Category Archives: Nature

Mangalore: City witnesses first ever literary conference on environment

May 5, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Mangalore :

With an aim to create awareness on the necessity to protect the environment, a maiden ‘Parisara Sahitya Sammelana’ (literary conference on environment) was held on Thursday April 24 in a makeshift setup that resembled a forest near Shediguri at Ashok Nagar here.

The conference was organized by National Environment Protection Union with an aim to garner support to work towards the protection of environment.

The conference expressed stiff opposition to the proposed Yettinahole project, displaying leaflets sent through posts to the organizers by many school children across the district. The display was inaugurated by artist Dinesh Holla in a unique way by painting and writing a poem.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the environment conference, environment journalist Nagesh Hegde expressed his discontent over human greed that has been turning out as a tragic curse to mother earth. “Human ever since his advent on the earth has indulged in destroying the environment around him for his own benefits, neglecting the importance of the earth,” he said.

Adding a touch of imagination to the scientific definition of the evolution of the earth, he said, “Imagine that the earth is now 46 years old, which means the earth was born 46 years back. When the earth was one year old 45 years ago, it started to cool itself to make the conditions suitable for living. The process went on till it reached 40 years. At the age of 42, rain lashed the earth further cooling the heat and enabling the earth to support life on its surface. As a result, at 43, the first flower blossomed beautifying the mother. At the age of 45, dinosaurs made their way to earth and vanished in a year.

“Currently the earth is aged 46. Nine months back mammals came into existence, one week back apes started to roam around the earth and 4 hours back humans started walking on the earth. An hour back, the human started to till the arable land learning agriculture. A minute back he studied to drill the land for petrol and coal ransacking the earth, leaving its womb damaged. His greed minute by minute is growing on a distructive mode further drying up the ground water,” he said.

“The population of the world has reached 750 crore milling on the earth, with man encroaching the maximum land, doubling his vicious aspirations and killing nature. At least now we have to understand the importance of protection of nature for a sustainable living,” said, appreciating the initiative of the organizers to spread awareness on the necessity of preserving the environment.

Prior to the formal programme, book stalls and herbal products stalls were inaugurated by the guests.

On the occasion litterateur Dr Na D’Souza, bureau chief of Prajavani Balakrishna Puttige, president of Ramakrishna Math Sri Jitakamananda Swamiji, environment columnist Dr Narendra Rai Derla, professor of Milagres College A A Richard Rebello and others were present.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network (SHS) / Mangalore – April 24th, 2014

This village is the stork’s domain

April 29, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Traveladmin

Kokkarebellur, a small village in Maddur taluk of Mandya district of Karnataka is named after the painted storks.

The word ‘kokkare’ means crane in kannada. Apart from Painted Storks, the spot-billed pelicans are also found here and it is rather disheartening to know that these birds have been classified as the “near threatened category” in IUCN Red List of 2009. Incidentally, this village is one of the 21 breeding sites existing in India and unlike any other bird sanctuary you may have visited.

A bird’s haven

For starters, Kokkarebellur is not a reserved forest sanctuary but a small village where the storks and pelicans coexist freely among the villagers and mostly in tamarind trees in the middle of the village.

The villagers are used to regular visits by tourists and photographers and can help you find the trees where the birds nest. The painted storks and pelicans are found in big herds during the migratory season. And make no mistake, these birds are huge. The painted storks have snow-white plumage with patterned bright pink and black stripes and have a yellow tapering bill. The pelicans have grey and white plumage, short stout legs, large webbed feet, flat and an enormous bill with an elastic bag of purple skin hanging below the throat that helps them collect fish from water.
The uniqueness in Kokkarebellur is the long established bonding between the birds and the villagers who have adopted this bird as their heritage, since they consider the birds as harbingers of good luck and prosperity to the village.
The happy co-existence of the villagers and the birds is because the villagers actually look after the birds, train them till they fly back to their nests. The spot-billed pelicans are protected by the law in India. In Kokkarebellur, a community-based project has been instituted to carry on the historical links of the pelicans with the villagers.
With increased nestling activity in recent years, efforts to conserve these birds have been fruitful and are also being hailed as a “role model” for replication at other places. Birds are seen nesting in clusters of 15 to 20 pairs per tree and the strange part is that they use the same set of trees every year.

