Crucial lessons at the library
The importance of libraries cannot be understated, especially in the case of these youths from Kolar. Most of them hail from rural, agricultural families, and have succeeded in getting government jobs. It has been no mean achievement for people like Srinivas Reddy, Bharathi, Shashikala, Nandini or B S Vijayalakshmi and many others, who are all now working in various government-run schools and departments.
Some of them are school wardens, while others have been chosen as principals in local government schools.
All these youths are graduates and all wanted to be teachers. They all visited Kolar's Central Library and got to know each other.
All these youths decided to try their luck at various government exams, one of them being the exam conducted by the Karnataka Administrative Service. One of the youths, Ramanjaneya has also written his IAS preliminary exam.
The library stood them in good stead, because none of them had the wherewithal to either buy books or get into good coaching classes to help them prepare for KAS exams.
In fact, the library staff actually helped them procure the books and guide material they wanted for the exams, at extremely short notice. Chief librarian, H R Chennakeshava, stood behind this group of youngsters, offering support and guidance.
What's more, he himself was a KAS aspirant. The group of youngsters sat at the library all day, clocking in at least eight hours of study time. They would break for lunch under a tree at the nearby Gangamma temple, and hold group discussions that would help them in their exams.
"As many as five people in our group have got government jobs after studying at the library here. Now, we are all preparing for the KAS main exams. It is important that rural areas have libraries, and youths here make good use of the same," points out Srinivas Reddy, who has managed to get a job as a constable.
K Narasimhamurthy
A misleading sign board
Bijapur is well known for its historical monuments. A monument called Upari Burz or Haidar Burz, a solitary tower, which can be viewed even from a long distance, lies in the west of the City near the world famous Malik-e-Maidan gun.
From the top of the tower, the visitors can have a good view of the City. Also two guns belonging to the medieval period are placed on the platform at the top. The larger one is the longest piece of ordnance, 30ft 8in in length, and the other one being 19ft 10in.
The Burz has a Persian inscription which states that the tower was built by Haidar in 1583. Haidar Khan was a general during Adil Shahi kings. However, the sign board fixed by the Department in front of the monument records it as Ali Burz gun.
The error needs to be corrected lest visitors get wrong information.
Salim A Dhundasi
The importance of libraries cannot be understated, especially in the case of these youths from Kolar. Most of them hail from rural, agricultural families, and have succeeded in getting government jobs. It has been no mean achievement for people like Srinivas Reddy, Bharathi, Shashikala, Nandini or B S Vijayalakshmi and many others, who are all now working in various government-run schools and departments.
Some of them are school wardens, while others have been chosen as principals in local government schools.
All these youths are graduates and all wanted to be teachers. They all visited Kolar's Central Library and got to know each other.
All these youths decided to try their luck at various government exams, one of them being the exam conducted by the Karnataka Administrative Service. One of the youths, Ramanjaneya has also written his IAS preliminary exam.
The library stood them in good stead, because none of them had the wherewithal to either buy books or get into good coaching classes to help them prepare for KAS exams.
In fact, the library staff actually helped them procure the books and guide material they wanted for the exams, at extremely short notice. Chief librarian, H R Chennakeshava, stood behind this group of youngsters, offering support and guidance.
What's more, he himself was a KAS aspirant. The group of youngsters sat at the library all day, clocking in at least eight hours of study time. They would break for lunch under a tree at the nearby Gangamma temple, and hold group discussions that would help them in their exams.
"As many as five people in our group have got government jobs after studying at the library here. Now, we are all preparing for the KAS main exams. It is important that rural areas have libraries, and youths here make good use of the same," points out Srinivas Reddy, who has managed to get a job as a constable.
K Narasimhamurthy
A misleading sign board
Bijapur is well known for its historical monuments. A monument called Upari Burz or Haidar Burz, a solitary tower, which can be viewed even from a long distance, lies in the west of the City near the world famous Malik-e-Maidan gun.
From the top of the tower, the visitors can have a good view of the City. Also two guns belonging to the medieval period are placed on the platform at the top. The larger one is the longest piece of ordnance, 30ft 8in in length, and the other one being 19ft 10in.
The Burz has a Persian inscription which states that the tower was built by Haidar in 1583. Haidar Khan was a general during Adil Shahi kings. However, the sign board fixed by the Department in front of the monument records it as Ali Burz gun.
The error needs to be corrected lest visitors get wrong information.
Salim A Dhundasi