Karnataka First Records – Page 3

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE / FILMS :‘Will have 50 per cent women in team’, Filmmaker Kiran Rao on her feature film ‘Laapataa Ladies’ being India’s offical entry for the 2025 Oscars, and more

Ladies, go for it! Go for it!” says film director, producer, and writer Kiran Rao, giving a message to young women joining the film industry and looking to make strides. Rao has recently been in the news for her film Laapataa Ladies which has surpassed 28 other Indian films to be the country’s official entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the 2025 Oscars.

“India’s entry in itself is an award for me. I am so humbled and we will do our best to make everyone proud,” says Rao. The film, set in rural India, explores themes such as marriage, patriarchy, and societal norms. Two veiled, red saree-donning brides, Phool (Nitanshi Goel) and Jaya (Pratibha Ranta), undertake an adventurously arduous journey of self-discovery after being mistakenly exchanged during a train ride to their respective homes after marriage.

Though both of them go through very different experiences, they learn, unlearn, and wake up in their own ways. Rao says, “The idea of the veil is a great physical metaphor showing that there is a dayra or limit that circumscribes their potential. We did not critique any type of veil; at the end of the film, they are still wearing veils and it doesn’t matter because it is their choice.”

The original story, called Two Brides, was written by Biplab Goswami. Rao tweaked several aspects of this story for her film and also introduced a character called Manju Mai, a quirky middle-aged woman Phool meets at a train station. “Manju Mai symbolises women’s independence, living on her own terms.

The women in our lives our mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters have done so much for us. Yet their work is not valued and Manju Mai really essays that as a character,” says Rao, who, going forward ‘plans to have 50 per cent of women in her filmmaking team’.

Further, Rao highlighted the need for more women, queer people and those from marginalised backgrounds to be in filmmaking. “But I do believe there are sensitive male directors as well; just look at The Great Indian Kitchen! And as someone raising a son, the human that he is speaks about who I am! So, raising empathetic boys is important,” she says.

Rao is also working on films in the comedy, dark drama and supernatural horror categories. Signing off she says, “When you have humour, it creates a space for conversation.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL: Epione Bengaluru branch celebrates one year in Bengaluru, treating over 1,200 patients

This milestone underscores the centre’s commitment to innovative and compassionate pain management solutions.

Epione, a pain relief centre, successfully completed one year in Bengaluru, providing care and relief to over 1,200 patients. This milestone underscores the centre’s commitment to innovative and compassionate pain management solutions.

With over 20 years of experience, Epione has treated more than 50,000 patients across its centres in South India and is recognised for introducing plasma therapy (PRP) for pain relief in the country.

The Bengaluru branch has been pivotal in offering specialised therapies that help patients manage chronic pain and enhance their quality of life through advanced, non-invasive treatments.

Founder and Managing Director and Chief of Pain Medicine Dr Sudheer Dara said, “Our mission has always been to enhance the lives of people suffering from chronic pain. Our first year in Bengaluru has exceeded our expectations in terms of patient response and clinical success.

We are committed to expanding our services to reach more people in need.” Moreover, to meet the growing demand for services, Epione plans to open two additional branches in Bengaluru next year. Clinical Head Dr Vidya Bandaru, highlighted the centre’s progress over the past year and the commitment to expanding patient-centric care.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: SPORTS / LIFTING: Pradeep Kumar, Shalan Pinto win Gold & Shalan Pinto Awarded ‘Best Lifter Title’ at 2024 Commonwealth Bench Press Championship,South Africa

Pradeep Kumar and Shalan Pinto made India proud by winning gold medals at the 2024 Commonwealth Bench Press Championship, held in Sun City, South Africa, on October 4.

Pradeep Kumar clinched gold in the 83 kg category, lifting an impressive 237.5 kg. His victory came after a tough contest with Tom Morgan from New South Wales, with Pradeep successfully clearing all his lifts to secure the top spot.

