Changed Batting Technique to Pursue Test Cricket at The Wrong Age: Robin Uthappa

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Robin Uthappa had made quite an entry to international cricket, nearly becoming the first India batsman to hit a century on ODI debut in 2006

Robin Uthappa has said he pursued Test cricket at the wrong age which cost him some of his batting aggression and consequently, became his undoing.

Uthappa had made quite an entry to international cricket, nearly becoming the first India batsman to hit a century on ODI debut in 2006. Known for his aggressive approach, he was part of India squad that went on to win the inaugural ICC World T20 in South Africa.

However, his international career fizzled out as he brought out a change in his technique to realise the dream of playing Test cricket.

“My biggest goal was to play Test cricket for India,” Uthappa said during a Rajasthan Royals podcast session. “Had I pursued that at 20-21, I probably by this time would’ve played Test cricket. I wanted to have no regrets at the end of my career and wanted to be sure that I brought the best out of me.”

To tune himself to the rigours of Test cricket, Uthappa took the help of Pravin Amre and improved his technique to bring in consistency but in the process lost his natural flair.

“Hence at 25, I decided to overhaul my batting technique under Pravin Amre and became a technically better batsman who could be there for long and bat for long hours and be more consistent, which made me let go of some of my batting aggression in the process,” he said.

Uthappa played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India but never played Test cricket and at 34, it seems a distant possibility that he’ll ever make his international comeback.

“I thought to play Test cricket for India, I needed to alter my technique …….In hindsight, I may have pursued the goal at the wrong time at 25 years of age,” he said.

However, during his India career, Uthappa managed to become a world cup winner.

Under MS Dhoni, India beat Pakistan in the final to lift the silverware and Uthappa recounts the days following that historic win.

“After winning the World Cup, I did not sleep for three days straight. It didn’t really hit us initially; we were just ecstatic that we beat Pakistan in the finals,” he said.

“The enormity of it hit us when we landed in India. The reception we received was massive, I mean Bombay doesn’t stop for anyone, that day the entire city came to a standstill and moved only in the direction our bus was moving. Bizarrely we went through all of the Indian weather in that one day.

“What would usually take 45 minutes to an hour on a normal day, took us 5 and a half hours on that particular day. It went from being cold to rainy to humid and then hot. By the time we reached Wankhede, we were famished.

“I remember people throwing water, fruits, and chocolates at us so that we don’t lose energy and keep going. It was fun and all of us really cherished those memories. It was a massive relief to win a World Cup after 1983.

“I don’t think words do justice to the emotion of being a World Cup winner. It surpasses pretty much everything you feel as a cricketer. It’s a bit complex but it’s one of the most amazing feelings you get as an athlete.

“Simply because it makes you feel proud that you made a difference and added value to your team at that point in time to win a world championship. You have played your part and everybody has to play their part to win a World Cup.”

source: http://www.india.com / India.com / Home> Sports / by india.com sports desk / edited by Feroz Khan / May 20th, 2020

Rev. Fr. Joseph Aloysius D’Mello Passes Away In City

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

FrJosephKF20may2020

Mysore/Mysuru:

Rev. Fr. Joseph Aloysius D’Mello (72), a priest of the Diocese of Mysore, passed away in the early hours today ( May 19). He was sick for the last few years and since the last five months was under medical treatment in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mysuru.

Profile: Fr. Joseph D’Mello was born in Kedamullur village, Virajpet Taluk, Kodagu district, on Feb.20, 1947 to Rozario D’Mello and Mary Menezes, the third child among six children. He is survived by three elder sisters and a younger brother (Advocate Davis D’Mello) and sister.

After completing his school studies in Virajpet, he joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary later, completed his Priestly studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore. He was ordained Priest for the Diocese of Mysore on April 4, 1973 at St. Anne’s Church, Virajpet, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathias Fernandes, the then Bishop of Mysore.

He has served as Assistant Parish Priest at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Parish Priest at Sacred Heart Church, Vontikoppal, St. Joseph’s Church, Mandya, Our Lady of Velangani Church, Hanur, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Mysore, Holy Family Church, Hinkal and Infant Jesus Church, Nanjangud. He was also the Secretary of Mysore Diocesan Educational Society (MDES) between 1989 and 1996.

His contribution to the field of education has been great. He founded St. Joseph’s School at Mandya, improved the educational institutions at Hanur and St. Philomena’s institutions at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. As the Secretary of MDES, he supported many rural educational institutions in the Diocese of Mysore.

