Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Escapades Culinary Studio: For your baking escapades

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
Arundhati of Escapades Culinary Studio displaying one of the baked items which she prepared as part of the classes in home baking and cooking in Hyderabad. Photo: Nagara Gopal

A studio that believes in working the basics right

The fact that a search for Culinary studio in Hyderabad on the world’s most popular search engine leads to Escapades Culinary Studio is proof enough that it is a sought after culinary studio. After a left and a few rights comes flat no 402 at an apartment complex in Whitefields in Kondapur.

The studio is a two-bedroom apartment which was converted into a baking studio by Arundati, a baker who runs and manages the Escapades Culinary studio. The main door of the apartment opens to a long hall with two tables in the middle of the room. Right at the entrance is a little seating area with an antique revolving rack with books. Two unmatched sofa sets with silk cushions don’t look out of place. The Studio’s interiors appears to be designed with a concept of ‘less is more.’

Reality however is far more grounded. “Everything here is from the people who give me positive vibes. It is an assortment of thoughts and love. Nothing in this corner of the studio has been bought, I just asked my friends and family to give me something of theirs,” she explains as she dusts castor sugar on the a fresh batch of brownies.

The air in the apartment is filled with the mellow smell of butter and sugar. The tantalising aroma of confectioneries baking seems to linger on, days after a baking class.

Arundati Rao conducts baking classes in batches. She wants her students to learn everything from scratch, so the Studio is equipped with basic baking equipment. “The only complicated gadgets here are the ovens,” she smiles.

Every table is equipped with egg beaters, spatulas, forks and spoons. A tin of castor sugar, some bowls and sieves are on the shelves. She avoids all other gadgets. Baking is not about gadgets she opines, “I don’t want my students to think baking is possible only when they buy fancy equipment. The art of baking, like math, is about getting the basics right,” she says.

On one wall of the long hall is a round black board where the topics of the class is written about. The wall opposite to it has a framed piece of art comprising pencil sketches that describe the processes involved in baking. Two persons share a table but everybody works up the batter, everyone gets to do frosting. A small hand written board marks the baking area where the ovens are neatly placed.

Minimal use of colour make the studio feel contemporary and global. A few potted plants lend a welcome touch of green. A faux window makes for a selfie spot and also doubles up as a space to hold glass water bottles that students can help themselves to, when thirsty.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Prabalika M. Borah / December 13th, 2017

A movement that created groundwork for Telugu renaissance

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Safety first: Bomb squad inspecting World Telugu Conference 2017 venue, L.B. Stadium, in the city with a sniffer dog on Monday. | Photo Credit: G_RAMAKRISHNA


Daasarathi made his entry as well as mark as a 19-year-old in 1944

In a world before WiFi, the Telangana Saraswatha Parishath in Boggulkunta, was the first free open public space for prose, poetry and literature in Hyderabad.

“Telugu poet Sri Sri used to come and speak here. Other well known Telugu littérateurs used it to perfect their craft and share their stories. This has been a training ground for legions of Telugu teachers. More than that the Parishath has held aloft the torch of Telugu literature,” says J. Chennaiah, secretary of the TSP in Boggulkunta area.

As Hyderabad gets ready to host the World Telugu Conference between December 15 and 19, the shaded alcove in front of the L-shaped building is deserted but inside it thrums with classrooms where a new generation of Telugu teachers are being created.

Born as a rebel movement out of the grand Andhra Mahasabha on May 26, 1943 , it was first called Nizam Rashtra Andhra Saraswatha Parishath (NRASP).

The NRASP was born in the small library hall of Reddy Hostel building. Sankaranarayana Rao, Boorgula Ranganadha Rao and B. Krishna Rao, who were the founding members of the Parishad, set the tone and tenor of the movement. The choice of location was ironical as the Nizam’s King Kothi was just yards away.

