Category Archives: Records, All

‘There is a need to rewrite history with a Dalit Bahujan perspective’

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

Canada-based Carleton University Assistant Professor Chinnaiah Jangam, on Saturday exhorted academics and history writers to include the stories of unsung heroes in their works.

Many Dalits and underprivileged persons like M.V. Bhagyareddy Varma did not find a place in history though they waged agitations against caste discrimination at least 30 years before the advent of the Ambedkar era, he explained.

Delivering the keynote address at the Lecture Series-2014, Dr. Chinnaiah spoke on ‘Role of Dalits in the Making of Modern India’ at Telangana University here. He stated that there was caste discrimination against Dalits in the writing of history too.

Stressing the need to rewrite history with a Dalit Bahujan perspective, he stated that it was time that the contributions of underprivileged sections get highlighted and are included in history books. There were numerous sacrifices and umpteen movements waged by Dalits in India and they remain unrecognised till date, he added.

You [students and youth] should not forget your roots and emulate the sacrifices made by your forefathers for the freedom that we are enjoying now, he said and emphasised the importance of achieving social freedom in the country where people belonging to underprivileged castes get equal respect and dignity.

Varsity registrar R. Limbadri said that Dr. Chinnaiah rose from a very humble background and went on to become a university professor in a foreign university through sheer hard work and passion for education.

Explaining the childhood plight of Dr. Chinnaiah, the registrar got emotional and broke down. Humanities Principal Prof. P. Kanakaiah presided over the meeting, while V. Triveni welcomed the guests and proposed the vote of thanks.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – December 21st, 2014

Adopt Lake and Name it after You: Government Tells NRIs

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, World Opinion

HarishRaoTELANGANA22dec2014

Hyderabad :

Contribute for the development or restoration of a lake and get it named after your or your dear ones. This is the method to be adopted by the state government to get participation from the people, particularly non-resident Indians of Telangana origin, in the development of lakes in the state.

As multitude of people joined their hands in achieving statehood for Telangana, the state government now wants to involve the same collective energy to realise its proposed goal of golden Telangana.

To restore minor irrigation and to restore lakes in Telangana, the government wants NRIs to chip in for this ambitious project. Irrigation minister T Harish Rao drafted an open letter to NRIs persuading them to adopt lakes and to extend an helping hand in sprucing up the local water bodies.

The minister claimed that already three NRIs had promised to take part in ‘Mission Kakatiya’ project slated to begin in January.

Hailing the efforts of NRIs in achieving Telangana, the minister said the Telangana expatriate community had played a vital role in mobilising support for Telangana cause worldwide.

“Despite staying away from the homeland, you are emotionally connected to the region. The people of Telangana acknowledge how you had longed for a separate state,” he said in his letter addressed to NRIs.

In realisation of the promises, made during the Telangana movement, the state government felt that restoration of lakes is an important programme which can contribute to the holistic development of the Telangana’s countryside, he pointed out.

Recognising the contributions made by the Kakatiya rulers, he said chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao christened the project asw ‘Mission Kakatiya’.

The minister urged the NRIs to take part in the restoration of lakes in their native villages. Based on the name proposed by the donor, the restored lake would get its new name, he said.

“If you wish the lake to get your father’s or mother’s name or perhaps your name, the government will approve that name officially,” he told them and added that organisations can also chip in for the cause.

He informed that he would conduct a tele-conference with NRIs in January to drum up support for the flagship project of the TRS government.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / December 22nd, 2014

162-year-old church in Secunderabad restored

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel
The CSI Garrison Wesley Church before the restoration. – PHOTO: BY ARRANGEMENT
The CSI Garrison Wesley Church before the restoration. – PHOTO: BY ARRANGEMENT

The foundation for the church, believed to be the oldest situated at Trimulgherry in the Cantonment area, was laid in 1853

The 162-year-old Church of South India Garrison Wesley Church, which was meant only for British Army officers before Independence, has been restored to its original shape nd is all set to regain its glory.

The cornerstone for the heritage church, believed to be the oldest situated at Trimulgherry next to the post office in the Cantonment area, was laid in 1853 and completed in 1881. During last monsoon, the rafters of the church gave way prompting repairs.

