Category Archives: Amazing Feats

Guntur nun Glowrey on way to sainthood

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

GunturNunHF29mar2013

Hyderabad: 

The first nun-doctor missionary, who spent her life in India, mostly in Guntur and Bengaluru serving poor patients, will take her first step to sainthood on Wednesday.

The Vatican gave the nod for Sister Dr Mary Glowrey, an Australian of Irish origin, to be declared ‘Servant of God in India’, the first step to become a Catholic saint. The announcement of her declaration as Servant of God will be made by Bishop Gali Bali of Guntur diocese at a ‘chrism mass’ on Wednesday.

Dr Glowrey first landed in Guntur in 1920 at the age of 33. She came as a missionary of the Society of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and ran a dispensary which turned into St Joseph’s Hospital.

Director-general of the Catholic Health Associat-ion of India, Dr Tomi Tho-mas, says, “Sister Glowrey founded the Catholic Health Association of India in 1943 which now has 3,500 health care institutions in the country and is the largest NGO in the health sector. She was born in Victoria in 1887 and studied medicine and worked at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne and also had a private practice.”

Bishop Gali Bali called her a “special creation of God and a great soul who embraced the whole world”. She left her lucrative career as an ENT specialist after she chanced on a pamphlet in 1915 about the appalling infant mortality rate in India. It changed the direction of her life.

“Pope Pius XI later bestowed a special blessing on her medical work and, as Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart, she became the first nun-doctor missionary. At Guntur, she trained local women to be pharmacists, nurses and midwives. She often travelled to visit the sick and dying in remote villages. She also used Indian traditional medicine,” the Bishop said.

My Jesus, I love you, were her last words

The people of Guntur were thrilled on hearing the news that Sister Glowrey will be declared ‘Servant of God in India’, the first step to become a Catholic saint.

Elizabeth, 65, of Amaravathi Road, Guntur, said, “I was brought up by Sr Glowrey. I cannot forget her love and affection. She used to be a very caring person for the poor and a devout Christian.”

Sister Victoria who had worked at St Joseph’s said, “It is a great honour for St Joseph’s General Hospital at Guntur as its founder is in the process of canonisation. She converted a small dispensary into a huge hospital which today is serving the poor and the needy.”

Dr Glowrey died on May 5, 1957. Her last words are said to be, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” and “My Jesus, I love you”.

She spent her last days in Bengaluru and her vision led to the establishment of one of the best Indian medical colleges, St John’s Medical College.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by U. Sudhakar Reddy / March 27th, 2013

Nizam’s classic Napier cars park at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

Napier cars of VI Nizam Mir Mahboob Ali Khan on display at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad.

The Napier cars were earlier showcased at the Cartier ‘Travel with Style’ Concours D’elegance 2013, a vintage car exhibition, held in Mumbai.

With five such cars, the Nizam of Hyderabad was the single largest owner of Napier cars in India.

The seating of the car is arranged in such a way that the occupants faced the Nizam, who took a central seat in the car.

Napier cars of the Nizam are being moved during a display at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / Agencies / February 20th, 2013

70-yr-old sets yoga record

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports

Hyderabad:

Age is no barrier to realise your dreams. This was proved  by 70-year-old Y. Narasimha Murthy, who  entered the World Telugu Book of Records by performing ‘Jala Yoga’ (underwater yoga).

Murthy, a resident of Dilshuknagar,  is a retired State Bank of Hyderabad manager. He performed 38 yoga postures under water in 30 minutes at the Saroornagar stadium swimming pool.

“I have been practicing the postures since the last 10 years. I dedicate the record to my family and friends,” Murthy said.

According to officials of  World Telugu Book of records, “He was supposed to perform 30 postures, but he performed 38 of them in 30 minutes and created the record.”

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Coreena Suares, DC / February 10th, 2013

Beats blindness to become CA

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features

Hyderabad :

In a rare show of courage and zeal, a 23-year-old Hyderabad youth, who lost his vision completely at the age of 11, has cleared this year’s chartered accountant exams to become the first-ever visually challenged  person to achieve this feat in the country.

J Rajasekhar cleared the CA examy , the results of which were announced on Monday in just his second attempt, a herculean task even for any normal and healthy person of his age.

Blessed with a sharp brain and aided by the latest software for the visually challenged, Rajashekhar made relentless efforts for five years to reach his goal.

“There were many, including my mother, who thought that it was impossible for a person like me to clear the examination but I never felt discouraged,” said Rajsekhar, who learnt to do mental math at an early age.

“I used to study for hours at a stretch for the exams not just to clear it but also to prove that a visually challenged can accomplish whatever he wants,” he added.

He is now being flooded with congratulatory messages from not just his family or friends but also from his peers who see in him their role model.

