Irfan Razack, Chairman & Managing Director, Prestige Estates Projects Ltd is presenting the winners’ trophy to Mysuru golfer Sonam Chugh who won the Champion of Champions’ Trophy in the Prestige Masters Series Golf Tournament held at Prestige Golfshire recently.
Bengaluru :
Mysuru girl Sonam Chugh of JWGC, registered a narrow win to clinch the final of the Champion of Champions’ trophy event of the Prestige Masters Series Golf Tournament held at the Prestige Golfshire recently.
Sonam took home the title with 28 points and also an expense paid holiday to Mauritius and Dubai. Angad Luthra finished a close second with 37 points and L. Darshan was third with 36 points. Theertha Prasad (closest to the Pin) and Shyam Powar (longest drive) were the other winners.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / November 20th, 2015
Every time you flip a page of a book (regardless of its content) you are accosted by a scent that refuses to fade away.
It may be the mustiness of a yellowing page, freshness of mown sides or potent helpings of glue and ink but every page and book has it’s own distinct fragrance. Just like that, it also has its own personality, which shines best when it’s in the hands of its owner.
Whether the book is stacked neatly in a bookshelf, strewn across a table or lying on the ground, it has a story to tell. But this story is always fluid. There was once a time when books sat cloistered in unimaginative and on the whole, utilitarian shelves that only worked to diminish their beauty. But now, people are unabashed about the books they own and want to scream their titles to the world. With this comes an influx of creative thought that makes owning a book an art — much like flower arrangements, every aspect of the showcase matters, including the bookshelf.
Alifia Shabbir, who owns a start-up called ‘Designmint’, works on innovative home decor items, including bookshelves. Maintaining a minimalist theme, she creates shelves that are not only utilitarian but also bring out the best aesthetics. “The shelves I make are from metal and some of them are upcycled from scraps. The idea behind ‘Designmint’ is to create something unique, one-of-a-kind, so that people relate to their home decor,” she says.
Relating to the shelves has become increasingly important as they (along with the books) reflect one’s personality. Says Rohith Subramanian, founder of ‘Fundmydreams’, “When I moved houses, what happened was that all my clothes and other items fit into one bag but I needed a car to fit all my books in. In the new house, I kept these books stacked on the floor for a while but that didn’t work out because my help would grumble each time she swept the room. This is when I decided to get a bookshelf.” After failing to find a good shelf on online stores, he decided to make one of his own. “The ones I found were expensive so I bought some wood, hired a carpenter and made one myself. I’m different from normal ‘jantha’ and your regular, rectangular shelves don’t reflect my personality and who I am,” he adds. The outcome was a large shelf in the shape of a ‘V’, inspired by ‘V for Vendetta’.
Elaborating on his idea, Rohith says, “I love the movie and comic. The idea of standing up for what you want inspires me.” When Maitri Vasudev, a student, was renovating her house, she decided to get a bookshelf that represents her more accurately. “Before, we had a shelf built in the wall with granite slabs and wooden doors. There was nothing unique about it. When we decided to renovate the house, I thought I’d get something different. Now, I have a marble designed back board with nothing but thin slabs of glass to hold the books. I wanted textured material but that was too expensive,” she says.
While open shelves could be a bot tiresome to maintain, it’s nothing people can’t handle. “I love to dust so I don’t mind cleaning the shelf every week. I’d rather people see my collection and borrow them if they like something. Yes, there is a possibility that I might never get the book back (it’s happened before) but I don’t mind that,” says Maitri. Proud of her book collection, she mentions that displaying the books is just as important as owning them.
Alifia, who likes minimal artwork, designs shelves in geometric shapes. She also custom-makes them for the customer. So, whether it’s an invisible shelf, equilibrium shelf, ones made from pipes or in patterns that you like best, there is always space to get creative. “Though these shelves can’t hold as many books as the traditional ones, they look good and brighten up the house. People can opt to rotate their books on these stands,” she says.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Ananya Revanna / DHNS , November 18th, 2015
Emphasizing the need for research and discovery of new drugs, Dr. Ahmad Kamal, Project Director National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, said that innovation is important for Indian pharmaceutical industry to maintain its competitive edge at the international level.
