Karwar: Legislative Committee Takes Labour Dept Officials to Task

The Legislative Committee on Women and Child Welfare expressed its displeasure over the work of the Labour Department in Uttara Kannada district. It was also surprised over the negligible number of cases of women trafficking that have been reported in the district.

The committee led by MLA Malikayya Guttedar, reviewed the progress of various departments associated with women and child welfare as well as the welfare of senior citizens, labourers, physically challenged, devadasis and transgender. The work done by the departments of Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri was reviewed at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on Thursday.
Officials of the Labour Department said the district has over three lakh labourers but most of them have not been covered under the Rajiv Gandhi Swasthya Bima Yojna. The committee expressed its displeasure and asked the DCs of all the four districts to ensure that health benefits reach the labourers.
Guttedar said the district does not have an ESI hospital and hence the committee will submit a report to the government to get, hospital sanctioned.
Member Sankanur sought information on the distribution of tricycles to the handicapped using 3 percent of the funds allotted the various departments ant the local area development funds of legislators and parliamentarians. Officials Sail the tricycles are yet to be distributed as the company is in the process of assembling the parts.
Committee members, including actress and MLC Jayamala, expressed shod when Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police B Dileep said there have been no cases of trafficking women from the district, to which Guttedar said he has reports of over 200 women trafficked from Bhatkal alone.
The committee asked Deputy Commissioner Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh to keep a check on the smuggling of liquor and other intoxicants. The DC said regular checks are conducted by coast guards and the navy patrols the sea regularly.
Committee members Jayamma, Allamaprabhu Patil, S V Sankanur, Vasu and Dr Shreenivas Murthy were present.




Source : Sahil Online , 6th Nov 2015

A festival of snack foods

Traditional sweets and savouries are in great demand during Deepavali. We take a look at what some of Tiruchi’s snack gurus have to offer this year

A selection of Aswins Home Special sweets on display as part of the store's Deepavali promotion in Tiruchi.

Deepavali is not just a festival of lights anymore. It has become a festival of food, especially of sweetmeats and savoury snacks that are bought, exchanged and eaten in great quantities all over the Indian subcontinent.

With more women taking up full-time employment, homemade festive snacks have been replaced by shop-bought alternatives. Worries about the high-calorie food consumed during festivals have led stores to improve their own methods of cooking to suit modern tastes.

From century-old establishments to more recent entrants, MetroPlus checks out what’s on offer from Tiruchi’s vendors this year.

Big love for boondi and elephants

YAANAI MARK NEI MITTAI

Established:1914

Location: Big Bazaar

Signature snack: ‘Koodai Boondi’

This small stall in Big Bazaar Street has got a bestseller in its sweet boondi, which is still available in its original packing – a palm-sized bamboo cane basket lined with coloured paper.

“My grandfather was among the first to start making this larger-size boondi, and it has continued to be our most popular sweet for the past 101 years,” says proprietor B. Kannan, who joined the family business in 1980. “Pilgrims to the Nagore Dargah’s Kanduri festival often stop by to purchase boondi for dedicating it to Nathervali Dargah here. We have seen generations of pilgrims returning to us for the boondi.”

His grandfather’s love for pachyderms was a reason why he chose to name the shop after the elephant, says Kannan. “He was among a team of friends who went to get an elephant from Thrissur in 1960, which was later dedicated to the Rock Fort temple,” says Kannan. “Thatha took care of Lakshmi (the elephant) when she was very young, and when we celebrated our 60th anniversary in 1974, she was a special invitee to our shop,” recalls Kannan.

A brass kadhai holds some 25-30 kilos of boondi, which is steadily replenished by the shop’s staffof two master cooks and two helpers. “We are planning to make khoa badusha, butter mysore paak and paneer jangri, for Deepavali this year. But our boondi will always be in demand,” predicts Kannan.

Keeping it natural

ADYAR ANANDA BHAVAN

In Tiruchi since: 2005

Location: Sastri Road, Railway Junction, Femina Shopping Mall

Signature snack: Nut-based sweets

Traditional sweets like adhirasams, Tirupathi laddoo, Mysore Paak and laddoos made of chickpea and semolina have always been a part of Adyar Ananda Bhavan’s menu. This year, the restaurant-cum-snack retailer, one of 96 franchises of the Chennai-based chain, is planning to focus on ‘natural sweets,’ for Deepavali.

“This involves only nuts and dry fruits ground to form sweets, without any added sugar or flavouring,” says P. N. Vijayakumar, manager of the Tiruchi operations.

 

“Customers seem to prefer this healthier version of sweets during the festive season, so we are offering items like kaju katli, pista roll and cassata, that are a great hit with children, and also good for gifting.”

Other options for the festive period include sweets made using milk solids and clarified butter, in addition to Bengali specialities.

The eatery chain’s prices are fixed throughout the year, which ensures a steady clientele, says Vijayakumar. “We have been getting a lot of enquiries for corporate bulk orders, in addition to requests for snacks that have that old-fashioned taste, with a healthier preparation.”

Reviving folk cuisine

ASWINS HOME SPECIAL

Established: 2003

Location (in Tiruchi): Kumaran Nagar, Mambazha Salai

Signature snacks: Laddoo, adirasam, achu murukku, kai murukku

Starting off as a domestic effort to revive folk cuisine of the Reddiar community in Perambalur by Mr. and Mrs. K.R.V. Ganesan in the mid-1990s, Aswins Home Special today is on its way to becoming a professional food manufacturer on par with international standards, with subsidiaries in Tiruchi and Chennai.

“The taste of Aswins laddoos should linger in my customer’s mind,” says Mr. Ganesan, which explains the sweetmeat’s enduring popularity throughout the eatery’s outlets.

This year, a special team of cooks has been appointed to deal with Deepavali orders to prepare fresh stock every day.

In Tiruchi, the store is showcasing its festive snacks at the Taj Marriage Hall on Karur Bypass Road until November 9. A similar arrangement has also been made at the restaurant’s Perambalur branch.

Sweet and savoury snack gift packs for Rs. 250, Rs. 500 and Rs.750 have a mixture of native goodies that are prepared using stone-ground flour.

Aswins employs a large number of women from surrounding villages as cooks at its Perambalur production facility, and also accepts physically challenged workers.

