Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Making Erra Matti Dibbalu global

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, World Opinion

Of the many natural assets that Visakhapatnam is blessed with, the most valuable and unique are the Erra Matti Dibbalu (EMDs).

EMDs of Bhimunipatnam were first reported by William King, deputy superintendent of Geological Survey of India in the year 1886.

King called the stretch of 24 miles, between Visakhapatnam and Bhimunipatnam ‘badlands,’ representing great sand banks, in a dry terrain, where sedimentary soils were extensively eroded by wind and water.

Scientists tell us that the EMD illustrate earth’s evolutionary history, including the climatic conditions that once existed at the site. Typically, such terrain has a multilayered colouring, which is both fascinating and attractive. Moreover, there are vestiges of the prehistoric man having lived in the area.

Visakhapatnam’s Red Sand Dunes are invaluable inheritance, that need to be conserved through a conscious effort, both for their scientific as well as aesthetic significance. Conservation and protection of such marvels of nature is vital for the posterity, because once lost they can never be retrieved again.

Citizen/heritage bodies of the city have worked hard to get the Geological Survey of India to recognise the EMDs as a Geo heritage site, which is no mean achievement. We must now go a step further.

Even though when William King reported them in 1886, the entire stretch of 24 miles were marked with coastal red sand mounds, over a period of time most of them have been leveled, except for a small segment, which happens to be the most spectacular part, has survived.

The beauty of the EMDs is such that tourists have been flocking to the place to admire them.

Come Karthika masam, families gather there for kartheeka vanabhojanalu. While it is good that people enjoy the beauty of the sand dunes, unbridled unregulated footfall harmed the sand dunes. Even more harmful would have been the intervention of the department of tourism had it been allowed.

Building a facility centre at the mouth of the seasonal stream that drains through the fragile eco system, a proposal for night tourism using beach buggies and camel rides are some of the spectacularly shortsited projects, which, mercifully were opposed by the heritage activists of the city. If those were allowed, EMDs would have been levelled with a year or two.

EMDs are made up of loosely stacked sand, which is easily disturbed. Any harsh activity like indiscriminate clambering up the sand dunes or using vibration-generating vehicles in their middle will disturb them and hasten the process of deterioration.

Unregulated tourist flow is neither in the interest of the tourists nor of the EMDs. As one goes deeper into the sand formations, the gully formation transforms into a veritable maze, the height of the mounds grows and if one is not careful, it is easy to lose one’s way.

A greater threat to the EMDs is the mindless digging of the dunes for laying a four lane road and building a cement mixing plant right in the middle of the sand dunes, which was brought to light by the ever vigilant public view. The latest threat appears to be a housing society.

Taking advantage of the momentum generated by Visakhapatnam’s ‘smart and clean city’ tags, we must elevate our tourism too to a global level.

We must start working towards getting UNESCO’s recognition for EMDs.

True, it would take a bit of leg work. But the benefits that will accrue make it worthwhile. To achieve that status, all the short sited and unsustainable tourist interventions proposed by the government in the EMDs must be given up forthwith, immediately. The district authorities, the state government and the heritage conservationists must work together and seriously. When the people and their governments come together, the synergy generated makes many things possible. Vizag can take a lead in the matter.

There are the four fundamental features, which are an absolute prerequisite for an area to become a member of a UNESCO Global Park and on the face of it we fulfill all the requirements.

Firstly, the area under consideration must have geological heritage of international value, which is assessed by scientific professionals, and is peer reviewed by an UNESCO Global Geopark Evaluation Team.

Do we fulfill that requirement? Certainly.

Geologists tell us that there are just three such formations in South Asia, of which we have one.

Visakhaptnam is fortunate to have one such stunningly beautiful formation so close to the city.

Earth scientists of the country and particularly of Andhra University have studied EMDs extensively and tell us that EMDs are of national as well as international value.

Scholars have used them as a living laboratory, to explain to the students the evolution of the earth’s crust. Much literature has been written about it.

