Monthly Archives: July 2015

Techwave Consulting to open second centre in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

US headquartered Techwave Consulting Inc. is opening its second office in Hyderabad, a key component of the firm’s global expansion plans that also involves a multi-fold increase in the headcount in the city.

“We have 300 people at our existing global delivery centre in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Around 500 are to be added at the new facility [in Madhapur],” CEO Damodar Rao Gummadapu told The Hindu over phone on Thursday.

Global system integrator Techwave Consulting, specialising in ERP, Business Analytics, including Big Data, Cloud and mobility space, is acquiring a Hyderabad-based IT firm that has operations in Europe. The acquisition, expected to be closed by August-end, would bring on board 170 staffers from that firm. “Our goal is to increase the employee base in Hyderabad to 1,000 and globally 1,500 in December 2016,” he said, adding that the company is also looking at two more acquisitions. While one of the firms is in the US, the other is in Bengaluru. With the process in a nascent stage, he did not wish to elaborate on any details.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – July 31st, 2015

Ignored earlier, skater hopes to get Arjuna Award this year

Sports
Anup Kumar Yama has started a campaign on social networking sites to propagate his cause.– PHOTO: By Arrangement
Anup Kumar Yama has started a campaign on social networking sites to propagate his cause.– PHOTO: By Arrangement

Thanks to an RTI sports enthusiast, Asian Games bronze medallist in roller-skating Anup Kumar Yama is now brimming with confidence of getting the prestigious Arjuna Award for this year.

To Hyderabadi’s delight, it became evident that Anup missed it out last year because of miscalculations with regard to deciding the eventual awardees.

For someone who happens to be the only medallist ever from India in a World Championship (he won a gold in Taipei-Taiwan in 2013), he had applied the previous four years for the Arjuna Award and was really optimistic in 2014, especially given his World Championship gold and also because of major changes in the selection criteria for the awards.

According to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, a point system was formulated to calculate an athlete’s medal achievements in the previous four years in international meets. It was also announced that 90 per cent weightage will be given to international meets and 10 per cent to the marks given by the selection committee for the assessment of the sports person, keeping in view factors like profile and standard of the discipline.

Ironically, this champion skater from the city topped the charts with the highest points last year and could have been a clear winner for the award as he won medals in the World, Asiad, Asian Championships to name a few.

“I was shocked to know that I got the highest points among all the sportspersons, but despite winning the world number one and the first-ever gold in world championship, I was ignored,” said Anup.

So, what are the options now? “Well, since it was a clear violation of the Ministry’s guidelines to deny me the award, I am applying again through the Sports Authority of Telangana and my National Federation this year with the hope of getting justice this time,” says Anup, as he embarked on a campaign on the social networking sites too to propagate his cause.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 26th, 2015

Youngest CA in country authored books at 10

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Hyderabad :

While other children at the age of 10 were busy brushing up their mathematical skills, Hyderabad’s child prodigy authored books on the subject and became the youngest income tax payer for the royalty he received from developing the math laboratory.

Meet Nischal Narayanam, 19, who last week became the country’s youngest chartered accountant, capping an already long list of achievements. Not only did he display his talent by completing five classes, class 8 to 12, in one academic year, securing the top rank in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education board in Cambridge University in 2010, he also is a double Guinness world record holder in the category of memory. He made the record first at the age of 11. He is also the recipient of the National Gold Medal for exceptional achievement in 2008, presented by the then central government.

A prodigy from the start, Nischal’s skills were honed by 40 tutors from across the world, who taught him almost all the Math methodologies. “I have been taught almost all Math methodologies such as Abacus (China), Trachtenberg system (Germany), Napier Bones (Scotland), Vedic Math (India), among many others. These mental methodologies are the foundation of my success,” said Nischal.

In fact, Nischal designed the Math laboratory at the age of 10. Manufactured by Nischal Learning Solutions Pvt Ltd., the Math lab includes various tools and equipment to explain various mathematical concepts. “The Math lab teaches basic concepts such as multiplication of six digit numbers, algorithms, structures etc. with a wide choice of problem solving skills. Through these portable labs, teachers can teach several concepts which cannot be taught only through textbooks,” said Nischal.

No wonder then that the Math lab is technically empanelled by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). It is already being used in almost 2 lakh schools across the country and will be introduced in the schools run by the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments from this academic year.

In the meantime, Nischal, who plans to study further in the field of finance and statistics, is relaxing with movies and travelling. “I watch movies almost twice a week. I don’t isolate myself from social life and attend almost all family functions,” said Nischal, who had already been to 18 countries so far.

