Category Archives: Records, All

Subhani depicts spirit of Hyderabad in book

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

Adaab Hyderabad, a book by Deccan Chronicle’s cartoon editor Sheik Subhani, was released at the cartoon festival in the city on Sunday.

The book which has cartoons, caricatures and sketches depicting the history, culture, monuments, people and the Dakhni language of Hyderabad has been written and illustrated by Mr Subhani.

The book was released by V.G. Narendra of the Indian Institute of Cartoonists, Bengaluru, former IAS officer Dr K.V. Ramana Chary, and senior cartoonist Jayadev from Chennai.

Narendra Luther, in his foreword to the book, writes that Subhani’s art has matured in Hyderabad, which is considered the humour capital of India. The local lingo Dakhni, by itself, is a device of humour for outsiders and films have exploited it for that reason.

The book is a mix of history and caricatures of the founder of Hyderabad, his beloved Bhagmati, and the seven Nizams. Subhani also gives life to the amusing rock structure of Hyderabad in his book. There are free-hand sketches of famous monuments like the Charminar from different angles, the Mecca Masjid, the Chowmahalla Palace and the Qutubshahi tombs.

Subhani’s satire on traffic violations in the city like where a trader tells the heavily loaded auto driver Udar nakko police wala dal le ta, is tickling. Traffic mein attak gaya, Boss, Hallu Hallu, Subeh subeh dimagh kharab are some of the punchlines in the local Dakhni language used in the cartoons.

From Hitec City to St Mary’s Church in Secunderabad, his cartoons touch on all aspects of the Hyderabadi life.

Subhani won the Yudhvir Award in 2010 for his contribution to cartoon journalism.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Hyderabad / October 29th, 2012

4 T heroes’ statues on Tank Bund

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

Hyderabad:

Apart from Komuram Bheem, statues of another four personalities from Telangana region may come up on Tank Bund soon.

Recently, the department of culture sent proposals to install statues of Chakali AiIlamma (Chityala Ailamma), Doddi Komaraiah, Shaik Bandagi Saheb Rahmatullah and journalist Shoebullah Khan.

Chakali Ailamma had revolted against feudal lords to save her four-acre land when they tried to occupy it. She became an inspiration for many during the Vetti Chakiri Udyamam against feudal lords of the Telangana region. Doddi Komaraiah, a landless agricultural worker, died fighting in the rebellion against the landed gentry in Warangal district.

Shaik Bandagi Saheb Rahmatullah, a revolutionary leader, had fought against Razakars. Journalist  Shoebullah Khan, who had set up his own paper ‘Imroze’ (a spark of fire) and won people’s hearts by waging a relentless battle against the Razakars, was brutally murdered.

“Though we did not receive any representations either from individuals or civil societies, based on articles in the media, a proposal and clippings have been sent to the youth advancement, tourism and culture (YAT&C) department, a few days ago to install the statues on Tank Bund,” department of culture director,  Kavitha Prasad told TOI.

The government has already permitted the installation of the statue of tribal leader Komuram Bheem Chief minister  N  Kiran Kumar Reddy may unveil Komuram Bheem’s statue on the occasion of his death anniversary on October 29.

Meanwhile, the department of culture is making efforts to unveil 12 reinstalled statues on November 1 on the occasion of the AP Formation Day. “Of the 12 statues, we have reinstalled the 10 statues of Krishnadevaraya, Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Chaudary, Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu, Mutnuri Krishna Rao, Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu, Bellary Raghava, Gurajada Apparao, Annamaya, Annamayya, Sir Arthur Cotton and Erra Pragada on their respective pedestals. Statues of Brahma Nayudu and Siddhendra Yogi will be in place in a couple of days,” the official said.

Also, 10 other statues, which suffered minor damages during the Million March in 2011, were also being repaired. “By October 30, all statues will be ready for unveiling. However, the government is yet to take a decision whether to unveil them on November 1 or not,” the director said.

The  Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has taken up remodeling of the 2.06 km walkway in front of the statues by spending Rs 1.05 crore.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Sunil Mungara, TNN / October 26th, 2012

Super Saina makes a mark in Denmark

Records, All, Sports

Saina Nehwal took just 35 minutes to add the Denmark Open to her growing list of titles, as she won her first tournament after the London Olympics.

Her bronze at the quadrennial mega event was preceded by two back-to-back titles and the world No 4 Indian looks in no mood to take it easy even after a two-month break

On Sunday, she defeated world No 7 Juliane Schenk of Germany 21-17, 21-8, though the win came after a physically demanding match in Odense.

Fresh again
“There were a lot of things which I did after the Olympics which made me fresh but every tournament is tough,” said Saina. “My right knee was not in perfect shape but I thank god for giving me the energy to win the title.”

