Monthly Archives: May 2019

Kannada theatre personality Master Hirannaiah passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Master Hirannaiah | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement/
Master Hirannaiah | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement/

He was well known for his caustic barbs on the political class dipped in humour on stage from late 1960s

Noted Kannada theatre personality Master Hirannaiah died in the city on May 2 morning. He was 85 years old and was suffering from a liver complication. Hospitalised at BGS Global Hospital, he succumbed to his death on May 2 morning, sources said.

Narasimha Murthy hailing from Mysuru was the son of another theatre thespian K. Hirannaiah, who started K. Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali. Making his debut on the stage as a child, he went by the stage name Master Hirannaiah, a name that stuck till the end.

He took over the troupe K. Hirannaiah Mitra Mandali after his father’s death and ran it till date. His son Babu Hirannaiah now runs the troupe.

Master Hirannaiah was well known for his caustic barbs on the political class dipped in humour on stage from late 1960s. His mega hit play “Lanchavatara” had a free form where Master Hirannaiah included a commentary on the day’s politics making the play new with every staging.

The troupe has staged Lanchavatara from 1959 and has crossed over 11,000 shows. The play had the political class of the state come down on it heavily many times in its six decade run.

Hirannaiah was also known for his other plays – Makmal Topi, Anaachara, Bhrashtachara and Devadasi.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – May 02nd, 2019

Bengaluru-based cafe gives flight to big dreams of little people

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Life has just gotten better for 23-year-old M Rajashekar Reddy, who has finally landed himself a job in the city, after searching for five long years.

The Hobbit, Koramangala, has hired seven dwarves  / Pushkar V
The Hobbit, Koramangala, has hired seven dwarves  / Pushkar V

Bengaluru :

Life has just gotten better for 23-year-old M Rajashekar Reddy, who has finally landed himself a job in the city, after searching for five long years. He had been visiting Bengaluru from Anantapur since 2014 but every employer he approached rejected him due to his height and hearing impairment. “Back home, I used to do farming and earned only a meagre `6,000 a month. My new job now has given me hope for a better future,” said the 3’9’’ footed  man, who lives with dwarfism, a genetic condition that results in shortness in height.

Reddy isn’t the only one feeling relieved these days. Like him, six others with dwarfism have been hired by The Hobbit, a recently-opened cafe in Koramangala. Karthik Raj, the co-owner of the café, said giving back to society was always part of the plan during the cafe’s conceptualisation. “Growing up, I had a neighbour who was a dwarf and I saw how people would tease him by calling him names such as ‘chottu’. Often, people with this condition find it difficult to get a job,” explained Raj.

Agreed Prakash M, a badminton, shot put and discus plater, who will be joining the cafe in a week’s time. Despite being a sportsperson, Prakash struggled for years due to no adequate support from the government to compete in sporting tournaments. He had been applying for a job for a year but even a recent win of `75,000 in the Special Olympics held at Abu Dhabi last month wasn’t enough to lessen his worry since most of the money would be used in paying off his loans. Now, with a job at the cafe in hand, the 4’4’’ footed-man is ‘more than willing to work’ and is looking forward to settling down with a steady source of income.

Chamundeshwari, a 3’7” footed 28-year-old, who works as a cashier at the cafe added that the inclusive work environment motivates him  greatly to learn new things.It took Raj a year to find his seven employees, for six of whom, this will be their first job. He also added that they intend to start an organisation just for people living with the condition.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Preeja Prasad / Express News Service / May 02nd, 2019

‘Rani Abbakka Pade’ launched

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Members of 'Rani Abbakka Pade'.
Members of ‘Rani Abbakka Pade’.

With ‘Rani Abbakka Pade’ now becoming a reality, those indulging in stalking and eve teasing need to reform.

Rani Abbakka Pade (RAP), the women-only patrolling team of Mangaluru City Police Commissionerate, will keep vigil in public places in the city and act against lewd gestures targeted at women and children.

The move has come with the objective of instilling a feeling of security among women and children in public places.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil who launched RAP at City Center Mall on Tuesday said that ‘Rani Abbakka Pade’ comprised of 50 women police constables. It was formed as per the IGP’s directions. The 50 member-team is divided into battalions of five lady constables each.

“RAP will be deployed at beaches, parks, malls, colleges and bus shelters. They will also make random checks in buses to check eve-teasing, bag and chain snatching from elderly people in particular. Issues related to child abuse in public places will also be dealt with by RAP. Women suffering eve-teasing and other issues may directly complain to members of Rani Abbakka Pade, who will then hand over the vandals to the jurisdictional police,” he said.

‘Rani Abbakka Pade’ will be headed by Police Sub Inspector Srikala. Similar women-only patrolling teams are active in other districts, Patil added.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DH News Service, Mangaluru / May 01st, 2019