Monthly Archives: January 2012

Hyderabadi Literary Fest begins

Hyderabad:

Hyderabad’s tryst with arts and culture continues. This time, it is the pen that promises to claim the honours with regional and national writers converging on the serene Taramati Baradari cultural centre here on Monday for the second edition of the Hyderabad Literary Festival. The fest, a multilingual one, will see Telugu, Hindi and Urdu writings getting considerable space alongside celebrated works in English.
The aim remains to promote regional works as much as English, and this was made clear in the inaugural address by Pawan K Varma, Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, who has authored a series of books on contemporary India.
“Language is not merely a means of communication. It is a window to your culture, to the identity of who you are. Without language a person is rootless.
Literary fests such as this should actively promote regional writers too and not just English,” said Varma.
Noted lyricist Gulzar, who graced the occasion, spoke of how English had today resulted in alienating different sections of the society and the need to undo it by returning to our culture and the writings that characterised them. Secretary, Department of Tourism, Chandana Khan, who was also present at the inaugural, echoed their views.
Germany has been selected as the Featured Nation at this festival, which is being jointly organised by Muse India, an e-journal and the State Tourism Department.
The three-day event is being supported by the German Centre (Goethe Zentrum), apa r t f rom Al l i anc e Francaise, the Osmania University Centre for International Programmes and The New Indian Express among others.
There was a sizeable presence of Telugu writers too at the event.
Muse India gave away awards in two categories. The Young Writer Award 2011 for Poetry was given to Anindita Sengupta’s City of Water, Sahitya Akademi, 2010, and the Translation Award 2011 was given to Ranjit Hoskote for his translation of I,Lalla, The Poems of Lal Ded, Penguin, 2011.
Pawan Varma’s first fictional work, When Loss is Gain, was also launched at a function in the evening.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / South>  Hyderabad / Express News Service / The New Indian Express / January 18th, 2012

You should get to know … Subbanna Varanasi

Job description or business description: Massage Par Excellence. I give a deep tissue massage and specialize in Indian head massage.

Background: I was born in Madras (now Chennai), India, and went to university in Hyderabad. I have a bachelor’s degree in commerce, and later, while working in a hotel in the Sultanate of Oman, went to school and earned an advanced diploma in French and on my return to India in 2000 earned an advanced diploma in Spanish. From working as a health club manager in a hotel in Oman, as a journalist in Hyderabad, working on oil rigs in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, bartending on Carnival Cruise Lines sailing in Mexico and the Caribbean and driving a cab in New York City, I probably did more than a dozen jobs. Besides giving massages at my clinic and doing translation, interpretation and voiceovers, I work in the BOS restaurant, in the Renaissance Savery Hotel downtown. After returning to the U.S. in 2007 I studied massage therapy and became a licensed massage therapist.

Notable achievements: I speak five languages fluently and meet and greet in another five. Becoming a citizen of the greatest country in the world was a long-cherished dream that became a reality in September

Why I do what I do: I am a people person and love to know people wherever I travel and live. The very first year I arrived in Des Moines I sold corn Indian style, roasting them on hot coals and rubbing Indian spices on them, in the downtown farmers market. I realized Iowans are warm and friendly and quite a few of them encouraged me to start my own Indian restaurant. But since the time I started as a masseur in the Sheraton Hotel in Bombay back in 1980, I wanted to pursue massage as a profession. On my return to Des Moines from India in 2007, I went back to school and got my certificate and license and started Massage Par Excellence. There is absolutely nothing like helping people de-stress with a relaxing and rejuvenating massage. I educate people (especially women, who constitute 90 percent of my clientele) that as much as a manicure and pedicure is vital, massage does magic to stressed minds and bodies.

What I do to get away from work: I love to travel (I’ve been to 30 countries), and I believe travel does not have to be to other countries. My wife, Brenda, and I drive an hour from Des Moines and eat lunch in a small town and just totally unwind. I listen to music, and I try meeting new people and keep myself updated by talking to my friends around the world on Skype.

How I give back to the community: I volunteer, especially by participating in free chair massage clinics to aid food pantries and other worthy causes. I have been a tour guide at Terrace Hill. I actively participate in the Merle Hay Neighborhood Association activities. As stated on my website, on my massage clients’ request, a percentage of the massage fee is donated to the charity of their choice.

