“This is not a book about the British colonialism, but a narrative of those who lived here and worked for India. It is about their contribution to our country”
This was how an academic and CEO of the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, V. Raghunathan and an IT professional, who gave up her job yielding to her passion of writing, Veena Prasad, described ‘Beyond the Call of Duty’, a 224-page book published by HarperCollins Publishers India that was released here on Friday.
It speaks of a dozen people who came to India, lived here and did their bit to a nation that was colonised.
Director-Research at the LV Prasad Eye Research Institute, D. Balasubramanian spoke about the characters in the book – W.H. Sleeman who chased thugs in his spare time, fighting the ‘Thugee system’ and Ronald Ross who hunted the Anopheles mosquito and demystified malaria. The book chronicles the work of others, including Mount Stuart Elphinstone, the educationist Governor of Bombay who is considered the founding father of modern Indian education, Arthur Thomas Cotton the man who ‘dammed’ India, William Jones’s tribute to Indology and who laid the foundation of the Asiatic Society and the occasional botanist Dr. Archibald Campbell on ‘Bringing tea to Darjeeling’.
There were chapters on the multi-faceted genius James Prinsep and his ‘Extending Indian History’, R.M. Stephenson and John Chapman – the men who shrunk India by getting it on track, Alexander Cunningham and brothers who proved the point with a family enterprise of excellence and the Indian Briton Mark Tully, a journalist par excellence. The authors took questions as to what had made them choose the subjects they did. Among the more interesting, the curious among the audience was Amani Gudipati, a student of Class VII of Oakridge International School. She walked up to Ms. Veena Prasad and thanked her profusely for the education of the evening.
When asked, little Amani said, “We were taught in school that the Britishers ruled India. Now I have become more open-minded and learning a different facet, being told about Britishers who lived here and actually worked for the progress of the country!”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – August 23rd, 2015
In the day Saina Nehwal regained the top ranking in the world of badminton, the ace shuttler also signed up a new sports marketing firm to manage her portfolio. The contract with IOS Sports & Entertainment promises her Rs 25 crore in the next two years.
New Delhi :
On the day Saina Nehwal regained the top ranking in the world of badminton, the ace shuttler also signed up a new sports marketing firm to manage her portfolio. The contract with IOS Sports & Entertainment promises her Rs 25 crore in the next two years.
The 25-year-old currently earns between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7 crore a year from around 10 endorsement deals, some of which are for digital ads. She endorses brands such as Herbalife, Star Sports, Godrej No Marks, Emami, Sahara, Indian Overseas Bank, Iodex and Commune Builder .
Nehwal is among the highest paid woman athletes in India currently. Boxer Mary Kom earns Rs 4 crore-Rs 6 crore a year from endorsements and appearances. The shuttler moved up a place to No. 1 in the women’s singles category of the Badminton World Federation rankings released on Thursday, overtaking Carolina Marin despite losing to the Spaniard in the World Championship final last week.
Neerav Tomar, managing director and chief executive of IOS Sports, said his firm has been working with Nehwal for the past few years but only on one-off deals. “Now we have signed up to work exclusively with her. She is the world No. 1 now and she needs a bit of management and backing now,” Tomar said.
So far, Saina was managing her endorsement deals herself. IOS Sports had recently signed a three-year, Rs 35-crore contract with Suresh Raina, ending the cricketer’s association with Rhiti Sports Management owned by a friend of India ODI captain MS Dhoni.
The company also manages non-cricket sports persons such as boxers Mary Kom and Vijender Singh, wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, shooters Gagan Narang and Heena Sidhu and archer Deepika Kumari.
With her at the top of the rankings again, Nehwal’s brand value is likely to improve and so will her ability to charge higher. She currently charges around Rs 75 lakh a year per brand endorsement and Tomar expects this to jump to around Rs 1.25 crore.
Tomar said the deal with her to get Rs 25 crore in two years would depend on her performance at the 2015 Rio Olympics as well as her ability to maintain her No. 1 ranking for as long as possible in this two year period. “We want to grow both her portfolio and pricing,” he said
source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / ET Home> Industry> Services> Advertising / by Ravi Teja Sharma, ET Bureau / August 21st, 2015
The state has bagged a big ticket pharma investment worth Rs 500 crores as Switzerland-based Ferring Pharmaceuticals will begin operations here. Ferring is engaged in formulations.
Earlier, the state gave permissions to around 39 companies in two weeks as part of the new industrial policy, TS-iPASS.
“The representatives of Ferring Pharmaceuticals visited the 12-acre land parcel allotted to them in Genome Valley before giving their nod. It will take two months for Ferring to get the other permissions,” sources said.