In the 47 kg category, Shalan Pinto also took home the gold, lifting 65 kg. In addition to her gold medal, she was awarded the ‘Best Lifter’ title. Shalan has been training under Pradeep Kumar at Kasharp Fitness.

Expressing his gratitude, Pradeep Kumar thanked the Karnataka Powerlifting Association for the opportunity, Kasharp Fitness for its world-class facilities, Balanjneya Gymnasium for their guidance from the start, and Team India for their unwavering support.

Shalan Pinto, daughter of the late Alexander Pinto and Lydia Irene Lobo from Yeyyadi, Mangaluru, has had a stellar year. Her selection for the 2024 Commonwealth Bench Press Championship followed a series of strong performances in key competitions. She secured first place in the 47 kg junior category at the National Bench Press Championship in Maharashtra in January 2023 and earned second place in the same category at the National Bench Press Championship in Bengaluru in November 2023. Shalan also finished second in the 47 kg junior individual bench press at the National Powerlifting Championship in Punjab in June 2024.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA FIRST: TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY / HOTELS: K Syama Raju, first from Karnataka to head Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India

K Syama Raju, Managing Director of Hotel Maurya, Bengaluru and President of the
Southern India Hotel & Restaurant Association (SIHRA), has been elected as the
President of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI).

He is the first person to be elected from Karnataka as FHRAI President in the last 50 years.

The election took place at the Federation’s Annual General Meeting held in Delhi, where Raju and other Managing Committee members were chosen for a one-year term.

In addition to his new position, Syama Raju also serves as President of the
Karnataka Tourism Society.

Upon assuming office, Raju outlined FHRAI’s priorities, including securing industry status for the hospitality sector, obtaining subsidies, and addressing human resource challenges.

He further stressed the Federation’s commitment to collaborating with state and union governments to support hoteliers and facilitate new investments, as the tourism industry is expected to witness rapid growth in the coming years.

FHRAI Office Bearers for 2024-25 are as follows:

President: K Syama Raju
Vice President : Pradeep Shetty
Vice President : Surendra Kumar Jaiswal
Vice President : Nitin S Kothari
Hon. Secretary : K Nagaraju
Hon. Treasurer : Garish Oberoi
Jt. Hon. Secretary : Nirav Gandhi
Jt. Hon. Secretary : Ashoke Singh, according to Jaison Chacko, Secretary General, FHRAI.

source/content: mysoorunews.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: 02nd October – Gandhi Jayanti: Badanavalu: Where Gandhjii’s legacy inspires a thriving khadi industry

The rhythmic hum of spinning wheels — Charaka — still reverberates through the air in Badanavalu, a village in Nanjangud Taluk, Mysuru District, that etched its place in history during India’s freedom struggle.

Sanctified by the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi (whose 155th birth anniversary was celebrated yesterday), this humble village embraced his ideals and clung to its legacy of cottage industries, preserving them with pride to this day.

The soft, distant clatter of spinning wheels, tirelessly weaving Khadi threads, echoes through the fields. It was here, following Gandhi’s two iconic visits in 1927 and 1934, that hundreds of women found empowerment, shaping their lives around the art of weaving Khadi.

Gandhi first arrived in 1927, amidst his fight against the Simon Commission. His visit to the Mysore kingdom brought him face-to-face with freedom fighter Tagadur Ramachandra Rao.

Beacon of self-reliance

Upon witnessing the Khadi and Village Industries Centre, established by the Maharaja of Mysore in Badanavalu, Gandhi’s heart swelled with hope. His inspiration spurred the growth of more cottage industries, a movement that would transform the village into a beacon of self-reliance.

To commemorate Gandhi’s visit, a stone was laid at the very spot he set foot, with the inscription ‘Badanavalu Spinning Region.’ This simple act sowed the seeds for the formation of the Badanavalu Khadi Village Industries Cooperative Society.

A stone dating back to 1927, etched with the image of a spinning wheel, still stands as a symbol of his presence. Under local leadership, a bust of Gandhi and a pavilion were erected, with a plaque proudly noting its inauguration by the then Chief Minister, Veerendra Patil.

