Enthusiastic students of Ethiraj College for Women here will join hands with Tamil director A.L. Venky to pay homage to 100 years of Indian cinema through an exhibition called Flashback, aimed to showcase and document the dynamic growth of cinema.
“As many as 250 students from the visual communication department of Ethiraj College for Women are working on the research material for this exhibition. Several popular studios as AVM and L.V Prasad have come forward to lend their archival materials for display at the exhibition,” said a statement from the visual communication department of Ethiraj College.
The exhibition, which will be inaugurated Dec 14, is slated for Dec 15-21 at the Anna University campus in the Tamil Nadu capital.
“The exhibition will display rare photographs, unusual facts, archival information, miniature of sets, cut outs and posters of Indian cinema over the century. A puppet show which relate to the history of cinema will also be performed at the exhibition,” further read the statement.
“A tent talkie, which was the original mode for exhibition of cinema, will be at the exhibition playing archival clippings and significant shots of Indian cinema. Popular sets such as the courtroom scene from Tamil classic ‘Parasakthi’ will be recreated and the viewing public can have themselves photographed on these sets,” added the statement.
A group of 100 artists will called Chennai Weekend Artists will participate and sketch, paint and display key scenes from milestone films.
source: http://www.pinkvilla.com / Pinkvilla / Home / November 19th, 2013
Indians share a genetic mutation with Europeans that plays a key role in coding for the lighter skin, a new Cambridge study has found.
Latest research shows that the presence of the genetic mutation for lighter skin — found in “almost 100 per cent” of Europeans — broadly conforms to many cultural and linguistic differences, as well as ancestral, in the wider Indian population.
The genetic mutation in SLC24A5 is known to be pivotal in the evolution of light skin, and is responsible for a significant part of the skin colour differences between Europeans and Africans.
Now, a new study has examined for the first time a large, uniform genetic sample collected directly in south India, and suggests that natural selection is not the sole factor in skin tone variation across the Indian sub-continent, and that cultural and linguistic traits still delineate this skin pigment genetic mutation.
The results show that the gene is found with much higher frequency in Indo-European speaking groups that are more prevalent in the north-west of the country.
But the mutation is also high in populations groups known to have migrated north to south, such as the Saurashtrians, who – while native to Gujarat – are now predominantly found in the Madurai district.
Researchers say that the study, published in the journal PLoS Genetics, shows that the genetic mutation in SLC24A5 has a common origin between Europeans and Indians.
But while the complete dominance of the gene in Europeans is likely to be solely down to natural selection, they say, the rich diversity of this genetic variant in India – high in some populations while non-existent in others, even neighbouring ones – has some correlation with factors of language, ancestral migration and distinct social practises such as limiting marriage partners to those with specific criteria.
The researchers say the findings display an “intriguing interplay” between natural selection and the “unique history and structure” of populations inhabiting the Indian subcontinent.
”In India, this genetic variant doesn’t just follow a ‘classical’ theory of natural selection – that it’s lower in the south where darker skin protects against fiercer sunlight,” said study co-author Mircea Iliescu from Cambridge University’s Biological Anthropology Division.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by PTI / November 15th, 2013
Doctors from MMC, ICH,Egmore and Nichi-In Centre present a report on the use of polymer scaffold for stem cell study | Jawahar
In an attempt to treat nerve issues related to gastrointestinal disorders, Madras Medical College and the Institute of Child Health (ICH), Egmore along with Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine, have for the first time in the country, conducted a study on stem cells that have a potential to treat the disease.
The doctors have also for the first time found a synthetic scaffold that can help in the optimal regeneration of the neurons after the cells are transplanted in the affected portion of the intestine.
The four-year study is restricted to finding a treatment for Hirschsprung’s Disease, a disorder of the abdomen, in which part or whole of the large intestine lacks the nerves which are needed for movement of the stool through the intestine. The disease, which one in 5,000 children have at birth, affects the activity of the large intestine. Due to the lack of nerves, the intestine doesn’t relax, thus creating an obstruction while passing stool.
Professor Dr V Senthilnathan said ICH receives about eight to 10 cases a month and about 120 cases a year. Unlike the current treatment option where pull through surgery is performed by pulling out the normal portion of the colon, which has the nerves, to the anus, cell-based therapies can be a potential solution to the disorder, as the surgery involves single to multiple stages. “By the age of three, the child would have undergone two or three surgeries,” the doctor said.
