Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today said it has got its first woman Director General with the appointment of J Manjula as Director General, Electronics & Communication Systems cluster.
She has assumed charge from distinguished scientist and Director General Dr K D Nayak, who was holding Additional charge as Director General Electronic & Communication Systems, DRDO said in a release.
Manjula has the honour of being the first woman Director General of DRDO cluster. She has been leading Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), an establishment of DRDO, as a Director since July 2014, it said.
Manjula is an alumna of Osmania University and a practising electronics and communications engineer.
DRDO said she has served in Defence Electronics Research Laboratory, Hyderabad, for more than 26 years in the area of Integrated Electronic Warfare.
She has designed and realised fast signal acquisition receivers, high power RF systems, responsive jammers, controller software etc for various systems inducted in Army, Navy, Air Force and Paramilitary, it added.
Manjula is a recipient of DRDO award for ‘Performance Excellence’ and ‘Scientist of the Year 2011’.
source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> Magazine / Bengaluru – September 09th, 2015
Indo-French Architecture students at the tomb of the French general in Nizam’s army, Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, in Hyderabad on Monday.— PHOTO: Mohammed Yousuf
A group of architecture students, professors from Bordeaux, France along with students from Hyderabad are collaborating for a week to come up with ideas to develop the two metro rail stations.
The obelisk of Monsieur Raymond at Moosarambagh, the reputed French general in the Nizam’s military, which still evokes awe among the visitors, is set to receive a fresh lease of life from a French connection.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) authorities are now leveraging French artistic and architectural flair to develop Raymond’s tomb into a heritage precinct and also the upcoming Moosarambagh and New Market metro stations.
A group of architecture students, professors from Bordeaux, France along with students from Hyderabad are collaborating for a week to come up with ideas to develop the two metro rails stations as heritage tourism points. The French architectural talent will also provide inputs and conceptualise development of the Raymond’s tomb, around the metro stations.
“The common theme that I have found between Hyderabad and Bordeaux is the passion that people have for their respective cities. They ask us the same tough questions on how to develop the city and at the same time keep its historical flavour alive. It is a stimulating and challenging work and hopefully we should be able to come up with something tangible in a week,” says architect and professor, Ecole D’Architecture De Bordeaux, J. Kent Fitzsimons.
Close to 13 students from France and 47 from architecture colleges in Hyderabad are taking part in this project, being supported by the Architecture and Design Foundation (India), Alliance Francaise and HMR. Based on the innovative ideas coming out of the collaboration, Telangana State Government and HMR will develop these two stations and Raymond’s tomb into a heritage precinct.
“This is a good way to integrate heritage and conservation values of Hyderabad with metro rail routes. This will go a long way in spreading awareness and re-energising public spaces, especially in places that have historical value,” says senior architect P. Venu Gopal, who will be the guide for the students.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – September 08th, 2015
Recognition from the government has come only now, thanks to the Arjuna Award, says Anup Kumar Yama.– File Photo
For more than two decades, he has been into a sport which was invariably treated with disdain by the powers that be.
The 31-year-old skater’s record speaks for itself – winner of the 2013 World championship gold, two bronze medals in the 2010 Asian Games, the first-ever Indian to win a medal (bronze) in the 2012 World championship in inline artistic category and most recently, the prestigious Arjuna Award (only the second roller-skater ever to get this).
In an interview with V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM , Anup Kumar Yama talks about his passion for roller-skating.
How did it feel to receive the Arjuna Award after having missed out on it last year?
Well, it is a simple case of better late than never. I’m glad that I am in the elite group of outstanding sportspersons who got this prestigious Award.
What does this Award mean to you and to the sport?
Personally, it definitely has an aura and a huge sense of pride too. For the sport, I just hope it gets the desired fillip. Except for one rink at Indira Park, the couple of other rinks are makeshift ones wherein even now, hundreds of youngsters try to hone their skills. We badly need a couple of rinks of international standard in the city to start with.
How difficult is it for a skater to be a champion compared to the more glamorous sports?
