Monthly Archives: November 2018

A life in images

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Prabhakar Kusuma

Remembering Prabhakar Kusuma, the Hyderabad photographer who was among 2018’s Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society (FRPS), UK

On Thursday, the Hyderabad photography community lost one of its unsung heroes — Prabhakar Kusuma. The 66-year-old reportedly passed away following a cardiac arrest. The soft-spoken photographer was a mentor for several budding photographers and a trusted friend to members of Telangana Photographic Society.

Prabhakar was selected as Fellow of The Royal Photographic Society (FRPS), UK, and one among the four people worldwide to be chosen in 2018. He was the only recipient from India this year. And, the last time a photographer from the Telugu-speaking states was bestowed with this honour was 31 years ago.

When we interviewed Prabhakar at his residence in Begumpet (published in The Hindu MetroPlus dated June 18, 2018), he reminisced anecdotes from his four decade long career in photography.

A photograph from Prabhakar Kusuma’s series on a home for destitutes in Warangal

He recalled going through a rough phase and buying eight 35mm films that were three years beyond expiry date since he couldn’t afford new ones. While the new films were priced at ₹200 each, the old ones came at ₹5 each. This was in 1993 when he wanted to shoot the inmates of a destitute home in Warangal. Twenty images that he selected from this series shot over eight months, fetched him the FRPS recognition 25 years later. Each of these images had a story to narrate and Prabhakar recalled vividly how he gained the confidence of inmates to be able to shoot them in their personal space.

A lambada woman

Prabhakar moved to Hyderabad in 1995 and to tide over financial needs, worked in the advertising industry. He simultaneously took up other photography assignments. Advertising was his bread and butter but photographing people and lifestyles was what he loved the most.

His interest in photography began in the 1970s, when as a school student he was introduced to dark room techniques. “I saw how images came into view and I knew this is what I wanted to do for a lifetime,” he told us.

‘The Destitute’ series was also showcased as part of Indian Photography Festival 2018 held in Hyderabad. Prabhakar was also a contributor to The Hindu and Business Line in the 90s.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / November 24th, 2018

Black and Gold Rolls Royce, This Fashion event’s showstopper!

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

This is the first time the Rolls Royce team is personally coming down to hand over the keys at this intimate gathering.

Hyderabad :

Sudha Reddy wears many hats. The director of Megha Group of Industries and on the board as director of TruJet airlines, identified ‘Áction Against Hunger’ (a 38-year-old Paris-based organisation that leads the global fight against hunger) and ‘Breast Cancer Research Foundation as recipients, she is also known for her charity work.

Sudha is now all set to put together a unique fashion show in Hyderabad this Saturday, November 24 at Hitex which will feature international fashion designers from Los Angeles, Dubai and Europe to showcase their collections. She chats with us and gives us insight into her perspective of the fashion world that she is so acquainted with. Sudha is roping in three international designers including Italian designer Giambattista Valli for the event and host of top models to showcase it. The day also happens to be Sudha’s 40th birthday and she is hosting a sit-down formal dinner for 300 select guests. Indian celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia will oversee the dinner. Sudha is going to wear Harry Winston jewellery.

Juggling so many balls and excelling in all the fields you step in? It isn’t easy balancing so many roles of a businesswomen, a mother and a fashion icon. What is your secret?
Well, it’s not easy. For one thing, you do not possess a natural gift for a certain job, because specific natural gifts don’t exist in my opinion. You are not a born CEO or a chef or chess grandmaster. You cultivate your interests through an enormous amount of hard work over many years and that dedication and wholehearted passion is what keeps me going.

How has the response been for the fashion event so far?
Fashion is something which connects the entire world. The showcasing of different couture and culture makes every fashion show unique and interesting and the response is also so over whelming wherever these shows are held. I believe fashion has the ability to create change in the world through it’s strong appeal that crosses boundaries and brings people together.

Fashion with humanitarian work?
Yes, it’s my passion for both of them which makes it easy for me. My personality, keen attention to detail and dedication to my chosen causes, helps me connect with like-minded people who are willing to use their position, power and talent to make a difference. The biggest influence on me are women of high character, like, Princess Diana. With a generous and empathetic heart for philanthropy, I have been able to successfully carve a strong niche in being a voice for the underprivileged through my charitable contributions over the years, and I hope to continue doing the same.

A specially-commissioned Black and Gold Rolls Royce will appear in the show, how have you managed to bring in such a unique twist to a fashion event?
My loving and generous husband, Krishna Reddy, has gifted me one of the worlds most luxurious cars. The bespoke design team from Goodwood took our brief and has done a fabulous job translating it to reality. Couture and luxury automobiles are all under the large gamut of luxury and the art of appreciation. I think they blend very well together so it was honestly easy to get the Rolls Royce and fashion designers teams to share my vision for this event and come on board. This Rolls Royce Ghost is a limited edition- iconic, custom- crafted, masterpiece, by the Bespoke Team of Rolls – Royce Motor Cars.

This is the first time the Rolls Royce team is personally coming down to hand over the keys at this intimate gathering.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Srividya Palaparthy / Express News Service / November 19th, 2018

Gen X entrepreneurs set to showcase their ideas today

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Schoolpreneur Summit 2018 will take place today (Nov 17) at Oakridge International School, Newton Campus and promises to give young minds a vibrant platform to share their ideas.

Hyderabad :

Schoolpreneur Summit 2018 will take place today (Nov 17) at Oakridge International School, Newton Campus and promises to give young minds a vibrant platform to share their ideas. The objective is to motivate the young entrepreneurs / innovators to showcase their ideas to established entrepreneurs, industry experts, academicians and government officials. Apart from the Idea pitching sessions, there are panel discussions by experts to discuss on the current education system and future of work.