Words to live by: “Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.” — George Edward Woodberry.

Best business book I’ve read lately: “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson. The story of the charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution is truly gripping and inspiring.

The best place in central Iowa to entertain clients or colleagues: I visit quite often the India Star at 55th and Douglas Avenue. The close proximity to my home and clinic makes it easy for me to introduce Indian cuisine to my American friends and clients.

One thing I would change about the Des Moines area: I would like to see more shops and establishments on the street level in the downtown area. Except for the East Village (and that just in the past few years), the rest of the downtown is deserted during afternoons and simply a ghost town during evenings. The skywalk system may be a great boon for office workers to reach the food courts, but it has literally killed any chance of opening a business on the street level. More people would frequent the shops and restaurants at all times of the day if they spent time on the streets.

What Iowa can do to attract more people like me: I know that Iowa has been great to immigrants, and we need to keep on opening our doors to immigrants from around the world to continue to contribute to the colorful mosaic that is Iowa.

My mentor: My mother raised five kids and she started going to school when I, the last kid, was 15. She did teacher training and went on to get a Ph.D. She taught college until she retired. By her own example she taught me that learning has no age limit.

What I would do if I could do something else: I would love to write travel guides. I would like to describe not just the tourist sites and the restaurants and shopping but the people and their way of life and culture.

Contact information: Massage Par Excellence, 3839 Merle Hay Road, suite 210. (515) 450-7052 www.subbu.com.

source: http://www.DesMoinesRegister.com / Featured / by Subbanna Varanasi / January 16th, 2012

 

Leggie finds traction later

When Tarun Nethula fished his cellphone out of his cricket bag yesterday morning in New Plymouth he realised there was a message waiting for him.

What the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags player didn’t realise was the top-up card on the phone was running on empty.

 

“I got into it but, before I could find out what the message was, I realised I’d run out of credit on the phone,” the 28-year-old tweaker said with a laugh yesterday, after he was named in the New Zealand XI to play Zimbabwe in the three-day international match next month.

“I had to ask Hammer [bowling coach and Stags manager] for his phone to make a call to find out what it was all about,” the legspinner said after New Zealand Cricket selection manager Kim Littlejohn failed to contact him with the news of his selection. While his voice didn’t reflect it yesterday, Nethula was quietly delighted to have the opportunity to play at an international level for New Zealand amid talk he is the most likely contender to succeed an ageing Daniel Vettori, of Northern Districts, as the No1 spinner.

Self-effacing at the best of times, the Heretaunga Building Society Cornwall Cricket Club premier player opted to give some flight in his pitch to the tune of the Stags’ team mantra.

“As long as I keep playing well for CD, that’s all. If an opportunity like this comes along then it’s all good.”

He arrived in the Bay in the summer of 2010 at the request of CD coach and fellow Aucklander Alan Hunt to gain more game time because of a glut of Auckland spinners, such as Roneel Hira, Bruce Martin, Jeet Raval and Bhupinder Singh.

Asked what he was doing different this summer that saw him consistently take wickets in the four-day Plunket Shield competition, the Andhra Pradesh-born replied: “Nothing. The only thing different is I’m going to the gym more often to keep myself fit.

“In terms of bowling, I’m a bit more patient and I’ve been working with Shrimpo [former women’s World Cup-winning coach Mike Shrimpton, of Napier] as well as Hammer [Hamilton],” says Nethula, who wants to be adept in all forms of the game.

In his debut season, he had to bide his time with two other spinners, English imports Ian Blackwell and Michael Yardy.

From a long line of academics in the family, Nethula has frozen tertiary education to pursue a cricketing career.

His mother, the late Prameela Nethula, was a professor in gynaecology and obstetrics but died in 1997 when he was 13, so he went back to Hyderabad where his grandparents raised him for a short spell. His father, Sainath Nethula, is a chemical engineer-cum-schoolteacher in Auckland.

source: http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz / by Anendra Singh, Sports Editor / Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

RINL signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh Government for Rs. 42,000 Crore Investments

The Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) for huge investments to the tune of Rs.42, 000 crores for various projects in its current facility at Visakhapatnam and other parts of the State. With this, RINL emerged as the “Number One” Company as far as the investments are concerned in Andhra Pradesh and this will give a big boost to the industrial development of the State particularly the Visakhapatnam region.

