Category Archives: World Opinion

Sai Praneeth: A badminton champion’s rise from Hyderabad to Thailand Open

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

B. Sai Praneeth scored a come-from-behind victory over Jonatan Christie in a close encounter. (FILE PHOTO) | Photo Credit: G.P. Sampath Kumar

Sai Praneeth B on Sunday won the Men’s Singles in the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament, becoming the second Indian to have ever won the coveted trophy. Coached at the Gopichand Badminton Academy under former-badminton-champion-turned-coach, Pullela Gopichand, Sai Praneeth beat Indonasia’s Jonatan Christie 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 to win the title.
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PMO India ✔ @PMOIndia

Congratulations to B Sai Praneeth for wining the Thailand Open badminton tournament. India is elated on the accomplishment: PM @narendramodi
6:24 PM – 4 Jun 2017

1,959 1,959 Retweets 9,730 9,730 like

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Currently ranked 24th in the world, the Hyderabad-born 24-year-old is no stranger to records. He kick-started his career by winning the U-10 title. By the time he was 21, he had the U-13, U-16, U-19 titles, a bronze in the world juniors, and a senior national title under his belt.

After a lull, the right-handed shuttler began his senior international career in style this year when he defeated India’s Srikanth Kidambi to win the Singapore Open on April 16, 2017.

It was a historic moment for India as the duo were the first Indian pair to enter the finals of a ranking event in badminton. Srikanth, incidentally, trains at the same academy as Sai Praneeth and had won the Thailand Open in 2013.

Sai Praneeth’s all-time-high ranking of 22 fell two points early this month when he suffered consecutive losses at the India Open and the Malaysia Open. Sunday’s victory could help him level that loss.

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Himanta Biswa Sarma ✔ @himantabiswa
I called & congratulated @saiprneeth92 on bagging Gold at #ThailandGPG. Announced Re 3 lakh prize money. Rise of Indian badminton continues!
7:34 PM – 4 Jun 2017
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He is looking forward to leaving his mark in the upcoming Indonesian Open and Australian Open in the coming months before his maiden World Championship appearance in August.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by Navmi Krishna / Chennai – June 05th, 2017

Indian dancer performs 7 times at British Parliament

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

Promoting Indian art: Ragasudha Vinjamuri performing during International Women’s Day at the House of Commons.

London-based Hyderabadi, Ragasudha Vinjamuri has created a new record of presenting Indian classical dance at the Houses of British Parliament seven times.

Ms. Vinjamuri, academic tutor at University of Sunderland, has been performing and promoting classical and folk dances of India, besides her professional engagement with the university education. She moved to Britain 12 years ago.

A known name in the art and culture scene in the U.K., Ms. Vinjamuri presented classical dance on various subjects including Music Therapy, Ayurveda, Ahimsa and women empowerment. Her work is applauded by people from various walks of life, from community leaders to parliamentarians.

Recipient of several accolades, she was recently short listed for the prestigious Asian Women Achievers awards under Art and Culture category. She was trained by her Guru, Uma Rama Rao in Hyderabad, according to a press release.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 26th, 2017

IIT-H develops biodegradable nano-particles to treat cancer

Amazing Feats, Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Some of the members of the IIT-H team working to make cancer treatment better, on the institute’s campus in Hyderabad. | Photo Credit: Mohd Arif;Mohd Arif

Team working on finding alternative to chemotherapy

The Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) has developed biodegradable non-particles that could be instrumental in treating cancer.

A team led by assistant professor Aravind Kumar Rengan has been working on finding alternative ways to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer treatment to minimise side-effects caused by these therapies. He designed a novel nano system which kills the cancer cells by photothermal therapy.

The group is currently working on making more cost-effective nano particles for photothermal therapy, integrating these particles with cancer specific drugs to have an enhanced effect in killing cancer.

The team members involved in the research are Tejaswini Appidi, Syed Basseruddin, Deepak Bharadwaj, Anil Jogdand, Sushma, Anula — all Ph.D. scholars; junior research fellow Rama Singh, and postdoctoral fellow Surya Prakash Singh.

Photo thermal therapy is a treatment procedure where light (photo) energy is supplied by means of an external laser to nano particles which absorbs this energy and converts it to heat (thermal) energy. This heat generated by irradiation of laser would increase temperature within the tumour and result in the death of cancer cells.

