Category Archives: World Opinion

This Telangana weaver weaves profits overseas

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

The tie and dye ikat designs of Kolanupaka Bixapathi were also exhibited at Lakme Fashion Show in Paris which was conducted three weeks back.
Kolanupaka Bixapathi with his designs

Yadadri-Bhongir:

A sixty-year-old weaver Kolanupaka Bixapathi, who has created more than 1,000 designs for tie and dye ikat handlooms, is setting an example for other weavers by receiving higher prices for his products than his counterparts’. Innovative designing and dying methods have helped in fetching a good price for his clothes, nearly 30 per cent more than the price other weavers could get in the market.

Tie and dye ikat curtains prepared by Laxmipathi were used as door and window curtains at White House in US for five years. He received the order from Mumbai Export Company that supplied it to the US government.

Receiving inspiration, other weavers at Vellanki village of Ramannapet mandal in Yadadri-Bhongir district are also switching over to innovative methods to get the best price for their produce.

The tie and dye ikat designs of Kolanupaka Bixapathi were also exhibited at Lakme Fashion Show in Paris which was conducted three weeks back.

He also set up an exclusive shop of his designs in New Delhi which gets seven to eight foreign visitors daily.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Bixapathi said that he had set up Surya Textile in New Delhi in 2012 but had incurred a loss of Rs 80 lakh due to a fire accident in 2014. After a gap of four months, he renovated the shop with a lot of hardships. He has been getting orders from export companies as his tie and dye ikat designs have a high demand in foreign countries. He was surprised when a German woman, who visited his shop in New Delhi, told him that a piece of his design, which costs less than Rs 10,000 here, was selling in US at Rs 80,000.

Bixapathi, who has a habit of adopting the latest technology in the textile sector, also learnt to manufacture Jakat, used for weaving high cost saris and successfully complete an order of 200 Jakat boxes from a Chennai-based firm. Laxmipathy is trying to invent a machine for rubber rolling yarn in Ikat methods which is now made manually. He informed that he would use Aso Reactive Dies (Chemicals without Benzene) for preparation of the cloth as foreigners would also prefer it as it would not cause skin related problems.

Moggam weavers

Expressing happiness over the State’s initiatives to promote handloom sector, he felt that the initiatives have started showing results as weavers were reversing to moggams again.

He felt that there would always be demand for handlooms if the weavers ensure good design and quality in clothes. He stated that he migrated to Yallanki from Chandoor in the year 2008 due to problems of availability of workers. When I come to the village, the weavers were selling the bedsheets at Rs 100-150, which would not meet their daily requirements. He found that the weavers were using low-quality yarn. When he explained the local weavers that they can get better price by using quality yarn, the weavers’ works began fetching of Rs 600 per bedsheet, he added.

He suggested the government to conduct awareness programmes on new technologies and market trends for weavers as it would help them receive benefits.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Telangana> Yadadri Bhongir / by Srinivas P / December 27th, 2017

The Hyderabad connection to U.S. water polo team

Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Naresh C. Rao, U.S.-based sports medicine expert (centre), and his parents with his book Step Up Your Game .V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

Naresh is a sports medicine doctor whose clients included Olympic and professional athletes
Not many might be aware of a Hyderabadi connection to the U.S. water polo women’s team winning gold medal at the Olympics. Well, Naresh C. Rao, born to Govind Rao and Jyothi Rao from the city, was the head physician of the U.S. team in the 2016 Rio edition.

For someone based in New York and having been a water polo player, Dr. Naresh qualified for the job by the virtue of being a sports medicine doctor, whose clients included Olympic and professional athletes over the years.

“It was a huge honour. I always longed to be at the Olympics as a player. But I am glad that at least I made it as a support staff member of a gold-medal winning team. It was a complete team effort which I cherish forever,” said Dr. Naresh, whose father was a renowned paediatrician in the city’s Niloufer Hospital and was also involved in many philanthropic activities, especially on the medical front here, before moving to the U.S.

