Category Archives: Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Donate to Kerala and Kodagu, get photoshoots and portraits in return: Here’s how

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Artists around the country are coming together to render their services in exchange for donations made to the flood relief efforts.

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As Kerala and Kodagu in Karnataka reel under heavy flooding, people across the country are making an effort to volunteer, collect relief material or help in some way or the other.

Photographers and artists in Chennai, Bengaluru and other cities are pitching in too – many have joined social media campaigns asking people to donate money for the flood hit areas in return for availing their services for free.

If you look for the ‘Clicks for Kerala’, ‘Click for Coorg’ or ‘Donate for a Portrait’ tags on Instagram, you will come across several artists and profiles, promising everything from caricatures, handmade portraits, family portraits, photoshoots for couples, babies, pets and more.

‘Donate for a Portrait’ campaign

Sharmada Nagarajan, a Chennai-based graphic designer, was as distressed as anyone seeing the devastation caused by the floods in Kerala. Wanting to do something about it, she and her friend Priyadarshini, another graphic designer came up with an idea.

They created the ‘Donate for a Portrait’ where all a person needs to do to earn a caricature, watercolor or digital portrait of themselves, is donate a minimum amount of Rs 750 to Kerala CM’s relief fund. Then they can share the screenshot on social media with the artist in question, and a digital copy of the portrait will be sent to them by the end of the day.

Sharmanda and Priyadarshini
Sharmanda and Priyadarshini

“We only came up with it on Friday afternoon and put it up by evening. Initially it was just 4-5 of us, all batchmates from college who decided to do this. But within no time we got requests from other artists who wanted to join in and be part of the campaign. People from even Delhi, Mumbai and Ahemdabad showed interest,” Sharmada tells TNM.

“We are 22 people now who are making this effort and the numbers are growing as we speak,” the 23-year-old adds. “I think this is working well because when it comes to selling art itself, people are hesitant to buy it. But a portrait or an artwork of themselves is something that catches their fancy more easily.”
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ClickforCoorg04KF19aug2018

Sharmada and a few others are maintaining an online document where they are keeping track of how many people have contributed and requested portraits, who is making them, and how many of them have been made. “So far, about 60 people have sent us proof of their contributions and we have raised about Rs 70,000 through this,” she shares.

‘Click for Kerala’ and ‘Click for Coorg’ campaigns

Meanwhile in Bengaluru, a similar conversation was happening in a WhatsApp group of professional photographers in the city. Anbu Jawahar and Ankit Singh, two members of the group had done something similar to ‘Clicks for Kerala’ when the Chennai floods happened in 2015.

The idea behind these two campaigns is similar to Donate for a Portrait – except here, donors have to donate a minimum of Rs 5,000 and according to the amount, they can avail services for a photoshoot.

“We came up with this three days ago, and we decided to put up a poster on our Instagram stories. We have received messages from photographers in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and even Kerala,” shared Elvin Jacob, a 31-year-old photographer in Bengaluru.

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Sowmya Mense, another photographer who is taking part in this campaign, originally hails from Kodagu. “My aunt lost two houses in the flood. I know several other families who have been rendered homeless,” the 36-year-old says.

She put up the ‘Click for Coorg’ post on her Instagram on Friday and has already received 6 to 7 requests. “They have sent me the proof of their donation and out of the Rs 23,000 raised, Rs 10,000 I am giving to Kerala relief fund. The rest, once I collate more responses to the campaign, will be given to Coorg,” Sowmya says.

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A challenge, both Elvin and Sowmya, say is to work around their bookings for commercial shoots and include the people who have opted for shoots through the campaign. This is why they have a much more decentralized working system – each photographer can accept as many requests as they can manage and there is no centralized tally.

The participating photographers however, are hopeful that more people will come forward so they more funds can reach the affected areas of Kerala and Coorg.

source: http://www.thenewsminute.com / The News Minute / Home> Rains / by Geetika Mantri / August 18th, 2018

Instant messaging, first line of defence against moving herds

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

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WhatsApp group launched by Forest Department staff goes a long way in reducing human deaths

Like many of us, Deputy Range Forest Officer K.M. Devaiah scans his WhatsApp messages every morning. And, they trigger him into instant action. Far from being ‘good morning’ messages, these are SOS from estate workers and owners in Ammathi range of Virajpet forest division in Kodagu district seeking his help to clear a wild herd of elephants from their terrain.

