Category Archives: Records, All

HYSEA office-bearers elected

Business & Economy, Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Science & Technology

Software testing services firm ZenQ founder and CEO Murali Bollu and president-APAC of ValueMomentum Software Services Ravi S. Rao have been elected president and secretary respectively of Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA).

Other members of the new executive committee, for 2018-2020, elected at the 26th annual general body of HYSEA on Friday were Infopeers Solutions CEO Bharani K.Aroll (vice-president); Global Delivery Head BSG and centre head of Tech Mahindra Vijay Rangineni (treasurer); VP international finance of C3I Support Services Padmaja Chowdary (joint secretary). The new president has over three decades of experience in the IT industry, including 13 years in the US, and has been active in the association since 2007, a release from HYSEA said.

Mr. Bollu said the new Committee would like to increase efforts to assist IT SMEs accelerate growth. This would be accomplished through workshops/ events on new business opportunities in emerging technologies and new geographies by exploring funding options to meet their capex and opex needs and by promoting innovations in sales and marketing of their services and products.

HYSEA would like to expand competency development programmes for employees of member companies in leadership and technical skills and plans to start a ‘Biz Series’ to improve business and operational competencies. A new infrastructure forum to address the strategic needs of the industry focused on transportation, green energy and water management would be created, Mr. Bollu added.

A new managing committee, comprising Bipin Chandra Pendyala, SVP of Moschip Semiconductor; Kiran Babu Cherukuri, founder and CEO of Tech Era IT Consulting; Manisha Saboo, AVP and centre head Pocharam Campus of Infosys; Sai Giridhar Chintamaneni, president and CEO of Promantra Synergy Solutions and Gogineni Srinivasa Rao, managing director of FutureTech Information Systems, was unanimously elected. Five more members would be co-opted to the Managing Committee by the Executive Committee, the release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 03rd, 2018

Telangana bird-loving duo bring out a field guide

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Sports, Travel

Enthusiastic forest officer and researcher record rare species of Kagaznagar, which hosts 250 species

Apart from ardent birdwatchers, even those with a rudimentary knowledge of the winged wonders will swear that the fliers add a dash of colour to the surroundings to the place to live in.

Whether it’s a ‘detested’ common crow or endangered birds such as vultures, there is immense diversity among birds. contribute much in making the universe as attractive as it is.

In the wooded environs of Bejjur and Penchikalpet Forest Ranges, among others, in Kagaznagar Forest Division in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, there are a number of avian species thriving.

In a bid to capture and document this, the Telangana Forest Department has come out with a 62-page field guide titled Birds of Kagaznagar Forest Division, which lists about 250 species, a few belonging to the rare category. About 60% of the images in the guide have come from Bejjur Forest Range.

Bejjur’s fame

Few know that the incidental discovery of the now famous habitat of the critically endangered Indian vulture or the Long Billed vulture (Gyps indicus) in Bejjur also set the Forest Range Officer (FRO) M. Ram Mohan and later wildlife biologist and field researcher M. Ravikanth on a mission to catalogue the avian varieties seen in the forest.

“I started shooting pictures of local birds in 2013 after the vulture discovery not as a dedicated activity, but as part of my travels inside the 260 sq. km of the forest under my jurisdiction,” said Mr. Ram Mohanto The Hindu, tracing the developments in Bejjur since the work began.

His association with the knowledgeable members of the Birdwatchers Society of Andhra Pradesh had the FRO gaining deeper insight into the world of birds and this eventually resulted in a painstakingly assembled collection of photos of about 130 different kinds of birds.

This includes the painted sand grouse and tree creeper of which no sighting records are available for over a decade-and-a-half.

Trove of images

Mr. Ravikanth was appointed as a field researcher in 2015 and has since been actively involved in vulture conservation as well as photography of birds and cataloguing the different species.

His collection of pictures of avian diversity equals that of the FRO.

Create awareness

Kagaznagar Forest Divisional Officer A. Narasimha Reddy supported the publication of the book published within six months of his taking charge.

“I even used the services of professional photographers and others in collecting photos from other ranges in my Division too, which made this field guide possible to fulfill the aim of creating awareness among people and the forest staff,” he revealed.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by S. Harpal Singh / Adilabad – April 29th, 2018

Guruji Ravinder Sharma passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Travel
An file picture of Guruji Ravinder Sharma. | Photo Credit: S_HARPALSINGH

Founder of Adilabad’s Kala Ashram was suffering from cancer

Ravinder Sharma, fondly called Guruji, the founder of Adilabad’s Kala Ashram died at his house early on Sunday at the age of 65 years. He leaves behind his wife, a son and daughter. Guruji was suffering from cancer since the last three years and died in his sleep. The cremation will take place on Monday morning.

