INTERVIEW WITH Trupty Somaiah By B.C. Thimmaiah

Trupty Somaiah occupies a distinctive realm within the digital and traditional art landscape. Primarily focused on creating and customising art and design, her works stand as a captivating study in contrasts and intricate detail, predominantly exploring shades of black and white.

Her artworks have been exhibited in galleries of major cities worldwide including New York, Miami, Tokyo, Milan, Rome, Toronto, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi and Bengaluru.

In a candid conversation at Star of Mysore office, Trupty Somaiah delves into her career as an artist, her experiences collaborating with clients and the profound impact of digital art on society and culture. Read on…

Star of Mysore (SOM): When did you decide to pursue art as a career and what led you to focus your work on the digital realm?

Trupty Somaiah: I have an art background and after a long hiatus, I rediscovered my passion in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I initially returned to art through dot work, using a pen for convenience. At first, I created pieces for myself, but as I shared them online, I received positive feedback and requests for commissioned artwork. I started using an iPad and this enabled me to explore customised art further and I found that I excelled in this area.

As my online presence grew, I came across the ‘Plated Project,’ a competition seeking digital format artworks and I transformed my traditional pieces into digital copies. To my surprise, I won, prompting me to make my profile public. This opened doors to the digital realm.

SOM: Can you elaborate on  traditional and digital art?

Trupty: In essence, my traditional artwork involves meticulous, hand-drawn pieces bursting with colour and intricacy, crafted painstakingly.

This method demands intense focus and concentration, often feeling akin to a meditative practice. It also takes time and is hard to  find buyers.

Though I seamlessly transitioned between traditional and digital mediums, I concentrated on digital art and found financial stability by venturing into the realm of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).

SOM: What are your primary sources of inspiration?

Trupty: They stem from the strength and courage inherent in women, qualities often underrepresented but present in every woman. I am drawn to beauty in various forms, from the elegance of a meticulously arranged pile of books to the symmetry found in everyday objects.

Additionally, I find inspiration in ordinary objects like bottles and flowers, often combining them in unexpected ways to create compelling compositions. At first, my artistic exploration was confined to specific themes, but now I revel in the freedom to explore diverse subjects.

SOM: Describe your art process between ideation and finalisation.

Trupty: The process begins with identifying the emotion I aim to convey through the piece. Whether it’s beauty, sadness, excitement or any other emotion, this initial decision sets the tone for the entire composition.

I start by researching and deeply studying reference images, focusing on realistic elements that can evoke the desired mood or emotion. Once I gather inspiration, I move on to creating rough sketches and composing the images.

I often employ the rule of thirds — dividing the canvas into thirds vertically and horizontally, aligning key elements according to the natural movement of the viewer’s gaze. This technique helps emphasise focal points and build around the central concept of the artwork.

Despite lacking formal training beyond my art background, this approach allows me to express myself authentically and connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level.

SOM: How do you balance artistic expression and client demands?

Trupty: While artistic freedom can sometimes be limited by client specifications, I’ve been fortunate to attract clients who appreciate my unique style and seek artwork based on it. However, I also enjoy embracing challenges and finding a balance between my artistic expression and the client’s requirements.

SOM: How do you see digital art shaping society and culture in the long term?

Trupty: Traditional oil paintings were considered the pinnacle of artistic expression. With the emergence of digital art and now the advent of AI-based art, there is an understandable apprehension and insecurity among traditional artists.

It’s important to recognise that different art forms do not threaten each other; rather, they often complement one another and contribute to the rich diversity of artistic expression.

I feel by embracing change and evolving alongside new developments while maintaining a solid artistic foundation, artists can continue to thrive and excel in an ever-evolving artistic landscape.

SOM: What role does technology play in your artistic endeavours?

Trupty: Technology has revolutionised every aspect of my artistic journey, from the initial ideation phase to the final sale of my work. Without the reach of technology, my art would have remained confined to a limited audience, but through online platforms, I’ve been able to garner global recognition.

Whether it’s inquiries from New York, Malaysia, Singapore or other distant places, social media serves as the primary avenue through which people reach out to me to inquire about my work.

SOM: Tell us about your aspirations and the road ahead.

Trupty: It’s essential to realise that there are numerous paths to success and fulfilment beyond traditional professions like engineering or medicine.

I want to inspire others and to live authentically, pursue my dreams and find fulfilment in every aspect of my life, regardless of external pressures or expectations.

The post Beyond the BRUSH appeared first on Star of Mysore.

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Former IAS Officer and Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Rathi Vinay Jha, a Kodavathi from Codanda family, has initiated a project to create a Virtual Museum on Kodava Heritage and Culture. Called ‘Sandooka,’ the Virtual Museum will be a repository of information on the heritage and culture of Kodavas through photographs and videos and would serve as an informative and interactive platform for the community in India and the diaspora, researchers and knowledge-seekers and others all over the world.

Notably, as the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, she has conceptualised the Kodava Heritage Centre with a Kod­ava Museum that is taking shape at K. Badaga village in Madikeri and also released funds from the Union Government for the purpose way back in 2004. However, the Heritage Centre is yet to be completed due to bureaucratic tangles and lack of will power by the elected representatives.

 Rathi Vinay Jha is the sister of Codanda G. Somiah, who served as the eighth Comptroller and Auditor General of India and was known for his honesty and impeccable career record. She spoke to Star of Mysore about ‘Sandooka’ Virtual Museum, its intention and present status, how it will benefit the Kodava community and how it will showcase the rich and thriving heritage of the Kodavas. —Excerpts:

Star of Mysore (SOM): Can you please explain the concept of ‘Sandooka,’ the Virtual Museum on Kodava Heritage and Culture?

Rathi Vinay Jha: Sometime in early 2021, I initiated a project to create a virtual museum on Kodava Heritage and Culture. ‘Sandooka’ means a treasure chest. So, the concept of ‘Sandooka’, the Virtual Museum, is to be a repository of the treasured knowledge and memories of the land and people of Kodagu. It is conceived as an interactive online space to showcase the rich and thriving heritage of Kodavas, offering a glimpse into their history, customs and culture. It would continue to keep open to active contributions from the community and others interested in the subject.

SOM: Is the Virtual Museum part of Kodava Heritage Centre being built in Madikeri? What is the Virtual Museum’s USP and how can it be a treasure trove of live, authentic and tangible information?

Rathi Vinay Jha:  Virtual Museum has no connection at all to the Kodava Heritage Centre being set up in Madikeri by the Government of Karnataka. Virtual Museum is a standalone online site that aims to showcase many aspects of Kodagu: The land, its people and its unique culture.

During COVID pandemic, the concept of virtual museums became popular. There were a number of museums including Government-run ones in India that worked towards digitising their collections. Simultaneously, virtual museums as repositories of information with videos and photographs showcasing various subjects also came up. 

It is on these lines that a Virtual Museum on Kodava heritage and culture was initiated to act as an informative and interactive platform for the community, the diaspora, researchers and knowledge-seekers. Such museums are created with community participation and on the basis of coordinated research on existing domain knowledge of the history of the land and its communities.

SOM: What is the present status of Virtual Museum project?

Rathi Vinay Jha: The project is still in progress. We have had some trials and also reviews by domain experts in Kodagu and there are some regulatory requirements to be completed. So, there is still work to be done before we launch it. And even after it is launched, the exercise to update constantly, bring in new information and arrange interaction on subjects of relevance and interest will continue. It is conceived to be a continuing and dynamic repository of stories and other information.

SOM: How are well-known Kodava writers and researchers helping in the project and how is the documentation being done? This is in the light of only minimum literature available on authentic Kodava culture, heritage and traditions.

Rathi Vinay Jha: We have reached out to many sources for documentation and presentation on different aspects of interest. It is not limited to information available in just literature. It is laudable, however, to see the kind of research and writing that many Kodavas and others have carried out in the past years.

