Category Archives: Records, All

‘Excellence is taking pride, being best in work’

January 30, 2019Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Education, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Athlete Vandana Rao was felicitated at the valedictory function of Besant centenary celebrations organised at Dr T M A Pai International Convention Centre in Mangaluru on Saturday.

Bengaluru-based Coffeelab Limited President Sunalini N Menon stressed on Saturday that excellence is taking pride in work and being the best at the work.

She was speaking at the valedictory function of the Besant centenary celebrations organised by Women’s National Education Society (WNES) at Dr T M A Pai International Convention Centre here.

She said, “Nobody remembers how fast the job was done, but how well the job was done. Whether be it washing utensils in the kitchen or sweeping the floor, being the best in your work is a self-portrait of what you are and the best insurance in the future for a job,” Sunalini said.

She said creativity and eye for detail are a must for the perfect execution of goals.

Sunalini, reflecting on her four decades of experience as a coffee taster, described the coffee tasting as a fascinating journey. “It is not a mere cup of coffee. There is so much of science and knowledge that you will learn humility,” the internationally recognised coffee-taster said.

She also invited the students present in the hall to learn more about the profession.

She said Indian Coffee Board offers ‘Kaapi Shastra’ on how to brew a perfect cup of coffee and there is a PG diploma course on coffee quality and another course on coffee entrepreneurship from Indian Institution of Plantation Management (IIPM).

She said her Coffeelab analyses samples from across the world.

“We are more as a facilitator, depending on what the market wants and what the grower can provide,” she said.

Presiding over the programme, former vice-chancellor of SNDT Women’s University Prof Rupa Shah urged women not to be fearful about the outcome. “I will compete and emerge successful should be the motto,” she stressed.

The Besant group of institutions felicitated alumni achievers including writer Kasturi, gynaecologist and well-known athlete Vandana Rao.

Kasturi and Devayani, who had emerged as toppers and declared as Vasantha Ranis while in school in 1959, were felicitated on the occasion.

Devayani thanked the management for remembering them after 50 years.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Harsha, Mangaluru / January 19th, 2019

The woman who brewed change

January 30, 2019Coffee News, Records, All, Uncategorized, World Opinionadmin

Asia’s first woman coffee taster, Sunalini N. Menon, is now opening a museum for coffee

Susheela Nair

The aroma of coffee wafts through the air as one steps into the Coffee Lab in Sadhashiva Nagar, a posh locality in the heart of Bangalore. Every nook and corner of the lab is adorned with mugs, coasters, antique jugs, filters and other coffee paraphernalia collected from all over the world. The Coffee Lab bears the semblance of a mini museum with its walls lined with a variety of packaged coffee and curios from around the world — exquisite grinders, scented candles, filters, mugs, and a whole shelf of good old-fashioned tumblers, a stark contrast to a regular sparkling white laboratory filled with shiny apparatus used for coffee accreditation and testing.

It also houses memorabilia, including tribal products from coffee growing areas, areca nut pickers, ancient milk measurement units and coffee pots. Each equipment throws light on the culture of the country it comes from. For instance, Italian pots have ornate carvings; the ones in Iran are known for their silver and filigree work; Pakistan has a recurring crescent moon pattern while Egypt sports designed Cleopatra. The star attraction of the Coffee Lab is the painting of Mona Lisa in coffee powder.

In the middle of the lab, inhaling deeply from one of the deftly prepared samples of green and roasted beans, in front of her, is the first woman coffee taster in Asia and ‘quality-control expert’ Sunalini N. Menon. After acquiring a Master of Science in food technology, Sunalini’s first choice was to become a dietician, but destiny had something more fascinating in store for her. She had to choose between further studies at the New York Institute of Dietetics or a job with the Coffee Board. But she chose the latter which was a turning point in her life.
From an assistant taster at the Coffee Board of India to the head of the quality control department (at the age of 28), and director (quality control) until 1995, Sunalini has traversed a long way fighting a lone battle against all odds at every stage of her career. Steering her way through the male-dominated world of coffee tasters and growers, recognition and acceptance as an accredited international cupper came her way belatedly, almost two decades later. She is a walking encyclopaedia on coffee and knows the coffee bean inside out. This coffee veteran takes 100 sips of coffee — all in a day’s work. Known as Asia’s first woman of coffee, she moved on to set up her own lab, the Coffee Lab in Bangalore, in 1997 for evaluating the technical nuances of Indian coffee.

