INTACH Demands Audit of Historic Monuments

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
P Anuradha Reddy
P Anuradha Reddy

Expressing fears and doubts regarding what the bifurcation of the state will bring for heritage sites across Andhra Pradesh, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has demanded a heritage audit to be conducted on all historically valuable buildings and artifacts to ascertain the damage done and recommend steps to be taken for division of cultural assets post-bifurcation.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, convener of the Hyderabad chapter of INTACH P Anuradha Reddy said this audit must be conducted with the involvement of the Department of Archeology of Andhra Pradesh. ‘’The audit will help in determining the basis on which these artifacts will be divided,’’ she said.

The creation of  the Telangana state, the convener feels, will do more harm to monuments, historically significant buildings and culturally important artifacts than the last 66 years have done.

Citing the example of the old Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly built in 1913, she said that the building will be renovated and this will destroy its identity as an important cultural landmark of Hyderabad.

‘’The old Assembly has not been given the official status of a heritage site because it makes it easier to destroy it because there will be less resistance from the people’s bodies,’’ she felt.

Anuradha Reddy, along with co-convener, Sajad Sahid, pointed out that no committee has been set up to look into the repercussions of bifurcation on heritage sites.

Bringing to light an alarmingly true trend, Anuradha Reddy said that no political party has mentioned the protection of historic sites and culturally significant artifacts in their manifestos.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / April 23rd, 2014

Global hospital creates record with 300 successful liver transplant surgeries in Hyderabad

Records, All, Science & Technology

The Hyderabad based Global Hospital has made a record by registering more than 300 successful liver transplant surgeries in the country.

With the 300th liver transplant conducted successful on a Nellore based patient, doctors at Global hospital celebrated their success commemorating the World liver day on 18th April 2014.

According to Dr. K Ravindranath, chairman and managing director Global Hospital Group, lack of awareness and drastic lifestyle changes are some of the major reasons that are pushing the liver related disorders to endemic proportions in India. At present the country is home to 11 per cent of the world’s patients affected with chronic Hepatitis B and about one to two lakh people die due to liver cancer or cirrhosis in the country. “It is estimated that about 0.02 per cent of population i.e., about 25000 persons need liver transplants every year. The need of the hour is to remove the myths and increase awareness about organ donation among public,” said Dr. K. Ravindranath.

So far, the Global Hospital Group has conducted a total of 600 liver transplantation surgeries at its four centers viz., Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai across India. Among all the centers Hyderabad Global Hospital has reached the record of performing 300 successful liver transplant surgeries in the country.

Dr. Tom Cherian, who is a leading liver transplant surgeon at Global hospitals, opined that detecting the liver disease at early stage will help avoid liver transplant. The cost of liver transplant ranges from 18 lakh to 25 lakh depending up on the complexity of disease. Though the state government had initiated cadaver donation schemes like Jeevandan, it is lacking adequate infrastructure facilities and fund crunch.

The major reason for liver disorders and liver cancer in India is attributed to smoking, hypertension and drinking alcohol.  Doctors expressed concern as there is huge rise in the number of paediatric liver cases. Children with end stage liver disease have a very short and miserable life. “Children with liver transplant can lead normal lives and become adults. But it is unfortunate that paediatric liver transplantation services are limited in India,” Informed Dr. Tom

Acute liver failure is another rising concern among the healthy population these days. It strikes young people in their prime. High fever, jaundice and unconsciousness are the major symptoms of acute liver failure. This disorder has high mortality rate with 70-80 per cent chance of death if not treated properly.

