Gurajada’s Birth Anniv Celebrated with Pomp

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Minister for Housing and Rural development K Mrunalini (left) and ZP chairperson Shobha Swathi Rani and other officials taking a look at the portraits of poet Gurajada Apparao at his residence in Vizianagaram on Sunday | EXPRESS PHOTO
Minister for Housing and Rural development K Mrunalini (left) and ZP chairperson Shobha Swathi Rani and other officials taking a look at the portraits of poet Gurajada Apparao at his residence in Vizianagaram on Sunday | EXPRESS PHOTO

Visakhapatnam :

Being the home town of poet Gurajada Apparao, Vizianagaram celebrated his 152nd birth anniversary with gaiety here Sunday. Housing and rural development minister Kimidi Mrunalini paid floral tributes to the legendary poet at his residence in the town and went through the portraits, books and belongings of Gurajada.

The minister remembered the contributions of Gurajada towards the field of literature and said that the government would take steps to officially celebrate his birth anniversary across the state from the next year. She also unveiled a souvenir designed on Gurajada Apparao. “Gurajada was an inspiration for women, for abolishing the child marriage system,” she recalled.

Earlier, a rally with some memorabilia of the social reformer was taken out from his residence to Kshatriya Kalyanamandapam, in which hundreds of students from many schools took part and belted out ‘Desamunu Preminchumanna’, written by Gurajada.

A meeting was conducted at the Kshatriya Kalyanamandapam wherein district collector MM Nayak opined that Gurajada’s ‘Kanyasulakam’ was a valuable contribution to the society. “It is renowned till date and has no replacement,” he opined.

Nayak also said that they would set up a museum with the photographs and belongings of Gurajada in the coming days. The authorities concerned promised to take necessary action as regards acquiring the lost collections of the poet in the library, he added. Later, the play ‘Puthadibomma Poornamma’ was showcased by some artistes. ZP chairperson Sobha Swathirani, MLA M Geetha and joint collector B Ramarao were present.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / September 22nd, 2014

Port City Farmer’s ‘Amrutam’ Variety Set to Rule Mango World

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Kongara Ramesh at his mango orchard at Tarluwada village in Visakhapatnam district | Express Photo
Kongara Ramesh at his mango orchard at Tarluwada village in Visakhapatnam district | Express Photo

Visakhapatnam :

Amrutham Ice Fruit Mango, a new variety of the king of fruits, developed by a scientist Kongara Ramesh, is entering the international markets including the United Arab Emirates, the US and several other countries. This is the first mango created by a farmer using cross-pollination technique and can be frozen and eaten in all seasons. The uniqueness of the new mango variety is that it can be eaten like an ice fruit by peeling off its skin.

The new variety was developed three years ago after a 12-year experimentation by Ramesh. In the last three years, he planted the saplings extensively to estimate its yields. Now, Ramesh is taking care of 50,000 saplings at his own nursery at Tarluwada village in Anandapuram, just 28 km away from Visakhapatnam city.

Ramesh developed the variety by cross pollination between Amrapali and Chinnarasalu mango varieties, which are very sweet and can be frozen at sub-zero temperatures.

The Amrutham Ice Fruit Mango has been selected for the world horticulture show to be held at Germany in February, 2015. “It will be the first step to market Amrutham globally. I’m sure this will bring huge foreign currency to the country,” a proud Ramesh says.

Mass Cultivation

After the great success of Amrutham, Ramesh is wasting no time for mass cultivation of the fruit. Making use of all the 100 trees he raised initially, he had developed a nursery of about 50,000 saplings aged between six months and two-and-half years. As many as 600 trees can be raised in an acre and they will bear fruit in about three to four years. The yield of the fruit is 15 tonnes per acre. Except for using organic manure in the first year, the trees need no special care.

