Category: Records, Karnataka

HDK felicitates World Cup-winning Kho Kho team players from Karnataka’s Maddur and T. Narsipur

Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday felicitated the victorious Indian men’s and women’s Kho Kho teams who brought glory to the nation by winning the inaugural Kho Kho World Championship.

Gowtham from Maddur in Mandya district, a key player in the men’s team, and Chaithra from Kurubur village in T. Narsipur taluk in Mysuru district, who gave a stellar performance in the women’s team, received the felicitation. The Minister also acknowledged Sumit Bhatia, the chief coach of the women’s team, and Rajkumari, the team manager, for their pivotal roles in the success, a press release noted.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “Gowtham and Chaithra have made Karnataka proud. Their contributions are a testament to the talent we nurture in our State and across the country.”

We are determined to create an ecosystem where talents like Gowtham and Chaithra can thrive. Indigenous games like Kho Kho are thriving under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP government is focused on empowering athletes and preserving the legacy of our traditional games, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

The Minister said the champions are not just players, they are ambassadors of our heritage. “Their achievements inspire countless young athletes to take pride in our traditional sports. The victories are not just about winning championships, they are about the revival of India’s cultural heritage. These champions have proven that traditional sports have a rightful place on the global stage,” he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Mangaluru pips Bengaluru to get Karnataka’s first Doppler weather radar

After Mangaluru, Bengaluru and a few other places are expected to get radars later this year.

Bengaluru’s long-pending wish to have a C-band Doppler weather radar (DWR) will have to wait for sometime, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has decided to install Karnataka’s first DWR in Mangaluru.

Installation of a DWR will significantly enhance the accuracy of weather forecasts, thereby providing early warning of severe weather conditions such as thunderstorms, heavy rains, and cyclones.

There has been a pending demand for one DWR to be installed in Bengaluru. However the IMD has not been able to zero in on a location for the installation of the radar. Owing to this, Shaktinagar in Mangaluru will get the radar which is expected to be commissioned soon.

“We had first planned to install the DWR in Bengaluru, but now it has been shifted to Mangaluru,” said N. Puviarasan, head, Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru, on the sidelines of a IMD stakeholders’ meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Dr. Puviarasan added that IMD had initially identified Nandi Hills as the location for installing the DWR. However it did not go through. Subsequently it had scouted 17 to 18 locations but it did not work out as they were all “low lying places”, said Dr. Puviarasan.

“We also inspected the Air Force station, Yelahanka, and the HAL Airport but it did not work out. Now we have identified a plot inside the government school in Vishwaneedam and sought permission from the State government. At present, the file is pending before the Secretary of the Education Department,” Dr. Puviarasan. He added that Bengaluru’s DWR would be installed this year.

Karandlaje’s push

“We thought that we could complete the project in Bengaluru by November 2024, but could not do so owing to non-availability of land. Meanwhile, there was a request from Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje for installing the DWR in Mangaluru and we are going ahead with it,” he added.

Incidentally, it was Ms. Karandlaje who had demanded that a DWR be installed in Bengaluru. Ms. Karandlaje, who is also MP for Bengaluru North, in June, 2024, wrote to Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh seeking installation of the radar in Bengaluru.

Dr. Puviarasan added that one X-band radar will come up in Dharwad and that a proposal has been sent to the Centre for a S-band radar at Honnavar and a C-band radar at Ballari.

With regard to Kempegowda International Airport, he said an additional six runway visual range, four automated weather observing system, two ceilometers and wind profiler radars are in the installation stage.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Dalai Lama arrives at Bylakuppe Camp, Jan 2025

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, arrived this morning at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement Camp in Mysuru district, for an extended stay. His last brief visit to Bylakuppe was in 2017.

The Dalai Lama departed from his Thekchen Choeling residence in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, on Jan. 3. After a day’s stay in New Delhi, his special flight arrived in Bengaluru on Jan. 4 at 2 pm.

Following his stay at a hotel where he was welcomed by over 600 Tibetan students from various colleges and Tibetan businessmen, the Dalai Lama’s helicopter took off from Bengaluru at 9.30 am and landed at Tibetan Dickey Larsoe (TDL) in the Tibetan First Camp, Bylakuppe, at 11 am. A basketball court at TDL was converted into a helipad.

His Holiness was received according to protocol by Mysuru Assistant Commissioner Vijay Kumar, Mysuru SP N. Vishnuvardhana, Kushalnagar Tahsildar J. Nisargapriya and other officials.