“The word Nizam was used because the Parishath wanted to limit its activities to the Telugu-speaking areas of the Nizam’s dominion. The Nizam was wary of groupings. He suspected that the language groups would be used to subvert his rule. The NRASP’s sole goal was literary as many of the founders discovered that the Andhra Mahasabha was more interested in political activities,” informs Mr. Chennaih.

What the Parishad was against became apparent when the next meeting was organised inside the Warangal Fort on December 29 and December 30, 1944. But before the meeting could get underway, the whole tented arrangement was burnt in the night.

“The next day, Kaloji Narayana Rao, Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao decided to conduct the meeting as if nothing happened. The Police Commissioner Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy was the chief guest. It was also the first meeting, where Daasarathi made his entry as well as a mark as a 19-year-old,” says Mr. Chennaiah.

The annual event did not take place in 1948 as the Nizam launched a crackdown and then there was the Police Action.

The 1949 meeting in Toopran in February saw the name of the organisation changed to Andhra Saraswatha Parishath (ASP) and it created groundwork for Telugu renaissance. “It was at that meeting that a demand was made for compulsory Telugu up to Matric which the government agreed to. All the students who were studying Telugu at the ASP got jobs as teachers,” informs Mr. Chennaih.

The effort to turn Osmania University into a Central University with Hindi as a principal medium of instruction was again thwarted as the ASP created Citizens’ Committee and lobbied against the move.

“It is on record that the then Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad shot down the idea of a Hindi University only after hearing out members of the ASP,” says Mr. Chenniah.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – December 12th, 2017

Gamer Connect 2017 inaugurated in Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Fast forward:Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao trying out one of the consoles on display at the Gaming Connect 2017 in Hyderabad on Saturday.BY ARRANGEMENT

NVIDIA and Dell invited to partner with TS Government

A two-day event for gaming enthusiasts by graphics chipmaker NVIDIA that features scores of demo stations, latest games and premium devices opened in the city on Saturday.

Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao, a gaming enthusiast himself, inaugurated Gamer Connect 2017, admitting he was there to check out a few games. The ‘Mt.Everest thing was pretty cool,’ he said about the experience a VR headset provides of the world’s highest peak.

The Minister, who later tweeted ‘pretty good way to start a Saturday,’ told the gathering, at the event in Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, that the State Government had launched IMAGE (innovation in multimedia, animation, gaming and entertainment technology) policy.

It is also developing a 1.6 million sq. ft. IMAGE Tower, which will focus on gaming industry.

“New opportunities will come in gaming, multimedia, visual effects, VR, AR, cyber security, analytics and deep learning,” he said. Gaming as an industry is more than $100 billion globally. Gaming and animation combined is over $243 billion across the world, with India accounting for hardly $1.5 billion,” he said, pointing to the growth potential.

He invited NVIDIA and Dell to partner with the State Government to create an annual event like the Gamer Connect in Hyderabad.

“I am told you already had 12,000 registrations for Gamer Connect today. I hope that number will grow manifold and we will make Hyderabad, with your support, an annual fixture for this event,” he said.

A release from NVIDIA said Gamer Connect was conducted earlier this year in Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Lucknow. It is a platform for the Indian gaming community to bond, interact and explore new avenues in gaming. Gamer Connect also gives audiences an opportunity to experience the latest in PC gaming technology.

Some of the latest games showcased include Call of Duty WW II, Destiny 2, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, NFS Payback, and Assassin’s Creed Origins.

On display are some premium range gaming monitors. The NVIDIA also showcased GeForce GTX graphic cards featuring the latest Pascal architecture.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – December 10th, 2017

Former CSI moderator passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Hyderabad :

The Church of South India (CSI) lost a luminary with the passing of its former Moderator, Rt Rev Dr BP Sugandhar, here on Tuesday. The who’s who of the community and leaders cutting across all parties attended his funeral at St John’s Cemetery in Secunderabad on Wednesday evening. He was 73 and is survived by his wife Nalini Sugandhar, sons John Priya Babu and Dr Vimal Sukumar and daughter Glory.

