Category Archives: Leaders

The customer matrix

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders

It is vital for a business to identify would-be consumers who might be looking for services or products it offers, says a new book.

The deceptively simple question, ‘Who is my customer?’ is perhaps the trickiest one as far as business model exploration is concerned. If you decide to own a taxi or an auto in an Indian town, this question may not bother you so much. Anyone on the road who is waving is your customer. Or if you are seasoned enough, you may be able to figure out who among those standing at a bus stop are potentially your customers. But what happens when you decide to run a helicopter taxi business? Who is your customer?

The question becomes even trickier when you know that there is nobody waking up saying, ‘I want to go from Bengaluru to Kabini River Lodges, let me find a helicopter taxi.’ Captain Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost commercial flights in India and founder of Air Deccan, has narrated the story of how he figured out who the customer for his helicopter service would be in his autobiography Simply Fly.

Several user scenarios came to Gopinath’s mind – VIP visits, surveys for power and gas lines, tourism, surveys for land-use mapping, aerial photography etc. The service was launched after clearing hurdles, such as getting a licence from the government, putting a team together, financing the project, getting a hangar ready, leasing a helicopter etc. Creating a business plan on paper and having a customer willing to hire a helicopter taxi and pay Rs 35,000 per hour are two different things. One event made Captain Gopinath understand the customer better.

The CEO of a large multinational bank was to visit India and the local office of the bank wanted to arrange an outing for his wife during his visit. The programme the Air Deccan team came up with included a visit to the royal palace in Mysore, followed by lunch; then a flight to a game sanctuary nearby; a barbeque on the Kaveri’s banks and then a return flight to Bengaluru before dusk. The India head of the bank liked the proposal but was not so sure about its actual execution.

The bank’s headquarters would not go by just the India head’s approval so one team was flown in to do an audit of Air Deccan’s systems and another one to carry out a security audit. Air Deccan passed both. In the event, the CEO’s wife had a great experience as Jayanth, the Air Deccan pilot, was not only an excellent pilot but a capable tourist guide and conversationalist as well. In this way, over a period, Air Deccan came to understand the needs of global CEOs better. Subsequently, Air Deccan learnt that global CEOs were not the only type of VIP customers they were to get. One of Air Deccan’s customers was Sai Baba of Puttaparthi.

Understanding who will look for the services or products you offer and why they will come to you instead of going to your competitor is an important aspect of the business model exploration. Sometimes you get lucky and a global CEO comes to your doorstep sooner than you expected and that defines who your customer is. As you start serving global CEOs you may end up asking, ‘Why isn’t any survey-related work coming our way?’ And that exploration may lead you to a different customer. For example, within two years of its launch, Air Deccan built a diverse portfolio of contracts like aerial survey, aerial photography, support to oil rigs, geophysical survey for mining, logistics support and medical evacuation apart from, of course, heli-tourism.

What if Captain Gopinath wasn’t so lucky and the global CEO hadn’t turned up so soon? It was quite possible. However, it is important to note that Captain Gopinath had identified at least six different customer categories as possible use cases for his helicopter taxi idea. Thomas Edison did something similar when he invented and built his first prototype of the phonograph in 1877. He wrote ten possible uses of the phonograph in the North American Review in 1878. They were: (i) Letter writing/ dictation (ii) Audio books (speaking to the blind) (iii) Teaching elocution (iv) Music reproduction (v) Family record-sayings from members of the family (vi) Music boxes/toys (vii) Clocks that time everyday activities (viii) Language preservation (ix) Education (x) Connection with telephones. Only one of them – reproduction of music – became a commercially viable business model during the lifetime of Edison.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Management> Features> B-School / by Ankita Rai / April 15th, 2013

When Dharwad heard PB live and rejoiced

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

 Dharwad :

Music lovers of Dharwad will never forget September, 5, 2009. For, this was the day they saw renowned playback singer P B Sreenivas performing live at theKarnatakaVidyavardhakaSangha hall. The veteran playback singer who rendered old, popularKannada film songs left the audience spellbound. It was a privilege for the citizens to felicitate him on the occasion.

Sreenivas had agreed to give an interview to TOI during his visit to Dharwad in 2009 and when this correspondent went to his hotel room at the appointed time the singer was not to be seen anywhere in the hotel. The staff also did not know where he had gone. Sreenivas’ son, who also had come down to Dharwad along with his father, got worried. After searching for a little while, Sreenivas was found sitting in a nearby restaurant sipping tea and scribbling some lines of poems. He said he was composing a poem and found the hotel room not inspiring and hence set out to a nearby restaurant.

