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Full-time national coach need of the hour: Joshna Chinappa

May 31, 2019Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sportsadmin

After reaching the pre-quarterfinal at the British Open last week, Joshna Chinappa opened up on her rivalry with Dipika Pallikal, problems with the national coaching setup and her plans for 2019 in an interview.

From being top 10 in the world in 2016, to winning the 2014 Commonwealth Games women’s squash doubles gold with Dipika Pallikal and being one of the few on tour to beat the top three in women’s singles, Joshna Chinappa’s career has been on an upswing since she turned pro 15 years back.

Earlier this month, the 32-year-old won the singles title at the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur to become the first Indian to win two continental crowns and retain the title she won at Chennai in 2017 by beating Pallikal.

After reaching the pre-quarterfinal at the British Open last week, she opened up on her rivalry with Pallikal, problems with the national coaching setup and her plans for 2019 in an interview. Excerpts:

You are the first Indian to defend and win two Asian Championship titles.

It feels great to have won the Asian Championship again. It was a good week in Kuala Lumpur, especially travelling with the team. On the professional tour it’s usually just me so it was nice to have the whole team, including physiotherapist Dimple and Harry (Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu) be there to support us.

Your opponent in the final, Annie Au, has a strong record against you. How satisfying was it to beat her for the first time since 2017?

Annie is tough to play against, mentally and physically. I had lost to her three times so it was extremely satisfying to win the final.

Sandhu was courtside when Saurav Ghosal and you won the Asian titles. Your thoughts on banking on fellow players for advice instead of a coach…

Harry is a player and has experienced what we as professional players go through and understands the game well. So having him was helpful. At most of my tournaments we help each other because we don’t have a full-time coach travelling with us. As Harry is injured (and out) of the tour, he was happy to come with the team and it is great SRFI (Squash Rackets Federation of India) chose to send him with us.

There’s been a controversy regarding coach, Cyrus Poncha. SRFI say he was in Malaysia. The players deny which is why they had to help each other during matches.

Harry, as coach, and our physiotherapist were the only officials who travelled with us.

What are the challenges of not having a chief national coach?

I work with my coach, Hadrian Stiff, in Bristol, England, so I keep going as often as I can to train there. Also, I train at the squash academy in Chennai. The coaches at the academy are helpful, but it would be great to have an experienced coach based here or even a part-time coach work with the juniors and seniors. I hope we can get a coach to travel with us on the pro tour as it makes a huge difference to have someone in our corner, helping us in-between games.

How do you view your rivalry with Pallikal? You have a better record (7-2) against her.

We have a healthy rivalry on court and when I play her it’s like playing any other player I compete with on the professional tour.

You have beaten the top-three players (all Egyptians) in the world at least once but lost to players ranked below you.

Competition is extremely high in the women’s game. Everyone is working hard and is so fit and strong with high levels of skill. You have to be at the top of your game from Round 1.

Can Egypt’s domination in women’s squash be broken?

Egypt are extremely strong and I don’t see that changing soon.

What can be done to improve Indian squash?

We need more TV time and better infrastructure, which is monitored by quality coaches and trainers.

The disadvantages of squash not being an Olympic sport?

The development of the sport and financial support from the government and corporates would be a lot more if squash was an Olympic sport.

Your goals for 2019?

To be injury free and healthy.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Other Sports / by Sandip Sikdar, New Delhi / May 27th, 2019

Tata Coffee opens first freeze-dried production plant outside of India

May 29, 2019Business & Economy, Coffee News, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Tata Coffee has opened its first free-dried instant coffee plant outside of its native India after GEA, a tech supplier for food processing, completed work on the new Vietnam plant.

After Brazil, Vietnam is the world’s second largest producer of green coffee and the new plant based in Binh Duong Province produces 5,000 metric tonnes per year of free-dried coffee.

GEA supplied the entire production line from roast bean treatment right through to the packing of the freeze-dried powder.

This isn’t the first time GEA has undertaken work for Tata Coffee, having built a coffee extraction and evaporation plant for the company in 2013.

“This type of project is ideal for us at GEA because our expertise and scope of supply allows us to build the entire coffee line using our own resources,” said Kim Knudsen, Head of Sales, Coffee and Freeze Drying at GEA.

