City: Bengaluru

We, the grieving family of Arjun Hari Nair, are writing to set the record straight. My brother, was killed in a hit and run incident at Mekhri Circle. Nothing hurts a family that the suffering and death of a family member could have been prevented and unfortunately, we have confirmation from various sources including the police that his death was not instantaneous. Arjun was a young businessman who was killed in a hit and run case, last month. Pic Courtesy: Mrinalini Nair On Thursday morning, September 15th, Arjun Hair Nair, 28 years old, left a friend's house in Sadashivanagar, and…

Citizen associations in parts of Bangalore are gearing up to get residents to register as voters for the upcoming Bangalore graduate constituency election. The election to the position of MLC (Member of Legislative Council) will be held before June 2012. Residents can enrol themselves as voters before November 5th.Graduate constituency election is one in which only residents with a graduate degree or equivalent educational qualification can vote. Voter should be a resident of the constituency and been a graduate from any Indian university for at least three years before November 1st. Even if you have voter identity cards, you need…

“The biggest challenge we face, with the increasing prices is to provide enough to eat three square meals a day with a balance in the nutrients,” says Mary, 46, a domestic worker and a single mother, who lives in Nakalu Bande in Jaynagar 3rd Block.   Price of petrol, which was Rs 46 in mid 2009, is now nearing Rs 75; 10 grams of gold cost approximately Rs 16000 in September 2009 and is at Rs 26,000 now. The price of milk has nearly doubled from Rs 12 for one litre (double-toned milk), in 2007, to the current price of…

At Kalyana Mantapas and community halls around the city, Bengalis concluded Durga Puja celebrations on Oct 6th, Bijoya Dashami. A Brookefields event on Oct 5th attracted around 300-400 people. It was organised by the East Bangalore Cultural Association. Aarati preparations at the Brookefields event Oct 3rd. Pic: Rudreshwar SenAshtami, Oct 4th at Jayamahal. Pic: Rudreshwar SenAt the Brookefields event on Dashami. Pic: Rudreshwar SenBrookefields Idol. Pic: Rudreshwar SenNilanjana and Alakananda, Whitefield area Bengalis, after Sindoor Khela at Brookfields on Oct 6th. Pic: Rudreshwar SenSindoor Khela at Brookefields, near Whitfield. Pic: Rudreshwar SenThese saris are particularly meant for this occasion. Pic:…

The festive atmosphere of the Dushera/Navarathri season was very apparent at the Durga Puja Pandal on Bannerghatta Road.At NGR Kalyana Mantapa, on Bannerghatta Road, the South Bangalore Cultural Association, under its President, S Lahiri, began the Pujo festivities on Shasthi (sixth day after the new moon), which fell on 2nd October. Several cultural programmes were scheduled for the festivities up the 6th of October, when the idol of Durga was  taken in ceremonial procession for "Bisarjan" or immersion, after the worship. Indrashis De Sarkar, a very active volunteer, says smilingly that this Pujo is as old as his marriage!  He…

Mythri Arun, 32, a homemaker from Banashankari, decided to make her doll display of R K Narayan's 'Malgudi days' more authentic this year. She downloaded the route map of Malgudi town and replicated it at her home. Mythri, who has been setting up the gombe display for the past eight years feels she can live the memories of her grandmother through this. “Every family should follow this; children actually enjoy and learn a lot through these dolls,” she says. Mythri Arun with her Malgudi arrangement. Pic: Nagashree Gururaj.Mythri's Malgudi arrangement, with the clocktower in view. Pic: Nagashree Gururaj.Mythri Arun's Malgudi…

That smoking kills is no news. That smoking can cause death to your near and dear ones is also perhaps known to most. That one out of two tobacco users is destined to die is something most of smokers would not wish to know or accept. Yet, this is what World Health organisation says. Out of the six million people who die because of tobacco use, 5 million are users and ex users. Six lakh are those who die of gift of smoke (Second hand smoking) from their near and dear ones. Almost 40 % of children breathe smoke polluted…

Jayanagar Samyukta Mandal (JSM), has been organising Garba/Dandiya nights for the last 11 years now. “It is specially meant for the Gujaratis, but everyone is welcome”, said Rajesh Parekh, 65, Secretary of JSM. Mesmerizing whirls. Pic: Nagashree Gururaj, Shreyas Nag Women wear splendid traditional and colorful embroidered choli, ghagra and bandini dupattas dazzling with mirror work whereas men wear their special turban and Kedias (kurtas) depicting Krishna’s costume. The dance moves were enchanting with intense and energetic whirls. Am I the best dressed? Pic: Nagashree Gururaj, Shreyas Nag “I have been dancing here for the last two years now, this…

It was an evening that evoked an array of moods as versatile singer M D Pallavi performed at a musical fundraising dinner concert at Taj West End, Racecourse road. She sang compositions of famous poets like G P Rajaratnam, D V Gundappa, Shishunal Sharief, Da Ra Bendre and Chandrashekhar Kambar. The Music was composed by noted composers like Mysore Ananthaswamy and Kalinga Rao. Pallavi mesmerizing the crowds. Pic: Yogaraj S Mudalgi The concert was organized as part of ‘Joy of Giving Week’, from October 2nd to 8th, a national movement that hopes to engage Indians in “acts of giving”, be…

Residents of Koramangala have managed to get work on a new signal-free corridor project stopped, at least for the time being. Work for building grade separators had started at four junctions on Sarjapur road in June. These are part of BDA’s signal-free corridor project from Agara to Sirsi Circle via Lalbagh road. BBMP had transferred the project to BDA last year due to paucity of funds. Grade separators work had started at four junctions – Jakkasandra (flyover), Koramangala 80 feet road (underpass), Krupanidhi College (underpass) and St John’s hospital-Koramangala 100 feet road junction (flyover and underpass). Each grade separator is…