Category: Amazing Feats

Karnataka records highest-ever organ donations in 2025, ranks third nationally

Officials say increase was driven by the empanelment of more hospitals as non-retrieval organ transplant centres, including in tier-two cities, along with sustained awareness efforts.

Karnataka’s State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), the nodal agency that facilitates cadaver organ donations, has recorded 198 donations in 2025, the highest recorded in the State so far. This surpasses the previous peak of 178 donations in 2023. With this, Karnataka ranked third in the country in organ donations for the year, after Tamil Nadu with 267 donations, and Telangana with 205.

The steady rise in donations over the past five years reflects expanded hospital participation, growing awareness and improved systems, officials said. In 2024, the State recorded 168 donations, while the figure stood at 70 in 2021.

Principal Secretary (Health) Harsh Gupta told The Hindu that the increase was driven by the empanelment of more hospitals as non-retrieval organ transplant centres (NTHORCs), including in tier-two cities, along with sustained awareness efforts. “We are also felicitating donor families on January 26 and August 15 through the Chief Minister and Ministers, which has helped in building awareness and trust around organ donation,” he said.

Expansion plans

Mr. Gupta said the government now plans to expand the programme to taluk-level hospitals. “Doctors also need to be sensitised about declaring brain death. A lot more needs to be done. We are identifying where there is potential for donations and what the challenges are,” he said.

He pointed out that institutions such as NIMHANS see a significant number of cases where brain death could potentially be declared, but these opportunities are not being fully utilised. “This is a challenge. We had planned to place dedicated counsellors and earmark beds for potential brain-death cases, but these are not being used effectively. We will soon depute two dedicated grief counsellors there,” he said.

Tamil Nadu software

To improve transparency and efficiency, Karnataka SOTTO has adopted a software system already in use in Tamil Nadu. The platform tracks the entire process- from registration of patients, declaration of brain death to identification of eligible recipients from the waiting list and facilitation of transplants.

“Basic data entry has begun. Once a patient is registered, the queue system starts. All documents will be uploaded by hospitals and every step will be tracked online,” Mr. Gupta said.

Under the new system, once a donation is activated, alerts will be sent to the top 50 registered patients and empanelled hospitals. “Everything will be managed online and there will be transparency at every stage,” he said.

Cross-matching services

Karnataka has also decentralised cross-matching services, which earlier required patients to travel to Bengaluru.

The State has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST) laboratory to provide cross-matching and HLA testing for eligible recipients in Mangaluru (Wenlock Hospital), Hubballi (KIMS), and Mysuru (K.R. Hospital). For each donation, the first five to 10 eligible patients will be called for matching, a process that takes five to six hours.

“Karnataka has considerable untapped potential for organ donation and the recent gains represent only a modest beginning. This trend now needs to be pushed much further,” Mr. Gupta added.

State missed 15 potential donations in 2025

Karnataka has missed 15 potential organ donations in 2025. This is mainly due to reluctance by families of potential donors and misconceptions surrounding organ donations.

Elaborating on the reasons, the officials said potential donations are missed sometimes because the identified donor is not fit to donate due to clinical reasons. Or, someone from the donor family/distant family/friends circle says no to organ donation and the next of kin do not have much say in taking a decision against the wish of those opposing it. Also, there are misconceptions surrounding organ donation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Karnataka’s Bhoomi project, a governance success

The project offers lessons for other States rushing to digitise land records.

For decades, access to land records was one of rural India’s most persistent governance failures. Karnataka’s Bhoomi project, now completing 25 years, offers an instructive counterpoint showing how administrative reform can reshape the relationship between governance and the people.

Until the late 1990s, land administration in Karnataka relied almost entirely on handwritten records maintained by village accountants. Farmers seeking a Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops (RTC) often had to repeatedly visit revenue offices, navigate complex procedures, and rely on intermediaries. Errors in records were common, and corrections took months. In an agrarian State where land disputes routinely spilt into civil courts, the costs of administrative inefficiency were borne disproportionately by small and marginal farmers.

Launched in 2000, Bhoomi was a bold departure from this legacy. Its immediate goal was simple: computerise land records and make them accessible. Its greater ambition was to replace discretion with rules, delay with timelines, and opacity with transparency. The legal recognition of computerised RTCs and the abolition of handwritten records marked a historic shift. Over the last 25 years, more than 39.8 crore RTCs have been issued, fundamentally altering how land records are accessed across the State.

