Monthly Archives: January 2012

Book on Cauvery

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Uncategorized


At the function: G.K.Vasan, Union minister of Shipping, (second right) and Kaumuri Bapi Raju, MP (third right), G. Rangaswamy Moopanar, president, Sri Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha (left)and A.K. Palanivel at Thanjavur. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj


‘Mazhai,’ a book of verses on rain and Cauvery Delta, was released in Thanjavur recently.

The Union Minister for Shippping, G.K.Vasan, released a Tamil book titled ‘Mazhai,’ written by G. Srinivasan, at Thanjavur on Monday last (January 9). Kaumuri Babi Raju MP and chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam received the first copy. Speaking on the occassion Vasan said that writing poetry is a difficult task.

“It is even more difficult to write poems that provide food for thought. When the poet makes people think and act with his poems, he achieves the goal.”

Quoting some poems from the book, Vasan said that one on Cauvery issue spoke of the reality on the issue. The poem says that the farmer of Cauvery delta wants rain to be copious in Coorg, so that his Kannada brethren can not store the water and open the dams. Thus the Delta farmer will get the rain. Vasan quipped by saying “It appears that only Lord Varuna can help the people in Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery issue.” He said that the book contained poems on spirituality, health, social issues like environment, poverty and poems on leaders like Mahatma Gandhi.

G. Rangaswamy Moopanar, president of the Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha, presided over the function. Sintha Mohan, Tirupati MP, N.R. Rangarajan, Pattukottai MLA and S.P. Anthonisamy, chairman of Parisutham Institute of Science and Technology, received the copies of the book. A. Alagappan, former governor, Rotary Club, and director, Blossom School, Dr. Mohandos, Nephrologist, V. Jeevakumar from Tamil Nadu Murpokku Ezhuthalar and Kalaignargal Sangam and Kamaraj, Professor, Tamil University, offered felicitations. The book has been brought out by Mahavir Printers, Thanjavur.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Arts> Books / by G Srinivasan / January 12th, 2012

Commemorative Issue – General Thimayya

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Uncategorized, World Opinion

General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya was born in Madikeri, the district town of Kodagu (also known as Coorg), Karnataka, India. He was a graduate of the Royal Indian Military College in Dehra Dun. He served in the Indian Army from many posts.

He became Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army in 1957. He was also awarded the Distinguised Service Order. After the Korean War, he headed an United Nations unit dealing with the repatriation of prisoners of war. After his retirement from the Indian Army, he was appointed as the Commander of UN Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in July 1964.

While in Cyprus, he died of a heart attack, in 1965. The Republic of Cyprus, in addition to this stamp issue, honored him by renaming an avenue of the city of Larnaca after him.

Commemorative Issue General Thimayya
Cyprus
Date of Issue: 06 June 1966 /4/1966
Technical Information
Quantity: 292329
Designer: A. Tassos

source: http://www.philatelism.com
http://www.philatelism.com/details.php?issueid=24

GR Vishwanath to select CCL Team of KB

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The yesteryears ace cricketer from Karnataka Gundappa Vishwanath will scrutinize this time for the selection of 16 players to the Karnataka Bulldozers Celebrity Cricket League season 2 that kick start on 15th of this month.

The key sponsor of the Karnataka Bulldozer team Ashok Kheney addressing the media said the runner up of team of last season Karnataka Bulldozers will definitely lift the cup this time because we have Kittur Rani Chennamma to our side. Ashok Kheney saying like this pointed towards Dr B Saroja Devi.

It is not possible for all students to get the rank. We were good students last time. This time we will be rank students promised Kichcha Sudeep addressing the media.

The little master of Indian Cricket team GR Vishwanath addressing the media stated that it was difficult task to select the team because all of them showed good ability.

The brand ambassadors for Karnataka Bulldozers for this season are Aindrita Ray and Nidhi Subbaiah plus Madhuri Bhattacharya.

The Kannada Cinema Artists Association President Ambarish was also present at the media briefing.

sourceZ: http://www.supergoodmovies.com/ Kannada Movie News / January 10th, 2012

Madikeri travels to bygone era with coins and currency notes

Arts, Culture & Entertainment


Collection and exhibition of old and new coins and currency notes is an art. We can improve our knowledge by observing coins and notes from different countries, said Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah.

Madikeri:

He was speaking after inaugurating the three-day state level 125th exhibition of coins and currency notes at Field Marshal K M Kariappa Multipurpose Hall in Madikeri on Friday. The exhibition had been jointly organised by the Kannada and culture department, zilla panchayat, CMC, Kodagu Press Club, BSNL, Shakthi Prathishtana, Rotary Misty Hills, Corporation Bank, Sumukh Traders and others.