Painstaking effort
The church built with lime and mortar has a hoary past and its construction was taken up only after Rev. William Burgess came from Madras in 1878. A Kanyakumari-based firm that specialises in conservation architecture and worked on heritage sites was assigned the task of restoring the church to its original shape. According to Mr. Thomas, who represents the firm, a mixture of eggs, jaggery, herbs, aloe vera leaves, fine lime powder and lime mortar were ground with jute to prepare the concentrate that was used for the finishing job. An amount of Rs 1 crore was spent on restoration work.

D. Sudesh Kumar, secretary of Pastorate Committee, told The Hindu on Saturday that there is a tragic tale to its construction. Lillian Burgess and Arthur Burgess, wife and son of Rev William Burgess had set sail from London with the bell to be fixed in the newly constructed church. But the ship they were travelling sank in the sea and the bell was never installed. Even today, there is no bell in the Church, which now has over 250 families worshipping every Sunday.

Rev William Burgess was assisted by Rev Charless Walker Posnett, who later went on to oversee construction of the imposing Medak church, according to Rev Jyothy Sunder, Presbyter in charge of CSI Garrison Wesley Church. The renovated church is being re-dedicated at a ceremony on Sunday by the Moderator of Church of South India Rev Dyvaashirvadam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Ravi Reddy / Hyderabad – December 21st, 2014

SoI Plans Digi Maps Better than Google’s

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

It will not be too long when using digital maps becomes part of daily life. Web-based maps will become an integral part while carrying out daily activities like buying a home, travelling and shopping.

Though maps have been in use for many years, with the advent of ‘Google maps’ people have got a taste of usage of maps in daily life. Already, many youngsters have got accustomed to using Google navigation app while driving.

“Though extremely useful Google map provides just a very minute part of the basic information needed for people. Even more complex and useful information can be presented in the form of maps,” SV Singh, director of Survey of India (SoI), Hyderabad, said on the sidelines of the 34th annual Congress of Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA) here on Tuesday.

More complex information like knowing about density of forest cover, availability of water bodies, population density, sex ratio, agriculture potential, literacy levels, among others can all be depicted through maps.

“Survey of India prepares maps in various categories. Sensing the curiosity among public, half of SoI maps were made available for public on www.surveykshan.gov.in,” Singh said. The fact that there are more than hundred thematic maps, tells how a vast range of information can be compiled and presented through maps.

“SoI has launched a virtual reference system (VRS) through which the whole of India will be mapped for serving as a reference and navigation tool. It will be more accurate than Google navigation as points on Google are away at a distance of 15 metres while points in VRS system will be away by just half metre,” explained Swarna Subba Rao, surveyor-general of India.

Virtual reference system is being taken up with an outlay of `12,000 crore and using GPS.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by J. Deepti Nandan Reddy / December 17th, 2014

ICRISAT Director-General William D Dar to Retire on Dec 31

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Sangareddy :

Dr William D Dar, Director General, Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is relinquishing his post on 31 December 2014 after an unprecedented three, five-year terms. Dr Dar is leaving behind a legacy of benefiting millions of marginal farmers in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and other dryland regions of the world.

“After 15 years, we have completely transformed ICRISAT into one of the best international agricultural research for development (AR4D) centres in terms of innovative and inclusive research programmes, scientific excellence, impact on smallholder farmers, and financial health and stability,” said Dr Dar who assumed the institute’s top position in 2000.

Through his strong and transformative leadership and astute governance, Dr Dar has quadrupled the income and investments poured into ICRISAT by development partners, from US$ 22 million in 2000 to US$ 85 million as of 2014.

This financial stability has brought improved capacity and high morale among scientists and staff over the years, translated into unprecedented achievements in the institute’s AR4D programmes, and the corresponding impacts on food security and poverty reduction goals.

Over the decades, ICRISAT has grown into a pipeline of innovations and impacts that are changing the lives of the dryland poor on a large scale, showing high returns on social investment. In a 2014 ex-post impact assessment study of ICRISAT’s highly successful breakthrough innovations called ‘Jewels of ICRISAT’ – a return on investment of US$70 on average for each dollar invested in AR4D, and an internal rate of return of 35 per cent was generated. These outstanding economic rates of return to investment illustrate ICRISAT’s core science and impacts.

Restoring strong relations with countries that host ICRISAT in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and forging strategic public-private-people partnerships worldwide, the institute was able to broaden its donor base and to mobilise new resources that are fully compatible with the public-goods orientation of ICRISAT and the CGIAR. ICRISAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium.

