News

The Hindu :

The students of Lady Wellington School, J.P. Nagar have done the school proud.

They bagged many prizes at the talent search examination conducted by Putani Vignana Parishat, Chitradurga.

Many students have won gold medals in science and mathematics.

The school also received the “Best School” award at the National level.

INPUT BY SUDHINDR.A.B.

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The Hindu : SUDHINDR. A.B.

Many moments of reflection marked goodbyes to school days…

Passing the candle: At RyanInternational School.

It is time to bid goodbye to school life and also to express gratitude to mentors for their guidance. Schools that are part of The Hindu’s NIE programme are conducting graduation ceremonies or valedictory functions for the outgoing students of Stds. X and XII.

These programmes provide the opportunity for students to thank their teachers and management for making their school life memorable.

Service

It was a day of mixed feelings for the young graduating students of CMR NPS, as the students of Std X and XII had their valediction recently. The school principal, Sabitha Ramamurthy urged the students to contribute to society and also that they must consider coming back to serve their Alma Mater.Students and parents shared their thoughts about the school.

This was followed by the candle-lighting ceremony. K. C. Ramamurthy, chairman of the institution administered the oath.

Transitions

At Ryan International School, Kundalahalli, the valedictory function for students of Stds. X and XII was a celebration of a successful school life, reflecting the years of growing up together: imbibing the school vision, the laurels, hardships, memorabilia, struggles and coronations.

It was marked by the solemn passing of lit candles, marking transitions from the old to the new, bowing to the wisdom of seniors and merging it with the enthusiasm for new beginnings. Snehal Pinto, director, Ryan Group of Institutions, said that they should be rooted in the principles of Ryan, their Alma Mater and the confidence that they had imbibed would give them the impetus to soar ever higher.

Mementoes and awards, valedictory speeches, and the crowning of Ryan Prince and Princess marked the final moments of the ceremony.

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The Hindu : y>

PEDIGREE PRISONS

Have you ever wondered if your pet was a victim of cruelty and if its mother continues to languish in a pedigree prison? Puppy mill owners exploit animals in appalling manufacturing facilities. These breeders subject female dogs to repeated pregnancies, so that litter after litter can be squeezed out and sold for hefty profits. The dogs’ living conditions are often abysmal.

Gopi Shankar of CUPA (Compassion Unlimited Plus Action) was shocked when he made an undercover visit to two breeders in Hennur last month. “My friend who lives next door called me regarding the unbearable stench and noise from their neighbours who were breeding dogs”, he says. “The dogs were all in cages. The whole operation is in a small site – they don’t get any exercise. Even the cage floor is covered only partially by wooden planks. It was terrible to see the dogs in prison-like conditions”.

The second breeding facility held many more horrors. “One German Shepherd was locked in a cage in which she couldn’t stand up. Some were in cages in bathrooms with no light. There was no water at all. When asked, I was told they were trained to drink water only twice a day. Puppies and their mothers lay in humid conditions in their own excrement. The place was stinking and filthy. There was no sign that they were being walked or given any exercise”.

While the degrees of abuse vary across breeding facilities, what they all have in common is a profit motive and a tendency to see these wonderful animals as products. By choosing to adopt a pet and not buy one, we can eliminate the savage practice of pet trade.

(This is the first of a two-part series on the realities of pet trade)

“I know no greater proof for the existence of a benevolent God, no greater Heaven than holding a purring cat.” -…More

The Hindu :

It’s not Raksha Bandhan time yet. But the ever-evolving brother-sister relationship goes beyond mere symbolism

PHOTO: AFPA NATURAL PROGRESSION From partners-in-mischief to best friends

Well, our social fabric does keep changing. But certain things do not — such as the relationship between a man and his sister. And, the many roles they essay are intriguing — partners-in-mischief, cover-up agent, a sounding board or a go-to-girl, a trusted friend and confidante, among others.

Entrepreneur Vikram Parthasarathy says, “A man’s relationship with his sister is unique. And, as one grows older, it evolves. In my case, it’s been one of caring and sharing.”

Thathagata J., an executive with an MNC, says: “My sister is six years older than I am. In the early years, I looked up to her as a role model. However, over the years, it has grown into a more mature relationship.”

That brothers receive a lot of support from their sisters is obvious from what sailing champion Ajay Rau has to say. “My sister Rohini and I support each other in everything. We are very close, though we are based in different corners of the world, thanks to Google, Facebook and Skype.”

