Category: Amazing Feats

KARNATAKA: AGRICULTURE: Farmer Kumar of Puttur Taluk Sets World Record, Braves Bee Swarm For Agricultural Advancements

Hailing from Pernaje in Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, Kumar engages in agriculture, primarily betel nut cultivation, and has included beekeeping as his main source of income. Despite the challenges involved in handling and separating queen bee families, Kumar indulges in the unique practice of braving a swarm of bees in his beard and moustache to set a Guinness World Record.

Kumar in Pernaje collects beehives from his garden and takes them home, caring for them in special boxes. He sets up and shares bee colonies generously with those who need them. Kumar sees valuable life lessons in observing these social creatures, finding their intricate workings a unique insight into agriculture.

Farmer Kumar, hailing from Puttur taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, garners recognition for his innovative initiatives. Following the development of a new machine for pest control in monkeys, he introduces a low-cost beehive, underscoring his dedication to inventive farming solutions.

Residing on a small plot in his name, he is a dedicated farmer and a progressive agriculturist cultivating various crops such as groundnut, coconut, banana, black pepper, coffee, and honey. Innovating his farming equipment, he initially introduced a simple technique for dispensing medicine to his nut plantations by standing under a tree.

To ward off monkeys from his plantations, he built a firecracker gun inspired by the Kovi. Currently, he has unveiled a novel approach for his beekeeping by-product. Shifting away from traditional wooden construction, he prioritises durability by employing cement sheets to craft beehive boxes.

A wooden honey box, priced between Rs 3 and Rs 3,500, faces competition from the more affordable cement sheet, costing only Rs 1,000. The cement boxes, apart from being cost-effective, are resistant to termite and ant issues prevalent in their wooden counterparts. He asserts that these cement boxes demonstrate resilience against rainwater, especially during the monsoon season.

Back in 2020, Nature MS, a beekeeper, set a world record by spending over four hours with his head entirely covered in bees. According to Guinness World Records, the 24-year-old accomplished this feat, lasting four hours, 10 minutes, and five seconds to secure the record.

source/content: news18.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL : KARNATAKA: ‘Gadinada Ratna’ Award conferred on multifaceted Social Entrepreneur Joseph Mathais, Dubai

During the second anniversary celebration of Dubai Gadinada Utsava on December 10, Gadinada Academy UAE bestowed the esteemed Gadinada Ratna award upon Joseph Mathais, a NRI entrepreneur, versatile social worker, singer, and actor. The award was presented by Basavaraj Horatti, the speaker of Karnataka Vidhan Parishad, in a ceremony held at the Woodlem Park School Auditorium.

Presiding over the colourful event was Sarvotham Shetty Abu Dhabi.

Distinguished guests of honour included former Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Rajya Sabha member Dr L Hanumanthaiah, and Manjeshwar Lok Sabha member A K Ashraf.

Joseph Mathais, the recipient of the Gadinada Ratna award, is the founder of Merit Freight Systems, with business branches in the Gulf and India. Known for his extensive social contributions, Mathais has created job opportunities for numerous individuals. He is also recognized for initiatives such as providing uniforms to school children, sarees and dhotis to senior citizens, bicycles to the self-employed, sewing machines, and medical aid to the needy through the Ashoknagar Yuvaka Sangha, an organization awarded on Karnataka Rajyotsava.

Beyond his business endeavours, Joseph Mathais, a prominent singer and actor, has sponsored cultural programmes in Konkani, Kannada, and Tulu held both in India and abroad.

His dedication to social causes has earned him various accolades, including the Mayoora award from Sharjah Kannada Sangha and the Vishwa Kannadiga award from Gulf Kannadigara Sangha. Mathais continues to be a significant contributor to both the cultural and philanthropic landscape.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / KARNATAKA: Bengaluru girl Veruschka Pandey showcases her skills at UN summit

Further, she stated that it is our responsibility to save people from untimely death by educating them about CPR.

A tenth grader from Bengaluru showcased her skill at the 1-Million 1-Billion (1M1B) summit held at the United Nations recently.

Veruschka Pandey, a youth changemaker from The International School, Bengaluru participated in the 1M1B Activate Impact Youth Summit held at the United Nations. It was hosted by the 1M1B Foundation on November 30 in New York. She presented her project Surya Nayak, which showcased her contribution to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India. 

Veruschka has been working on giving CPR training to ASHA workers, bus drivers, factory workers and security personnel in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka. She has been creating awareness, spreading information and training people.

