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JP Nagar 24th main-15th cross
underpass
done ! But govt won’t open ? Page 8
Season for local sports P T Usha graces sports day 6 Carmel Convent girls, national winners 7 Low cost health insurance 9 Citizen Matters & Justfemme present a panel discussion: Is Bengaluru woman-friendly?
IN FOCUS
Why fuss about rich-poor kids in school? 10 TDR-roadwidening back? 11 Day trip for a trek and temple 13 The maker of Pancharangi 17 Neuries, kulkuls and candied fruit 18
Sat, Dec 18, 4 pm. See p16
BTM, NS Palya, JP Nagar, Sarakki, Dollars Colony, Jayanagar
bengaluru south
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Issue-23 18MATTERS - 31 Dec 2010 Vol-2 IssueFREE -23 18 - 31 Vol-2 Dec 2010 CITIZEN 1
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Citizen Matters EDITORS Subramaniam Vincent Meera K STAFF JOURNALISTS Vaishnavi Vittal Navya P K CIRCULATION Raghavendra 96111 06477 ADVT SALES Ramachandran P 9740918300 9901685368 ©Oorvani Media Pvt Ltd. No part of this publication can be reproduced without the permission of the publisher.
contact@oorvani.in Ph: 41737584 Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 KARENG/2009/28904 Published, printed and owned by
Meera K Printed at Lavanya Mudrana, 19, 15th cross, Vidyapeeta Circle, Banashankari I Stage, Bangalore 560060 Place of publication Oorvani Media 165, 1st cross, 1st block, Koramangala, Bangalore 560034 Editor Subramaniam Vincent
Bengaluru’s Saaku captures attention, despite modest response Wow! 800 people?. Out of how many IT professionals working in the city? Majority of Indians hate ‘corruption’ in principle. But when real action is needed, there’s nothing. oomph. Why? “I have more important things to do today”... attitude. When large groups tend to think this way, it can be devastating to the proper workings of a democracy. I applaud the 800 souls who were out there investing their time and effort.
I think there needs to be a strong civic duty education at school. The grownups have to set the example here. If they dont think it is important in participating in a rally that might improve their futures, what kind of message are they passing down to their kids?? Raj
While the Lok Satta Party in Karnataka along with Praja & Smartvote deserve all the credit for pulling this off, it was interesting to observe that there was nary a banner of Lok Satta at the event. The teeming members of the dominating parties in India’s
political landscape, proudly carry, prominently advertise and loudly proclaim their affiliations to these parties that are increasingly becoming undifferentiated through their corrupt dealings. And yet, the finest and most upstanding citizens of Bangalore, that do us socially proud are reluctant in openly casting their lot with the avowedly clean parties that they get to shape & form, and whose agenda is in their able hands! Are we shy about our clean linen?
Errata - In the issue dated 14 Aug, the article on ‘Growing your own vegetables, organically’ was written by Vinita. We regret the oversight. - In the issue dated 4 Dec, the article on school admissions status, Deeksha school was named and located wrongly. It is Deeksha High, based off Bannerghata Road, and a subsidiary of Deeksha Centre for Learning PU College, Kanakapura Road.
Tara Krishnaswamy
Cover credits: JP Nagar 15th cross underpass. Pic: Navya P K.
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 5
SPORTS SPECIAL jayanagar ~Jp nagar ~ BTM
Payyoli Express in Bangalore “Athletics is the mother of all sports.“
Padmashree P T Usha was the chief guest at the sports day celebrations at The Samhita Academy, a school in south Bangalore off Bannerghatta Road on December 11. School’s Permanent Trustee, S D Shibulal, COO of Infosys Technologies and Managing Trustee, Kumari Shibulal along with proud parents were also present. P T Usha talked to the students about balancing academics and sports. She shared some anecdotes about her hardships and her success as an athlete at the international level.
Children’s Sports and Cultural Day at JP Nagar The JP Nagar Sports Association and JP Nagar Federation (7th and 8th Phase) organized a mega sports and cultural event at the Jayaprakash Narayan Grounds, RBI Layout on Sunday December 12th. Children had a great day, starting with sports events in the morning, a free scrumptious lunch and ending with a cultural show in the evening. There were athletic events such as 100m dash and shotput as well as fun events like sack race, lemon race, three-legged race and musical chairs.
