Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad Metro Rail is now second largest metro network in country

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An image of the Hyderabad metro rail in the L.B Nagar-Ameerpet Metro stretch. | Photo Credit: Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan flagged off the metro train from the Ameerpet metro interchange station towards L.B.Nagar in the city suburb just after noon on Monday.

With the opening of this 16 km stretch, the entire Corridor One of Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project of 29 km from Miyapur to L.B.Nagar has been completed.

It will be the first corridor to be completed in all respects and has been opened to general public by evening. Construction is underway in two other routes: Corridor Two – Jubilee Bus Station to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (Imlibun)/Falaknuma – 15 km and Corridor Three – Nagole to HiTec City/Raidurg – 28 km. Altogether 72 km of elevated metro line is being built in three dense traffic corridors of the capital.

Last November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened the inaugural 30 km metro line of Nagole-Ameerpet-Miyapur in the presence of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and others. It covered parts of Corridor Three – Nagole to Ameerpet (17 km) and Corridor One – Miyapur to Ameerpet (13 km).

More than a lakh passengers have been riding on the trains and it is expected to double now.

With Monday’s opening of another metro stretch, the Hyderabad Metro Rail will be covering 46 km and has become the second largest metro rail network in the country after New Delhi, announced Minister for Municipal Administration K.T. Rama Rao during a presentation made to the Governor at the terminal station of L.B. Nagar.

It is also the world’s largest public-private partnership project. The Government spent close to ₹3,000 crore for land acquisition, road widening and shift of utilities, while L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) invested more than ₹12,000 crore. The Central Government too chipped in with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of ₹1,458 crore. The entire work has been estimated to cost up to ₹14,132 crore.

The Minister said HMR was also taking care of improving ground level infrastructure all along the metro corridors like designer footpaths, drains and signages while barricading is being taken up underneath stations to prevent spillover of passengers onto the main road. Skywalks are in the offing and all metro stations could be used as road crossovers. Frequency of trains is about 7-8 minutes and first train chugs in at 6.30 a.m. and last train 10.30 p.m.

First and last mile connectivity is being provided through bicycles, bikes and taxis. Soon electric charging points will be provided for bringing in electric vehicles into its fold, he added. The Governor commended the project and requested the citizens to make use of the facility for the sake of personal health and environment. He called for speedy induction of smart card/smart phone ticket facility and opening of HiTec City line by Dec.15.

Mr. Narasimhan after travelling from Ameerpet to L.B.Nagar, got down at Khairatabad and cycled towards Raj Bhavan along with other senior officials. Mayor B. Rammohan, Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi, HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy, L&TMRH CEO & MD K.V.B. Reddy and others were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. Geetanath / Hyderabad – September 24th, 2018

Hyderabad comes up with exclusive park for pets

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Puppy love: The park for canines has been established by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on 1.3 acres of land

Hyderabad’s first-ever exclusive pet park will soon be filled with joyous bow-wows much to the delight of pet owners.

The park for canines, touted as the first such in the country, may be inaugurated in a week’s time.

It has been established by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on 1.3 acres of land, which is a former dump yard.

Features galore

The brainchild of the Commissioner, West Zone, GHMC, D. Hari Chandana, the park has many enabling features for the physically challenged.

A walking track wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, ramp accesses to every nook, and accessible lawns are a few among them.

“There is a cafeteria with menu in Braille script, and variety of dog food,” says Ms. Chandana.

“We are also planning to install sign boards in Braille,” she adds.

Ms. Chandana says the thought of an exclusive pet park germinated in her mind when a few differently-abled pet parents and NGOs approached her sometime ago.

Unlimited fun is in the offing for the pooch too, what with pet play equipment, splash pools, and separate play areas for small and big canines.

Films to be screened

Short films spreading awareness among pet owners may be screened at the amphitheatre, and dog trainers will be available on order.

“The amphitheatre may be used to celebrate pets’ birthdays, for hosting vaccination drives on World Zoonosis Day, or to conduct dog shows,” says the Deputy Director (Veterinary) Abdul Wakeel.

Vaccination mandatory

The idea is to make the park a venue for regular vaccinations, and also issuing pet licences or licences for setting up private pet clinics.

Vaccination is mandatory for dogs entering the park, says Mr. Wakeel.

