Barefoot in the park

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports
Connect with the earth Milind Soman Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.
Connect with the earth Milind Soman Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Milind Soman says there is no special regime to follow to run that extra mile

Model, actor and now an active runner, Milind Soman has come a long way. He has been in the news for his vigorous promotion of marathons. Off on a barefoot marathon in Coorg, he talks about the importance and benefits of running. Excerpts.

Can you describe your journey from being a model to a marathon runner?

It has been fun. The two worlds are as different as you want it to be. I like to be myself and have been running for years. It comes naturally to me. I can now run and run.

Which is a better way to connect to people — as a celebrity or a runner?

Both have different rapports. As a marathon runner it is more personal. The connection, sometimes, is superficial when it happens through the media.

When were you bitten by the fitness bug?

It all started when I was 10. I was keen on fitness as a model and actor.

Why did you choose marathons?

I was always into running. My work has been noticed because of social media. Running is easy and everyone can do it. I want people to explore themselves and their challenges.

Who can run a marathon?

Running is easy. It is a misconception that it is tough. We have been doing the Pinkathon. Today 62,000 women are running with us, which shows that given an opportunity, women will take part in it. The good thing is that they have realised they too need to exercise. In India, health is the last priority.

How does one train for a run?

You start with three km walk and then go on to running half a marathon. You should decide on your level depending on capability and fitness.

How does a success of a marathon make you feel?

It feels good that I am able to create an opportunity. It also depends on the people. We have people undergoing chemotherapy who run.

What is the secret to good health?

It starts in your mind. Remove negative thoughts. You do not have to start with push ups and biceps. You should eat the right kind of food. Once your mind and body is healthy, it creates a freedom that helps you enjoy life. Being fit does not mean restrictions. Your body and mind can deal with much more.

Are there diet restrictions?

You can eat anything and everything. You don’t have to starve to look good. I am against refined white sugar. I can eat anything from an oily biriyani to sabudana khichdi. What makes you fat is sugar and sedentary lifestyle.

What are the benefits of barefoot running?

It is the best and keeps your body alive. Your efficiency improves, your technique improves. For me barefoot running, has minimised my injuries. It creates a nice balance, when you are connection with the earth. It makes me enjoy running.

Milind will be running with prominent runners from Coorg and Bengaluru for the Barefoot Marathon. The run is dedicated to the conservation and well-being of the environment and is organised in partnership with Coorg Wildlife Society. The venue will be the Main Gate, Tata Coffee Estate, Pollibetta, Coorg,on December 5. For details, log on to coorgwellnessfoundation .com.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Shilpa Sebastian R / Bengaluru – December 02nd, 2015

Joshna Chinappa now India’s top-ranked squash player

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports
Chinappa has pipped former Indian No. 1 Dipika Pallikal to the title
Chinappa has pipped former Indian No. 1 Dipika Pallikal to the title

Chennai :

India’s national champion Joshna Chinappa has become the highest ranked Indian in the world professional squash circuit. As per the latest rankings released on Tuesday Chinappa has jumped from 17th to 13th in the latest rankings.

Dipika Pallikal, who till now held this honour, has slipped to 16th from 14th, while the best among the male players in India, national champion Saurav Ghosal has dropped a rung to 18.

Joshna’s phenomenal show in the Qatar Classic in Doha last month had stood her in good stead. More than the quarter final finish there her beating of world number one Raneem El Welily of Egypt in the first round had helped her to this happy tidings. The Indian star is now getting set to play her first round in the Hong Kong Open, a prestigious event prior to the World women championship scheduled in Malaysia.

As for the others, Mahesh Mangaonkar is on 62, Harinderpal Sandhu is placed on 66 and Kush Kumar on 97. In the women’s section Sachika Ingle is on 87.

source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Sports Keeda / Home> Badminton> News / Press Release / December 01st, 2015

Tata Global launches instant coffee brand to compete with Nescafe, Bru

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

Tata Coffee Grand was jointly developed by Tata Global Beverages and group firm Tata Coffee , which manufactures the product, TGBL said.

Mumbai :

India’s second largest tea maker Tata Global Beverages has forayed into instant coffee business in the country by launching Tata Coffee Grand, which will compete with Nestle’s Nescafe and Hindustan Unilever’s Bru.

