Udupi: Shanta Naik Elected President of Town Municipal Council

"IN POLITICS"

Shanta Naik of BJP was unanimously elected as president of Udupi Town Municipal Council on Saturday July 30. Kiran Kumar was elected as deputy president of municipal council.

The election was held on Saturday afternoon. This time the president's shop was reserved for women candidate representing scheduled tribe. Since there was only Shanta Naik who was eligible candidate, she was elected unanimously.

The deputy president's post was reserved for candidate from the backward classes 'A' group. BJP candidate from 80 Badagabettu ward and Congress member from Vadabandeshwar ward Navinchandra were the candidates for deputy president's post. Kiran Kumar won the election defeating Kiran Kumar.

There are 21 BJP and 13 Congress members in the Udupi Town Municipal Council. BJP also has the extra cushion of support from MP, MLA and MLC. Inspite of this some of the BJP members were absent which was quite surprising. But as it is known, everything is not that ok in Udupi BJP. Though MLA Raghupati Bhat has tried to patch up the situation, the absence of some members was clear evidence that Udupi is a boiling cauldron, which may blast at any time.

MATF, MGP interact with Forest officials

"PUBLIC SERVICE"


Members of Mysore Agenda Task Force (MATF), Mysore Grahaka Parishat (MGP) and prominent citizens had an interaction with Conservator of Forests Srikantaiah and Deputy Conservator of Forests Sreenivasulu today at Aranya Bhavan here.

They complained that the City Corporation and MUDA were indiscriminately felling trees for various reasons in different areas in city without obtaining permission from the Forest Department which was illegal as per Karnataka Tree Prevention Act. They urged the Forest officials to look into the matter immediately.

Sreenivasalu assured that he will verify the cases and take suitable action at the earliest.

MGP Convenor Dr. Bhami V. Shenoy, MATF members M. Laxmana, Dr. H.A.B. Parpia, Ravikumar, Star of Mysore Editor K.B. Ganapathy, journalist Rajashekhar Koti, Retd. DCF Sreenivas and others were present.

Caution and control — watchwords for the small investor: Mr Sandeep Shenoy, Strategist, Pioneer Intermediaries Pvt Ltd

"INTERVIEW"

Those who make consistent money are those who are consistent, patient and logical. Any successful global investor will tell you making money is very mediocre business. It doesn't give you excitement. If you want action and excitement, go to a casino.


WHETHER "a structural bull run" or not, this is the time for the ordinary retail investor in equity to be very cautious, says Mr Sandeep Shenoy, Strategist, Pioneer Intermediaries Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.

In an interview to Business Line he said: "In the stock markets a select minority makes money, not the majority. Even in that minority a very select minority makes consistent money... So when the slide comes, the majority will lose money."

Excerpts from the interview

The equity market is touching one high after another. What should small or retail investors do now?

When a structural run starts, everyone makes money; so it is very easy for retail players and mutual funds to make money. But today, with Sensex at 7,400, if you ask is there much upside, I'd say no, perhaps beyond 5 per cent.

The market is fairly valued, finely balanced and discounting a very good year of earnings down the line. What can go wrong for a retail investor? One, a retail investor is generally the last one to know any adverse corporate development and unable to exit in time. Two, the flow of capital; investors always want to go in for low-cost shares. Koi dus rupiya ya bees rupiyewali cheez batao... (show me a Rs 10 or Rs 20 stock). But cheap at this level may not be the best. They think they'll lose only Rs 20 per share, but think percentage wise... in a Tata Steel or Reliance perhaps 5 per cent of your capital may be at risk, but here, all of it could disappear. So you're going against the basic tenet of investment philosophy.

A small investor is one whose capital is earned the hard way. When he buys a mobile or fridge or jewellery, he makes 20 inquiries for a Rs 20,000 commitment. But the same person will commit Rs 5 lakh to a stock without thinking, and do so even by borrowing because he got a tip from a cousin's friend or somebody in a bus. Three times he might make money but the fourth time when he loses, his entire capital could get wiped out along with the gains.

But people say this time is different...

Oh, we've heard that before; this time people are smarter, they've learnt their lessons, this time the money is real and it's a structural bull run. But if you open a 1929 newspaper, you'd see the same stories in the US... or in India before 1992 and the Harshad Mehta scam or the 1999 technology boom.

So investors don't learn...

No, it is investor psychology. In the stock markets, a select minority makes money; the majority never makes money. Even in that minority a very select minority makes consistent money. If everybody is making money, I'd classify that market as inefficient. When the slide comes, the majority will lose money.

So what does the average investor do?

On a holistic basis, when you make enough money, get out of the stock market and into other avenues such as real-estate or precious metals and wait your time out. The biggest virtue one can have is control over one's emotions. "I've made money let me stay out of the market. Patience is a game... but then my neighbour or friend has made money; whether he really has made money or not, nobody knows. If he's still staying in the same house and riding the same scooter for years, he couldn't have made that kind of money."

But when you think other people have made money you try to get into the market and it becomes a vicious circle. People enter penny stocks... Ranbaxy is Rs 1,000; I can buy only one. But I can buy 100 shares of ABC Pharma. That too might go up but Ranbaxy has a strong underlying business... this company doesn't. Companies may not exist, may not pay salaries and yet (their stocks) move up substantially.

So this is the time for caution and control...

Absolutely, but people become greedy. When you become greedy, you over-reach yourself and play blind, it is a question of time before you get hit.

People say the government should do this or that, but in a free market you are responsible for your own money. After what happened in 1992, and 1999-2000, we assume people would have become intelligent...

But people have short memories...

Then you have yourself to blame. A small investor should be very careful. Who makes money in the market? The intelligent, but they also lose money.

But those who make consistent money are those who are consistent, patient and logical. That doesn't change with time. Those who sat over their investment over a few years have made consistent and big money. If you want to do this, buy into a good stock after logical study. If you're not well equipped to do that and don't have the ability to sift chaff from wheat, this is no place for you. Then it becomes gambling and you're better off putting your money on horses.

Any successful global investor will tell you making money is very mediocre business. It doesn't give you excitement. If you want action and excitement, go to a casino.

Even in the analyst community there is so much pressure to be different and recommend different stocks. But investment has only basic logic and a few criteria — cash flow, earnings, growth and ability to manage working capital. Just as a human being requires protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, etc for nourishment — these can come from different sources but you can't eat iron ore, aluminium or steel. The same is true for good stocks. The market either underplays or overplays any development; when it underplays, get in and when it overplays have the guts to say, `this high price is illogical, I don't understand it', and get out. If somebody else understands it, good for them. But the temptation and the courage to say this are rare to come by.

What kind of returns should equity investors expect and in what sectors?

Let us not look at 100 per cent return; 15 to 20 per cent is good enough. As for sectors, people travel all the time and even dingy lodges on Anna Salai in Chennai are now charging Rs 600 a day. You can't get hotel rooms in Bangalore. So invest in the demand-supply mismatch in the hotel industry. Second, believe in the strength of the Indian middle-class. Everybody is building houses, and buying vehicles, at least two wheelers.

The logic is simple if you apply your mind. The demand for sugar is growing and though cheaper stocks are available, you can't go wrong with an EID Parry or KCP Sugar. Or a Tata Steel in the steel sector even if the prices are coming down. The smaller and cheaper companies may give better returns but unless you are really clued into their business or have strong linkage with the company to cash in at the right time, or belong to a class of investors who have evolved and gone through a couple of cycles, stick to good companies and be happy with 15 to 20 per cent return.

What about banking?

Yes, but look at where the real growth will come. People like you and me will have 10 banks such as Citibank chasing us, but who'll look at your servant's husband who wants to buy a scooter? An IOB or Allahabad bank, the second rung PSU banks. He might be a risk at 14 per cent, but still Allahabad Bank will make more than twice the interest it gives to depositors. And we know the bigger people default more than the smaller ones.

Do you see any signs of a scam?

