HUDCO awards: two in Telangana’s kitty

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Special Chief Secretary (Housing) Chitra Ramachandran receiving the HUDCO award from Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on behalf of the Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd.

2BHK scheme and use of GIS in land mapping clinched it

Telangana government’s innovative initiatives in the housing sector and the Municipal Administration wing has been recognised at the national level, with the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, giving away awards to the best performing departments on the occasion of HUDCO’s 48th foundation day celebrations in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Housing Department has bagged two awards, one for its housing designs and layouts, – it had to compete with the private sector and was the only government wing across the country to have got the recognition – which comes with a cash award of ₹one lakh, and the second award for the novel steps taken to give a filip to the two-bedroom scheme.

Special Chief Secretary (Housing) Chitra Ramachandran along with Chief Engineer Satyamurthy and GHMC Additional Commissioner Bharati H took the HUDCO award on behalf of the Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd. for its outstanding contribution to the 2-bedroom housing scheme.

Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration T.K. Sreedevi received the HUDCO Award for Best Practices for ‘Use of GIS technology and Land Property Mapping for Revenue Improvement’. Ms. Sreedevi received the award from the HUDCO chairman and managing director M. Ravi Kanth.

Both the awards come with a cash prize of IRs. 1 lakh each, along with the citation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 26th, 2018

Indo-Pak war veteran Brig. Regis no more

Leaders
Brigadier Francis Regis Campos

Indo-Pak 1971 war veteran Brigadier Francis Regis Campos, VSM, AVSM, passed away at Secunderabad on Monday afternoon after ailing for a few months.

During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, his meticulous planning and foresight as Adjutant Quarter Master General (AQMG) of 54 Infantry Division, led to effective logistic support during a critical phase of the Battle of Basantar in the Shakargarh Sector. For his distinguished service in an operational area, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM).

Reggie, as he was popularly known, first joined the Hyderabad Army in 1946.After the Police Action in 1948 when the Hyderabad Army was disbanded, in one of the rare circumstances, he was one of the few officers to have been absorbed into the Indian Army, which he had actually fought against. As an infantry officer, he then served in the 8th Gorkha and Madras regiments.

In 1976, as Commander, Allahabad Sub Area, he established a great rapport with the civil administration and helped them plan effective flood relief schemes. His untiring efforts and organisational skills during the floods, averted to a great extent large-scale loss of life and property. In 1977, during the Maha Kumbh Mela, he worked round the clock to complete, in record time, all tasks allotted to the Army.

In October 1977, consequent on a major rail accident near Allahabad, he once again displayed unusual initiative in rendering aid to civil authorities. He planned and executed quick medical aid and evacuation of casualties to various hospitals, which saved many lives. For this distinguished service of exceptional order, he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

Laid to rest at the Narayanguda cemetery in the grave of Marie, his wife of 66 years, he is survived by his daughter, two sons and two grandchildren.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by A. Joseph Anthony / Hyderabad – April 25th, 2018

GI tag for Warangal dhurries brings hope to weavers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion
Signature style: Warangal dhurries are known for their geometrically repetitive patterns and zigzag motifs.

Marketing the carpets directly can lead to better profits for the struggling sector in Telangana.

There’s a ripple of excitement and sliver of hope in Warangal’s artisan community as word spreads on the Geographical Indication certificate given on March 28 by the Chennai-based GI Registry for Warangal dhurries.

“We had to do all our business through the handloom society. But now, with the GI tag, we will be able to market our products on our own, leading to better profits,” says Adepu Ramesh of Kothawada in Warangal, a crafts-centred location in the city. Only last year, some of the carpet sellers here began using online platforms to sell their products. The shatranji carpets and jainamaaz prayer mats made in Warangal range in size from the smallest 2 feet by 3 feet to a massive 60 feet by 90 feet, examples of which are seen in some museums.

Bright colours, geometrically repetitive patterns and interlocking zigzag motifs in cotton and jute are the signature styles of the carpets.

One of the newest innovations by the weavers here is an adaptation of tie-dyed ikat techniques and hand-painted or block-printed kalamkari designs for the dhurries to save time and energy.

