Uthappa not to don the big gloves

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

CRICKET / The dashing batsman confident of playing for India again

OPTIMISTIC:The prolific Robin Uthappa says he has become more consistent and feels people will take note again.— FILE PHOTO
OPTIMISTIC:The prolific Robin Uthappa says he has become more consistent and feels people will take note again.— FILE PHOTO

Robin Uthappa will not seek to keep wicket for Karnataka this Ranji Trophy season, believing it is best for “team chemistry.”

The 30-year-old shared the gloves with C.M. Gautam last time around, in an effort to bolster his credentials as a keeper-batsman, but the situation was recognised as not perhaps being ideal.

“Last season was a learning for me; I understood a little more about team chemistry,” Uthappa told The Hindu here on Thursday. “The chemistry works with CM keeping. And I respect that.

“Last year, we shared the duties but this year I’m going to allow CM to keep. And I think he should keep because it works well for the team. I don’t want to disturb that. For me it was a learning and I’ve accepted that learning and grown with that.”

After two glorious years, last season ended in disappointment for Karnataka, and Uthappa felt there was an element of things being taken for granted.

“Our batting didn’t fall into place. We couldn’t get 20 wickets. The rub of the green wasn’t going our way either. Eventually we missed the knockouts by a point. We were a little lacklustre in a few games.

“When the team’s good then sometimes you take things for granted. But we want to make amends for that this season. We’ve got the hunger, the drive, and motivation,” he said.

Not a fan of neutral venues

Uthappa admitted he was not a fan of playing at neutral venues. “I’ve been playing domestic cricket for 13 years and in the last three-four years crowds are actually turning up to watch Ranji Trophy games. It is very heartening. It is healthy for domestic cricket.

“To not see that happen this year would be a bit of a lull. I don’t know if this will last. I don’t know if this is the right way to go. But some teams were playing on such bad pitches that they were forced to take this option. Hopefully, it’s not something that will last too long,” he said.

Uthappa was last called up to the Indian team in 2015 following a good IPL season but was overlooked for the ODI and T20 tour of Zimbabwe this June. He was in fine form with the bat in the Ranji Trophy last season, scoring 759 runs at an average close to sixty.

“I have been staking a claim [for an India spot] every season. But it’s up to the selectors to make that call,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s disheartening. Especially when you watch other teams, other nations playing. You feel you’re missing out. But I do believe strongly that I will play again.

“People have seen me as flamboyant but not consistent. It’s taking time for people to relate to how I play. But consistency is something I’ve worked on. Hopefully people will take note again.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport / by Shreedutta Chidananda / Bengaluru – October 07th, 2016

Nagamma’s herbal medicine has many takers at Food Mela

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

nagammakf08oct2016

by Rajkumar Bhavasar

If you think that the ongoing Dasara Ahaara Mela is just for foodies, you are wrong. As the venue also is a place to cure your skin diseases and other common ailments.

Nagamma, a nature therapist or Naati Vaidya, has come all the way from Kodagu to provide medicines to visitors. And the medicines given by her are in great demand.

She offers a variety of natural plant medicines, consultation and treats minor illnesses. She has set up her shop inside the Bharath Scouts and Guides Grounds where the Ahaara Mela is being held. So much so that she has gone back to Kodagu to bring more medicines as the stocks what she had got exhausted due to great demand.

68-year-old Nagamma is the recipient of 2014 State Janapada Award and apart from being an expert folk singer, she has innate and immense knowledge about herbal medicines that have been handed over to her by her ancestors.

At Doddabettageri in Kodagu, where Nagamma lives in a tribal hamlet, people with common ailments like stomach and tooth aches, joint pains, fever, ear-related problems and diarrhoea get treatment from her. Her fame is spread far and wide and this time, she has come to Mysuru to offer her expertise.

People who have pain in their ears, fever, hand and leg sprains and allergies flock to her stall and get cured within a day. Jademada, one of her patients, swears by her treatment and says that the illness once treated by Nagamma will never recur.

Talking about her medicines, Nagamma said that the juice extracted from Gandhari leaves cure ear pains and wax discharges in just five minutes. If a person is totally affected by allergies or acne, a juice extracted from Gali leaves mixed with garlic can be applied on the infection.

