Konkanni Community news
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by Walter, Nandalike
www.daijidubai.com
Are Chakklies dangerous to eat?
Minutes later, his brother Jeswin (12) collapsed unconscious and he too convoluted uncontrollably on Wednesday night. They were rushed to Manipal Hospital where a team of doctors led by Meera Ramakrishnan pumped a stomach wash and administered a dose of anti-convulsion drugs to control the seizure.
Justin from Gulabi School has thrown up more than a dozen times since. On Thursday, he threw up lunch that the hospital fed him. He lies down on the bed, his favourite book, 'The Mini Treasure Chest of Great Fairy Tales', beside him. Jeswin from St. Joseph's Indian High School lies next to him.
Dr. Meera said they have evidence that the seizure was caused by food poisoning. "The cause is chakkli. Justin ate six pieces and Jeswin two.''
Both boys are under observation. Justin and Jeswin are among a dozen young children who suffered seizures after eating chakkli. In another ward of the same hospital is Murali Vijaykumar (12), student of Bethany School, Koramangala, who suffered the worst convulsions. "He nearly lost his life,'' said Dr. Mohammed Matheen of Acura Hospital who treated him before rushing him to Manipal Hospital.
Murali's sister Swetha (20), an engineer, had a seizure and so did their maidservant Shubashree (14), who have since been discharged. All three of them, along with Murali's mother Sudha Vijaykumar, had eaten chakkli.
Sudha was also hospitalised. The other victims of the chakkli attack: Melwin (7) of St. Antony's School and sister Merlyn (4) ate chakkli and threw up minutes later.
Both suffered convulsions seconds after they threw up.
Their mother Selvi Rozario, a qualified nurse, shivered, "I've never seen a seizure as scary as this.''
Dr. Matheen said: "Ms. Muralidhar and her five year old daughter Swetha too suffered convulsions and were treated." Bangalore City Police Commissioner M. D. Singh said the jurisdictional police have been informed and the suspected chakkli manufactured by 'Sri Raghavendra Chakklis' would be tested in forensic laboratory. Investigations have begun. Robert Maria Clement Justin and Jeswin were among the children hospitalised after eating chakkli.
Stylish Bell-Tower at Puttur Church
Puttur, January 9:
Fr. William Gonsalves, parish priest of Milagres Church, Hampankatta, Mangalore, inaugurated new and stylish Bell-Tower of Puttur Secred Heart Church yesterday. Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bishop of Mangalore blessed the tower. Fr. Stany B. Lobo, parish priest Puttur Church rang the bells by pressing a button.This bell tower is looks like a Budhist temple. This was designed by designer from Mysore Mr. Alphonso. Under the leadership of Fr. Ronald D'Souza, this tower was erected by spending Rs. 6 lakh. For the inauguration programme, Mr. Joachim Rebello, vice president of parish council welcomed and secretary Mr. Lancy gave a briefing about the tower. Mr. John Mascarenhas proposed a vote of thanks.
Students,
parents have key role in higher education
Mayor M. Shashidhar Hegde inaugurating art and craft exhibition of MIFT in
Mangalore on Thursday.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural of the Art and Handicraft exhibition organised by the Mangalore Institute of Fashion Technology (MIFT) at Canara College here on Thursday, Naik highlighted the importance of providing positive suggestions for students and help them in tackling the competitive situations.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) Mayor M. Shashidhar Hegde said, "Though Mangalore has seen a revolution in technological education, it is lagging behind in sections such as art and craft."
Canara College principal Prof Nagaraj Javali said relationships between colleges and their students should help students in exchanging their ideas. They should retain their interest in arts, culture and involve themselves in creative activities.
MIFT Founder President M. G. Hegade suggested forming a co-ordination committee in university level to promote extracurricular activities. Syndicate member of Mangalore University Dinesh Alva also spoke.
MIFT principal Prof G. Srinivas welcomed, while Madhu proposed a vote of thanks. Managing committee member Jayashri was present. The exhibition will be open for public till January 11, organisers said.
Brahmavar MLA
resigns from sugar factory board
Udupi, January 9:
The Brahmavar MLA, K. Jayaprakash Hegde, said that he and former president
of the Udupi Zilla Panchayath, Keshav Kundar, who were on the Board of
Directors of Brahmavar Sugar Factory has resigned.
He told the pressmen that he and Kundar, who was his associate, had taken
this step to allow the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee
and MP, Oscar Fernandes, and the Congress ZP member, Jayasheela Shetty, to
become the directors of the factory.
This step had been necessitated because Congress directors were not ready
to quit accommodating Oscar Fernandes and Jayasheela Shetty. Hegde said he
would welcome the elevation of Oscar Fernandes as director if it helped
change the fortunes of the factory.
