The 74th death anniversary of legendary Gond rebel Komaram Bheem was observed at Congress Bhavan at Hanamkonda on Wednesday.Speaking on the occasionm, Congress district president Naini Rajender Reddy recalled the greatness of tribal leader born in Jodeghat.
He fought against the Nizams for Jal-Jungle-Jameen (water-forest-land) and died on this day fighting for protection of tribal rights.” Ex-minister Basawaraj Saraiah recalled that the state government organised a programme in memory of Bheem last year too. He also said Bheem’s biography should be included in school curriculum.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / October 09th, 2014
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) director Dr ChMohanRao, has been selected for the award of VisishtaPuraskarm by Ramineni Foundation, USA on the occasion of its 15th Anniversary Puraskaarams-2014.
He was chosen for his outstanding contributions in science and technology, particularly in the areas of protein folding in health and disease and molecular basis for lens transparency and cataract.
He played a key role in developing a diagnostic tool to identify a number of eye infections under the CSIR’s programme on New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) and looking into a cost-effective treatment for cancer using photodynamic therapy.
He has combined biophysical, molecular biological and cell biological approaches to address problems of biomedical importance. He has published more than 100 research papers and several science articles in many national and international journals and is a Fellow of several national and international academies.
Dr Mohan Rao’s multidisciplinary expertise including electronics, fabrication and digital interfacing along with cellular, molecular and biophysical approaches enabled him to provide vision and leadership in several contexts. In addition to his outstanding research activity, he has been playing a significant role in popularizing science among the school children, science teachers and uninitiated public in general.
Ramineni Foundation was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA with a noble mission of recognising and felicitating the spirited, relentless efforts and immeasurable services of all those veterans drawn from a broad spectrum of fields in Arts, Science and Humanities. The award of Vishishta Puraskaaram carries rs one lakh cash, a plaque and a memento by Ramineni Foundation. He will receive the award on October 12 at a function to be organised by the Foundation in Vijayawada.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Ch. Sushil Rao, TNN / October 10th, 2014
Around 2,000 police personnel will be stationed at Jodeghat village in Kerameri mandal for chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s visit.
The CM will be participating in the 74th anniversary celebrations of tribal leader Komaram Bheem’s martyrdom, on October 8.
This is the first time the chief minister is visiting Jodeghat, the birth place of Bheem, after the formation of Telangana state. ‘‘We have initiated intensive combing operations by Grey Hounds teams and reserve police battalions to discourage any Maoist activity during the programme,’’ SP Gajarao Bhupal has said.
The 2,000-strong police force includes five additional SPs, 15 DSPs, 80 sub-inspectors, 30 circle inspectors, 110 asst SI, Grey Hounds teams, 15 bomb squads, eight dog squads, 500 constables, 230 head constables , one woman inspector, 3 women SIs and 35 women constables.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / Express News Service / October 08th, 2014
The great patriot, however, remained unsung on January 24, which marks his 153rd death anniversary
The name of Turehbaz Khan conjures up images of valour and sacrifice. The name also puts Hyderabad on the map of the country’s First War of Independence or the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. But how many of us know that January 24 marked the 153{+r}{+d}death anniversary of Turehbaz Khan, who, along with several others, rebelled against the English Resident, Major Cuthbert Davidson. The day simply passed off without a whimper.
It was in January 24, 1859, that many believe that Turehbaz Khan was killed in the forests of Toopran by the Talukdar, Mirza Qurban Ali Baig.
His body was brought to Hyderabad and according to several historical accounts was hung near the Residency, what is now Koti Women’s College, for public display and to act as a deterrent against any future rebellion.
Many in Hyderabad also do not know that the road in front of Osmania Medical College is named after Turehbaz Khan.
To mark the revolt of 1857, a memorial with the words ‘Memorial to the martyrs of July 17, 1857′ was constructed near Koti bus stand.
Even today, the name Turehbaz Khan is etched on the plaque.
