progress shown by those who enrol into her school is a big motivation for Sowmya and her staff. Sowmya proudly introduces Nethra a 17-year-old girl, who came in four years ago and needed help for everything, but not she not only manages herself well but manages others too! Sowmya also sadly speaks of Priyanka who had to suffer because of the carelessness of her father, who while trying to hit his wife hit the four-year-old on the neck resulting in a severe damage to a nerve rendering her speechless and mentally deranged! The father abandoned the mother and child! The mother who was finding it very difficult to manage her life, found a saviour in Sowmya! She admitted Priyanka ( who is now 17) to the school and earns a living by stitching clothes during her free time.

Sowmya has plans to expand the school which is presently located in TK Layout. The school runs from 10 am to 4 pm. If you do drop in, take with you your stocked old newspapers and magazines, as it will help them make paper bags and bins, which bring in some revenue to the school.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / March 12th, 2016

Messenger on a Mofussil Mission

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
Khadri Achyuthan | Pushkar V
Khadri Achyuthan | Pushkar V

Khadri Achyuthan has a soft corner for rural India. First as a journalist with a Kannada newspaper and then as a communications officer with the government, he had to extensively travel to the rural areas of Karnataka and popularise new methods of agriculture and irrigation. Even after retirement, the 70-year-old has found it difficult to sever ties with the rural people.

He wants them to grow, and come on a par with the ones living in urban land. To ensure that, Achyuthan is now on a mission to take social media causes to the grassroots level. Realising the importance of social communication in the rural areas, a group of journalists has launched a media research studies institute in Bengaluru, and as a managing trustee, he is training village youngsters in skill development.

The institute, which started its journey in the beginning of the month, is trying to garner funds by holding monthly media workshops, seminars and publications. “Journalism has taken different shapes and has impacted the society over a period of time. But technology has overtaken the language of the media and young journalists have to be equipped with storytelling abilities for portraying an event in the right perspective,” he says, adding that media education scenario in the country is quite depressing. “Language is losing its importance. The academicians and journalists have to come together to give hands on training to print and broadcast journalists,” he says.

Before taking up the government job in 1966, Achyuthan worked as a journalist with Navakalyan, a weekly paper published from Gulbarga. As he speaks, the veteran admits that the travails have helped him dissolve into something complete and fulfilling. It was in 1965 that he came to Bengaluru in search of a job. “My mother was not well and we had no money to buy her medicines, but she was bent upon sending me to the city. I managed to get a job at a salary of `60 per month. My passion for Kannada did not allow me to join an English newspaper. I shunted from one paper to another,” he says.

During his stint with Navakalyan, he came closer to rural people. However, after the Indo-Pak war in 1965, the government of India was in need of information officers and he cleared the tests successfully in an emergency recruitment in Madras and joined service at Shimla in 1966.

He was also one of the first 24 candidates to be selected by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and was posted as Field Publicity Officer, a position created by Jawaharlal Nehru to popularise the Five Year Plan at the grass-roots level.

In those days, when television was a distant dream, people flocked to see the news reels or any developmental films shown by the government. “Topics on agriculture, family planning and national integration were shown to the masses and the issues discussed threadbare. Most of the audience were illiterate and cinema itself was a new medium,” he says.

In his long tenure, he has come across instances when the government found it difficult to spread social issues among the rural people. He still remembers how the villagers would run away from the government officials thinking that they would be forced to follow family planning programmes.

Even as the influx of refugees from Bangladesh began in 1971, Achyuthan admits that rural communications in the country grew at that time. “Films Division was making and sending documentaries on the plight of Bangladeshis. We had to explain rural people about the creation of West Pakistan and the exploitation of East Pakistanis. To our surprise, people were eager to know and understand the refugee problem, while school children used to queue before information office to know the show timings,” he says.

Also a noted Kannada author, Achyuthan’s tryst with audio-visual communications began in 1981 when the first regional Kannada news on All India Radio Dharwar was launched. “Telecommunications had not improved and with the Dharwar services, both Press Trust of India and United News of India too started. Our bulletin almost became a mouthpiece for Gokak agitation in 1982-83,” he says.

