A temple in the midst of nature

Here is a temple which relaxes your strained mind and body because of its unique park by the side.
The shrine is next to Law College in Kuvempunagar. Certainly, anyone driving a vehicle would fail to notice the temple if he is focussed on the busy traffic, as the temple is not located immediately adjoining the footpath but a little off it. It is really worth your time if you visit once and take a look inside.
The presiding deities of the temple is Goddess Bandanthamma, Adishakti and Kalamma. Bandanthamama is also considered as Gramadevathe.
The interesting feature of this temple is its beautiful garden by the side. The garden with its lush green grass and fountains is a real attraction. There is a beautiful statue of Shiva sitting atop a mountain with water falls in the background.
After visiting the temple, people come out and relax on the wooden chairs watching the fountains and clay models of birds and animals along with the lights set on the walkway. The whole atmosphere is serene, calm and creates an ambient mood for relaxation. It not only brings forth devotion in the heart but also soothes the mind.
Another unique feature of this temple is decorating the deity with fruits and betel leaves by people in fulfillment of their vows, though commonly deities are decorated with flowers, ghee, butter or sandal-paste. The temple also has a Navagraha complex, where instead of the deities, small trees representing each planet is placed in pots.
The temple is maintained by Bandanthamma and Kalamma Temple Trust. According to Temple President B. Naganna, the temple was constructed in 2003 with donations from the people and with the assistance of Secretary Balu, Vice-President Shivkumar, Hon. President Rajanna and Treasurer Shivappa.
Naganna still has many more plans on the anvil. He wants to build a small platform that can be used as a stage, where artistes and musicians can give performance for free.
Seating arrangements will also be made in the front for the audience. Naganna hopes this will become popular. He also has plans to bring some rabbits, ducks, geese and a small baby elephant.
The beautifully decorated deity with an illuminated park adds charm to the temple gaining in popularity everyday, with around 2,000 people visiting on Fridays and Tuesdays.
[Tuesday 10th February 2009]

Park ho to aisa

People abhor a visit to parks in the city, given the filth and garbage strewn all over, apart from anti-social elements, stray dogs waiting to strike and other unpleasant factors. However, this may not be true in all the parks.
A park in Hosabandikeri, I Cross, Chamundipuram, which was ignored by Corporation and the public has a got a new lease of life thanks to the initiative by a few enterprising youth of the locality.
Two years ago, this park was just like other neglected parks in city. It was host to all sorts of illegal activities. Some youth cleaned up the mess inside the park. A young and energetic Girish leads the group of like-minded youth, who worked together, pooling in their meager pocket money and hard-earned money and gave the park a new lease of life, literally. They made all the difference by introducing pigeons, ducks, love birds, swans, guinea pigs, rabbits and other exotic birds. Over 100 birds can now be seen in this park.
A small pond was constructed for the ducks when they are let out in the open. As the water in the pond had to be cleaned regularly, they connected it to the drainage pipe with a valve, so water can flow out easily. Now they are thinking of constructing a small fence around the pond for the safety of children. They are even availing the services of veterinary doctor for birds.


Every boy in the group takes the initiative to maintain the park in turns. They go to market daily to bring radish leaves for guinea pigs and ducks. Some vendors who know about these boys supply leaves freely. A resident in the neighbouring area daily provides powdered rice as feed for these birds. As the boys have decided not to ask for any help, they share among themselves the monthly expenditure of about Rs. 3,000. The Corporation staff who were nowhere to be seen till now have started helping by cleaning the park.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Sarala, a regular visitor to the park with her child, said this park was ignored by the Corporation for a long time whereas the boys have done a tremendous work. She praised them saying "If people visit the park, their mind will be refreshed and children will come to know more about birds and they can have good entertainment. It's really worth coming here."


Ramdas, who visits with his daughter-in-law, said that through this park children can gain knowledge and added that the park is very attractive for children and they wish to come here daily. More than 100 people visit this park daily. This is a good example of how it is possible to transform things by collective public participation. Hats off to these boys, who could have otherwise spent the time in idle pleasures.
Truly they need our encouragement and support to continue their exemplary and socially useful activity.
[Tuesday 10th February 2009]

Winter Skin Care

We need to pamper and provide some extra care to our skin to avoid dryness in winter.
In case of dry skin, the condition worsens. Here are some tips for the winter care.
Using of moisturizers and cold creams are beneficial in winter. Good moisturizers will form a protective barrier for the skin to protect it from harsh elements. Use creamier and water-in-oil emulsions round-the-clock after bath. Adding a few drops of oil into water before taking bath will help in retaining the moisture even after the bath.
Care for lips: Lips become easily chapped during winter. Use a lip balm to keep lips moist.
• Apply cold cream or vaseline on the lips before going to bed. Butter is also an effective medicine.
• Apply milk cream or vaseline mixed with honey and after 10 minutes, wash it off with warm water.
Take warm and short showers: Bathing with hot water will dry out and damage the hair. So, use warm or cool water. Longer showers will lead to dryness of skin, so shorten bathtime.
Hands and legs: One of the concerns of winter is dry hands and cracking fingers due to over-exposure to cold weather. After washing your hands, pat it dry with a towel. Apply moisturizer and use rubber gloves while immersing hands in water. This will prevent the winter itch.
• To soften the hands, rub a mixture made of equal parts of rosewater and glycerin. Apply ‘Milk cream’ on wrist and fingers to keep them soft.
• Massage the exposed parts (hands, arms and other areas) with hand lotion. ‘Hand lotion’ can be prepared by mixing lemon juice with rose water.
• To avoid dry legs after each shower, leave legs for little damp and slather on the moisturizer. For foot protection, wear socks and slather and foot cream. Elbows and knees suffer the driest patches.
• To avoid this, rub a lemon on the area and then apply cream.
Nails: Keep nails moist and prevent them from crack; applying a nail hardener will protect and toughen the nail. Routinely brush nails with cuticle / nail oil / petroleum jelly to soften. Drinking inadequate water may lead to weak, splitting, fragile nails.
Exfoliate (facials and body treatments): The dryness of the environment causes water to evaporate very quickly and it removes the moisture from the skin. Exposure to water actually dehydrates the skin faster. Therefore, the skin finds it harder to retain water in the dermis layer. Having Exfoliate twice a week helps to remove dead skin cells and allow the skin to absorb more moisture.
Drink lots of water: The most important part of winter is to keep the body hydrated. Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration. Drinking a glass of hot water with lemon will re-energize and detoxify the body and will clean the blood faster to relieve toxins which are responsible for bad skin.
Sleep well: Sleeping will rejuvenate the body. During sleep, the oxygen levels in the body will drop. Having sufficient sleep for eight to nine hours will re-new the cells quickly avoiding the degenerative skin.
Continue to use sunscreen: Use more hydrating base sunscreens in which formulations available are oil-free. Apply a heavy layer of moisturizing broad-spectrum sunscreen before going out.
More bad skin during winter: Skin conditions turn worse during winter damaging the skin. The ultraviolet rays of the sun will help to reduce the formation of acne. So when summer sun is gone, acne may flare up.
Use humidifier: Using a humidifier in room during winter will keep air moisturized. This will avoid skin from drying out and becoming cracked.
Hair care: Hair easily becomes dry during winter. Proper steps should be taken to avoid damage. Wearing a scarf, hat or cap will protect the hair from the cold and wind, but do not tie tightly as it will hamper the circulation in hair scalp.
Using a conditioner and rinsing hair with cold water will give it an extra shine. Don’t go outside with wet hair, it will freeze if it’s cold enough and the hair may break. Woolen clothing like hats, scarves and turtlenecks can cause damage and break the hair. So, first cover your hair with a silk scarf before wearing winter wraps.
Do not use soap: If your skin is oily, then wash your face with soap only once a day. Cleansing-cream must be used in case of a dry skin, for oily skin use skin-tonic. Do not wash face with very hot water. Use of moisturizer reduces dryness of the skin.
Care for dry skin: High speed winds and imbalance in tempe-rature causes dry skin resulting in flake, chap, around face, eyes and cheekbones tightening the skin. To avoid cracking and chapping, some steps can be followed:
• Before taking bath, apply a pack. Mix a teaspoon of honey in 2 tablespoons of milk or cream and massage it over face and neck and after 20 minutes take a shower with warm water.
• Massage the skin with a little coconut oil before bath to heal dryness and chaps. • Use cooler water to wash off any lotion or creams. • Use egg yolk mixed with olive oil and honey.
• Avoid alcohol-based products, as they tend to dry the skin. • Cold cream and olive oil are effective in reducing dryness. • Use tomato and raspberry juice for facial cleaning. • Mix water and vinegar in equal quantity, apply it on face with a cotton swab.
Oily Skin: Apply a beaten egg yolk mask for half-an-hour, and rinse with water. This mask will refreshen and tighten oily skin and make skin much healthier.
• Apply a paste of squash flesh of tomato mixing with potato flour.
• Cucumber will whiten the skin
• An equal proportion of raw oatmeal flakes, egg yolk, and honey are good for winter. Apply this mask for about 20 minutes then wash with lukewarm water and pat dry.
For combination skin banana mask will help. Mix mashed banana with fresh sweet cream and apply mask for 30 minutes. It will smooth, soften, moisturize and nourish the skin. Mix 1/4 cup of rose water, glycerin and a teaspoon of honey and keep. This lotion can be used as moisturizer during cleansing.
[Wednesday 3rd December 2008]

