Poonacha Machaiah has over 20 years of global experience as a successful serial entrepreneur and business leader in Fortune 100 companies.
Poonacha is among the new breed of emerging social entrepreneurs who are using approaches from the commercial world and employing technology to tackle social and environmental problems. Today he is levering his vast global experience and technology domain expertise to bring to communities transformative educational solutions and ubiquitous access to the masses via mobility.
Poonacha has co-founded “Jiyo” a wellbeing platform along with internationally renowned physician and author Deepak Chopra M.D. He is founder the founder and CEO of ‘ABOVE – A Bunch of Versatile Entrepreneurs’, a company he had founded in 2008. ABOVE is a company that has delivered industry-leading solutions in the Education, Mobility, Media and Entertainment segments. ABOVE has launched one of the pioneering Social TV/collaboration platforms TangoFX and recently launched ABOVE Learning Platform.
Poonacha is also the co-founder of the social enterprise ‘WeightLess Project’, a global movement to address the challenges that plague our communities i.e. lifestyle disorders related to obesity/overweight and hunger/malnutrition.
He was instrumental in the founding of India’s leading social media startup along with internationally acclaimed film director Shekhar Kapur and Oscar award winning music composer AR Rahman.
During his tenure as CEO, Qyuki was been voted as one of India’s coolest startups (Business Today) and also featured in Fortune (India) and Fast Company.
Through the majority of his career, he has held senior leadership positions in Global Sales & Business Development with leading MNC’s like Sasken, Motorola, Visionael, Iridium, and Dimension Enterprises – a leading Internet Data Center services startup in the Washington DC area, which was then acquired by Nortel Networks in 2000.
He is on the advisory board of Chopra Foundation and International mentor at XMedia Lab, an internationally acclaimed digital media think tank.
Prior to his return to India in 2007, he has been an active member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department and Joy of Sports in the Washington DC area.
Poonacha holds an MBA from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering from the B.M.S. College of Engineering in Bangalore, India.
45 stalls celebrate Kodagu’s coffee culture as top growers honoured
Madikeri:
The Coffee Dasara celebration held on Wednesday at Gandhi Maidan, Madikeri, captivated visitors with a vibrant display of coffee culture, featuring 45 thematic stalls and a strong message of solidarity with coffee growers grappling with persistent challenges.
The event was jointly organised by the Madikeri Dasara Committee, Madikeri Dasara Cultural Committee and the Coorg Planters Association inside the Sakamma Auditorium, named after Karnataka’s first woman coffee entrepreneur. The coffee mega event was executed and coordinated by H.T. Anil.
Inaugurating the celebration, Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda highlighted that despite favourable market prices, coffee growers continue to face serious hardships.
“Labour shortages, climate fluctuations, and market instability are major hurdles, especially for small-scale producers. We must unite to tackle these challenges,” Dr. Mantar Gowda urged.
Dr. Mantar Gowda noted that Kodagu district accounts for nearly 75 percent of Karnataka’s coffee production and stressed that Coffee Dasara, which began last year, should become an annual platform to foster dialogue and development.
Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda with Coffee Dasara Convener H.T. Anil during the event.
Crop insurance coverage
Coffee Board Chairman Dinesh Devavrinda underscored the need for insurance coverage for coffee crops, similar to schemes available for arecanut and pepper. He pointed out that coffee is cultivated not only in Karnataka’s Kodagu, Hassan and Chikkamagalur districts but also across the north-eastern States and encouraged farmers to take pride in their profession.
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting farmers, promising to act as a bridge between growers and policy-makers. He announced plans to launch video-based training programmes on coffee cultivation and marketing, emphasising the urgent need for modernisation in the 21st century.
Technical insights
Several experts shared technical insights during the event. Dr. Ichettira Mandappa, Coffee Board Director, spoke about maintaining quality in coffee cultivation, coffee grower Karan discussed emerging varietals in coffee farming, Jermie D’Souza presented research on dwarf robusta strains while Dr. Chendrimada Captain Thimmaiah, Assistant Director, Veterinary Services, explained the role of soil fertility in improving yields.
The event also featured a felicitation ceremony honouring outstanding coffee farmers, recognising their contributions to the industry.
Growers felicitated
Distinguished coffee growers were felicitated by International Booker Prize-2025 winner Deepa Bhasthi, who hails from Madikeri. They included Vinod Shivappa, former President of UPASI (United Planters’ Association of Southern India), S.M. Chengappa, progressive farmer from Kiragandur, Lava Edadante from Edadante village, D.P. Ravishankar from Ponnampet, D.Y. Abdul Razak from Kodlipet, Vikram from Masagodu, Robert from Ponnathmotte in Chettalli and Nizamuddin Siddiqui, senior coffee entrepreneur from Madikeri.