“We weave a plain carpet and send it to Machilipatnam and Pedana [famous for the kalamkari style] for colouring based on the design given by us,” says Mr. Ramesh.

‘No’ for family trade’

It takes two days labour by two expert craftsmen to create a 6 feet by 9 feet carpet that sells for Rs. 2,000. “If the design is intricate or made-to-order then the cost goes up,” says Adepu Ravi, who uses pit looms to weave the carpets.

“I am expecting better business, especially if export orders pick up with the GI tag. Over the past 25 years, business has fallen drastically. I am doing 20% of the business that I was doing back then. I am insisting that my children focus on education rather than the family trade,” says Mr. Ravi.

Interestingly, for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, two carpets woven in silk were sent from Warangal. They held a place of pride among over one lakh exhibits, which included the fabled Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Today, the bright red and yellow carpets are housed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – April 24th, 2018

KTR comes to ailing writer’s rescue

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Chaitanya Prakash

Chaitanya Prakash was incapacitated after a paralytic stroke

Minister for Industries, IT and Urban Development K. Taraka Rama Rao came to the rescue of a progressive writer and poet from Mustabad mandal in Sircilla-Rajanna district, Chaitanya Prakash, who was incapacitated following a paralytic stroke suffered by him in February this year.

A masters degree holder in Telugu literature Mr. Prakash has been living in a tin shed along with his mother and sister. However, being active in the field of literature, he has been penning poems and short stories influenced by Left ideology for the last 25 years.

A book of about 6,000 proverbs in Telangana dialect compiled by Mr. Prakash was published during the World Telugu Conference conducted by the Telangana State government here in December last. Mr. Prakash has three books and a large number of poems published to his credit. Mr. Prakash suffered a paralytic stroke in February this year and was admitted to a private hospital at Karimnagar, where the doctors prescribed long-term treatment and medication. Unable to meet the expenses he returned home and is being looked after by his mother Yellamma and sister as he is not in a position even to attend to nature’s call on his own.

After learning about Mr. Prakash’s condition through media report, the Industries and IT Minister, who also represents Sircilla constituency in the Assembly, directed his office to contact Mr. Prakash and extend necessary help. After getting in touch with Mr. Prakash and his mother, the Minister’s office extended ₹3 lakh special assistance to meet his immediate needs apart from arranging treatment for his ailment. The cheque would be handed over to Mr. Prakash at Sircilla on Monday. Reacting to the Minister’s gesture, Mr. Prakash thanked Mr. Rama Rao and said he did not expect the assistance, particularly from the government, though he was in dire need of it. His mother Yellamma, also thanked the government for aiding her son.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 22nd, 2018

City firm rolls out tyres

Business & Economy

A bootstrapped firm in the city has made a foray into the competitive tyre and tube market.

The launch by Neumex follows two years of research, said K. Ravi Shankar, one of its promoters. The company has partnered with a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad from which many automobile OEMs source tyres, he added.

Briefing the media here on Friday, he said Neumex has introduced a range of tyres and tubes for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, small commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles and farm equipment segment. On the marketing front, Neumex would sett up stores, starting with Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The company plans to have eight-nine outlets, a mix of own and franchisee-run, in the twin cities this year and expand to the rest of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and other south Indian States by 2019.

By 2021, it aims to become a pan-India player. The outlets, Mr. Ravi Shankar and management consultant Suprajj Reddy, said would redefine the buying experience of the customers. With regard to the sales targets, they said Neumex has chosen not be in the numbers game, but develop as a brand.

The company would operate through a flat distribution system and a profit sharing equation by partnering with dealers and distributors.

source:http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 21st, 2018

Korean consulate office opened in city

Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

City bizman is first honorary Consul General

The office of Honorary Consulate General of Republic of Korea was inaugurated in Hyderabad on Friday evening by the ambassador Shin Bong Kil.

Suresh Chukkapalli, a well-known businessman, has been appointed the first Honorary Consul General in Hyderabad.

