Dr. Padma Shekar, a native of Kodagu, a litterateur, education expert, researcher and retired Vice-Chancellor, is among 69 achievers chosen for this year’s Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.
Dr. Padma hails from Thorenur village, Kushalnagar taluk in Kodagu district. She has served as the Professor and Chairperson of Department of Studies in Jainology and Prakrit, University of Mysore, Director of Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Mysore and Chairperson of Department of Studies in Christianity, University of Mysore.
A recipient of several awards in the fields of research and literature, she is currently a resident of ‘Preeti Nilaya’, Vijayanagar Second Stage, Mysuru.
Elated by the decision of the State Government to consider her for the award, Dr. Padma Shekar said “I had been a recipient of several awards in the field of literature. Now, I have been awarded for the service rendered in the field of education, which is very close to my heart, that has brought immense joy and happiness for me.”
“I have worked in the field of education for 40 years and it was during my tenure in office that, Karnataka Sanskrit University and Department of Studies in Jainology and Prakrit, University of Mysore.
The Government has taken cognisance of all these achievements. I humbly recall all those who have nurtured my growth from a remote village to the level of a Professor.
I will especially thank former CM Dr. M. Veerappa Moily and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Government. I was born in Virajpet, Kodagu, where I spent my childhood. I was also the Chairperson of 11th District Kannada Sahitya Sammelan,” said Dr. Padma Shekar, recalling her achievements with pride.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 31st, 2024
Yesterday I travelled to Kushalnagar in Kodagu to see a friend in an eye hospital, “Lopamudra Eye Care,” who was undergoing a procedure for cataract. While in the waiting area, I noticed a number of framed certificates, citations, testimonials and photographs about the doctor. Being a private, personal hospital, such displays are expected and understandable.
However, what interested me was a couple of framed displays that seemed unique and modestly appropriate for a doctor who is a native Kodava and the hospital is in Kodagu.
I took the photographs of some of these displays to study them later. There was a photograph of a native Kodava of the early 20th century in his ethnic ceremonial attire (see picture). He is the grandfather of Dr. M.M. Ponnappa of Lopamudra Eye Care. He was honoured by the British Masters of the Colonial days with the title Rao Bahadur. So, he is Rao Bahadur Mukkatira Aiyappa. Could be, his grandson, this doctor Dr. M.M. Ponnappa, is so proud of his grandfather, he chose to honour his memory by hanging his photograph in the front office area.
And, again most appropriately, the legend of this legendary coffee planter and a philanthropist of those days (who had, no doubt, cultivated the company of the British Officers in Kodagu) as written in a newspaper was also displayed. The text details about the great gifts of this Kodava man. Curiously the news must have originated from Karachi (now in Pakistan) and taken from the newspaper ‘The Madras Mail’ (which was published by the British from Madras, now Chennai).
Reading its contents I was thrilled. Let me reproduce it:
The Madras Mail
Pluck Office, Karachi
M. Mukkatira Iyappah
Devanageri Virarajendrapet
Virarajendrapet is now embellished with a clock tower, erected in front of the post office.
The foundation stone of the building was laid by Sir Hugh Daly, the Chief Commissioner of Coorg on 5th February, 1914, when he visited the town, during his tour in Coorg. It is the gift of Mr. Mukkatira Iyappah, a successful coffee planter in commemoration of the coronation of the King-Emperor at Delhi. lt has already proven to be a boon to the public.
Mr. R.K Ellis, I.C.S., the District Magistrate of Coorg, performed the opening ceremony on the 16th of January and handed over the building to Virarajendrapet municipality.
Mr. Mukkatira Iyappah has also gifted the outpatient block of the civil hospital of Gonikoppal and an inspection bungalow of Fraserpet (now Kushalnagara) which has immensely benefited the people and district administration of Coorg.
