Monthly Archives: January 2015

Betting on Cockfights Set to Cross Rs.800 Cr

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports

Vijayawada :

Winning big, losing big: That was the essence of cockfights held across the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day Sankranti festival.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani (left) and Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao take part in a cockfight at Gayatri Nagar in Vijayawada on Wednesday. | Express Photo
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani (left) and Vijayawada Central MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao take part in a cockfight at Gayatri Nagar in Vijayawada on Wednesday. | Express Photo

Money running into nearly Rs.800-1,000 crore is being pumped into cockfights which went on with no holds barred on the first day despite the Supreme Court order on maintenance of status quo. As the apex court order is being interpreted in either way, police too played safe, allowing the blood sport.

In Vijayawada, women gathered at Gayatri Nagar and took part in the revelry as the cocks fought. It is the first time that cockfighting took place in the city in known times. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) and MLAs Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and Gadde Ramamohan Rao and ZP chairperson Gadde Anuradha turned up at the venue.

The organisers claimed that no betting was involved and that the cocks had no razors tied to their legs.

At Vuyyur, close to the main road, tents were pitched and cockfights were organised without a care in the world. There was huge rush to watch the contests so much so that the organisers had to deploy private security guards to clear traffic.

At Gannavaram, there was a minor clash between two groups over organising cockfights. In a fit of rage, one group set fire to a car belonging to a member of the other group, which led to tension.

Under pressure from politicos, policemen looked the other way as cockfights are organised at several places in the coastal districts. As the Supreme Court order is being interpreted both ways, police did not act. They confined themselves to videotaping the contests so that if necessary they could take action at a later date.

In West Godavari, cockfight organisers formed into a syndicate this time and held the fights in the mandals of Bhimavaram, Eluru Rural, Pedavegi, Pedapadu, Denduluru, Undi, Yelamanchili, Narsapuram, Tanuku, Akiveedu, Palakoderu, Jangareddygudem, Kovvur, Nidadavolu and TP Gudem.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / January 15th, 2015

Forts reflect rich cultural heritage

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
A view of fort in Parlakhemundi, adjacent to Patapatnam of Srikakulam district.—Photo: K. Srinivasa Rao
A view of fort in Parlakhemundi, adjacent to Patapatnam of Srikakulam district.—Photo: K. Srinivasa Rao

Historic structures are in a dilapidated condition in Kalinga region

Kalinga region spreading over north Andhra region, and parts of Odisha, may be backward economically but rich in heritage and culture. Forts in several places such as Mandasa, Tekkali, Itchapuram, Parlakhemundi, Vizianagaram and Bobbili have become major tourist attractions. They reflect the history of the region which has witnessed many battles, conquers and treaties. Majority of the forts were built between 1700 and 1850 AD and many of them are in a dilapidated condition due to lack of proper maintenance.

According to experts, three major methods were used for the construction of forts in Kalinga region. The first consisted of earthen ramparts. Often they were constructed of the sand which was dug out of the ditch surrounding the fort. Mandasa Raja Damodara Champat Dev constructed the fort in 1710 and it still catches the attention of every one. Gajapati Kings of Eastern Ganga Dynasty built the wonderful fort in Parlakhemundi, which is adjacent town of Patapatnam, Srikakulam district.

Tekkali Zamindar Ramakrishna Jaggadev and his Diwan Venkatapati Naidu ruled the region by staying in the Haveli which was constructed between 1750 and 60. Vizianagaram district also has fabulous places, architectural wonders and forts. Vizianagaram Fort is relatively well maintained as PVG Raju’s family converted it into an educational hub by establishing women’s college and B.Ed. college. The ancient fort in Bobbili has witnessed historic battle between Rajas of Bobbili and Vizianagaram. The fierce war has established the town as a land of heroism, bravery and courage.

Many small forts in Itchapuram, Palakonda and other places are in a dilapidated condition. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage convener of Srikakulam Dusi Dharma Rao said the protection of old forts was need of the hour since they were the cultural properties for next generations.

“Majority of the forts are in the hands of respective Raja families. But many of them are not in a position to renovate them by spending lakhs of rupees. We will write to the INTACH higher-ups for financial assistance so that they can be maintained at par with structures of Rajasthan and other States.”

