Pearl Academy welcomes Bengaluru based fashion connoisseur Prasad Bidapa on its academic advisory board.
India’s leading creative education institution, Pearl Academy, today announced that fashion and image expert Prasad Bidapa has joined the academic advisory board of its Bengaluru campus.
The advisory board, with eminent veterans from diverse creative fields, is responsible for bringing industry insights and global best practices that can be incorporated into the curriculum and pedagogy to ensure that the students receive the most relevant education.
On joining the Pearl Academy Bengaluru advisory board, Prasad Bidapa said, “I strongly believe that contributing to the education of the youth is one of the best ways to make your years of expertise and experience count and hence, I am delighted to collaborate with Pearl Academy.
The institute’s seriousness towards nurturing creative minds in a way that prepares them for professional lives while retaining their unique identity and passion for the chosen craft is exemplary.
I am looking forward to engaging with the young creators, innovators, dreamers and disrupters. My mission is to sensitize our young minds into appreciating & using the vast wealth of our indigenous textiles & techniques, and helping them achieve global recognition”.
With 40 years of experience, Prasad is undoubtedly amongst the iconic fashion gurus of India.
He has been revolutionizing the fashion industry by curating various high-profile fashion events like India Men’s Fashion Week, Colombo Fashion Week and Rajasthan Heritage Week.
He is also committed to the cause of reviving the traditional textiles of India.
source: http://www.bweducation.businessworld.in / BW Education / Home / by BW Online Bureau / September 02nd, 2021
The assistant manager’s bungalow at the Margolly coffee plantation in Coorg in the early ’90s was an interior decorator’s delight. Although the regal British era structure had lost some of its original sheen and the shining Sheffield cutlery, crockery and linen that formed part of the resident ‘gora sab-memsab’s’ home furnishings, yet it had retained the old English charm of a dream bungalow with its large, cool, well-ventilated, well-lit bedrooms, sizeable bathrooms and bay-windows overlooking lush gardens and orchards to boot. The place was adequately furnished and the new resident could move in with the bare minimum of wherewithal. Our son, who had joined Coorg Coffee then, was house-proud and kept the place immaculately tidy.
On my first visit to him during the summer vacation, I met the good old Shiv Amma, his housekeeper, who couldn’t stop gushing over her generous new Sikh manager and seemed even more pleased to have me visit him. Although I knew just a smattering of Tamil, and she knew no other language, we managed to communicate through gestures and an admixture of what sounded more like Double Dutch. She would appear every morning, genie-like, in a spotless clean sari and headdress, carrying a bag of fresh groceries for the day and diligently set about her work. From the several broken interactions we had, I gathered that she lived on the estate itself and was proudly informed that her son was pursuing a PhD programme in agriculture.
One evening, when she was asked to stay back as my son had an official engagement, she dropped a bombshell. Sitting by my side, she suddenly asked in right earnest, ‘Amma, manager la father illay?’
‘Good Lord, no! Whatever makes you ask that?’ I asked bemused. Gesticulating calmly, she said: ‘No bindi, no mangalsutra and no manager’s father himself!’
My focus during that one month’s stay was to train Shiv Amma to cook simple North Indian victuals without the perennial mustard tadka. The courtyard of the assistant manager’s office, which was an extension of the bungalow itself, abutted the kitchen. So, whatever transpired between Shiv Amma and me would waft into the office, unless we kept our volumes in check. I remember receiving a polite telephonic reprimand from my son whenever the vocal cords lost control. Despite trying valiantly to strike a balance between a treble at the university and a bass at home, exasperation over my linguistic limitations here would often tend to let the vapours escape. On this particular occasion, I needed a spoon during a cooking demonstration. So, I said, ‘Shiv Amma, chamach,’ thinking it was a common enough word.
She looked around vaguely and picked up everything but what I needed till I huffed across to the shelf impatiently, picked up a spoon and thrust it under her nose, hollering ‘chamach’.