“The patient will feel a sense of relief and within a couple of days, the skin problems will be completely cured. Also, Black Tualsi available abundantly even in cities is a very good medicine,” she says.

Nagamma is an expert in folk songs as well. Any special occasion within her tribe, she does not fail to sing, soothing the listening ears with her voice. Ganga puja, a prominent ritual in her tribe’s weddings is incomplete without Nagamma singing “Ondele ondadike, ondu gandhada bottu namma sastra…” She sings various folk songs throughout the rituals and continues even after that to entertain guests. Nagamma has also sung Sobane Padha for Akashavani and has gained a lot of praises.

“In my tribal hamlet, I treat hundreds of patients without even charging a single rupee. I have learnt about natural medicines, leaves, barks and roots from my forefathers. Now I am teaching the same to my daughter,” she says with a smile.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / October 05th, 2016

This lab uses coffee grounds to extract lead and other toxins from water

Coffee News, Science & Technology, World Opinion
This coffee-infused bioelastic foam can filter lead from water. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016
This coffee-infused bioelastic foam can filter lead from water. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016

Tune in tonight on PBS NewsHour where Miles O’Brien will look at the hazards and history of lead as part of his Leading Edge series.

Needless to say, humans have a coffee obsession.

Last year, global coffee consumption weighed in at 10 million tons — or one and half Great Pyramids worth of beans ground into caffeinated oblivion. Now, a lab at the Italian Institute of Technology wants to put those discarded grounds to good use.

The team has engineered a coffee grounds-infused foam that removes hazardous metals, like lead, from water. Though still in its prototype phase, this foam might be able to clear the worst levels of lead contamination found in places like Flint, Michigan, within a few hours.

“The proposed method is cheaper [than current large-scale filtration systems], since it uses principally costless waste,” said IIT physicist Despina Fragouli who led the project. “and more sustainable compared to other systems, where synthetic materials are used.”

The idea isn’t entirely new. Scientists have known for years that coffee contains chemical groups — called carboxylates — that stick to metals. Early attempts at this water remediation concept tried smashing the coffee grounds into a fine powder, which was then mixed into lead-tainted water. The toxic metals bind the powder, and together, they are filtered out of the water. But this procedure is a bit redundant — you need a filter for a filter.

Fragouli and her colleagues simplified this process by chemically infusing the coffee powder onto a elastic foam. The final spongy foam is 60 to 70 percent coffee by weight.

Left panel: Bioelastic foam with the spent coffee powder indicated by the yellow circles and the inset. Right panel: Pure elastic foam without coffee powder. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016
Left panel: Bioelastic foam with the spent coffee powder indicated by the
yellow circles and the inset. Right panel: Pure elastic foam without coffee powder. Photo by Chavan et al., ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 2016

“Both the coffee and the heavy metal ions are entrapped in the foam,” Fragouli said of her findings published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. “Therefore, no additional procedures are required for the removal of the [coffee] adsorbents and the pollutants from the water.”

So, a water official would simply pull the foam from the water to take out the metal toxins. The rate of removal depends on how much lead is in the water. If Fragouli’s team started with water containing nine parts per million of lead — 360 times higher than most common amount found during the Flint water crisis — the foam could remove a third of the contamination in 30 minutes.

Though promising, Fragouli said more research is needed to determine if the foam can obtain lead and mercury levels appropriate for drinking, especially with gunky water flowing through real-world pipes. So far, the sole field test occurred with wastewater from the IIT’s chemistry department, which contained a mixture of metal ions.

“The results show that the metal ions of interest can be effectively removed,” Fragouli said.

source: http://www.pbs.org / PBS Newshour / Home> The Run Down> Science / by Nsikan Akpan / September 28th, 2016

TUMMY TRAVELS – Is there a best Indian restaurant?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

The aptly named Folksy Food in Madikeri proves that often canteens serve genuine local fare

Although I’ve written about Indian food for 20 years, I’ve never been on a jury to crown the best restaurant in India. Perhaps that is a good thing. For if I were to put together a top list, it’d be full of no-frills joints that other food critics would look down their noses at.

