Category: World Opinion

** From Kannada medium school to NASA’s doorsteps: Karnataka village thrilled by local lad’s feat

Dinesh Vasanth Hegde, a research assistant in space science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), is on the moon after being selected for the scholarship of 1.35 lakh dollars by NASA

** Blast from the past

If you’re active on social media, there’s no way to have missed a forward on ‘The Bollywood actor who broke 8 cycling world records’ that has been doing the rounds.

Jankidas Mehra has a Bengaluru connect. Mehra happens to be the maternal grandfather of Grammy award-winning musician Ricky Kej. As netizens wondered about Mehra’s multiple achievements, Kej took to social media to clear the air.

Growing up, Kej would hear stories from his Nanaji, who, born in Lahore, started off as a cyclist and went on to be the only Indian participant in the International Olympic Squad from the British Imperial Empire in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He also went onto establish the Indian Cycling Federation for the Olympics. Ahead of participating in the Berlin Olympics, Mahatma Gandhi met Mehra and gave him the flag of the Indian National Congress.”Gandhi gifted Nanaji the flag and asked him to hoist it in foreign soil after winning,” says Kej about his grandfather who passed away in 2003 in Mumbai.

** They saw India gain freedom at the stroke of midnight hour

The dawn of freedom on August 15, 1947, brought great joy to the people of India. TNSE speaks to old-timers who recall the day and the euphoric celebrations, and what it means to them.

Dr M N Channabasappa (91), Director, Siddaganga Institute of Technology (SIT), Tumakuru
When India got Independence, I was studying in Class 4 at the Government Middle School at Kyathasandra.

As a young boy, I got a sense of freedom as the elders were dancing merrily and a ‘jatha’ was also organised on that day. The head of the Siddaganga Mutt and ‘Walking God’ Sri Shivakumara Swamiji had got sweet ‘payasam’ prepared and served to us at the Mutt. Institutions were decorated with mango and plantain leaves on that day.

 

 

** Issur gave its blood for independence, but still awaits attention

Mere mention of the name kindles a sense of patriotism, determination and passion. Issur village in Shivamogga district, also known as Eesuru, has a rich legacy of being in the forefront of the fight from freedom. Hundreds of men and women from this village were jailed and five of the freedom fighters were hanged at the Bengaluru central prison in 1942.

The reason: The village had declared itself independent from British rule. The villagers also stopped the government officials from entering the village and during a scuffle, a police official and a revenue official were killed.

** Hudli, a village in Karnataka inspired by Gandhian principles

A week-long stay by Mahatma Gandhi at Hudli in Belagavi district in 1937 has changed the face of this tiny village. It has undergone a radical change as the last one century was a time for social reform in Hudli.

Despite having a thriving 100-year-old khadi industry, the residents here have been exploring other alternatives for a better life. Also, a large number of people have been joining the Armed forces with the sole objective of serving the nation. However, khadi industry, and also agriculture, continue to thrive. Belgaum Sugars, one of the noted sugar factories in the region, depends on the cane produced in Hudli.

** Ankola proud of its role in Salt Satyagraha

April 13, 1930. A huge gathering of protesters, led by Congress leader MP Nadkarni, marched to the seashore near Ankola. They filled pots with seawater and salty sand, and brought them back to Ankola.

They set up a makeshift oven with three stones, and heated the water until it became rock salt. The first bag of salt was auctioned, and Honnappa Devi Naik, a local, bought it for Rs 30.  This was how the ‘Salt Satyagraha’ unfolded in Karnataka, later snowballing into the biggest freedom movement in the South.

** Bengaluru girl’s agri startup wins award

Bengaluru girl Manasa Gonchigar is one of the 10 young winning entrepreneur teams of the agri-enterprise challenge S.O.L.V.E.D (Social Objectives-Led Volunteer Enterprise Developed), who were felicitated by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi recently.

The 25-year-old’s team won the challenge for her startup company PureScan AI — a technology startup that helps players in the food supply chain, and also assists them in making informed decisions on food safety. This year, the International Youth Day theme focused on transforming food systems.

Her co-founder Ayush Nigam’s expertise in the agritech space, through his startup firm ‘Distinct Horizon’, led them in the right direction. She says her extensive travel, including her Academia Industry training in Switzerland, helped her understand how India has taken a backseat in terms of food safety.

** 10th century stone inscription found near Shravanabelagola

A 10th century inscription was found in Nagayyanakoppalu village near famous Jain pilgrimage town Shravanabelagola in Hassan district on Tuesday.

The inscription has old Kannada literature on it and was found while cultivation. Officials of archeology department visited the spot and are likely to shift the rock to one of the museums where historical monuments and sculptures are preserved.

According to Dr S Dinesh, a researcher and lecturer of SN PU College, the inscription has information about Jainism and ruler Chandragupta of the Maurya dynasty. The first Kannada inscription was found in Halmidi village of Belur taluk of Hassan district.