ECO-FRIENDLY ABODE : The Rs 2-crore mosque built by the Beary Group aims to promote harmony among all communities.
Udupi, KARNATAKA :
The Badriya Jum’a Masjid, a landmark on Kodi beach in Kundapur, holds out a new hope. Termed an ecofriendly mosque, it exemplifies sustainable technologies and also presents a modern face of Islam.
The green mosque, a typical Islamic architectural structure, aims to promote harmony among all communities in the world. There is a hope that the mosque will become a place of worship where people from all over the world will come and pray. It has already begun attracting non-Muslims.
Syed Mohamed Beary of the Indian Green Building Association’s state president told TOI that Badriya Jum’a Masjid is the world’s first `zero-energy’ green mosque. The Beary Group, with the help of locals, constructed the mosque at a cost of Rs 2 crore. Situated on two acres, the 1,500 sqft building can accommodate 2,000 people. It also has a library.
The Beary family built the mosque in memory of their grandfather. “Years ago, he wanted to go on the Hajj pilgrimage, but fell ill and couldn’t go. He used the same money to build a small mosque.It was renovated 40 years ago, but it wasn’t satisfactory . Now, using improved technology , we’ve come up with an eco friendly mosque,” he added.
Architects Sandeep and Manoj from Bengaluru have designed the mosque in such a way that the entire energy requirement is met through hybrid renewable energy , both wind and solar.
Their grandfather had planted a huge mango tree and a coconut palm on the premises. While the orientation minimizes solar heat gain, natural elements keep the inside of the building cool. The Lshaped building plan and elevated prayer hall, vegetation and water tanks around cool the environment naturally.
Natural cooling is accentu ated by a wind scoop on the 70-ft multifunctional minaret, from where the azan, or prayer call, is given. It forces down a draught of cool breeze into the prayer hall and also supports the tower structure of a wind turbine mounted atop it. The solar heat-reflecting terrace floor laid with white china mosaic and fitted with turbo vents not only keeps the prayer space cool but also reduces warming of the local micro climate.Non-conducting glass reinforced concrete jaalis with over 50% openings, maximize natural ventilation and supplement the design effort to reduce heat gain.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / January 15th, 2016
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
St Joseph’s Convent High School for Girls will observe its quasquicentennial (125 years) jubilee in a grand manner here on Friday. Superior General of the Canossian Daughters of Charity from Italy M. Annamaria Babbini will be present to witness the celebrations.
Addressing a press conference, school principal Thankam Michael said here on Tuesday that the school had been functioning under the management of the Canossian Sisters Congregation since 1891.
It was founded 125 years ago when the British civilian and military officers petitioned the then Archbishop of Goa to establish an English-medium school here.
In response to the request from the Archbishop, Mother Stella of the Canossians in Hong Kong sent five nuns who reached Cochin by ship and then Belgaum (now Belagavi) covering the distance by bullock cart and on foot. Since then the school has shaped the lives of a large number of girl students of Belagavi, Goa and north Karnataka region.
To commemorate the occasion, the school has given a facelift to basic infrastructure and also launched a project, Light a Lamp, to help the poor and deserving girl students. Donors and philanthropists could sponsor a girl child for education.
About 15 former students, including social activist Olive D’silva, Anita Rodrigues, Ruhi Sait, Padmashree award winner Sucheta Dalal, psychiatrist Belinda Viegas Muller, Sadhan Pote, renowned artist and sculptor Veena Chandavarkar and the former Deputy Mayor of Belagavi Asma Tahsildar, who have excelled in various fields, would be honoured.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – January 21st, 2016
The Kannada Book Authority (KBA) has instituted the Dr. M.M. Kalburgi Award, which carries a cash prize of Rs. 75,000 and citation, for writers in humanities. This year’s award, in memory of the renowned scholar, has been conferred on historian B. Sheik Ali.
Announcing the awards, KBA chairperson Banjagere Jayaprakash said Prof. Sheik Ali served as Vice-Chancellor of the Mangalore and Goa universities and was responsible for the emergence of a number of History scholars.
Research work
A major share of his research work relates to the period of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Prof. Sheik Ali has around 40 major works to his credit, including eight in Urdu.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – January 20th, 2016
Fashion stylist Imam Siddiqui has always been vocal about his thoughts and when it comes to the popularity he got post participation in the sixth season of Bigg Boss, he is more than happy to talk about it.
