Monthly Archives: January 2012

New Year bash, the Anglo-Indian way

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Bangalore :

Each community in India ushers in their new year celebrations on different dates through the year. The community that religiously celebrates the new year is the Anglo-Indian community. And they are organising a massive reunion on December 31 at Palace Grounds for a double celebration.

Adding flavour to the celebrations is the community’s attempt to discover singing talent within the community and crown the best as the ‘Anglo Indian Icon’. Following auditions on December 28 and 29, seven finalists were selected to perform at their new year party and the winners will be declared on December 31, when the community comes together.

In its second year, the reunion brings together members of the community and singing is something they love. “It is a nice feeling to meet people from your own community. I am looking forward to it and I am sure that the event will be a blast. This is the first time we are going to participate in the event, said F B Conway, a resident of Fraser Town. His daughter was auditioning for the Anglo Indian Icon.

The event is attracting participants event from other cities including Chennai and Coimbatore. They say that the competition is not the reason they are here. It is in the spirit of the community to sing and party on a joyous occasion like new year. Shaskh, who works in a event management company, said: “I have come here to render my support to my community. I do not want to miss the good opportunity to reunite and bond with each other. This is a good way to usher in the new year.” While Tanya Fernandez from Chennai said, “I am happy I came here.”

The organiser of the reunion, Brian Coter, consciously chose music to attract people. He said: “We expect over 1,800 people to participate in the event following the response to the event last year. I chose music as a key to attract the people of our community.”

City Express spoke to the only Anglo Indian MLA in the Karnataka State Assembly, Derrick M B Fullinfaw, he said, “Any kind of reunion is always welcome. I had been to the venue on December 28 and I saw some auditions.” He however said that he celebrated Christmas by organising a party and was planning to end the year with a quiet dinner at home  with his family.

source: http://www.ExpressBuzz.com / Home> Cities> Bangalore/ Expess News Service / by Sangeeta Bora / December 31st, 2011

 

PM to open Science Congress on Tuesday

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Bhubaneswar, Jan 1 (PTI):

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 99th Indian Science Congress here on Tuesday during which scientists will deliberate on issues like climate change, food security, clean energy and space technology.

The theme of this year’s Science Congress is ‘Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation – Role of Women’ and will be headed by Geetha Bali, vice chancellor of Karnataka State Women’s University. She is the fourth woman to head the Indian Science Congress.

The five-day Congress would see scientists deliberating on preventing maternal and child mortality, assisted technology for disabled, science and education in rural areas, women in science, water scarcity and security.

While the Children’s Science Congress will be inaugurated by former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Wednesday, India’s Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao, would kick off the Women’s Science Congress on Thursday. The mega event, to be attended by about 20 Nobel laureates, corporate bigwigs, scientists and leaders, is being hosted by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER).

Some of the focus areas of the Congress are climate change and food security, clean energy from renewable sources, space technology and human welfare, rural livelihood security, nanoscience and nanotechnology and food and nutrition security, according to NISER director T K Chandrashekar. Around one lakh students are likely to participate in the Congress, being held for the second time in Odisha after a gap of 34 years, according to KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta. About 1500 volunteers, including students of KIIT, have been engaged for smooth conduct of the Congress. The venue of the Congress has a capacity to accommodate 20,000 people.

Near the main Congress venue, an “Odishi Mandap” has been prepared to showcase the rich cultural heritage, art, history and traditions of the state.

The prestigious UNESCO-Kalinga award would be presented during the ISC while a science film festival would also be organised during the mega event.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / PTI / January 01st, 2012

Make Chai Not War :U.S sponsored NRI comedy team to spread religious harmony in India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, Uncategorized, World Opinion

Ohio, Jan 1 (TruthDive):

A trio of Indian origin comedians – Rajiv Satyal, Hari Kondabolu and Azhar Osman will be on an US sponsored Indian tour in an effort to strengthen ties and spread religious harmony. The state department officially announced the trip.

Victoria Nuland, a State Department official said, “We are, indeed, sending an Indian-American comedy group,” adding, “I believe the full tour costs about $100,000. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is supporting them with a grant of $88,000.”

The tour named “Make Chai, Not War” will be on from January 4th to 17th and will perform in seven Indian cities: Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Patna, Kolkata, Durgapur and Mumbai. Nuland cited it as “part of our regular global cultural exchange program that we do around the world,” explaining, “The reason we decided to support this tour is because among the things that they are known for is their talk about religious tolerance, about the importance of breaking down prejudices, and about the positive experiences they had growing up as Indian-Americans in the United States.”

“In addition to doing shows, they’ll also be holding audience discussions on these issues of religious tolerance and doing workshops and having some interviews with the press,” added Nuland.

Rajiv Satyal, who is best known as “The Funny Indian” said, “I’m pretty much going to do my act. But the tone changes, if I do a lot of Indian jokes with an Indian audience, it’s a ‘you guys know what I’m talking about’ thing, whereas, if I’m in Alabama, it’s more explanatory.”

“It’s cool to be able to go to India because that’s where a lot of religious strife has been happening,” he said. “We’re not even really religious on stage. We might do some religious jokes, but it’s more just bringing people together,” he added.