A routine act initiated among the Forest Department staff at the beat level, has become the first line of defence for people facing the brunt of conflict with elephants in the coffee plantations of Kodagu.

A WhatsApp group launched by Mr. Devaiah in 2016, with eight guards as members of the group, sharing information on elephant herds, has expanded and is now christened ‘Rapid Response Team’.

It has now become the most popular interface between the people and the department in tracking the movement of elephants in the estates around Ammathi.

“Ever since the WhatsApp group was launched, we have been on our toes following the herds wherever they are. Our very presence is an indication to the local community that the herds are not far off and they become more alert and cautious,” said Mr. Devaiah.

With almost half a dozen alerts received daily, Mr. Devaiah and his team map the areas of elephant presence and this information is passed on to all stakeholders, who take precautionary measures to stay safe.

A senior forest official said it is a small initiative that has made a big difference at the ground level by minimising human deaths. Between 2011 and 2016 there were about 8 to 10 human deaths reported every year. But in 2017, the number of human deaths was down to one or two and there have been none so far in 2018, the official added.

However, the authorities admit that in the perception of the public, the larger issue — of the presence of elephants in plantations and estates and threat posed by them — remain, and this is only a temporary reprieve.

But given the potential to reduce loss of life, the model is now being replicated across the district.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru – August 13th, 2018

Free Medical Camp By Kaveri Mahila Sangha On July 15

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Science & Technology

Mysuru:

Shree Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha, Mysuru, has organised its annual free medical camp at Mahaveer Vidya Mandir, C-A/2, LIC Colony, 2nd Stage, Srirampura, on July 15 from 10.30 am to 4 pm.

Dr. Mathanda Aiyappa will inaugurate the camp on Sunday. Sangha President Jerry Ponnappa will preside.

Physician Dr. Latha Muthanna, Dermatologists Dr. P.A. Kushalappa and Dr. Poovamma, Urologists Dr. Madappa and Dr. Somanna, Orthopaedician Dr. Devaiah, Paediatrician Dr. Rajeshwari Madappa, Dr. Aiyappa (General Medicine), Dr. Aiyanna (Ayurveda), Gynaecologists Dr. Poovamma and Dr. Sonia Mandappa, Dr. Padmini Kaverappa, Dentist Dr. Shruthi Somaiah, Nephrologist Dr. Vipin Kaverappa and Dr. Sonam Bopanna (Speech & Hearing Pathologist) will take part in the camp along with representatives from Sigma Multi-speciality Hospital and Nethradhama Super-speciality Eye Hospital.

For details, interested public may contact President Jerry Ponnappa on Mob: 99015-36733 or Secretary Kavya Kuttappa on Mob: 99642-36284.

NOTE: The general public attending the camp must compulsorily bring the old medical records, if any.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 11th, 2018

K M Cariappa – Father of Indian Army

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

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Chennai:

Whoever goes through the military history of India, will never forget Field Marshal K M Cariappa.

Only two officers of the Indian Army have got the rank of a Field Marshal: one of them being Cariappa and the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

But that isn’t the only thing that won him recognition – his achievements are no less worthy. While the alumni of Officers Training Academy unveil the statue of the noted Army officer who held five-star rank, News Today journeyed through his life and achievements.

His distinguished military career spanned almost three decades. He was the first Indian military officer to attend the Staff College, Quetta, the first Indian to command a battalion, and was also one of the first two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College, Camberley, UK.

Field Marshal Cariappa made his voice clear when Skeen Committee was set up in 1939 to examine the options of Indianisation of Indian Army’s ranks.

As Cariappa was one of the senior most Indian officers with about 19 years of service, the committee held several discussions with him. He expressed his displeasure at the treatment of Indian officers in the Army.

He decried the discrimination shown towards Indian officers in terms of appointments, promotions, benefits and allowances British officers were entitled to.

