WELCOME TO 2014...

Warm greetings to all of our friends, well-wishers, relatives, elders, elite, great personalities, my Bosses and every one who supported, encouraged, guided, nurtured, blessed in the year 2013...which is a most memorable year in our life...
My son B.V.S. Saikrishna completed his B.Tech., (EEE) in prestigious Visweswarayya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur in mid 2013 and got seat in University of Georgia, Athens, near Atlanta, USA in M.S. (Artificial Intelligence). This is a major development from my family front and he is doing well there.
Secondly, I got promotion as Special Correspondent in my newspaper "The Hindu" which encouraged me to write more stories, do more reporting in 2013 which was supported by my guide and immediate boss Mr. S. Nagesh and Mr. Jayanth in Chennai along with my Chief-Editor Mr. N. Ravi and Director Mr. N. Ram.
My better-half re-launched my family Trust, Balakavi Educational Seva Trust-BEST in the fag-end of 2013 which has taken up several programmes, mainly focusing Youth, girl child, old-aged and education and health sectors.She invited CBI former JD V.V. Lakshminarayana, `Samaikyandhra' Satyavani, Information Commission P. Vijayababu and other VIPs as guests for these programmes. There are many programmes in pipe-line including a small Free-Hospital (Dharmasupatri), Mid-day meal to attendants of patients in government hospitals and also old-aged people in identified peripheral areas of Rajahmundry and a primary school in one of the slums in Rajahmundry Rural area.
2014...FIRST PROGRAMME: Adikavi Nannaya University is going to publish my selected works from "The Hindu" on life styles of East Godavari district in third week of this month (January 2014) for which my Chennai Central Office already accorded permission.
All I need is your support in every step....
-BVS Bhaskar, Special Correspondent, The Hindu, Rajahmundry, Mobile: +91 9441462666, Land: 08832434276. Mail: bhaskarbvs@gmail.com

‘Kejriwal wave’ has its effect on youth leaders

B.V.S. BHASKAR

They believe that they can swing political results and capture power with their commitment and dedication

After Samaikyandhra movement’s dust started slowly settling down, poll talk is gaining momentum in many towns and villages as most of the aspirants are putting their efforts to divert the attention of the public.

Many hoardings have come up in recent times in and around Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Amalapuram, Tuni, Ramachandrapuram and other municipal towns, put up by these ambitious political aspirants taking the advantage of festivals. The flexi hoardings and banners show the candidates wishing the people Merry Christmas, New Year and Sankranti.

An example

After Arvind Kejriwal set an example by winning an election with a clean image and promise of cleansing the political system, the wave that swamped the Congress government in Delhi has sent signals to youth in any State that they can swing political results and capture power within a short time with commitment and dedication.

Taking a cue from this, the second generation leaders in politics, particularly in East Godavari, are putting their efforts to catch the attention of the public in their respective Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies. Some of them are sons and relatives of current Ministers, MLAs and MPs and others are from elite sections with a good academic background. However, most of them are trying to get tickets from the YSR Congress and their second choice is TDP. There are no takers from the Congress, which is quite obvious. There is a little response to Lok Satta, and some of them are waiting for Aam Admi Party of Kejriwal to ally with Lok Satta or any other party.

Clear designs

In Kakinada, MLA Kannababu who joined the Congress from Praja Rajyam is trying to get a seat from both the ruling party as well as TDP. He is followed by Vanga Geetha of Pithapuram constituency, Thota Trimurthulu of Ramachandrapuram and Bandaru Satyanandam of Kothapeta constituencies, respectively, and all the three are waiting for a formal invitation from TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Potula Viswam, popular academician, with his educational institutions, is putting all his efforts to impress upon party president Mr. Chandrababu Naidu to constest from Kakinada Parliament seat. As far as Rajahmundry Parliamentary Constituency is concerned, the TDP is firm and has almost finalised the name of Maganti Murali Mohan as its candidate. He is searching for new faces for Assembly seats in his Parliamentary constituency, except in Rajanagaram, where the sitting MLA Pendurthi Venkatesh is strong and will contest again.

Good track record

However, two new faces are going to contest the elections with good track record and public relations. Addepalli Sridhar, who is running Addepalli B.Ed. College and other educational institutions is trying his luck to contest this time and try his luck. Mr. Sridhar’s name was almost announced in the last elections by the PR, but he was denied a ticket.

Railway senior ticket checking officer and Chairman of Kesavabhatla Foundation, K. Srinivasa Rao is also making efforts to contest elections with his service activities, friends in the Railways and with a good knowledge of local problems.

G.V. Sriraj, son of Amalapuram MP G.V. Harsha Kumar, has already started announcing that he will contest only as an MP not as an MLA.

Jakkampudi Raja, son of former Minister Jakkampudi Rammohana Rao, is one of the aspirants for the next Assembly ticket.

There is a tug-of-war situation in YSR Congress for tickets and at least five candidates are contending either for an Assembly or Parliament seat. Peddapuram former TDP leader and YSR Congress MLC, Boddu Bhaskara Ramarao’s son Mr. Chowdary is a strong contender for Rajahmundry Parliament seat from YSR Congress. But no one, including the party workers, have seen him in public functions.

---

Most of the new breed is trying to get tickets from the YSR Congress

Some of them are waiting for Aam Admi Party to ally with LSP or any other party

NOW, YOU CAN FIX YOUR OWN MUHURTAM...TELUGU ALMANAC IN ENGLISH

Young Engineer with Vedic knowledge writes Telugu, English Almanac..