He said the industry can no longer depend on generic drugs alone.
Dr Kamal was addressing the students and faculty of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) on the occasion of Education Day observed as the climax of Azad Day Celebrations 2015 that began on November 4.
He said that science and technology could have a real long term effect on the development of our country.
Dr. Kamal also said there is no dearth of talent in our country, but the need is to groom it properly. Advising the students to avoid short-cuts to pass exams or score good marks, he encouraged them to become experts in the subjects they choose to pursue.
Underscoring the importance of Information Technology for research, he urged the students to take advantage of the vast material related to different fields available online.
Paying his respect to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Kamal said it is the vision of people like Azad that put India on the path of development.
In charge Vice Chancellor MANUU, Prof. K.R. Iqbal Ahmed congratulated the team led by Prof. Amina Kishore for seamlessly organising the Azad Day Celebrations 2015.
Pointing to the fact that soon India will be a youth-majority country, he said that “young India can do wonders.”
Registrar MANUU, Prof. S.M. Rahmatullah, presented the vote of thanks.
Prof. P. Fazal ur Rahman, coordinator of the programme, gave a brief introduction of the university and the Guest Speaker.
Prof. Siddiqui Mohammad Mahmood, HoD, Education and Training conducted the programme.
Instructional Media Centre of MANUU presented a short audio-visual report on the 9 day long celebrations.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Business & Economy / ummid.com news network / Friday – November 13th, 2015
Lord Noon was brought up in Mumbai before setting up the hugely successful Noon Products
Sir Gulam Noon, who was known as the curry king, has died aged 79 PA
Labour peer Gulam Noon, who was known as the curry king, has died aged 79, it has been announced.
The prominent entrepreneur made his fortune selling Indian food and was a significant party donor.
He became caught up in the cash for honours scandal after making a significant contribution to Labour coffers.
Tony Blair led tributes to “great character” who he said would be “deeply mourned” while senior Labour MP Keith Vaz said the Asian community had “lost one of its greatest stars”.
Mr Blair said: “Gulam was a great character, brilliant businessman and above all someone dedicated to our country and its future. He was devoted to getting those of different religious faiths working together and was a wonderful role model in the Muslim community. He will be deeply mourned.”
Lord Noon was born in a single-room house on Mumbai’s crowded Mohammed Ali Road and lived in it along with eight others. He later made his way to the UK where he set up his sweet stall Bombay Halwa in Southall, west London, in 1972 and Noon Products 17 years later.
In 2006 amid claims that financial support was being rewarded with honours, the tycoon joined other donors in asking for his nomination for a seat in the House of Lords to be withdrawn saying he had been left in an “invidious position”. He was made a life peer in 2011.
The decision to award him a knighthood in 2002 sparked criticism by current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said at the time he was “very disturbed” about the move.
But the businessman said he believed that he had received the honour on merit.
Mr Vaz said: “Today we have lost a giant, not only of the British Asian community, but also of British entrepreneurship. A decent, honourable and generous man, who was dedicated to his family, but also to his country, the United Kingdom.
“Rightly known as Britain’s first curry king, he brought curry to the high street. There are thousands of people in Britain, in India and throughout the world who have benefited from his enterprise, jobs he created, and his big heart. The world of cricket will also miss one of its most devoted followers.
“He was the epitome of everything a first generation immigrant can achieve, someone who literally came with nothing, but was also grateful to Britain for giving him the life chances to prove what an extraordinary man he was, whilst never forgetting his roots in India.
