Against odds: Jamuna (seated) with the winners and runners-up in the AITA Talent Series tournament at ASCI in the city on Sunday. | Photo Credit: VVS
A sporting gesture to the needy! Well, this has been the motto of Sun-Jay Tennis Academy on the ASCI premises, almost every week when Sanjay Kumar organises tournaments at different levels and in different age groups.
And, so when he conducted the AITA Talent Series tournament for under-14 years at Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Sanjay Kumar made it a point to present a purse of about ₹40,000 to a physically challenged woman, Jamuna, whose nervous system crippled a few years ago — rendering her jobless and left to herself.
The money was pooled by the tennis coach, players’ parents and well-wishers and it was a touching gesture which may inspire some of the corporate groups to take up the much-publicised social responsibility in a big way.
“Jamuna, who came to know about our charity work, approached us through another person and when we heard about her plight, we decided to help her. I am really grateful to all those who responded so well to help her,” says Sanjay, one of the most dedicated tennis coaches in the city.
Ms. Jamuna is expected to undergo a major operation for which about ₹ 1 lakh is needed.
“In fact, my Academy players and parents have also been to Mantralayam when it was flood-affected and donated about ₹ 1.5 lakh worth material to the needy people. We always believe charity begins at home and we try our best to contribute in our own way back to the society,” says Sanjay.
ASCI Administrative Officer Mary Elliott, who gave away the prizes, lauded the efforts of Sanjay as a tennis coach but also providing the human touch to his efforts. “We are glad that such noble gestures are taking place on our premises,” she said amid applause from the small but caring gathering.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – February 19th, 2017
She looks closely into the mirror and applies her favourite kajal and tells us how she adores defining her eyes. She glides into the kitchen effortlessly to prepare masala puffed rice and asks us if we like it spicy or bland. All of these activities with a contagious smile on her face. What’s so different about her, you ask? Well, her personality can effortlessly make us realise, how disability is just in our head. Surbhi Mudgal, the free-spirited, independent girl, who lost her vision to brain fever in her middle school, is now a pioneering software developer and a blazing beauty pageant participant. Above all this vivacious girl who lives in Ameerpet is one who despises taking anyone’s help in her activities.
“I know there is someone sitting there, but I can’t figure out if it is guy or girl,” she says in the most unapologetic and unsympathetic tone, leaving us inspired within seconds of the meet.
Now, she is all set to inspire others too as she has been chosen to part of Mumbai photographer Somsubhro Sarkaar’s photo exhibition titled ‘My Identity My Pride where he is featuring 51 inspiring women achievers across the country. She shows off her one-minute video where she says how people with vision often fail to see the real world.
Surbhi was in eighth grade when the ruthless brain fever affected her optical nerves. She gradually lost her sight. “I am an independent girl now. My journey included depression, societal struggle and a lot more but I have battled them enough that they don’t bother me any more. Despite being challenged, I do everything and I am proud of it,” she smiles.
Her fashion quotient is impeccable. Ask her if she enjoys shopping, she jumps from the couch and says, “I love shopping at the malls. It is comfortable and I get assistance as well from the people there. I pick on their brain until they give what I want. I even write appreciation letters to them so that they will help me when I visit again. Sometimes I don’t get good assistance. They will just tell me it’s blue or pink, they don’t tell me it is indigo, turquoise or navy blue. I question them incessantly. If I like something and don’t buy, it haunts me badly. I immediately take an auto or cab and rush to buy it. There were some embarrassing situations when I picked up wrong ones, but after I got back home, my mother was proud of my choice. I prefer going alone for shopping,” she shares.
How does she commute? “I trust the cab or auto drivers. I have a good orientation about the places I frequent, since I didn’t have this challenge from the beginning. ,” she informs in a determined tone.
Doesn’t she have trust issues? Surabhi quips, “If I don’t trust, I should lock up myself within these four walls. I have no other option, but to trust them. In any case, who is safe? Are you safe? No one is. Even you are vulnerable,”Elaborating about her her job, “I am an app tester with a software company in Hyderabad. I test MS products using screen readers where the system reads out about the image. We work to make the apps friendly for people who have challenges. For example, it the screen reader says image, what will the challenged understand? So we navigate in a way that it is comprehensible. Instead of image, it will read out girl in the garden,” she explains.