The second requirement is that an aspiring Geopark must be managed by a body, which is created by a central Act.

This takes political will of the people’s representatives. It is not the first time that such an Act was passed to protect an institution of national importance.

Salarjung Museum was created by a central Act specially passed for that very purpose.

The institution thus entrusted with the task of managing EMDs must involve the local communities and the other stake holders in its management plan. In the case of EMDs the local stake holders would be the villagers of Nerellavalasa and the local fishermen, who have a direct interest in the EMDs.

For, in the year 1970 some 20 families of Nerrellavalasa were given pattas within the sand dunes by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

The villagers planted cashew trees along the slopes of the dunes, which not only enhanced the beauty of the dunes but also helped in the prevention of soil erosion, as the root systems hold the soil together.

So, the management plan must have a two-pronged strategy of protecting the site along with the interest of those that depend on it.

The tourism interventions of the government so far have been aimed at evicting the pattadars of the EMDs and opening the EMD for the exclusive benefit of the tourists. Such interventions are violative of the United Nations’ principles of heritage conservation.

Equally important is maintaining the sanctity of the dunes and stopping all intrusive activity which disturbs their pristine integrity. The landscape includes the ravines, streams, foliage, gullies, coast line and all the other natural in features in the area, in toto.

No more building of roads in the immediate neighbourhood of the EMDs, no cement processing plants nor a housing colony in the mounds.

Then the third requirement to get UNESCO Global Geopark is a total visibility to the world. This stipulation had to be put in place as at times some geological formations might be controlled by private bodies, which might restrict entry to the public.

EMDs does not have that problem since they are located within a stretch held by the government.

What, needs to be done to make EMDs more visible is to create a dedicated website, print leaflets, publish a detailed map of the area and make available information which is required for international tourists.

Lastly, a UNESCO Global Geopark is not only about cooperation with the local people living in the UNESCO Global Geopark area, but also about cooperating with other UNESCO Global Geoparks through the Global Network. It must work together with the other global partners, across borders.

It is high time the authorities in charge of tourism and the district administration take charge of the conservation of the EMDs seriously, and plan for the overall conservation of the area, once and for all.

Getting the recognition of UNESCO will place the site on the global tourist map and bring international tourists.

At present there are 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 33 countries. It would be a proud moment for Vizag, if we can join that network.

(The writer is a heritage and environmental activist. She can be reached at ranisarma2010@gmail.com)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Rani Sarma / April 10th, 2016

On a ‘record’ quest in performing push-ups

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

For many people, push-up is a way of punishment and for a few it is a noting but a physical exercise. But for Haridasu Ramesh Kumar, a youngster from Chollangi, on the outskirts of Kakinada, push-ups provided the platform to achieve a good number of records.

Ramesh Kumar’s specialisation is in Hindu push-ups, also known as Hanuman push-ups, Judo push-ups or Dive Bomber push-ups, which he learnt from his father Govindaraju in the childhood and practises every day without fail.

Ramesh Kumar got his first national record from the Unique World Records in 2014 for doing 100 Hindu push-ups in two minutes and 19 seconds.

It was the beginning of his quest for records, which made him attend the competitions conducted by different organisations.

Merit certificates

After achieving a good number of merit certificates and awards, including a couple of honours from the Incredible Book of Records, in doing 60 Hindu push-ups in 64 seconds and in doing 102 Hindu push-ups in two minutes and six seconds, he has now shifted his focus towards achieving the Guinness Book of World Records and manifold the daily practice of push-ups.

Physical exercise

“I have started the push-ups for the sake of physical exercise in my childhood. As I grew up, I have found myself closely associated with this form of exercise and decided to achieve something in this field,” says 34-year-old Ramesh Kumar, who finished his masters in science and is preparing for competitive examinations.

“There is no need of playground or equipment to practise Hindu push-ups, as one can do it in the sit-out or in the hall. This exercise keeps us fit both physically and mentally,” he says.

