Category Archives: Green Products

India’s Millet Man Dr Khadar Vali says eating coarse grains is way to healthy life

Purdadtoor Town (Kadapa District), ANDHRA PRADESH:

Dr Khadar Vali, the Millet man of India
Dr Khadar Vali, the Millet man of India

Coarse grains or millets are ancient foods which contain key nutrients like vitamins, zinc, beta-carotene, and magnesium. These foods keep blood sugar under control and reduce obesity. If one eats healthy food one can simply avoid disease and medicines.

This is the message from India’s leading agronomist Dr. Khadar Vali, who is also called the Millet man of India.

Dr. Vali is an independent scientist and food expert. He has brought back five species of millet that had disappeared from the world. Today, at 66 years of age, Vali is one of the leading proponents of millet cultivation in the world. He has made world realize the importance of grains.

Millets are available not only in India but everywhere in the world. These are known by different names in each country. To date, people around the world have eaten 200 different types of whole grains.

It’s important to note that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the insistence of India.

Khadar Vali says that the cultivation of millets can solve problems of soil erosion and irrigation also. The food we eat creates an imbalance in blood glucose levels. It makes people sick. But all this can be avoided if we use coarse grains. If you eat millet, you never need medicine.

He says it’s a misconception that coarse grains are food for animals and birds. He says these are super foods that can prevent disease as these contain fiber that cleanses the body. These grains protect the human race and other species. Millets are food for the whole planet.

Fox millet or Bajra

Dr Khadar Vali hails from Purdadtoor town in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. He has been working for 20 years to revive Sridhanialu, an Indian concept about food habits that are in sync with the nature and the human body.

Earlier, he worked in a good position in the USA. Dr Vali is a post-graduate from the Regional Institute of Education, Mysore, and did his PhD on Steroids from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru.

Vali did his postdoctoral research on a fellowship in Environmental Science from the United States. His research focused on the inactivation of deadly chemicals such as Agent Orange and dioxins. His research came at a time when food was becoming increasingly commercialized.

Around 1986-87, Dr. Khadar Vali raised the issue of food-related consequences in society when he came across a case of a girl who started menstruating at the age of 6. He decided to return to his country.

He returned to India in 1997 and worked hard to revive five different varieties of millets in Mysore that were rapidly disappearing. More than two decades later, India’s ‘Milletman’ Dr. Khadar Vali was awarded the Padma Shri on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day celebrations.

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Dr. Khadar Vali says that millet has long been part of the mainstream diet but over the past 75 years, corporations marketing rice and wheat have Institutions subjected them to “systematic destruction”.

He has told the world about the benefits of coarse grains along with the negative effects of other grains from his long research on millet. Some points of his research are as follows. His research on food grains has led him to categorized them as negative, neutral, and positive.

Negative: These Grains cause diseases and include paddy rice and wheat. The fiber content of these grains is below 2 percent.

Neutral: Grains don’t cause new diseases, however, can’t help to cure health disorders and diseases. These are jawar, bajra, finger millet, proso millet, etc which carry fiber content from 3 to 6 percent.

Positive: Grains, which help to cure health diseases and disorders. These are Foxtail millets, Barnyard millets, Browntop millets, Little millets, and Kodo millets; which have fiber content from 8 to 12 percent. He named these millets Siri Dhanyaalu. Siri means wealth, which is indirectly health. .

Based on Dr. Khadar Vali’s research and findings, below are the diseases and disorders cured by the positive millets (Siri Dhanyaalu)

 1. Foxtail Millet Rice: nervous system, psychological disorders, arthritis, Parkinson’s, epilepsy

 2. Kodo Millet Rice: blood impurities, anemia, weak immunity, diabetes, constipation, insomnia

 3. Barnyard Millet Rice: liver, kidney, excess bad cholesterol, endocrine glands

 4. Little Millet Rice: uterus, PCOD, male and female infertility

 5. Browntop Millet Rice: digestive system, arthritis, hypertension, thyroid, eye, obesity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the name Shree Anna to coarse grains.

The year 2023 was declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Coarse Grains, after which the Grammy Award-winning Indian-American singer Fallo prepared a song, saluting the efforts of Prime Minister Modi.