Heart Care

Cardiologist Paul Dudley states: Heart disease below the age of 80 is not God’s will but due to our own faults.
Heart diseases are increasing world wide. In India, it is three times higher compared to other countries. It has become more common and a leading cause for death due to environmental factors, unhealthy life-style like heavy and fatty meals, stressful life, sedentary habits, smoking, leaning towards junk food, lack of exercise, obesity, etc. Therefore most of us are prone to heart attacks. Hence proper and early attention should be given to heart,” opines Dr. V. Lakshmi-narayan, a senior physician and diabetologist. He has suggested some do’s and dont’s for a healthy heart:
Can a person help himself during a heart attack?
Yes. Lie down comfortably and put a Sorbitrate 5mg or any aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue without any movement. Without any delay rush to the nearest Coronary Care Unit because the maximum casualty occurs within the first hour.
How can others help?
• When a person gets heart attack, immediately make the person to sleep flat on a hard surface like floor and punch on the chest immediately. By doing this, the heart may start beating again, if not, repeat the procedure again.
• Check the pulse, if it is felt, it's enough, pulse number is not the criteria.
• If there is no pulse, adopt the procedure called Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation [(CPR) which is also known as Heart Lung Revival)] and maintain A B C.
Airway (A): Tilt the head and lift the chin and make the air pass easier.
Breathing (B): Take a deep breath and close your mouth over the person’s mouth and breathe mouth to mouth (artificial resuscitation).
Circulation (C): Compress chest wall smoothly but firmly 60-70 times per min by placing the fist of the left hand on the patient’s chest just over the lower part of the breast bone and put the right hand over the left hand and compress the chest wall in a pumping motion (as shown in picture), and check the pulse. Wait for a second and repeat the procedure.
If this procedure is done properly, the heart beating and the pulse returns. It is important to remember that when heart stops beating, brain death occurs within three and a half minutes. So, the ABC should be done within three minutes.
Which oil is better?
Saturated oils which get solidified at room temperature are not good. Soybean, mustard, sunflower and olive oil are good.
Is non-veg good for heart?
No. Fruits and vegetables are the best. Avoid junk food; consume a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet. Avoid margarine, high fat dairy products and pastries.
Quit smoking and drinking: The risk of having a heart attack will double if a person smokes. But in case of alcohol, if one is used to it, then he can have alcohol of 50 ml as it enhances HDL protective cholesterol, nevertheless it enhances Triglycerides which is again not good.
Undergo a routine health check-up: Have a routine health check-up after 35 years to check sugar, cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure. A person with diabetes is more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.
Control overweight:
Lose weight if you are obese. Obesity and cardiovascular disease are often linked together as the excess weight carried by a person places an extra burden on the heart.
For those who not do exercise?
Due to hectic time schedule, some people do not exercise. They should:
• Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour in one chair.
• Do regular tasks at home on feet.
• Climbing the stairs will work as an alternative exercise.
• Use of treadmill will burn the calories.
• Exercise 10 minutes after food thrice in a day or 30 minutes at stretch.
Can psychological problems such as stress, worry lead to heart problem?
Yes, surely. Mind, health and body are the tripod for a person. If a person has psychological problems like worry, anger and stress, he may suffer heart problems.
Which is better, walking or jogging?
Brisk walking is always better than jogging.
Is using pacemaker advantageous?
It is essential for the rhythm maintenance in the heart.
Women should have extra care: Yes, after the menopause, they need to keep up ideal body weight and consume calcium rich food. Regular health check-ups are necessary.
Will marriages within close relatives cause heart problems for the child?
Yes, cosanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities in the child and causes problems.
Preventive measures:
Achaar - Normal Conduct; Ahaar - Diet; Vyayaam - Physical Exercise; Yoga - Yogic way of life as far as possible.
Tips to keep heart healthy
• Follow a good diet.
• Exercise regularly (yoga or walk) at least five days a week for 40 minutes.
• Use skimmed milk.
• Eat baked, steamed, boiled, broiled, or microwave foods
• Use egg whites and lean cuts of meat.
[Wednesday 24th December 2008]

Who let the dogs out...

Stray dog menace once again in city
The stray dog menace has once again surfaced in some parts of the city. The 'catch and cull' operation which was launched sometime ago by the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) to tackle the street dog menace has failed to work.
Special dog squads were formed by the MCC to catch and sterilise street dogs and even cull those dogs which had rabies or any incurable disease with a lethal injection. In spite of all this, the dog menace in a few layouts has not decreased becoming a nightmare for the residents of those localities.
When Star of Mysore made a survey in Sunnadakeri, Mahadevpura (H.D. Kote Road), Go-kulam, Kuvempunagar, Ramakrishnanagar, Ashokpuram, Bannimantap, Yadavagiri, JP Nagar, Shardadevinagar, Boti Bazar, Paduvarhalli and many other localities, the residents complained that street dogs continued to roam in packs of large numbers and that they are afraid of sending their children alone outside to play.
"I am a regular visitor to Kukkarahalli Lake. The stray dog operation initiated by the MCC should be continued regularly.
"The Corporation took up this operation only after four to five people were bitten by street dogs and complaints of many cases of dog chasing were brought to the notice of the Corporation.
"But immediately after this, they kept quiet and now with the dog menace once again on the rise, we have to search for the dog squad. MCC should undertake the operation throughout the year, at frequent inter-vals, maybe once in a month. They should regularly survey the areas and check with the residents about the stray dog menace. It should not be just a few days' affair," says Shubha, a resident of Kuvempunagar.
"I am afraid of dogs. In our locality, there are about three to four packs of street dogs with 5 to 7 dogs in each pack. They start chasing us the moment they see us carrying bags. For the fear of being attacked by these dogs, whenever I go out, I always ask my father to acc-ompany me till the main circle near our house," says Raju of Sunnadakeri.
"We are facing a lot of hardship due to these dogs. We are always afraid to send our child-ren out into the streets. Somebody has to accompany them. They chase four-wheelers too. There are about 15 to 18 dogs in our area alone, chasing the walkers all the time," says Meena, a resident of Mahadev-pura (H.D. Kote Road).
"Oh, my God, I can’t forget that day in my life. When I was casually walking on the road for my tuition, suddenly a stray dog attacked me. I ran madly as it continued to chase me. Somehow, I managed to reach home safely. Even today I am afraid to walk on that road. Now, I have changed my route to the tuition classes," recalled Yashwanth, a student in Yadavagiri.
"I am very much scared of these street dogs. So I carry a stick with me whenever I go out for a walk, as a precaution. In case they attack, I can beat them," says Asha of Gokulam. These dogs roam in the main road itself causing inconvenience for vehicles, she added.
Meat sellers throw away waste meat directly in the gutters. Street dogs which feed on the meat become ferocious. It was a good move by the Corporation to raid some of these mutton shops. But the officials concerned should keep up this drive as many of them still continue to throw such animal wastes in the gutters, urged the public in the localities where dog menace was high.
Similar complaints were heard from many other residents. Most of them were afraid of dogs which roam in packs. But, the good news is several residents in the city and surrounding areas lauded MCC and thanked the officials as they are free of dog menace, with hardly about 2 to 3 dogs to be seen. But if left like that, dogs may increase in these localities too, they feared.
Sterilisation
According to MCC Health Officer Dr. T.S. Nagaraj, dogs would be caught and sterilised only after receiving complaint from the public. Sterilised dogs will be taken care of for the first 10 days after the operation. Every month, on an average 1,000 to 1,200 dogs are being caught and out of them ten percent are culled. "Nearly 50 per cent of dog population in the city has come down after we began this drive," he claimed.
"Only ferocious and rabid dogs caught by the Corporation dog squad are put to sleep through lethal injection. Sterilised dogs will be left on the outskirts of city, near H.D. Kote. It costs Rs. 430 to sterilise a dog,” disclosed Nagaraj.
"When dogs are sterilised and left on the outskirts of city, they become submissive," says Dr. S.C. Suresh, Assistant Director of Veterinary Services. "Some times, psychological factors also make people fear about dogs," he added.
The Department of Animal Husbandry, responsible for implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, has three teams of doctors and other staff, which perform the sterilisation of dogs. The dogs are kept under observation for 2 days before undertaking sterilisation and for 5 days after sterilisation.
"Sterilisation is of two types: neutering for male dogs and spaying (removal of ovaries) for female dogs. Neutering refers to removing the testes of males. Neutering is best effective when performed on dogs which are eight months old and it takes about 10 minutes for the surgery. Spaying is performed on female dogs, where complete removal of the female reproductive tract — the ovaries and the uterus are done and it takes around 30 minutes,” informed Suresh.
As dogs are very intelligent, it’s difficult to catch them all in a single drive. If attempts are made to catch one, others will hide, added Suresh.
Lack of advanced
technology
Our city's veterinary hospital lacks facilities for spaying. To sterilise a dog, they take around 30 minutes, but if Laparoscopic facility is provided it hardly takes 10 minutes to sterilise a female dog.
With the city expanding, the Corporation has to depute more doctors and introduce three or four more zones.
Inspection and licencing of mutton stalls and sterilisation should also be done regularly.
[Sunday 9th August 2009]

