GENRE: Features

Forms carefully filled, procedures checked and driving skills sharpened, does one stand a good chance of getting a driving license? Considering the general experience at RTOs, there can never be an answer in the affirmative every time. That absolutely nobody believes that licenses can be procured without paying bribes is the least of the RTO’s troubles. The department is fogged by confusions regarding procedures and mired in beaurocracy. Touts and agents at every RTO offering free, quick license in exchange for a few hundred rupees are commonplace. When it is not allegations of corruption, it is the irregularities in rules…

The aim of the CSR Team at Infosys Bangalore is to build awareness about the socially relevant initiatives of the organization, enroll people and execute the initiatives. One of the noteworthy initiatives (among the many programs initiated over the last 2 years) of this well established CSR team at Infosys is the Notebook Drive. This was made possible through the contribution made by 25,000 employees of Infosys. It helped the CSR team to distribute notebooks to 19238 children from 235 schools across Karnataka. This initiative for the underprivileged government school children raised Rs. 7 Lakhs in three days. The partnering…

Looking at the schedules of various theatre venues in Bangalore, and there don't seem to be too many venues where theatre is happening on a regular basis. Indeed, when I went to this link on ‘Bengaluru Theatre’, asking for theatre performance spaces, www.bengalurutheatre.com, I found the message, "This Category is currently empty"! Chandrashekhar Kambar's "Thukra's Dream" - A play at Ranga Shankara (Pic: Deepa Mohan)The most used space, of course, is Ranga Shankara, with its commitment to ‘a play a day’; a variety of theatre groups have been putting up shows this month. English, Kannada, Punjabi, and multilingual theatre is…

Populations worldwide are ageing. Young today is old tomorrow. Better living conditions, lower birth rates and medical science advancements have increased the life expectancy of humans. This would also mean increase in the population of the elderly. The coming years will see an increasing amount of aged couples and widows, many of whom may continue to feel the pressure of earning a livelihood due to lack of social security and insurance. At the same time, the process of aging will be accompanied by increased vulnerability to illness and death. All these features of aging imply that the problems of the…

‘Voices from the waters’ is a film festival with water as the theme, currently in its third edition at Bangalore. The film festival, a confluence of cinema and water, boasts of the largest collection of films in the world on water. The six-day celebration is being held in the Jnana Jyothi Auditorium of Central College Bangalore, during 13-18th September 2008. Organisers aim to spread awareness of water issues among the participants, provides a platform for students, scholars, visionaries and all concerned to learn, interact and debate on the water in all its forms. Worth fishing for: an art piece highlighting…

Bangalore is indeed a ‘Garden city’ even now; not many can boast of such vast gardens in the heart of the city. Blessed with a pleasant climate and fertile land, Bangalore was also fortunate to have many rulers with a love for parks. Read about Bangalore's famous parks and gardens.1. Lalbagh Botanical GardenDetails Lalbagh was created in 1760 covering an area of 40 acres, as a private garden for the then Mysore Rulers, Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan. Today, spread across an area of 240 acres, the lush green garden is famous for diverse and exotic flora collected from all…

Bangalore once had 117 lakes! Though in the recent years the number has dwindled, a few that are left add to the beauty and ecology of the city. Read more about Bangalore's lakes.1. HebbalDetails Adjoining Hebbal flyover, this lake provides vital lung space in an otherwise concrete jungle. Spread over an area of 150 acres, this lake is as old as Bangalore city. It is a natural lake maintained by the Forest department. The lake attracts migratory birds from Himalayan and Central Asian regions and is home to 70 species of water birds and a huge variety of aquatic vegetation.…

The best way to get acquainted with Bangalore is walk through it. Apart from the state-run tours, you can try the other conducted tours and walks suggested here. However, if you want to avoid going behind the usual backpacking crowd with a well-thumbed lonely planet book, try some of suggested walks given below.1. City SwapsDetails This is a guided bus tour modelled on London's open top double-decker buses. References www.cityswaps.in2. Bangalore WalksDetails The Bangalore Walks group organises walks in the city that aim at understanding the history and culture. Go for a walk on the MG Road and learn more…

Had a hectic week at office? Indulge yourself at Bangalore's spas and resorts.1. Angsana Spa & ResortDetails A perfect way to unwind and relax over the weekend after a hectic week. Angsana Spa & Resort is located on the Doddaballapur road near Rajankunte. This international chain is has an idyllic setting. The spa offers therapeutic massages and hydro therapy to rejuvenate your tired limbs. After a relaxing massage, you can indulge yourself on a sumptuous lunch that offers a diverse cuisine options. A pool, tennis and squash courts, yoga and aerobics, gym and a library are other facilities provided here.…

What can I see in Bangalore in a day? You'll be surprised at the number of places you could visit. Read on.1. Nandi HillsDetails Nandi Hills is a very popular weekend getaway for Bangaloreans because of its pleasant climate and location, just 60 kilometers from Bangalore. From the foot it is 8 kilometers to the top. Also called Nandidurg, this used to be a summer retreat of Tipu Sultan. You can see Tipu's fort here and get shivers down your spine looking down the Tipu's Drop, a steep precipice where Tipu apparently pushed criminals to death. There is also an…