Latest news with #VijayaKumar
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chinnalagu Vijaya Kumar gets James Beard Award for best chef in New York State
Fresh off his James Beard Award for best chef in New York State a few days ago, Chinnalagu Vijaya Kumar is furiously on the lookout for fresh goat's blood. Rattha poriyal (goat's blood fry), he says, is a dish he's been dying to add to the menu at Semma, his "unapologetically" Tamil restaurant in New York City. "Unfortunately, it's tough to source it in the US. A request for fresh goat's blood is not something people here are used to," says Vijaya Kumar. But it's something he's sure is going to be a 'semma' (Tamil slang for awesome) hit with his customers. "It's a dish straight from the heart of Tamil Nadu. It's what my food is about, showcasing Tamil cuisine in all its spice, richness, texture, and aroma." It's the same Tamil pride Vijaya Kumar brought with him on stage at the awards ceremony on June 16. Dressed in a veshti — he owns dozens as it's the other staple he has specially flown in from Tamil Nadu along with his condiments — Vijaya Kumar said, in a speech that's gone viral: "Never in my life did I think something like this could happen... that a kid from a small town in Tamil Nadu would one day be standing here. We're celebrating the fire and soul of South Indian cooking in a city that has never quite seen it this way, and we're doing it proudly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Market: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) Google Search Search Now Undo " When he opened Semma in 2021 and showcased a nathai pirattal (snail masala fry) in its unabashedly rustic glory, packed with onions, tomatoes, and all the goodness of his grandma's home kitchen in Nathan, Madurai, where he grew up, he never thought it would catch on like wildfire, Vijaya Kumar says. "Every time I spoke of snails in New York, all that people knew of it in terms of a dish was the classic French escargot. Why not give people a taste of my paati's (grandmother's) escargot, I thought. " And there was no looking back, says Vijaya Kumar, as he watched hordes of patrons lap up the nathai pirattal, wiping their plates clean with the kal dosa served alongside. He kept smashing out the muyal pirattals (wild rabbit leg), vazhakkai varuvals (roasted plantain), and Chettinad maan kari (deer curry), and almost as fast, the awards streamed in. First, the Michelin Star; then, the rating as one of New York's top restaurants; and now, the James Beard Award, considered the Oscars of the restaurant world. "The dishes are all inspired by family recipes," says Vijaya Kumar. "Growing up, during the holidays, I would forage for snails and hunt for rabbits with my grandmother in Arukkumpatti, a small village that didn't even have a bus service. I would watch her prepare the dish. Everything I make here is exactly as it should be eaten in a home in Madurai. No fancying it up, no toning it down, it's just Tamil food, no filters."
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
Reverse trap case: Karnataka high court refuses to quash proceedings against govt officer
Bengaluru: The high court has refused to quash proceedings in a rare "reverse trap" bribery case, where a govt officer was caught allegedly returning a bribe to the complainant. Justice M Nagaprasanna dismissed the petition filed by AB Vijaya Kumar, former special land acquisition officer-II of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) and currently a joint director in the department of municipal administration. The case pertains to a complaint filed by one Bhagath Singh Arun, who alleged that Vijaya Kumar demanded Rs 5 lakh to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) in connection with RTC documents for the Shri Dinne Duggalamma temple in Laggere village. The bribe amount was eventually negotiated to Rs 2.5 lakh and allegedly paid through Kumar's relative, identified as Sommanna. As the NOC was not issued, Arun submitted a formal complaint to the KIADB special deputy commissioner on July 7, 2022. Interestingly, two days later, Vijaya Kumar reportedly prepared the NOC and urged Arun to withdraw the complaint. Meanwhile, Lokayukta police had initiated a probe, conducted pre-trap formalities, and arranged for witnesses. On Sept 21, 2022, the accused was caught by Lokayukta police while returning Rs 3 lakh to the complainant. Vijaya Kumar challenged the FIR, contending that there was no concrete evidence of demand, acceptance, or personal gain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Costco Shoppers Say This Wrinkle Cream Is "Actually Worth It" The Skincare Magazine Undo He also pointed out the mismatch between the alleged bribe (Rs 2.5 lakh) and the returned amount (Rs 3 lakh), arguing that the Prevention of Corruption Act does not specifically cover the return of illegal gratification. However, Lokayukta police argued that all necessary legal elements were present and that the motive for returning the money could only be determined during trial. In his judgment, Justice Nagaprasanna termed the matter a classic "reverse trap" case, where the accused, aware of a likely investigation, attempts to return the bribe. The court held that such cases require nuanced evidence and a detailed examination of the chain of events. Noting the existence of documented demand and acceptance, the court refused to interfere with the investigation. The petition was dismissed, with the judge emphasising the need for a thorough investigation of the connected events.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Practise yoga daily to a lead healthy life, says Prakasam District Collector
