City: Bengaluru

One fine morning (around 30 years ago), waiting at a bus stop in Madurai, Arjumand Fatehally saw a street child attempting to stick the top of a discarded cigarette box with her saliva – in an attempt to make something. Keenly observing her for a while, Fatehally sat down and tried to help the child make her 'toy'. Of course – she missed her bus. But she says she found her true passion in life - making crafts from 'waste'.Arjumand's enthusiasm, at the age of 79, to continue this work and share it with schools and galleries would put all…

He is a 5-year-old boy. Most days, he is happy playing by himself, with his bead string or colour blocks. Occasionally his gaze is fixed outside the window, lost in the light. He throws tantrums when his favourite toys are taken by his 2-year-old sister. He is happy when he hears music - anything from classical to Bollywood numbers. He cannot sense any approaching danger. He has no fears of heights or heat. When Shyamantak was 3.5 years old, he was diagnosed as autistic. His parents were counselled and trained to adapt to the child's world. He goes to a…

Which are the schools in Bengaluru for children living with autism?Academy for Severe Handicap and Autism (ASHA)L-76/A, (Opposite to L-50) Kirloskar colony,HBCS 3rd Stage, 4th Block, Basaveswarnagar,Phone: +91 80 23225279 / 23230357Email: info[at]ashaforautism[dot]comSunshine Autism Trust280, 6th Cross, Domlur Layout,Phone: +91 80 65360892Email: rao_vanitha[at]yahoo[dot]com, Sunshineautism[at]vsnl[dot]netApoorva Centre for Autismc/o Lions Club of Sarakki,21st main, 1st cross, Marenahalli,J P Nagar Phase-2,Phone: +91 80 65710445 / 9243195154 / 9845076140Email: apoorva{at]SAIautismcenter[dot]orgRainbow Centre For Autism Spectrum DisorderSpastics Society of KarnatakaNew #31, 5th Cross, 5th MainIndira NagarPhone: 25280935, 25281831Communication DEALL47 Hutchins Road II CrossSarvajna Nagara (Cooke's Town)Bangalore 560 084Phone: 91 080 2580 0826Email: info[at]communicationdeall[dot]orgWhich are the support…

The issue of road widening promises to get more charged as residents, traders and property owners of Dr Rajkumar Road threaten to take out emotive protests against the BBMP’s development plans for the road. This 5 km stretch of road in northwest Bangalore, from Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Factory Ltd to Prasanna Theatre, has been earmarked by BBMP for construction of a signal-free corridor. The property owners and tenants along Rajkumar Road, led by Citizen’s Support Group (CSG) Dr Rajkumar Road, are calling the plan an “urban disaster,” and are opposing the road widening project with the argument that road…

From January 29th, around 600 SSLC students of government schools and aided schools, from the Jayanagar assembly constituency, are putting extra effort into preparing for their upcoming final exams. They are attending coaching classes organised by the Jayanagar Academic Committee (JAC) whose single point goal now is to improve SSLC results in Jayanagar constituency. The constituency covers Pattabhiram Nagar, Byrasandra, Jayanagar East, Gurappanapalya, J P Nagar, Sarakki and Shakambari Nagar. Students in the classroom. Pic courtesy: JAC.Presided by Jayanagar MLA B N Vijaykumar, who initiated the idea, the committee comprises of Dr T V Raju, Director RV Institute of Management,…

The state government's proposal to construct a war memorial at the Indira Gandhi musical fountain park in Vasanthnagar, has met the ire of environment groups in the city, who allege that this project is being carried out by violating several legislations. At least 29 trees (or less) are facing the axe for the project. The groups, however, say that they are not against the construction of a war memorial itself, but are opposing the felling of trees. Proposed to be built over 6 acres and 22 guntas of this 17-odd acre park, the project has been initiated by the state's…

The inaugural Namma Bengaluru awards were held at the Palace Grounds on Saturday, February 27th 2010. An initiative of the Namma Bengaluru Foundation, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the ceremony was held to honour Bangalore citizens. From over 4000 nominations, 26 finalists were chosen. Of these, 14 winners were chosen and awarded by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Governer H R Bhardwaj. The winners were awarded Rs 25,001 each, along with a memento.Following are the winners:Private IndividualsAshis K Chand - A neuro-surgeon, he has imparted superior quality healthcare in remote and backward areas of societyDr Sudarshan Ballal…

Janapada Loka located at around 43 kms from Bangalore will make for an ideal visit for those who are who are inquisitive about cultural heritage. Just hop onto a bus, ride on your bike or stop by on the way to Mysore and have a peek at this world steeped in culture and art. Janapada Loka is located on the Bangalore-Mysore highway at about 3 kms from Ramanagaram. Inside Lokamatha Mandira (clockwise from top left): Flower baskets, Bhumanni & Achambli Ritual baskets and storage boxes; Fruit Baskets and Granaries; Vegetable/fish Cutter; Baricoot traps and tools used to pluck areca nuts;…

Slide show The market waking up to a busy day. Pic: Chitra Aiyer. A little boy making idlis for selling at his family's shack in the market. Pic: Chitra Aiyer. Fresh vegetables arrive in little tempos. Pic: Chitra Aiyer. Vendors often engage you in conversation if you have the time. Pic: Chitra Aiyer Market transactions. Pic: Chitra Aiyer. Waiting for his customers. Pic: Chitra Aiyer. A charming girl I ran into. Pic: Chitra Aiyer Kanji for breakfast - from a cart that sells breakfast nearby. Pic: Chitra Aiyer. A happy little kid minding his dad's produce. Pic: Chitra Aiyer A…

Koramangala resident Suman Bolar, communications consultant and creator of the Foodtravelbangalore blog is a fairly new art enthusiast. Her passion for art started with a visit to the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC about five six years ago. Right Lines Gallery at Indiranagar. Pic: Reshmi Chakraborty. "I did not know that looking at the photograph of a painting and looking at the real thing on the wall were such completely different experiences," Suman says. That visit started an interest in art that has seen Suman and her husband visit galleries and develop much more than a fleeting interest…