Shared his experiences in life, Sreenivas had explained how his mother Sheshagiriamma had great influence on him. “It was my mother’s singing of devotional songs at home which made me go for music,” he had said. When asked why he did not pursue classical music, Shrinivas had said he did not get an opportunity to learn under an able guru.

Recalling his association with matinee idol, Rajkumar with reverence, Sreenivas remembered how he had been identified as  the voice of Rajkumar for several decades till the actor started singing for himself.

“Rajkumar used to call me as ‘Shaareera’ (Voice) while he referred to himself as ‘Sharira’ (Body). Rajkumar had a golden voice and all his songs are hugely popular. He excelled in singing all types of songs from romantic to heavily classical. After ”Yare Koogadali ” he sang for most of his movies and for many private albums which were mainly devotional songs,” Sreenivas had recollected.

‘Aadisi Nodu’ was a hit among BJP ministers

Kannada film song “Aadisi Nodu, Beelisi Nodu, Uruli Hogadu,” sung by Sreenivas had become a favourite with BJP ministers and MLAs having allegiance to B S Yeddyurappa, when the latter was the chief minister and there were attempts by his detractors to topple his government in Karnataka. They had set this song as the caller tune on their cellphones.

File photo of PBS speaking at a function held at Dharwad on September 5,2009.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli / by Gururaj Jamkhandi, TNN / April 15th, 2013

Teresian college golden jubilee celebrations to conclude tomorrow

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

Mysore :

The golden jubilee celebrations of Teresian College in Siddarthanagar here will end with a grand finale tomorrow (April 20).

A Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration will be held at 11 am to mark the beginning of the programme. Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Arch Bishop of Bangalore, will be the Chief Celebrant.

The main function will start at 5.30 pm, presided over by Most. Rev. Dr. Thomas A. Vazhapilly, Bishop of Mysore. Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, will be present as the chief guest.

Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, Rev. Fr. Arul Raj, Parish Priest, St.Antony’s Church, Gayatripuram; Maria D’Costa, former Principal; Dr. Alexander, former Minister of Tourism; Dr. N. GopuKumar, Deputy Secretary, UGC, Southern Region and Dr. Sebastian Dasan, Chairman, Department of English, University of Mysore, will be the guests of honour.

Sr. Chris, Superior General, Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of St.Teresa (CSST); Sr. Fridoline, Provincial Superior, Karnataka Province, CSST; Sr. Annette and Sr. Joyce, former Principals of Teresian College; Sr. Helena, Manager, Teresian institutions; Sr. Prafulla, Principal, Teresian PU College; Prof. V.K. Jose, Officiating Principal and Sr. Sajitha, Principal, Teresian Degree College, will be present.

The college started for girls with a modest strength of 60 students in the eastern outskirt of Mysore city at a time when women’s education was not encouraged. Today, it has expanded into a strong institution with more than 1,600 students.

The campus houses Pre-KG to PG programmes. Bearing testimony to the doyens who have walked through its portals, students from Teresian College have left their mark in the fields of Governance, Politics, Sports, Corporate sector and education.

Students: The college has produced outstanding personalities in every field. Dr. R. Indira (renowned academician and scholar), Prema Cariappa (former Bangalore Mayor), M.S. Archana (KAS), Sapna Dutta (Corporate trainer), Pavitra Chandra and Reshma Chengappa (international basket ball players), Supriya (international volleyball player), G. Nisha (Indian team captain in Junior Asian Volleyball Tournament), Poojashri Venkatesh (international tennis player), Chitra Mahimairaj (international billiards player) are a few among them. Reena George, Thippava Sannakki, Bibi Summayya, Shradha Rani, Afsana, Shahajahani are athletes of national repute.

TeresianBF25apr2013History: The history of Teresian College can be traced back to 1858 when Mary Grace D’ Lima was born in Chennai. She gave herself to the service of God and became Sister Teresa of St. Rose of Lima. With a desire for the service of humanity, she started a religious congregation known as Carmelite Sisters of St. Theresa (CSST), to spread lofty ideals and spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila, in a little house in 1887 at Ernakulam, Kerala. Her efforts have grown today into a large Teresian Family with 120 communities and around 100 educational institutions.

Mount Carmel College in Bangalore, Teresian College, Avila School, Christ The King, Nirmala Convent and Teresian School in Mysore, Carmel College and St. Joseph’s School in Mandya are a few institutions doing yeoman service in Karnataka.

