Tag: Usharani Manne

Health, News

An average human being thinks 60 to 90 thousand thoughts a day: Lakshmi Yarlagadda, Transformative Guide

Dec 29, 2020 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad, #Usharani Manne

Hyderabad: Mental Health is never given a priority except when you are in troubled. Mind, body and soul connection is very important. An average human being thinks 60 to 90 thousand thoughts a day and the majority of them are negative said Ms Lakshmi Yarlagadda in interaction with a member of FLO here in the city hotel on Monday

The workshop has shown the way how to effortlessly have more positive thoughts.

Welcoming the gathering, Usharani Manne, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad said “As we stand on the threshold of a New Year, looking back at a year that tested us in so many ways, we can only be grateful that we made through it safely. And for this, we owe thanks to our family, friends, colleagues and our frontline warriors whose words, deeds and support have helped us stay positive and motivated”

As author and master trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming Michael Neill explains:

“It’s not the thoughts that pass through your head that impact your life; it is the one you take possession of, and think about all day long. Once we agree to give our attention to a thought, it becomes more and more real to us over time and has more and more power over our life.”, Usha reminded sayings of author and master trainer of Neurolinguistic Programming Michael Neill.

Transformative guide, mentor, trainer, and teacher, helping individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves and live a more empowered life, Lakshmi told her participants, ‘mirror is a simple way you can look into yourself’. It doesn’t lie. It shows where you stand. All the participants were given away mirrors and asked to look into their eyes and in the mirror and reflect on what was going on in their minds.

Lakshmi who is committed to assisting individuals to bridge the gap between spirituality and daily life taught her participants few practical tips by making them earn by doing few things fir their easy comprehension of the subject.

We have so much of spiritual wealth but we last touch. Lakshmi spoke about how to work with the power of the mind. Reminding law of gravity, what goes up must come back l, as a sow, so you reap and said anything that is created mentally happens physically. She made her participants write a few beliefs and convert them into affirmations.

Affirmations, Lakshmi said refer primarily to the practice of positive thinking and self-empowerment—fostering a belief that a positive mental attitude supported by affirmations will achieve success in anything.

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More equal world may be possible in next 20 or 30 years. But, we can hasten the process, says actor, social Advocate Nandita Das in a conversation with FLO members

Nov 25, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Dr Rukmini, #Dr Rukmini Rao, #FLO Hyderabad, #Nandita Das, #Usharani Manne

The actress, activist Nandita Das addressed FLO members here in the city on Monday at hotel The Park in a first in-person meeting of FLO in the last eight months.

Addressing a press conference prior to her session with FLO members, she said, “we are meeting in unusual times”. This is my first in-person meeting after lockdown. Though I was initially not comfortable to travel on Usha’s (FLO Chairperson), insistence I could make it. The difficult times also threw open many discriminations.

Explaining them, Nandita said the exodus of migrant workers is one such discrimination. They were our guest workers, but see how they were treated by society. The cities where they worked couldn’t take care of them. Instead, we have caused outrage by spraying them with disinfectant, fearing that they might have been carriers of the Coronavirus

Another discrimination the pandemic threw open is domestic violence on women. The domestic abuse is on the rise not just here in our country but all over the world. Home is where peace is supposed to have prevailed but Work From Home lead to another public health crisis to the toll of the new coronavirus.

The mounting data indicates that domestic violence cases have gone up many folds since the outbreak of the virus.

Speaking about her connection to the city Nandita said I that she would use every possible opportunity to travel to the city. My last film Virataparvam was shot here. The people here are cordial, friendly. I like the food too.

After the press conference, Nandita Das spoke to 100 members on “An Unequal World – The Uncomfortable Truth of Discrimination”. It was the first ground event of FLO post-lock down.

In conversation with Dr Rukmini Rao, city’s women’s rights activist, Nandita said we might see the more equal world may be in next 20 or 30 years, but we must hasten that process.

Our constitution guarantees us equality. But that is just on paper and there is discrimination everywhere. Nandita shared her journey and highlighted a few challenges, discriminations she faced.

I grew up with openness. I had so much of inclusivity at my home. Nobody ever talked about caste in our house. Caste doesn’t play any role in my life. When I say this I may be mistaken, in fact, I was mistaken by many, which I realized later that it is normal behaviour of the upper caste.

See these words ‘Upper Caste’ and ‘Lower Caste’. This is not correct. But unfortunately, there is no right word for that expression she said.

We have grown up with discrimination. There is so much discrimination, how much do you fight? Nandita asked her audience.

Nandita shared her Dark is Beautiful Campaign and India’s Got Colour.

The actress who acted in more than 40 films in ten languages too faced a lot of discrimination based on her skin colour. She tired of being called dark and dusky. Like her many people suffered in silence. Then she took up a campaign fighting against colourism called India’s Got Colour.

