Category Archives: World Opinion

Indian-origin aeronautical engineer to fly into space

Sirisha Bandla
Sirisha Bandla

Sirisha Bandla, a 34-year-old aeronautical engineer, is set to become the third Indian-origin woman to head to space when she flies as part of Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed flight test on Sunday.

Ms. Bandla, who was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and brought up in Houston, Texas, will join Sir Richard Branson, the company’s billionaire founder, and five others on board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to make a journey to the edge of space from New Mexico.

“I am so incredibly honoured to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all,” she tweeted.

Ms. Bandla will be astronaut no 004 and her flight role will be Researcher Experience, according to her profile on Virgin Galactic.

She will become the third Indian-origin woman to fly into space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.

Ms. Bandla started in her role as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic in January 2021.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> International / by PTI / Houston, July 10th, 2021

Rare sculpture with 624 ‘naga’ carvings found in Guntur

They said the broken slab was found lying upside down on an ant hill mound, and that it was shifted and erected on the north-eastern corner of the Ramesvara temple sometime ago.

Rare sculpture with 624 ‘nagas’ carved on a single slab has been found at Velpuru in Krosur mandal of Guntur district (Photo |EPS
Rare sculpture with 624 ‘nagas’ carved on a single slab has been found at Velpuru in Krosur mandal of Guntur district (Photo |EPS

Guntur :

A rare sculpture with 624 ‘nagas’ carved on a single slab has been found at Velpuru in Krosur mandal of Guntur district. Based on the information provided by the locals, archaeologists rushed to the spot on Wednesday and examined it thoroughly. They said the broken slab was found lying upside down on an ant hill mound, and that it was shifted and erected on the north-eastern corner of the Ramesvara temple some time ago.

The granite slab, measuring 2’-0 x 6’-0 x 0’-4’’, has 24 rows on its front side, with 26 ‘nagas’ carved in each row. The archaeologists surmised that 576 similar carvings are present on the broken part of the slab that was yet to be located. They said that the sculpture had a lot of archaeological significance as it was found in Velpuru, where 35 inscriptions of Vishnukundin, Vengi Chalukya, Velanati Chola, Kakatiya, Reddy, Vijayanagara and Gajapati rulers were discovered.

They made an appeal to the local community to safeguard the rare sculpture and requested the Tourism department to operate ‘Naga tourist circuit’, connecting  Durga Nageswara temple, Pedakallepalli and Subbarayudu temples at Mopidevi of Krishna district with the sculpture found in Velupuru.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / October 31st, 2019

RGUKT-Nuzvid signs MoU with Kusalava International Limited

The MoU will serve as an opportunity for collaborative research and lead to better employment and internship opportunities for the students.

Vijayawada :

RGUKT-Nuzvid signed an MoU with Kusalava International Ltd, manufacturer of engine critical parts on Friday, for establishing a research and development centre to promote exclusive research on products belonging to Kusalava International Ltd.

The MoU will serve as an opportunity for collaborative research and lead to better employment and internship opportunities for the students.

Director of RGUKT-Nuzvid campus Prof D Surya Chandra Rao, administrative officer, P Shyam and dean B Prasad explained the potentiality of advanced research facilities of various departments of the campus.

“Technical Director of Kusalava International Ltd Mr Chakravarthi Chukkapalli,  has expressed interest in collaborating with metallurgical & materials engineering (MME) and chemical engineering departments for conducting research related to batteries,” the Director said, adding,” He also sanctioned two more projects and accepted the proposal of establishing an R&D centre at our campus to promote exclusive research on products belonging to Kusalava International Ltd.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / October 20th, 2019

Nellore: NRI imparts knowledge on robotics to ZP students

Programme instill awareness on robotics among rurals

 Niharika educates about robotics to the students of ZP High School at Muthukur.
Niharika educates about robotics to the students of ZP High School at Muthukur.

Nellore : 

In a laudable initiative, an NRI student Niharika has been sharing her knowledge on robotics with Class IX students of ZP High School at Muthukur, 30 km from Nellore.

Incidentally, she is part of the school’s robotics team-The Steel Hawks and is a budding engineer with a big heart.

