Category Archives: Leaders

A ‘desi’ warrior for the weak

Education, Leaders

His thirst for knowledge spurred him on to complete his Masters in Law and then go on to do his PhD from Osmania University. For Vara Prasada Rao, education is important and he helps the poor obtain the same.

Those who know the value of education and who strongly believe in continued education can never give it up at any point of time even if they become cabinet ministers. The Rural Development and NREGS minister of Andhra Pradesh Dokka Manikya Vara Prasada Rao belongs to this group of people.

A prominent lawyer and rights activist in Guntur district, Vara Prasad did not give up his academic pursuance even after becoming an MLA and subsequently a minister. After completing his Masters in Law, Prasad enrolled himself as a PhD student in Osmania University under the guidance of Prof Jaya Kumar five years ago and is eager to complete his doctorate degree very soon. His topic of research is Secularism-Indian constitution. But he carries his erudition lightly. Even in dress, he is a symbol of modesty. Rao prefers to wear normal white pants and shirt all the time. If he goes out alone, nobody recognises him as a minister. “I love to dress as normally as others do and I get accepted everywhere,” he smiles through the salt and pepper foliage.

Rao started his active political career by becoming an MLA in 2004 from Thatikonda in Guntur district. He is also a vociferous fighter of Dalit rights. His name made the headlines as he played a key role in ensuring jail sentence to the accused in the sensational Chundur massacre case. “It was a memorable experience. As a lawyer, I did my bit in bringing justice to the victims and ensuring conviction for the perpetrators of the massacre.”

The first time politician in his family Manikya Varaprasada hails from a poor family and he was brought up in Scheduled Castes Colonies (Dalit a Waada). He always cherished the dream of becoming a leader.

Many people don’t know that Rao was instrumental in moulding the lives of many poor people including orphans. One of the orphan boys supported (both socially and financially) by Rao has gone on to become an alumnus of London School of Economics. The boy is now pursuing his PhD. He also was instrumental in making six students doctors.

His biggest regret in life is not being able to speak English well. He says English does not submit to him. “I tried many times but it fails.” But he is a voracious reader. He has a collection of 1,500 non-fiction books in his library at home. Whenever a new book is launched in the market, Rao makes sure that he procures a copy. “I personally go to book stores and purchase the books,” he smiles.

Personal Profile

Assembly Constituency: Thatikonda

Edu Qualification: Bsc, LLM (PhD)

Spouse name: D Emily (2 sons, 1 daughter)

Elected: Two times (2004, 2009)

Contact No. 040-23454238, 23451135

source: http://www.postnoon.com / Home> City / by Inkeshaf Ahmed / October 12th, 2012

Culinary secrets of Hyderabad’s 7th Nizam

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

The niece of the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad is sharing her family’s culinary secrets, and everyone is invited.

Past a heavy wooden door flanked by trellised walls, through an arched passage that runs under a ceiling embellished with intricate patterns, moonlight sneaks in through metal bars in windows on one side of the gallery to gently light up art that adorns a parallel wall. Even more beautiful is the gentle tinkle of laughter trickling from a room at the far end.

Inside, giggling children stand around a stern ancestor as she taps an attendant with the tip of her cane, diamond bangles jingling with each movement of the bony wrist. With the end of a rope tied to his big toe, the attendant who was to fan the dining family has dozed off, and although his programmed foot successfully operates the colonial ceiling fan, his snores are unacceptable.

This memory is one of several from Kunwar Rani Kulsum Begum’s past, one that was dominated by her grandmother Buggo Begum, the force behind Reza Yar Jung Haveli in Darushafa in Hyderabad. Neither Kulsum, niece of Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (former prime minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad), nor her sister were allowed into the kitchen. The family’s culinary secrets would only be passed down to the dulhan ranis — women who married into their family — not those who’d secede to another.

Kulsum Begum is a shade more generous with sharing secrets, though. The food consultant with ITC hotels has opened up a treasure of royal Hyderabadi recipes for a special menu that’s being served at the hotel’s Parel property until today.