I have started the push-ups for the sake of physical exercise in my childhood. As I grew up, I have found myself closely associated with this form of exercise and decided to achieve something in this field

Haridasu Ramesh Kumar

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh  / K.N.Murali Sankar / Kakinada – April 06th, 2016

Musician Gangadharam dead

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

The first-ever film orchestra conductor in unified Andhra Pradesh, Peddireddi Gangadharam, passed away after a brief illness here on Saturday. He was 79. He is survived by wife, son, and daughter.

Born and brought up at Hasanbada near Draksharama in East Godavari district, Gangadharam learnt Carnatic music from Ch. Sanyasi Rao and harmonium from Akula Narasimha Rao in his childhood. His penchant for film music made him launch Gangadharam Music Party with five members in 1955, which was the first film orchestra in the Telugu States.

Subsequently, he resigned to his government job and turned a full-time orchestra conductor and gave thousands of performances in India and abroad over the years.

Renowned playback singers S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, P.B. Srinivas, V. Ramakrishna, Madhavapeddi Satyam, V. Anand, and Jikki sang for his orchestra many a time.

Last year, he celebrated the diamond jubilee of his orchestra here for three days, in which Mr. Balasubrahmanyam and Kalpana enthralled the audience along with several up-and-coming singers.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / Staff Reporter / Kakinada – March 27th, 2016

P. Susheela enters Guinness World Records

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Veteran playback singer P. Susheela. File photo: Thulasi Kakkat / The Hindu
Veteran playback singer P. Susheela. File photo: Thulasi Kakkat / The Hindu

‘The queen of melodies’ has been officially credited by Guinness Book of Records for singing 17, 695 songs in 12 Indian languages.

Renowned playback singer P. Susheela Mohan, who has won many awards and earned accolades in a career spanning five decades, has added two more to her awards cabinet.

She has now been recognised by both the Guinness Book of World Records and Asia Book of Records for singing most number of songs in Indian languages. The usually reticent singer met journalists in Chennai on Tuesday to celebrate her new award.

While Guinness Book of Records has officially credited her for singing 17, 695 songs (solo, duet and chorus backed songs) in twelve Indian languages, Asia Book of Records has recognised her for singing close to 17, 330 songs.

Speaking about the awards, P. Susheela reminded everyone present that the adjudicators had only considered songs she had song from 1960s. “Please remember that I started singing from 1951,” she said.

None of this would have been possible without the work of her fans, who, by setting up psusheela.org, painstakingly catalogued the songs that she has sung over the last few decades and sent it to the adjudicators of the award.

Reflecting on the recognition, the singer said that she views it as an acknowledgement of her hard work. “There is a lot of hard work that has gone behind this achievement. Today, with so many television channels and newspapers, a talented singer can shine through quickly. But when I was singing, it was very slow and I had work my way up , step by step,” she said.

Crediting her husband for her success, she said that her husband, a doctor, was a corner stone in her life. “He fell in love with my voice and sacrificed his life so that I have a great career in playback singing,” she said.

She was candid in her response when asked why she had never considered a career in acting. “I was offered a chance to act by several directors, but I refused saying that I wouldn’t want to act even if I was paid a crore,” she said, adding, “My heart was in music.”

When asked why she is not singing anymore, the singer said that she would love to sing in movies if someone offered a good song. When she was nudged by journalists to sing her favourite song, she ended the press conference by singing Ennai pada sonnal, enna paada thondrum from Pudhiya Paravai, a hit song of 1964.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment / by Udhav Naig / Chennai – March 29th, 2016

Advocate files petition in Telugu, enters record books

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

It is not easy to secure a place in the book of records for expressing one’s love for the mother tongue. But, this advocate has made this possible.