-By BVS Bhaskar

      Can we fix our own muhurtham or suggest some muhurthams to our relatives or friends by looking into an almanac (panchangam) that is available in market. No. It is not possible. Majority of traditional Hindus wait for an auspicious day to do some important work or take up job or purchase new item or land. They consult Vedic pundits, purohits or Brahmins who are well versed with almanac (panchangam). May it be a science or not, Astrology is the base for any almanac and astrologers follow different almanacs and books to fix any auspicious things. But, here is the first South Indian English panchangam that was released recently at the adobe of Lord Sri Seeta Ramachandra Swamy at Bhadrachalam.

Prabhakar Sarma making a point 

An M.Tech graduate and senior Engineer in UK-based HMC Oil and Gas Company, Chilakamarti Prabhakar Chakravarthy Sarma had written this English panchangam with all the minute details. “You could fix your own muhurtham with my panchangam. Language is the barrier for most of the young generation. Many of my friends in IT sector and NRI’s asked me to write panchangam in English”-said Mr. Prabhakar.

In Telugu, there are a number of panchangams which tells about positions of Sun, Moon and other planets and the astrologers, pundits will fix muhurthams or prepare horoscopes and predictions, based on this and also with the help of some arithmetic calculations. Sri Chetananda Bharati Swami is the inspiration for Mr. Prabhakar to write this panchangam with South Indian months, vara (week), thithi, nakshatra, yogam and karanam. The 200-page English panchangam includes auspicious days for upanayanam (thread marriage), marriage, grihapravesam, annaprasana, naming ceremony, buying and selling, Gauri panchangam for day-to-day works and importance of festivals.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Prabhakar, native of Vemagiri near Rajahmundry said, that he wants to write an “Indian Traditional Travel Guide” about his complete tour of India.

He further elaborated that book with research and self experiences in all important pilgrimage centres, customs that one should follow in respective places will be included. He informed that he kept 2014 and 15 English panchangams ready and also wants to write in Telugu. When he was asked to react on variations in panchangams, Mr. Prabhakar said that, time zone variation is the main reason for variations in different panchangams and the present generation is showing interest on panchangams and horoscopes, because they want to know about rich culture, traditions and customs of the country.

--

Education with ethical values emphasized

Educational with moral values stressed

by BVS Bhaskar

Modern-day parents are busy with their kitty parties, shopping, TV serials and are neglecting children, who are the future of this country, said Gottipati Satyavani, popularly known as “Samaikyandhra Satyavani” or “Bharatiyam” Satyavani. Addressing girl students from four women’s degree colleges here on Wednesday, arranged by Balakavi Educational Seva Trust (BEST), she said that there is an urgent need to change the attitude of parents rather than students and then only the young minds would not be corrupted. She emphasised on education with ethical values, adding that without this crimes against women would increase. 

"Bharatiyam" Satyavani, Amalapuram RDO Ch. Priyanka,
Ramadevi Rao, president of ONGC Mahila Samiti and
Nyapathi Narasimha Rao releasing posters on enrollment of
voters and right to vote on 4/12/2013

Prof. V.V. Krishna, vice-chairman of the trust, presented a report about their activities. RUCA president T. Visweswara Reddy, Aditya College Director SP Gangi Reddy and students from Aditya, SKR, Jasti Bullema and Rajamahendri Women Degree colleges participated in the function.

MVR Sastry, Editor of Andhra Bhoomi , in his keynote address on “Sexual harassment against women -- role of media, law”, said that multinational companies in the West, which take good care of women employees, were neglecting their women employees in India.

He reminded that it took 16 years for the Union Government to make a law on crime against women (1997-2013) in this country and that too after the gang-rape case in Delhi.

Poster released

The chairman of BEST, Nyapathy Narasimha Rao, said that his organisation would take up a campaign in all colleges in Coastal Andhra on the importance of exercising vote in a democracy. He along with other dignitaries released bilingual posters on “Right to Vote” prepared and designed by the organisation.

Women empowerment

Ms. Priyanka, the new RDO Amalapuram, said that women’s empowerment, financial stability, better understanding of the environment would strengthen the place of women in society.

P. Ramadevi Rao, president of ONGC Mahila Samiti, in her message said that girls should be taught social responsibility, service activities from their college days and parents and teachers should have a key role in this.
--

‘NIFT to try for quota to State ’ - The Hindu

‘NIFT to try for quota to State ’ - The Hindu

Former Joint Director of CBI Mr. V.V. Lakshminaryana who visited my residence in Rajahmundry on 1/12/13M

Myself with former Joint Director of CBI V.V. Lakshminaryana
and senior citizen, most popular Gandhian Swadeshi pen company
owner K. Ramanamurthy explaining about Swadeshi pens to VV

Former CBI Joint Director V.V. Lakshminaryana, our couple along
with Nyapathy Narasimharo couple, Ratnam pens owne
K. Ramana Murthy

Balakavi Educational Trust-BEST, which is my family Trust organized the following programme....

