** Mangaluru’s Ananya Singh, Nahush Sharan bring laurels to city in top beauty pageant

Two youngsters from Mangaluru have made the city proud in a beauty pageant.

Ananya Singh emerged the winner of Global Miss International India Universe 2021, while Nahush Sharan bagged the second runner-up spot in Global Mr International India Universe 2021. The pageant was held in New Delhi on November 11.

Ananya Singh is the daughter of Rajpal Singh and Pramila Belthangadi Sheshagiri born in Mangaluru. She was brought up in Dehradun. She did her graduation from Delhi University, and at present pursuing her masters at School of Social work Roshini Nilaya.

Nahush Sharan hails from Marnamikatte. He is pursing BBA in Jain University through correspondence. Nahush is son of Dilip Kumar and Sanjana N M.

** Lens on life

Along with practising general medicine, Dr Leela Mohan is also keen on acting; he is currently part of a project called Road King, directed by Hollywood filmmaker Randy Kent

 A passion for singing, acting and forensic science — Bengaluru-based general physician Dr Leela Mohan was disapproved of by his family for all these interests. However, Mohan was quite confident of juggling his passion and profession by applying a simple ingredient to his life, experimentation. What came as dejections turned out to be an opportunity, leading upto moments where Mohan is right now — a short film producer, actor, and doctor specialising in general medicine. 

** The myth and the mighty creatures

Renowned children’s author Bulbul Sharma attempts to offer a fresh perspective to various mythological characters in her new book

The 106-page book takes readers on a journey of ten creatures found in Indian mythology. But not all of them are evil. For a story of Tataka, you also have a tale of Airavata and Narasimha. Bulbul finds telling such stories rewarding. “You are shaping young minds with your words; it is a great responsibility too,” she notes, adding,

“Children’s literature allows a writer to explore so many different territories. You have to understand a certain topic and then distil that knowledge to enable children to understand it really well. Even when you are writing fiction, you have to go into a child’s mind to be able to relate to him or her and create a make-believe world for them.”

** Scholarship for 16 girl students in border district

Reward for excelling in Kannada in school

Sixteen girl students from Athani in the border district of Belagavi, who have excelled in Kannada in school, have been awarded a one-time scholarship by ‘Keli Katheya’, a Kannada audiobook initiative.

Keli Katheya was started in 2014 to bring alive some Kannada short stories in an audio format though film artistes’ voices.

** Efforts on to get heritage status for jackfruit tree

Aged around 250, it is said to be Karnataka’s oldest of this variety.

A jackfruit tree, aged around 250, located 40 km from Bengaluru, is believed to be State’s oldest tree of this variety and one of the oldest in the country. The tree at Janagere village in Magadi taluk is now in the limelight as agricultural and horticultural scientists are striving to get “heritage tree” status for it.

Ravish J.R., owner of the tree, has fenced it for protection. Villagers say that he is the 10th generation owner of the tree that has been protected not only by the family of owners, but also by the community.

** Basava Yoga Mantapa seer passes away

Sri Sangana Basava Swami, head of Basava Yoga Mantapa of Balobal mutt near Gokak in Belagavi district of Karnataka, died of a heart attack on November 6.

We are monks and our focus is philosophy. We left home at a young age to spread Basavanna’s ideology. We don’t know anything about administration. But after coming here, we were thrust with administrative responsibilities. 

** A museum now, Navy vessel INS Chapal faces danger of permanent damage

The mammoth, 325-tonne INS Chapal, a decommissioned Navy vessel that was converted into a museum 15 years ago and docked at the Karwar port, is a picture of utter neglect

** Highlight on heritage: New book on Hampi aims to demystify stories around the historical site

This new book on Hampi, by an Indo-French couple, aims to shed light on north Karnataka’s architectural marvels.

It was in 1960 that Vasundhara Kavali Filliozat visited Hampi as a student of Karnataka University, Dharwad, as part of a study tour. Little did she know that Hampi would turn out to be her ‘first love’ and in turn a window of opportunity to explore the genesis of the Vijayanagara empire. Or as the historian claims the Karnataka Samrajya (empire). 

Filliozat will be releasing her new book titled Hampi on November 15, as part of the Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations through the month. Co-authored by her husband, Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat, the book chronicles the history of the ‘Karnataka Samrajya’ from the early 12th century. 

** Karnataka woman comes up with mothers’ milk jewellery to preserve memories forever

Namitha Naveen, from Bengaluru, keeping these feelings in mind, has come up with unique breastmilk jewellery and a wide range of keepsakes using umbilical cord, milk teeth, first cut nails and hair of a new born kid.

Today, her jewels reverberate with life and tokens of their memories which could be carried throughout. Namitha Naveen, whose passion to preserve memories took the shape of entrepreneurship by launching Mumma’s Mlkytale jewels.