Soft spoken and humane, Fr. Joseph D’Mello was an excellent musician and mastered Gregorian Music. He had the honour of being the General Choir Master at St. Peter’s Seminary. Since 2015 he has been residing at Prashantha Nilaya, retired Priests Home in Mysuru.

Funeral mass: Respecting the restrictions laid by the Government during the present lockdown, the funeral mass was held at Prashantha Nilaya by the two Bishops, Curia members, inmates of Priests’ Home and a few close relatives at 11.30 am. His body was interred at the Catholic Cemetery in Gandhinagar at 12.30 pm today.

Condoled: Most Rev. Dr. K.A. William, Bishop of Mysore, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Antony Vazhapilly, the priests and religious of the Diocese of Mysore have condoled his death.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 19th, 2020

Rashmika Mandanna arranges food for police, home guards

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
Food is supplied to the police and home guards in Virajpet.
Food is supplied to the police and home guards in Virajpet.

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has made arrangements to supply food for the police and home guards, who have been implementing lockdown guidelines effectively in Virajpet.

The food is being supplied for 150 people including police and home guards for the last 10 days.

The food is prepared in Serenity Hall owned by Rashmika’s father M Madan Mandanna and later taken in a vehicle to reach out to the police and home guards. Arrangements have been made to supply both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

Serenity Manager Vikki Changappa said that Rashmika has asked to make arrangement for the food till May 17.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Manglauru / by DHNS, Virajpet / May 17th, 2020

Chennai-based coffee startup Farmgate is bringing Arabica beans from Coorg to store shelves

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All

FarmgateKF18may2020

Now, filter coffee for conference calls: Chennai-based coffee startup Farmgate is bringing Arabica beans from Coorg to store shelves, and filter coffee machines to workplaces.

“We have been producing coffee for over 100 years,” says 30-year-old Lakshmanan Sevugan, about his family’s coffee estates in Coorg.

So far, however, the family has only been supplying quality Arabica and Robusta beans to coffee makers and agents. Now, the millennial entrepreneur is changing things. “Usually, these sales that happen through a farm gate, where agents come and buy, are called farm gate sales,” he says, explaining the logic behind the name of his new coffee brand.

Farmgate Coffee, ironically, aims to do the exact opposite of traditional farmgate sales. “We want to give our customers the direct farm to cup experience,” says Lakshmanan. This is what the startup has been trying to do ever since its launch in August.

Arabica beans are brought from the estates in Coorg to Chennai, roasted, ground and blended in Mylapore, and packaged in specific blends with chicory, at Farmgate’s corporate office in Nungambakam. They are then sent to clients like restaurants and coffee shops, each of which orders a unique blend for customers.

“We are focusing on Arabica for now. I have grown up drinking this coffee. I like it to be 100% coffee, but the studies we did show that people prefer different blends,” shrugs Lakshmanan. In fact, 60% of the people they studied with preferred coffee mixed with chicory “because they do not like the pure bitterness of it,” says Lakshmanan.

The coffee is not only for businesses, however. A specific 80% medium-roast coffee to 20% chicory blend, called Namma Chennai, is packaged for retail, and has shown up at a few store shelves around the city. Two more will be up by the end of this year.

“We don’t have distributors as such; we operate the entire supply chain ourselves, since we are still a small startup,” says Lakshmanan. His ambitions don’t end there, probably because his love for coffee itself doesn’t end at the pick stage or with any particular roast, but in a dabara of steaming filter coffee. “I love filter coffee; I would take a break and walk out to drink some, back when I had an office job.”

Farmgate02KF18may2020

Lakshmanan is convinced that most office-goers — not only in Chennai and Bengaluru but also Mumbai, Delhi and other parts of the country — would jump at the chance to have filter coffee at work. “But all they get are cappuccino machines, or the option of getting filter coffee delivered from somewhere. It doesn’t taste the same,” he says.

So next up Farmgate’s sleeve is a filter coffee solution, including a blend and a filter coffee machine. “It is a pure play filter coffee vending machine, a separate vessel where decoction is collected, and kept heated at 70 degrees Celsius over a hot plate,” he explains. The machine — currently used by the Farmgate team in their office — then lets the drinker choose a ‘filter coffee’ option.

The device is not developed by Farmgate, but by a private firm that they have tied up with. “We are still a small startup, we don’t have the budget to make our own machines. Just like we don’t have the budget to set up our own roastery, yet.”