Assured Yield

Amrutham starts flowering from November. If the flowers are damaged in November, the cyclone season, it starts flowering in December and January with an assured yield of 90 per cent. Ramesh has also developed another variety called ‘Swagatham’. The speciality of the fruit is its aroma. One fruit of Swagatham’s aroma pervades the entire house. The variety was developed by cross-pollination between Imam Pasand and Chinna Rasalu.

Export Potential

Ramesh has plans to export the Amrutham Ice Fruit Mango to several countries. A large number of Telugu NRIs and foreigners are making enquiries about the fruit. However, surprisingly, neither the state government nor the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry visited the place to take further steps for bulk cultivation.

The Man Behind the Magic Fruits

A Guntur-based farmer and homoeo doctor settled in Visakhapatnam about 15 years ago, Ramesh started his own research at a 40-acre land owned by a private company. Having great interest in the mango crop and its varieties, Ramesh developed his ideas by cross-pollinating Andhra’s most popular mango Nuziveedu Chinnarasalu with North India’s famous variety Amrapali. He displayed it at the All India Horticulture Exhibition held in New Delhi last year, where a large number of foreigners tasted it and lauded it. Ramesh also sold the fruit in Vizag market. Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority witnessed the variety and congratulated Ramesh, who is set to market the fruit on a large-scale from the next season.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by VKL Gayatri / September 24th, 2014

A trip down the memory lane: St. Aloysius High School

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Leaders, Records, All
A view of the chapel on the St. Aloysius High School premises, the oldest English medium school in Visakhapatnam. / Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
A view of the chapel on the St. Aloysius High School premises, the oldest English medium school in Visakhapatnam. / Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Six classmates of the 1961 batch of St. Aloysius High School met after five decades at their alma mater. Reminiscing the old days, Narayanswami, who played cricket for Andhra, said it was in this courtyard that he picked up the rudiments of the game.

A group of six classmates met after five decades to relive their naughty days at St. Aloysius High School, here on Saturday.

Though, into their late 60s and early 70s none appeared to have lost his youthful vigour. Hopping from one classroom to another, going around the expansive courtyard, and calling their buddies by their nicknames, the six went on a nostalgia drive.

A group of seven friends who studied in St. Aloysius High School meeting after five decades on the school premises to relive the old days in Visakhapatnam on Saturday /. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
A group of seven friends who studied in St. Aloysius High School meeting after five decades on the school premises to relive the old days in Visakhapatnam on Saturday /. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

The old students of the 1961 batch who met were P.R. Narayanswami, former Director of Physical Education in Andhra University, M.A. Raihan, former Commander in the Indian Navy, V.N. Natarajan, Chief Manager of Indian Overseas Bank, Fr. George Kottam, Arun Panse, former Hindustan Shipyard employee, and Md. Ali Khan, a retired officer from the Visakhapatnam Port Trust.

Accompanying them was Rohinton Kapadia, who was a couple of years junior to them in school.

Incidentally, Fr. Kottam was not only an old student but also principal of the school during early 1980s.

Reminiscing the old days, Narayanswami, who played cricket for Andhra, said it was in this courtyard that he picked up the rudiments of the game.

“We are always ahead of the rest in athletics and games. We had the best boxing team in the district. In fact, ours was the only school that had a proper boxing ring. Even the ENC, then INS Circars, would borrow our ring for their tournament,” said Raihan.

We also had a strong NCC contingent and 80 per cent of our students were from the Anglo Indian and Muslim communities. But we never experienced any sort of discrimination based on religion, caste, or creed, said Arun Panse.

On how strict was the school, they came out in chorus, “Fr Eliemeynet, a French national, who was our principal, and our teachers were strict, but they gave us the rope to be mischievous too.”

According to Fr. Kottam, the schooling then was about holistic learning.

