Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap in city, won a bronze medal in the Women’s Masters Category at the 12th Karnataka Shooting Competition and Championship-2024.
The event was held on July 5 at the Sports Authority of India Shooting Range and Bangalore University Shooting Range in Bengaluru, which was organised by Karnataka State Rifle Association.
Preeth Appaiah is a student of the Mysuru Sports Shooting Academy (MSSA) and regularly practices under coaches Vivek and Mamith. In 2023, she achieved a remarkable feat by climbing 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). Preeth is the wife of advocate Jammada M. Aiyanna.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / July 10th, 2024
Sneha Medappa Maruvanda grew up in India, and Dr. Mark Ross Edelstein, in Virginia. But in getting to know one another, they discovered their backgrounds were strikingly similar.
Don Mears Photography
By the time Sneha Medappa Maruvanda met Dr. Mark Ross Edelstein in person, she feared they might not have anything left to say to each other.
“I was having a bit of a panic attack about meeting,” said Ms. Medappa Maruvanda, 30, who matched with Dr. Edelstein on Bumble in November 2019, and soon became engaged in a two-week-long conversation with him on the app. He was living in Philadelphia, and she in Bala Cynwyd, Penn., a suburb of the city.
“We had over talked,” she said. “He was telling me about his heroes when he was four, how a teacher was very mean to him.”
Another concern, said Dr. Edelstein: “Both of us were a little bit worried about our cultural background differences.” He was raised by Jewish parents in Richmond, Va. Ms. Medappa Maruvanda grew up in a Hindu family and was born in Coorg, a rural district in the Indian state of Karnataka, before moving to Bengaluru, formerly Bangalore, as a young girl.
But when they met up that December at a Cuban restaurant in Philadelphia, neither was at a loss for words. As for their cultures, it quickly became clear that they might not be as different as they had seemed.
“Our backgrounds are very similar in terms of sense of community and family, so I think that made it a lot easier to bridge that cultural gap,” said Dr. Edelstein, 32.
A graduate of the University of Virginia, where he received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and bioethics, Dr. Edelstein earned a medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He is currently in his fifth year of residency training for interventional radiology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Ms. Medappa Maruvanda received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering in India, then earned a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering at Rutgers University in New Jersey. She is now a project manager in the Wayne, Pa., office of Johnson Matthey, a multinational chemicals and technology company.
After the couple’s first date, Dr. Edelstein texted his sister, who had asked if he was in love. His reply: “Maybe.”
“I was like ‘Yeah, but that’s insane at this point, one date,’” Dr. Edelstein added. “But I was definitely struck by her.”
Don Mears Photography
Later in December, after their third date, the pair became an official couple. Weeks later, when Dr. Edelstein’s parents visited Philadelphia in January 2020, he told them that he knew Ms. Medappa Maruvanda was the one.
“I’d never met someone so selfless and just truly kind,” Dr. Edelstein said. “It’s never been so easy to be myself around another person.”
Ms. Medappa Maruvanda said her feelings for Dr. Edelstein were solidified six months later, in July 2020, when he met some of her cousins and began asking them questions in Kodava thakk, the language spoken in Coorg.
“I had no idea that he had been Googling this language. And it’s not an easy one to learn because there aren’t many of us,” Ms. Medappa Maruvanda said. “It was just this moment of complete shock to me that he put so much effort into wanting to connect with my cousins.”
On Jan. 15, 2021, Dr. Edelstein proposed to Ms. Medappa Maruvanda in the living room of her apartment in Bala Cynwyd, where the two now live together. A year later, the couple was wed at Main Street Station in Richmond on Jan. 22. Rabbi Jake Rubin, the director of Hillel at University of Virginia, officiated.
At the ceremony, the ketubah was read in English and Hebrew by Mr. Rubin, and in Kodava thakk by Ms. Medappa Maruvanda’s mother. The Seven Blessings were read by Ms. Medappa Maruvanda’s sister and two cousins, and Dr. Edelstein’s brother, sister and two uncles. Afterward, the couple’s 160 vaccinated guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with Indian hors d’oeuvres and music.
In April, the newlyweds plan to travel to Bengaluru for a second wedding celebration. In the meantime, the bride said, “I am most excited by having the monotony of a relationship. I want to do mundane things with Mark. I’m excited to have our own little life together.”
A version of this article appears in print on Feb. 13, 2022, Section ST, Page 13 of the New York edition with the headline: Finding Common Ground in Different Cultures.
source: http://www.nytimes.com / The New York Times / Home> Sytle> Mini-Vows / by Kristej Bayrakdarian / February 11th, 2022
A top award winning Indian journalist Raj Chengappa will deliver a talk on elections and the media at a forum organised by the Sri Lanka India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA) today at 9.30 a.m. at the Taj Samudra, Colombo.