A hub of rural industry

In 1934, Gandhi returned to the Mysore region as part of his donation campaign for the ‘Harijan Sevak Sangh.’ Seizing the moment, he revisited Badanavalu to check on the progress of the spinning centre he had once inspired.

Following Gandhi’s initial visit, and with the enthusiastic backing of Maharaja of Mysore, Badanavalu blossomed into a hub of rural industry. Matchstick production, hand-made paper crafting, carpentry, blacksmithing, grain processing and making of puffed rice, beaten rice and fibre products were all successfully established.

Additionally, training for rural oil and fibre industries was introduced, creating a vibrant cottage economy that provided employment for around 500 villagers. Locals fondly recall Gandhi’s delight at witnessing the thriving industries during his second visit, a testament to the enduring spirit of self-reliance he had instilled.

Government support

At present, the Khadi industry is the only operational enterprise at Badanavalu, with the centre now under the management of the Khadi and Village Industries Society from Holenarasipura, Hassan district.

Supported by Government incentives, the workers spinning Khadi garments earn Rs. 35 per piece, with an additional Rs. 3 for each spool of thread and Rs. 7 per metre of fabric as bonus wages from the Khadi and Village Industries Board.

On average, women earn between Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per day, utilising their spare time after household chores to engage in this craft.

Sabarmati Ashram model

The centre, sprawling across 5 acres, is seeing a renewed focus on development. A compound wall is under construction and the Karnataka State Tourism Department, through KRIDL (Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited), is building a structure modelled after the Sabarmati Ashram. The project is well underway.

Plans are also in motion to transform the park into a tribute to Gandhi’s legacy, with statues depicting his Dandi March and other figures emphasising village self-governance and self-reliance.

Meanwhile, the building erected in 1950 on the very spot where Gandhi addressed the villagers in 1927 has fallen into disrepair. Plans are underway to restore this historical structure, preserving it as a monument for future generations to remember and honour Gandhi’s profound connection with the village.

Badanavalu village, nestled in Nanjangud taluk of Mysuru district, is strategically situated along the route from Nanjangud to Chamarajanagar, boasting robust road connectivity.

Earlier Narasambudhi

Notably, railway records refer to this village as Narasambudhi. According to the 2011 census, Badanavalu is home to 632 families, with a population totalling 2,784. While it once drew attention due to caste conflicts, today the village thrives in a spirit of communal harmony.

In his 2024-25 State Budget speech, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a native of the Mysuru district, unveiled plans to enhance Khadi activities in Badanavalu — an area historically significant for its connection to Mahatma Gandhi.

He also proposed the development of the village as a National Memorial and a dedicated Development Committee has already been established to oversee this initiative.

The Badanavalu centre has attracted numerous dignitaries, including activist Medha Patkar political leaders, Ministers, elected representatives, and a host of film actors, all drawn by the village’s rich heritage and ongoing development.

The original Kannada report, written by D. Ashok Kumar, Deputy Director, Department of Information and Public Relations, Mysuru, was sent to Star of Mysore to be published on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (Oct. 2).

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: PUBLIC HEALTH: Swachh Bharat Mission: Urban Primary health centre (UPHC), ShivajiNagar in Kalaburagi bags Kayakalp Award 6 times

As the nation celebrates the fortnight-long Swachhata Hi Seva 2024, starting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 74th birthday on September 17, many success stories of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) are coming to the fore.

SBM, also known as Clean India Mission, started off on October 2, 2014, and in the past ten years, it has brought transformational changes in the lives of people and society.

Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) of Shivaji Nagar in Kalaburagi district is one such medical facility which has bagged the Kayakalp Award for the sixth consecutive term.

This year also, it has been selected for the top honours and is looking forward to an award under the Swachh Bharat Mission’s ‘Best Urban Health Centre’ category.

It is the only centre selected in Kalyan for the Kayakalp award, in recognition of its high-quality service in promoting hospital cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

The hospital staff and health professionals are confident of getting the Kayakalp award this time too.

