Savithri woods, the maker of “Wigwam plywood”, is proposing to invest around Rs. 50 Crores to make plywood panels and allied products on a 15 acres plot at badanguppe Kelamballi industrial area of Chamarajnagar district. The unit is likely to employ 515 deserving people on its payroll. The groundbreaking event is expected shortly.
Savithri woods, pioneers in the plywood industry
The Hoshiarpur-based plywood maker, Savitri woods was established in 2003. Right from inception, the founders believed in the infusion of technology and innovation through the usage of automated machines sourced from all over the world. They eventually became the largest plywood makers in India, and they did that by winning over people’s hearts.
World-class product
The founders claim that in India around 90% of plywood is made through the conventional process which was started in the 18th century”. On the contrary, when we analyze the markets in other developed countries, this figure appears to be reversed. That means, almost 90% of plywood manufactured the world over is made using state-of-the-art technology with modern processes. Savitri Woods has adopted such technologies and world-class processes to become what they are today.
Import substitute products
Many quality-conscious buyers in India have been importing plywood from China, Russia, Europe, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia because of the non-availability of standardized quality plywood. The plywood industry is under the tight grip of unorganized/small-scale manufacturers in India. Savitri Woods is very confident in meeting the expectations of sophisticated customers in India. They claim that their plants are at par with those manufacturers who make plywood the way it should be made. That is why the theme line behind Savitri Woods’s brand “WIGWAM” is ‘PLY AS IT SHOULD BE”.
The region’s gain
With the arrival of such world-beating companies, the profile of the Mysuru region is changing for good. More design-led, technology-driven manufacturing is happening in the region than ever. It is slowly creating a “niche” for itself in high-tech manufacturing.
This attracts the attention of CEOs across India. So, in the future, it should not be a surprise for us if we get to read more such news coming from companies belonging to various sectors.
The second plant of S3V Vascular Technology (S3VVT) to come up near Mysuru
The second plant of S3VVT will come up on an 8-acre plot at an investment of Rs. 48 crores with an integrated facility for the manufacture, and assembly of advanced medical instruments. The center will have an R&D facility for engineers and technologists to come up with innovative products
The center will give jobs to 170 deserving people directly.
Brief introduction of S3VVT
S3V Vascular technologies (S3VVT), a Mysuru-based innovator and inventor of biomedical instruments focusing on treating cardiovascular ailments, have big plans to set up its second manufacturing plant at Immavu near Mysuru.
Established in 2011 by passionate founders, S3VVT has come a long way in enhancing the lives of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases, through their inventions.
They pioneered the “minimally-invasive medical technologies”, and by collaborating with physicians around the world, they created products that – reduced the duration and risk of “cardiosurgical” procedures. This resulted in advancing the health of their patients and helped them (patients) get back to their normal life fast. This is “innovation at its best”. All these are made available at a reasonable cost.
Bottomline
Local companies like S3VVT are creating a solid ecosystem for the biomedical industry in Mysuru. In the years to come, the ecosystem will go deep and wide with the addition of more startups. After all, success always breeds success, which means more jobs for locals.
Everest Industries proposes to setup a manufacturing unit at an investment of Rs. 187 Crores on a 15 acre plot at the Immavu industrial area near Mysuru. Their new unit will manufacture 72,000 Metric tonne (MT) of Fiber cement board and 19000 MT of Rapicon wall panels. The company has already released this news to their shareholders through an announcement made to Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). This highly automated plant is likely to generate new employment to the tune of 127 people.
About Everest Industries Ltd’s upcoming Mysuru project
Everest Industries has been providing ‘Green Solutions’ for several decades as an endeavor to save the planet by lowering the carbon footprint caused during building construction.
Fiber cement Board: They make Fibre Cement Boards – an advanced green material regarded as the best substitute for natural wood and wood-based products. Made from 40% recycled content, their Fiber Cement Boards boast of excellent relocatability and thus, serve as a clean, green material. Their plants boast off some of the top-notch machines with state-of-the-art controls to make the products with the required quality and reliability.
Rapicon wall panels: They also make Rapicon wall panels which are a revolutionary drywall system that lets anyone build inner walls for his building 4 times faster than traditional methods. This is achieved while maintaining the solid effect of a conventional brick or block wall. Rapicon Walls comprises sandwich panels made of Fibre Reinforced Aerated cement concrete and Everest Wall Boards. The unique tongue and groove joint system facilitates rapid construction and maximizes space utilization.
Aim for Sustainability
Man’s unabated quest for modern living is seriously destroying the very planet on which he lives. With humongous exploitation of nature and his greed for natural resources, he is bringing destruction to forests, rivers, and ecology in general. The resulting soil erosion has brought down agriculture yield leading to food shortages and starvation.
Also, ecological mismanagement is bringing excessive rains leading to floods and droughts in different parts of the world.
However, the silver lining is that people are now aware of the destruction caused to nature in the name of development. Various countries have started taking corrective measures to slow down the rate of exploitation of nature and eventually stop it forever and use green alternatives instead. Governments across the globe are incentivizing the usage of eco-friendly/ recyclable products.
So far, billions of dollars have been spent on R&D researching green products, and many companies have sprung up to manufacture such products. One among them is the Mumbai-based Everest Industries ltd.
The highway will be 4 laned & access controlled. Total cost of the project is 2966.97 Crore INR excluding GST.
Brief
Earlier this year, NHAI had called tenders for Package -II & III for 4 laning of NH 275 sections, the same have been withdrawn and are being Re-tendered.
In this regard, the earlier called Package -II tender between Guddehosur to SH – 86 Ramanathapura – Terakanambi Road Junction has now been further divided into two packages namely II & III. And the earlier Package -III tender is divided into Packages IV & V. The details of which are outlined in the Table below for reference.
NH 275
Type
Length KM
From Chainage
To Chainage
Cost INR Crore
Tender Package -II
Access controlled 4 lane with paved shoulder Hybrid Annuity Mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana
22.700
122+200 Guddehosur at start of Kushalnagara Bypass
144+900 Near Hemmige Village/SH-21 Hassan -Periyapatna Road Junction
694.87(Excluding GST)
Tender Package -II
Access controlled 4 lane with paved shoulder Hybrid Annuity Mode underBharatmala Pariyojana
Earlier this year, NHAI had called tenders for Package -II & Package III for 4 laning of NH 275 sections, the same have been withdrawn and are being Re-tendered.
