Monthly Archives: December 2017

Telugu poet-cartoonist gets Akademi honour

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Hyderabad :

Telugu poet cartoonist, writer and author Devipriya has received Sahitya Akademi award for his anthology of poems, Gali Rangu.

Sahitya Akademi on Thursday announced the awards for poets and writers in different languages.

Earlier, the executive board of Sahitya Akademi headed by its president Prof Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari approved the names recommended by a jury drawn from 24 Indian languages. Seven books of novel and five each of poetry, short stories and literary criticism and one of play and essays won the awards for 2017.

According to K Sreenivasa Rao, secretary of Sahitya Akademi, the award carries a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and a cheque of Rupees one lakh. It will be presented at a function to be held in New Delhi on February 12, 2018 coinciding with the Festival of Letters organised by the Akademi.

Devipriya’s ‘running commentary’, a daily cartoon in poetry, in Telugu dailies had won him a pride of place in journalism. He is also credited with introducing a new genre of writings in Telugu called Paigambara Kavulu in contrast to the Digambara movement of 1960s.

Devipriya was born in Guntur on August 15, 1949, and rose to fame with his verse, prose and cartoons. His real name is Khaja Hussain. Devipriya won laurels for his poetic book, Pitta Kooda Egiri Povalsinde, published in 2002. He introduced a new literary concept with his cartoons with the comment in verse. In fact, he is hailed as the father of poetic cartoon strips in Telugu. His first publication was Amma Chettu.

Some of his works are Gareebu Geetalu, Chepa Chiluka, Neeti Putta, Tuphanu Tummeda, Insha Allah, and Samajananda Svaami. Devipriya’s writings reflect the essence of life, particularly of the downtrodden and the deprived classes of society. He penned songs for a number of films. Several Telugu poets and writers including Telangana Sahitya Akademi chairman Nandini Siddha Reddy congratulated Devipriya on winning the award.

Noted Telugu poet and writer Khadar Mohiuddin said Devipriya is a multi-faceted personality with proficiency in Telugu and English. “He is a trendsetter in Telugu verse, prose as well as journalism,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Hyderabad News / by Syed Akbar / TNN / December 22nd, 2017

First Telugu Talli statue was a Tamilian’s initiative!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

TDP comes out with interesting facts

The Telugu Desam Party has come out with an interesting detail to substantiate its criticism of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for not including Telugu Talli statue as well as Maa Telugu Talliki song in the just-concluded World Telugu Conference.

TDP politburo member Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy said the design for Telugu Talli statue was an initiative of ex-IAS officer Kasipandyan, Collector of Mahbubnagar district, in 1975.

A Tamilian by origin, Kasipandyan was inspired by Telugu language which he perfected during his stint in the State and took the initiative of making a Telugu Talli statue.

Accordingly, a sculptor, Shankar, was entrusted with the task and the statue was installed in the collectorate in Mahbubnagar, the Telangana heartland.

Former Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, who was inspired by the statue, adopted the same model and it was then installed at Tank Bund a decade later.

“There were several media reports appreciating Kasipandyan’s initiative those days and the statue is still present in Mahbubnagar district collectorate,” he said.

Recalling the Chief Minister’s claims about being an avid reader, he wondered how he could not get information about such a major initiative.

Mr. Chandrasekhar Reddy said the just-concluded conference ended without major resolutions for promotion of Telugu and delegates were upset with the developments.

The government should now come up with specific action plan to promote use of Telugu in daily life like making it compulsory in primary school and ensuring the presence of teachers specialising in Telugu in all the educational institutions, he suggested.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – December 21st, 2017

First Mahatma Gandhi digital store opened

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, World Opinion
Ela Gandhi and Jayesh Ranjan inaugurating the store. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Information Technology secretary Jayesh Ranjan on Tuesday inaugurated the country’s first Mahatma Gandhi Mobile Digital Museum Store at Bapu Ghat in the city.

A joint venture of the Visual Quest India and Aditya Birla Group’s corporate social responsibility initiative Eternal Gandhi, the digital store is aimed at spreading Gandhi’s ideology and teachings. Souvenirs inspired by the ‘Father of the Nation’, crafted to reflect various facets of his life reflecting values of peace, truth and non-violence, would be put on sale. The income generated through the sale would be used for the mobile digital museum.

