Ankola's Belgian Malinois duo joins CRPF for field operations
Bhat, who works as a district disability officer in the Department of Women and Child Development, has several rare breeds of dogs including Indian breeds Bully Kutta (Indian Mastiff, which is similar to Pit Bull), Mudhol hounds, German shepherd and boxer.
A couple of years ago, Belgian Malinois pups of Bavikere in Ankola created history when the paramilitary forces of Assam Rifles sought them to patrol the borders of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The puppies from Ankola will be taken to the Dog Breeding and Training Centre at Taralu near Kaggalipura on Kanakapura Road near Bengaluru and will be trained for 40 weeks before being deployed for duty.
The dogs, bred by Bhat in Bavikere village, will be handed over to the CRPF officials on Tuesday. 'Two officials came to see the dogs. They tested them for their alertness, quality, height and weight and their response, to assess whether they meet their requirement,' he told TNIE.
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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 10, 2025
Level crossing accident The tragedy at a railway level crossing near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu is symbolic of the Indian way of defying rules and regulations. I am now in the United States and in a neighbourhood that is very close to a railway track. I find no gatekeeper and no barrier rods but only a traffic signal-like warning. Yet, citizens dutifully stop their vehicles and wait for the green signal before proceeding. People here are aware that one stands no chance before a mighty railway engine. Some time ago, I had an opportunity to interact with the loco pilot of the Deccan Queen train, from Pune to Mumbai. He was cruising well over 90 kmph and on reaching Ambernath slowed down, well aware that this was the point in the journey where pedestrians begin crossing the railway tracks. Hence, a reduction in speed was essential. For loco pilots of the Rajdhani express, Vande Bharat, and of course the futuristic bullet train, they will remain in fear of irresponsible and daredevil 'track crossers'. Subramaniam Sankaran, San Carlos Pl, Fremont, CA, U.S. While conflicting versions are being circulated about the accident, serious questions arise. How many more non-interlocked railway crossings across the country are there? Why does it take a tragedy for safety improvements? The upgradation of non-interlocked crossings to automated systems and strict enforcement of safety protocols in railways must be ensured. R. Sivakumar, Chennai When the Indian Railways is spending crores of rupees in adding more trains to generate revenue, why is it counting its pennies when it comes to safety measures? Murali Mohan P.V., Chennai Self nomination It is shocking that we have a set of world leaders who keep hailing one another as 'great and mighty' and suitable recipients for the Peace Nobel. Giving the coveted prize to a person who has not done even the bare minimum to stop a painful war would be most terrible. Layona Maria, Varappuzha, Kerala Grass court calendar In Wimbledon, with different winners in eight years in the women's field, unpredictability has become the norm. This diversity highlights the depth of the women's game but also suggests a gap in surface-specific mastery. The grass season remains too short for players to develop meaningful consistency. Administrators must consider an expanded grass-court calendar to reward adaptation and produce champions who can dominate, not just survive. Nagarajamani M.V., Hyderabad 'Qualifying date' In the article, 'The ECI does not have unfettered powers' (Opinion page, July 9), there appears to be an incorrect detail — that the 'qualifying date' can be only January 1. Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, referred to in the article, was amended in the year 2021. As in the amendment, with effect from 2022, the 'qualifying date' means 'the 1st of' January, April, July or October of the year in which the electoral roll is prepared or revised. Rangarajan R., Chennai
Time of India
3 hours ago
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The elephant who never mated, yet became a mother to many
Bhopal: She came from the southern jungles, responding only to a language no one in this state spoke, and stood silent before the local mahouts — including Maniram, the man who would spend nearly 30 years by her side. "When I first called her, she didn't even blink," says Maniram Gond, the mahout who would eventually become her shadow. "Initially she used to only understand the south Indian language (Malayalam). I spoke Hindi and Gondi. We were strangers — two beings from different worlds." But somehow, without words, they built something stronger than language. Vatsala — the gentle giant who once hauled timber in Kerala's forests and later patrolled the tiger lands of Madhya Pradesh — lived to be over 100. She witnessed generations of elephants come and go, survived brutal injuries, lost her sight, and yet always responded to one voice: Maniram's. This week, she fell for the last time, leaving behind more than just silence in the Panna Tiger Reserve. To the man who called her his first and last elephant, it felt like losing a part of himself. Vatsala was brought to Narmadapuram from Kerala in 1971. She was already around 50 years old and had spent years working with handlers in the south, apparently responding only to Malayalam commands. In 1993, she was moved to Panna Tiger Reserve. A year later, Maniram was transferred from Narmadapuram and was assigned to her. "At first, it was frustrating. She wouldn't respond to anything. But elephants are like people — they can feel intentions. Slowly, she began to understand my tone, my touch. Even without a common language, we figured each other out." Back then, Maniram earned just two rupees a day. Now in his 50s and earning Rs 24,000 a month, he still says Vatsala was the best part of his job. Vatsala was known in the reserve for her gentle nature. "She never gave me trouble — not once in all those years," Maniram