Those who visit Virajpet in South Kodagu could not miss to see the famous Clock Tower at the junction of three roads in the busy down-town area built in red-brick. By the way, history records the location of the Clock Tower was selected (in 1914) for the reason that it was the place where General Abercromby, the General who marched with his troops from Malabar via Kodagu (to reinforce the British and allied forces fighting Tipu Sultan in May 1799 at Srirangapatna), met the Maharaja of Kodagu Virarajendra Wadeyar and signed a peace treaty. The Kodagu Raja founded the city Virarajendrapet to commemorate the occasion.
Be that as it may, the Clock Tower was a gift of Mr. Mukkatira Iyappah (Aiyappa) in commemoration of the coronation of the King-Emperor at Delhi. The opening ceremony of the Clock Tower was held on 16th January (1915), just one year after its foundation was laid.
Iyappah had also gifted an Outpatient Block of Government Hospital at Gonikoppal and an Inspection Bungalow of then Fraserpet, now Kushalnagar.
It is said, what one gives often goes round and round and comes back multi-fold to the giver — or to his progeny. The same seems to have happened to Dr. M.M. Ponnappa and his brother Dr. M.M. Amrit Nanaiah, who is running the Lopamudra Medical Centre in Gonikoppal.
It is inscrutable that both these brothers are today successfully running their hospitals, one in Gonikoppal and another in Kushalnagar, the towns where their grandfather Aiyappa had generously built two valuable facilities for the good of the public. Vedic values and Sanatana Dharma are seen working in a mysteriously subtle way as reward for Mukkatira Aiyappa’s selfless service to his fellow men. Let it be.
But as I scanned the wall, I noticed two boards with closely written text which read like pedagogy and a lesson in morals. Let me produce them here for the benefit of those who are on the path of virtuous and even spiritual life:
Keep it simple
Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets.
Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes. (Well, I guess I have followed this advice by visiting this hospital !)
Forgive quickly. Life is short.
Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 am (I agree, I do follow this even to this night!).
Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later.
Count your blessings.
Wave at the children on a school bus.
Remember that 80 percent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.
Don’t expect life to be fair…
Have a firm handshake.
Look people in the eye.
Keep Secrets.
Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.
Avoid sarcastic remarks.
Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery.
When playing games with children, let them win.
Be romantic. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
Don’t allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It’s there for our convenience, not the caller’s.
Be a good loser for your loved ones. Be a good winner of Hearts.
When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go.
Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
And finally, a board with some information from the Indian Penal Code (IPC) with penal sections. I’m sure Dr. Javeed Nayeem, our weekly columnist, Over a Cup of Evening Tea, who was the President of MAHAN, an Association of Doctors and Hospitals, to protect themselves from the vandals, will love this.
Yes, protection to doctors and hospitals from people who attack them for different reasons, are there in the law books. But, in our too liberal a Democracy these laws are more often subverted, sabotaged and violated with impunity rather than enforced. Hence, this reminder of IPC to the patients. Examples are many, but the recent one is in the rape and murder of a duty doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal.
e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns> abracadabra / by G.B. Ganapathy / October 10th, 2024
Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap, Mysuru, reached the summit of Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Russia and Europe, on Aug. 17. She completed the climb in 7 hours and 20 minutes, starting at midnight and reaching the peak at 7.20 am. She was part of 11-member expedition team.
Preeth is the second person from Kodagu to achieve this feat, following Tekkada Bhavani from Peroor, Napoklu. In March 2023, Preeth also scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres (19,340 feet).
Mount Elbrus, an extinct volcano standing at 5,642 metres (18,510 feet) above sea level, is located deep within the Caucasus range near the Georgia border. This range, which includes 14 of Europe’s highest mountains, spans 700 miles and is home to the tenth-most prominent peak in the world.
Situated in the southern Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Mount Elbrus is the highest peak of the Caucasus Mountains. Although part of the Caucasus Range, which straddles Asia and Europe, most geographers classify it as the tallest peak in Europe.
Speaking to Star of Mysore over the phone, Preeth Appaiah shared details of her journey to conquer Mount Elbrus. She departed from Mysuru on Aug. 9, arriving in Russia on Aug. 10. On Aug. 11, she undertook an acclimatisation trek to a mountain rich in Molybdenum, standing at 4,120 metres (13,515 feet).
