City: Bengaluru

When you feel really really satisfied after a meal, it's worth a mention. "In the Pink" is tucked away on a road where you least expect it; a thoroughfare but maybe you missed noticing it because you were trying to beat the traffic? Pic source: inthepink.in But what's so special about the place anyway? Well, for one it boasts of being "Organic", a restaurant and a store all in one. The store has been around for over a year now and stocks vegetables, bulk rice, lentils, wheat flour etc., as well as organic brand names such as 24 Letter Mantra…

At our Resident’s Welfare Association (RWA) in LB Sastry Nagar, we started working on anti-plastic cause right from Apr 2006. Our association Uthkarsh had conducted a door to door campaign convincing people about hazards of plastics. Dry waste being sorted and stored in Sarovar Apartment. Pic: Anamika Gupta While talking to people, we found out that most people take plastic bags to throw away garbage, since the dustbins get dirty because of wet waste.  It was, therefore, a natural progression to waste management. We began to think about how to avoid plastic bags being used as garbage bin liners. If…

In a world dominated by crass commercialism, mindless madness and sterility, cinema with a soul is a rarity. In this, director P Sheshadri's Bettada Jeeva distinguishes itself from the cinema of our age.The film based on Dr Shivaram Karanth's novel of the same name has also won the national award for the best environmental film. It tells the story of a freedom fighter on the run from the law, who takes shelter in the home of an aged landlord and his wife, both unaware of his identity. Through this situation, the film explores the relationship that develops between the young…

One who always serves and respects elderly is blessed with four things : Long Life, Wisdom, Fame and Power" Manusmriti Chapter 2:121 The advances in healthcare means that individuals live longer. The rising percentage of elderly population, however has its own challenges. Elderly population is projected to rise from 8% to 25% by 2025. Amongst those older than 60 years, 10% are bedridden and 10% are hospitalised at any given time. Where as among those above 70, more than 50% suffer from one or more chronic conditions. (Source: Ingle & Nath , Iindian Journal of Community Medicine, Oct 2008) 60th…

Twenty one families of Jayabheema Nagar slum in Malleswaram were displaced when their houses were demolished on Tuesday morning. A park or a playground will be built in that area. The slum, located behind Mantri Sqaure, was close to the upcoming Metro station here. It falls next to the alignment of BBMP's proposed 20 m road which would connect the Metro station to the main road. Demolition of Jayabheema Nagar slum in Malleswaram started at 4 am on Tuesday morning. Pic: Navya P K The slum does not come in the way of the road alignment, but would create a…

Property values in the city are set to rise with hike in guidance value. Guidance values are expected to go up by 30-100% this year (minimum of 30% within core areas and maximum of 100% in outskirts); rates would go up by more than 200% in outer areas like those near Peripheral Ring Road, since the market rates here have rocketed since the last revision. The previous hikes were in 2007, 2005, 2004 and 2002. During the 2007 hike, the value of residential, commercial and industrial properties were hiked by 50%, 60% and 25% on average.Officials at the Department of…

Director Mahesh Bhatt often says that it takes an equal amount of effort to make a good film or a bad film. This especially true of the superhero film Green Lantern, which had the film makers wading through over 1,300 visual shots and was finally completed at the cost of $300 million.While the superhero film has existed since the 1960s, Richard Donner's Superman (1978) was the first significant film in this genre that had both commercial and critical success. It was also this film that introduced audiences to Christopher Reeve - their most loved Superman avatar for years to follow.…

Last Friday, 12 green activists protesting the tree cutting on Sankey road were arrested. Though the most of the trees were not saved, it sure brought back memories from two decades ago of a similar, but successful protest in 1991. A group of young men including Vinay Baindur, Mahesh Kumar, Sudhir Jayaram and Gururaja Budhya, were able to prevent a number of trees in Malleswaram from being felled. These young men petitioned the Governor, to save the trees. Three of them were detained by the police . Many in this group have gone on to play a major role in…

The two-day festival will have an eclectic mix of artistes both local and national. Residents of north-east Bengaluru will be treated to a classical music extravaganza with Whitefield Music Festival kicking off is first edition this Saturday, 9th July. The two day event, spread over the weekend will see a wide variety of performances from artistes at Jagriti Theatre in Whitefield. The event is being organised by Whitefield Music Circle, a group formed by residents of Whitefield. The concerts will be held between 4 - 8pm. Manoj Pai, one of the members says, "we felt that this side of the…

On 23rd June, early in the morning, Ward 179 (Shakambari Nagar) MLA B N Vijay Kumar, BBMP councillor for the ward, B Somashekhar with a group of some 15 people including engineers from BBMP, BWSSB and other civic agencies visited residents door to door. The ‘padayatre’, as it was termed was in its fourth day. They had earlier visited Jayanagar 5th block, 8th block and Shakambari Nagar 7th main previously. A resident talks about his grievances with the MLA, Councillor B Somashekhar is also present. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi. “Ella channagidiya antha vicharskond hogakk bandidivi” (We have come to ask if…