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The reference library will have books and materials focused on Bengaluru’s urban history, culture, development, architecture, urban design and public-private design.

BLR Design Centre, a collaborative workspace on Church Street in Bengaluru, will launch ‘BLR Reads’, a public reference library and multimedia archive at the centre on Saturday, August 30.

Through the initiative, the centre, run by MOD Foundation — an interdisciplinary urban research and action institute — aims to bring together books, maps, films, photographs, and oral histories related to Bengaluru’s design and planning, thereby making those more accessible.

Dedicated focus on design

“BLR Design Centre is a place where we talk about the ongoing problems that the city is facing in terms of infrastructure, traffic, culture, and other aspects,” said Greeshma S., programme manager, BLR Design Centre. “It’s run by MOD Foundation, which works on projects that help Bengaluru become a better city. We’ve been doing a lot of things that affect the city, and having talks, workshops, and exhibitions in this space regarding the same,” she added.

As part of this, the centre began collecting archival maps, books, academic texts, journals, planning documents, maps, photographs, other visual material, and newsletters related to Bengaluru. Today, it houses more than 500 of these, focused on the city’s urban history, culture, and development, alongside architecture, urban design, and public-private design. With the launch of the library, these will be made open to the public.

A dedicated design-focused reference library, it is expected to serve students, researchers, designers, policymakers, and citizens, and serve as a space for collaboration, thematic networking, and knowledge creation around issues that shape the city.

Exhibition

The library will be launched with an exhibition titled ‘Re:Reading Bangalore’, which will feature books, films, songs, artwork, and research projects. The event will include two talks and one workshop on August 30 and 31. 

The library will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Membership plans for students, individuals, and institutions will also be available.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Vidushi Deeksha V of Udupi has set a new world record by performing Bharatnatyam continuously for 216 hours, surpassing the earlier record of 170 hours.

The record-breaking marathon performance began on August 21 at 3:30 pm and continued for nine days, completing 216 hours.

A native of Mundinjiddu in Brahmavar taluk, Vidushi Deeksha V had long aspired to achieve great heights in Bharatnatyam. With this ambition, she decided to take on the feat of performing for 216 hours over nine days.

On Thursday, August 28, at 5:30 pm, Deeksha completed 170 hours of performance, breaking the previous record set by Remona Evette Pereira of Mangaluru, who had performed for 170 hours and entered the Golden Book of World Records.

The record attempt was supported by Ratna Sanjeeva Kalamandala, Manipal, under the leadership of Mahesh Thakur, and with the guidance of former Udupi MLA K Raghupati Bhat.

More details awaited.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The event is organised by the United Nations System Staff College, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the G20 Global Land Initiative.

Chikballapur BJP MP Dr K Sudhakar has been invited to participate in the Global Changemaker Academy for Parliamentarians (G-CAP) 2025, which will be held in Bonn, Germany, from August 24 to 29, 2025.

The event is organised by the United Nations System Staff College, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the G20 Global Land Initiative. Its aim is to bring together a select group of lawmakers from across the world to deliberate on critical issues of sustainable development, land restoration, climate resilience and policy innovation.

Dr Sudhakar is the only Member of Parliament from India invited to this forum, reflecting international recognition of his contributions in areas such as environmental protection, healthcare reforms, rural development and sustainable agriculture.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Dr Sudhakar said, “It is a matter of great pride to represent India at this global platform. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has set ambitious goals on climate action, land restoration and sustainable development.”

Dr Sudhakar added, “I look forward to sharing our success stories, from the Soil Health Card mission to large-scale afforestation efforts, and to learning from global best practices that can further strengthen India’s fight against desertification and climate change.”

The Global Changemaker Academy aims to empower parliamentarians with the knowledge and tools to shape impactful policies that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to land, climate and community resilience, Dr Sudhakar said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

The recent set of transfers, facilitated by IN-SPACe takes the total number of Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs) executed with industries to 98.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has facilitated the transfer of five technologies developed by ISRO to five Indian companies.