“This means we can maintain control and take responsibility for the entire project from start to finish.”

source: http://www.fdiforum.net / Food & Drink International / Home> Production / by Dominic Cuthbert / May 28th, 2019

Lest We Forget Their Sacrifice-1 : The Story Of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa

May 29, 2019Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Leader, Commander, Benevolent Father to his children and a guiding beacon that led an entire nation and her armed forces — Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army. He was to his men the epitome of gentlemanly conduct and selflessness. His ideals still hold sway in the Indian Military Establishment. His greatest gift to the Indian People, probably was a fighting force that was no less compared to any other in the world and yet had the commendable restraint that prevented the Army from ever meddling directly in the political machinations of the country. This delineation lent a sense of integrity and unique purpose to the Military Establishment that has held it in good stead all these years. The credit for this must go to K.M. Cariappa. May 15, 2019 was his 26th Death Anniversary and it would indeed be a good time for a look back on his life and events…

By Dr. S.N. Bhagirath

On the 28th of January, 1899 the residents of Shanivarasanthe in Coorg heard a shot fired from the revenue quarters heralding the birth of a baby boy. The boy’s parents were Kodandera Madappa and Ammayya. He was the second among six children and was fondly called ‘Chimma.’ Madappa was a Sub-divisional Magistrate in Shanivarasanthe at that time. Chimma would one day command the Indian Army in Independent India and play definitive roles in WW-II and wars with Pakistan soon after Independence. He nurtured an Army that has stood the test of time. Till the very end of his life, he dedicated to the Army, a spirit of camaraderie and patriotism which remains legendary to this day.

Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa stuck to one particular daily habit — he would get up every morning, finish his ablutions and before his breakfast, walk up to the fire place by his bed side to render his salute to three things lined up there — the two photographs of his mother and father and a small silver statue of the unknown Indian Soldier! Like a true gentleman he sat for breakfast wearing a full suit, often alone.

K.M. Cariappa had his schooling at Madikeri. His English teachers C. Rensford and W.H. Whiteworth made quite an impression on the young Cariappa and imbibed British values in him. He was fond of playing Cricket and Hockey. In 1918, he went to Presidency College at Madras for his graduate studies. On his return to Coorg, there was an ongoing recruitment for the post of “Commissioned Officers” for the Army. Chief Commissioner Cobb was impressed by K.M. Cariappa and selected him over others.

Cariappa joined ‘Daley Cadet College’ on June 1, 1918. His first posting was in the 88th Carnatic Infantry (2nd Battalion) wherefrom he was transferred to 125 Napier Rifles. This regiment was stationed at Mesopotamia (Iraq) for two years. At the end of two years, he was transferred to ‘Prince of Wales’ 37th Dogra Regiment, which was at that time stationed in Afghanistan. During these postings, Cariappa learnt and incorporated into his men the tricks of guerrilla warfare — a move that caught the attention of his British superiors which eventually resulted in his promotion to the post of Quartermaster. He is believed to have got the nick-name ‘Kipper’ around this time. This nickname was later adopted by Nehru and Indira Gandhi as well!

As a representative of the British Indian Army, K.M. Cariappa had the opportunity to visit and observe many other armies. While in Japan, he sadly lost his mother in India. Upon his return, his reputation as an able officer had begun to make rounds in the higher echelons of the British administration. He was entrusted with the onerous task of escorting Viceroy Lord Irwin to Madikeri on an official visit. Cariappa was just 24 years old ! By 1927, Cariappa was a Captain in the Army. Cariappa’s coaching at Royal United Services Institute in 1932 and his time at Small Arms School (SAS) and Royal School of Artillery (RSA) prepared him well enough to clear the Quetta Staff College Entrance Examination. In 1936, he was appointed as Staff Captain and in 1938 he was promoted to the rank of Major.

Personal Life

On his 37th birthday, he was sent back to India and was stationed at Hyderabad. In the same year, he got married to Muthu in a traditional Coorgi style wedding. He had his first child, a boy (Nanda Cariappa) in January of 1938. His daughter Nalini Cariappa was born in February of 1943. His tedious and hectic schedule and the constant transfers across the continent eventually took a toll on their marital life. The couple separated in 1946. After the separation, Cariappa took both his children (aged eight and three years) under his wings. He was ably assisted in this effort by his sister. A sudden transfer for Cariappa’s sister’s husband to Andaman & Nicobar Islands meant that he could no longer take care of both children by himself. He decided to send his daughter with his sister and retained his son with himself. In 1954, Cariappa learnt of the sad demise of his former wife Muthu in a car accident.

