The Balapur laddu which was auctioned amidst religious fervour during the Ganesh Idols immersion at Balapur in Hyderabad being taken into the temple in a huge procession on Monday. Photo: Satyanarayana Gola ./ The Hindu
Local resident and agriculturist Singi Reddy Jaihind Reddy wins the bid. Speaking to press after offering prayers, Mr. Jaihind said that the family for long has been planning to bid the laddu and tasted success now.
Excitement and surprises marked the Balapur laddu auction. An agriculturist, Singireddy Jaihind Reddy, bought the laddu for Rs. 9.50 lakh on Monday. Last year, TDP leader Teegala Krishna Reddy bought it for Rs. 9.26 lakh.
A total of 24 people participated in the auction but the main competition was between Maheshwaram MLA Teegala Krishna Reddy, businessman K. Madan Mohan Reddy, and a local resident Singi Reddy Jaihind Reddy. The bidding started at around 10 a.m. with a minimum bid amount of Rs. 1,116.
After the auction, Mr. Jaihind Reddy along with his family members took the laddu to nearby temple and offered prayers. The laddu is later distributed amongst the villagers and also sprinkled in the fields for they believe it brings good luck.
Speaking to press after offering prayers, Mr. Jaihind said that the family for long has been planning to bid the laddu and tasted success now.
The tradition was started in the year 1994 – the first time the laddu was auctioned for Rs. 450 and was bought by one K Mohan Reddy, a local resident of the village.
Many dignitaries including Transport Minister P. Mahender Reddy, Achampet MLA P. Bala Raj, Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Committee president Bhagvanth Rao and other visited the Balapur Ganesh.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Asif Yar Khan / Hyderabad – September 08th, 2014
Left teary-eyed after her Indianness was put into question just weeks back, tennis star Sania Mirza dedicated her US Open title to the country and the new state of Telangana, where her appointment as brand ambassador triggered a political furore.
Last night, the first-time combination of Sania and Brazil’s Bruno Soares clicked brilliantly as they secured a close win in the final to win the mixed doubles trophy.
“I am very happy, it’s great to win it with Bruno. For the first time we played together, it’s been great two weeks.
I dedicate this victory to everybody in India, my country, and to the state of Telangana and all people of Telangana,” Sania said from New York after winning the final.
“I am extremely ecstatic, it’s a dream come true, hopefully many more will come,” said the 27-year-old.
Sania’s third career Grand Slam came barely a month after she was branded ‘daughter-in-law’ of Pakistan by a BJP leader due to her marriage with cricketer Shoaib Malik. The comment was triggered by the Telangana government’s decision to appoint her brand ambassador of the newly-created state.
The Hyderabadi was forced to issue a statement to assert her roots and was seen breaking down on news channels while trying to do so.
Asked if the controversy played on her mind during the US Open campaign, Sania said she believes in moving forward and remains focussed on her game after stepping into the court.
“I don’t think we should focus on the negatives,” said Sania, who is first Indian female player and only the third from the country after Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes to have won Grand Slam titles.
Sania and Bruno were cruising in the Match Tie break and had five championship points after securing a comfortable 9-4 lead but a flurry of errors threatened to devastate their hopes.
Local hope Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez made it 9-9 and looked like snatching it away from the Indo-Brazilian top seeds.
“We all had our hearts in our mouths at that point but we just tried to be positive and do whatever we could, help each other out and come out on top,” Sania said recalling the crunch moment.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport / by PTI / September 06th, 2014
The Indian Navy is all set to maintain the 400-year-old Siva temple at Pudur village in Rangareddy district in Telangana as villagers opposed relocation of the historical temple.
It all began when Telangana government has decided to allot 2,730 acres in Damagundam Reserve Forest block near Pudur village to the Ministry of Defence for setting up a Very Low Frequency (VLF) station by the Navy. The land includes 32.19 acres belonging to Sri Ramalingeshwara Swamy temple in the village.
Apart from this, the main temple is located in Survey No. 473 in an extent of 12 acres and 04 guntas in which the Gundlam and some small temples are located.
