Indians impressive again at 2nd leg of Asian GP athletics

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports

Chonburi :

Indian athletes continued their impressive performance in the Asian Grand Prix series by grabbing 10 medals, including four gold, in the second leg on Wednesday.

M R Poovamma (women’s 400m), Rajiv Arokai (men’s 400m), Jithin Thomas (men’s high jump) and Nitin Rawat (men’s 3000m) bagged a gold each while Krishna Poonia (women’s discus), Kheta Ram (men’s 5000m) and Renjith Maheswary (men’s triple jump) grabbed a silver apiece.

Siddhanth Thingalaya (men’s 110m hurdles), Anu Mariam Jose (women’s 400m) and Arpinder Singh (men’s triple jump) won a bronze each at the IPE Chonburi Campus Stadium.

Poonia, who had finished fourth in the first leg, missed the Moscow World Championships ‘B’ standard of 59.50m by seven centimetres.

India had won 12 medals (four gold, five silver and three bronze) in the first leg in Bangkok on May 4.

M R Poovamma won his second gold of the series in women’s 400m race in 53.57sec. She had won the race in the first leg in Bangkok in 52.97sec.

Another Indian, Anu Mariam Jose finished third in 54.86sec, well below her bronze-winning effort of 53.95sec in Bangkok.

Rajiv Arokia changed the colour of the medal from the silver he had won in Bangkok in the first leg to gold here in men’s 400m race as he set new personal best timing of 46.54sec. He had finished second in Bangkok in 46.91sec.

Jithin Thomas also defended the title he won in Bangkok by clearing 2.21m, three centimetre more than his gold-winning effort in the first leg. Compatriot Nikhil Chitarasu, who was second in Bangkok, finished sixth with 2.18m.

India dominated men’s 3000m race as Nitin Rawat won gold with a timing of 8:18.25s with compatriot Kheta Ram taking second place with 8:18.74s. Rawat and Ram had won gold and silver respectively in the 5000m race in the first leg.

Siddhanth Thingalaya moved down one place from the second place he finished in the first leg to third here in men’s 110m hurdles with a timing of 13.90sec. Almandeel Abdulazia of Kuwait remained unbeaten in 13.69sec while Rittidet Jamras of Thailand grabbed second place in 13.88sec.

In wen’s triple jump, national record holder Renjith Maheswary settled for the silver for the second time behind Roman Valiyev of Kazakhstan. Maheswary had a leapt of 16.68m while Valiyev managed 16.69m. Another Indian, Arpinder Singh took the bronze with 16.53m.

In women’s discus throw, Poonia came up with season’s best of 59.43m. Her personal and national record stands at 64.76m. Su Xinyue of China won the gold with a throw of 61.67m.

In women’s high jump, first leg winner Sahana Kumari disappointed as she finished fifth with a modest 1.79m. Nadiya Dusanova of Uzbekistan won the gold with an effort of 1.86m. Sahana had cleared 1.86m in the first leg.

In men’s shot put, national record holder Om Prakash Karhana disappointed again by finishing sixth with a below-par 17.64m throw. Wang Li Ke of China won the event with a throw of 18.86m.

The third and final leg of the Asian Grand Prix will be held in Colombo on May 12

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> More Sports> Athletics / PTI / May 08th, 2013

Mangalore varsity set to begin teachers’ hiring process

Education

‘It will place advertisement inviting applications to fill 70 posts’

Meritorious postgraduates looking for a career in teaching at Mangalore University and its two constituent colleges will have to wait only for five days for an opportunity opening up for them. It is because the university will publish an advertisement for mass recruitment of teachers next week, according to sources in the university.

Sources told The Hindu that the university would publish an advertisement either on Monday or Tuesday for recruiting as many as 70 teachers. The mass recruitment of teachers would be done after a decade.

Those teachers would have to teach postgraduate students on the university campus at Mangalagangotri and at the university’s two constituent colleges – University College at Hampankatta and at Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa College at Madikeri.

BACKLOG POSTS

The 70 posts of teachers would include 13 “backlog posts” reserved for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates.

The total posts include that of assistant professors, associate professors and professors, sources said.

In addition to about 70 teachers, the university would recruit two principals for its two constituent colleges which do not have full time principals. An advertisement to this effect would also be out next week.

Sources said that the university was ready to publish an advertisement to this effect a month ago. As the model code of conduct came into force after the Election Commission announced elections to the State Legislative Assembly the university sought the clarification from the commission whether it could publish the advertisement or not. The commission asked the university not to go ahead with the advertisement till the process of election completed on May 10.

They said the university would publish an internal advertisement (next week) meant for only its serving teachers inviting applications from them for their promotions. This process is technically called career advancement scheme. The promotions are from assistant professor to associate professor and from associate professor to professor.

