Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Organ Donation: 48-Year-Old Man Saves 5 Lives

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Mysore/Mysuru:

Manu, a 48-year-old man, was brought to Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru on Mar. 30, 2022 at 12.32 pm from CSI Holdsworth Memorial Hospital, in a critical condition. Initial CT scan showed brain stem infarct. He was shifted to ICU immediately for life support and intensive care.

On Mar. 27, Manu suffered a stroke and was rushed to the nearby hospital by his relatives as his wife and son were at Bengaluru. Manu’s family immediately rushed to Somwarpet and took him to Madikeri followed by Hassan for further treatment on Mar. 28.  The next day when his condition worsened, he was referred to Mysuru at a tertiary care centre for treatment.

Manu hailed from Somwarpet in Kodagu and had recently moved to Bengaluru with family.

Manu was kept on life support for two days while he was in a very critical state. On the third day, Apr. 1 at 9.30 pm he was declared brain dead due to brain stem failure as per the hospital protocol stipulated by the Transplant of Human Organs Act 1994 by panellist doctors at Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, which is now a Licensed Centre for Multi-organ Transplant (OTC).

Manu was healthy before this incident and further tests confirmed his eligibility for organ donation. After his family was counselled for organ donation, the deceased patient’s wife and son came forward to donate his organs. As per organ donation protocols, officials from Jeeva Sarthakathe initiated the process of organ recipients waiting list. At around 2 am on Apr. 2, Manu’s organs (2 Kidneys, Liver, Heart Valves and Corneas) were harvested with cross clamp done at 5.03 am at Apollo BGS Hospitals.

“India is struggling with acute shortage of organs for transplantation. It is estimated that more than a million people suffer with end stage organ failure, but only a handful of 3,500 transplants are performed annually. At least 15 patients die every day waiting for organs and every 10 minutes a new name is added to this waiting list,” said N.G. Bharateesha Reddy, Vice-President & Unit Head, Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru.

Stating that donors like Manu have turned to be a beacon of hope giving a new lease of life for the wait-listed patients, he also lauded the efforts of Jeeva Sarthakathe team for being in the forefront in achieving and carrying out sustained deceased donor transplantation activities and educating the public on organ donation.

The organs donated are as follows:

Sl. noOrgans DonatedRecipient Hospital
1.LiverApollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru
2.One single kidneyApollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru
3.One single kidneyApollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru
4.Heart valvesNH Hospital, Bengaluru
5.CorneasLions Eye Bank, Mysuru

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 07th, 2022

Best Student Advocate Award

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Mysuru:

City girl Kallichanda Poorna Poovamma, a first year Law student at National Law School, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was adjudged the Best Student Advocate in the Surana & Surana National Corporate Law Moot Court competition held recently at jss law College in Mysuru.

Students from about 26 top Law Colleges including nine National Law Schools from all over India participated in the contest.

An alumnus of  St. Joseph’s Central School and Sankalpa pu college, Poorna is the daughter of Kallichanda Mudduraj, an Executive at jk tyre  and Anu (Kuttanda), residents of Vijayanagar 4th Stage here.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 15th, 2019

Digi-forward: Gram Panchayat member takes computer classes for tribal kids in Madikeri

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Child computer

Since the area has many kids from the backward classes and tribal community, classes on computers have become a boon to these kids.

A Gram Panchayat member in Kodagu district has taken the unique initiative of educating tribal kids with computer knowledge.

The computer classes are held once a week at the digital library in the village and witnesses enthusiastic participation from the kids. “Every panchayat makes plans for the development of the roads and other infrastructure work. However, I looked forward to doing something for the rural kids,” shared Mukkatira Ritesh Biddappa, Grama Panchayat member of K Badaga village. 

With the support from the Panchayat PDO and other members, he drew a plan to start computer classes for the kids from economically backward classes in the area. “The panchayat is equipped with a digital library and the classes began here two weeks ago. I take classes on computer basics every Saturday,” he explained. 

Since the area has many kids from the backward classes and tribal community, classes on computers have become a boon to these kids. Currently, Ritesh is taking classes for sixth and seventh grade government school students in the village. “After six months of basic training, I will involve another batch of students and this will continue,” he confirmed. 

