** ‘The Best Cyclist Men’ Awardee

Charith Gowda, a first PUC student of Sapient College, Vijayanagar II Stage in city, has bagged ‘The Best Cyclist Men’ award by securing three Gold Medals — Time Trial, Mass Start and Relay Categories — in the 18th National Mountain Bike Cycling Championships held at Alandi in Pune, Maharashtra, between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31

** Karnataka’s only govt cancer hospital backs giving cervical cancer vaccine to students

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in India and the only type of cancer which can be prevented with a vaccine. Yet, awareness on both screening for this cancer and the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent it remains low.

Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology Cancer Research and Training Centre, the only government cancer hospital in Karnataka, sees nearly 1500 cases of cervical cancer each year, most of whom come in the late stages.

** Tech company offers farmers alternative to burning stubble

Disposing stubble after a yield is necessary to facilitate the next crop cycle, but constributes to air pollution

A Bengaluru-based firm is offering a microbial bioenzyme developed by Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) to help farmers across India dispose stubble (crop residue) on their farms responsibly.

Stubble decomposes within 25 days of spraying the bioenzyme, named Pusa Decomposer, and gets converted into manure, thereby improving the quality of soil, claims the company, which is also offering a free spraying service.

Dhruv Sawhney, COO and Business Head, nurture.farm

** Week-long exhibition of bird photographs inaugurated

A week-long photography exhibition of rare birds by journalist K. Shivasubramanya was inaugurated at Puttur on Sunday.

Inaugurating the exhibition at Sougandhika, a nursery at Parpunja, poet Subraya Chokkady said the external world became tolerable only because of birds. If there were no birds, the world would have become meaningless, he said.

** Free treatment and surgery for epilepsy patients

The offer comes from Sakra World Hospital in association with Rotary International and First Meridian

On the occasion of National Epilepsy Day, Sakra World Hospital announced phase 2 of the Epilepsy Prevention and Integrated Care (EPIC) Program, which has been initiated in association with Rotary International and First Meridian.

The year-long programme is aimed at providing quality treatment and education about epilepsy to patients in the BPL category for free. It will focus on refractory epilepsy (uncontrolled epilepsy). The programme was launched in September 2020 by the then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

** Bags Karnataka Excellence Awards

Poornima Jayakrishna of city-based NGO Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) seen receiving the Karnataka Excellence Award for Best Innovation and Research in Healthcare at a function organised by Virtual Council for Professional Education Mission (VCPEM) Trust at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru recently. The award was presented by VCPEM Trustee Shantha Sridhar.

Picture right shows Dr. M. Suresh Babu, Professor of Medicine, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, seen receiving Karnataka Excellence Award-2021 in the Best Internal Medicine Specialist category at Ravindra Kalakshetra.

** 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.”