Is the Centre’s proposal to pay ex-gratia for Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs) and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who participated in the 1965 and 1971 wars, also applicable to non-commissioned officers ?
The proposal has raised confusion among a section of the ex-servicemen, and VeKare Ex-servicemen Trust (VeKET), an organisation fighting for the cause of retired soldiers, has written a letter to the army authorities and the Defence Ministry seeking clarity on the issue.
Mandetira N. Subramani, an advocate and President of VEKET, told The Hindu that a large number of ECOs and SSCOs were inducted during the 1965 and 1971 wars to overcome the scarcity of officers then. These war veterans do not get regular pension as they retired before completing the pensionable service of 15 years, he said.
“The Government of India has now proposed to sanction ex-gratia to them to the tune of ₹30,000 per month which is not only welcome but is belated. What is disconcerting is that there is no mention of the jawans, seamen and airmen who are categorised under Other Ranks (ORs) but who too played critical role in the operations and we wonder if they have been excluded’’, said Mr. Subramani.
He pointed out that the army circular on compiling the data of the war veterans who are in receipt of the Samar Seva Star, 1965 or the Poorvi/Paschimi Stars, 1971 only refers to ECOs and SSCOs and there was no mention of the ORs.
“Some sepoys, naiks and havaldars may have served for a longer duration than the ECOs and SSCOs and hence the former group of personnel should not be denied their due and this goes against the principle of natural justice,” he added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – May 30th, 2020
Bangalore boy and Indipop pioneer Biddu Appaiah, at 75, continues to groove to the beat of his own drum.
Biddu
A guitar as a present on his 13th birthday set the wheels in motion for the youngster to chase his dream of “making it as a musician in the West”.
Now, all of 75, Bangalore boy Biddu Appaiah, one of the pioneers of disco and Indipop, with millions of records sold worldwide, continues to be counted among the top Indian music producers on the international scene. In fact, he was ranked 34 on British magazine NME’s ‘The 50 Greatest Ever Producers list’.
Today, Biddu can afford to take life easy, dividing his time between homes in London, Spain and India, but his journey to the top was no cakewalk. The pop icon formed a band, The Trojans, at 16 and played at the 3 Aces and small private parties in Bangalore. From then on, there was no looking back. After the group split, Biddu trained his sights on London, the home of rock-n-roll, Beatles and The Rolling Stones. His arduous journey in 1967 on a Haj ship to Mecca and then hitchhiking through the Middle East deserts is now legendary. In London, with just his clothes, his trusty guitar and a dream to make good music, the struggle continued, juggling odd jobs to earn his bread and butter until 1974, when his most recognisable production ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ with Carl Douglas, became a chartbuster.
Towards the late 70s, he collaborated with Tina Charles and soul legend Jimmy James, producing hits such as ‘Dance Little Lady’, ‘I Love to Love’, ‘Now is the time’ and others. All this and the Biddu Orchestra that produced instrumental sensations won him awards, including the Ivor Novello award, the British equivalent of the Grammys.
‘Made in India’
Biddu is also credited with writing the music for two notable movies — The Stud and The Bitch. In 1979, Indian actor-director Feroz Khan got Biddu to compose a track for his movie ‘Qurbani’ and ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ sung by Pakistani teenager Nazia Hassan happened, again a mega hit of the era. Next, Biddu produced a disco album ‘Disco Deewane’ for HMV featuring Nazia with her brother Zoheb that became the largest selling pop album in Asian history, topping the charts in 14 countries.
In 1987, he scored a top hit in Japan for ‘The Look that Kills’ produced for Japanese singer Akina Nakamori. In the 80s, Biddu pioneered a new genre of Hindi music called Indipop, producing ‘Made in India’ with the velvety-voiced singer Alisha Chinai as well as with Shweta Shetty, Shaan, Sagarika and Sonu Nigam.
As the disco boom began fading in the late 80s and 90s, Biddu donned his writer’s hat, churning out three books. The first, ‘Made in India’, his autobiography published in 2010, an eminently readable book with his characteristic humour and honesty, was a bestseller. Next came ‘Curse of the Godman’ and ‘The Abundance of Nothing’, both set in India.