Keeping up with health-consciousness, the store has sugarless options for diabetics, and several delicacies made with ethnic millets.

Taste of tradition

CHETTINAD SNACKS

Established: 2008

Location: Puthur

Signature snack: Thattai, Seepu Seedai, Adirasam, Badusha

V. Lakshmi learned cooking from her mother, but didn’t really think of making it a home-based career until 2008. “I was always interested in making snacks and used to share them with my friends and relatives.

“Then I felt confident enough to make it a small-time enterprise,” says Ms. Lakshmi.

Recreating recipes from her native village of Aravayal (Shanmughanathapuram) has helped her to make a mark among those who yearn for Chettinad delicacies that have slowly slipped away from public memory.

Among the ethnic items she is offering this Deepavali are Manakolam, Adirasam, Pasiparuppu Urundai, Thenkulal, Magilampoo Murukku, Seepu Seedai and Thattai, besides the usual rota of delicacies like Badusha, Ghee Mysore Paak, Dry Jamun, and Laddoo.

“I get my orders through word-of-mouth, and that is enough for me to work comfortably with my team of seven cooks and helpers,” says Ms. Lakshmi. “I can cater to any small family function or even for those travelling abroad with snacks as gifts.”

The recent rise in dal prices has affected the preparation of some of her recipes, which is why she has had to shift over to pricing her products by the kilo from piecemeal rates.

“I get the raw rice from Karaikudi, which is what gives my snacks their special taste,” she says.

Catering to one and all

SRI SHIVA VISHNU CATERING & MARRIAGE SERVICES

Established: 1984

Location: No.30, Padma Vilas Bungalow, Bharathiyar Street, Town Station Road; special Deepavali stall at Sudarshan Mahal in Srirangam until November 10

Signature snacks: Badam Halva, Gulab Jamun, Cashew cake, Tirunelveli Halva

Business seems to be roaring at the Sudarshana Mahal in Srirangam, where S. Vaidyanathan, who prefers to be known by his alias Ravi, has been overseeing orders for Deepavali for the past 10 days.

“We want to be part of celebrations in every household, and our Deepavali stall is proof of this,” says Mr. Ravi, who has spent over 20 years in the mass catering business.

For six years, he has been booking a marriage hall in Srirangam exclusively for Deepavali orders. “Even though the hall has to be booked six months in advance, we start preparing for Deepavali only 10 days ahead, because the snacks have a short shelf life,” says Mr. Ravi. “Having a hall encourages families to come and sample the snacks and even see their preparation in the kitchen before placing their orders, which you cannot do in a sweet stall,” he adds.

The caterer is offering 15 varieties of sweets such as laddoo, badusha, adhirasam and milk sweets and 7 types of savouries (kaara sevu, omam podi and ribbon pakoda among others) for Deepavali this year. “Usually, our most popular items are those that cannot be prepared easily at home, such as Badam Halva, Gulab Jamun, Cashew cake, Jangri, Tirunelveli Halva and Ghee Mysore Paak, but we don’t have any concept of minimum orders. Customers can buy any quantity according to their budget,” says Mr. Ravi.

The caterer also offers ‘Thalai Deepavali’ gift packs for newlyweds, besides accepting corporate orders.

“Though some of the sweets have become costlier due to the rise in prices of nuts and dried fruits, we have tried our best to keep our products as affordable as possible,” says Mr. Ravi.

The Deepavali stall starts working at 5 a.m. and closes doors at 10 p.m. It will be operational until 10 a.m. on Deepavali (November 10). “Nothing would have been possible without the co-operation of my team members,” concludes Mr. Ravi.




Source : The Hindu , 6th Nov 2015

How Bhavesh Sanghvi is using T-shirts as a medium to highlight social iniquities !

At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done.
We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”

-Mother Teresa

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The Social Change Initiative

Bhavesh Sanghvi, Son of a renowned businessman and well-settled in life, was saturated with routine work-life. Bhavesh was not satisfied with what he was doing. Bhavesh always had a creative instinct within him and wanted to do something different. It was year 2011, and plenty of activities concerning social welfare were happening across the country including Jan Lokpal bill, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and Mullaperiyar dam protests, 2G telecom, corruption in Commonwealth Games etc. Bhavesh was quite disturbed seeing these issues dominating headlines throughout the year. It was then, when Bhavesh decided to do something, and a noble thought occurred to him- “First, let’s change ourselves and then change society”. He quit his comfort to achieve what he has dreamt. He started to dedicate his time for social cause. Meanwhile, he was hunting for ways to effectively grab people’s mind. During one of his busy days, he noticed that printed t-shirt are one of the fastest, easiest, inexpensive and most readily available solution to a part of his quest- He says “if you wear a plain t-shirt, no one gives any attention but if put on a printed one, though involuntarily people tend to read what is scribbled on it.”

And that’s how Bhashan, a t-shirt brand, was incepted. Bhavesh Sanghvi is Founder and Owner of Bhashan T-Shirts. Bhashan was founded by Bhavesh in December, 2011 and ever from its inception it is encouraging youth to ‘wear the right words’. Bhashan T- shirts support’s ‘The Right to express what is wrong’ and trying to address social issues such as child labour, education, corruption, terrorism, poverty, global warming, Indian economy and drugs through catchy taglines (One-Liners).

Bhavesh chose T-shirt as a medium to highlight social iniquities, move the youth towards driving positive changes in the nation and encourage them for social entrepreneurship.​

Ups and Downs

The venture led by Bhavesh was in full swing and by the end of year 2013, Bhashan was selling t-shirts via Snapdeal, Flipkart, Paytm, and Shopclues. It was also doing business via outlets and retail stores. During the promotion, Bhavesh took one area at a time, visited major retail stores personally and explained the retailers with concepts behind each of the t-shirt. So far, he has covered more than 350+ stores in Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Baroda, Pune, Kolhapur, Rourkela, Indore, Ahmadabad, Belgaum, and Kolkata. He had opened his first flagship store in Matunga, Mumbai. He was also associating with Media, Celebrities, and Radio Stations. Ever since its inception, Bhashan has sold more than 50,000+ t-shirts.

