Bengaluru: Gs Gopal Raaj, Editor of City Today News, has extended his warm congratulations and best wishes to Hon. Dr. Raja Seevan on his prestigious appointment as Advisory Council Member of the AsiaSkills Academic & Research Institute, India.
Hon. Dr. Raja Seevan, who serves as the H.E. Ambassador of the FANA India Embassy and Chairman & Founder Trustee of Indian CST, has been recognised for his consistent efforts in promoting education, research, skill development, and social empowerment. His new role with AsiaSkills Academic & Research Institute is expected to further strengthen the institution’s vision of empowering future generations through knowledge, innovation, and excellence.
Congratulating him on this significant achievement, Gs Gopal Raaj said that Dr. Raja Seevan’s leadership, dedication to community development, and commitment to academic advancement have earned him respect across various sectors. He expressed confidence that Dr. Seevan’s guidance and experience will greatly contribute to the growth and global outreach of the institute.
He also wished Dr. Raja Seevan continued success in his mission to support educational initiatives, research collaborations, and skill development programs that inspire and empower young minds.
City Today News wishes Hon. Dr. Raja Seevan greater achievements and success in his new responsibility.
Bengaluru, March 13, 2026: The ninth edition of the Whitefield Art Collective opened on Friday at VR Bengaluru, transforming the popular lifestyle destination into a vibrant public art hub for a month-long celebration of creativity. The festival, running until April 12, revolves around the theme “Tomorrow, Altered!” and brings together artists, students, and creative communities from across the city.
Environmental activist and Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej inaugurated the festival with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and the unveiling of the specially designed ‘Kala Car’. The evening also featured a live musical performance by Kej and a sustainable fashion showcase titled “A Rose for Khadi.” More than 300 installations, sculptures, paintings and photographs are on display, created largely by students from institutions such as Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore University, and leading design schools in the city. A unique attraction this year is a creatively transformed Tesla car, reimagined by artists as a moving canvas blending art, technology and sustainability.
Among the key collaborations is ‘Pockets of Hope’, a photography exhibition presented with UNESCO that highlights marine ecosystems and the importance of environmental conservation. Other exhibits include Cinema Reimagined by artist Gita Hudson and Re-Reading Bangalore, which explores the city’s history through archival maps and visual narratives.
The festival will also host literary sessions, art workshops, photography competitions and an artisanal bazaar featuring local crafts. Organisers say the event aims to make art accessible to the public while nurturing young talent and strengthening Bengaluru’s cultural landscape.
Since its inception in 2016, the Whitefield Art Collective has grown into one of the city’s largest public art festivals, drawing over 2.5 million visitors and showcasing the work of thousands of emerging artists.
Bengaluru: In a bid to strengthen the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among young minds, St. Joseph’s University is hosting Startup Mela 5.0 – The Nexus, a flagship initiative by the Entrepreneurship Development Cell (EDC) under the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC). The event brings together aspiring student entrepreneurs, startup founders, industry experts and innovators on a common platform to exchange ideas and explore opportunities in the fast-growing startup ecosystem.
Designed as a launchpad for future founders, the event encourages students to go beyond classroom learning and turn creative ideas into practical, real-world solutions. By promoting collaboration and hands-on learning, the initiative aims to nurture a strong culture of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking on campus.
Startup Mela 5.0 features a variety of engaging activities including startup exhibitions, a “Pitch Your Idea” competition, and a series of interactive business challenges. Competitions such as Brandstormers, Crisis Control: CEO Under Fire, and Build for Bangalore push participants to think strategically, respond to simulated corporate crises and develop innovative solutions to urban challenges faced by the city.
The event also includes thought-provoking panel discussions on themes such as “Building Innovative and Sustainable Businesses” and “Building Careers in the Age of AI – What Should Students Look For?”. Industry leaders and experts will share insights on entrepreneurship, sustainability and the changing employment landscape driven by emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.
The programme will be inaugurated by Kishor Jagirdar, an angel investor, innovator, TEDx speaker and startup mentor. The event will be held in the presence of Rev. Dr. Victor Lobo SJ (Vice-Chancellor), Dr. Syed Wajeed (Registrar), Dr. S. Sivakannan (IIC President), Dr. Pramod KM (IIC Convenor), Mr. P. Venugopal (EDC Coordinator), and Rev. Dr. Roshan Castellino SJ (Dean of Research).
Through Startup Mela 5.0, St. Joseph’s University aims to further its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent, enabling students to connect with mentors and industry leaders, and transform innovative ideas into impactful ventures that contribute to society and the economy.
