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Two senior-most active weavers in Udupi, DK honoured by Kadike Trust

 Somappa Jathanna (89), a weaver and director of the Udupi Weavers Society, has been weaving Udupi Sarees continuously for the past 74 years. He is still creating beautiful small checkered 60-count Udupi Sarees. Sanjeeva Shettigar (84), a weaver and president of the Shivalli Weavers society, has been weaving Udupi Sarees for the past 64 years.

He is renowned for his now-extinct muthu border 60-count saree and continues to weave traditional checkered Udupi Sarees. Both were lauded by the guests for their commitment to preserving the pride of the twin districts against all odds.

The awardees were honored with naturally dyed shawls, a citation plaque, and a cash component of ?10,000 each. Aneel Hegde, former Rajya Sabha MP and khadi activist, congratulated the awardees and praised Kadike Trust’s dedication to reviving Udupi Saree weaving in the two districts. Guruprakash Shetty, DGM of Selco India, expressed his company’s readiness to cooperate with the trust in supporting rural livelihoods.

Santhosh Kaulagi, managing trustee of Janapada Khadi, spoke about the lack of government support, fake products, and customer ignorance in identifying genuine products as reasons for the decline of the handmade sector, leading to rural unemployment, social unrest, and climate crisis. He congratulated the trust for supporting sustainable rural livelihoods without any government support.

Mamatha Rai, president of Kadike Trust, narrated the journey of the Udupi Saree revival and introduced the young weavers of Talipady Weavers Society and team Bagal Bandhugalu of Yelajith Byndoor, both trained by Kadike Trust. She added that senior weavers, who had expressed concern about youngsters drifting away from the profession, are now happy to see the younger generation joining in and continuing the tradition.

Weaving trainer Prabula Chandran from Trivandrum, who trains new weavers across the state and initially trained the Bagal Bandhugalu team, along with Saroja and Annapa Marati, who arranged the training at their home, were honored for their service. Sadhana, a new weaver from Kinnigoli, proudly recited her poem ‘Nekararu Navu Nekararu’.

The programme concluded with a scintillating Veena recital by the Vipanchi Team of Vidushi Pawan Achar. Dr Vani showcased a few Bharatanatyam poses to the lyrics of the songs performed by the veena.

Managing directors, directors, and members of Udupi, Shivalli, Talipady, Padupanamboor, and Brahmavar societies, trustees of Kadike Trust, and dignitaries from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts were present. Titus Noronha of Rahul Advertising compered the programme. Handmade refreshments were served in an eco-friendly manner to the guests. The weaver centric programme, organized in a simple and eco-friendly manner, was appreciated by the participants.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Bengaluru-based FWDA announces successful maiden flight of India’s first combat unmanned aircraft

The FWD 200B is equipped with optical payloads for surveillance and missile-like weapons for air strikes and bombing.

Bengaluru-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and component private manufacturing company, Flying Wedge Defence and Aerospace (FWDA), on Tuesday announced its successful maiden flight of India’s first indigenous unmanned bomber aircraft, the FWD 200B, marking a milestone in the country’s defence sector.

The UAV is classified as a Medium Altitude (15000 ft), Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) . The FWD 200B is equipped with optical payloads for surveillance and missile-like weapons for air strikes and bombing.

FWD 200B features a wingspan of 5 meters (16.4 feet) and a length of 3.5 meters (12.1 feet), making it compact yet powerful. Despite its size, the aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 102 kg and can carry a payload capacity of 30 kg, making it capable of conducting significant missions with precision.

Operating at a cruise altitude of 12,000 feet and reaching an absolute ceiling of 15,000 feet, the FWD 200B can fly at a cruise speed of 152 km/h, with a maximum speed of 250 km/h. Its operational versatility is further highlighted by its runway requirement of just 300 meters, allowing it to operate from shorter airstrips.

