Monthly Archives: April 2012

Its all in the Shayari

Being a Hyderabadi, one for sure encounters many instances, where the Dakhni dialect is not just used for a normal conversation. It has been a tradition among the Hyderabadis, to use the Dakhni dialect in the shayari form, known as the Dakhni Shayari. Branded Hyderabadi words like ‘Nakko’, ‘Kaiku’, form the base of this shayari. Apart from sharing a laugh, many great scholars of Urdu, have used this form to touch upon issues affecting the society and try and bring about a change in the thought-process of people.
But, the past few decades have brought in a drastic change in the writing style and presentation of Dakhini Shayari.
The present day Dakhini shayari revolves only around a funny, humorous but offensive way of presenting the loopholes of household matters in a shayari form. For example, the very popular “Nai bole toh sunti nai” (She won’t listen, till I tell her) series.
Intentionally used to refer to their wives, the shayars (reciters) give into the shayari to describe their marital livelihood and woes.
Lately, the scholars in the city have been discouraging this form of shayari as the shayari has taken a different avatar altogether, and the youngsters these days laugh at it, or are unaware of its existence, or are very disrespectful about it.
“Dakhini sounds like some yummy dish or dessert, I never heard about it. Is it tasty?” says Satish Kumar, a student. Don’t be too surprised at the response.
According to Dr.Naseemudin Farees, head and associate professor, Department of Urdu, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, “Dakhini Shayari is an interesting form of shayari. As an individual I believe that it is an integral part of our Hyderabadi culture, literature and heritage. Famous shayars like Mohd.Quli Qutub Shah IV conveyed their messages through Dakhini shayari.”
He then adds, “They wrote about the social issues, rituals and customs. So that the housewives back then, who were only confined to home, get to read these shayaris and sing while doing their daily house chores. But, today this has turned out to be a mere pathetic humour art form, which is entertaining but offensive too. We do not encourage this anymore.”
Agreeing with him was Mohammad Ali Asar, an Urdu professor from Osmania University. He opines, “Dakhini was once upon a time a respectful and meaningful art form, but with the changes made by the modern shayars, it has become a matter of pointing out the mistakes and making fun of wives and in-laws. This form of shayari has lost its essence.”
Explaining his view, Deepak Jain, a BBM student, says “I think Dakhini shayari recited today is only about entertainment. Considering the development rate, there is a high possibility of Dakhini Shayari becoming extinct.”
However, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has a new plan. They are planning on introducing Dakhni as a full-fledged course. Explaining more on this, Dr Hakeem Raees Fatima, faculty member, Department of Urdu, UoH says, “We are introducing teaching and learning of Dakhini language as an academic course now. This is going to be a useful step in bringing back the actual essence of the existence of the language again.”

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News> Hyderabad / The New Indian Express / by Sana Parveen / April 29th, 2012

Boy from Mahimalore navigates his way to success

Hyderabad:

The ICBM test-fired from the Interim Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Orissa on April 19 was on target 5,000-km into the Indian Ocean. The missile’s accuracy, which hit within double-digit metres of the target, pleased the defence scientists.

“Advanced countries with a superior technology have reportedly achieved accuracy within three-digit metres but Agni-V has achieved what no other country could do before,” a senior DRDO scientist said.

The villagers of Mahimalore in Atmakur mandal of Nellore district have joined the country-wide celebrations of the success, because their boy has made India proud by developing a navigation system that helped Agni-V reach its target.

Soon after the Agni-V test-firing, flexis and posters of  Gundra Satheesh Reddy, associate director and outstanding scientist, Research Centre Imarat, appeared in his hometown hailing his achievement. Such honours are generally reserved for filmstars but what Satheesh Reddy and his team achieved was not of the filmi variety but real and rare.

As technology director (Navigation) for Agni-V, Satheesh Reddy provided a navigation system which had very high level reliability. The Ring Laser Gyro-based Navigation System (RINS) and the Micro Navigation System ensured that the missile could simply not fail.

“Em Debba kottinaranna (What a shot that was, brother),” callers from Mahimalore and Atmakur said appreciating Satheesh Reddy after the ICBM’s successful launch. They may not know much about the missile but they knew one thing: Gundra Sitarami Reddy and Rangamma’s son had done the country proud. The agricultural family had dreamt of Satheesh Reddy becoming an engineer and he realised not just that but a dream of the country to get into the ICBM club.

“Perhaps because of my village background, I developed a fascination for aeroplanes and during the course of time got into missile technology,” Satheesh Reddy told STOI. When the DRDO job came his way, he lapped it up. “It was not like any other job right from the beginning. I wanted to do something for the country,” Satheesh Reddy said. That was the reason why he stayed on in DRDO while most of his friends left the country for greener pastures. Quite of few of those who joined DRDO along with him may have left the job and gone for what they felt were better opportunities, he decided to stay and be faithful to his calling.