Gandhi’s granddaughter and former member of South African Parliament, Ela Gandhi, was present on the occasion. She recalled how Gandhi always believed that education was not all about learning, but a way of living. “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” she said, quoting her famous grandfather while addressing youths at the function.

Representatives of Aditya Birla Group and Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts were also present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – December 20th, 2017

‘Govt should institute award in name of woman poets’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao

Hyderabad :

Woman poets and litterateurs have urged chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to institute awards in the names of women who dedicated their lives for Telugu literature. Speaking at ‘Telangana Mahila Sahityam: Sadassu’ held on the occasion of ‘World Telugu Conference’ (WTC) at Ravindra Bharati (Yashoda Reddy Pranganam-Bandaru Achamb Vedika) on Monday, renowned poet Acharya Sarathjyosna Rani said many changes took place in women’s literature, especially poetry and song and other fields.

“Women need equal rights as Ivanka Trump highlighted in her speech at recent Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES)-2017. Though women are contributing their bit for Telugu literature in Telangana, they need good exposure in the literary field,” she said in her inaugural speech.

Another poet, Kondapally Niharini, has suggested to the government to protect Telugu language for posterity by publishing novels, poetry and other literaruy pieces of woman writers.

Telugu poet Jupaka Subhadra suggested to the government to bring out ‘Maukika Sahityam’ (oral tradition of literature) in the form of book for future generations. She also urged the government to institute awards in the name of woman poets and award them to women exhibiting outstanding performance in the field of literature.

Several literary personalities, including Acharya Surya Dhanunjay, Tula Uma, poet and also chairperson of Karimnagar Zilla Parishad, also advocated protection of Telugu language and remembered the women who rendered their yeomen services to Telugu literature.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City / by Sunil Mungara / TNN / December 19th, 2017

Tracing Hyderabad’s tryst with Telugu publications

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
A bird’s eye view of the LB Stadium, venue of the ongoing World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad, on Sunday | sathya Keerthi

Hyderabad :

Leave alone ordinary persons, even many of the Telugu litterateurs might not be knowing the fact that Sedya Chandrika, which was published from Hyderabad in 1886, was considered by many as the first journal published in the Telugu language in the then princely state of Hyderabad. The magazine was run by two Muslim men, Munshi Mohammed and Mustaq Ahmed Malik. Its primary motto was to create awareness among forming community about issues relating to agriculture.

Likewise, Hitabodhini was the first Telugu monthly published in the then Hyderabad state. The periodical was published from Mahbubnagar district by Srinivasa Sarma. It published articles on patriotism, health, social reforms and some other subjects. The journal used to have more than 500 subscribers in those days.

Poola Thota was another magazine published by Kambhampati Appanna Sastry between 1930 and 1935 from Hanamkonda. The periodical was considered to be the first children’s magazine in the then Hyderabad state.

Similarly, Matru Bharati was run by Hyderabad city’s first mayor Madapati Hanumantha Rao (1951-1954), a poet who was affectionately called Andhra Pitamaha for his contribution to the Andhra movement during the freedom struggle. The periodical was published from Hyderabad in the 1930s. The magazine produced articles on the importance of education, prohibition of liquor and other issues. The periodical was appropriately considered to be the first students’ magazine in Hyderabad state. Desa Vangmaya Patrika, dedicated to literary issues, came into publication by Telangana Literary Association in 1921.

Golconda Patrika, run by historian Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, was the first magazine to publish news on its own by establishing a ‘reporters network’. The periodical, whose name was changed from Andhra Patrika to Golconda Patrika following Nizam-ul-Mulk’s diktat, used to carry articles on political, social, cultural and literary issues.

In a book, Telangana Vaibhavam: Parichaya Deepika, released by Telangana government during the conference, a chapter was exclusively devoted to magazines and journals that flourished in Telangana region.

According to the book, prior to the formation of Andhra in 1956, as many as 171 dailies, magazines and other journals were in circulation. Of those, 115 were published in Telugu and the others in Urdu, Marathi and English languages.

KCR hosts dinner for non-resident Telugus

Hyderabad:

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has asked the non-resident Telugus to contribute to the promotion of the language even on virtual world. As a majority of them are software engineers, businessmen and litterateurs, Rao called upon them to take an initiative to promote the Telugu language in the cyberspace, too. The chief minister hosted a dinner at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday for Telangana people who came from 42 countries to attend the World Telugu Conference.

