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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rich tributes paid to Venkata Krishna Rao on centenary
VIJAYAWADA: The State government has decided to name the Official Language Commission after Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao, a revered champion of the Telugu language and public service. Attending as the chief guest, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu made the announcement during Venkata Krishna Rao's centenary celebrations at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada. The event paid tribute to Krishna Rao's lifelong contributions to the Telugu language, culture, and his heroic efforts during the 1977 Diviseema cyclone. Naidu described Krishna Rao as an exemplary leader whose commitment to Gandhian principles and value-based politics remains a beacon. 'Working with him as an MLA from 1978 to 1983 was a privilege. His integrity and dedication to public welfare set him apart,' Naidu said. He highlighted Krishna Rao's role in organising the first World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad (1957) and the second in Kuala Lumpur (1981), and in establishing the International Telugu Institute and overseas Telugu service centres. Krishna Rao's leadership during the 1977 cyclone, which claimed 12,000 lives and displaced lakhs, was lauded. He rescued orphans, oversaw cremations, and mobilised aid for rehabilitation, including permanent housing and embankments. 'His efforts, alongside NTR's fundraising, ensured relief for the affected,' Naidu recalled, drawing parallels to his own experience managing disasters like the 1996 Super Cyclone and Hudhud. Naidu also praised Krishna district's legacy of producing luminaries like Bhogaraju Pattabhi Seetaramayya, Mutnuri Krishna Rao, and Viswanatha Satyanarayana, placing Venkata Krishna Rao among them. Krishna Rao's early involvement in the freedom struggle, including the Quit India Movement, and his support for poor students with books and kerosene, reflected his lifelong commitment to social welfare. He secured 15,000 acres of coastal land for cultivation and distributed 50,000 acres to uplift 11,000 families through cooperative farming. His contributions to education included efforts to establish Kakatiya University and Acharya Nagarjuna University, and organising the 1974 All-India Telugu Cultural Festival, which led to the formation of the Official Language Commission. Naidu commended Krishna Rao's son, Buddha Prasad, for continuing his legacy. He also called on scholar Garikapati Narasimha Rao to reconsider serving as a government advisor to further such values.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Revive ‘littoral zone' to curb cyclone impact: Study
Bhubaneswar: A recent study by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) highlighted the urgent need for strategic interventions to bolster socio-ecological resilience against cyclone vulnerability along Odisha's 480-km long coastline. The study, 'Socio-ecological Resilience to Cyclone Vulnerability: A Study of Coastal Odisha', published this month by NIDM, an autonomous institute under the ministry of home affairs, recommends reviving the littoral zone, the interface between land and water around 3km from the coast, as a nature-based solution (NBS) to mitigate cyclones and enhance livelihoods. This includes the restoration of mangroves and casuarina trees in sandy soils. It also suggested planting trees such as neem, karanja and jamun along the coast, as these are resistant to high-speed winds. The study calls for strengthening climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, horticulture and fisheries to provide sustainable livelihoods. It suggests developing sectoral plans to make these sectors more resilient to climate impacts. As part of livelihood support to the affected coastal communities, it suggests the construction of more fishing harbours, mechanised boats for deep-sea fishing, and augmenting cold storage facilities to support the fishing industry and prevent migration to other states. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The study notes that Odisha in general and coastal Odisha particularly is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world. During the last two decades, the region encountered frequent floods, droughts and cyclones several times, and cyclones have had the most devastating effect on the lives and livelihoods of locals living along the coastline. While there is a robust institutional arrangement and significant progress made since the 1999 Super Cyclone, there are many areas of concern for making coastal Odisha from a cyclone-vulnerable region to a cyclone-resilient region. A household survey revealed that the majority of households had a single income source (95.1%) and were climate-sensitive in nature. Cyclones had severe impact on their livelihood. "As the income was meagre, these households did not have much savings to be used at the time of disaster. Therefore, there is a need for diversification of livelihood with an emphasis on climate-proofing these livelihoods. Efforts should be made to explore climate-neutral livelihood opportunities," the study said. NIDM executive director Rajendra Sahoo said that the study on cyclones in coastal Odisha for the last 50 years tries to identify a trend and pattern that would help in micro-level planning to reduce the region's cyclone vulnerability. A total of 1,301 tropical cyclonic storms generated over the Bay of Bengal during the 121 years from 1891 to 2011. Among those, 33% (389) made landfall on the Odisha coast. While the eastern India coast is one of the most cyclone-prone areas in the world, Odisha is twice as vulnerable compared to other eastern states, the report said. From 1891 to 2018, the number of cyclones that crossed the Odisha coast was 98, the highest among all the eastern coast states.