He is known for ‘Operation Kipper’, ‘Operation Easy’ and ‘Operation Bision’ done to capture Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji la, Dras and Kargil areas in Kashmir during 1947 and 1948.

The operations aimed to drive out Pakistanis from Kashmir, but they were stopped by the intervention of the United States. While Army headquarters asked not to launch any operations, Cariappa protested against it and launched several strikes in the Ladakh region allowing India to assert control over the region.

Cariappa took over the reins of the Indian Army 15 January 1949, that was marked as official Army Day and celebrated annually.

As chief of the Army, Cariappa was instrumental in the formation of the Territorial Army in 1949. He extended support to the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during its formative years. These two complimentary branches of the Army later proved to be very helpful in the wars India fought in later years.

He also adopted the Indian National Army slogan ‘Jai Hind’: it became a phrase for the personnel to greet each other in the Army.

He turned down the proposal to reserve vacancies in the Army for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as had been done in other government services. He stated that the proposal would degrade the Army’s standards and increase the risk of it being defeated if right talent was not recognised.

Cariappa took part in the reorganisation of the armed forces in many foreign countries. He was awarded the Legion of Merit in the degree of Chief Commander by American President Harry S. Truman.

As a mark of recognition for the commendable service rendered by him to the nation, the Government of India conferred the rank of Field Marshal on Cariappa 28 April 1986, at a special investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

source: http://www.newstoday.net / News Today / Home> Chennai / by S. Vishnu Sharmaa / June 23rd, 2018

After 33 years, 2 brothers find their family through newspaper advertisement

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

A family of six siblings has reunited after 33 years in Madikeri following an advertisement published in a district newspaper.

Anand Nayar and Shekar pose for family reunion picture
Anand Nayar and Shekar pose for family reunion picture

Madikeri :

A family of six siblings has reunited after 33 years in Madikeri following an advertisement published in a district newspaper.The two estranged brothers had been living in Mumbai for the past 33 years, assuming that their parents had passed away. They were overjoyed to reunite with their 80-year-old mother who was in tears seeing her two sons after decades.

Anand Nayar, the oldest of six siblings, left Madikeri during the 1980s to find a job in Mumbai. He left behind his parents Kumar and Thangamma, who worked as daily wage labourers in an estate, and five younger siblings. The family had moved to Kodagu from Kerala 50 years ago. Finding a job at a construction company, Anand kept in touch with his parents and siblings via letters.

Shekar, the youngest among the siblings, ran away at the age of 12, following his brother’s footsteps and settled in Mumbai with him. While Anand wrote letters to his family, they became less frequent over time and later stopped altogether. Around the same time, the parents left their old job and moved to a different house.

With no internet or mobile accessibility, the communication between the two brothers and the rest of the family became impossible. Eventually, the two brothers married and settled in Mumbai.Meanwhile, their father Kumar passed away. On his death bed, he had expressed his desire to see his two missing sons. Telegrams were sent to Anand’s old address, only to be returned to the family stating that no such person lived there.

After 33 years of being away from family, Anand wanted to meet his siblings, assuming that his parents might be no more. He, along with Shekar, came to Madikeri two days ago and started looking for his family. “We left Madikeri when it was covered with forests. There were no proper roads, nor electricity. Now, everything has changed and we could not recognise the place we left behind,” said Shekar.

Helpless, they approached a district newspaper to post an advertisement. The advertisement was published following a police search complaint. The next morning, the editor of the newspaper woke up to Anand’s call, who was yelling with joy, “I can’t thank you enough; I have found my mother, brother and sisters because of your newspaper,” said Anand. He had received a call from his sister on a number he had posted on the ad.

Anand and Shekar were reunited with their family in a house near Madikeri Gowda Samaj. Their aged mother, with a joyous smile, said: “I am glad that they came looking for their family before I left this world.” With tearful eyes, she spoke about her two sons and said, “My life cannot get happier than this.” While posing for a family picture, the oldest brother Anand adoringly pulled his sister Prabha beside him and smiled for a family reunion picture.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / June 20th, 2018

Karnataka: Gen Thimayya memorial to be ready soon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

The entrance of the memorial will be dedicated to Kodava culture and will host various traditional artifacts including ‘peecha .kathi’, daggers and other arms

ThimmayyaKF14jun2018

Bengaluru :

If you approach ‘Sunnyside’ in Madikeri town, you will be welcomed by a larger-than-life boot of a soldier and a battle tank at the door. “Sunnyside” was the residence of General K S Thimayya and had been waiting for a year for the renovations that have just kicked-off.

