Team India motivated from losses before World Cup: Robin Uthappa

Sports
Robin Uthappa (Photo: PTI)
Robin Uthappa (Photo: PTI)

It seems Robin Uthappa knows a thing or two about playing World Cup cricket since he has been a part of two dramatically different ones within a single year. From the ignominy of a first knock out round in West Indies to the joy of being crowned champions of inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa, he has experienced it all at the age of just 21.

A year into international cricket, Robin went on to play in the two World Cups in 2007. He subsequently lost touch and his India’s place but now attempts to get his chequered career back on track.

From being this season’s Ranji top scorer with 912 runs averaging above 50 to leading the run scoring charts in last year’s IPL with 660 runs averaging 44, Robin is churning down numbers everywhere.

Uthappa is so determined to earn back his Team India cap that donning the gloves in test match cricket is also a possibility he doesn’t want to discount. “Keeping has been a lot of fun and I have been enjoying it. MS has just retired. So I am fancying myself there. Never know what comes in. I believe I have the kind of fitness that is needed to play at that level. I am hopeful my performances would be taken note of,” he says.

Till he makes a comeback Robin is keeping his fingers crossed for Dhoni’s men who are on a roll in Australia. If 2007 was forgettable, 2015 promises to be a year to remember, much like 2011. “It’s important to take the defending champs tag off your back which they have done. India is doing great, growing from strength to strength. To see the bowlers bowling so well and the bowlers fielding so well is fantastic. They are playing well as a team with MS leading beautifully as usual. It is also great to have Shikhar back in form at top of the order,” he analyses.

And Robin isn’t surprised with the team’s resurgence after the drubbing they received earlier in tests and the tri series in Australia. “Whenever you have a dampening sort of tournament before World Cup this can happen. In 2003 we had a dampening tour of New Zealand just before the Cup and the boys picked themselves up. Cricketers motivate themselves from losses. Our bunch of boys have desire to win and excel. Hopefully it will be good enough to win back the trophy. So three more games and we should have it back here,” he speaks with infectious optimism. India waits with bated breath for Robin’s prophecy to come true.

source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / IndiaToday.in / Home> Sports> World Cup 2015> Updates / by Rasesh Mandani, Mumbai / March 16th, 2015

A Museum That is a Repository of the Past

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Bengaluru :

Is it enough to preserve the past or do we also need to maintain its particularities with informed respect?

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Architect and restoration expert H C Thimmaiah, who is part of The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in Bengaluru says, “It is heartening that we are at least talking about Bengaluru’s heritage but we must be careful with how we maintain it. The Government Museum is a beautiful building. The brick red colour of such classical buildings must not be tampered with. The museum has very specific features right from the details on its pillars to its windows that have been maintained well but all old structures require an understanding of historical and architectural context. And sensitivity towards just how they must be painted, how the flooring, ceilings, the facade must be treated.”

Restore with sensitivity

As the debate about the need to retain and maintain heritage structures in Bengaluru warms up, we are told by a source that The Bowring Institute was considering a facelift sometime back. Thankfully, the plan to replace the original flooring with marble was met with some resistance within the circle of influential members who asked for Attangudi tiles or something more contextual considering it is hard today to reproduce the classic mosaic from the past.

museum02bf24feb2015

Thimmaiah, who built a house in Kodagu with upcycled elements taken from destroyed old homes, is passionate about authenticity and recalls, “A few years ago when Bangalore Club was being repainted, a paint manufacturer scratched the walls to take a sample of the signature greyish blue paint and recreated it for a fresh coat. He later told me that the paint colour would be called Bangalore Club Blue from now on.”

Prominent buildings like the Bangalore Club and the Government Museum may be better off but the architect wishes that INTACH was more active in the city for the sake of other structures. After the death of convener H R Pratibha, INTACH has been keeping a low profile. He says, “Today, bodies like INTACH and The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) must come together to guard even the lesser known aspects of our heritage and not just the showpieces. In Bengaluru, you won’t find even a single space like Mumbai’s Dadabhai Naoroji Road.”

Are private spaces not our heritage?

Architect and urban planner Dyan Belliappa is happy that the city is looking with fresh appreciation at buildings like the Government Museum and says, “The interest in Bengaluru’s public buildings post the Balabrooie Guest House debate is welcome but the city also has a built heritage of private structures some of which were a lot older than the Guest House and have been demolished with nobody even coming to know about them. While we will probably continue to revere a Vidhan Soudha, there are private structures in the Ulsoor area, around Majestic which are going with not one voice raised in protest.”