The College: Teresian College is named after St. Teresa of Avila, a 16th century Mystic Saint who symbolises selfless dedication and devotion to the cause of the downtrodden and oppressed.

Manoranjan Mahal: Teresian College was born in the minds of a group of CSST Sisters headed by Sister Euprasia. The decisive journey of Teresian starts in ‘Manoranjan Mahal,’ an architectural and historical monument, presently the convent, where I PUC classes were started in Arts with a strength of 60 on 22nd July 1963. In 1964, the science section and the degree first year were added. In 1966 hostel facilities started in the campus.Courses in commerce started in 1976. Other new courses were added later.

PG Centre: The Post-Graduate Centre started functioning from 2008 and is offering M.Sc. in Bio-technology, M.Com and MA (English). Professional courses like MBA and MCA are offered through Twinning programme with Pondicherry University.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore /Home> General News / April 19th, 2013

Belli Kiranaa gets special screening

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Noted literary personality BR Lakshman Rao’s two-decade-old short story Belli Kiranaa, which was made into a film of the same title and directed by KK Shivarudraiah, was screened for special guests and the media on Monday at Renukamba Digital theatre in Malleswaram. Rao’s colleagues Dr HS Venkatesha Murthy and Narahalli Balasubramaniam, directors Girish Kasaravalli, P Seshadri and Lingadevaru, former cop KVR Tagore and Kappanna were among the guests seen at the screening.

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The film is about a love triangle that involves three characters who are named Manjunatha, Malini and Munavar. Manjunatha approves that Malini is getting engaged, and eventually married. However, Malini herself is not happy about her situation as she is in love with Munavar, who initially introduced himself to her as Gopala.

Belli Kiranaa stars Dilip Raj, Anushri, Siddarth, Girija Lokesh, Shringeri Ramanna, Apoorva and Padmini Prakash. The music was composed by Pichchalli Srinivas, and filmed  by R Manjunath.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Regional> Kannada / by Anjali Muthanna, TNN / April 10th, 2013

Mathematics wizard Shakuntala Devi passes away

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, Sports, World Opinion

Bangalore : 

Legendary Mathematics wizard Shakuntala Devi, dubbed as the world’s fastest ‘human computer’ and who made complex mental calculations as a child prodigy, died at a hospital here today following respiratory problems.

Devi, who has enthralled fans with her prowess for decades, was 83.

“She passed away at Bangalore Hospital,” Shakuntala Devi Educational Foundation Public Trust Trustee D C Shivadev told PTI. Doctors declared her dead at 8.15 a.m., he said.

Devi was hospitalised a couple of weeks ago for critical respiratory problems, Shivadev said. “She developed heart and kidney problems later,” he added.

A household name in India, Devi cast a spell adding a 16-digit number with another one and multipliying the result with an equal array of numbers almost instantaneously, finding the cube root of the resultant and pops up with an answer in just about the time taken for a wink.

Devi, who had no formal education and who simply picked up reading and writing, had the ingenous ability to tell the day of the week of any given date in the last century in a jiffy.

“God’s gift. A divine quality,” is how Devi had once felt of her unique distinction that began showing visibility since the age of three. She has been quoted as saying that none in her family showed any signs of the same head for figures. “Not even remotely, although my dad was a stage magician.”

Rated as one in 58 million for her stupendous mathematical feats by one of the fastest super-computers ever invented-the Univac-1108-, Devi believed in using grey cells to silicon chips.

Born on November 4, 1929, Devi figured in the Guiness Book of World Record for her outstanding ability and wrote numerous books like ‘Fun with Numbers’, ‘Astrology for You’, ’Puzzles to Puzzle You’, and ‘Mathablit’

Hailing from a simple orthodox Kannada Brahmin family, Devi’s father was a circus performer who did trapeze, tightrope and cannonball shows. He had rebelled against becoming a temple priest.

Devi was also an astrologer and gave remedies purportedly based on date and time of birth.

It was while Devi was playing cards with her father at the tender age of three that he found his daughter’s calculation abilities. It turned out that she beat him not by sleight of hand, but by memorising the cards.

At the age of six, she demonstrated her calculation skills in her first major public performance at the University of Mysore and two years later, she again proved herself successful as a child prodigy at Annamalai University.

However, despite apprehensions in some quarters, Devi did not lose her calculating ability when she turned adult like other prodigies such as Truman Henry Safford.

