KARNATAKA: HORTICULTURE & AGRICULTURE: Green theory. New Documentary on Horticulturist HC Javaraya – The First Deputy Superintendent of Lalbagh

This city-based documentary maker’s latest explores the life of celebrated horticulturist HC Javaraya.

 It is known to every Bengalurean that German horticulturist Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, changed the landscape of the city, but his successor HC Javaraya also had an equal contribution to it. The latest book by Meera Iyer, a writer, researcher and convenor of INTACH, Bahadur HC Javaraya: A Gardener and a Gentleman, revolves around the life of horticulturist HC Javaraya. Inspired from the book, city-based filmmaker Ganesh Shankar Raj has adapted it into a documentary. 

Raj says Javaraya was one of the key and native horticulturists in India, and the first deputy superintendent of Lalbagh. “He was a successor of renowned horticulturist Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, who actually set up various gardens in Bengaluru. Even the Indian Institute of Horticulture and Research (IIHR) was set up by this gentleman as a Fruit Research Institute in the 1930s. Today, it has grown to become one of the premier institutes in the country. He is the one who created the famous ‘Agmark’ for fruits,” says Raj. 

Javaraya was known as the fruit man of the then Mysore state. “If you see so much fruit cultivation in Bengaluru, it is because of him. He introduced a wide variety of fruits in Bengaluru. He was even the first person to cultivate apples. There was a thriving apple cultivation that took place in Bengaluru during his time and then everything died down,” says Raj, adding that Javaraya is an unsung hero. “Nobody knows about him. So, therefore, we decided to make a film in association with the family,” Raj further adds. 

Raj’s last documentary was on Krumbiegel and he admits to having a soft spot for horticulturists who shaped Bengaluru. “We do different kinds of films, but these people have done a tremendous amount of work for the city. In Bengaluru, you can see a lot of trees, gardens and flowers…these stalwarts were responsible for it. Therefore, we decided to make a film that speaks about their contribution,” says Raj.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

REGIONAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY / ARCHITECTURE: Mangaluru couple Oscar, Ponni M Concessao named Architects to Design Telangana secretariat

Oscar and Ponni M Concessao of Mangaluru have been appointed as the architects to design the new secretariat complex that will come up at Hyderabad in Telangana state.  

Chennai-based husband and wife team Oscar and Ponni M Concessao are reputed architects whose careers have spanned decades of work devoted to engineering and architecture and won more than 164 international, national and state awards. Their contributions include creating award winning designs,
authoring publishing technical papers on architecture, urban design, architectural education, conservation, and women’s’ rights.

Oscar G Concessao, was born in the coastal town of Mangaluru, did his schooling from the famous St. Aloysius Institutions, Mangaluru. Born in Valencia, Mangaluru, son of Late Richard Concessao and Celine Concessao, now retired School teacher from St Aloysius School, Mangaluru.

After finishing his pre-university degree from St. Aloysius College he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, University of Madras, in June 1986. and graduated in Master’s in Architecture, Urban Design, magna cum laude, in 1987 from the University of Oklahoma, USA.

While at the University he won the William Van Allen International Design Competition to design a University in Africa, a first for an Indian at a young age of 23. He worked with architectural firms Emery Roth & Sons in New York and Silver & Ziskind, New York, USA on large-scale projects such as high-rise buildings, hospitals, institutional projects and campuses.

Born into a family of professionals, Architect Ponni M Concessao graduated from the illustrious Church Park Convent, Chennai. A pioneer in women’s technical education, Ponni Concessao was the first women undergraduate student of the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, University of Madras, graduating in June 1987.

Architect Ponni Concessao completed her post-graduate studies in
Cornell University USA in 1989 with the JND Tata Endowment Scholarship and Scholarship from Cornell University. She also won the College of Human Ecology Grant for Thesis Research in Cornell on her pioneering work on conservation.

Architect Ponni Concessao worked with Edward Larabbee Barnes
Architect, New York City, USA, and with the National Trust of Historic Preservation, Washington D C, USA.