Following this initial trek, Preeth travelled to Elbrus village and completed two more days of acclimatisation walks to Pastukhov Rocks. The final summit push for Mount Elbrus began around midnight, with Preeth reaching the peak by 7.20 am on Aug. 17.
Biting Cold
“Mount Elbrus is fraught with hidden death traps, with temperatures plummeting to minus 35 to minus 40 degrees. The Arctic wind is extremely dangerous and despite wearing five layers of clothing and climbing gear, the cold was unbearable. The mountain is riddled with crevices and craters that can easily be camouflaged by snow in bad weather. We couldn’t summit for two days due to the weather, so we finally made the ascent on Aug. 17,” Preeth recounted.
After successfully scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, Preeth was determined to conquer Mount Elbrus as part of her goal to climb all seven summits — the highest mountains on each continent.
Preeth Appaiah is a home-maker, married to advocate Jammada M. Aiyanna in Mysuru. The couple has two sons, Pratham Poonacha and Aryan Kuttappa. Preeth is the daughter of late Hon. Captain Kunjiyanda Appaiah and Gowramma. Her brother, Kunjiyanda Machaiah (Machu), is a wildlife photographer.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 20th, 2024
Scaling heights is what enthrals her most. Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap in Mysuru, has recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain peak in Africa. She reached the summit of the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres (19,340 feet).
Also called a stratovolcano (a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock), Kilimanjaro is made up of three cones — Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Kibo is the summit of the mountain and the tallest of the three volcanic formations. While Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, Kibo is dormant. The highest point on Kibo’s crater rim is called Uhuru.
Medical condition did not deter her
Preeth Appaiah is a housewife who had a sciatic nerve problem and doctors had advised her not to do any physical activity which could aggravate her pain. But her medical condition did not deter her from achieving the feat and her main source of inspiration is her younger son Aryan Kuttappa who went on an expedition to the Himalayas in 2018.
She went on her first expedition to Mount Bhrigu, Himachal Pradesh, in 2018. Since then, she never looked back and she has climbed many mountains like Mount Sar Pass, Valley of Flowers and the Great Lakes of Kashmir. Her instinct to climb Kilimanjaro was kindled in 2022 when a group of people from Mysuru successfully climbed Kilimanjaro.
Though she had made up her mind to go ahead and her instinct said she could do it, the advice given by her doctors against any misadventure was playing at the back of her mind. But her elder son Pratham Poonacha was a constant motivator who goaded her to pursue her passion.
Preeth Appaiah then spoke to various persons in Mysuru and booked an agency for the trekking and the training started under the mentorship of Yoga Guru Mahadeva. She left Mysuru on Mar. 2 and began the actual trek to Kilimanjaro on Mar. 3. She returned to Mysuru on Mar. 11 after scaling the mountain on Mar. 8.
Not an easy task
“I tried coaxing people to come along but none from Mysuru came along. But I was determined to go and took the yellow fever shot and set the rucksack in order and went to the airport to board for Kilimanjaro. It was not an easy task for a woman to travel alone and in the journey, you do not know if there will be anyone coming along on the trek from the Marangu Gate in Tanzania,” she told Star of Mysore.
Preeth Appaiah trekked through the rainforest to Mandara Hut and from here she went to Horombo Hut and reached Kibo Hut walking amidst the Alpine Desert. “The view of Mount Kibo is just mesmerising but here I was totally out of shape due to altitude sickness. But as advised by my mentors, I took lots of liquids to keep myself hydrated. From Horombo Hut, I trekked to Kibo Hut which is physically challenging and steep too,” she added.
From here, many return. “But in my case, I had overcome altitude sickness and was going well and finally had a good rest. Mar. 8, 2023, International Women’s Day coincided with my summit feat and I got on to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro,” she said. She started the final walk on Mar. 7 at 11 pm and reached the summit at 8 am on Mar. 8.
“It was an enthralling moment of my life as I set foot on Kilimanjaro via Gilman’s Point. It was not an arduous task. After walking more than 10 hours, I reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and Uhuru,” she recalled.
