The Indian Coast Guard launched a 98-metre offshore patrol vessel ‘Vigraha’ at a private shipyard in Kattupalli, north of Chennai, in the presence of Dr TV Somanathan, IAS, Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance. Director General Indian Coast Guard K Natarajan and Inspector General Region East S. Paramesh were also present with other dignitaries and officers. This is the last in the series of seven vessels that was designed and built exclusively for the Coast Guard by Larsen and Toubro Shipbuilding as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.&nbsp;

The 98-m long ship has a displacement of 2100 tons, is capable of achieving a top speed of 26 knots and has an endurance of 5000 nautical miles and the ability to stay at sea for 20 days without replenishment. Vigraha, also known as (Yard-45007) is likely to be inducted into Indian Coast Guard in March 2021 after completion of extensive trials and testing of the on-board equipment and machinery. Once inducted, the vessel would serve the East Region, from Vishakapatnam, under the leadership of IG S.Paramesh in the Region East.&nbsp;

During the commissioning of an Interceptor boat at the East region, IG S. Paramesh had told WION that East region has a fleet of 10 Interceptor boats, eight offshore patrol vessels, 15 fast patrol vessels, besides five Dornier aircraft and three Chetak choppers.&nbsp;

Launching of the vessel marks an important milestone, as the vessel touches the water for the first time. In India, ships have historically been launched with a Puja ceremony that dedicates the ship to the almighty and blessings are sought for the ship and her crew. The ceremony involves a lady breaking a coconut on the bow of the vessel, along with Puja and festivities. As per Maritime traditions the ship was launched by Smt Hema Somanathan, Spouse of Dr TV Somanathan, the chief guest.&nbsp;

The ship has been fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery that are capable of operating in tropical climates. The ship has been designed to carry integral Twin Engine Helicopter which will enhance its operational, surveillance, search and rescue capability. Armed with a 30mm 2A42 Naval Gun and two 12.7mm guns, the ship would be utilised for day and night surveillance, besides anti-terror, anti-smuggling operations In the Exclusive Economic Zone and for coastal security.&nbsp;

Despite the restriction and constraints faced amid the pandemic, the vessel is said to have been launched in a timely manner and is expected to be operational as per schedule. The ship’s expected life span is more than 25 years and is meant to be manned by 102 crew, which includes 14 officers, 88 subordinate officers and enrolled personnel. New OPVs and other vessels being inducted into the Indian Coast Guard are meant to replace ageing ships (that served for over 25-30 years) in the fleet.&nbsp;

At an earlier occasion, K Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard had said, “The Coast Guard began in 1977 with two vessels and five boats. We have made swift progress since then with the support of PSUs and private shipyards and have over 146 surface platforms and 62 aircraft currently. The Interceptor boats are our workhorses and OPV form a strong backbone. We have a daily deployment of 50 ships and 10 aircraft for monitoring and securing our 7516 coastlines and Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million sq kms.”&nbsp;

As a part of an expansion, modernisation drive, Coast Guard is planning to boost assets to 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2025.&nbsp;

The Indian Coast Guard is the fourth largest in the world and stands larger than many navies. The ICG also has bilateral and multilateral agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives etc.

The Indian Coast Guard launched a 98-metre offshore patrol vessel ‘Vigraha’ at a private shipyard in Kattupalli, north of Chennai, in the presence of Dr TV Somanathan, IAS, Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance.

The Indian Coast Guard launched a 98-metre offshore patrol vessel ‘Vigraha’ at a private shipyard in Kattupalli, north of Chennai, in the presence of Dr TV Somanathan, IAS, Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance. Director General Indian Coast Guard K Natarajan and Inspector General Region East S. Paramesh were also present with other dignitaries and officers. This is the last in the series of seven vessels that was designed and built exclusively for the Coast Guard by Larsen and Toubro Shipbuilding as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The 98-m long ship has a displacement of 2100 tons, is capable of achieving a top speed of 26 knots and has an endurance of 5000 nautical miles and the ability to stay at sea for 20 days without replenishment. Vigraha, also known as (Yard-45007) is likely to be inducted into Indian Coast Guard in March 2021 after completion of extensive trials and testing of the on-board equipment and machinery. Once inducted, the vessel would serve the East Region, from Vishakapatnam, under the leadership of IG S.Paramesh in the Region East. During the commissioning of an Interceptor boat at the East region, IG S. Paramesh had told WION that East region has a fleet of 10 Interceptor boats, eight offshore patrol vessels, 15 fast patrol vessels, besides five Dornier aircraft and three Chetak choppers. Launching of the vessel marks an important milestone, as the vessel touches the water for the first time. In India, ships have historically been launched with a Puja ceremony that dedicates the ship to the almighty and blessings are sought for the ship and her crew. The ceremony involves a lady breaking a coconut on the bow of the vessel, along with Puja and festivities. As per Maritime traditions the ship was launched by Smt Hema Somanathan, Spouse of Dr TV Somanathan, the chief guest. The ship has been fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery that are capable of operating in tropical climates. The ship has been designed to carry integral Twin Engine Helicopter which will enhance its operational, surveillance, search and rescue capability. Armed with a 30mm 2A42 Naval Gun and two 12.7mm guns, the ship would be utilised for day and night surveillance, besides anti-terror, anti-smuggling operations In the Exclusive Economic Zone and for coastal security. Despite the restriction and constraints faced amid the pandemic, the vessel is said to have been launched in a timely manner and is expected to be operational as per schedule. The ship’s expected life span is more than 25 years and is meant to be manned by 102 crew, which includes 14 officers, 88 subordinate officers and enrolled personnel. New OPVs and other vessels being inducted into the Indian Coast Guard are meant to replace ageing ships (that served for over 25-30 years) in the fleet. At an earlier occasion, K Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard had said, “The Coast Guard began in 1977 with two vessels and five boats. We have made swift progress since then with the support of PSUs and private shipyards and have over 146 surface platforms and 62 aircraft currently. The Interceptor boats are our workhorses and OPV form a strong backbone. We have a daily deployment of 50 ships and 10 aircraft for monitoring and securing our 7516 coastlines and Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million sq kms.” As a part of an expansion, modernisation drive, Coast Guard is planning to boost assets to 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2025. The Indian Coast Guard is the fourth largest in the world and stands larger than many navies. The ICG also has bilateral and multilateral agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives etc.

Chennai: Indian Coast Guard launches offshore patrol vessel 'Vigraha'

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States. The launch from Alaska is expected to take place from 2022 onwards.&nbsp;

Under this agreement, Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals. They include US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and will comply with export laws &amp; regulations in India to receive necessary clearances from the Indian authorities as well. The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA.

“We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. “Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world”, he added.&nbsp;

Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and Co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos said that this announcement was further evidence of their company’s steady progress towards launch. “Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul share a vision of providing rapid, agile, and low-cost access to space. This is a great platform for us to demonstrate our 'Made In India, for the world' launch services solution through our mobile vehicle Agnibaan” he elaborated.&nbsp;

When asked about the reason behind choosing the Alaskan launch port, Srinath said that for certain types of orbits which are preferred by customers, it was preferred to launch from a high latitude location. “In some cases we might have to launch closer from poles and Alaska offers that, when it comes to launches from close to the equator, Sriharikota is an option and we are working with India’s In-space for this” he told WION.&nbsp;

When WION asked about the complexities in the logistics of getting a rocket to a foreign land, he said that it would be similar to how flights land in foreign airports. “The rocket can be shipped to the destination and at the launch port we’ll be provided facilities like fuel and tracking and telemetry systems. This enables us to go where the customer is” he said.&nbsp;

He also feels that there isn’t much of a competition n the segment that his company is targeting - payload of upto 100 kg to low Earth orbits up to 700 km. “There are quite a lot of players making rockets, but very few in the less than 100kg segment” he said, adding that they were targeting a maiden test launch by end of 2021.