P.N.S. Prakash
P.N.S. Prakash

Pidatala Narasimha Surya Prakash, locally known as P.N.S. Prakash, is a practising lawyer in Punganur town, who shot to fame for bringing Telugu into the legal system. He became the first to file a petition in Telugu, when he had filed one in the Principal Junior Civil Judge’s Court, Punganur, in February 2012. The petition pertains to a civil dispute in Kandur village of Somala mandal in Chittoor district, which was accepted by the judge.

All the arguments were made in Telugu and the order copy summoning the respondent was also drafted in Telugu script. “This memorable day has been placed in the Telugu Book of Records,” reads the citation issued last year by Chintapatla Venkatachari, founder president of the Telugu Book of Records.

The achievement was also acknowledged by Book of State Records, as confirmed by its editor Nataraj. His effort was hailed by noted linguists Mandali Buddha Prasad, Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad and Vangapandu Prasada Rao.

When the then acting Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice N.V. Ramana, participating in the World Telugu Conference in Tirupati, had advised the legal fraternity to employ Telugu to a greater extent, Mr. Prakash started filing all petitions in Telugu.

“After my record feat, I have filed 130 cases so far, all of them in Telugu,” he told The Hindu . Sadly, nobody else in the two Telugu States have followed suit in these four years and Prakash is still the lone advocate to have used Telugu script.

Translation

While regional language reigns supreme in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is out of the reckoning here. “For example, the deponent is called ‘Dhruvakartha’ or ‘Vaangmooladaru’ in Telugu, which none uses. It is quite difficult to translate the legal jargon into Telugu but I believe that comprehension improves with continued use,” asserts Mr. Prakash, who uses Sankaranarayana and Padala Rami Reddy dictionaries for translation.

Four years after P.N.S. Prakash’s record, no petition filed in Telugu yet Love for mother tongue P.N.S. Prakash, a lawyer from Punganur, had filed the petition in Telugu in February 2012

All the arguments were made in Telugu and the order copy summoning the respondent was also drafted in Telugu script

So far, he filed 130 cases so far, all of them in Telugu

Nobody else in the two Telugu States have followed suit and Prakash is still the lone advocate to have used Telugu script.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – March 29th, 2016

Pusapati Ananda Gajapathi Raju no more

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

Visakhapatnam:

Pusapati Ananda gajapathi Raju, the eldest son of the last Rajah of Vizianagaram, PVG Raju, and hereditary trustee of 108 temples, including the Simhachalam Devasthanam and the MANSAS Trust, Pusapati Ananda Gajapathi Raju (65) died of respiratory problems at a hospital here on Saturday. The head of the royal Pusapati clan, Ananda Gajapathi Raju also served as former state health and education minister and was also elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Vizianagaram constituency.

An MA in economics from Columbia University, Ananda also worked as an journalist with a leading national daily from the south. He is the elder brother of Union civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. His body was taken to Bungalow-7 in Vizianagaram soon after he passed away and the last rites were performed at the cremation grounds in Vizianagaram at 4.30 pm by Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

An avid reader and collector of books, Ananda Gajapathi Raju was considered one of the shining stars in AP politics. However, he invested all his efforts into turning MANSAS into a motivated and well-organised institution.

“His presence will be sorely missed by us all. He was a visionary who turned MANSAS into a proactive organisation and somebody who believed in selfless service,” said one of the members of his extended family.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / March 27th, 2016

Dolphin’s Nose a natural wonder of Vizag

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

Visakhapatnam :

Dolphin’s Nose, one of the natural wonders of the city as well as a sought-after tourist spot, has been named so because it resembles the nose of a dolphin. Some people even claim that a school of dolphins often visits the spot.

The area houses the Sagar Mata temple and the 700-year-old Ishaq Medina Dargah. According to old timers, sailors who used to sail from Vizag would seek blessings at both the places.

“Before the inner channel was constructed, there was a vast stretch of beach land connecting Vizag town to Dolphin’s Nose. However, today if one were to reach the place by road, one would have to go on a roundabout route to reach the hill,” pointed out history buff BS Mahesh.