Stark reminder:The memorial for Turehbaz Khan and others at Koti.– Photos: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu
The uprising was led by Turehbaz Khan and a fiery preacher, Maulvi Allauddin, along with 500 Rohillas, who were of Pashtun (Pathan) stock.
Unequal fight
Essentially, the revolt was to free Jamedar Cheeda Khan, who was held in the prison inside the Residency. The 500 Rohillas tried to storm the Residency under the direction of Turehbaz Khan and Maulvi Allauddin, who controlled the revolt by occupying the houses of two local moneylenders, Abban Saheb and Jaigopal Das.
Historians point out that the fight between the Rohillas and British troops, who were led by Major S. C. Briggs, continued throughout the night. Apparently, Salar Jung alerted the British about the impending revolt. The British troops were prepared and waiting for Khan to attack.
Needless to say, the Rohillas, who wielded swords, were outclassed by trained British soldiers who opened fire on them. By morning the rebellion was crushed.
Shot dead
Many armed men who took part in the revolt were caught and sent to prison. Among them was Turehbaz Khan, who received a life sentence. However, the canny Turehbaz Khan managed to escape from prison on January 8, 1859.
Sentinel of history:The prison inside the Residency building, which is now the Koti Women’s College, where it is believed that Jamedar Cheeda Khan was kept.
Immediately after the escape, the British authorities offered a reward of Rs. 5,000 to anyone who could apprehend Turehbaz Khan.
Within a few days, many believe that it was on January 24, 1859, when Turehbaz Khan was shot in the forest of Toopran by Talukdar Mirza Qurban Ali Baig. As a reward, the Talukdar received Rs. 5,000 and his salary was also raised by Rs. 200.
He was also promoted as Sadar Talukdar, say historical accounts.
Many believe it was on Jan. 24, 1859, that Khan was killed in Toopran forest by Qurban Ali Baig
Khan’s body was hung near the Residency to act as a deterrent against any future rebellion
_______________________________________________________________
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – January 27th, 2012
A tough politician, a proud Telangana bidda, a caring daughter and a loving mother, TRS MP Ms Kalvakuntla Kavita has more to her than meets the eye. Calling herself a pampered “Papa ki Beti”, during a chat with the Deccan Chronicle, she reinstated that politics is not a part-time profession.
KCR the CM and KCR the dad
He is the most wonderful person on the face of the Earth. He is amazing and jovial unlike what is portrayed, and he is very easy going, calm and cool. He doesn’t directly praise like typical, orthodox fathers, but puts it in such a weird way that I don’t know if he is praising me or not. I get away with a lot of things and sometimes as a kid, I used to even cover up for my brother’s mischief. My dad is a very adamant person and he will do what he thinks is right. He has proved himself beyond a point and I am an ardent papa ki beti and will always argue with people on how he is right. I believe him and will stand by him. One should be a Hitler sometimes to get things done. I think the strict approach is required as the system is messed up.
Being a CM’s daughter
Being a chief minister’s daughter has more disadvantages than advantages. All this while, not many people knew me. And now suddenly, so many approach you and talk to you and I wonder where all these people were. The scariest part is that you don’t know if the person talking to you is serious. But I am strict and serious and will stick with people who were with me in my bad times. There are no advantages at all.
Juggling between politics and family
It’s my conscious decision today for being a part of such a busy life and I need to get things right instead of stressing out. Being a modern woman, I compartmentalise my life very well and I manage my time also very well. I discussed this with my husband and in-laws that they wouldn’t get any time. I prepared them and made them understand how life would be. They understand me, except for my sons as they are too young. I miss them and they miss me too. I try to make up as much as possible and sometimes I spoil them. I feel guilty when I am away, but I sit with them and make them understand about my work. When they understand and respect your work, life becomes easier. I am already dealing with three boys, including my husband. It is amazing as I go home and my younger son addresses me in the Telangana slang, and I forget all my tensions. It feels like heaven.
