Education – Page 2 – Karnataka First

KARNATAKA : ARTS & CRAFTS: “TFA Award Winner for Creative Writing in Kannada”, Naveen Tejaswi: ‘Privilege has a lot to do with making art’

Winner of the TFA Award for Creative Writing in Kannada, Naveen Tejaswi, talks about his attempts to be heard in a language he understands.

“If someone asks me ‘Why do you make films?’ I tell them it’s because it has everything I like — music, photography and acting,” says Naveen Tejaswi. Naveen may have won an award for Creative Writing in Kannada from TOTO Funds the Arts, but behind that unassuming mien lies a creative soul who expresses himself through theatre, photography and films.

Hailing from Hosabale in Shivamogga, Naveen is a first generation student from his family and after completing his primary education from his village, came to Bengaluru to pursue a BSc degree from St Joseph’s College.

“I wanted to become a scientist, but after a while I realised that though I was good at it, I did not enjoy it.“

Launchpad

“I was doing theatre in college and had started watching films. I had come to Bangalore in 2014, and would watch English movies everyday with subtitles to learn the language. Soon, I fell in love with the media.”

His stay in the city brought him exposure to world cinema, literature and photography, which only fuelled his creativity as he used to write poems, essays and short stories in Kannada, even as a youngster.

Naveen used to work part-time jobs in college and when he earned enough, he gifted himself a second hand DSLR camera and began taking photographs, eventually gaining a proficiency in it.

Today, Naveen writes and directs films casting people from his village. So far, Naveen has directed four short films and all of them done the festival circuit. Bidugade (Redemption) was a finalist at KIKSFF at California in 2019 and The Sicklehook was the official selection for EFF, Khanty Mansi in Russia for 2018.

More recently, his short film Habba Haridina Suggi Shivaratri was released on YouTube after it was rejected for its politics by a few film festivals.

“Over a 100 people from my village have been part of my films shot with minimal or borrowed equipment. They say it takes a village to raise a child — the same holds true for homegrown cinema. I call these my sustainable films.”

Though his short stories and films are in Kannada, “Last year I started writing in English too,” says Naveen, adding, “Called Track One, it won the Barbra Naidu prize for personal essay writing.” It motivated him to keep writing despite initial setbacks. Today, that story is part of St. Joseph’s Communicative English syllabus.

“When I first started writing, I used the dialect of my village because that’s what I think in. But when it came to validation — from established writers or professors, they couldn’t connect to those language patterns and nuances.”

Naveen turned down an offer to publish his stories in 2018 because the editors wanted to bring in a lot of changes to the language and approach to make it more suitable. That put a spanner in his imaginative works for almost five years. “During that time I battled with confusion on confidence on what is accepted and what is not. There were no other examples or a reference to the context of social, economic or political background of my village in mainstream media, making it harder to be accepted.”

In 2023, I finally decided to couldn’t stifle it any longer, couldn’t wait for the world to say it was okay. So I started writing again. These stories are set in my village which has 300 houses. Of these, perhaps 10 belong to members of the Brahmin community who are the landowners, while the rest of us work for them. We are the first generation to go to school and my stories look at the lives of people in the village.

Writer’s clock

Naveen has been working on a collection of short stories set in his village. “I’m interested in contemporary films and literature. I want to know how different artistes are seeing the world we are living right now.”

His winning entry for the TOTO Award were two stories from that collection.

“I believe the stories we tell or create stem from the place we live our experiences. Though there are famous writers in Kannada, due to their socio-political backgrounds, I couldn’t relate to their work. As a first generation student from an oppressed caste, and even while growing up, I would wonder why the stories of those around me were rarely found in any media.”

He agrees that Art imitates Life, and that, “people in pop culture exist too, but their stories are not real for me. I cannot relate to the things they do. I have come to understand that privilege has a lot to do with making art.”

He goes on to elaborate, “Art takes a lot of time and resources. For someone coming from a privileged background these things come easily.”

TFA wins

Talking about the stories which won the TFA Award, Naveen says, “One story is called ‘Suraghi’— it’s a flower whose fragrance lingers for days even after it dries, but it is not used as a temple offering. The story is about a father and his daughter. The father like his father before him have been workers in a Brahmin family for generations now. The story is from the daughter’s point of view — she wants to become a pilot when she grows up.”

“The other story is ‘Bangara,’ also the name of a flower called gold-petalled dahlia in English. This is a story about a mother and her daughter. The mother is a single parent and like most women in our village, after her day as a daily wage earner, she sits with them to dehusk areca from 9pm-11pm to supplement her income.”

