Shirisha Vepoor, an integrated MA Economics student of the University of Hyderabad, made history by becoming the first-ever woman president from the SFI this year. The elections were in news for being the first to have the Nota (None Of The Above) option. Nota grabbed four per cent votes. The results were annou-nced on Thursday.
Apart from the SFI, an Independent, ABVP, NSUI and UDA were in the race. Shirisha was declared the president, Sandeep Kumar (MCA) the general secretary and Aditya Harish (MSc) the joint secretary. UDA’s Manikanta was declared the vice-president and ABVP’s Krishna and Swathi were declared sports and cultural secretaries. President Shirisha received 1197 votes, and vice president Manikanta received 1193.
Delighted with the results, Shirisha Veppor said, her priority will be on ensuring security, safety and better facilities for girls on the campus. “I am very happy about my victory, it is the victory of every SFI cadre who has worked for the welfare of the students.
The first thing on my agenda would be on urging the administration to build more hostels for girls, as there is a dearth of hostels for them. We will also organize gender sensitization campaigns on the campus along with Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) to fight for the rights of women on the campus.
We will also not allow any fee hike to be imposed and ensure that there is no financial burden on students.”Adding, “One important factor is to keep a tab on the university land and make sure it is not given away to private bodies for non-academic purposes,” Shirisha said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / November 01st, 2013
A farmer on his bullock cart among the locals watching an Indian Air Force chopper landing at the old aerodrome in Adilabad on Tuesday. / Photo: S. Harpal Singh / The Hindu
Built during the Nizam era, the airstrip served as a refuelling point for the fighter planes heading to the battle fronts until late1970s
The Indian Air Force (AIF) has begun putting the old aerodrome in the town to use like refuelling its Chetak helicopters those are used for training pilots. Four choppers belonging to the Hakimpet Helicopter Training Academy made brief halts at the airstrip located in the outskirts of the town on Tuesday to refuel the engines.
The move has raised hopes among the locals who expect more development activities at the airstrip which was laid in early 1930s during the Nizam era. The aerodrome was built apparently to be used as a refuelling point for the fighter aircrafts heading to battle fronts. Spread over 350 acres, the aerodrome has an airstrip running to about 1,000 metres.
After Independence, the airstrip came under the control of the IAF and it was used as a refuelling point until late 1970s after which it fell into disuse. In order to prevent the possible encroachments, the IAF secured the premises by erecting fence around the aerodrome in 1996. The IAF has started using the airfield since the past 10 days or so.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / TheHindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Adilabad – October 30th, 2013
R Kiran Kumar and Jaffar Sadiq Baig are the first from AP to have been part of the Siachen Glacier Trek organised by the Army Adventure Wing. The duo speaks to Hyderabad Times about their experiences
After a long month of being surrounded by stark white landscape covered with snow, R Kiran Kumar (32) and Jaffar Sadiq Baig (31), members of Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh, are back in the city. The two members were the first from Andhra Pradesh to go on the Siachen Glacier Trek, an annual, one-month programme by the Army Adventure Wing.
Explaining more about the programme, where the duo scaled a dizzying height of 15,300 feet, chief inspector of Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh, Kiran says, “The Indian Mountaineering Foundation, New Delhi, is the one that releases vacancies for such expeditions. So when I heard about this, I just applied. I’ve already done a basic and advanced mountaineering course from IMF, which is the national apex body for mountaineering. There were 45 people chosen for this intensive trek — of which, only 10 were civilians. Jaffar and I were the only Hyderabadis.”
Jaffar Sadiq Baig, a 31-year-old mountaineering enthusiast, even quit his job for this opportunity! “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I did not want to let it go. The Siachen glacier is out of bounds for everyone. And I didn’t think I should give it up. My family was very supportive of this,” says Jaffar, who couldn’t believe his luck when he got the call. “I never thought I’d be selected for this, since there are so many applicants. My first feeling was that of anxiety — to see the glacier. When we reached Leh on September 25, I could finally believe that I was there,” explains Jaffar.