Many revenue officials were initially hesitant to abandon familiar manual systems. Karnataka responded with large-scale capacity building, training nearly 9,000 village accountants, 8,000 revenue inspectors, and 1,000 computer operators. The establishment of 204 Bhoomi Kendras at the taluk level enabled the digitisation of nearly 2.5 crore land records covering about 3.5 crore farmers. What followed was not merely digitisation, but a cultural shift within the administration.

Initially, the Bhoomi project in Karnataka began as a modest effort to computerise only manual RTCs. But today, it functions as a comprehensive digital ecosystem that integrates land and revenue administration with multiple welfare services. The integration of Bhoomi with the Kaveri registration system changed the face of land registration in Karnataka. By linking registration with land records, the State sharply reduced fraudulent transactions and eliminated middlemen. Mutation, once a source of endless delay, became automatic and transparent. Survey and boundary disputes, another chronic problem, were addressed through the introduction of the Mojini (Survey) software in 2007. For the first time, land measurement and survey processes were brought under a digital, time-bound framework. The 11E Sketch, a pre-conversion map introduced by Karnataka, further improved accuracy in land boundaries and area measurement. The result has been a visible reduction in land-related disputes.

Bhoomi’s evolution also reflects Karnataka’s broader approach to governance: using administrative reform to strengthen welfare delivery. Since 2016, crop compensation has been credited directly to farmers’ bank accounts, bypassing intermediaries. During the 2018 loan waiver programme, Bhoomi data enabled the waiver of loans for nearly 20 lakh farmers. The integration with PM-Kisan, the Agriculture Department’s FRUITS platform, and Aadhaar seeding of over 2.17 crore farmer accounts has improved targeting and reduced leakages. By ensuring accurate and up-to-date records, Bhoomi has helped convert entitlement on paper into benefits on the ground.

Perhaps Bhoomi’s most significant achievement is not technological but experiential. Farmers no longer have to travel from village to taluk and taluk to district offices for routine services. The scope for discretionary abuse has narrowed. The relationship between citizens and the revenue administration has become more predictable. In a State where land remains emotionally and economically central, this shift has strengthened trust in public institutions.

As Karnataka reflects on Bhoomi at 25, the project offers lessons for other States rushing to digitise land records. Technology alone does not deliver reform. Bhoomi worked because it was embedded in administrative restructuring, legal change, and continuous institutional learning. It shows that digital governance succeeds when it is incremental, inclusive, and grounded in local realities.

Dr. Kumara IAS is Deputy Commissioner, Mandya District

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Bengaluru Class 4 student Parinita B, enters India Book of Records as young author

Parinita sat with the editor as well as the illustrator to explain the kind of pictures required.

Parinita B, a 10-year-old from Bengaluru, has already earned a place in the India Book of Records as a young author. She is currently studying in Class 4 at NET Public School, Basavanagudi, and has authored a book titled ‘Tales by Pari’ published by Subbu Publications.

Her father, K Balaji, is a deputy general manager in BESCOM, and her mother, Dr Anusha R Gupta, is a dentist. Speaking to the TNIE, Balaji said, “We used to recite songs and children’s stories to Parinita, and that’s when she decided to write a story of her own. When she was eight years old, she started learning the meaning of different words and told us that she would write a book. I had told her to write at least 30 pages if it had to be published as a book of stories.”

He added, “She put all her efforts after school and started writing a book when she was 9 years old. However, when she completed writing it, we faced challenges in finding a publisher. Finally, Subbu Publications in Hubballi decided to publish the book. Parinita sat with the editor as well as the illustrator to explain the kind of pictures required.

We did not select pictures from the internet. They are all original and created by Parinita. A lot of children have bought the book and appreciated her work.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Mangaluru-origin architect Dr Oscar Concessao inducted into University of Oklahoma Hall of Fame

Celebrated Indian architect and University of Oklahoma alumnus Dr Oscar G Concessao was formally inducted into the Christopher C Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame on October 2. The recognition honors his outstanding contributions to global architecture, sustainable design, and architectural education spanning more than three decades.

Dr Concessao, co-founder of Oscar & Ponni Architects in Chennai, is widely acclaimed for blending sustainability, technology, and cultural sensitivity in his designs. Along with his wife and partner, Dr Ponni M Concessao, a Cornell University alumna, he has completed over 1,000 projects across India and abroad, earning an international reputation for excellence and innovation.

