Belgaum's most famous holy, picnic and childrens play park Military Mahadev is being renovated.

And AAB gets you the FIRST look of the Mahadev Temple after its temple domb from the outside has been newly made and renovated with a lot of carving very similar to that of temples in south India. The same will also be painted later.

Old simple Look now has been changed.

Some more changes are also planned to done to the present garden areas and the same will beautified.

All Photos: Team AAB.

The premier Special Interest Group of the IT-BPO companies in Belgaum,ITBelgaum’s initiative of doing technical seminar and workshops was again exceedingly appreciated by the students and the faculty of Jain College Belgaum.

The presentation was made to students from BBA & BCA on topics which they can make use of in their lives.

R K Patil of Vayavya Labs Pvt. Ltd. gave an introduction which enthralled the audience all time. His way of presenting IT Belgaum was an eye opener to many when they came to the existence of so many IT companies in Belgaum. IT Belgaum concept was well received by all and the idea of ITBelgaum were appreciated.

Dr. Aadil Bandukwala, Chief Evangelist Talent Onions spoke about Orbit shifting Innovation. Aadil's flashy style of getting his concept through the audience was a pleasant surprise for the audience.

Mr.Uday K, Editor AAB took an unusual topic, Social Media. The topic seemed out-of-the-way but the same is very essential in this net Savoy and lighting fast life. He tried to emphasize and share his points on the use of Social media site for growth of a site or for that matter a business.

ITBelgaum group has been conducting workshops in colleges and creating awareness amongst the students and telling them a path ahead for a career. The group mainly aims at spreading the knowledge and creating awareness about IT companies in Belgaum.

AllAboutBelgaum.com has been a pioneer in the formation of this group and has got on board all these IT-BPO companies from the city under one roof and spreading the word about IT.

Shobha Gurtu has a voice that pleads, cajoles, entices, prays and finally drowns you in a sea of emotion. An individual of extraordinary versatility, this doyen of Thumri singing who belongs to an artistic family with a long history from Goa, is the undisputed queen of her genre today. She must have inherited some of her enviable talent including her expressiveness and histrionic capabilities from her mother, who , we are told was one of the most sought after dancers and singers of her time. Apparently Manekabai Shirodkar, the mother, taught her daughter every nuance of singing. The little girl, Shobha, was encouraged to sing at religious festivals and soon her talent came to be reckoned with by all.

She was born Bhanumati Shirodkar in Belgaum on February 8, 1925 and was initially trained by her mother, Menakabai Shirodkar, a noted dancer schooled in the Atrauli Jaipur `gayaki` of Ustad Alladiya Khan. She married Vishwanath Gurtu, and took the name Shobha Gurtu. Her father in law, ‘Pandit Narayan Nath Gurtu’, was a highly placed officer in Belgaum Police, scholar and a sitar player

Shobha continued her musical education with ustads of the eminence of Nathan Khan in classical singing and Ghamman Khan in light classical and popular music. She was particularly influenced by singer Begum Akhtar and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

The grand dame of Thumri was thoroughly steeped in pure Classical Music. But she was better known for her light Classical Music. Shobha Gurtu was considered to be in a class by herself not merely because of the unique qualities of her warm and sensuous voice that blended strength with suppleness and vigour with grace. It was equally much the unique combination of talent and soul that she brought to bear on her music. She rendered with equal ease, everything from thumri, dadra, hori, kajri and chaiti to ghazal, bhajan and Marathi Natya Sangeet, with all regional and stylistic variations blended subtly.

A popular broadcaster and television artiste, she regularly featured in major musical events held all over the country. She had also created the musical scores for several Marathi and Hindi movies and had also lent her voice to the silver screen.

In 1989 she received the Sangeet Natak Academy award. She also got the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar, Shahu Maharaj Puraskar and the Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar. In 2002, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan.

After reigning over Hindustani classical music genre, for five decades, as the Queen of Thumri, Shobha Gurtu died on 27 September 2004, and was survived by her two sons.

In 1987, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and later awarded the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar, Shahu Maharaj Puraskar and the Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar. In 2002, she was awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Another reason to be proud that we are from Belgaum.

Live Coverage

Event is in progress.