Kala Suruchi takes kids to the world of fantasies

Kala Suruchi's Suruchi Rangamane, a minitheatre to stage plays in city, was the brainchild of noted theatre personality late Sindhuvalli Ananthamurthy. Started in the year 1984 with the staging of "Bekku Bavi" written by Sha. Balu Rao, today it has created an intimate bond with theatre artistes.
Sindhuvalli Ananthamurthy, a native of Sindhuvalli village, dedicated his entire life for the cause of theatre. He founded a theatre group "Samatento" (Saraswathipuram Madhyada Tengina Tota) along with Na. Ratna, Mirle Vishwanath and Chennaiah. He was instrumental in creating avid interest in theatre among students of Banumaiah’s Fine Arts College, where he also taught.
Kala Suruchi, located on Chitrabanu Road in Kuvempunagar, is celebrating its Silver Jubilee this year and as part of the celebrations, has organised a series of cultural programmes.
For the past 25 years, Kala Suruchi has been organising unique programmes like Kathe Kelona Banni, Ranga Geethe, Nataka Vachana and Sahithya Chavadi in addition to holding dramas, seminars, theatre workshops and music programmes, much to the delight of art, literature, theatre and music connoisseurs. This mini theatre can accommodate about 100 audience.
‘Kathe Kelona Banni,’ a story-telling programme for children is being held every Saturday between 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm. This is one of the several activities in the art of oral communication which attracts small children while at the same time rejuvenates an old practice.
According to H.K. Ramanath, an active member of Suruchi Rangamane, "The main reason for introducing this kind of a programme is due to the present nuclear type of families. Today’s children spend less time with parents and in nuclear families there will be no elders or grandparents to narrate stories to kids. Through this programme, we want to take children to the world of fantasies and nurture their ability to dream and visualise."
"Noted personalities are invited to narrate stories to children. Different story-tellers are chosen each time. The stories are moral and ethics based, dealing in the subjects of science, folklore and even current events. The topic of the story will be selected based on events currently happening in the country. Recently during Ganesha festival, stories related to the festival were narrated. The stories range from Panchatantra to mythology."
According to the organisers, the number of children attending the "Kathe Kelona Banni" programme has been steadily increasing. Eminent personalities like J.R. Lakshman Rao, Nagalakshmi Harihareshwara, Meera Nayak, R.T. Rama, H. S. Venkatesha Murthy, Chakravarti Sulibele, Na. Ratna, B.V. Rajaram and others like teachers, littérateurs, advocates, doctors and persons from all walks of life, narrate stories they had heard from their grandparents during their childhood, thus not only entertaining the children but also educating them.
The ‘Kathe Kelona Banni’ programme was inaugurated by noted stage artist Bhargavi Narayan on February 3, 2007 and has already completed 134 sessions without any break.
"Children from different parts of the city come here and listen to the stories and their increase in attendance day by day is a witness to the popularity of the programme," adds Vidya Shankar.
"Padakosha Samaya" is yet another attraction for the children where they learn Kannada language through grammar, vocabulary and sentence formation. Now, under the able guidance of Vijaya Sindhuvalli, the organisation continues to nurture Sindhuvalli Ananthamurthy’s dream for theatre even after his demise. C.V. Sridhar Murthy, U.S. Ramanna, Bhadrappa Henli, Srimathi Hariprasad, H.S. Venkatesh (Rangamitra), B.A.P. Bhat, Shashidhara Simha, P. Nagbhushan, K. Nagraj, Vidya Shankar, Shashidhar Dongre, Sumana and others are presently the core members of Suruchi Rangamane.
Kala Suruchi will be organising special programmes throughout this Silver Jubilee year including plays produced by them.
[Sunday 30th August 2009]

Now, banana fibre carpets at Urban Haat

JSS Urban Haat, Ring Road, Hebbal Industrial Area, invites artisans from all over India to showcase the rare and exotic products of their State. This time it has organised Handlooms Mela on the eve of Gowri-Ganesha festival under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The mela will be open for public from 10 am to 9 pm till August 23.
Weavers from Chamarajanagar, Kollegal, Tumkur, Mysore, Shimoga and Bangalore Rural are exhibiting their products.
The products showcased here are woven silk saris, dhotis, towels from Mysore Priyadar-shini Handlooms, Kar-nataka silk saris, Hubli Kasuti and Banaras saris, kurtas, dresses and other handloom products.
However, the unique feature of the Mela this time are the banana fibre carpets. "Banana fibre carpets are reliable and it will be ideal for furnishing homes," says Murghis of Chamarajanagar who makes such carpets. He says he got the idea from a paper.
"We twist the banana fibre and then paste it simultaneously. Later we start weaving the mat. It’s a long process. In our Sri Netaji Multipurpose Co-operative Society, we have 15-20 members and we provide training also." Murghis learnt this job just last year and he feels happy about his profession.
"The main advantage of banana mat is they are coloured using natural dyes, they do not wrinkle easily, they are very strong and have beautiful longlasting shine. I can weave mats of any size, colours, designs, shapes and sizes as per customer’s choice," says Murghis.
"I have never seen this before. These banana yarn carpets are fabulous, soft, shiny like lip gloss and also available in different colours with a fuzzy texture," said a visitor.
Silk industry is considered as one of the oldest and historic textiles. This is another unequaled product in the mela.
Varieties of silk sarees along with traditional embroidering and hand painting are available with price range from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 18,000.
Tumkur Mallikarjuna Silk Handloom Co-operative Society from Gubbi and Bhyraveshwara Silk Handlooms and many others society expressed happiness for the good response here.
The artisans requested the government to provide some basic facilities, increase in daily wages, loan facility for weavers, health insurance, BPL card facility and pension up to 59 years.
Entry to the handloom mela is free.
[Friday 21st August 2009]

