Monthly Archives: May 2015

Hubballi youngster plans online platform to sell paintings

May 31, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economyadmin

Hubballi :

Rarely do you come across a young painter who is also a business administrator. Priya Ostwal, 22, is one such person.

Being the daughter of Gautam Ostwal, CEO of Ostwal Group and president of The Indus Entrepreneurs, Hubballi chapter, Priyal could have easily led a luxurious life. But she has chosen to become an incubatee of Sandbox Startup of Hubballi to nurture her firm Art Street. It is not easy to sell painting in tier-2 cities like Hubballi, but Priyal she is committed to working hard to get value paintings — not only her own, but also that of other artists.

Priyal is planning to launch www.artstreetinternational.com, an e-commerce website, in a month to help artists from across the world upload and sell their paintings. “This website is aimed at helping poor artists. Artists from smaller cities and rural areas don’t get opportunities to sell their paintings. There is still a myth in semi-urban and rural India that painting is just a hobby that cannot bring financial value. I also had the same opinion five years ago before turning my passion into profession,” she says.

Priyal wants to promote artists from the North Karnataka region. She has approached about 200 artists, taking consent to upload their works.

Sharing her business plan, Priyal says there will be a theme every month. “They (artists) have to make paintings on the said theme. Apart from the theme, artists can upload any paintings of their choice. At the other end, buyers will also be given an option of customizing their orders. They can approach us via email, describing their idea and requirement and even insist on a particular artist’s works,” she explains.

Priyal’s tryst with painting started even before she joined nursery classes. “She was drawing some sketches on the wall and floor whenever she used to get pencil, wax crayons or sketch pens,” recalls her mother Manju.

Priyal, is pursuing MBA from Sikkim Manipal University. She has been successful in getting a one-year collaboration with The Gateway Hotel, Hubballi, to display her paintings.

Hotel manager Dharmesh Kariyappa says customers have appreciated Priyal’s paintings. “Considering visitors’ response, we are thinking of expanding the display in the hotel’s corridor,” he says.

Her paintings have found place in a Chennai art gallery and been exhibited at about 10 exhibitions in various cities of the nation.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubballi / by Sangamesh Menasinakai, TNN / May 28th, 2015

‘I am from Bengaluru, but praying for Bagan’

May 31, 2015Sportsadmin

N. Ulaganathan, one of the finest wingers from India, is a legend at the Kolkata club

N. Ulaganathan, one of the finest wingers to have come out of Bengaluru and India, spent eight years at Mohun Bagan, where he acquired the status of a club legend.

He will be at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium for Sunday’s I-League title-decider. His loyalties are clear. “I’m from this city, but whatever I am today is only because of Bagan. Naturally, I’m praying that Bagan wins,” he said.

A number of former Bagan players, including Shibaji Banerjee and Compton Dutta, are travelling to Bengaluru for the clash. “Both were my team-mates and we are lifelong friends. I’m looking forward to our reunion,” Ulaganathan said.

Sanjoy Sen, Bagan’s head coach, expressed delight over the vociferous support his side is expected to receive. “It’s very inspiring for the boys,” he said. “It’s great to see so many people coming from different parts of the country and supporting us. Even they are dying to see us win the title after such a long time.”

His counterpart Ashley Westwood sees things in a different light. “Mohun Bagan have managed to gather some fans because they’ve got something to play for all of a sudden,” the BFC head coach said.

“You don’t normally see Mohun Bagan (fans) anywhere unless they’re winning; so that speaks for itself. Our fans are with us through thick and thin. But it’s nice for Mohun Bagan (fans) to turn up once for a change.”

Should Bagan win, Kolkata will spin out of control, Ulaganathan felt. “When we were there, people would come in tens of thousands to the airport,” he said. “The celebrations will be immense this time.”

N. Ulaganathan, one of the finest wingers from India, is a legend at the Kolkata club

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / Bengaluru Bureau / Bengaluru – May 31st, 2015

Lensmen remain neglected , bemoans wildlfe photographer S. Thippeswamy

May 31, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

Mysuru :

“Photographers are being neglected in the country,” bemoaned S. Thippeswamy, renowned Wildlife Photographer.