Chengappa, who is India Today Group Editorial Director (Publishing) and India Today magazine Editor, will share experiences from the recent Indian elections.
Given the recently concluded General Elections in India, and the upcoming Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka, the topic for the keynote is ‘Indian Election 2024 and Media’.
Raj has varied interests and is a specialist in political analysis, foreign affairs, national security, nuclear weapons, the environment and development. He also does a weekly podcast and YouTube show for India Today called Nothing But The Truth.
His keynote will be followed by panel discussion comprising a Sri Lankan journalist, columnist and an election observer further sharing perspectives on the role of media in elections.
The panellists are People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (Paffrel) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchie, international award-winning investigative journalist, senior editor, trainer, researcher, and rights advocate Dilrukshi Handunnetti, experienced serial entrepreneur, former corporate senior executive, columnist, and public speaker Saliya Weerakoon.
The event, first by the newly formed Sri Lanka India Media Friendship Association, is part of the Bharat Sri Lanka Maithri Week from 12-18 August 2024 commemorating India’s 78th Independence Day. Strategic partners of the forum are Taj Samudra, Colombo and SriLankan Airlines.
Raj was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1991-92, a Stimson Centre Fellow on Security Affairs in Washington DC in 1995 and a Harry Brittain Fellow (partly at London and Oxford University) in 1985. He has won numerous national awards including the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting (1987), the Prem Bhatia Award for Political Analysis (1998), Karnataka’s Rajyotsava Award 2002, National Award for Rural Reporting (2019), the Haldi Ghati Award (2020), Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Feature Writing (2024) and the ENBA and India Audio and Music awards for the Best Show Host for Nothing But the Truth (2024).
source: http://www.ft.lk / Daily FT / Home / August 17th, 2024
In August 2018, relentless rainfall triggered landslides that caused death of 20 people, destroyed over 4,000 homes, and forced the evacuation of 18,000 people
In August 2018, relentless rainfall triggered landslides that caused death of 20 people, destroyed over 4,000 homes, and forced the evacuation of 18,000 people. (HT)
The recent Wayanad tragedy has rekindled the memory of devastating landslides of 2018 in the minds of Kodagu’s residents and yet the district continues to struggle with landslides, encroachment and environmental threats.
In August 2018, relentless rainfall triggered landslides that caused death of 20 people, destroyed over 4,000 homes, and forced the evacuation of 18,000 people. It was a disaster of unprecedented scale, marking the first major landslide-related calamity in Karnataka.
Even though the Karnataka government and its people stood by its neighbours in times of crisis, the problems at home were being ignored for years. When, in response to this tragedy in Wayanad, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducted a study, it, identified 104 disaster-prone areas in Kodagu. Authorities have since earmarked nearly 3,000 families for relocation to safer zones, with 313 families already moved, and 10 relief centres set up for temporary shelter. Plans are underway to establish 95 more relief centres across the district, in preparation for future evacuations.
According to experts, the critical situation is because of the rampant deforestation in Kodagu. Col CP Muthanna, former president of the Coorg Wildlife Society, has warned that the unchecked destruction of forests and rapid construction are endangering the district’s ecosystems, particularly the watershed of the Cauvery river.
He said that if the present trend of commercial conversions continues in Kodagu, then within a few years, Gonikoppal, Ponnampet, and Virajpet will become a single large city like Mysuru. In North Kodagu, Madikeri. Kushalnagar, and Somwarpet will become likewise.
“If we have two Mysuru-sized cities in Kodagu, then all the Cauvery water will be required within Kodagu and the 70% of water supply to Bengaluru will be cut off,” he said.
He added that said that one of the reasons for the water shortage in Bengaluru is the rampant and unchecked commercial land conversions and urbanisation of Kodagu, and argued against giving No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for such conversions in the district.
The widespread encroachment on forest land in the Western Ghats, threatens the fragile ecosystems. The Kodagu division of the forest department has registered over 3,000 cases of encroachment, with some already in the process of eviction. The Madikeri division alone faces 3,410 pending cases involving over 5,500 acres of forest land. “These are just known cases,” said a forest department official, who didn’t want to be named.
According to the government, despite stringent legal provisions, Karnataka has lost around 25,767 acres of forest land due to encroachment between 2014 and 2023.