Bishop Sugandhar was a student at Wesley Boys’ School in Secunderabad. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity at the United Theological College (UTC) in Bangalore and later obtained a Doctorate in Theology. He was the fifth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak, Hyderabad falls under Medak Diocese, and was consecrated by the then Moderator, the Rt Rev Vasant P Dandin. at the Medak cathedral in September 1993.

He was the Deputy Moderator of the CSI from 2000-2004 and the Moderator for two terms (2004- 2008). Popularly known as the people’s bishop, he was much acclaimed for his ability to remember and recollect people by their names.

Bishop Sugandhar was an office-bearer of the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches, (APFC) a society that incorporates Bishops of the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Indigenous Church traditions and whose members strive for ecumenism.

He also served as vice-president of the Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary of the Bible Society of India (BSI). He was also on the governing board of UTC, Bangalore, and the Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC), Hyderabad.

Most Rev Thomas K Oommen, the Moderator of the Church of South India, Rt Rev Dr Vadapalli Prasada Rao, the Deputy Moderator, Rev Dr Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda, the general secretary, and Adv. Robert Bruce, the treasurer expressed their grief.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Hyderabad News / TNN / December 07th, 2017

Focus on Telugu luminaries down the ages

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

World Telugu Conference welcome arches to feature personalities from across

Telugu personalities who illuminated Telugu language, literature and culture will get the pride of place in cities and towns across the State as Telangana is gearing up to host the prestigious World Telugu Conference-2017.

Kings, poets, writers, scholars, artistes and leaders who shaped the history, politics and culture of Telugu people and Telangana State will adorn 100 welcome arches in Hyderabad and other cities.

Another 200 hoardings with illustrious personalities from the Telugu States will come up in the city and across the State and in other metros like Chennai, Bangalore where significant number of Telugu people live. It is a way of paying tributes to them and educating and creating awareness among the young generation about their roots, says the organising committee of WTC.

Prominent names

Telangana Sahitya Academy is overseeing the display of arches and each welcome arch will be dedicated to one prominent person and it will depict the portrait and excerpts from their popular works. Hala King, poet Pampa, Prataparudra, Adikavi Palkuriki Somana, Bammera Pothana, Gona Budhareddy, Bhakta Kavi Ramadasu, Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, Vattikota Alwaruswamy, Kaloji, Oddiraju brothers, first Chief Minister of Hyderabad State Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, former Prime Minister and multifacted personality P.V.Narasimha Rao, renowned poets Dasharathi Krishnamacharya, C.Narayana Reddy and several other eminent persons will be the focus of the welcome arches.

Telugu poets Nannayya, Thikkana, Yerrapragada, Allasani Peddana, Vemana, poet composer Annamacharya, social reformer and writer Gurajada Apparao, revolutionary poet Sri Sri among others will beam across the arches evoking the pride of Telugu people congregating for the conference from across the world, they say.

Pillars decorated

The metro rail pillars will become alive with the landscape of Telangana, capturing its way of life, culture, festivals and folk arts and Hyderabad Metro Rail Authority is coordinating the work with artistes. Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, B.Venkatesham says all the welcome arches and hoardings will be in place by December 12 and the city will be beautified and decked up for the event celebrating the Telugu language.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M.L. Melly Maitreyi / Hyderabad – December 06th, 2017

Tirelessly tutoring TT talent

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports
Gujarati Seva Mandal coach Maduri Venugopal (centre, background) with his wards (from left to right): Vidhi Jain, Ch. Saitejesh, Dr. Chandrachud, Palak Ghia, Nikhat Banu, Varuni Jaiswal and N. Bhaavitha.

Gujarati Seva Mandal has for years trained champions

Coaching children can be a thankless job, with the kids easily distracted or simply not interested. So just as writing for tiny tots requires special communication skills, teaching them a game can be quite taxing.

Maduri Venugopal at the Gujarati Seva Mandal (GSM) in Secunderabad has been churning out champions for years, if not over a decade. While most ‘academies’ charge hefty fees or poach talented players from others and ‘shine’ in their success, GSM’s president Ghanshyambhai B. Patel and secretary Janakbhai Brahmbhatt have ensured their scheme is affordable and within reach of the common man.

