Digital library carves new hope for cleaning staff in Kodagu

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), , , , , , , ,

The need to shift to a better job urged Bhavani, a cleaner at the panchayat, to try and apply for the 10th board exams.

Bhavani at the library in Kodagu. (Photo| Express)

Madikeri : 

A digital library in a rural part of Kodagu is helping shape a new life for a panchayat cleaning staff.

Bhavani HD (48), who never had the luxury to attend school, has now completed 10th grade after receiving help at the digital library even as she hopes for a promotion in her 12-year-old career.

A resident of Maldare village in Virajpet taluk, Bhavani hails from a poor family. She did not enjoy the right to attend school during her childhood and started off earning a living by working as a daily wager.

She then applied to work at the Maldare Grama Panchayat and has been working as the cleaning staff there for the past 12 years. She is shortly to be deployed as a civic worker who has to collect and dispose of garbage.

“I cannot lift heavy weights. I have undergone five surgeries including tubal ligation, uterus, piles, appendix, and a leg surgery. I requested a different job profile due to my illness and the then PDO had suggested that I could have applied for an attendee post at the panchayat if I had passed 10th grade,” shared Bhavani.

The need to shift to a better job urged Bhavani to try and apply for the 10th board exams.

“My dream of attaining an attendee post led me to the digital library at the panchayat. I obtained support from the library supervisor Sujitha,” Bhavani said. 

“From the Grama Digi Vikas portal, I helped download the study materials for Bhavani. The study materials are easy to understand and they are in the form of videos. Bhavani visited the library every day and studied for the board exams,” shared Sujitha KV, the library supervisor who learned about the ordeal of Bhavani and stepped in to help. 

For three months, Bhavani spent a few hours every day studying at the library. She wrote the board exams in March last year.

“But I passed only in Kannada. However, by god’s grace, I cleared all the subjects during the supplementary examination,” explained Bhavani.

Following this success, Bhavani is now confident of availing the attendee post.

However, Bhavani has a long fight before she gets to her dream post at the panchayat, as several panchayat members have failed to see her efforts and are demanding a male candidate for the attendee post over Bhavani.

While her hard work led her towards completing the 10th grade, it has not yet paid off due to the unprecedented developments at the panchayat.   

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / January 03rd, 2023

World of Coffee 2024 to host UAE National Barista Championship, UAE National Latte Art Championship

Coffee News

The World of Coffee 2024, a highly anticipated event in the coffee industry, is set to organise two distinctive national championships including ‘UAE National Barista Championship’ and the ‘UAE National Latte Art Championship’ targeting industry professionals.

The third edition of the exhibition, organised by DXB Live, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), is scheduled to take place from 21-23 January.

The UAE National Barista Championship is a unique competition that convenes the country’s skilled coffee preparation and presentation professionals under one roof. The event will convene the best baristas in the UAE to exhibit their talents and capabilities in front of thousands of experts, specialists, and enthusiasts.

An international team of judges will evaluate the participants based on the quality of the beverage, presentation technique, creativity, and technical proficiency.

The championship aims to underscore the barista profession and elevate the level of excellence in the coffee sector by offering experts the opportunity to exhibit their skills and innovative approaches.

The event will also set the stage for the ‘World Barista Championship’, one of the most renowned international coffee competitions, in which winners of the national barista championships held across the globe will compete on a global level.

The ‘UAE National Latte Art Championship’ will exhibit the artistic and creative capabilities of baristas in the preparation of lattes. During the competition, a judging panel will evaluate entries based on visual and creative aspects, with a key focus on diversity in styles and overall taste. The championship will be conducted following the specific judging rules, regulations, and standards used in global coffee events.

Khalid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of the Specialty Coffee Association – UAE Chapter, commented, “Such tournaments and competitions signify our vision to position Dubai as one of the most active regional centres for fostering innovation and excellence in the coffee sector and offering a dynamic platform for skilled individuals to exhibit their expertise in the field as well as to elevate barista techniques and skills. Aside from providing these benefits, it also gives remarkable experience to coffee lovers.”

Shouq BinRedha, Exhibition Manager of World of Coffee 2024, said, “These events will provide us with an opportunity to explore recent trends and approaches as well as barista innovations that can redefine the future of the industry both regionally and globally. In our opinion, the active participation of professionals, experts, and international companies from across the globe as well as the convergence of diverse cultures during the exhibition will play a key role in the development of this industry.