The doctors also viewed that in India, the cadaver donor rate is only 0.3 per cent and only 800-900 transplant surgeries are happening in the country annually, while in western countries like USA and UK, annually 5000 to 6000 organ transplant surgeries are conducted. For India to reach that stage the cadaver donation rate should at least reach 3 per cent so that it will facilitate doctors to perform organ transplant surgeries to 18000 to 25000 patients annually without having to wait for the donor.

source: http://www.pharmabiz.com / Pharmabiz.com / Home> Top News> Hospitals & Clinics / by Pharmabiz.com Bureau – Hyderabad / Tuesday – April 27th, 2014

Silver lining for Hyderabad Grandmasters

Sports
Dronavalli Harika and Pentyala Harikrishna share a lighter moment after winning a silver each at the Asian Blitz chess championship in Sharjah on Saturday./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Dronavalli Harika and Pentyala Harikrishna share a lighter moment after winning a silver each at the Asian Blitz chess championship in Sharjah on Saturday./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Harikrishna and Harika bag a silver each in the 13 Asian Continental Blitz chess championship

It was a splendid silver-lining from the Hyderabad duo of Super GM Pentyala Harikrishna and GM Dronavalli Harika, who bagged a silver each in the just-concluded 13 Asian Continental Blitz chess championship in Sharjah.

Chinese player Yu Yangyi emerged champion while Harikrishna, who was leading until the eighth round, finished second because of his loss to Vietnam player Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son in the eighth round.

However, Harikrishna informed The Hindu that his win against Indian teammate GM Vidit Gujarati in the next round helped him finish second.

For someone who featured in four World Cups in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2011 with a third-round appearance in the knock-out format being his best performance, this BPCL officer believes that it is high time he comes up with a special performance in the 14 or 12 player Grand Prix Series.

“Yes, this result after being rated (ELO 2726) the next best player from India after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand (ELO 2785) is something special. But for that loss in the eighth round, the result would have been better,” Hari said from Sharjah.

“Well, this is not the end of it all. The journey, step by step, has to go on to reach the pinnacle and the World Blitz championship in June this year should be another major test for my preparations,” he said.

For her part, Harika (ELO 2507) is pleased with her silver medal. “Playing Blitz is far more difficult for the simple reason that the reaction time is very quick. It is nevertheless exciting,” says the 23-year-old GM from Hyderabad, who is now ranked World no. 14.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanya  / Hyderabad – April 21st, 2014

She Cabs to increase fleet for techies

Business & Economy, Inspiration /Positive News and Features

The concept is inspired by SheTaxi, a women-owned-and-driven cab service by Gender Park, a Kerala govt initiative

She Cabs , a cab service for women with a female driver bureau started by Hyderabad-based voluntary organisation Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham (APBHS), is gearing up to add 25 cars to its existing fleet  of two by August this year, according to general secretary Vijaya Reddy.

“We have been seeing significant traction in demand. While TCS has asked for 40 vehicles to ferry their employees, Google, too, wanted an equal number of cabs. Providing such fleet is quite easy but getting women chauffeurs in large numbers is difficult,” she says.

She Cabs, a not-for-profit initiative aimed at providing safe travel for women besides nurturing entrepreneurship among them, recently started She Free Driving School to train and empower women with underprivileged backgrounds.

“At present, 25 women, including from Prajwala, a Hyderabad-based anti-trafficking organisation, are undergoing training. Our idea is make them own cars by providing subsidies and through easy financing options, and allow them to run those vehicles under the She Cabs brand,” Reddy adds.

Inspired by She Taxi, a women-owned-and-driven cab service by Gender Park, a Kerala government initiative, APBHS started She Cabs in February 2014. She Cabs are loaded with security features like GPS, an SOS button to connect to the police in cases of emergency and pepper spray cans.

“With the increasing number of cases of violence against women heightening the concerns around their security, it’s important to extend safe and secure journey of women commuters,” she says, adding She Cabs has been gaining wide acceptance not just among techies but also from homemakers.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Current Affairs> News> ET Cetera / by K Rajani Kanth / Hyderabad – April 27th, 2014

Liver transplant is normal, say donors

Science & Technology

LiverTransplantHF30apr2014

Doctor says with transplantation, chances of patients’ survival increases by 80 per cent. All the organ recipients said that they were glad today because they took the decision to go for a liver transplantation.

Is liver donation as simple as blood donation? Liver donors say that they had no problem in helping those close to them and want others to follow them.