“Our community has lost one of its greatest stars.”
source: http://www.independent.co.uk / Independent / Home> News> UK> UK Politics / by Sam Lister / October 28th, 2015
Attinad Software, a leader in SMACT (Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud and IoT) space announced that it has been named as ‘Vendor to Watch’ in the upcoming product space of Rapid Mobile Application Development. Attinad Software’s flagship product called Cantiz Mobility platform has been featured in the Gartner report.
Attinad Software CEO, Mohammed Rijas, credits this acknowledgement by worlds renowned IT research firm to its award winning products in the SMACT space. He said, “I dedicate this fabulous recognition to the entire team at Attinad Software and thank them for the hard work and dedication which has got us this recognition.”
Attinad Software has been on a fast track growth path over the years aiming at being the preferred SMACT partner for enterprises across the globe. Attinad Software has a strong footprint in verticals such as Oil n Gas, Education, Media and Entertainment, Healthcare and Logistics.
Attinad, had won numerous international awards including the prestigious Deloitte Technology Fast 50, Red Herring Top 100 Global Award. “Cantiz Mobility platform has created immense value for number of leading enterprises,” said Shafeer Badharudeen, CTO, Attinad Software.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express Features / October 17th, 2015
The 216th death anniversary of Tipu Sultan was commemorated on Monday.— Photo: M.A. Sriram / The Hindu
The expansion of sericulture in Mysuru region has been credited to Tipu Sultan
The death of Tipu Sultan on May 4, 1799, brought to close a fascinating chapter in Indian history; but his legacy continues to endure notwithstanding the controversy surrounding him in the present times.
Though it has been 216 years since the death of Tipu Sultan, historians are unanimous in pointing out that his initiatives in the socio-economic fields have continued to endure, though these were fast fading from public memory.
The expansion of sericulture in the Mysuru region has been credited to Tipu Sultan. The Mysore Gazetteer notes that Tipu secured the know-how from Bengal and introduced mulberry cultivation in 21 centres. In what could be described as a step to encourage local industry, he banned the export of cotton to ensure that local weavers were not denied the raw material.
The introduction of sugarcane on a large scale has also been attributed to Tipu Sultan for which he secured the assistance of Chinese experts, according to the Gazetteer, which notes that quality sugar and candy were produced with their assistance.
During the pause between the various wars he fought, Tipu Sultan took some reformatory measures including a ban on alcohol. Cattle being closely linked to agriculture, Tipu Sultan encouraged livestock breeding. Hallikar and Amrit Mahal breeds are believed to be products of this initiative.
Rocket technology
Modern day historians also credit Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan with an elementary knowledge of missile or rocket technology, which is considered to be the prototype of present-day missiles and rockets. They were put to full use during the wars with the British. Some of these have been preserved at the Royal Artillery Museum in England. The paintings at Dariya Daulat, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatana, are a clear indicator of the use of these missiles in wars.
A courtyard within the ruins of the Srirangapatana Fort was identified by archaeologists as the possible spot from where the missiles were launched. Scientists from DRDO have also visited the spot on many occasions in a bid to ensure better maintenance. Plans for a ‘missile museum’ are yet to materialise.
The expansion of sericulture in Mysuru region has been credited to Tipu Sultan
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru, May 05th, 2015
The traditional Hyderabadi dastarkhwan has a new entrant: Laham Mandi.
From the exotic desert peninsula, the simple dish of rice and tender mutton has taken the city by storm. And nothing could explain the success that it has found as it enjoys a place alongside zafrani biryani, a delicacy Hyderabadis swear by.
But how did Laham Mandi make inroads into the Hyderabadi dastarkhwan that denizens are so fiercely protective of? Experts point out that it is the Hyderabadi diaspora, spread across Arabian countries, which has imported Mandi and its variants to the city.
“There was an import of culture as soon as Indians set foot in the Middle East. Though shawarma came to India before Laham Mandi, the latter became a huge hit with the youngsters. They want something different. The trend, particularly with wedding feasts is about two years old,” says Chef Taha Mohammed Quadri from Feast Express, a company that specialises in Arabian cuisine. “Now, bridegrooms are insisting that Mandi be on the dulhe ka dastar along with biryani,” he adds.