With an endurance of 7 hours and a range of 800 km, the FWD 200B ensures extended mission capabilities, providing substantial coverage without the need for frequent refueling or landing.

The FWS 200B was tested at a classified location, and the first flight is touted as the fulfillment of India’s long-awaited dream of producing a combat UAV domestically right from the subsystems.

Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder & CEO of FWDA, told reporters, “India is the world’s largest importer of arms in the last five years, and has often paid up to ten times the cost for military technology from countries like the US and Israel. The successful flight of the FWD 200B is not just an achievement for our company, but a victory for the entire nation.”

Turkey’s denial of the Bayraktar UAV to India and the US Predator deal on hold for two years, the indigenous aircraft has come as a significant development.

The aircraft’s aerodynamics design, airframe, propulsion systems, controls systems, and electronics are all made indigenously at FWDA’s 12,000 sq.ft manufacturing facility at Electronic City in Bengaluru.

“This landmark achievement follows years of persistent efforts to develop a combat UAV indigenously, overcoming challenges which had previously hindered similar initiatives by leading defence agencies,” Tejaskanda added.

FWD 200B specifications

Wingspan: 5 meters (16.4 feet)

Length: 3.5 meters (12.1 feet)

Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW): 102 kg

Payload Capacity: 30 kg

Cruise Altitude: 12,000 feet

Absolute Ceiling: 15,000 feet

Cruise Speed: 152 km/h

Maximum Speed: 250 km/h

Runway Requirement: 300 meters

Endurance: 7 hours

Range: 800 km

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS-ATHLETE: A silver lining. Para-athlete Nishad Kumar clinches ‘Silver in Men’s High Jump T47 , Paris Paralympics 2024

Para-athlete Nishad Kumar, who lost his right hand in an accident at a very young age, talks about clinching the silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

Reflecting on his silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 at the Paris Paralympics, Nishad Kumar recalls focusing on staying calm and composed just before the competition.

Although aware of the expectations, he tried to ‘shut all the noise in his head to focus on himself.’ “I was not trying to overthink and was keeping myself calm. I was going through all that we had planned and where to take the jump. I had prepped well; at that point, I was just focusing on implementing all that I had learned from training,” says Kumar, speaking to us from Paris.

The 24-year-old, who trains in Bengaluru, achieved a season-best jump of 2.04 metres, finishing behind the USA’s Roderick Townsend. “I was never intimidated by anyone. I knew where I stood and was hoping for a silver. Anything more than that would have been a pleasant surprise, but I am quite happy,” says Kumar, who trained in the USA under coach Jeremy Fischer, coach of Olympic medallist Will Claye, before the Paris Paralympics.

Among the long list of congratulatory messages that followed his podium finish was one from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to X to hail Kumar’s achievement, calling it a ‘remarkable’ at the ongoing Paralympics.

Kumar, originally from Badaun village near Amb in Himachal Pradesh, called his mother after clinching the medal. “They were happy and quite proud. My mother promised to make kheer when I returned home; that’s my favourite dessert. Now I am looking forward to reaching home,” says Kumar.

The 6-foot-4-inch para-athlete credits his success not only to his coaches but also to his mother, who never gave up on him after he lost his right hand to a freak accident in 2007 involving a fodder-cutting machine. As a young child, Kumar had always wanted to serve his country and aspired to join the Indian Army.

Although that dream was cut short by the accident, it did not stop him from achieving his goal of representing the country. “It is always an honour to represent India. You become the face of the nation at that point, and that is not something small. I cherish it,” says Kumar, who also won silver at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago.

Kumar plans to stay in Paris until September 9 before returning to India for a grand welcome. “I am planning to first go to my village to meet my mother. But before that, I am looking forward to climbing the Eiffel Tower,” says Kumar.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL: KARNATAKA / ROAD TRANSPORT: Germany’s FlixBus expands to South India, offers Rs 99 fares from Bengaluru for intercity routes

FlixBus to commence operations in South India on September 10.