“I not only want to create awareness but a mass movement among health workers and the Indian youth to achieve the SDGs by 2030,” she said at the summit, adding that our hearts are like vessels that have space for empathy, love and life. Further, she stated that it is our responsibility to save people from untimely death by educating them about CPR. 

Her thoughts and works were also showcased through a documentary ‘Heart is a Vessel’ at the UN, followed by a panel discussion that included her mentor Manav Subodh and Amit Madheshiya, an award-winning movie maker at the Cannes Film Festival. A documentary on Veruschka by Madheshiva was also screened at the event. 

PR/ Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj met the youth changemaker at the Permanent Mission of India, where she engaged on a broad spectrum of issues, including Agenda 2030 and SDG implementation in India.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INDIA / KARNATAKA: GUINNESS RECORD: Kundapur’s Students of Hattiangadi Siddivinayaka School Register Guinness Record in Mosaic Painting

Students of Hattiangadi Siddivinayaka School on the threshold of celebrating their silver jubilee have achieved Guinness record by creating the mosaic picture of H Ramachandra Bhat, founder of the residential school and spiritual leader.

As many as 1,228 people participated to complete the task at 3 pm on December 3 and got a new record registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The principal, administrative official, teachers, staff and well-wishers joined in the school premises on December 1 to create the 7.75 feet long and 5.625 feet wide picture with an area of 42.78 square feet using 1,228 rotating rubix cubes. The Rotating Rubik’s Cube creation in the participation of 308 people by U K’s Rubik brand limited was holding the record so far.

Rishinath from Guinness organization who was stationed as adjudicator for the last four days verified and confirmed the achievement, announced the record and handed over the certificate to H Sharankumar, principal of the school. Siddi educational institute’s Ramadevi R Bhat, vice president H Balachandra Bhat, management official Veena Rashmi, Guinness record guide Prathwish K, management board’s Dr N P Narayana Shetty and vice principal Rama Devadiga were present.

As many as 50 students of the school had created on November 30 the picture of national Hockey player major Dhyanchand in an area of 19.198 square meters using 6,000 cubes on one side and dual sided rotating Rubik’s cube mosaic picture of international badminton player P V Sindhu on the other side and broken the record of Zengis Aitzanov who had created the picture with an area of 15.878 square meters using 5,100 cubes.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: AGRICULTURE: PM Modi to present ‘Billionaire Farmer’ Award to Kundapur’s Thekkatte Ramesh Nayak

Rice mill entrepreneur and progressive farmer Ramesh Nayak is selected for the ‘Billionaire Farmer’ award, from Udupi district, given by the union government as he has earned a turnover of over Rs one crore in a year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the award to Ramesh Nayak on December 7 in New Delhi.

Ramesh is a nature lover. He has grown 1634 different breeds of fruits of 11 types on 13 acres of land at Kedoor village of the taluk. He has secured rich yield from his farm land.

Ramesh used mud that is removed from the rain water pit and grew 30000 pineapple plants. In between two pineapple plants, one papaya plant is grown. A there are 285 types of jackfruit trees like Dengue Surya, Prakashchandra, Vietnam Super Arli, Singapur and Attavara breeds. As many as 500 dragon fruit trees also are grown on the vast farm land of Ramesh Nayak.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL/ NATIONAL/ KARNATAKA: Bengaluru Scientist Prof Urbasi Singh, 1st Indian Scientist to get Canadian Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Award, Wins USD 8 million grant

Prof Urbasi specialises in quantum science and her research interests span cutting-edge topical areas such as quantum communication, quantum computation, quantum optics and quantum fundamentals.

Prof Urbasi Singh from the Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) laboratory at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, is the first Indian scientist to be awarded Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Photonic Quantum Science and Technologies.

She won a grant worth $8 million, opening possibilities for international interactions in academia, industry and other sectors developing lab-to-market innovative models — for building a future ecosystem based on quantum technologies.

Prof Urbasi specialises in quantum science and her research interests span cutting-edge topical areas such as quantum communication, quantum computation, quantum optics and quantum fundamentals and information processing.

Her lab is one of the first in India to manufacture and establish the usage of heralded and entangled photon sources towards various applications in quantum technologies. 

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Airbus, HAL tie up for commercial aircraft maintenance

French aerospace manufacturer Airbus said on Thursday that it was partnering with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for commercial aircraft service support.

Under the agreement, Airbus will provide the A320 family tool package and offer specialised consulting services to HAL to set up an MRO. Airbus will also offer HAL access to AirbusWorld, a digital platform that offers support, technical data and training solutions.

