Monthly Archives: September 2015

Glowing tributes paid to Gurram Joshua

Glowing tributes were paid to noted poet Gurram Joshua on his 120th birth anniversary here on Monday.

Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti founder President Manda Krishna Madiga, Prakasam district Collector Sujatha Sharma, Dalita Hakulu Parirakshana Samiti district president N. Nagendra Rao and Gundalakamma Rachayathula Sangham president Sriramsgar Kavacaham were among those who garlanded the statue of Joshua, a noted scholar both in Telugu and Sanskrit, at the Prakasam Bhavan here.

At a commemoration meeting, people from different walks of life recalled the contributions of the poet for the uplift of downtrodden sections of people.

Gurram Joshua’s writings were an emotional outpouring of a person who had experienced poverty and caste discrimination, Krishna Madiga said.

Political power

Extolling Joshua as a ‘king of dalit literature,’ the MRPS leader exhorted one and all to follow his footsteps to ameliorate the living condition of Dalits and unite them in achieving political power.

His works, including Gabbilam (A Bat), Firadausi (A Rebel), and Kandiseekudu (A Refugee), would be remembered forever, said Sriramsagar Kavacham.

The verses of Joshua in the popular play Harischandra were recalled on the occasion with the particular reference to heart-rending cremation ground scene.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Ongole – September 26th, 2015

JNTUK faculty achieves fourth patent for microbes

Assistant Professor and Head of the School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada, Ramesh Malothu, has achieved fourth patent and the Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC) microbial culture deposition on ‘Mutant Aspartate Kinase Gene from Coryne Bacterium Species and its application for production of L-Lysine.’

“It is all about the mutations in coryne bacterium species has made specific change in Aspartate Kinase (AK) gene.

Due to the change in the AK gene, the expression levels of L-Lysine are enhanced. L-Lysine is an amino acid which is essential for both human and animals, but it is not supplied to the body in required quantities,” Dr. Ramesh said on Tuesday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Kakinada – September 30th, 2015

First ‘Teloogoo’ translation of Bible happened in Vizagapatam

A view of the inside cover page of the New Testament that was first translated and printed in Telugu in 1818.—Photo: Special Arrangement
A view of the inside cover page of the New Testament that was first translated and printed in Telugu in 1818.—Photo: Special Arrangement

The world celebrates September 30 as the International Translation Day to commemorate the feast of St. Jerome, who was the first to translate the Bible from Hebrew to Latin.

Coming to translation, Vizagapatam (Visakhapatnam as then called by the British) has a page in the history of this crafty art.

It is in this once sleepy fishing town that the Greek version of the New Testament of Bible was first translated into ‘Teloogoo’ (Telugu, as then spelt by the Englishmen) in the early part of the 19th century.

History records that Rev. Benjamin Schulz was the first to translate parts of the Bible into the native Telugu language in the early part of the 18th century, and the manuscripts were sent to Halle in Germany for printing.

It is unclear as to what had happened to the manuscripts, but they were not printed.

Later, in 1805, two missionaries from the London Missionary Society, George Cran and Augustus de Granges, landed in Vizagapatam, with the task of providing English education to native children and to reproduce the Bible in the native tongue.

They first started a school within a fortnight of their arrival. Their subsequent efforts resulted in starting of an Anglo Vernacular School in 1836, which is still in existence by the name CBM High School.

For accomplishing the second goal, the missionaries took up learning Telugu and in two years mastered the language.

But it was in 1808 that a Maratha Brahmin by name Subba Rayer, who worked as accountant in Tippu Sultan’s army, joined them.

Subba Rayer, a native of Tranquebar (now called Tarangambadi in Tamil Nadu), converted to Christianity and changed his name to Anand Rayer.

An exponent in Telugu and Tamil, Anand Rayer moved to Vizagapatam to assist the missionaries.

In 1808, George Cran passed away and in 1810 Augustus de Granges too died.

But Anand Rayer did not lose hope. By that time, three gospels, namely Matthew, Mark, and Luke, had been completed and were ready for printing.

He took the manuscripts to William Carey at Seerampore in Bengal, who had by then translated the Bible into Bengali.

Though it was only part of the New Testament, the first-ever printed version of the Bible in Telugu was printed in 1812.

Later, Anand Rayer was joined by Rev. Edward Pritchett in Vizagapatam in 1812, and both took up translating the full version of the New Testament. And the first full print of the New Testament in Telugu came out in 1818. The full version was printed in Madras.

According to Mr. Edward Paul of INTACH, who researched on this subject, only three original copies of the first printed Telugu Bible are available now. While one is in the British Library in London, the other two are in United Theological College, Bengaluru, and with a seller of old books in the U.S.

Basing on the contribution made by Anand Rayer, the Bell at London Mission Memorial Church in Visakhapatnam is named after him as ‘Ananda Sunadam’

George Cran and Augustus de Granges paired up with Anand Rayer to translate a part of the New Testament. It was printed in 1812. Later, Anand Rayer teamed up with Rev. Edward Pritchett and printed the full version in 1818

Acknowledging the contribution made by Anand Rayer, the Bell at London Mission Memorial Church in Visakhapatnam is named after him as ‘Ananda Sunadam’

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Sumit Bhattacharjee / September 30th, 2015

VPT handles fully laden Panamax vessel

Andhra Pradesh ranks first in value terms in port projects that are in under construction in public-private partnership mode as of April 30.
Andhra Pradesh ranks first in value terms in port projects that are in under construction in public-private partnership mode as of April 30.

Visakhapatnam  :

The VPT on Monday handled its first ever gearless Panamax vessel MV Navios Centaurus carrying 74,1000 MT petroleum coke for Andhra Cements and Ambuja Cements.

