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The Hindu : CHITRA V.RAMANI

It was an exciting time as students battled out issues at a mock parliament.

The competition is organised every year to strengthen the foundation of democracy… and to creatE an awareness of parliamentary procedures among students.

Photo: G.P.Sampath Kumar.Debate all the way:At the contest.

Acrimonious scenes — bitter arguments and counter-arguments. All this and much more were witnessed at the State-level Youth Parliament Competition in which high school students from 34 educational districts participated.

One could say it was a lot like the actual Parliament Session!

The issues

The young participants began the “Question Hour” in the mock Legislative Assembly session by discussing the bicycle distribution scheme for the current academic year, the poor quality of mid-day meals, semester system in schools, land acquisition for the establishment of the international airport, Naxal dangers and the power situation in the State.

The ‘Chief Minister’ was G.S. Ajay Kumar from Chitradurga, while the ‘Leader of Opposition’ was Yeshwanth from Tumkur. The Speaker was Sudarshan.

The competition is organised every year to strengthen the foundation of democracy by inculcating discipline and tolerance to difference of opinion and creating awareness about parliamentary procedures among students. The competition is open to students of recognised Higher Secondary schools in the State.

On democracy

The State-level competition was judged by former Chairperson of the Legislative Council V.R. Sudarshan, MLC S.R. Leela and MLA T.B. Jayachandra.

Speaking after the inauguration , Mr. Jayachandra said that was depressed by the overall decay of democracy.

He said that similar programmes should be organised regularly to create awareness about the parliamentary procedures among students.

He called upon the participants to protect the ideals of democracy.

Mr. Sudarshan urged the students to maintain communal harmony and celebrate the country’s diverse cultures.

He asked the students to be up-to-date about current affairs by reading at least one Kannada and one English newspaper every day.

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The Hindu :

Indian comics have come of age and it won’t be long before they find global patronage

INNOVATION Adding an Indianness to comic characters

Bathtub, blockbuster or comic book,King Khan is everywhere. But in hislatest appearance, SRK emerged in abrand new avatar all thanks to Bollywood-inspired comic books that arenow being distributed in India andabroad. First it was Saif Ali Khan in acomic titled “The Ultimate Change”,which is a coming-of-age story of a spoiltrich young kid who finally learns to shoulderresponsibility. Then in what lookslike India’s answer to Archie, a teenagelook alike of King Khan plays a regularcollege kid with two femme fatales whobear a strong resemblance to AishwaryaRai and Rani Mukherji. The story is appropriatelytitled “The Naughty Lover”.

But long before these superfluouscandy floss heroes, Indian comics haveleaped from imported syndicated stripsto the advent of original home-growncomic book heroes. The journey of Indiancomics is as vibrant and entertaining asthe colourful imagery created inside thepages of comic books. They showcase thelegacy of India’s divine heroes andheroines.

Chandamama launched its first editionsin 1947 in Telugu and Tamil followedby English and other Indianregional languages. It is the only children’smagazine in India to publish in 13languages. Chandamama.com waslaunched in 2007 with a site in Telugu,Tamil and Hindi too. It continues tomake giant strides with an entry into variousmedia – mobile phones, televisionand films. Known for its vibrant illustrationsand accurate depiction of traditionalstories, the magazine has maintainedits position as a brand that you can trust.

Amar Chitra Katha comics have enthralledpeople of all ages for many yearsnow. It offers complete infotainment anda contemporary reading for the presentgeneration.

“I am addicted to the popular seriesbased on traditional epic literature andreligious texts of heroic deeds of Indiangods and goddesses. Heavy and sombrelookingsacred texts can put off children.But in a comic form, it is easy to capturetheir attention,” says Suparna, a motherof two.

Comics are no longer a laughing matter.The industry is expected to grow…More

The Hindu :

Ilaiyaraja enters into an agreement with Agi Music to prevent unauthorised use of his compositions

Taking a stand Ilaiyaraja wants to put an end to the misuse of his creations

“V ideo killed the radio star” sang The Buggles in their chart-topping release of 1979, which described how the salad days of radio was cut short by the advent of television. Music videos sounded the death knell for radio stars.