He was speaking at a programme organised at Sriranga auditorium in Rangayana premises here yesterday by Chalana Publishers to mark the release of the books, ‘Hakki Mattu Goodu’ and ‘Vadabalu’ written by H.V. Krishna Malavalli.

Thippeswamy observed that the achievers by various sectors were being felicitated but the government had not come forward to honour a lensman or encourage their tribute.

He pointed out that the country had excelled in photography field and an International award had been won six times and added that the teams were from Karnataka.

Thippeswamy said that the State had the highest number of wildlife photographers in the country. He pointed out that there were over 1,000 species of birds in the country with over 500 species in the State and researching on their food habits, lifestyle and movement was a difficult task.

He lauded the book, ‘ Hakki Mattu Goodu’ which contained research findings of the life of 25 species of birds.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 25th, 2015

Journalist Sanath Kumar, author Krishna M.V. Malavalli and others were present.

State on a mission to set up world’s biggest solar park

May 30, 2015Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

2,000-MW park to come up in Pavagada taluk

Karnataka, which entered the global power map by setting up Asia’s first hydroelectric station, is now embarking on another milestone mission of setting up a mega solar power park, said to be the world’s biggest. The park, with a capacity of 2,000 MW, will come up on 10,000 acres of land in the parched Pavagada taluk of Tumakuru district.

Secretary, Union Ministry of New and Renewal Energy, Upendra Tripathy and Additional Chief Secretary, Karnataka Energy Department, Ravi Kumar, who announced this at a press conference here on Friday, said the work on the proposed park would start soon.

The 1,000 MW solar park being implemented in Andhra Pradesh is the biggest such project so far in the country. The Centre would support the park by offering a subsidy of Rs. 20 lakh per mega Watt, Mr. Tripathy said.

According to sources, Pavagada was chosen for the solar park because of a combination of various factors, including high sunlight exposure, backwardness of the area, and lesser demand for land. In addition to the park, Karnataka has bigger plans for the renewable energy sector as the State on Friday committed itself to setting up projects to tap green energy to the tune of 16,000 MW in the next five to seven years.

The commitment was made at a meeting with Ministry of New and Renewal Energy authorities here where the Centre wanted the States to take up the responsibility of executing green energy project proposals to the tune of 1,75,000 MW received by it during the renewable energy global investors’ meet.

To facilitate evacuation of such a massive quantum of renewable energy from the generation sites, the Centre has also decided to set up an exclusive pan-India green corridor at a cost of Rs. 36,000 crore, Mr. Tripathy said. To raise resources for renewable energy sector infrastructure, the Centre would float tax-free green bonds to the tune of Rs. 5,000 crore in about three months from now, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by B.S. Satish Kumar / Bengaluru – May 30th, 2015

A bevy of beauties

May 30, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Passion has little to do with euphoria and everything to do with patience,’ said American author Mark Z Danielewski. Having an unaltered passion for antique beauties is Ashwath Narayan, an automobile engineer. A collector of vintage and classic cars, Ashwath bought his first car when he was 15 years old. “My first ride was a Morris Minor,” Ashwath says proudly. An automobile consultant then, his career doubled his love for cars, which he says will never perish.

“The love for cars dates back to my childhood. My father had Dodge, Rampage and Plymouth…then. I grew up with these cars and this is the root to my enduring passion,” he explains. A youthful person, he now owns the 1936 Austin, 1956 Super 10, 1949 Morris Minor and 1964 Morris Traveller. The list does not end there as he has a unique and a popular two wheeler — Rajdoot Runabout. “This bike was not very popular at the time of its manufacture. But it became a household name after Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor’s movie ‘Bobby’. In the movie, the hero and the heroine elope on this bike. It is after the success of this movie that this bike came to be called as ‘Bobby’ bike and everyone wanted to own this then,” he explains.

Parked with utter care in his garage, the Super 10, a raven beauty with red upholstery, is as good as it was during its time of manufacture. “This car was restored completely by me from scratch. I am its only owner and I have done everything from suspension, gear box, tinkering, painting and upholstery. It was in complete clapped out condition when I bought it,” he says. The Morris Traveller, an English beauty with wooden framed doors, was directly imported from the UK in its original form. The other convertible car — Austin, is part of a family as his sons Sanjay and Rajeev say, “We have grown up with Austin.”