To the right of the new Airport Road, he shares, there was a fantastic old structure built with stone masonry. He says, “That kind of stone masonry will be hard to find or duplicate and yet it was destroyed. In Begur, there is a temple linked to a lake. The temple may outlast change but will the lake be treated as part of our heritage too? Even the Malleswaram Market is a heritage sprawl but will BBMP treat it as such? One building or two or just a few are not our heritage. Our lakes were our heritage too but they were just treated as water bodies and so many are gone, as are our trees.”

He adds, “Mumbai has a structured approach towards the preservation of spaces. Some private buildings cannot be touched. Others can be modified but with sensitivity. The fact that an independent body like the Bangalore Urban Art Commission was dissolved in 2001 says a lot. Today the BMMP reflects what we value in our city but our heritage was our way of life. How does one codify that or our memories? How does one resist the haste to acquire and sell land and knock off structures because they get in the way of ‘urban development’? Our priorities are misplaced and we need to rethink the meaning of heritage.”

Contextualise the past

Organic architect professor A R Jaisim has the last word, “The Bengaluru Museum is a beautiful building. Attara Kacheri has been beautifully preserved too. Our city’s present must make space for its past because if the past is erased, we will have no memories. Heritage must be contexualised and included in the present because without it, we have no stories to pass on to the next generation.”

Trivia

The Government Museum on Kasturba Road is a reminder of Bengaluru’s colonial heritage. In 1851, after the Madras Government Museum was established, Bengaluru got its own museum in 1865 and is today, the second oldest in South India. E G Balfour, a medical officer of the Madras Army, came to Bengaluru in the 1860s and with his support, the Chief Commissioner of Mysore State, L B Bowring established the Government Museum or the Mysore Government Museum on August 18, 1865. The museum was originally housed at the Cantonment’s jail building but then a site in Cubbon Park was selected. Col R S Sankey, the Chief Engineer of Mysore planned and built the museum in 1878.

Fun facts: The museum was once known as ‘Thamashe Bungalow’. On Mondays, women in purdah visited the museum and men were not allowed.

Collections: The museum has two exhibition floors which are divided into 18 galleries covering sculpture, natural history, geology, art, music and numismatics. It has a collection of archaeological, geological artefacts and artefacts belonging to the Neolithic period.

Timings: 10 am to 5 pm (except on Wednesday when it is closed)

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Reema Moudgil / November 03rd, 2014

Several developmental works kicked off

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

MLA K G Bopaiah opined that everybody’s cooperation is needed for overall development of villages.

He was speaking at a programme held in Payaswini Sahakara Sadana, after initiating various development works in Sampaje Gram Panchayat limits recently.

He said everyone should get basic amenities. The work of providing electric connection from Madikeri, which was sidelined from many years, has been completed.

He told BPL card holders to avail electrification benefits under Deendayal Upadyana electrification scheme.

Sampaje Gram Panchayat President Anitha Chandrashekhar presided over the programme. Vice President Kumar Chidkar, Payaswini Sahakara Sangha President Balachandra Kalagi and others were present.

The MLA performed ground breaking towards various development works at Sampajebail, Arekall, Aramanethotabhaga, Kuntikana, Mangalapare, Guddegadde, Kuvekadu, Ambatekaje, Chadavu, Koyanadu guddegadde, Kallala, Chittekana, Mundadka and other parts in the limits of Sampaje. Also ground breaking was done towards bridge on Kootelu Tekkitadka stream.

Meanwhile, Drinking water tank and public toilets were inaugurated.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Napoklu , DHNS / March 11th, 2015

Can’t spread my arms like SRK: Gulshan Devaiah

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
Gulshan Devaiah in ''Hunterrr
Gulshan Devaiah in ”Hunterrr

New Delhi:

Being a good-looking romantic actor – a la Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan – was not what Gulshan Devaiah was aiming at when he stepped into filmdom. It was Manoj Bajpayee’s gritty role in ‘Satya’ and Ram Gopal Varma’s dark works that inspired him to be a performance-oriented talent.

Known for playing second lead but intense roles in films like ‘Shaitan’ and ‘Hate Story’, Gulshan said: “I was five or six years old when I thought of being an actor. I grew up imitating Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.

