This tale of a young woman from Udupi, who is scaling new heights literally as a mountaineer despite a background of modest means, is as interesting as it is inspiring. Sumalatha Bajagoli has always taken life head-on. A daughter of a daily-wage labourer and homemaker, the young woman from Maala, Bajagoli of Karkala taluk in Udupi district has learnt the art of climbing out of financial perils since childhood. Unaffected by the struggles, the 23-year-old chose a rewarding path in life, albeit challenging, precarious, and fraught with mortal danger.
Category: Records
** Refurbishing history: This group is on mission to restore dilapidated temples, lakes in Karnataka
A group of young volunteers is on a mission to restore dilapidated temples, kalyanis and lakes and to keep them alive.
It is said that people without the knowledge of their past — glorious or horrid — are like trees without roots. And a group of young volunteers in Mysuru is determined to nurture these trees and pass on the treasure trove of history to future generations.
Braving reptiles and brambles, hundreds of National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, students and civil servant and competitive exam aspirants are on a mission to restore lakes, ponds, kalyanis (temple tanks), ancient temples and other structures in Mysuru and Mandya regions, which lie in a state of neglect.
Over the past four years, this group of NSS volunteers from Seshadripuram Degree College in Mysuru, and volunteers of Achievers’ Academy in Srirangapatna (which offers free competitive exam training) have given a new lease of life to at least 10 kalyanis, four lakes and many temples ruined by the vagaries of nature and time.
** Public data now free for researchers in Karnataka
Karnataka is now giving free access of data from government departments, such as education and health to students for research purposes.
Karnataka is now giving free access of data from government departments, such as education and health to students for research purposes. The department of e-governance, is hosting an umbrella platform on its ‘Open Data Portal’, which will have a stream of raw data sets that researchers can use for every department. Anybody from the country, who is registered and authorised to do research can use this facility.
** That 80s show: Renovated Bal Bhavan to refresh memories
Society Chairperson Chikkamma Basavaraju told The New Indian Express that in the new plan, the landscape and basic structure will not change, only the models will.
Not just children, even adults who grew up in Bengaluru in the 1980s will soon have an opportunity to relive their childhood at the restored Bal Bhavan in the city’s prime lung space, Cubbon Park. The Bal Bhavan Society and Smart City Mission team are working on recreating Bal Bhavan as it was in the 1980s, with a summer camp area, puppet show area, a toy train, boating, pond with aqua life and even a horse riding ring. However, all this will be ready only in June 2022.
To replicate details of the Bal Bhavan of yore, architects, engineers and Society members are studying photographs of those years, and getting information from members, heritage associations and even from Bengalureans who spent their childhood here.
** Meet the cheesemaking monks in Bengaluru
The Vallombrosa Benedictine Congregation in Bengaluru weathered lockdown by selling 10 varieties of cheeses — from Parmesan to mascarpone — to apartments, and starting a goat farm. Now, they ship across India!
After 15 years of making cheese, the monks of Vallombrosa Bendictine Congregation were determined to keep going, despite through the challenges of the pandemic.
Sold under the brand name Vallombrosa Cheese, named after the order’s monastery in Tuscany, Italy, the venture produces 10 kinds of artisanal cheese. Although many restaurants and hotels, their main customers, downed shutters, word-of-mouth publicity for their brand ensured that there were buyers right at home in Bengaluru.
** Device to monitor patients in real time launched
It automates time-consuming critical tasks thus improving the experience of patients
Honeywell Technology Solutions has developed a wearable device for real-time patient monitoring, and recording of vital signs data, which it said would help make routine tasks by healthcare professionals and caregivers a lot easier.
Called Real-Time Health Monitoring System (RTHMS), the device comprises a wrist-band that monitors SpO2 (oxygen saturation levels) and a disposable, wearable biosensor patch with a QR code placed on the patient’s chest, which records other vitals such as ECG, respiratory rate, heart rate, skin temperature, and posture of the patient. A caregiver can scan the QR code and monitor patients in real time or remotely on a dashboard placed at the nursing station, says the company.
** Lakhs assemble to sing Kannada songs across Karnataka
The songs focused on the language and culture of Karnataka
Mass singing of three popular Kannada songs was organised on Thursday by the State Government in the run-up to Kannada Rajyotsava on November 1. About 18 lakh people participated in them across Karnataka.
On the footsteps of the Vidhana Soudha, government employees of all cadre gathered to sing the chosen songs, while similar events were held in other cities and towns. In Bengaluru, mass singing events were held in front of Ravindra Kalakshetra and the BBMP office.
** Hunger for adventure: All-woman team climbs mountain, cycles 3,000+ km, 300 km of kayaking
Women expedition team gets warm welcome in Udupi
An all-woman “Shikharadinda Sagara” expedition team that climbed a mountain in the Himalayan ranges, cycled over 3,000 km and participated in kayaking [300 km], was given a warm reception at Malpe in Udupi district on Thursday afternoon.
Udupi Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Y. Naveen Bhat welcomed the team comprising V. Aishwarya, Dhanalakshmi, Asha, Pushpa and Bindu. He appreciated the efforts put in by the team to instil confidence among the general public in general and women in particular.
** US state of Georgia proclaims November 1 as ‘Kannada Language and Rajyotsava Day’
Atlanta-based Nrupatunga Kannada Koota says Georgia is the first state in the U.S. to issue such a proclamation for Kannada
As Karnataka prepares to celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava, Kannadigas living in Georgia in the U.S. have reason to cheer. The Governor of Georgia, Brian P. Kemp, has issued a proclamation that November 1 will be observed as ‘Kannada Language and Rajyotsava Day’.
The Atlanta-based Nrupatunga Kannada Koota, which worked to get the proclamation, said in its Facebook post that Georgia had become the first state in the U.S. to issue such a proclamation for Kannada. The Koota thanked Governor Kemp for bestowing the honour. A Governor’s proclamation is a ceremonial document issued on behalf of the state. Georgia has one of the biggest Indian diaspora in the U.S.
** Lake rejuvenation: BBMP wins award
The Earth Day Network India, an environmental organization, gave the ‘Earth Day Network Star Municipal Leadership’ award to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for rejuvenating 18 lakes in the city and taking up development of seven more.
The civic body was nominated for the award by the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust. Usha Rajagopal from PNLIT said that the trust’s partnership with the BBMP began in 2009. “Our partnership has been fruitful and we were happy to nominate BBMP for the award,” she said.