A trained artist, Guruji had been awarded with Kala Ratna by the Andhra Pradesh State government in 2014. After bifurcation of the State, the Telangana government awarded him the Ugadi Puraskaram in 2015. Guruji was also conferred the D. Litt (Honoris Causa) by the SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana the same year. He had won many an other minor awards during his life time. The death was condoled by Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, Boath MLA Rathod Bapu Rao and others from Adilabad and elsewhere. Ravinder Sharma leaves behind a vacuum for his friends and followers of whom there are hundreds.

Born in a migrant Punjabi family, Ravinder Sharma studied in a local school and showed inclination towards understanding art and also the life of the artisan communities. This quest took him to villages and localities in a radius of 20 km and during the 20 year long journeys, he explored and studied the intricacies of rural life and local technologies.

During the two decade long journey he also collected artefacts and other material from rural areas. His collection includes a lot of material used by tribal people as part of their culture. Guruji emerged a treasure-trove of knowledge about rural economy and technologies, local practices and folk arts. His original and simplistic style of narration of the same infused with interesting insights and anecdotes and stories was easy to comprehend and often had a lasting impact on people who came to Kala Ashram from far and wide to hear him.

The artist-philosopher had lectured at many important fora across the country including the IITs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Adilabad – April 30th, 2018

A riddle set in stone, waiting to be cracked

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Telugu-Sanskrit words engraved on undated stone edifice may offer insight into the region’s rich cultural heritage

A stone inscription, believed to date back to 13th Century A.D., standing majestically on the premises of Venugopala Swamy temple in Rajeshwarapuram of Nelakondapalli mandal, is waiting to be explored to offer an insight into the region’s glorious cultural heritage.

The ten-foot high undated stone inscription located adjacent to the Dwajasthambam on the precincts of the temple has stayed intact withstanding the vagaries of nature, but remained unexplored till date.

The inscription has several lines etched in Telugu-Kannada script akin to the pattern prevalent during the Kakatiya period. An impressive image of Lord Garuda adored with Shankam and Chakram is engraved on the top portion of the stone inscription.

Located about 30 km from Khammam on the Nelakondapalli-Kusumanchi main road, Rajeshwarapuram has a hoary past as is evident from a fort situated in the middle of the village albeit in a dilapidated condition and an old well that served as a prime source of irrigation during the bygone era.

The Telugu-Sanskrit words engraved indicate that it is related to donation of land to “Veeragopala devara” temple probably during the Kakatiya period, says historian Katta Srinivas, who recently conducted an independent study in Rajeshwarapuram on the historical significance of the village.

Sun, moon images

The stone edifice contains the images of sun and moon engraved on the top portion of it reinforcing the fact that it is an inscription. He stresses the need for establishing the exact date and other historical facts by enlisting the services of experts in epigraphy.

Rajeshwarapuram is endowed with historic structures, including a fort and an ancient irrigation structure besides Shaivite and Vaishnavite temples existing side by side, he notes, insisting on the intervention of the Archaeology Department to unravel the rich history of the village and conserve the historical edifices for posterity.

“Our village is part of Nelakondapalli mandal, the abode of ancient Buddhist Mahastupa and also the birthplace of legendary saint composer Bhakta Ramadasu,” says Veeranageswara Rao, a native of Rajeshwarapuram. The ancient Siva temples dating back to the Kakatiya period in Kusumanchi mandal are located just over 10 km from the village and the culturally rich region has potential to secure a prominent place on the tourism map of Telangana, he says with a sense of pride.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by P. Sridhar / Khammam – April 23rd, 2018

Telangana IRS officer is Civils topper

Education, Leaders, Records, All

He is presently posted as Assistant Commissioner in city

Durishetty Anudeep, a native of Chittapur village near Metpally town in Jagtial district of Telangana, has emerged topper in the Civil Services examination this year. The results were declared on Friday.

Anudeep is presently in the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) and is posted as Assistant Commissioner, Central, GST, in Hyderabad. This is his fourth attempt at Civils. He worked with Google in Hyderabad before he got into IRS and he is still a bachelor.

An engineer from BITS Pilani in Rajashtan in 2011, he had his schooling from Suryodaya High School in Metpally. Anudeep’s father is an Assistant Engineer with the TS Transco, while his mother is a home-maker.

The topper’s optional subject was anthropology though he is an engineer. Speaking to The Hindu, Anudeep said he was not expecting the first rank. “It is a tough exam and so many deserving candidates with brilliant minds attempt. So you can never expect a top rank,” he said with all humility. Anudeep prepared without assistance of any coaching institution. Meanwhile, R.C. Reddy IAS Study Circle said that he appeared for mock interview at their centre.

