State government, which has decided to bring out books and produce documentaries to record the life history of Telangana iconic figures, has given its nod for making a documentary film on the life of Chakali Ilamma.
Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture department, which had earlier sanctioned `6 lakh for this purpose, now released another `10 lakh to Telangana Rajaka Seva Sangam (TRSS), Hyderabad, for producing the short film. The TRSS is producing the 30-minute short film on Chakali Ilamma’s life with emotional songs and dialogues.
Who was Ilamma
Chityala Ilamma (1919-1985), born at Krishnapuram village of Warangal district, played a key role as a revolutionary during the Telangana Peasants Armed struggle. Her revolt against the feudal lord, Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, to save her four acres of land when he tried to occupy it, inspired many others during the rebellion against the feudal lords of Telangana, during that epoch of history.
According to officials, all the crucial phases of Ilamma’s life will be portrayed in the documentary. The government also plans to produce similar films on the lives of other iconic figures of TS in the days to come.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 08th, 2016
Rohit Khandelwal has become the first Indian to win the coveted title of Mr. World 2016 at the grand finale of the competition held at the Southport Theatre & Convention Centre in Southport in U.K.
The 26-year-old model-actor from Hyderabad defeated 46 contestants from across the globe to be crowned the first Indian winner last night. Mr. Khandelwal, who looked dapper in a tuxedo by designer Nivedita Saboo, received a cash prize of $50,000 on winning.
“I still can’t believe that I have won the Mr. World title. Being the first Indian ever to win this title internationally makes me immensely proud and ecstatic. It’s a dream come true and am very thankful to the Miss India Organisation for giving me this opportunity and guiding me throughout my exciting journey,” he said.
Family support
“My family, friends and my fans have been a constant support for me and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my well-wishers,” he said.
Mr. World 2014 Nicklas Pedersen (Denmark) passed on the title to Khandelwal. Fernando Alvarez, 21, from Puerto Rico and Aldo Esparza Ramirez, 26, from Mexico were the first and second runners-up respectively.
The event was hosted by Filipino superstar and Miss World 2013 Megan Young alongside professional singer and former Mr. England Jordan Williams and Frankie Cena of Canada.
Mr. Khandelwal also competed for various sub-titles at the pageant like Mr. World Multimedia Award, Mr. World Talent, Mobstar People’s Choice Awards, Mr. World Sports Event and won the Mr. World Multimedia Award.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / PTI / London – July 21st, 2016
Joseph Anthony on his expedition to propagate world peace.— Photo: K.V. RAMANA
Perplexed by the spate of violent incidents across the globe, 25 year-old Joseph Anthony has undertaken an expedition — Walk For Peace — from his village Aadibhatla in Ibrahimpatnam mandal to New Delhi to propagate the importance of peace.
Launching his padyatra on July 1, Mr. Anthony arrived at Dichpally in the district on Wednesday. Carrying a huge national flag on his shoulders, he was walking on National Highway 44. He prepared a route map to cover 2,000 kilometres before reaching New Delhi by the end of September.
On the way, he would be staying at residential homes, temples, churches, and mosques in the night. During his expedition, he would deliver lectures on world peace at schools and colleges.
After a 12-hour walk, from dawn to dusk, Mr. Anthony, who holds an MA degree in economics, calls it a night.
Speaking to reporters, he said he would publish a book on his experiences with the help of friends and well-wishers after the completion of the expedition. “I have support of my parents and family members for my Walk For Peace expedition,” he said.
Mr. Anthony’s father, Guvvala Innaiah, is a mason in Rangareddy district. Residents and students received him with thumping applause at the village.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by P. Ram Mohan / Nizamabad – July 14th, 2016
Suram Vignesh Arjun set a record in the Telugu Book of Records recently by reciting 100 Vemana poems in about five minutes
He is a just a class 4 student, and yet he can deliver many an extempore on a wide range of subjects. And, he has amazing memory.
Meet eight-year-old Suram Vignesh Arjun who set a record in the Telugu Book of Records recently by reciting 100 Vemana poems in five minutes and 45 seconds.