Prominent dignitaries present included the Coorg Planters Association Chairman A. Nanda Belliappa, Madikeri Town Municipality President and Madikeri Dasara Committee Chairperson P. Kalavathi, Madikeri Dasara Committee office-bearers, Jyothika of Women’s Coffee Awareness Forum, former MLCs Veena Achaiah and S.G. Medappa.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 28th, 2025
The tournament marks India’s first Pickleball World Ranking (PWR) 1000 event and featured prominent names, including former Asian Games tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who took to the court in both singles and doubles events, partnering with Venkatesh Nagarajan.
Joshna Chinappa returns a shot during her doubles contest; Prajnesh Gunneswaran at the event
Chennai :
A handful of tennis players traded racquets for paddles on Friday, as the inaugural day of the Rise Up Championship – Pickleball by the Bay tournament got underway in Chennai.
The tournament marks India’s first Pickleball World Ranking (PWR) 1000 event and featured prominent names, including former Asian Games tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, who took to the court in both singles and doubles events, partnering with Venkatesh Nagarajan.
Having announced his retirement from professional tennis last year, Prajnesh has taken to playing pickleball casually on weekends with friends. His participation in a few ranking tournaments in the past helped him secure a spot in the qualifier draw of the PWR 1000 event.
I enjoy the sport. Most of the pickleball tournaments happen during weekends, and if it’s convenient, I make sure to take part,” Prajnesh told DT Next.
The Pickleball by the Bay event saw participation from a wide age group — including players over 50 — something Prajnesh believes highlights the sport’s inclusive nature.
“Pickleball courts in the city are mostly full, which shows people are willing to play — across all ages. In other sports, it’s a lot harder: one, you need to be athletic; and two, if you haven’t played from a young age, it becomes difficult,” he added.
Former world No 10 squash player and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Joshna Chinappa also featured at the event, pairing with Niranthara Muthiah to win the doubles qualifier and advance to the main draw. Discussing the similarities between racquet sports and pickleball, Prajnesh said that although he doesn’t play full-time, his background in tennis helps him adapt quickly.
The basics are quite similar. Pickleball came a bit easier to me because of my tennis background,” he said. Former Olympian sailor Varun Thakkar was also present at the event to show his support for the emerging sport.
“I think many players are picking up pickleball because it feels familiar. A lot of common people are taking it up because it’s not too harsh on the body,” said Selvakumar Baalu, Founder of the Rise Up Championship Foundation.
“Sports is a small community where people support each other. At Pickleball by the Bay, we’re happy to provide a platform for that.”
source: http://www.dtnext.in / DT NEXT / Home> News> Sports / by Jayantha Sengupta / September 27th, 2025
A unique Coffee Dasara blending festive spirit with agricultural pride will be held on Sept. 24 (Wednesday) at Gandhi Maidan in Madikeri, celebrating Kodagu’s deep-rooted coffee culture.
The event will honour coffee growers and provide valuable insights into cultivation techniques, announced H.T. Anil, Convener of Coffee Dasara.
Launched last year under the vision of Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda, Coffee Dasara returns this year following an overwhelming response. The second edition is being organised in collaboration with the Coorg Planters’ Association.
The programme will begin at 10 am at the Sakamma Memorial Hall, named after Kodagu’s trailblazing coffee entrepreneur, the late Sakamma — Karnataka’s first woman coffee entrepreneur. Coffee stalls will be opened in her memory, celebrating her legacy.
A lecture series from 10.30 am to 1 pm will offer practical knowledge and expert guidance to coffee cultivators. At 1 pm, ten distinguished coffee growers from Kodagu will be felicitated for their exceptional contributions to the coffee industry.
Coffee on the menu
Adding a delicious twist to the festivities, culinary competitions will showcase coffee’s versatility in cooking and baking. Categories include coffee-flavoured cakes, cupcakes, brownies, biscuits, puddings, beverages, and chocolates — all celebrating coffee as both a drink and a delicacy.
This year’s Coffee Dasara will feature 35 stalls highlighting coffee-related products, information and innovations. Speciality brews will be served by local cafés, while major exhibits will be set up by the Indian Coffee Board, Horticulture Department, Industries Department, HOPCOMS, Nandini Dairy and the Kodagu Coffee Growers’ Cooperative Society, among others.