“By partnering with Alaska Aerospace, AgniKul engineers and staff can focus on the technical complexities of perfecting our rocket Agnibaan's launch operations from different environmental conditions across geographies,” said AgniKul Co-founder &amp; COO Moin SPM. "Having access to high latitude launch locations is an important aspect of our strategy for offering customer-centric launch services, and this partnership with Alaska Aerospace is going to be directly helpful” he added.&nbsp;

Under the agreement with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation additional tests and operational launches are also possible under. This is said to be an important step in moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model as opposed to what it is today – a vehicle-centric model. This would mean faster, easier commercial space access, and ultimately will open up space for everyone.&nbsp;

AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is a Chennai, India-based start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the company is targeting commercial rocket launches from 2022 onwards.&nbsp;

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States.

Indian aerospace start-up AgniKul Cosmos has signed a memorandum of agreement with Alaska Aerospace Corporation to test launch their Indian-made Agnibaan rocket from the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island in the United States. The launch from Alaska is expected to take place from 2022 onwards. Under this agreement, Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul will work together to secure several regulatory approvals. They include US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launch licensing, US export control, and will comply with export laws & regulations in India to receive necessary clearances from the Indian authorities as well. The aim is to define launch vehicle-spaceport interfaces, related procedures and conduct at least one test launch from PSCA. “We are thrilled AgniKul has partnered with Alaska Aerospace for high inclination flight testing,” said Mark Lester, President and CEO of Alaska Aerospace. “Agnikul has established itself as a leading rocket technology company, and we are pleased Alaska’s proven launch infrastructure and expertise continue to attract new space launch companies from around the world”, he added. Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and Co-founder of AgniKul Cosmos said that this announcement was further evidence of their company’s steady progress towards launch. “Alaska Aerospace and AgniKul share a vision of providing rapid, agile, and low-cost access to space. This is a great platform for us to demonstrate our 'Made In India, for the world' launch services solution through our mobile vehicle Agnibaan” he elaborated. When asked about the reason behind choosing the Alaskan launch port, Srinath said that for certain types of orbits which are preferred by customers, it was preferred to launch from a high latitude location. “In some cases we might have to launch closer from poles and Alaska offers that, when it comes to launches from close to the equator, Sriharikota is an option and we are working with India’s In-space for this” he told WION. When WION asked about the complexities in the logistics of getting a rocket to a foreign land, he said that it would be similar to how flights land in foreign airports. “The rocket can be shipped to the destination and at the launch port we’ll be provided facilities like fuel and tracking and telemetry systems. This enables us to go where the customer is” he said. He also feels that there isn’t much of a competition n the segment that his company is targeting - payload of upto 100 kg to low Earth orbits up to 700 km. “There are quite a lot of players making rockets, but very few in the less than 100kg segment” he said, adding that they were targeting a maiden test launch by end of 2021. “By partnering with Alaska Aerospace, AgniKul engineers and staff can focus on the technical complexities of perfecting our rocket Agnibaan's launch operations from different environmental conditions across geographies,” said AgniKul Co-founder & COO Moin SPM. "Having access to high latitude launch locations is an important aspect of our strategy for offering customer-centric launch services, and this partnership with Alaska Aerospace is going to be directly helpful” he added. Under the agreement with the Alaska Aerospace Corporation additional tests and operational launches are also possible under. This is said to be an important step in moving the small satellite launch market towards a customer-centric business model as opposed to what it is today – a vehicle-centric model. This would mean faster, easier commercial space access, and ultimately will open up space for everyone. AgniKul Cosmos Private Limited is a Chennai, India-based start-up incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and the company is targeting commercial rocket launches from 2022 onwards.

Agnibaan rocket by Indian start-up to be test launched from Alaska, USA

Container ship X-Press Godavari is being escorted to the Kolkata port by an Indian Coast Guard vessel. This comes after an overnight firefighting effort, to douse a flame on a container that the ship was carrying.&nbsp;

The fire was first reported on Monday morning, following which the Indian Coast Guard had despatched assets to the location. The container ship X-Press Godavari was in anchorage off Sandheads, which is over a 100kms away from the Haldia port in West Bengal. Initially three Coast Guard vessels had reached the spot and carried out firefighting operations, while a Dornier aircraft was assessing the situation.&nbsp;

By Monday evening, a fourth Coast Guard vessel had joined the action and had successfully doused the blaze. Later, they undertook boundary cooling operations to prevent re-ignition. Boundary cooling is carried out to lower the temperature in the areas around the fire, as metal gets heated up quickly and could always have the potential to re-ignite owing to the retained heat (even in absence of a visible fire).&nbsp;

After carrying out boundary cooling operations through the night, the vessel is being escorted to Kolkata port, by an Indian Coast Guard ship.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the Indian Coast Guard had taken up a daunting firefighting task, off the Sri Lanka Coast. In a mammoth effort that lasted nearly 10 days, Indian Coast Guard ships had doused the fire, and also ensured that there was no oil leak and environmental damage, from the mishap on very large crude carrier MT New Diamond.

Container ship X-Press Godavari is being escorted to the Kolkata port by an Indian Coast Guard vessel. This comes after an overnight firefighting effort, to douse a flame on a container that the ship was carrying.

Container ship X-Press Godavari is being escorted to the Kolkata port by an Indian Coast Guard vessel. This comes after an overnight firefighting effort, to douse a flame on a container that the ship was carrying. The fire was first reported on Monday morning, following which the Indian Coast Guard had despatched assets to the location. The container ship X-Press Godavari was in anchorage off Sandheads, which is over a 100kms away from the Haldia port in West Bengal. Initially three Coast Guard vessels had reached the spot and carried out firefighting operations, while a Dornier aircraft was assessing the situation. By Monday evening, a fourth Coast Guard vessel had joined the action and had successfully doused the blaze. Later, they undertook boundary cooling operations to prevent re-ignition. Boundary cooling is carried out to lower the temperature in the areas around the fire, as metal gets heated up quickly and could always have the potential to re-ignite owing to the retained heat (even in absence of a visible fire). After carrying out boundary cooling operations through the night, the vessel is being escorted to Kolkata port, by an Indian Coast Guard ship. Earlier this month, the Indian Coast Guard had taken up a daunting firefighting task, off the Sri Lanka Coast. In a mammoth effort that lasted nearly 10 days, Indian Coast Guard ships had doused the fire, and also ensured that there was no oil leak and environmental damage, from the mishap on very large crude carrier MT New Diamond.

Coast Guard vessels douse fire on container ship X-Press Godavari, ship being escorted to Kolkata

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) marked five years of the lunch of AstroSat, which is India’s first multi-wavelength mission, which was launched from Sriharikota spaceport on 28th September 2018. The satellite is being operated as a proposal-based observatory, covering a wide band ranging from Ultraviolet(UV) to high energy X-rays.&nbsp;

While a vast majority of ISRO’s satellites are meant to serve purposes like communication, surveillance, imagery, remote sensing etc. A handful of missions/satellites are purely for exploring and helping understand unexplored sciences. Such missions are Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and AstroSat.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/with-isro-assistance-indias-skyroot-aerospace-aims-maiden-rocket-launch-by-dec-2021-320835" hreflang="en">With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021</a>

ISRO says that the unique observation capability of AstroSat in this wide band makes it one of the major space science observatories in the world. According to the Indian Space agency, AstroSat was also the mission which led to the discovery of one of the earliest galaxies in extreme Ultraviolet light, marking a major breakthrough. Called AUDFs01, this galaxy is said to be 9.3 billion light years away from earth.&nbsp;

The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Kanak Saha, at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. This team was comprised of scientists from India, Switzerland, France, USA, Japan and Netherlands.&nbsp;

Speaking at a virtual event, to mark five years of AstroSat, R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO said that the data generated from the AstroSat mission has been shared with over 1500 users across 43 countries, hailing the mission as an ‘international success’. “AstroSat was launched into a unique circular orbit, with low incline of 6 degrees and five of its payloads can function simultaneously” he said.&nbsp;

Chairman ISRO, DR. K.Sivan said that, the study of the universe played a major role in defining research of ISRO and AstroSat has brought us into the big league of space astronomy and provided excellent results. He added that the satellite had served its mission life of five years, with all five on-board equipment in ‘very fine’ condition and that it would continue to serve for years to come.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/chandrayaan-2-mapping-lunar-surface-as-per-mission-plan-isro-315205" hreflang="en">Chandrayaan-2 mapping lunar surface as per mission plan: ISRO</a>

Referring to AstroSat as a multi-agency mission, Dr.Sivan elaborated that academia and R&amp;D institutions had worked in the engineering and testing phase of this project.&nbsp;

