Sivamani, Godkindi rock the evening at Youth Festival

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar )

January 16, 2012

Mangalore, January 16: Words were not enough to describe what the Mangaloreans as well as the participants of the 17th National Youth Festival felt on Sunday night.

Even the wizards in heaven might have come to see the mesmerising performance by the wizards of Indian music.

Eminent Saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath, drummer Sivamani, flutist Praveen Godkhindi and clarinetist Dr Narasimhalu Vadavathi conquered the hearts of thousands at Mangala Stadium with their magical music. Santhosh Mulekar (Keyboard), Vidwan Rajashekhar (Morsing), B Harikumar (Mridangam) and Pandit Rajendra Nakhor (Tabla) added their potion to the musical feast to thrill the connoisseurs.

The Jugalbandi started with the carnatic classical keerthana 'Vatapi Ganapathim Bhaje in Hamsadwani raga from the mouth piece and reed of Kadri Gopalnath's Saxophone. The improvisations were then carried out by the Vadavathi's Clarinet and Godkhindi's flute. Then came the thunder from the bolt of Sivamani. Each beat from the wands of Sivamani trembled the crowd at Mangala from head to toe. Sivamani used everything including water can and a suitcase to show the crowd that the music lies in each drop of water and each particle of sand.

Sivamani's drums accompanied all other performances during the concert. The duel in the Jugalbandi started with Saxophone and Flute. Later Godkhindi took charge and mesmerised the audience. B Harikumar too performed exceptionally well on Mridangam. All others were sidelined by the mesmerizing performance from the duo, Godkhindi and Sivamani.

Till Mulekar's keyboards came into picture, it was a fight between classical instruments and Sivamani's drums. Many a times, Kadri Gopalnath and Godkhindi tested the drummer, but with the power of sound, he managed to maintain the supremacy.

Sivamani even took 'Thakil' to accompany the flute, which was a fantastic experience. Though the concert started more than an hour after the scheduled time, Sivamani and Godkhindi succeeded in taking the audience to a different world.

The concert concluded with Praveen Godkhindi playing the national anthem for which Sivamani and Mulekar accompanied in their drums and keyboard respectively.

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SMR Public School’s ‘EXCELLENTIA’ highlights academic excellence and holistic growth

News Network

December 16,2025

Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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