He shot to fame during the separate Telangana movement when he was only six years old. He eloquently spoke about the bifurcation movement and also about Jayashankar who espoused the cause.
Impressed by his extempore at one such meeting last year at Kakatiya University, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari presented him a cash reward of Rs. 10,000 instantly.
Son of Narender, a farmer, and Laxmi, a teacher, Suram is studying in Nachinapalli in Duggondi mandal.
His uncle, Ch. Venkat Reddy, who is also a teacher, said the boy developed amazing memory when he was very young.
Whatever was taught to him, he would say the same again, said Mr. Reddy.
Having developed multi-skills, the boy came second in the sloka recitation competition, rendering 29 slokas from 11th chapter of Bhagavad Gita.
He also bagged second prize reciting C. Narayana Reddy’s poems at the Balotsav in Kothagudem in national-level competition.
Speaking to The Hindu , Suram said he spends time reading books or browsing internet searching for information for his speeches.
He does not have a television at home, which is seen as a major distraction for children.
“I want to become the Chief Minister like Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao or the Prime Minister like Mr. Narendra Modi after growing up,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao / Warangal – June 27th, 2016
Adventurous spirit:Additional Superintendent of Adilabad district G.R. Radhika and D. Bhadraiah, a contract labourer, two of the five members who scaled Mount Everest, in Hyderabad on Saturday.— Photo: K.V.S. Giri
Three Telugus were part of a five-member team that scaled the world’s tallest peak.
One is a woman police officer working as Additional Superintendent in Adilabad district, G.R. Radhika, while the other is a contract labour on Andhra Pradesh Transco projects, D. Bhadraiah. Fatigued but beaming with pride, they flew back here at the end of a 50-day expedition after scaling the world’s tallest peak under the guidance of an ace mountaineer.
The three Telugu-speaking members of the expedition were part of an 8-member team, of which five actually breathed the shallow, but fresh air atop Mt. Everest a few days ago. They landed at Shamshabad airport to a warm welcome and loads of bouquets. When contacted, the expedition leader Shekhar Babu Bachinepally who runs the Bhongir Rock Climbing School in adjacent Nalgonda district seemed to have run out of words, describing his happiness at the success of the team he had trained.
The three others in the expedition who conquered Mt. Everest are an Indian Police officer of the Maharashtra cadre Suhail Sharma, an Indian Forest Service officer of Karnataka cadre, S. Prabakaran and Balan Shivaraman who works in a private company in Dubai. Apart from Mr. Shekhar, the two others who did not touch the peak included the team’s doctor Vimal Jaiswal and Ashok Munne who complained of pain and was advised by the Team Leader to give up this time.
Distinction
After Mr. Shekhar Babu himself scaled Mt. Everest first in the year 2007, he got the distinction of being the first civilian from South India to do so. Again, in 2014, he repeated his feat, with Poorna, a student of Class IX of Pakala village in Nizamabad district and Anand a student who is doing his graduation from the Nizam College here.
Poorna became the youngest girl in the world to climb the peak.
Speaking to The Hindu , Ms. Radhika, a police officer selected from Group I services in 2007, hailing from Anantapur district, said that if she could afford it, she wanted to do what is typically called ‘One Degree Skiing’ in Antarctica.
“I have been lucky and tough enough physically to conquer Mt. Everest but if it happens, I would like to realise my dream of ‘One Degree Skiing’ on the ice in Antarctica,” she said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – May 29th, 2016
Doodi Bhadraiah of Koya tribe during a training session at Bhongir Rock Climbing School in Nalgonda district of Telangana. Photo: Special Arrangement
Woman police officer among those who scaled the Everest.
A woman working as Additional Superintendent of Police in Adilabad of Telangana, G.R. Radhika, a member of the Koya tribe, Doodi Bhadraiah hailing from Kothapally of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, were among five persons who scaled Mount Everest on Friday morning.
