G Santha Teacher Memorial Journalism Award for Vijay Karnataka’s Nanjundaswamy

By Team Billion Beats

Bengaluru, Sept 5: M Nanjundaswamy (27), a stringer with the Mysuru Bureau of popular Kannada daily Vijay Karnataka, has been selected for the 4th G Santha Teacher Memorial Journalism Award 2019. The award is instituted by Inspired Indian Foundation (IIF), a band of unassuming go-getters who find still greater fulfilment in celebrating the unsung heroes in our midst. 

The award will be presented on October 19, 2019 in Bengaluru, during the 4th Guru Kalam Memorial Lecture being organised by IIF in association with Abdul Kalam International Foundation (AKIF), Rameswaram. 

The award carries a hand-crafted memento, a certificate of appreciation and a Rs 21,000 cash component. This year onwards, IIF will support the awardee in undertaking special assignments that would further the cause of unsung heroes. The awardee will also be a special invitee to various initiatives of the Foundation for the next year. 

Rekha Satheesh, a Senior Chief Sub-Editor with The New Indian Express, Kochi, was the first recipient of the award in 2016, while Rajeev Kumar Mishra, a Chief Sub-Editor with the Bengaluru edition of Rajasthan Patrika, won the honour in 2017. The award went to Jugal Purohit, a Senior Broadcast Journalist with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) India, in 2018. 

This year, the jury included top aerospace and defence scientists, besides writers and teachers, in addition to the trustees of IIF. Nanjundaswamy was chosen from a list of four shortlisted journalists from across India who have been writing on a whole host of issues. 

The award has been instituted in the memory of G Shantha, an English teacher hailing from Thalavadi in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. Born in 1942, she dedicated her career to instilling in her young wards an unshakeable belief to chase their dreams wherever she taught, including at Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, and Devasvom Board College, Thalayolaparambu, Kerala, and Mahatma High School for Girls, Chennithala, Kerala. She passed away in 2007 at the age of 65. In addition to her services as a teacher, she worked selflessly to promote the English language among rural kids. She also found time to write short stories and poetry, without ever craving for the limelight. 

Humble beginnings: Nanjundaswamy was left with a deformed left hand owing to the misfortune of delayed childbirth. However, this did not deter him from pursuing his dream to become a journalist. Born to farmer couple Madashetty and Bhagyamma in Belathur, a remote village in Chamarajanagar near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, Nanjundaswamy has been working as a stringer with Vijay Karnataka for the last two and a half years. 

Having completed his primary and pre-university education from the Mahadeshwara Math institutes in Male Mahadeshwara Hills in Chamarajanagar, Nanjundaswamy and his family shifted to Mysuru in order to ensure he had access to quality education. While his father took up masonry work in Mysuru, his mother used to work as a house help to make ends meet. His elder brother Umesh works as a crop surveyor. 

After the family moved lock, stock and barrel to Mysuru, Nanjundaswamy enrolled at Maharajas College to pursue his BA in Journalism. Stirred by the decisive role the media plays, Nanjundaswamy enrolled at the University of Mysore for his Masters in Communication and Journalism. After completing his masters, he joined Vijay Karnataka. 

Nanjundaswamy has been reporting on civic issues, art and culture, science and technology, besides shining a light on the achievements of people with special needs. 

A vigilant journalist: Editors at Vijay Karnataka laud Nanjundaswamy as a hardworking journalist with an unwavering focus on the larger interests of society and an unflinching commitment to the core journalistic values. 

“We are aware of his humble background. Being a quick learner, he has filed many good stories in a short period since joining us. He is always around to pick up any assignments,” says one of his Editors. 

His series of reports on the crisis caused due to the dumping of garbage at Old Kesare area, on the outskirts of Mysuru, was well-received. 

“The series made an impact, forcing the government officials to look at alternatives to address the issue. His enthusiasm to get new stories and learn new things makes him a different boy from others,” says another Editor. 

They say Nanjundaswamy never sought any concessions on account of his physical limitations and is always ready to pick up assignments in far-flung areas, often proceeding on foot to remote locations without a second thought. 

Clear winner: Dr Kota Harinarayana, top aerospace scientist and Mentor of IIF, says Nanjundaswamy’s grit and determination despite the many adversities in his life is worth emulating. 

“I can relate to his struggle after studying his background and the career growth of this boy. This year, we wanted to look at promising, young journalists whose choice could inspire generations of budding writers. Glad we homed in on the right choice in Nanjundaswamy finally,” says Dr Kota. 

IIF began the process of shortlisting the nominees in November last year and, once the final list of candidates was drawn up, a confidential report from their respective Editors was sought, to rate them according to various performance parameters. 

“Journalism is a very demanding profession and rarely do we find success stories of those with special needs from the news room. This recognition to Nanjundaswamy, a stringer with Vijay Karnataka, should encourage many others. We were keen that with every award we would want to open doors that were never looked at,” says Sindhu A, Founder Trustee of IIF. 

