Monthly Archives: December 2018

Tribal teenage girls to scale western Himalayas

Records, All, Sports

During the expedition, the girls will also engage in other adventure activities like paragliding, rappelling, and river crossing.

Mysuru :

Fourteen-year-old Shilpa’s eyes gleamed when asked about their upcoming trek in the Western Himalayas.

“We have started our practise for the trek. Every morning we run around our school and practise breathing exercises,” said Anjana, a tribal girl studying at the Viveka Tribal Centre for learning, Hosahalli, HD Kote.
Anjana is a part of the 12-member tribal girl’s team that will trek the Western Himalayas in the coming year through a crowd-funded expedition organised by a city-based adventure sports foundation, Tiger Adventure Foundation. According to the organisers at the expedition that is planned for May next year, the girls will trek to the scenic Saurkundi Pass in Himachal Pradesh that sits 14,000 feet above the sea level through Sarsai, Mayalee, Longa Thatch and Lekhni areas.

During the expedition, the girls will also engage in other adventure activities like paragliding, rappelling, and river crossing.“We have only read about the Himalayas. We never thought we will set our feet there. We are already excited about the trip,” said Shilpa who hails from Sera tribal hamlet in Hunsur.Notably, the expedition will be led by 13-year-old Riya Solanki, a Mysurean who is the youngest to scale the Everest Base Camp.

The girls are currently undergoing training for the expedition under the supervision of experts. “They are being trained on a daily basis at their schools as well as at other places like Chamundi Hills, Kunti Hills and Karanji Lake area,” said Suma Mahesh of Tiger Adventure Foundation.According to the organisers, the Mysuru wing of Ladies Circle India has agreed to sponsor the expenditure of a few girls in the team and they are expecting the public to contribute for the initiative.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / December 12th, 2018

The good doctor

Records, All, Science & Technology

DrHebbi01BF12dec2018

Dr Sunil Kumar Hebbi is embarking on a right to health yatra across the country in his mobile car clinic

Dr Sunil Kumar Hebbi’s humanitarian deeds have earned him name and fame. Last month, he was awarded Sri Sathya Sai Award for Human Excellence. Hebbi, however, is not one to rest on his laurels.

After some 700 medical camps across Karnataka and seeing 35,000 patients, he has a new goal in sight — the right to health. In January 2019, the health practitioner is embarking on a health yatra across the country by his car.

“Health is a fundamental human right but is it really so in countries like ours?” Hebbi asks. “According to the National Health Policy 2015, 63 million people face poverty every year. Two million slum children die every year in India. We have one of the highest disease index in the world. What development are we talking about when basic needs such as health is not accessible to people?

DrHebbi02BF12dec2018

Hebbi says Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees right to life and education but not health. “A country like Philllipines guarantees right to health to its citizens.”

So, when he travels pan India in his mobile car clinic with just an aide and driver, Hebbi intends to campaign for the right to health. After launching it at the Bengaluru Press Club, Hebbi will go to Kanyakumari from where he will travel to Kashmir by car.

He will go to schools, colleges and universities to spread awareness and also hold medical camps where he will conduct general check-ups.

“Through local activists and NGOs, we are tying up with schools and colleges for venues and the like.

“When we do these check-ups, we will give a health card to people with basic details on it such as blood group, blood pressure, drug allergy, illness, and age.

“These details can come in handy and save time in crisis situations,” says Hebbi, who upon reaching Delhi will hand over a report of his findings collated during the journey to the concerned people in the Ministry of Health.

“We spend 1.25% of our GDP on health but according to WHO, we should be spending 5% of our GDP on health. You make a temple, mosque, anything, I have no issue but also provide us healthcare.”

Born to a farmer in Bijapur, Hebbi was practising on Hosur Road in Bengaluru, until he rescued the life of an accident victim on the road.

“I gave him first aid and took him to hospital. His family called me and said, ‘we want to thank you and feed you’. Their emotions made me realise how badly people need healthcare.”

