Latest news with #Nataraj
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Srihari Nataraj sets best Indian time in 200m freestyle at Singapore Nationals
Olympian Srihari Nataraj delivered a standout performance at the 20th Singapore National Swimming Championships, setting the Best Indian Time in the men's 200m freestyle to secure the gold medal. Competing at the Singapore Sports School on Sunday, the 24-year-old clocked an impressive 1:48.66, eclipsing the previous best mark of 1:49.73 held by Sajan Prakash since 2021. Nataraj, primarily known for his expertise in the 100m backstroke, also claimed a silver medal in the 100m freestyle earlier in the meet, showcasing his versatility in sprint events. Although his 200m freestyle time does not officially count as a national record — since national records in swimming are only recognized when set at the National Aquatics Championships — it still stands as the fastest-ever time recorded by an Indian in the event at any competition. Nataraj, who has represented India at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, continues to build strong momentum in the lead-up to future international competitions.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
70-year-old recovers as Karnataka's Shivamogga confirms first Covid case
SHIVAMOGGA: The district recorded its first confirmed Covid case involving a 70-year-old man who recovered and was discharged. A senior citizen from Haveri district was admitted to McGann District Hospital in Shivamogga city on May 19 with cardiac complications. During his week-long treatment, he experienced fever and cough alongside his primary ailment. His samples were analysed at McGann's laboratory. The test results, which arrived after his discharge and return to Haveri on Monday, confirmed he was COVID-positive. In conversation with TOI, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Nataraj confirmed the patient's Covid infection, noting that he already completed treatment for his cardiac condition in the designated ward before returning home. Despite testing positive, the patient recovered from his illness. The officer confirmed the patient's stable condition and said his case was referred to Haveri district health authorities for follow-up care. The hospital staff took necessary precautions, and there is no cause for alarm regarding a new wave, the DHO said, urging the public to wear masks in public areas and advised students to follow protocols in schools.
NDTV
25-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"There Can Be No Other Name," Says Great-Grandson Of Mysore Pak's Inventor Amid Renaming Row
Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following last month's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, several sweet shops in Jaipur have renamed popular items, including the iconic 'Mysore Pak', now being sold as 'Mysore Shree'. The move has triggered criticism, including from the great-grandson of the royal cook credited with inventing Mysore Pak during the reign of King Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV in the Mysore palace kitchen. S Nataraj, a descendant of royal cook Kakasura Madappa, who still makes and sells Mysore Pak in Mysuru, told News18, "Call it Mysore Pak - there can be no other name for this invention passed down by our ancestors." He added, "Just like every monument or tradition has its rightful name, Mysore Pak does too. It should not be altered or misrepresented." Explaining the origin of the name, Nataraj said, "The word 'Paaka' in Kannada refers to a sugary syrup. Since it was created in Mysore, it came to be known as Mysore Pak. There is no question of calling it anything else." Stressing the importance of retaining the original name, he said, "Wherever you go in the world, when someone sees the sweet, they should be able to identify and call it Mysore Pak. Nobody has the right to change its name." The family continues to run the famous Guru Sweets in Mysuru, Karnataka. Now in its fifth generation, the shop was originally started by Nataraj's great-grandfather to popularise the royal sweet beyond the palace walls and into the public domain. Also Read: Viral Video Shows Making Of Mysore Pak In Karnataka, Internet Reacts According to Sumegh S, a fourth-generation member of the family, Mysore Pak is much more than a sweet. It holds deep cultural and historical significance for Mysuru and Karnataka. "Mysore Pak is the pride of Mysuru, Karnataka, and the Kannadiga community. It reflects the sweetness of our people and the richness of Kannada culture. We only stand by the sweet our forefather created - Mysore Pak - which is now globally known. Do not drag it into unnecessary controversies," he told News18. Prepared using gram flour, sugar, and generous amounts of ghee, Mysore Pak is known for its crumbly yet melt-in-the-mouth texture. It remains a popular treat across India, especially during festivals and family celebrations. Advertisement For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Mysore Pak Mysore Shree India Pak Show full article Comments
News18
24-05-2025
- General
- News18
