Category Archives: Education

This govt high school in Virajpet is 133 years old

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The Government High School in Virajpet.

A government high school in Virajpet, started way back in 1887, has continued to impart education to children.

Thousands of students had pursued their education in the school in the past. At present, 125 students are pursuing their studies. 

The school was started during the British era and it is the second high school to be set up in the Kodagu district.

Well-known writer and novelist S R Narayana Rao who wrote under the pen name Bharathisutha, had served as a Kannada teacher in the school in 1956.

Bharathisutha’s novels ‘Edakallu Guddada Mele’, ‘Huli Halina Mevu’ and ‘Bayalu Dari’ have been made into films. It was he who started a library in the school for the first time.

Two old students of the school, who are now settled in Mysuru, K Ramesh and Dr S Sudha, a couple, have donated free tablets to 44 class 10 students recently, to help them to pursue their studies.

Children from villages situated in and around Virajpet were admitted to the school. However, the school is witnessing a decrease in the number of students, over a period of time.

The starting of high schools in all the villages may be one of the reasons for the decline in the number of students enrolling in Government High School in Virajpet, said the school teachers.

The school used to have 500 students seven to eight years ago. Now, the strength of students has come down to 125.

The students are excelling in SSLC exams in the schools for the last 10 years. In 2012, the school had secured 93% in SSLC, while in 2013, it was 94%.

A PU college was started right beside the high school in 1972. The PU college will observe golden jubilee celebrations next year.

The PU college is offering arts, commerce and science streams and a total of 323 students are pursuing their studies now.

The school has a good playground and has produced athletes in the past. There is a need to construct a retaining wall around the ground so that the public property is protected, said the teachers.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Virajpet / April 10th, 2021

NPSI Student’s Space Hotel Concept Bags First Place In NASA Contest

Amazing Feats, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), World Opinion

Mysuru:

Mukkatira Neerav Aiyappa, a Class 7 student of National Public School International (NPSI), Mysuru, who participated in the Annual Space Settlement Contest, has bagged the first place in Grade 7 Category for his proposal of a Space Hotel ‘DIADEM.’

He presented a design of the Space Hotel in the orbital space settlement LEO (Lower Earth Orbit) at the contest jointly organised by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Centre, San Jose State University and the National Space Society (NSS).

This international competition invited all students around the world up to 12th Grade to participate in its 2018 edition.

Neerav will receive a NASA certificate and has been invited to attend the NSS 37th Annual International Space Development Conference to be held at Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, California, USA, from May 24 to May 27, 2018 for a poster and oral presentation of his winning proposal. His project and ideas will be used by NASA for its future space programmes.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Neerav, who has been working on the project since 11 months, said that among various forms of tourism like eco-tourism, nautical tourism, wellness tourism and medical tourism, a new concept has emerged in the form of space tourism, kindling interest to explore various destinations. Rather than seeing comets, planets, and constellations on a telescope, space tourism provides a privilege of experiencing first-hand the beauty of comets, asteroids, stars and planets, he added.

Space tourism will not only provide new vacation experience but create a new view to the earth, transforming the thoughts and perception among humans socially, culturally and emotionally, inspire new careers for the generation of engineers and will open newer fields for research in space medicine, nanotechnology, physical sciences and others, he said.

Through his project, Neerav has created a ‘Space Hotel’ providing space tourists a unique experience of a lifetime and enrich space and its potentials. “My project aims to create a ‘wow’ factor in the field of travel, provides job opportunities, ability to renew space exploration and research, explores possibility of hypersonic travel and have a newer perspective of earth,” he said.

A file photo of the then Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani felicitating Mysuru boy Neerav Aiyappa for winning Google India Code to Learn 2015 Contest.

In his project, Neerav has detailed out the concept of the space hotel, life support system, logistics of the space hotel, economy and time-line, space laws and code of ethics.

Neerav had won the Google India Code to Learn 2015 Contest where he created a game software project using “Scratch” programming called “Wings Over Waves.” The then Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani felicitated him under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyaan.