“But it was after watching Manoj Bajpayee in ‘Satya’ and old films of Ram Gopal Varma that I decided that I wanted to be a performance-oriented actor rather than just be a good looking one or a romantic actor.”

The actor, who also looks up to the critically acclaimed Irrfan Khan, says what superstars like Shah Rukh and Salman do on the big screen, he can’t.

“I love Shah Rukh and Salman’s films. But I can never spread my arms and look cool. I wanted to do it, but couldn’t. So, I figured out my strength and started polishing it,” said the actor, who moved to Mumbai from Bengaluru in 2008 to follow his film acting dream.

He is content with his projects.

“I’m happy that I have a film career. I have films in hand and I’m happy living my dream,” said Gulshan, who has films like ‘Cabaret’, ‘Love Affair’ and ‘Junooniyat’.

In ‘Hunterrr’, which releases on March 20, he will be seen playing the protagonist. The film is about a sex addict and his lustful journey in life.

“As a protagonist, I have greater responsibility. It is an entertaining script and I hope it does well. But I don’t have unrealistic expectations from the film,” he said of the movie, directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, and which also stars Radhika Apte and Sai Tamhanka in important roles.

As much as he loves acting, Gulshan is sure that television is not the medium for him –at least not for now.

“Some people can do a lot of episodes. I like to work for 50 to 60 days and then move on to another project. I don’t think I have the aptitude for TV right now. Maybe in the future,” he said.

Till then, he hopes to entertain the masses with films that let him explore his versatility.

“I hope I get lots of variety in films that I do. I hope I don’t get slotted in one area. I am trying to experiment with my film career,” he said.

IANS
source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Z News / Home> Breaking News> Entertainment News> Celebrity / Wednesday – March 11th, 2015

A cricketer’s challenge prompts nutrition venture

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Two IIM-A, alumni start a company delivering healthy food at the click of a mouse after Robin Uthappa made a request for a nutritional plan

Tapan Kumar Das and Ryan Fernando were running a nutrition clinic, Qua Nutrition, in Bengaluru when one of their clients, cricketer Robin Uthappa, asked them to provide food based on a nutrition plan.

This challenge prompted Das, former vice-president (finance) of e-retailer Flipkart (2010-2011), and Fernando to launch iTiffin in September 2013.

Uthappa, who has played 38 One-Day Internationals for India and is the son of Venu Uthappa, a hockey referee from Coorg, is a fitness fanatic. As a client of Qua Nutrition, Uthappa managed to shed 20 kg in six months by following a strict diet.

This success inspired Das and Fernando to take nutrition to the doorstep of their clients. Fernando had some experience in the nutrition segment.

Another investor, who did not want to be named, said: “The iTiffin team represents a unique combination of management, nutrition, information technology and chefs. It serves balanced meals.”

He added there was a huge market for this and iTiffin, a pioneer, would have an edge over other players, with its strong research and development team.

The challenge, however, would be the central management. “Delivering meals at a longer distance would be time consuming. Setting up distribution networks would help run operations smoothly.”

A menu for success

A regular iTiffin meal – for lunch, dinner or midnight snack – comprises rice, roti, daal, subzi, salad and a sweet. It serves those undergoing a diet regime or fighting diabetes or even children whose parents what them to have a healthy diet.

The menu has north or south Indian cuisine as well as continental food. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarians are catered to by ordering through the iTiffin website on a monthly subscription.

Weekly prices range between Rs 500 and Rs 3,000, depending on the cuisine and nutritional needs of the customer.

On its board, iTiffin has 15 nutritionists. “We also have a tie-up with the University of Mysore to chart a healthy menu,” said Das.

Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Malini Deekshit has been a patron of iTiffin for nearly a year. Googling for a daily food service, she found iTiffin,

“Their pricing is okay and they are very efficient. They are always on time,” she said, adding the healthy brown rice on the menu was her favourite.

The road so far

From a family of teachers in Odisha, Das – the chief executive officer of iTiffin – moved to Bengaluru to start YLG, a salon and spa.

“I was the only commerce student in a house full of science graduates,” said Das, a chartered accountant. “But I finally made my dream to be an entrepreneur a success.”

With a Masters in food biotechnology and biochemistry, Das has a decade’s experience in marketing, finance and in developing health entities.

While Das and Fernando invested Rs 10 lakh, Uthappa, an international cricketer, put in Rs 1.5 crore.