In one of his tweets, Fallow mentioned the Prime Minister’s support in producing the song. This song has been prepared with the aim of promoting coarse grains and helping farmers to cultivate them and encouraging efforts to eradicate hunger from the world.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mansooruddin Faridi / October 07th, 2023

Pilgrim and the seven magical seeds that brought Arab coffee to shores of India

Chikkamagaluru, KARNATAKA:

India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee. (Supplied)
India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee. (Supplied)

India, the world’s sixth-largest coffee grower, on an average produces about 3.2 lakh tons of coffee every year of which 75 percent are exported to countries like Italy, Germany, Russia, Belgium and Turkey. Today, India is home to 16 distinct varieties of coffee.

The journey of coffee to India has a vivid Arab connection. A devout pilgrim hailing from Chickmagalur, a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state, Hazarat Shah Janab Magatabi, fondly known as Baba Budan, on his return journey, around 1600 AD via Yemen brought with him seven Coffee Arabica seeds by strapping them to his chest under his tunic.

Bababudangiri Hills in Chickmagalur where coffee was first planted in India. (Supplied)
Bababudangiri Hills in Chickmagalur where coffee was first planted in India. (Supplied)

Legend has it that Arabs were extremely protective about their coffee industry and taking the seeds outside was not allowed. The saint had known that they were magical seeds for making refreshing beverage as he had tasted the kahwa (Arabic for coffee) in Mocha, a port city of Yemen that overlooks the Red Sea.

Besides being a trading hub for coffee, Mocha was the source of the popular Mocha coffee beans. After reaching his native place, Baba Budan sowed the seeds in his hermitage garden near a hill cave at Chandragiri and the rest is history.

Chickmagalur is a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state. (Supplied)
Chickmagalur is a picturesque hill station in India’s Karnataka state. (Supplied)

The coffee plants gradually spread as backyard plantings, and later on to the hills. The hills are now called Baba Budan Hills after the him. Today Chickmagalur, the birthplace of coffee in India, is filled with coffee plantations throughout its length and breadth.

Besides Chickmagalur, the charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. Coffee cultivation grew and thrived in India during the British rule and beyond.

A fall amid coffee plantations in Chickmagalur. (Supplied)
A fall amid coffee plantations in Chickmagalur. (Supplied)

The Dutch began to harvest coffee in the Malabar region, but a major transition happened when the British led a relentless drive to set up Arabica coffee plantations across the hilly regions in South India, where the climatic conditions were more favorable for the crop.

Grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Indian coffee quickly spread to non-traditional areas like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on the Eastern Coast; Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in the North East. Despite many states growing coffee, Karnataka and Kerala, accounting for nearly 90 percent of total production.

The charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. (Supplied)
The charming region of Coorg is also one of the major grower of coffee. (Supplied)

In India, based on region of production, 13 regional coffees are classified: Anamalais, Bababudangiris, Biligiris, Araku Valley, Brahmaputra, Shevaroys, and Pulneys (for Arabica) and Wayanaad and Travancore (for Robusta). Coorg, Chikmagalur, Nilgiris and Manjarabad are famous for both Arabica and Robusta.

Apart from these 13, there are three Specialty Coffees classified based on their international popularity. They are Monsooned Malabar, Mysore Nuggets and Robusta Kaapi Royale.

Stall owners are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee. (Supplied)
Stall owners are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee. (Supplied)

During a recent visit to Baba Budan hills, this correspondent spoke to stall owners and few tourists who still are thankful to Arabia for the wonderful coffee.

One stall owner who sells cool drinks and snacks on the hills overlooking the shrine summed up, “It is because of Baba Budan that India got coffee so early and the credit for discovering coffee goes to Arabs who invented and discovered hundreds of stuff including the coffee.”