In 2007, he started Matru Siri Foundation and connected with old age homes, government schools and slums. Since then, every Saturday and Sunday, Hebbi conducts medical camps in these places.

While he treats patients with problems that come under his ambit, patients with serious health concerns or needing surgery are referred to specialised doctors in government hospitals.

Hebbi invites senior doctors to join him voluntarily on the camps. “I first assess the area and the concerns. Once or twice the local MLA has appropriated the camp and made it his show. My doctor friends gave me feedback. We felt disappointed and have tried to steer clear of politicians ever since. We want to make a difference. We are not doing it for effect. Doctors join us voluntarily without any monetary compensation.”

With the help of volunteers, his network of doctors and the money generated from his regular practice, Hebbi says, he manages to run things smoothly. “But even here, I don’t charge more than ₹ 100 to ₹150. I see about 40 to 50 patients daily.”

Health on wheels

Dr. Hebbi’s car operates as a mobile clinic. The project is called Mobile Dr Clinic started in 2010. With a folding chair, table, basic health apparatus and umbrella, Hebbi can set up a temporary clinic anywhere.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Health / by Shailaja Tripathi / December 12th, 2018

Two Bengaluru teenagers dribble their way to national football scene

Records, All, Sports
Vishnu Sunil (extreme right)
Vishnu Sunil (extreme right)

Bengaluru :

Karnataka’s representation in the top two national football leagues (I-League and ISL) has been scarce in recent times. Two Bengaluru boys, however, are dreaming of changing the scene in near future. Vishnu Sunil and Hrishikesh Sanadhi were recently called up for the U-15 National Team high-performance programme underway in Odisha.

“The camp is really challenging. It was difficult to adjust to the conditions initially as the level and tempo of the training were very high. But we got adjusted slowly,” Sunil said.

The six-feet tall centre-back defenders from Bangalore Youth Football League (BYFL) academy are not regular kids jostling on a football pitch to have fun. The 15-year-olds are as serious as professional footballers donning the national jersey. When boys of their age go out and binge on junk food, they stick to dietary plans made by the academy nutritionist. “We avoid eating outside and even if we do, we work out in the gym or on the pitch to burn those calories. Staying fit is important for footballers and we are serious about that,” said Sanadhi.

Both Sunil and Sanadhi have had overseas exposure. Their fathers’ job profiles helped them get international experience at an early age. Sunil started training in China and represented his school team till he turned 12, before moving to Nigeria where he played in the West African International School’s Athletic League. Sanadhi, similarly, started playing in Belgium in 2010 and got selected for Football Academy Royal Racing Club, Etterbeek for the 2013-14 season. Back in Bengaluru, they joined BYFL academy and have impressed their coach Salim Pathan since.

“Vishnu is a well-disciplined boy. He is getting matured as a centre-back. He is very effective in aerial balls and is good in tackling. He has an eye for goal and has scored many goals in free-kicks. He has a good future as a leader of the team,” Pathan said. “Hrishikesh is very good technically. He reads the game very well and final tackle is his speciality. He has a good passing ability with aerial and ground balls.”

Despite praise from their coach, both the boys are grounded. The fans of Real Madrid and Spain centre-back Sergio Ramos aim to become professional footballers in future and being in the U-15 National Team high-performance programme, they are aware of the hard work they have to put in every day, without hampering their studies.

Thus, they are mastering time management skills to stay ahead of their peer group. “Although professional football is our target, it’s also important to study. It takes me around three hours to return home from the training ground and I utilise that time to prepare my homework and study,” said Sanadhi, a class 10 student. Both will be playing for BYFL U-15 team in the upcoming Junior League.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Krishnendu Banerjee / Express News Service / December 10th, 2018

12th century Nishidhi stone inscription found in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
The Nishidhi inscription found in Harakere village near Shivamogga. | Photo Credit: VAIDYA
The Nishidhi inscription found in Harakere village near Shivamogga. | Photo Credit: VAIDYA

It commemorates a Jain ascetic

A Nishidhi stone inscription from the 12th century was found at Nandi Basaveshwara temple in Harakere village in Shivamogga taluk recently.

