Category Archives: Science & Technologies

Kalam Stresses on Importance of Family in Nation Building

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Science & Technologies

New Delhi :

Economic growth or military strength alone won’t make India strong, a truly sustainable society, at the heart of which is the family, is very much necessary, argues former President A P J Abdul Kalam in his new book.

Kalam and celebrated Jain thinker late Acharya Mahapragya in the book “The Family and the Nation” say that only a strong and happy family can lead to a strong and noble nation.

In writing the book, the ideas of the two authors were shaped by their interaction during the past few decades with millions of countrymen hailing from different walks of life.

“Each interaction enhanced our experience and added to our understanding of the development of a noble family, a noble society and a noble nation,” they write.

While embarking on this journey of writing a book, we realised the magnitude of connectivities involved and the extent of our society’s evolution during the last few centuries,” they say.

“It is true that all of us realise that today’s world is a connected one. Technology and travel have nearly made the world a global village. The world has to become a federation of nations.

A nation is a federation of states, social groups, families and individuals. So what is needed is a situation of live and let live.

“One’s needs, aspirations, accomplishments are all important. But there has to be a concept of a noble nation, where the welfare of the whole nation as a whole is ingrained in the thinking and actions of its people.

This is the need of the hour. How do we achieve this idea of a noble nation,” the authors ask.             According to them, their visualisation of a noble nation is two-fold.

“One is internal, concerned with the individual and encompassing the family, community and society. Another concerns enterprise and covers the issues of livelihood, business, distribution of wealth and respect for individual property and rights,” they say.

The authors do not offer any new theory or postulate any new concept but draw from the heritage of our civilization.

“The bottom line is that a citizen with a value system respects the family, respects society, and thereby respects the nation. Furthermore, the person is conscious that he or she is a part of the world family.

“The operational line is the prosperity of people with adequate earning capacity. We call such a nation a developed nation. Economic prosperity and an embedded value system would promote a peaceful and prosperous society and thereby the evolution of a happy nation,” they write.

The book, published by HarperCollins India, stresses on the values that make for a truly sustainable society, at the heart of which is the family. For it is not economic growth or military strength alone that will make India strong.

Sustainable success comes from values, and these can sustain a society and a nation even in times of hardship. The book expresses an ideal by which Indian society may prosper and speaks of how spirituality can help create a noble nation and a better world. It provides a valuable counterpoint to the modern-day emphasis on consumerism and the philosophy of more is better, highlighting the sanctity of the natural world and its great power to evoke human creativity and love.

The two writers bring their vast experience to bear on this important subject. As the authors put it, it’s only a strong and happy family that will lead to a noble nation, one that can be a true fulfilment of 5,000 years of India’s civilization.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by PTI / August 26th, 2014

‘DIET’ Develops Multimedia Based Smart Learning System for Schools

Education, Science & Technologies

Vellore :

The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) centre at Ranipet has come out with a first of its kind ‘Smart Learning System’(SLS) for the benefit of middle school students.

The multi-media based learning system packed in DVDs contains vivid explanations of lessons, add-on information and questions and answers as supplementary information for class 6, 7 and 8 textbooks, for the trimesters.

DIET principal A Basheer Ahmed told Express that a group of 25 teachers from government schools had prepared the SLS under the guidance of the DIET.

The purpose of the SLS is to make use of multi-media devices such as laptop and LCD projectors provided by the  State, while motivating teachers to make use of digital support, to explain the lessons to students better,  Basheer Ahmed said adding, “The SLS aims at overall development of students and teachers as well,” he added.

Around 20 to 28 lessons for English, Tamil, Maths, Science and Social Science subjects for classes 6, 7, 8 for one trimester are packed in four DVDs. Pictures, videos, animations and additional explanations for each lessons would enhance the grasping capability of students, Basheer Ahmed added.