TiE (The Indus entrepreneurs ) is the world's largest not for profit organization promoting Entrepreneurship.

TiE Hubli at its annual meet today awarded its annual Leadership awards at a function held at Deshpande Foundation, BVB Engg. College Campus, HUBLI.

Three entrepreneurs from Belgaum were awarded for their successful journey as a entrepreneur.

DotCord IT Solutions Belgaum won the BEST STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR AWARD for their massive success of their web designing company even when still they are in their 8^th semester of engineering.

Read more about the winner, he has already been showcased on AAB.(at AAB we catch talent when it is small, when it grows Big all know about it)

Mrs.Vidya Murkumbi of Shree Renuka sugars won the BEST WOMEN entrepreneur AWARD for her to take Renika Sugars to become the largest sugar refiner of the country. (AAB on Renuka Sugars)

Sanjay Bicchu of Alucast won the BEST entrepreneur AWARD for his commendable work which took his company to avid heights.

About TiE:

A global network of entrepreneurs & professionals dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship.

The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global not-for-profit organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship. TiE helps budding entrepreneurs through advice, guidance and assistance from successful & experienced entrepreneurs and professionals.

Their greatest strength is our network through 52 cities in 11 countries ( 14 in India ) with 12,000 members and more than1,800 charter members that consists of many participants in the entrepreneurial ecosystem – successful & experienced as well as budding entrepreneurs, venture capital firms, angel investors, service providers, etc.

The membership structure of TiE includes Charter Members, who are invited based on their accomplishments and willingness to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. The general or associate membership of TiE is open to anyone who pays nominal dues and can thus access the various activities and services that help them become better informed and better connected entrepreneurs.

Charter members benefit and derive satisfaction by helping budding entrepreneurs. They also get opportunities to participate in start-ups in many ways as well as network with peers in the global business eco-system.

Associate members benefit from the education, knowledge, inspiration, guidance, mentoring and, most importantly, the global connectivity that the TiE platform can provide.

Whenever you see a movie, what is the first thing that strikes your mind, Actors, Story or Music. Music; most of the times. It plays a vital role for any movie, documentary.

Sagar Patil is a Freelance Music Composer based in the Belgaum and this man has great hopes for himself with his melodious music sense. Sagar aspires to bring Short Films/Documentaries, Ad/Radio Jingles alive by composing catchy and innovative music ranging from Indian Classical to Western/Fusion Music. He has worked with various Film Production Houses and Individual Film-Makers. He has worked with clients across the country and abroad. He is accompanied with a team of Lyricists, Singers and Musicians, delivering a complete end-to-end music package.

Sagar has been playing musical instruments since childhood. He started composing music from his college days i.e. 5 years ago. He has a mini setup at his home from where he creates those melodious tunes for the ears. Sagar makes the use of new technologies and works online through internet. This helps him to work easily with his clients staying in India and Abroad.

Music is his passion and also his career. Apart from music, he works at the Aptech Computer Education as an I.T. Trainer. He has hands on advance programming languages like C#, ASP.Net and Java Technologies.

Recently he composed a theme song for Nitin Shirgurkar's
NASCO ROYALS Cricket Team, Belgaum Champions League 2010.

Listen to his songs:
http://sites.google.com/site/portfoliosagarpatil/my-music-works

Watch his Award winning short films:
http://sites.google.com/site/portfoliosagarpatil/my-short-films

A Small interview:

AAB --> When did you start playing percussion?

Sagar--> I started playing drums when I was in 4th Std. I used to play in School Gatherings etc.

AAB --> Who was your guru and did you take any formal education in music at the early stage?

Sagar--> Music has come to me by birth. Its a god's special gift to me. I never took any formal education in music. I am a fan of A.R. Rahman and for me, he and his music is only my Teacher.

AAB --> Your parents/ family views on you taking music as a career?

Sagar--> I am always motivated and supported by my parents and friends, and that is the reason I am here.

AAB --> Did being from a small town of Belgaum anyway hinder your music career?

Sagar--> Well, Creativity has no barriers. One should always work hard to achieve his goals. Success follows itself. Being in Belgaum, there was a limited scope for music, but I could manage to get clients through Internet.