He was a finalist at RYSI Award (Raman Award) held on Mar. 5, 2018 at Panchavati (Sir C.V. Raman’s residence) in Bengaluru where he demonstrated the principle fluid and thermodynamics in intermediate category  with a working model.

Neerav is the son of Mukkatira Muthanna and Kavery, residents of Yadavagiri and grandson of Mukkatira Gappu – Janaki of Ponnampet and Guddanda Nanda – Kanthy of Virajpet.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 27th, 2018

Mysuru boy & Kodagu girl in Pariksha Pe Charcha

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Mysuru/ Madikeri:

MB Tarun, a Class 11 student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Doddamara Gowdanahally, Mysuru and Padmapriya, a Class 9 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Madikeri will represent the state in the Pariksha Pe Charcha on April 01.

He will participate in the event virtually. They are among the 40 students selected from across the country to attend the fifth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha.

At the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will answer the queries of the students, a release stated.

TNN

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mysuru News / by TNN / March 31st, 2022

Ph.D In Mechanical Engineering Sciences

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Mysore/Mysuru: 

M.M. Uthappa has been awarded Ph.D in Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Sciences by the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, for his thesis ‘A study of motivational factors and its impact on project team performance (A study conducted at selected private and public sector companies in India)’ submitted under the guidance of Dr. A.N. Santosh Kumar.

Macharanda Madappa Uthappa is a Mechanical Engineer graduated from BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru and earned his post-graduation — Master of Technology (M.Tech) and Master of Engineering Management (MEM) ­­from VTU. He received his Doctorate during VTU’s 21st  Annual Convocation held on Mar. 10 at Belagavi.

Uthappa is a Chartered Engineer (C Engg) and also an elected Fellow Member of Institution of  Engineers India (FIE).

He started his career with Tata Group and after a 25-year corporate service till 2015 in various capacities, he quit the job in 2015 and registered as Full Time Research Scholar at VTU’s Research Centre in Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysuru.

Also a folk singer and lyricist, Uthappa has translated many Kannada devotional songs to Kodava paaje.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 17th, 2022

Parents anxious as many students still stuck in Ukraine’s Russian border

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022)

Two from Kodagu are trapped in Sumy city; they face food, water shortage

Two students from Kodagu are among 440-plus Indian students stranded in Sumy in war-hit eastern Ukraine, which is close to the Russian border.

Even as many Karnataka students were managing to run off from the cities under siege and reaching borders in western Ukraine for airlift, some students are finding it tough to move out, delaying their evacuation and increasing the anxiety levels of their parents.

Arjun Vasanth, a fourth-year medical student, who is still in Sumy, Ukraine. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The parents of Arjun Vasanth from Shanivarasanthe and Shreya Pradeep from Virajpet are extremely worried over their safety as their return is not happening though it’s been over a week since the Russian militia invaded Ukraine. Shortage of food and water has made the students’ life even more difficult. Going out to bring essentials is also dangerous amidst the shelling.

Arjun’s elder brother Raghavendra, who works in Mysuru, said his brother is now incommunicado with power outage in Sumy since last Thursday night. “He and others are facing serious difficulties and evacuation of these trapped students must be speeded up by engaging in talks with Russia since Sumy is close to the Russian border and they can be evacuated from the nearest airport in Russia,” a worried brother said.

Raghavendra said he spoke former Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who was in New Delhi, and Manoj Rajan, Commissioner, Karnataka Disaster Management Authority, on the students’ plight in Sumy and sought their help for their airlift as going to western Ukraine amidst intense shelling and missile attacks was impossible for them. “How is it possible to travel 1,500 km with no proper transportation mode from Sumy to the Polish or Romanian borders,” he asked.

Shreya Pradeep is another student from Kodagu stranded in Sumy. His father Pradeep, who runs a shop at Betolli village in Virajpet, is making frantic calls to authorities for updates as he is disturbed over delay in evacuation.

“Good that our students are being evacuated but students stuck in other conflict zones also need to get help and support. These students have no food and water. They are in serious difficulty. Please help them get back home soon,” he pleaded.