says. Then, chuckling, he adds, "Except that one time. She ran away with the howdah strapped to her back. Took us a whole week to bring her back. That's the only mischief I remember." Her calmness was legendary. Schoolchildren visiting the park would run around her, even play beneath her belly. "She never got angry. Never moved. She was like a grandmother." Indeed, while Vatsala never mated, she took on the role of caretaker for young elephants in the reserve. Many called her 'Dadi' as well. "She looked after all the calves. She'd guide them, protect them. But she always stayed away from male elephants. Always." That refusal to mate led to one of the most traumatic chapters in her life. In 2003 and again in 2008, a male elephant named Rambhahdur violently attacked her. "He wanted to mate, and she wouldn't let him," Maniram says. "He became aggressive and attacked her. In one of the attacks, her stomach was torn open. Her intestines came out. It took nine months of treatment to save her." Despite the pain, Vatsala healed — and never once turned aggressive in return. By 2004, her eyesight had faded severely. The forest department officially retired her from active patrol duty, recognizing her age and growing frailty. From that point on, Maniram was assigned solely to care for her. "She couldn't see, but she always knew when I was near. Even in her last years, when she was fully blind, she'd lift her trunk the moment I called her name." Now, with Vatsala gone, Maniram feels adrift. "I don't know what I'll do next. For the last three decades, she was my only responsibility." Though proud of his work, he's firm about one thing. "I won't let my son take this job. It's dangerous. Rambhahdur — the same elephant who attacked Vatsala — killed a mahout and a ranger. This work takes everything — your time, your strength, your heart." Still, he knows he was part of something rare. "She was my first elephant," he says. "And my last. No one else will be like her." Though her name may never appear in any record book, Vatsala's story — one of resilience, quiet grace, and an unlikely friendship that transcended language — will be remembered for generations in the forests of Panna. On Tuesday, Vatsala fell into a pit near the Hinauta Elephant Camp and could not get up. Her body, which had carried strength and survival for more than a century, had finally given in to time. "She fought many battles in life, but this time, her body just gave up," said a senior officer who had been part of her care team. Vatsala's remarkable age had drawn the attention of officials who wanted her recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the oldest living elephants in the world. Samples of her tusks were even sent to labs in a bid to verify her age through scientific analysis. Documentation was nearly complete. "Without official records from her early life or veterinary documentation from the time of her capture, we couldn't meet the strict criteria set by Guinness. We were so close, but we just didn't have that one paper," said an officer. Despite that, Vatsala remained a living legend in the eyes of the people who knew her. She spent over 30 years in Panna, not only surviving near-fatal injuries but serving as a silent sentinel of the forest — dignified, strong, and wise. When contacted APCCF (Wildlife) L Krishnamurthy said that there was no forensic system available to find out the exact age of the elephant. "She would be remembered forever," said the officer. R Sreenivasa Murthy, a 1987 batch IFS officer and former field director of the Panna National Park also remembered Vatsala as a calm elephant. "Elephants are social animals and they follow matriarchal" he said.
India.com
6 hours ago
- India.com
Most Spoken Languages In India: Hindi To Tamil To Marathi And Urdu
photoDetails english 2929424 Updated:Jul 09, 2025, 09:50 PM IST 1. Hindi – 540 million 1 / 11 Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India and serves as one of the country's official languages. It is primarily spoken in northern and central states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. 2. Bengali – 100 million 2 / 11 Bengali is the dominant language in West Bengal and also spoken in parts of Assam and Tripura. It has a rich literary and cultural tradition and is one of the oldest languages of the subcontinent. 3. Marathi – 85 million 3 / 11 Marathi is mainly spoken in Maharashtra and Goa. It has a deep connection to Indian history, particularly through the Maratha Empire and its vibrant literary heritage. 4. Telugu – 83 million 4 / 11 Telugu is the principal language of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Known for its poetic elegance, it's one of the classical languages of India. 5. Tamil – 78 million 5 / 11 Spoken predominantly in Tamil Nadu, Tamil is one of the world's oldest living languages. It boasts a vast classical literature and is deeply rooted in Dravidian culture. 6. Gujarati – 60 million 6 / 11 Gujarati is spoken in the state of Gujarat and by diaspora communities worldwide. It has a strong presence in business and trade and is known for its simplicity and rhythmic flow. 7. Urdu – 55 million 7 / 11 Urdu is widely spoken in parts of northern India including Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Renowned for its poetic charm, it shares much of its vocabulary and script with Persian and Arabic. 8. Kannada – 48 million 8 / 11 Kannada is the official language of Karnataka and one of the classical languages of India. It has a rich heritage in literature, music, and theatre. 9. Odia – 38 million 9 / 11 Spoken in Odisha, Odia is another classical Indian language. It is known for its ancient literary works and cultural traditions linked to the Jagannath temple and dance forms. 10. Malayalam – 35 million 10 / 11 Malayalam is mainly spoken in Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry. It is known for its lyrical beauty and strong literary tradition. 11. Punjabi – 34 million 11 / 11 Punjabi is primarily spoken in Punjab and by communities across northern India. Its energetic tone and rhythmic structure are widely celebrated in music and poetry.