Training the blind in Medical Transcription

Medical Transcription is a challenging profession even for normal person as it requires sufficient insight into the terminol-ogy of healthcare. But here are some visually impaired students who have started their career in Medical Transcription (MT).
These students are undergoing MT training for a period of five months at Software Paradigms Infotech (SPI), Contour Road Unit in Gokulam. There are 11 trainees in a batch and classes are conducted daily from 7 am to 1 pm.
The brainchild behind the project is V. Madhukar, Senior Vice-President of SPI. When he attended a function organised by JSS Polytechnic for Physically Handicapped, he met the visually impaired people and was very much impressed by their talent and computer knowledge. Hence he decided to start the MT training for blind at SPI.
SPI is providing a career opportunity through medical transcription for these visually impaired persons free of cost. After the completion of training, they will be provided jobs at SPI itself.
Before joining SPI, they will undergo 18 months' basic Medical Transcription training with Computer Application which will be undertaken by JSS Polytechnic for Physically Handicapped, the only polytechnic offering medical transcription training to the visually challenged.
"I am very much thankful to SPI for providing such an opportunity to develop our career. Medical Transcription is an ideal career for us as we can work from home also. I put all my efforts to make use of this opportunity. After finishing this course, I want to pursue home transcriptions," says Chennamma, a graduate of Karnatak University, Dharwad.
"I felt happy when I heard about the initiative taken by SPI to provide training for the blind. It’s really a challenging task for us. After training and with experience, we can work from home. It’s very safe also," says B.P. Mohit of Mudigere in Chikkamagalur district.
"I was diffident about my ability to take to this profession, but now I have hope and confidence that I can learn Medical Transcription and opt for this as my career," he added.
"I was afraid, depressed and helpless. But I decided to fight with myself and joined the computer training organisation which trains visually impaired people. I am thankful to the institution which is offering a career opportunities for blind people," says Vishnu.
"MT is an ideal pursuit for the visually challenged as they can work from home and we hope to provide more such opportunities for visually challenged persons," said S. Radhakrishna, Training In-charge, Transcription Services.
"The students here install the JAWS software by themselves, check spellings and correct grammatical errors. It’s really a challenging task to teach," he added.
If more companies emulate the initiative taken by SPI by providing career opportunities to persons with visual handicap, we can build a healthy society without any difference between visually impaired and the normal persons.
Medical Transcription
Medical Transcription, also known as MT, is part of the health profession and deals in the process of transcription or converting voice-recorded reports as dictated by physicians and/or other healthcare professionals, into text format.
About JAWS
JAWS is a computer prog-ramme (software) that works with existing software to read out the content of a screen to the Visually Impaired persons. It enables the blind to access the information displayed on the screen via text-to-speech or by means of a braille display.
It allows the users to create custom scripts using the JAWS Scripting Language, which can alter the amount and type of information which is presented by applications.
[Monday 17th August 2009]

Make this Summer Cooler

Summer is a season of heat and it is very difficult to beat the heat and yet look fresh. It is also a season of sweat, heat rashes, suntan, pimples, acne, wrinkled cloth, spoiled make-up, rough and weakening hair along with dandruff some times causing skin diseases.
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts
• Use an umbrella or a hat when going out to prevent harsh sun rays.
• Use goggles with UV filters to protect eyes.
• Keep your hair short. If not interested in cutting, tie-up the hair, so that it feels cool.
• Don’t wear too much jewellery.
• Use sunscreen lotions or moisturiser creams.
• Don’t apply too much make-up and avoid oily creams.
• Use light and fresh fragrant perfumes. Heavy perfumes make you weary.
• Taking a cold-water shower is good for the body and swimming keeps the body cool.
• Wash your face often with cold water.
• Exercise quite early in the morning or after sunset.
Wear cotton and loose clothes:
• Cotton absorbs sweat easily, keeping the water level down and skin cool giving a feeling of comfort.
• Wear loose-fitting dresses which are good for this season, as skin gets more air to breathe.
Ultraviolet radiation
There are two types of Ultraviolet rays, Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet (UVB) which damage the skin when exposed to it. UVB causes sunburns on the skin, while UVA causes tanning. Therefore, select an appropriate sunscreen lotion which blocks both UVB and UVA radiations.
Food: Drink plenty of water.
• Don’t drink too much alcohol.
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Consume foods having less fats.
• Eat more salads and fruits.
• Drink juices of grapes, watermelon, cucumber, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple as these juices are easily digestible and help to regulate body temperature.
• Don’t consume hot, sour, dry and salty foods, as they make you thirsty and take longer to digest. Rice with milk, sugar candy, butter- milk, lassie are good for health. Ghee can also be used.
• Avoid coffee and tea as they stimulate the nervous system.
How to combat sweat
Sweating is important as it removes the salts from the sweat glands and it helps the body to stay cool.
• Avoid black colour dresses in summer as black absorbs heat easily.
• Grind either tomato / cucumber / orange, musambi and apply to body. Leave it for 15 minutes and then have a bath.
Face pack: Prepare a fresh face pack of rose water with an equal amount of cucumber juice and store it in refrigerator. Apply this soothing lotion with a cotton ball or muslin.
Smoothening Skin: Before taking bath, apply yogurt mixed with turmeric on body. It smoothens the skin.
To remove suntan: Apply lemon or a mixture of cucumber and turmeric juice 3-4 times a day.
Pimples: Pimples are commonly noticed during summer. In order to prevent it, apply lemon mixed with honey and leave it for 10 minutes. Do this daily twice.
Lips: Lips also chap and peel in this season. To exfoliate it, take an old toothbrush, dampen it and brush it across lips.
• To remove dead skin from the lips, apply olive oil and then rub brown sugar.
Skin care
Oily skin: Lemon juice and cucumber juice is best for oily skin.
Dry Skin: For dry skin, apply water melon juice with a cotton and leave it for 15 mins.
Normal Skin: Sandalwood paste is good for normal skin. Apply while going to bed and wash it off the next morning.
Hair problems
Wash your head twice a day, because it is during this season that you perspire a lot, which may emit a bad smell.
• Mix one spoon of camphor with half a cup of water and apply it to scalp and then brush the hair to be relieved from sweat.
• To control dandruff you can apply curd and egg yolk.
• Make a paste of Henna or hibiscus leaves or flowers and apply once a week for healthy and conditioned hair.
• For rough hair, take oil massage thrice weekly and apply a mild shampoo.
[Monday 6th April 2009]

Banana a natural remedy fruit

* Good for kidney stones
The third most popular fruit after apples and oranges is banana. The major role of banana is indigestion and constipation. It contains three natural sugars — sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. Adding banana to daily diet helps to prevent a substantial number of illnesses, says Dietician Dr. Naveen Kumar of Health and Diet Care Centre.
Banana is classified as a tropical fruit and is more in calories. It has a pigment called Anthoxanthin. It is an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy which helps in improving mood and relaxation which generally makes one feel happier.
Helathy fruit
Banana is a healthy fruit which is rich in potassium, 11 other minerals and 6 vitamins. The fruit emanates ethylene gas. It provides nutrient for a person suffering from kidney stones, especially women, as it contains more quantities of antioxidant phenolic compounds which are essential in detoxifying potential carcinogens from the kidneys.
Bananas are high in vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 which regulates blood glucose levels and nervous system. It’s also high in iron, potassium and fiber, which stimulates the production of haemoglobin, helps in cases of anemia and controls blood pleasure. It’s low in salt. It’s also a source of calcium which helps in preventing osteoporosis. Banana consumtion also improves the fatness of the muscles and reduces excess of heat.
Eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch will boost brain power and avoids morning sickness. A banana milkshake, sweetened with honey will cure hangovers. To get relief from heart burn, eat banana as it contains natural antacid and it also helps to quit smoking.
Banana is used as dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It also neutralises over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
There are two main varieties of bananas: Sweet banana and the plantain. The fruit banana is eaten raw (when it turns yellow) and develops a succulent sweetness with a soft, smooth, creamy, yet firm pulp. The plantain, a cooking banana, is also referred as the meal and vegetable. Plantains have lower water content, making them drier and star-chier than fruit bananas.
Varieties of bananas found in market:
Red bananas (Kerala / Chandra baale); Fruit bananas (Paccha baale); Apple bananas (Rasa baale); Baby banana (Yelakki baale) and Baking bananas (Balekayi).
Nutritive value
Moisture (g) – 70.1
Energy (kcal) – 116
Protein (g) – 1.2
Fat (g) – 0.3
Calcium (mg) – 17
Iron (mg) – 0.4
Carotene (mg) – 78
Ascorbic (mg) – 70
Carbohydrate (g) – 27.2
Key facts
• As sugar and calorie content are more in banana it should be avoided by the diabetic and obese persons.
• When a person consumes one big banana he gets 1:3 calories. The calories of one banana is 114 calories. If a person consumes more than 2 bananas daily, it leads to obesity.
• It causes mouth irritation.
• Excess of banana is not good.
• Banana decreases hunger in children and also it is the cause of common cold in them.
• Avoid eating banana instead of food.
• Don’t store banana in a refrigerator: Banana peels can turn brown or black when refrigerated. The cells on the peels of tropical fruits like bananas get damaged when stored under cold temperature. This releases some phenolic compounds that get oxidised by enzymes like polyphenol oxidase leading to the darkening of the peel.
However, the quality of the edible part of the banana fruit is not affected by the refrigeration.
How much banana one can consume
• Mid-over weight: 50 calories, small bananas once in 2 days.
• Lean (Under-weight): One banana per day.
• Over weight: avoid banana
For children:
• 1-5 years: half banana per day.
• 5-15 year baby one banana daily (Prefer baby banana).
Medicinal Plant
All parts of the banana plant have medicinal applications: The flowers help in bronchitis, dysentery and ulcers; Cooked flowers are given to diabetics; The astringent plant sap in cases of hysteria, epilepsy, leprosy, fevers, hemorrhages, acute dysentery and diarrhea, and it is applied on hemorrhoids, insect and other stings and bites; Young leaves are placed as poultices on burns and other skin afflictions; The astringent ashes of the unripe peel and of the leaves are taken in dysentery and diarrhea and used for treating malignant ulcers; The roots are administered in digestive disorders, dysentery and other ailments; Banana seed mucilage is given in cases of diarrhea in India.
[April 29, 2009]