I salute persons like Boverianda Chinnappa (late) and Nanjamma Chinnappa for their contribution to enriching our knowledge of the ‘Pattole Palame’ and the interesting histories of our families and the Ainmanes. Books like those on Victoria Gowramma and the more recent stories and essays on Coorg by C.P. Belliappa offer a wealth of information and easy reading. 

The project team has on board some young Kodavas to help coordinate. One of them is Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, who is a young Kodava writer. Our young team is guided constantly by our advisors. Even while there is a lot written to date, there is never any point when research, documentation and knowledge-seeking should stop. There is always some new learning when stories are told. When the project is launched, it will be our intention that the repository of information aims to be extensive and useful. We have advisors from the community with domain expertise as well as excellent tech professionals in Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality who will ensure this.

SOM: Though modernisation has opened many opportunities for well-qualified Kodavas, it has also distanced the young from their heritage and culture. How does this Virtual Museum propose to bridge the gap?

Rathi Vinay Jha: Today, social media in its many avatars reaches every corner of this earth and gives every one of us an opportunity to share knowledge, to share stories and invite interaction.

In the last decade-plus supported by strides in technology, there are many websites, YouTube posts, video talks and contests on the community, hosted by young Kodavas. It is a live environment showcasing our history, language, customs, etc. Let us celebrate this rich offering that young Kodavas in India and abroad have offered. The Virtual Museum hopes to complement these efforts. 

As I have explained, ‘Sandooka’ will be a living museum that is interactive, continuously growing and participatory. We all must admire, appreciate and support each new offering, be it an attempt to get together the largest community gathering or to felicitate our youths, or be it an occasion to connect all Kodavas. Let us take pride in talking about Kodagu and Kodavas. And make use of every media in this world of media- miracle to enable this to happen. Let each one contribute to this possibility.

SOM: You mentioned that the Virtual Museum is a living museum. Do you propose to use social media posts like videos and posts uploaded by young Kodavas to make it more appealing to the young crowd and to carry forward the legacy?

Rathi Vinay Jha: Once the Virtual Museum is launched, it will not only use the social media channels but also invite contributions on subjects of interest from Kodavas, young and old as well as domain experts and researchers. This is not just to make it interesting but to make the knowledge spread as relevant to our young and to future generations. We must spread the knowledge about our land and people, especially for the future. Otherwise, there are dangers of getting disconnected from our roots and forgotten.

SOM: How was the response from the community when information, knowledge, resources and artefacts were called from the community to set up the Virtual Museum? Can you shed light on the funding aspect?

Rathi Vinay Jha: We have had excellent responses and support from the community.  I am grateful to all those who have contributed in different ways. We will be acknowledging all of them. As you know, Kodavas have oral traditions and there can be minor differences in the rendering of stories on customs and traditions in our ‘Okkas.’

It is fortunate that we have some collectors of artefacts in Kodagu and they have come forward to collaborate with the project. We have also documented some family festivals, songs, dances and customs. A number of elders and families were kind to support us with information and permission to photograph events. When it is a community effort, people come forward to help and I believe Kodavas have always welcomed persons who want to know about us. From the perspective of ‘Sandooka,’ we have also respected persons who have wanted certain aspects of rituals not to be filmed, etc.

The initial funding for the project came from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grants from a corporate firm and from a Coorg-based NGO. But funding to support this effort has to continue and we need to plan for the future of the museum. So, we are in the process of planning to ensure that the way forward is smooth and successful.

SOM: Deviating from the topic, the Kodava Heritage Centre being built at Madikeri is still a work-in-progress project even after 19 years, despite your conceptualisation, initial push and fund release way back in 2004. What do you have to say to this?

Rathi Vinay Jha: Yes, this project has been languishing all these years. The land was allotted by the Kodagu DC only around 2010 and the building is almost ready. The project has been delayed because of bureaucratic apathy and delayed funding. I have mentioned in one of my earlier interviews with your newspaper that the leaders of the Kodava community, the Kodava Samajas and the political representatives from Kodagu must make a concerted bid to get the attention of the Government to get the museum curated and launched. Kodagu is today a star attraction for tourism and Kodavas are proud of a unique culture that can be showcased. And to curate the museum, there is the excellent example of the General K.S. Thimayya Museum, located in Madikeri. The DC, Kodagu, oversaw the entire exercise in a highly professional manner, with monitoring by a group of Kodava ex-defence personnel. I would urge our ruling party MLAs and community leaders to work towards this last mile to see that the museum gets completed. It has to be a community  effort to make it happen.

Attention all Kodavas !

Whither Kodava Heritage Centre?

As we publish this interview, it is unfortunate that the Kodava Heritage Centre in Madikeri, first envisioned by the person interviewed here, Mrs. Rathi Vinay Jha, IAS, is still an eyesore of work-in-slow-progress project.

In these days of vanishing Kodavas, in Kodagu land, this project is one of the ways to preserve and protect all that is there as part of Kodava culture and heritage with its geographical identity to this land of hills and valleys in the womb of rich rain forests of the Western Ghats of India. This is the time for reviving the vanishing Kodava culture and heritage by delving into its folklore, archaeology and history. This should be the period of renaissance of Kodavas. Let every Kodava man be a renaissance man with a sense of pride and joy.

In a democratic country, this kind of renaissance is possible only with the blessings of the Government. Sadly, the local Kodagu BJP MLAs, who represented Kodagu for the last 25 years and boasted of Hindutva and its protection, did not take this project seriously and see where it is today. — Editor

The post Sandooka Virtual Museum: Chronicling Kodava heritage through photographs and videos appeared first on Star of Mysore.

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Going on group journeys on motorbikes to explore unexplored places is commonplace but a solo ride along India’s borders, covering 21,000 kilometres without touching any metro city, that too on a 33-year-old bike,  is commendable.

The feat has been accomplished by a 44-year-old Mysuru-born rider Sandeep N. Ananthaprakash, presently a resident of Bengaluru.

He used the Yezdi Roadking Classic bike KA-09-E-2189, 1990 model manufactured by Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd., which had a major production unit at Yadavagiri in Mysuru. Sandeep is the first person to achieve this gruelling tough road challenge along India’s borders on a Yezdi.

Calling his roading ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ ride marking the 75th year of Independence in 2022, Sandeep set out from his home on Sept. 27, 2022, and reached the Kerala border of Kannur on Sept. 28 and ended his journey at Kannur on Nov. 24 — 58 days, covering 21,000 kilometres. His additional message of the journey was ‘Save Vintage and Classic Vehicles.’

Unmatched level of endurance

“At a time when there is a rule to scrap vehicles that are more than 15 years old, I wanted to demonstrate the fact that no matter how old these motorcycles manufactured in India (Mysuru, my hometown) are, they are still tough and rugged mean machines that can take on any challenge and have an unmatched level of endurance.

Sandeep is a veteran biker and has been doing road trips for over 22 years. “I had a passion for travel since childhood and my first rides were on a bicycle from my home in Vidyaranyapuram to Chamundi Hill and Karighatta Hill in Srirangapatna. I always connected with nature. Ideal Jawa is my dream bike and I own four of them in sparkling showroom condition,” he says proudly.

So, what made him choose a border journey? It is just for adventure thrill and doing the feat no one has achieved so far. “After a bike trip to Leh-Ladakh, I wanted to explore places like Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Rann of Kutch. So I decided on a border journey and I was determined from the beginning that I will not touch any metro city,” Sandeep reveals.

Second-hand bike

Sandeep purchased the bike from a Bank Manager 15 years back and has not done any alterations. “I have maintained the vehicle in showroom condition and only the front suspension has been changed for this particular long ride. When I started making the routing, Google maps showed me 23,000 kilometres with an extra 2,000 to 3,000 kilometres. That would cost me Rs. 3.5 lakh. I reached out to many Biking Clubs in Mysuru, Bengaluru, Ooty and Tamil Nadu but help did not come from any quarter,” he says.