Arathi Manay Yajaman
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Karnataka’s Department of Youth Welfare and sports is inviting students participating in national level sports to apply for scholarships worth Rs 1000 a year. Middle and high school with proof of participation and prizes won are eligible to apply. For details contact 22239771.
Speaking to presspersons, Usha said for every athlete being coached at her ‘Usha Athletics Centre’ the goal is to win a gold medal at London Olympics 2012. Speaking to Citizen Matters Usha said that Bangalore has always been good place for nurturing sports persons. However she feels schools and government should do more to encourage sports. She adds, “students shouldn’t have to choose between academics and sports.”
Yogaraj mudalgi
local matters jayanagar students shine in
national volleyball tourney Carmel convent students make up most of Karnataka Volleyball team and won the nationals in first week of December. Carmel Convent High School on East End road, celebrated its silver jubilee on December 10th by hosting an interschool volleyball and basketball tournament. More than 20 schools from the city participated. The school also celebrated the bronze-medal that the girls’ volleyball team, won at the national level, representing the Karnataka at the Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) volleyball tournament held in Bhopal on 3rd and 4th December. Of the 12-member team from Karnataka, 11 were from Carmel convent. Aslam Pasha, the volleyball coach
at Carmel Convent and Hazel Mary Raju, the physical education teacher are in charge of coaching. The volleyball team comprised of students from class 6 to class 9, while most other teams had students from grades much higher than them. Sayyed Arbaina, a player says “We were slightly intimidated by the fact that we were playing against much older players but we were determined to get a medal.” She credits Aslam Pasha for their success “Pasha Sir has given us excellent coaching and we hope to strive for more achievements in the coming years.” Aslam Pasha believes that with a little more training the team could become one of the best in the country. “Carmel Convent has been consistently winning medals⊕at the state and national article levels but there is always room for author improvement. The school has been volleyball champion since 22 years. At the international level, we won the Indo-Lanka Peace cup held in Colombo a few years back”, Pasha added.
The winning team from Carmel convent Sayyed Arbaina, Leora Saldanha, Apoorva V, Deekshitha M.S, Pooja K, Niveditha, Nayana, Ashwini R, Chaithra S, Soudha, Nida. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi.
cricket academy opens in btm BTM Cricket Academy was inaugurated on Friday December 10th in BTM 2nd Stage. The academy intends to train children aged between 8 to 15 years. Young players can join the academy to practice regularly and participate in tournaments. The BTM sports academy also includes clubs for shuttle, jogging, swimming, skating and cycling.
The team has a rigorous training schedule with two hours of practice in the morning and in the evening. Arbaina says that they are charged after their practice sessions and feel fresh and are able to concentrate on their studies better and hence there are no adverse effects on their studies. ⊕
Yogaraj Mudalgi
The team behind it: Venkatesh, Prakash, Nagaraj, Kamath, G. N. R. Babu (B B M P Councillor), Sunil, Vidya Shankar (President-BTM Sports Academy), Somashekar Reddy, Ganesh, Shreekanth. Pic courtesy: BTMSA.