Professional Life

At the start of Second World War (1939), K.M. Cariappa was stationed in Iraq under General Slim in the Tenth Indian Division. By the end of 1939, Slim recommended Cariappa for the prestigious ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’ distinction. The next year (1940) saw Cariappa taking command of the Indian Divisions in Iran & Syria. In the succeeding decade, Cariappa became the first in Indian history to be offered the post of a ‘Commander.’ He took command of the ‘Rajput Machine Gun Battalion’ as acting Lieutenant Colonel in 1942. In 1943, the Japanese army occupied Burma and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. K.M. Cariappa was transferred to Calcutta (Eastern Command) to take back territories of Burma and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. His valour and able leadership at the height of Second World War earned him the ‘Order of the British Empire’ in 1944. Soon after World War II, he was promoted to the post of Brigadier.

[To be continued tomorrow]

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source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / May 29th, 2019

98 villages, 5 layouts among 105 eco-sensitive spots in Kodagu

May 28, 2019Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Natureadmin

Thousands of km of roads were damaged and connectivity was also hit.

A file photo of a major landslide which occurred in Kodagu last year.

Mysuru:

With hardly a week left for the South West Monsoon to hit Karnataka, the Geographical Survey of India (GIS) has identified 105 sensitive/vulnerable places in Kodagu including 98 villages and five layouts in Madikeri town and the entire Virajpet and Kushalnagar towns which are likely to be affected by heavy rains.

The Kodagu district administration has appointed 25 nodal officers and each nodal officer has been assigned the responsibility of a few areas to take elaborate precautionary measures to handle any emergency and ensure the safety of people, according to Kodagu DC Ms Annies Kanmani Joy.

She said the nodal officers are inspecting their areas and checking if emergency work has to be taken up. They are also identifying locations for shelter camps and the vulnerable population including sick and pregnant woman and the elderly who may have to be shifted. They have set up village level committees and are training people to coordinate with the district administration in case of an emergency, the Deputy Commissioner said.

She added that, special task forces are being formed by the police, fire and emergency services, CHESCOM, PWD, panchayatraj engineering department, NHAI, Pradhan Manthri Gram Sadak Yojana, minor and major irrigation dept, health, veterinary and forest departments to deal with any emergency.

During the South-West Monsoon last year, Kodagu was hit by floods and landslides due to the highest rains in 118 years. As many as 20 people died, 829 people lost their homes and 7,594 people were rescued and housed at 51 relief centres. A total 160 villages were affected and thousands of hectares of plantations and agricultural land were destroyed.

Thousands of km of roads were damaged and connectivity was also hit.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Shilpa P, Deccan Chronicle / May 27th, 2019

Rashmika Mandanna’s Unbelievable In These No Makeup Selfies! Challenges Industry’s Beauty Standards

May 28, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorgadmin

Only at the age of 23, Kodava beauty Rashmika Mandanna has grown to be one of the top rated actresses of Sandalwood. She’s already acted alongside many big actors and has more films lined up. But, the fame has never stopped her from living life on her own terms. Often, actresses are expected to carry themselves in a certain way. While many fear facing the camera in their true skin, Rashmika Mandanna looks unbelievable in these no makeup selfies she recently shared on her social media.

A few hours ago, the Geetha Govindam beauty took to her Instagram handle to share two selfies with her fans. In both the pictures, she’s seen flaunting her real skin sans make-up. Rashmika has presented herself with utmost confidence not letting the industry’s beauty standards bring her down. In another picture that she shared, she’s seen sporting a smile with a pair of geeky glasses on. This look reminds us of her debut film Kirik Party, in which she plays the role of Saanvi. What comes across more interesting is the caption she’s used in her picture.

She wrote, “Smile till you MAKE everyone smile back at you 😁♥️”. She always carries her beautiful smile as an accessory and absolutely rocks it. Lately, she’s been sharing several no-makeup selfies with fans. Upon seeing this, many have commented that she’s inspiring women who are bound by beauty standards.

source: http://www.filmibeat.com / FilmiBeat / Home> Kannada> News / by Chaitra Krishnamurthy / May 27th, 2019

Chowrira Pemmaiah, Who Fought For Open Market For Coffee, Passes Away

May 27, 2019Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Madikeri:

Chowrira Pemmaiah (72), the man who spearheaded the fight for coffee open market, passed away yesterday at a hospital in Mangaluru.

A bachelor, Pemmaiah fought for the open market for coffee, which was under the control of Coffee Board and succeeded in getting the open market.

Pemmaiah served as the President of Hodduru Mandal Panchayat in the 80s and became popular through his efficient administration. He also served as the President of Moornad Educational Institutions and took it to the top.

Last rites were held this afternoon at Hoddur near Moornad, according to family sources.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 27th, 2019

Madikeri Square: Suggestion By SOM Reader

May 27, 2019Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

The old private bus stand at Madikeri in Kodagu is in the news of late, thanks to Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy (KBG), who mooted construction of a Public Square at the spot, which is situated in the heart of the hilly town and converted the place into a tourist attraction.