For Md. Alikhan, the association with the school has been for three generations. His son also studied in the school and now his grandchildren are studying there

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Sumit Bhattacharjee / Visakhapatnam – September 21st, 2014

Young Jagathi steals the show with Kuchipudi recital

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Andhra Pradesh High Court judge A.Ramalingeswara Rao has some words of praise for budding Kuchipudi dancer Jagathi during her solo performance in Ongole. Siddendra Art Academy founder President C. Devasena is also seen. photo: Kommuri Srinivas
Andhra Pradesh High Court judge A.Ramalingeswara Rao has some words of praise for budding Kuchipudi dancer Jagathi during her solo performance in Ongole. Siddendra Art Academy founder President C. Devasena is also seen. photo: Kommuri Srinivas

Eight-year-old Jagathi hogged the limelight giving a scintillating Kuchipudi dance recital here.

The Lawyerpet Sai Baba temple set the stage for the budding Kuchipudi dancer to perform, starting with the song ”Mooshika vahana” during the celebrations of the Hyderabad-based Siddendra Art Academy’s 32nd anniversary celebrations here late on Sunday.

”This is the first solo performance of the girl in Andhra Pradesh, said Academy founder President Dr. C.Deva Sena, who is on a spree to spot talent in boys and girls and keep alive the glorious cultural tradition.

Forty-year-old Y.Sridhar floored dance lovers by performing ballet ”Ravanasurudu”.

Speaking on the occasion High court judge Mr Justice A. Ramalingeswara Rao said ”art has no geographical barrier” and lauded the academy’s intiatives to promote the traditional dance form both in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Sai Baba Monthly magazine Editor Poluri Srinivasa Rao and Brahmana Bhavan Founder President K.N.Giriprasad were among those present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by S. Murali / Ongole – September 22nd, 2014

Virginia tobacco exports fetch Rs. 6,092.8 crore

Business & Economy, World Opinion

Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) Tobacco has emerged a top grosser for India as the exports fetched more than $1billion during the 2013-2014 fiscal year, Tobacco Board Chairman K. Gopal said here on Monday.

Tobacco exports touched a record 2.66 lakh Metric Tonnes, earning a foreign exchange of Rs. 6,092.86 crore surpassing all previous records, Dr. Gopal said on Tuesday.

India is the second largest producer of FCV tobacco (316 million kg), second largest exporter of tobacco (236 million kg), with 91 countries as trading partners.

“The Board has set a target of achieving Rs.10,000 crore in the next five years. It is possible if farmers adopt best farm practices. We have managed to achieve a consistency in FCV tobacco production and with a four per cent growth in export volumes,’’ Dr. Gopal said.

Regulation of crop production has been a formidable challenge for the Board as the farmers went on an overdrive in 2013-2014 producing 316 million kg, much higher than the authorised crop size of 274 million kg. The Board has ensured that the entire Tobacco was sold on auction floors ensuring that farmers and traders have a win-win situation.

“The key issues remain are CPA residues, non-tobacco related manufacturers, tariff barriers for traders and lengthy auction procedures, price variations and vagaries of weather for farmers. The Board is looking into these issues and has begun addressing them,’’ the Tobacco Board Chairman said, adding that as part of the brand image building exercise, the Tobacco Board participated in the International Trade fairs giving a boost to trade.

As a prelude to the cropping season in Andhra Pradesh, the Tobacco Board released a “Special Bulletin on Karnataka FCV tobacco” containing good agriculture practices that have been adopted to produce best quality neutral filler tobacco from Karnataka Light Soils and also to inform the global importers about the Board’s intent in bringing grower and trade oriented reforms.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by P. Samuel Jonathan / Guntur – September 24th, 2014

Andhra Univ to Present NSS Awards Today

Education, Records, All

Visakhapatnam :

The Andhra University is going to host a state-level NSS awards function at BR Ambedkar Assembly Hall here Wednesday from 10.30 am. Human resource development minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao would be the chief guest at the occasion.

Revealing the details to the newsmen here Tuesday, AU vice-chancellor GSN Raju said that NSS cadets from across the state would take part in the awards function.

As many as 16 awards would be given away during the function, of which the AU NSS cadets won four awards. EPS Bhagya Lakshmi and Ch Adinarayana achieved awards in the category of Programme Officers, while Rahul Pal and Md Goush Khan won the best volunteers awards.