After taking the CA entrance examination, Rajasekhar pursued a degree in Bachelor of Commerce through long distance mode while working at a CA firm.

“During these three years, I used to try and understand accounts and auditing and record them in my digital voice recorder to keep on listening to them,” he said.

“I would do the same with my soft copy of notes given to me by my coaching centre and try and calculate as much as possible in my brain” he added.

Rajashekhar was provided with a volunteer to write the final examination, which included six theory and two practical subjects.

He comes from an agriculture family from Guntur and was diagnosed with brain tumor when he was in school which eventually affected his optic nerve leaving him completely blind.

“I want to start my own CA firm and also travel,” says Rajashekhar. “For those like me who want to become chartered accountants , I will some day start a training institute. If I can even help and inspire a few, I would be very happty.”

The management of Devnar School for the Blind which funded his education and accommodation, appealed to people not to discriminate but encourage the visually challenged to achieve their goal.

“Now there are good opportunities for the blind in private as well as government sector. One should not treat them as a burden but provide them with equal rights so that they can contribute to society and the country in their own way,” said Saibaba Gowd, founder of Devnar School for the Blind.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / January 23rd, 2013

1,000 pillar temple is 850 years old

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Majestic: The historic Thousand Pillar temple was illuminated on completion of 850 years in Hanamkonda of Warangal district on Saturday. /  Photo: M. Murali / The Hindu

The temple was built by Kakatiya king Rudradeva and the deity is Rudreshwara Swamy, a personification of Lord Shiva

The historic Thousand Pillar temple in the Hanamkonda town, the great legacy of Kakatiya kings, completed 850 years of existence luring tourists from across the globe.

Until few years ago, it was in bad shape with fallen columns, roof and broken statues and abandoned. It was a concerned citizen Gangu Upendra Sharma who took the initiative and turned it around. Since he started daily pujas, people began visiting the temple.

Three years ago, the Government of India sanctioned Rs. 3 crore for restoration of Kalayana Mandapam in 2005 which is being executed.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Gangu Upendra Sharma said “This was built on ‘Magha Shudda Trayodashi (Thursday)’ of Chitrabanu year of Shalivahanashakam which according to the Gregorian calendar is January 19 of 1163.”

The temple was built by Kakatiya king Rudradeva. The temple deity is Rudreshwara Swamy, a personification of Lord Shiva since the Kakatiya kings had a special devotion for Shiva.

The historians opined that the temple deity has actually been named after the king Rudradeva in line with the traditions of that time hence the name Sri Rudreshwara Swamy Temple.

According to retired Telugu professor Hari Siva Kumar, the temple came to be known as Thousand Pillar because there were about 300 pillars or shapes of pillars both small and big that make the temple complete.

The sculptural beauty of the temple is a reminiscent of the rich cultural of heritage of Kakatiya Kingdom.

The intricate designs and carvings at the temple have always been a riddle to common public visiting the temple from different parts of the country and the world.

Mr. Sharma laments that there was no adequate publicity given to this majestic structure.

“The Archaeological Survey of India should publish photographs and bring out a monograph for the benefit of tourists visiting this place,” he says.

He also wanted the State and Central governments to ensure early completion of ongoing restoration works on the Kalyana Mandapam.

soource: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Warangal, January 20th, 2013

British ‘high’ for Bobjee

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports

First Indian cricketer to be conferred with the MBE medallion

Combining cricketing acumen with a human touch! Well, M.V. Narasimha Rao is the first Indian cricketer ever to be conferred with the prestigious Member of British Empire (MBE) medallion for his contribution to promoting the sport and also for community service through cricket during the testing times faced by the ethnic community in Northern Ireland.

SENSE OF PRIDE

And back home in the city for holidaying, the 58-year-old Bobjee — as he is popularly known in cricketing circles — who played for India in four Tests in 1979 under Sunil Gavaskar’s captaincy feels that he has every reason to look back at his stay in Ireland since 1989 with a sense of pride and immense satisfaction.

“MBE is like getting a Padma Award in India. There is so much aura associated with it.

TERMS IT A ‘HUGE HONOUR’

“It is a huge honour, and you are a special invitee to all the functions of the Royal Family back in England,” says a smiling Bobjee as he relaxes at his residence in Marredpally in the company of his wife Josephine and son Suresh (his two daughters stayed back in Ireland as they have to attend college).

“Well, these are the awards which give you a new direction and fresh hopes to do something more special for humanity,” he feels.

“In terms of getting recognised back in Ireland, it did a lot.

“But the fact that I continue to be the chairperson of the North Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (mostly featuring Polish, Indians and Chinese) is only like getting involved in community service to a great extent,” he points out.

