Nuzvid Veena maker Sheik Mabu Saheb training youths at his residence in Nuzvid in Krishna district. Photo: T. Appala Naidu / The Hindu
Sheik Mabu Saheb, a renowned Nuzvid veena maker of Krishna district, has received the Best Artisan Award-2013 from the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited for his work – Veena with peacock design.
He bagged the award in the category of Veena Making in which artisans from Bobbili were also in the competition. Mr. Saheb had stolen the hearts of the jury members with his small size veena that produces vibrations and sound like any other professional-size veena. “The award is recognition to the art rather than an individual artiste. Despite having a great demand for veena from the world of Indian classical music, shortage of veena makers is still creating problems for the industry’s growth,” Mr. Saheb told The Hindu.
Nuzvid Veena maker Sheik Mabu Saheb training youths at his residence in Nuzvid in Krishna district. Photo: T. Appala Naidu / The Hindu
Handicrafts Department Assistant Director K.N. Murali Krishna said plans were afoot to use the services of Mr. Saheb in training youth in veena making and designing. In a guru-shishya parampara, Mr. Saheb learnt that art from his father Sheik Meera Saheb, one of the first generation veena makers alive. According to Mr. Mabu Saheb, there were only nine veena makers engaged in the profession, spreading the art.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Nuzvid – July 10th, 2014
A view of the APSEB Colony in Visakhapatnam. PHOTO: A. Manikanthakumar / The Hindu
APSEB Colony looks like a family get-together. The colony association has a separate wing for women headed by C. Sujani. She says, “A lot of planning goes behind every initiative that we undertake as a team.
The programme is set. Women keep a tab of their to-do list.
Men get busy, collecting funds and listing out the number of guests to send an invite.
The community hall at the Eastern Park is beaming with a fresh look as people at Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board (APSEB) Colony bond over Navratri celebrations.
It looks more like a family get-together where every individual in the neighbourhood has a role to play. Residents enjoy taking ownership and contribute to the extent possible during special occasions. Women meet and decide on the delicacies offered to ‘Ammavaru’ to be installed and decked up in various avatars for all the 10 days at Sri Chelasani Narayana Rao Memorial Community Hall during the festival, commencing in a couple of days.
Though the 16-acre site of APSEB Colony charms one with its green canopy, well-built houses and better amenities, what makes the place more adorable is its people living here for decades. “Years before, the place was occupied by the employees of APSEB. Over a period of time, half of the colony residents have moved out to meet professional demands, paving the way for diverse communities. Despite a new breed of professionals seeping into the colony, what continued to stay is our unity,” says G.S.N. Murthy, chairman of APSEB Colony Welfare Association and a colony resident.
Planning
The colony association has a separate wing for women headed by C. Sujani. She says, “A lot of planning goes behind every initiative that we undertake as a team. Be it birthday celebrations, special occasions or kitty parties, we coordinate with one another before drawing a conclusion.”
Reminiscing about the olden days, K. Kanakadurga, a retired lecturer, who has been residing in the neighbourhood for the past 33 years, says, “A dull day at work would transform into a different world as soon I reach home as the scenic beauty of the locality has its own charm to lift my spirits.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Rani Devalla / Visakhapatnam – October 01st, 2014
Now, an ‘intellectual hub’ is being set up in the city. Headed by a neuro-psychiatrist, the hub named Virtue Centre will enable intellectuals and interested people to participate in discussions, brainstorming sessions, and idea-generating forums.
It will also nurture creativity, study social issues, give reports and encourage social entrepreneurship.
The hub also aims at facilitating growth of individuals, industries and institutions through innovation, idea generation, executive training, project consultancy, partnerships and inter-disciplinary linkages and cross cultural exchanges. Discussions will be held once a week with focus on education, innovation and implementation of ides.
Dr C Radhakanth, director of the hub, said it will be located at Zilla Parishad junction.
“As of now we will collaborate with the psychology department of Andhra University for education, IT professionals for innovations, and consultants from management institutes and IIMs for implementation.”
“Having worked with intellectually deficient and intellectually proficient, those with issues like mental retardation, Alzheimer’s, dyslexia, and autism, along with those who have no health problems but are ‘situationally distressed’, I feel it’s time to start contributing ideas for positive living, problem solving, intellectual development and creativity,” he added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / October 02nd, 2014
Petite Malipeddi Praneeta did her hometown proud by clinching the silver medal in the 16th Asian Roller Skating Championship held at Haining, China, from September 19 to 24. The second-year MBBS student, studying at the Andhra Medical College, won the silver in the Pair Dance Category (artistic) along with her Hyderabad-based partner Anup Kumar Yama, who is the current world champion in artistic skating.
