Monthly Archives: January 2016

A Recognition to Telangana Talent

Hyderabad :

The Padma Shri award has come as a late recognition to K Laxma Goud, the versatile and prolific artist who introduced the cultural tradition and rustic life in Telangana to the world through his canvas. His paintings has an indigenous identity representing the Telangana way of life. His powerful drawings and skillfully rendered etchings have influenced many of his contemporaries.

At the center of Laxma Goud’s practice lies the magic of making, an intense, passionate communion with tools, techniques and materials. Laxma Goud’s illustrious career has been marked with an all-encompassing diversity and high degree of craftsmanship both in medium and style. What made the prolific artist stand apart is his writhing, bleeding line. He has worked effortlessly in a wide array of mediums, such as painting, etching, pastels, gouache, sculpture (bronze, terracotta etc) and glass painting. He is known for his graceful, albeit highly powerful line drawings, watercolor works and etchings.

Padma shri K Laxma Goud Categery: Art-Painting (Telangana)
Padma shri K Laxma Goud Categery: Art-Painting (Telangana)

Laxma Goud drew the attention of art world for his technical expertise his startling, refreshing take on rural life. He grew as an artist during the time he spent at the art school of Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda learning traditional mural techniques under the mentorship of K G Subramanyan.

Born in Nizampur of TS in 1940, he completed his diploma in drawing & painting at the Government College of Art & Architecture, Hyderabad (1963). He then studied mural painting and printmaking (1963-65) at M S University, Baroda. Among his select solo exhibitions are ‘Laxma Goud 40 years: A Retrospective’ at Aicon Gallery, New York (2007); Sculptures – bronze and terracotta, Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai (2006); Aicon Gallery, New York (2003); and Grey Art Gallery, New York (2001-02). His significant group shows and participations are ‘ From the Vault’, Aicon Gallery (2007); Back to the Future, Gallery Espace, New Delhi (2006); ‘Indian Art Tomorrow’, Philips Collection, Washington D.C. (1986); and São Paulo Biennale, Brazil (1977) among others. Notably, he was among the most represented artists in the Chester & Davida Herwitz Family Collection.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / January 26th, 2016

Conservationist wins laurels

Tiger researcher Jogu Yellam receiving the certificate for meritorious service in tiger conservation in Adilabad on Tuesday.— Photo: S. Harpal Singh
Tiger researcher Jogu Yellam receiving the certificate for meritorious service in tiger conservation in Adilabad on Tuesday.— Photo: S. Harpal Singh

Adilabad perhaps became the first district in Telangana State to recognise the importance of conservation when the administration gave away a certificate of appreciation to a tiger conservationist at the Kawal Tiger Reserve. Jogu Yellam, a tiger researcher at the KTR had his efforts in conservation as well those in tracking the movements of the tigers which have arrived at the facility rewarded when Collector M. Jagan Mohan and Superintendent of Police Tarun Joshi presented him the certificate at the 67th Republic Day celebration here on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Collector unfurled the national tricolour and took the salute at the march past by armed forces in the district as well as cadets of NCC and others. Among those who attended the programme were the in charge District Judge Suneetha Kunchala.

Addressing the people of the district from the AR head quarters here, Mr. Jagan Mohan recounted the government’s efforts in uplifting the poor and downtrodden. He said the Dalit Basti programme introduced by the government saw 294 dalit beneficiaries being allocated over 857 acres of land at the rate of 3 acres per beneficiary incurring a cost of Rs. 29 crore during 2014-2015.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Adilabad – January 27th, 2016

Telugu states bag 14 Padma awards

Hyderabad :

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh once again made their mark on the national stage with 14 individuals from the two Telugu speaking states bagging the Padma awards.

Between them, the two states shared two Padma Vibhushan awards, five Padma Bhushans and seven Padma Shris for the year 2016. The awards were announced in New Delhi on the eve of the Republic Day on Tuesday.

Last year, the two states had to settle for four Padma Shri awards while the year before in 2014, unified AP had the honour of receiving two Padma Bhushans and seven Padma Shri awards.

Leading the winners this year are Ch Ramoji Rao of the Eenadu Group, who was chosen for the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in the country, for his contribution to education, literature and journalism. The danseuse Yamini Krishnamurthy is the other winner of the award.

Chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed happiness at the Ramoji Group chairman being chosen for the prestigious award. Naidu said Ramoji Rao had taken print and television journalism to great heights. He had launched ‘Eenadu’ in Visakhapatnam in 1974.

The 79-year-old Ramoji Rao, who was born in Pedaparupudi of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, is also a film producer with 87 films to his credit, has a chit fund business and owns a group of hotels. His Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad is a filmmaking destination for producers even from Hollywood, apart from being a tourist attraction.

Among the Padma Bhushan winners are the popular sports stars Sania Mirza (tennis) and Saina Nehwal (badminton). With the Rio de Janeiro Olympics round the corner, the awards are expected to come as a great boost to both of them. Mirza had won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award last year.