“The U.S. players’ eyes turned red and there were rashes when they were training in the green water in the pool in Rio. I immediately took up the issue with the IOC and the Rio Olympics Organising Committee. And the response was amazing. They drained out the pool completely and ensured fresh and clean water. I made it clear that it was not a case affecting just the U.S. squad, but all those taking part in water polo,” he reminded.

“The biggest challenge for me in Rio was to ensure that the players did not take any medicine, even for normal cough and cold, which would have merited a ban for drug abuse under different guidelines. So my job meant a lot of lecturing and motivational classes too,” said the sports science expert willing to give back to his home State – Telangana.

Dr. Naresh interacted with the students of Telangana State Sports School at Hakimpet on Sunday morning and stressed on how one could be a champion through natural performance-enhancing techniques without resorting to drug abuse.

“My book Step Up Your Game deals with this subject in detail and it has been acknowledged by many for emphasising the ‘entourage’ approach to training. It helps athletes get ready for the starting line,” he said. “The book has all the practical tools for all levels, from a beginner to the Olympian,” he added.

What next? Dr. Naresh has been asked to be with the U.S. teams for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well. “I am honoured with the offer, but will take a call soon in this regard,” he signed off.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – December 25th, 2017

First Mahatma Gandhi digital store opened

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, World Opinion

Ela Gandhi and Jayesh Ranjan inaugurating the store. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Information Technology secretary Jayesh Ranjan on Tuesday inaugurated the country’s first Mahatma Gandhi Mobile Digital Museum Store at Bapu Ghat in the city.

A joint venture of the Visual Quest India and Aditya Birla Group’s corporate social responsibility initiative Eternal Gandhi, the digital store is aimed at spreading Gandhi’s ideology and teachings. Souvenirs inspired by the ‘Father of the Nation’, crafted to reflect various facets of his life reflecting values of peace, truth and non-violence, would be put on sale. The income generated through the sale would be used for the mobile digital museum.

Gandhi’s granddaughter and former member of South African Parliament, Ela Gandhi, was present on the occasion. She recalled how Gandhi always believed that education was not all about learning, but a way of living. “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” she said, quoting her famous grandfather while addressing youths at the function.

Representatives of Aditya Birla Group and Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts were also present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – December 20th, 2017

Tracing Hyderabad’s tryst with Telugu publications

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

A bird’s eye view of the LB Stadium, venue of the ongoing World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad, on Sunday | sathya Keerthi

Hyderabad :

Leave alone ordinary persons, even many of the Telugu litterateurs might not be knowing the fact that Sedya Chandrika, which was published from Hyderabad in 1886, was considered by many as the first journal published in the Telugu language in the then princely state of Hyderabad. The magazine was run by two Muslim men, Munshi Mohammed and Mustaq Ahmed Malik. Its primary motto was to create awareness among forming community about issues relating to agriculture.

Likewise, Hitabodhini was the first Telugu monthly published in the then Hyderabad state. The periodical was published from Mahbubnagar district by Srinivasa Sarma. It published articles on patriotism, health, social reforms and some other subjects. The journal used to have more than 500 subscribers in those days.

Poola Thota was another magazine published by Kambhampati Appanna Sastry between 1930 and 1935 from Hanamkonda. The periodical was considered to be the first children’s magazine in the then Hyderabad state.

Similarly, Matru Bharati was run by Hyderabad city’s first mayor Madapati Hanumantha Rao (1951-1954), a poet who was affectionately called Andhra Pitamaha for his contribution to the Andhra movement during the freedom struggle. The periodical was published from Hyderabad in the 1930s. The magazine produced articles on the importance of education, prohibition of liquor and other issues. The periodical was appropriately considered to be the first students’ magazine in Hyderabad state. Desa Vangmaya Patrika, dedicated to literary issues, came into publication by Telangana Literary Association in 1921.