The vessel, with a length of 229 metres and draft of 14 metres, was berthed in the inner harbour at EQ-8 of Vizag Seaport Private Limited.

Terming the berthing of the fully laden Panamax vessel in the inner harbour as a milestone, VPT chairman MT Krishna Babu said users will benefit immensely by way of substantial freight savings on account of reduced waiting time and improved turnaround time.

With VPT taking up dredging work from May 2013 at a cost of Rs 250 crore, the depth of the inner harbour is now around 16 metres, enabling it to handle fully laden Panamax vessels. tnn

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / September 29th, 2015

South Indian Classical Dance Festival Begins

Eluru :

The South Indian Classical Dance Festival began in the city on Saturday under the aegis of Southern Cultural Centre (Tanjavore), cultural councils of Central and state governments, and Young Men’s Hindu Association (YMHA).

Andhra Pradesh Assembly speaker K Siva Prasada Rao lit the lamp and inaugurated the festival. He emphasised upon the need to encourage the classical art forms in the state and pointed out that Tamil Nadu encourages art forms in a big way. He assured to set up Government Music and Dance College in the city with the help of public representatives.

Southern Region Cultural Centre director EN Sajith, city mayor Sheikh Noorjahan, YMHA Trust Board general secretary KV Satyanarayana and working committee president Ch Gopi also participated.  Later the speaker felicitated the dance artists.

On the occasion, the Aiswarya Warrior team of Baroda performed Mohiniyttam (‘Shakti’ dance play let), while Kuchipudi artiste Amaranth Ghosh from Chennai performed ‘Jayadeva Ashtapadi’ and ‘Shivasthakam’.  The Ghosh team also performed ‘Ganapathi Kowtham’, ‘Govardhan Giridhari’ and ‘Marakata Manimaya’, which enthralled the audience.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by  Express News Service / September 27th, 2015

Grass with biosensor properties!

Galla Chandrasekhar shows the reaction of the ‘Pandimullu’ grass to water and heat.—Photo: A.D. Rangarajan
Galla Chandrasekhar shows the reaction of the ‘Pandimullu’ grass to water and heat.—Photo: A.D. Rangarajan

It looks like a common grass variety, but its reaction to different stimuli has attracted the attention of scientists at the Sri Venkateswara University (SVU).

‘Pandimullu’ (Aristida paniculata) is a bristled grass akin to what is used in household broomsticks. When dipped in water, it rotates 360 degrees clockwise. When exposed to heat, it rotates anti-clockwise.

It also responds similarly when exposed to blood, urine, acid, base and petrol. While the touch-me-not plant ( Mimosa pudica ) and sunflower also have sensory properties, this grass retains its sensory properties up to two years after it is plucked.

The discovery was made not by an acclaimed biologist, but by a hobby botanist, Galla Chandrasekhar of Karakollu village in Thottambedu mandal of Chittoor district. He and his band of friends — B. Chiranjeevulu Naidu, D. Bathi Naidu, G.Bhaskar, B. Murali, P. Venkateswarlu, P.Sivaiah and G.Sridhar – fancy themselves as ‘rural scientists’ who explore the woods around Tirupati for plant species and new applications of known plants.

Chandrasekhar is a post-graduate in philosophy, but retains an interest in science. His study on ‘Herbal preparation for controlling nematode and other pests’ fetched him an award from the National Innovation Foundation, which he received from NIF chairman R.A. Mashelkar at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2013.

When tested with high-tech gadgets in the SVU labs, the grass displayed peculiar properties. “It acts as a biosensor that can gauge changes in temperature and the acidic/basic nature of solvents. While other plants move in a single direction, its multidirectional movement can be put to use,” says Prof D.V.R. Saigopal of the DST-PURSE (Department of Science and Technology – Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence) centre at SVU.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D.Rangarajan / Tirupati – September 27th, 2015

The Mussoorie of Vizag!

The tourism potential of the picturesque locales of the Eastern Ghats en route Araku in Visakhapatnam district are all set to be tapped. —Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam
The tourism potential of the picturesque locales of the Eastern Ghats en route Araku in Visakhapatnam district are all set to be tapped. —Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Modakondamma site in the Agency is among the projects cleared for development of tourism in district.

With the likely addition of several new places, most of them tucked away in the interior Agency area, the tourism scene in the district got a thrust this year ahead of the World Tourism Day.

At Lambasingi

Announcing the programmes lined up, VUDA Vice-Chairman and Regional Tourism Commissioner T. Baburao Naidu said that among the projects cleared were Modakondamma Padalu that would be improved at a cost of Rs.6 crore and cottages at Lambasingi, which records near zero temperature, at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.

“The Modakondamma site would enable a clear sight up to tens of kilometres and one can have a feel of the clouds like in Mussoorie,” Mr. Baburao Naidu said.

He said several local places had been identified.

The district got Rs.2 crore for improvement of facilities in various places often visited by tourists, including beaches.

Drinking water, benches etc will be provided at these places.

Events lined up

To mark the World Tourism Day on September 27, a photo exhibition would be organised for three days from Friday at Visakha Museum.

The three-day tourism fair that opens at Ramakrishna Beach on Friday would have food stalls offering traditional items too that were good for health, Mr. Naidu said.

Painting contest

A painting competition would be organised for children at Yatri Nivas and Appu Ghar in the morning.

The three-day festival would conclude with tourism walk on Sunday morning and cultural programmes in the evening.

Discount

AP Tourism guest houses would offer a 20 per cent discount in tariff for accommodation. Private operators would also be asked to do so, APTDC General Manager Bhimasankaram said.

A proposal has been sent to the State government to allow the discount on tourism packages also, Mr. Bhimasankaram said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – September 25th, 2015