“Today it is a restricted area and tourists are allowed on only certain stretches of the hill as the rest of it houses navy’s quarters,” he added.

The lighthouse atop the hill was built in the mid 1960s and is equipped with modern cyclone tracking technology. There was another old lighthouse situated on top of the hill way back in the 19th century, which according to heritage expert Edward Paul, was constructed by the Gode family in the 1860s. “Unfortunately, it was completely damaged during the 1874 cyclone following which plans of building a new lighthouse there were abandoned for a long time,” Paul added.

“Traces of the old basement of the old lighthouse still exists in that area. More than that, we know nothing of it. The old lighthouse is also a testimony to the fact that the Godes were an enlightened family who showed a keen interest in sciences. They even built an observatory in Visakhapatnam town which existed till the late 1970s,” Mahesh said.

Meanwhile, Paul pointed out that many legends and stories grew around the hill locally known as Yarada Konda. When asked about the sighting of dolphins near the hill, he said, “One does not know if dolphins can be actually seen near the hill.”

Mahesh, however, pointed out that the famous naval battle between the French and the British was fought near the base of Dolphin’s Nose in the year 1804.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Venkatesh Bayya / TNN / March 17th, 2016

Jodugullapalem a settlement named after twin temples

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

Visakhapatnam:

Jodugullapalem, a tiny settlement nestled between the Kailasagiri and Seethakonda hills right on the beach, has a vast majority of people belonging to the Vada Balaji community who eke out a living by fishing and building boats. They mainly worship Gangamma Thalli.

The twin shrines of Gangamma Thalli and Koth Ammavaru Thalli were built in 1925 when a group of families migrated from Old Jalaripeta to build a new settlement and named it after the shrines.

S Bhimeswara Rao, the priest of the temple complex, said, “There is also a third shrine that was built to accommodate the Bhulokamatha. The three shrines represent ‘Shakthi’ in a complete and wholesome form. However, this shrine is now in a dilapidated condition.” According to the priest, the temple complex was modernised from 1985 onwards and the Jatara was also revived in the same year. “The Jatara or annual fest was revived after a long hiatus and is held in a grand manner every January,” he added.

Devotees visit the shrine during the Magha Maasa and seek the blessings of the Mother Goddess after taking a holy dip in the sea. There are a number of other shrines in the complex dedicated to the Mother Goddess in various forms. Another unique feature about the temple is that this complex does not have a Brahmin priest.

Rao pointed out, “We have been the priests of this complex right from the beginning. However, we have been trained in the basic scriptures by Brahmin priests who taught us the basic mantras and rituals that need to be conducted. I was trained by a Brahmin scholar from Simhachalam by name Appala Charya, who initiated me into the basic Vedic practices.”

History buff BS Mahesh said, “As the village was populated only by Vada Balajis, the priests had to be drawn from the same community. One must understand that this was quite a common practice in India and many Hindu priests are not actually Brahmins. In the case of Vaishnavaite shrines, the priests are Stana Vaishnavaites.”

Local shrines

1) The complex came into existence in 1925

2) The shrines are tiny and built in a pyramidal style

3) The site is littered with waste thanks to beach goers

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Visakhapatnam / Venkatesh Bayya / TNN / March 05th, 2016

Buddhist settlement discovered on Seethanagaram hill

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Historical remains on Seethanagaram hill.— PHOTO: BY ARRANGEMENT
Historical remains on Seethanagaram hill.— PHOTO: BY ARRANGEMENT

Archaeologist and CEO of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada (CEO) E. Nagireddy has discovered a huge Buddhist settlement with traces of stupas, chaityas and viharas on the Seethanagaram hill located on the outskirts of Vijayawada city.

The relics surfaced as part of a survey conducted under the guidance of Mr. Nagireddy.

