Tag: Mysore Records

KARNATAKA: BUSINESS / MANUFACTURING: ARTS, CRAFTS & CULTURE: 111-foot-long Agarbatti unveiled in Mysuru to honour local Craftsmanship

Similar events were organised in Maharashtra and Goa to celebrate diverse artisanal and cultural heritage.

Cycle Pure Agarbathi, an agarbatti manufacturer in Mysuru, unveiled a huge 111-foot-long agarbathi, as a tribute to the rich tradition of local craftsmanship. The event unfolded on January 22 simultaneously across three culturally vibrant places — Mysuru in Karnataka, Thane in Maharashtra, and Sankhali in Goa, marking a commitment to support and celebrate diverse artisanal heritage.

Saraswathi, mother of renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, lit the agarbatti in the presence of Mysuru MP Pratap Simmha and MLA T.S. Srivatsa. The Ranga family of Cycle Pure Agarbathi, including Guru, Kiran Ranga, Vishnu Ranga, Anirudh Ranga, and Nikhil Ranga, were present to express support for preserving heritage and traditional art forms. In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde celebrated the State’s rich craftsmanship while in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant emphasised the need for preserving and promoting the region’s unique artistic expressions.

The 111-foot-long agarbatti is a testament of modern technology meeting traditional art form. It is a homage to the rich cultural heritage of Mysuru’s artisans. The massive agarbatti was crafted over 23 days by a dedicated team of 18 skilled individuals, using specially handpicked auspicious Dashanga, honey, Konneri Gedde, ghee, sandalwood powder, Guggula, Agaru, Sambrani , Devadaru, Loban and White Mustard (bili sasive) along with charcoal, Jigat and jaggery. The manufacturing process incorporated a unique technology devised by the team of specialists of N. Ranga Rao & Sons.

Known as ‘Akhand Jyothi’, with a unique fragrance called ‘Parampara’ crafted by Ranga Rao and family, the agarbatti invokes tradition and nostalgia.

Ms Saraswathi said the initiative is meaningful for artists in Mysuru ‘where our cultural contributions thrive, making it an invaluable endeavour towards the broader creative landscape’.

NR Group Chairman R. Guru said, “This 111-foot agarbatti serves as a symbol of commitment, spreading happiness through its fragrance to the world of craftsmanship.”

Mysuru MP Pratap Simmha said, “Being part of this special occasion, honouring the talented artisans shaping our artistic landscape, is indeed an honour. These individuals are the custodians of our cultural identity.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

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)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES: 52nd Conference of Indian Pharmacological Society (IPSCON 2023) & Awards Presentation to be held in Mysuru, February 22-25th

The JSS College of Pharmacy will host the 52 nd annual conference of Indian Pharmacological Society to be held in the city from February 23 to 25 and will showcase the developments in the field of pharmacology in India.

M Pramod Kumar, Organising Chairman of 52nd IPSCON 2023, and Principal, G.V. Pujar, to media persons here on Tuesday that the theme will be latest technologies and better strategies to discover new drugs and the conference will also highlight several crucial and contemporary issues in pharmacology.

In all, 110 talks are planned by scientists from across the globe and experts as part of the conference and there will be a pre-conference workshop on Wednesday. More than 1,000 delegates are participating from across the country and there will be 17 scientific sessions comprising symposiums, plenary lectures, distinguished lecture series, current scientific updates, brainstorming sessions and panel discussions

The conference will also feature an exhibition of scientific equipment while a walkathon will be held on February 24 to create awareness about health. The walkathon will be led by former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath, according to the organisers.

During the inauguration three eminent pharmacologists will receive ‘’Lifetime Achievements Awards” for the contribution to drug discovery and development; 10 teachers will be awarded as “Best Teachers Awards”; 4 eminent pharmacologists will be given “Fellow of Indian Pharmacological Society-FIPS”; and eight researchers will be delivering the ‘orations’ talk during the conference.

Vice-Principal K.L. Krishna, Organizing Secretary of 52nd IPSCON 2023, B.R. Prashantha Kumar, Associate Professor, and other officials of JSS AHER and JSS College of Pharmacy faculty were present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)