The officials conducted several meetings for allotment of the land and also shifting of the temple in view of the proposed acquisition of the entire Forest Block allocated to the Navy, by the Special Chief Secretary & Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), Hyderabad.
The Endowments Department has said there is no objection for acquisition of land in respect of 39 acres and 23 guntas for which the Naval authorities have agreed to pay compensation as per new Land Acquisition of Revenue Recovery (LARR) Act 2013, amounting to approximately `5.14 crore.
With regard to 5 acres where the temple complex and also a tank are located, the Navy has sought acquisition of the land and transfer of title as the temple complex is located in the centre of the proposed project area (VLF station).
The Pudur Gram Panchayat has passed a resolution rejecting translocation of the temple complex as the temple is of about 400 years antiquity.
Later, the Naval Commandant concerned has said there are three approach roads from Pudur, Gudupally and Vikarabad to the temple. The Indian Navy is planning to construct 7 km road around the entire campus, which will lead to the main access point on the eastern side near Pudur. As it would take some time, the Navy has agreed to allow conditional access to devotees from all three access points till the road is laid. After the road is ready, there will be only one permanent access from the side of Pudur village.
Revenue Secretary B Venkateswara Rao issued orders on Wednesday stating that the TS government accorded permission to the district collector, Rangareddy for acquisition of the temple land to an extent of 44 acres and 23 guntas (39 acres and 23 guntas of temple land and 5 acres of temple complex), belonging to Sri Ramalingeshwara Swamy Temple, situated in Survey Nos. 217, 218, 219 and 473 in Pudur village, in favour of the Ministry of Defence, for the establishment of VLF Station.
The condition put forth by the TS govt to the Navy is that “the Indian Navy shall maintain and upkeep the temple which will continue to be there, where it is now situated”. Navy should submit a letter of acceptance from the Naval authorities for providing conditional access to the people, the government said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / September 04th, 2014
Charminar, the symbol of Hyderabad | (File Photo/EPS)
Hyderabad :
Charminar — the symbol of Hyderabad — is the most searched historical site in the city on Google.
Google search trends analysis for the past six months reveals Charminar as the most searched historical site in the city, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Charminar has been searched the most in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. “Interestingly, there is a rising interest on the builders of Charminar as it remained as one of the top most queries on Google.”
The city of pearls, which emerged as hot favourite among Indian netizens during 2013, continues to captivate the spirit of tourists and netizens offering a fascinating panorama of the past, with a richly mixed cultural and historical heritage.
Golconda Fort, one of the famous landmarks of Hyderabad is the second most searched historical site in Hyderabad. It has been searched the most in Andhra Pradesh followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Salar Jung Museum, the third largest museum in India, is also the third most searched historical site in Hyderabad. This museum which has the largest antiques collection in India has been searched by Andhra Pradesh followed by Karnataka.
Significant searches were also made on Falaknuma Palace. This palace which showcases a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture has been searched largely by Andhra Pradesh.
Purani Haveli, the official residence of Nizams in the past did attract a lot of queries majorly emerging from Delhi and Maharashtra.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by IANS / September 03rd, 2014
Hyderabad through art’ is Mandakini Rao’s solo art exhibition. Her first show was ‘Project 48’ where she painted 48 frames in 48 days.
Mandakini for now is a tour guide, taking visitors on a tour through the city. Sometimes at Charminar, sometimes at Qutub Shahi tombs, sometimes on the foot steps of a mosque or at times to a busy market area all through an artist’s eye.
A painting by Mandakini Rao / The Hindu
‘Hyderabad through art’ is Mandakini Rao’s solo art exhibition. Her first show was ‘Project 48’ where she painted 48 frames in 48 days. On display at Muse Art Gallery, the self-taught artist has painted 30 frames of sights and scenes around the city.