“The recipes I’ve shared are my nani’s (maternal grandmother). My dadi was tight-lipped, although I did manage to eek them out of my sister-in-law,” she smiles.

It was the same with every royal family, says Begum. “Guests would compare preparations at parties, each one trying to outdo the other. Keeping secrets fuelled healthy competition between the ladies.”

In fact, Begum reveals, young girls weren’t taught cooking. It was assumed they’d have khansamas. “Even when we travelled, our kitchen staff would accompany us, preparing a spread of safari food — pathar ke kebab prepared on heated, unpolished granite,” she says. A girl was meant to cook, keeping her husband’s preferences in mind. “She may as well learn that at her sasural then.”

Married at 16 into a Lucknow family, Begum wrote copious letters to her nani, moping about missing her food, eventually convincing her to share recipe through detailed letters. “Lucknowi food is sweeter,” she explains with a warm smile, “while in Hyderabad, we like khattan — tartness — in our food.” The ghosht ka shikampur that’s available on the menu she has designed, supports her observation. A layer of curd and chutney are ensconced in the aromatic, melt-in-the-mouth meat patty that dwarfs American portions.

“You youngsters don’t eat enough nowadays,” she says, reminded of how her family pampered her when she lost weight around her teens. “They insisted that I do nothing but sleep and eat, and my mother brought me food in bed.”

Back then, Begum recalls, people assumed that a young girl was thin only because she was ill. Or that the family had met a misfortune. And so, food was rich. “Dry phulkas only made it to the dastarkhan (dining place) when a family member was unwell.”

Naturally, a job, even as a five-star food consultant, was never on the cards. The first time Begum cooked, she put salt in the kheer and made five kilos of biryani for four guests. But her husband was supportive, and with 300 recipes now perfected over decades, she has no qualms inviting the whole city to test her culinary skills.

Kachche Gosht Ki Biriyani

Ingredients
Mutton (a mix of chops, marrow bones and cubes from the shoulder) – 1 kg
Rice – 500 gms
Inions finely sliced – 200 gms
Ginger paste – 10 tbsp
Garlic paste – 6.5 tbsp
Red chilli powder – 3.5 tbsp
Chopped coriander – 6.5 tbsp
Chopped fresh green mint – 5 tbsp
Yoghurt – 10 tbsp
Lemon juice – 1.5 tbsp
Milk – 3.5 tbsp
Pinch of saffron
Oil – 7 tbsp
Ghee – 7 tbsp
Green chillies – 4
Cardamom – 4
Cloves – 2
Cinnamon stick – 4
Caraway seeds – 3 tsp
Peppercorn – 2 tsp
Nutmeg – 1/2 tsp
Few flakes of mace
Salt to taste

Method
– Grind the chillies, cardamom, clove, cinnamon stick, caraway seeds, peppercorn, nutmeg and mace to a fine powder. Heat oil in a pan. Fry onions till golden brown. Crush in a pestle mortar when cool. Marinate the meat in ginger and garlic paste. Add yoghurt, salt, red chilli powder, coriander, mint, green chillies, ground spices, lemon juice, crushed onions and the oil in which the onions were fried. Mix well and marinate for about four hours.

– Wash the rice and mix with a cup of well-beaten yoghurt. Add saffron and half cup milk. Set aside.

– Take a heavy bottom pan with a tight lid. Transfer the marinated meat with the marinade to the pan. Spread the rice over the meat. Sprinkle the saffron milk over the rice. Dot it with a dollop of ghee. Cover and cook, first over high flame, then over medium-low heat till the meat is tender, the liquids are absorbed and the rice is cooked.

– Scoop out portions carefully so that the layering remains intact, and serve steaming hot.

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source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Anjana Vaswani, Mumbai Mirror / October 07th, 2012

‘I enjoy a sense of achievement’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Christine Lazarus, who is serving as a nominated MLA for the third consecutive term, says she enjoys a sense of achievement for tirelessly working for the welfare of the Anglo Indian Community (AIC) in particular and the Christian community in general.

