Writer Deepa Bhasthi, whose English translation of Banu Mushtaq’s Kannada work Edeya Hanate (Heart Lamp) won the prestigious International Booker Prize 2025, was felicitated in Madikeri by her alma mater and local leaders on Saturday.
The Old Students’ Association of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College, where Ms. Bhasthi pursued her education, college principal, lecturers, and office-bearers of the association visited her residence to honour her remarkable literary achievement.
B. Raghav, principal of the college, extolled Ms. Bhasthi for her literary accomplishment and noted that the international recognition has brought immense pride to the institution.
“The achievement of one of our old students was a matter of pride for the college,” he added.
The association president B.B. Aiyappa highlighted the difficulty of translating regional literature without losing its emotional depth, commending Ms. Bhasthi’s masterful rendering that resonated with a global audience.
MLA for Madikeri Mantar Gowda also felicitated Ms. Bhasthi at her home on Saturday. Commending her contribution to literature, he said her accomplishment had placed Kodagu on the global literary map. He said the government would support her future literary initiatives and described her as an inspiration for students and young writers.
Mr. Gowda also remarked that it was heartening to see literature of such calibre emerge from the serene surroundings of Kodagu. Plans are under way to organise interactions between Ms. Bhasthi and students from local institutions to foster interest in literature and translation, he added.
Ms. Bhasthi said the translation took nearly three years of dedicated work and she is now preparing for literary engagements in London and other cities. Ms. Bhasthi’s husband Chettira Nanaiah, her parents Prakash and Sudha Bhasthi, were among those present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / May 31st, 2025
Shuttle badminton has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with a growing number of young players taking it up professionally. What began as a recreational pastime among British expatriates in the 1860s has steadily evolved into a mainstream sport embraced by the younger generation. Pioneers like Prakash Padukone, the first Indian to win the All England Badminton Championship in 1980, played a key role in bringing national recognition to the sport. He was followed by Pullela Gopichand, who also won the prestigious All England title, Olympic medallists like Saina Nehwal — India’s first Olympic badminton medal winner — and P.V. Sindhu, a double Olympic medallist and BWF World Champion, who helped place India firmly on the global badminton map.
Kodagu, a region renowned for producing hockey legends, has also made its mark in badminton through players like Ashwini Ponnappa, who has won multiple medals in international competitions. Now joining the list of Kodagu’s badminton achievers is 17-year-old Boppanda Diya Bheemaiah.
Coming from a family of sports people, Diya has made significant strides in national and international badminton. She was part of the Indian women’s team that participated in the Asian U-17 Badminton Championship held in Chengdu, China, last year, where she competed in the doubles event.
Her achievements include: Bronze in singles and silver in doubles at the Nepal Junior International Series held in Tripureswar in December 2024; Silver in singles and bronze in mixed doubles at the 36th Sub-Junior Badminton Tournament held in Tamil Nadu in 2024; and Winner of the U-19 All India Krishna Khaitan Badminton Tournament – 2024, held in Panchkula, Haryana, among other accolades.
A II PUC student at Vidyaashram College in Mysuru, Diya trains under coach Arun Pemmaiah at Sports Park, Mysuru. Her father, Boppanda B. Bheemaiah, is also a badminton coach, while her mother, K.K. Kusuma (Kambiranda), a former international athlete, now works as a fitness coach. Diya’s younger brother, B.B. Vishal Uthappa, is also a budding badminton player.
Star of Mysore caught up with Diya Bheemaiah for an interview as she prepares for the upcoming National Junior Championship to be held in Bengaluru. Following this, she will head to Guwahati, Assam, to train at the National Centre of Excellence — a facility where only a select few players are offered the opportunity to train. Excerpts…
Star of Mysore (SOM): What inspired you to take up badminton?
Diya Bheemaiah: I used to watch my father play when I was a kid. Initially, I picked it up just for fun, but I gradually developed a deep interest in the sport. I’ve been playing professionally for the past eight years now.
SOM: Why did you shift your base from Madikeri in Kodagu to Mysuru?
Diya Bheemaiah: It was purely for badminton. I moved here when I was in the 6th standard and stayed in a PG accommodation. After the COVID-19 pandemic, my family shifted to Mysuru. It had become difficult to practice in Madikeri, my hometown, especially during the rainy season when we could barely step out of the house. That’s when we decided to move to Mysuru permanently.
