** RIP Puneeth Rajkumar: Powerstar’s NRI fan makes late actor’s name heard across the skies

An Indigo flight from Hubballi to Bengaluru conveyed its condolence over the passing away of the superstar thanks to the flyer M Gautam, a Technical Consultant at a multinational bank in California.

** 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.

** 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.

** Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar buried next to his parents

The final rites were completed by 8 a.m.

Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, who died on October 29, was buried with State honours next to his parents Dr. Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar at Kantheerava Studio on October 31 in the presence of family, friends, colleagues from the film industry and dignitaries. The sombre ceremony concluded by 8 a.m.

** Mass singing of Kannada songs a hit in coastal belt

One group went by boat into Arabian Sea to render the songs

The mass singing of three Kannada songs as desired by the State Government in the runup to Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations was a big hit in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts with thousands participating in the events.

Barisu Kannada DimdimavaJogada Siri Belakinalli and Huttidare Kannada Nadalli Huttabeku, which highlight Kannada language and the culture of the State, were rendered by the groups.

** Udupi: Laxminarayana Nayak – Philatelist par excellence from Kallianpur

Laxminarayana Nayak from Kallianpur here has been an avid philatelist, and he has been collecting stamps for the last 40 years. His collection boasts of about 28,000 different types of rare stamps. Nayak is of the opinion that if the children cultivate such hobbies their thought process will expand and the time they spend will be worthwhile unlike the mobile addiction that results in wastage of time.

Perhaps he is among the firsts in coastal Karnataka to be having a special collection relating to Kannada Rajyotsava. Out of 95 stamps released by the state government about different achievers, tourist spots and centres of faith, water, land, culture, etic, Nayak has 87.