Olympian BP Govinda was on Friday named chairman of Hockey India’s nine-member selection committee, which will start working from July 1.
The panel, which will be in office for a one-year tenure, was picked in the Hockey India Executive Board meeting held here. The selection committee will work jointly with the HI’s High Performance and Development Committee to identify fresh talent in the country.
Govinda represented the country twice in Olympics (1972 & 1976), two World Cups (1973 & 1975) and three Asian Games (1970, 1974 & 1978).
Olympian BP Govinda was named chairman of Hockey India’s nine-member selection committee, which will start working from July 1.
“The other members in the Selection Committee are Olympian Mr. Syed Ali (1964 Olympics), former international player Dr. R P Singh (World Cup in1986 & 1990), former Captain Mr. Gagan Ajit Singh (Olympics in 2000 & 2004), former Captain Mr. Arjun Halappa (Olympics in 2004 & Commonwealth Games in 2010), former Captain Ms. Savitri Purty (Asian Games in 1986), former Captain Ms. Mamta Kharab (Commonwealth Games in 2002 & 2006, Asia Cup in 2004), former Captain Ms. Surinder Kaur (Asia Cup in 2004) and former Captain Ms. Saba Anjum (Commonwealth Games 2002 & 2006, Asia Cup 2004 and Asian Games in 2002),” the HI said in a statement.
The newly-appointed Selection Committee will come into effect from July 1.
source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / IBN Live / Home> Sports> Hockey / Press Trust of India / May 31st, 2013
While she was still studying surgery at the University of Liverpool in England, Kavery Nambisan was informed by her friend that a mission hospital in Bihar was in desperate need of a surgeon, and asked if she would be interested in the offer. She took it up as a challenge and landed in the town of Mokama, a dacoit infested area, where she went on to treat patients who had faced several degrees of violence.
After Mokama, she worked at rural hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where she presently works in the Coorg district. But in the meanwhile, Kavery found time to write seven novels in the last two decades.
Her last book, The Story That Must Not Be Told was shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature as well as the Man Asian Literary Prize. “I started writing once I had become a doctor; initially it was few flippant pieces here and there, and then I ended up writing two children’s novels. It was a revelation for me, because I don’t have a literary background,” she says.
Kavery soon ventured into writing adult novels because she felt there was more to her imagination that she could put down on paper. Her recently released seventh book A Town Like Ours, chronicles the growth of Pingakshipura, a village that has now become a town. It is a place where the water runs a poisonous black and the hair on every child’s head is white. And all of this is through the eyes of an ageing prostitute who resides at a temple premises.
The central character is borrowed from one of Kavery’s childhood memories. “When my father was transferred to Delhi, there was a temple we used to visit often. Right next to the temple, in a room, I found this scantily clad elderly lady who was smoking a hookah and had several men huddled around her. She had a loud voice, and as a young girl, I was mystified and yet disgusted by her appearance,” she adds. But do most of her memories, or her medical experience find place in her books?
“Not constantly, but since I am a writer, I do observe. I listen to my patients intently when they confide in me about their family problems. Any inclusion is not always intentional but I guess once you have the seed of something, you can always create,” she says.
Kavery, who writes early in the mornings and during weekends, says that she never had a problem juggling her professional expertise with her passion for writing. “Since I have always had it this way, I never have really seen it as a problem. Apart from medicine and writing, I don’t feel the need to socialise because I meet so many people anyway. However, I have discovered that I can write an awful lot in hotel rooms when I am travelling, because there I have no other responsibilities,” she adds.
In the present times, when bookstores are stocked with new authors writing about college romances and urban life, there are barely a handful of voices which document the rural facets of our country. The author adds, “It’s not their fault that most of these young authors did not have any rural experience to write about. On my part, I am deeply saddened by injustice which plagues our society. When I have the opportunity of education and upbringing, someone else is continuously being denied it. I constantly think of it, but I haven’t been able to come up with an answer. But instead of feeling helpless, we must realise that we can’t do everything to resolve the situation, but can continue to do what we do best.”
And Kavery’s decision to spend her life writing about and aiding the rural folk in villages, where healthcare is deemed a luxury, is a clear example of that. “It was partly the influence of my father and my teachers, who instilled in me the sense of purpose, of why you do something. And being born and brought up in a village, I realised this is what I should do, because this is what I do best,” she says.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> LifeStyle> Books/Art / DC / Amrita Paul / August 30th, 2014
Local Congress leader and former Kodagu ZP Vice-President Iqbal Hassan (46), was shot dead in broad daylight by unidentified assailants at Virajpet town in Kodagu district on Wednesday.