A proud University of Oklahoma alumnus, Dr Concessao completed his master’s in Architecture (Urban Design) in 1987. That same year, at just 23, he won the William Van Allen International Fellowship Design Competition, marking an early milestone in his distinguished career. He later pursued advanced professional studies at Harvard University and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Malaysia and the University of Milan.

Born in Valencia, Mangaluru, and an alumnus of St Aloysius Institutions, Dr Concessao earned his Bachelor’s in Architecture from NIT Tiruchirappalli (formerly Regional Engineering College). In 2014, he received NIT’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Earlier this year, he was also honored with the Eminent Aloysian Award by St Aloysius Institutions for his contribution to architecture and society.

Among his landmark achievements is the Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad, a 1.2-million-square-foot complex recognized as Asia’s largest green secretariat and one of India’s most technologically advanced government centers. The project reflects his design philosophy of combining monumentality, functionality, and sustainability, while integrating traditional Indian motifs with cutting-edge systems.

Dr Concessao’s influence extends beyond practice into academia and thought leadership. He has presented over 175 technical papers at international conferences on urban resilience, smart city planning, and climate-responsive architecture. A passionate mentor, he continues to inspire young professionals as a visiting faculty member and keynote speaker at leading institutions worldwide.

Over the years, Dr Concessao has received more than 224 national and international awards, including honors from the Indian Institute of Architects, the Green Apple International Beautiful Buildings Award (London, 2024), and multiple government recognitions for excellence in design and innovation.

His induction into the Christopher C Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame places him among the most distinguished alumni of the University of Oklahoma celebrating a career that bridges innovation, sustainability, and inspiration.

Even as his work achieves global recognition, Dr Concessao remains deeply connected to his Indian roots shaping spaces that are sustainable, human-centered, and culturally resonant. His journey continues to inspire a new generation of architects to design for both people and the planet.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

From bus conductor to guardian of 2 million books: Story of Pustaka Mane

What began as a young bus conductor’s love for books has today become one of Karnataka’s largest free libraries. Anke Gowda of Haralahalli village near Mysuru, who once spent most of his earnings on buying books, even sold his house to expand his collection.

Now known as Pustaka Mane (Book House), his library holds nearly two million volumes, including over half a million rare foreign editions, 5,000 dictionaries, and manuscripts dating back to 1832. Books in more than 20 languages—from Kannada and Sanskrit to English and other foreign tongues—are freely available to anyone, with no fees or membership required.

Gowda’s wife Vijayalakshmi and son Sagar live with him inside the library, helping to clean, sort, and catalogue thousands of books. Despite financial constraints and a huge backlog of uncatalogued material, the family continues their mission, hoping to digitise the collection for future generations.

Born into a humble farming family in Mandya, Gowda worked three decades at a sugar factory but invested almost all his income in books. His lifelong dream, he says, has been simple, “To make knowledge accessible to everyone.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Mangaluru: From selling jaggery to CEO, Zakaria Jokatte bags ‘Guest of Honour Award’

NRI businessman and philanthropist Zakaria Jokatte was presented with the “Guest of Honour Award” at a ceremony hosted by the Mangaluru Press Club on Monday, June 23. The event was inaugurated by former MSEZ PRO Ramachandra Bandarkar.

After receiving the award, Zakaria delivered an emotional address, recounting his journey from poverty to becoming the founder of one of Saudi Arabia’s top industrial service companies.

“This is a deeply emotional moment for me. I hail from Jokatte and am one of five siblings—one younger brother and three sisters. I failed my SSLC as I couldn’t complete my education due to our family’s dire financial condition. At one point, we lived in a Gutthu Mane (ancestral house), but my father incurred heavy financial losses and fell into bad habits, which left us in poverty.”

He continued, “At a young age, I started selling jaggery door-to-door, carrying 50 kilos on my head. That step, I believe, was the beginning of my success. My parents’ blessings and the support of my siblings have always been my inspiration.”

Zakaria went on to share his early struggles in the workforce: “Later, I started working as a welding helper for a salary of just Rs 4. Then I joined a dredging company for a year, which proved to be a very good learning experience.”

He also recalled how his social service connected him to a life-changing opportunity: “With the Masjid, we used to perform duff and go door to door collecting funds for the marriage of underprivileged girls. One day, I attended the wedding of the daughter of a man known as Bawa Tiles. I asked him if he could help me go to Saudi Arabia for work. That’s how my journey began on September 27, 1979. I worked for six months as a construction labourer there, which was extremely challenging. In between, I also worked in Mumbai.”