PROMOTIONS

About 80 teachers in the university are eligible for promotions. But they have to apply for it in the prescribed format of the University Grants Commission. The promotions would be based on academic performance indicator points prescribed and obtained by teachers, sources said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangalore / by Special Correspondent / Mangalore, May 08th, 2013

And Hearth and Home shall meet

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

KodavathiKF08may2013
Preserving ones’ customs and traditions in the tangle of cross-cultural globalisation

It takes little to spark an inferno when it comes to community, beliefs and opinions. A seemingly innocent query into the relevance of old culture in our fast evolving modern day, turned foul when the enquirer stated his own sentiment. While he was happy to be associated with the community on its dedicated social networking forum, his views strongly suggested abandoning all traditional customs. Naturally, all hell broke loose and while the moderates tempered the situation, a question loomed: “Who are we, without our traditions?”

Far from our land of origin, far from the security of the familiar and most things we can call our own, this question becomes paramount to our sense of identity. At work, on campus and in cosmopolitan company, we don the culture of our residence to the best of our ability. But behind our private doors, we centre on preserving that identity — that single thing which is us, that which is unchallenged and that which no document can list otherwise.

For some, it is effortless. Others must adapt for the sake of survival. It is this duality that makes us versatile. And it is in a foreign land that the sweet smell of boiling rice becomes sweeter and that piece of ancestry, locked away unseen for years, becomes the most prized possession.

Because, it is when we are away that we realise just how close we are to our roots. How much they make us who we are. And how much we really love where we come from. When I relocated to London, I was young and brought up to be a well-rounded Indian. We celebrated all festivals and ate anything. Revelries were taken for granted. Time was an entity to be acutely aware of, not counted. Very quickly, the clinical regimentation of western routine made every little breath, matter. Birthday celebrations were postponed to the next official holiday. Festivals became organised events to be collectively enjoyed. Traditional practices had to be consciously performed, lest they be forgotten, in the rush to beat time.

I appreciated, more and more, all the things that I had taken-for-granted all my life. I was very happy. But something else mattered more. In a multinational gathering, being Indian, was great. But in the midst of other Indians, I needed my own, even more distinct identity. I had one. And proud as I was of it, I, now, felt the need to urgently learn the threads of preserving this heritage.

And so I observed all the rituals that I, until then, had only merrily enjoyed. I started speaking more in our language so that my child would gain fair exposure to it. I cooked traditional food in the house, often. We attended every community get-together. I made sure that I made the community ‘familiar’ to my child, to ensure that he was as natural in being who he was, as his roots were natural to his being. Traditions define us. Customs identify us. Beliefs set us apart. But in a foreign land, these very things bring us together and keep us so. That’s why, consciously or sub-consciously, we find every means to protect them. To make the future so secure, that no generation yet to come, will ever lose its way in the tangle of cross cultural globalisation. And so, we survive. Microcosmically. Wholesomely.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Tejaswi Uthappa / May 06th, 2013

Kodagu shows steady improvement

Education

Out of 4,955 students who appeared for the examination, 4,005 students have passed.
A total of 1,854 students had appeared for examinations in Arts stream out of which 1,394 students have passed. Percentage of results in arts stream was 75.18.

In Commerce stream, out of the 2181 students, 1,875 students have passed with a pass percentage of 85.96 pc . In science stream 736 students out of 920 students have passed the examination. The pass percentage in science stream was 80.

The pass percentage in PUC examination has seen steady increase in the last three years. It was 73.11 pc in 2012 and 72.14 per cent in 2011. The results of 2013 show an increase of 8.68 per cent.

Top scorers

V R Shalini, a student of Ponnampet Government PU College scored 544 (95.64 pc) and topped the arts stream. P L Poojitha who scored 538(94.68 pc) and S I Naufia, student of Vigneshwara PU College, Shanivarasanthe who scored 534 (94 pc) came second and third respectively.

In commerce stream St Annamma PU College student N N Sonia and Madikeri St Michael PU College student K M Prema scored 581 out of 600 and topped the district. Gonikoppa Coorg PU College’s Poojitha K R scored 580/600 and St Joseph PU College’s Anjali S E Kudthekar scored 576 and came second and third in the district respectively.

In Science stream Gonikoppa Coorg PU College’s C B Subbaiah scored 584, Gonikoppa Vidyanikethan PU College’s B K Hemavathi, Riya B D and St Joseph PU College’s Spandana P J scored 577 marks and secured joint second place in the district.