“I have taken basic training on how to screen read from LV Prasad after being rejected 10 times. It was tough for me to prove my strength as people would ask me “You are blind, what will you work.” But I managed to get a placement from LV Prasad. The nature of job is on par with other jobs, it cannot be written off,” she narrates.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Purnima Sriram Iyer / Express News Service / February 17th, 2017
Dr. P Raghu Ram, Padma Shri awardee and Director of the KIMS – Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, has pledged Rs. 50 lakh to Ibrahimpur in Siddpet mandal. The village was adopted by him and he participated in several programmes in the village.
Acting on an article in the media, which mentioned that although the Telangana government had launched the Grama Jyoti Project in 2015, only 30 per cent of villagers had been adopted so far, he decided to adopt the village. His parents — Dr Chalapathi Rao and Ushalakshmi — and wife, Dr. Vyjayanthi, were also involved in the initiative. The village has a population of around 1,000 people with 265 homes.
On Sunday, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao inaugurated the school dining room and digital study room built at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh. Also, foundation stone was laid for the modern crematorium being built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.
“I have also agreed to build and stock a modern library at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh in addition to fully funding solar power for 25 houses in the village at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. I have pledged Rs. 10 lakh towards building shelter over an acre of land for sheep and cattle on the outskirts of the village,” said Dr Raghu Ram.
A health centre manned by an ANM that would provide basic healthcare in the village and conduct health camps to detect cancer were being planned simultaneously. In addition, efforts would be made to find employment for skilled jobless youth of the village.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Staff Reporter / Siddipet – February 12th, 2017
A lathi and a crowd is something that goes hand in hand in a police officer’s life. However, for S Manohar Rao, who goes by the name ‘Stick Manohar’, a crowd of 1,500 schoolchildren and a magic wand in hand was the last step before making it into the Guinness Book of World Records.
The 55-year-old is an Assistant Commisioner of Police (ACP) attached to the Central Crime Station, Detective Department, of Hyderabad Police. Friday was a day where he successfully attempted a “Largest Magic Lesson” when he taught four different magic lessons to a crowd of 1500 schoolchildren in 85 minutes at Majestic Garden Function Hall here to create Guinness world record.
During his performance, Rao efficiently communicated his skills to the children whose eyes were glued to his hand movements. He showed them, first, how to flip a band on their fingers on one hand to make it automatically fall on exactly the same fingers on the other hand. The second trick taught them how to fold a paper with a tricoloured paper hidden inside it quickly and turn it into Indian flag of the exact size of the paper.
Next in the row, was a common trick performed with four ropes of equal size in which, with the skill of the hand, you can make trick the audience into believing that you have been changing the size of the ropes constantly.
The last one was a magic performed balancing playing cards. He performed the feat in front of Squadron leader Jayasimha, BNS Kumar, V Janardhanam, counselling psychologist and others.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / December 17th, 2016
Can a farmer’s daughter unable to spend huge sums on schools and private coaching get into the coveted Indian Police Service?
Yes, one can. If anyone has doubts, meet Gowthami Sali. Daughter of a ryot from a remote village of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, she got into the prestigious IPS. “Being member of a farmer’s family and inability to spend thousands on education cannot stop one from achieving one’s goals,” the IPS probationer of 68th batch Regular Recruits says exuding confidence
Gearing up for the passing out parade to be held at the Academy on Thursday, the young IPS probationer recalled how her teachers inspired her. “They told me that not only students from elite schools and having capacity to afford better coaching but also those from humble background can also be successful,” Ms. Gowthami said.
Hers was a joint family with father’s siblings and their children living together in one house. After completing her engineering course, Ms. Gowthami took up job with a private company. Instead of relaxing after office hours, she used the time to prepare for Civil Services and realised her dream of becoming a police officer.
For software engineer K. Arif Hafeez, his father, a retired police officer, was the inspiration to get into IPS. Though career in software has some promising prospects, his father was always a driving force for him to get into the prestigious IPS focussing all his energies.
Patil Sangramsingh Ganpat Rao, a doctor, chose IPS which gives varied experiences about society. Some of his family members were doctors and he wanted a different path to serve people.
