Telugu states bag 14 Padma awards

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Hyderabad :

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh once again made their mark on the national stage with 14 individuals from the two Telugu speaking states bagging the Padma awards.

Between them, the two states shared two Padma Vibhushan awards, five Padma Bhushans and seven Padma Shris for the year 2016. The awards were announced in New Delhi on the eve of the Republic Day on Tuesday.

Last year, the two states had to settle for four Padma Shri awards while the year before in 2014, unified AP had the honour of receiving two Padma Bhushans and seven Padma Shri awards.

Leading the winners this year are Ch Ramoji Rao of the Eenadu Group, who was chosen for the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in the country, for his contribution to education, literature and journalism. The danseuse Yamini Krishnamurthy is the other winner of the award.

Chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed happiness at the Ramoji Group chairman being chosen for the prestigious award. Naidu said Ramoji Rao had taken print and television journalism to great heights. He had launched ‘Eenadu’ in Visakhapatnam in 1974.

The 79-year-old Ramoji Rao, who was born in Pedaparupudi of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh, is also a film producer with 87 films to his credit, has a chit fund business and owns a group of hotels. His Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad is a filmmaking destination for producers even from Hollywood, apart from being a tourist attraction.

Among the Padma Bhushan winners are the popular sports stars Sania Mirza (tennis) and Saina Nehwal (badminton). With the Rio de Janeiro Olympics round the corner, the awards are expected to come as a great boost to both of them. Mirza had won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award last year.

SS Rajamouli, who made waves with his blockbuster film ‘Bahubali’ has been awarded the Padma Shri. Rajamouli, officially listed as hailing from Karnataka by the government in its release announcing the awards, is currently shooting in Kerala for ‘Bahubali-2’.

His father, K Vijayendra Prasad, told TOI that he was happy that his son has been given the award. “First of all, it is God’s grace. And secondly, he is sincere, hardworking and humble. He deserves the award,” he said.

Two other well-known personalities from the city, social worker Sunita Krishnan won the Padma Shri while gastroenterologist Dr D Nageshwar Reddy has been awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Well-known artist K Laxma Goud, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Mannam Gopi Chand and cardiac surgeon Dr Alla Gopalakrishna Gokhale were also awarded the Padma Shri.

QUOTE
This award is not just mine, but belongs to all Telugu people who have been with me in this journey in journalism
Ramoji Rao
First of all, it is God’s grace. And secondly, he is sincere, hardworking and humble. He deserves the award
– K Vijayendra Prasad, father of director SS Rajamouli

|Telugu Winners
Padma Vibhushan
Yamini Krishnamurthy Art classical dance
Ch Ramoji Rao Literature, education & journalism

Padma Bhushan
Dr Alla Venkata ama Rao Science and engineering
Yarlagadda Laxmi Prasad Literature and education
Dr D nageshwar Reddy Medicine, gastroenterology
Saina Nehwal Sports – Badminton
Sania Mirza Sports Tennis Padma

Padma Shri
Dr Nayudamma Yarlagadda Medicine, pediatric surgery
Sunita Krishnan social work
Dr TV Narayana social work
SS Rajamouli Art Film direction & production (Officially listed as from Karnataka)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> India / TNN / January 26th, 2016

Asian Seabass a ray of hope for aqua farmers

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, World Opinion
A Scientist from the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, holding an Asian Seabass at Nagayalanka in Krishna district.- Photo: T. Appala Naidu
A Scientist from the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, holding an Asian Seabass at Nagayalanka in Krishna district.- Photo: T. Appala Naidu

Private enterprises to be allowed to import the rare fish seed

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has issued its final guidelines, allowing private entrepreneurs and enterprises to import Asian Seabass fish (Lates Calcarifer) seed and fingerlings.

The Union government has so far been not entertaining requests from Andhra Pradesh-based aqua enterprises to import the fish variety, fearing diseases and possible loss of native species. Primarily, aqua enterprises are keen on importing Asian Seabass from Australia, a leading country that has developed fifth generation seed of the fish. In Australia, the fish is known as ‘Barramundi’.

The guidelines are expected to bring in rapid changes in terms of fish production and economic activity.

Scarcity of seed

The supply of Asian Seabass seed by the Tamil Nadu-based Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture was insufficient, given the demand for the fish in Andhra Pradesh.