Farmgates coffees are roasted and ground, according to its clients’ requirements, at Sundaram Coffee in Mylapore, which has been in the business for over 70 years. Coffee beans are sent to Sundaram every other day, and roasted, cooled, then ground in small batches of five kilos each. “The lesser the amount, the more attention we can give while roasting, and the better taste we get,” says Magan Pradeep, branch manager of Sundaram Coffees in Mylapore.

Back in the coffee estates, picking season has begun. “Arabica till January and Robusta till March. So I will be visiting Coorg more frequently over the next few months. I’m going there next week, in fact,” smiles Lakshmanan.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Megha Majumdar / November 18th, 2019

Lockdown leads to blood shortage, people urged to donate blood

Records, All

With the suspension of blood donation camps, in view of the lockdown, the health authorities are reportedly facing a shortage of blood, especially in Kodagu district. The Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeri, which has set up a 100-bed COVID-19 isolation ward, has been making appeals to people to donate blood so that the stock can be replenished.

Ravi Karumbaiah of the District Blood Bank, KIMS, Madikeri, told The Hindu that some donors and members of a few NGOs had come forward to donate. “The donors are escorted to the blood bank on reaching the hospital and blood is drawn after completing the mandatory formalities. Their general health conditions are examined before blood is drawn. We recommend that only healthy persons donate blood,” he said.

Dr. Karumbaiah said the hospital was in touch with NGOs and had hopes of replenishing the stock in three days. “For the time being, there is no need to worry, but we want to keep blood in stock, given the lockdown. We shall draw blood lasting for only one month, as we store blood for 35 days from the date of collection. Today, 15 persons donated blood,” he said. “We need 150 to 200 units of blood a month.”

Though the district hospital’s blood bank maintains that the available stock could last a few days, it aims to stock up for at least one month.

Kodagu has reported one COVID-19 case, and stringent measures are in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Shankar Bennur / Mysuru – March 28th, 2020

Field Marshal KM Cariappa 27th Death Anniversary: Lesser-Known Facts About The First Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Field Marshal KM Cariappa (Photo Credits: indianarmy.nic.in)
Field Marshal KM Cariappa (Photo Credits: indianarmy.nic.in)

It is the 27th death anniversary of Field Marshal KM Cariappa on May 15 this year. He was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in Independent India. KM Cariappa is widely regarded as one of the most-decorated Indian Army officers of all times. There’s a lot to know when it comes to his life and achievements of his illustrious military career. If you are looking for interesting facts about Lt Gen KM Cariappa, his life, career, etc., then you have to come to the right place. We, at LatestLY, bring you some of the lesser-known facts about General Cariappa as we observe his 27th death anniversary.

1. KM Cariappa was born in a family of farmers, on January 28, in 1899, in Coorg. Not many people know that his childhood pet name was ‘Chimma’.

2. During his college days around 1917, he came to know about the Indian Army’s recruitment exercise. KM Cariappa was one of the 42 applicants out of 70 who were selected. The rest, they say, is history.

3. In 1925, KM Cariappa was sent on a world tour, where he came across a lot of foreign cultures, soldiers, and public. He was nicknamed ‘Kipper’ by a wife of a British officer who couldn’t pronounce his name.

4. In 1942, when he was promoted as the acting lieutenant colonel and the commanding officer of 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion, KM Cariappa became the first Indian to do so, in the Indian Army.

5. In the same year, i.e. 1945, he was promoted to the post of Brigadier. This made KM Cariappa the first Indian officer to fully attain this rank.

6. Not many people know that KM Cariappa was the officer-in-charge of the division of Army and its assets during the time of India’s independence in 1947.

7. During the First Indo-Pakistani War 1947-48, when the Indian Army HQ had strictly instructed to not conduct any operation in the Kashmir Valley, KM Cariappa didn’t obey the orders and instead launched offensive strikes in the region. The result of it was that India was able to assert its control over Ladakh and nearby regions.

8. In 1949, when Indian Army had to appoint the first Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), there were two other contenders, i.e., Shringanesh and Nathu Singh, along with KM Cariappa, who was in contention too. However, it was KM Cariappa who eventually took over as the first Indian C-in-C of independent Indian Army.

9. It is a little-known fact that the phrase ‘Jai Hind’, which was the slogan of Subash Chandra Bose-led Indian National Army (INA), was adopted by KM Cariappa, and has since then been the formal phrase to greet each other in the armed forces.

10. KM Cariappa retired from the post of Commander-in-Chief in 1953, after serving the position for 4 years.

11. Not many people know that he has also served as the Indian High Commissioner to Australia, New Zealand, after his retirement, until 1956.