However, Life is not always what you want it to be and you are compelled to make decisions against your will. In 2013, due to personal difficulties, Bhavesh had to discontinue with his initiative and move to Dubai. During his one year stay in Dubai, he felt the same urge to do something creative and meaningful until ultimately he decided to move back to India to continue with his initiative. In April 2015, he revamped his venture and started its operations again. Now, Bhavesh is devoting all his time to promotions and funding for the venture and get everything on the track yet again. Currently, Bhavesh operates from his house in Vasi, Mumbai but he would be inaugurating his new office in Vasi itself on the occasion of Diwali.

Motivations in disguise of Challenges

Food, Shelter and Cloths are basic necessities of a human. People will not stop consuming foods, start to live on open or stop to wear clothes. Bhavesh comments that the T-shirt industry is going to go on and witness no hamper to its growth. Moreover, today everything is going online and this would just enhance sales. However, this does not hint that there are no challenges.

Bhavesh says that everyone wants to bring change. Everyone wants to voice their opinion. But when it actually comes to do something to bring forth that change, no one stands up for it.


It is a very popular belief that “What you wear depicts what you are”. Similarly, if someone is buying a t-shirt with some thought printed on it, that implies he supports the same. Moreover, if the thought happens to be a social message- people are more apprehensive and hesitant to buy it. Even if someone wants to buy it but is skeptical, he/she ends-up buying something else which is fancier. This behavior by customers also prompts retailers not to accept these t-shirts so easily.

Another critical challenge in the industry is payment delays by retailers. Bhavesh says that most of the payments are delayed due to involvement of middleman in the transaction. Bhavesh tackles this difficulty by removing any need of third-party and takes care of entire process himself.



Bhavesh acts as one man army- he does all the tasks himself including coming up with one-liners to promotion to sell to collection of the items. “I had everything anyone could wish for but I choose this over everything else as this gives me happiness. I am contented. When I actually use my creativity to bring about a change, I feel good about it. When I do something for society, I feel worth.” Says Bhavesh.

Bhavesh utilizes 50% of the profit for betterment of society- education, provide equipments to physically handicapped ones, fill ration in houses where there is no support and others. He has been doing this noble deed ever on a regular basis, individually.

Currently, the venture is operating with freelancers. Bhavesh says that he has not maintained a core designing team as it would restrict design possibilities to particular designer. As of now, the company is having seven freelancers who do design.

Bhavesh’s future plan is to come up with a shelter home for people who are mentally challenged, homeless. “I do not wish to be the cause to bring out the change around the world, I am contented even if I can get one person inspired by thoughts and affect many others in turn” says Bhavesh.

The GameChanger

Bhavesh belongs to the band of successful young entrepreneurs in India. Bhavesh Sanghavi sparked off his career at the raw age of 20, when he joined the customer service department of a BPO. Later, he joined his family business of Imports of PVC Flooring and handled close to 400 clients and 5 Manufacturing Companies.

He also won the Award for Being the Youngest Successful Entrepreneur in Flooring Industry and achieving the impossible numbers of sales at the age of 23 for 6 years.

After gaining major success in the field of sales and marketing, Bhavesh always wanted to do something that is challenging, interesting and makes a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. He chose concept driven T-shirt as a medium to spread social awareness.

Bhavesh also utilizes up to 50 percent of his profits for a social cause like sponsoring education of children from poor family, providing equipments to specially challenged people etc.

Source: Tech Story , 6th Nov 2015

15 more ‘Adarsh Stations’ in SWR - HUBBALLI- Karnataka

The South Western Railway has identified 15 more railway stations for development as ‘Adarsh Stations’ in addition to the list of 27 such stations.

Chairing the 16th Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee meeting here recently, General Manager of South Western Railway, Pradeep Kumar Saxena, said Vijayapura, Belagavi, Savordem Curchorem, Ugar Khurd, Kudachi, Mallapur, Daroji, Kuppam, Davangere, Harihar, Subrahmanya Road, Hole Narsipur, Bantawala, Gudgeri and Neralakatte would be improved.

Of the total 76 km of track doubling targeted for completion this fiscal, work on Hosadurga-Chikjajur (28 km) line had been completed. The works on Yeliyur-Byadarhalli, Byadarahalli-Pandavapura and Pandavapura-Srirangapatna-Naganahalli (28 km) as part of Ramanagaram-Mysore (93 km.) doubling project; Yelahanka-Chennasandra (13 km) and Yeshwantpur-Yelhanda (07) km were targeted for completion by January 2016.

He said that during the first six months of the current fiscal, SWR had carried 19.76 million tonnes of freight and 96.13 million originating passengers, with gross earnings of Rs. 2,312.89 crore.

Regular cleaning of Koppal station, train reservation coach information system at platforms; foot over bridge ramp for differently abled passengers; improvement of Belagavi, Ghatprabha and Dharwad railway stations were the issues that came up for discussion. The general manager assured them of requisite action.




Source : The Hindu , 6th Nov 2015

Now, an iron mesh to separate men from women on RTC buses

The State Government, in order to prevent men from occupying seats reserved for women in APSRTC buses, now plans to set up an iron mesh separating the two seating enclosures.

In addition to this, efforts are on to make GIS installation mandatory in autos, cabs and transport vehicles.

APSRTC operates over 12,000 buses across the State, of which 1,300 are operated in the city such as Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. This apart, 6,000 Telugu Velugu and 2,150 Express are operated in rural areas. There are complaints about men occupying seats reserved for women in buses, especially in city, Telugu Velugu and Express buses. To address the issue, the government is establishing iron mesh in buses.

These issues were discussed during a review meeting on women safety and physically challenged welfare by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Thursday. He instructed the authorities to accord a top priority to women safety and welfare of the differently abled.

Emphasis should be laid on ensuring on ensuring the safety of women working in night shifts and directed the Police and IT departments to work in coordination. He wanted the authorities to focus on women trafficking, implementing POCSO Act, Nirbhaya Act.

For the convenience of physically challenged persons, a study centre would be established shortly in Vijayawada, besides setting up old age homes in every revenue divisions for senior citizens and physically challenged.

As a pilot project, four such homes should be established immediately at Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, Tirupati and Kurnool.

This apart, requisitions were sent to Centre for setting up an exclusive sports centre for physically challenged at Visakhapatnam, sensory park in Kurnool, Regional centre of National Institute for Disabled at Nellore, Braille printing press and Composite Regional Centre of National Institute for Hearing Impaired at Guntur district.