“Hyderabad has a small community of Korean nationals. But we sense a high potential for better ties between the two nations and this is a step in that direction,” said Mr. Kil on the occasion.

A cultural centre was also inaugurated on the same premises in Filmnagar. “Interested citizens can come and learn Korean language here. We will be asking for a Korean teacher to be deputed here. There are plans for promoting cultural exchange programmes,” informed Mr. Kil.

The Honorary Consulate General Office, located in Film Nagar (Korea House, No. 64, Road No. 14, phone: 23999999/ 24999999), heads a subdivision of the Consulate General office in Mumbai to protect and provide assistance to Korean nationals in Telangana and facilitate trade relations by liasioning between this State and the Republic of Korea.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 21st, 2018

Another year in Telugu calender cycle discovered

About Telangana, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

13th century inscription deciphered in Sayampeta Haveli

A Telugu calender year by name Nandidhata Samvatsara, which was celebrated by Telugu speaking people during the Kakatiya dynasty Rudra Deva’s reign (AD 1158 – 1195) was recently discovered by Archaeological Survey of India.

Archaeologists managed to decipher an inscription found on a slab fixed to a wall in a temple at Sayampeta Haveli in Geesukonda mandal of Warangal district.

D. Kanna Babu, superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai, said in inscription, quite surprisingly, they found the name of an ancient Telugu cyclic year Nandidhata Samvatsara. He said people are unaware of this year, either in the traditional list of 60 Telugu calendar years or in lithic records of historical times. “Somehow, the name is missing from the list of traditional years of Telugu calender. We are examining if it matches with another name in the present calender with the help of astronomical texts,” he said.

As part of the Temple Survey Project, the ASI officials visited the ancient Panchalaraya Swamy temple, which was constructed in the Kakatiya era and discovered the damaged inscription on the rear wall of sanctum sanctorum, he said. Elucidating further details, Mr. Babu said that the inscription spanned six lines and was probably written in 13th century Telugu script.

Badly damaged

“For the past few decades, the the temple is annually treated with thick coating of lime wash in an effort to beautify it. We stumbled upon this piece without knowing its historical importance and ultimately, caused damage to the epigraph,” he said.

Mr. Babu said the epigraph states that Rudra Deva provided a perpetual lamp, along with other gifts, to the presiding deity in this temple on Mangalavara (Tuesday), the twelfth day of Bhadrapada masa during the year Saka 1116, equivalent to Nandidhata Samvatsara, (corresponding to AD 1194) in memory of his father Prolaraju.

The archaeologist added that another inscription was discovered at Trikuta temple in Jangaon recently, which also pertained to Rudra Deva.

A total of 19 epigraphs of Rudra Deva have been discovered so far.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Abhinay Deshpande / Hyderabad – April 19th, 2018

Travelling the road to their passion

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Sports, Travel, World Opinion
PathLabs chairman and managing director G.V. Prasad with his son Rakshith starting their 17,000-km bike ride to London from Hyderabad on Thursday.

Father and son duo to ride through two continents and 16 countries in 55 days

A city-based father and son duo embarked on a 55-day-long road trip to London on Thursday.

PathCare Labs chairman and managing director G.V. Prasad along with his younger son, Rakshith, a medical student, commenced their expedition on two bikes, and would cover 17,000 km passing through two continents and 16 countries on the historical silk route.

Dr. Prasad gave voice to his passion to ride two-wheelers on national and international roads three years ago and has so far covered over 96,697 km. He is an active member of Harley Davidson Bikers’ Group and owns 10 super bikes.

“For me, riding is freedom of joy and living the dreams,” Dr. Prasad said.

Mr. Rakshith, who was inspired by his father, said bike-riding taught him discipline, tolerance, sharing, bonding and leadership.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – April 19th, 2018

2 Icrisat agri scientists awarded for research

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

Two Icrisat scientists were selected for the institute’s highest award for research, its governing board announced on Tuesday. Dr Mamta Sharma and Dr Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur are joint recipients of the Doreen Margaret Mashler Award, 2018, for significant work in their respective research fields at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

Dr Mamta Sharma specializes in epidemiology of plant diseases and pathogens, focusing on disease-resistant breeding in chickpea and pigeonpea, two of ICRISAT’s mandate crops. In 2017, she led the team that developed the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) method to identify a pathogen affecting chickpea and over 500 crops globally. She also established the Center of Excellence on Climate Change Research for Plant Protection to address effects of climate change on insect-pests and diseases.