The house which previously housed the RTO office, is now being renovated and re-named as ‘General Thimayya Memorial’ with an aim to retell the story of the General, the hero of Kodagu and the nation and will depict each phase of his life.

The entrance of the memorial will be dedicated to Kodava culture and will host various traditional artifacts including ‘peecha kathi’, daggers and other arms. The other rooms of the house will depict the General’s childhood days, his lifestyle, and his days in the army. “The visitors will be welcomed into the memorial by an audio recording, dubbed by Belliappa, the grandson of General Thimayya, whose voice resembles his grandfather’s,” explains the memorial’s convener Major (retd) Nanjappa.

The project of renovating ‘Sunnyside’ has begun with work on the interiors currently in progress.

For the project, which will be completed in another six months, getting to this stage of renovation had not been smooth. Major Nanjappa, appointed as the convener a decade ago, has been constantly in touch with the authorities, that kept on changing over the years, to get the project moving forward.

Army General Bipin Rawat has promised to give two boffer weapons to the memorial.y

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / June 14th, 2018

Vintage Car Collector In Kodagu Dies As Tree Branch Falls On Him

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports

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Madikeri:

A farmer and a vintage car collector died after a tree branch fell on him at Nellihudikeri village near Siddapura in Kodagu district yesterday.

The deceased, 67-year-old P.C. Ahmed Kutti Haji, was working in his Mubarak Estate along with his son Ashraf at around 11.30 am. Due to heavy rain and wind, a branch of a banyan tree fell on Ahmed Kutti. He was immediately rushed to a hospital. But he succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner P.I. Sreevidya has announced Rs.5 lakh compensation to his family. She sent the cheque through the Tahsildar.

With his death, Kodagu has lost a collector of Vintage ‘beauties
With his death, Kodagu has lost a collector of Vintage ‘beauties

Ahmed Kutti Haji is a coffee planter and also an industrialist. He has a huge collection of vintage cars which he threw open to public. Collecting vintage cars was a hobby for Ahmed who has 86 of them and over 15 vintage petrol jeeps. Not to stop there, he also has 20 old two-wheelers, a 125-year-old bicycle and a 200-year-old bullock cart. The oldest car in the collection is 1925 model.

Normally vintage car collectors eye Bengaluru to add cars to their collection. Changing the trend, Ahmed focussed on old workshops in Kodagu and surrounding areas to hunt vintage ‘beauties.’ After picking them, Ahmed gave old cars a fresh coat of paint and tuned them to working condition.

Almost all foreign cars owned by Ahmed were manufactured between 1925 and 1965. Barring Dharmasthala, no other place in the State has such a wide collection of vintage cars.

With his death, Kodagu has lost a vintage automobile enthusiast.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /June 10th, 2018

Four-Day Personality Development Camp Begins In City

Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

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Mysuru:

A four-day special Personality Development camp ‘Spoorthi 2018’ is being organised since yesterday for students who hail from Kodagu and pursuing their studies from PUC to Graduation. The camp is being organised by Kodava Deena Bandhu Charitable Trust at Kodava Samaja, Vijayanagar First Stage. The camp will conclude on June 5.

The camp was inaugurated last evening by Major General (Rtd.) Codanda K. Karumbaya and senior Orthodontist Dr. Adengada A. Kuttappa. Addressing the students, Karumbaya said that students must have grip over at least four to five languages so that they can pursue a career in any part of the world. Along with mother tongue and the medium of study, students must strive to learn dominant foreign languages, he said.

Giving an example of Indian Army, the retired officer said that people from various nook and corners of India serve in the Army. One common thread that unites them is Hindi. They all learn Hindi and protect the nation like one family, he said.

On the choice of careers, he said that students must have a proper aim and the courage to pursue their dreams. And it is important for them to periodically assess their capabilities and career path.