Pradeep took an education loan to send Shreya, a first-year student in Sumy State University, to Ukraine.

“My daughter went to Ukraine as one of her seniors suggested that medical education is good there. She is today trapped in a war situation,” said Pradeep, who was told by Shreya that 438 Indian students are stranded in Sumy and all are together in a bunker.

“The Indian government must talk to Russian authorities as Sumy is close to Russia. The students could be moved to the Russian border for eventual airlift,” he suggested.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – March 04th, 2022

Back to ‘school’ in Coorg to learn about the German connect – An unforgettable drive in Volkswagen Taigun

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

The board that greeted us at the end of our 200km-odd journey from the heart of Bengaluru said School Estate. But that wasn’t our final destination, is what we realised soon. That would be School Thota, a division of School Estate, and a few hundred metres into the estate, we saw a smaller board directing us to it.

Thota roughly translates to garden in the local Kannada language. Of course, like many other places around India, there is a local language (not dialect) just for Coorg too. There are many further distinctions and groups within locals here, such as Kodavas, to which the family that owns School Thota belongs. Surely, there are many equally beautiful plantations and homestays in Coorg. But what caught our fancy on this particular drive of Volkswagen’s impressive new Taigun is the story of a German reverend who is associated with the early history of this place, including the reason why it ended up being called School Estate.

Georg Richter was the principal of a local Mercara High School. He was instrumental in mobilising local leaders in the field of education. Under his guidance, they came together and collected money to purchase around 350 acres of land for Rs 3000 back – a princely sum back in the 1860s. The aim was to fund the school with yield from the coffee and other plantations, hence the name School Estate. Since Richter was in charge, the house on the property also was built to his liking. While earlier it was only a makeshift place for the occasional visitors, the subsequent owners kept the core structure intact and built a seemingly European-style Indian home first for themselves and now extended to guests interested in soaking in nature and School Thota’s heritage.

Coorg is one of the places that still rely on roads for its connections. The drive from Bengaluru to its centre, Madikeri, is a mix of choc-o-bloc metropolitan roads followed by a busy but reasonably fast Mysore highway that you leave after Srirangapatna for a more picturesque country road interspersed with short stretches of busy towns. It was a mix that helped the versatility of the Taigun shine through. Volkswagen offers this made-for-India SUV in two engine and three gearbox options. While we took what was on paper, the smaller 1.0-litre TSI (114bhp/178Nm) coupled with a six-speed torque converter gearbox revealed the variety of traffic and road conditions. One of the biggest clichés busted was it doesn’t tire under relentless highway driving. A frugal fuel consumption figure meant we could do the entire stretch without a fuel stop en route.

Coorg roads are typically narrow and twisty, and the agile Taigun seemed up for some confident driving. Patches of bad roads were dealt with ease, as the Taigun feels planted on the move, just like its bigger stablemates. The solid German connection is there to see.

Inside School Thota, we had many glimpses of the European connection too. Its current owners – the Aiyappa family, is led by 81-year-old Saraswathi, who runs the show along with her son Kushalappa. Together not only do they manage half of the School Estate (the other half bought by another local family a few generations ago) but also keep the homestay’s heritage intact.

“The doors of this homestay are the original ones,” said Saraswathi Amma. She also pointed out that they were much larger than the entrance door, which was an extension added to the School Thota structure after the Indian family took over. “Typically, Germans are taller, which explains the bigger doors. Moreover, for us, we bend or hunch a bit and enter the house. This is also about showing respect to the house, which is a temple of sorts for us,” she pointed out. Keeping tradition alive is one of the motives of such homestays around Coorg so that you can see many old artefacts and even furniture tastefully retained here. At School Thota, even a European-style fireplace reminds you of the kind of the early occupants of this structure.

