bangalore journal

Anti-corruption champion Anna Hazare's public meeting at National College Grounds, Basavangudi on May 28 drew around 10,000 people towards the end, according to the India Against Corruption's group. IAC had expected around 50,000. At 2 pm, when the event was expected to start, there were only about 2000 people in the audience. But the numbers had swelled by the time of Hazare's speech at the end around 5pm. An ecstatic audience cheered as Hazare stepped up to speak. Hazare said that the Lokpal Bill should be drafted by June 30 and passed in assembly by August 15; if not, he…

I waited. And he waited. I waited some more and he too waited some more. Impasse. Flustered and confused, I looked at him -- and waited again. He too stared at me, with a hint of impatience and bafflement. My first day at Cambridge, UK, on a pleasant May morning. I had stepped out and while making my way along the pavement saw a cyclist coming down the same way (cyclists and pedestrians share the same pathways skirting the roads). Used to Bangalore's "get-out-of-my-way" culture, I assumed he had right of way, and waited, while he, following the local road…

"Running is my passion!" says 29 year old Seema Kotian, a technical writer during the weekdays and a marathoner by the weekend. Look around and you'll see that she isn't the only one saying that. Running is the new way to be fit. Don't join a gym. Run instead. Seema Kotian at the Sunfeast 2008 run. Pic Courtesy: Seema Kotian This must have been the very thought behind the people who introduced the city of Bangalore to the World 10k in 2008. Today 3 marathons later, the Sunfeast World 10k has been rechristened into TCS World 10k Bangalore 2011. But…

During enrolment, residents have to fill an enrolment form which will have basic details such as name, address etc. Evidence of Proof of Identity (PoI), Proof of Address (PoA) and Date of Birth (DoB) should be produced. If original documents are not available, copies attested by a notary/gazetted officer will be accepted. Additionally, biometric details - which include scanning of 10 fingerprints and iris, and photograph - will be taken. For children under 15, biometric details won't be taken; their UID will be linked to their parent's after verification. As per the UID website, here are the documents which will…

The lapses observed at the time of Surprise Visit made to Victoria Hospital, Bangalore on 24 May 2011. During the time of visit attendance register of Doctors and other Staff members was verified. Out of 173 Doctors 73 Doctors were found to be absent. At the time of visit only 15 Doctors were present and the remaining 82 Doctors attended the duty after prescribed time. 03 Doctors went on leave. It was directed to issue notice to the absente Doctors and to call for their explanation. It was directed to cut one day salary to the Doctors who were un-authorized…

The Karnataka RTO puts the number of vehicles plying on the roads of Bangalore as 36 lakhs, according to a 2008 estimate. This includes 31 lakh two -wheelers and 5 lakh four wheelers. The numbers have only increased since. The city's automotive abundance is also a haven for thieves who can have a pick at the vehicles they want to drive away with. Aloka D'Souza, 21, a graduate of Fashion Design from Mount Carmel College became a victim of automobile theft last year when her Scooty Pep was stolen. Her vehicle key was stolen from her when she was playing…

Doctors are wary of asking someone a simple question like "How are you?" in a social gathering. The reason is, the moment this question is asked , the person starts off with all his medical complaints. The doctor is definitely not interested in professional consultation in social get together. Strangely enough, when the same person goes to a doctor's chamber, he is not so forthcoming. Often the doctor has to ask probing questions to get the symptoms out of patient. The result in both cases is dissatisfaction. It is so easy to blame the doctor. However, it stands to reason…

The ‘modern' Metro stations in the city will not have any public toilets. BMRC appears to be shirking responsibility by saying that the government has to take initiative for this. Byappanahalli terminal station in reach 1, proposed to be open soon, does not have toilets. Pic: Navya P K   "As Metro is a short distance train for travel within city, it will take only 2-3 minutes to go from one station to another. It cannot be expected to provide facilities given by long distance trains," says Metro spokesperson Y B L Chavan. "There is a proposal to have toilets…

Directed by Rishikesh Nadkarni, California Suite was performed to an appreciative audience, on Saturday and Sunday, May 7th and 8th, 2011. This bittersweet comedy written by playwright Neil Simon was presented by Barking Dog Productions with an all-youngster-cast and crew. The audience peeked into the lives of five couples that stay in a suite in The Beverly Hills Hotel in California. Clever dialogues about a divorced couple fighting for the custody of their daughter, a man trying to hide an unconscious prostitute he had just found in his bed, from his wife, two couples who end up fighting on a…

Anna Hazare, who led the indefinite fast for Lokpal Bill last month, will visit Bangalore on May 27-28. This is part of IAC (India Against Corruption)'s continuing campaign to have the Bill passed in the monsoon session of Parliament. Bangalore is one of the five cities that Hazare is planning to visit in the first round of the campaign. Promotional Artwork put out by India Against Corruption Banalore group. "After Delhi, the highest response for Jan Lokpal Bill was from Bangalore, which is why Hazare wanted to visit," says Anand Yadwad, who had participated in the indefinite fast in Bangalore.…