Sanjay adds saying, “Austin is a very reliable car that has a rich heritage. We have spent our childhood in this and there were times when the car has given up on us, especially during the rallies. But the power of this car is such that people came readily to help push it to start. However, these things are very rare to be experienced now. There is no such camaraderie anymore and there is no human touch to all of it, which I sometimes miss.”

As the phrase goes — like father, like sons — Sanjay and Rajeev both share a connection with the classic machines and Rajeev puts it across as, “We have this passion in our DNAs.” While Rajeev is enthusiastic about these cars, Sanjay has added more to this inherited passion as he has developed an ultra-lightweight road bike Colnago Master, which is the only surviving bike of its sort in India. The passion bug has also smitten Ashwath’s wife Sulochana and Ashwath says, “My wife is very supportive about my passion and she is equally enthusiastic about these cars.”

The rallies are also a time for family outing in these cars. Ashwath, has also driven his Super 10 and Morris Minor till Mysuru to take part in the rallies.

Maintained in first-rate condition, Ashwath says, “I am sometimes scared to take these cars out on the roads as there is a lot of attention pouring in while driving them, which sometimes becomes disturbing.” He comments on the technology of these cars as rough and tough. “It is a costly affair. But once restored and maintained well, they will not give you any problem,” he adds.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplement> Metrolife / by Prajna GR, DHNS / May 26th, 2015

Tribute : Meenakshi Devi a multi-faceted personality

May 30, 2015Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leadersadmin

Seen in the picture are (standing) The Maharaja of Mysore Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and H.H.Thakur Saheb of Sanand; (sitting from left): Rajkumari Maya Devi, Rajkumari Usha Devi, Thakur Rani Sujaya Devi of Sanand, Tripura Sundarammanni, Rani Vijaya Devi of Kotada, Maharajkumari Gayatri Devi, Rajakumari Geetha Devi and Rajkumari Urmila Devi; (squatting from left): Maharajkumari Kamakshi Devi, Maharajkumari Meenakshi Devi, Yuvaraja Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, Rajkumari Shakuntala Devi and Rajakumari Indrakshi Devi. (File photo)

by Dr. M.R. Bharathi

She was a lifetime connoisseur of classical music, an entrepreneur, a photographer and a philanthropist. Meenakshi Devi, the second daughter of late Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, and late Tripura Sundarammanni, was an apostle of a brave and independent woman. Though shy, Meenakshi Devi was straight forward, refined and a lovable person.

Meenakshi was called “Miniput” by her father, which meant, ‘my beloved little one.’ She was strongly attached to her father. The death of her parents and her husband — Sirdar M.R. Lakshmikantha Raj Urs, an advocate at High Court of Karnataka — transformed the playful and mischievous Meenakshi into a strong and matured woman.

An ardent aficionado of both Indian and Western Classical music, Meenakshi was a piano player and saw to it that she never missed the “Beating Retreat” of Republic Day celebration. She was a student of history and tried to update herself about Mysuru history in general and about the Wadiyars of Mysuru in particular.

Meenakshi’s travel across Europe, Japan, Africa, USA, Canada and India, encouraged the hidden entrepreneur in her that made her open a boutique called “Duckling” and a travel agency called “Regal Voyages” at Bengaluru. Her love for horse-riding made her start the “Princess Academy,” a horse riding club. She was instrumental in organising the South Indian Equestrian Championship and Horse Safari to promote tourism in Mysuru.

Her interest in photography and wildlife made her visit Kabini, Bandipur and Ranathambore National Parks and learn photography under the guidance of her father.

As a philanthropist she helped a number of Institutions and was the President of ‘Altrusa Club’ and was on the committee of Philomena Hospital, Bengaluru. She was a member of the Karnataka Social Welfare Board. She offered her grounds in the Bangalore Palace, free of cost to ‘Awake,’ a women’s organisation for a programme to educate its members on global marketing.

Despite her failing health, Meenakshi tried to be cheerful and benevolent, inspiring the young and the old alike. She passed away on May 7, 2015. May her soul rest in peace.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – May 24th, 2015

1st All India Open FIDE Rating Chess : City’s Thejkumar triumphs

May 29, 2015Records, All, Sportsadmin

Panaji :

City’s IM M. S. Thejkumar of South Western Railways, Mysuru, taking part in the Ist TTCA All India Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament 2015 at Panaji, Goa, won his final round tie against Goa’s Audi Ameya (Rating 1924) and clinched the title with 8.5 points from nine rounds yesterday.