The DIET would also prepare audio lessons for the visually-challenged children. We are in the process of handing over the DVD set to schools through the chief educational officer attached to the ‘Sarva Siksha Abyan’ Basheer Ahmed said while making a presentation of the DVDs to the CEO (SSA) on Monday. The CEO Anitha said, the distribution of DVDs to schools would begin soon after the nod from the government.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by V. NarayanaMurthi / August 27th, 2014

Madurai doctor to be honoured by Medical Council

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

There are many who practice medicine as profession. But, very few like Dr T Chellaiya stand out from the crowd. The 75-year-old old city doctor may be a man of a few words, but the medical community speaks more about him. They say that most of the doctors in the city approach him whenever they suffer from an ailment. Doctors who worked closely with him know his diagnosis will be simple and accurate. The general medicine practitioner who has put in 31 years of unblemished service in various government hospitals, has finally got his dues.

According to representatives of the Medical Council of Tamil Nadu he had been immaculate in his service and inspired many. However, he was not honoured by any awards. But now, the Medical Council of Tamil Nadu has proposed an award for Dr Chellaiya, which he will be receiving soon.

“It is only the second time since the Medical Council of Tamil Nadu instituted award for the medical practitioners who have rendered exemplary service to the people. In fact, we are honoured to felicitate him with the award,” said Dr K Senthil, vice-president of the council.

Apart from Chellaiya, five more doctors from the state including Dr George Abraham, a renowned nephrologist, Dr David Rajan, orthoscopy expert and Dr S Geethalakshmi, a microbiologist and presently the director of medical education will be honoured. Dr Chellaiya is the only doctor from the southern districts to get the award.

Chellaiya, a native of Salem, did his MBBS and MD in Madurai Medical College. He started working in Salem government hospital in 1965 where he worked for two years. He served in Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai for 29 years since 1969.

Dr M Ramesh, surgical oncologist, one of his students noted him as one of the best teachers Madurai Medical College has ever seen. He used to stay with the patients in the wards for at least 10 hours. He stood as an example by his hard work. The students who followed him inculcated his habits like treating others without any bias and doing the job without any remarks. The students of Dr Chellaiya possess unique characteristics inspired by him, he said. Dr Chellaiya has taught 20 batches of students from the Madurai Medical College. At the age of 75, he is still practicing in his modest clinic on Vakkil New Street in the heart of the city. Talking about young doctors, Dr Chellaiya said “They are very brilliant. The secret is we have to be sincere to the patients and not to the hospital. Doctor-patient relationship should be good.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / August 26th, 2014

The tale of an unsung doctor

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion
Ratnam Pillai
Ratnam Pillai

Ratnam Pillai, a Hyderabad-based doctor, worked as medical assistant to Sir Ronald Ross who linked mosquito bite to malaria in 1897. The proud possession for the four grandchildren of Dr. Pillai – Shela, Shirley, Franklin and Samuel – are the medals.

The whole world remembers the contribution of Sir Ronald Ross, the doctor who linked mosquito bite to malaria on August 20, 1897 and won a Nobel Prize for the discovery. A very few, however, know that there was a Hyderabad-based doctor, Ratnam Pillai, who was a medical assistant to Dr. Ross at the military hospital for Indian soldiers in Begumpet during the epochal discovery.

While the contribution of Dr. Pillai was largely left unsung, his grandchildren still cherish his priceless memorabilia, which they could salvage from getting lost in time. Staying in a modest house in West Marredpally, Secunderabad, Dr. Pillai’s grandchildren have been fighting for due recognition to their grandfather’s work for quite some time.

“He did his medicine from Royapuram Medical School in Madras and joined Indian Medical Service as hospital assistant at Military Hospital, Bolaram and later at Begumpet hospital with Dr. Ross. He has served Indian soldiers in the Burmese war and was promoted as Subedar Major,” says his granddaughter, Shela Paupens.

The proud possession for the four grandchildren of Dr. Pillai – Shela, Shirley, Franklin and Samuel – are the medals.

“My grandfather was awarded silver medals by the British Government for his meritorious service. In fact, he also has received an honorary sword for his work. You can clearly see his name written on the edges of these medals,” says a proud Samuel.

RatnamMedalsTELANGANA23aug2014

‘Contribution has gone unnoticed’
Historians point out that the contribution of Indian soldiers and the doctor in malaria research has largely gone unnoticed.