Golconda Patrika, run by historian Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, was the first magazine to publish news on its own by establishing a ‘reporters network’. The periodical, whose name was changed from Andhra Patrika to Golconda Patrika following Nizam-ul-Mulk’s diktat, used to carry articles on political, social, cultural and literary issues.

In a book, Telangana Vaibhavam: Parichaya Deepika, released by Telangana government during the conference, a chapter was exclusively devoted to magazines and journals that flourished in Telangana region.

According to the book, prior to the formation of Andhra in 1956, as many as 171 dailies, magazines and other journals were in circulation. Of those, 115 were published in Telugu and the others in Urdu, Marathi and English languages.

KCR hosts dinner for non-resident Telugus

Hyderabad:

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has asked the non-resident Telugus to contribute to the promotion of the language even on virtual world. As a majority of them are software engineers, businessmen and litterateurs, Rao called upon them to take an initiative to promote the Telugu language in the cyberspace, too. The chief minister hosted a dinner at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday for Telangana people who came from 42 countries to attend the World Telugu Conference.

Telugu to be must on government portals

Hyderabad: On the occasion of Prapancha Telugu Mahasabhalu, the IT department on Sunday announced that it would take steps to promote Telugu on the websites of all government departments. The government is firm on promoting Telugu on all portals of various departments. Government will gradually make it mandatory for all departments to use Telugu online,” IT department principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan said, while taking part in a round-table conference. It was decided to take help of Google, Microsoft and Facebook to promote Telugu.

CM to announce step to protect the language

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has disclosed that he would soon announce a major step to promote Telugu in the State. “On the valedictory session of Telugu Mahasabhalu, I will announce a major step to protect the language in the State,” he said. KCR, himself a post graduate in Telugu literature, attended a Sathavadhanam, conducted by Telugu scholar GM Rama Sharma on Sunday.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by JR Prasad / Express News Service / December 18th, 2017

Selected for robotic meet in the USA

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Two students of Paramita High School to fly in May 2018
Students of Paramita High School in Karimnagar who have been selected to participate in international competitions in the USA. | Photo Credit: Byarrangement

Two students of Paramita High School (IIT) in Mankammathota of Karimnagar town have been selected to participate in the international robotic presentation which would be organized jointly by Lawrence Technologies, Michigan and RILE university, West Florida in the USA in May 2018.

Class IX students K. Aneesh and Md. Aziz, who participated in the National-level Robo Making Challenge and its functioning analysis organized by Novatech Robo Institute in Bengaluru at Christ University from December 7 to 9, have bagged the first prize in the competition in which more than 300 students from reputed schools across the country participated.

Incidentally, another set of students from the school — Meghana and Nikitha — participated in the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Arizona in USA in May 2016. Two students of the school Paramita Schools chairman E. Prasada Rao said that the Atal Tinkering Lab set up by the Union government in their school in 2016 had come in handy for the students to have hands on experience in the robotic designing and participate in the national and international competitions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Karimnagar – 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

GE’s FirstBuild India hub to come up at T-Works

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

City selected after evaluating multiple cities, says company

GE Appliances-backed co-creation community FirstBuild has decided to set up its India hub at T-Works, the makerspace coming up in Hyderabad.

On Saturday, an agreement to this effect was signed by Director-Electronics in the IT, Electronics and Communications Department Sujai Karampuri and chief information officer of GE Appliances India Chandramouli Vijjhala, in the presence of IT Minister K.T.Rama Rao.

FirstBuild India (1B India) intends to focus on IoT and business processes in appliances and manufacturing. It seeks to engage with T-Works and the maker community in knowledge sharing, skills development and community driven open-platform innovation, a release from the Minister’s office said.

Synergy in vision

Stating that FirstBuild has decided to set up its India operations in Hyderabad after evaluating multiple cities, the release said GE Appliances COO Melanie Cook had in September led a high-level delegation to the city and discussed the collaboration. She had highlighted the importance of the maker culture and synergy in the visions and values of FirstBuild and T-Works.