'Nobody Can Change Mysore Pak's Name': Kin Of Man Who Invented Iconic Sweet Slam Renaming Bid
Last Updated: The great-grandson of Mysore royal family's cook, who is credited with creating the iconic sweet, said the sweet is a cultural emblem and part of Karnataka's soul 'Call it Mysore Pak —there can be no other name for this invention passed down by our ancestors," says S Nataraj, great-grandson of Kakasura Madappa, the cook of the Mysore royal Wadiyar family, who is credited with creating the iconic sweet. Madappa's legacy is inseparable from the name itself, says Nataraj. 'The word Paaka in Kannada refers to a sugary syrup. Since it was invented in Mysore, it came to be known as Mysore Pak. There's no question of calling it anything else." 'Just like every monument or tradition has its rightful name, so does Mysore Pak. Don't misrepresent it," said the descendant of Kakasura Madappa. Nataraj's strong statement comes at a time when several sweet shops in Jaipur have renamed Mysore Pak as 'Mysore Shree" in an attempt to drop all associations with the word 'Pak" as in Pakistan, in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The attack, followed by India's military action under Operation Sindoor, triggered an anti-Pakistan sentiment, prompting at least three well-known confectioners in Rajasthan's capital to alter the names of their products. But for the descendants of the man who created the sweet, the idea of tampering with the name is unacceptable. 'Mysore Pak is a delicious sweet made with a sugary syrup, gram flour, and ghee. This invention by our family must be called by its rightful name and nothing else," reiterated Nataraj when he spoke to News18 in an exclusive interview. 'Wherever in the world you go, when someone sees the sweet, they should be able to identify and call it by its name Mysore Pak. Nobody has the right to change its name," he said. The family has been making the sweet for five generations and still runs the famous Guru Sweets in Mysuru. Located along the Mysuru Dasara Jumbo Savari route, the shop was set up by Nataraj's great-grandfather to help popularise the sweet even more amongst people and not just make it for the royal Darbar. According to Sumegh Nataraj, the fourt generation of the family, Mysore Pak is not just a sweet — it is a cultural emblem, one with historical importance. 'Mysore Pak is the pride of Mysore, Karnataka and Kannadigas. It presents the real essence of what our culture truly stands for—the sweetness of the Kananda and Kannadigas and the richness of Kannada culture and tradition. We only believe in the product that my forefather invented, Mysore Pak, which today is renowned globally. Don't attach unnecessary controversies to Mysore Pak." A few years ago, Mysore Pak was part of another controversy when a social media post falsely claimed Tamil Nadu had applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for it. Aligning with swift action, the descendants of Madappa officially applied for the GI tag. 'We had to act. That post caused confusion and started an avoidable debate. We're still waiting," said another member of the family. How Mysore Pak was 'invented' The story of Mysore Pak's invention dates back to the time of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (1902–1940), the king of Mysore, who was known to be a food connoisseur. He not only had a massive kitchen in the palace but was also known to cook on occasion himself. The king would also challenge his royal chefs to prepare dishes from different regions as well as different types of prasadams, or temple offerings. So, as the legend goes, one day during lunch, the king realised that his royal cook Kakasura Madappa had forgotten to prepare a dessert course. When he inquired about the missing course, Madappa had no option but to think on his feet. Caught off guard, Kakasura Madappa quickly mixed gram flour, ghee, and sugar to create a hot, soft fudge-like sweet. He presented this warm, soft, melt-in-the-mouth sweet that delighted the king as he tasted it. When Krishnaraja Wadiyar posed the question as to what the name of the sweet was, Madappa had to once again come up with something quickly—but this time, even faster than the time he took to prepare the newly concocted sweet. 'Mysore Pak, my king, that's what it's called," came the reply, as he felt that this was the best name to be given to a sweet made in Mysore using a sugary syrup. To this day, the family proudly upholds that legacy—not just by preparing the sweet, but by fiercely defending its name at a time like this. 'At no cost should anyone attempt to rename or politicise Mysore Pak," Nataraj said firmly. 'It's more than a sweet — it's a part of Karnataka's soul." First Published:
Mint
02-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
BHIM app update: A deep dive into recent features such as family mode, split expenses, spend analytics