Whenever a rally starts, we always say this time it is clean; but more than the mainline stocks when the entire mid-cap story reverses a lot of people will be hurt. But more than scam, I think it is a bubble that has built up; of the 450 companies in the sector 40 or 50 are good, but the other 200 are absolute trash. You should have the guts to say what's happening is absolutely wrong and stay away or get out. There may or may not be a scam, we don't know. But there is a lot of liquidity in the market. Most of the scams originated because of lack of liquidity and the money had to be tapped from the banks.

Today, money is available freely. Rs 40-50 lakh housing loans were difficult five years ago, but today you'll get 10 offers. Somebody might tell you instead of Rs 20 lakh, take Rs 30 lakh; buy a car and put Rs 5 lakh in the market. Such a thing could be happening, but we don't know. But there is too much money floating around, the mining, metals, manufacturing and agricultural boom has put a lot of money in the hands of traders and farmers. And believe me, they are people who drive the market, not us.

What about MFs? Is it time to book profits?

I may be wrong about this, but one got an inkling that the IT boom is coming to an end when 10 Technology funds were launched; today everybody is launching mid-cap funds. Rs 700 to 800 crore going into mid-caps will certainly drive the prices up. But I feel we're at the end of the mid-cap rally... maybe in another 4 to 5 months. It doesn't require rocket science to fathom that!

I'd ask investors to be careful; it is not as if the MFs or fund managers are bad; too many people are pumping money into a sector. One problem in a company can end the whole thing; the fund might be good but can it sell Rs 600 crore stock and get out? No. But if it has the flexibility to move into a Tata Steel or large caps, that's okay. Stay invested in such flexible funds rather than focussed funds. Focussed funds should be invested in during bear phases.

So should investors book profits?

Nobody has ever died booking profits.

‘Konkani Day' to be celebrated on August 20

The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy is celebrating `Konkani Day' on August 20 in association with other organisations. August 20 is celebrated every year to mark the inclusion of Konkani in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, according to a press release from Dugappa Kajekar, Registrar of the academy here.

Dr Kajekar said around 30 Konkani organisations are expected to participate in the programme to be held at Don Bosco Hall here. Various subcommittees such as reception committee, publicity committee, rally committee, literary committee and cultural committee have been set up for the purpose.

The president of the academy, Eric Ozario, will supervise the proceedings.
Louis J Pinto, head of Mandd Sobhann; Eric Crasta, editor of Rakkno; and Aloysius D'Souza, faculty, St Sebastian High School, will head the various committees. The programme will begin with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Padua High School grounds at Nanthoor here at 10 am.

A team of 100 volunteers will visit various Konkani organisations as part of rally and reach the venue of the function at 5 pm. A lecture on Konkani language and literature will also be held.

A brochure highlighting the benefits available to Konkani community owing to its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution will be released.

For details, contact Dr Kajekar, Registrar, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, MCC Building, Lalbagh, Mangalore 575003 (Ph: 0824-2453167).

ICICI Bank 1st-Qtr Profit Rises 23% to 5.3 Bln Rupees

"IN BUSINESS"

ICICI Bank, India's biggest private- sector bank, said fiscal first-quarter profit rose 23 percent as a growing economy and the lowest interest rates in more than three decades encouraged companies and consumers to borrow more.

Net income rose to 5.3 billion rupees ($122 million), or 7.11 rupees a share, in the three months ended June 30, from 4.31 billion rupees, or 6.05 rupees a share, a year ago, the Mumbai- based lender said in a statement. That was higher than the 5.08 billion rupee median estimate of five analysts Bloomberg News surveyed.

Individuals are taking advantage of the lowest interest rates in three decades to buy motorcycles, personal computers and cars, and companies are investing to expand facilities to increase production. A normal monsoon rain may lift economic growth, forecast by the government to reach 7 percent in the year to next March, and boost demand for credit in the countryside, home to 700 million Indians.

``I am very positive on the banking sector as there's a tremendous amount of credit growth,'' Paras Adenwala, chief investment officer at ING Investment Management, said yesterday. ``The monsoon rains seem to be good and that will also help agricultural credit to grow.''

Bank loans in India rose 31 percent to 11.42 trillion rupees in the year ended March, according to central bank data, the biggest rise since 1971 when it started compiling the figure.

Retail Growth

The bank expects the retail segment to grow 35 percent to 40 percent, said Kalpana Morparia, deputy managing director, without giving details. The bank's net interest margin in the first quarter was 2.4 percent compared with 2.3 percent in the year ago, she said.

ICICI Bank's revenue rose to 40.9 billion rupees at the end of June from 28.5 billion rupees a year earlier. The lender said net interest income rose to 8.5 billion rupees from 6.3 billion. Loans rose to 979.1 billion rupees from 658.3 billion and deposits grew 70 percent to 1.14 trillion rupees from 667.8 billion, the bank said in a statement.

The lender said provisions and contingencies rose to 2.98 billion rupees from 460 million rupees.

The lender's shares, which rose 2.5 percent to 536 rupees yesterday, have advanced 48 percent over the past six months, outpacing a 16.5 percent gain in the benchmark Mumbai stock exchange Sensitive Index over the same period.

Chief Executive Officer K.V. Kamath is focusing on consumer credit to boost earnings at ICICI Bank.

Consumer loans made up 63 percent of total loans made by ICICI Bank as of June 30, up from 61 percent as on March 31.

ICICI Bank has a 31 percent share of the market for home mortgages, funds four of every 10 automobile purchases in India and a third of the loans made to buy personal computers, the bank said in April.

Consumer Demand

``Demand from consumers too is robust because of the low rates,'' U.P. Bhat, who manages 20 billion rupees of equity and debt at Canara Bank Mutual Fund in Mumbai, said before the earnings announcement.

Homebuyers in the world's second-most populous country are taking advantage of tax breaks on interest payments on mortgages to borrow from banks. The government allows homebuyers to deduct as much as 150,000 rupees a year in mortgage interest payments from their taxable income, an incentive to reduce a housing shortfall of 20 million units.

Consumer borrowing from banks rose an average 40 percent over the past three years, driven mainly by housing loans.

In its quarterly monetary policy on July 26, the central bank maintained its 7 percent economic growth target for the year to March 31, 2006. The economy expanded 6.9 percent in the year ended March 31, the government estimates, after 8.5 percent growth in the previous year, the most since 1989.

The Index for Industrial Production rose 9.5 percent in the first two months of the fiscal year that began April 1, aided by 10.5 percent growth in manufacturing output, the central bank said.

Greens launch save 'Poornaiah canal' campaign

"IN NEWS"

Mysore: - The Kukkarahalli Lake Protection Committee has expressed its anger for allowing some organisations and institutions to construct buildings across in Poornaiah canal which is the main stream of supplying water to Kukkarahalli lake.

Committee members and some senior citizens who assembled near the Poornaiah Canal beside All India Institute of Speech and Hearing Institute in city yesterday condemned the action of the State Government for 'selling' the canal.

They said that the Poornaiah Canal which was the main stream of supplying water to Kukkarahalli Lake had an area of about 25 kms earlier. But due to urbanisation and encroachments, the area had been reduced to three-and-half kilo-metres, they regretted.

They alleged that the State Government had granted permission to a religious institution to construct a building in the middle of a bridge near the Speech and Hearing Institute.

Due to this, there was no scope for rain water to flow and as a result of this water enters into the residential houses in Gangotri Layout during rainy season.

During the forthcoming rainy seasons, Mysore City may go the Mumbai-way, said Dr. Bhami V. Shenoy of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP).

Committee Co-ordinator K.M. Jayaramaiah said that the Deputy Commissioner and MUDA Commissioner had been requested to take measures to save the canal but the officers have not taken any action, he said.

Most of the participants in the meeting urged the State Government to intervene to save Poornaiah canal which has heritage value.

Kannada Action Committee leader P. Mallesh said that a meeting of the prominent citizens environmentalists and intellectuals will be held on July 31 near Poornaiah canal to prevent construction work.

He also threatened to pull down the walls already constructed.

