Citizen Matters, Bangalore's own interactive newsmagazine

Discussion by Hasiru-Usiru analyses the tragedy of commons

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The discussion organised by Hasiru-Usiru at the Alternative Law Forum, went into the details of the cause and effect of the erratic development in Bangalore, and ways to counter it.

“Everyone should claim the city. What’s happening today is an outcome of many interactions between citizens. We need a collective and shared understanding of things” said Dr H S Sudhira, referring to the present situation of ‘commons’ in Bangalore in the Public Discussion Series organised by Hasiru Usiru, at the Alternative Law Forum on 18 May 2013. The talk titled 'Re-imagining Bangalore: Transcending the ‘Tragedy of Commons’ was moderated by Vinay K Sreenivas, Researcher, Alternative Law Forum and a volunteer for Hasiru Usiru.

In the process of its evolution, the city has been pushed and pulled in…

Students of an Actor prepares (aAp) showcase their talent

Nalme Nachiyar — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Institute offers three-months weekend course on acting, as well as dance classes on weekdays. The first graduation ceremony saw eight students stealing the limelight with their talent.

The first batch of students from aAp - an Actor prepares Acting and Performing Institute (for film and television) in Nagarbhavi, graduated on 19 May 2013. The occasion was marked by a finale performance that showcased the talents of the first batch of eight students - two girls and six boys, who underwent a three-month course. The show was held at the City Central Library Auditorium, RPC Layout, Vijayanagar on Sunday.

aAp was started on 20th February, 2013 by Usha Bhandary, stage and tele-serial actress and Ravi Theja, actor and director. Usha is an alumnus of NINASAM…

The man who managed Bangalore's famous mills

Hemant Sirur — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Bangalore's Mysore Mills and Minerva Mills have faded into history. However, the entrepreneurial spirit of Dattatreya Narayan Sirur who managed them are ever-inspiring.

It was a warm week-day afternoon, around the early 1950's. I had just finished my school day and was crossing the road to pick up my father from the office of N Sirur & Company, at Kalaghoda, Fort, Bombay.

As I reached the other side I chanced upon Ramakrishna A Lajmi, who had retired from the firm a decade earlier. Relying on a walking stick, attired in his customary shirt, dhoti, coat, black cap and chappals, he portrayed the quintessential Saraswat gentleman of a past age. For some inexplicable reason, he held my arm and spoke to me in Konkani:"Vhai re…

Bangalore’s water crisis averted, temporarily

Navya P K — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The three-member committee formed by the Chief Minister has finalised plans to bring Hemavathi water to KRS to avert the water crisis in Bangalore, even as the rain blessed Bangalore last evening.
Bangalore's water crisis has been averted for now, with a newly-formed committee appointed to look into the water supply to the city. One tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water will be diverted from Hemavathi river to the KRS dam; currently there is one tmc ft of live storage existing in KRS dam as well. "Together, this two tmc ft water will meet the requirement of Bangalore till monsoon. The water requirement of Bangalore is 1.2 tmc ft per month," says a senior BWSSB officer, on condition of anonymity.

The committee to oversee the process, was appointed after a meeting…

Encroachment of Bangalore’s lakes continues unabated

Priyanka Nadgir — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Though many lakes in Bangalore are dying a slow death, nothing much has been done concretely to stop the mindless encroachment. Kadugodi lake is the latest on the list.

One more lake in Bangalore seems to be nearing extinction. Kadugodi lake in Whitefield is the victim. And the encroachers belong to water mafia.

The catchment area of this beautiful lake is being encroached upon by local politicians. They supply water to Whitefield apartments. The water is extracted from the lake and supplied to the apartments at Rs 2,000 per tanker.

As if this is not enough, a new compound and buildings are coming up on the lake bed and catchment area. A few concerned citizens of this area have been trying to bring some limelight on the…

Helping less-privileged kids through dance performance

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Chasse Dance Studio aims to spread dance as a medium of joy and empower the less-privileged kids through the funds generated.
Chowdaiah memorial hall in Malleshwaram witnessed dance in different flavors on Saturday, 18 May 2013. From tiny tots to the elderly women, everybody danced with awe-inspiring enthusiasm. Not just the performers that night, but the audience too fired-up the place by swaying to the beats.

All these efforts lionize the Chasse Dance Studio (CDS), Bangalore who explore the realms of dance and promote it as a medium of expression. The main aim of the studio is to explore the poetry of dance.

They want to engage people of all walks of life to learn dance not as an…

Memoirs of French heritage in India

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The images, black and white and sepia-toned and coloured, all captured the beauty of French architecture. The exhibition will be on till 20 May 2013.

The ecstatic French architecture has been collectively displayed in the National Modern Art Gallery, Palace Road in collaboration with Institut Français in India and Alliance Française, Bangalore, as part of the Bonjour India Festival 2013.

The exhibition was inaugurated on the 18th April with the photographs of French colonial edifices in India. Amid the verdant Modern Art Gallery are displayed the delightful photographs of the French Colonial Architecture, which expressed identity, power, superiority and indestructibility.

Delhi-based Conservation architect, Aishwarya Tipnis, who invited distinctive photographers like Anay Mann, Gigi Scaria, Rishi Singhal, Serena Chopra, Isabel Singhal and Jean-Pierre Dubois, brings…

Journey of Joy in Bangalore on June 2

Padmalatha Ravi — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The event is meant to raise funds for underprivileged children, besides inspiring them to run for better health and helping them know more people.

The city already boasts of the TCS10k, Bangalore Ultra and the unique Midnight Marathon which are already major landmark events and attract both local and international runners. Why a new running event then? “We wanted to do an event that is affordable, reaches out to the common man and puts the spirit back into running,” says Santhosh Padmanabhan, a running coach and founder of Runners High.

The event is also the first one to have a Kannada name, a hat tip from the runners to the city of its origin.

The event will have Thayi mane ota…

I am neither an atheist nor a theist: Siddaramaiah

News Desk — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

How well do Bangaloreans know Karnataka’s new head of state? What kind of person is he? Fielding questions on Suvarna News, Siddaramaiah let out a calm demeanor to round off the tough-man image he has cultivated over the years.

Two weeks ago, when there were clear indications of a Congress victory in Karnataka, senior party leaders were not sure about how the state’s chief minister was going to be chosen. Many told the media that the ‘High Command’ in New Delhi would decide.

Siddaramaiah Siddarame Gowda, 65, better known only by his first name, must have been considering his chances against veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, currently a minister in the UPA government, and select others.

The ‘High Command’ then sprang a surprise. Instead of ‘selection’ which everyone with an opinion was conjecturing wildly about, New Delhi surprisingly chose…

Citizen should be ruler; Govt, the servant

Rajeev Gowda — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Prof. Rajeev Gowda, Chairperson of Centre for Public Policy, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, shares his vision for the government with Citizen Matters.
Here is a new government which has an opportunity to think long term as well as an opportunity to bring in far-ranging changes.

In terms of infrastructure, there should be importance given to commuter rail issue. In the next one year, with the Centre and State having the same party running the governments, it is a good opportunity to try and push the issue in a concrete manner and get it into the railway budget and the system. The commuter rail system will have Bangalore develop in different ways along the railway tracks and allow for much more access for people…