Efforts on to make GIS mandatory in autos, cabs and transport vehicles


Source : The Hindu , 6th Nov 2015

India denies any role in Nepal border disruptions - NEPAL

Stones and brick particles accumulated at the main road in Birgunj of Parsa district after the whole day’s clash of Madhesi Front cadres with Police on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

India today said the problems facing Nepal are political in nature and the country should find a solution that is not based on force.

Giving its statement on the second Universal Periodic Review of Nepal in an interactive session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday, India expressed concern about ‘lack of political progress” in Nepal, even after the death of more than 45 persons in the run-up to and after the adoption of the new constitution in September.

India also denied its role in any obstruction of supplies to Nepal and reiterated that it was due to the ongoing protests on the Nepalese side.

In the UPR session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, had yesterday highlighted the humanitarian crisis because of shortage of suppy of essential fuels and medicine from India to Nepal.

India requested that constitution building and democratisation process be consolidated by accommodating all section of Nepali society and urged effective functioning of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and strengthening of National National Human Rights Commission.

Meanwhile, the UK expressed its concern about discrimination against women in the citizenship provisions in the new constitution and urged the government to ensure independent investigation on the violence in the run up and after the adoption of the statute.

It also expressed serious exception to the amnesty provisions in the TRC mechanism.

The UK also urged the government to remove, or at least extend, the 35-day statute of limitation for reporting rape cases and urged it to set up a complaint commission to investigate and prosecute the complaints against security forces.

The United States delegates said religious freedom should be protected, whereas the Chinese delegates who took part in the interactive session stressed the need to ensure quality education and rights of physically challenged people.

Likewise, the delegate of Brazil and Spain raised concern about violence against women, Madhesis and Janajatis and mad an appeal for strengthening the NHRC to protect the basic rights of people.

Delegates from 79 countries took part in the interactive dialogue with the Nepali delegation, and provided constructive comments and recommendations to further promote human rights in Nepal, according to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva.

During their observation, most delegates appreciated the adoption of the new democratic constitution that incorporates democratic norms and values and the progressive provisions of fundamental rights and freedoms, it added.

In his concluding remarks following the interactive session, DPM and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa thanked the delegates for their constructive participation and assured the international community about the government’s commitment to reviewing and revising the existing laws as well as developing new legislative frameworks for effectively implementing all the provisions of the new constitution.



Source : The Himalayan Times , 6th Nov 2015

Mega infra projects lined up: KTR - Hyderabad

IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao obliges a physically-challenged person’s request for a selfie at the HYSEA summit in Hyderabad on Wednesday.— Photo: Nagara Gopal Rs. 35,000 to be spent for roads and flyovers and an equal amount for water supply The State government will lay roads in rural areas at a cost of Rs. 15,000 crore and build flyovers and sky walks in the city spending another Rs.

20,000 crore, said State IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao here on Wednesday. Addressing delegates at the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association’s (HYSEA) Annual CSR Summit here on Wednesday, Mr. Rao stated, “When we took over there was erratic power supply, but now we are almost self-sufficient.” He also mentioned that the State government will take up drinking water projects worth Rs. 35,000 crore to supply water to 8.5 million rural households. Mr.

Rao also said that Hyderabad will receive more drinking water supply from the Krishna phase-3 by November 15 and also from the Godavari phase-1 project by December. “We are also trying to ensure that Gram Panchayats have their own plan to complete the project. We have tied up for funds from the Central government, State government,” he said. “We also constructed 12,500 toilets in Sircilla, the village I adopted, and we will construct water harvesting structures there soon,” said Mr. Rao, adding that he wanted HYSEA and other industry members to work with local bodies.. .




Source : NYOOOZ, 5th Nov 2015

Financial assistance for physically challenged girl - UP

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today announced a financial assistance to a physically challenged girl from Bijnor and said his government was ready to extend all possible support for rehabilitation of physically challenged persons.

The Chief Minister met Akanksha Chaudhary, a BA third year student at Vardhaman degree college and announced a financial aid of rupees one lakh, an official spokesman said.

On the initiative of Akhilesh Yadav, Akanksha was fitted with an prosthetic limb at Shakuntala Mishra Rehabilitation University yesterday.

The CM said his government was ready to extend all possible support for rehabilitation of physically challenged persons.

He said that a fresh speed could be brought in the development of the state by bringing physically challenged persons in the mainstream of the society.

Akanksha, while expressing her gratitude towards the CM, said his initiative has created a new hope and confidence among physically challenged persons.



Source : PTI News , 7th Nov 2015

‘We must defeat the loneliness of self’

Krishna Manavalli speaks to litterateur Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar about his latest novel, Shivana Dangura

Individualism that destroys: “I reject the model of self-search that we have derived from European modernism,” says Kambar

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It was as a reader intimate with Chandrashekhar Kambar’s writing, and as someone in holy awe of his “demonic” creative energy (his amazingly prolific writing!) that I plunged into his new novel, Shivana Dangura. It is markedly different from Kambar’s earlier work, or anything written recently in Kannada literature. This time around, Kambar does not stop with drawing us deep into the labyrinth of myth and collective memory. He thrusts us violently into our contemporary world of global and neo-colonial nightmares. For those familiar with the microcosmic Shivapura of Kambar’s imagination — a folk world where gods and men co-exist, a tiny universe where time flows on, gathering even the temporary disruptions from outside — this new Shivapura will come as a shock. In his earlier novel Shikharasoorya, Kambar already shows how consumer economy threatens to engulf Shivapura. But in the end, Shivapura is saved. In Shivana Dangura, the foreign economic powers penetrate into, to borrow the famous Antiguan-American writer Jamaica Kincaid’s term, this “small place” of our Third World.

Why does Kambar conjure up the vision of this new Shivapura with a near-dystopic horror? Does Shivana Dangura point to a shift in his Weltanschauung? Or does he still present some alternate vision of life in Shivana Dangura? I asked Kambar about how this rather different species of work came into being.

Shivana Dangura is not fully moored in the mythopoeic imagination characteristic of your writing. The narrative alternates between the mythological and realistic modes. Towards the end, it reverts to the world of myth in the big scene at the Mother’s Cave. What do these narratorial shifts signal?