A sports buff, Anudeep has obsession for Roger Federer and Lionel Messi. In one of his Facebook posts, he praised Messi, saying the game of football is not really beautiful, it’s brutal but Messi has an artistic, symphonic beauty to his play that makes the brutal look beautiful.

Expressing his love for sports, he posted, “So I asked myself what do I value more – sports, movies, books or music? Movies are good, books are great and music is soothing. But my life wouldn’t be half as joyful or interesting if it were not for the time I spend watching and playing sports.”

Several Telugu students bagged good ranks in the examination. Sai Praneeth, son of former Additional DG of Maharashtra, V. Lakshminarayana, bagged the 196th rank. Other successful Telugu candidates are Sheelam Sai (43), Narapureddy Maurya (100), G. Madhuri (144), Yedavalli Akshay Kumar (624), Vivek Jhonson (195) and Bhargav Shekar (816).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – April 27th, 2018

HUDCO awards: two in Telangana’s kitty

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Special Chief Secretary (Housing) Chitra Ramachandran receiving the HUDCO award from Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on behalf of the Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd.

2BHK scheme and use of GIS in land mapping clinched it

Telangana government’s innovative initiatives in the housing sector and the Municipal Administration wing has been recognised at the national level, with the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, giving away awards to the best performing departments on the occasion of HUDCO’s 48th foundation day celebrations in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Housing Department has bagged two awards, one for its housing designs and layouts, – it had to compete with the private sector and was the only government wing across the country to have got the recognition – which comes with a cash award of ₹one lakh, and the second award for the novel steps taken to give a filip to the two-bedroom scheme.

Special Chief Secretary (Housing) Chitra Ramachandran along with Chief Engineer Satyamurthy and GHMC Additional Commissioner Bharati H took the HUDCO award on behalf of the Telangana State Housing Corporation Ltd. for its outstanding contribution to the 2-bedroom housing scheme.

Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration T.K. Sreedevi received the HUDCO Award for Best Practices for ‘Use of GIS technology and Land Property Mapping for Revenue Improvement’. Ms. Sreedevi received the award from the HUDCO chairman and managing director M. Ravi Kanth.

Both the awards come with a cash prize of IRs. 1 lakh each, along with the citation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 26th, 2018

GI tag for Warangal dhurries brings hope to weavers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion
Signature style: Warangal dhurries are known for their geometrically repetitive patterns and zigzag motifs.

Marketing the carpets directly can lead to better profits for the struggling sector in Telangana.

There’s a ripple of excitement and sliver of hope in Warangal’s artisan community as word spreads on the Geographical Indication certificate given on March 28 by the Chennai-based GI Registry for Warangal dhurries.

“We had to do all our business through the handloom society. But now, with the GI tag, we will be able to market our products on our own, leading to better profits,” says Adepu Ramesh of Kothawada in Warangal, a crafts-centred location in the city. Only last year, some of the carpet sellers here began using online platforms to sell their products. The shatranji carpets and jainamaaz prayer mats made in Warangal range in size from the smallest 2 feet by 3 feet to a massive 60 feet by 90 feet, examples of which are seen in some museums.

Bright colours, geometrically repetitive patterns and interlocking zigzag motifs in cotton and jute are the signature styles of the carpets.

One of the newest innovations by the weavers here is an adaptation of tie-dyed ikat techniques and hand-painted or block-printed kalamkari designs for the dhurries to save time and energy.

“We weave a plain carpet and send it to Machilipatnam and Pedana [famous for the kalamkari style] for colouring based on the design given by us,” says Mr. Ramesh.

‘No’ for family trade’

It takes two days labour by two expert craftsmen to create a 6 feet by 9 feet carpet that sells for Rs. 2,000. “If the design is intricate or made-to-order then the cost goes up,” says Adepu Ravi, who uses pit looms to weave the carpets.

“I am expecting better business, especially if export orders pick up with the GI tag. Over the past 25 years, business has fallen drastically. I am doing 20% of the business that I was doing back then. I am insisting that my children focus on education rather than the family trade,” says Mr. Ravi.

Interestingly, for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, two carpets woven in silk were sent from Warangal. They held a place of pride among over one lakh exhibits, which included the fabled Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Today, the bright red and yellow carpets are housed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – April 24th, 2018

KTR comes to ailing writer’s rescue

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Chaitanya Prakash

Chaitanya Prakash was incapacitated after a paralytic stroke

Minister for Industries, IT and Urban Development K. Taraka Rama Rao came to the rescue of a progressive writer and poet from Mustabad mandal in Sircilla-Rajanna district, Chaitanya Prakash, who was incapacitated following a paralytic stroke suffered by him in February this year.