A step-by-step monitoring process where there is a room for improvement must be a part of a student’s activity, Karumbaya opined.

In his address, Dr. Kuttappa said that it is important for students to read and know about achievers. Almost all the achievers had a tough childhood where they fought against odds to study. “Even our Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a difficult childhood where he sold tea on Railway platforms to eke out a living. Our former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam used to study under streetlight due to abject poverty,” he said.

Students must not discontinue studies at any cost and must strive to secure merit scholarships to pursue their education. Only those who realise the value of education and money at a young age will make good citizens and this in turn, will give rise to a good society, Dr. Kuttappa said.

Kodava Deena Bandhu Charitable Trust Honorary Secretary Pattada A. Jayakumar, Kattera A. Cariappa and Trustee Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd.) Chowrira A. Ganapathy were present.

During the special camp, achievers in various fields will address the students and guide them in academics and careers.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 02nd, 2018

Signature campaign against smoking zones begins

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

The Consortium for Tobacco Free Karnataka (CFTFK) launched the ‘One million signature campaign’ as part of the World No Tobacco Day on Thursday.

Bengaluru :

The Consortium for Tobacco-Free Karnataka (CFTFK) launched the ‘One million signature campaign’ as part of the World No Tobacco Day on Thursday. The campaign will demand strict regulation policy on the sale of tobacco products and removal of ‘smoking zones’ in restaurants and bars across the state to safeguard non-smoker’s health.

A memorandum with 10 lakh signatories will also be submitted to the state government demanding appropriate measures to protect children from easy access to tobacco products and exposure to tobacco advertisement and to protect the health of non-smokers.

International athlete and Arjuna awardee Arjun Devaiah launched the campaign which is likely to continue for next eight months.To spread more awareness about the risks associated with tobacco use, CFTFK also launched information kiosks at crowded public places.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / May 31st, 2018

A ray of hope for special children

Amazing Feats, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders

Swastha has rehabilitated many such children
There are 101 such children in Swastha
It has been training special children in various vocations since 2004

Madikeri:

Swastha, a centre for rehabilitation of special children on Sunticoppa-Madapur road in Kodagu, is a “home sweet home” for 101 such children.

Swastha has been taking care of such children and training them in various vocations since 2004.

Ganga Changappa, project head of Swastha, told The Hindu that 19 children, who had been trained in bookbinding, folder-making, screen printing, manufacturing table mats, bags, mushroom cultivation and offset printing, had been shifted to Polibetta, where they were working now.

In Swastha, special children undergo training under the watchful eyes of specialists. As many as 18 children have found placements in Kodagu and elsewhere. Some have been self-employed. Tulasi, who joined Swastha in 1986 and trained there till 2003, is now employed in a garment factory in Bangalore. Manohar, who was admitted in Swastha with cerebral palsy, works as a helper at the KSRTC depot in Kushalnagar. Guruappa, who is partially visually challenged, works in the Bengaluru International Airport.

Three are working as instructors at Swastha itself. Mohini, who is physically challenged, is working as a tailoring instructor, according to Aarti, counsellor and psychologist at Swastha. Two mentally challenged girls got married some time ago. Besides, seven children had joined regular schools under inclusive education stream, she said.

Eighteen-year-old Gaurav from Somwarpet made news recently for a different reason. He is less than two feet in height. But he is unperturbed by this and is preparing for the SSLC examination.

Special skills are needed to handle such children, and the faculty at Swastha has them in abundance. The faculty deals with children with cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, and epilepsy.

There are six special educators, a rehabilitation teacher and a speech therapist, apart from the counsellor.

Ms. Aarti said Swastha had also brought the parents of the children under one roof. The parents had formed a self-help group. They would meet on the fifth of every month. The group was planning to buy sweaters for the special children this year.

The children get free vocational education, accommodation, uniforms, and medical care. There is free transport for day scholars. Swastha is funded by the JRD Tata Trust and Coorg Foundation, an initiative of Tata Coffee Limited, Polibetta.

Ms. Ganga Changappa said Swastha incurred an expenditure of Rs. 30 lakh every year. Two hundred children had applied for admission in Swastha, she added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Jeevan Changappa / August 17th, 2008