Monthly Archives: November 2012

Strides Arcolab Limited : Strides Arcolab Receives US FDA Nod To Commercialize First Liquid Injectable Product From Its New Facility

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

• First shipments to commence in April 2011

Bangalore:

Strides Arcolab Limited (Strides) today announced that it has received approval from the US FDA to commercialize the first liquid injection sterile product from the Company’s new Sterile Injectable complex in Bangalore. The approved product has been facing prolonged shortage in the USA and approval from the new facility will offer Strides unconstrained capacities to meet the market demand.

With this approval, significant capacity will be released from the existing site enabling

Strides to commercialize additional liquid injectable products.

Strides had earlier announced approval for Vancomycin Injection from its new facility in Bangalore in a lyophilized format and the Company has already started supplies to the US market in March 2011.

Commenting on this development Venkat Iyer, CEO, Agila Specialties, said, “The US FDA approval for the product from the new site will go a long way in ameliorating product shortages in critical therapeutic areas. Two significant product approvals from the new facility augur well for the launch of a series of products in the USA during 2011”

For reasons of confidentiality, the Company is not in a position to disclose the name of the product.

Additional information is available at the company’s website at www.stridesarco.com  www.stridesarco.com.

source: http://www.4-traders.com / Home Page> Shares> National Stock Exchange of India> News / Press Release – Strides – PR Consultancy / November 10th, 2012

The return of roaring Jawa Yezdis

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

Bangalore:

There could be nothing more exciting than the roar of a motorcycle running full throttle. And if the bike happens to be yesteryear’s Yezdi Jawa variety, it is not only about nostalgia but also a power-packed performance.

Ask Toby Phillippe, an American expat, who restored a rusty 1970 model Jawa bike he took a great liking to three years ago. He has since been riding his favourite motorcycle every day.

Toby is one of the hundreds in the city, who belong to the Jawa Yezdi Motorcycle Club, and rode towards Tumkur on Sunday morning to celebrate the 10th International Jawa Yezdi Day.

Members of this club are passionate bike enthusiasts and owners of the rare Jawa bikes, that lead a pack of rare bikes, whose production was discontinued in India in 1996. “The Jawa Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of July every year. This year we are riding out of the city to have a get-together in Shiva’s Farm near Shivagange,” said John Samuel, a co-founder of Bangalore Jawa Yezdi Motorcylce Club. Samuel owns two Jawa bikes – a 1975 model B and and 1980 classic.

Over 80 rare bikes were present at the event, which started from St Mark’s Road, outside Bowring Institute. “The best part of the bike is its roar. It makes me feel very good to be on the bike,” said Toby.

Shanta Kumar, who works for ITC, has been riding Jawa bikes for more than 20 years now. He said, “Jawa bikes have a better road grip and pollution control than most other bikes. The best thing about the bike is that your back doesn’t ache even if you ride the entire day.”

For Mysoreans, Jawa is more than a bike

About 150 vintage Jawa Yezdi models like the 1945 Czech Jawa model, Jawa Bison, Yezdi 350, Tankswitch Jawa, Roadkings, Oilking, Yezdi ‘B’ type, Pionyr’s, Jet Jawa and Yezdi Colt hit the roads in Mysore to mark the International Jawa Yezdi Day on Sunday.

Jawa Yezdi bikes were made in India at Yadavagiri in Mysore. Today, apartments are coming up on the land where the plant was once situated.

Jawa was coined using the first words of Czech founder Janeek, Frantisek and Wanderer, the German bike he started producing at his plant in Prague. But for Mysoreans, Jawa is also the acronym for its ruler Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar.

Raian Irani, founder Faroukh Irani’s son, said, “Wadiyar was keen on setting up the bike unit in Mysore. Pune was a contender. As governor of the then Mysore state, Wadiyar inaugurated Ideal Jawa (India) Limited in 1961 with the slogan: The forever bike, forever value.

The company closed down in 1990s in face of challenge from the new generation of 100 cc Japanese bikes.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore> Mysore / TNN / July 09th, 2012

College to open innovation lab

Education, Science & Technology

Mangalore:

To provide a platform for engineering students and researchers to innovate, the Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management  (SCEM) has set up four centres – government research and development, incubation, placement and training.

Manjunath Bhandary, chairman of SCEM told reporters here on Thursday that the centres were started with the support of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and the state government.

