Monthly Archives: September 2013

Four Napoleon III-era coins discovered in Andhra temple

Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh  have discovered four French gold coins dating back to Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte and the last monarch of France, in a temple.

The coins, each weighing 1.5 grams, were found during digging at the Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy temple at Palakole town in West Godavari in coastal Andhra.

Department of archaeology and museums assistant director Bangaiah told IANS over phone that the coins dating back to the 18th century A.D. have images of Napoleon III.

“This is the first time that French coins have been found in Andhra Pradesh,” said Bangaiah. He pointed out that Palakole was a trading centre on the eastern coast attracting the Dutch, the French, the Portuguese and the British traders.

The official said the coins were found during the excavation work to rebuild the ‘dhwajastambham’ at the 10th century temple. The dhwajastambham or flag post of the deity had collapsed during the recent rains and the temple authorities had taken up the excavation to reinstall it.

“As per custom, the coins and other valuables of the temple are kept in a pit before erecting the dhwajastambham,” said Bangaiah.

The temple authorities gave one of the four coins to the department of archaeology and museums for displaying at the government museum in Kakinada in East Godavari district. The remaining three coins were kept in the excavated pit before starting work on rebuilding the dhwajastambham.

Three copper coins of British India were also discovered during the excavation. While two coins were of one paisa each, the third was of Re 1 denomination. The coins, from 1905, carried the image of Queen Victoria.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-IANS> Arts-Culture-Books / by IANS / Hyderabad – September 02nd, 2013

Award presented to nuclear scientist

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology
Vignan Group of Institutions Chairman L. Rathaiah (second from left) presenting ‘Vignan Sanketika Puraskar’ to Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited CMD Prabhat Kumar in Guntur on Saturday. / Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu
Vignan Group of Institutions Chairman L. Rathaiah (second from left) presenting ‘Vignan Sanketika Puraskar’ to Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited CMD Prabhat Kumar in Guntur on Saturday. / Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu

Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited Chairman & Managing Director Prabhat Kumar was presented ‘Vignan Sanketika Puraskar’ by Vignan Group of Institutions Chairman L. Rathaiah in a programme held at the university on the eve of Engineer’s Day.

On the occasion, Mr. Prabhat Kumar said a successful engineer is one who does not disturb the balance of nature and finds solutions to various problems faced by society in a harmonious way.

Students of engineering have a role model in Sir Mokshagundam Visveswaraiah who was one of the great engineers India had produced since times immemorial.

India is full of architecture marvels such as the Taj Mahal, famous temples of South India, dams and many such imposing structures. Mr. Rathaiah said budding engineers should imbibe the qualities of Sir Visveswaraiah and apply technologies to solving local problems. Vice-Chancellor M.S.C. Bose, Registrar A. Leela Mohan Rao, Director of Engineering & Technology V. Madhusudan Rao and Vignan’s Lara Institute of Technology & Science Principal S. Rukmini participated.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Guntur – September 15th, 2013

DPS to conduct discussion on media literacy

Business & Economy, Education

Coinciding with International Literacy Day, Delhi Public School, Vijayawada, will organise a panel discussion on ‘Media Literacy’ on the school campus on September 7 (Saturday).

The event will commence at 9.30 a.m. in the seminar hall of the school.

Senior journalists from the print and electronic media will discuss key components of media literacy such as media as a watchdog, watching the watchdog, media ethics, social media and career opportunities in media.

Freelance writer and ELT Consultant P. Ramanujam will moderate the discussion.

In a statement on Friday, Head of the English Department and coordinator of the event Shanthi Ramajujam said the discussion would be followed by an interaction with children from different schools.

“The objective is to disabuse the notion of medial literacy and educate children to be intelligent users of media,” she said.

Two students and one teacher from each school are invited to participate.

The students may be from classes IX–XII.

Interested schools may confirm their participation by forwarding names of the students and the teacher by email to the Faculty Coordinator (English), Email: shanthiramanujam1962@gmail.com

The last date for registration is September 3.