HAL’s Nashik division has capabilities in civil MRO, which include three Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved hangars and skilled manpower from their defence activities.

“HAL has a vision to establish an integrated MRO hub in the country and provide airlines with an effective MRO solution. This step by HAL Nashik is also aligned to civil-military convergence and the Make in India mission of the Government of India,” said Saket Chaturvedi, CEO (MiG Complex), HAL.

“An indigenous MRO infrastructure will not only help airlines streamline their aircraft operations, but also support the government’s aim of making India a global aviation hub,” said Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INVESTMENTS IN MEDICAL & HEALTH SERVICES: Philips Launches Innovation Campus in Bengaluru; gen AI provides more Opportunities, says CEO

The company has over 9,000 employees in India, and of these 5,000 employees in Bengaluru will be working on innovative health technologies. The company employs over 70,700 employees globally.

Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) provides a lot of opportunities, and it is the next wave of new technology that can help solve the problems of customers, said Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips.

The company launched its new innovation campus in Bengaluru that can accommodate 5,000 employees. Speaking on the sidelines of the launch in the city on Thursday, Jakobs said if you look at healthcare, our customers are asking how we can serve more patients.

“So, we are looking at how technology can help them process more patients,” he said, explaining the significant role that AI plays in innovation.

The company has over 9,000 employees in India, and of these 5,000 employees in Bengaluru will be working on innovative health technologies. The company employs over 70,700 employees globally.

It also has a Healthcare Innovation Centre in Pune, Global Business Services in Chennai, and commercial teams in Gurugram.

For the Netherlands-headquartered Philips, India plays a significant role and it is a major hub for innovation.

“Philips has been innovating for more than 130 years and started doing business in India some 92 years ago. In the last 27 years, the Philips Innovation Campus in Bengaluru has grown to represent almost all our business categories and supporting roles,” the CEO said.

 “In India, we not only want to speed up access to care but also locally develop and contribute to solutions for the rest of the world,” he added.

Last year, with an investment of Rs 400 crore under the PLI scheme, the company’s healthcare innovation centre in Chakan, Pune, started manufacturing radio frequency coils for MRI machines. The company also plans expansions in Pune. It spends yearly over $1.7 billion on innovation, of which 50% goes into software development. Philips also sees growth opportunities in the beauty and grooming verticals of its business in India.

The company’s group sales increased 11% to euro 4.5 billion for the third quarter of this year, and it also raised its full-year guidance to 6-7% comparable sales growth and an Adjusted EBITA margin of 10-11%.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL / KARNATAKA: MEDICAL & HEALTH CARE SERVICES: Mangaluru’s ‘First Neuro, Brain & Spine Speciality Hospital’ Conferred with ‘Best Emerging Stroke Unit in India’ Award

First Neuro, Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital, Mangaluru is proud to announce that it has been honoured with the prestigious award for Best Emerging Stroke Unit in India. This recognition comes in light of the hospital’s unwavering commitment to excellence in stroke care and its continuous efforts to enhance patient outcomes.

The VOH (Voice of Healthcare) in association with ISA (Indian Stroke Association) recognized First Neuro, Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital for its outstanding contributions to stroke care, particularly in the areas of rapid response, advanced treatments and patient-focused care and presented The Best Emerging Stroke Unit award. This acknowledgement reaffirms the hospital’s dedication to providing high-quality stroke care services to the community. Dr Mohammed Shameem K A, consultant neurologist, received the award at the event, which took place on October 27 at the Taj Skyline in Ahmedabad.

“We are deeply honoured to receive the Best Emerging Stroke Unit award,” said Dr Rajesh Shetty, managing director at First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team who strive relentlessly to deliver exceptional care to our stroke patients. We remain committed to advancing our stroke care services and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.”

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital is committed to raising awareness about stroke prevention, symptoms, and treatments. The hospital’s multidisciplinary team of experts, employ the latest technologies and evidence-based practices to provide comprehensive stroke care to patients, including emergency interventions, rehabilitation, and ongoing support for stroke survivors and their families.
This award serves as a validation of First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital’s efforts to continuously improve its stroke care services. The hospital remains dedicated to investing in training, research, and state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that patients receive the best possible care when it matters the most.

First Neuro Brain and Spine Super-Specialty Hospital in Mangaluru is indeed a significant development in the healthcare sector for the coastal city. Neurological issues related to the brain and spine are complex and often require specialized expertise and state-of-the-art facilities for diagnosis and treatment.