Speaking of ISRO’s ‘big future plans’ in space exploration and science, he said, that Exposat and Aditya L-1 were upcoming missions which would open exciting possibilities. While Exposat was meant to study X-ray polarisation from cosmic sources, it would also be the first polarimetric mission after half a century, Sivan added. Aditya L-1 is a mission that was slated for launch by mid-2020, the scientific objective of the mission was to study the Sun.&nbsp;

“There are exciting possibilities - missions to detect Eletromagnetic counterparts of gravitational events, to study atmospheric composition of rocky planets and discovery of all life forms outside our solar system” he said. He urged the scientific community to use the scientific data and research to the maximum extent and also indicate the importance of generating future Human Resources by involving school students.&nbsp;

Thus far, in 2020 ISRO has not had any launches owing to the pandemic-induced lockdowns and logistical challenges etc. ISRO officials have said that 4 satellites are ready for launch, namely -&nbsp;&nbsp;GISAT-1, Microsat 2-A, GSAT-12R and RISAT-2BR2.&nbsp;

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) marked five years of the lunch of AstroSat, which is India’s first multi-wavelength mission, which was launched from Sriharikota spaceport on 28th September 2018.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) marked five years of the lunch of AstroSat, which is India’s first multi-wavelength mission, which was launched from Sriharikota spaceport on 28th September 2018. The satellite is being operated as a proposal-based observatory, covering a wide band ranging from Ultraviolet(UV) to high energy X-rays. While a vast majority of ISRO’s satellites are meant to serve purposes like communication, surveillance, imagery, remote sensing etc. A handful of missions/satellites are purely for exploring and helping understand unexplored sciences. Such missions are Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and AstroSat. Also read: With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021 ISRO says that the unique observation capability of AstroSat in this wide band makes it one of the major space science observatories in the world. According to the Indian Space agency, AstroSat was also the mission which led to the discovery of one of the earliest galaxies in extreme Ultraviolet light, marking a major breakthrough. Called AUDFs01, this galaxy is said to be 9.3 billion light years away from earth. The discovery was made by an international team of astronomers led by Dr. Kanak Saha, at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. This team was comprised of scientists from India, Switzerland, France, USA, Japan and Netherlands. Speaking at a virtual event, to mark five years of AstroSat, R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO said that the data generated from the AstroSat mission has been shared with over 1500 users across 43 countries, hailing the mission as an ‘international success’. “AstroSat was launched into a unique circular orbit, with low incline of 6 degrees and five of its payloads can function simultaneously” he said. Chairman ISRO, DR. K.Sivan said that, the study of the universe played a major role in defining research of ISRO and AstroSat has brought us into the big league of space astronomy and provided excellent results. He added that the satellite had served its mission life of five years, with all five on-board equipment in ‘very fine’ condition and that it would continue to serve for years to come. Also read: Chandrayaan-2 mapping lunar surface as per mission plan: ISRO Referring to AstroSat as a multi-agency mission, Dr.Sivan elaborated that academia and R&D institutions had worked in the engineering and testing phase of this project. Speaking of ISRO’s ‘big future plans’ in space exploration and science, he said, that Exposat and Aditya L-1 were upcoming missions which would open exciting possibilities. While Exposat was meant to study X-ray polarisation from cosmic sources, it would also be the first polarimetric mission after half a century, Sivan added. Aditya L-1 is a mission that was slated for launch by mid-2020, the scientific objective of the mission was to study the Sun. “There are exciting possibilities - missions to detect Eletromagnetic counterparts of gravitational events, to study atmospheric composition of rocky planets and discovery of all life forms outside our solar system” he said. He urged the scientific community to use the scientific data and research to the maximum extent and also indicate the importance of generating future Human Resources by involving school students. Thus far, in 2020 ISRO has not had any launches owing to the pandemic-induced lockdowns and logistical challenges etc. ISRO officials have said that 4 satellites are ready for launch, namely - GISAT-1, Microsat 2-A, GSAT-12R and RISAT-2BR2.

ISRO marks 5 years of Space Observatory - AstroSat; More science missions in anvil

A container vessel X-Press Godavari, at anchorage off Sandheads in West Bengal has reported a fire onboard.&nbsp; 
 
The last port of call of this vessel was Kelang, Malaysia and she was headed for Kolkata. The ship has 15 crew on board.&nbsp; 
 
The Indian Coast Guard has mobilized three vessels to the location and one Dornier aircraft is airborne for surveillance and assessment.&nbsp; 
 
The vessel which has reported a fire is 150m long cargo carrier, holding containers. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A container vessel X-Press Godavari, at anchorage off Sandheads in West Bengal has reported a fire onboard. The last port of call of this vessel was Kelang, Malaysia and she was headed for Kolkata.

A container vessel X-Press Godavari, at anchorage off Sandheads in West Bengal has reported a fire onboard. The last port of call of this vessel was Kelang, Malaysia and she was headed for Kolkata. The ship has 15 crew on board. The Indian Coast Guard has mobilized three vessels to the location and one Dornier aircraft is airborne for surveillance and assessment. The vessel which has reported a fire is 150m long cargo carrier, holding containers. (With inputs from agencies)

Container vessel ablaze off West Bengal Coast, Coast Guard mobilizes 3 ships and 1 aircraft

Addressing the media, SP Charan, son of veteran singer SP Balasubrahmaniam said that he has planned to build a grand memorial for his late father, with&nbsp;his means. He said that he would share updates in due course, adding that the family is also working with local authorities to make temporary arrangements at the singer’s resting place, for visitors to pay their respects. He had addressed the media to quell various rumors that were doing the rounds pertaining to the hospitalization and subsequent demise of the multiple-national award winning singer.&nbsp;

Making an appeal that their family was still in grief, unable to recover from the loss, Charan requested people to refrain from spreading rumors on the unfortunate demise of his father and the treatment procedures at the hospital. Speaking on the misinformation that was circulated regarding the hospital bills, he said that the family had been making payments every week and that the insurance had covered one portion. He added that, when their family asked the hospital on outstanding dues on the day of demise, the hospital did not make them pay and offered help in sending the mortal remains home.&nbsp;

Charan also shared that his father was in good spirits throughout his hospitalization phase and that he used to communicate with the visitors by writing on his tablet computer or via sign language. Doctors who treated the veteran singer clarified that though he had been admitted owing to Covid-19, he had been tested negative for the virus, during the course of his treatment. However, his lungs were badly affected and could not be revived, they said.

Doctors said that infection spreading to different parts of the body, were a common consequence of long-term use of ECMO and ventilator support. “48 hours before demise we noticed signs of severe infection and he also failed to respond to antibiotics, which led to an increase in the infection” the Doctors said.

Veteran playback Singer and multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, regarded the voice of generations of India’s leading cinema heroes, breathed his last at 1:04pm on Friday, at a private hospital in Chennai, after battling severe Covid-19 pneumonia and complications for over 50 days. The initial announcement of his passing was made to the media, by his son SP Charan, at the gates of the hospital, following which the hospital released a bulletin stating that he suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest.&nbsp;

SPB was laid to rest on Saturday, at their family farmhouse in Thamaraipakkam, on the outskirts of Chennai, in the presence of thousands of fans who had come to pay their respects.

Addressing the media, SP Charan, son of veteran singer SP Balasubrahmaniam said that he has planned to build a grand memorial for his late father, with his means.