IN-SPACe which is the single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities, said that the transfers are aimed at driving commercialisation, strengthening self-reliance, reducing imports, and enabling wider applications of space technologies in sectors such as automotive, biomedical, and industrial manufacturing.

For biomedical use

It added that one of the technologies, the Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) Multi-Chip Module, developed by Space Application Centre (SAC), enables the integration of multiple semiconductor chips into a single compact module.

This has been acquired by M/s Voltix Semicon Pvt. Ltd., Pune, for biomedical use, particularly in RT-PCR kits requiring high-volume production. Voltix currently depends on imports for this technology; the Transfer of Technology (ToT) will enhance domestic capability and self-reliance.

For solar panel bonding

Another, the RTV Silicone Single-Part Adhesive (SILCEM R9), developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is a room-temperature curable adhesive. It has been acquired by M/s Crest Speciality Resins Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, for solar panel bonding.

“At present, this adhesive is imported; the ToT will ensure local availability, reduce dependence on imports, and boost indigenisation,” IN-SPACe said.

For industrial use

The other three technologies that were transferred to industries are: Azista Composites Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad – Film Adhesives EFA 1753 and EFA 1752 developed by VSSC; Ananth Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad – 30W HMC DC-DC Converter developed by UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC); and Pushpak Aerospace India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru – Anodisation of 3D-printed Al-10Si-Mg alloy developed by URSC.

“These transfers highlight the growing capability and confidence of Indian industry. While some of these technologies will directly substitute imports, others will unlock applications well beyond the space sector. The true impact will be realised when industry scales them up for widespread use. IN-SPACe, together with ISRO and NewSpace India Limited, will remain a strong partner in enabling that journey,’’ Dr. Pawan Goenka, chairman, IN-SPACe, said.

Rajeev Jyoti, director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACe, said that with the transfer of the five Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs), the total number of TTAs executed with industries has reached 98.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The three-metre-tall and 800-kg elephant is gifted by actors Raveena Tandon and Rasha Thadani, PETA India.

‘Airavata’, a three-metre-tall and 800-kg mechanical elephant, will be unveiled at the thousand pillar Jain temple, Tribhuvana Tilaka Chudamani Basadi, at Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada on Friday.

Gifted by actors and mother-daughter duo Raveena Tandon and Rasha Thadani, and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA), the mechanical elephant will be unveiled at 3 p.m., a release said.

It will be the world’s first Jain temple to have a mechanical elephant, the release claimed.

First in Mangaluru region

‘Airavata’ is a gift to the temple in honour of the temple’s commitment to never hiring or keeping real elephants, it said.

Using mechanical elephants, real elephants can remain with their families in their forest homes and be spared the suffering of being constantly chained, controlled with weapons, and deprived of everything natural and important to them, it said.

It will be the 12th mechanical elephant donated by PETA India to temples, the first in the Mangaluru region, and a landmark fifth to be embraced by a temple in Karnataka, the release said.

25 years of Jain mutt seer’s Pattabhisheka

The elephant will be gifted on the occasion of the silver jubilee year of the Pattabhisheka of the Jain mutt seer in Moodbidri. It will be unveiled by 108 Gulab Bhushan Muni Maharaj in the presence of Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Pattacharya Panditacharyavarya, the seer of Moodbidri Jain Mutt.

A ‘mangala vadhiyam’ performance will follow the inaugural ceremony.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Since its inception, ICParis has organised annual cultural festivals such as the Paris Thyagaraja Aradhana and Nrithya Nada, and conferences supported by UNESCO and the Indian Embassy.

The Indian Conservatory of Paris (ICParis), an institution that encourages Indian performance arts and cultural heritage in France, is opening its Bengaluru chapter on August 23 at Sahakarnagar.

Musician Bhavana Pradyumna, who founded the organisation along with her husband Pradyumna Kandadai in 2015 in Paris, said: “Our DNA is Franco-Indian. It has an international perspective by birth. We have faced unique challenges while curating events in Europe, where Indians make up less than 1% of the population.” 