Others who were part of the expedition were a Maharashtra cadre Indian Police Service officer, Suhail Sharma, Karnataka cadre Indian Forest Service officer S. Prabhakaran and a native of Tamil Nadu working in Dubai for Emerson Climate Technologies, Balan Sivaraman. Regrettably, an amputee from Maharashtra, Ashok Munne returned from the summit camp set up at a height of 8.500 meters. He could not claim the distinction because returned due to bad weather.
One-year training The expedition led by the founder of the Bhongir Rock Climbing School in the district, Shekharbabu Bachenapally, comprised a doctor and eight Sherpas for logistic assistance till the summit camp. In a Facebook chat with The Hindu, Mr. Shekharbabu said the victory came after an arduous year-long training at the School.
Describing their adventure, he said the team had left for Nepal from Hyderabad on April 7 and after the paperwork that included getting a Chinese visa, flew to Lhasa on April 13. With the help of the Sherpas and the doctor, they trekked up to reach an altitude of 5,200 meters on April 18 and 19, coping with low oxygen levels and the cold weather conditions. April 20 saw them reaching the North Base Camp of Mount Everest and acclimatising themselves further, upto 6,200 metres. Then began the march towards the Advance Base Camp, on what is described as the ‘Miracle Highway’ on April 27.
Red letter day Mr. Shekharbabu said on May 3, they climbed a 500 metre high, ice wall and returned to the North Base Camp, after which ascended another 300 meters and came to the Advance Base Camp. May 19, saw them ascending on the last leg, the final climb and they scaled the world’s tallest peak on Friday morning.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by T. Karnakar Reddy / Nalgonda – May 21st, 2016
April 5 was a red letter day for Malkapur residents when the local youth and women accomplished a challenging task of providing water connection to every household in flat 24 hours.
As part of intra-grid works of Mission Bhagiratha, 300 youth and villagers got together to lay pipelines in the lines excavated earlier. If the local contractor took four hours to lay a 330-metre pipeline, the same was completed in 15 minutes by the locals.
Determined lot
“We all got ready by 9 pm and began carrying the heavy load of pipes to the excavated lines. Carrying 330 metres pipe is no mean task. But, we could do it with our determination. In 4 hours and 18 minutes pipelines measuring 3.5 km were laid. All the households in the village were provided drinking water connections,” pointed out Pitla Karunakar.
Womenfolk in the village are elated at the development. “It was festive mood all around as enthusiastic youth and others vied with each other to complete the laying of pipelines.
Our work has inspired other neighbouring villages to replicate our efforts. After Gangadevunipalli and Ibrahimpur, we have also joined the list of model villages,” said Bethi Shakuntala, self help group leader.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Malkapur – May 09th, 2016
Steeped in history:The entrance of Gandhari Vanam in Adilabad district – Photos: S. Harpal Singh
Gandhari Vanam in Mancherial town will soon have a museum showcasing millions of years of biodiversity of Adilabad.
Gandhari Vanam, a nature park near Mancherial town in Adilabad, is where you can go millions of years back in time. The 174-million-year-old tree fossils to be exhibited in a section of the soon to come up facility will help you visualise what the district must have looked like back then.
Steeped in history: Mancherial Divisional Forest Officer B. Prabhakar observing a Jurassic-era tree fossil at the nature park.– Photos: S. Harpal Singh
“That was the time when the giant dinosaurs roamed here, thriving on these coniferous trees. The Pranahita-Godavari valley of upper Gondwana is unique as it has preserved many of nature’s components from the era in its 3,000-metre thick sediments deposited over a period of 200 million years,” said Mancherial Divisional Forest Officer B. Prabhakar, pointing out the uniqueness of the nature park being developed by the Telangana Forest Department at a cost of Rs. 3.6 crore.
The park, located on the Mancherial-Mandamarri main road on the fringes of the coal town, is named Gandhari Vanam as the Gandhari fort is located close to it. It is a 350-acre facility divided into three parts.
“A 20-acre plot on the left side of the road (coming from Mancherial) has been developed as a picnic spot with ornamental plants, apart from a host of things. At least 500 visitors come here on weekends,” the DFO said.
The second 50-acre enclosure will become a good forest, and the department has plans to make it a deer park and an aviary in the near future. The third section, and the most important one, is the 280-acre facility on the other side of the road. It is like a repository and museum of the huge local biodiversity in terms of vegetation.