“The hospital was meant for Indian soldiers, who had malaria and the research was done on them. In fact, Dr. Pillai had played a vital role in malaria research, but his contribution was not acknowledged,” says historian Anuradha Reddy.

Interestingly, a large number of members from Tamil-speaking community had migrated to Secunderabad in the early 1800s after the signing of subsidiary alliance between Nizams and the British. “We believe that Dr. Pillai too migrated from Madras to Secunderabad during this period,” she says.

Family memebers of Rathna Pillai, who worked as a deputy under Ronald Ross, showing his medals and Sword of Honour in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Photo: D. Chakravarthy
Family memebers of Rathna Pillai, who worked as a deputy under Ronald Ross, showing his medals and Sword of Honour in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Photo: D. Chakravarthy

The family members too lament lack of recognition.

“When he died in 1943, we were told by our relatives that he was draped in the British flag and laid to rest in Bhoiguda cemetery. We have tried to find the grave, but unfortunately could not succeed. All we have are his medals and accounts of his work with Dr. Ross. The government should commemorate Dr. Pillai’s contribution too,” the grandchildren demand.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / Hyderabad – August 09th, 2014

Rapid Strides in Genetic Diversity Study

Education, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Vellore :

Why is genetic diversity important for the survival of organism? This was one of the themes that was discussed at a three-day workshop on ‘Genetic diversity, molecular evolution and genomics’ held by the VIT University recently.

Professor S S Khora, Dean in-charge, School of Bio Science and Technology, VIT University said, the last few decades had seen rapid progress in understanding diversity at the molecular-level, thanks to the development of range of molecular tools. These tools had allowed scientists measure genetic diversity at various levels of population and address broad issues related to molecular evolution. Several laboratories in the country including VIT University were engaged in research in these areas, he pointed out. Professor R Uma Shanker from the University of Agricultural Science, Bengaluru, who was the convenor of the workshop, discussed a topic related to forest genetic resources. Dr G Ravikanth from ATREE, Bengaluru, delivered a lecture on DNA bar-coding.

Topics such as ‘Genomic tools in genetic diversity’ by Dr Nataraj Karaba, USA, ‘Molecular Evolution’ by Dr H A Ranganath and ‘Comparative Genomics’ by Dr R Siva of VIT University evoked good response.

The workshop provided an opportunity to students to get a hands-on feel of some of the software used in population genetics.

Around 200 students, research scholars and faculty members from in and around Vellore were present at the workshop, sponsored by the Indian Academy of Science, Indian National Science Academy and National Academy of Science.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / August 20th, 2014

Pulicat fisherwomen fatten crabs for profit

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

When Bujiyamma bought a crab from the Chintadripet market, it weighed only 400g. After a month, its weight doubled to 800g. Mud crab-fattening is catching on among the fisherfolk in Pazhaverkadu (Pulicat), a historical seashore town in Tiruvallur district, 62km from Chennai.

At least 11 self-help groups, with a dozen women members each, have been working on this project. Bujiyamma has been on the job for more than two years.

“The crab-fattening period is 35 days. We feed the crabs with small fish that we catch from the sea and sell them after they gain weight,” said Bujiyamma.

This 60-year-old fisher woman in Kulathumedu has seen crabs gain weight up to 2kg during fattening. “I have successfully nurtured some crabs that weighed up to 2kg. If we take care of them well, they will gain weight rapidly.

By fattening them, we can sell them for a good price,” she said. The women sell the fattened crabs at ‘1,200 per kg. Even though a mud crab is supposed to gain weight during the fattening period, some don’t for unknown reasons. “It’s not necessary that all crabs would put on weight during the fattening period.

We need to repeat the process for the crabs that don’t gain weight in the first attempt.

It’s a costly affair,” said S Sasikala, another crab-breeder.

A project supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialised agency of the United Nations to eradicate poverty in rural areas of the developing countries, crab-fattening has helped many fisherwomen earn a fairly good income. “If we are to eradicate hunger and poverty, we need to empower rural people to take care of their own development. Mud crab-fattening is one of the micro enterprise activities of our project. I am happy that it is going well in Pazhaverkadu,” said Kanayo F Nwanze, president of the IFAD after visiting the unit in Kulathumedu recently.

