About Me

BELURU SUDARSHANA: A Brief Profile

Newspapers are luxurious articles in the far-flung villages of Western Ghats. Amidst these hill ranges lies my tiny village Beluru where I was born, but most part of my infancy was spent at my Grandma’s house nearby. As my village was remote, so were the chances of getting schooled anywhere nearby. In the region, which is famous around the country for incessant rains, deep jungles and enormous oxygen, I was forced to enroll in a dozen schools by the time I passed metric. My pursuit of education took me to many different locations – from cooler Coorg in the Southwest to the sun-baked plains of Bellary in the north. In 1986, I cut short my engineering degree in Davangere and boarded a bus to Bangalore. It is here in the Garden City that my future began to take shape.

The Garden City

Within a matter of days after arriving in Bangalore, I found myself editing VIDYARTHI PATHA a student magazine. Much to my surprise, I had begun to edit a journal without learning to read newspapers properly. As a kid, I never thought of becoming a journalist as I hardly read newspapers in my remote village. As the days passed by, I became so obsessed with journalism that I formed a syndicate of young journalists, and began to contribute stories to major newspapers & magazines.

My first article on polytechnic colleges was splashed on the cover page of SUDHA, the weekly magazine published by MYSORE PRINTERS. It brought me, for the first time into the limelight of professional journalism. Then on, things began to change, and barely months later, I was chosen to be among six journalists to travel to India’s porous border with Burma, the country notorious for its drugs and dopes. We were assigned with the task to investigate into the smuggling of heroin across the border. Our investigation prompted the Central Government to step up security along the border and crackdown on suspected peddlers.

The hilly terrain and its awesome beauty

In 1990, I went to Sirsi, a prosperous and burgeoning town in picturesque North Kanara district, to launch a district daily DHYEYANISHTA PATRAKARTHA. I enjoyed the air-conditioned climate of Sirsi, but began to hate the suffocative climate within the four walls of my office. In 1993, I resigned and made my way towards the coastal city of Mangalore armed with an offer to join HOSADIGANTHA as news-editor.

At HOSADIGANTHA, I was exposed to broadsheet newspapers for the first time in my career in journalism. For nearly two long years, I worked continuously on nightshifts focussing my attention completely on better ways of writing and better kind of stories. I was so much involved in my work that I felt myself living in the world of news and printing machines. In Mangalore, everything looked journalistic with inks and the smell of printing machines engulfing my whole existence.

In 1995, I was promoted to the post of Editor and transferred to the State Capital Bangalore. We struggled to set standards and make it a popular daily among Kannadigas. In the following year I was requested to head VIKRAMA, one of the oldest Kannada weeklies.

New job & New Media

In 1998, I took a break from routine journalistic activities and became a publisher as well as a commercial translator. I have published 12 books on a variety of topics, ranging from history to literature, journalism to science. When Bangalore attracted world’s attention because of its role in shaping Information Technology, I too jumped onto the bandwagon and worked for three news portals. In keeping with the pace of birth and demise of dotcoms, I changed portals after portals in search of wider opportunity and reality.

The more the dotcom industry boomed, the larger became the size of its bubble. I left the industry months before it burst out.

Exposure to Visual media

I joined TMG, an English Language Television Channel launched by TECHNOLOGY MEDIA GROUP. Though TMG was an offshoot of dotcom industry, it introduced me to the wider world of electronic media.

In TMG, I headed its Kannada Band with a responsibility to produce one news episode every week to be telecast by UDAYA TV, then the only and number one Kannada news channel. Some of my stories on information technology became an instant hit among the Kannada audience and made the program worthwhile. During my days in TMG, I received hands-on experience in all areas of electronic media that included news-reading, script writing, anchoring, voice-over, editing and shooting news clippings. As the days went by, the channel slipped deep into a financial crisis and the production came close to an end.

The Magazine Editor

When I walked out of TMG, there was an editor waiting to take my service. He asked me to look after a string of magazines that his newspaper VIJAYA KARNATAKA was bringing about. Within months, I changed the face and shape of its weekly supplements and played a major role in the success of Vijaya Karnataka. Round about eight months after my joining, VIJAYA KARNATAKA turned out to be the largest circulated Kannada daily with its sale exceeding 5 lakh copies a day. I took the initiative to organize a journalism workshop on behalf of my paper. Workshops on agriculture & rural reporting and a competition on short story writing were held under my leadership.

Later, I became the Media Adviser to KARNATAKA STATE COOPERATIVE URBAN BANKS FEDERATION, KARNATAKA STATE SOUHARDA FEDERAL COOPERATIVE LIMITED – the apex bodies in the state’s cooperative sector and SUCO BANK, Sindhanur. There after, I headed Zhenkar Advertising Pvt. Ltd., as Executive Director for a while.

In April 2007, I accepted the offer by JSW Steel Limited, the India’s fastest growing Steel Enterprise, to join its Department of Corporate Communications as Manager. Apart from the core tasks, I was also entrusted with CSR activities. As a person who has grown out of social movements, this came as a boon in disguise!

I took a small break from JSW Steel Limited and came Bangalore. I was the Media Advisor and Logistics Manager to Shri B.S. Yeddyurappa during the 2008 Assembly Elections.

I may have moved to several newspapers, but not the profession which I have chosen lovingly. I am proud to say that today, I am well experienced to be able to look after any challenging assignment. Gaining and sharing Knowledge is what a profession is all about, and I stand by this Mantra.

KNOWLEDGE BASE

First – hand information on the following subjects:

 Indus Valley Civilization

 The trends in technology and new media

 The urban culture and human relations

 Cooperative movement in Karnataka

 Urban Banking, Finance and related issues

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE

 Personal Contact with leading figures in Politics, Literature and Art, Finance.

