City: Bengaluru

Just yesterday, I had my first run in with the Karnataka High Court. I was attending a court case involving the construction of a road through the GKVK - UAS campus by the BBMP and its subsequent challenge by ex vice-chancellors of that University (For an understanding of the case at hand, refer to this article written in Citizen Matters). Just being in that court room, seeing lawyers presenting their case, judges going through the evidence presented, petitioners and defendants arguing vehemently, nervous interns, curious onlookers - in short the entire package brought back interesting memories when I was involved…

Ever looked for an indulgent dish to devour at the end of a week that was beset with mundane meals? If yes, then Vidyarthi Bhavan's legendary ghee soaked Dosa fits that bill.Located amidst the clamour of the crowd at Gandhi Bazaar, this restaurant could be hard to find if you went "looking" for it. However, if you went "asking" for it, you'd be adding to the Vidyarthi Bhavan's waiting queue in no time - a testament to the popularity of this long standing restaurant. Dosa with chutney at Vidyarthi Bhavan. Pic: S K Shivashankar.This restaurant has been garnering the admiration…

A visit to a zoo always sounds like a fun-filled activity for kids and adults alike. Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) located on the outskirts of Bangalore in Anekal district is no exception. Easy accessibility, parking spots, surprisingly well-organised ticket counters, and numerous food kiosks make the outing a delightful experience. A near-perfect picture? Not quite.What started off as a picnic spot in 1971 is now a notified ‘large zoo' spread over 320 hectares housing over 1,500 animals. All zoos in India come under the purview of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), New Delhi, and a state-level body, which in Karnataka…

I had heard of private antique collectors. However, I hadn’t met one before or fathom the reasons why people have a penchant for collecting old things. Until I met Ramprasad. Holding a beautiful hand crafted vase, Ramprasad explains, “this is a very rare Chinese vase. The style of work is called Cloisonne. It’s more than 200 years old.” Pic: Poornima Dasharathi. Ramprasad has a mechanical engineering background and works in Bosch, India. He has travelled to other countries especially Germany on work. He lives in a middle class colony in Chamarajpet. The house from outside looks like any other cement…

While many parents prefer traditional, mainstream schools, there are others looking out for options. Tradition has edged the mass towards mainstream schools with blackboards and report cards, but a growing number of parents in Bengaluru are opting for an alternative method of education - alternative schools. The names one usually comes across while mulling over alternative education are Montessori, Jiddu Krishnamurthi, Steiner/Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, etc. While following these schools of thought, some schools do bank on their own home-grown methods of teaching too. Some of the better-known unconventional schools in Bangalore are The Valley School, Centre for Learning, Shibhumi, Poorna,…

A colourful exhibition showcasing dolls, took place from December 15th to 19th at 1 Shanthi Road. The main organiser of this exhibition was Vishakha from the Craft Studio, who has experience in the theatre and craft field. Other organisers were Nandini, Chandra, Sushila and Shashikala. Besides being just a showcase and sale of dolls, the exhibition served as a platform for discussion and creative interactions on topics related to craft, games, theatre and storytelling.The overall aim of the exhibition according to Vishakha was to support the craft, add an additional facet of identity to the dolls and lay emphasis on…

Towns and cities have always been points of attraction to people in rural areas.  There is a big difference between urban lifestyle and rural lifestyle even today, except for the villages very close to the cities.  Towns and cities are the last hopes of people from villages.  Thousands of people migrate from villages to bustling cities to earn their livelihoods, especially when nature disappoints them and their farms fail to meet their basic needs. I have been selling my old newspapers and other waste materials to Madayan, a 35-year-old soft spoken man for the last 15 years.  I have always…

We love them, we hate them, but we cannot ignore them. The ubiquitous yellow and black (now of course they are going green) auto rickshaws are part and parcel of this city. This is the taxi of the middle class. You get the first taste of what is to come when you get off in any of the Bangalore railway stations. If you are not careful you will end up paying Rs 160 from Bangalore Cantonment to Halasuru, even if it is after 6 AM.Random sampling for the sake of this column, tells me that six out ten passengers who…

We know the very end of the year is near and that you may have already picked some calendars for your home or office. Still, Citizen Matters is tempting you to buy another, one with a special Bangalorean flavour. These four calendars have six awesome photographs of Bangalorean scenes you must keep. Perhaps you can gift a special someone!No profits, please note: Funds generated from your purchases will go to Kilikili, a city-based group working to create inclusive public play spaces that are accessible to children with disabilities. So go ahead and take them away! PRICES & SIZES A5 Desktop…

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, convenor of the Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure Development (ABIDe) committee, has sent a letter to the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa indicating that he has been left with no choice but to resign, Citizen Matters has learnt. Chandrasekhar, 44, is also a sitting Rajya Sabha MP (Independent), representing Karnataka and Bangalore Urban. He had won his seat with the support of the JD(S)-BJP combine in 2006.  He is also former president of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry). Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Sabha MP (Independent) and Convenor of the ABIDe task force. Pic courtesy: www.rajeev.in Chandrasekhar's…