Interestingly, fans can still look forward to more music from the septuagenarian who is currently composing some new songs.
Excerpts from an interview:
You’ve been there done that. Any dreams yet to be fulfilled?
Career-wise, I am happy. I am going through my catalogue of 583 songs and picking half-a-dozen with a view to sending them to new, young singers of today. I am also working on a few new songs. I won’t produce them, but will get someone younger to do so.
Anything special for your 75th? What does this milestone mean to you?
As I said, I am working on a few new compositions. As for the milestone, at 75 years of age, it is more like a millstone!
What’s life for Biddu these days?
Life today is all about breathing, which is one way of staying alive and spending time with the family.
You left India in your early 20s. Why were you so keen to leave India for the West?
I wanted to make it in the West. India in the 60s was a poor country; we were dancing with Russia instead of rocking with the West. I needed to get out of India as my interest was Western pop music; I was never into Bollywood. I left India and walked all the way to Beirut, singing there for six months until I saved enough moolah to get to England. However, I do come to India to see my sister and relatives. I spend a couple of months in Goa in the winter. But, to be brutally honest, I would never come back to live in India. The politics and corruption would kill me, if not the pollution and the chaotic traffic!
How do you see the music scene in India today?
Frankly, I do not know anything about the Indian music scene. I do know that making music in English has a narrow bandwidth (it always had) and from what people tell me regarding Indian film music, melody has given way to beats and rap. There’s not much noise about Indian music in the West. A R Rahman had a moment and Anoushka (Shankar) is fairly well-known, but only among world music aficionados.
Youtube, TikTok, Spotify, basically Internet has changed the game…
This is the way forward. It is the avenue from where young people get their music. We, of the older generation, may not like it or find downloading Apps too complicated, but this is modern life. You can’t stop the waves from hitting the shore.
Your message to young, budding artists who want to pursue a career in music?
Be prepared for a tough slog. The chances of you not making in the music business is considerably more than you making it. There’s so much talent around, but only a few lucky ones make it. It is a tough game.
Your stint as music director for a few Hollywood films was short. Why?
I prefer making records. Firstly, it’s on the go. It doesn’t take a year or years as the case may be. Also, in films, you are being told what to do by the script, the producer/director etc. When you make pop music, you are directed by your own desires; you are the master of your destiny.
Music has been a big part of your life. What has it taught you?
Music has been great for me. I was inspired by the Beatles and Elvis and I had this fire in the belly to make a name for myself in the West. It is this desire that drove me. Doing something you love is irreplaceable. It has shown me how lucky I am to have followed my dream and succeeded in it. Success is not just about talent, but luck and opportunity, although I believe sometimes you make your own luck.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I was never a voracious listener of music. In fact, it is well-known amongst my friends that I don’t have a music collection. I listen to the radio when driving; that keeps me up on the current trends in music. I am a big fan of Ed Sheeran — great voice and great songs.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sunday Herald> Sunday Herald Art & Culture / by Stanley Carvalho / May 31st, 2020
At a time when the victims of 2018’s devastating floods and landslips in Kodagu are still to be fully rehabilitated as most of the houses meant to be constructed for them are yet to see the light of day even two years after the tragedy, Rotary International District 3181 has handed over 50 houses for flood victims.
Unprecedented rains, landslips and floods devastated lives and properties in Kodagu in 2018. Many villages were wiped out as mud came crashing down carrying everything in its path — trees, mud, electric poles and houses. It has been a tough two-year journey for those who lost their homes, hard-earned money and properties.
Between Aug. 5 and Aug. 19, 2018, unprecedented rains triggered by cloudbursts, floods and landslides brought untold misery to the people of Kodagu and over 30 percent of land in Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks was destroyed in previously unheard of havoc that was unleashed by nature, rendering hundreds of people homeless.
Saramma, a beneficiary of Rotary house rebuilding activity, is seen with Past Rotary District Governors Nagarjun, Krishna Shetty, Immediate Past District Governor P. Rohinath, Past Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee (third from right), Rebuild Kodagu Trust Project Chairman and Past District Governor Dr. K. Ravi Appaji (second from right), District Governor-Elect Ranganath Bhat and other dignitaries.
