** T.S. Shanbhag, owner of legendary Premier Book Shop, passes away

Mr. Balakrishna said post-retirement too, Mr. Shanbhag, who is originally from Kundapura, would enjoy walking, reading books and would visit regularly bookshops in the central business district. His long list of admirers included Mr. Guha, playwright Girish Karnad, politician George Fernandes and actor Kamal Hasan.

** Remdesivir to be manufactured in Belagavi district

A Belagavi-based pharmaceutical company has obtained licence to manufacture COVID-19 drug, Remdesivir injection.

Shree Anand Life Sciences, which has plants in Belagavi and Mudhol, will manufacture the injection that is in scarce supply.

Satish Ghargi, who hails from Bagalkot district, has set up Shree Anand Life Sciences pharmaceutical industry in Mudhol and Belagavi. The Belagavi plant is in Honaga Industrial Area.

** Manipal Hospitals completes acquisition of Columbia Asia

Manipal Hospitals on Friday completed the acquisition of Columbia Asia hospitals in a ₹2,100 crore deal.

The acquisition makes Manipal Hospitals the country’s second largest multi-specialty hospital chain, as per a statement.

** DRDO to aid hospitals generate oxygen on site

The Medical Oxygen Plant (MOP) technology, developed by DRDO for on-board oxygen generation in the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas by DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), will now be employed in the fight against the current crisis of oxygen for Covid-19 patients.

The same technology generates oxygen for fighter pilots flying the Tejas at high altitudes.

First time sale of ‘Live Fish’ in the State by Karnataka State Fisheries (KCFF) : December 2014

Karnataka State Co-operative Fisheries Federation Ltd (KCFF), Mysuru (Mysore)

December 05th, 2014. Live fresh water fish is being sold for the first time in the State by KCFF

The live fish (Pangasius fish) has been cultured for the first time by the Federation at KRS from August this year. This live fish is being brought from KRS and stored live in water tanks. After customer selection the fish is weighed and sold live – fresh.

The fresh water live fish is being sold on an experimental basis at 2 centres in Mysuru : Kukkarahalli lake and at the Fish Centre on Hunsur road and Valmiki road junction

India’s First Tile Factory in Mangalore : 1860

The Basel Mission Tile Factory, Mangaluru (Mangalore)

India’s first tile factory was established in Mangalore in 1860 . The tiles were first introduced in India by a German Missionary – Plebot

Located on the banks of the river Nethravathi at Morgan’s Gate, close to the Ullal bridge in the Western Coast of India

This venture gave the now world famous ‘ Mangalore Tiles’. The British preferred these tiles for their Government buildings

The famous Architect Fredrick William Stevens used Mangalore tiles in constructing the Chhatrapati Sivaji Terminus, Mumbai(Bombay)

Some of the other heritage buildings in Mangalore that showcases these classic tiles are : (1) Office of the Deputy Commissioner (2) Government University College (Hampankatta) (3) St. Aloysius College (4) Rosario Church etc..

CeBIT’s First India Show in Bengaluru : November 2014

CeBIT India, Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru

November 12-14, 2014. For the First Time CeBIT is holding its first India edition in Bengaluru – CeBIT India. The theme for the current event is “New Perspectives in IT Business”

CeBIT – the World’s leading Business IT event. CeBIT India offers a unique combination of services and benefits to leverage the strengths of Indian IT and ITE’s market

CeBIT (Centre for Business IT) is the world’s largest and most International computer expo organised by Germany’s Deutsche Messe

www.cebit-india.com

Bangalore City – First City in India to introduce Volvo Buses : 2005

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, BMTC – Bangalore City Bus Operator

Karnataka became the first State in India and Bengaluru became the first City in India to place an order for Volvo Buses.

The first order for 25 buses was from BMTC, the city’s bus operator,

The chasis was the Volvo BTRLE assembled at Volvo’s factory in Bangalore. The body was built on the same design as Volvo 8700, used in Europe with a 7-litre engine that meets the Euro 3 emission regulations

Mysuru City’s First Electrical / Home Appliance Store : 1938

Shariff Electricals, Mysore

1938 . Shariff Electricals was first established opposite Bata showroom on Sayyaji Rao road by (Late) Hyder Shariff

It was started by the (Late) Hyder Shariff as an electrical contractor who also dealt in electrical items. They also specialised in wooden electrical casing and did most of the electrical casing work in the Mysore Palace

His son M.A. Shariff, Managing Director expanded the scope of the operations and ventured into electrical appliance business under Shariff Sales and General Agencies

His 2 sons joined the family business which now owns and operates 3 stores and one in a multi-storeyed department store

The present Shariff’s store is now housed still on Sayyaji Rao road, but in the new premises opposite the Devaraja markets’ main entrance

Shariff’s :

Founder           : (Late) Hyder Shariff

Managing Director : M. A. Shariff

Directors         : Maqsood Shariff, Faizy Shariff