Cent pc colleges

Four colleges have secured 100 per cent results in PUC examinations. They are St Joseph PU College in Madikeri, Aishwarya PU College in Kushalnagar, Sampaje PU College and Maragodu Bharathi PU College. Students from rural areas have outshone their counterparts in cities.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS – May 07th, 2013

State forest department awaits MP nod to transfer jumbos

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

he Karnataka Forest Department is awaiting a response from its Madhya Pradesh counterpart on transfer of 11 tamed elephants from three state camps for ‘forest-related activities’.

Recently, while hearing a PIL filed by Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) the High Court had refused to interfere in State government’s decision on transfer of pachyderms.

The CUPA in its petition had contended that the elephants might not to able to sustain the extreme weather in Madhya Pradesh.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Ajay Mishra told Express that three elephants from Dubare, two from Mattigodu and six from Bandipur elephant camps, are listed for translocation to MP. He said they are basically second line elephants and doing similar jobs here. Karnataka has 95 tamed elephants in its many camps.

Allaying fears that elephants will be used for non-forest activities in MP, he said they would be used only for patrolling and not for display or safaris.

There have been instances when elephants from one state have been translocated to another and the pachyderms have had no problem in adjusting to the new environment.

“It may take some time for them to acclimatise but it will not create any problems. The beauty of elephants is that they develop a bond with their caretakers very soon,” he said.

The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh has to look out for arranging mahouts and kavadis since Karnataka cannot spare their services. As per the Forest Department manual, there should be a mahout and a kavadi for each, and Karnataka has enough staff to take care of all the 95 jumbos. Elephants are known for co-existence and the question of feeling alien does not arise, argued Mishra.

There is a standard food chart for tamed elephants in camps and the forest department of every state has to follow it strictly.

“The tamed jumbos are just like our employees and separate registers are maintained to record its health, food habits, behaviour and service. Once they attain superannuation, they are given rest in camps,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Shyam Sundar Vattam / ENS – Bangalore / March 16th, 2013

SSLC: Kodagu slips to 25th place

Education

With a pass percentage of 79.46 in SSLC, the position of Kodagu district has slipped to the 25th place in the state.

Out of 7,633 students, who had appeared for the examination, as many as 6,065 students have passed. The pass percentage has plummeted to 79.46 from 82.52 per cent last year. The district was in the 13th position last year. It was in 12th position in 2011 and seventh position in 2010.

As many as 297 students have passed with distinction and 2,013 students have secured first class. A total of 21 schools, including three government schools and 18 unaided schools have registered cent per cent results.

Girls shine

Like previous years, girl students have shown remarkable performance, this year also. Out of 3,973 girls who appeared, 3,273 have passed, with a percentage of 82.38 per cent. Last year, it was 86.25 per cent.

Out of 3,660 boys, 2,792 have passed with a pass percentage of 76.28 per cent. Students have performed poorly in mathematics and English, according to sources.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS, Madikeri – May 06th, 2013

Climate change threatens wild coffee populations

Coffee News

Coffee-lovers take note; climate change could put an end to your daily Starbucks, a new study has found.

coffee_beansKF06may2013

The latest research from scientists at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, suggests that climate change could wipe out wild populations of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) within the next 70 years.

The scientists used data from museum records and current populations of wild Arabica in Ethiopia to map its distribution until 2080 under different climate scenarios.

They found that the predicted changes in climate, in line with what’s expected over the coming decades, would have a devastating impact on wild Arabica populations, decreasing their number and extent. The study, published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, also confirmed that the Arabica species is sensitive to climate change.

Along with Robusta coffee (Coffea canephora), Arabica is one of the two most important species of coffee economically, accounting for over 60 percent of world production.

Justin Moat, head of spatial information science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, says:
“The worst case scenario, as drawn from our analyses, is that wild Arabica could be extinct by 2080. This should alert decision makers to the fragility of the species.”

Commercially grown Arabica has a very limited genetic stock – which means your morning latte relies on conserving healthy populations of wild plants in Ethiopia, the largest producer of coffee in Africa.

“Coffee plays an important role in supporting livelihoods and generating income, and has become part of our modern society and culture. The extinction of Arabica coffee is a startling and worrying prospect,” says Aaron Davis, head of coffee research at the RBG.

“However, the objective of the study was not to provide scaremonger predictions for the demise of Arabica in the wild. The scale of the predictions is certainly cause for concern, but should be seen more as a baseline, from which we can more fully assess what actions are required.”

source: http://www.tgdaily.com / TG Daily / Home / by Flora Malein / November 08th, 2013

Nidhi gets nostalgic

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
(Nidhi Subbaiah More Pics )
(Nidhi Subbaiah More Pics )

Sandalwood actress Nidhi Subbaiah, who is making her mark in Bollywood, seems excited to watch Bombay Talkies. “Waiiiting to watch bombay talkies!Never been this excited for a film for a long long time!What was the last film you were excited to watch?” tweeted the actress.