No side-effects

The important aspects of the research is that the treatment procedure has no side-effects, since the nano particles would be accumulated in the tumour region, and also the irradiation is specific to particles, which means the heat is generated only within the tumour and not elsewhere in the body.

Also, the laser used to provide light energy would not harm the healthy cells around the tumour region as these healthy cells would not absorb this light energy as they remain transparent to this irradiation.

The nano particulate system is very unique in its own way. The particles, after generating the heat required to kill the cancer cells, will degrade inside the body and further breakdown into much smaller particles which will be excreted from the body.

“This procedure had very good results in experiments carried out in mice, and is expected to show the same in humans too. This treatment is now under clinical trials and once the trials are completed, this would be available as an alternative treatment procedure to cancer,” Dr. Rengan told The Hindu.

Dr. Rengan was recently awarded the prestigious INSA award in the young scientist category for his outstanding research in treatment of cancer by photothermal therapy using biodegradable particles.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Avadhani / May 19th, 2017

A tribute to Hyderabad braves

Amazing Feats, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Lastng legacyTeen Murti memorial in New Delhi, The Second Lancers WW-I memorial in the cityVV Krishnan, KVS GiriV_V_Krishnan

A relook at the legacy of the Teen Murti Memorial in Delhi which has a Hyderabad connect

The Teen Murti Memorial in New Delhi is set to be renamed again. What was Imperial Cavalry Brigade Memorial and became Teen Murti Memorial after Independence, is to be renamed Teen Murti Haifa Chowk timed with the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel. The tinkering with the name of a war memorial will not change the glorious memory and the gallantry of Indian soldiers.

Hyderabad House is a well known landmark in New Delhi and is a venue for the reception of foreign dignitaries. The Teen Murti memorial’s link to Hyderabad is less well known. But as the roundabout with three lancers wearing pugrees and khaki shorts grabs the nation’s attention due to yet another renaming row, it is time to remember the legacy of the memorial and its Hyderabad connect.

Just outside the Jamali Kunta darwaza of Golconda in Hyderabad is the area known as Second Lancers. Dotted with low squat houses painted white — some with extensions and some in the same state they were constructed — it has a few houses that still bear the names of the original allotees. While most of the men with Jamadar, Dafadar honorofics are no longer alive, the houses currently occupied by their children and grandchildren still carry their nameplates. These were some of the soldiers who saw action in France and later in Egypt and what was Palestine. The lancers from Hyderabad were the first to sail and were part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade along with lancers drawn from Jodhpur and Mysore princely states. The Teen Murti celebrates the bravery of soldiers from these three princely states.

To call them brave would be an understatement. The great war’s first mechanised weapon was the machine gun that shot out hundreds of bullets in an arc. The lancers from Hyderabad and the other princely states armed with just lances and light weapons were no match for the rat-rat-rat of the machine gun that mowed down anything that moved. But these men stood up, fought and won. One of the most impressive victory was at Haifa on September 23, 1918 and for this the residents of the city still celebrate Haifa Day organised by Indian embassy.

It was not easy to rouse Hyderabad soldiers to fight someone else’s war after crossing the sea. Before the war, the Nizam Osman Ali Khan had to issue a firman informing his soldiers that it is okay for them to fight against fellow Muslims of the Ottoman empire. The port city of Haifa was the key entrepot for the Allied war machine. Years later, the British withdrew from the city leaving the Jews and Arabs to fight it out. The Jews, using a three-pronged attack, captured the city on April 24 in 1948 as the Arabs left their ancient homeland.

Interestingly, while the Teen Murti memorial is in the news, the actual war memorial built for the soldiers who fought for the British in the first World War remains neglected and unseen amidst bushes and brambles in the cantonment area near Second Lancers area in Hyderabad.

Memorable designs

Teen Murti House in New Delhi was designed by Edwin Lutyens, while the Teen Murti Memorial was designed by Leonard Jennings. The one accessible war memorial in Hyderabad, the EME War Memorial in Secunderabad,was designed by Eric Marrett.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / by Serish Nanisetti / May 08th, 2017

Haimendorf’s hilltop haven in Adilabad

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


Pirengan Patar, a plateau in Telangana, keeps alive the memory of a legendary ethnographer.

Every now and then, Atram Bheem Rao, inheritor of the Gond Raja of Kanchanpalli title, remembers Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf and his contributions to improving the lives of the Raj Gond and other Adivasi tribes of the Adilabad region. When he does, he visits a 250-metre high hill near his village, atop which is a small platform made of stones, to pay his respects to the memory of the legendary Austrian ethnographer.