New Indian Express
27-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Belarani rebuilds life, one crop at a time
JAGATSINGHPUR: When it comes to turning adversity into opportunity, villagers of Nalabehdi in Jagatsinghpur district look up to Belarani Pradhan. Twenty-six years back, circumstances forced her to take up farming as a livelihood but today, she has become an example of determination for many. Belarani not just grows vegetables but is also into prawn and dairy farming, all by herself. Erasama was one of the worst affected in the Super Cyclone of 1999. At Nalabehdi, which comes under the block, many people were killed and several families rendered homeless. Belarani, who was 31 then, also lost her farmer husband, two sons and a daughter to the disaster. Though help poured in for those affected through NGOs and government agencies, it was temporary. The tragedy, however, did not break Belarani's spirits and she wanted to rebuild her life for the sake of her second daughter who survived. With some basic knowledge about farming that she had gained from watching her husband work before the Super Cyclone, Belarani decided to grow vegetables organically on her 1.5 acre of ancestral land. She sold the produce in local markets at Olara and Gadabishnupur and owing to the good quality of vegetables she grew, vendors also began procuring them directly from her doorsteps.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Call for govt action to restore iconic theatre in Cuttack
Bhubaneswar: Once the cultural heartbeat of Cuttack, the Janata Ranga Manch now stands silent and crumbling — a shadow of its vibrant past. More than two decades after the 1999 Super Cyclone left it in ruins, the iconic theatre in Banka Bazar continues to languish in neglect. Now, in a renewed push to save this landmark of Odisha's theatrical legacy, The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and the Manch's members have urged the state govt to step in before it's too late. Underlining the cultural and historical significance of the 72-year-old institution, INTACH's state convener, Biswajit Mohanty, said, "Janata Ranga Manch was not just a theatre but a symbol of Odisha's rich performing arts tradition. Its current condition is heartbreaking." He added that INTACH would send a formal request to the govt to declare Janata Ranga Manch a 'heritage site' and urge the preparation of a comprehensive restoration and development plan. Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh said, "Janata Ranga Manch is an iconic heritage site and must be preserved. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has already submitted a proposal for its revival to the state govst and is awaiting approval and financial allocation." Established in 1953, Janata Ranga Manch served as a vital platform for staging plays by renowned playwrights and nurturing the theatre movement in Odisha. For over five decades, it hosted regular performances and was once considered the cultural heartbeat of the city. After being severely damaged in the Super Cyclone, the theatre has operated from a makeshift venue. Despite the challenges, its members continue to keep the spirit of Odia theatre alive. "Janata Ranga Manch was once the pride of Cuttack. All steps must be taken to declare it a heritage institution," said Deepak Samantray, co-convener of INTACH's Cuttack chapter. Echoing his sentiments, theatre activist Indrajit Ghosh said, "This institution has been the bedrock of theatre in the state. It deserves heritage status to honour its lasting contribution to the arts." Dr Ananga Dwivedi, advisor to the Manch, recalled that Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his tenure as the collector of Cuttack, visited the site and suggested developing an 'Adarsh Natya Sanghralaya' (model theatre museum) for its revival. "It is high time the state govt considered setting up the proposed museum," he said. Heritage activist Anil Dhir of INTACH said the organisation would submit a collective appeal to the govt urging immediate intervention. "This theatre is a living archive of Odia drama since 1953. Without timely action, we risk losing a vital cultural institution forever," he said.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
From Military Roots to Global Innovation: Arun Kar Builds a Greener Future with $145M Net Worth
