Category Archives: Records, All

Gouthu Lachanna remembered

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Visakhapatnam:

Andhra University vice-chancellor Prof G Nageswara Rao paid tributes to Sardar Gouthu Lachanna on his birth anniversary by hailing him as one of the great real life heroes of Andhra Pradesh.

The vice-chancellor said not only did Gouthu Lachanna play a key role in emancipating the down trodden but was also a front liner during the freedom struggle.

He hailed him as man who dedicated his life for the betterment of mankind. TNN

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / August 18th, 2016

Vizag doctors perform liver transplant without blood

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
A matching liver from a brain dead patient was available and was allocated under Jeevandan scheme of AP
A matching liver from a brain dead patient was available and was allocated under Jeevandan scheme of AP

Visakhapatnam :

The first liver transplant without any blood or blood product transfusion in Andhra Pradesh was held at a corporate hospital in the Healthcity, Arilova recently.

The surgery was performed on a 54-year-old male patient on July 30.The patient has since recovered and is all set to be discharged.

The male patient hailing from Vijayawada was suffering from NASH (Non-Alcoholic steatohepatitis) related cirrhosis and decompensated liver failure. He had a very poor quality of life due to accumulation of excessive water in his body, episodes of bleeding in his gut and hepatic encephalopathy (liver failure related mental changes), said Dr Sandeep Chatrath, Central Regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals.

“In addition, his cirrhotic liver also had a cancerous tumour, which necessitated an immediate operation. Unfortunately his family had no matching live donor and therefore had no option but to wait for a cadaveric organ from a brain dead person. A matching liver from a brain dead patient was available and was allocated to him under Jeevandan scheme of AP,” informed Dr Manish C Verma, chief transplant surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad and Vizag.

This operation, which lasted for about eight hours is also a landmark operation as it is the first liver transplant in the state to be done without any blood or blood product transfusion. Dr Varma said, “Liver transplant has always been an operation which requires high volumes of blood product transfusions and this operation without any transfusion is a clinical benchmark which is rarely achieved.”

The team of specialists who performed the liver transplant included, Dr Manish C Varma, Dr Anand Khakhar, Dr Manjunath B, Dr Kirubakaran, Dr N Muralidhar, Dr Disha, Dr N. Srinivas, Dr Satish, Dr Atchyut, Dr Bhushan and Dr Sasidhar Reddy.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / August 11th, 2016

British Prison testimony to sacrifices of freedom fighters

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Built in 1750s, it was used to confine freedom fighters from Krishna and Guntur districts till another jail was built in Vijayawada in 1920s

The remains of the British Prison at Bandarkota village near Machilipatnam in Krishna district.
The remains of the British Prison at Bandarkota village near Machilipatnam in Krishna district.

A British construction here stands as a witness to the bravery and sacrifices of the freedom fighters of Masulipatnam and Krishna district.

The giant building, known as ‘British Prison’, reminds one of the history of freedom struggle in Andhra Pradesh.

“It was built after the Anglo-French war in 1750s. The British required a prison in Machilipatnam to incarcerate the local freedom fighters within the area of Krishna and Guntur districts and Nalgonda in Telangana State during the freedom struggle,” local historian Mohammed Silar toldThe Hindu .

According to available literature on Machilipatnam, it was the only prison to confine the freedom fighters until another prison was built in Vijayawada in early 1920s.

Jaggery unit

‘Masula History’ penned by Chitta Bala Krishna Sastry in 1922 predicts that Machilipatnam would witness rapid industrial activity, by citing the jaggery production unit set up in the British prison by then.

“After the British left the prison by early 1920s, local entrepreneur Jaldu Rama Rao obtained permission from the British to use the prison premises for production of jaggery and sugar,” said Mr. Silar. However, sugar cane production had to be stopped by mid 1940s, owing to various business reasons.

Currently, the British prison is owned by the family of Jaldu Rama Rao.

Now, an old woman resides at the entrance of the site, which is yet to get the heritage status.