A total ₹1.1 crore has been spent on the park to equip it with state-of-the-art equipment.

The plan is to maintain them through private partnership. Tenders have been called for this.

Entry is not free for random curs though. Each pet will be charged ₹10 per visit.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad/ by Swathi Vadlamudi / Hyderabad – September 15th, 2018

IIIT-H turns 20, celebrates with a host of events

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Panel discussions, alumni meet held over the weekend

Celebrations spread over two days, with a global alumni meet, panel discussions and showcase of its research and innovations marked the 20th anniversary of the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H).

While the alumni meet was held on Saturday, the panel discussions took place on Sunday.

Secretary to the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ajay Sawhney, Director General of Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad Ajit Rangnekar, Director of Amazon Development Center Hyderabad Jayaram Valliyur and Dean (R&D) of IIIT-H Vasudeva Varma were among those who participated in the deliberations.

IIIT-H Governing Council Chairman Raj Reddy highlighted the founding objectives of the institute.

Director of IIIT-H P.J. Narayanan shared an overview of the Institute and its plans. “Our research is today ranked among the top in the country in several areas, such as robotics, computer vision and AI. Undergraduate research continues to pay rich dividends for the Institute, in terms of a large, global diaspora of researchers who stay engaged with the Institute,” he said.

A release from IIIT-H, on the 20th anniversary celebrations, said from just 50 students in the first batch to around 1,800 students in 28 programmes, IIIT-H is ranked as the No.1 institute in AI (computer vision, machine learning and data mining, and Natural Language Processing) in India and Asia’s 2nd best institute for robotics.

A short film on ;Making of IIIT-H, How it All Started’ was screened, followed by a tour of the campus and showcase of its research work and innovations as well as technologies created by the labs and start-ups seeded at the Institute, the release said.

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

A teacher with a passion for poetry

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For a person educated in the vernacular medium, learning the basics of English language is a challenge more often. But Pendoti Chandrashekar has proved to be an exception. Schooled in Telugu medium, he had the conviction to opt for BA English Literature, which he followed up with an MA in English and a B.Ed degree, going on to become a post-graduate teacher in English at the Government Model School, Nandipet. Not stopping at that, he has carved out a niche for himself by writing poetry in English and has also encouraged his students to follow suit. His poem on former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has been published in the anthology titled The Hope Re-Born.

Mr. Chandrashekar was one among the 28 poets across the country selected by the noted publishers Research and Publication Academy, Allahabad to write for their publication The Hope Reborn, which will be released very soon this month. With a good command over English, he has endeared himself to his students by teaching the subject in a simple method. Born in Mallapur village in Indalwai mandal he completed his primary and secondary education at government schools in his village and studied Intermediate at Government Junior College, Bheemgal in Telugu medium. Thereafter, he opted for BA English Literature at Giriraj Degree College here.

Having completed MA English and B.Ed in distance mode from Osmania University, he got selection as PGT in 2012 and since then, has been working in Nandipet. Coming from a humble background he achieved his goal. Chandrashekar is also one of the four writers who authored the English subject book for PGT Gurukul Mains Examinations published by the TS Telugu Academy. “His poetry is lucid, simple and can easily be understood by ordinary English readers,” said Dasari Raghu, a PGT in Botony. “His contribution to the Telugu Academy book is very valuable and useful to candidates preparing for the PGT competitive exam. He has done an excellent job. He is the pride of the district,” said Nampally Rajesh, District Educational Officer, speaking at a function to felicitate Mr. Chandrashekar at the GMS.

Another feather in his cap is that poems written by his students M. Rachana and M. Lavanya of X Class are being published along with his poem in The Hope Reborn. “

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by P. Ram Mohan / Nizamabad – September 03rd, 2018

Bonalu festivities begin in city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Bonalu procession, taken out from Langar Houz, reaches Golconda Fort in the city on Sunday.

Celebrations at Ujjaini Mahankali temple on July 29 and 30

The Bonalu festivities to coincide with the commencement of Ashadam took off at Golconda on Sunday.

Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and Ministers Nayini Narasimha Reddy, A. Indrakaran Reddy and T. Srinivas Yadav performed pooja to the float that was carried in a procession from Langar Houz.