“The kind of popularity I got post the reality show has been enormous. I am already signing Hindi films left, right and centre. My film will release in April, in which I play a double role. For heaven’s sake, I am laughing my way to the bank now!!,” says Siddiqui and adds, “My life has changed 180 degrees.”
Siddiqui, who recently participated in the reality show for a week, says the current participants don’t know the worth of the show. “The current lot needs to make better use of the opportunity. They don’t understand the importance of the platform that they have been provided with. The audience does not wish to see just aggression, they also need to give complete entertainment,” he says.
Imam Siddique enters the Bigg Boss house, and that spells trouble for all the contestants, especially Prince Narula! (COLORS)
He does have a word of advice for the participants. “This show can propel their career in the stratosphere like it has done to mine. They must try hard to keep the audience hooked on to them. Otherwise they will lose out on the chance and will regret it,” he says.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / by Yashika Mathur, Hindustan Times, New Delhi / January 20th, 2016
“Actor’s job is to make audience reflect on social issues bogging society”
Actor Irrfan Khan is seen addressing the gathering during the valedictory of Bahuroopi National Theatre Festival at Kalamandira in city yesterday. Others seen are (from left) former Rangayan Director S.I. Bhavikatti, Columnist Nataraj Huliyar, Irrfan Khan Khan’s wife Sutapa Sikdar, MLA Vasu, former Minister Prof. B.K. Chandrashekar, Rangayan Director H. Janardhan, Theatrist Rameshwari Verma and Bahuroopi Convenor M.C. Krishnaprasad. Picture right shows the artistes of Manipur demonstrating sword fight as part of Bahuroopi Folk Festival yesterday.
by Nandini Srinivasan
Mysore :
“Each one of us needs to find our inner voice and reflect to be able to express without fear and that’s exactly what Bahuroopi’s theme of ‘I sing as I please’ stands for’,” opined well-known theatre and film actor Irrfan Khan.
Speaking at the valedictory of the eight-day theatre repertoire Bahuroopi festival-2016 at Kalamandira, Irrfan Khan said that its only when one’s voice comes from deep within, expressions have an unmatched quality and are heard.
Speaking of his days at National School of Drama (NSD), Irrfan fondly recalled the able guidance of theatre person Prasanna who showed him to the right path to pursue in the field of acting.
Irrfan, who preferred answering questions than delivering a formal speech to express his ideas, took on questions from Journalists, theatre artiste Ramanath and Prof. S.R. Ramesh and spoke at length about films, the tolerant fabric of India and theatre.
Irrfan exuded confidence that India can still be a model for the rest of the world, as we live amidst a vast diversity and yet have no psychopaths who go on shooting sprees like in the so called developed nations!
Responding to a question on the responsibility of actors and their role in real life, Irrfan opined that an actor too is just like any other individual and the role he or she decides to play in real life is completely subjective and personal. Every human being should be responsible, not just actors he said adding that the more evolved an individual is, the lesser the chances of being manipulated.
Life itself is a huge diversity and standardisation of anything is a threat, he said adding we are all so programmed by parents, society and the education system that unless we learn to unplug and think, reflect on our own, reactions too will be standardised and as is happening, we can easily be manipulated in the name of religion, politics and caste.
Talking about the Censor Board and its regulations, Irrfan rued that it is unfortunate that rules formed eons ago are still in place and not changed to suit the current needs. The present set of rules are absolutely redundant, he said.
An actor’s job is to make the audience reflect on several social issues bogging the society, but today he is being asked not to speak and that doesn’t augur well, lamented Irrfan responding to a question on the States’ interference in every field and said Gods, Saints and Sufis are being abducted in the name of politics and even an actor is as vulnerable as others and can become a mere toy!
Black humour isn’t appreciated as much in India as in other countries, probably because the audience finds a lot of subjects very sensitive Irrfan opined referring to his movie ‘Talwar’, and said there isn’t much of a difference between the responses of theatre audience and the movie audience. Its just that in theatre shows, it’s a direct response.
Talking about the changing genre of movies in recent times, Irrfan expressed his happiness over the changing demands of the audience who have become more mature and expect tales that reflect reality and said as an actor, he strongly believes in making his audience think, rather than just entertaining them. “I have acted in roles which have been successful but have only entertained. I’m not happy with only such kind of roles,” he added.
Answering a question on maintaining communal harmony, Irrfan said that unfortunately religion hasn’t been applied rightly to society as it should have been. People have gone into a slumber and only when they are shaken up can things move smoothly.
He recalled his lines in ‘Life of Pi,’ Doubt is kind of essential in faith – When you doubt you seek, when you seek you test and when you test you conclude.
