Category Archives: World Opinion

Sneaking into the Guinness Book in a Gandhi garb

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

School children dressed as Mahatma Gandhi gather in an attempt to qualify for the Guinness World Record, in Nalgonda on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Singam Venkataramana

5,500 students gather in a record-breaking bid in Nalgonda
Gandhi’s iconic garb — a loincloth, khadi shawl and a stick — to identify himself with the poor, is meant to teach students the simple way of life the Mahatma preached and practised.

But organisers of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi in Nalgonda, went a step further, to create a record, teaching schoolchildren Gandhi’s practices — truth and non-violence — in a demonstration.

Bare-chested, with bald head caps, round glasses, watercolour moustaches and sticks, thousands of students reached the N.G. College Grounds here, for what they were told will be, “a historic exercise”.

Record-breaker
Organising the ‘largest gathering of people dressed as Mohandas Gandhi’ in the town, members from the Gandhi Global Family and Gandhi Gyan Prathishtan said the event was breaking a Guinness world record, of 4,605 students dressed as Bal Gandhis in Bengaluru in 2015. An organiser announced that the official count for the record on Tuesday was 5,500 students, all between age six and 14. “This is not only an attempt to get into the Guinness World Records (GWR), but to tell students to walk in Gandhi ways,” chairman of GGF G. Rajender Reddy said. He later read the ‘Gandhi pledge’ to the gathering. While no one from from the Guinness World Records was present, the organisers were meticulous in hiring a lot of photographers, videographers and a drone camera to record the event.

No Gandhigiri this
However, for parents who were at the venue, organisers teaching the students ahimsa or non-violence and truth, through the event was just ‘going overboard’, and was aimed only for a record.

“Like all parents, I dropped my son in school at 7.30 a.m. Why should they stand in the sun for four hours, for a ten-minute song and video recording for their competition? How will this help them learn about Gandhi?” P. Vara Prasad, a parent questioned.

Another parent pointed that all the 5,500 students were photo and videographed individually, for evidence, with numbered tokens, and then allowed into enclosures, causing the delay. Many were seen holding umbrellas and water bottles for their children in the 35 degree Celsius temperature, and some feeding them. By the end of the programme at 12 noon, tens of students were down due to dizziness, and were helped by volunteers.

Speaking to The Hindu, a member from the GGF justified the waiting. “If they are unable to be like Gandhi for four hours, how will they serve the country in future?” he asked. He eventually expressed regrets for missing out on amenities for some students.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by B. Pradeep / Nalgonda – October 02nd, 2018

Keeping the passion alive

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Two-time world champion S. Appoorwa being felicitated at Anand Nagar Welfare Association Sports Academy in the city.

Carrom player Appoorwa continues to evoke admiration with her consistent performance

The young as well as the champions, who have already made a mark in carrom, continue playing the game with the same passion shown by yesteryear stars in the last four decades.

Also, carrom is one sport that has helped players in the State get more jobs in government and public sector undertakings than some of the Olympic disciplines.

And two of the finest women stars – P. Nirmala and S. Appoorwa – continue to evoke awe and admiration with their consistent performances at all levels.

When Appoorwa, a two-time world champion, was felicitated at Anand Nagar Welfare Association Sports Academy during the on-going State championship, it was an acknowledgement of not just her achievements, but her efforts to keep the sport alive.

For the record, the Hyderabad Carrom Association, founded 42 years ago, has been a pioneer in sustaining the interest of many in the sport, thanks to the efforts its founder-president B.K. Haranath and general secretary S. Madan Raj.

Dreaming big
“It’s always nice to be felicitated by your fraternity. It keeps you going and dream big,” said Apporwa in a chat with The Hindu.

“My journey began way back in 1991 and I am glad that I keep playing the sport, thanks to the Association officials, my parents and my husband Kishore Kumar. It’s never easy to be an Administrative Officer (LIC), take care of your family and a growing kid (son Kanishk),” she said.

“I am not even thinking of life beyond carrom. I will keep playing as long as I can. It’s an integral part of my life,” said Appoorwa.

