Category Archives: Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Dancing up to the peak-Vyshnavie Sainath

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Sports, Travel

Vyshnavie Sainath
Vyshnavie Sainath

Her dance background gave her the strength to scale the 20850 ft high Stok-Kangri, says Vaishnavie Sainath

When the 12-hour climb to the peak took 20 hours, Vyshnavie Sainath’s mind and heart had begun to remember the disapproving comments from friends and acquaintances when she had announced her decision to trek to the Himalayas. But she quickly arrested those thoughts and focussed on what she had set out to achieve — reach the peak. When she succeeded, her heart was filled with inexplicable joy at reaching the peak and getting a first hand experience of the sight from the peak. Vyshnavie Sainath, the city-based dancer of Bharathanatyam, Odissi, Simhanandini, Kalari and contemporary forms summited the 20850 ft high Stok-Kangri and she is more than pleased with herself, minus the sunburned nose and cheeks.

“During the day it was quite hot but at night the temperature fell down to minus. The sun and the clear atmosphere left me with a sunburn. This sunburn is special, I have earned it,” she laughs.

The five-day trek began with this dancer and yoga practitioner. along with the team she was climbing with, making two stops at a base camp. “I took an extra day to get acclimatised to the weather, the thin air. To top it, the clear weather forecast suddenly became a snow blizzard and this being my first camp, I decided to stay back for an extra day. I wasn’t challenging anything, nor was my attempt to do the Himalayan Trek an attempt to prove anything to anyone. It was my decision to experience that moment at the trek and if I wanted to return at any point, I could have,” says the youngster.

She was not only excited but was sure of the atmosphere she would be introducing herself.

In the beginning, her body didn’t know what it was getting into. The altitude was high and so was the clean thin air. But something that she has been doing for several years came to her rescue. “Since I have been dancing for years and also practising yoga, my body had been silently accumulating the energy and stamina. Besides my regular dance and yoga sessions, I also designed a session of 2-3 hours to prepare myself, that involved cardio, yoga and other fitness routines. Dance also helped me keep my mind stable and not give in at the weak moments,” she explains.

Vaishnavie says that it’s her self-assessment and her calm mind made it all possible. “But just because I did it, I wouldn’t say it is easy. Self-assessment is a must and one has to prepare thoroughly before taking up such a challenge,” she suggests.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / byPrabalika M. Borah / Vyshnavie-Sainath, Stok-Kangri / September 26th, 2016

Is there anything that this Guinness World Record holder ‘wondo’ ?

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

M Jayanth Reddy | a radhakrishna
M Jayanth Reddy | a radhakrishna

Hyderabad :

A 54-year-old throwing almost six punches per second seems like a story straight out of the Shaolin temples in China. But M Jayanth Reddy from Hyderabad proved to the world, on July 2, that he is a tough nut to crack when he broke the Guinness World Record for the most number of full contact punches in a minute using one hand – hitting 352 of them in the process.

His tryst with world records started in 2010 when he broke the world record for the maximum number of round kicks in a minute. He followed it up with a staggering 10 individual Guinness World Records in martial arts. A taekwondo practitioner since the age of 14, Jayanth won five gold medals at national championships from 1983-88. But fate had something else in store for him. After being unable to crack the Olympic riddle, he shifted his focus to teaching the martial art to youngsters. “I opened my academy in 1996-97 and since then I have taught more than five lakh students,” the eighth Dan Black Belt holder said.

The inspiration to attempt scores of world records came from his family members.

An IPL inspired tournament is Jayanth’s ultimate aim. “By November, 2017 we will start International Taekwondo Champions League which will have participants from India, Thailand and the USA,” he asserted. In a chat with Express, Jayanth said that his latest world record was the toughest. “In taekwondo, kicks are used ninety per cent of the time. So to break the one handed punches world record was really tough.”

His students haven’t been left behind when it comes to smashing world records. “Konda Sahadev, who has been a student of mine for over two decades, has nine world records to his credit, while R Gajendra Kumar and Abdul Khalil have six each,” said Jayanth. Nothing seems to be stopping the pentagenarian, who plans to break one more world record in near future.

