Monthly Archives: December 2013

CII meet on US-India tecnology partnership tomorrow

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Mysore :

The commercial ties between the US and India stretch back to 1792 when President George Washington, the first US President, sent an official envoy to the city of Madras and established a permanent presence in city. Ever since, both the countries have recognised the enormous potential of cultivating this partnership. US remains the leading investor in India, both in terms of projects and jobs generated. Foreign Direct Investment from US firms created more than 355,000 jobs between 2007 and 2011. IT industry dominates the sector, with 60%-70% of our revenues coming from the US, said S. Nagarajan, Chairman, CII Mysore.

With this background, CII Mysore is organising an interactive session with Dr. Rajan Natarajan, Deputy Secretary of State, Policy & External Affairs, State of Maryland, USA, on Nov. 28 at Hotel Quorum in city at 5 pm.

Dr. Natarajan will address and interact with industries on US-India Technology Partnership; How to do business with US; New Markets and Investment opportunities for Indian Companies.

Dr. Natarajan was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of State by Governor Martin O’Malley in June 2011. He is the first Indian born-American, who currently holds the highest administrative position in the US and in Maryland’s history. His portfolio include representing the Governor and the Secretary of State at designated public events, advising the Secretary on external affairs, fostering and promoting international diplomatic mission, building public, private and business partnerships, FDI and trade promotion, enhancing educational and institutional collaborations, facilitating technology commercialisation.

In addition, he is responsible for advancing international Sister-State programmes in more than 13 countries that include (China, Japan, Brazil, India, South Korea, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Turkey, Vietnam, Estonia, Ireland, and Russia), coordinating legislative and executive branches of government agencies, policy development and legislative approval, monitor policy implementation, and overseeing the Maryland International Consortium. He is also currently serving as a Member of the Governor’s International Advisory Council.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 27th, 2013

Highest IT exporter award for SPI

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
SPI CEO Sid Mookerji is seen receiving the award from S.R. Patil, Minister for IT, BT, Science and Technology as Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for Human Resources, looks on.
SPI CEO Sid Mookerji is seen receiving the award from S.R. Patil, Minister for IT, BT, Science and Technology as Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for Human Resources, looks on.

Mysore :

Software Paradigms Infotech Pvt. Ltd. (SPI) has received the coveted ‘Highest IT Exporter-IT Services’ award for Mysore region (2012-2013). This award is conferred by Government of India and Department of IT, BT & ST, Government of Karnataka, in association with STPI.

The ‘Highest IT Exporter-IT Services’ Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions received by software companies for making a significant contribution to the total software exports of the country.

The award was presented to SPI CEO Sid Mookerji at Bangalore IT Biz-2013 recently. The trophy and certificate were presented by Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for Human Resources and S.R. Patil, Karnataka Minister for IT, BT, Science and Technology, Planning and Statistics.

SPI was declared the Highest IT Exporter from the region in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-2012. SPI had also received the Certificate of Excellence Award in IT exports 2003-04 and 2004-05.

“We are delighted to have won the Highest IT Exporter award for the fourth consecutive year. This establishes us as a leading IT player in tier II cities. SPI has been growing steadily both organically and inorganically; we have made two acquisitions this year. We will continue to deliver best of breed solutions that address the evolving business needs of our customers,” said Sid Mookerji.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / November 27th, 2013

Mandya-origin Vivek H Murthy next US Surgeon General

Amazing Feats, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

President Barack Obama plans to nominate Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy, the Indian-American head of a doctors group that promotes his signature healthcare law to be the next US surgeon general.

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Murthy is a hospitalist at the Brigham and is co-founder and president of Doctors for America, a Washington, DC-based group of 16,000 physicians and medical students that advocates for access to affordable, high quality health care.If confirmed by the Senate, Murthy will replace Regina Benjamin, who was appointed by Obama in 2009 and left her post last summer.

The job focuses heavily on public health issues.Murthy was appointed to the President’s Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health in 2011. The prevention group was created as part of the Affordable Care Act health reform law.

His group, Doctors for America, was originally called Doctors for Obama and helped to campaign for Obama’s election.

Murthy co-founded VISIONS Worldwide in 1995, a non-profit organization focused on HIV/AIDS education in India and the United States, where he served as President from 1995 to 2000 and Chairman of the Board from 2000 to 2003.

Murthy received a BA from Harvard University, an MBA from Yale School of Management, and an MD from Yale School of Medicine.

“I am confident that these outstanding individuals will greatly serve the American people in their new roles and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come,” Obama said in announcing Murthy’s appointment along with three other key posts.