Addressing a press conference in Vishakhapatnam on Sunday, Ms. Lazarus said she could facilitate construction of community centres in several districts, arrange scholarship for Anglo Indian students up to secondary education, establish training centres, and achieve reservations in education.

She said 185 seats in professional courses were reserved for the community, including medical, engineering, dental, architecture, and pharmacy. Ms. Lazarus said she was instrumental in issuing of AIC identity certificates for claiming government benefits.

Plea to Collector

She said the district Collector was requested to utilise the services of the community members in teaching spoken English to teachers in government schools. The Collector was also requested to allot land for building a community centre in the city.

JNNURM houses

She also urged MLA Dronamraju Srinivas to sanction 130 JNNURM houses to the community members.

Ms. Lazarus appealed to the Divisional Railway Manager to hand over the Railway Institute to the Anglo Indian Association so that they could organise several cultural programmes and properly utilise and maintain the same for public purposes.

She said the community members had been using the institute since the days of the British and they had a sense of attachment with it.

She congratulated the ‘Anglo Indian Jaguar’ team for winning the national hockey trophy conducted at Bangalore and Chennai.

Anglo Indian Women’s Association president Yolander was present.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / october 01st, 2012

AP a model in skill development: K.C. Reddy

Business & Economy, Leaders

Senior citizen Varahalu Chetty being felicitated at the 88th birth anniversary celebrations of V.B.V. Reddy at Dr. L. B. College in the city on Thursday. Former AU rector A. Prasanna Kumar, Chairman of Rajiv Education and Employment Mission of AP K. C. Reddy, Port Chairman Ajeya Kallam and Director General of Prema Hospitals S.V.Adinarayana Rao are seen. / Photo: A. Manikanta Kunmar / The Hindu

Rich tributes paid to V.B.V. Reddy, founder-president of Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya College

Andhra Pradesh State has become a model in skill development and every week many delegations from upcountry are visiting Hyderabad to study the model, according to Chairman of Rajiv Education and Employment Mission of AP, K.C. Reddy.

Delivering the inaugural V.B.V. Reddy memorial oration arranged on the occasion of the 88 birth anniversary of VBV Reddy at Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya College here on Thursday, he said that the Government identified employment potential/opportunity and trained youth assuring them gainful employment.

This was an answer to the complaints of industry about the mismatch in academic world. Private sector had become dominant, wanting specific skills.

“The market also provides an opportunity for people to go and get trained. But how many can afford to pay? As many as 2.2 lakh people trained by the Government are 45 per cent are BCs, 26 per cent SC/STs, and others belonging to self-help group households.

We have completed seventh district visit of Indirammabata,” he disclosed.

Prof. Reddy said development must become participatory, inclusive or otherwise it would become a problem instead of enriching the society. Education with definite focus of skill development and vocational training would provide results.

If there were no skills created, the young India with majority of youthful population, would go restive.

“When you have large number of youth, the tolerance levels will be limited,’ he cautioned.

Paying glowing tributes to V.B.V. Reddy, founder-president of Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya College, he was one of the persons who played a key role in value system and was a great philanthropist.

Prof. Reddy also felicitated former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University B. Swami, social workers Susarla Gopala Sastry and Kasim S. Mehdi and Varahalu Chetty of Book Centre on the occasion.

Chairman of Visakhapatnam Port Trust Ajeya Kallam, who unveiled a portrait of V.B.V. Reddy at the venue, said that V.B.V. Reddy belonged to a generation which believed in Indianness in our institution and tradition.

“I heard so much about him. They did business in VPT but never behaved like stevedores. They created institutions and took care of workers because they believed in trusteeship which Gandhi talked about,” he stated.

Former Rector of Andhra University and noted commentator A. Prasanna Kumar said that education, science and technology contributed to social growth and VBV Reddy a visionary founded The Society for Collegiate Education which set up Bullayya College.