The recent environmental disaster in Wayanad, have intensified concerns about the impact of these encroachments. In response, on August 2, forest minister Eshwar Khandre formed a special task force (STF) to tackle this issue. “The forest encroachment clearance operation in the Western Ghats and other Ghats has started. The task force will work diligently to clear illegal resorts, homestays, and other encroachments in all Ghats, including the Western Ghats, which span 10 districts of the state,” he said.
The newly formed task force will operate under the leadership of the principal chief conservator of forests and chief forest task force. “Clear instructions have been given to carry out clearance operations in all cases regarding encroachments in the forests in the Ghat areas after 2015,” the minister said.
However, the removal of encroachment is just one part of the problem, according to the environmental activists. The controversial K Kasturirangan commission report, which proposed designating 20,668 square km in Karnataka as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA), is back in the spotlight after the Wayanad tragedy.
Although the government initially rejected the report, chief minister Siddaramaiah has now signalled a potential re-evaluation, acknowledging the need for further discussion. K Kasturirangan commission report (formally titled Report of the High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats) was submitted in 2013. “The government is against the implementation of the Kasturirangan committee report. Though the government rejected the report, we will discuss the issue with forest minister Eshwar Khandre and not make a hasty decision. The issue needs more discussions before arriving at any decision,” he added.
Environmentalists are divided on the ESA designation. A faction opposing the Kasturirangan report expressed concerns that the report’s recommendations, which include restrictions on permanent structures, roads, industries, and tourism infrastructure within the ESA, would severely impact the livelihoods of local villagers and hinder regional development. In contrast, environmentalists argued that the rapid development occurring in Karnataka’s Western Ghats benefits outsiders rather than residents.
As the debate continues, Kodagu’s environmental challenges grow more urgent. The district’s booming tourism industry, which attracted over 42 lakh visitors last year alone, is straining natural resources and heightening the risk of future disasters.
As Kodagu braces for the rest of the monsoon season, the district finds itself at a crossroads, balancing the demands of development with the urgent need to protect its natural environment. The coming months will likely determine whether the region can avoid another disaster or face a repeat of the tragic events of 2018.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / by Arun Dev, Bengaluru / August 16th, 2024
Atyadi village in Kodagu, known for its scenic beauty, faces isolation for six months annually due to a swollen stream. Residents risk their lives crossing it, especially during heavy rainfall. Despite decades of pleas for a bridge, authorities have not acted. Villagers, like Nityananda and Ramakrishna, hope for a solution to end their prolonged suffering.
Despite being known as the “Scotland of India” and the “Kashmir of Karnataka,” a village that faces a stark reality far removed from its scenic facade lies in Kodagu. Atyadi village, nestled under Chembu Gram Panchayat in Madikeri Taluk, Sampaje Hobli, struggles with a critical issue that isolates it from the outside world for half of the year.
During the monsoon season, which typically lasts from June to November, a stream flowing through the Hebba area of this village swells to alarming levels, reaching heights of 10 to 12 feet until December. This formidable obstacle effectively severs the village from the rest of civilization for six long months.
The plight of the villagers during this period is nothing short of harrowing. Crossing the swollen stream becomes a treacherous endeavour, with the elderly, disabled, and young children risking their lives to traverse its precarious waters. Nityananda, a resident disabled since birth, is forced to crawl across the hazardous stream to navigate the outside world.
The situation worsens when heavy rainfall causes the stream to overflow, rendering it impassable even by foot. The village becomes entirely cut off, leaving its inhabitants stranded and vulnerable. In emergencies, such as illness or medical emergencies, villagers resort to desperate measures, often transporting the sick on chairs to reach the nearest hospital.
Tragically, the isolation extends even to moments of grief and loss. Last year, when Nityananda’s wife passed away, the village mourned in solitude as outsiders were unable to attend her cremation. Ramakrishna, another villager, expressed frustration at the recurring ordeal, lamenting the lack of response from authorities despite decades of pleas for help.
For the past 25 years, villagers have tirelessly petitioned local representatives, urging them to construct a bridge to alleviate their suffering. However, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, with promises unfulfilled and solutions elusive. Despite a glimmer of hope when raw materials were procured for bridge construction for 10 lakhs, bureaucratic hurdles derailed the project, leaving the village stranded once again.