Rural pulse: Reacting to his selection for the award, Nanjundaswamy said that reporting about the success stories of people belonging to economically weaker sections and the differently-abled gave him immense satisfaction. 

“I write about such individuals as I wish to encourage them to scale greater heights. This honour has come very early in my career and probably is a reminder to me about the responsibilities I have as a journalist,” says Nanjundaswamy. 

The young journalist has set out the goal of doing more stories from rural areas and villages. “They are neglected and mired in problems and I wish to write about their issues often. I know their pulse as I am one among them,” he adds. 

Nanjundaswamy’s interests range from numismatics to philately and theatre and he has featured in stage performances with the Nirantara troupe. His musical inclinations have seen him join Carnatic classes as well. 

(Video: https://bit.ly/2lzCfmS ) 

(Nanjundaswamy can be reached at mnanjundaswamy1@gmail.com.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mnanjundaswamy1)

Billion Beats: Celebrating India, the Write Way!

Here's the video of my talk at the 103rd Indian Science Congress held in Mysuru, Karnataka recently. Addressed a gathering of students, teachers and parents at the Children's Science Congress. The topic was: Billion Beats, Celebrating India, the Write Way. Billion Beats is an e-paper started by Guru Kalam and published by Inspired Indian Foundation, Bengaluru.

Guru Kalam's e-paper Billion Beats relaunched

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Report here: http://bit.ly/1SPE7xw

Tribute to my Guru; let the Kalam in us live on

This photo sent by Indian Army sepoy Renjith C, offers pranams to Guru Kalam. During his last visit to Bangalore, Renjith, a gifted artist, wowed the Missile Man with a life-like painting of him playing the veena. He was so impressed with the painting that he later tweeted Renjith’s story.

By Dr Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

Bangalore, July 31: Today is Guru Poornima – a special day for Indians, when one remembers, celebrates and honours teachers. It is only serendipity that I am writing a tribute to my Guru and the beloved teacher for millions of Indians - Dr A P J Abdul Kalam - on this auspicious day. For a shishya who has surrendered to his Gurus, this is perhaps the ultimate tribute that I can pay.

For many of my friends in the media, I have been the go-to man on Dr Kalam for years now. On the night of July 27, I was on a bus headed for Kerala, when I was flooded with calls inquiring about Dr Kalam’s well-being. 

Since there have been rumours about his health and I often clarified to the world that all was well with him, I wasn’t very perturbed. Yet, this time, I was beginning to become concerned as the number of calls and messages wouldn’t stop. 

By 7.30 pm, battling poor signal inside the bus, I was told by one of his close aides that Guru Kalam had left us. Like most of you, I too felt lost. Orphaned. I retreated into a shell, mourning and grieving the loss of my biggest wealth, who had taken the flight to eternity. I felt like my Mother had died again. 

The last few days have gone in a haze, me trying to hold on to my many memories; my interactions, my innumerable learnings, my disappointments when I couldn’t reach him at times and my excitement every time he said: “You fellow write well.”

As I sit to write a tribute on this Guru Poornima Day, it is serendipity again to recollect that my first face-to-face interview with Guru Kalam was again about a ‘guru’. He was in Bangalore following the demise of Prof Sathish Dhawan, who was the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation from in 1972 to 1984.

“I am going to talk about my guru. Only about him... Don't ask me about anything,'' this was how our first conversation started on January 5, 2002. The interview was arranged by Dr Kota Harinarayana, who was then heading the Tejas programme. 

Prior to this meeting, I would often bother Guru Kalam, calling his landline in New Delhi. And, honestly out of the hundreds of calls I made, I was lucky to get him on the line only a few times, most often with him politely disconnecting after learning that it was me, again. 

"I have lost my guru Prof Satish Dhawan. He taught me how to design a propeller for hovercraft in 1959. I am touched by his concern for others. His urged us to take the benefit of design and development to the common man who has contributed to the country. I will miss my guru,” Dr Kalam told me.

The interview appeared next day in The Times of India with the headline: “Kalam the student misses Dhawan the guru.” A week later, I got to know from Dr Kota that Guru Kalam loved the article and I had apparently made no mistakes, to his surprise! 

This was probably my first baby step into his heart. A scientist-journalist bond has just been born.

His first interview as the President: From 2002 to 2003, his confidence in me grew and he started accepting me as a ‘better writer.’ When his name was announced as the presidential candidate, I sent him a hand-written letter to Chennai. “Sir, when you become the President of India, I hope you will grant me the first interview,” I remember having written among other things.

In July 2002, when the paper boy from Rameshwaram logged into Rashtrapati Bhawan (RB), he launched a series of technology initiatives that opened up two-way communication with the common man. The efforts of V Ponraj, who was the Director (Technology Interface) of RB, was commendable.