Arogya Kavacha-108: A boon for needy people

* City to get 20 more ambulance by 2010
* You may call 108 on your Mobile phone also
Arogya Kavacha-108, the round-the-clock emergency helpline for ambulance facility, has so far been successful in extending its service to the public.
Launched on Nov. 1, 2008 at Bangalore by former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Arogya Kavacha-108 ambula-nce arrived in Mysore on Nov. 8.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, L. Nagaraj, Mysore District Manager of Arogya Kavacha, said on an average an ambulance attends 3 to 4 calls per day. Till date it has received 1,161 calls of which 1043 are medical cases, 109 Police cases and 9 fire cases. Another 20 ambulances would be provided to Mysore district in a phased manner before March 2010. It will be spread to Taluk and Hobli-level in the coming days.
In Mysore, there are six ambulances each stationed at Kyatha-maranahalli, Ashoka-puram Police Station, KR Hospital, JSS Dental Hos-pital, Maternity Hospital at Jayalakshmipuram and SMT hospital in Lakshmipuram.
A fully-equipped emergency ambulance provides first aid treatment free of cost. After observing the patient's condition, he/she will be shifted to the nearby hospital. Labour pain and road accidents cases are more, according to Nagaraj.
In each ambulance there will be a pilot and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The drivers who are called as pilots will undergo 7-day training on defensive driving technique, use of roads and about ambulance techniques, while an EMT will undergo a 45-day training prog-ramme. During the training period, the EMT will be taught how to deal with emergency cases.
Awareness programmes are conducted at prominent places like bus stands and railway stations regarding the ambulance facilities, says Nagaraj.
How 108 ambulance works: An Emergency Response Centre (a 24-hour call centre, Bangalore) responds to calls which come for this tollfree phone num-ber 108 and help the people who are in need. After collecting the information, the Centre within no time alerts the technicians who are nearer to that particular place. A fully equipped ambulance or fire vehicle will reach the spot within few minutes. Emergency Medical Technicians will ensure pre-hospital care while transporting the victim.
The ambulances are also fitted with Geographical Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Indication Systems (GIS) which help to locate the geographical position of the emergency scene. The ambulances are equipped with ventilators, defibrillator and extrication tools, apart from 106 items of medicines which will be used in case of emergency.
Arogya Kavacha-108 project was taken up by State Government in partnership with the Hyderabad-based NGO Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), which is providing nodal service for the helpline and it runs the helpline in eight States, including Karnataka. The State Governments provide 95 per cent of the funding and remaining 5% will be provided by EMRI.
EMRI has started the helpline in various States through Public Private Partnership (PPP) with State governments. It has already tied-up with various hospitals and nursing homes to provide first-aid and hospita-lisation for the victims till they are stabilised. It was Satyam which developed the software and provided technology expertise to EMRI.
There are two types of ambulances at EMRI-108: Advanced Life Saving (ALS) and Basic Life Saving (BLS). ALS ambulances have two additional equipment, defibrillator and ventilator. BLS ambulances are fitted with different types of stretchers, two oxygen cylinders, oxygen masks, BP apparatus and pulseoximeter.
According to Arogya Kavacha-108 Associate Electrical Mallesh, 108 attends to medical, police and fire emergencies and has 150 ambulances in Karnataka. Karnataka is the seventh State in the country to launch 108 emergency services.
This well-equipped Arogya Kavacha-108 has indeed proved to be a boon for needy people.
[Sunday 12th April 2009]

Korean touch for Bharat Sevadal School

"We particularly chose Mysore because we love this place very much. We are enjoying our work a lot and feel happy for doing this small service to the society in our life-time," say the volunteers from South Korea, who are on a visit to Mysore for a noble cause.
Playing with children, painting the wall and cleaning the dust has become the daily chore of this group of 19 volunteers who have come all the way from South Korea, with lot of enthusiasm to give a new look to the Bharat Sevadal School situated in Gangothri Layout.
These volunteers are working under FSL India (Field Services and Intercultural Learning), a non-profitable, charitable, social and independent Non-Gove-rnmental Organisation (NGO) with the objective of promoting global understanding and intercultural learning.
"While involved in this kind of social service, we learn new communication skills along with hands-on practical knowledge, thereby acquiring work experience. We realised the importance of being socially active as it raised our level of awareness about the people and the society around us. We are gaining new insights by living and working with people of different cultural backgrounds." This is the opinion of all the volunteers.
"Mysore is a very beautiful city. In our spare time we play with kids and tour the city on weekends. In the evening we take a stroll as the climate here is very salubrious," say the volunteers.
The volunteers will stay in the city for fifteen days and are staying as paying-guests at a house. They will leave Mysore on Jan. 15. While some of them are spending their personal money others are helped in all their expenditures by their parents.
"The volunteer service we are promoting is a kind of non-formal education. Our mission is to expand horizons by organising volunteer camps throughout India with the help of national and international voluntary organisa-tions, institutes and colleges by bringing people of different cultures, languages and regions together," adds Joy Carvaloh and Manjunath Annigeri, who can be contacted over Mobile: 94801-92699.
FSL India places international volunteers in local community projects to support sustainable development and to bring an inter-cultural dimension to community projects. Volunteers are assisted by local communities.
It may be recalled, on an earlier occasion, the FSL-India team had painted the walls of Makkala Mane in Kuvempunagar as part of their project in city.
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About Bharat Sevadal
Bharat Sevadal, a socially active organisation, was started for a noble cause by Dr. Narayan Subbarao Hardikar (N.S. Hardikar), a Gandhian, to serve the needy in the society throughout India.
The Mysore Unit of Bharat Sevadal, opposite the Maruthi Temple in Gangothri Layout, started functioning in 1994 and is presently providing education to more than 120 students who are below poverty line. The main objective of the Sevadal is to imbue social values in children. The lofty ideals of patriotism and national integrity are ingrained in the young minds of the students. The motto of this organisation is "Sevegaagi Baalu" (Live to Serve).
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Jan. 12