Coorg is an extremely ecologically sensitive area, and its locals try hard to maintain the balance between earning from the soil and keeping it sustainable. Plantations are not only home to various kinds of flora and fauna but also the livelihood for many locals. Agriculture in today’s times can be challenging, but families running the show have tried to improvise and keep the fire going in their Indianised versions of the colonial way of life. A few have even managed to hold on to the original way of life, just like a Taigun does by keeping a Volkswagen badge’s core values intact in an SUV that’s completely at home in India. Its Volkswagen genes are unmistakably apparent despite being born and brought up in India.

It took a visit to this place to reiterate and experience this first hand. Lesson learnt by going back to school… auf wiedersehen.

Contributed by Girish Karkera,
Consulting Editor – Times Auto · Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd.

Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Volkswagen by the Times Internet’s Spotlight team.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Spotlight / by Girish Karkera / March 10th, 2022

Amid shelling, gritty girl from Ponnampet walked for the airlift

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022)

Fourth-year medical student says Poland, Hungary, Slovakia can admit students affected by the conflict

Unruffled over shelling at a distance in Kyiv amid the Russian forces’ approaching the capital, gritty Sinya V J from Ponnampet and fellow students came out of their bunker and walked about 12 km to reach the railway station to run off from the conflict zone as they realized it was a “do or die” situation.

“We had two options – either to stay back in the shelter or take the risk. We took the risk fully aware that missiles are being fired all over. Though it was dangerous, we walked praying for our safety and reached the station. Luckily, today I am in my country. I wish all students return home safely like me,” said Sinya, recalling her testing times in the war-hit country.

“If I had not taken the risk, my return could have been longer, keeping my family worried,” she added.

Sinya is a fourth-year medical student in Uzhhorod National University. Siniya could have been easily evacuated as Uzhhorod is in western Ukraine which shares its border with Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

On February 24, Sinya was at Kyiv international airport to board a flight to Dubai to join her siblings for a vacation. She had no hint that she would have to undergo a lot of trauma as Russian forces attacked Ukraine the same day. “The flights got cancelled, I and other Indian students had to be moved to a shelter where I was put up for three days. We had to run for safety leaving our belongings at the airport,” she recalled.

On the fate of her medical education, Sinya says medical education appears uncertain in present Ukraine because of war. “I was told the students can take transfer to universities in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. An academician from Hungary who was at the border told us about the option of taking transfer. If Ukraine is not possible again, the next best alternative is available since I don’t want to leave my studies midway as becoming a doctor is my biggest dream,” the 22-year-old girl told The Hindu.

To a question on why Ukraine is preferred for medical education, she says, “The education standards are good. Each batch has 15 students. There’s no pressure on students. Medical education has become possible for me despite being the daughter of a mechanic because there’s no donation in Ukraine. My relatives helped us mobilize resources for my education.”

Ukraine not just attracts Indian students but also those dreaming to become doctors from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria and other nations. “Students from the UK also study. I had friends from London. The assessment is tough as the student has to qualify in an exam in the third year to study further. Overseas medical education is grossly misunderstood. I will return to my country with a medical degree and also clear the qualifying exam here,” a confident Sinya said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Shankar Bennur / Mysuru – March 03rd, 2022

Worried father of Kodagu girl appeals to govt

Education, Nri's / Pio's, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022)

He hopes govt. will help her continue her medical education in India after return
Akshita Akkamma, a medical student from Kudlur village near Kushalnagar in Kodagu, is safe and about to cross the Ukrainian border to get evacuated from the war-hit country. However, her parents back home in Kodagu are still nervous until she reaches her home.

Her father I.P. Ramesh, an agriculturist, said, “I don’t want to send my daughter back to Ukraine after her return. We had a tough time worried about her safety after the war broke out. Hearing about shelling and explosions in Kharkiv, we had sleepless nights. We were slightly relieved after she rang up to tell us she had reached Livv and boarded a bus to reach the border to fly back to India.”

Akshita is a second-year student at Kharkiv National Medical University. “I don’t want my daughter to go back as her safety is important for us. Therefore, I urge the Government of India to make arrangements for her study in the country in whichever college it is possible as my daughter has put in two years of her study in Ukraine,” Mr. Ramesh suggested.