Furthermore, the UAE being home to various renowned global coffee chains and Dubai a region-wide leader in terms of bringing innovation to the industry reinforces the exhibition status in the sector.”

Besides these activities, the World of Coffee Dubai will also be hosting two other competitions, namely ‘Coffee Design Awards’ and ‘Best New Product’. These competitions aim to recognize and celebrate innovation, promote collaboration, and explore industry prospects.

The ‘Coffee Design Awards’ will showcase participants’ inspiring designs, including packaging, designing brand logos, equipment, and space decor, evaluated by an expert panel. The ‘Best New Product’ competition highlights innovative and high-value new products in the coffee industry.

Furthermore, the exhibition will feature a wide array of events and activities, including ‘Roasters Village’, ‘Cupping Room’, and ‘Brew Bar’. It will also include several panel discussions and specialised workshops focusing on sustainability, optimal resource management, and sustainable practices, signifying the global coffee community’s commitment to encouraging the responsible production of coffee.

World of Coffee Dubai will attract coffee enthusiasts, experts, and professionals, providing a dynamic platform to connect with the global coffee community, discover new products, share insights, and build connections with industry leaders. Attendees will include leading coffee experts, pioneers, café owners, and baristas.

source: www.http://wam.ae / Home> Emirates News / UAE / January 02nd, 2024

Class eight girl’s project helps save stream in Madikeri

Amazing Feats, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), , , , , , , , , , ,

While a majority of science projects are done using the internet, Shreesha went a step ahead, and did a real world project.

Alongside help from other students, Shreesha led an awareness campaign to help preserve the stream | eps

Madikeri :

An honest effort from an eighth grade girl of the government school at Kodagarahalli of Suntikoppa in Kodagu district has helped preserve a local stream.

The work for her science project has now earned the respect of the district administration and district police, who have ordered that CCTV cameras be installed to prevent dumping of waste near the stream.

Shreesha AS, daughter of Suntikoppa residents Shiju and Sandhya, is a student of the Kodagarahalli Suntikoppa Nadu Government High School. She was nominated to represent the school at the 31st National Children’s Science Convention, where she won the ‘Young Scientist’ recognition for her presentation — ‘Pollution across river banks’.

While a majority of science projects are done using the internet, Shreesha went a step ahead, and did a real world project. With the help from her father, she visited the stream near her locality to collect inputs for her project. She surveyed the Haraduru stream, collected details about its importance to the locality. She recorded sound bytes from local residents and learnt that the stream has been the lifeline of the locality for ages. 

Staff deployed near stream to stop littering

The survey, however, also introduced her to the sad state of affairs of the stream where she found loads of plastic and other garbage dumped by its banks. From coffee pulping to plastic waste, the stream was being polluted by a few locals and tourists who visited the spot.

Shreesha compiled the story and submitted a report on the pitiable condition of the water body to the district administration, district police and the local panchayat. Her efforts persuaded SP K Ramarajan to deploy the staff near the stream to stop littering. Further, the administration has ordered the local body to install CCTVs to control garbage dumping at its banks. With the help from her classmates, Shreesha also led an awareness campaign across the locality even as residents were urged to take responsibility in preserving the stream.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / January 01st, 2024

Poetic rendition of Beans n’ Brews Café, Coorg in Villanelle style

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), , , ,

Beans n’ Brews Café is a popular café located in Coorg, Karnataka, India. It’s known for its relaxed and cozy ambiance, making it a favorite spot for both locals and tourists to unwind and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Amidst Coorg’s embrace, where coffee beans twirl,
Beans n’ Brews Café, where aroma unfurls,
In villanelle verses, their essence we’ll swirl.

Mocha Magic: Espresso Dreams’ Reign

In the heart of the brew, where darkness swirls,
Mocha Magic, where espresso dreams reign,
A velvety dance, in each cup’s domains.

Latte’s Lullaby: Milky Way’s Whirl

In the creamy stream, where milk does unfurl,
Latte’s Lullaby, Milky Way’s whirl,
A comforting sip, where foam’s gentle swirl.