Instantly galvanised now, she animatedly blurted out, ‘Voh! Amma! Spoon eh!’ leaving me flummoxed.
source: http://www.tribuneindia.com / The Tribune / Home> Musings / by Mina Surjit Singh / August 26th, 2021
The mass blooming of the Neelakurinji flower (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in Kodagu district is giving the much-needed boost to the state’s tourism sector.
Neelakurunji flowers bloom at a hillock in Kodagu district | forest department
Bengaluru:
The mass blooming of Neelakurngi in Coorg has made it a rallying point for wildlife enthusiasts, botanists, photographers and tourists.
The blooming at the hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu, tourism has also taken up the north. Since the blooming has happened for the first time in a such a massive scale and is after 12 years, more so after tourism activities have opened up after the pandemic, every one are heading to India’s Scotland to see them.
The new entrant in the list to draw tourists is heli- tourism. As the state government and the tourism department are trying the revive the long pending heli- tourism, a firm in Bengaluru has undertaken a heli- ride to Kodagu and surrounding areas, giving an areal view of the blooming Neelakurunji flowers on the hillocks.
Govind Nair, Director, Thumby Aviation Private Limited said already one trip from Yelahanka air base to Coorg was done earlier this week. Now it is being offered as a part of the Nowhere trip to Coorg, a package tour, where a detour to Mandalapatti will be done.
Tourism packages and inineraries are being revamped on the go, depending upon the blooming and withering of the flowers. But since it is a once in 12 years sighting, many resorts are offering a visit to the region as a part of the package, to draw more crowds.
Trekking and flying has now taken the front seat to draw tourists. Even as the recent guidelines of the ministry of aviation states that drones are prohibited over national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other eco- sensitive places, conservationists and foresters object to helicopters flyover over the region. They point not just is the area a fragile Western Ghats region, little is know the species in Kodagu and so all precaution should be exercised to safeguard them.
Botanists point that utmost care should be taken in the area as the flowering in this part of Western Ghats has not been recorded and documented. Karnataka as around 45 species of Kurunjis and in different altitudes different species have been recorded. Each species blooms at different intervals like once in six years, nine years, 11 or 12 years. So administration must ensure that tourism and footfall is limited to the region, so that they are well protected.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Bosky Khanna, Express News Service / August 27th, 2021
Kodagu Zilla Mogera Samaja submitted a memorandum to Minister for Fisheries, Port and Inland Water Transport S Angara to help in getting a site sanctioned from the government for the construction of a community hall of Mogera Samaja.
The Mogera Samaja members held a discussion with the minister, in the presence of MLA K G Bopaiah, Karnataka Western Ghats Task Force chairman Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa and others.
In their appeal, the office-bearers of the Samaja said that government help is essential for the upliftment of the Mogera community.
Earlier, the community members felicitated the minister on his arrival at General Thimayya Circle in Madikeri.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / August 27th, 2021
Minister S Angara inaugurates the decennial celebrations of Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy in Madikeri on Friday.
Bopaiah said that Arebhashe and Kodava academies will get their own offices which are being constructed at Samskritika Bhavana in Madikeri.
Every language has its own history and cultural significance. Therefore, every language should be treated with respect, opined Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah.
He was speaking during the inauguration of the decennial celebrations of Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy, held at Kodagu Gowda Samaja, in Madikeri on Friday.
Arebhashe speaking people are concentrated in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts, he added.
Bopaiah said that Arebhashe and Kodava academies will get their own offices which are being constructed at Samskritika Bhavana in Madikeri.
Efforts to establish Arebhase Academy were first made by the BJP-led state government in 2008. Later, the academy officially came into being during the chief ministerial tenure of D V Sadananda Gowda in 2011, he said.
Fisheries, Port and Inland Water Transport Minister S Angara said that the emotion behind all the languages is the same. There is no use in criticizing each others’ languages.
Instead of getting identifying oneself with a particular caste, one should associate with the language and achievement. People should ignore petty political games, he added.
Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan felt there is a need to preserve the language and culture of smaller communities.
He also lauded the works done by the Arebhashe Academy.
Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy chairman Lakshminarayana Kajegadde said that efforts are on to obtain ISI code for Arebhase. The academy has been organising various programmes including workshops.
Indian Women’s Hockey team assistant coach Ankitha Suresh was felicitated on the occasion.
MLC Sunil Subramani M P, Arebhashe Academy former chairman Kolyada Girish, Kodagu Gowda Samaja federation president Surthale R Somanna, Academy members Baithadka Janaki Bellyappa, Smitha Amrith Raj, Dhananjay Agolikaje, Dr Koodakandi Dayanand and academy registrar Chinnaswamy were present.
A documentary directed by H R Anil was released on the occasion.
Musical instruments were provided to the beneficiaries.
The official website of Arebhashe was also launched on the occasion.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / August 27th, 2021
A scene from the movie ‘Nadapeda Asha’. Kodagu, the land of brave soldiers and known for its unique culture, is all set to make its own mark in showbiz.
‘Nadapeda Asha’, a full-fledged feature film produced in the Kodava language and with Kodava artistes, will hit the screens on September 6.
The film is based on a novel by writer Nagesh Kaluru. Incidentally, the work ‘Nadapeda Asha’ on which is the film is based, has been selected for the book award conferred by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy.
Kottukattira Prakash, who had directed the film ‘Kodagra Sipayi’ has directed the film ‘Nadapeda Asha’. He has produced 12 films and directed four films.
Actor Bollajira B Ayyappa is playing the male protagonist in the film while Nellachanda Rishi Poovamma is his counterpart. Addanda Anita Cariappa is playing the role of an anganwadi worker.
The challenges faced by women are effectively portrayed in the film, said the film crew.
Eramanda Harini Vijay, Vanchira Vittal Nanaiah, Tatanda Prabha Nanaiah, Cheruvalanda Sujala Nanaiah, Ajjikuttira Prithvi Subbaiah, Puttarira Arun Kalaiah, Eramanda Kesari Bojamma, Bollajira Yamuna Ayyappa, Battira Kaveri Joyappa and others are in the cast.
Major scenes in the movie have been shot in Kodagu. Kodava culture has been featured in the film.
Producer of the film Harini Vijay said that the film is about the family of a soldier and it speaks about a women’s perspective in society.
Another producer Kottukattira Yashoda Prakash said that the main objective of producing the film is to introduce Kodava culture to the rest of the world. The film is not made for profit.
Director Kottukattira Prakash said that various issues such as wild animal menace and gun license have been portrayed in the film.
As there is a shortage of theatres in the district, the film team has made arrangements to screen the movie in Kodava Samaja and Arebhashe Gowda Samaja buildings.
The film will be screened at the Kodava Samaja in Moornadu, Napoklu and Virajpet.
A theatre in Madikeri is closed and another theatre in Kushalnagar has not been reopened.
Bollajira B Ayyappa, the lead actor, said that the screening will be done with Covid-19 guidelines. New talents have been cast in the film.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A, DHNS / August 27th, 2021
Senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad speaks at CNC seminar
Madikeri:
Kodavas have been agitating for over two decades seeking the grant of their Constitutionally-guaranteed rights and only these rights and privileges can guarantee the survival of this rare community, opined MLC and senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad.
He was addressing a seminar on Kodava rights, demands and aspirations. The event was organised by Codava National Council (CNC) at a private resort in Murnad recently.
“Kodava community must get special recognition under Article 371 (k). The community deserves recognition in the Scheduled Tribe list as their lifestyle, custom, traditions, practices and festivals reflect the tribal spirit,” he noted.
CNC’s demand and claim for geo-political Autonomy is most legitimate, logical, feasible and deserving in all sense among any other demands, he opined. The Kodava tribe which is facing the threat of extinction should be enlisted under Scheduled Tribes of the Indian Constitution. “The Government should take measures to protect the tradition of Kodavas. Provision of ST tag is necessary in this regard,” he added.