Café Military would be in my top 10 — down the road from the Bombay Stock Exchange, a place where one spots brokers hogging comfort food such as dhansak or brain at the end of a bad market day. Also Yaseen Hotel on the corner just south of the Jama Masjid in old Delhi: their sign ‘good taste, cheap and best, all Mughlai dishes are served by hygienic environment’ says all that needs to be said.

My list of 10 would include homely places that consciously promote local food such as Kewpie’s, started by a Bengali cookbook author in Kolkata, Dalema in Bhubaneswar that dishes up Odisha for you, Gateway Paradise’s Assamese thali in Guwahati, the fish biryani at old Paris Hotel in Thalassery, and the seafood thali at Anantashram in Margao which is far from the touristy beaches of Goa.

As for best veg, any khanavali in Dharwad would qualify for its robust and hearty jolada roti with delicious badanekaayi yennegai — eggplant curry. The top list cannot ignore drinking dens like the surprisingly unknown Mangalorean bar Royal Garden on the Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru (near Hebbal Flyover), which never fails to amaze with its spicy fresh crabs and creative snacks like tandoori mushrooms stuffed with Amul cheese.

But at the top of my list, I’d put the aptly named Folksy Food in Kodagu, because having visited time and again for my regular fix of Kodava cooking, I’ve never once felt disappointed at the end of a meal.

It’s a tiny place in a nondescript shopping complex in Madikeri town — and with four tables it serves at the most 16 people at a time, typically office-goers in need of affordable lunches. Unlike restaurants patronised by tourists that showcase ‘foods of Coorg’ where chilli and oil are ladled on to satisfy undiscerning palates, here the fare feels 100 per cent wholesome and satisfyingly ‘tasty’.

Also, the menu isn’t pretentious or long-winded — in fact there is no printed menu at all. Apart from the basic veg meal, there are just four non-veg items subject to availability: mutton, chicken, fish and, of course, pork (the Kodava national dish).

Meaty role: Pork curry at Folksy Food comes in a peppery semi-gravy, with the local black vinegar kachampuli giving it a distinctive tang. Photo: Zac O'Yeah
Meaty role: Pork curry at Folksy Food comes in a peppery semi-gravy, with the local black vinegar kachampuli giving it a distinctive tang. Photo: Zac O’Yeah

Yesterday, I shared a meal with my wife and we polished off two bowls of rice; a house speciality called koot curry which is a local dish similar to sambar, but milder and loaded with succulent veggies of the season such as Mangalore cucumber; the loveliest of rasams with the right amount of jaggery in it to offset the pungency; a dry dish of curried bhindi; fried fish; pork (half plate); and chicken (half plate), which altogether totalled ₹300.

The rice at Folksy Food is always light and fragrant, freshly steamed, and the veggies are delicately prepared — nothing like the greasy mushes and dry rice that are all too frequently passed off as vegetarian cookery in budget restaurants — while the tender pork morsels, with a few chunks of the fatty stuff mixed in, are fried in a peppery semi-gravy, the local black vinegar kachampuli giving it a distinctive tang. The chicken is another speciality; richly coated in a pungent masala, the meat simply falls off the bone. The plump mackerel, the most favoured fish locally, has a crispy outside with a hint of coconut oil, and each bite melts in the mouth. Any day at lunchtime (closed on Sundays and public holidays) there are a large number of eager eaters, so it isn’t much of a place to linger on at. Also, there are no desserts, coffee or brandy that might make you want to loiter after you’ve licked off the last specks of gravy from your plate. But the family who owns it are chatty and cheerful folks, so it isn’t one of those brusque eat-and-go affairs either. More likely it is the envious face of some guest-in-waiting — hoping to score a table — that eventually makes you stop licking plates.

It must be added for the protocol that I’ve nothing against five-stars and never say no to a lavish repast (especially if somebody else is footing the bill). But thanks to my peripatetic lifestyle, I’ve found that the best canteens showcase genuine local cuisine, as close to home-cooking as it gets — and the simpler the eatery, the more dependable the eating experience, and vice versa.

So if Folksy Food was in, say, France and did exactly the same thing and as consistently as it does but in French, it would be written about in guidebooks and perhaps have a Michelin star. But despite being located in a popular tourist area, Folksy has stayed off the foodie radar.