Satheesh Reddy has been involved in the navigation system of all the missiles developed by DRDO and the ‘Outstanding Scientist’ that he is now, has set his sights on achieving something much higher in the missile technology – all for the country’s sake.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / April 29th, 2012

Private industry’s contribution to Agni-V success huge, significant: Saraswat

Hyderabad:

Nearly 40 private industries from Hyderabad and almost 150 industries from all over the country contributed to the success of Agni-V, the long-range Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that was test-fired successfully on April 19.

Director general of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and scientific advisor to defence minister, V K Saraswat on Saturday said the role of private industries was significant in the development of the missile that put India in an exclusive club. The private industries contributed major sub-systems as required by the DRDO.

Saraswat was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ‘luminary sessions’ organised by the Aeronautical Society of India, Hyderabad branch. The Agni-V team, including Saraswat, Avinash Chander, chief controller, R&D (missiles and strategic systems) and others were felicitated on the occasion.

Even in so far as the production of the weapon systems that the DRDO develops, Saraswat said he favoured a partnership with the production agency, right from the time the product is developed by the DRDO. This, he said, facilitates better transfer of technology. “Our strong opinion is that DRDO should have an important say in who the production partner should be,” he said. In reply to a question, he said defence minister A K Antony had also felt so.

Saraswat said, several countries had shown interest in buying the Akash missile but it would not be possible to make the supplies because of the limited production facilities available in the country. Declining to name the countries which had shown such interest, he said these were countries which were friendly to India. “It is not possible to make supplies without our own requirement being met,” he said.

The DRDO chief said the ongoing missiles programmes in the country were worth Rs 40,000 crore and if other programmes also included, it could go up to Rs 80,000 crore. He described the private participation in the success of missile as “huge significance.”

The DRDO chief said the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ would be inducted into the Indian Air Force this year. He said a naval variant of the LCA was successfully test-fired on Friday. He said the first ship-fitted with Long Range Cruise Missile (LRCM) would also be rolled out in 2013-14.

In reply to a question, Saraswat dismissed the ‘Tatra’ trucks issue as an aberration’.

Explaining about the future projects, he said among the many things he visualised were a solar-powered aircraft by 2040. About Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD), he said the tracking from the mission control centre as part of defence would have to be done in real-time communication network.

For many projects to materialise, Saraswat said self reliance was important and there was a need for nearly 500 engineers to join the defence establishment for acceleration of the current projects.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / April 27th, 2012

Vesuvius India plans to open R&D centre in Vizag

Kolkata, APRIL 26:
Manufacturing firm Vesuvius India Ltd is planning to open a research and development (R&D) centre at Visakhapatnam soon.

“We are going to open an international R&D centre at Visakhapatnam in a 15-acre land,” Dr S.K. Gupta, Chairman, said at the company’s 21st Annual General Meeting here on Thursday.

According to him, the company has already made “full payment’’ for acquiring the land on a freehold basis from Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to set up the R&D facility along with its fifth plant.

ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Companies / by Ayan Pramanik / Kolkata, April 26th, 2012

Sania will focus on doubles now

What started as a quest to ensure an Olympic berth seems to have turned into a career shift for India’s Sania Mirza. The tennis player was, on Wednesday, quoted as saying that surgeries and persistent injuries had eventually taken their toll and that she would be prioritizing doubles from this year on.

“Tennis and the surgeries take a lot out of you,” she told reporters in Karachi. “I realised at the start of the year that it was impossible for me to pursue a singles and doubles career. Ever since I’ve given up on my singles career, my performance in doubles has improved.

“I even reached a career-best seventh in the world and that’s why I’ve decided to concentrate solely on doubles tennis.”

The 25-year-old, who won the most recent of her 13 WTA doubles titles in Pattaya in February this year, is currently ranked eighth in doubles. Meanwhile, she has slipped to 181 in the singles. Sania has to retain her position in the top-10 in doubles if she is to make the cut for London. According to the Olympic qualification rules, the players ranked in the top-10 at the cutoff date of June 11 will get a direct entry into the doubles draw and will have the right to choose their partner.

Her best shot

Even so, her best shot at winning an Olympic medal will come in the mixed doubles. Since it’s a spot sign event, Sania will have to retain her place in the top-10 and enter the women’s doubles to be eligible.

“The ITF will select doubles teams for direct acceptance from mixed doubles entries comprising players accepted in the singles and/or men’s/women’s doubles events,” the rulebook states.