Though the State Government, in 2018, launched an ambitious project to build 835 houses in phases, there has been a long delay. Only 423 houses that were promised in the first phase of rehabilitation project has been completed at Jamboor and Katakeri by Nirmithi Kendra.
The tragedy, however, is that the houses have not been handed over to the deserving. Only 35 houses that have been constructed in Karnangeri have been handed over to beneficiaries. The construction of the remaining 412 houses is yet to begin.
In the light of this delay, the work done by Rotary International District 3181 has caught everyone’s attention. 50 houses that were built in two phases have been handed over and the latest group of 25 houses were handed over to beneficiaries on May 10 (last Sunday) at Gargandhur-Madapura areas. The first phase of 25 homes were handed over on June 18 last year at Iggodlu-Madapura in the presence of Past Rotary International President Kalyan Bannerjee.
Worst affected and most deserving
Rotary has spent Rs. 2.56 crore for 50 homes. Speaking to ‘Star of Mysore,’ Rebuild Kodagu Trust Project Chairman and Past District Governor Dr. K. Ravi Appaji said that the 50 families were selected on the basis of selective criteria of worst affected and most deserving.
Immediate Past District Governor P. Rohinath is the Rebuild Kodagu Trust Chairman and Past District Governor Krishna Shetty is the Treasurer with District Governor Joseph Mathew and District Governor-Elect Ranganath Bhat as members.
The beneficiaries were identified by the community leaders and stakeholders of the Rotary project. “They were local people and among those who were not chosen to be supported by the Government. The land and title belonged to the beneficiaries and homes were built on their own land instead of building houses at an unfamiliar surroundings. Some of the houses had just plastic sheets wrapped in bamboo poles with a make-shift covering on top,” he said.
The victims were living under constant fear of wind and rain. “Each home cost Rs.5.05 lakh and contributions from donors, Rotarians, friends and others all over country and abroad were collected,” he added.
Social distancing
Due to Corona lockdown and restrictions, no stage ceremony invites or other formal arrangements were done. Homes were handed over in a simple way maintaining social distance. “This was done for the benefit and convenience of the beneficiary families so that they could occupy the houses before the monsoon rains started this year. Any finishing work like final coat of paint and sponsor nameplates will be done in the due course,” Dr. Appaji said.
This project was initiated and encouraged by Past Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee along with Past Rotary International Director C. Basker in association with Habitat for Humanity India and senior leadership.
“It was supported by all the District Governors, Chairman of Birla Group Rajashree Birla, sponsorships through Past Rotary International President Rajaa Saboo, Rotary International President Nominee Shekar Mehta, Rotary International Director Dr. Bharat Pandya, Rotary International Director Kamal Sanghvi, Rotary India Literacy Mission RILM, Rotary News Trust, Rotary International Director Nominee (RIDN) Dr. Ravi Vadlamani, RIDN Venkatesh, Past District Governor Dr. Devdas Rai, Rotary District 3181 grants, all District Governors, all Past Governors, Rotary leaders, Presidents various Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians, institutional donors and philanthropists,” he said.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 14th, 2020
Henceforth, lands will be converted based on report by Geological Survey of India (GSI)
Bengaluru:
The Karnataka Government has relaxed regulations banning the conversion of land in Kodagu district and now allows small land-owners to build their homes by converting agricultural land, a move that will allow commercial establishments and layouts to flourish in the district that was devastated by landslides two years ago.
Revenue Minister R. Ashoka said the Government decided to permit land conversion as both locals and elected representatives wanted the moratorium to be lifted. That is why the Government has decided to permit land conversion again, with some restrictions. In May 2019, the ban was relaxed to allow conversion for small individual houses.
According to Ashoka, land conversion from agricultural to residential land will be regulated and will not be allowed along buffer zones. Ten metres on each side of a river, stream or storm water drain are classified as buffer zones. Moreover, conversion is prohibited in properties with steep slopes as houses built on such terrain could collapse during landslides. Land conversion is also prohibited in regions where houses had collapsed in 2018 floods, he said.
The land can be converted for commercial purposes. Ahead of any conversion, land-owners will have to seek no-objection certificates from Deputy Commissioners and local Gram Panchayats. Only after a Committee headed by the DC, which includes a Geologist, submits a report the conversion can take place, Ashoka said.