Both Oscar and Ponni did their advanced professional studies at Harvard University, USA, and have been conferred with Honorary Doctorates from the University of Malaysia and University of Milano for Modern Architecture and Architectural Science. They returned to India and settled in Chennai, and
started their architectural practice on 1996, designing versatile projects such as universities, engineering and medical colleges, stadiums at Doha, Qatar, Malaysia several Information technology Parks, bio-tech parks, nano technology parks, townships, hospitals, apartments, hotels, resorts, malls, corporate offices, luxury bungalows, factories, SEZ, several Government and State buildings with completed projects footprints in over 100 locations all over India and Malaysia.

Oscar & Ponni Architects have won more than 164 International, National and State Awards for architecture & interiors. To highlight a few, in 2004, Oscar & Ponni Architects won an award for ‘Excellence in Built Environment, awarded by the His Excellency, the former president of India Dr A P
J Abdul Kalam for the Satyam Technology Information Technology Park at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

In 2005, they won the ‘Architect of the year Award’, 2004, Indian Institute of Architects Tamil Nadu Chapter from then Shri. Rangasamy Chief Minister of Puducherry. In the year 2008 they had won the prestigious Indian Institute of Architects, IIA National Award 2008 for the Sastra Biotech Park for Sastra University at Tanjore. Oscar & Ponni Architects have won the Indian Buildings Congress Award 20 times for their information technology parks, campuses and townships which are unprecedented in India.

In 2014, Oscar & Ponni Concessao, both won the Distinguished Alumni Award for the golden jubilee celebrations of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli from the former president of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

Architect Ponni M Concessao won the Indian Buildings Congress Satya Goel Memorial National Award for the “Eminent Women Building Professional from India”, 2014 and won the Icon of Asia Women Awards at Singapore amongst 11 Asian Nations.

In 2020 Oscar & Ponni won 4 National Awards from the Indian Buildings Congress for Architecture and built environment, and architect Ponni won 8 International and National Women’s achiever awards for Architecture.

In July 2020, chief minister of Telangana K C Rao awarded the Telangana State New Secretariat Building project through a National Design Competition.

Architect Ponni has recently completed the Dr Karunanidhi Museum & Convention centre at Tiruvarur near Thanjavur and is also completing the design of the Gaganyaan Space Centre facility at Sriharikota for ISRO.

Oscar & Ponni architects have recently won four Estrade awards in Singapore in January 2021 for their architecture & interiors projects in Malaysia and Havelock Islands.

To Architect Ponni Concessao and Oscar Concessao, an architect’s role is nation building and one must have a strong sense of contributing to society to all levels especially the poor. Their work includes the school for children of leprosy victims in Tamil Nadu for the Rising Star Outreach, an NGO.

Both the architects Ponni and Oscar are involved in Social Service projects for past 30 years in National and International organisation in the field of women’s empowerment, leprosy eradication, built noon meal centers and toilets for under privileged girl students, tsunami housing, and raised funds by organising her paintings exhibitions at ART Houz Chennai, and raised funds for Rotary, Round Table and Ladies circle India and Rising star outreach of India by conducting Ponni’s Painting exhibitions and the proceeds for these causes, specially leprosy eradication.

She has been a keynote speaker for the past 30 years in international and national conferences and been on Governing Councils in universities, academic advisor and involved in architectural education in India. Both architects Ponni and Oscar are involved in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana project and also built noon meal centers, tsunami Housing, toilets for
underprivileged girl students as well as schools for leprosy afflicted patients children.

One must be an educational engine to all who seek their services, as architects are agents of change and be a mirror of social conscience.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY / SHIPPING: First Mainline Container Vessels calls at New Mangalore Port post operations of its new Dedicated Container Terminal

“MV HONG AN”, the first direct mainline vessel, called at the New Mangalore Port on Thursday, after the port operationalised its dedicated container terminal.

The regular service vessel will operate between the westbound rotation of Chittagong- Colombo-Mangalore-Nhava Sheva-Mundra; and the eastbound leg to Jebel Ali-Khalifa Port, said a release. It is the only direct service for Indian exporters to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi with seamless connections to the USA, Europe, South East Asia, and Africa.

NMP Authority chairman A.V. Ramana inaugurated the first Direct Mainline Service from New Mangalore Port by flagging off the container discharging from the vessel in presence of Sagar Dange, Head India Operations CMA-CGM; Ramanathan, Vice -President and Unit Head, JSW Mangalore Coal and Container Terminals, officers from NMPA, official’s from JSW-MCTPL, CMA-CGM, and Port Users.