In 1977, Devi extracted the 23rd root of a 201-digit number mentally. In the same year in Dallas, she competed with a computer to see who gives the cube root of 188138517 faster and she won.

On June 18, 1980 she demonstrated the multiplication of two 13-digit numbers 7,686,369,774,870 x 2,465,099,745,779 picked at random by the Computer Department of Imperial College, London. She answered the question in 28 seconds flat.

This event is mentioned in the 1995 Guinness Book of Records.

“Why do children dread mathematics?”, she was once asked.

“Because of the wrong approach. Because it is looked at as a subject,” pat came her reply.

“Mathematics is life, you have math in everything, right from time to your date of birth to the food you eat and the air you breathe,” she states. The right age to train children in mathematics is six, says Shakuntala, who sparkled at three.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News / by PTI / Bangalore, April 21st, 2013

Faiz Siddique Interview: “Bangalore shows lots of enthusiasm towards polo”

Leaders, Sports

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He has been on the polo circuit for over a decade now. Having trained himself in one of the best stables in Argentina, Major Faiz Siddique is an ambitious man. He aims to make Bangalore a Polo loving city, and is tirelessly working towards it at least until his posting lasts here. He is passionate about horses and he displays the same when he is saddled up for a game of polo.

In a free-wheeling chat with Sportskeeda, he talks about the polo season that began in Bangalore today and about Bangalore’s interest in the sport…

Can you explain about the arena polo since it’s not what’s played at a competitive level?

It’s more like an exhibition match. We start at around 7 in the morning and it goes on till 10pm. The fact that it is played under lights gives this a festive atmosphere, and with the DJ playing in the back and a fashion show after the match, will only add to the glamour. Arena polo is played on a smaller ground and hence gets easier for first timers to follow the sport better.

What’s the response you get for polo in Bangalore?

People in Bangalore have shown a lot of enthusiasm. The response to Polo is improving by the passing year. They want to come ride, learn polo and even want their kids to pursue the sport.

Is the event restricted for civilians?

There is no restriction for civilians to come watch the matches. You know, when there’s any event happening in an army establishment, civilians hesitate to come. Especially when you refer to polo, people presume that it can’t be free of cost. The army is not charging any entry fee and anyone can come watch the matches. The whole purpose of hosting the season here is to promote the sport among civilians.

Can you elaborate on the growth of polo in Bangalore?

When I started off in Bangalore, there were fewer kids. But over the past year and a half, we have been able to build a team of 15 players who can play good polo. This number is more than what we had seen in the past 15 years put together. We have even taken six of the best players to play in Hyderabad and Delhi to gain exposure.

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Is there anyone from Bangalore with a non-army background who has taken to the sport and done well?

Well in the Indian circuit, Dhruvpal Godhara and Manupal Godhara are good examples of civilians taking to the sport. Speaking of Bangaloreans, This boy called Pranav Kapoor picked up the sport inspired by what he had seen during one such Bangalore polo season. He recently moved to Delhi and bought five horses. Sahara hired him to play for their team and he was to play in Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Mumbai, but unfortunately suffered an injury during the game in Jaipur and had to pull out of the event.

Since you mentioned injury, isn’t this a big worry for parents who want their kids to pursue the sport?

Well yes, injury is a worry. It is a dangerous contact sport. There is an element of fear, but if you train well enough, the chances of getting hurt is reduced drastically.

Can you tell us about how you got into the sport?

Since I grew up during an era when television played Tippu Sultan, I was drawn towards horses and fancied riding them. When I joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) when I was 19, I had an opportunity to learn riding and that’s when I discovered my interest towards polo.

Don’t you find it pressurising to balance playing polo and pursuing a job of a soldier?

Well, when I am posted in the field like in the borders, etc., I can’t dedicate time for polo. But whenever I have the time, I’d love to be playing the sport. There is no pressure at all. For me, it couldn’t have gotten better.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Home> All Sports> Polo> Interview / by N S Kumar , Correspondent  / April 09th, 2013

Remembering …: Sheila Irani : She brought futuristic change to school education

Education, Leaders

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She was an educationist, philanthropist, mother and a great personality who was loved by her students and employees. She was one of the most respected personalities among her friends’ circle. Though it is 10 years since she left for her heavenly abode on April 10, 2003, late Sheila Irani still lives on in the hearts of every student who had an opportunity to study in Ideal Jawa Rotary Children’s School of which she was the Principal and Correspondent for more than three decades. Here is a tribute….