Sthree Shakti awards presented

Mysore, Jan. 11 (KR)- Sthree Shakti Mahila Pratishtana Trust, Mysore, presented 'Sthree Kala Shakti' awards for the winners of Dolls and Garden Show 2009 at a function held at Veene Seshanna Bhavan here last evening.
CFTRI Dr. V. Prakash, who inaugurated the awards function, said that "Mysore is a cultural, traditional and heritage city. Our Maharajas have done a great job in promoting the culture." He also lauded Prathishtana President S. Mangala Satyan for her services to the cultural capital.
Sri Ilai Alwar Swamiji, Visiting Professor, Sanskrit Research Centre, Melukote, Maddikere Gopal, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President and K. Rag-huram, Senior Vice-President, Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, were the chief guests.
Dr. H.B. Rajashekhar and Dr. Latha Rajashekhar, poetess, were felicitated on the occasion.
Prathishtana President Mangala Satyan, who delivered the introductory address, said that the number of participants for the show was increasing every year and at present, there were 42 participants.
'Sthree Sahitya Shakti' award was presented to Shamala Murthy and 'Sthree Gaayana Gange' life-time achievement award to Shantha Jagadish.
The special awardees and prize winners are: K.S. Revathi Ramaswamy, G.R. Jayashree and Asha Venkatesh (Doll show); Sudha Siddegowda and Jagadamba Nagaraj (garden show).
Bonus prize winners: Shantha Lakshminarayana (doll) and Shyamala Prasanna (garden).
'Sthree Kala Shakti' awardees are: Gayatri Shankar, Hemalatha Kumar, Shobha Sathyanarayan, Sumana Raghunandan, Bhanumathi Sundareshan and Vijayakantha (doll show); Amaraja Hegde and K.S. Revathi Ramaswamy (garden).
Doll show
First prize winners: H. Leelavathi, Malini Sathyanarayana, Uma Prasad, Latha Venkatesh, G. Rajeswari, D. Tangamani, R. Srilatha, N. Manjula and Padmashri R. Raj.
Second prize winners: Chitra Madhusudhan, Jayashree Sheshachalam, Suvarna Sridhar, Y.C. Vimala Babu, Girija Sheshadri, Annapurna Gopalakrishna, Padma Ramanath and Yadugiri Gopalan.
Third prize winners: M.A. Usha Ashwatha Narayan, Chitra Ramesh, S. Roopasri, B.S. Vijayalakshmi, Tara Sethuram and Sheela Prasanna.
Garden show
First prize winners: Padma Ramanath and Tanuja Mahadev. Second prize: B.N. Rashmi. Third prize: Banumathi Sundareshan.
The winners were presented with a momento and certificate.
Sthree Shakti member Uma Bai, Prof. M.N. Gopalan and Yadugiri Gopalan sponsored the awards while Sumana Raghunandan and Hemalatha Kumaraswamy sponsored the progra-mme. Vani Subbaiah compered.

Volunteering: A selfless way to promote global understanding

"We share our creative thoughts and ideas through discussions. We feel happy as we are doing something to the society. Indians are very kind and nice people, we are treated as their own here," say FSL India volunteers.
Mysore is a tourist spot and we see a good number of foreigners visiting the city daily. But here is a group of foreigners who have come all the way for a noble cause with lots of enthusiasm.
Nicky from Canada, Lisa and Ewelina from Holland, Yalseo, Sunmin and Jungme from South Korea are our foreign guests, who are doing the odd jobs of painting the wall, cleaning the house, washing vessels, tidying the hair and manicuring nails of the children at Makkala Mane in Kuvempunagar. The volunteers are in city on a ten-day camp under FSL (Field Services and Intercultural Learning – India) and are staying at the Youth Hostel. They will leave Mysore on Dec. 18.They are NGOs who are spending their personal money for all the expenditures and are working under FSL India.


What is FSL-India?
FSL is a non-profit, charitable, social and independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which was established in 2001 with the objective of promoting global understanding and inter-cultural learning. It was encouraged by World Peace through Youth Mobility and Volunteerism to work for togetherness. It co-operates with a large number of NGOs across India in coordinating the inter-national exchange of volunteers and by supporting the volunteer movement in India.
FSL India, with its head office in Bangalore, undertakes projects across India. It places international volunteers in local community projects to support sustainable development and to bring an inter-cultural dimension to community projects. Volunteers are assisted by local communities.
"Volunteers are the heart of our work and activities. We place the volunteers in various societies throughout the world. We fix the meeting point one month before and intimate the volunteers accordingly and also make people aware of the world in which they live in. Behaviour and dress code are culture-sensitive, especially in villages or schools," says Joy J. Carvaloh, Workshop Co-ordinator.
"The volunteer service we are promoting is a kind of non-formal education. This requires skill and fundamental education built on practical experience. We believe that we get experience by living and working with people of different cultural backgrounds. We promote understanding, respect and make them feel that we should all work responsibly for the betterment of this world," says FSL Team Leader Dinesh Kundapur.
"There is also a 24-hour hotline service for volunteers. Weekends are free and they can plan their travel or leisure time activities accordingly. Holidays during voluntary service are not allowed," adds Dinesh, who can be contacted over Mob: 99869-14581.
"Our mission is to expand horizons by organising volunteer camps throughout India with the help of national and international voluntary organisations, institutes and colleges by bringing people of different cultures, languages and regions together," adds Joy Carvaloh.
FSL India believes in the work camp principles that people in any community should be given freedom to express their solidarity with others in a practical and basic level so that the young people can discover or develop talents and skills within themselves.
FSL-India aims to increase social, cultural, educational and environmental actions in the rural and urban areas of India through national and international volunteering by means of work camps. Being an active NGO the group does not support any political or religious cause and aims to offer people in India direct contact with youth from abroad.
The living conditions in India are very different from their home town. But still these volunteers make an effort to communicate in the local language.
Besides gaining new skills of communication, practical knowledge and work experience, the volunteers become aware of the importance of being socially active. This way, they raise the level of consciousness of the society as a whole.

Science Express: A Pathway to Discover

Science is the sector which blooms and is the base of life. It fulfils the objective of triggering interest in Science and motivates one’s ambition in their career. Hence to provide beneficial information to the students an innovative Science Express - Science Exhibition on Wheels, is moving from one milestone to the next.

This sparkling white ‘Science Express’, mounted on a specially designed fully air conditioned train has 16-coaches which aims to spread scientific awareness, has arrived at Mysore City Railway Station on Platform No. 6 and was formally inaugurated by Divisional Railway Manager B.B. Verma here this morning. Public can visit the train between 10 am and 5 pm. Entry is free.

After successful completion of two tours around the country, it is embarking on its third phase. During this phase, this train will travel about 18,000 kms by covering 56 locations across India in a span of 208 days before returning back to its starting point at Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat on 27 April, 2010. It halts at each location for a few days during which it will remain open to visitors comprising mainly students.

The exhibition features more than 300 large-format visual images, over 150 video clips and multimedia exhibits which showcases extensively with cutting-edge research in science and technology. It also has working models and a laboratory. The exhibition has created four National Records and has received overwhelming response at all the halts.

Science Express is the World's largest ever mobile science exhibition and was flagged off by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel on October, 30, 2007 from New Delhi. It has been showcased in 100 cities across India in two phases and now it is its third phase. The Max-Planck Society, Germany has developed this venture in collaboration with Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC).

The Main objective of this unique venture is to nurture curiosity amongst our youth and rekindle their waning interest in Science. The exhibition seeks to address issues from micro-cosmos to macro-cosmos. It answers how scientists have uncovered our understanding of the Universe; how they are concerned about finding practical solutions for protecting our planet. It has large screen displays for audio-visual experience, interactive computers and each coach are informative and attractive too. This will fulfill the quest of scientific knowledge in the common masses and students.

“Every child in city should utilize this opportunity and visit the Science express. It’s very beneficial. It creates awareness on environments issues, the needs to protect and conserve environs. More than 40 lakh students have visited this train in this phase,” said Verma, who was very much enthusiast after viewing the exhibition.

As soon as the event was inaugurated students rushed inside to share the knowledge stored on varied issues. Thirteen of the 16 coaches showcase exhibitions on various topics.

Coach 1: On the way to the Big Bang
This coach represents the Universe according to inflationary cosmology from the smallest particles of matter, its energy, elementary particles and the fundamental forces. It also displays information on Atlas Detector, XFEL X-ray Laser, Filming a molecule, Time microscope, Super Cold atoms and ultra short light pulses.

Coach 2: Nano Cosmos
Nanotechnology is the technique of molecular manufacturing and an applied science. The basic theme of the coach is how we can systematically influence the physical and chemical foundations for better. It also informs about Synchrotron, Optoelectronics, Milling machine, scanning tunneling microscope.

Coach 3: Building Blocks of Life
This describes the story of building blocks of life, which means it reveals the facts of life. Cells are the basic unit of life; they have different kinds of interactions within the body which combines with molecular and protein interactions. It also imparts knowledge on artificial vesicle, Quantum Dots, Molecular motors, protein interaction.

Coach 4: From Gene to Organism
This coach exhibits us the details from Gene to Organism — which means how gene interaction leads to the formation of an individual. It has information on Genomics, human genome project, living antibiotic, plants in cancer research, etc.

Coach 5: Architecture of the Mind
It narrates signal transmission, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, complex communication and Neurological disorders.

Coach 6: The World of Senses
This coach tells about the world of senses, basically human evolution, speech gene, window to the brain, Tansen query by humming (Music), etc.

Coach 7: Technologies for the Future
It narrates about technologies of the future — supercomputer and teraflops, quantum geometry, dielectric resonator and sensors, etc.