More than 120 business viable ideas will be presented today as part of the preliminary rounds (Roadshow to Schoolpreneur Summit) for Hyderabad. Over 40 schools from the twin cities are participating in this event. There will also be a panel discussion on “Role of Parent & School Management to nurture the child with skills required in 21st century”. The panel members include Renuka Bodla – Entrepreneur, Investor (Hyderabad Angels, IIIT Seed Fund), Anil Kolli (Director, Epistemo & Vikas Concept School), Sri Lakshmi Reddy (Director, Keystone School), Bhanu Prakash Reddy (Founder, Beenfield Consulting, Startup Mentor), Pavan Allena, Founder, Metamorphosis).

Pavan Allena adds, “A lot of innovations are happening across schools, but there’s no entrepreneurial element added to it. Students should go through entrepreneurial journey with their innovation and learn real-life / 21st century skills. Schoolpreneur Summit is such a platform to inspire the young students with their business-viable ideas. Come join us for the event.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / November 17th, 2018

Raghu Ram elected president of ASI

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology
P. Raghu Ram

P. Raghu Ram, director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases here, has been elected the president of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), considered the largest surgeons’ organisation in the Asia Pacific region that represents the fraternity across India.

According to a press release, the election saw highest ever polling in the history of ASI elections. Dr. Raghu Ram, a Padma Shri and B.C. Roy national awardee, has become one of the youngest surgeons in the country to be elected to the post of president of the association.

Arvind Kumar, who acted as the chief election officer, declared the results on Friday after the counting process was completed at ASI headquarters in Chennai. Dr. Raghu Ram has polled 4,450 votes compared to 2,621 votes polled by the other contestant, Tamonas Chaudhuri, from Kolkata.

Established in 1938, the ASI is widely considered to be the “voice for surgery” in India. Started with 112 members, the association has grown into the largest surgical association in the Asia Pacific region and the second largest in the world after the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Raghu Ram, the immediate past president of the Association of Breast Surgeons of India, has excelled all along in his surgical career spanning over 23 years. He is instrumental in implementing the South Asia’s largest population-based breast cancer screening programme in partnership with the governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh across 4,000 villages since 2012 and reaching out to over two lakh underprivileged women.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 16th, 2018

City carrom star pockets U.S. Open Grand Slam trophy

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
R.D. Dinesh Babu and his mother Bharani with the trophy at his residence in the city on Saturday.

Defeats 14-times U.S. champion R. Saravanan Babu in the final

Forty-three-year-old R.D. Dinesh Babu could not have presented a better gift to his ageing mother, Bharani, than the U.S. Open Grand Slam Carrom Championship trophy.

Dinesh, who won the 2016 edition held in the U.S., was not in the best frame of mind as his mother has been unwell.

But the Hyderabadi gave his best. He said his first phone call on winning the U.S. Open title to his mother was like an energy booster. And, understandably, her joy knew no bounds!

He defeated 14-times U.S. champion R. Saravanan Babu (25-10, 25-10) in the final.

“After the disappointment of losing in the semifinal from a winning position against Radhakrishnan in last year’s edition, I am glad I could pull it off this time around,” says Dinesh in a chat with The Hindu on his return.

“It was not easy to win the final as the opponent had the support of the local crowd and it was like India playing in Sharjah. I had to stay calm and focussed to get the better of him. He played much better than what the scoreline suggests,” says Dinesh.

“I never give up. Self-discipline and self-belief coupled with hard work are my strong points,” says the senior accountant in AG’s Office.

“And I owe a lot to my coach Madanraj sir and to all the fellow players and other officials,” he adds.

Dinesh, who lost to the then world champion Yogesh Pardesi in the 2008 Senior Nationals, is now offered to play in the North American Premier League that features six or eight teams with one foreign player permitted to play for them.

World championship
“My ultimate goal is to win the world championship next year. I know it will not be easy, but I will put in efforts needed to realise this goal,” signs off Dinesh, who dedicates this win to his family.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – November 10th, 2018

Solar panel maker to scale up operations in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Solar photovoltaic (PV) cell and module maker RenewSys India is planning to grow the capacity of its Hyderabad facility to 1 GW and establish a 500 MW plant near Mumbai, both by next year-end, with an investment of $25 million.

A part of $350 million Enpee Group, most of whose companies are based in Nigeria, the firm graduated from being a manufacturer of EVA backsheets used in solar panels to making solar cells and modules when it acquired the assets of Solar Semiconductor three years ago.

Briefing presspersons at the facility in Fab City on the outskirts of Hyderabad, RenewSys managing director Avinash Hiranandani said the company had acquired the assets, of the sick unit, in June 2015 for around ₹100 crore. With new machinery, the solar panel manufacturing capacity over time increased to the 400 MW. The facility also has 130 MW solar PV cell capacity.

Necessary equipment to add 300 MW of solar panels have arrived, he said, adding by next month the capacity would touch 700 MW. The company wanted to increase the capacity of the Hyderabad plant, located on 50 acres, to 1 GW by end of 2019.

On investments, he said $100 million has been made so far and the expansion proposed by next year would entail $5 million more. The investment on the plant proposed near Mumbai, on about 8 acres, is expected to $20 million. The capacity of the Bengaluru plant where encapsulants and backsheets are made is also to be increased, he added.

To queries, Mr. Hiranandani said profitability in solar panel business, in the face of intense competition from China, is possible only with scale of operations. In 2017-18, the RenewSys’ turnover was ₹256 crore, which the management is targeting to take to ₹600 crore this fiscal and over ₹1,500 crore in 2019-20.

The potential for growth was good, he said, pointing out that only 45% of India’s solar panel requirement is being met by domestic manufacturers.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities > Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 14th,2018