“The guidelines to import Asian Seabass seed and fingerlings will enable interested aqua farmers and enterprises in Andhra Pradesh. So far, farmers in Krishna district and hatchery operators have been collecting wild Asian Seabass seed from mangrove forests and coastal belts for cultivation,” said T. Raghu Sekhar, an aqua farmer.

“Asian Seabass is arguably an alternative to shrimp cultivation in Andhra Pradesh. Allowing import of the fish seed will improve fish production. Given the high market value of the fish, farmers in the State will immediately shift from shrimp to Asian Seabass cultivation,” an expert in brackishwater aquaculture at CIBA told The Hindu .

The natural seed of Asian Seabass is found in coastal areas and brackishwater sources in Krishna district, where local communities collect it to supply to hatcheries. Asian Seabass is one of the fish species which survives in pond, river and sea.

The guidelines issued recently by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare provide for responsible fisheries with due consideration of necessary biological, technical, economical, social, environmental and commercial aspects.

The guidelines also made it mandatory that hatchery / fish farms intending to breed Asian Seabass should be registered with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA). Cultivation will be allowed based on the recommendations of the CAA. However, direct sale of imported fingerlings should not be allowed for domestic or international market.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – January 23rd, 2016

Lok Nayak Foundation Award to Garikapati

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Visakhapatnam  :

The 12th Lok Nayak Foundation Award will be presented to noted scholar and ‘Maha Sahasravadhani’ Garikapati Narasimha Rao here on January 23. The foundation’s Life Time Achievement award will be presented to Chalasani Gandhi for his services as trade union leader for the welfare of railway employees and workers.

Addressing newsmen, Lok Nayak Foundation chairman Y Lakshmi Prasad said that their foundation has been felicitating literary and social persons and litterateur Garikapati Narasimha Rao will receive Rs 1.5 lakh in cash, while Chalasani Gandhi will be presented Rs 50,000.

Lakshmi Prasad said that the award was being presented every year on January 18, the death anniversary of former chief minister of AP NT Rama Rao, but due to some reasons they are presenting it on January 23.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / January 23rd, 2016

St Joseph’s Church uniquely European in feature

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

Visakhapatnam :

St Joseph’s Church inside the premises of St Joseph’s College for women was built in 1903. The church was originally consecrated as a chapel for the St Joseph’s sisters who used to reside at the abbey in Gnanapuram. It was later converted into a church to accommodate other members of the Christian community.

Gnanapuram originally began as a settlement and was reclaimed by the Roman Catholic Mission which commenced operations in Visakhapatnam in 1847. Slowly, a large colony spread around the area and even today, a vast majority of the residents of Gnanapuram are Christians, chiefly Roman Catholic.

St Joseph’s Abbey in the premises is a unique structure and built in typical Neo-Gothic style with soaring arches and a high roof. The structure (the church) is typically European in architectural style with massive arches supported by columns which in turn supporting the roof. Built entirely of stone, it is uniquely French in style with the tiles and stained glass windows imported from France.

According to heritage expert Edward Paul, the structure is unlike most other churches in South India. “As far as the church is concerned, it is uniquely European in feature and character. There is not a hint of local colonial architectural influence on the church.”

However, regarding the abbey, Edward Paul observed that the colonial influence was quite strong. He pointed out that the second floor or the upper portion of the abbey was tiled with beautiful wood work and added that much of the wood was imported from Burma.

History buff BS Mahesh said, “The abbey is probably the largest in Vizag with three main wings and attached smaller wings. He observed that this was structure much larger than the district collectorate and spread over a combined plinth of 60 to 70 thousand square feet.”

Local residents of Gnanapuram observed that this church and abbey once so beautifully located are now situated in one of the most polluted areas of the city. K Joseph, an engineer and resident of the area, said, “The pollution from the port and the factories around have done much damage to the church and abbey. It is unfortunate that the beautiful stained glass work and the interiors of the church suffer due to severe particulate pollution.”

A former student of St Joseph’s and now housewife B Kameswari said, “When I was in college student in the early 1960s, it used to be a lovely sight. Today, whenever I pass by, I feel sad that all the pollution around has taken a toll on the structure.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / January 14th, 2016

Grandeur marks ‘Paruveta Utsavam’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

It was all fun and frolic that pervaded the milieu of the ancient Paruveta Mandapam on Saturday where the Lord was taken out on a hunting safari.

The hunting expedition, an annual feature, was observed at the Paruveta Mandapam situated on the banks of the Gogarbham dam about two kilometres from the temple. Thousands of devotees took part in the mock hunting jubilations organised in connection with the Kanuma festival.