SS Rajamouli, who made waves with his blockbuster film ‘Bahubali’ has been awarded the Padma Shri. Rajamouli, officially listed as hailing from Karnataka by the government in its release announcing the awards, is currently shooting in Kerala for ‘Bahubali-2’.

His father, K Vijayendra Prasad, told TOI that he was happy that his son has been given the award. “First of all, it is God’s grace. And secondly, he is sincere, hardworking and humble. He deserves the award,” he said.

Two other well-known personalities from the city, social worker Sunita Krishnan won the Padma Shri while gastroenterologist Dr D Nageshwar Reddy has been awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Well-known artist K Laxma Goud, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Mannam Gopi Chand and cardiac surgeon Dr Alla Gopalakrishna Gokhale were also awarded the Padma Shri.

QUOTE
This award is not just mine, but belongs to all Telugu people who have been with me in this journey in journalism
Ramoji Rao
First of all, it is God’s grace. And secondly, he is sincere, hardworking and humble. He deserves the award
– K Vijayendra Prasad, father of director SS Rajamouli

|Telugu Winners
Padma Vibhushan
Yamini Krishnamurthy Art classical dance
Ch Ramoji Rao Literature, education & journalism

Padma Bhushan
Dr Alla Venkata ama Rao Science and engineering
Yarlagadda Laxmi Prasad Literature and education
Dr D nageshwar Reddy Medicine, gastroenterology
Saina Nehwal Sports – Badminton
Sania Mirza Sports Tennis Padma

Padma Shri
Dr Nayudamma Yarlagadda Medicine, pediatric surgery
Sunita Krishnan social work
Dr TV Narayana social work
SS Rajamouli Art Film direction & production (Officially listed as from Karnataka)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> India / TNN / January 26th, 2016

The ancient ‘miracle well’ of Sadashivapet

The Shivalingam at Raghunadhaswamy temple at Sadashivapet in Medak.-PHOTO: Mohd Arif
The Shivalingam at Raghunadhaswamy temple at Sadashivapet in Medak.-PHOTO: Mohd Arif

A bathing place which is called gundam in the local parlance is an architectural marvel. It is located at Ragunatha Swamy and Janakamma ashramam that was constructed about 400 years ago.

One can have darshan of the ‘samadhis’ of Raghunatha Swamy and Janakamma there in the ashram spread over five acres. From the top of the floor there is a tunnel and one has can come down straight without bending. Then crawl for a few feet where one can see ‘Shiva Lingam’ on Panavattam, a base to keep Shivalingam in traditional system. However, it seems that both are not of same period as the Panavattam seems to be removed and brought from some other place to keep Shivalingam.

On the right side, there is a gundam (bathing place- well) which stands as architectural marvel. It is a square structure having entry from the west side through steps. One can walk around the well on the platform and step down to the water available point very comfortably. There, adjacent to the platform are two separate enclaves to sit and offer prayers at four sides were carved.

It is stated that at the bottom of the gundam one huge Shivalingam is kept but it could be visible only if the water level is less in the gundam. Though it was informed that there is a tunnel way from the gundam to temple it is not in operation. “Our elders said that this was constructed about 400 years ago by a local person who experienced miracle impact of the water available here. Since then, this well is being treated as a place of miracles.

Raghunatha Swamy celebrations will be held in the month of December,” said Mr. Rangaiah, a resident of the mandal headquarters.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by R. Avadhani / Sadashivapet (Medak District) – January 25th, 2016

T-Hub Launches its Own Incubation Programme

Hyderabad :

In an endeavour to bring the best for the startup ecosystem in Hyderabad, the T-Hub has launched its very own incubation programme namely LAB/32 here on Saturday.

A few handpicked startups will be a part of this programme, where they will not only have access to the best names in the industry, but will also be given the opportunity to pitch to VCs and angel investors from the country as well as globally.

Speaking at the launch, Jay Krishnan, CEO, T-Hub said, “A good hockey player knows where the puck is. A great hockey player knows where the puck is going to be. That’s a line by Wayne Gretsky, arguably one of the greatest hockey players in the world.

Our job, at the T- hub is exactly that – To try and help entrepreneurs, through our programmes, to be awesome entrepreneurs running amazing ventures, who can foresee where the market is going to be. And we commit to doing that through LAB/32,” he said.

“Our goal at the T-Hub is to turn Hyderabad into one of the most vibrant startup ecosystems in the world, and to create success for our startups. The launch of our own incubation programme, LAB/32, is the next step in that direction, and our deep connections to world-class mentors, investors and organizations, along with great support will make it one of the best incubators in the country,” Srinivas Kollipara, Founder & COO, T-Hub, said.

Through this programme, T-Hub is bringing together partnerships in the form of individuals and organizations from different verticals to help entrepreneurs shorten the sprint towards their goal. To make things easy for the newbies, the service providers including legal professionals, chartered accountants, company secretaries, investment bankers, etc will all be just a call away.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / January 24th, 2016