While Ritesh was working in a finance company in a city, he moved back to his hometown to do some social service. “Grama Panchayats must not be constrained to just infrastructure work. There are several other initiatives that can be thought through, keeping in mind the needs of the people,” concluded Ritesh.

source: http://www.edexlive.com / The New Indian Express, Edex Live / Home> News / by N Dhamotharan, Edex Live / April 04th, 2022

NPSI Student’s Space Hotel Concept Bags First Place In NASA Contest

Amazing Feats, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), World Opinion

Mysuru:

Mukkatira Neerav Aiyappa, a Class 7 student of National Public School International (NPSI), Mysuru, who participated in the Annual Space Settlement Contest, has bagged the first place in Grade 7 Category for his proposal of a Space Hotel ‘DIADEM.’

He presented a design of the Space Hotel in the orbital space settlement LEO (Lower Earth Orbit) at the contest jointly organised by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Centre, San Jose State University and the National Space Society (NSS).

This international competition invited all students around the world up to 12th Grade to participate in its 2018 edition.

Neerav will receive a NASA certificate and has been invited to attend the NSS 37th Annual International Space Development Conference to be held at Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA, from May 24 to May 27, 2018 for a poster and oral presentation of his winning proposal. His project and ideas will be used by NASA for its future space programmes.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Neerav, who has been working on the project since 11 months, said that among various forms of tourism like eco-tourism, nautical tourism, wellness tourism and medical tourism, a new concept has emerged in the form of space tourism, kindling interest to explore various destinations. Rather than seeing comets, planets, and constellations on a telescope, space tourism provides a privilege of experiencing first-hand the beauty of comets, asteroids, stars and planets, he added.

Space tourism will not only provide new vacation experience but create a new view to the earth, transforming the thoughts and perception among humans socially, culturally and emotionally, inspire new careers for the generation of engineers and will open newer fields for research in space medicine, nanotechnology, physical sciences and others, he said.

Through his project, Neerav has created a ‘Space Hotel’ providing space tourists a unique experience of a lifetime and enrich space and its potentials. “My project aims to create a ‘wow’ factor in the field of travel, provides job opportunities, ability to renew space exploration and research, explores possibility of hypersonic travel and have a newer perspective of earth,” he said.

A file photo of the then Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani felicitating Mysuru boy Neerav Aiyappa for winning Google India Code to Learn 2015 Contest.

In his project, Neerav has detailed out the concept of the space hotel, life support system, logistics of the space hotel, economy and time-line, space laws and code of ethics.

Neerav had won the Google India Code to Learn 2015 Contest where he created a game software project using “Scratch” programming called “Wings Over Waves.” The then Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani felicitated him under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyaan.

He was a finalist at RYSI Award (Raman Award) held on Mar. 5, 2018 at Panchavati (Sir C.V. Raman’s residence) in Bengaluru where he demonstrated the principle fluid and thermodynamics in intermediate category  with a working model.

Neerav is the son of Mukkatira Muthanna and Kavery, residents of Yadavagiri and grandson of Mukkatira Gappu – Janaki of Ponnampet and Guddanda Nanda – Kanthy of Virajpet.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 27th, 2018

General K.S. Thimayya Remembered

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

The Management of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, celebrated the 116th birth anniversary of late General K.S. Thimayya at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar this morning.

Picture : (L to R) Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa, Samaja President; Malachira M. Ponnappa, Samaja Vice-President; Kuttimada D. Muthappa, President of Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club and Machimada P. Nanaiah, Samaja Hon. Treasurer, offering floral tributes to the portrait of the late General. Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah, President of Shri Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha, Appanderanda Tara Somaiah, Samaja Joint Secretary, Mukkatira B. Jeevan, Samaja Hon. Secretary and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 31st, 2022

Former Tamil Nadu and South Zone captain P.K. Belliappa passes away

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

The keeper-batsman skippered South Zone and Tamil Nadu

Former Tamil Nadu and South Zone captain P.K. Belliappa passed away in Bengaluru on Wednesday morning. He was 79 and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Belliappa, who made his debut for Tamil Nadu (then Madras) in 1959, played 94 First Class matches till 1974.

An opening batsman and a wicket-keeper, he made 4061 runs at an average of 29.42 with a highest score of 141 and had 93 catches and 46 stumpings to his credit.

Former India leg-spinner V.V. Kumar said “I played with him for close to 20 years and he was a great captain in the 60s. Under him we really did well in various tournaments. He was a gritty opening batsman and very good ’keeper who gave valuable inputs to the bowler as well. He was a self-made cricketer and off-the field, the heart and soul of any party.”

Another contemporary, former TN fast bowler B. Kalayanasundaram, remarked “he was my captain when I made my debut in Ranji Trophy and someone who always encouraged players. Once played me in an inter-district match when I was not well and made me bowl just five overs before allowing me to take rest, so that he could then pick me for the State side.”