Claiming to be a pioneer, iTiffin now has a 3,000 sqft kitchen and its own supply chain.

Innovation masala

But there are challenges aplenty, the most important being retaining customers beyond 180 days.

“Everyone knows how important a healthy diet is but few are willing to make it a habit,” said Das. “So, we must provide variety to cater to their palates as well.”

Variety poses challenges of its own – standardisation.

“Providing variety and quailty is a challenge,” said Das, “As is maintaining consistency.”

Recently, iTiffin launched unique meal packages for corporate employees. Keeping in mind their long hours and sedentary lifestyles, a study was conducted by a panel of experts to map the nutritional requirements of corporate employees.

The vegetarian meal, delivered to the patron’s office, balances carbohydrates with protein. Everything is cooked in olive oil, and adds to just 550 kilo-calories (k-cal), allowing the patron to stay well within 2,220 k-cal a week, recommended for men.

More on the plate

Now, iTiffin supplies about 50,000 meals a month in Bengalaru.

About 60 employees work at its kitchen in Whitefield. Das said the business has a 50 per cent gross margin.

In its first year, iTiffin had crossed the milestone of 100,000 meals, catered to 5,000 customers and had an average customer retention period of 60 days.

Over the next six to 12 months, iTiffin wants to touch 100,000 meals a month and expand its presence to 20 cities. As it expands, the number of employees is likely to go up to 200.

Besides own growth, iTiffin also plans to collaborate with others, and open franchisees.

The company is aiming at an annual turnover of Rs 30-50 crore, from the current Rs 3 crore. Das said to expand operations, iTiffin plans to raise $5-6 million of venture capital.

Beyond serving meals, the company wants to educate users in healthy diets and living.

FACT BOX

Area of business: Bengalaru
Founded: 2013
Funding: Tapan Das and Ryan Fernando invested Rs 10 lakh and cricketer Robin Uthappa put in Rs 1.5 crore
Total customer base: 50,000 meals a month
Revenue: Rs 3 crore

EXPERT TAKE

More and more Indian families need two or more earning members, and home-cooked food is a rare luxury. Metropolitan cities in India are following the trend seen globally, eating out or ordering food home.

The food and catering industry is more than $20 billion in size but largely unorganised. Home delivery is its largest segment, growing 20 per cent a year.

There are many “internet only” food companies that operate through mobile apps or portals. However, a model of regimented canteen food is tough to sustain.

Most customers would be unhappy with a one-size-fits-all menu.

So, iTiffin is trying to get institutional orders – from schools, companies and hospitals. The market is very competitive and it is very difficult to differentiate from competition. Margins are tight.

To make a mark in this segment, as iTiffin has done, is credible.

Going forward, its social media presence should be of a high quality. Also, customisation of its menu would allow people to be more flexible with their plans.

The food market is ripe for disruption – iTiffin has a good chance to be the leader.

Anand Lunia is the founder of India Quotient, which invests in start-ups that deal with needs such as food and health

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> Start-Ups> News / by TE Narasimhan / March 09th, 2015

Campaign on forest fires

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Public awareness and local community support for prevention are the first line of defence in the fight against forest fires at Nagarahole National Park.

Wildlife First conducted 125 awareness camps on forest fire prevention in January and February. These were held around the borders of Nagarahole National Park in Kodagu district. As many as 23,000 students and 1,100 teachers residing around the national park and other forest areas participated, said Praveen Bhargav, trustee, Wildlife First.

He said two public rallies were organised, including one at Madikeri.. “During the course of the campaign, schoolchildren were told about the need to conserve forests and wildlife. Key facts that all forest fires are man-made and cause irreversible damage to wildlife and the eco-system were highlighted,” Mr. Bhargav said.

More than 30,000 pamphlets in Kannada were distributed with an appeal to alert the Forest Department in case of fire. Wildlife First is planning to put out radio and TV spots on AIR Madikeri Station.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru -March 08th, 2015

Who’s a Linguistic Minority, Asks HC

Education

Bengaluru :

The High Court on Thursday asked the Karnataka government to spell out how it grants a community linguistic minority status.

Justice B V Nagarathna observed that many schools were clamouring for minority status to escape the stipulations of the Right to Education Act.

Hearing petitions seeking linguistic and religious minority status, the court said although the National Commission for Minority Education Act of 2004 was clear about which groups constitute minorities, no guidelines were in place to define educational institutions claiming concessions.