Speaking to IANS, Dr. Sandhya Rani Pauranik of Urban Primary Health Centre in Kalaburgi district explained the concept of the Kayakalp Award and also took pride in getting the honours, every year since 2017.

“We got awarded for the sixth consecutive time since 2017 in the Gulbarga division. The Kayakalp Award is a recognition which envisages hospitals to stay clean and tidy all the time,” she said.

‘No patient should carry disease outside’ remains one of the major focuses of Kayakalp’s mission, she explained.

She further said that the award recipient gets a sum of Rs 2 lakh yearly and the hospital premises are also inspected by a team of doctors on a yearly basis.

Mehmood Sen, who works as health inspector at the UPHC said that the facilities are better and easily reachable, to people.

“A clean and tidy atmosphere at the hospital is an added benefit for patients,” he said.

Nafisa Begum, who got transferred to Kalaburagi UPHC after 11 years of work at some village centre, said that this is a much better facility compared to one where she worked earlier.

“Cleanliness and sanitation are a big priority. Patients also feel better in hygienic conditions. I want to convey to Modi government that we will match steps with the government in pursuing this dream,” she told IANS.

The Kayakalp Award is an award given to public health facilities in India that demonstrate high levels of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control. The award is given by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The award is given to two best district hospitals in each state, best two community health centres or sub district hospitals and one primary health centre in every district

The parameters which decide a hospital’s qualification for the award include hospital or facility upkeep, waste management, infection control and more.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INDIA / KARNATAKA: COMMUNICATION SATELLITES: NewSpace India (NSIL) and Malaysian firm (MEASAT)tie up to enhance satellite capacity for DTH, broadcasting services

Space sector reforms in India, announced by the Government of India in 2020, enable NSIL to own and operate its fleet of communication satellites and provide services to users from both the government and private sectors.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has entered an agreement with MEASAT Global Berhad (MEASAT), Malaysia’s premier satellite solutions provider, to provide satellite capacity for DTH and broadcasting sectors in India. The partnership was formalised during the recently concluded Bengaluru Space Expo 2024.

Under the new agreement, MEASAT will offer its MEASAT-3b and MEASAT-3d satellite capacity to the DTH operators and broadcasters, under provisions of the Indian Space Policy 2023, NSIL said on Friday.

NSIL, a Government of India company under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of ISRO, operates a fleet of 11 communication satellites that provide satellite capacity to various service providers in broadcasting, DTH, digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), very small aperture terminals (VSAT), in-flight and maritime communication (IFMC) and other domains.

A Arunachalam, director (Technical and Strategy), NSIL, said the agency was committed to meet the demands of users in the Indian market and would continue business activities with international satellite solutions providers.

“The success of our CONNECTme satellite broadband service in helping to close the connectivity gap in rural Malaysia could be replicated in India through this partnership. We are also keen to tap on NSIL’s satellite launch service capabilities and other services to support MEASAT’s initiatives in the region,” Ganendra Selvaraj, Chief Commercial Officer, MEASAT, said.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: UNSUNG HEROES: Bengaluru remembers valorous Mysore Lancers on Haifa day – September 23rd, 1918

For 106 years, the contributions of these unsung heroes have been celebrated on Haifa Day.

As Bengaluru prepares to celebrate Haifa Day on Monday (September 23), honouring one of the most extraordinary cavalry charges in military history, the story of the valorous Mysore Lancers is remembered.

The Lancers, the personal soldiers of the Mysore Maharaja, stormed the battlefield in an act of bravery that not only changed the course of World War I but saved the sacred city of Haifa and rescued the Bahá’í faith’s spiritual leader from imminent death.

On September 23, 1918, armed with only lances and swords, the Lancers faced the firepower of Ottoman Turkish and German troops, riding headfirst into a mission that seemed impossible: capture Haifa, the last Ottoman stronghold, and save Abdul Baha, son of the Bahá’u’lláh.