Engineering student Mani Keerthi had a severe attack of jaundice and her liver stopped functioning. Eighty per cent of patients who have acute liver failure like Ms. Keerthi die. Liver transplantation was the only chance of her surviving. Her mother came forward to donate a part of her liver. The operation was done in Global Hospitals at Hyderabad. Three years have passed and Ms. Keerthi and her mother are leading normal lives and the youngster is pursuing her education again. The mother of another engineering student V. Sarat Chandra donated her liver to her son. Both of them are leading normal lives.

The donor for ex-serviceman M. Venkateswara Rao was not his mother, but his son. “I was reluctant to go for liver transplantation because I was afraid of my son’s health. But my son gave me courage after searching on Internet. He pacified me saying that liver donation like blood donation,” Mr. Rao added.

All the organ recipients said that they were glad today because they took the decision to go for a liver transplantation. The organ recipients and the donors, most of whom were relatives, from Vijayawada area were brought together by the Global Hospitals Group for an interaction with the media to promote awareness on Liver Transplantation as the World Liver Week Programme on Thursday.

Global Hospitals chairman and managing director K. Ravindranath said that the group with units in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai had done 600 liver transplantations, but the unit in Hyderabad had done 50 per cent of the procedures and many of the patients were from Vijayawada. He said the group was doing the highly complex liver transplantations with a 90 per cent success rate in adults and 95 per cent success rate in children. Liver transplantation section head Thomas Cherian said 300 transplants were an important milestone as it highlighted the huge experience of the centre. He said there was a 70 to 80 per cent chance of death once the liver stops functioning. But with transplantation the chances of the patient’s survival shoot up to 80 per cent. He said there were several myths about liver transplantation and this interaction was arranged to clear them.

Senior Hepatologist Dharmesh Kapoor said that the hospital was providing a 10-year follow-up care for liver transplantation patients.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Vijayawada / by  G. Venkataramana Rao / Vijayawada – April 24th, 2014

On a reflective note

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Raja Reddy says Kuchipudi has a tradition to it and one needs be disciplined to follow it. / Photo: Nagara Gopal. / The Hindu
Raja Reddy says Kuchipudi has a tradition to it and one needs be disciplined to follow it. / Photo: Nagara Gopal. / The Hindu

Dancer Raja Reddy on dance, his two daughters and why he is not a guru for item numbers

Ace dancer Raja Reddy is high on nostalgia. At his daughter Yamini Reddy’s house in Jubilee Hills, the dancer remembers the time when he watched Vyjayanthimala sing Man dole mera tan dole in Nagin and fell in love with her dance. “I was mesmerised by Vyjayanthimala’s dance and watched the movie for 17 days. I was mad about dance,” he remembers. Now, he sees the same passion in his daughter Bhavna. “When people saw her dance, they said she is born only to dance. But Bhavna’s passion is western music and when she told us she wanted to study abroad, we were sceptical. Bhavna told me, ‘If you could travel from a village to Delhi to make your dreams come true, why can’t I go to US.’ I had to let her go to realise her dreams. I am sure, after she comes back she will also dance,” he says.

Kuchipudi dancer Raja Reddy and his daughter Yaminin Reddy / Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
Kuchipudi dancer Raja Reddy and his daughter Yaminin Reddy / Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu

The father is also proud of his other daughter Yamini Reddy’s achievements with her dance school Natya Tarangini.

He is in Hyderabad for the dance workshop being organised by her. “After her workshop news went online, people in Delhi are asking me when I will hold such a workshop there,” he says. On a reflective note, he says, “Traditional gurus never let their daughters dance. They always encouraged their sons. We have to be progressive and let our daughters do what they want to do. Be it sports, art, music or dance… we should give them our support,” he says.

As a guru he looks for dedication among youngsters. “Some parents tell me, ‘My daughter wants to join films. Can you teach her some items?’ I am not a guru for item numbers,” he says with a laugh.

During his Hyderabad trips, a few rangapravesams he attended left him disappointed. “I noticed many other elements being included during a dance show. In the middle of the performance, the guru’ssanmanam is organised. Then, he gives a speech followed by chief guest’s speech. Kuchipudi has a tradition to it and one needs to have discipline,” he notes.