The third-generation Hyderabadi resident has authored two books on healthy lifestyle. He expressed his concerns about India not performing well at the recently concluded Olympics. “I will identify talented people soon and start training them for the Tokyo Olympics,” Jayanth said. He opined that the country is filled with talent.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Vishal Vivek / August 29th, 2016

Historical Sir Ronald Ross Institute remains unused

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

SirRonaldRossTELAN22aug2016

He discovered the malarial parasite in the intestines of female mosquito at the fag end of his stint as medical officer on these premises

The pride of being home to the discovery of malarial parasite is not something that any city would let pass without a care. The site of such historic discovery in Hyderabad, however, lies tucked away in a remote corner of Begumpet, unnoticed by many, and unused for more than six years.

The Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology, a heritage building, is under lock and key for most of the time, not open even for the visitors who might be interested in catching a few glimpses of the photo museum inside.

Nobel laureate Ronald Ross discovered the presence of malarial parasite in the intestines of female anopheles mosquito at the fag end of his stint as medical officer on these premises between 1895 and 1897, when it was a hospital for the British regimental troops. Copy of a journal entry by Mr. Ross about the discovery dated August 20 can be found in the museum, as also his drawings of the parasite.

The building later served as an “officers mess” for British regiment, and was under Deccan Airlines for a brief while. Later after accession of Hyderabad State, it was handed over to the Osmania Medical College for further research on Malaria.

However, later, the 2.5-acre premises were handed over to the Airport Authority of India (then National Airports Authority) for development of the peripheral areas of the Begumpet Airport. In 1975, with initiative from the OU Zoology department, the structure was handed over to the Osmania University, while the land remains with the AAI. After being identified as heritage structure, renovation of the building was carried out in 2010-12 with Rs.45 lakh, which has brought back the lost aura to it. However, since then, the premises remain unoccupied, with whatever research in the institute’s name, having been shifted out into the OU premises.

“Land ownership by the AAI remains a road block for any effort to develop it as a pioneering research centre for vector-borne diseases. There is no approach road to the premises. Though Rs.6.5 crore was sanctioned earlier by the Archaeological Survey of India for approach road, we could not use it as AAI denied permission,” Director of the institute B.Reddya Naik informed.

Besides, water supply too was disconnected recently by the AAI to curb illegal water tapping, which rendered the premises even more unusable. Correspondence since 1997 with the Civil Aviation Ministry for transfer of land has not yielded results.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swathi Vadlamudi / Hyderabad – August 21st, 2016

State cop gets Shourya Chakra for the first time

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

ShouryaChakraTELAN19aug2016

Hyderabad :

After achieving maximum number of police gallantry medals, Telangana police have added another feather to their cap by bagging Shourya Chakra on Independence Day.

Counter Intelligence (CI) Cell constable K Srinivasulu, 35, was awarded the Shourya Chakra for nabbing terror suspect Alam Zeb Afridi even after getting stabbed by the latter in Bengaluru in January this year.

Alam Zeb Afridi, 30, of Ahmedabad, was an accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, the 2014 Church Street Blast of Bengaluru and another terror blast in Chennai.

In January 2016, the CI cell members of Telangana, following a terror trail, raided Alam Zeb’s den at Doddanagamangala near Electronic City in Bengaluru and when constable Srinivasulu was trying to nab Alam Zeb, the terror operative stabbed him in the stomach with a knife.

“Despite getting stabbed, the Counter Intelligence Cell constable did not let Alam Zeb escape till support arrived and, due to his daring act, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) could arrest Alam Zeb,” an intelligence official said.

Among the 14 persons awarded Shourya Chakra this year, 12 are from the armed forces and two, including Srinivasulu, were policemen.

The other police officer, Atu Zumvu, is a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Kohima, Nagaland.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / August 16th, 2016

Slum Premier League, a T:20 tournament for slum children

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

Hyderabad :

“Every child has a right to play. When a child comes to me for coaching in cricket I don’t look at his talent. He has every right to play whatever the sport he enjoys, said Daniel Kanaparthi of Daniels Cricket Academy, who conceived the idea of Slum Premier League, a T:20 tournament for slum children. He said so while speaking at the brief inaugural function of the League held today morning at a Daniel’s Ground at Peerzadiguda.

The inaugural match was played between Vidyanager Gold and Charminar Titans.All the teams will be playing three matches each. This League will continue for next five days.