Addressing the media, SP Charan, son of veteran singer SP Balasubrahmaniam said that he has planned to build a grand memorial for his late father, with his means. He said that he would share updates in due course, adding that the family is also working with local authorities to make temporary arrangements at the singer’s resting place, for visitors to pay their respects. He had addressed the media to quell various rumors that were doing the rounds pertaining to the hospitalization and subsequent demise of the multiple-national award winning singer. Making an appeal that their family was still in grief, unable to recover from the loss, Charan requested people to refrain from spreading rumors on the unfortunate demise of his father and the treatment procedures at the hospital. Speaking on the misinformation that was circulated regarding the hospital bills, he said that the family had been making payments every week and that the insurance had covered one portion. He added that, when their family asked the hospital on outstanding dues on the day of demise, the hospital did not make them pay and offered help in sending the mortal remains home. Charan also shared that his father was in good spirits throughout his hospitalization phase and that he used to communicate with the visitors by writing on his tablet computer or via sign language. Doctors who treated the veteran singer clarified that though he had been admitted owing to Covid-19, he had been tested negative for the virus, during the course of his treatment. However, his lungs were badly affected and could not be revived, they said. Doctors said that infection spreading to different parts of the body, were a common consequence of long-term use of ECMO and ventilator support. “48 hours before demise we noticed signs of severe infection and he also failed to respond to antibiotics, which led to an increase in the infection” the Doctors said. Veteran playback Singer and multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, regarded the voice of generations of India’s leading cinema heroes, breathed his last at 1:04pm on Friday, at a private hospital in Chennai, after battling severe Covid-19 pneumonia and complications for over 50 days. The initial announcement of his passing was made to the media, by his son SP Charan, at the gates of the hospital, following which the hospital released a bulletin stating that he suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest. SPB was laid to rest on Saturday, at their family farmhouse in Thamaraipakkam, on the outskirts of Chennai, in the presence of thousands of fans who had come to pay their respects.

Family to build memorial for Singer SB Balasubramaniam, says son Charan

Chennai Air Customs officials seized two parcels that contained a total of 165 MDMA or Ecstasy pills, worth Rs 5 lakhs or USD6779, that arrived at the Foreign post Office from Netherlands. The postal parcels were intercepted on suspicion of containing narcotic substances.&nbsp;

The first parcel contained 105 MDMA tablets with “PP” marking commonly known as “Philipp Plein”. The parcel was addressed to an individual in Chennai city, butthe address was found to be incomplete.

60 MDMA “Blue Punisher” pills embossed with skull mark were recovered from the second parcel. These tablets contain around 300mg of MDMA which is very high dose. The parcel arrived from Zwolle, a city in north-eastern Netherlands and was addressed to a person in Tirupur district.

According to officials, searches revealed that the recipient address was of a textile company, with fake consignee name.

Total 165 MDMA tablets valued at Rs. 5 lakhs were recovered and seized under the NDPS Act, 1985.

MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with a chemical structure similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. MDMA is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences. It is known commonly as Ecstasy and Molly.

MDMA can produce stimulant effects such as an enhanced sense of pleasure and self-confidence and increased energy. Its psychedelic effects include feelings of peacefulness, acceptance, and empathy. It is an addictive drug with abuse potential.&nbsp;

Chennai Air Customs officials seized two parcels that contained a total of 165 MDMA or Ecstasy pills, worth Rs 5 lakhs or USD6779, that arrived at the Foreign post Office from Netherlands.

Chennai Air Customs officials seized two parcels that contained a total of 165 MDMA or Ecstasy pills, worth Rs 5 lakhs or USD6779, that arrived at the Foreign post Office from Netherlands. The postal parcels were intercepted on suspicion of containing narcotic substances. The first parcel contained 105 MDMA tablets with “PP” marking commonly known as “Philipp Plein”. The parcel was addressed to an individual in Chennai city, butthe address was found to be incomplete. 60 MDMA “Blue Punisher” pills embossed with skull mark were recovered from the second parcel. These tablets contain around 300mg of MDMA which is very high dose. The parcel arrived from Zwolle, a city in north-eastern Netherlands and was addressed to a person in Tirupur district. According to officials, searches revealed that the recipient address was of a textile company, with fake consignee name. Total 165 MDMA tablets valued at Rs. 5 lakhs were recovered and seized under the NDPS Act, 1985. MDMA (3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug with a chemical structure similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. MDMA is an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences. It is known commonly as Ecstasy and Molly. MDMA can produce stimulant effects such as an enhanced sense of pleasure and self-confidence and increased energy. Its psychedelic effects include feelings of peacefulness, acceptance, and empathy. It is an addictive drug with abuse potential.

165 Ecstasy pills from Netherlands seized in Chennai; worth USD6779

Among the treasure trove of over 40,000 songs that legendary singer SP Balasubrahmaniam had sung, its not just the film songs that are revered among the masses, SPB’s devotional songs are even part of the morning rituals at several households. In certain cases, it was his voice and soulful renditions in praise of deities that led people from various states to go on pilgrimages to certain temples. It was for this magnificent voice that, even the Sabarimala temple Devaswom Board, despite the strict traditions, on-its-own came forward to perform a historic, first-ever Musical Puja for his recovery.&nbsp;

On August 21st, almost two weeks after the hospitalization of SPB, a decline in his condition, an Usha Puja’ followed by a ‘Gaana-archana’ (Musical offering) was performed for Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of the temple. Following the Puja rituals, a musician of the temple’s governing board played the Naadhaswaram, (a wind-based instrument) to the tune of SPB’s national award winning song Shankara Naadhashareera from the film Shakaranbharanam(1979). Though this is a film song, it is dedicated to and sung in praise of Lord Shiva.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/in-his-youth-sp-balasubrahmanyam-aspired-for-a-government-job-not-a-career-in-music-330296">Also read:&nbsp;In his youth, SP Balasubrahmanyam aspired for a government job, not a career in music</a>

“This Usha Puja and special ‘Gaana-archana’ is for the recovery and well-being of the great Singer SPB. Cinema stars and commoners are praying for him alike and we have also spoken to his family. Musicians from the temple played three different instruments as a part of the musical offering. Ganesh, a Naadhaswaram player had also played the tune of SPB’s iconic 1979 song which is widely popular across Kerala and all other southern states. Such a musical offering has never been made before, for an individual, at the temple” a Travancore Devaswom Board Official had told WION.&nbsp;

It is notable that the singer had sung several songs in praise of the deity Swami Ayyappa. In 2015, he was awarded the ‘Harivarasanam award’ that is instituted by the Kerala Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple. The award is given to a person for their contribution to propagate the spirit of secularism, equanimity, and universal brotherhood of Sabarimala through the songs.

SPB’s 2015 visit to the temple to receive the award is said to be his maiden visit and his only one. On receiving the award, SPB had said that music was his mother tongue and also sang his national-award winning song from 1979 - Shankara Naadha Shareera, among other devotional songs. His majestic voice is said to have added to the divine feeling in the forests surrounding the hilltop shrine. He had also said that the Sabarimala Ayyappan temple was a universal place of worship where religion, caste, creed, social status did not matter, thus making it a model for the rest of the world.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rip-sp-balasubrahmanyam-celebrities-pay-tribute-to-the-legendary-singer-330168">Also read: RIP SP Balasubrahmanyam: Celebrities pay tribute to the legendary singer</a>

Back then, SPB was nearing 70 years of age and was unable to undertake the harsh 5km uphill trek to the temple. Arrangements were made for SPB to be carried all the way to the temple on a ‘Doli”,(A wooden chair connected to two poles on the sides, which can be lifted by four or six bearers). Before sitting on the Doli or the crude palanquin, SPB, is seen bowing down and touching the feet of the bearers (as a mark of respect and devotion) before they are to carry him to the holy place. This gesture, it appears left all the bystanders in shock, awe and admiration.

It is usual that senior citizens and devotees who cannot trek up are carried on a a crude palanquin, by paying the bearers a small fee, but it is rather unusual for anyone to seek their blessings by touching their feet. A video of this incident from 2015 incident is doing the rounds on instant messaging platforms.

The mortal remains of the legendary singer, multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, who breathed his last on Friday after a 50 day hospitalization due to Covid-19, was laid to rest with Police honours, at the family’s farmhouse in Thamaraipakkam, in the outskirts of Chennai, on Saturday afternoon. The singer’s family performed the final rituals and as per family tradition, lowered the mortal remains into a dug-up pit. Thousands of fans had gathered to bid a teary farewell, to a man whose soulful, passionate renditions had been a part of their joys and sorrows over the last five decades.&nbsp;

While announcing the unfortunate news of his demise,SPB’s son Charan rightly said, “SPB belongs to everyone, he will live on via his songs… Until all of you (fans and well-wishers are here), we consider that Appa(father) is alive”.&nbsp;

Among the treasure trove of over 40,000 songs that legendary singer SP Balasubrahmaniam had sung, its not just the film songs that are revered among the masses, SPB’s devotional songs are even part of the morning rituals at several households.