The old private bus stand was constructed in 1936 by the British. The landslides and floods that occurred in August 2018 resulted in a portion of the bus stand collapsing and the entire building was demolished later to avert further accidents.

A view of the private bus stand spot in Madikeri

Following this, KBG, who hails from the district, in his column ‘Choomantra,’ published in Mysooru Mithra, a sister concern of Star of Mysore, on Nov.1, 2018, had suggested construction of a Public Square instead of building a commercial complex on the lines of Trafalgar Square at the centre of London City, in honour of India’s first and one and the only Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who too hailed from Kodagu.

Taking note of the suggestions, Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh, who is also the District in-charge Minister of Kodagu, proposed similar ideas. Though meetings were held in this regard a consensus is yet to be arrived at by the stakeholders concerned and the Madikeri City Municipal Council.

The Bull Fight Arena in Spain which is a major tourist attraction

Meanwhile, an ardent SOM reader R. Chandra Prakash, who was on a 22-day tour of 12 countries across Western Europe, has emailed two photos from Madrid, Spain, Bull Fight Arena and suggested a similar Arena in Madikeri Square depicting the history, heritage and valour of Kodavas on the wall of the old bus stand which will add great value for tourism.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 27th, 2019

Justice A.S. Bopanna Sworn-In As SC Judge

May 26, 2019Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

New Delhi:

Four new Judges were sworn-in yesterday at the Supreme Court (SC), two of whom will go on to be the Chief Justices of India (CJI) in the line of seniority. Justice B.R. Gavai will become the CJI for over six months in 2025. He will be the second CJI from the Scheduled Caste community after Justice (retd.) K.G. Balakrishnan.

Justice Surya Kant will succeed Justice Gavai as the CJI in November 2025. He will remain in office till February 2027. The two other Judges sworn-in on May 24 are Jharkhand High Court and Gauhati High Court Chief Justices Aniruddha Bose and Ajjikuttira S. Bopanna.

On May 8, the Collegium led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had refused the Government’s request to reconsider the elevation of these two Judges to the apex Court. The Collegium’s reiteration had made it binding on the Government to clear their appointments. With these four new appointments, the Supreme Court will function with its full sanctioned judicial strength of 31 Judges.

Justice A.S. Bopanna was appointed as a Judge of the Karnataka High Court on Jan. 6, 2006 and was elevated as Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court on Oct. 29, 2018. Justice Bopanna stands at Sl. No.36 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on all-India basis. He is probably the first Judge from Kodava community to be a Supreme Court Judge.

Justice Bopanna was born in 1959 and enrolled as an advocate on Nov. 21, 1984, practised in civil, constitutional, company and service matters in the High Court as well as the civil and labour courts. He also worked as a Legal Advisor to Central Public Sector Undertakings, and worked as Additional Central Government Standing Counsel from 1999 to 2005.

Justice Bopanna was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Karnataka on Jan.6, 2006, and became a permanent Judge on Jan.3, 2007. He is the son of late Ajjikuttira N. Somaiah of Pollibetta, Kodagu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 26th, 2019

Coffee Board Courts Cat Poop Controversy

May 26, 2019Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, Alladmin

– Issues notice to producer of Civet Cat Coffee in Kodagu; files
Police complaint

– Plaint closed as there is no evidence of cats being reared and
tortured for poop

Mysuru:

The Coffee Board has issued notice to Coorg Consolidated Commodities regarding what it calls ‘unauthorised sale of Civet Coffee’. The notice has been issued by Deputy Director, Extension, Coffee Board, to Thamoo Poovaiah who markets Civet Coffee in Kodagu.

India, Asia’s third-largest producer and exporter of coffee, has been producing the world’s most expensive coffee, made from the poop of Civet Cat, on a small scale in Kodagu district. The Civet Coffee, also called as Luwark coffee, is expensive because of uncommon method of producing such a coffee. It is produced from the coffee beans digested by Civet Cat.

The faeces of this cat are collected, processed and sold. It is highly priced because it is claimed to be more nutritious and high cost involved in sourcing the animal dropping, wastage during processing and quality certification.

The Coffee Board notice, the copy of which is with Star of Mysore, states that the sale of Civet Coffee is banned under Wildlife Act. “It is surprising how can you brand and sell Civet Coffee when you don’t own wild cats in your estate. You are procuring raw coffee in the form of faeces of wild cats which is sold by persons who are known to you,” the notice states.