Minister for higher education CT Ravi will inaugurate the centres in SCEM premises on Saturday. “The minister will also inaugurate a centre of excellence and an innovation lab set up with the assistance of IIIT- Allahabad on the campus,” he added.

“Students of all colleges in the region can make use of these centres. The objective of opening such centres is to promote innovative ideas. In the innovation laboratory experts will guide students about designing various products. The centre of excellence aims at bridging the gap between the industry and academia and will train students according to the needs of the industry,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mangalore / TNN / November 10th, 2012

Canada PM concludes India visit with hockey game in Bangalore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Sports, World Opinion

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper wound up his six-day trip to India with a visit to a leading local school, where he played a game of hockey enthralling students on friday. Accompanied by wife Laureen Harper, he visited the Bishop Cotton Boys School where he was received by school captains. Students of Bishop Cotton Girls School were also in attendance to welcome the visiting dignitaries.

The Boys school principal, Prof John P Zachraiah, briefed him about the school, its pupils and their achievements.

At the playground, Harper had a feel of the cricket bat, but chose not to face a single delivery though Prithvi of Class XI was practicing vigorously to bowl.

Harper then joined Cotton Girls Camp led by Nandini S Patil of Class X to play a 10-minute hockey match, while Canadian sports minister Baljit Singh Gosal joined forces with boys’ team led by Yash Gopalka, studying in Class XII.

Boys’ team beat the rival camp which included Harper 2-0.

The Harpers then drove straight to Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli and boarded the Manila-bound Royal Canadian Air Force special aircraft.

source: http://www.HindustanTimes.com / Home> Punjab> Canada / by PTI / Bangalore, November 10th, 2012

Mysore Maharaja’s carriage to be auctioned at UK

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, World Opinion

A magnificent 19th century State carriage which belonged to the Mysore Maharajas, is set to be auctioned in the United Kingdom by historics auctioneers.

Used exclusively by the royal family of Mysore and to transport European royalty including the Prince of Wales, the carriage is expected to sell for £70,000 to £100,000. This horse or elephant-drawn State carriage is thought to be of British origin and dates from arou-nd early to mid-19th century.

It features an imposing and ornately finished cruciform body with a vaulted, domed roof situated atop double elliptic springs and iron bound artillery patterned wheels. The basic colour is olive green embellished with delicate meander boarders, floral and heraldic motifs and the family coat of arms. Most of the 16 windows offer drop-down, decorated panels and shutters for privacy.

The interior is upholstered in beige damask and the roof has decorative paintwork, carved border moldings and finials.

The exterior houses two seats perhaps used by servants and courtiers and given the detailing and design throughout, could easily be described as a work of art, as can be seen in a wall painting of it at the Mysore Palace Museum. It is thought to have been last used at the Cha-mundeshwari Festival in 1927.

The Wadiyar dynasty, established by Vijaya, ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399. Vijaya took on the name and ruled Mysore, then a small town, from 1399 CE to 1423 CE. From 1760 to 1799, the rule of the dynasty was essentially nominal, with real power in the hands of successive Dalwai, or Commanders-in-Chief, Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who expanded the kingdom aggressively, but clashed with the East India Company.

After Tipu Sultan was killed when the British stormed Seringapatnam in 1799, the Wadiyars were restored to power by the British.

It was offered at auction by an Australian firm, Leonard Joel, on Feb. 22. It is believed to have been offered by a private British collection. It was later exhibited at Sotheby’s Olympia on 1991, and was acquired by historians.

The carriage will be auctioned on Nov. 24, 2012 at the Brooklands Museum in the United Kingdom.

[For more details, contact Dr. Rahul Sharma on email: drrahulsharmaji@yahoo.com.]

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> Feature Articles / November 07th, 2012

Natl. seminar on Info Tech begins

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Mysore, Nov.9

“A strong foundation is important to enter into animation world. One has to cultivate research-based attitude to become a good animator and it is important to be a good story-teller,” said Ashish Kulkarni, CEO, Big Animation, Pune, here today.

He was speaking during the inauguration of 2-day National seminar on “Recent Trends in Information Technology and Animation, Visual Effects and Gaming” organi-sed by Centre for Information Science and Technology (CIST), University of Mysore, at Senate Bhavan in Manasagangotri here.