Saina’s brisk start was countered by the German, who equalised at 12-12.

Energy-sapping rallies saw the two players use deception, power, pace and skill to unnerve the other. Schenk has a reputation of being a fighter, and Saina had to dig deep to find ways of docking points off her.

Saina Nehwal poses with the trophy after her victory against Juliane Schenk of Germany during their women’s singles final match at the Danish Open badminton championship in Odense, Denmark. AFP Photo

Superior play
Saina won the game 21-17, but in the second, Schenk unleashed her powerful smashes. Saina did lose a few points initially, but matched the German in power to compensate for them. She raced ahead to a comfortable 17-8 lead – a gap too large for Schenk to bridge.

After her shots found the net thrice to bring the Indian on match point, Schenk did something quite uncharacteristic.

She did not attempt to return Saina’s serve, finally giving in to the third-seeded Indian’s blitzkrieg.

The tournament featured nine out of the world’s top 10 women shuttlers but the Chinese players suffered shock defeats, with Schenk and Saina taking out the last two in the semis.

Saina did not drop a game in this event and the title is all the more special as her nemesis, Wang Yihan of China, whom she had never beaten before, retired during their match.

The Hyderabadi will now participate in the French Open Super Series in Paris next week, where she has been given the top billing.

source: http://www.HindustanTimes.com / Home> Sport> Other Sport / by HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times / New Delhi, October 21st, 2012

Clock, Rebecca and Salarjung

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

My first visit to the Salarjung Museum (SJM) was an educational tour from school. I was in Class VI and my classmates and I were seated expectantly at 12 noon in front of the famous clock to watch a figure within the clock come out and strike a bell 12 times. We were excited!

Years later, when I stood before the clock once again, this time with my daughter, Suha, there was the same feeling of complete fascination. Some of the objets d’art here — the statue of Rebecca, chandeliers, swords, paintings, porcelain and carpets — are amazing so is the children’s gallery.

The Museum consists of the largest collection of artifacts owned by a single family anywhere in the world — 47,500 artifacts displayed in 50 galleries, with 8,500 manuscripts and 60,000 books in the library. It receives 6,000 visitors a day, the largest footfall for any museum in India. Only 20 per cent of artifacts are on rotational display, the remainder being stored away for better preservation.

To stay relevant, its spaces have always laid emphasis on world-class display, and in the last three years, 1 lakh sq feet of interiors have been renovated. A gallery of Islamic art, spread over 26,000 sq feet is under construction where the world’s smallest Quran will be on display. The Museum, which is soon to be the subject of a coffee-table book, is now also becoming a cultural hub, with about 100 events staged here last year — plays, ghazal concerts and mushairas.

Reaching out to people is vital for its continued popularity, and its bus, “Culture on Wheels”, visit schools. They have also digitised the manuscripts and books, and soon, its virtual tour may be possible.

(The writer is a philanthropist, educationist and member of the board of Salarjung Museum)

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Others / by Zakir Hussain / October 07th, 2012

Hugging his way to Guinness World Record!

Records, All

Endearing:Squadron leader Jayasimha giving hugs to faculty members and students to set a new Guinness World Record in Aditya Institute of Technology and Management at Tekkali on Saturday. He gave 2,436 hugs in one hour breaking the previous record of an American who had given 1,749 hugs in one hour.Photo: Bhasheer

Endearing: Squadron leader Jayasimha giving hugs to faculty members and students to set a new Guinness World Record in Aditya Institute of Technology and Management at Tekkali on Saturday. He gave 2,436 hugs in one hour breaking the previous record of an American who had given 1,749 hugs in one hour. / Photo: Bhasheer / The Hindu

Memory techniques trainer Squadron Leader Jayasimha on Saturday created a ‘Guinness World Record’ with the highest number of hugs in one hour in Aditya Institute of Technology and Management-Tekkali. He gave 2,436 hugs to students, faculty members and staff of the college, breaking the previous record which was in the name of an American Nick with 1,749 hugs in one hour in the year 2010.

Mr.Jayasimha holds 23 previous Guinness World records. The video footage, names and signatures of the students who hugged him will be sent to the office of Guinness World Records which would send the certificate in a couple of weeks if it is satisfied with details.

The AITAM college students formed into groups and queued up in a systematic manner to complete the hugging process quickly. Within 45 minutes, Mr.Jayasimha broke the previous record of 1,749 hugs and completed 2,436 hugs in the stipulated one hour.

As soon as he broke the record, the students expressed happiness with fireworks and distribution of sweets.

AITAM Director VV Nageswara Rao and others congratulated Mr.Jayasimha and thanked him. Talking to the media after breaking the record, Mr.Jayasimha said that embracing one another was part of Indian culture and it would enhance love and affection among people.