Director General of Prema Hospitals S.V. Adinarayana Rao said V.B.V. Reddy always supported sports activities in the city and suggested that the Bullayya College complex and road be named after him.

Earlier, Director of the college K. Bhaskara Reddy welcomed the gathering and Secretary and Correspondent G. Madhu Kumar proposed a vote of thanks.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / September 28th, 2012

Meet top entrepreneurs, CEOs, PE, VC & angel investors at VCCircle Hyderabad Investment Forum on Oct 11

Business & Economy, Leaders, Science & Technology

After the successful first edition, the 2nd edition of VCCircle’s Hyderabad Investment Forum will capture and identify the emerging sectors and the entrepreneurs who will redefine and lead the industrial scenario of Andhra Pradesh in the coming years. The event will be held at ISB Campus in Hyderabad on October 11.

Hyderabad, dubbed as Cyberabad in the recent years, has evolved into India’s bulk drug capital or MFI capital or EPC capital. Formerly an agriculture economy, the city is now witnessing the emergence of high quality businesses in IT, healthcare and education sectors. At the same time, the native penchant for construction and contracting continues at the same pace.

The VCCircle summit will discuss key issues impacting the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Andhra Pradesh and will also highlight the attractive opportunities which may surface in the coming years. The panel discussions will bring valuable insights in areas ranging from discovering the entrepreneurial DNA of the state to identifying the sectors and stages that appeal to the investors.

Our sector-focused panels on infrastructure, healthcare and emerging tech themes, such as digital content, e-commerce, SaaS and mobile, will map the opportunities for entrepreneurship and investments in the near future. The forum will also feature two inspiring accounts by entrepreneurs on how they started up, raised funding and scaled up – real-life tales that redefined the spirit of entrepreneurship in the state.

For those seeking capital, we have special VCCircle Lounge sessions where we connect handpicked companies with India’s topmost private equity and venture capital investors. Some of the key speakers at the summit are:

Richard B. Saldanha – Executive Director, Blackstone
Aluri Srinivasa Rao – MD, Morgan Stanley Private Equity
Devendra Surana – MD, Bhagyanagar India Ltd
Raja Kumar – CEO, Ascent Capital
Karthee Madasamy – MD, Qualcomm Ventures
Dr N. Krishna Reddy – CEO, Care Hospitals Group
Parag Dhol – MD, Inventus Capital Partners
Gopal Srinivasan – Chairman & MD, TVS Capital Funds
Raj Seelam – MD, Sresta Natural Bioproducts Pvt Ltd
Ranjith Boyanapalli – Founder & CEO, BuyThePrice.com
Sateesh Andra – Managing Partner, Ventureast Tenet Fund
Sandeep Reddy – MD, Peepul Capital Advisors
Santanu Paul – MD & CEO, TalentSprint
Sudesh Menon – CEO, Waterlife India Pvt Ltd
Suresh Chukkapalli – Founder & Chairman, Phoenix Group
Vamshi Reddy – Co-founder & CEO, Apalya Technologies
Varma Rudraraju – Founder & CEO, Aizant
Vikram Vuppala – Founder & CEO, NephroPlus
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy – MD, Citadel Research and Solution Ltd
… and many more are joining.

If you are interested in attending the event, please write to us at register@vccircle.com

source: http://www.techcircle.vccircle.com / Home> Announcement / September 28th, 2012 / Team TC

 

The big city wedding

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

It’s being touted as one of Hyderabad’s biggest weddings this year. And the families of APSRTC managing director A.K. Khan and former minister Shabbir Ali couldn’t be more excited.

Deccan Chronicle spoke to both bride and groom who were absolutely full of praise for each other. “I couldn’t have found a better life partner. Our ideas matched and we agreed on many things instantly,” said Shazia, a Nalsar graduate. She is now pursuing a degree in leadership management at the prestigious Harvard. “I had to postpone my tenure at Harvard because of the wedding. But Mohsin is absolutely supportive and he’s even thinking of joining me at the university,” Shazia adds.