The first two weeks after reaching Leh were spent on acclimatisation, explain the mountaineers. “Since the oxygen levels drop by 30-40%, it is very important that we get used to the climate. We have a health check up every single day. The acclimatisation process is done in three stages — the first stage is done at a height of 9000 – 12000 ft; the second and third at a height of 12,000 – 15,000 ft and 15,000 – 18,000 ft respectively.”
While the first stage is for six days, the second and third stages are for four days each. “The first two days, we’re not allowed to do any strenuous activity such as running, or skipping. The remaining days, we walk for 3 kms and 5 kms each. While in the first stage, the walk is with no load, in the second and third stage, we need to carry a load that weighs around 12- 15 kgs!” says Jaffar, adding that during these programmes, they’re trained in techniques such as rock craft, ice craft and snow craft.
Once the acclimatisation programmes are done and the health check-ups come back positive, they’re then taken from the Siachen Base camp, which is at a height of 12,500 ft, to Kumar Post (15,300 ft) which is the summit point for their trek. “Two of our members had to be sent back because their health condition didn’t allow them to climb any further. The base camp and the Kumar Post are 60 kms apart and are covered in four days. During the treks, we encountered numerous crevices, some which were as wide as 140 feet!” explains Jaffar.
“When we reached Kumar Post, my first reaction was a simple, speechless wow — there was nothing but mountain all around! On the right, we could see the Himalayas that belonged to China, and on the left, those that belonged to Pakistan. It’s like these are walls separating the countries,” recollects Kiran Kumar.
But the trek isn’t a cake-walk. When the sun it out, it is so blinding that one has to wear goggles at all times! “Plus, the only shoes that we can wear — koflach shoes —weigh four kgs each leg! Add to that the cramp-on shoes (that need to be worn when one crosses a glacier on hard ice) which weigh one kg each, walking becomes so difficult! For starters, your ankles start hurting a lot. But these are the only shoes that protect you from frostbites,” Jaffar adds.
But what left the two of them spellbound was the Army personnel stationed at the glacier. “Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, is a no-man’s land. The fact that Indian Army is standing guard is a matter of great pride for us! The temperature here dips to minus 60 degrees in December — when we left, the temperature was minus 30 degrees. But despite all these hardships, the Army remains on post. It’s amazing!” says Kiran.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Life & Style> People> Andhra Pradesh / by Apuurva Sridharan / TNN / November 02nd, 2013
“10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0. All systems are a go, real time systems activated and on board computers are in flight mode,” an official announced in anticipation at Isro’s Sriharikota centre on Thursday. An air of nervousness pervaded the team as it prepared to “launch” Indian space research’s most ambitious project – the Mars mission.
There was just one difference. Thursday was just a dress rehearsal. India’s first mission to the Red Planet designated the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mom) is scheduled for launch at 2.38pm on November 5.
On Thursday the mission executives were glued to their monitors in all earnestness in Sriharikota’s hi-tech control room. The atmosphere was a mix of apprehension and excitement.
Thursday’s dry run simulated the entire command sequence of the countdown. It demonstrated the mission readiness, according an Isro spokesperson.
Speaking to TOI, he said that except for fuel filling all the activities 8-10 hours prior to the lift-off of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL were simulated without a hitch. The ‘rehearsal’s’ most important aspect was the retraction of the mobile service tower and bringing it back – carried out flawlessly.
“During the 8.5-hour rehearsal which began at 6.08am various checks were carried out including the range and all was a go, including the weather,” the spokesperson said. The vehicle’s systems were powered and its health is normal.
“On Friday, the launch authorization board will meet to take the final call to initiate the final 56.5-half countdown that will start at 6am on Sunday,” the official said.
To involve the public, a countdown clock has been included on the Mom’s Facebook page.
Principal investigator of Nasa’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (Maven) mission Bruce Jakosky has been quoted in Universe Today, a web journal, saying, “Nasa’s Maven and India’s Mom will work together to help solve the mysteries of Mars’ atmosphere.”
Maven is slated for launch on November 18 and both MOM and Maven are expected to arrive at the Red Planet at the same time in September 2014.