The campaign was an attempt to end skin colour bias in India through workshops, counselling and information dissemination via mass media, she informed and screened a film too on the same.

When Dr Rukmini asked her views on the Tanishq Ad she said that nothing was wrong about it. I tried to counter objections raised by a few lobbies through my tweets.

After pandemic, the first casualty is going to be women. The representation of women folk in our workforce has come down to 27 to 23 % she said.

She asked the audience and women at large to raise daughters with confidence. And teach the boys and men to be more humane. Grow up your children to be less discriminating Nandita told.

I refuse to agree to the saying ‘women are women’s greatest enemies”. There is no truth in it she said.

Welcoming the gathering Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad, Usharani Manne said today’s interaction with our illustrious guest Nandita Das, stemmed out of the need we felt to make discrimination a conversation agenda because human survival depends on the elimination of discriminatory practices. Why do we fear and recoil from those who we perceive as different from us? Isn’t this unfortunate and potentially dangerous for the human race as a whole?

Usharani Manne, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad said, “as the world is embracing and mastering the new normal, FLO is looking forward to hosting our members for a ground event, our first after our virtual Change of Guard in May 2020. We will be adhering to strict Covid-protocols for the safety of our attendees.”

Proceeding the speaker session, a formal Change of Guard of the new FLO team headed by Usharani Manne, Chairperson, was conducted. The virtual change of guard took place in May. Since then FLO has been organizing all the meetings virtually.

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Actor, Social Advocate Nandita Das to address FLO members

Nov 19, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #‘Listen to Her, #FLO members, #Nandita Das, #South Asia Foundation, #UN Women, #UNESCO, #UNFPA, #UNICEF, #Usharani Manne

Actress, Activist Nandita Das to address FLO members in a first physical meeting in so many months in the city on 23rd November.

For its first ground event post-lock down, Nandita Das to address members on “An Unequal World – The Uncomfortable Truth of Discrimination”.

Giving details in a press note issued in the city today, Usharani Manne, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad said, “ as the world is embracing and mastering the new normal, FLO is looking forward to hosting our members for a ground event, our first after our virtual Change of Guard in May 2020. We will be adhering to strict Covid-protocols for the safety of our attendees.”

Nandita Das, an actress who has 40 plus films in over 10 languages to her credit has a good following among the many.

A Jury member of the Cannes Film Festival twice, the 51 years old Nandita wears many hats. She is an activist, working for children’s rights, HIV/AIDS awareness and violence against women. She is a TED Speaker and has spoken at many platforms within India and abroad.

In May this year, Nandita wrote, directed and acted in a short film ‘Listen to Her.’ The 7min film, produced by NDI and supported by UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and South Asia Foundation, addressed the topic of increase in domestic violence and overburden of work faced by women during the lockdown.

Proceeding the speaker session, a formal Change of Guard of the new FLO team headed by Usharani Manne, Chairperson, will be conducted. The virtual change of guard took place in May. Since then FLO has been organising all the meetings virtually.

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Driver of Creativity/ Innovation is ‘Samvedhana’: said Prof Anil Gupta, quoting Mahatma Gandhi

Oct 4, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #“Innovation Antyodaya, #Archana Garodia Gupta, #Priya Gazdar, #Prof Anil Gupta, #Samvedhana, #The driver of Creativity, #Usharani Manne

Hyderabad, October 2020….. The driver of Creativity/ Innovation is ‘Samvedhana’ said Prof Anil Gupta, quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation Padma Shri Prof Anil Gupta, a visiting Faculty to IIM-Ahmedabad and founder of Honey Bee Network was the guest speaker at a powerful conversation on very powerful and always contemporary subject “Innovation Antyodaya” organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation, Hyderabad Chapter on Friday evening.

FLO Past President Archana Garodia Gupta moderated the conversation.

The necessity is the mother of invention. Wherever there are pain points in communities there will have to be innovations. Also wherever there are problems, innovative solutions are required. But, unfortunately, none of the Indian school textbooks teaches lessons on innovation. When you don’t teach innovation, it doesn’t happen, said Prof Anil Gupta, who is also a member National Innovation Council.

To promote and encourage innovation, Gandhi crowd-sourced solution. Gandhi announced a Design competition in 1929 and there was A prize money of Rs one lakh for the same. Akhila Bharathiya Charkhaa Worker’s Samiti organised this contest for innovators and engineers all over the world to come up with Charkha as per the instructions.

He told FLO to be a catalyst for cultivating innovation culture in the government schools. He suggested FLO can take set up Innovations Clubs, Celebrate Innovation, Spread Innovation, Award Innovators, Organise Contests. Because, it in those educational institutions where the young minds are formatted, he added.