Born on June 6, 1922 at Nainital in the then Uttar Pradesh (presently the city is located in Uttarakhand) to George Egbert Ferguson and Una Maud Ferguson, Sheila got trained herself as a nursery teacher in St. Margaret’s College, Bombay. She taught in Delhi, before shifting to Mysore in 1951 following her marriage to Farrokh K. Irani, Founder of Ideal Jawa factory. While F.K. Irani looked after the business, Sheila Irani spent most of her time teaching children. She started Ideal Jawa Rotary Children’s School on January 25, 1968 which went on to become one of the prestigious schools in Mysore.

Sheila Irani was not only involved in teaching students, but also in many charity programmes along with Farrokh Irani. Many organisations were beneficiaries of their services and both Sheila Irani and Farrokh Irani became household names in Mysore. She also volunteered to serve as a nurse during the Second World War.

Sheila Irani was conferred with the Viceroy’s Certificate of Merit for her service in St. John’s Ambulance Corps. She was also the President of Inner Wheel Clubs of India and Sri Lanka during 1980-81 and also the member of International Board of Inner Wheel at London. She served as the Senior Vice-President of All India Anglo-Indian Association, Delhi.

Sheila Irani was the Vice-President of Chamundi Children’s Home and Orphanage which she looked after for more than 25 years. She regularly visited Lepers’ Colony on Nanjangud Road and served them with love and affection. The Irani couple was blessed with three children — Raian F. Irani, Maureen Fernandez and Kairus F. Irani.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Swarna Chittaranjan, Principal, Ideal Jawa Rotary Primary School, said that Sheila Irani was a highly respected personality in Mysore who believed that money was not the criteria to help the poor. During her visits to Lepers’ Colony she used to serve them with her own hands and clean their wounds which showed her motherly affection towards the downtrodden.

“She encouraged students to read books and took utmost care of their overall development. Even today we have been following her footsteps and working continuously to maintain the standard she has set for the school. I feel really proud to be sitting in her seat,” said Swarna Chittaranjan.

Many of her staff members still remember her and pay rich tributes to Sheila Irani for her services to the field of education and society. Raghavendra, Manager of the School, said it was a proud feeling to have worked with Sheila Irani. In his words, she was a dynamic and daring personality who made her staff work hard to provide quality education to students. “We are proud to say that whatever we are today it is because of her and the school. She always used to think about the school and work for the betterment of students by encouraging them in both academics as well as extra-curricular activities,” said Raghavendra.

Shelia Irani gave a lot of importance to arts and crafts and made sure that every student is taught arts and crafts while in school. In fact, there was a separate class for primary school, where teachers taught the kids to create different art works. There was also a drawing class for the higher primary school. The crafts and art works by students were displayed in school every year during the ‘Open Day’ which was started by Sheila Irani to mark the opening of the school on January 25, 1968.

The fun part was in the Lower Kinder Garten (LKG) where children were left to play the whole day. She made sure that he children had fun during LKG and only in the last hour they were taught alphabets and nursery rhymes. Children were served with snacks and milk during school hours to provide them with homely atmosphere. She was truly a mother who took care of her students.

Anne D’Monte and Lawrence D’Souza, former Head Mistresses, Ideal Jawa Rotary Children’s School, shared their experiences with SOM by paying rich tributes to their beloved Sheila Irani ma’m. According to them, Sheila Irani was humble hearted and straight-forward. “She took special care of students, especially the differently abled children and those below the standard mark. She also checked the food the children were eating and made sure that they had nutritious food. She always thought about the school and overall development of the students,” they added.

At the time when Rotary School was at its prime, Sheila Irani gave importance to differently abled children. There are examples of many differently abled students having studied in Ideal Jawa Rotary Children’s School and reach respectable positions in their professional life.

Ann Lillian Ratna and Jane Kunder, both teachers at Ideal Jawa Rotary Primary School, said that Sheila Irani was a gem of person with humble heart but at the same time very strict too. They said that she respected everyone and treated everyone equally. “As teachers we learnt to be punctual, honest and sincere towards our profession. She has been a model for all teachers in the school who made sure that right methods were used by teachers to teach the children,” they recalled.

To give an example of Sheila Irani’s generosity, she used to charge a mere Rs. 30 per month as school fee and for children with special ability Rs. 15 was collected. She always believed that parents should not be taxed in the name of school fee.