Scientists and engineers of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have sent good wishes to Isro for Mom’s successful launch on November 5.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Science> Red Planet / by Srinivas Laxman / TNN / November 01st, 2013
Historian Musham Damodhar Rao with some rare telephone bills issued during Nizam’s tenure./ Photo: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
World’s first postage stamp among other items in Damodar’s collection
‘Black Penny’, world’s first postage stamp issued in Britain in 1840, royal documents, letters,firmans proclaimed during Aurangazeb’s time and a record pertaining to what could be one of the earliest MNCs of India — Bank of Bengal — form part of an invaluable collection of historic items belonging to 51-year-old Musham Damodar Rao, a businessman-turned epigraphist.
A visit to a philately exhibition 30 years ago aroused curiosity in Mr. Rao. Driven by the passion, he started collecting stamps, and along with their accumulation, turned his attention to coins, currency notes, documents and postal covers which were censored during World War I before delivering to the addressee. The total number of stamps runs into 50,000 to 60,000, including 3,000 of 100 princely States.
Describing himself as a “historian”, Mr. Rao, who is convenor of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee’s intellectual’s cell, told The Hinduthat he was also a consultant for old documents and scripts.
One of his earliest collections is a 2,500-year-old coin of pre-Satavahana period. The coin made of panchaloha depicts Soma Gopa, a tribal king, who used to worship the naga deity. A copper coin of Biblical times is another prized possession. He has a collection of 303 coins of Satavahana dynasty and a thousand each of various other dynasties, besides those pertaining to the British rule in India. In all, he is in possession of a staggering 30,000 to 40,000 coins.
A small gold coin of Vijayanagara empire, the size of a pen nib, is another rare piece.
Mr. Rao said his collection also includes an information bulletin sent by Sind Sultan (now in Pakistan) authorities to the rulers in Delhi in the 16 century.
One of the interesting records shows an authorisation issued by William Carr in November 1839 declaring that he was authorising and empowering besides himself, William or Dwarakanath Tagore (grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore) or Thomas J Taylor to vote for him in the election of directors to the Bank of Bengal. Another rare collection is the salary receipt of Junagarh King, who used to receive a monthly salary of Rs.30,000 from British Crown.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Y. Mallikarjun / Hyderabad – July 26th, 2013
The Indian Institute of Technology here has taken the lead among the eight new IITs in quality of research.
Equipped with strong research facilities, IIT-H has been rated nine on the h-index along with IIT Ropar, while the other six IITs in Patna, Indore, Mandi, Jodhpur, Gandhinagar and Bhubaneshwar were rated in the band of two and five. This was revealed in a recent journal citation assessment commissioned by the new IITs.
The h-index, named after Argentine-American physicist Jorge E. Hirsch, measures the impact of a scientific research publication of an institution or an individual researcher based on the number of citations per publication.
The assessment revealed that research from IIT-H had been cited 535 times compared to 362 for IIT Ropar. The figures for most other new IITs are in just two digits.
Expressing happiness over the development, IIT Hyderabad Director U.B Desai credited the faculty for the honour.
Next target
The effort now will be to improve the h-index to 40 and then to 50 from the existing nine, he said, while admitting that it would take a while for the fledgling institute to reach the position.
Prof. Desai said the institute was currently working on 75 projects. The institute, with 150 full-time faculty members, also has the most number of students (1,355) pursuing various courses.
Among these, around 300 are Ph.D students, indicating the institute’s strong focus on research.
New campus
Prof. Desai said the institute, currently functioning from Yeddumailaram near the ordnance factory at Medak, will move to its permanent campus at Kandi near Sangareddy in the next academic year. Student hostels will be constructed by March next and the main academic building by May.
“I have set up committees to ensure the campus development programme is on track,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Ravikanth Reddy / Hyderabad – October 28th, 2013
It takes a strong mind and heart to train oneself to be a sportsman. And in a country where cricket is a religion, it isn’t an uncommon instance where other sportsmen bemoan the government’s lack of support. And if it’s tough enough when one is able-bodied, what of the many talented differently-abled people? That is the issue that city-based Aditya Mehta is trying to drive home.
Perturbed by the state of sports facilities provided for the differently-abled and the way people react towards them, Aditya Mehta is planning a unique initiative: to cycle the 3800 kilometers-odd distance between Kashmir and Kanyakumari. A commendable feat, the 31 year-old makes this even more of an achievement being an above knee amputee himself. Strike one for Mehta.