The land will be thoroughly surveyed by the Tahsildar. The survey report (by the Tahsildar) will be reviewed by the DC under Section 95 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act of 1964 before granting conversion.
Land conversion, Ashoka said, will be based on the report by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Those that are categorised as red-alert areas will not be converted. The conversion will be regulated so that the district does not face any landslides.
The State had imposed a blanket ban on land conversion in Kodagu following floods and landslides in August 2018. The regulations were tightened based on recommendations made by GSI. Following this, Kodagu district authorities rejected over 693 applications in the last five months to convert land for commercial use.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by February 14th, 2020
Initially, kids in three categories — Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 — can apply for the scholarship through the School website.
Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna (Photo | PTI)
New Delhi :
India’s doubles exponent Rohan Bopanna on Tuesday launched an ambitious scholarship project, aimed at providing tennis and academic education simultaneously to 60 kids at an annual cost of Rs 10 lakh each.
The scholarship programme, described as a “game changer in Indian tennis” will be run through a collaboration between Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy (RBTA) and The Sports School, which will be the base of the training centre in Bengaluru.
Initially, kids in three categories — Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 — can apply for the scholarship through the School website.
They will be assessed after the lockdown and the selected players will then join the residential programme.
“I am looking at giving to kids what I did not have when I was a junior player. It will be a game changer in Indian tennis. Parents are always worried about the education part, so we are proving both,” Bopanna said during the online press conference.
In the first year, only those players who have an AITA ranking, can apply for the scholarship.
“We will take 20 kids in each category. This is giving back to sport. This is probably the biggest scholarship programme in the world. No one gives scholarship with 100 per cent sponsorship to 60 kids at one go. Even in the US college tennis programmes, it’s 70 or 80 per cent sponsorship,” said Bopanna, India’s only fourth player to have won a Grand Slam title.
Balachandran Manikkath, the coach of India’s top singles player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, will be the Head coach at the centre with six other coaches.
“We will keep monitoring the selected kids. There will always be someone who will be knocking on the doors. If someone is not up to the mark, his place can go to someone else,” Balachandran said.
The selected kids will have access to seven flood-lit hard courts apart from services of nutritionist, dietician, physio and a sports psychologist.
Bopanna insisted that he is “not competing with anyone” when asked if he is setting an example on how to do things without the help of the government.
The AITA has been trying to set up a Centre of Excellence at DLTA for some years but the efforts have not fructified for several reasons.
“We only want betterment of Indian tennis. The pure objective is to help the kids. We have a vision in place and we want to give opportunities to the players.”
Dr.Sankar UV, Director of The Sports School, said if someone is not selected but still wants to be in the programme, they can join by paying the fee which is Rs 6.25 lakh for beginners, Rs 8 lakh for the intermediate level and Rs 10 lakh for the advance level.
Sankar said they will follow CBSE syllabus up to 10th standard and the Karnataka State Board syllabus for 11th and 12th standard.
He also informed that the School also runs programme in five more sports including badminton, football and basketball.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Tennis / by PTI / May 26th, 2020
Mebiena Michael, the winner of a popular reality television show Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4, passed away on May 26 after she got into a major car accident.
Mebiena Michael, the winner of a popular reality television show Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4, passed away on May 26 after she got into a major car accident. Mebiena was 22 years old. The accident happened in the evening near Devihalli of Nagamangala Tuluk, Karnataka.
Mebiena Michael died in a car accident
As per reports, Mebiena Michael was heading towards her hometown, Madikeri, when the accident took her life. The 22-year-old’s family and friends are quite shocked by the news of her sudden demise and are struggling to cope up with her untimely death. According to reports, the car in which she was travelling rammed into a tractor while the latter was taking a turn.
Right after the accident, the victims were rushed to the Adichuchunagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, where the doctors declared Mebiena Michael dead. While her friends survived, the actor succumbed to severe injuries. As per reports, a case has been registered in the Belluru police station. On the other hand, Mebiena Michael’s friends are recovering at the hospital.
