Karnataka tops NITI Aayog innovation list

Report suggests steps to secure a place in Global Innovation Index’s top 25 nations

Karnataka has bagged the top rank in NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index, 2022, which determines innovation capacities and ecosystems at the sub-national level. The State has held this position, under the Major States category, in all three editions of the Index so far.

In the Index released on Thursday, Manipur secured the lead in the Northeast and Hill States category, while Chandigarh was the top performer in the Union Territories and City States category.

Karnataka was followed by Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar and Gujarat were at the bottom of the index.

Pointing out that India’s average innovation score is arguably insufficient, given the country’s ambitious targets to be named among the top 25 nations in the Global Innovation Index, the report by the government think tank has recommended measures, such as increasing Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GDERD), promoting private sector participation in R&D and closing the gap between industry demand and what the country produces through its education systems.

The report went on to state that countries that spend less on GDERD fail to retain their human capital in the long run and the ability to innovate is dependent on the quality of human capital; India’s GDERD as a percentage of GDP stood at about 0.7%.

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Bengaluru through the nose

City-based artist and author Indu Antony’s book Vasané, takes readers on an olfactory journey of Bengaluru.

You  must have heard that scents are more closely linked to our memories than pictures or sounds. The smell of the filter coffee you shared with your friends after an exhausting lecture, remembering the perfume your first love interest wore, or remembering home every time you smell your mother’s signature dish being cooked, all trigger memories. It’s not only our fondest memories that are drenched by smells, but so is our city.

In her book Vasané (smell in Kannada), artist and author Indu Antony captures the many smells that make up the city of Bengaluru.

“Every city has its distinct smell. Mumbai, Goa, all these cities have smells that characterise them, but with Bengaluru, there are so many smells that make up this city,” says Antony about her 70-page book. “Because of Covid, our sense of smell was lost. Not just by those who had it, but wearing masks also restricted our ability to smell things around us,” says the author.

According to Antony, this project published by Mazhi Books, connects with the city beyond the visual, about associating smells with the city. She collaborated with Avinandan, a perfumer whose family business, Sathyanarayana Traders, is a wholesale retailer of sandal, oud, and musk perfumes. Together, the duo created 12 unique smells in 1 ml bottles each, which readers get with the book, so that they can apply them to the pages and experience the city through the olfactory sense.

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Udupi: MUP releases new book ‘Madhavi Kathana Kavya’

The latest publication of Manipal Universal Press, Madhavi Kathana Kavya, a combination of Kannada prose and verse, was released on July 14 at Sirigannada Pustaka Malige, MAHE, Manipal.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that even though the character Madhavi is not very prominent in Mahabharatha, her story has been often re-told in the Indian story-telling traditions. Madhavi Kathana Kavya is unique in that sense.

Chief guest, senior music scholar V Arvind Hebbar shared some insights on the book, saying that the author had followed the style of Maha Chandassu that Kuvempu followed in Ramayana epic. One of Hebbar’s students, Archan Upadhaya, recited some verses from the book.

Narrating the inspiration behind translating the book, Parvathi G Aithal said ONV Kurups and Swayamvaram is an important book in Indian contemporary literature that should be translated into Kannada. “I did not make the translation, the book made me do it,” she added. 

Neeta Inamdar, the chief editor of MUP, in her presidential address spoke on the Thingala Belaku event series of MUP. She said it is supposed to showcase the local talents and develop cultural connectivity around.”;We are honored to host an event on Madhavi Kathana Kavya,” she added.

MUPs marketing manager Revati Nadgir coordinated the program which started with a light music performance by Chinmayi Madlapur and her team.

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Mangaluru: MRPL wins PRCI Zonal Award for Best PSU implementing CSR for Social Cause

The Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), South Zone conferred the award for ‘Best PSU implementing CSR for Social Cause’ on MRPL on World PR Day organised by PRCI, South Zone at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on July 16.

Rudolph Noronha, GM-CC received the award on behalf of team MRPL from Dr M Vijaya Kumar, vice chancellor, Yenepoya University and M B Jayaram, chief mentor and chairman, Emeritus – PRCI in the presence of other dignitaries and eminent personalities in different fields. Jagadish Holla and Canute Pinto, office bearers of PRCI – Mangalore Chapter were present and coordinated the entire event.

Delegates from different parts of South India including corporates, PR heads, HR heads, journalists and students of reputed institutes were part of this enthralling programme.

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Mangalurean musician Vanil Veigas receives prestigious Grammy award

Vanil Veigas, a musician from Mangaluru, received the prestigious Grammy Award.

Vanil is a resident of Permannur. The award was announced in April earlier this year.

He had won the Grammy for the album song ‘Divine Tides’ by Ricky Kej. The song was produced during the pandemic. Along with Vanil Veigas, PA Deepa also won the award.

Vanil was the musician for the ‘Divine Tides’. Since 15 years, Vanil has been working with Ricky Kej on movie soundtracks, over 3,000 commercials, and 16 studio albums which include 3 Grammy-winning albums.

Vanil was born in Permannur to Isaac Veigas and Daisy Pereira. He is the brother of well-known Konkani actor-director Nellu Permannur. He is married to Diana D’Silva and they have a daughter, Alline Veigas, who is also learning music at a young age.

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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conferred Suriname’s highest civilian award

Spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been honoured with South American nation Suriname’s highest civilian honour for his humanitarian work.