Look for unmet need and find out a solution. Telangana May have roughy 20,000 villages. FLO can spread innovation culture to all these places. He also suggested that flash drives containing pertinent material in a regional language can be distributed in those schools by the FLO. And the bride the Urban-Rural divide he said.

Prof Anil also mooted an idea that a wall in each of the government school building can be dedicated to propagate folk artist and his works along with contact details. It will immensely help save a folk art form he said.

The places under all the flyovers built across India must be given to folk artists and artistic government school kids

Giving opening remarks, Priya Gazdar, Honorary Secretary, FLO said on this day, as we commemorate the birth of two of our country’s most worthy sons. Both these great leaders always worked for the poor.

From today’s conversation, we hope to understand why it will be impossible for India to stay on the path of progress if we were to continue to ignore the treasure trove of traditional knowledge that resides in our villages. And how, we can all play a role in reaching development deep into India’s rural heartland.

Chairperson Usharani Manne welcoming the gathering said the day’s speaker, Prof Anil Gupta, previously a Member of the National Innovation Council, Chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister and added that he has been partnering with UNDP Global to build capacities of their Accelerator Labs in 78 countries.

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Success as a package comprises of many things and talent alone doesn’t work: Padma Shri awardee Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula-1 Driver

Sep 21, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #FICCI Ladies Organisation, #Narain, #Tania Sachdev, #Usharani Manne

Hyderabad, September 21, 2020…Success is a combination of many things. Mental agility, self-discipline….everything put together, it is a package and talent alone doesn’t work, said the 43 years old, racing driver who was the first Formula One driver from India. He said this while participating in FLO Hyderabad’s online interactive session “The Winning Strategy” along with Tania Sachdev, Arjuna Awardee, International Master and Woman Grand Master.

Moderated by Usharani Manne, Chairperson and Priya Gazdar, Hon. Secretary, replying to a rapid-fire question on advice to drivers, Narain said the much-awaited recognition, recognising motorsport as a sport by the Government of India about a few years back is encouraging more and more to get into it. And there is no set formula for success. It is a combination of many qualities. Talent is a prerequisite but you need many other things.

Replying to the same question, Tania Sachdev said no simple, ready or easy to follow the recipe for success is available. There is no substitute to hard work. Chess is a mind game, still, you need to be physically fit to work long. Everyone has their own formula, she added

Not to focus on the result, winning or losing, instead focus on making the right moves, she added.

Organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation, the session evoked a lot of interest from FLO members. Well over 80 took part and put many questions to both the guests.

When drawn attention to online chess versus Classical or Traditional chess, Tania said, when tournaments are not happening, this is the good way to engage fans. It caters to the fun aspect of the sport. I prefer a board game online. Online no doubt is an exciting format. Slowly some players are also adapting to it, but differently. Artificial Intelligence is playing a big role. It is man versus machine. But it is not the competition between the two. Working with AI makes one a strong player, she opined.

Speaking on Chess players automatically assumed to possess a high IQ and How important it is to combine EQ with it, Tania said there is no doubt chess players have high IQ. Players develop certain intelligence, set of mental skills. And quickly added that high IQ is not required to become a Chess Player. You need to have control over your nerves. It is not an emotional sport.

Both the internationally acclaimed players speaking on gender bias spoke in unison that sports break gender bias. Gender doesn’t matter much in motorsport, though it is right now dominated by men, said Narain.

Narain shared that he was working on reviving Speed NK Racing Academy. As the year 2020 was washed out due to the outbreak of the COVID, it gave him some time to focus on the academy.

To a sport that has given me so much, I firmly believe in giving back and contributing a bit to the development of Indian motorsport, he shared.

Through Speed NK Racing Academy, Narain plans to nurture young talent to make it big in the racing arena.

Speed NK Racing Academy is focused on taking Indian motorsport in the right direction.

Welcoming the gathering comparing both Formula 1 and Chess with each other, quoting Saul Miller, Priya Gazdar said Formula One is “like playing chess at 150 miles an hour.”

On comparing Formula 1 to Chess, Priya reminded what Ross Brawn, the master strategist behind Michael Schumacher’s 91 victories once said, “In some ways race strategy is the same as chess,”

News

FLO Hyderabad launches Tirumani – Cheriyal Nakashi Chitrakala, a social outreach program, to support the 400 years old craft

Sep 2, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #‘Tirumani’, #Alambana App, #Cheriyal artisans, #Priya, #Priya Gazdar, #Sai Kiran, #Tirumani - Cheriyal Nakashi Chitrakala, #Usharani Manne
Tirumani

FLO Hyderabad Chapter announced a major social outreach initiative to promote the 400 years old Craft form of Cheriyal, which is unique to Telangana State. Today it is under the threat of fading out because of its declining popularity. The art form has only 16 practitioners across 7 families currently.