I often use the traditional folk method of narration. It starts with a geographical reference. We locate Shivapura in the Jambu Island. We establish its place in the world. No need to rely on maps here. Nor do we rely on written accounts in narrating events. Jogti’s or shepherds’ songs are as legitimate as any other historical documents. The universal “Once upon a time,” takes us into myth time. Shivana Dangura starts in this myth time. The British bring with them the notion of another Time, the “historical” time. Corruption sets in with the chime of this colonial clock.

In the myth vision, Shivapura is connected with many other worlds. Time becomes seamless. History stands still in the Mother’s Cave. The protagonist Chambasa learns the truth of life here.

You weave another strand of history, that of the freedom movement, into the novel. This history becomes a part of local mythology.

The movement was a part of my childhood. We knew the outsider was here. The British made us keenly aware of it with their marches, military bands, and processions. But they hadn’t come into our stories yet. Then Gandhi came. We accepted him. He became a part of our folk plays. Often, people from the movement came to the village theatre and begged money for the struggle. People cheered, threw money, and felt some sense of unity with the nation.

Through the novel, what happens to women and the environment are intertwined. Women are raped. Bagirti gives birth to a physically-challenged child because of the toxic environment. Kuntirapa tries to prostitute his wife for political advancement.

The political, sexual, economic, and environmental discourses are inter-linked. You see Kuntirapa’s machinations, the State joining hands with global economic powers, or the greed that makes farmers grow cash crops instead of their food. This consumer culture pushes towards immediate satisfactions. The rape of women, rape of land, and disruption of community bonds happen simultaneously. Kuntirapa destroys the environment for his gain. He uses rape as a form of political and personal revenge.

Women also resist this neo-colonial invasion. Tungavva, the mother-figure and conscience-keeper of the village, cautions people against lust for foreign money.

And there’s Madevi! She connects the “three” alternate visions of life in the novel. If humanism should live in Shivapura, it should have a Chambasa. It should have a Madevi who leads Chambasa into the Mother’s Cave.

Chambasa goes through something that looks suspiciously like a modernist self-search! You are often critical of this type of individualism. When you describe Chambasa’s psychological torment in jail, you also bring in stuff like the split-self, inner monologues, surreal dreams…

I use this mode deliberately. Earlier, Chambasa was a part of his community. When he kills, he becomes the Other. This egotistic act is also linked to his boyhood “rebellion” of throwing stones at the temple.

The trauma resurfaces when he sees his reflection in the lake. He sees his dark boyhood self. The same boy has grown into an angry young-man who killed five people. The self-regarding moment is a symptom of mental disease. Modernists celebrated it.

Then, Chambasa sets the jail inmates to work on the barren land. He creates a new community. He goes to the Mother’s Cave. Even there, he cannot find the truth all by himself. Many people help him--NamahShivaya, the old man of the dream, and Madevi.

Shivana Dangura provides some hope in the end then? You mentioned “three” alternate visions.

 

Some rebellions and search for new identities are born from tradition as it changes and finds new ways of surviving. Chambasa grew up drinking the Dalit woman Tungavva’s milk. NamahShivaya, who goes to the untouchable neighborhood for alms, is his guru. Chambasa marries the low-caste Shari. These transgressions are already accepted by Shivapura society. Chambasa also learns about the nation.

I reject the model of self-search that we derived from European modernism. Such individualism only destroys. We must build, and defeat the loneliness of the self. Not the disease of looking at oneself, but finding that self in the collective space. The folk community is “balaga,” kinship based on living bonds. So, Chambasa goes to the Mother’s Cave with the harake (vow) of building a new Shivapura. He hears Shiva’s Drum.

You see another powerful vision of collective empowerment when Madevi abandons the race that she is winning. She returns to help a contestant who falls. The other physically challenged children follow her. Finally, they all hold hands and reach the goal at the same time!

At the end, Madevi narrates what Tungavva told her. When the ecological disasters started happening, Tungavva dreamt of a blood-sucking yakshi haunting the village lake. But this yakshi ran away when Madevi arrived. She grew scared that Madevi would hold people’s hands and lead them to collective victory !

This is the Shivapura that we must rebuild with values embodied in the figure of Madevi.



Source : The Hindu , 5th Nov 2015

Doctor with disability harassed at station

A senior government doctor with 70 per cent orthopaedic disability was allegedly harassed and put to inconvenience at the New Delhi railway station early this week. The physician complained that his journey turned into a nightmare because of the highly insensitive behaviour of railway officials there.

“On October 27, I reached the New Delhi railway station to catch my train Kashi Vishwanath from New Delhi to Bareilly,’’ said Dr. Satendra Singh. “From platform 1, I had to reach platform 8; so I asked for a battery-operated car stating I am a disabled person. The man at the counter told me that the service had stopped.

Wheelchair facility was a paid service. Besides, the lift available was not connected to the platform that I wanted to go to,” said Dr. Singh.

Later, a railway official on duty explained that there is a payment issue of the battery car operators. Hence this facility has stopped for the past one-and-a-half months.

“I made a written complaint (number 34) and got a receipt. With great difficulty, I climbed steps and reached platform 8, where I saw a battery-operated car ferrying passengers to platform 10. I clicked a few photographs. This means both the railways officials deliberately gave me false information despite seeing me in crutches. Their signed letter is the testimony,” said Dr. Singh.

He was also misinformed about the platform on which his train had come in. “I managed to catch my train just in time from another platform,” he said.

Meanwhile, responding to Dr. Singh’s official complaint, Anant Swarup, executive director (Public Grievances), Ministry of Railways, said, “A complaint has been received from our valued passenger regarding harassment and misbehaviour by railway staff. Please enquire into the matter immediately and send a report at the earliest.”




Source : The Hindu , 1st Nov 2015

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Educational assistance to the differently-abled

ESRO, a non-profit organisation based in Nungambakkam, provided educational assistance and other welfare aid to the differently-abled. They were given away by Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah at a function held recently.

