Category: Amazing Feats

INTERNATIONAL : NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: EDUCATION : IIT gets its First Woman Director. Mysuru-Born Dr. Preeti Aghalayam Is IIT Zanzibar-Tanzania Director

IIT gets its first woman Director

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), the country’s top-ranked educational institution, has achieved the distinction of being the first IIT in India to establish an international campus, set to be located in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The institute has also set another first by appointing the IIT’s first woman Director.

Heading this initiative is Mysuru-born Dr. Preeti Aghalayam, who is an alumna of IIT Madras. She is also a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering.

The Zanzibar Offshore  Campus of IIT Madras will be situated on Zanzibar Island, off the East African mainland and is slated to commence its inaugural academic session in October 2023.

The establishment of this offshore campus aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which encourages high-performing Indian Universities to establish campuses abroad.

Dr. Preeti grew up on 13th Main Road in Saraswathipuram and attended Demonstration School (DMS School) in Mysuru. After completing her Pre-University, she made it to IIT Madras and chose Chemical Engineering as her field of study.

According to Meena Mysuru, a retired officer from the Indian Information Service (IIS) and resident of city, a close friend of the family, Dr. Preeti hails from a family of educators.

Her father, late Dr. Janardhan, was a Chemistry Professor at the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), Mysuru, while her mother, Dr. Rama, taught linguistics. Both her parents held Ph.Ds and her grandfather was a renowned historian.

Professional journey: Dr. Preeti Aghalayam completed her B.Tech in Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras in 1995 and later earned her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2000. Her professional journey includes a stint as a post-doctoral researcher at MIT in Cambridge and a faculty position at IIT Bombay.

Dr. Preeti joined IIT Madras as a faculty member in 2010 and is actively involved in the Office of Global Engagement at the institute, where she oversees international academic programmes.

Her contributions led to her recognition as one of the 75 Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by the Principal Scientific Advisor’s office.

Running enthusiast

Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Preeti has a strong sports background and was an avid basketball player during her school days. She is also an accomplished marathon runner.

In an interview, she said, “Running is everything for me as it helps me shred off the stress. If I am under a lot of stress, my family asks me to run and come back. Running makes me feel human again.”

In the initial plans, faculty members for the Zanzibar campus will be either deputed from IIT Madras or recruited from India. Presently, the institute will operate from a temporary campus in the Bweleo district of Zanzibar, with the permanent 200-acre campus on Zanzibar Island set to be completed by 2026.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

ASIA RECORDS: INDIA & KARNATAKA: SPORTS / CRICKET: India vs Pakistan: Kohli, Rahul Record Highest-ever Partnership in Asia Cup History

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul registered the highest-ever partnership in the history of Asia Cup during the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul registered the highest-ever partnership in the history of Asia Cup during the Super 4 match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.

The Indian duo had a sedate start and took a couple of overs to settle down before they began their onslaught. They ended up scoring 233 off 194 deliveries, nine higher than previous record-holders Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez. They help India reach a daunting 356/2 in their 50-over quota.

On the way to this record, Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs. He took just 277 innings and betterd the record of fellow Indian great Sachin Tendulkar (321 innings).

Highest partnerships in Asia Cup history:

PlayersRunsWicketTeamOpposition
Virat Kohli-KL Rahul233*3rdIndiaPakistan
Mohammed Hafeez-Nasir Jamshed2241stPakistanIndia
Younis Khan-Shoaib Malik2143rdPakistanNepal
Iftikar Ahmed-Babar Azam2145thPakistanBangladesh
Ajinkya Rahane-Virat Kohli2133rdIndiaPakistan

source/content: sportstar.thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: 3 Achievers from Mangaluru enter into Worldwide Book of Records & India Book of Records

These three achievers have made Mangaluru proud to find mentioned in the Worldwide Book of Records and India Book of Records, and they revealed it during a press meet held at Mangaluru Press Club.

The three achievers are K Chandrashekar (Swimming), Ms Kavitha Ashok (Yoga) and Miss Madhulashree (Yoga Gandabherundasana).