“Animation has been gaining a lot of importance in the present era. India is emerging as one of the best outsourcing centres for animation. Now that we have also started our own production there are plenty of opportunity to flourish. Though, our country missed the bus in 1980s by not realising the importance of animation, we have been able to make a name for ourselves in the world,” Ashish Kulkarni said. “Most of the youngsters today have taken up animation seriously and are striving hard to make a name for themselves,” he said.

“Not many Universities have realised the importance of animation in the country, but the students at the University of Mysore are lucky enough as they have a specialised course for animation which was started around 3 years ago,” he said. Ashish also emphasised the need for encouragement from parents to their wards who wish to take up animation as their career. He said that earlier both parents and teachers did not give importance to fine arts, drawing or any such activities as they did not have any importance academically. As the time has passed people have realised its importance, he said.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / November 09th, 2012

Noor Inayat Khan: The Indian princess who spied for Britai

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

The Princess Royal is set to unveil a sculpture of Noor Inayat Khan, dubbed the “Spy Princess” by her biographer Shrabani Basu in London’s Gordon Square Gardens.

Raised in Britain and France and a descendant of Indian royalty, bilingual Noor Inayat Khan was recruited by the elite Special Operations Executive (SOE) in 1942 to work in Paris as a radio operator.

Records from the national archives show she was the first female wireless operator sent to Nazi-occupied France during World War II.

After evading capture for three months, the spy was imprisoned, tortured and eventually shot by the German Gestapo at Dachau concentration camp in 1944.

Her final word – uttered as the German firing squad raised their weapons – was simple. “Liberté”.

Liberty was a notion the pacificist-turned-war-heroine held deeply, according to Ms Basu.

For her bravery, she was posthumously awarded the George Cross. In France she was honoured with the Croix de Guerre, and later with two memorials and an annual ceremony marking her death.

Indian royalty

Brave, glamorous and both sensitive and formidable, it is said she acted not out of a love for Britain, but out of an aversion to fascism and dictatorial rule.

Her father was a musician and Sufi teacher, and Noor Inayat Khan was raised with strong principles and believed in religious tolerance and non-violence.

Ms Basu claims she “couldn’t bear to see an occupied country”, a notion that seems to run in her family.

Noor Inayat Khan’s great-great-great-grandfather was Tipu Sultan, an 18th century Muslim ruler of Mysore. He refused to submit to British rule and was killed in battle in 1799.

Born on 1 January 1914 in Russia to an Indian father and American mother, the agent’s infancy was spent in London.

The family moved to France when she was a child and lived in Paris, where she was educated and learnt fluent French.

A bronze sculpture of Khan has been erected in Gordon Square Gardens on land owned by the University of London

The national archives describe how the sensitive young woman studied both medicine and music.

In 1939 the Twenty Jataka Tales, a collection of traditional Indian children’s stories she had retold, were published in Le Figaro.

When war broke out in 1939, Noor Inayat Khan trained as a nurse with the French Red Cross.

She fled the country just before the government surrendered to Germany in November 1940, escaping by boat to England with her mother and sister.

‘Tigress’

Shortly after arriving in the UK, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) as a wireless operator and soon caught the attention of recruiters from the SOE.

Also known at the time as Nora Baker, Khan joined the elite spy squad in 1942.

She was deployed to France a short time later despite an SOE training report describing her as “not over-burdened with brains” and “unsuited to work in her field”.

Codenamed “Madeleine”, she joined others in the resistance network Prosper, famously tasked by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze”.

Despite suspicions that the network had been infiltrated by a Nazi spy, Khan refused to return to Britain, risking arrest by the Gestapo.

Ms Basu – who spent eight years researching her life – told the BBC: “She was this gentle writer of children’s stories, a musician, but she was transformed. She was a tigress in the field.”

Noor Inayat Khan was raised by her Sufi father to be tolerant of other religions and a pacifist

With her team gradually captured by the Gestapo, Noor Inayat Khan continued for as long as possible to send intercepted radio messages back to England.

Despite her commanders urging her to return to England, she single-handedly ran a cell of spies across Paris for three more months, frequently changing her appearance and alias.

Eventually, she was betrayed, arrested and imprisoned. She was sent to Pforzheim prison in Germany where she was kept shackled and in solitary confinement.

She refused to reveal any information, despite 10 months of repeated beatings, starvation and torture by her Nazi captors.

Her fortitude – and two escape attempts – led her captors to brand her “highly dangerous”, despite her pacifist upbringing.