Prakasam District Collector A. Thameem Ansaria on Wednesday said that if everyone practises yoga regularly as a daily activity, they can achieve a healthy and happy life. The Collector inaugurated 'Yoga Sadhana', curtain raiser for upcoming International Yoga Day, at Kendriya Vidyalaya School in Ongole. Santhanuthalapadu MLA B.N. Vijaya Kumar, Ongole City Mayor Gangada Sujatha, APTDC Chairman Dr. Nookasani Balaji, Joint Collector R. Gopala Krishna and others participated in the event. Several students practised yoga under the guidance of yoga guru Patanjali Balasubramaniam Ms. Ansaria said, 'As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to our State to take part in the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations to be held in Visakhapatnam on June 21, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to organise large-scale awareness programmes on yoga across the State'. The Collector said that the special yoga programmes are being conducted for a month by involving all sections of people in villages and towns of the district to highlight the benefits of practising yoga. Ms. Ansaria said that an action plan has also been prepared to create awareness on yoga in all schools and colleges in the district. She said that everyone must know the benefits of doing yoga and should make it a part of their daily lives. She said that the Chief Minister has mentioned slogan of 'happy, healthy and wealthy citizens' in the Swachh Andhra Vision-2047. MLA Vijaya Kumar said, 'Recognising the importance of yoga, which originated in India, June 21 was declared as International Yoga Day in 2014, and since then Yoga Day has been celebrated every year. Yoga helps in reducing our physical, mental and stress. It keeps the mind calm. Everyone should participate in the month-long yoga programme being organised across the State.'
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Over 10,000 students of RGUKT IIIT appear for NPTEL exam
More than 10,000 students of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) IIIT appeared for the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) examination. The examination was conducted at RGUKT Nuzvid, R.K. Valley, Srikakulam, and Ongole campuses on Monday, said university Chancellor Prof. K. Madhu Murthy, in a release. NPTEL is a prestigious national initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with leading institutes like IITs and IISc. ''The programme aims to make world-class technical education accessible to everyone through online courses,'' said RGUKT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vijaya Kumar. Registrar Prof. Sandra Amarendra Kumar appreciated the NPTEL coordinators, faculty, technical teams and administrative staff at the four campuses for successfully conducting the examination. Designed by IIT Madras, the NPTEL courses would help engineering students to enhance their technical skills. Irrespective of their syllabus or stream, students could gain additional knowledge and skills aligned with modern technological requirements, Prof. Kumar said.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- The Hindu
Businessman, wife found murdered at home near Kottayam
A businessman and his wife were found brutally murdered at their residence in Thiruvathukkal, near Kottayam, on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Vijaya Kumar, owner of the Indraprastham Auditorium at Thirunakkara, and his wife Meera. The murders came to light around 8:45 a.m. when their domestic help arrived at the house and found the couple lying dead. According to the police, both victims were found in separate rooms, lying in pools of blood with deep injuries, particularly on their faces, inflicted by a sharp weapon. The bodies were found lying unclothed. A weapon suspected to have been used in the murder was also recovered from the scene. The police have ruled out robbery, pointing instead to personal enmity as the likely motive. A search is on to trace an inter-State migrant worker who had previously been employed at the residence. The person, identified as Amit, was dismissed last year following a theft involving a mobile phone. 'This individual used the stolen phone to withdraw money from Mr. Vijaya Kumar's account,' a police official said. 'A complaint was lodged and he was arrested . He, however, is currently out on bail.' Preliminary investigations suggest the assailant scaled over the compound wall and gained entry into the house by breaking the window near the main door. He then unbolted the door from inside and entered the house. 'The data recorder of the CCTV network at the house is missing and we suspect the assailant removed them,' said Kottayam District Police Chief Shahul Hameed. 'We have received strong leads pointing to the accused, ' the official added. The weapon used for the murders is believed to have been taken from the outhouse on the property. The bodies were later shifted to Kottayam Medical College Hospital for post-mortem following the completion of inquest procedures. The couple had earlier lost their elder son, who was found dead near a railway track in June 2017. That case is currently under investigation by the CBI. Besides the auditorium, Vijaya Kumar also owned several other business ventures. The couple is survived by a daughter who lives abroad.