R. Shejeshwara, Assistant Director, Department of Archeology, Heritage and Museums, and Jagadeesh, historian, discovered the inscription during a field work undertaken in Harakere. The inscription is of 60 cm long and 15 cm wide and is chiselled from a schist rock slab.

Mr. Shejeshwara said the Nishidhi stone inscriptions are issued to commemorate Jain ascetics who perform Sallekhana vratha. According to the text of the inscription, a discipline of Nemideva, a Jain seer of Moolasangha took Sallekhana vratha here. The image of Nemideva preaching a couple on Sallekhana vratha has been carved on the inscription. The seer carried pinchi, a bunch of peacock feathers and kamandala. The umbrella, popularly known as mukkode, and the images of the sun and moon are intricately carved here.

He said that eight lines are engraved here in archaic Kannada. Based on the language used here, the historians have come to the conclusion that the inscription was issued in 12th century. The inscription found here proves that there was a strong influence of Jainism in the region. The Jain sculptures and inscriptions were also found in the past in Yalavatti, Purale and Hasudi villages in the vicinity.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Society> History & Culture / by Staff Reporter / December 10th, 2018

Awash with history, yet neglected

About Bangalore(Bengaluru) / Karnataka, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Kolar01BF09dec2018

Around 30,000 monuments under threat as they don’t come under purview of Central or State Acts

A muddy path snakes its way between eucalyptus plantations, stone quarries and fields of tomatoes to reveal a hollowed-out hill at Uddappanahalli in Kolar district. Dried eucalyptus branches, which are burnt to crack the stone underneath, litter the hill. The entire hillock has been carved out, leaving just a small fort on top.

“Every night, 2 to 4 truckloads of stones are taken from the hill… the mining has been happening for decades by some influential people,” said a villager.

Over the years, quarrying has come to the edge of the fort. Now, blocks are removed from right under the fort. “The fort won’t last long,” said the villager. The origin of the fort is unclear, with some historians believing that the structure could date back to the 17th century, where it was used as a defence post for the army. It is from this post, that they could get a view of the plains stretching till Bengaluru.

However, there is no legislation to protect the structure.

KolarChart09dec2018

No recognition given

The unprotected site is just one of the estimated 30,000 historical structures dotting the State’s landscape that has not been recognised under either the Central Acts governing the Archaeological Department or State laws for the State Archaeological Department.

Experts believe a majority of these structures, like the Uddappanahalli fort, are under threat. Their fears were communicated to Tourism Department officials during a recent meeting on protecting such monuments.

“There has been no survey of unprotected monuments since 1942. Surveys do not cost much, and there are enough archaeologists and students who can do it. It needs to be done before we lose out on a lot of history. We’ve already spoiled megalithic burial (10,000 to 30,000 years old) sites in most places of the states,” said N.S. Rangaraju, a former Archaeology professor and a member of the Heritage Expert Committee.

Kolar02BF09dec2018

A few years ago, he and his students had taken up a pilot of three districts in south Karnataka. Over 550 unprotected structures were identified. “These monuments are over 100 years old, and many of these are religious structures under the Muzrai Department, which does not have the expertise for conservation,” he said.

S.K. Aruni from Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) said a majority of these unprotected structures represent hundreds of years of village histories.

“There needs to be a micro-level documentation of history. But, it needs involvement from the people and the panchayat first. If they can get a preliminary document of the historical structures in the village, then researchers can build upon it,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Mohit M. Rao / Bengaluru – December 08th, 2018

Lalbagh to create digital record of its plant wealth

Agriculture, Records, All
Plants will be identified and named according to their place of origin, species, and their flowering season.
Plants will be identified and named according to their place of origin, species, and their flowering season.