Doctors here collaborated with Japanese researchers to isolate and culture enteric neural precursor cells from biopsy samples that are taken from the gut of patients who were undergoing surgeries for the disease. These cells, along with a novel thermo-reversible gelation polymer scaffold, are grown, divided and multiplied in a laboratory, before they can be transplanted in the affected portion of the colon, in Hirschsprung’s Disease, along with the scaffold.
Once transplanted, the scaffold can help in optimal regeneration of neurons that have the capability to restore the function of the colon. “We take the cells from the area where the nerve is normal. These are grown and multiplied, and then transplanted to the affected area,” explained Dr J Krishnamohan, Professor of Paediatric surgery, Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital.
Though several similar studies have been conducted in many countries and tested on animals, doctors here have for the first time found a scaffold that is purely synthetic as there are chances of the human body rejecting the conventional scaffold material.
“We have used Japanese laboratory to grow the cells. We will approach the ethics committee and based on their recommendation, we will proceed further. But if we need to get this therapy for public use, we need a laboratory on our own, which could cost `40 to 50 lakh,” Dr Senthilnathan said.
Dr J Krishnamohan said that phase one of the study was completed and that it could take another 10 years for it to be put to public use.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / November 13th, 2013
Viswanathan Anand an Indian chess Grandmaster and is the current World Chess Champion was born on December 11, 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, a town in Tamil Nadu.
Anand at the age of 37, he became the world number one for the first time.
Recently Viswanathan Anand drew the third game with Magnus Carlsen a 22 year old Norwegian chess grandmaster.
Here are some 5 facts to know about him:
Viswanathan Anand has won the World Chess Championship five times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012), and has been the undisputed World Champion since 2007.
Viswanathan Anand rates the late American chess prodigy, grandmaster, and the eleventh World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer as the best of all time.
Anand was the FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion in 2003, and is widely considered the strongest rapid player of his generation.
Anand became India’s first grandmaster in 1988. He was also the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1991–92, India’s highest sporting honour.
In 2007, he was awarded India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, and is the first sportsperson to receive the award in Indian history. Anand has won the Chess Oscar six times (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008).
Image courtesy:Wikipedia
source:http://www.indiancolleges.com / IndianColleges.com / Home> Articles / by Editorial Team / November 13th, 2013
SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Trust has acquired 74% stake in a Trichy road project developed by IJM of Malaysia and Shapoorji Pallonji for Rs 275 crore. This is SBI Macquarie’s third buy in the road space in the last one year.
India’s road sector is abuzz with talks of mergers and acquisition, with smaller and more aggressive bidders piling up orders that have run into viability issues, creating an opportunity for financial and strategic investors to shop around for distressed projects.
(India’s road sector is abuzz…)
“Trichy Tollway project has so far made losses but the project is up and running and there are no execution risks involved. Given the toll collections, the valuation looks attractive,” a source close tot the development told ET.
Trichy Tollway Private is a 50:50 joint venture between IJM and Shapoorji Pallonji. The project entails quadrupling the two-lane 92.75 km stretch on National Highway 45, and subsequently operating and maintaining it for 20 years under a concession with National Highways Authority of India . The project started commercial operation in September 2009 and has three years of operating history.
SBI Macquarie bought almost equal stake from the two JV partners, reducing their collective stake to 26%. Post the acquisition, SBI Macquarie has roped in Feedback Brisa Highways OMT, a JV between Feedback Infrastructure and Brisa, Auto Estradas de Portugal SA, to operate and maintain the project.
SBI Macquarie Infra is managed by a JV established in 2008 between State Bank of India, Macquarie Capital Group and International Finance Corporation. It had earlier bought 35% stake in Ashoka Buildcon’s roads arm for Rs 800 crore. It also acquired 74% stake in GMR’s Jadcherla Expressways for Rs 203 crore.
Cash-strapped infrastructure developers are in the market looking for equity investment in 40 projects. Many of these projects are up for sale because of lower-than-expected toll collection, rising cost of credit and bottlenecks in land acquisition.
A few highly leveraged developers are also scouting for investors to raise funds to finance other projects. In the past, companies like Hindustan Construction Company and Ashoka Buildcon have inducted equity investors for their subsidiaries.
source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> News> Economy> Infrastructure / by Rachita Prasad, ET Bureau / November 11th, 2013
Leading pump maker CRI Pumps has opened its sixth foreign subsidiary in China.
CRI Pumps Shanghai Co Ltd would become fully operational from next month, a company release said.