Decent job
Former SAARC champion D. Ravinder Goud says the best part is that many achievers are still assured of a decent job. “This is a biggest motivating factor for many to continue playing,” he said.

Former U.S. Open carrom champion, R.D. Dinesh Babu, said the increasing number of players was a tribute to the way the State association has been organising the events with such regularity over the decades.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – October 02nd, 2018

Women’s cricket | Hyderabad’s Arundhati Reddy beaming with pride

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Cricketer Arundhati Reddy is hopeful of winning T-20 Women’s World Cup to be held in West Indies this November.

On being selected to represent India in T-20 Women’s World Cup

M.S. Dhoni’s team winning the T-20 World Cup in 2007 was the inspiration for Arundhati Reddy to take up the sport and dream big.

Eleven years later, the 20-year-old cricketer is beaming with pride on being selected to represent India in the T-20 Women’s World Cup to be held in West Indies this November.

Huge opportunity
“I was expecting this to happen after my decent performances in the five T-20Is in Sri Lanka. I am thrilled at getting this huge opportunity,” said Arundhati, a junior clerk in South Central Railway.

Looking back at her debut series in Sri Lanka, Arundhati said getting the India cap from Mithali was the best part of her debut.

Interestingly, India captain in Tests Mithali Raj, who is also from SCR, and Arundhati are under the mentorship of coach R.V.S.S.R. Murthy.

“I feel it’s a great honour to play alongside such a great player and I hope to live upto the expectations,” said the all-rounder, who bowls medium-pace.

Learning experience
“In the days to come, I will be a more confident bowler having had the experience of playing for the country against Sri Lanka. In domestic cricket, you don’t really plan to sort out a batter, but at the international level, it was a different learning experience for me,” said the cricketer, who trains at St. John’s Sports Coaching Foundation.

And Arundhati watches the videos of India bowler Jaspreet Bumrah and hopes to master some of the tricks of the trade as she feels he is the best T-20 bowler, especially in death overs.

“The atmosphere in the dressing room was terrific as everyone in the team ensured that I was in a comfort zone. They just told me to go out and enjoy every moment,” she recalled.

What’s the next big dream? To win the World Cup, comes the instant reply from Arundhati, who credits her success to her mother Bhagya Reddy and brother Rohti Reddy, besides her coach.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Cricket / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 29th, 2018

Anthem to set up operations in city

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

Healthcare services provider to have a 2.5 lakh sq ft facility, employ 2,000 employees

Leading healthcare services provider globally, Anthem has chosen Hyderabad to set up its operations, a release from the office of Industries and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao said on Thursday.

The company has announced a major presence in the city with 250,000 sq ft of space in an SEZ. The proposed facility will employ about 2,000 employees. Founded in the 1940s and headquartered in Indianapolis, US, the company had revenues of $ 90 billion in 2017.

The release said United Healthcare Group (UHG), the largest firm in the healthcare services sector, has the biggest Indian presence in Hyderabad. It has expanded significantly over the last four years consuming over 830,000 sq ft in the city.

On the Innovation front, tech start-up incubator T-Hub — HealthTech which is one of its seven thrust areas — has recently partnered with Australian MedTech entrepreneurs for cross border growth with the government of Victoria providing a grant of AUS $ 80,000, the release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 28th, 2018

Dubai firm acquires Hyderabad-based bus-shuttle app Commut

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

Commut was the brainchild of six IIIT-H alumni

Hyderabad-based bus-shuttle app Commut has been acquired by Dubai-based ride-hailing app Careem Networks FZ. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. Commut was started by six alumni of IIIT-Hyderabad about three years ago.

“As per our deal with Careem, we are supposed to shut down the local operations and launch Careem Bus in MENAP (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) region,” said a spokesperson of Commut. “The Indian operations have been handed over to Shuttl in a separate deal,” said the spokesperson, when asked about continuing operations of the service in Hyderabad. Cummut currently services 50 routes using 70 buses.