A masters degree holder in Telugu literature Mr. Prakash has been living in a tin shed along with his mother and sister. However, being active in the field of literature, he has been penning poems and short stories influenced by Left ideology for the last 25 years.

A book of about 6,000 proverbs in Telangana dialect compiled by Mr. Prakash was published during the World Telugu Conference conducted by the Telangana State government here in December last. Mr. Prakash has three books and a large number of poems published to his credit. Mr. Prakash suffered a paralytic stroke in February this year and was admitted to a private hospital at Karimnagar, where the doctors prescribed long-term treatment and medication. Unable to meet the expenses he returned home and is being looked after by his mother Yellamma and sister as he is not in a position even to attend to nature’s call on his own.

After learning about Mr. Prakash’s condition through media report, the Industries and IT Minister, who also represents Sircilla constituency in the Assembly, directed his office to contact Mr. Prakash and extend necessary help. After getting in touch with Mr. Prakash and his mother, the Minister’s office extended ₹3 lakh special assistance to meet his immediate needs apart from arranging treatment for his ailment. The cheque would be handed over to Mr. Prakash at Sircilla on Monday. Reacting to the Minister’s gesture, Mr. Prakash thanked Mr. Rama Rao and said he did not expect the assistance, particularly from the government, though he was in dire need of it. His mother Yellamma, also thanked the government for aiding her son.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 22nd, 2018

Korean consulate office opened in city

Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

City bizman is first honorary Consul General

The office of Honorary Consulate General of Republic of Korea was inaugurated in Hyderabad on Friday evening by the ambassador Shin Bong Kil.

Suresh Chukkapalli, a well-known businessman, has been appointed the first Honorary Consul General in Hyderabad.

“Hyderabad has a small community of Korean nationals. But we sense a high potential for better ties between the two nations and this is a step in that direction,” said Mr. Kil on the occasion.

A cultural centre was also inaugurated on the same premises in Filmnagar. “Interested citizens can come and learn Korean language here. We will be asking for a Korean teacher to be deputed here. There are plans for promoting cultural exchange programmes,” informed Mr. Kil.

The Honorary Consulate General Office, located in Film Nagar (Korea House, No. 64, Road No. 14, phone: 23999999/ 24999999), heads a subdivision of the Consulate General office in Mumbai to protect and provide assistance to Korean nationals in Telangana and facilitate trade relations by liasioning between this State and the Republic of Korea.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – April 21st, 2018

Another year in Telugu calender cycle discovered

About Telangana, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

13th century inscription deciphered in Sayampeta Haveli

A Telugu calender year by name Nandidhata Samvatsara, which was celebrated by Telugu speaking people during the Kakatiya dynasty Rudra Deva’s reign (AD 1158 – 1195) was recently discovered by Archaeological Survey of India.

Archaeologists managed to decipher an inscription found on a slab fixed to a wall in a temple at Sayampeta Haveli in Geesukonda mandal of Warangal district.

D. Kanna Babu, superintending archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai, said in inscription, quite surprisingly, they found the name of an ancient Telugu cyclic year Nandidhata Samvatsara. He said people are unaware of this year, either in the traditional list of 60 Telugu calendar years or in lithic records of historical times. “Somehow, the name is missing from the list of traditional years of Telugu calender. We are examining if it matches with another name in the present calender with the help of astronomical texts,” he said.

As part of the Temple Survey Project, the ASI officials visited the ancient Panchalaraya Swamy temple, which was constructed in the Kakatiya era and discovered the damaged inscription on the rear wall of sanctum sanctorum, he said. Elucidating further details, Mr. Babu said that the inscription spanned six lines and was probably written in 13th century Telugu script.

Badly damaged

“For the past few decades, the the temple is annually treated with thick coating of lime wash in an effort to beautify it. We stumbled upon this piece without knowing its historical importance and ultimately, caused damage to the epigraph,” he said.

Mr. Babu said the epigraph states that Rudra Deva provided a perpetual lamp, along with other gifts, to the presiding deity in this temple on Mangalavara (Tuesday), the twelfth day of Bhadrapada masa during the year Saka 1116, equivalent to Nandidhata Samvatsara, (corresponding to AD 1194) in memory of his father Prolaraju.

The archaeologist added that another inscription was discovered at Trikuta temple in Jangaon recently, which also pertained to Rudra Deva.

A total of 19 epigraphs of Rudra Deva have been discovered so far.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Abhinay Deshpande / Hyderabad – April 19th, 2018