The judge asked the managements of two schools not to fill the mandatory 25 per cent seats under the RTE free quota until the issue was resolved by the court, and directed the government to not take any ‘precipitative action’ against them.

Coorg Public School, run by the Kodagu Academy for Education and Culture in Kodagu district, had approached the court seeking linguistic minority status. Citizen School in Hosakote had claimed it was a school run by a religious minority.

Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar said a group constituting more than 15 per cent of the total population — but constituting the majority — was treated as a linguistic minority. The government would look at the 2011 census to brief the court, he said. The next hearing is on March 12. G R Mohan, advocate for one of the petitioners, said the schools were in a quandary as applications for religious minority status had not been processed by the Department of Public Instruction.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / March 06th, 2015

From Bean to Cup

Agriculture, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

The Coffee Board of India serves as the friend, philosopher and guide to the coffee sector in the country covering the entire value chain

CoffeeBeansKF12mar2015

The saga of Indian coffee began on a humble note, with planting of ‘Seven seeds’ of ‘Mocha’ during 1600 AD by the legendary holy saint Baba Budan, in the courtyard of his hermitage on ‘Baba Budan Giris’ in Karnataka. For quite a considerable period, the plants remained as a garden curiosity and spread slowly as back yard plantings. It was during 18th century that the commercial plantations of coffee were started, thanks to the success of British entrepreneurs in conquering the hostile forest terrain in south India. Since then, Indian coffee industry has made rapid strides and earned a distinct identity in the coffee map of the world.

The Coffee Board

During 1940s, the coffee industry in India was in a desperate state due to the World War II resulting in very low prices and ravages of pests and diseases. At this time, the Government of India established the Coffee Board through a constitutional act – Coffee Act VII of 1942 – under the administrative control of the ministry of commerce and industry. The Board comprises 33 members including the chairman, who is the chief executive and appointed by the Government of India. The remaining 32 members represent the various interests such as coffee growing industry, coffee trade interests, curing establishments, interests of labour and consumers, representatives of governments of the principal coffee growing states and members of Parliament.

After pooling was discontinued in 1996, Coffee Board serves as the friend, philosopher and guide to the coffee sector covering the entire value chain. The core activities are primarily directed towards research & development, transfer of technology, quality improvement, extending development support to growing sector, promotion of coffee in export and domestic markets. The activities of the Board are broadly aimed at (i) enhancement of production, productivity and quality; (ii) export promotion for achieving higher value returns for Indian coffee and (iii) supporting development of the domestic market.


Research and Export Promotion

Organised research in coffee was initiated during 1925 by the erstwhile Mysore Government by setting up the Mysore Coffee Experiment Station near Balehonnur in Chikmagalur district. After formation of the Coffee Board, the research station was brought under its administrative control. Presently the Research Department of the Board with its headquarters at the Central Coffee Research Institute and five regional stations has a sanctioned strength of 113 scientific personnel and is involved in development of improved varieties with tolerance to major pests and diseases and standardisation of technology for improving production, productivity and quality.

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After liberalisation in 1996, the marketing functions were deregulated. The Coffee Board plays the role of facilitator and promoter of Indian coffee exports. However, registration of exporters is the responsibility of the Coffee Board. Under the Export Promotion scheme, exports of value added coffees in retail packs and export of coffee to high value far-off destinations are incentivised to offset the transaction costs to some extent and enable the Indian exporters to be competitive in the export market. These incentives provide opportunities to expand the footprint of Indian Coffee in higher value destinations like USA, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc on one hand and reinforcing presence in traditional markets i.e., European Union/ Russia and CIS etc.

Besides, the Board regularly participates in leading coffee trade shows/ exhibitions held in major consuming countries to promote awareness about quality of Indian coffee to the overseas roasters, traders and consumers. The Board also conducts Flavour of India – The Fine Cup competitions to select fine coffees and expose them to the export market. It also promotes coffee consumption in the country through 12 India Coffee Houses located in major cities across the country.

In India, coffee is traditionally grown in the Western Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Coffee cultivation is also being expanding rapidly in the nontraditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as well as in the North East states. Coffee is predominantly an export oriented commodity and 65 per cent to 70per cent of coffee produced in the country is exported while the rest is consumed within the country. Indian coffee industry earns a foreign exchange to the tune of about Rs 4000 crore. In the international market, Indian coffees earn a high premium, particularly Indian Robusta which is highly preferred for its good blending quality. Arabica Coffee from India is also well received in the international market.