Dr. Bhami Shenoy announced that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) would be filed in the court under the auspices of MGP.

Veteran journalist Krishnavattam, MATF members M. Lakshmana and others were present.

Two Kerala-based banks left headless

"IN BUSINESS"

KOCHI : Deep down in the red, two Kerala-based banks have suddenly been left headless. Both of them have a few common threads with single individuals holding major stake and also under a takeover cloud.

Both Lord Krishna Bank and Dhanalakshmi Bank had performed badly in 2004 with the former reporting a net loss of Rs 24 crore and the latter Rs 21.7 crore.

In the case of LKB a petition was recently filed in the Kerala high court seeking RBI intervention for appointment of a full-time chairman and inspection of the accounts as the loss was estimated to be around Rs 80 crore.

While LKB managing director RM Nayak left in June to join Lakshmi Vilas Bank, DLB managing director and CEO TR Madhavan put in his papers on Wednesday. Both were reportedly not having the going easy with the board.

Top sources in the 78-year old Dhanalakshmi Bank admit that since the rights issue in 2002 after which Bangalore-based Raja Mohan Rao got a lion’s share of 38% stake tremors were felt at the top. The then chairman TM Venkataraman left in November 2002 without accepting an extension.

The bank got its new managing director and CEO in Mr B Muthuswamy in October 2003, but for a short period. He resigned in February 2004 which sources say was on account of board interference in the bank’s day-to-day matters.

His successor Mr Madhavan continued for a year and is learnt to have taken the extreme step of quitting after he found it difficult to meet the demands of certain members of the board.

Union leaders say that there was a lot of interference on the advance front and appointments were now on at the behest of certain board members. The union was expected to take up the matter.

Bank executive director KA Menon resigned earlier this month, though he has been asked to stay back for another two months. Amidst rumours of takeover, the bank’s stock saw price shoot up to Rs 42. Mr Rao came to have a stake in the bank when one-time film producer Mohan of GoodKight Films sold his less than 1% stake in the bank.

When the rights issue in March 2002 did not find favour, Mr Rao stepped in and as a result succeeded in having a chunk of the shares.

The bank had later earned the SEBI wrath when it proposed paying dividend for the shares acquired through the issue.

In the case of Lord Krishna Bank which has been under RBI scan for quite sometime, the Puris hold 64% stake. Delhi-based AK Puri who was found shot dead in Angola in 2004 had come into the LKB scene since the rights issue in 1992 till when Manipal-based Pai group held 80% stake. By 1995 when the Pais withdrew, the Puris came to have the lion’s share.

After Mr Kashi Vishwanathan quit as chairman in 2001, following a scam, the bank brought in Mr RP Gupta as managing director in November 2001 who remained in office for hardly seven months. Mr RM Nayak joined the bank in January 2003 and quit in June 2005.

The bank has seen several instances of direct involvement of the board in appointments and lending activities which have been raised in a petition now pending before the court.

Corpn Bank elects six shareholders as directors

MUMBAI: The Mangalore-headquartered Corporation Bank has elected six shareholders directors against six vacancies, caused by completion of term of existing nominees on July 24.

Announcing this, the Bank said that the new shareholder directors would have tenure of three years effective up to July 25, 2008.

The new directors are Messrs S Ravi, Ramakant Vashishtha, Dr C Ramakrishna Kamath, P M Sirajuddin, Kalyana Sundaram Sridhar and Hiren Mehta.

Since the number of valid candidates and the situations vacant are equal, the six aforementioned candidates are deemed to be elected as directors of the bank as per Regulation 66(i) and also deemed to have assumed office as directors of the bank with eff ect from July 27, 2005.

Konkani Kavi Goshti programme held in Mysore

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Gowda Saraswath Brahman Sabha, Mysore and Konkani Christian Association, Mysore together organised ‘Mahan Amnis Ek Mulaqath’ and Konkani Kavi Goshti programme at Govinda Rao memorial hall, Mysore on Sunday.

Akashvani retired director Jayashree G Shanbogue was the chief guest of the programme. “We must forget the differences in dialects and strengthen our love for our language. With love for our language we can forget the barriers of religion and mingle freely with the society,” she said.

Chief guest George V Pinto said Konkani literature has just started growing and the youth should come forward to contribute towards the government.

Dr K Ramesh Kamath and linguist Dr Roki Miranda were felicitated for their contribution towards the Konkani art and culture.

An interactive session with them was also held. Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario presided over the programme. It was followed by Konkani Kavi Goshti.

eCircular enables paperless office for banks

Chennai-based Laser Soft Infosystems Ltd (LSIL) has developed an innovative software product aimed at converting large public sector undertakings, banks and corporations into paperless offices.

Christened eCircular, the product virtually replaces dissemination of important and sensitive information through the traditional printed paper based system or through unsecured methods like e-mails to a secured online mode operating through the private intranet of the organisation. Banks issue huge circulars to their zonal offices, regional offices and branches informing them of a variety of things like regulatory changes, change in interest rates, organizational information etc.

Most of the banks use large amounts of printed stationery, which is posted, or couriered to the receiving offices, incurring huge costs, time and labour. Often there are also chances of pilferage because of the fact that printed stationery passes through several hands before it can be received at the proper end, and thus often information is not received and implemented at the right time. PSU undertakings, banks, institutions and corporations spend several hundred crore of rupees every year in printing, posting and other costs for inter office communications.

Navin Kamath, product head of eCircular said that the product works in such a way that every single circular is properly created, despatched and acknowledged for, with a variety of options reserved for the sender and the receiver. The communication is stored in a central repository with options of retrieving later at any time, using a simple search platform.

‘‘With eCircular the banks or any large institutions can disseminate information in a safe and secured environment with hundred percent guarantee of receipt and in turn implementation of the same in shortest possible time,’’ Kamath said. ‘‘Besides as it is configured in the intranet of the organisation and does not use the public internet domain it is completely safe and secure,’’ he added.

According to K Raghuraman, GM (IT) of Central Bank of India (CBI), ‘‘a number of banks are trying to reduce paper-based communication within the organisation by using e-mails and web-based methods, a secured product will be of great advantage. Giving an example he said that in CBI, the HR department has already put in use an online product called HRMS from a South-based IT vendor, which has greatly helped the HR department.

Kamath said that within the first few days of the product launch several banks had shown interest in the product and as a matter of fact, the company has already installed the product in State Bank of India and its associate banks, Union Bank of India and Corporation Bank.

L&T to tap villages for talent hunt

In its bid to attract young talent in manufacturing sector, engineering and construction major Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) is planning to tap villages and district level educational institutions in the country.

"For last 10 years, the Indian youth was attracted towards IT and BPO related careers due to influence by parents and peer pressures. Now, L and T is going to enter into district level educational institutes to attract young talents into manufacturing," L and T Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Anil M Naik said here on Tuesday.

Mr Naik, speaking on the sidelines of Bombay Management Association (BMA) award ceremony, said that the company would tie up with schools at each districts of the country. Earlier, Mr Naik was awarded 'management man of the year' award by BMA.

Mr Naik said that the company has already appointed 12 brand ambassadors, who would work with four to five leading institutes of the country aiming at attracting young professionals to manufacturing sector.

"L and T will go one step beyond the state-level institutions to the village level institutions. The young professionals, who are now over-exposed to IT, are really not willing but are pressurised to take up IT jobs," Mr Naik added.

Cable TV goes Bollywood

"NEWS FROM USA"

COMCAST SCORES A HIT PLUGGING IN TO IMMIGRANTS' VIEWING TASTES

The cable guys have finally figured out what the top satellite services discovered years ago: Their increasingly diverse subscribers in the Bay Area want a better selection of entertainment from India and Pakistan, among other South Asian countries.

In response to Dish Network's and DirecTV's success with multicultural programming, Comcast of Northern California this year launched ``Bollywood & Beyond,'' its latest ethnic video-on-demand (VOD) service that's becoming a hit with the Bay Area's growing Indo-American community.