For the students, it is something like a Cinderella story, straight out of a silver  screen like Sreemanthudu of Mahesh Babu, where the film star, after having graduated from top-notch US Schools, comes down to his native place to give a whiff of fresh breath of AI.

Niharika Kotamreddy is a Class 12 student from Townsend Harris High School in New York and she is part of her school’s robotics team. She took classes on the subject for three weeks in Muthukur High School.

Teachers in the school opined that the AI & robotics programme infused new energy into the students who saw the method of teaching from a different plank altogether which improved their interest in studies but gave them a new direction to look at.

The AI & robotics programme instilled a sense of awareness on robotics amongst the rural children, near her hometown Nellore, thus creating opportunities for the underprivileged rural gems to sharpen their intellect and skill.

Daughter of a software professional Kotamreddy Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Bindu, working in the UN at New York, Niharika said that she is keen on keeping in touch with the students and will continue to make use of her holidays to keep their interest on robotics alive.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / by Pathri Rajasekhar / August 09th, 2019

Vizag traffic constable wins gold at international event

A traffic police constable from Visakhapatnam, P. Krishna, won gold at a triathlon event in the ongoing 18th World Police & Fire Games.

The event is being conducted at Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province, from August 8 to 18. About 70 nations are taking part in the event.

Mr. Krishna joined the Visakhapatnam City Police as a constable in 2009 and is presently posted at Bheemunipatnam Traffic Police Station. Divis Labs has extended financial support for Mr. Krishna’s trip. He is an athlete and international-level swimmer. He has also bagged several medals in various events and has brought laurels to the police department at the national and international level.

Earlier, he represented India in the Ironman Triathlon Championship held at Busselton, Western Australia, in December 2017 and secured 101st place out of 3,000 participants. He also participated in the World Ironman Triathlon Championship held in Barcelona in October 2018, and secured 125th place out of 3,500 participants.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – August 18th, 2019

Team Amaravati wins F1H2O World Championship 2019 at France Grand Prix

The tournament marked the sixth victory for Jonas Andersson at the UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of France.

Lead driver Jonas Andersson and other team members celebrate the win at the France Grand Prix in Evian. (Photo | EPS)
Lead driver Jonas Andersson and other team members celebrate the win at the France Grand Prix in Evian. (Photo | EPS)

Vijayawada  :

Team Amaravati won the F1H2O World Championship 2019 held at the Grand Prix of France in Evian from July 5 to 7.

Lead driver Jonas Andersson defeated power boating superstar Shaun Torrente of Abu Dhabi to win the top honours.

The tournament marked the sixth victory for Andersson at the UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of France. “It was a great competition and a great win,” said Andersson.

This was his first win as a lead driver since 2016. He completed the race in a remarkable 1.97 seconds.

Torrente and Thani Al Qemzi, both from Abu Dhabi, secured second and third places respectively.
The 40-lap race witnessed many twists and turns.

The race took a dramatic turn in the fifteenth lap when pole-sitter and race leader Philippe Chiappe of CTC F1 Shenzen China slowed down suddenly and pulled off the circuit, paving way for Andersson to come in the leading position. It was an emotional moment for Team Amaravati as India’s national anthem was played at the award ceremony. The next edition will be held at Xiangyang in China from September 27 to 29.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / July 09th, 2019

This brave girl makes her village proud

My aim is to join IIT, says Sahiti .
My aim is to join IIT, says Sahiti .

Sahiti of Kothakota in Visakhapatnam district saved two from drowning at sea

In an act of bravery, a 15-year-old girl, risking her life, rescued two children from drowning at sea. If the efforts of a former MLA and others bear fruit, she is likely to get an award for her courageous act.

As many as 20 schoolchildren were taken to the Revu Polavaram Beach of S. Rayavaram mandal in the district on November 4, 2018. Incidentally, Kalagarla Sahiti (14) of Kothakota village of Raavikamatam mandal, had also gone for a picnic to the same beach along with her family members.

After lunch, some of the children went for a dip at sea. All of a sudden, two of them – Tirumalesu (6) and Bhargavi (8) — started drifting into the deep. Sahiti noticed the two children and the cries of others for help. Without a second thought she jumped into the water and rushed to their rescue.