“I had to sell another Yezdi bike where I managed to raise Rs. 1.5 lakh and the rest came from my personal funds, and support from friends and family. Motul India sponsored the oil and lubricants for my entire journey and I am indebted,” he says with a smile.

Extreme weather conditions

Giving a peek into his journey, Sandeep said that he has seen extreme weather from temperate, medium hot to extremely hot and biting cold. “While the temperature at the borders of the South is at least bearable, the weather at the borders of Gujarat (Rann of Kutch), Punjab, Wagah border with Pakistan, and Longewala is extreme and hovers above 41 degrees Celsius sweltering heat. I hit Leh after Punjab which was minus 11 degrees Celsius and snowed heavily. Due to snowfall, I could not go to Nubra Valley and returned to Srinagar and came to Pathankot and entered Bareilly in UP,” he exclaims.

From UP, he moved to Sikkim and covered West Sikkim and North Sikkim as there is China border on both sides. “I entered Arunachal Pradesh and again hit the China border Bum La Pass and reached Zero Point (China border). I later entered West Bengal and one night, the carrier of my bike was cut on the highway. It was dark and I had a contact in Kolkata. He connected me to the Biker Club in a nearby town. I was asked to come to 17 kms and somehow, I reached where they fixed the carrier and welded the metal,” he discloses.

Strong biker community in N-E

The biker community in North-East is aggressive. “Our Biking Clubs can in no way match their united spirit. Notably, all are very helpful and kind-hearted. From West Bengal, I entered Assam and reached the West Bengal border and reached Nagaland where I got the contact of a Royal Enfield Bullet Club. They waited for me on the road in the middle of the night, booked a hotel room and brought food from their homes,” he reveals.

“They drew another route with all the guiding points as most of the areas in the Seven Sisters States are under the control of the Indian Army. And some of the areas had impenetrable and dangerous jungles. They contacted other Bike Clubs to give me new routing. As a result, my border travel was reduced by 1,000 kilometres,” Sandeep says.

Harsh ride for six days

The entire North-East is seeing unprecedented development and he had to face a tough time riding for over six days as he had to travel in dry areas where rocks were being cut. “My bike had to bear a lot of pressure and I had carried some spare parts that weighed over 250 kgs. Usually, I prefer touring in peak monsoon as I love nature and nature will be at its best in monsoon. I avoid dry off-roading. Here, I used all my skills learnt over the years to navigate the hostile road,” he says.

Sandeep later entered the Odisha Highway and the right-side shock absorber got cut and Odisha (Bhubaneswar) was 260 kms from that place. I reached Kharagpur and got a contact of another mechanic at Bhubaneswar and somehow managed to travel 260 kilometres and it was a Highway. The mechanic was a 70-year-old person and he felt very happy to see me, my bike and my adventure. He changed both the shock absorbers as the left side shock absorber too was on the verge of getting cut,” he reveals. 

Overnight journey of 1,064 kms

Next Sandeep crossed Andhra Pradesh and reached Chennai in an overnight journey and covered 1,064 kilometres. “When sleep pulled me, I stopped on the Highway for tea and continued. I reached Mahabalipuram and rested for 2 days and came to Danushkodi, Rameswaram and covered Kanyakumari,” he says.

He entered Kochi and reached Kannur on Nov. 24, ending his 58-day solo bike ride. He then entered Kodagu and reached Bengaluru via Mysuru. On his food and accommodation arrangements, Sandeep says that the west coast was not pleasing in terms of food and it was expensive. “I used to avoid oily and non-vegetarian food. Water in the North-East was the best as it came from mineral-rich natural springs by the side of the roads,” he reveals.

“I preferred hot and fresh-cooked food with locally grown vegetables. I stayed at budget hotels where there is space for bike parking. On many highways, I stayed at dhabas in the rope beds and I also carried a sleeping bag. I stayed outside dhabas at places in Rajasthan, Jammu, Nagaland, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh,” he says.

Sandeep has been an aggressive roadie for 22 years. “I prefer monsoon biking. It is an exhilarating experience with a lush green forest and with cloud movement. It is like indulging with the nature — risky but worth the effort,” he says.

Fuel mixing only possible in Yezdi

At Rann of Kutch, Sandeep had fuel to last 250 kms and he missed a road to travel 45 kms extra. “I had to go back and I had wasted 90 kms of fuel while entering Punjab. I had another 38 kms to reach the nearest petrol station. It was just one straight road and salt lakes on both sides — neither a soul nor a shop. I did not have fuel for 18 kms. Fortunately, I met a Sardarji truck driver and requested for diesel,” Sandeep recounts.

 “The Sardarji gladly gave me half a litre and I mixed the fuel. When I reached the nearest fuel station, I just had 100 grams of fuel. Only a Yezdi Roadking can take mixed fuel. If it was any other four-stroke vehicle, I would have suffered in a deserted Highway,” he says. 

 Looking back, Sandeep says that his pride in his Yezdi has increased manifold. “I am ready to travel even one lakh kilometres now and I am sure that my bike will withstand this,” he says.

Sandeep lives in Bengaluru with his wife Hamsa Bhargavi, who works for Biocon. They have a daughter Keerthana, a sixth standard student.

The post 21,000 km on a 33-year-old Yezdi appeared first on Star of Mysore.

By B.C. Thimmaiah

All of 37, Mayur Subbaiah, once a part of India’s medal-winning hockey team, now takes pride in working for the South Western Railways as Deputy Chief Inspector. He was a vital cog in Indian hockey as a drag specialist and an expert in penalty corner conversion.

Mayur might not have been born under a lucky star as the most sought-after Indian hockey player, but he has made his mark in the Indian Hockey arena and his love for the game and sense of duty keeps him going. He continues his passion for the game and does not miss a chance to wield the hockey stick and wants to do something worthwhile for his home district of Kodagu, the cradle of hockey.

Born to Bollajira Jaya Subbaiah and Rathi Subbaiah at Balaji village in South Kodagu on 18.7.1986, Mayur did his primary at Lions School, Gonikoppal from 1990 to 1995 and later went to Bangalore to join Junior Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in 1996 for hockey selection and he was the youngest and talented player.

He did his schooling at St. Joseph’s Indian High School from Seventh to Tenth Standard and played for several School, District, State and National-level School games. His position in the game was right half and back. Coach Manohar Katige recognised Mayur’s talent and game skills and motivated him. “I hold him in great respect and fondly recall the memories of Manohar Sir who groomed me,” Mayur reveals.

Making the mark very young

“I used to dream of playing for the Karnataka Team and later on Indian Team. I was the youngest player in the school team and many seniors and my coach encouraged me and I had a chance to play for the senior SAI Team in my ninth standard itself. I worked hard and got selected for senior SAI team in 2000 and was a regular player for that team,” he says.

“I saw many senior players on the SAI campus and my inspiration was Anjaparavanda B. Subbaiah, the former Indian hockey goalkeeper and coach. His passion, confidence and positive attitude further motivated me and I had a deep desire of wearing the Indian jersey. At SAI, I saw many Indian top players play like Dhanraj Pillai, Ashish Ballal, Sabu Varkey, Prabhjot Singh and Baljit Singh in action and that was inspirational,” he recalls.

Mayur has played for several Sub-Junior Karnataka, Junior Karnataka and Senior Karnataka hockey teams and he was a specialist in drag-flick. He has played multiple nationals in all categories Under-16, Under-19 and Senior National. He was a part of the Sub-Junior India team in Singapore in 1999 and emerged winners, played for Junior Indian Hockey Team Under-21 match in Dhaka in 2004 and was in the World Cup Under-21 in Chennai.

Lost out due to political lobbying

Though he had a vast experience in playing, Mayur could not play much for India due to political lobbying. “I was best in the ground and was the best in drag-flick and dribbling and no one could match my skills. Still, the selectors preferred some other players over me and this demotivated me. But I managed to make my mark in Indian hockey, despite the politics played by the selectors to include their family members in the national team. If I had support then at my peak, I would have been an ex-Olympian now,” Mayur says with a wry smile.  