Little wonder then a small cup of coffee has so much history behind it.

source: http://www.english.alarabiya.net / AlArabiya News / Home> Features / by Aftab Husain Kola / October 07th, 2018

PULITZER CENTER UPDATE: Independent Multimedia Journalist Wins Pulitzer Center Award for Innovative Gender, Climate Storytelling

NEW DELHI:

The Pulitzer Center is pleased to announce freelance multimedia journalist Sidrah Fatma Ahmed has been selected as the 2023 winner of the Pulitzer Center’s annual Breakthrough Journalism Award . The runner-up award goes to freelance journalist Emily Fishbein.

The $12,000 Breakthrough Award, inaugurated in 2020, is made possible through the generous support of Eva Lohrer. The award seeks to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Pulitzer Center-affiliated freelance journalists who report on the underreported issues. The runner-up is awarded $5,000.

Ahmed, a Delhi-based freelancer, is recognized not only for her dedication to producing and directing high-caliber video projects on underreported topics, but also for enriching projects with nuanced and layered storytelling.

Ahmed’s reaction to winning the award was a nod to all those she has reported on.

“It’s a moment to celebrate the people represented in my stories. There are so many stories to be told in India. I hope to use this support to do more in-depth video reporting in the areas of climate justice, gender, and health,” Ahmed said in a recent interview with Pulitzer Center Editorial Intern Alexandra Byrne.

Ahmed, who began her career in India with a legacy news outlet, felt increasingly drawn to underreported topics and people, so she struck out on her own. Ahmed told Byrne she was “a bit restless because I was spending a lot of time in the office. The whole reason I got into journalism was so that I could be in the field and I could talk to different kinds of people, and I could really explore and engage and dig and be curious.”

Her dynamic video production and in-depth reporting skills have captured the attention of numerous international news outlets, including the Financial Times, for which she directed the Pulitzer Center-supported film Can India Adapt to Extreme Heat? alongside grantee Juliet Riddell. For this project, Ahmed and Riddell succeeded in blending macroeconomic insights with personal stories from a diverse range of Indians, including farmers, scientists, vendors, and children.

Ahmed says she wants to continue to tackle relevant topics that are in the news, but she also hopes one day to produce and direct longer-format documentaries.

The 2023 Breakthrough Award runner-up is freelance journalist Emily Fishbein for her relentless focus on exposing wrongs in Myanmar over the past few years, as well as for her collaborative approach to working with local reporting partners.

Fishbein said she was “honored to receive this award. It really validates everything I have been working for as a journalist and gives me so much motivation.”

With regard to her collaborative approach, she says she seeks “to pay forward the opportunities afforded to me as an international journalist and to encourage and support rising local talent who have a passion for the issues they cover.”

Past recipients of the annual Breakthrough Award include former grantees Neha Wadekar, Mariana Palau, and Victoria McKenzie. Read more about the Breakthrough Journalism Award here.

We celebrate freelancers’ adaptability and their dogged pursuit of the truth, work that is essential in today’s news environment. These journalists provide diverse perspectives and in-depth coverage of issues often overlooked by traditional media outlets. They often work alone, with little or no safety net, and with thin profit margins. We’re proud to amplify their work and contribute to their development.

source: http://www.pulitzercenter.org / Pulitzer Center / Home> Updates / by Steve Sapeinza, Pulitzer Center Staff / August 17th, 2023

Who Is Dr Faruk Gulam Patel? A Bus Conductor’s Son Who Once Worked In London Café, Today Owns Rs 2,500 Crore Business Empire

Saladara Village (Bharuch) / Surat, GUJARAT :

Dr Faruk Gulam Patel is the Chairman and Managing Director of KP Group, one of the major players in the solar and wind power sector in India.

Who Is Dr Faruk Gulam Patel? A Bus Conductor's Son Who Once Worked In London Café, Today Owns Rs 2,500 Crore Business Empire
Having seen poverty closely, Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel moved to Mumbai at a younger age to help his family

A house is not built overnight just like success. One lesser-known aspect of success is the importance of failure. While success is often associated with achieving goals and attaining positive outcomes, failure plays a crucial role in the journey toward success. And failure is not always associated with the fall; it’s also associated with the struggles you face during your journey. One such inspiring story is Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel, Chairman and Managing Director of KP Group.

Dr. Patel often remains in the news for his trust in the India story and his latest tryst with headlines was due to him being conferred with an honorary doctorate by the American East Coast University for his work in the field of renewable energy.

