DASNR
International
Student of the Week

Home Country:
India


Above,Omkareshwara Temple in Coorg

Some facts about Coorg, India

"Coorg District resides in the picturesque Western Ghats in India which spans all the way from Maharashtra to the Southern Tip. Lowest elevation in Coorg is 3000 ft and annual average temperature is 77 F. Coorg District is home to River Cauvery, one of the major rivers in India. The river originates from Talakavery, about 4 miles from my ancestral home.

Coorg also has a rich heritage for warriors, sportsmen, ham and wine. Probably Coorg has the only culture in India where wine and meat (ham/pork/chicken) are served on all occasions from marriages to religious festivities. Coorg is a coffee state accounting for 1/3 rd of total coffee production in India. India currently ranks sixth in the world for coffee production. Coorg is also home to variety of spices mainly cardamom, honey, vanilla and black pepper." Source Dimple's interview

India, officially the Republic of India, is a sovereign country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of over 7500 kilometers. It borders Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia.

Home to the Indus Valley civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism arrived in the first millennium CE and shaped the region's variegated culture. Gradually annexed by the British East India Company from the early eighteenth century and colonised by the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth century, India became a modern nation-state in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by widespread use of nonviolent resistance as a means of social protest.

India has a labour force of 509.3 million, 60% of which is employed in agriculture and related industries. Major agricultural crops include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, and potatoes. The agricultural sector accounts for 28% of GDP. Source Wikipedia

 

Dimple Kumar Kundiyana
May 18, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Above Dimple and his wife Uthkala in Las Vegas

This week’s international student of the week is Dimple Kumar Kundiyana. He is a PhD student in the department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. Dimple was born in the Coorg District in Karnataka, India. He speaks Hindi, English, Kannada, and Tamil.

Dimple is the President of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Graduate Student Association. He is also a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, the Institute of Food Technologists, and OSU University-wide Scholarship Committee. He has also membership in 7 honorary societies. He is currently employed full time with OSU as a Research Engineer. Before joining OSU he worked as a Production Manager for Almarai Co. Ltd, Saudi Arabia for six years. Almarai is the largest dairy processing industry in the world.

Above Dimple and Uthkala at the Hoover Dam

Dimple spends his free time playing badminton and soccer; he also enjoys going to parties and watching movies. He came to the US to further his higher education and his skills and expertise. In Dimple's words “ US has also provided the right opportunities to showcase my skills and potential, and to make a significant impact on the society".

Dimple chose OSU because is located in a small city with a friendly atmosphere, it provides all amenities for a comfortable living, and it is also an economical city. Furthermore, OSU has renowned and exceptional faculty and staff who has made his life easier and challenging at the same time - home away from home –

Dimple’s future plans are to continue research on biofuels in a quest to find a solution to the current energy challenges. “Efforts are also directed towards making Earth a better place to live in without impacting the environment.”

Above from left to right. Mithu, Praveen, Father, Vinod, Mouna, Mother, Uthkala, Dimple, in front is Aarushi, and far left is Leo

Dimple wants us to learn a little bit about his family. “ I hail from a middle class family from India. Father (Aiyanna Kundyanna) is a retired Indian Air Force personnel, Mother (Padmavathy) is a house wife. Parents have been the foundation platform for my upbringing and career quest.

Our family hails from Coorg (Kodagu) District in Karnataka, India. I have an older brother, Praveen Kundyanna who is currently working as a Production Manager for Namdhari Seeds Pvt Ltd India. He is married to Mranalini G.S. who is employed as a high school teacher in India. They are expecting another baby this year. They have a seven year old daughter Aarushi Kundyanna who is the sweetheart and darling of the whole family.

I have a younger brother; Vinod is employed as a Senior Oracle Consultant with AT&T India. He is married to Mouna Kundyanna who is working in an airline industry. We have a German shepherd ‘Leo’ which is keeping my folks busy.

Above Dimple in laws. From left to right. Mother, Uthkala, Father, Utpal, Kavya, Smitha, and Ujwal

I live with my wife, Uthkala Urubail, who is currently pursuing her MS in International Business and Economic Relations at OSU. Her prior education includes BS in Fashion Designing from India and MS in Apparel Merchandising from OSU. She has made all the difference in my life to pursue my dreams. She is survived by her mother (Leelavathy Urubail), two brothers (Ujwal and Utpal Urubail) and sister in laws (Smitha and Kavya Urubail). Theirs is a well renowned political family in Coorg. Mother is a self entrepreneur and looks after their rubber plantation. Ujwal and Smitha are currently employed as Associate Professors in KVG Engineering College, India, and are also expecting a baby this year. Utpal is employed as a senior engineer with Altair and Kavya as a HR Manager with Honeywell India.

Our family converses in 3 different languages, English, Hindi and Kannada depending on the circumstances. Kannada is my mother tongue but have not conversed in Kannada with my brothers throughout my life. Both my parents speak 5 languages plus 2 dialects.”

Advisors: Mark R Wilkins & Raymond L Huhnke

Dimple’s advice to students “ Life is challenging, there is no easy way out. Live life full and help protect the planet.”

Interview by: Sandra Rodríguez

Above: Picturesque Talakevery

Above, a view from Dimple ancestral home (6000 ft above sea level)

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Above location of Coorg District in a Satellite Map