The birds typically arrive after monsoons in September. They then make their nests, lay eggs from October to November and fledge around for three months till March, after which they tirelessly feed their hatchlings through the summer season.

As summer peaks in May, they re-migrate. Apart from the painted stork, you can also find little cormorants, black Ibis, grey herons, black-crowned night herons, ring necked parakeets and Indian pond heron.

Kokkarebellur is a must visit simply because this is probably the only place, where you can spot these winged beauties at such close quarters.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by Bindu Gopal Rao / April 15th, 2014

Rapid urbanisation compels GI Tag for ‘ Erangere Badane ’

April 28, 2014Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Mysore :

Erangere badane, a thin and long brinjal variety, once cultivated at Erangere village in the taluk and hence having derived its name from the same, is no longer grown at Erangere due to rapid urbanisation. Only a few farmers in villages around Mysore continue to cultivate this variety, but in smaller quantities.

In this backdrop, the State Department of Horticulture has approached the Geographical Indications Registry, under the Controller-General of Patents Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), seeking Geographical Indication (GI) status for ‘Erangere Badane,’ an exclusive of Mysore.

A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin (for example, a town, region, or country). The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.

When SOM contacted Senior Assistant Director of Horticulture (State), M.S. Raju, he said that the Department had sought GI tag for Erangere Badane. It had applied for it four months ago and the issue was before the CGPDTM (GI Registry), Chennai. “GI Registry officials are expected to conduct an inspection and collect information on this variety, including its genesis and other details, before processing the application. A presentation will be made by the higher authorities of the State Dept. on the need for granting GI tag for this variety of brinjal,” Raju added.

Stating that this once indigenous brinjal variety was on the verge of extinction, Raju said there is a need to conserve it for future generations. “GI tag will help us in promoting its cultivation and giving a new lease of life for the dying crop,” he reiterated.

Also, the State Horticulture Dept. has created a seed multiplication facility of Erangere Badane at its nursery at Kukkarhalli Lake premises to boost the cultivation and also help establish a ‘repository of seeds.’ Here, Erangere Badane is grown on half-acre plot and its seedlings are distributed among interested farmers and others to boost its cultivation, Raju said.

Erangere Badane’s supply is limited as only very few farmers are cultivating it. Among the farmers growing this brinjal variety, Mellahalli on Bannur Road is in the forefront.

Erangere Badane is presently available at Devaraja Market and its price ranges from Rs. 30 to 40 a kg.

“All efforts would be made to encourage farmers to take up cultivation of Erangere Badane and preserve its seeds,” M.S. Raju said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 22nd, 2014

On the banks of the Tunga

April 26, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Traveladmin

The River Tunga, Mathur./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

On how the pundits of Mathur set an example.

Mathur, the Sanskrit speaking village in Shimoga, Karnataka, is not new to the readers of these columns. This is an attempt to share my experience during a visit to the village where a three-day festival took place.

The annual utsavam for Lord Chenna Kesava Murthy and His Consort, Mahalakshmi, was a grand affair with all the elements of tradition in place.

This festival started on a Poornima day with the utsava murti getting a bath in the waters of the Tunga to the background of Vedic mantras chanted by scholars.

The deity was brought in a palanquin to a chariot, beautifully decorated. It was 10 a.m. and the deity was placed on His mount Garuda and installed in the chariot, which set off in a procession led by nagaswaram players, bhajan singers following them.

Chanting of Vedas

The pitch perfect chant of the Vedas is something unique to the place. The unhurried and harmonious rendition in flawless diction transports one to a different world. .

The car was taken around the four Maada streets. Approximately half way through, around 1.30 p.m., the procession was halted for a sumptuous feast at the village community hall. Pundits and their families and scholars from the neighbourhood, who had gathered for the festival partook of the lunch.

Lord Chennakesava being taken on the Pallakku after the river bath./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

The procession was resumed at 7 p.m. to complete the circumambulation of the Mada streets and it was around 2.30 a.m.