Telugu to be must on government portals

Hyderabad: On the occasion of Prapancha Telugu Mahasabhalu, the IT department on Sunday announced that it would take steps to promote Telugu on the websites of all government departments. The government is firm on promoting Telugu on all portals of various departments. Government will gradually make it mandatory for all departments to use Telugu online,” IT department principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan said, while taking part in a round-table conference. It was decided to take help of Google, Microsoft and Facebook to promote Telugu.

CM to announce step to protect the language

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has disclosed that he would soon announce a major step to promote Telugu in the State. “On the valedictory session of Telugu Mahasabhalu, I will announce a major step to protect the language in the State,” he said. KCR, himself a post graduate in Telugu literature, attended a Sathavadhanam, conducted by Telugu scholar GM Rama Sharma on Sunday.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by JR Prasad / Express News Service / December 18th, 2017

From Mumbai, with love for Telugu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Madireddy Konda Reddy and Sangaveni Ravinder, delegates from Mumbai, at L.B. Stadium to attend the World Telugu Conference.

Telugu language enthusiasts from Maharashtra attend WTC

Love for Telugu, the desire to keep themselves rooted to their mother tongue and pass its richness to the next generation born in a non-Telugu State brought them all the way from Maharashtra to the World Telugu Conference.

Language, in fact, has brought them together though they hail from two different regions of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

“We can never separate ourselves from our mother tongue even if we live far, and that has brought us to the conference,” said Madireddy Konda Reddy, a Mumbai-based businessmen, who also runs the Telugu Kala Samiti there. “We never get to see so many Telugu lovers at one place and these conferences give us the confidence that our language can be protected despite the onslaught of English,” said Madireddy, who hails from Kanigiri in Prakasham district.

Another lover of Telugu, Sangaveni Ravinder, who runs the Andhra Maha Sabha in Mumbai, was excited to be part of the event. Originally from Jagityal and presently working in Mumbai, Mr. Ravinder is a writer and a poet too. Despite his busy schedule, he has taken out time to attend the five-day conference to listen to the Telugu literary figures. “The conference has such a rich mixture of Telugu poets, writers, educators and more importantly language lovers from across the world and it’s a lifetime opportunity to meet them,” he said.

The Andhra Maha Sabha brings out a magazine encouraging poets and writers in Mumbai and Maharashtra to write in their mother tongue. “We organise social events and celebrate all the festivals apart from organising literary events bringing all the Telugus together,” said Madireddy. In all their events, the focus is on celebrating the richness of Telugu and preserving its culture.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – December 16th, 2017

Hyderabad student emerges victorious

Education, Records, All

(Second from left) K Vijaya Kaasyapa (class 4) of Takshasila Public School, posing with trophy at Sip All India Artithmetic Genius Inter School National Contest 2017 in Hyderabad on Sunday

Hyderabad:

City student, K Vijaya Kaasyapa (class 4) of Takshasila Public School, emerged first runner- up in SIP All India Arithmetic Genius Inter- School National contest finals held here on Sunday. He shared the prize along with three other contestants –Chinmay Jadhav from Pune and two other students Ajinkya Basaiye and Bhagyesh Jain from Aurangabad.

SIP (Sociable, Intellectual and Progressive).‘I am feeling elated’, said K Vijaya Kaasyapa. His parents, Radha Krishna and Lalitha were on cloud nine and were very happy that their kid proved his mettle in a national level competition. He reached to be one of the 150 finals competing with 2.2 lakh kids from 20 states, 476 schools in 270 towns across India.

The National Champions in Class 2 was Shiyam Sunthar A from Dr. GSK Memorial School, Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu; in class 3, Alisha Manjunatha from Karnataka and Aayush Vairagi from Pune shared the prize and in class 4 it was Ranchi student Rabiz Raza.
The first three National Level Winners each from classes 2, 3 and 4 in the contest were given Rs 25,000/-, 15000/- and 10,000/- cash prize respectively and handed over a trophy and certificate.

Arithmetical Skill is very crucial for the success of the kids future, said Dinesh Victor, who is running SIP Academy for the past 14 years and trained 4.76 kids from across India.

As many as 150 children of class 2, 3, 4 filtered from two lakh kids competed preliminary stages from across 20 States competed in the nationals where they solved 160 arithmetic sums in just ten minutes. They were faster than calculators said Uma Swaminathan, Regional Manager of SIP Academy Telangana, AP and Tamil Nadu.