Politics, the family business
All of us breathe, eat and drink politics. We always disagree each other’s views. I am the one who is very vocal and we have arguments like every parent and kid. Sometimes, my dad tells me I don’t know stuff and I go like, “yeah, right.”
One day as the CM
If I was the chief minister for one day, I would appoint a woman inspector in every center and also appoint more women police overall. It is very sad that no matter what happens, nothing is done for women. Women politicians, after coming to power, don’t do anything for women and I have consciously refrained from making a few comments as well as I am seen as an overall leader and not just a woman leader.”
Advice to young girls in politics
Do your homework as whenever you get into a party, people will take you for a ride. When you know you have your stuff right and when you make sense when you speak, people will shut up. Many don’t do their homework and don’t speak sense and go back. They blame this on the politicians and say that we don’t give them a chance. We run a party and it is difficult to find hardworking people. Many are part time politicians with one leg in business and one leg in politics. I have seen my father who has been through good, bad and rough patches in life. But he never did any business except politics and only drew salary as an MLA. I quit business and came into politics. My dad’s experience definitely helps me, but if you don’t perform, people will vote you out.
Choosing Centre over the state
Centre is better in a way as you can give your inputs for policy making, whereas state is more of implementation. Parliament offers greater, wider spectrum of issues to work on and I don’t want to restrict myself only to Telangana. Though development of Telangana is my ultimate view, I want to work on other issues as well.
There are a lot of friends. Supriya Sule, Anupriya Patil and many senior BJP MPs come up to me and tell me that I am active and I speak up. My oratory skills are my hard work. After becoming an MP, I consciously rehearse and tweak my speech a lot. I am on record and I must be careful. I have always wanted
to be a Parliamentarian.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / September 24th, 2014
IN HONOUR Shobha Gosa receives the Sadguru Gnananda Fellowship.
Honour for social entrepreneurs for their contribution to society
Why would Management professionals abandon promising careers or a wheel chair-bound individual serve the disabled through setting up their own NGOs? If heart did not rule head, social entrepreneurs would seldom be born. Fortunately, three such champions of change were identified by the Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani (MSDS) and awarded the Sadguru Gnanananda Fellowship Program in the city last week.
Having met with a road accident Dilip Patro a software professional suddenly found himself wheel chair bound. This could hardly curtail his passion for reaching out to help others and in 2007 he set up The Ability People (TAP) an NGO that educates and supports rehabilitation of spinal cord injured persons (SCIP) at Vizag.
IN HONOUR Dilip Patro receives the Sadguru Gnananda Fellowship
Appointed as a representative under the National Trust, TAP provides mobility aids and appliances for various disabilities besides working with the police for road safety and promoting Right to Emergency Care in the critical ‘golden hour’ (the first one hour of an accident). The TAP website provides an All India Helpline and a toll free number within the state for easy access to citizens.
With a similar motive to serve the masses, Shobha Gosa, Founder, Young People for Life India based at Hyderabad was chosen for empowering youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with communication skills and behavioural management.
Her years as a Business Coach inspired her to focus on education and training of teenage girls gifting them leadership skills, cross cultural engagement, human rights etc.
The third awardee, Akshai Abraham an MBA from Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal founded Project KHEL in 2012 at Lucknow merging his interest in social work and sports in order to positively impact the lives of underprivileged children. KHEL being the acronym for Kids Holistic Education & Life skills his NGO playfully develops confidence, leadership, team work, trust and addresses important issues of health and sanitation through games. “Across the world sport is being applied to address development issues such as creating health awareness, promoting peace and gender equity,” said Abraham.
MSDS, is a registered Public Charitable Trust that initiates social consciousness amongst people.
The Fellowship constitutes monthly monetary support for a period of one year, extendable on impact.
Their learning Centres for Social Initiative & Management are located at Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Coimbatore.