The Coffee Board has asked Thamoo Poovaiah, who is the managing partner of Coorg Consolidated Commodities that markets the Civet Coffee in brand Ainmane, to provide the names and addresses of those persons who supply Civet Coffee to him.

Police complaint

In addition to sending a notice, the Coffee Board also filed a complaint against Thamoo Poovaiah with the Kodagu SP for allegedly rearing Civet Cats to produce Civet Coffee. The complaint mentions that a well-known animal rights activist has alleged that worldwide, Civet Cats are confined and force-fed coffee cherries for them to produce poop. The complaint alleges that even Thamoo Poovaiah rears Civet Cats in confinement to produce the expensive coffee. Rearing such cats in cages is illegal and punishable under Wildlife Act as it is one of the most endangered species in the world.

Complaint closed

Following the complaint, the case was transferred to Madikeri Rural Police Station and the Police, armed with a search warrant issued by Madikeri Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court, conducted an inspection of Poovaiah’s estate near Kadagadalu along with Coffee Board and Forest Dept. officials. The team discovered that Civet Cats are not reared at the estate and the case has been closed now and the same has been communicated to the Court.

Reacting on the Coffee Board notice and the subsequent lodging of the case, Poovaiah told SOM that his firm procures Civet Cat poop through legal means and in no way the endangered species are confined and tortured as alleged by Coffee Board.

‘False and malicious complaint’

“This is a false and malicious case. If at all there is a violation in the Wildlife Act, the Forest Department must take action. Why is Coffee Board involved in this? Actually, Coffee Board should be promoting rare coffee produce such as Civet Coffee which are famous worldwide rather than harassing growers who are popularising such exotic coffee,” he said.

“In reply to the Coffee Board notice, I have set them a legal notice asking clarification on their move and how could they act autocratically in collusion with some animal rights activist that they have not named. Their move to lodge complaint and search my premises will amount to defamation and I am ready to take them on in the Court of law,” Thamoo Poovaiah added.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 25th, 2019

25-Member NDRF Team Arrives In Kodagu From Vijayawada

May 26, 2019Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Forces begin field work; to train people how to save themselves in case of sudden disaster

Madikeri:

To instil confidence among people of Kodagu that the Central and State Governments will be with them in case of a repeat natural disaster this year and as a precautionary step even before the arrival of monsoon, a team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) has already arrived in Kodagu.

The 25-member NDRF team from B/10NDRF Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh is camping at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Galibeedu in Madikeri. Along with NDRF, teams from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army’s Dogra Regiment and Civil Defence are expected to reach Kodagu soon.

As of now, two NDRF teams have been deployed in Karnataka. While one team is already in Kodagu, the other team is stationed at New Mangalore Port in Mangaluru. In case of emergency like last year, the NDRF Mangaluru team can reach Kodagu in short notice.

The NDRF team is led by Commander Veluru Ramesh and also includes members from Bengaluru and Dharwad. Ramesh said that the Kodagu District Administration had requested the team to camp in Kodagu for at least three months as a precautionary measure. Their stay will be extended depending on the scale of the disaster.

Last year in August, the NDRF and SDRF teams did enormous relief and rescue operation though it took time for their deployment as the catastrophe was sudden and was in an unprecedented scale. Before the arrival of Central Forces, the District Police and the Fire Service Department had carried out rescue operations and they could do only small-scale rescue works as they are not well-equipped. Not taking any chances, this year, the NDRF team has been stationed even before the onset of Southwest monsoon.

On May 29, the NDRF team will visit flood and landslide-prone areas including Makkandur, Hebbatageri, Madapura, Hattihole, Kaloor, Jodupala, Monnangeri, Mangaladevinagar, Thantipaala and other areas and will train people to save themselves and their livestock in case of a disaster.

The team will start field work during monsoon on priority basis and according to Commander Veluru Ramesh, more teams will be deployed in Kodagu based on the intensity of floods and landslides.

“Before a natural disaster strikes, Nature will give signals of it that can be captured through scientific methods. People must be moved to safe areas and the loss of life can be minimised or eliminated,” Ramesh said.

Another member of the team, Doddabasappa, who hails from Dharwad, said, during the heavy landslides on Makutta Road connecting Kerala State, the team had cleared the fallen trees and rubble. He said his team had participated in the rescue operation during the Fani cyclone in Odisha. Joint mock rescue operations will be conducted alongside the local Departments as per the direction given by Kodagu Administration, he said.

Such disaster management teams are formed by picking people from the nation’s Paramilitary Forces and are trained to rescue people and livestock during natural calamities. Apart from ensuring the nation’s security, such teams also protect people from unforeseen circumstances, he added.