National Geographic Channel has recently named Nishal among “7 brilliant brains of the world”. Deloitte International audit firm, recognizing his amazing abilities, had invited him as a special invitee and speaker at their global conference in Shanghai. The conference was attended by delegates from 190 countries. At Deloitte, Nischal is the youngest amongst their two lakh members, globally. Nischal’s passion for mathematics was spotted by his parents at an early age of nine and since then they have encouraged him for all his achievements.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / July 24th, 2015

Dasarathi Award Presented to Srinivasacharya

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad :

On the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of Telangana’s iconic poet and writer, Dasarathi Krishnamacharya, the Telangana government on Wednesday presented the first Dasarathi memorial award to noted poet Dr. Tirumala Srinivasacharya.

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao presented the award to Srinivasacharya, who incidentally was the teacher of KCR in his school days. He is well known for his work in modern Telugu literature, including his writing on Dasarathi and his poetry.

CM, who himself is an admirer of Dasarathi’s literary work from his college days, announced this award last year to honour his contribution to Telangana’s literature and his fight against Nizam rulers. On many occasions in the past, KCR recalled how Dasarathi’s literary work inspired him to fight for separate state of Telangana. Presenting the award on Wednesday, he said, “Dasarathi is the pride of Telangana. Words are not enough to describe his bravery and his contribution to literature.”

The state government officially celebrated the birth anniversary of Dasarathi and instituted a memorial award in his name. This award will be given to prominent literary personalities in the state every year for their contribution to Telangana’s literature. The winner of the award will be given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh as well.

The department of culture, which organised the event, has invited C Narayana Reddy, noted writer and Jnanapith award winner as the special guest for the award ceremony

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / July 23rd, 2015

This math genius is youngest CA too

Amazing Feats, Education, Records, All
Nischal Narayanam (second from left) with his parents and brother at an event where he was felicitated on Wednesday.– Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Nischal Narayanam (second from left) with his parents and brother at an event where he was felicitated on Wednesday.– Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Nischal Narayanam, who is hailed as a mathematical genius, has cleared the CA exam recently and is said to be the youngest in the country to do so.

The kid who spotted the mistakes in a balance sheet of his dad’s company as a nine-year-old has become the youngest Chartered Account in the country at just 19.

Nischal Narayanam, who is hailed as a mathematical genius, has cleared the CA exam recently and is said to be the youngest in the country to have successfully cleared one of the toughest exams in the country. However, he will have to wait for two more years to sign on the balance sheets of the company as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) doesn’t enrol members less than 21 years.

“The journey wasn’t easy and a tough one. But I was determined to achieve it,” Nischal said. His mother, Padmavathy, who holds a Ph.D in Sanskrit from Osmania University, was the first to recognise his talent when he was just nine. “He was passionate about numbers and I was amazed at his skills.” The curious mother then checked the Internet to find mentors from across the world to guide his son on improving his mathematical skills.

“He has mentors from across the world and is trained in methodologies of several countries in Mathematics and Memory,” she said. Her son had exhibited enormous talent as a child and won several laurels from a very young age. His extraordinary memory and abilities enabled him to become the youngest ‘Double Guinness World Record holder’ in the category of memory, youngest World Memory Champion, one of the “7 brilliant brains of the world” as accredited by National Geographic Channel and youngest graduate in the history of Osmania University from where he completed his B.Com and M.Com.

Deloitte International audit firm, where Nischal did his articleship for CA, recognised his amazing abilities and invited him as a special invitee and speaker at their Global Conference in Shanghai, attended by delegates from 190 countries.

At Deloitte, Nischal is the youngest amongst their two lakh members, globally.

Nischal also found ‘Nischal’s Smart Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd’ through which he designed and developed a Mathematics Laboratory that is adopted by hundreds of schools in the State. He plans to assist poor but talented students through the royalty he gains from this company.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – July 23rd, 2015

Scaling new heights

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Jaahnavi Sriperamubuduru is aiming to be the youngest mountaineer of the world to climb the Seven Summits from India.– PHOTO: By Arrangement
Jaahnavi Sriperamubuduru is aiming to be the youngest mountaineer of the world to climb the Seven Summits from India.– PHOTO: By Arrangement

13-year-old Jaahnavi is all set to conquer Seven Summits despite no sponsorship from government or corporate world

It’s a classic case of indefatigable spirit taking precedence over indifference by way of sponsorship. Thirteen-year-old Jaahnavi Sriperamubuduru has decided to embark on what she feels the toughest of all the journeys to fulfil her dream of scaling the Seven Summits despite no support from either the corporate world or the Telangana State government.