Organising the artisans under a brand, creating marketing material, marketing linkages, raw material procurement at more affordable costs and product innovation are some of the ways in which FLO Hyderabad is helping the craftisans.

The brand ‘Tirumani’, named after the gum used to create Cheriyal art, and a catalogue of products was launched at the virtual event which also saw a discussion on the Survival and Revival of Indian handicrafts. FLO Hyderabad was successful in placing the products on ‘Weavesmart’ an award-winning eCommerce platform for weaves and crafts.

Tirumani 3

‘Our vision’, Usharani Manne, FLO Hyderabad Chairperson said, ‘is to ensure that more traditional artisans come back to the fold, throughout sustained efforts to create better market linkages and assistance in product innovation.’

‘Tirumani is our small offering to the artisan community of Cheriyal’, Usharani declared while launching the logo.

FLO member and coordinator for the project Monica Bhandula shared more details and their plan of action about Tirumani.

‘Our effort now, to create new market linkages for them in order to make Cheriyal a sustainable livelihood generator would be futile without professionalizing their approach to marketing. And branding is the first step in this direction’, said Priya Gazdar.

Nishita Manne announced that Tirumani will be placed on Weavesmart, a crafts and artisans aggregating platform. She also explained how it works.

Besides this, FLO has also adopted the surrounding villages of Cheriyal as part of Adopt a Village, a national initiative, said Usharani.

FLO, she adds, aims to facilitate growth and transformation in the lives of women in the villages. The objective is to empower women in rural India, thereby eradicating poverty and unemployment. That is why we are adopting a village in the rural sector, she said.

In the conversation, ‘The Handmade Life 2: Survival & Revival of Indian Handicrafts’, domain experts shared their valuable perspectives and insights.

Participating in the conversation, Siva Devireddy, CEO of GoCoop said, ‘Crafts have utmost relevance now than ever before. Both Life and Livelihood are important. India is an Agrarian Economy.

’Craftspeople form the second largest employment sector in India, second only to agriculture. Handicrafts are rightly described as the craft of the people: they’re said to be twenty-five million craftspeople in India today and the number varies from source to source, he said.

Many Art and Craft forms cease to exist. They are vanishing. More than 60% of artists earn less than Rs 5000/- a month, which is far lower than minimum wages, he shared. Artists, Siva Devireddy said, need to live a dignified life. Indian Crafts have great potential. India’s rich cultural diversity and heritage provide a unique and huge resource for developing craft products. The Indian Handicraft Industry is said to be a $100 billion industry worldwide. India’s contribution in the world market is just 1.2%

Speaking about digital adoption he said digital has a profound effect on Artisans. COVID accelerated online adoption. More youngsters from generation next are showing interest to get into crafts sector because of the sector’s quick adoption of digitization.

Sharing about, GoCoop, Siva Devireddy said, GoCoop is India’s first national award-winning marketplace which connects artisans, weaver co-operatives and clusters directly with consumers across the world. We enable sustainable livelihoods for artisans by ensuring fair prices for them, and authentic handlooms and crafts to customers’, he said.

Joining in the conversation, Sudha Rani M, CEO of Abhihaara Social Enterprise shared, that they link the cotton growers with the handloom weavers and the craft artisans, with a focus on building skills and capacities in women.

Sudha talked about Alambana App, launched by KT Rama Rao and developed in partnership with the State government, UNDP and Abhihaara to provide skills training and create market linkages and new opportunities for weavers.

Representing Cheriyal Craft community, Sai Kiran, fourth-generation Cheriyal Master Craftsman shared their plight. He urged three things—Manpower, Marketing and Product Design support from Government and Social Enterprises and organizations like FLO.

Giving her opening remarks Usharani Manne, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad Chapter said the beauty of the Indian crafts is much deeper than aesthetics. It is its close connection with our hyper-local cultures.

Setting the context for the day’s conversation, FLO Honorary Secretary, Priya Gazdar, said, according to the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts report on Cultural Mapping of India, ‘due to rapid change in lifestyle, ageing, and negligence, the vast repertoire of knowledge and wisdom that sustained and nurtured the Indian handicraft community, is fast disappearing’.

She further added the clarion call is for us to take a serious look at our crafts culture. With more than 3,000 craft forms in the country, the right support and a conducive business environment can make the craft sector a billion-dollar marketplace across the globe, exemplifying all that is best about Made in India.

Speaking about Cheriyal artisans, Priya said, no concrete effort seems to have been made to organise them into a brand. The USP is already there. Their art is so unique. The IP is being created non-stop. They are even innovating in terms of product line and materials

The idea of ‘Tirumani’ is to create an instant visual and cerebral association in the consumers’ minds. Therefore we made sure that the look is consistent with the traditional colours and motifs. All the marketing communication – offline or online – will carry a consistent brand look and story, aiding top of the mind recall for consumers.