Further information can be sought by contacting Shanthi Ramanujam, Discussion Coordinator (mobile: 77029 29564).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> news> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – August 31st, 2013

Huge increase in cash awards for theatre performances in Andhra Pradesh

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Hyderabad :

To give a boost to theatre in the state, the state government has increased the amount of cash prizes for performances in various categories. The enhancement was effected after the Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation made the recommendation. Following the recommendation, cash prizes have been enhanced in respect of padya natakams, social plays, social playlets, and children’s social playlets.

The increase in cash prizes is considerable as a GO released by the general administration department on August 30 shows.

For padya natakams productions, the cash prizes for first best performance has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000, second best from Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 and third best from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. There has been a considerable increase even in the individual awards. The best director award cash prize has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, first best play writer from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, second best play writer from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, the Bellari Raghava ward for best actor from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, best leading actress from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, best music from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. Cash prizes for the rest of the awards in the category have been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.

For social plays productions, the cash prize for first best performance has been increased from Rs 40,000 to Rs 70,000, the second from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 and the third from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. In the individual awards in the category, the best director’s cash prize has been increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, the first best play writer from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 and the second best play writer from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. The best leading actor and best leading actress cash prize has been enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. For the rest of the awards, the enhancement is from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.

The enhancement will be applicable for the Nandi Natakotsavam 2013 which will be held in January/February 2014.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Ch. Sushil Rao , TNN / August 31st, 2013

Tallest Ganesh has Facebook a/c, email id

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
People having a look at the 59-foot Ganesh idol which is being erected at Khairatabad in the city on Saturday. —DC
People having a look at the 59-foot Ganesh idol which is being erected at Khairatabad in the city on Saturday. —DC

Hyderabad: 

The mammoth 59-foot Khairatabad Vinayakudu, built by more than 125 workers from all over India, will be open for public viewing from September 5 onwards, however darshans will begin only on September 9 (Monday).

According to the organisers, to the right of the Khairatabad Ganesha, a 20- feet Sri Rama Pattabhishekam idol is being installed and towards the left, Bhuwaneshwari Matha along with Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Rudrudu, Lakshi and Saraswathi idol are being stationed.

M. Sudarshan, founder and chairman of the Khairatabad Utsava Samiti said, the theme adopted this year is Gonaga Chathurmukha Vinayakudu. Devotees will see two cows on both sides of lord Ganesh with five snakes and four faces of the god.

The huge idol that took nearly 50 days to complete, costs Rs 40 lakh. The plastering work is almost complete and painting will start soon. The idol will be ready by September 3.

About 10 CCTV cameras and additional door frame metal detectors will be installed during the 11-day festivities, the committee has also requested for women security guards.
This year, the committee has created a Facebook account of the idol.

“People living abroad can mail us at ganepathideva@gmail.com and send in their prayer requests, following which pujas will be conducted,” said Raj Kumar, committee member.
The Utsava Samiti is conducting its 59th Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / September 01st, 2013

GVK scion’s start-up takes to social enterprise

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

The Indian, an e-commerce start-up co-promoted by G.V. Keshav Reddy, grandson of industrialist G.V.K. Reddy, seeks to make a difference, though in a small way.

Its slogan speaks of its simple concept –“One for you, one for me.”

The concept seems rather simple. You buy a polo shirt at a flat rate of Rs 999, including handling charges and door delivery. Automatically, the company donates another shirt to the needy. Toms Shoes does a similar thing with shoes. Keshav Reddy, who is pursuing his studies at University of Michigan, has launched the initiative with his friend Ishaan Dodhiwala. The polo shirts are procured from a manufacturer in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. The logo is a peacock, the national bird. The shirts will be stored at a warehouse in Hyderabad and dispatched to buyers through a tie-up with express logistics company Gati Ltd.

“The company is in the process of building a team to support its business and we expect to expand the product range as we go along building on The Indian brand,” Keshav Reddy told Business Line.