Since its inception, ICParis has organised annual cultural festivals such as the Paris Thyagaraja Aradhana and Nrithya Nada, and conferences supported by UNESCO and the Indian Embassy. 

On August 23, the centre will open with a showcase of some of Karnataka’s traditions. “A bimonthly bilingual (French and English) magazine called ‘L’Inde Éternelle: The Eternal India’, and a campaign called ‘Bengaluru’s – Living Treasures — As Chosen By You’, to honour unsung custodians of culture from Bengaluru, will also be launched,” Bhavana said. 

Through the Bengaluru chapter, Bhavana aims to promote art forms such as yakshagana, dollu kunitha, veeragase, and vachana, alongside Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and Karnatik music, in a hybrid format.

“We will also document oral traditions, create cross-cultural dialogue, and support grassroots artistes with visibility and opportunities,” she shared. She added that the new centre “will also introduce holistic practices like yoga with music and movement, storytelling, and literature through performance”. Classes at the centre will begin on Vijayadashami day (October 2).

For more information, check @theicparis on Instagram and Facebook, or email to info@indianconservatoryofparis.com

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

Karnataka is the first State in India to implement the Supreme Court order on legalised will and Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) that can be executed by a living person who is of sound mind and body on medical advice, but there is not enough data on how many are using it, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

He was delivering the keynote address at ‘Good to go’, a literature festival around the theme of Death and end of life palliative care.

Noting that not only does the process ease the suffering of someone at the end of their life, but also helps their family and friends, he said, “There is a lot of guilt associated with it. They need a way of doing it to get a sense of closure. This process allows them to do that.”

‘Suggestions welcome’

The Minister, however, admitted that there is little data on how many people are using it or have come up with an AMD. “I hope hospitals start waking up to this. We also need to educate the hospitals as they are the ones to get this implemented and advice the patients,” he said.

“We have come out witha policy. But we can look at it again to see how to take it forward, implement it and, remove roadblocks,” he added, welcoming suggestions. 

Better implementation needed

The two-day Death Literatue Festival, organised by Pallium India, an NGO that aims to integrate palliative care and pain relief with health systems, and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, is being held at Bangalore International Centre.

Speaking at the festival, Dr. Nagesh Simha, medical director at Karunashraya Hospice, noted that while Karnataka has done a lot towards introducing policies for palliative care and AMD, the implementation of the policies need to percolate further at all levels including government hospitals.

Smriti Rana from Pallium India, Dr. Rajani Bhat from Sparsh Hospital, Hardik Dua from Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Sweety Thomas from Ajit Isaac Foundation and theatre artist Darius Sunawala spoke at the event.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

According to the research team, the new technique analyses the unique, surface-specific characteristics of stains, enabling experts to confirm whether blood found on clothing, bedding, or other materials in a crime scene is menstrual or non-menstrual.

A research team from Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, has come out with a new imaging technique that helps distinguish menstrual blood from non-menstrual blood.

The technique has been developed by Dr. Mayur Sudhir Balbudhe and Dr. B. Suresh Kumar Shetty, both from Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology; Dr. Adithi Shetty from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; and Dr. Nayantara Arun Kumar from Department of Physiology.

The pre-print of their research paper has been posted on Research Square.

In a statement, Dr. Suresh Kumar Shetty said in forensic investigations, particularly in instances of sexual assault and domestic violence, the ability to differentiate blood types becomes crucial. The technique developed by the team analyses the unique, surface-specific characteristics of stains. Thus, it enables experts to confirm whether blood found on clothing, bedding, or other materials is menstrual or non-menstrual.

Such precision findings strengthen crime scene reconstruction and prevent misinterpretation of evidence, which could lead to wrongful suspicion or prosecution. This patented technique will ensure more accurate crime investigations, said Dr. Suresh Kumar Shetty, the KMC Mangaluru Associate Dean, who has been teaching Forensic Science in the college since 2005.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

He is one among the upcoming film-makers in the country. Having completed his MBBS from Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), he chose a different avenue to build a career. While his fellow classmates chose to hold stethoscope as doctors, the youngster we are talking about joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune to realise his dream of becoming a film-maker.

