Former Kerala Assembly Speaker T S John passed away at a hospital at Chertalain Alapuzhathis morning.
John (74) passed away due to old age related ailments, family sources said.
His wife had predeceased him and he is survived by a son, they said.
John, who was a leader of a faction of the Kerala Congress(Secular), had also served as a minister in the A K Antony cabinet.
An active member of students movements while at SB College, Changanachery, he subsequently became a Member of Kaviyoor Panchayat.
A lawyer by profession, John, one of the founder members of Kerala Congress, was elected to the assembly from Kaloopparaconstituency four times. He became a Member of the Assembly for the first time as a Kerala Congress Member.
John, who was Speaker of the fourth Kerala Assembly for a short period from February 17, 1976 to March 25, 1977, had also served as the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies from October 19, 1978 to October 27, 1978 in the Antony Ministry .
In the reconstituted Ministry that followed under the leadership of P K Vasudevan Nair , he continued to be the Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, from October 29, 1978 to October 7 1979. UD APR DV
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / PTI / June 09th, 2016
Sports Hub, the stadium complex in Karyavattom, has been adjudged the winner of the prestigious David Vickers Award under the category of New Venue of the Year.
For the first time, a venue in India has been selected for the recognition at the Stadium Business Awards 2016 that was held at the famed Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on June 1. The stadium beat other contenders, including Parc Olympique Lyonnais, France; Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Mexico; Kyle Field at Texas A&M University, USA; Matmut Atlantique, France; Suita City Football Stadium, Japan; Vodafone Arena, Turkey; and T-Mobile Arena, USA; for the coveted award.
The judging panel commented, “A very strongly-contested category with international entries but this world-class sports facility is the first privately-funded stadium on the Indian subcontinent and a development model for more to come.” According to sources, the Sports Hub as been designed as a multi-use facility capable of hosting international sporting events of cricket and football. It has been developed by Karyavattom Sports Facilities Ltd. (KSFL), an spv set up by IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Staff Reporter / Thiruvananthapuram – June 04th, 2016
The state government has chosen distinguished space scientist of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and former director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Padma Shri M Chandra Dathan as the scientific advisor to the new Chief Minister Pinnarayi Vijayan.
It is perhaps for the first time in the history of state that a chief minister who is also in-charge of the science and technology portfolio appoints a space scientist as advisor on scientific matters.
When contacted, Chandra Dathan told TOI, “Had met the chief minister three days back as invited. When the chief minister of the state had sought the consent to appoint me as scientific advisor, I agreed. I am yet to receive a formal letter of appointment and am told that I will receive it by Monday”.
Further, Dathan said, “I might even take charge on Monday. Based on discussions with the chief minister and his guidance, priority areas for scientific development in the state will be looked into and will work on it accordingly”.
Dathan began his illustrious career in 1972 joining ISRO where he worked on the SLV-3 project during its design phase and later on moved to solid propellant formulations. In 2000, he became the head of the ablative nozzle production unit and went on to become the chief executive of the Solid Propellant Plant for PSLV and GSLV boosters where he supervised the establishment of a new Solid Propellant Plant commissioned in 2008. From there he took over as director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in 2008.
During his tenure, Chandradathan contributed towards the improvement of production levels of solid boosters. In 2013 he was appointed director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). In July 2014, he was appointed as the director of VSSC and the same year, the nation had honoured him with Padma Shri for his outstanding contribution in the area of space research.
He has also been recognized with many accolades for his contribution by ISRO and many other organisations including the Management Leadership Award – 2014 by Trivandrum Management Association, an affiliate of All India Management Association.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by Laxmi Prasanna / TNN / June 04th, 2016
Hajime Asama (Robotics Challenges co-chair) with Chandykunju Alex, Lentin Joseph (Team Lead of Team Autobots), Achu Wilson and Raj Madhavan
Kochi :
Team Autobots, a collaboration of two robotic start-ups in Kochi – Qbotics Labs and Sastra Robotics – has bagged the first prize in the Humanitarian Robotics and Automation Technology Challenge (HRATC) held in Stockholm, Sweden.