Today, digital formats and the Internet have already downed the shutters of most music companies, and affected performing artistes. “Piracy is another great threat to music and musicians. In India, most people are not aware, or are unconcerned about copyright laws. This has proved disastrous for the music fraternity,” says maestro Ilaiyaraja.

Irked by the rampant unauthorised use of his music, both in films and non-film recordings, Ilaiyaraja has signed a deal with Agi Music, a leading Malaysian record label and music publishing company.

Says Ilaiyaraja: “I have entered into a licensing agreement with Agi Music for manufacturing and distributing my songs in any format, and have also granted the license to distribute my songs on digital and new media formats, including mobile ringtones, caller tunes and online downloads.”

Ilaiyaraja holds the copyright, as the music composer/creator of the works, for almost all the songs that he has recorded for films and for private albums before the year 2000.

These include the vast repertoire of songs and albums released on his earlier label, Echo Recording Company. Now, Agi Music will have the rights to administer all of Ilaiyaraja’s works before the year 2000, including radio broadcasting, synchronisation usages, mechanical usages, mobile contents and Internet downloads.

Agi Music is owned by Agilan Lechaman, a Malaysia-based former Warner Music professional. Agi Musi, started in 2004, has released quite a few of Ilaiyaraja’s music overseas, as well as a few albums in India.

“We are in the process of establishing the label…More

The Hindu :

Anglo-Indians can look back with pride at the rich hockey-playing culture they fostered

DOING INDIA PROUDThe Indian hockey team which won gold in the 1928 Olympics. Nine of them were Anglo Indians

Largely due to its strong linkwith the Railways, the Anglo-Indian community has a richhockey-playing tradition. AsRailway schools fostered thesport, Anglo-Indian youngstershad a head start. National playerswere drawn from Railway teamsand Indian squads with Anglo-Indiansin the majority were not uncommon.

Glorious past

The composition of the Indianhockey squad that struck gold atthe 1928 Amsterdam Olympicsunderlines their dominance. NineAnglo-Indians (eight in the playingeleven and one spare) were inthe 13-member team.

Anglo-Indian localities haveplayed a vital role in popularisingthe sport.

Bow Barracks in Kolkata iscredited with nurturing a vibranthockey-playing culture. Despitethe loss of playing spaces, thetwirling of hockey sticks is stillheard in this Anglo-Indian area.

“Hockey matches are conductedon a street in Bow Barracks,”says Harry MacLure (Editor, “Anglosin the Wind”) who is part of agroup masterminding the revivalof Anglo-Indian hockey.

Kolkata also has one of the oldestand most respected Anglo-Indian hockey groups in the country- the Calcutta Rangers Club.Just as in Kolkata, Anglo-Indianhockey is present, if only in aweakened form, in every metroand also in a few small towns suchas Podanur in Coimbatore. ManyAnglo-Indians from aroundChennai take the trouble to visitthis suburban locality for a gameof hockey.

However, Anglo-Indian hockeytoday pales terribly when comparedto its glorious past. Anglo-Indian schools were partly characterisedby the zeal with whichthey promoted the sport. ManyAnglo-Indian players were initiatedinto the game by schoolcoaches. The Anglo-Indian schoolteams were so formidable thatthey were expected to give a toughfight to any professional hockeyteam.

“Now, except for St. George’s,no Anglo-Indian school in Chennaihas a hockey team. While youcan’t blame the schools for lettingstudies take precedence oversports, it is sad Anglo-Indianschools have lost one of their definingqualities,” says Alan Coyne,who played for State Bank of India.