The instant coffee brand was jointly developed by Tata Global Beverages (TGBL) and group firm Tata Coffee, which manufactures the product, TGBL said on Monday.

The coffee beans will be primarily sourced from Tata Coffee’s plantations in South India, popular for producing Arabica and Robusta blends.

At present, the maker of Tata Tea and Tetley brands earns over 70% of its sales from tea brands while coffee business accounts for 20% through brands like Eight o’clock and Grand outside India.

source: http://www.retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com / ETRetail.com / Home> Food & Entertainment / ET Bureau / November 30th, 2015

Springs of life

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

TalacauveryKF29nov2015

Springheads, the point where springs emerge, are to be treated carefully so that people using the waters do not cause pollution or damage.
by S. Vishwanath

This part of the beautiful Sahyadri or the Western Ghats is lush green, thanks to a long spell of rain. Talacauvery is an hour’s drive from Madikeri in Kodagu district. Here the beautiful river Cauvery rises. On the day celebrated as Sankranti, the waters appear here in a small pool. It then disappears to reappear at Bhagamandala as a stream, meeting the Kannika and the unseen Sujyoti.

What appears in Talacauvery is a spring. On the upper reaches of the hills of the Brahmagiri, rainwater infiltrates and percolates into the ground. Filling up the aquifers, it forms the groundwater in the space.

Groundwater which emerges naturally onto the surface is called a spring. As Himanshu Kulkarni, a leading hydro-geologist, would say, springs are best treated and understood as groundwater.

In India springs have long suffered neglect in terms of research. Though they have been the lifeline for many communities, especially in the hilly regions of the Himalayas, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, not much effort has been put in to understand and model them better. Dr. Kulkarni points out many typologies for springs. In one particular case he shows how the recharge zone, where the water enters the aquifer, is on the other side of the hill from where the spring emerges.

The traditional watershed approach would fail to recharge the aquifer of this typology of springs because it would be addressing water flows and recharge in the same side of the hill without understanding the nature of the geology at the place. Instead of a ridge to valley approach to manage water, a valley to valley approach would have to be envisaged for such spring management.’ In simple language there is a recharge zone for a spring and the spring itself is in the discharge zone. Understanding, mapping and managing recharge zones is crucial to the health of the springs. For long Indians have trekked to the source of rivers and paid homage to the life-giver. They have in actuality been worshipping springs. It is time that we understood this source of water better and managed them better. That would be water wisdom.

zenrainman@gmail.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by S. Vishwanath / November 28th, 2015

4 City designers to present Khadi creations in Jaipur

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Four designers from Bengaluru will present their Khadi creations in Jaipur at the first edition of the Rajasthan Heritage Week, which was launched in the City on Friday.

The event, intended to promote traditional textiles, is being organised by Bengaluru-based Prasad Bidappa Associates, the Government of Rajasthan and the Khadi Board. It will be held from December 3 to 5 in Jaipur.

Pavithra Muddaya, Tara Aslam, Manish Saksena, Jason and Anshu are the Bengaluru-based designers who took part in the ‘Handmade in Rajasthan’ project. Along with designers from other parts of the country and abroad, they worked closely with traditional handloom weavers in interior villages in Rajasthan.

What started as a pilot project with Bangladeshi designer Bibi Russell was taken forward on a larger scale after the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje was impressed with the collection she created. At the event on Friday, models showcased Russell’s colourful and fresh creations.

“The intention of the project is to revive our country’s traditional fabric and make it more appealing to the younger generation and for a foreign audience,” Prasad Bidappa, the organiser and chief creative director of the project, said. “Through this initiative, eight national award-winning weavers have been elevated to the status of designers with their creations being exhibited at the Rajasthan Heritage Week. That, according to me, is our biggest achievement,” he added.

Pavitra Muddaya, who runs Vimor, along with her mother Chimi Nanjappa, talked about the challenges she faced in the project. “My Hindi is very poor so communicating with the weavers was a problem.”

Muddaya has been working as a textile revivalist, documenting techniques and providing training to traditional weavers. “The way they work there, the processes, the terminology is very different from how it is in South India. It was an eye-opener for me though I have been working in this field for 40 years,” she added.