The project will be completed in eight months

Lalbagh Botanical Gardens’ green wealth — around 900 genera and over 2,500 plant species — has earned it the moniker ‘Kew of India’.

As the Horticulture Department continues to increase the green cover in the garden, keeping a record of the number of plant and trees, details of the species, the botanical names, and their exact location in the garden has become increasingly difficult. The solution is a digital repository.

To help keep a detailed record of the plant wealth, the department has now tied up with taxonomists from the city to create a digital repository of the plants.

“The project, called the Plant Wealth project of Lalbagh, was initiated six months ago. With the help of professor Ravi Kumar, a taxonomist, and three other scientists, we will be creating a digital record of the plants in Lalbagh,” said M. Jagadeesh, Joint Director (Parks and Gardens).

Under the project, which will take another eight months to be completed, the plants will be identified and named according to their place of origin, species, and their flowering season. “Once the survey is over, the digitisation process will begin. Global Positioning Systems will be set up to locate the plants in the garden. The system will help us identify the plant species and its location,” said Mr. Jagadeesh, and added that while the project would make the department’s work of managing the largest green space in the city easy, it would also give information to the public.

“After documentation, we are planning to bring out an illustrative book on the plant wealth in Lalbagh. Also, an index book will be created where the names of all plants will be written in alphabetical order with relevant information. We are planning to create an mobile application as well, which can be used by the visitors to locate and learn about the plants in Lalbagh,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – December 08th, 2018

Karnataka: Karavali Utsav off to a colourful start

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports

The three-day event will not only showcase the culture, music and local art of the coast, but will also go a long way in attracting tourists to Karwar and surrounding areas.

A paramotor in action on the inaugural day of Karavali Utsav | D hemanth
A paramotor in action on the inaugural day of Karavali Utsav | D hemanth

Karwar :

Karavali Utsav 2018, a three-day cultural extravaganza, was inaugurated in Karwar on Saturday. Karwar’s Rabindranath Tagore Beach came alive as hundreds of tourists and residents thronged the venue to get a glimpse of events and exhibition.

The three-day event will not only showcase the culture, music and local art of the coast, but will also go a long way in attracting tourists to Karwar and surrounding areas.

The day began with Rear Admiral K J Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding, Karnataka Naval Area, inaugurating a fruits and flower exhibition and fish festival near the Warship Museum. Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul accompanied him.

A rangoli competition was held at the DC’s office where more than 100 women participated. At Maladevi Grounds, Kabaddi was organised where 10 teams participated. The finals will be held on Sunday at the same venue. At Zilla Rangamandira, cultural programmes were inaugurated.Talks were also organised at Zilla Rangamandira.

Padma Shri awardee Girish Bharadwaj, who is also known as the “Bridge Man,” addressed hundreds of students from various colleges. He narrated how he faced difficulties during the start of the construction of the hanging bridge.

The festival was formally inaugurated on Saturday evening by Revenue Minister R V Deshpande at Mayuravarma Vedike on Rabindranath Tagore Beach. Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde and Karwar MLA Roopali Naik were also present.

“The state has been making all efforts to make Uttara Kannada district a tourist hub which will provide employment to locals and bring revenue to them,” Deshpande said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States>Karnataka / by Arunkumar Huralimuth / Express News Service / December 09th, 2018

G. Venkatasubbaiah gets Bhasha Samman for South

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
G. Venkatasubbaiah
G. Venkatasubbaiah

Nagarajappa gets Sahitya Akademi book award

Centenarian lexicographer G. Venkatasubbaiah has been chosen for the Sahitya Akademi’s Bhasha Samman for South (2017). The award has been given in recognition of his contribution in the field of classical and medieval literature.