As he watches his grandson Arjun in a playful mode, he smiles, “When I wished for a grand-daughter, my daughter Yamini told me, ‘You have two wives and two daughters. You should be happy with a grandson.”

Two-day workshop

Yamini Reddy’s idea for a dance workshop emerged when a parent asked her what couture her daughter should wear while dancing. “Another parent had a doubt as to what food her daughter should eat when she is practicing dance. I knew the benefits of yoga from my personal experience and felt students should know about yoga too,” she states.

She decided to address these issues and organise a workshop with experts. “I realised people don’t discuss these topics and there was a need to address them,” she says. The dance workshop organised by her dance school Natya Tarangini at Hotel Golkonda had different sessions on two days. The first day saw a session on costume and make up by fashion designer Ganesh Nallari and eating right and a talk by Dr. Harita Shyam, chief clinical nutritionist at Apollo Hospitals on nutrition and psychological benefits of dancing.

The second day on Thursday saw sessions on yoga and music. Her father and eminent dance guru Raja Reddy shared his experiences with the 150 participants.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Neeraja Murthy / Hyderabad – April 24th, 2014

Railway exhibition a big draw

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technology
A visitor records the exhibits on his mobile at the exhibition organised as part of the Railway Week celebrations, in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. / Photo: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM / The Hindu
A visitor records the exhibits on his mobile at the exhibition organised as part of the Railway Week celebrations, in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. / Photo: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM / The Hindu

It was a trip down memory lane for some of the visitors as they went through old photographs and stamps on locomotives, rail bridges, and our national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Sastry, and Jawaharlal Nehru travelling in trains.

The exhibition was organised by the Waltair Division of East Coast Railway as part of the 59 Railway Week celebrations here on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There were stamps issued on Howrah, Chennai, Mumbai CST, and Old Delhi stations with the imposing vintage buildings, the BNR locomotive, built by the North British Locomotive Company, introduced by BNR in 1913. It was continued till 1921 for heavy shunting and coal traffic.

Later in the evening, cultural programmes were organised by the Personnel Branch of Waltair Division as part of the celebrations.

In his inaugural address, Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar listed the achievements of the Division during the financial year 2013-2014.

The Division achieved an originating loading of 52.56 MT, thereby becoming one of the few divisions in the country which had an originating loading in excess of 50 MT. On the passenger front, the originating traffic increased to 33.80 million, which was 3 per cent more than the previous year, and passenger earnings increased to Rs.366.51 crore, which was 17 per cent higher than the previous year. The Division has earned the highest ever total earning of Rs.6,265.58 crore.

Mr. Anil Kumar spoke on the development works initiated at Visakhapatnam railway station like commissioning of escalators on platforms 2 and 3 and 4 and 5, and works on improvement of Gnanapuram-side to ease traffic congestion.

Additional DRM M.L. Meena, ECoRWWO president Anju Anil Kumar, and Divisional Personnel Officer B. Mondal were among those who attended.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities>Visakhapatnam / Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – April 16th, 2014

Engineering grad shows the way

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
K Nikita who won the Leo of the Year award at a function in Visakhapatnam on Thursday
K Nikita who won the Leo of the Year award at a function in Visakhapatnam on Thursday

Being a civil engineering student doesn’t stop her to reach out to the deprived lot and serve society in the best possible manner.

It is this selfless attitude that made K. Nikita, III year student of Dr. L. Bullayya College, stand out from the crowd and win an international award ‘Leo of the Year 2012-2013’. As part of Leo Club Visakhapatnam Greater, a community-based youth wing of Lions Clubs International, Nikita got selected for her consistent effort serving diverse communities. Nikhita is the first person to win the award from the State and second in the country, says her father K.L.V. Krishna Rao.

Apart from being a brilliant student and an NCC cadet, Nikita has designed several projects that heighten the happiness quotient of the needy. “The club, involving 20 youngsters, provides me a platform to meet different people and understand their requirements. Visiting places such as Central Jail, Juvenile Home for Girls, old age homes and slum areas made me think beyond classrooms,” she says.