Yes, you have to be lucky to have parents like mine (Veeresh Yama and Jaya Yama) who have to constantly keep the morale of the kid high, irrespective of the results. The kid should enjoy the sport, basically. Not think of laurels and the consequences when one is just starting out.
Did you get recognition for all your feats?
If you look at my own career, I have taken part in many Asian and World Championships and won a gold in the latter too. But recognition from the Government has come only now, thanks to this Arjuna Award. Even in terms of financial support, the whole perspective has to change. For instance, I got cash incentives only for the two Asiad bronze medals I won and nothing for all the other achievements. This is sad and you can imagine the plight of the average middle-class athlete.
If you are given the option, what will be the first move to popularise the sport?
It is time we focus on creating an indoor stadium in Secunderabad where none exists right now. This is sad, considering the rich sporting history of this part of the State capital. If you remember, I started skating in the corridors of the then MCH office corridors.
What is next for you?
I sincerely believe that this Arjuna Award should spur me to win gold again for India in the next week’s World Championship. I am targeting the Winter Olympics Ice Figure Skating 2018.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / September 08th, 2015
Parsis forced to make do with solar-powered machines.
Unlike in other religions where a deceased person’s body is cremated or buried, when a Parsi dies, his or her body is left in the ‘Tower of Silence’ for vultures. Though there are two such ‘towers’ in Hyderabad, it has been more than 20 years since a vulture swooped down on a dead body, as the scavenging birds have almost become extinct in the city and its surrounding areas.
Due to the disappearance of vultures, members of the Parsi community have installed solar concentrators as an alternative. The machines desiccate the bodies, though perhaps not as quickly as the scavenging birds. “The panels rotate in accordance with the Sun,” said Jahangir Bisney, a chartered accountant and trustee of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad.
The solar panels, which run on small motors, work in accordance with Zoroastrian teachings, which consider dead bodies impure. Burning a corpse is also not allowed, as it would contaminate fire, which Parsis worship. “In Hyderabad, except during the monsoon season, there is good heat. It is basically like a sky burial,” mentioned Mr. Bisney, whose Trust manages the ‘Tower of Silence’ at Zamistanpur.
However, over the last few years, some Parsis have also been cremating their dead family members, instead of keeping their bodies at the ‘Tower of Silence’. “Some cremate bodies in the Hindu burial grounds, or opt for the new electrical or bio-gas crematoriums,” mentioned Ahmad (name changed). He, however, added that not following the ‘tradition’ is not seen kindly by some members.
“We offer prayers called ‘Arangah’, meaning rest in peace, for the deceased for four continuous days. When a person is cremated or buried in a city where there is a Tower of Silence, prayers are not offered for him, as it is considered taboo,” explained Mr. Bisney.
The Tower of Silence is situated in a complex called ‘Doongerwadi’, which is derived from the word Doonger, meaning mountain. “In Iran, centuries ago, the structure was built at an elevated place, and not near any habitation,” said Mr. Bisney
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National / by Yunus Y. Lasania / September 07th, 2015
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday congratulated Hyderabad- based Indian lawn tennis player Sania Mirza for receiving Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
The Chief Minister wished her all the best, expressed the hope that in future she would get many more such awards nationally and internationally, an official release from the CMO said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 30th, 2015
Warangal Police Commissioner G. Sudheer Babu announced the city to be Non-Bailable Warrant-free on Tuesday and is the first in the country to achieve the distinction. Photo: M. Murali / The Hindu
Many offenders who skip warrants resort to crime again and again. They appear to have either died or moved away. The police in course of time after prolonged pursuance give up at one point of time.
The Warangal Police Commissionerate has become first in the country to achieve the distinction of being free from pending Non Bailable Warrant (NBW), said Commissioner of Police G. Sudheer Babu.
“We have executed a record of 1070 NBWs in 44 days and we are the first in the country to clear all warrants. We have executed over 80 NBWs which were pending for over a decade,” he explained.