On this occasion, ‘Codava Rathna’ award was conferred on Hariprasad and eminent jurist A.S. Ponnanna. The main purpose of this award is to recognise and respect those who go out of their way even risking their well-established career for the cause of the Kodava community.
Hariprasad had raised the community’s aspirations in the Parliament and in the Legislative Council. Also, he moved a “Private Member Constitution Amendment Bill 2016” to include Kodava language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. He advocated the grant of ST tag to Kodavas and also argued that the gun licence exemption should be continued to Kodavas forever and should not be restricted to 10 years.
According to CNC President N.U. Nachappa, certain resolutions were passed at the seminar to safeguard the genus of Kodava tribe and its civilisation. The community fulfils the definition of indigenous people promulgated by the United Nations through various declarations and steps must be taken in this regard to protect it.
“By trait, Kodavas are tribals and by our miniscule size of population, we are a minority in all senses. That is tribal, racial, ethnic, linguistic and national minority. We have every criteria and right to claim for empowerment defined for various indigenous tribes, minority groups and ethno linguistic nationals enshrined in the UN Charter,” he added.
“We are indigenous primitive tribe and it is our fundamental human right and freedom to exercise internal political self-determination right and to have geo-political autonomy in our own defined, indivisible traditional homeland,” he demanded. High Court advocate Lakkavalli Manjunath, Political Science lecturer Dr. P.E. Somaiah and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 22nd, 2021
Ayatana Resort in Coorg, a collaboration between architect Vishal Vincent and landscape architect Paul Blanchflower, uses prefabrication technology.
Set amidst 100 acres of lush landscape in Coorg is a cluster of cottages that are an experiment in eco-friendly luxury hospitality. Ayatana Resort is the glorious result of an attempt to sustainably manifest a luxury development in the middle of lush, untouched rainforest.
Landscape architect Paul Blanchflower crafted the grounds of Ayatana Resort in Coorg
The intrigue doesn’t end there; the cottages were constructed using prefabrication technology. The outer structure is made of prefabricated steel with 40-mm concrete used to craft the roof and the floor. If the word ‘prefab’ sounds familiar, it’s because Elon Musk recently made it one of the most Googled terms.
Prefabrication is an alternative to the traditional in-situ construction method, and uses precast components to build spaces.
A prefab living space similar to the one Elon Musk lives in. Photo courtesy: Boxabl
The Tesla CEO reportedly lives in a transportable unit of about 400 square feet. It is set up like a studio apartment and features a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. The unit is on the SpaceX Texas site.
How Ayatana Used Prefabrication Methods
Ayatana’s indulgent spaces offer a lot more to its purveyors than the spartan space chosen by Musk. Ayatana effortlessly mixes prefabrication innovations, which are touted to be more energy- and cost-efficient than traditional construction methods, with the latest in luxury hospitality, and a generous dose of a tropical escape.
The resort is a cluster of stilted cottages that offer stunning views
Ayatana Resort is the brainchild of architect Vishal Vincent and landscape architect Paul Blanchflower. Blanchflower, who brought a lifetime of experience and wisdom as a horticulturist to the project, explains the decision to use prefab components: “While planning Ayatana, the decision to retain as much as possible of the existing landscape including the waterfall, led to the use of prefabricated steel construction for the structures. This minimized the on-site work and its subsequent impact on the natural landscape.” The structures were fabricated in a workshop in Bangalore and just assembled on-site—to keep the site activity at a minimum.
How to Build Without Disturbing Mother Nature?
“Taking inspiration from the trees on-site, the initial thought was to create treehouses, which eventually manifested into stilted cottages. These provided a similar experience to that of a treehouse without doing much harm to the existing trees and giving us the opportunity to create luxurious abodes,” says Vincent, who is the managing director and founder of the Coorg property.
Blanchflower and Vincent also guided the team in understanding what the landscape was communicating to them and in turn its importance. “Paul helped identify critical aspects of the untouched site that needed to be retained in the final design outcome. He has been responsible for the entire design being more environmentally sensitive since its initiation,” adds Vincent.