The processional deity of Lord Malayappa dressed in the royal robes of a King hunter was taken out to the venue in a grand procession which passed through the thick woods. The deity was equipped with his celestial panchayudhas like Gada, Khadga, Sankhu, Chakra and Bana befitting the occasion.

After the completion of certain religious formalities at the mandapam, the priests enacted the mock hunting game sending the audience into peels of laughter. The vahanam bearers carrying the Lord mounted atop a golden tiruchi trialled behind the temple priest who ran ahead (holding a sliver spear) and symbolically hunted down a couple deer kept tied in the nearby bush.

Devotees turned rumbustious each time the field sport was performed. In all the mock drill was repeated thrice .

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Tirumala – January 17th, 2016

CA Final Topper Clears Exam in One Sitting, Makes Chennai Proud

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All

Chennai /  Vijayawada :

A 23-year-old BCom graduate from Chennai, James John Britto, has emerged the national topper in his maiden attempt in the final Chartered Accountant exam, the results of which were announced on Sunday. Trailing him was Mohan Kumar Nagolu from Thottamledu, a non-descript hamlet under Chodavaram village panchayat near Srikalahasti in Chittoor district in Andhra, who emerged second.

CAtopperCHENNAI20jan2016

A resident of Mogappair, Britto completed his graduation in Loyola College. The final exam of one of the most toughest and rigorous professional courses in the world was conducted in November. Britto’s overall score was 595 out of 800 (74.38 per cent) which secured him the first rank in the country. The CA exams are divided into three levels — Common Proficiency Test (CPT), Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC) and the Final Examination.

“After clearing the foundation exams (CPT), I started preparing for the intermediate exams (IPCC). Since I did not wish to discontinue, I was preparing for the IPCC alongside my UG course,” said Britto.

On strategies he adopted to clear the exam, which people with even five to 10 years of professional CA experience find tough, he said, “I stuck to my basic plan of studying hard for 10-12 hours on an average everyday and this eventually peaked during the last few weeks of preparation.”

When asked about his future plans, one thing Britto was clear about was that he wanted to work in the city.

“As of now, I am looking at employment and have kept options open regarding the nature of the company. But one thing is for sure, I wouldn’t prefer working abroad as I love working here in the city,” said Britto, son of A Raja, a leading chartered accountant.

His father being in the field for nearly 30 years was one of the factors that Britto said contributed to his great success. “My father, who is in the same industry for close to 30 years, helped me a lot during the preparations and I would say his role was crucial throughout the CA exam journey.” Of the 42, 469 candidates who took up the exam last November, only 2,440 (5.75%) managed to clear the exam.

Nagolu Mohan Kumar from Tirupati and Avinash Sancheti from Kolkata secured the second and third rank in the final exam with scores 572 (71. 5 per cent) and 566 (70.75 per cent) respectively. When Mohan received a call from Manoj Fadnis, the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), informing him about his results, Mohan Kumar was literally on cloud nine.

“My happiness knew no bounds when Manoj Sir called me up and told me that I had secured the all-India second rank. The call was immediately followed by another one, this time from M Devaraj Reddy, vice-president of ICAI. I was thrilled and shared the news with my family,” Mohan Kumar told Express over the phone. Mohan, who pursued the CA course right from Intermediate, took coaching from Superwhiz in Vijayawada and did his articleship with Datla and Associates in Hyderabad. He attributed his success in the CA final to hard work. “Since November, four months prior to the commencement of exams, I had been studying 12 to 13 hours a day, including Sundays,” he said, opining that systematic preparation is the key for success in CA exams.

Mohan Kumar’s father N Nagaraju Reddy is a farmer, while his brother Bhanuprakash has completed his BTech. Kumar’s entire family celebrated his success with the villagers also joining them.

Going forward, Mohan Kumar said, he wanted to work with a good MNC for three-four years before going for own practice.

Meanwhile, Superwhizz principal S Venkateswara Rao said along with Mohan Kumar, the institute had bagged three more ranks within the first 50 ranks. J Harsha Sai bagged the 7th rank, M Swathi the 32nd and P Pradeep Rai secured the 50th rank at the national level. The ICAI also released results for the CPT exams conducted during the December 2015 on Sunday. The overall pass percentage for this exam was around 34.45 percent as only 34,129 out of the 99,077 candidates who appeared for it cleared the test.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / January 18th, 2016