Started in 2007, ESRO has been working towards child education, women's empowerment and environment protection

C. Narashiman, chairman, Raasi Group of Companies, and G.V. Selvam, vice-president, VIT University, were present.

ESRO, which was found in 2007 by professor EKT Sivakumar, has been working towards child education, women empowerment and environment conservation. For poor meritorious students, the organisation provides financial assistance for higher education, said a press release. Financial help is also extended to differently-abled persons. The organisation has also released books and periodicals. For details, visit www.esro.in



Source : The Hindu , 1st Nov 2015

Getting by with a little help from friends

A “home” fronting a small pond in Aamtala’s Bakkhali Zulfia has come as a haven for 14 “Angel Children” who are cared for by their foster parents, Krishnachandra Nashkar and wife, who love them no less than they do their own two daughters. To visitors, the place may seem as nondescript as everything else the lush but largely insignificant surrounds, but it spells “life” for these children who play barefoot, study and take care of their youngest sister who is just about a month old. And when night falls and dinner is done, they all cuddle up on a huge bed, discussing the day until sleep comes calling.





Home is a tiny concrete structure with a tin roof for these Nashkars. They’re not here because they’re orphans, but most can’t be “afforded” by their parents and have been abandoned or have found their way here from the more remote stretches.



Running a family of these proportions always involves a funds crunch but Parash, a non-governmental organisation, has been doing all it possibly can to keep them alive and happy for the past one year. Initiated and conceptualised online by some Facebook friends, it strives to leave no stone unturned to reach out to poor and orphan children, the physically handicapped and mentally disabled and, of course, the helpless elderly.



The lack of infrastructure is obviously a very challenging socio-economic condition and the village where these kids live is almost a two-an-half-hour journey from Hazra More in South Kolkata, where this family arrived at to receive a new set of clothes, stationery, food, medicines and toys. Since “home’ is flood infested, cultivation is almost impossible and there is hardly any transportation save for a direct state bus that comes every one hour or so. Of course, autos are more frequent but they charge a bomb for each ride and should it be raining drivers refuse to venture into the interiors.


There is no electricity if there’s thunder and then there are the mosquitoes that will sing you to sleep (if you’re a native) or keep you awake, and uncomfortably so.



Money apart, Parash has, along with other organizations, been helping to make live bearable, supplying portable hand pumps, a house to live in, food and so on. But in spite of all the difficulties, the Nashkars are still humble and simple people. The children don’t forget to fold their hands and thank Jesus (most are converted Christians) before a meal. “I have left it to him to help me carry forward this journey. I have 16 kids and a wife to take care of and I am grateful that organisations like Parash are coming forward with aid,” says Nashkar.



Soft-spoken and extremely hardworking, he prefers to keep a low profile. When gifted with new clothes, the family wait to be together in privacy before opening their packets and check out the contents. Always amiable and smiling, they are Nashkar’s biggest strength, always ready to help whatever they can. There are cartoonists, painters, dancers and even singers amongst these kids and, who knows, there could be another Jamini Roy or Uday Shankar in the making. 



And they could do with all the help they can get because at the moment just three administrators and about 30 members are not enough to generate enough help for the Nashkars and many similar families. Sometimes it’s best to disregard what you read and, instead, check things out for yourself.

You could contact Parash members Gautam Bhattacharjee at +919830171257 or Suvendu Sen Sharma at +9199830302175 for details of any sorts. It would be worth a lot more that the phone call.



Source : The Statesman , 1st Nov 2015

Chhatrapal’s Choicest Short Stories

Cheta, a collection of 14 short stories in Dogri by a renowned author who stands on the firmament of modern Dogri prose. Chhatrapal is rightly hailed as Dogri’s high grade writer. He is Joginder Pal Saraf better known as Chhatrapal in literary world.



The book under review is dedicated to the memory of doyen of Dogri late Prof. Ram Nath Shastri , who  has  praised Chhatrapal’s stories as the masterpieces of the modern  Dogri literature like, Sapkanj, Cheta Madaari, Hindsaa  ,Agg,  Jidd, Oh Din .

Well-knit stories

The book ‘Cheta’ is a landmark in Dogri literature for its new style of expression, psychological treatment, literary aesthetics, beauty and power of language and style of modern short story. The stories of Chhatrapal are held at high esteem by the critics and the readers.

While the themes of stories of book Cheta are relevant to present day, they include some most heart-rendering thematic breakthrough like hidden emotions of the ‘third gender’ Sapkanj challenges of senile dementia confronted Cheta by a retired headmaster , struggle for existence by a road side Madaari ( juggler) . Such themes express the psyche of the changing social life.


The short stories of Cheta markedly signify change in the art of story telling with an element of interest and intense feeling blended with satire. Three stories entitled Agg, Jidd and Hindsaa deal with child psychology and unfolds the inner layers of subconscious of children.

Chhatrapal is also a well known satirist who has enriched Dogri literature with his penetrating and poignant style . He has experimented with the traditional Tota-Maina style of story telling  with new vision and themes. Some of his such stories are: Shumari Lal da Dukhant, Doctor Meharban and Nikka Pappu Badda Pappu.
High Moral Values

The one of the choicest stories titled Cheta narrates the interesting but agonizing  tale of an aged character who always forgot his things due to senile dementia. Once he goes to his friend’s daughter’s marriage but while purchasing the ticket at the bus stand counter forgets the name of his destination. He undergoes traumatic experience. English Translation of this story has been included in the English text book , alongwith two stories of O’Henary and Prem Chand prescribed by some universities of the country for the students of first year of BA, BSc and B.Com course. Another story Loona Da Putla  deals with a person who is always in search of his dream-house. Written in surrealistic style, the main character of the story desperately yearns for love and affection and finally melts in torrential rains , that symbolizes the vagaries of life.

Besides being a writer Chhatrapal is  well connected with media  having scripted about 2000 television programmes for Doordarshan. He served Radio Station, Jammu as News Reader for 35 years . He bagged Mohan Rakesh Samman in All India Playwriting Competition organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi.  He has also  translated Kamleshwar’s Kitne Pakistan and Tagore’s  Nouka Doobi into Dogri.
Chhatrapal has got  published his stories in Dharmyug,Sarika,Nayee Kahaniyaan, Maya,  Saptahik Hindustan and  other prestigious magazines.  His first collection of Hindi short stories Roshni Se Door  was awarded by  Directorate of  Hindi , New Delhi  during 1982.Translation of his short stories published in  different Indian languages includingUrdu and Kashmiri.


