City: Bengaluru

It's telling of the potency of a play, when it continues to be staged decades after it was originally written. In Silence! The Court is in Session Vijay Tendulkar takes the covers off a conformist society, to show us just what it is capable of when given the power to lord over those who live by their own rules. With a drama woven into a drama, the play revolves around theatre group about to perform a play in a village. As the plot thickens, the comforting mist of 'pretend' starts to dissolve revealing the frustrated, bitter and jaded lives of…

The whole of Bangalore is talking about how bad the traffic is and how to unlock it. But no one is really concerned about the very neglected pedestrian. Ruthless vehicle owners do not stop to allow even old people cross. There is an unwritten rule which says, "me first". Crossing roads has become a great challenge today where no one cares. If this continues and we choose to do nothing about it, our ‘Swalpa adjust madkoli' attitude may cost us. The already dangerous conditions on our road may become worse for all pedestrians. We at Gandhigiri decided to launch a…

The Lalbagh Botanical Garden is one of the most wellknown parks in this part of the country and is particularly treasured by Bangaloreans. Visit the park early in the morning and you'll see a range of people -- from expert naturalists and amateurs to just plain nature lovers and walkers. Mahesh Srinivas, a Bangalore based amateur photographer has captured a range of pictures of Lalbagh's vibrant wildlife early in the morning. Here's a glimpse. The elusive Golden Oriole on a Peepul Tree, at Lalbagh Gardens. Pond Herons squabbling over fishing rights at the Lalbagh Lake. Checkered Keelback snake breakfasting on…

Sarfaraz Sheikh is a techie, as the term goes, who, over the past year, has come to be a good friend, even with his being just about half my age. I first got to know him through his posts in the mailing list of our Save Koramangala group. Later, common interests brought us together. I have always marveled at his resourcefulness. Hoysala patrol vehicles (pic courtesy: Bangalore City Police) Generally, it's people of my age group who bother with civic issues. But, that's beginning to change, personified by the likes of Sarfy (as he is commonly known), and perhaps that's…

One of the modes of transport which has been prevalent in many Indian cities has been cycling; and recently, it's been much touted as a non-polluting, eco-friendly, fitness-building activity, which is an exercise as well as a means of getting from A to B. Cycling within this city has many has many participants, from the toddlers on their first bikes, to hobby cyclists, to those who cycle because of their commitment to non-pollution, to those who cycle because that is the means of transport most affordable to them. Here are a few vignettes from each sector: Many children often begin…

Namma Metro's construction on M G Road has stopped for a couple of weeks, according to a reliable source at BMRCL. This is because a private property next to Nalli Silks on M G Road is under litigation i.e., the owner of the property has a personal litigation going on about the property itself. There is a court stay on the property for two weeks, following which, the construction will begin again. Ongoing construction is causing noise disturbance for residents living within a few feet of the work. Pic: Zainab Bawa. On CMH Road also, construction has stopped as of…

India is the treasure house of knowledge on medicinal uses of more than 7,500 plant species. But, we are in danger of losing this knowledge through our indifference to these ancient systems unless there is a process of transferring this treasure trove to our future generations. It needs a continuous linkage to these healing plants. A Bangalore based organisation, The Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), has been focusing on bringing these systems within reach of households. "Health begins at home" is the concept that FRLHT has been promoting with their "Amruth Home Herbal Gardens" program for citizens…

The traffic in Bangalore and other cities are increasing alarmingly. This is due to the affordability of the people to buy a vehicle and the competitiveness of the automobile industries which are leading to high density of traffic which is a serious concern for global warming and the changing climatic conditions. There are 3 to 4 cars and 2 to 3 two wheelers for each house. I have seen most of the sedans and midsized cars are driven with a single persons and the government should stop giving licence to manufacture midsize cars and sedans and SUV's and this should…

Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, one of the fastest growing metros in India where opportunity knocks at everyone's door; is shrouded with the gory mystery and horror of Child Sexual Abuse. Dr Shoiba Saldanha, a gynaecologist and counsellor by profession, who is an active part of Enfold, a Koramangala-based NGO, says that 30-40 per cent of the patients who visit her are such cases. Presumably, most of these cases are not legally recorded. Illustration: Neetu Shahi Dr Shekhar Seshadari, NIMHANS, Bangalore, in a study conducted in the late 1990s on 146 boys found that 15 per cent had been…

After hanging fire for years, it appears that the National Gallery of Modern Art will open at Bangalore before the end of June. Talking to Citizen Matters, I M Vittal Murthy, Principal Secretary at the Karnataka's Department of Kannada and Culture said that New Delhi had committed this to the state government. Waiting for the big day.The Manikyavelu Mansion on Palace Road, to be Bangalore's NGMA. Pic: Amoghavarsha J S. A saga that tells its own story Most citizens may not know that for several years now, this prestigious gallery was to open at Bangalore, as the southern regional centre…