CRI was the first pump manufacturer from India to have its 100 per cent wholly-owned subsidiary company in China intended for manufacturing and marketing specific products, it said.
source: http://www.ptinews.com / Press Trust of India / Home> Business / Coimbatore – November 07th, 2013
A 16-member team from Singapore is in the city to participate in a two-week programme to hone their Tamil teaching skills. Apart from attending several sessions in the American College here, 14 high school teachers and two officials will visit seven educational institutions to learn about Tamil teaching methods and also share teaching methods in their country.
“English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil are official languages of Singapore. Our government promotes learning of mother tongue as it ensures that students are aware of their culture and tradition. Equal opportunities are given to all languages in the country,” said N Subramaniam, chief instructor of Tamil teachers under the Singapore education ministry. He was addressing the inaugural session of the event on Monday.
The objective of our visit is to brush up grammar and literature of Tamil. We will be imparting what we learn here to fellow teachers once we are back in Singapore, Subramaniam said.V Iraianbu, commissioner in the economics and statistics department of Tamil Nadu government, pointed out that mother tongue comes from heart, while languages that we learn are used at the mind level. Iraianbu apprised the visiting delegation about the importance of Tamil.
“It is important to learn the nuances of Tamil which has a rich literary history and culture. Ancient Tamil literature reflects society’s affinity to nature as early Tamils lived in harmony with nature,” he noted, while advising the Singaporean teachers to read more of Tamil literature as proficiency comes with practice. Tamil teachers from Singapore will visit Lakshmi School, Veerapanchan; OCPM Girls HSS, Capron Hall School, Madura College HSS; and TVS Lakshmi school in the city. The delegation will also visit St Peter’s School in Kodaikanal. Thiagarajar School of Preceptors, a BEd college in Madurai, is also on their itinerary.
Interacting with media persons at the sidelines of the meeting, Subramaniam said they will concentrate on learning as well as co-teaching in the schools so that they learn the teaching methods of Tamil. “It will be mutual where we learn and share our teaching pedagogy with the local teachers here,” he said.
The overseas delegation will focus on contemporary Tamil teaching. “Now, teaching is more student- and technology-oriented. Short films made in Tamil is one such example, he pointed out.
Eminent personalities from the field of Tamil art and literature will take technical sessions for the visiting teachers.
M Davamani Christober, principal of American College, presided over the inaugural session.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai> Teachers / TNN / November 12th, 2013
Two higher secondary students from the city have been selected to attend a South-East Asia competition to be held from this Monday in Bangalore. The duo was selected after several rounds and would be pitted against students from neighbouring countries.
Suchitrha Sudeshkumar, a class 11 student from Vidhya Niketan Matriculation Higher School, Vilankurichi and Aakash Dabral from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sowripalayam are among the ten students from India to take part in the competition held by Horlicks Wizkids in Bangalore. Out of the 10, 5 will be selected for an educational trip to Germany with a cash award of Rs 1 lakh each.
Suchitra, who writes poetry, had cleared the initial rounds and was asked to do some voluntary activity. She approached orphanages and managed to get sponsors to instal roofs for the orphanage. “I went to an orphanage at Thondamouthur. I came to know that they lacked roofs and mattresses. With the help of some firms, I managed to raise around Rs 45,000 for the purpose,” she said.
Aakash Dabral, a class 12th student said that he took soft skill sessions for students of government schools and other institutions. “I took sessions in 5 schools. Many of them lack English skills. I want to do more such training programmes,” he said.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Orphanage / TNN / November 10th, 2013
Carola Grey travelled the world and found true love in Indian music. The result is Meeting of the Continents, Indian jazz fusion, performed with her band Noisy Mama, writes Pankaja Srinivasan
Date: November 10
Venue: PSG College of Arts and Science
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Genre: Indian Jazz Fusion
She is regarded as one of Germany’s most famous modern drummers. In 2010 she became the only woman to be part of German Drum Heroes, the 25 best German drummers selected by the magazine Drum Heads. She has collaborated with musicians such as Mike Stern, Ravi Coltrane, Rocco Prestia, Larry Coryell, Jeff Berlin and Stu Hamm. She is also a composer, arranger and a singer. Carola Grey’s CDs have made it to the top 10 of the US Gavin Jazz Charts and have won many awards. She has travelled the world and in India she has been studying South Indian music under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan T.V. Gopalakrishnan. Carola Grey performs with her band Noisy Mama at The Hindu Friday Review November Fest. The concert is supported by Goethe Zentrum.
