Giselle Mehta's 'Blossom Showers' launched

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Savitha B.R)
July 17, 2011

blossom2

Mangalore, July 17: Reliance TimeOut gifted Mangalore's literary community a refreshing Sunday morning with the launch of Giselle Mehta's “Blossom Showers” The novel was unveiled at the City Centre Mall outlet of Reliance TimeOut.

A versatile and well known personality, the author Giselle Mehta was accompanied by Mr Alan Nazareth, author and former diplomat, and Mr H C Parikh, president of Elect of the International Book Readers Association, India Chapter at the launch.

Speaking on the occasion the Giselle Mehta said that in Blossom Showers, she has tried to imprint a truly compelling saga of three generations of the Cordelio family. It is propelled by eventful pace and robust characterization. “I hope to reach out to my readers with my debut novel,” she said.

Deepak Marwah, VP and Business Head, Reliance TimeOut, said that has been a constant endeavor on Reliance TimeOut's part to reach out to their consumers with new authors and interesting books.

“This launch brings forth a promising author, Giselle Mehta, with her debut novel. The novel is set in a town called Manjooran that bears semblance to modern day Mangalore and covers a story encompassing three generations of a family and over a 100 years with an interesting and well-researched storyline,” Mr Marwah said and added: “I am sure this novel would find resonance amongst our readers.”

About “Blossom Showers”: (Lead Start Publishing, Priced at Rs 395)

Blossom Showers is a gripping novel centred on three generations of the Cordelio family, alternating between India's Western Ghats and West Coast. Rex Cordelio, the dispossessed heir of a noble family, makes his fortune and founds his own coffee planting dynasty. He commences a tale of triumph and turbulence that will carry over into the lives of his descendants, as they each seek identity and emotional wholeness.

Propelled by an eventful pace and memorable characters, Blossom Showers resonates with social history and psychological insight to imprint itself as a truly compelling saga.

About Giselle Mehta

Giselle Mehta has Masters' Degrees in International Relations and English Literature. She is an Associate of Trinity College, London, in Speech and Drama.

Her working life commenced as a bureaucrat in the Indian Revenue Service, parting ways after 10 years to embrace enterprise and self-exploration. She particularly enjoys creative pursuits rooted in the communicative process — writing, theatre and speaking.

Giselle reserves a special space in her life for altruistic concerns and humane initiatives. She is the author of Aerial Roots, a published collection of her poems. Blossom Showers is her debut novel.

blossom1

blossom3

blossom4

blossom5

blossom6

blossom7

blossom8

blossom9

blossom10

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 2,2025

DKSsiddu.jpg

Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
December 3,2025

arrival.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.