FlixBus India will connect a total of 101 cities and 215 stops nationwide.

Germany-based travel-tech firm FlixBus India announced its expansion into South India on September 3. The company will begin operations on September 10, offering services from Bengaluru to Chennai and Hyderabad.

Subsequently, services will be extended to Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Belagavi.

FlixBus has partnered with six bus operators so far, and plans to expand further by adding 33 cities across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala and more than 200 connections throughout South India. FlixBus India will connect a total of 101 cities and 215 stops nationwide.

As part of its Bengaluru launch, FlixBus also announced a special promotional fare of Rs 99. “This offer is exclusively available for the new routes launched around Bengaluru, with the booking period running from September 3 to September 15 and the departure period spanning from September 10 to October 6,” said a statement from FlixBus.

Karnataka Minister for Commerce & Industries, Infrastructure MB Patil, global FlixBus leaders Max Zeumer, COO, and Daniel Krauss, Co-founder, were present at the launch.

Patil said, “We welcome FlixBus not only as a foreign investor in Karnataka but also as a partner in our journey toward sustainability.”

Surya Khurana, Managing Director of FlixBus India, said, “After the success of our operations in North India, expanding to South India is the next step in our journey to revolutionise intercity travel”,

“In South India, FlixBus will continue its strategic collaboration with local bus operators, employing its proprietary technology platform to enhance business operations. Through network planning, revenue management, and yield optimization, FlixBus ensures an efficient and seamless travel experience for both passengers and operators, committing to quality, safety, and exceptional customer service,” the company stated.

“These standardized buses, equipped with BS6 engines, adhere to stringent emission norms, significantly reducing pollutants and reinforcing FlixBus’s dedication to environmental sustainability. Each bus is outfitted with state-of-the-art facilities, including ABS (anti-lock braking system), ESC (electronic stability control), and 2-point seat belts for all seats, ensuring the highest level of passenger safety and comfort”, it adds.

source/content: moneycontrol.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) : SAC/ISRO, Ahmedabad and AlphaMERS Ltd. Bengaluru Sign MOU

Remote Sensing and AI for marine plastic and oil pollution    

Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ahmedabad and AlphaMERS Ltd. Bengaluru signed an MOU on 4th July 2024 with the broad objective of bringing the resources of both the parties together, to develop and fine tune a robust model of Artificial Intelligence, to identify and profile marine pollution, including macro plastics and oil spills, using remote sensing, along the coastal waters of India.  

(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.)

source/content: ptinews.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: C V Raman’s tablas, explosives used in World War I: Bengaluru’s Sci560 exhibition showcases city’s scientific heritage

Karnataka Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju inaugurated Sci560 at Science Gallery Bengaluru on August 24.

Science Gallery Bengaluru began an exhibition at its Bellary Road premises to showcase the city’s science history. The exhibition named Sci560, after the city’s PIN code of 560, was inaugurated by Karnataka Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju. Other prominent guests at the event included Rohini Nilekani and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, who sit on the Gallery’s board, and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

The exhibition spans a broad and varied cross-section of the city’s scientific history. For instance, the nearly two-century-old tradition of brewing is represented by an ongoing fermentation process from Scoby Labs, in the form of a container of kombucha that visitors can taste at different points in its fermentation. A couple of rooms over is a Bangalore torpedo contributed by the Madras Engineer Group. These long explosive devices were developed in World War I to remove battlefield obstructions such as barbed wire fortifications.

Other interesting exhibits are a set of tablas owned by Sir CV Raman, sitting a few feet away from a set of ‘Simputers,’ touch-screen devices developed in the early 2000s that heralded the upcoming smartphone age. Nature lovers will also be glad to see a display titled ‘Wingbeats and Warbles’, matching the sounds of birds to the parts of the city where they are likely to be heard.