Ask Mohammed Abdul Rasheed, an engineer who recently tied the knot, why Mandi was on the menu and pat comes the reply, “All my friends love gorging on Mandi. Also, it is something different from the tried and tested affair.”
Traditional bawarchis say that the dish itself is simple to make. The meat is boiled in water till the time it is succulent and the rice is cooked separately. However, others, like seasoned chef Mir Asif Ali Khan from Arabian Nights argue that Laham Mandi is a madfoon dish, meaning that it is cooked in a cavity in the earth. He has lost count of the number of Hyderabadi weddings in which he has served Laham Mandi, he claims. While listing the traditional Hyderabadi fare on a dastarkhwan, he says, “The traditional dastarkhwan cannot go without lukhmi, qubani ka meetha, double ka meetha and of course, biryani. The introduction of Mandi is a fad.”
Khan explains that affordability and its large portions have led to its popularity. “The quantity of rice per person is huge, so much so that as many as three people can share it. Not just that, the average quantity of meat per portion is around 300 grams, for just Rs 240. What else would a youngster want,” he asks.
Others like Mohammed Moinuddin from Moghal Caterers says that for those who are not too keen on having Laham Mandi at weddings, the dish has found its place in pre-wedding parties. “Sanchak and Mehendi rituals are examples,” he says.
Experts say that restaurants in Toli Chowki like Four Seasons were one of the first to introduce the dish in the city about a decade ago. But, it was around three years ago that it started to gain popularity -courtesy the Arab tribals residing in Barkas, an Old City suburb. According to sources, of the 50-odd restaurants and cafes in the area, almost a third of them serve Mandi.
“The Yemeni tribes in Barkas used it to their advantage. They exploited their exotic lineage, made Mandi affordable and experimented with it by offering chicken and fish Mandi,” says Waseem Khan, a Mandi lover. The ambience in these restaurants is exotic, he adds. “You sit cross legged on the floor and people eat from the same large plate. Portraits of Arab rulers hang from the walls and there is calligraphy. All this adds to the exoticism,” he explains. Restaurants in Toli Chowki with Arabic names have mushroomed. Others like Spice 6 and All Seasons have made Laham Mandi a fine dining experience, he adds.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / September 28th, 2015
Cashew Export Promotion Council of India celebrating diamond jubilee
The cashew processing industry in the country worked its way up from humble beginnings in Kollam to eventually become the global citadel of cashew processing. All cashew kernels available in the domestic and foreign markets were for a long time only those processed from Kollam.
Cashew also moved forward to become a major foreign exchange earner. But now when the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) is celebrating its diamond jubilee in Kochi, cashew export from the country is facing serious challenges in the international markets.
Processing of cashew on a commercial basis was introduced in Kollam during the mid-1920s by a Sri Lankan national, Roche Victoria. Later, W.T. Anderson of the U.S. settled in Kollam and started processing on a large scale by opening a factory. All kernels were exported to the U.S.
Cottage industry
CEPCI chairman T.K. Shahal Hassan Musaliar said soon cashew processing became a flourishing cottage industry in Kollam. The export of kernels had increased from 45 tonnes in 1923 to 1,350 tonnes by 1939. During the initial years of commercial processing, raw nuts were sourced from the country itself.
Import of raw nuts from Africa began in the 1930s.
Mr. Musaliar said during 1940-41, about 28,000 tonnes of raw nuts were imported from Africa and the export of kernels touched 40,000 tonnes by 1941. World War-11 saw a fall in exports. Processors like Thangal Kunju Musaliar, Vendor Krishna Pillai, Poyilakada Parameshwaran Pillai, Kidangil Kunnju Raman and the company Pierce Leslie took cashew processing in Kollam to new heights after the war.
