SOCIETY

"We should learn Kannada. No Kannada, no respect" says one white cab driver to another. This is a scene from the recent Kannada blockbuster Super. The movie is set in 2030 with Bangalore as a ultra modern city populated with men wearing Mysore petas and where all the cab drivers are white. Hegemony is maintained through language – English and Hindi are considered to be above Kannada. A person may expect you to learn Hindi while not learning Kannada – this causes resentment among Kannadigas. There are many avenues for learning Kannada. For example, Tamil Sangam holds Kannada classes, or…

“The biggest challenge we face, with the increasing prices is to provide enough to eat three square meals a day with a balance in the nutrients,” says Mary, 46, a domestic worker and a single mother, who lives in Nakalu Bande in Jaynagar 3rd Block.   Price of petrol, which was Rs 46 in mid 2009, is now nearing Rs 75; 10 grams of gold cost approximately Rs 16000 in September 2009 and is at Rs 26,000 now. The price of milk has nearly doubled from Rs 12 for one litre (double-toned milk), in 2007, to the current price of…

For Samaksh Kapoor, 22, a M.Sc. student, a laundry service is the only way he can get his clothes washed and ironed. He gives 4-5 kilos of clothes every week to Sancy’s Launderette in 3rd Phase JP Nagar. “My family does not live in Bangalore. As I am busy with studies, I don't find time to wash my clothes.” He says that the service at the launderette is quicker than a traditional dhobi. “So, this is my only option,” he says. Village Laundry Service Kiosk. Pic: Yogaraj Mudalgi Bangalore has had a steady influx of students and professionals from outside…

A day after the fire mishap in a marriage hall in Sumanahalli, a Reliance Footprint outlet in Koramangala caught fire on September 22nd. The footwear outlet is located along the 80 feet road in VII Block that connects Forum Mall with National Games Village. Firemen at work as smoke billows out. Pic: Navya P K. The first floor of the building caught fire by 1.15 pm on Thursday, but no one was injured. "People evacuated themselves on seeing the fire, so no one was hurt. The extent of damage to property has not been ascertained yet. Electric short circuit is…

My fondest childhood memories of a ‘santhe' have comprised my annual visits to the Dasara exhibition in Mysore during the festival season. Over time, the duration for which the entire fete lasted continued to increase, as did the kind of displays, shops and rides that turned it into a curious blend of a shopping festival with theme park style rides and lots of food. Cut to the present when, as a resident of Bangalore, I was excited about the prospect of visiting the recently held Sunday Soul Santhe at the Palace Grounds on Sunday, September 11th. It seemed like an…

Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda has ordered the cancellation of Bengaluru's copycat 'La Tomatina' event which was to have been held in Palace Grounds tomorrow.In the last few days, many have questioned the event which was to involve throwing tomatoes for fun. Akshey Kalra, a young Bangalore resident concerned on the amount of tomatoes that will be wasted during Bengaluru's La Tomatina festival started a petition and a social media campaign. He also met the District Comissioner (Urban), the Addl Police Commisioner and the Chief Minister's office to lobby against the event.The campaign and public outcry seems to have paid…

The waiting was over! .. after three long years, I boarded the British Airways flight, back home to Namma Bengaluru.  My thoughts now raced to the urban transformation that would welcome me home. Three years is not a long time to expect sea-changes in one's neighbourhood.  But, from what I had heard, I expected to view a few more concrete, ornamental, apartment blocks amidst some marvellous temple towers in modern day Malleswaram.I began to visualise my home city as a ‘motor-driven', ‘rock-king' place, heralding the 21st century charm as well.On the very second day I landed, I couldn't wait, but…

Kannada Actor Darshan's act of domestic violence has been in the news for the past few days. Yes it has not been proven, yes his wife has taken back the case. But the fact is his wife is in a bad shape and is attending court cases with her hand in a cast. The case is pending before the Magistrate. Initial Police inquiry suggests that he attacked her in a moving car. The driver said he didn't see or hear anything because the partition is sound proof. What would you have done had you witnessed this happening while you drove…

The Joy of Giving Week is a national movement that hopes to engage every Indian in "acts of giving" - money, time, skills, resources or love. To be celebrated every year for a week including Oct 2, the week aspires to become a "festival" of giving that unifies India across its classes, castes, socio-economic strata and the urban/rural divide. This year the week is celebrated from Oct 2nd to Oct 8th, 2011. As part of one of the programmes conceived for this year, there will be fund raising dinner with a musical concert by singer M D Pallavi at the…

On the sixth day of the IAC protest at Freedom Park, more than five thousand people gathered to show their support. Thousands signing the banner supporting Anna Hazare. Pic: Padmalatha Ravi Master Hirannaiah, a theatre personality, known for his ability to deliver scathing views on politics, did not dissappoint. Dr Devi Shetty who gave a brief speech got a rousing welcome from those gathered. Hundreds of organisations pledged their support. Many of the particpants were joining in for the first time. A businessman, Anup, in his mid-thirties, said 'I was holding back because, I have paid a lot of bribe…