Latest news with #Sreedharan
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Njattyela Sreedharan, creator of four-language Dravidian dictionary, passes away
Kozhikode: Njattyela Sreedharan, a self-taught linguist and lexicographer, who is known for compiling the 'Chathur Dravida Bhasha Padaparichayam', a dictionary of four Dravidian languages, passed away on Thursday. He was 87. Sreedharan had spent around three decades compiling the dictionary which had meanings of Malayalam words in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu and had travelled extensively in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh studying Dravidian languages. His affinity for languages and pursuit of lexicography made many call him 'Kannur's Hermann Gundert'. Sreedharan's journey to scholarship was unconventional. Forced to leave school early, he took up work in a beedi factory in Palakkad. Between long shifts, he managed to pass his ESCL (eighth standard public examination) and learned Tamil. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed condolences over the demise of Sreedharan. The dictionary prepared by him linking four Dravidian languages is a valuable asset for the language study, said the chief minister in his condolence message. "He was a beedi worker and he became the successor of Hermann Gundert only because of his self efforts," Vijayan said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Independence Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Njattyela Sreedharan, self-taught linguist and creator of four-language Dravidian dictionary, passes away at 87
Njattyela Sreedharan, a self-taught linguist whose monumental work linked four Dravidian languages in a single dictionary, passed away early Thursday (August 13, 2025) while undergoing treatment for age-related ailments in Kannur, Kerala. He was 87. Mr. Sreedharan was celebrated for compiling the Chathur Dravida Bhasha Padhaparichayam, a work hailed as a milestone in the study of South Indian languages. Known to many as Kannur's own Hermann Gundert, his legacy lies not just in his books, but in his belief that language binds communities. His work, nurtured through decades of persistence, remains a testament to the power of self-learning and cultural curiosity. At the of 82, when most would consider slowing down, Mr. Sreedharan was painstakingly compiling over 1 lakh words across Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu. The 860-page volume, first published with the help of the Senior Citizens Forum's Vayalalam unit during his tenure as president, became a rare reference treasure. For each Malayalam entry, he provided equivalent words in the other three languages, along with variations in meaning and usage. In May 2023, the Kerala Language Institute brought out the second edition of his work. Plans for Malayalam-Kannada and Malayalam-Telugu dictionaries soon followed. When publishers hesitated to take on the task, the Senior Citizens Forum once again stepped in, raising ₹4 lakh to produce 500 copies. Unconventional path to scholarship Mr. Sreedharan's path to scholarship was unconventional. Forced to drop out of school, he began working in a beedi factory in Palakkad. Between shifts, he cleared his ESCL (eighth standard public) examination and picked up Tamil from the local community at Kalpathy. Drawn to the world of words, he immersed himself in literacy programmes, teaching others while deepening his own understanding of scripts, grammar and colloquial speech. The turning point came during his tenure as a blueprinter in the Public Works department when he met T.P. Sukumaran, a professor at Nirmalagiri College, Kannur. Encouraged to create a dictionary of Malayalam dialects, Mr. Sreedharan expanded the idea, deciding instead to link the four major Dravidian languages. Learning Kannada from colleague Govinda Naik and writer C. Raghavan, he spent weeks in Karnataka for an immersive study. For Telugu, he found teachers in Taliparamba's District Agricultural Farm officer Eashwaraprasad Rao and his wife Seethamma and further refined his skills through repeated stays in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. After retiring from the Irrigation department in 1994, Mr. Sreedharan dedicated himself entirely to the dictionary. His earlier Malayalam-Tamil dictionary, published by the Kerala State Institute of Languages in 2012, hinted at the scale of his vision. But the multilingual work faced hurdles – shortage of proofreaders, lack of evaluators and institutional hesitation – until the Senior Citizens Forum finally backed the project. The final edition, which he often referred to as his great accomplishment, cemented his reputation as a cultural bridge builder. Over the years, Mr. Sreedharan was honoured with the Dr. T.P Sukumaran Master award, the Gundert award and the India Reading Olympiad Special Jury award. He also served as Kannur taluk president of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham and was a member of the State Council of the NGO Union.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Google Cloud appoints Sashikumar Sreedharan as new India MD, eyes next phase of AI-led growth
Google Cloud has named Sashikumar Sreedharan the new managing director for its India operations. This marks a key leadership shift as the company accelerates its AI-led growth in one of its most dynamic markets, said Google. Sreedharan succeeds Bikram Singh Bedi, who will now focus on regional strategic priorities across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. He previously served as managing director of Microsoft India and has also held senior roles at SAP and IBM. 'It has been an incredible four and a half years… and I am immensely proud of the business we have built,' reflected Bedi. 'I look forward to contributing to APAC's strategic priorities and watching India's continued success in this new chapter under Sashi's leadership.' Sreedharan, who joined Google Cloud in 2023 as the Chief Operating Officer for APAC, brings over three decades of industry experience to the role. According to Google, his leadership will focus on scaling Google Cloud's enterprise business and supporting India's growing developer ecosystem. Commenting on his new role, Sreedharan said, 'My time as APAC COO has deeply affirmed my belief in Google Cloud's winning strategy and powerful AI-first platform. I am excited to return to the field and to work with our customers to advance their innovation agenda.' Backed by strong demand for AI-powered platforms and tools, Google Cloud has seen rapid growth in India over the past year. Businesses like HDFC Bank, Meesho, Manipal Hospitals, Tech Mahindra, and Dream11 are increasingly using their products to 'innovate at scale'. Google Cloud India also continues to work closely with public sector institutions, including ONDC, Nirmit Bharat, and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, among others. 'Google Cloud is uniquely positioned to partner with Indian businesses and the public sector to harness AI's transformative power,' said Karan Bajwa, president of Google Cloud Asia Pacific. 'As Sashi takes on the leadership of our team in India, I'm confident he will further propel our organisation and our customers to their next phase of growth.' (This article has been curated by Arfan Jeelany, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Google Cloud elevates Sashikumar Sreedharan as MD for India business