“I knew him from my younger days as we were neighbours in Harrington Road and used to play with a golf ball. He was a very pleasant person and incidentally, I made my debut in his last Ranji Trophy match,” said former India wicketkeeper Bharat Reddy.

The TNCA president and members condoled the demise of Belliappa in a statement. His last rites will be held in his native place Coorg.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Cricket / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – February 19th, 2020

12 Girls From Kodagu In State Junior Hockey Team

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports

To make a mark in 12th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship at Kakinada from today

The Junior Women’s Hockey players from across the nation have a golden opportunity to showcase their skills at the 12th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship, which began today (Mar. 25) at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

A total of 26 teams will vie for top honours in the competition including the Karnataka team that has 12 players from Kodagu. Kodagu district has contributed many hockey champions to the national and international events including the Olympics.

In the team are: P. Dechamma Ganapathy, B.J. Jeevitha, Seema Anandarao Pawar, B.M. Keerthana, H.S. Jahnavi, Taj Belliappa, S.B. Nisarga, H.B. Siddaganga, H.A. Apsara, K.J. Dilan, T.C. Suchitha and H. Mani. The girls from Kodagu form a formidable force in the 19-member team.

D.N. Tejaswini and C.M. Sahana of Hassan District, Kaveri R. Lenkannavar of Dharwad District, Tamil Nadu-based B. Deepika and Andhra Pradesh-based Vudumula Sowmya who are at present coaching at SAI (Sports Authority of India) Centre Madikeri and Kushee M. Jain from Bengaluru will also represent the Karnataka team.

Participating teams

The participating teams include Hockey Haryana, Goans Hockey and Hockey Madhya Pradesh in Group A, while Pool B features Hockey Jharkhand, Manipur Hockey and Assam Hockey. Pool C includes Hockey Maharashtra, Telangana Hockey and Le Puducherry Hockey, meanwhile, Hockey Chandigarh, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu and Hockey Uttarakhand have been slotted in Pool D.

Hockey Association of Odisha, Delhi Hockey and Kerala Hockey have been included in Pool E, while Pool F features Punjab, Chhattisgarh Hockey and Hockey Himachal. Pool G features Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Bihar, Hockey Rajasthan and Hockey Mizoram, while Hockey Andhra Pradesh, Hockey Karnataka, Hockey Bengal and Hockey Gujarat has been included in Pool H.

Matches from Mar.25

The Karnataka girls will play their first match against Gujarat on Mar. 25 and fight with Andhra Pradesh on Mar. 27 and with West Bengal on Mar. 29. The team will enter the quarter-finals if it wins against all three teams.

After six days of pool matches, the quarter-finals will be played on Mar.31, the semi-finals on Apr. 2 whereas the medal matches of the 12th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2022 are scheduled on Apr. 3.

The Karnataka team has brought laurels to the State in thFe matches held in New Delhi,

Assam, Haryana, Jharkhand and Kerala. As of now, there is no player from Kodagu in the Indian National Team either from Kodagu or Karnataka. The participation of 12 players from Kodagu in a single team has raised hopes of at least four or five of them making it to the National team.

Team well-prepared

The team has already been trained well in Bengaluru and the players are confident of making big in the championship. At Kakinada, all the teams have been acclimatising to the ground and weather conditions as the humidity is high. “Our preparations for the tournament are going great and our confidence is high as we are well-trained and we are sure of bringing laurels to Karnataka,” said Dechamma Ganapathy.

In the recently held India Camp in Bengaluru, Dechamma Ganapathy, Tejaswini, Sowmya, Sahana, Kushee, Deepika, Kaveri had participated. While Tejaswini was captain-cum-goal-keeper, Suchitha was the goal-keeper.

B.M. Komala is the team coach and Dharmendra is officiating as Manager.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / March 25th, 2022

Wins Medal In Biathlon

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports
Bhavani is seen receiving the prize from one of the dignitaries during the presentation ceremony. (Biathlon is a combination of shooting and cross country skiing.)

Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda from Kodagu district has won two silver medals in 10-km and 5-km race in the National Winter Biathlon Championships-2022 being held at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.

For the first time in the history, an athlete from South India has won a national medal in winter biathlon competition.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery> PhotoNews / March 22nd, 2022

Gen Thimayya: A distinguished life

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General K S Thimayya, both from Kodagu, broke down several barriers for Indians in the army.

The entrance to the General Thimayya museum. Photos by author  

The General Thimayya Memorial Museum commemorates the life of the Indian General and is meant to inspire the younger generation to join the armed forces.

The museum was originally called Sunnyside and was the family home of Gen Thimayya. But not many people know that it was his mother Cheppudira Cheethavva (aka Seethamma) who inherited the house from her father.