“In the past I have worked with Pethanis and Maheshwaris but this was the first time that I worked with something from Rajasthan,” said Manish Saksena who worked with traditional weavers in Kaithoon village in Rajasthan’s Kota district to create 18 sarees.

Produced entirely by hand, it took him and the weavers two months to complete them.

“Two of the people I collaborated with were master craftsmen and it was very humbling to work with them.” he added. His sarees will be sold for Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 a piece.

Tara Aslam, who has a Khadi store in Bengaluru called Nature Alley, created designs for modern travellers inspired by the tribes of Rajasthan, and Jason & Anshu of the label ‘smallshop’ designed eclectic menswear and womenswear.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / DHNS – Bengaluru, November 28th, 2015

Mysuru Kodava Samaja and Kodagu Gowda Samaja Celebrate Huthari Festival

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Members of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, seen carrying the new paddy crop during Huthri festival celebrations at Sree Cauvery Educational Institutions premises in Kuvempunagar last evening. Picture right shows a section of community members.
Members of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, seen carrying the new paddy crop during Huthri festival celebrations at Sree Cauvery Educational
Institutions premises in Kuvempunagar last evening. Picture right shows a section of community members.

Mysuru :

Huthri, the harvest festival of Kodagu, was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in city yesterday by Mysuru Kodava Samaja and Kodagu Gowda Samaja respectively.

The Kodavas, who had gathered in large numbers at Sree Cauvery Educational Institutions premises in Kuvempunagar here, worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and welcomed her in the form of grains by reaping the new paddy crop. They sang the harvest (putthari) song and danced merrily.

Dressed in traditional costumes, the Kodava men and women, young and old, performed their dances like Kolaat, Bolkaat, Kathiyaat, Kappeyaat, Pareyakali and Ummathaat.

They worshipped Lord Igguthappa and Goddess Cauvery before reaping the new paddy crop amidst chanting of ‘Poli Polio Deva,’ firing three times in the air and bursting of crackers to celebrate the occasion. The festival is observed either in the month of November or December on full moon day of Rohini Nakshatra.

The Samaja had made arrangements to distribute the new paddy and thambittu prasadam to all those present.

Kodava Samaja President Moovera K. Kuttappa welcomed and spoke about the significance of the festival. Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah compered. Samaja Vice-President Ballyamanda M. Nanaiah, Hon. Secretary Mandira P. Kalaiah, Joint Secretary Chottekalapanda Prema Uthaiah and other office-bearers of the Samaja were present. The office-bearers of various other Kodava Associations in city too took active part in making the celebrations a grand success.

Meanwhile, the members of Kodagu Gowda Samaja too celebrated Huthri in a similar manner at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar here.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Friday – November 27th, 2015

Guddemane Appayya Gowda remembered at martyr’s day

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

‘It is a tragedy that British termed freedom fighters insurgents’

GuddemaneKF02may2017

It is a tragedy that British termed freedom fighters like Subedar Guddemane Appayya Gowda, Sangolli Rayanna, Bhagath Singh insurgents. The historians who failed to understand it, also termed them insurgents, said MLA K G Bopaiah.

Speaking after inaugurating Subedar Guddemane Appayya Gowda Martyrs Day organised by the district administration, Kannada and Culture Department and Karnataka Arebhashe Samskrithi mathu Sahitya Academy here on Saturday, he said there were several uprisings against the British rule prior to Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Guddemane Appayya Gowda had led an insurgency against the British.

He said that there are miscreants who try to divide the society. “Let us pledge to work towards the integrated development of the district and spread the messages of Guddemane Appayya Gowda and Field Marshal K M Cariappa.”
Kodagu district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president T P Ramesh said that those who have no knowledge about history can not create it.”

He said Appayya Gowda should not be restricted to a community. Karnataka Arebhashe Sahitya mathu Samskrithi Academy and Karnataka Kodava Academy should document the history of the district. Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Chairperson Veena Achaiah, Kodava Academy president B S Thammaiah, Madikeri CMC president Shreemathi Bangera were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS / Madikeri, November 01st, 2015