Mayur was upgraded to the senior SAI camp at the young age of 17. “Len Aiyappa taught me the drag-flick (penalty corner conversion). It involves a player crouching down low next to the ball. It is then picked up by the shaft of the hockey stick and pushed along the ground, while the stick acts like a sling. This helps accelerate the ball. These penalty corners are always taken by a specialist player, known as the drag-flicker. I am proud to say that drag-flick always falls upon the shoulders of someone who is proficient,” Mayur says with confidence.

Camp with commandos

A memorable experience was his time in the National Security Guard (NSG) 45-day Army fitness camp in Manesar with senior Indian hockey team probables where Mayur had the opportunity to play with Dhanraj Pillay, Jugraj, Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey and many more senior players. This was to make the players mentally tough and increase their endurance levels. “I got an A-1 certificate at the camp,” he adds.

“Being at Senior SAI, I was even playing for the Air India team, Bombay. Bombay was part of the Air India team and I got a job at South Central Railway (Secunderabad) when I was just 18 years and two months. I got through in talent quota and was directly appointed by the Railway Board, New Delhi in 2005 and was the youngest sportsperson of Railway Sports Promotion Board,” he recalls.

Contribution in the Railways teams

As the youngest employee in the Railways, playing for South Central Railway, he gained more experience and laurels and entered the Indian Railways Hockey Teams. Mayur played in All-India tournaments and Senior National Hockey tournaments to win several medals.

“I got the Best Player of the Year Award from the Railway Board. In 2007, I got a call from the Indian Hockey Federation for the Indian National Camp for Olympic Qualifiers Camp and Asia Cup. I got selected for the Asia Cup held in Chennai in 2007 and continued my hockey journey in the Indian Railways and South Central Railway. After playing many All-India tournaments and winning several medals, I got transferred from South Central Railway to South Western Railways,” he says.

“The South Western Railways is the nearest station to my native Kodagu. From 2012 to 2019, I played for this Division and had a successful hockey career for over 22 years. I am now concentrating on my duty as Deputy Chief Inspector. I have received many awards like the DRM Award, PCCM Award and even the GM Award. The motivation provided by the Railway administration helps me keep my dreams alive and every day is a learning experience. Whatever I am today is because of the Indian Railways,” he says.

On future plans, Mayur wants to give back to society. “I want to extend a helping hand to my village, my town, my land and my community which have brought me so much name and fame,” he signs off.

Words of praise from the mentor

“We have had drag-flickers in the team but they are not well-versed in other areas, but Mayur Subbaiah is exceptional. He has the uncanny ability to play in all areas, under any circumstance. If he is provided with a chance in the senior team, he will definitely make a world of difference. I coached Mayur when he was representing SAI and he does not lack in any area because he has got strong basics coming from SAI. His dedication to learning more in the game is tremendous. He has got the passion, is consistent, aggressive, hard-working and has the game.”

[Two-time Olympian and former Indian Goalkeeper Anjaparavanda B. Subbaiah said this about Mayur Subbaiah to a sports magazine]

The post All in the Game appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Most siblings remember friendly childhood challenges like, “I will race you to school” or “Catch me if you can.” But this brother and sister from Mysuru take that friendly competition to the next level by participating in Triathlons, an endurance sport where one has to Swim, Cycle and Run long distances.

Born to Dr. M.S. Prasad and Prabha Prasad, siblings Prajwal and Pragna say that it means a lot to have a family member while taking on tough tasks. While Prajwal is a BE Mechanical graduate from the National Institute of Engineering (NIE) and runs his own business, his sister Pragna is a medical student at A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangaluru. Prajwal and Pragna have both completed Ironman Triathlon events in Australia, New Zealand, Italy and India, a rare achievement. In this exclusive interview with Star of Mysore, Prajwal and Pragna spoke about their love for Triathlons and how it helps to have a sibling together in pursuing a goal. 

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Star of Mysore (SOM): Who introduced you to the sport?

Prajwal: My friend Ajit Tandur. He was not doing Triathlons per se but he used to run marathons, cycle and also swim. One day we just thought why not try the Triathlon style where you swim, cycle and run, one after the other.

So we would swim in the Sports Club, then cycle around Chamundi Hill and then run around the Race Course. We loved it. Then as we felt more confident, we decided to register for the 2014 Ironman 70.3, a Triathlon event in Australia. Unfortunately, Ajit could not come, so I went alone. To my surprise, I managed to complete the event which was a very encouraging start.

Pragna: I was into individual sports like swimming and running. I did not know what Triathlon was until Prajwal started and registered for Ironman 70.3. That’s when I felt I too should try it.

SOM: Triathlon is not well-known in India. Is that changing?

Prajwal: You are right but it is becoming popular now. We have a lot of runners and a lot of cyclers but Triathlon requires swimming also. In India, swimming is not to that level compared to Europe or Australia.  People here are still hesitant to swim in open waters. But the sport is catching up. If you see in 2019, just before COVID, there were five people from Mysuru who finished the Goa Ironman and they were featured in Star of Mysore. This time around, I think there are over 30 people from Mysuru participating in the Goa Ironman 70.3.

SOM: Is Triathlon an expensive sport?

Prajwal: Yes, it is an expensive sport because of the equipment and training time. The training and preparation needed to tackle the challenge is a mammoth task that will burn a hole in your pocket.

SOM:  When did you both decide to team up for the Ironman challenge?

Pragna: We did not decide to take on the Ironman challenge as a sibling thing. I started training when I saw Prajwal training for this event. I think we decided to participate together after we took part in the Australia Ironman 140.6 event. Till then it was nothing like a brother-sister team.

SOM: How do you balance training schedules and your profession or academics? 

Pragna: Many people say that if you are in the medical field, you can’t make time for other activities, but I have had no problem. It’s a balancing act, but it can be achieved if you truly love that activity and know how to schedule your time.

Prajwal:  I too don’t have much problem balancing the two. I like my day to be packed and so I start my day early at 5.30 am and my training from 6 am till about 8 am. Then I’m at work from 10 am to 5.30 pm after which I hit the gym for about an hour and a half. It is important how you manage time. If you have the passion, you will find a way to do it.

SOM: Did you have the opportunity to train with other international teams?

Prajwal: When I visited Australia in 2014, I trained with many of the teams and Triathlon groups there. My coach was in Australia and I stayed with him and I trained with one of the top teams in Brisbane. It was a good learning experience and I was just 19 at that time. Right now, my coach is Subramani Venkatesh and he is in the US. Pragna on the other hand trains on her own.

SOM: Can you talk about your diet and nutrition. 

Prajwal: We both are vegetarians. Actually, I don’t face any issues with the diet as I am staying with my parents. My sister on the other hand has it tough as she stays alone in Mangaluru, so she has to cook, train and study.

Pragna: Yes, it has been a little difficult for me and whatever diet and nutrition plan I follow, the entire credit goes to my mother. My mother was an athlete herself and she knows how important a consistent nutritious meal is for an athlete. She often sends dry fruit powders and stamina-building food to Mangaluru in the bus. She does whatever best she can do and I am really grateful.

SOM: How is it to spend thousands of miles on the road together?

Pragna: It is absolutely amazing for me to have my brother, Prajwal, enjoying the same sport I do. Not only is it fun to plan, train and compete but we also motivate each other.

During our first Full-Ironman, after about 90 kilometres I was close to giving up and I kind of passed out on the road.  I remember telling my brother, who stopped to get me water and make sure I was ok, that I wanted to quit and go back home, but he gave me a pep talk. After that for the next 90 kms, he just stuck with me, pushed me to stay in the competition and we completed the race. It was exhilarating.