“We have invested few lakhs in the venture and do not have any major targets. We will slowly and surely grow the business and add other products to the portfolio,” he said.

As Keshav returns to the US to pursue his studies, Ishaan, who comes from a family engaged in textiles, will handle the operations in India.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / by  V. Rishi Kumar  rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in / Hyderabad – August 31st, 2013

Oberoi Group opens Trident, Hyderabad

Business & Economy

Hyderabad :

The Oberoi Group has opened Trident, Hyderabad. Located in the information technology hub, Hitec City, the hotel has an elegant and contemporary design and offers business and leisure facilities.

P.R.S Oberoi, Executive Chairman of The Oberoi Group, in a statement said: “Over the years we have added hotels at various locations in India and overseas which have become industry benchmarks. Hyderabad has emerged as a significant business destination and Trident, Hyderabad has been created with the discerning business traveller in mind.  This hotel is a testimony of our vision for the ‘Trident’ brand and its standards of excellence.”

Sharad Puri, General Manager, Trident, Hyderabad said, “With the opening of Trident, Hyderabad we want to offer discerning business and leisure travellers an oasis of tranquillity with service which is warm, caring and personalised.”

The hotel has 323 guest rooms and suites which are the largest in Hyderabad. It offers extensive conference and banquet facilities.

The dining options at Trident, Hyderabad include Amara, an all-day dining restaurant offering the best of world cuisine, Kanak, the Indian restaurant which serves the finest in Indian cuisine with a strong regional influence from Hyderabad, and Tuscany is the Italian restaurant with a relaxed ambience. This restaurant offers a display kitchen with a wood fired pizza oven and a wine tasting room offering a selection of fine wines.

Ninety Six serves a selection of spirits, wines and cocktails. Leisure facilities include the Trident Spa, a yoga room and a fully equipped fitness centre. The reflective swimming pool with an infinity edge is a unique feature of the hotel.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / by V. Rishi Kumar  rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in / Hyderabad – September 02nd, 2013

Centennial of first ‘Andhra Conference’ opened

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi releasing the Special Postal Cover in Bapatla on Friday /. Photo: T. Vijayakumar / The Hindu
Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi releasing the Special Postal Cover in Bapatla on Friday /. Photo: T. Vijayakumar / The Hindu

Panabaka Lakshmi releases a Special Postal Cover marking the historic event

The centenary celebrations of first Andhra Conference (`Pradhama Andhra Mahasabha’ began at the historic Town Hall here on Friday. Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi inaugurated the event by hoisting a flag and released a Special Postal Cover worth Rs 5.

Rich tributes were paid to B. Narasimheswara Sarma, a member of the Imperial Legislative Council who presided over the Conference, and stalwarts like Bhogaraju Pattabhi Seetaramaiah, Pingali Venkaiah, Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao, Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham Pantulu, Konda Venkatappaiah and Mutnuri Krishna Rao.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Lakshmi said the town was privileged to host the first Andhra Conference on May 26, 1913.

The movement for separate State for the Telugu speaking people had its seeds sown in this conference and the dream was ultimately realized due to the sacrifices made by some great men and women.

Ms. Lakshmi said a concerted effort has to be made to protect the native culture and traditions which earned global acclaim and observed that the Conference had given impetus to the growth of Telugu into a classical language.

MLA Gade Venkata Reddy said the distinct identity that the first `Andhra Conference had earned for Telugu people and their language should be preserved by them and wanted them to stay united wherever they are.

Collector S. Suresh Kumar, Director of Postal Services (Vijayawada) M. Venkateswarulu, RDO S. Srinivasa Murthy, Centenary Celebrations Committee Convener P C Sai Babu and Co-Convener K. Venkateswara Reddy and others participated.

Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah will be participating as the chief guest in the program to be held at the Municipal High School ground on May 26.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Bapatla – May 25th, 2013

Hyderabad Hotshots clinch inaugural IBL crown

Records, All, Sports

Saina Nehwal -led Hyderabad Hotshots crowned themselves as the champions of the inaugural Indian Badminton League when they downed Awadhe Warriors 3-1 in the finals at the NSCI Stadium here today.