Those interested in joining can mail btmcricketacademy@ gmail.com or call Somashekar Reddy 98860 24283, Shreekanth 9886910910. Regular classes are conducted at BTM Mass grounds. Prasanna N Rao, former Ranji Trophy player, will be coaching youngsters ages 8 to 18, for the summer camp. BTM Sports Academy officials also met cricketer Javagal Srinath to congratulate him on his recent election as Secretary of Karnataka State Cricket Association. Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 7
news
underpass ready but
waiting for vip to open Two-and-half
years
after underpass construction work commenced at Ring RoadPuttenahalli Junction in JP Nagar, residents in the area have no respite as the inauguration of the underpass is extending indefinitely. The BBMP is yet to decide a date for the inauguration. Officials say that the underpass will be inaugurated only after the taluk and zilla panchayat elections on December 26 and 31, as the election code of conduct is in place now. “As the Chief Minister is in charge of Bangalore, he will inaugurate the underpass. We are waiting for confirmation from his office,” says S S Khandre, BBMP PRO. Recently vehicles started plying over the main road, which has brought relief to many shopkeepers in the area. Business had been suffering as the road was closed for underpass work. Chandramohan, owner of Mobile showroom CellCity near the underpass, says, “I’ve been suffering from huge loss for last two years as I had to pay rent for the building while there was almost no business. Now business is picking up as vehicles have started using
the main road, but you never know when the underpass will actually open up.” But this comes at a price. The junction does not have a traffic signal and often there are no traffic police personnel to regulate traffic. There are no parking spaces nearby either. In the evenings, traffic jams are common. Priya Revankar, owner of KO Shop, says, “Between 7 and 9 pm, traffic jams are severe. Sometimes there is 1-2 cops to control the traffic, but this is not sufficient.” Residents are also concerned about safety. BHL Gowda, a retired IIT-M professor who resides in the area, says, “There are no medians on the main roads or signal in the junction to correspond to the increased traffic now. But at least now the vehicles are using the main road instead of the cross roads within the residential area.” Some feel that the underpass was not required at all in the first place. Ramya Ramachandran, resident of JP Nagar 1st phase, says, “Many residents think that the underpass will only increase the traffic in the area. Traffic regulation is poor.” ⊕
Navya P K
Currently it is terrible as work is not complete but traffic from all places is converging here. Commuting is difficult, but business has improved. Traffic police come at the signal only in the mornings when traffic is less. In the evening, they come only if there is a huge traffic jam and somebody calls them. I’m optimistic, but have to wait and see how it will work. Shivaprasad Tadurkar, Owner, Skylark Travels
Once the underpass is open, there will be more number of buses and hopefully commute will be easier. Shanthi, works in a dental clinic nearby
editorial Cut the inauguration drama out, please For the past year, several flyover and underpass projects have thankfully ‘gone live’ without the delay that comes when having to wait for ‘inauguration’ by VIPs. The most recent have been the two Agara flyovers. No sooner than they were completed, traffic was let over and commuters had the extra relief that comes like a pill after a saga of pain. The same with the Iblur/ORR grade separator. At the railway overbridge in far away Whitefield, mere talk of VIP-delayed inauguration was provocative this past July. Citizens pushed away barricades in July and drove through in joy and assertion, having waited four 8
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years. Why then are JP Nagar’s citizens not pushy about the 15th Cross underpass being held up for an election code of conduct? Why cannot the BBMP simply open the flyover and not have to ‘invite the chief minister’ and thereby attracting election code in place for the state panchayat polls? The JP Nagar underpass work has caused enough damage to the economy of the area. Just like the Iblur, Agara and other flyovers, it must simply be opened NOW. ⊕
Better health for
for your info
your domestic help For most of us, our domestic helps are critical to
managing our household work better and we recognise their importance. We try to help them over and above their monthly wages, with tea, food, old clothes and festival gifts. However, the major difficulty they face is in managing their and their family’s health care. Their living conditions may make them easily susceptible to illness and they are often hospitalised for a day or two, and end up spending a few thousand rupees that is way beyond
and her family. If she had provided me with her BPL (Below Poverty Line) card, the premium would have been meagre `150 per annum; unfortunately she does not possess a BPL card. Her other employers in our apartment, where Sushila Amma does housework, also agreed to share the premium cost. This is something we can do in a small way that can have significant impact on the lives of our daily help. Sushila shares this information to her fellow maids and
Sushila Amma with her Insurance card (left) with Urjita Lolla. Pic courtesy: UL. their paying capacity. These women usually manage by taking a loan either from us, their employers, which we may grudgingly give, but mostly by borrowing from private money lenders at astronomical interest rates. For my housemaid, Sushila Amma, I have taken a medical insurance and personal accident policy for her family of four by paying a premium of `450 per annum under Universal Health Plan from Oriental Insurance Co Ltd. She gets coverage of Rs 30,000 annually for her
Universal health Insurance is one of the insurance schemes announced by central government in their budget two years ago. This type of policy is sold only by public sector insurance firms like Oriental Insurance, National Insurance, New India Assurance and United India Insurance. The requirement for getting a policy is a photo ID and address proof for the major members of family and photographs of all members for getting photo card for cashless hospitalisation from TPA (Third party Administrators). For postal address, employers can give their home address, so that getting courier will not be a problem. For UHI Policy from Oriental Insurance, you can contact Koramangala Office: Raghuram Shetty, Branch Manager. Ph: 25634469 (dir), 25631719.
neighbours, which in turn creates better awareness of health plans. The vulnerable class is not often aware of many government schemes, due to their illiteracy or lack of access to information. It is our responsibility to educate, not necessarily en masse but atleast individually, the people we deal with, like domestic maids, drivers, milk suppliers, carpenters, security staff, house keeping staff etc. ⊕
Urgita Lolla is a accountant and resident of Gottigere.