According to Gallery director Jahnavi Phalkey, this exhibition is the first one at the Gallery to lean more towards the historical side, with the hope that more additions can be made as it goes on. She said, “There are many people that know far more than we do about science in this city….we have a project called Recollect, where my colleagues will be collecting stories, objects, etc. And at the end of the exhibition, we will have this entire collection of stories, objects and documents that will allow us to present a more comprehensive story of what science is in the city.”

Speaking to the media on the inauguration day, Nilekani said, “We needed some way to bring the city and its institutions close. Even people just coming to Bangalore need to feel like they are part of what is happening. This is about fostering a culture of scientific exploration along with ordinary citizens.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: KARNATAKA : 9 Karnataka students to compete in the 47th World Skills Competition 2024 in France

Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC) has selected nine students to represent India at the 47th World Skills Competition in Lyon, France.

These talented individuals met with Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, before embarking on their journey to France on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

Minister Sharan Prakash Patil extended his best wishes to the students, encouraging them to seize this opportunity and bring glory to both the state and the nation by demonstrating their skills and winning medals.

The selected students are currently pursuing ITI, Diploma, and Engineering courses in various regions across Karnataka.

“Nine students have been selected as part of the Indian team. These students will compete in World Skills Lyon 2024 from September 10-15. KSDC supports students in participating in this prestigious global skills competition,” Minister Patil.

The World Skills Competition, often referred to as the Olympics of vocational skills, is the world’s largest event dedicated to vocational education and skill excellence.

Held from September 10 to 15, 2024, in Lyon, France, the competition will see more than 1,000 young participants under the age of 22 compete in over 61 skill categories.

The KSDC, under the guidance of the Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood (SDEL) Department, has been instrumental in providing opportunities for Karnataka’s skilled youth to showcase their abilities on national and international platforms.

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) organises the India Skills Competition to identify and train candidates who will represent India at the World Skills Competition.

Karnataka secured the second position at the national level during the India Skills competition held in New Delhi from May 15 to 19, 2024.

KSDC Chairperson Kantha Naik, Karnataka Skill Development Authority chairperson V Ramana Reddy, KSDC managing director M Kanagavalli, GTTC managing director YK Dinesh Kumar, NSDC advisor Venugopal were present during the occasion.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: PROJECT DIGITISATION: Close to 12,000 books digitised in Bengaluru for All India Gandhi Library project

The collection, assembled over three months and spanning 12 languages, includes Mahatma Gandhi’s collected works, publications such as Harijan and Young India and audio recordings.

The Servants of Knowledge, a non-profit group, has announced that 11,720 books from the library of Bengaluru’s Gandhi Bhavan have been digitised as part of the All India Gandhi Library project.

The group announced this at the valedictory session of a seminar held on Sunday to mark the 75th year of the Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi Organisation.

According to a statement by the non-profit group, Gandhi Bhavan had already made 1,272 books publicly available online. The freshly digitised collection, assembled over three months and spanning 12 languages, includes the collected works of Mahatma Gandhi, his publications such as Harijan and Young India and audio recordings of him speaking on All India Radio.

The digitised libraries have been presented to 12 Gandhian organisations.

Among the speakers at the seminar was American public domain information advocate Carl Malamud, who is also part of Servants of Knowledge and the founder of the US-based Public.Resource.Org.

“For the last several months, we have been digitising every book here at the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi libraries. Today we are presenting all of those books in digital format to the organisations here, making them the trustees of this knowledge….this is the first release of the All India Gandhi Library. We have offered to digitise at no cost additional Gandhi materials these organisations may possess to add to the collection. We have already assisted the Gandhi Smaraka Nidhis of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh  and we welcome additional materials…..as we say ‘scanning is the new spinning’,” he said at the seminar.

Explaining the digitisation process, Malamud told indianexpress.com later, “We make the scanners and frames here in India and have 17 scanners here at Gandhi Bhavan and can scan 15 lakh pages every month… Once you get good at it, you can do 500 pages in an hour. After the scan, a post-process happens where you crop the pages, de-skew it, run optical character recognition and create a PDF file—a whole chain of processes.”