Indian shuttle queen Saina brought the Hotshots on level terms by trouncing her young challenger P V Sindhu in straight games (21-15, 21-7) in 35 minutes after K Srikanth gave the Warriors an unexpected 1-0 lead by stunning top-20 rival S Tanongsak in straight games, 21-12, 21-20.

Hotshots surged ahead again after Saina’s thumping win when their top Malaysian men’s doubles team of Goh V Shem and Wah Lim Khim got the better of the scratch Danish-Indonesian pair of Mathias Boe and Markis Kido in three games 21-14 13-21 11-4.

Later Ajay Jayaram did the star turn for the Hotshots with a wonderful turnaround when he got past R M V Gurusaidutt after dropping the first game.

Jayaram, ranked 24th in the world, beat 20th ranked Guru 10-21, 21-17, 11-7 in 52 minutes to help the Hotshots win the top prize of Rs 3.5 crore. Warriors took home Rs 1.75 crore.

Srikanth shocked his Thai rival Tanongsak, ranked 19 places above him in the world, by his aggression to chalk up an impressive 21-12, 21-20 win in 38 minutes to put the Warriors 1-0 ahead.

However, any hopes of Sindhu making it a commanding 2-0 lead for the Lucknow-based Warriors vanished into thin air when she was overpowered by her more experienced rival in the eagerly awaited battle between India’s top two woman shuttlers.

Saina, who had beaten the taller Sindhu when the two met earlier on August 15 in the league stage of the event, smashed and dropped her way with impunity to win the one-sided contest 21-15, 21-7 in only 35 minutes and helped the Hotshots square the contest 1-1.

The Warriors hen looked all set to equalize the rubber for the second time during the clash when R M V Gurusaidutt overcame an error prone Ajay Jayaram of Hotshots, in the opening game.

But Jayaram, who trailed his rival 4-7 in the second game too, made a splendid fightback from 10-14 in the second and caught up at 17 with a drop.

Jayaram then went ahead and then rattled off three more points to clinch the game with a jump smash. In the third, Jayaram surged ahead from 5-all by stepping up his game a notch to clinch the decider. He smashed well when in sight of victory and took the last point with a drop shot.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National / by Press Trust of India  / Mumbai – September 01st, 2013

Prasad Babu, AP Cop Selected For Ashok Chakra Posthumously

Leaders, Records, All

Andhra Pradesh Greyhounds inspector KLVSSNV Prasad Babu was named for the highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, posthumously on 15 August 2013.

It is the first time in Andhra Pradesh police and Greyhounds history that an officer was chosen for this award. Greyhounds is an elite commando force of Andhra Pradesh created to combat left-wing extremists.

Prasad Babu, 33, who was a native of Marturu village in Visakhapatnam district, was killed by Maoists in the forests of Chhattisgarh in April, 2013. Prasad had joined the police department as a sub-inspector in 2004 and was subsequently promoted as an inspector. His father Karanam Venkataramaiah is a retired constable.

Prasad Babu had played a crucial role in gunning down 10 Maoists in the encounter in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh in April 2013.

About Ashok Chakra

The Ashok Chakra is awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.

Gallantary Awards

The Ashoka Chakra series of gallantry awards are amongst the highest gallantry awards of the country. These awards are given in three categories viz. Ashoka Chakra (awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or preeminent valour of self service), Kirti Chakra (awarded for conspicuous gallantry) and Shaurya Chakra (awarded for gallantry).

The awards are announced by the Government of India on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day every year.

Besides the Defence personnel, civilian citizens of either sex in all walks of life, and members of Police Forces, Central Para military Forces and Railway Protection Force are also eligible for these awards.

source: http://www.jagranjosh.com / Jagran Josh / Home> English> News> Current Affiairs / August 15th, 2013