12. KM Cariappa was also honoured with the Legion of Merit by American President Harry S Truman – one of the rare feats.

13. After being persuaded a lot by his friends and family members, KM Cariappa also tried his luck in politics. In 1957 Lok Sabha Elections, he contested unsuccessfully from North-east Bombay seat, against Krishna Menon.

14. In 1986, the government conferred the rank of Field Marshal on KM Cariappa as a mark of honour and recognition of his illustrious career spanning over three decades. He, along with Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, are the only people who have been accorded this honour, till date.

15. As per a legend, when his son, KC Cariappa was captured as a prisoner-of-war (POW) in the Indo-Pakistani War 1965, KM Cariappa was contacted by Pakistani General Ayub Khan informing him about his son’s safety, and even offered his release. However, KM Cariappa proudly replied, “He is my son no longer. He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment.”

KM Cariappa breathed his last on May 15, 1993. After suffering from arthritis and heart problems, he died in his sleep at Bangalore Command Hospital. As India observes the 27th death anniversary of the decorated soldier of the Indian Army, we at LatestLY, thank KM Cariappa enough for his selfless services, and wish his soul rests in peace!

source: http://www.latestly.com / LatestLY / Home> Lifestyle> Festivals and Events / May 17th, 2020

When Rashmika Mandanna went on a solo trip to Venice

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
Rashmika Mandanna on her Venice trip | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Rashmika Mandanna on her Venice trip | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The ‘Bheeshma’ actor reveals how one missed train stop led to an unforgettable travel memory, as she covered every inch of Venice on foot.

Exploring Venice on foot tops Rashmika Mandanna’s list of adventures from her many travels, although, given a second chance, she might get off at the right train stop this time. On the plus side, she says, “I feel like I’m a boss of Venice now.”

The story goes such: having requested a break from filming a song for Bheeshma, Rashmika opted to travel to Venice from Rome via Florence on train.

“I knew that my stop would arrive at noon,” she says. Once aboard, the train operator threw two different options. “One stop at 11.45 and the other at 12.15. I thought the earlier option was better and ended up getting off at the wrong station,” she adds.

Up ahead were two more options: either walk for two-and-a-half hours with her luggage to get to her hotel in Venice, or travel by cab to a point midway and then take a water taxi.

Rashmika Mandanna on her Venice trip | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Rashmika Mandanna on her Venice trip | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

She took the cab but, as fate would have it, she could not find a boat service/operator who could speak or understand English.

“I was awestruck. The entire world comes here for vacation. Maybe, it was my bad luck that nobody could understand what I was trying to ask them, like ‘where to go’, ‘how do you reach here’,” she says.

The actor decided to wing it and find her own way, perhaps, falling back on the solo traveller spirit, a move she would later regret as she ended up at the hotel only at 2 am.

“I have never walked so much in my life. It was just me dragging my suitcase and walking around a residential street; there was not a single soul in sight. My phone battery was going to give up, I didn’t have a map and I started to think ‘okay, what if I am supposed to spend the rest of my life here?’,” she laughs, adding, “I’m not kidding because I was so scared. Imagine, you are walking and you don’t see any one, there are just two people walking by and staring at you, probably because they think you are weird.”

Sightseeing in Venice | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sightseeing in Venice | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The experience only strengthened her resolve to overcome the language barrier.

“I stayed in the hotel the next day because I was tired, but then the next two days I was out and about, taking the water taxis all around Venice trying to figure out the city, which stop connected to which place, talking to locals and clicking pictures. I did get lost in Venice but now I feel like I know each and every spot there.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Movies / by Pradeep Kumar / May 13th, 2020

Avocado growers in Kodagu find market in Bengaluru’s apartments

Agriculture, Business & Economy
Avocado fruit stacked in boxes in Kodagu for transport to Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Avocado fruit stacked in boxes in Kodagu for transport to Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Gonikoppal KVK provides the link for direct marketing

Avocado or butter fruit growers in Kodagu heaved a sigh of relief after their produce, which was facing a threat of spoilage with no takers in the district due to lockdown, finding a “promising” market among apartment dwellers in Bengaluru.

Thanks to ICAR-Krishi Vignana Kendra (KVK), Gonikoppal, the growers, who had lost hopes of marketing their produce and worried over crop loss, managed direct marketing to the consumers in Bengaluru. The returns were reasonably good considering the COVID-19 crisis.

Around one tonne of avocado, which is described as a “miracle fruit” for its health and nutritional benefits, was sold in a single day on Sunday.

The fruit is grown on about 500 hectares in Kodagu amidst the plantations and the area of cultivation had seen a rise in the recent years, thanks to its popularity among the urban masses, especially the youth.

