Category Archives: Education

Easier way to talk the Kodava ‘takk’

K. Byrappa, Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University, said that the dictionary, which was being printed, would probably be released in Kodagu itself.

A minority language unfamiliar to many in the State will finally have a comprehensive dictionary of its own with meanings in Kannada and English.

Kodava vocabulary will be captured in Kodava Arivole, which will be published by Mangalore University in March.

Boverianda C. Uthaiah (77) and wife B.U. Thangamma (66) joined forces and compiled the Kodava-Kodava-Kannada-English, which has about 11,000 words.

Mr. Uthaiah is a former professor of agricultural sciences.

According to the UNESCO, Kodava is a ‘vulnerable’ language, said Lokesh K.M., coordinator, Kodava Samskritika Adhyayana Peetha at Mangalore University.

Those knowing Tulu and Malayalam can grasp Kodava takk (language) better as it has common words with these two languages, as well as Persian.

Though the latest statistics on how many speak Kodava takk is not available, according to the 2001 census, only 92,193 people speak the language, Mr. Uthaiah said.

A handicap he faced was trying to include 2,000 words in the lexicon as no one knew their meanings.

Mr. Lokesh, also a professor of History at Mangalore University, said the lexicon has some rare words such as ‘kaju’ (gold) and ‘aarayu’ (water). It has social and cultural terms, and words relating to folk traditions such as ‘jamma’ (a land tenure system in Kodagu with long-standing hereditary rights held by clans), and ‘okka’ (Kodava clan, all of whom have descended from a common ancestor). The dictionary also has botanical and zoological terms.

Mr. Lokesh said though two Kodava dictionaries have been published earlier, they are not comprehensive. I.M. Muthanna’s Kodava Nudi Artha Kosha, the first dictionary published in 1988, gave the meanings of Kodava words in Kannada. In addition, Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy brought out a handbook Kodava-Kannada-English Kaipudi in 1988.

K. Byrappa, Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University, said that the dictionary, which was being printed, would probably be released in Kodagu itself.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by RaviPrasad Kamila / February 12th, 2016

67th Republic Day celebrated in Madikeri

RepublicdayKF28jan2016

The 67th Republic Day was celebrated in a grand manner at General Thimmaiah Stadium on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Food, Civil Supplies and District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “It was a challenge to draft a constitution for a country like India as it had various religions and culture. But Dr B R Ambedkar gave the best Constitution to the country on January 26, 1950. We must live up to the expectations of Ambedkar by following equality and brotherhood.”

MLC M P Sunil Subramani, City Municipal Council President Srimati Bangera, Deputy Commissioner Meer Anees Ahmed, SP Vartika Katiar, Zilla Panchayat CEO Charulata Somal and others were present.

District Armed Police and schools, college students took part in the march past. General Thimmaiah school Guides team and GMP School Seva Dal team and St Micheal School guides team won the first, second and third prizes respectively.

The students of Little Flower School, Madikeri, St Joseph Kannada Medium School, Rajeshwari Vidyalaya, Government Pre-university College High School section and St Micheal Higher Primary English Medium School performed dances to the patriotic songs.

Goravara Kunitha and Dollu Kunitha, organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture, were the highlights of the programme.

Subramani distributed prizes the winners of the marathon competition. The winners are: Class 6-7 category: Dilip-I, Tanusha-I; Class 8-10 category M C Milan-I, M S Suman-II and College category: Manoj-I, Rajeshwari-II and Leena-III.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Madikeri, January 26th, 2016

Jain University to host running gala on Jan 31

Bengaluru :

Fitness enthusiasts in the city can add one more event to their workout calendar with JGI-Jain University announcing the launch of ‘My Country Run 2016’, which will see thousands of runners stream through the picturesque Cubbon Park as they compete in the 5k and 10k events on January 31.

The Sree Kanteerava stadium will be the hub of the activity as the races, which begin from 4pm, start and finish at the venue. “We have had an enthusiastic response so far as more than 3,000 people have already registered for the race. Though there are many road races in Bengaluru, we still need to do a lot more to get more and more people running,” race director Gul Mohammed Akbar told TOI.

Akbar said the first prize of Rs 1 lakh has attracted many elite runners, including athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya.