Beginning Monday, the cable giant will host its first ``Bollywood & Beyond'' film festival, a two-month event timed to coincide with India's independence day Aug. 15. And next year, the service's New York programmers hope to make Indian music videos available on Comcast, as well as Indian TV programming that will include news, soap operas and cooking shows.

It's all part of the cable company's ongoing push to offer its 1.6 million Bay Area subscribers a greater array of shows that recognize that one in three residents in the region is foreign-born.

``It's no longer only about general market programming, such as ESPN and CNN,'' said Vinodh V. Bhat, who, with Neal Shenoy and Joseph Schramm, runs B&B out of a New York office. ``Now to make it, you have to also focus on special interests and ethnic niches.''

Veena Kamath, an elementary school teacher who lives in Los Altos, is a fan of the new service. She stumbled upon the Bollywood movies three months ago and saved herself a trip to her favorite video store.

``It's great to be able to watch a Hindi film when you want, and share it with your children, who may be losing touch with their culture,'' said the mother of two who emigrated from Bombay 24 years ago. ``It was a nice surprise: I had no idea these movies were available.''

Seven films a month

B&B, which was launched by Time Warner Cable in New York last August, offers Comcast's 800,000 digital subscribers a chance to purchase seven Indian films each month for $3.99 each.

Among the 17 festival titles that will be available ``on demand,'' which allows subscribers to pause, rewind and view movies as many times as they want over a 24-hour period: ``Chokher Bali,'' starring superstar Aishwarya Rai as a widow who moves in with another family, and ``Khwahish,'' with the popular Malika Sherwat as a low-born daughter who marries into a prominent business family.

``Many of these films are `masala' type Bollywood films, with lots of singing and dancing,'' said the 29-year-old Bhat. ``It's boy meets girl; boy-girl face conflict; boy-girl somehow resolve conflict.''

Bending taboos

Some of the offerings also bend without breaking cultural taboos. Bhat describes Sherwat as a ``tamer Paris Hilton'' who wears revealing costumes and kisses on screen. ``Some of these movies push limits,'' he said, ``but nothing like you'd see in a Quentin Tarantino film.''

B&B, which has sold almost 3,000 on-demand movies locally since its launch in January, joins Comcast's Gratis en Español video on-demand service and almost 40 cable channels dedicated to foreign-language content from China, Vietnam and Mexico. Monday, Comcast will add GMA 7, a Manila channel.

``As the Bay Area continues to grow,'' said Erica Eusebio, director of communications at Comcast Bay Area, ``it becomes increasingly important for Comcast to connect our customers to their cultures, language and to their homelands.''

Banking on design for steady growth

"INTERVIEW"


He came from a small town in the northern part of Karnataka but always nurtured a big ambition to do something on his own. After his schooling and graduation in engineering from Hubli, Ajit Prabhu left for the US for further studies. There he obtained Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University, VA and a Master’s degree in Bio-Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York.

For few years he worked in the USA with General Electric’s Corporate Research and Development Centre, in New York. But with an entrepreneurial zeal in him Prabhu along with a friend Aravind Melligeri soon founded his own company Quality Engineering and Software Technologies (QuEST) in 1997. As a CEO of the $20 million (Rs 86 crore) company, Ajit Prabhu provides the vision and strategic direction for the growth.

Deccan Herald: Please elaborate on QuEST’s main activity and domain expertise.

Ajit Prabhu: QuEST was founded in 1997 and it currently has offices in United States, United Kingdom, India, China, Italy and Japan. As a global engineering solutions provider, QuEST employs over 800 engineers, mostly in Bangalore, and supports a host of Fortune 500 clients with high-end solutions for improved product development. Our main development work is done in India.

Our services include full system and component design, analysis support, field failure investigations and solutions, and custom design tool development. Our domain expertise is in Aerospace, Energy and Power, Oil and Gas, Auto and Industrial design and analysis. We are a hardcore product development company and are purely into engineering solutions and not into IT or BPO. We support new product development. When customers plan to come out with new products, we conceptualise the design, anaylse, suggest changes and come out with new idea.

DH: How long does it take to develop a product?

AP: It depends on the type of product. An airplane design, for example, has a five year design cycle. Turbo machinery/gas turbine design will take around three years. Automotive design around two years and Industrial products like hand held meters will take about one year to develop.

DH: What was your revenues during 2004- 05?

AP: QuEST revenue for the year 2004-05 stood at $20 million. Bulk of our business comes from the aerospace, energy and oil and gas segment. These are the primary drivers of our business and about 80 per cent of the revenue comes from these three verticals. Auto sector contributes about 10 per cent of our overall revenue.

DH: Do you think Design outsourcing is going to be a big wave in India?

AP: Nasscom has estimated the world market for engineering design to be around $7 billion - $12 billion. Value of the work currently undertaken by vendors in India in this segment is miniscule at $500 million and is mostly dominated by the non-auto-motive (mostly aerospace) sector. Only about 25,000 people are involved in the Engineering Design segment.

Engineering design services addressed out of India is expected to grow at about 24 per cent per annum. The worldwide slowdown in the aerospace, automotive and industrial & power machinery sectors is resulting in thinner margins forcing global companies to outsource from lower cost geographies. So India will certainly benefit from this outsourcing wave.

DH: Why didn’t you enter the IT sector, which is growing faster that design outsourcing?

AP: By the time we entered the market, the IT market was already matured. QuEST was formed in early 1997 and by the time our company was formed the IT services industry in India had already established itself but we at QuEST stuck to engineering designing since most of our core management team came from a mechanical engineering background.

We are in a niche of product development space and the margins are better in this area.

DH: What kind of growth you are projecting for the year 2005-05?

AP: We expect to grow between 30 to 40 per cent. The turnover may touch $28 million and growth will happen from the repeat business. Accordingly staff strength will go up. We are planning to add another 250 people this year.

DH: Are you planning for an IPO?

AP: Yes we are seriously looking at an IPO. This may happen as early as February or March next year. Carlyle (a venture fund) has invested $6 million in the company and holds 24 per cent equity. The funds would also be used for infrastructure development.

DH: What kind of money are you planning to raise?

AP: We are projecting revenues of around $28 million for the FY 2005- 06 and net profit of $3.5 million. We hope, we would get valued at around 15 times the net profit.

DH: Are you looking at setting up centres out side Bangalore?

AP: The infrastructure situation in Bangalore is quite grim and commuting within the city has become one of the biggest pain points for most of the people. If we decide to grow and expand we will look at the options available to us in that point of time. Right now we have no such plans .

Konkani 'Mai'- Victim Of Script

"An Article"


At the peak of the Konkani agitation in Goa in the mid eighties -- the Hindu Brahmins in Goa who rallied behind the "Konkani Porjecho Avaz" manipulated the "Cristaos" of Goan origin to accept Devnagiri as the script in lieu of Roman script (which they as well as the Church authorities were acquainted with) on the assumption that --- if the Devnagiri script was accepted the Hindu Bahujans (non Brahmins) would easily accept Konkani instead of Marathi as they were familiar with the Devnagiri script.

The gullible "Cristaos" and the Church accepted this and so also present MP Mormugao Parliamentary Constituency Mr Churchill Alemao the backbone of the language agitation fell head over heel and introduced primary education in the mother tongue Konkani in an unfamiliar non standardised language and worst still in the Devnagiri script -- (of course his son studied in a top english school in Panaji)

It was a prominent writer Mr Ashok Ravi Kavi of the South Indian weekly the WEEK and this writer in a write up in the then INDEPENDENT a national weekly from Mumbai who exposed the clandestine designs of the Hindu Brahmins led by Uday L Bhembre (Advocate) in Goa to ENFORCE THE DEVNAGIRI SCRIPT only to consolidate their supremacy and monopoly over the KONKANI LANGUAGE that they demanded the devnagiri script.

Over a decade now the divide between the various scripts has seen that the Konkani language in devnagiri script has resulted only in Hindu Brahmins (familiar with the nagri script) usurping all Government jobs, their women who would have otherwise remained dutiful house-wives have gained employment both in Government services and also as Konkani language tutors and the "Cristaos" have suffered with the unfamiliar non standardised language.