SOM: Can you tell us about your daily routine and diet?
Diya Bheemaiah: I wake up around 5 am and attend my fitness session from 5.45 am to 7.15 am. After a short break, I have my on-court session from 9.30 am to 12 noon, where I focus on strokes and technique. Then there’s a lunch break, followed by another session from 1.30 pm. After that, I take a two-hour break before heading to the gym from 6 pm to 7.15 pm. That’s my daily routine for now.
As for my diet, my mother is particular about it. She prepares nutritious meals every day. Of course, to achieve anything great in sports, you have to sacrifice your cravings. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve had ice cream and junk food is completely off my list.
SOM: How have your parents supported you in your badminton endeavours?
Diya Bheemaiah: They’ve been extremely supportive. My mother takes care of my diet and fitness, while my father helps me improve my game. One of them always accompanies me during tournaments to ensure I stay focused and eat healthy.
SOM: You play in all three categories — singles, doubles & mixed doubles. How do you manage different techniques and mindsets required?
Diya Bheemaiah: In singles, the player is solely responsible for his/her performance and has to give the best. In doubles, it’s all about trust and coordination with your partner. When things aren’t going well, it’s also about encouraging each other and making a strong comeback together.
SOM: Badminton is an expensive sport. How have you been managing?
Diya Bheemaiah: Right now, my parents and coaches are supporting me financially. But there is a need for sponsorship. Even though many of us perform well, we often don’t receive any sponsorship. Players end up spending from their own pockets for racquets, training and travel. The State Government has not been very supportive either. The Karnataka Badminton Association only covers our travel and stay during the national championships. I feel that society should come forward and support sportspersons who are consistently performing.
Diya Bheemaiah seen with her father Boppanda B. Bheemaiah, mother K.K. Kusuma and younger brother B.B. Vishal Uthappa.
SOM: Being a Science student, how are you managing your studies along with badminton?
Diya Bheemaiah: Thankfully, my college has been supportive. They not only consider my attendance but also send me daily online class recordings, which help me stay updated academically. Besides, my teachers are always available. I can call them anytime to clarify my doubts.
SOM: Your plans after II PUC?
Diya Bheemaiah: Professional badminton will always be my priority. However, I also intend to specialise in Sports Psychology. But for now, my focus is on badminton and completing my II PUC with good marks. As for my dream — I aspire to become the World No. 1 and make history by winning three Olympic medals for the country.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by S N Venkatanag Sobers / May 31st, 2025
To speed up the restoration of the electricity network, the Madikeri division of the CESC has deployed 231 personnel. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement
Relentless rain and strong winds have impaired the power infrastructure in Kodagu, damaging a total of 1,442 electricity poles, 11 transformers, and 13.105 km of power lines.
Despite the current adverse weather, power supply restoration efforts are under way. The authorities of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) have so far replaced or repaired 1,091 poles and nine transformers. On average, about 100 poles are being replaced every day. However, the continuous downpour and gusty winds are hampering progress and causing further damage, a release issued by Executive Engineer (Operations and Maintenance Division), CESC, M. Ramachandra said.
To speed up the restoration of the electricity network, the Madikeri division of the CESC has deployed 231 personnel. In addition, 52 staff members have been brought in from other divisions, along with 75 outsourced workers and 124 contract staff — all equipped with tools and equipment. The teams are working on a warfooting to restore normalcy, the release added.
Officials have acknowledged that the past 10 days of incessant rain have slowed down repair work and caused repeated disruptions to the power supply. Therefore, they have urged the public to cooperate as the restoration work is in progress in the district.
Field officers and technical staff remain engaged in power restoration efforts. Because of the workload, section officers may not be able to respond to customer calls promptly. Instead, the authorities have set up a dedicated toll-free helpline for the Madikeri division to handle consumer complaints. Consumers can report power-related issues by calling the toll-free number: 1800-599-0061.
The executive engineer has assured the public that every effort is being made to restore power supply at the earliest.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / June 03rd, 2025
In a celebration of heritage, athleticism and community spirit, the Kodava Samaja Youth Wing Mysuru (KSYWM) is set to host the Kodava Hockey Premier League (KHPL 2025) in association with Kodava Samaja Mysuru and under the aegis of Hockey Mysuru. The much-anticipated tournament will take place on June 27, 28 and 29 at the Chamundi Vihar Stadium, Mysuru.