Bopaiah lauded the efforts of numismatist P K Keshavmurthy and called it an achievement to collect coins which were as old as 2,000 years.

“It is not an easy task to collect so many coins and notes. For the first time, I have got an opportunity to see notes and coins from India and other nations,” he said.

Zilla panchayat health standing committee president Kanthi Belliyappa said it requires unlimited patience and interest to collect and maintain coins and notes. ZP president Shanteyanda Ravi Kushalappa released a book on rare collection of coins and notes.

Numismatist Keshavmurthy said coins and note collection was a tedious task. “For the last 20 years, I have been visiting different parts of the state and exhibiting my collection,” he said.

CMC commissioner Shashi Kumar, assistant director for Kannada and culture Vinod Chandra and others were present. Keshavmurthy was felicitated on the occasion.

Varieties

The exhibition has several specialties, as rarest of rare coins too were on display. They include the first punchmark coin of India, coins from Greek, Roman kingdoms, coins that were circulated during Kushana, Gupta, Shathavahana, Kadamba, Chola, Pandya and other dynasties. The coins during the time of Mughal rulers like Akbar, Jehangir, Shahajahan, Aurangzeb, Vijayanagara rulers Krishnadevaraya, Achyutharaya, Prathapadevaraya, Mysore, Bijapur, Thiruvankoor, Hyderabad, Kach, Baroda, Mewar and other rulers.

The coins of pre-independence era, which were circulated during the rule of British, Portuguese, the coins and notes that have been withdrawn, coins and notes released on various occasion are on display.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> Districts / DHNS / Madikeri, January 08th, 2012

Landscape Garden at Madikeri Gaddige

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment

Madikeri:

The Gaddige in the town here (mausoleums of the erstwhile rulers of Kodagu), which had been in the news for all the wrong reasons – vandals setting its main door on fire, encroachments, haven of illicit activities, etc – is finally being spruced up to attract tourists who are already making a beeline to Kodagu district.

The Madikeri Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has prepared a plan to develop four acres of land around the Gaddige into a landscape garden at a cost of Rs. 45 lakh, MUDA Chairman Shejil Krishnan told SOM yesterday. At present, 35 granite benches have been erected around the Gaddige area and a walkway has been created around the proposed garden, said Shejil, adding that after the famous Raja Seat, this will be the second botanical garden in the town. Ornamental plants have been planted, lawns have been laid and a lotus pond has also been created on the vacant land. The variety of ornamental plants have been brought from SNV Nursery in Rajamundry of Hyderabad. Landscaping for the garden is being done by Bangalore-based Green Stays Landscaping Company and the works are being supervised by the company’s Planning Officer M.S. Sudhir.

Plans are on the anvil to include a children’s play park too in the garden, said Shejil.

The land belonging to Gaddige has been fenced off and the main entrance has been renovated. Works are on to mount the stone statues of elephants on to concrete platforms.

Despite all these development works, it is an irony that the Department of Archaeology seems to be oblivious.

The Gaddige are protected monuments that come under the Karnataka Ancient & Historical Monuments & Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1961.

Gaddige has two identical square structures, which are the tombs of the kings and their queens. They are close to each other, built in Indo-sarcenic style. A small tomb by the side of these structures is of their Guru or royal priest Rudrappa. It was built in 1834.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 09th, 2012

Record Tourism Influx Into Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Bangalore:

Kodagu district, aptly called the Kashmir of Karnataka and the Switzerland of India, is fast becoming a popular tourist destination with urbanites from various parts of the country making a beeline to this serene hill station surrounded by coffee plantations, where numerous resorts and home stays have mushroomed to cater to the needs of the tourists whose numbers swell during the holidays and weekends.

The pleasant weather, picturesque landscapes and fresh air are a luxury for many of the urban populace who simply look forward to relax in such serene atmosphere, away from the urban hustle-bustle, noise and air pollution.

According to sources in the Tourism Department, the number of tourists visiting Kodagu is higher than those visiting Munnar in Kerala, one of the most popular hill stations of South India. As per the statistics provided by the Karnataka and Kerala Tourism Departments, the number of tourists who visited Kodagu in 2010 was 5,94,467 (including 5,87,216 domestic and 7,251 foreign tourists), which is double that of Munnar which saw 2,45,438 tourists (including 19,690 foreign tourists). Up to Nov. 2011, Kodagu saw a quantitative leap with over 15 lakh visitors.