Iqbal was taking his seat for having lunch at a hotel in the busy Gadiyara Kamba area of the town at about 2 pm, when one of the two miscreants who came in a maroon coloured Maruti Alto car shot him in the chest, killing him instantly.
The miscreant reportedly fired another round which hit another person by name Chandrasekhar, a resident of Shivakeri, who was having lunch in the hotel, injuring him on his leg and chest. He was immediately rushed to Virajpet Government Hospital, from where he was shifted to Madikeri Hospital for advanced treatment. The miscreants managed to flee in the car in which they had come.
It is said that Hassan was reportedly involved in a dispute over a property with one Moosa, his neighbour, which had resulted in a clash between the two rival groups a few days ago, with both the groups complaining to the Virajpet Police.
Following the complaint and counter complaint, the Police had summoned both the groups to the Police Station yesterday and had succeeded in making both the groups arrive at a compromise, it is learnt.
The deceased Hassan is survived by wife and two sons aged 15 and 12. On hearing the news, residents of Virajpet town and surrounding areas streamed into the hospital and demanded arrest of the culprits.
Iqbal Hassan, who was associated with the Congress was serving as on office-bearer of the party’s Kodagu District Minority Cell.
He was elected to Kodagu ZP from Kadanur Constituency in Virajpet Taluk and served as ZP Vice-President from July 12, 2000 to March 12, 2002. He had also been ZP incharge-President for some time.
IGP (Southern Range) B.K. Singh, Kodagu SP Varthika Katiyar and other senior officials rushed to the spot. The Police have stepped up security in Virajpet Town following the murder.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 18th, 2014
Gazal Somaiah, who made her T-Town debut with Uu Kodathara Ulikki Padathara, will be seen in a chirpy role in her next film, The End, directed by Rahul Sankrityan. Taking about her role, Gazal says, “It’s a horror film and my role offers ample scope to perform. I play a glamorous urban girl,Rekha,who is full of energy. I’m totally caught unawares with the paranormal happenings around me,” says the actress who was admittedly “very apprehensive” initially about the film.
The most difficult part of shooting for Gazal was dubbing her lines. “When my director couldn’t find a suitable voiceover artiste, I jokingly said I’ll dub for my lines. Then we went ahead and I think it’s the most difficult part in the filmmaking. But being a South Indian, I’m familiar with Telugu and I was able to complete the task”, explains the Coorg born actress, who will also be seen in a romantic entertainer Jagame Maya.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Telugu> Movies / by Shashidhar AS / September 22nd, 2014
It will come up at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 lakh
Kodagu District Retired Police Officers’ Association has mooted the idea
They want CMC to name a road after
Pemmanda K. Monnappa
Madikeri:
The president of the Kodagu District Retired Police Officers’ Welfare Association, M.A. Appaiah, said here on Tuesday that a guest house in memory of the State’s first Inspector-General of Police, Pemmanda K. Monnappa, would be built near the Maitri Police Community Hall here at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 lakh.
Pemmanda K. Monnappa had served as the Commissioner of Police of the old Madras province. Later, he became the first Inspector General of Police, Karnataka (the then Mysore State), under the S. Nijalingappa government.
Funds
Mr. Appaiah, a retired Superintendent of Police, told presspersons that the guest house would be called ‘Swabhimana’. While some amount was being contributed by the Police Department in the form of grants, the rest would be mobilised through donations, Mr. Appaiah said.
Other cities
Memorials have been built in Mr. Monnappa’s memory in Chennai and Hyderabad. In Karnataka, it was the retired police officers’ idea to construct a guest house, Mr. Appaiah said. The association proposes to urge the Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC) to name the road branching off from the College Road, near the Maitri Police Community Hall, leading towards the Subramanyanagar area, after Mr. Monnappa.
Career details
Pemmanda S. Ganapathi, a senior member of the Pemmanda family, recalled the services of Mr. Monnappa, who belonged to the Indian Police (IP) cadre. He had served in the Malabar area in Kerala and as the Superintendent of Police in Kurnool and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Monnappa then became the Commissioner of Police in Madras.
Milestone
Mr. Monnappa was instrumental in suppressing the Razakars rebellion in Andhra Pradesh as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ganapathi said. The then Union Home Minister, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, had chosen Mr. Monnappa to quell the mutiny in Hyderabad.
Recognition
After the reorganisation of the States in the country in 1956, Mr. Monnappa came back to the State, which was then called the Mysore State, to become the first Inspector General of Police, during the reign of S. Nijalingappa.
The British government, in recognition of Mr. Monnappa’s meritorious service, conferred on him the titles: ‘Rao Saheb’ and ‘Rao Bahadur’. He retired from service in the year 1958.
Mr. Monnappa’s son retired from service as a senior IAS officer and has now settled in Chennai.