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಪೋಷಕರ ಕಲಾವಿದರ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಮೂರನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಅವಿರೋಧ ಆಯ್ಕೆ
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಮಾ.12: ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ಪೋಷಕರ ಕಲಾವಿದರ ಸಂಘದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟ ಹಾಗೂ ರಂಗಭೂಮಿ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಮೂರನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಅವಿರೋಧವಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸಂಘದ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿಯಾಗಿ ಆಡುಗೋಡಿ ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ್ ಎರಡನೇ ಬಾರಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾಗಿರುವುದು ಗಮನಾರ್ಹ.
ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಘದ ಗೌರವ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಗಂಡಸಿ ಸದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿ, ನೂತನವಾಗಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆಯಾದ ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದರು. 79 ವರ್ಷದ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ಅವರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಸ್ಥಾನ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
800 ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಗೂ 10 ಸಾವಿರಕ್ಕೂ ಅಧಿಕ ನಾಟಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿನಯಿಸಿರುವುದು ಅವರ ಸಾಧನೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಐದು ದಶಕಗಳಿಗೂ ಅಧಿಕ ಕಾಲದಿಂದ ಕಲಾರಂಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಕಲಾವಿದರಿಗೆ ನೆರವು ನೀಡಿದ ಅವರ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು ಸದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಸ್ಮರಿಸಿದರು. ಸಂಘದ ಮುಂದಿನ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಡಿಂಗ್ರಿ ನಾಗರಾಜ್ ನೇತೃತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸ ಚೈತನ್ಯ ಮೂಡಲಿ ಎಂದು ಸದಾನಂದ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಆಶಿಸಿದರು.
ಇದೇ ವೇಳೆ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರ ನಟ ಹಾಗೂ ನಿರ್ಮಾಪಕರಾದ ಗಣೇಶ್ ರಾವ್ ಕೆಸರ್ಕಾರ್ ಮತ್ತು ಹಿರಿಯ ನಟಿ ನವನೀತಂ ಅವರು ನೂತನ ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ಸಂಘದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸಿದರು.
Bengaluru, March 12, 2026: A 32-year-old woman from Kumta has given a new lease of life to a teenager suffering from a rare and life-threatening blood disorder, after donating her blood stem cells through a national donor registry. Swathi, an IT consultant, recently met 19-year-old Anandu for the first time after her stem cell donation helped cure him of severe aplastic anaemia — a condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.
Anandu’s health crisis began when he was 15 and studying in Class 10. He had been experiencing persistent fever following a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which led doctors to investigate further. Tests eventually revealed that he had severe aplastic anaemia, a potentially fatal disorder requiring urgent treatment.
Doctors treating him recommended a blood stem cell transplant, considered the only curative option for the disease. His physician, Dr V.P. Krishnan, consultant in paediatric haemato-oncology and bone marrow transplant at MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute in Kozhikode, initiated a search for a suitable donor.
Finding a matching donor proved challenging, and the family went through a difficult period marked by emotional and financial stress. The transplant was eventually made possible with support from the DKMS Patient Funding Programme India, which provides partial financial assistance to patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.
Anandu underwent a matched unrelated donor transplant in early 2023. According to Dr Krishnan, the recovery phase included expected complications such as febrile neutropenia and mucositis, but his overall progress remained positive. “His blood counts stabilised well after the transplant and donor chimerism levels are good. Today he is healthy, attending college and preparing for his Class 12 board examinations,” the doctor said.
Meanwhile, Swathi had first registered as a potential stem cell donor in 2016 during a donor recruitment drive organised at her workplace by DKMS. Six years later, in 2022, she received a call informing her that she was a potential match for a patient in need. Without hesitation, she agreed to donate.
Her decision was strongly supported by her family, including her husband. Swathi says the experience became even more meaningful when she later became a mother herself. “Now that I have a baby boy, I understand even more deeply what parents go through when their child is suffering. Being able to help save a life feels incredibly special,” she said.
Health experts say such acts of voluntary donation are crucial, as the chances of finding a matching donor remain low in India. Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman of DKMS India, said that only about 0.09% of the country’s eligible population is currently registered as potential blood stem cell donors.
“In Karnataka alone, more than 49,000 individuals have registered as potential donors, with around 38,000 from Bengaluru. Stories like Swathi and Anandu’s highlight the lifesaving impact of donor registration and the urgent need for more volunteers,” he said.
Dr Govind Eriat, consultant haemato-oncologist and bone marrow transplant specialist at Cytecare Hospitals in Bengaluru, said that for patients with severe aplastic anaemia, a stem cell transplant can often be the only curative treatment.
“Finding a compatible donor remains one of the biggest challenges. Anandu’s recovery shows the resilience of patients and families facing such illnesses, while Swathi’s generosity demonstrates how a single decision can give someone a second chance at life,” he said.
Individuals aged between 18 and 55 years who are in good health, have a body mass index below 40 and are not already registered can sign up as potential blood stem cell donors through the DKMS registry.
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