The objective of the contest was to develop Arithmetic skill, one of those crucial for children’s future development. SIP Academy’s focuses is on improving the Arithmetic Skills in Children at a young age, said Dinesh Victor.

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> Young Hans / December 2017

A mission to read

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features
Manmohan Jain of India Literacy Project | Photo Credit: G_RAMAKRISHNA

With courage and conviction by your side, take a chance, exults Manmohan Jain of India Literacy Project (Hyderabad)

Three years ago when Manmohan Jain of India Literacy Project (Hyderabad) had to travel to Bengaluru for a meeting, he wondered how to book tickets! “I knew how to book tickets but till then my travel plans and hotel bookings were taken care by my secretary. Later, I figured it on my own,” he recalls with a smile.

In their office near Kothaguda post office, a small room houses the books and kits for school children. Manmohan looks cheerful as the office boy walks in with a tray and states, ‘Please have water and tea.’ A smile adorns Manmohan’s face; The office boy speaking English is a boost to his ‘literacy for all’ mission.

Software stint

A student of electrical engineering, Manmohan switched to software when he was introduced to programming language in his third year. After graduation, he went to the US to do his masters. “I found programming very interesting and challenging and changed my academic interests into software,” he shares. He spent 18 years in the software industry which included a 10-year and 8-year stint in the US and India.

He joined it as a software engineer/trainee and reached the level of vice president in CA Technologies. “I enjoyed my job. In fact I was in one company for 18 years which was unheard of in the software industry,” he states and defines growth, “I believed that growth is constant when one is learning. One need not look at growth as some promotion. For me, growth happened in two aspects — both vertical in terms of promotion or lateral in terms of handling a new team or domain.”

His comfy life and workplace perks was the dream job for many. “It was interesting and challenging and I kept myself motivated by being in domain or shifting to a new team or changing cities from California to New York to Chennai and then Hyderabad. I would joke that I was able to change jobs while being in the same company. I was able to do different things,”

While continuing his job, he started the Hyderabad chapter of India Literacy Project and was volunteering his time in it. “But software being hectic I could only give limited time and felt if I wanted to scale this and make a significant impact I had to give it dedicated time,” he states and affirms his decision to quit job was not based on a trigger moment. “For me, it was more of a process of things building up to when the inevitable had to happen. Stagnation on career front and the impact being so limited, is what finally made it happen.”

He plunged into it full time in 2014 and broaden the base of ILP. With 20 core volunteers and 40-50 floating volunteers, ILP works in 33 government schools with its focus to improve the quality of education in those schools. The volunteers could teach or read books to the children. “We have a flexible system where volunteers can offer their time; either it could be an hour a week or even two hours a month. All we ask is treat this also professionally and be committed to it.” Speaking about the rising number of volunteers, he shares, “It’s encouraging and heartening to see how the youth is also interested in giving back. Earlier, volunteering was something which was done after retirement. There were various factors to it but now they look at these stints as varied experiences.”

As a parting note, Manmohan affirms positive energy will help one deal with challenges. “If anyone has an inkling, take the plunge and do not be afraid. Even if you fail, re do it. If you are doing this for a good reason, my conviction is things will work out. When people see that you took a chance, they will appreciate it and value that you had the courage and conviction. For someone who is not afraid of trying, failing is a valuable asset.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style / by Neeraja Murthy / December 14th, 2017

Escapades Culinary Studio: For your baking escapades

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
Arundhati of Escapades Culinary Studio displaying one of the baked items which she prepared as part of the classes in home baking and cooking in Hyderabad. Photo: Nagara Gopal

A studio that believes in working the basics right

The fact that a search for Culinary studio in Hyderabad on the world’s most popular search engine leads to Escapades Culinary Studio is proof enough that it is a sought after culinary studio. After a left and a few rights comes flat no 402 at an apartment complex in Whitefields in Kondapur.

The studio is a two-bedroom apartment which was converted into a baking studio by Arundati, a baker who runs and manages the Escapades Culinary studio. The main door of the apartment opens to a long hall with two tables in the middle of the room. Right at the entrance is a little seating area with an antique revolving rack with books. Two unmatched sofa sets with silk cushions don’t look out of place. The Studio’s interiors appears to be designed with a concept of ‘less is more.’

Reality however is far more grounded. “Everything here is from the people who give me positive vibes. It is an assortment of thoughts and love. Nothing in this corner of the studio has been bought, I just asked my friends and family to give me something of theirs,” she explains as she dusts castor sugar on the a fresh batch of brownies.