“Some of them are staying back after competing in the Mumbai marathon,” he said. Athletes who have finished the 10k in less than 60 minutes will fall in the elite category.

JGI Group chairman Chenraj Roychand said the proceeds generated from the race will go towards supporting the 30-35 athletes from below-poverty-line families, which are being looked after by the Jain Group. The money will be used to give them foreign exposure. “After looking at the savings, the trust will put in an equal amount to create a corpus that will be used to help these kids,” he said.

Uthappa lauds Jain College Returning to his alma mater along with ace cueist Pankaj Advani as the brand ambassador of the race, star cricketer Robin Uthappa recalled how the institution helped him through his college days. “I was frantically looking to get an admission for a degree course when I got a call from Jain College, expressing their willingness to start even a new course. Shankar sir was very helpful throughout my college days and the college even conducted special classes for all the sportspersons.

Now they want me to complete my MBA and I’ve promised to do that. I can confidently tell that Jain College is the best any sportsperson can aspire for,” recalled Uthappa, in the presence of his fiancee and former tennis player Sheetal Goutam.

The marriage is scheduled on March 3.

Roychand, meanwhile, recalled how he helped Uthappa to get back his focus after he was on the verge of quitting cricket.

“Robin once called up and said he wanted to quit the game but I told him that he was born to play cricket and put him through a few meditation sessions. Eight days later, he was back with a bang, cracking 165 runs,” the JGI chairman said.

He said the college has supported not only cricket but other sports as well, involving more than 300 international sportspersons, which included seven Olympians. “I’ve told Gul to reach out to rural schools and identify talent who can be nurtured to become top-class athletes. If we put in the hard work for the next 10-15 years, we can get more gold medals at the Olympics,” Roychand added.

UV Shankar, Director of Sports, Jain University, said the race will be an annual event. “The idea is to get everyone (men, women and kids) on one platform.”

The total prize money is Rs 5.35 lakh with Rs 1 lakh for the winner of the elite race. The registration fee is Rs 1,000 (Rs 800 for students) for Open 10K and Rs 700 (Rs 600) for the 5k race.

For online registrations, log on to www.mycountry.run.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Biju Babu Cyriac, TNN / January 19th, 2016

Students to meet budding scientists

The Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishat has arranged an interaction of students from different schools in Kalaburagi district on Thursday with budding scientistsfrom different parts of the State who have qualified for the 23rd National Children’s Science Congress to be held in Chandigarh University at Mohali from December 27.

26 of them will participate in the interaction.

The following have qualified to participate in the national science congress:

Junior (Urban):

S.M. Vismaya (Davanagere), Prema Golasangi (Bagalkote), M.J. Akshay (Madikeri), D. Sankalpa (Bidar), Shrivalli A. Kulkarni (Bengaluru), Sahana (Chamarajanagar);

Junior (Rural):

Bharathikumar Patil (Davanagere), Nandita Gulbal (Bagalkote), Avanthi (Dakshina Kannada), Dixa Nayak (Uttara Kannada), T. Akash (Bidar), B.P. Tanushri (Tumakuru);

Senior (Urban):

Poornima M. Patil (Vijayapura), Vineeth (Kalaburagi), Sangamesh Sanromath (Uttara Kannada), Harishgowda (Madikeri), Mushrifa (Madikeri), Ibrahim (Kalaburagi), K.T. Gopika (Kolar), Sahana Patil (Dakshina Kannada), Kaya Bharadwaj (Tumakuru);

Senior (Rural):

Devaki (Kalaburagi), Beerappa Sheeparmatt (Bagalkote), K.S. Ruthu (Dakshina Kannada), B. Vidya (Tumakuru), Shashank Amblimath (Belagavi), Inchara (Dakshina Kannada), Vaibhavi Tikotkar (Vijayapura), K.V. Ramya (Davanagere), and Nagaratna Shikolli (Belagavi).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by T.V. Sivanandan / Kalaburagi – December 24th, 2016

Finally, a dormitory after four years of sleeping in classroom

In neglect:The Girijana Ashram School in Nagarahole has only three classrooms, one staff room, and one permanent teacher.
In neglect:The Girijana Ashram School in Nagarahole has only three classrooms, one staff room, and one permanent teacher.