Srikakulam District Tourism Officer N. Narayana Rao said that the department was giving wide publicity for those forts to attract more number of visitors.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by K. Srinivasa Rao / Srikakulam – January 13th, 2015

Andhra man who wowed Tamil Nadu

Records, All, Sports

Arikapudi Ramana Rao is a rarity in Indian volleyball.

Not only did he excel for his native state (Andhra Pradesh), Rao also shone in Tamil Nadu, his `second home’.Rao carved a niche for himself as a coach too, becoming in 1986 an FIVB (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) instructor, the first Indian to do so.

It is no surprise then that Rao, the national team’s head coach during the Asian volleyball championships in Perth, Australia, in 1991, is among the chosen few to have won both the Arjuna award (in 1977-78) and the prestigious Dronacharya award (in 1990-91).

Born in Chamallapudi village near Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, volleyball caught Rao’s attention relatively late, at college.”While studying at Hindu College in Guntur, I used to play both basketball and volleyball regularly since both courts were side-by-side,” recalls Rao.He did well for the college in both disciplines. “There came a point when I had to choose between the two, and I went with volleyball,” says Rao. It was a master-stroke because soon after his graduation, Rao got an offer to join the Southern Central Railway (SCR) team in Hyderabad. “At SCR, I had an opportunity to play in various nationallevel tournaments which gave me the exposure. Soon, I featured in the Indian team which was a huge high,” he says.

In 1970, Rao shifted base to the erstwhile Madras, courtesy an offer from State Bank of India (SBI) “They (SBI) had to wait for about six months before I joined, since Railways were reluctant to relieve me. I had to report on April 30, 1970, and I got my relieving order only a day prior to that,” says Rao. But that didn’t affect Rao’s performance and he soon made his mark with his new employers in his new home. “SBI had a great side, and most of the members were part of the state side.”

He may have been a part of numerous victorious squads throughout his glittering career, but winning the maiden national title for his adopted state remains close to Rao’s heart. “The 1975-76 nationals in Trichy where we won the title were special. We were two sets down in the final, and the crowd, which had gathered in large numbers, left the stadium disappointed. By the time we pulled things back, there were very few left to cheer us,” says Rao.

However, many fans came to congratulate Rao the next day after learning about Tamil Nadu’s spec t a c u l a r w i n through the newspapers. “Be it during a practice session or during a game -we were always cheered by the spectators in Madras.

If not for the crowd, I don’t think there will be volleyball or the players,” he says.

It is thanks to the efforts of the likes of Rao and G E Sridharan, another stalwart from the state that Tamil Nadu remains a force to reckon with in volleyball in the country .

(A weekly column on famous sport spersons whose first playing field was Chennai and its neighbourhood)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Prasad RS, TNN / January 10th, 2014

Catholics Contributed a Lot to Country, Says Sangma

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya greets former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma during the celebration of 300 years of Catholic Faith in AP and Telangana at a function held in Hyderabad on Sunday | NEERAJ MURALI
Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya greets former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma during the celebration of 300 years of Catholic Faith in AP and Telangana at a function held in Hyderabad on Sunday | NEERAJ MURALI

Hyderabad :

Although the Catholic community in the country is in a minority, it has contributed enormously to the development of the nation on all fronts, former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma has said.

To commemorate the 300 years of Catholic faith in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, a grand ceremony was organised by Catholic Reddy Association (CRA) at Loyola Academy here on Sunday. It was in 1715 that the Telugu Catholic faith had begun when Thumma Hanumantha Reddy of Anantapur was baptised by French Jesuit Fr Le Gac. Addressing a large gathering of Catholics, Sangma said the educational institutions run by the community had produced some of the greatest minds in the country in all fields. “Be it politics, industry or bureaucracy, the people who matter the most to this country are proud products of Catholic educational institutions,” he remarked referring to some top names including BJP leader LK Advani.

He requested the central and state governments to accord minority status to all Catholics and Christians in the country. To take up the issues of community in Parliament, he said, the Christian MPs Forum in Delhi would be revived.

Union minister of state for labour and employment Bandaru Dattareya he would strive to protect minority communities as per the constitutional rights provided to them. “Only when there is harmony between peoples of different faiths can the country surge ahead with development. Each community representing a faith should respect and protect other faiths,” he said.