While the Olympics are a short-term goal at the moment, injuries and a rise in doubles fortunes seem to have decided Sania’s future path for her.

source: http://www.HindustanTimes.com / Home> Sports> Tennis / by HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times / Mumbai, April 26th, 2012

‘Mangala Vadya Sammelanam’ at Lal Bahadur Stadium on May 6

Come May, citizens of Hyderabad will be treated with a gala event ‘Mangala Vadya Sammelanam’ at Lal Bahadur Stadium here.

About 3,500 artists from across the country and also from countries like Singapore, Sri Lanka and Canada will perform various ‘keerthanas’ and compositions and enthral the audience on May 6. The event is being organised by Silicon Andhra in association with the Department of Culture. The artistes will perform with instruments like ‘shehnai’, ‘Nadaswaram’, saxophone and traditional drums.

‘Nadaswaram’ accompanied by ‘Mangala Vadyalu’ holds a special place in the Indian tradition and no marriage or function is complete without the performance of these artists, but of late they are losing their patronage and artistes are left high and dry,” founder-chairman, Silicon Andhra, Anand Kuchibhotla said at a press conference here on Thursday.

Unlike classical music, the patronage for ‘mangala vadyam’ is dwindling and there is a need to revive these arts. The two-day event is being organised to give a fillip to these artistes and will address various issues faced by them, he said. The event will be inaugurated by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan along with his Tamil Nadu counterpart K. Rosaiah on May 5.

Procession

The first day will be set apart exclusively for artistes and they will participate in team wise performances and discussions. Commemorating the 604 birth anniversary of Annamacharya on May 6, artistes will takeout a procession from Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams Temple at Himayatnagar to L.B. Stadium at 6 a.m. and in the evening there will be a live performance by all artistes together at Lal Bahadur Stadium, Mr. Anand Kuchibhotla explained.

A 34,000 sq. ft. stage will be built to accommodate the artistes and anyone can attend the performance, he said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad, April 27th, 2012

Hyderabad duo attempts to scale Europe’s highest peak

FULL OF PASSION: Ali Razvi and Ranjan Sood undergo preparatory training in Hyderabad on Sunday. Photo: Nagara Gopal

Ali Razvi (40), well-known for his climbing prowess in Hyderabad, and Ranjan Sood’s (55) preparation routine is taxing

The sun continues to beat hard on their backs, even as the two try to steady their sweaty hands on the ropes and rappel down the 30-feet drop of a cliff at Ammuguda. The mountaineers know well that Hyderabad’s hot sun will not be a worry when they attempt to scale Europe’s highest peak, Mount Elbrus, at approximately 5,642 metres above sea level this June.

The mountaineers are more concerned about being in perfect physical condition before attempting the gruelling climb to Mt. Elbrus, a feat being attempted for the first time by adventurers in Hyderabad.

Ali Razvi (40), well-known for his climbing prowess in Hyderabad, and Ranjan Sood’s (55) preparation routine is taxing.

It involves a minimum of 10 kilometres of brisk walk, a 200-step steep climb at Ammuguda and fine tuning their climbing skills on the natural rock formations at various rock sites in Hyderabad. “It is not just physical fitness. We have to be mentally fit too. We are trying our best to get ready for the climb,” says Mr. Razvi, who on previous occasions has scaled the Himalayan mountain Kala Patthar twice (5,500 metres) and has led a group of mountaineers to the Everest Base Camp.

Mt. Elbrus, considered to be the highest point in Europe, is geographically the dividing line between Europe and Asia. The inactive volcano is part of the seven summits, a well-known mountaineering objective in which mountaineers dream of scaling the highest peaks in the seven continents of the world.

“It’s a challenging climb because we have to trek from 8,200 feet to 18,510 feet in thick snow. The route that we have decided on is not easy. It has lots of snow, high winds and difficulties associated with high elevation. There have been several failed attempts in the past but we are not thinking about it,” says Mr. Razvi.

CIRCUITOUS ROUTE

The route chosen for the 15-day expedition is circuitous. “We start on May 31 and fly to Moscow from Delhi and then reach an airport called Mineralnye Vody in Russia. This is 250 kilometres away from Mt. Elbrus. Here, we will join an international team of climbers and attempt the climb,” they explain.

TECHNICAL CLIMB

The mountaineers are busy fine-tuning their gears such as harness, carabiner, ropes, crampons, snow boots, ice axe etc. for the technical climb.

In addition, both are also working on the mental aspect of the climb. “We need will power for the attempt. The climb will test our endurance and, hopefully, we will be able to scale Mt. Elbrus by the middle of June,” says Ranjan Sood.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad, April 22nd, 2012

CA sets up Asia innovation centre in Hyderabad

Hyderabad :

US software and solutions company CA Technologies has set up its Asia innovation unit at its development centre here in partnership with the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H).

