Category Archives: Leaders

Pullela Gopi Chand, badminton coach

Leaders, Records, All, Sports
Pushing badminton onto the global stage.
Gopi Chand at the Pullela Gopi Chand Nimmagadda Foundation Badminton Academy, Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Photo: Harsha Vadlamani/Mint
At Pullela Gopi Chand’s   badminton academy in Hyderabad, there’s no justification for defeat. He keeps with himself a list of “excuses for losing”, which includes: “The linesman was cross-eyed”, “I wore new shoes”, “I have a sprain”, or “I didn’t sleep well last night”. The message for Gopi Chand’s 150 trainees is clear: Use excuses at your own peril.
“No one is spared,” Gopi Chand, 39, says, “not even myself. Everyone here knows what needs to be done, how much work has to be put in, and that it needs to be done no matter how hard it is.”
This single-minded focus has made the 2001 All England champion into the most formidable badminton coach in the country, impatiently hacking through the odds to script a shining story of success. He’s coach to  Saina Nehwal , who became the first badminton player from India to win a medal at the Olympics, in a year in which she also became the highest paid athlete in the country (excluding cricketers). He’s coach to P.V. Sindhu  , the lanky 17-year-old prodigy who’s already started making rapid inroads into world badminton. Of the 12 women’s and men’s singles players from India ranked in the world’s top 100, 11 come from his academy. At this year’s Senior National Badminton Championships, every category was won by a player from his academy. Three of the losing finalists were his students too. That this compact training school, easy to miss among the gigantic and swank IT complexes which surround it, has produced every single badminton champion in India this year is almost unbelievable.
“That makes me happy,” says Gopi Chand, “but not by much. For me, these are only signs that we have a lot of responsibilities for the future, lots of work to do.”
Even Nehwal’s victories are mere markers for what Gopi Chand and his team are doing right, and what they’re not. There’s just no time to gloat.
“If you want to be good, there is no place for complacency, or even democracy for that matter,” he says. “You need a strong mind to survive in sports, because there’s no normal life here. It’s just train, eat right, rest, recover, compete.”
What excites him most about this year is the rise of Sindhu, who is already ranked world No. 24 in women’s singles.
“We’ve got at least four fantastic 13-year-olds training right now as well,” says Gopi Chand. “That is the dream. Not one Saina Nehwal, but many. In the next four to five years, it is possible that we will be the second superpower in badminton after China.”
source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint & The Wall Street Journal / Home> Lounge / by Rudraneil Sengupta / Friday, December 28th, 2012

A scientist par excellence

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Prof. Tummala Ramamohana Rao.

Rao R. Tummala led a team that invented the first plasma display

He left his village nearly five decades ago to study and then work in the U.S. Today, Rammohana Rao Tummala is highly respected as a scientist and inventor. He holds 71 U.S. patents and credit for inventions. He has invented and manufactured the first ever plasma display for the IBM.

Six months in a year he travels extensively as adviser to several academic, research bodies and consultant to many Fortune 500 electronic companies in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. In spite of his hectic life, Prof. Rao R. Tummala always makes time to visit his native village, Nandamuru, on the Vijayawada-Gudivada Road.

He came to make a presentation at the Nano Conference at Bangalore and came to spend some time with his cousins in his village. Born in Nandamuru, he did his entire schooling in the village. He is the son of the soil in the true sense because his father was a farmer. Prof. Rao did his science degree in Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada and his engineering degree in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. In 1965, he left India to do his MS in Metallurgical Engineering in Canada. After that, there was no turning back for Prof. Rao. After working for several years with the IBM, he became an IBM Fellow in 1983 and held the honour till 1993.

Claim to fame

“My claim to fame is heading the team that invented the first plasma display and manufacturing it. It was small (he used his hands to indicate that it was about five inches long and wide), but IBM made 300 million dollars with it,” he said. After being the IBM fellow, Prof. Rao moved over to academics and is today a professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, more popularly known as Georgia Tech at Atlanta. Prof. Rao has published over 320 technical papers and has authored several books, including the first modern reference book for Microsystems.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / December 14th, 2012

Urdu university pays tributes to its first chancellor Gujral

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Hyderabad:

The Maulana Azad National Urdu University Friday paid rich tributes to former prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral, who was also its first chancellor, saying he had left an “indelible mark” on the institution.

Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Miyan described Gujral, who passed away Friday, as a true representative of Urdu language and culture. “He left indelible mark during the formative stages of this university,” he said in his condolence message.

Gujral was appointed as first chancellor of the university on May 24, 1999. He inaugurated the administrative block of the university campus here on Dec 28, 2002.

“Mr Gujral was an avid lover of Urdu language. He was appointed as the Chairman of Gujral Committee in the 1970s. The committee was envisaged the task of finding means and ways to promote the Urdu language and to provide adequate facilities for Urdu speaking people in educational, cultural and administrative matters.”

Mohammad Miyan recalled that the recommendations of Gujral Committee provided the base to ponder over establishing a national Urdu university.

Gujral will long be remembered as a seasoned diplomat, articulate speaker and a true champion.

source: http://www.ummid.com / Home> National / Friday, November 30th, 2012

Chiranjeevi regales children at IGMC fete

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

VIJAYAWADA, 14/11/2012: Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent) K Chirangeevi waving the crowd at the children’s day function organised Rajagopal foundation in Vijayawada on Wednesday. /  Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar. / The Hindu

He asks parents to spend more time with their wards

Parents and teachers need to connect to children to understand them in order to drive home lessons or small scientific principles, said Union Minister of State for Tourism K. Chiranjeevi during a Children’s Day celebration organised by Rajagopal Foundation at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium on Wednesday.

The programme commenced at 9.00 a.m. After formally launching the celebrations by releasing some pigeons and colourful balloons, Mr. Chiranjeevi recounted his experience of learning from his own teachers as a seventh standard student and explained the concept of pollination, fertilisation and germination.

Advising parents to spend more time with their children to understand their needs and read their minds, Mr. Chiranjeevi gave many personal examples. In the entire jam-packed galleries of the IGMC Stadium, children showcased their talent by presenting various cultural performances and took part in various literary and cultural competitions. Not many could get a glimpse of the former megastar, but his voice blaring over the public address system regaled them.

A few prize winners had the chance to meet him and take photographs.

Mr. Chiranjeevi profusely thanked Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal for giving him a chance to interact with children and said that this was his first such occasion.

The competitions included song, group dance, fancy dress, essay writing, elocution, quiz and drawing contests. The Union Minister was felicitated with garlands and gifts by the Secondary Education Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy and Vijayawada MLAs Malladi Vishnu and V. Srinivas. Earlier, the Union Minister came in a procession from the Gannavaram Airport that exposed differences between various groups in the Congress party in the Krishna District.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / November 15th, 2012

At 69, he still ‘shuttles’ between home and stadium

Leaders, Records, All, Sports

Hyderabad:

At 69, Syed Mohammed Arif still nourishes the dream of producing a world badminton champion from India. In fact, he came closer last year when his ward Jwala Gutta collected bronze in women’s doubles at the world meet.

Undying passion for the game, tireless unselfish work, unmatchable commitment which helps him defy the age and the abundance of talent prompted the government to honour this age-old worse with the prestigious Padma Shri award four days from his 69th birthday (Jan 29).

Smiling effervescently as usual at his ancestral home located in the bylanes of old city, Arif said that he is excited to be honoured by the government. Awards are not new to him. He was honoured with the Dronacharya in 2000 and had also received a meritorious certificate award from the Badminton World Federation. But the former chief coach of Indian badminton, who played a great role in shaping up the careers of Pullela Gopichand and Jwala Gutta, is still yearning for more.

“I was very excited but not surprised. I know my name has been recommended a couple of months back. I am a firm believer of God almighty and have immense faith in the belief that when the time comes nothing can stop us from being honoured or rewarded,” Arif said, adding that this award motivates him to do more for the sport.