Sharing her experience with Sheila Irani, Anuraga Gowtham, an alumni of Ideal Jawa Rotary School, said that when she was in Class 6, five Guides were selected to participate in a camp out of which two students could not afford to attend the camp. When Sheila Irani got to know about it, she sponsored the entire camp for all the five Guides. Anuraga also said that every time during the stitching class she used to visit the class and insist that all girls learnt stitching. In fact there was one occasion when she scolded a few girls for not practicing their stitching.

Recognising her services to the field of education and society, she was nominated as the member of Legislative Assembly for two terms between 1969 and 1978. She was even nominated as the member of Lok Sabha during 1995-96 as a representative of Anglo-Indian community in the country. She was the Senate member of University of Mysore between 1993 and 1995.

Sheila Irani was the Trustee of Holdsworth Memorial Hospital (Mission Hospital), Board of Management member of P.K. Sanatorium in Mysore, Advisory Committee Member of K.R. Hospital, Trustee of Ideal Jawa Rotary Physically Handicapped Trust and Rotary Children’s Library Association. She was also a member of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan-Mysore Kendra, Member of Mysore Agenda Task Force (MATF), Executive Member of Frank Anthony Public School, Bishop Cotton School and Cathedral School, all in Bangalore and Laidlaw Memorial School in Ooty. She was a member of Mysore Race Club Charitable Trust.

Sheila Irani was so fond of her school even during her days in hospital, she told her teachers that she would be back in the school soon to inaugurate the new nursery block. Unfortunately, she breathed her last on April 10, 2003, which is also the last working day of the academic year.

Many of her students, colleagues and friends remember her even to this day and pray for her soul to rest in peace.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com /Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by  S. N. Venkatnag Sobers  / April 10th, 2013

Doha: Dr B M Hegde to grace Bunts Qatar first Annual Day event

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Doha :

The stage is set for the first-ever Annual Day celebration of Bunts Qatar to be held on Friday April 5 at 4.30 pm at Al Jazeera Academy.

Padma Bhushan Dr B M Hegde will be the chief guest. Guests of honour will be Chidanand Naik, general manager of Pallonji Qatar, Sarvotham Shetty, president UAE Bunts, and K D Shetty, chairman, Bhavani Shipping lines.

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Within a short span of time, the association has become known for its charity and social works in Qatar, apart from sports and cultural activities. Former president of Tulu Koota Qatar and managing director of Advanced Technical Services M Ravi Shetty was elected its first president. It aims to extend every possible help to the needy members of the community, with motto of ’unite for a good cause and support the needy’. With this in mind, every year Qatar Bunts will be honouring one personality for his or her service to the community in Qatar.

The event will included dances, songs and skits by the members of the Forum. The first edition of the Association’s souvenir ‘Gari’ will also be released on the occasion.

Those who have contributed to the community will be presented mementos. Also, the Outstanding Community Service Award will be present.

Chief guest Padma Bhushan Dr B M Hegde will be felicitated by the Association, so also the guests of honour.

Orchestra by guest artistes will also add charm to the occasion.

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About Dr Belle Monappa Hegde

Prof Belle Monappa Hegde is a physician par, excellence, an astute clinician and a teacher in the true Guru tradition. Prof Hegde’s encyclopaedic knowledge, brilliant oratorical skills and natural instinct to teach have endeared him to generations of students and teachers across the globe.

Prof B M Hegde was born on August 18, 1938, to V Shankar Hegde and Chandravathi. After his early education at Hiriadka and Udupi, Prof Hegde proceeded to Madras for his medical education. Through out his tenure as a medical student at Stanley Medical College, Madras, Prof Hegde was a brilliant student and had received a Gold medal and a special prize in surgery from Madras University. He did his MD (Medicine) from Lucknow University with scholarship of Govt. of India. Subsequently, he went to England on Commonwealth Fellowship and had passed the Membership of Royal College of Physicians of UK examination. He then underwent advanced training in Cardiology at Harvard Medical School, Boston under Nobel Laureate Bernard Lown; and at the National Heart and The Middlesex Hospitals in London under Late Walter Somerville and Late Richard Emanuel. He is now the Fellow of all Royal Colleges and the American College of Cardiology.

Prof Hegde started his teaching career as a tutor in 1962 in Manipal. He then served the Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and Manipal for 45 long years, occupying with distinction the posts of professor of Medicine, director PG studies, principal, dean, pro, and vice-chancellor of Manipal University.

Prof B M Hegde’s academic brilliance has been recognized globally. He is affiliate professor of Human Health (University of Northern Colorado); and former professor of Cardiology (The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, University of London). He is also the chairman, State Health Society’s Expert Committee, Govt of Bihar. He has been the visiting professor to number of universities in India and many countries abroad.