The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), introduced a series of features such as split expenses, family mode, and spend analytics about a month ago, aimed at helping users manage their daily financial tasks more smartly. In addition, BHIM's UPI Circle feature continues to expand its use-cases for secure delegated payments. At the core of the app's functioning is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a platform that facilitates money transfers between bank accounts. Here's a deeper look into the new BHIM features, how to use them and where users need to be cautious. The split expenses feature is a practical tool for friends, roommates or colleagues who often share payments. This feature is already live on some other UPI apps. For a restaurant bill of ₹ 4,000 to be shared by four friends, instead of each one paying ₹ 1,000 separately, one person can pay the amount. The payer can then choose the Split Expenses option in the BHIM app, add the friends' UPI IDs, and the app will automatically send them a request for ₹ 1,000 each. Once they accept the request, the amount gets credited directly to the payer's bank account. Only transactions made via BHIM UPI can be split, and those sharing the expense must be BHIM users or have UPI IDs. The feature works only for one-time splits – recurring shared expenses such as monthly rent must be done manually every time. Family mode enables financial tasks to be shared among members. If the primary user is travelling overseas, the payment of electricity bills, DTH recharges, and Fastag top-ups can be assigned to the spouse or adult children using BHIM's Family Mode. The family members will get notifications when the bill is due, and the payments can be made from their bank accounts using BHIM. 'Family mode is designed to create a shared space within the app, allowing the primary user to assign specific tasks or payments to family members," explained Lalitha Nataraj, MD and CEO of NPCI BHIM Services Ltd. To use this feature, the primary member and the family members must have accounts on BHIM and their bank accounts linked. The family members are invited in the Family Mode section of the app. Once they accept the invite, bill payments or payment tasks can be assigned to them. Bills can only be assigned after the initial biller is registered and a payment is created. Assigned members will then receive timely reminders, ensuring that important family expenses are managed. With spend analytics, BHIM users can get a clear picture of their spending habits. The app can display a categorised summary of expenses such as groceries, utilities and shopping at the end of the month. This helps to identify areas where a user might be overspending. 'There have been many instances where people come to us and say that because of UPI payments, they no longer keep track of their expenses," Nataraj pointed out. 'The spend analytics feature solves this problem by categorising your payments and providing insights into where your money is going." This feature does not track card payments, cash spends, or payments made via other UPI apps such as PhonePe and Google Pay. Users cannot create custom categories. Transactions completed through the BHIM app will appear in the spend analytics report. In April, BHIM introduced the UPI Circle feature, which allows individuals to perform UPI transactions on behalf of someone else. This is especially useful for elderly parents who are the primary users of BHIM but not comfortable handling mobile apps. They can add trusted individuals as their secondary users and give them partial delegation to carry out transactions within certain limits and without needing to ask for real-time approvals every time. For example, parents can delegate utility bill payments to their daughter. She can initiate and complete these transactions directly from the BHIM app without needing them to approve each payment separately. However, the overall control remains with the parents, who can set transaction limits, monitor all payments in real time, and revoke access any time. This makes it extremely convenient for families where elderly parents want help managing payments but also want to retain oversight and security. Both the primary and secondary users must be registered BHIM users, and delegation settings, such as daily transaction limits, must be configured when setting up UPI Circle. Partial delegation allows secondary users to make payments independently within agreed boundaries. 'UPI Circle on BHIM is more than just a feature – it's a step towards a more inclusive and connected financial ecosystem. By offering a secure and flexible way to delegate financial responsibilities, UPI Circle enhances the way we share and manage our money," Nataraj said. BHIM is evolving from a simple UPI payments app to a complete digital money management tool – whether it's tracking your personal budget, helping your family manage bills, or securely assisting elderly parents with digital payments. The BHIM's updates reflect an understanding of the needs of modern users. However, users must follow the required conditions and remain aware of the limitations to get the best experience. As India continues its journey towards a cashless economy, innovations like these position BHIM as a key pillar of the country's digital future.