It’s the helping hand that truly serves the world and the world comes to those that serve selflessly!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Padmini B. Patell / Hyderabad – September 15th, 2014
After emerging victorious in the war against Pakistan in 1965, India faced threat from its other neighbour China. In that situation the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri started collecting funds to combat any potential threat. He set up National Defence Fund for the purpose. The government of India appealed to Rajas to help in the difficult situation but they didn’t come up to the expectations.
Then Lal Bahadur Shastri headed for Hyderabad; he knew that Huzoor Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan would not disappoint Indian government. The PM visited Hyderabad and requested the Nizam to contribute generously to the National Defence Fund. Without a second thought, Mir Osman Ali announced that he would contribute five tonnes of gold for National Defence Fund. The announcement left the people present their flabbergasted. But Asif Jah VII created a record by making biggest ever contribution by any individual or organisation in India that remains unsurpassed till today. In terms of today’s gold price this donation translates to a whopping Rs 1,500 to 1600 crore.
Do the prejudiced and communal leaders who demand to celebrate liberation day on September 17 dare to break this record of generous donation for the country?
Muhammad Riyaz Ahmed
source: http://www.siasat.com / The Siasat Daily / Home> Hyderabad / by Muhammad Riyaz Ahmed / Thursday – September 11th, 2014
At 54, Nina Reddy is busier than ever. Photo: R. Ravindran / The Hindu
Savera Hotels managing director Nina Reddy, who is planning the 13th anniversary celebrations of her fitness studio O2, says there is never a dull moment in her day.
It’s a Saturday afternoon in Hyderabad and the sun isn’t being particularly kind. There are lessons to do and chores to finish, but for the 25 children who live in the majestic white house in Barkatpura, this is hardly of any concern.
Even as their parents and staff at the house, tell them to get back to work, they look towards the gate expectantly. When they hear the sound of an approaching car, they spring up, shrieking with excitement.
“Ninamma ochundhi!” exclaims the driver’s daughter even as the children race through the cherry and guava trees. They startle some cows as they dash past the servant quarters. They jump over the pond, run past gargoyles spouting water and stop just short of the entrance, panting.
The guard manning the gates is on his feet, to welcome six-year-old Nina Reddy with a salute, as she drives through the gates of her grandparents’ house. “From Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, till I’d go back to my parents’ house, it used to be a riot,” recalls Nina Reddy.
The weekends spent playing hopscotch and making music with the staff’s children is not something Nina often thinks about 48 years later. Yet, she somehow seems to know that the maid’s visually-challenged son, Venkatram, is now a professor in Hyderabad.
Even today, as she bustles about managing the affairs of Savera Hotel, Nina stops to enquire after her employees — she asks her public relations manager if her son’s cold is any better and listens, nodding sympathetically, when she says that it’s only become worse. “I’m a people’s person,” Nina needlessly explains. Nina often sends young female employees scurrying into the powder room, insisting they put on some lipstick or touch up their make-up. Grooming is important, she says.
Known for her impeccable sense of style, Nina has always been chic. Even in college, when the nuns who ran St. Francis College for Women gave her disapproving looks, she wore the jeans, shorts and shirts that pleased her. “When you say Reddy, you typically expect conservativeness. Mum was not like that, she brought us up differently,” Nina explains. None of that, however, took her away from her traditional roots.
When Nina was still in college, her parents announced that a young man from Madras was coming to see her. Her first reaction, understandably, was to burst into tears — she was still in her teens and hadn’t even completed her college education.
When she met young Vijay Kumar Reddy, however, everything changed. “He was extremely shy, he still is,” she smiles. Soon, he was calling her every night post-10 p.m., because that’s when the STD call rates were cheaper. Yet, staying on the call till the wee hours of the morning ensured that he drew up a huge bill. They wrote each other love letters, long ones, which filled up every inch of the inland letter. For her wedding shopping, when Nina came down to Madras on her way to Kancheepuram, he took her to Marina beach, after a quick stopover at Savera Hotel to pick up a packed picnic lunch.