Prajwal: One main thing is that when you are feeling demotivated or you are not in a mood to train, it helps tremendously if there is someone who can goad you to keep moving. So, it is a good thing to have someone in the family with you, who knows you.

SOM: This sport, is as much a mental challenge as well as physical.

Prajwal: I would say it is 30 percent physical and 70 percent mental. Initially your physical endurance is tested as you feel extreme discomfort leading to pain and fatigue; at this point you will feel like stopping. You will find yourself asking, “why did I sign-up for the event?”  or “Let me just quit.” In such a situation you need a strong mind to push your body and kickstart    that spirit to complete the race.

Pragna: In Triathlon when we swim, we do it alone, cycling also you do it alone. You can’t ride in groups. So, for the entire leg, say 70.3 km, 80 percent of the time you will be alone and you will be talking to yourself — so you need to talk to yourself to the finish line and for that your mind has to stay positive and strong.

SOM: Is there an element of sibling rivalry between you guys?

Prajwal: (Laughs) Not at all. That said, Pragna is much slower than I am so…

SOM: What does this sport mean to you?

Pragna: This sport has changed my life; it has given me mental strength and the travel really does give one confidence. Also, this sport has brought me closer to my brother and made me grateful for all the things my parents do for us.

Prajwal: It has helped me bond with my sister and appreciate my parents. Also, this sport keeps me fit and motivated. I hope to do an Ironman every year, let us see how it goes. 

SOM: How many Mysureans have completed a Full-Ironman challenge?

Prajwal: There are only three people who have done an entire Ironman — my sister Pragna, myself and Dr. Usha Hegde.

The post Iron-Siblings appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Exclusive interview with Krishna Devaraya of Anegundi Samsthanam

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Krishna Devaraya is the 19th descendant of Anegundi Samsthanam and Vijayanagar rulers from the Aravidu dynasty. He has done enormous conservation work to ensure that future generations are made aware of royal traditions, culture and legends. One of his exemplary works was to restore the 250-year-old dilapidated Heere Deewan Mansion at Anegundi in Hospet Taluk. This Mansion has now been restored to its original splendour, thanks to his passion and firm resolve to restore heritage. Krishna Devaraya was in Mysuru recently to inaugurate the dolls exhibition organised by Ramsons Kala Pratishtana as part of Dasara festivities. Star of Mysore spoke to him about the glory of Dasara and also the importance of heritage. Excerpts:

Star of Mysore (SOM): Can you tell us about Dasara celebrations in Vijayanagar Empire? We have heard a lot about the Mahanavami Dibba. How is Dasara celebrated there now and on what scale?

Krishna Devaraya: Dasara at the Mahanavami Dibba was perhaps the grandest celebration in mediaeval India in terms of pomp and splendour. Every traveller describes it in great detail — especially about it being a grand spectacle which was unparalleled. At present, there is no public festival of Dasara at the Mahanavami Dibba. Though it is wished that the Dibba be used for its main purpose in the future — the celebration of Dasara. In Anegundi, the celebration of Dasara still continues on a very small scale.

SOM: How do you see the Dasara celebrations of the Government when compared to the grandeur, pomp and glory of the Dasara of the Kings and Queens?

Krishna Devaraya: The primary difference is the nature of the festival. The royal Dasara used to be a religious affair whereas Dasara is mostly a secular affair now with the head of the State not performing any major ritual worship of Devi. Also, earlier Dasara used to involve various games related to physical prowess — wrestling, archery, etc., and was a place for the men to display their achievements.

It has lost the ‘vira’ component almost completely now. Garadi Manes used to train wrestlers, especially for wrestling competitions during Dasara. Today, the Garadi Manes themselves are going into oblivion due to a lack of patronage. Whereas the Royal Dasara was about worship of Devi and patronage for various traditional artists, sports, etc., the Government celebration is more about a spectacle for tourist consumption.

SOM: Is there any major difference between the Dasara celebrations of Vijayanagar rulers and Mysore Wadiyars?

Krishna Devaraya: On the ritual front, they are one and the same. Dasara celebration was earlier restricted to the independent emperor in Southern India. As per shastras, worshipping Devi in this fashion in Sharad Navaratri is akin to performing an Ashvamedha yajna. The emperor used to perform the Dasara festival and his vassals would visit him to pay homage.

Also, seemollaanghana (cros-sing one’s border) to attack the enemy used to be done after Dasara celebrations. When Mysore Samsthana started their own Dasara, it was done to show that they have become independent rulers on their own after the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire. The rituals were followed rigorously. Only the scale of the celebration would be smaller as Mysore was but a fraction of the size of the erstwhile Vijayanagar Empire.

SOM: Does the royal family of Vijayanagar have any connection with the royal family of Mysore Wadiyars? If so, can you elaborate?

Krishna Devaraya: There are no marital relations with the Mysore family as far as I know. It is stated that the ruler of Srirangapatna was the father-in-law of Sri Krishna Raya and was given a position of pride during Dasara festivities — said so by Domingo Paes, who was a traveller from Portuguese India. But no other such relationship is mentioned after that generation.

SOM: You are the 19th descendant of Anegundi Samsthanam and Vijayanagar rulers and you have restored the Heere Deewan Mansion to its original splendour. This is a much-appreciated step at a time when of late people are forgetting their heritage. What do you have to say when it comes to preserving our heritage?

Krishna Devaraya: Firstly, heritage should not be destroyed. We have seen how the 1,000-pillared mandapa in Tirumala was destroyed by the Government in the name of development. If you cannot maintain something, at the very least, do not destroy it. Secondly, the budget allocation for the preservation of heritage in India is very low compared to the number of heritage structures we have.

The budget allocated to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is less than Rs. 1,500 crore per year. The Government should allocate more funds and also have a fund for heritage conservation to which donations shall be made 100 percent exempt (for Corporate Social Responsibility as well). Traditional architects and masons are becoming very rare now due to lack of opportunities.

The Government should have programmes for enabling these artisans to continue their traditional occupations. Proper maintenance and conservation work in our temples and other heritage buildings shall ensure that they continue to have a source of income. Heritage conservation should include the conservation of these traditions and the artisan families.

SOM: In Mysuru, there are two heritage buildings — Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building — that have been recommended to be demolished by the State Government. But the members of the Mysore royal family Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar are in favour of restoration. Since you have the experience of restoring Heere Deewan Mansion, what would be your take on this?

Krishna Devaraya: Of course, we are not in favour of the destruction of any heritage structure. Even from an environmental point of view, they are more sustainable than modern buildings. The heritage buildings, when maintained well, survive for centuries; the so-called modern RCC buildings do not even survive for one generation (average life expectancy is more than 75 years now).

This is not sustainable development. In terms of beauty, aesthetics and environmental conservation, it is always better to preserve heritage buildings instead of replacing them with modern hideous constructions.

SOM: There is a proposal to lease out the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion in Mysuru to the Government for 30 years. Do you think this is a wise move? And do you think the Government will do well in maintaining this heritage Mansion?

Krishna Devaraya: It is based on what the Government plans to do. Archaeological Department and traditional sthapatis should be involved to ensure that the heritage building is conserved properly. That should be the primary aim when it comes to such structures; everything else must be subservient to this goal.

SOM: Can you tell us about your family? The people of Mysuru would love to know.

Krishna Devaraya: I am the 19th descendant of Sri Krishna Deva Raya. I belong to the Aravidu Dynasty. I did my schooling at Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education, Pondicherry and completed my Mechanical Engineering at Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Davanagere in 1992. I worked in the USA for almost seven years and came back to India in 2008 after the demise of my father.

My parents are late Raja Sri Achyuta Devaraya and Rajamata Smt. Chandrakantha Devi. My mother belongs to the royal family of Narasinghgarh in Madhya Pradesh. I am married to Rani Rathnasree Raya and we have three children — a son and twin daughters. My son Tirumala Venkata Devaraya is doing his final year in History at Durham University, UK. My daughters Shiva Rayakumari and Krishna Rayakumari are studying in 10th grade at Isha Home School, Coimbatore.