Good show

Almost at every table tennis championship, its players, especially the younger ones excel, if not take the honours. The recent Stag and late Sri Ananta Narayan Reddy and late Smt Rameshwaramma Memorial Telangana State Inter District cum State table tennis championship at the Lal Bahadur Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad was no different.

Four wards of the Gujarati Seva Mandal clinched titles while two finished runners-up. Palak Shah in the cadet girls category has remained unbeaten in five State ranking and the inter district championships. Although Nikhat Banu now represents Reserve Bank of India at State and national tournaments, she’s the first big name to emerge from GSM.

Training ground

While Nikhat won the women’s crown, Chandrachud claimed the men’s section honours. A psychiatrist at a corporate hospital with not much time to spare for the game, Dr. Chandrachud trains regularly at the GSM for about a week before each championship. Varuni Jaiswal was supreme in the junior girls section and completed the winning quartet.

N. Bhaavitha in sub-junior girls and Ch. Saitejesh in the junior boys were the runners-up. Varuni will represent Telangana at the senior National championships in three categories — junior, youth girls and women. Others selected to play for Telangana are Vidhi Jain (sub-junior girls), Monica Manohar (women), Saitejesh (men).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by A. Joseph Anthony / Hyderabad – December 02nd, 2017

On footpath, techie spreads breakfast table for hungry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Hyderabad :

Every Sunday morning, an IT and e-commerce consultant and his wife turn into ‘good Samaritans’ for people waiting on pavements outside Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Centre near KBR Park. Vijay Kumar N, who started a small firm after spending a decade in London, does not miss a single Sunday driving down to the hospital on road number 10 in Banjara Hills for providing breakfast to the needy and poor.

About 150-200 people queue up every Sunday on the pavement outside the hospital between 7am and 7.30am for breakfast

Scores of people queue up on the pavements from 7 to 7.30am for breakfast. Vijay and his wife have been doing this for the past two years. “On a winter morning on Sunday two years ago, I had taken my daughter for a joyride from Jubilee Hills to KBR Park. I was taken aback by the plight of the people waiting outside the hospital.

Some of them were family members of patients undergoing treatment at the hospital. Most of them cannot afford food or accommodation in Banjara Hills. Many beggars also live on the pavement adjacent to the hospital,” Vijay told TOI. He still recalls the face of a young cancer patient groaning in pain on the pavement.

“I was even more shocked to see the young boy, perhaps six or seven years old, lying on the pavement with a tube inserted in his nose. I got down from my car found out that he was suffering from lung cancer. His parents were running from pillar-topost to get him admitted at the hospital.

This sight gave birth to the idea of helping these people,” he said. “My wife gave me the idea to make food and serve it to all the poor people there, including those begging for alms. That day, two years ago, she made upma and both of us went back there and fed around 10 persons,” added Vijay. Now, they feed 150-200 people every Sunday. “Feeding breakfast to the needy makes it a happy Sunday for my family. Just by feeding them breakfast, we cannot bring smiles on their faces, but it is a small effort on our part to do something for them,” Vijay said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Hyderabad News / Sarthak G / TNN / November 13th, 2017

Why Satya Nadella is in India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Microsoft CEO will also deliver the keynote address at the first edition of the India Today Conclave Next 2017.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is on a two-day visit to India to promote his book Hit Refresh – The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone.

The tech giant’s India-born chief will be in Delhi on November 7 to deliver the keynote address at the first edition of the India Today Conclave Next 2017. Nadella kickstarted his trip with a visit to Microsoft’s headquarters in Hyderabad on November 6 – the city of his birth – where he joined NDTV’s Prannoy Roy for a discussion on his book that will soon be available in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil.