The veteran journalist and a writer believes that those avenues helped rural communication grow. He has also written a book in Kannada on the Indian Space Research Organisation and its grassroots application. His other works include translation of Ashok Mehta’s studies in socialism, a German diary, Tenali Ram’s applications for modern business management.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Meera Bharadwaj / February 27th, 2016

Natl. Balashree Awardee’s journey’ from Mysuru to Dilli…

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All
Ankitha with her parents.
Ankitha with her parents.

by Ankitha Kishorchandra, National Balshree Awardee for Creative Writing

I still remember the day that found my mom and me shooting off to Jawahar Bal Bhavan right here in Mysuru. She was taking me to participate in the district-level Balashree Competition under the Creative Writing category. She had seen the circular in this very paper, Star of Mysore. I was initially hesitant and unwilling to participate in the competition for the prestigious Balashree Award which is a Presidential Award. I never knew the intensity and importance of the whole award then !

Finally, I groused, groaned, moaned about losing a whole afternoon [which would have been spent in reading books, nevertheless…], I sat behind my mom on her two-wheeler and found myself in Bal Bhavan.

There, I could see kids around my age and older, carrying things that totally matched the category they were participating in. I saw a few kids in colourful Bharatanatyam costumes and some carrying musical instruments. Others were holding bags overflowing with brushes, paint tubes, and pencils. Some were balancing science models precariously in their hands. The rest were like me; wielding nothing but an exam pad and a pen or two… All of us kids under the ‘Creative Writing’ category were made to sit in an auditorium in the campus itself. Parents were asked to move out, and my mom taking her cue, flashed me a ‘thumbs-up’ sign and requested me to take the whole thing seriously as taking things seriously was not something that I usually did for any competition.

The competition started. We were told that there would be three different sessions and were given sheets of paper. The first session was to write an essay on ‘India’s Heritage Sites.’ With a rather resolute sigh, I started penning down whatever I knew about our heritage sites, and almost coincidentally, just when I was finishing my essay with a flourish, a person came to take the sheet away and gave us new ones for another session.

This time, we had to write a story with mythological elements… This was my piece of cake ! I made my protagonists the avatars of Indian Gods [I know what you are thinking…But I had never even heard of the Kane Chronicles then!], and they saved their city from blood-thirsty demons.

The next hour was truly poetic… We had to write a poem on ‘Nature.’ We had to write only four stanzas… Nothing more, nothing less. I made it as beautiful as I could… and thus ended my saga here at Mysuru.

Two days later, the good news reached us! I got selected to compete in the Zonal-level between Andhra Pradesh [it included Telengana then] and Karnataka. I couldn’t have been more pleased! Heartened by this good happening, I started believing my own abilities better. So, the D-day arrived and we found ourselves in Hyderabad for the competition. There were arrangements for us to stay in a very nice hotel, which was quite spacious [and I do miss the food!]. On the first day, we did some sightseeing and did some shopping too. The sessions started on the second day. Forgive me, I only remember two sessions out of the four sessions that we had. One session was a poem that we had to write on ‘Superstitions’ and the other session was about writing a story on ‘Time Travelling.’ I made a few friends too — Pabitra, Ansar, Sathvika and Prathyusha.

Soon, we were heading back to Mysuru. I had done my best in Hyderabad. It was now up to the guiding light above me, to put me through to the National-level or not. The long wait ended with good news again. I was through to the National-level to be held in Delhi. But what was more exciting to me was all my friends from the Zonal-level had also made it to the Nationals! So, in August of 2014, we headed to Delhi [we first got down at Agra and paid a much needed visit to the Taj. Wah, Taj! My friends and I had a happy reunion in Delhi National Bal Bhavan, where only we kids and our escorts were supposed to stay. Our parents had to find other places for accommodation. It was a rather wild, ragged experience, staying away from my mom for five days.