In this regard, the earlier called Package -II tender between Guddehosur near Kushalnagar to SH – 86 Ramanathapura – Terakanambi Road Junction has now been further divided into two packages namely II & III. The details of which are outlined in the Table below for reference.
Tenders for the remaining stretches between SH – 86 Ramanathapura – Terakanambi Road Junction/ KR Nagar Junction to Srirangapatna are yet to be called.
NH 275
Type
Length KM
From Chainage
To Chainage
Cost INR Crore
Tender Package -II
Access controlled 4 lane Hybrid Annuity Mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana
22.700
122+200 Guddehosur at start of Kushalnagara Bypass
144+900 Near Hemmige Village/SH-21 Hassan -Periyapatna Road Junction
694.87(Excluding GST)
Tender Package -III
Access controlled 4 lane Hybrid Annuity Mode under Bharatmala Pariyojana
24.100
144+900 Near Hemmige Village SH-21 Hassan -Periyapatna Road Junction
169+000 Near SH – 86 Ramanathapura – Terakanambi Road Junction/ KR Nagar Junction
Male Mahadeshwaara temple – is a must-visit place for anyone to chase away darkness from life and illuminate it with spiritual light.
Saint Mahadeshwara (SM) – An incarnation of Lord Shiva
Male Madheshwara on MMH is a pilgrim town located in the Hanur taluk of Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka. The town is located about 150 km from Mysuru and about 210 km from Bengaluru.
Around 600 years ago, there lived a saint by the name of Mahadeshwara, who came to Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MMH) in search of a sacred place to do intense penance for God-realization and the betterment of humanity. MMH has a dense forest area surrounded by seventy-seven peaks in seven circles. It was not a safe place for human habitation 600 years ago, it is so even today. Yet the saint was relentless in pursuit of GOD and was seen fearlessly meditating while tigers and other wild animals roamed freely around him. He was so courageous that he was often seen riding a tiger inside the jungle, thus demonstrating his phenomenal wild-animal-taming abilities.
The divine qualities of the saint made the folklore conclude that the saint was none other than the incarnation of Lord Shiva, who descended on the earth to free up people from their miseries. There used to be a Lord Mahadeshwara temple on MMH which was of antiquity and was in dilapidated condition. Its Garbhagudi had a millennia-old self-manifested (Swayam prakata) linga. Many times, the people saw the saint deeply absorbed in meditation inside the Garbhagudi, by the side of this Linga.
SM saved Rishis from evil Shravan
The people believe that the young saint was initiated into asceticism by the then pontiffs of Suttur and Kunthur Mutts (Veerashaiva Lingayat Mutts) and was guided spiritually by them. Later on, the saint was sent to MMH to save many rishis who were doing penance in the deep jungle.
There was an evil king by the name of Shravana in the deep jungle who was harassing these rishis. A few of them were taken captive by the evil king. People believed that Shravana possessed abundant black magic power using which he was harming the rishis.
Folklore says that the saint destroyed the black magic power of Shravana and freed the imprisoned saints. The place where they were kept captive is a holy place by Thavasere. The place where Shravana lived is called Shravana Boli.
SM civilized the tribes
Also, Bede and Soliga tribes were living in small groups in many areas of MMH devoid of human civilization. They were living like animals, and they needed reform.
The young saint brought the rays of civilization into the lives of these tribes. He enlightened and uplifted them and made them his disciples. Later he established the Srisalur Math, gave lingadharan to the hill people, and converted them to Veerashaivias.
Seven peaks of MMH
According to tradition there are seven peaks identified in the legend – Anumale, Jenumale, Kanumale, Pachchemale, Pavalamale, Ponnachimale and Kongumale. These seven peaks together form the Male Mahadeshwara hills. The saint, also referred to as Lord Mahadeshwara, established a Mutt at MMH to take care of the religious and cultural affairs of the people of that area. The people from these families have become hereditary ‘Archakas’ of the Mahadeshwara temple.
Male Mahadeshwara temple on MMH
The Mahadeshwara Temple was renovated by Junje Gowda, a Rich Kuruba Gowda Landlord a few centuries later. The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva in linga form. The temple is well developed now with all amenities and is under the direct administrative control of the Karnataka government.
The temple with the Lord shiva in the form of udhbava (self-manifested) linga is very pious and has a lot of spiritual power. As per the folklore, Lord Mahadeshwara is there to wash devotees’ lives off their past sins, free them of their miseries and bless them with happiness. However, the condition is, that the seekers of the Lord’s grace should visit the temple with utmost devotion and faith.
Latest infrastructure developments
The government of Karnataka in cooperation with the Malemahadeshwara Swami Development Authority (MMDA) is building a 108 feet statue of Saint Mahadeshwara raiding tiger. The statue is a part of the Rs. 20 Crore heritage project, which is likely to see completion and inauguration in 2022.
Temple timing
Mala Mahadeshwara Timings, Darshan, Opening and Closing Hours.
Timings – Puja/ Darshan Details
5:00 am Temple Opening Hours
5:30 am – 7:30 am Abhisheka
7:00 am – 6:00 pm Huli Vahana
Basava Vahana
Rudraksha Mantapa Seva
7:30 am – 10:30 am Darshana
10:30 am – 12:30 pm Abhisheka
10:30 am – 2:00 pm Maharudrabhisheka Seva on Thursday
12:30 pm – 6:30 pm Darshana
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Abhisheka
7:00 pm Golden Car procession
8:30 pm – 9:00 pm Darshana
9:30 pm Temple Closing Hours
Mala Mahadeshwara Timings might change on festival days.
Temple Darshan and Abhisheka timings might change on special days.
No afternoon lunch break. Abhisheka tickets can be purchased on arrival at the counter for the same-day Pooja.
Temple address
Area Development Authority, Malai Mahadeshwarabetta, Kollegal, Karnataka 571490, Contact number: 082252 72128
Accommodation
For those who are on the lookout for boarding and accommodation with modern facilities, there are few accommodation complexes.