Students of ashram school in Nagarahole don’t have access to even basic facilities

Students of the ashram school for tribals in Nagarahole — who were forced to study as well as eat and sleep in their classrooms for the last four years — can now look forward to having their own dormitory soon.

Although the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat had decided to construct a new hostel with additional rooms, the officials realised that a clearance from the National Board for Wildlife, New Delhi, was necessary for any construction in tiger reserve areas.

Ever since the dilapidated hostel building was demolished four years ago, students of classes 1 to 7 have been experiencing a harrowing time.

“The number of students in the residential school also witnessed a gradual decline over the years,” said Prakash, who represents the Karnataka Forest-based Tribal Communities’ Federation. Recently, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) took up the matter with Forest Minister B. Ramanath Rai.

In the interest of the students, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Ravi Ralph has given permission for reconstruction of the hostel, said KSCPCR chairperson Kripa Amar Alva. Kantharaju, Chief Conservator of Forests, Nagarahole, said the building has to be constructed on the same plot of land. “There cannot be any extension,” he said.

Satish Kumar, the Integrated Tribal Development Programme officer of Kodagu, said the proposal to construct the dormitory was cleared by the zilla panchayat several years ago and funds were also sanctioned. “If permission has been given, construction can start soon,” he said.

Of 47 students, about 40 attended regularly. In view of the absence of hostel facilities, nearly 20 of them return home to their tribal hamlets nearby every evening. The remaining sleep in the classroom, Mr. Kumar said.

The school has only three classrooms and one staff room. “Students of two classes are made to sit in one room because of the shortage of classrooms,” an official said. Also, the school has only one permanent teacher, while the rest are outsourced.

Mr. Praksh found fault with the government policies towards tribal children, which was leading to closure of ashram schools. “The number of ashram schools dipped from 121 three years ago to 116 now,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Laiqh A. Khan / Mysuru – December 04th, 2015

Nandan Nilekani, Rohan Murty contribute Rs 1.5 crore for welfare of ex-staff at Bishop Cottons Boys School

Bengaluru :

Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and Rohan Murty, have together contributed Rs 1.5 crore towards a corpus that former students of Bengaluru’s Bishop Cottons Boys School are building for retired staff members of their school.

Murty, son of the other Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy, and Nilekani are among the scores of illustrious citizens the school has produced in its 150-year history. The alumni are confident the corpus will grow in size.

An announcement about the fund, and Nilekani’s anchor donation of Rs 50 lakh, was made by Aditya Sondhi, another old Cottonian, and Managing Trustee of General K.S.Thimayya Memorial Trust at the school on Saturday on the occasion of 11th General KSThimayya memorial lecture. (The general was a Cottonian too, and this year’s lecture was delivered by Rahul Rao, lecturer in politics at the University of London, and Rohan Murty himself.)

Murty, who has announced a cheque of Rs 1 crore, said the teachers and other staff members have given 30-40 years of their life to the service of the school and its students. “I was very touched by the initiative. And, when i heard about Nandan’s contribution, i decided i should also emulate him. I hope more people will come forward, and contribute,” Murthy said, and added, “The fund is our way of expressing our gratitude to our teachers and other staff members.”

The fund is reflective of the strong bond that exists between the school’s former students and staff in all ranks including those worked as lab assistants, attendants etc. “We thought we should provide an opportunity for ex-students to express their gratitude and affection towards the teachers and others,” said CN Kumar, a Cottonian from the 1970 batch, Nilekani’s classmate.

Kumar runs a startup consultancy called Advantage Offshore Knowledge Services, and serves on the Thimayya Memorial Trust.

In addition to annual cash rewards to retired staffers, the fund —which Kumar hopes will grow to at least Rs 5 crore — will meet expenses arising out of medical emergencies of retired staffers and the education needs of their children. Contributions to the trust are eligible for income tax exemption.

The school, which is an old Bengaluru landmark, has produced many stalwarts including former chief of naval staff Admiral Vijay Singh Shekhawat, nuclear scientist Raja Ramanna and cricketer Brijesh Patel.