Among the treasure trove of over 40,000 songs that legendary singer SP Balasubrahmaniam had sung, its not just the film songs that are revered among the masses, SPB’s devotional songs are even part of the morning rituals at several households. In certain cases, it was his voice and soulful renditions in praise of deities that led people from various states to go on pilgrimages to certain temples. It was for this magnificent voice that, even the Sabarimala temple Devaswom Board, despite the strict traditions, on-its-own came forward to perform a historic, first-ever Musical Puja for his recovery. On August 21st, almost two weeks after the hospitalization of SPB, a decline in his condition, an Usha Puja’ followed by a ‘Gaana-archana’ (Musical offering) was performed for Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of the temple. Following the Puja rituals, a musician of the temple’s governing board played the Naadhaswaram, (a wind-based instrument) to the tune of SPB’s national award winning song Shankara Naadhashareera from the film Shakaranbharanam(1979). Though this is a film song, it is dedicated to and sung in praise of Lord Shiva. Also read: In his youth, SP Balasubrahmanyam aspired for a government job, not a career in music “This Usha Puja and special ‘Gaana-archana’ is for the recovery and well-being of the great Singer SPB. Cinema stars and commoners are praying for him alike and we have also spoken to his family. Musicians from the temple played three different instruments as a part of the musical offering. Ganesh, a Naadhaswaram player had also played the tune of SPB’s iconic 1979 song which is widely popular across Kerala and all other southern states. Such a musical offering has never been made before, for an individual, at the temple” a Travancore Devaswom Board Official had told WION. It is notable that the singer had sung several songs in praise of the deity Swami Ayyappa. In 2015, he was awarded the ‘Harivarasanam award’ that is instituted by the Kerala Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple. The award is given to a person for their contribution to propagate the spirit of secularism, equanimity, and universal brotherhood of Sabarimala through the songs. SPB’s 2015 visit to the temple to receive the award is said to be his maiden visit and his only one. On receiving the award, SPB had said that music was his mother tongue and also sang his national-award winning song from 1979 - Shankara Naadha Shareera, among other devotional songs. His majestic voice is said to have added to the divine feeling in the forests surrounding the hilltop shrine. He had also said that the Sabarimala Ayyappan temple was a universal place of worship where religion, caste, creed, social status did not matter, thus making it a model for the rest of the world. Also read: RIP SP Balasubrahmanyam: Celebrities pay tribute to the legendary singer Back then, SPB was nearing 70 years of age and was unable to undertake the harsh 5km uphill trek to the temple. Arrangements were made for SPB to be carried all the way to the temple on a ‘Doli”,(A wooden chair connected to two poles on the sides, which can be lifted by four or six bearers). Before sitting on the Doli or the crude palanquin, SPB, is seen bowing down and touching the feet of the bearers (as a mark of respect and devotion) before they are to carry him to the holy place. This gesture, it appears left all the bystanders in shock, awe and admiration. It is usual that senior citizens and devotees who cannot trek up are carried on a a crude palanquin, by paying the bearers a small fee, but it is rather unusual for anyone to seek their blessings by touching their feet. A video of this incident from 2015 incident is doing the rounds on instant messaging platforms. The mortal remains of the legendary singer, multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, who breathed his last on Friday after a 50 day hospitalization due to Covid-19, was laid to rest with Police honours, at the family’s farmhouse in Thamaraipakkam, in the outskirts of Chennai, on Saturday afternoon. The singer’s family performed the final rituals and as per family tradition, lowered the mortal remains into a dug-up pit. Thousands of fans had gathered to bid a teary farewell, to a man whose soulful, passionate renditions had been a part of their joys and sorrows over the last five decades. While announcing the unfortunate news of his demise,SPB’s son Charan rightly said, “SPB belongs to everyone, he will live on via his songs… Until all of you (fans and well-wishers are here), we consider that Appa(father) is alive”.

Man of culture: When Sabarimala broke tradition to perform a musical Puja for SPB

Today, Indian cinema mourns the loss of one of its greatest and brightest- S P Balasubrahmanyam, a playback singer with a Guinness record for having sung over 40,000 songs, spread across 16 languages, over the last 5 decades. But one of the lesser known facets about this singing sensation is that he himself had not aspired for a career in music. He once said that all he aspired for was to qualify as an engineer and work as a gazetted officer, with a handsome salary and a jeep.

In various interviews, SPB has opened about his youth, his music icon and about his lifestyle as a singer. Speaking in a very affable tone, he is seen recollecting how a big fan he was of Mohammed Rafi. He had once said that, there was no bigger Rafi fan than himself, adding how Rafi’s music had a deep influence on him. “We could visualize the scene, by just listening to Rafi” he says.

Recalling his youth, he said that he used to sing well as a college student and that his parents, sisters also encouraged his singing talent. However, he himself had not thoughts of playback singing as a career. “In the 1960s and 70s my dream was to become an engineer and a Gazetted officer.. One would earn a salary of Rs.250 and have the privilege of a jeep and driver” he recalled in an interview with popular media personality Bosskey.

Speaking about his lifestyle, SPB said that he did not maintain discipline like various others in the profession. “Because singing is important to me and I’m passionate about it, I don’t want to be a saint… I love my life… If possible I don’t want to die” he tells the interviewer. SPB candidly revealed that he had been a smoker for over 35 years and also had been a social drinker, as opposed to many singers who followed extreme discipline.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/end-of-an-era-as-legendary-singer-sp-balasubrahmanyam-breathes-his-last-330191" hreflang="en"> End of an era as legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam breathes his last</a>

Despite his stellar achievements and seniority, SPB admits openly that he didn’t have a formal training in music.&nbsp; “I don’t know music, the swaras and notations I write slowly… and do it mathematically. For 50 years music directors made me sing classical songs in languages I did not know and did not understand” he had said. &nbsp;

Referring to a reality show that he had judged, he said, “kids come very well trained and sing on stage, but (as I don't have formal training) I cant comment on the nuances such as aarohanam and avarohanam, I only suggest to them how it could be sung in a more expressive manner. Sometimes I ask the children which Raga it is, as I am trying to learn from them” says the legend, in what is probably one of his last interviews.

He also touched upon instances when he had denied to sing certain songs, as he thought it wouldn’t be possible for him, thus revealing his humble nature.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-r-ashwin-to-vishwanathan-anand-sporting-fraternity-pays-tribute-to-sp-balasubrahmanyam-330182" hreflang="en"> From R Ashwin to Vishwanathan Anand: Sporting fraternity pays tribute to SP Balasubrahmanyam</a>

SPB had also taken a significant risk in his prime years, when he was suffering from singer’s nodule - a condition that clogs one’s voice and adversely affects speaking and singing. They are hard, rough, noncancerous growths on the vocal cords. This had rendered him unable to sing for nearly a month and he kept postponing his projects. But finally, he tool a call to undergo a surgical procedure to have it removed. SPB recalls that Lata Mangeshkar had warned him against going in for a surgery, as she feared that it could take a turn for the worse. However, SPB did not wish to postpone his projects and went under the knife to have it removed.

This was a surgery so risky, that in SPB’s own words - “Maybe if one tissue goes off.. singing will be in jeopardy”. But all went well and he was back to do what he did best and did it all his life - enthrall audiences with his divine gift.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rip-sp-balasubrahmanyam-celebrities-pay-tribute-to-the-legendary-singer-330168" hreflang="en">RIP SP Balasubrahmanyam: Celebrities pay tribute to the legendary singer</a>

Today, Indian cinema mourns the loss of one of its greatest and brightest- S P Balasubrahmanyam, a playback singer with a Guinness record for having sung over 40,000 songs, spread across 16 languages, over the last 5 decades.