A rock-cut cistern, once used by the Buddhist monks during the rainy retreat, located next to the recently taken up Ramanuja-Vasudeva temple complex by the Jeeyar Trust provided a clue on the existence of a Buddhist monastery on the right side.

Further probing revealed brick-built viharas datable to 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. The bricks used in the construction measured 60x28x7 cm. “A rock-cut steps-like path leading to the top of the hillock perhaps helped the monks reach the monastery,” says Mr. Nagireddy.

Members of the Trust, while laying a ghat road in the area, also discovered two Vishnu idols carved in khondalite stone and one Govardhana Giridhara idol datable to 6th to 10th century. The idols currently are in the safe custody of the Trust.

Extensive survey planned

Going by the ample possibility of existence of more such Buddhist relics at the site, Mr. Nagireddy has requested the Trust members to safeguard the antiquities that could be exhibited to the public at a later stage.

He said the CCV will take up an extensive survey of the place very soon.

Archaeologists believe that Andhra Pradesh became a Buddhist stronghold due to the active patronisation by the wealthy classes of the Godavari-Krishna delta.

A large number of Buddhist chaityas, viharas and stupas have been unearthed in this State. Some major sites in the area where Buddhist relics have been excavated are Nagarjunakonda, Anupu, Dhulikatta, Aduru, Bhattiprolu and Bavikonda.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / Vijayawada – March 04th, 2016

A trip down the ages

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

Rickshaw heritage rides give an opportunity to appreciate our rich past

Heritage walks on the ancient lanes of the city’s Old Town area are like time machines that take you on a journey through the pages of history and give a glimpse of some chapters that make your soul recoil with pain and poetry.

The small group of people, which participated in the rickshaw heritage ride recently, took back with it slices of the rich historical past of the city.

AnitaRaoANDHRA02mar2016

For Anita Rao, an artist, the experience was a trip down the ages — to how the area was a few centuries ago. “The over 250-year-old Queen Mary’s School encouraged and made special arrangement to educate widows and even paid them Rs.15 per month to study in the early 1900s. There were several such stories we learnt about the places that give me a reverence for these structures, which we often take for granted,” she said.

Artist Anita Rao’s sketch of Kurupam Market entrance.—Photo: K.R. Deepak
Artist Anita Rao’s sketch of Kurupam Market entrance.—Photo: K.R. Deepak

Intrigued by the fascinating tales of many such structures, some of which no longer exist, Rao made a watercolour sketch of the Kurupam Market entrance, which was demolished a few years ago.

The participants were taken around 10 important heritage places of the locality — Town Hall, Town Hall Lane, Kurupam Market, Old European Cemetery, Queen Victoria’s Pavilion, St. John Church and School, Queen Mary’s School, Ishak Madina Dargah, St. Aloysius School, and Light House. Sandhya Parimala Vijapurapu, a youngster, said that the heritage trail gave an in-depth understanding of the city’s history.

The experience made her realise that heritage was more than old buildings.

“When I hold my camera and shoot the walls of the Town Hall, it gives me a different perspective now after sifting through the multiple layers of historical facts. We saw old chairs piled up in corners of the thick walls of the building, which are now silent spectators of the city’s rapid transition,” she said, and added that the exciting part of the tour was the rickshaw ride that promoted the modest ecological mode of transport. Leading from the front was city-based social and heritage activist Jayshree Hatangadi, who had been conducting these Sunday rickshaw heritage rides for the past few months.

The heritage trail takes participants around in four rickshaws.

“The idea behind doing these rides is also to highlight the issues of preserving heritage sites. For instance, the Town Hall needs to be repaired and its surrounding area cleaned so that it can be a place of display of our heritage and have interesting speakers every month to give a talk or a presentation. Once the locations are cleaned, we can have visitor brochures and guides trained to talk about the history of the place. Even the European Cemetery has a big story to tell. Several tombstones have their life in short beautifully calligraphed,” added Hatangadi.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Nivedita Ganguly / Visakhapatnam – March 02nd, 2016