Prof Hegde has been the recipient of numerous National and International Awards. To name a few: Dr B C Roy National Award for being an Eminent Medical Teacher, Dr J C Bose Award for Life Science Research, Pride of India Award from the US, Distinguished Physician of India Award from A P I, Healer of Mankind Award (from Symbiosis University, Pune), Vaidya Ratnakara award, Karnataka Rajyothsava Award among many others. Prof Hegde has been examiner for the MRCP (UK) and MRCPI (Dublin) examinations. Prof Hegde’s monumental contributions to the art of bed, side clinical examination regarding “how to detect early splenic enlargement”, “auscultation for mitral valve prolapse” and “how to assess the second heart sound with the stethoscope correctly” have been published in prestigious medical journals, such as, The Lancet, The German Tribune, The Practioner and the JRCP (London) over the years and two of these have been cited in the American College of Physicians book on Bed side diagnosis.

Prof Hegde is a prolific writer and his articles are frequently published in various magazines and newspapers and his talk shows are sought after in the electronic media. Prof Hegde has penned nearly 35 books and over 3,000 articles in lay press. During the last decade, Prof Hedge along with 15 world renowned scientists, some of them Nobel Laureates, has been publishing a journal titled “Journal of the Science of Healing Outcomes”, of which he is the Founder Editor, in, Chief. Late Prof Rustum Roy, considered to be the father of nanoscience, was Prof Hegde’s mentor and had helped Prof Hegde to start the journal. Professor Hegde’s service to the society through Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and its activity are legendary.

In 2010, Prof B M Hegde was conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award by the President of India. Professor Hegde’s dear wife, Late Malathi Hegde, was his conscience keeper. They have three children,  two doctor daughters, an engineer son, sons in law, daughter in law and three grand children. They are a close knit family.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions as a dedicated teacher in the true Guru tradition, a physician par excellence, original researcher, a medical philosopher, and an able administrator, the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (State University) presented Professor B M Hegde the award of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Honoris Causa) in 2011.

He was the first Bunt and the first medical doctor from Karnataka to be awarded the Padma Bhushan.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / Media Release / Wednesday, April 03rd,2013

A son’s tribute to Bhakti Gananiratha Sangeetha Vidwan T.R. Srinivasan

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders
T.R. Srinivasan (circled) and other disciples seen with Mysore Vasudevacharya (left) and Piteel Chowdaiah. / Star of Mysore
T.R. Srinivasan (circled) and other disciples seen with Mysore Vasudevacharya (left) and Piteel Chowdaiah. / Star of Mysore

 By Dr. T.S. Ravishankar, Director of Epigraphy Branch, Mysore

Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha Trust has arranged a jugalbandi concert in memory of Bhakti Gananiratha Vid. T.R. Srinivasan on Apr. 6 at 5.30 pm at Veene Seshanna Bhavana in Kuvempunagar. The participants are Vid. H.N. Bhaskar (violin), Pt. Pravin Godkhindi (flute), Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma (mridanga) and Pt. Udayaraj Karpur (tabla).

I am indebted to Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha Trust, Mysore, which has arranged this Memorial Music Concert on April 6. Especially, I am beholden to Prof. Poornaprajna of Kansas University, USA, for having taken the initiative to arrange the concert.

Here I would like to give a brief profile about my father and his contribution to the music world. This concert dedicated to the memory of Bhakti Gananirata Vid. T.R. Srinivasan aptly proves that he had created a niche in the hearts of contemporary musicians, artistes and music-lovers.

He was greatly acclaimed for his booming, resonating, melodious voice and impeccable pronunciation, coupled with great devotion, which formed his strong forte.

His great grandfather, Ganapati Dikshitar, belonged to the lineage of Sadguru Sri Tyagaraja Swamy. His father Tirupattur R. Ramanatha Iyer was the disciple of Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar and his co-disciple was Sangeeta Kalanidhi Ariyakkudi Ramanuja Iyengar.

Born in 1927, he came under the tutelage of Sangeeta Vidwan T. Puttuswamaiah, brother of Sangeeta Ratna T. Chowdaiah at the age of 12. He subsequently learnt music under Vid. Veena Gopalaraya, Sangeeta Vidwan Ramaratnam, Principal of Music College. He also learnt mridangam from Vid. S.R. Varadachar.