The post Restore Heritage Structures Says Royal Descendant of Vijayanagar appeared first on Star of Mysore.

William Penn, India’s leading brand for premium writing instruments and lifestyle accessories recently acquired Sheaffer, the 110-year-old iconic American manufacturing company of writing instruments, mainly known for their luxury fountain pens.

In 1907, Walter A. Sheaffer invented an ink-loading system for fountain pens and W.A. Sheaffer Pen Company was incorporated in the US on May 16, 1913 and grew to spread its footprint in over 75 countries. With the Sheaffer ac quisition, William Penn has become a global brand.

Founder and Managing Director of William Penn Nikhil Ranjan, who is a Mysurean, always believed in the power of the written word. After getting a mechanical engineering degree in Mysuru, Nikhil thought out-of-the-box and founded William Penn in Bengaluru in 2002, to introduce the beauty of fine stationery. He launched a line of luxury stationery and soon, his business flourished. Today,  William Penn is also credited with bringingthe fountain pen and ink back from the brink and reclaiming its rightful place in fine writing. B.C. Thimmaiah of Star of Mysore spoke to him about the acquisition and what it means to William Penn. —Excerpts:

Star of Mysore (SOM): What do you have to say about this acquisition?

Nikhil Ranjan: Well, we have been in the business for the last 20 years and until now, we have been the retailer and distributor of global brands. This is an opportunity for us to own a global brand and that’s a big step for us. This allows us to design and market products across the world because Sheaffer is an iconic brand, it is a 110-year-old brand present in 75 countries. We will have a footprint in those countries and it is a huge leap.

We also believe that as a company which is home-grown, out of India and being a global brand, having the opportunity to design and market products to have an impact around the world is what excites us.

SOM: Many in Mysuru would not know that the William Penn brand was founded and established by a person who hails from Mysuru. Why not a store in Mysuru?

Nikhil Ranjan: In fact, we had a store in Mysuru at the Forum Mall which is now Nexus Mall and we had to shut that down during the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately. So, at the moment, we do not have a store in Mysuru. We have 25 stores across India all in the top Tier-I cities.

SOM: Any plans to set up a store in Mysuru, a Tier-II city?

Nikhil Ranjan: As of now, we are not planning to re-establish a store in Mysuru. Let the connectivity of the city with other cities improve, then we will see. Particularly, the Bengaluru-Mysuru connectivity must improve. Connectivity is the need of the hour. Especially in the light of what happened in a couple of days where a lake breached and a part of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Road was marooned. It was a real mess and to travel between the cities itself is a task.

SOM: Does William Penn provides everything related to writing?

Nikhil Ranjan: No, I don’t think it is a right thing to say. We are a retailer of premium brands of writing instruments and accessories. It is not about all writing as all writing is a vast sphere. We specialise in premium writing.

SOM: Since you specialise in premium writing products, how do you bridge the cost gap between the premium writing instrument and customers?

Nikhil Ranjan: Yes, there are many who use premium writing instruments for their day-to-day duties. I think premiumness is always about building aspirations. You aspire to own something premium. Like you look at a car. A basic car too does the job but you still aspire to own a premium car or a luxury car. We are talking about premium prices but not luxury prices. India is definitely a market for everything — for mass, premium and for luxury.

SOM: So, this acquisition is for the premium clientele?

Nikhil Ranjan: Yes, absolutely. Sheaffer is for the premium segment. Of course, you have brands like Montblanc in the luxury segment — upward of 25,000 and Rs. 30,000. There is a market for luxury brands also, for people who aspire to own that one day. However, we are in the premium segment starting at Rs. 1,000. Now like a car, this is a writing instrument. If you are using a writing instrument, you might as well use a premium one.

Another big driver of this kind of purchase is the gifting purpose. And India has many numbers of gifting occasions. It is because of that you know, products such as writing instruments are very nice and memorable articles for gifting.

SOM: We have seen many home-grown Indian companies acquiring companies in the US and in other countries. How does it feel for a person who comes from Mysuru to own a global brand?

Nikhil Ranjan: (Laughs). As I say that this was an opportunity that presented itself. We are truly excited to make an impact around the world. We also believe that it is a big responsibility too, to sustain the legacy of such an iconic brand. It is both an opportunity and a responsibility. And we believe that we are more than capable of something like this.

I remember those days when I was starting William Penn. Our vision was to provide our customers with a world-class experience in a category, hitherto unavailable in India. Working with a formidable global player like Sheaffer was a distant dream then. Years of hard work, passion and commitment to excellence have helped us achieve many milestones during our journey. Today, it gives me immense pride to say that we are one of the key global players in the writing instrument space.

The post Writing a new story in premium Pen business appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Having studied at AIISH Mysuru, Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda becomes the first Indian-American to occupy the top post

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda is a Professor (Adjunct) at Texas Tech Health Sciences and Chief Audiology Officer at National Hearing and Balance centres in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With more than 30 years of experience, he is now the President-Elect of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and he will have a three-year term from October 1, 2022.

Hailing from Kodagu and coming from a humble background, he did his B.Sc. in Speech and Hearing from the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH – 1970 batch), then under the University of Mysore. By becoming the first person of colour to head AAA, Dr. Bopanna has become a role model for many.

Star of Mysore caught up with Dr. Bopanna, who was on a short visit to Mysuru and spoke to him about his role in AAA, Mysuru memories and his family. Excerpts:

Star of Mysore (SOM): You have a three-year term and how do you propose to take forward the programmes of American Academy of Audiology (AAA)?

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: The American Academy of Audiology is the world’s largest professional organisation of, by and for audiologists. It is committed to advancing the science, practice and accessibility of hearing and balanced healthcare for our patients.

I am humbled and honoured to be elected by the members as the President-Elect and later the President of AAA. My role is to understand the issues and address them when I take charge. These opportunities and challenges vary from year to year. However, the Academy has set goals and agenda to further the profession and help audiologists achieve their highest potential.

SOM: You are the first Indian-American to occupy the top post of AAA. This is no mean feat and you studied at AIISH Mysuru. Do you have any fond memories of Mysuru?

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: I do have a lot of fond memories of Mysuru. Back then Mysuru was a quaint town with excellent opportunities for scholarly work, today too I hope it’s the same. I still cherish my time in Mysuru when I used to meet friends at the corner of crossroads (Somberi Katte) and talk for hours. I also fondly remember the joy I felt riding my bicycle to the Institute from home. So Mysuru and my time in Mysuru is very much in my thoughts.

SOM: Audiology is a relatively lesser-known profession or a field of expertise in India. Do you think there is a lack of awareness? If so, what should be done to popularise it?

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: You are absolutely correct. Audiology is lesser known. However, the field of audiology has been in existence in India for a long time. Based on my research, I see an apathy for hearing loss and corrective measures to overcome communication problems. Hearing loss and its impact are not well-acknowledged and hearing loss and its impact on humans need to be made aware. 

As we know that the two major inputs to the brain are vision and hearing. We are quick to correct vision problems but are reluctant or hesitant to correct or use hearing aids. Recent research has clearly shown that an untreated hearing loss has many impacts on communication, psychological well-being, and most of all deterioration in mental functions.  Hearing loss does not only affect hearing but has broader consequences like memory loss etc. I don’t know the reasons why people cancel or postpone treatments. Being out of India, I have limited knowledge of the apathy or lack of motivation of the general public to deal with hearing problems.

SOM: AIISH is doing wonderful work in audiology and the institute has grown in leaps and bounds. Your comments on this.

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: AIISH is a great institute. I had the opportunity to visit the institute a few days back and I was stunned by the clinical facilities, research work, and innovative projects. I was humbled by the warm welcome extended by the Director, Dr. M. Pushpavathi. The Institute that I remember has changed a lot, and changed for the better. I am so proud to say that I graduated from this premier institution.