“I want to do more for the game of badminton. I want to produce a world badminton champion. Hopefully, I would realise that dream soon,” he added.

Arif, had, in fact retired from active coaching in 2004. But the great coach was forced out of retirement in 2006. Jwala Gutta and Chetan Anand requested Arif to come out of retirement and Jwala’s father Gutta Kranti managed to convince Arif through the then chairman of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh MS Raj Thakur.

“The SAAP chairman and my children (Jwala and others) requested me. How can I refuse them. Moreover, I realised that there are so many trainees who are in need of a coach. But I have enjoyed every moment after coming back. In fact it’s helping me to stay away from the doctor,” he said.

If there is one coach who is working for free it is Arif. The selfless man travels about 15 kilometres in the busy lanes of the city to train about 100-odd youngsters every day. Surprisingly, he doesn’t receive a single pie from any of them or from the government.

Chief coach of the Indian team, Pullela Gopichand said that Arif is the most deserving candidate for the award. “For the contribution he made to the sport of badminton and the way he put Andhra Pradesh on the national sports map he is the most deserving person to be honoured. We are all very happy for him,” Gopi said.

Jwala thinks Arif should have received this honour about ten years back. “I am very very happy for him. I think he should have got this award a decade back. He is largely responsible for shaping up my career and more importantly my personality. I think he’s the only coach who is working without receiving a single paisa or favour from anyone. Even now I fear him a lot,” Jwala said.

Arif in turn said that Jwala needs to be pushed hard and there is no one better than him to do that. “I think Jwala is a sort of player who needs to be pushed hard. Having trained her since her childhood there’s no better person than me to do that,” he said adding that Indian shuttlers have a good chance of winning medals at the Olympics.

“I think with a favourable draw our shuttlers have a good chance of winning medals in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Saina is playing well and our mixed doubles and women’s doubles teams are beating all the top teams. I am confident they will definitely win medals this time,” Arif said.

Crediting Gopichand for providing more international exposure to Indian shuttlers, Arif said he is expecting more from the present lot. “Never in the history of Indian sports, our shuttlers got so much of international exposure. But I am expecting more success from them. I know it would take some time from this batch to excel at international level,” he said.

The former NIS coach dedicated his award to his 90-year-old mother, wife and all his disciples who brought laurels to the state and the country.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / by M Ratnakar, TNN / January 26th, 2012

Now she is Dr. Saina Nehwal

Education, Leaders, Sports
Aligarh:

India’s six London Olympics medallists were on Saturday, conferred Honorary Doctorate Degree by Mangalayatan University at its Annual Convocation Ceremony.
Badminton ace Saina Nahwal, boxer Mary Kom, shooters Gagan Narang and Vijay Kumar, wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Jogeswar Dutt were honoured with Honoris Causa degrees by Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav at the university’s fourth Annual Convocations.
An elated Saina said that it “was a matter of great pride” for her to be honoured with the doctorate degree.
“My parents had wished that I could take up the medical profession but destiny had planned another career for me. But today I am proud that I was being conferred the doctorate,” she said.
Yadav called upon the sportspersons to play a proactive role in the task of nation building by entering “public life”.
“Sportspersons create their own charisma and this factor can help them in achieving success in different walks of public life including electoral politics,” he said.
He said that his party was “ready” to provide a platform to all sportspersons like Saina for “entering the public domain”.
Recalling his early years as a budding wrestler, Yadav said that he understood the importance of “sportsman spirit” and convinced him of the importance of the sporting activities in the field of character and personality building.
Among those who were also awarded Honoris Causa degrees were Dr Rajendra Pachori, Director General, Energy and Resources’ Institute and V K Saraswat, Scientific Advisor in the Ministry of Defence, Salma Ansari, Chairperson, Al-Noor Social and Charitable Society in the field of social work and Dr (Mrs) Tessy Thomas, Senior Defence Scientist.
source: http://www.daily.bhaskar.com / Home> Sports> Other Sports > News / by PTI / November 04th, 2012

Telugu cinema veteran Chiranjeevi joins government

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Telugu superstar turned politician K Chiranjeevi, who acted in about 150 movies spanning three decades, was October 29 made minister of state with independent charge in the Manmohan Singh government.