On the next day, again the deity was bathed in the Tunga and the chariot began its run. It was called Rathotsava and the deity with His consort was seated on a horse.

The final day was set aside for the chanting of the Vedas. An interesting highlight was the smearing of holy powder on all gathered. Everybody then went to the river to have a bath. The three-day festival closed with dinner but not before bhajans were sung early in the evening.

Right from the cleanly swept streets that are decorated with marvellous kolams to the conduct of festivals that combines hospitality, the pundits of Mathur showcase heritage quietly. What is more they show that it is possible to make tradition a way of life.

Wish to visit the village and stay in the agraharam? Chenna Kesava Dikshitar is the person to approach. Several foreigners stay in Shimoga and visit the village to learn Sanskrit.

(The writer can be contacted at sbpl@airtelmail.in )

Meet the pundits

The Kalyana Nagar Association, Mandavelipakkam, (No. 29, West Circular Road) has arranged the sambhashanam of the Sanskrit Pundits of Mathur, 9.30 a.m. onwards tomorrow, Saturday, at the Association premises.

For details contact 24952997 and 24611674.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review> Faith / by T. S. Viswanathan / April 17th, 2014

Indian cobra venom can be used to treat CardioVascular diseases

April 20, 2014Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

Symposium on ‘Lipids and Cardiovascular diseases’ held.

Mysore :

An effective molecule from the venom of the Indian Cobra called ‘Metalloprotease’ which can be explored to treat deadly clinical conditions like cardiovascular diseases has been identified by the Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore.

The study says that the molecule which has been identified has beneficial properties like inhibiting platelet aggregation, inhibiting clot formation and dissolving existing clots.

Dr. K. Kemparaju, Professor, DOS in Biochemistry, UoM, who presented a paper ‘Metalloprotease from Indian Cobra Venom and Mechanism of its Antihemostatic Effect,’ at the two-day National Symposium on ‘Lipids and Cardiovascular Diseases,’ being held at B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management Sciences at Manasagangotri here from yesterday, said that snake venom is a gold mine for extracting specific target molecules and added that as venomous snakes immobilise and kill their prey by targeting vital organs.

He further said that Anti-venom therapy fails to control the local toxicity of envenomation and therefore new therapeutic strategies are in demand for the efficient management of the condition. Further, as venoms are known as the depot of molecules that exhibit high target specificity, there is a greater scope for isolation, characterisation and understanding the molecular mechanisms of toxins that may serve as prototypes for designing therapeutic molecules, he added.

Dr. Kemparaju said that snake bites is an integral occupational hazard among farm workers worldwide and added that human suffering, morbidity and mortality rate due to snake bite was becoming high in South and Southeast Asian countries.

He further said that about 5.5 million people are estimated to be affected by snake bites, of which around four lakh have to be amputated and added that due to the high and incredible degree of target specificity of the venom, the molecules or toxins of venom are extensively explored as analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic tools in biology and human health.

Dr. Kemparaju has research specialisation in Pharmacology of snakes and spider venoms, special emphasis on hyaluronidases and metalloproteases in local toxicity, geographical variations of snake venoms and venom neutralisation.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / April 14th, 2014

Bidar abounds in wildlife

April 8, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Traveladmin

Diverse fauna B V Prakash finds a sizeable population of blackbucks in the plains of blackbucks roaming freelyin the wild together witha variety of birds, foxes, porcupines and hares.

The northern part of the state is generally considered to be a dry belt, devoid of water bodies, vegetation and wildlife. But the surroundings of Bidar, the northern most district, seems to be an exception.

For not only a few large reservoirs like the Karanja are around, but pockets of sparsely wooded forests are found fairly well in these parts.The vast grasslands and the wooded country are home to blackbucks and a plethora of bird species.

After Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary in Haveri district and Jayamangali Blackbuck Conservation Reserve in Tumkur district, a sizeable population of blackbucks is found in the plains of Bidar as I learnt during a recent visit here.

Apart from sighting free roaming blackbucks in the wild, one can also spot a good variety of birds, some rare species at that.Some smaller animals like the fox, porcupine, black-naped hare and wild boars add to the diverse fauna.