Today there is a tremendous upsurge in favour of the Roman script in Goa, while the people of Karnataka rightfully demand that Kannada be the script in the state of Karnataka.

RECOGNITION OF A LANGUAGE DOES NOT NEED A COMMON SCRIPT

There can be a language with diverse script.

Therefore "CRISTAO" Goans world over should demand that in Goa the Roman script Konkani be given equal treatment besides Devnagiri and that literature et al in KonkaniRoman script be given awards where due. It is hoped that the Church and the MP Mr Churchill Alemao realises the game plan of the Hindu Brahmins in Goa and undo the over fifteen year old damage done toKonkani in Roman script.

This year the organisors of WORLD GOA DAY 20th August 2005 should have as its agenda " KONKANI --- Roman script " as the day does not have any significance to "Cristaos" in Goa as Roman script was sacrificed on the altar of Devnagiri script.

Reproduced herein below is the text of the press release by Mr Eric Ozario of "Mandd Sobhann" Mangalore fame and President of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy. It would be advisable to circulate this press release to all and sundry so that KONKANI mai thrive is as many scripts world over. Our "Cristao" MLA's should support the recognition of Roman script Konkani as well.

In response to the barrage of anti-propaganda unleashed through the 'Konkani Minorities' Institutions' Association', 'Akhil Bharath Konkani Parishad', and so called one man organisation 'Konkani Bhasha prachar Sabha' the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy President Mr. Eric Ozario has issued a detailed press statement. The Academy has which has recently chosen Kannada script to teach Konkani in the schools of Karnataka also reiterated that, if this group does not succeed in their evil designs, then Konkani will be introduced as a third language option, from 6th std. onwards, in schools in Karnataka, from the next curriculum itself. If they do, God forbid, Konkani is doomed, says the statement.

The main points of the press statement are as below.

(1) Konkanis live on the west coast of India, mainly in 4 states, namely - Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerela. Of these, the highest number of Konkanis live in Karnataka, around 25 lakhs, more than double the number living in Goa, and more than half of the entire Konkani population.

(2) Konkani has no script of its own, and it is being written in 5 scripts - Kannada, Devnagari, Roman, Arabic and Malayalam.

(3) The highest amount of literature is being produced and read in the Kannada lipi. Goa is divided between 2 lipis - Devnagari and Roman, while in Karnataka no literature, worth the mention, in other than the Kannada lipi, exists or is read. Also, the Kannada lipi literature has a rich heritage of more than 125 years in Karnataka, of good quality and considerable quantity.

(4) It is not true to say that the Devnagari lipi is the `natural' lipi for Konkani. Devnagari was not evolved for Konkani. How can a lipi used by so many languages, be the natural lipi of Konkani?

(5) It is not true to say that the Kendra Sahitya Academy has recognized only the Devnagari lipi.It is not for the Akademi to recognize any lipi. It only recognizes languages. What is true is that, the Devnagari lobby which has usurped all places(reserved for Konkani)in the General Council, the Executive Board and the Advisory Board of the Akademi, has made it a practice to award Awards only to literature written in Devnagari lipi and now, this practice is being projected as the policy of the Akademi. May it be known that the Kannada and Roman lipi practitioners are preparing ground for a legal battle against this gross injustice.

(6) When Konkani was included in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution, no mention of any lipi as its official lipi was made - and rightly so, because the Constitution of India recognizes the right of every lipi and boli to exist and be preserved.The Constitution of India in defining Cultural and Educational Rights, has ensured the liberty of choice of script: " 29. Protection of interests of minorities. - (1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.

(7) We in the Konkani movement always believed in the concept of `Unity in Diversity'. Unity of Konkanis can not be achieved by imposing any one lipi or boli on all others. Only by accepting regional/local pluralisms is unity possible. The attempt from any quarter to impose the Devnagari lipi on the Konkani people of Karnataka is not acceptable and deserves condemnation.

(8) Teaching a child a language is not a technical or a politico/ideological issue, but a practical one. In the selection of the lipi, care must be taken to see that enough literature in the regional/local variety is available to the child in that particular lipi. If one accepts this norm, then in Karnataka it will be a crime to teach Konkani in schools in any lipi other than Kannada.

(9) Children in Karnataka learn Kannada as the first or second language, at the primary level and therefore are well-versed with the Kannada lipi by the time the third language is taught. And as Hindi and Sanskrit are the other options, along with Konkani; to teach Konkani in Devnagari lipi, the child would have to be taught the lipi first and then the language. This is not only impractical but also a burden on the child. Hence Devnagari is ruled out on this single count.

(10) A bogus argument that is making the rounds is that Kerela has accepted the Devnagari lipi and so should Karnataka.The truth is that Konkani literature, in any lipi, including Devnagari, is conspicuous by its absence in Kerela. The tragedy of the Konkani movement in Kerela is that - only fancy name boards remain, no organizations; only ageing leaders survive, no followers;only Konkanis exist, no Konkani. Karnataka does not, most certainly, wish to follow in Kerela's footsteps.

(11) We suspect that the protagonists of Devnagari in Karnataka, have a hidden agenda and their only intention is to sabotage the introduction of Konkani, in Karnataka schools. We say this for the following reasons:

(a) They and the section they belong to, hardly read and write Konkani, by and large. And what little literature they produce, is all in the Kannada lipi, which includes their official community paper.

(b) Their claim to be the only organization to teach Konkani is also false. While the fact is that in only one school they teach Konkani outside the curriculum. On the other hand - regular `Saturday Konkani School' is conducted at Kalaangann' (the Konkani Heritage Centre) and Konkani is being taught inside the curriculum, as a language, at the graduation level, in St. Aloysius College, in Kannada lipi. The same college conducts post graduation Konkani Diploma Courses through its Konkani Department, in Kannada lipi.(c) As they do not have a literary heritage(in any lipi in Konkani), they have nothing to lose if an imported lipi - be it Devnagari or Mandarin, is imposed.(d) Their selection of the Devnagari lipi is political, and, their declared political ideology is based on fascist principles. They propose 'one language, one lipi, one samaj, one sahitya'- which argues for the distruction of all other lipis and the imposition of one lipi over the others. (e) The truth is, dictated by their political ideology, they are already teaching Sanskrit/Hindi as the third language in the handful of schools managed by them, which arrangement they do not want to disturb. They fear being exposed. Even if Konkani is introduced, they would still prefer that their children study Sanskrit or Hindi and not Konkani.

(f) It does not take much for anyone to realize that this group - having done nothing to teach or learn Devnagari lipi or to popularize it in Karnataka - has an ulterior motive in insisting on it now.For these reasons they, in effect, are proposing the teaching of Konkani outside the curriculum and would do everything in their power to sabotage its introduction in the curriculum. Their counter proposal to teach Konkani from 1st to 5th in Devnagari and Kannada, and from 6th only in Devnagari (outside the curriculum) is ample proof.

Taking all the above points into consideration, the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, constituted by the Govt. of Karnataka to work for the welfare of Konkani, convened a meeting of `Konkani People's Representatives'(the true experts in this matter) on May 15, 2005. Representatives of all Konkani Organisations, Konkani periodicals, Members of the 5 Konkani academies appointed by the Govt. of Karnataka (ours is the 5th in line in the last 11 years), and all recipients of the Academy's `Gaurav Prashasti', so far - from all over Karnataka, 121 in all, were invited. All were requested to record their opinions in writing on 2 specific questions - namely - (in the context of teaching Konkani in schools in Karnataka) -

(1) Which `Lipi' should be used? (2) Which `Boli' should be used?