IM M S Thejkumar won a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- along with a trophy.

With this performance, Thejkumar earned 11.4 points to his present rating points of 2450.

M.S. Thejkumar was followed by Akshat Khamparia (MP) with 7.5 points, Navalgund Niranjan (TN) with 7.5 points, M. Vijay Anand (TN) with 7.5 points and J. Ramakrishna (Andhra Bank) with 7 points in second to fifth place respectively.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / Saturday – May 23rd, 2015

Pages from History : I am 80 and a big thank you

May 29, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore

I am eighty now and I write this in all humility and gratefulness to my readers for following my weekly column and for your affection. Time and chance have always helped me. Eighty years ago I was born to a highly traditional family which had intimate connections with the Jagadgurus of Sringeri Sharada Peetha. I proudly remember my grandfather Aradikoppam Subramanya Sastri, a great scholar in Sanskrit who was a tutor to the great pontiff His Holiness Chandrasekhara Bharati Swamiji. At the invitation of the Maharaja of Mysore, he was sent to Mysore to become a Professor at Maharaja’s Sanskrit College and he served that institution with great distinction and consequently became close to the Mysore Palace. As a young boy of ten or so I wanted to become a scholar emulating my grandfather and that became my aim.

After passing my Intermediate (PUC), I joined the MA Indology course to study under the great South Indian scholar Padma Bhushana K.A. Nilakanta Sastri at Maharaja’s college, Mysore. This was a turning point in my career because I was a student of Nilakanta Sastri who was held in great esteem throughout the country. Just a telephone call by Sastriji to Dr. B.K. Thapar of the Archaeological Survey of India got me a job of Exploration Officer in ASI. At that time I was noticed by Prof. Oruganti Ramachandrayya of the Andhra University and he took me to his Department as a Faculty, even without an application. Professors had such powers in those days. But my mind was wandering in USA and I wanted to study at Harvard, perhaps the best and reputed University in the world.

At that time, an advertisement calling for Fullbright Scholarships appeared in newspapers. I applied to this scholarship with the blessings of my Professor Nilakanta Sastri. Dr. Olive Reddick was the Director of United States Education Foundation in India. I cleared the tests and interviews at National and International-level and being a student of Nilakanta Sastri was an added advantage. I was selected to study at Harvard University, a wish I had expressed in my application. I had the good fortune of studying under world famous Gordon R. Willey and Hallam L. Movius at Harvard, which perhaps no other student from Karnataka can boast of. I salute all these scholars for moulding my career in Archaeology.

I was dreaming to settle down in Harvard and at that time Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave a call to all Indians working or studying in foreign countries to return to India and serve their motherland. It touched my heart and immediately I came back to India.

Another chance presented itself to me. My Professor at Mysore University wanted that I should return to Mysore and take up Readership in Archaeology. My entire family was in favour of this proposal. I returned to Mysore and faced an interview when K.L. Srimali was the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Dejagow was the Dean and he recognised my potential and with his blessings I became a Reader at a young age. He has been showering the same affection towards me till date and it was he who inculcated in me the workaholic culture. Many of the books I have authored have the stamp of his guidance. This I would say is another chance which came my way.

With Dejagow’s guidance and my own enthusiasm, I built up a Department of Archaeology which won the admiration of scholars not only in India but also abroad. When the Fifth Plan Academic Committee visited my Department they were greatly impressed and sanctioned many faculty positions and a vehicle (jeep) for conducting archaeological explorations. I also organised a small University Museum which used to be visited by distinguished visitors to the campus. I could not have done this all alone and naturally all my colleagues helped me. I also introduced excavation as part of our training and excavated Banavasi, Heggadehalli etc. I retired from the University in 1995 when I was 60 and I thought I could write some books. At that time I was made Professor-Emeritus by the UGC for two years. I completed that also.