Who Is Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel?

Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel, born on March 24, 1972, hails from Saladara Village in Bharuch. His parents, Gulam Patel and Rashidaben, raised him in a humble household.

In this lower-middle-class family, Dr. Patel’s father made a living as a bus conductor for Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC). Just like average Indian middle-class families, Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel did his primary schooling at Surat Municipal Corporation School in Kanbiwad Bhandri Moholla and later on shifted to VD Desai Vadiwala School also called Bhulka Bhavan on the advice of his teacher Shantaben.

Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel’s Struggle

Having seen poverty closely, Dr. Faruk Gulam Patel moved to Mumbai to help his family financially he began learning about import-exports along with working as an optician to earn extra money.

Later, he joined Manmade Textile Research Association in 1990 for experience and later started a business by joining Hafiz Brothers.

Then in 1991, he flew to England and started working in a café to support his family. But soon he started missing his motherland and wanted to do something for his country.

Dr. Faruk G. Patel’s Entrepreneurial Journey

After spending two years abroad, he flew back to Surat in 1993 and started carting business.

But being an ambitious person with a bigger vision in 1994, he started KP Group with a capital of Rs 1 lakh. It was the turning point of Dr. Patel’s journey.

Going ahead in 2001 he started KP Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. and marked his journey into Telecommunication Industry. Recognizing the future of communication and the increasing demand for communication towers, he made the strategic decision to expand his business across 16 states in India. Building on his visionary mindset, after years of success, he saw the importance of diversification and ventured into the renewable energy sector. 

In 2008, he founded KPI Green Energy, marking his entry into the solar power domain. Following that, in 2010, he further expanded his portfolio by establishing KP Energy, focusing on wind power projects. Taking his solar power aspirations forward, he initially procured 220 acres of land in Sudi, Bharuch, to develop a Solar Park. Over time, his vision expanded, and the group now possesses over 1500 acres of land; owns Gujarat’s largest private solar park, and has 2+GW of green energy portfolio. The KP Group today has a business empire of Rs 2,500 crore across India.

source: http://www.zeenews.india.com / Zee News / Home> News> Business> Success Story / by Zee News Bureau / July 07th, 2023

Solar Bike Creation by Asad Abdullah: A Testament to Innovation

Mubarakpur Lohara, UTTAR PRADESH:

असद सात सीटर बाइक बनाते हुए/ Asad crafting a remarkable bike that merges innovation and style seamlessly.

Asad is a 23-year-old resident of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, who has been innovative since childhood. Recently, he built a seven-seater solar bike. Impressed by his creation, IIT Kanpur has invited him for a discussion. If IIT Kanpur likes Asad’s idea, he may receive financial assistance to improve his product. Asad’s dream is to build a solar plane as well.

Asad Abdullah, hailing from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, has always displayed a flair for innovation. From a young age, he engaged in creating small-scale inventions and sharing his progress through YouTube videos. It was in 2017 that Asad’s work gained recognition and appreciation, motivating him to explore the world of electronics further. Fuelled by his innate curiosity and a desire to make a positive impact, Asad embarked on a remarkable journey of innovation.

When the price of petrol increased, the idea of building a solar-powered bike came to mind

Asad has been innovating since the age of 8. When he was 13, he built a motor using a battery from a remote-controlled car. His dream now is to build a solar energy and battery-powered plane. It will take about a year and a half to build it. How did the idea of building a seven-seater bike come about? In response to this question, Asad says that he got the idea after watching the film ‘Golmaal’ starring Ajay Devgn.

“With the skyrocketing prices of diesel and petrol, it has become difficult for the common man. Seeing people’s difficulties, I thought why not create something that allows people to travel from one place to another at a lower cost? After a lot of thinking, the idea of building this bike came to my mind. I started working on it. It took about a month to build this bike, and it cost around RS 12,000. Once it is built, it can be fully charged at RS 8-10 rupees, and then it can travel up to 150 kilometers.” Asad told TwoCircles.net.

“I recently received a call from IIT Kanpur, inviting me to discuss my project in detail. I am thrilled to visit IIT Kanpur and engage in comprehensive discussions about my creation,” Asad said.