Caramel Symphony: Macchiato’s Frame

With caramel’s kiss, where sweetness does swirl,
Caramel Symphony, Macchiato’s frame,
A bittersweet tale, in each sip, we proclaim.

Muffin’s Embrace: Blueberry’s Theme

By the muffin’s side, where flavors unfurl,
Muffin’s Embrace, Blueberry’s theme,
A crumbly delight, in each bite, we esteem.

Croissant’s Charm: Chocolate’s Gleam

In flaky layers, where butter does swirl,
Croissant’s Charm, Chocolate’s gleam,
A warm pastry hug, in each bite, we redeem.

Cookie’s Reverie: Oatmeal’s Beam

With a cookie’s crunch, where flavors whirl,
Cookie’s Reverie, Oatmeal’s beam,
A wholesome treat, in each nibble, we deem.

At Beans n’ Brews Café’s table, where moments unfurl,
These dishes, in villanelle, their essence we swirl,
In Coorg’s heart, where coffee’s embrace does twirl,
A poetic feast, where each sip is a pearl.

A villanelle is a highly structured form of poetry known for its repetition of lines and intricate rhyme scheme. This structure challenges poets to craft poems that are both emotionally resonant and artistically intricate, making it a captivating form of poetic expression.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Blogs> Lifestyle / by Food connoisseur in Symphony of Tales / September 10th, 2023

Kodavas must unite to fight for their rights: MLA AS Ponnanna

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Samajas, Associations, Clubs (wef. Sept. 03rd, 2022)), Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion, , , ,

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Global Kodava Summit organized by the Connecting Kodavas Trust organization in Madikeri on Friday.

Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna. (Photo | Twitter, @ASPonnanna)
Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna. (Photo | Twitter, @ASPonnanna)

Madikeri :

“The Kodava community must unite to fight for the rights. Our ancestors fought to protect our land and culture. Let this fight continue. But fight for your rights and do not mock other communities or religions. Love every community,” called out Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the Global Kodava Summit organized by the Connecting Kodavas Trust organization in Madikeri on Friday.

Ponnanna appreciated the efforts of the trust in bringing the community together. He urged the trust to lay a foundation for the rightful voicing of the communities’ needs and said, “Let there be resolutions formed in this summit on what our rights are and what needs to be done to preserve the community. I will extend my full support to attain these resolutions,” he assured.

He opined that political maturity is needed amongst the community to attain support for the fight towards rights. He highlighted that the land problems concerning Jamma land, preservation of gun rights and ethnographic studies are the issues that must be fought unitedly under a strong leadership. He urged for the preservation of the land, nature, culture and relationships.

MLC Shantharam Budna Siddi, who was present as the chief guest, urged the youth to come forward to work for the society. He assured to extend his support in the legislature for the ST tag fight of the Kodavas.

Chethan Singhai, Chief Consultant of the National Curriculum-Ministry of Education, urged the community to focus on education and appreciate the values of culture. He called out to the community to focus on locality that he said is largely rooted in values.

Human activist Rashmi Samath called out to the youngsters to come back to their roots.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / December 30th, 2023

MS Dhoni parties with wife Sakshi at Robin Uthappa’s house

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, , , ,

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni was recently seen partying with his wife Sakshi at former teammate Robin Uthappa’s house.

MS Dhoni’s entrepreneur friend Hitesh Sanghvi shared an Instagram story on Thursday, December 28, in which the couple posed with Robin Uthappa and his wife in their Dubai residence.

Picture] MS Dhoni parties with wife Sakshi at Robin ...

Hitesh Sanghvi’s latest Instagram story

On the cricketing front, MS Dhoni will next be seen in action in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). Earlier this year, he led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their record-equalling fifth IPL title.

Kushalnagar: 10800 devotees initiated the Koti Geetha Lekhana Yajna

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

As many as 10800 devotees initiated the Koti Geetha Lekhana Yajna on December 27 at the Gayathri Kalyana Mantapa. 

Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji himself preached the oath ceremony of registering the initiated devotees for Koti Geetha Lekhana Yajna, a religious global initiative of the swamiji.

Sankarshana Prakhanda Koti Geetha Lekhana Yajna Parivara, Kushalnagar, Kodagu district, organised the event in the presence of Sri Sushreendra Theertha Swamiji, junior seer.

As many as 10800 devotees participated in the event. 

