A student at ISB, she is the daughter of Kailash Satyarthi, this year’s recipient of the honour
This year’s Nobel Prize has a remote link to Hyderabad. Not that Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi has anything to do with the city, but his daughter, Asmita Satyarthi, does.
A student at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here, Asmita is pursuing a MBA with Strategy as her major.
Overjoyed
“I am overjoyed by the news and happy that I was part of my father’s activities since my childhood,” the 28-year-old exclaimed in a chat.
She chose ISB given its stature and quality, and is figuring out how businesses can be extremely powerful in bringing about social change. “In a way, what I am studying here is connected to what my father has been into for so many years,” Asmita said.
Her father is obviously her idol and she is deeply influenced by him. “He was involved in so many activities and as a kid it was but natural that I was influenced,” she said.
Life, however, was not all rosy. The family was attacked several times for saving children from traffickers, and this forced the family to send Asmita to the United States for her undergraduate studies. The University of Iowa accepted her with open arms understanding the circumstances she came from.
Later, she worked for Ernst and Young, a global consultancy company.
“I was desperate to do an MBA to add value to my work and interests, and chose ISB,” said Asmita. She is also a passionate Kathak dancer and has performed at many national and international platforms.
Much before her father attained international recognition, Asmita did – when she delivered a speech in the US Congress in 1996 when she was only 10.
‘Greater responsibility’
She agrees that the responsibility on her father has increased enormously now. But not only as a doting daughter, but also as an admirer of his work, she intends to follow his footsteps.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – October 12th, 2014
In a move that could shed more light on the important historical aspects of Naya Qila heritage complex, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has started excavating the site of what was once the Qutub Shahi Gardens.
Reliable sources from the Archaeological Survey of India told TOI that officials of the Hyderabad Circle of the archaeological juggernaut conducted an inspection of the heritage precinct last week. The land is currently in possession of the tourism department and its private partner, the Hyderabad Golf Association, the sources said.
“We have received orders from the director general of the ASI in New Delhi to begin work. The intention is to expose the Qutub Shahi Gardens, also known as Deccani Gardens. Further, there has been a long-pending demand from the activists for us to begin work,” said an ASI official who did not wish to be identified.
The ASI plans to drain the land parcel of the sewage water that has been accumulated over the years. Further, the vegetation and the debris on the heritage land would be also cleared as part of the plan.
“A report by eminent historian Ghulam Yazdani explains the presence of Qutub Shahi Gardens. We are hopeful that the results will be seen within a week of the excavation,” said ASI superintending archaeologist R Krishnaiah.
Rumours about the ASI unearthing a treasure chest began spreading early last week. The ASI, on the other hand, was swift enough to deny these claims.
“There is no treasure. The land was tilled by farmers until a few years ago. All these reports are baseless,” an ASI official said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / October 06th, 2014
The students of Government Upper Primary School, Ramakrishna Colony, Timmapur have attracted national and international attention with a social media post about their exhibition on medicinal plants, ‘Mana Mokkalu – Mana Avushadalu’ (Our plants – our medicines).
Their post evoked good response with a number of likes and comments, said Kola Ramachandra Reddy, school headmaster.Non-resident Indians also responded, appreciating their team work as a inspiration for many. They complimented the students for their efforts.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / October 13th, 2014
National tennis champions J. Vishnuvardhan, Suresh Krishna, Saketh Myneni and coach C. V. Nagaraj at a training session in Hyderabad. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
He keeps churning out success stories in Indian men’s tennis with ease. Far from the madding crowd, the 53-year-old Canjeevaran Venkatrao Nagaraj has been training and grooming tennis talent with such diligence that he is now the rare record-holder of producing four Davis Cuppers (Susheel Narla, Punna Vishal, J. Vishnuvardhan and Saketh Myneni), Asian Games mixed doubles gold medallist (Saketh) and five senior national champions besides others.
Yet, like all those who stay away from the media glare and are more focussed on the job at hand, Nagaraj too is a victim of a typical syndrome in the State capital where the powers-that-be are immediately hooked on to the coaches of high-profile stars but fail to take a conservative look at gentlemen such as this untiring tennis coach.