The advent of liberalisation in the Indian coffee market inspired Sunalini to set up her own lab in 1996. She established Coffee Lab Private Limited, the first private sector lab of its kind equipped with modern equipment and accredited by the Coffee Board of India, in Bangalore.
Explaining the main objective of her Coffee Lab, Sunalini says, “From the seed to the cup, we offer the entire gamut of services. We delve into the technical aspects of coffee-making, quality testing, advising growers on how and when to sell the beans, and preparing special coffee brands. Coffee Lab uses the time-tested techniques of visual and organoleptic evaluation for the quality analysis of Indian coffee. We conduct appreciation courses for homemakers and also classes for farmers.”

True to her social commitment of empowering women economically, Sunalini has employed women to handle the sensitive and critical steps of green coffee evaluation. Though there are innumerable problems plaguing the coffee industry, the coffee veteran believes that the burgeoning coffee culture in the country has the potential to impact the market.

Revealing her plans to start a Coffee Museum, Menon says, “A trust will be formed as it is a non-profit initiative. We will start the story of Baba Budan (who brought coffee to South India) and traverse through the cultural aspects of coffee, diversified cultivation pattern and types of seed material. We are planning a layout that is representative of a typical Indian coffee plantation. The exhibits will include antique coffee roasters, grinders, brewing equipment, mugs, cups and coffee powders from different parts of the world.”

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com / The Tribune / Home> Trends / January 26th, 2019

4.34 lakh voters in Kodagu district

January 30, 2019About Kodagu / Coorg, Records, Alladmin

Additional Deputy Commissioner Shrinivas

As per the newly released draft of the revised voters’ list, there are 4,34,256 voters in Kodagu district, said Additional Deputy Commissioner Shrinivas.

Addressing reporters at the DC’s office in Madikeri on Wednesday, he said that new 5,444 voters are enrolled this time. The names of 6,449 voters have been omitted from the list, for the reasons of death, change of place and repeated entries.

The draft of the voters’ list, containing the picture of the voters, has been published as per the directions issued by the Election Commission of India.

The voters must ensure that their names are mentioned in the revised voters’ list, said the additional DC. If not, the citizen may submit their application in Form-6, to booth level officers or to the taluk office. The deletion of the names of demised voters, change of location and removal of repeated entries can be requested under Form 7.

Shrinivas further said that an awareness programme on voting will be held for the sake of voters in the booth, taluk and district levels on January 25, on account of Voters’ Day.

The new voters will be distributed with voter’s identity cards on the occasion, he added.

This apart, the Election Commission has set up the helpline number 1950 in all districts, to clarify the doubts of people on the voting process. The helpline will be operational between 9 am and 9 pm on all the days.

In connection with the release of the draft of the revised voters’ list, a meeting was convened by the additional DC, with the representatives of political parties.

Leaders Sajil Krishna from BJP, Tennira Maina from Congress, Ajith Kumar from JD(S), Appanna and Shamaraj were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Mangaluru / January 16th, 2019

Inter-School Sports Meet Held

January 16, 2019Education, Records, All, Sportsadmin

Kodagu Model School, Sathagalli, hosted an Inter-School Sports Meet recently. The Meet was inaugurated by Deena Uttappa, Vice-Principal of PPS and International Volleyball Player H.N. Hemalatha.

The Meet was organised to inculcate sportsmanship in the young minds.

Many Schools such as GSSS – Siddarthanagar, St. Paul’s – Yaraganahalli, Government HPS – Yaraganahalli, Viveku Vidyalaya – Alanahalli and Shashwatha Seva Samsthe participated in Throwball and Kho-Kho.

In both the events, GSSS emerged winners and Kodagu Model School secured second place.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / January 14th, 2019

SKDRDP gives help to natural calamity victims

January 11, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade hands over a cheque to a victim of natural calamity, as a part of the assistance programme under SKDRDP, in Madikeri on Thursday.

Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade launched a programme to assist flood victims through Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) in Madikeri on Thursday.

He handed over cheques to those affected by the recent floods and natural calamities to assist the flood victims in rebuilding their lives.

Heggade urged the government to construct houses for the needy and to rebuild the infrastructure in Madikeri which was destroyed by flash floods and landslides.

“Loans up to Rs 450 crore have been released to Kodagu through IDBI bank. Monthly interest on the loans during the months when flood victims were rendered homeless and jobless was paid by the SKDRDP. There is a need to waive the interest during this period and bank officials should think and act in this regard,” stressed Heggade.

He said SKDRDP will encourage flood-affected women to become self-employed by providing training in the making of handicraft items and processed food among other measures.