Migration

A lack of will at the school levelto promote hockey is but a minorfactor contributing to a…More

The Hindu : y>

Grills on a platter Chef Ayesha Lallaseth stirs up a storm

ITC Royal Gardenia has launched a new restaurant, West View – The Grill Room. The restaurant will offer a range of preparations, designed around the concept of grills from across the planet. It includes five distinct courses, including cold buffet carte, soup tureen, grills, fruits, cheese and desserts.

The recipes are crafted from traditional recipes from Europe and the Americas. The restaurant is also equipped with an exclusive celebration room, The Oval, which can be booked for private parties.

The best seasonal cuts of meats and fish from India and abroad, as well as the freshest vegetables from various parts of the country, are all offered here for the customer to choose. The first West View in South India, this restaurant has been designed as a 61 cover restaurant and is spread across an area of 2,260 square feet. Chef Ayesha Lallaseth, and her team will ensure that your platter comes to you just the way that you want it. West View is at ITC Royal Gardenia, 1, Residency Road Bangalore 560 025

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The Hindu : y>Anuradha C. is over the top about life in high-rise buildings

I love the idea of living in a high rise building. It gives me a chance to play God and an opportunity to peek into peoples’ lives from above. I recently moved to a high rise condominium on the outskirts of Bangalore. It was a tough choice between the proximity of facilities and the abundance of space. I am glad I chose the latter.

What one would see from my balcony is a lake on the left, sprawling tech parks and IT complexes and a collection of trees leading to the Outer Ring Road on the right. This looked like a perfect balance of architectural modernity and natural beauty when I first set foot into my semi-complete apartment, a couple of years ago. I did not realize then that human thirst for development would soon destroy this balance. I want to share the delightful sights we seldom stop to observe in our mundane lives.

There is one fundamental difference between a balcony in the ground or first floor opening into the streets and a balcony hanging up so high in the sky. The view from a first floor balcony keeps changing all the time. Humans are the object of focus here – walking, driving, talking, singing and going about their mundane lives. But from a high rise balcony, you encounter a panoramic canvas of the clouds, the sun, some trees and could also steal a glance on a distant railway track, building roof tops and unfinished metro rail columns. At night, the stars at the distance and the city lights shine much closer, but lose out to the soothing silver glow of the moon.

The sights from a height are enthralling, no doubt, but there are also the sounds you hear which add to the experience. Bangaloreans must have almost forgotten the early morning…More

The Hindu : y>Applications invited for the Chevening Gurukul Leadership programme

Chevening Gurukul is a 12-week, unique advanced leadership programme, created specifically for India’s future leaders, by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The programme is fully funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, U.K. and managed on their behalf by the British Council in India. This programme is designed for working professionals who already have substantial experience in their professional fields and are looking for a short-term professional training to expand and consolidate their experience, knowledge and skills.

Applicants for this programme should be outstanding professionals from any field, able to demonstrate leadership in their chosen field or profession. They should also have excellent proficiency in English and be computer literate.

For more information, visit http://www.britishcouncil.org/

india-scholarships-britishchevening.htm

To apply online, visit https://www.chevening.fco.gov. uk/CheveningApplications/CA_

The last date for submission of applications online is January 20.

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The Hindu : y>

BE A FOSTER PARENT FOR A PET

Have you ever longed to have a dog as a pet and yet couldn’t keep one because you live in an apartment complex that doesn’t permit pets or someone at home is allergic to animals? CUPA has just the solution for you.

Our shelter is home to a varied bunch of wonderful dogs, almost 30 in number. Each one is unique, has a name and a lovable personality. There is Charlie who is a renowned canine therapist, working with children with special needs, roly-poly Michael who was almost killed in a street fight in Shivajinagar, Puppy with the golden melting eyes who was cruelly abandoned by her family, awfully naughty Sonu, fat and greedy Button and many more. All you need to do is go to the CUPA Animal Shelter in the Veterinary College Campus, Hebbal and meet Mr. Lingaraj, the Animal Care Manager who will introduce you to the dogs and let you choose a foster pet.