The mainline service got introduced primarily as a result of the use of various productivity measures to free up berth time for new services through the establishment of a fixed window berthing policy and the extension of additional inducements in the form of commercial rebates on vessel-related costs.

Beneficial to shippers

The service will be a gamechanger in how shippers take their exports to the global markets in the fastest and most efficient ways. Besides leading to more sea route options, the service can seamlessly connect cargoes for air transfers from Dubai to destinations in Europe and the USA. Transit time gets reduced to half, from the earlier 13-15 days to Jebel to seven days.

With trans-shipment being avoided, the trade gets better ocean freight costs for their shipments. It also offers scope for develop time-sensitive commodities, including pharma, vegetable, fruits etc., which require direct sailing. The service gives major boost to exports from Karnataka, particularly agricultural products.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SPORTS / ACROBATICS: Mysuru Girls Bag National-Level Bronze In Acrobatics Gymnastics, Haryana

Mysuru girls bagged National-level Bronze Medal in Acrobatics Gymnastics (women’s trio) at the Senior and Junior Acrobatics Gymnastics National Championship 2022-23 held at Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Sonipat, Harayana, from Mar. 27 to 29. They are:

A.Y. Shivani, a 9th standard student of Pramati Hillview Academy and the daughter of Yogesh and Yashodha.

S. Srushti, a 8th standard student of Royal Concord International School and the daughter of Santosh and Pavithra.

P. Annapoorani, a 10th standard student of Baden Powell Public School and the daughter of Pandi and Shanthi.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: LEADERSHIP: Young Indians to host Y20 Dialogues event in Mysuru

Yi is hosting Youth20, an official consultation forum that encourages youth as future leaders to raise, as a prelude to G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance that is hosted in New Delhi in July this year

India is hosting the 2023 G20 Summit at New Delhi in July this year. As part of it,Young Indians (Yi), a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is all set to host the G20 YEA (Young Entrepreneur Alliance) India Summit in Delhi from July 13 to 15. As India has taken over the G20 presidency, this is a moment of great pride for Yi to bring together over 800 changemakers from 20+ nations at the G20 YEA India Summit in Delhi. The YEA is a global network of approximately 500,000 young entrepreneurs and the organisations that support them, a press release said here.

Before one of the most anticipated events of the year at Delhi, Yi is hosting Youth20 (Y20), an official consultation forum which encourages youth as future leaders to raise, it said. 

Yi Mysuru chapter, in collaboration with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and JSS Science and Technology University, Mysuru, is hosting Y20 dialogues event on Monday (April 24) at 12 p.m. Students from educational institutions associated with Yi Mysuru and SJCE will be part of this session.

The event will feature a master class on Trends in Artificial Intelligence by Navin Patel, Convenor–CII Mysuru IT and ITES Panel and Associate Vice-President, Infosys Limited, Mysuru.

Mr. Navin Patel heads the Technology Architecture Academy at Infosys. He has more than 25 years of experience in the IT field. Till recently, he headed the global pre-sales function for Healthcare, Insurance and Life Sciences verticals. In December, he took on a new role as the Head of Technology Architecture Academy, the release added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / BEAUTY PAGEANT: Mangaluru’s Dr Priyanka Shekhar Bags Multiple Crowns, Titles at Mrs VogueStar India Beauty Pageant

City-based Dr Priyanka Shekhar won multiple crowns and titles at the three-day long Ms VogueStar India and Mrs VogueStar India 2023 all-India fashion week cum beauty pageant held in Jaipur.

Dr Priyanka won the crown for Mrs VogueStar India 2023 Mangauru winner, Mrs VogueStar India 2023 Karnataka state winner, Mrs VogueStar India 2023 Best body subtitle and Mrs VogueStar India 2023 national ambassador for VogueStar fashion week. The pageant was held from April 14 to 17.

Dr Priyanka hails from Shivamogga and has been living in Mangaluru since the last three years. She serves as bank medical officer in Statebank of India.

As many as 700 participants had applied to participate in the pageant out of which 300 qualified. There were 45 state and 15 national winners. Dr Priyanka was in top five.