Many offenders who skip warrants resort to crime again and again. They appear to have either died or moved away. The police in course of time after prolonged pursuance give up at one point of time. “We reviewed the pendency of NBWs in July and decided to execute every single warrant by August 31 and we did it,” Mr. Sudheer Babu said.
He thanked DGP Anurag Sharma and other higher officials and those at police station level for the success. He also thanked the District Court authorities for their cooperation in achieving the distinction.
Executing the warrants was continous duty of the police but often they keep pending for want of evidence and when the offenders hoodwink the police. It was taken up as a challenge by the police commissionerate and decided to pursue every single warrant henceforth.
“One can be rest assured that all those involved in criminal activity are produced in court. If new warrants come out, we will take them to their logical end. We updated our database of habitual offenders and all their details,” the Police Commissioner said.
It was decided to reward all those who worked for the record at police station level suitably.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao / Warangal – September 01st, 2015
Hyderabad’s ‘real heroes’ were honoured by 92.7 Big FM
It is not easy to initiate a change. But, the best way to bring a change is by paving a new path. While most of us complain at the way society turns a blind eye to the problems and situations, there are a few who do not complain, instead take things in their hands and set an example. To felicitate their efforts and set them as role models to society, 92.7 Big FM invited these heroes as part of their ‘Big Real Hero Awards’ campaign.
As we celebrate the 69th year of independence the change makers of our society become the real heroes to fight for various forms of independence in our independent society. These heroes are silent and are making a difference without talking about it.
As part of their campaign, Big FM in their breakfast show asked people to share the names of heroes they have seen working for society. After an overwhelming response some of them were even featured in their breakfast show ‘Salaam Telangana’ hosted by RJ Shekar and Swapna.
In an event on Friday, the channel felicitated the six heroes namely—Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sharif, Rajeshwra Rao, Bhagya Lakshmi, Yadigiri and M. Vijay Ram Kumar. The awardees come from different walks of life and serve society in different ways and means. They, in their own right have been working for a change. Bal Gangadhar, a retired railways employee has used his pension to fill more than 1100 potholes in the city. He took the initiative when he witnessed several incidents caused by the bad state of roads. In Bal Gangadhar’s absence his brother Bhimesh Shankar was present. He established shramadaan.org
Sharif is the founder of Friends2support.org. F2S is a group founded by five friends to help people meet the emergency blood requirement for free. F2S claims to be India’s largest blood donor database. The organisation has won several national and international awards. Rajeshwar Rao is the founder of Satya Harishchandra foundation. They cremate unclaimed and unidentified dead bodies. Bhagya Lakshmi from ‘Manchi Pustakam’ is a small initiative taken to publish, encourage and promote Telugu books. Yadigiri is a chef and he donates food from his restaurant—Ulavacharu to orphans everyday and M. Vijay Ram Kumar of Emerald sweets has been working for a green society. The awards were given away by Somesh Kumar, Commissioner GHMC and actor Manchu Lakshmi.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Prabalika M. Borah / Hyderabad – August 14th, 2015
Mohammed Kursheed Hussain nose-typing in Hyderabad on Monday.- Photo: By Arrangement
How fast do you think you can type?’ Before most would have gone half-way with the sentence, 24-year-old Mohammed Kursheed Hussain of Hyderabad would have finished typing, with his nose.
Mr. Hussain attempted to break a Guinness world record for fastest nose-typing here on Monday. In 43.85 seconds, he typed the 103-character long ‘Guinness world records have challenged me to type this sentence using my nose in the fastest time’. He had to best 46.30 seconds, the standing record that was set in December 2014. An official word from Guinness is awaited to confirm his Monday’s feat.
Incidentally, Mr. Hussain had set a nose-typing Guinness record in February last year when he typed the challenge sentence in 47.44 seconds.
“I was told by Guinness in January this year that the record I had set was broken. Since then I trained to break the record,” said Mr. Hussain, who is a masters student at a university in Indiana, US.
Hussain’s tryst with typing began when he turned seven. It was however not until he turned 18, did he realise the uniqueness of his skill.