The weather was fair and the sky, a clear blue as I arrived after an exhaustive train journey of 18 hours.

As the drive to the grasslands to sight the blackbucks was slated for the afternoon, lunch and rest was the only immediate occupation.

However, I utilised the time to take a walk around and familiarise with the place.

Abundant greenery

Situated near a small village called Khanapur at about 16 km west of Bidar, the location itself is in a scenic surrounding with a gently forested hill to the east gradually sloping towards west to the brink of a beautiful blue lake.

Called Vilaspur tank after the village nearby, it is an expansive reservoir built for the purpose of drinking and irrigation.

With a chain of not so tall hillocks on the other side, the lake is almost hidden.

The afternoon safari took off in right earnest with Nipun, the enthusiastic manager joining me for the drive.

It was not just a driver but a well-informed naturalist as I learnt during the safari. Passing through the town, we drove southward to a vast field of grassy meadows.

The terrain with undulating ups and downs, abundant grass and bushes and a small tank is quite ideal for the blackbucks.

The far side of the plains is walled off by the air force station which being out of bounds for visitors, has become a boon for the these animals to roam around freely.

As we drove into the fields, we could see groups of blackbucks like tiny specks from the distance.

But the first denizen that we bumped into was the Indian fox, which is a rare sighting here.

When the fox felt our presence was not too comfortable, it galloped away into the bushes.

Driving further we were more closer to the blackbucks.

They usually wander in groups of 10 to 30 or even more with one or two males in charge of the herd.

The males have a pair of antlers and are dark brownish and black.

The females are light fawn coloured and smaller in size.

It was a surprise for me to know that the blackbucks are native only to the Indian subcontinent.

The blackbucks once roamed freely all over the plains of India but their numbers reduced drastically with excessive hunting and encroachment of their habitat for agriculture and industry.

However, categorising blackbucks as ‘near threatened species’ by International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2003, has come as a blessing and their population seems to have stabilised to some extent.

We drove along several herds of them, grazing, strolling or sparring before spotting a rare bird, the Indian Courser.The following morning we went out for a nature walk amidst the nature.The bird-life here is pretty good with scores of green bee eaters, robins, sunbirds and red vented bulbuls.

But the best sighting was that of the white-browed bulbul.

The evening was spent on a coracle ride spotting more birds.

As ducks, cormorants and kingfishers passed by, a panoramic sunset marked the end of the day.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by B V Prakas / DHNS / April 08th, 2014

All the way from Germany in search of Krumbiegal’s works

March 27, 2014About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Travel, World Opinionadmin

Krumbiegal was a landscape designer who designed the Brindavan Gardens, Lal Bagh, Chamundi Gymkhana…

by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers

We have come across many incidents in the past where foreigners have visited India in search of their roots or to know more about their relatives who lived in India for a long time. Many of them have also visited India for research work, especially from England, as ours was a British Colony.

Mysore city recently had one such visitor from Dresden, Germany, who had come here to study the works done by Gustav Hermann Krumbiegal, a German Botanist and garden designer, who is known for his works at the Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore and for the planning of the avenues of Bangalore.

Dr. Anja Eppert, Garden Superintendent, Dresden, was in Mysore to study the works of Krumbiegal. She visited Brindavan Gardens, Chamundi Gymkhana inside Mysore Race Club premises, Mysore Palace, Fernhills Palace, Ooty, which are said to be designed by Krumbiegal during his stay in Mysore.

Her visit has gained prominence as the German Authorities in Dresden have decided to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Krumbiegal and also introduce him to Germans as majority of them do not know much about him.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Dr. Anja said that some of the gardens designed by Krumbiegal have not been well-maintained. “In case of buildings, it is a different as they get older and sometimes have to be demolished and reconstructed. But, in case of gardens they have to be maintained well throughout. Gardens tell us stories about the kind of people who lived at the time when it was created. It is very important to tell people about the historical relevance of the parks,” she opined.

Dr. Anja added that the German authorities had taken up the research works of Krumbiegal and had sent her on a visit Mysore, Bangalore and Ooty. She mentioned that the German Counselor General in Bangalore informed the authorities about the works done by Krumbiegal during his stay here and that is when they decided to organise an exhibition on Krumbiegal works.