The announcement came shortly after Obama acknowledging that his administration “fumbled” in the troubled rollout of his healthcare law offered a fix that would allow insurers to keep for another year people on plans that were to be cancelled for not meeting minimum standards under the new law.

In the midst of mounting criticism of the troubled healthcare website, former President Bill Clinton had Tuesday suggested that Obama should make sure Americans can retain their current health insurance plans, even if it means revamping the Affordable Care Act.

“I personally believe, even if it takes a change to the law, the president should honour the commitment the federal government made to those people and let them keep what they’ve got,” Clinton told OZY, a news website.

Murthy, though was born in London and shifted base to the US later, he has links with the Hallegere village of Mandya district.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> International / by Agencies / Washington – November 15th, 2013

Bangalore: Indo-German research cooperation opens up opportunities

Business & Economy, World Opinion

Bangalore :

“The Indo-German relations have grown considerably over the last six decades, especially in scientific cooperation aiming to serve the welfare of the people. Both countries are now emphasizing to promote international research cooperation to benefit human health,” said Hans-GuenterLoeffler, Deputy Consul General of Germany in Bangalore.

Loeffler addressing media persons at the inauguration of International Humboldt Kolleg on “Bench to bedside translational research: Potential benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration” beingorganized by Clinical Embryology department of Manipal University with support from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany and German Consulate General, Bangalore, said it is known to the world how much India has progressed and Germany was keen for more mature partnership in science and research.

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Interdisciplinary research benefits all and it is possible for both countries to improve the speed and efficiency of transfer of knowledge between basic research, which is very strong in Germany and India, clinical research and application,” he said.

One ministry alone in Germany, the ministry of education and research, spends 5.5 billion Euros to promote cooperation between universities, institutions and industry focused on centres for health all over Germany for most important diseases, cancer, cardiovascular, diabetes etc.

The Humboldt Foundation is a non-profit organization established by the Federal Republic of Germany to promote international research cooperation. It enables highly qualified foreign scholars to have long-term association with German institutes. Earlier recipients of this award include Noble laureates, philosophers and well-known scientists. Humboldt Foundation sponsors Humboldt Kollegswhich is primarily aimed at conducting interdisciplinary meetings to address key research problems.

“Germany is a potential hub for advanced research. Many research and funding organisations offer excellent funding opportunities and ideal conditions for foreign scientists in all fields,” said professor Micheal Bader from Berlin who was a plenary speaker in the Kolleg.

“The very idea of holding the ‘Humboldt-Kolleg’ is that it provides a platform for young researchers and experienced scientists from different disciplines to interact, discuss and find out commonalities among their research interests. These meetings make the base for a long term scientific interaction and especially students are benefited. More than one hundred eminent scientists from top universities and research institutes in Germany and India are participating in the meeting” said Dr Satish Adiga, convener of the conference and a Humboldtian at KMC Manipal.

“The Kolleg offers a great opportunity to learn and discuss how India, Germany and other countries are involved in translating experimental research to clinical applications,” said Dr Vinod Bhat, Pro Vice Chancellor of Manipal University in his presidential address.

National Research professor and Padma vibhushan awardee Dr M S Valiathan, highlighted the need of translational research to benefit patients in his keynote address.

Dr Sudhakar Nayak, Associate Dean of KMC Manipal welcomed the gathering and Dr Guruprasad Kalthur, associate professor in Clinical Embryology proposed vote of thanks.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Media Release / Bangalore, Saturday – November 16th, 2013

‘Acharya Vidyaranya’ awards conferred

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

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Mysore :

“Let us reject superstitions and at the same time retain our strong beliefs,” observed District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President M. Chandrashekar.

He was speaking at the “Acharya Sri Vidyaranya Rajyotsava award” presentation function organised by Himalaya Foundation at the Institution of Engineers Hall on JLB road in the city on Sunday.

The Himalaya Foundation’s initiative to institute the award in the name of Vidyaranya, who was the inspiration behind the Vijayanagar empire, is really commendable, he said.

Seven eminent personalities — Senior Journalist Krishna Vattam (Journalism), Dr. M. Dejamma (Educationist), Advocate O. Sham Bhat (Religious Service), Dr. C. Sharath Kumar (Medicine), Sharath Jois (Yoga), Somasekhar Gowda (Social Service) and Shyamala Murthy (Literature) were presented the awards.

A Kavigoshti (poets meet) also was held on the occasion. Ramanahalli Bhavaikya Basava Kendra’s Basavalingamurthy Swamiji graced the occasion.