Coffee Dasara continues to honour Kodagu’s rich coffee heritage by blending tradition, innovation and community pride. This vibrant event not only celebrates the region’s global reputation for coffee cultivation but also strengthens the bond between growers, producers and coffee lovers.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home / September 22nd, 2025
The actor will join hands with the director for Hello 123, which will have music by V Harikrishna.
Bhuvvaan Ponnanna, known for his antagonist roles in films like Just Math Mathalli, Kool, and Kuchiku Kuchiku, worked his way to playing the lead in Randhava. Now, after a break, he steps into the spotlight as a hero with the upcoming musical, Hello 123, directed by none other than Yogaraj Bhat. The film features music by V Harikrishna and is produced under the banner of Amrutha Cine Craft by Vijay Tata and Amrutha Vijay Tata.
“When I came to Bengaluru in 2007, Yogaraj Bhat’s name was everywhere,” Bhuvvaan recalls. “Every actor wanted to do a film with Bhatru. While I was playing villains, I always had this wish, much like senior actors wanted to work in Puttana Kanagal. I wanted to be part of Yogaraj Bhat’s world, as I loved the magic he had brought to actors like Ganesh or Diganth.”
The actor admits he took his time after his debut as a hero in Randhava. “Yogaraj Bhat doesn’t push stories onto actors; he works around them. He told me, ‘I will not match the story with the actor; I’d rather work on the story, and then see how the actor fits.’ He was very particular, always striking up conversations, understanding me—my background, my language, my flavour. After many discussions, he tailored the story to suit me.”
Bhuvvaan, who also has a theatre background and trained in filmmaking at a New York film university, calls working with Bhat a learning experience. “Despite my theatre experience, this is going to be like film school. The chance to work with a director like Yogaraj Bhat is rare, and I am ready to absorb every moment.”
Hello 123, launched with Harshika Poonacha and Bhuvvaan’s daughter Tridevi in attendance, promises a light-hearted journey of a musician rising from nothing to everything. “It’s a typical Yogaraj Bhat film,” Bhuvvaan says. “Music, love, drama, the essence of Malnad, quirky characters, and humour—everything is in there.”
Pre-production is underway, and shooting is expected to begin in October. Apart from Bhuvvaan, the director and music director, the rest of the cast and crew is yet to be finalised.
source: http://www.cinemaexpress.com / Cinema Express / Home> News / by A Sharadhaa / September 05th, 2025
“It is literally true that former Chief Minister late D. Devaraj Urs lent voice to voiceless and marginalised sections of the society during his tenure as the CM,” said MLC Dr. D. Thimmaiah.
He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ award ceremony organised jointly by Anveshana Seva Trust and Ursu Jagruti Academy Charitable Trust, at Institution of Engineers-India (IEI) on JLB Road here on Friday, marking the 110th birth anniversary of late former CM D. Devaraj Urs.
“Devaraj Urs always stood with the marginalised, micro, downtrodden and other voiceless communities, when it came to extending rights, benefits and facilities. Urs is still remembered for his outstanding and exemplary service to the society while in power. Most of the politicians these days have homes in big cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru. But Urs did not have any house in the State capital or other big cities. However, his memory is etched in the minds of everyone and it still stands fresh,” Dr. Thimmaiah noted.
Highlighting the revolutionary decisions taken by Urs while in power such as elimination of bonded labour, ban on manual scavenging and introduction of ‘Uluvavane Bhumi Odeya’ Act (the tiller is the actual land owner), the MLC said it was D.D. Urs who gave land to the landless and provided shelter to the shelterless. His contributions and achievements are memorable at the National-level even today, he added.
Educationist Bhramara Bahaddur from Bengaluru, Karnataka Karavali Samskrutika Okkuta Founder Dr. Jagannatha Shetty from Mandya, senior yoga teacher Jagadish Shettar from Dakshina Kannada, Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra Photographer M.N. Lakshminarayana Yadav from Mysuru, Goa Liberation Movement fighter Girija Shankar Patil from Koppal and Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (Madikeri) Associate Professor Dr. Anand from Kodaguwere conferred ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ awards on the occasion.
Charitable Trust Vice-President H.A. Venkatesh, Hon. Secretary Dr. MGR Urs, former Tumkur University VC Dr. Y.S. Siddegowda, Anveshana Seva Trust Founder-President Amarnath Raje Urs, former Bengaluru Kanteerava Studios Chairperson Vijayalakshmi Urs and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 31st, 2025
Narayan Jagadeesan, the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter, has opened up about the impact of his former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate Robin Uthappa on his career. Jagadeesan and Uthappa shared the CSK dressing room between 2020 and 2022, playing under MS Dhoni alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Jagadeesan revealed how Uthappa influenced his approach as both a cricketer and an individual.