Thousands greet their Guru

The Dalai Lama was escorted in a procession from the helipad to the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery — a four-kilometre route — where thousands of monastics, Tibetan monks, nuns, schoolchildren and Bylakuppe residents lined both sides of the road to pay their respects.

They were holding ceremonial scarves and incense sticks to greet His Holiness and seek his blessings. People in their finest traditional attire had lined up hours in advance to welcome their Guru.

Upon reaching the fully adorned and artistically painted Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Dalai Lama was guided by Abbot Zeekyab Rinpoche to an elevated seat resembling a throne, where a prayer in his honour was scheduled for 15 minutes as per Tibetan rituals and culture. Lunch was arranged at the monastery, followed by rest.

Accompanying the Dalai Lama at the Tibetan Camp are 400 Police personnel and teams of officers from Dharamshala who have been accommodated inside the Tibetan Camp as they will stay till the spiritual leader leaves Mysuru. Hundreds of monks have arrived from Ladakh and Dharamshala in preparation for his stay.

Prayer sessions, interactions

The prayer sessions, visiting schedules and blessings sessions have not yet been finalised. After a two-day rest, the Dalai Lama is scheduled to hold prayer sessions, interactions and enlightenment sessions with a 15,000-strong crowd of monks.

This is the Dalai Lama’s first trip outside Dharamshala since his return on Aug. 28 following knee surgery in New York City. Officials at Tashi Lhunpo Monastery stated that His Holiness would spend the majority of his time in the settlements at this monastery. It was also mentioned that he may remain in Bylakuppe until Tibetan Losar (New Year) which falls in February.

Subject to his health, he may conduct teachings and grant some audiences at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Bylakuppe hosts the second-largest population of Tibetans living in exile after Dharamshala.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

Udupi: Manu Shetty selected as ‘Specially Invited Youth Icon’ for national dialogue in Delhi

 Manu Shetty, a resident of Inna village in Karkala taluk, has been selected as a ‘Specially Invited Youth Icon’ from Karnataka to participate in the two-days ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ organized by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The event will be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on January 11 and 12.

Manu is the daughter of entrepreneur Uday Shetty and former zilla panchayat member Reshma Uday Shetty. She is currently a first-year BA student at MGM College, Udupi, and an active member of the student organization ABVP and the international organization JCI Padubidri.

The two-day national convention aims to ensure the participation of youth in building a developed India. The event will bring together 3,000 young talents from across the country.

The agenda includes discussions, presentations, and dialogues on various sectors contributing to India’s development. Invited participants will have the opportunity to present their ideas. Additionally, there will be exhibitions by various government departments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with union ministers, officials, and nationally and internationally recognized experts, will engage in discussions during the event.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Udupi: Sharina Alisha Mathias crowned Miss South India 2024

Sharina Alisha Mathias, a 20-year-old from Perampalli, Udupi, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the prestigious Miss South India 2024 title.

The event, hosted by CLM Modeling Agency, took place at Poornima Regency in Bengaluru on December 29, 2024. Sharina emerged victorious among 13 contestants, impressing the judges with her poise, confidence, and charismatic personality.

Sharina, the daughter of Sunil and Anitha Mathias, is a final-year student at Poornaprajna College, Udupi. Her journey to the crown includes notable achievements, such as being crowned Miss Tulunad 2023 2nd runner-up and Miss Coastalwood 2023 1st runner-up.

The event celebrated beauty, grace, and talent, with contestants from across South India competing for the coveted title. Sharina’s impressive performance secured the top spot, bringing immense pride to her hometown.

Speaking about her victory, Sharina expressed gratitude to her family, friends, and mentors for their unwavering support throughout her journey.

Sharina’s achievement has brought pride to her college and community, solidifying her position as a rising star in the world of beauty and talent.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Hoysala Award 2024 Ceremony, Mysuru on Jan. 5

The following 18 achievers from various fields have been selected for the State-level prestigious Hoysala Award for 2024 given by Hoysala Kannada Sangha and Savigannada Pathrika Balaga:

K.T. Veerappa (Literature); Dr. Aralumallige Parthasarathy (Spiritual and Dasa Literature); Dr. Gajanana Sharma (Literature); Dr. B.S. Pranatharthiharan (Literature and Akashvani Service); Dr. H.T. Shailaja (Literature and Education); Dr. T.R. Anantharamu (Science Literature); Dr. K.S. Sadananda (Medical); Dr. S.N. Hegde (Science Literature); Dr. K. Kumar (Dance); M.V. Roopa (Space Science); N.V. Dinesh (Education); Vidwan M.S. Naveen (Classical Music); Shringar Sanjivashetty (Industry and Social Service); Yashasvi Somashekhar (Industry and Rotary Service); Vidushi K.S. Ramamani (Classical Music); Dr. Janardana Bhat (Literature); R.A. Chetan Ram (Education and Personality Development) and S.K. Suresh (Social Service).

