People love Belgaum and Belgaumites are loved by all. Many of the younger lot who are working in metros often get bored with the metro life and always want to come back to their home town, but this is not always possible as the work, the boss dont always give one time.
In USA, we have the Indian's meeting on Sunday's and we have various associations and in the same manner in Indian cities as well we have small groups of people coming together who are from one city.
In Bangalore, there are many (must be in thousands) from Belgaum district making a living in the city. A similar group of people from Belgaum district who work in various fields decided to meet every year once and go for a ride together from Bangalore in the second week of August as a part of friendship day celebrations.
This year, 14 members on sever bikes all got ready to keep this friendship knot tied a but tighter and decided to ride to Jog Falls.
They left on August 6, 2010 from Bangalore and returned on August 9.
The group enjoyed their journey and also helped in some social work like getting a accident hit car on the road back so that it could be carried away.
Rain, cold did not hamper at all, the young blood was soaring high and these bikers were riding all the way. One more bike joined them in Shimoga.
These bikers have a solid message behind them, as they want more people from Belgaum district to join them in their next years trip. Interested people could mailmaddy25bgm@gmail.com for more details.

Belgaum is a land of rich human resources, it is called the Poor mans hill station. People throng this city to get education as far of places like the North east, no need to tell south east Asian countries as well. To cover one more Star of Belgaum who has scaled great heights after he returned from Germany with his parents to make a fresh start here in Belgaum.
Technologist, businessman, consultant, writer, actor, musician, family man, community catalyst... He has many, many descriptions;
I am talking about Atul Chitnis is an Indian consulting technologist known for his work in the fields of data networks, internet and intranets, Linux and Free and Open Source Software and mobile computing in India. He is also the founder of FOSS.IN (formerly Linux Bangalore), one of Asia's largest FOSS conferences. He is currently on the management board of Geodesic Ltd as Chief Products Officer, where the company's MD is again a Belgaumite Kiran Kulkarni.
Born in Berlin, Germany in 1962, to his German mother Monika and G G Chitnis, he completed his primary schooling there, before migrating to Belgaum in 1972. He completed his secondary schooling at the Belgaum Military School (1972-78), his PUC from GSS college (1978-81) and graduated in Mechanical engineering from the Gogte Institute of Technology in 1985.
After working for a while in Mumbai, Atul settled down in Bangalore in 1986, where he continues to live with his family.
Atul has worked extensively to promote Linux and Free and Open Source Software. As Consulting Editor for PCQuest from 1996 to 2002, he was responsible for the PCQuest Linux Initiative, a successful effort to introduce FOSS and Linux to readers of the popular magazine.
Working with the FOSS community (most prominently the Bangalore Linux User Group that he had helped create in 1998), seminars and articles, he encouraged people to try out and use FOSS technologies. He also encouraged the FOSS community to participate in large technology events such as Bangalore IT.COM. The exposure from these events gained the community more visibility and credibility in industry and government.
In 2001, Chitnis, along with a group of like-minded friends, created and ran the Linux Bangalore series of FOSS community driven conferences. Now known as FOSS.IN, the conference has become one of Asia's largest annual FOSS events.
His father G G Chitnis was doing good in Germany but the urge to return to India and get into the manufacture of hydraulics became stronger and stronger, more so with the birth of Atul and Arun, whom their parents wanted to raise in an Indian environment. In 1969, Atul's father returned to India after almost eighteen years in Europe. In 1972, Atul's mother, Atul and his brother Arun followed him to settle in India.
After his graduation Atul worked for a while with CompuTact, a Bombay-based firm involved in the development of software for business houses. In late 1986, he moved to Bangalore, and operated as a freelance programmer and consultant until 1989, when he helped found A.R.B.Constellation, a company involved with the development of software for the Indian domestic market.
In the period between 1989 and 1994, he was involved in various projects - including the first communication software developed in India, and was chief programmer for the award winning communications host system - CyberNet.
Today, he specializes in Corporate computing strategies and the identification of appropriate technologies.
Atul married his college sweetheart, Shubha, in 1987, and they have one daughter – Geetanjali.
He enjoys writing a lot, especially "humanized" technology articles that not only describe a concept, but also give it a practical base. His articles have appeared in various publications, including some of India's leading technology journals such as PC Quest and DataQuest. He is especially known for his articles related to data communication and the Internet, as well as Linux -- an Operating System. He is also a much sought-after public speaker. He enjoys stripping technology of its mystique and making it comprehensible to laymen.
He can speak, read and write in English and German, am an amateur musician and am a voracious reader of both printed and online material. He enjoys reading, especially science fiction, which naturally means that Issac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke rank very high with me.