Nidhi, who has acted in Kannada movies such as Pancharangi, Krishnan Marriage Story and Anna Bond, after talking bout Bombay Talkies, could not resist sharing some of her Bangalore memories. “I remember Sarfarosh, with dad-for someone who hated standing in long queue’s in d theatre,he actually bought tickets in black!Lido theatre!” she tweeted.

The actress, who featured in the 2012 Hindi film Ajab Gazabb Love opposite Jackky Bhagnani, is likely to return to the Sandalwood screen with the film Vara that’s likely to release sometime this year.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Regional / by Parinatha Sampath, TNN / May 04th, 2013

Kodagu all set for V-day, security stepped up

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Uncategorized

There are 4.02 lakh voters in the district,

Kodagu district administration has made preparations for webcasting facilities in five selected booths in each of the two Assembly constituencies during the May 5 elections, Deputy Commissioner, N.V. Prasad has said.

Addressing presspersons at the Old Assembly Hall in Madikeri on Friday, Mr. Prasad said webcasting would be done on the day of mustering and de-mustering — at the St. Joseph High School in Madikeri and Government Junior College in Virajpet — as also the day of counting at the St. Joseph’s High School. Steps had been taken to deploy police, paramilitary forces, videographers and micro-election observes to the sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths in the two constituencies, Dr. Prasad, said.

Vehicles

As many as 71 buses, four mini-buses, 34 maxi-cabs, 80 jeeps, have been hired for election duty in the district. There are 87 vehicles in Madikeri constituency and 102 in Virajpet taluk.

There are 4.02 lakh voters in the district. In Madikeri there are 2.02 lakh voters —1, 00,235 men and 1, 01,839 women — and in Virajpet there are 2, 00,259 voters —1, 00,290 men and 99,969 women, Dr. Prasad said.

Steps have been taken to distribute voter slips to the voters through the booth-level officials. Those who had not received the slips could call the helpline located at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Besides, voter facilitation centres would be opened on May 5 to distribute voter slips to those who have not received it, Dr. Prasad said.

Only two candidates of each political party would be allowed to set up booths at a distance of 200 meters from the polling booth on production of permission letters issued by the panchayat development officers and officers from the urban local bodies.

Sale of liquor has been banned in the district from 5 p.m. on May 3 to midnight of May 5 in all bars and restaurants, hotels, resorts, clubs as a precautionary measure, Dr. Prasad said.

Officials deputed for election duty could cast votes at the centre opened at the office of the Assembly Election Officer. If not, they could send the votes through post before 8 a.m. on May 8, the day of counting, to the counting centre at the St. Joseph’s High School, he said.

Counting

Dr. Prasad said that as many as 14 counting tables had been allocated to each of the Assembly segment. A supervisor, group ‘C’ employee, one Central government employee as the micro-observer and a counting agent representing the contesting candidates would be present. A media centre had been opened near the counting centre.

He appealed to the owners of the plantations, industrial units, shops and commercial establishments to give e a one-day leave to workers and employees on May 5 to facilitate voting. Police have made elaborate bandobast to maintain law and order during the elections by deploying more than 1,000 personnel and officers drawn from the paramilitary, district armed reserve, police. There will be special vigil at the booths identified as naxal-affected, he said.

Slips distributed to voters through the booth-level officials

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore – May 04th, 2013

Uthappa slams team management

Sports

UthappaKF05may2013Close on the heels of Angelo Mathews stepping down as the captain of the Pune Warriors for the rest of this IPL season, their opener Robin Uthappa slammed the team management for frequent change of personnel at the helm.

Since their inception in 2011, the troubled Warriors have had six captains with three of them being named this year alone. While Yuvraj Singh led them in their first year of IPL, Sourav Ganguly and Michael Clarke skippered the side the previous season. Mathews led in the first four matches this year before Ross Taylor captained them to their second and last win against Super Kings in Chennai as the Sri Lankan wasn’t allowed to play in the Tamil Nadu capital. Mathews took over in the next match in Pune against Sunrisers Hyderabad but after that game was replaced by Australian batsman Aaron Finch who has continued since then.

“I have to be honest here and that’s (captaincy) definitely one of the issues (bothering us),” remarked Uthappa, whose bruising 45-ball 75 threatened to pull off a rare win for the hosts. “We have never stuck to a winning combination. It’s a bit disappointing for me as a player to see the winning combination change. We beat Super Kings, a very strong team, at their home ground and we came back and changed that combination. I have never seen that happen and I think that kind of shook things little bit for us,” revealed the opener when asked if frequent changes at the helm affected their performance.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> ipl / Pune – DHNS / May 03rd, 2013