Started in November 2015 by IIIT-H students Hemanth Jonnalagadda, Prashanth Garapati, Charan Thota, Sandeep Kachavarapu, Akshay Chennupati and Srujai Varikuti, Commut has been a successful startup, which transitioned from idea to reality. Last year, Commut was selected for MAN Accelerator Programme. “Joining Careem and building the mass transportation vertical will help us fulfil our mission at a much larger scale,” said Prashanth Garapati, one of the founding members of the startup.

“Mass transportation is one of the biggest issues facing many fast-growing cities in our region. Commut has a successful track record in mass transportation, and we are excited to bring their expertise into the Careem family,” said Magnus Olsson of Careem.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 25th, 2018

China firm opens software development centre in city

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

Thundersoft Global CEO Larry Geng with IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan at the centre’s opening in the city on Monday.By arrangement

Keen on acquisitions, having own campus and hiring 1,000 engineers

Smart device operating system and platform technology provider Thunder Software Technology Co. Ltd. of China has made a foray into India by establishing an IT development centre in Hyderabad.

A company that counts US chipmaker Qualcomm as an investor and key customer, Thundersoft has hired 25 engineers for the facility. Their numbers are expected to go up to 80-100 by December, Global CEO Larry Geng and Thundersoft India vice-president Sudharani Pillai said on Monday.

In an interaction, after the centre was formally opened by IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, they said the company planned to have on board 1,000 engineers in India in the next 3-5 years. While Hyderabad would remain the India headquarters, it was considering setting up software development facilities in Bengaluru and Pune as well. In about two years, the company would also take a decision on having a campus of its own.

Thundersoft was set up 10 years ago and has 20 research and development centres globally, including the Hyderabad facility. The company’s global headcount is 3,400 and in 2017, it had revenues of $200 million.

Seeking to highlight the role India could play in as the company looks to grow its global presence, Mr. Geng estimated Thundersoft to invest $10 million in the country over the next two years. It could be higher if the Beijing-headquartered firm is able to give shape to plans of acquiring firms in India.

In India, the company would be looking at firms developing technologies in its focus areas of smart phones, IoTs and automotive solutions.

The Hyderabad centre, he replied to query, would be an Intelligent software technology development facility and would work closely with Qualcomm.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 25th, 2018

Hyderabad gets device to preserve liver

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Dr. G. S. Rao, MD of Yashoda Group of Hospitals, and Craig Andrew Marshall, CEO of OrganOx Ltd. Oxford-UK, showcasing the normo-thermic liver perfusion machine . | Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

It can tell doctors if a marginally sick liver can be considered for transplant

The wait for individuals vying for a liver just got shorter. The city is in receipt of a machine which helps put to use cadaver livers that were earlier deemed unfit for transplant.

Through a process called ‘normo-thermic perfusion’ technology, the Metra device, not just preserves but can also tell doctors if a marginally sick liver can be considered for transplant. A UK-based organisation OrganOx produces the machine.

“Presently, cadaveric liver is accepted based on liver function tests, ultrasound and its pre-operative appearance. Hence a lot of livers get rejected or retrieval is not attempted. With this machine, we can get a real-time picture of quality and functioning of a liver,” said Balachandran Menon, who headed three surgeries involving the machine at Yashoda Hospitals.

The Metra device will be available for use by all hospitals where transplants are performed in the city. The device simulates a human body’s functioning to keep the liver in a condition that would render it fit for use up to 24 hours after harvesting. Patients will have to pay around ₹ 5 lakh if they want a marginally sick liver assessed for transplant.

In Telangana, 1,968 people registered with the State’s Jeevandan cadaver donation programme are waiting for a liver. The rise in demand for an organ is significantly higher than the rate of rise in donations, said G. Swarnalatha, in-charge for Jeevandan.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – September 11th, 2018

City girl achieves another high in mountaineering

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

Jaahnavi Sriperambaduru holding the tricolour after conquering the virgin peak in Stok Ranges in Ladakh region.

Scales a virgin peak in Stok Ranges and names it after her family

For teenager Jaahnavi Sriperambaduru, it has been a unique experience of naming a summit ‘Mt. Sriperambuduru’, which is in the Stok Ranges of the Himalayas in Ladakh region on Monday.