It is perhaps for the better as such a tiny eatery couldn’t handle an onslaught of gourmets flying in from across the globe. Maybe I am making a mistake by writing about it, but I trust you to keep the secret. Further, if you know of a fantastic but largely unknown canteen devoted to homely food anywhere in India, please share all details with me.

Zac O’Yeah is a part-time travel writer and part-time detective novelist; zacnet@email.com

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> BLINK> Tummy Travels / by Zac O’Yeah / October 07th, 2016

Cultural programmes add colour to Dasara fervour

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The cultural programmes on account of Madikeri Dasara Janotsava was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza on Monday evening.

The cultural programmes will be held for 9 days. The DC said Madikeri Dasara is also known across the country. “The speciality of Navarathri Utsav is that development should be carried forward overcoming all evil forces. In spite of having all the facilities, people lack peace of mind. There is lack of unity. All of us should strive for peace and harmony in society through unity,” he added.

“In the era of internet, we have forgotten our own rich cultural legacy. The festivals help in preserving the culture and tradition of the land,” he felt.

CMC Vice President T S Prakash said there is a need to create awareness on Karaga of Shakthi Devathas which are taken out a procession in the city on all the nine days of Dasara.

A team of Natya Mayuri Nritya School presented a variety of cultural programmes. Green Mountain College team presented a variety of dance and Karagata. Dance by Bhairavi troupe from Bengaluru enthralled the audience.

Empty chairs

Though cultural programmes unraveled a ‘cultural world,’ the lack of audience dampened the spirit of the artistes.

Expecting a huge gathering, the cultural programmes were inaugurated late. However, empty chairs welcomed the artistes.

Sports meet in Madikeri

The district-level Dasara sports meet, to be organised as part of Dasara Janotsava, would be inaugurated on October 5.

Briefing mediapersons, Dasara Sports Committee President M D Sada Muddappa said Additional Deputy Commissioner M Sathish Kumar would flag off a marathon at General Thimmaiah Stadium. The district-level men’s Kabaddi will be held on October 8. National Hockey player Nudumanda Nisha Nanjappa would be inaugurated on October 6, he added.

The marathon competitions would be held in six categories — first standard to third standard students (1-km), fourth and fifth standard students (1.5-km), sixth and seventh standard students(2-km), eighth to 10th standard students(5-km), men (10-km) and for women (5-km).

On October 6, competitions like throwball for women, football (five players in each team), for men, 100 metre race for senior citizens would be held in addition to slow motor cycle race, race and shotput for journalists and CMC members. For details, contact 9448325904.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Madikeri, October 04th, 2016

Sports events begin

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports
Olympian Ashwini Ponnappa and Paralympian Deepa Malik holding the Kreeda Jyoti during the inauguration of Dasara in Mysuru on Saturday.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM
Olympian Ashwini Ponnappa and Paralympian Deepa Malik holding the Kreeda Jyoti during the inauguration of Dasara in Mysuru on Saturday.— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

The Kreeda Jyoti was lit and handed over to Olympian Ashwini Ponnappa at the Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hills on Saturday.

Ms. Ponnappa, along with other athletes, ran for a distance before handing it over to veteran athletes. The athletes then installed the torch at the Chamundi Vihas stadium where the Dasara sports events were being held.

As many as 22 games have been organised for this year’s Dasara. Over 8,000 sportspersons will be taking part. Paralympic Deepa Malik and Ms. Ponnappa jointly inaugurated the sports event later at the stadium.

The half-marathon will be held on October 2 and October 9 and over 500 people have already registered for the event.

Earlier, Ms. Ponnappa and Ms. Malik were felicitated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / Mysuru – October 02nd, 2016

International Coffee Day celebrated in Kodagu

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

Madikeri :

International Coffee Day was celebrated in Kodagu by giving piping hot coffee to tourists at Dubare elephant camp.

Representatives of 77 nations are members of the International Coffee Association and the Coffee Day is celebrated worldwide to promote coffee sales on par with prouction.

Woman folk took the lead in coffee awareness programme. Kodagu deputy commissioner R V D’souza inaugurated the coffee show. He said Kodagu produces the best quality coffee while stressing the need for better marketing.

Madikeri DFO Edukondalu opined that such awareness campaigns will help increase coffee consumption.

Senior scientist from Appangala Research Station Dr. Ankegowda said coffee is a healthy drink and many researches have proved it.

