KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: WATER FROM AIR: How some institutions in Bengaluru are harvesting water out of thin air 

Atmospheric Water Generator uses cutting-edge technology under which water vapour in the air is converted into fresh and cleaning drinking water, which is 100% microbe-free.

Imagine getting around 100 litres of water every day from thin air when Bengaluru is battling a water crisis. Thanks to a technology called atmospheric water generation, several institutions in Bengaluru, including government schools and hospitals, have regular water supply source on their premises.  

The Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) uses cutting edge technology under which water vapour in the air is converted into fresh and clean drinking water, which is 100% microbe-free. The vapour is converted to water droplets through the process of condensation. The water then goes through multiple filtration processes and is also passed through a mineral cartridge to infuse necessary minerals. 

K. R. Puram Government Hospital was among the initial beneficiaries of this technology with the installation of two AWGs almost four years ago. With an installed capacity of 300 litres, the water from these generators is used for the dialysis centre and maternity division in the hospital in east Bengaluru. 

“As we also have an RO plant, we do not use all of 300 litres every day, but we make use of 50 – 100 litres for drinking purposes. We get both hot and cold water. The generator keeps filling up as we draw water from it. However, if the air supply to the AWGs was better (currently, it is obstructed by a tree and glass casing around one AWG), then the water generation would have been much better,” said Praveena, in-charge nursing superintendent at the hospital. 

Recently, an AWG of 250-litre capacity was installed at Government Higher Primary School, Rajarajeshwari Nagar. Kashinath Prabhu, the district director, CSR of Rotary District 3191, which implemented the project in collaboration with other institutions, said, “With this, we can provide at least half a litre of drinking water to each of the 300 children who come there. We are currently able to harvest 80% yield every day.” 

Yield reduces in summer 

While the yield from AWGs is usually higher in the rainy and winter seasons, the absence of humidity in the air during summer reduces the yield at some installations. According to sources, the yield from the AWG at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium has been around 50-60% of the installed capacity this summer. 

“We do not see much generation during the day. But it happens during evenings and nights in summer. It has certainly proven to be helpful for drinking water purposes at the planetarium,” according to a source. 

Maithri Aquatech is the technology partner for these installations, under their project Meghdoot. Including the aforementioned, they have a total of 21 installations in and around Bengaluru with capacity ranging from 40 litres to 5,000 litres. The installations are in residential buildings, corporate companies, educational institutions and the latest, the College of Horticulture in Kolar. 

Cost concerns  

According to S. Sridhar, director of a non-profit organisation Applying Technology For Social Changes (ATFSC) who has partnered with Maithri Aquatech to provide potable water to communities, there is an increased interest in the technology in light of the recent water crisis in Bengaluru. 

“However, people are hesitant about installation due to power costs. The AWG consumes 0.25 units per litre. Overall, the cost comes up to ₹2 per litre, and maintenance is minimal. Just like RO systems, there are two filters inside, which should be cleaned once a year,” Mr. Sridhar said. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: KANNADA : Vatican Radio-News adds Kannada as 53rd language for its media coverage

 Vatican Radio – Vatican News have added Karnataka’s official language of Kannada as the 53rd language to provide coverage of Papal, Vatican, and Church news, offering the Gospel Proclamation in the mother tongue of 35 million Indians.

Vatican Radio – Vatican News will be available in Kannada language spoken by millions of people in India on the Vatican News web portal.

The initiative arises from collaboration between the Dicastery for Communication and the Archdiocese of Bangalore, in the Indian state of Karnataka.

“I am delighted with the launch of these pages in Kannada,” remarked the Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Peter Machado.

“News about the Pope, the Vatican, the universal Church, and the world will be of great interest and importance for the local Church in Karnataka. I thank our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, for his continual emphasis on synodality and on bringing the Church to the peripheries. The faithful will surely benefit from reading these articles and, in a later phase when possible, also from their broadcast in audio/video. I am sure that our Communication Centre of the Archdiocese of Bangalore will bring the universal Church closer to the people,’’ said the Archbishop.

“A new language is added to those spoken by Vatican News. It is an ancient language, yet very much alive,” highlighted Dr Paolo Ruffini, the Prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication.

“It is alive just as is the Catholic community that helps us in this small but great enterprise: to speak the language of 35 million Indians. It is an act of homage to their culture, and a service to authentic communication, a way of walking together, one step after the other. It represents great effort, certainly. ‘Effort always pays,’’ he said.

“The decision to also add the Kannada language to the existing 52 of Vatican Radio – Vatican News to offer the word of the Pope in the mother tongue of millions of Indians,” said Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of Vatican Media, “confirms our vocation of service to the Bishop of Rome and the Churches that form the universal Church.”

In a historical moment characterised by difficulties, uncertainties, wars, and violence, it is comforting that the Church bears witness to communion and sharing, strengthening the ties between Rome and the world.