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 9
exclusive
spirit of RTE
Children at the St Anne’s High School in Ulsoor, which has been practicing integration. Pic: Navya P K.
Some schools lead
rich-poor mixing Even as the state government is yet to
finalise the rules for the mandatory admission of lowincome children into private schools (Right to Education Act) for the next academic year, most city schools already completing their admissions. Karnataka’s SSA (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) department will soon submit a revised draft of Karnataka’s rules for the RTE Act to the government. “We have revised the draft after taking suggestions from the public. The new draft will be submitted by end of this month,” says Sandhya Venugopal Sharma, State Project Director, SSA.
While many private schools in Bengaluru are strongly opposing provisions of the Act, other private schools are already at the other end of the spectrum, integrating disadvantaged children in their classes and campuses. Some
of these schools have been supporting needy children for a long time and have been able to overcome many issues that detractors of the Act have been raising. Sister Kanik Mary, Principal of St Anne’s High School and PUC College in Ulsoor, says, “Around 40 percent of the children studying here get scholarships – some of them get 100 percent scholarships - and free books and uniforms.” The funds for this come from the management, Society of Sisters of St Anne’s. The school also provides mid day meals to around 200 children through the government’s Akshaya Patra programme. While some schools support children with funds from their parent trust, others say they are developing a selfsustaining model. Another school, The Samhita Academy (TSA) in Bannerghatta road, has 46 disadvantaged children 10
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among its total strength of around 150 children. The 46 who come from extremely poor backgrounds are given free accommodation in the school hostel. The parents’ trust, Advaith Foundation, funds the needy children now, but the administration wants the school to be self-sustaining soon by increasing the number of day scholars, who pay full fees. “Food, accommodation, extra tuitions and extra curricular activities are arranged for children in the hostel free of cost. There are 25 staff – including senior teachers and nurses – to look after the children,” says Aparna Goenka, Trustee of Advaith Foundation and Director of the hostel. Samhita’s disadvantaged children are admitted to school after a six-month bridge programme. “They pick up fast and seem to perform better than many day scholars. If you go to the school, you won’t be able to differentiate between them,” says Aparna. Poorna school in Yelahanka, Sri Ramakrishna School in Ulsoor and St Josephs European School are some of the other schools in Bengaluru that have an integration policy. Sujaya School, soon to open in Bommasandra Industrial area in the southern outskirts is positioning itself as an integrated school itself. In the meantime, major private school associations like KUSMA (Karnataka Unaided School Management Association) has opposed RTE stating many reasons, including possible ‘conflict, discord and controversy’ due to ‘mixing of children from different strata of society’. However, the state education department has said that action would be taken against schools that have already completed admissions.
Navya P K
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS a
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Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS c
d
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cm special
TDR uncertainty
strikes again Widening of the outer ring
road from Silk Board to Mysore Road and adhoc offerings of Transfer of Developmental Rights (TDR) caused anguish to many a Bangalorean through 2009-10. It also resulted in the formation of the Ring Road Property Owners Association. RRPOA has opposed roadwidening of the outer ring road and BBMP subsequently put the project on hold. In the meantime, this and many other projects got stranded in the High Court in a case over violation of tender rules. That gave a much-needed breather for worried residents who stoutly refused to accept TDR. Even as most roadwidening projects are thus stuck at the court, BBMP has started fresh road widening projects in north Bangalore, again offering TDR as compensation. Expectedly, residents are unhappy over this and are protesting. This, even as a state governmentappointed TDR panel headed by Dr A Ravindra released its recommendations just last month asking for a re-look at the TDR policy itself and proposing solutions.