Appanna Cheppudira, who quit his lucrative bank job and took up farming, managed to sell 15 quintals of fruit harvested from 25-plus trees at his estate near Gonikoppal. “Avocado is a highly perishable fruit. It needs to be consumed within 3-4 days of its harvest. Growers like me were at a loss with no market for our produce post-lockdown. We broached the problem with KVK Gonikoppal and it showed a direct market route for the fruit,” the pleased farmer said.

Like Appanna, three other growers, including one Somanna and his daughter, found instant market in Bengaluru, and their produce was sold out. Remarkably, the fruit which was sought for ₹20-25 a kg in Kodagu, was sold for ₹60-75 a kg in Bengaluru.

The direct marketing helped growers get some income although the fruit used to fetch a much higher price during normal days.

Kodagu has an ideal climate for cultivating the fruit. Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu and Wayanad in Kerala are among the major avocado growing areas, according to KVK.

Speaking to The Hindu, KVK Head and Scientist Saju George said market access was restricted due to the lockdown. In normal times, the fruit was mostly transported to cities including Bengaluru and mainly bought by juice shops. With the closure of juice shops and restaurants, there were no takers for the fruit, putting growers in trouble.

Mr. George said the KVK decided to help farmers market their freshly harvested, spot-free and ‘A’ grade quality fruit and as a result established a direct marketing link among four to five apartments in Bengaluru. “This model has worked as the consumers ended up buying in bulk seeing the quality of fruit.”

The KVK was approached by other growers seeking help to market avocado. “We have established the link between growers and consumers. The growers need to harness this link for marketing their produce. The apartment societies can also approach the growers for fresh supplies,” the scientist said.

However, growers were facing labour shortage for fruit harvest. “I have about 10-15 quintals of fruit ready for harvest and I am unable to get workers. Each tree needs at least three workers for harvest. With great difficulty, I managed to source some locals for plucking the fruits which is a painstaking task,” explains Appanna, while thanking the KVK for its gesture.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Shankar Bennur / Mysuru – May 13th, 2020

Nurses feted on special day

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
Nurses working at the District Covid-19 Hospital were felicitated on the occasion of World Nurses Day.
Nurses working at the District Covid-19 Hospital were felicitated on the occasion of World Nurses Day.

On the occasion of International Nurses Day, nurses at the District Covid-19 Hospital in Madikeri were felicitated by the JD(S) district committee, on Tuesday.

JD(S) district unit president K M Ganesh and other workers honoured 38 nurses by presenting shawls and flowers. Jasmine flowers were showered on them.

A nurse said that she and her colleagues have joined hands with the government in the protection of the health of the people.

Video conference

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy held a video conference with tahsildars, taluk panchayat executive officers, taluk health officers and town panchayat executive officers, regarding the Covid-19 guidelines to be implemented in the days to come.

A detailed discussion was held on the quarantine measures for the natives of Kodagu who are arriving from foreign countries as well as from other states and districts.

Additional DC Dr Sneha, Assistant Commissioner T Javaregowda, district health and family welfare officer Dr K Mohan, City Municipal Council Commissioner Ramesh and nodal officer Raju were present.

Workshop held

A workshop on the ‘Karnataka Covid Health Watch App’ was conducted for the benefit of BLOs and primary school teachers, at Kaveri Kalakshetra on Tuesday.

The programme was held under the guidance of tahsildar Mahesh.

The official said that the state government has released the mobile application to collect information from households. BLOs and teachers will visit the houses and will collect information on the health of people above 60 years of age.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / May 12th 2020

M K Machaiah moves on from Mindshare; joins Wavemaker

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders
MK Machaiah
MK Machaiah

Machaiah will join Wavemaker as the president – special initiatives and will handle the ITC business.

After spending nearly eight years at Mindshare, M K Machaiah has moved on. He has joined Wavemaker as the president of special initiatives and will be responsible for handling the agency’s ITC business account. The account was previously handled by Sanchayeeta Verma.

Machaiah has over 20 years of experience in the industry. At his previous role in Mindshare, he was the chief innovation officer. He spent nearly eight years at the agency. Through his career, he has worked at Mindreach OMD, World Sport Group, Dentsu, McCann Worldgroup, Madison and Mudra Communications.

At his last role at Mindshare, Machaiah was responsible for setting up ‘Innovations Lab’ through systemic integrations of Content+, Social and Activations and building sports practice.

source: http://www.afaqs.com / Afaqs’ / Home> by afaqs’ news bureau / May 01st, 2020