NSS regional head R Gokul Krishnan and state coordinator P Ramachandra Rao would be present, he added.

This apart, a blood donation camp will be organised jointly by the Indian Red Cross Society and AUCE at YVS Murthy Auditorium at 9.30 am on Sept 24 during which the NSS cadets and AU officials would donate their blood on the occasion.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / September 24th, 2014

AP CM to inaugurate IT incubation centre in Vizag on Sept 29

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :  

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the IT incubation centre at Rushikonda here on September 29 and on the same day a major seminar on IT development will also be held, according to State HRD Minister G. Srinivasa Rao.

He said here on Wednesday that an IT start-up centre would also be inaugurated. He said the Government was keen on removing the hurdles to the growth of the IT industry in the State and the academic institutions in the State would also take all steps to turn out the suitable personnel for the industry.

There would be interaction between the educational institutions and the IT industry. The Government would play the role of a facilitator, he added.

He said several industries would be set up in the vicinity of Visakhapatnam and the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) chairman would visit the city on September 21 and hold a review meeting here.

He would review how much land had been allocated to each industry such as Brandix and the promised jobs. It would be reviewed whether the industry had fulfilled the job obligation and what steps should be taken in case the industry failed to do so, he said.

If there were any genuine problems holding up the growth of the industry, they would be addressed but it would not be allowed to hold onto the piece of land given to it without generating any economic activity, he said.

He said a skill development centre would also be set up here with the assistance of the local industries. The AP Government was taking steps to supply power 24 hours a day to all the industries.

The State Govt. had also allocated land to the NTPC at Pudimadaka village in Visakhapatnam district to set up a power plant with a capacity of 4,000 MWs.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> National / by The Hindu Bureau / Visakhapatnam – September 17th, 2014

Solution in sight to abandoned, sunken trawlers

Science & Technology

Space for navigation at the Fishing Harbour may increase soon with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust adopting a two-pronged approach to get the unused trawlers removed.

Efforts made earlier had not yielded any result. This time, Visakhapatnam Port Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu has taken a bold move to identify the trawlers with court problems and others without any case so that they could be taken to the slipway and later dismantled as part of scrapping in order of priority.

There are 60 to 65 trawlers which are either abandoned by their owners due to non-payment of bank loans or recurring losses. Some of them have also sunk over the years.

As per rules, ‘no objection certificate’ from AP Pollution Control Board is a pre-requisite for their removal. For past several years, the board has been objecting to issuing of NOC despite several representations from the port as well as the Association of Fishing Professionals and Association of Indian Fishery Industries (AIFI).

The board has been insisting on shifting the vessels to a ship-breaking unit, which is only available at Alang in Gujarat. As this is not possible, now efforts are being made for dismantling them and later shifting the parts to scrap market without causing any pollution.

One-third of berthing space at the Fishing Harbour set up by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1976 in an area of 24 hectares is occupied by the abandoned and sunken vessels. According to an estimate, 14 trawlers have sunk with a hole in the hull. The oil tanks are also said to be empty.

Mr. Krishna Babu told The Hindu that in the first list, they would remove some of the trawlers without court cases safely to the slipway and later begin their scrapping process. Subsequently, efforts would be made to remove other vessels with court permission to ensure ‘operational safety.’

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Santosh Patnaik  / Visakhapatnam  – September 22nd, 2014

Palacol mourns its child prodigy

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, World Opinion
In this Nov. 15, 2007, file photo, Mandolin Shrinivas performs along with Hariharan at The Hindu Friday Review November Fest at the Music Academy in Chennai. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao
In this Nov. 15, 2007, file photo, Mandolin Shrinivas performs along with Hariharan at The Hindu Friday Review November Fest at the Music Academy in Chennai. Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

Grief overtook Mandolin Shrinivas’s admirers, childhood friends and artistes in this cultural capital of West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh as news of his untimely death spread.