Silk clothes were presented by them on behalf of the government to the deity at the temple at Golconda Fort where the procession culminated. The stairs to go up the fort were smeared with turmeric and vermilion powder.

The Bonalu festivities would be held in different parts of the city from now on. They would reach the peak with the celebrations at Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on July 29 and 30 and Lal Darwaza temple a week thereafter.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – July 15th, 2018

A literary trove found in a grain market

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Sarojini Naidu’s unseen private collection will soon be available for research

A treasure trove of hundred thousand private papers, books, paintings and scribblings of poetess and stateswoman Sarojini Naidu was discovered after a massive hunt ended in the Mahankali Grain Market attached to the famous Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad.

Now, books and documents filling about eight almirahs have been moved to Marri Chenna Reddy Human Resource Development Institute (MCRHRDI) for safe-keeping and cataloguing. They will soon be available for researchers and historians. Though Sarojini Naidu hailed from Hyderabad, most of her personal papers and collections were donated to the Nehru Memorial Museum in New Delhi by her daughter Padmaja Naidu while some are with the National Archives of India.

The hint

The hint about these lost documents first came when former Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh was writing the biography of the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Then again while former journalist and author Sheela Reddy was writing a book about the Jinnahs, she began searching for the documents and located them in the upper floor room of a busy grain market.

“It was 7.20 p.m. on August 2, 2017, and it had already become dark when the custodian of the market opened the door. Without any light, I could not see anything. The next day I reached there at 6 a.m. and the treasure in the almirahs blew my mind away,” said Raghavendra Singh, Director-General National Archives of India who was helped in tracing the papers by Ms. Sheela Reddy.

Among the collection were a few autographed portraits of Sarojini Naidu. “See this. This one has been drawn by the brother of W.B. Yeats (John Butler Yeats),” says Mr. Singh, showing an image clicked with his cellphone.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Serish Nanisetti / Hyderabad – July 11th, 2018

From Everest with Love, a climbing experience

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Mountaineer Neelima Pudota at book release function.

Mithali Raj’s book Unguarded soon

Neelima Pudota, the first woman from Hyderabad to climb Mount Everest launched her book ‘From Everest with Love’ in an event at Dr.Y.S.R. National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Gachibowli recently.

Neelima, who penned her experience of scaling the peak in her book said it consisted of letters she wrote to her mother from the Everest. The objective behind compiling the letters into a book and publishing it is to share her experience with everyone, she said. The book would give the readers a virtual climb of the mountain, she said.

Mithali Raj, Captain of Indian Women’s Cricket team, released the book along with former MD and Vice Chairman of SAAP G. Rekha Rani. The SAAP had supported Neelima’s expedition to the Mount Everest.

Neelima’s mountaineering equipment on display got a lot of curious audience followed by a book signing session by the author.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.in and Flipkart. Mithali Raj whose book ‘Unguarded’ due for release in October, shared her own journey.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – July 11th, 2018

In the business of serving others

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The association set up by M Saibabu feeding at least 10 persons daily since 2014

This 26-year-old youth, Maddukuri Saibabu, has set an example for peer group and students with his active and regular participation in social service, which fetched him two best youth awards at the district level and one best youth award at the State level. He has also secured the best achievement award.

Recognizing his services, Nehru Yuva Kendra of the Union Ministry of Youth Services presented the awards to him. Born into a farmer’s family (his father is Govind Rao and mother Vijayalaxmi), in Dharmaram (B) of Dichpally mandal, he, along with a few friends, established a social service organisation, Induru Yuvatha Association (IYA) immediately after his Intermediate education in 2011.

The immediate motive behind floating the organisation was to help his friend Laxman, who had suffered a serious health problem owing to failure of both kidneys. Then, he conducted a two-day cultural event at Rajiv Gandhi Auditorium here and raised ₹28,000, which was given to Laxman, who belonged to Nyalkal village, for his treatment. However, Laxaman passed away in 2012.

From then, Saibabu has never looked back and has been continuing his activities of feeding the poor and roadside beggars, conducting funeral to unclaimed bodies, organising health camps and Swachh Bharath camps. One member of his association gives food packets containing two curries and curd to at least 10 destitute persons in the Gouthamnagar, Kanteswar and railway station areas every day. They have been doing it since 2014.