The spiritual leader was decorated with the Grand Cordon – honorary order of the yellow star (Ere-Orde van de Gele Ster) by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, a statement issued by Art of Living said.

In his address, President Santokhi said: “We are honoured that you’re shining a light worth seeing and feeling, now and also for the future generation. With this declaration, may you lead us all to peace and harmony…The people of Suriname welcome you with a warm heart.”

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Karnataka cricket association launches new T20 tournament named ‘Maharaja Trophy T20’

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Saturday announced the launch of Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, its new T20 tournament named in the memory of the HRH late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the former President of KSCA and Maharaja of Mysore. The tournament will be held between August 7 to 26 in Mysore.

The coveted trophy and logo of the tournament was unveiled in a star-studded ceremony attended by Roger Binny, President KSCA, Santosh Menon, Secretary KSCA and Vinay Mruthyunjaya, Treasurer of KSCA at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tournament is widely seen as a replacement of the now-defunct Karnataka Premier League T20 tournament.

“KSCA had set the ball rolling for an all-new format of the game, way back in 2005, giving India its first taste of a T20 game through the Bradman Cup. Subsequently, the Karnataka Premier League was launched in 2009 and we saw eight successful editions of this entertaining league which saw many young stars emerge.”

“With an aim to continue to provide our cricketers with the right platform to perform and be ready for the next big leap in their cricketing career, we have decided to roll out the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20,” said Binny, the former India all-rounder and a member of the 1983 Men’s Cricket World Cup winning team.

The tournament will see six teams representing cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Hubli, Shivamogga, Raichur and Mangalore vie for top honours. Karnataka’s top cricketers like Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Shreyas Gopal, Krishnappa Gowtham, Manish Pandey, Jagadeesha Suchith, Karun Nair, Abhinav Manohar, KC Cariappa, Pravin Dubey and Abhimanyu Mithun are expected to feature in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20.

“The Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 will commence on August 7 in Mysore with the first leg of matches being held at the Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Ground in Mysore. A total of 18 matches will be held in Mysore followed by a total of 16 matches including the final being held in Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.”

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Mangalurean Renessa Walder to represent Oman at World Hip Hop Dance Championship in USA

Nine dancers from Oman will represent the country at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship – Varsity Division – in Phoenix in the southwestern US state of Arizona from August 6 to 13.

Over 4,000 of the world’s best dancers are expected to participate in World Hip Hop Dance Championship 2022 which is one of the most celebrated and toughest dance competitions in the world, and also called the ‘Olympics of Dance’. Mangalurean Renessa Walder is one among them.

Renessa is the eldest daughter of Ajith and Naina Walder, currently studying in Grade X at the Indian School, Al Wadi Kabir in Muscat, Oman.

Ajith Walder is a well-known community leader and the former president of MCCP, Muscat – Oman. He has his roots originated in Loretto-Bantwal.

The other eight in the group are Rishab Gupta, Shrika Shaji, Divit Kashyap, Sneha Buddhia, Rezwin Geordi, Leando Rayner, Anaida Shokrekhoda, Vaidehi Rastogi and and Nia Bailwad. The team is called ‘The Arab Teens’. The team’s performance at the competition will be choreographed by Prasanth Shinde, while Shiv Gupta and Nadeem al Balushi are directors of the group.

Tejas Udani Gupta, team leader of Arab Teens said that theirs is the only team from the Gulf to be at the prestigious event for a two minute slot.

The calibre and prowess of Renessa in dance landed her a spot in the World Hip Hop Dance Championship. Her innate multi-faceted talent was showcased at a tender age of 6 and her various awards winnings speaks for herself. Renessa’s most prestigious award is the ‘Student of the year 2020’ from RADA Dance Academy-Mumbai. She has been endorsed by all who got a glimpse of her amazing talent, as the one who could storm the dance industry.

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All India Inter-University Women’s Kho-Kho University Of Mysore Clinches Maiden Title

University of Mysore won their maiden title by beating Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, in the final by 3 points (10-7), in the All India Inter-University Women’s Kho-Kho Championships 2021-22, conducted by University of Mysore at the University Gymnasium Indoor Hall here on Thursday.

Excellent play by K.R. Tejaswini for University of Mysore who displayed excellent dodging skills and played for 8 minutes in the first innings and 2.30m in the second innings, paved the way for the University’s maiden triumph. B. Chaitra (5.20m and 1 point) and L. Monika (7 points) also played well. Neeta Devi (1.50m, 3.30m and one point) played well for the loser Lovely Professional University.

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Bags H.R. Srinivas Award

Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra Hunsur reporter D.R. Mahesh (Hanagod Mahesh) bagged the H.R. Srinivas Award for the district-level rural development article at the Newspaper Day function held in Hunsur on Sunday.

The Award was presented by MLC A.H. Vishwanath in the presence of Hunsur MLA H.P. Manjunath, Mysuru District Journalists’ Association (MDJA) President S.T. Ravikumar, General Secretary Subramanya, District Rural Vice-President Dharmapura Narayan, Hunsur Taluk Journalists’ Association President H.R. Krishnakumar, General Secretary Neralakuppe Mahadev, State Committee Member Raghavendra, National Committee Member Kiran Kumar, BEO Nagaraj and others. Mahesh and his wife Kaveri were felicitated on the occasion.

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