Today, Indian cinema mourns the loss of one of its greatest and brightest- S P Balasubrahmanyam, a playback singer with a Guinness record for having sung over 40,000 songs, spread across 16 languages, over the last 5 decades. But one of the lesser known facets about this singing sensation is that he himself had not aspired for a career in music. He once said that all he aspired for was to qualify as an engineer and work as a gazetted officer, with a handsome salary and a jeep. In various interviews, SPB has opened about his youth, his music icon and about his lifestyle as a singer. Speaking in a very affable tone, he is seen recollecting how a big fan he was of Mohammed Rafi. He had once said that, there was no bigger Rafi fan than himself, adding how Rafi’s music had a deep influence on him. “We could visualize the scene, by just listening to Rafi” he says. Recalling his youth, he said that he used to sing well as a college student and that his parents, sisters also encouraged his singing talent. However, he himself had not thoughts of playback singing as a career. “In the 1960s and 70s my dream was to become an engineer and a Gazetted officer.. One would earn a salary of Rs.250 and have the privilege of a jeep and driver” he recalled in an interview with popular media personality Bosskey. Speaking about his lifestyle, SPB said that he did not maintain discipline like various others in the profession. “Because singing is important to me and I’m passionate about it, I don’t want to be a saint… I love my life… If possible I don’t want to die” he tells the interviewer. SPB candidly revealed that he had been a smoker for over 35 years and also had been a social drinker, as opposed to many singers who followed extreme discipline. Also read: End of an era as legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam breathes his last Despite his stellar achievements and seniority, SPB admits openly that he didn’t have a formal training in music. “I don’t know music, the swaras and notations I write slowly… and do it mathematically. For 50 years music directors made me sing classical songs in languages I did not know and did not understand” he had said. Referring to a reality show that he had judged, he said, “kids come very well trained and sing on stage, but (as I don't have formal training) I cant comment on the nuances such as aarohanam and avarohanam, I only suggest to them how it could be sung in a more expressive manner. Sometimes I ask the children which Raga it is, as I am trying to learn from them” says the legend, in what is probably one of his last interviews. He also touched upon instances when he had denied to sing certain songs, as he thought it wouldn’t be possible for him, thus revealing his humble nature. Also read: From R Ashwin to Vishwanathan Anand: Sporting fraternity pays tribute to SP Balasubrahmanyam SPB had also taken a significant risk in his prime years, when he was suffering from singer’s nodule - a condition that clogs one’s voice and adversely affects speaking and singing. They are hard, rough, noncancerous growths on the vocal cords. This had rendered him unable to sing for nearly a month and he kept postponing his projects. But finally, he tool a call to undergo a surgical procedure to have it removed. SPB recalls that Lata Mangeshkar had warned him against going in for a surgery, as she feared that it could take a turn for the worse. However, SPB did not wish to postpone his projects and went under the knife to have it removed. This was a surgery so risky, that in SPB’s own words - “Maybe if one tissue goes off.. singing will be in jeopardy”. But all went well and he was back to do what he did best and did it all his life - enthrall audiences with his divine gift. RIP SP Balasubrahmanyam: Celebrities pay tribute to the legendary singer

In his youth, SP Balasubrahmanyam aspired for a government job, not a career in music

Veteran playback singer and multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, known as the voice of generations of India’s leading cinema heroes, breathed his last at 1:04pm at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday, after battling severe Covid-19 pneumonia and complications for over 50 days. The initial announcement of his passing was made to the media, by his son SP Charan, at the gates of the hospital, following which the hospital released a bulletin stating that he suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest.

The 74-year old singer, fondly known as SPB, had released a video on Facebook, on August 5th, saying he was hospitalized after observing Covid-19 symptoms. In the video, he is seen saying that the decision to get hospitalized was only for resting, recuperating comfortably, while avoiding risk to his family. He had said that it was a mild positive case of Corona.

Just after he was hospitalized, SPB assured friends and fans that he was in good health and was receiving the best care, urging them to not worry. “Please don’t bother to call me to find out how I am. I am perfectly alright except for cold and fever (which has subsided). In two days I will be discharged and back home. Thanks for the concern” he signed off, in what is likely to be the last time his glorious voice was heard by the masses.

 
On August 14th, his condition had deteriorated and he was under ventilator and ECMO support, as per the hospital. Recent bulletins from the hospital had also said that the singer was in a stable condition, was conscious and undergoing physiotherapy while under ECMO and ventilator support.

 
However, on Thursday evening the hospital had stated that his condition had become extremely critical and that he was on maximal life support.

 
Tracing the legend’s career

 
Born to SP Sambamurthy, a Harikatha artist and Sakunthalamma on 4th June, 1946, in Andhra Pradesh, young SPB got interested in music early on, but did not have a formal training in music. His younger sister P Sailaja was also a movie playback singer. While pursuing his engineering degree, he used to participate in singing competitions and won various prizes.

 
He had once said that, at one such competition, during the valedictory ceremony,&nbsp; veteran playback singer S. Janaki encouraged him to sing for movies by saying that he can shine in the world of cinema. SPB had fondly recalled that, S. Janaki had encouraged him saying that she too was not a trained singer.

 
Later, he started visiting music directors seeking opportunities to become a movie playback singer.

 
It is said that SPB’s first Tamil song was 'Athaanodu Ippadi Irundhu Eththanai Naalaachu', a duet with LR Eswari in the music direction of MS Viswanathan, for the film Hotel Ramba, however the film never got released.

 
Telugu movie Sankarabharanam was his first big break that won him a National award for Best Male Playback singer.. The movie which was directed by K Viswanath and the music scored by KVMahadevan turned out to be a big hit. SPB’s song ‘Shankara naadhashareera Para’, is regarded as the most memorable from that film.

 
SPB also sang for actor Gemini Ganesan (Iyarkai Ennum Ilaya Kanni), for MG Ramachandran (Aayiram Nilavae Vaa) and also took the Malayalam film industry by storm.

&nbsp;

SPB recalled that veteran actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MGR had postponed his film `Aayiram Nilavae Vaa’ for his sake, as he was unwell and couldn’t sing within the allotted schedule. It is said that, since SPB was down with fever, MGR, who ruled the Tamil film industry could have always gotten another singer to croon the lines, however MGR had waited for the young man.

&nbsp;

“When I was at his residence, I was curious and asked MGR about why he waited and delayed the shooting. He said, after the audition, I would have told my friends about singing for MGR. If I was replaced, word would spread, that MGR didn’t like my voice and so he chose some other singer. That would have been a big setback for my Tamil movie career, which he (MGR) didn’t want,” SPB recalled the incident, showering praise on the magnanimity of the late actor.

&nbsp;

In Tamil Nadu where cinema stars are revered, SPB had sung for nearly 4 generations of heroes - MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and also the contemporary stars.

 
It is said that, SPB, at his peak, would record upto 15 songs a day. One of the most formidable partnerships in SPB’s career was with legendary music director Ilaiyaraaja, who had forayed into the industry in the mid-1970s. Renditions by SPB and S.Janaki, where the music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja were huge hits and remain timeless.

&nbsp;

SPB won the hearts of the Hindi audience in 1981, singing for Kamal Hassan’s ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’, he also delivered hits in film like&nbsp; Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and others. SPB himself is an self-confessed fan of Mohammed Rafi and has made his admiration for the legendary singer public at various occasions.

 
His contributions to the Hindi industry are immense, as he sang for Naushad, Kalyanji-Anandji, RD Burman and was the voice of leading men, right from Rajesh Khanna to Dharmendra to Anil Kapoor to Salman Khan.

 
In the 1990s, he was working with a long list of Music directors and composers, who spanned across generations and had their own distinct styles- Deva, S.A.Rajkumar, Vidyasagar and A.R.Rahman were a few from the Tamil industry alone. But one thing that remained a constant across the industry and geographical boundaries was SPB’s mellifluous voice.

 
Besides rendering melodies and chartbusters, SPB had also lent his voice, dubbing for several leading artists in Tamil and Telugu movies. &nbsp;

 
Millions of fans are heartbroken that a man who held his breath and modulated his voice to entertain them in over 40,000 songs, across 16 languages, over five decades, has left them. As SPB’s son Charan said while announcing the unfortunate news, “SPB belongs to everyone, he will live on via his songs… Until all of you (fans and well-wishers are here), we consider that Appa(father) is alive”.

Veteran playback singer and multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, known as the voice of generations of India’s leading cinema heroes, breathed his last at 1:04pm at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday, after battling severe Covid-19 pneumonia and complications for over 50 days.