Convener of the women team of coffee awareness campaign Chitra Subbaiah announced that more and more awareness campaigns will be conducted in coming days. She appealed to the tourism department to provide Kodagu coffee to tourists who visit the district.

Several coffee products were exhibited during the coffee festival. In Madikeri also several organizations served coffee to tourists at Raja Seat.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Mysore / TNN / October 03rd, 2016

Street plays, brewing demo to mark ‘International Coffee Day’ on Oct 1

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, World Opinion

Bengaluru :

Coffee Board of India will mark ‘International Coffee Day’ on October 1 by organising CAFFEST in partnership with coffee growers, industry stakeholders and consumers.

The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) declared October 1 as ‘International Coffee Day’ in 2015. “This year we will be celebrating the second International Coffee Day at the Coffee Board headquarters in Bengaluru,” said the Coffee Board’s Finance Director.

The day presenets an opportunity to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events organised across the world.

As part of CAFFEST, the Coffee Board is planning to provide a platform to showcase the best Indian coffees wherein young coffee entrepreneurs and Self Help Groups (SHGs) will showcase their products. A brewing demonstration will also be organised for the benefit of the pubic to educate them on the positive aspects of coffee drinking.

On the occasion, a street play and a skit on the theme coffee will be enacted by the well-known TV/stage artist from Prathibha Art Foundation, Bengaluru, in two sessions – at 11 am and 4 pm. A poster designing competition on the theme of coffee will also be organised.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Economy> Agri Business / by Anil Urs / Bengaluru – September 28th, 2016

Sharjah: Multitalented Ganesh Rai to be honoured with ‘Global Man Award’

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Dubai :

Multitalented former president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, B K Ganesh Rai is being bestowed with the ‘Global Man Award 2015’ for his contributions to Kannada language, literature, art, folk and social service both globally and in India and is the only one chosen from the UAE for this award. The award will be presented to him during the 12th Vishwa Kannada Samskruthi Sammelana and 13th anniversary of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah celebrations to be held on November 19 and 20 at Al Boom Tourist Village, Sharjah, UAE.

Ganesh Rai is the name that flashes in the minds of every Kannadiga specially in the UAE when it comes to matters of creativity. Multitalented, one can call him “Sakala Kala Vallaban”, be it different forms of painting, from miniatures to wall size, various forms of sculptures, from paper pulp to plaster or parry’s, large stage settings, tableaux, palatial sets, photography, videography, brochures, digital banners, souvenirs, models… you name it and you will find the skills in this great man, Ganesh Rai. He will simply smile and says yes without any hesitation, as for him work is worship and so he does it with ease. He is a good speaker too, a recepient of “Karnataka State Best Teacher Award” in the year 1993.

Hailing from Madikeri, Coorg, Ganesh Rai was born to Thulasiamma and Krishnappa Rai who themselves sound ‘Krishna Tulasi’, close to the Lords. Madikeri has gifted to the world this unique personality called Ganesh Rai who always keep saying “Elladaru iru, yenthadaru iru, yendendhigu nee Kannada vaagiru. (Live wherever you want to, be whatever you want to be, but remain a Kannadiga forever).”

Professor of art, B K Ganesh Rai needs no introduction in this part of the world. He is a person who rises above boundaries of colour, caste, creed, religion and language. Be it a request for art, stage setting, designing, printing, executing brochures, logos, invitations, souvenirs, sculpture, decorating stage from any corner of people, any corner of UAE, at any point of time, you will find only one person who creates with a smile and executes in spite of his busy schedule. ‘Sirigannadam Gelge, Sirigannadam Baalge’ – he never forgets to say that when completing his speech in any of the respected podiums he addresses.