SKDRDP executive director L H Manjunath said that every homeless and landless family will receive financial assistance of a maximum of Rs 65,000. The amount will be transferred to the bank accounts of 2,106 families within a week. A total amount of Rs 8 crore had been set aside. An amount of Rs 2 crore was also contributed to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, he added.

Veerendra Heggade visited the six flood-affected villages and listened to the woes of residents.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / January 10th, 2019

Nellakki Kodava Koota Wins Throwball Tourney For 10th Consecutive Year

January 9, 2019Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sportsadmin

The Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru, conducted an Inter-Kodava Association Games and Adengada Seethamma & Achaiah Memorial Throwball Tournament recently at Sree Cauvery School Grounds in Kuvempunagar.

Adengada Tara Aiyamma of Neela Estate, Devanoor village, Balele, South Kodagu, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the event. Balyamanda M. Nanaiah, President, Kodava Samaja, Mysuru and Moovera K. Kuttappa, Chairman, Sree Cauvery Educational Institutions, Mysuru, were the guests of honour.

Machimada P. Nanaiah, President, Kodava Samaja Cultural & Sports Club, presided over the function. The valedictory was held in the evening at the same venue with Dr. Adengada A. Kuttappa and his wife Geetha Kuttappa as chief guests.

In all, eight teams participated in the Throwball Tourney which was won by Nellakki Kodava Koota team of Vijayanagar 2nd Stage for the 10th consecutive year while the team of Igguthappa Kodava Kshemabhivriddhi Sangha, Hebbal, emerged runners-up.

source:http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / January 05th, 2019

CAD initiative donates 100 ECG machines in remote areas

January 8, 2019Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

An ECG machine being handed over to a remote Primary Health Centre in Kodagu district.

The PHCs in Guthigar, Bellare and Aranthodu in Sullia taluk can now boast of well-equipped ECG machines thanks to the efforts of like-minded doctors led by Dr Padmanabh Kamath, HoD of Cardiology and professor at KMC, Mangaluru.

Dr Kamath, who started CAD (Cardiology at doorsteps), a crusade against coronary artery disease initiative— a WhatsApp network of over 450 like-minded doctors across eight doctors in Coastal Karnataka and Malnad region, is engaged in screening poor patients for cardiac problems in remote areas for free. The group was set up in February 2018 and has installed 100 ECG machines in the PHCs of interior villages with the help of donors. “When a patient visits with a symptom of a heart attack, an ECG is immediately carried out and the results are shared on WhatsApp. If it’s a heart attack, then the patient is referred to the nearest hospital for treatment,” Kamath told DH.

He said, “We want to instal 250 ECG machines by 2020 and cover three more districts including Hassan and Kasargod. The PHCs in Humcha, Koppa, Muniyala, Shikaripura, Sajipanadu will get ECG machines next week. In fact, one of the pilgrims who suffered a cardiac arrest, supported the CAD initiative to instal ECG machine at Humcha,” Kamath added.

ECG machines are already installed at PHCs in Gonikoppa, Suntikoppa and Siddapura in Kodagu. The CAD initiative wanted to instal it in 15 places in Kodagu. Owing to natural calamities that wreaked havoc in Kodagu district, the initiative saw a setback, he said.

So far, cardiac diagnosis was achieved in more than 1,000 patients and 985 cases of ischaemic heart disease and 345 of unstable angina have been detected. About 124 heart attack patients were picked up and 95 angioplasties have been conducted, said Dr Kamath.

Dr Kamath said 71-year-old Leelavathi, a resident of Sullia and a heart patient, responded to Kamath’s mission of installing ECG machines and donated money from her pension to instal the ECG machine at Guthigaru. Sri Veera Venkatesh Charitable Trust has paid for five ECGs to be installed in village PHCs recently.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mangaluru / by Naina J A / DH News Service / Mangaluru / June 05th, 2018

War Hero, Son Of Kodagu Lt. General B.C. Nanda Passes Away

January 8, 2019Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Madikeri:

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Biddanda Chengappa Nanda passed away last evening in Madikeri. He was 87. Family sources said that he was suffering from age-related ailments and died en-route to a private hospital in Mysuru. He is survived by his wife and four daughters and one of his daughters Shalini Nanda Nagappa is a well-known Canada-based food blogger.

The last rites were scheduled to be performed after 3 pm today at his residence on Abbey Falls Road, with full military honours. Senior officers of the Army are expected to pay their last respects to the decorated soldier.

One of the most loved military officers from Kodagu district who served in the Indian Defence, Nanda rose to eminence in the Army. He served as the Army Commander, Northern Command and settled down in Kodagu after his retirement and was involved in many social service activities.