Another pharma major too is in touch with the Industries Department. “We will reveal the name of the second pharma company only after an agreement is signed. Otherwise, some other state may resort to poaching,” officials confided.
“Several industrialists in textiles, solar, life sciences, plastics and pharma are making serious enquiries. We will reveal the names of the firms only after confirmation,” sources added.
The mobile manufacturer Micromax has started its construction activity in the city. Officials of Industries Department are in touch with other mobile companies as well.
Sources said that another mobile company is also likely to invest in Hyderabad. The Industries Department is now in the process of inviting industrialists who made serious queries. “The industrialists enquired with those who got permissions in two weeks and are serious in investing in the state. All this happened due to word-of-mouth publicity,” sources said.
The State government recently announced a single window industrial policy, which works in a transparent manner without giving scope for corruption or red-tapism. The government has already allocated 10 per cent water in major projects for industries and a land bank of 1.5 lakh acres has been created for industrial needs.
Policy Pull
TS industrial policy spread by word-of-mouth
State is getting serious queries about investments
Switzerland’s Ferring Pharmaceuticals confirmed investment of Rs 500 crore
Textile, pharma, plastics, solar, mobile, life sciences companies looking to TS for investment
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by V.V. Balakrihsna / August 18th, 2015
Telangana Home Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy launched the initiative by issuing 100 ‘Body Worn Cameras’ to the front line officers.
Picture for representational purpose only.
Ensuring a people-friendly approach by enforcing officers towards traffic violators, the Hyderabad Traffic Police (HTP) today launched ‘Body Worn Cameras’ for the first time in the country.
Telangana Home Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy, who launched the initiative by issuing 100 ‘Body Worn Cameras’ to the front line officers said this is for the first in the country that traffic officers will be equipped with such an equipment.
This initiative is in the direction of developing friendly policing in Hyderabad and the use of technology will improve transparency and accountability in Traffic Management, the Minister said, adding after formation of Telangana state last year there have been marked changes in the police system.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Jitender said this project was started on a pilot basis in August last year by issuing four ‘Body Worn Cameras’ to the traffic officers. After successful implementation, 100 new ‘Body Worn Cameras’ have been acquired by the Hyderabad Traffic Police to monitor the Traffic Enforcement system, he said.
Elaborating on ‘Body Worn Cameras’, the top traffic cop said it is user friendly, having stud moving clip for wearing on the body and simple one click record. Citizens, when caught for any traffic violations by traffic cops can notice the recording on the front facing LCD screen.
Protected files and encrypted log of events makes it free from manipulations, Jitender said, adding this will enable socially desirable behaviour by traffic officers and public during their interactions. In the conventional practice of enforcement, there were many incidents of arguments, assaults and misbehaving between the commuters and cops.
Subsequently, on the other end, there was no evidence on record to establish the guilt (of violators) and it badly ruined the image of traffic cops, he said. The new system will help in improving discipline among the public as well as the police personnel, he said. Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy also spoke.
source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / IndiaToday.in / Home> News> India> Andhra Pradesh / by PTI / Hyderabad – August 14th, 2015
B. Venkataramana Chary, who sculpted the statue of Telangana Thalli, being felicitated by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at Golconda Fort on Saturday.– Photo: By Arrangment
The cultural richness of Telangana was on display at the official Independence Day celebrations on the lawns of Rani Mahal inside Golconda fort.
Troupes from various parts of Telangana, colourfully dressed in different attire, stood atop the remains and attracted the gathering. They were also seen performing before and after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s speech.
Mr. Rao gave away mementos to a select few who were honoured on the occasion. They included B. Venkataramana Chary, who sculpted the statue of Telangana Thalli for installation at the office of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, but gained wide currency subsequently, so much so that it has come to be recognised by all Telangana-based organisations.
Mr. Chary told media persons that he drew inspiration from Mr. Rao’s words questioning the existence of Telugu Thalli in Telangana. He was motivated to design the embodiment of a traditional woman belonging to Telangana.
The picture did not impress Mr. Rao as it lacked devotional appeal in the sense of Bharat Maata. Hence, he redesigned the model with a crown on the head and Batukamma in the left hand and maize corn in the right hand.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – August 16th, 2015
Saina Nehwal may have lost the world championship final to Carolina Marin on Sunday, but the champion shuttler from the city scaled the summit in world rankings in women’s singles.
The latest rankings will be officially released on Monday and ironically Marin, the reigning World No.1, loses that privilege despite being crowned world champion for the second time. “It was a great match and the Spanish girl played better. Yes it would have been great if Saina had won the gold,” Saina’s father Harvir Singh remarked immediately after the final.