Education with ethical values emphasised 

Modern-day parents are busy with their kitty parties, shopping, TV serials and are neglecting children, who are the future of this country, said Gottipati Satyavani, popularly known as “Samaikyandhra Satyavani” or “Bharatiyam” Satyavani. Addressing girl students from four women’s degree colleges here on 4/12/13 in Rajahmundry, arranged by Balakavi Educational Seva Trust (BEST) she said that there is an urgent need to change the attitude of parents rather than students and then only the young minds would not be corrupted. She emphasised on education with ethical values, adding that without this crimes against women would increase.
Prof. V.V. Krishna, vice-chairman of the trust, presented a report about their activities. RUCA president T. Visweswara Reddy, Aditya College Director SP Gangi Reddy and students from Aditya, SKR, Jasti Bullema and Rajamahendri Women Degree colleges participated in the function.
MVR Sastry, Editor of Andhra Bhoomi , in his keynote address on “Sexual harassment against women -- role of media, law”, said that multinational companies in the West, which take good care of women employees, were neglecting their women employees in India. He reminded that it took 16 years for the Union Government to make a law on crime against women (1997-2013) in this country and that too after the gang-rape case in Delhi.

BEST poster, emphasizing importance of voting released by
RDO Amalapuram Miss Priyanka (second from right) and
Nyapathy Narasimha Rao (5th from left) and others

POSTER RELEASED:
The chairman of BEST, Nyapathy Narasimha Rao, said that his organisation would take up a campaign in all colleges in Coastal Andhra on the importance of exercising vote in a democracy. He along with other dignitaries released bilingual posters on “Right to Vote” prepared and designed by the organisation.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
Women empowerment Ms. Priyanka, the new RDO Amalapuram, said that women’s empowerment, financial stability, better understanding of the environment would strengthen the place of women in society. P. Ramadevi Rao, president of ONGC Mahila Samiti, in her message said that girls should be taught social responsibility, service activities from their college days and parents and teachers should have a key role in this.
PSR Prasad, Vice-President of the Trust and AGM of NATCO Pharma proposed vote of thanks.
--

04 08 13 RAM VS HINDU BHASKAR Hot topic chat in CCC Channel about one month ago

`Manduva' Houses in East Godavari

82-year old `Manduva’ house attracting with modern outlook

Manduva house entrance

 MADHAVARAYUDUPALEM (East Godavari): A small gram panchayat with 5 thousand population in Kadiyam mandal in East Godavari district is having a distinct features including a 82-year old `Manduva’ is being renovated and restructured last year with all modern amenities and latest fixtures.

The Manduva house in this village is owned by Annamdevula family traditionally from 1930’s. Mr. Annamdevula Suraiah constructed this on August 4, 1931 by bringing logs of teak and rosewood from Kotilingala Ghat of river Godavari in Rajahmundry. Mr. Suraiah spent Rs.3 thousand for wood on entire Manduva house at that time.

Simhadwaram of the Manduva

       After a gap of second generation, Annamdevula Veera Venkata Satayanarayana, who is popularly known as Chanti is representing third generation got an idea of renovating the entire Manduva. He and his wife Vijaya were elected as Surpanch for two consecutive terms and both served as MPTC member and Mandal Presidents respectively from 1988 to 2011.

Central hall of Manduva House

AIR-CONDITIONED, SOLAR SYSTEM: When Mr. Chanti took up the renovation, the walls of Manduva house was constructed with gummy soils or red bricks and the roofs were supported by logs of teak wood. So, he varnished and painted the wood including the main door (simhadwaram) which was beautifully carved with attracting designs. Top of the roof were covered with red tiles (Vadapalli penku) which was removed and again the same red tiles were arranged to bring old look and keep the tradition intact. The inside of Manduva logili was with a common hall and several spacious rooms spanning in all four directions. All these rooms are air-conditioned. The common hall was beautifully decorated with illumination in colours. The roof of the house was supported by several giant wooden pillars. The center of the common hall was topless to let the air and light come in, but it was partially closed and arranged a pipe to drain out the rain water from the top falls into a small constructed pit through the pipe.

GRAND ENTRANCE: Entrance of the house looks like entering into a temple with beautiful wood carvings and large size photos on either side with Anantha Padmanabha Swami in a glass case on the top.

         “Except, air-conditioners every thing runs on solar system in my house. Nowadays, this kind of houses is under extinction because of urbanization, western culture influence and downfall of traditional joint family system”-said Mr. Chanti.

       The entire Manduva is with perfect Vastu and there is a home theater to screen movies, meeting hall, outhouse with high-tech facilities, that too without disturbing old structure with `Boshanam’ (huge wooden box) and 1930’s old traditional iron safe, `patte mancham’ (wooden carved bed) are other interesting items to see in this Manduva.

MODEL PANCHAYAT WITH GOOD REVENUE SOURCE: According to Mr. Chilukuri Srinivasa Rao, State Vriksha Mitra Awardee, it is a record that Madhavarayudupalem got best Gram Panchyat and Nirmal Puraskhar twice for its maintenance under Ms. Vijaya and Mr. Chanti. Both of them laid mango trees all along the route from Jegurupadu to their village (3kms) and the revenue from the yielding will be given to development of the Gram Panchayat.

--

eom

Kadiyam nurseries target global market

Kadiyam nurseries spread in 3,500 acres in 11 villages of Kadiyam mandal in East Godavari are doing good business and providing considerable employment to about 20,000 agriculture labour.

However, the nurseries which generate revenue running into several crores per annum are also facing hardships on two accounts. One is exports and other is lack of exposure related to research. Though the All India Nurserymen Association (AINA) has taken up these two issues at different levels with the Central government, it has not yielded results till date.

The scenic beauty of Kadiyam nurseries is often seen in South Indian films . After 2003, All India Nurserymen Summit in this village, Kadiyapu Lanka, which was inaugurated by then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the domestic nursery business has almost doubled. From 2011, two to three big nursery farmers started exporting nursery plants to Middle East, particularly to Dubai, Doha, Qatar, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

But, there is no encouragement from the State or Union government.