Arun Kar at the World Leaders Summit 2024, held at the prestigious House of Lords, British Parliament / Source: The News Times UK From Cyclone Survivor to Sustainability Leader: Arun Kar's Journey from Battlefield to Boardroom is Reshaping Tech Impact LONDON, United Kingdom - 2nd Jun, 2025 - In an age dominated by startup valuations and venture capital pomp, Arun Kar 's journey stands apart — a narrative defined not by overnight success but by persistent resilience, clarity of purpose, and quiet determination. Born in Odisha, India, and raised in a modest household, Kar's early life was marked by adversity. One of the most defining moments came in 1999, when he survived the devastating Super Cyclone that ravaged the eastern coast of India. 'Witnessing the destruction and the quiet strength of my community left a lasting impact,' he recalls. That formative experience planted the seeds of a lifelong mission: to build solutions that serve both people and planet. Kar's path initially led to military service. After clearing India's Combined Defence Services examination with an all-India rank of 152, he was commissioned into the Indian Army's Artillery Arm. For seven years, he served with distinction, often in some of the country's most demanding environments. Kar said, 'The Army taught me the value of leadership under pressure, discipline, and unwavering accountability'. Those lessons would prove critical in the chapters to come. Battleground to Boardroom Following his military tenure, Kar transitioned to the corporate world, working with leading global IT firms including Tech Mahindra and Virtusa. There, he gained exposure to digital transformation, enterprise systems, and global operations — insights that laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial vision. In 2016, he founded Xpertnest, alongside partners Chintan Panara and Pradip Butani. With no external funding, the team started from scratch — quite literally from their living rooms. Their first project brought in just $900. But what followed was nearly a decade of steady, values-driven growth. Today, the company is a global digital innovation firm headquartered in London, with operations spanning the UK, Europe, India, and the Middle East. The company's portfolio includes smart city infrastructure, AgriTech platforms supporting Indian farmers, and critical applications for Fortune 500 companies and national law enforcement agencies. Their technology has powered everything from 5G event solutions to IoT-based utility management systems. Notably, several of their applications have been featured in Apple's enterprise success stories — a testament to the firm's technical acumen and real-world impact. In early 2025, the company was independently valued at over $100 million, a figure verified by both a SEBI-registered Category-I Merchant Banker and a UK-based valuation firm, with the milestone reported across the London Stock Exchange (RNS), Reuters, and the Financial Express. Building a Greener Future Kar's ambitions extend beyond technology. In recent years, he launched Earthnest, a sustainability venture focused on biodegradable and plastic-free packaging solutions. The company's flagship product — Bio Bags — aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is already in use across the UK, including a successful trial with Paultons Park, one of Britain's top family attractions. 'Technology must serve humanity and the environment — not just profit margins,' Kar says. A Quiet Rise In May 2025, Arun Kar's personal net worth was independently assessed and certified at $145 million by a SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) registered Category-I Merchant Banker, based on his equity in Xpertnest, stakes in other high-growth ventures and companies, and a portfolio of income-generating real estate assets. Yet, despite reaching multimillionaire status long before public recognition, Kar remains grounded. His next goal? To support emerging leaders and startups through mentorship, investment, and ethical governance. 'Impact is the true measure of success,' he acknowledges. Kar's journey — from cyclone survivor to Army officer, tech innovator to sustainability champion — is a rare tale of purpose over hype. It serves as a powerful reminder that in an age of instant gratification, long-term vision, discipline, and integrity still have a place at the heart of innovation. Media Contact Company Name: Premium NewsWire Contact Person: Benjamin Sadhu Email: Send Email Address:10, Winnipeg Drive Green Street Green City: Orpington State: Kent Country: United Kingdom Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: From Military Roots to Global Innovation: Arun Kar Builds a Greener Future with $145M Net Worth