“Eventually, I returned to work with the same dredging company in Saudi, doing various jobs and earning about 600 Riyals a month. I focused on improving my skills and learning as much as I could,” he said.

His hard work and focus soon bore fruit when he was selected for a rare opportunity. “Out of 500 applicants, only 13 were chosen, and I was one of them, selected by a Dutch industrial services company. Within six months, I was chosen for tough training in Holland. In just two years, I was promoted five times until I reached the top position. That experience gave me the courage to start Al Muzain in 1996.”

Almuzain, now one of the leading industrial services companies in Saudi Arabia, caters to the complex needs of the petrochemical and refinery sectors. “My core principles have always been safety, quality, and commitment. Today, ALMUZAIN employs around 7,000 people, most of whom are from the coastal belt of Karnataka. I treat my employees as partners—their success is my success, and mine is theirs.”

Zakaria emphasised that he has no intention of stepping away from his work. “I don’t plan to retire—it’s up to God when my time comes. True happiness lies in hard work. No one ever became poor by helping the needy. Don’t react to criticism. We are born naked and will leave this world the same way. We can’t take our money with us. What matters is love, care, and compassion.”

He concluded with a message of hope and development for his homeland: “For true success, you need to have a dream. Our district must develop, and people must live in peace and harmony.”

He also shared current initiatives and future plans: “I have collaborated with Yenepoya to build an international school and university in Saudi Arabia. I’ve also partnered with known doctors to open a clinic in the UK and am planning a football academy in collaboration with Juventus. Plans are underway to set up a skill development centre in Mangaluru.”

Extending a helping hand to youth from underprivileged backgrounds, he added: “If any diploma or mechanical engineering graduates from underprivileged backgrounds are seeking job opportunities, they can reach out to me. Our company provides one week of initial training for all new recruits. I am ready to help anyone willing to work hard.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Udupi Saree weaver for 45 years Devaki Shettigar honoured

In a unique programme titled Chavadi Thammana, which means “felicitation at their courtyard”, the Tulu Sahitya Academy honoured unsung heroes of Tulunadu. As part of this initiative, Udupi saree weaver Devaki Shettigar (73) of Talipady Weavers Society was felicitated at the Weavers Society premises in Kinnigoli.

Dr Amarashree Amarnath Shetty, associate dean of Nitte, honoured Shettigar and emphasised the need to promote local livelihoods such as Udupi saree weaving, which she described as an integral part of regional culture.

Tharanath Gatti Kapikad, president of Tulu Sahitya Academy, said the academy is proud to recognise and honour artisans like Devaki Shettigar, who work selflessly and help preserve local culture and traditions. He also appreciated the contribution of Kadike Trust in reviving the Udupi saree weaving tradition, which was on the verge of extinction a few years ago.

Mamatha Rai, president of Kadike Trust, introduced the honouree and highlighted Shettigar’s extraordinary workmanship and experience. She noted that many skilled artisans who had left the profession have now returned to weaving following the revival initiative launched by Kadike Trust.

Amitha Ashwin read out the citation.

Prabhakar Neermarga, vice principal of MAPS College; Shubhoday Alva, president of Tulu Parishat; Sachidananda Udupa of Anantha Prakashana; and Rukmini Shettigar, president of Talipady Weavers Society, were present on the dais.

Vincent D’Souza, editor of Mylapore Times, Chennai; Santhosh Shetty, member of the academy; Bennett Ammanna, secretary of Tulu Parishat; Madhava Shettigar, managing director of the Weavers Society; along with members of the Tulu Sahitya Academy, Tulu Parishat, the Weavers Society, and other dignitaries were present.

B C Shetty, secretary of Kadike Trust, compered the programme.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Young football sensation Samarth Rai shines on national & international stage

Rising football star Samarth Rai is making waves with his exceptional performances at both national and international levels. The 13-year-old Mumbai-based talent has represented various teams in prestigious tournaments, showcasing his prowess on the field.

A student of grade 8 at Kanakia International School, Mira-Bhayandar, Samarth represented Mumbai in the WIFA Inter-District Sub Junior Boys Tournament (Under-13) held at Shirpur in Dhule district. He also played for Derwan, Ratnagiri district, in the Under-15 Maharashtra State League Football Tournament, where his remarkable goal-scoring ability helped the team finish among the top three.