He expressed his desire to construct a solar bike that is robust and cost-effective, ensuring accessibility even for individuals from impoverished and rural regions.

IIT Kanpur invites Asad for assistance in innovation and incubation

The Innovation and Incubation Center at IIT Kanpur helps talented children in the country who think of creating something new and unique. There are 14 programs at IIT Kanpur under which assistance is provided to these talented students. Funding ranging from 3 lakh rupees to 3 crore rupees is provided.

“We have invited Asad to come here to understand the process and present his ideas. We will help him pitch his idea. If the idea is liked, we can provide financial assistance ranging from 300,000 to 700,000 rupees. Asad’s work falls under the prototype category, for which we provide up to 700,000 rupees and a place to work within the campus.” Rishabh Pandey, Assistant Manager (The Innovation and Incubation Center at IIT Kanpur) told TwoCircles.net.

असद और उनके साथी बाइक के साथ सेलिब्रेट करते हुए/ Asad and his friends on the new solar bike

Solar Bikes to Surya-Shakti Empire, Asad Abdullah’s Entrepreneurial Saga

In addition to his achievements thus far, Asad Abdullah has set his sights on even greater goals for the future. Inspired by his success with the seven-seater solar bike, Asad plans to establish his electric vehicle (EV) bike manufacturing company. With his passion for innovation and commitment to sustainable transportation, he aims to contribute to the growing field of electric mobility in India.

Furthermore, Asad dreams of building a solar-powered plane, showcasing his ambition to push the boundaries of renewable energy and aviation technology. He envisions a future where solar energy can power not only ground transportation but also air travel, reducing carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Asad’s father hopes that his son will bring honor to the state and the country

“Son has always had a technical mind since childhood. He has been creating new things since childhood. Now he has built a bike that is receiving praise from everywhere. The family and people around are very happy. Everyone says that Asad is progressing. Undoubtedly, in the coming times, my son will bring honor to the state and the country.” Mohammad Abdullah ( Asad’s father) told twocircles.net

Further, He expressed his happiness, saying that Asad receiving a call from institutions like IIT Kanpur is a ‘proud moment’ for all of us. “But we will not pressurize him to go to IIT Kanpur. It will be his decision. Whether he will start up his own unit or accept the invitation of IIT Kanpur. The decision will be purely his”.

Asad is a resident of a small town called Mubarakpur Lohara in Uttar Pradesh. He has studied up to ITI and BCA.

source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News / by Md Zamir Hasan / TwoCircles.net / July 12th, 2023

Dawoodi Bohras launch global program to conserve rainfall water

INDIA:

The rainfall water conservation project
The rainfall water conservation project

New Delhi :

The Dawoodi Bohra community has launched a global program to conserve water and recharge groundwater through effective rainwater harvesting techniques.

Recognising the global water scarcity issues, the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, in his recent address to community members in Mombasa, Kenya, stressed the importance of preserving and conserving water.

“Following the instructions of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, a team of over 200 community officials were mobilised to visit more than 250 villages, towns and cities in India to study the strain on existing water supplies and provide support for building a more resilient and sustainable water management system”, said Shabbir Najmuddin, Associate Executive Trustee of Burhani Foundation, the community’s 30-year-old environmental body which is leading this initiative in collaboration with other organisations.

The process of water conservation 

“As part of the first phase of the water conservation program, we targeted water-challenged areas in India by guiding them to harvest rainwater in their backyards, wells, ponds and other local catchment areas,” Najmuddin added, awareness programs were also held at educational institutions and community centres to showcase various methods of rainwater harvesting and their benefits in revitalising depleted groundwater levels.

“Various stakeholders in the water management field and municipalities were also consulted and involved in the survey to gauge the local conditions and take their opinions in adopting methods that best suit the region’s topography,” he added.

For the long-term rollout of the program, Burhani Foundation is identifying project coordinators from each area who will be tagged to experts to troubleshoot issues and facilitate the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in their regions. In the coming days, the Foundation is also going to reach out to community representatives from across the globe to harness the power of rainfall in their regions and share best practices for other areas to adopt. Besides that, the Trust is also rejuvenating defunct wells in the identified areas.