Every one present recorded their opinion and another opportunity was given to all those who were not present to record theirs. On May 30, the General Body of the Academy met, and after taking into consideration -

(1) these opinions - 65.7% Kannada, 28.9% Devnagari, 2.9% Roman (2) the results of the survey of schools that was conducted by the Academy last year (in which the opinions of students/teachers/parents of 102 Higher Primary Schools were recorded), wherein 84.36% voted for Kannada and 11.72% for Devnagari;

THE ACADEMY DECLARED THAT KANNADA LIPI WILL BE USED IN TEACHING KONKANI IN SCHOOLS IN KARNATAKA.

As one can see, the decision to adopt Kannada lipi has been taken after allowing prolonged public debate to take place and through a very transparent democratic process. We have stifled no voices and have not excluded anyone from this process. The irony is, that our detractors were more enthusiastic than others in their participation. They not only willinglyregistered their opinion, but also circulated a letter goading people to vote for Devnagari .

Now that they find themselves in a minority, to blame the process and insist that the minority opinion should prevail over the majority, is tantamount to a party having lost elections stubbornly staking its claim to form government.

The decision has been taken. The work of preparing the text book has begun in right earnest. Now it is for all those who believe in democratic principles to uphold this decision and defend it. Defend it, we will, with our lives.

The Konkanis of Karnataka have every right to their local/regional identity, and no power on earth is going to snatch it away from them.

Kingfisher Airlines aiming for an IPO in 2006

Kingfisher Airlines is aiming for an IPO of its shares in 2006 to raise funds to finance the purchase of its aircrafts.

The airline, a wholly owned subsidiary of the liquor behemoth United Breweries, said it would seek to open new routes in the months ahead to compete effectively with other budget and full-service carriers.

Kingfisher Airlines would also float an employee stock option plan as part of its IPO exercise.

"I have not thought about the size of the IPO as yet because all the employees of Kingfisher Airlines are being given stock options, and after that , we can decide. First of all, the UB Board has to decide on dilution. After that, we can tell you the size of the IPO," said Dr. Vijay Mallaya, UB Group Chairman.

Jet Airways, a leading private aviation major, made a successful stock market debut this year. India's first low-cost airline Deccan Air is also firming up plans to float public shares.

Replying to the question of whether Kingfisher Airlines will acquire Sahara Airlines, Mallaya said "I have no discussion about taking over any airline in India and certainly not Sahara. There have been speculations, but I have had no conversations at all."

On Kingfisher Airlines' route expansion plans, Mallya said it would launch a flight from Mumbai to Goa from August 11. The service will be offered twice daily. The airline will also start operating five daily flights on the busy Mumbai - Delhi route by end August.

Kingfisher Airlines currently offers services in the Mumbai-Bangalore and the Delhi-Bangalore sectors.

It presently owns two Airbus-320 planes. The airline plans to expand its fleet to 10 - eight Airbus 320s and two Airbus 319s

Workshop for Konkani teachers on teaching methodology held

Panaji : The Bardez Konkani Asmitay Kendra, Mapusa, in association with Goa Konkani Academy and Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary education organised a workshop at Azad Bhavan, recently, for Konkani teachers of Bardez, Pednem, Sattari and Bicholim talukas, on methodology of teaching in Konkani subject for Std X.

The function was inaugurated by Mr Pandurang Nadkarni - the chairman of Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. The president of Goa Konkani Academy, Mr Pundalik Naik presided over the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nadkarni said,“The language teacher must have complete knowledge of vocabulary in the particular language. Teacher gains confidence after acquiring the vast knowledge of the particular subject.”

He also explained the technical difficulties faced during the making of the text book for Std X.

Mr Naik said,“The teachers of Konkani have a good opportunity to serve Konkani and they can make the roots of Konkani (Goan) asmitay stronger and stronger.”

In his speech he encouraged the teachers to write the articles for children. He also listed the schemes of Konkani Academy for the progress of the Konkani language.

Monsoon moods

Bangalore :

Kynkyny Art Gallery has an ongoing exhibition inspired by the rains. The show, titled Monsoon, is a compilation of watercolours by a selection of five artists.

The paintings on display have been created especially for this exhibition, depicting the emotions, colours and textures of the monsoon, say the organisers.

Jasu Rawal, J.M.S. Mani, Gurudas Shenoy from Bangalore, along with Madhavi Gangan (Mumbai) and Shivabalan S. (Chennai), are the five artists.

The show, which commenced on July 21, goes on till August 20. Kynkyny is at 33/200 N.S. Iyengar Street, Off Railway Parallel Road, Nehru Nagar, Kumara Park.

The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For details log on to www.kynkyny.com.

Call 30914700/ 23449570.

Pepsi’s 'Toss Ka Boss' strikes gold for Mudra’s Kidstuff

Kidstuff Promos & Events, the promotional marketing division of Mudra, has won 4 golds at the Promotion Marketing Awards of Asia (PMAA) 2005, held in Singapore. The agency won these four awards for one single campaign – Pepsi’s 'Toss Ka Boss'.

The four golds were from the following categories: Best Multi-Disciplined Campaign, Best Sponsorship Tie-in Campaign, Best Campaign in India and Best in Asia.

Madhukar Kamath, managing director and CEO, Mudra, says, “Pepsi's Toss Ka Boss is a great example of how promotional marketing can play a vital role in building brand loyalty.”

An enthused Pankaj Wadhwa, managing director, Kidstuff Promos & Events, says, “Toss Ka Boss was an initiative of ‘total branding’ where a great concept was combined with all media – be it television, press, Internet, SMS, or direct contact programs in schools, cinemas, colleges, and the retail market.”

The success story of the campaign doesn’t end here. It will represent Asia in the Marketing Agencies Worldwide Globes Programme, where it will compete with some of the best promotional campaigns from countries such as the US, the UK and Canada, among others.

‘IT Export Award’ to Robosoft Technologies

C Mohandas Kamath, general manager, Robosoft Technologies, informed that the company has been awarded the ‘Karnataka IT Export Award’, for the second time. The award is given by the Karnataka government’s IT department, for achievement in the field of computer software and hardware exports.

Robosoft Technologies is among the many software companies developing in the cities of Mangalore and Manipal, which are next in line to the IT capital.

Rohit Bhat CEO accepted this award from chief minister Dharam Singh. Present on the occasion was Dayanidhi Maran, union minister, communications and information technology.

Govt urged to promote Konkani in Roman script

"KONKANI NEWS"

The literary and cultural institutions working for the promotion of Konkani in Roman script, at a meeting held recently at Pilar, unanimously resolved to fight for the right of Konkani in Roman script under Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) and for this they have decided to hold a meeting of all the institutions working for the promotion of Konkani in Roman script in Margao in the month of August 2005.

According to a press release issued here, the institutions also came out with the demand that the government should direct the Goa Konkani Akademi to use 50 per cent of the budget for the promotion of Konkani in Roman script and also Kala Akademy should immediately consider Konkani books in Roman script for literary awards and provide all other facilities to writers in Roman script.

Besides, demanding that the Goa Konkani Akademy should include nattoks and tiatrs in equal number in their annual festival, the institutions have also asked for due representation to Konkani writers in Roman script should be given in the statutory bodies of Goa Konkani Akademi, Kala Akademi and Sahitia Akademi by the Government.

The institutions held that the persons representing promoters of Konkani in Roman script should be appointed to head Goa Konknai Akademy and Kala Akademi.

According to the president of DKA, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, the representatives expressed their disappointment at the way the government promoted Konkani in Goa through Goa Konknni Akademi by totally neglecting the development of Konkani in Roman script during last 18 years.

The representatives participating in the discussion narrated their experiences of step-motherly treatment meted out to Konkani in Roman scripts.

Not even 5 per cent of the budget has been used for the publication of Konkani literature in Roman script, it was pointed out.

Mr Cardozo alleged that Kala Akademy of Goa stopped giving literary awards to Konkani literature in Roman script as per the advice of the literary committee of the Kala Akademi which consisted of leaders of Konkani movement.

“Goa Konknni Akademi includes only one tiatr in the annual drama festival as against 5 Konkani dramas. No facilities to travel grants are given to writers of Konkani in Roman script,” the release mentions.

Mr Cardozo has pointed out that promotion of mando, dulpods and other Goan folk dances was not financed by any government institution.