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld / Home> Karnataka / by Daijiworld Media Network – (TP) / December 28th, 2023

National Tennis Championships: Niki Poonacha, Zeel Desai crowned singles champions

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, , , , ,

Niki Poonacha beat Digvijay Pratap Singh to win the men’s singles title while Zeel Desai got the better of Sharmada Balu in the women’s singles final.

Niki Poonacha.

Young Indian tennis players Niki Poonacha and Zeel Desai won the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the National Tennis Championships 2021 on Saturday.

The tournament was held at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) Complex in the national capital.

The 26-year-old Niki Poonacha won his third national title after beating Digvijay Pratap Singh 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the final.

Niki Poonacha, who trains at the Rohan Bopanna Academy in Bengaluru, saved three match points in the second set to mount a comeback after being a set down.

London 2012 Olympian and 2010 Asian Games medallist Vishnu Vardhan was knocked out in the round of 16 of the men’s singles.

It was a second national crown in as many days for Niki Poonacha, who had won the men’s doubles title with Prajwal Dev on Friday. Poonacha-Dev beat Chandril Sood and Lakshit Sood 6-2, 7-6 in the final.

In the women’s singles final, Zeel Desai also mounted a comeback of her own against Sharmada Balu.

After being down 1-3 in the first set, Zeel Desai won the next 11 games on the trot to win 6-3, 6-0.

However, Sharmada Balu did taste victory in the national tennis championship as she won the women’s doubles title with partner Sravya Chilakalapudi on Friday.

The duo beat the pair of Vaidehi Chaudhari and Mihika Yadav 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

The singles events had 64 players each while 32 pairs each took part in the doubles categories.

source: http://www.olympics.com / Olympics.com / Home> Tennis / by Rahul Venkat / October 30th, 2021

A ‘Thank You’ Letter From Lt. Gen. B.C. Nanda’s Daughter

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nature, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sir,

I wish to thank Santhosh Thammaiah for his touching and respectful tribute (“The Soldier who Saved Siachen”) to my late father, Lt. Gen. B.C. Nanda in SOM dated Dec. 26, 2018. I am immensely proud of what my father achieved in his professional career and, most of all, of what he meant to me as a beloved father.

I would, however, like to correct a portion of the account here: My father’s role model was his father, B.S. Chengappa (Chief Conservator of Forests, Andaman Islands) whose extraordinary work and contributions are held in high regard. It is from him that my father’s lifelong association with, and love of, nature and environmental issues came. It was during the early years of his childhood in Andaman Islands that my father’s keen observations of natural life began. This was the bedrock of my father’s interest in nature and environment.

As a young boy of 7, my father was able to assist a visiting English Naturalist in compiling an extensive list of local names for the fish of the Andaman waters — knowledge that he had imbibed through his passion for fishing, combined with a sharp eye and ear for all things in the natural world. Anyone who knew my father would know what an amazingly keen and astute observer of animal and bird life he was.

After my father retired from an illustrious career in the Indian Army in 1989, he devoted tireless hours to various causes, be it the issues and concerns of ex-servicemen, adventure sports foundations, or giving fresh direction and impetus to the Coorg Wildlife Society, to name but a few.

Over the years, my father, on his regular visits to Kodagu, visited Field Marshal Cariappa’s residence, to pay his respects as a nephew.


Also, my parents had always planned to retire in Kodagu.

Thank You once again for this tribute to my father.

– Shalini Nanda Nagappa, Vancouver, Canada, 1.1.2019

Note: I had not met Lt. Gen. Nanda personally, but had seen him from afar and heard about his interaction with people living in remote villages beyond Gaalibeedu. I was told he was visiting Sri Bhadrakali Temple at Monnangeri, staying overnight in the humble house of a local. I heard of Gen. Nanda’s humility and love of nature when I visited his host’s house about five years ago.

My contact with him was mostly per letters on issues concerning Kodagu and Kodavas. On reading his daughter Shalini’s letter, I tried to look for Gen. Nanda’s letters in my file and was able to find just one written by hand. It is an eloquent testimony to what his daughter has written and his abiding love for Kodagu. Hence, I reproduce it here below. – K.B. Ganapathy, Editor-in-Chief

Dear Sir,

Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter dated 10.8.2003 addressed to Mr. Ulliyada M. Poovaiah. I fully endorse your view that the Kodavas must be united. We are at the moment making efforts towards that end. I am sure you are aware of what is happening.