CRA president Gopu Bala Reddy said the Catholic community believed in service and not in conversion. He sought both AP and Telangana governments to extend SC status to Dalit Christians and Muslims besides providing space for burial grounds and extending old-age pension scheme to Catholic fathers and nuns.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / January 12th, 2015

Old is gold at book exhibition

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Visitors browse through books at the Vijayawada Book Festival in the city on Saturday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar
Visitors browse through books at the Vijayawada Book Festival in the city on Saturday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Used and low-priced editions of literature, fiction, philosophy and history etc. are in high demand at stalls

‘Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read,’ says Athenaeus. True to it, old books do have patronage at the ongoing Vijayawada Book Festival. One can find people frantically trying to find a pearl of great price within the piles of old books that are stacked at the festival.

English books from literature to philosophy, management to medicine and general books are available at stalls like Padam Book Stall, M.R. Books, and Pratik Books.

“It is not just price, but the rare collection and out-of-print ones that drag the people to old book stores,” explains Dhanunjay Pandey of Pratik Books (stall No. 337).

People who visit these stalls are diverse, students, professionals and reading enthusiasts are just some of those who buy books. Used and low-priced editions of literature, fiction, philosophy and history etc. are in high demand at these stalls.

“People still love to buy old books. They don’t overlook the old ones even at the book fairs like this,” says Md. Latif of M.R. Books.

Good collection

Used books, second-hand books or old books whatever be the epithet, the sellers have good collection, opines Kiranmayi, an engineering student.

The books may be soiled and do not have scent of fresh book, but they still carry value and are worth reading. The books come at throwaway prices, she points out.

An original hardcover of some of these books can cost around Rs.1,000 at a normal bookstore but the used books are sold for just Rs.100 to Rs.400, she adds.

Used books need not essentially have dog-eared pages, cracked spines and scratched covers. The collections are so eclectic that book lovers are seen lost browsing through the pages of old books neatly exhibited.

The seller-speak for novels, memoirs, whodunits, quiz books, classics, encyclopaedias, coffee-table books, pulp fiction, foreign magazines and sometimes, rare first editions.

“For book lovers, it’s an opportunity to discover new books and browse through used books. One can spy out many books that are out of print,” says S. Tejaswi, a resident of Krishnalanka.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by G.V.R. Subba Rao / Vijayawada – January 04th, 2014

Andhra Natyam by Kala Krishna today

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Andhra Natyam performance by Kala Krishna and troupe, Kuchipudi dance ballet by Pasumarthi Ramalinga Sastry and troupe and fusion music concert by Raghu Koushi and troupe are the events to be performed on the main dais of ‘Kakinada Beach Festival’ to be held at Vakalapudi beach on the city outskirts from January 10.

On the first day, Mr. Kala Krishna, a disciple of the late Nataraja Ramakrishna will perform ‘Andhra Natyam,’ a dance form that was born in East Godavari district centuries ago.

Fusion music concert

On the second day, Mr. Ramalinga Sastry, dean, Kuchipudi dance in Hyderabad Central University, will perform Kuchipudi dance ballet along with his troupe, while the fusion music concert will mark the valedictory of the festival on January 12. Along with these programmes, folk arts will be performed by the hereditary artistes in the beach and several competitions will be conducted for women and the youth. Arrangements are in place for conducting a fashion show on the sidelines of the festival.

Competitions will be conducted in sports and quiz events.

Further details can be had from phone numbers 95507-29892 and 94411-08150.

The last date for registrations is January 10.

Prizes will be presented to the winners and certificates will be presented to all the participants.

‘Kakinada Beach Festival’ will be held at Vakalapudi beach on outskirts of Kakinada from January 10 to 12

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Kakinada – January 10th, 2014

Ravva JV donates Rs. 2 cr. as part of CSR

Business & Economy, Inspiration /Positive News and Features

Cairn India Ravva JV has contributed Rs. 2 crore to the East Godavari district administration for undertaking development works in S.Yanam and Uppalaguptham mandals as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Ravva Installation Manager K. Srihariprasad Reddy handed over the cheque for the amount to Joint Collector R. Mutyala Raju at his office on Friday. Cairn India operates the Ravva Oil & Gas field on behalf of a Ravva Joint Venture consisting of ONGC, Videocon Industries Ltd, Ravva Oil Singapore and Cairn India. Since inception, Ravva JV has been actively supporting the community infra-structure development and disaster management initiatives by the district administration.

Mr. Srihariprasad Reddy said that Ravva JV had been extending financial aid to the development fund maintained with the Collector.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Corrrespondent / Rajahmundry – January 10th, 2014