Although crab-fattening is attracting more fisherwomen in Pulicat, many feel that the initiative will help more women if extended to other coastal districts of Tamil Nadu.

“It’s an easy way for women to earn some money without investing much. The government should look into the positive side of the project. It will help if implemented in other coastal districts,” said Rani Pugazhendi, panchayat president of Kottaikuppam in Pazhaverkadu.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by  M T Saju , TNN / August 16th, 2014

32 alumnus to be honoured at celebrations

Education, Nri's / Pio's, Science & Technologies

Trichy :

A total of 32 alumni will be presented with the ‘distinguished alumnus’ award at the celebrations on Saturday. The 32 alumni members representing big corporate houses will be presented the award for their achievement in their respective fields.

The success and contribution of the alumni are laudable. They lead some of the large business corporations, governmental departments, services, academia and others fields and most of them are expected to be present for the event as the institute has been sending out invites to every individual who passed out.

Theyjas Srivas, pursuing master’s degree in the mechanical engineering department said that the faculty members are the strength at NIT-T.

“NIT-Trichy stands like a monolithic structure among the peers because of its growth and leadership in the field of technical education. There is a month-long orientation programme for first year students immediately after their join. The objective of this orientation is to bring all students together on a common social-cultural platform and make them ready for a new learning experience,” which is unique, he says. He further added that focus on research and development is given priority and the collaboration with several universities abroad gives the students a lot of exposure.

Santhosh G, a third-year production engineering student said, “Thrust is given to the use of ICT in teaching, learning and administration. A state of the art video-conferencing facility has been established in the campus. The classrooms are also enabled for video-conferencing through NKN (National Knowledge Network) that interconnects all government institutions including IITs, NITs through high bandwidth internet.”

Meanwhile, enthusiastic students have also created a new website for the Golden Jubilee celebrations with a new logo and would be selling souvenirs bearing the logo.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy  /  TNN / July 19th,  2014

67-year-old gets heart-double lung transplant

Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion
C.V Hanif (right) is the oldest recipient of such a procedure. Dr. Paul Ramesh and Preetha Reddy of Apollo Hospitals are in the picture
C.V Hanif (right) is the oldest recipient of such a procedure. Dr. Paul Ramesh and Preetha Reddy of Apollo Hospitals are in the picture

At one point, 67-year-old C.V Hanif was mostly confined to his home, entirely dependent on an oxygen cylinder and unable to completely take care of himself without help.

Today, however, nearly five months after a heart and double lung transplant, the patient from Kerala is on the road to recovery and back on his feet with no special oxygen support.

Mr. Hanif is the oldest recipient of such a procedure in the country, claimed doctors at Apollo Hospitals, where the surgery was performed in March this year.

“The patient came to us with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition in which an inflammation leads to the formation of scar tissue in the alveoli capillary membrane, in the gas-exchanging region of the lungs. This leads to very little exchange of gases and, therefore, lowered levels of oxygen the blood. At the end point, when there is end-stage lung and heart failure, there is no option but a transplant,” said Paul Ramesh, senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital.

Though Mr. Hanif was on the transplant list, he was admitted late one March evening with extreme breathlessness and low blood pressure.

“The procedure for someone as old as him is risky. But Mr. Hanif made it clear that he didn’t mind going ahead if there was a chance his quality of life would improve,” Dr. Ramesh said.

Thanks to a matching donor being available in 12 hours and the organs being transported quickly, the heart and double lung transplant was performed successfully by a team that included Dr. Ramesh, T. Sunder and Madhan Kumar, the last two being senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeons at the hospital.

Despite an infection contracted a few weeks later, Mr. Hanif made a complete recovery, Dr. Ramesh said. “This is a technically demanding and very complex. In Chennai, there have only been four performed so far,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / Staff Reporter / Chennai – August 10th, 2014

18-year-old scales heights to fund science project

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized
Funds collected from a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro were used to dedicate a mobile van housing science models, to Agastya International Foundation. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu
Funds collected from a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro were used to dedicate a mobile van housing science models, to Agastya International Foundation. Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu

The youth had decided to seek donation from friends and relatives for the project but also wanted to do something physically demanding to achieve the goal.

