JP Nagar

 We had taken some schoolchildren to Shivansamudra Falls, (about 120 km from Bangalore)  and were in a hired bus. At both the entrance from the main road, and at the Shivansamudra Police Station, we were asked to pay up money. When we refused to pay money without a receipt being issued for the amount, and we said that we were a school group, we were allowed to go without being charged. What a greasy culture we have! Tourists are always people to be fleeced as much as possible. I wonder how many people give in to the pressure and pay?⊕

  All our IT companies spout about "corporate and social responsibiility" but don't seem to practice what they preach. Along 1st Main Road, J P Nagar 3rd Phase, all the IT companies have built offices that offer very little, or no parking. They all use the public road as a kind of free parking lot. At night, residents in this area are put to great disadvantage by all the call-centre vans and cabs parked along the road, with the drivers often ganging up to pass comments on passers-by.  Residents of the area have been complaining to the IT companies with no effect at…

  I answered the knock on my door and found two smiling ladies outside, who asked me if our names were already on the electoral rolls. "No," I said, explaining how we could not find our names either in our old locality or our present one. The ladies, Padma and Nagaratna, immediately gave me two forms to fill, and submit, along with passport photographs, for including our names in the electoral rolls.  It was good to see these ladies going to all the apartments and taking down details, meticulously. If only every government employee were as hard-working as this!  Three cheers for Padma and…

At last! The bed of the Puttenahalli Lake is barely visible. Thanks to the rains and one key inlet near the coconut grove getting fed, the water level in the lake has finally risen. A gardener and sweeper appointed by Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) help in ensuring that the plants are well tended and the walking track and lake surroundings are kept clean. In the early mornings and late evenings, walkers can be seen enjoying the various species of birds like moorhens, herons, egrets and others, waddling and flying around the place. Children and adolescents can also be…

It is a sign of increasing resentment in settled residents over continuing permissions given to townships and commercial complexes in the city’s neighbourhoods. While many recent protests have been against illegal constructions (bye-law violations), one case in JP Nagar has come to light where citizens are protesting the construction of a BDA-sanctioned apartment complex. Residents in JP Nagar 1st phase are protesting against Sobha Dewflower, an up-and-coming apartment complex located in a plot measuring 31,160 square meters along Sarakki main road. Residents say that once the 231 new apartments in the complex are occupied, the traffic in the already narrow…

On 1st November 2010, treesforfree will be celebrating the 5th Anniversary by planting 1000 saplings in 4 different places around Bangalore. We request all of you to take time off , come with your family and plant saplings in places convenient to you.The places kept ready are:1. MLA Layout, Kalena Agrahara on Bannergatta Road. Take left turn before Gottigere. Contact person Vinod Krishna 9945396345 and treesforfree Volunteers David 9986452888 and Usha 0620226202. This is a residential layout and 140 saplings will be planted at 9.00 am with tree guards.2. Ben Enclave, on Hennur Bande Road. Ben Enclave board come to…

 She prays to Lord Krishna, who provides her with an unending stream of saris to protect her modesty. An exhausted Duhsasana falls to the ground, wondering at the mystery. The Pandavas and Draupadi curse the Kauravas, vowing to kill them in war. Dritharashtra, the father of the Kauravas, realizes the seriousness of the situation and tries, in vain, to beg forgiveness, saying he will return everything that the Pandavas lost, to them.A blind Dhritarashta stumbles into his own court.Bhishma the patriarch, and Vidura, both acknowledge her divine nature, and enraged at this, Duryodhana orders Duhsasana to place her on his…

Abhivyakti! (An expression!) - an exhibition of photographs taken by amateur photographer Ashwinikumar Maslekar, a resident of Brigade Millennium, was held on October 23rd, at Mayflower Block. Ashwinikumar with his pictures. Pic: Arathi Manay Yajaman. Maslekar, 40, is a self-taught photographer, whose travelling assignments with Wipro have given him the opportunity to pursue his passion. The exhibition was held by Ashwini family as a small effort to encourage his passion. It is said that a picture speaks a thousand words and it is probably the only way to capture and freeze a moment in time with just a click! Maslekar…

The 60-feet Avenue Road that cuts across the 22-acre Brigade Millennium apartment community has become a matter of major concern for residents. Even though the road was initially supposed to be for the use of residents, it has become a fully public road now. But residents continue to pay for its maintenance through Brigade Enterprises Limited (BEL). Rs 80,000 every month is spent on it from a corpus fund of which nearly 86 % comes from the residents. Guards at the entrance of Avenue Road now do nothing more than collect toll occassionally from a heavy vehicle. Pic: Navya P…

From the 6th day of Navarathri, or Dashara, the festivities move into high gear. Everywhere, families have put up their "kolu" or "gombe", and women and children are busy visiting each others' homes. Here's the display at Bhuvana's home:The various dolls and scenarios symbolize the universe that we live in, which is protected by the Mother Goddess, Durga, from evil in the form of MahishAsur.Fancy rangolis decorate the doorways:Welcoming visitors into the homes. It's a festive,happy time for everyone....Happy Dashara, or Bijoya, or whatever festivity you may celebrating now! ⊕