Only if it gets the heritage status, any conservatory initiatives by the Archaeological Survey of India could be expected to take place.

Another heritage structure

Ironically, the British prison is located opposite another heritage site which was a hospital during the Nizam’s period.

The efforts made by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for the conservation of the British prison as well as the other sites at Bandarkota have not yielded any results so far.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Andhra Pradesh / Bankarkota(KrishnA) / August 15th, 2016

Artists unveil story of Krishna at Bapu Museum

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Art buffs admiring the works at the expo organised at the Bapu Museum as part of Krishna Pushkarams in Vijayawada.—Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar
Art buffs admiring the works at the expo organised at the Bapu Museum as part of Krishna Pushkarams in Vijayawada.—Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar

Vintage photos, paintings bring to life State heritage

The Bapu Museum looked colourful with various hues on Saturday as dozens of paintings and photographs highlighting the heritage of Andhra Pradesh and the history of river Krishna were showcased both by the Department of Archaeology and Museums and Artist Associations’ Guild as part of Krishna Pushkarams.

Vintage photographs, collected and preserved by the department, brought to the fore century-old temples, forts, wells, inscriptions and places of historical importance in various districts. These works are displayed at the coastal museum.

“This expo is sponsored by the Department of Culture and Language. Around 60 painters representing the guild are also taking part with their works. The works are made of acrylic, oil, water and other multi-mixed paints projecting the sthala purana of the river which flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before hitting the at Humsaladeevi,” said guild president B.A. Reddy from Pamarru.

He said the theme of the painting was Krishna Pushkarams and the works dealt with temples, idols, rituals, nature and the splendour of river Krishna and leaders who shaped the future of Andhra Pradesh.

Guild formed in 1992

Mr. Reddy said that the guild was formed in 1992 when the State was united. “After bifurcation, the guild was shifted to Guntur. We, as desired by the Department of Culture and Language, took part in the Godavari Pushkars and also in the Ugadi celebrations at Government Music College in Vijayawada. This is the third big event we are taking part,” said secretary Mruthunjaya Rao.

He said that each painting displayed will get Rs.6,000 from the department and on the final day, the guild, in memory of several late painters such as Damerla Rama Rao, Bhagirathi, A.S. Ram and M. S. Murthy will honour the participants with awards and mementoes.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – August 14th, 2016

Tributes paid to Sankarambadi

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Writers led by Sahasravadhani Medasani Mohan paying tributes at the statue of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, in Tirupati on Wednesday.— Photo: K.V. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR
Writers led by Sahasravadhani Medasani Mohan paying tributes at the statue of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, in Tirupati on Wednesday.— Photo: K.V. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR

Writers turned up in large numbers at the statue of Sankarambadi Sundarachari, composer of the State anthem Maa Telugu Thalliki , to pay tributes to him on the occasion of his 102nd birth anniversary on Wednesday.

There is only one bronze statue for Sundarachari in the State installed by literary enthusiasts a decade back in his native place of Tirupati. A son of the soil, the poor man lived for literature and died an ‘unsung hero’.

Members of Sankarambadi Sahiti Peetham, a literary body formed in his name by academician Garlapati Damodaram Naidu to perpetuate his ideals, celebrated the day by garlanding Sundarachari’s statue and paying tributes, even as the organisation’s vice-president G. Suhasini rendered the anthem.

Noted ‘Sahasravadhani’ Medasani Mohan led the team of writers and poets in paying tributes. Peetham’s president D. Masthanamma announced that the body aimed at bringing the glory of the litterateurs of yesteryear to the present generation and popularising them. General secretary M. Devarajulu, writer Sakam Nagaraja and others participated.

At Sri Padmavathi Degree and PG College, TTD Special Officer (Projects) N. Muktheswara Rao explained the nuances in his compositions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Tirupati – August 11th, 2016

Rajiv Gandhi award presented to educationist

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All
V. Koteswaramma
V. Koteswaramma

The International Business Council (IBC), New Delhi, has presented the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award to Montessori Educational Institutions founder and correspondent V. Koteswaramma.