The book takes readers through Nadella’s personal journey from his childhood in India to his ascendancy through the ranks at Microsoft. It talks about the transformation he has initiated at Microsoft, from its culture to its competitive landscape and industry partnerships as well as his outlook on the exciting and disruptive wave of technologies that will impact all our lives in the coming days.

Many of these themes will also be explored at the day-long India Today Conclave Next 2017.

Nadella’s book also carries a foreword by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The book’s English edition, launched on September 26, 2017, can already be found in bookstores, while the Hindi edition, published by HarperCollins India will be available in bookstores by November end.

The Tamil and Telugu editions published by Westland Books will be available in print at bookstores from November 7. A Kindle version of the Tamil edition will also be available for download on the same day.

source: http://www.dailyo.in / Daily O / Home> Sci-Tech / November 06th, 2017

Bullet train logo has Hyderabad youth’s stamp

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Hyderabad :

The logo designed by a 27-year-old city youth will adorn India’s first high speed rail network project, namely the bullet train connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Chakradhar Aalla, a resident of Lakdi-ka pul, bagged the first prize in the logo designing contest held by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

At a function organised in New Delhi on Wednesday Chakradhar was presented Rs 1 lakh by renowned architect and painter Satish Gujral, who also headed the judges’ panel in the contest. It took Chakradhar three weeks to design the logo.

Chakradhar, a second year PG graphic designing student at the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, said, “It was a very encouraging experience and a great learning opportunity for me. I found a whole new platform for creative exploration.” He had earlier graduated in architecture from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Trichy.

The Cheetah-inspired design indicates the high speed of the bullet train. The symbolic portrayal represents the movement of the bullet train as it charges through all the stations aerodynamically. The dots connected with the train at the top of the logo symbolises the services of the NHSRCL, which unlike other high speed rail services, also caters to short distance travellers with several halts. Blue, red and grey colours have been used in the design process to signify safety, speed and comfort respectively.

Chakradhar’s father Aalla Sivakoti Prasad said, “I feel proud that my son was awarded by a legendary person like Gujral. It is a great opportunity to be associated with an organisation like NHSRCL. May he achieve success in fulfilling his dream of making learning enjoyable for schoolkids to help improve education standards.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ The Times of India / News> City News> Hyderabad News / TNN / October 26th, 2017

This retired railway engineer filled potholes on Diwali night

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

_____________________________________________________________________

Highlights
Gangadhara Tilak Katnam, an engineer who retired nearly a decade ago, has made filling potholes his mission since 2010.

He has filled 1,302 potholes across Hyderabad so far. He selects roads where one least expects a pothole
_______________________________________________________________________

Hyderabad :

As people celebrated the festival of lights, Gangadhara Tilak Katnam stopped his ‘Pothole Ambulance’ at Tippu Bridge between Langar Houz and Police Academy junction and filled a pothole.

Tilak, an engineer who retired from South Central Railway (SCR) nearly a decade ago, has made filling potholes his mission since 2010, filled 1,302 potholes across the city so far.

“I celebrated Diwali by filling a pothole,” said Gangadhara Tilak, who not only devotes his time but also spends a chunk of his pension to ensure safer roads. His family, volunteers of ‘Shramadaan’, a voluntary organization he set up, and passersby often help him.

“Initially I used to pick up gravel from the roadside when anew road was being laid. Subsequently, I was not able to find any. I then requested contractors to at least sell me some gravel,” he told TOI on Friday.

He selects roads where one least expects a pothole. “Such potholes are dangerous. When the ride is smooth and suddenly one comes across a pothole, it becomes difficult and can result in deaths,” he said.

When he noticed such accidents, he tried to get the police to mention the road condition as the cause of the mishap in FIRs but was dismissed. He feels that when the reason is on the record, cops can immediately ask civic officials to repair the road or fill the pothole.

It can also make officials or contractors accountable “What I fail to understand is why don’t engineers make note of the damages to roads in their jurisdiction and carry out the necessary works needed immediately?” Gangadhara Tilak asked.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Hyderabad News / by Ch. Sushil Rao, TNN / October 21st, 2017