The MoU documents were exchanged by the Chief Minister of AP, Shri N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Shri A P Choudhary, CMD, RINL-VSP on 13th January, 2012 at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) at the Partnership Summit 2012 in the presence of Dr J Geetha Reedy, Minister for Major Industries, Commerce and Exports promotion.

The MOU envisages that the Government of Andhra Pradesh would facilitate RINL to obtain necessary permissions/ registrations/ approvals/clearances etc. from the concerned departments of the State, as per the existing policies/rules and regulations of the State Government. Government of Andhra Pradesh will also facilitate allotment of iron ore mines including other raw material mines, supply of water, power, etc., to RINL on priority basis.

Under the Agreement, VSP will invest around Rs. 42,000 crores for various projects for the expansion and modernization of the plant. This MOU is made to facilitate RINL for establishment of the Projects in Andhra Pradesh in a time bound manner. The signing of the MoU with the State Government would strengthen RINL for the next phase of expansion to 11/12Mtpa.

****  NSK/DB

(Release ID :79604)

source: http://www.pibnic.in / Ministry of Steel / Press Information Bureau / January 16th, 2012

Lepakshi Kowledge Hub draws plan for hi-tech electronic city

Lepakshi Knowledge Hub (LKH), set up to promote industry clusters in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh will set up Hitech Electronic City in its premises.

According to its managing director S Balaji, the project will come up in about 2,650 acre within the 10,000 acre of the LKH. The project will be taken up in a joint venture with the Vittal Innovation City (VIC) and Global Emerging Markets (GEM).

The electronic hub, which will put India along the select countries that have global hi-tech innovation ecosystems, is expected to attract investments of more than Rs 11,000 crore and create employment for 75,000 in five to ten years.

GEM, a $3.4 billion alternative investment group headquartered in Geneva, will bring in the investments for the project while VIC, led by N Vittal, former secretary, union electronics and telecommunications ministry, has prepared the concept master plan and will develop the project along with the LKH.

The concept proposes a green ecosystem that includes knowledge-based services, manufacturing, research and development and incubation activities inspired by technology hubs like the Silicon Valley in the US, Hsinchu in Taiwan and Tsukuba in Japan.

“The Hi-tech Electronic City project will provide an opportunity for India to leapfrog in electronics and IT hardware manufacturing on the lines similar as IT sector,” said Balaji adding that this would be positioned into a special category for electronics. This would be in line with the focus of the Government of India to create electronics clusters in India for national competitiveness in this area.

Apart from the Electronic City, LKH will house several industry clusters that include aerospace and defence, education and innovation, agribusiness, healthcare, science and technology, media and entertainment and logistics.

“Various clusters are in different stages of progress and will be ready in five to ten years as projected,” he said.

LKH when completed will make it the largest multi industry cluster system in the country. In the next years, it is expected to bring in investments to the tune of $4 billion and create employment opportunities to 1.5 lakh people directly and to another 3,00,000 indirectly.

source: http://www.mydigitalfc.com/ MyWorld> by B. Krishna Mohan / January 15th, 2012

Rashtrapati Nilayam to get facelift

Next time when you visit Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum, look forward to spend sometime in a new garden with indigenous plants and a duck pond on the sprawling premises.

In an effort to provide more enjoyment to people visiting the place, authorities are planning to develop more landscaping in an area of about four acres, opposite Herbal Garden.

Plans are afoot to develop a new garden in the Nakshatra (star) design with some rare and indigenous plants. The objective is to create awareness among people about a few rare plants that are on the verge being extinct and some indigenous plants that represent nativity, says an authority.

Presently, Rashtrapati Nilayam has fruit gardens spread over 35 acres and lawns with ornamental plants in an area of about six acres.

Bio-diversity

Besides, education to people, the move to have a garden with indigenous plants and trees would also help in preserving in the bio-diversity of the area. Unlike indigenous plants, which usually have long life, ornamental plants have short lifespan and require lot of maintenance, he explains.