Are they an outcome of a trip to capture the city’s mood? Or was she, like other artists, inspired to present the beauty of the city from a different angle? Reality turns out to be something else. “My works are a reproduction of what I have seen and perceived around my surroundings. They are also at times inspired from photographs and images, but no, they are not replicas. Each frame has been infused with my signature style. I have used acrylic but given the water colour effect. Some of my frames are like a dream melting away. This I have done with the colours spilling and bleeding to give that effect,” explains Mandakini.
The artist however doesn’t stick to one style or medium. The effects depend on how I want my final product as I proceed to complete it. Born in the city, Mandakini Rao is a freelance graphic designer by profession and she quit her studies to take up art. “It wasn’t the best deal with my parents. They wanted me to do MS and courses like that, but seeing my interest in art I was allowed to pursue my dream in little doses. Finally they let me do a course in Visual FX and Graphic Designing in 2012 and I worked in a few places after that, but I still wanted to paint. My interest got stuck there, she says. She worked as a Creative Head/UI Designer with an iOS, Android apps company and also in an advertising agency.
Brush strokes: Painter Mandakini Rao. / The Hindu
Mandakini also teaches art at a hobby centre on weekends; with her back to back art assignments, she is pressurised to take a break. “My friends and family have warned me, so yes, it is a break for a week after my show,” she says.
source:http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Events / Prabalika M. Borah / September 02nd, 2014
At 54, Nina Reddy is busier than ever. Photo: R. Ravindran / The Hindu
Savera Hotels managing director Nina Reddy, who is planning the 13th anniversary celebrations of her fitness studio O2, says there is never a dull moment in her day.
It’s a Saturday afternoon in Hyderabad and the sun isn’t being particularly kind. There are lessons to do and chores to finish, but for the 25 children who live in the majestic white house in Barkatpura, this is hardly of any concern.
Even as their parents and staff at the house, tell them to get back to work, they look towards the gate expectantly. When they hear the sound of an approaching car, they spring up, shrieking with excitement.
“Ninamma ochundhi!” exclaims the driver’s daughter even as the children race through the cherry and guava trees. They startle some cows as they dash past the servant quarters. They jump over the pond, run past gargoyles spouting water and stop just short of the entrance, panting.
The guard manning the gates is on his feet, to welcome six-year-old Nina Reddy with a salute, as she drives through the gates of her grandparents’ house. “From Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, till I’d go back to my parents’ house, it used to be a riot,” recalls Nina Reddy.
The weekends spent playing hopscotch and making music with the staff’s children is not something Nina often thinks about 48 years later. Yet, she somehow seems to know that the maid’s visually-challenged son, Venkatram, is now a professor in Hyderabad.
Even today, as she bustles about managing the affairs of Savera Hotel, Nina stops to enquire after her employees — she asks her public relations manager if her son’s cold is any better and listens, nodding sympathetically, when she says that it’s only become worse. “I’m a people’s person,” Nina needlessly explains. Nina often sends young female employees scurrying into the powder room, insisting they put on some lipstick or touch up their make-up. Grooming is important, she says.
Known for her impeccable sense of style, Nina has always been chic. Even in college, when the nuns who ran St. Francis College for Women gave her disapproving looks, she wore the jeans, shorts and shirts that pleased her. “When you say Reddy, you typically expect conservativeness. Mum was not like that, she brought us up differently,” Nina explains. None of that, however, took her away from her traditional roots.
When Nina was still in college, her parents announced that a young man from Madras was coming to see her. Her first reaction, understandably, was to burst into tears — she was still in her teens and hadn’t even completed her college education.
When she met young Vijay Kumar Reddy, however, everything changed. “He was extremely shy, he still is,” she smiles. Soon, he was calling her every night post-10 p.m., because that’s when the STD call rates were cheaper. Yet, staying on the call till the wee hours of the morning ensured that he drew up a huge bill. They wrote each other love letters, long ones, which filled up every inch of the inland letter. For her wedding shopping, when Nina came down to Madras on her way to Kancheepuram, he took her to Marina beach, after a quick stopover at Savera Hotel to pick up a packed picnic lunch.