Mr. Musaliar recalls that when the industry faced a crisis in 1955 due to which exports suffered, the then Union Minister of Finance, T.T. Krishnamachari, intervened and called a meeting of cashew exporters in Kotttayam during his Kerala visit. Mr. Krishnamachari felt that the industry seriously needed some guidance in promoting exports and this led to the formation of the CEPCI that year, Mr. Musaliar said.
Major market
He said the U.S. was the major buyer of kernels till 1955. In 1956, the erstwhile Soviet Union began purchasing kernels from Kollam and became the top buyer of kernels from 1969.
New international markets also began developing. Today, the U.S. is back as the biggest importer of cashew from India. During the 2013-14 fiscal, the country imported 33,898 tonnes of cashew kernels from India. More than 25 countries import kernels from India now, he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by Ignatius Pereira / Kollam – September 30th, 2015
Nostalgia: APJ Abdul Kalam with Dinesh Keskar during his 2009 visit to Boeing’s Seattle plant – PICTURE COURTESY: BOEING
Aircraft manufacturer’s Dinesh Keskar recalls the late President’s visit to Seattle in 2009
The sudden demise of former President APJ Abdul Kalam on July 27, left people mourning in India. Over 12,000km away in Seattle too, a pall of gloom descend on Boeing’s manufacturing plant, where the former President had charmed and impressed the employees during his visit in 2009. Later Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice-President, Asia-Pacific and India, Boeing Aeroplanes called Kalam “a friend of a lot of people, including Boeing.”
During the 2009 visit, the former President had shown an interest in meeting Joe Sutter, the man who designed the double-decker aircraft, the Boeing 747, which is popularly known as the Jumbo Jet. “The former President knew of him (Sutter) and wanted to meet him,” recalls Keskar.
The 2009 visit to the Seattle plant was Kalam’s first to the Boeing’s manufacturing facility. The 88-year-old Sutter, often called the Father of the 747, was there. The two had a 20-minute meeting which Keskar too attended. “The former President wondered how Sutter had come up with the idea of the upper deck. Kalam also asked Sutter about the support he had in designing the Boeing 747,” Keskar recalled. Perhaps Kalam, who was involved with the Light Combat Aircraft project, was hoping to replicate the same in India. The Missile Man also gave a lecture to an audience that included scientists and top technologists during the Seattle visit. Kalam, however, was not just interested in the Jumbo Jet. During his visit he also got a first-hand feel of the first Boeing 787 aircraft, the long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner . The 787 aircraft that Kalam saw in Seattle was the first of the 27 aircraft that are joining the Air India fleet.
Kalam was impressed with the aircraft, particularly its wings. The crystal model of an aeroplane that Boeing presented Kalam to commemorate the visit is still displayed in Delhi.
Bengaluru days
Kalam’s relationship with Boeing did not end at Seattle. He also visited the Boeing research centre in Bengaluru. Keskar says that the former President spent over three hours talking to the 15 people present, inquiring about their work. Many of the people were picked from the National Aeronautics Lab, where Kalam was the Chairman of the organisation’s research council.
It was during this visit that Kalam said that one of the things Boeing must do is to get India into the aeroplane market. “He was obviously very interested in getting Boeing to do something in India in terms of building an aeroplane in India. We are still working on smaller pieces of that. We have not gone to the stage of the aeroplane but that was his vision,” Keskar added.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Specials> Flight Plan> Off Radar / by Ashwinin Phadnis / August 25th, 2015
How an adversity turned into an opportunity for Rajasthan’s Meo community farmers
They were never fisherfolk and had no idea how a net was cast. Living for generations in the landlocked Kaman block of Rajasthan, the farmers of Jeeraheda village only knew how to sow and harvest their grain. So, when in the late 1980s, water from the Gurgaon canal, which runs through Haryana and Rajasthan, began to slowly seep into their agricultural land and cause serious water-logging, they threw up their hands in despair.