Meet Dr. Chidananda S. Naik, son of Prof. R. Shekhara Naik, Head, Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Yuvaraja’s College, Mysuru and Vinoda Bai couple, residents of Kuvempunagar. His younger brother, Nagananda S. Naik, is employed at a MNC in Bengaluru.

Dr. Chidananda Naik has made news by winning the National Award for ‘Best Script’ for his directorial short movie ‘Sunflowers were the first ones to know…’ He had won the first prize in La Cinef section for Best Short Film at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last year. The short film had also qualified for the 97th Academy Awards (Oscar Award) in the Live Action Short Film category in 2024.

Star of Mysore caught up with Dr. Chidananda Naik to know more about his journey from a Medical Institute to Film Institute. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): Having studied MBBS, what made you choose a career in film-making?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: I had never thought of becoming a film- maker. Watching a good movie used to make my day. Like every other child, I had minimum exposure to films and was watching them on televisions, movie theatres and VCDs. I used to be fascinated by movie posters stuck on the walls. When I was a part of Chinnara Mela summer camp at Rangayana, they made us watch ‘Dreams,’ a movie directed by Akira Kurosawa which inspired me a lot. However, I did not pursue much at that time. My parents were strict and disconnected cable TV connection during my 11th and 12th class days. Later, I developed a hobby of watching movies and started liking it not as a mere movie but I got connected to them emotionally. I started watching the interviews of actors and film-makers and the movies they were referring to; that is how I developed my interest in film-making.

SOM: How did your family react when you told them about your interest in movies?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: Firstly, my family thought I would pursue my career in films for a short period as break after I had completed my MBBS. Obviously, they were worried as we do not come from film background or know anybody from the fraternity. It was leap of faith. When I attended workshops by Girish Kasaravalli and others, I got to know about FTII and tried my luck to get into the institute. If I had failed, I would have still made a career in film-making by working as assistant to one of the Directors. I didn’t want to regret later of not trying to fulfill my dream. Now, things are looking good and my family is happy with the results so far.

SOM: Do you miss practicing medicine unlike your peers?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: Definitely yes. I am missing it every single day. After all, I have put so many years into studying medicine. Though I am not practicing now, whenever I get time I want to assist my friends in Operation Theatres to stay in touch with the profession. It is something which I am deeply connected and want to pursue.

SOM: What are your reasons to make independent movies and not commercial films?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: For a person to establish himself in the industry is not easy. There is a lot of struggle one has to go through which I have. I will stick on to my roots as I have grown up watching our kind of movies. Even today, I like going with friends to watch movies in theatres. For me, having the right balance between independent movies and mainstream movies are most important. People should watch movies in theatres. I strongly believe that movies should not be made only for commercial gains, rather it should connect with people emotionally.

SOM: How did ‘Sunflowers…..’ happen?

Dr. Chidananda Naik:  ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ was my final year diploma project at FTII. At the time of our joining we will get to know about our project. I was joined by one of my batchmates Manoj, also a Kannadiga, and we both decided to make a Kannada movie. During our brainstorming sessions, we decided to make ‘Sunflowers…’

SOM: Did you expect the short- film to achieve such a huge success?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: For me, Cannes was always a dream. Some of my favourite Directors like Quentin Tarantino, who have been successful in mainstream movies, have all started from Cannes Film Festival. The kind of response I got was tremendous. I had never thought foreign audience would applaud a Kannada short-film.

SOM: What was your initial reaction when your name was announced for National Film Awards?

Dr. Chidananda Naik:  I was working on another film of mine when one of my friends texted me a congratulatory message and that is when I realised that ‘Sunflowers…’ had won a National award. I was worried that when the film was not available in the public domain, how would it be recognised here. But I am happy that the Government of India has recognised our efforts and selected ‘Sunflowers…’ for the National Award.

source/content: starofmysore.com / SN Venkatnag Sobers