It was a proud moment, she said as she held the National Tricolour. This would not have been possible without the support of her husband Jammada M. Aiyanna, who is an advocate in Mysuru. Preeth is the daughter of Hon. Captain late Kunjiyanda Appaiah and Gowramma couple. Her brother Kunjiyanda Machaiah (Machu) is a wildlife photographer.
“Before trekking to Kilimanjaro, I used to keep the mountain photo as my mobile phone status and was dreaming of scaling it one day. Now that I have accomplished the feat, I feel fulfilled. I want to continue this passion and scale more peaks,” she said.
Preeth Appaiah was initially trained in mountaineering by Tiger Solanki of Tiger Adventure Foundation (TAF) and later on by Vinay Singh and Shankar Subramanya of Royal Riders and the International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Sports / March 16th, 2023
More power to those who dream with their eyes open, navigate through every challenge and eventually emerge as winners.
Flt Lt Punya Nanjappa, Indian Air Force
Nari Shakti being the theme of India’s 75th Republic Day celebration, the grand parade on Kartavya Path, in the heart of the National Capital, New Delhi, displayed a spectacular combination of military feat and cultural vibrancy on January 26, 2024.
IAF showcased a breath-taking performance with a flypast featuring 51 aircraft during the Republic Day celebrations. This impressive line-up included 29 fighter aircraft, 8 transport planes, 13 helicopters, and one heritage aircraft. When 51 Indian Air Force (IAF) aircrafts zoomed over the Kartavya Path, piloting one of the fighter jets in the flypast was a young woman pilot from Mysuru. Flight Lieutenant (FLT LT) Punya Nanjappa was piloting the MiG-29 fighter and was among the eight female pilots who flew in various formations at the Republic Day parade. It was indeed a proud moment for India.
Breaking barriers is nothing new for Punya Nanjappa. She was the only girl in her batch training with 40 male cadets and the only female cadet from Karnataka to be selected as a trainee pilot for the flying branch training at the Air Force Academy, becoming the second woman from the state of Karnataka to be a fighter jet pilot after Meghana Shanbough from Chikkamagalur to do so. The training for cadets who are selected for the flying branch is divided into three stages. Punya completed Stage 1 training at the academy in Dundigal and was selected to join the fighter stream. Commissioned into the IAF in December 2020, FLT LT Punya is from the No. 47 Squadron of the IAF.
“ Flight Lieutenant (FLT LT) Punya Nanjappa was piloting the MiG-29 fighter and was among the eight female pilots who flew in various formations at the Republic Day parade. It was indeed a proud moment for India”
The sky is literally the limit! While choosing a career path, not many students are able to pursue their dreams and turn them into reality. Mysuru-based Coluvanda Punya Nanjappa is one such dreamer who followed her childhood passion to be a fighter jet pilot and worked hard towards achieving it. Not only is it a personal and professional achievement for Punya, but a social one too, a rare distinction for a woman who has her roots in Kodagu, a land of many ‘defence personnel’. Though the district basks in the glory of producing a Field Marshal, a General, and innumerable Lieutenant Generals, Brigadiers, and Majors in the Indian Army and their equal ranks in the Navy and the Air Force, for the first time a woman fighter pilot emerged from the tiny district.
Punya is the daughter of Coluvanda Anuradha Nanjappa, who served as a teacher at St. Joseph’s Central School, Vijayanagar, and the late Coluvanda P. Bala Nanjappa, who held the position of manager at Prabha Theatre. Though the family hails from a small district, they encouraged their daughter to aim high and achieve through hard work and courage.
Punya Nanjappa’s achievement represents a remarkable moment, highlighting the strides made by women in the IAF and representing women-power, equity and equal ownership in every walk of life with their male counterparts.
source: http://www.outlook.com / Outlook / Home> Brand Studio / by Outlook Bureau / March 08th, 2024
An Army Major from Mysuru has done exemplary work during flood rescue operations in Gujarat and Rajasthan. He is Ballachanda Maj. Akshay Thimmaiah, son of Ballachanda Sudha Bopanna and Ballachanda Prakash Bopanna, residents of Kuvempunagar in city. Maj. Akshay Thimmaiah is married to Mundanda Nidhi Ponnamma.