On Saturday, the Trust gave away Rs 1 lakh each to retired staffers Iqbal Ahmed (NCC commandant), Channappa Gowda (Kannad Novea teacher) Antony (pantry helper) and J Martin (lab assistant).

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / ET Home> News> Company> Corporate Trends / by K R Balasubramanyam, ET Bureau / November 23rd, 2015

She sips, swirls and spits: Meet Asia’s only woman coffee taster

What would life be without spicy food, ice-creams, perfumes, fragrant flowers, late-night parties and alcohol? Ask Sunalini Menon, who swears by this regimen.

No, she’s not a health freak or someone prone to allergies. She’s been practising abstinence for the sake of her passion, which is also her profession.

Asia’s first and only woman professional in the field of coffee cupping (tasting), Sunalini has experienced the aroma of several thousands of coffee types and spent a considerable time in the fields. “I love ice-creams and soft drinks but they affect my taste buds. My profession requires them to be extremely sensitive. So, I steer clear of cold food items or beverages,” she said. The chief executive of Coffeelab, one of India’s largest coffee exporters, Sunalini spoke to TOI on the ocassion of Coffee Santhe, a three-day carnival hosted by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.

Restraint and discipline are core attributes of a good coffee cupper. “It is essential to preserve the palate, the instrument vital for coffee tasting. We’re advised to avoid spicy food. Alcohol and smoking are a strict no no. Late nights and poor health can be a hindrance to the job,” she explained.

Coffee cuppers have to perform regular tongue exercises not only to keep their taste buds active but also to pick up foreign flavours. “Cupping with experts from other parts of the world helps calibrate one’s potential and understand the coffee produce of other countries. One also needs to perceive through the eyes, nose and palate of other cuppers,” she said.

SunaliniMenonKF26sept2015

Habituated to taking a sip and playfully swirling the liquid in her mouth before spitting, Sunalini said her job doesn’t allow her to swallow the coffee, however aromatic and delicious it be. “Coffee can have the distinct enzymatic flavours of apples, apricots, peaches and berries; sugar-browning flavours of chocolate, caramel, honey or those of spices like clove and pepper. It is an inborn acuity of taste, knowledge, experience, memory and good communication skills which help the cupper differentiate one flavour from another,” she said.

Sunalini, who entered the male bastion decades ago, said her journey hasn’t been easy. “I wasn’t lucky enough to be handheld when learning the tricks of the trade. I had to learn on my own, especially the chemistry of the coffee bean. It took a long time for me to be accepted into the fold, but once there, you are in,” she said.

Cupping as a Career

There are certifications for coffee tasters issued by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE). The SCAA issues two types of certificates. One is called the Licensed ‘Q’ grader and the other, the Licensed ‘R’ grader. The ‘Q’ grader licence is a certificate for proficiency in evaluating arabica coffees and the ‘R’ grader for proficiency in evaluating robusta coffees,” said Sunalini.

She admitted that coffee tasting as a career could have some limitations.

“To overcome them, one needs to perhaps complement tasting with other jobs such growing, roasting or marketing coffee,” she said.Coffee tasting is more of a passion; it may not help you financially, especially in the first 10 or 12 years. Credibility comes only through knowledge and experience,” Sunalini signed off.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / by Sreemoyee Chatterjee, TNN / September 26th, 2015