It was passion for policing that attracted Rakshitha K. Murthy, also an engineer and hailing from Karnataka, to IPS. For her, joining the police force was one of the best options to serve the needy and poor. “My friends used to joke that my name (Rakshitha meaning protection) has an element of policing and I achieved that goal,” she says with a smile.
A Hyderabadi and doctor, Chetana Mylabattula decided to prepare for Civil Services after learning about dowry harassment cases. Daughter of a journalist, she first got into the Indian Revenue Services. Determined to be a police officer, Ms. Chetana intensified her preparation and reached her goal.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 27th, 2016
Her dance background gave her the strength to scale the 20850 ft high Stok-Kangri, says Vaishnavie Sainath
When the 12-hour climb to the peak took 20 hours, Vyshnavie Sainath’s mind and heart had begun to remember the disapproving comments from friends and acquaintances when she had announced her decision to trek to the Himalayas. But she quickly arrested those thoughts and focussed on what she had set out to achieve — reach the peak. When she succeeded, her heart was filled with inexplicable joy at reaching the peak and getting a first hand experience of the sight from the peak. Vyshnavie Sainath, the city-based dancer of Bharathanatyam, Odissi, Simhanandini, Kalari and contemporary forms summited the 20850 ft high Stok-Kangri and she is more than pleased with herself, minus the sunburned nose and cheeks.
“During the day it was quite hot but at night the temperature fell down to minus. The sun and the clear atmosphere left me with a sunburn. This sunburn is special, I have earned it,” she laughs.
The five-day trek began with this dancer and yoga practitioner. along with the team she was climbing with, making two stops at a base camp. “I took an extra day to get acclimatised to the weather, the thin air. To top it, the clear weather forecast suddenly became a snow blizzard and this being my first camp, I decided to stay back for an extra day. I wasn’t challenging anything, nor was my attempt to do the Himalayan Trek an attempt to prove anything to anyone. It was my decision to experience that moment at the trek and if I wanted to return at any point, I could have,” says the youngster.
She was not only excited but was sure of the atmosphere she would be introducing herself.
In the beginning, her body didn’t know what it was getting into. The altitude was high and so was the clean thin air. But something that she has been doing for several years came to her rescue. “Since I have been dancing for years and also practising yoga, my body had been silently accumulating the energy and stamina. Besides my regular dance and yoga sessions, I also designed a session of 2-3 hours to prepare myself, that involved cardio, yoga and other fitness routines. Dance also helped me keep my mind stable and not give in at the weak moments,” she explains.
Vaishnavie says that it’s her self-assessment and her calm mind made it all possible. “But just because I did it, I wouldn’t say it is easy. Self-assessment is a must and one has to prepare thoroughly before taking up such a challenge,” she suggests.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / byPrabalika M. Borah / Vyshnavie-Sainath, Stok-Kangri / September 26th, 2016
A 54-year-old throwing almost six punches per second seems like a story straight out of the Shaolin temples in China. But M Jayanth Reddy from Hyderabad proved to the world, on July 2, that he is a tough nut to crack when he broke the Guinness World Record for the most number of full contact punches in a minute using one hand – hitting 352 of them in the process.
His tryst with world records started in 2010 when he broke the world record for the maximum number of round kicks in a minute. He followed it up with a staggering 10 individual Guinness World Records in martial arts. A taekwondo practitioner since the age of 14, Jayanth won five gold medals at national championships from 1983-88. But fate had something else in store for him. After being unable to crack the Olympic riddle, he shifted his focus to teaching the martial art to youngsters. “I opened my academy in 1996-97 and since then I have taught more than five lakh students,” the eighth Dan Black Belt holder said.
The inspiration to attempt scores of world records came from his family members.
An IPL inspired tournament is Jayanth’s ultimate aim. “By November, 2017 we will start International Taekwondo Champions League which will have participants from India, Thailand and the USA,” he asserted. In a chat with Express, Jayanth said that his latest world record was the toughest. “In taekwondo, kicks are used ninety per cent of the time. So to break the one handed punches world record was really tough.”
His students haven’t been left behind when it comes to smashing world records. “Konda Sahadev, who has been a student of mine for over two decades, has nine world records to his credit, while R Gajendra Kumar and Abdul Khalil have six each,” said Jayanth. Nothing seems to be stopping the pentagenarian, who plans to break one more world record in near future.