Coach 8: Climate Change
This coach tell about the major over-riding environmental issues like Cause, Effect, Mitigation and the challenges facing by the modern civilization, how a tree gains weight, adaptation and mitigation, Carbon foot, Carbon hand print and promises related conserving energy like “I will walk or cycle whenever possible’, “I will use public transport”, “I will switch off fans and lights”. A 45-minute talk featuring Al Gore and video clippings on climatic changes, make the visitors, glued to the screen.

Coach 9: Global Challenges
It tells about global challenges — global warming, fusion energy, fuel cell, epidemics, recombinant DNA technology and plant protection, etc. This coach also depicts the shift of conventional energy to non-conventional energy resources. The fascinating this in this coach is the World of Language globe, where more than 7,000 languages can be heard on a press of button on globe.

Coach 10: Spaceship Earth
This coach tells about what happen when earth loses it resilient capacity, why do natural calamities occur and its magnetospheres and also informs Bacterial reef, genetic diversity, sulfur pearl, adaptation, particle Imaging detectors and aerosol.

Coach 11: Our home in the Cosmos
This coach influences about the sun on earth and our home in the cosmos — orion nebula, Alma Radio telescope, weight on other planets, solar flares, sunspot, etc.

Coach 12: The Universe
This coach describe about the Universe — it’s originate and evolve, Supernova, apex telescope, Gravitational lens, neutron Star fusion and Milky way.

Coach 13: Science & Technology in India
As India is one of the most powerful knowledge hubs, this coach focuses on India’s achievements in science & technology — inventions from ‘zero’ to launch of Chandrayaan - 1, discoveries and developments

Finally The Joy of Science – ‘Hands-on lab’
The Joy of Science (JOS) Lab has been developed by VASCSC is one of the fascinating part of this coach. It tells about children can perform practical experiments and hands on activities in physics, chemistry, biology, electronics and mathematics in the mobile lab. The 6 workstations in the lab are equipped with more than 50 exciting experiments and activities based on high school curriculum, facilitated by Science Communicators are performed here. It’s really a glorious legacy.

Each coach has two communicators (science experts) helping out children and also career counseling is also provided for those interested in science education. Over all there are 30 experts among 19 girls and 11 boys.

“It’s a golden opportunity for all the ages of people particularly children and students, research scholars for updating their knowledge and learning new things from this Science Express. Students enjoy learning about cutting-edge research in science while explained through interesting audio-visual exhibits and interactive tools,” says Communicator Charvi from Gujarat.



Teaching is a challenging profession and I enjoy it. We share the knowledge and create awareness throughout wheels, I feel very happy as I teach throughout India and I come across new persons and their languages,” said Vinith from and Rajasthan who joined here just three months back.

This exhibition strives to take modern research out of the lab and reveal just how relevant science is to everyday life. It attempts to develop scientific temper among students by encourage them to pursue careers in science. Hence Science Express is providing excellent opportunity to the students in remote and urban areas to expose them to the development of science around the world. After spreading the joy of science in Mysore, the Science Express moves to Udupi on coming. Friday.
Not allowed: mobiles, cameras, bags, match-boxes, cigarettes, beedis, tobacco, water bottles, any liquid and any sharp pointed objects.



Public views…
I am spellbound…
“The facts of science are very well described, especially for youngsters it’s an interesting and wonderful technological frontiers. I have never received such type of information in science and technology. It as developed me a scientific temper to pursue careers in science. I hope by visiting this train at least few people save the earth from climate change. All the staff are dedicated and the way express is awesome”, says Rekha a 9th standard students who was her way to Bangalore.

Organise during Dasara…
“It was a fantastic experience going through Science Express. It’s a nice and novel concept for popularization of science amongst the public. We can study each and every part of a science in a single train; it has enlightening on various, aspects of life, earth and other related issues. It was a good change for us to see what we studied in our school. We got more details from this Science Express. I request the authorities to organise these science expo during Dasara,” says Yashwanth a Science Student of JSS College.

Transmit in National languages too...
“I like the Science Express for its facts, fine and rich information. But the drawback is it can’t be understandable by a common man, as it is only transmitted in English. If the concerned authorities takes the initiatives to introduce the transmission in all the National Languages it will be very helpful”, says Mala a senior citizen.

AIDS awareness at CAVA through paintings & poems

"Majority of youth are afflicted with AIDS. They should be aware of the consequences of this deadly disease," says Dr. H.T. Chidananda.
Here is a 62-year-old social worker Dr. H.T. Chidananda, who is not just a doctor by profession but also a Professor who has successfully used the medium of painting to create awareness among people and provide information about HIV/AIDS.
Though he is not an artist by profession, he was very passio-nate about learning it. He initially began by drawing sketches. Later it occurred to him that this could be used as an effective medium to educate the public about various diseases that afflict mankind. So he started painting, focusing the theme of his paintings on diseases.
Dr. Chidananda, who had earlier served as Principal of Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) and Shimoga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), is currently working as a Professor and HoD of Pathology at KMCT Medical College in Kozhikode (Calicut). He has over 50 paintings to his credit since 2 years and majority of them are related to diseases.
At present, he is holding an exhibition of his paintings at Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA), Mysore, under the auspices of Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy. The expo will be open for public between 10 am and 6 pm till Dec. 9.
Of the 25 paintings on display, ten are explained through poems and others through captions, explaining the symptoms, causes and consequences of the disease, all in Kannada.

The posters depict the way the dreaded diseases spread and affect people including drug addicts using the same syringe for injection; awareness on blood transfusion; saving human lives by using condoms and indulging in safe sex; a painting depicting a HIV patient walking from light to darkness; Gonorrhea; continuing the cycle of life, the role people must play to ensure an AIDS-free society in future; a tree without leaves depicting that the person with HIV loses all characteristics of life; one man - one woman concept and pregnant mother with HIV and so on.
“The main objective of this exhibition is to create awareness amongst youth as they are more vulnerable to this disease and they should be educated in this regard. They should be made aware of the consequences of the disease. A cure for this disease has not yet been found. It is only through exhibitions such as this the public can be made aware about the disease”, says Dr. Chidananda.
“Paintings refresh my mind and help me to relax. I love creating art works that supplement the subject theme. Though in the beginning I was painting without any specific topic, during my days as a medical student, I started practising on my own the paintings related to diseases and was successful in my pursuit. Today, I paint regularly for about four hours everyday. After my retirement, I decided to create a collection of paintings all related to diseases and it has taken me two years to complete these paintings," says the doctor.
"Most people who are infec-ted with HIV do not know that they have been infected because no symptoms develop immediately after the initial in-fection. A HIV-infected person is highly infectious and can transmit the virus to another person. The only way to determine whether a person is infected or not is by undergoing a HIV test. This type of awareness camp helps the person to know on his own, whether he is infected or not," adds Dr. Chidananda.

"I feel I have succeeded in my efforts and I feel happy for exhibiting my art works here as it reaches the public. It is a very new experience for me. In future too, I will continue to create awareness by holding exhibitions of my paintings all over Karnataka, especially in the remote villages," says a beaming Chidananda, who is all set to release his book 'ROCHIKA' (ROga CHItra KAvya) next month.
He also has plans for providing guidance, information, counseling and screening facilities to people who are interested to know about AIDS. They can contact him on his Mob: 98869-53876.
The paintings which are on display here are not only informa-tive but also educate the public by telling: 'The threat from HIV virus is very dangerous.'

It's nestling time at Karanji Lake

The rush of visitors to Karanji Lake Nature Park is going steady. The Park located on the banks of the Lake has been restored of its greenery, attracting several species of winged beauties that have descended upon the Lake and begun nestling.
The nature park consists of a Butterfly Garden and a walk-through Aviary. It is an abode for many species of migratory birds like herons and egrets and a paradise for ornithologists.
The lake, situated in the heart of the city against the backdrop of the Chamundi Hill, has a total area of 90 hectares. While the water-spread area is about 55 hectares, the foreshore area measures about 35 hectares. The Zoo Authority is in charge of its maintenance.
This Lake was neglected for long, being filled with sewage and dumping of garbage. But the Zoo authorities acquired the place in 1976 and developed the Lake. Soon after the development works started paying dividends, the lake became a visiting place for nature lovers and a nestling area for variety of birds. And now, the lake is transformed into a mini bird sanctuary .
What was once only a refuge for Painted Stork, now witnesses a regular influx of varied species including the Glossy Ibis, Grey Pelican, Snake Bird, Painted Stork, Black Ibis, Bill Storks, Egrets, Purple Heron, Cormorants, Great Cormorant, Spotbill Duck etc., which are busy weaving nests on trees in the islands of the lake (see pics.)