Here are some potential benefits and highlights of having such a dedicated neuro hospital in the region:

Specialized Care: With a team of highly professional and specialized doctors and healthcare staff, the hospital can provide focused care for patients dealing with neurological disorders. This includes conditions such as brain tumors, spinal injuries, epilepsy, stroke, and more.
Advanced Technology: Specialized neuro hospitals typically invest in advanced medical equipment and technology to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment. This ensures that patients have access to cutting-edge medical care.
Comprehensive Services: Neuro hospitals often offer a wide range of services, including neurosurgery, neurology, neuro-rehabilitation, and pain management. This comprehensive approach to neurological healthcare can greatly benefit patients in need.
Improving Healthcare Standards: The presence of a specialized neuro hospital can also lead to an overall improvement in healthcare standards in the region. It may encourage other medical facilities to enhance their services and competencies.
Patient Convenience: Having a dedicated neuro hospital means that patients can access specialized care in a single location, which can make the healthcare journey more convenient and less stressful.

In summary, the introduction of First Neuro Brain and Spine Super-Specialty Hospital in Mangaluru is a significant development that can enhance the region’s healthcare services, particularly in the field of neurosciences. It represents a commitment to improving patient care, advancing medical knowledge, and offering specialized treatments for neurological conditions, ultimately benefiting the local community.

For more information about First Neuro Brain & Spine Super Speciality Hospital and its stroke care services, please visit www.firstneuro.in

Email: info@firstneuro.in
Ph: 0824 2276633/0824 4293333, Mob: 9343442488

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: AGRICULTURE : A Veterinary Doctor P Manohar Upadhya’s Passion to Save ‘naada mavu’ of Coastal Belt and Creating ‘Maavu Mantapa’ a Mango Gene Bank

P. Manohar Upadhya of Mangaluru purchases 5.4 acres of land at Kukkila to conserve local mango varieties under threat and create a mango gene bank.

A veterinary doctor and surgeon in Mangaluru has begun conserving varieties of “naada mavu” (local mango) of the coastal belt by planting their grafted saplings on 5.4 acres of land at Kukkila in Dakshina Kannada.

P. Manohar Upadhya purchased the unused land only to conserve the local mango varieties which are under threat owing to various factors in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod (Kerala) districts. Kukkila, about 38 km from Mangaluru, is in Vitla Padnur village in Bantwal taluk.

“No commercial interest is involved in the initiative. Once the plants are stable and start yielding, anybody can use their scions for multiplication to save the varieties for future,” Dr. Upadhya told The Hindu.

The planting of the saplings with drip irrigation facility began this September 17. So far, 382 plants, with 300 odd varieties, have been planted. The saplings planted included 90% local varieties and 10% hybrid and exotic varieties.

In all, the doctor wants to conserve 475 varieties by planting their grafted saplings within the next one or two years. The doctor has named the mango gene bank as “Maavu Mantapa”.

Why local mango?

Unlike hybrid and exotic varieties, the “naada mavu” in addition to table purpose can be used to prepare a variety of delicacies like “gojju”, “tambuli”, “beratti”, “payasa”, “rasayana”, “mamubla”, and pickles. The hybrid and exotic varieties are mainly meant for table purpose (for only eating). The taste of each local mango variety differs.

“The types of taste which hybrid and exotic varieties provide are limited. While local mangos offer a number of flavours,” he said, adding that the characteristics of the local variety are not lost when they are grafted for planting purpose. The grafted plants yield early and the canopy of the tree is also not vast when compared to the ones raised through seeds.

Jackfruit conservation too in the offing

In addition to the mango, Dr. Upadhya wants to cultivate 75 varieties of local jackfruit of the coastal belt on the same land in the next two years.

“So far no jackfruit saplings have been planted. We may plant 20 to 30 saplings this year,” he said.

The use of local jackfruit varieties differed. Some are best suited to prepare only “dosa”, while some are meant for making only chips. Some are suited to make “payasa”, while a few are meant to be used as vegetable.

Dr. Upadhya said that like him many others are also conserving local mango/jackfruit varieties in their own way. Some of them are Maaphalathota Subrya Bhat of Markanja, Deva Rao of Mittabagilu, Venkatakrishna Sharma of Muliya, Shivaprasad Varmudi of Perla, Chandrashekara Udupa of Kenchanur, and Kukkemane Shivakumar of Madikeri.

The doctor said that the scion collection for his initiative was done by NaaMaami Group, an informal group of like-minded people involved in the conservation of local fruit and other varieties.

Many local mango, jackfruit varieties in the coastal belt have been lost while widening local roads and highways and building infrastructure projects and constructing buildings.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)