Daily Archives: April 7, 2016

When curiosity took over him

April 7, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, Allwellnmed@gmail.com

Reddy Ratnakar Reddy showing his collection of rocks and tools at his residence in Warangal onThursday.— Photo: M. Murali

Reddy Ratnakar Reddy, a teacher at a private college, has travelled extensively in Warangal and collected artefacts of historical value

For many of us, a piece of rock doesn’t mean anything. But for Reddy Ratnakar Reddy, a teacher at a private B.Ed college here, it’s a source of education and research.

The 40-year-old Ratnakar Reddy, who developed interest in studying history, travelled the entire district excavating the buried past. In the process, he collected innumerable items, mostly rocks, fossils and tools, believed to have been used by pre-historic men in the course of evolution.

Mr. Ratnakar Reddy found pre-historic places and animal and tree fossils at Buttaigudem in Eturunagaram mandal, cave paintings at Vargal near Medak district, coloured rock beads, menhirs, cist, kern circles at Konne village in Bachannapet mandal in Warangal and grinding stones and grooves at Ramachandrapur village in the same mandal. A huge rock avenue was spotted by him at Kodavatur village as well.

“The habit of digging into the past, literally, is inherited from my father, Buchi Reddy, who is a curious person. Since the announcement of separate Telangana in 2009, I took interest in digging out unknown facts about Telangana, particularly the Warangal district,” he told The Hindu .

He turned his house into a minim archaeology museum with the items he collected during his tours all over the district.

Among the most enchanting findings of Mr. Ratnakar Reddy are musical stones at Chunchunkota hillocks in Cheriyal mandal. “There is a long stone with 60 capsules which was perhaps used as a musical instrument. If you hit the stone, it emits a musical note. There are petroglyphs as well,” he explained.

How does he establish the veracity and authenticity of his findings? Mr. Ratnakar Reddy has been in touch with archaeology and history experts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and surfs internet to learn more about his findings.

“There is an amazing history attached to She Stones found at Wanaparthy village in Lingala Ghanpur mandal and so also the rock cut burials there,” he said.

He wishes to write a book about his findings thus securing a page for himself in the history of Warangal.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao / Jangaon(Warangal District) / April 01st, 2016

Mahbubnagar Professor Named Fulbright Specialist Roster

April 7, 2016Education, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinionwellnmed@gmail.com

Hyderabad :

An Indian-American professor hailing from Mahbubnagar district in Telangana has been selected for the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Roster for his achievements in the field of pharmacy.

Rajender R Aparasu is the first pharmacy faculty member at the University of Houston selected to be the candidate roster of the Fulbright Specialist Programme, which helps US faculty share their academic expertise and develop linkages with non-US institutions on curriculum, assessment, faculty development and research training.

The Fulbright programme, which is funded by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, serves to promote international engagement of academic scholarship and build linkages between the US and overseas institutions. “There are very few Fulbright Specialists in pharmacy, I am really honoured to be selected for Fulbright Specialist Roster,” said Aparasu.

This is a great opportunity to offer my expertise in developing professional and graduate pharmacy programmes that involve pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy,” said Aparasu, whose five-year term runs through 2021.

Aparasu completed his school education in Hyderabad, and got his B Pharm degree from Kakatiya University in Warangal. He studied M Pharm at Jadavpur University in Kolkata and obtained Ph D in Pharmacy Administration from the University of Louisiana-Monroe in the USA and joined UHCOP in 2006 after serving as a faculty at the South Dakota State University for more than a decade.

His primary areas of expertise include pharmacoepidemiology, geriatrics, psychopharmacology and evidence-based medicine.

Aparasu’s current research project, supported by an R01 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is evaluating safety profiles of anticholinergic medications in the elderly nursing home residents.“Dr Aparasu’s selection as a Fulbright Specialist validates his professional accomplishments and enhances our the institutional profile. I am glad he now joins such a select group of outstanding US academicians and scholars that will soon engage in collaborative endeavours,” said Jaime Ortiz, UH vice provost for Global Strategies and Studies.

Aparasu has authored or coauthored nearly 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and seven book chapters. He was made Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association (FAPhA) for his exemplary professional achievements and contribution to the pharmacy profession.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 03rd, 2016

Rare copper, lead coins unearthed

April 7, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travelwellnmed@gmail.com

The copper and lead coins found during an excavation at Pazzur archaeological site in Nalgonda district on Wednesday. Photo: Singam Venkataramana / The Hindu

The coins belonged to Mahatalavara, feudal lords who ruled parts of Telangana under Satavahana

The archaeology officials excavating the early historic site located between Pazzur-Yarragaddagudem villages unearthed one copper and two lead coins probably belonging to Satavahana and post-Satavahana period.

“Mahatalavara, a feudatory family that ruled parts of Telangana under Satavahana and also during post-Satavahana period, had minted these coins, the archaeology officials said.

The archaeologists identified the coin belongs to Mahatavalaras since the two lead coins were having horse symbol on obverse side. They could not identify the symbol on other side of these coins. The copper coin was rusted and they could not identify anything on it.

Speaking to The Hindu , Assistant Director of Archaeology and Museums, P. Nagaraju said that they would send both the lead coins and copper coin for chemical treatment to further identify the symbols on them.

Conarium rod

They have also unearthed a crystal-made 0.06 cm long conarium rod, which the ancient women used for decoration of bindi on their forehead. And they have also found big size bangles made of shell.

Retired Chief Curator Yerramraju Bhanu Murthy said that they had also found similar coins at Dulikatta, Peddankuru, Kotilingala in Karimnagar district and Phangiri, Yeleshwaram in Nalgonda district.

Mr. Bhanu Murthy said that after finding these coins they came to a conclusion that Mahathalavaras also ruled Pazzur area apart from above places.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by T. Karnakar Reddy / Nalgonda – April 07th, 2016

Thorium Found in Bayyaram

April 7, 2016Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technologywellnmed@gmail.com

Hyderabad :

The accidental discovery of Thorium deposits by the Geological Survey on India in Bayyaram of Khammam district has taken the government by surprise. The Thorium reserves were earlier found only in sea coast area of Andhra Pradesh. This surprise information came to light when the government had commissioned the Geological Survey of India to survey Bayyaram to estimate the quality and quantity of iron ore available there for setting up a steel plant. Thorium is used as fuel in nuclear plants.

The state government is planning to seek the help of Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) to make further studies on the quantity and quality of Thorium available in Bayyaram. It will also ask the AMD to find out whether Thorium reserves are available in any other part of the state, besides Bayyaram.

‘’Thorium is available in the sea coast area in AP from Srikakulam to Nellore district. It will be found in beach sand,” official sources told Express on Saturday. Meanwhile, the official sources said that the GSI survey on iron ore availability was continuing in Bayyaram area. The report of GSI on iron ore is likely to be available in the coming months. Setting up of steel plant by the Central government in Bayyaram will be decided only after the GSI report is out.