When 19-year-old Nina married into the Savera family and moved to Madras in 1979, she found the city welcoming. Still, she was a stranger here and the language posed a major challenge. For a while, she walked around referring to Vijay Kumar as ‘Namma husband’, till she watched enough Tamil movies and picked up enough of the language to stop doing it.
She dabbled in every course available in the city, making many friends along the way. She organised exhibitions and car rallies, took part in kitty parties and Round Table meetings, started The Duchess Club and fitness studio O2, took over operations at Savera and started revamping the look of the hotel. When her two daughters came into her busy life, she’d plop them on her hips, with a baby bag swinging from her shoulders and take them along wherever she went.
There was never a dull moment, nothing slowed her down and that’s just the way Nina liked it. Because, “Life is not stagnant, it’s dynamic.” And Nina’s dynamism is what makes her who she is.
Today, at 54, Nina feels that age has slowed her down physically. But, that’s hard to believe. As the clock strikes 4 p.m., most people would be itching to head home. Nina, however, fulfilling her role as the president of the National Association of the Blind, has to be present at a function. After a few hours there, she has a dance practice scheduled — she’s dancing to ‘Dhol Baje’ as part of O2’s 13th anniversary celebrations. Post that, she needs to come back to Savera, wrap up work for the day and squeeze in an hour of exercise. Once all that is done, she gets to go home, have dinner with her husband and play with her dogs.
Even with a schedule that hardly gives her time to breathe, she says she doesn’t need a vacation. “There’s no deprivation at any level, even in terms of time,” says Nina, who enjoys every activity she does. Her philosophy in life is not just to exist, but to live. And Nina lives her life quite large.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fitness / September 02nd, 2014
Ice seems to be melting between Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman Prof M Kodandaram if his appointment to two committees — to make Telangana history and culture part of school curriculum at all levels in the State — is any indication.
The development is significant since Kodandaram, after leading the Telangana movement, is sought to be roped in to help the State make radical changes in the school curriculum. After the installation of the TRS government, Kodandaram has gone back to teaching.
The Telangana government issued orders on Thursday constituting two separate committees to review and suggest changes for Telugu and Social Studies textbooks of all classes. “The committees are being set up to review Telugu language and Social Studies textbooks to reflect Telangana culture, history and literature in view of the State bifurcation,” the orders read. Former MLC and educationist Chukka Ramaiah and poet and CM’s OSD D Srinivas are also part of the panels.
Though Kodandaram clarified he was not consulted prior to his appointment, he said, “Telangana culture and history were never given the place they deserve. I welcome the government’s move.” He said it was important to capture past glory.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 29th, 2014
St. Jude Child Care Centres inaugurated their first facility in Hyderabad to help the families of the children suffering from chronic ailments.
The centre will accommodate 19 paediatric patients, who are being treated at Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institutes of Oncology, Basavatarakam Indo American hospital and other local cancer treatment centres.
Located in Banjara Hills, the centre is being supported by the family of Premlata Vandravan Shah and Dr. Reddy’s Foundation.
During the inauguration, Usha Banerji, CEO, St. Jude’s Centres, said, “It is our goal to provide a safe environment and holistic care to every child. The centre will provide free accommodation along with nutritional support and transportation to children and their parents.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – August 28th, 2014
Seventy-four is just a number for Bhaskar Shewalkar, the septuagenarian veteran of Hyderabad as much as 109 is—all multi-lingual plays in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu within four decades, staged on countless stages all over the country by his company, Rangadhara Theatre Stream.
His repertoire is as vast as his accomplishments—translations, adaptations, experimental plays as well as conventional theatre. Now, Shewalkar is one of the curators of the city’s most sought after theatre venues, the Lamakaan—which is perhaps the Nizami answer to Prithvi Theatre of Mumbai—which has seen a dramatic surge in plays being staged by local and outstation groups, after it was launched as “an open, cultural space” in March 2010.
Presently, Shewalkar, is busy directing the Hindi adaptation of the Marathi work ‘Nata Samrat’ by noted writer Vi. Va. Shirwadkar (an adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear) which won him the Jnanpith Award in 1987. This will be staged in August at Hyderabad, Shewalkar’s 110th production.