Following incessant rains in Gujarat, joint teams from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force have saved hundreds of lives and have rescued scores of people in flood-ravaged villages in Surendranagar district. Torrential rains in Gujarat have resulted in several deaths as well. The Gujarat Relief Department has confirmed 61 rain-related deaths in the State so far. Some parts of Rajasthan — especially those bordering the Northern Gujarat district of Banaskantha — too have seen heavy rainfall.
According to a report published in Dainik Bhaskar newspaper, on the night of July 25, Major Akshay Thimmaiah, along with two jawans from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), saved the lives of 17 children, 12 women and 6 men who were stranded in Alethi village, near Sanchore in Gujarat due to bursting of Narmada Canal, causing flash floods. Maj. Akshay Thimmaiah saved the children after swimming and wading through 4-5 ft of flood waters for over 2.5 km. He showed courage in reaching the village and getting the civilians to safety despite rising water level.
Flood rescue team of 8 Cavalry Battalion under Maj. Akshay Thimmaiah saved the lives of over 100 people in Guda Malani, Rajasthan, in a daring night-long operation. The rescue operation was completed in 3 hours with water levels at 12-20 ft which had risen due to flood waters in Luni River. A total of 45 children, 32 women and 23 men were rescued and evacuated to safer areas.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 29th, 2017
Rotary Mysore Midtown and Shrisainik Family had organised an event at Rotary Centre Hall on JLB Road last evening where the ‘Rotary Sainik Desh Rathna’ award was presented to Ballachanda Maj. Akshay Thimmaiah by Maj Gen. (Retd.) S.G. Vombatkere.
Akshay Thimmaiah is the son of Ballachanda Sudha Bopanna and Ballachanda Prakash Bopanna, residents of Kuvempunagar in city. He is married to Mundanda Nidhi Ponnamma.
Speaking on the occasion, Akshay Thimmaiah opined that the Indian Army always welcomed people with leadership qualities and communication skills. He added that serving in the military was a noble one. He contended that a soldier would always be an inspiration for the youth. Hence he asked the youth to join the military and serve the nation.
Continuing, Akshay observed that a soldier should have great patience and perseverance to reach a goal. However, he opined that the honour and respect given to soldiers should also be extended to their family members.
Rotary Mysore Midtown President Narendra Babu, Hon. Secretary Naveen Chandra, Shrisainik Family’s K.V. Bhaskar and G. Madhura, Akshay’s wife Nidhi and his family members were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 15th, 2018
Air Commodore Kalianda A. Muthana flies indigenous fighter plane for 40 minutes
Bengaluru:
The first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejasin Final Operational Clearance (FOC)-Standard (SP-21) took to the skies for its maiden flight in Bengaluru on Tuesday last, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said.
Piloted by Air Commodore Kalianda Appaya Muthana (Retd.), Chief Test Flying (Fixed Wing), the aircraft took-off from HAL Airport at around 12.30 pm, the Bengaluru-headquartered defence Public Sector Unit said in a statement. It was air-borne for 40 minutes.
This flight signifies exemplary team work between various stakeholders of the LCA Tejas programme such as HAL, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Indian Air Force (IAF) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), HAL Chairman and Managing Director R. Madhavan said.
K.A.Muthana
15 fighters by April 2021
HAL is targeting 15 fighters by April 2021. The flight is the first step in a series of things lined up to enable the IAF raise a second squadron of Tejas in Sulur, Tamil Nadu. The first squadron of Tejas — Flying Daggers — is already operating from there.
“HAL achieved the momentous feat within a record time of 12 months after release of Drawing Applicability List (DAL) and SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) by CEMILAC”, the statement said. “This would pave the way for production of remaining 15 fighters from FOC (Final Operational Clearance) block, which are planned to be delivered during the next financial year,” it said.
