bangalore journal

The movie 3 Idiots, has this famous scene with Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan that refers to Gujarati dishes - Dhokla, Faafda, Thepla, Haandva. Watching the movie again made me yearn for those yummy delicacies. I set out to find some in Jayanagar. Khandvi. Pic: Wikipedia free A typical north Indian village setup where you are welcomed with vermilion on your forehead. Village, Jayanagar, has the perfect atmosphere for a wonderful dining experience. Such an unusual welcome in a restaurant! You can play Dandia-raas in the open space. The puppet shows will definitely keep the children engrossed. The Mehendi counters…

It was an unusual Sunday buzzing in Bengaluru with activities. Colours were all around. Creativity seemed to be at its peak. From perfectly cut wine bottles to make a pot, to neatly sewn fabric wastes forming into beautiful earrings and a lot more. You name it and you have it there. All this and more was at the fourth edition of "Second to none" flea market held at Jaaga on KH road. "This was the busiest of all the flea markets we have held so far," says Anupama G, the organiser of this market. "Second to none" (220) flea market…

This year, each property under BBMP has been given a new GIS-based PID number. PID will have ward number, new street ID and newly allotted property number.To find your PID number, please follow these steps:1) Go to the link bbmp.gov.in2) Click on the tab 'GIS based new PID'3) Go to the bottom of the page and click on 'To Know your New PID Click Here'4) Enter the application number you used for your 2008-2009 property tax payment or enter your old PID Number and click on 'Search'.5) Click on your name and then click 'Fetch'. You will get the details.…

UPDATE: For Summary revisions of rolls open November 5th to December 4th 2012, click here. The Election commission of India has announced a special opportunity for the citizens of Bengaluru. You can enrol as a first-time voter or oncoming to reside in Assembly Constituency.If your name has been left out in the voter's list published in January, give the required information to the booth level officers when they visit your house, to enable them to include your name. Any kind of form filling is not required.You can get corrections done in your entry or the EPIC card issued to you.You…

It was one question by a 65-year-old village woman that got Harish Hande to do what he does now. She asked him if he would be able to provide her light before she died?. He lights the bulbs of rural Karnataka and Gujarat. He has achieved great heights in his career in the field of solar energy.He graduated in Energy Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. Then he went to the U.S. to do his Master's and PhD in Energy Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Harish Hande, 45, co-founded SELCO India, a solar energy company, in 1995 and moved to…

Karnataka Housing Board's National Games Village (NGV) is in a mess for almost 10 years now. KHB has not taken any step towards maintenance. NGV has rubbles, and garbage dump all around it. However, no cleaning has been taken up by the KHB despite collecting an external maintenance of Rs. 450 per house.The National games village has 14 blocks and over 2500 houses. The maintenance has been handed over to the residents, making them responsible for internal maintenance. External maintenance however still remains with KHB.A maintenance of Rs. 1500 is collected by every block of NGV out of which, Rs.…

Lack of trash pickup points nearby has made 6th cross, 3rd block Koramangala near BDA complex a garbage dumping space for over 20 years now. Pourakarmikas say the garbage pickup truck comes about once a week to clear it. Devi, a pourakarmika says, "We have been dumping the garbage of the whole locality here. The BBMP truck comes and collects it whenever they want."    Garbage dump at BDA complex, Koramangala. Pic: Anisha Nair      The garbage menace has been bothering residents and shopkeepers alike. A tea stall owner outside the BDA complex, who did not want to be named, says,…

Elita Promenade residents in JP Nagar, 7th Phase, have filed a lawsuit against their developers for allegedly keeping them in dark over various issues related to the apartment complex. The case was filed in November 2011. Elita Promenade, near Sarakki lake, is a multi-floor apartment complex constructed in joint venture between Singapore-based Keppel Land and Puravankara Developers, Bengaluru. Three issues seems to lie at the centre of the conflict - sewage problem, lack of clarity on land ownership in the layout and sale of one part of common land to KPTCL without notice. Pic: Abhishek Angad A temporary boundary fence…

The Karnataka High Court cancelled the lease of Agara lake in HSR Layout given to Biota Natural Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd on February 29, 2012. Biota had filed a petition against the termination of lease of Agara lake by Lake Development (LDA) in 2009. Following the High Court judgment, the lake has been handed back to the LDA, Bangalore. The under-maintained Agara lake, adjacent to HSR Layout, off the outer ring road. Pic: Anisha NairThe judgement from high courtBiota contested LDA's termination of its contract in its petition. Biota claims that they could not take up any development work on…

Dramanon (Short for Dramatist Anonymous) is a theatre group whose fortunes I have followed ever since they "set up shop" in Bengaluru six years ago. I have reviewed every one of their productions, except for "Reservoir Dogs". A scene from the play. Pic: Deepa Mohan Their latest production is the intricately-wrought, witty play, "This", written by Melissa James Gibson. It is is a poignant comedy about four urban people, who, past the first blush of youth, are examining what the rest of their lives mean. Jane is a single mother, who's lost her husband a year ago; Marell and Tom…