When 19-year-old Nina married into the Savera family and moved to Madras in 1979, she found the city welcoming. Still, she was a stranger here and the language posed a major challenge. For a while, she walked around referring to Vijay Kumar as ‘Namma husband’, till she watched enough Tamil movies and picked up enough of the language to stop doing it.
She dabbled in every course available in the city, making many friends along the way. She organised exhibitions and car rallies, took part in kitty parties and Round Table meetings, started The Duchess Club and fitness studio O2, took over operations at Savera and started revamping the look of the hotel. When her two daughters came into her busy life, she’d plop them on her hips, with a baby bag swinging from her shoulders and take them along wherever she went.
There was never a dull moment, nothing slowed her down and that’s just the way Nina liked it. Because, “Life is not stagnant, it’s dynamic.” And Nina’s dynamism is what makes her who she is.
Today, at 54, Nina feels that age has slowed her down physically. But, that’s hard to believe. As the clock strikes 4 p.m., most people would be itching to head home. Nina, however, fulfilling her role as the president of the National Association of the Blind, has to be present at a function. After a few hours there, she has a dance practice scheduled — she’s dancing to ‘Dhol Baje’ as part of O2’s 13th anniversary celebrations. Post that, she needs to come back to Savera, wrap up work for the day and squeeze in an hour of exercise. Once all that is done, she gets to go home, have dinner with her husband and play with her dogs.
Even with a schedule that hardly gives her time to breathe, she says she doesn’t need a vacation. “There’s no deprivation at any level, even in terms of time,” says Nina, who enjoys every activity she does. Her philosophy in life is not just to exist, but to live. And Nina lives her life quite large.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fitness / September 02nd, 2014
Elections to the top post being held after a gap of 50 years, following an amendment to the association constitution
Arshad Ayub / V_V_SUBRAHMANYAM
It will be a straight contest for the post of presidentship between former India off-spinner Arshad Ayub and incumbent chief G. Vinod when the Annual General Meeting and the elections will be held to various posts in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) on September 7.
G. Vinod / The Hindu
With the withdrawals coming to an end on Saturday, the presidential battle has a tinge of history. Former HCA secretary P. R. Man Singh reminds this will be the first time there will be an election for the president’s post after 1964. “Then, the battle was between Maj. N. K. Guruswamy and J. Ramakrishna Rao, the latter being one of the youngest (in late 20s) to contest the post which the former won,” recalls Man Singh in a chat.
Interestingly, after that 1964 elections, the HCA constitution was amended stating the senior most vice-president will automatically be the next president and it continued till 2012 when another amendment made a contest mandatory for presidentship. By coincidence it was Mr. Vinod who was declared elected president after Mr. Ayub withdrew from the race just before the election day.
“I am fortunate, I can say, that I was there in 1964 elections and now will be a witness to the September 7 polls. Incidentally, I along with Mr. Ramakrishna Rao and Mr. K. S. Iyengar, are the only survivors of that AGM,” recalls Mr. Singh.
For the secretaryship, it will be another straight fight between incumbent joint secretary Seshadri Venkateshwaran and John Manoj. Others in the fray for posts include ex-MP G. Vivekanand, M.V. Sridhar for the post of vice-presidentship from the ruling panel.
Following is the final list of contestants left in the fray for some key posts: Arshad Ayub group: president – Arshad Ayub, secretary – John Manoj, treasurer – Devaraj, joint-secretaries – Purushotham Agarwal and Vijayanand, vice-presidents – Narender Goud, P. Yadgiri, Prakash Chand Jain, Surender Agarwal, Moizuddin.
Ruling group: president – G. Vinod, secretary – S. Venkateshwaran, treasurer – Naresh Sharma, joint secretaries – Basavaraju (commercial taxes) and Gerard Carr, vice-presidents – G. Vivekanand, M.V. Sridhar, E. Venkatram Reddy, T. Seshnarayan, Kishen Rao.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / V. V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – August 31st, 2014
The recent decision of the Telangana government to rename the Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University after Telangana ideologue Prof. Jayashankar, led to a great hue and cry from the Andhra coterie. Surprisingly, the most vociferous protests came from TDP leaders as the party was responsible for putting an end to the great leader’s record run of six terms in parliament. The party had hailed its candidate Lal Jan Basha as a ‘giant killer’ in the 1991 elections when the late Guntur MP had trounced Ranga, inflicting on him the worst ever defeat. Public memory is short and even the party’s own leaders seem to have forgotten the tirade unleashed by their brethren against the feeble senior parliamentarian, then in his nineties.