“But, I am glad she has shown the others what the Indians can achieve in women’s badminton,” he said. “The best part is that Saina’s medal haul is complete now having won the silver, again the first ever by an Indian in a world championship,” the proud father pointed out.
Making a critical analysis of where she went wrong in the final on Sunday, Dr. Harvir felt she was good on either flanks but need to shore up her game when she plays standing in the centre for she seems to be struggling to get the space for those quick returns.
Dr. Harvir Singh said that Saina is a vastly improved player after moving to Vimal Kumar in Bengaluru. “She had to go there for better prospects as she needed isolated and focussed training. “It’s like changing the school for your kids and Saina went to Vimal with the consent of Gopi bhayya,” he said. “Yes Saina will continue to train in Bengaluru as this is the crucial year of Olympics preparations.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 17th, 2015
Salama, a four-and-half-year-old girl from Hyderabad, became the first girl in the country to receive a cadaver paediatric liver transplant.
A team of transplant surgeons led by Manish C Agarwal at Apollo Hospitals, perfomed a paediatric liver transplant surgery on Salama, who was suffering from a rare liver disease called Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OCT), due to which liver lacks enzymes required for processing proteins. Due to the problem the child could not eat foods like chocolates or milk.
Upasana Kamineni with a four-yr-old girl, who underwent a complex paediatric liver transplant suugery, at a media conference in Hyderabad on Wednesday | A SURESH KUMAR
“Till her second year she was fine but problem started two years ago, when she was two-and-half years. When we consulted doctors we were told that liver transplant is the only option for her problem,” Mohammed Mujeeb, father of Salama, said. They had to wait for more than two years as it was highly difficult to get a liver donor for a child.
“Doing a liver transplant for a kid is highly complicated as we need liver only from a child. If there is no suitable donor in the family then a child donor has to be found, if not a split liver trasnplant, where an adult liver from a brain dead person is divided into two small parts and one is transplanted in a child. Surgeons need to be highly cautious while performing the surgery as body parts of kids will be about 25 percent of the size of elders’ organs,” said Manish, chief transplant surgeon.
In Salama’s case as there were no suitable donors in the family she was put on cadaver organ waiting list under Jeevandan, Telangana’s cadaver organ transplantation programme.
The long painful wait for Salama ended when liver transplanation was performed on her in July third week, following organ donation from a brain dead child.
“This is the first cadaver liver transplant for a child in India, and though it’s an achievement for us, the real credit goes to the cadaver organ donor kid, because of which the organ transplantation was possible.
A multidispcliary approach involving surgeons, doctors and support staff from various specilaistaions is needed for performing a pediatric liver tranpslantion. The surgey which was very complex but has been so succesful that Salama was moved out of the ICU in just three days and discharged after 12 post operative care,” Manish said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / August 13th, 2015
V. Shobhha Prasad, MD of Walden, in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna
A look back into one of the city’s favourite book shops as it celebrates its Silver Jubilee.
After just relishing Henry David Thoreau’s ‘Walden’ as part of Literature syllabus in college, a book store with that name was suffice to lure me inside, 25 years ago. A ‘supermarket kind of feel’ where you touch, feel and browse a book as you walk along the aisles before you pick up your favourite was a unique experience. That stretch of road connecting Begumpet and Punjagutta was thinly populated and almost had nil traffic then. There was no reason for people to meander into that road… yes, maybe for a cheese tart at Bakers Inn down the road, just that. But that made little difference to us as we started our long association with this newly found hangout place.
Twenty five years down the line, with a second branch at Banjara Hills, Walden is still a favourite and a quick one-stop shop for son’s stationery needs or to pick up the latest bestseller.
Choosing a last-minute gift item to grabbing a tub of moisturiser on your way to the bill counter was all part of the Walden shopping.
John Siddham, a Hyderabadi who now lives in Melbourne, makes it a part of his itinerary every time he visits Hyderabad. He confesses that it usually takes three to four visits each trip to satisfy his appetite.
“It is an enticing place; one easily loses sense of time conveniently wandering through the aisles of books ranging from diverse topics.
The fact that they cater for all ages has worked for us as family,” he says and adds, “The usual regret is at the airport check-in when we end up with excess baggage of books. But, hey, books in our bookshelf has been a talking point with most of our visitors.”
One of the exciting events that youngsters remember at Walden are the pre-dawn launch of Harry Potter books. Much as it gave a whole new fillip to the reading habits of a new generation, the experience gave much to remember for a long time.