The award was presented recently for her outstanding achievements in the field of education. “I got many awards and the new award has added one more feather in the cap of Montessori Institutions. I thank the college and school principals, headmasters and teaching and non-teaching staff for their commitment and hard work, which helped me in achieving the awards,” said Koteswaramma, who expressed satisfaction at bagging the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award.

Montessori Colleges Joint Secretary Avirneni Rajiv, Degree College Principal R. Padmavathi, Junior College Principal Y. Mangatayaru, B.Ed College Principal G. Padma Tulasi, High School headmistress K. Suhasini and other staff felicitated the institutions’ founder for her achievement, at a programme held on the college premises on Friday.

Montessori Educational Institutions, which started with a meagre staff and students about six decades ago, is now running many schools and colleges for girls, said Ms. Koteswaramma.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Vijayawada – August 06th, 2016

Mridanga Vidushi honoured

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan being honoured.
Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan being honoured.

The Palani Subramanyam memorial award was given to vidushi Dandamudi Sumathi Ramamohan Rao.

The prestigious Percussive Arts Centre of Bangalore (Palghat Mani Iyer Memorial Arts Centre) conducts Talavadyotsav every year in a big way. Talavadyotsav-2016, a festival of percussive arts and music conference was conducted for four days. Life time achievement awards were instituted by the Centre in memory of legendary percussive artistes like Palghat Mani Iyer, Palani Subramanyam Pillai, Bengaluru K. Venkataraman, H. Puttachar and G.S. Sriram.

Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan Rao.
Mridangam vidushi Sumathi Rammohan Rao.

This year mridanga vidushi Dandamudi Sumathi Ramamohan Rao of Vijayawada received the coveted Palani Subramanyam Memorial Award for her eminence in mridanga vadyam.

The wife and disciple of famed mridanga vidwan Dandamudi Ramamohan Rao, Sumathi is an A-grade artiste of Akashvani and Doordarshan and belongs to Palani Subramanyam bani. She learnt the preliminaries from father Nidumolu Raghavaiah and Mahadevu Radhakrishna Raju and received her advanced training from her husband Dandamudi Ramamohan Rao.

She travelled widely and in a mridangam playing career spanning 25 years, she accompanied many eminent vocal and instrumental vidwans for concerts in the country and abroad.

A few years ago she also received the Central Sangeet Natak Akademy award. She worked for more than 20 years as a mridangam lecturer in the G.V.R. Government College of music and trained a large number of disciples in mridanga vadyam.

Sumathi Ramamohan Rao established a sabha named Laya Vedika which provides stage for only percussive instrumentalists.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by P. Surya Rao / Hyderabad – August 04th, 2016

Anti-liquor activist Dubagunta Rosamma no more

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

RosammaANDHRA08aug2016

Nellore :

Anti-arrack movement leader responsible for imposing total ban on liquor, Vardhineni Rosamma (93) popularly known as Dubagunta Rosamma, passed away  in Dubagunta village of Kaligri mandal, about 90 km from here on Sunday morning.

According to her family, she breathed her last around 3.30 AM on Sunday at her residence in Dubagunta village. Rosamma’s family has been living as agricultural labourers in the village. She is survived by two sons V Srinivasulu, and V Yddukondalu, and a daughter K Padmaja. Her last rights are expected to be held on Monday in Dubagunta village.

Nellore MP M Rajamohan Reddy, Udayagiri MLA B Venkata Rama Rao, former Udayagiri MLA M Chandrasekhar Reddy, MLCs V Balasubrahmanyam, S Chandra Mohan Reddy, CPM senior leader Jakka Venkaiah and others condoled her death.