This city girl hailing from Alwal, who created a world record by climbing Stok Kangri peak in Leh, Ladakh (6,125m) and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa (5,895m) last year, is aiming to be the youngest mountaineer of the world to climb the Seven Summits from India and TS.

“I am ready for the challenge. This is not the time to crib about lack of sponsorship. My focus is already on how to scale the summit,” says the confident youngster. She has already managed to raise personal loans and contributions from a couple of individuals to meet the total cost of Rs. 8 lakh. Her school – Pallavi Progressive High School (Alwal) – too has come forward to take care of a major chunk of the cost.

Jaahnavi is planning to complete three summits of her ‘Mission7 Summit’ by the end of this year to become the youngest ever from India to achieve this feat.

After successfully climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Everest earlier, she will be attempting Mt. Elbrus in Russia (July), Aconcagua in South America (August), Mt. McKinley in North America (September), Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia (October) and then special training to master skiing in Switzerland before the last summit in Antarctica Mt. Vinson Massif (November).

“We will be going to Russia to climb Mt. Elbrus (5,642m) and will be attempting the traverse route from south to north side,” points the articulate mountaineer, also youngest girl from India to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro last year. “I wish to fulfil my dream by 2016. My stint with the professional mountaineering training at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, has been of a big help,” she says.

Unlike climbers who after reaching a peak follow the same route back to the base camp, she likes to take the ‘Traverse Route’, means trekking along the ridge of the mountain. It takes, if weather is good, a minimum of eight days to return to the base camp,” she reveals.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – July 22nd, 2015

RPF Jawan in Guinness Record for Maximum Full Contact Kicks

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

A Railway Protection Force jawan with the South Central Railway here has created a Guinness world record by performing 56,148 ‘full contact kicks’ in one hour in Taekwondo Jidokwan, a martial art.

“A Madhusudhan Rao, presently working at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad, has created a Guinness world record in Taekwondo Jidokwan (a Korean martial art), held in Ranga Reddy district in Telangana in November 2014 in the presence of evaluator from the Guinness book of world records,” SCR stated in a release.

Rao broke the previous record of 36,140 kicks per hour, it said. He received the medal and certificates recently from the Guinness Book of World Record authorities.

“Madhusudhan Rao had to his credit the Guinness world record by participating in the largest half an hour Taekwondo Jidokwan display consisting of 585 persons, which was held in

Ranga Reddy district, Telangana,” the release added. A resident of Hyderabad, Rao is a recipient of Railway Week Award-2015 for his meritorious service and also a black belt in Karate.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by PTI / July 13th, 2015

Bikers on a date with their machines

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, Travel
Citizens who own Jawa and Yezdi bikes taking out a rally marking the 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day in Hyderabad on Sunday.– Photo: G. Ramakrishna
Citizens who own Jawa and Yezdi bikes taking out a rally marking the 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day in Hyderabad on Sunday.– Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Many from Hyderabad celebrate 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day bydisplaying their proud possessions at Deccan Club

Sunday was a celebration day for city’s bike aficionados. For, man and his ‘Forever Bike’ had a date.

The 13th International Jawa-Yezdi Day and the second such event organised in Hyderabad saw bikers across the city profess their love for machines, around 75 of which were proudly displayed at the Deccan Club.

The event organised by the Jawa and Yezdi Club of Hyderabad saw owners wax eloquence on their machines, while mechanics who to this day fix Yezdi and Jawa models introduced in the 1960s swore by them.

“These are bikes true to their tagline of ‘Forever Bike, Forever Value’. No matter how many times they are opened up and fixed, they last. They are highly durable machines,” said Mohammed Abdul Lateef, who has been fixing Jawa and Yezdi bikes at his workshop in Red Hills for more than three decades.

His Yezdi 350 Twin was a head-turner at the gathering. Yezdi Monarch and 1961 Jawa were other notable bikes at the event.

The club is planning to tap into the cult following the bikes have, to get more owners and even women to ride them. Amit Arni, one of the members, said that the club will try and convince owners to get their old machines running.

“Many people are known to own a Yezdi or Jawa. While for some it was passed down as heirloom, others still have their purchases. We would like to see more of these bikes on the road. We have been helping owners who seek to revive their bikes by supporting them to procure parts, sometimes even from other States,” he said.