Usman, who is a Muslim is known for his religious swipes. “I never make religion the butt of my jokes,” he said, adding, “I target stupidity, human foibles and fundamentalism.”

source: http://www.truthdive.com / posted by Mohan Ramraj / January 12th, 2012

 

Rotary Mysore Felicitates Harvard Prof.from CityTY

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All

Caption: Prof. Gita Gopinath who was felicitated by Rotary Mysore is seen with Club President Rtn. T.K. Chittaranjan, chief guest Rtn. Vasudev Murthy and Hon. Secretary Rtn. S.V.Sridhar.

Mysore, Dec. 27:

Rotary Mysore recently felicitated Prof. Gita Gopinath, a Mysorean who is holding the Professorship in the Department of Economics, Harvard University and is the only lady from Asia to hold such a coveted position.

Gita Gopinath completed her schooling and college at Nirmala Convent and Mahajana PU Collage in city before pursuing her studies in Sriram College of Commerce and the Delhi School of Economics. She continued her studies at Princeton University and got her Doctorate from the same University.

Prof. Gita holds a number of honors, Fellowships and awards including the 2011-13 National Science Foundation grant, 2011 Young Global Leader-World Economic Forum and 2006-09 Andrew E. Furer Fellow, Department of Economics, Harvard.

Prof. Gita Gopinath was awarded the Bagwathi prize for the best paper published in the Journal of International Economics for 2003 & 2004. She has also supervised a number of Ph.D students.

Gita is the daughter of T.V. Gopinath and Vijaya Lakshmi of the city.

 

City’s Agri Scientist bags ‘Best Science Communicator’ Award

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

Mysore, Dec.30:


City-based agriculture scientist Dr. Vasanth Kumar Thimakapura has been selected for the “Best Science Communicator Award” by the Vision Group on Science Technology, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science & Technology, Govt. of Karnataka.

The award comprises a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a citation which will be presented by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda at Bangalore soon.

Dr. Vasanth Kumar is a well- known agriculture scientist, teacher and science writer. He has penned many popular science articles in both Kannada and English and published in many leading magazines in order to promote science.

He also delivers scientific lectures in schools and colleges to enthuse the students to pursue basic and applied science research. He gives talks in AIR and Doordarshan on various aspects of science and agriculture.

He is a successful and popular communicator among the farmers and conducts free training programmes at village level on a regular basis. Dr. Vasanth has produced a video film on “Scientific Nursery Management in Tobacco” and telecast it through local cable TV to reach the scientific methods to the farmers at their doorsteps. He has saved the damaged crops of poor farmers on several occasions, at his own cost. He is also the recipient of “Agricultural Extension Service Award” of Indian Phytopathological Society, Delhi.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / December 30th, 2011

 

ASI Celebrates 150th Anniversary

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

Prof. AVN & four others felicitated

 

 

 

 

 

 


Caption: Senior archaeologists (from left) Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, Dr. K.V. Ramesh and Dr. A. Sundar were felicitated by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj during the 150th anniversary celebration of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Bangalore last evening.

Mysore, Dec. 31:

The 150th anniversary of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was celebrated by the Department’s Bangalore and Dharwad zones in Bangalore last evening.

As part of the function, noted city-based historian Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy (popularly known as AVN) and four others were felicitated by Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj, in recognition of their distinguished services in the field.

Dr. AVN retired as Head of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, Mysore University.

The others who were feliciated are Dr. K.V. Ramesh, Dr. A. Sundar, Dr. Subbaraman and Dr. K.P. Poonacha.

Kannada & Culture Minister Govind Karjol, ASI Bangalore Zone Superintendent G.S. Narasimhan, ASI South Zone Regional Director Dr. S.V. Venkateshaiah and others were present.

Late Dr. M.S. Nagaraja Rao, former Director General of ASI, was also felicitated by the ASI a few years ago.

Dr. Rao, a Mysorean, passed on Dec. 24, 201

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / December 31st, 2011

 

State-Level Cow Milking Contest Begins

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption: A procession was taken out to mark the three-day State-level cow milking competition in city yesterday.

Mysore, Dec. 31:

The three-day State-level Cow Milking Competition in memory of late Kannada actor Thoogudeepa Srinivas, being held under the joint aegis of Mysore City Dairy Farmers’ Association and the Department of Animal Husbandry, was inaugurated at the Anjaneya Swamy temple on D. Devaraj Urs road yesterday by performing ‘Go puja.’

A procession was taken out through the main thoroughfares of the city, accompanied by cultural troupes like Veeragase, Dollu Kunitha, Karadi Kunitha and torchlight stuntmen dancing all along.

The procession culminated at the J.K. Ground. Organisers have provided exclusive makeshift sheds for the cows using palm fronds.

Milking competition commenced at 6 am today in which more than 60 milch cows from Bangalore, Hassan, Mandya, Mysore and other districts are participating.

Mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna, Deputy Mayor M.J. Ravikumar, former MLA M.K. Somashekar and Corporator Rajeshwari were felicitated on the occasion.

Dairy Farmers’ Association President and former Corporator D. Nagabhushan, JD(S) leader H.K. Ramesh and others were present.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / December 31st, 2011