Urge for Life


Overcoming his Polio problem with strong will-power, struggle and strength, he made a successful career in creative writing and social service.  His family, instead of being demoralized, has set up Viklang Chhatra Trust to provide artificial limbs and financial support for the physically disabled. His father,  Satya Pal Saraf   with the support of Chhatrapal  is carrying on this noble mission.


Mr.  Chhatrapal is also president, Red Cross Home  for Handicapped ,Udaywala , Jammu  and assist  helping the helpless handicapped  boys and girls. In addition, he has been quite active in the literary field and is presently president , Dogri  Sanstha ,  a pioneer organization devoted to Dogri language and cultural heritage of Duggar.

Useful Literary Work

One of the very significant feature is that these stories, written in chaste to Dogri  language, deeply reflect  the Dogra  customs, cultural  modes  and moral values. Though depicted in this background, the overall themes are universal in nature. This is the unique insight of   Chhatrapal that his pen portrays the present but has the vision of the future imbedded in it.

Cheta has extended the frontiers of Dogri Short Story with its high excellence, powerful expression and variety of themes dealt with utmost creative expertise and keen observation .These stories intensively express the internal conflict of such characters who are exposed to hostile situation and are struggling for their existence. Some of the stories of the collection are trend-setter and directly relate to the psyche of society. The book has ineffaceable impact on Dogri fiction.



Source : Daily Excelsior, 1st Nov 2015

Pointless new footbridge: With no access to Yeshwanthpur station, it’s a skywalk to nowhere

Rs.2 crore has been spent on building the structure, but pedestrains feel that it is a complete waste of resources
Pedestrians in the city hardly ever use the numerous skywalks Bengaluru has to offer, since these skywalks are constructed with little to no planning and often cause inconvenience. A classic example is the upcoming skywalk near Yeshwanthpur railway station.


Two crore rupees has been spent on constructing this skywalk, but pedestrians say it barely serves the purpose — of easing access to the Yeshwanthpur Station, the city's second largest railway station, that records footfalls of thousands of people every day.

The railway platform is just 400 metres away. In fact, a survey conducted by the department of urban land transport last year had recommended construction of a skywalk only if it connected to the station. But all the skywalk, which is in the final stages of completion, does now is connect the ends of the road; but commuters will still have to walk to enter the station.

The department report had stated that the increased movement of pedestrians justified the need of a skywalk at the spot. "Based on the site observations, it is recommended that the proposed skywalk be connected to the existing skywalk inside the Yeshwanthpur railway station premises for the smooth transition of passengers wanting to board the bus/auto on Tumakuru road. The footpath should be widened an additional 1.5 metres in order to provide a continuous walkway to pedestrians and the physically handicapped. The proposed skywalk should have multiple entry and exit paths on either side of the road so as to ensure the commuters to and from the railway station and the Govardhan bus stop can access the skywalk," the report had stated. However, most orders have not been covered while the construction of the skywalk.

Of its two exits, the Tumakuru Road exit is preferred as it gives commuters access towards the city and the Outer Ring Road. Each time commuters cross the road, traffic on the busy Tumakuru Road comes to a standstill and so there was a demand for the skywalk.

"After exiting the bus stand, we need to cross the busy road to reach the Yeshwanthpur Railway Station from the cargo entrance. However, the railways have crossed the cargo entrance. Our only hope was a skywalk that would help us to connect to the station like in Mumbai. This one, however, merely takes us near the cargo entrance which is already blocked. Unfortunately, there is no footpath to take and the road is very narrow. Why would one use a skywalk just to get down at the other side of the road?" asked Ajay Kumar, a techie who often uses the station to board trains.

When contacted, Bengaluru in charge and transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said that he would personally visit the place and 'check the skywalk construction'.
What can be done?

The BBMP and railways need to join hands to connect the foot overbridge to Yeshwanthpur Railway Station so that the passengers taking the skywalk can directly walk to the railway platform of their choice, as is the case in most railway stations at Mumbai. This would ensure that the skywalk is optimally utilised, thus reducing the traffic congestion on Tumakuru Road (currently, the traffic pile-up on the road stretches almost to half kilometre because of the frequent crossing of road).
People cross the road below and then squeeze their way through the railings






Source : Bangalore Mirror , 31st Oct 2015

Physically challenged Pak, Afghan players to play tri-nation series in India

Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI) will celebrate the Disability Day (December 3) in India and will organise the few Twenty20 matches. This was revealed by Ravi Chauhan, the Founder Secretary General of the association.

Speaking exclusively over telephone from Delhi, he said, “the handicapped players from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan will play few Twenty20 matches on December 3,4,5 and 6”.

“The tournament is scheduled to be played in Bhiwani and the teams from Pakistan and Afghanistan will play the triangular series”, he further added.

“We are approaching the BCCI president (Shashank Manohar) to grace the occasion”, he further added.

Waqar Ahmed Khan, the Secretary General : Pakistan Cricket Association for the Physically Handicapped, has thanked the move by the Indian association to celebrate the Disability Day, and has confirmed his team participation in the event.

Sayed Mohammad Hussain “Sadaqat”, the Director : Afghan Disabled and Vulnerable Society (ADVS) has also accepted the invitation and confirmed the participation of Afghanistan’s handicapped players.

Since 1992 when the United Nations first promoted Disability Day, or the International Day of People with Disability, December 3 of every year is celebrated in several countries.

“We have been approaching the Indian cricket board for the affiliation but not met with success so far. We don’t beg money but seek encouragement from the board and its players”, Ravi Chauhan added.



Source : Business Observer , 30th Oct 2015

AIDA donates wheel chairs, gifts for special children - Islamabad

Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) has donated wheel chairs and gifts for special persons of Al-Farabi National Center for Physically Handicapped.

The donation was handed over by Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Dashgin Shikarov, to Barrister Usman Ibrahim, Minister of State for Capital Administration here Wednesday.

The donation has been made to help rebuild the lives of the children facing problems in moving forward and living an active life.

Addressing the audience Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Dashghin Shikarov said that children of Pakistan are as dear to us as our own children and we extend every support to those special ones who are facing difficulties in life. The envoy highlighted bilateral ties and shared values of the two nations that bring their people together.

He also briefed the participants about AIDA’s humanitarian aid throughout the world stressing that number of humanitarian and development projects were implemented by Agency in Pakistan as well.