The akademi, on Wednesday, also announced an award for Kannada writer K.G. Nagarajappa for his work on literary criticism, Anushreni-Yajamanike, for 2018. He is among the 24 award winners announced by the akademi in various languages.

GV’s body of work

Mr. Venkatasubbaiah (popularly known as GV) has compiled 10 dictionaries, including Klishtapada Kosha, a dictionary of complex Kannada words; four seminal works on dictionary science in Kannada; edited over 60 books; and published four children’s books, eight translations, and several papers.

The Bhasha Samman, which carries a purse of ₹1 lakh, will be presented to him by the akademi president at a special function, the date of which will be announced later, said a release.

The award announced for Mr. Nagarajappa, according to the release, carries a plaque and a purse of ₹1 lakh. It will be presented on January 29, 2019 in New Delhi. Mr. Nagarajappa, born in Gubbi, Tumakuru district, has many fiction and non-fiction works to his credit, including Dodda Sankanna, Ikkattu-Bikkattu and Maru Chintane. He has won many awards, including the Rajyotsava and Nadoja awards.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – December 06th, 2018

Documenting the lost lakes of Bengaluru

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Miller's Tank, which once served the water needs of the area, now houses institutes, houses and sports clubs. | Photo Credit: TH
Miller’s Tank, which once served the water needs of the area, now houses institutes, houses and sports clubs. | Photo Credit: TH

German-based freelance artist and photographer Laura Fiorio is reaching out to citizens

The city once had a well-connected network of 835 lakes. Today, less than 200 survive. What happened to the rest? Where were they located? What stands in their place today? These are some of the question that anyone interested in Bengaluru’s history may want answers to.

As part of her art-cum-research project ‘Bangalore’s Disappeared Lakes’, German-based freelance artist and photographer Laura Fiorio is reaching out to citizens and asking them to share everything, from memories and stories to photographs related to the lost / forgotten lakes of the city.

She is in the city under the Bangalore Residency programme of the Goethe-Institut. She has been working on subjects that focus on inhabited landscape and its transformation. Her area of interest is housing, human geography and personal archives.

“I came to the city in November this year. When I heard about the lakes and how many of them have disappeared over the years, I was curious to know more. As part of my residency project, I decided to analyse the transformation of these lakes,” she said.

The artist wanted to make it a community-driven and participatory project. “Over the days, we will be collecting from the community memories, images related to the places which used to be lakes, and photographs of families living there,” she said.

Ms. Fiorio is in touch with historians and researchers in the city to build the repository. “I have started with focusing on water-bodies in the central part of the city, including Majestic,” she said.

At the end of the two-month project, she will publish a book with photographs and stories about the lost lakes, which will be made available to the public. “I will organise a series of workshops on urban development and plan to create an online portal. I hope the project will lead to a larger discussion about the city and the way it has developed, and the way it should develop in the future.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / December 04th, 2018

Bengaluru Tech Summit: Pune man wins drone race

Records, All, Science & Technology, Sports, World Opinion

The second and third place went to Bengalureans

A first of its kind ‘Night Drone Racing’ contest was conducted at the Bengaluru Tech Summit on Friday night. Over 26 drone pilots aged from 12 to 28 years, from across the country, competed in the race.

Ritvik Suneel Nesargi from Pune emerged the winner in the racing competition and was awarded a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.

Aaradhya Kulshrestha and Pravesh T.M., both from Bengaluru, won second and third spots in the contest. Aaradhya was awarded a cash prize of ₹50,000 and Pravesh ₹25,000.

The contest took place in the specially-built arena at the Bengaluru Palace grounds. The event was organised by the State government in association with Indian Drone Racing League.

Each unmanned aerial vehicle weighed about 300 gram and required a special licence from the aviation regulator — Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) — to fly. Each drone had its own unique identification number.

Officials at the summit said that drone technology is getting popular among racing and tech enthusiasts, and it is finding many uses in the mainstream as well as for recording events or making movies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / December 01st, 2018