KHPL 2025 will feature ten dynamic franchises — Coorg United, Kodavu Warriors, Pale Taluk, South Side Rangers, Team Kodava Tribe, Connecting Kodavas, Anjigeri Naad, Coorg Titans, Kakot Strikers and MTB Royals — who will compete in what promises to be three days of thrilling hockey action.
The grand player auction is scheduled for June 1 at ibis Styles Mysuru, the official hospitality partner for KHPL 2025.
Office-bearers and Working Committee Members of Kodava Samaja Youth Wing Mysuru — President:Kotera Vedith Uthaiah, Vice-President: Pebbatira Dimple Danny, Secretary: Battira Bojanna, Joint Secretary: Appaneravanda Viharika Mandappa, Treasurer: Hanchettira Varun Nanjappa, Joint Treasurer: Kademada Shreyas Muthanna — seen during the KHPL 2025 logo launch.
Lending prestige and vision to the league is a distinguished panel of advisors including Anjaparvanda B. Subbaiah, Honorary Secretary of Hockey Karnataka and former Olympian; Konganda Dilip Biddappa, President of Hockey Mysore; Pandanda Bopanna, President of Kodava Hockey Academy and Kotera Muddaiah, Vice-President of Hockey Mysore. Mentoring the young talents are two accomplished hockey personalities — Bolliyapanda J. Cariappa, Coach of Indian Junior Hockey Team, and Karineravanda Somanna, a former Indian hockey player.
In a historic first for Kodava hockey, KHPL 2025 mandates each team to include one female player and two emerging players under 18. This progressive step brings gender inclusivity and youth empowerment to the forefront, ensuring 10 women and 20 young talents shine on the Kodava hockey stage.
For details, contact KSYWM
President Kotera Vedith Uthaiah on Mob: 88804-01206.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / May31st, 2025
And there is no respite from inclement weather as the IMD has forecast heavy showers for next two days and sounded red alert for three coastal districts and as many Malnad districts.
Scores of visitors flock to Abbey Falls in Kodagu district following heavy rain. Credit: Dh photo
Heavy rain continued unabated, damaging houses, roads and power infrastructure and triggering flash floods in coastal districts and Malnad region.
And there is no respite from inclement weather as the IMD has forecast heavy showers for next two days and sounded red alert for three coastal districts and as many Malnad districts.
Two people died in rain-related incidents in Dakshina Kannada. Lily D’Souza (52), a native of Iruvailu near Moodbidri, was electrocuted when she stepped on to an electric wire snapped due to gusty winds, near her house on Wednesday morning.
Suryanarayan (49), a professional photographer from Kasargod, died after his car plunged into an overflowing stormwater drain at Kodikal in Mangaluru.
Three people travelling in a car escaped with minor injuries after a tree fell on the vehicle at Mulki.
Two houses were completely destroyed while several of them suffered a partial damage in the incessant rain that’s lashing Dakshina Kannada for the past few days. As many as 225 electricity poles were uprooted while 13 transformers and eight bridges suffered damages.
In Udupi and Karwar, intense erosion along the coast is posing a threat to people living close to it. At several places, boulders dumped to prevent sea erosion have been washed away due to strong currents. Udupi district, including Udupi town, continued to see heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
Kodagu is shivering under heavy downpour, coupled with strong winds. Several residential areas in Madikeri are forced to spend nights in darkness due to power outages.
The Kodagu administration has declared holiday for schools and colleges for next two days. With Cauvery river flowing in full steam, the forest department has barred visitors to Dubare elephant camp.
However, hundreds of tourists and locals, braving chill weather, visited the Abbey Falls near Madikeri to catch the glimpse of the cascading waterfall.
The water level in Harangi reservoir has reached 2,841.93 feet, just 15 feet short of reaching its maximum level. Meanwhile, Hemavathi dam at Goruru in Hassan clocked 22,000 cusec inflow on Wednesday. It is only 18 feet short of reaching full reservoir level. Yagachi dam in Belur taluk is full to the brim. Excess water is being released downstream.