AAB --> Narrate some interesting incident good or bad during your career till date?

Sagar--> They are many.. One of the most memorable moment for me was the Music Launch of Drishti, The Vision. I had composed a song dedicated to our Blind Friends. It was my dream to dedicate my talent to the Visually Handicapped and thus, I created Drishti. We shot the video of Drishti at Maheshwari School for Blind, Belgaum. It was a great satisfaction to see the smile on the face of those innocent blind children, when they got to know that I have composed a song specially for them.

AAB --> With whom do you want to work with as a music director? (names)

Sagar--> Oh.. thats a tough question, there are many great names in our industry today. I would love to work with Ashutosh Govarikar, Mahesh Manjrekar. I would also like to assist the great A. R. Rahman sir.

AAB --> You teach at Aptech and how is that you plan your schedule for music?

Sagar--> As it is truly said, "Where there is a will, there is a way". Its really hard to find time for both the professions at a time. But, music being my passion, I cannot live a day without music. I work on music at nights, usually from 10 pm to 3 am in morning. Thats the time when whole world sleeps, I can find peace. It is the only time when you can feel the lords blessings around you.

AAB --> You also have started MAKE MY GIFT portal, what is the idea behind it?

Sagar--> Well, its a different way of presenting gifts to your dear ones. Usually, people present Show Pieces, Greeting Cards and many such items as a gift, on any special occasions.

Make My Gift, provides you a unique way of presenting music tracks to your dear ones.

These tracks will be composed by me, which would include name of the person and is message. People are loving this concept and the response is good. This concept was suggested by one of my close friend.

AAB --> Any awards your way?

Sagar--> Many of my films have won awards at the film festivals. And.. nothing else is great than people loving your work. I have been getting complements for my work.

AAB --> You’re all time favorite song and music director?

Sagar--> The Mastreo A. R. Rahman sir. His every song is a new lesson for me. I have been learning and growing by listening to his music.

AAB --> Your thoughts on the upcoming talent in Belgaum how can one groom oneself being here.

Sagar--> Hard Work! I would say that the place and the location should never be a barrier. Talent can never be stopped or limited. Give your best and your talent will be rewarded. Collaborate with new people, share the knowledge and grow.

AAB --> What is the best thing about Belgaum you like?

Sagar--> I like the climate of Belgaum. It is very peaceful and soothing here. A perfect place for relaxation and peace.

AAB --> What are your thoughts on this site?

Sagar--> I would like to congratulate the team of allaboutbelgaum.com for their consistent efforts in creating such a great service to the people of Belgaum. I would say this is the best site, I have seen that provides such detailed information about Belgaum.

Contact:
Sagar Pradeep Patil
1st Floor, Raghavendra Apartment,
II Cross, Ranade Colony,
Behind Gogte Boys Hostel,
Hindawadi, Belgaum - 590006
Mob: 9242915668

Visit: http://sites.google.com/site/portfoliosagarpatil/

BET'S P.A.Jain - Bharatesh College of Business Administration is organizingNirvikalpa 2010-Youth Empowerment in Politics.

A national level management fest to be held on 4th, 5th & 6th of February 2010 at Millennium gardens, Tilakwadi, Belgaum.

This National Level Management Fest aims at pooling together students from the management stream viz. B.B.A., B.B.M. and the likes under the same circlet.‘NIRVIKALPA- 2010’ emphasizes on the empowerment of the youth in politics.

Politics has been chosen because it is the most spoken topic in India and hugely criticized, and along with this “POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT MANAGEMENT, SO ARE WE”. The organizers want the students to step into the shoes of the politicians and manage the affairs in the best possible way before criticizing them. Moreover, the youth can highlight the views, as they will be in the real life scenarios and show everyone that the youth can make a “Difference”.NIRVIKALPA-2010 will experiment with the managerial skills of the participants giving them simulations of real political business scenario. The fest not only enhances the managerial skills but also tries to show the better side of“INDIAN POLITICS” which most of us are unaware of.

Wow!! My mobile number won 850000USD, when I got the SMS I was amazed at not the amount or me winning; but at how I got this message, which literally means my mobile has been stolen from somewhere. The best part is you don’t get a number to reply to the sms.