“Robin has instilled more discipline in me regarding how to approach each session,”
Jagadeesan said. “He has taught me many things, making me calm and secure, not just as a cricketer but as an individual, and to stay present.”
On the technical side, Jagadeesan credited his Tamil Nadu coaches for shaping his batting. “When it comes to batting, Guru sir [AG Guruswamy] and Narasimha [both coaches in Tamil Nadu] have helped me,” he added.
Jagadeesan also lived his father’s dream earlier this year when he was named a reserve player in India’s squad for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. Though he did not make the playing XI, being part of India’s thrilling six-run victory was a moment of pride for him.
“The India jersey is now going into the frame, and I hope to add many more,” he said. “Being part of such an intense and thrilling match made it even more special. Winning the game from an unexpected situation was truly remarkable and gave me goosebumps.”
Most recently, Jagadeesan represented Chepauk Super Gillies in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2025. It turned out to be a mixed campaign for him. He scored 180 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 179.07, including two half-centuries.
source: http://www.revsportz.in / Revsportz / Home> Breaking News > Cricket / by Staff Reporter / August 28th, 2025
On Sunday, the 13th (of July), my father and the Founder-Editor of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, K.B. Ganapathy, passed away.
Knowing him, I think he would have got a kick out of it if he had kicked the bucket on Friday the 13th, popularly considered an unlucky day.
It feels odd to write about my father, but I feel I owe it to the readers of Star of Mysore, who have made this small newspaper from this small city into one of India’s most successful evening newspapers.
To not write about him would feel wrong. Especially because his life was not only well lived, but it was also wildly interesting.
KBG, as he was popularly known, never really spoke much of his early life with me until a few years ago, when I became a father and he, a grandfather. The stories were fantastic.
When you become one of the youngest lawyers in Bengaluru at a time when jukeboxes and dance halls were in vogue…
When you, as a nerdy, bespectacled boy from Coorg to have the audacity to move to Bombay to become an actor, then a scriptwriter, without knowing a word of Hindi…
When you rejoin College in Bombay to study journalism and are chosen to work under a legend like T.J.S. George…
When you launch your own advertising agency in Pune and help name the now-iconic moped, Luna…
When you move Osho Rajneesh from Juhu Beach into an apartment and handle his first PR campaign for The Illustrated Weekly of India…
When you finally pack it all up and return to Mysore to run a bill-book printing press… and then start your own newspaper… You’re bound to have stories. And KBG had a whole lot of them and he told them brilliantly…
From tales of quirky Bombay industrialists to the eccentricities of Osho Rajneesh, from the spiritual gurus he encountered in his career to dealing with political thugs he had confronted, his stories were always unexpected, always unforgettable.
Whether he was protesting at the Bombay Docks with George Fernandes or breaking ‘journalistic ethics’ by openly campaigning for H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda in Mysore, KBG lived with a conviction few dared to match and fewer still could argue with, though I often did.
What made him a good journalist was simple. A nose for news, a maniacal work ethic, and a fearlessness that bordered on charming arrogance.
KBG also had a quirk. He never wore a shirt without a pocket. Why? Because he always carried a tiny notepad and a pen. Even on the day he died, he had notes scribbled in his little notepad stuffed in his shirt pocket — observations and “news points for reporters.” He never stopped reporting.
KBG loved intellectual combat, and often our dinner table arguments ended with me yelling, “Youth may be wasted on the young, but wisdom is definitely wasted on the old !”
He would smirk and say, “Don’t flatter yourself. At your age, only Rahul Gandhi can be forever young.” Then, with a smile, he would ask, “Drink?”
That was KBG. You could argue with him, disagree with him, even mock him, but he always knew how to separate debate and decency.
That same spirit defined Star of Mysore. Even if you didn’t share his ideology, your voice still had a place in his paper.
Through Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, he gave voice to countless civic warriors. Many of them eventually joined politics, but before that, they helped shape our city.
He encouraged service clubs like Rotary, Lions and MGP, believing they created a collective civic conscience to keep the Government accountable.
Though he had an irreverent side, he was also deeply spiritual.
On his 85th birthday, I asked him, “After all these years, what according to you is happiness?” He replied instantly, “Freedom from physical pain.”
Then, after a pause, added, “You can have all the money and status you want, but if your body is hurting, even if it’s a toothache, you’ll be miserable.”
I asked when he had this spiritual epiphany. With a mischievous smile he replied, “When I had piles.” We both laughed. I said, “Now you know how it feels to work with you.” He laughed and clapped, something he would do on hearing something witty. That bellowing laughter with clapping will be missed.