Explaining the challenges of working with old books in general, Malamud added, “If the material is truly fragile, we work with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and they help us conserve the books. The same goes with fragile palm leaves. We’re careful while turning the pages with older books, but if the book is going to disintegrate we have it go through the conservation process.”

About some other work done by the Servants of Knowledge, Malamud said, “Om Shivaprakash (another archivist with the Servants of Knowledge) has been instrumental in finding old Kannada books and gotten permission to digitise old Kannada magazines from publishers…. We’re also working on Lalbagh right now and digitising their library of 6,000 books and digitising old and rare prints. There are all sorts of materials that are on the internet for the first time and that is something we’re particularly proud of.”

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL: PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGISTS: KARNEUROPEDICON 2024: Stellar gathering of Pediatric Neurology experts held

The annual KARNEUROPEDICON 2024 conference, a premier event in Pediatric Neurology, took place on August 24 and 25 at the Father Muller Convention Center, Mangaluru. The event witnessed a confluence of esteemed pediatric neurologists and pediatricians who convened to discuss advancements and share insights in this critical subspecialty.

The conference was officially inaugurated on Sunday, August 25, in the presence of renowned medical professionals. The event’s primary focus was on enhancing clinical skills and knowledge sharing among pediatricians, ensuring better patient care. Attendees engaged in a series of paper presentations, debates, reviews, and roundtable discussions, making the conference a significant milestone in Mangaluru’s medical education landscape.

Inaugural highlights

Dr Santosh Soans, professor and head of the Department at AJIMS and a past national president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), graced the occasion as the chief guest. Dr Soans emphasized the importance of Pediatric Neurology as a subspecialty, highlighting its potential to revolutionize patient care in Mangaluru and across Karnataka. He urged the medical community to revive the essential skills of clinical history and examination, which, despite technological advancements like CT and MRI, remain crucial in early diagnosis and patient management.

A ceremonial honor was bestowed upon Dr Suresh Rao, director of Parijma Institute of Neurosciences, Bengaluru, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Pediatric Neurology. With four decades of dedicated service, Dr Rao has significantly advanced the subspecialty, positively impacting the lives of countless children with neurological disorders. In his acceptance speech, Dr Rao expressed his elation at receiving the honor in his hometown of Mangalore.

Guests of honour

Dr Sanjeev L Joshi, national chairperson of the Academy of Pediatric Neurology, and Dr Vykuntaraju K N, Karnataka state president, expressed their satisfaction with the successful organization of this academic feast in Mangaluru. Dr S N Mothi, Karnataka state president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the conference’s role in enriching the knowledge and clinical skills of pediatricians, ultimately benefiting their young patients.

Institutional pride

Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, expressed pride in the institution’s achievements, including the 25th anniversary of Father Muller Medical College, the 25th year of the PG program in Homoeopathy, the 40th year of the UG program in Homoeopathy, and the 30th year of the BPT program. He underscored the importance of accurate knowledge and ethical practice, particularly when dealing with vulnerable groups such as children with neurological disorders.

Acknowledgments and contributions

The organizing chairperson, Dr Shruthi N M, received widespread praise from all quarters for her tireless efforts in bringing the conference to Mangalore and ensuring its smooth execution. Co-organizing chairpersons Dr K Shreedhara Avabratha, professor and HoD of Pediatrics at Father Muller Medical College, and Dr Abhishek K Phadke, along with organizing secretaries Dr Swathi Rao and Dr Sweta Shanbhag (assistant professors at FMMC), also played pivotal roles in the event’s success.

The conference provided an invaluable platform for pediatricians to deepen their knowledge and forge new paths in Pediatric Neurology, furthering the cause of better healthcare for children with neurological conditions. Dr Jason Glen D’Souza, senior resident pediatric FMMCH compeered the event.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)