Kingfisher Red boss Vijay Mallaya made a statement in Delhi, that he has applied for clearances for the Bangalore-Belgaum-Mumbai route and Bangalore- Mysore route.
The concessions announced by the state government would indeed be key factors for his airline to launch services for these destinations.
55-seat ATR on these routes.
Kingfisher Red, which was earlier flying to Belgaum from Bangalore, suspended its operations over a year ago citing poor demand.
This will bring some cheer to sky filers from Belgaum.
Source: Deccan Herald

Reliance Footprint – the footwear arm of Reliance Retail Group, which is eying major expansion is all ready to open its store on Kirloskar Road (Next to Camp Purohit).
Reliance Footprint is the destination for footwear for the entire family for every conceivable occasion. Since the format is positioning itself as a ‘destination for footwear’, the company is looking at providing products for special needs such as for diabetic patients, who require soft soles, he said.
Reliance Footprint is also launching an in-house brand ‘Tender Sole’, which will be available in stores soon.
Reliance Footprint offers a wide variety of footwear and other consumer commodities including handbags and accessories together with a line-up of international brands from America and Europe. Reliance Footprint offers a troupe of various categories like casuals, formals, casual sports, comfort wear, kids wear and home wear. Reliance Footprint also engages in selling private labels and is also coming up with specially crafted footwear for people with foot deformities. Reliance Footprint is aiming at a share of about 10-12 percent in the entire footwear industry in a time span of a few years.

Bad news at Amboli is coming, yesterday afternoon a small landslide happened at the main water falls at Amboli in which one person was killed and 4 others injured.
The deceased identified as Vishwantah Konnur of Ramdurg aged 21 was bathing when a few stones tumbled on him and he was injured along with a few others.
He was admitted to the local hospital where he was advised to to be taken to Belgaum civil hospital.

The region was greatly influenced by Balgangadhar Tilak who visited Belgaum in 1906. Several leaders emerged here, including Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, Annu Guruji, Jivanrao Yalgi, Ramchandra Wadavi and Baburao Thakur.
During the swadeshi movement of 1905-08, Govindrao Yalgi was responsible for starting secret revolutionary associations. Belgaum was made headquarters of the State unit of Tilak’s Home Rule League.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak who gave the ‘cutting edge’ to the Indian National Congress, visited Belgaum in 1906 and met many like-minded individuals here – like Gangadharrao Deshpande, Kaka Kalelkar, et al. Tilak decided to hold a Conference in Belgaum to focus on pivotal issues of ‘Swarajya’.
Some elements who were opposed to Tilak tried to persuade Mahatma Gandhi not to attend this Conference, to which he had been personally invited by Kaka Kalelkar.
Getting to know of this opposition Gangadharrao Deshpande wrote an anguished letter to Gandhiji.
Gandhiji’s terse reply was on a small postcard – “Nothing but death can prevent me from going to Belgaum to attend the Conference”.
This was to be Gandhiji’s first visit to Belgaum – arriving, as he usually did by Third Class Compartment of a train on the 29th of April 1916.
Gandhiji worked hard, behind the scenes, to heal the split that had developed in the freedom movement after the 1907 Surat Congress Session. One Group had favoured lawful agitation, the other group in Swadeshi, a boycott of foreign goods, Swarajya, and more direct action. Tilak proposed a resolution that united both factions. Gandhiji spoke in favour of Tilak (on the 1st of May 1916) and an open split was averted.
A day earlier Gandhiji had spoken in Raviwar Peth (our main market) against untouchability.
In the 38th Congress Session at Kakinada which Mohammed Ali presided over, Gangadharrao Deshpande was elected Secretary along with Jawaharlal Nehru and Saifuddin Kichalu. Deshpande immediately proposed that the next session be held in the Karnatak Province. Mohd. Ali accepted the suggestion.
When the Mysore Raja – Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar backed out of hosting the Congress, Sadashivrao Karnad of Mangalore and Shrinivas Koujalgi of Bijapur staked the claims of their cities to host the Congress Session.
However, the fleeter footwork of Gangadharrao Deshpande of Belgaum won the day, by bringing in some merchants from Shahapur in Belgaum who were prepared to underwrite the expenses of the Congress to a tune of Rs. 30,000. That clinched the venue of the 39th Session of the Congress. This move was enough to convince Gandhiji and the senior leaders that Belgaum was indeed a Little Town with a Large Heart.


For a small town of 36,000 to attempt to host an All India Congress Session was an audacious move – something like a small country wishing to host the Olympics today.