The Hyderabadi who lost his leg in an accident, got frustrated of sitting at home and took up the sport after coming across a hoarding of Hyderabad Bicycle Club. A business man by profession, he turned the sport into a passion for himself in a span of 19 months, even registering his name in the Limca Book of Records for being fastest above-knee amputee to comlete 100 kilometers on a cycle. “I bought a cycle after seeing the hoarding and started practising. Initially, I fell down many a time, but slowly I picked up and achieved a lot from then on,” said Aditya about the initial stages of his cycling journey.
Not one to be slowed down or to entertain sympathy, he points out that the empathy shown by people for amputees might deter their confidence levels and make them lose faith in trying to lead a normal life. “Often, people use the word ‘bechara’ for amputees, even parents sympathetically wonder what amputees can do in life. But I feel that they have the potential to lead a normal life,” he states strongly.
Having seen for himself what differently-abled people can do for themselves, he has made it his pet project to encourage fellow amputees to go out there and achieve. However, he does admit that help from the government could take them a long way.
“If we see other nations like China or smaller countries like Malaysia, sports facilities for them are really good. However, in our nation, there are no sports academies for amputees. I want to motivate amputees to take up sports and drive the point that they can lead a normal life,” states two-time silver medalist. For Aditya, this ride isn’t just a statement to the government but also to other differently-abled people. Having picked up his medals for India at the Hero Para-Cycling Championship held in Delhi on March-2013, he hopes his initiative will prompt the government to take notice of his requests to provide a special academy and other facilities for amputees.
Besides just cycling the distance, Aditya also hopes to raise funds for his foundation. Along with four close associates, the Hyderabadi is in fact registering the Aditya Mehta Foundation today, to which people can donate money for every kilometer he covers. The foundation will utilize the generated funds in providing sports equipment and prosthesis for other amputees interested in sports. “Differently-abled people from different states who are selected in various competitions, call and ask me to help them find a sponsor. This is how I intend to help,” he shares.
The 36-day bicycle ride titled Airtel Endurance Ride by Aditya Mehta is powered by Bharathi Cement and will begin on November 7 at Srinagar. Aditya will cycle to Kanyakumari and reach on December 13 after a four-day break in between. With a schedule of covering 100-120 kilometers a day, Aditya will also be accompanied by a doctor throughout the journey. “As it is a very long ride, my palms might swell and I might get saddle sore, but I am prepared for it,” says the determined cyclist.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by K. Shiva Shanker – Hyderabad / October 28th, 2013
Scores of people and political leaders paid homage to Indian Army soldier Lance Naik Feroze Khan, who was killed in Pak firing.
Lance Naik Feroze Khan succumbed to serious injuries after Pakistani mortar firing near the Line of Control at Balakote in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.
Naik Feroze Khan belonged to the Madras Regiment where he served for about 12 years.
The final rites of the deceased soldier were performed with military honours in the old city here on Thursday.
Andhra Pradesh BJP president G Kishan Reddy, YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, Mayor Majid Hussain and other leaders paid tributes to the soldier’s departed soul.
Lance Naik’s family members including his little children were in grief and many people wept after seeing them.
Scores of local residents turned up to pay homage to Khan.
Meanwhile, an official release said here that full military honours were accorded to the soldier, before his mortal remains were laid to rest at a graveyard near his house located in the old city of Hyderabad.
Major General Cyrus Pithawala, AC, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Andhra Sub Area led the wreath laying ceremony at the graveyard where an army gun salute was accorded to Lance Naik Feroze Khan.
Wreaths were also placed on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh Governor, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the Chief of Army Staff and the General Officer Commanding Southern Command and General Officer Commanding Andhra, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, the release said.
A two-minute silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the departed soldier.
Rear Admiral K Srinivas of the Indian Navy and other senior army, air force, police and civil officers were present, while a large number of people paid their last respects to the brave soldier.