SOM: You are from Kodagu, a small district, how did you get to where you are now professionally?

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: Like many Indians in the 80s, I stepped foot in the USA with a dream. I was born to late Pulianda Kamakshi and late Ballachanda Belliappa. My dream began when I graduated with a B.Sc. degree from AIISH and a love for Wild West through John Wayne movies. On the way to the Wild West, I did a two-year stint as a specialist of Speech and Hearing at the Al Sabah Hospital in Kuwait, finally ending up at the University of Texas, Dallas, where I earned a Ph.D in Auditory Neuroscience, the study of hearing and the brain which at that time had not been explored very much.

SOM: Tell us about your initial days in the US.

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: I was recruited by Purdue University, Indiana, as an up-and-coming academician. While at Purdue I pioneered clinical procedures for practising audiologists, authored two books that are used as educational material in many audiology programmes and many professional/scientific articles that received acclaim in the hearing industry.

I returned to India after 10 years in the USA in 1990 and got married to Kambeyanda Naina Muthappa and then I moved to the University of New Mexico as an Associate Professor of Audiology.

SOM: Tell us how you got involved with American Academy of Audiology and the business side of audiology?

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: During my tenure at the University of New Mexico, I became actively involved with the American Academy of Audiology. I was the first foreign-born audiologist in the USA, the first Indian to be elected to the Board of Directors of the AAA, and served as President of the New Mexico Speech-Hearing Association and on the Senate of the University of New Mexico.

After seven more years of teaching at the University of New Mexico, I gave up a guaranteed job to venture into yet another phase in my life — clinical practice. With the help of my wife, who is a Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur, I opened my first clinic in July of 2003 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The first year was a challenge, but after that, by God’s grace, I’ve never had to look back. Another seven years later I had the opportunity to purchase a group of clinics in Arizona and Texas. My wife says seven is my magic number. I had 16 clinics in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. My wife and I owned and ran the clinics together.

SOM: Tell us about your family and do you feel you achieved your American dream?

Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: I have a wonderful son and a daughter, Tanek Ballachanda and Jyothi Ballachanda. Tanek is a mechanical engineer working for a space programme in Seattle, Washington State while Jyothi is studying to become a pastry chef.

Have I achieved my American dream? Life is a journey of fascinating dreams that evolve, I don’t think I’m even halfway there. It’s been a lot of hard work, and it was never about the money, but about pushing myself beyond. In that sense, I think I have a sense of fulfilment.

The post Kodagu origin doctor to head American Academy of Audiology appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Renowned feminist-economist Padma Bhushan Devaki Jain was in Mysuru on a private visit last weekend. She is the daughter of M.A. Sreenivasan, who was Minister in the Princely State of Mysore. He was a Member of the Constituent Assembly representing the Princely State of Gwalior during 1947-48.

He had an illustrious career in the Civil Service in the then State of Mysore  headed by Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, commencing from 1918. He also served as Mysore’s Trade Commissioner in London.

Born in 1933, Devaki Jain grew up in Mysore and Bangalore. She graduated from Mount Carmel College in Bangalore in 1953, with special papers in mathematics and economics. She was awarded three gold medals by University of Mysore (UoM). The College came under UoM then.

Hailing from an influential Tamil Brahmin family, Devaki married Gandhian activist Lakshmi Chand Jain and had the good fortune of meeting various national and international leaders and scholars who immensely impacted her life including Jayaprakash Narayan, Vinoba Bhave, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Amartya Sen and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.

A scholar of repute in economics, she has done pioneering work in giving shape to the women’s movement in India, particularly at the grassroots level. She is involved in various initiatives and institutions that have done remarkable work in recognising gender inequalities and formulated policies to address the imbalance.

Devaki Jain was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2006 in recognition of her contributions. Sreenivasan Jain of NDTV-fame is one of her two sons and she had come to Mysuru with him. In Mysuru, she was put up at Hotel Metropole where she interacted with Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust members. Devaki Jain spoke to Star of Mysore about her affinity to Mysuru and her memoir ‘The Brass Notebook’ that has now been translated into Kannada apart from being translated in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.  Excerpts:

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Star of Mysore (SOM): What is the purpose of your Mysuru visit?

Devaki Jain: We were going to Thirunarayanapuram (Melukote), which is the source of my family — my great grandfather was from here. My brother M.S. Rajan built the Sanskrit Academy in Melukote and also a library. We wanted to see his contributions. We also have great emotional bonding with Melukote — our home and Saint Ramanujacharya, so on and so forth. My maternal grandfather had a career here.

SOM: Your father conceptualised Dhobi Ghats and Agraharas (low-cost houses) of Mysore.

Devaki Jain: My father was a great doer and I am proud to be his daughter. In fact one of the publishers in New Delhi is republishing my father’s memoirs “Of the Raj, Maharajas and Me” and I want to finance its Kannada translation as I think people of Karnataka should read it.

SOM: What are your memories of Mysore?

Devaki Jain: I have written this in my memoirs where I remember my father was the President of the Mysore City Municipal Council. We lived in a house called ‘Bombay House’ on the fringe of the arch which leads to a park and then to the Mysore Palace. I remember my father riding a horse in the mornings for his inspections. When the horse would come and as a treat for me — I was four years old then — my father used to take me on the horse for a ride till the park and I used to get off and he would continue.

For me, the horse and the Palace were special as we used to go to the Palace for every event. Now we went to the Palace and saw it from outside. I remember my mother dressing up for the Dasara Durbar. The other thing I remember is that we used to go by tongas to the school. These are very happy memories. I went to the Devaraja Market last weekend and it looked just the same as when I was a child where my mother used to buy vegetables. 

SOM: Give us a glimpse about your father’s personality?

Devaki Jain: He was unusually brilliant. We talk of brilliant people like Ramanuja the mathematician — something beyond the normal. He was not just an administrator but he was the one who revived the game sanctuary near Mysore. He was a multifaceted personality and used to strive for the betterment of the society.

His heart was with workers and wherever he visited as part of his assignments, he used to ensure that he did something for the workers. He was constructive at every step and had an immensely creative mind when it came to development.

M.S. Subbulakshmi came to sing in the Palace for the Yuvaraja many years ago and my father was there as President of the Mysore City Municipal Council. He invited her home to meet his mother and Subbulakshmi sang for her. She was only 19 or 20 then. She became a good friend of the family and she used to meet my father even when he was 100 years old. I became her friend and I used to go to Chennai to stay with her. My father loved music and dancing. He was a rasika and a multi-faceted man.

SOM: How often do you visit Mysuru?

Devaki Jain: I would love to visit more but I have not visited here often, the last was nearly 10 years ago. Mysore means a lot to me and is close to my heart though I don’t visit often. I am happy to tell you that my book ‘The Brass Notebook’ has been translated into Kannada and titled ‘Hithaale Bannada Pustaka, Devaki Jain Badukina Putagalu’. It has been translated by Kodibettu Rajalakshmi and she tells me that the response for the translation is very good.

Interaction with Mysuru Book Clubs

Mysuru Book Clubs in association with ‘Speaking Tiger Books’ — one of India’s most acclaimed independent publishing companies — had recently organised an online talk with Devaki Jain on her book ‘The Brass Notebook.’

At Hotel Metropole, where Devaki Jain was put up during her private visit to Mysuru, she interacted with the stakeholders of Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust where she spoke at length about her experiences and her book, a conversation interspersed with humour.

M.A. Sreenivasan: A champion of low-cost housing

Mandyam A. Sreenivasan, father of Devaki Jain, occupied many posts in the princely State of Mysore, including the posts of President of the Mysore City Municipal (MCM) Council and Chairman of the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), the present Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Apart from conceptualising Mysuru’s Dhobi Ghat (on the lines of Bhojana Shalas of the Hampi ruins), he championed the cause of building low-cost model houses, drawing inspiration from the old concept of Agraharas to serve as models for a comprehensive rehousing and housing scheme for Mysore.