“All Indians used to greet one another with hugging in olden days. Foreigners adopted in their culture but we forgot its importance. That is why I took the event to spread the message of love and affection in the country and to remind all of the Indian tradition,”

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Srikakulam, September 30th, 2012

At Rs 12.15 lakh, Ameerpet laddu takes auction cake

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Hyderabad:

Despite little signs of the recession easing, sentiment seems to have played a major role at  Ganesh laddu auctions this year.

A laddu weighing about 36kg set the record this year with organisers raking in Rs 12.15 lakh in an open auction in Ameerpet. The chief executive officer of a private real estate firm (Viswas Real Estates & Infrastructures India Ltd, Habsiguda crossroads), G Eswar Rao, bagged the laddu at the auction held on Saturday evening, just before the Ganesh idol was taken for immersion.

The Ameerpet laddu has thus fetched Rs 3.05 lakh more than what it did last year. Another real estate firm, VVR Housing Pvt Ltd, had bought the laddu for Rs 9.10 lakh last year. “The increase in the auction amount will allow us to give scholarships to meritorious students through the VVR Foundation (Mee Kosam) in the state,” Eswar Rao told TOI.

Meanwhile, the famous Balapur Ganesh laddu also set a new record at this year’s auction. The laddu, weighing 21kg, has fetched the organisers Rs 7.50 lakh at the auction held in the village which lies in the neighbouring Rangareddy district. The successful bidder here was P Govardhan Reddy, who hails from the same village. This year the auction fetched Rs 2.05 lakh more than last year. In 2011, Kolan brothers of Balapur village had cornered the laddu for Rs 5.45 lakh.

The auction started at around 9.45am with 23 persons participating in the bidding for the prized laddu. Given the number of participants, the bids crossed last year’s mark within a few minutes. After a keen contest, 45-year-old Govardhan Reddy, a realtor, quoted Rs 7.50 lakh and became the successful bidder. Incidentally, he is former Balapur sarpanch P Narasimha Reddy’s eldest son.

“Today, I fulfilled my father’s last wish. My father passed away two years back. His last wish was had been to get the Balapur Ganesh laddu home,” Goverdhan Reddy, who worked in Ireland before returning to the city two years back, told the media.

An almirah maker, G Narasimha, bought the Badangpet Ganesh laddu for Rs 6.55 lakh. This is the fourth time that Narasimha has bagged the laddu in the auction. This year, he bought the laddu after paying Rs 35,000 over last year’s successful bid. “It is my sentiment to buy the Badangpet laddu as I believe that it is Lord Ganesh’s blessings which have made my business prosper,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN, September 30th, 2012

Tourism awards presented

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

On the culmination of World Tourism Week celebrations on Thursday, the department of tourism presented awards of excellence in various segments of travel and tourism industry in the state.

Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar gave away the awards in various categories at a function held at Ravindra Bharathi here on Thursday.

The Golconda Resort and Spa won the best theme-based resort award whereas Jewel of Nizam at The Golkonda won the best restaurant in the state award.

The Park Hyatt, Hyderabad and Hotel Daspalla were awarded the best classified hotels in 5-tar and 4-star categories. Dr YSR National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management was adjudged the best tourism educational institution. Ajay Kant Gir for his 1952 Chevrolet Style Line Deluxe, Bharat Reddy for his 1943 Willy’s and Javedd for 1956 Bullet 750 won the awards in Best Vintage Car, Jeep and Motor cycle categories respectively.

“From next year I foresee participation and healthy competition between public sector hotels too with private sector,” said the toursim minister.

Special chief secretary (tourism) Chandana Khan, director of tourism Kantilal Dante, tourism advisor G Kishan Rao, director of archeology P Gayatri, special officer of Shilparamam GN Rao, director of the department of Culture Kavita Prasad Raju and director of NITHM Narayana Reddy were present.

The department of tourism, during the week-long celebrations, conducted programmes like food festivel, release of books and musical programmes, Hyderabad Heritage Run, film screening, vintage car rally and interactive session with stakeholders of tourism sector and inauguration of a sculpture park.

source: http://www.ibnlive.in.com / Home> South> Southern News> Hyderabad / The New Indian Express, Express News Service / September 28th, 2012

 

4,000 Kuchipudi dancers to attempt Guinness record

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Anand Kuchibhotla (centre), founder and chairman of Silicon Andhra, releasing a poster of International Kuchipudi Dance Convention in Vijayawada on Friday. / Photo: CH. Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

An attempt will be made to set a new Guinness record at the upcoming third International Kuchipudi Dance Convention, announced the Silicon Andhra Founder-Chairman Kuchibotla Anand.