Today, ICRISAT’s three top donors, outside the CGIAR system, are the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, India (the largest of any CGIAR host country), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Gates Foundation is funding three of the institute’s major AR4D initiatives: the HOPE project (Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement of Sorghum and Millets); the Tropical Legumes II (TL-II) project; and the Village Dynamics in Southeast Asia (VDSA).

With the innovative AR4D programmes and the culture of scientific excellence that Dr Dar introduced, ICRISAT continues to attract much-needed investments into the development of climate-smart and sustainable crop cultivation and technologies of the institute’s mandate crops – chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum and pearl millet – crops that are farmed by millions of smallholder farm families in the drylands of the world.

ICRISAT-DirectorTELANGANA16dec2014

The ICRISAT Governing Board has appointed Dr David Bergvinson as the next Director General of ICRISAT for a five-year term, effective January 01, 2015 to move the institute further in generating and sharing cutting-edge global scientific innovations, and bring about genuine pro-poor growth and inclusive market-oriented development in the drylands.

A Philippine national, he is set to return to his country to share his management and technical experience and knowledge with Filipino farmers particularly in transforming rain-fed and unproductive farmlands into productive, sustainable and climate-smart farms through an agri-based social movement called Inang Lupa (Motherland).

Notable achievements of ICRISAT  1.The formulation of a new, more dynamic institutional strategy known as Inclusive Market-Oriented Development (IMOD) which shifted ICRISAT’s focus towards enabling poor farmers to harness markets for poverty escape

2.Establishment of Centres of Excellence for genomics, transgenic research, climate change research for plant protection, and information and communications technology (ICT) innovations for agriculture

3.An inclusive and technology-based entrepreneurship and agribusiness strategy – the Agribusiness and Innovation Platform – through public-private partnerships to bring science-based technologies and products to the market for the benefit of marginal farmers

4.Scaling out a sustainable natural resource management model called Bhoochetana (land rejuvenation), which uses soil analysis as an entry point, that has brought prosperity to resource-poor farmers in India

5.Establishment of the ICRISAT Development Centre (IDC) to undertake large-scale uptake of science-based technologies for the benefit of marginal farmers

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / December 15th, 2014

Indian Soldiers of World War I Remembered

Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion
Diplomats of France, Germany, Britain and Turkey along with Telangana representative BV Papa Rao (centre) paying homage to Indian soldiers of World War I memorial monument in Hyderabad on Friday | a suresh kumar
Diplomats of France, Germany, Britain and Turkey along with Telangana representative BV Papa Rao (centre) paying homage to Indian soldiers of World War I memorial monument in Hyderabad on Friday | a suresh kumar

Hyderabad :

After 100 years of the first World War, Hyderabad hosted a rare moment where the diplomats from the belligerent countries of the historic war came together on a single platform to pay homage to the Indian soldiers who died fighting the war.

France and Britain together fought against Germany in World War-I. In fact they were rivals in the second World War as well.

The diplomats of the all three countries along with the Consul General of Turkey, shook hands with each other on the same stage and prayed for the world peace here on Friday.

This took place at the ‘World War-I monument’ at Chaderghat during the Commemoration Day of the Indian soldiers who died fighting the first World War. The historic monument which is located right next to the victory ground at Chaderghat was built in 1920 by the locals in the memory of Indian soldiers. Recalling the sacrifice of the soldiers, Andrew McAllister, the British deputy high commissioner in Hyderabad said, “We can’t forget the sacrifice they made in the war. This is a great opportunity for all of us to recall our past and build a bright future.” He also highlighted the role of Hyderabad in the World War. “Many soldiers from the Nizam’s Army fought in the war. In fact the Begumpet Airport played a key role as the air base for British empire during the war,” he added.

Achim Fabig, the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany described the meet as a symbol of peaceful world today. “Once our countries fought against each other, but now we all are here and we all want the world to be peaceful” he said. Talking about current diplomatic relations, he said, now all the countries are making efforts to build friendly relationships with each other and it is indeed a good sign.