Vehicular movement to Kukke Subrahmanya was hit following a tree fall on Bisle ghat road in Sakleshpur taluk.
Relentless showers have left the paddy growers in Shivamogga worried. Ready to harvest paddy cultivated on vast tracts lying on farms due to inclement weather even as the grains are sprouting.
Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluk has recorded 150 mm of rain in the last 24 hours while Maani in Hosanagar taluk registered 130 mm.
Up north, Manjra and Bhima rivers are flowing above the danger mark in Bidar and Kalaburagi districts, courtesy heavy rain in Kalyana Karnataka districts and upstream in Maharashtra. Kamalnagar (Bidar), Shahpur (Yadgir) and Raichur city experienced heavy rain intermittently on Wednesday, posing hardships to the people living in low-lying areas.
In the last 24 hours (ending 8.30 am), Almatti dam in Bagalkot district received a massive 4.88 tmcft of water. The reservoir has been receiving heavy inflows due to unyielding showers in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. The dam, as on May 28,has 40.787 tmcft of water.
Many parts of north and south interior Karnataka received light to moderate spells of rain on Wednesday. The weather department has predicted more widespread rain for the state in the next few days.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by DHNS / May 29th, 2025
The southwest monsoon continued in Kodagu on Wednesday, though the intensity and quantum of rainfall were less compared to the previous three days.
The district received a cumulative rainfall of 62.67 mm during the 24 hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday against 76.82 mm recorded during the previous 24 hour period. However, there were parts of the district where the rainfall was torrential as in Shanthalli in Somwarpet taluk which received 175 mm of rainfall between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Bhagamandala in Madikeri received 103 mm while Hudikeri in Ponnampet taluk received 66 mm and Srimangala recorded 61 mm of rainfall. The cumulative rainfall in Kodagu since January 1, 2025, till date is 806.21 mm against 447.77 mm of rainfall recorded during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the district officials, led by Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja, visited Banangala village, where a person lost his life when a tree collapsed on him on Tuesday. The district administration handed over a cheque of ₹5 lakh as relief to the family members of the deceased.
Consequent to continuing rains in and around Bhagamandala in Kodagu, the rate of inflow of water into the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam was 26,424 cusecs at 8 a.m. on Wednesday against 19,129 cusecs at the same time on Tuesday. The reservoir level has increased from 92 feet to 95.35 feet during the same period. Similarly, the inflow into Kabini reservoir was 23,407 cusecs on Wednesday compared to 21,946 on Tuesday.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / May 28th, 2025
The Karnataka government organised a special event, ‘Jai Hind Sabha’, in honour of the Indian armed forces and facilitated retired military personnel in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The programme was held at the Town Hall in Bengaluru, and it was given the tagline, ‘Jai Hind Jai Sena’.
During the event, senior officers who served in the Indian Army and ex-servicemen were felicitated. The families of brave soldiers who laid down their lives in service to the nation were also honoured.
Among those felicitated were the family members of late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan (Ashoka Chakra awardee), Colonel Jojan Thomas (Ashoka Chakra awardee), Major M.C. Muthanna(Shaurya Chakra awardee), Major Ganesh Maddappa (Shaurya Chakra awardee), Captain M.V. Panjal (Shaurya Chakra awardee), Major Mohan Gangadharan (Shaurya Chakra awardee), Major Shafiq Mohammad Khan, and Colonel Ramamurthy (Sena Medal awardee).
More than a thousand senior army officers and ex-servicemen participated in the event. The Karnataka government had issued directions to organise such events across the country to salute the selfless service of Indian soldiers and stand in solidarity with them.
Addressing the “Jai Hind Sabha” programme, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that soldiers, farmers, doctors, and teachers are as revered and memorable as one’s own parents.
He praised the legacy of Indian soldiers. “Soldiers dedicate themselves to national defence with a spirit of sacrifice. The responsibility of protecting the country does not lie with the army alone, but with all 1.4 billion Indians,” he said.
He emphasised that India has never compromised on the principle of protecting the righteous and eliminating evil, and it never will.
“This is the commitment of every Indian,” Siddaramaiah underlined.
The Chief Minister made a significant declaration that no excise duty will be levied on army canteens by the state. He also assured that all necessary steps would be taken for the welfare of retired soldiers.