During the survey of rainwater harvesting in households 43-year-old Ismail Raja from Shahada, a town in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra, shared, “We installed a rainwater harvesting system in our backyard two years ago to recharge our borewell. Since then we have never faced water shortage as our borewell provides water not just to our families but also at times to our neighbours.”

Another community member, Jaffer Shabbir (36) from Savda village next to Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh, is using a simple yet effective solution to recharge the nearby well which had run dry in 2017. He says, “By collecting rainwater from the roof of our hall and parking area which we give on rent for weddings and other functions, we’re harnessing the power of rain to replenish the groundwater in the neighbourhood.”

The members checking the progress

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s unwavering commitment to environmental conservation reflects in his broader vision of leading a harmonious and sustainable life. In his sermons, he continues to counsel the community to protect and preserve nature while inspiring individuals from all walks of life to actively participate in conserving natural resources and embracing practices that promote environmental sustainability.

According to NITI Aayog, nearly 600 million people, which is almost 50% of India’s population, are facing water shortage issues. The country is vulnerable to droughts as well as floods even as climate change is increasing unpredictability in weather patterns and leading to more extreme weather events. Rainwater harvesting, water reservoirs and other methods can help mitigate these extreme events by storing & recharging groundwater and releasing it when needed.

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Shaista Fatima / July 02nd, 2023

Three Valley professors publish research work in world’s top journal

JAMMU & KASHMIR:

These researchers include Prof. (Dr.) Zafar Ahmad Reshi and Associate Prof. (Dr). Irfan Rashid Kakroo, both working in the Department of Botany of University of Kashmir, and Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar who is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Botany, Amar Singh College Srinagar.
These researchers include Prof. (Dr.) Zafar Ahmad Reshi and Associate Prof. (Dr). Irfan Rashid Kakroo, both working in the Department of Botany of University of Kashmir, and Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar who is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Botany, Amar Singh College Srinagar.Special arrangement

In a significant development, three Kashmir based academicians have published their research work in one of the leading journals “Nature Ecology and Evolution”.

These include two Professors from University of Kashmir Srinagar and one from Amar Singh College, Cluster University Srinagar.

The researchers from Kashmir have been able to publish their research work in the leading Journal at global level which marks one of the rarest occasions.

These researchers include Prof. (Dr.) Zafar Ahmad Reshi and Associate Prof. (Dr). Irfan Rashid Kakroo, both working in the Department of Botany of University of Kashmir, and Dr. Pervaiz Ahmad Dar who is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Botany, Amar Singh College Srinagar.

Notably, this study is a finding of the global network MIREN (Mountain Invasions Research Network; https://www.mountaininvasions.org/) and the Valley based three academicians and researchers are part of the work. This study has revealed that climate change is reshuffling plant species in general and alien plant species in particular.

The study has revealed that climate change is also contributing to a rapid upward shift of alien plant species which is posing a serious threat to our fragile high altitude ecosystems including endemic plant species.

The results of this study are extremely important for mountainous regions like Kashmir as alien plant species are increasingly threatening ecosystems of the region. This publication is recognition of the quality of research being carried out by this group and will encourage and motivate local youth towards quality research.

The article can be accessed through the link  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-022-01979-6.

source: http://www.greaterkashmir.com / Greater Kashmir / Home> Education / by GK Education Desk / January 30th, 2023

Film on siblings Shehzad and Saud who rescue kites on Oscar nomination list

NEW DELHI:

 Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud

New Delhi :

‘All That Breathes’ a  Documentary feature film based on the lives of two brothers Mohammad Saud and Nadeem Shehzad of Delhi, who work out of their derelict basement in Delhi’s Wazirabad, to rescue and treat injured birds, especially the black kites, has made it to the Oscar nominations list.

‘All That Breathes’ made by Shaunak Sen has been nominated in the ‘Documentary Feature Film’ category against ‘All the Beauty and the Bloodshed’, ‘Fire Of Love,’ ‘A House made of Splinters,’ and ‘Navalny’.

