Author: wellnmed@gmail.com

** No Hems or Haws

Meet Bengaluru make-up artist Durga Venkatesh, who can drape a saree in 155 styles in two hours .

In a time where inspiration and endurance is wearing thin, Durga Venkatesh, a make-up artist and bespoke fashion designer, has chosen to take life by the hems. Venkatesh, who has lived in Bengaluru since her childhood, currently holds the world record for the fastest number of saree styles draped, having been attested by the Limca Book of Records, India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, Asian World Records, British World Records, and, most recently, the Kalam’s World Records in August.

In addition to this, she also won the Divalicious Mrs South India Universe title for 2019, and manages her own make-up salon and academy, Durga Makeup Studio & Academy in JP Nagar.

** Skill India: CFTRI to train entrepreneurs in baking tech

Programme will be held from November 15 to December 10

A 4-week Skill Development Programme on “Baking Technology” will be conducted at CSIR-CFTRI as a part of Skill India Initiative. The programme will be held from November 15 to December 10.

Those who have completed matriculation or entrepreneurs having interest in the bakery industry can seek admission to the programme. The course fee has been fixed at ₹25,000 plus GST (total ₹ 29,500) per person.

Participants need to arrange their own accommodation. The details may be found at: https://www.cftri.res.in/sdp or contact Head, Flour Milling, Baking and Confectionery Technology, Email: fmbct@cftri.res.in; 0821-2517730 (off) or 9448093080 (Mob). The last date for registration is November 1.

** DCTE signs MoU with Infosys to transform method of learning

The Department of Collegiate & Technical Education (DCTE) has entered into an MoU with IT major Infosys for transforming the method of learning by students of higher education and shape their careers.

The initiative, taken up under the “Help Educate” programme, is expected to benefit about five lakh students and faculty every year, according to a release by DCTE. The MoU was signed on Wednesday in the presence of Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan. The Minister told reporters that this would facilitate blended learning and industry readiness of learners as per the aspirations of New Education Policy

** Bangalore Baptist Hospital: Giving hope to kids with spinal muscular atrophy

On the sets of KBC, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) suddenly got the limelight it deserved when Amitabh Bachchan announced that he would like to donate for the Rs 16 crore one-time Zolgensma drug for a child suffering from this fatal rare disease.

The drug, the most expensive in the world, and Spinraza that costs Rs 78 lakh per vial (needed for a lifetime) are administered to children with SMA, at Bangalore Baptist Hospital, which is home to India’s only paediatric neuromuscular centre.

** Bengaluru startup among the winners of IAF drone contest

Bengaluru-based start-up Newspace Research and Technologies Private Limited was among the three firms that won the “Mehar Baba Swarm Drone Competition” conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

IAF Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Sunday, October 24, 2021, presented awards to Newspace Research and Technologies Private Limited (Best Swarm Architecture), Team Delhi Technological University-Flair Unmanned Systems Private Limited (Best Communication Architecture) and Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Private Limited from Anna University, Chennai (Best Drone Architecture), at IAF station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru.

A total of 154 teams had registered for the competition conducted in line with the central government’s “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” initiative.

** Chikkaballapur: Litterateur Rangareddy Kodirampura passes away

Renowned litterateur Rangareddy Kodirampura died at his residence in the city on the morning of Sunday, October 24.

Rangareddy is survived by his wife, two sons, and scores of admirers.

Rangareddy was the president of the fifth Kannada Sahitya Sammelana that was held at Chikkaballapur in 2015. He also served in Yakshagana Academy, Kannada development authority and Janapada Academy.

** Keepers of the family tree

Helavarus, who trace genealogy, are oral chroniclers who keep records of births, deaths, marriages and families .

They are the original keepers of records, the genealogists of yore, the Google of ancient times. The Helavaru, a semi-nomadic tribe of archivists and soothsayers, know every branch of every family tree in the villages of North Karnataka.