Speaking to TOI here on Saturday, 18-year-old Praneeta however sounded a bit disappointed despite her success. “I was expecting to win a medal in the individual figure skating event, but I missed out and stood fourth. However, I’m happy that I did well in the pair event.”
Praneeta, who has been a national champion in figure skating for the last four years, both at the junior and senior levels, started skating at the Shivaji Park rink from 2005-2006 and since then has been rigorously trained by her coaches, P Satyanarayana, Chitti Babu and Mahesh.
Praneeta had earlier participated in the junior category of the World Artistic Roller Skating Championship in 2009 that was held at Freiberg, Germany, and is now ranked 18th in the world in the senior category. Talking about her immediate priorities, Praneeta said, “I wish to break into the top-10 in the figure skating event by next year.”
The daughter of a cardiologist, Dr M Bhaskar Rao, Praneeta too dreams of becoming a cardiologist like her father. However, she made it clear that she it would not be at the cost of roller skating.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / September 28th, 2014
A. Babu Rao exhibiting his rare collection of postcards in Vijayawada. PHOTO: V. Raju
Name any tourist destination, Attada Babu Rao, who has collected 800-odd postcards, has a montage to show and a story to tell.
It was perhaps his keen interest in people and places; their physical environments – natural and manmade- as well as customs, pastimes and amusements that spurred Attada Babu Rao to take to deltiology (an official term for collecting and studying postcards).
At 65, he has a vast collection of postcards with images of tourist destinations across the globe that can set one on an enchanting journey through history via beautiful locales. Exhibiting his prized collection on the World Tourism Day (September 27), the sexagenarian talks endlessly about how he had managed to get these colourful post cards from every nook and cranny of the world through his several pen pals scattered across the globe. “I don’t think many people are into deltiology. Collecting postcards can be a rewarding pastime,” he says, pointing to images of historic sites, tourist attractions and resorts besides famous industries, schools, churches.
A philatelist and a numismatist, he gradually diversified to deltiology way back in 1970. “Most of these postcards are very difficult to come by now. I had nearly 130 pen friends across the world, who are now reduced to merely 10, thanks to the internet,” he says with a wry smile.
A couple of months ago, when he approached the Limca Book of Records with a collection of 800-odd postcards, the latter asked him to come back after adding a 100 more. “I have time till June next year. By then, I may even cross the 1,000-mark,” he says, imbued with enthusiasm.
Toss a query on a particular tourist place and he spreads out dozens of postcards, creating a montage of colours splashed across, with famous monuments like the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco, the Eiffel Tower of Paris, Malaysia’s twin towers, Australian beaches, waterfalls in Nigeria and hordes of other breath-taking scenes from Germany, Denmark, Italy, Bahrain, Japan, Singapore, Honk Kong among others narrating a historic tale.
Upset over not being able to make a hat-trick by having his name enrolled in the Record Books for third consecutive year, he says he will put a full stop after third attempt.
Ask him what next and his smile returns. “The hunt will never cease.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – September 28th, 2014
Sri Balaganapathi Uddanam Youth Club members of Borivanka village got recognition from the India Book of Records for worshippinge eco-friendly Ganesh idol on the occasion of Ganesh Chathurdhi this year. The youth club members made Ganesh idol with paddy seeds which was eco-friendly and innovative. “We used 50 kgs of paddy seeds and made 10 feet high Ganesh idol and worshipped it,” said the youth club member B. Tirupathi Rao on Monday. “We communicated our novel idea to India Book of Records and the records team of Faridabad recognised our effort and sent a communication to us for its inclusion in their coming edition,” he added.
By the time of immersion of Ganesh idol, germination of seeds started, the member explained.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / September 30th, 2014
The nine-day annual Brahmotsavam festival at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara near here will begin with the hoisting of sacred Garuda flag atop the golden ‘dwajasthambham’ (flag mast) tomorrow.
Temple officials said tight security arrangements have made on the seven hills and in Tirupati for the smooth conduct of the Navaratri festival.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would arrive on the hills in the afternoon on a five-hour visit.
Later in the evening, observing the three and half decade old practice, Naidu, on behalf of the state government, would offer a set of new silk clothes to the shrine on the occasion of the advent of the festival, officials said.
The high priests of the hill temple would receive the clothes from Naidu.
The clothes would be adorned on the presiding deity on the ‘Garudaseva’ day on the fifth day of the Brahmotsavam on September 30, they added.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / PTI / September 25th, 2014
Doordarshan’s regional language channel for residuary Andhra Pradesh would be launched in Vijayawada, the proposed capital region of the State, on September 27.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would launch the channel, Doordarshan Saptagiri, in the presence of Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar (Information & Broadcasting) and M Venkaiah Naidu (Urban Development), an official release said today.