Tourism officials are thrilled by the prospects of developing Kodagu as a popular tourist destination. The hill district is situated at an elevation of 1,525 metres MSL.

Though the tourist footfall in Munnar has not gone down, the fact that the numbers have swelled significantly in Kodagu has given it the lead, said officials.

Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams –Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala __ and placed about 1,600 metres above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India. Marked by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows and waterfalls, Munnar had so far been the ever-green favourite of tourists in sea-rch of a calm and quiet hill station.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 09th, 2012

Govt. Mulling on Regularisation of Encroached Govt. Lands

Business & Economy, Nature, Uncategorized


Caption: D.V. Sadananda Gowda is seen unveiling the statue of freedom fighter Guddemane Appayya Gowda in Madikeri yesterday. His wife Dotty Sadananda Gowda is seen offering floral tributes.

Madikeri, Jan. 3:
The Government is mulling on regularisation of encroached government lands by making amendments to Section 94(C) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, said Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

He was speaking at the launch of several works undertaken by various Departments at the Town’s Gandhi maidan after unveiling the statue of Freedom Fighter Guddemane Appayya Gowda here yesterday.

The government is contemplating on making amendments to the Revenue Act so as to give land rights to farmers who have taken up cultivation in C and D category lands in Kodagu district.

The Chief Minister also said the Services Guarantee Bill, which aimed at transparency in Governance, will be tabled before the Assembly in the coming session. As many as 152 functions under various departments will be brought under the purview of the Bill, he pointed out.

A medical college will be established in Kodagu, for which the funds will be earmarked in the forthcoming budget, he added.

Earlier, Madikeri MLA Appacchu Ranjan in his introductory address, said the State should submit Rs. 133 crore proposal to the Centre for checking Wild Elephant menace.

A medical college should be established in the district and ICU should be opened at District Hospital, Madikeri, he said.

Appachu Ranjan also urged the government to initiate measures for developing Talacauvery and Bhagamandala, construction of General Thimmaiah Memorial and KSRTC division for Kodagu.

Speaker K.G. Bopaiah said land has been identified for construction of DC office complex, Police Station at Suntikoppa, Ayurveda College at Virajpet and Medical College in Kodagu.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 03rd, 2012

Ajmal in ‘Vetriselvan’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Ajmal has signed a new film. Titled ‘Vetriselvan’, the movie has Radhika Apte of ‘Ratha Charithiram’ fame as the female lead, will hit the floors in Chennai on Wednesday. It will be helmed by Rudhran, a former associate to Vikram Kumar.

Says the director, “Three persons who are neglected by the society decide to draw the attention of everyone. For that, they do a revolution which brings about a sea change. How it is done is the story of Vetriselvan.”

Produced on Srushti Cinemas banner, ‘Vetriselvan’ has singer Mano, Sherrif, Ganja Karuppu and others in pivotal roles. Music is by Mani Sharma, while cinematography is by Ramesh Kumar. Shooting will take place in Mysore and Coorg initially.

“A grand set resembling a hospital has been erected where an important scene is to be shot. Ajmal is thoroughly impressed with the script and has vowed to give his best. So has Radhika. Mano is playing a meaty role after Singaravelan,” adds the director.

source: http://www.IndiaGlitz.com / Wednesday, January 04th, 2012

Award for P.M. Belliappa

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


British Deputy High Commissioner in southern India Mike Nitharvrianakis presents the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire citation and medal to the president of ABS P.M.Belliappa in Chennai on Monday. Photo: K Pichumani
Recognising his contribution towards improving the Indo-U.K. relationship, the British High Commission presented the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) badge to P.M. Belliappa, president of the Association of British Scholars at a function here on Monday.

Mike Nitharvrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in southern India, said that the award is to recognise Mr. Belliappa’s services to environmental protection and for promoting Indo-U.K. alumni relations through the ABS. Calling the award as a “very, very rare honour”, Mr. Nitharvrianakis said “Indians who study abroad always try to give something back to the country where they spent their academic life. Mr.Belliappa is a prime example.”

Terming the occasion as a moment of great joy and pride, Kartar Singh, Deputy Director, British Council, said that Mr. Belliappa is a true ambassador of Indo-U.K. relationship. “This award celebrates his human spirit,” he said. Reflecting on his life and career, Mr.Belliappa said “I have had three careers, running almost in parallel – civil service, my years as an international environmental consultant and the ABS. In all of them, I’ve achieved a measure of success. But the results were achieved only due to a collective endeavour.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / April 12th, 2011