Addressing the media personnel, Chandrashekar said, ” I did 28 front flip somersaults underwater with one breadth, creating a World Record. I work as a swimming coach at Mangaluru City Corporation Swimming Pool near Ladyhill, Mangaluru. The world record for the highest somersaults (36) was in the name of Lans Davis of California, USA. I was inspired by Guinness Book of Record holders Gopal Kharvi, Gangadhar Kadekar and Nagaraj Kharvi.

KAVITA ASHOK, who has taught yoga at Nazareth school, Bethany institutions and Apostolic Carmel institutions, completed her YIC training at Vyasa Vivekananda University in Bangalore. She has been the Hero of Champions at State Level Yoga in 2004, and in 2007 got the first place Worldwide Level competition. She deserves credit because so many of her students have taken part in yoga at the taluk, National, District, and State levels. By performing Sirsa Padmasana on March 23, 2023, in 29 minutes and 6 seconds, she has equalled Kerala’s Kiran Surendran’s record of 25 minutes and 8 seconds and entered the India Book of Records. She has received instruction and guidance from V.L. Rego, an international yoga guru. She has received constant support from staff K. Chandrashekhar Rai Soorikumeru and Manager Ramesh Bejai of MCC Swimming Club.

S. MADHULASHREE, the daughter of M. Saravanan and Tamil Selvi, studying in class VI of Ladyhill English Higher Primary School, Mangaluru has entered into the India Book of Records in Ganda Bherundasana with a timing of 15 min 36 seconds as confirmed on 21st March 2023. She has been trained by Kavitha Ashok, the Yoga Instructor oatLadyhill English Higher Primary School. Sr Jenifer Morasa AC-the Principal of Ladyhill English Higher Primary School complimented Ms Kavitha and Madhulashree for their achievements. Teacher Mrs Lavita Correa was also present during the press meet.

source/content: mangalorean.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Virat Kohli Creates IPL history as Bangalore Captain, smashes Multiple Records during RCB vs PBKS IPL 2023 match

Virat Kohli smashed multiple batting records in RCB’s match against PBKS at the IPL 2023.

Batting icon Virat Kohli was back at the helm when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) squared off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match No.27 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium on Thursday. Kohli, who earlier stepped down as RCB’s captain, was only reinstated as the leader of the Bangalore franchise for their IPL 2023 match against Punjab Kings.

Kohli captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore while skipper Faf du Plessis featured as the Impact Player against Punjab Kings. Opening the innings with stand-in skipper Kohli, RCB’s regular captain Du Plessis tormented the Punjab Kings bowlers in the action-packed contest at Mohali. Leading the Bangalore franchise from the front, Kohli also smashed a sublime half-century as his batting heroics laid the foundation for a competitive total.

Kohli is the second-highest run-getter for RCB against Punjab in the IPL. The stand-in skipper smashed multiple records with his gritty half-century against the Shikhar Dhawan-less side. Rewriting history in the cash-rich league on Thursday, Kohli became the first batter to score 6,500 runs in the IPL as captain. Kohli has achieved the staggering feat in 186 innings. The batting icon also joined Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner on an elite list. Kohli is the third batter to hit 600 fours in the world’s richest T20 league.

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Warner has struck 608 fours in the world’s richest T20 league while Punjab Kings skipper Dhawan has hit 730 fours in his incredible IPL career. The senior batter missed RCB’s match against PBKS as the Punjab skipper is nursing a shoulder niggle. England batter Liam Livingstone was named in the PBKS XI while all-rounder Sam Curran captained the Punjab side in the absence of Dhawan.

Talking more about the match, Kohli slammed 59 off 47 balls while Du Plessis played a stroke-filled knock of 84 off 56 balls to help RCB post 174-4 in 20 overs. Kohli’s RCB outclassed PBKS by 24 runs to secure the fifth spot on the IPL 2023 points table. The Bangalore stand-in captain has climbed to the second spot in the Orange Cap standings after smashing his fourth half-century of the IPL 2023. The 34-year-old has amassed 279 runs in 6 matches for RCB this season.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: CONSTRUCTION TECHOLOGY BREAK-THROUGH: Indian Institute of Science(IISc) cracks Code to Build Low-Carbon Construction

The multilateral project is funded jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the trans-national platform of Accelerating Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Technologies.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have pioneered breakthrough materials and processes that could bring down the building industry’s carbon emissions and supplement sustainable construction practices.