Speaking to Daijiworld, she said, “Fashion is my passion. I used to receive many offers for movies and albums but could not spend much time due to my education. Now it is time to explore things as I am professionally settled. I feel there is no age limit for us to showcase our talent.

“I was extremely happy as I was representing national level from Mangaluru and Karnataka as a winner. Now I can inspire a lot of other women to go for more opportunities if they r interested in the modelling field,” she said.

Dr Priyanka was earlier the winner of a traditional wear ramp walk-fashion show held by Zeus Fitness on the occasion of Women’s Day.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: SPORT / MOUNTAINEERING: Naveen Mallesh sets a New Record Conquering Peaks

This mountaineer set a new record by scaling two among the highest peaks in Asia, in a span of just three days.

When Naveen Mallesh  (35) stood atop Mount Fansipan in Vietnam in February this year, he was thankful for an uneventful trek.

At that moment, the mountaineer didn’t imagine he would eventually set a record of becoming the fastest individual to scale two mountains in South-East Asia.

Having undergone a month-long recovery process following a near-death experience while attempting to scale Mount Manaslu in Nepal in September ’22, Mallesh returned to mountaineering, scaling two among the highest peaks in South East Asia and Indo-China, Mount Kinabalu (Malaysia: 4,095m) and Mount Fansipan (Vietnam: 3,147m), respectively, within a span of just 3 days 10 hours and 49 minutes. “When I was talking to local guides in Fansipan, some didn’t believe I had come there having trekked Kinabalu just days before. They thought I had set a new record. It’s then that I applied for the Indian Book of Records and the Asian Book of Records,” he says.  

Mallesh’s only desire was to get back to doing what he loves and that drove him to undertake the challenge. “I explored trekking routes in the South-East and flew to Singapore. I then completed the trek to Mount Kinabalu in a day and flew back to Singapore. I had an 18-hour layover, flew to Vietnam, and completed the trek to Mount Fansipan,” he says, adding his experience helped him tackle the varied topography of both peaks. 

Like most mountaineers, Mallesh has always wanted to climb the highest peaks in all of the seven continents. In 2019, he scaled the first of the seven – Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. But the pandemic disrupted plans. So when he climbed the second of the seven peaks – Mount Elbrus, Russia, he dedicated that to Covid warriors. His next target was Mount Aconcagua, Argentina.

Yet again, the third wave and the ensuing restrictions forced the Banashankari resident to look elsewhere. He decided to scale Mount Manaslu – the world’s eighth-highest peak at 8,163m. When he was within touching distance of the peak, an avalanche buried him under snow. “It’s known as the ‘dead zone’. I had blockages in my lungs and frostbites on my toes. Thankfully, I was rescued,” shares Mallesh, who is now eyeing Mount Everest.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Hosts International Global Health Advisory Board meeting of the Global Health Programme April 15-16, Udupi

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) hosted the International Advisory Board of the Global Health programme on April 15-16 followed by the Global Health Symposium.

The board met under the aegis of MAHE and the occasion was graced on April 15 by Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, vice chancellor, Dr Sharath Kumar Rao K, pro vice chancellor- Health Sciences, Dr Giridhar Kini P, registrar, Dr Karunakar Kotegar, director – International Relations and, Dr Helmut Brand, director – Prasanna School of Public Health.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Thijs Teeling, director, Covalence, with representation from seven partner universities, including Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Colombia, Thailand, India and Sudan.

Dr Thijs Teeling presided over the meeting and stated: “I am very happy to be in Manipal and grateful to MAHE for hosting the board and students for the symposium. I am impressed by the preparation and coordination of the events and am looking forward to meeting the students at the symposium. To this point, the meeting has been a great success.”

Video greetings to the board and MAHE leadership were presented from the president of Maastricht University, Prof Dr Rianne Letschert and the dean and vice-president, faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, prof Dr Paul M O’Byrne. The Global Health International Consortium website and logo were presented by Dr Agnes Meershoek from Maastricht University which was applauded as a step in the right direction.

Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, the vice chancellor of MAHE stated: “Global health is of paramount importance and is in accordance with the vision of the founder, Dr. TMA Pai who had worked towards the provision of quality healthcare, education and development.” He also emphasized that the deliberations of the Advisory Board and the development of a website dedicated to the Consortium for Global Health were in line with the theme of India’s G20 Presidency – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth. One Family. One Future.”