Even as committee set up to review TDR was recommending changes, BBMP announced road widening in Banaswadi, Jayamahal, Malleshwaram, BTM VI Stage and other areas, resulting in protests from residents.
Ravindra panel recommendations 1) Existing zonal restrictions be reviewed thoroughly and that FAR be reduced in order to increase the demand for development rights. 2) BBMP use the instrument of bridge finance and buy back the TDR that it issues. Bridge finance is being recommended because the palike is cash strapped and cannot buy back the TDR on it owns. 3) The TDR committee recognises and endorses citizens’ views that there must be alternatives to road widening such as putting grade separators, improving public transportation, among others. Drawbacks of the panel’s S recommendations: The however has failed to address what becomes of tenants who are living on properties that are acquired for road widening.
Objections 1. It is unclear whether citizens have to pay a tax and undergo some kind of registration process for the TDR they have been awarded. 2. There is lack of clarity about the monetary/price value of the TDRs. 3. It is not clear whether really a demand for development rights in Bangalore? FAR (Floor Area Ratio) in Bangalore is generally high, almost to the tune of 2.75, unlike cities in Mumbai where the demand for TDR is greater because of the low FAR restrictions of 1 and 1.5.
Present condition of Jayamahal Road near J.C. Nagar. Pic: Pushpa Achanta
The implementation of TDR in Bangalore is still very uncertain. Questions still abound about whether you can use TDR to legalise illegal constructions or building violations. The ambiguity and the relative newness of the policy is what is causing uncertainties.
newsdesk (with inputs from Zainab Bawa)
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 11
pick of the fortnight
Waiting for the metro Being born and brought up in Kolkata, where the under-ground metro rail started more than two decades ago, Metro has a special place in my heart. Bangalore is waiting eagerly for it. It will surely change the way women travel in this city. Let’s hope Metro brings more security for common people, especially women and elderly people.
Akash Bhattacharya
Akash Bhattacharya (known as @k@sh in online forums), a Bengali residing in Bangalore, is an IT professional, who loves to take deliberately casual/candid approach while photographing anything & everything under the sun. BWS is a community of photographers who photodocument the city on trips during weekends. More at http://www.flickr.com/groups/bws ⊕
kids smile at
fun outing
20 children from Smile Foundation's Mission Education programme spent a day at Tuscany on December 5th. Founder of Tuscany, Mohan spoke to the children about their aspirations and gave some ideas on options post Class 10, 12, choosing a career, courses and colleges and earning. They enjoyed a delicious lunch at Tuscany, danced and sang songs. It was a learning and fun activity for the kids. Smile Foundation is a national level development organization reaching out to more than 100,000 underprivileged children & youth directly through more than 125 welfare projects on subjects like education, healthcare, livelihood, women empowerment, and advocacy across 21 states of India.
Pooja Purushottam is part of Smile Foundation
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day trips
For believers and trekkers If cave temples, glimpses of
mythological history and trekking is in your weekend itinerary then come visit Kaivara just 2 hours drive from our very own Bangalore. Located near Chikballapur in the Chintamani district the place is replete with historical and mythological tales of Mahabharata and Ramayana. The zigzag plains of Kaivara perhaps leave one confused when visiting the place for the first time. That is why the need of a ‘Kaivara’ or a compass to traverse the place. Hence the name Kaivara. There are instances from Mahabharath and Ramayana that point to Kaivara. Bheema is said to have fought Bakasura on the Bheema-Bakasura Betta. Lakshmana quenched Sita’s thirst by splitting open a hill. The stream is known as Lakshmana theertha In recent past the place is known for saint named Narayanappa. Also known as Kaivara Thathayya.
Trekking guidelines:
Food and accommodation:
Except for Bheema- Bakasura hill trekking in other places is not recommended for a novice trekker. The best time to trek is in the months of December to March and June -September when it is not raining.
Food is distributed as prasadam at Kailasha giri cave temple. The prasada timings are between 12.303.30 p.m. There are hotels in Kaivara town and Dhabas at Kaivara cross. Lodging is available at Narayanappa ashram and even in Kaivara town. Pitching tents is not a good option as the entire terrain is rocky.