“This lady is 60 years old now, and her daughter is married and living away. The mother wants to spend more time with her grandchild but not able to. The story explores the dynamics of their relationship, the gap caused by liking and disliking certain things about each other.”

Both ‘Suraghi’ and ‘Bangara’ won the TFA Award for Creative Writing in Kannada this year. At his acceptance speech, Naveen said he would be using the award money to start an art centre in his village. “It’s called Bheema Shale and on April 6, 2024, we will officially launch the centre where we will conducts a camp for spoken English and music.

“My friends from Adavi, a Bengaluru-based collective will teach us to play the tamate (a hand drum), while I will take the English class.”

The TOTO Awards were instituted 20 years ago by Toto Funds the Arts, a non-profit trust set up in 2004 in memory of Angirus ‘Toto’ Vellani. The annual Toto Awards are intended to encourage and recognise potential in artists under the age of 30.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES : Nimhans hosts special exhibition in Bengaluru

A series of informative content and interactive sessions kept the attendees engaged.

To raise awareness about bipolar disorder and combat the social stigma surrounding mental health, the Department of Psychiatry at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), in collaboration with other departments organized a special exhibition on World Bipolar Day on Saturday.

A series of informative content and interactive sessions kept the attendees engaged. They could explore more on bipolar disorder, its symptoms, treatment options, and ways to offer support to those affected by the condition.

Alongside the exhibition, the Department of Mental Health Education and the Department of Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology released an infographic video on Bipolar Affective Disorder in both English and Kannada. The initiative aimed to educate the public and provide them with valuable knowledge and resources.

NIMHANS Director Dr Pratima Murthy inaugurated the event and highlighted the significance of World Bipolar Day in combating the stigma surrounding mental health disorders. Dr Murthy said, “It is upon us to inspire and stand by those impacted by this disorder, affirming that they too can lead lives as fulfilling as anyone else.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: EDUCATION / UNSUNG HEROES : Hit hard by daughter’s death, this Bengaluru Police Officer Asst SI D.Lokeshappa now supports 600 school children in their studies

Assistant SI Lokeshappa lost his 3-year-old daughter to a garbage fire that broke out in police staff quarters in Bengaluru 5 years ago; now donates study materials for govt school children, equivalent to the amount that he would have spent on his daughter’s education if she were alive.

13 March, 2019, was a tragic day in the life of Assistant Police Sub-Inspector D Lokeshappa’s life when he lost his three-year-old daughter to the garbage fire that broke out in police quarters in Bengaluru.

Unable to come to terms with the loss, Lokeshappa chose a meaningful way to compensate himself by helping over 600 government school children every year in memory of his daughter.

On March 5, 2019, Harshali, daughter of Lokeshappa and Sudhamani was playing with her ball on the police staff quarters premises located in Shivajinagar. While her father was at work in Vidhana Soudha, around 5 pm he received the most unexpected call that Harshali has sustained over 60 per cent burn injuries in the garbage fire accident.

Harshaali was rushed to Victoria Hospital where she was treated for the next few days before she succumbed to burn injuries on March 13.

“I was unable to digest the fact that I will not be able to see my daughter any more. It was traumatic for her and me as well. She was being treated in the burning ward and was screaming ‘Appa’ (father) whenever she saw me which I cannot digest to this day and she suffered a lot before her death,” recalls the 43-year-old.

After his daughter’s death, a mentally shattered Lokeshappa was confined to his house for two months. “It was my wife who tried to console me as our other daughter was just six months old then. I had no choice but to return back to work but I did not want to go to the same police quarters. My department had allotted me quarters in Binnypet,” says Lokeshappa who opens up about how he came out of the pain.

It was then he decided to do something in his daughter’s name. Donate study materials for government school children, equivalent to the amount that he would have spent on his daughter’s education.

“If my daughter was alive, I would have spent at least Rs 50,000 – Rs 70,000 for her education. The same money I spend for poor children. Before the start of every academic year, we provide the children with the required materials. At least 500-600 children from five government schools benefit out of this,” he says.

The police officer zeroed in on five schools – a government school in Dhodda Hosuru in Mysuru district which has many tribal children, Jodi Gubbi government school in Hassan district, government school at Kodigehalli in Bengaluru, and two others in Jannavara and Valehalli in Hassan districts for his charity work. “While I spend about 70,000 every year, some of my colleagues, family members and friends also contribute for the cause and every year we spend about Rs 1.5- Rs 2 lakh,” Lokeshappa reveals.