Many of you must have also received similar kinds of SMS or emails like Microsoft Lottery, UK Lottery or from Kenya asking for your address, phone numbers etc.

When someone contacts them, you are asked to send some money for all formalities, which is in lakhs, and some fools do pay it thinking they have won.

These are all FAKE sms and emails part of a online scamsetrs who are making use of internet and mobile telephony for getting people into their grip.

Never respond such messages or emails. Just think who will pay you 850000USD?

Jago Grahak Jago!

Source: Rajasthna Patrika by Prakash Bilgoji

In a sting operation undertaken by reporter of Patrika Mr.Prakash Bilgoji at the Belgaum railway station, a railway police cop was caught on camera accepting money.

Numerous people go to the railway station to leave someone or otherwise and there are a few railway police cops who collect money for no reason. Daily collection is about Rs.2000 from the visitors. You are not given a challan or a receipt but just asked to pay a fine, so one can understand where this money goes. Similar complaints have been made earlier as well, but no one went to the root of it.

Rajesh Sutar who was there to leave his friend had to pay Rs.300 as the cop Krishnamurthy asked for his license and other documents etc inside station premises.

The authorities have sleeked more information on this and will taken action soon. SP Sonia Narang said that, no local police or traffic constables are deployed at the railway station, it is the GRP who is in charge of this.

Blame it on Climate change or god’s grace, as you may take it, Belgaum is getting back to as a poor man’s hill station. The temperature in past couple of days has gone down drastically. On 22^nd January minimum temperature was 9 °C.

See graph for January comparison as to how sudden the fall in temperature has been. Temperatures early morning and late night drop heavily.

The day temperatures are also below 21°C and today’s current temperature while posting this story is 21°C Degrees at 1.30pm. Even at this time of the day one can feel the cold and cold breeze.

For visitors, one can roam about and do shopping in this ideal weather.

The average January temperature over the year: High: 29.0 °C Low: 15.0 °C

In Bhatkande sports Academy organized MLA Sanjay Patil T20 Belgaum champions’ league being played at the CpEd. Ground, Nasco Royals and Potdar royals won their opening matches on day one of the event.

Vardraj Super Kings Vs Nasco Royals

Vardraj Super Kings batting first scored 131 for loss 7 wickets in 20 overs.

Nasco Royals scored the required runs in 13.3 overs. Aatif Wadoo of Nasco Royals scored the first century of BCL and was declared the man of the match.

Potdar royals Vs Sri Sai Sports Gladiators

Potdar Royals batting first scored 150 for 7 in 20 overs.

In reply, Sri Sai Sports Gladiators could only score 145 for loss of 7 wickets and Potdar royals own the match by 5 runs.

On Republic day, 26 January 2010 at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Belgaum branch, a “Renovated and Air Conditioned Shivangi- Marathe Auditorium” will be inaugurated at the hands of CA. Uttam Prakash Agarwal President, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

The inauguration will be held at 1.15 pm at the ICAI branch Swaroop Plaza, Tlakwadi.

CA. K Raghu (Central Council Member) & CA. M.Devaraja Reddy (Chairman SIRC of ICAI) will be the Guests of honor for this inauguration.

By Gangadhar S Patil

Twenty years ago when the Aruna Roy organized the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan to fight for poor peasants and rural labourers in a remote village of Rajsamand district in Rajasthan, demanding the right to know often came at a heavy price. Sadly not much has changed. The recent murder of Satish Shetty, 38, a right to information (RTI) activist on January 13 in Pune underscores how, despite the enactment of a law to ensure the freedom of information, activists who seek to use its provisions are soft targets for criminals and corrupt officials.

Satish Shetty had a Belgaum connection as well. His father was in Belgaum for quite some time and then later shifted to Pune.

The nationwide RTI movement forced the enactment of the legislation of Freedom of Information (FIO) Act in 2002 and subsequently the Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2005. Over 50 countries now have freedom of information laws and another 15-20 are actively considering adopting one. The right to freedom of information derives primarily from the guarantee of freedom of expression found in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

But with increasing use of RTI to expose corruption and maladministration, the threat to activists only grows. Shetty’s murder evokes horrific memories of the murders of Satyendra Dubey, an engineer of National Highway Authority of India and Manjunath Shanmugam, an Indian Oil Corporation executive, both killed for exposing criminals. Last year Venkatesh, another RTI activist, was murdered in Bangalore. He had sought information about encroachment on Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike land.