Mahadeshwara Bhavana,
Gurudarshini,
Giridarshini,
Shivadarshini, etc.
How to reach there?
The MMH is well connected with Mysuru and Bangaluru cities. Regular KSRTC busses ply between Bangaluru ~ Mysuru ~ ChamarajaNagara ~ MMH.
One can even take a train to reach ChamarajaNagara, and from there one can either hire a private taxi OR take the KSRTC bus to reach MMH.
One can drive off to MMH from Bangaluru or Mysuru and the journey will be fun only.
Karnataka to get its third Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology Center (CIPET) in the upcoming plastics park in Dakshina Kannada district, with the other two centers operating in Mysuru & Bengaluru.
The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has accorded the final approval for the setting up of a Plastic Park in Mangaluru. The project is to be executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) incorporated by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) with a total project cost of 6277 lakhs including a central grant of 3138.775 lakhs. The Plastic Park will come up over 200 acres at Ganjimautt 2nd Phase EPIP Industrial area Mangalore Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District.
The then Union minister of state for skill development & entrepreneurship, Mr. Anant Kumar Hegde had mooted the idea of setting up a CIPET center in the proposed plastics park and the same was pursued with the center.
The new Industrial plants and the CIPET center in the park would immensely benefit mutually and gel well within the ecosystem of Dakshina Kannada district which houses many renowned chemical industries.
KIADB the nodal agency and a major promoter in the SPV will be taking up civil works of the plastic park site, construction of CIPET, Admin & Export building, Hostels, Guest house, Warehouse & Cafeteria buildings. Tenders have been called for the above stated works and are expected to be completed within 11 months from the date of award of work.
Got Final Approval of GOI for Setting up Plastic Park at Ganjimutt of Mangaluru City North Constituency. Will be implemented by a SPV incorporated by KIADB with a total project cost of 6277 lakhs including a central grant of 3138.775 lakhs. Thank you @narendramodi ,@nalinkateel .
Indian Railways has initiated the process to construct the New Broad Gauge (BG) Railway Line between Chikkamagalur and Hadihalli by inviting bids. Total length of the line is 9.105 KM running from Chainage 45.775M to Chainage 54.880M.
In addition to the civil works, the scope of work includes Railway Electrification, Signal & Telecommunication works and General Electrical Services between Chikkamagalur (Excl.) & Hadihalli (Incl.) stations in Kadur – Chikkamagalur – Sakleshpur New Line Project in the South Western Railway Zone.
Estimated Project Cost – 138.16 Crores
No. of Years for completion of work – 15 Months
Salient Features
Route Length – 9.105(km)
Major Bridges – 1No.s
Minor Bridges/Culverts – 24No.s
Road Under Bridges (RUB) & Road Over Bridges (ROB) – 12No.s
Railway Level Crossings – 1No.s
Railway Stations – Hadihalli Railway station(Crossing) 205.0 sq.m Station Building Area with 2 main lines and 1 loop lines
Platforms – 2 Number of High Level Platforms with a Length 450m
The Mavalli Tiffin room’s (MTR) is famous for – the food which melts in your mouth and take you down the memory lane. MTR is in the business of making people happy through their mouth-watering dishes. They say the best way to reach one’s heart is through one’s stomach, and that is exactly what MTR has been doing.
Following signature dishes are served in their Mysuru outlet
Masala Dosa – scorching hot, golden brown colored, ghee roasted, potato subzee filled and made to perfection. When served with a small cup of ghee and hot spicy chutney can melt hearts, salivate tongues and bring loads of joy.
Rava Idlis – Hot steamed rava cakes made with the perfect mixture of curd, coriander & curry leaves, cashew nuts and mustard seeds, when served with a dash of ghee and spicy chutney can bring good satisfaction to the heart.
Bisi Bele bath – A popular rice dish from Karnataka cooked with assorted vegetables and MTR special masala powder. When served HOT with a dollop of ghee and curd raita that is made out of cut onions, green chillies and nutmeg powder. It tastes heavenly, and can bring the contentment.
Kharabath (KB) – Hot/ spicy/ tangy rava khara bath which is well cooked with MTR special KB masala and topped with a slice of tomato is really tempting and when eaten, the heart craves for more and the aroma can stay in our mouth for a long time.
Kesari Bhath – Anyone visiting MTR should never miss out on Kesari Bhath. A thick sweet porridge made from semolina, vermicelli, ghee, cashews, raisins and sprinkled with saffron. The perfect compliment to the Kharabhath and a great sweet by itself too. The combination of Khara bath and Kesari bath is called Chow Chow bath, which is widely eaten in the Mysuru region.
MTR special filter coffee – Who can forget to drink piping-hot strong MTR filter coffee after a sumptuous breakfast. The coffee can trigger digestion and make our day eventful.
Chandrahara – MTR was the original creator of this signature sweet called Chandrahara. It is made with maida flour and deep fried to perfection. Topped with a thick, sweet liquid made from khoa, and is served only on Sundays. It is said that life is considered waste if this iconic sweet is not tasted at least once.
The year was 1920 when three brothers Parameshwara Maiya, Ganappayya Maiya and Yagnanarayana Maiya left a small, sleepy hamlet near Udupi in South Kanara in search of greener pastures and found their way to Bengaluru. Being proficient in cooking, they found employment as cooks in the homes of some prominent people of those times.
In 1924, Parameshwara Maiya, with encouragement and assistance from his employer, decided to start a small restaurant on Lalbagh Fort Road in Bengaluru, along with Ganappayya Maiya, called the Brahmin Coffee Club serving coffee and idlis. Five years later, on the death of Parameshwara Maiya, Yagnanarayana Maiya joined his brother in running the restaurant. For the next three decades. Yagnanarayana Maiya, or Yagnappa as he was called affectionately, with his enterprising ways, managed the restaurant effortlessly and brought the restaurant accolades and fame.
“Integrity is the backbone of MTR. It’s the core reason for its survival over the decades. Whether it’s food or conduct in business, emphasis is on ethics and fair play.”