Mary Stella, a teacher with the Dhodda Hosuru school, recalls how the charity activities have helped her students. “Many of the students come from Haadis (hamlets) and belong to tribal communities. There is a Tibetian camp here and these students used to wait for some visitors to throw a used water bottle on roadside (mineral water bottle) to reuse it. We insisted them not to take them. Lokeshappa donated proper school water bottles to all the 120 children here. This comes besides, geometry boxes, notebooks and pencils. They no longer pick those water bottles,” smiles Mary Stella.

Government schools in Bengaluru are fraught with problems as well. The Kodigehalli government school sees a lot of migrants from north Karnataka and north India who require support. “From Classes 1 to 5, we provide pencils, geometry boxes and box notebooks. From Class 5 to 10, we provide pens and notebooks according to their demands,” Lokeshappa says.

Every year, the police officer and his family celebrate Harshaali’s birthday at orphan houses. “The Rotary Club near Cubbon Park has given us space for free for a day to hold an event, he says.

Lokeshappa is currently the assistant sub-inspector at Shivajinagar women’s police station in Bengaluru.

source/content: indianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: IT & TECHNOLOGY: Ayman Patil and Dheeraj Angadi Win ’15th TCS TechBytes Quiz’ in Kalaburagi, Dharwad

Ayman Patil of BLDEA’s V.P. Dr. P.G. Halakatti College of Engineering and Technology, Vijayapura, and Dheeraj Angadi of KLS MS Sheshagiri College of Engineering and Technology, Belagavi, have respectively won the Kalaburagi and Dharwad regional finals of the 15th edition of TCS TechBytes quiz competition held in Kalaburagi and Dharwad respectively.

While Nagaraj Dhoni from Appa Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kalaburagi, emerged as the runner up in the Kalaburagi regional finals, Makan Sujith of IIT-Dharwad bagged the runner up prize in the Dharwad regional finals.

The Kalaburagi regional finals were held on Thursday and that of Dharwad on Friday. TCS and the Board for IT Education Standards (BITES), an autonomous body promoted by Government of Karnataka, conducted the regional finals of the annual event.

Principal of the Lingaraj Appa Engineering College, Bidar, Vinita Patil, and Dean of Academics of SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad, Vijaya C. gave away trophies and gift vouchers to the winners.

The winners of both Kalaburagi and Dharwad regional finals will represent the respective regions at the State Finals to be held in Bengaluru on April 5.

After the preliminary written tests, top six students were chosen for the regional finals of the quix which comprised of five segments – Tech Dashboard, Tech Recognition, Data World, Tech Connections and Generative Insights – testing the students’ technology acumen.

TCS TechBytes is a campus outreach programme that strives to provide a better understanding of IT to students of all streams of engineering, to enable them to compete in a technology intensive industry. Regional Finals of TCS TechBytes is conducted across six cities in Karnataka – Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Tumakuru and Bengaluru.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: EDUCATION TOPPERS : Chikkamagaluru girl Snehashree S, emerges Topper with 10 gold medals for UAS-B convocation

During the 58th convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru which is scheduled on March 4, on the GKVK Campus, the gold medals and degrees will be conferred to the achievers.

Snehashree S., a graduate of Agricultural Science (B.Sc-Agri) from the College of Agriculture of GKVK, has emerged as the topper of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru (UAS-B) with 10 gold medals and three gold medal certificates.

A daughter of a teacher from Chikkamagaluru, Ms. Snehashree dreams of becoming a civil servant by cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam in the future.

Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Snehashree said, “I didn’t have any idea that I would top the university with 10 gold medals. I didn’t put too much effort into becoming a topper. Instead, I used to study normally and used to prepare for the UPSC exam. But I tried to improve my marks semester to semester and finally, it was fruitful,” she said.

“I want to become a civil servant and have applied for the UPSC Exam-2024, for which the preliminary exam will be held in May. I have joined coaching classes. Since class 10, I used to improve my marks and results gradually year by year. I will also use the same formula in the UPSC exam,” she added.

Aparna. T.M., a student of the College of Agriculture, Mandya, is the second topper with eight gold medals, and Shreya S. Hanji, GKVK, UAS-B the third with seven gold medals in M.Sc (Agri Economics).

During the 58th convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru which is scheduled on March 4, on the GKVK Campus, the gold medals and degrees will be conferred to the achievers. This year, a total of 1,244 students will be conferred with various degrees, of which 870 students will receive Bachelor’s degrees, 291 students will receive Master’s degrees, and 83 students will be conferred Doctoral degrees, said S.V. Suresh, Vice-Chancellor of UAS at the press conference on Friday, March 1. During the convocation, 156 gold medals and certificates will be awarded.