Mebiena Michael was a Kannada television actor. She rose to fame after being a part of Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4. She also emerged out as the winner of the reality television show
The host of Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4, Akul Balaji expressed his shock over the sudden demise of Mebiena Michael. He took to social media and shared a post on his official Twitter handle. Balaji wrote, “Shock to hear the sudden demise of one of my favourite contestant and winner of phhl 4 ..mebina, soo young and full of life, can’t digest the fact..my prayers for her family to get over the tragedy.”
The 22-year-old Kannada actor started her professional career as a model. Mebiena Michael became popular after emerging as the winner of the television reality show Pyate Hudgir Halli Life Season 4 which was about a bunch of city girls, who attempted to adapt to village life by giving up their lavish lifestyle. The contestants were given several interesting tasks to perform which Mebiena Michael had aced.
source: http://www.republicworld.com / RepublicWorld.com / Home> Entertainment News> Regional Indian Cinema / by Vageesha Taluja / May 27th, 2020
Reeth Abraham is one of India’s most well known athletes participating in the hurdles, long jump and heptathlon events, with a career that began in 1976. She has won various medals at several international competitions including at the Asian level. Her achievement stands out particularly since she won a medal at the Asian level less than a year after she became a mother.
Reeth, at one of her practice sessions at Kanteerava Stadium / Pic: Deepthi M S
Although she retired from competitive athletics in 1992, this 49-year-old has continued training over the years and is now active as a Masters athlete. In 2011, she won 2 medals for India at the World Masters Athletics meet at Sacramento, USA in the triple jump and long jump events. Among various awards and recognitions she has received over the years, she has been a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1997. She is one of the founding members of Clean Sports India. Reeth lives in Koramangala.
Citizen Matters caught up with her for a brief chat at the Kanteerava Stadium, just after she had finished her day’s training.
Reeth, enough is known about your career as an athlete but only last year, your achievements at the World level as a Masters athlete caught our attention. How does one even qualify?
Clean Sports India is an organisation founded to rid Indian sport of its twin malaises, lack of sports persons in administration and drug usage. Clean Sports India aims to get former sportspersons into managing the various sports bodies in India including the Olympic Sports Federations, Associations and other Clubs in India, as opposed to administrators who have occupied positions of influence in various bodies without the sport itself making much progress. Its other objective is to ensure clean competition by keeping drugs away from both practice and competition.
This was my sixth appearance at the World Masters meet. One has to first qualify at the State Masters meet, for which you can just turn up and then the National meet, which you get to if you are successful at the state meet. If one is good enough and successful at the national meet, you get to represent India at the global level. The Karnataka state meet was held in Mandya recently. The World meet is in Brazil next year. The World Masters meet is held every two years. One needs to be over 35 years to be eligible as a Masters athlete.
How did you manage to train and keep in shape while raising two kids (Reeth is the proud mother of a daughter and a son)? Do you go to a gym regularly? What is your current training schedule like?
(Smiles) I don’t know how I managed. It just happened. I would sometimes leave my kids under the care of someone while I trained. It wasn’t easy but somehow I managed.
I train at the stadium 3 days a week and train in a gym on 3 days a week. I also swim occasionally for relaxation.
In addition to your involvement with the Nike Run Club, do you coach any athletes?
No I don’t have any trainees. There is not much time left on hand between my job and my own training outside my work hours.
You were recruited by a bank years ago. How has the situation changed for athletes on the sponsorship front?
I was amongst the first batch of athletes recruited by Corporation Bank. This was followed by various other banks later, which recruited various sportspersons. Some banks even had cricketers in their ranks. It is still very difficult for most athletes to eke out a living without sponsorship. That is one reason most athletes these days give up after a certain level since they don’t have the patience to put in years of hard work, which may or may not result in success. And even when one is successful, the recognition one gets may not mean much monetarily. Even as a Masters athlete, I have managed to get a sponsor for my travel to the World Masters meet but I am not sure how other athletes manage.
One of the things I have noticed at the Kanteerava stadium is the significant number of talented girls who are training as athletes, which is not quite reflective of the trend of India’s senior athletes. Where do they disappear as they grow older?
Reeth is one of the coaches at the Nike Run Club (NRC), an initiative from Nike to introduce ordinary people into running. Reeth helps the NRC attendees warm up through a routine of various exercises and then go for a run, before cooling down and helps various runners get introduced to the sport and get better at it, every Saturday at the Kanteerava stadium.