Herons, Asian Open Bill Storks, Egrets, Red wattle lapwing, Sandpipers, Rose ringed parakeet, Black Drongo, Brown Shrike, Red-whiskered bulbul, Booted warbler, Sunbird and Greenish Warbler are some of the other species of migrant birds found here.
According to the staff at the Karnaji Lake, the recent survey of birds indicated 87 species of birds in which 12 are migratory birds. Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds due to changes in food availability, habitat or weather.
Bird Watch Tower
A 10-meters high Bird Watch Tower at the site enables the visitors not only to view panoramic environs of the lake but also to watch birds unhindered. Looking through the binoculars, one can see scores of nests of black-headed ibis, painted stork, spot-billed pelican, egrets and cormorants. Visitors to the lake can also enjoy boating there. One can hire pedal boats and rowboats in a designated area to watch the greenery and the birds roosting on the trees. The scenery, cool breeze, serenity and chirping of birds witnessed during the boating, makes one enchanted with the place.
Except on Tuesdays, the Karanji Lake is open on all days from 10 am to 5 pm.

A museum to promote conservation education

To create environment awareness and to promote conservation education to the entire country National Museum of Natural History decided to have regional offices in the form of Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) in different parts of the country in a phased manner to extend its activities (NMNH) at regional and state levels. Hence, the first regional office ‘Regional Museum of Natural History’ was inaugurated on 20th May 1995 at Mysore which is undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India,
The exhibits that are displayed in the museum are made up of judicious mix of specimens, models, translates and audio visual aids. The museum authorities periodically organize workshops relating to protecting the environment, preservation of wildlife and camps for students and nature enthusiasts. They also arrange film shows on topics related to natural history.
The museum exhibits plants, animals and geology of the southern region of India. The galleries emphasize the conservation of nature and natural resources by depicting the ecological inter-relationship among plants and animal. They are displayed in a systematic manner with the objective to provide general information on the latest development about the geological wealth, flora and fauna of the state. Visually challenged students can also feel the exhibits of animals on the premises.

Mysore is a historical city. After the opening of the Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) it has added another landmark to its glory. This RMNH is located on the banks of Karanji lake with the backdrop of Chamundi hills.
This museum gives the information to the visitors on the natural environment, ways to conserve and protect it and an opportunity to explore and understand the nature and natural world. It uses models, audio-visual aids, and thematic, interactive and participatory exhibits to help the visitor understand the natural world. These exhibits make learning an interesting and enjoyable experience. The learning in the captivating environment of the Museum is indeed a fun and truly enjoyable.
The objectives of the Museum are:
* To develop exhibits depicting floral, faunal and geological wealth of the southern region of India.
* To depict ecological inter-relationship among man, plants and animals and to emphasis the importance of conservation through exhibits and educational activities.
* To provide special exhibits and activities to enrich children on curriculum-based studies in biology and geology with emphasis on environmental aspect.
* To organise specialized educational activities for the disabled.
* To publish popular educational materials useful for environmental education.
* To develop appropriate institutional collaborations in the Southern India

Exhibit galleries
The Museum has a gallery with many sections dealing with the Biological Diversity; Life through the Ages; Discovery Centre, Discovery Room and Bioscience Computer Room and Temporary Exhibitions. The further galleries which will be introduced are on themes of Ecology and Conservation.
Biological Diversity
This gallery projects an overall theme of ‘Biological Diveristy’ depicting the biodiversity of the Southern region of India with special emphasis on Western Ghats. This section presents the basic concepts of natural history and the reasons for diversity of geological, some endangered species of plants and animals heritage and the geography and geology of the region. The diorama of the western ghats represent the diversity of the natural heritage and its importance, influence on climatic factors like rainfall and humidity.
The section on Tropical Rain Forests signifies the importance of the rain forests in the tropics by possessing the enormous biological and genetic wealth. It also depicts the adaptations of plants and animals in this region through various themes such as insectivorous plants, camouflage, canopy levels, climbing mechanism and plants, gliding mechanism of animals, bright coloration of birds and butterflies so on. The requirement of trees and forests to our life is also shown.
The next section which enthralls is the life-like depiction of Wetlands and its associated environment captured in a diorama. The section also highlights the variety of diversity of plants and animals and their adaptation as well as usefulness. Mangrove forests are also shown.

The section on Sea depicts a diorama of a marine habitat, the adaptation of marine life and the vastness and importance of different shores, estuaries and deep seas are vividly presented. The section concludes with a scale model of the blue whale.
A huge panel on the other side of the gallery shows river Cauvery - the lifeline of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The audio-visual along with the panel explains the course of the river from its origin at Talacauvery to its joining the sea near Poompuhar. The various land marks, and the cultural, biological and geological heritage of the areas served by Cauvery are also shown. The gallery concludes with a large exhibit panel cautioning against the destruction of our natural heritage.
Life through the Ages
This section deals with the biological diversity that today’s life on earth is a result of millions of years of evolution. This fascinating fact has been presented in an interesting manner with a truly captivating environment through a walk-through tunnel, where the visitor explores the mysteries of life over time and space. The evolution of man is depicted in the tunnel and the tunnel ends with the emergence of the modern man.
Discovery Centre and Discovery Room
This is one of the attractions and interactive section of the museum, where many efforts are made to activate the visitors by choosing various senses of activities leading to discovery learning. Participants can also involve in creative activities such as painting, modeling and preparing animal masks, costumes and they can discover information contained in several discovery boxes.

The discovery room provides opportunities for children to handle examine and study specimens through participatory activities and discover information contained in several discovery boxes. A sand pit is another attraction of the Discovery Room. There are also many useful books for children’s reference.
Children will be spellbound and enthralled by the variety of toys and jigsaw puzzles provided. There is also a mini theatre, Bioscience lab, a sound booth and a mini stage which provides opportunity for puppetry, audio-visual presentations, skits, demonstrations and many other facilities will keep children engrossed learning with enjoy, fun and creative manner,
The laboratory corner provides children with facilities to become ‘young scientis’ and they can have their health cards like weighing balance, height measuring and eye-testing facilities. Timings: 10.30 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm.
Bioscience Computer Room
This facility is meant for high school and college students. It enables them to study biology using computers. The advanced technologies like Multimedia techniques provide the visitors with a new learning experience about nature through interactive facilities. It is open between 10 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 4 pm.
Temporary Exhibitions
A small hall near the entrance foyer provides visitors with exhibition on various themes of contemporary interest. The themes are changed at regular intervals.
Other Resources
Library: The museum has a reference library with more than 4,000 books related to Botany, Zoology, Geology, Museology, Biology, Environmental Science, Natural History so on. It is open between 10.30 am to 12 pm and 3 pm to 4 pm.
Museum Theatre: Films related to Natural History, especially wildlife movies are screened daily between 12 pm to 1 pm and 4 pm to 5 pm. This theatre is also used for public functions.
Out door exhibits: The museum campus provides visitors ‘Nature’ in its splendour. A ‘Bird watching Tower’ to view the nearby Karnaji lake nature park where hundreds of birds come for migrating. The majestic Chamundi Hills can also be viewed from here.
Garden for the disabled - Touch, Feel and Learn
A unique learning centre - "Touch, Feel and Learn - Live plant Bioresource Centre is the first special garden museum for the visually impaired in India. It’s an effort to being the deprived to the main stream of the society and to feel them normal.
Interpretation through personal means, Braille labels and audio commentary help them to understand nature. The visitors are also allowed to touch, smell and feel leaves and other parts of the various medicinal plants available in the garden. The facility is available to persons with disabilities. This specially designed floral garden provides all basic amenities to reach the needed one.
The centre is located on the serene lawns of the museum around an half acre of land with lush green all round. And the area of the garden is divided into the two categories:
Orientation: Where the guidance, embossed drawings and labels are provided for the visually impaired.
Straight Pathway: The long pathway helps the visitors to move ahead by touching a few trees located on the side.
The RMNH also organizes awareness programs and various educational and environmental activities in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies. Modern methodology and advanced equipments are used to present the natural science in an interesting way to cater the curiosity of the visitors.
The galleries [Biological Diversity and Life through the Ages] are opened between from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays and National Holidays. Entry to the museum is free.