Members of the Association, B.D. Mandappa, B.A. Poonacha, Y.D. Keshavananda, A.A. Appanna, A.B. Devaiah, A.M. Balakrishna, K.B. Belliappa and M. Achutan Nair, were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / October 01st, 2008
Singer, actor Monica Dogra has turned into a fashion designer
Channeling their creativity to clothes, several musicians are turning designers and debuting their fashion lines
Following her success as a singer and songwriter, Monica Dogra has recently turned fashion designer with the launch of her debut fashion line for Stylista.com. Inspired by her own personal style, the collection mirrors the singer’s varied inspirations that include music, cinema and contemporary art. Dogra is not the only musician to bring her creativity in the line of fashion. Nikhil Chinappa, one of the pioneers of EDM in India, recently launched a menswear collection. And then there is ace guitarist Randolph Correia, who has designed a collection of tees for men and women in association with Kulture Shop.
Dogra’s collection is inspired by her own personal style, which is very boho chic, and has a very grunge and rock vibe that’s perfect for music festivals, gigs etc. “She loves layering using clothes that can be styled in different ways, and this collection can be worn by women in so many different ways to represent their own personal style. Her collection is breezy and comfortable, and consists of beautiful prints, bohemian silhouettes and earthy colours — all of which represent Monica perfectly,” says Avnish, CEO of Stylista.com.
Nikhil Chinapa, besides being one of the first VJs, is also the brainchild behind the country’s exploding EDM scene. koovs.com has collaborated with Nikhil for a menswear collection. “Nikhil is well respected within the EDM world and has a large social media following. We wanted to take this energy forward and channel it into a clothing collection that would reflect the aesthetics of this scene,” says Robert Bready, creative and retail director, Koovs.com.
Talking about what appealed to him the most about this collaboration, Chinapa says, “The idea is actually one of the oldest one in the world, which is — ‘why not’! I had never done something like this before, so I readily accepted the offer. The behind-the-scene people and I seemed to be on the same wavelength, so I decided to take up the offer.”
Chinapa’s fashion sense makes him one of the coolest musicians in the EDM world. He quips, “However, my mom would not agree and likes to call it my ‘fashion nonsense’. I guess I have done my mom proud by designing something which she is not going to like completely, but my fans are giving me a positive feedback about the same.”
Talking about his collection, he says, “My collection is fuss-free yet quirky. There are some longer back tees, hoodies, trousers, sunglasses. When it comes to music, I am happy that musicians prioritise music, but I guess after music, it would not be a bad idea to focus on one’s fashion sense, dental hygiene, usage of hair gels and deodorants.”
In the West, it is a popular concept to have celebs like Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker and others successfully running their fashion lines, while in India it still seems to be at a nascent stage. “E-commerce industry is certainly coming of age and they are constantly trying to establish themselves as an alternate shopping industry. Celebrities tend to add credibility and a high dose of glamour to their fashion lines, which encourages their followers to buy their products. In India, Bollywood, cricket and music work very well from consumer’s perspective. E-retail chains are tapping celebrities and now musicians with a good fan following in the digital world. Internationally, this trend is quite prevalent owing to the large amount of resources and support systems they have at their disposal to enter the fashion industry. I think the trend is nascent in India but is definitely picking up steam,” adds Anurag Rajpal, director & CEO, American Swan, who have recently roped insinger and rapper YoYo Honey Singh as their brand ambassador.
Talking about the association Honey Singh says, “I am looking forward to creating a music video for the brand. The brand positioning resonates with my quintessential approach to life, music and work, which is why I accepted the offer. The video will see me styled in looks that my fans haven’t seen before.”
source: http://www.asianage.com / The Asian Age / Home> Entertainment> Music / by Aditi Pancholi / September 13th, 2014
Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna will be presented the Davis Cup Commitment Award during the World Group play-off tie against Serbia which begins here tomorrow. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will present the Awards through its national associations during the Davis Cup World Group and Zone Group matches on Saturday.
Former Grand Slam champions Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil will also be awarded after their respective games. ”The Davis Cup Commitment Award reflects the dedication by players for more than a century to represent their country in this prestigious competition. These players have continued to rise to the unique challenge of competing in a team environment in front of their home fans, and we believe that it is fitting to recognise their efforts,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.