Ganesh Rai’s Work – Service without Boundaries

* Turnkey project management for almost all social organisations without linguistic barriers
* Conceptualization, designing, printing and distribution of invitations
* Creation of giant size banners, stage backdrops, stage settings, cut-outs, posters etc.
* Creative journalism writing to various web media flashing timely news around the world
* Publication of high profile visit reports of specially invited artistes and guests from India
* Master of ceremony (MC) par excellence with easy flow of language and literature
* Conceptualization of ‘Certificate of Honour’ for dignitaries, high profile guests, artistes etc.
* Concept, design and execution of various souvenirs to almost all the existing Associations in UAE
* Creating sculptures especially Ganesha idol every year, Narayan Guru idol and many more
* Paintings of deities, brush arts, pencil art, charcoal art and various naturalistic creations
* Assumed and discharged active role as president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in 2004
* Conducted first blood donation camp for Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in association with MOH
* Attends all blood donation camps organised by various associations and spreads awareness
by creating banners, role-ups and notices for blood donation camps and providing media news
* Compiled, created and released brochure of all Karnataka-based organisations’ blood donations. Brochure released by M K Lokesh, Ambassador of India
* Record of Indian blood donors presented to governments of India, UAE and Karnataka
* Helping the unfortunate deceased Indians in formalities of sending the mortal remains to India
* Enlightening and spreading the essence of Kannada as a soldier of Karnataka to Kannadigas
* Attained appreciations and accolades from almost all Karnataka based associations, and from Tamil, Malayalam and other Indian associations
* Won accolades from NMC Group where he is serving as creative art director
* Supported people of Bangladesh during the flood and natural disasters and helped those affected by the calamities.

Rai, a BCom graduate of Government College, Madikeri, a fine arts diploma holder of Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Art6s, an art master certificate holder from Kalanikethan School of Arts, Mysore and Mahalasa School of Arts, Mangaluru, is very well supported by his charming wife Manjula Rai, beautiful daughter Aishwarya Rai and handsome son Monish Rai.

Below are some of the creations for which he has been applauded:

Rai’s creations in India

Sculpture / Statues: Created Pushpanjali, Elephants, Lion and Carving Designs in the year 1974 at Govt Junior College Madikeri – Courtesy P P Ayyanna, principal, and unveiled by Field Marshal K M Cariappa

Ganapathy Statues: From 1979 onwards he has created more than 350 statues (2ft – 12 ft) for Karnataka Electricity Board Madikeri 1979-1995, Archana Ganapathy Festival, Virajpet, Angala Parameshwari Temple, Virajpet, Sri Rama Mandir Dechoor Madikeri, Hindu Yuva Shakti New Extn, G T Circle, Madikeri.

Paper Pulp Statues: Created paper moulding statues 8ft-12ft of different styles at Madikeri Dasara Festival, Gonikoppal Dasara Festival, viz, Ganapathy, Natya Ganapathy, Durga Parameshwari, Lakshmi, Saraswaty, Cauvery, Subramanya, Veera Hanumaan, Soorya Bhagavan with Seven Horses, Shanmuka Tarakasura vadhe, Vishnu Bhagavan, Narada, Thumbura, Shiva Linga, Lions, Tigers, Swamy Ayyappa, Maha Kali and many more. Also at Kanchi Kamakshi Temple Gouli street Madikeri, Kote Mariyamma Temple new Extn. Madikeri, Dechoor Sri Rama Mandir Madikeri, Kote Ganapathy Temple Madikeri, Kundurumotte Chamundeshwari Temple Madikeri Uma Maheshwari Temple Gonikoppal, Sree Hanuman Garadi, Beltangadi, South Canara, Bhuvaneshwari Statue – Kannada Rajyotsava celebration – Virajpet etc.

Concrete Moulding Statues: Created 9 ft Cauvery Statue both front and back faced double dimension in front of Cauvery Kalakshetra Madikeri, St Michael Statue (9 ft) at St Michael’s Church Madikeri, St Mary Statue at Kedamalloor Church – Virajpet, Nandi Basava – Arameri Kalancheri Mata statues, Raghavendra Swamy Statue at Raghavendra Temple – Mantralaya, AP, Karu Mariyamma / Nandi / Shiva Linga statues at Karu Mariyamma Temple Madikeri, Swamy Vivekananda 12 ft statue at Cauvery Krupa Madikeri and Prabhavali at Ganapathy Temple Virajpet

Wax Statues: Created Ganapathy, Lakshmi, Sarswathy, Cauvery statues at Madikeri.