Advanced features
The FOC aircraft are equipped with advanced features such as Air-to-Air refuelling and Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile system. “It imbibes a lot of manufacturing improvements which were based on the operational feedback of LCA-IOC (Initial Operational Clearance) fleet with IAF”, HAL said.
On February 20, 2019, the IAF had finally agreed that the indigenously developed and built Tejas was combat-ready and received the ‘release to service’ certificate — which means the fighter got the FOC — from DRDO, whose lab Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) designed the aircraft.
First conceived in 1983
The aircraft, which was first conceived in 1983, is being produced by HAL. Although it was conceived in 1983, the project was only sanctioned in 1993. The FOC and release to service happened close on the heels of the final DAL (Drawing Applicability Lists) of Tejas was released to HAL on Dec. 31.
The aircraft was named Tejas (meaning radiance in Sanskrit) by Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was the Prime Minister.
The cost of the programme is estimated at Rs. 39,000 crore. Tejas will eventually replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 planes. All squadrons of Tejas will be made up of 20 planes in total, including four in reserve.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 19th, 2020
Air Cmde Muthana got a ‘dousing’ reception as he got out of the TEJAS after the flight that landed it the Final Operational Clearance
As Muthu taxied back to the dispersal after the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) sortie of the TEJAS Mk1 SP-17, now with a tail number of LA-2017, on March 17, 2019, he was clearly surprised by the reception he got. The spontaneous celebration that involved some water-dousing and hoisting him on their shoulders by his Light Combat Aircraft team and the large group of HAL employees was heart-warming to say the least.
Air Commodore Kalianda Appaya Muthana has been probably among the few outstanding fighter pilots and professionals of my generation who did not rise to the very upper echelons of the IAF leadership. Reticent and soft-spoken, but with just a hint of swagger, he was a natural flier from the word go, and though I never served alongside him in any squadron, he was a highly rated fighter jock wherever he went.
No one knows this better than Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa (Retd) , the IAF’s previous chief and Muthana’s squadron-mate on MiG-21s in 29 Squadron (Scorpios). Dhanoa reminisces, “We were together for the first time in the early 1980s on the MiG-21 Type 96 in Sirsa, and then again as senior squadron leaders on the same type in Jamnagar, where I was the flight commander. The squadron was assessed very highly by the IAF’s inspection team and after I left, Muthu took over as flight commander – the good run continued, with the Scorpios winning the IAF’s marksmanship trophy called Ekalavya. He was free, frank, fair and fearless.”
After tick-marking all the boxes in his career, Muthu followed the traditional path of the creamy layer of fighter pilots as he transitioned from being a flying instructor to joining the elite band of test pilots, commanding a squadron and a fighter base. Chosen to lead the SU-30 upgrade project in Russia, he returned two years later to take charge as the Chief Operations Officer of Air Force Station Pune, home to the first SU-30 MKI squadron (20 Squadron).
After leading the National Flight Test Centre (NFTC), which was closely involved with HAL in pushing the TEJAS towards squadron induction, Muthu quit the IAF to join HAL. It was a time when the TEJAS project had taken off for sure but had not lit its afterburners yet! Though the first order for 40 aircraft had already been signed and production of the initial series had commenced, the project needed further credibility as it grappled with issues of maintainability and sortie generation rates in the first IAF squadron. It was an ideal transition and a win-win situation for both HAL and the IAF as there could not have been a better professional to steer the project from Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) to the recent FOC.
His fellow HAL test pilots on the programme, Harsh Vardhan Thakur, Subroto Chaki and Pratyush Awasthi highlighted two solid outcome-driven achievements during his stint as Chief Fixed Wing Test Pilot. He first managed to convince the MoD and the IAF top brass to back the ‘doable’ TEJAS MK-1A rather than the over-the-top TEJAS MK-II. It is now almost a done deal. The second was his initiative to create a formal practitioner and subject matter expert-driven strategic process within HAL that has resulted in the emergence of synergy between pilots, designers, engineers and management, and allowed HAL to communicate effectively with users and think big. The possibility of developing a twin-engine TEJAS, both for the Indian Navy and IAF, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and a range of unmanned aerial vehicles are now all within the realm of possibility.