City resident Mahesh Ramakrishnan on Wednesday dedicated to an NGO working for science education a mobile van funded through an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro.

The funds collected from the climb that took him to the top of Africa’s highest mountain last year, were used to dedicate the ‘Science on Wheels’ vehicle-an educational van where students can view science experiments — to Agastya International Foundation. Two vehicles were dedicated to students on Wednesday, one of which was funded by Mahesh and the other by State Bank of India. The climb has also generated enough funds for Mahesh to provide for the operational costs of both vehicles.

Participating at the launch function held at Ramakrishna Mission High School, the 18-year-old said he appreciated Agastya International Foundation’s mission to provide creating, innovative and engaging science education for underprivileged children in the country.

The youth had decided to seek donation from friends and relatives for the project but also wanted to do something physically demanding to achieve the goal. Hence, the decision to scale the mountain, he said. Beaming with pride, Ramakrishan said: “The aim was to collect US $25,000 but I ended up collecting $40,000.”

The mobile vehicles are aimed at encouraging students to get hands-on practical experience of science through experiments outside the classroom. K.V. Sai Chandrasekhar of the foundation said each mobile science vans had 150 to 200 science models covering a wide range of topics in physics, chemistry, biology and maths.

The two mobile vans would be visiting government-aided schools and schools run by the Chennai Corporation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Society / Staff Reporter / Chennai – August 14th, 2014

Solar Power Keeps Petrol Bunk Running 24X7

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies
View of a petrol bunk in Vellore, which is powered by a solar power plant | Express
View of a petrol bunk in Vellore, which is powered by a solar power plant | Express

Vellore :

A petrol bunk here has emerged as the unique outlet in northern part of the State as the bunk never stops functioning, thanks to the solar power plant that has been installed on its premises.

The plant has helped reduce the dependency of the bunk on conventional power supply by over 75 per cent and also maintain consumer satisfaction at one-go, said its proprietor Ravikumar.

According to him, the diesel power generator as a standby back-up was no longer  used as the bunk was running on solar power round- the-clock. A couple of years ago, Ravikumar  had toured European countries from where he got the idea of solar power for running the  bunk. “I saw quite a number of bunks using solar power in Italy and Germany where sun energy was scarce. Vellore being blessed with sun energy all through the year, I wanted to tap that energy,” he noted.

He searched the Internet to identify solar power plant suppliers and after nearly a year, when the State was reeling under acute power shortage, he realised his dream with the help of Tiruchy-based company Energy Solutions.

Today, the 3 KW solar power plant, installed at a cost of `4.5 lakh, meets all the power requirements of the bunk throughout the day. “My workers used to feel lazy to switch on the diesel generator whenever the electricity supply was cut, causing inconvenience to consumers and losses to me. After the installation of the solar unit, they have no issues as power is available all the time,” Ravikumar said.

According to him, Vellore district has around 100 bunks and Ravikumar never misses the opportunity to convince his colleagues on the advantage of solar power. “But they are still skeptical about investing money,” he added. He is already dreaming of his next project of installing 50 KW solar power plant in order to supply power to the EB grid at an estimated cost of `10 crore, if he gets State government’s support. “I have been trying to avail myself of the subsidy from the government for the past six months but in vain,” he added.

Based on the good feedback on solar power plant, a mosque in Sholinghur has now installed a 1 KW solar power plant and a shoe unit near Vellore is opting for a 2 KW solar plant. “The government should simplify the solar power policy to motivate people to switch over to this energy,” said Sundar of ‘Energy Solutions’, who has struggled to install around 70 KW of solar power plants in Vellore and Erode districts since 2012.

“There is a huge demand from people to opt for solar power but government is not making use of it,” he said.

Social activist R Chandrasekaran said instead of offering subsidy, the government should offer income tax holiday for consumers who have installed solar plants. The local bodies could provide discounts on property tax and water tax as incentives for households that have installed solar power plants, he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by V NarayanaMurthi / August 12th, 2014