In 1951, he decided to undertake a tour of Europe to study how restaurants in those parts functioned. He returned as an enlightened man, impressed with the standards of cleanliness, hygiene, discipline and practices adhered to by the restaurants there. On his return he brought in quite a few changes in the restaurant. He raised the bar by introducing new standards for hygiene, health and sanitation. He introduced sterilisation of utensils, crockery and cutlery. He distributed small booklets on health and proper eating habits. He also opened up the kitchen to the scrutiny of customers. He also renamed the restaurant ‘Mavalli Tiffin Rooms’, in short for MTR, after the locality where it was situated.
In 1960, the restaurant shifted to its present location on Lalbagh Road, Bengaluru and grew in stature and name. MTR became a landmark. In 1968, Yagnanarayana Maiya passed away, handing over the mantle to his nephew Harishchandra Maiya and the legacy continues with the third generation in the saddle.
MTR – Mavalli Tiffin Rooms | Pic – MTR
MTR is a brand in itself
From a humble beginning, the MTR became one-of-the-few most trusted brands and attained cult status in India. The 100 year long march taught the founders life-lessons on how to make their customers happy through food. The lessons learnt are put to use and that explains why MTR stands out in the crowded fine dining restaurant segment.
The University of Mysore has started the Mysore University School of Engineering from the 2021-22 academic year. The Center is affiliated with AICTE.
Objectives of the engineering college
The delivery of consistent achievement, diversity and core curricular standards.
Outstanding environments for innovative, flexible and internationalised learning.
Student progression and success through outstanding personalised support.
Staff who are lifelong learners, fully engaged in their own professional development.
The use of data and information to inform key decisions and actions.
Close collaboration with students, researchers and partners to improve performance.
Mysore University School of Engineering
Its Vision
Aspire to become the globally recognized institution for engineering and technology recognized for its innovation, societal relevance, and excellence in the impact of its pursuits by tapping human resources from all sections of society, offering them opportunities to learn across disciplines, and to build human capital capable of being leaders of tomorrow who solve problems more efficiently in the currently fast-changing global economy.
Its Mission
Built on a great legacy inherited from our founding fathers, our mission is to create an environment of stimulating intellectual dialogue across disciplines and harvest knowledge with cutting-edge high-quality teaching, research, and extension activities leading to the generation of students who would provide leadership, vision, and direction to society. We aim to be recognized for advancing knowledge through fundamental and applied research, and facilitating a growth mindset of life-long learning and economic development.
Lord Vekateshwara temple on top of Karighatta hills is another millenia old gem that not many are aware of. But those who do, swear to come back again and again, such is the pull. They say whoever goes to this temple with folded hands, devotion filled heart, and mind focussed on the Lord’s lotus feet, will not come back empty handed. He will go home with his wishes granted and with hope in life.
Also, the temple is so powerful spiritually that Lord, in the form of Yoga Srinivasa is standing there to bless his devotees, and help them move out of the problems they are in. This article is written to introduce this temple to those who haven’t heard about it.
Karighatta | Pic Courtesy- Gururaj M S
Karighatta Sri Venkateshwara – a brief introduction
The experience
When we cruise along the 10-lane Bangaluru ~ Mysuru expressway towards Mysuru, and after we cross Srirangapatna, there is a left turn which when taken leads to this beautiful temple on Karighatta hills. On the hilltop, the “eagle’s eye” view of Srirangapatna town, an unending row of green paddy fields, green orchards, the beautiful landscape around the hill, and the confluence of the Kaveri and Lokapavani rivers makes it breathtakingly beautiful.
Additionally, the pleasing sounds of the temple bells, the sanskrit Mantras, the devotional songs played in the background praising the almighty, calms the mind. It elevates the consciousness and brings unexplainable joy and tranquility when meditated on the lotus feet of the Lord. No wonder, whoever visits there needs an extra push to leave the place to go home. His physical body may be in motion, but his heart stays there for sure, sunk deep in the joy.
Karighatta | Pic Courtesy- Gururaj M S
Brief history
The name Karighatta means “Elephant Hill” in Kannada. The hill has a temple devoted to the Lord Vishnu, also called “Kari Girivasa”. This deity is also referred to as “Lord Srinivasa”, who has another name “Bairagi Venkataramana” here. The epithet ‘Bairagi’ for this idol is derived from the fact that when ‘alankara’ – flower decoration, is done to the deity, it looks like a Bairagi (mendicant).
This place is mentioned in Varaha Purana as ‘Neelachala’, a Sanskrit word, which means ‘Blue Mountain. It is believed that worshiping the Lord and meditating on him at this temple can bring a lot of relief to the sufferings one may be going through in life.
Karighatta | Pic Courtesy- Gururaj M S
How did the place get its name?
It is said that the hill got its name after a wild elephant, Kari attacked and killed four girls taking bath. To bring them back to life Sage Kutsamuni undertook a rigorous penance and requested the Lord to save His devotees. As per another legend, while building the bridge to Lanka to bring back Sita devi, Sugreeva brought this hillock, also called ‘Neelachala’ from Tirumala (Thirupathi). On his way several disciples of Lord Vishnu pleaded him to leave it here and so the hill remained here.
Karighatta | Pic Courtesy- Gururaj M S
Dharbe (Hullu in Kannada, grass in English)
At the temple premises, there are sharp grasses, also called as Dharbe – hullu (grass) in Kannada, which is used for performing all sacred rites. In “Varaha Purana” it is said that when Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Varaha and shook his body some of the body hair fell on the ground near here the grass now seen here is believed to have come from his hair.
Legend has it that it was on this hill that the British had placed their cannons during the siege of Srirangapatna.
Karighatta | Pic Courtesy- Gururaj M S
How to get there?
To reach the temple, either one can drive upto the hilltop OR the hilltop can be reached by climbing the stone steps (450 in number) from below. A winding paved road is used for vehicular transport.
Traveling from Bangaluru
The karighatta temple is around 124 kms from Bangaluru and one can drive down straight OR one can reach Srirangapatna town by KSRTC bus and take a taxi from there to the temple which is just 7.7 Kms away.
Traveling from Mysuru
From Mysuru take a taxi and reach the temple which is 25 kms away.