One day Mathoor Krishnamurthy and N. Ramanuja came to my house and asked me to be the Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Mysore. His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji’s blessings were there for this proposal. Having lot of respect for the Swamiji, I accepted the offer. I immediately roped in K.B. Ganapathy, Editor, Star of Mysore and P.S. Ganapathy, owner of a Printing Press. With the enthusiasm of the culture-loving Mysureans, Vidya Bhavan has become a household name.

Another thing which gave me full scope and satisfaction was the publication of Kannada translation of all the literary works of Kulapathi K.M. Munshi. The authentic history and culture of India in eleven volumes planned by Munshiji and executed by R.C. Majumdar is a valuable contribution. This was not available in Kannada. I took up the Kannada translation of these volumes with the help of many good translators. This is available in 25 parts in Kannada. Now most of these volumes have seen many editions.

In the wake of the success of this publication, I initiated translation of all the English works of Kulapathi Munshi into Kannada. Now we have published 22 works in this series so that the thoughts of Kulapathiji can reach the Kannada reading public. I can take great pride because perhaps no other Indian language (excluding Gujarati and Hindi) except Kannada has this great distinction. Many awards have been conferred on me for my academic contribution including the Puratatva Ratna award and Kannada Rajyotsava award by the Karnataka government. Another award which I cherish and value greatly is the Kulapathi K.M. Munshi award.

K.B. Ganapathy, Editor-in- Chief, Star of Mysore and Mysooru Mithra gave me an opportunity to write a weekly column under the title ‘Pages From History’ and this has made me quite popular in Mysuru which is being well-received by the readers in English and Kannada since seven years. Thus I am greatly indebted to KBG.

When I take stock of my life, I become conscious of the fact how various people have helped me in their own way. Without their support, I would not have been what I am today. That only shows the historical truth that man is governed by circumstances and chances. Chances never come again and again. Only a city bus comes again and again though at irregular intervals. Hence, a person with a purpose and aim in life should be open-minded and grab a chance when it arrives or go after it, if necessary.

This is what life has taught me during these eighty years and I have always tried to adjust to the circumstance without compromising the basic values of ethical and purposeful life. I am fortunate that my family members always stood by me during my life’s journey through thick and thin.

Again it is my good fortune that Mysore District Kannada Sahitya Parishat under the leadership of M. Chandrashekar, President, along with T.S. Chayapati of Talukina Venkannayya Publication, have arranged a felicitation function on 29th of this month in Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji’s saanidhya. It is my good fortune that MLA Vasu, MUDA Chairman K.R. Mohan Kumar, scholar Dr. N.S. Taranath and Dr. C. Naganna have agreed to take part in this programme. Two of my books, Yadavas and Indian Epigraphy will be released on the occasion. I think, I could not have bargained for a more meaningful 80th birthday. This is traditionally referred to as Sahasra Chandra Darshana ritual. This is next in importance to 60th birthday (Shastipoorthi).

I and my wife Kamalamba consider ourselves fortunate and we simply accept it with gratitude. We look forward to 29th May. However, I continue to meet you all through my column every week as usual.

A Big Thank You to all.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Saturday – May 23rd, 2015

Who is J. Jayalalithaa ?

May 29, 2015Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

J born in our city Mysuru

J. Jayalalithaa was born on February 24, 1948, in Mysuru. She began schooling at the Bishop Cotton Girls High School in Bengaluru and later attended the Presentation Convent at Church Park, Chennai, when her mother began a career as a Tamil film actress. The family had moved to Chennai after Jayalalithaa’s father died when she was just two.

Woman, actress, Brahmin, Kannadiga. Conventional wisdom would suggest that resume is all wrong for the hard playfield of Tamil Nadu politics and in a Dravidian party.

But then J. Jayalalithaa’s life and career are the stuff fairy tales are made of. Or movie scripts with happy endings.

The fame and celebrity she earned as a successful actress would pale in comparison with what she would achieve in later years.

At 67, Jayalalithaa is a political giant not only in Tamil Nadu, where she took oath as Chief Minister for the fifth time today, with two of her three terms punctuated by brief spells of political exile. Brand Jayalalithaa is an undeniable presence at the national level, most emphatically after last year’s national election, when her party swept 37 of Tamil Nadu’s 39 seats, making her AIADMK the third largest party in the Lok Sabha after the BJP and the Congress.