On cricketing assignments, he said, “I take pride in reminding that nine of the boys whom I coached were members of the Ireland World Cup team in 2011, and they include the most famous of all, Kevin O Brien (the centurion against England in the World Cup),” says the beaming cricketer, who is also the Director of Cricket Development Programmes, NW Cricket Union.

TEST STATUS FOR IRELAND

“The target we set for ourselves is to see that Ireland gets Test status by 2020,” he insists.

Incidentally, this is the silver jubilee year since Hyderabad last won the Ranji Trophy in 1987 under Bobjee’s captaincy.

“Definitely, it pains when you see Hyderabad performing badly.

“I sincerely believe that V.V.S. Laxman should take up a big role in the HCA (Hyderabad Cricket Association) affairs to give a new direction to the young talent,” he signs off in exasperation.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / December 28th, 2012

Researcher stumbles on anti-cancer molecule in marine sediment

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

When Dasari Venkata Ravi Kumar set out with the objective of discovering a compound with a broad spectrum of activity, he accidentally stumbled upon a novel compound belonging to the Actinomycate family that has the potential to make a huge impact in the fields of cancer and microbial research.

Strangely though, Ravi Kumar found this unique molecule in some marine sediment  barely a stone’s throw away from the place where he conducted his research-the Department of Chemical Engineering at Andhra University. Actinomycates are filamentous or rod shaped pathogenic microorganisms resembling bacteria and fungi that are found in soil. These nitrogen deleted compounds have anti-cancer and anti-microbial tendencies.

“The discovery of this bio-microorganism has opened the doors for cancer and microbial research. The potential is huge and Ravi Kumar would be remembered as the man who made it all possible,” observed Professor D Rami Reddy, Ravi Kumar’s mentor, guide and inspiration. Talking about his discovery, an elated Ravi Kumar said that the past one year had been one hell of a ride with three international publications-Journal on Microbial Research, Journal of Microbial and Bio-Chemical Research and Journal of Bio-Technology publishing his research paper on the discovery.

“It was a fascinating experience. I basically set out to discover greater potential in compounds and by accident discovered a novel compound that is as of now unheard of,” says Ravi Kumar, pointing out that the support of his department and guide enabled him to complete his PhD in just two and a half years.

Though upbeat about his success at such a young age, the 30-year-old Dr Ravi Kumar, who was pursued by several pharma companies, is currently employed with a Hyderabad-based pharma player and is now worried about getting his discovery patented.

“Getting the patent is on top of my list of priorities. Things have been good so far and we have already applied for a patent, the compound has to be put through more tests till it can be finally patented. Once that is done, I plan to do more research in anti-cancer and microbial fields,” said the scientist, who jokingly said that sometimes picking up sea shells on the sea shore does help.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Science /  TNN / Visakhapatnam, November 29th, 2012

Vizag girl makes mark in US

Amazing Feats, Nri's / Pio's, Sports, World Opinion

Battula Aparna Das became the first Indian girl to get a US jockey licence.  / Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu

“I don’t want to give too much thought to the fact that I am the first Indian girl to achieve this. I just want to be a winning jockey” said Battula Aparna Das of Andhra Pradesh, the first Indian girl to get a US jockey licence.

Battula Aparna Das of Andhra Pradesh created history of sorts by becoming the first Indian girl to get a US jockey licence a few days ago. This 23-year-old youngster, born in Visakhapatnam, did her schooling in St. Francis Xavier and later graduated from Mount Carmel College in Bangalore.

This Telugu-speaking girl has a wonderful track record in sports. She has won many medals in national skating meets, inter-college athletics champion besides, being a school-level hockey player. For someone, who loves go-karting, swimming and bungy jumping, Aparna is apparently delighted at her latest achievement.

“Ever since, I had done the basic one-year training in horse riding at Bangalore Turf Club I always had a fascination to be a jockey,” says Aparna, who owes a lot to her trainer and mentor Shinklyer Marshall of Jockey Association of India. “Yet, I don’t want to give too much thought to the fact that I am the first Indian girl to achieve this. I just want to be a winning jockey,” she says.

As part of her endeavour to keep improving and pursuing her passion, Aparna did a two-year diploma in North American Racing Academy at Kentucky, USA.

“Apparently, the internship under famous jockeys later in US helped me a lot,” says the champion youngster, who has the full support of her parents – Velangini Das and Aruna Das. While Ms. Das is the director of Aruna Fashion Design College in Bangalore, Mr. Velangini Das works as an engineer in Armed Forces. They hail from Visakhapatnam.

“Yes, the basic training I had under BARI captain Goutam and later thanks to the efforts of the trainer in Nityanand Stables proved very handy to me,” she says.

Aparna’s first brush with quality competition was when she took part in the first race at Gulfstream Park Florida along with some of the best jockeys in March last year and she finished third. “That result gave me immense confidence that I can realise my dream,” she looks back.