But the 39th Congress Session at Belgaum in 1924 proved to be one of the most momentous sessions.
By Nitin Khot

On August 2, 2010 many news papers and I am quoting TOI here, in which Minister for large and medium industries, Murugesh Nirani was quoted saying that Mahindra and Mahindra and few other industries have expressed their willingness to establish their units at Dharwad.
The Hindu on same day, published this “While the Mahindra and Mahindra had agreed to set up their unit at Belgaum”
Mahindra and Mahindra company has the largest OEM from tractor engines to allied auto castings based in Belgaum. These components supplied by manufactures based in Belgaum and are direct standards of Mahindra QC standards, so Belgaum is a much obvious choice of Mahindra’s. Government of Karnataka should take interest in brining big names of foundry industries in proposed 500 acre foundry park near Machhe for international supplies, and give a support to local foundry industries to have joint venture for future entrepreneur developments in Belgaum , or else what is the use of establishing foundry cluster and including Belgaum for development of Automobile industry belt in Suvarna Karnataka industrial Policy.
From the news coverage it seems that the minister is not happy with the Mahindra unit being established in Belgaum and he is busy telling that even Mahindra is coming to Dharwad.
With inputs from Satish Kumar.

Here are the lucky winners of the Zaika and Subhash Photos Give away:
Winner of Zaika voucher of Rs.500
Fahim Bepari – beparifahim at gmail.com
Winner of a personalised Photo Mug is
Pallavi Dhotre
Congrats to the winners.

St.Pauls won the 31^st Royceton memorial cup today, they beat Marathi Vidya Niketan by 2 goals to nil.
It was jam packed hostel ground with excitement to its fullest. Young and old both were there to cheer their teams.

In spite of good rains and relief from power cuts for about 15 days, HESCOM is back with its routine load shedding of SIX hours in city and 12 hours in rural areas.
Load shedding is necessary as there are problems with the power production.
Belgaum is getting about 90 MW where it actually needs 120 MW.

After the avid success of AllAboutBelgaum.com, AAB and DotCord IT solutions have come together to float a new platform for the people of Belgaum.

We call it VOICEOFBELGAUM.COM

The very name says it all, this will be a platform all Belgaumites to raise their voices on various matters on a single platform. We dont flatter ourselves with this, but we hope to get a platform where people will come and review, share and exchange their ideas.

What can be done on the site:
Reviews of various products and services
Business listing (will be launched shortly)
Discussion forums
Classifieds
Social networking with sharing of photos, videos, status updates etc.
and many more will added with time.
 Now a question to everyones mind why another website, yes Voice of Belgaum in future can in real be the voice of people of Belgaum and time will come when all will have to adhere to this voice.

AAB and DotCord have joined hands in this case not for money, but to give Belgaumites a voice, a platform on which they can share what they feel and also at the same time come together for making a better Belgaum.

H1N1 influenza, Swine flu is back. Since January 111 swab tests were conducted and 49 were found positive with H1N1 virus. Two deaths were reported among them.
Today 2 more women were detected positive for H1N1 aged 45 and 40, one of them is from Belgaum and the other from Mavinkatti.

Bharatesh Education Trust’s Global Business School has organized a unique seminar for MBA aspirants, named ‘Jagruti 2010’. This seminar aims to guide students about the current management education scenario as well as educate them about the various streams available for MBA education and the prospects thereof, various career options available in today’s world, etc. It will also help students understand what an MBA is about, how to choose the right institution and what to look for while making a choice.
The seminar is scheduled on Sunday 8th August between 2 to 6 p.m. at The Banquet Hall, Hotel Sankam Residency, Airport Road, New Gandhinagar, Belgaum.
Considering the fact that there are very few Management Schools in North Karnataka, a student desiring to pursue an MBA degree has to go to other states or even other parts of the country for quality Management Education. With a host of management degrees to choose from like MBA, PGDM or part time courses like Executive MBA, Distance Education Programs, etc., the students may not be aware of the authenticity of the program or institutes offering them. There is a chance that they may end up disappointed. Students and parents seek guidance for all these matters from experts.
The seminar is free and is open to all graduates/ undergraduates from any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts, Engineering, Pharmacy, etc.) who wish to pursue an MBA after graduation. Fresh graduates who have already appeared for PGCET/KMAT or other management entrance exams will also benefit immensely from this seminar. Parents of students are also encouraged to attend the same.
The seminar will be addressed by a chosen panel of Dr. A. H. Chachadi- Sr. Faculty- Kousali Institute of Management Studies- Dharwad, Prof. V. K. Malali- Retd. Principal- RLS College, Belgaum, Shri. Gopal Jinagouda-MD, Jinabakul Forge, Belgaum, Shri Amit Soundalgekar- Corporate Trainer, Belgaum.
Contact the following number for registration - 0831- 2421513.

The New Indian Express wrote about AAB today in its Belgaum edition on Page 3.