Dr Sharma’s LAMP method has helped researchers in breeding programs across the globe understand the mechanism of inheritance of resistance.

Dr Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur led an international, multiinstitutional effort, for innovative biotechnology solutions to combat aflatoxin in groundnut using a ‘double-defense’ approach. These include engineering groundnuts to stop Aspergillus flavus ungus by production of small proteins called defensins. In the second approach, the synthesis of aflatoxin by the fungus was shut down using gene-silencing RNA molecules. This breakthrough resulted in resistance to fungal infection as well as remarkably low levels of aflatoxin contamination.

Dr Bhatnagar-Mathur also worked towards successful isolation and characterization of the gene responsible for cytoplasmic male sterility in pigeonpea. As a result, ICRISAT filed its first ever patent in 2016-17. It holds great potential to induce and control male sterility in other crop species, providing male sterile lines for developing scalable hybrid systems.

The award, which includes a plaque and a citation, will be presented during the ICRISAT Governing Board meeting later this year.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Hyderabad News / by Sushil Rao / TNN / April 18th, 2018

Saina outshines Sindhu, emerges the golden girl

Agriculture, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Women’s singles gold medallist Saina Nehwal of India poses with her medal and Borobi plush doll. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Saina Nehwal won a second Commonwealth Games women’s singles title in style at the Carrara Sports arena here on Sunday.

The former World No. 1 displayed sheer determination and was aggressive all through as she put to shade the challenge from compatriot and current World No. 3 P.V. Sindhu at 21-18, 23-21 in 56 minutes to grab the gold medal, a feat she first achieved in New Delhi 2010.

However, K. Srikanth could not celebrate his ascent to World No. 1 ranking with a gold medal as he had to be content with the silver after going down to the legendary Lee Chong Wei 19-21, 21-14, 21-4.

Early lead
Saina took to an early lead and built upon it to outfox her rival. The first set saw Saina take a 9-4 lead, paralysing Sindhu at the net and coming up with deafening smashes. It was soon 20-14 and though Sindhu showed signs of revival, she couldn’t salvage the set.

In the second, Sindhu was her usual self and even threatened to take the match into the decider. Sindhu was ahead for most part, but Saina never allowed her to widen the gap before levelling at 20-all.

A tired Saina hung on bravely, overcoming Sindhu who saved one match-point before returning a smash wide. Saina instantly threw her hands up in the air in exultation.

“I will really put this along with my Olympic medal and my World No. 1 ranking. It’s a very emotional moment. I have been waiting for that one great victory after the disappointing loss in Rio 2016 where I had to retire because of my injury and had to go through surgery on my right knee,” said Saina.

On the other hand, Sindhu was happy that it was an all-India final, “The prospect itself was exciting and it is nice that it came true. The second was anyone’s set. I thought I could win it, but it was not to be. However, it is a good game overall and I am happy I tried my best.”

Srikanth began with a sequence of unforced errors and was down 0-5 before rallying his way ahead to eventually take the first set at 21-19. But the Indian was unable to keep up the momentum as he committed silly mistakes to go down without much fight.

Reflecting on the match, the Indian said: “When you are playing against such a great player, you have to be at your best, throughout the match. I started well by taking the first set but I made too many mistakes in my defence in the second and third. I gave him that early lead which I should have avoided.”

Satwik-Chirag bag silver
It was also a silvery finish for Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Chandrasekhar Shetty in the men’s doubles, as they lost to England’s Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge 21-13, 21-16.

Satwik, in partnership with Ashwini Ponnappa, had lost the mixed doubles bronze medal match on Saturday to Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon and Guo Liu Ying 21-19, 21-19, and not as reported in these columns on Sunday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by A. Vinod / Gold Coast – April 15th, 2018