India’s TEJAS project has still some distance to go before it wins the complete trust of the IAF’s fighter pilots, with several of them arguing that even a futuristic twin-engine TEJAS MK-II will not match up to the Rafale in every domain. However, it now appears to be on a stable footing with complete government and corporate backing, and an excellent and committed team. A current TEJAS test pilot argues, “TEJAS now represents India in a big way – not just HAL anymore. TEJAS-bashing should get behind us, sooner than later.”
If HAL can ramp up its production rates, address reliability and maintainability in the field, the TEJAS MK-1A may well have triggered a renaissance in contemporary Indian fighter development, and Muthu, who retires from HAL today (March 31), can well be certain that he has been a major catalyst in this transformation.
source: http://www.indiandefensenews.in / Indian Defense News / Home / by Indian Defense News / March 31st, 2020
(further source: Deccan Herald / March 31st, 2020 / by Arjun Subramaniam, Retd Air Vice Marshal of the the IAF, a military historian and strategic commentator)
Government schools might be losing importance in cities, but they are still the mainstay for educating children from rural areas. In Kodagu, a government school this year scored cent percent results in SSLC with the lone girl student from the school passing.
At a time when many government schools are shutting down because of lack of students, villagers at Neerugalale in the interiors of Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district and alumni of the school got together to revive the Neerugalale Government Primary and High School . The villagers formed a committee along with the alumni association — Poorva Prathamika Shala Samithi (Pre-Primary School Committee) — and started the process.
What is inspiring and unique is that the villagers did not take any monetary assistance from the state government, and the entire project is the initiative of the villagers and alumni.
The school, which is 67 years old, started off as a primary school. The high school section was introduced only in 2007. While the institution had a considerable number of admissions in the past, it slowly started declining with parents preferring private schools. The majority of students come from backward classes, and this year, 114 were admitted in all, from grades 1 to 10.
“Government schools must not become places reserved only for the labour class. These schools can survive only when they are on a par with private schools,” said high school teacher Rathna Kumar, who has been working with the institution for the past 16 years.
The Neerugalale Government School, and the new LKG classroom at the school, after the renovation | Express
“The majority of students here are from the Jenu Kuruba tribe, who work as estate labourers. But the school management wanted to attract more admissions and that was when the Poorva Prathamika Shaala Samithi was formed. As the admissions were declining year on year, the villagers, along with the school alumni, and the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) formed the committee. We held a meeting in March last year, and had set plans that we looked forward to introducing at the institution,” explained Rathna Kumar.
The committee’s first plan was to introduce kindergarten and to renovate the old building on the campus, for which permission was sought from the taluk BEO. But the education department authorities informed the committee that there was not enough funds or manpower to enable new classes for students. The committee then decided not to take any monetary help from the government.
“The campus has an old building with five classrooms, which was renovated using crowdfund. The BEO was supportive of the committee, and we took it upon ourselves to introduce LKG in the school,” Kumar said. Members from the committee and SDMC approached donors before starting the renovation work, and collected around Rs 10 lakh from villagers and alumni.
The ‘Poorva Prathamika Shaala Samithi’ committee members
“The work began with replacing old roof-tiles and plastering the walls. In about four to five months, three of the five rooms were renovated. One was converted into a classroom with brand new furniture, the second room became a games room and the third into an office. There are two more rooms that will be renovated once more funds are arranged. We have also built a hi-tech toilet on the school campus,” Kumar said.
After the renovation, the committee members visited villagers and encouraged them to enrol their wards in the school. The committee’s efforts bore fruit and 15 students enrolled for LKG. “Next year, we will introduce UKG. And the year after, we hope to get the state’s permission to introduce English medium for grade 1,” Kumar said and added that currently, the SDMC is bearing teachers’ salaries.
While many teachers in interior villages wait to be transferred out, the efforts of the Neerugalele School management has set an example. “Teacher Rathna Kumar took special care in ensuring the school’s development. The villagers joined hands to save the school that has imparted education to thousands,” said school principal Esthela Silva.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Pragna GR / June 23rd, 2024
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