Recollecting the experience of coming all the way from Miyapur at 5 a.m. with her sister, Swetha Sidotam says, “I think it was in 2005 and I had come to collect the 5th part of the Harry Potter series. It was kind of self reward for me for getting into JNTU for architecture. We reached the store around 6 a.m. and were welcomed by the smiling staff. Since I had pre-booked my copy I was handed over my book in an attractive carry bag. It was an exciting memory.”
Having successfully delivered memories and good times to so many customers, Walden, despite a shrunken parking space, remains a booklovers’ paradise.
‘Walden will not be shut’
Frequent visits to a spacious book store in Chennai and his fondness for reading inspired Electrical Engineer professional V. Ram Prasad to start a book store in Hyderabad. A natural at designing, he personally monitored the entire décor of all his stores.
His wife Shobha Prasad who shares his passion for books, says, “We wanted to develop this concept where customers can select what they want while walking around the book shelves. Unlike in other shops where one has to ask for a specific book, here we gave options. A book lover can see what’s available and take his pick.”
Recollecting the journey of 25 years, Shobha says, “People were of the opinion that Hyderabad was not ready for such kind of an exclusive book store and added to that this area was so secluded. There were many apprehensions. But we went ahead and launched it and by God’s grace it clicked instantly with the customers.” And the name Walden? Whose choice was that? “My husband’s. He was a voracious reader and he particularly like this book by Henry David Throeau and decided to name after its title. Also, we wanted a name that people could pronounce,” she smiles.
The obvious challenge for Walden now is facing competition from online market. Agrees Shobha and emphasises the need to be choosy and careful about the selection of books.
“Apart from books we have expanded the space that has good mix of products as well. Stationery, gift articles and a few beauty products have always been an integral part of our store. Rare household articles that are latest addition also keep our customers happy,” smiles Shobha.
With popular book shops shutting down one by one, will Walden go the same way? “Walden will not be shut… never,” assures Shobha and informs about the third branch being opened in Gachibowli this month.
That’s some good news indeed, for book lovers!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by S.B. Vijaya Mary / Hyderabad – August 03rd, 2015
Dr B Mahipal Reddy, chief scientist at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad has been honoured with the Bronze Medal of Chemical Research Society of India (CRSI) for his outstanding contribution in the field of chemical sciences. Sharing his happiness with Express, Reddy said, “The award is special as it is given exclusively for chemical research. I am very happy to get this award and to join the eminent list of people, who have already received it.”
Reddy has been selected for this prestigious honour for his more than two decades of research efforts in basic and applied science which resulted in development of new catalysts for air pollution control, bio-mass conversion to value-added products and conversion of greenhouse gases into useful chemicals etc.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / August 12th, 2015
Built in the year 1893, the Turner’s Choultry is a stone masonary building 90 feet long and 60 feet wide. It was originally a Chattram or a Traveller’s House built to provide temporary shelter to traders, pilgrims and other travellers visiting the city.
The building is an ashlar fine structure that was built at a cost of Rs 43,000, of which Rs 10,000 was paid by the Maharajah of Vizianagaram, Anand Gajapathi Raju, an equal sum was provided by the Gode family and the remaining was raised from the public.
The site on which the Choultry stands was originally the Enugu Thota (Elephant Lines) of the 104 Regiment and even today the stones to which the elephants were tied can be seen. Close to the Choultry is a huge water tank, next to the Police Barracks, where the elephants bathed.
Built in the name of former district collector, Henry Gribble Turner, the Choultry remained the property of the Visakhapatnam municipality till 1975, after which it passed into the hands of the endowments department.
The building boasts of 24 rooms and a living space, distributed over three courtyards. According to history buff BS Mahesh, the plan of the building is that of a traditional south Indian house with rooms and verandas all around a central courtyard.
“The beauty of the building lies in the simplicity of its plan and the manner in which space is used. The facade is of course beautiful with an arched doorway leading into the central courtyard and the stone pillars give it that imposing look,” said Mahesh. He further added that the tiles used for the roof were pot tiles, which were later replaced by Mangalore tiles.
Civil engineer Narayana Murthy said the structure was built on a raised plinth of more than four feet, which added to the majestic look. “The main structure is over 90 feet in length and 50 feet in breadth and is perfectly rectangular in shape. This apart there are bathrooms that extend the area of the structure. The dressed stone used to build the walls are all cut to the same shape and size and the mortar used to bind the stones is exactly the same in each and every bind. The construction is extremely precise and requires expert stone masonry skills. The thick stone walls built on the raised platform provide balance and strength to the building,” Murthy said.
Even today, the Turner’s Choultry is abuzz with activity and usually hosts weddings, functions, book shows, exhibitions and religious festivals. The endowments department charges a nominal rent of Rs 300 for a small scale wedding at the venue.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / August 06th, 2015