Egyptian Pharaohs, it is said, made a habit of striking off references from stelae (commemorative markers) in order to establish their legitimacy and superiority over their predecessors. Despite such measures, neither the identity nor the legacy of those targeted could be erased absolutely. The legacy of N G Ranga too, cannot be obliterated by a mere change in the appellation of an institution commemorating the great man, especially when the divided assets of the university which remain with the Andhra state will continue to bear his name. Telangana needs to recognize and perpetrate the memory of its own icons and hence the tendency to claim a right to naming institutions based in the region. Those still upset about the change need to reconsider their stand in view of recent developments on the national front. It is reported that the Centre is seriously mulling over the proposal of renaming over 650 public schemes which bear the names of Nehru-Gandhi family members. Given its agenda of making the nation ‘Congress mukt’, the BJP government in all likelihood will go far beyond rechristening welfare schemes and target public institutions and infrastructure projects too. Already questions have been raised regarding the naming of the Shamshabad airport after Rajiv Gandhi and hundreds of other similar objections are bound to be raked up in the future. While one cannot deny the sycophancy of succeeding generations of Congress workers, who have honed the art of groveling at the feet of the Gandhi clan to perfection, a total whitewash of the family legacy would be a great injustice as both Nehru and Indira have indisputably contributed immensely to the nation.
Changing names of streets, institutions and buildings is nothing new either for Hyderabad or the country. The process began immediately after independence when replacing British era names with Indian ones was considered essential in asserting the hard earned freedom from the colonial rule. But even then, there was generally a distinction based on individual contributions which ensured that dedications to benefactors of India were left unchanged. That should have been the defining criteria for determining change, but unfortunately bigotry very often tainted decisions and resulted in unjustified sidelining of some very eminent personalities whose contributions to society are indisputable. As a result, while the Nizam was acceptable as the titular head after merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, the only street in the city named after him was not. The Shahrah-e Osmani thus became Jawaharlal Nehru Road, leaving one wondering as to why it could not renamed Raj Parmukh Marg if assertion of swaraj was the sole reason prompting change.
The Kutub Khana-e Asafia, which was designated the State Central Library, had evolved out of the personal collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by renowned litterateur Syed Hussain Bilgirami – Imadul Mulk. Years later, the manuscript collection was separated to form the Oriental Manuscripts Library which should have rightfully been named after the late Nawab. The Telangana government can as yet set right the lapse if it is serious about honouring icons from the city’s past.
With the legacy of N G Ranga having been handed over to rightful heirs, it is hoped that a similar action follows with regards to Potti Sriramulu. The move will be perfectly justified as the exemplary services of renowned Telugu poet and scholar Devulapalli Raemanuja Rao, the moving force behind the Sahitya Akademi and the Saraswat Parishad of erstwhile AP, remain unacknowledged. Among just a few others who need to be honored without further delay are world renowned archaeologist Ghulam Yazdani (by renaming the Archaeology Museum after him instead of YSR who made no contributions to the field whatsoever), Mahabalwant Raja Umapati Rao of Domakonda for contributions to Persian language, Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad for promotion of syncretic culture, Ravi Narain Reddy and Raj Bahadur Goud for spearheading the Telangana Armed Struggle, P M Reddy and Babar Mirza for pioneering aviation (strong contenders if the airport is to be renamed), and Abdur Razzak Lari for his resolute defense of Golconda against the Mughals.
(The writer is a well-known conservation activist)
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / Sajjad Shahid / August 24th, 2014