The coffee grower added, “In an exceptional case, a provision can be made for students wishing to stay in India, to continue medical education. I don’t think this is unachievable.”

Mr. Ramesh said “Fellow student Naveen’s tragic death shocked us and our apprehensions went up further since my daughter was also in Kharkiv which was witnessing heavy bombardment. Ukrainians are said to be getting first priority and then the girl students for boarding trains,” said the girl’s father.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – March 03rd, 2022

Three girl students from Kodagu return safely from war-torn Ukraine

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022), World Opinion

Amidst the blitzkrieg from the Russian military, three students from Kodagu managed to leave the conflict zones in Ukraine and safely returned to India much to the relief of their family members who were pleading for their safe evacuation ever since Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Alisha Sayyad Ali, Siniya V.J. and M.P. Nirmala, who managed to reach the borders in available modes of transport from their respective cities, returned on Wednesday in the evacuation flights operated by the Indian government.

The girls’ return was confirmed to The Hindu by the Kodagu district administration, whose officials were in touch with the stranded students since the war broke out. A few of the students from Kodagu and Mysuru are said to have reached Poland and are waiting for their evacuation. All of them are safe.

Siniya, who landed in Bengaluru airport on Wednesday evening, was welcomed by her family members.

Jose, her uncle, said Siniya had to walk about 20 km from her shelter in Kyiv along with other students to the railway station to reach Livv. She was evacuated from Budapest in Hungary to New Delhi.

“Minutes before Siniya was supposed to board a flight to Dubai on February 24 from Kyiv to join her sister for a vacation, Russian forces attacked Ukraine and the flights got cancelled. She had to rush back to her accommodation in available means of transport for her safety. Her 40-kg baggage was stuck in Kyiv airport and she flew to India with only a few pairs of clothes as all her belongings are at the airport,” Mr. Jose said.

Alisha, a student of Ivan Francisco Medical University, has also returned.

M.P. Nirmala, a student of Bogomoleth National Medical University in Kyiv, was stranded at a school after the invasion. Her mother Rajani was praying for her early return, pleading with the authorities for her evacuation. Ms Rajani said, “My daughter landed in Delhi this morning and is on her way to Bengaluru.”

Karthik, brother of Likith, who was stranded in Kharkiv with eight others, said his brother and some of his friends have reached Poland. “It was tough for them to reach the borders but they managed and are now away from the conflict zone Kharkiv which is under siege. They are waiting for their turn to board the next evacuation flights,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – March 02nd, 2022

Worried father of Kodagu girl appeals to govt

Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Ukraine Updates, Kodagu Students(Feb 2022), World Opinion

He hopes govt. will help her continue her medical education in India after return

Akshita Akkamma, a medical student from Kudlur village near Kushalnagar in Kodagu, is safe and about to cross the Ukrainian border to get evacuated from the war-hit country. However, her parents back home in Kodagu are still nervous until she reaches her home.

Her father I.P. Ramesh, an agriculturist, said, “I don’t want to send my daughter back to Ukraine after her return. We had a tough time worried about her safety after the war broke out. Hearing about shelling and explosions in Kharkiv, we had sleepless nights. We were slightly relieved after she rang up to tell us she had reached Livv and boarded a bus to reach the border to fly back to India.”

Akshita is a second-year student at Kharkiv National Medical University. “I don’t want my daughter to go back as her safety is important for us. Therefore, I urge the Government of India to make arrangements for her study in the country in whichever college it is possible as my daughter has put in two years of her study in Ukraine,” Mr. Ramesh suggested.

The coffee grower added, “In an exceptional case, a provision can be made for students wishing to stay in India, to continue medical education. I don’t think this is unachievable.”

Mr. Ramesh said “Fellow student Naveen’s tragic death shocked us and our apprehensions went up further since my daughter was also in Kharkiv which was witnessing heavy bombardment. Ukrainians are said to be getting first priority and then the girl students for boarding trains,” said the girl’s father.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / TheHindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – March 03rd, 2022