A Look Inside The Luxury Resort
The open-plan lobby overlooks the cottages and has been minimally designed. Water is an important element that has been used in the design, with a reflecting pool and a still water edge detail providing a seamless visual connection to the surroundings. The lobby’s floating globes of cane lanterns make it easily identifiable from the rest of the site at night.
The resort has 36 standard cottages, 13 luxury suites and a presidential suite. The highlight of the cottages is the luxurious cantilevered balcony that almost brings the wilderness inside. The cottages are placed far away from each other, to allow a socially distanced vacation.
The interiors of Ayatana spell minimal luxuryThe cantilevered balcony is the USP of the cottages
The Restaurant, Pool and Spa
The in-house restaurant, The Glass House, offers an indoor area warmed with teak lights, panoramic views, and an outdoor bar and deck. The deck overlooks the infinity pool and doubles as a romantic candle-lit space for al-fresco dining in the evenings.
The view from the deck of The Glass House includes the swimming pool and the waterfalls beyond
The infinity pool, with a view of the waterfall, stands out from its surroundings, thanks to its blue mosaic tiles, which appear in sharp contrast to the yellow Jaisalmer stone that has been used on the deck. This deck leads us to the lobby of the Wilderness Spa, nestled under the deck of the restaurant. Its treatment rooms are crafted in exposed brick, with framed vistas of the surroundings.
The pool at Ayatana, CoorgA peek inside The Wilderness Spa
source: http://www.architecturaldigest.in / Architectural Digest / Home> Architecture & Design / by Bindu Gopal Rao / Photography by Ayatana Coorg / August 20th, 2021
Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi and Sahitya Academy have taken up the digitisation of books as part of its decennial celebration to be inaugurated this month. The digitisation process that began about four months ago, is an attempt to popularise and protect the language. So far, 42 books published by the academy have been digitised.
Lakshminarayan Kajegadde, academy president, said that this is an attempt to unite people who speak Arebhashe, across the world. We have also written letters to writers who had published books on their own, of which many have agreed to get their books digitised through the academy. Meanwhile , works on an Arebhashe dictionary and documentation of Arebashe culture, through the items that were used by people, is on.
The academy is also organising a four-day Arebhasha Samskruthi Shibira (camp), where resource persons are selected locally, to enlighten participants on the traditional practices and songs. The oral traditions of Arebhashe are one of the major traditions that show the finer aspects of the language. The camp will be held at Moornadu in Kodagu from Monday. A minimum of 30 people will participate in the camp. This year-long series will help in protecting the culture.
Bharathesha Alasandemajalu, the academy member, said Arebhashe has a history of approximately 500 years.
According to linguistic scientists, it is close to Kannada, but it is difficult to even for Kannadigas to understand the language. An estimated five lakh people, mostly belonging to the Gowda community, speak Arebhashe in Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts in Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala.
Prof K Chinappa Gowda, former vice-chancellor, Karnataka Folklore University, said that there is a need to protect Arebhashe or Gowda Bhashe, as it is spoken by several communities in Sullia and Kodagu.
“The language resembles Kannada but it is different. It is easy to neglect a language, but to bring it back to the mainstream is a challenge. Every language has unique words that speak about the qualities of the language. It should be noted that there is literature in Arebhashe, which possesses the quality of being taught in schools.
Several works in Arebhashe are being translated into other languages,” he added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Education / by Deepthi Sanjiv, TNN / August 17th, 2021
“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF
Madikeri :
The two scenic hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu district are bleeding purple as the Neelakurinji flowers have taken over the spot like an army of soldiers. This rare sight has attracted many visitors including tourists as well as natives of Kodagu.
“I visited Kote Betta recently along with my cousins and it was a surreal experience. The major part of the hill was covered with these purple flowers and we later found out that they blossom once in 12 years,” said Dhanush Kaveriappa, a native of the district.
The Mandalpatti belt – which is mostly traversed in a jeep to get the off-road experience – has also become home to these flowers and visitors are enthralled by their beauty.
“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / August 17th, 2021
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