Deliberating on the various projects of Govt of Pakistan to support the Special People, Barrister Usman Ibrahim, Minister of State for Capital Administration said he was grateful for the support by AIDA. The donation will not be only matter of support to the special children but this gift will be with them for the rest of life and they will continue to cherish the memory and love of people of Azerbaijan.

He has also praised the support of Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan for his consistent care for people of Pakistan and supporting in organizing such events on behalf of Government of Azerbaijan.

Ms. Naeema Bushra, Director General Special Education said that centre was engaged in imparting educational and rehabilitative services to hundreds of children and is affiliated with Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Islamabad.



Source : Pakistan Observer , 29th Oct 2015

UK students transform Harsha memorial school - Bhubaneshwar

Learning will be a completely new experience for 125 physically challenged students of Sri Harsha Memorial School for the Deaf.

They will now get lessons through computer, projector and other audio-visual aids. Students of Winterbourne International School, UK, who are on a school exchange programme to SAI International School here, have raised about 8,000 pounds to provide these facilities for the hearing impaired children.

"We are glad to have been able to make some difference to the lives of these children. Their condition motivated us to raise more funds for them," said Charlotte, a student from Winterbourne International School, UK.

The students also imparted lessons in mathematics, history and geography to the physically challenged children and prepared some learning materials for them. The differently-abled also kids showed them their talents by singing, dancing and applying henna.

"They also showed us pictures of their country and their school. It was amazing," said Subhashree Panda, a Class X student.

Students of the UK school conducted various fund raising activities like organizing a ticketed quiz show on India, an Indian food festival and also participated in marathon in their country. The students provided a computer with webcam, a projector, printer, one-year's free internet connection to the school, CCTV surveillance in the girls' hostel, kitchen appliances worth Rs 1 lakh.

Principal of the special school Sanjukta Samntray said, "The meagre fund we get from the government is not sufficient to even provide two meals a day, let alone improving infrastructure or quality education. The support we got from these school children will not only help improve their creativity but also their technical skills." The government provides Rs 750 a month for each student of the school, she said.




Source: TOI , 1st Nov 2015

HRCP hails people for regaining representation at grassroots in Sindh, Punjab - LAHORE

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has felicitated the people in Sindh and Punjab for conducting themselves in an organised manner in the much delayed local bodies elections and in demonstrating their resolve to regain their democratic right of representation at the lowest tier of democracy.

Except for the horrible incident in Khairpur, which claimed 11 lives, and which will be unreservedly condemned by all parties, the election on Saturday was free from serious violence, said the HRCP.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) appeared to have worked hard for a smooth election process, although there were lapses, including delayed start in voting, brief suspension of voting in some polling stations, and misprinting of some ballot papers, added the HRCP. “We hope that it should not be too difficult for them to address these issues in the next phase of local bodies elections in Sindh and Punjab. Clashes between political rivals and snatching of ballot boxes in Okara could have been prevented through better management,” it observed.

Amid enthusiastic participation of citizens in the voting process, no efforts to deny women or members of religious minority communities their right to vote were reported. In some instances, male polling staff was assigned to women’s polling station. Generally, those queuing up to vote did not have to wait very long to cast their ballot, HRCP said.

Lack of proper arrangements for physically challenged voters was witnessed, especially in polling stations with polling booths on the first floor. However, the polling staff generally tried to facilitate such voters. Local bodies elections are supposed to serve as nurseries for democracy. However, the campaign expenses for Saturday’s elections appeared to be quite substantial. The costs involved are limiting the ability of common citizens to effectively contest elections.

The HRCP must wait for more evidence to assess the use of government and bureaucratic machinery in the elections, but the advantage of incumbency is quite evident already. Not just the ECP, but also the administration must learn from all these aspects to ensure that the second phase of local bodies elections in Punjab and Sindh is held in a smooth and violence-free manner.

The political parties and candidates also bear responsibility for adopting a democratic culture and step up to prevent clashes and violence and inculcate tolerance among their supporters. The HRCP will issue its full election monitoring report after more detailed reports are received from the districts that went to polls on Saturday.



Source : Daily Times , 1st Nov 2015

A woman allegedly tortured by 'identified miscreant' - Dhaka

A woman with disability has been tortured allegedly by a local miscreant in Palashbari upazila in Gaibandha district. Police have reportedly arrested the alleged miscreant. Police identified the arrestee as Riju Mia, a resident of Jamalpur village.

According to the victim, who is now receiving treatment for her injuries due to the torture, Riju Mia along with his wife and mother stormed her house on Friday evening. Alleging that the physically challenged woman had stolen a TV from his house, Riju forcefully took the woman to his house and started beating her. At one stage, as Riju and his family members cut her hair off, she fell terribly ill. The victim’s father took her to the Upazila Health Complex with the help of the local people. A case was filed in this connection.

Officer-in-charge of Polashbari Police Station Mozibur Rahman said police conducted a drive and arrested Riju Mia following the filing of the case. The woman has been receiving treatment at the Upazila health complex, according to UNB.



Source : The Financial Express, 1st Nov 2015

Honour for proponent of ‘sulalita Kannada’ - Bidar : karnataka

Veerendra Simpi will be known for evolving his own form of Lalitha Prabandha or light essays in Kannada.

Veerendra Simpi, Kannada essayist, translator, historian and poet, is the lone recipient of the Karnataka

Rajyotsava award from Bidar district this year.

The 77-year-old physically challenged retired professor of English has served the cause of Kannada by cross translations between English and Kannada and by contributing to serious literary criticism. However, he will be known for evolving his own form of Lalitha Prabandha or light essays in Kannada that speak of the ordinary things in life, that are witty but have a message.

Son of the illustrious Simpli Linganna, a member of the Halasangi Geleyara Balaga, the legendary fraternity of Kannada writers of the last century, Prof. Simpi trained hundreds of young boys and girls in Hyderabad Karnataka, not only in English, but also in what he calls ‘sulalita’ or simple Kannada.

A devotee of Sri Aurobindo and the Holy Mother, Prof. Simpi has translated their works to Kannada. His other translations include works of Guy de Maupassant, and Bertrand Russel.

“Prof. Simpi has inspired a generation of common people that they can dream of becoming writers. The award is richly deserved and long overdue,” says Basavaraj Ballur, Kannada writer.



Source : The Hindu , 1st Nov 2015