HRATC is the biggest global robotics conference organised by Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The International Conference of Robotics and Automation (ICRA 2016) brings together the brightest scientists and researchers working with cutting-edge robotics.
Team Autobots is one of the top four teams from across the world that made it into the finals of the challenge and is the team with the leading score.
Team Autobots comprises expert engineers from Qbotics Labs, which specialises in mobile robotics research, and Sastra Robotics, which specialises in robotic arms for testing of devices.
The members of the team are Lentin Joseph (CEO/founder, Qbotics Labs), who is leading the team, Achu Wilson (CTO/co-founder, Sastra Robotics) and Chandy Kunju Alex (robotics engineer, Sastra Robotics).
The challenge of the team was to find and defuse hidden unexploded landmines in an area, autonomously using a robot without human intervention.
The competition tries to find the best software solutions to avoid and defuse mines using a robot called Husky. There are three phases in the challenge. The first algorithm phase involves teams proposing ingenious algorithms to tackle the challenge.
The shortlisted teams enter the second phase called simulation phase, which involves implementation of the proposed algorithm on robotic simulator Gazebo using software platform Robot Operating System(ROS). Teams which perform best in simulation phase enter the testing phase, in which the algorithm runs on the real robot itself. The testing phase is the final phase and Team Autobots emerged victorious with top score.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / May 29th, 2016
Rajashree Warrier Photo : Thulasi Kakkat / The Hindu
Danseuse Rajashree Warrier on manodharma, aharya, inspiration and more.
What makes Rajashree Warrier different as dancer and choreographer is that she is not confined to the usual crossover items that often pass as today’s Bharatanatyam. There is in her art a proper understanding of her form, realising her forte, her limitations, and creating a contemporary Bharatanatyam rich in texture, rich in literature.
Manodharma is a salient feature of Rajashree’s dance. Manodharma is a bit more complex in Bharatanatyam than in classical music. This part of abhinaya is intrinsic in holding nritta (pure dance with no specific theme) and natya (representation of rasa through abhinaya) together. “It is this aspect that really excites me. When there is always something new, something surprising, each performance turns into a fresh experience for me and even for my orchestra. For the orchestra it can be a bit challenging as the rhythmic structures need to change according to my expressions and gestures. Personally, what makes classical dance an aesthetic experience is manodharma. Otherwise it can be mechanically traditional,” says Rajashree, who was initiated into dance when she was in school.
Fortunate to be moulded when she was six years of age by V. Mydhili in Thiruvananthapuram, Rajashree trained under her for nearly 18 years. Later, Rajashree learned under Jayanthi Subramaniam in Chennai.
Rajashree credits her growth as a dancer to her parents who supported her. “The early phase was enhanced watching many greats on stage and on available films. Watching legends like Balasaraswati and the ever charming Vyjayantimala helped form and deepen my appreciation and understanding of the poetry of Bharatanatyam.”
Dance was for Rajashree a logical extension of music. “Music was what my father insisted I study. Here again I was fortunate to get a teacher, Mullamottu Harihara Bhagavathar, who was a treasure trove of knowledge, especially on rare Swati Tirunal kritis. I studied, like any child of that age, rather reluctantly. Only later did I realise the greatness of my guru. When C-DIT was making a documentary on Swati Tirunal’s kritis I could help them as I was familiar with so many of them.”
She completed her degree, post-graduation and doctorate in music. But somewhere down the line dance took over. A dancer grows with the dance and this is true of Rajashree. She now performs her own compositions that are created from everything that inspires her.
“Words and concepts from the books I read, for example, Milan Kundera’s Slowness, where events are fused to movement, has helped me in creating the rhythm of my composition. Then the myriad art forms around me have inspired my dance but strictly within the structure of Bharatanatyam.”