Since his passing, people have asked me how I’m coping. For now, I keep reading the note he would write on the first page of his diary every year for over 40 years. They are lines from the Bible:
“The race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant,
but time and chance happen to them all.”
And then he would add, in his own hand:
“So do not despair, Ganapathy, for this too shall pass.”
And so, while we grieve, we carry on, for… this too shall pass.
On behalf of my family and everyone at Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, Thank You, dear readers, for your love and loyalty. We hope to continue informing, entertaining and waking the activist in every Mysurean.
P.S.: After his passing, some have criticised the current State Government for not offering KBG State Honours like his peers got.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter.
What greater honour can a journalist ask for than the love of his readers?
That, for my father, was more than enough.
e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns, In Blace & White , Top Stories / by Vikram Muthanna / July 26th, 2025
Mysore Kodava Samaja paid floral tributes to Kalyatanda B. Ganapathy (KBG), Founder-Editor of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, who passed away on July 13, at the condolence meeting held at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar yesterday.
Samaja President Ponjanda A. Ganapathy, former Samaja President and present BVB Mysuru Hon. Secretary Poyyettira S. Ganapathy, former Rajiv Gandhi University (Arunachal Pradesh) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kambeyanda C. Belliappa, Samaja Advisor Jammada Ganesh Ayyanna, former Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa, KBG’s son and Star of Mysore Managing Editor Vikram Muthanna, Bharani Art Gallery Convenor Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa and others spoke about KBG.
Samaja Vice-President Machimada P. Nanaiah, Hon. Secretary Ketolira A. Belliappa, Joint Secretary Ajjikuttira Diana Poovaiah, Hon. Treasurer Ittira G. Kashiappa and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery> Photo News / August 11th , 2025
Nearly 200 varieties of indigenous rice varieties on display at the desi rice mela, which was inaugurated in Mysuru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
The two-day desi rice mela commenced in Mysuru on Saturday, with seed conservators expressing concern that commercial crops were pushing the traditional paddy varieties to the brink.
The objective of the mela is to highlight the paddy diversity that existed in the Old Mysuru region, and how scores of indigenous paddy varieties are going out of vogue due to the proliferation of hybrid varieties and shifting consumer preference to white polished rice.
With over 200 paddy varieties on display, the mela is being held at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, and has been organised under the aegis of Sahaja Samrudha and the Save Our Rice Campaign. Also on display are traditional rice varieties from different States, including rare types such as red rice, aromatic rice, black rice, medicinal rice, and bold-grained rice, along with value-added rice products.
Paddy conservators from across the State are selling their own desi rice directly. Seeds of popular varieties like Rajamudi, Burma Black, Sidda Sanna, Ratnachudi, Navara, Govind Bhog, HMT, and Sindhoor Madhusale are also on display and for sale.
The mela was inaugurated by B.P. Ravishankar, a seed conservator from Hudoor in Ponnampet, Kodagu. He has preserved as many as 57 desi rice varieties.
“Paddy cultivation is becoming increasingly expensive. With the arrival of commercial crops, traditional paddy varieties are being pushed to the margins and the government must provide necessary support to bring these desi rice varieties back into farmers’ fields”, said Mr. Ravishankar.
Unveiling medicinal rice varieties, Shridevi Annapurna Singh, former Director of the Central Food Research Institute, said that traditional varieties are rich in nutrients, while the black and red rice varieties have medicinal properties, and called for their inclusion in people’s diets.
Presiding over the event, G. Krishna Prasad, Director of Sahaja Samrudha and the Organic Farmers’ Collective, said that farmer-breeders in Karnataka have developed excellent paddy varieties like Sidda Sanna, Sindhoor Madhusale, Andanoor Sanna, and NMS-2. “The government must take steps to release these varieties, which are popular among farmers,” he said.
Mr. Prasad also cautioned against any attempts by the government to introduce transgenic paddy varieties that pose risks to the environment and consumer health. Farmers and consumers must remain vigilant to prevent transgenic paddy from entering farmers’ fields, he added.
C. Shanthakumar, the coordinator of Save Our Rice Campaign, said that Karnataka was the home of paddy diversity, but hundreds of varieties have been lost due to lack of demand. ‘’The desi rice mela has been organised to create awareness among farmers and consumers about nutrient-rich, traditional paddy varieties suited to local food habits,” he added.
The mela also offers millets, vegetable seeds, tubers, organic products, and fruit saplings that are for sale.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 09th, 2025
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