Oil Colour/Water Colour Paintings: Created Birth Place of Cauvery oil color canvas painting for Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Board, Chennai. Also created Field Marshal K M Cariappa lifesize oil colour painting, Gopala Krishna Gokale lifesize oil colour painting for Govt Junior College Auditorium Madikeri, Coorg landscape paintings in oil colour for Public Library Virajpet, Jayaprakash Narayan oil colour portrait for A B Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, Omkareshwara Temple by night oil colour painting for Lalitha Kala Academy Bengaluru and many painting collections in Delhi, USA, Australia, France, Dubai etc.

Besides, he has participated in a number of art exhibitions in several places right from 1977.

Souvenir Cover Page Design and Logos

Created souvenir pages for 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Madikeri, Madikeri Kodava Samaj Amruta Mahotsava (80 Years), Karnataka Police Centenary Celebration, St Anne’s Church 200 years Celebration, Kodagu Dist Honey & Wax Co-op Society Virajpet.

Created logos for Kodagu District Co-op Central Bank, Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodagu Zilla Parishat, 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Taranga Virajpet, St Anne’s High School Virajpet, Many more commercial company

He was responsible for multi-coloured picture, offset printing at Shivakasi which was the first time a multi-coloured picture was published in Kodagu (1980)

Birth Place of River Cauvery – Released by Field Marshal K M Cariappa.
Tala Cauvery – Poster released by A Ramaswamy, former deputy commissioner, Kodagu
Tala Cauvery – Triveni Sangama, Theerta Kundike – Picture cards released by M K Poovaiah
Tala Cauvery – Raja Seat Madikeri, Abbi Falls Madikeri – Greetings cards released by R Gundu Rao, the then chief minister of Karnataka
Cauvery – Amar Chitra Katha (pictorial book) Kannada, English, Kodava language released by M C Nanaiah, the then law minister of Karnataka government.
Aishwaraiswara Kubera Lakshmi, Framing picture – Released by Shekar Shetty of Arab Udupi Group of Hotels UAE

Organisations Served

President –Kodagu Kala Parishat / Kodagu Art Masters Association
Secretary –Bharat Scouts and Guides Taluk Association
Secretary –Kodagu District Bunts Association
Founder Member – ‘Taranga’ Cultural Association Virajpet
Technical Advisor – Field Marshal K M Cariappa Statue Committee, Madikeri

Rai’s activities in United Arab Emirates from 1996 onwards

Served as creative art director at Mirrage Advertising, Winning Communivations, Modern Graphics and now currently serving as creative director in Gulf Public Relations Advertising – Signage Division, NMC Group

Public Service

President – Karnataka Sangaha Sharjah 2004 – 2006
Entertainment Secretary – Karnataka Sangha Dubai 2000-2002
Art Director – UAE Tulu Koota Dubai, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE
Organising Committee Member – UAE Bunts -2000-2001
Blood Donation Camp, 2006 – Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman and Ministry of Health, Sharjah

Art works created in UAE: Digital banners created with the concept of Karnataka art and culture and Indian traditional art for Karnataka Sangha Dubai, UAE Tulu Koota, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, UAE Bunts, Mogaveers UAE, Billawas Dubai & Northers Emirates, Billawas Dubai, Gulf Billawa Sangha, Daiji Rang Mandir, Symphony Music Institute – Ajman/Sharjah, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Nama Tuluveru UAE, Vishwakarma Seva Samiti UAE, Devaadiga Sangha UAE.

Logos created in UAE for Karnataka Sangah Sharjah, UAE Tulu Koota (decennial), UAE Bunts, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Al Ain Kannada Sangha, Dhvani Pratistana UAE (silver jubilee), Mogaveers UAE, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Gulf Kannadiga Forum, Devadiga Sangha UAE, UAE Tamil Sangam, Mangalore Konkans (20 years), Daiijiword website, Kannadadhvani website

Stage settings and gateway creations in UAE with the concept of Karnataka art and culture and Indian traditional art for Karnataka Sangah Dubai – Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore setting in 2001, Mysore Palace setting in 2002 (Karnatakotsava – Vishnuvardhan Kannada cine star), UAE Tulu Koota – Tulunadu setting.