The Lancers triumphed. They not only secured Haifa with minimal casualties but also captured over 1,350 enemy troops, cementing their place in military legend. For 106 years, the contributions of these unsung heroes have been celebrated on Haifa Day.

It is also a tale of humanity, and of a rescue that transcended religious and national borders. Abdul Baha, moments away from execution, was saved by the swift, selfless courage of the Lancers. Without their intervention, the Bahá’í faith would have faced a devastating blow.

Former Bangalore police commissioner Bhaskar Rao recalled the heroics of his great granduncle, “Harohalli Subba Rao participated in this operation and the one to save oilfields in Iran.’’ Mysore Lancers Heritage Foundation secretary Anil Raje Urs said,

“The Bahá’í community owes a debt of gratitude to Mysore Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, who selected and sent his most trusted commanders, Col J Desraj Urs and Lt Col Chamaraj Urs, to lead this critical mission. He raised a force of 700 soldiers and contributed a staggering Rs 50 lakh to the war effort.

Dinesh Rao, head of the Bahai community, said, “Baha’is salute the Mysore cavalry, who fought valiantly to save Abdul Baha and city of Haifa. Baha’i faith stands for unity of mankind, the fundamental theme of the Hindu philosophy, Vasudaiva Kutumbakam.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: TRAVEL & TOURISM: Kuthlur village in Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka wins national award for adventure tourism

The Ministry of Tourism launched the ‘Best Tourism Village Competition’ last year to deepen pride among India’s villages.

Kuthlur village in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district has shed its ‘Maoist tag’ and has become the only village in Karnataka to win a national award in a competition organised by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism launched the ‘Best Tourism Village Competition’ last year to deepen the sense of competitiveness and pride among India’s villages and the best five Rural Tourism Villages will be recognised under each category.

The competition is held in three stages — district, state and national levels. Harish Dakaiah, a software engineer from Kuthlur, works in Bengaluru and participated in the contest along with his friends from the same village Sandeep Poojary, who works in Qatar and Shivaraj.

They participated in the adventure tourism category and there were around 40 questions related to various adventure opportunities, security system in place for the safety of visitors etc on the tourism website where they had to upload all the documents, including photos, and details on the tourism spots, he said. Later on at the national-level evaluation, they had to submit a video.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: Bengaluru schools shine, bag spots in Top 10 in national rankings

The survey rates and ranks the country’s Top 4,000 schools in four main and 23 sub-categories.

Bengaluru schools have once again made a mark by securing several spots in countrywide ranking of schools surveyed by EducationWorld in association with Bengaluru-based AZ Research Partners Pvt Ltd. The annual report — Education World India School Rankings (EWISR) 2024-25 — was released Monday.

The Rashtriya Military School, Bengaluru, secured the first spot in the country under the category of government boarding schools, while the Air Force School, Hebbal, was awarded the fifth spot under the central government day school category. Brindavan Education Centre, Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism (ASHA) and Vidyaniketan Academy, Centre for Learning Challenges, are featured in the best special needs schools in the country.

The survey rates and ranks the country’s Top 4,000 schools in four main and 23 sub-categories. This year, a sample database of 8,700 respondents, including 5,150 parents and 3,550 education professionals across 34 cities in the country, were surveyed.

Schools were surveyed on 14 parameters of educational excellence, such as academic reputation, competence of faculty members, individual attention to students, leadership quality, curriculum and pedagogy (hybrid learning readiness), co-curricular education, sports and more.

“Schools are grouped in discrete categories to eliminate apples and oranges type comparisons. Another special feature of the annual EWISR is that it is a national survey based on field interviews with over 8,700 knowledgeable respondents, not on the opinions of a handful of selected jurors,” said DilipThakore, founder-editor of EducationWorld.

In the Vintage Legacy Co-Ed Day Schools category, St Joseph’s Boys High School stood at number two and Bishop Cotton Girls School secured the sixth rank. Smt Kamalabai Educational Institution achieved the seventh rank in the co-ed category.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)