Answering a question from the audience on whether he took up the role of Pan Singh Tomar because he too was an athlete, Irrfan said he being an athlete was irrelevant and what touched him was how a talented athlete turned a dacoit. The movie was a sweet love letter to the system where talent is not being respected, where we don’t care about talent.
Irrfan expressed his happiness about the response of the audience to the festival and said just when you think there’s no hope, the love for theatre, the excitement and interest in the good things of life brings back the rays of hope that everything will be alright.
Irrfan and his wife Sutapa Sikdar were all praise for Mysuru. “Your city has a kind of rhythm and lifestyle that the so called developed cities lack. Please keep it that way,” he said.
Earlier, columnist Nataraj Huliyar, in his address, said that this year’s Bahuroopi saw a record audience of 12,000 with more than 600 artistes performing in various events.
Rameshwari Verma, a well-known theatre artiste, who was one of the chief guests, fondly recollected her connections with Rangayana ever since its inception and said, it was heartening to see the increasing number of theatre lovers thronging such festivals. The crowd which was limited to around 300 in the early years has swelled to more than 1,000 and that speaks volumes for the work Rangayana has been doing, she said.
Former Minister Prof. B.K. Chandrashekar, who also spoke, said that like the natyashastra says, drama is the fifth Veda which tells us more about life. He recalled the words of late Prof. H. Narasimhaiah who had a big question mark framed and hung behind his table and said the central purpose of any education is to question.
Rangayana Deputy Director S.I. Bhavikatte welcomed the gathering. Earlier, Folk teams from different States entertained the audience.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Thursday – January 21st, 2016
Sarkar Mehaboob Subhani Foundation, Laskhar Mohalla, has organised Juloos-e-Ghousia (procession) and Jhasne Ghouse Azam celebration on Jan. 22 at 2.45 pm.
The procession, which starts at Masjid-e-Azam, passes through Ashoka Road and concludes at Meelad Bagh Circle.
Mass feeding will be arranged before and after procession at Masjid-e-Azam.
At 6.35 pm, Moulana Hafiz Khari Naseer Hussain Razvi, Deputy Lecturer, Darul-Uloom Sha Jamath, Hassan and other Sunny Ulmas will deliver speak on the occasion.
For details, call: 99012-70392.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Brief / Thursday – January 21st, 2016
The 15th edition of Geeth Gaatha Chal, the most-awaited Doctor’s Musical Nite, will be held on Jan.24 (Sunday) at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Hall in J.K.Grounds here from 5 pm onwards.
The team, led by Dr. M.S. Natashekar, will entertain the public with haunting melodies from movies of the golden old era.
The musical team includes: Dr. A.L. Hemalatha, Dr. P.A. Kushalappa, Dr. U.G. Shenoy, Dr. N. Snehashree, Dr. Seethalaxmi Somanath, Dr. Somnath Vasudev, Dr. U. Ganesh Rao, R.L. Varsha, Preethi Prabhu, Sparsha Shenoy, Arathi Rao, Madan, Apoorva Natashekhar and Kavitha Niyath.
Geeth Gaatha Chal has presented about 360 numbers during the past 14 years. The best 28 among them will be presented this year. The programme also includes two dances from students of Ganabharathi, choreographed by Nagashree Phaneendra.
Dr. Mahesh Kumar will be the chief guest. Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem will be the guest of honour.
Dr. C. Umesh Kamath of Kamakshi Hospital is the Organising Chairperson and Dr. M.S. Vishweshwara is the Programme Co-ordinator. Industrialist Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoi has sponsored the programme, which will be anchored by Syed Aftab Ahmed.
Admission is open to all.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday – January 20th, 2016
They have no cutouts in cinema theatres. They have no big fan following. They led a simple life just like anybody else until the rain gods lashed their fury on Chennai in December.
They rose to the occasion. They saved lives and brought smiles to many others. “We had to make a choice. Whether to sit at home or get out there and save people,” they said. They then became real heroes.
On Monday, 14 people, who volunteered in flood relief work and did a heroic job, were honoured with awards at the Adding Smiles Ambassador Awards 2016 organised by Adding Smiles Foundation.
“We were doing our duty to help someone who is in need,” said Blue Cross general manager Dawn Williams, one of the awardees, in a video on the awardees.
All the 14 volunteers, including Peter Van Geit, Chennai Trekking Club founder and senior citizens of Anandam Homes, were presented with ‘Real Hero Awards’.