During the meeting, the guest speaker was Maj Gen (Dr prof) Atul Kotwal SM, VSM (retd)., executive director, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), ministry of health & family welfare, government of India, and he provided comprehensive insights on the topic of ‘Global Health Leadership and Partnerships in Health System Strengthening Efforts’ emphasizing the example of India’s efforts towards equity with impacts on the local and global platforms.

Following the advisory board meeting, the annual Global Health Symposium will take place between April 16- 28, bringing together over 300 students and 37 faculty from partner institutions.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ILLUSTRIOUS PERSONALITY: R3 – R.R. Rao: a Book of Family History and Personal M Memories

Dr. Githa has collected 51 pictorial memories of her husband to document his life journey and construct a personal archive.

A book of memories compiled by Dr. Githa U. Badikillaya titled “R 3 – R. R. Rao: Resplendent, Resonating Reflections” was released by former ambassador Gurjit Singh on Sunday, April 17, 2023.

In the book, Dr. Githa has collected 51 pictorial memories of her husband, fondly called R-Cube, from his colleagues, friends and relatives.

The author saw in this project an opportunity to document her husband’s life journey, construct his personal archive, define family history and gift it to their 10-month-old granddaughter Ira, said a release. It’s a perfect way of preserving knowledge, wisdom and memories down the ages, the release added.

Value of individual memories

On what motivated her, Dr. Githa said, “Every family member has stories that need to be told and archived. These individual memoires are of great value to the members and extended members of the family as it humanises our ancestors. These are the micro-narratives that form a part of the larger societal multi-layered legacies. There is a need for documenting a collection of anecdotes from our ancestors even if its contemporary, as memories become fragmented and are lost over time.”

“Families are becoming diversified and cross cultural across the globe. As such, future generations will have more than one family history, and documenting family histories is an investment in oneself and one’s family. The impact leads to understand how the family has interacted with larger historical changes, and the specific family traditions that depict a changing social milieu.” 

The book is available for sale at an early-bird price of ₹150. Readers can contact 9845327145 to order their copies.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY / FOOD & BEVERAGES: Mysuru-based start-up ‘Eshanya Beverages’ formally releases Innovative ‘Betel Leaf Tea Bags’

The product developed at Nitte’s DST TEC is available online.

Mysuru-based start-up, Eshanya Beverages, on Friday formally released ‘Betel leaf tea bags’, which was developed at NITTE (Deemed to be University) DST Technology Enabling Centre (DST TEC).

Sandeep Eshanya, a resident of Vijayanagar in Mysuru, told reporters that he quit his job in Bengaluru during COVID-19 second wave. He read a research paper on betel leaf tea. “I was fascinated with the idea as I come from the land of betel leaf and approached a few start-up incubation firms.” NITTE DST TEC agreed to support Mr. Eshanya and NITTE University’s Centre for Science Education and Research (CSER) was asked to study the product.

B.S. Mamatha from NITTE’s CSER said they researched on the product for a year. The research involved the way the betel leaves can be dried and cut into small pieces, which will release its natural taste when placed in hot water. “It took a year to come out with the product that had mild and natural taste of betel leaf,” Ms. Mamatha said, adding the product retains the health benefits of betel leaf.

Mr. Eshanya said apart from natural flavour, they brought out betel leaf bags in orange, rose petals, and lemon flavours. His wife Rani Vishwanath said they approached Ramaiah Evolute, start-up incubator of M.S. Ramaiah Institute, where they received help from Sadananda Maiya, a pioneer of ready-to-eat products, in marketing the product.

Eshanya Beverages sold over 300 boxes of tea, each containing 50 bags and priced at ₹349, through an online platform recently. Betel leaf tea bags are available in retail stores in Mysuru, Mr. Eshanya said.

Launching the product, NITTE Vice-Chancellor Sateesh Kumar Bhandary said TEC set up at NITTE is among a few set of TECs set up by the Union government’s Department of Science and Technology across the country. “Since the last three years, TEC has been supporting new entrepreneurs,” he said.

Iddya Karunasagar, advisor (Research and Patent), NITTE, said the TEC recently transferred technology of making of almond milk powder to a Delhi-based start-up. Technology transfer related to two more products of TEC is in the pipeline, he said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)