The air in the apartment is filled with the mellow smell of butter and sugar. The tantalising aroma of confectioneries baking seems to linger on, days after a baking class.

Arundati Rao conducts baking classes in batches. She wants her students to learn everything from scratch, so the Studio is equipped with basic baking equipment. “The only complicated gadgets here are the ovens,” she smiles.

Every table is equipped with egg beaters, spatulas, forks and spoons. A tin of castor sugar, some bowls and sieves are on the shelves. She avoids all other gadgets. Baking is not about gadgets she opines, “I don’t want my students to think baking is possible only when they buy fancy equipment. The art of baking, like math, is about getting the basics right,” she says.

On one wall of the long hall is a round black board where the topics of the class is written about. The wall opposite to it has a framed piece of art comprising pencil sketches that describe the processes involved in baking. Two persons share a table but everybody works up the batter, everyone gets to do frosting. A small hand written board marks the baking area where the ovens are neatly placed.

Minimal use of colour make the studio feel contemporary and global. A few potted plants lend a welcome touch of green. A faux window makes for a selfie spot and also doubles up as a space to hold glass water bottles that students can help themselves to, when thirsty.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Prabalika M. Borah / December 13th, 2017

District Collector sets an example

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders

Gets hair cut done at a road-side kiosk in a village

He has done it again. For Jayashanker – Bhoopalpalli Collector A. Murali, ditching protocols and security is not new. He has freely travelled on his bike, wearing a helmet, in the middle of the night in remote tribal villages of the district. He stayed overnight in tiny hamlets where there were not even school buildings. All this for what? To gain first-hand information about problems of people. Last week, he did one more. He stayed overnight at a village in Mangapet mandal and went on a tour of the nearby villages the next day. Mr. Murali stopped at Chintakunta village on seeing a tribal youth donning the role of a barber and cutting the hair of his customers by the roadside. Mr. Murali lost no time and engaged the professional services of the youth himself. The latter promptly spread out the towel that he used for any other customer on the VIP’s person and got paid ₹100 for the job done. Months ago, the Collector admitted his daughter for delivery at the Government hospital at Mulug.

Deputy Chief Minister turns Santa

Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali was in a generous mood recently. On two separate, yet consecutive occasions, he announced benefits for the weaker sections. In the first instance, Mr. Ali told a huge gathering of physically challenged people that the State Government would consider increasing reservation percentage for people with disabilities from four to six. He followed the encouraging news with more such sops as he added, the State might extend free power and water to the disabled and also give them priority in allotment of double bedroom houses. The very next day, Mr. Ali was heard announcing a sub-plan for minorities like the ones for SCs and STs and 16 other new schemes for them. A good, hopeful year ender for the weaker sections?

Telugu thalli or Telangana thalli?

A section of Telugu language lovers have their fingers crossed over the inaugural event of the World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad from December 15. They are clueless whether it would be Telugu ‘thalli’ (Mother Telugu), portrayed as the symbol of Telugu people till the movement for statehood to Telangana gained momentum post-2009, or Telangana thalli that would be paid respects at the event. The reason for the anxiety stems from the remarks by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in his capacity as president of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) during the Telangana movement stating that Telugu thalli was a myth and that it was a demon for the people of Telangana. The issue has already gone viral on social media questioning the propriety of Telangana on Telugu after demeaning Telugu thalli, the representative idol of the language, during the Statehood movement. BJP leader N. Indrasena Reddy is in the bandwagon that has been demanding apology from KCR before the commencement of the event being organised to celebrate Telugu.

Where are the teachers?

While the Government has been stressing on the need for improving research and promote science in a big way, the recent decision of the Government to fill up vacancies in the universities have baffled academics and students. The reason being out of the 1,061 posts that the Government has given clearance in the universities, a lot of vacancies are in the departments that hardly find students. At the same time vacant posts in the sought-after subjects are comparatively less, senior academics argue. The need now is to create new science departments to promote research and recruit teachers there rather than offer courses considered non-serious by the students themselves and opted only for a stay in the hostel, academics feel. Of course, they are also clear that social sciences should not be neglected but sciences need more importance.

(N. Rahul, Nikhila Henry, B. Chandrashekhar, R. Ravikanth Reddy)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / December 11th, 2017