For the National-level, we had seven sessions in all and I remember every session very vividly. But I don’t think I can give an elaborate writeup on every one of them, as unfortunately, my time is running short… It is a mysterious thing, time, always being fluid at the wrong hour. Anyway, that is not relevant. Back to square one.

The first session was a common session for all the four categories. We had to dish out different uses of a cotton cloth — that was quite brain-storming. The second session was to write a poem on ‘Mythological characters’ — this was a little tricky as we were given word and stanza limits. The third session was also a poem on ‘I remember.’ The fourth session was to write a story based on a picture that was given to us. The fifth session was again a story on ‘I lost my way’ [I gave it a tinge of terror]. The sixth session was to write ‘An autobiography of our School Gate’ [Yes, you read it right], and lastly, the seventh session was to come out with an advertisement to invite people to our home city for an event it was famous for [I proudly showcased our Dasara], but this had to be done in just 6 sentences!

The sessions were brain storming, but nice and different.

We all had an awesome time and it was then time to bid adieu to Bal Bhavan… another sad farewell to my friends and Delhi too.

And then, the eternal wait started… My mom anxiously scoured through the official website of National Bal Bhavan at least a gazillion times everyday. The number of times she went through the site everyday actually resulted in ‘National Bal Bhavan’ becoming a suggested site on the Home Page. I just kept silent, and when anyone asked me about my chances of winning the award, I gave an aloof ‘I don’t know’ and acted like I didn’t care. But I did. A lot. It would colossally crush me if I didn’t get it. And then one fine day, on March 17, 2015, to be precise, my mother was doing her routine check on the site [this time on her phone]. She saw a marquee ‘National Balashree Results 2013’ flashing past. She immediately swept away to the computer to check it on a ‘big screen,’ all in a state of great confusion and impasse, on whether I would get it or not. This was it. The sounding board. The judgement of my ability. The state of my ego. My entire life. I was totally freaking out and I tried my best not to hyperventilate. My mom clicked on that marquee with a shaking mouse, or rather, a shaking hand. The first category was Creative Performance, the second was Scientific Innovation, and the third was Creative Writing. As we went down the list of awardees, I felt my heart in my mouth. There was no trace of my name. Not yet… And there it appeared! Serial No. 41-ANKITHA KISHORCHANDRA, all in bold! My mom gave a resounding scream of delight and thereafter, she burst into volumes of tears. I admit, I teared up a little. It was a huge relief for me. Then there were the phone calls to our family and friends and the good news went around.

Life went on normally after that. Then the time came for us to send certain details about me to Bal Bhavan, Delhi, for the Award Ceremony and all this was done through e-mails and couriers, and my mom took great pleasure in sending all these herself.

The days, instead of slowly passing by, started whizzing past on full thrust… The day of the Award Ceremony dawned upon me like a bright star. But I had to taste this sweet with a huge pinch of salt. My father could not come to attend the Award Ceremony as someone had to stay behind to look after our pet dog, Bonia, and he chose to. I was of course, engulfed with sadness, and I knew that no pleading or compelling on my part would help.

So, again January 31, 2016 found us (my mom and me) in National Bal Bhavan, Delhi. None of my friends from the Zonal and National-level had made it, so I made other friends, though I missed my old friends very much. The stage rehearsals went on in full swing on February 1 and 2. We, the Creative Writing awardees had to write a poem and we decided on the topic ‘A clean India in the eyes of the youth.’ We didn’t focus only on the garbage littering the streets of our country but also on the social evils that have almost swallowed India. The Creative Performance kids had prepared a beautifully choreographed dance ready and the Creative Arts Awardees got busy with painting huge canvases. All these preparations along with rehearsals kept us busy for those two days.

And then the day arrived… February 3, it will be etched in the memory of all of us 62 Awardees forever in our lives. We were taken to the Vigyan Bhavan at 8.30 in the morning where we had another round of rehearsal.

The Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhavan was the venue. Our parents followed us at 10.30. Time flew past in great dollops. The chief guest for the day was Hon. Minister for HRD, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani. She arrived exactly on time, 12 noon. The ceremony started. Though every second passed by faster than the speed of light, I remember each second clearly… The Award Ceremony began with the Creative Performance awardees.

Soon, my name was called out to go and receive the award. I was not nervous, but I did feel trembly, happy, proud, confident and satisfied, all at once (and I do not know if there is a word that includes all those feelings). I received the award, spoke a few words with the Minister [everybody later told I spoke a lot…] and went back to my assigned seat. The ceremony got over just as quickly as it had started. I was extremely happy for myself and for my parents too and knew they felt the same. The next day, we were on our way back to Mysuru.

The whole experience was very nice, memorable and made me think and view things differently. The feeling and the Euphoria of winning a Presidential Award has not yet sunk in, and I do not want to think too much about it. I want to be the humble person that I am and keep reading more and more books always…

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / March 03rd, 2016

Exhibition of coins from March 5

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

The alumnus of B.K. Model High School will organise a two-day exhibition of ancient and rare coins, and currency notes to mark the golden jubilee of the 1966 batch of Kannada medium students from March 5. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to Raja Katti, president of the school’s board of management, I.G. Paramshetty, an alumnus of the school, will showcase his rich collection of ancient coins and currency notes from India and other countries. Sulabha Wadeyar, who also belonged to the same batch, and retired as a teacher from the school, would exhibit his collection of paintings. Mr. Katti, a senior photographer, would display antique and vintage camera and a few of his photographs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – March 02nd, 2016

Experts to Document Ashoka Circuit in State

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, Uncategorized

Kalaburagi :

A joint initiative of HKRDB and Calcutta University to document an Ashoka Circuit for Karnataka from Sannati to Siddhapura has been launched.

Head of Ancient History Department of Calcutta University Prof Susmita Basu Majumdar is the Principal Investigator. As part of this expedition, a documentary will be filmed and a pictorial Pali-English-Kannada dictionary will be compiled.

Karnataka has perhaps the largest number of Ashoka sites and those dating back to the 3rd century BC are the earliest legible records found from Afghanistan in the northwest, Andhra Pradesh in the south, Odisha in the east to Girnar in the west. The project will first document all the Ashokan sites in Karnataka and then establish the full circuit from Afghanistan.

AshokaBF02mar2016

A team of three, Prof Susmita Basu Majumdar, artist Rajib Chakraborty and film maker Ranjay Ray Choudhury visited the Chandralaparameshvari temple at Sannati on Sunday, to document the spot where the Ashoka edict was found.  They found the original idol of deity Mahakali broken into four pieces lying on the western side of the temple on the banks of river Bhima.

Prof Basu Majundar took the initiative to re-join the idol and narrated the interesting story behind the discovery of the Ashoka inscriptions. In 1986, a portion of the roof of the temple collapsed and caused damage to the 12th century seated four handed figure of goddess Mahakali wearing mundamala and holding damaru, trishula, kapala and sword.

Presently, this beautiful piece of sculpture only shows the trishula and kapala and the other two hands are broken but the temple authorities informed that the present image of Chandraparameshwari which is worshiped in the temple is a replica of the previous Goddess.

The khandita pratima of the deity lying on the banks of Bhima was almost awaiting the visit of this team and when the sculpture was joined it looked as if the beautiful Goddess had reappeared.

The idol base had a protruding pillar like hinge which was fitted into a stone socket. The stone on which the Ashoka inscription was engraved was used to form the base of this deity. When the idol was damaged, the inscription was discovered.

This inscription carried the separate edicts one and two and rock edits 12 and 14 of Ashoka (274-232 BC). Karnakata was the southernmost boundary of the Ashoka’s Mauryan Empire.

This inscription was discovered in 1989. Now the original idol which is about 600 years old is also restored to the temple. The matter is being reported to the ASI for further action.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / March 02nd, 2016