Ashok Halgalli (from Belgaum), an advocate is the first RTI activist to get police protection after seeking information about the assets of an IAS officer. He says “If security is required for RTI activists, it shall be given to them immediately without any delay.” One possible way to protect the RTI activist would be to inform the police authority in advance in sensitive cases, feels J S D Pani, an RTI activist.

“Corrupt public servants have not only kept a large population very poor but are also directly responsible for many deaths,” saysJayashree J N, an RTI activist from Bangalore. Unfortunately as the corrupt are in a majority, she adds, we are in a situation where seeking protection is meaningless, as the people who have to protect us are the very people creating the problem. Y. G. Muralidharan, an RTI and consumer rights advocate says activists can easily be protected provided their identity is not disclosed. This was not adhered to in Satyendra Dubey’s case.

The Act has become the most important tool in the hand of the common man. It has in fact helped people’s movements for social, economic and political justice. Whether it is the recent judgment of Delhi High Court bringing the Chief Justice of India under the purview of RTI or the India Today reporter who filed 59 RTIs to reveal how UPA ministers had made 786 foreign trips in just three and a half years and spent a minor fortune on their travels.

The very logic of the RTI would suggest that the time has come to legally protect “whistleblowers” or those who seek to expose wrongdoing. The Law Commission, the National Human Rights Commission and the Administrative Reforms Commission have all recommended such a law. After all, a government legally bound to protect the freedom of information and also has a duty to protect those who seek to exercise it.

The Then and Now series is one in which you can co relate present times with that of history.

Here is one more in this series.

The Chikki Basadi [Jain Temple] near the Kamal Basti in the Fort.

THENPhotos searched by: Sahir Kittur

NOW:

Photos: http://kamalbasti.blogspot.com/

Tilakwadi police arrested a youth from New Delhi and seized Rs 21 lakh cash and 100-gram gold from him on Wednesday.

Sources said Jatin Sikandar Chabra was here to return money to the people in a bid to prevent them from filing complaints with the police.
A woman from a well-known family was also with Chabra at the time of the arrest. Originally, Chabra is from Delhi but has his business in Surat. He was unable to tell the police how and why he had bought so much cash along with him.

Police are interrogating the case and have access to his bank accounts to get a lead.

Live coverage: opening ceremony still in progress. 6.10pm.

Bhatkande sports Academy organized MLA Sanjay Patil T20 Belgaum champions’ league was opened in a grand manner at the CpEd. Ground.

Daily two matches will be played first match at 9 am and second match at 1pm.

Matches will commence from 23^rd January and finals will be played on 7^thFebruary.

Various Teams in the League.

MLA Sanjay Patil T20 Belgaum champions league

Amrut Aqua Dolphin

Zevar Gallery Diamond

Vardraj Super Kings

Potdar foundation Jewelers

Sri Sai Sports Gladiators

Victorious Lions

Nasco Royals

Gold Museum Crown

Photos: UkMaD

Belgaum sky scrapers identify this structure Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest tower with around 124 floors and this might be Belgaum's tallest.Now you identify where and what this structure is?This building has G+ 8 floors.This structure was supposed to be complete by April 2008 and still may take over 6 months for completion.

All must be aware of Cable wars in Metros and especially cities like Mumbai. Now this Cable war has hit your calm peaceful town of Belgaum.

In Belgaum, for over a decade there has been a single Multi system operator (MSO) running the show. Many smaller players merged their networks with the big fish.

There were attempts by others to start a MSO but did not succeed.

Now a new MSO Vardraj Cable network (owned by Rajesh Jadhav) is trying to enter the market and over the past couple of months, there have been various incidents of small incidents of cutting cable wire by both parties, use of abusive language against each other etc.

To peak it, Vardraj is planning to start its own news channel in Belgaum and its head Rajdil Jamadar was beaten up badly by unknown people yesterday near Anadwadi.

The miscreants asked him to get down from his bike and beat him with hockey sticks and rods; he was admitted to KLE hospital with critical wounds on his head.