“I thought nothing of my typing ability until I had gone to college. That is when my friends made me realise that I had skill that others did not have. But I never thought that I would be a Guinness record holder,” he said. In 2012, Hussain hand typed the English alphabet with spaces in record 3.43 seconds, debuting in the annals of the Guinness World Records.
“I had to beat 3.52 seconds. It seemed impossible then,” he said. That record stands unbroken for three years now. Ask how he types with his nose when keys are blurred at nose’s width away from the keyboard,
Mr. Hussain offers a plausible explanation. “I think I just have a big nose,” he chuckles.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Rohit P.S./ Hyderabad – August 18th, 2015
Deputy IG of Police, Nizamabad range, Yedla Gangadhar has been awarded the President’s Police Medal for his distinguished service in the department on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations.
Ever since his appointment as Deputy SP in September 1987, Mr. Gangadhar rendered excellent service in various capacities.
He served as Karimnagar and Vijianagaram SP and Deputy Commissioner of Task Force in Hyderabad. He also worked in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Kosava, Bosnia and Sudan and was honoured with UNO Peace Keeping Medal thrice.
Honoured with several medals
Mr. Gangadhar has received several medals, awards, commendation certificates and cash rewards. AP Police Seva Pathakam, AP Police Uthama Seva Pathakam, Telugu Visista Seva Pathakam, Mukhyamantri Sourya Pathakam, Police Medal for Gallantry and Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service are some among them.
Before being promoted and appointed as Deputy IG, he was Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) in Cyberabad Commissionerate. Police personnel and district authorities congratulated him for achieving the President’s Medal.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – August 15th, 2015
Stringed music instrument restored after 50 years. A team from the Forum and the university, guided by G. Manoja from Palamur University, travelled all the way to the Appapur hamlet in Nallamala forests.
It was quite a homecoming for ‘Kinnera’ (aka ‘Kinneri’), a stringed music instrument, when it arrived into the Chenchu tribal heartland amid the forests of Mahabubnagar district of Telangana, after decades of wandering.
A Chenchu tribesman playing ‘Kinnera’ presented by the Telangana Rachayithala Vedika and the University of Hyderabad. / by Special Arrangement
The rare instrument with three resonators, which was popular in the tribe long ago, but disappeared later, was restored to them recently, thanks to the joint efforts by the ‘Telangana Rachayithala Vedika’ (Telangana Writers’ Forum) and the University of Hyderabad.
A team from the Forum and the university, guided by G. Manoja from Palamur University, travelled all the way to the Appapur hamlet in Nallamala forests on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on August 9, to present their exquisite find to the tribe. To their surprise, they were greeted by smiles of recognition, as the instrument was still part of their lore if not lives.
“Though they lost the instrument 50 years ago, a few tribesmen still remember it. In fact, three old-timers could even play it,” says academic and writer Jayadhir Tirumal Rao, who headed the team.
The instrument uses bamboo for the neck, dried and hollowed gourds for resonators, human hair or animal nerves for strings, and pangolin scales for frets which are fixed using honey-wax. According to Mr. Rao, visiting faculty at the Centre for Dalit and Adivasi Studies at the UoH, Chenchus lost the instrument half a century ago when the gourd used for resonator became extinct in this region.
It was inherited by the ‘Dakkali’ nomadic community of the district which was a ‘Madiga’ sub-caste and lived a troubadour for existence. They, however, reduced the number of frets to seven, purportedly in honour of Chenchus.
Obtaining ‘Kinnera’ from Dakkali community was an arduous task for Mr. Rao who stumbled upon the instrument while researching about Panduga Sayanna, a Telangana fighter.
“Dakkali singers sang his praise using ‘Kinnera,’ which egged me on to explore its history. To obtain it, I had to follow the community’s trail for almost three years. Initially they were afraid, but later came round and parted with this rare gift,” Mr. Rao said. And it was from the hands of Dakkali Pochaiah that the tribe received this souvenir.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hinduj / Home> National> Telangana / by Shanthi V. / August 15th, 2015