Chiranjeevi’s induction is expected to give a boost to the Congress prospects in the Andhra Pradesh where the party is facing a tough challenge from the Jagan Mohan Reddy led breakaway YSR Congress.

Chiranjeevi, who belongs to coastal Andhra Pradesh, had joined the Congress along with 18 MLAs

Chiranjeevi, who belongs to coastal Andhra Pradesh, had joined the Congress along with 18 MLAs.

His political journey started in August 2008 when he began his own political party in his native state of Hyderabad after working for 30 years as an actor in about 150 movies.

He named his party Praja Rajyam and, in the 2009 general elections, it won 18 seats in Andhra Pradesh state assembly and Chiranjeevi himself won his maiden election from Tirupati Assembly constituency.

A commerce graduate, the 57-year-old’s first screen appearance was with in the 1978 movie ‘Pranam Khareedu’. Born as Konidala Siva Sankara Vara Prasad to Venkat Rao and Anjani Devi August 22, 1955 to in Mogalthur, which is near Narsapur, he took the screen name of Chiranjeevi on the advice of his mother.

The Padma Bhushan awardee’s first movie assignment after completing his stint at the Madras Film Institute was ‘Punadhirallu’, but his first release was ‘Pranam Khareedu’. In over three decade long career he has given dozen of hits and has won several honours including 10 Filmfare Awards South, which is said to be the maximum by any Telugu actor and he also won National Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for his production venture ‘Rudraveena’ (1988).

In 1980, he married actress Surekha and they have three children – son Ramcharan Teja, who is also an actor, and two daughters – Susmita and Sirija.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> Telugu News / by IANS / October 29th, 2012

4 T heroes’ statues on Tank Bund

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

Hyderabad:

Apart from Komuram Bheem, statues of another four personalities from Telangana region may come up on Tank Bund soon.

Recently, the department of culture sent proposals to install statues of Chakali AiIlamma (Chityala Ailamma), Doddi Komaraiah, Shaik Bandagi Saheb Rahmatullah and journalist Shoebullah Khan.

Chakali Ailamma had revolted against feudal lords to save her four-acre land when they tried to occupy it. She became an inspiration for many during the Vetti Chakiri Udyamam against feudal lords of the Telangana region. Doddi Komaraiah, a landless agricultural worker, died fighting in the rebellion against the landed gentry in Warangal district.

Shaik Bandagi Saheb Rahmatullah, a revolutionary leader, had fought against Razakars. Journalist  Shoebullah Khan, who had set up his own paper ‘Imroze’ (a spark of fire) and won people’s hearts by waging a relentless battle against the Razakars, was brutally murdered.

“Though we did not receive any representations either from individuals or civil societies, based on articles in the media, a proposal and clippings have been sent to the youth advancement, tourism and culture (YAT&C) department, a few days ago to install the statues on Tank Bund,” department of culture director,  Kavitha Prasad told TOI.

The government has already permitted the installation of the statue of tribal leader Komuram Bheem Chief minister  N  Kiran Kumar Reddy may unveil Komuram Bheem’s statue on the occasion of his death anniversary on October 29.

Meanwhile, the department of culture is making efforts to unveil 12 reinstalled statues on November 1 on the occasion of the AP Formation Day. “Of the 12 statues, we have reinstalled the 10 statues of Krishnadevaraya, Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Chaudary, Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu, Mutnuri Krishna Rao, Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu, Bellary Raghava, Gurajada Apparao, Annamaya, Annamayya, Sir Arthur Cotton and Erra Pragada on their respective pedestals. Statues of Brahma Nayudu and Siddhendra Yogi will be in place in a couple of days,” the official said.