Community projects

Nikita feels creating tailor-made community projects provide an avenue to foster leadership qualities. She says, “service is contagious. It gives me immense pleasure when people benefit out of our programmes and spread the smile. The recent week-long workshop at the Central Jail saw inmates participating in a series of sports and quiz contests. I feel these people have been brushed aside by society due to varied reasons. And it is our responsibility to bring change in their lives.”

Drawing inspiration from her parents and team-mates, Nikita is confident about living her dream by utilising her time efficiently. Shuffling between studies and community work, according to her, is an art that one nurtures over a period of time. “Everything is time bound in life. It is important to plan your day. With so much to do in life, the art of living lies in enjoying what you do. And in the process, you will end up finding time for anything you want to do,” she adds.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Rani Devalla / Visakhapatnam – January 31st, 2014

Free workshop on film making

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

If you think that the success of a movie depends on its casting, music and foot-tapping item numbers, you are mistaken.

The movie ‘Minugurulu’ has no such regular templates to draw the audience to the theatre hall. However, the well-made film will hardly leave its viewers disappointed as its theme is entirely different from the run-of-the-mill melodrama.

Released in 2014, the film, directed and produced by Ayodhya Kumar Krishnam Setty, grabbed special jury prize in the International Children’s Film Festival of India apart from being nominated for Best Indian Film at the 9 India International Children’s Film Festival.

To facilitate the aspiring directors understand the concept of directing message- oriented films, Vizag Film Society has taken the initiative of screening the film on April 25 which will be followed by a free workshop on filmmaking.

The director of the film is coming to Vizag to engage the wannabe filmmakers and take them through the workshop that focuses on the making of ‘Minugurulu’. “To celebrate the theme-based film’s success, we have organised this workshop. The session facilitates an interactive forum with director Ayodhya Kumar where one gets familiar with the nuances of making low-budget films,” honorary secretary of VFS Narava Prakasa Rao said.

Certificates will be given away to those who participate in the free workshop. Free screening of Minugurulu will begin at Visakhapatnam Public Library from 10 a.m. Those who want to register can contact 9052954800 or 9032477463.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – April 22nd, 2014

Remembering a titan of Hyderabad’s heritage

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

He played cricket and football for St Stephen’s Delhi with distinction. He did his masters in English as well as Arabic and he topped Punjab University in Persian. And if you are to name a saviour of the cave art of Ajanta and Ellora it is him: Ghulam Yazdani, a Padma Bhushan awardee as well as a recipient of OBE (Order of British Empire). 

Remembering a titan of Hyderabad’s heritage
Remembering a titan of Hyderabad’s heritage

As the Archaeology Department of Andhra Pradesh marks its 100 years the coming Friday, it is time to remember the man who created the department out of nothing.
If Hyderabad has a vestige of its heritage left, it is thanks to him. Deputed to Hyderabad as a Superintendent in 1914, he brought with him his expertise, energy and accountability. Not for him the claptrap of archaeology department doing the job of cataloguing and executing conservation work, Yazdani was a hands on man who got a road laid between Hyderabad and Bidar to protect the Bahamani heritage of Bidar and also between Toli Masjid and Golconda.
A man of sharp wit, he dismisses the decorative motifs of Toli Masjid as: “The impression made by such buildings overloaded with decorations is like the impression left by the ostentatious and lavish display of personal adornment, generally favoured by lowly persons suddenly become rich.”
For the restoration of the Ellora cave art, he tried to get Luigi Cavenaghi, the man linked to restoration of Leonardo’s Last Supper, to work on the paintings. Unfortunately, he could get only Lorenzo Cecconi, who applied shellac on the paintings, ruining them further. Ghulam Yazdani published a series of photographs and reproductions of the cave art with his explanations.
And by the way, Ghulam Yazdani’s salary was ` 560 per month. And just recently, the Archeology Department found it fit to name its museum after YS Rajasekhara Reddy!

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Life & Style> People / by Serish Nanisetti, TNN / April 21st, 2014