The Centre for Sustainable Technologies in IISc has utilised 3D-printable material formulations with industrial by-products, including construction and demolition wastes (CDW), blast furnace slag, and fly ash, for carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration is the process where atmospheric carbon dioxide is captured and stored. The method aims at reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The multilateral project is funded jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the trans-national platform of Accelerating Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Technologies.

The 3D printable material formulations have the potential to be used in fabricating walls, slabs, and various other building components, a DST statement said.

“The developed material, utilising an optimised process of accelerated carbonation curing, can store 35-40 per cent of carbon dioxide by mass of cement,” DST said. Small crystals of carbonate minerals formed during the sequestration can also enhance the engineering performance of the material.

The innovation could replace up to 75 per cent of natural sand in cement-based construction materials. The research has been published in the journal — Construction and Building Materials.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: GLOBAL HEALTH & PHARMAEUTICALS: Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Appointed Member of Court of Regents at Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Biocon Ltd and Biocon Biologics Ltd Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been appointed as Regent of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSed), a Biocon release said on Thursday.

On her appointment as the latest member to the College’s Court of Regents, Mazumdar-Shaw said: “I am humbled and deeply honoured to be appointed Regent of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. As the oldest surgical college in the world with just under 30,000 members in 100 countries, the RCSed has been championing the highest standards of surgical and dental practice by providing high quality medical education. I look forward to contributing to the College’s mission and advancing the frontiers of surgical excellence.”

The Court of Regents comprises a group of distinguished and accomplished individuals in their field who provide the college with advice and expertise.

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is a prestigious Scottish medical association which was founded in 1505 by Royal Charter granted from King James IV. It is the oldest surgical colleges in the world with nearly 30,000 members in 100 countries, and about half of them are from overseas, touching every stage of the career path from medical students to consultants.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: FIRST : Bengaluru’s First Underground Electric Transformer inaugurated at Malleshwaram

The idea behind the underground electric transformer is to ensure the safety of people and to maintain the aesthetics of India’s garden city.

Bengaluru’s first underground electric transformer was inaugurated at Malleshwaram on Tuesday by the city’s civic body and electricity board together. The idea behind the underground electric transformer is to ensure the safety of people and to maintain the aesthetics of India’s garden city.

Karnataka energy minister KJ George said that the government is planning to install more such underground electric transformers in the city, which are usually seen on the footpath or on the side of a road. He said, “#Bescom will eventually convert all the HT overhead lines to underground cables in Bengaluru city. This will also convert the complete system which includes distribution transformers, ring main units, feeder pillar boxes, etc into an underground system.”

The minister also said that this will help the BBMP and BESCOM to provide better service, as they do not need to dig the road or block the traffic during any maintenance works. “This adds to the overall safety of the environment, encouraging the citizens to use footpaths without any hassles since they’d be free from interruption during maintenance works of overhead cables and related equipment. This would also keep the electrical equipment insulated from drastic climatic changes such as cold, heat and rains,” the minister added.

The minister also reiterated that there is a need to avoid the visual clutter in Bengaluru, which is visited by the people from all over the globe. He also said, “More than anything else, smart underground distribution infrastructure is not only innovative, it also removes a significant amount of visual clutter and improves the looks of the urban area.”

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

KATNATAKA: 05 September: Teacher’s Day 2023: Inchal, the Karnataka Village with a Tutor in almost every house

In Inchal, teaching is regarded as the most honourable profession. Over 500 people from this village are teaching in various parts of the state.

Inchal village in Savadatti taluk of Karnataka’s Belgaum district is a teachers’ village as there is an educator in almost every house here. Teaching is considered the noblest profession as the choice of every parent in this village is to make their child a teacher. Residents of this village are working as teachers in different parts of Karnataka.