“Right now, I am keen to go back to US and compete in as many races as possible this winter. I can always come back to India and be a jockey. First, I want to make a mark in US,” signs off Aparna.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com  / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Suhrahmanyam / June 20th, 2012

It’s raining milk on APDDCF

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Science & Technology

PROBLEM OF PLENTY: Extra milk powder will be used in the programme where cooked food is supplied to pregnant and lactating mothers.  / File photo / The Hindu .

The Federation is left with an extra 1.70 lakh litres of milk per day

Usually there are problems with shortages. But in the case of A.P. Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (APDDCF) the opposite is true. It is faced with the unique problem of glut of milk so much so that it doesn’t know where to store all the milk that is coming its way.

Everyday the Federation is left with an extra 1.70 lakh litres to handle which it simply can’t. Therefore, it is toying with the idea of declaring a ‘milk holiday’ once in a fortnight.

The idea is not to procure milk two days in a month so as to take care of storage problem and also the rising cost of procurement. The proposal will be placed before the APDDCF board to get its nod. The last time the Federation declared a milk holiday was in 1993.

The APDDCF has been flooded with surplus milk from September onwards. The per day procurement shot up from 3.90 lakh litres in August to 4.69 lakh litres in September. It touched 5.27 lakh litres in October and 5.93 lakh litres in November. In December, milk procurement is projected to be 6.29 lakh litres.

Faced with this unusual phenomenon, the Federation has started converting the excess milk into skimmed milk powder (SMP).

“We are doing all this only to not inconvenience farmers,” says Mohammed Ali Rafath, managing director and vice chairman, APDDCF.

Unlike private diaries, the APDDCF is procuring milk beyond its requirement to help the farmers. Its factory has a capacity to handle only 4 lakh litres a day, including 30,000 litres of by-products such as flavoured milk, butter, khova, lassi.

In the last few months it has been getting an extra 1.70 lakh litres milk per day. Of this, 1.02 lakh litres is buffalo milk and the rest cow. To procure this excess milk, it has to shell out Rs.41 lakh per day.

To tide over the problem, the APDDCF has started converting the milk into powder and now it has a stock of 1,000 metric tonnes of butter and 800 metric tonnes of skimmed milk powder. To clear this stockpile, the Federation has asked the Women Development and Child Welfare Department to use its powder milk in its programme of supplying cooked food to pregnant and lactating mothers.

“This way we hope to supply 100 tonnes of skimmed milk powder per month”, says Mr. Rafath.

The excess milk production is the result of milch animal induction programme wherein the government provides 25 per cent subsidy on purchase of cattle and also reimburses transport charges.

Another factor is the vigorous artificial insemination programme taken up by the Animal Husbandry Department.

Why can’t the APDDCF push up its sales? It cannot because there are no takers for its Vijay brand of milk. While Hyderabad has a liquid milk market of 12 lakh litres a day, APDDCF accounts for just 3.60 lakh litres a day.

Now the APDDCF is planning to develop forward linkages by strengthening its district market where the sales are very dismal.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by J. S. Ifthekhar / November 21st, 2012

Clock, Rebecca and Salarjung

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

My first visit to the Salarjung Museum (SJM) was an educational tour from school. I was in Class VI and my classmates and I were seated expectantly at 12 noon in front of the famous clock to watch a figure within the clock come out and strike a bell 12 times. We were excited!

Years later, when I stood before the clock once again, this time with my daughter, Suha, there was the same feeling of complete fascination. Some of the objets d’art here — the statue of Rebecca, chandeliers, swords, paintings, porcelain and carpets — are amazing so is the children’s gallery.

The Museum consists of the largest collection of artifacts owned by a single family anywhere in the world — 47,500 artifacts displayed in 50 galleries, with 8,500 manuscripts and 60,000 books in the library. It receives 6,000 visitors a day, the largest footfall for any museum in India. Only 20 per cent of artifacts are on rotational display, the remainder being stored away for better preservation.

To stay relevant, its spaces have always laid emphasis on world-class display, and in the last three years, 1 lakh sq feet of interiors have been renovated. A gallery of Islamic art, spread over 26,000 sq feet is under construction where the world’s smallest Quran will be on display. The Museum, which is soon to be the subject of a coffee-table book, is now also becoming a cultural hub, with about 100 events staged here last year — plays, ghazal concerts and mushairas.

Reaching out to people is vital for its continued popularity, and its bus, “Culture on Wheels”, visit schools. They have also digitised the manuscripts and books, and soon, its virtual tour may be possible.

(The writer is a philanthropist, educationist and member of the board of Salarjung Museum)

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Others / by Zakir Hussain / October 07th, 2012