Annual Kail-Poldh get-together held at Kodava Samaja

The senior members of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru (sitting from left): Machura N. Kaveriappa, Napanda U. Aiyappa, Kakamada Ganga Chengappa, Bottolanda M. Ponnanna and Ponjanda S. Arjuna, who were felicitated with a shawl, garland and memento at the annual get-together held at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in city yesterday, are seen with (standing from left) Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah (Hon. Secretary, Sree Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha); Thambanda Neena Devaiah (Jt. Secretary, Kodava Samaja); Balyamanda Sarasu Nanaiah (President, Sree Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha); Chembanda Nanjamma (President, Kodagu Sahakara Sangha); Mechanda Mithra Karumbaiah; Mechanda M. Karumbaiah (President, Kodava Samaja); chief guest Kambeyanda C. Biddappa (retired Senior Vice-President, ITC); Moovera K. Kuttappa (Vice-President, Kodava Samaja); Kekada M. Belliappa (Hon. Secretary, Kodava Samaja); Kuppanda P. Subbaiah (Treasurer, Kodava Samaja) and Prof. Kambeyanda C. Belliappa (Chairman, Sree Cauvery Educational Institution)
The senior members of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru (sitting from left): Machura N. Kaveriappa, Napanda U. Aiyappa, Kakamada Ganga Chengappa, Bottolanda M. Ponnanna and Ponjanda S. Arjuna, who were felicitated with a shawl, garland and memento at the annual get-together held at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in city yesterday, are seen with (standing from left) Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah (Hon. Secretary, Sree Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha); Thambanda Neena Devaiah (Jt. Secretary, Kodava Samaja); Balyamanda Sarasu Nanaiah (President, Sree Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha); Chembanda Nanjamma (President, Kodagu Sahakara Sangha); Mechanda Mithra Karumbaiah; Mechanda M. Karumbaiah (President, Kodava Samaja); chief guest Kambeyanda C. Biddappa (retired Senior Vice-President, ITC); Moovera K. Kuttappa (Vice-President, Kodava Samaja); Kekada M. Belliappa (Hon. Secretary, Kodava Samaja); Kuppanda P. Subbaiah (Treasurer, Kodava Samaja) and Prof. Kambeyanda C. Belliappa (Chairman, Sree Cauvery Educational Institution)

Mysuru :

The annual Kail-Poldh get-together was celebrated at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in Vijayanagar 1st stage here yesterday under the auspices of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru.

The day-long programme began with Ayyalapanda Pattu Pemmaiah performing Ayudha Puja to the traditional weapons of Kodavas. Kail-Poldh festival is celebrated in Kodagu during the end of the paddy sowing. Kail means weapon or armoury and Poldh means worship. The festival also signifies the day that men should prepare to guard their crop. Hence, on the Kail-Poldh day, the weapons are taken out of the puja room, cleaned and puja is offered.

Kambeyanda C. Biddappa, retired Senior Vice-President, ITC Ltd., who was the chief guest, felicitated eminent Kodavas and senior members of the Samaja in recognition of their service to the Samaja and the society.

Speaking on the occasion, K.C. Biddappa said that higher education was the most important enabler for all-round development of a community. He then said it was unfortunate that while Kodava students in urban areas are doing well academically their rural counterparts are lagging behind and needed help.

“These rural poor Kodava students need support from the community, and organisations like Kodava Samaja, Coorg Education Fund and Deena Bandhu Charitable Trust should help poor Kodava students without making merit the only criteria,” he added.

Stating that in most of the district head quarters every community has hostels to help their poor students to study with free boarding, lodging and financial support, he rued that there was not a single Kodava hostel any where. “If only we were to have Kodava hostels in Madikeri , Mysuru and Bengaluru, a lot of poor Kodava students would have benefited and progressed,” he opined.

Referring to the dwindling population of the community in Kodagu, he said Kodavas are losing relevance in their own homeland and that the Government does not bother because Kodavas are not a vote-bank.

Stating that Kodava population in Kodagu is just between 80,000 and 90,000, he said to become relevant Kodavas needed to take the support of all the moolanivasis of Kodagu like Peggade, Iri, Amma Kodava and other original inhabitants.

“We should all unite and take up our cause under one umbrella to create a sustainable and significant vote-bank, then only the Government will respond to our demands,” he said.

Biddappa reiterated that Kodavas must be united and said if Kodavas have to survive then they should focus on higher education and support poor Kodava students.

The senior members, who were felicitated by the Samaja are: Napanda U. Aiyappa, an exserviceman; Machura N. Kaveriappa, also an exserviceman; Bottolanda M. Ponnanna, who runs a private business; Ponjanda S. Arjuna, retired Circle Inspector and recipient of Chief Minister’s and President’s Medal and Kakamada Ganga Chengappa, who runs Swastha, a school for specially-abled children in Sunticoppa, Kodagu and recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Manav Seva Award for service to special kids. The above achievers were introduced by Mandira P. Kalaiah, Ammatanda Madhu Medappa, Machanda S. Muthappa, Thambanda Neena Devaiah and Kekada M. Belliappa respectively.