“Adilabad forests at one time had boasted of at least 500 types of trees, and we are planting many of these, which, for the sake of awareness and convenience, have been segregated into a few sections. For instance, we will have a medicinal plant section with 250 species, and others which will have trees linked with horoscope and nine planets,” Mr. Prabhakar disclosed.
For nature enthusiasts, Gandhari Vanam also has a walking track, while a boating facility and a couple of check dams are coming up. The authorities have also put up boards with information regarding the given sections, trees and fossils for the benefit of people. “We have designed the park to be educative too. People should know about nature, what it was and what it should be,” the DFO said.
The 280-acre facility is like a repository and museum of the biodiversity in terms of vegetation
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by S. Harpal Singh / Mancherial (Adilabad District) / April 25th, 2016
Bi-coloured wonder:A mahua tree with dual coloured foliage.–Photo: S. Harpal Singh
The mahua or ippa tree can be seen on the Utnoor-Asifabad road in Adilabad
Many miss this natural wonder while zooming past on the Utnoor-Asifabad road in Adilabad, but those who do spot the colourful tree, stop to marvel at its beauty. A majestic mahua or ippa tree, located about 500 metres from Heerapur village in Utnoor mandal, towards Jainoor, is a visual delight and scientific curiosity — half the tree has red-brown leaves while the other half has green leaves.
The tree retains this dual foliage from the end of March for about a month, soon after it sheds its flowers.
Adilabad has an estimated five lakh mahua trees, mostly in the tribal belt. The mahua flowers have medicinal value and form a major non-timber forest produce for the forest dwelling Gond and Kolam tribal communities.
The tree bears two differently coloured leaves at the same time apparently because it has a dual leaf development stage. “This could be because of two different seeds joining at the time of germination but retaining individual characteristics of growth on maturity,” said a forest department official of the rare phenomenon.
The tree is about 40 years old, according to villagers. “It was a young tree when I was a child,” recalled Atram Shankar, a 40-year-old Gond farmer from Hasnapur village, about 2 km from the bi-coloured beauty.
The Forest department has taken note of the tree with the rare foliage and Forest Range Officer of Utnoor, P. Ramesh Rao and others have visited the place to document the occurrence.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by S. Harpal Singh / Adilabad – April 18th, 2016
Two days after the University of Hyderabad secured fourth place among the best educational institutions in the country, a student, B Prasuna, brought laurels to the varsity, bagging first rank in the CSIR-NET exam on Wednesday. This is not the first time 21-year-old Prasuna has passed the exam with good rankings. She had bagged the 64th rank when she first took the exam in December 2014.
One might think the young student would have immersed herself neck-deep into books preparing for the exams, but Prasuna said that she spent time engaging in discussions with mathematicians from across the country at the Annual Foundation School in Pune, rather than deciphering a mathematical problem or understanding a formula.
And this, perhaps, is the formula to score the first rank at the national level in the CSIR-NET exam. The result came as a surprise to the integrated Masters student from the UoH.
“I didn’t expect a place among the top ranks, let alone the first rank. But I surely knew that I wrote better than the last time.” She solved the paper to score 158 out of 200.
Prasuna has no secret formula for her success. “I didn’t prepare specifically for the exam.
In fact, around the same time, (December 2015), I was in Pune to attend a programme at the Annual Foundation School. It is a school where students pursuing Mathematics go for advanced training. I was busy there,” recalls Prasuna.
“Those discussions helped me the most. It was more about understanding the subject rather than practice for the exam. That is also what my professors always told me,” she added. Prasuna’s advice to those preparing for the exam is the same. “Don’t study particularly for the exam,” she opined.
Prasuna loves to read fiction, non-fiction and autobiographies. She would pursue PhD at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and hopes to become a professor.
An integrated Masters student from UoH, B Prasuna, scored all India first rank in CSIR-NET exam conducted in December-2015
She bagged 64th rank when she took the exam for the first time in December -2014
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / April 07th, 2016