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

IISc alumni association remembers Ratan Tata, presents Entrepreneur Award to Kavyashree Manjunath Ph.D for her Research on Drug Delivery & Immunogen Development

During the first part of the programme, the association remembered Ratan Tata and his contribution to IISc.

S Mohan, Professor Emiritus (Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, IISc) and M R Chandrashekar, ex-security officer, IISc, paid respects to Tata, while members of the executive committee and the audience paid homage.

At a programme hosted on Saturday, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) alumni association commemorated the birth anniversary of Ratan Tata and presented a young entrepreneur award. 

The ‘Smt Shuba & Prof Dwarakadasa Young Entrepreneur Award’ was presented to researcher Kavyashree Manjunath, PhD, by Prof Eswarahalli Dwarakadasa. Kavyashree was recognised for her work in the field of drug discovery and immunogen development.

According to the association, during her nine years of academic research, Kavyashree has solved and deposited 20 protein structures in the Protein Data Bank and co-authored 13 research articles, two review articles and a book chapter.

It further said that Kavyashree transformed her expertise as a scientist to address “one of the most challenging but often ignored areas, the plastic pollution.”

“On the scientific side, I am sure the best work has been done,” Prof Dwarakadasa said. “However, if there is no audit of the material – how much is produced, how much is distributed and how is gotten back – any amount of scientific work is useless.”

During the first part of the programme, the association remembered Ratan Tata and his contribution to IISc. S Mohan, Professor Emiritus (Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, IISc) and M R Chandrashekar, ex-security officer, IISc, paid respects to Tata, while members of the executive committee and the audience paid homage.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

Bengaluru teen Abishek Sekhar bags six medals at national shooting event

Abishek won three gold medals in the Team Events, alongside a silver in the Junior Men’s 10-metre Air Rifle Finals, with a stunning score of 251.4.

In a remarkable feat, 18-year-old Abishek Sekhar from Bengaluru created history by becoming the first shooter from Karnataka to win six medals at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) in Bhopal.

The competition, held at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, brought together India’s elite shooters, including Olympians and World Cup champions, where Abishek’s exceptional performance placed him at the forefront of Indian shooting.

Abishek won three gold medals in the Team Events, alongside a silver in the Junior Men’s 10-metre Air Rifle Finals, with a stunning score of 251.4.

His silver came in a high-stakes final where Rudrankksh Patil, a contender for the Paris 2024 Olympics, broke the World Record to win the gold medal. Additionally, Abishek claimed a silver in the Junior Mixed Team Event with Tilottama Sen and a bronze in the Civilian Category.

Starting his journey in 2019, Abishek quickly made a name for himself by winning gold in all categories of the 10-metre Open Sight Shooting event and breaking the Karnataka record within just two months of training. After a two-year break during the pandemic and to focus on academics, he returned to shooting in 2022 and has since accumulated numerous accolades, including at the State Shooting Championships and Dussehra Cup.

Trained by renowned coach Ramachandran Purushothaman at the Art of Shooting Academy in Bengaluru, Abishek continues to receive strong support from the Karnataka State Rifle Association.

“This year, I went into the nationals with great confidence. My ultimate dream is to stand on the podium at the next Olympics and make my country proud,” Abishek said, reflecting on his future ambitions.

His coach, Ramachandran Purushothaman, highlighted, “Abishek’s attention to detail, discipline, and ability to analyse each shot will carry him far in the sport.”

The 67th NSCC attracted a record 13,522 shooters from across India, including Olympians and national-level competitors.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inaugurates memorial auditorium of freedom fighter Gangadhar Deshpande in Belagavi

The memorial auditorium has been constructed over an area of approximately 15 guntas at a cost of Rs 1.58 crore.

As part of the ‘Gandhi Bharat’ programme, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the memorial auditorium of freedom fighter Gangadhar Deshpande, also known as the ‘Lion of Karnataka,’ along with his photo gallery in Ramtirth Nagar, Belagavi, on Thursday.

The memorial auditorium has been constructed over an area of approximately 15 guntas at a cost of Rs 1.58 crore. It features a statue of Gangadhar Deshpande, a photo gallery showcasing rare photographs of the 1924 Congress session, moments of Gangadhar Deshpande with Mahatma Gandhi and other leaders, a wire fence, pavers, and a garden.