Prof. Haimendorf started his work in India in what is now Nagaland. During World War II, as a citizen of the Third Reich, he was detained by the British in India. He was confined to what was then Hyderabad state, but was later allowed to live among the tribal peoples of present-day Telangana and do fieldwork.

A deep connection

In 1942, Prof. Haimendorf and his wife Betty Barnado, also a noted ethnographer, first came to Kanchanpalli, in Sirpur mandal, seeking help from Mr. Rao’s grandfather — who was also named Bheem Rao — for their work. The local people could not pronounce the Austrian’s name, Mr. Rao says, so they called him ‘Pirengan,’ which is derived from the Hindustani firangi, foreigner.

At the end of the war, the Nizam’s government appointed Prof. Haimendorf Advisor for Tribes and Backward Classes. During his tenure, he set up educational and other schemes for tribal peoples and taught at Osmania University.

The professor and his wife did path-breaking work in the Northeast, and in Nepal, where he was the first foreigner to document indigenous cultures. He also taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Through all this, over forty years, the couple often came back to the Adilabad area to do more research.

“The Haimendorfs avoided this place during summer, but used to come here frequently during winters all through the late 1970s until their death,” Mr. Rao says. “They had an elevated platform made, for them to relax in the winter sun and take in nature’s spread from the hilltop.” From this vantage point, one can see the Godavari flowing in the distance, and the villages in the valley below.

The plateau is known locally as Pirengan Patar, in their honour. Mr. Rao told The Hindu that the platform would have been destroyed had the government gone ahead with its plan to build a wireless repeater station on it in the 1990s. But the fear of Naxalites damaging it had led to a change of plan.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by S. Harpal Sigh / Kanchanpalli – May 05th, 2017

City boy conquers ‘Ultraman Florida’

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / PIO's, Sports, World Opinion


Sweet victory: Manmadh Rebba at the finish line of Ultraman Florida

Solace for Telugus in the US

Even as Telugus are worried over safety issues in the United States, a young architect from the State has brought some cheer finishing the Ultraman Florida — an athletic endeavour that covers 321.6 miles (517.5 kilometers) including swimming, biking and marathon in three-days in the USA.

Manmadh Rebba, an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) is one of the few who completed the race considered one of the toughest in the world where the participants complete a 6.2 mile (10 Km) open water swim, a 263 mile (423 Km) bike ride, and a 52.4 mile (84 Km) ultra-marathon run.

Testing limits

“It tests the athlete’s mental and physical limits. The three day schedule is strenuous,” says Manmadh, who is one of the five participants from India and the only one from South India. The first day consists of a 6.2 mile swim and 92 mile bike, while second day consists of a 171 mile bike, and the last day is a 52.4 mile run. The event saw participation from 44 athletes from 21 countries.

Manmadh’s third day double marathon timing of 10 hours 2 minutes holds the fastest double marathon and he finished the race with a three-day aggregate time of 31 hours 43 minutes. It wasn’t easy as he had to face several personal challenges even before the race started. His cottage was burgled a day before the race.

Tutoring kids

“Luckily, my bike was in the car when I went to the race briefing and that saved my race. I got only two hours of sleep but was determined to finish the race,” says Manmadh, who is also one of the designers of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

Manmadh has several achievements to his credit and one of which is the prestigious Presidential award in the US in 2016. He was honoured with this award for tutoring homeless kids since 2011. “I enjoyed every minute of my time spent with all the amazing and extremely potential kids. Receiving this award with the appreciation letter from the President Barack Obama during his last year in office is definitely very special to me,” says the Architect, who is now working in the San Diego Airport.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by R Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – February 27th, 2017

Skaters from Telangana reap medals

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Bright future: Asian Games bronze medallist Anup Kumar Yama with the skaters from Telangana who won six gold, 10 silver, and four bronze medals at the Senior National Roller-Skating Championship in Noida.

They earn eligibility for final screening for world championship to be held in China

Skaters from Telangana have done it again, reaping a rich haul of six gold, 10 silver, and four bronze medals in the just-concluded Senior National Roller-Skating Championship in Noida.

Above all, the gold medallists — Veda Dundigalla, Vaibhav Bhamidipati (gold in pair and solo dance events), Vanshika Konanki, Kanti Sree and Juhith Chalamacharla — have earned the eligibility for final screening scheduled in May for the world championship to be held in China this August. For silver and bronze medallists like Kairavi Falguni Thakkar, Manish Sivakumar, Eluri Krishna Sai Rahul, Nihal Kopparthi, Gokul Sivakumar and others, it’s a sign of better things to come.