Arabica is a mild coffee, but the beans being more aromatic, it has higher market value compared to Robusta beans. On the other hand Robusta has more strength and is, therefore, used in making various blends. India is the only country that grows all of its coffee under shade. Typically mild and not too acidic, these coffees possess an exotic full-bodied taste and a fine aroma.

India cultivates all of its coffee under a well-defined two-tier mixed shade canopy, comprising evergreen leguminous trees. Nearly 50 different types of shade trees are found in coffee plantations. Shade trees prevent soil erosion on a sloping terrain; they enrich the soil by recycling nutrients from deeper layers, protect the coffee plant from seasonal fluctuations in temperature, and play host to diverse flora and fauna.

Coffee plantations in India are essential spice worlds too: a wide variety of spices and fruit crops like pepper, cardamom, vanilla, orange and banana grow alongside coffee plants.


Training courses in coffee culture and management

The Central Coffee Research Institute, popularly known as CCRI, has grown as an internationally recognised, state-of-the-art research centre for carrying out research on all aspects of coffee cultivation. CCRI is committed to introducing emerging technologies and sustainable package of practices to benefit the coffee farmers. It plays an important role in the development and growth of the coffee agricultural sector. CCRI has 133 dedicated scientists working for the development of newer technologies in close association with a number of international institutes, reputed national institutes and pure science and agricultural universities.

The CCRI, apart from the development of new technologies, is involved in imparting training on scientific coffee cultivation to the benefit of all the stakeholders since 1953. The institute is recognised as an international centre of excellence for training in coffee culture by the FAO, Rome. Candidates from several coffee growing countries are being sponsored for these training programmers by the world

CHART

Coffee regions of India

Anamalais (Tamil Nadu): Wildlife sanctuaries in this region are the abode of spotted leopards,while the plantations are home to fine, high-grown Arabicas, including the exotic Kents.

Araku valley (Andhra Pradesh): Home to colourful parrots, it is not unusual to see a flock of chattering red and green birds, darting through trees in this scenic valley.

Bababudangiris (Karnataka): Bababudan brought seven ‘magical’ beans from Yemen and planted them in the lofty hills of this region. Deer is often spotted, grazing alongside plantations abundant with full-bodied Arabicas.

Biligiris (Karnataka/Tamil Nadu): Besides full-bodied Arabicas, this region is noted for the sambar – the largest Indian deer with huge antlers.

Brahmaputra: The mighty Brahmaputra which flows through the North Eastern states is the lifeline of this region which is home to the one-horned rhinoceros. This sturdy animal is found in large numbers at the Kaziranga National Park in eastern Assam.

Chikmagalur (Karnataka): Chikmagalur’s forests and wildlife sanctuaries are abundant with beautiful peacocks, India’s national bird. The peacock loves to show off its colourful feathers, especially during its elaborate courtship dance.

Coorg (Karnataka): Lush coffee plantations are bustling with honeybees which yield the delicious Coorg Honey, collected by nimble-footed tribals

Manjarabad (Karnataka): Gentle sloping terrain with small streams and coffee plants provide a natural habitat for the jungle fowl. This yellow-headed bird with a red comb and multi-coloured plumage is generally seen in pairs, close to the coffee plantations.

Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu): The plantations are home to fine, high-grown Arabicas, including the exotic Kents.

Pulneys (Tamil Nadu): A well-known feature of this region is the bright, bluebell-like Kurinji flower that makes a dramatic appearance, once in 12 years. The high-grown Arabicas however, are a predominant sight, year after year.

Sheveroys (Tamil Nadu): The magnificent Gaur or Indian bison is an embodiment of vigour and strength, much like the boldsized Arabicas grown here. This massive animal with its huge head and sturdy limbs grazes on the lower hill tracts of this picturesque region.

Travancore (Kerala): The national flower of India, the lotus symbolises purity and beauty. These bright, fragrant flowers with floating leaves and long stems, grow in shallow waters in this region noted for its Arabicas and Robustas.