The latest triumph of Vishnuvardhan as national tennis champion in Delhi last Friday is another reminder that the assembly line of champions has not dried up.
And this remarkable story of triumph over adversity has been unfolding daily at the School of Power Tennis Academy at RRC (Secunderabad).
Nagaraj insists that there is no bigger joy for him than seeing his student win a national title. “That is the biggest motivating factor. It is a different issue that I am not getting the kind of recognition that may be due to me. But again, I am too small to run around to garner support in the corridors of power,” says the coach, who quit his HAL job 23 years ago to take up tennis coaching.
All that Nagaraj got in terms of recognition was the relatively obscure Farkunda Ali Khan Award, given by the AP Lawn Tennis Association, for the best coach. The big question remains – doesn’t he deserve more especially when some coaches were given huge cash incentives by the Telangana State government?
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – October 12th, 2014
Information technology minister KT Rama Rao and Bharti Airtel (AP & TS) CEO Venkatesh Vijayraghavan at the announcement in Hyderabad on Friday on state’s first public Wi-Fi powered by Airtel | EXPRESS PHOTO
Hyderabad :
Have a valid mobile number and a Wi-Fi-enabled device? If yes, your commute in and around Hitec city has just become interesting, thanks to the free ‘Public Wi-Fi’ pilot initiative rolled out jointly by the Telangana government and telecom service provider Bharti Airtel.
Nearly 40,000 persons commuting between Cyber towers-Madhapur police station, Cyber Towers-Kothaguda junction and Cyber Towers-Raheja Mindspace circle are now entitled for free internet services of up to 750 mbps per day per user. As a part of its 3-month pilot, Airtel has set hotspots at 17 locations covering a total of 8 km around Hitec city for users to access free internet.
Typically, 750 mbps data usage will allow users with Wi-Fi-enabled devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, netbooks, phablets, to send nearly 200 mails without attachments and even watch a 2-2.5 hour movie i.e., if the service provider permits. ‘’This is just a beginning. We will come to a position where the entire city will be Wi-Fi enabled in about four months. Tendering process is going on. The entire 700 sq km of Hyderabad city will be covered under Wi-Fi soon,” said IT minister KT Rama Rao.
He added that enabling public access to superior Wi-Fi technology was a part of the government’s broader agenda to promote greater digital inclusion for citizens, therefore making Hyderabad, a ‘Global Smart City.’
According to Venkatesh Vijayraghavan, CEO, Bharti Airtel, AP and Telangana, optic fiber technology has been used to provide the service. ‘’Though the speed of internet will be 40 mbps, the same will depend on number of users at that point of time,” he said adding that the company was in the process of working out tariff.
For Airtel, this is the first such free Wi-Fi rollout across the country. After the pilot, Airtel will take a call on how to extend its services. When asked, if Airtel will consider expanding this service to other states, Vijayraghavan said the company was in silent period to discuss expansion plans.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by ENS Economic Bureau / October 11th, 2014
Folk artistes performing at the ‘Alai Balai’ festival in Hyderabad on Sunday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna / The Hindu
Organised at Necklace Road, the Alai-Balai cultural festival showcased the region’s varied culture
It provided a window to Telangana traditions. The sprawling Jal Vihar on Necklace Road presented the typical rural ambience of Telangana as the ‘Alai-Balai’ cultural fete was organised on Sunday. On display were both the culture and cuisine of Telangana.
The picturesque spot turned cultural arena from early morning as artistes showcased a variety of tribal dances. Colourfully attired Banjara women cast a spell with their rhythmic movements. Yellow-turbaned youth belted out foot-tapping music, sweat rolling down their bodies as they played the drums. Yonder a group presented the tribal dance, sporting the head gear of wild buffalo horns.
Bare-bodied men had everyone awe-struck as they flagellated themselves with whips, even as a Muslim boy atop a camel kept waiving a green flag. Secunderabad MP Bandaru Dattatreya, the man behind the festival, also joined the dancers and tried to match their steps. Golatalu, sannai vaidam, gondola nrityam, dhimsa were some of the typical Telangana dances which regaled everyone.