Honorary doctorate

M.C. Rangaswamy, a farmer from Doddamagge village, Arkalgud taluk, Hassan district will be felicitated with an honorary doctorate.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ASTRONOMY: NIE’s Vijnana Tharangini Hosts First Sky Watch Programme in Mysuru

The National Institute of Engineering (NIE) in Mysuru hosted its first ever Sky Watch Programme, captivating attendees with celestial wonders.

Organised by the Vijnana Tharangini – The NIE Student’s Science Club under Department of Physics, in association with the Gravity Science Foundation, Chamarajanagar, the event drew enthusiasts from the region.

Esteemed guests, including Dr. S.N. Prasad, former Principal and Professor of Physics, RIE, Mysuru and M. Krishna Murthy, Amateur Astronomer, were present, offering attendees a mesmerising journey through the cosmos with a Telescope Show.

Dr. Prasad, who holds a habit of travelling to different countries to observe total solar eclipse, delivered a special lecture on the wonders of night sky.

A.S. Abhishek, Founder of the Gravity Science Foundation, highlighted the significance of initiatives like the Sky Watch Programme in fostering scientific curiosity.

Faculty Coordinators Dr. M.V. Deepa Urs, Dr. P. Parameshwara and Dr. Chandra played vital roles in ensuring the event’s success.

Participants marvelled at sights like the Orion constellation and Jupiter with its moons, observed up close through high-powered telescopes.

Dr. Prasad commended the organisers for promoting scientific awareness and nurturing inquiry among students, emphasising its importance in grooming future scientists.

Organisers expressed gratitude to participants, guests and supporters, envisioning the Sky Watch Programme as a recurring event, fostering greater exploration and discovery in astronomy and other scientific fields.

In conclusion, the Sky Watch Programme at NIE marked a significant milestone in promoting scientific education and exploration, igniting curiosity and fascination among attendees.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: PRODIGY: 2-year-old Chirush Preetham Poojary bags India Book of Records ‘IBR Achiever’ title

Chirush Preetham Poojary (born on January 9, 2022) of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, is titled as ‘IBR Achiever.’

The title was achieved for reciting an English nursery rhyme, recalling 26 associated words of the English alphabet, counting from 1 to 10, identifying 8 relatives, 7 fruits, 9 vegetables, 18 parts of the body, 6 birds, 23 animals, 9 colors, 10 vehicles and 47 miscellaneous items performing 6 actions and mimicking the sounds.

source/content/pix : daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL : KARNATAKA: Bengaluru Kendriya Vidyala Student R. Bhavana presents Science Project at PM’s Pariksha pe Charcha

R. Bhavana represented the KVS Bengaluru region at the programme in Delhi.

R. Bhavana, a class 9 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, DRDO, Bengaluru, presented her science project at the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme held on January 29 in Bharath Mandapam, Pragathi Maidan, New Delhi. As part of the programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with students appearing for board exams this year.

R. Bhavana represented the KVS Bengaluru region at the programme in Delhi. Her project on a health monitoring system has earned recognition for its innovative approach, according to Kendriya Vidyalaya, DRDO, Bengaluru.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited0

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: Two students from Kundapur, Sullia selected to participate in Pariksha Pe Charcha with PM Modi

Two students from Kundapur and Sullia have been selected to participate in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, which will be held on Monday, January 29, in New Delhi.

Gargi Devi, a ninth-grade student at HMM English Medium Primary and V K R Acharya High School, promoted by Kundapur Education Society, and Achal Bilinele, a first PU science student at Mudipu Jawahara Navodaya Vidyalaya, are the participants in this event.

This year, 2.05 crore students, 14.93 lakh teachers, and 5.69 lakh parents from all over the country will take part in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme online.

Two individuals who won in the national-level art festival have the opportunity to participate in the Republic Day parade and have a discussion in person with PM Modi during Pariksha Pe Charcha.

Gargi Devi secured the first place in the state-level art festival of 2023-24 and won a bronze medal in the classical dance competition of the national-level art festival.

Achal Bilinele has been selected to demonstrate a science model that explains the functioning of Chandrayana-3 in a simple manner understandable by commoners.

Achal is representing the Hyderabad zone of Navodaya Vidyalaya. Out of the 600 Jawahara Navodaya Vidyalayas in the country, eight have the opportunity to participate in the programme. Achal is the son of lecturer Chandrashekhara Bilinele and Dr Anuradha Kurunji.

Achal’s mother, Dr Anuradha, met the then PM Atal Bihari Vajapayee exactly 25 years ago on January 29, 1999. Achal will be meeting PM Modi on the same date and month after 25 years.