When I retired from service after 40 years in uniform, the Govt. of India sent me messages after messages asking me if I wanted a job. I declined as I needed to attend to my personal affairs that had been totally neglected. Any query to Mr. K.C. Pant, Mr. Jagmohan or Mr. Naresh Chandra will confirm what I say. Also Mr. Arun Singh. Later it was Mr. Moily. Now that I think back— may be that if I had accepted those offers — Kodavas would have benefited in some ways. It was just that those living in comfort in Kodagu were swallowing up my heritage and my land — I needed to put this in order.

I continue to dedicate myself to Kodagu and the Kodavas. With best wishes and regards

Yours sincerely,

B.C. Nanda

(15th Sept., 2003)

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / January 04th, 2019

Niki Poonacha’s lonely road to becoming national champion

Records, All, Sports, , , , ,

During one such ITF junior tournament in Chennai, Rohan Bopanna spotted him. And when India’s doubles star started his academy in Bengaluru in 2016, Niki’s hazy tennis road was starting to clear up.

Nikki K Poonacha with Sania Mirza.(Fenesta Open)

At 24, Niki Poonacha, who won the Fenesta National Tennis Championship in New Delhi on Saturday, has already seen precious time being taken away from his nascent career.

If months lost to injuries often dealing a body blow to his vulnerable body weren’t enough, the Tamil Nadu boy was forced to end his training stint in Spain for lack of financial resources. This, despite his parents selling most of their properties to ensure that their son’s tennis career doesn’t get derailed even before getting on track properly.

After turning 18 and deciding that he wanted to take up the sport professionally after a decent showing in the junior circuit, Niki – who was based in a small town called Neyveli and now stays in Anantapur — checked into the Arena Tennis Academy in Alicante.

However, barely a couple of years on, he realized that it was burning too big a hole into his and his parents’ pockets.

“When I started going abroad to train, there were a lot of expenses to take care of. My parents had to sell some of our properties every now and then,” Niki said.

“At one point of time, all our resources were sold out and empty. When I was 20, I stopped going abroad because of my financial constraints. I decided to train in India all by myself, but I couldn’t find a good coach or a proper set up.

“So, I wasted that time in between, and those two years were so critical. But the situation was such that I couldn’t do much except train by myself from whatever I learnt from my previous coaches,” he added.

From cutting a lonely figure to becoming a national champion a few years later, it’s no wonder that Niki has a tinge of pride in his voice. And, satisfaction that the sacrifice of his parents – both of whom took retirement from their respective central government jobs – wasn’t for nothing.

“We don’t have that great a (financial) background, and we couldn’t find anyone to support us financially. Tennis is a very expensive sport, and it’s really difficult to pay for the travel, training and everything else. But my parents sacrificed everything for me, and then I also got committed towards tennis,” Niki said.

Just like his father, Poonacha KB, was committed to place his son on the tennis journey, so much so that he picked up the nuances of the sport himself.

“My dad was an athlete, but he learnt tennis coaching for me. He had the passion for tennis and he introduced me to it. It wasn’t my goal from the first to become a professional tennis player, but he kept teaching me and I was getting better at it. I started playing tournaments at the age of nine, and was doing well in the juniors,” Niki said.

During one such ITF junior tournament in Chennai, Rohan Bopanna spotted him. And when India’s doubles star started his academy in Bengaluru in 2016, Niki’s hazy tennis road was starting to clear up.  

When he was starting his academy, one of his coaches invited me to join. From having nothing to having a very good professional set up, it was a big turning point for me,” Niki, who is now coached by Sujith Sachidanand and the veteran M Balachandran, said.

The training part taken care of since the last couple of years, Niki began playing on the ITF circuit – a level below the ATP tour – again, and clinched a title in Indonesia last year. Placed at 912 in the ATP rankings, he now hopes to play a few Challenger events and gradually climb the rankings ladder.

“My main priority is to stay healthy and focus on my fitness. And from next season, I want to play close to 25 tournaments a year. Long term, my dream is to be in the top 100, and represent India in the Davis Cup,” Niki said.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> News> Sports> Tennis / HT Mumbai / by Rutvick Mehta / October 08th, 2019