Also, 10 other statues, which suffered minor damages during the Million March in 2011, were also being repaired. “By October 30, all statues will be ready for unveiling. However, the government is yet to take a decision whether to unveil them on November 1 or not,” the director said.

The  Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has taken up remodeling of the 2.06 km walkway in front of the statues by spending Rs 1.05 crore.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Sunil Mungara, TNN / October 26th, 2012

Pranab Mukherjee invited to launch Telugu meet

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

An assortment of Telugu literature, culture, dance, drama and music besides lip-smacking cuisine is being laid for the fourth World Telugu Conference to be held at Tirupati from December 27 to 29.

President Pranab Mukherjee has been invited to inaugurate the mega Telugu meet on December 27 while several top dignitaries would grace the occasion.

About 3000 delegates, including 1,000 NRIs, are expected to attend the mega meet to be held on a 99 acre site in Tirupati. About 200 NRIs have already registered their names so far and more are expected to do so in the next couple of days.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is personally supervising the arrangements, has asked the department of culture to ensure foolproof arrangements for the meet. The state government has earmarked Rs. 25 crore for the meet.

Culture secretary G. Balaramaiah said the department has sought entries for the theme song for the WTC from poets and others and the selected song would be given a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.

Similarly, entries have also been invited for dozen more songs wherein the best ones will get Rs. 5,000 each. The department has set November 15 as the deadline for all entries.

Noted Telugu scholars from India and abroad, besides all the 23 districts in the state, besides Telugus living in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, New Delhi and Maharashtra and other places would be invited for the WTC. Some of the non-Telugus who have made a mark in Telugu literature from United States, Russia, Japan and other countries are also being invited, Mr Balaramaiah said.

“It will be one of the best conferences to be held in the state. We are leaving nothing to chance,” the culture secretary said.

Culture director Kavitha Prasad, AP State Cultural Council chairman Ramanamurthy and adviser to state government on culture K.V. Ramanachary were present.

Dr Kavitha Prasad said the WTC would focus on promotion of Telugu language, literature, and culture in the state, India and abroad, usage of Telugu in internet, communication in government offices and other places, protection of Telugu arts and culture among others.

source: http://www.asianage.com / Home> Metros> Hyderabad / DC, October 21st, 2012

Thread BARE

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders


Gaurang Shah

Gaurang Shah was lured by the weft and the warp long before the fashion industry turned its spotlight on handlooms

Revival is a word one often comes across in the fashion industry, in the context of ancient crafts, techniques and weaves. “It’s an overrated term,” laughs Gaurang Shah, the man who has been working with weavers for a decade. “When my brother and I were growing up, we didn’t know big words like ‘revival’. We grew up seeing our mom wearing the best of handlooms — Kanchi cottons, Bengal saris with kantha work, khadi and Uppada — and were drawn to textures born from the loom. Nine years ago when I thought of sourcing and selling saris, I could only think of handlooms,” he explains. Gaurang today liaises with weavers in 200 looms he established in villages in the outskirts of the city.

A day before he left for Dubai to participate in Numaish 2012 with his line Ardhangini featuring Kalamkari on Kanjeevarams, Gaurang says, “I’ve always been doing this — egging on my weavers to develop new and intricate patterns and challenging them with new textures. Now that I’ve participated in Lakme Fashion Week twice and the Lavera section of Berlin Fashion Week, people notice me more.”

A 30-second video shot by artist Laxman Aelay gives us a glimpse of the process of Jamdhani work on khadi. Gaurang is excited about showing this video and his line Ardhangini in Dubai. “Prominent Indian designers like Masaba Gupta and duo Shivan and Narresh are taking part in Numaish 2012. And I am told the audience predominantly consist of Indians, which is why I am confident of Ardhangini,” says Gaurang.

The designer has slightly tweaked the Ardhangini collection he showed early this year at Lakme Fashion Week to include Kota ghagras teamed with bandhini dupattas, garments with straight cuts with kalamkari work and saris. Gaurang is relatively a late bloomer in fashion week circuits, but he’s been in the field of handlooms for 13 years. The business that comes from his family store Indian Emporium remains his core strength while fashion weeks give him the added spotlight. “I’ve had loyal clientele for years. Some people have a tendency to go to designers in the spot light. Even they have returned to me after these fashion weeks. I guess the glamour quotient helps,” he laughs.