“Konkani literature in Roman script is branded as having no standard by self-interested Konkani leaders even without reading a single book in Konkani in Roman script. No study of the literature of Konkani in Roman script since 16th century is done by any institutions, public or private, as their study of Konkani literature begins only in the 20th century,” the release has quoted him as saying.

“The leaders of Konkani have temporarily succeeded in manipulating the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi as far as the script of Konkani is concerned only because the Advisory Committee does not include enough representatives of Roman script writers for the last almost 30 years,” Mr Cardozo has alleged.

Terming the composition of the boards of Kala Akademi and Goa Konkani Akademi as totally unfair as far as representation of Konkani in Roman script is considered, he has noted that these institutions were never headed by representatives of Roman script writers since their inception.

Rane to hold mega meetings in city

"Konkanis in Mumbai "

After losing the battle of the MLAs, rebel Sena leader Narayan Rane is taking the fight to the people.

Rane is busy organising meetings in Sena strongholds and as a result, the Sena leadership has been feeling jittery, after seeing the crowds that throng his meetings.

6,000 hear him speak

Rane had organised a meeting two days ago at Nare Park, Parel, where a crowd of more than 6,000 people had come to hear him speak. Over the next couple of weeks, Rane organised some more meetings in Sena strongholds to show his strength.

Sena presence

But more than just the throngs, what really troubles the Sena leadership is the presence of die-hard Sena men at the meeting.

Significantly, Rane’s next meeting will decide who controls the BEST union. Rane has called a meeting of BEST Kamgar Sena at Delisle Road, Lower Parel on July 23.

Rane speaks in Sena strongholds

“Speaking openly against the Sena or against any of the Thackeray family members would have been unthinkable in the Parel-Dadar area.

“Rane however doesn’t seem to be affected by it and is, in fact, gaining the sympathy of the Konkani community who feel that one of their own
has been wronged,” said a Sena functionary supporting Rane.

He added that the Sena would be hard hit as the Konkanis have a significant presence in this belt.

‘He thinks he’s been sacrificed’

“Rane’s trump card is his claim that he has been sacrificed by Thackeray Sr for his son Uddhav. In this regard, public sympathy is with him.

However, it remains to be seen whether these people would actually stay with Rane once he joins the NCP or the Congress,” said a Sena corporator.

Govt announces scholarship to four under Goa Scholars

The government has approved the names of Ms Shruti Mahambre, Mr Abhijit Joshi, Ms Nicolle Fernandes, Mr Gaurav Kamat and Ms Rukma Prabhu Verlekar for the Goa Scholars Scheme 2005-2006.

Ms Mahambre is studying as a research scholar for PhD at IIT, Powai; Mr Joshi is doing MS in aerospace engineering at IIT, Chennai; Ms Fernandes is a research scholar for PhD in nutrition at Texas Women’s University, USA; Mr Kamat is reading for his MBA degree at the Vinod Gupta School of Management at IIT, Kharagpur and Ms Rukma Prabhu Verlekar is pursuing M Tech (computer science and engineering) at IIT, Powai, Mumbai.

The selection was done by a panel consisting of eminent scientists, educationists and management experts from Goa and other states. The scholarship carries amount of $15,000 a year in Indian rupees (for scholarship abroad) for 2 years and Rs 2 lakh a year (for scholarship in India) for 2 years period.

The Scheme was launched in 2003-2004 and payment was made in the year 2004-2005 to 4 ‘Goa Scholars’ (3 abroad and 1 in India). During 2004-2005, the scheme was not announced. For the ‘Goa Scholars Schemes’ 2005-2006 there were 31 candidates who appeared for the first round of interviews held at NIO, Dona Paula, on May 28 and 29, 2005, wherein 12 candidates were short-listed.

Two Appointed to GMU Board

McLean residents named to George Mason University's Board of Visitors.

Kathleen M. deLaski watched George Mason University grow from a small college to a “world-class university” from a front-row seat.
“My family was always quite involved with the university, so I’ve been able to watch it blossom,” said deLaski, who grew up in Northern Virginia. “I remember when Braddock Road was just a dirt road. It was exciting to see George Mason University grow up.”
Gov. Mark Warner (D) recently named deLaski and Sudhakar V. Shenoy to the Board of Visitors at George Mason University.
“This is the governing body of the university. They oversee the budget and make sure the administration adheres to the mission of the university,” said Dan Walsh, a spokesman for the university. The Board of Visitors is made up of 16 members, each appointed to a four-year term.
Shenoy was first appointed to the Board of Visitors by Gov. James Gilmore four years ago.
“I do a lot of recruiting for new employees at George Mason University and I believe that, in order for a region to be successful, we need a great university in Northern Virginia. George Mason University is it,” said Shenoy, founder, chairman and CEO of Information Management Consultants Inc. “I wanted to be involved in the university in whatever capacity I could.”
A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology and the University of Connecticut Schools of Engineering and Business Administration, Shenoy has also served on the board for the School of Information Technology and Engineering at GMU.
The Board of Visitors “sets policies and financial goals for the university and works with the president and provost,” he said. “We are responsible for all issues of development and infrastructure of the school.”
Shenoy applauds the university’s administration, and is proud of the university’s success in a few short decades.
“Our law school is now in the top 30 or 35 percent in the nation,” Shenoy said. “I hope this board can continue to do more of the same work we’ve done in the past four years and continue to make George Mason University one of the best universities people can go to. I love this position.”

DELASKI CURRENTLY serves as president of the Sallie Mae Fund, one of the nation’s largest nonprofits geared toward helping low-income and minority families pay for secondary education. Prior to her position as president, deLaski served as the senior vice president and chief communications officer for the for-profit Sallie Mae organization.
“I’m still getting to know the president of the university," said deLaski, who looks forward to the opportunity to serve the university.
“I would like to help in the efforts of broadening the cross section of families who have access to the premiere university in our area and help widen the spectrum of families who gain access to George Mason University and what it has to offer,” deLaski said. “I think this is going to be great.”

Mythic reality

Photography artist Vidya Kamat says we all need myths to live by

Mumbai : SHE grew up surrounded by mythology and the countless traditions and rituals that go with it. Later, her keen interest in the subject led her to a doctorate degree in Comparative Mythology. Today, in her second solo exhibition—Rewrite at the Museum Gallery, on till July 24—Vidya Kamat analyses how memories of certain traditional ceremonies shape people as grown-ups.

‘‘We need myths to live by. They add an element of magic in our lives,’’ says the Mumbai-based artist who believes that even in our contemporary society myths don’t disappear, they only transform to the urban setting.
So naturally, Kamat’s series is based on myths of three urban women—her sister, her friend and herself. ‘‘The way in which certain events are engraved in our memory, highlighting certain details and leaving others behind, shapes how we feel about them today,’’ says Kamat .

Using photographs and reproducing them in Photoshop in different lights, which highlight certain parts of the picture and camouflage others, Kamat has managed to create an intriguing pictorial representation of a childhood memory.

For the exhibition however, she has borrowed from the Nepali tradition of kumari puja, where the young girl is dressed in the finery of a goddess. The resulting image shows an adult Kamat projected in the get-up of a Nepali kumari, creating a sense of the skewed reality we live in today. ‘‘On one hand we are urban and global and on the other we have the legacy of traditions that have become part of our psyche,’’ she explains.

Myths are vital to our existence, says Kamat. ‘‘They give us strength to deal with our lives.’’

B R Bhat New GM of Corporation Bank

Mangalore:Bantwal Ramanath Bhat has been promoted as the General Manager of Corporation Bank with effect from July 18.
According to a press release, Bhat joined the Bank in the year 1972 as clerk and later was promoted to the cadre of officer in 1977.

In his service of over 33 years, Bhat has worked in various capacities in different parts of the country including Dandeli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Greater Kailash-New Delhi, Panjim and Bandra branches before he was posted as Regional Head of Goa zone.

He later worked as Regional Head of Gujarat zone.