“So, we decided to conduct our national summit with our member farmers and invite government officials from Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR), National Horticulture Board (NHB) and Directorate of Floriculture Research (DFR) to expand our export network,” said Pulla Veera Venkata Rao, vice-president of AINA and managing director of Sri Satyadeva Nursery, largest nursery in Kadiyam mandal. The Satyadeva Nursery got national and international recognition for its “family-farmer business concept” and Mr. Venkat Rao was invited to about 10 countries to present the scenario of Kadiyam nurseries.

The representatives of Imperial Trading and Contracting from Doha, Qatar and V. Jayakannan, Managing Director of Finegreen Exports, Chennai have already visited Kadiyapu Lanka and held preliminary discussions to hold the International Summit on possibilities of more exports from the 11 nursery villages. “Till know we are doing business from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, now we decided to go for transnational business,” added Mr. Veera Venkat Rao.

Mr. Rao who won ‘Best Nurserymen’ in the country from Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Narendra Modi during “Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2013” is putting all his efforts to impress upon Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Director General of ICAR S. Ayyappan and Director, National Horticulture Board R.K. Agarwal to establish Directorate of Floriculture Research in Rajahmundry or Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari.

Lal Bahadur Shastri...Learn from him...

Former Prime Minister of India Lal
Bahadur Sastry looking at files even
in his flight journey...

Lal Bahadur Shastri doing office work in Airplane. Along with him is his wife, Lalita Devi.
Most of us would have studied about Shastri in our school textbooks in which we were taught that he was initially a freedom fighter, then became prime minister after Nehru, and later died in Tashkent. Thats all we know. 

So, let me share some interesting facts about him here..
October 2nd. Whose birthday is it? Yeah correct. Also, it is Shastri's birthday on same day and most of us dont even know it, let alone celebrate.
If you combine dedication, ethics, honesty, integrity, responsibility, & austerity, you get Shastri!! The above photo is the best example to show his dedication towards his job. Can we think of today's politician doing his job in flight like this? Forget flight, do they do their jobs with this much of dedication even in their office?
Talking about integrity & responsibility.....
There was a major railway accident sometime in 1950s. Being the railway minister at that time, he took moral responsibility and offered his resignation (However, Nehru did not accept it). That shows the moral standards he maintained.

Talking about honesty and ethics.....
During freedom struggle, when he was jailed by the British, he was informed that his daughter was sick. So he asked for 15 days permission and was granted on the condition that he will not participate in freedom struggle in these 15 days. By the time he reached his home, his daughter had died. After performing the funeral for 3 days, he immediately returned back to jail inspite of having 12 more days of freedom from jail!!
Similarly, one day, while in jail, he was told that his son was sick and this time he got a permission of 7 days of leave from jail. He stayed with his son all the 7 days. The son had still not recovered, but Shastri went back to jail to keep up his word!! (Fortunately, the son survived)
Talking about austerity.....
He is popularly called "The politician who made no money". He was born in a poor family, he lived his life in simplicity and austerity. And he died as a poor man. He really knew what austerity meant.
These are the kind of leaders we need today who can demonstrate what real austerity means. Not by someone who boards a train for the first time in his life at the age of 38, and spends a night in huts to prove that he is asture. We need austerity lessons from people who have really experienced poverty so that they understand what real poverty means. Not by someone who has zillions in swiss banks and talks about eradicating poverty here.
So, young political leaders should keep the above lively lessons in their mind and do little service to society as Mr. Shastri did.

-BVS Bhaskar

on Saturday

Kumbakonam Iyer Kaapi, a right spot to stop

BVS Bhaskar

TANJORE (Tamil Nadu): Kumbakonam Degree Coffee is popular in most parts of the Tamil Nadu and particularly it denotes the traditional habit of taking pure coffee by Brahmin community. On the same lines, another coffee house was found to the much excitement of tourists and students of Sasta Engineering College and University on Srirangam and Tanjore state highway. No one will believe that it is a coffee parlour as it looks unique in all its features. 

     At the entrance of the `house’ there is a big flower pot in which green Tulasi plants were planted. The driver asked me to look at one corner of the house, where a round sign board was kept “Kumbakonam Iyer Kaapi”. So, I understood that is a coffee house. The walls of the clay house were neatly plastered with cow dung and two small rope-cats were tied on the left side of the entrance and a cart was parked on one side of the wall.

      One would say Wow! as they enter into the coffee house, because the old artifacts displayed in all corners of the big hall. The artifacts include oldest cots, ancient Indian traditional stoves, brass vessels, brass tumbler and drinking glasses, very old dried bottle guard, traditional wooden cot, gramophone record and so on. All the walls were colorfully painted with caricatures and oldest photograph of Tanjore Brihdeeswara Temple was hanging on one of the walls.

    “We want to create good atmosphere, environment and feel for the visitors. So, I collected these artifacts one after one from last three years”-said Vijay Murugan, owner of the Kumbakonam Iyer Kaapi. Mr. Vijay who hails from Tanjore mastered in Hotel Management and shifted to Bangalore. He started Dolci Hospitality Innovations, a consulting agency to start big hotels, restaurants, coffee shops in an innovative way. “The shop is one of my dream projects. Kumbakonam Degree Coffee does not owe much to the powder but to the purity of undiluted milk used in the preparation of the coffee. Most locals are indignant that the Kumbakonam Degree Coffee name is used to market coffee all around the State. But, Brahmin community had popularized this from long back in my native place”-he added.