He gave his maiden concert when he was 17 at Bandikeri Prasanna Venkataramanaswamy temple, Mysore. In 1957, he gave a concert before His Highness Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar. Again, in 1959 and 1961 he sang at the Music Academy, Madras, during the Presidentship of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Rajaratnam Pillai and Sangeetha Kalanidhi G.N. Balasubrahmanyam.

Other important concerts were at Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Nada Brahma Sabha, Karnataka Sangha at Bombay and Guntur, Andhra Pradesh and also in the presence of Sringeri Jagadguru and before Sosale Prasanna Theertha Sripadangalavaru and Parakala Swamiji.

He gave concerts right from the year 1947 from All India Radio, to begin with Dharwad and Madras, and subsequently at Mysore. As a very popular music teacher, he was teaching music at Mahila Samaja for many years and other institutions including Ramakrishna School and RIE, Mysore.

Though he got trained under different musicians, he never came under the spell of a particular style of singing and he evolved his own distinct style. Always he used to stress among his students to become creative musicians and follow manodharma sangeeta and emphasise the tonal quality of the voice so that music emerges from the depth of heart and used to cite a phrase from Sri Tyagaraja kirtana — Shobillu sapta swara, which defines the art of articulating the voice.

He has given innumerable concerts in his music career spanning more than five decades and I had the great fortune of accompanying him in many concerts in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Apart from music, because of his endearing qualities he had earned a large number of admirers and friends. His humbleness, down-to-earth nature won him a lot of friends and he was always generous in his disposition in helping the needy.

Among the virtues to be reckoned with is his nature of nurturing and encouraging young talents. He used to attend many concerts given by young musicians and encourage them. In one of the Bharatanatyam performances given by his daughter-in-law, Bhagyalakshmi, he rendered songs as part of Nattuvangam, and chose songs from DVG’s Antahpura Gitegalu, which was appreciated by the audience.

Thus he left an indelible impression on the connoisseurs of music and led an active life by teaching his disciples and giving concerts till the end. He breathed his last on 25th May 1996.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> Feature Articles / April 05th, 2013

‘Peter Colaco was a strong and simple man’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders

Bangalore :

The absence of Bangalore’s chronicler might leave some of the finest memories of the city rudderless. For, the narrative, in this case, is as much about its creator as it is about the city. The chronicler portrayed what he saw — simple and often funny things taken from the daily affairs of the city, unlike ones found in history books – bringing smiles to his readers’ faces.

Peter Colaco, author of bestseller ‘Bangalore, A Century of Tales From City & Cantonment’, passed away at the age of 67 on Friday, following a cardiac arrest. His work is considered one of the finest accounts of the city’s post-Independence era ground realities.

Peter was a versatile personality. A former professor of advertising at IIM-B, he also donned the caps of documentary filmmaker and musician, besides being successful in his advertising career.

“Above all, Peter was a very nice human being. I remember him dragging me to old age homes where he would just take out his guitar and sing. The aged there loved him,” said Sadiqa Peerbhoy, author, advertising professional and a good friend of Peter.

Many were inspired by the man who was known for his unrelenting quest for precision and perfection. But those who grew up with him, particularly his siblings, perhaps knew him better than most. “Peter spent hours trying to work out  rose grafting, and that’s why, perhaps, can still be either prickly as a thorn or soft as a rose petal,” writes Jacqueline Colaco, one of Peter’s siblings, in her work, ‘Growing Up With Brothers’.

The man himself may be gone, like most of the subjects of his best-selling book. Yet, his readers will find him alive in the reminiscences of the old city.

A few weeks before his death, Peter had pledged his body for research to St John’s Hospital. His end, incidentally, came on Good Friday , a day before he was to turn 68.

He wanted small joys

Peter Colaco was perhaps the most multi-faceted people I’ve known. Peter, as a person, was so powerful and yet so fragile, often torn between the strong mind of sheer genius and the simple mind of the good. There was very little he wanted because there was very little he needed. All he really wanted was the joy of enlightened conversation with good friends  and family.

Paul Fernandes | cartoonist and friend of 35 years

An excerpt from Peter’s book

Grandfather bought Oorgaum House in 1920. It was something of a landmark with a pillared portico and battlemented terrace, an imposing bungalow set far back in a very large compound. It had virtually no neighbour on one side, just a playground of St. Jospeh’s ‘Indian’ High School, and then the expanses of Cubbon Park – excerpted from Peter Colaco’s Bangalore – A Century of Tales From City & Cantonment.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / by Rhik Kundu , TNN / April 02nd, 2013