Based out of Louisville, Kentucky, FirstBuild is a global co-creation community that harnesses the brainpower of the maker movement to change the way major home appliances are conceived, designed and manufactured. It speeds products from mind to market and enables customisation through small batch production, without the costs and risks of traditional mass manufacturing.

Game-changer

An invitation was extended to Mr. Taraka Rama Rao and his team to experience first-hand the capabilities and maker culture at GE Appliance’s FirstBuild facility in the US, the release said.

Earlier this week the Minister, addressing a CII Summit, said at 250,000 sq ft T-Works will be India’s largest makerspace. Work has begun and facility would be ready by December 2018.

“I believe it is going to change the way we do business with respect to design in hardware space in India,” he had said, pointing out that it has been conceived on a collaborative platform comprising the State government and private sector partner institutions. The tools, software and equipment are to be provided by the latter. The facility will house $20 million worth equipment.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – December 09th, 2017

Messiah of Gulf victims

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, World Opinion

He has helped in repatriation of 300 migrant workers languishing there

He is seen by many as messiah of Gulf victims as he has supported them through thick and thin in the last five years, spending his hard-earned money. His tireless efforts and coordination with State and Central Governments brought home about 50 bodies of migrant workers, and 300 migrant workers have been successfully repatriated home.

Born into an agriculture family at model village Manoharabad of Jakranpally mandal, Patkuri Basanth Reddy went to Bahrain as a construction worker after completion of SSC and had lived there for several years. During his stay, he had witnessed labourers being cheated by Gulf agents.

Moved by the plight of Gulf workers, he came back to Hyderabad and established Gulf Telangana Welfare and Cultural Association. Recognising his efforts for the cause of Gulf victims, the Telangana Government honoured him with the best social worker award, which he received from Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Golkonda Fort on August 15.

That apart, he has several awards to his credit for his social work. He had Dr. B. R Ambedkar Vishista Seva Puraskar conferred on him in 2016, Prof. Jayashankar National Award in 2015. He has been selected for Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Award, and he will receive it from Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan in New Delhi on December 10.

According to Basanth Reddy, there are over 6 lakh migrant workers from Telangana in the Gulf. An estimated two lakh workers are from erstwhile undivided district alone. Many workers who went there in search of work on fake or kalivili (in local parlance) visas created by Gulf agents are languishing in jails in Gulf countries.

He says thousands of poor workers who went there, by taking money from moneylenders at a high rate of interest, are living in distress on streets. As they are uncared for by their employers, some are committing suicide and some are dying.

“I believe in social work. When a Gulf worker in distress is restored to his family, I feel immense pleasure. Therefore, along with some like-minded people, I have floated the social service organisation to render service to poor migrant worker families,” said the 42-year-old Basanth Reddy.

In the current month, with the help of the External Affairs Ministry and Telangana Minister K.T. Rama Rao, he ensured safe landing in New Delhi of 30 migrant workers who were stranded in Iraq . He personally goes to the airport to receive bodies from the Gulf and travels in the ambulance along with the bodies to their villages. “I have so far spent ₹ crore for my social service but never expect anything from society. I believe service to man is to service to God,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by P. Ram MOhan / Nizamabad – December 02nd, 2017

When world’s attention was on Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Telangana’s capital gets Metro Rail, even as PM Modi, Ivanka Trump and other delegates arrive for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Colour and light (clockwise from top left) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump, advisor to the US President, shakes hands after inagurating the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad on Tuesday

Hyderabad :

For Hyderabad, November 28 will go down as a historic day, with the launch of an ultra-modern metrorail service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the landing of various dignitaries — including US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, and about 1,500 innovators and investors for the GES event.

If the arrival of Ivanka, Advisor to the US President, entrepreneur and high priestess of fashion, raised a lot of hype and excitement, the rollout of the ₹14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro signified a major milestone for the burgeoning metropolis.