Two months later, during his first visit to Bangalore, Guru Kalam kept his word and granted me his first ever interview as the President of India. After all the formalities and exchange of pleasantries, I had just five minutes to ask questions. Time: 8 am. Place: Raj Bhawan, Bangalore. “You email me the rest of the questions, I say. Okay?” he said. I still remember the then Governor T N Chaturvedi giving me an incredulous look. 

Five minutes, three queries with the Prez, read the next day’s headline. For the media world, the interview wasn’t just a scoop. It was a coup! 

The unofficial cake boy: On many of his birthdays, I have had the good fortune to carry the cake - often travelling from Bangalore to wherever he was. At the stroke of midnight, we would cut the cake in a simple function at some nondescript government guest house. Seeing me, he would say: “You have again come!!” There were instances when two cakes landed, one arranged by his aides and another from this self-appointed blue-eyed boy.

He always cut both the cakes, blew out both candles and ensured that his security guards also got their share. “I have begun another orbit around the Sun,” he would say in his inimitable way, the twinkle in his eyes unmistakable. 

Once, when I ordered for a cake in Kerala, the stunned cake shop owner refused to take money when I asked him to inscribe: “Happy B’day Dr Kalam.” When I told him that Dr Kalam doesn’t appreciate anything free, he halfheartedly accepted. 

During another birthday in 2011, in Coimbatore, I was again present with the cake. Next day, it was I who got a gift from the birthday boy, when he introduced me to everyone as: “Meet my friend from Bangalore. He is a periya writer,” bringing tears in my eyes.

When I lost my mother, Guru Kalam reminded me that I should make her proud by continuing with my writing mission. When I had a difference of opinion with my editor and wanted to quit a newspaper, he said: “Change will always make you stronger.” Those words have stayed on with me. When I earned a Doctorate in Journalism, he blessed me and said: “Your mother will be happy up there.”

In 2007, on the eve of Children’s Day (November 14), Guru Kalam and I sat well past mid-night at the Satyam Guest House in Hyderabad, giving last-minute touches to his dream e-paper, Billion Beats. 

During its televised launch in front of over lakh schoolchildren in Karminagar, Guru Kalam was excited to don another hat, this time as the Editor of Billion Beats. “Capture all the positive stories of Indians. I am tired of the negative news you fellows (media) give,” he would often say.

My last meeting with Guru Kalm was on June 25, 2015, at Raj Bhawan in Bangalore. He was happy to meet my adopted sister Dhanya Ravi, a 24-year-old, battling with Brittle Bones disease. He was delighted to meet Dhanya, who is always seated in a pram, and they chatted away like long-lost friends. 

When I touched his feet while leaving, he said: “I am proud of you. Serving special children is like serving God. God bless you.”

I am grateful to his long-serving Private Secretary R K Prasad, who always acted as a bridge between Guru Kalam and me. Prasad ensured that there’s always something refreshing that came out of the scientist-journalist bonding. 

There is a Abdul Kalam in all of us: As a journalist, I feel that we are a nation that applauds blindly. A nation that forgets easily. A nation that talks too much, but does too little. For Guru Kalam, can we not change? 

Remember, we are all blessed that we lived in an era that saw a simple man who walked the talk. He touched a chord in every one of us. We carried him in our hearts from the day we got to know him. 

There is a Dr A P J Abdul Kalam in all of us. If you think he died a happy man, I might disagree with you. He died a hopeful man. And, that hope is Me. You. Us. 

He will be a happy man only when we complete his assignment -- to make India a developed nation.

If Guru Kalam was with us today, he would have asked: “Now everyone, will you repeat with me? My National Flag flies in my heart and I will bring glory to my Nation.” This is all that a karmayogi like Guru Kalam would ask of his beloved countrymen. 

Our time starts now!

I will miss you, Sir!

(Different formats of the above tribute have appeared on the
online editions of OneIndia and Mathrubhumi, English.)

I lost my good friend: Kalam

Maj Gen (retd) R Swaminathan

Maj Gen (retd) R Swaminathan (74), Advisor to former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, passed away due to illness at Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on Friday. According to V Ponraj, a close aide of Dr Kalam, Maj Gen (retd) Swaminathan passed away at 2.15. pm. The Missile Man paid his last respects to his old friend and long-time associate on Friday. "It is a sad day for me. I lost a very good friend of mine. May his soul rest in peace," Dr Kalam said in a message. 

Ponraj said that Swaminathan was a man who always kept a positive frame of mind, all through his life. “He never had even an bit of negativity in him and always looked at things very positively. He was a very knowledgeable person and we could depend on him every time. He was a down-to-earth human-being and Dr Kalam's best friend. We will all miss him. It's a huge loss for all of us,” Ponraj said.

