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Indian Philanthropists - 2013

Top ten



Wipro chief and IT tycoon Azim Premji tops the list of Indian philanthropists, with donations amounting to Rs 8,000 crore in the past year, followed by HCL chairman Shiv Nadar, according to China-based Hurun Report Inc's India Philanthropy List 2013 released on Thursday. 

The study ranked 31 Indians who donated more than Rs 10 crore cash or cash equivalent during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013.

Education is top choice of donors. Education was the most important area for Indian philanthropists with a total contribution of Rs 12,200 crore. It was followed by social development (Rs 1,210 crore), healthcare (Rs 1,065 crore), rural development (Rs 565 crore), environmental cause (Rs 170 crore) and agriculture (Rs 40 crore).

Take a look at the top ten Philanthropists in India:

Azim Premji, WIPRO

Wipro chairman Azim Premji's donations amount to Rs 8,000 crore in the past year.

Azim Premji, a graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, USA has been at the helm of Wipro Limited ever since his return in late 60's from Stanford, turning what was then a $2 million hydrogenated cooking fat company into around $7 billion Revenue IT, BPO and R&D Services organization with a presence in 60 countries, that it is today. The overall Wipro group revenues are $8 billion. More

Shiv Nadar, SHIV NADAR FOUNDATION
Founder and chairman of HCL and the Shiv Nadar Foundation donated Rs 3,000 cr.

The Shiv Nadar Foundation, which completed 20 years in philanthropy this year, works towards educational initiatives and expansion programmes, directly benefiting 15,000 students across India.
Shiv Nadar was born and raised in mofussil Tamil Nadu, in an India awakening to its first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny”. Studying his way through the Indian schooling and graduate system, a scholastically-gifted Nadar confronted both the harsh realities and the opportunities of a struggling Indian state before he saw his first big town, Chennai, at the age of 21. His story is both a reflection of the times he lived in as well as the future that he always dreamt of shaping. More


GM Rao, GMR GROUP
The founder Chairman of the GMR Group, the Bangalore based global infrastructure developer, donated Rs  740 cr.

G M Rao, a mechanical engineer, is the Founder Chairman of the GMR Group, the Bangalore based global infrastructure developer.

Born in a small town Rajam in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh in India, G M Rao established the GMR business empire starting from a single jute mill in 1978. Since then, till before India’s economic liberalization, circumstances compelled him for opportunity driven business building. More

Ronnie Screwvala, UTV GROUP
The founder and CEO of UTV Group, Ronnie Screwvala, donated Rs 530 cr for charitable work.

 Ronnie Screwvala as the founder and CEO of UTV Group which was established in 1990. However, his entrepreneurial journey began a decade before UTV came to life. Ronnie’s father wanted him to become a Chartered Accountant. But, Ronnie wanted to start his own business. To keep himself busy while he looked for business opportunities, he took up a job of a copywriter. More

Nandan & Rohini Nilekani
Nandan Nilekani, entrepreneur and the Chairman of UIDAI and his wife Rohini donated Rs 470 cr.

Nandan Nilekani is currently the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India. The agency's mandate is to provide the Aadhaar number, which is a unique identity number, to every resident in India. The Aadhaar number is already enabling residents across the country to access some state and central benefits directly and more easily. More

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, BIOCON
“Biotech Queen” Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, donated Rs 330 cr.

A successful technocrat of global standing, Ms. Shaw heads India’s leading Biotechnology enterprise, Biocon. She is highly respected in the corporate world and has been named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. Recently, Economic Times placed her at India Inc’s top 10 most powerful women CEO for the year 2012. Her pioneering efforts in biotechnology have drawn global recognition both for Indian Industry and Biocon. More [Wiki - Kiran Mazumdar Shaw ]

Ratan Tata, JRD & SIR RATAN TATA TRUSTS
Chairman Emeritus of the Tata Group and chairman of JRD & Sir Ratan Tata Trusts gave Rs 310 cr for philanthropy work.

Ratan N Tata was the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group, from 1991 till his retirement on December 28, 2012. He was also chairman of the major Tata companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices. During his tenure, the group’s revenues grew manifold, totalling over $100 billion in 2011-12. More

Anil Agarwal, VEDANTA
Businessman and the founder and Executive Chairman of the United Kingdom-based Vedanta Resources Corporation gave Rs 290 cr for charitable work.