There are more than 500 people from Inchal who have opted for teaching and are working across the state. It was because of the efforts of Dr Shivananda Bharati Swamiji of Siddhasansthan Math here that people gained interest in teaching and took it as their profession. Shantananda High School, a school funded by the Math, has been established in Bengaluru.

Dr Sivananda Bharati Swamiji, started a Teacher Certificate Higher (TCH) College in Sri Math in 1986 after he was influenced by the village camp conducted by KLE Institute, Belgaum in 1983-84 in Inchal. According to the villagers, students were encouraged to enroll in TCH because of the free admission it offered.

Since 1988, an average of more than 20 teachers have been selected from every batch. Out of the total seven thousand teachers trained here, 99 per cent of the teachers are appointed in different schools across the state. At least seven teachers from the Karigara family were recruited in the 1997 batch. In the same year, 50 people from Inchal village were appointed as teachers, which is a record.

Also, the Karigara family has a total of 15 teachers along with Ganagi, Raya Naykara, Mirjannavar, Badli, Jambagi and other families of the village who also have the highest number of teachers.

In conversation with ETV Bharat, retired lecturer SM Badli said, “It was Dr Sivananda Bharati Swamiji who brought the educational revolution by starting affiliated institutions from primary school to Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya in the village.” Another retired Headmaster Somalinga Shivappa Metagatti said, “Before Dr. Sivananda Swamiji’s arrival, only a limited number of people received secondary education here.”

Metagatti also said that it was a matter of pride for them that their village is known as the teacher’s village. Retired lecturer RC Roy Naykar said that it was because of Dr Sivananda Bharati’s decision to establish a TCH course institution in the village that so many people are working as teachers.

source/content: etvbharat.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH SERVICES: Tele-NICU launched to Improve Ambulance Services for Newborns in Bengaluru

The ambulance will be facilitated with essential services such as infant incubators, heart and lung monitors, high-frequency and conventional ventilators etc.

With the aim of improving neonatal care services in the state, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao launched Manipal Ambulance Response Service – Neonatal Care on Wheels (MARS-NOW) in Bengaluru on Friday.  MARS-NOW was launched to provide comprehensive neonatal transport services in Bengaluru and its outskirts.

The ambulance will be facilitated with essential services such as infant incubators, heart and lung monitors, high frequency and conventional ventilators, nitric oxide administration, blanket warmers and advanced vehicle suspension for a smooth journey enhancing patient comfort. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will help babies survive better, Rao said, adding that the government is open to working with the private sector to ensure the best treatment at the lowest prices possible. Manipal Hospital launched a helpline (080-22221111) service which other less facilitated private hospitals also can use, to transfer children via MARS-NOW.

The programme will expand as a hub and spoke model in Karnataka later extending services to government-run institutions too, Rao said. Doctors explained that the first few hours and days of a newborn’s life are critical, especially for pre-term babies or other medical conditions, and regular transportation could lead to new complications.

Timely action saves infant

A newborn baby suffering from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a condition wherein a baby does not grow to normal weight during pregnancy was transferred via MARS-NOW to Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road from another private hospital last year. The baby faced multiple health issues immediately after birth, including multi-system inflammatory syndrome with bleeding in the lungs and cardiac issues. Highlighting the need for tele-NICU, doctors said that the baby was already on ventilator support and would not have survived if it had not transferred properly.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: INDIA’s FREEDOM FIGHTER: Mysuru’s B.S. Ramachandra Rao No More

 B.S. Ramachandra Rao (96), freedom fighter and a resident of Saraswathipuram, passed away here on Wednesday (Aug. 30) night.

A Mechanical Engineer by profession, he had participated in Quit India Movement as a teenager and in the 1946 freedom struggle held at Hassan, he was jailed for flying the Indian flag atop a Police Station.

He is survived by his son Arun Belawadi (President of Rotary Mysore), daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. Last rites were performed at the foot of Chamundi Hill on Aug. 31.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)