The event was attended by the President of the Centenary Celebration Committee and Law Minister H.K. Patil, honorary chairman of the Centenary Committee and former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Urban Development Minister Bhairati Suresh, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadgi, Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao, Chief Whip of the Government Ashok Pattan, Belagavi North MLA Asif Sait, Chikkodi-Sadalga MLA Ganesh Hukkeri, MLC Prakash Hukkeri, Director of the Kannada and Culture Department Dr Dharani Devi Malagatti, DC Mohammed Roshan, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, Police Commissioner Iada Martin, Superintendent of Police Dr Bhimashankar Guled, Corporation Commissioner Shubha B, Joint Director K.H. Channur, and Deputy Director Vidyavati Bhajantri.

Role of Gangadhar Rao Deshpande in the freedom struggle

Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, hailing from Hudali village in Belagavi taluk, was a brave freedom fighter widely known as the ‘Lion of Karnataka.’ He played a pivotal role in organising the 1924 Congress session in Belagavi and persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to preside over the event. His diplomacy and capable leadership have been well recorded in Belagavi’s history.

At the time, Gangadhar Rao enjoyed a stature within the Congress Party comparable to Jawaharlal Nehru. Although he possessed the influence to secure a significant position in the Indian government post-independence, he chose a path of selflessness, dedicating his life to spirituality. He firmly believed that his struggle and service were confined to securing the nation’s freedom.

Born on 31 March 1871 to Balakrishna and Radhabai, a wealthy family in Hudali village of Belagavi taluk, Gangadhar Rao completed his secondary education at Sardar’s High School, Belagavi, before earning his BA LLB from Deccan College, Pune. He is survived by his wife Lakshmibai and son Balakrishna. Gangadhar Rao passed away on 30 July 1960.

In 1922, he established the Charak Sangha, followed by the Gandhi Seva Sangha in Hudali in 1937. The Khadi Village Industry, which he supported, continues to provide employment to hundreds of people. He also served as the Municipal President of Belagavi in 1920.

Initially, Gangadhar Rao was a follower of Gopalakrishna Gokhale and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Later, he came into close contact with Mahatma Gandhi and was regarded as one of Gandhi’s five closest associates. A true Gandhian, Gangadhar Rao wore khadi clothes and lived a simple life despite his wealth.

Gangadhar Rao invited Mahatma Gandhi to his hometown Hudali, where Bapu stayed for seven days. A meeting of the Gandhi Seva Sangh was held, attended by prominent leaders including Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Shaukat Ali, and Sarojini Naidu, as well as senior writers Betageri Krishna Sharma and G. Narayan.

Gangadhar Rao Deshpande had also advocated for Belagavi’s inclusion in Karnataka during the formation of linguistic provinces.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Barkur’s rising star Risha Tanya Pinto clinches Miss South India 2024 first runner-up title

In a dazzling showcase of grace and talent, 19-year-old Risha Tanya Pinto from Barkur, has added another prestigious accolade to her growing collection by securing the Miss South India 2024 First Runner-Up title. The grand finale of the “Mr., Miss, Mrs., and Kids South India Fashion Show 2024” was held on December 29th at the Poornima Regency Hotel in Bangalore, where Risha’s commanding stage presence and exceptional performance caught the judges’ attention.

The event, organized by the renowned Celebrity Modelling Agency and Academy (CLM), brought together talented contestants from across South India, making Risha’s achievement even more noteworthy. This latest triumph caps off an extraordinary year for the young pageant sensation, who has been making waves in the fashion and modeling circuit throughout 2024.

Risha, daughter of Maxie Pinto and Reshma Rodrigues from the Hanehalli of Barkur parish, has demonstrated remarkable consistency in pageantry this year. In November, she claimed the coveted Miss Coastalwood 2024 title, along with special recognition for Best Ramp Walk and Most Talented at the Miss/Teen/Mr. and Mrs. Coastalwood 2024 competition. Earlier in September, she was crowned Miss Karavali 2024 at a prestigious event organized by UPS Model Management in Mangaluru.

Her deep-rooted commitment to community service is exceptional. As an active member of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) Barkur unit, she has maintained a strong connection with her community while pursuing her dreams in the modeling world. Her journey began with winning the “Miss Teen Grand Mangaluru 2024” title, organized by the South Canara district administration, which proved to be a stepping stone for her subsequent achievements.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)