Gargi is the daughter of Ashok Suvarna and Natya Vidushi Pravita Ashok, a couple from Devalkunda. She is the second student from Kundapur to be selected to participate in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme. In March 2021, Anusha, a student of Albady-Ardy Charamakki Narayana Shetty Memorial High School, participated in the same programme.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited0

KARNATAKA: ACHIEVERS HONOURED: 5 Eminent Personalities of Udupi & Dakshina Kannada District Awarded at the ‘New Year Awards 2024’

Academy of General Education, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, MEMG, Manipal Media Network Ltd and Dr TMA Pai Foundation, Manipal conducted ‘New Year Awards 2024’ to honour eminent personalities of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district for their immense contributions to society, art and culture.

The awards were conferred to five achievers who have contributed in their own ways in culture, literature and have even created awareness in this unprecedented situation.

The welcome address was made by Dr H S Ballal – pro chancellor and president, Academy of General Education, MAHE and the felicitation address was given by Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh – vice chancellor, MAHE.

The winners of this year were Dr M Narendra, an esteemed senior professional and retired chairman and managing director of Indian Overseas Bank; Dr Jaimala Ramachandra, cine artiste and producer; Dr H Manjunatha Hande, professor, HOD and unit head in the department of medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal; Dr Yadkathody Sanjeeva Rai, former dean of Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, and a distinguished cosmetic surgeon at Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru and B K Deva Rao, agriculturist.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr H S Ballal – pro chancellor, MAHE said, “Being the hosts of this wonderful celebration of the contributions and outstanding accomplishments of the five recipients is an honour for us. I congratulate each one of them from the bottom of my heart for their spirit. The educational system in place now looks for fresh perspectives and investigations. The liberal arts and humanities ought to be given more importance. We are thrilled to acknowledge their hard work and accomplishments in their respective fields which has added significant impact towards the betterment of the society.”

Lt Gen (Dr) MD Venkatesh, vice chancellor, MAHE, sharing his excitement said, “We are exuberant to felicitate the outstanding achievements of the New Year awardees, and this is undoubtedly a terrific occasion for us. We value their unparalleled contributions to literature, agriculture, medicine, culture, and mankind. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to establish an example for others to follow and instil virtues in the community. The most effective way to address societal issues or raise awareness is through these literary and artistic disciplines. Honouring the achievers serves a dual purpose: it not only shows appreciation and recognition for their hard work, but it also serves as a springboard for young people to aim higher.”

Humbled by the award, Dr M Narendra conveyed, “With deep appreciation I extend my sincere gratitude to the community for choosing me. This serves as not just a personal achievement but a celebration of the vital role of banking in shaping our economic landscape. From early on, I have been committed to contribute to the welfare of society through the financial sector by fostering economic growth, and financial inclusion. In a world where economic well-being is integral to the fabric of society, this award reinforces my determination to contribute to building a more inclusive and thriving society through responsible and impactful financial practices. Thank you for acknowledging my efforts and encouraging me to make a lasting positive difference.”

Expressing his happiness after receiving the award, Dr Yadkathody Sanjeeva Rai, said, “I am grateful for this award for recognizing the path I have chosen in medicine and surgery. Receiving this award not only celebrates my individual achievements but underscores the collective effort of all those who have been integral to my professional journey especially during the establishment of Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara, Nepal. It highlights the significance of collaboration in the global healthcare landscape, and I am inspired to continue fostering partnerships that transcend borders for the betterment of medical education and healthcare. Thank you for this incredible moment.”

Conveying her joy, Dr Jaimala Ramachandra said, “In this moment of reflection and gratitude, I am truly touched by the recognition given to me by the New Year Awards committee. This recognition holds a special place in my heart, acknowledging not just my contributions to the film industry but also my commitment to public service, literature and social wellbeing. Movies are a powerful storytelling form which can showcase the reality of society in an open forum. I see this award that reaffirms the belief in the transformative impact of cinema to connect, inspire and bring about positive change. I am deeply thankful for the encouragement to persist in my endeavours.”

Honoured by the recognition, Dr H Manjunatha Hande,“I extend my heartfelt appreciation for recognizing my journey dedicated to medical education and research. It serves as a powerful acknowledgement of the importance of medicine in shaping a healthier and brighter future for our communities.”

Overcome with joy, B K Deva Rao, agriculturist said, “With sincere gratitude, I am humbled with the recognition given to me through the award. This acknowledgement reflects the tireless efforts of every farmer into cultivating our lands. I thank the community for considering me and celebrating the vital role of agriculture in our community.”

The event was aptly concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Dr Raviraj N S, director, planning & monitoring, acknowledging the enthusiastic participation and support of the entire community.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)