Thimayya’s two brothers went on to serve in the army as well. Thimayya himself had a four-decade-long career in the armed forces from 1921 to 1961. A distinguished combat officer, he saw action in the Second World War, then in the 1948 war against Pakistan and went on to serve as Army Chief from 1957 to 1961.

After his retirement, he was sent on a peacekeeping mission to Cyprus, where he passed away in 1964.

But his illustrious career in the armed forces could have turned out differently. At one point, as a young lieutenant, he wanted to quit the army and join the Indian freedom movement, but was dissuaded from doing so by the Motilal Nehru.

“Nothing will please the British more than your resignation. For 30 years we have fought for Army Indianisation. We are now winning the fight. If you give up, we shall have lost it,” Nehru told him. “We are going to win independence. Perhaps not this year or the next, but sooner than later the British will be driven out. When that happens, India will stand alone. We will have no one to protect us but ourselves. It is then that our survival will depend upon men like you.”

Nehru’s prescient words led Thimayya to stay on in the army. The rest is history, and is on display at Thimayya’s family home. 

For some years, the Sunnyside House served as the RTO office in Madikeri. This was until the Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum, whose president Col (retired) Kandrathanda C Subbaiah and convener Major (retired) Biddanda Nanda Nanjappa renovated and converted it into a museum.

This museum is spread over 2.6 acres and located on G T Road in Mahadevpet in Madikeri, and was inaugurated in February 2021 by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

An old-style building, many rooms in the house have been dedicated to various members of Thimayya’s family. One room has been dedicated to General Thimayya’s wife Codanda Nina. Another room is dedicated to Thimayya’s brother Freddie, the painter, while a third has been dedicated to General Thimayya’s home regiment, the Kumaon.

One room also displays Kodava culture: there is a Kuppya Chele (traditional male costume) on display accompanied by a hand-wound, Pani-katt, white turban.

The house itself has several pictures from Thimayya’s life, along with a video film. There is a famous photo of the General riding a Lambretta scooter. There are also pictures of Thimayya during his wedding.

A photo of the General on his scooter at the museum. Photos by author 

Besides this, a replica of his uniform and medals are on display.

The museum also houses 24 weapons donated by General Bipin Rawat.

Outside the house, near the entrance, stands a battle tank called Himmath, donated by the Army training centre in Pune, a decommissioned MIG21 supersonic fighter jet and interceptor aircraft, a 24-feet INS Shivalik ship model, a Sindhughosh submarine and a Navy gun mount (anti-aircraft gun).

A rocket launcher is just one of the many weapons on display at the museum. Photos by author

Both the tank and the jet were used during the 1971 war.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Spectrum / by Mookonda Kushapallpa / DHNS / March 19th, 2022

Bryn Mawr Rehab program offering help to patients with long COVID symptoms

Amazing Feats, Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

Philadelphia (WPVI) :

Federal officials say up to 23 million Americans may have developed long COVID health problems that last long after an initial infection.

Although research on long COVID is still in the early stages, there are already plenty of programs offering help.

Even simple things are big accomplishments for 71-year-old Rick Cannon, 18-months after he first got COVID-19.

“I remember being in the ER and then falling asleep. And that’s the last I remember till I woke up in middle November,” he said.

But it took another five months – until April 2021 – before Rick went home.

He was 121 pounds, couldn’t taste or smell, had stroke-like weakness on his left side, neuropathy and drop foot in both feet.

Dr. Mithra Maneyapanda of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital says every patient in the Post-COVID program is different – some with one symptom, some with many.

“Brain fog, trouble with memory, word-finding difficulties. They can also have physical symptoms, whether it’s difficulty with weakness, fatigue – some patients are still displaying shortness of breath and chest pains,” he said.

Others have mood issues. Because the causes are still unknown, the treatment focuses on each symptom.

“They might see physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathologists, psychologists…,” said Dr. Maneyapanda.

Rick’s drop foot was surgically fixed, so his recovery is finally gaining speed.

“I can walk six or seven minutes without getting exhausted,” he said. “I can go up the steps, down the steps. I can get in the shower.”

Physical therapists say hard work by patients here and at home is paying off.

“I just had somebody the other day that said, ‘ have felt like myself for the past four days’,” said Julie Biely, P.T.

Each patient like Rick is also helping expand Bryn Mawr Rehab’s knowledge, and that will help future patients.

“Once the science catches up, we’ll have more targeted treatments to offer,” said Dr. Maneyapanda.

source: http://www.6abc.com / abc- Action News / by Tamala Edwards / March 17th, 2022