Google Cloud on Monday announced that Sashikumar Sreedharan will succeed Bikram Singh Bedi as its new Managing Director for India. Bedi will now focus on regional strategic initiatives. Sreedharan, a technology industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, joined Google Cloud as Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific in September 2023, based in Bengaluru. In this new role, he will lead Google Cloud's go-to-market organisation in India, working with the company's enterprise and digital-native customers, valued partners, and developer ecosystem as they build for an AI-first future. Karan Bajwa, President, Google Cloud, Asia Pacific, said: 'AI is poised to redefine India's industries and supercharge the productivity and creativity of its vast talent pool. With our deep AI heritage, cutting-edge technical infrastructure, and innovative solutions, Google Cloud is uniquely positioned to partner with Indian businesses and the public sector to harness AI's transformative power.' Bajwa added: 'I want to thank Bikram, who has been instrumental in driving Google Cloud's success in India till date. He will now shift his focus to regional strategic initiatives. As Sashi takes on the leadership of our team in India, I'm confident he will further propel our organisation and our customers to their next phase of growth in this crucial market.' Google Cloud has experienced significant growth over the past 12 months, driven by the rapid introduction and widespread adoption of its powerful AI models and fully integrated AI technology platform, the company said. Organisations across sectors are leveraging Google Cloud's solutions and expertise to innovate at scale. This includes leading financial services players such as HDFC Bank, HDFC Ergo, and ICICI Prudential; major retail businesses like Flipkart, Meesho, and Myntra; healthcare providers including Apollo 24/7, Manipal Hospitals, and Dr Reddy's Laboratories; IT services companies such as Tech Mahindra and Wipro; and digital-native firms like Glance, ShareChat, and Dream11. Google Cloud has also partnered with the public sector, including entities like ONDC, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Nirmit Bharat, Karamyogi, and to accelerate digitalisation and enhance citizen service delivery using the full potential of Cloud and AI. Prior to joining Google Cloud, Sreedharan was Managing Director at Microsoft India, where he led the enterprise business. He has also held leadership roles at SAP, IBM, and other companies in India. Sreedharan said: 'My time as COO for APAC has deeply affirmed my belief in Google Cloud's winning strategy and powerful AI-first platform. I am excited to return to the field and work with our customers to advance their innovation agenda.' 'It has been an incredible four and a half years leading Google Cloud in India, and I am immensely proud of the business we have built with the support of my team, our customers and partners. I look forward to contributing to APAC's strategic priorities and watching India's continued success in this new chapter under Sashi's leadership,' said Bikram Singh Bedi.
NDTV
22-06-2025
- NDTV
Madhya Pradesh High Court To Hear Nursing College Scam Case Daily From July 3
Bhopal: Four years after NDTV first exposed a massive fraud in Madhya Pradesh's nursing colleges, the case has taken a critical turn. The Madhya Pradesh High Court will now hold daily hearings in the case starting July 3, underlining the gravity of what the court has called a "sensitive issue in the health sector." A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice DK Paliwal made the decision during a hearing earlier this week. The court is now treating the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vishal Baghel, as the lead case, which is also under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "Capital Punishment Should Be Given" In a dramatic moment during the hearing, Justice Sreedharan was visibly shocked after going through the photos and order sheets, revealing the condition of some nursing colleges. "Oh my god," he exclaimed and asked, "Has the court seen these photos before? What is happening?" One photograph showed how the same campus had different boards put up - Engineering, BEd, and Nursing College - changed as per convenience. Another revealed colleges that existed only on plastic boards, without any infrastructure. "There should be capital punishment for people doing this. We forgive them for murders because that's a crime of passion, but these are premeditated offences," Justice Sreedharan said sternly. The bench expressed deep concern, calling the scam a systemic rot that threatens the future of healthcare in the state. The court rebuked officials of the Indian Nursing Council and Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council for repeated non-compliance. Despite 48 hearings and 96 exemptions granted to the officials so far, key records have still not been submitted. The bench observed that this kind of deliberate delay would be treated as "interference in the judicial process." In a previous hearing, too, the court had expressed displeasure over the absence of council representatives. The petitioner has alleged that officials are deliberately obstructing the investigation and shielding those responsible for running fake institutions. After the CBI stepped in, the number of recognised nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh reportedly dropped from over 600 to around 200, raising serious questions about how these institutions were ever allowed to operate in the first place. "This is not just about education; it's about the quality of health services in the country. We are heading towards destruction," Justice Sreedharan warned. Petitioner Mr Baghel told NDTV, "For the first time this matter was heard by the new bench, and when we presented a complete briefing of three years, the court was