Once you have selected a particular dog to foster, you will have to fill out a form giving all your details and then make a monthly donation towards his upkeep. This is a commitment from your side that covers the feeding, care and medicines of the dog.

A portion of your money goes towards abandoned and injured animals that are brought to the shelter everyday. Foster parenting means you can visit your dog, play with him, give him a bath, buy him treats etc. For more details email cupablr@gmail.com or call 22947300/01.

(The writer Sudha Narayanan is a CUPA trustee)

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Hero of the week

Tarini Konchady of Kensri School has proven to be the best social worker from the community service programme launched by Kensri for dogs. She has widely participated in CUPA activities and has also encouraged her friends to join her in rescuing abandoned dogs and cats. “We…More

The Hindu :

Part 4 of a five-part series on fibroids: what every woman should know

Do all fibroids need a hysterectomy?

Tasleem is 42. She has regular periods. The flow is not heavy and she uses two to three pads per day. She has mild, bearable pain during her periods. She occasionally takes a painkiller tablet for this. When she went to see her family physician for diarrhoea and lower abdominal pain, an ultrasound was ordered.

The uterus was incidentally found to contain a fibroid measuring 5 x 4 centimetres. Tasleem was then asked to see a gynaecologist who advised a hysterectomy. Does Tasleem really need surgery?

Thamarai is 56. She reached her menopause six years ago. She went for a regular check-up and was told she had a lump in the lower abdomen.

An ultrasound confirmed the presence of two large fibroids, the larger one measuring 6 x 6 centimetres. She was asked to have a hysterectomy. Is surgery essential for Thamarai?

When is surgery needed for fibroids?

The mere presence of fibroids is not reason enough to have a hysterectomy. Even large fibroids need no surgery unless they are causing problems. Fibroids cannot ‘burst’ as they become larger. At the same time, there are no medicines that can make fibroids shrink permanently. Just remember, fibroids will shrink after menopause.

Uncontrolled bleeding

It is common for women between 35 and 45 years of age to have some irregularity in their periods. This may be in the form of missed periods or frequent periods, scanty or heavy flow. This is usually due to not forming an egg, leading to a hormonal imbalance. This becomes more frequent as a woman gets closer to her menopause. In the three to four years leading up to menopause, this irregularity can become worse. If at this time, an ultrasound scan reveals a fibroid, there is no need to immediately blame the fibroid.

All efforts must be made…More

The Hindu :

Popular Malaysian musician IZ will tour India to promote music of the film Successor: Private and Confidential

MUSICAL FRONTIERS IZ is giving final touches to his second album

IZ is on whirlwind tour of India. Metro Brava has brought the Malaysian musician to acclimatise him to the country, which he will tour extensively in March to promote the soundtrack of “Successor: Private And Confidential”, the company’s latest film due for release. Rubia Braun, producer, Metro Brava, says he will power the “Private And Confidential Tour”.

Her company roped in IZ to score music for the film because the artiste’s debut album “Gonna Be Alright” was a roaring success across South-East Asia. As his father is a musicophile, IZ grew up around music records.

He made his debut in 2008, when “Gonna Be Alright” hit the racks. The title song is believed to have brought solace to a multitude of people whose businesses had crumbled during the global recession of 2009.

“When I created the song, the meltdown was not on my mind. But during the height of the recession, the words assumed a new meaning.” By popular demand, he had to re-record this song in Mandarin.

IZ says a sense of positivity courses through his music. Heavily influenced by pop, R&B and electric dance, IZ plays at high-profile fashion shows and product launches.

As he has earned a reputation for discriminating taste in clothes and hairdos, he is sometimes invited to add visual appeal to events.

Recently, he was brought in to grace a fashion show, one of the sideshows of the ongoing Chennai Open. Sporting the spots of a jungle cat on his dress, IZ created “quite a stir”.

“I like fashion, but don’t forget that my calling card is music,” says IZ, who is giving final touches to his second album. He is determined to extend his musical frontiers.

Many of his songs in English, Malay and Mandarin…More