The third-generation Hyderabadi resident has authored two books on healthy lifestyle. He expressed his concerns about India not performing well at the recently concluded Olympics. “I will identify talented people soon and start training them for the Tokyo Olympics,” Jayanth said. He opined that the country is filled with talent.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Vishal Vivek / August 29th, 2016
He discovered the malarial parasite in the intestines of female mosquito at the fag end of his stint as medical officer on these premises
The pride of being home to the discovery of malarial parasite is not something that any city would let pass without a care. The site of such historic discovery in Hyderabad, however, lies tucked away in a remote corner of Begumpet, unnoticed by many, and unused for more than six years.
The Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology, a heritage building, is under lock and key for most of the time, not open even for the visitors who might be interested in catching a few glimpses of the photo museum inside.
Nobel laureate Ronald Ross discovered the presence of malarial parasite in the intestines of female anopheles mosquito at the fag end of his stint as medical officer on these premises between 1895 and 1897, when it was a hospital for the British regimental troops. Copy of a journal entry by Mr. Ross about the discovery dated August 20 can be found in the museum, as also his drawings of the parasite.
The building later served as an “officers mess” for British regiment, and was under Deccan Airlines for a brief while. Later after accession of Hyderabad State, it was handed over to the Osmania Medical College for further research on Malaria.
However, later, the 2.5-acre premises were handed over to the Airport Authority of India (then National Airports Authority) for development of the peripheral areas of the Begumpet Airport. In 1975, with initiative from the OU Zoology department, the structure was handed over to the Osmania University, while the land remains with the AAI. After being identified as heritage structure, renovation of the building was carried out in 2010-12 with Rs.45 lakh, which has brought back the lost aura to it. However, since then, the premises remain unoccupied, with whatever research in the institute’s name, having been shifted out into the OU premises.
“Land ownership by the AAI remains a road block for any effort to develop it as a pioneering research centre for vector-borne diseases. There is no approach road to the premises. Though Rs.6.5 crore was sanctioned earlier by the Archaeological Survey of India for approach road, we could not use it as AAI denied permission,” Director of the institute B.Reddya Naik informed.
Besides, water supply too was disconnected recently by the AAI to curb illegal water tapping, which rendered the premises even more unusable. Correspondence since 1997 with the Civil Aviation Ministry for transfer of land has not yielded results.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swathi Vadlamudi / Hyderabad – August 21st, 2016
P.V. Sindhu of India reacts during play against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
The Andhra-based protégé of Pullela Gopichand has become the first Indian woman to reach a Badminton final at the Olympics. Here is an overview of her life, career and achievements…
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu on Thursday became the first Indian woman to enter a Olympic Badminton final, after defeating 6th-ranked Nozomi Okuhara 2-0 (21-19, 21-10). Thus, assuring India of another medal.
She has come a long way — from a 16-year-old watching Saina Nehwal win the 2012 London Olympics bronze to being India’s lone badminton medal hope in the 2016 Games.
Prior to the Games, she had said, “The biggest dream I am chasing now is an Olympic medal. I remember watching Saina in London. Then I was ranked World No. 25. I always longed to be there and I am all excited to represent India in Rio.” She broke into the Top 20 in 2012, and is currently ranked no. 10 in the world.
Sindhu scripted a stellar 22-20, 21-19 win against former World No. 1 and London Games silver medallist Wang Yihan to enter the women’s semifinals. Her fierce strokeplay and aggressive cross-court returns have been the highlights of her game so far. She rated her win over the London Olympics silver medallist as one of the best moments of her career.
The Sindhu story
She first made her mark in the badminton circles in 2013. She won her maiden grand prix gold at the Malaysian Open, went on to win the first of her hat-trick of titles at the Macau Open. The bigger reward in the form of Arjuna award was the icing on the cake.
With former volleyball players for parents — her father Ramanna is an Arjuna awardee — it is only natural that sports had always been her calling. But why badminton? Inspired by her iconic mentor, Pullela Gopichand’s exploits on court, she started wielding the racquet at the age of eight. She was awarded the FICCI Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year in 2014 and NDTV Indian of the Year 2014, the year in which she won her second consecutive medal at the World Championships.