‘Inner strength’

In September 1944, she and three other female SOE agents were transferred to Dachau concentration camp where on 13 September they were shot and killed.

Ms Basu has described her life as “inspirational”, and said the modern world can draw lessons from the story of Noor Inayat Khan.

She said: “For her to come into this world on the front line taking on the Gestapo, showed her inner strength and her courage, her immense courage and resilience.

“It’s very inspiring, especially given the the troubled times that we live in. It is important to remember these qualities and values.

“Two and a half million Indians volunteered for the war effort and it was the largest single volunteer army.

“I think we must not forget their contribution. Noor was part of this.”

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk / Home> UK / by Samantha Dalton, BBC News / November 08th, 2012

Indian-origin ‘spy princess’ Noor Inayat Khan to be honoured by England

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All

A bronze bust of Indian-origin British ‘spy princess’ Noor Inayat Khan, who worked in France during World War II before being tortured and shot by the Germans, is being unveiled today in Gordon Square Gardens here, near the house where she lived as a child.

Noor Inayat Khan / DNA

It is said to be the first such memorial in Britain dedicated to a Muslim and the first in honour of an Asian woman.

Khan, posthumously awarded the George Cross for her work in France and for revealing nothing of use to her interrogators despite being tortured by the Gestapo for 10 months, is a direct descendant of Tipu Sultan, the renowned Tiger of erstwhile princely state of Mysore who refused to submit to British rule and who was killed in battle in 1799.

The event marks the end of several years of campaign by the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust headed by her biographer Shrabani Basu, to revive the memory of the forgotten war heroine.

The campaign has received the support of British Prime Minister David Cameron and several MPs and Peers as well as from eminent women like film maker Gurinder Chadha, stage artist Nina Wadia and sitarist Anoushka Shankar.

Basu, founder of the Noor Memorial Trust and author of her biography – Spy Princess – said she became interested in Khan’s story from “pure curiosity” about how an Indian woman could have been involved in the theatre of war in Europe.

“As I started researching her life, I realised she was a Sufi who believed in non-violence and religious harmony and had yet volunteered to be in the frontline,” Basu, a journalist, said.

“Khan – code named Madeline and shot dead at Dachau concentration camp, was the proud descendant of a ruler who had died fighting the British, her own father was a strong nationalist, and Noor was a great admirer of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.

“Though she believed firmly in Indian independence, she was focused and knew that it was important to fight the war against fascism”.

Khan was the last essential link with London after mass arrests by the Gestapo destroyed the Special Operations Executive (SOE)’s spy network in Paris.

As her spy circuit collapsed, her commanders urged her to return, but she refused to abandon her French comrades without communications.

For three months, she single-handedly ran a cell of spies across Paris, frequently changing her appearance and name until she was eventually captured.

The bust is being installed on land owned by the University of London, close to the Bloomsbury house where the spy princess lived as a child in 1914 and where she returned while training for the SOE during the World War II.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> India> Report / Place: London, Agency: PTI / Thursday, November 08th, 2012

This Diwali bring new light into your life!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Bangalore is home to many firsts and among those is The Purple Turtles, a one-stop- destination for the best designer lights in India. It all began in 2009, when Radeesh R., a former advertising and media professional was helping a friend do up her home and they could not find a single store that gave them a choice of stylish yet quirky lighting.

That’s when Radeesh got the “bright” idea to give the city a place for out-of-the-box lighting solutions. All his ideas then came together in The Purple Turtles. Today, after three years of being the best in the industry, The Purple Turtles has taken interior designing to the next level by introducing the all new, very unique and gorgeous indoor and outdoor lighting by new and upcoming designers from across India, a range of industrial and quirky furniture and some unique accessories.

