GENRE: Voices

On Sunday, the 27 April, 2008 at 8 AM, a group of eleven people met up in front of the Apsara theatre at K R market and embarked upon what could well be called Bangalore's first ever PhotoWalk. As the name suggests, a PhotoWalk is all about people walking and taking pictures of whatever they find interesting along the way. They walk along as a group and click photographs, while sharing their information related to photography, to the buildings they pass by, or about anything else they find relevant. This concept as first mooted and implemented in Chennai by blogger…

Yes, I voted, with a name that was not only spelt wrong, but strangely had an extra word as well - "Meja Pramod Kumar".Over two months ago, I had submitted the form for changing the errors in my name to the ARO, and had got his signed receipt. When I applied for the ID card last month, I realised my name was still listed incorrectly. To avoid missing a chance to vote, I got the same name printed on my ID card. (Now that this election is over, I need to start the process of applying for corrections in the…

Yes, I voted couple of days back, as on many other occasions. And I am proud to be one of the only 44% Bangaloreans who voted. Now, why did I vote? I voted because I strongly believe that I have no right to complain about the system if I do not participate in the process of voting. While this sounds cliched, an important incentive for me is that I also believe that unless enough consumer resistance comes up, the system is not going to improve. So I believe in voting, and complaining and in being happy occasionally when I see…

The first time I ever voted was in these elections. I've lived in Bangalore for 8 years and I figured I've lived here long enough to be eligible to vote. This was before I found you that you only need to be in a place for about 6 months before you're eligible. I wish someone had told me that. In fact, I wish someone had told me a lot of things because I asked the questions, I just didn't get any right answers. So I got out this time. Determined to register, come hell or high water because I'm so…

The Bannerghata Nature Camp is ideal for a short break, especially if you don't want to drive out too far from the city. The pond in front of the Bannerghata Nature Camp Long time Bangalore residents may remember this road past IIM Bangalore as a pot-holed drive into a fairly verdant area. Now it is a concrete mess right up-to the zoo. The resort is situated a few kilometres beyond the zoo, and we parked the car near the Jungle Lodges' new restaurant and were driven inside in the camp's vehicles.The resort itself consists of a half a dozen tents,…

There is a huge debate on "Unlocking Bangalore", prominent (sic) people have joined issues. Seriously, this seems so misleading because issues like roads, indiscriminate tree felling, airports have become the major target areas. Remember that not too long back, the commercial transport lobby went on a protest strike against speed governors? Local taxis also joined in sympathy. Did you notice the huge - HUGE difference in the traffic sans these IT/BPO staff bearing taxis? Same roads, same tree lines, same junctions - Bangalore was unlocked during those two days. No jams, no road rage and we reached our respective work…

5 PM at commercial street. Little drizzle. Cool wind blowing by. It was a weather that every Indian wishes for. No matter what mood you are in, this weather will just lift your moods. I was in high spirits and would have said 'yes' to climb Mt. Everest of asked to now. I was there with a couple of my friends enjoying the weather. By 6 pm, the drizzle turned into a small shower and people were running for shelter. We decided to call it a day and head back home. To my surprise I couldn't find a single Auto…

Every year, as summer rolls in and the mercury rises, I head for the swimming pool (well, poolette, actually!) in our apartment building, and my mind goes back a few years... One of the advantages of living in residential apartments in Bangalore is the fact that one gets to enjoy some common amenities: a gym, a swimming pool, a common green area, and so on. And one summer, I realized that there was someone willing to teach the ladies in the complex, how to swim. Learning to swim was not something new to me. Like the man who said, "Giving…

Devesh Agarwal of the Bangalore Chamber of Commerce and Industry disagrees with Albert Brunner, the CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited on the latter’s recent interview to Citizen Matters on the airport controversy. Albert Brunner, CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) recently gave an interview to Citizen Matters where he said that Bangalore does not need two airports. In this this article, I will argue why the city does need to keep HAL airport open. Indian low cost airlines are leading the current aviation surge being led by low cost airlines globally. Add to this an economic boom, and…

Much is being said and heard about the difficulties that the new Bangalore airport (Bangalore International Airport Limited - BIAL) is likely to impose on the citizens of Bangalore. A few days ago, the High Court of Karnataka weighed in on a PIL and recommended that the government and BIAL renegotiate the original agreement, with particular reference to the steep user charges and on the option of keeping HAL airport open. Last week, the central government floated its new greenfield airport policy, which does not explicitly bar a second commercial airport within a 150 kms radius of the first one.…