How to get there? Kaivara is at a distance of 6570 kilometers from Bangalore in Chintamani Taluk, Chikballapur district. You can either take the Bangalore-Hoskote-Kaivara cross-Kaivara route or BangaloreDevenahalli-VijayapuraJangamakote-Hcross- Kaivara crossKaivara route.
Places to see: AmarNarayanaswamy temple Narayanappa ashrama Bheema-Lingeshwara temple. Bheema-Bakasura Betta Ambaji Durga Cave temples
Yoga Narasimha swamy temple. Pic: author.
Usha Hariprasad is an engineerturned freelance writer. View from Ambaji Durga. Pic: author.
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 13
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ANAND COACHING CLASSES
Admission For 10th & 12th (CBSE & ICSE) 2010-11 Going On For Mathematics, Physics & Chemistry. At Ramana maharshi Academy For Blind, 3rd Phase JP Nagar.(Opp St. Paul’s School) Ph -9845548920 By B.Tech, IIT Engineer
PG ACCOMODATION AAMANI LUXURY PG At Bannerghatta Road. Opp. To Infosys, House No. 24 Available For 3+4+5 Sharing. At Reasonable Charge For Rs 3000 To 5000. With Or Without Food, 24hr Hot Water, Free Internet, Every Room Has TV, Every Person Has Separate Iron Cubord. Call: 9241055545, 9611101186/85.
SERVICES
Pet’s Vet Doctor Experienced Veterinary Doctor at Pet’s Veterinary Dispensary. At BTM 2nd Stage. Offers ‘Vaccination’, ‘Treatment’, “Dog Boarding”, ‘Herbal Bath’, ’Grooming’ ‘Tick Control Preventive Methods’, House visits are also undertaken. Call: 80880-57144
BUILDING PLAN
Architectural plans, Structural Design, Vastu based plans, plan for Partition and Katha, Layout plan, Estimation, Valuation and Blueprint, at
#4, 36th Main, 6th Phase, J.P.Nagar, Bangalore – 78, and No.47/1, Byrappa Circle, Jambu Savari Dinne, 8th Phase, JP Nagar
CALL 9242064338, 9845673591
Packers & movers Leo Packers & Movers
Branches All Over India # 307, 15th Cross, 5th Phase JP Nagar, 100ft Ring Road Opp. Coffee Day. Bangalore- 78 Call: 9845050361, 9845035612 Email: leopackersandmovers@gmail. com, leopackers@airtelmail.in www.leopackersandmovers.com
18 - 31 Dec 2010
Vol-2 Issue-23
IMPERIAL LEATHERS QUALITY LEATHER
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OUR SERVICES Accommodation Air Tickets Foreign Domestic International Exchange Tour Package Travel Insurance Train Tickets Passport Bus Tickets Visa
080-26597855/66 99450 90333
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Hercules Security Service provides Security Guards To Residential Apartment, Hospitals & Schools, Colleges. 74/3. Jaraganahalli, Kanakapura Road, Near Metro, JP Nagar 6th Phase. Call Prakasha. 9880448894, 080-3243-2436
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BOOK CLASSIFIEDS Call Ph: 97409-18300, 99016-85368
BTM/JP Nagar Citizen Matters
Wall Calendar 2011 If you or anybody you know is a member of any RWA, community association or group, or just active in civic, environmental or art causes, just call us for your FREE copy of the 12 month calendar. CALL 9611106477
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Music Gear Other services
Treatment for hairfall, dandruff- oils and hair packs Acne and skin treatment Facials - avocado, strawberry, tender coconut, thyme, fennel and more acupuncture/acupressure for pain relief and systemic problems.