Veteran playback singer and multiple-national award winner SP Balasubrahmanyam, known as the voice of generations of India’s leading cinema heroes, breathed his last at 1:04pm at a private hospital in Chennai on Thursday, after battling severe Covid-19 pneumonia and complications for over 50 days. The initial announcement of his passing was made to the media, by his son SP Charan, at the gates of the hospital, following which the hospital released a bulletin stating that he suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest. The 74-year old singer, fondly known as SPB, had released a video on Facebook, on August 5th, saying he was hospitalized after observing Covid-19 symptoms. In the video, he is seen saying that the decision to get hospitalized was only for resting, recuperating comfortably, while avoiding risk to his family. He had said that it was a mild positive case of Corona. Just after he was hospitalized, SPB assured friends and fans that he was in good health and was receiving the best care, urging them to not worry. “Please don’t bother to call me to find out how I am. I am perfectly alright except for cold and fever (which has subsided). In two days I will be discharged and back home. Thanks for the concern” he signed off, in what is likely to be the last time his glorious voice was heard by the masses. On August 14th, his condition had deteriorated and he was under ventilator and ECMO support, as per the hospital. Recent bulletins from the hospital had also said that the singer was in a stable condition, was conscious and undergoing physiotherapy while under ECMO and ventilator support. However, on Thursday evening the hospital had stated that his condition had become extremely critical and that he was on maximal life support. Tracing the legend’s career Born to SP Sambamurthy, a Harikatha artist and Sakunthalamma on 4th June, 1946, in Andhra Pradesh, young SPB got interested in music early on, but did not have a formal training in music. His younger sister P Sailaja was also a movie playback singer. While pursuing his engineering degree, he used to participate in singing competitions and won various prizes. He had once said that, at one such competition, during the valedictory ceremony, veteran playback singer S. Janaki encouraged him to sing for movies by saying that he can shine in the world of cinema. SPB had fondly recalled that, S. Janaki had encouraged him saying that she too was not a trained singer. Later, he started visiting music directors seeking opportunities to become a movie playback singer. It is said that SPB’s first Tamil song was 'Athaanodu Ippadi Irundhu Eththanai Naalaachu', a duet with LR Eswari in the music direction of MS Viswanathan, for the film Hotel Ramba, however the film never got released. Telugu movie Sankarabharanam was his first big break that won him a National award for Best Male Playback singer.. The movie which was directed by K Viswanath and the music scored by KVMahadevan turned out to be a big hit. SPB’s song ‘Shankara naadhashareera Para’, is regarded as the most memorable from that film. SPB also sang for actor Gemini Ganesan (Iyarkai Ennum Ilaya Kanni), for MG Ramachandran (Aayiram Nilavae Vaa) and also took the Malayalam film industry by storm. SPB recalled that veteran actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MGR had postponed his film `Aayiram Nilavae Vaa’ for his sake, as he was unwell and couldn’t sing within the allotted schedule. It is said that, since SPB was down with fever, MGR, who ruled the Tamil film industry could have always gotten another singer to croon the lines, however MGR had waited for the young man. “When I was at his residence, I was curious and asked MGR about why he waited and delayed the shooting. He said, after the audition, I would have told my friends about singing for MGR. If I was replaced, word would spread, that MGR didn’t like my voice and so he chose some other singer. That would have been a big setback for my Tamil movie career, which he (MGR) didn’t want,” SPB recalled the incident, showering praise on the magnanimity of the late actor. In Tamil Nadu where cinema stars are revered, SPB had sung for nearly 4 generations of heroes - MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and also the contemporary stars. It is said that, SPB, at his peak, would record upto 15 songs a day. One of the most formidable partnerships in SPB’s career was with legendary music director Ilaiyaraaja, who had forayed into the industry in the mid-1970s. Renditions by SPB and S.Janaki, where the music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja were huge hits and remain timeless. SPB won the hearts of the Hindi audience in 1981, singing for Kamal Hassan’s ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’, he also delivered hits in film like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and others. SPB himself is an self-confessed fan of Mohammed Rafi and has made his admiration for the legendary singer public at various occasions. His contributions to the Hindi industry are immense, as he sang for Naushad, Kalyanji-Anandji, RD Burman and was the voice of leading men, right from Rajesh Khanna to Dharmendra to Anil Kapoor to Salman Khan. In the 1990s, he was working with a long list of Music directors and composers, who spanned across generations and had their own distinct styles- Deva, S.A.Rajkumar, Vidyasagar and A.R.Rahman were a few from the Tamil industry alone. But one thing that remained a constant across the industry and geographical boundaries was SPB’s mellifluous voice. Besides rendering melodies and chartbusters, SPB had also lent his voice, dubbing for several leading artists in Tamil and Telugu movies. Millions of fans are heartbroken that a man who held his breath and modulated his voice to entertain them in over 40,000 songs, across 16 languages, over five decades, has left them. As SPB’s son Charan said while announcing the unfortunate news, “SPB belongs to everyone, he will live on via his songs… Until all of you (fans and well-wishers are here), we consider that Appa(father) is alive”.

End of an era as legendary singer SP Balasubrahmanyam breathes his last

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organisation’s second Chairman, an Indian space startup has unveiled their indigenously developed cryogenic engine - Dhawan-I. This cryogenic engine is meant to fuel the upper stage of their rocket Vikram -II.

The company, Skyroot Aerospace has already tested a solid-fueled engine, but the cryogenic engine is even more significant because of the extreme complexity in the technology and the handling of its fuels. A cryogenic engine uses liquid fuel and an oxidizer that is maintained at extremely cold temperatures. Cryogenic is a generic term that can be used to describe temperatures below -150 degrees Celsius. Such engines are used in the uppermost stages of rockets, which are used for propulsion in space.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-isro-assistance-indias-skyroot-aerospace-aims-maiden-rocket-launch-by-dec-2021-320835">With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021</a>

A typical rocket consists of two or more stages, each of which would have its own engines(either single or packed in a cluster). Simply put, a rocket is a combination of multiple engines(stages) that are vertically stacked.&nbsp;Skyroot Aerospace has revealed that their cryogenic engine would be powered by Liquid Natural gas as fuel(LNG) &amp; Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer (LoX).&nbsp;

“This engine is India’s first fully Cryogenic engine running on futuristic fuel LNG,” said V. Gnanagandhi an ex-ISRO scientist &amp; Padmashri awardee who is the Sr. Vice President at Skyroot, leading their Cryogenic propulsion team.

It is said that LNG being used comprises of over 90% methane gas, thus making it a clean-burning, low-cost, highly re-usable field which is suited for long-duration space missions.&nbsp;

Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO of Skyroot Aerospace says that their team has successfully completed many tests to check the fuel flow and structural integrity. He added that they were building a dedicated test facility for hot-fire testing of this engine.&nbsp;

“Dhawan-I is a 100% 3D Printed cryogenic engine with regenerative cooling,” says Naga Bharath Daka, COO. Regenerative cooling refers to a configuration where, some or all of the propellant is passed through tubes, channels, or in a jacket around the combustion chamber or nozzle to cool the engine. This is effective because the fuel (and sometimes the oxidizer) are good coolants. The heated propellant is then fed into a special gas generator or injected directly into the main combustion chamber.

While the company has successfully tested the upper-most stage engine of its first rocket Vikram-I, the initial stage engines of Vikram-I are being manufactured. If all goes well, the company is looking forward to a maiden launch of Vikram-I by December 2021, with the support and guidance of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The cryogenic engine won’t see action in Vikram-I and is meant for their bigger rocket Vikram-II.&nbsp;

In terms of payload capacity, Vikram I is meant to lift 225 kg to 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 315 kg to 45º inclination 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Vikram II is designed for 410 kg to 500 km SSPO and 520 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO. In the case of Vikram III, we are looking at 580 kg to 500 km SSPO and 720 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO.&nbsp; 
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On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organisation’s second Chairman, an Indian space startup has unveiled their indigenously developed cryogenic engine - Dhawan-I.