Wayanad (Kerala): Wayanad is home to the Indian tiger, India’s national animal – a symbol of valour and courage.

source: http://www.financialexpress.com / Financial Express / Food & Hospitality World / Home> Cover Story / March 05th, 2015

Ragamala Dance Company and Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa to Perform ‘Song of Jasmine’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, World Opinion
Ragamala Dance Company will be performing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. (Photo : Courtesy Grant Halverson)
Ragamala Dance Company will be performing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. (Photo : Courtesy Grant Halverson)

The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago will present Song of Jasmine, an experiment across the forms of Western jazz and South Indian music by the dance and music ensemble Ragamala Dance Company and saxophonist and composer Rudresh Mahanthappa.

Together, Mahanthappa and Ragamala are united and inspired by their shared bicultural identities as Indian-Americans. Song of Jasmine will explore the interconnectedness of three central themes in Indian culture: the spiritual, the sensual and the natural.

Co-directors of the show, mother-daughter team Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy, look at important texts and interpret them through dance and music. The duo was guided by the writings of the 9th century Tamil mystic poet Andal’s Sacred Saying of the Goddess. Mahanthappa’s sound merges South Indian and Western forms with an emphasis on improvisation. The staging of the show is completed by a striking canopy of brand bells and costumes created in India.

This performance marks first-time collaborations for all involved. Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy will perform with three dancers from their company alongside Mahanthappa, who plays with an assembled quintet of versatile jazz and South Indian musicians: Rez Abbasi (electric guitar), Raman Kalyan (South Indian flute), Rajna Swaminathan (mridangam/South Indian percussion), and Anjna Swaminathan (South Indian violin). Currently, the piece is touring nationally.

Based in Minneapolis, Ragamala Dance Company is recognized as one of the Indian diaspora’s leading dance ensembles in the traditional genre of Bharatanatyam and have toured extensively internationally. Mahanthappa is a leading jazz saxophonist and composer who creates hybrid sounds bridging progressive jazz with South Indian classical music.

http://www.classicalite.com/articles/18397/20150305/ragamala-dance-rudresh-mahanthappa-song-jasmine-museum-contemporary-art-chicago.htm

The performance at MCA will take place from April 10 to 12 in the Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Click here to learn more about Song of Jasmine or to purchase tickets to the show.

source: http://www.classicalite.com / Classicalite / Home / by Jaime Prisco (j.prisco@classicalite.com) / March 05th, 2015

Kodagu readies for first-ever Mud Festival, Obstacle Racing

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports

Obstacle racing, that pulsating mix of hyper-active adventure, rugged trekking, endurance walks through relentless woods is finally here. For the first time in this part of the world, the event will unfold as Earth Quest, a three-day Mud Festival in Coorg from April 17 to 19. A test of stamina, strength and skills, the race couldn’t have got tougher!

MudFestivalKF12mar2015

Running through rivers, ditches, hills, woods and open paddy fields, the race is inspired by the globally renowned Spartan Race. Devised by adventure travel buff Ricky Monnappa and wildlife photographer Uthaiah Cheppudira, the event has on its side, live music shows, art installations, flea markets and more.

For starters, obstacle racing has the contestants travel on foot and overcome a slew of physical challenges lined up as obstacles. Mud and trail runs are combined to make the races extremely tough to endure. The competitors are pushed to the limits of their mental and physical endurance.

Explained Monnappa, “Obstacles include, but are not limited to, climbing over walls, carrying heavy objects, traversing bodies of water, crawling under barbed wire, and jumping through fire.”

Many obstacles are similar to those used in military training, while others are unique to obstacle racing.

But why call it a mud festival? “For once, you are not actively trying to avoid the mud. Instead, you are told to go through it. Not only does traversing an obstacle course race while you are soaked with mud add a level of difficulty to your run, but it is downright fun. Admit it, your inner child comes out when there are giant mud puddles to splash in.” This is the Earth Quest rationale, as elaborated by Uthaiah.

Beyond adventure, the event is also designed as a platform for dynamic social gathering.
“The aspect of camaraderie within these races is the backbone of ongoing wellness. You can turn your training, your fitness, and your ‘working out’ into a social gathering, enabling a group of people to help you meet your fitness goals on an ongoing basis.”

The event has another key objective: Clean Coorg, a campaign to be executed jointly by the crew and participants. “Signboards with responsible tourism quotes will be placed all along the route. Travellers to the event will be educated on social media about responsible tourism. Recycled bins will be installed everywhere on the route map,” said Monnappa.

For more on the event, check the website: www.the-earthquest.com or log on to their Facebook page at: www.-facebook.com/theearthquest

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / by Rasheed Kappan / DHNS – Bengaluru, March 05th, 2015