Silver for Archana

Archana Kamath.
Archana Kamath.

Indian paddler Archana Kamath clinched a silver medal in the under-21 women’s singles section of the Seamaster ITTF Challenge Plus 2019 Oman Open table tennis tournament, at Muscat.

Ninth-seed Archana reached her first under-21 international final, where she lost to Japan’s top-seed Satsuki Odo of Japan 11-7, 11-8, 11-6.

Couple of upsets

Archana caused a couple of upsets en route to the summit clash, taking out second-seed Valerie Shcherbatykh of Russia 12-10, 11-7, 11-9 in the round-of-16, and fourth-seed Mariia Tailakova of Russia 6-11, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-9 in the semifinal.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by Sports Bureau / Muscat – March 23rd, 209

Photojournalist T.L. Prabhakar passes away

PrabhakarBF22mar2020

Special News Photographer of The Hindu T.L. Prabhakar (retd) died here on Saturday. He was 79. Mr. Prabhakar leaves behind his wife Malathi, a son, and two daughters.

He was a recipient of the Kannada Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Patrika Academy Award, and Karnataka Union of Working Journalists Award. He joined The Hindu in 1985 and retired in 2004.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – March 21st, 2020

KIA’s 2nd runway marks first landing

A SpiceJet flight lands on the south runway at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Thursday.
A SpiceJet flight lands on the south runway at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The much-awaited second runway, New South Parallel Runway (NSPR), at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), saw its first landing on Thursday, March 20. According to a release by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), SpiceJet Flight SG497 landed on the newly built run way at 9:41 am on Thursday.

“With regulatory clearances, the south runway is now equipped to handle both arrivals and departures. BIAL is working with various stakeholders to commence rehabilitation project of the North Runway (old runway),” a BIAL spokesperson said.

In the first week of December 2019, the new runway became operational after an Indigo flight took off. However, the KIA did not get clearance from DGCA and other agencies to use the runway for landing as some compliances were pending.

The new runway is 4,000 m in length and 45 m in width, powered with LED airfield lighting, which is a is part of the KIA’s ₹13,000-crore expansion project. Once the operation on the new runway stabilises, the existing old runway will be upgraded.

BIAL had said that the new runway would be operated as per CAT I specifications and later would progressively evolve to CAT III B specifications, which would operate flights even in inclement weather, fog and low visibility.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – March 20th, 2020

KIA’s 2nd runway marks first landing

A SpiceJet flight lands on the south runway at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Thursday.
A SpiceJet flight lands on the south runway at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The much-awaited second runway, New South Parallel Runway (NSPR), at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), saw its first landing on Thursday, March 20. According to a release by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), SpiceJet Flight SG497 landed on the newly built run way at 9:41 am on Thursday.

“With regulatory clearances, the south runway is now equipped to handle both arrivals and departures. BIAL is working with various stakeholders to commence rehabilitation project of the North Runway (old runway),” a BIAL spokesperson said.

In the first week of December 2019, the new runway became operational after an Indigo flight took off. However, the KIA did not get clearance from DGCA and other agencies to use the runway for landing as some compliances were pending.

The new runway is 4,000 m in length and 45 m in width, powered with LED airfield lighting, which is a is part of the KIA’s ₹13,000-crore expansion project. Once the operation on the new runway stabilises, the existing old runway will be upgraded.

BIAL had said that the new runway would be operated as per CAT I specifications and later would progressively evolve to CAT III B specifications, which would operate flights even in inclement weather, fog and low visibility.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – March 20th, 2020

Bhadravathi excavations reveal megalithic past

Periodic and ongoing excavations in various sites of Shivamogga district have revealed a rich megalithic past that dates back anywhere between 1,200-1,000 BCE.

A Menhir found in Hosananjapura village, Bhadravati taluk
A Menhir found in Hosananjapura village, Bhadravati taluk

Bhadravathi :

Periodic and ongoing excavations in various sites of Shivamogga district have revealed a rich megalithic past that dates back anywhere between 1,200-1,000 BCE. Apart from Tirthahalli and Hosanagara taluks, the recent discovery of Menhirs (standing stones) in a forest land in Bhadravathi taluk shows this rich past and the need to preserve and take pride in it. Megaliths are usually found in Peninsular India and many are still waiting to be excavated.

When TNIE visited this spot in Bhadravathi taluk -– the Menhir was found in one corner located inside a patch of forest land with a fence around it. The local people are unaware of such a pre-historic site in their vicinity — – the 7.5-foot-tall stone has stood the test of time amid changing land patterns and urbanisation. Although yet to be radio-carbon dated,  it is estimated to be more than 3,000 years old. Around this standing stone one can also see a big natural rock which means it must have been cut on this.

According to Shejeshwar R, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Shivamogga, there have been discoveries of megalithic sites in the Malnad region and this particular Menhir was found inside a forest land just next to the VISL land in Hosananjapura village in Bhadravathi taluk.

“The Menhir has been in existence for a long time amidst the villagers and earlier settlements and is in fact, a burial stone. Menhirs usually slant towards the right side. There is also a big natural stone in the same place and we need to study this site in detail,” said Shejeshwar R, Assistant Director, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Shivamogga.

Megalithic structures are usually monuments built of ‘great stones’ either for burial purpose (such as dolmen, cists or burial chambers) or having commemorative or ritualistic associations.
However, there are many questions regarding the usage of Menhirs by the ancient people.  It clearly shows even in those days that people were attached to one place and further, used to follow some kind of ritualistic or ceremonial lifestyle.

These stone structures were put together without using any kind of binding material. They were usually away from human habitations and therefore, have usually been found in forests. He says there is a large group of 26-30 standing stones at Baise in Hosanagara taluk. These have been well researched and studied. Researchers have concluded that one of the stone alignments showed it may have been an ancient astronomical observatory.

Another important finding has been at Arehalli in Tirthhalli taluk inside a forest area. In fact,  the discovery of megalithic sites in Malenadu region is considered significant as it reveal the complexity of the megalithic culture in the South.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Meera Bharadwaj / Express News Service / March 19th, 2020