In 1962, his father established the store at Basheerbagh. “My brother and I used to go to the store after school and help dad with the stocks and manage the store. We got used to looking at fabrics, colours and textures. Apart from saris, we became famous as a matching centre for blouses. Those days, you didn’t have too many fabrics — only two by two and cotton,” he says.

Years later, when they moved to Begumpet and Gaurang and his brother joined the business, Gaurang introduced hand woven saris. “After my graduation, I studied interior designing for a couple of years. So I didn’t have formal training in fashion. I was interested in handlooms and didn’t know where to start,” he confesses.

He remembered the enviable collection of saris his mom had and set out to source the best. “I liked the Kanchi cotton saris with silk borders stocked at Usha’s store in Chennai, bought some of the saris and stocked a limited collection in our store,” he says. One thing led to another, as Gaurang got introduced to weavers who deal with Uppada, Kota and khadi through some of his loyal customers and friends. “I persuaded the weavers to give me something different. For example, I like the Mughal buttis of Agra and asked one of the weavers to replicate the pattern. I began drawing and sketching patterns for weavers, went to the looms and learnt the limitations under which they work and why they are reluctant to change,” he says. Gaurang could work around limitations but not the reluctance to change. “I don’t work with weavers who refuse to change with the times. There are occasions when a few weavers have sold off my designs elsewhere and I got to know later through my clients. At one point, in the fag end of 2009, I thought of closing down all this sari business,” he recalls.

Around that time, he met up with his friends in Mumbai. “One of my friends focussed on Maheshwari and another on printed Tussars in Pune and so on. As a group we used to hold annual exhibitions of woven saris in Mumbai and Delhi. We were bored with these exhibitions and the tedious process of carrying the load from one city to another. We thought of opening a permanent store for handlooms. We established Vaya (which means weaver) and Mumbai has been a receptive market for handlooms,” says Gaurang.

This made Gaurang reconsider his decision to stop working with weavers. “I had sold all my pending stock and wanted new designs and weaves,” he says. With the help of his master weaver, he reached out to more weavers and established looms. Apart from sourcing from weavers in different parts of the country, Gaurang helped set up 200 looms in the outskirts of Hyderabad, in which Uppadas, khadi, Banaras and Kota saris are woven.

Gaurang feels Hyderabad is the best place to be for a designer. “Customers always want something new, so you are on your toes trying to innovate with the weaves,” he says.

The saris from these looms had the edge over others with the weavers willing to do intricate Jamdhani work on khadi and Kota. Gaurang felt the need to broaden his base and applied to the Lakme Fashion Week, only to be rejected twice. “Handlooms are what I believe in and I wasn’t willing to budge. The third time, I got a slot for a small show. The second time around, it was a larger show where I featured Ardhangini and I managed to get Kirron Kher as the showstopper,” he says.

Kirron Kher displays a creation by Gaurang Shah. Photo:PTI

If the first collection for Lakme was dominated by tones of white, he explored the other end of the spectrum with bright vermillion and yellow hues in Ardhangini. “The collection was a hit. Even today people call and ask for the sari worn by Kirron Kher,” says Gaurang. The designer has no qualms in accepting that lobbying is an integral part of fashion weeks. He was awarded the best designer for Indian textiles and also participated in Lavera section of Berlin Fashion Week. “This posed new challenges. I had to design western silhouettes. We designed jump suits, off-shoulder dresses and anarkalis in khadi with Jamdhani work in floral patterns,” he says.

After creating high-end khadi saris with Jamdhani, he is now focusing on Jamdhani on Kota saris. “You get six yards of fabric and the possibilities are limitless,” he smiles.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Life & Style> Fashion / by Sangeetha Devi Dundoo /  Hyderabad, October 19th, 2012