Receiving technical support from Ladakh Mitra and guide Narbu Sherpa with Jimmy as partner, 16-year-old Jaahnavi, who was recently invited by Ladakh Mitra, achieved what is said to be another first in the adventure sport. Ladakh Mitra is one of the authorised trek operators who manage the whole of Stok Ranges.

Mission7Summit
Jaahnavi was invited to guide their clients and also be a part of her training for her Mission7Summit to Mt. Aconcagua in South America coming December and Mt. Everest in Asia in April 2019. Scaling the virgin peak in the Stok Ranges has been on the wish list of this young mountaineer.

Local tradition
And, Jaahnavi did not disappoint any as she and her team reached the summit at 11.00 a.m. on Monday and hoisted the Indian national flag. They also followed a local tradition of worshipping the mountain with incense sticks and special prayer flags blessed by the monks.

With this feat, Jaahnavi has become the youngest Indian girl ever to climb a virgin peak and name it after her family too!

“I would like to thank all the supporters and motivators who have been supporting, directly or indirectly, my mission. I would especially like to thank T-Sports Hub for encouraging me as I embark on my future trips to make the country and Telangana proud,” she signs off.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 06th, 2018

T-Hub to mentor Canadian tech firm

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

Invites entries for Communitech’s programme for companies to access Indian market
The T-Hub has called for applications from Canadian start-ups and scale-ups for a Global Bridge programme of Communitech, a Canada-based public-private innovation hub, to help them build expertise in scaling their operations in India.

Through mentorship, T-Hub would enable Canadian entrepreneurs to offer high-quality solutions to Indian consumers and supercharge innovation, while bolstering trade relations and knowledge-transfer between the two countries. The T-Hub and Communitech had signed an MoU during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to India earlier this year. “India unlocks huge opportunities for global entrepreneurs to scale their businesses,” T-Hub CEO Jay Krishnan said in a release on the programme. Canadian start-ups stood to benefit from the vast market, while India would receive technology solutions in critical areas such as sustainability and healthcare, he added. Being accepted into this programme offered by Communitech, the Canadian Digital Media Network and T-Hub would result in a much more successful entry into India for Canadian tech companies, said Lisa Cashmore, Communitech’s director of international strategy.

Selected companies – in the areas of clean technologies and sustainable infrastructure; health and biotechnology; and B2B enterprise solutions – would receive two-and-a-half months of virtual coaching and access to resources, followed by three weeks in market.

While in India, the company representatives get to participate in formal programming in Hyderabad and network and travel for sales meetings around the country. Companies would receive up to $4,000 CAD to help offset travel and accommodation costs to be reimbursed by the CDMN, the release said. Last date for application is August 15. Visit https://t-hub.co/globalbridge_ca_in for more details.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – July 17th, 2018

Master class on mitigating severe asthma

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

A Master class on Bronchial Thermoplasty, the ultra advanced procedure to treat severe asthma was organised by the Department of Interventional Pulmonology of Yashoda Hospitals here on Tuesday.

Said to be the first-ever such Master class in the country, the innovative and state-of-the-art procedure gaining rapid acceptance world over is available in few major modern medical centres. The Yahsoda had taken the initiative to organise the Master class for the benefit of practising pulmonologists, according to a release.

The two-day training programme included hands-on workshop and was inaugurated by Pavan Gorukanti, Director, Yashoda Hospitals Group, Hyderabad here on Monday. The Master class provided a comprehensive overview of advanced therapeutic bronchoscopic procedure- Bronchial Thermoplasty, he said.

About 200 leading pulmonologists from India and from overseas attended the programme. The Master class had both foreign and Indian faculties and few guest invitees including Adrian Chan from Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Jamalul Azizi Abdul Rahman from Serdang Hospital, Malaysia and Elena from Romania and Deepak Talwar (Metro Hospitals) and Karan Madan (AIIMS) from India.

The programme also included live case demonstrations organised by the Yashoda Hospitals team of Interventional Pulmonologists led by Hari Kishan, V.G. Nagarjuna Maturu , M. Gangadhar Reddy and Y.Gopi Krishna. the release added.

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