With the two-time bronze medallist in 2010 Asian Games and arguably the India’s best skater now, Anup Kumar Yama, donning the coach’s role, the young talent can bank on his experience and gain the desired confidence to dream big.

Rigorous training

Following the Sport Authority of Telangana starting the first, full-length rink at Gymkhana Ground at Secunderabad, Yama had the liberty to train these skaters not just at his own Yama Skating Academy at Marredpally (which is one-third of the stipulated size of the rink) but also at the new venue to ensure that the results are there for all to see.

Yama, the Arjuna awardee, points out that what separates his training methods from the others is that it’s mandatory for parents to accompany their children for daily practice sessions as they are also given a feel of what it means to mould raw talent into champion performers. “Right now, about 100 skaters are being trained by me. And I am glad at the kind of support the SATS is extending and I am sure we will produce world championship medallists soon,” says Yama.

Interestingly, fitness specialist Senthil monitors not just the physical aspects of the skaters but also the diet that they follow to keep them competition-fit at the highest level.

“Yes, it will not be a bad idea if the rink is covered with a roofing so that the facility can be put to optimum use in all seasons,” Yama feels.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu ‘/ Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – February 19th, 2017

Celebrations at ISRO scientist’s home

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the residence of J. Sai Teja, a scientist/engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in his native town of Kothagudem on Wednesday following the successful launch of 104 satellites on a single PSLV mission from the space centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Friends and relatives of Mr. Teja, who was reportedly part of the team involved in the record-breaking feat, conveyed their wishes to his parents Ravi Kumar and Sudharani over telephone.

“It is a proud moment for every Indian as the ISRO achieved the remarkable feat,” said Mr. Ravi Kumar.

‘Great honour’

When contacted, he told The Hindu that it was a matter of great honour that his son was part of the team involved in the mission.

Sai Teja pursued his B.Tech (avionics) from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and joined the ISRO as a scientist/engineer in 2013.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Bhadradri – Kothagudem / February 16th, 2017

First of its kind Buddha park in Telangana

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

The Buddhavanaman is first of its kind in the country with thematic segments depicting the major events in the life of Buddha.
The Buddhavanaman is first of its kind in the country with thematic segments depicting the major events in the life of Buddha and stories of his previous births. (Representational image)

Hyderabad:

Sriparvatarama or Buddhavanam, the prestigious Buddhist heritage theme park, is getting ready at Nagarjunasagar. The Buddhavanaman is first of its kind in the country with thematic segments depicting the major events in the life of Buddha and stories of his previous births. An Amaravati-style replica of Mahastupa with sculptural embellishments will be the main attraction at the park. “Nearly 75 per cent of the project is completed. It’s one of its kind in the country and has replicas of all Buddhist stupas. The state government has sanctioned `25 crore for the project,” said Mr Mallepally Laxmaiah, special officer, Buddhavanam Project.

The Telangana Tourism Develo-pment Corporation is developing Buddhavanam with financial assistance from the Centre for domestic and foreign tourists, especially tourists and pilgrims from Southeast Asian countries. The corporation acquired 274 acres on the left bank of the Krishna for the project. It has been divided into eight segments with an imposing entrance plaza.

The eight segments are 1. Buddha Charitavanam 2. Bodhisattva (Jataka Park) 3 Dhyanavanam (meditation park), 4. Stupa park 5. Acharya Nagarjuna International Centre for Higher Buddhist learning 6. Krishna valley 7 Buddhism in Telugu States especially important stupas, sculptures, statues of philosophers and others in Telangana 8. Mahastupa which symbolically represent the Astangamarga propounded by Buddha, a replica of Amravati stupa.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / February 14th, 2017

Hyderabad origin doctor elected chair of AMPAC

Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The American Medical Association Political Action Committee (AMPAC), a bipartisan political action committee based in Washington D.C., has elected Hyderabad-born Vidya Kora, a general internist from Michigan, as its chair at its recent meeting.

Dr. Kora had studied at the Gandhi Medical College here. He currently serves as Indiana’s delegate to the American Medical Association.

Dr. Kora has been active in organised medicine for many years and he is the past president of the Indiana State Medical Association.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / by V. Geetanath / Hyderabad – February 13th, 2017