Dealers in Musical Instruments and accessories
JP Nagar Call
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- Useful helplines and contact numbers for complaints about road, traffic, power problems etc. - State and central government holidays - Space for household notes - Also handy numbers like plumbers and electronic repairs
www.musicgear.in
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 15
see & do
Do you return home from work after dark every day and use a bus to get back? Have you worried just because its after dark - crowded BMTC buses, misplaced bus-stops, or inadequate Volvo services? Have you been reluctant to get into an auto? Even if you use your own vehicle, do you worry about select stretches of unlit roads? Have you had trouble using subways at night, always rushing through them, feeling extra worried just because you are a woman? Or just plain can’t stand the stench? If any of this has bothered you, and you feel as a Bangalorean, the city needs to accomodate girls and women better, then the most important event of the year 2010 is for you, o
Citizen Matters and Justfemme present Panel discussion: Is Bengaluru woman-friendly? Sat, Dec 18, 4pm @ NGMA dance
Auditorium, Palace Road
All are welcome. Panelists include: Prakash Belawadi, a well-known journalist, theatre enthusiast and a filmmaker. Mithila Jha, an Urban Planner, currently working with BMTC. Suneel Kumar (IPS), is Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Bengaluru. C K Meena, author of two books and a long-time Bangalorean, known for witty columns on life in Bengaluru's everchanging cityscape. Deepika Nagabushan, a freelance photographer who likes to capture people and stories. S T Ramesh (IPS), award winning Director General of Police (Training), for Karnataka. Siri Srinivas, gen-next, a recently graduated-engineer from R V College of Engg, working at a global financial major.
exhibition
Cheshire Cat Grins and more to make... Contemporary Dance Silver jewellery and, ‘Eat Me’ Cookies, Performance by Sapphire The KO Shop celebrates Crumpets, Pink Lemonade Creations the holiday season with its and more to eat... Organized by Shambhavi exhibition of handcrafted 19 Dec, 4.30 pm - 6 pm, School of Dance www. silver jewellery, Check out schoolofkuchipudi.com the new range of gold-plated Hippocampus, 525, 16th Main, 3rd Block, Koramangala jewellery. 19 Dec at Freedom Park, 6.30pm Sat 25 Dec 10 AM-9 pm, Lecture Augusta Club, Brigade Evening Ragas in Dilruba Dignity Dialogue Monthly Gardenia and Sitar Discussion disturbia, utopia, house By Aranya Kumar ACTIVE AGEING (Aralo beautiful Marulo). Chief Speaker: Sri Friday, 24 Dec 6.30 pm, Exhibition of works by Bharti Srinivas G Kappanna, Former Bangalore International Kher Chairman of “Karnataka Centre, Domlur 20 Dec - 29 Jan, 11 am - 7 pm, Natak Academy” Nritya Neerajana Galleryske, 2 Berlie Street, “TIME TO GET YOUNG” Push Ananya GML Cultural Langford Town. Ph: 65951972 our age to the backseat and Academy presents music gear up to enjoy with the and dance festival - fullFestival band of young enthusiastic day event of performances Mad Hatter’s Christmas team from SUPERHITS 93.5 and discussions - Guru Partea at Hippocampus RED FM, as they gratify our Padmini Ravi, Swaroopa With Croquet, a Cards Stack need for soulful music and Lakshmi, Jyoti Srivastava, ‘em Up Challenge, Teacup yummy snacks with peppy Satyanarayana Raju Toss, ‘White Rabbit’Sack Race carols and delicious cakes! Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race and more to play...Shimmery 19 Dec, 10 am, Manandi Course Road, 10 am Stars, No-snow Snowmen, Samskruti Sadana, 9th 16
CITIZEN MATTERS
18 - 31 Dec 2010
Vol-2 Issue-23
Main, Opposite 42nd Cross, Jayanagar 5th Block. Landmark: Near Thirumala Eye Clinic, BSNL Telephone Exchange Road Wed 22 Dec, 8 am To Mon 27 Dec. 9.45 pm Workshop: Introduction to the Natural World A day long Nature Camp, Eco games, Trails and Jungle Treks, Sessions on birds and wildlife Camp site at Bannerghatta (Jungle lodges & Resorts) Solid waste management and the cleaning up of Bangalore By Dr. Meenakshi Bharath, Expert on Civic Affairs, Bangalore Thur 23 Dec 6pm, The Institution of Engineers, No.3, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore
Films At the movies– Magnum Ke Tasveer An introduction both to Magnum and Hollywood’s cinema heritage. Till 1 Jan 2011. Tasveer, Sua House, 26/1 Kasturba Cross Road.