The association members, who adopted Borgam village located just outside the town, embarked on the Swachh Bharath with a missionary zeal on May 1. Since then, they have been spending a few hours every day for clearing clogged drains, washing toilets at schools, and removing garbage and bushes.

They are also holding camps to enlighten children and illiterate persons on the importance of cleaning hands for keeping health. “To date, we have completed 80 hours in the implementation of the Swachh Bharath and our mission will come to an end by July 25. By then, the village will have become spick and span. We will conduct the same programme elsewhere later,” said Saibabu, who did his Bachelor of Physiotherapy with the financial support of Mandava Nalini Devi, wife of former Minister Mandava Venkateswar Rao.

The IYA consists of 38 members, almost all of them being artistes. They render cultural programmes at marriage and birthday functions and keep aside 5% of the remuneration for social service, said Saibabu.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by P. Ram Mohan / Nizamabad – July 08th, 2018

Khajuraho in Telangana: Prehistoric rock art with love making in Siddipet

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Paintings are believed to be from the Chalcolithic (copper age)

Hyderabad :

In a rare find, rock art with sexual scenes were discovered on a hill at Timmareddypalli in Kondapaka village of Siddipet district. The paintings of people dancing and animals are believed to be from the Chalcolithic (copper age). This is the third place in Telangana where lovemaking scenes from an early age were found, after Mattamralla Tanda and Yadaram.

“The rock art site has been discovered east of Timmareddypalli on a hill called Edaragutta. It is located 200 feet above ground where a cave is located nearby the hill. We found around 30 Reddish paintings on the rock canvas. Some of the painting are monkeys, genitals of wild buffalo, an old couple getting ready for hunting, sun, demanding people, a serpent with fangs and a fox. The lovemaking scenes of a couple were also among the paintings,” Historian Sriramoju Haragopal of Telangana Jagruti told TOI.

He added, “According to historian VV Krishna Shastry, the paintings depicting genitals belong to Chalcolithic age. The rare sexual scene paintings were earlier found in two more locations in Telangana. The rock paintings appear to be skilled. There are pictures with men holding the spare.”

In a separate finding, historians found cave Kondapapa too in which several pottery and beads of Satavahana era were found. Vemuganti Murali Krishna, another historian who was part of the team said, “A hillock is located near Kondapaka. It is called Mallanna Gutta. There are traces of prehistoric man living here. A Siva temple is located nearby. We found Sathavahana era potteries and beads in the nearby fields.”

Historians said the sites are located in between agriculture fields and asked the government to protect the sites by acquiring the land.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Hyderabad News / by U. Sudhakar Reddy / TNN / July 02nd, 2018

Book commemorating Hyderabad’s Kargil War hero released

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The book was released jointly by Major General N Srinivas Rao, General Officer Commanding, Telangana Sub Area and Major Acharya’s daughter, Aparajita, who was born three months after his martyrdom.

Hyderabad:

A coffee table book commemorating the martyrdom of Major Padmapani Acharya, Hyderabad’s own Kargil War hero, was released at an event organised by Synchrony here on Friday.

The book was released jointly by Major General N Srinivas Rao, General Officer Commanding, Telangana Sub Area and Major Acharya’s daughter, Aparajita, who was born three months after his martyrdom.

Hailing from Hyderabad, Major Acharya who was commissioned into 2 Rajputana Rifles made the supreme sacrifice on June 28, 1999 while leading a platoon to capture Tololing through raining artillery shells from the enemy during the Kargil War. He was awarded the second highest Indian military honour, Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his actions during the Kargil War.

“The book documents the collection of his letters to home, some photographs and a brief writeup on his life,” said Aparajita.

Major General Srinivas Rao said Major Acharya led his men through enemy fire and artillery shelling and made the supreme sacrifice to accomplish the mission assigned to him. “Major Acharya is not only a role model for the soldiers but also a role model for the nation,” he said.

The General Officer also complimented the efforts of Synchrony to reach out to Army veterans and serving soldiers as part of their diversity and inclusion initiatives which includes the Veterans Network. Anuradha Rao, wife of Major General Srinivas Rao inaugurated a conference hall named after Major Padmapani Acharya, MVC at Synchrony.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home / by Telangana Today / June 30th, 2018