Chamarajanagar has the best air quality among 132 cities in the country, as per the Air Quality Index (AQI) by the Central Pollution Control Board. Though the air quality in Karnataka’s Bagalkot (50), Vijayapura (46) and Thoothukudi (39) in Tamil Nadu is good, Chamarajanagar claims an AQI of 36.
Category: Amazing Feats
** Get your binoculars, the Great Backyard Bird Count begins today
Last year, over 360 species of birds were recorded in Karnataka
Starting Friday, hundreds of bird watchers from Bengaluru and across India, equipped with their binoculars and cameras, will document birds in their neighbourhoods and cities till February 21.
The four-day event is part of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), an annual avian census that marks the whereabouts of millions of birds.
** Channaveera Kanavi, Karnataka’s ‘Samanvaya Kavi’, no more
Channaveera Kanavi, a prominent figure in modern Kannada literature and often referred to as ‘Samanvaya Kavi’ (Poet of Reconciliation), breathed his last at a private hospital in Dharwad on Wednesday. He was 93. He is survived by a daughter and four sons.
Born on June 18, 1928 at Hombal village in Gadag district (erstwhile undivided Dharwad district) to Sakkreppa ‘Master’, a teacher, and Parvathamma, Mr. Kanavi bloomed into a poet at Karnatak College under the guidance of then principal V.K. Gokak, a Jnanpith Award winner.
He joined the publication wing of Karnatak University as secretary. He served the university for 31 years and retired as director of the publication wing in 1983.
Known for his simplicity and unassuming nature, Mr. Kanavi was bestowed with several prestigious awards at the State and national level, including the Sahitya Akademi award, Karnataka Sahitya Academy award, Karnataka Rajyotsava award, and Pampa award. He also served as a member of several literary bodies.
** Joseph Pereira, the first Mangalorean SOLO cyclist to conquer the Deccan Cliffhanger Ultra Cycling Race in 33hrs 45min!
Touted as one of the gruelling races in the Ultra Cycling calendar, Deccan Cliffhanger always challenges the best cyclits from across the boarders of India.
Starting from the picturesque hill city of Pune, this 643 km race is an adventurous and challenging ride, as the route passes through some humangous climbs of Khandala Ghat on NH48, 21km of vertical ascent to the top of Panchagani, followed by Pasarni Ghat and the rolling terrain from Satara to Belgaum, where the scorching heat and headwinds make it almost impossible to pedal.
Taking the inroads from Belgaum to Goa, the route passes through the dense forest, ascends to Chorla Ghat and then slowly descends to the sea level at Ponda culminating at the beach near Bogmalo, South Goa.
** 262 Punches & 262 Kicks in 1 Minute in Karate Puts Kodagu Lad K Rahul into Asian Book of Records
** Mindtree co-founders donate Rs 425 crore to IISc to help build an 800-bed multi-specialty hospital
This is the single largest private donation IISc has received to build the postgraduate medical school and multi-specialty hospital, officials of the Institute said.
Philanthropist couples Susmita and Subroto Bagchi and Radha and NS Parthasarathy collectively donated Rs 425 crore to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to set up a postgraduate medical school along with an 800-bed multi-speciality hospital in its Bengaluru campu
** Ravi Kakyapadav selected for annual Mangaluru Press Club Award
Ravi Kakyapadav, who became a successful entrepreneur despite illiteracy, provided jobs to about 300 people and is helping the poor is selected for the annual Mangaluru Press Club Award being presented to the special achievers.
The selection was made by the committee of senior journalist Manohar Prasad, Indian Red Cross society, Dakshina Kannada branch executive committee member, social worker Ravindranath K and Sahyadri Engineering College professor Dr G Ananta Prabhu.
He came to Subrahmanya in 2000 and became painter and transport worker before becoming a contractor. He later started his own Anugraha construction and Amratha Anugraha Industries at Anekal and became a successful contractor. He has constructed more than 265 houses and five apartments providing jobs to about 300 people.
** From a cowherd to rural changemaker: Meet Ramesh Ballid from Karnataka’s Raichur
Little did residents of Kotigudda, a remote village in Devadurga taluk of Raichur district, know that a young boy with no prior formal school education would one day excel in English and soft skills to become a motivational speaker inspiring thousands to not drop out of school.
Meet 35-year-old Ramesh Ballid, a farmer and motivational speaker, who over the last several years is on a mission encouraging rural communities to not drop out of school, support their families and pursue the path of education to unleash their true potential.
** A golden future for turmeric
Soil-less agriculture could be the solution to increasing the yield and quality of turmeric cultivation in India, says this Bengaluru-based expert
For CV Prakash — a former naval officer who is also recognised as an expert in soil-less agriculture — making turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) more profitable for the ordinary farmer has become a passion during lockdown.
His ongoing Mission Turmeric 2021 aims to begin an “orange revolution”, he says, by teaching people to cultivate the spice in grow bags (large porous containers made of high density polyethelene) packed with coco-peat (made from the pith of the coconut husk) instead of soil, in shade houses.
Introduced to soil-less agriculture after he migrated to Australia in 2000, Prakash brought his interest back to his homeland in 2008. He has trained over 10,000 people in cultivating different crops using hydroponics and other soil-free alternatives at his CV Hydro training centre, which functions under the auspices of Aggragannya Skills, Bengaluru.
** How Bengaluru fell in love with the rose
When it comes to cut roses, Bengaluru is the biggest exporter in India. Pune is a close competitor. But Bengaluru roses are of better quality, says M Vishwanath, joint director, horticulture, Karnataka.