Karighatta | Pic Courtesy- Gururaj M S
Rathotsava – temple car festival
The Rathotsava is held during Phalguna maasa (Feb ~ March month) and the car festival will be attended by thousands of people, as it is believed that pulling the chariot with the rope attached to it, burns away all sins. So, there is a craze for pulling the chariot among the devotees.
The temple timing
Temple timings: 10am to 2pm and on government holidays 10am to 7pm. There is no eatery on the hilltop. One must carry water, food and other essentials for use. There is no accommodation on top of the hill, so staying overnight is not possible. One can just visit the temple and enjoy nature’s beauty for a few hours and then return.
Mysuru, with unique weather, soil conditions and talented people, is home to 18 GI(Geographical Indication) products, and one among them is “BETEL LEAF ” grown exclusively in and around Mysuru city. This article is introduced in two parts as a docu-series. The first part will shed some light on this leaf and in the second part will talk about how the government can help promote the betel-leaf as a “SUPER FOOD” to make its consumers “SUPER HEALTHY”, and to bring “GOOD FORTUNES” to the growers.
Betel leaf – an introduction
Consuming betel leaves has been the culture of Bharathias (Indians) since time immemorial. It is used during hindu religious functions and festivals as an auspicious thing offered to God at the time of pooja. A sheaf of betel leaves is traditionally presented as tamboola as a mark of grace, respect and auspiciousness in the Bharatiya Culture.
There are many varieties of betel leaves grown across the country, each comes with its own taste, flavor and texture. It is generally consumed along with betel nut, lime and with or without tobacco.
Betel leaves as per the tradition
The heart shaped betel leaf is mentioned in the millenia old “Skanda Purana”. The legend says that during the churning of the ocean by Devas (divine forces) and Asuras (evil forces), betel leaves came from the depth of ocean along with other things which Goddess Lakshmi brought to the fore from the bottom of ocean. Hence it (betel leaf) is considered pious by sanatanis.
Mysuru betel leaf (ಮೈಸೂರು ವೀಳ್ಯದೆಲೆ)
Mysuru variety betel leaf is of heart shape grown in and around the of Mysuru city.
Mysuru betel leaves are said to differ from other varieties of betel leaves due to their smooth texture and hot taste. They are protected by the government of India.
Brief history
The Mysuru variety of betel leaves had a humble beginning over 50 years ago when it was grown in the gardens of the Mysuru Maharaja. It was later spread to 100 acres from Poorniah Choultry in Old Agrahara to Vidyaranyapuram junction, which connects the Mysuru-Nanjangudu Road in Mysuru. Gradually, it was spread to over 500 acres around Mysuru. Unique climate and soil in this stretch is thought to have given the leaves a unique taste that earned it the name ‘Mysore Chigurele’ (Mysore sprout leaf). The leaf has a smooth texture and hot taste.
Geographical Indication
Every produce has exclusivity and Mysuru betel leaf is no different. It has one, and in order to make sure farmers of Mysuru have exclusive right to brand their betel leaves as Mysuru betel leaf and sell at a premium. The growers association and the Department for Horticulture under the government of Karnataka registered for the Mysuru betel leaf trademark/ brand at the Office of the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, Chennai. The registration was done under the GI of Goods Act (1999), and in the year 2005 GI tag was granted to Mysuru betel leaf.
Because of this GI tag, farmers on Mysuru are able to sell their produce at a premium, thus making more money than their counterparts from other places.
The betel leaves pack enough nutrition to boost immunity and heal many diseases. Let’s know what these leaves have got
Betel Leaf Nutrition
In a 100g serving of Betel leaf, the nutrients are
Calories: 61
Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 1.8g
Protein: 3g
Besides being a good source of calcium, the leaves also contain vitamins like vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, and riboflavin
Betel leaves does the following
Manages diabetes
Heals injuries and wounds
Decreases bad cholesterol levels in the body
Prevents Asthma attacks
Protects body from deadly viral/ bacterial attacks
Helps in overcoming depression
Treats erectile dysfunction and increases sperm-count
Improves fertility in women.
Betel Leaf Benefits For Skin
Nourishes skin by making it hydrated
Prevents Acne
Brightens skin
Removes excessive oil
Betel leaves benefits for hair
If used regularly, Vitamin C in betel leaves helps in reducing hair fall, promoting hair growth, and preventing premature graying of hair
Conclusion
It is unbelievable that simple heart shaped betel leaves pack a heavy nutritional punch. No wonder, our forefathers made it a habit to eat at least once a day post dinner before hitting the sack. The government should promote it as a food supplement in order to stay healthy and live happily.
“JOCKEY or Nothing” is the brand tagline for JOCKEY International Inc – a multibillion dollar USA company famous for their high end/ high quality underwear.
Page Industries Limited is headquartered in Bengaluru, and is the exclusive licensee of JOCKEY International Inc. (USA) for manufacture, distribution and marketing of the JOCKEY brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE, Oman and Qatar. Page Industries is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International Ltd. for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India. They have 15 manufacturing units across 6 cities in India including Mysuru.
Expansion of Page Industries’ Mysuru unit
The Company is adding a 120,000 sq ft elastic manufacturing set-up at Mysuru to include imported high-end jacquard and knitted looms to produce complex technical designs in-house for the Premium category. The project is expected to be commissioned before the second half of FY23. To meet the increased demand in the premium vertical, the Company is planning an 80,000 sq ft Cut-to-Pack facility in Mysuru. The commissioning is expected before the end of FY23. Both put together it is going to be a 200,000 square feet expansion.
Page industries to establish NABL accreditation lab in Mysuru
To improve the quality of their products and take it to the world class level, Page Industries is proposing to establish a NABL accredited laboratory in Mysuru. This will help Mysuru unit get NABL accreditation, which in itself is a major milestone achievement.
Benefits of Accreditation: A formal recognition of competence of a conformity assessment body by NABL in accordance with international standard has many advantages- International recognition, Access to Global market, Time and money efficient, Enhanced customer confidence and satisfaction, Robust Quality Management System, Continual improvements, Better operational control, Assurance of accurate and reliable results, Cost Reduction, Prevent loss due to defects etc.