As the rainy season sets in, Ayadi village braces itself for yet another spell of isolation and hardship. Residents like Lilavati can only hope that their elected officials will finally heed their cries for help and provide a long-awaited solution to their predicament. The beauty of Kodagu’s exterior belies the urgent need for action to address the hidden struggles of its rural communities.
source: http://www.newsable.asianetnews.com / Asia Net Newsable / Home> English News> Karnataka / by Vinaykunar Patil / May 20th, 2024
Beauty and personal care brand Pilgrim has named actress Rashmika Mandanna as its new brand ambassador for its hair care product range. Harnessing Mandanna’s pan-India popularity, the brand has launched a new campaign titled ‘The Secret is in the Mix’
Rashmika Mandanna for Pilgrim – Pilgrim
“I’ve always believed that haircare goes beyond just using the right ingredients- it’s about how they’re brought together,” said Rashmika Mandanna in a press release. “This campaign is truly special because it highlights that while trends come and go, the real magic lies in how ingredients are expertly combined to deliver results. Pilgrim’s haircare products masterfully blend natural and active ingredients, making them truly transformative. I look forward to a great association with Pilgrim and can’t wait to share these remarkable hair care secrets with everyone.”
Chosen for her popularity amongst young Indian audiences, Mandanna will help Pilgrim to further build upon its Gen Z customer base. The new campaign shows a herd of consumers following the latest viral trends and juxtaposes this with Pilgrim’s products, which Mandanna presents as having a superior mix of ingredients.
“As Pilgrim continues to grow and take its next big leap, Rashmika is the perfect person to represent the spirit of our brand and lead us into this new era,” said Pilgrim’s co-founder Gagandeep Makker. “This partnership is a significant milestone as we continue to innovate and provide exceptional solutions to our dynamic consumers, and we look forward to scaling new heights together. Our hair care range has received tremendous love, with products like the Hair Growth Serum and Patuá & Keratin Smoothening Shampoo becoming game-changers in the market. Today’s young audience is always searching for innovative solutions for healthy and silky hair, and Rashmika embodies this quest perfectly. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Pilgrim family.”
source: http://www.in.fashionnetwork.in / Fashion Network / Home> India> News> People / August 13th, 2024
CM hears plight of 20 families and suggests solutions.
*CM holds discussions with officials on the spot and proposes solutions.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited and inspected the landslide area of Srimangala Kutta in Ponnampet taluk and held discussions with officials and locals.
More than 20 families have lost their homes due to the collapse of the hill.The CM directed the immediate completion of the suspension bridge construction, repair work,and road construction.
Chief Secretary to the Government,Shalini Rajneesh, briefed the Chief Minister about the effects of the landslide and the safety measures and works that are being undertaken.
District In-Charge Minister,NS.Bosaraju,MLAs Ponnanna,and Manthar Gowda,and senior officials from the revenue department were present.
source: http://www.countryandpolitics.in / Country and Politics / Home> City News / by Vipin Gaur in City News / August 03rd, 2024
“Priya the Jungle Dancer” by Sathya Achia and illustrated by Janan Abir is a story that explores the unbreakable bond and love between children and their grandparents.
“Priya the Jungle Dancer” by Sathya Achia and illustrated by Janan Abir is a story that explores the unbreakable bond and love between children and their grandparents.
It also introduces the readers to the nature-loving culture of the Kodava community of the Coorg region in Karnataka. Their love for nature gets manifested through their folk music and dances like “Ummathat” in which women wearing colorful dresses and jewelry honor River Kaveri for helping them sustain life.
This way the book teaches young readers numerous lessons about familial bonds, appreciating nature, and being brave in tough situations like Priya, the protagonist.
The story starts with Priya rehearsing for her dance performance through a video call with her grandparents (Thatha and Thaye) who live overseas in a village near a Jungle in India. Her grandparents are assisting her in learning some graceful and enthralling dance moves which are inspired by their experienced observation of the jungle around them.
The author describes the dance steps by using various evocative similes which create an enigmatic imagery of the free-flowing nature in the minds of the reader. As ‘Thatha’ (grandfather) topples his tabla, he sings along to his little granddaughter to dance like the fierce monsoon rains, remain strong like a palm tree in a storm, and be determined like a growing lotus. This way, they remind Priya that she is an inherent jungle dancer and does not have to feel scared or hesitant about her performance.
The story evocatively portrays how customs and values are passed across generations. The heartwarming story is drawn from the childhood experience of the author who shared a close bond with her own Thatha and Thaye.
Though her grandparents lived oceans apart, she shared a strong and endearing relationship with them. Adding to the charm of the story are the beautiful illustrations that take the reader along in Priya’s dance endeavor. The illustrations deserve appreciation for giving attention to the minutest details, particularly in showcasing Priya’s traditional costume. The use of childhood pictures of the author also adds to the story’s fascinating nature, making it a more realistic and authentic experience for the readers.
The story in short acts as a gentle reminder to young children to explore one’s roots by interacting with their grandparents who are nothing less than a treasure full of experiences.
