Blogs

Be part of a movement to save our lakes and protect our environment. Join hands with Friends of Lakes, for a tree planting event at Narasipura 2 Lake (Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple Kere), IEHCS Layout, Vidyaranyapura. Date: Sunday, 15th June 2014Time: 6:30 a.m. onwardsMeeting point: Venkateshwara Temple, IEHCS LayoutFor location, see google maps here. BBMP Corporator, Ward No. 9, Nandini Srinivasa has left this invitation on her Facebook page: This Sunday 15th June 2014 be part of protecting the environment by planting tree saplings @ Narasipura Lake. We would like to thank each and every individual involved in this activity and…

Having to commute by bus from Malleshwaram to Citizen Matters office - on Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru, has been a true eye-opener to me. The major learning has been this: Own a vehicle, and learn to drive, even if you would be adding to the mess already on the road, against your consciousness. Sarjapur Road is an "upscale," developing area where you see a lot of tech companies and residential apartments coming up. However, if you love to take on the challenge of walking on the road amidst vehicles, yet manage to be alive, the stretch on Sarjapur main road, from…

Four years ago on this day, four people were waiting at the sub-registrar's office in JP Nagar to get a trust deed registered. Along with them, two others, who were to sign as witnesses. They were well prepared, having drafted the document themselves, getting it reviewed by the sub-registrar office clerks a couple of days earlier, carefully printing it, with all the papers that they had been told to bring. However, given the reputation that the sub-registrar offices have, it would be wrong to say that they were not worried about being put in an uncomfortable spot at some stage.…

On 14th June 2014, Whitefield Rising is organizing a tree-planting drive along the shores of Munnekolala Lake. Read more about the restoration of this lake here.   As Arvind Keerthi from Whitefield Rising says, What is exciting about this drive is that it is a confluence of efforts made by the BBMP Lakes Department, which is supplying the 600 saplings, private sponsorship from United Way of Bengaluru, which is funding the equipment and materials, and of course our beloved volunteers, who coaxed the process along, and will supply the calories needed to plant the saplings.  If you love planting trees,…

The recent heavy rains in Bangalore have resulted in quite a bit of water finding its way into Puttenahalli Lake, quenching the thirst of the cracking lake bed. Something like a full bottle's water getting poured into one's throat, after a long harsh summer outing. As a part of the summer regimen, workmen have been deweeding, and a lot of the water weeds have been taken out. The green around is looking lush.    For those who do not live in the Puttenahalli Lake vicinity, here are some recent pictures. Deweeding in progress, 6th Jun 2014  Puttenahalli Lake after deweeding, 9th…

Once in a while, instead of attending intense, issue-based plays, it's good to go and have an evening of pure, unadulterated fun in the theatre! And so it proved, when I went to watch "Bade Miyaan Deewane", staged by Rangbaaz Group, in association with Rashmi Sharma Telefilms.     A scene from the play, "Bade Miyaan Deewane", staged at Ranga Shankara on 7 and 8 June 2014   Directed by Imran Rasheed (who also essayed the role of Mir Saheb), the play is an adaptation of Shauqat Tanvi's novel "Budhbas", written in a lighter vein in Urdu. Thanvi's sure touch…

On June 8, 2014, the Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) in association with The Hindu newspaper organized the 5th year edition of the Chennai Coastal Cleanup and the 1st edition of India Clean Sweep - a major awareness campaign on environmental conservation. The location chosen was Yelahanka's Puttenahalli Lake in north Bangalore. More details on the planning of the event here. The main objective of this initiative was to create more awareness among the general public against the use of plastics and reduction of our garbage footprint through segregation, re-cyling and reuse and keep our lakes clean too. The cleanup was inaugurated…

A raga is defined as a series of musical notes that constitute a melody. The importance of a raga lies in the mood that it's intended to create in the mind of the listener. Today I'd like to share with you the moods conveyed by popular ragas in Indian classical music. While many of the ragas are confined to solely Carnatic (C) or Hindustani (H) genres of Indian music, some are common to both styles. Join in with your thoughts on these ragas, the moods they evoke in you and others that are your favorites. The links posted below each…

Report by Jesse Jonathan A recent report stated that there are only 17 trees for every 100 people in the city of Bengaluru. This alarming statistic prompted some much needed action. On the occasion of the World Environment Day, the Uttarahalli Magakere Walkers’ Association along with UWBe and the BBMP organized a Planting Drive at Uttarahalli Lake. Event details can be seen here. 300 saplings were planted on the occasion. 200 Corporate volunteers from Ingersoll Rand and SanDisk, and close to 30 community members from the Uttarahalli area participated in the event. The activity was held to reaffirm the community’s commitment to…

Does it move? Kill it! Does it sting? Squash it! Does it grow? Cut it down! Done with it? Throw it out of your window! Need to go somewhere? Take the car! Have some money? Consume more!     Then, have plastic posters printed, saying, "World Environment Day", with the photos of prominent pols, put it up in a public place, and feel happy that a praiseworthy effort has been taken.