This commemoration meet was organised by the INTACH, Hyderabad chapter in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad. “This monument has a great history and it needs to be recognised. This the reason we organised the event,” said P Anuradha Reddy, convenor, ITACH Hyderabad. Eric Lavertu, Consul General of France and Merad Omerogul, Consul General of Turkey were also present at the event.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / December 13th, 2014

Nikhat Zareen is brand ambassador of Nizamabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Boxer Nikhat Zareen displays the gold medal which she won in the Golden Gloves international youth women boxing meet held in Serbia in July. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Boxer Nikhat Zareen displays the gold medal which she won in the Golden Gloves international youth women boxing meet held in Serbia in July. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

To create awareness on road safety among people, international boxer Nikhat Zareen has been appointed brand ambassador by district Collector D. Ronald Ross, according to Deputy Transport Commissioner G.C. Rajatnam.

Henceforth, Ms. Zareena will take part in all programmes conducted by the transport authorities to impart education on road safety and measures to be taken to avoid accidents among students and general public.

Thus Nizamabad district became the lone district in the State to have had a brand ambassador on road safety.

As part of creating more awareness on the subject, some more celebrities are likely to be declared brand ambassadors, said Mr. Rajaratnam.

He also said all taxi cabs, maxi cabs, Toofan vehicles and autorickshaws must follow the RTA conditions and get permission from the said authority besides having driving licence and owner identity card in the vehicles. That apart, only those vehicles which secure permission will ply as taxis and must be parked at the taxi stand and if any private vehicle is parked at the earmarked place, penalty will be imposed on the owners, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – December 13th, 2014

Arts College turns 95, not 75!

Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Last week, the media was abuzz with reportage on the launch of ‘Platinum Jubilee’ celebrations of the Arts College of Osmania University. Deans, heads of departments, faculty and students and several former principals and alumni of the college participated in the event to mark the 75th year of the Arts College. But the fact is that Arts College completed 95 years of its existence on 28th August this year itself. This prestigious institution would be completing its centenary in 2019, just a year after the centenary of Osmania University.

The seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, had issued a firman for the establishment of Osmania University on 26th April 1917 for offering higher education through Urdu medium in the erstwhile Hyderabad State. The University became functional in 1918. Under the aegis of the University, the Arts College was inaugurated on 28th August 1919 and it was temporarily housed in eight rented buildings in Gunfoundry area in the city.

A faculty of 25 lecturers was recruited and 225 students were admitted in Intermediate first class in the first academic year of the college. Incidentally, Sir Ross Masood, grandson of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and founder of Aligarh Muslim University, was the first principal of Arts College. Degree and postgraduate courses were started in 1925 and PhD programme in several disciplines in 1938.

The government acquired a vast extent of land (about 2,000 acres) at Adikmet for development of the campus of Osmania University in 1928. Engineer Ali Nawaz Jung and Architect Zain Yar Jung were sent abroad to study and suggest a model plan for the campus. Monsieur Jasper, a Belgian architect, prepared the detailed plans for the campus buildings. The Nizam laid the foundation for the Arts College building on 5th July 1934. The imposing building, in Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, was built in a record time of 5 years. The Arts College building was inaugurated by the Nizam on 4th December 1939.

The majestic and elegant edifice in pink granite stone retains much of it charm even today, though it has seen vicissitudes of fortune over the last 75 years. The college, being 20 years older than the building, has been witness to many more changes. While departments in modern disciplines as well as classical and Indian languages were opened, the medium of instruction was changed from Urdu to English, soon after police action in erstwhile Nizam State in September 1948. The Arts College made its name all over the globe for its academic excellence by producing eminent alumni and employing renowned academicians.

In 1973, degree courses were discontinued in Arts College and it became an exclusively postgraduate college, offering PG and advanced diploma courses and research studies in various disciplines. Though it was the hotbed of Telangana movement during 1968-71 and several Mulki agitations earlier, Arts College scaled new heights in the 1970s and 1980s. The college made its mark in both arts and social sciences, including economics, history, geography, political science, public administration, psychology, sociology, English and other foreign languages, classical and Indian languages and communication & journalism, linguistics, Islamic Studies and philosophy.

Those who studied in the Arts College or served on its faculty brought laurels. The alumni include not only great academicians but also bureaucrats, political leaders and educational administrators. Many of the erstwhile faculty or alumni of the college went on to become vice-chancellors of eminent universities in the state as well as other prominent universities across the country. Some made their mark abroad. Apart from its alumni in many other disciplines, the Arts College also produced many eminent media persons who studied at its department of communication and journalism.