        Anand, who worked in Maldives, Sasikumar and Ganesan from Singapore-all from Tanjore are maintaining the above Iyer Kaapi. According to Mr. Anand “The credit goes to Panchapikesa Iyer, the proprietor of the old Lakshmi Vilas in Kumbakonam, also called Pasumpal (cow’s milk) Coffee Club, where coffee would flow from 5 a.m. till late evening”. Mr. Sasikumar said that his proprietor Mr. Vijay Murugan had started this coffee house only in April this year and being on the state highway every vehicle passing this way used to stop here for a tumbler of coffee. He also added that students of Sasta College are frequent visitors for not only coffee, but also for ice creams, milkshakes, cold coffee, Italian Cappuccino Coffee that they serve in artifacts like bamboo bars, variety of brass articles.

     Mr. Vijay Murugan who spoke over phone from Bangalore said that he is having Freddo Ice Cream shops on the other side of the highway and also in Tanjore in which all varieties of foreign ice creams will be served along with Kumbakonam Kaapi.

     So, it is the time for all tourists and locals to make a visit to the coffee house.

--

eom 

NTR fan uses his films to campaign for Samiakyandhra

B.V.S. BHASKAR

  

A diehard fan of NTR near Kakinada got a novel idea of contributing something for Samiakyandhra agitation. He used audio-visual medium to spread the message to the masses, particularly the young generation. Putchakayala Chandramouli of Valasapakala village in the rural mandal of Kakinada and working as Assistant Executive Engineer in ONGC, Rajahmundry Asset has dedicated one entire floor in his house for NTR Library and named it “Nataratna Kala Mandir”, and collected 302 original CDs of NTR films -- from 1949 (“Mana Desam”, his first film) to 1993 (Srinath Kavi Sarvabhouma”, last film).

Moved by the movement for unified Andhra, Mr. Chandramouli launched an audio visual campaign with NTR songs titled “Kalasi vunte kaladu sukham.” He released a huge poster and a CD on which it was printed - a new film presented by united Andhra people - “Kalasi vunte kaladu sukham,” directed by “Telugu Talli,” produced by people of Andhra, music bearing sufferings of Telugu people and audio is released by S.A. (Seema Andhra) Audio’s. In this compact disc, there are songs, highlighting the unique features of united Andhra in NTR films.

Along with this CD and the huge poster, Mr. Chandramouli arranged an exhibition about three days ago in Kakinada on united Andhra map with his 302 NTR’s rare CD collections and posters of NTR.

The ONGC engineer built a house in his native village Valasapakala which he named “Taraka Rama Nilayam”. In “Nataratna Kala Mandir”, he arranged and preserved his 16 year’s collection of NTR CDs, all the old cinema posters of NTR films, particularly two life-size posters -- one showing NTR as Lord Sri Krishna in “Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam” and the other as Dhuryodhana in ‘Dana Veera Soora Karna’. He also collected 1,300 CDs of actors of yesteryear.

Mr. Chandramouli took up service activities for which he got awards. They include training to children in dance and drama, observing birth and death anniversaries of Potti Sriramulu, Prakasam Pantulu, Ghantasala and S.V. Rangarao along with that of NRT and distribution of free books, school bags, etc. to children. His collection of rare CDs entered Limca, India, Telugu Book of Records.

New Project Commissioned in AP Paper Mills with Rs.100 crore

New Project in AP Paper Mills (IP) Commissioned

Bhaskar, Principal Correspondent , The Hindu, Reporting from
AP Paper Mills (IP), Rajahmundry o 3/9/2013

AP Paper Mills Limited, an International Paper Group Company in India is going to launch high quality products into market shortly, which includes jam free copier friendly paper.

On 3^rd September 2013 Journalists of Rajahmundry were taken to AP Paper Mill plant with all security measures like helmet, glasses for eyes, shoes and so on.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of APPM (IP), Rampraveen Swaminathan has said that they are evaluating the market opportunities for making top quality cut size paper for Hewlett-Packard (HP), an American multinational information technology corporation and they are having firm plans on this issue.

He said that keeping the demand for finished cut size paper of 10 to 11 percent out of 4.3 million tons per annum, they have commissioned Rs.100 crore World Class cut size sheeter in Rajahmundry mill on Monday. He added that, a new Bielomatick A4 sheeter will enable the mill to increase the conversion capacity of the branded copier paper and IP has number of A4 sheeting lines installed in various countries including US and Brazil, has for the first time installed this new palletize technology in India. He informed that the conversion capacity of this fully automated new facility is 300 million tons per day and at a speed of 450 meters per minute. Answering a question he said that at present they are having 10 percent export order for A4, A3 and FS (Fullscape) size products and rest in domestic market.

      Mr. Swaminathan said that the automation may affect employment in some areas, but it will improve quality, productivity and achieve sustainability. However, he affirmed that they are committed to local community employment. Responding on pollution related quarries, the CEO said that the APPM and IP are compiled with government regulatory and norms and effluents discharge system is very effective in their mill. He announced that they are going to commission one more Sewage Treatment Plant near APPM in next week. “We will not run away from our responsibility in safeguarding environment and greenery”-the MD added.

Old Telugu movie songs collection center at your doorstep

A treasure trove of Telugu songs

“Janaranjani”, an audio library named after the popular Telugu songs programme on All India Radio, is all set to offer full volumes of 3,500 old hit songs divided into 72 volumes.