My first encounter with Indian music was in 1996 when the great T.V. Gopalkrishnan invited me to (then) Madras to perform with his ‘Carnatic Jazz Project’. He had heard my first CD, a modern Jazz one, that I recorded in New York City in the early 90s, and he spontaneously invited me to India and that was it! Working with him and hearing great Indian music started as a passion; now it is an important part of my life.
What attracted you to Indian music?
If I have to analyse it, I would say: ‘The combination of intellectual challenge and the transportation of emotions at the same time.’ More simply, it hit me when I first heard it. I felt the same way when I first heard Miles Davis. Like a little kid at Christmas — somewhere between laughter and tears and excitement. Then again, at a Yesudas concert. I have to fall in love first, and more the attraction, the more I learn.
What made you take up the drums?
I actually started to play classical piano at the age of four and was very serious about it, practising many hours a day. When I came into my rebellious teens, I wanted to stop. But my mother made a deal with me: I could take up another instrument if I continued with the piano. Of course, I picked the loudest, most annoying instrument I could find just to mess with her… I never expected to fall in love with it, but it happened. I started to play in various bands, and after high school I went to study Jazz drums and then moved to New York to work as a Jazz drummer.
Tell us about your Konnakol experience…
I remember my first rehearsal with T.V.G. I came in, expecting to work on the instruments. But everybody just sat on the floor and did the konnakol (vocal percussion) together. It blew my mind and I was in shock trying to figure out what do with the drum kit and all those syllables.
Nowadays, everything I do, no matter what style, I transfer it to Konnakol in my head. That has totally changed and improved my way of thinking about rhythms. It was quite a challenge to perform it or develop any kind of speed as I come from Bavaria where the dialect is very lazy. We are famous for not opening our mouth unless it is absolutely necessary and we avoid wasting energy by talking fast and just leave out half of the consonants. Not very Konnakol friendly!
What can the audience expect from your music?
An official response would be ‘a blend of solid Jazz rock and funk grooves, combined with the sophisticated intricacies of Indian rhythms. My music uses Indian ragas as well as Western harmonics and melodics’. But, in simpler words, I want my music to be an experience for body and mind. It should be accessible, groovy and fun and with something deeper. Both, modern Jazz and Indian classical music are very deep and intellectually developed art forms and that is why I find them fascinating. So, I am trying not to lose that, and am combining the two worlds with as much knowledge and respect as possible.
Do share some anecdotes about your work with Indian musicians. You have worked with classical musicians as well as a Bollywood music director…
My first tour in 1996 with T.V.G. is engraved in my memory. T.V.G. Sir is someone who likes to keep you on your toes. Just when you think you know something well, he changes everything, preferably on stage!
Working in the studio with modern movie producers is very similar to the work at home. The procedure, working with backing tracks and clicks is the same. But working with old school music directors, who often composed music on the spot in the studio and kept throwing stuff at you that you had to play perfectly on the spot, was an experience. I have to admit, that in combination with complex Indian structures, it had me in quite a sweat!
Norwegian chess wizard Magnus Carlsen, who is here to challenge world champion Viswanathan Anand of India in the FIDE World Chess Championship starting tomorrow, is feeling very much at home in the city.
Carlsen has been spending most of his time relaxing by the poolside at Vivanta by Taj – Fishermen`s Cove, a hotel on the scenic East Coast Road, except for his occasional games of volleyball, tennis and badminton in the last two days.
Ever since his arrival at the hotel on Monday, where he was welcomed with a garland made of shells, the 22-year-old Norwegian was curious about every Indian tradition he came across, according to the hotel staff.
Staying in a comfortable sea facing cottage, the young chess wizard is believed to have been making his strategies for the upcoming contest with his Indian competitor.
Though he brought a cook with him, the young player did check out on some cuisine at the Mediterranean specialty restaurant – Upper Deck – at the hotel.
He had relished spaghetti aglio oligio with bacon, whole wheat croissants and the cheese omelette with green chillies, while indulging in fresh mango juice through his stay.
Carlsen checked out of the hotel today before heading to the city, as the inauguration of the World Chess Championship is scheduled tomorrow.
FIDE World Chess Championship Match (FWCM) between title holder Anand and Carlsen will be inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here at 4 pm.
PTI
source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Z News / Home> Sports> Others / by PTI / Wednesday – November 06th, 2013