The names of the teams competed include Puranapul Nawabs, Kanchanbagh Warriors, Charminar Titans,Chanchalguda Sultans, Vidyanagar Gold, Uppal Rockets, Kishanbagh Sardars, Gadi Kotta Racers, Banjaragadd Diamonds, Habshiguda Wizards, Boduppal Jaguars, Manikeshwar Nagar Lions, Amberpet Panthers, Nacharam Angels,Maheshwaram Kings and Veerappa Gadd Thunder.

Srinu from Maheshwaram Kings took five wickets against Puranapul Nawabs. All the matches were played in Daniels Academy Grounds.and Sager Grounds in Uppal Peerzadiguda.

Welcoming the gathering at the inauguration, Daniel, the organizer said said when children play, the world wins. “Unfortunately, less previleged children do not have such luxury to play the game. All they can do is what sitting on a wall while others are playing. Every child has right to play, right to rise and shine. Sport is a Friendship. Sport is a Health. Sport is an Education. Sport is a life. Sport brings the world together he said and added that 70 per cent of Indian Cricketers came from an humble background like yours.”

Dhoni was a Ticket Collector, Virender Sehwag used to travel 84kms by bus everyday to practice cricket. Ravindra Jadeja is son of a security guard. He lost his mother at 17 years. Harbhajn Singh thought of moving to the US to drive truck for a living. Umesh Uadav is a son of coal miner. Mohammed Shami is a son of a farmer. Wasim Jaffer is a son of a bus driver. He is the highest run-getter in Ranji Matches till date. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, a son of a sub inspector, struggled to get a proper playing shoes and kit. So you too have future to be a great cricketer once Daniel told them.

“There is a unlimited growth in Aata(sport) and Paata(Song). The strength in Slum Premier League is in its word ‘Slum’. When i took objection to using ‘Slum’ in the name, Daniel, the organizer explained me that it is the strength and identity, i was convinced the importance of the tournament,” said chief guest BJP National General Secretary Muralidhar Rao who inaugurated the game.

The entire auditorium reverberated with motivational messages, songs, quotes on sportsmanship, bravery, championship etc.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express Features / August 10th, 2016

Keen to go around the world: Lt. Aishwarya Boddapati

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, Travel

Aishwarya Boddapati
Aishwarya Boddapati

Lt. Aishwarya Boddapati is part of the all-women crew in Indian Navy’s only ocean going sailing boat

Imagine being on the sea for 30 to 40 days with no sight of land. That too, on a sailing boat and not a ship. Lt. Aishwarya Boddapati from Hyderabad is among the only all-women crew heading into the ocean on a 17-metre sailing vehicle of the Indian Navy, called MHADEI.

The crew with their mentor Cdr Dilip Dhonde on MHADEI
The crew with their mentor Cdr Dilip Dhonde on MHADEI

The all-women crew sailed to Mauritius this May. “Every two years, a sailing vessel sets out to circumnavigate the world. The Indian Navy felt it would be a good orientation for us to first experience the Atlantic and Pacific oceans before we do the world circuit,” recalls Aishwarya. A relative newcomer to sailing, Aishwarya observed her peers at work, learnt to put theory to practice.

Aishwarya studied metallurgical engineering and in her final year, worked with the DRDO which was working on a component of a ballistic missile. “It was a fascinating experience. I felt it would be exciting to be on the user side,” she says. The only connection Aishwarya had with the defence sector was her uncle who worked for Indian Air Force. “Normally, candidates prepare ahead to join the Navy. Since I didn’t have that exposure, my uncle asked me to be honest in the interview and not exaggerate things,” she says.

She was inducted into the technical side of Navy, and later posted in Andaman and Nicobar islands with the team that worked on maintenance and repair of warships. While at work, she learnt that the Navy was looking for volunteers to join an adventure expedition and applied. “I got selected in February 2015 but was required to finish my two-year tenure at Andaman. I joined the adventure team in March 2016,” she says.

Aishwarya remembers being inclined to adventure for a while. She had tried river rafting, bungee jumping, scuba diving and other water sports. She was aware that some of the lady officers who will be part of the adventure expedition had prior experience. “Some of them had already gone on an expedition accompanied by male officers in 2014. This time, the Navy wanted a six all-women crew and I am ecstatic to be a part of it.”

In Cochin, she was trained in the basics of sailing. “We learnt the technical and theoretical aspects of how to navigate a vessel that runs only on wind,” she says. During the Mauritius trip, she got a hands-on experience.