“I swam towards them and took Tirumalesu on my back. I pulled Bhargavi with one hand, while using my other hand and feet to swim ashore,” Sahiti has told The Hindu, recalling the incident.

None of the others, who were at the beach, knew swimming and they watched in awe as the girl risked her life to save the drowning kids. The news spread like wild fire and people of nearby villages came and were all praise for her bravery.

The then Anakapalle MLA, Peela Govinda Satyanarayana, wrote a letter to the District Collector in February this year asking the latter to consider her name for nomination for the National Bravery Award. He has felt that such awards would inspire other children.

“We had approached the then District Collector K. Bhaskar, who took our application but we learnt that it was not processed as the district administration was busy with the general elections at the time. We are yet to meet present Collector R. Vinay Chand,” says Sahiti’s mother Nagajyothi.

Presently studying in 10th class at Sri Chaitanya English Medium School at Narsipatnam, Sahiti learnt swimming on her own at Anakapalle, when she was around 8 years. She can also perform various Yogasanas in the water.

Other achievements

“Sahiti is also good at academics and has scored above 95% in 9th class,” says her proud mother. Along with four other students from her school, she participated in a ‘space settlement contest’, organised by NASA. She presented the project ‘Vajra Kavacham’ at the International Space Development Conference (ISDC)-2019 held in Los Angeles in June this year.

“My aim is to join the IIT,” says Sahiti.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by B. Madhu Gopal / Visakhapatnam – July 08th, 2019

Visakhapatnam girl for Barcelona Roller Games in July

Presenting the sponsorship cheque to Ramya Sree here on Friday, India director of the LG Electronics Younchul Park said they  were very happy to sponsor Ramya Sree for World Roller Games.

Director of LG Electronics India Younchul Park handing over a cheque to skater RV Ramya Sree in Visakhapatnam on Friday | EXPRESS
Director of LG Electronics India Younchul Park handing over a cheque to skater RV Ramya Sree in Visakhapatnam on Friday | EXPRESS

Visakhapatnam :

Skater R V Ramya Sree gets sponsorship from LG Electronics for representing India in Roller Games to be held in Barcelona in Spain from July 6. Ramya Sree is the only girl from India who is participating in the world’s biggest skating sports event which will conclude on July 15.

Presenting the sponsorship cheque to Ramya Sree here on Friday, India director of the LG Electronics Younchul Park said they were very happy to sponsor Ramya Sree for World Roller Games.
He said she was a talented girl with lot of enthusiasm. He hoped their support would motivate her put in best efforts and create new milestones in sport.

He wished Ramya Sree will perform will in the upcoming championship.

Thanking the LG Electronics India for sponsoring her for the world games, Ramya Sree said the sponsorship had paved way for her representing the country in the global platform. She said she will try her best to put up a good performance to make the country proud.

Ramya Sree has 132 national and state medal in her kitty till now and participated in 13 national championships.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / May 25th, 2019

Dhanush gun enters the scene with a bang

Dhanush has inertial navigation-based sighting system, onboard ballistic computation and most advanced any time firing system.
Dhanush has inertial navigation-based sighting system, onboard ballistic computation and most advanced any time firing system.

Vizag-based research centre facilitates patenting of Bofors’ ‘desi version’

A premier research establishment located in Visakhapatnam has facilitated patenting and trademarking of India’s first home-made long-range howitzer gun Dhanush, which was formally inducted into the Indian Army recently after trials in the desert regions, and glaciers of the Himalayas.

Termed ‘desi version of the Bofors gun,’ the patent facilitation was made by experts of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre and UN-WIPO Technology Support Centre located at Innovation Valley here.

“We feel proud because of our association with the innovation made by the Indian Ordnance Factory, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). We also feel that due to thrust on indigenisation in defence production, which is key to global competitiveness, a system should be evolved for recognising and protecting the IPs,” NRDC Chairman and Managing Director H. Purushottam, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Fully loaded

Dhanush has inertial navigation-based sighting system, onboard ballistic computation and most advanced any time firing system. The ordnance factory, also known as gun carriage factory, has successfully passed through accuracy, quality, speed, timing and other rigorous tests during the trial phase.