Floated by music lover Goli Lakshmi Prabhakar alias Saibabu, the library has a collection of songs starting from 1931 when the Telugu film industry was in its nascent stage to 2010.

All the film songs were arranged in 72 volumes with 50 songs in each volume.

The “Janaranjani” — audio library grabbed everyone’s attention in just two years after an article was published in The Hindu in 2011 and Mr. Saibabu received calls from different parts of the World.

“Some Telugu people from US, New Zealand and Europe came to Rajahmundry for recording songs of their taste,” he says. Saibabu spends most of his time with vintage gramophone records and thousands of cassettes and compact discs in Janaranjani library. In his library, one can find a handbook ‘Janaranjani’ Part-3 ‘Ragam, Tanam and Pallavi'.

Golden hits

“I divided the period of 1931 to 2010 into three parts and started printing the data of Telugu film songs. First, I brought out the third part starting from 1989 to 2005,” says Mr. Saibabu. The book contains the title of the film, year, banner, producer, director, music director, hero-heroine, songs, lyric writer and playback singers. Except dubbed films, all films released in a year are recorded in the book and the same were collected in the shape of gramophone record or cassette or CD.

Website soon

Mr. Saibabu is all set to start a website by name Janaranjani in which he will provide all the details of 3,500 songs.

“Any one can walk into my library and order for collection of songs of their choice and taste. I will give it in a pen drive or CD format with 48 RPM (which means clarity of song and music with original track),” Mr. Saibabu said.

Contact 9390158999

Music lovers can contact him on mobile no. 9390158999 for getting copy of books in which he published all the details of 3,500 songs with lyric writer, film title, year of release, actors and first line of the song.

Icon for Physically challenged with patriotic zeal

Ratinam Tangaraj proves that faith can work wonder

Ratinam Tangaraj, a postgraduate and diploma holder in engineering, started crawling from his childhood as he was physically challenged by birth as a result of polio. But, he did not lose his courage or hope to come up in life. He decided to dedicate his life at the adobe feet of Swami Vivekananda and joined as an employee at Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

Not like others, he wanted to do some thing unique in his life, in spite of his disability and convinced his employer at the Kendra to a journey from Kanyakumari to Chennai from January 19 to February 6 this year.. He wanted to awaken the youth of his home State and enlighten them on the speeches of Swami Vivekananda.

After this mission, he did not stop his journey. He took another bold step of covering 2,600 km on his tricycle. Mr. Tangaraj named the yatra as “Narendra-Vivekananda Yatra” on the eve of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He started his journey from the house of the Swami at Kolkata on the day of Guru Pournima (July 22) and decided to cover West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to reach Kanyakumari by September 11.

He reached Rajahmundry via National Highway on Thursday and took a break at Lalacheruvu Centre. Mr. Tangaraj garlanded the statue of Raviprasad, Kargil War martyr, along with ABVP national executive member Kompella Sastry.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Tangaraj said that he had covered 1,050 km till now and had not faced any problem throughout his journey. He is covering about 30 to 40 km a day and meeting college and school students on the way.

“Students of the State are not interested to join politics. But, they are waiting for a good leader to lead the country,” he said.

JOB VACANCY: Wanted a leader for Seemandhra...interested can apply....!!!
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There is no dearth of leaders in Seemandhra. But there is no leader like KCR or Prof. Kodanda Ram in this region to lead agitation under one roof or under one banner. 
Take Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and Lagadapati Rajagopal. Mr. Kavuri is having good political knowledge of present and past and also vision. Mr. Rajagopal may not be knowing much about past, knows about contemporary politics and maintaining very good back office with volumes of information by using IT. Vision without view, arguments without any substance are some of the qualities of Mr. Rajagopal. Unfortunately, both have pledged their self interests at the feet of High Command. There is no exception to Mega Star Chiranjeevi, who is having no knowledge about politics, history and subjects like irrigation, agriculture, IT and so on. But, he is great brand ambassador for Congress party for crowd pulling in South, Icon for Tourism ministry and his charisma is nothing less than NTR. 
The think tank, "dubasi" of Congress party and Seemandhra's `valuable' leader is Rajahmundry MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar. The translation specialist from Indira Gandhi time to Sonia Gandhi is dillydallying and uncomfortable after bifurcation announcement by CWC. It is quite obvious that he is to dance to the tunes of Sonia Gandhi and at the same time, he has to won the hearts of his voters at home town, fans in AP. He is having credibility, respect and charisma. He is bookworm and computer savvy. But, he never gives solution to any of the issues he rises during his annual reports during public meetings. Mr. Arun Kumar makes scathing attack on KCR and shows clippings of his speeches against Seemandhra leaders (including Mr. Vundavalli). He is indecisive on whether to support united Andhra or only speak on Hyderabad.
Another mass maharajah is Amalapuram MP GV Harsha Kumar. He is good organizer, but in some occasions his credibility is at stake. His great minus in this movement is, he is speaking in support of bifurcation of state from the beginning. And now he is fighting for Hyderabad. Union Ministers Purandhareswari, Pallamraju are not crowd pullers and there are not much followers. 
Next comes, Bireddy Rajasekhara Reddy or TG Venkatesh or limited to three to four districts and they are not in a position to command the entire region. 
No minister in Kiran's Cabinet in Seemandhra are capable of leading entire Seemandhra people under one banner like Telangana Rastra Samiti or Telangana JAC. Katti Padma Rao, Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Kasu Krishna Reddy, Gade Venkata Reddy, Balineni Srinivasula Reddy (Ongole), Mahidhar Reddy (Kandukuru), Kodelsa Siva Prasa, Devineni Uma, Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy are confined to their districts and not considered as state or regional leaders.
Business interests, doubts about their tickets in 2014 Parliament and Assembly elections, lack of knowledge about past history, present status and future political scenario are some of the regions for dearth of collective leadership.
Congress high command very well knows that there is no leader in his party to unite Seemandhra people from Tada to Itchapuram, Tirupati to Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam to Anantapuram.
People of Telangana agitated for separate state aggressively from last 12 years. We started our `struggle' only 15 days back. There is no seriousness in our agitation and there are many if's and but's in our efforts for united Andhra. 
Anyway, we are fighting for United Andhra Pradesh, if public are not having any problem, I want to make a suggestion. Shall we import a leader from Telangana to fight for Samaikhyandhra?
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BIFURCATION OF STATE...KCR COMMENTS, REACTIONS, REPERCUSSIONS..