Brief History – Commencement of Indian operations
Page Industries was set up Bengaluru in the year 1994 with the key objective of bringing the world renowned brand “JOCKEY” to India. Its promoters are the Genomal family, who have been associated with JOCKEY International Inc. for 50 years as their sole licensee in the Philippines. Page Industries became a public company in March 2007 and is quoted in the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).
Aggressive expansion in India
The company, having started its operations in 1994 has not looked back, it marched ahead with great speed expanding its state-of-the-art manufacturing units from 1 to15 with workforce from barely anything in 1994 to 20,000 by 2018.
Their manufacturing units are located in Bangaluru, Hassan, Mysuru, Gowribidanur, Tiptur and Tirupur. Page Industries commands wide spread pan India distribution encompassing over 50,000 plus retail outlets in 1,800 cities and towns and has revolutionized the innerwear market by launching Exclusive JOCKEY® Brand Outlets across India numbering 470 as of March 2018.
The awards and recognition galore
In 2005 and 2009, the company was awarded the “best licensee of the year” by Jockey International Inc. as recognition for its outstanding achievement in establishing and strengthening the JOCKEY brand as a market leader in India.
In 2010, the Company bagged the “International Licensee of the Decade” award for achieving record growth year after year, offering world class products and maintaining global quality standards across all operations.
In 2012, the company was honored for the “Outstanding Advancement of the Jockey Global Retail Image”, a rare distinction from amongst 142 countries where Jockey is present.
Speedo brand
The Speedo brand is now into its sixth year of operation in India. Speedo products include swimwear, water shorts, apparel, equipment and footwear. The Speedo brand is now available in 1035 plus stores including large format stores in 189 cities and 31 Speedo exclusive brand outlets located in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
COSMOS will host India’s first planetarium with Digistar 7 system and a Domex Screen.
Indian Institute of Astrophysics is the nodal agency for setting up of COSMOS, while the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Government of India are all extending financial & technical support. It is noteworthy here to mention that Ms. Nirmala Sithraman (the current Finance Minister of India) supported the idea of setting up a planetarium which was proposed by her former Personal Secretary, a Karnataka-cadre IAS Officer. The idea translated into COSMOS, a 81 Crore INR project, with the support of Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor, K.N. Vyas, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. S. Chandrashekar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru and University of Mysore.
The main objective of the centre is to decentralise astronomical data for wider research. The centre will also provide training to students in machine learning and data science which are proving to be indispensable for researchers across the industries.
Outer space can be ecstatic
Nothing intrigues young minds like outer space. The stars, constellations, milkyway, asteroids, black holes and their interplay makes young minds go crazy. The growing childrens’ obsession with space can be harnessed properly through planetariums where children can get to see the space objects in action. They can get all their questions answered as well.
Stars in the Carina Nebula | Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
Role of planetarium in societal development
Children have questions, plenty of them. If their questions are answered at the right time and age, their sharp, thinking minds turn them into philosophers, thinkers, scientists, astronomers, engineers, researchers etc. On the contrary if they don’t get the right answers, their interest, curiosity will die down and they will end up becoming mediocre people when they grow up.
Through planetarium the children can understand how earth revolves around the sun and how earth’s spinning on its own axis can cause day and night. What causes seasons? When it is day in the southern hemisphere, why is it night in the northern hemisphere? Why is there a change in the seasons when we travel along latitude from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere and vice versa? What is the summer solstice? and what is the winter solstice? There is no limit to what can be explained to children through the planetarium.
What’s new in Mysuru’s planetarium?
‘Cosmos’, the Planetarium coming up on the Mysuru University campus is going to be unique. Apart from regular stuff which all planetariums have, it will have facilities to gaze at the Leh sky from Mysuru itself.
They say sky at Hanle near Leh is clearest in the Indian subcontinent and celestial objects in space are clearly visible through telescopes. The very-high resolution 4k quality live video feed is relayed and the people at the Mysuru Planetarium can see it live without any distortion in the quality.
The telescopes at Hanle generate a large chunk of astronomical data on the real time basis which the Indian astronomers, students and others can use for further analysis. This data will be available to the student community in Mysuru also, using which some will go on to become astronomers, scientists and space researchers.
What Hanle has got?
Hanle, Leh in Ladakh is at an altitude of 4500 metres from the sea level. At that height, the Indian astronomical observatory agency has put up some of the technologically advanced telescopes – optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes.
It is said that at Hanle, the sky looks so clear and vast that let alone other planets, even the milky way is visible crystal clear when viewed through telescopes.
Planetarium is a boon for all space enthusiasts in Mysuru
Thanks to Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Space enthusiasts, scientists and student community will have a good time gazing at the Leh sky from Mysuru and collect all kinds of information which triggers their imagination.
The cost of the project is Rs. 81 Crores and will likely see the light in March 2023.
Galaxy Cluster SMACS 0723 | Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
Tender information
IIA has released the tender for Providing Comprehensive Architectural, Structural and other Engineering Design Consultancy, Project management and Construction Supervision services for setting up of the Planetarium along with necessary infrastructure facilities.
It is proposed to build a State of art – 15 Metres dome Planetarium with 15 degree inclination (Tilt) that can accommodate approximately 130-150 people and is designed to highlight the History of Indian Astronomy along with a mini data research centre, where the students visiting the Planetarium can be educated on the possibilities and potential of studying the stars and galaxies. The planetarium shall also accommodate lecture halls, museum, office of the Director and supporting staff, offices for the scientists and technicians, ticket counter, rest rooms, canteen, parking facility, etc. The work is proposed on a 3.0 acre land allotted by the University of Mysuru (UOM) for establishing Planetarium building and other allied blocks in the University campus at Mysuru city.
Under phase 1 of the proposed greenfield Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur Rail Connectivity Project (89 KM), South Western Railways has released a tender (EPC) for the construction of a New Broad Gauge Railway Line betweenShivamogga & Shikaripura. The works shall also include the Electrification, Signal & Telecommunications works and General Electrical Services between Koteganguru (Excluding) & Shikaripura (Including) stations.
The Total length of the railway line to be constructed is 39.98 KM (Chainage 8.020 & Chainage 48.000). A total of 4 new Railway Stations namely Koralahatti, Mallapur, Ramanagara and Shikaripura are proposed to be constructed between Shivamogga and Shikaripura.