The problem is that as these kids grow older they have several options before them which are sometimes more rewarding. And as I said earlier, not all of them are willing to invest the effort and work hard for 10-12 years before tasting success at higher levels of athletics, especially when their hard work elsewhere can lead to success in other areas. And athletics after a certain point is extremely competitive. So I can see the perspective of the kids if they choose to focus elsewhere.
If you could change something in Indian athletics today, what would it be?
Make it enjoyable for young athletes to participate and compete. Once one reaches a certain level of competition, it is very challenging for an athlete to handle the pressure to perform and win medals. In my time, there was no one to help us on such matters.
What are your opinions on sports facilities in Bangalore?
In Bangalore, it is gradually improving. There are more people who are taking sports seriously.
You are a resident of Koramangal, what do you think of the sports facilities there?
Speaking of sports facilities in Koramangala, it is zero. I see no changes at all, the Koramangala indoor stadium for that matter, is used only for exhibition and nothing else.
Any message for aspiring masters athletes?
Unless you have been an active athlete earlier, events with throws (shot put, discus) and jumps (long jump, triple jump) are out, since they require special training and may result in injuries, if one doesn’t train carefully. Perhaps long distance running is an event a beginner can aspire to compete in.
source: http://www.bengaluru.citizenmatters.in / Citizen Matters / Home> Current / by Dharmendra D. / February 28th, 2012
District In-charge Minister V Somanna chairs a meeting at Zilla Panchayat auditorium in Madikeri on Friday. DH Photo
The houses built for the flood victims in Made and Jamburu are of best quality according to my knowledge, said Kodagu District In-charge Minister V Somanna.
Addressing mediapersons here, on Friday, he said it was not right to make allegations for political reasons. He said that he had checked the quality of the houses.
The minister said that the programme of handing over the houses, scheduled on May 29, had been postponed. The houses will be handed over to the beneficiaries before June 5, he added.
Leaders and elected representatives will be invited to the programme as per the protocol, he said.
Replying to a query, Somanna said, “What is important is that the facility reaches the beneficiaries. It is not important who has implemented the project.”
The minister meanwhile stated that there was a plan to construct 10 lakh houses in urban and rural areas in the next two years.
450 people under quarantine
Later speaking at a meeting, the minister said that 450 people had been quarantined in the district.
“Our district cannot be compared to Bengaluru. People have given their cooperation to the district administration in implementing the lockdown guidelines.”
Somanna further stated that migrant labourers in the district had traveled to Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand and other states. Many other labourers have requested the district administration to send them to their native places. But, the respective states are yet to give their permission, he added.
MLA K G Bopaiah said that the vehicles transporting fish and pork into the district should be subjected to thorough checking at the check posts, as there are chances of beef being transported in these vehicles. He requested the people coming from other districts to get themselves voluntarily tested for COVID-19.
MLC Veena Acchaiah said that the rainy season was approaching. But, the driftwood have not been cleared. “If the wood is not cleared, I will hold a dharna in front of the forest department office,” she added.
Mobix organisation Kodagu branch manager handed over 14,000 masks to the minister, for distribution among students taking SSLC examination.
MP Prathap Simha, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish, MLA Appachu Ranjan, MLC Sunil Subramani, Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, District Superintendent of Police Suman D Pannekar and Zilla Panchayat CEO K Lakshmipriya were present.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / May 22nd, 2020
District In-charge Minister V Somanna and senior physician Dr Patkar inaugurate the Covid-19 testing laboratory at Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday.
District In-charge Minister V Somanna inaugurated the COVID-19 laboratory at Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences in Madikeri on Friday.
The laboratory has been established at a cost of Rs 1.06 crore. At a time, nasal and throat swab samples of 100 people can be tested in the laboratory. The samples from the district were sent to the laboratory in Mysuru so far.
Senior physician Dr Patkar was present on the occasion.
Will ‘at home marriages’ be the in-thing henceforth?