The design was made on the lines of Bofors Haubits fh77 of the 1980s.

Production started in 2019 after development trials during last year. Sources said the Army had ordered for 114 guns, which could go up to 414 for phase-wise supply.

The new weapon, which will give a fillip to the Army’s firepower, will replace 105mm Indian field gun, Russian 122-mm gun and 105mm light field gun.

This is the third type of artillery gun manufactured in the country after K-9 Vajra and M-777 ultra light howitzers.

“We are very happy that we have facilitated the IP and trademark for Dhanush howitzer gun. So far we have made IPs for 19 products from our Visakhapatnam-based office. We are keen to create awareness on IPs and help researchers to patent all their innovations,” B.K. Sahu, head of NRDC’s IPFC in the city, pointed out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Santosh Patnaik / Visakhapatnam – April 17th, 2019

Behind Araku Valley coffee’s GI Tag

ArakuCoffeeKF12apr2019

It might have been around for a century, but Araku’s Arabica coffee didn’t get the tag that easily

Araku Valley, the highlands of the Eastern Ghats mountain range overlooking the Bay of Bengal, is brewing one of the best coffees in the world and its aroma just got headier with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag it was recently awarded.

Located 2,985 feet above sea level, coffee plantations here are spread across hilly terrain growing under the shade of towering silver oaks. What makes this coffee unique is that it is organic and cultivated by Adivasi farmers in 10 mandals of the region. The peculiar mix of climate in Araku — hot days and cool nights — coupled with naturally iron-rich soil lends the Araku coffee body, intensity and a rich aroma. No wonder it has fans across France, Sweden, Dubai and Switzerland as well.

Interestingly, the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC), which has been promoting Araku coffee for three years now, had applied for the GI tag at the Chennai-GI registry in 2016. However, its claims at that time were dismissed by the Coffee Board of India, an organisation managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

___________________

Coffee Statistics

  • In India, coffee is cultivated on approximately 4.54 lakh hectares
  • There are nearly 3.66 lakh coffee farmers (according to government figures, 98 % are small farmers)
  • In 2018-19 Coffee production in India is estimated to be 3,19,500 tonnes (according to Coffee Board).
  • There has been a rise of 13.26 % in the first two months of this year, totalling to to 48,330 tonnes

___________________

Things changed, however, when the Coffee Board itself applied this year; the Chennai-based GI registry awarded the GI tag to Araku, along with four others (Coorg Arabica coffee from Karnataka, Wayanad Robusta coffee from Kerala, Chikmagalur Arabica from Karnataka and Bababudangiris Arabica coffee also from Karnataka).

“The GI tag will help Indian coffee varieties be specifically identified with their unique flavour and also increase their popularity. The adivasis of Araku will now get a better price for their produce,” says T Baburao Naidu, GCC vice-chairman and managing director. The GCC is expanding its footprint across the State and the country by setting up outlets selling Araku coffee.

Coffee cultivation in the Araku region began around the early 1900s. But it came into the limelight only a few years ago after a couple of players like GCC and Naandi Foundation (an organisation working in the social sector) entered the fray to help the adivasis grow quality beans and market their produce on the global platform.

_________________

What it means

  • A GI is a name or sign used on products which belong to a specific geographical location or origin and is a certification that the product possesses certain qualities that are unique to that locality.

________________

Manoj Kumar, CEO of Naandi Foundation, says, “When I started working in the area as part of Naandi Foundation 20 years ago, people told us this is was a ‘non-traditional’ coffee region! We have come a long way since then, with a strong cooperative of 10,000 adivasi farmers and a central processing unit. We opened a flagship store in Paris, and won the Gold Medal for the best coffee pod at the Prix Epicures OR 2018 Award. The GI tag is a safety net and a recognition that this region’s coffee has a unique identity.”

A loyal Araku coffee fan, Vidya Raghu, says, “It is different. There is an exhilarating aroma, golden-brown froth and a lingering, slightly sharp after-taste that envelopes your senses. I haven’t experienced this kind of refreshing flavour with any other coffee I’ve had.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style>Food / by Nivedita Ganguly / April 11th, 2019