Unlettered woman who made history

Vardhineni Rosamma, born in 1923 in Juvvaladinne village, married Kondaiah Naidu of Dubagunta village and settled as a agricultural labourer. Rosamma, who was an unlettered woman, was inspired by literacy movement, during the regime of Collector M Raju in 1990s. Later, she joined the Anti-Arrack Movement in 1991, with the inspiration of a book called ‘Mahila Meluko’ written by Vitavu Balasubrahmanyam. She intensified the movement by making ‘Dubagunta village the focus.’

All political parties except Congress, non-governmental organisations and social activists extended support, and joined the anti-arrack movement, which led to its ban by the late CM N T Rama Rao.

After winning polls, NTR  signed on the dotted line to ban liquor in the State.  AP had a golden era for two-and-a-half years during the regime of NTR and crime rate drastically came down following ban on liquor. N Chandrababu Naidu, who assumed office after NTR, lifted the ban. Rosamma’s last days were bad. The government, allotted  her four acres of land in Dubagunta village and a plot at Kavali outskirts, forcibly grabbed it by saying that she had no pattas.

Even APSRTC’s free pass was cancelled few years ago. After losing both kidneys, she travelled to Kanuparthipadu village to meet Chief Minister Naidu. She was not allowed to meet the CM, and was mercilessly necked out from the venue by calling her mad. However, philanthropists donated some money for her health and she died undergoing dialysis at her village on Sunday.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 08th, 2016

‘ICU on Wheels’ launched by Apollo

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
ACP K Prabhakar flagging-off ‘ ICU on Wheels’ ambulance at Apollo Hospitals as regional CEO Dr Sandeep looks on in Visakhapatnam on Friday
ACP K Prabhakar flagging-off ‘ ICU on Wheels’ ambulance at Apollo Hospitals as regional CEO Dr Sandeep looks on in Visakhapatnam on Friday

Visakhapatnam :

Apollo Hospitals have launched five ‘ICU on Wheels’ ambulances, the first of their kind in the state, on Friday. The GPS-enabled (Geopositioning system) was flagged off by ACP (traffic) Prabhakar.

People can call the ambulance by dialing 1066. High-end medical equipment including provision for ventilator, defibrillator and spine boards are provided in the ambulance to serve critically ill patients..

The ambulances are placed in different parts of the city and during any medical emergency, the ambulance nearest to the patient’s location will be alerted by the control room in the hospital and using the GPS system that ambulance will reach the patient. Depending on the type of emergency, the patient will be shifted to either of the Apollo Hospitals located at Arilova and Ramnagar.

“Most of the trauma deaths occur while the patient is en route to the hospital and thus timely intervention is required. An ambulance in the nearest location during the ‘golden hour’, with all the required facilities would be a life-saver. The transit time can be utilised for the emergency treatment inside the ambulance,” said Dr Ranjith Kumar, specialist in emergency medicine at Apollo Hospital.

“The launch of International standard Trauma care services would help providing fast services under one roof for cases of cardiac attacks, brain strokes, head injuries, poisoning and accidents,” said, Sandeep C, regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals.

“An awareness program on the ambulances will be organised for policemen by the Apollo hospitals later this month,” the CEO added.

To clear any traffic obstruction for the ambulance to commute faster, a green channel concept for emergency vehicles will be launched shortly,” said the ACP.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express ./ Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / August 06th, 2016

First woman goods train guard makes maiden trip

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All
UH Lakshmi going on her maiden trip as Goods Guard from Visakhapatnam. / Photo: By Special Arangement
UH Lakshmi going on her maiden trip as Goods Guard from Visakhapatnam. /
Photo: By Special Arangement

U.H. Lakshmi has made history by becoming the first woman goods train guard in Waltair Division.

She assumed charge by taking her first trip from the marshalling yard here to Rayagada in Odisha. Ms. Lakshmi was appointed a trains clerk in Waltair Division on compassionate grounds in 2011 after the death of her husband.

She qualified for the post of goods guard after passing the departmental examination and later underwent training at the Zonal Railway Institute at Sini in Jharkhand from November, 2015, according to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager M. Yelvender Yadav.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – August 05th, 2016