The book is priced at Rs399 and is published by Adidev Press.
source: http://www.thestatesman.com / The Statesman / Home> Features / by Shreya Bansal, New Delhi / July 08th, 2024
Machimanda Mittoo Appaiah (Munjandira), wife of late Appaiah and a resident of Cauvery Cottage, Ammathi-Polibetta Road, passed away on Aug. 3 in the town. She was 100. She leaves behind sons Cariappa and Devaiah and a host of relatives and friends.
Her another son Ganapathy had predeceased her.
Last rites were held at Kavadi on Aug. 4, according to family sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 12th, 2024
“Using waste coffee grounds is part of this effort to create beautiful products and contribute to a healthier planet,” says Kabir Singh, designer of The Shop.
Ensembles from the Coffee Dyed Collection
The Shop is a one-year old store run by a family business in Indiranagar that focuses on producing objects of beautiful living. Their inspiration is hand crafted textile, an awakening of traditional art, an observance of individuality and the realisation of living in a sacred space. Their passion is reviving crafts communities by integrating contemporary design with the expert workmanship of traditional craft.
“At 50, older, wiser and more compassionate, we believe in leading the way towards harmonious living, especially in light of our planetary health crisis. Sustainability and social responsibility have become our core values,” opens Kabir Singh, designer and MD, The Shop.
With a wide product range that consists of summer dresses, nightwear, tops, trousers, men’s wear, bed linen, table linen, kitchen, clothing, nightwear, kids, stoles and bags, they actively support the work of an NGO called Disha in bringing hope to the street children of Kolkata and the KDML School in Madikeri, Kodagu — that educates children with special needs.
Ensembles from the Coffee Dyed Collection
“Since the inception of The Shop in 1969, we have been working with traditional techniques like kalamkari, ajrakh, bhag and many more. The team at The Shop now looks at expanding and exploring more sustainable printing techniques and coffee is our newest excitement. We have had a Blue Tokai Coffee Shop at our workshop for many years. While we have been enjoying their coffee for a long time, we never thought of getting inspiration for our textiles from their excellent coffee. We regularly have design team meetings where we look at ways to innovate with new eco-friendly materials and practices. Using waste coffee grounds is part of this effort to create beautiful products and contribute to a healthier planet. The coffee collection is part of our larger Terra range which includes products dyed and printed using natural, vegetable and plant based ingredients,” explains Kabir as we catch up with him for a quick conversation around their newest edit, the Coffee Dyed Collection launched recently to coincide with the 1st anniversary of their new store.
Ensemble from the Coffee Dyed Collection
Tell us about the new collection, what was it inspired by?
The new Coffee Dyed Collection, is yet another drive to create something sustainable in the world of fast fashion. It reflects our commitment to sustainability by using leftover coffee residues from our inhouse cafe, Blue Tokai and also nearby cafes to create rich, warm and natural dyes.
Is this edit a part of a series?
It is a part of the Terra range, more specifically we use vegetable dyes in the Terra range but in this new one, its leftover brewed coffee. This collection is unique and will surely be a trendsetter because it embraces a zero-waste approach, using coffee residues as dye. It’s a step further in our journey towards eco-friendly fashion and a mindful way to dispose of coffee waste produced in mass.
Are there any motifs or designs that are specific to this collection?
The collection is printed using block printed techniques and the motifs and designs used are classics to The Shop. This is because we wanted to compliment the age old traditional block printing with the new and evolving coffee dyed patterns.
Do take us through the colour palette used in this edit?
The colour palette includes warm browns, deep mocha, caramel hues and soft beige — all derived from coffee. These tones create a cozy, inviting aesthetic perfect for any wardrobe.
Ensemble from the Coffee Dyed Collection
What are the fabrics you have chosen for this collection?
We’ve chosen natural fabrics like cotton voile and cambric, which absorb the coffee dye beautifully and ensure comfort and breathability.
What are the silhouettes we can look forward to?
The collection includes The Shop’s own styles like begum kurta, tara tunic, angel tops, kimonos, PJ sets, lounge pants and men’s kurtas both in long and short styles all designed to offer ease and elegance. Also look forward to eco products like table linen mats, napkins, bed linen, cushions, kitchen curtains bags, scarves, nightwear, loungewear, tops, dresses and pants, that are not part of the collection but are available at the store.
INR 1,500 onwards. At Indiranagar.
Email: romal@newindianexpress.com / X: @elromal
source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / Indulge, Indian Express / Home> New Launches / by Roman Laisram / July 27th, 2024
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