 Friendly relationship with a large number of journalists inside & outside Karnataka.

 Contacts with people with visual media skills, like TV reporting, production, editing, anchoring etc.,

 Ability to mobilize people & resources for any sort of project.

PUBLICATIONS

 Vartamaanada Bisilu

 Wonder Kandar

 Aayada Kavanagalu

 Hudukaatada Hottu

 From Sarsvati River to

The Indus Script

 Aatmaahuti

 Entu Loka

 Embattara Koylina Kaalugalu

 Astama Nivaaranege Yogachikitse

 Kaadunelada Kaalamaana

 Odala Novina Tottila Haadu

 Antara Tara Modagalu

 Deadline Veerara Kathegalu

OWN WRITINGS IN KANNADA

 Vartamaanada Bisilu (poems)

 Sarasvatee Nadiyinda Sindhoo Lipivarege (History)

 Technical writing & Editing

 Internet

 Introduction to Computers

 Computer Hardware

TRANSLATIONS FROM ENGLISH

 Naaveke Vishamayavaagabeku? (Environment)

 G.D. Deshmukh, a monograph (Speeches)

 Grass Soup

 Himadodala Talamala

 Skull Mantra

Techk nowledgeable

 Apart from journalistic writings, I have also written poems, short stories and essays. I have written several features of human interest, which have been published in various dailies and magazines. I am one of the leading translators in Kannada.

 I have translated Grass Soup from English to Kannada and it was serialized in Vijaya Karnataka after I quit the daily. I have translated a mystery thriller Skull Mantra from English to Kannada. I have won prizes in two leading short story competitions. Another translation, Fire Under the Snow, the testimony of a Tibetan monk, is in the final stages of publication.

 I have written three textbooks viz., Internet, Introduction to Computers and Computer Hardware, for the Diploma in Information Technology Course in Distance Education Centre, Kannada University, Hampi.

 I have also written a 300 page text book on Technical Writing & editing, for the Post Graduate course in mass communication for the Kannada University.

 I am a kind of person who wanders in pursuit of secret and mysterious issues. I am working on a book Siribhuvalaya, which is a collection of alphanumerically encoded charts. I have spent huge resources on this, hoping to unravel the mystery.

 I play chess.

 I am learning Hindustani Flute (Bansuri) and my daily practice gives me the strength to carry out a variety of works every day.

 I am one of the organizers of Madhyama Samskriti Abhivrudhdhi Kendra, the centre for media research and training, set up by leading feature writers in Kannada.

 I can proudly boast that I am the best techknowledgeable Kannada journalist. I work with portable disk drives. I have working knowledge of all the major front-end application softwares and utilities. I am a recognized reader of www.technologyreview.com, the premier technology magazine by MIT,USA.

 I am developing my own website www.mitramaadhyama.co.in , the gateway for info-hungry netizens. Many of my literary works are available there. Recently I have launched a download section which has attracted many.

Experience & Expertise

Vast experience in the content creation and pre production, designing of various house magazines, souvenirs, brochures, publicity materials, annual reports, Corporate house magazines etc.,

Hands on experience in internet related communication, website content management, designing, etc., Has designed several websites, from concept to the launching.

Exposed to the nuances of TV production, with 36 original productions on technology.

Fair knowledge Branding , Media campaign, Content presentation (print, on-line and TV).

Has a fairly good number of leading and upcoming Kannada / English journalists in Bangalore as well other parts of Karnataka.

Has studied the present Global and national Steel Industry scenario independent of any task.

Has trained more than 400 young journalists (teaming with six other prominent free-lancers of the State), many of whom are now in mainstream.

Though an engineering dropout, has written FOUR textbooks for Kannada University, Hampi on Internet, Hardware, Introduction to Computers and on Technical Writing and Editing, the first of its kind in Kannada. Also, served as technical consultant for the University.

Has taken classes organized by University Grants Commission, to the HODs of Journalism Departments of various colleges on Trends in Media and Technical Writing.

Being a leading translator and short story writer in Kannada, well known in Kannada Literary circles as an expert on Chinese and Tibetan Issues.

Associated with various social organizations and NGOs as a media advisor.

Worked as Design and Content consultant for Vikrama Weekly and Hosadigantha Daily.

Has personal contacts with a few senior politicians, cutting across party lines.

A serious reader of Media trends, China, Tibet, Science & Technology, Hindustani Music.

The first kannada journalist to have a own website (www.mitramaadhyama.co.in) with both literary works as well media matters.

Was a columnist for Udayavani, Kannada daily, writing on life and information. The column was named as Kali – Yuga (The age of learning)

Experience in Branding

Organized huge rallies and conferences.

Branding and VIP endorsement assignments for Vikas Souharda Cooperative Bank, Hospet.

Personal details

 Date of Birth : 14.7.1965

 Age: 43 Years

 Marital Status: Married, has a son

 Name of Father : Shri Manjappa

Awards and public positions held

 Awarded National Youth Writer award 2005, by Bhaorao Deoras Trust, Lucknow, UP.

 Served as member of Regional Censor Board, Karnataka State for two years

 Served as member, Media Advisory Council, CDL – a part of Charkha Foundation, Bangalore.

 Served as Chairman, Board of Studies, Information Technology, Distance Education, Kannada University, Hampi

MY AGENDA FOR 2008 – 09

 Publish collections of my short stories and essays.

 Launch www.mitramaadhyama.co.in

 Practise Bansuri with Tablaji.

 Write a book on IT for people.

 Complete the half-done novel.

Contact Details

Beluru Sudarshana

2378, 7th main, 19th cross

Banashankari II Stage

Bangalore  560070 70

Phone: (to be announced later this week)
Mobile: 9741976789

Karnataka State

email: beluru@mitramaadhyama.co.in

website: www.mitramaadhyama.co.in