The exhibition will be held next year at Pillinitz Castle and Park in Germany. The German authorities have also planned to publish a book on Krumbiegal. Dr. Anja said that a similar exhibition is also being planned in Bangalore as it would be a good opportunity to exchange garden culture among the two countries.

During her visit to Mysore and Bangalore, Dr. Anja was accompanied by Prasanna Kumar, Retd. Deputy Director of Horticulture, who was in-charge of gardens in Mysore, especially at Lalitha Mahal and had knowledge on Krumbiegal’s works.

For those who do not know about Krumbiegal, he was born in Lohmen near Dresden, and his early studies were in Wilsdruff and Dresden after which he trained in horticulture. In 1884, he worked in Schwerin and from 1885 to 1887 he worked as a landscape gardener in Hamburg. In 1888, he moved to England, designing flower beds at the Hyde Park and became a staff at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. He then took up a position in 1893 with the Princely State of Baroda as Curator of the botanical gardens there. He also worked with the Government Botanical Gardens at Ootacamund and was responsible for redesigning the architecture. In 1908, he was requested by Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the then Mysore ruler, to serve him and he succeeded John Cameron at the Lal Bagh Gardens as an economic botanist and superintendent.

Krumbiegal introduced numerous plants and was involved in designing the landscape for Brindavan Gardens in KRS. He was also actively involved with the Mysore Horticultural Society that was started in 1912. He obtained seeds from other countries and sent collections in return to Kew and USA. These included Indian specialties such as bamboo rice, varieties of other rice, mango and others.

Outside his key work area, he was often involved in architectural design. The Dewan of Mysore appointed him as an architectural consultant despite protests from the British Resident in Mysore. During the Second World War, Germans in India were declared as enemies and Krumbiegal was along with other Germans kept in an internment camp in Bangalore.

Krumbiegal was responsible for the introduction of many ornamental plants and flowering trees. He was also involved in the choice of avenue trees for Bangalore. The road adjoining Lal Bagh is named after him as ‘Krumbiegal Road’.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / March 21st, 2014

Under his broad brood, swifts ready to fledge

March 27, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

With little expertise, wildlife expert Saleem is trying to give them a new lease of life

The city wildlife team is facing an unusual challenge. They have to pull off what is considered a one-in-a-thousand rescue and rehabilitation of young house swifts (Apus nipalensis), which experts term is a touch-and-go situation.

Despite lack of expertise in rehabilitating the house swifts, which are very delicate, the six young ones are being cared for round the clock with great diligence by wildlife rehabilitator Saleem Hameed.

The birds were rescued from the HAL campus on Friday. At present, Saleem feeds them 24 times in 12 hours, once every half an hour.

This is what Saleem said:

“They were eight birds when they came here. They were rescued after a fall from a hangar. The good thing is, they were rescued along with the nest. Sadly, two died soon, but six are alive.

”They are very difficult birds to raise. With a high rate of metabolism, they have to be hand-fed every half an hour and they need attention round the clock at least till they fledge. The feeding starts at 7 in the morning. They are fed an insect diet, Mazuri, shipped down from the US. They are responding well. They need great care and attention, predominantly between 7 am and 7 pm.

”Unlike most birds, these are very sociable and live in huge colonies. In most birds, we find the territorial fight and new ones are not easily accepted. But here, they are accepted soon as they are sociable. As nothing much is known about swifts, we hope these birds which are roughly about 3-4 weeks-old would take a week or two to fledge. Some birds fledge within a month. Sparrows fledge within 14-15 days.

”An interesting thing is that one of them, probably the oldest of the lot, has already started jumping and is trying to fly. He jumps about 2-3 feet. As they fledge, they have to be launched into air to ensure they can join other swifts that are in a colony.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Chetan R, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / March 27th, 2014

Repository of Indian medicines

March 11, 2014Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technologyadmin

With the growing interest in traditional and complementary systems of medicine across the globe, a facility located in Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) campus, Bangalore helps authenticate the identity of medicinal plants, especially in the form of a repository of the natural resources.