So, it’s back to college for the two? “It is possible,” beams groom Mohsin Khan. “I am in the process of selecting a course.” Mohsin went to the United States five years ago to pursue his Masters in international business and since has been working in California.

“She’s incredibly smart and I will give her my full support in whatever she wishes to achieve in her life,” he says. The families have fixed September 9 as the big date. Apparently, the two families have known each other for over 20 years but for Mohsin and Shazia, the developments were new. “I was in the US and busy. We met a few times, and now we’re all set for a life together,” Mohsin says.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Hyderabad / DC,  September 07th, 2012

Ramp to road designs

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Fashion has been Shravan Kumar’s religion since childhood. Even when he performed extremely well in studies and grabbed a seat for medicine, his mind was not ready to bid farewell to the world of fashion.

As he now travels the world staging his exquisite creations and winning applause from celebrities and commoners alike, Shravan is happy that he followed his heart.

The Malayali designer, who was born and brought up in Hyderabad, was at Kochi Fashion Week showcasing his new range of clothes.

“Though born and brought up in Hyderabad, my parents made sure that my sisters and I are not alien to our culture. We grew up appreciating Malayali customs, traditions and also the clothing styles,” says the designer, who has been in the glamour world for about 20 years, though he is coming for an event here for the first time. Rima Kallingal and Maithili were his show stoppers in Kochi.

At the Kingfisher Fashion Week, his collections were based on ‘Marumakkathayam’ custom. “As women headed families as per Marumakkathayam, the clothes I designed for them are quite boisterous; and for men, subtle.

In the shades of cream, bronze, beige and off-white, I believe the clothes portrayed the mood of the system quite well,” says Shravan, who graduated from NIFT Delhi and specialized in colour psychology from the London School of Design.

His creative lab, Shravan’s Studio, is not just a place to design beautiful clothes, but also research space for fashion.

Unlike many who think the fashion scenario here isn’t bright, Shravan observes, “It is a growing market and people here are quite clear on what they want. They always had an awesome taste for fashion.”

Though a constant part of many premier shows, Shravan says he likes the ramp to road, wearable style of fashion, as compared to the ‘just-for-stage’ attires.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Kochi / by Deepa Soman, DC, Kochi / September 07th, 2012

Rs 20 lakh to restore Pothana Memorial

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

The state government has accorded an administrative sanction of Rs 20 lakh for restoration of ‘Bammera Pothana Smarakam’ in Bammera village in Palakurthi in Warangal district.

The Youth Advancement Tourism and Culture Department issued a GO to this effect on Wednesday. It was proposed in the state budget to release Rs 66 lakh for restoration of Bammera Smarakam. Former professor of NIT, Warangal, M Panduranga Rao and retired IAS officer BV Paparao started Kakatiya Heritage Trust and purchased land from the farmers who encroached upon. The land was said to be originally owned and cultivated by Bammera Pothana, who enriched Telugu literature by his invaluable and pure devotional works.

Pothana was known for his magnum opus Andhra Maha Bhagavatam. Pothanamatyulu was a household name for Telugus. Now, the lovers of Telugu literature can visit his birth place and visit his Samadhi. At present Bammera village has a tomb of the poet, 4.3 acres of agricultural land belonging to Pothana and an agricultural well used by the poet. The Kakatiya Heritage Trust submitted a master plan to the government to develop Bammera memorial. Panduranga Rao told Express that there was a proposal to develop a garden, install a statue of Pothana and make available the literature of Pothana for the visitors.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / by The New Indian Express, Express News Service / Andhra Pradesh, August 30th, 2012

Couturier Shravan Kumar employs SIFT students

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders

Hyderabad-based fashion designer Shravan Kumar monitoring designs created by students of Samana Institute of Fashion Technology after inaugurating Samana Fashion House, in Vijayawada on Sunday. / Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

Hyderabad-based ace fashion designer Shravan Kumar went around the studio, interacted with students of the institute and assessed their level of performance.