Former District Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Himalaya Foundation’s N. Ananth, District Brahmana Mahasabha President B.R. Nataraja Jois and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 26th, 2013

Unani regimen offers hope to mishap victim

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Science & Technology

Imran Khan, a resident of Tumkur, had been bedridden for the best part of 12 years after nearly 200 kg of steel fell on his back when he was visiting a construction site.

The 28-year-old lost all hope of walking again till he found out about Ilaj bit Tadbeer (regimental therapy), a little-known system of unani medicine involving massage, cupping and leeching using herbs. Imran underwent 14 months of continuous treatment at the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), which falls under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Now, he has started walking with support.

The story of Tousif Ahmed from BTM Layout is similar to Imran’s. Tousif injured his spine in an accident in Andhra Pradesh in January 2012 in which his uncle died.

“I was told by a private hospital that I would not walk again and would be bedridden for the rest of my life. But with intervention from NIUM, I am moving in a wheelchair and also walking with crutches,” he said.

Tousif has been receiving treatment at the Institute for the past four months. He is currently shooting videos of recovering patients at NIUM in order to make a short film.

“I had wanted to set up a call-centre after getting my BCA, but the accident crippled my dream. But as I can move again, I have set a target of five months to walk out of this hospital,” he said.

Dr D A Muzzaffar Bhat, resident medical officer of NIUM, said the centre was focusing on neuro-rehabilitation. This included attending to patients who suffered from stroke, myopathy, epilepsy, motor-neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, hemiplegia and paraplegia. He said NIUM takes up cases referred from other hospitals like NIMHANS.

He referred to the successful treatment of Mohammed Farooq, who was admitted to Victoria Hospital after meeting with an accident. He was bedridden for eight months with no sensation in his lower-back. Farooq started treatment at NIUM in January and is now walking with the help of crutches.

“No surgeries are done here and our approach is to develop cells and strengthen nerves and muscles,” Dr Bhat said .

Options for Cerebral Palsy Aditya Kholi greets you with a smile and offers a chair to those who approach him and only when he tries to walk, do people notice a problem.

Aditya is a child who was born with cerebral palsy and could hardly move his legs. His father Mahesh Kohli, an IT professional, had quit his job in Dubai to research treatment options for Aditya, when a friend told him about Ilaj bit Tadbeer.

After five months of treatment, Aditya can now sit comfortably and also fold his legs and walk.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Mohammed Yacoob – Bangalore / November 18th, 2013

Pursue contemporary science, says C N R Rao

Science & Technology

“A global index to measure the contemporariness of science shows most of India’s research dates back to the 1950s and 60s. The yesterday and today of science cannot be the same; we must do contemporary science,” Bharat Ratna-designate Prof C N R Rao said on Monday.

At the silver jubilee inaugural lecture of an in-house symposium at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research he regaled the audience with anecdotes and scientific insight.

“Time is catching up with India and we cannot say we have a lot of time. India is 66th among 140 nations in innovation.  India has only 20 years to catch up with science for self-preservation, and no day is a holiday for science,” he told a gathering of young students and  scientists.

To buttress his argument, he said India contributed about one per cent of the top research papers in the world annually compared to China (5 per cent) and the US (10 per cent). Referring to worries over water resources and waterborne diseases, Rao said work must be done on energy and water in the country.

He spoke about the experiences of scientists he called the ‘Gods’ of science.

He described how Excelsior magazine carried out a smear campaign to keep Madame Marie Curie out of the French Academy of Sciences only because she was a woman even though she had won two Nobel Prizes in 1903 and 1911.

Declaring that no one could equal the contributions of Michael Faraday, Rao said the beauty of his work lays in the simplicity of his thinking and experiments.

However, he did not get a Nobel Prize as he died in 1867 before the Nobel Prizes were instituted.

He also spoke of Ernest Rutherford and his Nobel Prize in 1908 for the chemistry of radioactive substances.

Rutherford took to mentoring students in his lab and under his leadership, Chadwick discovered the neutron in 1932.

Following this, John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton performed experiments to split the nucleus in a controlled environment, he added.

Rao also referred to the spiritual realm, quoting Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore, to stress how science was a great means to make Indians selfless.

He said, “It is important that we criticise and question science. But it must be in an open process and not to belittle others. Daily trifles kill most people. Let us not pay too much attention to small things.”

Rao showed his lighter side as he spoke of the wrongs suffered by material and structural chemists at the hands of organic chemists.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Express News Service – Bangalore / November 19th, 2013