The 240 families of the Meo Muslim community, which has its homes and farms along the canal adjoining the Haryana border, knew that growing a crop on these tracts was no longer possible. “We tried in vain for many years to make use of this land, but nothing at all would sprout. It would get inundated with water,” recalls 53-year-old farmer Aas Mohammad.
The flooding also meant the farmers had less acreage to cultivate and were unable to meet their food needs, leave alone store grain for a rainy day or sell it. Already left outside the mainstream of development and traditionally backward, the community found the going tough.
Teach a village to fish Aas Mohammad and his family draw in their fish catch at their field-turned-pond. Some of the fish will be sold to markets and some transferred to another farmer’s pond as fish seed KAMAL NARANG
All of a sudden, however, their fortunes turned for the better. “In the last 15 years there has been a lot of change. Our luck began when we introduced fish seed into the gram panchayat talab (large pond) and found it yielding good results. It grew into good-sized adult fish,” says farmer Khurshid, who is now the President of the Gram Vikas Samiti. Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation, which has been working on development projects here, advised the farmers to dig up the water-logged fields, transform them into talabs and introduce fish species for sale in cities.
There was no looking back after that. Khurshid says his village today has 55 such talabs in the 40-50 acres that is unfit for cultivation. Dull-blue waters and bright-blue fishing nets have become a part of the landscape, interspersed with green fields. “Our fish harvest brings us returns every day,” he says, naming the popular sweet-water species Rohu and Katla as the mainstay of their business along with the smaller mirgal, and common and grass carb.
Every day, 2-3 vehicles arrive in Jeeraheda village to cart away 5-6 quintals of fish each for markets across the State border in Gurgaon and Delhi. “We don’t have to go anywhere, our market comes to us… we do brisk business from 6-9am. We weigh the catch, fix the price and sell to the best buyer. This happens across all the four villages along the canal that have taken up fisheries,” says a satisfied Mohammad.
Kaman block alone has around 200 ponds with fish rearing. “Bharatpur district, of which we are a part, is producing 1,500 tonnes of fish and provides livelihood to 2,000 fish-farmers,” says Tarachand, Lupin’s Kaman block co-ordinator. He provides a back-of-the-envelope calculation of the profits earned by the farmers. “They spend around ?50,000 annually on seed, feed, cleaning, nutrition and so on for atalab the size of an acre. The output is about 40 quintals of fish. Per hectare, they earn ?3.5 lakh a year.”
“A problem was turned into a potential,” explains Dr Swati Samvatsar, Lupin’s Chief Programme Manager. To keep fish-farming alive and encourage the farmers, the organisation started a fish-seed hatchery in the Nineties with a capacity of one crore fry seeds; it supplied various fish species to the farmers at a no-profit, no-loss basis.
The houses are now concrete and every family has accident insurance
“Today, some farmers make their own seeds and provide them to others,” says Samvatsar. The results are there for all to see. The houses are now concrete and every family has accident insurance.
Unfortunately, however, prosperity and food security have not erased overwhelming social and cultural problems. Only a few girls go to school. “Women have their own role to play. They do not help in the fishery business. Instead they tend to the buffaloes, the home, the children… and to themselves,” Khurshid argues vehemently.
The good fortune has also meant that young boys in the village have become more complacent. Only a few have attempted to secure college degrees or turn to other professions. “The younger generation is more adept at swimming, fishing and growing the fisheries business,” admits Samvatsar.
SHER MOHAMMAD Fish-farmer in Kaman block. Even the youngsters in the village know each and every detail about fish cultivation
Says 74-year-old Sher Mohammad, obviously proud of the training the young ones have been given, “They know each and every detail about fish cultivation.”
Fourteen-year-old Rahees sums it up as he plunges joyfully into the blue water to join the others in retrieving the submerged fishing net, “We study when we feel like it.”
(The writer travelled to Rajasthan at the invitation of Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation)
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Specials> India Interiors / by Preeti Mehra / September 11th, 2015