This centre named as Bio-cultural herbarium is a one-stop information related to plants and currently holds about 40,000 accessions pertaining to more than 3,200 medicinal plants collected from across various bio-geographic regions of the country. A unique feature of this herbarium is its easy accessibility both to the scientific community and the layman which has been achieved through linking the cultural information pertaining to vernacular names, local uses and classical uses of plants to the herbarium database.

The centre also has a repository of raw drugs collected directly from the botanical source and samples. The herbarium and raw drug repository is supported with an image library that currently possesses over 20,000 images. Dr Noorunnisa Begum, curator of the Herbarium says “Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their utilisation is increasingly being realised and put to use by modern medicine”.

The long term goal of the centre is to act as a vehicle to promote medicinal plant conservation and in turn help revive health care traditions.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by Manish Sharma / March 11th, 2014

Media-savvy man of letters

February 24, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Science, environment, and literature are his passion. Afshan Yasmeen listens to him.

"My dream is to prepare a reader of Darwin's works." / The Hindu — “My dream is to prepare a reader of Darwin’s works.” / The Hindu

NATURE IS his inspiration. Biodiversity, flora, fauna, and tribal people cast a spell on him. A man of varied interests, he has authored several books on forest-related issues and wildlife conservation and scripted documentaries for noted wildlife photographers. K. Puttaswamy has been making waves in his own quiet way — as a writer who blends ecology with literature.

From being the Head of the Department of History of Sciences at the Kannada University in Hampi, he is now a communicator: he interacts with the media on a day-to-day basis as Public Relations Officer for the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP). He is an Assistant Director with the Department of Information and Publicity.Mr. Puttaswamy joined the Information Department in 1985 as an Information Assistant after a short stint in Kannada journalism. He worked with the Department of Forests, Ecology and Environment as a Scientific Officer and was then deputed to the Department of Backward Classes in the Devaraj Urs Research Institute and the Department of Youth Services and Sports till 2001.

He then joined the Kannada University, Hampi, as the head of the Department of History of Sciences. “The Department was created specifically to record Karnataka’s indigenous science practices (from pottery to ayurveda). Owing to lack of resource persons, we could only document the history of sciences, Karnataka’s environment and ecological hotspots”, he says.

Puttaswamy used to pen poems as a student but later realised that “kathe” and “kavana” (fiction and poetry) were not for him. In 1976, as a student at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK in Bangalore, he became an active Socialist. “It was the turning point of my life.” He is now doing his Doctorate in Literature on “An Ecological Study in Kuvempu’s Literature”. Apart from authoring several books on science in nature such as Bangalooru, and Jeeva Jala, he has also translated the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. “My English teacher, Akumal Ramachander, encouraged me to translate it. In fact, he introduced me to the world of literature and encouraged me to translate works of science into Kannada”, he explains.

His other translations include the Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Facts and Figures by Susan Bosanco, Charles Darwin by Anna Sproul, Alexander Fleming by Beverly Birch, and Nature’s Masterpiece — the Elephant by Ajay A. Desai. His translation of Iyaruingam by Birendra Kumara Bhattacharya is Janatheya Rajya. Jeeva Jaala won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award in 1999 under the best science book category. Puttaswamy won the Karnataka State Environment Award in 2000.

Puttaswamy has also scripted many video documentary films directed by Krupakar and Senani, all dealing with forest-related issues, conservation of wildlife, and creating environmental awareness.These include “Tiger Lion Safari of Tyavarekoppa”, “Neeru Hakkigala Swarga”, “Hasarina Siri”, “Karnataka Pakshiloka”, “Karnataka Praniloka”, “Kalarava”, “A Journey through Moyar”, and “Hariva Nadige Ankusha”.

“Though several science writers, including paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, inspire me, I want to translate Fruitjoy Capra’s Tao of Physicsand Eric Fromm’s Anatomy of Human Destructiveness into Kannada . But my dream is to prepare a reader (an abridged version) of Charles Darwin’s works by 2007,” he says.

By Afshan Yasmeen in Bangalore

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu Online / Home> Life Bangalore / Sunday – November 09th, 2003

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