Later on Sunday, over 60 riders took their bikes on a spin to Raj Bhavan and back to Deccan Club.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter /Hyderabad – July 13th, 2015

Sania seals historic Wimbledon crown with Hingis

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza pose with their trophies after winning their Women's Doubles Final match / Reuters
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza pose with their trophies after winning their Women’s Doubles Final match / Reuters

Sania had come close to winning a women’s doubles Major in 2011 when she reached the French Open final with Elena Vesnina but ended up runners-up.

India’s tennis queen Sania Mirza today created history by becoming the first female player from the country to win a women’s doubles Grand Slam trophy as she clinched the Wimbledon title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis.

More than a decade after turning Pro, 28-year-old Sania laid hands on her first women’s doubles Major title when she and Hingis battled past second seed Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7 7-6(4) 7-5 in a thrilling final.

In an interesting coincidence it was at these very historic courts that Sania had won women’s doubles junior Wimbledon championship with Russian partner Alisa Kleybanova in 2003.

Sania had come close to winning a women’s doubles Major in 2011 when she reached the French Open final with Elena Vesnina but ended up runners-up.

Already having a long list of firsts, Sania had become India’s first woman player to win a Grand Slam when she won the Australian Open with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2009.

She later added French Open (2012 with Bhupathi) and US Open (2014 with Bruno Soares) to her mixed doubles collection.

It was a remarkable turn around for the top seeds as they were trailing 2-5 in the deciding set but made a stunning comeback to reel off five straight games to clinch the issue.

Vesnina was all fired up and her smashing volleys at the net put Sania and Hingis in a lot of trouble. The Russian was left distraught as she played out of her skin.

It was third time in recent times that Sania and Hingis played the two Russians in finals — Indian Wells and Miami — and asserted their supremacy again.

Sania was broken in the very first game of the match when Vesnina hit a volley winner from the net but the top seeds immediately broke Vesnina to avoid falling behind. It was a remarkable lob from Hingis that gave them two break chances and they converted the second.

Sania and Hingis put tremendous pressure on the their rivals but the two Russians responded well and it was 5-5.

Hingis was broken in the 11th game at love after a terrific rally of powerful ground strokes from left-handed Makarova. Vesnina pounced on one return from the Swiss and hammered the volley winner close to the body of Sania.

Makarova served for the set and it was Vesnina’s smart play at the net that sealed them the opening set.

It was the first set that Sania and Hingis had dropped in this tournament.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport / by PTI / London – July 12th, 2015

Icrisat Unveils Green Phablet for Farmers

Agriculture, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

To improve productivity and profitability of small farmers in the state, the state government and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) have joined hands to implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based knowledge sharing platforms and other agricultural innovation initiatives.

The collaboration was launched during the Digital Telangana Week.

As part of this, a Phablet was launched through which small farmers can have tips on the kind of agricultural inputs they require for their fields.

Based on specific soil health of the lands of a farmer, the scientists at the Icrisat and the government will send timely messages to the farmers through the phablet.

The phablet is a smart device bigger than a phone but smaller than a tablet.

Icrisat launched the Green Phablet which comes for around `18,600. Icrisat will maintain servers to safe keep the information.

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between two state government departments — department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications and department of Agriculture and Cooperation — and Icrisat here on Tuesday.

The partnership will explore areas of collaboration in digital agriculture along with agriculture value chain and explore the possibilities of Icrisat playing an active role in the T-Hub, the incubator being launched by the state government.

The partnership will help launch innovative digital platforms that aim to revitalize information dissemination in rural areas, expert systems for providing real time advisories and better access to market information by smallholder farmers.

‘’Icrisat has been at the forefront of using the latest technology to benefit smallholder farmers of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The digital agriculture initiative will allow information to be precisely targeted to individual farmers. This will help farmers to access agricultural related information and keep themselves up-to-date with market related information, which gives them an opportunity to sell their produce at fair prices, thus putting them on the path to prosperity,’’ Dr David Bergvinson, Icrisat Director General said explaining the proposed activities under the digital agriculture initiative.

The MoU was signed by C Parthasarathi, agriculture secretary, Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary and Icrisat Director General Dr David Bergvinson in the presence of agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy and IT minister K T Rama Rao.

Speaking on the occasion, Rama Rao said ‘’Access to timely information and knowledge can help millions of farmers in Telangana to improve their yields, incomes and resilience since they can now make informed choices about good farming practices.’’

Rama Rao, however, felt that there is a need to bring down the cost of Phablet to `10,000 to make it affordable for farmers.

Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy felt that it is very appropriate to launch the digital agriculture activities at a time when use of digital gadgets is on the rise in rural areas.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / July 08th, 2015