The Telangana cuisine was a lip-smacking affair: there were 40 odd varieties of dishes. Nearly 100 cooks were busy preparing Telangana dishes right from Saturday evening. About 50 huge containers and as many bowls were used to cook the fare. All those who turned up were first treated to ragi ambali served in earthen pots.
The non-vegetarian items included thala kura, natu kodi, veda mamsam, mokka jonna garalu, chapala pulusu, egg pulusu, jawar roti, sarva pindi. This apart there was the usual, sambar, white rice, dal and bagara khana.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 06th, 2014
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
(1) International specialists on urban planning Alfonso Govela and Tim Campbell (right) at the XI Metropolis World Congress (2) Interceptor police stand guard near HITEX (3) Bomb squad personnel checking the surrounding area near the venue of XI Metropolis World Congress at HICC in Hyderabad on Monday | A SURESH KUMAR
Hyderabad :
The much-awaited XI Metropolis World Congress, organised by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in coordination with the Telangana state government, commenced here on Monday.
While the media was kept away from the event, GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar later briefed newsmen about the day’s proceedings at the event. He said that “Day Zero of the XI Metropolis World Congress saw 857 register for the conference, including 135 people from abroad . He added that the event with the theme ‘Cities for All’, had five technical sessions on Voices of the Children, Empowering Youth, Habitat in Urban India, Housing For All and Metropolis ‘Hackathon’.
Kumar said, “We had a session titled ‘Voices of Children’ where we sought the opinions of children from across the country, who articulately described the problems in their citites/towns, including the need for improvement of housing, public toilets, better sanitation and waste management in slum areas, among others.”
According to the GHMC commissioner, children from across the country, including Maharashtra, Orissa and Delhi were present. “To get an insight into children’s thinking is very rare in conferences like these.
The children also brought to our notice the presence of electrical poles which hang dangerously as also the dirty condition of most of the transformers,” he added.
The GHMC Commissioner listed out some of the suggestions made by the youth on why it was essential to involve them in policy-making and decision-making. He further said: “We discussed the importance of providing affordable housing to everyone. Everybody present unanimously agreed that the participation of the private sector is a must to improve the quality of housing, ” he added.
Meanwhile, the international specialists on urban planning who attended the Metropolis Hackathon, were highly impressed with the participation from the youth of the City in the conference. Speaking to the newsmen after the event, Alfonso Govela, architect and founder of Mex Smart Cities, Alain Renk, architect and city planner from France, Tim Campbell, an independent observer and a holder of Phd in urban studies from MIT, Philip Weist, entrepreneur and author, and Subromonium Sarma, senior director of Indian School of Business, gave an insight into what transpired during the Metropolis Hackathon.
“At the hackathon, we asked the youth of Hyderabad to come and give us ideas using technology on how to make it a better city. We had 360 team entries, from which 20 have been chosen,” informed Sarma.
Alfonso Govela, who hails from France, said: “ I’m very glad to see plenty of vibrant ideas from the youth of Hyderabad. Out of the 20 teams, five will be chosen as winners and they shall work together with the government of Telangana, Microsoft and Indian School of Business to implement their ideas. These ideas can be used not just in Hyderabad, but across the world,” he said.
Impressed by the enthusiastic participation of children and youth during the event Tim Campbell said, Hyderabad city held a bright future.
Media Blackout
The print and electronic media were denied access to the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), where the XI Metropolis World Congress was taking place. They were instead provided with a media centre in the administrative building with a promise that live footage will be shown on screen. However, much to the dismay of the journalists present, the footage was not shown the entire day and the mediamen were totally unaware of what actually transpired at the event. It all started when the Public Relations group for the event Perfect Relations was replaced by Information & Public Relations (I&PR) at the last moment – i.e., late on Sunday evening by the government for inexplicable reasons. The mediamen were subsequently informed that they could not enter the premises and must instead stay put in the media centre and await press briefing from the officials. RV Chandravadan, Commissioner, I &PR, explained that there were very ‘specific’ reasons for this decision.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / Express News Service / October 07th, 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