Speaking after felicitating senior army officers, ex-servicemen, and the families of martyred soldiers, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said, “To support all ex-servicemen in the state, the government is considering the establishment of a separate corporation. This proposal will be discussed in the state cabinet meeting before a decision is made.”
“We are thinking of forming this corporation based on the suggestion of Mallikarjun, President of the Congress Party’s Sainik Cell. We are committed to the welfare of soldiers who have served our nation,” Shivakumar stated.
“It is a matter of pride to be part of such a significant event. On behalf of the Congress party and the nation, I extend my gratitude to all of you who have served our country with strength and dedication. The Congress party has always stood by the nation and our armed forces. This programme is a testimony to the fact that your sacrifices will always be remembered,” he added.
–IANS
source: http://www.thehawk.in / The Hawk / Home> India / May 28th, 2025
Thirty-eight-year-old squash champion Joshna Chinappa’s win at the National Doubles Championships shows she’s still in fine form.
Q. You recently won the women’s final at the National Doubles Championships alongside Anahat Singh. Do you have a long-term plan with this pairing?
Anahat and I were casually discussing the doubles and decided to play together. We will be playing the Asian Doubles Championships in Malaysia in June. She is a solid player, so it makes it easier and more fun.
Q. How have you modified your game with age?
I have a deep appreciation and respect for my body and what it has done over the past three decades for me to be able to play squash professionally. I definitely have to put in more work in terms of how I prepare for a game with my strength training, fitness, diet, etc.
Q. You’ve been playing squash for three decades now. How has the game evolved over the years?
The game has definitely gotten a lot more intense physically and you have so many different players with amazing skill to add to that physicality. There are so many tournaments happening all around the world and in India.
Q. What do you make of the next generation of Indian players?
There are a good crop of young players doing well at the junior and professional level. It’s so good to see about 6-7 of them playing the big PSA events consistently. I hope more juniors make the switch to go pro because that’s where the real test is.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Leisure / by Pratibha Joy / June 10th, 2025
Using this app, people can update the last location where they spotted a wild elephant, and through an AI-based system, the movement of the elephant will be traced.
The siren system is being installed across 12 conflict zones in Virajpet limits. (Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
A new initiative to prevent untoward incidents related to wildlife movement is being undertaken on a trial basis in Kodagu. Funded by a private company, the early warning system has been installed by Support for Network and Extension Help Agency (SNEHA), an NGO.
An early warning system in the form of a siren to alert residents about wildlife movement within a one-kilometre radius has been installed by SNEHA on a trial basis in wildlife conflict regions across Virajpet in Kodagu.
The NGO is currently in the process of installing 12 such sirens across the conflict zones of Badaga Banangala and surrounding areas. While the initiative is currently at a trial stage, SNEHA plans to expand it further by introducing automated alert systems.
“This initiative is being carried out by SNEHA in Odisha and Kodagu regions. We are looking at developing the system further to ensure an automated alert system,” explained Ramaswamy Krishnan, the Executive Director of SNEHA.
He said the NGO has developed a mobile application called SNEHA Kalpvaig Elephant Tracker, which is being uploaded online to become accessible to all.
Using this app, people can update the last location where they spotted a wild elephant, and through an AI-based system, the movement of the elephant will be traced.
Further, based on the location of the elephant, a siren will be triggered to alert residents within a one-kilometre radius.
“The users who have this application can learn about the movement of the elephant, and this application is linked with the siren system. We have also placed about four camera traps in conflict zones, and these cameras are being monitored by the staff at the office to activate the siren manually,” he explained.
The cameras click pictures every minute, and these photographs are reviewed by the appointed staff, who can activate the siren if an elephant is detected within the designated area.
“We want to make this an automated system, and we are devising plans where the cameras can automatically detect wildlife movement,” he confirmed. When the sirens are activated, a voice alert message is also sent through the mobile application simultaneously.
The alert system is currently being implemented in Kodagu on a trial basis, with the NGO having formed a tracking team to monitor wildlife movements.
A total of 12 sirens have been installed across conflict zones in the Virajpet limits. The initiative is being funded by Sucden Coffee Pvt Ltd and is being implemented in collaboration with the Forest Department.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Prajna GR / May 30th, 2025
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