Aishwarya looks back at the days they spent at a stretch on the sea, celebrating the calm days and starry nights. “One night we faced an electrical problem after which we had no lights. The moon hadn’t risen. We spent the night star gazing. It was beautiful,” she says.

She doesn’t mind the lack of mobile connectivity. “Since we were six women on board, we got to know each other well. We would watch television series, take turns and cook, or read books on Kindle. There were times when there would be some misunderstanding, but you don’t hold grudges for long because you can’t go anywhere else,” she laughs.

The crew is preparing to participate in the Cape to Rio race scheduled from December 26, 2016, to January 17, 2017. “In August 2017, we will be sailing to circumnavigate the world on a new sister boat of MHADEI, called TARINI, now under construction in Goa. The details are yet to be worked out,” she says.

Closer home, she faced resistance when she disclosed her intention to join the adventure side of Navy. “My parents wanted me to get married, so they were taken aback,” she laughs. Aishwarya took her parents on a short sail off Goa. Experiencing the calm waters, her father was convinced it wasn’t a bad idea.

Besides the circumnavigation, she hopes to someday become a sky diving instructor.

The team

* Cdr Dilip Dhonde is the mentor and coach of for the all-women team

* The six all-women crew includes aeronautical engineer Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi (skipper), electronics engineer Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Patharlapaali Swathi, a post graduate in physics, Lt Shougrakpam Vijayadevi, a literature postgraduate, and computer science engineer Lt Payal Gupta, apart from Lt B Aishwarya.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / Sangeetha Devi Dundoo / Hyderabad – August 13th, 2016

Chakali Ilamma’s life to be captured in a 30-minute-long documentary

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Hyderabad :

State government, which has decided to bring out books and produce documentaries to record the life history of Telangana iconic figures, has given its nod for making a documentary film on the life of Chakali Ilamma.

Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture department, which had earlier sanctioned `6 lakh for this purpose, now released another `10 lakh to Telangana Rajaka Seva Sangam (TRSS), Hyderabad, for producing the short film. The TRSS is producing the 30-minute short film on Chakali Ilamma’s life with emotional songs and dialogues.

IllammaTELAN08aug2016

Who was Ilamma

Chityala Ilamma (1919-1985), born at Krishnapuram village of Warangal district, played a key role as a revolutionary during the Telangana Peasants Armed struggle. Her revolt against the feudal lord, Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, to save her four acres of land when he tried to occupy it, inspired many others during the rebellion against the feudal lords of Telangana, during that epoch of history.

According to officials, all the crucial phases of Ilamma’s life will be portrayed in the documentary. The government also plans to produce similar films on the lives of other iconic figures of TS in the days to come.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / August 08th, 2016

25-year-old on 2,000-km Walk for Peace

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Sports, Travel

Joseph Anthony on his expedition to propagate world peace.— Photo: K.V. RAMANA
Joseph Anthony on his expedition to propagate world peace.— Photo: K.V. RAMANA

Perplexed by the spate of violent incidents across the globe, 25 year-old Joseph Anthony has undertaken an expedition — Walk For Peace — from his village Aadibhatla in Ibrahimpatnam mandal to New Delhi to propagate the importance of peace.

Launching his padyatra on July 1, Mr. Anthony arrived at Dichpally in the district on Wednesday. Carrying a huge national flag on his shoulders, he was walking on National Highway 44. He prepared a route map to cover 2,000 kilometres before reaching New Delhi by the end of September.

On the way, he would be staying at residential homes, temples, churches, and mosques in the night. During his expedition, he would deliver lectures on world peace at schools and colleges.

After a 12-hour walk, from dawn to dusk, Mr. Anthony, who holds an MA degree in economics, calls it a night.

Speaking to reporters, he said he would publish a book on his experiences with the help of friends and well-wishers after the completion of the expedition. “I have support of my parents and family members for my Walk For Peace expedition,” he said.

Mr. Anthony’s father, Guvvala Innaiah, is a mason in Rangareddy district. Residents and students received him with thumping applause at the village.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by P. Ram Mohan / Nizamabad – July 14th, 2016

Sircilla weavers have their hands full

Business & Economy, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

WeaversTELANGANA12jul2016

In a first, government places a bulk order with them for weaving fabric for school uniform

In order to provide employment to powerloom weavers of Sircilla textile town, the State government has placed a bulk order for weaving fabric for school uniform of various government schools across the State.