“The breadth of the Church is truly wonderful. 93 years ago, Pope Pius XI entrusted Guglielmo Marconi with the task of building Vatican Radio to bring hope to the world,” emphasised Massimiliano Menichetti, head of Vatican Radio – Vatican News, “to spread the Christian proclamation, and to build up the Church of Christ. In the 1990s, the waves of the Pope’s Radio reached Vietnam, that Proclamation generated “radio Christians”; a new living Church.

Today, new technologies (shortwaves, satellites, and internet) offer us many opportunities to bring the Good News to our wounded world. The Kannada language is another example of vitality and fraternity and our wish is to continue to weave these paths in responsibility and unity.”

‘’We are excited to announce that Vatican news is now broadcast in Kannada, courtesy of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. Today, Dr Peter Machado, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore, officially inaugurated and launched the channel.

This addition makes Kannada the 53rd language in which Vatican news is accessible worldwide, joining other major languages such as Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.

source/content: daijiworld.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)

NATIONAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) achieves major milestone, First Aircraft of Tejas LA5033 of the Mk1A series takes to skies in Bengaluru

The first Aircraft LA5033 of the Tejas Mk1A series took to the skies from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Bengaluru on Thursday. It was a successful sortie with a flying time of 18 minutes, the HAL said in a statement.

“HAL achieved this significant production milestone with concurrent design and development amid major supply chain challenges in the global geo-political environment subsequent to the contract signature in February 2021. The flight was piloted by CTP, Group Captain K. K. Venugopal (Retd),” HAL stated.

A. Bharat Bhushan Babu, Principal Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence, said, “HAL achieves a significant production milestone with the successful test sortie of Tejas Mk1A aircraft today.

The Tejas Mk1A will have an advanced radar, electronic warfare and communication systems, additional combat capability and improved maintenance features,” he said.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Yet again Hubballi gets drenched in myriad colours on Ranga Panchami

There was little impact of drought and reported restrictions on rain dance on Ranga Panchami celebrations on the fifth day after the Full Moon as part of Holi festival on Friday in Hubballi, which got soaked in myriad colours with people of all age groups coming out to indulge in revelry.

After the morale boosting route march a day before, a large number of people descended on the streets to celebrate the festival of colours and did not even spare police personnel on duty, many of whom resembled revellers by the end of the celebrations.

Like on earlier occasions, the streets in the central business district of Hubballi were drenched in colours. The talk of restricting water tankers by the municipal authorities had no impact on rain dances organised by various Kamanna Pandals.

The revellers, especially young girls and boys, danced their heart out at rain dance installations where high decibel sound systems played foot thumping music of hit numbers.

The usual road restrictions imposed during Holi to prevent movement of vehicles in a few sensitive areas did not dampen the spirit of celebration. It was a common sight to see motorcyclists riding their two-wheelers with two-three pillion riders. Several girls too were seen riding two-wheelers with two-three pillion riders, visiting various localities.

Couples with children dressed to suit the celebration mood, with masks and other paraphernalia, too roamed around the city. Some pillion riders were seen beating the drum while proceeding from one locality to another.

Children, including toddlers, had a great time under the supervision of their mothers and grandparents in the vicinity of their houses. Armed with water ballons and pitchkaris, the children sprayed coloured water on passersby.

In Kamaripet area, women and girls standing on their balconies poured coloured water in buckets on the revellers and visitors. Elders of the family too enjoyed the revelry by sitting in front of their houses, watching the celebrations.

As has been the practice, idols of Kamanna (Lord Manmatha) and Rati were taken out before Kamanna was burnt in effigies to mark the end of the celebrations.

This year too, the celebrations continued till late in the evening. Channapet area in Old Hubballi witnessed colourful procession with the organisers getting several folk troupes to play the Jaggalige (large traditional drum that is rolled on the ground while playing) and other drums.

In some localities of Old Hubballi and the central business district, Muslims welcomed the processions and played Holi with the revellers. At a few places, juice was offered to the revellers. Vendors of powdered colour did brisk business amid the celebrations, while the rest of the shops and commercial establishments remained closed for the day.

Despite the order for a dry day, there were several spirited youths among the revellers, who had planned in advance for the celebrations. The police heaved a sigh of relief as the celebrations concluded peacefully.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: 02nd edition of 2-day ‘Mahindra Percussion Festival 2024’ kicks off with thunderous performances

The second edition of the two-day Mahindra Percussion Festival stormed into Bengaluru this weekend, igniting the Prestige Srihari Khoday Centre for Performing Arts with a thunderous opening day of performances.

The first day’s events began with a slightly subdued crowd, the emcee’s energetic greeting met with hesitant applause. However, the atmosphere quickly transformed as the Charu Hariharan Quartet took the stage, featuring the traditional percussion ensemble Kozhikode Nanthalakootam and artists from the Jenu Kuruba tribe of Nagarahole. 

Charu and her quartet opened with three original compositions, showcasing a compelling blend of classical Indian percussion with contemporary influences.

The energy shifted as the Kozhikode Nanthalakootam joined the quartet, their powerful chenda drumming adding a distinctly Keralan flavour to the performance. The Jenukurubas’ arrival further electrified the stage, their unique instruments crafted from bamboo, antenna dishes, and plastic containers infusing a raw, folk energy into the proceedings. 