Mr Agarwal founded the Group in 1976 and has over 35 years of entrepreneurial and mining experience. He has helped to shape the Group’s strategic vision and, under his leadership, the Group has achieved tremendous growth both organically and through value-generating merger and acquisition activity, creating a world-class diversified portfolio of large structurally low-cost assets which are capable of generating strong cash flow. Source [1]

Anil Agarwal faced setback when tribals ruled out his London-listed Vedanta Resources' plan to mine bauxite in eastern India in August. The company is now awaiting approval to increase its stakes in Hindustan Zinc and Balco by buying the government's residual shares in the two companies, for an estimated $3.5 billion. Agarwal oversaw long-pending merger of his Sterlite Industries with Indian miner Sesa Goa to create Sesa Sterlite, which he also chairs. Daughter Priya's September wedding in London was a 2-day extravanganza, with performances by Elton John and Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. Source [2]

PNC Menon, SOBHA DEVELOPERS
The founder of Sobha Developer, an NRI from Oman, donated Rs 270 cr for charity.
Uthan Neduvakkatt Chenthamaraksha Menon or PNC Menon is a Non-resident Indian Oman-based businessman hailing from Thrissur in Kerala. He is the founder of Sobha Developers Limited. More

Kushal Pal Singh, DLF
India's real estate mogul and the chairman and CEO of DLF Limited, India's largest real estate developer, donated Rs 200 cr.

Dr. Kushal Pal Singh, popularly known as K. P. Singh, is the Chairman of the Board of DLF Limited, India's largest real estate company with a pan India presence in over 30 cities across 18 States. Dr. Singh is widely recognized across the world for his path-breaking and visionary contributions to the building of modern India through his pioneering role as a real estate developer and corporate leader who has transformed the urban landscape of the country by setting new standards in the housing and urban development scenario and creating world class infrastructure to attract unprecedented levels of foreign and domestic investment inflows, generating new employment opportunities and changing lifestyles.  More

Thank You Notes:
Your comments are more valuable and helpful for me to improve my knowledge and my writing skills. The information present may not be 100% accurate. Hence would request to point out if any correction is needed in this page with reference links.

Thank you,

Regards,
K.P. Lohit Kumar




Sources:



Meaningful Words



Meaningful words about the importance of time.



If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate the people.

ಕೂತು ಕೂತು ತುಕ್ಕು ಹಿಡುಯುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ, ಕೆಲ್ಸಮಾಡಿ ಸವಿಯುದು ಮೇಲು. (It is better to work until you die than to be idle just because you are old.)

ನೆರಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿದ ಮರ ತೊಲೆಯಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಯಿತು ನೂರು ವರುಷ , ನೂರು ವರ್ಷ ಆಳಿದ ಮಹಾರಾಜ ಹೆಣವಾಗಿ ಉಳಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ ಮೂರು ನಿಮಿಷ.

Thank You Notes:
Your comments are more valuable and helpful for me to improve my blogging skills. 


Thank you,

Regards,
K.P. Lohit Kumar
Mobile: +91 9880 125 942


Pushkarini @ Santhebennur



Pushkarini
Santhebennur,
Channagiri Taluk, Davanagere District
Introduction:
Sante-Bennur is a small town located Channagiri Taluk, Davanagere Dist. It’s approximately 20 kilometers and 40 kilometers from Taluk and District Headquarters respectively.

This is the biggest Pushkarini in Davanagere District. This Pushkarini is also known/called as Ramatirtha Pushkarini.

Though this place is so close (App. 10 kilometers) from my native village Dodda-Mallapura, I had never got a chance or interest to visit this place due to so many factors like poorly maintained Etc... But at-last with a great decision visited this place with my 3rd static eye along with my childhood friend cum distant relative to look at this historic place.

Pushkarini campus area has 2 gates at Front (Channagiri Main Road) and Back (Village Internal Road). Area is huge and a lawn is maintained towards the main gate (Channagiri Taluk).

Brief History regarding Pushkarini:
Pushkarini are water reservoirs or wells built as part of the temple complex near Indian temples. They are called Temple tanks, Kalyani, Honda, Kunda, Sarovara, Tirtha-Bhavi, Talab, Pukhuri, etc. in different languages and regions of India. Some Pushkarini's are also well famous for curing various diseases and maladies when bathed in it. Science has proved this is due to the effect of medicinal plants available in nearby mountains or areas.

In our Indian History we can see such Pushkarini's kind of architectures as part of the Indus Valley Civilization. It said these were built as a place to have Great Bath.

This Pushkarini built with Stepwell architecture. In India, a Stepwell is a deep masonry well with steps going down to the water level in the well. It is called by other names like Vav, Baoli and other different names in different parts of India. These were mostly built by kings and were richly ornamented. They often were built by nobility, some being for secular use from which anyone could obtain water.