Earlier governments had promised to provide employment to distressed weavers, especially when the powerloom sector was in crisis in 2001. In a first, the weavers are given a bulk order now.

Minister for IT and Municipal Administration K.T. Rama Rao, who represents the Sircilla Assembly segment, took the initiative in providing employment to weavers.

Accordingly, the State Handlooms and Textiles Department has given order for producing 1.11 crore metres of fabric worth Rs. 45 crore to the powerloom weavers in Sircilla.

Assistant Director (Handlooms and Textiles) A. Venkatesham told The Hindu on Friday that school uniforms would be made by the powerloom weavers of 55 MACS (mutually aided cooperative societies) in the town.

A total of 7,383 powerlooms would be used to produce 33 lakh metres of cloth in 20 days in the first phase and the same would be handed over to the government. The remaining cloth would be given in two more phases. The grey cloth produced by the powerloom weavers would be given to the Telangana State Cooperative (TSCO) for dyeing, processing and printing.

The uniform colours would be decided by the respective district collectors or Rajiv Vidya Mission, he added.It is learnt that the government has been planning to place regular orders with the powerloom weavers to meet the fabric requirement of various departments such as hospitals, TSRTC, Police Department and other industries.

Welcoming the State government measures, AITUC leader S. Mallesham said that the bulk orders would provide more employment to weavers and urged the government to place similar orders regularly.

___________________________________________________________________________

Busy as bees

Order given for producing 1.11 crore metres of fabric worth Rs. 45 crore

Weavers asked to provide fabric within 60 days in three phases

Cloth to be given to TSCO for dyeing, processing and printing

District Collectors to decide the colour of school uniform

Government to procure suiting’s cloth at Rs. 54 a metre

Shirting’s fabric at Rs. 34 a metre

Chunni cloth at Rs. 34 a metre

A total of 7,383 powerlooms to work round the clock

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source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hndu / Home> National> Telanagana / by K. M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – July 10th, 2016

Discovery of new bacterium brings laurels to Palamuru University

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

In what seems to be a prelude to the second phase of Haritha Haaram, an associate professor in Palamuru University’s Department of Microbiology has earned the rare distinction of discovering a new strain of bacteria helpful in plant growth and agro-forestry.

The bacterium, Chryseomicrobium Palamuruense, will be the first ever to be named after Palamuru (Mahabubnagar), and its discovery has led Palamuru University to create a new page in the science arena, says Professor Pavan Kumar Pindi, who isolated the bacterium from a soil sample taken from inside the university campus. The sample was collected from a drain in 2009, and its culture began a year later running into over five years of research before the bacterium was isolated.

The results of the research have been published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM), an international peer reviewed journal of American Society of Microbiology. The publication can be viewed online after it undergoes scientific evaluation from American scientific and production evaluation.

“The bacterium aids the growth and survival rate of nursery plants and agro-forestry tree species. It has high potential as bio-fertiliser and also as enzyme producer for industrial applications,” says Prof. Pavan Kumar, adding that it aids in increasing the plant growth hormones in many agricultural crops. While there are many bacteria which aid plant growth through Nitrogen fixation, each is specific to certain host plant and the latest discovery is specific to nursery plants, Prof. Pavan Kumar says. Application of this strain as bio-fertiliser prepares the plant to withstand biotic and abiotic stress in any climatic and soil conditions.

“The same was confirmed by experiments done in collaboration with IIT-Delhi, the results of which are published in the Indian Journal of Biotechnology,” he said, and added that the novelty of this bacterium has also been recognised by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information.

The Palamuruense strain culture has been deposited in culture deposition centres of Japan, Korea, Netherlands, and Sweden for preservation for future and further research. A patent will soon be applied for, said Prof. Kumar, who also had been a postdoctoral fellow of DAAD for three years and of CCMB for five years.

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All about the bacterium

The bacterium, Chryseomicrobium Palamuruense, to be the first ever to be named after Palamuru

Professor Pavan Kumar Pindi isolated the bacterium from a soil sample taken from inside the university campus

It aids the growth and survival rate of nursery plants and agro-forestry tree species

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source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swathi Vadlamudi / Hyderabad – July 04th, 2016