Mysore/Mysuru:
Novel Coronavirus crisis has felled many. And the ‘big fat Indian wedding’ is surely one among them. Thousands gather for dazzling multi-day weddings which are fun, lavish and it fuels a massive industry. Thanks to a Coronavirus-affected world, these weddings are seen now as virus-super-spreader events and many stay away from them.
So, the weddings adopted to a new normal – simple and a small affair with limited guests. While many couples have taken the easy way out and postponed their weddings hoping for better days, many weddings are conducted as spartan affairs with just the couple and their immediate families. And instead of choultries, such ceremonies are held at homes.
Theetharamada Gagan Appaiah and Kuttanda Kavery.
Weddings at homes
The couple, their parents, a few relatives and some close friends can be in attendance at homes and it is possible to do a simple wedding with just 50 or so people as per the Government guidelines. At such a spartan wedding, all guests can wear masks and gloves and social distancing could be maintained at all times, and food could be served carefully to prevent any congestion at the tables.
This is the way weddings are happening in Kodagu district and in Mysuru for the past one month during lockdown which also covered a peak marriage season. Numbers of small marriage ceremonies that have taken place in the districts suggest that more and more people are liking it.
Kunchettira Jayanth Subbaiah, an Officer in the Indian Navy at Karwar, was to get married to K. Prajna at Napoklu Kodava Samaja on May 9 and 10 and had invited over 2,000 guests for a grand ceremony. But due to COVID-19 lockdown, the family elders decided to conduct the wedding in their house and only 20 to 25 close relatives were invited. Social distancing was strictly followed at the small event.
Small but traditional
Theetharamada Gagan Appaiah got married to Kuttanda Kavery (Kirthana) in a simple ceremony on May 6 at their homes in a traditional Kodava ‘single muhurtha’ ceremony. Their wedding was originally planned on Apr. 29 at Palm Valley near Gonikoppal and due to lockdown, the family decided to keep it a small affair.
Gagan’s father Vijay told ‘Star of Mysore’ that only 20 to 25 close relatives participated in the wedding. “Both of our families were comfortable with the small ceremony. But we made sure that all the Kodava traditions were followed and we were happy for our children. It was a simple but traditional ceremony and I am planning a similar ceremony for my younger son Ben Aiyappa,” he said.
Ranjitha and Sreenidhi were to get married on Apr. 29 and 30 and they had booked a Choultry in Mysuru after paying Rs. 90,000 advance. Due to lockdown, both the families decided to perform the wedding at the bride’s home in city. They got married on Apr. 30 at a simple ceremony and only 20 close relatives were in attendance.
No lavish affair
Nayakanda Sona married Karthamada Sunil in a traditional ceremony at one of their elders’ home and over 50 guests participated. Both the traditional Kodava Oorkuduva ceremony and the Dampathi Muhurtha were held at home and all the traditions were followed.
Sanjith, a resident of Mysuru, planned a lavish wedding on May 3 at a reputed Choultry on the Ring Road in Mysuru and had paid an advance of Rs. 1.25 lakh. “Due to lockdown, our families decided to hold the wedding in the first week of June. It will be a small ceremony at home and only close relatives will be invited,” Sanjith said.
Nayakanda Sona and Karthamada Sunil.
Lockdown-forced move
Commenting on many people catching up with a trend of simple weddings at their homes, former President of Mysore Kodava Samaja Moovera K. Kuttappa told ‘SOM’ that it is a lockdown-forced move. “Once the lockdown is lifted, things will be normal,” he said.
“Earlier, all weddings in Kodagu were held at homes and Ain Manes (traditional Kodava ancestral home). Later, we shifted to Kodava Samajas. Now due to lockdown, we are back to home weddings. I am happy that all Kodava traditions are followed. But if you take a larger picture, it is a loss to the Kodava Samajas who have properties, marriage halls and staff to maintain. If weddings are held at Samajas, there will be revenues to support Kodava institutions. If not, it is a loss,” he pointed out.
“Marriages during lockdown are very slim affairs and may not find traction in the society. But we believe a trend has been set to reduce marriages to a one-day affair instead of two days. 100 guests are acceptable from either side and a marriage banquet for 200 people is much more manageable than one for 1,000,” said one of the office-bearers of Ponnampet Kodava Samaja.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Covid-19 / News / May 20th, 2020
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