The store also has prolific in-house designers, who create limited edition lights. Every year, during the Diwali season, The Purple Turtles brings out specially created lights, designed and finished, based on specific needs and preferences of the festival. The enchanting Thali Lights, the gorgeous Flower Cutwork Votive Lamps, the ravishing Swan Candle Stand, the very pretty Floral Fairy Lights and the dazzling Thoran Lights will light up and adorn every home this Diwali. These lights have different ratios of earthly elements, tradition and design brought together to make the perfect lights for the festival of lights. Thali lights Thali lights are not your regular bright, boring, white light lamps. They are perforated copper wall lamps with back lights, which add an aura of mystique to it. Lotus Thali set of 2; Starry Lights, Ganesha and OM are the different designs of Thali lights. These lamps are bewitching, captivating and the lights that sparkle like diamonds will definitely embellish your home. The Flower Cutwork Votive Table Lamp Votive candles have been lit up for centuries by people of various religions with a belief that their prayers, wishes and desires will come to life. The Purple Turtles have reformed this traditional votive candle into “The Flower Cutwork Votive” table lamp. It consists of a votive placed inside a metal cutwork housing throwing lovely shadows. These lovely lamps make a very unique and thoughtful gift and give you the contentment of lighting up the candle of hope at home everyday.

s there a better way to celebrate Diwali this year than lighting up an enchanting Flower Cutwork Votive lamp at home along with your family, friends and the people that you love?

Swan Candle Stand The Swan Candle stand is the latest, proud addition to the unique, best designer lights collection at ‘The Purple Turtles’. This earthly candle stand made of metal and stone is mesmerizing and has an antique finish. So hurry up and be the first in your neighborhood to decorate your home with the beautiful and ravishing Candle Light Stand. Floral Fairy Lights These flower fairy lights from The Purple Turtles create a gentle, magical glow and a great visual impact. They are designed to beautify any place in your home. The lovely Floral Fairy Lights will transport you and your family to a fantasy land this Diwali. Thoran Lights The Purple Turtles present the entrancing Thoran Lights to start the celebrations for the festival of lights. They are stunning fabric garland lights that come in different colours to suit different interiors. Use Thoran lights to decorate and brighten up your homes and lives this month.

Mr. Radeesh R, Founder, The Purple Turtles shares, “All our lighting creations are unique, individually crafted and draws inspiration from unusual and diverse sources. The Diwali range of lights has come out very beautifully and what makes it more special is that we present it with the goodwill of making each and every family’s Diwali magical.” Light up your homes and light up your lives this Diwali with the very ecstatic lights found exclusively at The Purple Turtles.

About The Purple Turtles: The Purple Turtles is Bangalore’s exclusive innovative designer lights destination and specialize in providing and customizing lighting ideas to suit your homes, office spaces, resorts, restaurants and every kind of theme-based interiors. The store showcases innovative creations of a range of Indian designers, along with limited edition lights of their in-house designers. The Purple Turtles works primarily with architects and interior designers providing personalized and customized lighting solutions for homes, offices, hotels, resorts, restaurants and theme based interiors.

The Purple Turtles Address: #128, 1st Main Road, Domlur 2nd Stage, off 100 ft rd., Indiranagar, Bangalore – 08. Ph No: 080- 41528039

source: http://www.bangalore.citizenmatters.in / Home> Arts & Culture / Tuesday, November 06th, 2012

Tippu Sultan’s Descendent Noor Inayat’s Bronze Bust at London

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

London, Nov. 5

A bronze bust of Noor Inayat Khan also known as ‘Spy Princess’ for her role in a dangerous secret mission against the Nazis, will be unveiled by Princess Anne in London on Nov. 8.

The bust is sculpted by Karen Newman, a London-based artist and will be installed in the north-east corner of Gordon Square, near the house where Noor lived and spent her off-days reading on a bench in the Square.

Basu, author of Spy Princess, The Life of Noor Inayat Khan and the founder of Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust, which raised 60,000 Pounds from the public for the memorial said that the memorial for Noor in Gordon Square would ensure that her story of bravery and sacrifice will not be forgotten by the future generations.

Noor Inayat Khan was born to an Indian father Hazrath Inayat Khan and an American mother Ora Ray Baker in the Soviet Union on 1st January 1914. Noor was a descendant of Tipu Sultan, the 18th century ruler of Mysore. Noor’s family lived in London and moved to Paris when Noor was just six years old. On the outbreak of the Second World War she trained as a nurse with the Red Cross.

In May 1940 France was invaded by the German Army. Just before the French government surrendered she escaped to London with her mother and sister.

Noor volunteered for the war effort and joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and was eventually recruited by the Special Operations Executive (SOE).

Noor was the first woman operator to be infiltrated into occupied France and did crucial work for the allies. She was betrayed, captured and finally killed in the Dachau Concentration Camp.

Noor IUnayat Khan was posthumously awarded the George Cross by Britain and Croix de Guere award by France.

source:  http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / November 06th, 2012