A pall of gloom descended on Palacol, the cultural capital of West Godavari district, with the demise of its child prodigy Uppalapu Shrinivas, a globally acclaimed Carnatic music exponent.

Shrinivas is its second son of the soil who did the tiny non-descript coastal town proud by securing Padmasri award in an early age after Allu Ramalingaiah, a noted film actor. He had the prefix `Uppalapu’ to his name replaced by `Mandolin’ for his blending the Western instrument with Carnatic music in a unique manner.

Grief overtook his admirers, childhood friends and artistes in the prosperous town. Although he was born in a marriage band music family in the town, he lost connections with his birthplace after he left for Chennai as a boy to explore the depths of music.

Pay your tributes to Mandolin U. Shrinivas here

According to Vinnakota Venkateswara Rao, a local septuagenarian scribe, Srinvas gave his concert last in his hometown was during the Tyagaraya Aradhanotsavams a decade ago. Manapuram Satyanarayana, president of the Palacol Kalaparishad, a childhood friend of Srinivas, recounted his association with the exponent. “I too used to associated myself with marriage band music parties with him (Srinivas), playing electric mandolin. Srinivas used to display innovation by playing mandolin for film songs when we were in elementary school itself”, he recollected.

Mr. Sudarsanam, a blind who retired as a lecturer in a local government degree college, was said to have attended his first concert in Palacol and could not resist his temptation to take part in another one in Eluru. He did it with the help of an assistant in the mid 80s. “This was how he cast a spell over his audiences,” said a retired teacher Krishna Prasad. He would not have been known to the world as an acclaimed classical musician, but for Rudraraju Subbaraju from Poduru near Placol, who taught Srinivas’ father Satyanrayana mandolin playing. Identifying the latent talent in the child prodigy, Mr. Subbaraju was said to have taken Srinivas and his father to Madras to hone up his skills under the tutelage of great exponents.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by G. Nagaraja  / Eluru – September 19th, 2014

Chirala weavers look to go global with craft that floored Marco Polo

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, World Opinion

Italian traveller Marco Polo’s accounts stand testimony to their weaving expertise which had floored the Europeans during the medieval period.

Weavers in Chirala in Prakasam district had carved a niche for themselves worldwide from time immemorial with their weaving skills.

Italian traveller Marco Polo’s accounts stand testimony to their weaving expertise which had floored the Europeans during the medieval period. Chirala, which gets its name from Chira (saree), had weavers who could produce a transparent saree which could be folded and kept in a match box.

However, in the wake of power looms gaining ground, weavers from, among other places, Kanigiri, Ethamukala, Vetapalem, Janarpeta in the district faced hardship due to lack of orders for their deft hands in the era of globalisation.

“The Rs. 70 crore Mega Handloom Cluster, which is all set to commence operations from the second week of October will be game changer,” explained Handlooms and Textiles Assistant Director M. Ramamurthy Naidu after holding awareness programmes for the weavers.

“Eight interventions are planned to strengthen the hands of 12,000 identified weavers to come out with innovative designs, reduce drudgery and help them find new markets within and outside the country through e-marketing,” he added while talking to The Hindu.

He said the interventions included a Rs. 7-crore yarn bank, modern compressed looms, motorised jacquards, emergency solar lamps, a modern design studio, work sheds for the identified weavers to improve productivity and income for them.

“Our aim is to empower the 12,000 weavers from the district to work wonders on the loom like their forefathers a tapestry of designs and textures”, he added.

K. Venkateswara Rao, a weaver from Epurupalem, said that the government should provide solar lamps of higher capacity to energise at least two tube lights and a fan instead of an emergency lamp which would not serve any purpose.

Weaver A. Veerabrahmam felt that the government should do away with the 20 per cent beneficiary contribution and double the subsidy component for new work sheds from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000. Subsidised yarn and chemical dyes as also export sub-centres should be set up, added another weaver Katuri Narasimha Rao.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by S. Murali / Ongole – September 23rd, 2014