Replying to felicitations, the senior members, who are actively involved in the Samaja activities, called upon the Samaja, area-wise Kodava Associations and the community members to preserve and promote the unique Kodava art, culture and tradition by encouraging the Kodava youth to come forward and pursue the same.

On the occasion, various scholarships instituted by the Samaja members were presented to meritorious Kodava students (from 7th std. to Post-Graduation) and achievers in sports.

Kattera A. Kariappa, former President of Kodava Samaja and President of Deena Bandhu Charitable Trust, Mysuru, who also spoke, sought the support of the Samaja members to the Trust, which has been helping poor and needy Kodava students in their studies.

Earlier, Keethiyanda Kavya Kuttappa, Ketolira Bhavani and Appanderanda Thara rendered the invocation. Samaja President Mechanda M. Karumbaiah welcomed and presided. Treasurer Kuppanda P. Subbaiah read the names of the deceased members after which a minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect to the departed souls.

Ponnachanda S. Bheemaiah read the names of the scholarship awardees.

Vice-President Moovera K. Kuttappa introduced the chief guest.

Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah compered and proposed a vote of thanks.

Hundreds of Kodavas attended the day-long get-together which concluded with sports and games for the members and their children in the afternoon session.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday – September 07th, 2015

Nilekani donates 50L to school fund

Bengaluru :

Infosys co-founder and former Aadhaar chairman Nandan Nilekani donated Rs 50 lakh to the alumni association of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School in the city. The funds donated by Nandan, an Old Cottonian, will go to the school’s Benevolent Fund, created for retired teachers, administrative staff and sub-staff.

The fund goes to the General KS Thimayya Memorial Trust, an Old-Boys-of-Cottons endeavour established to commemorate General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya, also an Old Cottonian, who was in school from 1918 to 1922.

CN Kumar, senior trustee, General KS Thimayya Trust, confirmed Nilekani’s contribution. “The Trust is grateful to Nandan Nilekani, Old Cottonian, for becoming the anchor donor to the Fund. Nilekani has made a generous contribution of Rs 50 lakh. We are confident that other Old Cottonians will also contribute to the corpus,” said Kumar.

He also said this is perhaps the only such fund established by old students of a school.

The official communication sent to Nilekani read: “Thanks to OC Nandan Nilekani, from whom we have received a donation of Rs 50 lakh for an endowment to be used exclusively for the said purposes. Our first set of beneficiaries have been honoured on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Thank you, Nandan, for this very generous gesture.”

The Benevolent Fund was established under the umbrella of the Trust to show our gratitude and appreciation to the teachers, administrative staff and subordinate staff whose contribution in our personal growth in the formative years is immeasurable.

The Trust will use the proceeds generated by investing the corpus to recognize and provide support to past teachers, administrative staff and subordinates every year.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bengaluru / by Sunitha Rao, R – TNN / September 06th, 2015

Govt ready to respond to farmers’ woes, says George

The 69th Independence Day was observed with patriotic spirit on the Fort premises in Madikeri on Saturday.

The marchpast by police, Scouts and Guides, NCC, NSS, and students and cultural programmes by the schoolchildren added colours to the celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion, District In-charge Minister K J George said the State government is ready to respond to the woes of the farmers. The farmers should not take extreme steps to end lives. Freedom should not be misused. It should be used for the welfare of all, he added.

St Joseph High School student Sreeja and Dechamma were felicitated for securing highest marks in SSLC examination. The highest scorers in second PUC examination — Ahalya Appacchu, B M Neelamma, Amrita Girish, Preethi Riya Pinto and Uthappa — were also felicitated.

The schoolchildren danced to patriotic songs on the occasion. In the cultural programmes, General Thimmaiah Public School team won first place while St Michael High School and Rajarajeshwari School teams stood second and third.

Guides team of St Joseph High School, Sevadala of St Michael School and Scouts of Rajarajeswari School won first, second and third place respectively in the marchpast category. Hoovaiah Gowda, who had entered into the Ginnessh Book of World Records for growing 41-feet tall sugarcane, was also felicitated. Valley Dew team presented traditional Kodava dance. Rajesh and team from Mandya presented Dollu Kunitha on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri / DHNS – August 15th, 2015