Articles by Meera K

Schools have reopened this week, just yet another excuse for jams. This jam on Harlur Road was nearly impossible to clear for a while, because vehicles in one direction clogged the road. An autorikshaw trying to turn back pushed a bike into the ditch. There was no space for the vehicles in the opposite direction coming in from Sarjapur Road to move on. A gridlock. Similar situation on Sarjapur Road... An all too common occurrence. Small roads, small jams; Bigroads, bigger jams. ⊕

Lakhs of students, millions of books, thousands of trees! It’s that time of the year again. All parents are busy collecting books from schools and covering them in brown paper sheets. They are busy shopping for school supplies. New uniforms, new bags, new tiffin sets. Why? If last year’s set is in good shape, why buy again? The schools expect every student to buy books from them, often at a marked-up price. They also make it compulsory to buy brown paper sheets, often plastic coated and notebook labels. What’s the use of covering notebooks? If the idea is to reduce…

Kaikondrahalli Lake is in the news in our neighbourhood. Some of our active residents are working with BBMP Lake Project which is rejuvenating the lake. Dredging work is almost done and bunds on the side are getting constructed. Meanwhile, a young Springfields apartment resident, Rajul Ramchandani, a student of Delhi Public School, has made a short video. He has submitted the video to India Water Portal's Lost Lakes of Bangalore. The Lost Lakes of Bangalore is a project to document Bengaluru’s many tanks and lakes which have vanished with urbanization and growth. See the video here: The parallel activity that…

Why is it that many of us lack manners and consideration. Is it the way we were brought up or we display our pushiness in minor things when most other things are beyond our control. Is the nature of Bangaloreans changing?  Usha Vaidyanathan writes about a fusion performance by Dr L Subramaniam, Ambi Subramaniam, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Ernie Watts and Corky Siegel at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, earlier this year, disturbed by some obnoxious members of the audience. Should not the organizers escort such people out? Who will bell the cat?The doors were closed at 7:05 and the invocation began. Just as…

Film actress Ramya has come out in favour of extending deadlines of restaurants and pubs to 2 am (DNA, May 20). Minister Renukacharya raised the issue this year. Extending pub deadlines is one regular topic that comes up every year.But does rest of Bangalore have to shut shop so early?Nothing is open post dinner here! Outsiders term this a sleepy city, where nothing opens before 10 am and everybody closes by 8 pm. Retailers may say there is no crowd after 9 pm. But there are more and more working-couple families who will find it convenient to shop late. They…

Babu Reddy, 37 is a resident of Devarabisanahalli. His ambition includes reading and social service. He has been part of social service projects such as building government schools at Devarabisanahalli, Kanahalli, Sullikunte to organising blood donation camps etc. He joined the Congress 15 years back and was the gram panchayat member between 2000-05. He is married to Sashikala and has two children.38 year P Mahesh is a native of B Nagasandra village near Bellandur Lake. He studied in Muni Hobbamma Boys High School, Coxtown and is into real estate business. Married to Shweta, Mahesh has a 4-year old daughter. His…

Swarnamala Jain, a 51-year-old lawyer who has been a resident of HSR Layout for 16 years, believes that the issues of sanitation, water supply and stray dog menace should be prioritised. An independent candidate, she believes that the position of corporator will garner her enough experience to enter politics. Originally from Pune, Swarnamala has been living in Bangalore for the last 27 years. Her politician husband (a former Congress member) and son and daughter - both law students - are very supportive and contribute with new ideas, she says. She has declared assets worth Rs 1.5 crore. Swarnamala Jain. Pic:…

If you didn’t convert to a bus commuter last month, here is another chance. BMTC has solicited citizen support and cooperation for March Bus Day on Thursday, 4th March 2010, after a moderately successful first time event on February 4th.  BMTC says they have taken into account feedback about February Bus Day and have made arrangements for a better experience for March Bus Day. They have added new routes and new corridors.This time, BMTC is focusing on the following five corridors of the city, where buses will ply more frequently: •    Old Madras Road•    Banerghatta Road•    Old Airport Road •  …

As we begin the New Year with our 25th issue, it's time to celebrate as well as reflect. The journey thus far has been enjoyable and rewarding. We have received praise from Bangaloreans, as well as those elsewhere.  With recognition by Mint Business newspaper in 2008 and BBC in 2009, we have been accepted by citizens as well as other media as a credible source of pathbreaking local journalism.Nevertheless challenges remain. As we endeavour to inform, interest, and involve, we too encounter apathy and stonewalling.  Unhelpful government officials, unprofessional ministers and MLAs and even unethical community groups are part of…

A wall is a wall, whether it is plain, peeling or broken. But it is much more when it is painted with flowers, animals and mystical beings. It is street art. On Rest House Road, off St Marks Roads, one can see flowers, clouds and a man reading under a tree.Shilo Shiv Suleman, Siddharth Chadha and Ridhi D Cruz are the three young people who painted this wall. Ridhi is a Bangalorean, trained as a journalist, who freelances with independent media projects. Chadha who is from Delhi and Ridhi’s J-school classmate, is a film maker and researcher. Shilo is a…