List of players to be awarded: Australia: Lleyton Hewitt, Brazil: Carlos Kirmayr, Gustavo Kuerten, Luiz Mattar, Cassio Motta, Jaime Oncins, Canada: Frank Dancevic, Chinese Taipei: Ti Chen, France: Pierre Darmon, India: Rohan Bopanna Romania: Victor Hanescu, Russia: Andrei Chesnokov, Andrei Olhovskiy, Thailand: Sanchai Ratiwatana, Sonchat Ratiwatana, Danai Udomchoke, Ukraine: Sergiy Stakhovsky.
source:http://www.india.com / India.com / Home> Sports / by Press Trust of India / September 11th, 2014
Ashwini Ponnappa: Remember them who laid down their lives so that we can take breath in air of independence, a big salute to them….Happy Independence Day.
Apart from concentrating on her game, Ashwini Ponappa is busy supporting various causes. Currently, she is lending her voice to the Voice of Stray Dogs, and also advocates the importance of teachers with Aksara Foundation with the same commitment and affection that she cares for stray dogs. “I have gained popularity and that helps me give some mileage to such organisations. I’m doing nothing, all the credit goes to them for their special work. I only throw my weight behind them,” says Ashwini, former world class shutler.
Ashwini says she cannot be more grateful to teachers, as she refers to Aksara Foundation’s social campaign for teachers. “Throughout my life, whoever has been my teacher in various aspects of my life has played a vast role in shaping the person I am today. Teachers are very underappreciated in the society and more needs to be done to recognise their importance.” An animal lover herself, Ashwini’s admits that her hectic schedule had her miss out on adopting a pet.
“But a couple of dogs made my parents’ house their home. So for all intents and purposes, they’re our dogs,” she says. A friend was following the Voice of Stray Dogs page on Facebook and she appreciated their work, so she too ‘liked’ the page. “They (Voice of Stray Dogs — VoSD) do amazing work here in Bengaluru and I want to do my bit to support them. They take care of the dogs until they’re completely healthy. I would love to go visit them in Bengaluru but I haven’t had the time yet.”
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Other Sports / DC / Vijay Anand / September 08th, 2014
Indian doubles ace Rohan Bopanna, who last played Davis Cup tennis with veteran star Leander Paes two years ago, said it would be a pleasure to compete alongside the veteran again.
“It gives me great pride to play for India at the Davis Cup, as always. It would be my pleasure to play with Leander. We have been in discussion for the past few months and were looking for the opportunity to play together for the country,” said Bopanna.
The duo, which defeated Uzbekistan’s Murad Inoyatov and Denis Istomin in the Asia-Oceania group semifinal in Namangan the last time they were a pairing in April 2012, will be expected to down the Serbian combine of Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac next weekend.
“Leander brings a tremendous amount of experience to any partnership,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> Tennis / TNN / September 08th, 2014
Yasmin at Kalakshetra / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Yasmin Ponnappa of Aaranya Kaandam fame talks about her experiences while filming the latest song of the city that has gone viral
Her performance in the critically acclaimed Tamil film Aaranya Kaandam made people sit up and take notice. And now, model-actress Yasmin Ponnappa is back with The Madras Song, a four-and-a-half-minute video that chronicles the experiences of a young girl visiting Madras for the first time.
Yasmin / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
The natural abandon with which she prances around the city’s streets have had youngsters gushing about her. Tell her that, and she says, “It was meant to be natural. When we started filming, we were particular that it should not be like an act, but capture spontaneity.”
She might be from Bangalore, but it is namma Madras that Yasmin loves. “I still can’t get myself to call it Chennai,” she smiles. “I prefer Madras. I have a lot of wonderful friends here, and the camaraderie among everyone in the city is just fantastic.”
That’s exactly what The Madras Song team wanted to portray in its latest video. “Whatever Vijay (director Vijay Prabhakaran) depicted in the storyboard was exactly expressed in the video. His brief to me before we started shoot was simple — enjoy Madras like you would. I did that. I guess it’s the natural celebration of the city that people like,” she says.
It’s not just the city’s sights and sounds that the song, sung by Nenjukule singer Shakthisree Gopalan, celebrates, but also some famous personalities. Celebrities such as Viswanathan Anand, Crazy Mohan and Sudha Ragunathan feature in the video. Ask Yasmin about it, and she says, “The selfie is a rage now and we wanted to capture that. Shooting selfies with Chennai’s celebrities was a fantastic experience. And, playing chess with Anand was something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”
Yasmin / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
The actress loves the serenity and culturally charged atmosphere in Kalakshetra, one of her favourite places. “The place is so beautiful,” she says, “There are three kinds of prayers there, and just hearing them is so uplifting. Madras always celebrates its culture and Kalakshetra is proof of that.”
On the film front, she’s still waiting for an interesting project to come up. “There have been scripts, yes, but none as interesting as Aaranya Kaandam. I don’t believe in doing films just for the heck of it. I’m glad that after a powerful role in Aaranya Kaandam, The Madras Song has come up.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Srinivasa Ramanujam / August 21st, 2014
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