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History
As per few historians, it is said that before 16th century this place was called by name Bennuru. Latter in 16th century it was renamed to Rangapura. In 17th century the same place was named as Santhoshapura. But latter it was again renamed as Santhebennur by then chief of Basavapatna.

It said that Pushkarini was built during Vijayanagara Rule which is around 16th century.


Few people say “Bidanur Dynasty” spoiled the beauty of this place during war time.
According to a few people, Mysore Maharaja used to visit Ramatirtha Pushkarni with his queen/s for resting.

(NOTE: Due to shortage of time, This section (History) is incomplete, Will be added latter. Sorry for the inconvenience)
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About Towers:
Entire Pushkarini is surrounded many small towers and steps build using stones. It has one official entrance kind of architecture, which is exactly at the height of Pushkarini’s highest water level. As we have steps at all four sides, people can enter the water resource from any sides. Overall it has 8 towers including 1 big tower at the center.

Pushkarini has one very big center tower at the center surrounded with water on all sides. This tower is also called as “Vasanta Mantapa”. This has 4-levels of construction with the approximate height of 50 feet. It’s Base and side walls are completely built using stones. As we go top, it has a balcony kind of architecture. And the side walls for every floor in this tower have good people and animal statue kind of designs. This gives an additional attraction to the tower. At the top most it has Gopura.

Opposite to the Pushkarini is a big empty room. This was built by Ranadulla Khan, commander of the Sultan of Vijapura (Bijapur), a few centuries ago. There is a saying that he built this as a "Musafir Khane" (Guesthouse). This is currently used to store maintenance equipment’s of this area. Not to mention, this also looks as if it is not cleaned from so many years.

Entire area and architecture of this place shows the skills of our old generation. At the same time, it’s shame on us that we are not even capable of maintaining it.

Maintainance:
This Pushkarini is very much damaged due to very neglected and low maintenance by govt. Most of the towers are broken and still failed to get attention from our govt and people.
As the water is stagnant, the cleaning activities are must for this place. Though govt has appointed a care-taker for this place, they are failing to clean water.
Here we can also find a grass of 2-4 feet long, which is also attracting cows and other such domestic animals. Which also fears the visitors for harmful insects like snakes Etc...
People also use this Pushkarini water for their worship/Pooja stuffs during any occasion or festivals. This is also leading to contamination of water to some extent. And not to mention people throw the waste items during pooja into Pushkarini or at the nearby surroundings of pond.

Current status:
People use to conduct the weekly fairs inside this place. This resulted in much more damage of this place. Latter the archaeological department took some initiative and put a fence around the borders and restricted people to change their weekly fair to other place of the town. It installed some boards (which are almost seeing the ground) and appointed a care-taker for this area.
Though the history says it was built by Hindu community, currently this place is known simply as Honda or with the name Navab-Bhavan by this younger generation. This may be due to increase in Muslim community surrounding to these areas. To wonders most of the people in place itself know the history of this place. (Includes me till I wrote this blog J)

Thank You Notes:
Your comments are more valuable and helpful for me to improve my writing skills. As well the information present here is not 100% accurate. Hence would request to point out if any correction is needed in this page.
For more photos of this place/town, please visit


Thank you,

Regards,
K.P. Lohit Kumar
Mobile: +91 9880 125 942
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Source:

15 February



“A person who is living only with memories knows the importance of it..
J
Good Morning.. J
~ KP



Just Reminded me of this poem about Love.. :)

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three-hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sere.
A lily of a day,
Is fairer far in May,
Although it droop and die that night,
It was the plant and flow'r of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures, life may perfect be.


Regards,
KP
"People tend to forget their duties, but remember their rights."

12 February


Good Morning.. J

12 February 1502 – Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on his second voyage to India.

Birthday :
Charles Robert Darwin, (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist who published the theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book On the Origin of Species.
  
KP
"People tend to forget their duties, but remember their rights."


Friday, February 8, 2013

Good Morning.. J
Today:
  1. Jagjit Singh, born Jagmohan Singh (8 February 1941 – 10 October 2011).
  1. Mohammad Azharuddin (born 8 February 1963) is an Indian politician and former cricketer.
  1. Rucha Hasabnis (born on 8 February 1988) is an Indian actress who frequently appears on Indian television shows. She plays the lead role in Star Plus's serial Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.



One of My Favorite from KSN’s writings.. J

Regards,
KP
"People tend to forget their duties, but remember their rights."