The channel is being launched in the wake of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The newly-formed Telangana would have its own channel.
The release quoted Doordarshan Deputy Director General Sailaja Suman as saying the channel would have programmes blending cultural, political, economic, science and technology issues and aim at attracting the substantial population of youth.
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> News> India / Place: Andhra Pradesh, Agency:PTI / Thursday – September 25th, 2014
Collector Kantilal Dande garllanding a statue of poet Gurram Jashuva on the latter’s 119th birth anniversary in Guntur on Sunday. PHOTO: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu
The stirring poetry written by Gurram Jashuva has mirrored the primordial prejudices and caste exploitation and it’s a matter of pride that Jashuva hailed from Vinukonda in Guntur district, Collector Kantilal Dande has said.
Paying rich tributes to the poet on his 119th birth anniversary, he said modern Telugu poet Jashuva was hailed as `Viswa Kavi,’ for his all encompassing poetry touching all aspects of society. The day saw a host of Ministers, MLAs and officials paying tributes to the bronze statue of Joshua near the District Court Complex.
Minister for Agriculture Prathipati Pulla Rao said that the State government was committed to construct a cultural auditorium in honour of Jashuva. Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu said that the legacy of Jashuva had not been limited to a particular section of the society but was embraced by one and all.
MLC K.S Lakshmana Rao demanded that a cultural centre be built in Guntur in honour of Jashuva.
The meeting had its share of nostalgia with several poets reading out verses from Joshua’s famous works, ‘Gabbilam’ and ‘Firadausi’. P.V. Ramana too had the audience spellbound with his rendering of some verses from Joshua’s works.
Literary critics said Joshua was the first Telugu poet to give voice to the exploited and the oppressed and his use of pastoral imagery in ‘Gabbilam’ was in stark contrast to the symbolic imagery used by earlier poets.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – September 29th, 2014
Arrangements being made for the Monday inaugural of the Startup Village by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu at the Technology Research and Innovation Park in Visakhapatnam on Sunday | EXPRESS PHOTO
Visakhapatnam :
Techies who have a product idea but do not have the tools to execute it, can breathe a sigh of relief for they can now just walk into the Startup Village to be inaugurated Monday at Technology Research and Innovation Park (TRIP) at Madhurawada Hill-3 where they would not only get all the equipment required to execute their idea but also get funding for their business venture.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will formally inaugurate the Startup Village project which is designed in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode on the lines of the one in Kochi. The facility would be spread over 17,000 sft of fully furnished and air-conditioned startup space at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam. Startup Village CEO Pranav Suresh and chief mentor Kris Gopalakrishnan, who is the co-founder of Infosys, will attend the event.
It will commence operations within two weeks in an area of 17,000 sft. The facility will have all the necessary plug-and-play equipment including computers and internet access allowing people with innovative ideas to start their companies overnight.
“To produce world-class swimmers, you need a world-class swimming pool and a world-class coach. The Startup Village at Madhurawada will provide these world-class equipment which would be otherwise not affordable for any small or startup company. The idea is to encourage youngsters particularly students who are aspiring to become entrepreneurs,” said Sanjay Vijaya Kumar, chairman of Kochi-based Startup Village, which is collaborating with Andhra Pradesh government to operationalise the Startup Village in Vizag. Thirty-year-old Sanjay Vijayakumar who is also CEO of MobME Wireless, will sign a memorandum of understanding with the state government, modelled on the Kochi-based Startup Village.
Startup Village has the stated goal of finding a billion dollar campus startup from India within the next 10 years.
“We believe that if Google, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook can be founded by young founders below the age of 24, there is talent in India to replicate the same success story,” he said, adding that the Startup Village at Visakhapatnam aims to create an ecosystem to find and nurture such visionary young entrepreneurs.
The Startup Village in Kochi attracted over 5,000 applications within two years and incubated more than 800 startups of which 256 are student startups. Nearly 46 companies are currently working from an office space of just 15,000 sft.
With an initial space of 17,000 sft, fully furnished offices and the plug-and-play system provided by Andhra Pradesh, the TRIP premises in Madhurawada can easily house 50 startup companies. Though the Startup Village will initially act as an incubator for the startup companies offering mobile and internet products, people with ideas in electronic hardware manufacture also now have a scope to realise their innovative ideas after the equipment is established. “We are bringing the Fab Lab including 3D Printers which are otherwise available only in the Western countries,” he said.
Terming Andhra Pradesh government proactive in terms of executing ideas, Sanjay feels that Vizag has the potential to become a major hub for the next phase of IT revolution in India. “Andhra Pradesh is the only state to have the Startup Policy designed to encourage startup companies which would revolutionise the IT and hardware sector in the country,” Sanjay stated.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by P S Dileep / November 29th, 2014