Yet, after the mushrooming of colleges offering professional courses such as Engineering, MBA, MCA, B.Ed etc, there has been a marked drop in the students seeking postgraduate courses in social sciences and arts subjects. The severe financial crunch due to inadequate funding of the university through block grants by the government has led to a situation where the Arts College is forced to discontinue some courses or to keep several posts of faculty vacant. This is having its own impact on the academic excellence of the college. In the last few years, Osmania University campus witnessed intense agitation by students for separate Telangana State. Now, Telangana is a reality and it is time to strive hard to win back fame and pristine glory for Arts College before it celebrates its centenary in 2019.

(The writer is an MLC and a journalist)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Syed Amin Jafri, TNN / December 08th, 2014

Hyderabadi chess player earns FIDE Trainer title

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Inaganti Amarnath (right), the FIDE arbiter from Hyderabad who officiated in the recent Chess Olympiad, seen with his favourite and former world champion Anatoly Karpov. - A file Photo.
Inaganti Amarnath (right), the FIDE arbiter from Hyderabad who officiated in the recent Chess Olympiad, seen with his favourite and former world champion Anatoly Karpov. – A file Photo.

He is out to challenge the best of the arbiters with his sheer passion and the keenness to keep increasing the vast base of chess knowledge. That is Inaganti Amarnath, who achieved a rare first for any chess player from both the Telugu-speaking States — Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — earning the FIDE Trainer title – a few weeks ago for you.

Inaganti Amarnath
Inaganti Amarnath

He and his brother Inaganti Ganesh set another record of sorts by being the first brother duo to officiate in the World Youth chess championship in South Africa. Amarnath, a physically challenged player, also provided a ‘silver’ lining by finishing second in the Commonwealth Championship (physically disabled category) in Glasgow (Scotland) three years ago in the 2011 World championship for disabled.

It fetched the 37-year-old a job in the South Central Railway. This time he became the only arbiter from Telangana to officiate in the Chess Olympiad (along with two other Indians – Anantharam and Gopa Kumar).

“It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. A performance which also spurred me to do well in the Trainers’ Seminar in Norway where I earned the FIDE Trainer title,” says a delighted Amarnath, representing the All India Chess Federation (AICF). Though he managed to fund his own trip and is now hoping the Sports Authority of Telangana.

Amarnath has also been re-elected as the general secretary of the International Physically Disabled Chess Association during the Olympiad. “This provides me a rare platform to raise the issues faced by the physically challenged players and also find ways and means to resolve some of their pressing problems in pursuing their passion for chess,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – December 09th, 2014

OU Arts College Completes 75 Years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All
The magnificent building of Osmania University College of Arts and Social Sciences in Hyderabad is gaily illuminated for the platinum jubilee. | EXPRESS PHOTO
The magnificent building of Osmania University College of Arts and Social Sciences in Hyderabad is gaily illuminated for the platinum jubilee. | EXPRESS PHOTO

Hyderabad :

Since 1969 the historic Arts College of Osmania University had become the face of the Telangana movement. In fact, the political atmosphere at the college still remains the same.

But, it is not the politics alone which has made it popular. The Arts College had also been an academic hub in the past. But did the academics remain the same in the college? The veterans of 1969 separatist movement have a surprising answer to this question.

Participating in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the college, some of the former students who took part in the 1969 Telangana statehood movement made an interesting comparison of the olden days of the college with the present. Prof K.Madhusudan Reddy, who studied in the college in 1950, says that it was one of the best colleges in the entire south India in those days. Back in 1969, the students who took part in the agitation also used to equally focus on the studies despite the intense political atmosphere on the campus.

Reddy, who had a closer view of the Telangana movement in 1969 and again in 2014, says that activism had never been the excuse to skip studies during the first movement. “But now the Arts College has more politics and less academics,” he observes. He still remembers how he and his friends managed their studies along with politics.

After spending almost three decades in the college, Reddy has a lot to say about his memories with it. But he chooses to speak only about the academics and the iconic college building. Talking at the very platinum jubilee celebrations, Reddy frankly tells the students and faculty of the college that politics has started dominating academics in the college.

Another former principal of the college, Prof KS Upadhyaya, has also expressed a similar opinion. “Arts College has produced many academicians, leaders and bureaucrats. But where do we stand in the studies now?” he asks. Saying that so far the college has been in the news for various reasons, he reminds the students and faculty that this is the time to bring it in news for academic achievements.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / December 05th, 2014