At a meeting to release the official poster for the convention on Friday, he said that around 4,000 dancers would dance for “Brahmanjali and Dasavatara Sabdam” to create a new world record. This time the event would be held from December 23 to 25 in Hyderabad and the theme of the convention would be “Yuvatha Kuchipudi habitha!” (Youth is the Future of Kuchipudi), he said.

The main aim of these conventions is to promote Kuchipudi form of dance and provide a livelihood to the dancers and gurus, said Mr. Anand. More than 6,000 dancers from India as well as other countries like Italy, Ukraine and Russia would be attending this convention, he said.

The convention would be inaugurated on December 23 and there will be lecture demonstrations, workshops, research paper presentation and performances till December 24, said Mr. Anand. The highlight of the convention would be on December 25 when dancers from the Maha Brunda Natyam would try to set a new record, he added.

GUIDELINES

All the participants and delegates should register their names by paying a registration fee of Rs.600 on or before October 30 and Rs.700 on or before November 30 by Demand Draft drawn in favour of “Siliconandhra” payable at Hyderabad. The registration fee will allow delegates to attend all three days of the convention, receive a copy of souvenir and meals (breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner). Traditional Kuchipudi costume/make-up is compulsory for all participants of “Maha Brunda Natyam” and they should make their own arrangements. The participants should practise the dances made available on DVD/VCD and website: www.kuchipudi.siliconandhra.org. For further details contact Phone- 9866001119, 9989295939.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News>  Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / September 22nd, 2012

Indian Navy on way to be world class force: Vice Admiral Anil Chopra

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

Visakhapatnam:

The Indian Navy is well on its way to be a potent world class force, with 46 ships and submarines to be added in its fleet, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief,  Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra today said.

Addressing the naval officers and civilians after unfurling the national flag on the 66th Independence Day today, Vice Admiral Chopra said even as the year gone by saw the Eastern Naval Command add stealth frigates, nuclear powered submarine and unmanned aerial vehicle squadron to its arsenal, now it has planned to include 46 more ships and submarines and a large number of aviation assets.

In the near future, the Command will be home to additional strategic platforms, anti-submarine corvettes, P8i long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, MiG 29K  fighter jets and advanced jet trainers, he said.

The Command has remained in the forefront with the Eastern Fleet leaving footprints all across the Indian Ocean region – from the Gulf of Aden to the West Pacific.

On the occasion, he urged all present to stand up to the security challenges faced by the nation.

A ceremonial parade was held at the Eastern Naval Command parade ground where Vice Admiral Chopra took the salute.

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / Home> News> Politics/Nation / August 15th, 2012

Hyderabad designer wins award for Indian weaves

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mumbai fashion week honours  Gaurang for utilisation of Indian weaves and craftsmanship in his winter festive collection

A jury panel that included fashion heavyweights Krishna Mehta, Jaya Jaitly, Anjana Sharma and Maximiliano Modesti has picked Hyderabad-based designerr Gaurang as the best designer to feature Indian weaves in his collection on Indian Textile  Day that was held on August 5 at Lakme Fashion – Winter Festive 2012.

Gaurang Shah presented Kanjeevarams with Kalamkari in his collection called ‘Ardhangini’. The line of 23 ensembles was a mix of sarees, anarkalis and ghagras for the  modern bride, in colours like saffron, yellow, orange, red and pink. Inspired by the Panchatantra stories, the beauty of 1950s and 1960s Kanjeevarams, Kalamkari and zardozi, his creations highlighted intricate Korvai weaving known for its grace and elegance. Gaurang used animal motifs and bright hues on Kanjeevaram silks and Kalamkari prints with brocades, with intricate zari and silk weave. Actress Kirron Kher walked the ramp as his showstopper in a rich ivory brocade saree.

“I am delighted to have won this prestigious award, which highlights the excellence of Indian handloom and tradition in fashion. I would like to dedicate this award to my family for their support and to the 450 weavers who bring life to my creativity,” says the designer.

When embroidered chiffons and georgettes were in vogue, Shah focused on the revival of traditional Jamdani craftsmanship. In the process, he created work opportunities for nearly 450 talented weavers across villages in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Says fashion entrepreneur Maximiliano Modesti, “It’s essential to support the young generation of fashion designers as they are the ones who will take the Indian fashion identity forward and support the craft of this country.”

Purnima Lamba, head – Innovations, Lakme said, “Hearty congratulations to Gaurang for hisbrilliant vision and execution of Indian weaves for Indian Textile Day this season. We encourage all designers to continue to experiment and use rich Indian fabrics to create stunning designs that do our fashion industry proud.”

Gaurang will receive a prize of 1 lakh rupees to support and encourage his talent.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Life & Style> Fashion> Designers / by Kasmin Fernandes, TNN / August 12th, 2012