The new railway line will bifurcate from the existing Shivamogga – Talaguppa line after Kongavalli Halt Station.
Estimated Project Cost (In Rs. Crore): 517.73
Duration of Completion of Works: 30 months
Features of the Proposed Railway Stations
Ramanagar Crossing Station @CH :17900
Station Building
1 Main Line
2 Loop Lines
2 High level PF of 540.00M X 5.5M
1 Subway
Mallapur Crossing Station @ CH :24300
Station Building
1 Main Line
2 Loop Lines
2 High level PF of 540.00M X 5.5M
1 Subway
Track Machine Siding
Koralahatti Crossing Station @CH: 35875
Station Building
1 Main Line
2 Loop Lines
2 High level PF of 540.00M X 5.5M
1 Subway
Track Machine Siding
Shikaripura Crossing Station @ CH: 46500
Station Building
1 Main Line
2 Loop Lines
1 High level PF of 540.00M X 5.5M (PF-1)
1 Island High level PF of 540.00m x 10.50m (PF 2 & 3)
Rail level paved Goods PF
Path Way for TM Siding
VIP SIDING – 300m
Shunting Neck – 750m
1 Foot Over Bridge
The direct railway line between Shivamogga and Ranebennur via Shikaripura will open up tremendous economic opportunities & drive the local economy of the region. Contributions of Former CM B S Yeddyurappa and Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra has been significant in realising the project. This new railway line will connect the Malenadu region to the North West Karnataka districts of Hubballi and Belagavi, and establish inter state connectivity with Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat etc.
To accommodate longer trains i.e. 24+1 coaches at the stations, Indian railways is extending the platforms at Nanjangud Town/NTW, Ashokapuram/AP and Chamarajanagar/CMNR railway stations.
As per the plan, Platforms at the following stations will be extended to accommodate 24+1 coaches trains.
Nanjangud Town/NTW station platform number 2 & 3
Ashokapuram/AP station platform number 1, 2 & 3
Chamarajanagar/CMNR station platform number 1
Replacement of Auto Announcement System
Apart from these works, railways have planned to replace the Auto Announcement System at Ashokapuram/AP, Kadakola/KDO, Nanjangud Town/NTW and Chamarajapuram/CMJ stations. The Auto Announcement System is also planned for replacement at these stations namely, Srirangapatna/S, Pandavapura/PANP, Byadgi/BYD, Chikjajur/JRU, Tarikere/TKE, Krishnarajanagar/KRNR and Hole Narsipur/HLN.
Tenders have already been floated for the above works with a target completion period of twelve months for platform extensions and six months for the replacement of the Auto Announcement System.
Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy temple (BRST)- another hidden gem of the Mysuru region is being introduced briefly to the people through this article. Though people from the Mysuru region know about this temple, it is for those who haven’t heard about BRST this article is catering to.
Sri Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple – A brief introduction
“Biligiri Rangayya… ” the ultimate song of the 1971 cult classic Kannada movie “Sharapanjara ” (the cage of arrows), immortalized by the late actress “Kalpana”, talks highly about Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy – presiding deity of BRST. The song, with a philosophical tone, made such an impact in the minds of people, that it got instant recognition, and the temple shot to fame. People came in droves to this temple seeking divine blessings, and the rest they say is history. The rush continues even today.
Brief history of this temple
According to legend, sage Vasishta did penance here on these hills on Lord Venkateswara, also called Lord Ranganatha. The Lord appeared to him and blessed him. To mark this moment, sage Vasishta consecrated Lord Ranganatha Swamy moola pratima and worshiped the deity.
There are many interesting folklore stories about Lord Ranganathaswamy, the temple deity. A huge pair of sandals has been kept in the temple Garba Gudi (Sanctum). Lord is believed to wear them and go roaming in the forest at night daily. The sandals are replaced once they are found worn out. The villagers of nearby Boodi Tittu village offer the sandals as their offering to the lord even now.
The divine love
It is said in their Janapada story that Lord Ranganatha was wandering in the forest and happened to meet the Soliga tribal girl Kusumale, fell in love and married her. It is also believed that Lord Ranganatha used to meet Kusumale every night on the pretext of hunting rabbits. The Tribal inhabitant of Soliga Community living in their hutments at the hillock consider Lord Ranganatha as their brother-in-law, which means their sister’s husband
B R Hills | Pic Courtesy: Gururaj M S
Oldest reference
The oldest reference to this holy place is available in the “Brahmanda Purana” in its “Teertha Prashamsara Khaanda”. The Puranas call the place “Champakaranya” (the flower forest of Champaka) and also “Gajaranya” (the elephant forest) where a large number of elephants were once found.
Present day temple was built in 17th century
The temple houses the idols of Nammalvar, Ramanujacharya and Venkatacharya the Vaisnava disciples. The history of the temple dates back to the year 1667 and has been built by the Then Paleyagar Sree Mudduraju of Hadinadu and these hills were given as ‘Datti’ to the Lord Poornaiah of the erstwhile Mysuru Samsthana of Wodeyar period, and left two villages to the temple as Dattigramas. There are other temples like Sree Gangadhareshwara temple, Sree Anjaneyaswamy temple and Sri Gajendraswamy temple at the close vicinity of the main temple Biligiri Ranganatha.
Lord Rama too had visited this Kshetra It is said that Lord Rama and Lakshmana in search of Sita Devi came to this place and offered prayers to the deity. There is also a separate shrine for Lord Gangadhareshwara – Lord Shiva.
Lord Ranganatha can burn our Doshas – There is an epic story that Lord Parushurama – an incarnation of Lord Ranganatha himself, did penance at this hillock and worshiped Lord Ranganatha to absolve him from Matru Hatya Dosha (He beheads his mother as ordered by his father Sage Jamadagni). A Riveret which takes its birth here is being called in his name as Bhargavi, a tributary of the River Cauvery. So, whoever visits this temple and meditates on the lord can burn off all his negative karmas – doshas.
The hillock on which the temple exists is famous for its gigantic Champaka tree locally called Dodda Sampige which is believed to be very old. The Sri Anjaneyaswamy temple also exists near Vadagere village. Soliga tribals take part in the temple works during the Rathotsava period.