PTI
source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / ZNews / Home> State News> Andhra Pradesh / Thursday – October 17th, 2013
In a major breakthrough, city-based Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), an arm of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, has discovered a gene that is resistant to rice blast. The researches said the new variety will be released as seed in the next Kharif season.
Rice blast is a plant-pathogenic fungus that affects rice in more than 90 countries across the globe and destroys rice crop which is enough to feed about 60 million people worldwide, experts informed. Over the years, the fungus has developed resistance to both chemical and genetic treatment in some varieties of rice. After working on the project since 2005, the new gene is now being inserted into a variety of rice which will be blast-resistant, Maganti Seshu Madhav, a DRC scientist said.
“The worldwide ‘great blast-resistant gene hunt’ began around 10 years back. We surveyed most of the landraces (naturally formed plant varieties) collected from India as well as the varieties from different countries. We even searched wild species which are distantly related to rice. Finally our hunt ended with the discovery of the resistant gene in Vietnamese variety called ‘Tetep’,” Seshu Madhav told TOI. Madhav, who discovered the gene, cloned and transferred it (Pi-54) to popular varieties to save them from the deadly fungus.
Scientists say the rice blast fungus, also called ‘magnaporthe grisea’ causes a huge yield loss in the country. In Andhra Pradesh , all the zones, including north coastal zone, Godavari zone, Krishna zone and the Telangana zones are prone to blast disease causing an average loss of 40%. Once the varieties are released into the market before Kharif 2014, it would eliminate use of fungicides to control the disease.
Stating that some fungicides do control the disease partially, Seshu Madhav said when the fungicides are used intensively and regularly, the fungus rapidly develops resistance and finally destroys the crop.
After winning many national awards and the Ohio state university’s best international research scholar award for his research on the blast resistance genes, Madhav said the Pi-54 gene will address the concern of millions of farmers.
“Another strategy would be to develop a broad spectrum race-non specific resistance using latest molecular biology approaches,” he added. India’s first blast resistance gene (Pi-54) along with two more genes, Pi1 and Pi2, are being studied extensively. Improved varieties, are now undergoing tests throughout India and after the successful tests in Andhra Pradesh, the new varieties with blast-resistance gene will be released to farmers mostly in Kharif next year,” he added.
Another important breakthrough for DRC has been the discovery of multiple genes, responsible for the aroma in various landraces. After determining major genes that control the aroma, Seshu Madhav, in association with Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, is working to understand metabolic profile of the chemical compound that causes aroma in rice.
This would help in transferring the gene to local varieties, making Sona Masuri, Samba Masuri, Jaya, Nelloore Sannalu, Warangal culture, Kurnool Sona among others retain an aroma like Basmati rice. “This is bound to boost the market worldwide,” he added.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad> Gene / by Jinka Nagaraju, TNN / September 23rd, 2013
The company will supply 670 elevators, escalators to metro rail project
The Rs 400-crore contract signed by Otis Elevator Company (India) Limited with L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited this year is the largest-ever to be bagged by any elevator company in the country, according Goldie Srivastava, communication director of United Technologies Corporation India Limited (UTC). Otis is a UTC company.
The contract is for supply of 670 elevators and escalators, which will be installed in over 66 stations, workshops and other buildings to be built by L&T Metro Rail. Otis will also maintain the units for 10 years after the two-year warranty period.
As far as Otis is concerned, this is one of largest contracts it has bagged world-wide so far for supply of elevators. The next biggest contract it had won was from Hangzhou metro line 2 in China in 2012 for installation of 349 elevators. It was the second time that the Hangzhou Metro Group had chosen Otis, after the installation of 264 elevators for metro line 1.
Otis has the distinction of supplying elevators to mass rapid transit lines in different countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore. In India, it had also won a contract to supply 222 escalators to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Phase-III project.
Stage I of Rs 14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMR), comprising a stretch of 8 kilometre, is expected to be opened for public on Ugadi, the Telugu new year day, in 2015. The construction of the 72-km project, comprising three corridors, is being taken up in six stages. Stage I is from Nagole to Mettuguda and Stage II is from Miyapur to Sanjeevareddy Nagar, a stretch of 11 km.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> by BS Reporter / Hyderabad – October 23rd, 2013