“We would appeal to the higher authorities in New Delhi to approve the plan and once it is accepted, works would commence. We want to develop it by next year,” he says. The idea to develop the duck pond is to add a new amusement theme on the premises. It was operational until a few years ago and former President A.P.J Abdul Kalam liked it a lot

source: http://www.thehindu.com / National> Andhra Pradesh> Hyderabad/ January 15th, 2012

GAIL Gas in pact to build Rs 5,000-cr LNG facility in AP

GAIL India today said its subsidiary GAIL Gas has signed an agreement to set up a Rs 5,000 crore liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility around Kakinada or Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

“GAIL Gas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAIL India, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Andhra Pradesh” for setting up the import facility, the company said in a press statement here.

The MoU was signed by GAIL Gas CEO J Wason and Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary (Investment and Infrastructure) S Bhattacharya.

“The Floating Storage and Re-gasification Unit (FSRU)/ Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal of 3.5 to 5 million tonnes per annum will be set up around Kakinada/Vishakapatnam and is likely to be the first such facility on the east coast of the country with an estimated investment of Rs 5,000 crore,” the statement said.

The proposed facility would supply regassified-LNG, a preferred feedstock for power, industrial and other sectors to meet the growing needs of the state.

Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Co (APGDC), a joint venture of GAIL Gas and APGIC will execute the project with the support of GAIL and work will be completed by 2012-13.

“The company is in the process of finalising an upstream partner for project execution and LNG supplies to the proposed terminal,” it said.

As per the MoU, the Andhra Pradesh government will facilitate GAIL Gas/APGDC to obtain necessary permissions, registrations, approvals, clearances, etc from the concerned departments to set up the project.

source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> Companies & Industry/ Press Trust of India, New Delhi / January 13th, 2012

 

‘Garam Hamam’ at Unani Hospital being revived

A patient being massaged before undergoing the hot water treatment at the ‘Garam Hamam’ in the Government Nizamia Unani Hospital in Charminar. The Turkish bath has been revived recently after being in disuse for several years. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

The Turkish bath facility helps cure disorders such as cervical and lumbar spondylosis

Hot bath in cold storage. That’s exactly the case with the hoary Turkish bath in the city. For more than a decade the only ‘garam hamam’ at the Government Nizamia General Hospital in Charminar is lying unused. For want of funds and initiative, patients are deprived of this ancient mode of treatment.

Hot favourite

Now serious efforts are on to revive the Turkish bath.

As part of the regimental therapy unorthodox methods like cupping, steam bath, cauterisation, emesis, diuresis and purgation are employed for treatment of various disorders like cervical and lumbar spondylosis .

The Turkish bath is another sure-fire way of curing patients affected with paralysis, obesity, rheumatism and Parkinson disease .

The ‘Garam Hamam’ used to be a hot favourite with patients. But over the years it fell in disuse for want of minor repairs.

All that it required was supply of hot and cold water, repair of the hot water tub and the steam bath chamber. But this simple matter was not attended to.

Thanks to the hospital superintendent, Dr. Mohd Rafi Ahmed’s initiative things are looking up now.

The other such Turkish bath in Hyderabad is situated at Puranapul. It is attached to the 17th century Mian Mishk mosque. This ‘Garam Hamam’ was built in tune with the Islamic principles of hygiene and purification.

But today it lies in a state of utter decay and unapproachable.

The facility at the Unani hospital is much better. The steam bath chamber still remains out of order and the ‘Garam Hamam’ can do with some renovation. The peeling plaster and the seedy look sure gives the creeps.

EFFECTIVE

The ‘hamam’ is a square chamber with a wooden cot and a shower. Using medicated oils the masseur works on the patients.

Thereafter the patients are made to lie in the rectangular hot water tub.

“The therapy sounds strange but it does wonders,” says Mohd Saleem, a lecturer at the Hospital.

Once the Turkish bath becomes fully operational, patients will have yet another effective therapy to avail.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Hyderabad / by J. S. Ifthekhar / January 14th, 2012

 

Mythological theme park to come up near Tirupati

Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati.
Hyderabad: JAN 14:

Sri Vaishnovi Infra Ventures and Resorts Pvt Ltd has signed an agreement with the Tourism Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, during the CII Partnership Summit to establish the Temples of India and Mythological Theme Park near Alipiri on the foothills of Tirumala.