Besides, the most- predicted and the much-celebrated music of ‘RRR’ also made it to the Oscars race. The magnum opus film’s energy-packed track ‘Naatu Naatu’ made it to the nominations this year in the ‘Original Song’ category.

After the Oscar nominations were announced, every Indian’s heart was pumped with pride and joy as we secured three nominations this year.

This lyrical composition of ‘Naatu Naatu’ by MM Keeravani, high energy rendition by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, unique choreography by Prem Rakshith, and lyrics by Chandrabose are all the elements that make this ‘RRR’ mass anthem a perfect dance craze.

The song is competing against ‘Applause’ from the film ‘Tell It Like A Woman,’ ‘Hold My Hand’ from the movie ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ ‘Lift me Up’ from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ and ‘This Is Life,’ from ‘Everything, Everywhere All At Once’.

Adding to the Indian list of nominations for Oscars 2023 is Kartiki Gonsalves’ ‘The Elephant Whisperers.”  

 ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ has been nominated in the ‘Documentary Short Film Category’ against ‘Haul Out,’ ‘How Do You Measure A Year?’ ‘The Martha Mitchell Effect,’ and ‘Stranger At The Gate’.

The film’s plot revolves around a family who adopts two orphan baby elephants in Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

The Oscars are going to be held on March 13 and while the wait is going to be quite a long one from now, the nominations have sure lifted the spirits of not just the crew and cast of the films mentioned above, but also of everyone who hopes to see an Indian movie bagging the prestigious award. 

source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home / posted by Aasha Khosa, ATV / January 25th, 2023                 

AMU faculty elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences

Aligarh, UTTAR PRADESH :

Prof Nafees Ahmad Khan, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, has been declared as the Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI).

The National Academy of Sciences,  recognises researchers who excel in the field of their research as Fellow of the Academy, which is considered as the most coveted accomplishment in academics.

Prof Khan has worked on the mechanisms of hormonal and nutritional regulation of plant development with emphasis on plant resilience against stressful environments using nutriomics and metabolomics. 

He has published many research papers in crucial high Impact Factors journals and collaborated internationally for research. He has published about 200 research papers(H-index 67; i10 index 175)and was noted as one of the most-cited Indian researchers in the area of Plant Science by Elsevier every year from 2019 to 2022. 

He has edited 19 books published by Elsevier, Springer-Nature, Frontiers, NOVA, Alpha Science and others. Supervised research projects focused on signalling molecules-nutriomics and abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms, and served as Editor/Guest Editor of the leading plant science journals, published by Elsevier, Frontiers, Springer-Nature MDPI.

Prof Khan is also fellow of The Linnean Society, Indian Botanical Society, Indian Society for Plant Physiology.

source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University / Home / by Public Relations Office / November 04th, 2022

Bengaluru: Man leaves gemstone biz, strikes gold in growing tropical fruit plants

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

The 52-year-old Devanahalli farmer grows Avocados, Macadamia nuts, Rambutan, Bush Orange, Water Apple, Star Fruit and Lychee Thai Guava among others in his one-acre nursery.

Avocados. (Photo|Associated Press)

Bengaluru :

Eleven years ago, Mohammed Adil bid adieu to his 20-year-old gemstone business and turned to his interest in growing tropical fruit plants full-time. The decision helped him reap rich dividends as now his turnover by selling exotic saplings in Bengaluru is over Rs 1 crore annually.

The 52-year-old Devanahalli farmer grows Avocados, Macadamia nuts, Rambutan, Bush Orange, Water Apple, Star Fruit and Lychee Thai Guava among others in his one-acre nursery.

“I had 4 acres of land where I had many Jamun trees. But, since the yield was less, I searched for exotic fruit trees and my journey as a farmer began 11 years ago. I converted one acre into a nursery where I grew all the mother saplings. In Avocado alone, I have 13 types with four types named after Bengaluru nursery,” said Adil.

In the last five years, he has sold over lakh Avocado saplings. “This tropical fruit is easy to grow with zero maintenance and the yield is just in three years. All one has to do is ensure good care for the first two years,”  said Adil.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Mohammed Yacoob , Express News Service / November 04th, 2022