Aharya can make an impact. Though it cannot make a great performance it can certainly mar it. The changes in Bharatanatyam today have also had its impact on aharya. “Aharya proclaims the identity of the dancer, her aesthetics. I feel that a dancer should choose suitable colours, a style that enhances her figure and ornaments that augment her features. I must feel comfortable in what I wear, should feel beautiful and confident when I step on to the stage. Here again innovation should be within the bounds of tradition rather than parading oneself, revealing too much skin and making the costume more important than the dance itself.”
These are times when there is a call for enriching the repertoire, making it contemporary. Rajashree feels that all this cannot justify sensationalism, undermining all the edifices and edicts of Bharatanatyam. “Organisers and audiences, fed on such a diet, demand this. In Kerala, the number of venues has increased but I have found a strange attitude prevalent. The organisers, most of them, want only customised dancers who would, with servility, agree to their whims and fancies. We have an audience today that does not look at Bharatanayam seriously. Their understanding of the dance form is only from the last 10 years. Unfortunately, I’m a sort of purist when it comes to my dance. I may not be perfect, but I have a style of my own, a mind of my own, and principles that I’m not willing to compromise.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by K. Pradeep / Thiruvananthapuram – June 02nd, 2016
Jayesh P., a post-doctoral fellow at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), has won the prestigious Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award of the year 2015 instituted by the Department of Biotechnology to prevent brain drain of highly talented and motivated young scientists in biotechnology.
According to an official release issued by the varsity, Dr. Jayesh was selected for the award in recognition of the potential of his research in the area of “crustacean cell reprogramming” under the guidance of Prof. I.S. Bright Singh and its continuation to find application to study neurogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases.
The award consists of Rs.50 lakh research grant, monthly fellowship, gold medal, certificate and a citation.
The outcome of this project will help in understanding molecular mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases in humans, especially Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s using daphnia as a model animal.
Dr. Jayesh is a recipient of Brain Korea 21 Plus post-doctoral scientist award of Government of South Korea. – Special Correspondent
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – June 01st, 2016
Sunil Kumar (left) owns scores of netted enclosures at Thanimoodu in Thiruvananthapuram.
Story of a national award-winning farmer’s success and travails
Lying wakeful at night is one of the fallouts of five years of farming fish, says Sunil Kumar, 43.
The national award-winning farmer owns scores of netted enclosures along the bank of the expansive backwater lagoon at Thannimoodu in suburban Thiruvananthapuram. Year-round, they abound with pearl spot, a pricey fish widely considered a delicacy. It sells for Rs.500 and above a kg.
The bounty attracts raiders at night. Certain lawlessness exists along Kerala’s maze of inland waterways and lagoons and Thannimoodu is no exception.
Marine patrols are unheard of and farmers like Mr. Kumar are left to fend for themselves. They maintain solitary night vigils to protect their farms from raiding boatmen. Local goons who demand protection money are also a thorny problem.
Mr. Kumar’s quest for self-employment had prompted the matriculate to attempt fish farming in 2010. His first shot at shrimp cultivation failed. But with pearl spot, Mr. Kumar struck gold.
Peak daily sales often touched Rs.15,000. He was able to keep his family of the breadline.
Traditional knowledge
Most of Mr. Kumar’s farming knowledge comes from anglers and traditional fishermen. They helped him devise the porous netted enclosures that allow tidal flushing, but keep natural predators out.
Tortoises, eels, catfish, rat snakes prey on pearl spot fingerlings. Top nets protect the corralled fish from predatory birds.
Mr. Kumar regularly traverses the lagoon with experienced fishermen to net healthy pearl spot pairs for controlled breeding.
“The male burrows into the lagoon bed to make holes for the female to deposit her eggs while she hovers around. They often breed close to the shore,” he says. Adult pearl spots are paired off in hatcheries, which simulate the lagoon environment.
Mr. Sunil is thankful to the Kerala Fisheries Department for its support. However, like other farmers, he faces the issue of land availability. The lease of his three acre farm is set to expire soon and he is scouting for a new place to relocate it.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / G. Anand / Thiruvananthapuram – May 30th, 2016