Rajiv Gandhi statue is in flames in Konaseema

KCR is a very sagacious politician with cunning nature. He knows where he can cross his fingers and timings. Every one thought that Mr. KCR was quite and clam when there was a big hue and cry about bifurcation of state. But, he racked up new issue by asking non-Telangana NGOs to back to their respective district to "contribute to their new state", which instigated Seemandhra leaders, NGOs in Secretariat. 

The Telangana protagonist knows very well about the mindset of Congress leaders who started lamenting on KCR, because he started getting mileage after non-Telangana NGOs statement. He completely turned tables in favour of TRS and now Congress is in soup. 

One of my political friend's wife asked me, whether the ongoing agitation by Seemandhra is a "paid agitation"?. I was shocked and also surprised on her question. I simply said, "I don't think so". But she went on telling that each youth who are participating in agitation is being paid by different political parties on every evening.

But, fact is that NGOs, Advocates, students from different colleges including professional colleges, Universities in East Godavari are participating in agitation voluntarily. When, Rajahmundry Un-aided Colleges Association and All private schools management association met on Saturday and declared that they will sponsor part-time agitation by sending their students for one or two hours every day and seek police protection to run their institutions from Monday (5 Aug) as usually, my self and other journalist friends who are present at the meeting strongly opposed their move and suggested them to re-think about their decision. We told them that Seemandhra interests will not be safeguarded unless we are ready for some or other sacrifice. "At lease we have to a little sacrifice what the Telangana people have done earlier"-we suggested.

FIGHT...AND ALSO GET READY FOR STATIC PLAY

 No one will say that agitations be should stopped immediately and every one should be in closed doors. But, the agitations should continue by major sections of people and the think tank in the society should play a strategic and static role in getting our legitimate rights and share in all aspects.

Where is NIT (Regional Engineering College), it is in Warangal. After bifurcation, Andhra students are going to be non-locals in NIT, Warangal. Where is B-School, it is in Hyderabad, if Hyderabad is given to Telangana, our students are going to be non-locals. Like this, we are not having IIT, IISC, Hi-tech City, Metro Rail Project and so many. We are going to loose so many things. 

Already, the parents started sending their lads for Engineering this year to Chennai instead of Hyderabad as the process of EAMCET was not completed and agitations in Andhra had flaring up. Private medical seats are also vacant. 

It is the time now for our Central ministers, MPs to give pressure on CWC, Cabinet, PM, Ministerial Committee headed by Mr. AK Antony to give major share in every aspect. As told by Amalapuram MP Harsha Kumar, Telangana is not divided, "Andhra is separated".

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In process of transforming tribals...contribution of a teacher

 

 

School teacher, sarpanch transform village

A major transformation has taken place in this tiny village, 25 km from here, thanks to the efforts made by a former sarpanch and a government school teacher.

Snake catchers

Pamulametta, which lies in Jegurupadu Panchayat, is home to 70 families of ‘Yanadi’, a nomadic tribe that migrated from Nellore district about 90 years ago. They used to eke out a living by catching snakes and selling the skin in the market. But, after the Wildlife Conservation Act came into force and made sale of snake skin a punishable offence, they started catching venomous snakes from residential areas and releasing them in the wild.

Helping farmers

At present, the Yanadis are assisting farmers and agriculture officials in catching rats and they go wherever their services are required.Seven years ago, the government started a school in the village, but no student was enrolled as teachers refused to report to school due to difficulties in reaching there. Things changed after Chilukuri Srinivasa Rao, who won the best teacher award twice at the State level, opted to work in the Pamulametta school even after getting a posting in his native place.

Along with the then sarpanch, Y. Devadeevena Kumari, he started reforming the children. He engaged a barber and arranged hair-cut for all the 30 children who grew long hair in line with their family tradition. He also arranged clothes, notebooks and bags from donors.The teacher then brought out the latent skills in some children by making them draw pictures on the walls of the school and made this exercise a part of their curriculum.Within two years, there was a great transformation with the school wearing a clean and green look. Wall paintings were utilised to spread the messages of the importance of education, use of dustbin and abstaining from drinking. For their pioneering work Devdeevena Kumari got Nirmal Puraskar and the teacher and the school won laurels from former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

SHG started

With a vast majority of the men shunning liquor, the village is poised to become liquor-free. Not to be left behind, the women started a self-help group recently and also thrift activity. The school won the Best School Award recently in the district and in the days to come, might win another award from the Government of India.