B R Hills | Pic Courtesy: Gururaj M S
Location of temple
Sri Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple OR Biligiri Ranganna Temple is Situated in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka on the ‘White Cliff’ the highest peak of the BR mountain range.
Moola Pratima
The moola pratima of Sri Ranganatha Swamy, the main deity is of 5 feet in height in a standing posture, dressed as a hunter with a dagger in the belt. Goddess Ranganayaki Ammanavara Sannidhi – Goddess Lakshmi, has a separate shrine on the right side of the shrine of Lord Ranganathaswamy.
Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki – the divine couple
There is a belief that, if married couples come and worship Lord Ranganatha and Goddess Ranganayaki (Goddess Lakshmi) together by doing special seva, they (couple) will be blessed with more understanding, love and bonding between them. Also, the couple will be blessed with kids who bring good name and fame to their parents.
Thousands of people stand in a long queue to reach the temple and to seek divine blessings.
Rathotsava – Temple car festival
The Annual Car festival of the deity held during “Vaishakha “in the month of April, is famous in the region and attracts several pilgrims from other places too. The local tribes present a large pair of slippers measuring 1 foot and 9 inches, made up of skin, to the Ranganathaswamy once in two years.
How to get there?
BR Hills is 120 kms from Mysuru and 247 kms Bangaluru. KSRTC Buses & private buses ply regularly from Mysore. One can drive from Mysuru/ Bangaluru by private cars too.
Best months to visit temple
June to early March for regular visiting, as the weather will be pleasant. Visiting the temple during Rathotsava (car festival) in Vaishakha Masam (April month) will be auspicious.
What to carry during the journey?
Since there are no decent eateries when travelers leave Mysuru for the shrine, it is better to carry food, drinking water separately. The pooja items can also be carried along from Mysuru itself. Please make sure the shrine and its surroundings are kept clean and don’t litter the place.
The RITES Ltd. appointed agency has kick-started the electrification works on the 119.20 Running KM (142 Total KM) of Mysuru – Hassan railway section of Mysuru Division, South Western Railway with an estimated cost of Rs.91.27 crores, excluding GST. The completion period of this work is 18 (Eighteen) months from the date of commencement.
The electrification works include installation of Overhead cable support poles, catenary system among other allied activities. Currently, the foundation works for Overhead cable supporting poles have commenced from the Mysuru end.
Traction substation (TSS) is proposed to come up at Mandagere, and other TSS at Kadakola.
Advantages of electrification
Every 100 kilometres electrified section results in saving of annual consumption of more than four million litres of diesel oil, which saves crores worth foreign exchange annually.
Electric traction encourages a pollution-free atmosphere for not only the travelers but also the surrounding environment. It is proven to be less polluting than the existing diesel mode with reduced noise.
Mysuru based Aerospace company “Rangsons Aerospace” has designed and developed a world-class 2-way data communication solutions for India’s state-of-the-art stealth combat drone.
The technological superiority is becoming the deciding factor for winning a modern day warfare
The twenty-first century is seeing break-neck changes in the way war is fought. With the mainstreaming of super intelligent systems like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Mobile satellite communication, 360 degree AESA radars, laser guided intelligent bombs, 5th gen fighter planes, stealth combat drones and many others, the 21st century wars are not as tiresome, not as long lasting and yet can be as destructive as it was in the World War 1 & 2.
The strategy of modern day warfare is to annihilate the enemy’s armed forces, and bring his economy to its knees within the shortest possible time by using the latest arsenals. To do this, it requires unquestionable superiority of high tech armaments, matched with a winning strategy, and whoever has that, has an edge in the war.
India’s stealth combat drone – the new beginning
India is modernizing her armed forces at a brisk pace. India wants to transform from the world’s 3rd largest arms importer to a leading high-tech arms exporter within a short period of time. The defense policy compiled and ratified by the Modi government has already started showing results.
A lot of indigenisation works have begun for missiles, fighter airplanes, warships, ammunitions, radars, satellite communication systems, drones etc. India’s import of arms in the year 2021 has come down by 22% and arms export has gone upto Rs. 13,000 Crores, and this is a significant achievement.
In line with Athmanirbhar Bharat, India is indigenously developing all kinds of drones for various purposes and has achieved significant success in that, so far. The latest among them is the prototype development and flight testing of stealth combat drones (SCD) for which numerous technologies had to be built in house. Many private companies have been roped in to develop SCD and one among them is Rangsons Aerospace.
Rangsons Aerospace – Data Link Communication solutions
Rangsons aerospace makes products for commercial as well as military airplanes. Their state-of-the-art data link communication solutions are used to enable 2-way communication from airplanes to the ground control room (GCR) and back. The data/ communication link downloads data of the airplane vitals – height, altitude, speed of airplane, wind speed, interior/ external pressure & temperature and other parameters. The pilots’ vitals – body temperature, blood pressure, stress levels etc can also be downloaded to the GCR, if necessary.
When the airplane is faraway they use SOTM/ COTM terminals to relay the data to the GCR via satellite.
The HD quality real time video captured by the camera, pilot’s voice messages, and other vital information are also downloaded on a real time basis to the GCR via communication data links.
Rangsons Aerospace’s communication data links are proven for their worthiness and hence used in SCD.
Why is communication/ data link the heart of SCD?
The SCD may be flying Beyond Line of Sight from the GCR, but controlling its flight falls on the shoulders of experts there.
Also, firing of the weapons on the targets is triggered from the GCR itself. This explains how robust and lag-free the 2-way communication should be. Even the minutest error is not acceptable, as it will lead to a fiasco.
The design team at Rangsons Aerospace, Mysuru did the job
Mysuru offers good “bang for the buck” invested in doing such high-end technical work. The ecosystem of disciplined, hardworking, enthusiastic, talented engineers makes every investor come back and invest more in Mysuru.
The city’s exposure to the defense industry is increasing steadily. Recently Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) inaugurated their Engine design, development and production center for 1500 HP engines for battle tanks being developed by combat vehicles research and development center (CVRDE), a DRDO entity. The news can be read here. The city has vast untapped potential yet to be fully exploited by MNCs.