The day ended with a fabulous dinner for 101 at the heritage Falaknuma Palace Hotel, featuring the world’s largest dining table.

Hyderabad is often ranked among the best cities to live in India, and the Metro ride by Modi, Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR) promises improved traffic flow and easier commuting for the city’s denizens.

The loco pilot who drove the first official trip of the Metro, from Miyapur to Kukatpally and back, was a young woman, S Supriya, caused much cheer as well.

The 30 km stretch will be open to the public from Wednesday. It is expected to help lakhs of IT employees here.

ICING ON THE CAKE

For Telangana, three years old and brimming with energy in the start-up and innovation spheres, the chance to host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit was the icing on the cake.

The three-day summit, being jointly hosted by India and the US, was inaugurated by Modi and Ivanka.

The even is focused on women entrepreneurs, and Ivanka was the lead speaker. Women constitute approximately 54 per cent of the 1,500 participants from over 150 nations, said the organisers.

Among the ‘who’s who’ of participating women are Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman; Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Cherie Blair, barrister and wife of former British PM Tony Blair; Miss World Manushi Chillar, tennis star Sania Mirza; author Shobhaa De; transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi; and Kuchipudi dancers Bhavna and Yamini Reddy.

A CITY AT WORK

The 426-year-old city has been working hard on summit preparations.

The State government, which has been criticised for a decaying road infrastructure, worked overnight to deck up the important roads and thoroughfares through which the PM, Ivanka and top foreign delegates would pass.

The Metro routes were all painted and ‘greened up’ while the flyovers got some 3-D art, courtesy the creativity of the Cyberabad workforce.

The facelift cost the exchequer nearly ₹100 crore, and came four years after the Biodiversity Convention in 2013, which brought delegates from over 150 countries.

The government also faced much flak as beggars were allegedly rounded up and dogs poisoned as part of the city’s cosmetic change.

T-HUB SUCCESS

Hyderabad’s T-Hub, the country’s largest technology incubator, has emerged as a significant incubator mentor for start-ups, and its success has excited the government enough to plan a mega facility with four towers.

The Summit, is expected to give a further fillip to the start-up ecosystem and entrepreneurship culture in the city.

Further creating a buzz is the special dinner of Hyderabadi cuisine at the Falaknuma Palace (now on long lease with the Tata Group’s Taj).

Top industrialists and foreign delegates will join Modi, Ivanka and KCR at the table for 101.

NITI Aayog is organising the summit. Companies such as Amazon, Amway, CNBC, Cognizant, Dell, Google, Intel, Kauffman Foundation, Salesforce, Silicon Valley Bank and Walmart are supporting the event.

The 2010 edition of the annual GES was hosted by Washington, followed by Istanbul, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Marrakech, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur and Silicon Valley in the subsequent years.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News / by M. Somasekhar / Hyderabad – November 28th, 2017

World congress of paediatric ophthalmology from today

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The fourth World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WCPOS) will be held for the first time in India at Hyderabad from December 1 to 3. The three-day World Congress features scientific programmes including scientific symposia, live surgery, free paper sessions, numerous workshops, debates and a mock trial. It will also have exciting new features like the first ever ‘Yoga with the gurus’ session and an adult-paediatric interface day.

Several delegates from over 60 countries are expected to attend the 500-plus speciality lectures and 350 plus posters/papers/videos that are to be presented. Keynote lectures will be delivered by noted doctors Dr Richard Hertle, USA; Dr Harminder Dua, UK; Dr Lea Hyvarinen, Finland; announced local host president Dr Ramesh Kekunnaya, Head of Services, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Adult Strabismus & Neuro-Ophthalmology, Child Sight Institute, Jasti V Ramanamma Children’s Eye Care Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI).

As a prequel to the event, LVPEI is organising ‘Eye on the future’, a day-long academic session featuring a host of international speakers on November 30. Close to 75 international faculty and delegates from India and abroad will participate in this symposium, a press release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 30th, 2017