Men also seem to get an ego boost when their sisters look up to them. As businessman S.L. Omprakash says: “A sister listens with her heart and doubles as emissary to carry messages to mom. Besides, she trusts you to defend her, and thinks you know the answer to almost everything.”

However, one wonders if there are love-hate moments, despite all this bonding. Says Ajay: “Of course! It’s only natural for siblings to have a love-hate relationship. When younger, I was the one getting into trouble, but when my sister did something wrong, I’d complain to my parents. As we got older, we helped each other with not getting into trouble.”

Says Manu (name changed on request), an analyst: “When we were little kids,…More

The Hindu : y>

Music beats Listen to the voice of Hemant Kumar come alive

Singer and composer, Hemant Kumar Mukhopadhyaya (1920 to 1989) had made a lasting impact on the world of Hindi film music with tracks like “Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil”(“Bees Saal Baad”), “Tum Pukaaro”, “Koi Doorse Awaz De”.

A programme comprising a rendition of his songs by singers such as Babloo Mukherjee, Divya Raghavan, Sinchan Dixit, Sheelu, Raja, Abhishek and Dr. Salim will be held at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on Friday at 6. 30 p.m.

During the last two decades, Babloo Mukherjee has made an attempt to present renditions of singer Hemant Kumar to his fans and followers.

Tickets are priced at Rs.500, 300, 200 and are available at KC Das outlets on Church Street (25592021/65332076), JP Nagar (41209034), Calypso- Jayanagar 4th Block (22452368), Annakoot (9844006206); Veda art gallery, opposite ITC Windsor (23469965) and Titan showrooms. For more details call 98454 47130 or visit www.indianstage.in.

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The Hindu :

A career in forensics is more than just about glamour and adventure

UNCOVERING THE TRUTH Forensic trainees get an opportunity to get hands-on exposure at Truth Labs PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Forensics! Most of the knowledge we glean on the subject is usually from a novel or a television show. DNA, skeletal remains, fingerprinting – the words conjure up adventure and excitement. It’s a fascinating world and the reality is almost as intriguing as the one we see on shows such as “Bones” and “CSI”, “minus the glamour and the short time within which they solve cases,” says 23-year-old forensic trainee Samira Kuhn. “There is a lot more paperwork and things don’t fall into place as easily as they make it seem on TV.”

Samira Kuhn, Tejaswi Reddy, Vani Sachdev and Priyanka Shylendra are trainees at Truth Labs in Hyderabad. A non-profit, non-government, private forensic lab with branches all over India, this is where the girls are learning the ins and outs of their chosen profession.

A DNA fingerprinting expert is what 23-year-old Tejaswi sees herself as in the future. While Tejaswi did her Masters in Forensic Science abroad, 23-year-old Vani did hers in India. They are both aware of the large gulf between the teaching methods in India and abroad. “In India not enough importance is given to field work and practical work,” says Vani who also wishes to specialise in DNA fingerprinting. “Whereas students abroad are taken on digs and gain on-site experience.” However, the trainees all agree that Truth Labs serves in providing them with practical experience.

They also come across interesting cases to work on, such as analysing documents where a former Indian Prime Minister’s signature was forged and even a case where a fertility clinic botched up by losing a sperm sample and used someone else’s sample instead. People are free to come to the lab with any problem they might…More

The Hindu : y>Malathi Ramachandran tells MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER she wanted to tell an old-fashioned tale of love and commitment in the time of war in her debut novel, The Wheel Turned

Photo: Sampath Kumar g.p.MULTI-LAYERED Malathi Ramachandran: ‘The book is not autobiographical though the soul and spirit is’