Two things stand out in the impressive body of work that the doyen has put together during these years. First, he has been steadfast in maintaining propriety in respecting the intellectual property of the creators whose works he has adapted. He has put on stage no play without seeking the approval of the original writer. Flashing a letter written in French which authorized him to adapt the famed Samuel Beckett play Waiting for Godot in 1973, in which he played Godot, he says: “It did 12 shows” at a time when foreign adaptations were unheard of in Hyderabad. Secondly, even if it involves a token royalty, he has never defaulted on paying up.
The sweep of time has changed quite a lot, impacting events in its own way in the drama circuit of Hyderabad. In the 1970s, there were about 70 theatre groups of the Marathi community in Hyderabad, and it was not uncommon to have 15-20 of them putting up the works of literary giants. “We celebrated the centenary of Marathi theatre in 1943 in Hyderabad,” Bhaskar reminisces. Today, its presence is scanty, with just three or four diehard enthusiasts, including Shewalkar, espousing the cause.
Shewalkar is still busy carrying the priceless works from his mother tongue to the mainstream Hindi speaking audience; more than half his total plays staged are Hindi adaptations, played in the twin cities and elsewhere in India. “It is only the grey-haired, nostalgia-loving folks who still enjoy regional language theatre” Bhaskar sighs.
His group is known to have pioneered the absurd play concept, a grimmer version called black comedy. Their advertisements were unique. He remembers the ad campaign of his 1972 play ‘Ek Nari Char Brahmachari’ which ran thus: ‘Those who don’t laugh during this play will have their ticket money refunded’. There were no claims.
What gives Shewalkar the greatest pleasure of late is his pioneering work—a monologue called ‘Main Rahi Masoom’ which has succeeded beyond expectations. After being the only entry from Hyderabad to have been selected for the 12th Theatre Utsav (Bharat Rang Mahotsav) organized by National School of Drama out of the final 40 selected at the national and international levels, it will be on a global tour to UK and USA in August.
Theatre in Hyderabad, with maestros such as Shewalkar doing their bit with English adaptations and Hindi translations, is vibrant, truly alive and kicking. And it’s not a monologue.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / K. Naresh Kumar / August 30th, 2014
Supported by the State government, the Rs.100-crore Hyderabad Habitat Centre will come up at Khanamet and provide space for artistes to perform and promote their culture
The proposed Rs.100-crore Hyderabad Habitat Centre (HHC) that is being planned at Khanamet will promote and showcase to world tourists the heritage, art, culture and theatre of the 400-year-old city.
IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao said the centre would be supported and funded by the Telangana government, and would have space for artistes to perform and promote their culture. Inaugurating the Telangana Chamber of Events Industry (TCEI) here on Wednesday, Mr. Rama Rao said tourism and hospitality were poised for a big leap in the new State given the huge potential and proactive government policies.
The Minister said that even investors were not looking at just land, tax concessions and infrastructure, but also a lifestyle for their employees.
“We want to fit Hyderabad into such a scheme of things and make it a world brand,” he said.
Stating that his concept of ‘Happening Hyderabad’ had taken off, Mr. Rao said even the Indian Badminton League (IBL) had evinced interest, while a big player in the entertainment industry had expressed its desire to hold south Indian film events in Hyderabad for the next three years. The details would be revealed soon.
‘Happening Hyderabad’ was launched with plans to organise 52 events in 52 weeks in the year, but the Government had already received requests for 152 events.
Responding to TCEI Secretary Neeraj K.S. Thakur’s request to make Hyderabad police ‘event-friendly’, Mr. Rama Rao said a meeting would soon be arranged with the police to look into their issues. He also promised single-window clearances for events involving the GHMC and HMDA.
Mr. Thakur earlier requested the government to support the TCEI to make Hyderabad an ‘Events City’. The events industry in Telangana was worth about Rs.300 crore, which had only 40 per cent in the organised sector.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – August 28th, 2014