He was born to Biddanda S. Chengappa and Bollavva couple on May 12, 1931. Bollavva was the sister of Field Marshal (first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army) Kodandera M. Cariappa. Nanda had served in the Army between 1951 and 1989.

Nanda’s father Chengappa was the Chief Conservator of Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Chengappa also served as a forest officer in Commonwealth Nations and had given priority to forest conservation.

A college in Coimbatore is named after Chengappa. Also, the biggest bridge in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Austin Bridge) connecting Middle and North Andaman Islands is named as Chengappa Bridge as Chengappa, in the capacity of a forest officer, prepared a working plan for these islands.

After completing his primary schooling in Madikeri, Nanda moved to Madras and later to Dehradun for his higher education. He also did his higher education in Royal College of Defence in London.

Close associates of Nanda said that the Indian Military Academy was situated in front of his house while he was pursuing his post-graduation at Dehradun. He was inspired by military officials at the Academy. Though his family wanted him to be a doctor, Nanda was attracted to the military and subsequently joined the Indian Army.

When Nanda was the Army Commander, Siachen was occupied by Pakistan in June 1987. He ordered his troops to evict them from Siachen and for the first time Siachen, the world’s highest Army post, was occupied by the Indian Army. Subedar Bana Singh captured “Quaid Post” after defeating Pakistan and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra. Today, “Quaid Post” is named as “Bana Singh Post”.

For his contribution to India’s military might, Lt. Gen. Nanda was honoured with Param Visishist Seva Medal (PVSM) and Athi Visishist Seva Medal (AVSM). He was an ardent lover of sports and attended hockey, football and cricket tournaments in various parts of Kodagu, post his retirement. Nanda was a voice of ex-servicemen and pressed for various demands for the benefit of ex-servicemen.

General Nanda headed the Kodagu Natural Sciences Society which was set up to trace the origin of Kodavas by ascertaining the ancestry, customs, culture, language and a study of genealogy by the Kodagu Natural Sciences Research Society. He spent his autumn years in his residence at Abbey Falls Road.

General Nanda had participated in the function held last year to unveil the statues of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and Gen K.S. Thimayya at Cauvery College, Gonikoppal. He was seen wearing traditional Kodava dress, greeting Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 13th, 2018

Joshna Chinappa pledges her eyes

January 8, 2019Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sportsadmin

Chennai, 03/01/2019 : Joshna Chinappa, International Squash player pledging her eyes during an eye donation awareness campaign held in Chennai on Thursday. Looking on are (From Left) Mohan Rajan, Chairman, Rajan Eye Care Hospital and Dr. Sujatha Mohan, Medical Director, Rajan Eye Care Hospital. Photo : S. R. Raghunathan | Photo Credit: S_R_Raghunathan

Joins the list of prominent sports personalities who are part of the eye bank

Squash champion Joshna Chinappa became the latest celebrity to pledge her eyes in a long list of Ambassadors for the Rotary Rajan Eye Bank.

Ms. Chinappa, who has won several trophies as a squash player, became the ‘Eye Bank Sight Ambassador’ by pledging her eyes at a function held at the Rajan Eye Care Hospital recently.

She joins the list of sports personalities, including Vijay Amritraj, Ashwin Ravichandran and Syed Kirmani, to be part of the eye bank.

Mohan Rajan, chairman and medical director, Rajan Eye Care Hospital, said in a country like India where more than 25 lakh people suffer from corneal blindness, donation of cornea could help in making these people see the world through the donor’s eyes.

Celebrities like Joshna could help in creating more awareness among people to come forward to donate their eyes after their death, he said.

Ms. Chinappa said it was an honour to pledge her eyes for a noble cause.

Sujatha Mohan also participated in the function held at the hospital.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – January 06th, 2019

CNC welcomes Kodava genealogy study

January 8, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

The Codava National Council (CNC) has welcomed the state government’s move to restart the study on Kodava genealogy.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, CNC President N U Nachappa said, “The study on genealogy is essential to preserve Kodava community. The study was halted in the past and has now been revived.”

The CNC had been demanding Kodava genealogy study for the last several years.

“The study should be completed at the earliest. In the past, the state government had entrusted the responsibility of the study to Karnataka State Tribal Research Institute, Mysuru, and the government had released Rs 11 lakh for the purpose.

However, owing to the conspiracy of a few, the study was stopped abruptly. Now, the study on genealogy has been revived once again,” added Nachappa.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mysuru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / January 06th, 2019

Kodagu First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas