SOCIETY

It is abundantly obvious that Bangalore today is a war zone where the inhabitants subsist in a constant state of mortal peril. Don't look now, but there's somebody popping up at your window for a spot of neighbourly homicide of an evening. Negotiating traffic isn't your biggest cause for concern on our congested roads. No, that would be the chap with the backpack at the signal who looks a bit cross about something. Any minute, he'll stop with the glaring and start saying it with a Kalashnikov. Then where would you be? Illustration: Narasimha Vedala Our netas barefacedly usurp the…

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transportation Corporation has for years allowed hundreds of drivers to get back behind the wheel after causing bus accidents that killed pedestrians, cyclists—and in some cases their own passengers, an IIJNM investigation has found. Watch the story here.   Records and interviews show the massive agency fires a small percentage of the drivers it concludes were fully “at fault” for the fatal wrecks. Most are put back to work, in some cases with punishments no greater than if they had been involved in fender benders. And in a number of cases, the pattern of leniency backfired: drivers…

Business No demand for photographers Photographers who click pictures for tourists near Vidhana Soudha, Lalbagh, Cubbon park and other places are leading a life of uncertainty these days. The number of tourists during this summer is decreasing. Adding to their woes, digital revolution has reduced the demand for photographers. With digital cameras, people themselves can take pictures. Photographers accept the fact that their income is going south. (Prajavani, Saturday, April 25) Recession ups demand for smaller flats Real estate is the worst hit due to global economic recession, and Bangalore is no exception. The demand for flats is nosediving. Those…

They could well be disconnecting and are definitely discriminatory! I am referring to the seemingly artificial and lifeless 'IT Parks’. One of them houses the office I've been working at for some years now. Such a contrast to most of Bengaluru’s suburbs where I always see life. Find charm and feel welcome.In most of these exclusive business hubs, water and electricity are consumed excessively and the bushes are pruned unnaturally. People must 'identify' themselves everyday, every time and the authorities can suddenly decide to restrict entry to only private vehicles with company stickers or those driven by badge bearing employees.…

I am a native of Bangalore city, a Kannadiga from an orthodox family, yet I found myself asking my non-Bangalorean friends, "What is the Karaga festival?" One of those moments when I feel I should have paid more attention during social science class! One friend, who closely follows cultural happenings around the city, told me more. The 40 ft ratha carrying the idol of Lord Dharmarayaswamy in procession. Devotees gathered on the streets throw bananas and tulsi leaves on the ratha. (pic: Deepika Nagabushan) Karaga is celebrated on the full moon day during the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar.…

Meet Susheel Alexander Samuel – 22 years old and in his final year of mechanical engineering. From this picture, you're probably wondering what's familiar with the hairstyle... Ghajini? No…and that’s a long story. Susheel Alexander Samuel (pic: Sharath Bhat) As a teenager, Susheel was everything parents put on their wish-list. He was diligent, thoughtful, obedient and totally responsible – even when it came to riding his bike. He would always wear a helmet, even if he was just going down the road. So do bad things really happen to good people? It was 23rd February 2005 - Susheel had just…

"Downturn is like baptism with fire. The day I surrendered my ID card, I was really down. It was a long day," expresses Suhas (name changed). Twenty-two year old Suhas started working with Sasken, a leading Bangalore-headquartered communications solutions technology company, in August 2008 as a fresh graduate. By the time he finished his six months training for his position as software engineer, the economic slowdown had hit his company. "The trouble started in October, bad news started pouring in. We were under constant apprehension. We thought we would go in December. In December, the firm started firing senior people.…

Business Mango festival from April 15 Lalbagh is busy organising festivals these days. After grapes and brinjals, it is now the mango festival, to start from 15th April. Organised by horticulture department, the festival signals the arrival of the mango season. Untimely rains during November and December last year had a negative impact on the mango crop. However, the second one was a bumper crop, and mangoes are already available in the Bangalore market. The festival will continue till June end. (Vijaya Karnataka, Tuesday, April 7) Crime 2000 faces in city Rowdies Gallery Now it is official. There are more…

“Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores” - Charles Caleb Colton Even as the world reels under the effect of the economic slowdown, companies catering to the domestic market have not been affected all that much, say experts from various sectors, right here in Bengaluru. What does the downturn mean to industries in this blooming city here? How easy is it for namma students to get jobs this year? Are companies in the city still hiring? Or are they asking employees to swalpa adjust maadi? These are some…

Runners for Life, a community of people who run to get fit organised its second edition of their unique event, ‘Feet on the Street', a five kilo metre run. The event held in the city on 5th April saw 301 enthusiastic runners out on the streets on a Sunday morning.The format of ‘Feet on the Street' is unique. These are monthly runs. It is not a track and field event, but is held at a central location. While the first edition was held at Cubbon Park, the second edition was conducted around Ulsoor Lake. In addition to running and popularising…