The Rs 300-crore project will be established in 38 acres encompassing the Temples of India, Mythological Theme Park, Sri Venkateswara Museum, a three-star hotel, amphi theatre, shopping mall, cultural centre, and entertainment zone including restaurants to cater to the needs of the devotees coming to Tirumala.

The project has been designed by architect Nitish Roy.

Through the Temples of India and Mythological Theme Park, it is proposed to display mythological themes such as “Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam” and replicas of famous temples such as Puri, Annavaram, Simhachalam, Ahobilam and Guruvayoor.

According to a company statement, the theme park would provide direct employment to 2,000 people.

A memorandum of understanding was inked during the CII Partnership Summit on Friday.

 

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Government & Policy / by V Rishi Kumar / January 14th, 2012

Treats of Sankranti

YUMMY TUMMY Try homemade goodies for Sankranti

Celebrate the first festival of this year with traditional treats

The wind is making way for the kites to soar high in the city. As kite makers and kite flyers get busy with their patangmanja and chakhri in the open, there is something traditional cooking even in the most modern kitchens. With the city boasting of residents from all regions, every household will have some special festival dish. Though most Telugus from the districts are headed to their home towns, resident Hyderabadis also enjoy varied festival flavours in their own traditional way.

Each festival is marked by at least one special dish, which may differ from one household to another, depending on the taste and preference of the family and the customs followed. But you can be sure that every home will have something made of either rice or millet, and jaggery to celebrate the harvest season.

Pournima Surve, a media consultant, waits for Sankranti to relish the bajari rotiand mixed vegetable curry. “Bajari is millet and the combo with the sabji differs with every household. The mix vegetable sabji at home has vegetables like carrot, drumstick, papdi and tomato,” explains Pournima.

On the first day of Sankranti, called Bhogi, til and gud (jaggery) is used, so gud-poli is what everyone looks forward to. In a narrow lane in Shah-ali-banda while the kids are flying kites the women are busy making a gud-pol or the puran poli. “The polis are soft as cotton and served with a generous drip of ghee, with a tangy mango pickle to go with it,” says Meenal Vyas, a research scholar. She has timed her visit from US to ensure she celebrates Sankranti with the family in their ancestral home.

Prateek Shah, a Gujarati and a consultant cum trainer says, their family is all forghar mein banaya khana, “Bajre Ki Khichdi. Actually undhhiyu (mix vegetable) is more famous as well as puri kadhi.”

If you happen to visit a city-based Bihari’s home during Sankranti, you can expect Chura, Gur laddoo, sweets made of til such as Tilkut, Tilwa, Maska, etc. “It is convenient to make these anywhere as the ingredients are easily available,” says homemaker Dipti Verma.

Sankranti is also the best time to visit a Tamilian household and eat the variety they cook — Pongal with new harvest rice, kozhambu and the seven curry kootuare not to be missed.

A typical Assamese household in the city misses kath-alu. “Breakfast consists ofkoni-pitha (fried dumplings made of rice flour and eggs), kath alu fry and the traditional pithas made from sticky rice and til and jaggery. It is absolutely difficult to find the ingredients here, so the best option is to get some couriered,” says Dr David Bordoloi.

Those who miss their families and crave for festive food will receive a warm welcome in most native Telugu homes. Want to know what really cooks in a traditional Telugu household? Traditional Pongali, a sweet rice and jaggery, and Gummadikaya koora (pumpkin curry) are a must. The feast is usually elaborate. “We will have Ravva LadooBellam Pulusu, Pulihora, Avadalu(Andhra version of dahi vada), Garelu and Gutti Vankaya koora for lunch. We cook the new rice of the year for the first time on this day, and offer it asnaivedyam (offering to God),” says Nalini Vidmahe, a retired government official.

However, to make life and celebrations easier shops are also making a special Sankranti sweet box which comes with a baby kite and a kite wheel. So come Sankranti, the city will be abuzz with fun, frolic, films and festive food.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Life&Style> Food / by Prabalika M. Borah / January 12th, 2012