Two Summ, featuring Viveick Rajagopalan and Anantha R. Krishnan, introduced a fascinating digital-analog hybrid  — the MIDI mridangam (or the MIDIdangam).  Their performance built from a gentle drizzle into a rhythmic downpour, Anantha’s humour lightening the mood as intricate melodies flowed. Their finale, blending African-sounding rhythms with Hindi lyrics, invited audience participation, ending in a standing ovation.

However, the night reached its zenith with Swarathma, Thavil Raja, and the Beat Gurus.  Their performance made the audience rise from their cushioned seats and applaud and dance, thanks to a thrilling mix of global percussion. ‘Duur Kinara’  fused African drums and horns, while Sanjeev Nayak’s violin pierced through the powerful rhythms.  Vasu Dixit’s invitation for the audience to howl during ‘Koorane’ added to the electric energy, further enhanced by ‘Thavil’ Raja’s masterful solo.  The spotlight shone on each percussionist, showcasing their brilliance. ‘Pyaar Ke Rang’, saw Vasu descend from the stage, joining the audience in a joyous frenzy of song and dance.

After this crowd-pleasing performance, the legendary Vikku Vinayakram graced the stage for a phenomenal final act, accompanying his Ghatam symphony, which included V Selvaganesh, who won a Grammy this year. It was a fitting climax to a dazzling night of world-class percussion.

The festival, which resumes on Sunday at the same venue, will feature three performances: Rhythms of India, Ashtanayika – Kal Aur Aaj, and Taufiq Qureshi’s Surya. 

The Mahindra Percussion Festival, in association with The Hindu, is co-sponsored by Mahindra Finance, Paul John Visitor Centre, and Carlsberg Smooth Soda and promoted and produced by Hyperlink Brand Solutions.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: Glass House Poetry Festival 2024 in Bengaluru: Dialogues on Gaza, freedom of speech, and more

The first in-person edition of the festival in Bengaluru on March 23 and 24 will be held at the Bangalore International Centre.

Remember the solace of poetry amidst the global lockdown? The feeling that shared words could transcend the loneliness and fear? The ArtMantram Trust attempted to evoke this feeling with the Glass House Festival, wherein poets from many parts of the world shared and celebrated poetry. It is ready to rekindle that spirit with the first in-person edition of the festival in Bengaluru on March 23 and 24 at the Bangalore International Centre.

This year, the Glass House, put together by a strong curatorial team, expands its scope with a focus on ‘Planet, Prosperity, People, and Peace’, the festival’s theme. Amidst a world fractured by conflict and turmoil, the festival creates a space where the power of words cannot only illuminate shared experiences but also spark vital conversations, inviting the public to be part of a larger dialogue and fostering a sense of global community.

“We found in that (lockdown) environment, we were turning to things like poetry to help us get through the moment, either writing or reading poetry,” says Yumna Hari Singh, founding trustee of ArtMantram, about the inaugural festival. This year’s iteration builds on that legacy.

Over 100 poets of diverse backgrounds will take the stage alongside workshops and performances.

Expect recitative and slam poetry, translations, regional language showcases, close readings, and more. Distinguished names like Annie Zaidi (who will be participating online), Ashwani Kumar, and Gayatri Majumdar bring star power. The festival’s heart, however, lies in its open invitation for poets and lovers of poetry from all walks of life to engage and become part of the artistic process, fostering a sense of belonging and global community.

“As a poet, I see poetry as a potent, condensed form. It can convey immense meaning in a short space like a telegram or the universe’s Morse code. Layers of thought, rhythm, and stanzas allow poets to communicate quickly and deeply,” says co-curator Rochelle Potkar, highlighting poetry’s power to cut straight to core themes affecting us all.

This commitment to meaningful dialogue shines through in the festival’s programming. Panels will address Gaza, incarceration, freedom of speech, and environmental activism. Art also plays a pivotal role, with artists and poets sharing stages and even dance performances alongside poetry readings.

The first Glasshouse Festival was born from a moment of isolation. This 2024 edition carries a similar weight. “The zeitgeist we see that affects us is the violence… There’s so much,” explains Yumna. But in its expanded form, the festival offers something more – a testament to poetry’s ability to connect us across borders, whether physical or emotional.

As a hybrid event, including online sessions, poets worldwide contribute their voices – echoing the festival’s first pandemic-era incarnation. “Poetry is a small form… What you can tell in poetry is like a telegram. You can tell so many things,” Rochelle reflects. These telegrams of verse promise to explore the complex challenges of our time.

Beyond the festival weekend, ArtMantram Trust envisions a lasting legacy. They see the gathered material, the recordings, and the sparked conversations as seeds. “We want to make sure the thoughts and ideas sparked by the Glass House Festival keep echoing in people’s minds long after the two days are over,” says Rochelle.

The two-day festival at Bangalore International Centre is free to attend. For more information, visit artmantram.org or bangaloreinternationalcentre.org.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)