Ponraj said he had the opportunity to work with Maj. Gen (Retd) R Swaminathan for more than a decade. “He is a man of honesty and integrity, fascinating memory, researching and analyzing mind, a troubleshooter and contributed for number of national defence projects as a scientist and as the Chief Controller of Defence R&D. He worked with Dr Kalam's developed India 2020 vision and PURA missions, energy independence and bio-fuel missions as a OSD (R) to the 11th President of India (Dr Kalam),” Ponraj said.

The blogger had an opportunity to work with Maj Gen (retd) Swaminathan during the launch of Dr Kalam's e-paper Billion Beats in 2007. Despite his military background, Maj Gen (retd) Swaminathan exhibited some skills resembling that of an Editor, while deciding upon the stories for Billion Beats. While the editorial for Billion Beats operated out of Bangalore, Dr Kalam, Maj Gen (retd) Swaminathan and Ponraj cleared them from Delhi. “Let us carry more stories of unsung heroes. You have to be careful while verifying the facts,” Maj Gen (retd) Swaminathan would always tell me, during my interactions. 

Dr Kalam has extensively mentioned about Maj Gen (retd) Swaminathan in his book Wings of Fire. 

R.I.P. General. Will miss you!

TARMAK007@FB

Koodankulam N-plant formula: Spotlight on Dr Kalam's Man Friday Ponraj

(Above) Dr Kalam's Man Friday V. Ponraj at work. (Below) Dr Kalam celebrates his 79th birthday in the company of Ponraj (centre, Ash colour shirt) and his longest serving private secretary R.K. Prasad (extreme right) at the Government Guest House in Allapuzha in Kerala on October 15, 2010. Photo Courtesy: Billion Beats

By Anantha Krishnan M.

Express News Service

Bangalore: His is a story that has envied many in the last 10 years. Hailing from Thonugal village in Kariapatti thaluk of Virdhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, Ponraj, a retired policeman’s son, has stunned everyone with his meteoric rise. This 46-year-old Computer Science post-graduate from Bharathidasan University in Trichy, is today one of the vital member of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s inspiration team. Hence, “I know Ponraj,” has become one famous line you get to hear from all those who have interacted with Kalam. Be it politicians, scientists, technocrats, tech gurus and academicians! It’s not surprising that he is back in the news again with the Koodankulam nuclear plant issue, with his 10-point formulae giving possible solutions.

So what makes Ponraj special? What did Kalam see in him? Technically, he is as Scientist-G, with Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the makers of India’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. “He was sent on a deputation to Rashtrapathi Bahvan in 2002 when Dr Kalam became the President. We have now posted him to our Delhi office and extending his services to Kalam,” ADA sources tell Express. At Raisina Hills, Ponraj was made Director, Technology Interface to the President, and then on he has never looked back.

Ponraj captured Dr Kalam’s heart when the former visited ADA in early 2000. “He was a Network Services specialist and Dr Kalam wanted someone to put together his thoughts. Their wavelength matched and the rest is history,” sources said. Ponraj was first tasked with creating a website (abdulkalam.com) for Kalam. His tech-savvy touch and speed floored Kalam the website became a hit within no time.

This Correspondent met Ponraj in June 2002, while he was about to board a bus to Chennai from Bangalore, soon after Kalam’s name was finalized for the presidentship. “He wanted to update the website following the recent developments. I am going there to assist him answer the flood of mail. He is particular about answering queries from youngsters,” was Ponraj’s response.

Today he travels with Dr Kalam to all major programmes and propagates his Mission 2020. Interestingly, soon after the Jayalalitha came to power in TN this year, Ponraj was given the task to inspire the MLAs on various aspects of good governance for two days. His power-point presentation to Jaya’s team is said to have been a smashing hit.

While Ponraj’s is a story of spotlights, then R.K. Prasad’s, private secretary to Dr Kalam, is just the opposite. Prasad, the longest serving aide of Dr Kalam, is probably an unsung hero in the Missile Man’s Mission Possible team!

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)

Lots of care in drafting 10-point formula: Speaking to The New Indian Express in Bangalore, V. Ponraj said that he took extreme care in drafting the 10-point formula considering the sensitivities involved with the Koodankulam issue. “I have visited many nuclear plants along with Dr Kalam and it gave rare insights for me while making the report. In the last three months, ever since I was given the task to script the report by Dr Kalam, I have been interacting with a numbers of nuclear scientists and experts. We have gone into lots of details and analyzed the issue threadbare,” Ponraj said.

Dr Kalam’s team also interacted with various members of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) before finalizing the report. “In addition, we have also taken suggestions from the people and activists,” Ponraj said told Express, soon after landing at the Bangalore airport along with Dr Kalam. The team was heading to Chitradurga for an event organized by the Indian Institute of Science.

(Copyright@The New Indian Express)