His resignation was intended to protect the interests of the farmers and
the factory. He hoped that the factory would be rejuvenated under the
leadership of Oscar Fernandes.
Why these
monuments if we cannot maintain?
Moderate
drinking keeps the doctor away
As little as half a drink every other day reduces the risk of heart attack regardless of whether it is beer, red wine, white wine or liquor. Whether the alcohol is imbibed during meals or some other time makes no difference, a study by a team headed by Dr. Kenneth Mukamal of Harvard says.
Infrequent drinking also helps but less, it says.
Dr. Mukamal speculated that regular, moderate drinking is beneficial because it helps keep the blood thinned.
"We think it may be much like people who take aspirin every day or every other day," he said. "A little bit of alcohol on a regular basis helps keep the platelets from becoming sticky and prevents heart attack."
The study appears in today's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Mukamal and other doctors emphasized that the study applies only to moderate drinking. The danger of heavy drinking, they stressed, are well established and include alcoholism, drunken driving and damage to the liver and brain.
The advice "Do drink but moderately," applies more to men than women do. Though a couple of drinks are viewed by men as moderate drinking, women are advised that those who have two or more drinks a day are 41 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not drink.
Dr. Lynn Smaha, a cardiologist and past president of the American Heart Association, said that he would continue to be very cautious in what he tells his patients about drinking.
Vajpayee announces
dual nationality for NRIs
Speaking at the inaugural function of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Vajpayee said: "We are now working on the administrative regulations and procedures governing dual citizenship."
A committee on the Indian Diaspora headed by LM Singhvi, former high commissioner to the UK, had recommended dual citizenship, which will allow PIOs to hold an Indian passport, and own businesses and property in India. The scheme will apply to PIOs in the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and EU countries.
Speaking to media people, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said: "Dual citizenship will end disadvantages of nonresidency ... overseas Indians will now have a larger role to play in India's affairs."
The announcement was described as a good first step by Ujjal Dosanjh, former premier of British Columbia who received the Pravasi Bharatiya Award. "It will boost ties and bring in more investment into India," he said.
Describing PIOs as "catalysts of change," Vajpayee asked them to be loyal to their country of adoption. He said the biggest challenge facing every immigrant community was to integrate harmoniously into the political, economic and social life of the host country, while preserving and cherishing its own civilisational heritage.
Vajpayee quoted statistics to show the Indian economy was growing, in an apparent attempt to reassure expatriates who seemed to have been unsettled by the violence in Gujarat. "How often have we seen such statistics quoted outside the country? It is far more likely that mindless political gossip or isolated acts of crime or violence will dominate headlines around the world," he said. "You can project a positive image of India."
Ten PIOs, including Mauritian premier Anerood Jugnauth, were awarded the first Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
In a special address, Jugnauth outlined the cultural ties between his country and India. He said Mauritius had hosted the first world Hindi conference outside India, and was the seat of the world Hindi secretariat.
Earlier, after the introductions and the ceremonial lighting of lamps, the congregation was treated to a rare musical event - a jugalbandi between Bharat Ratnas Ravi Shankar and Bismillah Khan.
THE KEY QUESTIONS
Will PIOs actually get dual citizenship?
No, because the new scheme denies them almost all political rights in India. Holders of the special card cannot be called citizens of India
What will PIOs get?
New Delhi is offering a modified form of dual nationality. Dual nationality gives PIOs the right to live, work and buy property in India. In some countries, dual nationality eventually leads to full citizenship rights. But in India that is not likely to happen.
How is this different from a PIO card?
It will cost less, give more economic rights and greater symbolic value, since a passport will be provided. But the passport will be a travel document only accepted in India, nowhere else.
Will other countries give reciprocal rights?
Since the holder of a special "passport" will not get Indian citizenship and the privileges provided are given only by India, other governments have no role to play. None of the countries involved have shown any willingness to accept it as a travel document. The UK might consider doing so.
Qatari sisters to
return to India under UN protection
The lawyer Mr. Ashraf Milad of Egypt's Organization for the Assistance of Refugees said that since Sunday the women were separated from their brothers and kept in the airport while their brothers, UN refugee agency representatives, Qatari diplomats and Egyptian human rights lawyers have been debating on how to solve the issue. Abortions are illegal in Egypt but can be obtained here.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees will help them to be reunited with their husbands in Mumbai and Bangalore with in the next 24 hours, the lawyers said, adding that the brothers will be deported. The two sisters, Nayla Mesned Al-Muhannadi, 28, married Mohammed Arshad of Bangalore and her 25-year-old sister Dhabya Mesned Al-Muhannadi married Wasim Khan of Mumbai. The men were friends and both marriages took place Aug. 19 in Mumbai. The women, who had met their husbands on the Internet, had apparently traveled to India without telling their family of their relationships or plans to marry.