Tableaux, gateways and souvenirs designed

* UAE Bunts Souvenir Cover page design – 1999
* Karnataka Sangha Dubai Souvenir – “Gaana Vaibhava”2001 , “Chandana” 2010
* Karnataka Sangha Sharjah – “Saadhane” – 2006
* Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha “Rajata Rashmi” – 2006
* Mangalore Konkans Dubai 2003 – 2010
* Billawas Dubai & Northern Emirates “Suvarna Kedage”- 2007
* UAE Tulukoota – “Sangama” 2000
* St Mary’s Church Dubai – 2005
* St Francis Assisi Jebal Ali – 2007
* St Michael’s Church Sharjah
* SMC Malayalee Catholics
* Tamil Sangam Ras Al Khaimah
* SMC Fr Daniel’s Hon Souvenir
* Dhvani Pratistaana UAE – “Kannada Naadu Nudi Rakshane” Cover
* Karnataka Sangha Sharjah -” Suvarna Karnataka Picture Card”

Besides, he has written and conceptualised a book titled ‘Footprints – A fascinating journey’ to Padmashri Dr B R Shetty.

Awards

Honoured at Govt Junior College Madikeri 1974 at Field Marshal K M Cariappa unveiling ceremony of sculptured art work, Main Gate GJC Madikeri
Karnataka State Best Teacher Award – 1993 by Karnataka Teachers Benefit Fund Bangalore
Karnataka Rajyotsava District Award -1987 by R Gundu Rao, the then chief minister of Karnataka
Gold Medal -1987 at Lakshadeepotsava Dharmasthala by Dr Veerendra Heggade
State Level Honouring – 1993 – at Gokrananatheshwara Temple Mangaluru, by Sri Pejawar Swamiji
Dr Shivaram Karanth Shilpa Kala Rathna Award – 1983 at Karnataka Electricity Board – Madikeri, by K A Somanna, state commissioner, Bharat Scouts – Karnataka
Kala Praveena Award – 1984 Ganapathy Utsava Samiti Gandhi Nagara Virajpet by Sri Shanthamalla Swamiji, Arameri Mata
Kala Kirana Award – 1990 at Angala Parameshwari Temple Virajpet, by M K Poovaiah, president, town muncipal council, Virajpet
Honoured at 100 years Karnataka Police Celebration – 1984 by P S Ramanujam, DIG Mysore
Honoured at Lalitha Kala Academy, Bangalore -1991 by P R Thippeswamy, president, Lalitha Kala Academy Bangalore
Honoured at Madikeri Dasara – Navaratri festival by M C Nanaiah, the then law minister Karnataka
Honourred at Sarva Dharma Sammelana – Arameri Math, by Shiva Kumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math,Tumakuru and Shantha Malla Swamiji Kalncheri Arameri Math
Honoured at Madikeri Dasara Utasav Temples by Kanchi Kaamkshi Temple, Kote Mariyamma Temple
Honoured by Kodagu Bunts Association 1993 at Rotary Hall Madikeri
Honoured at Vishwa Bunts Convention -1993 at Art Exhibition – Chitra Kala Parishat Bangalore by Dr Shivarama Karanth and Jeevaraj Alva, the then minister of Kannada and culture, Karnataka

Awards in UAE

Was honoured with ‘Mayura Award’ by Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in 2009
Received ‘Prathiba Puraskar Award’ at Vishwa Kannada Cultural Convention in 2009
Honoured at Nama Tuluveru ‘Tuluvere Parba 2012’
Honoured at Kuvempu Utsava 2012 at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Honoured at UAE Bunts Satyanarayana Pooja by Dr. B.R. Shetty in 2015
Honoured at UAE Tulukoota Silver Jubilee Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Devadigas Dubai Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Ramakshatriya Sangha in 2015
Honoured by Shri. Veerendra Hegde at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sanga Rajyotsava Celebration 2015

Other than the above there are innumerable events Ganesh Rai has contributed selflessly to in one or the other way which was noticed and appreciated by the concerned on various occasions.

In my view, Ganesh Rai should be considered as a great asset to the Kannadigas in the UAE and India as well, for his contribution so far. With his sheer enthusiasm and commitment towards Kannada and Tulu language, he is promoting community spirit from so many years in this part of the world. He deserves all accolades and appreciation from the government of Karnataka which should recognize his service towards Kannada/Tulu language, art, folk and literature packed with a unique blend of artistry, social awareness, commitment of service to humanity and honour him soon.

Wishing him more success in his future endeavor.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Top Stories / by Shodhan Prasad / Dubai – November 19th, 2015