In March 2025, Samarth featured in the AIFF (All India Football Federation) Youth League and played a pivotal role in helping his team secure third place. The young midfielder further took his skills to the international arena in April, representing India in the Under-15 Barati Cup tournament held in Indonesia.

Currently training at the CFCI Club, Samarth was born on June 21, 2011, in Muchchuru village of Mangaluru and resides in Mumbai. He is the son of Chandrashekar Rai of Mianz Manjalatodi Posanike Mane and Kushala Rai of Muchchuru Kalkude Kaidumaru Guthu.

Recognising his outstanding talent and commitment to the sport, Samarth has been honoured with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Sadhaka Award. He has also received the Kreeda Shri Award, Best Achiever Award, and the Bhishma Vijay Award, further solidifying his status as one of the brightest young footballers in the country.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

IISc Bengaluru develops nanozymes to prevent excess clotting

The team synthesised redox active nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes and morphologies through a series of controlled chemical reactions starting from small building blocks.

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, have developed a new method which will help control abnormal blood clotting conditions, including Pulmonary Thromboembolism (PTE).

The team from Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry have developed an artificial metal-based nanosyme that mimics the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes which help in clotting blood.

The research paper — Vanadia Nanozymes Inhibit Platelet Aggregation, Modulate Signaling Pathways and Prevent Pulmonary Embolism in Mice — published on May 11 was made public on Tuesday.

It explained that under normal circumstances, when a blood vessel is injured, specialised blood cells called platelets get activated and cluster together around the vessel to form protective blood clots. This process is known as blood clotting cascade (haemostasis). But when this does not happen in conditions like PTE or diseases like Covid-19, the oxidative stress and levels of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) increases, leading to over-activation of platelets. This triggers the formation of excess clots in the blood vessel, contributing to thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

The nanomaterials developed by the researchers mimic the activity of natural antioxidant enzymes and they control the ROS levels, thereby preventing the over-activation of platelets that leads to excess clot formation or thrombosis, the report stated.

The team synthesised redox active nanomaterials of different sizes, shapes and morphologies through a series of controlled chemical reactions starting from small building blocks. They then isolated platelets from human blood, activated them using physiological agonists, and tested how effectively the different nanozymes could prevent excess platelet aggregation, the researchers explained in the report.

Sherin GR, PhD student and co-author of the paper said, they found spherical-shaped vanadium pentoxide nanozymes were the most efficient. These material mimic a natural antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase to reduce oxidative stress.

“The unique chemistry of the vanadium metal is crucial because the redox reactions that reduce ROS levels are happening on the surface of the vanadium nanomaterial,” added G Mugesh, Professor, and co-author of the paper.

The team injected the nanozyme in a mouse model of PTE and found that it significantly reduced thrombosis and increased the animals’ survival rates. They also observed the weight, behaviour, and blood parameters of the animal for up to five days after injecting the nanozyme, and did not find any toxic effects, the report added.

Anti-platelet drugs that target thrombosis sometimes have side effects such as increased bleeding. “Unlike conventional anti-platelet drugs that interfere with physiological haemostasis, the nanozymes modulate the redox signalling and do not interfere with normal blood clotting. This means that they won’t cause bleeding complications that are a major concern with current therapies,” said Bidare N Sharath Babu, PhD student and another co-author.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Trio of talented law students Aschel Simson, Laxmi Vinod & Goury Pradeep secure top honors at National Moot Court Competition

 In an impressive display of legal acumen and advocacy skills, Aschel Yohan Simson, son of Royprakash Simson & Cheryl Simson being a third year student of BA LLB along with his team members Laxmi Vinod and Goury Pradeep, Students of SDM Law college Mangaluru, emerged victorious at the National Moot Court Competition held in Chitradurga, Karnataka on May 3-4.

The team’s exceptional performance earned them the coveted 1st place title, with Aschel Yohan Simson being further recognized and awarded as the ‘Best Gentleman Advocate’ of the competition.

The National Moot Court Competition brought together talented law students from across the country, providing a platform for them to showcase their skills in research, argumentation, and advocacy. The event was a testament to the teams’ hard work, dedication, and expertise in the field of law.

Aschel Yohan Simson, along with his team members, demonstrated exceptional prowess in navigating complex legal issues, presenting persuasive arguments, and responding effectively to challenging questions from the judges.

“We are thrilled and honored to have secured the top spot at this prestigious competition,” said Aschel Yohan Simson. “This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and unwavering support of my team members, Laxmi Vinod and Goury Pradeep. We are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing to excel in the field of law.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)