Awards were also given to celebrities, who were active during flood relief. The team ‘Mana Madras Kosam’ with Telugu film actors including Navdeep, Kajal Agarwal and Samantha , Sathyam Cinemas and Tamil actor Parthepan were presented awards.
“I am doing whatever little I can do. I have changed myself. As you grow older, you get fearless and want to do things before you go away,” the award winning composer said.
Activist and founder of NGO Prajwala Sunitha Krishnan, team from National Award winning Tamil film Kaaka Muttai, former RBI governor C Rangarajan, national paralympic swimming champion Madhavi Latha, founder and dean of Great Lakes Institute of Management Prof Bala V Balachandran, acid attack survivor Soniya Choudhary were some of the awardees in the ‘ambassador awards’ category.
The highlight of the evening was music composer AR Rahman, who was one of the awardees in ‘Adding Smiles Ambassador Awards’ category. The category included people, who have come the hard way to live a dream and spread smiles in the life of others by way of help.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / by V. Tejonmayan, TNN / January 19th, 2016
Internationally-renowned mime artist Irshad Panjatam left job at Begumpet airport to follow his dream.— Photo: G. Ramakrishna
Hyderabad, TELANGANA / Berlin, GERMANY :
When 85-year old mime artist Irshad Panjatam was about 18-years-old, he had joined the Begumpet airport as a ground apprentice engineer. Getting such a job back then was perhaps not easy, which is why many at his workplace advised him against quitting, when he took the decision a year after joining.
“I left the job because tightening nuts and bolts, was not what I wanted to do,” recalled Mr. Panjatam, who is in Hyderabad currently. Though he eventually become an artiste, it was not until 1958 that he discovered his true calling in pantomime, which then changed his life and has made him the internationally renowned mime artiste that he is.
Remembering that crucial moment, Mr. Panjatam takes a ride through memory lane during an interview to YUNUS Y. LASANIA .
Excerpts:
How did you get introduced to and develop your skills? Was the art form present in India back then?
I never knew the word pantomime. When I was working with the Hindustani Theatre in New Delhi, I was part of famous Sanskrit play. During rehearsals in the third act, the main actor was not there, so I took stage in his place. Dr. Charles Fabri, a very famous art critic, was present in the rehearsal room.
I started performing, but the musicians were not ready to support me, hence my movements were absolutely silent; without music and without song. Dr. Fabri said it was a very good pantomime act, and then he gave me a book on it. I read the introductory lines and learnt what mime was. It was 1958, and the art form was not present here. I learnt everything on my own.
What was your first performance like? How was the reception to your performances?
I started with short stories like Aesop’s Fables. I showed it to some of my good friends who were also my critics. In 1962, the Indian Arts and Crafts Society, a prestigious organisation of Delhi at that time, put me on stage for my first mime performance. The house was full, and it was well received. After that my friends told me that I was alone here (as an artiste), and that I had to go abroad and perform to know where I stood.
Your first international performance took place in the neighbouring Pakistan. How did that happen?
When I was performing in Delhi, a delegation from the Women’s College in Lahore was present. One of the girls asked me when I was coming to perform in Pakistan, and gave me her college’s address. So my journey began with Pakistan in 1963. I left with Rs.5 in my pocket on the Amritsar Express train, and performed at her college, for which I earned Rs.350 (Pakistani currency).
From there on, I travelled to Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Yugoslavia (currently Bosnia and Herzegova, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia), Germany, France, and Britain, where I had performed. It was always about luck, as I was received well and nobody had has criticised my work.
You settled in Berlin, Germany, and have also acted in German movies. Did you come to India often after you shifted from Hyderabad?
I met my wife Ingrid in Bombay. She had come to India as an Indian art student, and was doing archive work in Uttar Pradesh between 1971/72. We settled in Berlin where I started a school called the ‘Pantomime Workshop of Irshad Panjatan’. I used to visit India once in three or four years.
I closed my school in 1995 after the doctor’s advice to not perform. Later, I started my career in German films, and the one that made me famous is ‘Der Schuh des Manitu (Manitu’s Shoe), which broke all records, as it was viewed about 40 million times. I was doing about one or two movies in a year after that.
How would you describe pantomime is your words?
It is an art of telling a story, experiencing a mood or emotions without resorting to words and only with body movements. I never play with any music or dialogues – I am a pure mime. Silence has power.
My German film ‘Der Schuh des Manitu (Manitu’s Shoe) was viewed about 40 million times
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Yunus Y. Lasania / January 05th, 2016