Malathi Ramachandranfirmly believes everyonehas a story within them.And “The Wheel Turned”(Pustak Mahal, Rs.175), whichwas released last week, is thenovel Malathi had within her.The wide, sweeping saga tellsthe story of a soldier’s wife inthe Sixties.Daughter of an infantry manwith “olive green in his veins”and married to a fighter pilot,Malathi says: “The book is notautobiographical though thesoul and spirit is.” The copywriter-turned-author lists threereasons for writing the book.”There are many people whoare true-blue soldiers, who wantto serve and defend their motherland.I wanted to tell their story.The second reason is the factthat when nations fight, it is theinnocents, the families of thesoldiers that suffer. And finally,I wanted to explore the feelingsof a woman who has to choosebetween her first love and a secondrelationship she gets intobecause of various situations.”The story”The Wheel Turned” followsthe fortunes of young, vivaciousMeena from Coimbatore who ismarried to Anand, an honest,upright officer in the Army. Justas the young couple are startingoff their new life in the ArmyCantonment at Dharmashala,Anand’s unit is called to battlethe Chinese in the North Eastwhere Anand goes missing.The book explores Meena’swait for Anand, her fresh chanceat happiness and Anand’s horrificfate.”I chose the Sixties as I amfamiliar with social milieu of thetime. I was a child in the Sixtiesin Dharmashala when overnightsoldiers were moved to theNorth-East. It was very emotionalto see families and soldiersmoving. The rest was allresearched. For the battle atNEFA (North East Frontier Alliance,now Arunachal Pradesh),I referred to Brigadier John Dalvi’s”The Himalayan Blunder”.The Battle of Tseng Jong is 100per cent factual. China however,was a closed book, so I had to usemy imagination. I researchedthe names however.”The wide canvas of the…More

The Hindu : y>Nita Kurian says one must curb violence in cartoon shows

In modern times, children learn more about life through the media. It is important to analyse the issue of television violence and children’s behaviour in a broader socio-cultural context.

It is a matter of grave concern that animation in new age television glorifies violence, and moulds our children’s view in many ways. A preschooler is often attracted to intense play of sights and sounds, a characteristic of violence on TV, including cartoons. At an elementary level, the child develops the ability to follow a plot and recognise the consequences of a character’s actions.

Cartoons depict a lot of violent content. In many toons, violent acts are rewarded and glorified. While cartoons may seem harmless and are often intended to be humorous, it creates a distorted depiction of reality, thereby giving children a false sense of security.

Some shows could lead them to believe that violence is an acceptable norm in society and desensitise them towards aggression in life. Justification of violence could also result in behavioural problems; and the child may grow up with no concern for the basic rights of other people and may develop a disposition towards aggressive behaviour. There have been incidents of children imitating there favourite heroes, endangering their own and the life of other people. Parents must exercise their discretion and not allow children to watch cartoons, which features adult content. Cartoons should incorporate issues that help educate and impart values. While we try to protect our children from inappropriate issues in modern literature, cinema, television and the Internet, one tends to forget that there is more violence in cartoons than most fictional programmes.

Do you have anything to say? About the state of the world, the city, your angst? Pen it stylishly and you might get it published. And dash off your piece with your photograph. Email it to bangmetro@gmail.com…More

The Hindu : y>Sunil Shanbag’s play explores a controversial issue

India Foundation For The Arts (IFA) presents the play “S*x, m*rality, and cens*rship”. The play is for those aged 18 years and above. Developed by Shanta Gokhale and Irawati Karnik, it is directed by Sunil Shanbag.

The play is in Hindi and will be staged at Ranga Shankara on March 13 at 7.30 p.m. and on March 14 at 3.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

The play is the result of a grant IFA made to Sunil Shanbag and explores one of the most controversial issues of our time – morality and censorship. It flashes back to the early 70s when Vijay Tendulkar’s classic – “Sakharam Binder” – set off a storm of controversies in the theatre scene and was attacked by the State, and by sections of our society. Using an exciting mix of theatre, illusion, memory, music, dance, and film, the show provokes challenges, and asks the question, who says no and why. Research and production was supported by IFA under the New Performance Programme.

Sunil began his career in theatre as an actor with director Satyadev Dubey. He tried his hand at designing lights and sets, and assisting in direction. In 1985, he formed Arpana, a theatre company, and has directed a slew of productions in Hindi based on the work of contemporary Indian playwrights.

Entry for performance through donations of Rs. 150 and will be available on www.indianstage.in. For door delivery call 9880036611. Tickets will be available at Crossword (Residency Road) Super Market, 5th Avenue (Brigade Road) from March 2 onwards.

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The Hindu : y>Amitabh Bachchan wins another award

Brooke Bond Taj Mahal, in association with the Enlighten Film Society conferred the “Taj Enlighten Tareef Award” on Amitabh Bachchan, for his outstanding contribution to world cinema.

With his path-breaking performances and enigmatic personality, the legend has given Indian cinema a global platform and helped place it on a high pedestal. The Taj Enlighten Film society provides a platform to showcase world cinema to film lovers. It acknowledges contributions made by individuals to cinema.

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