M.A. Sreenivasan built low-cost model houses for the poor. These houses were built around an open quadrangle adjoining the Karohatti Road, now called Ramanuja Road, in 1936. The houses were given on nominal rent, enabling the allottee to become owner at the end of 20 years.

This locality was inaugurated in 1938 by Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasaraja Wadiyar and was named ‘Sreenivasan Agrahara’ in recognition of M.A. Sreenivasan’s dedicated service to the city.

‘My son grew into a journalist by himself’

Devaki Jain has two sons — Gopal Jain, Senior Supreme Court Advocate and Sreenivasan Jain, Group Editor of NDTV. He has reported and anchored award-winning ground reports and investigative shows.

When asked about her son Sreenivasan Jain being a popular TV personality, Devaki Jain says, “These are not the things we arranged. Vasu (Sreenivasan Jain) grew into a journalist by himself. And he is a very modest fellow like his father and not a show-off at all and that is the more important thing for us. I am so happy that Vasu is warm and friendly.”

“The skill of being on the TV show, I think, he inherited. Sometimes there are things that come genetically and sometimes through behavioural observations. Vasu’s paternal grandfather was editing one of the most famous newspapers in Delhi during the freedom struggle and it was called ‘Arjun’. He was the editor and writer of repute. In fact, both sides of Vasu’s family — my father’s father and Vasu’s father’s father — were  into writing and publishing journals. I think it is a genetic gift,” she said.

When asked about Sreenivasan Jain’s upbringing, Devaki Jain said, “Fortunately for us, we did           not have the money when he was growing up and he did not get into this lavish lifestyle. He was brought up with school clothing of others, handed down. So my sons know what it is like not being affluent and privileged. And that’s what adds to Vasu’s credibility that he is not feeling like a rich boy. I am so glad that people appreciate him and he is very sincere about his work.”

The post Interview with renowned economist Devaki Jain: ‘Mysuru is close to my heart though I don’t visit often’ appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Enables Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash, the first Indian to do so, to make the Olympic ‘A’ cut

By B.C. Thimmaiah

Sajan Prakash had gone through a tough phase over the last year or so including a career-threatening injury and he overcame it with sheer hard work and perseverance. In that tough phase, Bengaluru-based Physical Preparation Coach Kulletira Jeeth Devaiah helped Sajan Prakash overcome his difficulties and finally make it to the Olympics. Jeeth has his roots at Napoklu in Kodagu. In a chat with Star of Mysore, Jeeth spoke about his personal goals and achievements, future plans and training Sajan for the biggest stage in international sport.  Excerpts:

Ace swimmer Sajan Prakash is preparing hard for the Tokyo Olympics. It was a case of now or never for the Kerala swimmer who qualified for the world games at the 58th Sette Colli Trophy in Rome with a timing of one minute, 56.38 seconds in the heats, 0.10 seconds quicker than the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) to make the direct cut to Olympics. It was also his second straight Olympics, which no other Indian has been able to achieve previously.

Star of Mysore (SOM): As a Physical Preparations Coach, tell us your association with Sajan Prakash and how your training and mentorship helped him.

Jeeth Devaiah: Sajan Prakash was in Railways and I too was. So we had a common ground. He was always a high performer and in 2014 just before the Rio Olympics — where he was the only swimmer to qualify — he had some kind of a niggle and since he knew me well he came to Pro Care Galen and Performance Centre in Bengaluru where I and my physiotherapist Dr. Gautham worked on him. Then he went to Rio and we were connected since then. 

SOM: What was the nature of his problem?

Jeeth Devaiah: After Rio, Sajan moved to Thanyapura in Phuket, Thailand, where he was selected by the FINA Academy. During training, he was complaining of neck and shoulder pain. He wanted me to go there and help him out. In swimming, we call  it a ground-based activity where we do a lot of core work, strength work and injury prevention work. I was in Phuket for a couple of months where I brought him to a level of fitness.

We had our plans cut out but unfortunately he had a major injury and which again not many could diagnose. Then he came back to Bengaluru and stayed with me in my house. I took care of him personally for 2 to 3 months where we did a proper rehab session and made him stop swimming temporarily. Later he went to Phuket where he started swimming and the pain recurred.

SOM: Was he able to overcome the pain?

Jeeth Devaiah: Yes, he was pretty hardworking and he could manage both swimming and pain management. We were in touch online on what needs to be done for injury management and things like that. He later moved to Dubai where his coach Pradeep and other physiotherapists took over. We had absolute trust that he would qualify for the Tokyo ‘A’ cut. Also, Sajan is disciplined and has a great sense of self-belief. We are proud of him. 

SOM: Do you have any plans to go to Tokyo to see Sajan perform?

Jeeth Devaiah: I really wanted to but I have to go to Dubai first and Dubai is closed now due to COVID and the Indian Olympics team is flying from Dubai. If they were coming to India, then I would have considered it and that’s my bad luck. The virus has played a spoilsport.

SOM: You have worked with Delhi Capitals IPL team. Please throw more light on this.

Jeeth Devaiah: Fitness has always been my forte. Not many people will dare to dream big. I trained at the highest level in cricket, hockey and football. I have been a hockey player myself and I started a job in Railways at the age of 19. In 2004, I forayed into a full-fledged career in physical preparation and started work with Indian Railways for the Ranji Trophy and that year, we won the trophy.

I have not looked back since then and my career graph went up. In 2004, I joined the Indian Cricket Team along with many trainers under Coach Greg Chapell, who was very particular about Indian players experiencing the best in the fitness scenario and the latest advancements. I was one among the four trainers selected to be with the Indian team and trained various teams till 2010. The same year I trained the Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals). And the same year I got an opportunity to train the women’s hockey team before the London Olympics but unfortunately we did not qualify.

SOM: Where did you train football teams?

Jeeth Devaiah: That was Esbjerg Football Club, Denmark, in 2019 and also Esbjerg Academy Team. We won a tournament in Holland and people were shocked to see an Indian running behind the Danish team and it was a good experience in my career to understand how professional they are. Their sessions are all planned months in advance and I learnt to bring back the same to India. In 2014, I went to Australia and worked with the Australia National Rugby Team and Sydney Kings Men’s Basketball.

I also worked with I League team Sudeva Delhi FC last year and we were only Indians and no foreigners as the promoters wanted to give maximum opportunity to Indian players. We fared pretty well considering we trained under a bio-bubble environment (no going outside) for months. Staying in a bio-bubble is draining physically and mentally as everything is restricted and your freedom is completely curtailed.

SOM: How was it working with Women’s Hockey Team?

Jeeth Devaiah: That was in the World Cup and the girls had been to Argentina where they were beaten badly. At that time the team coach too was from Railways and we had a good understanding. They had no concept of fitness. I had to go in and change their mind-set. I had to teach the women that fitness is also important and made them follow strength training guidelines which they are still following for Tokyo Olympics.

There was a misconception that women should not lift more weights and I broke that. In fact, at one place in China where we had been for Asian Champions Trophy and just before the match we did one set of strength training, a warm up and straight ventured into the field to play. That was the confidence the girls had. And after 2010, the girls started understanding that fitness plays a crucial role and it was a good experience for me also.

SOM: How do you plan fitness programming? 

Jeeth Devaiah: We plan the fitness programming according to the muscular and skeletal assessment. Our players are keener on skills rather than fitness, I would like for them to focus on both equally. My focus as a preparation coach is that they should not miss any games in terms of injuries so the first priority is strength and condition coaching. If you keep them fit without pain and aches they will be able to play more and give their best.

SOM: What are your goals and ambitions for the future?

Jeeth Devaiah: My goal is to work with an ISL (Indian Super League) team. I have worked with Sudeva Delhi FC and also with the Denmark League. ISL is more challenging and I am already in talks with a couple of teams.

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