In March 2015, P.V. Sindhu became the youngest recipient of the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
She is the second-highest-ranked women’s singles player from India after Olympic bronze medalist and No. 2 Saina Nehwal.
With a methodical style of play, considered to be defensive — building up with long rallies to lay seize to a point as and when an opening arises, she has evolved remarkably well to streamline her method towards winning. At the same time, she has recently added a more aggressive facet to her game, being more vociferous and playing attacking shots that put the opponent on the backfoot. More…
Watch Sindhu’s family rejoice her win:
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / Internet Desk / August 18th, 2016
Lt. Aishwarya Boddapati is part of the all-women crew in Indian Navy’s only ocean going sailing boat
Imagine being on the sea for 30 to 40 days with no sight of land. That too, on a sailing boat and not a ship. Lt. Aishwarya Boddapati from Hyderabad is among the only all-women crew heading into the ocean on a 17-metre sailing vehicle of the Indian Navy, called MHADEI.
The crew with their mentor Cdr Dilip Dhonde on MHADEI
The all-women crew sailed to Mauritius this May. “Every two years, a sailing vessel sets out to circumnavigate the world. The Indian Navy felt it would be a good orientation for us to first experience the Atlantic and Pacific oceans before we do the world circuit,” recalls Aishwarya. A relative newcomer to sailing, Aishwarya observed her peers at work, learnt to put theory to practice.
Aishwarya studied metallurgical engineering and in her final year, worked with the DRDO which was working on a component of a ballistic missile. “It was a fascinating experience. I felt it would be exciting to be on the user side,” she says. The only connection Aishwarya had with the defence sector was her uncle who worked for Indian Air Force. “Normally, candidates prepare ahead to join the Navy. Since I didn’t have that exposure, my uncle asked me to be honest in the interview and not exaggerate things,” she says.
She was inducted into the technical side of Navy, and later posted in Andaman and Nicobar islands with the team that worked on maintenance and repair of warships. While at work, she learnt that the Navy was looking for volunteers to join an adventure expedition and applied. “I got selected in February 2015 but was required to finish my two-year tenure at Andaman. I joined the adventure team in March 2016,” she says.
Aishwarya remembers being inclined to adventure for a while. She had tried river rafting, bungee jumping, scuba diving and other water sports. She was aware that some of the lady officers who will be part of the adventure expedition had prior experience. “Some of them had already gone on an expedition accompanied by male officers in 2014. This time, the Navy wanted a six all-women crew and I am ecstatic to be a part of it.”
In Cochin, she was trained in the basics of sailing. “We learnt the technical and theoretical aspects of how to navigate a vessel that runs only on wind,” she says. During the Mauritius trip, she got a hands-on experience.
Aishwarya looks back at the days they spent at a stretch on the sea, celebrating the calm days and starry nights. “One night we faced an electrical problem after which we had no lights. The moon hadn’t risen. We spent the night star gazing. It was beautiful,” she says.
She doesn’t mind the lack of mobile connectivity. “Since we were six women on board, we got to know each other well. We would watch television series, take turns and cook, or read books on Kindle. There were times when there would be some misunderstanding, but you don’t hold grudges for long because you can’t go anywhere else,” she laughs.
The crew is preparing to participate in the Cape to Rio race scheduled from December 26, 2016, to January 17, 2017. “In August 2017, we will be sailing to circumnavigate the world on a new sister boat of MHADEI, called TARINI, now under construction in Goa. The details are yet to be worked out,” she says.
Closer home, she faced resistance when she disclosed her intention to join the adventure side of Navy. “My parents wanted me to get married, so they were taken aback,” she laughs. Aishwarya took her parents on a short sail off Goa. Experiencing the calm waters, her father was convinced it wasn’t a bad idea.
Besides the circumnavigation, she hopes to someday become a sky diving instructor.
The team
* Cdr Dilip Dhonde is the mentor and coach of for the all-women team
* The six all-women crew includes aeronautical engineer Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi (skipper), electronics engineer Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Patharlapaali Swathi, a post graduate in physics, Lt Shougrakpam Vijayadevi, a literature postgraduate, and computer science engineer Lt Payal Gupta, apart from Lt B Aishwarya.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / Hyderabad – August 13th, 2016