Her stunning victory in the Assembly elections of 2011 had ensured that her party’s tally of 11 in the Rajya Sabha or upper house of Parliament cannot be scoffed at either, especially in times when the BJP-led Central government is in a minority in the house and often depends on regional parties like Jayalalithaa’s to help it pass crucial legislation.

When Jayalalithaa was convicted in September last year in a corruption case by a Bengaluru trial court, her political rivals celebrated the possibility that she would not be able to contest elections for another decade. That, they reckoned, would mean the end of AIADMK, a party that revolves completely around its chief.

But eight months later, the Karnataka High Court has acquitted Jayalalithaaa and she is back.

To her many supporters, Jayalalithaa is Amma (mother) or Puratchi Thalaivi (Revolutionary Leader). She was Ammu to M.G. Ramachandran or MGR, her political mentor at whose statue she paid tribute in her first public appearance in eight months today.

She acknowledges MGR as one of the most important influences in her life. The other is her mother, Sandhya, an actress who fell on hard times and had to send her 15-year-old daughter to a film studio rather than college.

Jayalalithaa was born on February 24, 1948, in Mysuru. She began schooling at the Bishop Cotton Girls High School in Bengaluru and later attended the Presentation Convent at Church Park, Chennai, when her mother began a career as a Tamil film actress. The family had moved to Chennai after Jayalalithaa’s father died when she was just two.

Jayalalithaa was a good scholar and is said to have wanted to become a lawyer and be rich. She wouldn’t be a lawyer, but she would be rich — a successful film career lay ahead. Chinnada Gombe, her first film (in Kannada) was a major hit.

She was revolutionary and is said to have been the first to wear skirts on screen.

Jayalalithaa also acted in a few Bollywood films.

She starred in 28 films with Tamil Superstar MGR, who would later found the AIADMK.

Jayalalithaa’s last film was Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal in 1980. In 1982, at the age of 34, she joined the AIADMK and went straight to the top echelons of the party as Propaganda Secretary, much to the chagrin of many seasoned partymen and was soon nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

MGR died in 1987, in harness as Chief Minister. The next year the AIADMK split with one faction supporting MGR’s wife Janaki and the other supporting Jayalalithaa, who laid claim to her mentor’s political legacy.

In 1991, Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister for the first time. She lost the 1996 Tamil Nadu elections and the DMK government that succeeded her filed the corruption case that she was acquitted in earlier this month.

She won her second term in 2001 and her third in 2011.

Jayalalithaa, who is single, speaks English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi fluently. MGR is said to have sent her to the Rajya Sabha as she spoke English very well.

An accomplished dancer, Jayalalithaa trained in classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Mohini Attam, Kathak and Manipuri and performed all over India. She also started learning Karnatak music at the age of four and sang several songs in her own films.

The AIADMK chief is a voracious reader and has a large private library with a huge collection of books. Her favourite authors are Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. Also Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steel, Pearl S. Buck and James Hadley Chase.

Even as an actress, she would always carry books with her to the studio, and would sit quietly by herself in a corner and read between shots.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Saturday – May 23rd, 2015

SPI among top 100 fastest growing Pvt. Cos in Atlanta

May 29, 2015Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinionadmin

Receives Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Award-2015

Mysuru :

Software Paradigms International Group, (SPI) was honoured as one of the fastest growing private companies in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Awards ceremony held recently at the Georgia World Congress Centre.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle Pacesetter Award publishes the list of top 100 fastest growing privately held companies in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s Pacesetter event saw participation of over 500 attendees.

“SPI is a technology provider of choice for Retailers worldwide. The firm’s growth has been driven by changes in the Retail industry particularly the rapid adoption of online and mobile channels by shoppers. SPI’s expertise in multi-channel planning and analytics as well as supplier management have helped our retail clients come out ahead in creating a world class experience for their customers across channels,” said Sid Mookerji, Global CEO, SPI

The 100 Pacesetter companies were announced in their index ranking order from 100 to 1. Top 5 companies included 1-800-COURIER, Castle Medical, SalesLoft, Ely Concrete Construction, and Priority Payment Systems. SPI ranked 44th in the top 100.

This is the second Pacesetter award for SPI.

Caroline Dunn, Head of Marketing, SPI, received the award on behalf of SPI.