Monthly Archives: March 2016
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Orthopaedician wins Dhanvantari medal
He presents a paper on procedure to extend tibia bone in treating hip arthritis during APOSA meet
Guntur-based Post Graduate in Orthopaedics, Harshavardhan Surat has won the coveted Dhanavantari Medal, for an innovation in hip surgery replacing the expensive procedure of hip replacement.
Dr. Harshavardhan won the medal at the recently held state conference of Andhra Pradesh Orthopaedic Surgeons Association for his paper presentation on a procedure to extend the tibia bone in treating hip arthritis. “For those suffering from hip arthritis, the usual procedure is to treat it with ‘Milch Batchelor Osteotomy’ in which there is incision of hip joint resulting in shortening of the leg on which surgery is performed. People opt for expensive hip replacement surgery but by extending the tibia bone the operational cost could be saved,” said Dr. Harshavardhan.
He further said that hip replacement surgery would make it difficult for patients to squat and do other works usually in rural households. By winning the medal, Dr. Harshavardhan has emulated his father and noted Orthopedic surgeon Amaranath Surat, who had the medal in 1984 for his paper on ‘Compartment Syndrome.’
Best Poster Award
A case study by a team of Orthopaedic surgeons S. Amarnath, K.R.V. Karthik and S. Harshvardhan on a rare condition, ‘Total tarsal coalition’ won the award for Best Poster Award in the conference.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Gunturu – March 11th, 2016
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Jodugullapalem a settlement named after twin temples
Visakhapatnam:
Jodugullapalem, a tiny settlement nestled between the Kailasagiri and Seethakonda hills right on the beach, has a vast majority of people belonging to the Vada Balaji community who eke out a living by fishing and building boats. They mainly worship Gangamma Thalli.
The twin shrines of Gangamma Thalli and Koth Ammavaru Thalli were built in 1925 when a group of families migrated from Old Jalaripeta to build a new settlement and named it after the shrines.
S Bhimeswara Rao, the priest of the temple complex, said, “There is also a third shrine that was built to accommodate the Bhulokamatha. The three shrines represent ‘Shakthi’ in a complete and wholesome form. However, this shrine is now in a dilapidated condition.” According to the priest, the temple complex was modernised from 1985 onwards and the Jatara was also revived in the same year. “The Jatara or annual fest was revived after a long hiatus and is held in a grand manner every January,” he added.
Devotees visit the shrine during the Magha Maasa and seek the blessings of the Mother Goddess after taking a holy dip in the sea. There are a number of other shrines in the complex dedicated to the Mother Goddess in various forms. Another unique feature about the temple is that this complex does not have a Brahmin priest.
Rao pointed out, “We have been the priests of this complex right from the beginning. However, we have been trained in the basic scriptures by Brahmin priests who taught us the basic mantras and rituals that need to be conducted. I was trained by a Brahmin scholar from Simhachalam by name Appala Charya, who initiated me into the basic Vedic practices.”
History buff BS Mahesh said, “As the village was populated only by Vada Balajis, the priests had to be drawn from the same community. One must understand that this was quite a common practice in India and many Hindu priests are not actually Brahmins. In the case of Vaishnavaite shrines, the priests are Stana Vaishnavaites.”
Local shrines
1) The complex came into existence in 1925
2) The shrines are tiny and built in a pyramidal style
3) The site is littered with waste thanks to beach goers
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / Venkatesh Bayya / TNN / March 05th, 2016
Greenhorns at Their Innovative Best
Visakhapatnam :
While young entrepreneurs Dhananjayan and VNV Srikanth from Vijayawada were seen erecting their stall by putting up a large flexi of their startup ‘Isthriwala’, a team of youngsters from the city were busy promoting their “Jagoo”, the first time in Vizag.
One can hire bikes on daily basis. GITAM students interacted with the delegates on their 300cc ‘All Terrain Vehicle’, and some entrepreneurs from Hyderabad were showcasing their apps.
The ‘StartAP Fest’ is a platform for budding entrepreneurs in and around the state to showcase their innovative ideas here. Students have set up many stalls of their companies and are busy in giving wide publicity to their products.
Isthriwala with a difference
“We have come from Vijayawada. We came up with Isthriwala just four months ago, and this fest is a great opportunity for us to showcase our startup. Generally in other laundry services, they just wash and deliver, but we, in Isthriwala, will deliver clothes in sealed packing, like new clothes bought from a shop. Customers will feel that he has got new clothes each and every time, and their satisfaction is our priority,” said Dhananjayan, a member of Isthriwala, while giving details about the startup.
Organisers of the fest said it’s all about entrepreneurs showcasing their products, and get them promoted. “There is a chance of delegates lapping up their idea and they might enquire about other innovations too. We have suggested to student entrepreneurs to talk to as many delegates as they can during the two-day fest,” said Nikhil Agarwal, CEO of Innovations Society.
There are eminent personalities from India, Dubai, Singapore, the USA, the UK and many other nations. Moreover, their experience during initial stages of setting up startups and their success stories will surely stimulate the youngsters, he added.
The stalls set up by entrepreneurs from Hyderabad, Benguluru, Chennai, Warangal, Tirupati and the stalls of locals drew many eyeballs.
Jagoo: Bikes on hire
“We have a website as well as contact number. People can call us anytime and can book bikes,” said SR Brahmananda Reddy, the managing director of another startup Jagoo.
He said there are six types of bikes – Royal Enfield, Apache, Duke, Activa, Pulsar and Scooty Pep– available. One can hire a bike for `250 a day.
He also said that one should have a driving licence to hire bikes. “We launched the company last month and it needs much promotion now, and this StartAP Fest is really helping us,” he added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Harish Gilai / March 06th, 2016
Buddhist settlement discovered on Seethanagaram hill
Archaeologist and CEO of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada (CEO) E. Nagireddy has discovered a huge Buddhist settlement with traces of stupas, chaityas and viharas on the Seethanagaram hill located on the outskirts of Vijayawada city.
The relics surfaced as part of a survey conducted under the guidance of Mr. Nagireddy.
A rock-cut cistern, once used by the Buddhist monks during the rainy retreat, located next to the recently taken up Ramanuja-Vasudeva temple complex by the Jeeyar Trust provided a clue on the existence of a Buddhist monastery on the right side.
Further probing revealed brick-built viharas datable to 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. The bricks used in the construction measured 60x28x7 cm. “A rock-cut steps-like path leading to the top of the hillock perhaps helped the monks reach the monastery,” says Mr. Nagireddy.
Members of the Trust, while laying a ghat road in the area, also discovered two Vishnu idols carved in khondalite stone and one Govardhana Giridhara idol datable to 6th to 10th century. The idols currently are in the safe custody of the Trust.
Extensive survey planned
Going by the ample possibility of existence of more such Buddhist relics at the site, Mr. Nagireddy has requested the Trust members to safeguard the antiquities that could be exhibited to the public at a later stage.
He said the CCV will take up an extensive survey of the place very soon.
Archaeologists believe that Andhra Pradesh became a Buddhist stronghold due to the active patronisation by the wealthy classes of the Godavari-Krishna delta.
A large number of Buddhist chaityas, viharas and stupas have been unearthed in this State. Some major sites in the area where Buddhist relics have been excavated are Nagarjunakonda, Anupu, Dhulikatta, Aduru, Bhattiprolu and Bavikonda.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – March 04th, 2016