The centre is the company’s third innovation centre in the world after the US and Israel. It will work in areas like cloud technology, big data technology, mobile security and management.

“This will become Asian innovation centre where we come together with IIIT to create an environment to add to the technologies that support what is happening in the industry today,” Chief Executive Officer William McCracken told reporters.

IIIT-H Director Rajeev Sangal said: “We are looking forward to working with CA Technologies to help develop strategic software solutions that can address the most pressing business needs of their customers and the enterprise industry.”

Terming India as big business opportunity for the company, McCracken said the CA increased its investment in India by over 25 percent for last several years. “We will continue to do that because it is already starting to show returns. In the past year as a revenue India has grown well beyond what we have known as a corporation.”

The CA has already invested $60 million in creating the infrastructure for its operations in India. McCracken also said CA was looking for acquisition of technology companies in India.

source: http://www.TwoCircles.net / by IANS / April 24th, 2012

It’s just like home, say City Bengalis

Bengalis are not new to Hyderabad; the City of Pearls is home to the community members from the time of the Nizams.

Many have served them in high capacities such as geologists, accountants, professors in Nizam College and also many in the CID wing of the Nizam’s police force.

There are about four lakh Bengalis in Twin Cities. For most youngsters, who have not even visited Bengal, Hyderabad is their home. The old-timers from the community say “We’ve been here for at least six decades and have our business and family here. We celebrate our festivals and traditions here with a Hyderabadi flavour” said, Biswajeet Roy, a resident of Ameerpet.

Areas like Sainikpuri, Secunderabad, Ammerpert, Begumpet, Himayat Nagar, Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills have substantial chunks of Bengal population. Most of them are either into clothing business, making gold jewellery or teaching. Several are prominent scientists, industrialists and bankers.

In Hyderabad, the community is very active in social and cultural events. Every year, Durga puja is conducted in nearly 10 to 12 localities on large scale. The Hyderabad Bengali Samiti, Cyberabad Bengali Association, Bengali Cultural Association, Hyderabad Bengali Welfare Association, Krishti Goshti, Hyderabad Kalibadi and Bangiya Sanskritik Sangha are some of the associations in the City where Bengalis meet and celebrate their festivals. Uttarayan is the biggest social club of the community and organises Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations. Entertainment programmes are organised to attract both Bengalis and non-Bengalis.

“Language is not at all a barrier for us. My kids are more fluent in Telugu and Deccani Hindi than me. We are now citizens of Hyderabad and actively take part in social and political life here. The people of Hyderabad are very hospitable. We love to be called as Hyderabadi Bengali”, said Bimal Roy, member of Bangiya Sanskritik Sangha. He came to Hyderabad 45 years ago and settled here.

The community in the City has been in the forefront of national and local causes. The fund that is generated from Durga Puja or any of their cultural events is used for philanthropic activities.

The community has contributed to the Kargil relief fund and for disaster relief funds during natural calamities. The members from the various associations also visit the government hospitals and distribute fruits and blankets.

source: http://www.postnoon.com / Home> Business / by Anubha Kumari Singh / April 24th, 2012

Park Hyatt restaurants opened

HIGH PROFILE: Pinky Reddy, daughter of T. Subbarami Reddy, MP and Park Hyatt chairman, welcoming the Ambassador of France, Francois Richier, and Chinese envoy to India, Zhang Yan, at the inauguration of the restaurants at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, on Monday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

The restaurants at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, a five star deluxe hotel, were opened on Monday.

Well-known filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao was the chief guest, while Ambassador of France, Francois Richier, and Chinese envoy to India, Zhang Yan, were the guests of honour at the inaugural event of the hotel, which was opened recently. Congress MP and chairman of Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, T. Subbarami Reddy, showed the two envoys and other guests, who mostly included film personalities, around.

Investment to the tune of Rs.800 crore went into the eight-storey building which has 209 rooms, 24 suites, 42 fully serviced luxury apartments with five star facilities on the two uppermost floors.

A unique feature of all restaurants at the hotel is the interactive show kitchens. Italian restaurant Tra Forni prepares dishes from regions of Northern Italy, besides pastas.

Its extensive wine list features different wines from the central and northern wine regions of Italy.

The Dining Room offers Hyderabadi dishes and classic European favourites, while The Living Room offers freshly prepared macaroons and other French pastries, among others.

The Oriental Bar and Kitchen offers menus from Asian countries.

T.V. Sandeep Reddy, a director of Gayatri Heritage Hotels, promoters of the hotel, said that they were also planning to set up another project at Visakhapatnam.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad, April 24th, 2012