Bigwigs fight in land of Nurseries, Rs.80 lakh offered to Panchyat

Rs.80 lakh jackpot offer for development from candidates for sarpanch post

Auctioning the sarpanch post is a crime, according to State Election Commissioner’s ruling and also as per law. If two parties come to an “understanding” and are ready to spend some huge amount on development of the village, will it attract punishable sections under law?

This actually is happening in this lush, green garden village, which consists more than 3,000 acres of nurseries. As per the enumeration this time, the Kadiyam village sarpanch post is reserved for OC woman. After the poll bugle was blown for Panchayat elections, the heads of the village swung into action and decided to field their kith and kin .

Interestingly, all the three contenders are with good political background. They are former MP Girijala Venkataswami Naidu’s daughter-in-law Ms. Ramakrishna Tulasi, Tadepalligudem MLA Eli Nani’s mother-in-law Ms. V. Leelavathi, who is also mother of V.V. Satyaprasad, TDP Commerce wing State organising secretary, and former Minister Jakkampudi Rammohana Rao’s close associate Torati Satyanarayana’s brother’s wife Ms. Geetha Raghava Lakshmi.

Just before the date of nominations, emissaries from Ms. Leelavathi’s (Eli Nani’s group) sent a word to rival group belonging to Girijala Venkataswami Naidu that they will deposit Rs.40 lakh for the development of the village, if Naidu’s group withdrew from the fray. Otherwise, if Naidu’s group is ready to spend more than Rs.40 lakh, they would withdraw from the election.

The immediate response was interesting. Naidu’s group also conveyed a proposal to their rival group that they were ready to part with Rs.40 lakh and deposit a total of Rs.80 lakh (amount of two groups) in the bank, and whoever gets elected would spend the entire amount on the development of the Panchayat. Both the groups were said to have come to the understanding, but nothing on paper. They were yet to deposit the amount in the bank. “They are waiting for last date of nominations. Before the withdrawal we expect Rs.80 lakh to be deposited in the bank. It is going to help the Panchyat,” said P. Satyanaryana, a nursery owner.

Speaking about breast related issues, still a social stigma

Social stigma attached to breast related disorders continuing 

Dr. Sumita Shankar, popular breast sculptor and aesthetic breast surgeon, has strongly advocated that social stigma attached to breast related issues should be addressed effectively, particularly in young girls and newly-married women. She said that it was most challenging for parents, girls and women to discuss, share or seek solutions to breast related problems in the society and suggested going for medical and surgical interventions. Dr. Sumita addressed media conference here on Saturday in connection with her year-long Andhra Pradesh Breast Awareness Programme, a social responsibility initiative, during which breast related problems will be addressed. This programme was launched on March 8 this year, International Women’s Day, to next year on same date during which free consultation camps will be held in each district headquarters. She already held camps in Nizamabad, Warangal, Khammam and Karimnagar.

With 13 years of experience in breast surgeries, transplantation, plastic and reconstructive surgeries, Dr. Sumita got Fellowships from Centro Medico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain and Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, USA.

According to Dr. Sumita, there were 1,000 plastic surgeons in the country and not more than 200 breast surgery specialists in which there were only a few female plastic surgeons.

She said that there were a number of breast deformities in women and very few in men also. Replying to some of the questions, Dr. Sumita Sankar said that though the surgery cost was little high, she was doing it for very minimum fee. She admitted that there was a risk in every surgery including breast surgeries, but post-operative side effects can be easily tackled.

She suggested every newly-married woman to go for breast feeding without any apprehensions and warned that if any woman avoids breast feeding, there were more chances of breast cancer. She also recommended that it was best to use comfortable and branded bras for breasts to avoid sagging.

THE RESULT OF OUTSOURCING ATMs BY PUBLIC SECTORS BANKS

How safe is the public money in the hands of outsourcing agencies?

The heist of State Bank of India’s Rs.7.31 crore from Scientific Securities Management Services Limited (SSMSL) locker in Rajahmundry on last Monday has raised several questions, including how safe the public money was, what with the policy of Public Sector Banks giving huge cash to private outsourcing agencies to fill in their offsite Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

During the Five-year Wage Agreement of 2007-12, the United Forum of Bank Unions had strongly opposed privatisation of banks and also outsourcing of some key services, including filling of cash in ATMs.

In the year 2009, all the bank employees went on strike, particularly members of National Confederation of Bank Employees who opposed the outsourcing of services. But under the wage agreement, all the unions forcibly agreed to outsourcing some services .

The SBI had accordingly given the job to TCS' Banking and Financial Services Solutions at All India level about four years ago. In turn, the TCS had given sub-contract to some three agencies in Andhra, including SSMSL. But the Rajahmundry robbery case has thrown light on the grave lapses of SSMSL agency in dealing with cash, recruitment of employees and security measures.

The SSMSL had recruited employees with minimum qualification of Class X or undergraduates.

Neither the bank nor the SSMSL has crosschecked the antecedents of the staff who produced some fake certificates, including police certificate and residence certificate. When contacted, Chander, Business Head, SSMSL, Bangalore, during his visit to Rajahmundry on Thursday in connection with the above case, said that he came to know about the fraudulent track record of some of the employees in their agency a few months back and started removing them one by one. “All the onsite ATMs are filled by our staff and offsite ATMs are given for outsourcing, but one of our staff members goes for surprise check once in a month,” said K. Chittibabu, Chief Manager of SBI, Main Branch.