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a pioneer who spearheaded ISRO's efforts as the organisation’s second Chairman, an Indian space startup has unveiled their indigenously developed cryogenic engine - Dhawan-I. This cryogenic engine is meant to fuel the upper stage of their rocket Vikram -II. The company, Skyroot Aerospace has already tested a solid-fueled engine, but the cryogenic engine is even more significant because of the extreme complexity in the technology and the handling of its fuels. A cryogenic engine uses liquid fuel and an oxidizer that is maintained at extremely cold temperatures. Cryogenic is a generic term that can be used to describe temperatures below -150 degrees Celsius. Such engines are used in the uppermost stages of rockets, which are used for propulsion in space. Also read | With ISRO assistance, India’s Skyroot Aerospace aims maiden rocket launch by Dec-2021 A typical rocket consists of two or more stages, each of which would have its own engines(either single or packed in a cluster). Simply put, a rocket is a combination of multiple engines(stages) that are vertically stacked. Skyroot Aerospace has revealed that their cryogenic engine would be powered by Liquid Natural gas as fuel(LNG) & Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer (LoX). “This engine is India’s first fully Cryogenic engine running on futuristic fuel LNG,” said V. Gnanagandhi an ex-ISRO scientist & Padmashri awardee who is the Sr. Vice President at Skyroot, leading their Cryogenic propulsion team. It is said that LNG being used comprises of over 90% methane gas, thus making it a clean-burning, low-cost, highly re-usable field which is suited for long-duration space missions. Pawan Kumar Chandana, CEO of Skyroot Aerospace says that their team has successfully completed many tests to check the fuel flow and structural integrity. He added that they were building a dedicated test facility for hot-fire testing of this engine. “Dhawan-I is a 100% 3D Printed cryogenic engine with regenerative cooling,” says Naga Bharath Daka, COO. Regenerative cooling refers to a configuration where, some or all of the propellant is passed through tubes, channels, or in a jacket around the combustion chamber or nozzle to cool the engine. This is effective because the fuel (and sometimes the oxidizer) are good coolants. The heated propellant is then fed into a special gas generator or injected directly into the main combustion chamber. While the company has successfully tested the upper-most stage engine of its first rocket Vikram-I, the initial stage engines of Vikram-I are being manufactured. If all goes well, the company is looking forward to a maiden launch of Vikram-I by December 2021, with the support and guidance of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The cryogenic engine won’t see action in Vikram-I and is meant for their bigger rocket Vikram-II. In terms of payload capacity, Vikram I is meant to lift 225 kg to 500 km Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) and 315 kg to 45º inclination 500 km Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Vikram II is designed for 410 kg to 500 km SSPO and 520 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO. In the case of Vikram III, we are looking at 580 kg to 500 km SSPO and 720 kg to 45º inclination 500 km LEO.

Space startup unveils India’s first privately developed Cryogenic Rocket engine

Researchers at IIT-Madras have have successfully booted up(initialized) ‘Moushik,’ a Microprocessor that has been indigenously designed and fabricated in India. Moushik is a processor cum System on Chip(SoC), which means that, as a processor it can execute the instructions and as a SoC, different components can be attached to the it. This is the third in the series of six computer chips being designed as a part of the Shakti Microprocessor programme.&nbsp;

Speaking of the user applications of this processor, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Reconfigurable Intelligent Systems Engineering (RISE) Group, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT-Madras says that they can be used in Credit cards, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), surveillance cameras, safe locks, personalized Health Management Systems and a boost of other Internet of Things (IoT) devices.&nbsp;

“This is a 180nm chip with a 100Mhz speed and can cater to various small devices and home appliances. In terms of cost, if there is an order for one million units, cost can be brought down to even 1USD per chip. Even though it is of less processing power, India needs billions of such chips for various purposes” he told WION.&nbsp;

The processor development is a joint effort between Indian academia and scientific facilities. While the Design of the Microprocessor, Motherboard PCB, its Assembly and Post-Silicon Boot-up were done at IIT Madras, the foundry-specific backend design and fabrication was undertaken at Semi-Conductor Laboratory of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Chandigarh. The manufacturing of this motherboard was done at Bengaluru. Shakthi Moushik SoC will constitute the heart of an indigenously-developed motherboard called ‘Ardonyx 1.0.’

It is notable that Moushik’s predecessor - Risecreek (22nm chip designed in India and fabricated by Intel) is already in use in India’s strategic sector. Risecreek, an industry-level chip caters to the 100-350Mhz speed segment. Rimo, another variant in this series was also based on the 180nm technology and was designed and developed in India. “Now we have three processors ready and another class of processors is in the works. To serve higher computing speeds we can use the existing chips, combine them like building blocks and scale up” Prof Kamakoti added.&nbsp;

Currently, India's fabrication facilities can only offer upto 180nm technology chips. Sophistication and efficiency of chips increase with the decease in nm. For context, some of the chips powering contemporary smartphones and laptops are between the 5nm and 22nm range. it is expected that Indian facilities will scale up their technology in the coming years.&nbsp;

IIT says that the Shakti series Microprocessors can be used by others as it is on par with International Standards and can pave way for a global market. Given their open-source nature, startups and industries can customize its design based on their needs. Indigenous design, development and fabricating also reduces the risk of using (Imported) systems that may be infected with back-doors and hardware Trojans. This development will assume huge significance when systems based on SHAKTI processors are adopted by strategic sectors such as defence, nuclear power installations and Government Agencies and Departments.

The government of India has also launched the Swadeshi Microprocessor challenge, where the start-ups in this domain can provide solutions to complex designs around home-grown processor ecosystem, catering to both global and domestic requirements.&nbsp;

Researchers at IIT-Madras have have successfully booted up(initialized) ‘Moushik,’ a Microprocessor that has been indigenously designed and fabricated in India. Moushik is a processor cum System on Chip(SoC), which means that, as a processor it can execute the instructions and as a SoC, different components can be attached to the it.

Researchers at IIT-Madras have have successfully booted up(initialized) ‘Moushik,’ a Microprocessor that has been indigenously designed and fabricated in India. Moushik is a processor cum System on Chip(SoC), which means that, as a processor it can execute the instructions and as a SoC, different components can be attached to the it. This is the third in the series of six computer chips being designed as a part of the Shakti Microprocessor programme. Speaking of the user applications of this processor, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Reconfigurable Intelligent Systems Engineering (RISE) Group, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT-Madras says that they can be used in Credit cards, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), surveillance cameras, safe locks, personalized Health Management Systems and a boost of other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. “This is a 180nm chip with a 100Mhz speed and can cater to various small devices and home appliances. In terms of cost, if there is an order for one million units, cost can be brought down to even 1USD per chip. Even though it is of less processing power, India needs billions of such chips for various purposes” he told WION. The processor development is a joint effort between Indian academia and scientific facilities. While the Design of the Microprocessor, Motherboard PCB, its Assembly and Post-Silicon Boot-up were done at IIT Madras, the foundry-specific backend design and fabrication was undertaken at Semi-Conductor Laboratory of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Chandigarh. The manufacturing of this motherboard was done at Bengaluru. Shakthi Moushik SoC will constitute the heart of an indigenously-developed motherboard called ‘Ardonyx 1.0.’ It is notable that Moushik’s predecessor - Risecreek (22nm chip designed in India and fabricated by Intel) is already in use in India’s strategic sector. Risecreek, an industry-level chip caters to the 100-350Mhz speed segment. Rimo, another variant in this series was also based on the 180nm technology and was designed and developed in India. “Now we have three processors ready and another class of processors is in the works. To serve higher computing speeds we can use the existing chips, combine them like building blocks and scale up” Prof Kamakoti added. Currently, India's fabrication facilities can only offer upto 180nm technology chips. Sophistication and efficiency of chips increase with the decease in nm. For context, some of the chips powering contemporary smartphones and laptops are between the 5nm and 22nm range. it is expected that Indian facilities will scale up their technology in the coming years. IIT says that the Shakti series Microprocessors can be used by others as it is on par with International Standards and can pave way for a global market. Given their open-source nature, startups and industries can customize its design based on their needs. Indigenous design, development and fabricating also reduces the risk of using (Imported) systems that may be infected with back-doors and hardware Trojans. This development will assume huge significance when systems based on SHAKTI processors are adopted by strategic sectors such as defence, nuclear power installations and Government Agencies and Departments. The government of India has also launched the Swadeshi Microprocessor challenge, where the start-ups in this domain can provide solutions to complex designs around home-grown processor ecosystem, catering to both global and domestic requirements.

Meet India’s Atmanirbhar Microprocessor chip ‘Moushik’, meant for IoT devices

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