Bhat was the recipient of Chairman’s Club award for nine years, Super-Ordinate Goal Award for Seven years and had won Best Branch (Four years) and Regional Leadership Award (Two years) for the outstanding performance in various recognition schemes of the Bank.

In his new assignment, Bhat will handle Recovery Management, Credit Risk Management and Legal Services Divisions of the Bank. He is an old student of Shri Venkataramana Swamy School and College, Bantwal.

He is also chairman of the Public Relations Society of India, Mangalore-Manipal chapter.

Kamat group lines up hotels in Konkan

The Kamat group of hotels has decided to set up a chain of bed and breakfast hotel facilities, a five star 'Orchid' ecotel, four star and three star hotel facilities as well as a hotel management and research centre in the Konkan region.

Vithal Venkatesh Kamat said: "We have identified seven locations on the Mumbai-Sawantwadi roadway where simple overnight accommodation with a clean toilet and vegetarian food will be available. These facilities will be strategically located at 90-minute-drive intervals along the entire Konkan stretch."

While this is aimed at middleclass Indian tourists visiting the Konkan region, the Kamat group of hotels also intends to set up four-star facility hotels in the region, including the second five star project in the region that is close to the construction phase.

"The Kamat group also intends to set up the Kamat Hotels Institute of Hotel Management and Research Centre (KHIHMRC) in Sawantwadi to cater to the needs of a mushrooming hotel industry that is coming up in the Konkan region," Kamat said.

The Kamat group's plan has left Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) officials pleased. "The Kamat group's plan to set up facilities in the region goes to endorse our (MTDC's) confidence in the tourism potential of the Konkan region," MTDC managing director Bhushan Gagrani said.

Meanwhile, Cidade-da-Goa has got its proposal for setting up a 'boutique' five star hotel just off the Arvali beach front cleared by the Coastal Regulation Management Authority (CRMA).

The 'boutique' hotel will offer a 'swimming pool with every room' facility. The project will be 100 acres of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) land given to Fomento Resorts Pvt Ltd (owners of Cidade-da-Goa) on a 90-year lease.

MTDC managing director Bhushan Gagrani said: "The CRMA clearance has been issued to the hotel project. The proposal is currently being processed by the Union Environment ministry."

MTDC is currently developing the Konkan region as a tourist attraction with a houseboat facility to be launched on the Kudal-Tarkarli creek post Diwali.

Mayor of Sawantwadi Deepak Kesarkar says: "Sawantwadi (in Konkan) is barely a couple of hours drive from Goa. We are keen to promote the 10 to 15 beaches in the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri talukas of the Konkan region as they are pristine, clean and comprise high quality white sand. Beaches like Shirod, Aravli, Vengrula, Khavme, Bhogne, Nenti, Mid-bhau and Kunkeshwar offer tourists a less populated holiday option than Goa."

Konkani music creates a flutter

KOZHIKODE, KERALA: Melodious Konkani songs resonated in the city as the Shobaan Konkani Sangeeth Vedi organised its 4th quarterly musical evening at Saraswathi Kala Kunj on Sunday evening.

Shobaan, an organisation aimed at propagating songs in Konkani language, regularly conducts its programmes, where songs in other languages are also sung.

The highlight of Sunday’s programme was a traditional Konkani song ‘Uttare Krishna Velu Jalle’ sung by eight-year-olds Ashwin Naik and Greeshma and seven-year-old Kavya.

A patriotic song ‘Annae Dithali Bhoomi’ performed by youngsters Aishwarya Naik, Anitha P Shenoy, Varsha N Rao, Sooraj Naik and Reshmi Naik was also well-appreciated.

The musical evening, which began with a performance by keyboard artist N Suresh Kumar, was also marked by performances by Asha Jayakumar, Pushpa Mallan, Shoba Anil Naik, Anil Babu Ramdas, Sujatha Sampath Naik, Ratna Jagadish, S Devadas Shenoy, Shoba Umanath Rao, Anitha P Shenoy, Rekha Ravindra Pai, Jayram Baliga, Prabhakar Rao and Hema Giriraj.

Notable among the other songs performed was ‘Mellaego Makka Ram Roopi Dhan Mellae’, a translation of the popular Hindi bhajan, ‘Payoji Meine Ram Ratan Dhan Paya’, done by Sunithi S Rao. It was recited by Hema Giriraj.

A group song describing the atrocities committed by the Portuguese when they attacked Goa and took several women and children prisoners gave a historical touch to the evening. The song, ‘Vaige Mayi Tumi Ithule Diwasu’, was sung in a question-and-answer format.

The orchestra at the musical evening, which was compered by Nandini Kamath, was led by Pramodh Shenoy. The Shobaan, whose programmes are confined to organising musical evenings now, will expand its activities soon, said office-bearers G R Jayakumar and Anil Naik J.

Platform for young dancers

The Karnataka Nritya Kala Parishat conducted the Annual Ankura Festival last week, at the Yavanika auditorium. The parishat gave a platform to 12 upcoming dancers, who have completed their Ranga Pravesha. It is a very good scheme to promote young artistes and gauge the art scene of the current society. The festival was held in collaboration with the Directorate of the Kannada and Culture and the Department of Youth Services and Sports.

Kannika Kini, who gave a Bharathanatya recital in the Ankura festival on Tuesday, is a disciple of Parul Sastry. She opened the programme with Ananda Natanam which gave her a good start. She performed the celebrated Varna Sakhiye, convincingly. She executed the well knit varna with ease and confidence which was proof of her good training. She concluded with a Jakkini which was another attraction of her recital.

Former AIKP president R K Rao Passes away

Mangalore:Raghunath Krishna Rao, 91, popularly known as R.K. Rao, former president of the All-India Konkani Parishad, died on Sunday. He had been admitted to a private nursing home with cardiac problems, according to a press release issued by K. Gokuldas Prabhu, secretary of the parishad here on Friday.

Prof. Rao, who was a qualified homoeopath, was imprisoned for participating in the freedom struggle. He retired as professor of Hindi at St. Albert's College, Kochi.

Prof. Rao established the Konkani Language Institute in 1975. The institute published a collection of Konkani folk songs from Kerala compiled by him. The Central Sahitya Akademi published his translation of the "History of Malayalam Literature" into Konkani. He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1991 for translating the Malayalam classic Randingazhi. He also translated the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural and the famous Malayalam bhakti poem "Jnanappana."

Konkani Academy Awards Conferred on Three Outstanding Achievers

"Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy deserves to be applauded for realizing the dream of teaching Konkani in the schools from the next academic year. I personally hail the efforts taken by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario in realizing this long standing dream of lacs of Konkani speaking people of the region," said Pundalik Naik, president of the Goa Konkani Sahitya Academy.

He was speaking after presenting the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Honorary Awards-2004 to three outstanding achievers who have served Konkani in a marvelous way throughout their life, Gladys Rego, Felix Saldanha and Narayana Kharvi. The function was held at ‘Kumara Gandharva Rangamandir’ at Belgaum.

Gladys has been one of foremost women writers of Konkani for almost 3 decades now. She is an exception to commonly held belief that there are no good and competent female writers in Konkani. Felix Saldanha needs no introduction. He has carved a niche for himself as "Fel" of most famous Konkani comedy trio "Dol, Fel Chal", besides being a theatre personality and a make-up artiste. Narayana Kharvi is an embodiment of folklore in Konkani.

Belgaum MLA Laxman Kudchi, who was the guest of honour of the programme appealed to former chief minister Veerappa Moily, former KPCC president Janardhan Poojary and cabinet minister R V Deshpande who were present on the occasion put efforts in raising the annual grant to the Konkani Academy. He hailed Konkani as one of the rare languages, which is commonly used by the Hindus, Muslims as well as Christians.

Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario was present on the occasion. Academy registrar Dr Duggappa Kajekar welcomed the gathering. Academy member Vincent Alva compered the programme. The programme came to an end with a "Siddi' dance by 'Siddi Samskratika Kala Mela', Yellapur.