Hyderabad-based ace fashion designer Shravan Kumar on Sunday inaugurated Samana Fashion House, a fashion production house rolled out of the stables of Samana Institute of Fashion Technology (SIFT) in the city.

After formally opening the add-on feature of SIFT, Mr. Shravan Kumar went around the studio, interacted with students of the institute and assessed their level of performance.

Impressed by the kind of work being carried out at SIFT, he said it was heartening to see a lot of sincere efforts being put to hone creative skills of students. “It will ultimately take them to a different level. I am particularly impressed by the cause behind the thought. Students are very enthusiastic that they will be able to create and sell their designs. This is something commendable,” said the designer.

Fashion choreographer Sunil Menon, who also attended the inaugural, said it was not enough to learn mere designing of the clothes. “It is important to create a market for your products and for that you need the right kind of platform. A designer must be able to communicate his creativity to his clients,” he said.

Underscoring the importance of ‘exposure’ and ‘experience’, he said the best part of SIFT students was that they were willing to work hard and put their best foot forward.

Later, amidst claps and cheers, Mr. Shravan Kumar announced induction of two SIFT students —Reena Agarwal and Komal Bansali as designer and assistant production manager in his Hyderabad-based fashion studio.

“Today is a big day, not just for me but for Vijayawada city. Besides Reena and Komal, many other girls of SIFT have been offered placements in units run by designers in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. The remaining of them will be absorbed by the Samana Fashion House,” said Samana Moosavi, CEO of SIFT.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / August 06th, 2012

SANIA MIRZA: The Youth Icon

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

Sania Mirza is one of the famous sports personalities. People always want to know more and more about their famous sports personality. She is also an idol for many. If you too are looking information on her and want to know more about her, you are at right place.

Sania Mirza came on earth on 15th November 1986. She is a tennis player and was born in Mumbai, Bombay at that time. She is famous for her impactful ground strokes which she hits hard. Most of the Sania Mirza photos are also depicting the same. Most of her photos are in powerful ground strokes which made her so forceful. A list was issued by ‘Times of India’ which contained 33 top women of India which made India proud. Sania Mirza was also included in it.

Various Sania Mirza biographies are also written till now on Indian tennis player. She is the one who provided top rankings to India on various opens. It was due to her efforts that India entered into singles top 30 WTA rankings. Not only this, she also maintained a highest rank in doubles. Former world’s number 1 player Dinara Safina and Martina Hingis were defeated by Mirza. Not only this, various top players like Marion Bartoli, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva are also defected by her. Once she had also won single WTA title. She won the title in 2006 in Hyderabad. Australian open 20009 and mixed double events are also won by her. Due to her wide achievement list, she also made to the Asia’s top fifty heroes by time in 2005 with Sania Mirza photo.

Sania Mirza was gifted to Nasima and Imran Mirza in Mumbai, India. The name of her younger sister is Anam and they both were grown up at Hyderabad.  Sania was interested in tennis right from a very tender age. She was then trained professionally at NASR School and turned fully professional in 2003. She did her graduation from St. Mary College at Hyderabad as given in Sania Mirza Biography. Sania is the first tennis player from India who has got such a high ranking in India. In 2008, the tennis player broke the hearts of many and got engaged with her childhood friend Sohrab Mirza. However, it didn’t last much time. She then started seeing famous sport personality Sohaib Malik and is a Dubai based Pakistani cricketer. Grand wedding was held in Hyderabad at India and Sonia Mirza photos were issued. However, some customs and other functions were held in Pakistan too. Couple is now living happily in Dubai.

Various controversies are side by side following Sania. Once there was a big controversy related to the cloths that she had to wear at grounds. There was a protest form Muslim community that the dress tennis players wear at court is objectionable. Many more also keep coming. Mirza had never looked back and has also achieved various awards as is written in Sania Mirza Biography. She was awarded with Arjuna award by Indian government in 2004. Later in 2006 she was awarded with Padma Shri for her achievements.

source: http://www.WychWoodBarns.com / Categorized in Food / July 16th, 2012