Theatre
14 Tue To 19 Sun: Samara’s Song ENG (also at 3.30 pm on Sun): Poile Sengupta - Ashish Sen Theatre Club 25 Sat Hayavadana KAN: Girish Karnad -B V Karanth - Benaka 26 Sun: Nangyaako Dowtu KAN (also at 3:30 pm): B R Lakshmana Rao Pramod Shiggaon Benaka 28 Tue: Mayamruga KAN: Poornachandra Tejaswi - Prithvi Aradhya Vatikutira 29 Wed: Gundaayana KAN: Naa Kasturi/ Lakshmi Chandrashekar Joseph - Kriyative Theatre 30 Thu Heegadre Hege? KAN: T Sunandamma/ K Y Narayanaswamy - Pramod Shiggaon Kriyative Theatre 31 Fri - Kannambaadi Kattaddiddare: Dr. Gajanana Sharma - Dr. B V Rajaram Kalagangotri
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#9, 12th Cross, JP Nagar, 2nd Phase, B’lore 78 Twenty-eight-year-old Bangalorean Pawan Kumar’s inspiring journey began, when he quit his engineering degree from PESIT around 2000 to follow his passion for theatre and cinema. By 2003, he had set up his own theatre company ACTor Productions. Today he has scripted two very successful Kannada films and is waiting to direct is first movie.
The man behind behind Manasaare and Pancharangi
In 2009, director Yograj Bhat released Manasaare to commercial success and critical acclaim. But even as Yograj and screenplay writer Pawan Kumar, travelled through urban and rural Karnataka observing the response to their film, they noticed a curious dichotomy. This in fact formed the basis of their next film, Pancharangi. Writing on his blog, Pawan recounts, “I realised they must be touched emotionally and not intellectually. Manasaare had an over dose of intellectuality. After meeting the audience outside Bangalore who in fact are the majority of our audience, I felt that
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our next movie should be more entertaining than thought provoking. It is with this hangover that Yograj and I started working on our new film.” Though he started in theatre, it couldn’t sustain him for long. Thus began the journey of filmmaking. He says “Short films, corporate films, stupid experiments on the editing software, screenplay trials...all these over 5 years has finally led me to work on my own feature film! Yes it took 5 years to get here...I am glad I had the patience to wait this long!” Talking about his debut as a director he say “I have finally gathered enough courage to face the audience! I am making a film called Lifeu Ishtene! I am playing my age, not pushing in too much philosophy or anything like that. I simply want to make the audience feel very good about their lives and be happy with everything they have done so far. I work on one project at a time, and therefore at this point of my life, all I can say is - Lifeu ishtene!
Christina Daniels
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 17
last word
christmas & fruit cake Go to any department store or bakery in Bengaluru the week before Christmas and
you will see both varieties of fruit cake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; plain and decorated. Half kilo brick like blocks of fruit cake, as well as bigger white rounds of marzipan and royal icing cloaking the cake. With all the media hype, fruit cake has remained front and centre commercially. Do you know how fruit cake became so popular during Christmas time? This is attributed to Victorian England. During this period, a fruit cake covered with almond-sugar paste and topped by an icing made out of egg whites and powdered sugar became a table centrepiece. Before this, though fruit cake was around, it was not decorated. Neither was it eaten on Christmas day. That apparently happened when two customs merged. That of eating porridge on Christmas Eve. And having a cake with dry fruits and spices 10 days after Christmas when the season traditionally ended. Evidently, somebody hit upon the idea of jazzing up the cake and moving it to the festive day. Which was one smart move. So a tradition came into being and travelled worldwide.
Glace cherries, raisins, almonds and candied fruit being prepared for fruit cake. The rind and juice of orange and lime are also added. Pic: Theresa Varghese.
Excerpt from an article on Indian Christmas traditions by Theresa Varghese. Go online for the complete version.
Nilgiris wishes Citizen Matters readers a Merry Xmas and Happy New year
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Free BJR Retail Pvt. Ltd. home delivery No 458, 9th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase, Beside Diwakar Hospital, Bangalore - 560 078. Email: jpnagar@nilgris1905.com within 3 kms CITIZEN MATTERS 18 - 31 Dec 2010 Vol-2 Issue-23
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xmas cakes
Vol-2 Issue-23 18 - 31 Dec 2010 CITIZEN MATTERS 19
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CITIZEN MATTERS
18 - 31 Dec 2010
Vol-2 Issue-23